The Disappearance of Srila Bhakti Pramoda Puri Maharaja

[Guest guest]

For those of you who may not have already heard, I am most unhappy to announce

that His Divine Grace Srila Pujyapada Bhakti Pramoda Puri Maharaja passed away

from this world in Jagannatha Puri earlier today (Nov. 21, Sunday morning,

California Pacific Time). While he has undoubtedly gone on to join the Lord in

His nitya-lila, the world is now deprived of its crest-jewel,

Vaisnava-siromani. As the eldest Vaisnava and seniormost living disciple of

Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, Srila Pujyapada Maharaja was 102

years old.

 

I am personally unable to properly glorify his Divine Grace. While I was

fortunate to have gained his darsan in Vrndavan during Kartika in 1992, my

life bespeaks of my utter inability to have realized even a particle of his

mercy. Although Srila Puri Maharaja has produced such a great gem of

instruction in the form of "The Heart of Vaisnava," which adds yet another

sparkling jewel to the treasure chest of our bhakti-sastras, I am so dull that

his sublime words do not penetrate my heart. What can be said of such

despicable persons as myself who presume the audacity to find fault with

others while I am so fallen and foolish myself? Neglecting such extraordinary

mercy as Srila Puri Maharaja has given, how will such incorrigible offenders

as myself be redeemed? I remain unfortunate and condemned indeed.

 

 

je anilo prema dhana karuna pracur

heno prabhu kotha gela acarya thakura

 

kaha mora swarup rupa kaha sanatan

kaha dasa raghunatha patita-pavan

 

kaha mora bhatta-juga kaha kaviraja

eka-kale kotha gela gora nata-raj

 

pasane kutibo matha anale pasibo

gauranga gunera nidhi kotha gele pabo

 

se-saba sangira sange ye koilo vilas

se-sanga na paiya kande narottama das

 

"He who brought the treasure of divine love and who was filled with compassion

and mercy -- where has such a personality as (Srinivasa) Acarya gone?

 

"Where are my Svarupa Damodara and Rupa Goswami? Where is Sanatana? Where is

Raghunatha dasa, the savior of the fallen?

 

"Where are my Raghunatha Bhatta and Gopala Bhatta, and where is Krsnadasa

Kaviraja? Where did Lord Gauranga, the great dancer, suddenly go?

 

"I will smash my head against the stone and enter into fire. Where will I find

Lord Gauranga, the reservoir of all wonderful qualities?

 

"Being unable to to obtain the association of Lord Gauranga accompanied by all

His devotees with whom He performed His pastimes, [srila dasa] simply weeps."

 

 

One small hint from the teaching of Lord Kapila to his mother Devahuti in the

Bhagavatam (3.25.20) gives me great hope, however:

 

prasangam ajaram pasam

atmanah kavayo viduh

sa eva sadhusu krto

moksa-dvaram apavrtam

 

"Every learned person knows very well that attachment for the material is the

greatest entanglement for the soul. But that same attachment, when applied to

the self-realized devotees, opens the door of liberation."

 

If by some chance, one finds himself (or herself) shedding tears or feeling a

sense of loss on account of separation from the Lord's beloved devotees, for

whatever reason or as self-indulgent and as impure as it may be, this is

nonetheless a good sign.

 

Hare Krsna.

 

Falling at the feet of all kind-hearted souls for their continued association,

 

Aspiring to be a servant of the Vaisnavas

(Vaisnavanudasa-abhilasi),

 

Fallen and lowly,

 

Srila dasa

 

PS: Here in Berkeley, we observed a modest ceremony during the Sunday feast in

honor of Srila Puri Maharaja with an offering of flowers, kirtan and some

brief but heartfelt words by the local GBC, HG Hari-Vilasa Prabhu. HH

Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja was also in attendance.