By Nila Kamal das
On the 8th of March 2017, on the most auspicious day of Amalaki Ekadasi, HH Subhag Swami Maharaj awarded the sanyas order of life to HG Hari das, now Bhakti Ananda Hari das Goswami in Jagannath Mandir, Rajapur.
Bhakti Ananda Hari das Goswami was born on the 6th of March 1953 in a village named Chandamleikai, Asaam (North East India). Born in a traditional Manipur Vaisnava family, he was a devotee of Lord Krishna from his very childhood and always listened to Krishna katha whenever it was spoken. He showed special interest in the Manipur rasa lila performance.
He graduated with BA honours from Guwhati University and thereafter worked for a private firm as secretary for 22 years, from 1976 till 1998. Maharaj came in contact with ISKCON in the year 1988 after reading Caitanya Caritamrta. From then on, although married he started to preach in his local area with much determination. He took first initiation in the year 1997 and second in the year 2002 from HH Bhakti Swarup Damodar Swami.
He took up the vanaprastha order in 2006 and thereafter has increased his preaching in Asaam, Manipur and Guwhati. In the more recent years he has expanded his preaching zones to Sri Lanka and Nigeria. He was also given some responsibilities by Bhakti Swarup Damodar Swami to become a ‘guardian’ in the Gopal dev temple in Navadvip.
Subhag Swami arrived at Rajapur around 9am and to the surprise of the devotees, there was a light sprinkle of rain as he entered. Very unusual for this time of the year, it seemed that the demigods were showering their blessings for this auspicious event. Maharaj then spoke elaborately on the duty of one in the renounced order of life. He especially stressed the importance of practising the quality of tolerance for a sanyasi.
After the class, the sanyas vesa was given and when the new sanyasi returned to the temple in his new dress, there was an uproar of ‘Haribols’ from the devotees. Subhag Maharaj then gave a few more instructions to the new candidate, offered him the tridanda and then announced his new name. To conclude the ceremony there was a fire sacrifice performed by HG Shyamasundarananda das of ISKCON Mayapur.
We request all the devotees to bless Bhakti Ananda Hari das Goswami to preach far and wide and to spread the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu all around the world.
Srila Prabhupada ki Jay
Bhakti Ananda Hari das Goswami ki Jay
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