HH Sridhar Maharaja by HH Radhanath Swami (March 6)

[Guest guest]

(after Radhanath Maharaja had read Giriraja Maharaja's letter)

 

Mayapur Das (MC): I would like to thank Srila Radhanath Maharaja for reading

Srila Giriraja Maharaja's offering, and I would like to request also Srila

Radhanath Maharaja to speak a few words on this occasion.

 

Specifically I would also like to thank very much Srila Radhanath Maharaja

and the congregation of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir in Bombay for all

their love and help they have given to Srila Sridhar Maharaja when he needed

it the most; when he was sick he was treated in Bhaktivedanta Hospital. And

our Guru Maharaja had so many wonderful relationships with the devotees of

Radha Gopinath Mandir, and in spite of very severe health problems Srila

Radhanath Maharaja has come here to speak in honour of Sridhar Maharaja. So

I would like to thank you, Maharaja.

 

Radhanath Swami: Thank you for your kindness. His Holiness Sridhar Swami

Maharaja was truly one of the most exemplary devotees. . . who walked on

this earth. He surrendered his life unconditionally to Srila Prabhupada in

1969 and from every moment until the time of his departure was a beautiful

offering of love to Srila Prabhupada, to Sri Krsna, and to the world.

 

Srila Sridhar Maharaja participated as a member of the first travelling book

distribution party in the history of ISKCON. Why? Because he knew that that

is what Prabhupada wanted. When Prabhupada came to India, in the very early

70's and asked devotees to come, he was one of the first. The struggles and

hardships he underwent in those early days in were further testimony of his

great love. Many came and many went, but Sridhar Maharaja, like a rock of

dedication, remained faithful.

 

He was one of the first to establish the Life Membership programme. He was

on the first parties to travel and preach throughout the length and breadth

of India. Why? Because it was Prabhupada's wish. Sridhar Maharaja's loving

service to Srila Prabhupada was absolutely unconditional. He was the

personified of dedication and loyalty. He personified the statement

Prabhupada often made that one should make the order of the spiritual master

his life and soul.

 

Srila Prabhupada said that ISKCON was his body and Sridhara Swami was a very

very faithful loving personal servant of that body his whole life.

Absolutely faithful and cooperative of the society Prabhupada created no

matter what cost. . . .(?) Sridhara Maharaja's love of the devotees has been

felt personally by most of the assembled devotees here today. All over the

world thousands of devotees really felt that Sridhara Maharaja was a dear

and best friend. Whether one was a senior leader or a very unknown, new

person, Sridhar Maharaja encouraged and showered love upon all of us. How

much he loved his Godbrothers and Godsisters. This was very much witnessed

especially in his last days.

 

How much he encouraged and trained--not only his own disciples--but those

who were under the care of his Godbrothers as well. His affection, his care,

was truly . . .(?) In fact, Sridhar Maharaja was kind to everybody. He was

simply eager to serve. Whatever had to be done he was the first person to

step forward and do it despite even great risk and sacrifice(?). His

wonderful sense of humour, his wonderful care, has deeply enshrined his

presence within all of our hearts. In his creative dedication to Srila

Prabhupada he was one of the first to really push forward using high

technology in the service of Krsna, understanding Prabhupada's desire for

yukta-vairagya.

 

When he saw that ISKCON was having difficulty due to lack of funds, he was

organising fund raising programmes both internationally and various projects

all around the world, expecting nothing for himself. Sridhar Maharaja,

knowing Prabhupada's great desire to build Sridham Mayapur, he was one of

the first to step forward and dedicate himself, his life and soul, to offer

everything. . . (?)

 

One of the most beautiful moments in my life, and perhaps one of the

greatest historical moments in our society, was that day when Srila Sridhar

Swami Maharaja came to Mayapur with his intention to depart from the world.

Thousands and thousands of devotees from around the world assembled at the

gate of Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir; everyone's hearts were fixed on

offering honour to a man who exemplified the highest principles of ??

Thousands and thousands of devotees were chanting the holy names and weeping

in gratitude and affection. When that van arrived with Sridhar Maharaja in

the back, despite his inconceivably ill health and very very difficult

rigorous journey--all the way from Vancouver to London to Calcutta--his

smile, his loving glance, his reciprocation with all the devotees, that

really is a moment I'll never forget. I believe it was the most heartfelt

offering of honour of love from such a large body of people we had seen

since the time of Srila Prabhupada. We offer our gratitude to his life of

devotion.

 

How Sridhar Maharaja passed from this world was simply glorious. Day and

night surrounded by his loving Godbrothers, Godsisters, and devotees of

ISKCON, chanting the holy names, reading the glories of Srila Prabhupada to

him, and he was so absorbed, so grateful even while dying physically.

Devotees were coming to his room to try to encourage him but just the

opposite happened. He would not allow anyone to feel sadness. His incredible

sense of humour in the face of pain and death was simply extraordinary.

 

The day I was leaving Mayapur Dham I knew it would probably be the last time

I would ever see him. It was very difficult. And some of my Godbrothers were

telling me "I can't go, I can't say goodbye to him for the last time." But I

went and he was smiling and he was laughing. He knew our hearts, and he did

not want anyone to feel bad for him. In a smiling and laughing tone he said

as soon as I came in his room "Do not say goodbye to me. Just say that we'll

meet again in the service of Srila Prabhupada again, wherever that may be.

Happy trails." And that was his mood. He made that last meeting, when I knew

it was my final farewell to a Godbrother who I worshipped an honoured with

my heart and soul, he made that meeting a joyful experience, an experience

I'll never forget.

 

Surrounded by devotees chanting the holy names, one day, on Srivasa

Thakura's appearance, in the supreme abode of Mayapur Dham, Sri Caitanya

Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu brought His Holiness Sridhar Swami to the

lotus feet of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, to

continue his eternal loving service.

 

On this day I especially want to offer my deep gratitude to the disciples of

Sridhara Maharaj. They're really exemplary. They really show the substance

of Sridhara Maharaja's devotional service and dedication with body and soul.

.. .(?) They are so very cooperative, so very humble and exemplary, so very

gracious. . . . my thanks to all of you, and please know that you are really

keeping the spirit of your Guru Maharaja's loving service very much alive in

your hearts. Thank you very much.

 

(applause)