Saturday 23rd July 2005 - 03:31MEMORIAL FESTIVAL FOR HIS HOLINESS BHAKTI-TIRTHA SWAMI IN NIGERIADevotees in Nigeria gathered in Benin-City to honor His Holiness Bhakti-Tirtha swami on the 2nd – 4th July 2005.
After the glorious departure of our dearly beloved Gurudeva, H.H.Bhakti-Dhira Damodara Swami (the first Sannyas disciple of H.H. Bhakti Tirtha Swami) sent messages round to disciples, admirers and well-wishers of Gurudeva for the festival and this lead to a rousing response from every where as every body who knew, hard or have read His books came around. Devotees came in from Lagos, Warri, Kaduna, and Ibadan, Jos, Port-Harcourt, Sapele and other parts of Nigeria.
H.H.BDD Swami and Canakya Pandit prabhu (Regional Secretaries) who had arrived earlier from Lagos as well as the Benin Temple President Acharya-Purandara Prabhu welcome everybody as devotees keep pouring in as from the eve of Saturday 2nd of June.
By 4.30 am (Mangala-Arati) on Sunday, 3rd July ,over fifty devotes were in attendance. Canakya Pandit prabhu offered the Arati on the Benin temple triple alter of their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Shyamasundara, Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra Devi and Gaura-Nitai, while Salika prabhu lead a very ecstatic Kirtan which reminds one of Gurudeva’s Kirtans. This was then followed by Tulasi-puja and Japa.
The Guru-Puja Arati was offered by H.H. Bhakti-Dhira Damodara Swami, while Canakya prabhu lead a memorable 30 minute Kirtan: chanting from a variety of Gurudeva’s favorite tones. Maharaja then gave the Srimad Bhagavatam class (S.B. 9:4:63-68) He spoke on the nature of pure devotees by eulogizing Gurudeva’s qualities as a pure devotee.
Though it has been raining but as if in deference for the Holy name, there was sunshine when over 150 devotees set out for the Harinam .Canakya prabhu lead the Kirtan and H.H. Bhakti-Dhira Damodara Swami lead devotees in dancing. The procession defied even flooded areas without excitation: and in the mood of spiritual warriorship, devotees distributed the Holy name and Books while catching public attention. Vishnu das was then handed the microphone and he lead the procession back to the temple where another marathon of very ecstatic kirtan variously lead by Caitanaya prema pr, Padmanabha pr, and Suklambara continued for another 90 minute. After which devotees were treated to sumptuous Prasadam feast.
Mother Himavati, long time secretary and cook to Gurudeva, made lots of Gurudeva’s favorite dishes which she had learnt form Mother Hladini of blessed memories. Major cooking was also done by Mothers Urvasi, Chandrika, Chanpa-Kalata, Grace, Svila-Manjari and others. 41 preparations were prepared in all and offered to Gurudeva.
By 1.30pm, devotees gathered before Gurudeva’s picture for Pushpanjali with H.H. Bhakti-Dhira Damodar Swami officiating. This was then followed by memories and gratitude session. Bhakti-Dhira Damodar Swami spoke extensively on the virtues of Gurudeva as he described Him as a great Vaishnava who never wasted any time without engaging it positively in serving Srila Prabhupada and Krishna “He was always fatherly, Highly intelligent, charming and yet austere.”
Canakya prabhu in his offering narrated how Gurudeva had to sleep at the Benin Republic/Nigerian boarder just to meet up with preaching a appointment. Many other devotees also spoke about Gurudeva’s uncommon qualities.
George Ugboma, a devotee and commissioner for environment in the Delta state cabinet also showered encomium on Gurudeva, he said Gurudeva has given us everything required to progress in Bhakti-Yoga if properly utilized. He went further by appealing to devotees to give back to Gurudeva by using His teachings to improve in relating with one another in both private and public life.
Letters from H.H. Satvarupa das Goswami, H.H. Bhakti-Caru Swami, Sri Nandanandana, Mother Adiradika (Turkey) etc. were read to devotees.
H.H. Bhakti-Dhira Damodara Swami then gave clarification on why Gurudeva’s body was cremated, siting vivid examples of Vaishnava acharyas like Srila Rupa Goswami, Bhaktivinoda Thakura etc who were also cremated.
Nagari-Raga devi dasi, Bhaktin Taiwo (Grand daughters of mother Madhavi-Lata) and Bhaktin Joy then sang the English translation of the Lotus feet of our spiritual master in a very melodious way to Gurudeva.
On Monday 4th Maharaja gave Bhagavatam class and later a seminar on Leadership while Senior devotees and the leaders also held a meeting with a focus on the future.
All glories to the Glorious memory of His Holiness Srila Bhakti-Tirtha swami ki! Jai!
Your servant,
Aniruddha das.
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