Homage to Sridhar Swami

[Guest guest]

Dear Sridhar Swami,

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

 

Yesterday, before you left your body, my son and I were discussing his

"favorite" friends in Krishna consciousness. First from his lips were, "I

really like Sridhar Swami." How many voices have said the same words. Who

amongst those that have had the good fortune of knowing you has not said the

same thing? "I really like Sridhar Swami." Practically, that phrase has

become a traditional Iskcon mantra. In or out of the Iskcon camp, "I really

like Sridhar Swami" is a commonly held opinion. Somehow you transcended all

designations that separate the conditioned souls; in fact, you remained a

unifying figure in a variegated universe of diversity. Everyone can agree

on at least one point: "We really like Sridhar Swami."

 

There are the obvious qualities that we all liked - the jolliness, the

knowledge, the stories, the sincerity, the universal appeal of triumph over

adversity, the humility, the essential humanness, the sensitivity, the

commitment, etc. Yet, beneath even the most attractive of these qualities

there was a feeling that permeated each and every word and action - love.

We bathed in your love - your love for Srila Prabhupada, your love for your

godbrothers and godsisters, your love for your disciples, your love for

humanity, and your love for Lord Caitanya, Lord Krishna, Lord Jagannatha,

Lord Nrsimhadeva, and all of the expansions thereof. Oh, but to take

shelter of your love again. Where will I find such shelter in this shadowy

existence.

 

I cry for your smile, your approval, your rebuke, and your compliments. I

yearn for the indelible memory of your Prabhupada stories. I mourn for the

loss of even the comfort of knowing that you are present somewhere on this

vast planet. I feel somewhat "less than" without your form manifest in some

temple, festival, or harinam party. I truly feel vacant without you here.

 

Yet I am happy that you no longer suffer in that body that was always so

troublesome. No more coaxing of a worn engine to perform. Krishna has

awarded you a new car, your eternal vehicle, with which to roam the material

and spiritual planets so you can preach to your heart's content. There are

many living entities whose good fortune is yet to come, for you are on the

way to their hearts after conquering ours.

 

This material manifestation can take away many things. It can snatch away

our loved ones. It can blind us to our benefactors. It can remove even our

memories. But it cannot erase our feelings of love. Those are ours to keep

forever, and I will treasure your love for me eternally because I really

like, and will always love, Sridhar Swami.

 

I beg to remain...

 

Your fallen servant,

 

Nrsimhananda dasa

ITV