By Hari-sauri dasa
On November 3, 2007 in Sridhama Mayapur, at 1.21 PM, a great soul, Sriman Nirguna Krsna prabhu, departed back to home back to Godhead. This is a very personal account of the glorious passing from this world of Nirguna Krsna prabhu.
While recounting the salient events and my own interactions with him, I don’t meant to in any way minimize the experiences that many other devotees had; it is simply that I can only write about my own. It was a unique experience for me. It was the first time I have personally been present as one of my friends and Godbrothers left this world.
I say friend but my relationship with Nirguna prabhu did not develop along the normal course. Normal friendships are based on meeting, sharing common activities, building intimate exchanges and creating memories and attachments over years of interaction. In the normal state of such relationships there is a great deal of lamentation when they are broken.
But I didn’t get to know Nirguna prabhu until after he came here to Mayapur to die. Our relationship developed only over the last couple of months and it quickly became intimate and close. Yet I didn’t feel any lamentation when Nirguna prabhu left. Rather the opposite; I felt uplifted and inspired and I experienced his passing as a source of jubilation. It was the first relationship I have had that was based on knowledge of the fact that it was going to end very shortly.
My role in it was to assist him to attain his goal of leaving in consciousness of Srila Prabhupada and Krsna. Many other devotees participated in this, and I am proud and privileged to have played a small part in it. He was highly successful in his aim and therefore I have no lamentation at all.
One of the main concerns Nirguna prabhu had in the weeks leading up to his departure was whether he would get some direct indication from Srila Prabhupada or Krsna about his destination. He very much wanted this, but had not had any such experience in the nearly six months he had been in Mayapur. Jananivasa and Pankajanghri prabhus promised him they would pray for him to get this indication from Srila Prabhupada but it remained a source of some anxiety for him.
On about October 28 Nirguna prabhu had an experience which I mentioned in my November 1 report on Dandavats. com, about a ‘dream’ of Srimati Radharani and the gopis. Later I clarified the details of this with Madhuryalila mataji, who had the initial exchange with Nirguna prabhu about this event.
Madhuryalila explained that it was not exactly a dream in which he saw Srimati Radharani. Nirguna had a strong sense of Their presence, but did not actually see Them. He felt They might be inviting him but he couldn’t be sure about it. He told Madhuryalila that he thought “I might be a manjari.” Although it wasn’t a direct darshan or interaction, he felt greatly reassured and enlivened by the experience.
On October 31 evening I had asked him, “I heard you had a nice dream.” He smiled warmly in sweet rememberance and said “Yes.” Then I suggested to him that if he got an invitation, he should accept it. He replied that he was ready to go, but he had not received an invitation and he gave several reasons why.
The following two days were fairly quiet. Nirguna’s bodily functions were beginning to shut down and he was largely withdrawn from external consciousness. On November 2nd morning I went to see him and was happily surprised that he asked me to read to him. However, after only ten minutes he appeared to sleep fairly soundly so I stopped.
I returned during the evening kirtan and spent a couple of hours with him. Many devotees were gathered, chanting earnestly for his elevation and successful exit. Dr. Avnisa from Bombay indicated that he may have one or two days more but he was close to going. At 8.45 PM I decided to go home and rest for a few hours but before leaving I asked Janmastami prabhu to let me know if anything happened.
No sooner had I taken rest when Janmastami prabhu rang at 9.45 PM and told me, “The doctor says Nirguna is near to leaving.” Immediately I jumped out of bed, pulled on my kurta and pants (which was quicker than putting on a dhoti), woke up Kurma prabhu who was staying as my house guest, and together we went over to Janmastami’s.
Many other devotees had begun to gather. Jananivas prabhu was there as was Bhakti Visrambha Madhava Maharaja, and the chanting began in earnest. As soon as I entered I went to Nirguna’s bedside and leant forward close to his ear. I had an expectation that since he was nearing the time of his departure he must have had some indication from Srila Prabhupada or Krsna. “Nirguna prabhu,” I asked, “did you get your invitation?” I was a bit surprised when he replied, “No, I didn’t get any invitation yet.” “Don’t worry prabhu,” I re-assured him, “You will definitely get it.”
Shortly after this I got a request to inform Nirguna prabhu of a message from Ramadevi. As a trained mid-wife and one of the few devotees in the Mayapur community with any kind of medical training, Ramadevi had taken a leading role in caring for Nirguna prabhu in the preceeding months. She worships Giriraja-shila and she had kept her Giriraja in Nirguna’s room for several weeks so that he could have the Lord’s darshan everyday. He liked this very much and told her that when he first joined Krsna consciousness in 1975, the first picture he had seen of Krsna was the cover of a BTG showing the Lord lifting Govardhana hill. He thought, “Who is that cute little boy?” Nirguna had also told Ramadevi that he was hoping he could leave his body on Govardhan Puja day. It was for this reason that she had organized a special Govardhan Puja in Nirguna’s room on October 24.
Somehow, now at the crucial time, she couldn’t be there. She was in hospital herself in Kolkata for an operation on her kidneys. Her message was short and simple. “Tell Nirguna prabhu that Giriraja is with him. He is holding him above everything and He will take Nirguna to wherever he needs to go.” I told this to Nirguna prabhu and without opening his eyes he nodded.
For the next eight hours we chanted non-stop, all through the night. Nirguna was surrounded by loving devotees, he had the Sri Sri Krsna and Balarama shilas of B. V. Madhava Swami above his head, and another small 1.5″ Giriraja-shila upon his chest. The chanting became especially focused around midnight because it was the appearance day of Radha-kunda and we all felt that would be an ideal time for him to go. But the time passed and he remained with us.
Different devotees lead kirtan while Jananivasa, Kurma and many others danced and chanted in the room with great enthusiasm and intent. It was difficult to stay awake at times but there was no question of sleep. Nirguna was about to leave and we were determined to be there for him at this final stage.
Nirguna himself was fully withdrawn throughout the night and did not open his eyes or even move. He had his hands folded together over his upper chest. His blood pressure had dropped to less than 50, his pulse could hardly be detected and his finger and toe nails had turned a dull greyish color, with no warmth left in his extremities. Dr. Avnish regular checked his condition, including shining a light into his eyes and confirmed he was about to leave at any time.
Right after mangala-arati Janmastami prabhu announced to all the devotees in the temple room that Nirguna was close to leaving and everyone was invited to come and chant for him. Many devotees responded and the room soon filled up with 70-80 devotees all eager to give him a transcendental send off.
Then something wonderful happened.
About 5.30 AM (November 3rd), Madan Mohan prabhu, a Mayapur resident formerly from Saranagati farm in Canada, began leading the kirtan. He is a regular member of the Mayapur hari-nama party which tours the Mayapur campus every afternoon with a loud and enthusiastic kirtan. He started to sing a particularly attractive tune that they sing every day, and which Nirguna must have heard regularly in the months since he came to reside in Mayapur.
Immediately Nirguna’s mouth opened and we saw his tongue begin to move. He was singing along with the kirtan! Suddenly his eyes popped open wide. His face shining with great pleasure, smiling brilliantly, he suddenly stretched open his arms wide and high as if he were dancing with jubilation to the kirtan!
All the devotees crowded forward crying “Haribol, Haribol!” excited to see Nirguna suddenly fully externally conscious and participating in the kirtan. It was something utterly unexpected for someone in his state of bodily existence. For the next couple of hours Nirguna interacted with the devotees. He joined his hands together at the back of his head as if he were simply relaxing rather than being ready to leave his body.
At around 6.30 AM Kurma prabhu began to lead the kirtan. He has a rich, melodious voice, and he sang for all he was worth–for an incredible seven hours straight! Sticking to the one tune, he allowed the holy names to reverberate throughout the room as well as in the hearts and minds of the devotees. He had spent nearly two weeks sharing a room with Nirguna prabhu in 2006 on the Polish tour and got to know him quite well. He had developed a desire to lead the kirtan for Nirguna the evening before, and now Krsna gave him full vent.
At about 8.00 AM I decided to slip home for a shower, having been up all night long. I came back about 8.30 AM. Nirguna prabhu was still fully alert although his blood pressure and pulse readings were almost non-existent. He complained of severe pain in his feet and several devotees eagerly took them in their hands to massage and give him relief. Dr. Avnish also gave him a shot of pain killer on his request and Nirguna settled back a little.
During this whole time he had the small Govardhan-shila sitting on his chest. I thought it might be better to put the Lord in his hand and so I took Him and placed Him in Nirguna’s right palm, wrapping his fingers around the Lord’s tiny body and encompassing Nirguna’s hand in mine to help him keep his grip. As I did this, a devotee came up to me and said that Ramadevi had rung again and had repeated the same message she sent the night before and asked me to tell it to Nirguna. Because I had already told him the previous night, I decided not to repeat it.
A minute later Nirguna suddenly spoke out loud, “Get your piece and go!” I was puzzled. I didn’t know to whom it was addressed, nor was I sure if he was saying “piece” or “peace.”
“Get your piece?” I asked him. “A piece of what prabhu?”
“Giriraja,” Nirguna replied. “A piece of Giriraja.”
I gripped his hand holding the Govardhan-shila. “Get your piece of Giriraja and go?” I asked him.
“Yes,” Nirguna said.
I was unsure who this comment was directed at, but I felt it must be Nirguna himself. “Who has told you this prabhu?” I asked him.
“Giriraja,” he said with surety.
“So Giriraja has told you to get your piece of Giriraja and go?” I asked.
“Yes,” Nirguna said, beaming with transcendental pleasure. He took the Giriraja-shila from his right hand and gripped Him firmly in his left hand, smiling with great love and affection at Him.
I felt elated. It seemed that what he had hoped for all these months had now happened. “So now you got your invitation?” I asked him.
“Yes,” Nirguna confirmed. He was smiling all the while and it was clear that now he had Krsna in his hands and he was now fully in Krsna’s hands.
“So now you can go,” I told him. “Just withdraw from all of this and go to Giriraja.”
Nirguna settled back once more, Janmastami at his left side telling him “Go to Srila Prabhupada Nirguna prabhu,” myself at his right, a whole group of devotees, both men and women, holding his feet massaging them, and everyone chanting ecstatically, following Kurma’s lead.
Then I told him again what Ramadevi had said, “Ramadevi rang to tell you that Giriraja is fully protecting you and He will take you wherever you need to go.” Nirguna nodded with great satisfaction and contentment.
Around this time HH Radhanatha Swami rang with a farewell message. The ear phone was place on Nirguna prabhu’s left ear and he listened intently for several minutes as Radhanatha Maharaja spoke words of encouragement.
About ten o’ clock I was so tired I went home to take a little rest. I asked Janmastami to let me know if any further change occured in Nirguna’s condition. It was hard to say exactly when he would leave so I thought I might get an hour’s sleep. No sooner had I put my head on my pillow when Janmastami rang. “Dr. Avnish says Nirguna is going to go very soon. You had better come back.”
I rushed back over and joined the crowd around Nirguna’s bedside. I took his hand along with Giriraja in it, in mine and began to chant with the chorus. Kurma was still in full throat and the atmosphere was intensely focussed on Nirguna’s imminent passing.
At around 1.15 PM Dr. Avnish informed me that Nirguna was going to leave very shortly. He went forward and checked his vital signs. At 1.20 PM he told me, “Now he only has one or two breaths left.” I watched intently. I had never see anyone leave their body before and I didn’t know what to expect. Kurma at that moment suddenly changed from the tune he had been singing for the last nearly seven hours and started singing the standard Hare Krsna tune, Srila Prabhupada’s favorite. The kirtan reached a terrific cresendo. Voices swelled, devotees were shouting “Haribol, Haribol!” “Nirguna prabhu ki jaya!”
I saw Nirguna take a gasping breath and then nothing for at least a minute. Then suddenly one more. And then nothing. His death wasn’t marked by something that happened, it was rather simply a cessation of his presence. At 1.21 PM Dr. Avnish signalled it was over. Nirguna Krsna prabhu had left. He was now beyond our sight, gone with his Lord Giriraja to enter the Lord’s eternal lilas.
The body quickly assumed that waxen lifeless look. Devotees offered obeisances, touched his feet and kept on chanting.
During the course of the next three hours the body was washed, decorated with clean cloth and pujas were done. Devotees carried it in procession on a bamboo stretcher around Srila Prabhupada’s samadhi and then out of our compound to the banks of the Ganges. By this time it was getting dark. About thirty devotees accompanied the body along with the wood for burning it on two boats to a place a kilometre upstream.
It took a half hour to construct the pyre and the body was laid face down on it and then covered with more wood. Janmastami prabhu circumambulated it and then set the fire. Within minutes Agni-deva was consuming Nirguna prabhu’s mortal remains. Those lotus feet which we had so eagerly massaged just a few hours ago, and for days and weeks before, were now reduced to ashes. Most of us returned to the temple after an hour leaving a small crew to tend to the fire until it burnt itself down, and then the remains were placed in Mother Ganga.
The following afternoon a special rememberance gathering took place in the Panca-tattva temple extension. We were fortunate to have HH Radhanatha Swami attend, along with 150 devotees. For two hours we heard sweet rememberances and realizations, all in glorification of Sriman Nirguna prabhu. It was a fitting tribute to a transcendental event, at once purifying and edifying, our hearts cleansed and uplifted by the association of this great soul, Nirguna Krsna prabhu who by his life and death showed us the perfection of Srila Prabhupada’s gift.
All glories to Sriman Nirguna Krsna prabhu! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to the assembled devotees!
Your humble servant, Hari-sauri dasa
Please accept my humble obaisences
All glories to Srila Prabhupada
It is wonderfull that Nirguna Prabhu has gone to join Krsna in His eternal lilas, I just like to post something of Girirajas Glory and make the point that leaving the body in Girirajas presence is very auspiscious for going back to Krsna
ys
Payonidhi das
:
The glories of Giriraja
from Sri Garga-samhita Canto 3 chapter 10
Sri Narada said: This is the most ancient history of Goloka. When one hears it, all his sins are destroyed.
One day, in order to repay the debt he owed the sages and ancestors, a certain brahmana named Vijaya went to Mathura, the holy place that removes all sins.
O king of Mithila, after performing his religious duties, he went to Govardhana Hill and took one of the stones there.
Going in a leisurely way from forest to forest, he finally left the circle of Vraja. At that moment he saw a horrible raksasa monster approaching.
The monster had three heads, three chests, six arms, six legs, three hands, huge lips, and a huge nose. His hands were raised in the air.
His seven-hands-long tongue moved to and fro, the hairs of his body were like a tangle of thorns, his eyes were red, and he had long, curved, frightening fangs.
O king, wishing to eat him, the snorting monster approached the brahmana.
With his Govardhana-stone the brahmana struck the monster. Hit by the Govardhana-stone, the monster gave up his body.
Suddenly he transformed into a handsome dark person with large lotus-petal eyes, dressed in yellow garments, garlanded with forest flowers, wearing a crown and earrings, holding a flute and stick, glorious as another Kamadeva, and his features like those of Lord Krsna, with folded hands he bowed before the brahmana again and again.
The liberated soul said: O best of brahmanas, you earnestly work for the salvation of others. O noble-hearted one, you have rescued me from a monster’s life.
Good fortune has come to me simply by the touch of this stone. No one but you could have delivered me.
The Brahmana said: I am astonished by your words. I have no power to deliver you. I don’t know how, simply by a stone’s touch, this has happened. O saintly one, please tell me how this happened.
The liberated soul said: Glorious Govardhana Hill, the king of mountains, is the person form of Lord Krsna. Simply by seeing it, a person attains the supreme goal of life.
O Brahmana, the same result one attains by performing austerities for five thousand years on Mound Kedara is attained in a single moment on Govardhana Hill.
By staying for one month on Govardhana Hill one attains a pious result many millions of times greater than the result of giving in charity a bhara of gold in the Malaya Hills.
Even though he has committed hundreds of sins, a person who on Mount Mangala gives gold in charity attains a spiritual form like Lord Visnu’s.
That same result is attained simply by seeing Govardhana Hill. No other holy place is as sacred as Govardhana Hill.
O Brahmana, simply by visiting Govardhana Hill one attains piety a hundred thousand times greater than the piety he would attain if on the sacred mountains Rsabha, Kutaka, and Kolaka he had worshiped many brahmanas and given in charity ten million cows with golden horns.
By going on pilgrimage to Govardhana Hill one attains piety ten million times greater than the piety he would attain by going on pilgrimage to Rsyamuka or Devagiri. There never was, nor will there ever be a holy place equal to Govardhana Hill.
By bathing every day for ten years in Vidyadhara-kunda on Sri Saila, one attains the result of a hundred yajnas. By once bathing in Puccha-kunda on Govardhana Hill one attains the result of ten million yajnas. Of this there is no doubt.
A person who performs an asvamedha-yajna on the mountains Venkata, Varidhara, Mahendra, or Vindhya, attains the post of King Indra. A person who performs an asvamedha-yajna on Govardhana Hill and gives proper daksina goes beyond the realm of Indra and attains the abode of Lord Visnu.
O best of brahmanas, bathing in sacred rivers, giving charity, performing austerities, and performing pious deeds, all these performed during Sri Rama-navami on Mount Citrakua, during the third day of Visakha on Prariyatra, during the full moon on Mount Kukura, during Dvadasi on Mount Nila, or during Saptami at Indrakila bring a great pious result. That pious result is multiplied ten million times by visiting Bharata-varsa. It is multiplied unlimited times by visiting Govardhana Hill.
By giving charity, performing austerities, bathing in sacred rivers, chanting sacred mantras, or worshiping the brahmanas and the Supreme Personality of Godhead at the Godavari, Mount Simha, Mayapuri, Kumbhaga, Puskara, Pusyanaksatra, Kuruksetra, Ravi-graha, Candra-graha, Kasi, Phalguna, Naimisa, Ekadasi, Sukara, Kartiki, Ganamuktada, Janmastami, Madhupuri, Khandava, Dvadasi, Kartiki, Purnima, Vatesvara-maha-vata, Makararka, Prayaga, Barhismati, Vaidhrti, Ayodhya-sarayu-tira, Sri Rama-navami-dina, Siva-caturdasi, Vaijanatha-subha-vana, Darsa, Soma-vara, Ganga-sagara-sangama, Dasami, Setubandha, Sri Ranga, or Saptami-dina, one attains a great pious result. O best of brahmanas, by visiting Govardhana Hill one attains a pious result ten million times greater than all those pious deeds together.
One who, thinking of Lord Krsna, bathes in sacred Govinda-kunda, attains a transcendental form like Lord Krsna’s. O king of Mithila, of this there is no doubt.
Neither a thousand asvamedha-yajnas nor a hundred rajasuya-yajnas are equal to visiting Manasa-ganga on Govardhana Hill.
O brahmana, you have directly seen and touched Govardhana Hill. You have bathed in its sacred waters. In this world no one is more fortunate than you.
If you don’t believe my words, consider the story of the great sinner who, because he was touched by a Govardhana-stone, attained a transcendental form like Lord Krsna’s.
I want to share with you some words of glorification of Nirguna Prabhu, a dedicated book distributor and follower of Srila Prabhupada, who passed away on November 3, 2007, in Mayapur, surrounded by devotees chanting the holy name.
I will include notes from our travels together, notes on his lectures, a nice story told by Niranjana Swami about him, and perhaps most importantly, notes from his seminar on book distribution at the 2005 Odessa festival.
Nirguna Prabhu on the Polish Festival Tour
I got to know Nirguna Prabhu when he inquired from me about the Polish festival tour when were attending the Festival of Inspiration in New Vrindavana in May 2005. Seeing thousands of people coming in touch with the culture of Krishna consciousness each day on the Polish festival tour makes me so happy I love to participate in them. Many people ask me for details about the festival, but few actually show up, so I was pleasantly surprised to see Nirguna Prabhu arrive for the Polish Woodstock festival in July of 2005. On the Polish festival tour Nirguna Prabhu would go on harinama, answer questions, and teach yoga. I was fortunate to serve Nirguna Prabhu by holding an umbrella over his head at harinama on one rainy day at Polish Woodstock festival. Nirguna once mentioned that when he teaches yoga, he has the students chant the maha-mantra one word at a time. Indradyumna Swami asked, “Do they do it?”
Nirguna said, “Yes, they like it very much.”
Notes from a class given by Nirguna Prabhu on the Polish tour, August 10, 2005:
He glorified Indradyumna Swami for his determination. “His only business is to use each moment to spread the glories of the holy name.” Regarding the spread of Krishna consciousness in Poland, Indradyumna Swami says he is simply a witness to all the things going on. “He appreciated the devotees’ service. He bought ice cream for all the setup devotees, and when he ran out he drove to town to buy some more.” Nirguna expressed appreciation for the cooperation of the devotees on the tour. He recalled Prabhupada’s statement that the devotees could please him by their cooperation to serve his mission. If we have an appreciation of everyone’s service, no matter how different it is from our own, that will help us cooperate together. Our attachments in the world keep us so busy we have no time to hear and chant about Krishna. One may be younger or have come to Krishna consciousness more recently, but they may be lifetimes ahead of us. One may do so much service, but the real measure of our Krishna consciousness is now we treat others. A devotee is a kind friend to everyone.
Traveling with Nirguna Prabhu to New Vraja Dhama and the Odessa Festival
After the Polish festival tour Nirguna Prabhu arrived in Warsaw around 6:00 p.m. or so after 30 hours of traveling from our basis near the Baltic coast. Apparently the tires blew out on the cart they were pulling which carried the generator, and they had to wait till morning for a mechanic. Nirguna slept under the van to have the luxury of spreading out and to avoid the dew. He was still determined to take the 6:00 a.m. train to Budapest for the New Vraja Dhama festival for Janmastami which Indradyumna Swami ordered him to attend. I decided to fulfill Nirguna Prabhu’s desire and go with him. It meant missing opportunities to catch up on emails and entering my journal into the computer. It also meant missing the Poland 30th year of Krishna consciousness festival and being with my friends from the tour. I played the role of Nirguna’s travel agent, and tried to get us to Budapest the cheapest way possible by paying for a ticket in each country separately and avoiding the costly international rail tickets. We saved $36 dollars each going from Warsaw to Budapest, and later $88 each going from Budapest to Kiev. Nirguna Prabhu used his sankirtana expertise with the passengers on the train to trade my dollars for euros as conductors will not take dollars and but will take euros, however reluctantly.
We got into Fonyod, near the New Vraja farm, at 10 p.m., long after the buses had stopped running, so we had to take a taxi for $33 to New Vraja (Nirguna talked him down from $40). Everyone was asleep at the farm, so we slept under someone’s porch where we were attacked by mosquitoes the whole night. Another night we stayed in a tent, myself near the center, to avoid the cold and mosquitos, and Nirguna Prabhu toward the edge. Unfortunately for him, it rained at night and his stuff got wet. I noticed he took the setback better than I would have.
On Janmastami during the Radha Krishna boat festival, Nirguna Prabhu spoke briefly about the Lord and His boat pastimes. At the feast, Nirguna Prabhu kindly gave me some of the sweets they gave the sannyasis, but there were more than I could eat so we gave them to the servers, who gratefully accepted them.
On Vyasa Puja, Nirguna Prabhu read from the Brahma-vivarta Purana about the golden age predicted by Lord Krishna and talked about Srila Prabhupada’s important role in fulfilling that prophecy.
On the train to the Hungary border, a young woman stayed in our compartment for a couple hours. She spoke English pretty well. She had been to a public program the devotees had done recently. Nirguna gave her an Isopanisad he had for distribution, and showed her pictures of the festival on his digital camera.
At the border of Ukraine we met a lady who could speak some English and helped us to get across the border and to purchase our tickets for Kiev. Nirguna gave her some cake prasadam which she gratefully accepted. I think due to Nirguna Prabhu’s piety the female train conductor gave us a two-person compartment, although we only had paid for a four-person one, and thus we could do our devotional practices in peace.
We chanted all the morning prayers and evening prayers as well, and we got caught up in our journals, in our reading, and in our resting. In that respect, train travel can be ideal. We had a sink in our compartment, which was nice for washing hands after eating.
We saw lots of green vegetation, a few cows and goats, and lots of small gardens with corn, squash, and other things, many with people working in them, as we went by at an average of 35 mph, slow for a train.
Devotees from Kiev met us at the very car of the train we got off at—talk about expert! They drove us 25 minutes to the temple where they offered us flower gardens, showed us to our rooms, and provided us some dinner, although we were not hungry since the Budapest devotees had given us so much prasadam for our trip.
In Kiev, Nirguna Prabhu gave class on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.1.1. He mentioned that the last verse of Vedanta Sutra stresses liberation through sound, and the last verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam, its natural commentary, stresses the congregational chanting of the holy name, a parallel I was unaware of before.
Nirguna Prabhu—Book Distribution Seminar Notes
Niranjana Swami glorified the devotees who had come for the first time to Odessa to do seminars, among them, Nirguna Prabhu. Niranjana Swami told a nice story illustrating Nirguna Prabhu’s dedication to distributing Krishna consciousness. Once Nirguna was hit by a car while distributing books in North Carolina, and when Niranjana Swami and Madhuha Prabhu heard about it, they went to visit him in the hospital. He was in surgery when they arrived so they had to wait a couple hours. When they were finally allowed in, Niranjana Swami put his face above Nirguna’s head since his body was completely wrapped up like a mummy because of extensive injuries, and he couldn’t move. When Nirguna saw him, he immediately exclaimed, “Niranjana Swami, please accept my obeisances! Tell me, how is the preaching in the CIS?” During their brief conversation, Nirguna was reluctant to talk about the accident. He was more interested in hearing how Krishna consciousness was being accepted in the former USSR. When Niranjana Swami left, Nirguna said, “Could you just bless me I might always be engaged in distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books?” Niranjana Swami was amazed how little Nirguna was concerned about his body, even when in such a serious condition.
We must read Srila Prabhupada’s books to be inspired. We must buy some books. Keep the book room neat. No damaged books. Books of each type together. Keep inventory. Ukraine, because it has many devotees, can do a lot to spread Krishna consciousness.
Nirguna Prabhu shared knowledge and techniques about book distribution and also went out distributing as well. I only attended two of his several sessions, but he shared very valuable realized knowledge that I would like to pass on to you for your inspiration since Srila Prabhupada valued book distribution so much. Here are some of the things Nirguna Prabhu said:
One devotee who was doing carpentry in the temple noticed how ecstatic the sankirtana devotees were from selling books, and he decided to go out. Very soon he sold many books and gave up the carpentry to do fulltime book distribution.
Keep at least one of each of Srila Prabhupada’s books on hand, and the inexpensive and mass produced ones, you should have a stock of. Every book that is distributed is read by an average of five people. Try different venues for distributing books and see which works for you. Every home can have a book display. We must want to distribute Krishna consciousness more than everything. We must try to avoid distractions from devotional service. The more our mind is fixed on Krishna, the more effective we will be. Set time aside to distribute books.
Greet somebody in a very friendly way and stop them. Ask them a question. Put a book in their hand, and say we are showing these to everyone today. Show them some of the pictures in the books and say a few words about them. Say we like everyone to have one because they make people’s lives better. We just ask a donation. Distribute damaged books to poorer people, some pious person who will read it. Sometimes bad weather is good because the people will buy the books because they appreciate the devotee’s determination.
Nirguna asked devotees to tell stories of book distribution.
One young Russian lady told how she brought some books home with her when she went home to visit her grandmother one day’s train ride from Moscow. When she went to the nearby town to make a phone call, she dressed in a sari because it was so hot outside. A guy who was waiting for the bar to open started talking with her about a cure for his hangover. She decided to go home after making the call because she felt that this person was not good to associate with, but when she went he followed her. He said that he read that people dressed the way she was had a cure for hangover, and he asked if she had some prayer he could say. When she got home, she wrote down the Hare Krishna maha-mantra on a piece of paper for him and gave him some yogurt prasadam. He was so grateful that he gave her 50 rubles ($1.75) and told her to buy some chocolate. She decided that was enough to cover the cost of a book, so she gave him a book. He said, “I want you to get some chocolate!” And he gave her 50 more rubles, and so she gave him another book. He was so grateful, he said, “Thank you. Thank you.” And walked down two stairs to go and said again, “Thank you. Thank you.” And he waved his hands in the air like the devotees do during kirtana.
One older lady saw an ad for Srila Prabhupada’s books in a Russian magazine. Bhagavad-gita was in the center of a group of books, and the caption read, “These books can change your life.” She told her husband that she wanted to order them, and he permitted it, so they did. In time, they forgot about it. A few months later, an unexpected package showed up. She was going to open it after lunch, but when she went into the kitchen to cook, it was as if a voice within her suggested that she open it then. It was the book she had ordered. When she saw the picture on the cover, she wondered what this nice boy is doing involved in this war. When she started reading it, she found it was about a battle, but she wasn’t interested in warfare.
Then she skipped through the first chapter and came to the second. Then she found it so fascinating that she read it day and night, whenever she got a chance and finished it in twenty days. Her husband was traveling and happened to meet the devotees and was interested in the books but did not buy any because he was poor. He was glad to find that his wife had the Bhagavad-gita when he returned home.
Summary
1. All the books are based on Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam.
2. Bhaktisiddhanta Saravati Thakura wanted to preach all over the world.
3. Book distribution is our primary service.
4. If they get a book, they have Srila Prabhupada’s association 365 days a year.
For success in Srila Prabhupada’s book distribution:
1. read the books
2. do little nonsense
3. make your abode like a temple
4. associate with devotees
5. have books for distribution on hand
6. have a book display
7. bring books with you wherever you go.
Notes from a class given by Nirguna Prabhu on September 13, 2005, in Kiev, Ukraine:
By surrendering to Krishna we can transcend material nature, because He is in control of material nature.
Nirguna gave a book distribution seminar in which he told of novel ways people had come in touch with Srila Prabhupada’s books. One person saw a shaft of sunlight shine through a crack in some rocks onto a picnic table in the forest and illuminate a Srimad-Bhagavatam that happened to lay there, so he picked up the book. As a result, he developed an interest in Srila Prabhupada’s books. Another person found a Bhagavad-gita As It Is in a cave in an island off the coast of Crete where he was vacationing, and he read it and became a devotee. Another heard a clanging noise when he drove over something with his car. When he investigated, he found it was a Bhagavad-gita, and he read it and became a devotee. Still another was going to commit suicide by jumping off of a cliff, but he met a devotee who showed him a Back to Godhead magazine, and so he changed his mind, read the magazine, and then became a devotee.
I hope this account gives you some insight into the transcendental qualities of Nirguna Prabhu, a faithful servant of Srila Prabhupada. My only prayer is that by his service, he may attract the mercy of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who is famous as Krishna-prema pradaya, the giver of Krishna prema and that Nirguna Prabhu might receive from Him that ultimate gift. Please join me in this prayer.
I also pray to him that he may forgive me for my incompetence in his service.
Nirguna Prabhu ki, jaya!
Srila Prabhupada ki, jaya!
Your servant,
Krishna-kripa dasa
Giri Govardhana Maharaja!!! He is sooo merciful! Thank you so much, Hari Sauri Prabhu, for this story.
Nirguna Prabhu is one of my many heroes. I got to know him some years ago when I was still quite young and he was recuperating from a serious car accident in North Carolina. At the time, I was deeply moved by his jolly enthusiasm, positive outlook, and total dependence on Krsna during a painful and difficult time.
And to hear how Giriraja has invited him home!!! … I’m overwhelmed beyond words. The flood of mercy is there ready to swirl about us, tripping us up from our ‘secure’ status in this world of fallible soldiers, and suck us forcefully into its embrace. Nirguna Prabhu not only enveloped himself in that inundation of loving mercy, but he made a concerted effort through book distribution and his sweet interactions with all to take the rest of us with him. Nirguna Prabhu ki, Jaya!!! Thank you, Nirguna, for your shining example and compassionate love for all of us jiva souls. Please please please put in a word to Giri Govardhana for me. Offering you my most humble obeisances and begging to be of service,
Campakalata devi dasi
I just received the news that His Grace Nirguna Prabhu has left his body in Sri Mayapur Dhama. Nirguna Prabhu was a wonderful, inspiring devotee who very single-mindedly preached Krsna Consciousness wherever he was and to whoever he was with.
In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s he was my sankirtan leader at New Panihati Dhama in Atlanta, and he served as a perfect example for neophytes such as myself. It didn’t matter that at one point we had to go to Hartsfield International Airport at 5am just to reserve a space in the terminal to distribute books, as other non-profit organizations would compete for the same spaces. Nirguna Prabhu focused on the positive and emphasized service to Srila Prabhupada above all else. He was able to brilliantly place things into a Krsna Conscious perspective, and so many pictures come to mind when I think of this wonderful devotee. He was always focused on devotional service – whether he was leading a kirtan party at a Rolling Stones or Grateful Dead concert, or hammering away at the roof of the new temple in Sandy Ridge, North Carolina.
I am devastated that we have lost the association of such a wonderful devotee – it is always most difficult for those of us left behind. Obviously Nirguna Prabhu is now in the spiritual world, with his physical suffering having ended. I understand the devotees in Sri Mayapur Dhama took such good care of him, as his illness progressed, and he expressed such appreciation and gratefulness towards being able to leave his body in the Holy Dhama, surrounded by the wonderful devotees living there. I pray to Sri Pancatattva for such an auspicious departure from this world, and cannot find the words to express the feeling of loss over losing the association of Nirguna Prabhu.
Your servant,
Kalavati devi dasi