From the very beginning of
Maharaja’s spiritual life in ISKCON, Srila Prabhupada chose to show
him special attention and favor. Seeing Maharaja’s dual
qualifications as a Vaishnava scientist and a Manipuri Vaishnava,
Srila Prabhupada personally trained him in “spiritual science” and
gave great importance to his scientific work, and also instructed
him to strengthen Krishna consciousness in Manipur. He was dear to
the devotees for his saintly qualities and his powerful sankirtana,
and for his disciples he served as their spiritual father and
eternal friend. Srila Prabhupada gave special attention to Sripada
Maharaja, even up to his last days in Vrindavana in November of
1977. He would sometimes refer to Sripada Maharaja affectionately
as, "Our Dr. Svarupa Damodara" and "our scientist, Svarupa
Damaodara", and there were hours of conversations between
Prabhupada and Sripada Maharaja. Sri Srimad Bhakti Svarupa Damodara
Maharaja dedicated his life to fulfilling Srila Prabhupada's order
to spread Krishna consciousness throughout the world especially
through the medium of the Bhaktivedanta Institute. Maharaja
tirelessly worked to publish literature, develop relationships with
leading scientists and organize elaborate conferences that brought
the scientific community together to hear the message of Krishna
Consciousness in a language they could appreciate. While doing
that, he simultaneously established Krishna Consciousness in his
native State of Manipur. Even at his advanced age, he was traveling
the globe attending conferences, meeting top scientists, preaching
at ISKCON temples and programs. He left this mortal world in 2006
in Calcutta, Srila Prabhupada's place of birth.
