By Basu Ghosh Das
(See pictures at the following web URL – either click on the link or cut & paste into your browser)
http://picasaweb.google.com/106959775035518989656/SannyasDikshaAtSriSriRadhaGopinathTempleBombay#
On the auspicious occasion of the appearance day of Lord Sri Ramachandra, Sri Ram Navami, Sriman Devamrita Prabhu, well known throughout ISKCON as the former temple president of ISKCON Vrindavan, entered the renounced order of life at the Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir in South Bombay. His Holiness Radhnath Swami, administered the sacred sannyas mantra in the late morning, after the rituals for sannyas were performed by His Holiness Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami. He was given the sannyas name “Bhakti Rasamrita Swami”.
Attending the ceremony were more than one thousand devotees of the Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir – some attendees told me that more than three thousand devotees were crowded into the temple compound!
Senior ISKCON devotees H. H. Chandramauli Swami, from ISKCON Chicago, H. H. Janananda Goswami, who preaches in “far flung” places such as New Zealand, Malaysia, India, and the UK, Yadubara Das of ISKCON Cinema, Bhima Das, ISKCON Zonal Secretary for Bombay and BBT India Trustee, Krishna Baladev Das from ISKCON Taiwan and Hong Kong, Basu Ghosh Das, Temple President of ISKCON Baroda, and Soma Das, from New Vrindavan, USA, all spoke to the assembled devotees gathered for the function.
Other ISKCON leaders in attendance were Navina Nirada Das from Switzerland, Chandrashekhar Das, of ISKCON Hong Kong, Kamala Lochan Das, Temple President of ISKCON Mira Road, Bombay, and Radhe Shyam Das, Temple President of ISKCON Pune.
Senior Radha Gopinath Mandir devotees Gauranga Das, who was the “compere” for the program, Govinda Das, Sanat Kumar Das, Krishna Chandra Das, Krishnanam Das and Radha Giridhari Das were all present on the occasion. In fact, almost all of the senior temple brahmacharis were present in what seemed to be an “ocean of saffron”, and mentioning all their names would occupy much space here!
In his speech given before performing the “sannyas diksha”, H. H. Radhanath Swami spoke of the sannyas of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and his mission of spreading the holy names of Lord Krishna. He praised Devamrita Prabhu for his spotless character and opined that there was no one more qualified to enter the renounced order of life. He mentioned that after his graduation [from the Engineering College at M. S. University of Baroda] he joined a bank as a high-ranking officer. Maharaj pointed out that it was extremely rare for a banker to renounce such a comfortable position to become a brahmachari!
The other speakers echoed Maharaja’s points. Most of the speakers said it was an honor for them to be present on such an august occasion. H. H. Bhakti Vidyapurna Swami reiterated the meaning of sannyas according to the line of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
H. H. Chandramauli Swami said “usually “bankers want to become beggars, but here a banker became a beggar”, which provoked appreciative laughter from the assembled devotee crowd!
H. H. Janananda Goswami mentioned that Devamrita Prabhu had inspired him by his noble character during his visits to Vrindavan during the period when he was Temple President there. He mentioned how he developed a close bond of friendship with Devamrita Prabhu that had endured until now, and was grateful for the special attention and facilities that Devamrita Prabhu would always extend to him there. He said that Devamrita Prabhu was like Gaur Nataraj and always encouraged everyone at Vrindavan to chant and dance. Yadubara Das expressed feeling specially blessed to be present at the occasion because due to recently suffering a medical emergency he became seriously ill, and the possibility of his quick recovery was thus remote, and hence he didn’t think it would be possible to attend the function. However, by the mercy of the Lord he had recovered and was able to attend! He wished Devamrita Prabhu the very best.
Bhima Das requested the audience to bless Devamrita Prabhu for the successful fulfillment of the vows of the renounced order of life.
Basu Ghosh Das, speaking in Hindi – which proved to be a “crowd pleaser” – praised Devamrita Prabhu’s character and proven “track record of preaching”, which, he said was an inspiration to all devotees throughout ISKCON. He quoted the verse “asvamedham gavalambham sannyasam pala-paitrkam devarena sutotpattim kalau panca vivarjayet” from the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, and explained that sannyas for complete renunciation is forbidden in kali-yuga.
However in the line of Mahaprabhu, sannyas is a “preaching title”, for obtaining the regard of the general public to attract them to the sankirtan movement.
He suggested that H. H. Radhanath Swami consider recommending his other senior and prominent brahmachari disciples, such as Radhe Shyam Prabhu, for sannyas, as well.
Krishna Baldev Das requested Devamrita Prabhu to consider preaching in Hong Kong and Taiwan after taking sannyas. Soma Das said that although he didn’t know Devamrita Prabhu very well, he was honored to participate in the function and wished him the very best.
After the speeches by these devotees, H. H. Bhakti Vidyapurna Maharaj and his assistant finished the first portion of rituals, and led Devamrita Prabhu inside to change into sannyas “vesh”. Upon returning to the temple room, H. H. Radhanath Maharaj whispered the sannyas mantra into his ear and told him “your name will now be “Bhakti Rasamrita Swami”.
All the sannyasis then joined him in paying obeisance’s to the murti of Srila Prabhupada and the Deities of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath. Bhakti Rasamrita Maharaj sat down while H. H. Bhakti Vidyapurna Maharaj conducted a “homa” (fire sacrifice) to complete the rituals.
After the “purnahuti” (the closing oblation into the fire) Bhakti Rasamrita Swami then spoke eloquently and said he was humbled by the occassion. He thanked Radhanath Maharaj the senior devotees for speaking so kindly about him. He too reiterated the outlook of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu towards sannyas.
The ceremony was concluded and followed by lectures by Basu Ghosh Das, H. H. Janananda Goswami and senior preachers of the Radha Gopinath temple in the temple room.