The first ambassador Caitanya Mahaprabhu in the Western world came with a ship from India to New York, sang with the American students the holy name of God, taught the Srimad Bhagavatam, first wrote a book about the Sri Krishna Lila, published a regular magazine, later took his American students to India. He opened the first Gaudiya Vaishnava temples in America. From the time of its release in America until his passing away just passed 12 years .... That was not Srila Prabhupada, but a Bengali Vaishnava, who are 63 years before him dared take this step: Baba Premananda Bharati.
"Baba Hindu comes here - Its mission is to inspire the United States of America for the worship of Krishna." That was the headline in the New York Times of 19 not September 1965, when Srila Prabhupada arrived in the U.S., but of 16 October 1902!
1857, he was born as Surendranath Mukerji. His uncle was a friends all over Bengal lawyer. He studied journalism in Calcutta and worked for several large newspapers and founded two private newspapers.
The Herald writes later (23/11/1902) about his conversion:
"from journalists on the ascetic is almost an impossible leap. It's like traveling from one pole to another. Journalism is key to the whole world in the human spirit; asceticism means taking the world of the spirit out. Journalism requires a detailed study of people and their practices, asceticism taught to wipe out any impressions of this world, to dive below the surface and recognize the true reason and meaning of things. In order to dive is required of forgetting the surface.
But a Vaishnava ascetic must not deny the whole world and retreat to the solitude of the jungle to get his devotion to pay. He finds Krishna, his beloved master, anywhere, and lives in the light of love to him. Without Krishna for him, the crowded city of New York only wilderness and wild jungle "
Bharati describes his inner change in an article by" Light of India. "
" I was very happy in my physical surroundings and my newspaper was not known only among Indians but also among the English. I was happy with it and considered.
At the very time awakened my religious Ursehnsüchte and very soon they can to show my passion for journalism minor. What appears before my one and all, was now pale and empty. "
The first characteristic of an awakening mind is that the soul does not like it used to feel joy at all the beautiful, good and gracious things and beings of this world. And not because of disappointment or frustration, but because it grows slowly out of it, just like someone from the toy-age naturally grows.
you feel weak at first, then more and more and more often. "All this is somehow not enough"
He continues: The trigger was a visit to the Star Theatre in Calcutta, where I one evening a "Chaitanya-lila" performance was allowed to see. This incredible amazing scene made a deep impression on me. I had found the object of desire and I decided to give my life for it. This awakening has left me all the attraction to the world and in the bottom of my heart flowed a stream of bliss, delighted me always shiver and left.
"Krishna, my beloved!" I called in my heart. "I am yours - forever. You are the mystery of love, the universe is the expression of which is the most merciful and Chaitanya explanation of it. Your grace is crystallized in the encounter one of your beloved companions. "
1890, he received spiritual initiation from Brahmananda Bharati and from then on he went as a monk by India, but a lot of time spent on Radhakunda in Braj.
"I went from Bengal to Vrindavan on foot (1500 KM). I needed this about 2 months. But I felt blessed - blessed with every step. I saw Krishna in dreams, waking and walking. I sang and danced in his honor. I will always give anything to see him again. I was in ecstasy. I lay on the bare concrete floor in the forests and the roots were used me as a pillow and fell asleep, had, as never slept a world leader, or a millionaire. "
After this visit in Vrindavan, he emigrated 10 years by India and was then on Radhakunda down. There, he began Radhakund
on the inner to feel call to travel to the West in order to convey something of the fascination of the loveliness of Krishna.
In that time he met Swami Vivekananda, who traveled for 10 years before him to Chicago, and he received a few contacts in America.
The Tribune writes on 16.10.1902
"In the West, I was sent by the monks who live at the Radhakunda, in the holy district of Vrindavan. Vrindavan is the place on this earth where God Himself, Sri Krishna appeared into this world. Radhakund love means.
The monks who live at this small lake, are divine. You think of nothing else but the love and the love of God extend to all beings back off. They are the most humble people in the world. They are the true Christians as the time of the Savior. You have no possessions and sing and pray all day. These holy people I got to live and work. I'm just one of her unworthy servant.
On 22 February 1903 there was a headline in the Herald: Hindoo Propaganda thrives - a growing interest among Christians in New York for the philosophy that teaches an Indian priest, "The following photo is printed with the comment: Baba Bharati lived in Indian jungles.
Two years after his arrival in the west (the beginning of October 1904) Bharati appeals to an international peace conference in Boston. His words of family connectedness with all beings and its relation to a center that combines the interests of all people - deeply impressed the participants - love for God. He was elected Vice President of the Conference, making him a popular personality in Boston.
His major work written is called "Sri Krishna, Lord of Love", a brilliant exposition of Vedic cosmogony up to the Sri Krishna Lila confidential.
The American "Review of reviews" writes on 31.02.1905: One of the
learned oriental missionaries who teach us in the West, Baba Bharati, a learned Brahmin from Calcutta, who now teaches in Boston and taught has just published a book. It describes the approach of Hindu origin and meaning of life and the universe. It describes the history of the universe from its creation to its dissolution.
Baba Bharatis style is direct, simple and clear and his thoughts are noble and pure. It is an expression of a strong believer in a philosophy whose ideals indeed originate from the Far East, but it left a vivid impression on Western readers. The love for the source of the universe, which is called in Hindu philosophy, "Krishna" is the driving force behind everything in the universe. Then focuses all desire. It is an extraordinary book - a fascinating presentation a sublime belief. "
At school he printed a regular magazine with the title" Light of India ", which highlighted the current affairs from the perspective of the Bhagavata.
In August 1905 he was invited to Los Angeles to speak at the Parliament of World Religions. There, he enters into a lively exchange of views with leaders of "new thought" metaphysical idealism and esoteric Christianity. He gives inspirational talks and lots of interested seekers can get initiated by him.
is in the spring of the following year opened the first Radha-Krishna temple in America in Los Angeles. The temple was demolished recently because he had to give way to a highway. In this "Krishna Home" as the temple was known, taught and lived with Baba some of his students. Since he was an inspiring Bhajansänger, teaching some students the art of Bengal worship songs.
Adelia Bee Adams, a student from this circle, described the ashram day in an article that was printed in the Indian Mirror:
"Before sunrise, we began with morning prayers. Then we all came together for the Arati ceremony of Radha-Krishna and Chaitanya Guruji and then told the students of Sri Krishna and Sri Chaitanya as its full extension. The breakfast delayed often late in the afternoon, as Baba - besides being India's non-compliance with time - it's not allowed to the commonplace as eating should displace the sacred. But all were present always witness that one, then as was looking forward to the late culinary refreshment. "
That same spring, he was visited by the King and Queen of Baroda, the extra competed a trip to America when they heard that Radha-Krishna temple there a common practice.
1907 he sailed with a group of American students to India, then made a stunning impression as they sang Indian Bhajans, Sanskrit verses quoted in Indian Clothing the Indians their own philosophy taught. This had left the British colony a lasting impression.
"Light of India" now appeared in Bengali Baba, and traveled several times from India back to America. In the 24th January 1914 he left his body in Calcutta as a result of diabetes. The New York Times reported on his passing away. Rose Reinhardt Anthon, a learned student of Baba, which is itself published many books and publications on Vaishnava philosophy, wrote a long obituary of Baba, which was printed in the "Indian Review" in February 1914.
After his passing away
His students lived all the more withdrawn and practiced in the Pacific continues (after some details were up to 5,000 students). There was also no interest in the conservation organization founded by Baba Krishna Samaj "employers to continue. It was revived by him and kept alive and the students realized that secular structure can not replace charismatic personalities.
The most famous student of Baba was Rose Reinhardt Anthon, whose book "Stories of India: Moral, mystic, spiritual and romantic" is still available today (the internet).
A group called "Order of Loving Service", which was dominated by Indian mysticism, has published 1934 book ("Square") to me the dedication: "For Premananda Bharati, whose love, patience, and still ongoing support us from darkness to light, from the weariness in the rest of the confusion in the understanding of the uninterrupted rings in the ongoing peace resulted.
The author Lalita Johnson was a student of Baba and accompanied him on his journey from India 1907 to 1910.
student of Baba 1921 "AUM Temple of Universal Truth" was founded, and up in the 70 years he printed the books by Bharati and his articles in their magazine. They also sold pictures of him with the inscription: "Our Beloved Baba Bharati. Elisabeth Delvin King, a student of Baba association, the teachings of Baba Bharati with esoteric Christianity, and had great success. This group has until he passed in the 90 years. This group tried several times to contact the Indian roots of her Baba, but were unsuccessful. Between 1955 and 1973 she visited India several times, even Vrindavan, but found no traces of Baba.
The Indian publishing house Natesan published in 1925 post-mortem "Light on Life", an autobiographical tale of six lectures given by Baba.
was regarded in the West and its Indian students Mahanambrata Brahmachari, who at several universities in America in the 30 years he was teaching.
Dr. Nag, in his Book Tolstoy and Gandhi (1950), that Tolstoy had several exchanges of letters with an Indian sannyasi, who lived in California: Baba Premananda Bharati. Tolstoy had such an interest in Baba Bharati's book "Krishna" (1904) that he organized, the book was translated into Russian. In his book "A Letter to a Hindu" (1909), Tolstoy, much quoted in this book.
small afterthought:
Srila Prabhupada often presented as the first ambassador of Krishna consciousness in the Western world. He is not.
But the authenticity of the Sadhus is not measured quantitatively, how much he has traveled, how many temples as he opened and books he published. It is also irrelevant has anyone how many pupils. Once you transfer outward scores on the sacred, you will not find the sacred, but only a mirror for his own material ambitions. Many people today have become very allergic to the indigestible mixture of eschatological orientation (religious) and secular power and striving. I would not minimize Prabhupada's position and weight, but they are only free of unhealthy idealization.
this article I have written because I was always thoughtful, agreed when the outer Erungenschaften Prabhupada were placed in the center. We sometimes had the feeling as if one had yet have a Zwangsdankbarkeit, because as the first Vaishnava Krishna consciousness in the Western world brought. Between essential content and historical events which do not necessarily reflect the purity and clarity of the doctrine must be distinguished more clearly.
Krishna in the Gita speaks of Karmayogi, it is never about the success or failure and it absolutely remains the same, because his concerns beyond the mundane level of transience. A
Bhakti Yogi as our Prabhupada would be no less great if his whole mission would have failed completely.
One can not say that would be the success of Prabhupada's mission (at least it was a success during his lifetime. ...) The special grace of Krishna. This Attitude would reflect Calvinism, which states that success could be seen in the world as a sign of the state of grace. It is exactly the Protestant ethic, the fact of many temples opened, many students interpreted and printed books as a special feature of the authorization and election of God.
As Srila Prabhupada in Vrindavan lived alone, and he ran out of money, the "Back to Godhead" to continue printing, he went back to Vrndavana. In a mood of loneliness and detachment from the world "bhajan Vrindavan", he wrote a Bengali poem, entitled
"I'm sitting only in Vrindavan dham.
In solitude I begin to understand many things.
I had a wife, sons, daughters and grandchildren.
But without money I have nothing more to expect from them.
Krishna show me the true face of material nature.
Its power has lost all its charm for me today.
Yasyaham anughrinami harishye tad-Dhanam shanaih:
"To those I can take all that experience my grace"
How did I only deserve to understand the grace of the merciful?
All have left me when she saw me penniless.
wife, relatives, friends, brothers-all.
It is a pity, but it makes me laugh. I
sit alone and laugh.
In this samsara-maya - who I love because really?
My loving father and my mother, where have they gone
And where are all the other old relatives?
of this family is left nothing but a list of names. "
Why should we measured a person with such a realization with the outer scales success? If you sensed him there is absolutely irrelevant whether he was the first exponent of Krishna consciousness in the West, who translated most books that got leaked to so many students and temples - it goes by only one thing then touch my heart and He inspired me on my way home?
sources: Baba Premanand Bharati, Krishan. New York: Krishna Samaj, 1904 JN Farquhar, Modern Religious Movements in India. New York: Macmillan, 1915 Lalita Lalita Johnson Maude {} Square. Laguna Beach, CA: Order of Loving Service, 1934-The pictures
me by Professor G. Carney of the University Hampden-Sydney kindly provided.
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