Disappearance Of Srila Bhakti Pramoda Puri Maharaja

July 11, 2003

The Disappearance of Srila Bhakti Pramoda Puri Maharaja

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 most 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.

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 some sense of loss on account of separation from the Lord's beloved devotees (suddha-bhaktas), 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