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The Leader who showed us the Bhagavata Path by Jaganmohini Devi Dasi

On December 7th, 2024 (Saturday), the 87th Vyasa Puja of H.H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami Sripada Maharaj will be celebrated all over the world by his disciples, servants and well-wishers. As part of this celebration, I am indeed delighted to share Maharaj’s exceptional personality and role as a Bhagavata leader. Also, as the Bhaktivedanta Institute (BI) approaches its 50th anniversary after its formation, this article serves as a humble tribute to Maharaj on the eve of its anniversary.

Srila Prabhupada had said, 

“You may be knowing that we have formed one party of scientists under the leadership of Sriman Svarupa Damodara prabhu… We have formed the Bhaktivedanta Institute for organizing scientific presentations of Krishna Consciousness. This party is our most important preaching arm…”  (letter to Amarendra, 2 April, 1977, Mumbai; Letter to Dravida, Letter to Ramesvara), 

Beyond Srila Prabhupada’s letters and conversations emphasizing the Bhaktivedanta Institute (BI), H.H. Giriraj Swami, in his 60th Vyasa Puja offering to Maharaj, further highlighted its importance. He said,

“After the presentation at Cross Maidan – March 1977, Srila Prabhupada told Svarupa Damodara, ‘The Scientific program is giving me extra strength to preach Krishna Consciousness. That is required for convincing the modernized man. Therefore, I took it so seriously. Every morning, I would look for you and ask. “Where is the scientist?” I thought. ‘Here I have got an opportunity to impress a scientist and that will fructify.’ ”

H.H. Hanumat Presaka Swami also confirmed this in his book ‘Tava Pache Pache’ 

“…When we were seriously thinking of joining H.H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami and the scientific Bhaktivedanta Institute, we asked H.H. Tamala Krishna Goswami about how important he felt the science preaching was. Maharaj then fixed us in his laser vision and said very intensely – “Prabhupada said over and over, again and again, for his entire last year, ‘scientific preaching is my number one preaching program.’ ’’ ”

Since its inception, Srila Prabhupada chose Maharaj as BI’s Leader (Director), thus Maharaj was primarily recognized as BI’s founder Director and its leader. Srila Prabhupada saw in Maharaj a unique leader. The BI mission was most dear to Srila Prabhupada amongst all his projects. Amongst his PhDs disciples Srila Prabhupada specifically chose Maharaj for this significant role.  The BI mission, Srila Prabhupada’s most important project, required a leader with exceptional Bhagavata qualities. 

Read more: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=113382