My encounter with Radhanath Swami

My encounter with Radhanath Swami




I first came into the divine presence of H.H. Radhanath Swami at the New Vrindavan Community, West Virginia, USA. My wife and I were visiting New Vrindavan for a long weekend and had driven from New Jersey, where we resided at that time. After we were checked in into our room at the time, we were received by a young Brahamachari who had been initiated that morning, before our arrival. He was effulgent and full of spiritual bliss. He humbly informed us that he had received initiation from Radhanath Swami, although he was not qualified! He said that Radhanath Swami is a pure devotee and he was very happy to receive his blessings. He also informed us that earlier, he was residing in New Jersey and working in the Software field. He had been part of our counseling group or Bhakti Vruksh before we had joined it. He was now doing full time service at the New Vrindavana community.

The next day we attended Bhagavatam Class given by Radhanath Swami. The verse was SB 3.22.5 in this class Radhanath Swami explained the importance of even a moment’s association with a saintly person. I was very much impressed by the way Radhanath Swami was giving this class, with an immense and unbelievable amount of sincerity, concentration and devotion. I was in no doubt that I was in the presence of a great saintly person and that I must take full advantage of every moment of this association. I asked Radhanath Swami a question which he answered to my utmost satisfaction. In another Bhagavatam Class on another day, in his reply to a question posed by me, Radhanath Swami said that our spiritual lineage of Gaudiya Vaishnavism takes us to the highest perfection of Raganuga Bhakti.

My wife and I met with other devotees who were visiting New Vrindavan from New Jersey. We heard the following story about Radhanath Swami which happened when he was living in New Vrindavan. At this time Radhanath Swami had the service of a poojari or priest at one of the temples at New Vrindanvan. He was also part of the 24 hour kirtana service. This kirtan was going on in a temple on a hill. It was very difficult to get to this hill temple in the night and the kirtan had to be performed 24 hours. Radhanath Swami had a horse which he used to ride to get to this temple. At this time Radhanath Swami was attacked by a mob of goons where did not want the Hare Krishna devotees to settle New Vrindavan. Radhanath Swami was attacked and fell of the horse. He was injured and unable to walk. The goons were about to kill him but somehow or other spared him. Radhanath Swami was now in a very delicate condition, he was injured and unable to walk. He was in the middle of the night in a forest on a hill. Nobody knew about his predicament, except the goons and Krishna. If he did not get near the devotees quickly, it would be very difficult to survive the night. This is how Krishna saved His devotee. The horse who had earlier thrown off Radhanath Swami, came and sat down beside Radhanath Swami – now inviting Radhanath Swami to ride on his back. With high difficulty Radhanath Swami got onto the horse. The horse displayed rare intelligence and delivered Radhanath Swami to the temple devotees. It appears that the horse was driven by Krishna’s intelligence.



When my wife and I returned to New Jersey after our New Vrindavan Visit, it so happened that Radhanath Swami was also on a preaching mission there. Our Bhakti Vruksh leader, Devaki Nandana Prabhu had helped organize a big program at a Durga Temple at New Jersey. This was a very lively program with an excellent lecture Radhanath Swami followed by ecstatic dancing Kirtans led by Radhanath Swami. I still remember the way he said – ‘Everybody now dance!’ In the lecture Radhanath Swami had told us how the Gopal’s Garden school was being run and how the Bhaktivedanta Hospital was being run. He had told us that the operation theatre had a picture of Narsimha Deva; that the atmosphere was all spiritual and everybody who visited the hospital was becoming a devotee due to the love and care received. He told us that in the Gopal’s Garden school, the entire staff was chanting, the cleaners, bus driver, teachers – everybody. He told us about the Radha Gopinath Mandir and how it was being run.

This association with Radhanath Swami left a deep impression in me and my wife. We longed to be part of this community being cultivated by Radhanath Swami. The Supreme Lord fulfilled our desire. After a few years, we moved to Mumbai and became part of all that Radhanath Swami had described. His words about taking advantage of a moment’s association had proved prophetic. My family, now including my son, is now part of the Radha Gopinath congregation. My son is very happy going to Gopal’s garden school and it is every bit like what Radhanath Swami had described. My heart is eternally grateful to Radhanath Swami for being such an excellent devotee and spiritual master. He has deeply touched my heart and provided wonderful loving care. O my Lordships Radha and Krishna, in whatever abode and service you engage your devotee Radhanath Swami and his disciples, may I always be part of that service!











Srimad Bhagvatam 3.22.5

tava sandarçanäd eva

cchinnä me sarva-saàçayäù

yat svayaà bhagavän prétyä

dharmam äha rirakñiñoù

SYNONYMS

tava—your; sandarçanät—by sight; eva—only; chinnäù—resolved; me—my; sarva-saàçayäù—all doubts; yat—inasmuch as; svayam—personally; bhagavän—Your Lordship; prétyä—lovingly; dharmam—duty; äha—explained; rirakñiñoù—of a king anxious to protect his subjects.

TRANSLATION

Now I have resolved all my doubts simply by meeting you, for Your Lordship has very kindly and clearly explained the duty of a king who desires to protect his subjects.

PURPORT

Manu described herewith the result of seeing a great saintly person. Lord Caitanya says that one should always try to associate with saintly persons because if one establishes a proper association with a saintly person, even for a moment, one attains all perfection. Somehow or other, if one meets a saintly person and achieves his favor, then the entire mission of one’s human life is fulfilled. In our personal experience we have actual proof of this statement of Manu. Once we had the opportunity to meet Viñëupäda Çré Çrémad Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Gosvämé Mahäräja, and on first sight he requested this humble self to preach his message in the Western countries. There was no preparation for this, but somehow or other he desired it, and by his grace we are now engaged in executing his order, which has given us a transcendental occupation and has saved and liberated us from the occupation of material activities. Thus it is actually a fact that if one meets a saintly person completely engaged in transcendental duties and achieves his favor, then one’s life mission becomes complete. What is not possible to achieve in thousands of lives can be achieved in one moment if there is an opportunity to meet a saintly person. It is therefore enjoined in Vedic literature that one should always try to associate with saintly persons and try to disassociate oneself from the common man, because by one word of a saintly person one can be liberated from material entanglement. A saintly person has the power, because of his spiritual advancement, to give immediate liberation to the conditioned soul. Here Manu admits that all his doubts are now over because Kardama has very kindly described the different duties of individual souls.