Manipur Vaishnava Leader and Scientist Goes Back to Godhead

[Guest guest]

Governor, political parties, civil society organisations condole

Source: The Sangai Express

 

Imphal, October 02: The news of the death of ISKCON International Director

Swami Damodara at Kolkata early morning today has plunged the peace loving

people of Manipur in deep sorrow and have described it as a great loss not

only

for ISKCON but also for the entire humanity.

 

In his condolence message, Governor of Manipur Dr SS Sidhu said Damodara was

an

epitome of peace, love, friendship, forgiveness and understanding who stood

by

these principal till his last.

 

“Manipur is a pluralistic society and his call for peace and understanding

was

at the most appropriate time for the State, which is now in turmoil.

 

But it seems that the Supreme Being desires him to be at His side and the

void

left by his demise will be difficult to fill”, Dr Sidhu said, while sharing

the

grief and sorrow of all his near and dear ones.

 

Describing the death of one of the most illustrious sons of Manipur who

attained international fame in the realm of humanism, Chairman of Bharat

Sevak

Samaj, Manipur State Branch H Kangjamba Singh said his death is an

irreparable

loss for the entire humanity.

 

Despite being a man of science, Damodara accepted the calling of Shri

Krishna

and devoted his entire life towards the cause of humanity, he added.

 

Mourning over the death of the spiritual leader, members of Manipur Peace

Committee, SMMM, NYP and NYO prayed for the peaceful repose of the departed

soul in its heavenly abode during a condolence meeting held at Shanti Bhavan

here today.

 

A condolence meeting was also held at the office of Manipuri Sahitya

Parishad

to condole the death of Swami today.

 

Apart from acknowledging the contribution made by Swami for humanity during

his

lifetime, the meeting also observed a two minute silence as a mark of

respect

to the departed soul.

 

Aggrieved at the sudden and sad demise of Swami, members of Kasturba Gandhi

Kendra, Imphal observed a one minute silence in respect of the departed soul

and prayed to God for the peace of the soul during a condolence meeting held

at

the Kendra today with eminent scholar and retired Principal of LMS Law

College,

Imphal RK Jhalajit Singh in the chair.

 

A condolence meeting was also reportedly held at the Babupara official

residence of Corporation and Veterinary Minister W Leima Devi with ex-MP W

Angou Singh in the chair .

 

A two minute silence was also observed to show respect to the departed soul

and

the mourners present prayed to God for the peaceful repose of the soul in

its

heavenly abode.

 

Members of Patsoi East Development Committee have also expressed their

sorrow

and grief over the death of Bhaktiswarup Damodara Swami Maharaj.

 

CPI (M), Manipur State Committee; National Congress Party, Manipur Pradesh;

National Youth Congress, Manipur Pradesh, etc have also expressed their

condolence over the death of His Holiness Bhaktiswarupa Swami Damudara Swami

Maharaj.

http://www.e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=3..031006.oct06

Damodora Swami passes away in Kolkata, Governor, others condole his death

 

The Imphal Free Press

 

IMPHAL, Oct 2: Acharya Srila Bhaktisvarupa, Damodora Swami, Sripada

Maharaja,

the founder of Manipur branch of the International Society for Krishna

Consciousness, ISKCON, at Airport road, passed away early today at 2.10 am,

at

his residence quarter cum administrative building of BhaktiVedanta Institute

Mission, BIM, Manshi building, Kolkata, after suffering a BP stroke.

 

The man of religion was among those injured in the bomb blast on Krishna

Janmasthami, August 16, 2006, at the ISKCON complex.

 

The lifeless body of the Swami was scheduled to arrive at Imphal for onward

journey to his birth place at Toubul village, Bishnupur by a special Zet

Airways flight but deferred till tomorrow. ISKCON authority here have made

all

the necessary arrangement to recieve the body.

 

According to information received here, his death occured some days after

his

discharge from Apollo hospital where he was treated for injuries caused by

the

recent bomb blast at ISKCON complex.

 

It may be recalled that in the blast at least six people including minors

lost

their lives which also left around 50 people including Damodora Swami with

splinters injuries.

 

He received injuries at his left hand as also at his left side ear drum.

 

According to ISKCON source, the dead body of Damodora will arrive tomorrow

at 1

pm by Zet airways at Imphal airport and last floral tribute will be offered

to

the departed soul at ISKCON Sani mandir.

 

>From there the body will be carried to at his native village where people of

the locality will offer floral tribute once again. After that the body will

be

brought back to Sani mandir from where it will be transported to Radha Kunda

near Bridaban on the next day (October 4) for his last rites.

 

Damodora Swami was born on December 9, 1937 (sixth day of Sukla Paksha of

Poinu

by the Gregorian calendar) at Toubul village of Bishnupur district. He was

the

only son of three children of late Thoudam Yogendro Singh and Thoudam ongbi

Keinahanbi Devi. His father was a devout Krishna bhakta and a nata sankirtan

Singer by profession.

 

In 1957, he passed his matriculation examination with first class under

Gauhati

University, Assam. He graduated from DM College, Imphal in science. He

completed his M. Sc degree in applied chemistry in 1964 from Culcutta

University. There after Damodora enrolled himself for a doctoral degree in

physical organic chemistry at the University of California, USA under the

guidance of prof. Robert W Taft, eventually earning his Ph. D in 1976.

 

While still pursuing his higher studies Damodora joined Srila Pabhupada`s

life

mission as one his humble discipline.

 

In 1974 he became the director of the Bhaktivedanta Institute, the

scientific

and academic division of ISKCON. Later he was appointed Sripada Maharaja,

minister of higher education for ISKCON in 1976 and become member of the

governing body commission, GBC in 1977 with the responsibility of directing

the

activities of ISKCON worldwide. He entered the sannyasa ashram in 1979 from

being a naisithika brahmachari where GBC blessed him to the postition of an

initiating spiritual master in 1982.

 

Damodora swami authored quite a few books such as the `Sceintific basis of

Krishna consciousness` which pleased Srila Prabhupada to a great extent, as

also `Theobiology, scientific basis of reincarnation`, `What is matter`?,

and

`What is life?`.

 

He was also the co-editor of "Synthesis of Science and Religion critical

essays

and dialogues" which is based on the proceeding of the first world congress

for

the synthesis of science and religion.

 

Meanwhile, the Governor of Manipur Dr. SS Sidhu has deeply mourned the

sudden

demise of Swami Damodara Das of ISKCON. In a condolence message, Dr. Sidhu

said

that Swamiji who was born in a small village in Manipur and who was a man of

science accepted the calling of Shri Krishna and devoted his entire life

towards his cause.

 

He was the epitome of peace, love, friendship, forgiveness and understanding

and stood by these principles till his last. Manipur is a pluralistic

society

and his call for peace and understanding was made at the most appropriate

time

for the state, which is now in turmoil. His sudden demise is a great loss

not

only for ISKCON and Manipur but for the entire humanity, Sidhu said.

 

The Lainingthou Sanamahi Temple Board has also deeply mourned the sudden

demise

of Swami Damodara. In a condolence message, the board said around 200 people

turned up at the Sanamahi temple located at 1st MR campus today and observed

two minutes silence in the memory of the departed soul.

 

The CPI (M) Manipur state committee

 

http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=34144&typeid=

1

 

Damodara : Integrating Science and Religion

Source: The Sangai Express / K Sarojkumar

 

Imphal, October 02: To many Swami Damodara was a man associated with the

International Society for Krishna Consciousness, but to those who knew from

close quarters he was a man who was driven by the philosophy of integrating

Science with Religion to prove that God is the Supreme person.

 

Swami Prabhupada AC Bhaktivedanta, the spiritual leader and founder of

ISKCON

who groomed Swami Damodara once told him, "You are a scientist, write books,

prove scientifically that God is the Supreme person." The true disciple that

he

was, Swami Damodara took up the responsibility entrusted upon him and thus

started his philosophical approach of synthesising Science with Religion to

explain the existence of God.

 

A file photo of Swami Damodara

 

Damodara who passed away early this morning at his Kolkata residence

experienced a tough life during his early years in Manipur.

 

However his never say die approach to life and through his Guru's teachings,

he

blended the Scientist in him with his Spiritual being.

 

In one of his press conferences held at ISKCON about seven years back (This

reporter covered the conference), Swami explained the meaning of Science and

Religion and the manner in which both go together in the briefest and most

lucid terms.

 

Damodara put it, "You see Science comforts human body while religion

comforts

human minds.

 

We need both these comforts and as such these two should integrate." Thoudam

Damodara was born on December 9, 1937 to Yogendra Singh and Kanyahanbi Devi,

a

poverty stricken family in the remote Toubul village in Bishnupur district.

 

His father passed away while he was still a child and the young Damodara had

to

till the fields left by his father to support himself and his elder sister.

 

At 12 his sister got married and conditions had come to such a stage that he

even decided to quit his studies so that he could concentrate full time in

the

field.

 

However fate had something in store as his primary school teacher Yadav

Singh

got him adopted by a gentleman Kerani Singh and he was able to continue his

studies.

 

In 1957 Damodara passed his matriculation examination in the first division

and

joined DM college from where he obtained his Intermediate Science degree in

1959. In 1961 he graduated with first class honours in Chemistry.

 

Damodara acquired his BSc degree in Chemical Engineering and Chemical

Technology in 1963 and passed his Master of Technology with first class in

Pharmaceutical Science from Calcutta University in 1964. Receiving an

overseas

scholarship from the Ministry of Education, Government of India, Damodara

enrolled at the University of California from where he did his PhD in

Physical

Organic Chemistry.

 

A meeting with Swami Prabhupada was a major turning point in the life of the

young Damodara and he soon emerged as one of his most trusted disciples and

proceeded to devote his life to Lord Krishna.

 

On the advice of his guru, Damodara authored various books-Fundamental

Principles of Reincarnation, "What is Matter, What is Life ?The

Scientific

Basis of Krishna Consciousness" etc.

 

Damodara was an international figure delivering speeches at different places

across the world and addressed a number of peace, spiritual and Science and

Religion conferences.

 

The Swami, affectionately called Maharaj by his disciples was contemplating

to

hold a world peace meet with Nobel laureate in Imphal next year, said ISKCON

members and added that they would strive to fulfil the aspirations of their

late Guru.

http://www.e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=4..031006.oct06

 

One of Maharaj's Last Public Messages Message from HH Bhaktisvarupa

Damodara

50 Views

(Note: As heard and noted by Vrajapati Das while Guru Maharaja was

speaking

from a cell phone, which was not very clear there are some gaps due to poor

signal, from the hospital room)

Dear Devotees,

I pray for Srila Prabhupada’s and Lord Krishna’s blessings upon you.

We are sorry for the sad news from ISKCON Manipur incident. It is due to

the

unlimited blessings of Sri Sri Radha Krishnachandra that the casualities are

relatively less. We sincerely pray for the departed souls and for speedy

recovery of the injured.

I was supposed to attend URI Global Council Tele conference call when the

incident happened. I was delaying to attend the call in order to give

company

to the important guests and devotees during the Rasalila Performance. I am

sitting together with important guests and devotees when the hand grenade

was

exploded in the pandal. Bhojdeva Prabhu was sitting near to me and he was

severely injured. M. M. Singh, and his wife are also sitting near me and got

injured. But their grandson could not survive. Also a devotee who was

initiated

as Brahmin yesterday also could not survive. The child who was playing the

role

of Lord Krishna was also injured. Liladra Mataji from New York but presently

staying in Vrindavan(yesterday initiated as ‘Lakshmipriya Devi Dasi’);

Kavita

Mataji (Indian, staying in Swiss, yesterday initiated as ‘Kritida Devi

Dasi’)and about 30 to 40 local and visiting devotees also got injured. All

of

them are getting medical treatment in the hospitals. I am also

still in the hospital. A chunk of flesh was removed from my hand. About

10:00 AM today, there will be surgery for myself, Bhojdev, Lakshmipriya,

Kritida and others who are injured.

It was again by the blessings of the Lord that an earlier attempt (5

minutes

before the blast in pandal) was not successful. A bomb was thrown into the

main

temple but did not explode. Had that been exploded inside the temple the

causalities would be hundreds. Ramachandra Das saw some stone-like thing

coming

inside the temple with some sparks but he could not understand at that time.

All this reminds us the words of scriptures and the saintly people that

this

place is full of danger and we should be serious in pursuing the purpose of

our

human life. Please pray for the departed souls, and for the speed recovery

of

those who are injured, especially Bhojdeva Prabhu

(by his symptoms we are confident that his life will be saved).

Please observe nice Janmastami and Vyasapuja of Srila Prabhupada. Hare

Krishna!

Your well-wisher Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami

6:50 AM IST; Aug 17, 2006

http://www.prabhupada.org/rama/?p=2973#more-2973

 

 

 

 

 

 

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