Seva Ashram - The Visit of Sripad Bhakti Madhava Puri Maharaj, Ph.D.

Raincloud of Mercy:

The Visit of Sripad Bhakti Madhava Puri Maharaj, Ph.D.

by Jagamohini Dasi

sadhu-sastra-guru-bakya hrdaye kariya aikya
satata bhasiba prema-majhe
karmi jnani bhakti-hina ihake karibe bhina
narottama ei tattwa gaje

My desire is to have my heart purified by the statements of the Vaisnavas, scriptures and spiritual master, and seeing the unity of these three, I will always float in the ocean of love of God. I will be aloof from the bad association of the fruitive workers, mental speculators, and the people devoid of devotional service. I, Narottama Dasa, sing this truth.

Flow of Mercy

Near the entryway of the San Jose branch of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math is a brochure that reads, The Seva Ashram ~ where mercy flows like water. Below the words is drawing of a hand mercifully offering a lotus flower.

Often we pray for mercy. At times, we feel it sweetly coming to us like a breeze, like a stream, as a tiny drop, or as a shower of rain. Mahaprabhu’s mercy is often compared to the quality of water because the intrinsic nature of water is to flow downward, to sink to the extreme lowest level. Similarly, Mahaprabhu’s causeless mercy pours like a waterfall and finds the lowest resting point, nourishing all it touches with infinite sweetness and immeasurable grace.

The saintly Vaisnavas who follow Sriman Mahaprabhu’s path are like exemplars of sanctity in this transitory world which we have mistaken for our home. They are like rainclouds that collect and distribute the sweet water of mercy. That mercy comes in a descending process and gives continuous cooling relief to the parched souls who are struggling in their long journey back to their true Home.

Recently the devotees of San Jose and Soquel, California had the good fortune of receiving the association of one of our Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math’s hidden treasures. Due to the inspiration of Bhakti Lalita Didi, an invitation to visit our California Seva Ashrams was extended to Sripad Bhakti Madhava Puri Maharaj, Ph.D.

Sripad Puri Maharaj is one of the original founding members of Bhaktivedanta Institute and a direct disciple of Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaj and Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj. He has been under the direct shelter and guidance of Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj and has led sincere seekers to Srila Gurudev’s lotus feet. Kum Kum Didi said, "How sincerely he accepts their grace is always evident in his talks and his kind demeanor."

Sripad Bhakti Madhava Puri Maharaj has been distributing Mahaprabhu’s flow of boundless mercy for many years and pleasing our divine Guru-varga by his endeavor to educate the scientists and scholars about the ‘Science of the Soul’ and ‘Science of God.’ He is the senior most devotee scientist of Bhaktivedanta Institute which plays a major role in promoting the ongoing dialogue between science and spirituality. Maharaj leads an online Skype group for reading and discussing sastra three times weekly and invites everyone to join. Sincere souls of scholarly and intellectual background receive inspiration from Maharaj’s scientific presentation of Krishna consciousness and oftentimes approach to take shelter and offer meaningful and valuable service to our mission.

Sweet Conclusions

Upon arrival in California, Sripad Puri Maharaj immediately charmed the devotees of California with his gentle and sweet nature. His words are sometimes few—carefully chosen, chiseled and polished down to the essential—like spiritual jewels. Ratan Krishna Prabhu, before leaving for Oregon, said that Maharaj’s words brought a fresh perspective—a new and clarifying aspect to our siddhanta which is sometimes difficult to grasp. Ratan Prabhu felt touched by his saintly, humble and gentle character, and felt that, although he is a learned scientist, he is always very approachable and is like a bridge between the scientific and spiritual world.

Kum Kum Didi said, "I was immediately impressed by Puri Maharaj's emphasis on preaching Krishna Consciousness. Although instructed by Srila Prabhupad to preach to the scientists, not even telling them that Krishna is God right away, but to start with talks of consciousness and "life comes from life", he quickly brings all the conversations around to the sweet conclusions of how to dedicate oneself to the service of the Vaisnavas. He remains constantly in the mood of humility, tolerance, and giving all honor to others while expecting none for himself. I saw him assess everyone's current thinking and give assistance in whatever way was needed by the individual. If someone was speaking wrong ideas, he listened patiently and kept good humor, then firmly but cordially corrected in a way that caused good reflection, always with a twinkle and perhaps an irresistible prompt: "don't you agree?"

Ever-Precious Guidance

Sripad Puri Maharaj was fortunate to arrive in time for the ceremony establishing Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj’s Pushpa Samadhi Mandir at the Soquel Seva Ashram. The hillside spot where the Pushpa Samadhi is being constructed was picked by Srila Gurudev himself. He had expressed his desire to Hasyapriya Prabhu that he wanted to sit there under the "tree where the children play." Srila Gurudev noted that from that spot one can see the Math and all the activities of the devotees.

Many devotees arrived for the auspicious ceremony and all took part in circumambulating the sacred spot which now hold flowers from His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Maharaj’s garland and a bedsheet from the day he disappeared from our vision and entered into Samadhi. BM Puri Maharaj Each devotee took a turn placing soil over the holy items. They heard the words spoken by senior Vaisnavas, which came like gifts, like healing salve, in commemoration of His Divine Grace and his ever-present, ever-precious guidance. We have heard that this ceremony, organized by Sripad B.P. Janardan Maharaj and Sriman Hasya Priya Prabhu, touched Sripad Puri Maharaj to the depths of his heart.

During Srila Gurudev’s joyful visits to Soquel he followed this same pathway where the Samadhi is being built and up to the top of the hill. There he could catch a happy glimpse of a shy deer or view the Pacific ocean that spread to the horizon like an endless blue carpet.

Affectionately Served

Kum Kum Didi’s family took Sripad Puri Maharaj to the Mount Hamilton observatory one day. Narayani Didi said that Maharaj took much pleasure in the beauty of the landscape and its vegetation, flowers and oak trees. Later Maharaj commented about the brilliance of Srila Gurudev’s perfect realization in naming the area Gupta Govardhan.

Jayanta Krishna Prabhu and Braja Mohini Didi invited Sripad Puri Maharaj and a few devotees to their home. As we arrived at their saffron tinted house, the devotees told Sripad Puri Maharaj that this house was once the San Jose ashram and that it is very dear to Srila Govinda Maharaj. He had joyfully visited here and sanctified the area on his visits to California.

Sripad Puri Maharaj was charmed by the lovely surroundings. The devotees gathered in the garden and had a particularly sweet kirtan with special prayers to the six Goswamis in honor of Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami Maharaj’s disappearance day. The presence of Srila Gurudev was felt lovingly surrounding us.

Long tables were spread with white cloth and the devotees sat, like a large, affectionate and intimate family, under the shade of fig and persimmon trees. The tomato plants and roses were spilling their fragrance into the air and nature whispered reminders — be softer, be kinder. Be humble and tolerant toward all that comes to test you.

The devotees were bright and blissful as several varieties of greens, zucchini, beans and salad filled their plate. This was topped off with manicotti, herbal ice tea and Pellegrino water. A slice of Italy in San Jose.

Maharaj talked long after about the delicious prasadam he was affectionately served and the delightful gardens. "I know that visit went a long way in convincing him to relocate to our community permanently," noted Kum Kum Didi.

Sweet and Mild Example

Sripad Bhakti Madhava Puri Maharaj said that due to his bodily health he had not traveled more than one hour from his New Jersey home in the last ten years. He felt that his health showed surprising improvement during his visit to San Jose and Soquel. Now we are hopeful that he will travel again and again and delight us with his darshan. And he is hoping that he will be able to make the pilgrimage to the holy Dham one day, too.

Under the shelter of Sri Sri Guru-Gauranga-sundarjiu and exquisite Srimati Tulasi Maharani in San Jose seva ashram, Maharaj gave classes and met with devotees and visitors. He seemed to delight in engaging in conversations about Hegelian philosophy, the soul, subjective evolution and devotion. Maharaj showed care and concern for the devotees—asking first about family and work and then asking about one’s spiritual life. He also took a great interest in the children’s spiritual education. By his sweet and mild example we were reminded to reach for the sublime.

We are grateful for the inspiration Bhakti Lalita Didi received to invite Sripad Puri Maharaj to visit, and Maharaj, in turn, was very pleased with Bhakti Lalita Didi’s constant care and attention to his health and satisfaction. Maharaj oftentimes expressed his awe and happiness with the care and affection he received during his visit. All those who were fortunate to receive his darshan and witness his sweet Vaisnava qualities felt blessed. I cannot find the right words, sufficient words, to express the respect, affection and admiration that Maharaj left us with—small gifts, little droplets of mercy that we examined and appreciated long after his departure.

I am reminded of the heart-melting story of Srila Madhavendra Puripad in Sri Chaitanya-Charitamrta. In Affectionate Guidance, Srila Gurudev refers to this story and note that Srila Krishna Das Kaviraj has said, "It is well-known in this world that name and fame run after those who are indifferent to it."
pratisthara svabhava ei jagate vidita
ye na vanch, tara haya vidhata-nirmita
~Madhya 4.147

Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj has said, "We shall be the loser on any day in which we do not meet with a saint and hear any discussion about the inner meaning and substance of life." We feel grateful that Sripad Puri Maharaj accepted the invitation to travel west and grace us with his presence, his example and his discussions and glimpses into higher topics. Particularly, in these times we are in need of such substantial discussions and such reminders of the quintessential importance of this human form.

We are nourished by Vaisnava-sanga and we are renewed by the devotees’ sweet showers of mercy.

"Vaisnava and Guru, children of that soil, they will take the risk and bring me there. So without their grace, vaisnava-krpa, guru-krpa, bhagavata-krpa, we cannot enter there. No right—all grace. That grace can take me there. From our side, we have no right."
~Heart and Halo

Offering dandavat pranam to Sri Guru and Vaisnava.
Please, in your kindness, forgive my offences,
Jagamohini Dasi

jaya gaura bhakta-gana, gaura yanra prana
saba bhakta mili' more bhakti deha' dana

All glories to all the devotees of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, for the Lord is their life and soul. All of you, kindly bestow devotional service upon me.
~CC. Antya-lila 11.8