Page 125 - Sri Vraja Riti Cintamani final

Refuting the Faulty Conclusions of Rūpa Kavirāja

Śrīnivāsa Ācārya’s famous daughter, Śrīmati Hemalatā Ṭhakurāṇī,
rejected an envious disciple named Śrī Rūpa Kavirāja from the
Vaiṣṇava society. This Rūpa Kavirāja is counted amongst the sub-
branch of the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava sampradāya known as atibāḍi.
He spread his own concocted philosophy (counter to the Gauḍīya
tradition) that only a person in the renounced order of life is
capable of acting as Ācārya. He claimed that it was not possible
for a householder to become a spiritual master. Fully disregarding
the vidhi-mārga, or path of devotional rules and regulations, he also
tried to preach a philosophical path of rāga-mārga, or spontaneous
devotion, which was completely unregulated and undisciplined. He
also preached that smaraṇa (remembrance) was possible without the
help of śravaṇa and Kīrtana (hearing and chanting.) Thus, this Rūpa
Kavirāja propogated a path which was unfavorable to the path shown
by the Gosvāmīs. Therefore, Śrīla Cakravartī Ṭhākura has refuted
all these false conclusions in his Sārārtha-Darśinī commentary on
the 3rd canto of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Actually, this refutation is
a rendering of the truths outlined in Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī’s Bhakti
Sandarbha.

Refuting the Caste Gosvāmīs

The later descendants of Śrī Rūpa Kavirāja, as well as the descendants
of Śrī Nityānanda Prabhu’s son Śrī Vīrabhadra and the descendants
of Śrī Advaita Ācārya’s rejected sons all gave the title “Gosvāmī”
to their disciples, even if they are householders. In preaching his
refutation of this bogus practice, Śrīla Cakravartī Ṭhākura has stated,
citing scriptural evidence, that such a title of “Gosvāmī” is not at
all improper for a befitting offspring of an Ācārya. However, it is
highly improper to simply tack the word “Gosvāmī” onto the ends
of names of offspring who are born in unfit families, even though
descendants of an Ācārya — especially when there is a motive of
greed for increasing wealth and followers. For this reason, even one
conducting the activities of an Ācārya should never use the title
“Gosvāmī”. Śrīla Cakravartī Ṭhākura maintains that such foolish

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