By Bhajahari Das

om ajnana-timirandasya jnananjnana salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri gurave namah

I am standing in the darkness of ignorance, and you, Srila Prabhupada
are forcing open my eyes with the torchlight of knowledge.
I offer my respectful obeisance unto you.

Dear Srila Prabhupada, in the Sri Chaitanya Mangala, Lord Chaitanya foretold the coming of an empowered devotee who will take the sankirtana process everywhere. He said “I want to flood the whole world with the chanting of the holy names. I will personally preach and flood India with Harinama Samkirtana, and My Senapati Bhakta (great devotee warrior) will come and preach in different countries, and flood the world with the chanting of Hare Krsna.”

Surely you are this great Vaisnava warrior. I have tried to glorify some of your wonderful qualities and pastimes in the following verses. If I have been over familiar, or made foolish mistakes, kindly forgive me. I do not know Krsna, I only know something of you, but you have allowed me your priceless association, and I will be forever in your debt.

Lord Chaitanya’s Senapati Bhakta

Many years since you appeared
Many years Kali has feared
You, the deciding factor
Lord Chaitanya’s Senapati Bhakta

Eighteen ninety six the year
By your mercy, you appear
Four years before twentieth century
Warrior Vaisnava – make your entry

Even at an early age
Try to free souls from the cage
Rathayatras of your childhood
Engage all in the neighbourhood

Instructing others what to do
Comes so easily to you
Everything you say is right
For you were sent to start the fight

In this age, there’ll be no blood
Your fight is to start a flood
Of books, prasad and holy names
Engage us in samkirtan games

In twenty two a friend brought you
To meet with your eternal guru
You present logic – unsound
Siddhanta turns your head around

Reject degree, reject Gandhi
Later reject family
‘Calcutta Boy’ took your employ
From ‘Simha Guru’ – brought us joy

He asked you to preach in English
Challenge he knew you would relish
Spent your live preparing to do
Something only you knew how to

In thirty three – formal surrender
Knowing service you must render
You were told “There’ll be a fire”
Warned of Godbrothers in maya

In forty four, BTG born
At sixty three your life forsworn
Took sannyas at holy place
Determined to save, human race

Sacred passage on a steamboat
While on board in diary wrote
Chaitanya Lila, only solace
Risking all for His Divine Grace

On the Bowery you began
Saraswati’s faithful man
Let them call you Swami ji
As you planned to set us free

Speaking strong with urgent voice
Explaining that we have a choice
If Lord Krsna we all serve
“Daya Bhak”, what we deserve.

Young souls meet you, feel your love
Know you were sent from above
Bhakti lata bija you gave
The seed to free us from the grave

In sixty six, you start ISKCON
Knowing that you do not have long
Give the books that are the basis
For ten thousand year oasis

This Age threatened to go wrong
But you came with dance and song
Trained up preachers, trained up cooks
Worked all night to translate books

Thinking big, as it should be
You carry Mahaprabhu’s plea
To each country, village, town
Vaisnava warrior, wears the crown.

Train them up and then move on
On lotus lips, eternal song
Golokera prema dhana
Harinama Samkirtana

Time is short “I am old man”
Sent out six “Do what you can”
London an important place
Crossroads of the human race

They did well, as time has shown
In this, our land, your movements grown
Time now to consolidate
See your mission inundate

Once you wrote to Dhananjaya
‘Keep the temple free from maya
Forgive them once, forgive them twice
Be merciful, forgive them thrice

More than that, do not allow
The rules are there, they must all follow
Disciple must mean discipline
Left right, left right, keep them in trim’

‘Those who live here, must be stronger
Few hours rest, their day is longer
If they don’t take rest till three
Still they can’t miss Mangala Arti’

If they cannot come to this
Does not mean they’ll miss all bliss
Near the temple they can stay
Come take prasadam every day

Now there’s much work to be done
Like the Father, also the son
You stressed preachers we must be
Don’t try for bhajan annandi

Gopi Bhava Club in L.A.
Thought with Krsna, they could all play
You chastised with quivering lip
Furious they had made this slip

Serve Krsna with awe and reverence
Is the safe path for deliverance
You teach this and with good reason
Other paths, danger of treason.

Once when asked about pretender
Who to Krsna was offender
You replied, both sure and quick
Told us “In his face I kick”

“If one feigns samadhi” you said
With a smile “kick them on their head,
If they feel no agony
Bow down quick, repeatedly”

Half man, half lion protects you
Watching everything you do
There can be nothing you lack
Lord Narasingha guards your back

Life from life comes, that’s a fact
Only rascals dispute that
So called scientists you fight
You’re not crazy, you are ‘right’

You created Vaisnava armies
Wearing tilak, led by swamis
Bead bags held out at the ready
Sixteen loaded, they’re all steady

As they fan out ‘cross the land
They follow strategies you planned
Temples, restaurants, preaching outposts
Rounding up all, haunted by ghosts

The ghosts that tell them they can be
Happy in this world, and free
To capture their minds we must act
Bring them to you, make a pact

Once they’ve chanted Krsna’s name
They’ll be cured, no more insane
Then they’ll want to join the army
Led by Prabhupada Swami

On the battlefield of life
Logic sharper than a knife
Out with you on morning walks
Relishing your fighting talks

You are bold, strong and courageous
Krsna’s military genius
Making plans to free each soul
From the hell of Kali’s goal

You will never taste defeat
You conquer every foe you meet
Always overcoming maya
Srila Prabhupada “KI JAYA”

Sometimes soldiers leave the field
No strength left, weapons to wield
Must take a break, but not for long
Be back soon, when they are strong

When in battle, soldiers fall
You are well-wisher to them all
Father’s love, full of compassion
Wish all would follow your fashion

To attain Krsna Consciousness
You tell us, a life times business
If one feels in weak condition
Can still fight from safe position

Srila Prabhupada come quick
I am wounded, lame and sick
Save me from complete defeat
I lay prostrate, at your lotus feet
Please pick me up and take me home
I’ve been insane, mouth full of foam
Please comfort me as fathers do
Again let me sit close by you

So many years since you appeared
So many years Kali has feared
You, the compassionate factor
Lord Chaitanya’s Senapati Bhakta

Dearest Srila Prabhupada, if I had three wishes, I would first wish that I will remain forever able to remember you and engage perpetually in Krsna’s service under your guidance. Secondly, I would wish for you to empower me to establish spiritual restaurants all over the UK, where the tired and lonely people could come and experience Krsna Consciousness in a relaxed atmosphere. Finally, I would wish to be empowered to distribute millions of your transcendental books. On this most auspicious day, I offer you my repeated obeisance.

All glories to you

Your fallen disciple

Bhajahari das adikary
gokula.vegcafe@virginmedia.com