Hare Krishna.
I just want to add my own words of lament to the hundreds and thousands of
devotees mourning the sudden departure of HG Aindra Prabhu.
Through his kirtanas, Aindra Prabhu penetrated all spectrums of Vaisnava
society--male, female; young, old; strict, casual; Indian, Western; ISKCON,
non-ISKCON--the list goes on. Even those devotees who never met Aindra
Prabhu in person strongly feel his separation.
His legendary devotion to the chanting of the maha-mantra has inspired an
entire generation of kirtaniyas. The plethora of 12 and 24 Hour kirtanas
across the globe can all be traced back to his inspiration. I don't think it
an exaggeration to say that he did more to spread the chanting of the holy
name than anyone since Srila Prabhupada himself.
His kirtanas were a highlight of devotees' visits to Vrindavan Dham--not
just devotees but also for the thousands of pilgrims who would gather, clap,
dance and chant the holy names with abandon.
The real benefit from visiting holy places is the association of the saintly
devotees who reside there. How many devotees trudged up to his cow-dung
covered room in the Gurukula Building, had darshan of his amazing altar,
received encouragement or friendly chastisement from him, honoured
maha-prasadam from his hands and came away feeling spiritually rejuvenated?
Visiting Sri Vrindavan Dham will never be the same now that one of her most
devoted residents has left us.
He also felt it his duty to chant for devotees who came to Vrindavan to
leave their bodies. This he did for many years, often chanting for hours and
days by the deathbeds of many devotees, my mother included, to help them
focus their minds on Sri Krishna at that last, critical stage. What a debt
of gratitude we owe him!
Alas, for reasons unknown to us, his worshipable Lord chose to take Aindra
Prabhu in sudden and apparently unfortunate circumstances. His absence is
reverberating throughout ISKCON in ways few, if any, others could have
affected. That Aindra Prabhu, a previously unknown brahmacari replete with
eccentric appearance and outspoken nature, could have affected the hearts of
so many is testament to the potency of a loyal disciple taking the order of
his spiritual master as his life and soul.
During this time of mourning, let us sincerely pray and endeavour to attain
a drop of his attachment to the holy names. That would be the best way to
cherish and honour the memory of one whose life and soul was krsna-kirtana.
In fond remembrance of Aindra Prabhu,
Ananda Tirtha Das
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