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Transcendental Twins

On 19th March, a short but a very sweet festival took place – the birthday celebrations of the transcendental twins- HG Jananivasa prabhu and HG Pankajanghri prabhu. They are so wonderful and humble devotees, very dear to the Lord, devotees and everyone. It is altogether a different mood in Mayapur.The fact that they are so magnanimous, taking the mood and mercy of Mayapur dhama, freely giving their association, assistance and guidance to all, without any consideration, makes the event more special. Everyone in Mayapur would love to do something on this day, in reciprocation of the rare treasure they have been blessed with. Small children have made beautiful cards to express their love while community matajis cooked variety of preparations and a BIG birthday cake (done by prema manjari mataji & crew).Cake was amazing with Sri Radha-Madhava and Narasimhadeva and prabhus sitting there serving Them. Some one has lovingly offered a garland of toffees and kids were very busy surrounding them to get the maha toefee. The temple was decorated very beautifully and various departments sponsored either the feast or celebrations and the kirtaneers engaged themselves in glorifying these exalted Vaisnavas by singing ‘ohe,Vaisnava Thakura’. It was reminding the pastime of Sankirtan festival in Srivas Thakur house, where everyone are engaged blissfully in some service to Mahaprabhu.

In the afternoon celebrations, Damodarpandit prabhu had organized a debate and just a minute show. ‘Living in Mayapur or preaching in the west’, what would be the best? Isn’t it a great topic for debate? But the speakers were given only a minute to express themselves. Finally Jananivasa Prabhu and Pankajanghri prabhu judged ‘Living in Mayapur as the best’ to the loud roar of devotees.

Lovely feast was served to all the devotees.

Srila Prabhupada once remarked, “The two brothers Pankajanghri and Jananivasa-there is no comparison. Everyone should know there is no complaint”. ( 1/2/76 Mayapur- A Transcendental Diary Vol.1)

Sri Jananivasa prabhu and Sri Pankajanghri prabhu ki jai!

More nectar from “Twins Seldom Come Alone”- from Mayapur Journal.

Gaura-Purnima is a festival to glorify the transcendental birth of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu who inaugurated the sankirtana movement. The second festival took place on March 19th, to glorify the births of two very wonderful and humble devotees who appeared as twin brothers to serve Lord Caitanya in His mission. Originally from England, they came to India in 1970 to find the truth. They traveled many places but found no satisfaction; they studied esoteric literature but found no answers.

Then, alone in Puri, Jananivasa one day received Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita. While reading it, he finally found what he was looking for – the Supreme Lord. Jananivasa then went to Calcutta and received initiation from Prabhupada on Rasa-Purnima in 1971.

In 1972, the first ISKCON Gaura-Purnima festival took place in Mayapur (see Mayapur Journal 6.1). Their beatiful Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Madhava blessed everyone by coming to reside in the holy dhama. During the festival, Jananivasa received second initiation, and later he became Sri Sri Radha-Madhava’s pujari.

Just after the festival, Pankajanghri came to see Jananivasa on their birthday and then left to continue his travels. In 1973, back in England, he visited the Hare Krishna devotees. After failing to defeat their philosophy by logic, he conceded that they indeed had the Absolute Truth that he had searched for through half the world. He then joined and soon took initiation from Srila Prabhupada. He then returned to India in 1974 for ISKCON’s third Gaura-Purnima festival, wehre he joined Jananivasa on the alter. At this time, Pankajanghri received brahmana initiation.

In those days, the worship of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava was very simple, but Their service was still very sweet. First Pankajanghri dressed Lord Gauranga, who had joined Radha-Madhava in 1973 after Gaura-Purnima. Later, in 1976, when Srila Prabhupada allowed Jananivasa to begin wroshiping ISKCON’s frist salagrama-sila, Pankajanghri began worshiping Radha-Madhava. He continued serving Them until 1986, when Lord Nrshimhadea arrived (see Mayapur Journal 6.2).

Last year, in order to celebrate Jananivasa’s and Pankajanghri’s fiftieth birthday – and their more than twenty years of service in Mayapur – the devotees from the Deity department arranged a feast in their honor. It was a surprise and both showed great embarrassment, as all the GBC and many ISKCON sannyasis were invited. Keeping their humble mood, they both served all the devotees before being forced to be seated and receive the honor and respect they so rightly deserve. The culmination of the feast was a transcendental fight over the remnants on their plates.

This year, with just a few local sannyasis present, the two brothers were again honored with a feast. The swamis, sitting in fron of the nicely garlanded brahmachari brothers, glorified their transcendental qualities and shared early remembrances. Bhakti Charu Maharaja explained how they helped him at the very beginning of his Krishna conscious life. Bhanu Maharaja commented on their wonderful quality of nistha (steadiness). He explained that to be able to do the same service day after day, year after year, is a very rare thing. By training, he continued, we can eventually develop an attitude of servitude that qualities us to enter into the service of the Supreme Lord in the form of the Deity day after day. In their case, they have already achieved the goal of devotional service.

Srila Prabhupada made Mayapur the world headquarters of ISKCON and called it his place of worship. Devotees who visit the dhama often comment how they sense the deep love and devotion offered to Their Lordships here in Sri Mayapur. It becomes obvious why Srila Prabhupada entrusted the worship of the Mayapur Deities to these two transcendentally situated borthers – their sincerity and purity are an example for the whole world. Who can imagine how fortunate they are to have performed devotional service in the holy dhama for more than twenty years? And who can estimate the good fortune of all those who get their transcedental association?

Hope you enjoyed reading this as much as i did..... So whenever you are in Mayapur next time don't forget to take blessings from these two pure souls.

All Glories to HG Jananivas Prabhu !!!

All Glories to HG Pankajangri Prabhu !!!