Sri Sri RadhaRamano Jayati
(Bhaja) Nitai Gour Radhey Shyam
(Japa) Hare Krishna Hare Ram
Gurudeva is his youth.
Famous kirtaniya and blessed disciple of the famous Namacharyya Siddha Sri Sri 108 Ram Das Babaji Mahasaya, Sri Sri 108 Hridayananda Das Babaji Maharaja left this mortal world to join his beloved Guru Deva in Nitya Lila on the 23rd of May at 12:33 AM in full consciousness. He was 78.
Sri Srimad 108 Hridayananda Das Babaji was the family descendant of Mahaprabhu’s famous associate Uddharan Dutta who was among the Dwadash Gopalas of Nityanada Prabhu. He was saved at the age of four from a life-threatening disease by Sripad Ram Das Babaji at Jhanjpita Math in Puri, where Babaji Maharaja saved his life by placing his Japa Beads on his head and shouting "Jay Nitai." According to the words of Hridayanada Das Babaji, “When Babaji Maharaja placed his Japa beads on my head, and shouted "Jay Nitai!" a current flowed through my spine and I was completely relieved from suffering.” From that time onwards Babaji Maharaja became his heart and soul for all his last days.
He was from a very aristocratic family. One of his family members was the District Magistrate in Orissa, but despite that, his mother left him in the shelter of Babaji Maharaja at the age of five. His intelligence was reflected in his eyes, in his talks, in his arguments and in his boundless love for others. He was full of life energy and was an unbiased positive thinker. He never hesitated in making the correct call no matter what the consequences might be. He even told me that despite the success/failure or lack of paramapara stuff, ISKCON founder Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami was indeed energized by Sriman Nityananda Prabhu.
He received the full blessings of his beloved Guru Deva in regards to Kirtan. His Kirtan was very famous throughout the Gaudiya Vaishnava world. He followed in the footsteps of his Guru Deva by visiting various Gaudiya Vaishnava pilgrimage sites to perform astonishing soul-wrenching Kirtan describing the various lilas of Sriman Mahaprabhu and Sriman Nityananda Prabhu. Among those were Danda Mahotsava at Sripat Panihati at Raghava Pandit’s house, Raghava Pandit’s Jhali Samarpan Lila at Sri Gambhira in Puri, Sriman Mahaprabhu’s search for Krishna at Sri Vrindavan, Swapna Vilasa Kirtan at Sri Nidhuvan Brindavan, Bhramara Ghat Kirtan at Vrindavan, and RathYatra Kirtan at the forefront of the Ratha Yatra procession at Sri Kestra Puri to name a few. He wrote numerous Suchaka Kirtanas of various Gaudiya Vaishnava Mahatmas. Famous siddha Sri Sri 108 TinKuri Goswami Prabhu was very much affectionate to him. He used to love him so much that once on hearing the news of his arrival, Tinkuri Goswami Prabhu broke his vow of silence (Mauna Vrata) and asked him to perform kirtan for him. He also wrote the suchaka of Tinkuri Prabhu.
One of the most striking features of his Kirtana was his Bhava during kirtana. He used to become so engrossed in Lila while performing Kirtan that he used to forget all external affairs. The audience sometimes used to burst into tears or fall unconscious upon hearing his Kirtan but he used to remain unfazed externally while internally he was swimming in the Lila of his beloved Gaur Sundar. In Sri Khestra Puri even devotees of the Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya used to request Diksha upon hearing his Kirtan. Though he refrained from giving Diksa to already initiated disciples from other valid Sampradayas, he sometimes gave them Nitai-Gaur mantra, keeping their original Guru Line. In West Bengal at Asansol he once delivered sweet, nectarean Nityananda Tattva, upon hearing this even sadhus from Gaudiya Math fell at his feet and received his blessings and collected his Nityananda Tattva grantha.
Though he was suffering from heart disease he was doing very well for the last couple of years. He continuously performed Kirtana at various holy places around Vrindavana, West Bengal and Orissa with the same affection and enthusiasm. On the 1st May 2007 he was admitted to the hospital for some minor problem with his stomach, without much anxiety. Upon diagnosis the doctor all of a sudden discovered a growth on his liver. Later on a detailed medical test confirmed a case of cancer, which had already spread throughout his body. Despite the seriousness of his health, Babaji Mahasaya did not feel any pain which was normal for this kind of cancer. The news of the medical findings were kept hidden from him and as per the doctor's advice he was taken back to Sri Pathbari Ashram to spend his last days.
The next two weeks he spent with his beloved disciples and dearest ones at Pathbari, reading, chanting and hearing Hari Katha without the slightest sign of pain. He always gave good feedback about his health. On the evening of May 22nd, he spent an entire four hours in hearing Hari katha and various recitations by a disciple in cheerful health, and was doing intense chanting and meditation. At about 12 o’clock at night he suffered a slight breathing problem and coughing and called his dearest disciples. He indicated by gesture to start chanting Sri Nama. He called out, "Jaya Guru Ram, Sri Guru Ram" he left his body to join his beloved Gurudev in Nitya Lila.
At the end of his various writings he seeks the blessings from the Vaishnavas to grant him the boon that while he is taking his last breath he can call out, “Jaya Guru Ram, Sri Guru Ram” It seems that he was not denied his prayer.
Jay Nitai Jay Gour Jay Sri Radharaman
In the top picture with the microphone, Sri Srimad Hridayananda Das Babaji is performing the Suchaka kirtan of his beloved Gurudev Sri Srimad 108 RamDas Babaji at Pathbari. He can be seen here in complete ecstacy and in the state of Bhava.
In the next to the last picture Nityananda Prabhu's Descendant famous Vaishnava Acharyya Prabhupad of Sribas Angan Nabadwip, 108 Sri Sri Birchand Goswami is listening to his Kirtan at Pathbari and he is also equally engrossed in Kirtan.
Sri Srimad 108 Hridayananda Das Babaji was the family descendant of Mahaprabhu’s famous associate Uddharan Dutta who was among the Dwadash Gopalas of Nityanada Prabhu. He was saved at the age of four from a life-threatening disease by Sripad Ram Das Babaji at Jhanjpita Math in Puri, where Babaji Maharaja saved his life by placing his Japa Beads on his head and shouting "Jay Nitai." According to the words of Hridayanada Das Babaji, “When Babaji Maharaja placed his Japa beads on my head, and shouted "Jay Nitai!" a current flowed through my spine and I was completely relieved from suffering.” From that time onwards Babaji Maharaja became his heart and soul for all his last days.
He was from a very aristocratic family. One of his family members was the District Magistrate in Orissa, but despite that, his mother left him in the shelter of Babaji Maharaja at the age of five. His intelligence was reflected in his eyes, in his talks, in his arguments and in his boundless love for others. He was full of life energy and was an unbiased positive thinker. He never hesitated in making the correct call no matter what the consequences might be. He even told me that despite the success/failure or lack of paramapara stuff, ISKCON founder Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami was indeed energized by Sriman Nityananda Prabhu.
He received the full blessings of his beloved Guru Deva in regards to Kirtan. His Kirtan was very famous throughout the Gaudiya Vaishnava world. He followed in the footsteps of his Guru Deva by visiting various Gaudiya Vaishnava pilgrimage sites to perform astonishing soul-wrenching Kirtan describing the various lilas of Sriman Mahaprabhu and Sriman Nityananda Prabhu. Among those were Danda Mahotsava at Sripat Panihati at Raghava Pandit’s house, Raghava Pandit’s Jhali Samarpan Lila at Sri Gambhira in Puri, Sriman Mahaprabhu’s search for Krishna at Sri Vrindavan, Swapna Vilasa Kirtan at Sri Nidhuvan Brindavan, Bhramara Ghat Kirtan at Vrindavan, and RathYatra Kirtan at the forefront of the Ratha Yatra procession at Sri Kestra Puri to name a few. He wrote numerous Suchaka Kirtanas of various Gaudiya Vaishnava Mahatmas. Famous siddha Sri Sri 108 TinKuri Goswami Prabhu was very much affectionate to him. He used to love him so much that once on hearing the news of his arrival, Tinkuri Goswami Prabhu broke his vow of silence (Mauna Vrata) and asked him to perform kirtan for him. He also wrote the suchaka of Tinkuri Prabhu.
One of the most striking features of his Kirtana was his Bhava during kirtana. He used to become so engrossed in Lila while performing Kirtan that he used to forget all external affairs. The audience sometimes used to burst into tears or fall unconscious upon hearing his Kirtan but he used to remain unfazed externally while internally he was swimming in the Lila of his beloved Gaur Sundar. In Sri Khestra Puri even devotees of the Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya used to request Diksha upon hearing his Kirtan. Though he refrained from giving Diksa to already initiated disciples from other valid Sampradayas, he sometimes gave them Nitai-Gaur mantra, keeping their original Guru Line. In West Bengal at Asansol he once delivered sweet, nectarean Nityananda Tattva, upon hearing this even sadhus from Gaudiya Math fell at his feet and received his blessings and collected his Nityananda Tattva grantha.
Though he was suffering from heart disease he was doing very well for the last couple of years. He continuously performed Kirtana at various holy places around Vrindavana, West Bengal and Orissa with the same affection and enthusiasm. On the 1st May 2007 he was admitted to the hospital for some minor problem with his stomach, without much anxiety. Upon diagnosis the doctor all of a sudden discovered a growth on his liver. Later on a detailed medical test confirmed a case of cancer, which had already spread throughout his body. Despite the seriousness of his health, Babaji Mahasaya did not feel any pain which was normal for this kind of cancer. The news of the medical findings were kept hidden from him and as per the doctor's advice he was taken back to Sri Pathbari Ashram to spend his last days.
The next two weeks he spent with his beloved disciples and dearest ones at Pathbari, reading, chanting and hearing Hari Katha without the slightest sign of pain. He always gave good feedback about his health. On the evening of May 22nd, he spent an entire four hours in hearing Hari katha and various recitations by a disciple in cheerful health, and was doing intense chanting and meditation. At about 12 o’clock at night he suffered a slight breathing problem and coughing and called his dearest disciples. He indicated by gesture to start chanting Sri Nama. He called out, "Jaya Guru Ram, Sri Guru Ram" he left his body to join his beloved Gurudev in Nitya Lila.
At the end of his various writings he seeks the blessings from the Vaishnavas to grant him the boon that while he is taking his last breath he can call out, “Jaya Guru Ram, Sri Guru Ram” It seems that he was not denied his prayer.
Jay Nitai Jay Gour Jay Sri Radharaman
In the top picture with the microphone, Sri Srimad Hridayananda Das Babaji is performing the Suchaka kirtan of his beloved Gurudev Sri Srimad 108 RamDas Babaji at Pathbari. He can be seen here in complete ecstacy and in the state of Bhava.
In the next to the last picture Nityananda Prabhu's Descendant famous Vaishnava Acharyya Prabhupad of Sribas Angan Nabadwip, 108 Sri Sri Birchand Goswami is listening to his Kirtan at Pathbari and he is also equally engrossed in Kirtan.
In the last picture Babaji Mahasay is performing the suchaka Kirtan of Sri Sri Uddharan Dutta Thakur at the residence-temple of Uddharan Dutta Thakur in Sripat Saptagram, West Bengal. Babaji Maharaja is performing in front of Sri Uddharan Dutta Thakur's Sri Nitai Gaur Gadhadhar Deity.
5 comments:
Radhe Radhe
My Dandavat Pranams to Sri Srimad 108 Hridayananda Das Babaji Maharaj.
We are all fortunate for the sweet association he has bestowed to us all, in any shape and form.
Thanks for that insightful article.
Kind regards
Jai Nitai,
Please accept my condolences on the passing of Srimad 108 Hridayananda das Babaji Maharaj. I have been following a little bit of his activiites and I thought he stood out as one of great modern day preacher of the faith. He was very aristocratic and georgous in appeance. I don't know him personally but I am feeling a great sense of loss to hear of his departure. In fact I had been planning to go and see him in India this year.
Heartbroken
I have now posted this on my blog, http://jagadanandadas.blogspot.com/
In 2005, by the kindness of several devotees, I was able to return to Nabadwip after more than 20 years of absence. One evening I went into town and was making the tour of the various temples when I came to the Samaj Bari. Samaj Bari celebrates its annual festival in honour of Radha Raman Charan Das Babaji Maharaj a few weeks before Gaur Purnima. I had come specifically because I had been told that Hridayananda Dasji was there and I wanted to talk to him. That night, however, the suchak kirtan was being sung and Maharaj was in the group of singers. He wasn't leading, but sitting behind the main singer and instructing him. As usual, he was sitting up very straight and was extremely serious and concentrated. Knowing I would not get a chance to see him and I had to get back to Gadadhar's that night, I left.
The next evening I returned with Gadadhar and we both went and met with Hridayanandaji in his room and spent about an hour with him. He told us that he had recently undergone surgery and that made it impossible for him to lead the kirtan, but he was still there to teach and guide those who would be playing this important role in the Nitai Gaura Radhe Shyam sect. He had, as usual, a supply of short books and pamphlets that he had written, sharing his unique insights into Gaura and Nitai tattvas. Gadadhar Pran especially loved Hridayanandaji because of one book he had written about Gadadhar Prabhu. Gadadhar Pran kept all the books, so I don't have one to look at now to share with you what he wrote.
The followers of Ramdas Babaji and Radharaman Charandas play an extremely important role in the landscape of modern Gaudiya Vaishnavism, and it is primarily through their kirtan that they do so. Their presence is demanded at every major mahotsava commemorating events in the life of Mahaprabhu and his parshads. Ramdas Babaji established a kind of annual calendar of major kirtans following Mahaprabhu lila, including the Rathayatra kirtan cycle, Jhulan in Vrindavan, which follows Mahaprabhu's pilgrimage there, Panihati Danda Mahotsava, and so on. The role of principal kirtaniya is thus the most coveted and most respected role anyone in the line of Ramdas Babaji can have. Hridayanandaji spent his entire life training for this role and indeed he was born to it.
I met Hridayananda Dasji for the first time in Mahesh Pandit's Sripat in Chakdaha. Mahesh Pandit is a parshad of Nityananda Prabhu and one of the 12 Gopals. Keshava Priya Dasji, the Mahanta, was one of our favorite Vaishnavas due to his connection to Krishna Prema, the British devotee who had taken initiation in the Gopala Bhatta Goswami line. I was there for the annual festival, and Hridayananda was there to sing the suchak, etc. He was living somewhere in Howrah district as he had left the Path Bari for a time. I can't remember all the details, but certainly part of it was that he had been passed over as principal kirtaniya after the departure of the previous Mahanta. So he was travelling around Bengal, doing minor utsavas like this one, with his young disciple and mridanga player, Birbhadra Dasji, whom we called Bablu.
Hridayananda Dasji and I hit it off right away. He had a contagious enthusiasm for Gaura Katha and it seemed that he was always producing a small pamphlet whenever he had some some extraordinary insight. I remember enjoying one in which he related the ecstatic manifestation of Lord Jagannath and its esoteric relationship to Mahaprabhu lila. We had a long discussion about the relation of Nityananda Prabhu to Radharani and madhura rasa.
What I liked about Hridayananda was that he was not afraid to look you write in the eye (and he had marvellous eyes) and sing a bhajan to make a point. His conversation would often be as much sung as spoken. His culture was all kirtan, but that is what Mahaprabhu and Ramdas Babaji were all about. In kirtan, Maharaj was, like Subrata describes, in the mood of Ramdas Babaji--his absorption was complete, tears came to him easily as he sang Ramdas's and his own akhars, plunging into the honored, traditional bhavas.
Maharaj invited me to go with him on a tour of Orissa that year. He had a number of disciples in the area, as well as other "allies," where he would annually go and put on programs prior to going to Puri for the Rathayatra. He wanted me to give Bhagavata and Chaitanya Charitamrita lectures at all these places--Bhubaneswar, Jagdishpur, Katak, etc. Though we passed through all these places in a whirl--I was myself already in the endgame of my stay in India and not altogether there in spirit--it was one of my most memorable experiences in the eleven years I was there. I have written elsewhere about the NGRS version of the Rathayatra festival (I will post the link when the Prema Prayojan site comes back on line). I still have very vivid pictures in my mind of the villages and towns we saw, even though the names and the people have faded.
Hridayanandaji put aside any politics to stay with his spiritual family at the Jhanj Pitha Math in Puri. Staying in the midst of the NGRS devotees, participating with them at the Radha Kanta Math kirtans and feasts and all the rest of the Rathayatra festival, has to be one of the highlights of my spiritual life, worth a Raghavera jholi worth of insights and ecstasies. Just watching the tilak ritual the NGRS bhaktas have is a trip in itself. They all carry a bag filled with bottles of sand and water from all the different tirthas--some are obligatory, like the sand from Ishwar Puri's Sripat. The black mark they put in the middle of their tilak is the oil and soot from the lamps that burn during Nam Yajnas. But the mood was so different from the Gaudiya Math!
From Hridayanandaji I learned an awful lot about his tradition, about stalwart commmitment to a path, about kirtan (I wish I had learned more), about bhava and the cultivation of bhava through kirtan. It is really too bad that it was interrupted and I had to leave so soon after being blessed by his association. I feel most fortunate that on my trip back a couple of years ago, by the blessings of so many devotees, I was able to get his darshan and the dust of his feet for a last time before he entered the Nitya Dham. May he continue to shower his blessings on us all.
Jai Nitai, Jai Sri Radharaman:
Well I didnt know, that such a wonderful text exits in the internet, which gives intense peace and joy in just reading the text.
I thank all the people, who have taken the pain to right these texts online.
Jai nitai.
Jai Nitai,
Sri Srimad 108 Hridayananda Das Babaji Maharaj was Gurudev of this fallen soul on whom he showered his Mercy from childhood. He used to come to visit our home with his beautiful deities and he became my beloved Dadu (Grandfather) as my mother was initiated by him and she used to call Him Baba. He used to tell me stories while sleeping and tolerated all of my demands. I always wanted to see him after coming back from school and used to get angry out of affection, if I used to find that he went to visit His other diciples. I used to tell him that I will break His legs if he goes somewhere. He used tell me not to break his legs when I was grown up as he had pain in His legs. He showered his Divine blessings on me always and used to say that I am his husband. So I should go out for livelihood and he will feed me Prasad. Dadu you left me because lack of my love an inability to appreciate and be qualified for your causeless Divine love.....I miss u Dadu....Your Disappearance is a big void in my life....because you are All Merciful and so Lovable. Your endless memories will stay with me always....
Bhaja NitaiGaur RadheShyam Japa Hare Krishna Hare Ram.
Haribol...!!!!!
Khokan.
Mail ID duttajit@yahoo.co.in
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