The Scientific Preacher Departs...

As we already heard the sad news about the disappearance of H.H. Bhakti Svarupa Damodara Goswami, one of ISKCON's initiating spiritual master. Although Maharaja had left his body on 2nd of October at around 12:15 AM, We are very sorry that we could not upgrade the blog instantly due to some technical and upgradation problems.

Before Bhakti Svarupa Damodara Maharaj met Srila Prabhupada, he was undertaking a pHD in Southern California, USA. Srila Prabhupada use to counteract all of the scientific arguments given by Bhakti Svarupa Damodara Maharaj. Bhakti Svarupa Damodara Maharaja then decided to surrender to and follow Srila Prabhupada and was given the duty of preaching to the scientists by Srila Prabhupada.

According to Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja, he was "the scientific preacher" of ISKCON and has written many wonderful books meant for the academic world. His leaving is a great loss to the world.

Soon, There will be a time when there will no longer be any Srila Prabhupada's direct disciples on this planet. So we must take the opportunity as much as possible to serve and associate with such exalted devotees. Here is a memorable verse which comes to mind:

'sadhu-sanga, sadhu-sanga-sarva-sastre kaya

lava-matra sadhu-sange sarva-siddhi haya'

"The verdict of all revealed scriptures is thatby

even a moment's association with a pure

devotee, one can attain all success."

{Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 22.54}

Krishna's Arrangement- True Story

By Avayanga Das

We all are fortunate and blessed to be a part of International Society for Krishna Consciousness “Family of Srila Prabhupada”. We keep immense faith in mercy of Lord Krishna and his arrangements for his devotees. Of and on we get to know about the real life experiences of devotees, and today I am taking an opportunity to share such an experience with you. It was experienced by a devotee recently. It was a usual Sunday for Madhava (name has been changed on request). After meeting his weekend chores, he headed for Iskcon, East of Kailash, New Delhi on his bike. He could feel some mechanical problem with his bike but careless for such an issue he continued his ride to meet Sri Sri Radha Parthasarthy. After darshans he attended IYF Class, Gaura Aarti and Bhakti Vriksha. The day was about to end for Madhava and he walked towards parking area. To the heights of his surprise he found a mechanical glitch in his bike. He couldn’t start his bike even after putting many efforts. First he thanked god for not letting this glitch interrupt his ride from home to temple, otherwise he would miss his IYF class. It was 9:30 p.m. and he had to travel a long distance, so he decided to park his bike inside the temple and go home by bus. Monday was a working day for him and he could not think of a possible situation to visit temple and get his bike repaired. It was also difficult for him to leave his bike till next weekend. He decided to look for a mechanic around and started to drag his bike. Generally he takes the way that goes to Okhla flyover but his inner conscious asked him to take the other way that goes to Greater Kailash. Unaware of the way and possibility of finding a mechanic he continued dragging his bike. After going little further, he was glad to find a bike mechanic in his workshop. The mechanic (Abdul Khan) was about to close the shop but agreed to attend Madhava’s call. Abdul said “I close my shop by 8:30 p.m. but today I stayed back for some work”. Later he found that Magnetic ignition coil was damaged and had to be changed. It was late night and not possible to arrange that spare part to repair the bike. Madhava decided to leave his bike with the mechanic for repair and will collect it the next day. All of a sudden Abdul realized that he had a spare coil kept for one of his customers who was supposed to come for his bike repair. Because he did not turn up during the day, the unused coil kept safe with him. He asked his helper to get the new coil and change it with the damaged one. Abdul asked for Rs. 200 from Madhava for repair. Madhava put his hand into his pocket to get the money and realized that his wallet was missing. He was in such a position where he didn’t know what to do. He informed Abdul that he didn’t have money. Abdul asked him to call someone and arrange for money if possible, but nothing worked. Helpless Madhava was upset and opened the front zipper of his jacket, which would reveal his bead bag hung in his neck. Abdul looked at that and asked if he belonged to Iskcon. Madhava replied positively. Abdul took over the charge of this conversation and started telling him about one of his very good customers who is an Iskcon devotee. He said his name was “Amit Ghosh”. Madhav’s eyes shined and said “I know Amit Ghosh Prabhu, he is my dear friend”. Abdul asked him few things about Amit Ghosh Prabhu. After Madhava confirmed and gave details about Amit Ghosh Prabhu, Abdul was very happy. He offered him a chair to sit and said “Now you don’t worry about the money, you have given reference of such a person that I need not to worry about my money”. Please take your bike and pay me when you visit Iskcon next time. Madhava couldn’t say anything but thanked him many times and started for home. He had no words to express his gratitude for Krishna. He offered his heartiest obeisance to his beloved lord many times. His was simply amazed by experiencing Krishna’s Arrangement.

Hare Krishna!

Srila Gurudeva listens – A true story

By A v y a n g a D a s


Hare Krishna to you all devotees,

Please accept my humble obeisance,

All glories to Sri Guru & Sri Gauranga,

I am taking an opportunity to share an incident that happened to one of our devotees today. I feel that sharing such experiences strengthen our faith in Lord Krishna and also prove our intimate relation with Him…

It was the auspicious day of Pandava Nirjala Ekadashi, a special day for Madhava (name has been changed on request) and all vaisnava devotees who engage in spiritual services for the pleasure of their Gurus to get mercy of Sri Sri Radha Krishna. Like all other devotees, Madhava was observing total fasting (nirjala fasting) on this day. He spent the major part of the day in best of his moods, serving deities, chanting and reading Prabhupada's vani. It was evening when he started to think about leaving his office for the day and visiting Iskcon temple on the way back home. "When there is a desire (spiritual), goal is not far…"

After winding up for the day he reached Iskcon temple in late evening and had darshans of the presiding deities. He was very happy to enjoy the bliss of his beloved lord who made his visit possible. He started to enjoy ecstatic kirtan and vaisnava bhajans in the temple room. Unaware of hunger and thirst all devotees were enthusiastically participating in kirtan and dance in front of the deities which made him feel immense satisfaction. His desire of visit temple, despite of his busy schedule was fulfilled by the mercy of vaisnavas.

After spending good time at temple he decided to get back home. On his way to temple gate he caught attracted towards a beautiful picture of his Guru Maharaj holding a beautiful deity of Lord Krishna. It was a small size poster pasted on a wall near book shop. This picture was highly appealing, which made him stand for a while and appreciate transcendental glow on the face of his Guru Maharaj (H.H. Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj). He shared a few words of compliment for the pictures with one of his devotee friends standing nearby. He desired to have same picture, little bigger in size to be framed and hung on a wall in his house. With this thought he left for his home.

Next morning, after daily worship he thanked his Guru Maharaj for blessing him with energy to complete fasting. After he had his break-fast he reached his office and started his routine job. Around 11:00 a.m. he received a call from one of his colleague who is also a follower of Mahaprabhu's mission (Iskcon). She wanted to meet him urgently and discuss about something. He went downstairs to meet her, where he found her waiting for him with another friend. They had something placed on the table, which was covered with a paper. After meeting, they handed over that covered object to him and said "It is a surprise spiritual gift for you. We were planning to gift you something for long but today we found a thing which is eye-catching". Madhava was hesitant but he had to accept this gift from these devotee friends.

After he unwrapped the gift, we was stunned for a while and had nothing to say but to accept it readily without any hesitation because it was the same picture of his Guru Maharaj, which he admired the previous day and wished to have one placed in his house. He was overwhelmed to experience that his Gurudeva took no time in fulfilling his spiritual desire. This picture was much bigger in size than the one he saw and also beautifully framed. What else he wanted except this in his life (like a blind man got eye-sight).

chakhu-dan dilo jei, janme janme prabhu sei
divya-jnan hride prokashito
prema-bhakti jaha hoite, avidya vinasha jate
vede gay jahara chariot

(Meaning: He (Guru Maharaj) opens my darkened eyes and fills my heart with transcendental knowledge. He is my Lord birth after birth. From him ecstatic prema emanates; by him ignorance is destroyed. The Vedic scriptures sing of his character.)

He thanked his friends many times and came back to his cabin with this transcendental picture in his hands and few drops in his eyes. He was simple moved by the causeless mercy showered by his Guru Maharaj. He paid many heartiest obeisances to his spiritual master and said "My beloved Gurudeva, you listen to your disciple's unspoken desires...you are the best!!!"

This transcendental incident added another milestone to his faith on his surrender to his spiritual master towards the journey back home – back to godhead.

Jai Srila Prabhupada… Jai Srila Bhagvatpada…

Above was a small effort to explain the experience. I fall short with words to explain such an incident. Please forgive me for my errors.