{"id":4719,"date":"2007-11-08T19:54:52","date_gmt":"2007-11-08T18:54:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/?p=4719"},"modified":"2017-01-04T10:15:58","modified_gmt":"2017-01-04T09:15:58","slug":"nirguna-prabhu-gets-his-invitation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/?p=4719","title":{"rendered":"Nirguna prabhu gets his invitation"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Hari-sauri dasa<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\tWhile 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.<\/p>\n

\tI 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.<\/p>\n

\tBut 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.<\/p>\n

\tMy 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.<\/p>\n

\tOne 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.<\/p>\n

\tOn about October 28 Nirguna prabhu had an experience which I mentioned in my November 1 report<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

\tMadhuryalila 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.<\/p>\n

\tOn 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.<\/p>\n

\tThe 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.<\/p>\n

\tI 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.<\/p>\n

\tNo 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.<\/p>\n

\tMany 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.”<\/p>\n

\tShortly 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.<\/p>\n

\tSomehow, 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.<\/p>\n

\tFor 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.<\/p>\n

\tDifferent 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.<\/p>\n

\tNirguna 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.<\/p>\n

\tRight 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.<\/p>\n

\tThen something wonderful happened.<\/p>\n

\tAbout 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.<\/p>\n

\tImmediately 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!<\/p>\n

\tAll 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.<\/p>\n

\tAt 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.<\/p>\n

\tAt 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.<\/p>\n

\tDuring 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.<\/p>\n

\tA 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.”<\/p>\n

\t“Get your piece?” I asked him. “A piece of what prabhu?”<\/p>\n

\t“Giriraja,” Nirguna replied. “A piece of Giriraja.”<\/p>\n

\t I gripped his hand holding the Govardhan-shila. “Get your piece of Giriraja and go?” I asked him.<\/p>\n

\t“Yes,” Nirguna said.<\/p>\n

\tI 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.<\/p>\n

\t“Giriraja,” he said with surety.<\/p>\n

\t“So Giriraja has told you to get your piece of Giriraja and go?” I asked.<\/p>\n

\t“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.<\/p>\n

\tI 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.<\/p>\n

\t“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.<\/p>\n

\t“So now you can go,” I told him. “Just withdraw from all of this and go to Giriraja.”<\/p>\n

\tNirguna 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.<\/p>\n

\tThen 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.<\/p>\n

\tAround 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.<\/p>\n

\tAbout 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.”<\/p>\n

\tI 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.<\/p>\n

\tAt 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!”<\/p>\n

\tI 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.<\/p>\n

\tThe body quickly assumed that waxen lifeless look. Devotees offered obeisances, touched his feet and kept on chanting.<\/p>\n

\tDuring 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.<\/p>\n

\tIt 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.<\/p>\n

\tThe 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.<\/p>\n

\tAll glories to Sriman Nirguna Krsna prabhu! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to the assembled devotees!<\/p>\n

Your humble servant, \tHari-sauri dasa<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\"HareBy Hari-sauri dasa<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[85,16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4719","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-hari-sauri-dasa","category-in-memoriam"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4719","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4719"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4719\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":35086,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4719\/revisions\/35086"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4719"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4719"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4719"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}