prayers (49)

6728006486?profile=RESIZE_400xIN GLORIFICATION OF HIS HOLINESS BHAKTI CHARU MAHARAJA

Can you picture our dear Vaisnava gentleman His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami as a sword wielding, eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, general on the battlefield, a courageous soldier in the thick of battle, waging war on behalf of ISKCON? A more predominant view of Maharaja is one who is a source of inspiration, refuge, and hope. However, as I reflect on my recent GBC Executive Committee service with Bhakti Charu Swami, an instance of such a m

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The recent passing away of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Maharaj has put devotees worldwide in a state of shock. He is yet another disciple of Srila Prabhupada who is no longer present with us now. I was remembering all the disciples of Srila Prabhupada who have in the last few years left this material world to join Srila Prabhupada in the spiritual world. With every departure of these treasured Vaishnavas and Vaishnavis, my heart is left a little more pained. Having grown up in ISKCON seeing all t
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By Nrsimhananda das

If the purpose of bhakti is to love Krishna and all of his parts and parcels, no one exemplifies it more than Bhakti Charu Swami.

He lived by an unstated maxim that was demonstrated in all of his relationships: it was to love whoever was around to be loved. He didn’t just shower affection on his immediate peers; he was an equal-opportunity care-giver. Being in his presence, you got the idea that you were as important as any of his most intimate friends.

That “talent” was not

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Where will I find that loving smile filled with care and affection that made you feel so important though you are worthless…., that caused you to remember Prabhupada in any circumstance…, that was pure sweetness…? I am so angry at you for leaving me here unprotected.

Why did you decide to go back to Srila Prabhupada’s Lotus Feet not caring for how we would be unable to tolerate your departure? With whom shall I laugh reading those signs in Italian that have a strange meaning in Bengali?

Are you

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Dear Disciples of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Late Saturday evening, I was informed that your Guru Maharaja had left this world. I cannot imagine the devastating pain of separation you must be going through, but I do know the pain that I am suffering, and it is intense. I am reminded of the conversation between Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Ramananda Raya:

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked, “Of all kinds of distr

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Samadhi Ceremony in Mayapur

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Dear Devotees,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

As we try to come to terms with the departure of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami, we join you in eagerly awaiting Maharaja’s return to Sri Mayapur Dham where his samadhi will be erected.

Due to the ravaging spread of COVID-19 in India, the government will not allow any public ceremonies to take place at this time.

Therefore, we request devotees to refrain from making plans to travel to Mayapur. Only a few devot

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My dear disciples of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I will not attempt to imagine the pain and emotions you are going through at this moment after the departure of your beloved Guru Maharaja. I can only join Anuttama Prabhu’s memory of the pain and emotions we experienced when His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada left this mortal world. Although we were aware that Srila Prabhupada was very sick at t

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Maharaja, please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

The last time we met was in the month of May, 2018, in California where we were both attending a Cow Culture Conference. It was the first time I was hearing from you about your project in Florida where you explained that in North America we must provide special facilities for cows due to the harsh temperatures. You had recently acquired 120 acres of land for that purpose close to Orlando. I was happy to hear of your

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Brother of Gentle Demeanor
By Bhaktimarga Swami

Oh Brother of gentle demeanor,
I am your irrefutable junior.
When I look at all you’ve done,
Nothing short of making that homerun,
I am humbled by your limitless energy.
And now you leave us that memory,
Of absolute conviction to go,
Where a target receives a clean throw.
You aim your desires so right,
And anchor turbulence at a fight.
You offer a calm where there isn’t,
And subdue a storm you see as incumbent.
You go out of your way to cook for u

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By Bhanu Swami

There is no question of honoring any devotee of Krishna since such a devotee is very rare.
However, if the devotee exhibits the qualities mentioned in Bhagavatam and Caitanya Caritamrta, how much more we must honor that devotee.

HH Bhakti Charu Swami was known by all who met him as the most gentle, humble, compassionate and learned devotee. Everyone valued his association. Thus, in his absence there will feelings of great loss for everyone.

But for his disciples there will be ext

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Dear Devotees,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. All glories to Srila Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja.

It is so, so harrowing to endure the departure of someone we love. Indeed there are so many specialists who deal exclusively with helping people through such upheaval and loss. I lost my mother nearly 50 years ago and I still remember that day so vividly, as the trauma at the time was as unbearable as I could have imagined.

Thus it is not surprising to see so muc

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Brief compilation with personal concluding words by Bhakti Brhat Bhagavata Swami

First Meeting with Devotees

Sarvabhavana Prabhu, who joined ISKCON recalls, “I and a friend of mine, who later became His Holiness Bhakti Caru Swami, went from Calcutta to Hamburg in 1970. There we met the devotees for the first time and accepted an invitation for the Sunday feast. [Srila Prabhupada and Disciples in Germany by Vedavyasa Dasa]

A Cultured Young Man

One day an unusual, young Bengali man came to Mayapu

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6606770680?profile=RESIZE_584x“Bhakti Charu Maharaj in the final days of Srila Prabhupada was amongst the entourage of Prabhupada. He used to render personal service, so Prabhupada rang the bell and Bhakti Charu Maharaj went. Prabhupada asked for some orange juice and Bhakti Charu Maharaj said “yes Srila Prabhupada I will bring”. And then 5 minutes later the bell rang again but this time the bell was ringing firmer, Prabhupada was ringing urgently. Bhakti Charu Maharaj went and Prabhupada said “So where is the orange juice?”

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Dear Devotees,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

As we all try to come to terms with the tremendous loss we have faced, we would like to share more with you about HH Bhakti Charu Maharaja’s departure and what will now follow, logistically.

On the most auspicious day of Sri Guru Purnima, the first day of the holy month of Sravana and Caturmasya, and the divine disappearance day of Srila Sanatana Goswami, July 4th, 2020 at approximately 8:30 am EDT, our dear Bh

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Obituary

From Madhu Sevita Das, GBC, Italy: 

“Where will I find that loving smile filled with care and affection that made you feel so important though you are worthless...., that caused you to remember Prabhupada in any circumstance..., that was pure sweetness… I am so angry at you for leaving me here unprotected.

Why did you decide to go back to Srila Prabhupada's Lotus Feet not caring for how we would be unable to tolerate you departure?

With whom shall I laugh reading those signs in Italian that ha

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By Madhava Smullen
With biographical information from https://www.bhakticharuswami.com/and http://gbc.iskcon.org/

His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami, a beloved disciple of Srila Prabhupada, GBC member, ISKCON initiating spiritual master, and Gaudiya Vaishnava sannyasi, passed away the morning of July 4th due to complications related to COVID-19. He was 74 years old. 

His passing coincides with the auspicious day of the disappearance day of Srila Sanatana Goswami, the first month of Caturmasya,

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Dear disciples of Bhakti Charu Maharaja,

Please accept my most humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

On this auspicious day of Guru Purnima I want to express my condolences to all of you on the departure of your beloved spiritual master, Bhakti Charu Maharaja. I had planned to write an offering to him today, but I feel a letter to console all of you in your grief would be of greater service to him.

My heart goes out to all of you wherever you are in the world. The outpouring of lo

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You are all aware by now of the passing of HH Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaja. Most if not all of you would be well aware that he was an outstanding disciple of Srila Prabhupada and a great leader in Prabhupada’s ISKCON.

Under the circumstances it would be appropriate for all ISKCON centers to observe his departure with a special program, or even more than one special program, bearing in mind, of course, the current situations in different parts of the world because of the same Corona virus which ha

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My dear nephews and nieces in Krishna consciousness, disciples of Bhakti Charu Maharaja,

Please accept my best wishes. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

At 8.30am this morning, Florida time, I received a phone call from one of your more senior Godbrothers who is currently there. He was in a deeply emotional state, and I immediately understood what he had called me about, before he could even tell me. Your Guru Maharaja had departed from this world, back to Srila Prabhupada and Srimati Radharani

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