In2-MeC

ISKCON Salem, Tamil Nadu, India
15 March 2004

"I Knew You From the Very Beginning"

The following homage to HH Sridhara Maharaja was written in 1996 as a part of a small book entitled Memories of our Reverent and Beloved Guru Maharaja Srila Prabhupada. The author is Mrs. Nirmala Singhal. Along with her now-deceased husband, she greatly assisted Srila Prabhupada in the development of the ISKCON Sri-Sri Radha-Rasabihari Mandira at Juhu. Mrs. Singhal's words about HH Sridhara Maharaja are a sweet and succinct glorification of his personal qualities and his devotional service as a brahmacari and thereafter as a sannyasi.

Sridhara Swami

(from pages 18-19 of Memories)

Before your Vyasa-puja, I never participated in any Vyasa-puja. Your one disciple has celebrated your Vyasa-puja. He invited many devotees, gave prasadam to them, nicely decorated everything and many were given a chance to talk about you. I was also fortunate to revive my old memories and say something about you.

Those memories are very many, because my husband, Dr. Capt. Singhal, and I knew you from the very beginning since when you came here and were staying in the hut. Very many pleasant days and even sorrowful days we experienced. I remember your drama in the small temple, where you acted as Prahlada's teacher. How you made everybody laugh. I remember your quarrel with Jasomati-nandana Prabhu. After that you became a sannyasi. I love your joking and laughing with the people.

Once you were sitting in your office, and I came to tie the rakhi on your wrist. You enquired about the festival and I explained, "This is the sisters' festival. " Then you told me, "By tying this, you will protect me or I will protect you?" I said, "Neither you nor I. Lord Krsna will protect us both. " And you laughed loudly.

Your nature is very sweet, but I experienced your anger also. Now you are a sannyasi, and more mature in Krsna consciousness. So everything has changed. You are a very sincere and loyal disciple of Guru Maharaja Prabhupada. We are proud that we have all good sannyasis to carry on the burden of Guru Maharaja's mission on their shoulders and push on this Hare Krsna movement forward and forward.

ISKCON Salem Sunday Feast/Initiation Ceremony

Bhajana during the setup of the yajna.

Tattvavada Prabhu, temple president of ISKCON Finland, was asked by HH Bhakti Vikasa Maharaja to speak on the meaning of initiation.

Two devotees received harinama diksa. Here is Bhakta Davor from Croatia receiving the name Sridhara das in memory of our dear Godbrother HH Sridhara Maharaja.

The fire yajna commences.

Everyone present feeds the Lord in His form of the holy fire with grains.

Yesterday, when I learned of HH Sridhara Maharaja's passing from this world, I rewrote the In2-MeC entry for 14 March, adding a feature in memory of him. Somehow the rewrite did not get uploaded; what was published was the earlier version which made no mention of Maharaja. Today that's been retroactively changed. Now In2-MeC for 14 March is as I intended it to be. If when you saw that entry you found only a report on sankirtana in Salem, please go there again. Sripad Sridhara Swami Maharaja ki jaya! Hare Krsna.

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