Along with all of you, his disappearance breaks my heart, too
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By Nrsimhananda das

Just a few days before he departed for the US, he called me in the wee hours of his night. "What are you doing up so early, Maharaja?" It was 2am IST. He was thinking how the society could put Srila Prabhupada more in the center. He was concerned for the future, and was unable to sleep just thinking about it. We spoke for half an hour. I consider that last conversation with him one of the great blessings of my life. Continue reading "Along with all of you, his disappearance breaks my heart, too
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H.H. Bhakti Charu Maharaja’s Last Visit to the TOVP
- TOVP.org

His Holiness Bhakti Charu Maharaja was one of the most ardent and steadfast supporters of the TOVP. Over the years he personally spoke incessantly about the project, raised funds for construction, attended fundraising events, and was recently planning to travel with the North American TOVP Tour to many temples until the COVID-19 shut everything down. His temple in Ujjain is also overseeing the production of all the parampara murtis for the TOVP altar.

Below Sadbhuja prabhu speaks about Bhakti Charu Maharaja and provides some photos from his last visit to the TOVP site in 2019.

Hare Krishna to all,

As you all are aware, we have suffered a great loss within the ISKCON community of a wonderful devotee, and amazing Guru to many, H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja.

His sincere and hard work in spreading Krishna consciousness will always be cherished and appreciated for years to come. Maharaja has always been very enthusiastic, and as far as I can remember always greeted anyone with a welcoming grin, which could melt anyone’s heart.

I will always reminisce on the association which he gave me, as it was always amazing spending time with him. Here are just a few photographs of his last visit here at the TOVP site at the beginning of last year.

Although his passing has been painful to many, and a great tragedy at the thought of being unable to have his association anymore, we must be glad that he is now reunited with our Founder/Acarya along with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Bhakti Charu Swami, Ki Jay!

Sadbhuja das

[See image gallery at tovp.org]

 

Bhakti Charu Maharaja’s last public talk on June 14, 2020:

HH Bhakti Charu Swami’s great love for ISKCON
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By Kavicandra Swami

When I was asked to speak something about Srila Bhakti Charu Swami at a kirtan program I said that he was the “personification of Vaisnava culture”. Being quite uncultured myself I could not say much more except to glorifying some of his services to Srila Prabhupada, especially his translating all of Srila Prabhupada’s books. Continue reading "HH Bhakti Charu Swami’s great love for ISKCON
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When something is arranged by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one should not be disturbed by it
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By Virabahu das

Seeing all these reverses affect devotees, one should not be disturbed; one should simply understand that in these matters there must be some plan of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Bhagavatam's conclusion is that a devotee is never disturbed by such reverses. He accepts even reverse conditions as the grace of the Lord. One who continues to serve the Lord even in reverse conditions is assured that he will go back to Godhead, back to the Vaikuntha planets. Continue reading "When something is arranged by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one should not be disturbed by it
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Why did you decide to go back to Srila Prabhupada’s Lotus Feet not caring for how we would be unable to tolerate your departure?
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By Madhusevita Das

Where will I find that loving smile filled with care and affection that made you feel so important though you are worthless...., that caused you to remember Prabhupada in any circumstance..., that was pure sweetness...? I am so angry at you for leaving me here unprotected. Why did you decide to go back to Srila Prabhupada's Lotus Feet not caring for how we would be unable to tolerate your departure? Continue reading "Why did you decide to go back to Srila Prabhupada’s Lotus Feet not caring for how we would be unable to tolerate your departure?
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The Monk’s Podcast 31 with Shyamananda Prabhu – The Ugly Rainbow of Consumerism 2
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Podcast


 

Video:

The post The Monk’s Podcast 31 with Shyamananda Prabhu – The Ugly Rainbow of Consumerism 2 appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Important announcement about HH Bhakti Charu Maharaja’s Samadhi Ceremony
→ Mayapur.com

ISKCON Mayapur requests disciples, devotees and well wishers of  HH Bhakti Charu Maharaja to refrain from making travel plans to  visit Mayapur for the Samadhi ceremony. Kindly watch this announcement video from ISKCON Mayapur regarding HH Bhakti Charu Maharaja Samadhi ceremony.

The post Important announcement about HH Bhakti Charu Maharaja’s Samadhi Ceremony appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Letter for the disciples of HH Bhakti Caru Swami from HH Giridhari Swami
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By Giridhari Swami

I had the good fortune of associating with your Guru Maharaja during the 2019 GBC midterm meetings held in Tirupati. Numerous times throughout that visit he would give me a long, warm and loving embrace and say, “My dear old friend, my dear old friend.” And he would reminisce about the times he visited our Hong Kong yatra in the 1980’s when we worked closely together to publish his series of books for children. He called these happy days, when he cooked for the devotees, led kirtan and gave classes to our newly recruited Chinese devotees. He was always very liberal with his association and enlivened one and all. Continue reading "Letter for the disciples of HH Bhakti Caru Swami from HH Giridhari Swami
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Sadbhuja Das: Hare Krishna to all, As you all are aware we have…
→ Dandavats



Sadbhuja Das: Hare Krishna to all,

As you all are aware we have suffered a great loss within the ISKCON community of a wonderful devotee, and amazing Guru to many, HH Bhakti Caru Swami Maharaja.

His sincere and hard work in spreading Krishna consciousness will always be cherished, and appreciated for years to come. Maharaja has always been very enthusiastic, and as far as i can remember always greeted anyone with a welcoming grin, which could melt anyone’s heart.

I will always reminisce on the association which he gave me, as it was always amazing spending time with him. Here are just few photographs of his last visit here at the TOVP site at the beginning of last year.

Although his passing has been painful to many, and a great tragedy at the thought of being unable to have his association anymore, we must be glad that he is now reunited with our founder Acarya along with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Bhakti Caru Swami, Ki Jay!

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TOVP Architecture Department Report – June, 2020 Making Things Happen
- TOVP.org

We are delighted to share that the lock down did not deter the spirits of the team. ‘Moving the deities into Their homes’ is the motto. Capturing the individual and collective contributions herein. Through the duration of the pandemic, the team is at its laborious best to ‘make it happen’.

Click here to see it in your browser or download a copy to your desktop for offline reading.

Samadhi Ceremony in Mayapur
→ Dandavats

By the GBC Executive Committee

As we try to come to terms with the departure of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami, we join you in eagerly awaiting Maharaja's return to Sri Mayapur Dham where his samadhi will be erected. Due to the ravaging spread of COVID-19 in India, the government will not allow any public ceremonies to take place at this time. Therefore, we request devotees to refrain from making plans to travel to Mayapur. Only a few devotees, those who are directly involved in service, will be able to attend the last rites. This will be strictly enforced by government protocol. Continue reading "Samadhi Ceremony in Mayapur
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Remembrance of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja
→ Dandavats

By Bhakti Bhringa Govinda Swami

I think that now is the time for us to really take those instructions that we read in Srila Prabhupada’s offering in the Shrimad Bhagavatam to his spiritual master to heart. And that instruction is that he lives forever by his instructions and his disciples and followers live with him. And this is the case for His Holiness Bhakti Charu Maharaj as well. Although it is a great misfortune that we will not have his personal association, his instructions and his example will live for us to get forever. And for myself, Bhakti Charu Maharaj was always an example of intense affection and intense dedication to Srila Prabhupada. I saw that exhibited the first time I had a personal interaction with Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj, and that was in the summer of 1977 in Vrindavan when we were all serving here, and Srila Prabhupad was bringing his pastimes in this world to an end. Many times while sitting in Srila Prabhupada's room, I would observe how when Prabhupad heeded some comfort, when Prabhupad need somebody to speak to very closely and when Prabhupada wanted to hear the loving words of his disciples, he would call Bhakti Charu Maharaj and they would sit and speak very sweetly and intimately in the Bengali language. Continue reading "Remembrance of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja
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HH Bhakti Caru Maharaja disappearance
→ Ramai Swami

Born in Bengal in 1945, Bhakti Charu Swami spent most of his early life in the city of Calcutta. In 1970, he left India to study chemistry in Germany. Coming across Vedic literatures while in Germany, he discovered the richness of India’s spiritual heritage. In 1975, he returned to India to wholeheartedly pursue spiritual life.

In late 1976,  Bhakti Charu Swami joined the ISKCON temple in Mayapur, West Bengal and became more involved in devotional service to the Lord, all the while awaiting Srila Prabhupada’s return to India.

When Srila Prabhupada returned to India, the first direct meeting between guru and aspiring disciple finally took place in January 1977. During that meeting, Srila Prabhupada gave Bhakti Charu Swami the assignment of translating his books into Bengali and then made him his Secretary for Indian Affairs.

Srila Prabhupada gave Maharaj first and second initiation simultaneously in Mayapur on Gaura Purnima 1977. Three months later, Srila Prabhupada awarded him the renounced order of Sannyasa. All of this demonstrates a remarkable investment of authority and blessings from Srila Prabhupada to have occurred in such a short period of time. 

Throughout his devotional life, Bhakti Caru Maharaja traveled the world to spread Krsna Consciousness. He also made a film about Srila Prabhupada and wrote a book giving his memoirs of him. He saw all of his achievements in ISKCON as an offering to his Guru Maharaja.

On July 4th, which coincided with the disappearance of Srila Sanatana Goswami, HH Bhakti Caru Maharaja left this world to directly be with Radha and Krsna, Lord Caitanya and Srila Prabhupada. We will miss him dearly.

In one verse from the Srimad Bhagavatam it is said, “O King, no one can know the plan of the Lord [Sri Krsna]. Even though great philosophers inquire exhaustively, they are bewildered.
The best policy is simply to abide by the orders of the Lord without argument.”

“When the Supreme Personality of Godhead arranges something, one should not be disturbed by it, even if it appears to be a reverse according to one’s calculations.” 

A nice ceremony was observed at New Govardhana in honour of HH Bhakti Caru Maharaja with kirtan, eulogies, puspanjali, arati and feast.


 

Bombay HC declares ‘ISKCON’ is a well-known trademark
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By Kanchan Chaudhari

ISKCON authorities had moved the HC, seeking a permanent injunction against Iskcon Apparel Private Limited, a private enterprise, for infringing on its registered trademark. The Bombay high court (HC) on Friday declared that the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) to be a “well-known trademark” that enjoys protection under the provisions of the Trade Marks Act, 1999. Justice BP Colabawalla accepted ISKCON’s argument. “Since it is a coined a trademark, which is associated exclusively with the plaintiff, it, undoubtedly, deserves the highest degree of protection,” said Justice Colabawalla. He said ISKCON has acquired immense and long-standing reputation and goodwill both at home and aboard, while upholding its plea. Continue reading "Bombay HC declares ‘ISKCON’ is a well-known trademark
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Homage to HH Bhakti Charu Swami
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Srila Prabhupada spent his entire life's energy to give Krishna to the whole world; and in so doing he also created so many empowered saints, men and women of such pure hearts and saintly characters. Bhakti Charu Maharaj is such an exemplary saintly son, the ideal disciple and perfect follower of Srila Prabhupada. Having given his whole heart to Srila Prabhupada's mission, he was thus blessed with so many of Srila Prabhupada's pure qualities: his deep compassion, his constant selflessness, his humble dedication to the spiritual upliftment of everyone.

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Krishna Kshetra Swami: Why BCS Maharaj wanted to visit America?
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As we know, H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami's support for the IMCPA was very substantial. By his stature among the leaders of our Society, he was able to call attention to the importance of the ministry; he supported it financially; he helped in making favorable legal arrangements for the North American branch of the Ministry; he personally attended a farm meeting in Deland (thereby foregoing his expected participation in London Rathayatra); he helped form the Ministry's board of advisors and, as some of us personally witnessed in Sridham Mayapur this last February, he took part in formation of the Ministry's Council of Elders, thereby hosting the ceremony establishing H.H. Smita Krishna Swami as the Council's first member.

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Srila Prabhupada: “So at the Risk of his Life he did it”
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Srila Prabhupada makes us understand that ‘a cent-percent devotee of the Lord is immune to the dreadful material miseries of repeated birth and death’ (SB 1.3.39, purport). And ‘service to the Lord is rendered in pure consciousness of one's spiritual identity; by service one is immediately freed from material encumbrances (SB 1.1.2, purport). ‘Because a devotee is freed from all contaminated material association, he is not affected by the miseries of material existence. Even though he appears to be in the material world, he is not affected by the miseries of the material world (SB 3.25.24, purport)

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Sydney Devotees Construct Detailed Jagannath Puri Replica
→ ISKCON News

When devotees at the ISKCON temple in Sydney, Australia, couldn’t organize their regular full-fledged outdoor Rathayatra festival due to COVID-19 restrictions, they decided to bring the whole city of Puri and a new custom-built chariot into their temple room for a small indoor Rathayatra. Carried out in consultation with head pujari Bhaja Govinda Das, the […]

The post Sydney Devotees Construct Detailed Jagannath Puri Replica appeared first on ISKCON News.

We won’t be able to see you but will feel you in our hearts forever
→ Dandavats



I still cannot accept the fact that you have left this world. When I had come to know about your health condition, I was sure that you will recover from it. But Krishna had a different plan. Krishna wanted you to return to his kingdom. And no one can interfere in Krishna’s plan because he being the Supreme Lord knows what is best for all.

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Disappearance of HH Bhakti Charu Swami – Offering
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By Bhakti Raghava Swami

The last time we met was in the month of May, 2018, in California where we were both attending a Cow Culture Conference. It was the first time I was hearing from you about your project in Florida where you explained that in North America we must provide special facilities for cows due to the harsh temperatures. You had recently acquired 120 acres of land for that purpose close to Orlando. I was happy to hear of your initiative to help make more devotees become aware of the importance of cow care. Continue reading "Disappearance of HH Bhakti Charu Swami – Offering
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Increasing the glories
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 1 June 2020, Radhadesh, Belgium, Caitanya Caritamrta Lecture)

I do not usually cover the topic of disrespecting vaishnavas, as in one sense, it is a distasteful topic. I do not like to discuss all the unpleasantness of vaishnava-apradha as it is not filling our hearts with great happiness. To make vaishnava-apradha the focus of spiritual life is also not what it is about. Our lives must be dedicated to devotional service. Let us just think day and night about expanding our devotional service and about expanding the mercy of Lord Caitanya in all directions. Then in this course, we avoid vaishnava-apradha. But if one is merely spending their life avoiding vaishnava-apradha, that alone is not enough. Let us do something to increase the glories of the Lord and the glories of His devotees. And in this way, we increase the glories of the sankirtana movement.

The article " Increasing the glories " was published on KKSBlog.

The whole world collapsed for me
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By Bhaktivaibhava Swami

I will not attempt to imagine the pain and emotions you are going through at this moment after the departure of your beloved Guru Maharaja. I can only join Anuttama Prabhu's memory of the pain and emotions we experienced when His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada left this mortal world. Although we were aware that Srila Prabhupada was very sick at that time, the thought that he could pass away from this world never crossed my mind, not even for a second. Srila Prabhupada was my life and soul - period. When I received the devastating news of Srila Prabhupada's departure while preaching in Beirut (Lebanon) at that time, I was sitting in my room for two days, not being able to eat or sleep or do anything else, except chanting the Holy Name and remembering Srila Prabhupada with tears constantly flowing from my eyes. The whole world collapsed for me. Was there any use to continue? Continue reading "The whole world collapsed for me
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A day of intense mourning
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By Bir Krishna das Goswami

Today is a day of intense mourning, the day that Srila Bhakti Charu Swami left this mortal world, and has gone to serve in His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada’s pastimes. For a pure devotee such as Bhakti Charu Maharaj there is no lamentation, as he is continuing his service in another location. However, for those of us who will be bereft of his association, it is hard to imagine continuing our lives without him. Continue reading "A day of intense mourning
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