Haribol,
I just hear that H.H bhakti svarupa damodar maharaja departed from this world. I had great respect for him as he did a great service to get scientists to appreciate gaudiya vaisnavism.
Maybe somebody can say some things about this great departed soul.
Vivek
Did this have something to do with complications from his injuries in the recent temple attack? I remember that when he would visit Chicago (for meetings that he had as part of the Parliament of World Religions), he would visit the ISKCON temple there and lead the most AMAZING, Manipur-style kirtans that would be so, so intense. When we got tired, we would run up to the 2nd floor balcony and take photos and videos and be in awe over how he could keep going and going. He had some disciples there and their drumming style would get everyone so excited. I remember that once, after a rip-roaring hour and a half kirtan (at least), we all went up to the second floor so that Maharaja could rest, and we would sit in this lounge area and he would tell really cool stories about the early days with Prabhupada. He was a very kind soul and everyone loved when he would come and give us his association in Chicago. I remember once, shortly after I moved to California, Candramauli Swami (based in Chicago) mentioned to me that he was fortunate enough to travel and spend some time with Bhakti Svarupa Damodara Swami in India and he felt incredibly fortunate to have the association of such a great soul! He had nothing but really great things to say about him. I'm sure Maharaja will be greatly missed.
Excerpt below was taken from: http://www.prabhupada.org/rama/?p=1020
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His Holiness (Dr. T.D. Singh, Ph.D.) is an extraordinary combination of scientist, interfaith leader, educationist, poet, singer, and cultural ambassador. He is well known for his pioneering efforts for more than thirty years to interface between science and religion for a deeper understanding of life and the universe.
He received his Ph.D. in Physical Organic Chemistry fro the University of California, Irvine in 1974. He has contributed many papers in the Journal of American Chemical Society and the Journal of Organic Chemistry. He underwent Vaishnava Vedanta studies (1970 - 1977) under His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and was appointed director of the Bhaktivedanta Institute (1974 -), a center to promote studies about the relationship between science and vedanta. He has organized three international conferences on science and religion - First and Second World Congress for the Synthesis of Science and Religion (1986 & 1997) and First International Conference on the Study of Consciousness within Science (1990) which were attended by prominent scientists and religious leaders including several Nobel Laureates.
He has authored and edited several books including What is Matter and What is Life? (1977), Theobiology (1979), Synthesis of Science and Religion: Critical Essays and Dialogues (1987), Thoughts on Synthesis of Science and Religion (2001), and Seven Nobel Laureates on Science and Spirituality (2004), and is the editor-in-chief of the journal of the Bhaktivedanta Institute entitled, Savijnanam: Scientific Exploration for a Spiritual Paradignm.
His Holiness is a founding member of the United Religions Initiative (URI), and is president of it Manipur (NE India) Cooperation Circle. He started a network of schools in NE India where about 4000 students receive education centered on spiritual values. He is the founder and director of “Ranganiketan Manipuri Cultural Arts Troupe” which has about 600 performances at over 300 venues in over 15 countries. He guides over a thousand of his students around the world in the techniques of spiritual life. His poems inspire introspection and his beautiful singing of prayer at openings of various global peace and interfaith meetings is a much-awaited sacred moment.
Here's an email I received earlier this afternoon from Badrinarayan. Apparently there's not much information on the cause of his demise.
Dear Prabhus/Maharaj,
Please accept my humble obeisance . All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
With great regret I would like to inform devotees around the world that our
most beloved HH. Bhakti Swarup Damodara Swami maharaj has left his body last
night in KOlkatta at his BI office.
After mid night Maharaj felt pain then very soon he left his body.
Ther were four of his disciples with him. Every thing was OK . Maharaj was
normal . This incident happened all at sudden.
This has not been dicided where maharaj's body will be given samadhi.
Maharaj will be in Kolkata untill after noon .
Kolkata Vice president Barada Krishna along with other devotees are with
Maharaj by now.
Thank you very much.
Your humble servant
Bhakti Purusottama Swami
All glories to H.H bhakti svarupa damodar maharaja he has now joined Prabhupada and Krsna.
He was my siksa guru and has very many enlightening books dealing with science and religion.
Let us all say a prayer for him.
I had direct association with him and he led a very devote life. May Krsna bless him for all he has done.
He told me that he was chosen to help as Indias representative to the 6 party talks with N Korea. He was well known in the world and did great things for this Hare Krsna movement.
There were appreciations and rememberances for Maharaja at the Berkeley temple tonight.Apparently he had a heart attack earlier today and left his body in Mayapur.That is about all anybody knows at this time.
A more recent email from Badrinaryan:
Dear Maharajas and Prabhus,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
With a heavy heart, I am to inform you all that His Holiness Bhakti Svarup
Damodar Maharaja left his body, all of a sudden, last night. The doctor has
diagnosed the cause of death as a massive cardiac arrest at around 12:15 am.
Maharaja was apparently normal last night and was talking to his disciples
till late about the upcoming conference that he was organizing in Puri.
After that, he went to take rest and he left his body in his sleep.
Previously, to some of his disciples Maharaj expressed his desire to be put
in samadhi in Radhakund. Therefore, his body will be flown to Delhi and
taken to Vrindavan to fulfill that desire. His Holiness Bhakti Svarupa Damodara will be placed in samadhi tomorrow (Oct. 3rd) in Radha Kund.
Everyone here in Vrindaban is in shock that such a great servant of Srila Prabhupapada has so suddenly left us.
Your servant,
Bhakti Charu Maharaja