The two Puri Maharajas

[Gauracandra]

I was wondering if anyone has had any experiences with either Bhakti Promode Puri Maharaj or Bhakti Vaibhav Puri Maharaj, both Godbrothers of Srila Prabhupada.

 

Recently I watched a "memories video" of Srila Prabhupada with Srila Bhakti Vaibhav Puri Maharaj explaining some of their history together and was really moved by his sincerity. There are certain people, who when you see, automatically have that saintly aura about them, and I think this applies to Srila Bhakti Vaibhav Puri Maharaj.

 

So any nectar you may want to share about these two personalities would I'm sure be inspiring to us all.

 

Gauracandra

[premananda]

Originally posted by Gauracandra:

I was wondering if anyone has had any experiences with either Bhakti Promode Puri Maharaj or Bhakti Vaibhav Puri Maharaj, both Godbrothers of Srila Prabhupada.

 

Recently I watched a "memories video" of Srila Prabhupada with Srila Bhakti Vaibhav Puri Maharaj explaining some of their history together and was really moved by his sincerity. There are certain people, who when you see, automatically have that saintly aura about them, and I think this applies to Srila Bhakti Vaibhav Puri Maharaj.

 

So any nectar you may want to share about these two personalities would I'm sure be inspiring to us all.

 

Gauracandra

In 1995 I met Sri Bhakti Vaibhava Puri Maharaj in Sridham Mayapur. He did have a saintly radiance. He said something about the beauty of Sriman Mahaprabhu and His lilas, how it has made him disinterested in the material world.

When BV Puri Maharaj mentioned Mahaprabhu´s name, he smiled and his whole face was shining.

 

I offer my dandavats to B V Puri Maharaj

 

P D

 

 

[Gauracandra]

Yes, this is what I see as well. I've only seen one video tape interview of him, but he was so gentle, and sincere. At one point he started to cry and it just broke my heart. Does anyone know if he has published any books? or has an official web site I could inquire about his books?

 

Gauracandra

[atma]

 

I was blessed with the darshan of both Maharajas. Moreover I did have the saintly association of Bhakti Vaibhav Puri Maharaja for few years. I used to go for morning and evening darshan at his temple in Seva Kunja in Vrindavan during Kartika. I met him in Vishakapatnam where he got another temple. During Gour Purnima he cames to Mayapur and his temple is located next to ISKCON BBT. Most of the time he stays in Puri.

He is a very humble vaishnava and his presence always made me feel that I have to improve my character. Like when you're in the presence of a saintly person you feel how fallen you're!

Many times during his darshan we were all in tears because he transmits so many devotional feelings. At the same time is very practical and down to earth.

I was present when a few old Prabhupada's disciples went to him to complaint about ISKCON, and he listened to them and adviced them to reasume their devotional lives.What was the use of criticize if they were not following the principles, or doing any devotional service? Most of them were fallen but because of his association, they are chanting and active in devotional service now.

Once I noticed that he didn't wear socks and was already the beginning of winter. I went to the famous Loi Bazaar and got for him socks, mittens and a swami hat. His look of surprise when I gave him the things, I'll always remember. I was very happy when I went for darshan that evening and he was wearing everything! He gave me the garland that he was wearing and I put it on my neck. I was so happy that I completely forgot that I was stepping in Seva Kunj (is full of monkeys) All of the sudden I see this huge male monkey rushing straight towards me, I kwew that I wasn't carrying any bag or food with me and I was wondering what this monkey wants and in the last second I realized. Just when the monkey jumped at me I took the garland out of my neck and he got it in mid-air! Even the monkeys want B.V. Puri Maharaja's mercy!!

I have many friends who are his disciples and I'll try to get the information that you required.

 

[amanpeter]

Originally posted by atma:

I was blessed with the darshan of both Maharajas. Moreover I did have the saintly association of Bhakti Vaibhav Puri Maharaja for few years. I used to go for morning and evening darshan at his temple in Seva Kunja in Vrindavan during Kartika. I met him in Vishakapatnam where he got another temple. During Gour Purnima he cames to Mayapur and his temple is located next to ISKCON BBT. Most of the time he stays in Puri.

He is a very humble vaishnava and his presence always made me feel that I have to improve my character. Like when you're in the presence of a saintly person you feel how fallen you're!

Many times during his darshan we were all in tears because he transmits so many devotional feelings. At the same time is very practical and down to earth.

I was present when a few old Prabhupada's disciples went to him to complaint about ISKCON, and he listened to them and adviced them to reasume their devotional lives.What was the use of criticize if they were not following the principles, or doing any devotional service? Most of them were fallen but because of his association, they are chanting and active in devotional service now.

Once I noticed that he didn't wear socks and was already the beginning of winter. I went to the famous Loi Bazaar and got for him socks, mittens and a swami hat. His look of surprise when I gave him the things, I'll always remember. I was very happy when I went for darshan that evening and he was wearing everything! He gave me the garland that he was wearing and I put it on my neck. I was so happy that I completely forgot that I was stepping in Seva Kunj (is full of monkeys) All of the sudden I see this huge male monkey rushing straight towards me, I kwew that I wasn't carrying any bag or food with me and I was wondering what this monkey wants and in the last second I realized. Just when the monkey jumped at me I took the garland out of my neck and he got it in mid-air! Even the monkeys want B.V. Puri Maharaja's mercy!!

I have many friends who are his disciples and I'll try to get the information that you required.

Beautiful story, prabhu. Thanks for sharing. Peter (valaya)

[JD]

Originally posted by Gauracandra:

Yes, this is what I see as well. I've only seen one video tape interview of him, but he was so gentle, and sincere. At one point he started to cry and it just broke my heart. Does anyone know if he has published any books? or has an official web site I could inquire about his books?

 

Gauracandra

Hare Krishna,

 

I just recieved tattva prakasa newsletter, went through the site also a bit, and found this tread.

I recieved harinam initiation from Srila Maharaja last year in Slovenia.

Don't read this site often but will try to help you with a few informations.

Web-site is in a building phase momentarily on the address <http://www.gurudev.nm.ru/mainGurudev.htm>. However there is not much info there.(Its empty so far).

From book Guru Puja, Vyasa Puja Book of Srila Bhakti Vaibhav Puri Goswami Maharaj for his 87th advent day on 25th January, 2000 published by

Gurupuja Celebration Committee

Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mission(Reg)

Sri Krishna Chaitanya Gurukula Ashram.

Lawsons Bay Colony,

Visakhapatnam-530017

 

(Perhaps there are typing mistakes in this -please forgive that)

A BRIEF LIFE HISTORY OF OM VISNUPADA SRI SRIMAD BHAKTI VAIBHAVA PURI GOSWAMI MAHARAJ

 

BIRTH AND PARENTS

 

The Spiritual master Srimad B. V. Puri Goswami Maharaj appeared on this material plane on 5th day of the waning period of the Moon of Magha in 1913, in the house of his grandfather, in the village Fulta, which is just 5kms away from Berhampur in Ganjam district of Orissa State in India, the most sacred place in the world. His mother's name is Srimati Devi and his father's name is Sri Damodar. They had four sons and Srila B. V. Puri Maharaj is the second son having no sisters. The parents named our maharaj on an auspicious day as Nrusimgha. His father came with his family from the village Tulasi near Ichhapur to the village Kutharsingi in Ganjam district.

...........(cut)...............

Srila Maharaj has narrated his life story as follows:-

" I continued to visit Radhakanta temple in the westside of the village right from my childhood. A 'Malati flower tree was stretching around a mango tree.' I used to climb on the tree, pluck the flowers and offer to the deities with garlands.

In my childhood days my elder brother and myself studied sanskrit and oriya from a pandit. We also took part in the sankirtan group organised by Narasingha Padhee of the village. Every year 'Jhulan' festival is conducted in Balaji Math, we attend the picnic on the hill situated near Golanthra Rly. Station.

Our family guru Ramanujiya Mahant of Sariapalli gave Dikhya to my father, elder brother and me and induced mantra by marking sign of 'Sanka' and 'Chakra' on our arms after performing 'Homa'. We recite daily 'Bishnu Sahasranama', 'Mukunda Mali Stotra', 'Stotraratna', Srimad Bhagabat of Jaganath Das in oriya and Gita.

Pandit Dinabandhu Mohapatra of Kortharsingh, a teacher, used to recite Ramayan and Sarala Mahabharat from 9pm to 11pm near the Tulsi Tree on the middle of the village. Being very near to our house, I also listen to that.

In the year 1923 we two brothers studied in the high school at Surangi and stayed in a rented house. Amiappa, sister of Sri Laxman Das of Tulsigram village, used to cook for us. She was unmarried. A devotee was carrying the articles for cooking once in a week from our village. We also go to our village on saturdays and sundays. All this was looked after by my father. Thus we returned to Kotharsingh in April 1930 after completing studies.

When at Ichhapore, we go up the hill, meet Sri Brindaban Choudhury and discuss on spiritual matters. We visit the house of Sri Laxmi narayan Samant and Yogindra Samant. They are sons of Sri Chakrapani Samant who is a causin of Sri Surangi Raja. We frequently visit Tulsi village. Wherever we go, we have to walk on foot. No other conveyance. We go to Puri on the railways. We go on foot to Ichhapor and return even if it is 15 km from our village.

After talking to the Head Lecturer Sri Premanand Mohanty of Berhampore college we started reading there. But I developed apathy for studies owing to freedom movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi. Still, on account of father's wish, I had to be attentive towards my studies. Later my father and then my mother passed away. Then I thought of studying Ayurveda in order to serve the people and started my study under kaviraj Madhusudan Sharma who was then a famous Kabiraj at Berhampore and Proprietor of Amrut Bindu Medicine shop. He was also narrating certain spiritual topics at the same time. He was blessed by the Srila Param Hansa Bhakti Sidhant Saraswati Goswami, a leader of Gaudiya community.

The preachers of the Gaudiya sect like Sridhar Maharaj, Sri Haygriba Maharaj, Puri Maharaj, Parbat Maharaj, Bodhayan Maharaj, Giri Maharaj etc used to stay and at the Amrutabindu medicine shop when they come to Berhampur. Many discourses were made with the Maharajas regarding the teachings of Sri Chaitanya. Along with four commandements like 'Dharma', 'Artha', 'Kama', 'Mokshya', I liste to the 5th commandement regarding love of Sri Krishna proved through holy scriptures.

On the full moon day of Sraban in the year 1936 with the request of Madhusudan Sharma at Mayapur Om Bisnupada Paramhansa Srila Bhakti Sidhant Saraswati Goswami showered his grace on this incompetent and wrethched fellow. I was inculcated with Hari's name. That was the day of Balaram's incarnation.

On return from Mayapur, we reached Berhampure. On receipt of message from Srila Prabhupada I went to Mayapur on the 1st day of January 1937 and returned after two days. Few days after this on June 25th 1937 I left my home and went to Mayapur and stayed upto 1942. I was then engaged as a sebak(server) in Sri Ramananda Goudiya Math Kavuru on the Bank of Godavari river of Andhara Pradesh.

In the year 1942, a temple at Medinapur was established in the company of a large number of sanyasis and Brahmacaris. Kunja babu, Sri Bodhayana Maharaj, Sridhar Maharaj, Sri Jajabar Maharaj, Sri Baikhanas Maharaj, Sri Sroutri Maharaj, Paramanand Bidyabhusan, Sri Hayagriba Brahmacari etc. - were present on the occasion of inauguration of the temple. Sri Bhakti Sarang was induced as 'sanyas' by Sridhar Maharaj before Sri Khirachora Gopinath. On return, the devotees of Ganjam including Sriman Ananda Prabhu, Nityanand Prabhu and myself remained with Sridhar Maharaj after leaving Sri Keshab Maharaj. With the inspiration of Sri Bhakti Bijay Prabhu, Sridhar Maharaj and Goswami Maharaj, I was sent with some money to set up a chaitanya temple at Malda district near Gouda city in north Bengal. I remained there for two months and got the same inaugurated in the presence of all gaudiya baisnabas and returned. All Baisnabas blessed me on that day. "You got the service of Srila Rupa Goswami" they said. After that Sri Bhaktibilas Tirtha Maharaj and Paramanand Bidyabhusan Prabhu appointed me to be in charge of service of both Kovuru and Madras Math in the year 1948.

In 1954, at Kavuru a big temple of Gour Sundar and Sri Radhagobind Sankirtana Sadana were erected. New sanyasis like Naba Jogendra and 40 other Brahmacaris joined in the festival conducted there for a week. All the Baisnabas were given clothes and to and fro expenses. In the year 1966 I was inducted as 'Sanyasa' by Reverend Sri Bhakti Sarvaswa Giri Maharaj on the birth anniversary of Sriman Chaitanya at Mayapur. In the year 1966, the temple of Sri Guru Gauranga and Sri Radha Madan mohan was erected at Bhimbaram. Later Sri Radha Gobind was installed at Maharani Pentha at Visakhapatnam. In the year 1971, under the authority of Srila Swami Maharaj, Sri Guru Gourang and Radha Gopinath temple was established at RajMahendri.."

At present, Srila Maharaj was traveling various parts of the country and outside countries like Italy, Spain, Slovenia, German etc. and spreading the Holy Name of God. Apart from this he is compiling granthas containing Baisnab established principles in Oriya, Telugu, Hindi and English Languages and convey the message of pure devotion to the common people.

He has published many books on Vaisnava philosophy in different languages like Telugu, Oriya, Hindi and English in order to supply books on unalloyed devotion to the public. After the demise of Srila Nityananda Prabhu he established a book trust name "Sri Bhakti Bigyana Nityananda Book Trust" in the name of Srila Nityananda Prabhu on 28th July, 1988. As the president of the trust he advises the trust at different times to publish different books. The printed books are sent to different maths of this mission for the benefit of the devotees. Now he is the chief editor of the monthly magazine "The Siddhanta" which was published under the able guidance of Srila Nityananda Prabhu before his disappearance.

 

 

[This message has been edited by JD (edited 08-10-2001).]

[JD]

And here is one lecture imperfectly transcribed(due to my lack of knowledge of sanskrit and bengali-so some verses are missing-and due to somewhat low quality of a tape) from last year, recored on 10th of June 2000 in Nava Vrindavana, Slovenia , for your pleasure. This is an effort by an ordinary person so please forgive the mistakes you find.

 

Animal life. If we don't worship the Lord we are animals. We are animals. We will be called animals. To get there. Now, attentively you must hear. Don't. These are rituals. These are all rituals. You must hear Hari Katha. You must attentively hear. And remember. Because our religion is sanatana religion. From the creation of the world religion is there and parampara is there. And Lord Krishna is our Supreme Lord. And his incarnations, his expansions are many. And mahajano yena gata sa pantha. We have to follow the path of mahajanas. Who are mahajanas? Svayambhu. Narada, Sambu, Kumara, Kapila, Manu, Prahlada, Janaka, Bhisma, Bali Cakravarti, Sukadeva Goswami and Yama Dharmaraja. These are 12 mahajanas. So, anybody ask you "what dharma you are following?": you are following bhakti dharma. Culture, developed and, and delivered to all the jivas, is bhakti yoga and bhakti sastra only. And in this Kali yuga as arcana or puja or yagya or other items of worship are not important. You have to do that, but only namam is important. You must: vishnu sahasra nama is there and krishna sahasra nama is there and radha sahasra nama is there, gauranga mahaprabhu sahasra nama is there. All these names, divine names, we have to repeat. If we have no time, we will do few names and if no time at least Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. Only one namam. Hare Krishna namam. That Hare Krishna 16 times we'll repeat. The meaning of Hare Krishna, meaning of Hare Rama, one must, no difference. No difference. Hare Krishna - Radhe Shyam, Radha Krishna. Hare Rama - Radha Krishna. But some say, in Treta yuga Rama appeared so we say Hare Rama. In Dvapara yuga Krishna appeared, we say Hare Krishna. Not that. Because, like this. Every week has 7 days. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, again Sunday. And months, 12 months in a year. Again and again they come and go. And there are seasons, 6 seasons. One after another they come and they go. So which season, which yuga, which millennium, we cannot definitely point out that in this millennium Krishna appeared. Now if you say 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, again say 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, the one week, and one week, that week, you cannot point out which week. Unless you mention year and the month. Then only you can say that. But regarding yugas you cannot say. Regarding yugas you say kalpa. The kalpa is a day time of... The day, 12 hours day of Brahma is called one kalpa. And night 12 hours one kalpa. And morning 12 hours one kalpa. In that one kalpa 7000 of yugas passes away. Because every day 14 Manus, they rule the country and go. Vaisvata Manu, Svayambhuva Manu, and Caksusa Manu. Like that 14 Manus. And each Manu 71 millenniums they enjoy. 71 millenniums, not yugam. 4 yugas combined one millennium, divya yuga. Like that 71 divya yugas one Manu enjoys. Like that 14 Manus rule, 14 and 2, 71 and 2 they, each, thousand, thousand yugas, thousand yugas and one thousand. And in that one thousand yugas one is Kali yuga. So now to find out which Kali and which Dvapara and which Treta or Satya. You cannot find out. Because if there is Brahma's one day, several thousands yugas pass, millenniums pass. How can you find out? So, that is, of course Sunday, Monday again go on and go on, repeating same Sunday, Monday. If you say Sunday and after Sunday you say Monday and again now you turn it, you say Sunday, Monday and one day Sunday so other Sundays at beginning and Sundays later... no, you can not distinguish it. So, in Kali yuga. You talk of this Kali yuga. We are talking of the present Kali yuga. Why should you talk about all the yugas? We are talking of this yuga. And in this yuga these sastras, we find sastras. In previous yugas you can not have find sastras, because, because when the annihilation comes, total annihilation comes, everything will be destroyed. No man, no beast, no bird, no tree, nothing. No elements. That is the ...(?). All the water and the fire or air or ether. These elements are not there. They will be dissolved. So they become prakriti. Prakriti is avyakta. Avyakta is not visible. From not visible visible.

 

avyaktadini bhutani vyakta-madhyani bharata.

 

These bhutas, pancha bhutas ksitir ap teja marut vyoma. Five elements. The 5 elements we see now, but they disappear. When they disappear the earth becomes water, water becomes fire, fire becomes air, air becomes ether, ether enters into prakriti. Nothing visible. Nothing visible. Then prakriti, it enters into the Supreme. Finished. Now, when he thinks that bahu shyam: "I will be many forms", then again, from this desire the prakriti now shakes. Avyakta prakriti, it is invisible. Invisible prakriti suddenly it shakes. And from that shaking borns mahat tattva. And from that mahat tattva expands and it becomes ether, akash. That, it expands and becomes air and it expands and it becomes fire and then it expands and becomes water and water expands, becomes earth. This is anuloma and that is viloma. Now, from subtle to gross. And from gross to subtle. When the world is completely annihilated there is nothing in it, nothing. Nobody to seek, nobody. No man, no beast, no tree, nothing. Then Brahma who came out from the navel of, of Vishnu, Garbhodakasayi Vishnu. He came out from the navel. Lotus flower has come and that lotus flower, in it, there is Brahma. Then Brahma sees the flower and the continuation from where the flower has come. This is fourteen worlds. And he travels. Goes up, goes down. But he could not understand wherefrom he has come. Who is his father. And there is nothing visible. To whom he belongs. He doesn't know. Then he heard in the words, in water, all waters, water. Tapa, tapa, tap, tap. This sound. Then he realized: "I must meditate". Now, he sat in meditation. And when meditation was final, then, after, the Lord appeared before him. Lord appeared and Lord explained:

 

aham evasam evagre

nanyad yat sad-asat param

pascad aham yad etac ca

yo 'vasisyeta so 'smy aham

 

I was at the beginning of the creation. There is none, nothing, sat or asat. Sat is truth. Asat is untruth. There is no truth and the no asat. I was there.

 

aham evasam evagre

nanyad yat sad-asat param

pascad aham yad etac ca

yo 'vasisyeta so 'smy aham

 

And after that I am. Now, after the annihilation of this world I will go, I am one. So from him:

 

yato va imani bhutani jayante yena jatani jivanti yat prayanty abhisam-visanti tad brahma tad vijijnasasva

 

It has the whole universe. What we see now, visible and invisible. Everything has come from him. And again he will contract it. Everything will go in and receive kaivalya and is mixed in. From prakriti avyakta prakriti, prakriti, visible prakriti. And that visible prakriti will disappear and avyakta prakriti. And that avyakta prakriti when is fired by the Lord:

 

mayadhydyaksena prakriti suyate sa caracaram.

 

Krishna says:

 

"It is through my energy, or through my will this avyakta prakriti now creates".

 

Whatever you see, sthula, sukshma, subtle form, gross form, this is, we see, everything is only from him. And at last everything will enter into him. That is; this world no will see. So this world. Now, in two ways we can realize. Now as we are ignorant jivas we think that we are born. Then we perceive that my father gave birth to. My father survived. He has done this, this, that, that, work automatically he has done and there is something that I have not completed. I will complete it. I will do the same with it. And his father, grandfather also did it. So for all are doing that same thing. I also doing it. Now we follow.

 

balas tavad kriyasaktas tarunas tavat taruni- raktah vrddhas tavat cinta-magnah parame brahmani ko'pi na lagnah

 

Now, in early age, boyhood, we play, others play. We see every house in western countries, I see, so many, a cart load of dogs will be there, for playing with children. Dogs. Cats and dogs. All dogs. ...(?). And they, they are engaged in always playing. And after that they attend to school. They get some education. And, they attain some age, at 14, 15, 16, 17. Now, there in set, set up some sort of engagement. And they end, the ...(?) ends. And after that they have to marry. They marry. And after marriage they have sons, children. And those children, they will be brought up by the parents. And after that, when old age comes they will, most. But he is not bothering about Parabrahma. My duty has come. I have never thought even once about Parabrahma, the master of the whole universe, from whom this world has come out. I have not think. Not even the student, even the professor, even the western savants, savants even the greatest scholars. They also never think that everything is unreal. Always. ...(?). You are proud of your wealth, proud of your knowledge, proud of your health, and proud of your name and fame. Everything will, in a second will go away.

 

ma kuru dhana dhana yauvana garbham ...nimesa kalav sarvam.........(17:30 verse ?).

 

The kala, the death will be, the death, the death comes, everything will go to graveyard. And your name, your activities, everything will be in graveyard. What you have done. Anything you have done regarding, regarding the Supreme Master, regarding the iswara, regarding the Lord, Supreme Lord, who is pervading in each and every soul. In the tree, in the house, in a building, in a messing, in me, in him, in him, all.

 

isvarah sarva-bhutanam

hrd-dese 'rjuna tisthati

bhramayan sarva-bhutani

yantra rudhani mayaya

 

We think that we move. We think that we see. We think that we hear. We thought. We do. We have done. We can make or we can break. Nothing will be done independent of the Lord. When Lord vacates this body, than this will become... What you say? If you take in a box, and put in a burial ground? And, why? The same organs, the same head, the same face, same legs, same eyes, same hands. One minute free on fires, everything all right. After one minute, they go out: "Father, father, father, father." No father. Now we ask: "Father, who am I?" So, father is there. We say father, that Lord is the father. The presiding deity is the father! Not this body is the father! So we are having this conception. We say: "Atma, this is atma." But this is not atma. This is a body constructed by 5 elements. Earth and water and fire and air and ether. All 5 elements are there. When they are combined the body is formed. This is called the human body. The 5 will be there. The beast is. See the body of a beast? We say it is a dog or a cat or a goat or a mouse or a camel. Only 5 elements. Always. Everywhere 5 elements. Without 5 elements no world. And these lifeless 5 elements. Because when iswara enters, these 5 elements will combine and act. It is as sringara attacked by paralysis or the body, half of this body attacked by paralysis. Why, why? There is some, in organization, there is a physical body, some sort of wrong. Because it is not properly functioning. Now, by the help of some medicine you can able to have the body properly functioning. Then the paralysis is gone. But if the Paramatma, the presiding deity in the body is gone, you can not apply any medicine. No medicine will help you. You will die. You are born to die. The object which was born it will die. This atma, the iswara, paramatma which dwells in my body, it has no birth, and no growth, no death. It is always the same. Millions of years have passed the atma will be there but you will not be there

 

kaumaram yauvanam jara

tatha dehantara-praptir

 

Now, from boyhood you have become youth, from youth you have become earning member and scientist or so and so. And after old age has come. And when old age comes you are unfit. The government says: "Now you are 60, you are unfit. You go up, you go up from the office". And we say: "No, sir, I have got capacity, I will do.No. Though you have capacity you should go away". So he has to go. Rejected by the government. Yet he came aloud, says: "No, no. I can create children, I can purchase the house, I can do this, I can do that". Then the service goes. I will do private. And now the burden was very little then. Now the burden is very, very heavy. He carries that burden. He carries that burden. Tomorrow will die, yet he thinks: "I am doing my duty". No duty. It is not duty. Now you will die. Whatever you have done throughout your life, 70 years or 80 years, that will be, in the subtle form, will follow you. This atma then leaves that body this decision will be held. That, like computer. It will give, at the time of death, it will give the result. And that result will dictate you have to go to this body. You will be born as a dog. Because, you have got to much attachment towards the dog. At the time of death you always remember that dog. The affection towards a dog has made you dog.

 

yam yam vapi smaran bhavam

tyajaty ante kalevaram

tam tam evaiti kaunteya

sada tad-bhava-bhavitah

 

Because, now before the death of this fellow, the dog likes, "Many things have gone and so much the dog has served me. He is my life. Now he has gone I also go." So, out of last affection, now, he leaves this body. When leaves body, he remembers the dog only, nothing. God is not there. He never thinks of God. He thinks of that dog.

 

yam yam vapi smaran bhavam

 

At the time of death whatever you remember you will become that. If you remember a dog, you remember a cat, or you remember a donkey, or you remember a camel, or you remember a cow, or you remember a horse you will become the same. It is truth. As the body, you will never get It. The body, you have got attachment to this body, towards this body. So, you serve that body. You are serving your body. You have to wash it daily, bathroom, hot water, wash it. With a soap, without a right soap... I see in your... what is that? Apartment house, that you go there... toilet, toilet. There many, many, many bottles are there. Take it, take bath. So many. Yes. They put little, they put little, they put little... So, they are serving whom? They are serving their body. And timely they must food, give food to the body. And timely rest to the body. And whatever the body wants they must give. So, throughout the life he is serving the whole body, none else. His body he serves. Unless you serve this body that body will decay. It will be useless. So we must be very careful. So he is very careful to preserve the body. But any such service will never allow this body to remain eternal. It will go. It will go. Though he embrace it, he does love touch, it will go away. That we are so much entangled with maya and this world, fanciful world. Every moment we are thinking new, new, new, new, new so and so. But we never think of eternal atman. Never. In the schools and collages nobody teaches them. In the house. And father and mother and grandfather they never teach. Because they never realized it. They never thought of it. What is? They teach only how could you earn after meal? You must do this, do that, do that. The ... yes. You have to form person in this society or you have to earn, you have to do this. But you never think of that atman.

 

(verse? 27:54 atmava hare drishtabhya, srotabhya, mantrabhya, nivritatitabhya)

 

But. All our vedic culture and all the vedas and ours religious scriptures. They say atmava hare drishtabhya. So wake up. You are sleeping. He says: "One month sleeping I want daily 18 hours." 18 hours. For whom? For none. For none. The result you will enjoy. Not in this birth. Next birth is ready. You will come to it. They never think. So if we tell this to faithful and simpleminded and ready and (?) person; he will hear. But now who has got fear complex and who has got strength, who has got capacity to earn and who has got capacity to enjoy. Those fellows say: "Sir, I have no time. Excuse, no time. We can not talk to you. No time. I have to go to the office now. Now it is already 7:30. I should leave thereby." We cannot teach. They don't time. Go. And he will do sometime, he will come. "I will ... no time for you." On Sunday. Sunday will be many, many. What? All this dance, (?) dance, picturework. On sunday many young, strong, many work double or triple work. No time. He has no time to die. He will say: "I have no time to die." What he has done till now or what he will do he never thinks. Nothing. Nothing. Very busy for nothing. He is very busy for nothing. Nobody to teach them in schools and colleges. They must be thought by a renunciated soul. A sannyasi who is roaming in this world and whose duty he thinks, to teach about the glories of the Lord, Supreme Lord. Others don't feel, time. They say: "No time." Ever we do our duty. What is your duty? What is your duty? He thinks I have got so much to, time, even short. Heart is long. I am always young. I cannot sick, die. But when the death doors commencing warrant, issues warrant: "You come." Then you can not appeal: "Sir, I have so money like. I could not able to complete then. Please allow me to one hour and towards.No. No another second would be given. Come immediately!" He has to go. No appeal. But if you ask the person: "You come to the temple. Come to hear the subject from our saint has come.Yes, I have desire, but no time, what shall I do? No time." This is the world. They think that only intelligent people. Very intelligent people. What intelligence you have got? Yours intelligence is the death. And intelligence is lost, lost, (?) intelligence he will weep. Graveyard. You're marching towards graveyard. So, now you are all fortunate. And, to have come here and two days he was enjoying mahaprasad and this mahaprasad and the Lord's glories, and with prasad also glories they have enjoyed. But we think that wherever we go, we think that we are responsible to teach the people. They may think that: "We are intelligent". But according to our sastras they are not intelligent. They are all ignorant. They do not know what is what. They do not know. So, just if they give from their busy, busy work. If they give us one, one hour we request, in that hour as far as possible we can able to explain them. And this is our duty. Unless we do that we are, we are not doing our duty. We sink. Because the sannyasi must go door to door. Mahaprabhu said to these westerners. One Haridas and another, another. Haridas Thakur and Nityananda

 

(verse ? 33:55)

suno suno nityananda suno haridas

sarvatra amara agya koroha prakas

prati koro kore giya koroi bhiksa

bolo krishna bhajo krishna koro krishna siksa

 

Now Mahaprabhu said: "My dear Nityananda and Haridasa, you go to every door and beg them: "Sir, we have come to take alms from you."" What is alms? Alms is biksya. "We want. We have come to beg you alms.What alms do you want? You want money, or roti, or cloth? What do you want?We don't want anything. We have come to beg you to repeat namam." Bolo Krishna. "All of you kindly repeat namam." What is that namam? Hare Krishna Govinda Acyuta Vamana Nrsimha. All the, all the names are, names are there. Many names, thousands of names are there. And out of it he said bolo Krishna. "You say Krishna." Bhajo Krishna. "You worship Krishna." Koro krishna siksa "You follow the teachings of Krishna. If you do this we will go to next door. That we have received alms. In kinds we don't want anything from you. We request you to repeat namam, and practice namam, and do service of the Lord, and follow the teachings of the Lord Krishna. Then if you say: "Yes we will do it."" So, many people, good people they said: "Good, I will do it". And those types of people are there. And they say: "You fellows you have no work. You have no work and you have come. Go! Don't disturb everyone. You are deceiving everyone." And some others said: "You fellows you have no food to eat. And it is late. We have no food. Close. Go!" Now Mahaprabhu has asked: "You go to every door and you will beg them. And the result in the evening you report to me, what the response was." So they had to report. One day Nityananda saw two big fellows. Very stout and strong fellows. They are the brothers. Madyhopadyaya(?), in the high class brahmin family. They always drink full and they eat everything. Even the beast also they eat. And they will be fighting, wrestling on the road. With influence of that intoxication. They will be playing, they will be (?), they will be fighting. No other will come to them. If anybody comes, they take their heads and throw it in the rest. Because they were wonderful, wonderful, very strong. They never care for police, never care for the government. Now Nityananda told Haridas: "Haridas, why not we tell the message of our Lord Gauranga to these two fellows?" And Haridasa says: "If you want to die, you do that. I will never go. These are drunkards. Why should you go? Are there no other people to whom you teach? They will never take your teachings. And doesn't have, they will kill you, either." Then they reported both matters to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said: "No, No! Haridas! When Nityananda is anxious to refine those fellows, they will be refined within two or three days, within a week!" Actually, after three days, by this time when Nityananda was returning in one road. And he never expected these fellows are there. He has to pass very near to them. He was alone. So, when he was passing they said: "Who are you?" Then Nityananda said. What will you say? That I am a sadhu. "I'm a sadhu." So, they pick up that liqueur pot, very strong pot. Always they're drinking liqueur. And that pot, liqueur pot hits the head of Nityananda. Then Lord came out. And the news was, went to Mahaprabhu. Mahaprabhu was running. And after, Sudarsana has come to kill this fellow. And he has committed offense at the feet of Nityananda. He should be killed. But Nityananda Prabhu said: "No, you cannot kill. He is ignorant. We must excuse him." And to fellow who has hit him, he said. "Boy, whatever you have done it is not you mistake. You are under the influence of this wine. So, now I cannot blame you though blood is coming. You repeat one Krishna namam." He embraced him and said: "Repeat Krishna namam, once!". When he said that, immediately, by his touch, repentance came to him. He got hold of his two feet of Nityananda. "You please excuse me. I have committed great offense. How can I be freed from this great offense, my dear sir?" And he was, he was crying, crying. He said that: "Not only I have done the sin, my brother also." So that brother. He got hold of the legs of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and begged him, begged that: "My brother was helped by Nityananda, you please help." So, Mahaprabhu blessed him. He told that: "If you never repeat the sin, till now what you have done, we have destroyed all your sins. But you should not repeat." Then they said: "No! No sir. We will never." Then Mahaprabhu asked Nityananda Prabhu to: "Take these fellows to my house where we will do sankirtan." There they performed sankirtan for three hours. After three hours Mahaprabhu's color was changing. When he embraced, Nityananda's color, bodily form was changed. They became dark. Now, after three hours bhajan the original color has come to them. And they say: "You fellows, you should not go anywhere. You have to clean these ghats." Very big, very big ghats. Those who have gone to Navadvip parikrama might have seen. This Jagai ghat and Madhai ghat. "There you... And to every man who comes there, daily thousands and thousands of people come to take bath. You have to prostrate before them: "Sir, we have committed offense at your feet. We never remember. But we have committed. Excuse us."". And food. Mahaprabhu used to send food daily. So, when this was done, the whole of Bengal and Nadia, all the people came to understand that Nityananda and Gauranga are not human beings. Otherwise who can take such fellows. They are demons. And those demons are changed in the minute. So it is not the human deed(?). So, they now become ideal vaisnavas, ideal vaisnavas.

 

So, that actually we are souls. We have got attraction, we have got affection, we have got devotion towards Paramatma. Atma and Paramatma. There are two birds. One is Paramatma, one is Atma. And this body is a tree. In this body, in the tree there are two birds. One bird is a paramatma. He never eats. Never does any action. Only he looks. He is a witness to the action of this atma. This atma enjoys the fruit. One is happiness and another is unhappiness. Two fruits. One is happiness; he will love, unhappiness; he will weep. (break of tape) Though he is dwelling here. He is here in me. I cannot see him. Because I always see the world of enjoyment. I never look back. If I see back, where there I can see this Paramatma. And he will see me. I will see him. Then all this suffering will go. I will be happy. Now atmava harer dristabhya You see atma in you. srotabhya To hear his glories. mantrabhya To remember him in your mind. nivritatitabhya You concentrate (?). And this:

 

atman pravacanena labhyo

na medhaya na bahuna srutena

yam evaisa vrnute tena labhyas

tasyaisa atma vivrnute tanum svam

 

This atma cannot be understood through argument. No argument can help it. Argument has no end. One says yes, other says no. Other says yes, he says no. So always there, under contrast. There will be fights, there will be no end. tarka pratishtanam, the logic has no end. So, through logic we cannot able to understand that paramatma. Then, na medhaya, if we have got intellect and through that intellect also we cannot understand. Extraordinary intellect. Or a lingit or who has the knowledge of eastern and western philosophies. The philosopher? No. Then who can understand? One who surrenders. One who feels that through my knowledge, through my mind, or thorough my mental efforts, through my empiric knowledge, or through my ascending actions I cannot able to understand. I can understand him only through his blessings. One is ascending, one is descending. Arohavada and avarohavada. Now if I surrender to him then he will bless me. And through his blessings I can understand. No other way. No other way. Because we are in the well. Suppose unfortunately you fall into well. How can you come out from the well? There must be some help to you from outside. Somebody must give a rope, or a ladder. Help you with the ladder and he will tie the ladder there and to some tree, and you get that ladder and climb and come out. If not... A rope is present from outside. Throws a rope. That rope you must tie your body or your waist, or your hands. Then he will lift. You will go. With the help of the outsider you can come up. But, through your own efforts you cannot come up. You come up to certain point, again you will fall down. And if from outside help comes then definitely you will catch it, you will go out. So, both are necessary. One must receive it. One must accept it. Receive it and accept it. Now you have to receive this truth explained in our revealed scriptures, revealed.

 

tad viddhi pranipatena

pariprasnena sevaya

upadeksyanti te jnanam

jnaninas tattva-darsinah

 

Now, you have to surrender to your spiritual master.

 

tad viddhi pranipatena pariprasna

 

Then you'd clear your doubts. And those doubts which are cleared. Why you ask? Only to serve. Not to argue sake you have put question. Because to serve you, to satisfy you, to please you. If any question is there, you can help. By renouncing the subject he cannot be proficient. Only he accepts it. But he is unable to follow it. There the spiritual master will help him and bless him so that through his blessings, yasya prasadad bhagavat prasado, through his blessings he can understand the matter and he can follow. So, now:

 

tad viddhi pranipatena

pariprasnena sevaya

upadeksyanti te jnanam

jnaninas tatt va-darsinah

 

Who knows tattva. Who knows the subject perfectly well. And if we surrender to him, he will explain us how to practice. How to clear our doubts. How to proceed in the path. mahajano yena gantha sa pantha. He says: "It is not my discovery. This is the path which my ancestors have followed. So, you also follow this. You will be happy." Now, Hare Krishna.

 

[This message has been edited by JD (edited 08-11-2001).]

[Jagat]

Dear JD,

 

You seem to have a great deal of knowledge of B. V. Puri Maharaj. Perhaps you could help with my questions on the Travelogue forum.

 

http://www.indiadivine.com/ubb/Forum8/HTML/000009.html

 

Thanks very much.

 

Jagat

[Jagat]

Very interesting article on B. V. Puri Maharaj's life. Thanks very much for that.

 

Note: Hayagriva is Bhakti Dayita Madhava Maharaj.

 

Jan. 1, 1937 was Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati's disappearance day.

 

Unfortunately no information about the founding of the Sri Kshetra math, which is very well positioned right near the Gundicha temple.

 

Your servant,

 

Jagadananda Das.

[Jagat]

Other important information not found in this biography is the year that Puri Maharaj left the Chaitanya Math to found his own organization and what the name of that organization is.

 

 

[dasanudas]

Bhakti Promode Puri Maharaj likewise was/is a very noble, honourable and humble vaisnava from whom all the vaisnavas today could take a leaf from his books like 'The Heart of Krsna.' I heard once Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Maharaj told that every Vaisnava should read this book. Very sweet! I had the good fortune of sharing his company on a number of occasions when he would come to stay with Srila Guru Maharaj in Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. I loved his unassuming nature as he would reside dowstairs from Srila Guru Maharaj who he loved to be in the company of. Like a complete unknown in full respect of everyone, he was very approachable. This is what the ornament of humility creates, a heart connection to all. Srila Sridhara Maharaj had that same intensified mood.

And yet on another occasion I saw him lead a parikram party to SCSM of apr. 15,000 devotees it took about 30 mins. for them all to take dharsan stretching from the other side of Gauranga bridge to the Math. He also had that same inner bhava you are talking about. I'm sure Jagat could tell a tale or two of his life.

[premananda]

Does anybody know who the mantra guru of Sri BV Puri Maharaj is? He said that he received Hari Nama from Sri BSST, but not who his mantra guru is.

 

P D

[JD]

Originally posted by Gauracandra:

Yes, this is what I see as well. I've only seen one video tape interview of him, but he was so gentle, and sincere. At one point he started to cry and it just broke my heart. Does anyone know if he has published any books? or has an official web site I could inquire about his books?

 

Gauracandra

Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Jayatah

 

 

We have put an unofficial site dedicated to Srila Bhakti Vaibhava Puri Maharaja and his visits to Slovenia and Croatia on:

www.angelfire.com/realm/bvpuri

Site containes lectures in MP3 and pictorial from Guru Maharaja's visit. We also plan to put transcribed lectures on if we get them edited, till then there are only parts of lectures put as previews to MP3s.

 

As its so rare to meet a Satguru in person we hope these lectures serve a purpose in bringing transcendental message to a larger public. If you like the site feel free to spread the word.

 

Jagadish das

 

p.s. Some parts of the lectures:

 

How will anybody be sanctified?

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

It is the greatest service to the humanity. Those who are going down and down, going to hell and those who are ignorant, he doesn't know what life is. They think life is only to eat, drink, sleep and mate. No. No. Life is not like that. Life is to know the Supreme Lord, see the Supreme Lord, hear the Supreme Lord, sing the glories of the Lord, sing the glories of the sage. Then Lord will be happy. Then you will be satisfied. Then you can enjoy peace. Peace cannot be enjoyed without the association of a sadhu, without the blessings of a sadhu. Without the blessings of the sage we cannot enjoy peace, we cannot enjoy happiness.

 

So a devotee means a harmless creature. He is always following ahimsa paramo dharma. Because he follows trinad api sunicena, because he considers himself humbler than a blade of grass. Devotee has no revenging attitude. He always forgets, forgives. One must be a sadhu. Sadhu means who finds no fault with anybody. No fault. He says: "I am the person who commit faults, but the sadhus will never commit faults. They are not, they never commit wrong. I am the person, I will commit wrong, I will commit fault. I am the sinner, but the sadhus are all pure."

 

When can we really enjoy? We are running after enjoyment. It is only deluding potency, which is deluding us. Really we want happiness. We want enjoyment through our senses. We want to see and be happy. We want to hear and be happy. And we want to taste and be happy. And we also want to enjoy happiness and realize that happiness for which we are traveling since so many decades, so many centuries, so many innumerable millions of births. But why do we take birth and die? Only for enjoyment. We could not able to have the satisfaction and enjoyment. So, dissatisfied we lose this body, enter into another body and there we enjoy, but no satisfaction. Like this hundred, thousands, millions of births we had. But actually, nowhere we really enjoyed happiness or peace. We are without wants? No. Everybody has got some want. We are after want. Those wants have no end. When one goes, another comes. We are not satisfied with it. Whatever we have we are not satisfied. In order to improve our position we work hard, we struggle hard, we travel by train, we travel by airplane, we travel by more faster vehicles to the pleasure. And for what purpose? Only to satisfy ourselves. That is our want. There are many wants. No want actually we posses can give us real happiness. That we do not know. We are only running after the temporary happiness. It is illusory. It is not really happiness. It's illusory. And that illusory happiness we are spending our valuable lives on. And when occasion comes, then we were fortunate when we could get the association of a realized vaisnava or a sadhu. mamottamasloka janesu sakhyam samsara-cakre bhramatah sva-karmabhih tvan-mayayatmatmaja-dara-gehesv asakta-cittasya na natha bhuyat (SB 6.11.27) Citraketu, a great devotee of the Lord Vishnu. He praised the Lord: "Oh Lord, I don't want anything in this world." na naka-prstham na ca paramesthyam na sarva-bhaumam na rasadhipatyam na yoga-siddhir apunar-bhavam va samanjasa tva virahayya kankse (SB 6.11.25) "Oh Lord, I don't want the throne of Indra or throne of Brahma. I don't want to be the master or the ruler of the whole world. Though it is offered to me I won't accept. And all mystic siddhis also I don't wantAnd what do you want?I don't want even freedom from birth and death.Then what do you want?I want you. You are my wealth. You are the wealth. And if you bless me I will be happy. My happiness comes to an end when I see you, when I talk to you, when I do your service. Then you will be pleased and if you are pleased I will really enjoy the happiness for which I was traveling from one life to another life. Another life to another life. I had no satisfaction. I could not be fully satisfied. Now, when I could see you Lord, and when I approach you, and through your grace, and your pleasing look at this soul. My heart is burning. Now, the heart will become cold. Just like you see the hard day, in the night when you see the moonlight then your heart becomes cold." Likewise here in this world we are suffering, always suffering, suffering, suffering. Nobody can say that I am not suffering. Suffering 1%, 200% and 1000%. There is no limit in suffering. Only we forget that suffering when the reactions off, and for a second we feel happy. But again we have to be dissatisfied. So, real satisfaction comes to us, real happiness comes to us through the association of a sadhu. Sadhus are, real sadhus, they don't want anything of this world. No luxuries they want. They never travel throughout the world to enjoy happiness or enjoy more and freely travel in air. No. What do they want? They want the link with the Supreme Power, Supreme Lord. So, those desires of sincere devotees can be fulfilled through the association of a sadhu. Sadhus are like gems. If you touch the iron piece with that gem then the iron becomes gold.

 

[This message has been edited by JD (edited 07-08-2001).]

[Gauracandra]

Thank you very much for posting this site. Its very nice to see and hear of the preaching activities of this pure devotee.

 

Hare Krsna

 

Gauracandra