Nimai Nitai a Krishna devotee so pure
is not with us any more
he took the staight route
to the never never land of Krishna , the master of flute
whereelse a Krishna's servant like him will go
unless he himself prefer to be back here to preach and say "NO"
whenever one hears Chennai iskcon's name
pop up before his eyes will Nimai Nitaai's frame
One can see even Krishna Himself the Lord Supreme
but one cannot easily see a devotee like him sublime
he was the cream
of chennai iskcon team
his saffron attire
his shika strands of golden fire
his face with thilak clear
made from Radhakund mire
a ray of gour poornima full moon
a real Prabhupada's grand son
When he was for thirty two years pujari
Iskcon Chennai had nothing to worry
his worship of deities was perfect
that made many pay him special respect
he did not on vyasasan sit
but preached in temple hall people he met
everyday he woke up at three
at 11 pm only he will be free
he slept hardly for hours four
not on bed but on mat spread on floor
Deity of Krishna is King
in treating Him
should go wrong nothing.
offerings should be on time
even a minute delay is a crime.
While all others were behind him
vying with each other to touch his feet
trying hard to his eyes meet
Jayapataka Maharaj used to go to Poojari's room
and speak to Nimai, very fond of he was with whom
he stepped into London Iskcon in seventy nine
"the devotees, deities ,kirtan nectarine
did something to the soul of mine
which I can hardly explain "
told Nimai one day in nostalgic mood
for two years he cooked food(bhoga)
for Radha Krishna deities
in addition to other duties
then to India he went
a year in padayatra spent
from Surat in the west
to Mayapur in the east
walked five thousand miles long
looking after bulls beautiful and strong
and a camel with which it was difficult to get along
from mayapur to madras he came
and a poojari to krishna rukmani satyabhaama became
it was nineteen eighty six
I was in a fix
unable to find for many questions answer
when my young brother died of cancer
I was looking for a spiritual master.
after running here and there helter scelter
i landed up in Iskcon Center
I still remember the day
when i entered temple's passageway
rajbhoga arati was underway
Nimai was standing before the altar
in his hand was the big fan of peacock feather
a poojari like him seen before I had never
as I was observing Sri Jagannath His sister and brother
Nimai came to me closer
I was very unhappy
i looked very shabby
He inquired me about
and gave me my first Krishna Conscious bout
Then he made me sit before Krishna Prasad , plateful
Whenever I think of this to him I feel very grateful
he literally lifted me from a dark deep well
and introduced me to Krishna Consciousness jewel
My association with him began
I started helping him in whatever way I can
we went here and there on my bike
to purchase things fruits and provisions like
once we fell from vehicle
he fractured his ankle
his leg was covered with plaster up to knee
I begged "Nimai come and stay with me"
He accepted reluctantly my plea
only one in a million gets the opportunity
to serve personally a Krishna devotee
I can never thank Krishna for this enough
How much of karma I got rid of ?
We once went to a Vishnu temple on top of a hill
the brahmin priest was offering bhoga ringing his bell
after a time he came out holding a vessel of cooked rice
Nimai stopped him and asked "you are offering to the Lord only rice?"
" Yes we offer what we have what we can . Who are you guys?"
responded the brahmin priest with an irritable look.
but Nimai did not let him off the hook
"you are taking subji and dhall with rice in your house , are'nt you?
when it comes to Lord you think only rice will do"
Nimai's question must have him hard stung
"Why on earth people like him you bring?"
In tamil to me with anger he said
and just down the stairs of the hill fled.
Nimai is to gaudiya vaishnavism very loyal
he called it betrayal
when a certain chennai devotee started to stray
and inject into temple Sri Vaishnavaite way
Nimai was the first to stand up
and firmly say "No mix up"
But he had no say
the thing continues till to day
Nimai's last rites were performed by a Sri Vaishavite boy
in Srivaishnavite ritualistic way
Why one of the grahasthas did not do this duty
He stood in all fields for high standards
For this reason even within temple he had only few friends
I met him in Rathyatra in January
He looked pale weak and weary
It is not clear why he was sent to a hospital government
Why not to some big medical institution for treatment
Senior devotees at chennai Iskcon know to him my closeness
Still they did not inform me with unbecoming callousness
About his departure and cremation
Don't they deserve condemnation?
Any how , Nimai is a true soldier
in the Chaitanya Army present Universe all over
A soldier of Prabhupada's troop
Never die and droop
He is only moved from one war theater to another
to fight maya, to save jeevas, in their en devour
anandgopaldas
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