Babaji Van

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SDHU BBS SACRED MEMORY

r Nikuja Gopl Gosvm (1934-1986)

vetmbara paridhna veta mlnulepana
varbhaya kara nta karumaya vigraham
vmenotpala dhriy aktyligita vigraham
smernana suprasanna sdhakbha dyakam

Wearing white garments, garlands and unguents,
His hand, raised in benediction, bestowing fearlessness,
His figure peaceful and full of compassion,
embraced by a divine Shakti that holds a lotus flower in her left hand,
His countenance smiling in satisfaction,
He bestows all objectives to the spiritual practitioners.

Sdhu Bbs Sacred Memory
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

rmat Sdhu Bbs Abhiekakam .................................................................................................... 3
Bbs early youth .................................................................................................................................... 5
Bbs pastimes at adolescence ............................................................................................................... 6
Mother passes away ................................................................................................................................. 7
Bbs musical interests ........................................................................................................................... 8
Bb renounces the world ....................................................................................................................... 8
Sdhu Bbs first darshan .................................................................................................................... 13
Yoga-ksema Sitanathas Utsava ......................................................................................................... 14
The glories of Bbs lectures................................................................................................................ 14
Kep Bb ............................................................................................................................................ 15
The reverse display ................................................................................................................................ 16
Hypocrisy ............................................................................................................................................... 16
Bbs musical skills ............................................................................................................................... 18
Fame ...................................................................................................................................................... 19
Japa ......................................................................................................................................................... 21
Bbs social conduct ............................................................................................................................. 21
Bb like a child ..................................................................................................................................... 23
Bb and pilgrimage .............................................................................................................................. 23
Bbs yogic powers ............................................................................................................................... 26
The link between disciple and Guru ..................................................................................................... 30
Bb on household life .......................................................................................................................... 30
Bb, the perfect tyg .......................................................................................................................... 33
Guru tattva............................................................................................................................................. 34
Gaura tattva ........................................................................................................................................... 35
Advaita tattva ......................................................................................................................................... 36
Entries from Advaitadas diary ............................................................................................................... 37
Gop-bhva ............................................................................................................................................ 44
Bb on arcan ...................................................................................................................................... 46
The importance of a pure diet .............................................................................................................. 48
Bb on intellect .................................................................................................................................... 48
More on Bbs rudra-bhva ................................................................................................................ 49
Bbs dressing code .............................................................................................................................. 50
Bb, a perfect and humble gentleman ................................................................................................ 52
Penance .................................................................................................................................................. 52
Bbs pastime of departure .................................................................................................................. 54
Bbs blessings on the world ................................................................................................................ 55

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tte ka bhaje, koro gurura sevana;
my-jla chue py kera caraa

Therefore, worship Ka and serve the Guru. Then the net of illusion will break
and you will attain Kas lotus-feet. (Caitanya Caritmta, Madhya 22.25)

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This is the biography of a unique saint. While reading this, the most important is
that one does not mirror Sdhu Bb on any sectarian role model, tradition or established
doctrine. One who reads this narration without any precondition and is able and willing to
accept Sdhu Bb as a manifestation of Lord iva can relish this narration. Then
meditation on him will lead to blissful and sweet transcendental experiences. One should
not think that these are the activities of an ordinary human being, nor should one try to
imitate them. rmad Bhgavata (10.33.31-32) warns:

naitat samcarejjtu manaspi hyanvara
vinayatycaran mauhyd yath rudrobdhija viam
var vaca satya tathaivcarita kvacit;
te yat sva vaco yukta buddhims tat samcaret

Not even within ones mind one should imitate the Lord without being a lord
oneself; such foolish behaviour leads to destruction, as it will if one would imitate Lord iva
by drinking the poison from the Milk-ocean. The words of the lords are true and one
should act accordingly. An intelligent person should only follow conduct that is consistent
with their guideline.
An ordinary person will die by drinking the powerful poison from the milk ocean,
but the same act even enhanced ivas beauty, making Him Nlakaha, He whose neck is
beautified by a blue line. It is not in his capacity as Guru that Sdhu Bb should be seen as
an incarnation of iva, but in his capacity as a 13
th
generation direct descendant of Lord
Advaita, who is the joint incarnation of Mahviu and Sadiva. And it is not only by birth
that his identity is ascertained like that. It was in Sdhu Bb that the qualities of Lord
Advaita were manifest to the utmost. kartum akartum anyathpi kartum samarthah He
can do or leave what ever he likes, and can even act otherwise.

rmat Sdhu Bbs Abhiekakam

Eight couplets glorifying the Divine appearance of Sdhu Bb

By Nirajan Prasd Ds

panca ata vara pore, ilen advaita ghore,
bhakti dhan pracrite nikunja gopl
nanda gople gai, navadvpa ira mai
tri suta guna mani parama doyl

Five hundred years to the year after the Divine appearance of r Advaita Prabhu,
Nikuja Gopl Gosvm appeared in His home (Advaitas family)
to preach the treasure of devotion.
This jewel of glories, the most compassionate one, thus became the son of nanda Gopl
Gosvm, who was considered the crest jewel of Navadpas spiritual teachers.

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caturdaa vara dhari, mahviu tapa kori
m janan div nii bhsi aru jale
tri phale utoa, mone bhvi paritoa
vatsa rpe janamilen m jananr kole

Mother performed penance for fourteen years to please Mahviu,
bathing in tears day and night. As the result of this Lord iva, who is swiftly pleased,
was satisfied and took birth in her womb as her son.

rady durg ah, sombr rtri nii
uhilo mangal dhvani prabhu gha mjhe
sthvara jangama sobe, mahnanda kalarabe,
devat mandire ona kinkin bje

On the autumnal Durg ah (a festival day in Bengal), Monday at night-time,
auspicious sounds arose in the house of nanda Gopl Prabhu.
All the moving and inert creatures made ecstatic noises,
and ankle-bells could be heard to tinkle in the temple.

kohilen daivagya si, shono o go jagad bsi!
mone loy ei sei batsa stnth!
komala vadana khni, jeno amtera khani,
ye herilo t sobre koren tma st

An astrologer came and said: Hear me, O residents of the world!
I think this child is the husband of St (Advaita Prabhu)!
His tender face is like a mine of nectar
He takes anyone who sees Him to His heart!

ire shobhe kesha dma, lahar lahar hm
anupama sudhmoy angera ghatan
pranta lalta khni, aamra candramni
the dekhi suobhana tribal racan

His head is beautified by waves of curly locks
and His limbs are made of peerless solid nectar.
His peaceful forehead resembles the moon on the eighth lunar day
and is beautified by three lines.

mdhuryera rasa dhm, sobr hore manaskm,
ki bolibo lobhanya nayanera shobh
padma palsh jini, duti nlaknta mani,
aparpa obhe jeno muni mana lobh

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What can I say about the beauty of His eyes?
They are the abodes of sweet rasa that destroys everyones material desires!
They are more beautiful than lotus petals or two blue sapphires
their extraordinary beauty destroys the patience of the wise!

gupta vraje joto nr, tr sobe r pore,
sri sri cole gongr ghte
sumangala ghae kori, abhiekha vri puri,
haraite jaya dhvani kore phire bate

All the women of the hidden Vraja (Navadvpa) wear nice sarees
as they walk to the bathing place of the Ganges in rows.
After filling auspicious jugs with Ganges water meant for the
abhishekh (ceremonial shower), they return on the path,
blissfully singing of the Lords glories.

panca gavya purna thl, dhnya durv dpa ml
ata ata braja-bl ulu dhvani dilo
bohilo nanda rol, cri dike utarol,
abhiekh dine prasd bhakati mgilo

Hundreds and hundreds of Vraja-girls make the Ulu sound (a high sound made by women
while horizontally moving the tongue between the lips) while bringing trays filled with five
kinds of dairy products, paddy, Drva grass and garlands of lamps.
A roar of ecstasy arose in all four directions!
On this day of the abhiekh Nirajan Prasd Ds begs for devotion.

Bbs early youth
According to family tradition, Bb took dk from his mother. He did so early in
the morning in the cold month of Mgha when he was 9 years old. Initially Bb wanted to
take dk from a siddha yog, but when his mother expressed her disappointment at this he
rolled at his mothers feet and told her: Mother, your hearts desires have been fulfilled
the Guru is antarym (God the inner monitor of each living being). Therefore, O m,
please give me the shelter of your dk.
Rdh-Caraa Desl: Bb behaved very well. He never took prasda without first
circumambulating his parents.
In his youth Bb attended the Government Sanskrit College in downtown
Navadvpa, but he showed little interest in intellectual gymnastics. Much rather he could be
found behind his room practising yoga sanas.
Gopl Candra Ghoh When Nikunja Prabhu was a little boy, whenever he was
with his father in Vndvana, he was educated by Gop ds Bbj, a highly educated
(Matric pass) and renounced saint who lived there. Gop ds was very heavy and corpulent
and lived near the Gopevar Mandir. He was the manager of Avini Bbu Kunja. He was a
great follower of nanda Gopl Gosvm, though it is not clear if he was his disciple. He
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taught Bb Sanskrit grammar, English, Hindi, Bengali and maths, holding his hand while
teaching him how to write. If Bb made mistakes in Sanskrit conjuncts or in maths he
would chastise him, but he also offered his affection and obeisances unto him.
Nirajan Prasd Ds: In his very early life when our Bb was practising Yoga
Viha, the book of yoga mrga, once his father said to him: "Why are you not practising
bhakti grantha?" Bb then and there replied "Oh my father, please excuse me, I dont
chew the remnants of others. He was determined to find the truth on his own.
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Bbs pastimes at adolescence
Nirajan Prasd Ds: Three persons have taken an sana at the Tr-pha
cemetary Vma Kep, Tr Kep and Bb. Vma Kep and Tr Kepa are two
siddha tntriks, guru and disciple. Taking the corpse of a 16-year old cala (untouchable)
girl on the shoulders, Bb was immersed up to his neck in the Ganges in the pitch dark of
a new moon night when an unembodied voice told him: My child, you may have achieved
perfection in your practise, but your father is waiting for you - he needs you, so go and fulfil
his desires. There are jewels in the safe at your home, go and practise these jewel-like
spiritual practises. Then your fathers desires will be fulfilled. Without delay Bb hurried
home. Outside of human vision Bb completed his duties in his kutir in the complete
darkness of that new moon night. After this he began to study the devotional scriptures.
One night he had a wonderful dream he saw rman Mahprabhu, r Nitynanda
Prabhu and r Advaita Prabhu established in the Mandir and himself in the front of the
courtyard of the Mandir sitting on the vyssana, lecturing on the Bhgavata. While he was
lecturing his dream suddenly broke. The next morning he told his father about his dream,
and his father said: Boy, this is a true dream. Today you have to lecture at Rsa Bihr
Mahntas Mandir. Your middle brother has done this until now, but now he is very ill, so
prepare yourself. Bb had, however, just commenced his scriptural studies a few days
earlier. He panicked and as he wanted to express his inability to his father, his father had
already understood his predicament and placed the dust of his lotus feet upon his head,
saying: My child, do not fear whatever you will say during this lecture will be elixir for
the ears and heart, as the Bhgavata says ht kara rasya. As father blessed him and
assured him like this, Bb felt a superhuman power coming over him. Relying on his
fathers foot-dust he mounted the vyssana in that great assembly. It was great to see how
he firmly sat down on that elevated seat. There was a huge audience there of all the
foremost saints of the time. Everyone present saw only a divine light, created by penance.
All, whether young or old, stared at him thirstily as if spellbound by a mantra. His matted
locks, his pleasant creamy complexion, his broad chest and forehead, his whole figure grave
by meditation, he illuminated the whole assembly hall with his divine radiance. As soon as
Bbs lecture commenced, the thousands of throats of the audience fell dead silent. It was
as if ukadeva (who was also half-naked and wore matted locks) sat in front of Mahrja
Parkit and the assembled sages on the bank of the Ganges, listening to the topics of
rmad Bhgavata from his divine mouth, like a nectar-Ganges descending upon them.
What could compare to their divine bliss! Everyone was speechless. At the end of the
lecture everyone sat fixed on their seat, bereft of external consciousness, like bumblebees

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Narrated in a letter to Advaitadas, February 12, 2001
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inebriated by drinking divine honey. What could anyone say to anyone else? No one was
able to get up or speak the lecture was still reverberating in their ear-shells. Mothers had
forgotten their children, sdhakas had forgotten their ml japa. Everyone was perplexed,
like a snake that lost the jewels on its hoods (|-|<| |) nothing could compare to Bbs
lectures! Devotees led by Pancnan Ghosh, a senior wealthy resident of Navadvpa Dhma,
went to see Bbs father afterwards and told him: Prabhupda, have you invested all your
inner power into your youngest son? Bbs father could understand it was a special day
unless the devotees proclaim so, the holy Dhma could not have become blessed in such a
way. It is not an overstatement to say that even now the holy Gaura-Dhma of Navadvpa
has never been blessed with such sweet nectar topics of the Holy Bhgavat. When r r
nanda Gopl Gosvm heard such glorifications of his son he lost himself in divine bliss
and could not help kissing his qualified son on the forehead in blessing.
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When Bb was of adolescent age he was an independent sdhaka with firm
determination he continuously progressed, like a meteor. He would not respond to
anyones call, as he had no time for that. He was free from external conditioning and
apparently did not strictly follow the spiritual family tradition either. He was a bit different
a great yog steeped in meditation. His two elder brothers did follow the family tradition
and assisted their father in devotional programmes. They were somewhat dismissive of their
younger brothers spiritual practises. One day they took the opportunity to submit to their
father: Father, we are very busy with all the devotional programs going on in our home
wouldnt it be good if you ordered rmn Niku in assisting us a bit? r nanda Gopl
Prabhu agreed and Bb was compelled to accept this. Bb had not yet paid sufficient
attention to the topic of the Bhgavata, yet he had to comply with the order of his father.
His father assured him, saying: My son, you need not worry - by my blessing all that is
revealed in your meditation-steeped consciousness will be compatible with the verdict of
the bhakti scriptures. Blissfully taking the foot-dust of his father on his head, Bb began
to recite the Bhgavata for a week, day in day out, and the assembled devotees praised his
skills with hundreds and thousands of mouths. His father and brothers enthusiastically
blessed, praised and rewarded him. All the assembled devotees accepted Bb as a unique
and independent mahpurush, whose knowledge was self-revealed.
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Gopl Candra Ghosh: Advaita Ds Bbji was the first disciple of nanda Gopl
Gosvm. He was a great renunciant, scholar and bhajannand who lived in a kur on the
bank of Brahma Kund. Advaita Dsji and Nikuja Prabhu were very fond of each other, so
Advaita Dsji requested Bb to perform his last rites, which he did in 1958, when he
passed away. Bb also organised a big virahotsava (memorial festival) for Advaita Dsj.

Mothers passing away
When Bbs mother passed away a shadow was cast over the family home her
starlight had vanished, leaving everyone perplexed with a broken heart. Who could console
Gopl (Bb)? His whole world had turned dark; it made him show his real nature and cast
off his external appearance. He used to wear a fancy dhoti with kurta and a golden pen in
the pocket. Now he cast off this worldly appearance, having no more taste for fine cloth and

2
Narrated in a letter to Advaitadas June 30, 2000
3
Narrated in a letter to Advaitadas April 10, 2001
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ornaments, put on course short cloth and grew his famous matted locks (jas). Many
parties came to him for marriage, but he always declined. No one was any more wondering
whether Bb would leave home, only when. He stayed, however, to engage in the service
of his broken-hearted father. He could not fully dedicate his mind anymore, though.
4

Bbs musical interest.
After some time Bb became interested in music. Within a short while he mastered
the art of music and could play his favourite tunes. He often mentioned the songs of
Vndvanas Harids Swmi as his favourites. His musical skills too, like his scriptural
knowledge, were self-taught and internally revealed. His father proudly called him a
rutidhara, a person who learns through a single hearing. Will a forest bird, however, like to
stay in a cage? The bird of Bbs mind was flying from one kunja of nature to the other,
absorbed in relishing the sweet juice of the mango buds there. Forgetting the world, Bb
took his V to his chest and sang to the lotus feet of his beloved Lord in his favourite
tunes, while shedding tears. If ever his father called him: Niku! Niku! how could he reply?
His mind had forgotten his body and had become absorbed in dressing premdhik
Rdhik in the kunjas of r Vndvana.

Renouncing the world pilgrimage into the Himalayas
This, however, did not last long. Within a year Bbs father also passed away. Now
Bbs last shackles had fallen off, the forest bird was set free to fly to the other side of the
blue sky, to dive into the soothing nectar waterfall of yma-rasa. Advaita Ds: I asked
Bb about the heritage of his father. He told me: Oh there was no question about these
things. On his deathbed my father just cried out H Rdhe! H Rdhe! Nothing was said
about any heritage. I just left it all to my elder brothers and went out to become a sdhu.
Nirajan Prasd Ds: Bb set off to a cave in Haridvra, to the astonishment of the world
he left behind. Finally our young ascetic placed down his meditation mat to sit in a lotus
position in a bluish meadow in the dense woods of Mount Manasa. Thus the days passed in
penance. After some time the wild animals of the forest began to take shelter of Bb.
Mother Manas (a snake) was blissfully playing hide-and-seek within his matted locks,
which hung down to his feet. One day a mountain girl appeared with burning incense in her
hand and offered oblations with this along with fruits, flowers and sandalwood pulp. After
making this devotional offering she disappeared without anyone ever finding out her
identity. This dense forest was far away from the bustle of society, only 2 to 3 sannyss
were there, absorbed in their worship and meditations. Later Bb left that place and
proceeded to Mount Chandi and from there to Mount Trishuli. In this way some years
passed in great penance.
One day Bb ascended to an inn on top of a high mountain. Snowstorms caused a
deep darkness from midday. 2 to 3 sannyss were staying in that inn. They warned Bb
not to go out alone because of wild animals. However, at night Bb had to go out urgently
to urinate, and the other sdhus were sleeping. Not wanting to disturb their sleep Bb
went out alone. There was an abyss of 2 miles deep below the path. One wrong step and
one was lost. Just then a severe snow- and hailstorm started. Bb shivered he could not

4
Compiled from narrations by Radhacharan Desla, Nirajan Prasad Das and Giriraja Bb.
9
protect himself anymore. Suddenly a huge figure wearing matted locks swooped down
upon the mountain path. Astonished, Bb then saw a wonderful woman, having a divine
lustre, illuminating a nearby forest, laughing loudly and then vanishing. Bb somehow
silently re-entered the cabin and found some peace there. The next morning he told the
two sannyss about his adventure. When they heard it they were perplexed and
congratulated Bb in great bliss he had attained what they could not attain even
through severe penances the divine vision of Mahlakm Parvata-Nandin (Prvat).
Perhaps, since Bb was the complete Yogevara, this girl was the embodiment or
manifestation of the kula kualin that is the natural akti-companion of the great yogs.
Once Bb was in Haridvra offering praises to the Ganges on her shore after taking
a bath in her holy waters. As he was about to return after completing his prayers, a
photographer came and asked him if he could make a photo of him. Bb refused, but the
photographer was so attracted to Bbs appearance as an authentic and exemplary seer,
monk and sage, that he found a trick to take a photo of this mobile Shankar ( |<) anyway.
When Bb was inattentive for a moment he seized the opportunity to shoot a picture of
him. But what could come out of such a trick? It is impossible to trick Pancnana (Shiva)!
Bb smiled and asked him for a copy of the photo. But how amazing! As the photographer
washed the photos in the dark room he discovered they were all blank! He was speechless
and stared at Bb in disbelief.
From Haridvra Bb proceeded to Hkea, seven miles on foot. On the way he
heard that there was a Satya Nryan Mandir there, and he developed a desire to see it. If
there is any Mandir on the way of a pilgrimage it is certainly proper to ask the deity there
for courage and strength for the journey. Yet at the same time Bb felt he missed
something to offer to the deity. Then he decided to himself that the best and only present
he could give was to let the Lord hear of His own pastimes. Day and night there was a huge
crowd of people coming for darana of the deity, so Bb sat down in meditation in a
corner of the yard of the Mandir. When the pujr saw him he came up to him at once and
said: Bb, I have one desire. Bb said: What is your desire? Pujrj said: Bb, could
you please narrate some of Satya Nryanas pastimes in the Mandir? Bb consented and
the pujr instantly had a seat prepared for him. Bb lectured wonderfully, for about an
hour and a half. The Mandir got packed with people who were spellbound by Bbs sweet
lecture. Afterwards the crowd surged forwards to grasp the dust of Bbs feet, so the
pujr whisked him off to the inner quarters of the complex. The pujr fed Bb Satya
Nryans prasda and offered him a donation. Bb refused the donation and continued
his journey to Deva-prayga the next day. Bb travelled on foot and did not return to
Hkea due to the fame that he had accrued there. Saying Jay Rdhe he continued on his
journey to admire the beauty of the Himlayas. On the way he had to climb a very steep
slope. All other pilgrims went up in palanquins Bb sat down and wondered how he
could climb the mountain. At some points one could only climb up by pulling oneself up at
the stooping roots of some big, big trees. The problem was that Bb had eczema on his
hands. How could he pull himself up at the vines? As he pondered like that in the silent
forest on the mountain summit, one old sannys came by and told him: O Bb, what are
you doing here pondering? Catch hold of these creepers, and up you go. Bb said: I have
sore hands and will feel too much pain.
10

Devaprayga

The sannys sat down to relax a bit. While discussing different topics with Bb he stuffed
a Kalki (vertical pipe) with siddhi (hemp), lit it and passed it on to Bb. Bb had trouble
holding the pipe in his fisted hands, but somehow he inhaled and passed the pipe back to
the sannys. When all the hemp was burned to ashes, the sannys emptied the pipe onto
Bbs hands and rubbed the ashes into them, saying: Now go and take hold of the
creepers and climb up. Dont be afraid, I will follow you beneath. After ascending for a
while Bb looked down and saw that the sannys had disappeared his hands had also
become completely cured! Understanding what had happened Bb breathed out deeply
and cried: Ha Karunmoy! Now I understand it all! In this way he reached Deva Prayga.
Late at night, as Bb was sleeping he dreamt that Satya Nryana came to him and said:
Bb, you lectured so nicely before Me so I decided to help you out Then the dream
broke and Bb woke up.

Rudra Prayga

After staying at Deva Prayga for a while Bb proceeded to Rudra Prayga. Bb
decided not to stay in any inn or temple, because too many people gathered there, having
all kinds of big feasts. Bb considered this a great obstacle to bhajana. Pilgrimage should
not be just performed for filling the belly and enjoying the tongue. The Lord would not
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allow Bb to do anymore bhajana if he got entangled in this. He feared he would get
burned with fame and distinction. He thought to himself: Sdhu Sbdhn beware O
saint! This subtle attraction to power and wealth causes the fall-down of a mendicant! A
sdhaka who is captivated by wealth and prowess is just like a sensual person who is kicked
by the threefold material misery his spiritual practises are a waste and his life will be full
of despair and stagnation. Bb was very vigilant and analytical about his spiritual welfare
he decided to go where there would not be large popular gatherings, so he went to a
remote forest near Rudra Prayga. In a mountain cave he sat down in meditation, forgetting
the external world and diving deep into the inner world. One day two children came to him
and said: Bpuji! What are you doing here all on your own what do you do to eat and
drink? How long have you been here? Bb replied: O Ll! I am doing just fine here.
After a while one of the two boys came back with a jug of milk and some rotis, placed it
before the cave and called Bb. Bb came and asked the boy: Ll, who are you, where
do you come from? The boy replied: One sdhu bb sent me here with this food and
drink for you take it! This story showed Bbs complete dependence on the Lords
providing him with every need. Bhagavad Gt says (9.22)

ananya cintayanto m ye jan paryupsate
te nitybhiyuktn yoga kema vahmyaham

Who ever constantly worships Me, exclusively meditating on Me,
I will provide him with all his needs and will preserve what he has.

After this, Bb departed for Kedrnth, where it was terribly cold, even more so
than in Badrikram. Kedrnth is very far from Rudra-Prayga some 50 miles. Bb
stayed in Rudra Prayga for just a month or so. From there he travelled for 10-12 miles to
Agastya Munis ashram. Nature is very beautiful there. Here each tree and vine bestows a
pacifying glance upon the minds of the wise sages who engage in penance here. The
mountain peaks kiss the sky here and a snow-white garland of clouds stretches out above
them. Such scenery reminds one of the calm and grave Shiva Shambhu absorbed in
meditation. When Bb beheld this beautiful scene he was unable to proceed and he lost all
sense of time. Bb became absorbed in this view and in the whole scenery there. Later, as
he returned to external consciousness, he saw a heap of fruits, roots, garments and blankets
before him. This made him speechless; after all, nobody ever came to this remote place.
From there he moved to another location where there were rows of Rudrka trees. Bb
became absorbed in this beautiful scene and lost external consciousness. How wonderful
Bb was to behold His fair complexion made even more radiant by the touch of
snowflakes, His matted locks reaching down to his knees, wearing just a loincloth. Bb felt
as if someone was throwing a string of Rudrka beads at him. When he came to external
consciousness he saw that such a string was indeed now hanging around his neck!
The next day Bb moved on and arrived in Gupta K where he stayed for 3 days.
There was a lovely temple there of Lord Shankar. It was pinching cold, and snow and ice
stuck to his body even in the daytime. Arriving in a place called Rmpur, Bb became
acquainted with a fierce looking naked mountain-sdhu, wielding an axe and keeping an
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ashram within a cave. He treated Bb on tea made from the leaves of the trees, so that he
could recover from the severe cold. The sdhu did not let Bb go for one month. When
Bb desired to move on to Kedrnth the sdhu sent two of his disciples along with him as
bodyguards, wielding axes. Kedrnth is covered with ice and snow for 6 months a year and
is the place of descent for all the pilgrims. Bb stayed there for 25 days. It is said that any
devotee who offers prayers there, meditates or mutters his mantras, achieves
enlightenment. Meanwhile Bbs two companions did not want to leave him anymore.
They were astonished at the miracles Bb performed and his Shivaite powers. They saw
Kedrnth Shiva Himself in Bb.

Kedarnth

Now Bb desired to go to Tunganth. From an inn which was 12,072 feet high one
has to climb and again descend for 3 miles. It is so cold that there is no sign of vegetation
like trees even. The two servants were at once willing to accompany Bb as he expressed
his desire to go there. They had taken full responsibility over Bbs service. They
wandered on and around the Tunganth for a week. The pujrs there knew Bb and
supported him wherever they could. They served him diligently, considering Him Prabhuji,
the Lord Himself. After one week Bb wished to descend to Kedrnth again with the two
servants. Two days before the final descent from Kedrntha, in the middle of the night,
the two servants could not find Bb anymore and they became very worried. On the third
day, deep in the night, when they were overcome by sleep, suddenly Bb appeared from
somewhere and woke them up, saying: Even here you sleep! They were amazed to find
Bb there suddenly. Even now nobody managed to penetrate into the mystery where Bb
had been these two days. The next day they descended, and, after an affectionate farewell,
Bb continued towards Gomukh on his own.
This time Bb went out in search of the unknown. He sought out a hidden place
within the Himalayas in the paramount bliss of full introspective absorption. In a mountain
cave he became absorbed in the ocean-like beautiful form of Ghanayma, who captivates
the eyes. His great wish was to spend the rest of his life there in that cave of Gomukh. It
was as if his journey had come to an end, but as he sat down on his sana to meditate he
heard an old sannys with a divine body roar: Dont sit here anymore you have a
13
responsibility for the fallen conditioned souls, being the descendant of the merciful
Stntha, the avatra of Mahviu, the repository of all living beings!
Thus, after approximately 8 years in the Himlayas, Sdhu Bb returned to
Navadvp Dhm in the autumn of 1969. He moved to Prcn Mypur as a lone sdhu on
January 17, 1970. In the beginning there was only jungle there and Bb slept out in the
open, tolerating rain, heat, wind and cold, using a brick as a pillow. Later there were two
straw huts, one for Bb and one for Madangopl. K Ds: Bb already had
Madangopal when I came there first (in very early days) - nobody knows when and where
he got Him.
Sdhu Bbs First Darshan Nirajan Prasd Ds
In 1970 my elder sister, who was a sdhik, told me about a new sannys who had
settled down in the outskirts of Prcn Mypur, adjacent to the Bhajanashram. She insisted
that we go there to see him. Because she insisted so often I went there one time on my own,
in secret. And yes, on first sight I felt great divine bliss my entire mind and body were
purified simply by seeing him. I realised the truth of the great words: gangr paraa hoile
pacte pvan; darane pavitra koro ei tomr gun (Narottam) By touching the Ganges one
becomes purified in the long term, but simply upon seeing you, one is purified. Such is
your glory. Today I had achieved the fruits of seeing a sdhu! I was stunned to see his
radiant powerful body, his matted locks that hung down to his knees, his broad chest and
his overall stout body. This astonishing sight reminded me of ancient days when India was
full of such seers and sages. He was like a lion cub - a brahmacr, a sannys deep in
meditation, with a sharp gaze, a lovely voice that indicates a great personality, the repository
of invincible power with powerful, luminous eyes. Such beautiful personalities may be
observed here and there, but I had never seen such a luminous form, so well nourished by
spiritual power. He could have been in his sixties but yet he could also have been just in
adolescence I was left wondering.
The other day I went to see him with my elder sister, and on the way we decided to
ask him a question about the passing away of Harids Thkur. When we arrived there Bb
began discussing the topic before I had even asked him about it! Speechless, I thought:
How could he have figured out what question was on my mind?
On another day we were eager to find out about whether or not to offer Tulsi leaves
on Mahprabhus feet. We arrived at 9 pm. and it turned out that Bb was practising
mauna, a vow of silence, for a month on end. Only after 10 p.m. he would speak, and only if
it was important and relevant Hari-kath. But as we arrived, Bb was writing on a slate:
Bb, why dont you read the 15
th
chapter of Caitanya Caritmritas Madhya Ll? Then
he gave us his copy of Caitanya Caritmrita. I could not immediately catch the point so I
began to read the chapter he indicated and found (verses 7-9):

ghore si prabhu kore nm sankrtan; advaita siy kore prabhura pujan
sugandhi salile den pdya caman; sarvnge lepaye prabhur sugandhi candan
gole ml dey mthy tulas manjar

When Prabhu returned to His abode He performed nm sankrtan. Advaita then
came to offer worship to Him. He offered pdya and caman with scented water and
14
anointed Prabhus whole body with fragrant sandal paste. He hung a garland around His
neck and placed Tulasi buds on His head.
As soon as I read that Bb clapped his hands to indicate we found the statement.
We were stunned Bb truly embodied the Antarym (God as the inner overseer), as he
knew without telling what question we came to ask him!
5

Ll Ds: Once Bb sat under the Bael-tree when the sky grew dark with
rainclouds. Bb just stared at the sky and when the rain came down it showered all
directions but would not fall within the boundaries of the ashram.
6

Yoga-kema Stnths Utsav
Nirajan Prasd Ds: Not long after starting his ashram, Bb expressed the desire
to hold an annual festival for the birthday of Advaita Prabhu, Stnths Utsava. I said:
Bb, how will you hold a festival with only 1 Rupee and 25 paisa in your hands? How was
that possible? But you know what happened? Just then one riksha after the other came, and
one donor after the other came to offer assistance. While Bb was doing Ka-kath one
after the other donor came and interrupted him. Bbs storehouse was filled within a short
time. (As Lord Ka promised in Bhagavad Gt, 9.22: )

ananya cintayanto m ye jan paryupsate
te nitybhiyuktn yoga kema vahmyaham

Who ever constantly worships Me, exclusively meditating on Me,
I will provide him with all his needs and will preserve what he has.

This is how the Guru shows the glory and power of the Lord. Why would Stnthas
descendant not be able to accomplish a festival for Stntha?

The glories of Bbs lectures
Nirajan Prasd Ds: After hearing Bbs ph, how can anyone be attracted to
any other lecture? This is the pond where the swan-like saints like to swim and eat the lotus
stems! After eating such delicacies will they ever be attracted to anyone elses remnants?
Bbs words and their deep meanings form a V Citra a verbal picture. When he
speaks of Vndvana he takes you there

tva rpa manjari sakhi prathit puresmin
pumsa parasya vadana nahi payasti
bimbdhare katam angata bhartriky
yat te vyadhyi kim utacchuka pungavena

O my dear friend Rpa Manjari! In the township of Vraja you are reputed for your
chastity. You dont even look at the faces of other men! How is it then that, since you dont

5
Narrated in a letter to Advaitadas, February 22, 1999
6
Personal conversation, Sri Radhakund Dham, October 13, 2005
15
have yet a husband, your cherry-lips have been bitten? Has this been done by the best of
parrots perhaps? (Vilp Kusumnjali 1)
This is the picture of Vndvana the sight of Tulas Manjar, the wonderful
picture of flowering Vndvana. No one can paint such pictures! All the high class persons
of Navadvpa were speechless. Even Bbs own father was stunned. From his very
childhood he called Bb Shukadev. It was as if he saw Vndvana and then verbally
served this transcendental delicacy to the audience. Bb himself also lost all external
awareness while lecturing. Afterwards he would ask: What have I all said? Thus one can
learn what is a sdhaka, what is sdhana, what is meditation, and what is samdhi.
When Bb gave pha in Navadvpa there were fans roaring loudly on either side of
him because he was sweating so much of ecstasy. Later he decided to stop giving pha to
avoid accumulating fame.
Kep Bb (frenzied saint)
Nirajan Prasd Ds: It was on Ekdai, February 23, 1975, when I took my
brother-in-law Vrajen to meet Bb for the first time. Vrajen was very eager to have Bbs
darshan. When we arrived Bb was busy speaking with others. When I introduced my
brother-in-law to him, Bb said: Bb, take this Vrajen along with you tomorrow for
Dvda and come take some prasd here. So the next day we blissfully came to the
ashram, at around 1:30 pm, but when we arrived there we saw a great mess the
preparations of rice and vegetables for r-r Rdh-Madangopl were scattered all over
the courtyard; plates and cups were lying around all over the place. We were speechless. I
decided to stay and discretely sent Vrajen back home. I had witnessed such scenes before,
but it was the first time for Vrajen he was totally nonplussed. The residents of the
ashram were all cowered out of fear. I quietly asked them what had happened but they
could also not explain. What could they say this is Shiva Lila!! No one would utter even
a peep, only one or two would give a hint. At that time there were two small huts under the
Bel tree, and Bb had locked himself into one of them. Fearfully and carefully I called out
to him Bb Bb., but I got no answer. Then, when I said Jay Rdhe a deep
voice from inside said: After four. What to do now this was a great dilemma. Bb was
scheduled to lecture on rmad Bhgavata at the house of Dhren Sh of Moti Ry Bndh.
It was about time to go there and Bb had not eaten anything! I then began to do
harinma krtan near the other hut, planning to continue until Bb emerged out of his hut.
After about an hour I got a sore throat from singing, and then Bb could not but come and
catch hold of both of my hands. Since Bb had been so terribly angry with the ashram-
dwellers I fell at his feet and begged him for forgiveness on their behalf, with tears in the
eyes. Bbs anger subsided somewhat and with a peaceful voice he called out: O rey! You
are going through so much trouble, and Madangopl has not eaten anything. Quickly offer a
little bhoga and take prasda, all of you. Then he went out to give his lecture, taking me
with him. It was so astonishing. That day his lecture lasted for nearly 2 hours and even
afterwards he was surrounded by the devotees having blissful iagohi (spiritual
discussion). Nobody there knew what had happened in the ashram, though. I sat at some
distance to observe Bb better he showed no sign of exhaustion, rather his bodily lustre
only increased by his engagement in Ka kath. I realised that with Prabhu everything is
possible does it matter whether he eats or not? His mind and body are not aware of
16
eating or fasting, sleeping or remaining awake. At one point he is Rudra (the furious god
Shiva) and at the next moment he is Shntam Shivam Sundaram the beautiful serene
Shiva.
On another day the exact reverse display
One day I went for my usual visit to the ashram, and I saw there that Bb smiled more
sweetly than anyone else in the world. He smiled so beautifully while his crooked matted
locks were wrapped like waves all around his head. This scenery is not of the world,
however. Such a smile cannot be understood by us, it is from beyond this world, from the
deep bottom of the ocean of nectar-flavours of devotion. Who will understand? Embracing
Gopl with both hands, Bb hugged Him at his chest. This is the smile of a man who is
mad with love of God, the love sung of by the great poets. This is the great eagerness to
make the Lord ones own as is described in the song pra more yugala kishore! It is as if
Kep Bb floats on the billowing waves of the ocean of bhva, divine feelings, pulling all
those who are behind him with the strong current of these waves. Sometimes I saw him
again as a cute little child, crying out mother, mother when he wanted to be dressed or fed.
I have seen him motionlessly sitting on his sana, his complexion turning blackish, then
again emitting golden rays. His face would sometimes shine pinky like the newly risen
sun.
7

Hypocrisy
Nirajan Prasd Ds: One disciple asked Bb: What is a hypocrite? Bb replied:
Withdrawing the hands, feet and other active senses and dressing oneself as a renunciant is
allright, but if one ponders on sense enjoyment for 23 out of 24 hours then one is a
hypocrite. One is not on the shore of a sense enjoyer and also not on the shore of the
renunciant one drowns then. Leave one shore and come to the other make a choice.
Then he quoted:

7
Ksepa Bb and The Reverse Display both narrated to Advaitadas in a letter August 2, 1999
17
karmendriyni samyamya ya ste manas smaran
indriyrthan vimhtm mithycra sa ucyate

One who controls the active senses, but whose mind remembers the sense objects,
and is bewildered by them, is called a hypocrite. (Bhagavad Gt 3.6)
Those who say one thing and do another, who pretend to be pure but are actually
absorbed in sense objects have surely practised in mys marketplace. Many people falsely
dress like renunciants and make a big public show of tears and ecstasy. They will burn in
hell forever. Choose which side you want to be on mys family or Kas family. Why
should you leave a good position to sit on an sana and renounce like a monkey or a cat? A
cat is pretending to be peacefully sitting around but when he gets his opportunity and
nobody watches, he will jump and attack. A monkey lives in the trees and looks simple, but
that is only external. His inner feelings are not at all renounced. Why stand with your feet in
two worlds? You will pollute this pure religious tradition by falsely dressing like a
renunciant. You know why I became a forest-dweller? Because there are no hypocrites here
in the woods. Even a thief here will not speak lies.
8
What will you gain by just dressing like
a bhakta just to enjoy some facilities? Will you make your birth successful with self
deception? You have now taken human birth, make your choice! Go to Ka, fix Your
mind on Him, He is so kind! When a child cries the mother is obliged to come and give him
her milk. The Lord is like a cow that comes running like mad after her calf when it runs
away. Why worry? Just call out to Him! You have now taken a human birth, now you can
attain God. Thats why you got the human birth anyway. As a human being you should call
out to God. There are millions of species of life, but the human species is the best why
are you wasting this precious life then? You think it will come again?
Bb vowed: Kali will penetrate everywhere, except in this Ashram. This is not a
place for hypocrisy, crookedness and diplomacy.
K Ds: Bb told us not to read books (published or written) by hypocrites.
Advaita Ds: Bb called doing krtan for payment: Selling the Name.
Advaita Ds: When I return from a trip to Puri I tell Bb how the railway police in
Orissa beats up boys that travel without a train ticket. Bb says: Very good and when
theyre finished they can send them to me and I will beat them up again!!
Bb also forbids his merchant disciples to cheat their customers. He wants his
disciples to be honest and law-abiding.
Advaita Ds: Once a young man wanted to join the ashram and openly told Bb it
would be a great place for him to get meals without having to work. Bb turned him
down.
Gopl Candra Ghosh: Nikuja Prabhu was outspoken - he spoke the hard truth and
many people did not like that.
9
He was very unhappy at so many weeds sprouting next to
the main trunk of the Sampradya. He compared it to seeds that fall off a Banyan tree and
form so many separate little trees all around the main tree. Once he sat in the house of

8
vadhy me dharma-dhvajinas te hi ptakinodhik I came to kill those who pretend to be
virtuous. They surely are worse than sinners. (Lord Baladeva in rmad Bhgavata 10.78.27)
9
rjava, or straightforwardness, is described in Bhagavad Gt as a sign of knowledge (13.8), the
treasure of godliness (16.1) and the qualities of a brhmaa (18.42).
18
Nsiha Ballabh Gosvm (a great and prominent Vaiava lecturer of the 1960s and 1970s
who lived in Tatya Sthna in Vndvana) and I heard him say from a distance: Tell me,
what can I do? Here, in Navadvp, in Shntipur, everywhere I see all kinds of neo-branches
of our tradition pop up. Why did Rpa and Santana come to Vndvana to surrender to
Rdhrs lotus feet, saying Rdhe Rdhe? Why did Raghuntha ds Gosvm go
through so much hardship on the bank of Rdhku, wailing H Rdhe! H Rdhe!
praying his Vilp Kusumnjali and drinking just a cup of butter milk once a day? They could
do that because they had so much taste for bhajan! Ever since there are such big feasts, big
crowds of people gather, concrete cottages are built, and huge amounts of money are
collected our sampradya has become corrupted. He was very unhappy with that. He told
me: I dont want to stir up any controversy within our tradition, but we need to investigate
our roots, how things used to be and how they should be. People used to taunt him and
oppose him at that. Behind his back they would complain: Prabhu is speaking bitter
words. Nikuja Prabhu, however, was outspoken and straightforward and went exactly his
way. The words he told the devotees then still stand true now.
Advaita Ds: Despite having differences in opinion, however, Bb never made
personal attacks on his opponents or engaged in personal insults.

Bbs musical skills
Gaur D: Once, in the dead of night, at 2 a.m., Madangopl told Bb : I want to
hear you play Sitar. At that time the ashram was a wilderness without any buildings. Bb
woke every bhakta in the ashram, saying: Get up, Madangopl wants to hear me play! He
sat down here and began to play when a snake came and coiled all around His tummy and
His arms. Bb complained to the snake: Madangopl wants to hear me play, how can I
play like this?, so the snake let go of His arms and just wrapped itself around His tummy.
Bb played for two hours and then He told the snake to leave Him.
10

Nirajan Prasd Ds: Bb had a Dotr (two stringed instrument), Sitr (six-
stringed instrument) and a V (stringed instrument with two bodies), all placed next to
each other. He would blissfully sing self-composed songs on the Dotr in Bul-tunes. The
next moment I saw him becoming indifferent and taking the Sitr to play it, without any
external awareness. Clutching the instrument with his chin, he would sing and make
captivating sounds with the Str. Suddenly there would be an interruption to the tune,
because the Sitr would be moistened by a stream of Bbs tears. I was just a spectator
avadhtas move, speak, laugh, cry and dance on the direction of the Antarym, fully
independent from the world or from religious traditions. They are beyond reason and
argument, and can also not be caught by that. The course of their lives is mysterious and
confidential. Rules and prohibitions are their servants instead of the other way around.
11

Ll Ds: Bb told me my daughters (who lived in Calcutta) should sing for
Madangopl. They sang in my house while Bb played the tbls.
12

10
Narrated on Sitanaths utsava on February 10, 2011.
11
Narrated in a letter to Advaitadas August 2, 1999
12
Narrated to Advaitadas in person at Radhakund, October 13, 2005.
19
Advaita Ds: Sometimes Bb came to lead the (trak brahma, mah mantra)
krtana after evening-rati. He was a virtuoso mdaga- (clay drum) player and he sang like
a cuckoo. His voice was as deep as the rumbling of clouds.

Fame
Nirajan Prasd Ds: The nma, japa and meditations of the saints are hidden from
the eyes of the people it is all done within - establishment of their own name and fame is
disgusting to them. I have seen that our Guru-brother Rkhl D from Mednipor loudly
chanted the holy name after completing his morning duties and Bb came running up to
him, telling him: Look, Rkhl Bb, dont let the neighbors know that there is a sdhu
living here by chanting so loudly. Chant softly the name will come to them, but keep
your most beloved things hidden from others. If not, the inner power will be lost. Aim at
the inner world, otherwise your ego will grow.
13

When Bb was in the Himlayas he stayed in a mountain cave. In the afternoon
some sannyss came to listen to his ka-kath. One day a snake entered the cave and
approached Bbs seat. Bb said: Mother, dont bite. Come here. Come here. The
snake submissively bowed down to Bb and retreated. The sannyss exclaimed: Bb
you are Shankar! You are Shiva Shankar! You are a Devat (Shiva also controls snakes).
The next day Bb left that place, not to return. pratihra bhoye puri gela poliy (C.C.)
Mdhavendra Puri (the Guru of Advaita Prabhu) fled as soon as he was about to become
famous. Bb never revealed such glories to outsiders.
Namit Sh: When the man that installed the water tank in the ashram suggested
to Bb that he should put his name on the water tank so people will notice the ashram
from afar, Bb cut him by saying, Why dont you put your name there instead?
Nirajan Prasd Ds: Mauni Bb was a sdhu who lived just down the road from
Bbs Ashram. He practised different types of sdhana. One day he was bitten by a snake
on the first floor of his Ashram. The doctors who came to cure him said: We are helpless.
Call this sdhu over here. Bb came and miraculously cured him by just caressing the
wound with his hand and said: Bb, do not fear the poison is gone now. You can eat
and take rest now.
14
When he came back to his own ashram I saw Bbs whole body turn
completely blue. I got scared and called a servant, who gave Bb a lot of water to drink.
After that Bbs condition and also Mauni Bbs condition returned to normal. But Bb
never went out to broadcast his miracles. Nobody was told. Many sdhus make a big
business out of their miraculous accomplishments, but Bb kept quiet about his. He was
totally averse to profit, adoration and distinction.
15

The festival for Advaita Prabhu was a priority for Bb, who otherwise preached:
Reduce external fesitivals and ceremonies as much as possible. Mahprabhu said
antarman hoiy be internally active. If you go out, your mind will also go outwards. If
you hold too many ceremonies and festivals your fame will spread.

13
Narrated in a letter to Advaitadas August 2, 1999
14
Advaitads: When Bb told me this story in private I replied: Bb, you are after all Nlakaha
(Lord Shiva, who drank the poison from the milk ocean)!
15
Letter from Nirajan Prasad Das, September 10, 2002
20
The very word Bb in place of Gurudeva is so closely related to us and more sweet
to us. Bb himself also likes to be addressed as 'Bb' instead of Gurudeva.
Advaita Ds: There is absolutely no mood of awe and reverence towards Bb
within the ashram he refuses to be called mahrja or bbj, just bb. It is all very
intimate.
K Ds: Bb never bestowed titles like mahrja, bbj or mtj on his
disciples.
Bb said that all knowledge and perfection lies in the mantra that he gives you.
16

The holy name is within everyone, but ordinary persons cannot hear it. Rich people always
fear robbers. Only a person who looks penniless is safe from robbers. Similarly, dont make
a big show of your sdhana keep it to yourself. You will be safe from self esteem.
Advaita Ds: Once a prominent Vaiava asked Bb: How many lakhs
17
of name
are you doing? Bb replied: :| <|<|, | |< <|< | - | << |# |# Look
Bb, I dont do any bhajan at all Im just eating and sleeping.
Bb wrote in the Sakipta Nitya Karma Paddhati: The mind is the main domain
of our spiritual practice. When this mental treasure is externally exposed one is deprived of
the desired siddhi. r r Narottam Ds Thkur Mahay has said: rkho prem hdoye
bhoriy Keep this prema within the heart. And to teach the whole world, rman
Mahprabhu told r Raghunth Ds Gosvm: markat vairgya n koriho lok dekhiy
Dont practice the renunciation of a monkey, just to show off to the people.
Bb once told me pratih ukarya bih Fame is like hog-stool.
18

About Vaiava-missions that attract many followers worldwide by offering them
instant sannysa or brhmaa-hood (without the candidates being born as brahmins or
even as Hindus in the first place), Bb once told me: "If I would go there and tell them:
Hey! Keep a distance from me!"
19
, how many followers would I attract then?"
Bb often told me that preaching is mostly done for profit, adoration and
distinction. Once Bb was visited by some Americans from a University, who interviewed
him and recorded it. Bb had not invited them and was unhappy about the visit, afraid it
was going to make him a famous Jagat-Guru. Thus he showed he was totally averse to profit
and fame. So many Indian Gurus hanker to go to America to become rich and famous!
Afterwards, when sister K asked Bb about Advaita Prabhus prayer to Mahprabhu -
more yadi bar dibe prabhu vivambhara; str dra adhamere ge kp koro "O Prabhu
Vivambhara! If you want to offer Me a boon, then first bestow Your mercy to the women,
workers and the fallen (pariahs)", Bb calmly replied that he already has specimens of all
these here in his courtyard (and that is enough). Bb then gently shakes his head and

16
jagda ca nija sarvam ida prehay tedadam sarvam etat-prabhvena svaya jsyasi lapsyase r
Guru instructed me in the rules of practising my mantra and meditating on it. Some instructions he gave me
verbally and some through gestures. He said: I have given you, my dear one, everything. Whatever other
secrets there are you will learn it spontaneously, by the power of this mantra. (Bhad Bhgavatmta 2.3.6)
17
lakh laka or 100.000 names of Ka, equalling 64 rounds on beads.
18
abhimna surapna gaurava uddha raurabam; pratih karya vih t tyaktv hari
bhajet - Self-esteem is (poisonous) like liquor, pride is pure hell and fame is like hog-stool - one
should give them up like blades of grass and worship Hari.
19
Euphemism in India for you are untouchable. Thus a candidates humility is really put to the test.
21
mulls: || n|-| < <$ | | You know, what great gift rman Mahprabhu has
given?
Japa
Advaita Ds: Bb tells me that it is not good to make a show of japa in public.
nma japa should be done at home, sitting in a lotus position with a straight back and
lowered head. He said: | n|n|-|<|< || #| | -| <||< :|<< |<||, '
|$| | < <|< <|< | |<<
|-| n|n||< < ||-|| -
| <| :| <|( <|

| << - || < |+ | =< n|n||< < -| <|< - It is forbidden to take ones japa-
ml out on the road, to the market, to the bathing-places, to public gatherings, wearing
shoes, talking to others or chewing betelnuts it will be disrespectful to r Harinma. In
this way ruci for hari-nma will never come, rather there will be an increase of ego and it
will create a big offence at the lotus-feet of r-r Hari-nma. One should not go on
parikram (when one visits a holy place) with ones beads, because each time one sees a
saint or a temple one has to bow down and touch ones beads to the ground, and that is a
great offence to the sacred chanting beads.
20
In this connection Bb often quoted this
verse from Haribhakti Vilsa (17.131):

bhta rkasa vetl siddha gandharva cra
haranti prakaa yasmt tasmat gupta japet sudhi

"The ghosts, Rkasas, Vetls, Siddhas, Gandharvas and the cosmic wanderers take
the (benefit of the) japa of the public chanter. Hence the wise must do japa in secret."
Bb tells me: There are three kinds of japa vcika (vocal), upu (muttering)
and mnasika (mentally). upu is 100x better than vcika and mnasika is 100x better
than upu
21
. Haridsa (hkur) was doing one lakh verbally, one muttering and one
mental, each day.
22
To encourage me in mantra japa he says: Once when I was in
Vndvanas kunja I was doing puracarana till 4 pm every day.

Bbs social conduct

20
The Haribhakti Vilsa and Bhakti Rasmta Sindhu mention 32 ritual offences (sevpardhas),
one of them being eka haste prama, offering obeisances with one hand. This offence is being
committed each time one bows down to the floor with ones beads in the hands.
21
Haribhakti Vilsa (17.161-162, quoting Nrasiha Pura and Yajavalkya) says: tri vidh japa
yaja syt tasya bhaven nibodhaya; vcika ca upu ca manasa ca tridh mata mantram
uccrayed vyakt japayata sa vcika; kiciccabda svaya vidyd upu sa japa smta.
upu japam uktasya tasmcchato guo bhavet; sahasro mnasa prokto yasmd dhyna samo hi
sa - "There are three kinds of japa vocal, muttering and mental. Loud chanting of the mantra is
called vocal japa, whispering is called upu and mental chanting is called mnasik japa.
Whispering is a hundred times better than loud japa and mental chanting is a thousand times better.
This is equal to meditation." Verses 132-3 say: pralapan v japed yvat tvan niphalam ucyate.
vadan na gacchan na svapan nnym kim api sasmaran na kuj jmbhana hikkdi vikalkta
mnasa mantra siddhim avpnoti tasmd yatnapuro bhavet ||133|| If one talks while doing japa
the practise will be fruitless. mantra-siddhi is not achieved if one talks, walks, lies down, or has ones
mind upset by thinking of something else, yawning, sneezing or hikkuping.
22
prati-dina tin laka harids kore; manane jihvy r uccaisvare (Advaita Praka, ch. 7)
22
Nirajan Prasd Ds: Bb loved to be outside of the worlds sight he would
vanish if too many outsiders would gather in his ashram. Yet again, whenever he wanted it
he would re-appear and entertain guests with spiritual discussions hour after hour. He had
no agenda of what to do or not to do, nor did he have any budget or financial planning of
the festivals he held. He would not solicit donations, nor would he consult anyone on these
matters. He would let matters flow naturally and not worry at all. I have seen him hiding or
withdrawing himself behind a tree or in his hut in the middle of his self-organised, crowded
festivals. He would sit there all on his own and no one had the courage to go near him.
Then, when prasd was served to 8-10,000 people he would suddenly re-appear, smile
gently and raise his right hand in benediction, before leaving again. The fact that he could
achieve such huge tasks so easily is a sign of his self-realisation and complete shelter at the
feet of his beloved Lord. He did not collect any funds but said: I just had this desire and it
was accomplished I dont know anything else. Kas glories are yoga-kema
vahmyaham (I carry what My devotees lack and preserve what they have - Bhagavad
Gt 9.22) and Bbs glories are sa mahtm sudurlabha. (Such a great soul is very rare.
- Bhagavad Gt 7.19)
23

Advaita Ds: I was fond of going out of the ashram, but Bb did not like it. He
warned me that downtown Navadvpa was swarming with Buls and Sahajyas. He also told
me not to eat anywhere outside the ashram. Bb then showed a remarkable higher vision.
When I asked him: Bb, then how do I recognise sinful food? He said, in English, You
can smell it
Nla Ratan Ds: One day a rich business man offered obeisances to Bb. Bb said:
No, go away. They were staying in the Bhajan Ashram, just behind Bbs ashram, and
were proud of their wealth. Gopl does not accept that. They told Bb: Bb, we want to
build a huge temple here for you instead of the humble hut you have now. Bb replied:
My Gopl is a prince. Im keeping Gopevara here in case He needs anything. You need
not do anything here. If you want to spend your money on anyone then spend it on the
poor widows that stay at the Bhajanshram.
Rdh Caraa Desl: Bb would be very angry with rich disciples who were so
proud to think that they had purchased him with their financial support. Once he went by
plane to Assam for a week to lecture - the ticket cost a lot of money, but guess what
happened after 3 days? Bb said: "Bhi (brother), I am leaving". The devotee who paid the
ticket said in shock: "What are you doing? I paid so much money for that plane ticket!"
Bb said: "Bhai, have you purchased me by paying that money? I dont want to leave my
deities (any longer)." So he left right then - he had no interest in money at all. He would tell
people to do this and do that, and if they would ask him how much it may cost he said: "Oh
I have no idea about that - if you like you can do this for me, but I dont know anything
about the costs." Bb had a very rich merchant disciple who spent a lot of money on him,
but still Bb got into a fight with him and said: 'You are so rich, you think you purchased
me? Dont come to my place anymore with this false esteem!"
24

Bb never kept a donation-box anywhere in the ashram.

23
Narrated to Advaitadas in a letter August 2, 1999
24
Interview with Advaitadas, Rdhkunda, November 26, 2004.
23
Nirajan Prasd Ds: Once Bbs elder brothers came to attend the Stnth
Utsava and Bb told them: Why are you here? You are brhmaas I have no caste, I
dont live here I stay in the sky. I know no borders or bondage. I am a free soul, like a
bird. Go and dont take prasd here. We make no distinctions here you are brhmaas!
He had no attachments.
25

Bb was totally different, he was totally aloof from the Hindu calendar. Someone
would remind him of some auspicious day on the calendar by saying: Bb, today is.
Bb interrupted him by saying: O boy, give this up. Another one said: Bb, today is
amvasy. Bb replied: I dont care!
Advaita Ds: In 1985, during his last trip to Vraja, Bb sits on a dais in Dmodaras
house when a guest asks him why he gives dk in kma gyatr instead of brahma gyatr.
I expect him to answer that only born brahmins qualify for brahma gyatr, but instead he
answers brahma gyatr cannot bestow ka prema.

Bb like a child

kusumita vanarji umi bhga dvija kula gha-sara sarin mahdhram
madhupatir avaghya crayan g saha paupla bala cukja veum

(rmad Bhgavata 10.21.2.)

Having entered the forest the lakes, streams and mountains of which were
resonant with the sweet warbling of birds and the sweet humming of bees, intoxicated by
rows of trees in full bloom and pasturing the cows in the company of Balarma and the
cowherd boys, the honey-sweet r Ka sounded His flute.
(Bb mused:) Bb, the flute of Vndvana, the flute of Ka is calling out (the
Sanskrit word kjana really pertains only to bird-calls) I know that birds do kjana, but
here it is said that the flute is doing kjana. If I knew their language I could understand the
birds songs. Kas flute is doing kjana. if I knew the language Bb used to
speak like that
Bb and Pilgrimage
Gopl Candra Ghosh: Once on some Vrui day (atabhi constellation) Bb was
in ambhu Kunja, near Gopevara Mahdeva Mandir in Vndvana, in the house of his
Vrajavs disciple Kanhiyall Sharm, with a Bael leaf on his head. Meditating on
Gopevara Shiva he prepared a really cool drink (with bhng) and offered it to Him. He did
not drink much of the prasda, just a little, exclaiming: Madan Gopl! Jai Madan Gopl!
We came to offer obeisances to him and he offered us this prasd. I was afraid, saying: I
will get high. But Bb said: No, no! You just take the prasd of Mahdeva!
On another occasion, in the Gopevara Mandir in Vndvana, on Shiva Rtri, Bb
put some ganjik (hemp) in a chillum (vertical pipe) and took a drag from it. Then he put it

25
In India, and particularly in Bbs family, great reverence is given to elders and Brahmins.
Bbs behaviour was thus extraordinary. Bb was not a sycophant. Bhagavad Gt (12.16) confirms
that the priya bhakta is anapek, independent from public opinion.
- Conversation, Navadvpa, March 26, 2000
24
down again and, while his eyes changed somewhat, said: You know, Prabhu Stnth is the
direct incarnation of Sadshiva. Some of his attributes have also descended through our
dynasty, so I am also in this mood sometimes. Not often, but sometimes. I dont do this to
get high, but for the love of Mahdeva. We do this only rarely. As we descend from
Stntha we can do this, others cannot.
26
I once saw Bb standing up to his waist in the
Yamun, doing his japa, wearing his matted locks loose. When he gave pha I saw such big
goosebumps on his body I saw all the eight sttvik transformations of divine ecstatic love
on his body goosebumps, shivering, tears, change of complexion, stuttering voice etc.
27

Girirja Bb: In 1978 Bb performed a Govardhana Parikram and saw the Rsa
ll in Govardhana.
Mathura Prasd Pnd, Rdhkunda: In 1973 Bb went to Barsana and
Nandagrm to celebrate Holi, along with Boral Ghts Boro Harids. They distributed
clothes, little balls of bhang, laus, kra and puris to 125 Vrajabss. All the Vrajabss had
great love and respect for Sdhu Bb.
Rdh Caraa Desl, Bbs trtha brhmaa in Rdhkua Bb not only
used to have prasda at my home (roi, dl and gur), but he would also hold small utsavas
(feasts) there with up to 50 people attending. In my house Bb would keep an earthen pot
containing up to 5 kg. of yoghurt, I said to him: Bb, give us some leafplates to eat from,
but Bb said: No, no no, you have to eat with your hands, just like Gopl used to do! So
he distributed it with his hands. He made rois with his hands too, just like a Vrajavs. Bb
would not touch the sacred kuas with his feet, he had his disciples pouring buckets of the
sacred water over him while sitting on the shore, after offering prostrated obeisances to the
ponds and performing camana. Ka ds Madrasi Bb would always come for Bbs
darana when he was at my home. He had great love and respect for Bb. They would
only speak of purely devotional topics. Bb sometimes spent the night at my home,
upstairs. He never stayed in Vraja longer than 3-4 weeks at a time. Bb was the most
Shivaite member of his family. He did not perform daavat parikram of Rdhkua
himself, but his elder brother Govinda did.
Rkhl Harids: "I went with Bb to Vraja after Dola (mid march 1982). With 26
disciples Bb went by bus from Vndvana to Rdhkua, where he took prasd with his
p Rdhcaraa. Rdhcaraa did Kua k pj with Bb and everyone took a kunda
snna. From 2.30 to 5 pm we walked to Mukhravinda, where the ps did Pj for Bb.
Sometimes Bb went by riksha, and the bhaktas walked by his side. Somewhere on the
way, perhaps at Jtipur, Knth, Bb's Brijabsi disciple, rented rooms in a Dharmshl
for all the bhaktas. Bb had some paroths brought from a shop and distributed to the
bhaktas. At 3 am they left and went on to Rdhkua, and from there they returned to
Vndvana, perhaps at 8 am. During the same trip Bb also rented buses to go to Gokula
and Barsn, one trip a day.
Bb in Puri - Rkhl Harids: Once, in the month of Krtika, Bb went to Puri,
where he went to the Jaganntha Mandir, Tot Gopnth, llanth, Tot Puri's ashram and

26
Nirajan Prasd Ds: Bb forbade us many times to imitate him: | <|-| <|< |-| <|< | -
| <|-| <| |-| <|< Dont do what I do do what I say. He told us to follow the
scriptural injunctions. Those who imitate him will be deprived of Mahvius mercy.
27
Interview, Vrindavan Research Institute, March 10, 2004
25
Vijay Ka Gosvm's Samdhi. The pujr of Tot Gopntha was a disciple of Bb,
named Jaganntha. He said: Today you will all get Gopnthas prasda. Bb told
Jaganntha: "Dont cook for Gopntha - I will cook!", so he cooked a feast himself ras,
rice, ka. Nowhere in India you can find a sitting Ka-deity like Tot Gopnth.
Mahprabhu here merged into His knee and thus disappeared from the world. Bb
rebuked the pjr for killing a snake in the deity room. The pjr said: Bb, I could not
do the pj without killing the snake, but still Bb said: That will not be auspicious for
you. (Snakes serve as Shivas necklace) After this, Bb went by taxi to Alalanth.
Tapan Kumr Adhikr: In July 1985 Bb embarked on his last trip to Vraja, by
plane. He went to Jaypur to buy deities of Kl for the Ardha Br in Navadvpa. He stayed
there for 4 days and had darshan of Govindas evening rati every day there. Then he went
to Pukara and he took a bath in Rdhkua. One time he went for darshan of Govinda Ji
in Vndvana when a beggar asked him for 75 paise in alms. Bb laughed loudly and said:
Prabhu Stntha has given fourteen generations of cryas as alms now again I must
give 75 paise as well?
Krishn Ds: Bb would not stay in Vraja for more than 20 days at a time. He
made the Vrajavss perform Rsa Ll in the yard of yma Vinodin Kunja. He loved the
Vrajabss and also gave them things, but then they would come back again and again for
more. So to avoid offences he would not stay too long.
Advaita Ds: Bb never bought or built a house anywhere in Brajabhmi.
Nirajan Prasd Ds: Bb stressed purity of mind and heart (bhva uddhi),
quoting bhveu vidyate deva na mahe na ca mandire The Lord dwells in ones
feelings, not in monestaries and temples.
Sdhus came to visit Bb from the Himlayas and asked him: Bb, this
(Navadvp Dhm) is hidden Vndvana? Bb said: Yes, this is Vndvana, hidden
Vndvana. Look at the birds, the Bel trees, and the kunjas.
Advaita Ds: Bb wisely told me: It is better to think of Vraja in Holland than to
think of Holland in Vraja. When I settled down at Rdhkua in September, 1984 Bb
congratulated me by postcard, writing me: Blessed you are that you have attained the
shelter of Kuevar. However, be cautious of this

vndni sarva mahatm apahya drt vndavm anusara pranayena ceta
sattran kta subhva sudh rasaugham rdhbhidhnam iha divya nidnam asti

(Rdh Rasa Sudhnidhi 9)

Ceta! Oh mind! Dwell in Vndvana! (Here Bb makes the point that mental
residence in Vraja is essential). sarva mahatm All Vrajas residents are saints, but
apahya drt Keep them far away.
Q: Is that not an offence?
A: No it isnt, otherwise the word mahat would not have been used.
Q: Why then keep them at bay?
A. 1. In order not to find faults in them and to continue to appreciate them.
2. In order not to get entangled and to peacefully do bhajan.
26
3. No mutual hurt will arise if there is any difference of opinion or style of worship.
There is a great divine jewel there named Rdh, that redeems all the saints!

Bbs Yogic powers
Kior Ds, a disciple of rla nanda Gopl Gosvm, who was very fond of Bb as
the youngest son of his Guru, had gone to Navadvps main market in the morning, where a
person who was not dear to Bb offered him a gift for Bb. Afraid to offend Bb, Kior
declined. Through his yogic powers, however, Bb could understand what was happening
while staying in his ashram (which is very far away from Navadvps main market). When
Kior returned to the Ashram, Bb asked him: Why didnt you accept that gift? Kior
said: What do you mean, Bb? Bb: This person wanted to give you a donation, why
didnt you accept it? Kior: Bb, how could you know that? Bb roared with laughter:
Hhh when you rise to this level you can see all kinds of things you cannot see down
there!
28

One day Bb sat on the bank of the Yamun at Ke Ght, where he was sought out
by Kior Ds. Despite the deep loving relationship between the two as spiritual son (Kiori)
and physical son (Bb) of nanda Gopl Gosvm, they had an argument over whether or
not to go on a pilgrimage to see Vaio Devi in Kashmir. Kior was a bit offended about
the exchange, but kept it to himself. Some time later Bb intuitively felt that Kior had
secretly departed for that pilgrimage, so at once he sat down in a kunja in meditation.

Vaio dev in Kashmir
It is not easy to have daran of Vaio Devi. For a part of the trek one must crawl
through a narrow tunnel. When Kior emerged at the end of the tunnel he saw a huge half-

28
Narrated in person in Navadvpa, March 26, 2000 and further explained in a letter, September 28, 2001.
rmad Bhgavata (10.61.21) exactly illustrates this pastime - angata atta ca vartamnam atndriyam
viprakam vyavahita samyak payanti yogina - "Yogis can see what has not yet happened, past, present,
beyond the senses, remote or blocked by physical obstacles."
27
naked figure with long matted locks rising above him, holding a Trident in his hand. His
eyes were blinded by the dazzling figure! As he came to his senses he realised that it was
Prabhu and he rolled at Bbs feet, begging forgiveness and exclaiming: Jay Stnth! Jay
Stnth!
29

Once in the ashram Bb sat down to take prasda. I (Nirajan Bbu) also arrived
there, and, although Bb did not see me, he felt my presence and wanted me to be there,
to give me some prasda. Taking a big lau in his hand, he said: Call Bbu over here
Come here, sit down. Then he fed me the lau. Bb's filial affection touched me very
much and I shed tears.
Advaita Ds: Rdhnanda was a colourful personality, a young boy wearing long
jas. Once in Vraja he had a vision of Bb, although he had never seen him or heard of
him, and he headed straight to yma Vinodin Kuja, led by his intuition, where Bb
promptly gave him dk.
30

Bb also appeared in a dream to his disciple tu Bijoy in the 1970s before ever
meeting him, and tu Bijoy, who lived at Rdhkua, told the then-Mahnta of
Rdhkua, Jaya Niti Ds Bb, about the sdhu with the long beard, the Ganesh-tummy
and the long matted locks. Jaya Niti Ds Bb said It can only be the youngest son of
nanda Gopla Gosvm. tu Bijoy took dk in Navadvpa, however.
31

Amar Bannerji, the then manager of the Bhajanashram, was very anxious to hear
rmad Bhgavat Kath from Bb, but regretted that he had no time to attend due to his
occupation, so he bought a tape recorder and asked Bb to speak on it, but Bb did not
comply with his request. He wanted his audience to attend in person, not to lay back in
private and get proxy enlightenment through a machine. One day Bannerji Bbu sent his
small son to Bb with the tape recorder, and out of compassion towards him Bb finally
spoke, but the text did not come on the tape. First it was thought that the machine was
defect, but when Bb spoke again in it, it would again not work. When Nirajan Bbu was
asked to speak the same verse into the recorder, it was recorded. Sitting under the Bael
32

tree, Bb laughed and said: You must come to me and hear. Without my consent nothing
will be recorded on this machine. All present were astonished at this.
33

Nla Ratan Ds: When I was still a small boy, around 1978, Bb used to come to
our house in the middle of the night, at 1 a.m. or so. He had no idea of time and wore only
a loincloth. Our father woke us all up to have daran of Sdhu Bb. In those days there
was no habitation on the way from his ashram to our house behind the Prcn Mypur
market. There was only jungle. We bowed down to Sdhu Bb and were in ecstasy to see
him. The neighbors also came to see Bb. A basket of Sinhr (pudding made of
waterfruits) was brought and my little sister Svapn (just a toddler then) embraced Bb.

29
Narrated in a written note, winter 2001-2002 Vaio-dev did penance to have r Rma for a husband, but
as He could not marry her due to His chastity to Stdev He promised her she would have Kalki for her
husband instead. She is waiting for that now. Deity depicted on image below the text.
30
Narrated by Rdhraman Ds, 1983
31
Narrated by Ritu Bijoy Ds, Rdhkua, October 9, 2006
32
The Bael or Bilva tree is sacred to worshippers of Lord Shiva its leaves are a favorite offering to
Shiva. It is significant that Sdhu Bb held his sermons under such a tree in the courtyard of his Ashram
Shiva is said to live under a Bilva tree too.
33
Explained in letter September 28, 2001 and in person in March 2000 and October 2003
28
This caused Bbs loincloth to loosen. When we saw this we thought What a disaster, we
committed an offence! We followed Bb and when we came to the ashram he was sitting
on his usual seat under the Bael tree, where he said: Since yesterday your little girl has
some trouble. And indeed she became ill, so Bb at once sat down in meditation at night
at the base of the Bilva tree. We had a picture of Mother Kl in our house at that time.
After two, three days Bb came and said to the Mother: M, is there any need for me as
long as you are here? Bb placed a Gandharja flower at the picture and our little girl was
cured. I asked Bb: Bb, where did you get this flower from? Bb said: It is all a
question of desire I wanted it, Gopl gave it to me. Bb always saved us from all
dangers. Another one of our girls got diarrhoea. Without informing the doctor we went to
see Bb at 2.30 a.m. Bb said: Bring a torch and come with me. He picked some leaf
from the jungle that was still there at the time and handed it to me, saying: Give this to
your little girl and stop worrying. Our little girl was going to the toilet 20-25 times a day,
but after giving her the leaves she was cured. Then, however, she could not pass urine, so
we went back to Bb, who said: Go back home folks whatever I gave will work. And
indeed, she was fully cured.
34

Gaura D: Some time in the late 1970s or early 1980s Sdhu Bb was going to
leave for Vndvana by train. Though the train would depart at 11.45, Bb was still in the
ashram at around 12. The connecting train from Howrah to Mathur had to be caught in
time in Calcutta. Bb did not seem to be bothered, so the devotees were wondering if they
will make it. When they arrived at Navadwpa station the train was grounded, while the
station-master was in panic, wondering why the engine did not work. Still, the train would
not move. Then Bb tapped the front of the carriage and said in his loud, husky voice Is
everyone (all my disciples) on board? Go! Off you go! And guess what, the train was fixed
and off they went.
Bblu saved from snakebite twice over -
Gaur D: In the past, when there were no buildings yet in the Ashram, only jungle,
once a boy named Bblu visited Bb with his mother. Bb told his mother: This boy will
meet with an unexpected death. This frightened Bblu naturally, and his mother asked
Bb What can we do about this? Bb replied: Everything will be allright.
One day, during the annual festival for Advaita Prabhu, which lasted for 15 days in
those days, although it was winter, Bb was perspiring and we were fanning him with
hand-fans. There was no electricity yet there. In the evening, as Bb performed his hnika
(daily Vaiava rituals), suddenly a snake appeared and bit Bblu. I went to get a rope (to
block the poison from spreading), but within half an hour Bblu had died. Bb then said:
Let no one enter the ashram now, though at that (festival) time thousands of people
would come and attend. He then told me to give some water to Bblu. I said: Bb, what is
the use of that? He is already dead! Bb said: Then pour it into his mouth. One hour
later Bblu got up, and Bb asked him: Bblu, are you in any distress? He then told me
Bring another glass of water. I brought it and Bblu drank it. No one was there Bb
did not want to show his glories through any media. He said: I am the incarnation of
Stnth Stnth has come in secret this time. I am Stnth, I will go again in solitude,
too. The next morning Bb could not get up He was in great agony, so he told me to

34
Narrated in person in Navadvip, October 2003. Bael flowers and leaves cure childrens diarrhoea.
29
make 1 liter of Ucche-juice (Ucche is a bitter Bengali gourd) and to bring Dhtura, a kind
of psychedelic fruit. If one eats even one piece of that fruit one goes crazy. One of Bbs
disciples brought a whole bag of it, of which 3 liters of juice was made. Though one fruit
was enough to make a man crazy, Bb drank 3 liters of it! Within half an hour, that same
morning, Bb was well again. Bblu left at 6 that evening but Bb said: :||< =# |'
= -< | You will still have more trouble. Two months later Bblu was again bitten by
a snake. Bblu came straight over to the ashram and collapsed at the gate. Bb told us:
Bring Bblu here. Bb cured him then and there with his mere glance he needed no
strings, no mantras and no pouring of water.
Gauras eczema
Gaur D : One day I got eczema over my whole body. It was festival time and Bb
ordered me to get flowers from Calcutta. Bb did (apparently) not know that I was sick,
but actually he was just testing me. I had to take the night train and my mother told me:
Gaura! Why did you not tell Bb you are sick? I went anyway, taking the night train. I
had not slept all night, so I went home and took a bath. Suddenly Bb called me to the
ashram. When I arrived there Bb had just finished his morning bath and he asked me to
wipe Him dry with a chador. I told him: But you have already received that service! Bb
said: No, no you dry Me off! After that He told me to take prasd and I went back home.
When I took my shirt off I saw that my eczema was totally gone and I wept loudly.
35

Krishn Ds: Bb cured many chronically ill people who suffered from tuberculosis,
cancer, piles, hernia and so many other illnesses, keeping them alive for many days for
him everything is possible.
36

Nirajan Prasad Das: Whatever blessings or curses Bb pronounced, all came
true. Advaita Das: In December, 1983 I have personally seen a great scholar and
bhajannand from Navadvpa, who had tried to seize authority over one of Bbs disciples,
come and beg forgiveness to Bb on his knees. His bhajan had become completely
blocked because of his indiscretion towards Bb. Bb forgave him.
Nirajan Prasd Ds: One day in 1984 a sdhaka from Haridvra came to visit the
ashram in the company of an elderly Brahmin sdhu from Hoogly district. Bb was not
there, so they were very disappointed, having gone through great hardship to reach his
ashram. When they saw a photo of Bb, the sdhu from Haridvr exclaimed: Yes, thats
him! I saw him bathing in Brahmakund just the other day! The ashram-residents told him,
however, that Bb had not been to Haridvr for years. The sdhu would not believe them;
he insisted he had seen Bb with his own eyes. After some time Bb arrived in the
ashram. The sdhu rolled in the dust of his feet and said: Bb I see you bathing in
Haridvrs Brahmakund sometimes. Bb just smiled and changed the subject. The
mystery remains unsolved.
37

Nla Ratan Ds: One day, towards the end of his life, Bb was sitting inside the
ashram when he said: Go and look at the temple of my Madangopl. It appeared that a
merchant had left some fruit there as a donation. (There is a wall separating the inner

35
3 narrations narrated by Gaur D, February 10, 2011
36
Narrated to Advaitadas in a letter, July 19, 2006. Bb is after all, Vaidyanath, Shiva, the master-doctor.
37
Narrated to Advaitadas in a letter, November 20, 2000
30
compound from the temple yard) We gave the fruit to Mother Cow. We were astonished
how could Bb know that something had been placed in front of the Mandir?

The link between the disciple and the Guru.
Tapobroto Mohanta: I was a very young man when one of my duties in the ashram
was to water the plants. Bb told me to turn off the electric generator after watering the
plants. (The water was coming from the tank whose supply was pumped up from the
ground electrically). It was already dark when I finished watering. At that time there was no
wall separating the Bhajanshram and Bbs shram and the generator was actually in the
land now a part of the Bhajanashrams ground. Around the generator was a deep ditch, so I
had to stretch my arm fully to reach the generators switch. When I did that I thought that I
was sort of electrocuted, so I called out-loud Bb! Bb! as a last ditch call for help.
When I came back to consciousness I was lying on the ground. Stunned, I went back to my
room in the ashram. When all this happened Bb was in another temple giving a lecture.
Later on, Bb arrived and from the ashram-gate Bb loudly called out to me and said
What happened to you, Kumkum? I was giving lecture and you disturbed me; my body
shook when you called for me! I was shocked. Then Bb told me that thats what Guru-
disciple link was all about. I gave prostrated obeisances to Bb and knew that Bb saved
my life. That moment I realized that the link between the Guru and disciple transcended
the physical.
Advaita Ds: In 1995, 9 years after Bbs disappearance, I lived alone in an
apartment in the Netherlands. I had just received 7 photos of Bb from the ashram by
post and spread the photos on my bed. As I was preparing to leave my flat to visit someone
suddenly Bbs divine presence emanated from the photos. It was as if Bb permeated
my entire flat as well as my body with his divine presence. I experienced that Bb was my
owner and controller, fully, but that until now I had never realised that. How does it feel to
be someones property without being used to that? As if gasping for psychological air I said
to the divine presence: ||< |<| || | <|<|" (I dont know if I can do that (full surrender) or
not, Bb). After a short while the divine presence diminished. I could understand then
that Bb was not just an Indian or even an Indian sdhu he is an all-pervading power! I
could remember that he told me once in 1982: I will sometimes appear before my beloved
ones after I disappear from this world. And I understood the purport of this famous verse

akhaa maalkram vyptam yena carcaram
tat padam daritam yena tasmai r gurave nama

I offer my humble obeisances unto r Guru who showed me that full circle, by
which all moving and non-moving beings are pervaded.

Bb on household life
Nla Ratan Ds: Bb blessed the ghasthas that if they would humbly acknowledge
their inability to perform any sdhana, he would be the engine to pull them to the spiritual
sky. But the family man must be fully surrendered to Bb for that. He must touch the
lotus feet of the Sat-Guru; then it will be the job of the Guru to bring him to the spiritual
31
world. Come here, remember the Guru, then let whatever happens happen. Bb is
everything. One must hear Bbs instructions. Bb said: That is your bhajana, that is
your pj. Work all day and remember Gopl. The responsibility of pulling you to the
spiritual sky will be mine. You must hold on to the engine. A job means working for Ka.
panca putra sange nce ry bhavnanda (It is sung in the Vaiava community -
Bhavnanda Ry danced in ecstasy in the krtan with all of his five sons. The whole family
was a devotee and thus he did not suffer spiritual deprivation in household life) Bb
preferred humble family men over proud renunciants, even if they were doing big
quantities of sdhana. The family men humbly accept their own failure I cannot do
bhajana, I have no time.. Bb used to avoid those who made big claims of doing so
many lakhs of nma. The family men must see their family and job as Kas family and
job and touch the genuine Guru.
Nirajan Prasd Ds: Bb said that household life is not bad it is good. He said:
My householder disciples are my earnest servants, the true relatives of my Madangopl. As
they attend to their wives, sons and daughters they make Madangopl the proprietor of
their households. They can always come to me to frankly confess their transgressions, be it
out of fear or out of devotion, and beg forgiveness. I am very pleased if they shed tears and
lament about their plight. Why you make your family life difficult by considering it just
family life? The Lord is your relative and your family. Perform your daily duties while
surrendering yourself at the lotus feet of the Lord, meditating on Him while externally
performing your duties and playing the role of a worldly man. Just as the ladies in Indian
villages can balance many pots of water on their heads while walking and talking with each
other, similarly one can work hard to earn one's living and at the same time remain
perfectly fixed 24 hours a day in Ka consciousness. This is what we have to do.
Bb used to rhyme ||< :<| < |< |<|< ymr kole bose ym-ke kbi
Sit on the lap of mother nature (Durg or ym) and call out for Ka (yma).
Mahprabhu told Raghuntha Dsa Gosvm: antare vairgya koro bhire loka vyavahra
Be innerly detached and externally act like the common man.
Bb was musing, thinking of Mahprabhu: I cannot understand Your pastimes
you sent the six Gosvms into severe renunciation, although they were very rich and
powerful, and at the same time You sent Advaita Prabhu, who was a renunciant, into
household life. Thus You showed the world what a thorny forest household life is, how hard
life gets when one is attached. Why did He perform such a wholly contradictory act? I think
it was because only Advaita Prabhu could take the poison of the householders sense
enjoyment in His throat (as Shiva took the poison from the Milk Ocean into His throat).
Bbs householder disciple asked: Bb, how can we be devoted to the Lord?
Bb replied: Take shelter of r Gurus lotus feet, believe r Gurus words, earnestly do
bhajana according to r Gurus instructions, then surely the goddess of devotion will be
pleased with you. sdhana vin sdhya vastu keho nhi py (C.C.) Without practising no
one can attain spiritual perfection. Those who must work all day should at least in the
evening do some japa and meditation, for the shstras provide us with this hope: krome
krome pye lok bhava sindhu kle (C.C.) Slowly and gradually the people will reach the
shore of the ocean of material existence.
32
Advaita Ds: On the other hand I heard Bb say: How can a householder
peacefully practise his mantras? The radio is on, children are crying and pulling at him, his
wife complains and hassles him for money On another occasion I saw him challenging
visiting householders: Who are happy? You or us (singles living in the monastery)?
One day a couple places a misformed baby in front of Bb, expecting his usual
compassion, but Bb sternly sends them away. I ask him why and he replies: They have
created this child in some perverted way. Thats why it is so misformed.
Nirajan Prasd Ds: Bbs Shivaite anger could be as hard as a thunderbolt or he
could be Ashutoa, Shiva who is easily pleased, and softer than a flower. < <| <<|<
< |< :| { :<| <|<
Once during darshan I tell Bb about ideas I previously learned of procreation -
conceiving a child in spiritual consciousness, after doing one lakh of nma, praying for a
child during the conception. Bb laughs loudly, saying: It is totally impossible to do this in
a spiritual consciousness. One must be lusty for this. Look, he says while holding his own
skin, this body (although it may be from the highest aristocracy) is a product of my parents
desires. How can a marriage be spiritual? It is a bodily matter.
Bb tells his householder disciples that they should name their children after Ka
Nowadays Hindus give their children names like Binky and Tinky nonsense! Parara
Muni told Ajmila: You are so sinful, the only hope there is for you is if you name your
children after Nryan. Call out to them and you can still be saved.
38

Within the ashram there is no question of marriage: The one married couple that
lives in the ashram must sleep separately and was told that they made a mistake getting
married at all.
A young man regularly visited the ashram, wanting to marry one of my Guru-sisters.
Bb approved of the match, but also told him: Look, you should approach the Guru for
the highest benefit (higher than having a wife) - tasmt guru prapadyeta jigysu reyam
uttamam.
Bb was not in favor of mixed marriages, saying it would lead to many cross-
cultural conflicts and misunderstandings between the families and within the marriage.
Children born from such a match would also not be able to clearly identify with either one
of the parents culture and race. Bb taught: Better not to marry at all, and if you do, then
marry someone from your own tribe.
39

K Ds: Bb said that marriage is an emergency, it is not to be done lightly or
whimsically. One must first do ones very best to be single and celibate; if that is really
impossible, only then one should start thinking of marriage.
Advaita Ds: One day (in April, 1984) I sit with Bb on the bank of the Ganges
and I ask him: Bb, I heard that celibacy is only important on the yoga and gyn paths,
and it does not really matter for the bhakti path so much. Is that true? Bb said: No. You
see, whether you are a yogi, gyn or devotee, your vital juice contains all the most powerful
ingredients of your body. That is lost if you are not celibate, whatever path you tread.

38
Overheard from Bb personally by Advaitadas in Vndvana, October 1984
39
ghrth sad bhrym udvahed ajugupsitm. yavyas tu vayas (. Bhg. 11.17.39) A
brahmacr (student) who wishes to marry should choose a girl from his own species/caste/class,
who is of unblemished character and who is younger than himself.
33
On abstinence Bb wrote in Sakipta Nitya Karma Paddhati: Celibacy means
preservation of vrya (genital fluid), which is the ingredient of peace. Regardless whether
one is a householder or a monk, the more vrya one preserves, the more peace one will
find.
Bb, however, was the perfect tyg
Nirajan Prasd Ds: Looking at Bb it is clear that he tore apart the web of
household life and went off to pursue his own desired path with the power of a tiger,
casting a Rudra-glance of rejection towards My, who can make the impossible possible,
and treating her with the contempt of nha tva ta manye I dont consider you to
be even a blade of grass. Who is able to stop such a powerful course of dispassion? When
beholding Bb it seems that his divine light has scorched hundreds of Cupids to ashes. His
lotus feet have trampled the temptations of women and money and offer the world the
blessing of m bhai Do not fear.
vikra heto sati vikriya te ye na cetasi sa eva dhr (Kumra Sambhava,
Klids) A person who is undisturbed although there are causes for agitation, is called
dhra or calm. Once Mahdeva was absorbed in meditation when Prvat came to render
service to him, but Mahdeva remained calm still. He did not prevent her from rendering
service to Him. This is the hallmark of a heroic sdhaka. Bb was such a heroic sdhaka.
He used to say: How can you become a hero without engaging in combat? Combat makes
one a hero, and when the hero is victorious he is a true hero when he loves the one he
defeated.
40

Namit Sh: Bb is after quality before quantity. Bb is after sincerity rather
than showing off. When a rich supporter gave him a wad of cash Bb set it on fire, but
when a very poor person gave him a coin hed put it on his head and made a dancing
motion.
41

Advaita Ds: Bb addressed all women and girls as | m, mother.
42
He told me in
November 1982: I could not be so close to these women here unless I see myself as a girl
too.
Nirajan Prasd Ds: Bb had the pleasing attitude of a child. Once he said: You
know why I have become a renunciant? Whom did I want to make king by becoming a
beggar? It was to make Gopl a king that I became a beggar. Seeing the smile on His face,
His ecstasy, I felt this real filial bliss.
Advaita Ds: In July, 1983, my friend Rdh Ramaa came from Vraja to take me
to Puri for Rath Ytr. Bb gives us each Rs.10 (quite an amount of money then). A poor
man then comes and donates Rs.10 to Bb. Bb returns it and tells him: You are too
poor. I cannot accept this. I apologise: Bb I am the disciple, you are the Guru I must
give money to you! Bb: Not at all! Here, take it!
Prabhu Stnthas three glorious attributes devotion, knowledge and
renunciation are said to be embodied by the three sons of rla nanda Gopl Gosvm.

40
loves the one he defeated - Bb was dealing very affectionately with women.
Explained by Nirajan Prasad Das in a letter to Advaitadas, September 28, 2001
41
Conveyed by Malati Ocfemia, March 23, 2008.
42
mt-bhakti para-stru Be devoted to others wives as to your mother - r Bhgavata 4.16.17
34
The eldest son embodied devotion, the middle one knowledge and the youngest one, Bb,
renunciation.
Guru tattva
Bb wrote in the Sakipta Nitya Karma Paddhati: First one takes shelter of
nma (takes harinm initiation) and then, when one has attained sadcra (purity in
conduct) one becomes eligible for mantra dk. ||< <| s- <|< :# s |^ -<
*|<< - If one takes mantra without keeping sadcra the mantra will not work and will
not bestow auspiciousness. Dk is the root of all japa and tapa (spiritual practises). Taking
dk from a genuine Guru bestows all perfections. The japa and pj of an uninitiated
person is fruitless, like planting seeds on a stone. Such a person will not attain a fortunate
destination. Hence one must certainly take dk from a genuine Guru.
Advaita Ds: Seeing how studious I was, Bb presented me an expensive, thick
blue notebook. Once he looked through my notes and stressed the importance of guru
bhakti by pointing at lokas he saw there, such as Raghunth Ds Gosvm's gurau gohe
gohlayiu sujane bh-suragae (O mind! Love the Guru, Vraja, the Vrajavss, the saints
and the Brahmins!) and Rpa Gosvm's r gurupadraya ka dkdi ikn
virambhena guro sev. (Take shelter of the Gurus feet, take initiation and teachings
from him and serve him with trust) He stressed the virambhena guro sev, serving the
Guru with trust. Bb rejected the culture of having so many Gurus: dk guru ik guru
k guru guru is one. This confuses the mind, causes speculation and destroys guru
nih.
43
He also told me the main cause for falldown is offending the Guru.
Nirajan Prasd Ds: Bb stressed the power of the Gurus words with this verse -

udayati yadi bhnu pacime dig-vibhge
pracalati yadi meru tat yti vahni
vikasati yadi padma parvatgre ily
na bhavati punar ukta bhita sajjannm

43
r gurvjay tat sevanvirodhena ca anyem api vaiavn pjana reya anyath doa
syt. yath r nradoktau - gurau sannihite yastu pjayed anyam agrata. sa durgatim avpnoti
pjana tasya niphalam (Bhakti Sandarba 238) It is good to worship other Vaiavas only if it is
on the order of r Guru and does not contradict his service. Otherwise it is a fault, as is said by r
Nrada: Whoever worships others in front of the Guru attains a bad destination and his worship
will be fruitless. The opening words of Caitanya Caritmta are vande gurn, I praise my Gurus
(gurn is plural). How then is the Guru still one? It is explained a little later: mantra guru ara joto
ik-guru-gaa (CC di 1.35) "There is one mantra-guru and so many ik gurus." So we go
around and whimsically choose ik-gurus that will tell us all kinds of things that we want to hear
but that may contradict the dk-guru's teachings? No, because who these ik-gurus are is
explained immediately in the next two verses: r rpa santana bhaa raghuntha r jva gopla
bhaa dsa raghuntha ei chay guru ik guru ye mr r Rpa, Santana, Bhaa Raghuntha,
r Jva, Gopla Bhaa, Dsa Raghuntha - these six gurus are my ik gurus. Of course they are
ik gurus through their brilliant books and their splendid personal examples.
35
The sun may rise in the west, Mount Meru may move itself, fire may get cold and a
lotus flower may sprout from a mountain rock, but the words of the saints will never be
redundant or superfluous. (Vikrama-carita, 245)
Bb preached: In a garden there are so many trees; similarly there are so many
Gurus out there that we may want to listen to. One moon, however, gives more light than
so many stars. What is the use of running from Guru to Guru, from holy place to holy place?
There are so many types of worship, but actually they are one and the same. The Lord will
reveal Himself in the form that you meditate on and that you love most.
Advaita Ds: Bb taught us Guru-nih with this popular narration from
Mahbhrata One day Drocrya took all his pupils along to a tree with a bird sitting
in it. First he ordered Duryodhana to aim his bow at the bird. Then he asked him: What
do you see? Duryodhana said: I see the tree, the branch on which the bird sits and the
bird itself. Droa said: Move over. Arjuna, come here and fix your arrow. What do you
see? Arjuna said: I see the bird. Droa: Anything else? Arjuna: Nothing else. Droa:
Fire! This is how the disciple must be exclusively fixed on the order of the Guru.
Bb sometimes lamented the lack of appreciation and gratitude of some of his
disciples, mockingly paraphrasing them: Yeh, I got something from my Guru, some
mantra or so
K Ds: (In regards to what sdhana we shall and shall not practise) "<< |
<|# | |# |< <" Whatever Gurudeva has given me, that is my all-in-all.
About worshiping the Gurus physical frame once as Bb was changing cloth to
use the bathroom, he invited some guests to come along and see what the Guru is made of.
This is not the Guru Guru is a tattva (principle). Guru lives in his words not in his body.

Gaura Tattva
Bb quoted from Caitanya Bhgavata that Advaita Prabhu was the one who first
proclaimed Mahprabhu as avatra and He was also the first one to do pj of Gaura, but
not with a separate Gaura-mantra, but with the famous mantra;

namo brahmaya devya go-brhmaa hitya ca
jagaddhitya kya govindya namo nama

I pay my obeisances to Govinda, to r Ka, the God of the brhmanas, the
benefactor of the brhmaas, the cows and the whole universe.
Thus Advaita Prabhu saw no difference between Gaura and Ka. Bb also
disapproved of the notion that Mahprabhu is Rdh-Ka milita tanu (a physical merger
of Rdh-Ka), quoting Svarpa Dmodaras definition of Mahprabhu in the
introduction to Caitanya Caritmta: rdh bhva dyuti subalitam naumi ka svarpam.
He is Ka, accepting the feelings and glow of Rdh. So He is not both Rdh and
Ka, but Ka. Ka Ds: Bb once said: Go to Dhmevara (the main Mahprabhu
Temple in downtown Navadvpa), take down His kaupin and see for yourself.
Bb explained: Ka came as Gaura, but Gaura does not become Ka, just as
milk, once turned into yoghurt, cannot be made into milk again.
36
Advaita Ds: When I tell Bb of the Paca-tattva-mantra I chant before each ml
of traka brahma nma, Bb says: This all unnecessary.
44
Just practise what I gave you.
On Gaura Purim, at midday, Madan Gopla is taken out of the Mandir at Sdhu
Bbs Ashram, painted with a gold film and renamed Gaura Gopla. For this Gaura
Gopla krtana and abhieka are done. Bb said: For Gauras pleasure we do abhiek of
Ka on Gaura Purnim and for Gauras pleasure we do abhiek of Ka on Janmam.
When I ask Bb: But without Gauras mercy we cannot get Ka, so dont we
need a Gaura mantra then? Bb replies almost apologetically: But I have not gotten such
mantras, where shall I get them from?
Sdhu Bbs Ashram was a Vraja-island in a Gaura-ocean. While all over Navadvpa
devotees greeted each other with jaya niti or jaya gaura!, in Sdhu Bbs Ashram one
was always greeted with a hearty jaya rdhe!
Bb tells me that Navadvp dhm Parikram is not an ancient custom it was only
started this (20
th
) Century by the Gauya Math.
When I asked Bb more about Gaura being in the spiritual sky or not, Bb said:
There is no Gaura there. But Gaura-ll is eternal in the way that it traverses throughout
the mundane universes. In each universe there is a planet earth, on which there is a
Navadvpa-dhma, where Gaura-ll goes on, like a firebrand.
Once Bb kindly asked me to take part in a pryaa (public recital) of Caitanya
Caritmta and offered me the choice between its d, Madhya and Antya-lls. He was
very pleased when I chose for Antya-ll, which deals with Mahprabhus pastimes in the
Gambhr at Jaganntha Puri. He confirmed that it is the highest stage of Gaura-ll.
When I ask Bb where Mahprabhus actual birthplace is here or in Mypura,
Bb just smiles and points to the ground it is here in Prcn Mypura.
Once in Vndvana I ask Bb: Bb, there is this verse in Caitanya Caritmta (di
8, 12):
heno kpmoy caitanya n bhaje ye jana;
sarvottama hoile-o tte asura gaana

Whoever does not worship this merciful Caitanya is an asura (godless person), even
if he is (otherwise) the greatest person.
Does this apply to us (because we do not worship Mahprabhu separately from
Ka)?
Bb replies: No it does not, because we worship Ka under the auspices of
rman Mahprabhu.
Advaita-tattva
Bb glorified his pra purua (arch-father) Advaita crya as follows: Advaita
Prabhu did not accept the obeisances Mahprabhu offered to Him, although He was just a
toddler then and Advaita Prabhu was the Gurudeva of His parents! Where can such a
devotee be found? He offered a seat to the Lord with a handful of flowers. He roared for
the Lord to descend and offered handsful of flowers to the Ganges while chanting Lord

44
pacatattvtmaka ka (C.C. di 1.14) Ka consists of the paca tattva. By
worshipping Ka one worships the Panca Tattva. The various panca tattva mantras were
composed in the 19
th
or 20
th
century only.
37
Haris holy name. He offered Ganges water and called out for the Lord no one in the
universe could do that but Him! It is the Advaita-lion! adbhuta ceita (CC di 6.1)
Advaitas activities are astonishing! Who will give affection to the living beings? He is the
angry God (Shiva). Shiva is very angry, but also easily pleased. He is as easily angered as He
is satisfied. Now (in the form of Advaita Prabhu) He has become Hari-Hara (both Viu
and Shiva) advaita harindvaitd crya bhakti asant (CC di 1.13) Advaita is not
different from Hari. He is known as crya because of His propagation of devotion.
Whose glory and excellence is all this (Gaura ll)? Not Gauras but Stnthas! We dont
say this to play down Gaura or so Gaura Himself said nhr hunkre mora ei avatra:
Advaitas shouts have brought Me down to earth. Stntha was the Gurudeva of His
father and mother, but He thought to Himself I am a devotee, and I want His lotus-feet.
Hence He performed this drama (pastimes) with the Lord together to teach the world
devotion.
Advaita Ds: Bbs stntha-nih
45
was complete. On Lord Nitynandas
appearance day I timidly asked him if he knew it was trayoda today. Bb asked around
and confirmed it was trayoda. No celebration at all!
Advaita Ds: When I set out for a foreign journey Bb consoles me: Millions of
universes emanate from each of Prabhu Stnthas pores wouldnt He then be able to
protect a tiny soul who is surrendered to Him?
46

*
One disciple asked: Bb, what is bhakti? Bb replied: Self-manifest love for
God, through which God is bound to the devotees love. That is why devotion is greater
than the Lord Himself, it is the Lords pleasure potency, a lake of nectar where the greatest
swans (paramahasas) swim. Deep, intense devotion is called prema. bhaktake ncy
prem kake ncy, pan ncy tine nce ek thiy (C.C.) Prema makes the devotee
dance, it makes Ka dance and it dances itself thus all three dance in the same place.
All will take one form! The shapeless brahman assumes a shape, thats why I tell you
practise devotion! Someone else asked: Bb is there something like a God? Can anybody
claim such a thing? Bb: OK tell me, do you exist? Yes, I exist. If you exist, then you
must also have a father. Sure I do. Bb: Similarly, if the universe exists there must also
be a creator of that universe. Thus it must be accepted that there must also be a God. Who
other than the mother can tell a child who its father is? You will find God through r Guru,
he will give you the essential knowledge with which you can find God. Worship God,
because that is the duty of the living beings. '< || < < :< | <|: | |-| |<|<
|! jagater pit ka, je n bhaje bp! Pitri-droh ptakr janme janme tp! Ka is
the father of the universe, O boy! If you dont worship him you are like a traitor of your
father and you will suffer from such a sin birth after birth!
47

Entries from Advaita ds diary
September 10, 1982 My best friend Rdh Rama had once told me that
according to Haribhakti Vilsa a Guru should come from a brhmaa-family, preferably the

45
stntha-nih exclusive loyalty to Advaita Prabhu. trayoda - the 13
th
day of the lunar quarter.
46
As Sadiva He can easily destroy the universes again, too.
47
r Caitanya Bhgavata Madhya khaa 1.202
38
family of Nitynanda or Advaita Prabhu. Today he takes me for my first daran of Nikuja
Gopla Gosvm as possible Guru, in a small house next to Vndvana's bhajanashram,
named "yma Vinodini Kuja" or "Adwaita Bhawan". It is the same house where I met
Govinda Gopla Gosvm three months earlier he turns out to be his elder brother.
Rdhraman told me before that this sdhu does not believe in bheda buddhi between
Gaura and Ka. He worships Gaura as Ka, in other words he does not worship Gaura
as a separate Godhead. Hence he also does not give dk in Gaur-mantra. Bb is
corpulent, highly effulgent, has a long matted beard, long jas (matted locks) and gigantic
Tulas-beads around his neck. He greets us very spontaneously"Jay Rdhe! Jay Rdhe!" I
like him at once. When we are back out, I tell Rdh Ramaa: "Wow, he's really amazing!"
"I told you so!", Rdh Rama says.
(From August 12th I had been on a 84 Krosh Vrajamaala Parikram which was to
last until September 27, but I fell ill on the way, so I returned to Vndvana on September
1. I see this as Bb's arrangement. If I had completed the parikram I would not have met
Bb, who was scheduled to leave on September 27.)
September 20, 1982 After 10 days of illness I go again for darana of Bb
Nikuja Gopla Gosvm, who is reclining on the courtyard of yma Vinodin Kuja. Bb
hardly knows any English, but an interpreter is found. My first question to him is: "Do you
think it is good that they are introducing varashram in the West?" Bb says in English:
"This is a very bad thing- caturvaryam may sa gua karma vibhgaa (Gt 4.13)
The four castes and ashrams have been created by Me (Ka). Then I ask him: "Is Gaura
separately worshipable?" Bb replies: Who is Gaura? Gaura is Ka. If Ka Himself is
there why worship Gaura separately? How can you concentrate on two deities? You have
only one mind. It appeals to me. I get a flyer of Bb's upcoming Vrajamaala parikram,
planned in february 1983; the flyer is headed by a verse from Rdh Rasa Sudhnidhi (14):

rdh karvacita pallava vallarke
rdh padka vilasan madhura sthalke
rdh yao mukhara matta khagvalke
rdh vihra vipine ramat mano me

Let my mind find pleasure in the play-forest of Rdh, where the sprouts and vines
are touched by Rdh's hands, where the ground is sweetened by Rdh's footprints and
where the birds madly sing Rdh's glories!
September 24, 1982 I come to Bb at midday and ask for dk. Bb consents
to give it tomorrow. Later I hear that Bb wants to postpone it to 27th September.
48
Bb
asks me to hand in a notebook and I ask him for a new name. I get a photo of Bb, of
Advaita Prabhu and a colour photo of r-r Rdh Madana Gopla.
September 27, 1982 My dk-day. After taking Yamun-snna early in the
morning I put on a neat dhot. At Bihrij Mandir I buy a flower garland and then proceed
to Advaita Bhavan. Bb takes me into the front room, blinds the windows and whispers

48
25 september was a demoniac constellation, ml, while 27 september was the auspicious
constellation uttarh. gurukp! How kind is the Guru!
39
two dk-mantras in my right ear. After that he also gives me the mah mantra. I must
repeat each word of each mantra three times over. After this he makes tilaka on the twelve
designated places on my body with the emblem of the Advaita-parivra: a stem on the
forehead and a Banyan-leaf on the nose and arms. After that Bb takes a Tulas-ml in
the hand to hang around my neck, but when he sees that I already have one he leaves it.
Bb had already written the dk-mantras in my notebook in both Bengali and English,
adding to it: "Your present name is Adwaita dasji Maharaj"
49
. dk is only two Ka-
mantras
50
, as I had expected. I ask Bb what the rules for an initiated devotee are, and he
tells me: Be chaste, vegetarian and teetotaller.
51
I offer Bb the flower garland, but it is
entangled, so that doesn't work. Then I give him the Rs.15 guru daki that I managed to
collect but he doesn't want to accept it. Instead he says in English: "I don't need this. I want
your heart." Bb also says: Our caste distinction is only towards the body, not the soul. I
receive a Bengali folder with an arcana paddhati that explains the rites for practising the
mantras. I also ask Bb for siddha pral, but he finds that too early "That you will get
later. Before leaving for Navadvpa, Bb tells me: If you have any questions on bhajana
then consult my brother.
In October 1982 my friend Madhusdana, resident of Navadvpa, writes me:
"Nikuja Gopla Gosvm is a great devotee, an expert lecturer, a good musician and a nice
person. Concerning the one-ness of Gaura and Ka, don't worry, r Raghuntha dsa
Gosvm says: ac snu nandvara pati sutatve "O mind! Know the son of mother ac
to be the son of the king of Nandvara (Ka)!" Later that month Madhusdana writes me
that my Guru is calling me to Navadvpa. He offers me to stay in his house.
November 8, 1982 After I arrive in Navadvpa, suffering from blood-diarrhoea,
Bb sends my guru-bhis to Madhusdana's house at Gokulnanda Gh with a free
chdor and sweater. A few days later they come again with more gifts. I don't know how to
thank them for all this.
November 11, 1982 My first visit to Sdhu Bbs Ashram. Prcn Mypur is a
beautiful, green suburb of Navadvpa. When we enter the yard of the ashram Bb exclaims:
"Rdhe Rdhe!" I fall at his feet. We are very happy to see each other again. There are no
peacocks or red monkeys in Bengal, like in Vraja, so Bb brought them to his ashram, to
re-create Vraja here. The peacock is in a big cage opposite the Gopl Mandir and the

49
Sdhu Bb was not exposed to Vaiava-groups where all devotees get new names at initiation. Usually
people had a name-change when they took sannysa (Nimai/Caitanya f.i.), or (re-) converted to Hinduism
(Rpa-Santana f.i.). So when I asked Sdhu Bb for a name, he took it like that. Needless to say, I did not
deserve the Maharaj-title. It was not a sannysa-initiation. Sdhu Bb neither took nor gave sannysa.
50
kma gyatr and kmabja initiation comes directly from Advaita Prabhu, as stated in Prema
Vilsa, chapter 19: mahprabhu advaitere koril dea dk mantra mdhavere koro upadea. r
advaita prabhu mahprabhura j mate mdhavera kare mantra lgil kohite. ge harinma
koil arthera sahite. rdh-ka mantra pore kohil karete. kma gyatr kma bja upadea koil.
artha jniy sab tattva jnil. Mahprabhu ordered Advaita Prabhu to give dk mantra to
Mdhava dsa. Following Mahprabhus order Advaita Prabhu spoke the mantra into Mdhavas ear.
First He gave him harinma with its explanation, and after that He spoke Rdh-Ka mantra into
his ear. He instructed him into Kma Gyatri and Kma Bja.
51
Bb was totally independent. Never, before, during or after dk, he ever asked me if I had
ever taken dk elsewhere.
40
monkey, named Rm, is on a chain and can jump on a pole and in a tree from there. The
wonder is that Bb can just hold Rm on his arms, and can caress him. (Red monkeys are
killers) That shows Bb's gentle and sweet character. Behind the main building is a small
goshala, where some cows and a calf are served and there is even a dog, named Bol. I
notice that some men and women in the ashram wear jas, matted locks - it is because
Advaita Prabhu is Sadiva, although I had always learned that He is Mahviu. He is both
actually, and because Bb descends from Advaita Prabhu or Sadiva, he and his followers
also wear jas. Madhusdana tells me that the men of Bb's family descend from iva and
they take their wives from kl-vaas.
Bb narrates: One day Balarma and the other cowherd boys went to mother
Yaod and said: Ma, we saw Kni eating clay. Ma then went to Gopl and asked Him:
Gopl, is that true or not? Gopl said: No M, theyre all lying! Ma: Then let me see.
Open Your mouth. Ka then opened His mouth and showed that there was instead some
stolen butter inside. Bb smiles sweetly as if the butter lies within his own mouth.
I ask Bb for an explanation of the dk-mantras. As always, Bb excells in
simplicity no elaborate stories. He says that kmadeva stands for Ka playing (deva)
completely svacchanda (kma), that He maddens the gops with love with His beauty
(pupaba) and that He becomes so ecstatic during amorous pastimes that He passes out,
losing bodily awareness. This disembodied intoxication makes Him anaga, the
unembodied one.
When Bb speaks (to others) about breathing excercises I ask him if this is bhakti.
Bb: If pryma can help you meditate on Ka, why wouldnt that be bhakti?"
52

December 1, 1982 Bb enters into my room and places a small booklet before
me, 'Vilpa Kusumjali' by r Raghuntha Dsa Gosvm. He tells me to memorise
it and possibly to translate it into English. He says it is a very important booklet and that his
father nanda Gopla Gosvm's phas on it were famous. Any verse from this book can
immerse you in an ocean of nectarean meditation. Dive deep there are jewels on the
bottom.
53
In 104 prayers this booklet gives a complete description of all majari sevs and
lls, briefly but very sweetly.
December 3, 1982 My Guru-brother Nryan-d comes into my room and says
Bb calls me upstairs on the balcony. Bb sits there on the floor, wearing his spectacles
and completing writing on a huge sheet of paper. He has filled it in singlehandedly. He
hands it to me and explains to me how it works. It is the siddha pral I so much desired.
I bow down to Bb in gratitude and ask him: Must I memorise all this? Bb: At least
your own svarpa, the Gurus svarupa, parama Gurus svarpa and Prabhu Stnthas
svarpa. Keep this between the two of us dont reveal this to anyone, not even to your
friends! I am surprised and honoured that he gave it to me so soon, for when I took dk,
just 2 months ago, he said I should first be purified by bhajana before becoming ripe for
siddha pral.

52
tasmd kenpy upyena mana ke niveayet (Bhg 7.1.31) Somehow, by any means, fix your mind on
Ka. There are many glorifications and prescriptions of pryma in Hari Bhakti Vilsa, namely 3:101,
116, 270-1, 309, 5:72-88, 129-133, 8:422-3, 500 17:150-2 and 199.
53
It is not for no reason that Nirajan Babu called Bb a jahur :<| jeweller.
41
As Bb had already revealed, Prabhu Stntha Himself is present in all four rasas:
sakh-bhva (Vikh), ds bhva (Rati Majar), sakhya bhva (Madhumagala) and
vtsalya rasa (Paurams). Bb: By practising meditation on the siddha deha and siddha
sev the siddha deha is gradually developed. Whatever you always think of you will attain as
you end this body.
ya ya vpi smaran bhvan tyajantyante kalevara
ta tam evaiti kaunteya sad tad bhva bhvota (Gt 8.6)

Above the siddha pral he has written:

mane nija siddha deha koriy bhvana
rtri dine kore braje kera sevana

The mental practise is to meditate on ones own siddha deha and thus serve Ka
in Vraja day and night. (C.C. Madhya 22.156), and:

rdhyo bhagavn vrajea tanayas taddhma vndvana
ramy kcid upsan vrajavadh vargea y kalpit
stra bhgavatam pramam amala prema pumrtho mahn
r caitanya mahprabhor matam ida tatrdaro na para

The worshipable Lord is Ka, the son of Nanda of Vraja.
The abode in which we worship Him is Vndvana.
The delightful method of Worship is that of the cowherd wives of Vraja (the gops).
The holy scripture the Bhgavata is the spotless authority.
The greatest pursuit of human life is prema, love of God.
This is the opinion of r Caitanya Mahprabhu.
This deserves our highest respect, care and love.

Bb says it is written by rntha Cakravart, a iya of Advaita Prabhu, and explains
the entire gauya siddhnta in a nutshell.
About siddha pral and the first verse of Vilpa Kusumjali Bb says: Rpa
Majari was not married. The word angata here means your husband has not come yet,
you are still a virgin. The kikars have no kujas of their own because the sakhs are
hostesses to Ka and make Him enjoy, while the majars have a service function, and
therefore don't need their own kuja. We all serve in the great kuja of Vikh-dev
because Advaita Prabhu is Vikh."
Bb also explains the traka brahma nma in majar bhva: "The whole
mantra deals with Hari and Ka, not with Rdh, for we serve Her by singing this mantra,
to relieve Her feelings of separation from Ka and to remind Her of Him. Hence hare
means hari, not har. Ka is All-attractive, Hari removes all of Rdh's attachments to
Her marital vows and Rma is Her ramaa."
42
Returning to the kma gyatr Bb explains why should we meditate on a Ka-
mantra while we have more love for Rdh? nanda Gopla Gosvm explained that with a
Rdh Rasa Sudhnidhi verse (259)

dhyyas ta ikhi picha maulim ania tan nma sakrtayan
nitya tac carambuja paricaras tan mantra varya japan
r rdh pada dsyam eva parambha hd dhrayan
karhi sy tad anugrahea paramodbhutnurgotsava

I always meditate on Ka, who wears a crown of peacock feathers, I always sing
His name in sakrtana, I always serve His lotus feet (the deity) and repeat His best of
mantras, holding the desire for the supremely cherished service of r Rdh's lotus feet in
my heart. When will that great festival of divine love arise in my heart by His grace?

I compose an English ode to Bb and save it in the light-blue notebook that Bb
had given me. In it I praise Bb for giving me the clue to gaura tattva and majar bhva.
Nirajan Bbu discovers it, takes it home and composes a Bengali version.
December 24, 1982 Nirajan Babu has completed his Bengali ode to Bb and
drags me, against my will, before Bb on the courtyard and begins to read my English ode
to him. Tears roll down Bbs cheeks and he lifts his left lotus hand in blessing.
December 25, 1982 When I tell Bb about the Christmas-feasts on animals in
the west, he folds his hands in horror and says: All religions are good and true, but our
santana dharma is the best and the original religion Then he quotes the opening words of
the rmad Bhgavata - janmdyasya yata (From whom (Vsudeva) it all emanates).
Then when I suggest, as I learned in my previous ashram, that no westerner can take his
next birth as a human being again, Bb begins to roar of laughter with shuddering
tummy.
54

Later Bb explains the huge cultural and economic differences between India and
the west as follows: This here is tapo bhmi, a place of penance, meant for self realisation,
and your region is bhoga bhmi, a place for enjoyment.

54
Westerners act according to their own level of understanding, Indian standards do not apply to
them. Vijaya Ka Gosvm taught: |<< < < << =< | -# :', |', <|' || =< :< <|-|
<< <|| *|<|< <|<| : |-| |<|< | :<|< | -|| < < ||< || <<| << | <|-| < < <|| |||
#<, |-|# |< < | < || || | <|< :< <|< | -, <|< -, :', |' <|' *|< < <<
|<<+ | |< :# <|< |? -# - | =< :< <|-| < < <|| |<| <<, < | <|| *|<< <<, | -|< |#
< , |-|< |# < || | :<|| :|< ||-|< < < <|| |< <<, < :<|| <| | <|| |<<< |'
<< - :-o- Although not every human being has the same duties, obligations and ethics, there is
morality according to country, society and time. Whatever is thus considered decent is accepted,
and unless and until it is understood and realised to be wrong and unjust it should certainly be
followed. Whatever I believe to be my duties and propriety that is my religious principle. If one
doesnt follow ones fundamental religious principles one meets with woe and commits sin
according to ones local, social and temporal customs and ethics. Whatever obligation and ethics one
believes in and accepts with a simple heart, that is ones religious virtue and should certainly be
followed. In some places the eating of fish and meat is established custom and at other places it is
rejected as a sin as if it is poison. Vijay Krishna Goswami, June 1891.
43
Bb asks me to once write an English book about Prabhu Stntha in English. For
this he gives me the booklets 'Advaita Praka' by n Ngar, Advaita Mangal by
Haricaran Ds and 'Advaita Blya Stra' by Lauya Kads, to use as sources. Bb
explains: Advaita Prabhu is not the ordinary guvatra iva, He is Sadiva who eternally
dwells in Vaikuha and who is the fountainhead of all the universal destroyers iva.
55

Bb says about race: Everywhere there are good and bad people. One time I ask
him about the Bhgavata-verse which says that the dog-eater that once holds the Lords
name on the tip of his tongue has performed all pilgrimages, penances, sacred baths and
Vedic studies aho bata va-paco to garyan yajjihvgre vartate nma tubhyam etc.
(rmad Bhgavata 3.33.7) Bb says: Oh, this is all glorification!
56

One day Bb told us the following true story: One day Vijay Krishna Gosvami was
wandering over the bank of the Yamun with his followers, when he told one of them: Go
and look there on the shore. There was a skeleton lying there. Gosvmj said: Look here,
on its bones the entire hare ka mantra is imprinted on it. Just see how much bhajan
this person has done in his or her lifetime!
When Bb wished to present himself as a crazy person he said: You see, my name
is Nikuja.
During the preparations for Prabhu Stntha's annual utsava a construction worker
falls off the scaffold alongside the ashram-building. As he lies squirming of pain on the

55
r mahdeva lokas tu saptvaraato bahi; nitya sukhamaya satyo labhyas tat sevakottamai
"But r Mahdeva's planet is outside of the seven layers of matter that cover the universe. It is
eternal, blissful, real and attainable by His devotees." (Vyu Purna) sadivkhy tan mrtis
tamogua varjit "Unlike the ordinary iva, Sadiva is beyond tamo gua." (Laghu Bhgavatmta
43) ivaloke vaikuha dhmni "ivaloka is Vaikuha-dhma." (Baladeva Vidybhaa)
56
rla Jva Gosvm comments on Bhakti Rasmta Sindhu 1.1.22, which is r Rpa Gosvms
comment on its twin verse: tasmd durjtir evety atra savanyogyatvepi kraam iti tad-yogyat
pratikla-ppamayty artha. na tu tad-yogyatvbhva-mtra-mayti. brhma aukre janmani
durjtitvbhvepi savana-yogyatvya puya-viea-maya-svitra-janmpekatvt. tataca savana-
yogyatva-pratikla-durjty-rambhaka prrabdham api gatam eva kintu icrbhvt svitra
janma nstti brhmaa-kumr savana-yogyatvbhvvacchedaka-puya-viea-maya-svitra-
janmpekvad asya janmntarpek vartata iti bhva. ata prama-vkyepi savanya kalpate
sambhvito bhavati na tu tadaivdhikr syd ity abhipretam vykhyta ca tai sadya savanya
soma-ygya kalpate. anena pjyatva lakyata iti - Therefore bad birth itself is here the cause of
being unqualified for Soma-sacrifice and that means possessing sin that is antagonistic to
qualification for that, not merely having an absence of qualification for that. Even though there is an
absence of bad birth in being born from the seed of brhmaas there is still the necessity for a
srya-birth (sacred thread initiation), which possesses the merit suitable for qualifying one for
Soma-sacrifice. Therefore though the prrabdha that caused the bad birth that is antagonistic to
suitability for soma-sacrifice is gone, like brhmaa-boys who because of absence of cultured
practice have no srya-birth and must await a srya-birth that possesses the merit that can cut to
pieces their absence of suitabilty for Soma-sacrifice, he [the dog-eater who chants the name of
Ka] must await another birth. This is the position. Therefore, in the statement of authority [.B.
3.33.6] the words savanya kalpate, "he becomes fit for soma sacrifice," are intended to mean he
becomes respected or honored, but not that he has actually become qualified then and there (to
perform that sacrifice). tad-anantara-janmany eva dvijatva prpya taddy-adhikr syd he
only becomes really qualified by taking a brahmin birth in the next life.
44
ground Bb goes to him, lifts his hand in blessing, and says: Look, you listen to disco- and
cinema-music day and night. If you had died now, what would you have thought of?
***
Prabhu Stntha's utsava in Bb's ashram is the biggest festival in the world
commemorating Advaita Prabhus advent, annually held in the month of Mgh (January-
February). 14 days of krtana, ll-krtana, pha and prasda. There is Rdh-Ka aa-
kliya ll-krtana, like Srya Pj and Pupa-cayaa Ll, in the afternoon (instead of gaura
he the krtanyas sing rdhe), rasa-krtana in the evening, and at 5 p.m. Bb himself gives
pha on the life of Advaita Prabhu. I notice that Bb does invoke Gaura in his
magalcaraa
57
Also during the dhivsa krtana he starts with a few lines of r ka
caitanya prabhu nitynanda hare ka hare rma r rdhe govinda.
February 20, 1983 Prabhu Stntha's birthday. There is a 24-hour krtana and
outside the ashram, on a large field, a huge amount of prasda, khichuri and tomato juice,
is freely distributed to a large crowd of poor people that come from all around. Along with
his friend r Jva Gosvm from rvsgana, Bb affectionately tours the field.
February 21, 1983 To complete Stntha's utsava a huge nagara-krtan is held
from the ashram, through Prcn Mypur to downtown Navadvp. It is already dark when
we arrive downtown. Bb walks in the dark streets of Navadvp, his bearded countenance
only illuminated by an oil lamp, singing loudly: dayl prabhu stntha e br my doy
koro O compassionate Lord of St (Adwaita Prabhu)! This time be kind upon me! It is a
magnificent sight to see Bb as my 'krtana-hero', loudly banging the huge karatlas. All
the residents of Navadvpa stream out to see him.
***
One morning Bb calls for all his mantra iyas
58
in the ashram and asks us: Why
are we doing trak brahma nma (the hare ka mantra) loudly (in krtana) and our dk
mantras secretly? We modestly wait till Bb himself provides the answer. Because the
trak brahma nma is in the eighth, vocative case hare ka! hare rma!, and the dk
mantras are in the fourth, dative case kya, govindya. I ask Bb if this is the fault
in the philosophy of the Niti Gaur Rdhe-yma-group.
59
Bb says: Certainly. I then ask:
But Bb, what about the verse khite uite yath tath nm loy; kla dea niyam nahi
sarva siddhi hoy (C.C.) Whether eating or reclining, whenever and wherever one utters
the name of Ka, all perfection will be achieved. Bb points out the word nma in that
verse it pertains to trak brahma nma, not to mantra as dk mantra. This mantra
should only be practised silently, in solitude, after bath and tilak.
Bb says that sana, or proper sitting on the floor in lotus position, is the root of all
religious life. Those who are used to sitting on chairs will have a hard time later to have
their heels tolerate sana, for proper meditation.

gop-bhva

57
mangalcaraa - recital invoking auspiciousness before a lecture commences.
58
mantra iyas Disciples that have received 2
nd
initiation, initiation into Ka mantra.
59
The Niti-Gaura Rdhe yma group claim that the hareka mantra is only to be chanted in japa
and if chanted in krtana, then someone must keep count. This, however, is a rule only for dk mantra,
which needs to be in the dative case, needs to start with a bja mantra and end with svh or nama.
45
Advaitads: In my previous ashram gop bhva is wholly forbidden and ridiculed,
but Bb simply quotes the Caitanya Caritmta-verse "ataeva gop-bhva koro angikra-
Therefore, accept the mood of the gops.
On the other hand Bb said that one who has too many lusty desires (and is
factually not celibate) should not study books on Kas intimate pastimes.
During Stnthas festival in 1983, Bb sat under a canopy on the yard of the
ashram, while the kettles were filled with boiling preparations for the next feast,
surrounded by a broad circle of iyas, like the moon surrounded by stars, and he explained
why Rdhr's bhaktas still use the prescribed Ka-meditation-mantras, quoting Vilpa
Kusumnjalis verse 100:
h ntha gokula sudhkara suprasanna
vaktrravinda madhura smita he kprdra
yatra tvay viharate pranayair priyrt
tatraiva mm api naya priya sevanya

O Lord! Nectar Moon of Gokula! O You who melt with compassion with Your
satisfied lotus-face and Your sweet smile! Wherever You lovingly enjoy with Your beloved
Rdh, let me also be there to render Your favourite services!
In other words, without serving Rdhr we do not serve Ka. Kas service is
included within Rdhrs service.
Once Bb argued: It is said jber swarp hoy kera nitya ds
60
why not
Rdhs nitya ds? The answer is that Rdhs maidservants also render service to Ka,
because only Rdh can ultimately please Ka, so they serve Him through Her.
One morning Bb came out of his quarters and said that all sdhana is completed
simply by clapping the hands and saying 'Rdhe Rdhe'
61

One evening, in early 1984, I sit next to Bb in the dark under the Bael-tree when
some children come with lanterns and begging bowls. One of the girls wears a sr, and
when they leave, after Bb had given them his usual loving attention, I say: That was
kumr
62
Rdh. No, Bb said, such is majar svarpa.
Bb was very fond of this song by Narottam Ds Thkura and he often sang it to us
in its entirety -
vndvana ramya sthna, divya cintmani dhma
ratana mandira manohara
vta klind nre, rja hasa keli kore
the obhe kanaka utpala

Vndvana is a lovely place, made of divine thought-gems,
where the captivating temples are made of jewels.
On the water of the Klind river lordly swans play,

60
This is a verse in Caitanya Caritmta (Madhya 20.108), meaning: It is the natural position of the soul
to serve Ka.
61
rdh nmaiva krya hyanudina milita sdhandha kois tyjy (Rdhrasa Sudhnidhi -
144) Simply by daily chanting of Rdh-nma millions of sdhanas become rejectable
62
Kumr maiden, or little girl.
46
and beautiful golden lotus flowers float about.

tra madhye hemapha, aa dale veita,
aa dale pradhna nyik
tr madhye ratnsane, bosi chen dui jane
ym sange sundar rdhik

In the middle of that river is a golden platform surrounded by eight petals,
that are like eight lotus petals, one each for Kas leading heroines.
In the middle of that platform two persons are seated
yma and His beautiful Rdhik.

Generally though, Bb was very frugal with gop-kath he avoided the topic,
even when asked about it. Once he sat in front of the straw hut (where I lived myself at the
time), surrounded by some disciples, and I asked him about some details of my siddha
svarpa-service. He briefly replied: Yes, you can do all these things, and then
immediately changed the subject by saying: Come sakhi, it is time for abhisra now. He
said this at 11 in the morning, when Rdh-Ka go out daily to meet Each other
(abhisra). Basically, he instructed me fully on these things on the day he gave me siddha
pral and practically never again.
On another occasion I asked Bb how to understand these mysterious verses of r
Caitanya Caritmta (Antya 4, 192-193):

dks-kle bhakta kare tma-samarpan a; sei-kle krsn a tre kare tma-sama
sei deha kare tra cid-nanda-maya; aprkr ta-dehe tra caran a bhajaya

At the time of initiation the devotee surrenders his very self at that time Ka
makes him equal to Himself and makes His body transcendental. In such a spiritual body
he can serve Kas lotus-feet
Bb explains that this does not mean that our material bodies suddenly become
spiritual the last line of the verses clearly shows that this deals with the devotees
spiritual body, whose seed is planted by r Guru at the time of initiation.
Krishn Ds: Bb did not want any opulence in or around the Ashram, no big
shiny marble buildings There should be mdhurya here. Birds should be there, trees
and flowers a really peaceful environment.
63
Even now Sdhu Bbs ashram is an
abode of peace (nti) and silence (mauna). There are no tapes constantly playing lectures
or mikes blaring loud krtans into the sky.

Bb on arcan
Advaitads: Bb's deity is a single Lau-Gopl, who is installed in a raised temple
facing the entry of the ashram. He is a rasika Lau Gopla, since we are not in vtsalya

63
Personal conversation, Sdhu Bbs Ashram, March 2000.
47
rasa. Bb explains the absence of a Rdh-deity by pointing out that the name Rdh is
engraved on Gopla's chest.
Tapan Kumr Adhikr: Bb experienced Kas childhood as adolescence as
depicted in the third verse of Ka Karmta:

cturyaika-nidna-sma-capalpga-ccha-manthara
lvaymta-vci-lolita-da lakm-katkdtam
klind-pulingana-praayina kmvatrkura
bla nlam am vaya madhurima-svrjyam rdhnuma

"We worship that dark bluish young boy, who is the one limitless resting-place of
amicableness, who causes the gopis to slow down their gait with the rays of His restless
glances, glances made restless by waves of ambrosial shimmer that are worshipped by r
Rdh, the Supreme Goddess of fortune, who is very fond of the gardens on the bank of the
Yamun, who is the root cause of all Cupids and who is the independent kingdom of divine
sweetness.

Bb stressed the word bla, or child, was there and so He reconciled the child-
form of Ka in His temple with the divya kiora mrti we actually worship. Furthermore
Bb stressed mental worship (mnas sev) over external worship in the temple, so even
though Smt. Rdhr is not abundantly visible in the temple, She is overwhelmingly
predominant in our meditations.
64

Advaitads: Bb explains that only householders can worship deities because if a
sdhu dies or gets sick no one can serve the deity. He will be guilty of apardha, whereas
when a married man dies or gets sick his wife and children can take over the service. I
respectfully submit to Bb that he himself is not married, yet serves a mrti. Bb: If an
unmarried person desires to do arcan he can worship Gopla. When Prabhu Stntha was
a brahmacr He served Gopla. rla Mdhavendra Puripda ordered him to marry and
serve the dual deity of Rdh and Madana Gopla. By the blessings of rla Mdhavendra
Puri he would take the sevpardha of the first 14 generations of his dynasty upon him -
apardha na loimu purua caturdaa (Advaita Praka 5.16). So after me one more
generation is coming.
Nirajan Prasd Ds Bb did not encourage deity worship he said that one
should deeply realize that the deity is God Himself and that one must be keenly aware of
the possibility of committing sevpardha, offences in temple worship. He preferred the
worship of pictures over the worship of statues and images, because worshipping pictures
can only benefit and not harm the worshiper. A lapse in worship of a picture will not have
reactions like a lapse of worship of a statue. His altar was simple there was not a myriad
of deities, pictures or images just Gopl, r Gurudeva and Advaita Prabhu. That is
enough. So many images will just create confusion. It is the mental faith and reverence that
counts one must actually be able to concentrate mentally on the deity. "=<| | -
| <|< <" Eka-niha n hole bhajan n jy rakaa Without one-pointedness bhajana
cannot be maintained.

64
Phone conversation, September 7, 2009
48
Tapan Kumr Adhikr: There is no need for pra pratih dk
automatically grants adhikra for arcan.

The importance of a pure diet
Advaita Ds: Bb apparently gives hari-nma easily. I notice, however, that many
people who eat fish also ask him for hari-nma. When he asks them to become vegetarians
first they make faces as if he asks them to take sannysa. Some say they cannot give up fish
and will also not take hari-nma, but they do want a photo of Bb. Bb declines and I ask
him why. Bb smiles and says: They will offer fish to my picture.
Bb wrote in the Sankipta Nitya Karma Paddhati (Concise manual for eternal
worship) First of all everyone needs to become a sad-cr (person of pure conduct).
Eating prasda (food sanctified by being offered to Ka) is a major part of sad-cra.
When for urgent reasons one is unable to take prasda, one must at least and most certainly
be a vegetarian. Without a pure diet it is impossible to have a pure consciousness. The mind
will become upset by eating cruel and violent food, and with an upset mind one is wholly
unqualified to perform any sdhana (spiritual practise). When the mind is restless the
intelligence will be topsy-turvy, and then not only pure bhakti is destroyed, but indeed
one's very human birth is. In the Bhagavad Gt (6.34) Arjun told Bhagavn r Ka:

cacala hi mana ka pramthi balavad dham
tasyha nigraha manye vyor iva sudukaram

O Ka! The mind is so restless, agitating, powerful and obstinate it seems
harder to check than even the wind.
Hence the first priority in sdhana bhajana (devotional practise) is a pure
consciousness. Without that one cannot even commence sdhana bhajana. The basic
practise to atttain a pure consciousness is to take shelter of the trak brahma hari nma
(The divine saviour-name of Lord Hari, hare ka hare ka ka ka hare hare; hare
rma hare rma rma rma hare hare) which was preached by r Caitanya Mahprabhu.
In connection with this, I remember when I asked Bb why Rpa Gosvm and
Santana Gosvm lost their caste, he replied: <| | < r : ? They ate the grains of
the Muslims.
When I went on a distant journey from the shram I asked Bb if I should touch
food-articles I wanted to eat to my neckbeads for sanctification. He said that that was
allright, or alternatively I could travel with (dried) Tulas-leaves and place a leaf on the
article before eating it.
Intellect
Advaita Ds: Whenever great scholars came to visit the ashram and either displayed
their big knowledge or approached Bb with highly intellectual questions, Bb responded
by kindly reminding them that the most sublime realisations are achieved simply by r
Guru Kp (rather than through independent intellectual pursuits)
65
. Bb told me

65
pustaka-pratyaydhta ndhta guru-sannidhau; sabh-madhye na obhante jra-garbh iva
striya - The scholar who studies books with his intellect and analysis without studying from the
49
privately: All this studying!
66
I read only a few books Rdhrasa Sudhnidhi, this here
Vilpa, Ka Karmta, Bhgavata, Gt. I: Bb. Govinda Llmta? Bb: Well
allright.
Another time Bb kindly warned a travelling preacher, who often travelled all over
Bengal, to read the Bhgavata to just two sleeping widows: Look Bb, Bhgavata kath
does not awaken in the heart of the worldly.
Once, during Krtik of 1984, in Vndvana, I asked Bb if it was alright if I studied
Sanskrit. Bb did not forbid it but showed indifference: "|<| || - | |< What is
there in learning a language?
Bbs refutation of myvda was also simple but sublime

vara parama ka saccidnanda vigraha
andir dir govinda sarva krana kranam

All the points are there Ka is the Supreme God, His body is sac cid nanda,
full of awareness, reality and bliss, He is beginningless yet He is the beginning of all and He
is the cause of all causes. (Brahma Samhit 5.1)
Bb teaches that since bhakti is the ultimate conclusion of the Bhagavad Gt, the
twelfth chapter, which exclusively deals with this, is essential and should be memorised. He
rhymes Gt is the shastra (scripture) Nma is the astra (weapon against my).
Bb did not like his disciples wasting their time in disputes of any kind. Once, when
I was going all over Navadvpa and Mypur, trying to solve disputes, Bb impatiently told
me: Is everything now OK between the three of you? Now do bhajan! Bb spoke the last
words with a strong tone of urgency in his voice.
When Bb sees me writing Bhgavata-verses in a notebook he gave me, he
recommends Rdhvinoda Gosvms Bhgavata-commentary to me, because he is in our
line.
More of Bbs Rudra Bhva
Gaura D: In the month of rvaa (August) it is the custom to do Shiva Pj each
Monday. Bb told us we were going to the Gag to get some water to use for archana.
When we arrived, Sdhu Bb told us that we can do pj now to Shiva. We did not
understand what Sdhu Bb meant because there were no Shiva-lingams there. Then we
saw Sdhu Bb on a lotus position seemingly floating above the water, so we poured the
water for Shiva Pj over His head instead.
67

Guru does not shine in an assembly of truly learned men, just as an illegitimate child is not honored
in society. (Canakya-nti-darpanam 17.1)
66
ananta-stra bahulca vidy svalpaca klo bahu-vighnat ca;
yat sra-bhta tad-upsanya haso yath kram ivmbu-madhyt
"The scriptures are infinite and the branches of knowledge are many. Our time is limited and
our lives full of obstacles. Therefore we should worship the essence, just as the swan extracts
only the milk from the water." (Canakya-nti-darpanam 15.10)
67
Heard in March 2008 in Sdhu Bbs ashram. Confirmed by Gaur Da on February 10, 2011, in Sdhu
Bbs ashram.
50
Tulsi Sh: Bb had mentioned a few times that after his passing He will be inside
the Shiva-lingam in the shram. This lingam gets worship each time Madan Gopl get
worshipped.
Once, a snake slithered to the direction of Sdhu Bbs feet, while He gave a
lecture, and licked his toe. Everyone was afraid that the snake might bite Bb and kill him.
After doing that the snake glided away quietly. Such was Bbs communication with
snakes. Tulsi witnessed this when she was still very young, when the ashram was still like a
forest. Bb told them not to tell this to anyone because they will not believe these things.
68

Gaur D: One time, when there were no buildings yet in the ashram, only
wilderness, there was a fierce rainstorm going on, so Bb assumed the form of Naarja
(Shiva, the king of dancers) and began to dance, looking in such a fearsome way that I got
scared by watching it. We stood and watched in complete silence, and when Bb
completed the dance the rainstorm had completely vanished and the sky was clear.
69

Advaita Ds: One day an elderly couple came to take prasd at Bbs place, a
personal invitation. They had brought a new outer cloth for Bb as a present. However,
they demanded to be served prasd by a brhman only. Bb was incensed it had to be
seen and heard to be believed. Bb roared so loud that the couple fled with only their life.
Bb threw the cloth they presented angrily in the dust on the ground. Such a phenomenon
was new to me, so I asked him in my broken Bengali why he was so angry. Bb found my
bungling so charming that he began to laugh and he forgot his anger.
One day in June, 1983 I also became the fortunate recipient of Sdhu Bbs
rudrvea (explosion of divine wrath) earlier I had made a somewhat scornful remark
about Indian people spending so much time on the toilet. One day Bb came from the
toilet and saw me standing at the end of the brick-path leading to it. He began to roar: Oh
and what was it you said, Advaita Dsa, about Indians on the toilet??? | |<|<: I am
also an Indian! Who are you?
iva Rtri is a main festival in Bbs ashram, since Bb appeared in the family of
Advaita Prabhu, who is Sadiva. Many people, women and children included, come to do
iva Pj, offering Bael (Bilva-)leaves, milk and flowers. A day and night of fasting is
observed and the ashram-servants are engaged in an all-night trak brahma nma krtan in
front of Gopevara Mahdeva.
Once, when a group of devotees of goddess Kl from Prcn Mypur came for
Bbs daran Bb told me: You know that we are the greatest Shktas? Ka is called
Kl (the black one), so then Rdhrn is Kl (His female counterpart) - rdh prna akti
ka purna aktimn (C.C.) Rdh is the full akti (energy) and Ka the full energetic.
I discover the true meaning of the second offence to the chanting of the holy name
ivasya r vior ya iha gua nmdi sakalam dhiy bhinna payed To see
difference between the glories and names of iva and Viu. When I ask Bb about it he
brings his hands together and says: iva and Ka are One.
When looking at Bb with his matted locks, half-naked figure and his forehead
sometimes adorned with vertical tilak one might think here is a Shaiva sdhu, but when
anyone asked him the way of perfection he would simply say nma (chanting the divine

68
Narrated during Stnths utsava in February 2008
69
Narrated on Sitanaths utsava on February 10, 2011.
51
name of Ka) and when anyone asked him about the goal of life he would simply say
prema.
February, 1984 - For some reason, Bb has been overcome with anger for a few
days now. In the evening, after rati, Bb comes on the courtyard of the Mandir while we
are about to commence Tulas rati. He angrily says something in our direction, but I
cannot hear what. Nimi starts singing the Tulas evening song, making Bb run towards
us, saying: You rascal! How dare you commence the krtana while Im speaking? and
starts hitting punches here and there. Nimi is knocked to the ground, I hear his big
cymbals crashing to the ground. Bb spares Hem Di, he does not beat women.
70
As Bb
knocks down Bishu and Nru I manage to escape unhurt. Shivering of fear I hide behind
the iron gate of the courtyard. Later Krishna Di consoles me by serving me some sweets in
the kitchen. The following day a Guru-brother from outside, who hears the news, says in
awe: He is Rudra Himself.
Bbs dressing code
Advaita ds: Bb taught: Externally a male devotee should dress like a male,
being the servant of Stnth (in the manifest pastimes of Caitanya Mahprabhu, that take
place right now, we are in the branch of Advaita Prabhu). Only mentally a man can dress
himself as a maidservant of Rdhr. Nowadays there are Vaiavas who dress themselves
in loincloth to serve the Mahprabhu deity and then shift to the deity room of Rdh-Ka
dressed in sr, being male devotees. That is not correct. For a male devotee to wear a
dhoti, the original male dress in Gaura-ll, is important to nourish the self-identification of
I am a servant of Advaita Prabhu. He was sorry to see his Indian disciples wearing trousers
and reminded them of their heritage by showing that nowadays foreigners wear dhoti,
Hindu dress, while they, as Hindus, had adopted western dress. He also said: Even if ones
garment is dirty because of engagement in the Gurus service, it is a bhana (ornament),
not a dana (stain). rman Mahprabhu told Raghuntha Dsa Gosvm: bhlo n poribe
do not dress in any vain or fancy way.
After I joined the ashram Bb gave me a lom vastra, woollen cloth, for big toilet.
71

Bb was very liberal and tolerant. For the first 4 months that I lived in the ashram I was
wearing a different outer garment than the type that Bb had prescribed for his male
students, but Bb did not say a word to correct me. When a third person made me
attentive of my error, however, and I asked Bb to provide me with the proper dress, Bb
showed great satisfaction. It reminded me of Mahprabhu who said nothing about the fancy
blanket that Santana Gosvm wore unless and until he himself recognised the error.
On another occasion I had my head shaven outside of the ashram, without Bbs
permission, and when I appeared for Bbs darana in the afternoon, Bb jokingly said:
Advaita ds I can see the moon shining on your skull!
72

70
praharanti na vai stru ktgasvapi jantava; People do not beat women, even if they have
done wrong" (Mother Earth to King Pthu, rmad Bhgavata 4.17.20)
71
yad vastra pura yena krita mtra v maithuna vpi tad vastra parivarjayet. vika tu
sad vastra pavitra (Haribhakti Vilsa 4.61) Garments that were worn while passing stool or
urine or having sexual intercourse must be changed. But woollen garments (vika) are always pure.
52
I have seen Bb walking around with a womans petticoat on and I have seen him
sitting all alone on his courtyard in the pouring rain, wearing only a loincloth, looking all
around him just like a child.
About saffron cloth Bb told me: There are 51 shakti pths in India, that represent
the 51 parts of Durg after she was cut to pieces by Lord Nryan. Each of them represents
a yoni
73
of Devi that menstruates once a year. On such a day the sannys must dip his
garment in the ph to colour it red. It should not be a chemical dye from the shop. If even
one drop of sperm touches that cloth, it will pull the sannys bearer to hell.
When I drag on and on about saffron cloth, white cloth and pants, Bb gets tired
and says: OK saffron, white, pants, ultimately whatever you wear it is the devotion that
counts!
Bb, a humble and perfect gentleman ( <|<|)
Although he was the highest class Brahmin, Bb would first go to the cleaning
woman or any type of lower class person, including me, with folded hands to beg
permission to take prasd. (At the same time he strictly followed the Vedic rules by not
eating after or in the presence of anyone else) He would address ordinary carpenters with
mahaya (Sir) and sign his letters just with Nikuja Gopal, never adding his Gosvm-
title to it. He would accept obeisances from disciples that were older in age than him, or
from Vrajabss, only reluctantly and even then he would bow his head in embarrassment.
One day a Vrajabs visited the Ashram Vrajavss rarely come to Bengal and Bb
personally bowed down to him, told us to do the same, and then seated him on a raised seat
to feed him prasd.
May, 1983 - Once a bbj passes by my kura to steal flowers and vegetables from
the garden. Angrily I tell Bb, who is detached: Let them do it....
December, 1983 Returning from Vraja I hear that gra
74
is stolen from
Gopla's Mandir, in broad daylight. Still Bb does not report to the police sdhus dont
do that otherwise they are just as bad as the thieves. K Das: I told Bb that the
theft took place at midday. Bb replied: Gopla has given it to them you should know
that for sure their necessity is greater than mine.' After that he fell silent. He never
mentioned it again.
75

October, 1984 - Bb comes to Vraja for Niyam Sev, and stays with his elder
brother in ym Vinodin Kunj. I ask him why he, like other sannyss and sdhus, does not
renounce his Brahmin thread. Bb humbly replies: They are all great mahatmas, but we
are just simple householders. While he was a rare case of life-long abstinence!

Penance

72
Bb preferred his celibate students to wear matted locks (ja) and beards, or at least long hair.
Householders were given full freedom in hairstyle, but Bb did not want anyone to shave their skulls, except
for health reasons.
73
yoni female organ.
74
gra ornamentation for the image in the temple.
75
Narrated by letter to Advaitadas by Krishna Das, April 10, 2001.
53
My health is very bad, but Bb denies that health is unimportant for a sdhaka,
quoting arram dya khalu dharma sdhana The body is certainly the priority
when it comes to religious practise. (Kumra Sambhava, 5.33)
Some of my friends are observing the annual Nirjal Ekda exactly according to
the book no grains on the preceding day, no food or drink at all on the Ekda day, no
sleep on the following night and again no grains on the following day. I ask Bb why we
dont do that too. Bb says: You see, your brothers and sisters would never be able to
render all these services in the Ashram if they would follow such severe vows. In the
Sakipta Nitya Karma Paddhati Bb taught: For niskican paramahasas (swan-like
saints who have nothing in this world) nirambu (fasting from both food and water) is the
best, but those who are unable to do that can eat substitutes like potatoes, fruits and milk
products.
76

Bb is expert in everything. He even gives me medicinal injections, even on
Ekda. One of my Guru-brothers objects, but Bb says it is allright.
77

Bb disapproved of severe penances or dry renunciation. He rhymed: :<| - |, <,
<<: kh, por, bhajan kor My child, eat, dress and do bhajan. However, for a
brahmacr living in Vraja Bb has stern instructions: If the sdhus prod you up, saying:
Come on, come on, there is a feast going on over there! then you must say with folded
hands: My Gurudeva has forbidden me to go to feasts. For Niyam Sev (Krtik vows)
Bb was again liberal: Any vow in Niyam Sev must be connected to the holy name.
Early in 1984 Bb tells a true story of renunciation: One day a rich man named
Ll Bbu was blissfully reclining on the bank of the Ganges in the late afternoon when he
heard a fishermans daughter calling her father: Father, wake up! Its time! The day is
almost over! Hearing this, Ll Bbu was struck with the realisation that his life was also
slowly coming to an end. At once he left his grand estate and extended family to go to
Vndvana and do bhajan, to the astonishment of his relatives.
*
January, 1984 One day a guest suggests that one must walk over to the Ganges
to take a bath for purification (all residents of Navadvpa live at the bank of the Ganges),
but Bb disagrees All ground- and well-water in a range of 15 miles is Ganges water
thus all of Navadvp daily takes a Ganga Snna.
Although Bb was far from a ritualist, he requested Nirajan Bbu to compile a
concise manual of ritual (arcan paddhati) containing songs to be sung, mantras to be
recited, oblations to be offered and fasts to be conducted by his disciples. It was called
Sakipta Nitya Karma Paddhati and was issued on Akaya Ttya day in 1984, the
installation-day of Madangopl. It contained not only ritual but also Bbs basic teachings.
He stated, for instance, that If one loses sight of the target one will not reach it by chanting
100,000 names of the Lord a day either. Bb meant with this that while taking the name
of Ka one must keep the mind fixed on His divine play, attributes and forms.

76
The actual list of items includes many items that are only available in Bengal.
77
aaitnya vrata-ghnni po mla phala paya. havir brhmaa kmya ca guror vacanam
auadham (Haribhakti Vilsa 12.40, quoting Mahbhrata Udyoga Parva) Eight things do not break a
vow of fasting - water, roots, fruits, milk, ghee, a Brahmins desire, the Gurus words and medicine.
54
November, 1984 Shortly after the assassination of Indir Gandhi I ask Bb
how it is possible that such a person can rule a holy land like India for so long. Bb
pointedly replied: In the ancient days there were demoniac rulers like Kasa too, werent
there?
78

December, 1984 - Bb sends me a postcard from Navadvp to Vraja, telling me
that in his opinion Rdh and Ka meet at different places all over Vraja each day.
July, 1985 - Bb comes to Vraja again, for the holy month of rvana. This turned
out to be his last trip to Vraja. He and his elder brother invite me for a feast they will cook
themselves for their guests. As Bb prepares pupnna, I ask him which grantha is the
greatest, the Gt or the Bhgavata. Bb says The Bhgavata, because that not only
contains the whole philosophy, as the Gt does, but also all the pastimes of Ka and all
the other avatras as well. The prasda brings me into a celestial bliss, which lingers on
the rest of the day.
I tell Bb about my experiences with mauna at Rdhkua. Bb is very pleased. I
ask what if someone comes when I do mauna shall I speak then? Bb: No one will
come. Let Them (Rdh-Ka) come. This was his last word to me, a final blessing.....
July 20, 1985 Bbs last day in Vraja. He goes for darana from yma Vinodin
Kuja; I ask him whose darana will you take, Bb?Bb smiles warmly and says with
glistening eyes Bihrj. He takes a riksha from the bhajanashram. I want to place my head
on the pedestal of the riksha before his feet, so he tells the rikshawla to wait a while. He
blesses me by gently placing his hand on my head. Then he rides out of sight and out of my
life. This is the last time I ever saw him........

Bbs pastime of departure
Gopl Candra Ghosh: Nikuja Prabhu freely took all the suffering of mankind upon
himself, he took many peoples disease and other suffering, so disease came to him as a
result. In the past Ramakrishna Paramahamsa said to Girish Candra Ghosh (a follower of
his, who was a hopeless drunkard): Give me all your sins. As a result he got cancer and
died. In the same way Nikuja Gopl Gosvm took all the sins of many people on him - I
have heard this and I know it for sure. He lifted many people upon the road to elevation
and took their ailments upon him; thus disease also came to him. His father nanda Gopl
Gosvm never did this - he blessed his followers and told them to offer obeisances and get
purified through the practise of bhajan. Nikuja Gopl Gosvm, however, vowed to take
the peoples sins upon himself. Although he suffered so much as a result, he was always
happy and satisfied.
Nirajan Prasad Ds: Bb said that his physical disappearance meant he would
remain present, be it veiled by a curtain. Despite severe pains he reclined on his death bed
in ecstasy. Very expert doctors would come and Bb told them: What are you doing?
Whom are you treating? He had no idea that he was in his material body. The doctor said:
Bb, you treat yourself we cannot understand your condition. Coming outside, they
asked us: What is he, a yogi or so? A yogi he was, for sure. He went in full consciousness,
laughing and speaking.

78
This is significant in relation to the utopian ideas that many, especially western, devotees, have of the
ancient Vedic civilization. Its principles were perfect, but human beings arent.
55
On the last full day of Bbs life Kishori Ds and I were standing by as Bb said:
Hey! You know what this place is? This is a crematorium (a place where Lord Shiva
resides)! This is a crematorium! You know where Im going? Im going over there! (Points
at Madangopls Mandir) I came to this world to give, not to take anything. Dont tell
anybody that Im here, dont mention my name to anyone. Keep me in mind, thats all.
Bhaktas: Bb, we have your picture here.. Bb: O boy, what will a picture do? On
that final day he said: Hey Kishori! You recognise a Guru? You know who I am? I am not
born, I do not die! Ask your Gurudeva (rla nanda Gopl Gosvm) how he has gotten me.
The manuals people check before they give mantra, what day they give it I dont care
about all that. For me Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists and Christians are all one. You know
where I dwell? This is a crematorium, a crematorium! Dig in the ground and you will find
skeletons.
Golok Ghosh: Bb left on his own timing, by his own free will. He said: I have 72
hours left. I will go in 72 hours. And in 72 hours he indeed went.
As a result of liver cancer, Bb entered into the eternal pastimes of r-r Rdh-
Madangopl on Monday, October 20, 1986, at 7.30 a.m. amidst disciples who were
performing kirtan.
Bb was cremated on sandal wood at the Ganga Ght, 7,000 people attended. In
his diary a note was found: I dont want to take my next birth as a Brahmin anymore. I
want to be born as a Vrajavs in the village of Pucchari (a tiny village halfway the
Govardhan Parikrama).
Krishna Ds: Although Bb said before his departure: I have no birth or death,
you need not perform final rites for me, still we followed the social custom of antyei and
someone was found to perform it. Half of Bb's ashes were strewn in the Ganga, the other
half by me, one year later, in the Yamuna.
No one will occupy Sdhu Bbs uttamsana (vyssana) after his departure.
Before his departure he told Krishna Ds: You will give mantra on my behalf, but you will
not become Guru. Only I will be the Guru, and when you depart I will point out the next
mediator who will pass down my mantra on my behalf. Thus Sdhu Bbs legacy is
safeguarded.

Thus ends the hagiography of Sdhu Bb Nikuja Gopl Gosvm. Compiled by
Advaitads 2003-2011. All accounts by eye-witnesses stand independently from each other.

<|<|< <|<|< <|<|< <|<|< |< || |< || |< || |< ||
Bbs blessings on the world

<|#< << - :||< < - <| |< | - |< < - | |< <
=| =
Bb said: Tell everybody We will not follow your opinion; but if you
can follow our opinion then you are welcome here.

:<| <| <| |<| | :<, , , , |< <|| :||< < ||+ |<| <|<
Wherever you go or stay, if you keep me in mind you will reach all
perfection.
56

Nla Ratan Ds: In many temples in Navadvp one is not allowed to see the
deities without giving a donation, but Bb would not only give free darshan, he
would also seat all the poor folks and feed them. He loved them as if they were his
own children.

Advaitads: Though many orthodox sdhus believe that only a born Indian
Hindu can attain perfection in this lifetime, when I ask Bb if I can also attain
Ka, he exclaims: =< :| <|< You bet!

Nirajan Prasd Ds: If you can believe Bbs words < | -<
You will attain amta (immortality or nectar).

| ` - Do not fear Bbs blessings to householders who have no time
for bhajan, yet are surrendered to him.

Stntha D: When I approached Bb for some words when I was
troubled, Bb told me that my problems are like being in a room with a thin veil
separating me from the other side of the room, and when the beneficial wind
blows the veil away I can then go to the side I was previously unable to reach. It is
like this: all things will come to pass.

Bb (quotes the Bengali saying) {?|< |*| <| In the water are
crocodiles, on the land tigers (Scylla and Charybdis - the material world is either
the fire or the frying pan) Where will you go for shelter? I am here, I will
remain here seek my shelter!

Bb has always said that his presence will always be felt in the ashram.

Babaji Van

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