The Potency of Sripada Maharaj Made the World’s Relogion Leader Chant Hare KRishna

A Report By Jaganmohini devi dasi

Dear well-wishers of H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami

Hare Krishna!

Today URI(United Religious Initiatives) top leaders and representatives from their different cooperation circles have assembled at ISKCON Mayapur to hold its Global assembly from Nov. 30th to Dec. 5th in honor of H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami who was one of the founding member of URI.

(FYI, URI is one of the largest global interfaith organizations in the world, with over 400 cooperation circles(CC) and more than 200 affiliates located in seven geographic regions of the world. URI has grown from a vision to a global organization active in over 60 countries with the involvement of over 1,000,000 people annually. It has created an unprecedented global network of interfaith cooperation, launched countless successful projects around the world and become the recognized and respected leader in grassroots interfaith group. Their governing board is a Global Council of 29 members from 18 countries.)

At this juncture when this huge organization is paying tribute to H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami we are reminded of an affectionate remark and an instruction by Srila Prabhupada to H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami. They are: In one morning walk Srila Prabhupada had lovingly remarked, “.. so if I would not have students like you, they would have taken me as a crazy man..”

In one letter he wrote, “…appeal yourself to the high class of men not the mass. Mass, too, we do not eliminate anyone, but if the best men are there to run on things, mass will follow later.’

Prior to their interaction with H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami several leaders of different faith were not aware about Srila Prabhupada’s contribution to humanity and nor were they aware about ISKCON’s mission or Srila Prabhupada. In fact few didn’t think of this mission positively.

Today by H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami’s mercy the URI leaders are receiving highest devotional nectar at Sri Mayapur Dham. Many are also visiting India first time. They are associating with Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates, Srila Prabhupada and several Gaudiya Vaishnavas. Plus they will get a glimpse of Manipur Vaishnava culture on Dec. 4th when the Deities Sri Sri Radha Madhava along with ashtasakis will be dressed in Manipuri outfit for the first time and in the evening the ranganiketan group will be performing Rasalila in the temple.

Also after they heard about H. H. Jayapataka Swami’s hospitalization, they included maharaj in their daily morning prayers. This is a rare situation that prayers are being offered in all religions for maharaj’s quick recovery. One can imagine how potent will be such prayers.

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I urge all members of URI’s global community to include Jayapataka Swami and the ISKCON community in your prayers and meditation.

Their love for H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami was unconditional. This has been plainly exhibited by accepting to hold URI global Assembly without second thoughts at ISKCON, Mayapur and without any condition or verification. It is amazing that in the physical absence of H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami they have taken his instruction so seriously. Without any formal training or introduction to rules and regulation they have decided to abide by all Dham rules, plus greet the pilgrims with “Hare Krishna”, only to honor H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami. Undoubtedly today the entire URI community(leaders and members) gathered at Mayapur are receiving unlimited blessings from the most munificent incarnation of Lord only because of their love towards H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami.

What attracted the top leaders from religious organizations or from scientific community or any statesman to H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami?

We get the answers from their tributes itself which I share below:
(Due to lack of space we are presenting here only selected tributes’ excerpts)

William E. Swing, the Bishop of Episcopal Diocese of California and founder of URI had expressed about H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami few years ago, “Abundant thanks to God for the birth of Dr. T. D. Singh.. a great man of peace, Dr. T. D. Singh. He has been a gift to many people in this world….. The URI recognizes you as a dear friend and as a pioneer in bringing people of faiths together to pursue peace among religions”.

From Rev. C. Charles P. Gibbs, the Executive Director of URI, “…His gracious, joyous and humble spirit, his deep reverence for God, his keen intellect, his compassionate commitment, his gracious hospitality and his ready laugh are an inspiration and are incomparable gifts to any interfaith effort for peace justice and healing. ..….In particular Dr. T. D. Singh had been an extraordinary gift to URI….It has been a privilege to work side by side with Dr. T. D. Singh, to travel with him, to share visions of the possible and to join hands to make those visions real. But perhaps the greatest privilege has been to sit with him in stillness in the presence of the sacred evoked so purely in his beautiful chanting.”

From Father Maximilian Mizzi, OFM Conv. Delegate General for Ecumenism and Inter-religious Dialogue, Assisi, Italy, “…Dr. Singh is a man with great human qualities, which stem from a great heart. He is a man of deep understanding, compassion, humility, love and spirituality. It doesn’t take long for Dr. Singh to understand the human qualities of a person with whom he comes in contact. Compassion and love in Dr. Singh go beyond the barriers of race and religious background. Because of his respect for every human person, Dr. Singh doesn’t make any distinction between rich and poor, a VIP and the man in the street. He treats every single person with the same respect and love….”

From Ven. Jinwol Lee, Zen Master(Korean Buddhism), “I appreciate the personality and character of Dr. Singh as a good Hindu Acharaya and interfaith educator. He always looks compassionate and humble. I believe that his friendship with various religionists could be a model for promoting peace and love among diverse people of the world. I welcome his efforts to promote inter-religious cooperation and education for peace and harmony in the society of India and the world. I would like to support his valuable ideas and works, including cooperation among religions, spirituality, ethics and science for a better world.”

With regard to preaching among scientific community, Srila Prabhupada had told H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami, “…if you make one scientist Krishna Conscious that would please me…”

Tributes from Noble Laureates of Physics and Chemistry:

From Charles H. Townes, a NL in Physics: “Dr. Singh’s contributions to the understanding of religion and the relation between science and religion have been important and will have a long standing influence.”

From Richard R. Ernst, NL in Chemistry: “Dr. T. D. Singh represents for me a perfect role model how citizens and in particular academics should think, feel and behave. He has been building bridges between groups of society and between different schools of thought. He has bridged the gaps between science and philosophy. He showed to us what true humanness is; he showed to us what wisdom and compassion really mean. Let us keep his spirit alive, let’s not forget him as a role model and improve our own being.”

And within our society recently on Nov. 18th 2008, the Bhaktivedanta Hospital congregation disciples of H. H. Radhanath Swami paid an exceptional tribute to H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami. They staged a drama called “Bhagyachandra”. The drama was based on the Manipur king who was a pure devotee of Lord Krishna. As part of the play few glimpses of H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami’s life was also covered. The drama was well choreographed and artistes deserved full compliments.

When I visited the hospital for my scheduled check up, I decided to meet few congregation who acted in the play to thank them in full appreciation. I asked them what made them stage this drama. One of them said, it seems in the past they had never thought of offering such tribute to others but this drama they felt would please H. H. Radhanath Swami, hence they decided to stage. I asked them how? They replied that the hospital was established as tribute to H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami, since several founding congregation of the hospital were inspired by maharaj on intellectual preaching after 1986 world congress at Mumbai. The main director of this play(who also played the part of H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami) H. G. Dwarakadish prabhu a doctor by profession and few more doctors had accepted H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami as their shiksha guru since 1986 conference. Further they added that H. H. Radhanath Swami would regularly glorify H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami ever since his departure. They said, “Although maharaj was dear to many of his godbrothers but H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami was most dear to maharaj.”

Indeed H. H. Radhanath Swami was extremely pleased. I saw the love flowing from H. H. Radhanath Swami’s heart when he expressed sweet glories about H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami. After the drama, maharaj invited few of us(disciples of H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami who had come to watch the play)to the green room to meet the stage artistes. At that time maharaj said, “….Everyone glorifies Srila Prabhupada…Glorifying Srila Prabhupada means glorifying his beloved disciple. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara was the most beloved disciple of Srila Prabhupada, most lovable disciple of Srila Prabhupada, by glorifying Bhaktisvarupa Damodara maharaj, Srila Prabhupada will be pleased…..” This is the best tribute a disciple of H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami can relish that too from a pure devote like H. H. Radhanath Swami.

Reflecting on several category of tributes, I was wondering what made H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami most attractive. I had known H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami very closely for more than 10 years. He never promised anyone any reward or position or help of any category, still he drew all types of people towards him. Indeed he was a genuine personality carrying the Seed of God’s love as it is, as it was given to H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami by his spiritual master Srila Prabhupada. He never identified or advertised himself as a spiritual leader or a scientist or director or spiritual master or qualified educationist or a great devotee etc., instead he presented himself as sincere servant of Lord wanting to awaken entire humanity with love of God. The compassion in him was seen as genuine without expecting anything in return. He was always situated in his original personality as pure devotee of Lord and acted accordingly. He always waited for the sanction of his spiritual master and the Lord in taking decisions. He always depended on Lord’s will for the outcome of every step he took. He was indeed a rare combination of a perfect Saint and a perfect Scientist, still he always presented himself as an insignificant servant of Lord and of his spiritual master.

It was the seed of God’s love in unadulterated form which H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami carried in his clean heart that attracted several categories of people towards him. This seed was so potent and pure that nobody questioned H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami about his identification(which organization, spiritual group, country etc.). He didn’t adopt any formal techniques of preaching to convince people on God Consciousness. The leaders simply wanted H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami’s association. They heard him and accepted him without reservations. The URI Global assembly at ISKCON, Mayapur and the garland of tributes which H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami received in his life time is testimony to this.

Today the world, especially India is progressively becoming victim of terrorism, violence and intolerance. Intolerance is visible even among different sects of same religions; hence our techniques of preaching must be of adaptable nature, without condemn or abuse or force.

H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami was definitely blessed here by Srila Prabhupada; as a result he excelled in the method of approach, without compromising his conviction about Lord, he managed to win the hearts of every category of people he met. H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami perfectly applied the realization of three phases of Absolute Truth in his dealings. He blessed several Nobel Laureates with the pavitra of Lord Nrsimhadev convincing them that it is sign of good luck. Not everywhere we can carry prasadam, since those who don’t believe in Deity worship might not respond. Appropriate techniques of preaching are necessary today to push the mission forward. We definitely need three things one is devotional maturity, obedience to one’s spiritual master and blessings of saints.

On this auspicious occasion of H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami’s 71st vyasa-puja, let us seek his blessings and guidance on how to receive and fix this seed of God’s love in our heart and subsequently plant it in other’s heart whom we get in touch.

H. H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami Srila Sripada maharaj ki Jai. Srila Prabhupada ki Jai.

(All of you must be preparing for observing Guru Maharaja’s Tirobhava Festival-as well as Vyasapuja Celebration- and thinking about what to offer to Guru Maharaja from the kitchen. I would like to bring to your attention about the email sent by Sangeeta Mataji in 2006 regarding this. Shortly after his disappearance, Guru Maharaja appeared in the dream of Sangeeta Mataji and told her exactly his favorite menu. Remarkably, it’s 100% true. Most of them we used to serve Guru Maharaja in Kolkata, Manipur, etc. I hope this would be helpful to add to the already exciting menu you have in your mind. I have copied the eamil at the end of my text. Please read again this wonderful pastime and the menu. Happy serving Guru Maharaja!-Vrajapati das)

Sripada Maharaja honoring Prasadam

========================
Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2006 19:42:25 -0000
Subject: Guru Maharaj’s favorites

Hare Krsna !!

Please accept my humble obesciences! All glories to Srila
Prabhupada! All Glories to Srila Sripada!!

I have been hesitating to write about my dream for almost 2 weeks to this forum thinking everybody is discussing important issues and glorifying our beloved Guru Maharaj so nicely but then two things got me to actually type this out today:

1) Hari Mohan prabhu recently wrote his dream and encouraged others to write theirs and 2) More importantly I heard Guru Maharaj’s voice this time saying “You should have written this email by now. Perhaps you don’t want to follow instructions.”

Almost two weeks ago, I had this dream where I saw Guru Maharaj asking me if I knew to type and email. When I replied ‘Yes Maharaj’, he said put the subject as “Guru Maharaj’s favorites”. He then asked me to put in a bullet format his prasadam favorites under different categories. I could see the details in my dream and I have put them
down exactly as I remember… I also distinctly recollect asking Guru Maharaj why we should type this email and he first smiled and then sweetly replied ” So that everyone will remember this during vyasa puja offerings.” Here are the details:

Guru Maharaj’s favorites:
================
Tea : Herbal chamomile tea with 1 tsp honey and juice from
1 lime

Breakfast : Steamed Idlies with Coconut Chutney

Juice : Fresh Watermelon/ Cranberry Juice

Lunch : Hot steamy rice(NOT basmati) with little ghee, moong dal, Aloo sabji, Ooti (manipuri dish), fresh chappatis and a big bowl of salad with dressing(honey, lime, salt, basil, olive oil)
Also serve Sweet Lassi at this time (yoghurt, honey, rose syrup)

Snack : Crispy Samosas/ Boiled Corn with little butter

In-flight snack : Roasted and caramelised Almonds

Dessert : Fresh Apple Pie

Fruit preparation : cut strawberries in halves and pour a syrup made
with yoghurt and a little honey (he called it Frugalait – and
italian dessert)

Night time : A glass of 2% or low fat warm milk.

=======
When I woke up, I was very sad that it was a dream and I could not see Guru Maharaj talking to me after that. At this time I would also like to share one more thing Maharaj said when he visited us in May ’06 while taking Prasadam ” The idlies are nice and fluffy. So today i have taken maximum number of Idlies”.

We are missing Maharaj so much but we have been fortunate to have his mercy on us especially our 4-yr old daughter, Vrinda. When she saw me weeping after we heard about Maharaj’s news, she asked “What happened to Guru Maharaj?” I told her that “Now he is in Krishna’s house and he will not visit us again”. So she thought for a moment and then said ” don’t cry mummy, after few years, we will also go to Krishna’s house and then we will meet him there.”

Haribol!
An aspiring disciple of Guru Maharaj,
Sangeeta.

The spiritual master is always concerned about the wellbeing of the disciples. The affection and care of the spiritual master for his disciple are clearly visible in the relationship between Srila Prabhupada and Sripada Maharaja. Srila Prabhupada’s remarks about Sripada Maharaja made during the period from 1970 to 1977 collected from conversation volume and other volumes are a garland of blessings and confidence of the spiritual master to his disciple. Some selected remarks are listed here and we, the disciples of Sripada Maharaja feel very fortunate to bave these wonderful remarks.

“I think you should not think of relinquishing your job
without meeting me and
discussing the matter deeply.
Don’t do anything out of sentiment.
You must make the best use of a bad bargain.
Unless you keep your job,
you will not be considered an important man
in the material sense. And, if you are
not an important man, then who will listen to you?”
- Letter to Svarupa Damodara Dasa, Evanston, Illinois 75-08-23

Prabhupada: “Svampa Damodara must be the best
candidate. Others, what they’ll know about it? All other
Ph.D.s, they are simply rubber stamped. Actually they
have no knowledge. Svarupa Damodara has solid
knowledge. He has learned from us. Therefore he’s writing
all these books. He has rejected his so-called scientifìc
knowledge. He has completely understood that so called
scientifìc knowledge is bogus, it has no solid background.
Now, he’s writing books on this.”
- Room Conversation, Detroit, June 15, 1976

“Therefore, out of so many scientists in the country only you and a few others are understanding the importance of this subject matter – manusyanam sahasresu.
So please work very hard,
following our rules and regulations and you will always remain in the fìre of Krishna consciousness.”
- SPL to Svarupa Damodara, 23rd June 1975

“So we have got a great mission.
You are one of the strong pillars of the mission…
Be fully strong to push on this cult amongst
the educated scientifìc circle…
When you present more scientifically,
they will be convinced.”
- SPL to Svarupa Damodara Dasa, September 8, 1974

“… so aim yourself at the top-class of men
and give them every opportunity to
become convinced of our philosophy and
engage themselves to their satisfaction.
That will be the best contribution.”
- SPL to Svarupa Damodara Dasa, December 13, 1972.

“… appeal yourself to the high class of men,
not the mass. Mass, too, we do not eliminate anyone,
but if the best men are there to run on things,
mass will follow later.”
- SPL to Svarupa Damodara Dasa, December 13, 1972.

‘Therefore, I took it so seriously. Every morning walk, I was,
“Where is the scientist?”
I thought “Here I have got an opportunity to
impress that will fructify in fruition.”
That was my aim. Therefore, I was bothering you in so many ways.’
- Room Conversation, Bombay, March 27, 1977

“If one has got unflinching faith in Krishna and His
representative, guru, then all the knowledge
will be revealed to him automatically.
Just like yourself. You are a big scientist.
You have talked with me, you have studied with me,
and you have examined me in so many ways.
And I have also spoken whatever I had knowledge.
Unless you are convinced, how you can say that
‘You are my spiritual master?”
- Lecture, Srimad-Bhagavatam 1974

Prabhupada: “So life is the origin”.
Svarupa Damodara: “Life started from life.
It cannot start from matter”.
Prabhupada: “If you establish this theory,
you will get also Nobel Prize.
Yes, try for… Yes, do it.
And all these rascals will be defeated.
Do that… Do this by your education…
Simply we have to present it scientifically.
That’s all”.
- Morning walk, Los Angeles, May 2, 1973

“If these boys, in their scientific language,
they try to convince, that will be more effective,
We are generally speaking that
“Water has come from Krishna,” or
“The earth has come from Krishna.”
That may be blind.
But if it is scientifically presented,
how it has come from Krishna,
then they cannot refute so easily.
So that I am engaging this doctor of chemistry,
Svarupa Damodara and Raya Ramananda.
Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s two personal associates,
Svarupa Damodara and Ramananda.”
- Room Conversation Vrindavan, October 31, 1973

“…so if I would not have students like you,
they would have taken me as crazy man.
But now I have engaged you to prove them rascals.
That is my ambition.”
- Morning Walk Bhubaneswar, February 1, 1977

“This boy was stubborn athiest. …
And he was walking with me on the seaside,
and I was chastising him,
kicking him, and refuting. (laughs)
Now he has organized this Bhaktivedanta Institute.
- Room Conversation Vrindavan, July 26, 1977

Srila Prabhupada’s Instructions to Sripada Maharaja

The quality of a genuine disciple is always to beg for the instructions of the spiritual master. The instructions of the spiritual master are the life and soul of a genuine disciple. The instructions given by Srila Prabhupada to his beloved disciple Sripada Maharaja on Scientific presentation of Krishna Consciousness among the Scientists, Philosophers and Intellectuals of the world; on Manipur; on Education and Culture and on Bhaktivedanta Institute are the real indications of the ideal relationship that exists between a genuine disciple and his spiritual master. From these instructions we can see that Srila Prabhupada had showered immense blessings upon Sripada Maharaja. These are a great source of inspiration for us as well. The instructions listed herewith in the form of “qoutes” are mainly from the Conversation Volume and Letters and Lecture Volumes of Srila Prabhupada.

Scientific Preaching of Krishna Consciousness

“Advanced people are eager to understand
the Absolute Truth through the medium
of science, and therefore a great scientist should
endeavour to prove the existence of
the Lord on a scientifìc basis.”
- Srimad Bhagavatam, 1.5.22 purport.

“Although there are so many departments
of knowledge, medicine, astronomy, etc.,
the science of God is still to be introduced.
When the scientist philosopher medical man
will get the opportunity to study systematically
what is God, what are His energies,
what is my relationship, how to approach Him,
then only there will be paradise.”
- Letter, Calcutta, June 10,1970

“If we can convince the intelligent class of
men of our Krishna philosophy then o
ur success for changing the position of your
country and the rest of the world
from a very dangerous condition is assured”
- SPL to Svarupa Damodara Dasa, Mayapur, March 1, 1972.

“As there is need of medical man, engineer or lawyer or other, similarly,
there is need of expert who knows the science of soul… The
medical man, the engineer, the archaeologist
or this or that, they are all meant for the body.
Similarly, there must be one expert section
who are meant for the soul.”
- Room conversation, Caracas, February 22, 1975

“So by study of Srimad-Bhagavatam under
the bonafìde spiritual master, one becomes
aware of the full value of life,
and then he revives his original Krishna consciousness.
That is the perfection of life. The individual soul
is already under specific material nature,
and the process is going on in lower grades of life,
but in the human form of life by advancement of education,
one can become above the modes of material nature. The
chance is given to him. This is stated in Bhagavad-gita:
yanti devavrata devan. So if he likes he can go back to
Godhead: yanti mad yajino ‘pi mam, and stop this
transmigration process. Then he comes again perfect in
Krishna consciousness.”
- SPL to Svarupa Damodara, 31 August, 1975

“Unless there is a strong body to present
God Consciousness proposals to
the leaders of the world, there will be no hope.
We have taken Bhagavad-gita as
the standard of all human activities.
If the leaders of the human society take
it as standard, then all the problems will be solved.”
- SPL, Los Angeles, June 4, 1976.

“If the scientists, philosophers,
they take up seriously then it will be good
for the general mass of people.
yad yad acarati sresthas ”
- Room conversation, Los Angeles, June 22, 1975.

“If a scientist, if he proves Krishna’s
supremacy by scientifìc law, then his knowledge in science is perfect.”
- Prabhupada Lecture, Bhagavad-Gita, Bombay, April 4, 1971.

“First of all you have to establish that
life is not from matter. Matter is from life.
Then they (referring to scientists) will be
under your control …. First of all
you have to establish this.
Why don’t you write a theory and get Nobel Prize?
This is a fact.”
- Morning Walk, May 9, 1973

“If we can prove that life comes from life,
or the soul is from the Super soul,
then all other things can be brought into
serious consideration. So you try to prove that
chemical combination can never bring about life,
this is our main argument, if we can prove
this particular subject matter,
that the soul can’t be manufactured
by combination of chemical, then gradually
we can prove that vedic knowledge is perfect,
while other sources of knowledge by speculation and imagination are all wrong.”
- Letter Date Dec. 17, 1975

“…We are now sending our representatives
all over the world to the scientists.
Here is Dr. Svarupa Damodara, Ph.D… he
was invited by many universities, schools, colleges.
So this movement is not a sentimental movement.
It is the scientific movement. It is the most elevated, scientific movement.”
- Prabhupada Lectures, Bhagavad-Gita, 1974.

On Manipur

“So, fìrst thing make your headquarters in Bombay, and make Manipur a Vaisnava state.”
- Room conversation, Mayapur, February 18, 1977

“After the G.B.C, assembly in Vrindavana,
Svarupa Damodara had travelled to Manipur
and Calcutta and was now returning to
Vrindavana to see Srila Prabhupada.
As soon as Prabhupada heard Svarupa Damodara
had arrived he asked to see him.
As usual, Srila Prabhupada treated him very
specially and gave him much time and attention.
From Prabhupada’s first meeting with
Svarupa Damodara when Svarupa Damodara
had been Thoudam Singh, a Ph.D. candidate in Physical Organic
Chemistry at University of California, Irvine, Prabhupada had
taken great care to cultivate their relationship.”
- “Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita” Vol. 6, p.333

“So make Manipur a strong centre and preach. The other side, Manipur, next is Burma?”
- Room conversation, January, 30, 1977. Bhubaneswar

“So I could understand that Manipur has
got great potential of Bhakti marga.
They are born … Babhruvahana.
You descendant of Babhruvahana, Arjuna’s son.
So let there be at least one country- ideal brahmana,
ideal ksatriya. And people are submissive to
Krishna Consciousness. I have seen. In Vrindavana and Navadvipa
there are many Manipuris.”
- Srila Prabhupada, conversation-Extra.

“… make Manipur a big centre of Vaisnava.
You are descendants of Babhruvahana.
There is no doubt about it. Vaisnava rajya.
Make Manipur a strong centre of Krishna,
and it will be easily done, strong vaisnava center,
ksatriya, I would like to see this …The Manipur is already …
For the last fìve thousand years at least,
their name is in the Bhagavatam, Manipur.
And still they are Vaisnavas. They have got temples
in Navadvipa, in Vrindavana.”
- Room conversation, Bhubaneswar, January 30, 1977.

“Pandava Arjuna:
The great hero of the Bhagavad-gita. … He married four wives, Draupadi, Subhadra,
Citrangada and Ulupi. From whom he got
four sons of the names Srutakirti, Abhimanyu,
Babhruvahana and Iravan respectively…
Royal families at Manipur and Tripura are
descendants of Arjuna’s son Babhruvahana… Similarly, he met
Citrangada, a daughter of the King of Manipura, and thus
Babhruvahana was born.”
- Bhagavatam 1. 12. 21 (PURPORT)

“Now Manipur, make a very enlightened state.
I have got very good respect for your state because
Arjuna is there, Arjuna’s son.
So you make an ideal state, Indian culture.
I wanted to go only for this reason,
that you take it very seriously, make a centre of Scientifìc Vaisnava Culture.”
- Srila Prabhupada, conversation-Extra.

“Let us have a small ideal state. If respectable gentlemen take it,
oh, it will be a great success,
an ideal state throughout the whole world,
Vaisnava state. … Show their (Manipur) policemen,
all with tilaka, and marching,
“Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare,
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Hare…”
- Room Conversation, Mayapur, February, 20, 1977

“We shall train them. Military march, Manipur.
Slogan: “Jaya Radhe! Jaya Krishna!
Jaya Babhruvahana! Jaya Arjuna!”
And then let us go …Manipur Vaisnava state,
send missionary all over the world,
bonafìde, scientifìc System of religion, ideai character.”
- Room Conversation, Mayapur, February, 20, 1977

“So… make Manipur a Vaisanava State…
There must be some state, ideal state. Just like the Russia is Communist State,
and they’re making nice propaganda, similarly we must have a Krishna conscious state.”
- Room Conversation, Mayapur, February 28, 1977

“Let us cooperate. The Manipur is already…
For the last fìve thousand years at least,
their name is in the Bhagavatam, Manipur.
And still they are Vaisnavas.
They have got temples in Navadwipa, in Vrindavana.
So Manipur have cele…”
- Room conversation, Bhubaneswar, January, 30, 1977.

“Now arrange for big festival.
There is a program, Manipur.
I want to start in that small state varnasrama idea.
That is my dream. Small state it can be done,
brahmana, ksatriya ...”
- Room conversation, Mayapur, February 14, 1977.

“So Manipuri people are very nice,
So why not organize? Rejuvenate them.
So you are the Manipur’s son.
Now you are perfect Vaisnava.
Now let us make Manipur a Vaisnava
ksatriya centre, very nice. Then make relation with Nepal.
Nepal, they are ksatriyas also.”
- Room conversation, Bhubaneswar, January 30, 1977

Svarupa Damodara:
“Cause that’s the neighbour,
it’s only about ten miles from Manipur.
Its’s close to Mandalay. Used to be..
The kings of Manipur used to invade this Burma,
especially Mandalay, to fight.
So we can go to Burma from there.”
- Room conversation, April 18, 1977, Bombay

“It is to be understood that
Parvati is the daughter of the king of the
very, very old mountainous country
known as the Manipur state…
Five thousand years ago, therefore,
when the Pandavas ruled,
Manipur existed, as did its king.
Therefore this kingdom is a very old,
aristocratic vaisnava kingdom.
If this kingdom is organized as a Vaisnava state,
this revitalization will be a great success
because for five thousand years this state
has maintained its identity.
If the Vaisnava spirit is revived there,
it will be a wonderful place,
renowned throughout the entire world.
Manipuri Vaisnavas are very famous in Vaisnava society.
In Vrindavana and Navadwipa there are many temples
constructed by the kings of Manipur.
Some of our devotees belong to the Manipur state.
The Krishna consciousness movement, therefore,
can be well spread in the state of Manipur by the cooperative
efforts of the Krishna conscious devotees.
- Srimad Bhagavatam (Purport), 9.22.3

On Education

“There are hundreds and thousands of universities
all over the world… there is no department of
knowledge where the science of the soul is taught”.
- Lecture, Bhagavad-Gita, Los Angeles, August 7, 1969

“There should be school, college to understand what is God.”
- Morning Walk, Los Angeles, December 9, 1973.

“If you have got some knowledge,
you distribute the knowledge for Krishna’s.
How you can do that?
Whatever knowledge you have got,
you try to describe Krishna…
This is the first-class distribution of knowledge.
Whatever you know, you try to explain
Krishna by that knowledge.
Just like our Dr. Svarupa Damodara.
He’s a scientist, and now he is trying to
explain Krishna through his scientific knowledge”.
- Prabhupada Lectures, Srimad Bhagavatam, 1974

“The Krishna Consciousness Movement is trying to
educate people about this science, how to go back to home,
back to Godhead. It is not a so-called religious movement.
Of course, anything which has connection with God,
you can take it as religious movement.
But it is very scientific movement.
For the big scientists, philosophers, thinkers,
they should try to understand this movement”.
- General Lecture, 1975

“Now our Ph.D.’s must, collaborate and
study the fifth canto to make the model for
building the Vedic Planetarium.
My fìnal decision is that the universe
is just like a tree, with root upwards…
So now you all Ph.D.’s must carefully study
the details of the fifth canto and make
a working model of the universe.
If we can explain the passing seasons,
eclipses, phases of the moon, passing of day and night,
etc. then it will be very powerful propaganda.
I am sending this letter to you,
and you can make photocopies of it and
send to our other Ph.D.’s and begin serious
research into the matter in detail.”
- SPL, April 27, 1977.

On Culture

“We want a stronghold of this (vedic) culture,
and I think it will be possible in Manipur.
Daivi-Varnasrama. Make. There must be
first-class brahmanas, first-class ksatriyas,
first-class vaisyas and first-class sudras also.
Never mind. Ideal. The whole world will see that
here is the real culture, Vedic culture.”
- Srila Prabhupada, conversation-Extra.

“Because your wife is fully trained as classical dancer,
even she taught in such big university,
so she can organize classical dancing to portray
stories about Krishna and His pastimes and
that will be very nice proposal. Recently in Bombay
we have held a benefit charity performance called
“Hare Krishna Benefìt” performed by the Javeri Sisters,
a famous classical dancing group from Manipur.
These dancers were depicting stories from Krishna’s
Pastimes, and the dancing was very nice.
So this art of dancing, as any art, can be also
employed in the service of glorifying the Supreme Lord.
If she is expert dancer, your wife can organize
a dancing group to depict very exquisitely
stories from our Krishna Book.”
- SPL to Prajapati, Mayapur, 25 February, 1972

On Bhaktivedanta Institute

“The purpose of the Bhaktivedanta Institute
is to achieve the distinction of human life”
- Letter dated Sept. 30, 1975

“The Institute will be primarily for those
who have not entered our temples.”
“It will be a formal education and they will get degree.
It will be open for every one, including those
who have already entered our temples,
they may also participate. But, the subject matter
should not be different from what is in the temples.”
- Letter Sept. 30, 1975

“And this (BI preaching) is solid work, yes.
It must be done. Without any hesitation,
without any impediment.
That will increase our prestige of the movement.
In suit, yes.
You get fìrst dress, then address.”
- Srila Prabhupada, Room conversation, Bombay, March 31, 1977

“So that duty is now entrusted to you,
in your hands. Do it very nicely.
Krishna will help you.”
- Srila Prabhupada, Morning Walk, Bhubaneswar, February 1, 1977

“Turn the whole building into
Bhaktivedanta Institute.
And another building start.
Yes … I want that the intelligent man
should come and learn this science.”
- Room conversation, Bombay, March 26, 1977.

“You may be knowing that we nave formed
one party of scientists under the leadership of
Sriman Svarupa Damodara Prabhu.
Also we have formed the Bhaktivedanta Institute
for organizing scientific presentations
of Krishna Consciousness.
This party is our most important preaching arm
with which we will be able to destroy the bogus
speculation and cheating which goes under
the banner of scientific advancement.
Therefore, I have got great hope for
Svarupa Damodara and his colleagues.
I want them to travel vigorously throughout the world
to lecture in all universities and other institutions.
There is no lack of fìnancial resources and we shall spare
nothing to see to this party’s success.”
- SPL to Amarendra Das, April 2, 1977.

“Whenever you speak,
speak scientifìcally about Krishna’s existence.
Our mission is to turn the people to become devotees
so that they can see Krishna.”
- Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Svarupa Damodara, September 8, 1974

“So you make it a point, six months outside, six months here.
And all your expenditure
will be spent by the Society.
We shall beg and pay if there is no income.
But they must be allowed to go from
place to place. That is our real business.”
- Srila Prabhupada, Room Conversation with Svarupa Damodara, Bhubaneswar, February 3, 1977

“Make a strong party and you travel extensively
all over the world, amongst the scientists,
and whatever amount is required, I shall spend.”
- Srila Prabhupada, Room conversation, Bombay, March 31, 1977

“I want to give you the best place in Bombay.
Because you have to invite so many respectable,
big scientists.”
- Srila Prabhupada, Room conversation Vrindavana, June 21, 1977

“The whole human society
is affected by this misleading theory.
We have to make program,
go from place to place and invite all big men,
all scientists.”
- Srila Prabhupada, Morning Walk, Los Angeles, May 3, 1973

“This is the beginning.
And arrange for such conference
one after another, many…. Do something
for that before my departure.
I can see something.”

Bedugul, Bali, Indonesia, Dec 28, 2005

Hare Krsna, I d like to thanks all of you for your coming from different great planets…

So, Bhaktivonoda Thakur says, that in most people sleeping, so therefore it is good to understand that we are waking up from deep slumber…slumber mean sleep. So by the blessing of Prabhupada that so…we given this wonderful understanding that we have to get up from this deep sleep. To wake up means…what do we do when we wake up? just like the sun rising in early in the morning and then …we see everything is look up a beautiful life and we can see around, also we can remember the beautiful  birds and so many wonderful things happening when we wake up in the morning. So this understanding of waking up of from deep sleep, deep sleep means one completely in the mood of ignorance, darkness, tamoguna.  When tamoguna is influenced the individual, we just like in a deep slumber or deep sleep. But only go to the Vaikuntha planet by we leave this body, and we  go to Vaikuntha planet…in Vaikuntha planet all living entities never sleeps. So therefore  is hours in the morning, always likes a morning-morning hours. When I came to Bali, in the morning I always  heard a beautiful music from a little birds that always come near me and sing a beautiful song that reminds me the Vaikuntha planet. In another day when we  working a whole night…we re left  after four o’clock in the morning, and when I come out from the door I saw a beautiful bird singing  little far and he was singing; “Swamiji….in the birds song but the song says in English that, “Krsna is The Supreme Personality of Godhead”. So, I heard the same song, the same music about 10 years ago when I had a little operation a removement of stone and I spend some days in Bombay. But in Bombay by next of my room there’s was a coconut tree, Bombay is also like Bali. And in that coconut tree, this little bird come every day, every day early in the morning I heard the same song, “Swamiji…Krsna is The Supreme Personality  of Godhead”. So what I heard the same song another day in Bali, o…this is a message…massage, a bird from Vaikunta planet. Therefore, that Krsna Consciousness is the culture of Vaikuntha, people in Vaikunthaloka.

There is also a beautiful song, I will sing a song. The song called arunodaya kirtan, actually sung when the sun is coming… rising…the rising sun. So the meaning is ..very beautiful (Guru Maharaja read song’s the translation);

“As the rising sun colored the eastern horizon. Lord Gaurasundara, the jewel of twice born woke up. Gathering his devotees around him, he went to walk in the town of Nadia. The mrdangga made tathai…tathai sounds…tathai is the name of the language of mrdanga ..and the cymbals played along rhythmically. The lord’s golden limbs tremble with ecstasy  of divine love and his ankle bell jingle.

And the lord explained to his followers, just chant the name of Krsna, Mukunda, Madhava, Yadava and Hari. Your night has wasted in useless sleep and your day is lost in decorating your body. Then He says, having received this human body that we so difficult to attain, why do u still remain unconscious of this value. If you do not worship the son of Mother Yasoda now, then you regretted in the time of death.

When the rising sun sets u become anxious because another day has in lost, why then do you remain idol and lordships the lord of your heart. The essentials thing to know is that life is temporary and full of dangerous. Therefore, take shelter of the holy name with great care, while continuing  to do your own occupation or duty.

Then He says, desiring to bring auspiciousness to all souls, the holy name has descended into this material world to remove darkness and ignorance and to shine in the sky of heart. And Bhaktivinod says, please give Bhaktivinoda life by drinking the pure nectar of holy name. There is nothing more value in this fourteen worlds other than holy name”.

Jai jai harinama mahasankirtana ki..jai…

Hare krsna…hare krsna…hare krsna…jai..jai harinama mahasankirtana ki…jai..

Harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam, kalau nastyeva nastyeva nastyeva gathir anyatha. Jai Srila Prabhupada ki..,Jai Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu ki..jai..jai Vaikuntha Bhakta Vaishnava Vrnda ki jai…Gaura Premanande…

Udilo aruna purabe-bhage (Maharaja singing arunodaya kirtana song with devotees)

Hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

Prema dhavani…then Guru Maharaja speaks again;

“Hare krsna, somehow the sun also coming, the lakes on the right side and the trees also enjoying. Vaikuntha is like that…very peaceful, Vaikuntha mean peace, Vaikuntha means place there is anxiety and no worry. So Krsna consciousness is a training how to enter Vaikuntha world. So therefore this is the most, highest, the most important culture. Therefore we have to learn how to remain very steady, steady means dhira, dhira means very very peaceful in ourselves and peaceful with everyone…So the culture of how became dhira, dhira means very stable, very balance, balance life, and also always taking the blessing the higher authorities is the essence of Krsna Consciousness.

So I m very happy to see devotees from Singaraja…some devotees come from Singaraja right? Can you rise your hand? Id like to thank all of u for coming, by your sincere prayer there is good day today, and no rain this time. Yesterday we have in Klungkung but the rain was very very strong. So we have a special blessing today from…because the authority of Vaikuntha, so therefore the lord blessing us. Very nice.

So I m leaving actually the day after tomorrow morning. This trip is unplanned trip. Then the messages came that I must go for doing some duties, an important duties. I just leave  even I leave my luggage in Calcutta, but  I only came by my dhoti. So this duty was to do something, to organize some program, a more  important preaching, preaching duty in Bali. It s takes two more day to complete. And our…some of our devotees working hard so they don’t sleep for last three or four day, and they only take one glass water every day. They working very hard, but they doing well, finished. So, many of you also contributed something because it is required. I d like thanks all of u for your contribution because contribution is required for completing this work. So please stay well, I intend to return maybe in summer time, summer means around July and I will stay in longer time..will do a lot of programs.

And I want to make announcement that this year from April, I m touring with cultural group from Manipur, I taking more than 20 artist to around USA, drumming, martial arts. Anybody who doesn’t agree I also have martial arts groups…so this is martial arts function (laughter). I will stay about three month until May-June, July I will come and we also plans to invite many artist from all around the world…this is due to invite for opening festival in  Manipur, 2007.  I like to request all of you, to come in Manipur temple opening, 2007 in month of October.

So I suggested to by one boat. You can from here come to harbour in Calcutta, Calcutta is  nearby. It takes about 25 days by boat (laughter). And when u came to Calcutta you said that you are from Manipur, Manipuris. So there is no visa required. They will very happy, then you said that you coming from Bombay for special picnic and now coming in Calcutta. So in this way  please plans. If you don’t find a boat, you can take helicopter…and there will be a very big  festivals…very nice festivals.

Our four devotees from Bali that already in Manipur trying to finished, and they said not to leave Manipur until the temple finished. So by this preparation  pursuing, so please plans from now. But there are also cheap flight if you go by the other way. There are flight…we have like Asia Air, Jet Star…is Dhira Kesava here? Dhira Kesava at this year in Vrndavan recently going by that flight. Also Malaysia airline…very cheap. Many ways  to going there. So Please plans. It will be very cold at this time, Manipur is like this…like this cold. This invitation you keep in mind and you save one rupiah (Indonesian Currency) every day…(laughter), by that way there’s no many problem.

I’m very happy that to see, and also able to come for few days and see all of you. So in Vrndavan a few days ago many devotees gather together and had a very nice program. About many devotees said that they want to do again in Bali, they wants to come to Bali. And also the other group also said, “maharaja we want to go to Bali”, URI also said “maharaja arrange something that we all want to going to Bali”. And our science group from around the world, they call me “Dr Singh you arrange program in Bali, we wants to come to Bali”. Bali is very…I always ask everyone, you come to Bali than you get peace. So, therefore many important program make on, and this program that we are trying to completed is just to facilitate that…we can do some nice program. Because you have so many young devotees, we want to engage all of you very nicely so that you always remain busy. And also we will begin a very nice school for the children. I look so many children, but the school  will be  an English medium school. So that, not only school but we will have all the activities of  Vaikuntha. That means Vedic culture, Vedic culture activities…there will be art and culture, Balinese is very nice in art. And a very important music, musical courses, and philosophy abut Krsna Consciousness. And even prasadam…international prasadam. We will bring recipes from Vaikuntha, Vaikuntha recipes. Vaikuntha recipes was…you know  there is a very nice big…big red gulab jamun, and we will have a nice preparation from black rice, palm sugar…that’s all Vaikunta items. So therefore we plan …if you have some government friend, we need at least 50 acre of lands. So We will have a very nice campus and will have a wonderful program, and all the scientist around the world will come and join the program. This is our prayer and by Prabhupada blessing, please pray so that you remain healthy and strong, become remain  strong Krsna Conscious following the principles, and in this way we can gone nicely in Krsna Consciousness.

I think we should walk now for a little right? Make little…I saw the gate was quiet nice, I want to take a picture there because I taking some sample here to finish  our temple in Manipur. Because when we  sitting, it is good to do some exercise. In Vaikuntha…all the inhabitants of Vaikuntha always do some spiritual exercise…(laughter)

Jai Srila Prabhupada ki..jai..

Jai Srila Bhaktisvarupa Damodar Svami Maharaja ki…jai..

End.

Dear Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances.  All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

All glories to your on this most auspicious day of your Vyasapuja.

I remember Gurumaharaja inviting me to Manipur when I was in Mayapur with him.  He very much appreciated my trumpet playing in the kirtan.

One year I was in charge of organizing the kirtans in the morning of the Mayapur festival.  I was trying to book Maharaja for Mangal Arotik.  He was staying in the ashram in Navadwipa, so it was challenging to facilitate him to come to perform kirtan for the pleasure of Sri Sri Radha Madhava and the devotees.

Maharaja asked me if anyone had been booked for Mangal Arotik on Gaura Purnima.  I said no, and asked him if he would grace the occasion.  Maharaja mercifully agreed.  On the day of the blessed appearance of Lord Gauranga, Maharaja and a team of kirtaniyas from Manipur appeared in the temple like denizens of the spiritual world.  Maharaja sang so beautifully, that it melted the hearts of everyone.

After the prema dvani prayers (jaya om visnu pada…), there was some action of yoga maya (or my incompetence as organizer of the kirtans) and there was some confusion as to who would lead the Nrsimhadeva Arotik.  Maharaja was there to save me and he mercifully lead the Nrsimhadeva Arotik as well, to the great pleasure of all of the devotees present.

Maharaja arranged for my Manipur visa, no easy feat, because USA citizens like myself are not easily facilitated.  I arrived in Imphal just after the Mayapur Gaura Purnima Festival, and we began a daily Holi sankirtan festival.

The devotees had been expertly planning for months.  There was a bus and several cars, including one that Maharaja was riding in.  There was a map and every day around forty houses were selected in the same vicinity for harinama.  Approximately twenty houses received the harinama party before lunch and twenty after lunch.

Maharaja was a vibrant ball of energy, leading the devotees from house to house.  Upon reaching the traditional Manipuri home, devotees would bow down to the Tulasi plant in the center of the courtyard and begin to sing and dance, chanting the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra.  After the kirtan came to a crescendo, the devotees would again bow down to Tulasi.  The hosts would bring out simple snack prasadam like bananas, apple slices, and sweet juices for the devotees.  One senior devotee would have a receipt book, and receive a donation for the new temple project.  The hosts would offer their respects to Maharaja, and he gracefully reciprocated with them.

On the fourth day of the Holi festival, we went to a beautiful home, high in the mountains.  There was a gorgeous temple of Jaganatha with an opulent and spacious kirtan mandap.  Here Maharaja personally sang the kirtan, and I had the feeling that I had left the material world, and entered in the spiritual world.  The atmosphere of the mountains, low clouds and mist, devotees swaying to and fro in the kirtan, and the auspicious darshan of Lord Jagannatha created a transcendental atmosphere.

I remember another time Maharaja had come to Mayapur with 108 drummers.  That drum exhibition created a power experience in my heart.  Later, when I was in Kumba Mela, Maharaja also arrived with the same team.  Daily we would all go for Harinama Sankirtan throughout the Kumba Mela.  Maharaja and Manipur Drummers would always create a musical and colorful spectacle, attracting large crowds of both visitors to the Kumba Mela, as well as all sorts of sadhus, local and otherwise.

On one of the big bathing days, I remember that for some time Maharaja was carrying our small murti of Srila Prabhupada, then the murti was passed into my care.  It was my greatest honor and pleasure to carry Srila Prabhupada, passed into my care by Maharaja.

May the instructions and memories of Maharaja, as well as his continued personal guidance to his sincere followers, continue to enthuse us our devotional service in the mission of his beloved Srila Prabhupada.

Begging for your mercy and compassion,

A speck of dust at your lotus feet,

Dasanudas, ekalavya das

On July 14, 2000 Sripada Maharaja was travelling with a few of his friends and devotees from Orlando to Savanna, Atlantic coast, Georgia, U.S.A. The trip was to request some of the important friends in Savanna to help raise some funds for the University of Bhagavata Culture. The Night was spent in a motel run by people from India. The next morning, July 15, he got up by 4 a.m. Still feeling friend, he again went to bed. At that time, in a half-sleeping state he saw vividly Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura lying on a bed in the corner of the room. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura was very happy and enthusiastic about the University of Bhagavata culture envisioned by Maharaja by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada.The appearance of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura in Maharaja’s vision reminds us of the following famous saying of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura:

“He reasons ill who say that vaishnavas die when thou art living still in sound! The vaishnavas die to live, and living try to spread the holy name around.”

Here What was Sripada Maharaj wrote on His Diary:

Got up at 4:00 am & gain was lying because I was tired

From Orlando to Savanna, Ga

6:55 a.m. Savanna july 15, 2000

Saturday

I saw Srila Bhaktisiddanta S. Prabhupada in my vision. He was lying on a bed. I requested him for an appointment (darsan) either before 9:00 a.m. or after 9:00 a.m. after lunch for advice in devotional life as well as about the University of Bhagavata Culture that I am building in Imphal. Srila Bhaktisidhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada was in a very jolly mood. I was on his right side and just like a little child is embraced by the grand father, he embraced me by his right hand and he asked me let’s go to Manipur and discuss and you also invite your Guru Maharaja Srila Prabhupada in Manipur. We will go together. Then I said we will also discuss about this journey. Then in my mind I was thinking how to arrange the vyasa-asana for both Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada and my Guru Maharaja

B.S. Damodara Swami

Sripada Kirtan

]]> http://www.sripadanectar.com/the-magical-kirtan.html/feed 0 http://www.sripadanectar.com/glorification-from-sesa-prabhu.html http://www.sripadanectar.com/glorification-from-sesa-prabhu.html#comments Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:35:32 +0000 Sripada http://www.sripadanectar.com/?p=115 Sesa Prabhu: I take it as a very great honor that I can sit before you today to speak a little bit about His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami. As I do so, I remember my godbrother, His Grace Bhojadeva Prabhu. I want to mention his name because he was actually our godbrother, Srila Prabhupada’s disciples’ godbrother, that was very, very close to His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja. Actually he was sitting on the stage on Janmastami in Manipur when the terrorist attack happened and the bomb blast took place. Bhojadeva is a rather big person. He took a lot of the shrapnel from those bombs shielding His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja and preventing more serious injury from happening to him. Of course he himself was very seriously injured. Fortunately now, by the grace of Lord Krsna, he is recovering. I know he would like to be here today to speak about Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja, so I hope that I can do some service to him and Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja by saying a few words here today.

I think that all of us should realize the significance of the loss that we are experiencing by the departure of His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja. He was, and his relationship with His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was very, very special. It taught us a very, very special lesson about the relationship between Guru and disciple.

Srila Prabhupada was very, very fond of His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja. Of course, the spiritual master is very fond of all his disciples, that is not to be questioned, but sometimes we see a very, very special relationship that exists between the spiritual master and one of his disciples. In ordinary material life, such a special affection is the cause of envy for others, but in spiritual relationships, the matter is different.

Whatever pleases the Lord, whatever pleases the spiritual master is the life and soul of all the disciples, of all the devotees. So if one can be pushed forward that offers special pleasure to the spiritual master, that is everyone’s pleasure. In my mind, His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja had this type of a relationship with Srila Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada would actually call for him, “Where is our scientist?” Whenever he wanted to have some fun debating about smashing the scientists, he always wanted His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja to be there. “What do they say?” he would always ask him, call him very affectionately.

Of course we know that Srila Prabhupada, his point in discussing the scientists and their belief system and how they’ve gained control in the world was more than just a mere joking session. It was a very, very key essential part of his preaching Krsna consciousness all over the world to destroy the hold, the grip that these materialistic scientists have on the minds and hearts of modern civilization.

Therefore, when he got a disciple like His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja, who was a scientist, who was trained by them, who could understand their arguments, and who was so surrendered to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, he was very, very pleased by that.

He therefore called him, trained him, grilled him, provided all the instruction, all the support that he needed to be a key player in Srila Prabhupada’s plan to change this world. They had a very, very special relationship. And all of us whose life and soul it is to please His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada have lost something with the departure of His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja.

So the question now becomes, how do we go forward? This is more and more becoming the unfortunate task of those of us who remain behind as our beloved Godbrothers one by one depart to serve Srila Prabhupada in other places. Our task is to remain faithful to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, his mission, his vision, and to try to support that and participate in that mission in whatever way that we can.

Clearly, Srila Prabhupada wanted this materialistic science to be defeated. Clearly and very affectionately, he trained His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja to do that. Clearly, it is our duty to try to further that work which was so dear to both of them.

I know that during the last year of his presence with us here in this material world, His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja became more and more and more determined and fixed on the instructions, the very specific instructions, that Srila Prabhupada had given him about this type of scientific preaching. I had the great fortune to be involved in debate with him about such instructions. Of course, that is very insolent of me to feel that I can debate with my senior godbrother, sannyasi, but somehow or other, by Krsna’s arrangement, I was put in that situation. The great lesson I learned from that was that I should be so fixed to instructions given by Srila Prabhupada as Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja was fixed to the instruction given to him by Srila Prabhupada.

I think that none of us will be prepared at any time for such a wonderful Vaisnava to depart, but if we can separate ourselves from the feelings of anguish at his departure and we can look at it objectively–I don’t know that looking at it objectively is what we’d want to do, we’d rather look at it in a more heartfelt way–but if we did try to look at it objectively, if we could do that, we would have to say that he, no matter what the circumstances were, was fixed, irremovably fixed, at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada and that such departure was indeed timely. Timely in the sense that he was so fixed.

We can only pray to Srila Prabhupada, Sri Sri Radha Madhava, that at the time we leave this world, we can be as fixed in the determination to serve Srila Prabhupada as His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja was when he left this mortal world.

Hare Krsna.

Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja ki jai!

taken from

http://mayapurlectures.blogspot.com/2007/02/memorial-program-for-hh-bhaktisvarupa.html

Devarsi Prabhu: So my name is Devarsi Das. I received initiation from Srila Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja in 1992 in New Mayapur in France. The day that he gave me initiation, it was re-initiation for me, I asked him to come to the Padayatra in south of France. He accepted. Two-three days after, we were riding to south of France. At that time he had his cane, so it was a little difficult for him to walk on Padayatra. We had very simple accommodation. I invited him to stay in the room I was renting in the south of France. It was about eight meters square room. It was a place for one bed and one mat and a little kitchen. Actually, from the beginning he showed me what is simplicity. He accepted to stay in the bed where I was sleeping before and I was sleeping just on the mat. His simplicity was quite extraordinary. I have always seen this quality in him.

Since Jayapataka Maharaja spoke quite a lot about his different services in ISKCON and his scientific preaching, I may speak a little about different qualities that I have seen in him. One quality that impressed me a lot was his humility. He very often reminded me of this verse:

trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih.

He really exemplified this verse in his life.

I remember one time in Manipur, we were visiting one of his former teachers in a very small school. The teacher was about seventy-five, eighty years old. Immediately as soon as he saw his teacher, he paid full dandavats to his former teacher.

He was so tolerant about life because many of his disciples, including myself, we are not so qualified so we are making quite a lot of mistakes. Like a father, he was always guiding us and always helping us to develop tolerance. On time I asked him in Calcutta, I was also in the Congress in 1997, I asked what is possible to do for the French devotees. He said, “They need to be the tolerant, so maybe I can invite them all to come for five years to Calcutta to learn tolerance!”

He was very joyful, very humorous. Actually in my observation, he was really a perfect gentleman. I have never seen him really angry, even in some disaster. He showed me and he showed to us real Krsna consciousness. It was a question of consciousness. He was so busy working, serving his own spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, and a huge toll to present Krsna consciousness to the scientific world. He very peacefully, with a lot of determination and a lot of joy, he was really working a lot, a lot, a lot. Calcutta was his place of work, really.

Prasada Prabhu at the end is going to tell us what was the last days in his life, how he was experiencing something quite special.

One day I was in Calcutta with him. I got the opportunity to get some books from BI and to go to Calcutta to distribute some books in Ultadanga, BI books. He was very pleased to see that it was possible, that people door to door, shop to shop were able to appreciate the books and took some books. He put a lot of emphasis in these books about Bhaktivedanta Institute, about this scientific preaching, about God is a person, about all these things.

Personally, I am quite inspired all that he has done in his life and also for me and also for many non-devotees I know. He has been able to touch the heart of many, many people, actually. Not in a big way like that, but in a very subtle and very deep and very profound way.

Now two days ago I was in Radha Kunda in his samadhi. If you want to know a little more about him, I can invite you to come to Radha Kunda to his samadhi in Gopaldeva Mandir because it was the place he really wanted to be. Although he never stayed there in Radha Kunda, it was the place that was the object of his meditation. You are most welcome to Gopaldeva Mandir in Radha Kunda.

Hare Krsna.

Srila Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja ki jai!

http://mayapurlectures.blogspot.com/2007/02/memorial-program-for-hh-bhaktisvarupa.html

Jayapataka Swami: Every year, at the New Panihati festival in Atlanta, we have a Prabhupada lila-smarana festival of his visit there. Svarupa Damodara Maharaja was there when Prabhupada was there and he would come to this lila-smarana festival. So we heard from different devotees also how much Prabhupada showered his mercy up on him. There are pictures of him receiving Prabhupada at his car.

He was a VIP devotee. His special service was cultivating VIP’s, especially the scientists. We showed a number of his disciples in Bali and different parts of the world some slides we have of him. He also was a wonderful sadhu. It is rare to find probably scientists who are sadhus, but he was a super-wonderful sadhu because he was very gentle, very kind.

Once we did a Panihati festival in Prabhupada Desh. His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja, I gave him the first pot of the cida-dadhi. He, normally you get a big pot of this cida-dadhi covered with rasagullas, sandesa, normally what you would do is eat it. But what did he do? He took it and offered it in the mouth of all the devotees. There are pictures of the devotees with their mouths open and he is like birds feeding their babies. He was putting the prasad in their mouth.

He had special tunes, maybe these are Manipuri melodies, he would sing. He reached a very high note. Sometimes we would raise his hand. He had a particular, I can’t imitate it, only he can do it. He would raise his hand and then reach this high note. Then he, changed the tune again sang a part of this particular tune.

Prabhupada, I remember that he said that, I heard, I didn’t see it in writing, but I heard that the Manipuris were somehow descended from the gandharavas. That is why they are such nice singers and dancers, very cultural. His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja was like that, he was a great kirtan leader, singer, wonderful Vaisnava.

Somehow he was very kind to me always. He invited me to his World Congress Conference for the Synthesis of Science and Religion, both the one in Bombay and the one in Calcutta. I was studying science when I was in university, but I dropped out and joined Prabhupada’s university. Prabhupada didn’t tell me to keep studying because I was only in my freshman year. So my sophomore year I spent in ISKCON, but Prabhupada had him finish his study and get his PhD and use it.

Somehow he brought me and I tried to do what service I could do discussing with the scientists. One of the Nobel prize scientists in Calcutta, he was the discoverer of the laser. This is how much influence Maharaja had on him, he said, “I came to this function where 20 years ago I would never come, I would never dream, I would say that someone is crazy that I would be sitting here, a scientist, physicist, with religionists discussing about science.”

But because the scientists, the physicists, at least, I can’t speak for the chemists, the physicist, he came, “As quantum mechanics, quantum theory, now we have gone beyond the classical physics. These little particles act like people. I was hearing from Maharaja how this is, the Vedas have knowledge about consciousness in a scientific way, so I’m here to hear about it, I’m here to discuss it.”

So in this way, Maharaja in his tenacious and humble way, he would go and discuss with different scientists and he would convince them to some degree, I don’t know how much, but they would definitely come to his conferences they were influenced. He would influence them to be open to read the Vedas, to read Prabhupada’s books, to come to the conferences. He was having a great impact.

He also was a member of the World Parliament of Religions. He never invited me for one of those, so I don’t know exactly what happened, maybe someone else could speak later. He was very versatile.

I remember one time I was walking with Prabhupada and Svarupa Damodara Maharaja, maybe it was in Bhubaneshwar somewhere, I can’t remember now, Svarupda Damodara Maharaja was saying, “If we can influence the scientists, they are the people who are most respected in the world day, everyone follows science.”

Prabhupada was saying, “Yes, if you can convince the scientists, we can change the world.”

I am a Namahatta preacher, I am trying to get to the masses, so I was saying, “Well, it is very hard to convince the scientists. If we can convince all the people, maybe they’ll be more selective about what they accept from the scientists.”

Prabhupada told me, “Yes, if you can get people to come up to the scientists and say, ‘I don’t believe your theory of Darwin,’ that will be a big thing.”

But then he would go and convince Svarupa Damodara. It was like some kind of a game Prabhupada was playing, but he won. Svarupa Damodara won. Convincing scientists was considered more. . . but I got some good encouragement also.

Svarupda Damodara Maharaja, we were together in many places, but he was able to do things pretty much on his own. Sometimes he would call for help, but generally that was just his mercy. He was a very capable person.

Prabhupada told him to make Manipur a Vaisnava state. It was already a Vaisnava state, but to revive it to its full glory. I had the opportunity to go to Manipur and see. They have what is called Vijaya Govinda deities.

Sometimes he would serve the GBC special Manipuri meals. It’s been a long time since that happened. But he would give this special, they have blue rice in Manipuri. Manipur is like seven mountain ranges. In the middle there are two big lakes. What are they called, the Duck Lake or something? The main flower of this lake is lotus, so lotus is one of the main dietary parts of Manipur. He would feed the GBC’s lotus stems and lotus preparations and this blue rice. Especially when you make the blue rice, it is a sweet rice. It tastes like blueberries. Like this, he was introducing so much culture.

He was so dedicated to Prabhupada. we were discussing that even in the last moments, he was just thinking, “How can I please Prabhupada?” He was completely dedicated to being in ISKCON and please Srila Prabhupada.

There is some, Prabhupada told him especially do this kind of cultivating of scientists. Svarupda Damodara told me how he had this program in Rome in some special hall where once a year all the top scientists get together and have some program. The mayor of Rome gave it to him to also have a program. They had a number of scientists and devotees speaking. It was so successful that the mayor said, “You can have it every year.” It is a very prestigious venue.

I think my time is up. I don’t know who is trained up to follow in his footsteps, who can do the wonderful service he was doing. We were all expecting him to be with us for twenty, thirty years more at least. It is a big loss for all of us. He was very dear to all the Vaisnavas.

His Divine Grace Svarupa Damodara Swami Maharaja ki jai!

taken from

http://mayapurlectures.blogspot.com/2007/02/memorial-program-for-hh-bhaktisvarupa.html

Srila Sripada february 2006, pelajaran  diksa,  Sri Navadvipa

Ini adalah rahasia sukses: jika seseorang mengikuti perintah-perintah guru kerohanian dengan sangat tulus, maka segala sesuatunya akan menjadi datang atu teratur dengan sendirinya. Jika seseorang tidak melaksanakannya maka akan ada banyak masalah yang akan datang.

Srila Sripada

Februari 2006. pelajaran diksa di Sri Navadvipa Dham

The  order of the spiritual master is the active principle in spiritula life. Anyone who disobeys the order of the spiritual master immediately becomes useless

(Cc Adi 12.10)

Perintah sang guru kerohanian merupakan suatu prinsip yang aktif dalam kehidupan spiritual. Siapa pun yang tidak menaati perintah guru kerohanian maka segera itu ia menjadi (murid) yang tidak berguna.

(Cc Adi 12.10)

Ketika kita merasakan perpisahan dari Krishna atau Guru Kerohanian, sebaiknya kita hanya mencoba mengingat kata-kata yang menjadi perintahnya dan kita tak lai merasakan perpisahan itu.

(Namamrita 2b.15)

Guru kerohanian hidup selamanya dengan perintah-perintah sucinya dan para pengikut hidup bersamanya

(surat Srila Prabhupad kepada Citrananda 11/15/73)

Let’s sing together

Let’s chant together

Harinama mahamantra

The nectar of kali yuga

Time and tide shall wait for none

All kith and kin

All dear and near one

Will be swept one day

In the current of time

Serving the spiritual master

Worshipping Sri Sri Radha-Shyam

Let’s sing together

Harinama mahamantra

To attain love of God

]]> http://www.sripadanectar.com/lets-sing-and-chant-together.html/feed 0 http://www.sripadanectar.com/he-is-not-ordinary-man.html http://www.sripadanectar.com/he-is-not-ordinary-man.html#comments Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:59:10 +0000 Sripada http://www.sripadanectar.com/?p=64 by Srila Prabhupada

The Following Glories Of Srila Sripada Maharaja was spoken by Srila Prabhupada when he gave Bhagavatam Lecture. This Quote type and sent By Abhimany das.

(Hare Krnsa. I was watching a DVD of Srila Prabhupada giving a Srimad Bhagavatam class (S.B.1.2.17) at New Vrndavan in 1974 and about mid-lecture he was glorifying his disciple Dr. Swarupa Damodara-dasa. I would like to include this excerpt here-Abhimanyu Das)

…”Just like one big scientist,our disciple, Dr. Swarup Damodar-dasa, M.S., Ph.D. He as dedicated his very advanced scientific book, we cannot even utter the words! He is a big scientist, advocated by many universities. Harvard University, Calcutta University. Here in Boston University and then again, California University. He is not ordinary man, but he admits in his dedication that: “I dedicate this book to my spiritual master, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, because he has given me the real knowledge that Krsna is the origin of everything.” Now, I am not a scientist, but I could teach a scientist, or convince him, that Krsna is the origin of everything. Unless he is convinced that Krsna is the origin of everything, how he has written this? So many scientist will challenge him, but he is prepared to accept the challenge. So, how it was possible for me to convince a big scientist? The fact is, as I have stated, that if you understand Krsna then you can teach even the greatest scientist, the greatest philosopher, the greatest politician, everybody. That is Krsna Consciousness. You don’t require to be a great scientist to teach a great scientist. But if you simply understand Krsna, then you’ll be able to teach even the greatest scientist, the greatest philosopher, anyone let them come. We shall teach him. We shall become their teacher. We challenge! Why? Because we know a little of Krsna…….Just like this scientist, he has surrendered. His study of science is perfect……”

Srila Prabhupada Ki Jaya!
Srila Sripada Ki Jaya!
Sri Krsna Bhagavan Ki Jaya!