Srila Sridhar Maharaj's Rtvik Appointment
(With additional comments)

Comment by Ameyatma das

It is to be noted that in 1977 and 78, after Srila Prabhupad's disappearance from our world, the GBC had gone (via representatives of the GBC) to Sridhar Maharaj to seek his advice and guidance on how the GBC should proceed regarding the rtvik issue.

--comment not complete -

The following was found posted at the following addresses (there may be others):
http://www.mandala.com.au/sermons1/declaration.htm [Sri Caitanya Saraswat Math] and
http://www.bvml.org/SBRSM/books/SERMONS1.PDF

From:

Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion

Volume One

All Glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga

Declaration of the Spiritual Succession of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math

by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj Founder-Acarya of the Sri Caitanya Sarasvat Math

(Gaura-purnima, 26th March, 1986)

According to the desire of my Divine Master, I have been maintaining this disciplic succession but it is no longer possible for me, as I am now too old and invalid. You all know that from long ago I have chosen Sriman Bhakti Sundar Govinda Maharaja and I have given him sannyasa. All my Vaisnava Godbrothers are very affectionate towards him and it is also their desire to give him this position. I have previously given to him the charge of the Math and now I am giving him the full responsibility of giving Harinama, diksa, sannyasa, etc. as an Acarya of this Math on behalf of myself.

Those who have any regard for me should give this respect and position to Govinda Maharaj as my successor. As much as you have faith in my sincerity, then with all sincerity I believe that he has got the capacity of rendering service in this way. With this I transfer these beads and from now he will initiate on my behalf as Rtvik. The Rtvik system is already involved both here and also in the foreign land. The Rtvik is the representative. So if you want to take from me, and you take by his hands, then it will be as well and as good as taking from me.

In the Mahamandala, Sagar Maharaj and many others are also Rtvik of Swami Maharaj and also myself. They may do so, but in this Math and in any Math under this Math, he will be the representative. If anyone cannot accept this, he may leave the Math rather than stay here and disturb the peace of the Math. With all my sincerity and good feelings to Guru-Gauranga, to the Vaisnavas and the Acaryas, Mahaprabhu, Panca Tattva, Radha Govinda and Their Parsadas, with all my sincere prayers to Them, henceforth he will represent me in this affair beginning from today's function.

Now I shall go from here and he will do the necessary. On my behalf, he will give Hari-nama, diksa, sannyasa, and everything.