By BB Govinda Swami
May Krishna’s holy name, which is a reservoir of all transcendental happiness, the destroyer of Kali-yuga’s sins, the most purifying of all purifying things, the saintly person’s food as he traverses the path to the spiritual world, the pleasure-garden where the voices of the greatest saints, philosophers, and poets play, the life of the righteous, and the seed of the tree of religion, bring transcendental auspiciousness to you all.
Sri Rupa Goswami, Padyavali, 19
This was a favorite verse of Srila Akinchanna Krsna dasa Babaji Maharaja, which he always sang in his mangalacarana before chanting the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.
I thought of this verse today while thinking about you. Yes, Aindra Prabhu, I was thinking about you all day long.
The verse glorifies the name of God, and blesses us all with transcendental auspiciousness, the awakening of pure devotional service to the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna.
In a sense, this verse was the “mission statement” of a dedicated and selfless kirtaneer of your stature.
1. You gave your life in “dedication with conviction” for sharing the ocean of transcendental happiness of Sri Krishna nama sankirtan with countless souls suffering the miseries of material existence;
2. You dedicated your life to present the “Only and Final” solution for ending the sins and tribulations of Kali Yuga through the performance of Sri Krishna Nama Sankirtan;
3. You humbly and mercifully cried out with a bleeding heart to humanity to purify their existence through accepting the association of Sri Krishna through the performance of Sri Krishna Nama Sankirtan;
4. You were always the chief servers of the luscious feast of Sri Krishna Nama Sankirtan to all of the pilgrims on the path back to Goloka Vrindavan;
5. In your kirtans you were the tour guide to the transcendental pleasure gardens where the faithful can rest while hearing the sweetest voices of the greatest saints extol the glories of Sri Krishna Nama Sankirtana and the exquisite glories of Krishna Bhakti;
6. By liberally bestowing the holy name you presented the real, eternal existence in the lives of the righteous and saintly vaisnava devotees of God;
7. And as a humble gardener you planted the seed of the tree of religion deep within the hearts of millions of people throughout the world, while sitting in front of the deities in Vrindavan;
8. And by showing the true life of humble servant of Sri Krishna’s holy names, you evoked eternal auspiciousness for humanity.
Aindra, Kali Yuga is dark and becomes darker day by day. Krishna Nama is the brilliantly blazing torch in the darkness of the Kali night. You, My dear godbrother, have been one of the great torch bearing sons of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, our Guru Paramapara, and Sri Caitanyadev and His associates.
Aindra, I bow down to you praying for your unconditional vaisnava grace. Please bless me that one day I may chant the holy names of Sri Krishna with a pure heart, with the smallest fraction of the love and single minded dedication which you have always shown us.
My brother, all glories to you. You have gone to Radhe Shyam. You have gone to Srila Prabhupada. Please tell them I wish to come as well … but it will take me much more time to have the correct heart situation to finally go.
We are feeling sorry you are not here, and we are feeling joy at your success. Well done, well commenced, well executed Aindra. You focused only harinama, Thakurji seva, Bhagavat. You have made the grade and we already miss you.
If by chance there is internet up there, or even post card, please stay in touch, because we all love you, and miss you, and direly need your support to reach there.
Please say little prayers, on our behalf to the young important citizens there. Please pull the strings and get us there too!!
Aindra, till our next meeting,
May the love, peace and grace of Sri Krishna sankirtan bathe your precious soul.
Daso’smi,
BB Govinda Swami