1

2
 “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 financial resources and we shall spare nothing to see this party’s success.” – Srila
Prabhupada (Letter to Amarendra, 1977)

3
 …Contents…
1. Invocation prayers 5

2. Sri Vyasa Puja Lecture by HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta

Swami Prabhupada 7

3. Vyasa Puja Offering 1979 by HDG. Sripada

Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami 12

4. Sevanjali - Homages by Disciples, Well- 28

Wishers and Friends
Abhaya Khajuria 21; Abhimanyu dasa 23; Amarendra das Brahmachari 24;
Ananda Murti das 25; Bhojadeva dasa 26; Brajgopal das 27; Devarshi dasa
28; Devananda Pandit das, Judith & Kids 29; Dusarigopal 30; Hari Mohan
das 31; Jaganmohini devi dasi 34; Kadambari devi dasi 36; Kamala devi
dasi 37;Lilarani devi dasi 38; Lilavati devi dasi 39; Madhusudan das &
Ekant Vilasini devi dasi 41; Madhur Krishna das 43; Padmalochan das 44;
Param Dhama das 45; Prananatha das 46; Pranavallabha das, Syamcetaki
devi dasi, Saratcandra & Ganga 47; Radhika Nagara das 50; Rama Tulasi
devi dasi 51; Rupachandra das 52; Sacirani devi dasi 53; Singapore devotees
55; Subal Shyam das 56; Shyam das 57; Syamasundar das 58; Svarupa
Siddhi das 58; Tota Gopinanth das 59; Vijaya Govinda das, Radhika devi
dasi, Shruthimala, Kruthimala & Druva 59; Yogindra das 60; Institute of
Science and Religion , Navi Mumbai 61.

5. Sri Sri Guruvastaka pictorial 65

6. A Short Biography 73

4
 nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale
çrémate bhakti-svarüpa dämodara svämén iti nämine

I offer my respectful obeisances onto His Divine Grace Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami Srila
Sripada who is situated at the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu and who is very dear to Lord Krishna.

nama sad-bhakta-manaye manipura-udbhavaya ca

prabhupäda lasad-väni pracara niratäyate

I offer my respectful obeisances unto you, the jewel among the pure cevotees, who has
appeared in the landof Manipur. You are very eagerly engaged in preaching the glorious
message of Srila Prabhupada.

babhruvähana-vamsadbhi somaya subha dåstye

sunyavädi madebhendra simhäya-bhagavata namah

I offer my respectful obeisances onto you who as appeared like the moon in the ocean of the
dynasty of Babruvahana and whose very glance is auspicious. You are like the lion that
overpowers the atheism of the sunyavadis, which is compared to a maddened elephant.

abhayädi gunadaya sad-vijïäna ghanäya ca

navya vaijïana tamas suryaya te namah

I offer my respectful obeisances unto you who are for most in possessing the saintly qualities
like fearlessness, etc. You are like a dense cloud of Absolute Knowledge. You are like the sun
which dissipates the darkness of modern science and technology.

5
6
 SRI VYASA PUJA LECTURE
APPEARANCE DAY OF HDG. BHAKTISIDDHANTA SARASWATI
GOSWAMI PRABHUPADA
by
HDG BHAKTVEDANTA SVAMI PRABHUPADA
Atlanta, March 2, 1975
Prabhupäda: Today is the most auspicious day, 101 years ago, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté
Öhäkura, he appeared on this day. So Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura is gaura-çakti.
Gauraçakti means empowered, empowered by Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Çré Caitanya
Mahäprabhu, He wanted His mission to be broadcast... (aside:) What is that sound? ...all over
the world. He desired:
påthivéte äche yata nagarädi-gräma
sarvatra pracära haibe mora näma

Påthivéte, all over the world, as many towns and villages are there, Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu
predicted that His mission will spread. This prediction was made by Caitanya Mahäprabhu
personally five hundred years ago. So perhaps my Guru Mahäräja, Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté
Öhäkura, attempted to fulfill the desire of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. And sometimes in the
year 1918, he was brahmacäré, and Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura, his material father, he wanted...
Actually, he wanted, Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura... Of course, everyone wanted. But he wrote one
small book, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, Teachings and Precepts of Lord Caitanya, in 1896.
And he presented that book to the McGill University in Canada. And he very much desired
that the foreigners, especially Americans, would join this movement. That was his desire in
1896.

And then, in 1918, my Guru Mahäräja started with this mission one institution known as
Gauòéya Math. Perhaps some of you know the name, Gauòéya Math. And he was trying to
spread this message of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu, and by chance or by prediction, as you think,
I was taken to Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura by one of my friends. I did not want to go
there, but he forcibly took me there. Yes. And he ordered me that "You preach the cult of
Caitanya Mahäprabhu in English language. This is very much essential." So on the first
meeting he told me like that. That was my first meeting with him. So at that time I was in favor
of Gandhi' movement. So I said that "We are not independent—subjugated. Who will hear
about our message?" So Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura refuted my argument. I was very
much pleased. I had so many talks.

But I was very much pleased to be defeated, that "This so-called nationalism or any ism, they
are all temporary. Real need is the self-realization." So I was convinced. But at that time,
although he wanted me to immediately join him and spread this movement, so at that time I
was a married man, young man. I was married in 1918. And I got a son also at that time, 1921.
And in 1922 I met him. At that time I was manager in a big chemical factory. So I thought that
"I am married man. I have got so many responsibilities. How I can join immediately? It is not
my duty." Of course, that was my mistake. I should have joined immediately. (laughter) I
should have taken the opportunity immediately. But mäyä is there. So I thought like that. So
that's a long history.
7
8
Then in 1954, no, not 1954, 1968, when I was fifty-four years old... Nineteen fifty-four, yes.
Nineteen fiftyfour, I was at that time fifty-eight years. So I left home, and I was living alone.
Then, 1958, I took sannyäsa, and then I decided to take up the responsibility of my Guru
Mahäräja. I thought that "My other Godbrothers are trying, so I am not capable to do it. They
are better situated." But somehow or other, they could not do very much, appreciative
activities, in this connection. So when I was seventy years old I decided, "Now I must do and
execute the order of my Guru Mahäräja.

And thus this movement was started in 1965 from New York. And I was not very much
hopeful because it is very difficult task, just opposite the European and Western culture. I
came... When I first came, I had no money. So I got a free passage through some Indian steam
navigation company. So I came by ship. So when I was on the ship at Boston port,
Commonwealth port, I was thinking that "I have come here. I do not know what is the
purpose because how the people will accept this movement? They are differently educated,
and as soon as I will say, 'So, my dear sir, you have to give up meat-eating and illicit sex and
no intoxication and gambling,' they will say, 'Please go home.' " (laughter)

Because that was the experience of one of my Godbrother. He went to London, and he had the
opportunity to talk with one big man, Marquis of Zetland. Marquis of Zetland was formerly
governor of Bengal. At that time I was student. He was Scotsman, and I was student of the
Scottish Churches' College. So he came to see our college, and he was standing in front of me
in the second-year class. So he was very nice, good gentleman. So he proposed to my
Godbrother, "Whether you can make me a brähmaëa?" So my Godbrother proposed, "Yes, we
can make anyone brähmaëa provided you follow this principle: no illicit sex, no intoxication,
no meateating, no gambling." So that Lord Zetland immediately replied, "Impossible."
(laughter)
So I was thinking that "I will propose something which is impossible. Anyway, let me try."
Devotees: Jaya! Haribol! Prabhupäda: So now, by the grace of Kåñëa and Caitanya
Mahäprabhu and in the presence of my Guru Mahäräja, you are so nice boys and girls. So in
front of Caitanya Mahäprabhu you are chanting Hare Kåñëa mantra, and you are taking part in
it very seriously. So my Guru Mahäräja will be very, very much pleased upon you and bless
you with all benefits. So he wanted this, and he is not... It is not that he is dead and gone. That
is not spiritual understanding. Even ordinary living being, he does not die. Na hanyate
hanyamäne çarére [Bg. 2.20].

And what to speak of such exalted, authorized personality like Bhaktisiddhänta. He is seeing. I
never feel that I am alone. Of course, when I came to your country without any friend, without
any means... Practically, just like a vagabond I came. But I had full faith that "My Guru
Mahäräja is with me." I never lost this faith, and that is fact. There are two words, väëé and
vapuù. Väné means words, and vapuù means this physical body. So väëé is more important
than the vapuù. Vapuù will be finished. This is material body. It will be finished. That is the
nature. But if we keep to the väëé, to the words of spiritual master, then we remain very fixed
up. It doesn't matter. Just like Bhagavad-gétä. It was spoken five thousand years ago. But if you
keep to the words of Kåñëa, then it is always fresh and guiding. Not that because Arjuna
personally listened to Kåñëa about the instruction of Bhagavad-gétä, therefore he knew it. That
is not the fact. If you accept Bhagavad-gétä as it is, then you should know that Kåñëa is present
before you in His words in the Bhagavad-gétä. This is called spiritual realization. It is not
mundane historical incidences. If we keep...

9
 evaà paramparä-präptam
imaà räjarñayo viduù
sa käleneha (mahatä)
yogo nañöaù parantapa
[Bg. 4.2]
If you don't keep in touch with the original link, then it will be lost. And if you keep touch
with the original link, then you are directly hearing Kåñëa. Similarly, Kåñëa and Kåñëa's
representative, spiritual master, if you keep always intact, in link with the words and
instruction of the superior authorities, then you are always fresh. This is spiritual
understanding. Na jäyate na mréyate vä kadäcit nityaù çäçvato 'yaà puräëo [Bg. 2.20]. Puräëaù
means very old. Just like Kåñëa, the Supreme Being. He must be very old because He is the
original person. But the Brahma-saàhitä says, advaita acyuta anädi ananta-rüpam ädyaà
puräëa-puruña nava-yauvanaà ca [Bs. 5.33]. Puräëa-puruña, the oldest person, but you
will find Him nava-yauvanaà ca, always a fresh youth. That is God. God is not a material,
that it gets old. The body gets old. So you are hearing this philosophy daily. Try to understand
more and more.

We have got so many books. And this is the mission of Caitanya Mahäprabhu and, by disciplic
succession, Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura, then my spiritual master. Then we are trying our level best.
Similarly, you will also try your level best on the same principle. Then it will go on. Same
principle. It doesn't matter whether one is born in India or outside India. No. When Caitanya
Mahäprabhu said, påthivéte äche yata nagarädi-gräma, "As many towns and cities and villages
are there," He did not say it to make a farce. He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. So
sometimes I am very much criticized that I am making foreigners a brähmaëa. The caste
brähmaëas in India, they are very much against me. But this is not fact. When Caitanya
Mahäprabhu said that all over the world His message will be broadcast, does it mean that it
will be simply a cinema show? No. He wanted that everyone should become perfect Vaiñëava.
That is His purpose. It is not to make a farce, some lecturing and..., or some mutual praising
society. No. It is Krishna Society. Everyone who will join this Krishna Society movement, he is
more than a brähmaëa. Brähmaëa, what is brähmaëa? Brähmaëa is also material. A devotee is
more than brähmaëa. The brahminical culture is included already. Brahma jänätéti
brähmaëaù: "Brähmaëa means one who knows the Absolute Truth, Brahman." He is
brähmaëa. But that is not very fixed up. Brahmeti paramätmeti bhagavän iti çabdyate [SB
1.2.11]. Brahman is impersonal effulgence, and then further progress, realization of the
localized aspect, Paramätmä, Antaryämé, and finally, understanding the Supreme Person,
Kåñëa, Supreme Person, that is the final understanding. So people cannot understand that how
the Supreme, the origin of everything, can be a person. That is their difficulty. Because they are
thinking, "A person, God? How it is possible. God is great, and He is the creator of everything.
How a person can do that?" Yes. That is the Vedic version.
éçvaraù paramaù kåñëaù
sac-cid-änanda-vigrahaù
anädir ädir govindaù
sarva-käraëa-käraëam
[Bs. 5.1]
He is the cause of Brahman. He is the cause of Supersoul. So ordinary man cannot understand.
Avajänanti mäà müòhä mänuñià tanum äçritam [Bg. 9.11]. It requires Kåñëa's grace to
understand Him. So try to receive Kåñëa's grace through the disciplic succession, Caitanya
Mahäprabhu. Then you will understand everything. Yasya deve parä bhaktir yathä deve tathä
gurau [ÇU 6.23]. This is the process, Vedic process. One should have unflinching faith

10
 in God and spiritual master. Don't jump over God, crossing the spiritual master. Then it will
be failure. You must go through. We are observing Vyäsa-püjä ceremony, the birth anniversary
of our Guru Mahäräja. Why? We cannot understand Kåñëa without spiritual master. That is
bogus. If anyone wants to understand Kåñëa, jumping over the spiritual master, then
immediately he becomes a bogus. Therefore Caitanya Mahäprabhu says, guru-kåñëa-kåpäya
päya bhakti-latä-béja [Cc.Madhya 19.151]. That is Vedic injunction. Tad viddhi praëipätena
paripraçnena sevayä [Bg.4.34]. Nobody can understand Kåñëa without going through His
most confidential servant. This is the meaning of this Vyäsa-püjä. You cannot surpass. If you
think that you have become very learned and very advanced, now you can avoid the spiritual
master and you understand Kåñëa, that is the bogus. That is the meaning of this Vyäsa-püjä
ceremony. We should always pray, yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädaù Yasya prasädäd,
only by the grace of spiritual master we can achieve the grace or mercy of Kåñëa. This is the
meaning of this Vyäsa-püjä, offering obeisances by paramparä system.

So you have taken a very nice line of activities, spiritual activities. Of course, as far as possible,
we have tried to give you instruction, books. But remain always faithful to the spiritual master
and try to understand Kåñëa. And if you simply understand Kåñëa, then your life is successful.
Janma karma ca divyaà me yo jänäti tattvataù. The human life is meant for understanding
Kåñëa. That is the perfection of life. Any other so-called understanding, that is simply waste of
time because we are under the grip of the material nature. You may be very learned scholar.
You may be a fool. It doesn't matter. You are under the laws of material nature.

So before finishing this small span of life... We have got this human form of life. It will be
finished, as the cats' and dogs' life also finished. But if we try through the guru and Vaiñëava,
then, we can achieve in this life the full success, not failure like cats' and dogs' life. That is the
opportunity. So as far as possible, we are trying to lead you in this line, and you kindly follow.
Then your life will be successful. That is the mission of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu. He wanted
to deliver these fallen souls, the conditioned souls rotting in this material world. So Kåñëa
Himself...Kåñëa comes Himself, Kåñëa sends His devotees, Kåñëa comes as devotee—just to
execute this mission to reclaim the fallen souls from the clutches of illusory energy, material
world. Thank you very much. (end)

11
 Svarupa Damodara däsa
(H.H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami)
Vyasa Puja 1979
oà ajïäna-timirändhasya jïänäïjana-çaläkayä
cakñur unmélitaà yena tasmai Çré-gurave namaù

Most beloved Çréla Prabhupäda,

I was born in the darkest region of ignorance, yet you, my spiritual master, Oà Viñëupäda 108
Çré Çrémad His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, the founder-äcärya of the
International Society for Krishna Consciousness, have so mercifully opened my eyes with the
torchlight of knowledge. I bow down to your lotus feet again and again. I am eternally
12
indebted to you.

One of the qualities of a pure devotee of Kåñëa is that he is dayära sägara, an ocean of
unlimited mercy. This ocean is exhibited in the form of his léläs, or pastimes, which depict his
humility, compassion, tolerance, forgiveness, and so on. Your Divine Grace is perfect in all
respects. Being your most insignificant servant, I am completely incompetent to describe the
wonderful qualities you exhibitedthrough your pastimes. Still, with your kind permission, and
by your mercy, I shall try.

You displayed the symptoms of a perfect Vaiñëava at different times, especially at the time of
your departure in Våndävana, encircled by your disciples. By your causeless mercy, I was
allowed to participate in personally serving your divine lotus feet just before your departure.
Kindly put me in the mood of that time again and again, so that I can remember your
wonderful qualities constantly. This remembrance will put me directly in touch with Kåñëa,
the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura instructs us as
follows:

yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo

yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto 'pi
dhyäyan stuvaàs tasya yaças tri-sandhyaà
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam

"By satisfying the spiritual master, the Supreme Personality of Godhead becomes satisfied, and
by not satisfying the spiritual master, there is no chance of being promoted to the plane of
Kåñëa consciousness. I should therefore meditate on the spiritual master and pray for his
mercy three times a day, and I should always offer my respectful obeisances unto him." Your
lotus feet are my only shelter, Çréla Prabhupäda. It is my great fortune that the all-merciful
Lord, Çré Kåñëa, allowed me to participate in your activities while you were preparing to depart
for Goloka Våndävana.

It is also my great fortune that you kindly allowed me to assist you in your divine mission. By
simply immersing ourselves in your pastimes, all your children can develop love for and faith
in each other and become completely Kåñëa conscious. You taught us by your personal
example how to develop pure love of Godhead. Your mercy is the eternal thread that ties all of
us together. Again and again I humbly pray to your divine lotus feet that this thread never
weakens. In this way we can all push on your divine movement and thus perfect our lives.

Today is the most glorious day, because on this day you appeared on this earth to save the
fallen millions drowning in the waves of mäyä. You distributed the message of Bhägavata as it
is, just like Çréla Vyäsadeva, the incarnation of Godhead. On this day, kindly allow me to offer
a few remembrances at your divine lotus feet by collecting just a droplet from the ocean of
your wonderful qualities that I experienced at the time of your departure.

Çréla Prabhupäda, I remember that you wanted to make sure that we understood at least
sädhanabhakti, the gateway to full understanding of the goal of knowledge. Time and again
you taught us that the goal of knowledge is Lord Çré Kåñëa, and when we know Kåñëa, we can
go back to Godhead and reach the ultimate goal of life. At every moment you lived the
principles of bhaktivedänta, which means "to attain the goal of knowledge through bhakti,
devotion." I remember how, on the evening of October 21, 1977, you chanted the mahä-
13
mantra very loudly just after drinking some fruit juice. You also chanted çré-kåñëa-caitanya
prabhu nityänanda, etc. and çaréra avidyä-jäla.... You wanted us to follow along with your
tune, and we all did.

And I remember, Çréla Prabhupäda, how very satisfied you were that evening. Then you started
lecturing: "If the tongue is controlled by eating prasäda, then the senses can be controlled
properly. The senses have to be utilized for the service of Kåñëa. This is transcendental. This is
bhakti-yoga." That evening, you were commenting on the Çrémad-Bhägavatam, Canto Ten,
Chapter Thirteen, verses 54 to 56, while lying on your bed. In this way, even in your very
difficult physical situation, you worked ceaselessly for the benefit of us all. You preached to
your disciples so forcefully and loudly that evening. You wanted to make sure that we
understood the message of Bhägavata, You said, "You should discuss Çrémad-Bhägavatam
daily; then everything will be clear." You also remarked, "To die discussing Çrémad-
Bhägavatam is glorious." In this way, Çréla Prabhupäda, you showed the perfect example of
bhägavata-sevä. You are the greatest mahä-bhägavata, Çréla Prabhupäda.

I remember, Çréla Prabhupäda, how extremely humorous you were, even at the height of your
physical illness. On October 22, soon after the man who had massaged your divine body had
left, you commented, "That man's hands are very rough. Those hands are for the horses." Çréla
Prabhupäda, I could never imagine that the day for your departure was nearing. I was always
hoping that you would recover soon. On October 27 I told you, "Çréla Prabhupäda, you look a
little stronger." You replied, "Even at night you can say to a blind man, 'Get up, it's morning.'
Day or night, the same." Çréla Prabhupäda, I remember you were very pleased by our immature
expressions of feeling and appreciation for you. On the morning of October 26, the çarat-
pürëimä, we took you in a palanquin on a twenty-minute parikrama around Kåñëa-Balaräma
Mandira. With intense feeling you performed praëämas to Kåñëa-Balaräma with folded hands.
When we brought you back to your room, you remarked, "I am refreshed." We said, "Çréla
Prabhupäda, today is a very special day–the çarat-pürëimä. On this day you look like a lotus
flower." You looked around at all of us with your loving eyes and remarked, "Keep me
surrounded by all of you like this, all the time. Don't leave me." However, in a few days many
devotees began to leave, one after another, called away by pressing duties. How could we
foresee the transcendental activities of a pure devotee?

Çréla Prabhupäda, on many occasions you personally taught me how to understand vairägya-
vidyä, the science of renunciation. In this connection I will always remember the following
incident. On the morning of October 26, I received a telegram from home: "Your grandfather
died October 25." I was thinking of going home, since there were no senior family members to
conduct the last ceremonial rites. "Çréla Prabhupäda," I said, "I don't know whether it is proper
for me to express this to you at this time–but I am thinking of going home to Manipur for a
few days because my grandfather just died. There is no senior member in my family to perform
the last ceremonial rites." You looked intently at me and instructed, "When we take shelter of
the lotus feet of Kåñëa, we have no other obligations. Do you think it is necessary to go?" Then
you quoted a long Sanskrit verse and said, "That is the Vedic version. Now you decide."
"Thank you, Çréla Prabhupäda," I said.

Early the following morning, at one o'clock, when I was with you, you remembered our
previous day's conversation and asked, "So, are you going to Manipur?" "No, Çréla
Prabhupäda, I am not going to Manipur at this time. I will go there later and bring back some
devotees to see you." You seemed very happy that I wasn't going to Manipur for my
14
grandfather's funeral. Personally, I never knew how to serve your divine lotus feet properly.
You were always forgiving. Your mercy is boundless.

Çréla Prabhupäda, I remember that you always wanted to defeat the Mäyävädé philosophers. On
October 31, at 1 a.m., you called me in and asked, "So, Svarupa Damodara, what did Dr.
Kapoor say?" You recalled Dr. Kapoor's comments at our Life Comes From Life conference in
Våndävana, from October 14 to 16. His idea was that there is no such thing as matter; it is all
imagination. You continued, "What did you answer?" I said my answer was that although
matter, being one of the Lord's energies, can be thought of as spiritual, it is the Lord's inferior
spiritual energy. The superior spiritual energy is composed of the living entities. In this way
there are two types of spiritual energies–one superior, the other inferior. You were pleased
with that answer. Then I requested whether I could ask you a question. "Yes," you said. "If life
is within the atoms of the material elements–say, hydrogen and oxygen–is that life jéva?" "Yes.
Matter means undeveloped consciousness, covered consciousness. Just like the flower bud:
when it blooms, it is developed consciousness. It is a nice example. Is it clear?" "Yes, Çréla
Prabhupäda. So, it seems that a living body is made up of innumerable jévas. And among them
one is highly conscious, or developed." "Yes. Just like many worms in the body–full of life."
Then you quoted the following verse from the
Gétä (13.22):
puruñaù prakåti-stho hi bhuìkte prakåti-jän guëän
käraëaà guëa-saìgo 'sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu

["The living entity in material nature thus follows the ways of life, enjoying the three modes of
nature. This is due to his association with that material nature. Thus he meets with good and
evil among various species."] You remarked, "This is very important. Is it clear? Being, in the
atom, is an individual's karma-phala. Because of the influence of the three modes of material
nature, the individual self has been put into such a condition. It is all due to his forgetfulness
of Kåñëa." In this way you werealways concerned about how to train us properly in Kåñëa
consciousness, even in the middle of your physical illness.

Whenever any disciple asked you a question, Çréla Prabhupäda, you were always enthusiastic
to answer it and enlighten him. You are the perfect master, Çréla Prabhupäda. Çréla
Prabhupäda, I remember that you were always concerned about the physical health of your
disciples, even while your own was failing. At midnight on November 2, when I was attending
you, you asked me, "Have you all-night guard duty?"
"No, Çréla Prabhupäda," I replied. "Bhavänanda Mahäräja will be coming at about one o'clock
in the morning." You were worried that I would not take rest throughout the night. The
following midnight you again asked, "How long is your duty, Svarupa Damodara?"
"Up to about one-thirty in the morning."
"From when?"
"From 9 p.m., Çréla Prabhupäda."
"And before that?"
"Upendra, Çréla Prabhupäda."

In this way, you expressed deep concern for all of us. You were always thinking of our well-
being, in spite of your own inconveniences. You wanted to make sure that we all had enough
time to rest. Your kindness is boundless, Çréla Prabhupäda. Çréla Prabhupäda, I remember how
you showed a perfect example of humility, just to train all your disciples. When Mr. Narayana
(the ex-governor of Madras) and Mr. Ramakrishna Bajaj (the wellknown industrialist) came to

15
see you, you remarked, "Since I am in bed, I cannot receive you properly. Please kindly forgive
me." And when your Godbrothers came to see you before your departure and they asked
whether there was any last thing they could do for you, you simply remarked, "If I have made
any offenses at your lotus feet, kindly forgive me." In this way you showed the perfect humility
of a pure Vaiñëava.
Çréla Prabhupäda, I remember your intense love for all your disciples. The following incidents
give me a glimpse of your pastimes. On November 11, at eight o'clock in the morning, you
called Çréla Tamäla Kåñëa Mahäräja and said, "I have no strength, and the left leg seems
paralyzed. What is the use of lying like a lump of matter? What does the Kaviräja say?" Shortly
thereafter the Kaviräja came in, and he told you that Lord Kåñëa would very soon give you
strength and enable you to recover. He requested that you take more milk, and you agreed.
Your mood that morning seemed quite changed. You said to Çréla Jayapatäkä Mahäräja,
"Everyone is leaving me because I'm infectious." All of us remained silent. a little while, about
fifty devotees came in to chant for you, Çréla Prabhupäda. Bharadräja Prabhu led a sweet and
melodious kértana. Then you asked whether all the chanters had taken prasäda. I answered,
"Yes, Çréla Prabhupäda. Many devotees come and go in shifts to chant for you, Çréla
Prabhupäda." A little later Lokanätha Mahäräja and his party came in, and he gave a nice
report about his preaching activities. Çréla Tamäla Kåñëa Mahäräja then asked Lokanätha
Mahäräja to lead the chanting, and you said, "He must be tired." Lokanätha Mahäräja replied,
"For you, Çréla Prabhupäda, no tiring. I came a long way to see you and chant for you."

Early in the afternoon, we were cast into an immense ocean of transcendental anxiety when
you said that you would like to go on parikrama in a bullock cart around Våndävana and
Govardhana Hill. There were two transcendental opinions among your disciples. One group
desired to fulfill your will immediately; the other said that we should kindly request Your
Divine Grace not to undertake the parikrama at this time–especially on very poor roads in a
bullock cart, and in your then extremely weak physical condition. Thus all the senior
disciples, plus the Kaviräja, met at 3 p.m. in the lounge of the guesthouse reception room to
decide what to do. There were strong arguments on both sides. The Kaviraja was completely
against the parikrama. After a long time had passed with no decision, you called us in and said
you wanted to participate in the discussion. You strongly indicated that you wanted to go on
the parikrama in the bullock cart. It would have taken about six to nine hours.

Most of us were completely bewildered at your decision, Çréla Prabhupäda. Çréla Tamäla Kåñëa
Mahäräja, Çréla Bhavänanda Mahäräja, and myself strongly requested Your Divine Grace to
kindly not undertake the parikrama at that time–to kindly postpone it for at least a few days
until you got some strength. When I reminded you of the Bengali proverb that you had used
when you decided not to go to Mäyäpur i.e., "When you are doubtful, don't do it"–you
answered very strongly, "That is material." So all our arguments were completely defeated by
your arguments, Çréla Prabhupäda, and you were determined to go on parikrama to
Govardhana. Being totally helpless, we were completely at your mercy, and we remarked, "Yes,
Çréla Prabhupäda, we are ready to follow your order. It is our life and soul to follow your
order; whatever you decide is final, and we will follow."

So, at about six that evening, it was decided that you would go on parikrama on a bullock cart
the next morning. Our Kaviräja was so upset that he was thinking of leaving Våndävana as
soon as possible. Lokanätha Mahäräja and Trivikrama Mahäräja were entrusted to procure the
bullock carts from Mathurä, and we were supposed to start from Kåñëa-Balaräma Mandira at
about 5 a.m., just after maìgala-ärati. We were simply depending on the mercy of Kåñëa. Çréla
16
Prabhupäda, you said, "What is the use of lying here? Whether I die in the bullock cart or I die
here in bed, it is the same." The following is part of the conversation that took place that
evening:
Lokanätha Mahäräja: Everyone should be prepared to stay overnight there.
Çréla Tamäla Kåñëa Mahäräja: Where?
Lokanatha Mahäräja: Under the trees.
Haàsadüta Mahäräja: We are supposed to be gosvämés. We have to stay under the trees–under
a different tree every night.
Bhakticäru Mahäräja: But with just one window open at night, Çréla Prabhupäda feels cold, in
spite of the blanket.
Svarüpa Dämodara: It will be very cold in the early morning hours.
Devotee: Prabhupäda can stay in the van overnight. Prabhupäda is like a desire tree–he
satisfies everyone. We can sleep around the van.
Lokanätha Mahäräja: With bamboo sticks we can turn the cart into a house.
Svarüpa Dämodara: I think Lokanätha Svämé should plan out the route completely–where we
will picnic, etc. Everything should be arranged well ahead of time.
Çréla Prabhupäda: Do it.
Çréla Tamäla Kåñëa Mahäräja: Yes, we'll prepare the cart tonight, Çréla Prabhupäda.
Svarüpa Dämodara: We should also request the Kaviräja to come along.
Çréla Prabhupäda: Invite him.
Devotee: Then it's all decided. Do you want to take some rest, Çréla Prabhupäda? [At that time
Kåñëadäsa Bäbäjé, Your Divine Grace's Godbrother, came into the room.]
Kåñëadäsa Bäbäjé: Hare Kåñëa.
Çréla Prabhupäda [in Bengali]: Please come in. Will you please come along with me on
parikrama tomorrow?
Kåñëadäsa Bäbäjé [in Bengali]: Yes, I will go. What time?
Çréla Prabhupäda [in Bengali]: Five o'clock in the morning. [To us:] Give some prasäda to
Bäbäjé Mahäräja.
Bhakticäru Mahäräja: Çréla Prabhupäda, can we request something? If you feel pain or
experience any difficulty, then we can bring you back?
Çréla Prabhupäda: Yes, I am not obstinate.

In this way, everybody was planning for the parikrama the next day, and Kåñëadäsa Bäbäjé left.
He told us that he would be back very soon; he had to go somewhere for some urgent work. It
was then about seven o'clock, and I was planning to take a shower so I could be refreshed
when I returned in a little while to attend you. Just then Çréla Bhavänanda Mahäräja suggested
to me that he would be coming with Çréla Tamäla Kåñëa Mahäräja at exactly one o'clock in the
morning, when I would be alone with Your Divine Grace, and the three of us would fall at
your lotus feet and request you to kindly not go on parikrama at that time. This was our secret
plan. We hoped that Kåñëa would give us the guidance and intelligence how to request Your
Divine Grace. We also planned to ask Kåñëadäsa Bäbäjé to request you not to go on parikrama.
We were in so much anxiety, Çréla Prabhupäda; I simply couldn't accept that you'd be going on
parikrama the next day in a bullock cart. [After about one hour Kåñëadäsa Bäbäjé returned. We
were already in great anxiety.

Çréla Tamäla Kåñëa Mahäräja: Well, Çréla Prabhupäda, I tell you, I'm getting so upset sitting in
the room upstairs. I mean, I've just had it. I was walking around, and two devotees told me this
road is so bad that if you go on it, you're going to be jolted back and forth. The road is so
terrible. I mean, I just can't understand, Çréla Prabhupäda, why it has to be tomorrow that we
have to go. If anybody wants you to travel, I do; my whole desire is to take you all over the
17
world. I want to take you on parikrama, but why do we have to go when you are in this
condition? I can't understand it. I was standing outside. This Kaviräja... he has worked so
hard. He is so much disappointed; he can't understand it, either. Today you have taken a half-
kilo of milk. No mucus, no stool produced. Tomorrow he wants to give you medicine that will
build this milk into muscles. He says very soon you'll be able to have strength. Why are we
throwing everything out the window and going on parikrama? I cannot understand it, Çréla
Prabhupäda.
Çréla Prabhupäda: I cannot refuse the requests of all of you.
Çréla Tamäla Kåñëa Mahäräja: And we cannot refuse your requests. We will take you to all the
térthas. Just you get a little stronger. You'll be free from all managerial business; you'll simply
go to the térthas and take darçana of all the Deities in India. Everyone will stay in their
respective places and manage. They just want you to be stronger.
Çréla Prabhupäda: All right. That will satisfy you? Bhavänanda, you are satisfied?
Çréla Bhavänanda Mahäräja: Now I am, Çréla Prabhupäda. I was in too much anxiety.
Çréla Prabhupäda: I cannot put you in anxiety. [Then you said to Kåñëadäsa Bäbäjé, about Çréla
Bhavänanda Mahäräja:] He has done so much. He has suffered in Mäyäpur so much. I cannot
put him in any difficulty anymore. [Then to us:] So I shall do what you desire. [Then to
Kåñëadäsa Bäbäjé in Bengali:] What is your feeling, Bäbäjé Mahäräja?
Kåñëadäsa Bäbäjé [in Bengali]: What you say is true.
Çréla Prabhupäda: They are giving arguments from left and right. [You laugh.] I cannot refuse.
Kåñëadäsa Bäbäjé [in Bengali]: This is right.
Çréla Tamäla Kåñëa Mahäräja: I'm amazed, Çréla Prabhupäda. Half a kilo of milk you drank
today; no mucus, no stool. That's wonderful. You could not have done this two weeks ago.
Bhakticäru Mahäräja: When the Kaviräja was told, he was also quite amazed. He told me not to
give you any more milk. But you wanted more, so I am giving.
Çréla Prabhupäda: Where is the Kaviräja?
Çréla Tamäla Kåñëa Mahäräja: He's outside again, to get medicine. This man [Adridharaëa] says
he sits up all night, worrying about you, thinking, taxing his brain how to give you just the
right medicine.
Bhakticäru Mahäräja: Yesterday, when I went to call for him at four-thirty in the morning, I
saw that he had been sitting on his bed all night.
Çréla Prabhupäda: I cannot refuse. This is not my business. [You turn to Kåñëadasa Bäbäjé and
ask in Bengali:] What is your feeling, Bäbäjé Mahäräja?
Kåñëadäsa Bäbäjé: Hare Kåñëa.
Çréla Prabhupäda: All right. [t0 us:] You take Bäbäjé Mahäräja on parikrama.
Çréla Tamäla Kåñëa Mahäräja: Your bullock cart will go tomorrow to Govardhana. We will go
on your behalf. But you will go one day. That we promise you. Our greatest pleasure is to take
you to térthayäträ,
Çréla Prabhupäda. We want so much to go with you on that.
Çréla Prabhupäda: Thank you very much.
Çréla Tamäla Kåñëa Mahäräja: Actually, Çréla Prabhupäda, we are so much attached to you that
you practically drive us to madness sometimes. Tonight we are becoming mad.
Çréla Prabhupäda: No, no. I shall not do that. [To Kåñëadäsa Bäbäjé:] You always express great
appreciation for all the devotees. So, you will take bath in Çré Rädhä-kuëòa on my behalf.
Çréla Tamäla Kåñëa Mahäräja: We'll get you better, Çréla Prabhupäda. You will also be able to
take bath personally there. We will see that you get better. Kåñëa will make all our words come
true, Çréla Prabhupäda. Çréla Prabhupäda, the way you deal with us makes us so deep in our
attachment for you.
Çréla Prabhupäda: That is my duty.

18
That was your duty; that was your greatness, Çréla Prabhupäda. You are mahä-mahä-bhägavata.
The secret of your mission was revealed at the very point of your departure. I feel so sorry that
I could never understand you, Çréla Prabhupäda. One thing, though: I am fully convinced that
attachment to your lotus feet will be the perfection of my life. Jaya, all glories to you, Çréla
Prabhupäda.

Your loving servant, eternally,

Svarüpa Dämodara däsa
GBC–Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Burma
Co-GBC–Assam, Tripura, Bhaktivedanta Institute

19
 Sevanjali
Homages by disciples,
well-wishers & friends

20
Abhay Khajuria

Spirituality itself is a deep science. Science is defined as, systematic knowledge of

the physical or material world gained through observation and experimentation.

Spirituality is defined as the quality of being spiritual, or immaterial nature. Without

Spirituality, Science is incomplete.
As Dr.T.D.Singh has stated, Consciousness is the most important symptom of life. However,
modern scientific knowledge is unable to describe it. Therefore Spirituality plays a very
important role in the age of Science and so we require a new science by which we can
comprehend life and consciousness in more realistic terms. In Science we learn that a body can
be dissected in half, yet the personality cannot be dissected. It is same for the Spiritual nature.
We cannot ignore spirituality and go on. Science is the reflection of Spirituality. For example:
Scientists are always looking up answers for, how was the Universe made?

How were we made?

Was there a big bang which created the universe?
They are always assuming answers, sending rockets and satellites but still don’t get the answer,
even though they have science and technology with them. While in the Spiritual point of View
it is stated that the Universe is created by the spiritual nature Which is God Himself, and there
answer is fixed and not varying like those who feel that there is no need of spirituality. So if
21
the scientific community also adds spirituality to their research, doubts will be cleared and will
be a tremendous help to the mankind.

Another example is, Scientists are always asking themselves how are human beings made?
We evolved form apes and other entities didn’t we?
Then they tend to think that life is just an assembly of bio molecules but slowly slowly they
run into deeper puzzles that change their views again. Whereas Spirituality which is belief in
godhead again simply answers this question, life come from life. It means, Krishna who is
known as the supreme personality of godhead. He has an eternal blissful body. He is the origin
of all origins. He is the prime cause of all causes. So he is the one who has created us, and this
universe. He is also known as Jagannath (the ruler of the Universe). Application of science
requires wisdom. Wisdom does not come by knowledge alone. There you need elements of
Spirituality.

As stated by Dr.T.D.Singh, By incorporating Spirituality within Science and technology, we

will be able to decide the morality and ethics of human actions .
Science also says that it can clone human beings by
biotechnology .
Dr.T.D.Singh states and asks the scientific world, Suppose
today, if by biotechnology it were possible to produce a person
of the same size and shape as Einstein, will such a person
possess the same intelligence and personality of Einstein? So
from this statement it means that without Spirituality Science is
nowhere close to being perfect. It is not even close to reaching
perfection without Spirituality, which teaches you humility,
Tolerance, Peace and gives you love and answers to everything
that is unknown to the Scientific Community.

Dedicated to Dr. T.D Singh

By Abhay Khajuria

22
Abhimanyu-
Abhimanyu-dasa

Dear Srila Sripada,

Please accept my humble obeisances,

All glories unto your lotus feet!

Your glories reach far and wide. By your loving kindness you have touched the hearts of all
whom you’ve met. My heart has melted by your caring attitude towards me. This feeling of
reciprocal love is rare to find in this world. I’m always reflecting on how you actually cared for
me! For example, when I was preparing to come to Manipur in August of 2006 you called me
at home in the USA from India and said I should bring my vest. At first I didn’t know what vest
you meant – a suit vest, a winter vest? After inquiring further you said, “That Nehru vest,
bring that, you look good in that”. Then I understood what you meant – it was a silk vest that I
had that I had gotten in India. You were so concerned about me that you were even thinking of
what I should wear that would look good while you were on the other side of the world in
Kolkata! Like a loving father you have nurtured me in Krsna consciousness prodding me along
in my ignorance not knowing myself which steps to take.
I understand and realize more and more that you sacrificed your whole life for Srila
Prabhupada’s service thus giving up any notion of personal motive and in that way you were
able to fully receive the Lord’s mercy and distribute it to others out of your compassion for us.
In your physical absence I’m feeling more and more attached to somehow render some service
at your lotus feet. Your presence goes beyond the realm of this material world, that I can
understand, especially by being with you here at your Samadhi in Radha Kund. The dynamic
nature of your association knows no bounds!
Srila Sripada, you gave us everything to be fully engaged and satisfied in the Lord’s service i.e.;
temples, schools, cultural programs, B.I., multifarious engagements, devotees, kirtans, etc. but
I still yearn to hear your beautiful kirtans.
On this most auspicious day my heart is torn between feeling your presence and deeply
missing your association. I always take solace in the last words you spoke to me before I left
Manipur after the bomb blast. I was getting up from paying my obeisances to you outside your
room and you patted me on the shoulder and smilingly said, “Everything is going to be alright
Abhimanyu”.
Your foolish disciple,
Abhimanyu-dasa

Srila Sripada Ki Jaya!

23
Amarendra Das Brahmachari

Glorification of Guru Maharaj for Vyasa Puja

saàsära-dävänala-léòha-loka-
träëäya käruëya-ghanäghanatvam
präptasya kalyäëa-guëärëavasya
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam

(Sri Sri Guru-ashtaka, 1st verse, Vaisnava Song Book)

Dear Guru maharaj
You were and are exactly what the verse says. You never were angry (as for as I know). You
always had the sweetest smile one could see; your voice would surpass even the nightingales
and the most devoted person.

Dear Guru Maharaj I will do as you have told me. I will study hard and serve as much as I can.
As I am still mall now, I can’t do anything but small, small amount of seva. I still remember
maharaj, you used to give me your maha-prasadam 1st to me. Please be merciful upon me. I do
not laugh on or at anything which is funny to others but not to me. Whenever you would say
something which is funny and I couldn’t understand it, still I would laugh because you,
maharaj, only you, can turn an angry conversation into anger conservation and bring humor
into it, in other words, there is no need to understand because, you are the joy of the universe.
After my material eyes can’t see your radiant face, I have become angry and serious which I
hate to be. Please let me be blissful self again.

Your faithful (young) servant,

Amarendra Das Brahmachari,
Mumbai, India

24
Ananda Murti das

25
Bhojadeva dasa
Dear Sripad Maharaja,

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

You once mentioned that you felt the whole world was vacant upon the departure of our Srila
Prabhupada. Although you felt such deep separation, we actually witnessed that you were
always spiritually in touch with Srila Prabhupada through your love, devotion and surrender.

We saw that your brilliant example of the divine, eternal connection between spiritual master
and faithful disciple was actualized through transcendent love and commitment. Your example
reminds us that genuine spiritual life and love are beyond the material limitations of time and
space.

It is said that even a moment’s association with a pure devotee is the most powerful blessing a
conditioned soul can receive. Such association sets in motion the eventual awakening of love
of Godhead, and return back to Godhead, for the fortunate soul who takes advantage of the
pure devotee’s blessed association and instructions.

The blessing of Guru inspires cultivation of desire for pure association, pure understanding,
and pure service to the Lord and His servants. From such purity of thought and action,
everything required by the disciple is revealed from within the disciple’s heart, through the
mercy and blessings of Sri Guru and the Supreme Lord.

This was the theme of your wonderful birthday celebration in Bali a few years ago:

“Yasya Deve Para Bhaktir, Yatha Deve Tatha Gurau

Tasyaite Kathita Hy Arthah, Prakasante Mahatmanah”.

“Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the Spiritual Master,
are all the imports of the Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.”

The greatest of all scientific and spiritual knowledge guides one towards unencumbered of love
of Godhead, wherein love reigns supreme over knowledge.

Love begets love. The pure spiritual master is the humble and personal gateway of divine love
by which the Lord reaches out to the unknowingly forlorn, self-forsaken inhabitants of the
material creation. Through such loving guidance, surrender and self-introspection, all material
darkness covering the soul is removed, and the loving relationship between the effulgent Lord
and the shining pure self, is re-awakened. .

Srila Sripada Maharaja, we have always seen you as a beacon of love and light in this dark
world. Your heart is pure, and you are a friend to all. You are a fully empowered recipient of
the divine blessings of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Sri Krishna. Therefore we pray on this
auspicious day that you may be pleased to bestow upon us your unlimited blessings, so that
love and mercy will illuminate our path back to Godhead, where we can see you again soon.

Your little brother and aspiring servant,

Bhojadeva dasa

26
Brajgopal das

om ajnana timirandhasya
jnananjana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena
tasmai sri guruve namah

Dear Gurudev Srila Sripad,

Please Accept my humble obeisances unto your lotus feet.

Gurudev you are so merciful that you came to this earth to deliver me from the ocean of maya.
You are the only person who can relive me from this maha-maya and engage me in yoga-maya.

Please give me strength to serve Lord Radha-Krishna throughout my life. According to sastras
Spiritual master always lives within the hearts of his disciples. So gurudev please give me more
and more opportunities to have association with your discples and serving them and also give
me intelligence to utilise those opportunities.

Gurudev I always remeber Govardhan parikram,vrindavan parikram and visiting to Jaipur

along with you. They are the wonderful moments in my life.

Gurudev you are songs are like the eternal tunes coming from the flute of Lord Krishna.

Especially the dasavatar song.

PRALAYA PAYODHI JALE

DHRUTAVANASIVEDUM
VIHITA-VAHITRACHARITRAMAKHEDAM
KESHAVA DHRUTA MINA SHARIRA
JAYA JAGADISHA HARE

Whenever I listen to this song from you I feel like I am in the presence Lord Jagannath,
Baladev and Subhadra.

Gurudev Please remember this poor disciple of yours and protect me from the evil clutches of
Maya.

Yours insignificant servant,

Brajgopal dasa (radhe)
Vijayawada, India.

27
Devarshi dasa.

Dear Sripada Maharaja,

Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to your beloved Srila Prabhupada.

Many years ago you gave a class in France explaining that “Introspection was the key of
success”. I am realizing the truth and the deepness of that statement.

When I remember you, you appear to me as:

S simple
R relaxed
I imaginative
L loving
A accomplished

B blissful
H humble
A artistic
K knowledgeable
T transcendental
I intelligent

S self-controlled
V victorious
A adventurous
R respectful
U understanding
P pure
A accepted

D dedicated
A appreciative
M magnanimous
O optimistic
D delighted
A attractive
R responsible
A attentive

S smiling
W wonderful
A affectionate
M merciful
I inspired

Thank you for everything.

Your servant,
Devarshi dasa.

28
Devananda Pandit das,
as, Judith & Kids

Dear Gurumaharaja
Please accept our humble obeisance’s.

First we would like to thank you for all the Gifts we got in this year 2008 by your mercy. We
will honour it with great respect.

Your Qualities are innumerable. I remember most your patients and tolerance. In all kind of
difficulties, you remain always positive. Negative thoughts or doubts never overcame your
strong confidence that Krishna is guiding and protecting in any circumstances.

Humbly I bag you, that we develop a drop of this confidence. We hope that through daily
practice and introspection, such spiritual strengths and qualities can grow and bloom in our
hearts.

Please help us to overcome our difficulties, to take the steps for a deeper realisation, to become
blessed with deep faith and confidence.

Your servants
Judith, Kids and Devananda Pandit Das

29
 Prayer on the Vyasa Puja 2008 Celebration of His Divine Grace Bhaktisvarupa Damodara
Swami Sripada
Dusarigopal

On this most auspicious day, Thursday, December 4, 2008, the 71st Appearance Day of His
Divine Grace, Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami Sripada, I would like to offer my humble
obeisances to the lotus feet of my spiritual master.

On this glorious and most auspicious day of our spiritual master I would like to express to my
most respected god brothers and sisters that Srila Sripada expressed to me his desire at the
time of taking the possession of Acharya Prabhu Mandir in 1995 to make this premises to be
the Bhajan Kutir for the old destitute women devotees who are homeless and less fortunate in
this material world in Radhakunda, Mathura District, Utter Pradesh State, which now
happened to be the permanent place of Srila Sripada’s Samadhi. Sripada also reminded me for
the second time before the disappearance from this material world the willingness to take up
this mission but unfortunately we can not take up this project during the physically presence
of Sripada.

So I humbly appeal and pray to all my most respected and beloved god brothers and sisters,
devotees that I want to take up the instruction of our spiritual master by starting the
construction of the said Bhajan Kutir for which I need the blessings and supports from all the
devotees to execute the instruction of our spiritual master. We should faithfully try to execute
that particular instruction and should consider that our life and soul. The faithful execution of
the instruction which we receive from the spiritual master is the only duty of a disciple, and
that will bring us perfection. One should be very careful to receive the message from the
spiritual master through the ears and execute it faithfully. That will make our life successful.

I humbly pray for Sripada’s blessings so that I can be of some small help to his divine mission.

His Divine Grace Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami Sripada’s most insignificant servant,
Dusarigopal
30
Hari Mohan das

Dear Srila Sripada.

nama om vishnu padaya, krishna prestaya bhu-tale
srimati bhaktisvarupa damodara swamin iti namine

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

One of your last requests to us, your BI devotees, was to publish a monthly electronic
newsletter. You will be pleased to know that we now have about 800 subscribers to your
newsletter. A large majority of them are young college students, or from the academic
community. Many are also ISKCON preachers, who find this newsletter useful in their
preaching efforts. In this publishing effort, I have had the humble assistance of my godbrother,
Saunaka Muni dasa.

For your pleasure, I am enclosing few of the many comments I have received about this
newsletter service.

On this auspicious day of your holy appearance, I pray that I may be always engaged in the
service to your divine mission. I also thank you for taking care of my family for all these years.

Your humble servant,

Hari mohan dasa

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I am really interested to join B Institute as a member and attend conferences and spiritual
programs across India and world. – Sri B.P.P.

I am an administrative assistant at Cern, Geneva, Switzerland (European Organization for

Nuclear research), at the Experimental Physics Department. I maybe out of reality but I
thought I could be a kind of link between you and Cern events in the perspective of
“entertaining” some ideas of preaching amongst some scientists? – C.D.D.

Many many sincere thanks for your labour in putting together such an excellent newsletter.
Far and away the most consistently high quality, informative, ever-relevant and intellectually
stimulating preaching communication coming from any ISKCON media channel. Please

31
continue this much appreciated and eagerly awaited newsletter service Very best wishes to you
all at Bhaktivedanta Institute – L.M.

Please kindly send me the e-zine regularly. The articles are very interesting and thought
provoking. I find these topics very relevant for the scientifically inclined people.-Dr. S.R.K

I have been reading your website and noticed that you organize conferences/other outreach
programs all over the world. I am very inspired by these and was wondering about the
possibility of doing such outreach programs here in Toronto. – M.A.D.D.

I'm working on a book, to be published by Doubleday, about the history and influence of
Indian spiritual traditions in America. I'd like very much to speak to you about your work at
the Bhaktivedanta Institute. – Dr. P.G.

I want to join your organization, please guide to me. – Dr. A.S.

Dear Mohan prabhuji-Hare Krishna Your Grace. Jai Prabhupada!!

Quick note of many sincere thanks for this wonderful and highly stimulating/informative
newsletter. Please extend my sincere appreciation to everybody and anybody who has and/or
contributes to the ongoing efforts in developing the Institutes activities for Srila
Prabhupada’s pleasure. – L.M

I often go to ISKCON temple here in Saratov, Russia. They told me about Bhaktivedanta
Institute, so I am writing you thanking you (for the newsletter.) - C.S.

I am also a Sripada disciple and I am trying to introduce BI books at Silchar temple and
ordering all the books right now. Sripada sena ki jay – B.P.D.

All glories to you, Mohan prabhu, for carrying on this most important aspect of BSD
and SPs preaching work, Your aspiring servant, G.D.

Dear Sir, I thank you for the May issue of SSS. The article contributed by Dr T D
Singh is extraordinary and very inspiring. Many thanks to editors for including the
same. With best wishes - K K B

Sir, With all my respect in the lotus feet of Dr. T.D.Singh, I, Dr. M.P., a practicing physician at
Chandigarh India humbly seek Dr. Singh's blessings in sharing the greatest joy that I too
myself has been unknowingly coining the term "SPIRITON" to an imaginary spiritual particle
to be responsible for the recently postulated dark matter and dark energy as against the
theoretically postulated GRAVITON, held responsible for the gravitational force in the visible
universe of matter and energy. I would love to be a follower of Dr. T.D. Singh and always seek
32
his guidance in my quest for the subject matter we both are pursuing. With all the love and
respect in my heart....I remain. . Dr. M.P.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INFORMATIVE AND INSPIRING NEWSLETTER – S.

I am interested in receiving the newsletter and hence kindly include my details in your mailing
list. – M

Congratulations for the good work. You are allowing Bhaktiswarupa Damodara Maharaja (to)
continue with his Krishna conscious work. Go on with your good work, my best wishes, - R.D.

Thanks a lot for sending me the November issue. This kind of newsletters give me a lot of
enthusiasm to preach scientifically. – S.
Thank you very much for sending me the issue of “Synthesis of Science and Spirituality -
Views from the Gaudiya Vaishnava Perspective." I really enjoyed it and share it with my friend
devotees. We hope to organize the translation of this newsletter into Russian. – V.D.

Please send a copy of this to my son. – G.D

33
Dec. 4th 2008 - 71st Vyasa Puja offering to H.H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami Srila Sripada
From

Jaganmohini devi
devi dasi, Navi Mumbai

Dear Most beloved gurudeva Srila Sripada,

Please accept our humble obeisances at the dust of your Lotus feet.
All glories to your Divine Grace.

As years pass by since your departure from this earth planet your exalted position as a Saint
and Scientist is becoming more pronounced within and this is making it more and difficult for
me to glorify you because of our highly conditioned existence.
Nonetheless on this vyasa-puja day it is a disciple’s duty to glorify one’s spiritual master which
serves as a panacea to get relieve from conditioned existence.

My most beloved gurudeva, today I am making a humble attempt to speak about your glories
as it has been revealed to me or heard from authorized sources.

Few weeks back I saw a drama titled, “Bhagyachandra” staged by Bhaktivedanta Hospital
congregation disciples of H.H. Radhanath Swami. In fact this drama although was titled
around the famous Manipuri saintly king was actually a tribute to your holiness by the group.
Glimpses about your life were also covered in this play. They told me they wanted to please
H.H. Radhanath Swami with this pleasant surprise and plus few disciples who had accepted
you as their shiksha guru wanted to glorify you. It seems in the past they had never felt like
offering a tribute to others but this they were sure would please H.H. Radhanath Swami. I
asked them how? They replied that H.H. Radhanath Swami would regularly glorify your
holiness ever since your departure. They said, “Although maharaj was dear to many of his
godbrothers but Srila Sripada was most dear to maharaj.”
I saw the love flowing from H.H. Radhanath Swami’s heart when he expressed sweet glories
about you. After the drama he invited few of us(your disciples who came to watch the show)to
the green room to thank the stage artistes. At that time he said, “Glorifying Srila Prabhupada
means glorify 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..”..

My joy knew no bounds when I heard your glories within our society from this great saint
H.H. Radhanath Swami who recognized your position in the spiritual world. My conviction
grew stronger that by serving you, I will please Srila Prabhupada. The URI team several of
them who were not knowing ISKCON or Mayapur or Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila
Prabhupada are able to recognize all together purely by glorifying you.

In the past you had constantly received glorious tributes from outside society from great
distinguished personalities of Scientific, Religious and Statesmen community.
34
What made everyone love you? You didn’t promise anyone any reward or position or help of
any category, still you drew all types of people towards you.
How this was possible?
Yes, it became possible with you because you were a genuine personality carrying the Seed of
God’s love as it is as it was given to you by your spiritual master Srila Prabhupada.
You never identified or advertised yourself as a spiritual leader or a scientist or director or
spiritual master or qualified educationist or a great devotee etc., instead you presented yourself
as sincere servant of Lord wanting to awaken entire humanity with love of God. The
compassion in you was seen as genuine without expecting anything in return. You were always
situated in your original personality as pure devotee of Lord and acted accordingly. You always
depended on Lord’s will for the outcome of every step you took. Externally from material
perception it appeared you were slow in decisions but factually you always waited for the
sanction of your spiritual master and the Lord. This quality was reflected even in your seva of
scientific preaching. Normally a scientist depends more on his intellectual strength and senses
to progress in their endeavor but you avoided speculation altogether and waited for the answer
from the Lord. That means even your Scientific seva was 100% pure devotional service, which
confirmed your position as a ‘Real’ Scientist among the scientific community. Testimony to
this is the laurels and tributes you received from genuine Scientists including Noble Laureates.
Simultaneously amongst the saintly community you were accepted as 100% saint.

What a rare combination, a perfect Saint and a perfect Scientist, still you always presented
yourself as an insignificant servant of Lord and of your spiritual master.

Beyond this I am unable to glorify you, because thinking of your perfect position I feel so remorseful
to have offended you in childish mood while you were present here.

Today I feel very lonely when I think you have gone too far from us, I keep crying looking at the
picture of your Lotus feet begging again and again that you keep me very close to you and guide me
eternally on the techniques of pleasing you, my most beloved spiritual master.
Bless me with good health which is becoming obstacles intermittently in my insignificant seva.
Bless me to remain focused in pleasing you every moment, in the midst of any kind of hardships and
inauspicious surroundings or association which I might encounter while serving you.
Bless all our close associates with your special glance including my good husband Subal Shyam das
and my father.

Today on this auspicious occasion I pledge again at your lotus feet that I want to commit my life
eternally for your pleasure. You please guide me in this endeavor.

Your insignificant daughter and disciple,

Jaganmohini devi dasi (Navi Mumbai)

35
Kadambari devi dasi
dasi

My Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances,
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to your divine grace!

Dear Guru Maharaja, it’s been 2 year since your physical absent. I never thought that 2005 in
Bali was my last time to see your physical darshan. I remember escorted you up until the
immigration desk and you were asking me if I would come to Singapore too, which
unfortunately I said no. I paid my obeisance in my heart and saying that I would join your
next tour before you entering the passport control desk.

But Krishna made different divine arrangement; instead of joining your physical tour that
planned I was placed in different kind of tour in Radha Kunda with you in October 2006. But
indeed I was fortuned to have your last darshan seeing your divine body taken to semadhi.

I learn a lot of being in your physical association. The courage, compassion, and tolerant are
some of characters that you showed to your disciples. Now after your physical absent I have to
learn on how to put my faith in your instruction, like the way you put your faith in Srila
Prabhupada instructions. Dear Guru Maharaja you left so many projects for us, please bless
me to find my way on how I could contribute so I would be able to please you.

I’m praying at your lotus feet to never look away from me and direct my path to the point
where you always said on how to be pure devotees and reach our final destination in this life
time to be with you and Radha Krishna’s divine association.

Thanking you for all the unlimited blessing and most wonderful association that you have
given to me and begging to continue to do so wherever you may be.

Your unworthy daughter,

Kadambari devi dasi

36
Kamala devi dasi

My dear Guru Deva Srila Sripada,

Offering to Your Divine Grace, my heartiest respects

Nobel and grave, my dear most Guru Deva

You lovingly dedicated Your life

Only to follow the orders of Srila Prabhupada
Undoubtedly this pleased Your spiritual master
Reveals the secret of master and disciple

Devotion and love flow from your heart

Inspire all, met you even once
Vaisnava Thakura, I pray for Your mercy
I beg You to please bestow Your blessings
Nourish the path of my devotional service
Enlighten me through my devotional life.

Humbly, You approached the great scientists, and

On different occasions, You preached the great personalities
Numerous international conferences organized by You
On science and religion, to form unity
URI fulfills Your desire and assembled in Sri Mayapura
Revered Guru Deva, everyone miss and admire Your Divine personality

On this most auspicious occasion of Your Divine appearance day, we notice that how You are
loved by URI members. They all assembled here to glorify You and this all happens because of
Your holy association.

May one day together with URI members, we all chant and spread the holy name.

Your most fallen servant,

Kamala d.d.

37
Lilarani devi dasi

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

My dear father,

i still feel deeply the emptiness you left in my heart. I still feel lost and sometimes I cry because
I can’t see you anymore or write to you or phone to ask advices and instructions about what I
should do. Sometimes I just hope that this is a nightmare, as it in reality is. It is only my
inability to understand what “to love Sri Krishna” means and how to remove the veil of maya,
that is so attached to my eyes, that is preventing me to see how you are still present, and how
you are still working, suggesting and protecting your servants. You made extraordinary things
thanks to your love for Srila Prabhupada. Your devotement to the service that Srila
Prabhupada gave to you, had been an example. You dedicated your life to spread the love
message of Sri Krishna and this is still working thanks to your book and all the engagement
you lavished, while you were operating in this world. Even if I am insignificant and unproper,
I beg you to award me the qualities I need to spread Krishna consciousness as you wished.
Concede me to lose my pride, to understand the mistakes that I can do and to have the
strength to correct them, concede me to desire always to love Sri Krishna and award me your
benevolence. Concede me to have a clear mind and allow me to ask your help when I need.
Only in this way I will be worthy to receive the gifts that you bestowed me.

Your servant prostrated at your lotus feet

Lilarani Devi Dasi

38
Lilavati devi dasi

Dearest Guru Maharaja, most merciful and divine spiritual master,

On this most glorious day of your divine appearance, please accept my most humble
obeisances at your Lotus Feet. All Glories to You!

As I write this Vyasa Puja letter, here in the U.S.A., today is Thanksgiving, and I am so grateful
for you! Thank you, dearest Guru Maharaja, for all of your causeless mercy upon us!

Since your transcendental departure from our material eyes, we can still see and feel your
constant influence in our daily lives. It is solely by your inconceivable and causeless mercy
that we have been blessed in so many ways, most recently with a beautiful son. We are
eternally indebted to you for bestowing this miracle upon us and especially for the mystical
way in which you have given us his name, Ramdhira. We humbly pray to you that even
though we are fallen and unqualified, we can further receive your blessings to properly raise
this little devotee in Krishna Consciousness and loving devotional service to you.

Dearest Guru Maharaja, I remember so many times in my life when I was having difficulty or
had an important decision to make, I would simply call you on the phone or come before you
in person for some advice. You were always available to answer my questions and dispel my
doubts. You would spend so much of your valuable time with such an insignificant fool as me.
I probably took too much of your precious time, yet I always felt that you cared about my
spiritual life as much as you cared about any world congress or Nobel Laureate. Now that you
are no longer physically present it is not so easy to simply call you on the telephone when I
have an important question. Still, you are as much available to us as you ever were, and you
still care as much as you always have. Please help me to remember this, and to always call out

39
to you and pray for your mercy and guidance. Please help me, Guru Maharaja to still come to
you with the important questions in my life and to listen carefully so that I might hear your
wisdom. I beg your mercy that I might make advancement in my spiritual life and come to the
full realization that you are still completely available and present to impart spiritual council
and understanding to your sincere devotees.

Especially when it comes to raising Ramdhira, please instruct me, and bless me so that I will be
able to hear, recognize, and follow your council. I beg for your mercy that I might be able to
give Ramdhira even a glimpse of the spiritual love and bliss that I have so many times felt in
your presence. Please make me a conduit for your divine mercy so that he will be able to
experience the transcendental joy and nectar that we have been so fortunate to feel in your
heavenly presence.

Guru Maharaja, you have taken care of every single aspect of my life. From my initiation and
my first pilgrimage to the Holy Dham, to my marriage, my home, my career and now my son,
everything good in my life is only thanks to your kindness and generosity. I pray that I will
remain forever fixed at your lotus feet, and although I will never be able to recover my debt to
you, please let me at least try, by spreading your glories and following your instructions.
Please let me never neglect my duty and my inconceivable debt to Your Divine Grace. Help
me to understand that although I miss your physical presence, you are as present as ever.
Please give me the realization that service in separation is the highest sentiment. Please help
me to cultivate my devotion to you and to always remember you in everything that I do.

Thank you so much for the infinite blessings that you continuously bestow upon me! On
your transcendental appearance day, please accept this acrostic poem as my humble gift to
you, the most wonderful spiritual master!

Savior so sweet and kind, overflowing with divine mercy

Ready to listen and offer expert spiritual counsel
Intelligent beyond our imagination
Lovable and loved, even by the most stone-hearted fools
Always able to appreciate the good in others, no matter how lowly or fallen

Songs of the Vaisnava Saints always emanating from your lotus lips
Respectful, even in the face of atheists and offenders
Inspirational, invoking a sense of divine love and joy in everyone you meet
Prabhupada’s unfaltering servant
Affectionate father and friend to his disciples and devotees
Disappeared suddenly from our mundane vision, yet ever present in our hearts and lives
Amazing grace, to have found a spiritual master such as you!

With sincerest love and gratitude,

Lilavati devi dasi

40
Madhusudan das & Ekant Vilasini devi dasi
Dear Sripada Maharaj.

Please accept my most humble & respectful obeisances.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to your Divine Grace.

Your appearance day is celebrated as vyaspuja because you are the representative of Srila
Vyasdeva, the compiler of the Vedic literature. You are truly a spiritual master for all the
seeker of Vedic knowledge.

This vyaspuja day is an opportunity to glorify and thank you for accepting me as a disciple in
spite of my insignificance.

Everyone who had the mercy to approach you knows the many qualities, which made you an
exalted vaisnava. A pure devotee of the lord, your qualities are exactly as prescribed by Sri
Chaitanya Maha Prabhu to Sanatana Goswami.

CC. Madhyalila 22.78-80

krpalu, akrata-droha, satya-sara sama

nidosa, vadanya, mrdu, suci, akincana

sarvopakaraka, santa, krsnaika-sarana

akama, aniha, sthira, vijita-sad-guna

mita-bhuk, apramatta, manada, amani

gambhira, karuna, maitra, kavi, daksa, mauni

You were always merciful, humble, truthful and equal to all, magnanimous, faultless, mild and
clean. You were in complete control of bad qualities like lust, anger, greed and so forth.

Lord Krishna appeared on this earth planet 500 years ago in the form of Chaitanya Maha
Prabhu and gave the holy name for the salvation of kaliyuga inhabitants and declared that
Harinam will spread to each and every corner of the world. In the same parampara Prabhupada
was sent by his spiritual master Bhakti Sidhant Saraswati Maharaj to preach the Harinam to so
called material advanced countries. These countries were highly advanced in scientific
knowledge and Srila Prabhupada required scientist like you to preach and improve them. .

Dear Guru Maharaj, you were a pure vaisnava. You came to this planet to continue Srila
Prabhupada’s mission to preach Krishna consciousness all over the world especially to the
scientist and that’s why you were the most valuable contributor to his mission.

You were perfect disciple of Srila Prabhupada and continue to follow and spread the mission of
Prabhupada in the way and direction he wanted. Due to your firmness in your determination
no one can check you and change you in any circumstances. Your legacy was confirmed and
accepted. Really you were a great sadhu in the form of scientist.
41
You were always very merciful and kind to me. Whenever you used to be in Mumbai, I
requested to have a program in my house which you accepted and I feel myself fortunate
enough to have so many of your programs at my residence.

You have installed the deities of Gour Nitai, Gopalji in the temple at my house. You taught me
how to worship the Archa vigraha . Deity form of the Lord who is also situated in one’s own
heart. You gave instructions to me to meditate upon the transcendental activities of the Lord as
described in Srimad Bhagvatam.

Dear Maharaj, you always cautioned me about the dangers in devotional life and also use to
ask how is Gopalji and I used to feel there is some defect in my deity worship and I continued
to improve.

I still remember the conversations with you in which you told me to arrange for bigger
accommodation so that I will stay with you more than a month and write some books. But
Maharaj I could not get the golden opportunity as you are not on this planet.

My dear Maharaj, in Srimad Bhagvatam, chapter 4 texts 44 describes the supreme personality
of godhead Krishna who is known as the Caitya guru. This refers to the super soul seated in
everyone’s heart. He guides us from within and from without. He guides us through the
spiritual master. Hence the spiritual master is the external manifestation of the Caitya Guru.

Maharaj, now you are physically not present on this planet. But still I feel you are always with
me in my every activity so as to guide me. I have seen practically on so many occasions at
times when I was confused about my duties. At that time I remembered you and by inner voice
you have given me the inspiration and right direction and I was saved. So your support to us in
all these circumstances is very much helpful to cross the Nescient Ocean of material existence,
which is filled with the waves of blazing fire like danger.

My dear Guru Maharaj, kindly bless me so that I may associates with great devotees engaged in
your transcendental loving services constantly and can become part of your mission and can
contribute to complete your dream projects. Maharaj, you have entered in so many aspects of
devotional services and left so many works for your disciples to complete and make the
journey of life successful. This is a good opportunity for us.

Kindly pardon me for the offenses made by me and mistakes committed.

Your disciple,
Madhusudan das & Ekant Vilasini devi dasi
ISKON Juhu, Mumbai.
B-37, Premnagar co-op., Hsg., Soc.,
Thane (East)

42
 Madhur Krishna das

oà ajïäna-timirädnhasya jïänänjana-çaläkayä
cakñur unmélitam yena tasmai çré-gurave namaù
Dear Guru Maharaj,
Please accept my prostrated obeisances unto the dust of your lotus feet for that alone can give
me a glimpse of the right path to attain perfection in my life, which is attaining distinction in
human form of life thereby obtaining love of God. But for you, I would have rotten or will be
still rotting in this world of quarrel and hypocrisy. You have engaged me wonderfully in the
service of your divine mission of scientific preaching which is very dear to Srila Prabhupada,
for whom you are the most dear. After your physical disappearance from this world, I have
totally become bewildered. But very mercifully, you are engaging me in your transcendental
mission.
Dear Guru Maharaj you said that this mission of your’s will come in a big way. This vani of
yours is the only thing that keeps me going against all the evil thoughts of my un-controllable,
strong, obstinate mind. Most of the time I get swayed away from the normal course but the
instruction from your lotus mouth puts me back into the right course. This keeps happening
time and again. I try and introspect my activities with a strong belief that you are guiding me
and I do get a satisfactory solution, which makes my conviction about your presence stronger
and stronger.
Dear Guru Maharaj, on this transcendental appearance day of your divine grace, you give us
disciples an opportunity to glorify you and confess our heart to you. But, as I understand it, it
is only you by serving your mission, can I glorify you, it is only through service can I please
you and I am very much convinced about it.
Dear Guru Maharaj, you taught us by example how to strictly follow the instructions of the
spiritual master at all circumstances. When you were on this earthly planet, you have been
constantly thinking, meditating and acting on the instructions of your spiritual master, you
fought tooth and nail to carry forward his legacy as it is, without any compromise. Your love
for your spiritual master and your attachment to his message is of the highest order. I, only
hope that I develop this quality.
On this wonderful day, I would like to share with you little bit of my insignificant service in
your divine mission, for your pleasure. As a member of your Institute, The Institute of Science
and Religion, by your mercy and under the guidance of your dear disciple the President of the
institute, I got an opportunity to jointly conduct a seminar on the topic “ Science and Religion
Interface” , two seminars on “ Stress management “ as a part of the Institute’s outreach
program. I presented a Poster titled “ The Bio-plasmic Energy, Human Energy Field(HEF) and
Pranic Healing” in AISSQ 2007 held at Tirupati. I also, contributed in a small way towards the
first publication of the institute “ Exploring Science and Spirituality Interface, vol 1”. In this
way I am trying to serve your mission. Your disciples and My good wife and my son are
greatly inspiring and facilitating me to be fixed in your service. Your dear disciple and the
President of the Institute of Science and Religion is being a great guide and source of
inspiration for all of us in the institute.
Dear Guru Maharaj I pray and beg at your lotus feet to constantly engage me in your service
and give me the knowledge and wisdom to understand your instructions and preaching mood
and to cooperatively carry forward your leagacy. I do not wish any thing else in my life.
Your insignificant servant,
Madhur Krishna Das,
Mumbai, India.
43
Padmalochan
Padmalochan das
Most worshipable Guru Maharaja,

On this most auspicious day of Your Divine Appearance, Odana Sasthi, I pray again and again
for your unlimited mercy. I am sure that on this day, you are transcendentally in Mayapur for
the United Religions Initiative's Global Assembly.

Guru Maharaj, many times while traveling around the world, you would see wonderful
examples of art and architecture and you would ask your assistants to take many pictures. You
said that you wanted to use these pictures as ideas to build wonderful projects such as the
temple in Manipur, the puspa samadhi of Srila Prabhupada inside the Manimandir temple, etc.
You would always select the most impressive form of art: the ceiling of Alhambra in Spain, the
marble of the Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, wonderfully shaped temples in Bali, the granite
from Massa Carrara, wooden instruments from Peru, clocks from Switzerland, lotus honey
from a lake in Sutri, Bisazza golden tiles, jewelry for deities in London, etc. It seemed to me
that whatever beautiful form of art you would find around the world you would fully cherish
the desire to offer it to Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra and Srila Prabhupada.

When you were leaving Barbados in the month of April 2006, I told you in the airport that I
wished we could remain here forever. You said: "it would be very nice but that is the way life
is." In that spirit, it has now come the time for us to follow in your footsteps by meditating on
your instructions and offer you some sincere service in separation. By your unlimited mercy,
we now have a great chance to offer some wonderful seva to you, our guru parampara and to
the past, current and future vaishnava community. If by your mercy we, all of your disciples,
can be allowed to work on renovating and wonderfully decorating your bhajan kutir and
Gopal temple in Sri Radhakund, I am sure that by doing that we will be many steps closer to
you and to Sri Sri Rasha Krishnachandra. All of this, however, can be achieved only by your
unlimited mercy.

Once you commented on how nice the celebration for your vyasa-puja in Vrindavana in
December 2005 had been. My thoughts suddenly went to the main devotee who had
organized the program. I said that this devotee was giving so much but I wondered why for
some years we had not seen him. You said that he had decided to get married and that you
have a particular mood. You said that you do not like to give orders, instead you prefer to give
advice and suggestions. You also said that when some devotees in life need some space, you
give that space and prefer not to disturb them. Lately, I am also noticing that I am not very
much active in your personal service. Sometimes, I wonder if I am taking "my space". For this
reason, on this most auspicious day, I beg you again and again not to allow me to take "my
space" please engage me again in your service. By your mercy, this could be for the eternity.
Your insignificant servant,
Padmalochan das
Denver, CO, USA

44
Param Dhama Dasa

OM AJNANA TIMIRANDHASYA JNANANJANA SALAKAYA

CAKSUR UNMILITAM YENA TASMAI SRI GURUVE NAMA

Nama om visnu padaya krsna presthaya bhutale

Srimate bhakti swarupa damodara swamin iti namine

Dear Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisance
I will always remember when you was with us at home
Always very busy to prepare your congress in Rome
Like you said my house was an office .
I will miss your presence for ever
All attribute of a pure vaisnava are in you
You are so merciful to all living entities
Please Gurudeva bestow your mercy on me
I am in this ocean of material existence with
lust and greed to satisfy my senses.

Your humble servant

Param dhama dasa
England

45
Prananatha das

Dear Srila Sripada,

Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to your lotus feet on this auspicious day.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I am praying at your lotus feet for the welfare of all your disciples and well-wishers that they
may always work nicely together to spread your glories and push on your preaching work all
over the globe.

This Kali yuga is a time when quarrels and disagreements can occur very easily over the
slightest thing. I pray that all your disciples always keep your lotus feet in their hearts, your
lotus instructions in their ears, and the goal of being reunited with you in your seva to Srila
Prabhupada as the topmost goal of their lives.

I am personally very low and fallen. I do not deserve to have had even one moment of your
association, yet you are so extremely merciful that you gave this worthless soul a generous
portion.
May I always remain humble and may you kindly engage me in your service.

This is my prayer.
Your servant
Prananatha das

46
Pranavallabha das, Syamcateki devi dasi
dasi with
Saratcandra & Ganga

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah

I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of
knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisance’s unto him.

Dear Srila Sripada,

Please accept my humble obeisance’s

All glories to your Divine Grace!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
I am sitting here in midst of boxes, everything ready to move our house to a new home in
Langenthal, where there is a new centre and we hope to serve the devotees and Sri Sri Nitai
Gauracandra. So many things we have accumulated and many of them became our material
attachments and they have blocked us on the Bhaktipath. With all this boxes around us it
becomes very clear that we are most unqualified to glorify your Divine Lotus feet. Our vision is
limited by boxes of material attachments and we pray to your Divine Lotus feet that you will
be visible to us always, so that we are able to follow the proper path. The path which is
bringing us to the Divine couple Sri Sri Radha Krsnacandra.
By your example you have showed us that Divine path and you have reminded us of the
dangers on this path. You have given us all the keys we need to open the different doors on
that path. Attachment to your Divine Lotus feet keeps us walking step by step. Sadhu Sanga
helps us to cross all the mountains on the path. The Holy Name is the food we are getting to
accumulate more spiritual strength. Krsna Katha is the energy drink, so we are able to chant
more. Your love is giving us all the signs so that we are able to go in the proper direction and
we are not misguided. In the middle of our heart there is a small dirty place. That place is
supposed to be your sitting place. Please Srila Sripada sit down there and never leave it again.
We want to hear your whispering voice and get all the knowledge to find the way to our heart
so we can come there and keep it clean for you. Your Lotus feet are our only Shelter, only with
your shelter we are able to go on our path and reach the goal Sri Sri Radha Krsnacandras
eternal service.

tomāra caraṇa, binā kichu dhana,

saḿsāre nā āche āra
bhakativinoda, jaḍa-vidyā chāḍi,'
tuwā pada kore sāra

47
O Lord, there is no treasure worth seeking in this world other than Your lotus feet.
Bhaktivinoda abandons all his mundane knowledge and makes Your lotus feet the sum and
substance of his life.

ebe śuno prabhu! āmi gati-hīna,

bhakativinoda koya
tava kṛpā binā, sakali nirāśā,
deho’ more padāśroya

Now please hear me, O Lord, for I am utterly helpless. Bhaktivinoda says, “Without Your
mercy, everything is lost. Please give me the shelter of Your lotus feet.”

vicārite ābahi, guna nāhi pāobi,

kṛpā koro, choḍato vicār
tava pada-pańkaja- sīdhu pibāoto,
bhakativinoda karo pār
Were You to judge me now, You would find no good qualities. Have mercy and judge me not.
Cause me to drink the honey of Your lotus feet and thereby deliver this Bhaktivinoda.
tuwā dhāma-māhe, tuwā nāma gāoto,
gowāyabuń divā-niśi āś
tuwā pada-chāyā, parama suśītala,
māge bhakativinoda dās
One hope animates my soul: to spend day and night in Your divine abode singing Your holy
name. Your tiny servant Bhaktivinoda begs a place in the delightfully cooling shade of Your
feet.
(prabhu he!)
emona durmati, saḿsāra bhitore,
poḍiyā āchinu āmi
tava nija-jana, kono mahājane,
pāṭhāiyā dile tumi
A wicked mind brought me into this world, O Lord, but one of Your pure and elevated
devotees has come to bring me out.
(2)
doyā kori’ more, patita dekhiyā,
kohilo āmāre giyā
ohe dīna-jana, śuno bhālo kathā,
ullasita ha’be hiyā
He saw me so fallen and wretched, took pity, and came to me saying, “O humbled soul, please
listen to this good tiding, for it will gladden your heart.
48
 (3)
tomāre tārite, śrī-kṛṣṇa-caitanya,
navadwīpe avatār
tomā heno koto, dīna hīna jane,
korilena bhava-pār
Sri Krishna Caitanya has appeared in the land of Navadvipa to deliver you. He has safely
conducted many miserable souls such as you across the sea of worldly existence.
(4)
vedera pratijñā, rākhibāra tare,
rukma-varna vipra-suta
mahāprabhu nāme, nadīyā mātāya,
sańge bhāi avadhūta
“To fulfill the promise of the Vedas, the son of a brahmana bearing the name Mahaprabhu of
golden complexion, has descended with His brother the avadhuta Nityananda. Together They
have overwhelmed all of Nadia with divine ecstasy.
(5)
nanda-suta jini, caitanya gosāi,
nija-nāma kori’ dān
tārilo jagat, tumi-o jāiyā,
loho nija-paritrān
“Sri Caitanya, who is Krishna Himself, the son of Nanda, has saved the world by freely
distributing His own holy name. Go also and receive your deliverance.”
(6)
se kathā śuniyā, āsiyāchi, nātha!
tomāra caraṇa-tale
bhakativinoda, kāńdiyā kāńdiyā,
āpana-kāhinī bole
O Lord, hearing those words, Bhaktivinoda has come weeping to the soles of Your lotus feet
and tells the story of his life.
Srila Sripada, you have done this wonderful work and gave shelter to this most wretched soul.
Humbly we pray on your holy appearance day to be with you always.
Your servants,
Pranavallabha das, Syamcateki devi das with Saratcandra and Ganga

49
Radhika Nagara das

Dear Gurudev,

Due to my infinite limits and anarthas the memories of You fade away the more the time
passes by.
I miss Your sweetness and the sweetness of Your smile and Your joyful laughing. Sometimes in
the loneliness of my house i still hear Your voice calling me: "Radhika Nagara!".
I turn around but i can't see You.
When will i be able to see You again? How many lifes will it take to me?
In this most auspicious day i wish You a blissful Vyasa Puja day my Gurudev!

Your eternally aspiring servant

Radhika Nagara das

50
Rama Tulasi devi dasi

Dearest Srila Sripada Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your gloious lotus feet. All glories to you on this
special day of your Vyasa Puja.

On this most sacred day, I humbly prostrate myself at your divine lotus feet. It is due to your
unlimited compassion and mercy that I am able to chant the holy name of Krsna. You are a
pure being, compassionate and merciful by nature; since you possess an ocean of exalted
spiritual qualities, you are so dear to Sri Krsna that you were able to sow in me the seed of
your devotion to Him.

On this day I am feeling a most unbearable, intense separation from you. In this desertlike
material world, the gift of your loving shelter is the only source of mercy that provides any
relief. I am indeed nothing without the salve of your guidance and direction. My heart is
wilting and severely hurting because I miss you terribly. But I know that one day I will achieve
true happiness by seeing your beautiful, divine, glorious lotuslike form again.

I thank you, Srila Sripada, for accepting me as your spiritual daughter, and promise that I will
continue to serve you forever.

Your insignificant daughter,

Rama Tulasi devi dasi

51
Rupachandra das

Dearest Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my full dandavats at your lotus feet. All glories to you!

In my feeble attempts to increase my understanding of you,

I am gradually coming to know that you are a limitless ocean of mercy, otherwise how could
you have accepted me.

You are the personification of compassion, humility, knowledge, devotion and endless other
ornaments of a Vaisnava. Indeed you have descended into this world to exhibit the qualities of
a devotee and how a devotee should act in this world.

As for myself, personally I have no hope of coming close even to the minimum standards
expected of a devotee. Nevertheless, I wish to cherish the ideal conduct of a devotee and and
his devotion for the Lord and his spiritual master by holding you, your words and your
activities close within my heart.

Therefore kindly do not push me away from the shade of your lotus feet despite my countless
failed promises and falldowns. By your mercy and the mercy of your devotees, I have been
given some service to do. Please bless me and “say a special prayer for me” so that I may do
this service properly and make my life worthwhile.

Aspring to be your servant,

Rupachandra Das

52
Sacirani devi dasi
My sweet Lord and Master, Srila Sripada,
Please accept my humble obeisances at Your lotus feet. You are my only shelter, my guide, my
most caring friend. By Sri Sri Radha Govinda’s mercy, I was blessed to have met You and
receive Your grace. That is my real treasure. Thank you, Srila Sripada, for saving me from this
mortal and miserable world. Kindly always keep me under Your protection and please forgive
my offences.

Today is the very glorious day of Your divine appearance. Filled with compassion for all of us
fallen souls, You appeared in this world to help us in our devotional journey. And after many
years of tirelessly distributing the nectar of the Holy Name throughout the world and
nurturing our devotional creepers, by the will of the Lord, You have disappeared from our
material vision. Dearmost Srila Sripada, I am missing Your divine darshan.

A few weeks after Your transcendental disappearance, I went along with a few devotees to visit
an artist living in Kolkata in order to start the process of making Your archa-vigraha. The
artist, who was recommended by His Holiness Bhodayana Maharaja, is quite talented, having
made many murtis of sadhus from the Gaudiya Math and his studio is only minutes from Your
apartments in Kolkata. He is very devotional and requested that all Your disciples pray to You
to appear in Your deity form, saying that he wished simply to be an instrument in Your
manifesting. I feel that you personally chose this artist because he is a true artist and not a
business man-murti wala. I feel his mood, experience and willingness to make all the models
without any advance money is proof of this.

While visiting his art studio, we saw a clay model of a vaishnava that had not been cast into a
deity yet. The artist said it had been two years since he finished the model but due to some
difficulties amongst the disciples, the work was put on hold. At that time I thought this surely
wouldn’t happen in the making of Your archa-vigraha.

Well, I was wrong, dear Gurudeva, for two years have passed already… Even though the artist
has completed a clay model, has made a fiberglass model of Your lotus face and the funds have
been donated for the casting, still due to some disciples’ misconceptions the progress has been
put in state of inaction and indecisiveness. Thus Your holy form sits, in a dusty art studio in
Kolkata.

I am insignificant and incompetent to do anything. I do not understand what the plans of the
Lord are. So all I can do is pray. My dear Master, as You are in the hearts of all your disciples
as Sri Guru, I pray that You may clear up any misunderstandings in the hearts of those who are
delaying and preventing You from manifesting in your archa-vigraha. On this auspicious day
of Your Vyasa Puja I pray that, to appease our broken hearts, You will kindly bless us by
appearing once more very soon and grace us with Your sweet darshan.

Your unqualified servant and daughter,

Sacirani devi dasi

53
 Srila Sripada, My Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! How sweet you are

To save a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found
Was blind but now I see
Amazing grace! Full of mercy
You traveled far and wide
Distributing Krishna Bhakti
You’re my eternal guide
Amazing grace, dear Gurudeva
You lotus feet, my life and soul
Cannot repay for all you gave
Your mercy only can I call
Amazing grace, Srila Sripada
Jewel amongst devotees
I am forever o so glad
Blessed with your company
It was your grace, your love, your care
That opened up my heart
And filled it with a joy so rare
Knowing we’ll never part

It is your grace, only your grace

Which carries me along
Though in this world, by your kindness
I know where I belong
Amazing grace! How sweet you are
Chanting the Lord’s glories!
Precious, pure Holy Names nectar
Chasing all my miseries
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come
Your grace has brought me safe thus far
Your grace will lead me home
When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We've no less days to sing Krishna's praise
Than when we'd first begun
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
Jay Srila Sripada!
Adapted by Sacirani dd
September 2008
54
Singapore devotees

om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana salakaya

caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah

namo om vishnupadaya krsna presthaya bhu-tale

srimate bhakti svarupa damodara swamin iti namine.
namas te sarasvate deve gaura vani pracarine
nirvisesa sunyavadi pascatya desa tarine

Dearest Gurumaharaj,

On this auspicious day, i would like to take the opportunity to ask for forgivenes from all our
godbrothers and godsisters and all the vaishnavas for our offences.

Gurumaharaj, also please forgive us for not following the instructions properly, which you
have given us. This only reflects how unworthy we are as disciples. Please give us your
blessings so that we could follow your instructions as per your desire.

All your disciples in Singapore are meeting once a week for sat sang program as instructed by
You. In fact this sat sang is keeping us close to one another. Please bless us that we will
continue to have this nice association so that we will be able to serve you better.

Your unworthy servants,

Venu Madhava das
Sundarangi Devi Dasi
Karuna Avatar Das
Sonia

55
Subal Shyam dasa

My dear beloved Guru Maharaj,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Your Divine Grace on this 71st anniversary
of your glorious appearance day.

Om ajnana timiradhasya jananajana salakaya

Caksur unmilitum yena tasmai sri gurve namah..

Today is holy appearance day of your divine grace after you appeared in this mortal world.
Two years have passed after your divine grace decided to leave this world in order to continue
your services unto Srila Prabhupada & Sri Lord Krishna.

During the last two years I am having a continuous association of yours although you are not
physically present. Since your disappearance day, not a single day has passed without
remembrance of you and your glorious activities in this world. Sometimes I become very
emotional after I recall your sweet past times and cherish them like nectar. By the will of the
Lord and with your mercy and blessings, I am in Muscat for the last six months as a visiting
faculty for some teaching assignments in some international universities over there. Still I am
unable to understand my purpose of coming here but I beg for your guidance so that I can
fully utilize the time I am spending in Muscat to promote your mission of reaching to educated
community over here. Unfortunately my good wife Jaganmohini had to face lot of metal and
physical turbulences & disturbances especially in the last three months during my absence in
Mumbai. She had taken ill and had to be bedridden for more than two months. This has
definitely affected her service unto you and your mission. Kindly shower your special mercy
and blessings unto her so that she can continue to serve you without any interruptions and
with her enthusiastic energies. Kindly also bestow your special blessings unto Madhur Krishna
Das & Acintya Rupini devi dasi who served Jaganmohini tirelessly during her sickness in spite
of their limited available time and by utilization of personal resources. I can see manifestation
and reflection of your qualities and caring attitude in them towards other god brothers/sisters.

Dear Guru Maharaj, I want to serve sincerely your mission through Institute of Science and
Religion, which you have formed three years before although personally I am unqualified to
serve you. I beg unto your lotus feet to make me understand your mission and the very
purpose of life so that I can go ahead under your guidance in serving you.

Dear Srila Sripada, you were a faithful disciple of your gurumaharaj , His Divine Grace Srila
Prabhupada .You had taken up a big task of scientific preaching of Krishna Consciousness
among educated community of entire world for which you worked tirelessly. You were simple
endeavored to help realize desire of Srila Prabhupada in bringing the whole world to
understand the true meaning of life. I am inspired to spread your mission but only under your
authority and guidance.
Dear Gurumaharaj, although you had laid a foundation of scientific preaching of Krishna
Consciousness under the direct guidance of your spiritual master Srila Prabhupada. Yet, I am
observing that some envious people are trying to take credit of your reputation and your work
of scientific preaching and trying to reap the fruits for personal benefits. I am waiting for your
guidance and solution to overcome such unscrupulous efforts of the mundane people. Last
56
two years your disciples are in the process of marching ahead with your projects entrusted by
you. Kindly bestow your mercy and blessings unto them so that they will be successful in their
efforts.

Dear Guru Maharaj, please allow me to be of some assistance however insignificant may be in
helping you realize the wonderful dreams you have shared with us. You are a constant source
of inspiration to so many devotees all over the world and to me as well. May my humble efforts
be pleasing to you and pray unto you to shower your blessings upon all your sincere disciples.

Longing to remain attached to the dust of your lotus feet,

Your insignificant servant,

Subal Shyam Das
Muscat

Shyam das

Dear most Guru Maharaja,

Please accept my most humble dandavat at the shade of your lotus feet.
All glories to you!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

It’s nice to write on the most auspicious day of your appearance.

By your unlimited mercy many projects and programs are going on around the world.
It’s nice to see that in Sri Mayapur Dham a very important conference is taking place and many
religious leaders are joining it.

At Sri Radhakund many devotees are trying to please you for the Samadhi Construction. I read
some emails about it. I think the best proposal is the Cooperation Circle by Jivan Mukta
Prabhu.

Here, in Italy, the Ekadasinath Prabhu’s centre is going on very well. Maybe, with the others
Italian Godbrothers, we need to read the Bhaktivedanta Institute statement and plane more
programs.

Begging for your and all the Vaishnavas mercy.

Your servant,
Shyam das

57
Syamasundar das
Dear Guru Maharaja,

Your mercy is incomprehensible to this soul.

I am not qualified to even appreciate it.
You are the source and reservoir of my love.

Your eternal servant,

Syamasundar das"

Svarupa Siddhi das

Dear Sripada Maharaja

namo om visnupadaya krishna presthaya bhu-tale

srimate bhakti svarupa damodara svamin iti namine
nama sad-bhakta-manaye manipura-udbhavaya ca
prabhupada lasad-vani pracara niratayate

Please accept our most humble obeisance’s at your lotus feet.

As the moments turn to days, and the days turn to years, my heart feels more the loss of your
personal association and guidance.
Your name “Srila Sripada Maharaja” who removes all fear. Your gravity helps me fix my mind
on the goal of life, “Krishna”. Your glance frees my soul from illusion.
You are still present in the form of all your instructions, to direct me if I am sincere and to
encourage me if I am despondent.
krsna rusta ha'le guru rākhibāre pāre
guru rusta ha'le krsna rākhibāre nāre
If Krsna gets angry Sri Guru can protect, but if Guru gets angry Krsna will neglect.
guru mātā guru pitā guru hana pati
guru vinā e samsāre nāhi āra gati
Guru is mother, Guru is father, Guru is lord and master. Without Sri Guru there is no recourse
in this samsara.

Please give us the shade of your lotus feet

Your insignificant servant
Svarupa Siddhi das
58
Tota Gopinath Das

mukham karoti vachalam

panghum langhayate girim
yat kripa tam aham vande
sri gurum dina tarine

Dearest Srila Sripada Guru Maharaj,

Please accept my respectful obeisances. All glory to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga.

When asked by the supremely merciful Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu what the greatest misery
is, Sri Ramananda Ray replied that separation from the pure devotee is the most painful
experience. As your disciples and well-wishers we have all been feeling this acute pain after
you departed from this world.

With your blessings I have been fortunate enough to spend some time in India recently. Here I
have seen many of your sincere followers serving you faithfully in separation. I also long to
serve you in this same way and thus aspire to follow their example.

I pray that you will bless us all and continue to guide us along the path of devotion that you
have so kindly shown us.

May I remain your servant,

Tota Gopinath Das

Vijaya Govinda das, Radhika dasi & Shruthimala,

Kruthimala, Druva

Dear Srila Sripada,

Please accept my humble obesiances. All glories to Srila Prabhuapada.
Though you are not physically with me, you are part of my everyday life. I recollect the day I
approched you for my initiation - with so many odds in those days! you told me, with a smile
on, that you are in the process of picking flowers to make a garland to offer to Srila
Prabhupada!

Whenever I critizised somebody in my service you are there to point out the positive side and
made me to understand and appeciate their contribution for the ultimate service to Srila
Prabhupada. It is difficult and very hard for me to express myself what I gained and what I
miss now in my life. My request to you, to bless me and my godbrothers and sisters to
contribute and lead our life in such a way, that will make Srila Prabhupada's mission on this
material world more glorious.

I beg to remain your eternal servant,

Vijaya govinda das with my wife Radhika dasi
and my kids Shruthimala, Kruthimala, Druva

59
Yogindra das

Jai shrila Gurudev

Hare Krishna to you,

Hare Krishna to you,
Hare Krishna, hare Krishna ,hare Krishna to you.
You are the best master ever,
We will forget you never,
Hare Krishna ,hare Krishna,
Hare Krishna to you.

I am your tiny servant,

I am a tiny ant,
No I am lower ,I am lower ,I am lower than an ant.
I am a speck of dust,
I am full of lust,
I am full of, I am full of, I am full of lust.

Please grant me a boon,

I want to serve you, who is like the moon,
Please grant me, please grant me, please grant me this
boon.
Give us Krishna bhakti,
Which is more than immortality,
Give us Krishna, give us Krishna, give us Krishna bhakti.

Please protect us from maya,

The materiel energy of Krishna,
Please protect us, please protect us , please protect us from maya.
Please forgive me master,
For my offences master,
Please forgive me, please forgive me please forgive me master.

Your fallen servant Yogindra das

60
Institute of Science and Religion, Navi Mumbai

Dec. 4th 2008 - 71st Vyasa Puja offering to H.H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami Srila Sripada
From

Dr. T.D. Singh’s

Institute of Science and Religion, Navi Mumbai

To,
Our Most beloved gurudeva Srila Sripada,
Please accept our humble obeisances.
All glories to your Divine Grace.

We once again express our genuine gratitude at your lotus feet

for blessing us with an institute to assist you in your scientific
preaching mission.
As such we are inexperienced and not qualified devotionally or
academically to lend you a helping hand, still it was your
compassion, kindness and special concern towards us that you
have entrusted this responsibility to us. Although as a small
child we had been always negligent, but you had always cast
special care over us and finally gave us this institute so that we always remain under your
shadow.
Dear gurumaharaj, we are trying our best to please you and remain under your shadow, but as
of now unable to reach the objective set by you.

Whatever little bit we have achieved during last few years is only by your special mercy over the
institute.
On this auspicious occasion we would like to present to you a small report summarizing our
activities between the period after your vyasa-puja 2007 and as of December 4th 2008 for your
pleasure.

1. During Dec. 15th to Dec. 17th 2007, the SIES Education group extended special invitation to
our institute to participate at their Prayog-Educational fair on Science, Technology and Society
commemorating the platinum jubilee celebrations of SIES education trust. The festival was
inaugurated by Dr. R. Chidambaram, Principal Scientific Advisor to Govt. of India, Homi
Bhabha Professor and Distinguished Alumni Chair at IISc., Bangalore. The valedictory function
was presided by Dr. Dr. K. Kasturirangan, Chairman ISRO, Member of Parliament Rajya
Sabha(one of the patron of trust) and Prof. A.D. Sawant, Pro-VC of Mumbai University.

In every floor there were messages and quotes of scientists and great personalities which were relevant for the festival
theme. Your Holiness’s instructions from your publications were also displayed by the college students in the first floor.

61
Dr. R. Chidambaram was eager to know about your work and went thru’ the exhibits minutely. He also accepted few of
your publications. We also shared with him that Dec. 15th was your 70th birthday.

2. All of us actively participated during AISSQ-2007 conference at Tirupati that was dedicated
to your 70th vyasa-puja celebrations. We collected a substantial amount as part of fund raising
for the conference and rendered some insignificant services at the venue also. Through our
institute atleast 100 delegates from academic circle took part in the conference. Among the
dignitaries we had the Pro-VC of Mumbai University, senior professors and HOD from several
esteemed colleges. We had two Muslim professors who participated in the conference and also
took Darshan of Lord Balaji. They expressed that they felt blessed after getting the darshan of
Lord Balaji.

3. During January 4th to 6th 2008, the President(Jaganmohini devi dasi) presented a paper on
“Mystics in world Religions” as part of International Inter-Faith Dialogue Seminar organized by
Mumbai University and Somaiya Education trust. Around 50 scholars from all over the world
participated in this seminar. The paper focused on life and precepts of Sri Chaitanya
Mahaprabhu. The President(Jaganmohini devi dasi) received special invitation from Prof. A.D.
Sawant, Pro-VC of Mumbai University to participate in this seminar.

4. During Feb. 2008 we organized a seminar on “Bio-technology – Challenges Ahead” at two

reputed academic institutions. The seminar was wonderfully delivered by H.G. Ramvijay das
who visited Mumbai on deputation thru’ IIT-Guhawati. The students and professors alike were
engrossed and acknowledged the essence of the subject matter.

62
5. During March 2008, the institute was invited by a reputed academic institute to deliver a
seminar on Stress from scientific perspective to junior engineering students. H.G. Madhura
Krishna prabhu delivered the session in two batches. The Principal was happy and is looking
forward for more such seminars to educate his students.

6. During forthcoming conference, H.G. Shyam Chandra Prabhu is likely to speak on a unique
theme based on Management and Spirituality. Please shower your blessings over him for this
presentation during AISSQ-2008.

7. We released our first publication during your 70th vyasa-puja last year at Tirupati. Since you
have told us that we must publish books on different themes related to Science and Spirituality
interface for student community, we decided to inaugurate the first one as the compilations of
your lectures and messages. We could feel your blessings during the entire preparatory stage of
the publication. You will be pleased to know that in one year time more than 700 books have
been sold. In fact our BI Kolkata bus has acknowledged to us that this book is selling very fast.
We thank you very much for this kind blessing. Please continue to bless and guide us in our
future publications.

8. Subal Shyam prabhu did an important seva of getting the institute the certificate of income
tax exempt for donations received by our institute in a very short period of time(less than
three months). In fact the IT authorities were highly impressed by our first publication (i.e.
your instructions) and acknowledged our noble service to academic community.

9.On your second tiribhav we launched our institute’s website www.inst-

scienceandreligion.org dedicated to your divine grace. Acintya Rupini mataji worked hard in
this seva. We hope you liked it.

10. We have also formed an Advisory Board comprising of Scientists, Scholars/Professors from
academic community and intellectuals from Corporate. Since you wanted to be as our Chief
Advisor we have included few members from BI-Kolkata in our advisory board. You also
wanted us to include Muslim and Christian Scientists and Scholars. By your mercy two
members of respective community have showed their voluntary willingness to be associates of
our institute and serve jointly the academic community. One of them a Christian Scientist is
presenting a poster paper on “God, Time and Space” from Christianity and Vedanta
perspective during AISSQ-2008. He read your books on Vedanta series and felt some
comparison and synthesis can be made on your “Big Vision” model.
Today we seek your special blessings for each and every member in our institute’s advisory board,
so that jointly with different constructive inputs we can do something for the intellectual community
in the field of Science and Spirituality interface.

63
11. We intend to release Newsletter at frequent intervals to educate the student and professor
community. We are offering today the draft of this Newsletter for your perusal and guidance.
Please go through them and kindly suggest how we can improve further.

The above was our institute’s activities summary during this year.

We desire sincerely to improve and give you better report every consecutive year.
But the sole strength to execute the services is derived from you. You are our backbone and our
pillar. Please don’t go away from us.
We are constantly put up with unpredicted challenges and obstacles which make us insecure
and diffident at times.

Gurumaharaj, on this auspicious occasion of your 71st vyasa-puja please hear us, hear our petition;
we are deeply crying at your Lotus feet for your special blessings.
Today we need your helping hand and direction at every moment. We have absolutely no one other
than you as our support for this institute. We confirm that we are heavily leaning on you.
Please bless us and guide us so that we improve our commitment, team spirit and work very hard to
glorify you and your divine messages amongst the academic community.

From your insignificant servants of the institute

Srikant Das
Prema Rajendran (aspiring disciple)
Madhura Krishna prabhu, Acintya Rupini devi dasi and their son
Shyam Chandra Prabhu, Sundari Devi dasi and their sons
Subal Shyam das and Jaganmohini devi dasi.
(Written by H.G. Jaganmohini devi dasi)

64
Prabhupäda: Make Manipur a big nice center of Vaiñëava. You are
descendants of Babhruvähana. There is no doubt about it. Vaiñëava
räja. Make Manipur a strong center of Kåñëa, and it will be easily done,
strong Vaiñëava center, kñatriya. I would like to see this. ( room
conversation Bhuvanesvara, January 13, 1977)

65
 Çré Çré Gurv-añöaka
by Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarté Öhäkura

(1)
saàsära-dävänala-léòha-loka-
träëäya käruëya-ghanäghanatvam
präptasya kalyäëa-guëärëavasya
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam

The spiritual master is receiving benediction from the ocean of mercy. Just as a
ncloud pours water on a forest fire to extinguish it, so the spiritual master
delivers the materially afflicted world by extinguishing the blazing fire of
material existence. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a
spiritual master, who is an ocean of auspicious qualities.

66
 (2)
mahäprabhoù kértana-nåtya-géta-
väditra-mädyan-manaso rasena
romäïca -kampäçru-taraìga-bhäjo
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam

Chanting the holy name, dancing in ecstasy, singing, and playing musical
instruments, the spiritual master is always gladdened by the saìkértana
movement of Lord Caitanya Mahäprabhu. Because he is relishing the mellows of
pure devotion within his mind, sometimes his hair stands on end, he feels
quivering in his body, and tears flow from his eyes like waves. I offer my
respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

67
 (3)
çré-vigrahärädhana-nitya-nänä-
çåìgära-tan-mandira-märjanädau
yuktasya bhaktäàç ca niyuïjato ’pi
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam

The spiritual master is always engaged in the temple worship of Çré Çré Rädhä and
Kåñëa. He also engages his disciples in such worship. They dress the Deities in
beautiful clothes and ornaments, clean Their temple, and perform other similar
worship of the Lord. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a
spiritual master.

68
 (4)

catur-vidha-çré-bhagavat-prasäda-
svädv-anna-tåptän hari-bhakta-saìghän
kåtvaiva tåptià bhajataù sadaiva
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam

The spiritual master is always offering Kåñëa four kinds of delicious food
[analyzed as that which is licked, chewed, drunk, and sucked]. When the
spiritual master sees that the devotees are satisfied by eating bhagavat-prasäda, he
is satisfied. I offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual
master.

69
 (5)

çré-rädhikä-mädhavayor apära-
mädhurya-lélä guëa-rüpa-nämnäm
prati-kñaëäsvädana-lolupasya
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam

The spiritual master is always eager to hear and chant about the unlimited
conjugal pastimes of Rädhikä and Mädhava, and Their qualities, names, and
forms. The spiritual master aspires to relish these at every moment. I offer my
respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

70
 (6)

nikuïja-yüno rati-keli-siddhyai
yä yälibhir yuktir apekñaëéyä
taträti-däkñyäd ati-vallabhasya
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam

The spiritual master is very dear, because he is expert in assisting the gopés, who
at different times make different tasteful arrangements for the perfection of
Rädhä and Kåñëa’s conjugal loving affairs within the groves of Våndävana. I offer
my most humble obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master.

71
 (7)
säkñäd-dharitvena samasta-çästrair
uktas tathä bhävyata eva sadbhiù
kintu prabhor yaù priya eva tasya
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam

The spiritual master is to be honored as much as the Supreme Lord, because he is

the most confidential servitor of the Lord. This is acknowledged in all revealed
scriptures and followed by all authorities. Therefore I offer my respectful
obeisances unto the lotus feet of such a spiritual master, who is a bona fide
representative of Çré Hari [Kåñëa].

72
 (8)

yasya prasädäd bhagavat-prasädo

yasyäprasädän na gatiù kuto ’pi
dhyäyan stuvaàs tasya yaças tri-sandhyaà
vande guroù çré-caraëäravindam

By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Kåñëa.
Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement.
Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least
three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of
my spiritual master

73
 A Short Biography of Srila Sripada
(collected from different biographies by disciples and oral histories)

Divine Appearance
Rendering service to the person Bhagavata, or the pure servant of God, is described throughout
the Vedic literature as being more effective and more pleasing to the Lord than rendering
service to the Supreme Lord directly. The person Bhagavata comes in the line of a genuine
disciplic succession from the Lord, and through the disciplic succession the divine principle is
transmitted to the humble spiritual aspirant. His Holiness Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami,
also known as Sripada Maharaja, rendered sincere and loving service to his spiritual master,
Srila Prabhupada, who belonged to the spiritual lineage of the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya-
sampradaya. Sripada Maharaja was thus an ideal example of bhagavata- sevarpanam—offering
service unto the Bhagavata.

Sripada Maharaja was born in the state of Manipur, in Toubul village, on December 9, 1937. It
was the holy day known as Odana-shashthi, when Lord Jagannatha is given new clothes. His
parents were Sri Yogendra Singh and Srimati Kanyahanbi Devi. Being Vaishnavas, they named
their child Damodara, one of the holy names of Lord Sri Krishna. Sri Yogendra Singh was a
devotional singer in the Nata Sankirtana tradition, and so from the very moment of
Damodara’s appearance in this world, his father filled his son’s ears with the devotional sounds
of the holy names and pastimes of the Supreme Lord.

Childhood
As a youth Damodara faced many hardships. The Second World War greatly affected
Damodara’s early life. When he was hardly five years old, the Japanese forces, with the help of
the Indian National Army (INA) bombed Imphal city in May 1942. As a result, people had to
leave their homes for shelter elsewhere. Damodara’s parents and relatives, along with their
small boy, camped out on the banks of Yangoi river, considered to be a safer place than home.
During that period, around the age of eight, he lost his father, due to typhoid. After his father
passed away, the entire burden of raising the young Damodara fell on his mother and elder
sister who worked very hard to provide the necessities of life for him. By the will of
providence, some time later, his mother re-married and taking her youngest daughter with her,
went to live in the village of Oinam, some even miles from Toubul. At that time, the burden of
Damodara’s schooling and maintenance fell on the shoulders of his elder sister, Ahanbi Devi.
Always thinking of the welfare of her younger brother, she was extremely hardworking, helped
by Damodara himself in the day-to-day routine activities of cooking, tending cows, working in
the paddy field and tilling the land with a pair of oxen. From his elder sister, Damodara
learned practically everything he needed to know in order to meet these day-to-day challenges.
Life was difficult, but throughout their hardships they remained courageous by taking shelter
of the mercy of Lord Sri Krishna.

Once, at the age of ten, Damodara told his sister, “One day we will have money, and I will
cover you with gold.” “No,” she replied, “one day you will get married, cover your wife in
gold, and forget about me.” To which Sripada Maharaja firmly replied, “I will never get
married.” He remained a naishthikabrahmachari (celibate monk) throughout his life.

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Youth

Damodara was a serious student. He was not interested in participating in frivolous activities
like cinema- going. He also used to encourage his sister to study, but seeing that she was not
interested, he would jokingly call her ‘crazy woman.’ Once, some of Damodara’s friends teased
him because he was wearing shorts that were torn. Damodara responded to them by saying
that it’s whats inside that matters and not whats on the outside. Thus even at a young age, he
was possessed of extraordinary wisdom.

By the time Damodara was twelve, Ahanbi got married and left home. Thus Damodara had to
live alone and fend for himself by growing rice. In addition to his routine work, he cooked
twice a day and did the marketing. Sometimes, selling a few bags of rice, he would purchase
books, and on occasions his mother would send money for him and vegetables from
Vishnupur Bazar. However, after some time he was unable to continue his studies. Sometime
later, his primary school teacher noticed his plight and along with a village elder arranged for a
proper home and his further education.

At fourteen, Sripada Maharaja became seriously ill with typhoid. The village physicians
unanimously declared that he would soon die. But his guardian, Kerani Singh prayed daily for
his recovery by reciting the Dashavatara-stotra, a prayer to Lord Sri Krishna’s ten incarnations.
After fasting for forty days and drinking only whey, Damodara miraculously recovered.
Another time, he fell from a mango tree. As he lay unconscious, he heard his guardian saying,
“You cannot die yet, your mission here is not complete.” He suddenly regained consciousness
and quickly recovered from his injuries.

While referring to the hardships encountered by Srila Sripada during his childhood, it is
appropriate to refer to the instructions of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur when his
disciples asked a question regarding the birth of a devotee in a very poor and wretched family.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur said, “Devotees are never subject to the result of their
karma. It is by the will of the Lord that they take birth and perform other pastimes. But when
we see that they are born in low class families, are illiterate, or are disease-ridden, we should
know that there is a great or noble purpose behind it. If people saw that devotees were always
born in high class families or were always strong or educated, then they would become
discouraged. So the merciful Lord, in order to benefit people of all classes, sends His devotees
to different classes of society to give His mercy to other living entities. This is something like
catching a wild male elephant by sending a trained female elephant. Srila Vrindavan Das
Thakur has said in the Chaitanya-Bhagavata that a vaisnava delivers everyone just by taking
birth. In a land and in a family where a vaisnava descends, many hundreds of miles around
that place becomes purified by his influence. Even if you see some external misery in a
vaisnava’s life, you should know that he is in great ecstasy. Those who are blinded by pride in
their material possessions do not know any of these things. Intoxicated with pride in their
education, money, and family, they do not recognize a vaisnava….”

Growing up, Damodara was very much attracted to hearing about the pastimes of the Lord. He
once spent the entire night watching the divine rasa-lila dance of Krishna and His gopis
performed in traditional Manipuri style. He consequently missed his mathematics final
examination the next day. Damodara would also regularly take part in the deity worship of
Radha-Krishna, Gaura-Nitai, and Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra in his village’s temple.

75
Damodara’s Daily Routine

Around eight o’clock at night, after finishing a simple evening meal, he revised his school
lessons. He was very fond of mathematics and English literature. He had neither table, nor
chair, nor electricity, so for his reading purposes he used a kerosene lantern. He took rest at
nine-thirty in the evening and rose at four in the morning. At that time, with a lit lamp, he
would sit on a mat, undisturbed by anyone, absorbed in reading his subjects for the next two
solitary hours. At six, he cleaned the cowshed and sent the cows to the pasturing ground. After
he came back from school at four-thirty in the evening, he would go again to the pasturing
ground to fetch the cows. Durign the rainy season, the young boy tilled the land with the help
of the oxen and grew rice plants. Although the job was tiring for young Damodara, he did not
mind the labour.

Education

Because of Damodara’s respectful conduct, throughout his student life he developed lifelong
relationships with teachers. He always remembered his preceptors fondly and with sincere
gratitude. Possessing the ability to become an expert in anything he set his mind to, he won
several scholarships that allowed him to further his education in Calcutta and ultimately in the
United States. In the 1960s, for someone from the small state of Manipur, India, to make it all
the way to the United States on scholarships was almost impossible. Yet by the mercy of the
Supreme Lord, he was selected from over 400 applicants for an overseas scholarship from
India’s ministry of education.

In early 1970, in the USA, Damodara, at the University of California at Irvine, while doing his
Ph.D research in physical organic chemistry, received a telegram from India announcing the
passing away of his mother. The news was very painful to him especially since he had not seen
for over four years and did not have the slightest idea that she had been ill. He planned to
return to India for the çrāddha ceremony, but a letter from Sri Kerani Singh advised him
against it. Outling the basic philosophy of life, Sri Kerani, in a letter emphatically stated that
the body is temporary but the soul is eternal. Damodara did not return to India, but he lost all
enthusiasm for studies. Spending several lonely and sleepless nights meditating on the
flickering nature of this material world, he deeply realized the miseries relating to birth, death,
old age and disease.

Meeting Srila Prabhupada

Hearing the sad news of his mother’s passing away, Damodara’s friend Dr. Ravindra Pratap
Rao, came to see him. Dr. Rao took him to Laguna beach. There they saw some ISKCON
devotees chanting Harinam sankirtan. They followed the sankirtan party. One of the devotees
asked them to visit the temple and join them in singing, dancing and feasting programs. The
following day, Dr. Rao went to the Temple along and told Damodara about the wonderful and
pleasant experience he had there. One day Dr. Rao told Damodara that Srila Prabhupada, the
Founder-Acharya of ISKCON, was in Los Angeles and asked him to go to there to meet him.
However Damodara refused saying that he was busy with his academic work. After this, Dr.
Rao requested him several times to go with him to see Srila Prabhupada but he refused.
Finally, Dr. Rao issued Damodara with an ultimatum that if he did not accompany him the
next day to see Srila Prabhupada, he will never come and see him again in his lifetime and

76
their friendship will be finished forever. Seeing the seriousness of the matter, Damodara
decided to accompany his friend the next day. The next morning they got up early at 5 a.m.
and on the way to Los Angeles, Dr. Rao told Damodara that he was going to be initiated by
Srila Prabhupada that morning. Damodara was struck by his fiend’s determination, enthusiasm
and sincerity. He said to him that he admired his courage and that he must have been blessed
by Srila Prabhupada.

At the temple Srila Prabhupada had just returned from his daily morning walk. Damodara was
standing near the Deities, facing Srila Prabhupada who was sitting on the Vyasasana. Srila
Prabhupada started singing and Damodara’s mind was captivated by Srila Prabhupada’s sweet,
melodious and intense devotional singing. Dr. Rao was initiated and was given the spiritual
name, Ramananda Ray Dasa. Then they went to see Srila Prabhupada. Ramanand Ray
introduced Damodara to Srila Prabhupada informing him that he was from Manipur and was
currently working on his Ph.D in Chemistry at the University of California, Irvine. Srila
Prabhupada remarked, “Manipuri people are descendents of Babhruvahana, the son of Arjuna.
They have been vaiñnavas since the time of the Pandavas and Manipuri kings have established
Sri Krishna temples in Vrindavan, Radhakund and Nabadvip”. Prabhupada asked Sripada that
being born in a vaiñnava family why did he come to USA, crossing the ocean. He added, “You
young scholars and students have come here as beggars to beg scientific knowledge and
dollars. But I have not come here to beg. I have come here to give the Americans something
very valuable, which they do not have - Bhagavata culture. Whey don’t you do the same as I
am doing? Why are you simply taking? Why don’t you also give something?” Damodara was
deeply moved by Srila Prabhupada’s words and he quickly decided to dedicate his life in
service to Srila Prabhupada and his mission.

Profusely grateful and repeatedly thanking Dr. Rao for introducing him to such a great
personality, he confessed that he was sorry for not yielding earlier to his friend’s repeated
requests to meet Srila Prabhupada. After that momentous meeting Damodara started visiting
Srila Prabhupada in Los Angeles almost every day and after a short period of time, on June
30th, 1971, at the New Dwaraka ISKCON temple in Los Angeles, he received spiritual
initiation. Srila Prabhupada gave him the spiritual name, Svarupa Damodara Das Brahmacari.

Prabhupada’s Instructions
For the next eight years, beginning with Svarupa Damodara’s morning walks with Srila
Prabhupada in the early 1970s on Venice Beach, California to the last hours of Srila
Prabhupada’s manifest pastimes in this world, in Vrindavana in 1977, Srila Prabhupada gave
numerous instructions to him on how to properly introduce Bhagavata culture to the world’s
intellectuals and leaders. These instructions were in the fields of science, philosophy, religion,
Bhagavata cosmology, evolution, art, culture, and spiritual education, among others. Some of
the conversations between Srila Prabhupada and Svarupa Damodara Das that took place during
their morning walks together on Venice Beach are now published and distributed by the
Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) as the book Life Comes From Life.

In 1973 Svarupa Damodara offered a small book to Srila Prabhupada at Prabhupada’s

appearance-day celebration in Los Angeles. Srila Prabhupada liked the book so much that he
ordered it to be printed and distributed in large numbers. The book—The Scientific Basis of
Krishna Consciousness—is based on the instructions that he received from Srila Prabhupada.
Srila Prabhupada would often show the book to guests and tell them the book was written by
one of his scientist disciples. He ordered the BBT to print over 100,000 copies. This book is

77
still used extensively for presenting Krishna consciousness to students at colleges and
universities throughout the world. Over a quarter million copies have been printed, and it has
been translated into many languages.

The Bhaktivedanta Institute

After Svarupa Damodara received his Ph.D. in physical organic chemistry in 1974, he went to
Vrindavana to be with Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada told him he wanted to start an
institute to present Krishna consciousness scientifically to intellectuals. He told Svarupa
Damodara that he wanted him to be the director of the institute. Svarupa Damodara humbly
expressed his feeling of not being qualified for the position. Srila Prabhupada replied, “I will
give you all the instructions required to run the institute. You simply follow them.” Later,
Svarupa Damodara suggested the name Bhaktivedanta Institute, and Srila Prabhupada humbly
agreed.

Srila Prabhupada instructed Svarupa Damodara on how to organize and operate the Institute.
He gave him specific instructions on organizing conferences, giving lectures, writing books,
and interacting with scholars and intellectuals. Srila Prabhupada saw in Svarupa Damodara a
person who could fulfill these instructions, as he had a scientific background, a gentlemanly
nature, and above all the qualities of a Vaishnava. Srila Prabhupada’s personal assistant
Srutakirti Dasa expressed to Sripada Maharaja, “While I was his Divine Grace Srila
Prabhupada’s personal servant, it seemed like you were always nearby. He had so much
affection for you … He gave so much of his time to you because he knew it would not be
wasted.” Srila Prabhupada once said, “Svarupa Damodara is such a nice devotee; he has the
quality of always making friends, not enemies. No one speaks against him.”

In 1977 Svarupa Damodara gave a lecture on the scientific basis of Krishna consciousness at a
large pandal (tent) program in Bombay. Srila Prabhupada was extremely pleased by his
scientific presentation. Svarupa Damodara’s godbrother Giriraja Swami recalled the occasion:
“Although Prabhupada was quite ill then (this proved to be his last public engagement) and
remaining in the pandal for long was a strain for him, he was so keen on your work that he
wanted to be there for your presentation.… I will never forget how happy he was. I had hardly
ever seen him so happy. He was so pleased with your presentation that evening at Cross
Maidan.” Any disciple of Srila Prabhupada present when he and Svarupa Damodara were
together recognized the beautiful relationship and loving exchanges that took place between
them. Svarupa Damodara took the instructions he received from Srila Prabhupada as his life
and soul. Fulfilling these instructions was his offering of love, as a disciple, to his divine
master, Srila Prabhupada. Later, after taking sannyasa initiation, the prefix ‘Bhakti” was added
and since then he has been known as Sripada Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami or Sripada
Maharaja.

Interviews, Symposiums, and Books

For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada, Sripada Maharaja organized five major international
conferences, in Vrindavana (1977), Mumbai (1986), San Francisco (1990), Kolkata (1997),
and Rome (2004). These conferences exposed leaders of the scientific and spiritual
communities to the Bhagavata perspective. He organized hundreds of seminars and
symposiums and met with and interviewed several Nobel laureates, statesmen, and leading
thinkers of the world, such as Charles Townes, William Phillips, Desmond Tutu, Pope John
Paul II, the Dalai Lama, and Mother Theresa.
78
In response to Srila Prabhupada’s instruction for him to write books, Sripada Maharaja
published dozens of books on science and spirituality. Srila Prabhupada told him, “You are a
scientist; prove scientifically that God is a Person.” In 2006 he published “God Is a Person”,
containing his dialogue with two of the world’s most prominent Nobel laureates. As instructed
by Srila Prabhupada, Sripada Maharaja also wrote a scientific commentary on the first four
verses of the Vedanta-sutra, which summarize the work. He also edited and published
Savijnanam and Tattva-jijnasa, respectively the journal and the magazine of the Bhaktivedanta
Institute. Today, in large part because of his books, Sripada Maharaja is recognized in major
scientific and religious circles around the world and is considered one of the leading
authorities on science and spirituality.

To distribute the books of Srila Prabhupada and the Bhaktivedanta Institute to colleges and
universities throughout India, Sripada Maharaja started the Bhaktivedanta Institute on Wheels.
Currently three motorhome- style buses travel around India performing outreach work for the
Institute. The members of the outreach team organize lectures and distribute books to
students, professors, and libraries, promoting a dialogue between science and spirituality. In
northeast India Sripada Maharaja started a network of primary and secondary schools to
promote the goals of the Bhaktivedanta Institute. Over four thousand students attend these
schools and receive a scientific education centered on the spiritual values of the Bhagavata
tradition.

Sharing Vaishnava Culture

Throughout his life, Sripada Maharaja attended numerous festivals and conferences all over
the world. At these functions he introduced the divine principle of Vaishnava culture, which
he had received from Srila Prabhupada. He did this through the literary, culinary, and
performing arts at a myriad of venues ranging from urban schools to the most prestigious
universities, from senior citizen centers to the Kennedy Center, from South America to
Singapore, and to audiences from elementary school students to heads of state. Sripada
Maharaja’s presenting and sharing of the divine principle of Vaishnava culture to countless
people around the world makes him truly an ambassador of Bhagavata culture. To introduce
the Bhagavata culture of Manipur to the world, in 1989 Sripada Maharaja founded the
Ranganiketan Manipuri Cultural Arts Troupe. Ranganiketan is the largest and most frequently
booked cultural arts troupe from India. As director of Ranganiketan, Sripada Maharaja shared
the beautiful rasa-lila pastimes of Lord Sri Krishna with more than a million people, through
approximately six hundred performances at over three hundred venues in more than fifteen
countries.

In Sripada Maharaja’s work to introduce the Bhagavata culture to society’s intellectuals, he

interacted with many spiritual leaders of the world’s great faiths. He discussed with them the
sublime and unifying points of the Bhagavata tradition, which many of them greatly
appreciated. Sripada Maharaja felt that dialogue among the world’s religious leaders is a
powerful way to create a culture of understanding that aids in discovering the commonalities
among various religions and societies. The future depends on all religions working together to
formulate a global standard of ethics and morality to guide human action in the right
direction.

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For the last twenty-five years, Sripada Maharaja organized seminars and interreligious
discussion groups around the world. In addition, beginning in early 1980 in Manipur he led
annual padayatras (walks) for peace and religious harmony. Sripada Maharaja was a global
council member of the United Religions Initiative (URI), an international spiritual parallel of
the United Nations. URI is the largest worldwide organization dedicated to spreading peace
and understanding among the world’s religions.

In the spirit of peace and harmony, Srila Prabhupada told Sripada Maharaja, attending him in
his last days, that he wanted to start the Bhaktivedanta Swami Charity Trust to bring unity
among all Gaudiya Vaishnavas and to aid in the renovation of the ancient Gaudiya temples and
holy sites. Sripada Maharaja worked hard to achieve this goal of peace and unity. Srila
Prabhupada instructed Sripada Maharaja to make Manipur a scientific Vaishnava state. In this
regard, Sripada Maharaja began building The University of Bhagavata Culture in Imphal,
Manipur. Shining in the center of the university complex is the marvelous jewel-like temple,
the Sri Sri Radha- Krishnacandra Manimandira. The grand opening of the temple took place on
November 21, 2007. Sripada Maharaja also inaugurated the construction of temples all over
India, including Siliguri, Tirupati, Vijayawada, and Agartala.

From his early childhood Sripada Maharaja was deeply influenced by the devotional art,
music, and dance of Manipur. An accomplished singer, instrumentalist, and poet, he
composed several Vaishnava poems and songs in the Manipuri language. He sang beautifully,
bringing transcendental pleasure to those who heard him.

Sripada Maharaja was and continues to be a spiritual master, teacher, and guide for thousands
of people. Wherever he traveled, his friendship captivated and charmed people of all ages,
faiths, and walks of life. His disciples have been touched by his example of dedicating himself
completely to the instructions of his spiritual master.

Auspicious Departure

Sripada Maharaja passed from this world on the holy day known as Vijaya Dashami, during the
period of the day when Lord Sri Krishna calls the gopis for His divine rasa-lila. Sripada
Maharaja’s departure took place in Kolkata, the holy appearance place of his divine master
Srila Prabhupada. Kolkata is also the site from which Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura
and Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura left this world. Sripada Maharaja’s purified body was placed in
samadhi (eternal meditation) at Sri Radha-kund, Vrindavana.

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Prabhupäda: Ladies and Gentlemen, the very learned erudite scholarly speaking by our
Dr. Svarüpa Dämodara Singh must have created some impression in your mind, I am sure.
So our, this Kåñëa consciousness movement, it is full of scientific knowledge. Jïänaà te
'haà sa-vijïänaà pravakñyämy anasuyave [Bg. 7.2]. Kåñëa said to Arjuna that "I am
speaking to you knowledge, jïänam, sa-vijïänam, with scientific understanding." So
"Why you are speaking to Me?" Jïänaà te 'haà sa-vijïänaà pravakñyamy anasuyave:
"Because you are not envious. That is your qualification. You are very submissive student.
Therefore I'll give you." So the dictation is coming from Kåñëa, as Dr. Svarüpa Dämodara
says. That's a fact. Kåñëa says, sarvasya cähaà hådi sanniviñöo mattaù småtir jïänam
apohanaà ca: [Bg. 15.15] "I am situated in everyone's heart." (Bombay Lecture , March
26, 1977)

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