The heart of any community is not its buildings, however grand; not even in Mayapur, despite the grandest building being raised before our eyes. Mayapur’s heart is not limited to even just the Deities, central though they are and worshipped and loved by all. The real beating heart is the residents, most especially those who have dedicated their lives to serving Srila Prabhupada, the Dhama, the Deities, and the devotees. And for so many of us, HG Pankajanghri Prabhu was half of that heart of Mayapur, and Jananivasa Prabhu the other half. They have been a constant presence for 50 years, more than the entire lifetimes of most residents.
Daily we would see Pankajanghri Prabhu worshipping Lord Nrsimhadeva without fail. Daily he attended Bhagavatam class without fail. We would see him strolling in the evenings, chanting japa, chadar rippling in the breeze. Without fail he would acknowledge me riding by with a twinkle in his eye, a boyish smile and a nod that belied his age. How many times did I climb the steps up to the Prabhus’ room to honour breakfast with them, to drink water, or just to hang out? What fortune I had, and how I will miss those moments. Even after changing asramas, I would still go, later with my son, and more recently still with my daughter. How much fun the brothers had joking around and playing with them. And they had similar multi-generational relationships throughout our community.
But Pankajanghri Prabhu was not just the property of Mayapur residents. All over the world, devotees everywhere would approach him to offer prayers on their behalf, prayers for health, prayers for relatives, material prayers, spiritual prayers, whatever—and without fail Prabhu would pray to Lord Nrsimhadeva for them. In this way the entire ISKCON family felt a close connection with him as the via medium to Lord Nrsimhadeva. When Prabhu fell ill, I remarked to a senior mataji—if Nrsimhadeva’s pujari doesn’t get protection, then what hope is there for anyone? But now we see the Lord’s will is final, and Prabhu is with us no more.
Even Srila Prabhupada noted how dedicated and exceptional the brothers were. In fact, their life perfectly encapsulates the mission of Srila Prabhupada. That two Westerners with no obvious sukriti left their homeland and family and surrendered, on his instructions, to serving Sri Sri Radha Madhava in a small village in rural India without ever taking a backwards step—how proud Srila Prabhupada must be seeing this—50, 50!—years later. Not only that, but the Prabhus are also actively training the next generations of pujaris via Mayapur Academy. I feel so fortunate to be able to assist them there in their mission to Srila Prabhupada.
In the first memorial service we heard Jananivasa Prabhu describe their upbringing—how their alcoholic father squandered the family money and basically abandoned them. Their mother alone had to raise 10 children during and after the Second World War, a time of great strife and poverty in England. The twins were even sent away to live at a nunnery at the age of five and were referred to as the Terrible Twins.
From this difficult background, they both found shelter at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada and Sridham Mayapur. Srila Prabhupada initiated Roy Worthington as Pankajanghri Das, the servant of the Lord who possesses lotus feet. Panka-ja literally means ‘born of mud’, as the lotus flower blooms in muddy pools. How apt a name it was, for Pankajanghri Prabhu emerged from a humble background and blossomed into a beautiful lotus that took shelter at the lotus feet of Lord Nrsimhadeva.
Many devotees have compared Jananivasa and Pankajanghri Prabhus to Rupa and Sanatana Goswamis. This is an apt comparison in many ways. Each set of brothers took the order of the spiritual master as their life and soul and executed it for the rest of their lives in the Holy Dham. Though both equally elevated, one brother was apparently senior to the other.
We read in Bhakti Ratnakara about how the Vrajavasis would flock to Rupa and Sanatana and how the two Goswamis would reciprocate with great affection, inquiring about their welfare, their livelihood, their children. Similarly, we Mayapurvasis see Jananivasa and Pankajanghri Prabhus as our life and soul. No function, ceremony or parikrama was complete without an invitation to the now Transcendental Twins, and seldom did they turn down such invites. Their unassuming and approachable nature is legend in Mayapur, and for the community of devotees was perhaps their most endearing quality. That’s why they are loved by everyone—young, old, junior, senior, male, female, local or foreigner, another Goswami-like quality.
We also read in sastra about the heart-wrenching feelings of separation the Goswamis and other associates of Lord Caitanya felt after He wound up His external pastimes: “I will smash my head against the rock and enter into fire. Where will I find Lord Gauranga, the reservoir of all wonderful qualities?”
In our times, the disciples of Srila Prabhupada remind us every year of their feelings of separation from him. Now, as relentless time moves on, more and more of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples are leaving us bereft of their association. The “Decade of Tears” is upon us in earnest, samadhis are increasing, service in separation is becoming the norm.
For us in Mayapur, Pankajanghri Prabhu’s passing is the strongest reminder of this. He was ours, one of us, a permanent inseparable pillar of the community, pujari, friend, uncle, brother, father, grandfather, and more. The void his absence creates will never be filled.
Today marks the first anniversary of his departure. Although a year has passed, our sense of loss still feels fresh. Rather than feeling paralyzed by grief, let us dry our tears while remembering his dedication to the mission of Srila Prabhupada and his service to Mayapur Dham. Then let us honour his memory by rededicating ourselves to serving that same mission. For myself that is by continuing to assist Jananivasa Prabhu via Mayapur Academy.
Srila Prabhupada had three places that occupied his heart and represented his service to his spiritual master: Vrindavan, his home; Bombay, his office; and Mayapur, his place of worship. Mayapur’s worship was part of his heart, and Pankajanghri and Jananivasa Prabhus were and are the manifestation of that part of Srila Prabhupada’s heart. They are also a part of ours, and will forever be so.
Pankajanghri Prabhu ki jai!
Jananivasa Prabhu ki jai!
Srila Prabhupada ki jai!
Sri Mayapur Dham ki jai!
Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=97683
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