AranyaMj

For anyone interested in understanding of how a sadhaka can realize their svarup siddhi, and whether or not one needs to be "told" about your siddha deha in order to realize it, please consult Govinda Bhasya in the section beginning 4.4.1, as well as Srila Sanatana Goswami's tika to verse 2.2.186 of Sri Brhadbhagavatamrtam. This issue is a strong point of contention between the Radha-kunda babajis and their ilk and Srila Sridhar Maharaj and other genuine followers of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura. The point has been debated extensively, by persons interested in this topic, and even former adherents of the "babaji's doctrine" such as Jagat now openly admit that the proposition that you need to be "given" siddha-deha or "told" it is a fallacy. Indeed this fallacy is contrary to the teachings of Srila Sanatana Goswami. Shiva is most certaily right, here.

Devotee: Rupa and Sanatan Goswami, did they have any mantra shishyas? Wasn't Jiva Goswami a mantra shishya of Rupa Goswami? Sridhara Maharaja: Yes, and Rupa Goswami was the mantrashishya of Sanatan, Sanatan Goswami was the mantra shishya of Vidya Vacaspati. Vidya Vacaspati's brother was Sarvabhauma, a mayavadi. That is formal (diksa). Devotee: Was that actually diksa or siksa? Between Rupa and Sanatan; they got mantram? Sridhara Maharaja: They got mantram from their guru-- mantram. But what mantram? Mahaprabhu Himself got mantram, but according to His order, Sanatan Goswami has selected another mantram for the Gaudiya Vaisnavas. Mahaprabhu got the dvadasha mantram [ 12 syllables] from Ishvara Puri, but when ordered by Mahaprabhu to consult the the Vaisnava sastras and try to preach what the real conduct of a Vaisnava should be. "And I bless you that Krishna will guide you to compile a Vaisnava sruti and Sanatan Goswami did that accordingly, and he has collected the astadasakara mantra [eighteen syllable mantra: kleeng krishnaya govindaya gopijanaballavaya swaha] for us, and that is now in use. It is continuing in the sampradaya, and not the mantra that Mahaprabhu received from Ishvara Puri. But by the order of Mahaprabhu, this mantram came through Sanatan Goswami, this mantram came, astadasakara, and that is continuing and someone also amongst the Goswamis, they go on with that dvadashaksara mantra of Mahaprabhu.

The Hare Krishna mahamantra can take us to the feet of Sri Krsna (CC Antya 3.137). But to approach Krsna we need to awaken a feeling of loving devotion to the Lord, and not be merely, to use Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura's words, "mutterers of mantras". Whether you chant this mantra or that mantra, the essential thing is to develop a mood of surrender and devotion. The gayatri mantras are simply meditations which are practiced during the stage of sadhana, and the importance of that mantra meditation withdraws from us when raga awakens

Kusakratha's translation is markedly different from this statement There is also this verse The Hare Krsna mantra is the Mahamantra. I am beginning to wonder if it is Nama-aparadha to say the things said in the quote below

But these things quoted above are not mentioned at all in Bhakti-sandarbha 238 Here is the whole of Bhakti-sandarbha 238 I also have the original Sanskrit and Bengli translation for Bhakti Sandarbha here on my desk beside me, published by Gaudiya Mission in 2005. The suppposed translation of Bhakti-sandarbha 238 that is being presented by some people involved in this debate is most definitely not in that book.