Transcendental Qualities of Mahabhagavata

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,
Please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev!

The following is a transcription of the glorification and remembrance of HH Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj, by HG Devakinandan prabhuji on the occasion of disappearance day on 25th January, 2013 (English calendar date) in ISKCON Sri Radha-Gopinath Mandir, Chowpatty.

"The disappearance day of a Vaishnava is considered to be more glorious than his appearance. We may not know how great a Vaishnava is when he is born, because very often we do not understand who he is until he manifests his greatness later. But by the time a great Vaishnava winds up his pastimes, everyone can come to understand his glories. That is why for Vaishnavas, whether it is tithi or calendar day, disappearance day is considered to be very important. The other thing which is also very important for us to remember is that, for the Vaishnavas, frankly speaking, Vaishnavas have no beginning and no end because Vaishnavas are non-different from the sound incarnation that they manifest on the platform of Srimad Bhagavatam. Because a Vaishnava is always connected to Srimad Bhagavatam, he continues to eternally live with Srimad Bhagavatam. Srimad Bhagavatam verse 2.3.12 affirms

aayur harati vai pumsaam
udyann astam ca yann asau
tasyarte yat-kshano nita
uttama-shloka-vaartayaa

"Both by rising and by setting, the sun decreases the duration of life of everyone, except one who utilizes the time by discussing topics of the all-good Personality of Godhead."

The sun may set on the body of a Vaishnava, but it never sets on his teachings and instructions. So in that way, Maharaj taught to us as disciples, that as long as we are in the platform of Srimad Bhagavatam, we will never lose the connection to the acharyas and spiritual masters.

Maharaj spent a large part of his final days in Nasik. Nasik was very dear to Maharaj because most of his childhood was spent in Nasik. There was a peaceful house and there he was spending time daily studying Srimad Bhagavatam. Towards the end, it became very difficult for him to speak and he would not speak. For long hours he would lie down on the bed, but he gave us instructions to keep chanting the verse of Srimad Bhagavatam. Sometimes, late in the night, I would think that Maharaj was taking rest and I would start a verse and finish it and would look at Maharaj. Maharaj looked like he was sleeping. I remember coming to the verse SB 2.3.17 and when I chanted that verse and when I was going to finish, I started coughing and just at the point when I started coughing, when I stopped the verse, Maharaj opened his eyes out of nowhere and he completed the verse for me and at that point, I realized that all this time when I was chanting, Maharaj had actually been hearing and all this time I was under the false impression that I was chanting and my spiritual master was taking solace in my wonderful chanting. He finished the verse for me and he said, "Devaki, you should look at the last few lines of this purport" and then he became silent again. For a while I thought, did I dream all this? Because it was very late in the night and Maharaj had spoken when he had not spoken for days. All of a sudden he was bright and alive and he was sharp on the point with Srimad Bhagavatam and I realized that he had not missed a single word that we were chanting and that is when I read the last line of the purport, "A devotee of the Lord is guaranteed eternal life. A devotee's old age or disease in the present life is but an impetus to such guaranteed eternal life."

The word "impetus", Maharaj taught us has another synonym to it. Maharaj instructed us that in order to get impetus from Krishna, we must become inspired by Krishna. Maharaj taught us there is only one verse in the entire Srimad Bhagavatam that speaks about the inspiration Krishna gives us. Maharaj lived that verse. In Srimad Bhagavatam verse 3.29.39, Kapila deva says to Devahuti mata,

na caasya kascid dayito
na dveshyo na ca baandhavah
aavishaty apramatto 'sau
pramattam janam anta-krt

"No one is dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, nor is anyone His enemy or friend. But He gives inspiration to those who have not forgotten Him and destroys those who have."

When Maharaj was speaking to us in the Bhakti Vedanta hospital, many times he quoted this verse and said that as long as we are trying to remember Krishna, we will always have the inspiration to remember Krishna. Maharaj said, "Do not search for inspiration in the sky, when it is very much on the ground. Inspiration is not something when your hair stands on end and for a moment you feel like jumping high in kirtan. Inspiration is actually coming on the platform of serious study of Srimad Bhagavatam. If you bury your head in Bhagavatam, then naturally Krishna gives you the impetus to become inspired on the basis of Bhagavatam. By remembrance of Krishna we are inspired. By forgetfulness of Krishna we will have to die." The Vaishnavas never die because they continue living on the basis of instructions and Srimad Bhagavatam.

When Maharaj had a stroke in 2000, doctors told us that the chances of his pulling through is very slim and at that point I asked Maharaj, "Maharaj, what happens if you leave? How will I be able to contact and speak to you?" Maharaj made a very interesting point. He said, "Devaki, just remember one thing. This material body has no value. It only has value as long as it is dragged to the pages of Srimad Bhagavatam. In fact, once the material body is cast away, the spiritual master's connection to the disciple is even stronger than before. Where previously we had to pick up the phone and dial Rajkot/Dwaraka, now you do not even have to pick up the phone. You just have to study Srimad Bhagavatam and be sincere in your sadhana and then our connection would become instant because now there is no more body between us." This gave me a glimpse and understanding that disappearance is actually an impetus for us to continue to be inspired by the instructions of spiritual master."

Thank you very much
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev
Vaijayanti Mala Devi Dasi,
Abu dhabi

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