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Tamal Krishna Maharaja Tirobhav festival, 15th March.
Sridhar Swami MC.
This was a semi-private gathering in Bhakti-caru Swami's rooms. Mostly disciples were there but others
too.
12. Jananivas Prabhu
Hare Krsna. My name is Jananivas Das and I stay in Mayapur as a pujari. I always had a relationship with TKG like my own brother. He was one of the first persons I met in 1971 in Calcutta. And he treated me so nicely, made me feel so welcome in Krsna Consciousness. In fact I saw he had all good qualities of
behavior and the way he preached I felt. . . .
And I actually left Calcutta just to see my brother who was in Benares.. . . a month or so.
Devotees were taking prasadam I said goodbye, waiting for the bus, he came running why are you leaving, did someone upset you, please stay with us. . . he was so concerned that he thought I might never come back. He was so concerned I promised I
would come back. I know what I want, and he became a little satisfied. And ever since that first time I've had that relationship.
I consider of all my Godbrothers that he is the one who really helped me. . . and he's so caring and loving that two days ago we went to the Ganga to put the ashes of one of his disciples and he said he is my disciple
and personally placed the ashes in the Ganga. Just yesterday we were at the samadhi looking at the
panca tattva model, he was saying we must establish the temple as SP's desire. . . . build the temple first before the vedic planetarium. . . .
So he is certainly .. a great loss for our society. 3 days ago we were taking prasada in his room and after he pulled me to one side and was asking me if there is anything you want, please don't hesitate to tell me, I'll give you whatever you want. So one side it's a great loss but on the other side we consider the vision that Padmalochan Prabhu had
that SP was taking him BTG, then it's a great success.
When SP's sister left her body there was also a similar vision here in Maypaur. And in Vrindavnan when SP left the BCS was informed
by the doctor that SP would leave soon. Then he took TKG and Bhavaanda outside
to discuss what would happen. And while they were outside, SP left and all of a
sudden they just rushed in. After one or two days one mataji had a dream and saw SP and
asked where he was now. Why did you leave at that time?" I left when they were out of the room, they are such
gentlemen. I didn't want to leave in their presence.
So another thing I noticed when SP called him to be one of his intimate associates and simultaneously another one of his servants was leaving SP's service. And the other servant was packing his bags, and suddenly stopped
"What am I doing ! Leaving SP! Why am I packing!" He was completely bewildered. Like yogamaya acting. Moving someone away and moving someone more dear close to him, that was
TKG who was by SP's side when he left.
So many examples that TKG is such a pioneer very elevated
amongst our Godbrothers. He has an eternal part in SP's nitya lila, preaching KC. SP once said on the disappeance day of
his Guru Maharaj and he said my GM came here with a purpose and when it was time he left for another place to do exactly the same thing, preach KC.
And I think we can assume that SP is following and TKG too, going to do important service in another place, as according to the vision. We had a great mahatma among us, today very sad, he has gone to SP's party. We can take complete shelter of TKG and best way is to take shelter. With that we'll stay very close to his lotus feet and attain .... blessings. Let's follow in his footsteps and be strong preachers and pioneers and I think this is the best way to please TKG. Ki jai!
11. Brahmananda Prabhu
I feel so close to Tamal. We feel the loss because there is so much to do for SP and there was a whole life ahead.
So many things to be done. And now we have to do that without his leadership and inspiration. We have to become the leaders and inspire others.. . . I feel the loss more, the servant of the servant. He was the servant of the servant. . . from the very beginning we were very close. Before there was a GBC
for managing, myself on the East Coast, Tamal on the west and . . .Gargamuni?
Before there was GBC there was BTG (Brahmananda, TKG, Garg) we used to have conference calls.
We didn't know how to manage anything. We learned ourselves and shared with each other.
The idea was to organize and spread SP's movement. He was a friend. . . to be
senior most is very difficult. That's what we were discussing. Our relationships when we're senior it's very difficult to be able to relate intimately, confidentially, subordinately with your other
god brothers. You need someone to chastise you. Not criticising, but meaning to love, with the other person's benefit in mind,
telling him what is the better thing to do. So I could always go to TKG for loving advice, loving chastisement. So I have to ask you now also, take his role be my loving chastisers.
So that I can serve you. So let us come here with TKG on the stage. . .and tell the story how he purchased the land here in Mayapur.
You cannot imagine how difficult it was to do that. .. now we are buying land, then it was so difficult to do property transactions. And to be a manager in India at that time was incredibly difficult, but TKG did it. SP sent me to Bombay to clear the land and
make the living accommodations for 50 devotees. That's how I spent the first Mayapur festival SP said what are you doing here get out go to Bombay.
So I went but there, rest of the story is that I made a tin structures. But I got cheated, I didn't know to bargain so I agreed to the contractor's price. So when SP came to
Bombay he was pleased but he was furious when he heard how much we had to pay. Then he kicked me out to Africa, we don't want
you here in India. TKG was not that kind of Manager. He was SP's right hand man for managing all these 3 projects, India.
So I from the beginning we had to applaud him for the service he did for SP that nobody else could do. Then after doing all that then GM was inspired to do book distribution in America. And at first
SP didn't want him to leave India and go to US for this. But Maharaja had this great
inspiration and determination and eventually SP gave him permission and he created the Radha Damodara, a great powerhouse of book distribution in North America. And he did this in such a way that SP sent him to China. Just like I did things in such a way that SP sent me to Africa. There's that sloka in SB: kirata hunandhra
. . The pure devotee can purify the residents from all parts of the world that are very
disconnected with Vedic culture.
So I was with the kiratas and Tamlah was with the Khasas. Even then we were connected. And then when I came to Mayapur I had some problem, he understood me, he understood everything.
I had some conflict and we had to make an agreement but the agreement was more or less that I was going to lose and the other party was going to win.
And TKG he preached to the GBC members that better that both sides wins. He said somehow or other find a way to do this. I was going to agree to lose.
So I don't know how it happened but somehow at the end the GBC decided that I should also win and the other side too and now everyone is happy.
His point is that everyone should be able to do your service, there may be differences but still should do. . . . He had this realization. This was SP's vision for ISKCON. SP once wrote a letter in response to one devotee complaining about another. And he replied: we are all individuals and all different. Look here in this room not one single person is same, all completely different. SP said the differences are not important, the central point is important.
So the cetnral point is Guru, Krsna, SP. That's what we have to see in each other how we are serving the central point. It's difficult to cultivate that vision like seeing the soul, not the body. So
SP went on that "because there are differences we shouldn't be
non-cooperative. Differences doesn't justify non-cooperation. I have to cooperate because of the central point. So there cannot be non-cooperation, fighting. This is intolerable. So GM I have to say in my case, he demonstrated perfect realization of this such an important instruction of SP.
Therefore I'm going to miss him very much.
10. Manjari Mataji
I feel very fortunate to had the friendship and association of
Vrndavanesvari. We had been corresponding about taking care of the devotees in
Srila Prabupada's family. We both had a concern about this and were wondering what we could do to help SP's family come together. And
actually she and her husband have been taking very proactive positive steps to heal the situation there. We were working on creating a mood of love and trust among devotees and bringing them together in closer
relationships and loving mood. This is very encouraging and it's a great loss that such a caring devotee has now gone and it's something for us to think about how we can come together as
SP's family and carry on that mood.
She was always very encouraging to me in my service and
Krishna Consciousness. As I'm sure she was for a lot of others as well.
She was always willing to serve the devotees. This is one quality that stands out in her. I spoke to her the day before she left and we were excited about getting each other's association again in
Vrndavan. She was also feeling very happy that she was able to travel with
Tamal Krishna Goswami and they were taking a lot of his association.
She felt very inspired by that and had desires that he would become more involved in
New Zealand and help the yatra there. So apart from all the other realizations
everyone is having, for me hearing about TGK. . . and her I realize the most important thing is rendering humble service to the devotees.
So I just want to take this opportunity to beg forgiveness for any offences I might have
committed to TKG, her and all the devotees, so my KC can be awakened.
9. Prahladananda Swami
Mother Vrindavaneswari was a very dedicated Mataji. Especially she was very good at collecting for different projects in NZ. She was quite selfless.
She denied her own physical comfort and opportunities to ensure that the projects in NZ would be successful. She was also a very good mother to her son and took care of him very nicely. She had great hopes that her son would become KC. And in spite of family difficulties, she always
took shelter of Krsna. Every time I saw her she was always in very KC spirits.
Her Guru Maharaj is Indradyumna Swami. I'm sure that he and Srila
Prabhupada and Krsna have given her all blessings.
8. Sridhar Swami
The etiquette is the disciples should fast till the samadhi is finished and in the evening if you are feeling very weak you can eat and tomorrow ... there will be a feast. Actually it's not clear but at least till the samadhi you should all fast. There is a possibility after the samadhi there will be a feast. That's what we did with SP in Vrindavan but he left in the evening. We will be letting you know in different ways when there is a feast those of you who are initiated might like to cook and certainly all the disciples should take part in serving the feast. When GM returns to Maypaur we'll greet him at the very front gate so you can chant your rounds so you know what is happening and be ... there at the right time. . . . Does anybody have any practical questions? Giridhari maharja, any practical instructions.
All right you can go there are books to read you can gather in groups and discuss GM katha and chant your rounds, and again I repeat we're always here for you and especially today, don't worry about taking our time anything you need. Our hearts are with you.
Goswami Maharaja left this world and went to Krishna and also Vrindavaneswari has succumbed to her injuries and has also gone following Gurudeva, the wife of Kala
Samvara.
7. Padmalochan Prabhu
Actually I had what can be described as a hot and cold relationship with
Tamal Krishna Goswami over the years. . . But I just wanted to share a vision I had this morning. After hearing the announcement made at the end of the mangalarati about
TKG, I went upstairs to Brahamananda's room to tell him about it. After speaking for a while and hearing his sentinments I decided to go back to where I live near the
goshal.
On the way back I suddenly glanced up in the sky near the yogapitha and I saw
Srila Prabhupada rising into the sky. He was holding TKG with his left hand and in
TKG's other hand was his danda. TKG was saying something about so many things to do, and SP was
saying "NO NO I have something for you to do". And then the vision finished.
6. Giridhari Swami
Narottam das Thakur in the bhajan that ... he expresses a mood of lamentation on the departure of great souls. So from that perspective we are grieving the loss of a very dear personality. And our only solace is that such a personality performed so much valuable service and is so dear to Srila Prabhupada, and his instructions.
Personally, Goswami Maharj was my closest Godbrother. He was always very kind to me in ways too numerous to mention.
I had the great fortune of trying to assist him in his preaching work beginning from the Radha Damodar party. Later on when we took over the Dallas and Houston
communities.
Then we went first to HongKong and
China and other places around Asia. I saw a personality with unlimited determination to push forward Prabhupada's mission. I saw him overcome many many obstacles -- impossible was certainly not a word in his vocabulary. So he had this very great determination, he always had very clear vision he was always seeing ahead and was able to fulfill that vision.
I saw him work harder than perhaps almost any devotee. Many work hard for movement but I saw him working around the clock from morning to night in ways that are just unbelievable. So that determination, that vision, the tremendous amount of hard work inspired all devotees. He pushed us as he pushed himself. And together, combined with all devotees under his charge, tremendous preaching was done, some very wonderful projects were developed.
He was always in the front, pioneer for new programs, projects, new preaching vision. So as I said it's really impossible to calculate the volume of service that he performed. I think you'll find that in so many places around the world that at least in the beginning days he had some connection with. . . he had contact with someone who did ... he inspired so many projects. I think we'll spend many days, weeks, months just speaking about his service. We could write reams about all of the wonderful accomplishments.
So we can remember all these things and in solace we can understand certainly what SP and Gaura Nitai and Radha Madhava that they made some very very special arrangement for him. Of that there is no doubt. So of course we lament the departure. But at the same time we think about the will of this great personality and particularly those of us who worked with him, GB, disciples, followers, we should work very hard to continue the great work that he started. I know for certain that this is what he would want. To at the very least maintian all the different preaching and projects, and as a very fitting memorial to go ... forward with all these different projects. So in his memory we should go forward.
For myself, he's a person who was always there for me in practically every situation from the beginning of my KC. His dedication and service to SP was always a very great inspiration. He worked very hard to train us. He entrusted us with a tremendous amount
of responsibility. . . .trust. And he very kindly was there in times of difficulty to pick us up. So from the beginning to the end this personality in my life who took the place of most important in terms of giving me SP's mercy. So
with a heavy heart and with lamentation we will go forward and in his memory we will work
co-operatively to push forward KC in whatever way we can. And take his mercy and pray for his blessings that we can do so and glorify not only his great soul but also SP and all his predecessors. HH TKG ki Jai!
5. Prahladananda Swami
I can only repeat something that the other devotees already said. I first met Srila Tamal Krishna Goswami in 1969 through a letter that SP had written to him. Prabhupada was praising him for going out on the street distributing books and doing harinam. This was in LAX. This was about 4000 kms away from Buffalo, New York. So I became inspired to also go out and distribute books and harinam. Later when I was in Texas he came by with Visnujana Swami. And at that time I became inspired to join Radha Damodar with him. He was my personal guide and friend, instructor for many many years. I was his personal servant cook, servant and secretary in 1980. He taught me how to become self-reliant and be a sannyasi. The GBC asked him to leave everything behind and go to China. So at
that time I lost his association for some time. But seeing his example and following his instructions always helped me remember Srila Prabhupada. When I had no service then I went to Dallas. And TKG suggested that I go to . . . that wasn't the first place that I wanted to go to. I thought that if I serve the instruction of TKG then SP will be pleased. I know that because I served those instructions Krsna gave me the most wonderful experiences. Later on he instructed me to go to other places like Fiji and Europe so I always feel that there is no better friend or guide for me than Tamal Krishna Goswami. So I pray for the mercy of his disciples associates and friends that I can remember his instructions and serve Srila Prabhupada. Thank you very much.
4. Sridhar Swami:
I think you can understand that we are all here for you. I was with Trivikram Swami when we went to Taiwan in 1976. I'm reminded also of the great poem Prabhupada wrote: he reasons ill who tells that vaisnavs die, when thou art living still in sound. The Vaisnavas die to live and living try to spread the holy name around. So Tamal Krishna Maharaja is not dead.
3. Guru Prasad Swami
In 1984 I first had the opportunity to associate with TKG for long time. At that time my GBC had just kicked me out of the zone and I was thinking of what service I should do, the first person who called me although I didn't have much association was
TKG. He invited me please come and discuss. I was a bit discouraged about going and working in another zone but he impressed me by his sincerity in reaching out to me. The most important thing for us is that there is someone for us and when that happens we feel eternally indebted. One Godbrother I just saw said that whenever I see TKG I think of Srila
Prabhupada. He was always the reference point to SP, what did SP think about this, whether younger or older devoteee we would always confirm what SP thought by talking to him. So certainly you are all feeling very unforutnate that you have lost such a great personality in your lives as we are also feeling. But at the same time you are receiving a great fortune to now understand what is the
vani, the instruction because that is what is everlasting in our lives. You have received that great fortune and I just wanted to reiterate that I would like to make myself available in any way whatever we can do or I can do personally please don't hestitate to ask . . . .
Hare Krsna.
2. Rukmimi Mataji
I first met him in San Francisco in 1968. He still had hair then. You can see some pictures of him with hair in the back of the temple here. I came to temple during prasadam. I was bewildered like many first timers. He was the only one who came up to speak to me. I saw the picture of Lord Nrisimhadeva and was surprised. "Oh that's Lord Nrsimhadeva, all the devotees love Lord Nrsimhadeva!" He asked me - I told him I was interested in yoga and he looked at me very
piercingly and asked what is the goal of yoga. I said to realize myself and he said yes and that means
Krishna Consciousness.
Over the years Srila Prabhupada gave the most difficult services to Tamal Krishna
Goswami. Other devotees, Srila Prabhupada would engage according to their propensities, but with
Tamal Krishna Goswami he could give any order because he knew he would take it as his life and soul. Very serious intent and accomplished in fulfilling all of SP's desires. Sometimes devotees would
criticize him that all the problems in ISKCON are his fault. But when someone could fulfill Srila Prabhupada's desires so expertly of course there could be chance of a mistake. I knew myself I was afraid of going near Srila Prabhupada as aparadha, but he never missed an opportunity.
I saw him in Denver when he would distribute sweets to the scientists. Then he said to me "I always have to win" "what do you want to win Goswami Maharaja? He didn't answer but looked at me very seriously and I understood what he wanted to win. He worked with his
life to enhance Srila Prabhupada's movement to create devotee Vaisnavas and temples all over the world. Vaisnava Theological Society. You all know better than me what he wanted so we all have a great debt to fulfill what he wanted. His Godbrothers and Godsisters are all indebted to him so we are ready to help you now.
1. Bhakti Vighna Vinasana Narasimha Swami
He recognized the need that there must be some leaders in this worldwide society so he accepted leadership and everyone recognizes his leadership qualities.
His contribution is not simply maintaining temples and devotees but he was able to produce books which awakened Krishna consciousness in peoples lives.
The Science of Yoga - people would read this book and look for the hero. He already wrote Jagannath Priya Natakam which is a wonderful presentation of Lord Jagannath accepted all over ISKCON. I'm thinking that the Taiwanese devotees must be feeling sorry they were
not able to take initiation from Tamal Krishan Goswami but at same time they should feel fortunate that they had chance to associate with him. TKG spent ten days here; he planned it very carefully like he did everything. Because he had this ability that Srila Prabhupada saw in the beginning in Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada invited him to take prasad with him and asked him to help him.
So Srila Prabhupada saw this in the beginning and gave him a lot of responsibility, Srila Prabhupada gave most association to those who could help him most. So Tamal Krishna Maharaja got lot of association.
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