Subject: The Glorious Departure of His Holiness Bhakti-tirtha Swami

[Guest guest]

Dear Devotees:

 

Dandavat Pranams.

 

Today, June 27th 2005 at 3:35 pm a Great Warrior and

devotee, His

Holiness

Bhakti Tirtha Swami Maharaja left his body at Gita

Nagari Farm (USA)

ending

a very sincere service on this planet to His beloved

Spiritual Master

His

Divine Grace Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, we

are sure that HH

BTS

is now serving at the lotus feet of Their Lordships

Sri Sri Radha Krsna

or

where ever Srila Prabhupada wants him to serve, His

Holiness was

totally

surrendered to His Gurudeva's mission.

 

His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami is one of the most

prominent

personalities

in our society and one of the best preachers from the

first generation

of

devotees in ISKCON, He will be remembered eternally in

the Vaishnava

Community and in our family especially. It is not easy

to describe the

feelings of grieve and lamentation that we have when

such a great

vaishnava

and warrior (part of the army of Sri Gauranga

Mahaprabhu) leave us,

although

we know that HH BTS is enjoying the Lord in His lilas,

still we suffer

for

his physical absence. Maharaja is a true Saint and we

beg forgiveness

from

Him and ask his blessings always.

 

"He reasons ill who says Vaishnavas die, for thou are

living still in

sound. Vaishnavas die to live and, living, try to

spread the holy name

around."

 

Maharaja is a perfect example of humility and

dedication who inspires

thousands around the word with his enlivening

lectures, I was once

requested

by my Spiritual Master that if i want to develop

Humility i shoud go

and

hear Maharaja's lectures. and in this way we were

shown part of the

qualities of Maharaja as humility is the quality most

dificult to

achieve.

 

!. All Glories to HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami.!

 

Here we are posting the reports sent by his assistants

from Gita Nagari

farm.

 

For more info please visit http://www.btswami.com

 

---------

Monday 27th June - 14:59

The Journal of the Glorious Departure of His Holiness

Bhakti-tirtha

Swami.

June 27, 3:30 - 4:00

 

His Holiness Bhakti-tirhta Swami passed away from this

world, and into

the

loving embrace of Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Radha

Syamasundar at

3:35pm

this afternoon. Gurudeva's passing was so graceful and

peaceful, as if

he

slipped out by the gentle hands his helpers to board

his chariot.

 

Sangita Prabhu noticed a change in Gurudeva's

breathing pattern and

alerted

Brahma- muhurta Prabhu, who immediately came and

sprayed Radha Kunda

water

around Gurudeva and applied Tulasi from Krsna-Balaram,

Radhe Syam, and

Gaura

Nitai to his tongue. Srila Radhanatha Swami had left

the room briefly.

He

was altered, and sat down next to Gurudeva. Shortly

after that,

Gurudeva

gave a very gentle breath, a kind of release. It was

so slight and

graceful,

so much so that half the people in the room didn't

notice it. It was

his

last breath.

 

After this Sangita and Madhvacarya checked his vital

signs. And minutes

latter confirmed that Gurudeva had indeed made - "the

perfect escape"

 

As the final check of Gurudeva's vital signs was

happening the kirtana

intensified, and grew in the minutes it took. When the

confirmation

finally

was expressed, the kirtana roared, rising up with

emotion. So many of

the

devotees started to clap along with the kirtana, with

their hands over

their

heads. The devotees were crying, embracing one

another, expressing

their

feelings of celebration and sadness. Then Kalpavrksa

Prabhu loudly

chanted

the prema dvanai pranam for Gurudeva and for Srila

Prabhupada.

 

The kirtana continued in Gurudeva's room for sometime.

Initially

devotees in

the living room stayed there, but then after five

minutes they stared

filing

into the room, and naturally a queue formed, allowing

everyone to have

a

final darsan of Gurudeva in his bed. Gurudeva's

expression was so

sublime,

like he was in divine rapture - in awe, in gratitude,

in love. The

processional through Gurudeva's room continued for ten

minutes, and

then

concluded leading out into the living room. From there

the departure

ceremony continued with Vrakesvara Pandit leading the

devotees in

Sankirtana, circumambulating around Gurudeva's room

and the Institute

House.

Inside Gurudeva's room everyone except a small group

assembled to

assist

Brahma-muhurta and Radhanatha Swami in the Samadhi

Samskara process,

which

is currently going on.

 

We will continue to send updates and pictures

throughout the full

duration

of the departure ceremony. The processional bringing

Gurudeva from the

Institute House to the temple will begin at 8pm, est.

 

All glories to the most sublime departure of that

great general of

Srila

Prabhupada who deeply touched the lives of so many

thousands and

brought

Srila Prabhupoada's transformation throughout the

world. May his legacy

be

carried by us, leading us to meet with him again in

kind.

 

His Holiness Bhakti-tirtha Swami Maharaj Ki Jai!!!

------

 

Monday 27th June - 12:15

Journal of the Glorious Departure of His Holiness

Bhakti-tirtha Swami,

Tuesday 6/27 - 12:30pm-2:30pm

 

Near to 1:00pm the room filled with devotees again.

Also outside of

Gurudeva's room a sizable assembly of devotees are

snuggled together in

front the door, getting a slight view of Gurudeva as

he lies in his

bed.

Both groups of devotees are chanting in unison the

Maha mantra, to the

classic tune. There is a small path along side to

allow for devotees

just

arriving to come in for their darsan.

 

The caregivers continue to tend to Gurudeva; keeping

his mouth moist,

his

face clean and dry, lightly massaging his feet,

ensuring that proper

circulation goes throughout the room. Two devotees are

now stationed

with

camara and peacock fan to add to the circulation of

air, and comfort of

Gurudeva.

 

Radhanath Swami continues to stay fixed in front of

Gurudeva. Sometimes

whispering into his ear, sometimes offer encouraging

prayers. Often for

sometime he will tap Gurudeva lightly in time with the

chanting,

tapping his

shoulder and arms. His affection radiates throughout

the room.

 

Looking through the windows of Gurudeva's room, one

can see the heads

of

various devotees popping in and out to get a different

view of Gurudeva

and

the atmosphere. Devotees from throughout the world

continue to stream

in.

Dhanudar Swami, Rukmini and Anutama, Brajabihari - so

many are coming!

Often

the take their turn in fanning Gurudeva.

 

Through the medium of the holy names everyone is

connecting themselves

to

Gurudeva and to each other. We are all experiencing

first hand just how

factual it is that the relationship with the spiritual

master and with

the

Vaisnavas, is of spiritual nature. For hours the same

devotees have

been

chanting in unison in Gurudeva's service and in

prayer. Certainly the

assembly present is breaching far beyond Gita Nagari,

to include all of

you,

and so many devotees in so many places. May this

connection continue to

expand.

 

All glories to the most blessed departure of His

Holiness Bhakti-tirtha

Swami.

 

--------

Monday 27th June - 11:14

After the initial darsana of Gurudeva, in his process

of departing, all

the

devotees except a couple caregivers and Sangita Prabhu

(the nurse) left

the

room to allow for Sangita to do a proper examination.

This brought all

the

devotees together the living room where Vrakesvara

pandit had recently

received began leading the kirtana.

 

Gurudeva had expressed such a heartfelt desire that

Vrakesvara pandit

Prabhu

be here to provide the kirtana seva that was so dear

to Srila

Prabhupada.

Recently Gurudeva disclosed to Vrakevara Pandit his

strong desire to

have

him present throughout his departure, requesting

multiple times to stay

and

"chant for me to go back to Godhead" he said "your

kirtana helps me to

remember Srila Prabhupada and Krsna".

 

As the devotees settled outside, Vrakesvara pandit's

very sweet and

solemn

voice gradually compelled the hearty participation of

everyone in the

room.

As he chanted the whole assembly listened, feeling

solace and

inspiration.

Then the whole assembly responded as one chorus,

together finding the

shelter and grace of Krsna's holy names.

 

After mother Sangita was finished the rest of the

caregivers returned,

and

small groups of devotees were escorted in to spend

some minutes before

Gurudeva. Often they were invited to take a turn

fanning Gurudeva.

Groups of

the local children and youth, God brothers and

sisters, disciples and

well

wishers gradually came in for a final darsan. As they

come forth, they

offered their homage. And, facing Gurudeva's

transition, prayed to

solidify

their own transition in preparing to remain dedicated

to Gurudeva in

his

physical absence.

 

The caregivers remain around Gurudeva, massaging his

lotus feet and

hands,

 

 

 

 

_________

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