His Entrance Into Nitya Lila
On Caitra Krsna Navami (9th day of the dark fortnight of the lunar month Caitra), April 20, 2017, Thursday, 10:15 PM, at the onset of the 7th day of non-stop sankirtan, and while his favorite kirtana ‘Radha Kunda Tata’ was being sung, Srila Gurudeva entered into the eternal pastimes (nitya-lila) of Sri Sri Radha- Govinda. The time of his entrance into the nitya-lila is very significant, as it corresponds to the passage of time from the 7th to the 8th period of the day, i.e. the time of transition from prema-viprambha (love in separation) to prema-sambhoga (love in union). When separation becomes unbearable then union is imminent, and the union that comes after separation is delightful. Over the years, devotees witnessed Srila Gurudeva’s desperate cries motivated by separation from his divine master but now, to his delight, he is reunited with his divine master in his eternal pastimes.
On the other hand, Srila Gurudeva’s dear disciples and his loved ones in this world were left in a state of separation grief. After a formal announcement of Srila Gurudeva’s departure was made to the assembled devotees, they entered his room one after the other. They felt the intense pain of separation. Therefore, they wept, screamed, and became lifeless. Some devotees even fell to the ground. Some of them washed his lotus feet with their tears. Sankirtana continued for the entire night in a state of despair and deep pain.
Although Srila Gurudeva had gradually prepared all the devotees for this day so that they would feel the least pain of separation at the time of his departure, still everyone was overwhelmed with lamentation. In the few preceding years, and particularly during the enthralling last eight days, he did not speak or reciprocate externally but his physical presence was there. However, now, the very thought that they would not have his audience any longer devastated their hearts. It was the end of the world for them. Their eyes were constantly filled with tears and they were completely grief-stricken. The whole atmosphere was heart-rending and at the same time highly purifying.
By their departure from this world, the pure devotees teach us a lesson that this world is not a place of permanent residence. One of the many instructions that they leave behind is that we need to free ourselves completely from our reliance upon the material sense organs so that we might become eligible to see their transcendental form and grace through spiritual eyes. In this way, we can listen to their instructions through the ears of the purified heart. We should not simply give importance solely to the form that we perceive via the material eyes, but we should learn to see the actual form of the pure devotees.
All of us are deprived of seeing Srila Gurudeva’s appearance on this plane, his pastimes as a child, his spiritual urge, and its calling; we have only heard. But now he, very mercifully, out of his sisya-vatsalayata (compassion toward his disciples), allowed us the opportunity to witness and participate in his departure pastimes by offering kirtanas.
Srila Gurudeva demonstrated to the entire world the best way to leave this planet via his ultimate pastime in the last few days. And the farewell that he received from the devotees was befitting of an acarya who held the flag of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s sankirtana movement firmly raised high in the sky for so many years.
Welcome In Sridham Mayapur
At about 9 AM on April 21, Srila Gurudeva’s transcendental body was brought to Srila Parama-gurudeva’s bhajana-kutira and, after he offered his respects, he was laid down to rest in the library hall. Many local devotees and neighbors rushed to have his audience and offer their homage. Some devotees fanned him while several others circumambulated him amid saìkértana till 11:30 AM, when he was brought in front of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha-Nayananath Jiu. After guru-puja, various food offerings were made and arati was performed. The remnant garlands of the Deities, caranamrita (the nectarine waters that bathe the Lord’s lotus feet) and Tulasi leaves were also offered to him. All of these activities were accompanied by heart-stirring kirtanas by the devotees.
After Srila Gurudeva had circumambulated the temple of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha-Nayananath Jiu, he ascended a spacious cart beautifully decorated with fresh flowers. An attractive canopy covered the top of the cart to give protection from the Sun. The cart was open on three sides to enable his darshana as it headed toward Mayapur-dhama for his samadhi ceremony. As the cart started to move, the devotees ran madly behind it. They were running barefoot on roads that were hot due to the midday sun. But they were ready to take any trouble to avail even the slightest possibility of staying close to his divine vigraha (spiritual form).
Ten air-conditioned buses and as many cars, were arranged for devotees to join him on his final journey to Mayapur. As Çréla Gurudeva’s cart slowly picked up speed, the devotees were forced to sit in their respective buses and cars. Srila Gurudeva was welcomed at several locations on the way to Mayapur, viz. Barasat, Chakdaha, Rashberia, Ranaghat, and Krishna Nagar. At each of these places, the local devotees who came for his darsana bitterly cried. They performed his arati and made bhoga and flower offerings. The buses that followed his cart became more and more crowded at each of these locations.
Srila Gurudeva entered Sridham Mayapur at 6:30 PM. The pleasant beams of the 10th-day moon of the dark fortnight were touching the grounds in the dhama. When his cart approached Sree Chaitanya Math, a cool breeze started to blow. It was as if the wind god was waiting to welcome him. The rain god did not miss the opportunity as well, as a very pleasant and light rain shower accompanied the breeze, thereby giving a soft and cool touch to the body, as if there was a puspa-vrsti (shower of flowers). It was a warm greeting to Srila Gurudeva and his associates after their long journey in the afternoon sun.
Whether animate or inanimate, everyone and everything in Mayapur was waiting to welcome Srila Gurudeva. The trees stooped down in respect to their venerable master. The flowers and the leaves falling from the trees were pleading with the wind god to allow them to reach his soothing divine feet. All the residents of Mayapur were on the street, waiting for the arrival of the high-rank commander of Mahaprabhu’s mission. The shopkeepers had shut down their businesses to welcome him. The normal services in Mayapur halted as everyone awaited his arrival; the dhamvasis knew that they were not going to get his audience anymore. By dint of his Vaishnava conduct, Srila Gurudeva had created a very special place for himself in the hearts of all the dhamvasis, disciples, Vaishnavas, and the living entities at large—his glorious reception in Mayapur spoke for itself.
While the rain god was sprinkling water on the road, many sannyassis and brahmacharis swept the road and spread flowers as Srila Gurudeva’s cart moved slowly over the decorated road. What followed him was not just a flood of devotees, but the love and affection he had offered to everyone over the many years. As far as eyesight could reach, one could only see devotees and nothing else. The eyes were watching this spectacle, while the ears were filled with sankirtana sung at a very high pitch. Mayapur-dhama was resonating with the sound of ‘ha gurudeva, ha gurudeva, kothai go prema-maya ha gurudeva— Oh! Gurudeva, where are you? My dear Gurudeva, where can I find you?’ The maddened voices of the devotees overwhelmed all other sounds. The pilgrims and the general public were astonished at such a never-witnessed-before event.
At Sree Chaitanya Math, Srila Gurudeva’s arati was performed. He had darshana of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharvika-Giridhari Jiu and the samadhi temples of Srila Gaura Kishora Das Babaji Maharaja and Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada while offering his obeisances from outside. Before reaching Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, Isodyana at 10 PM, Srila Gurudeva’s cart halted at each of the Gaudiya institutes on the way. The principal places of his welcome were Yogapitha, Srivasa Angana, ISKCON, and Nandanacarya Bhavana. At each of these places ghee lamps, incense, flower garlands and various kinds of nice bhoga were offered to him. The gurukula students of ISKCON chanted Veda mantras loudly and showered flowers.
Physical barriers, organizational barriers, or any other barriers that might have existed, were buried in Srila Gurudeva’s presence as everyone welcomed him heartily. He had undoubtedly won over the hearts of everyone, as the flood of Vaishnavas that followed him grew in size after each math he visited in Mayapur. By the kind of welcome he was offered, Mayapur had declared on that very day that he is not only a guru in Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, but a guru of everyone—a guru of the entire world, a jagad- guru. Such a grand welcome for a Gaudiya acarya had not been witnessed in recent times in the entire world. However, it was not grandeur that was on display, but rather a united effort by all the Vaishnavas to please their dear master; it was nothing if not an outpouring of love.
After the cart arrived at Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, the transparent chest in which Srila Gurudeva was lying was brought down from the cart very carefully. He had daraana of Srila Parama-gurudeva’s samadhi and circumambulated him. Later, he received darsana of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha- Madanamohan Jiu and performed Their circumambulation. A beautiful flower-decorated altar was prepared in front of Srila Parama- gurudeva’s bhajana-kutir, upon which he was rested for the night. His transcendental body graced the altar and the devotees had the opportunity to have his intimate darsana and offer services to him all night such as fanning, etc. A few devotees stayed awake the entire night to prepare a place for Srila Gurudeva’s samadhi on the northern side of Srila Parama-gurudeva’s samadhi temple. Some devotees dug the ground, some carried the earth and disposed of it at another location, some offered bricks, some swept the floor, and some brought flowers while others decorated. Together, they prepared a place for his samadhi and decorated the four corners of it with banana trees, and the sides with flower garlands.
On April 22, Srila Gurudeva ascended the cart again and visited all the maths en-route to Hulur Ghat, which had not been covered due to paucity of time on the previous day. At Sree Gopinath Gaudiya Math, he offered his obeisances to parama-pujyapada Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Gosvami Maharaja’s samadhi. After paying his respects to Kñetrapäla Çiva, he once again visited ISKCON at their behest. Even though they had offered their tributes to him the previous day, they were not completely satisfied. On the previous day, they had prepared for his grand welcome and arati inside the main temple, but he had to leave from the main gate, as it was already late. So, pujyapada Srila Jayapataka Swami Maharaja repeatedly expressed, through his disciples, his strong desire to welcome Srila Gurudeva inside the temple in a grand way one more time. In this way, Srila Gurudeva fulfilled the desires of everyone who offered earnest prayers. Any prayer submitted to him sincerely from the bottom of the heart did not go unanswered.
In this regard, I would like to share my personal experience. When Srila Gurudeva’s cart was on its way back to our math, I prayed within myself, “Guruji, your divine body will be given samadhi in some time and, I will not be able to offer my services to it after that. Will you give me a last opportunity to place your lotus face on my lap and gently caress you? And if you should do so, then how will I express the feelings in my heart to you amid the throng of devotees?” I was saddened but continued to pray from within. Upon our arrival at Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, his transcendental body was carefully taken out of the chest and placed on the altar. The curtains were closed to prepare him for his maha-abhiseka (grand bathing ceremony). There were a few devotees on the altar; some of them were busy collecting his remnants, while others were busy rendering other services. I saw this as an opportunity provided by him to fulfill my inner desire. So, I immediately placed his holy head on my lap. While the other devotees were offering various services, I was engaged in caressing his lotus face and talking to him through the heart. I thanked him from deep within my heart for hearing the prayers of a most fallen person such as myself.
Samadhi And The Festival Of Separation
Srila Gurudeva took his seat on the altar, in the padmasana posture (lotus position), and preparations were made for a maha-abhiseka. With the sounds of ‘Haribol!’ and ‘Jai Gurudeva!’ resounding across the sky, he was bathed with water and pancamrita (cow’s ghee, yogurt, milk, sugar, and honey) and new garments were offered to him. Later, maha-arati was performed. Srila Gurudeva sat on a very beautifully decorated palanquin and went to take darsana of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha-Madanamohan Jiu and Srila Parama-gurudeva’s samadhi. He circumambulated both temples and arrived at the place where the devotees had prepared his samädhi-asana (seat) during the previous night.
At around 2 PM, Srila Gurudeva was seated on the samadhi-asana facing eastward. Sri Bhakti Kusala Padmanabha Maharaja performed guru-puja, and offered new clothes and fruits. Remnants from Lord Jagannätha such as silk clothes, ropes, and garments, and maha- prasad were offered to him. The holy dust of Vrindavana, Govardhana, and Radha-kunda were sprinkled on him. Sri Bhakti Nilaya Brhadvrati Maharaja performed arati. Sri Bhakti Sambandha Suddhadvaiti Maharaja wrote samadhi-mantras on his chest with sandalwood paste. After all these Vaishnava procedures were completed, the assembled devotees offered earth, salt, and flowers to his samadhi. They prepared a raised platform and decorated it with flowers and garlands. Arati and parikrama were performed while kirtanas were sung. The entire auspicious event was finished by 3:30 PM.
The samadhi event was performed on April 22, Saturday, on the holy occasion of Varuthini Ekadasi. The devotees who prepared the samadhi place for Srila Gurudeva, those who gave him samadhi, those who participated in it, those who had his darsana, those who attended the festival, and those who have heard of this event, are all greatly fortunate. In the evening, there was an unexpected and unusually heavy storm that saw many old and strong trees uprooted in Mayapur. An intense downpour of rain followed that. It appeared as if the gods in heaven were crying due to separation from Srila Gurudeva. They had witnessed his exemplary earthly pastimes all these years but now would remain deprived of his darsana, as he had now entered the transcendental abode.
—Sripad Bhakti Suhrid Paramadvati Maharaj
Excerpted from "Sweet, Sweeter, Sweetest" which may be downloaded here.
On the other hand, Srila Gurudeva’s dear disciples and his loved ones in this world were left in a state of separation grief. After a formal announcement of Srila Gurudeva’s departure was made to the assembled devotees, they entered his room one after the other. They felt the intense pain of separation. Therefore, they wept, screamed, and became lifeless. Some devotees even fell to the ground. Some of them washed his lotus feet with their tears. Sankirtana continued for the entire night in a state of despair and deep pain.
Although Srila Gurudeva had gradually prepared all the devotees for this day so that they would feel the least pain of separation at the time of his departure, still everyone was overwhelmed with lamentation. In the few preceding years, and particularly during the enthralling last eight days, he did not speak or reciprocate externally but his physical presence was there. However, now, the very thought that they would not have his audience any longer devastated their hearts. It was the end of the world for them. Their eyes were constantly filled with tears and they were completely grief-stricken. The whole atmosphere was heart-rending and at the same time highly purifying.
By their departure from this world, the pure devotees teach us a lesson that this world is not a place of permanent residence. One of the many instructions that they leave behind is that we need to free ourselves completely from our reliance upon the material sense organs so that we might become eligible to see their transcendental form and grace through spiritual eyes. In this way, we can listen to their instructions through the ears of the purified heart. We should not simply give importance solely to the form that we perceive via the material eyes, but we should learn to see the actual form of the pure devotees.
All of us are deprived of seeing Srila Gurudeva’s appearance on this plane, his pastimes as a child, his spiritual urge, and its calling; we have only heard. But now he, very mercifully, out of his sisya-vatsalayata (compassion toward his disciples), allowed us the opportunity to witness and participate in his departure pastimes by offering kirtanas.
Srila Gurudeva demonstrated to the entire world the best way to leave this planet via his ultimate pastime in the last few days. And the farewell that he received from the devotees was befitting of an acarya who held the flag of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s sankirtana movement firmly raised high in the sky for so many years.
Welcome In Sridham Mayapur
At about 9 AM on April 21, Srila Gurudeva’s transcendental body was brought to Srila Parama-gurudeva’s bhajana-kutira and, after he offered his respects, he was laid down to rest in the library hall. Many local devotees and neighbors rushed to have his audience and offer their homage. Some devotees fanned him while several others circumambulated him amid saìkértana till 11:30 AM, when he was brought in front of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha-Nayananath Jiu. After guru-puja, various food offerings were made and arati was performed. The remnant garlands of the Deities, caranamrita (the nectarine waters that bathe the Lord’s lotus feet) and Tulasi leaves were also offered to him. All of these activities were accompanied by heart-stirring kirtanas by the devotees.
After Srila Gurudeva had circumambulated the temple of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha-Nayananath Jiu, he ascended a spacious cart beautifully decorated with fresh flowers. An attractive canopy covered the top of the cart to give protection from the Sun. The cart was open on three sides to enable his darshana as it headed toward Mayapur-dhama for his samadhi ceremony. As the cart started to move, the devotees ran madly behind it. They were running barefoot on roads that were hot due to the midday sun. But they were ready to take any trouble to avail even the slightest possibility of staying close to his divine vigraha (spiritual form).
Ten air-conditioned buses and as many cars, were arranged for devotees to join him on his final journey to Mayapur. As Çréla Gurudeva’s cart slowly picked up speed, the devotees were forced to sit in their respective buses and cars. Srila Gurudeva was welcomed at several locations on the way to Mayapur, viz. Barasat, Chakdaha, Rashberia, Ranaghat, and Krishna Nagar. At each of these places, the local devotees who came for his darsana bitterly cried. They performed his arati and made bhoga and flower offerings. The buses that followed his cart became more and more crowded at each of these locations.
Srila Gurudeva entered Sridham Mayapur at 6:30 PM. The pleasant beams of the 10th-day moon of the dark fortnight were touching the grounds in the dhama. When his cart approached Sree Chaitanya Math, a cool breeze started to blow. It was as if the wind god was waiting to welcome him. The rain god did not miss the opportunity as well, as a very pleasant and light rain shower accompanied the breeze, thereby giving a soft and cool touch to the body, as if there was a puspa-vrsti (shower of flowers). It was a warm greeting to Srila Gurudeva and his associates after their long journey in the afternoon sun.
Whether animate or inanimate, everyone and everything in Mayapur was waiting to welcome Srila Gurudeva. The trees stooped down in respect to their venerable master. The flowers and the leaves falling from the trees were pleading with the wind god to allow them to reach his soothing divine feet. All the residents of Mayapur were on the street, waiting for the arrival of the high-rank commander of Mahaprabhu’s mission. The shopkeepers had shut down their businesses to welcome him. The normal services in Mayapur halted as everyone awaited his arrival; the dhamvasis knew that they were not going to get his audience anymore. By dint of his Vaishnava conduct, Srila Gurudeva had created a very special place for himself in the hearts of all the dhamvasis, disciples, Vaishnavas, and the living entities at large—his glorious reception in Mayapur spoke for itself.
While the rain god was sprinkling water on the road, many sannyassis and brahmacharis swept the road and spread flowers as Srila Gurudeva’s cart moved slowly over the decorated road. What followed him was not just a flood of devotees, but the love and affection he had offered to everyone over the many years. As far as eyesight could reach, one could only see devotees and nothing else. The eyes were watching this spectacle, while the ears were filled with sankirtana sung at a very high pitch. Mayapur-dhama was resonating with the sound of ‘ha gurudeva, ha gurudeva, kothai go prema-maya ha gurudeva— Oh! Gurudeva, where are you? My dear Gurudeva, where can I find you?’ The maddened voices of the devotees overwhelmed all other sounds. The pilgrims and the general public were astonished at such a never-witnessed-before event.
At Sree Chaitanya Math, Srila Gurudeva’s arati was performed. He had darshana of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharvika-Giridhari Jiu and the samadhi temples of Srila Gaura Kishora Das Babaji Maharaja and Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura Prabhupada while offering his obeisances from outside. Before reaching Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, Isodyana at 10 PM, Srila Gurudeva’s cart halted at each of the Gaudiya institutes on the way. The principal places of his welcome were Yogapitha, Srivasa Angana, ISKCON, and Nandanacarya Bhavana. At each of these places ghee lamps, incense, flower garlands and various kinds of nice bhoga were offered to him. The gurukula students of ISKCON chanted Veda mantras loudly and showered flowers.
Physical barriers, organizational barriers, or any other barriers that might have existed, were buried in Srila Gurudeva’s presence as everyone welcomed him heartily. He had undoubtedly won over the hearts of everyone, as the flood of Vaishnavas that followed him grew in size after each math he visited in Mayapur. By the kind of welcome he was offered, Mayapur had declared on that very day that he is not only a guru in Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, but a guru of everyone—a guru of the entire world, a jagad- guru. Such a grand welcome for a Gaudiya acarya had not been witnessed in recent times in the entire world. However, it was not grandeur that was on display, but rather a united effort by all the Vaishnavas to please their dear master; it was nothing if not an outpouring of love.
After the cart arrived at Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, the transparent chest in which Srila Gurudeva was lying was brought down from the cart very carefully. He had daraana of Srila Parama-gurudeva’s samadhi and circumambulated him. Later, he received darsana of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha- Madanamohan Jiu and performed Their circumambulation. A beautiful flower-decorated altar was prepared in front of Srila Parama- gurudeva’s bhajana-kutir, upon which he was rested for the night. His transcendental body graced the altar and the devotees had the opportunity to have his intimate darsana and offer services to him all night such as fanning, etc. A few devotees stayed awake the entire night to prepare a place for Srila Gurudeva’s samadhi on the northern side of Srila Parama-gurudeva’s samadhi temple. Some devotees dug the ground, some carried the earth and disposed of it at another location, some offered bricks, some swept the floor, and some brought flowers while others decorated. Together, they prepared a place for his samadhi and decorated the four corners of it with banana trees, and the sides with flower garlands.
On April 22, Srila Gurudeva ascended the cart again and visited all the maths en-route to Hulur Ghat, which had not been covered due to paucity of time on the previous day. At Sree Gopinath Gaudiya Math, he offered his obeisances to parama-pujyapada Srila Bhakti Promode Puri Gosvami Maharaja’s samadhi. After paying his respects to Kñetrapäla Çiva, he once again visited ISKCON at their behest. Even though they had offered their tributes to him the previous day, they were not completely satisfied. On the previous day, they had prepared for his grand welcome and arati inside the main temple, but he had to leave from the main gate, as it was already late. So, pujyapada Srila Jayapataka Swami Maharaja repeatedly expressed, through his disciples, his strong desire to welcome Srila Gurudeva inside the temple in a grand way one more time. In this way, Srila Gurudeva fulfilled the desires of everyone who offered earnest prayers. Any prayer submitted to him sincerely from the bottom of the heart did not go unanswered.
In this regard, I would like to share my personal experience. When Srila Gurudeva’s cart was on its way back to our math, I prayed within myself, “Guruji, your divine body will be given samadhi in some time and, I will not be able to offer my services to it after that. Will you give me a last opportunity to place your lotus face on my lap and gently caress you? And if you should do so, then how will I express the feelings in my heart to you amid the throng of devotees?” I was saddened but continued to pray from within. Upon our arrival at Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math, his transcendental body was carefully taken out of the chest and placed on the altar. The curtains were closed to prepare him for his maha-abhiseka (grand bathing ceremony). There were a few devotees on the altar; some of them were busy collecting his remnants, while others were busy rendering other services. I saw this as an opportunity provided by him to fulfill my inner desire. So, I immediately placed his holy head on my lap. While the other devotees were offering various services, I was engaged in caressing his lotus face and talking to him through the heart. I thanked him from deep within my heart for hearing the prayers of a most fallen person such as myself.
Samadhi And The Festival Of Separation
Srila Gurudeva took his seat on the altar, in the padmasana posture (lotus position), and preparations were made for a maha-abhiseka. With the sounds of ‘Haribol!’ and ‘Jai Gurudeva!’ resounding across the sky, he was bathed with water and pancamrita (cow’s ghee, yogurt, milk, sugar, and honey) and new garments were offered to him. Later, maha-arati was performed. Srila Gurudeva sat on a very beautifully decorated palanquin and went to take darsana of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha-Madanamohan Jiu and Srila Parama-gurudeva’s samadhi. He circumambulated both temples and arrived at the place where the devotees had prepared his samädhi-asana (seat) during the previous night.
At around 2 PM, Srila Gurudeva was seated on the samadhi-asana facing eastward. Sri Bhakti Kusala Padmanabha Maharaja performed guru-puja, and offered new clothes and fruits. Remnants from Lord Jagannätha such as silk clothes, ropes, and garments, and maha- prasad were offered to him. The holy dust of Vrindavana, Govardhana, and Radha-kunda were sprinkled on him. Sri Bhakti Nilaya Brhadvrati Maharaja performed arati. Sri Bhakti Sambandha Suddhadvaiti Maharaja wrote samadhi-mantras on his chest with sandalwood paste. After all these Vaishnava procedures were completed, the assembled devotees offered earth, salt, and flowers to his samadhi. They prepared a raised platform and decorated it with flowers and garlands. Arati and parikrama were performed while kirtanas were sung. The entire auspicious event was finished by 3:30 PM.
The samadhi event was performed on April 22, Saturday, on the holy occasion of Varuthini Ekadasi. The devotees who prepared the samadhi place for Srila Gurudeva, those who gave him samadhi, those who participated in it, those who had his darsana, those who attended the festival, and those who have heard of this event, are all greatly fortunate. In the evening, there was an unexpected and unusually heavy storm that saw many old and strong trees uprooted in Mayapur. An intense downpour of rain followed that. It appeared as if the gods in heaven were crying due to separation from Srila Gurudeva. They had witnessed his exemplary earthly pastimes all these years but now would remain deprived of his darsana, as he had now entered the transcendental abode.
—Sripad Bhakti Suhrid Paramadvati Maharaj
Excerpted from "Sweet, Sweeter, Sweetest" which may be downloaded here.
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