SGVA’s splendid history in a few lines
Srila Jiva Gosvami Prabhupada established the Vishva Vaishnava Raj Sabha in the 16th century with Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada as the first president of it. His mission was to spread the teachings of Lord Chaitanya across the country and keep all Gaudiya Vaishnavas together under one umbrella.
Following in their footsteps, in 1885 this Raj-sabha was revitalized by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur Prabhupada. He diligently identified the true Gaudiya Vaishnavas, united them, and protected them from deviant philosophies prevalent during his time.
Carrying forward the legacy, on the 5th of February, 1919, during the Appearance day celebration of Srimati Vishnupriya Devi, His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada reestablished the Vishva Vaishnava Raj Sahba and gave a talk on its history.
Later, on the 6th of Septmber, 1920, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada formed the Gaudiya Math. Being a visionary with a global outlook, he established sixty four branches in India and maintained a few preaching centres in countries like Burma, England and Germany. To ensure smooth functioning of Gaudiya Math affairs, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada requested his disciples to work together.
To ensure smooth functioning of Gaudiya Math affairs, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada advised his disciples to form a Governing Body Commission (GBC) but for some reasons, this couldn’t be accomplished after his physical departure and thus his mission of taking the message of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to every town and village while keeping all Gaudiya Vaishnavas united under one umbrella remained unfulfilled.
To fulfill the order of Srila Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada, one of his disciples, who later became famous as His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, went to preach in the western countries and founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on 13th July 1966 in New York city.
He formed a Governing Body Commission as previously instructed by his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada, and invited his godbrothers to join hands for the pleasure of their spiritual master.
On the 5th of November 1977, Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada established the Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust (BSCT) which comprised ISKCON members and Gaudiya Math members with reuniting of the Sarasvata Gaudiya family as one of its main objectives.
Before his physical departure from this world, in the year 1977, he instructed one of his ardent disciples, Srila Jayapataka Swami Maharaj, to reunite the Sarasvata Gaudiya family as desired by Srila Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada.
In 1996, the Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust convened a historic reunion of the Sarasvata Gaudiya family. Direct disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur attended the reunion, Also present were the representatives of almost all the Gaudiya institutions in and around Sridham Mayapur. The convener of the meeting was ISKCON leader Srila Jayapataka Swami Maharaj, the Chairman of the Bhaktivedanta Charity Trust.
During the reunion, the Bhaktivedanta Charity Trust formed the Sarasvata Gaudiya Vaishnava Association with the blessings from the then present exalted disciples of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada, such as His Divine Grace Pramod Puri Maharaja, His Divine Grace, Bhakti Vaibhava Puri Maharaja and others.
The Sarasvata Gaudiya Vaishava Association held its second annual meeting in March 1997 at ISKCON’s center in Srdham Mayapur. HIs Divine Grace Srila B. V. Puri Maharaj gave the opening address. Among the organizations that sent representatives were: Sri Chaitanya Math, Sri Chaitanya Sarasvata Math, Sri Gaura Gadadhara Ashram, Sri Gopinatha Gaudiya Math, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mission, Sri Paramahamsa Gaudiya Math, Sri Rupanuga Bhajanashram, Sri Sarasvata Gaudiya Math, and ISKCON.
With the aforesaid historical facts in mind, and with a dauntless intent to overcome any and all future challenges in achieving the goal of rendering selfless service to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada, the SGVA continues to hold regular meetings and arranges number of festivals in and around Sridham Mayapur every year.
The current acharyas of the different Gaudiya Maths are in support of this noble cause and other Gaudiya leaders from India and around the world are coming forward to join hands for the pleasure of Srila Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada.
Year 2024 being the 150th anniversary of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur’s appearance in this world, the Sarasvata Gaudiya Vaishnava Association has embarked on a mega plan to express gratitude to that great Vaishnava saint and exemplary spiritual leader by demonstrating the unity among Gaudiya Vaishnavas that he so earnestly desired and by spreading his glories for the benefit of the world.
Param Vijayate Sri Krishna Sankirtanam…!
Hare Krishna