Srila B. R. Sridhara Maharaja Antya-lila Anecdote

 

 Excerpted from an article by B. B. Govinda Swami, disciple of H.D.G A.C. Bhaktivedanta  Swami Prabhupada:                                                Drupada Prabhu and I made our way out to Sridham Mayapur. I don’t remember how we got there but it sure as heck wasn’t by Gauranga Travels. And when we reached the holy dham we prayed and prayed to Mahaprabhu that He would bless us to go to Vrindavan and serve, following in the footsteps of Sri Rupa, Sri Sanatan, and Srila Prabhupada. One day Drupada Prabhu and I heard that Srila Prabhupada’s god-brother, Srila BR Sridhar Maharaja’s health had seriously deteriorated and was that he was teetering between life and death. We both agreed that we should go to his asrama, try to get the darshan of this great vaisnava, and, beg him to forgive us if we ever committed offences to his lotus feet, either knowingly or unknowingly. So, we got into one of the small boats, crossed the Ganga, and headed to the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Gaudiya Math to beg his darshan. We arrived and requested his darshan. The devotees told us that he was so sickly that no one had been graced with his darshan in months. They said it was impossible. Drupada and I felt forlorn at the prospect of not seeing this great devotee and begging his mercy. And just at that moment a miracle happened. Srila Sridhar Maharaja’s servant/secretary walked by and saw Drupada and myself and, he very affectionately greeted us. He had joined in the Toronto temple when Drupada and I were there, and this devotee, having a bit of a rebellious nature, was always getting himself in trouble with the temple authorities. And each time the boom was lowered, and he felt like leaving, Drupada and I would take him aside, give him some maha-prasadam, show him some love, and get him back on track. So he looked at us and said, “How can I serve you?” And we replied, “We want to se Srila Sridhar Maharaja and beg pardon for vaisnava aparadha’s and seek his blessings.” He looked at us sadly and said, “He’s so ill, people have been here two months waiting to see him .. then he paused and said, just wait here.” So Drupada and I sat silently, chanting on our beads, and soon that devotee came back and said, “come .. but only for a few minutes.” He quickly took us upstairs and there was Srila Sridhar Maharaja, well bundled, sitting in a chair on the veranda. Drupada and I both fell like rods, offered vaisnava pranam, and then got up. In a weak voice Srila Sridhar Maharaja asked, “How may I serve you.” We folded our hands and replied, “Maharaja, please forgive us both if we ever committed vaisnava aparadha’s to your lotus feet.” He was very silent. Then he said; “You have never committed vaisnava aparadha’s to me .. because in this life I never became a vaisnava. I have failed to become a vaisnava.” Then he said, “Come close, I will tell you something.” When we moved forward he said, “Every day of my life I pray to the pigs and the dogs of Nabadwip that they will bless this fallen soul, that I may become a vaisnava. I am still waiting for them to bestow their grace.” Then after a moment of silence he said, “Now go, and chant Hare Krishna.” Drupada prabhu and I again fell and offered our dandavats. Rising slowly we left, having received the blessing and grace of a param vaisnava. So, again, about these pigs. Yes, about the horrible pigs of Vrindavan. Yes, they are very nasty looking, they have very nasty culinary tastes, and are very much lacking in discrimination when it comes to family planning. But they have taken their birth in Vraja and are always covered with the earth and divine dust of Vraja. I keep loitering in material consciousness, thinking, “Oh, 43 years under the belt, just by chronology, I must be a great devotee.” Rather, I think it would be in my best interest to follow the humble mood of a real vaisnava, and even pray to the pigs and dogs of Vraja, “Please give me your mercy that I may one day become a true servant of my spiritual master. Allow me to serve him as he serves Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in His sankirtan pastimes of spreading the holy names of the Lord, and as he serves Sri Sri Krishna Balaram and Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundar in the pastures of Vraja.” Srila Prabhupda Ki Jai, Srila Sridhar Maharaja Ki Jai, Sri Vrindavan Dham Ki Jai !! Dang !! Even the piggies and the pooches of Vraja ki jai !!