Madhusudan Eulogy for Brahmananda prabhu.
At 18 years old, around the time I met Brahmananda, the first president of an ISKCON temple in early 1967, I was still suffering from the effects of delusion resulting from so-called “consciousness expanding drugs.” Wandering the streets late one night I knocked on the door of the temple when everyone was sleeping. Brahmananda, in his sober wisdom and seeing my state, would not let me in. A month or so later, after recovering a bit, I stated going regularly to the temple.
He was a strong personality and leader; a college graduate with a teaching degree. He asked “the Swami” if he should give up his job and serve full time in the temple like the others but was told to continue working and support the temple with his earnings. He was surrendered to the Swami’s wishes. I, on the other hand, although sincerely attracted to Krishna consciousness was young and without any training or discipline. He was my leader, strict and forceful, and I naturally followed the authority.
After about 3 months when the Swami was arriving back from opening the San Francisco temple, Brahmananda had me and Purushottam stay back from going to the airport to help prepare the feast. When the Swami arrived we were called down to the temple and Brahmananda introduced us to the Swami. We bowed down, got up, and shook his lotus hand.
Brahmananda arranged for me to go regularly to Satsvarupa’s apartment to help type the manuscript for the TLC. He may not have appeared as erudite with the philosophy as some others, but he was the undisputed leader whose conviction about the philosophy and dedication to the Swami was strong and deep. He fearlessly led us on Harinam to the West Village. Often, we would return to have hot milk with “puffies and cukes,” with the special treat of slices of cream cheese “bricks,” as Brahmananda and Gargamuni I jokingly called the 8oz squares of Philadelphia Cream Cheese. Also at 26 Second Ave in there was a wall jutting out into the temple where the building’s incinerator was enclosed. They would often burn the tenants’ garbage that was deposited in it which would heat up the wall and its corners. During the cold winter mornings devotees would sit against this wall to keep warm but would invariably doze off. Brahmananda called this area of the temple, “Maya corner.”
After being brahmacari for about a year, when I told Brahmananda that I wanted to get married, he made the arrangements for me to marry Kanchanbala. At that time I had stopped working for the Press and got a job to earn money for my future householder life. When the Swami mentioned that the Press may move to New Vrindavan and that I wouldn’t have to work outside I offered to use the money I was saving to open a temple (and hoping to be a temple president). Brahmananda consulted with Srila Prabhupada and decided to have Damodar prabhu and I open a temple in Washington DC, which we did—with Damodar as temple president, and me being treasurer.
When it was time for us to get married, it was uncertain when Swamiji would be coming to NY, and we not wanting to wait, Brahmananda performed the fire sacrifice. Since we were now living in Wash DC, our services took us apart from that time on for many years, although we would connect from time to time when he would travel to where we were. One time he came and we invited him over and he convinced us to purchase a 3-volume set of books. Whenever we invited him for Prasad we would always be in anxiety, not knowing how much to prepare; he was a big eater.
It wasn’t till about the last 6-7 years that we started to develop a sweet relationship, which Kanchanbala and I would occasionally visit Vrindavan. He was always direct, even challenging, when I would visit, to get a feel for when I stood in Krishna consciousness. Was I a ritvik, was I a “fringy,” was I into this or that other group, etc? After some back and forth dialogue, with me standing my ground, he accepted that I had become more solid, and stable, in Krishna consciousness and seemed to be pleased that I had come a long was from how he knew me back when he was my temple president and leader.
Last August, when I went to Vrindavan, I visited and purchased from him his book of memoirs, Swamiji. I asked him to sign the book, and the inscription he wrote brought tears to my eyes with much gratitude:
“For Madhusudana dasa, my dear Godbrother. Our Swamiji put you in my care and I thank you for allowing me to serve you right from the very beginning.
Brahmananda dasa, Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja Day 2014, Vrindavan
I had been very much enjoying my recent visits with him, and was looking forward to getting his association again this coming October when I heard that he had gone to with Srila Prabhupada. I wept then, and whenever I think about what I will miss about him I well up with tears. It was so sweet to be with my big brother, “Big B,” as we used to call him. I hope to be able to follow in his large footsteps, back to the intimate service of Srila Prabhupada.
Hoping to always be the servant of the servant,
Madhusudan das
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Kanchanbala dasi—Eulogy for Brahmananda Prabhu
His grace Brahmananda Prabhu was my 1st temple president on 26 2nd Ave. I am eternally grateful to him as he gave me such spiritual, Krishna conscious protection. I was always moved by his unwavering devotion to Srila Prabhupada. AT the time, a new, young devotee that I was, was not familiar with the term “siksa guru” but in retrospect, can see that he was this to me. At the same time, I felt him to be my older brother, godbrother as I was 16-17 years old and he was in his mid 20’s, which I considered “old.”
I couldn’t make it to the temple every day as I lived far away, going to high school and there was opposition in my family regarding me participating at the temple. So Brahmananda Prabhu didn’t know about my devotional activities at home. After a few months, I ardently wanted to be initiated by “the Swami,” but didn’t know the protocol. I just sent my japa beads and a letter, without seeking permission from my temple president. Shortly after, the Swami performed the fire sacrifice in San Francisco and a lot of devotees got initiated, including me. When I received my spiritual name I was overjoyed. Arriving at the temple on Friday, I remember, Brahmananda Prabhu was incredulous and shocked, taking me aside, saying “Do you know what it means to be initiated??!! It’s a lifelong commitment!! Do you follow the regulative principles and chant 16 rounds??!!” He towered over me, and I meekly, but assuredly said, “Yes.” He was, at the same time, always like a kind big brother and whenever I or anyone of us young girls entered the temple, he would bow down in reciprocation and say “Hare Krishna prabhu, please accept my humble obeisances, thus making a sweet spiritual family atmosphere.
After I got initiated, my mother initially not accepting what I was doing wanted to send me to a psychiatrist. I was very upset and I told Brahmananda about it. He was sitting at his big desk by the front window of the temple surrounded by some brahmacaris. He responded, “I’ll be your psychiatrist and we all spontaneously started laughing like anything and I felt a huge heavy burden lifted.
Whenever we went out on Harinam, either to the West Village or the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens Brahmananda Prabhu led the way. I remember once or twice going on the subway, I felt it was like Krishna’s and Srila Prabhupada’s army with Brahmananda leading the charge saying, “Here’s our train!!” as we were about to embark and conquer the world.
About a year later, at the time I was 17 years old, Srila Prabhupada was stressing that all the young girls should be married. I was still living at home and going to school. My family was basically resigned to me being a devotee. One early evening, the phone rang and my mother was sitting a few feet away. I picked up the phone and it was Brahmananda Prabhu. He was telling me how we, brahmacarinis should never be independent and should be protected. He was preaching on and on, and I wanted him to get to the point. Then, he said, “Madhusudan Prabhu wants to get married.” Madhus and I hardly ever spoke to each other so I said, “I’ll think about it.” Then, without skipping a beat, Brahmananda Prabhu said, “What’s there to think about; you’re doing it for Krishna!” As I recall, I answered faintly, “OK” and we hung up.
As I was walking out of the room, my mother, noticing I was white as a sheet commanded, “What is the matter?!” At this point, I had been as tactful as possible not wanting to disturb my family about my Krishna conscious lifestyle, not being on guard, I just said, “Oh, I’m getting married,” and walked away into the next room. Srila Prabhupada wrote a beautiful letter, sanctioning our marriage and Brahmananda Prabhu performed the fire sacrifice.
For my high school graduation yearbook, I expressed I would only want my photo in it if I was chanting Hare Krishna. They were, amazingly, open to it, and put in a photo of Brahmananda Prabhu playing khartals with my godsister Lilasuka and I chanting on Harinam. I am always happy whenever I see that photo.
A few years later, Brahmananda Prabhu was in Africa preaching and he asked me to do pen & ink drawings for a Swahili Ramayana he was going to publish, which I was so fortunate to do. Then in 1973, Brahmananda sent me a letter, which I am grateful to still have. I did all the 15 pen & ink illustrations for Krishna’s pastimes he wanted but it never got published because the current temple president wanted to be paid for the service that “I” had rendered.
Whenever being with Brahmananda Prabhu, throughout the years, one could not help but think of Srila Prabhupada, our beloved spiritual master. I feel so fortunate that, although insignificant, to have had any dealings with such an exalted, devoted, and loving disciple of Srila Prabhupada.
I beg to remain the servant of the servant,
Kanchanbala dasi
Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=86371
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