English
Date: 6 March 2024
Speaker: HH Sri Krishna Chaitanya Swami Maharaj, HH Sundar Chaitanya Swami Maharaj,
HG Anant Shesha Prabhu Ji, HG Ishtadeva prabhu Ji, HG Dharmaraj prabhu Ji, HH Lokanath
Swami Maharaj.
Topic: 1st Disappearance Day of HG Dharma Avatar Prabhu Ji
Anant Shesh Prabhu Ji:
Today is especially the day of disappearance of the HG Dharma Avatara Prahu Ji. He is also a disciple of Guru Maharaj. All of you are requested to organize Kirtan for them today in your home.
HH Sri Krishna Chaitanya Swami Maharaj:
Today we are celebrating the first anniversary of disappearance day of Dharmaraj Prabhu ji. The mood on the disappearance day of a devotee is both, happy and sad. we are very happy because such an exalted soul is successful in life. we are very confident about this that he was surely remembering the krishna at his last time. By remembering Krishna at the end of life, one goes back to the spiritual world.
BG 8.6:
yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ
tyajaty ante kalevaram
taṁ tam evaiti kaunteya
sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ
Translation:
Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, O son of Kuntī, that state he will attain without fail. So, we are very confident that HG Dharma Avatar Prabhu has gone back, back to Godhead. His life was successful. At the same time, we are also sad because we are missing and feel separation from his wonderful association. So, we are experiencing separation from Dharma Avatar Prabhu. So, to help us to overcome this feeling of separation. Because separation from a Vaishnava, is a very healthy emotion as it brings us closer to the Vaishnava. Closer to Vaishnava brings us closer to Krishna. So, this morning we will be observing Shabdanjali for HG Dharma Avatar Prabhu ji. we are also being establishing the Pushpa Samadhi of Prabhu ji.
Shraddha means faith. Faith develops with hearing the glories of that devotee.
Thank You very Much! Hare Krishna!
HH Sundar Chaitanya Goswami Maharaj:
I'll also say some special memories.
Hare Krishna! I've been to Aravade many times and also meeting His Grace Dharma Avatar Prabhu (Appa). Dharma Avatar Prabhu is the elder brother of Guru Maharaj. Guru Maharaj's disciples although he didn't speak Hindi, but still some Hindi we spoke. He's also very very
affectionate towards Guru Maharaj and that reminded me also Guru Maharaj. Last time, he was saying that Guru Maharaj is attracted by Lokanath Goswami and his name is also Lokanath. Guru Maharaj also went to Vrindavan and Lokanath Goswami also went to Vrindavan. So, Guru Maharaj at one time was saying that Guru Maharaj was very attracted when he was given the name Lokanath and he was attracted to Lokanath Goswami in the same way. Lokanath Goswami went to Vrindavan and Guru Maharaj also went to Vrindavan and also you know you've heard of Tukaram Maharaj. Prabhupada said he is our Tukaram Maharaj. Srila Prabhupada introduced Guru Maharaj as Sant Tukaram.
So, here is another past time when Vishwaroop left went to Pandharpur and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu also went to find him. This was an excuse but was able to go out although this was just a reason and he wanted to go there. So, when Guru Maharaj left home, his brother came behind him to find out. Guru Maharaj left home and went to Mumbai to join ISKCON.
His brother also went to find him just like Chaitanya Mahaprabhu went to find Vishwaroop and when Guru Maharaj went to Mumbai.
Then Dharma Avatara Prabhu ji went to find them so it's a similar past time with Vishwaroop and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. So, here it's just like Mahaprabhu and Vishwaroop and the family members want him (Guru Maharaj) back and his mother wanted Guru Maharaj to become a doctor. So, Dharma Avtara Prabhu ji wanted to bring Guru Maharaj back to his home and they wanted to see Guru Maharaj on a motorcycle, but he came with a bullock cart. Dharma Avatara Prabhu is also true to his name, his name is Dharma Avatar. he is extremely religious, even before joining the ISKCON. I have seen him always with his very Vedic clothes.
He never wears pants. From his very birth Guru Maharaj says that he has been in his Vedic clothes since his birth he has never ever worn western cloths. So, that's what I was saying is very true to his name given by Guru Maharaj and one more point I want to share is, just like in Vrindavan, four brothers of Nanda Maharaj, Upananda is the elder. but how is it that Nanda Maharaj became the king. Like in Vrindavan's Lila. it is seen that all brothers had Upananda gesture, but still why was Nanda Maharaj made king Upananda was supposed to be the king?
Nanda Maharaj became the king because a great personality had to appear in his house, Lord Krishna. That's why he became the king. Nanda Maharaj was made king because in his own house actually Lord Krishna was going to be born. So, although Dharma Avatar Prabhu is the
eldest brother, but Guru Maharaj became the spiritual master, the king.
Guru Maharaj also extremely dear to Dharma Avatar Prabhu and we can see his love for Guru Maharaj through his activities. We can see how Guru Maharaj is also arranging and helping to have his Samadhi. Guru Maharaj is offering his love today by offering the flower of Samadhi
to him.
Hare Krishna!
HG Anant Shesha Prabhu Ji:
Whenever we have gone to Aravade, we get to see the affectionate love of Dharma Avatara Prabhu towards Guru Maharaj. His love was expressed through his actions and feelings. When we went to Maharashtra, he used to treat all the people very well. Just like he used to feed Guru Maharaj at his house, he used to invite all the people to his house in the same way. One of the major orders of Sri Prabhupada was for Guru Maharaj Ji to preach the nectar of Krishna consciousness in his village. This January we have completed 50 years of the Hare Krishna movement in this village.
Dharma Avatar Prabhu has been supporting this movement since the beginning. The land on which Radha Gopal temple is situated was also donated by Dharam Avatar Prabhu to ISKCON. Dharma Avatar Prabhu has also written a book on the entire life of Guru Maharaj, its name is
‘Loknath Aamche Jeevan’. Loknath is our life. This is a very beautiful book in which the early days of Guru Maharaj have been told. In this, Dharma Avatar Prabhu Sita Rani Mataji and many people from the family of Maharaj Ji have been told. We bow down respectfully at the feet
of the Lord asking that He bless us. Shri Krishna Chaitanya Swami Maharaj was telling that the one who remembers God at the last moment attains Bhagwat Dham but the Dharma Avatar Prabhu is the one who is remembered personally by Guru Maharaj. So, there is no doubt that
Krishna will remember him. Therefore, we respectfully bow down at his feet.
Ishtadeva Prabhu Ji:
Hare Krishna!
I could not get much association of HG Dharma Avatar Prabhu Ji. In all the Vyasa puja of Guru Maharaj, Nandalal Prabhu, HG Dharma Avatar prabhu, Guru Maharaj’s sister would always be present, nicely presenting the childhood past times of Guru Maharaj. Nandalal Prabhu ji told
us the funny childhood pastimes of Guru Maharaj, like climbing on buffalo, Jumping from the trees etc. But HG Dharma Avatar Prabhu ji seems serious.
I have met him while making arrangement for temple opening in Aravade. Aravade is a small village. There was a small school there, where we have to set camps for the accommodation for the devotees.
HG Dharma Avatar has very much affection for me, whenever he would see me, he would embrace me and he would request me to stay in Aravade.
He would respect Guru Maharaj as an elder brother although Guru Maharaj was his younger brother. He would always be very strict about the rules of the temple. He is like a Royal man.
He did not seem like an ordinary villager.
HG Dharmaraj Prabhu Ji:
I had a special association of HG Dharma Avatar prabhu in 1995, when I went to Aravade. He took care of me like a father. There is a beautiful garden near ISKCON Aravade. He was instrumental in maintaining the same. Once there was draught in Aravade, but Prabhu Ji,
somehow, managed to preserve the garden.
He was keen that devotees attend Sandhya Aarti, Ekadashi Prasadam distribution, and Sunday feasts. He was always on the move just like Srila Prabhupada. HG Dharma Avatar Prabhu ji’s mother would lovingly serve him Prasadam, but he couldn't, as he had some stomach issues.
He would never speak rudely to his mother and was bereaved at her passing away. HG Dharma Avatar Prabhu had fatherly love for Guru Maharaj. He would serve Prasadam to all Guru Maharaj’s foreigner disciples.
When Guru Maharaj’s Mother left her body, he was near Aravade for Ram Navami. He left his political connections due to devotional service to the temple. He would treat his opposition party people also lovingly. He would always be very strict about the rules of the temple. He left his political connections due to devotional service to the temple. He would treat his opposition party people also lovingly.
Last few days he stopped speaking to everyone and would silently mediate on the lotus feet of the Lord. He also meditated on Guru Maharaja so for. Surely, he would have attained the lotus feet of Lord Krsna, just like his mother, who also remembered Guru Maharaja in her last breath.
Hare Krishna!
All Glories to HG Dharma Avatar Prabhu ji!
HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj:
Je anilo Prema dhana koruna Prachur
Heno prabhu kotha gela Dharma Avatar prabhu!
I have associated and reciprocate with many many souls, with you all too. Amongst all, my relationship with HG Dharma Avatar prabhu has been special.
With others, I have associated after joining ISKCON. But with HG Dharma Avtar prabhu, I had daily reciprocations since i was born.
When I was born, he was the first one to write on the wooden beams of my house in Aravade with a chalk. It's still present on the same Beam. He was like a father figure for me even when my father was present. When my father, Sri Bhagvan Patil passed away, he became my father.
When I joined the Hare Krishna movement in 1972, just like Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was looking for his brother Vishwarupa, He also came looking for me and found me in Hare Krishna Land, Juhu. I would never do anything against his wishes. So, when he asked me to go back to
the home, I couldn't disobey him. I had promised to the temple president, HG Giriraj Prabhu that I will come back for sure. I had to keep both the promises. After returning back home, my brother told me that we will make a temple in the village for you, no need to go out. So, he did so I stayed there for a while and then returned to Mumbai.
Giriraj Prabhu was happy that I came back. I sent my annual report to Srila Prabhupada, in which I mentioned that one villager was ready to chant 16 rounds. On this Srila Prabhupada replied that he should be made the president of ISKCON in that village. My mother, father and
brother, also wants a temple in that village. So, through Srila Prabhupada, Krishna expressed His desire to establish a temple in Aravade, Sri Sri Radha Gopal temple. To run the temple was a huge task there which was nicely carried on by HG Dharma Avatar Prabhu. He was active in its construction as well. There is a big contribution of him in the temple. He was more concerned about this temple than me. He was handling all the responsibilities officially and unofficially. I am his youngest brother. He has fatherly love for me. I was following his instruction till now. And then… I became his spiritual Master and he is my disciple. He follows all of my instructions. He always pays his obeisances towards me. He
is the ideal person of my family and of my village too. When he became my disciple, around 40 members of my family became my disciple.
Whenever I reached Aravade, he was the first person to receive and greet me and also the last person to whom I embrace, when I have to come back.
When it’s my time of leaving from Aravade, it was unbearable for him. May be, he knew that it was our last meeting.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare - Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
It’s the time of pleasure as well as of grief.
Hare Krishna!
All Glories to HG Dharma Avatara Prabhu!
