Remembering Devotees (Part 1)

His Divine Grace Om Vishnupad
Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj
Evening class, Sri Gaura Purnima, Sri Nrisingha Palli
9 March 2020, part 1, translated from Bengali

Jay Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Jagad-Guru Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay
Om Vishnupad Bhagavan Sri Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur Prabhupad ki jay
Rupanuga-guru-varga ki jay
Namacharya Haridas Thakur ki jay
Vrinda Devi, Tulasi Devi, Sri Bhakti Devi ki jay
Sri Shyama Kunda, Radha Kunda, Sri Giri Govardhan ki jay
Sri Mayapur Dham, Sri Nabadwip Dham, Sri Vrindavan, Mathura ki jay
Sri Purusottam Ksetra ki jay
Baladev Subhadra Jagannathjiu ki jay
Samagata Sri Gaura bhakta-vrinda ki jay
Harinam sankirtan ki jay
Nitai Gaura premanande Hari bol

[His Divine Grace then gives 'jay' to every sannyasi and leading devotees present at the assembly.]

It is a very auspicious day today. On this holy day, I remember Gurudev – he would always speak on this day, and he would always want to name all devotees, but he could not remember everyone's names. My situation is also like that. You are all in my heart, but I cannot remember everyone's names quickly. I know everyone's names, but their names do not want to come to my mind. If I do not mention the names of some dear persons, they will think, 'Oh, Gurudev did not give "jay" to me... He must have forgotten me.' There are devotees who always do service, but their names do not come to my mind, and I feel very shy because of that. What can I do? I am very busy with so many things. Gurudev has given me many responsibilities, that is why I can forget something, but you are all in my heart. Always remember this. I have not forgotten any of you.

Many devotees have come here from various countries, and it is not right if I do not mention their names. For example, Sripad Purujit Prabhu is here with his pious spouse, Sri Amrita Sakti Didi. They always serve our Math. You know that there are problems in many countries, but they always try to come. Many other devotees also serve the Math. Ravindra Krishna Prabhu, Maha Laksmi Didi, Shankar Prabhu and Ravindra Krishna Prabhu's son (Doyal Nitai Prabhu) also do much service. Doyal Nitai is a small boy, but he had been saving his pocket money and gave it to his Gurudev for service. He is studying now, so he could not come – a twelve-year-old boy, he has sent his savings from the pocket money and some lunch money for Gaura Purnima.

I have many trained soldiers, but I sometimes think that it is necessary to make more soldiers to fight with Maya. Srila Bhakti Kusum Ashram Maharaj is here, and Madhuchandra Didi and many other devotees in Mexico are helping him; they always think about me and the Mission the whole year and always send donations for the service of the Mission. I also think that it is necessary to have one sannyasi in Singapore or South Africa, but even though I have chosen one devotee, but he is not completely rescued from illusion yet. Gurudev told me one name of a devotee from Singapore, but he has some problem – he always think about himself, 'I am a disciple of Srila Sridhar Maharaj, but Srila Sridhar Maharaj is not there, neither is Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj there now, so who will I take sannyas from?' Thinking in this way, he has become crazy. I have also chosen one person in Australia, but he has not become rescued from material bondage yet – he is always thinking about his material family. That is why I hope that they will still come and take the rudder of the Mission in their hands. Even as householders they are trying to help – they collect money and earn money, it is good too, but if there was one person in each country who would preach and become the captain, it would be very good. For example, in Ecuador, there was actually a captain before, but today I have given him sannyas to make him formally a captain in South America. So, now, he has to properly hold the rudder in Ecuador, Peru and other such countries in the region.

Devotees from all over the world are helping me. They are staying with me and fighting against Maya. I have one fighter called Kamalendu Prabhu – he is always fighting against Maya. When he is fighting, he can even sometimes forget the mridanga somewhere and can even take a stick in his hand! One more friend has come also, Sripad Ananda Moy Prabhu. He is also always fighting, and even if he does not have a stick in his hands, he will fight with Maya with his fists! There are also others who are doing the brihat mridanga service, they are staying with me... Gurudev said that nobody could kill me, but Maya could put some poison in my food and kill me in this way. That is why Sudevi Didi is always staying close by and cooks for me. She has learnt to cook Bengali style very well, and she was very enthusiastic to learn how to cook – when I come to Kolkata, she cooks some things that I like. There is also one Didi who comes with Shyamali Didi – she is always doing the brihad mridanga service. She has helped very much to produce the books that you all have got now. There is also Amalendu Prabhu in Russia, Muralidhar Prabhu and Ramray Prabhu in Turkey, Ananta Krishna Prabhu in Hungary, Gopeshwar Prabhu in Irelend, Jayasri Didi in Malaysia, Saraswati Didi, Sachi Didi and Anjali Didi in London. There many other devotees who always serve the Math. Gautam Prabhu has also come from the Bengali section of our London Mission. There is also Devashish Prabhu in London. One lady devotee, Nanda Priya Didi, has come from Nepal (many have not been able to come this time, perhaps, due to covid); there are also devotees from South Africa and Mauritius. Actually, I have chosen one person from Mauritius and wanted to give him sannyas, but Maya is still holding him back. There is Priya Krishna Prabhu from Mauritius also: he is serving at the temple. Sometimes, Maya keeps him away, and sometimes he comes here to serve. One lady devotee, Krishna Sundari Didi, has also come from Australia. I cannot name everybody, but many devotees have come from all over the world and they are doing this parikrama all together. Shankar Prabhu with his two sons, Ramananda and Vishnu, have come also – I knew them when they were small boys, and now they have both grown up. I see they have shaven their heads; very good boys.

— : • : —

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Language: Bengali

READ OTHER PARTS:

1) Remembering Devotees (part 1)
2) Remembering Devotees (part 2)