Remembering Dadu

Mar 31, VRINDAVAN, INDIA — On 31st of March morning, I was thinking to call to Vrindavan and find out the condition of our wonderful letter Dadu, who had suddenly taken sick just before I left for Ahmedabad ISKCON. Then a call came from Vrindavan that at 4 AM, Dadu had left this world. I'm extremely sorry that I was not able to be there for Dadu's last rites.



I remember in 1987, that one elderly Bengali gentleman named Dhiren Sen came to me when I was President of Krishna Balaram Mandir. He was having an introduction letter from Adhridharan of Calcutta and wanted to join our Krishna Balaram Temple. He explained to me that he was living in Radha Kunda, but the politics between the Brijbasis and the babajis was intolerable. No matter how you tried to stay neutral, you got dragged one side or the other. He further explained that he was interested in sakhya rasa and was sure at the lotus feet of Krishna Balaram, he would be able to achieve this.

I understood that he was initiated by someone in the temple next to Krishna Dasa Kaviraja's bhajan kutir. Even though he wasn't an ISKCON devotee, his gentle nature and sincerity were very charming. I reasoned that Srila Prabhupada has built a house for the whole world to live, and if this fellow is willing to do service, then why not let him join. His attraction for sakhya rasa was also quite charming as I feel myself attracted in this way, and I agreed with him, that at the lotus feet of Krishna Balaram, he would definitely achieve his goal. So I gave him the chance to stay.

He always faithfully carried out whatever service was given to him despite his age. Sometimes he obstinately letter-followed whatever instruction was given him, but he was quite good natured. He always rose for Mangala arti and he was a fixture just to the right of the Vyasanana at Srimad Bhagavatam Class every day. His gentle nature captured everyone's heart. Eventually he was given the task of receiving the mail from the post office in front of the Gurukula and distributing it to it's proper receiver. He was very tenacious with letters who's receivers he did not recognize and tirelessly traced them out. So gradually he became know as Letter Dadu. Dadu, of course, being an affectionate Bengali term for a grandfather, or any older gentleman for that matter. We have many Dadus in our temple, but even after giving up this service in the last couple of years, he was still know as Letter Dadu.
He always used to tell us some amusing Bengali stories, some of which were a little strange, but always amusing. Eventually Daivishakti Mataji published a small book, called "Dadu Tells a Story" even though he was adamant in his own humble way that his name not come on the book.

He recounted how he had never married and always laughed in his own humble way when we tried to call him a naistiki-brahmacari. He gradually endeared himself to everyone in the temple, including Ayodhaypati das who eventually became known as BB Govinda Maharaja, who was very fortunate to be there in Vrindavan for Dadu's last rites.

He had no enemies, only I remember one Co-president refused to let him take prasad with the temple brahmacaris since he was an "outsider". I was shocked as he was probably one of the few actual brahmacaris I had ever met.
The temple brahmacaris can't bear to see the faces of the foreign devotees, so they have their separate prasada place. Against all Vedic culture, they serve themselves nice prasada and give second class prasad to all their guests.
Even he was eventually refused prasadam at all, but Dhanjaya and Bala Gopal always gave him an open invitation to the MVT restaurant, and hearing about his predicament, Ananda Vrindavan let him take prasad with the Gurukula. Eventually some devotees intervened and everything was settled out.

Then last year just prior to Gaura Purnima, Dadu had pnemonia and many other problems. Eventually he was shifted against his will to the hospital and every time I visited, we could talk of nothing except get me out of here, I want to be in Krishna Balaram Mandir. He was eventually discharged, but grew very weak. I can remember coming with Govinda Maharaja to see him and he was very feebly, brokenly, and slowly reciting Krrriiissshhhnnaaa Balaaaaraaaammm. We were sure he was going. Somehow he pulled thru and he asked both of us to talk to Mahaprabhu to let him pass on Gaura Purnima. I argued with him that it would ruin the festival and he please wait till after.

Then Parvati's daughter, Radhika Priya, who is studying to become an Ayurvedic doctor, began to treat him with Ayurvedic medicines and very soon he regained his health and remained quite hale and hearty up till the day before I had to leave for Ahmedabad. I was praying that he would hang on until I returned, but Krishna Balaram had their own schedule and have called him back to Them.

BY: DEENA BANDHU DAS (ACBSP)

Today I spoke with one devotee from Vrindavan and that devotee told me that How Dadu had a desire to be the messenger of Krsna and Sri Mati Radha Rani ji delivering Their messages to each other. When I first went to Sri Vrindavan Dham and during my subsequent visits i always find Dadu, despite of his old age he would regularly attend SB class sitting at the same spot every day. So i was very much impressed with his devotion though i never got a chance to speak with him but i think he also helped me in my devotional service one way or other. Actually Krsna arranges all the possible means by which one can return to Him. We just need to use our intelligence and grasp the opportunity. There are some devotee by just looking at them you remember Krsna and Dadu was one of them.

Hare Krsna
Nitai Prema Das

Bhakta Rupa Prabhu @ Nitai Desh

Today we were blessed with Bhakta Rupa Prabhu's association. Rupa Prabhu is senior Srila Prabhupada disciple. It was very nice and blissful to serve him and at evening prabhu ji gave a very enlivening class on Srimad Bhagavatam. During answering my one of the questions Prabhu ji said that "Prabhu don't try to judge others. Try to first correct yourself" So these words have really gone deep into my heart as being said by a pure devotee.





A pure devotee necessarily need not to be a sanyasi. As Srila Prabhupada says a Krsna Conscious person is not to be judge by the eyes but by the ears. One must try to hear and understand the dept of realization in Krsna Consciousness.

My Beloved Chacha ji

Hare Krsna,

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada, The savior of the whole world.

It has been sometime that i wanted to show my gratitute to one of the persons who have deeply touched my life. So today i am finally writting something in his honour.

Not long ago i was put to a test of maya, Lord Krsna's illusionary energy and by the divine arrangements of Lord Krsna. As Krsna is sitting in everyone's heart as supersoul he inspired a person who helped me that situation. It was about my visit to canada. I was not mature enough in Krsna Consciousness at that time. Although I was told by my devotee friend to delay my journey by 6 months but i was so much excited that i had booked all my tickets. I had my own plans what i will be doing and how i will proceeding to the new world, the land of opportunity, the green pastures. It was a dream that came true to go to west. I didn't realize that this world is full of miseries. It's just that we don't realize on account of being in ignorance considering that our material situation would be able to save us from the laws of nature.

My karma or whatever but i was in fix when i came to know that i would be returning to india without getting much success in material life. I just came to west and so early i was leaving. I felt my whole career has been put to risk. Although i was trying to practice Krsna Consciousness. It was becoming difficult to chant my rounds, fix up mind, i was getting frustrated and angery, relations were being spoiled and i was on a meltdown point.

And at that time, he came and consoled me, listened to me for hours together,loved with me like his own childern, he was very empathatic to me, tolerant. Although he wasn't practicing Krsna Consciousness but he was very much favorable to my KC. He was the person who took me to temple and never mind coming late at night to pick me up from my college and my work. He inspired me and gave me courage to continue on the path of KC.

He is my beloved and dearmost chacha ji (father's younger brother). Although there were devotee who were in contact and giving me consolation in difficult time and requesting to stick to the process of Krsna Cons. and accept whatever is coming as Krsna's mercy. The happiness and distress are predetermined so there is nothing to lament or enjoy about the gains and loss in the life. Just like the distress comes without any hardwork so does the happiness comes. However i felt that Krsna has specifically selected him to help me out.

He has actually protected my Krsna Consc. I still remember. I was discussing with him that how things have changed so dramtically that it's difficult to accept and i was disappointed with what was happening. He replied that he has called me to help me out to see his people around him. To have his brothers and sisters around but what to do.

So by will of providence the things have turned out differently totally differently to what i thought when i came here. At that time i realized it's actually our karma and it's result that we are getting. No body is to be blamed for our situation. We do so many things and forget considering that nobody is noticing it and we get the result and then we become bewildered and consider it's others who are inflicting sufferings upon us but actually it's the fruit that we have got for the seed that we haven sown and forgotten.

So i felt really grateful to him that he has kindly helped me. When i see myself in KC i noticed he's one of the persons who has deeply touched my life. I noticed that he's very tolerant. I use to get angry when i deal with certain situation but i learnt from him to be tolerant and of course without Krsna's causeless mercy it wasn't possible.

Now i am different person trying to be more dedicate to Srila Prabhupada moment and appreciating everyone's good qualities as Srila Prabhupada often quote even if the gold is in filthy place pick it up.

I would pray to Krsna who is very merciful to His devotees, to shower His blessing upon him and give him shelter of His Lotus feet.

Hare Krsna
Nitai Prema Das

Vayas Puja Offering: HH Gopal Krsna Goswami Maharaj

Vayas Puja offering by HH Gopal Krsna Goswami Maharaj to Srila Prabhupada 25th Aug 2008
Dear Srila Prabhupada,
I beg to offer my most fallen obeisances at your lotus feet. This year we are going to celebrate your 112th birth anniversary, and I am feeling completely unqualied to adequately glorify your transcendental achievements. Srila Prabhupada, you are the greatest of all spiritual preceptors.
We all know the struggle you went through rst in India and then in America to establish ISKCON. It was only due to your determination and rm faith in your spiritual master’ order that you were able to fulll Lord Caitanya’ prediction that the holy name will be chanted in every town and village on this planet. To be a disciple means to be disciplined. When Prakäçänanda Sarasvaté asked Lord Caitanya why he was chanting and dancing like a madman, Caitanya Mahäprabhu replied that His spiritual master had considered Him a fool and hence asked Him to just chant and dance. Similarly, we should always consider that we are fools in front of you, and with faith and determination we should follow your instructions.
You have given us perfect knowledge in your books. We do not have to read any other book or go to any other personality outside your institution to pursue spiritual life. You instructed us to follow in the footsteps of Caitanya Mahäprabhu and to endeavor to save every conditioned soul by giving them Krsna consciousness. Srila Prabhupada, you are the perfect ambassador of Lord Caitanya. Srila Prabhupada, you once said, “ISKCON is my body, and book distribution is my heart.” You wanted your temples to be well managed, devotees to be well trained, and book distribution to keep expanding. Real success will only come when we work together to fulll these goals.
On this auspicious day, I beg you to bless me to develop purity, compassion, and determination to follow your instructions. Please bless me so that I can remain a tiny instrument in spreading your mercy in India and other areas where I work. Once again I want to express my gratitude for your having saved me from material life, and I pray that I always remember your lotus feet and divine instructions.

Your eternal servant,
Gopäl Krishna Goswami