By Amogha das
“When devotees announced we should pray for him, I thought “rather we should pray TO him, that we might also get dedication to chanting Krishna’s holy name and go back to Godhead.”
Namacharya Aindra Prabhu by Amogha das
In one of my favourite classes by Srila Prabhuapada, he indicates that the Bhagavad-gita is not a book of knowledge that can be understood simply by study. Krishna says, “tesam satata yuktanam bhajatam prithi purvakam… dadami buddhi yogam tam” “I reveal Meself to My devotees who are always engaged in worshiping Me with love.” That is Krishna’s special favour to His devotees.
You cannot see Krishna. Just like at night you cannot see the sun. If you are in the darkness of night and you demand to see the sun, you cannot. But in the morning when the sun comes up of its own accord, you can see it.
By reading the Bhagavad-gita you can find Krishna. If you are so fortunate that you find Krishna, surrender to Him! Become a faithful servant of Krishna. Render loving service under the guidance of a bona fide spiritual master. Then He will be pleased with your service, and He will reveal Himself. Only then you can understand what are the loving pastimes of Radha and Krishna, the pastimes of Nityananda and Gouranga, everything. They cannot be understood just by reading books.
His Grace Aindra Prabhu is an example of a faithful servant of Krishna, who constantly rendered loving service by chanting His holy names for many many years in the transcendental land of Vrindavan. Through his service He became dear to devotees all over the world even if they never met him. Surely he pleased Srila Prabhupada, Radha Shyamasundara and Nitai Gouranga.
When devotees announced we should pray for him, I thought “No, we should pray TO him, that we might also get dedication to chanting Krishna’s holy name and go back to Godhead.”
Srila Prabhupada gave special significance to life of Jayananda Prabhu. I don’t think anyone will disagree if I say that we should honor the life of Aindra Prabhu by refering to him as Namacharya Aindra Prabhu. In our modern times, he stood out in the world for his extraordinary dedication to chanting the holy names, as Haridas Thakur did during the pastimes of Lord Caitanya.
I am not sure who to approach about this in our GBC, but I think all devotees will agree that he deserves this title.
your servant, Amogha das.
Aindra Prabhu was certainly a great Vaisnava who inspired thousand by his dedication to the 24 hours kirtans in Krishna Balarama Mandira in Vrindavan.
However, the title “Namacarya, only belong to one personality; that is Srila Haridasa Thakura, given by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself. Calling Andira Prabhu ‘namacarya’ seems too farfetched. He himself would be amused to hear that. He considered himself a servant of the Namacarya Haridas Thakura.
There has been many great Vaisnavas who inspired millions by their chanting of the holy name, notably Srila Narottama Das Thakura, but no one ever suggested that the title be awarded to them.
Nonetheless, the sudden departure of Aindra Prabhu has created a huge vacuum among the ISKCON devotees. We have been deprived of the association of such a great Vaisnava.
Forgive me for saying this, but I think great care should be taken. If we look at our sampradaya, there were many pure souls who could have earned the accolade “Namacarya.” But we do not see others with this title. Perhaps there is a good reason for this.
Who is the founder of our sampradaya? After the Brahma-vimohana -lila, our original sampradaya guru sought to make amends. Srila Hari Dasa Thakur was the result. It is no coincidence that he be the Namacarya. And for good reason too.
Lord Brahma gave the holy name to Sri Naradaji, and so on up to the present day. “ Iti sodasakam namnam…” This Hare Krishna mantra first came from him. Now with Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu his role was re-invigorated so to speak. Srila Hari Dasa Thakur is acknowledged as Namacarya, just as Srila Rupa Goswami is abhidheya acarya, Srila Sanatana Goswami, our Sambandha acarya, Srila Raghunatha Dasa Goswami, our prayojana acarya, and Srila Jiva Goswami, our siddhantic acarya, and so on.
Since their time we do not know of others in our line who have claimed similar titles. Because it is through them that we can progress. No one else would even like to assume a title the same as they. So Lord Brahma and Srila Hari Dasa Thakur are almost synonymous.
If we do our prema-dhvani prayers, will there be two Namacaryas? In fact it is a matter of etiquette that these titles remain with them. Someone else with the same accolade might appear to be a competitor.
So while I was shocked and saddened like most devotees by the loss of Sri Aindra Prabhuji, I would hate to see his name get embroiled in controversy, as this proposal will do. How about some other title? Why not. One definition of humility is to not change what our previous acaryas have done for us. If it is intended that many great souls of Gauranga lila be recognised by certain titles, it might be a lack of humility to try something new, or different in this context. This is not to minimse the greatness of Sri Aindra Prabhu, but to maximise it.
It is a nice gesture and well intended, but our glorification of great vaisnavas should be an informed type. If I am spoiling the fun, then please let me know. I am a learner and seeker. If what I have written is incorrect, then anyone can correct me here for my own spiritual progress.
Ys, Kesava Krsna Dasa.
In his offering to Aindra Prabhu, His Holiness Lokanath Swami uses the word “naam anandi.” How about “Naam anandi Srila Aindra Prabhu ki jai!”?
Dear Prabhus,
PAMHO.AGTSP.
I fully agree with KKPr for his insight and would also suggest to have another title in honour of HG Aindra Prabhu. There is no doubt in anyones mind about the exhalted status of this personality who made Hare Krsna Mahamantra his very life and soul. He transformed lives just by sitting there in Vraj Dham and chanting the Holy Names.
Once i asked him ahy he doesn’t go out for preaching and travel. He answer was quite profound. He said,”I am already doing that through Hari Naam Sankirtan which is the Yuga Dharma so why should i leave this place.”
No doubt an irreplaceable loss and yes we need to pray TO him rather than pray FOR him to give us some taste in the Holy Name.
Sripad Aindra Prabhu Ki Jai !!!!!
Thank you all for your wisdom. Surely a title would be in order that all agree upon, or many agree upon. I suppose our GBC members would like to discuss this. It seems that a lot of devotees want to address him with some title.
Maybe ISKCON Namacharya would suite, as it designates the ISKCON era. Malati suggested Kirtan-acharya on pamho free forum.
Dear Prabhus,
PAMHO.AGTSP.
HG Aindra Prabhu is who he is. His humility and dedication is an example to all.
Therefore, I believe he would rather be remembered by what he did rather than a title. He achieved a way back home back to Goloka Vrindaban Regarding titles and names I believe Srila Prabhupada gave him his name and he was quit happy with it. Krishna Gopal das
In reality, the title is given when the person is alive and not post-posthumously. Our tradition is always based on that. When someone passes on, they are remembered by what they did and not by unnecessary titles.
In our ISKCON society, Vaisnavas are usually not given any importance by what they are contributing to the spread of the Sankirtan movement unless they are some big time leaders. However the importance of such Vaisnavas are realized only if they suddenly passed away as we are just experiencing.
It will be better if we honor the Vaisnavas, by what they are contributing to the Sanskirtan Movement no matter how small, when they are alive, instead of doing so after their departure.