Jayananda Thakur

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

From http://www.geocities.com/visoka123/jayananda_thakur.htm

(by Vishoka Das)

 

Jayananda Thakur

 

A devotee emailed me saying that some other devotee said, “Srila Prabhupada never said ‘Thakur’ for Jayananda,” and brought this up in a group of devotees. Thus the implication is that this title for Jayananda is not authorized. So for this reason I feel compelled to discuss this matter further, although it’s been explained years ago on the website. Since many devotees haven’t read that explanation, therefore we think its necessary to discuss it further.

 

We cannot say in certainty that Srila Prabhupada “never said Thakur” in Jayananda’s situation. We don’t have it on record, it’s not recorded on tape or letter. Yet, we have other important statements from Srila Prabhupada, which are not on record, such as his books being “the lawbooks for 10,000 years.” Also there is a quote from Srila Prabhupada, [paraphrasing] “Even if you see Brahmananda smoking a cigarette on the corner, still you should give him all respect.” This is a common quote amongst older devotees, yet not in the folio. So Srila Prabhupada could have said “Thakur” in this case, and we don’t have the record. And, it is a big possibility that he could have said like this, [like to one or two devotees, who then told others] because that would be a plausible explanation for the phenomenon of so many devotees commonly using this title, “Thakur” for Jayananda, back in the late 70’s. Otherwise, it is hard to understand how it could catch on like that. Even Charu was saying Jayananda Thakur at LA Ratha-yatra to thousands of people over the public address system. The other explanation is that one or two devotees somehow started this title, and it caught on to many other devotees. The plausibility of this happening does not seem very great, however, because it would be hard to think that someone would make it up, tell another devotee, so on, and it catches on all over. And, even if this did happen, still this does not mean that the present situation is not authorized, because Srila Prabhupada gives the final authorization for this title, as we mention below, in his statement where he says that “all Vaisnavas are Thakur.”

 

I was used to this common usage of the title, after hearing it so often from others, and I gave a talk on Jayananda’s day in Denver, 1994, and I said “Thakur” and I noticed that the TP looked kind of strangely at me after that comment. After the class, I asked another devotee if Srila Prabhupada said this. He said it was in a letter. Then later I started the website and used this title for a long time. Then some Jayanandanuga devotees told me that it wasn’t in the folio, but after discussing it for a while, we decided to use it. And when the final edit for the book came around, I was hesitant to use the title “Thakur.” But a very senior and scholarly devotee who was very learned in Vaisnava history and siddhanta told me that I should go ahead and use the title.

 

Here is my email reply to the prabhu who told me about the above situation-

 

 

Haribol Prabhu,

 

Please accept my obeisances, all glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

 

This was explained on the website years ago. Go to the website and see "honorary title" and also go to the new "online version" and see the intro, where the word "Thakur" is hyperlinked, and see Prabhupada's statement on Thakur [click on hyperlink], he said, "all Vaisnavas are Thakur" and then let me know what you think. Jayananda is included in the "all Vaisnavas" and we all feel he deserves the honor. As Dasarathasuta said, "it is a customary title of honor for a departed great soul, and we can use it whether Prabhupada said it or not."

 

Its been on the website for 3-4 years, and on the book, and not one devotee has objected. Everyone has accepted it. If a devotee were to object, well, what can we say? Its like nobody has even suggested a debate about it. Sanyasis here have shown appreciation for the book, to me personally, and no hint of objection. Its a title for a departed great Vaisnava. That's how we see it. I thought it was an issue years ago, but we all decided it wasn't. We feel perfectly authorized on this decision. Of course, we don't say this for every departed devotee. Nobody is going to call me "Vishoka Thakur" after I'm gone, that would be ridiculous. But with Jayananda, it fits perfectly. Who would say that it doesn't? Anyway, thanks for the question, it is a valid question.

 

I hope this helps, your servant, Visoka dasa

 

PS, as I put your reply in the outbox, I checked the rest of my mail, and Naikatma from Denver, the TP, just ordered 8 books, the title of his email "Jayananda Thakur" which proves what I'm saying above, nobody objects, they all accept it naturally.

 

* * * *

 

Three valuable opinions

 

The title of “Thakur” was used in the website, but ultimately it was unverified in the folio. Yet it is a historical fact that many of devotees who loved him, mostly in California, they were all saying this title, even Charu Dasa said it to thousands at Los Angeles Ratha, and thus it was unwittingly conferred upon him. It is still a possibility that Srila Prabhupada said like that, I almost remember hearing such a quote, but we could have lost it somehow. I used the title on the website because I actually thought that Srila Prabhupada said like that, and another devotee confirmed it to me. I did not find out until later, that the folio did not verify what I thought was confirmed. So the title was on the site for 2 years and nobody said to the contrary. Everybody seemed to accept it, and many were writing in to me, using the title.

 

I wrote this following note to some older devotees, Jayanandanugas- “Could you tell me about the philosophic validity for the title of “Thakur” for Jayananda? I don’t know how this happened, a whole bunch of us were saying, “Thakur” and even Charu Dasa was saying it on the PA system to thousands of people at Los Angeles Ratha-yatra. But we are mystified at the origin, although I have vague remembrance of Srila Prabhupada saying it meant good-as-God, and to use the title for Jayananda. This could have been, and the record may have been lost. Otherwise, how could many devotees could have been saying this? If anything, it is a poetic justice, a transcendental slip of the tongue, inspired by Goddess Sarasvati. And as thousands of devotees have probably read the website, not one person has objected to the use of “Thakur.” One prabhu, Vatsara Dasa, asked why, and I said that Srila Prabhupada said so. This is because I did ask one prabhu, after I gave a talk on Jayananda, if Srila Prabhupada said about this title, and he told me it was true, it was in a letter. But, I guess this was not the actual case, as we fail to see such a letter. So, in a sense, there is a poetic license to this mystery, even if there is some mistake (a transcendental mistake at that.) But, I am not sure how to proceed with this title. Still, nobody objects, but some may be wondering why. Any thoughts?”

 

from Dasaratha-suta Dasa-

 

Regarding the Thakur controversy (if there is one) ... I told you it is a respectful title for a departed Vaishnava, generally not used while he is living. Prabhupada awarded Jayananda Prabhu the complete position of sainthood by writing the letter after his departure, and in the letter to Ramesvara about setting the day aside “Just as we do on the disappearance day of the other great Vaishnavas.” But so far the Vedabase has not turned up any letter or other “Prabhupada said” in this regard. You said you checked with Charu and he said that he heard it from someone. So we should not believe any of these “Prabhupada said” quotes until the proof is before us. In the Prabhupada Siksamrta there is the famous quote where Prabhupada is blasting the concept of so many “Prabhupada said” fabrications. So please try to straighten this out on your website. My final conclusion is: “We say Jayananda Thakur because it is a traditional Gaudiya Vaishnava title for a great soul who has disappeared, not because we think Prabhupada said it.” But if someone can produce an authoritative quote, then I stand corrected. There is no mystical slip of the tongue or transcendental mistake about it; it is a customary title of honor for a departed great soul, and we can use it whether Prabhupada said it or not.

 

From Vaiyasaki Dasa-

 

My feeling is that since Srila Prabhupada ordered everyone within ISKCON to celebrate his disappearance day just as we do with all the other saints and Thakurs, I do not see any harm in glorifying him with this title. We are supposed to glorify the Vaishnavas, especially one who has been distinguished by his spiritual master and elevated to a position on the level of previous acharyas.

 

People who are non-envious will be pleased to see a Vaishnava glorified. On the other hand, one can never please an envious person, so it is best not to have much association with such persons. Lord Chaitanya taught that this is the true behavior of a Vaishnava: “asat sanga tyaga, ei vaisnava acara.” The true character of a Vaishnava is to give up bad association. People who are envious or critical of other Vaishnavas are bad association, even though Vaishnavas, and should only be given mental respect from a distance. This is the edict from sastra. This is my opinion.

 

Your servant, Vaiyasaki Dasa

 

 

From Mahaksa Dasa-

 

Haribol, just a quickie response, dear Vishoka. I like the idea that Sri Chaitaguru directly gives such titles, like Lord Balarama seats Suta Goswami on Vyasasana, not contrived, not imagined, rather manifested from the heart. I had not heard of Sriman Jayananda Thakur, since his passing, while attempting to acquire San Francisco Ratha-yatra info in the spring of 1977. “Mr. Rathayatra has passed away” was the shocking news of that day, so I first saw “Thakur” on your Gunga page. I pass all titles through the process of guru-sastra-sadhu and find no flaw, and there was absolutely no hesitation, and I am the greatest sneerer at titles.

 

As foremost disciple of Srila Prabhupada, the very personification of his #1 desire for us, the illusive cooperation in Krishna Consciousness, Sriman Jayananda Thakur may wear any title he likes, and mantras describing his humble service are sung by the demigods, my opinion in the matter is that Lord Balarama bestows the title “Thakur” on Sriman Jayananda Thakur.

 

Scoffers will criticize those who pay tribute to such preceptors because they may have discovered a flaw, so and so is now smoking pot, but none of this has anything to do with the job they performed in the service to Srila Prabhupada, that is, canvassing and attracting folks to the sankirtan movement. When I get these remarks if I should praise Gaurasundara, Sudama, Subala, Visnujana, and others who selflessly attracted me to the movement on behalf of their Spiritual Master, I disregard because their service is frozen in time, eternally recorded in the book of Life, end of discussion. Falldowns are token, temporary, and Srila Prabhupada still accepts these folks as “His Own”, so I can respect.

 

In the case of those who never fell down, the respects are even more beneficial, and those who disbelieve the process can say what they will, but ultimately, it is the “disciples’ decision”. As such, I freely take whatever mercy I can garner from the memory of Sri Jayananda Thakur, even a restrictive law against the use of “Thakur” will not deter me. There was also a restrictive law against calling Gurudeva “Prabhupada”, but the disciple persists, disciples make the rules in the realm of “Disciplic succession.” Gotta run, your friend, haribol, Mahaksa Dasa

 

My replay to Mahaksa Dasa - Really nice, yes, “Service frozen in time,” that’s really good, and thanks there, sadhu, for your sanga once again, Prabhu. Hoping there’s be no “restrictive law” against a title Thakur, we are just trying to figure out what is right. In my heart of hearts, his title of Thakur is sanctioned by divinity somehow, still there’s the old folio proof that everybody seems to need these days. Whoever started the title, even if not Srila Prabhupada, it was divinely inspired, as it feels right to me and apparently others, seeing no protest, and the site is Iskcon approved, being linked to major Iskcon sites. Anyway, I’m going around to all dear godbrothers I can think of, trying to find the source of the title and perhaps someone will remember just how it happened. Your bud and serf, Vishoka - Now all these doubts are duly cleared by the kind letters of my godbrothers, Dasaratha-suta and Vaiyasaki and Mahaksa Prabhus, and Jayanandanugas alone are authorized to decide this title, its bona fide, and I am sure now, it truly is … a controversy that never was.

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

 

by Bhakta Das

 

Dear Maharaja & Prabhus,

 

Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glory to Srila Prabhupada! All glory to Sripad Jayananda dasa, a pure and perfect disciple of Srila Prabhupada!

 

It was my great fortune to work closely with Jayananda on many occasions between 1971 and 1977. From our first meeting in a beaten- up pick up truck, driving across the SF Bay Bridge to prepare a park for the "Lord Caitanya Festival" being held that day, until our final meeting a few weeks before he departed in a "Laetrile Cancer Clinic" in Tijuana, Mexico he was always a source of incredible inspiration and determination for me.

 

At our final meeting, he was living in a two room apartment at the cancer clinic. He had turned what was supposed to be the bedroom into a temple, and was staying in the laundry room on the floor. He had decorated his "temple" with hundreds of photos of Srila Prabhupad and Lord Jagannatha and was peacefully chanting HARE KRISHNA as much as 108 rounds per day. Although his formerly robust body had become like a tooth pick, his consciousness was not the least disturbed. He was fearless, even happy that his prison term in the modes of nature was coming to an end.

 

He told me stories of the various treatments had undergone at the behest of different devotees over the last 6 or 7 months. Some of the treatments were rather absurd, like wearing bags of dripping herbal teas on your back, etc. As he related these tales, we laughed, and laughed, and laughed. We laughed so hard our sides were aching, but we could not stop laughing. Actually we were laughing, because everyone in this world took "death" so seriously, but we, fortunate souls we were, knew that death was also only an illusion.

 

Jayananda knew within himself that he was leaving, he knew his time was up, still to please the devotees, he made the attempts to prolong his life.

 

The one quality of Jayananda that stood out, above and beyond all his other exalted qualities was his extreme dedication to the service of the devotees. Not just the high and mighty, but especially the newest bhakta or bhaktin. He would invariably make sure they ate well, and were guided properly in the process of bhakti.

 

In 1974 when he returned from his one pilgrimage to India, he had brought a new "lal imli" chadder and a beautiful new silk dhoti and kurta. He gave all these away to a couple of new bhaktas,preferring to wear his old tattered dhotis.

 

Jayananda remained constantly engaged in service day in and day out without cessation. I never saw him engage in unnecessary sense gratification once, but for the service of KRSNA he would sometimes drink a cup of coffee when on a long drive, and once he even purchased beer to give a young man who was helping build the Rath carts, but who needed his beer each evening to function!

 

Jayananda was loved by all. He epitomized the verse from the Goswamiastakam "loved by the gentle and the ruffians". Jayananda was never envious of anyone, he always offered sincere respect to all living beings. He adored prasadam and made sure to carry some cakes or sweets with him everywhere he went to distribute to all.

 

Jayananda hated to be the center of attention; he always pushed others ahead of himself. Jayananda loved kirtan and could chant and dance for hours very happily. He could also sit down and chant 50 rounds if necessary without getting up. Jayananda loved KRSNA leela, and when he read the Krsna Book he would feel incredible happiness and would giggle like a young child. I felt so sad that I did not have such a sweet taste.

 

A few years ago while in front of the Gundica Mandir in Puri, early in the morning, I sat of Lord Jagannatha's Rath while Lord Jagannatha was inside the Gundica Temple. My mind was looking at the chariot and was remembering Jayananda, and how beautiful the chariots he made were. I could understand at that time that Jayananda was probably building chariots right there in Puri for lifetimes, and then he took birth in the west to become Srila Prabhupada's assistant in bringing this most wonderful of all festivals to all the conditioned souls in the world.

 

Now, His Grace Vaiyasaki dasa has written a wonderful book detailing the leela of Jayananda Prabhu, and as soon as he can find some funding it will be published. Then I know that all of you who read about Jayananda will fell the same joy, inspiration, and determination that I feel when I remember him.

 

 

 

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

 

by Jayapataka Swami

 

"The Appearance of Jayananda Prabhu. I would like to offer my obeisances to Srila Prabhupada and my Vartma-pradarsaka Sripad Jayananda Prabhu who was so instrumental in engaging me in Krishna consciousness.

 

When I first came to the temple in 1968 I saw a sign that said "Festival of the chariots. Vegetarian meal 25cent donation". So I was already vegetarian and doing yoga in some country place I had, but I was looking for a guru all the gurus I found were bogus. So let me find out more about this place. So I went there and had the Prasadam and so many other things happened. After I had bought a set of Srimad Bhagavatams I heard this sound of boom boom boom like hammering, so I went in behind the temple and there was Jayananda Prabhu with half a dozen people and devotees. There were all kinds of people with hair, so many different kinds of people. None of them looked exactly like a shaved up devotee or anything. It seemed that as soon as I had looked he didn't wait one second. He just looked at me and said, "Do you know how to hold a nail?" And he gave me a nail and hammered it into the Rath and said "You are expert, you are really expert. Are you a qualified carpenter?" I said "No, no, no" Then he said, "Do you know how to hammer, can you hammer the nail in where the little mark is?". So then I hammered it in and he exclaimed, "You're fantastic! You're great! Could you help us we are building this Ratha-Yatra cart?" He had so much enthusiasm that you couldn't say no to him. Talk about preaching by example.

 

He was just contagious. I could have been the delivery man walking in there. he had an ability to just engage everyone. The whole time you were there he would be telling you about Krishna while you were working he would be telling you different things, he would be glorifying Srila Prabhupada. He was very very simple hearted, and completely non-envious and loving to Srila Prabhupada. So I was in that association for about a week, everyday I was coming to help to build the Ratha-Yatra cart, reading Srila Prabhupada's books and chanting my Japa and then I decided that I had found the path I was looking for. I didn't accept it blindly as I was quite intellectual and I thought I'll do it for a few months and see how it goes but as far as I know this is it. I was thinking that if it didn't work I could always change my mind but I wanted to do it fully and give it a good try. I could always change my mind.

 

So I decided to surrender on that day and if I had any doubts I was thinking that I could deal with them later. So I asked Jayananda if he could shave me up and he did on the day of the Ratha-Yatra. He gave me my first shave. The devotees were asking who the new shaved-up person was. I was in the front of the Rath pulling it under Jayananda's guidance, steering it or whatever.

 

Fortunately or unfortunately, after this I went to see Srila Prabhupada and I was directly serving under Srila Prabhupada, this was very fortunate but unfortunately I didn't get the association of Jayananda. Later though when Srila Prabhupada called me to L.A. to send me to India, then Jayananda was in L.A. and I had some opportunity to do some service with him.

 

He is like Anantadeva is to Krishna, supporting everything, he's behind the scenes. Everything would go on nicely because of his presence. He would look what was the service that no one wanted to do and he would trick people and say, "Lets get the nectar, who wants the nectar? Okay let's go. Take out the garbage or something like that. This is nectar because when you take out the garbage from the temple you are cleaning your heart." He really had a lot of practical realization about what devotional service was all about.

 

I remember that I was assigned to assist him in gathering flowers and in those days we did things in ISKCON in a kind of pioneering type of way. It was thought that like in India if you pluck flowers from peoples homes nobody really minds, not much anyway. They know it is for the deities. But we went off to Beverly Hills where all the movie stars live picking flowers at three o'clock in the morning or two o'clock or midnight for the deities. Then someone thought we were robbers and they started shooting at us. Somehow we escaped and when we got back Srila Prabhupada said' "okay you had better stop this program. This is not good."

 

So I had his personal association on two occasions in my life and they were very memorable occasions. Srila Prabhupada had us go before the deities of Rukmini Dwarakadish before they went on a procession and we had to give our weekly report to the deities what we had done. Many wonderful things were happening there and one of the wonderful things was Jayananda Prabhu's association and his total dedication to building the Ratha-Yatra cars. Even during the last period of his life when he had blood leukemia, cancer, still he was completely fixed on doing his service and never did he waiver from his favorable mood of devotional service.

 

So really he is a saint someone who was sent to help Srila Prabhupada and he went back to the spiritual world and like this we should remember him and pray that we may also be dedicated to serving Srila Prabhupada favorably and also be able to achieve the perfection of human life."