THE GREATEST FESTIVAL

I pray Srila Prabhupada will empower me to say a few words worth your time.

Kadamba Kanana swami was, is, a friend to everyone. He made me, and all who knew him, feel like a friend. He was humble, no fancy air about him. While I served at Mayapur Kirtan Academy, he taught Siksastakam a couple years in a row. I appreciated his genuine authenticity. He inspired devotees to respect him, not by demanding but by his effortless Krishna consciousness. 

I am not sure if he knew how he was instrumental in my family moving to Mayapur in 1991. It was a life changing move for us. While he was part of the Mayapur management in years prior to our coming, there was an article published in the Mayapur magazine. Apparently he had set in motion a system by which grhasta who wanted to move to Mayapur would be given a cement floor, straw walls and thatched roof to start their Mayapur graha. We were enthusiastic about this romantic prospect. We also were more or less penniless. It would allow us to take up seva in the Dham and raise our family there. I saw myself pumping water, cooking on the floor of a cement veranda while singing some bhajans, living a life similar to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's associates in Caitanya Caritamrta. However, when we arrived both this project and Maharaj were gone and we took up residence in a normal Mayapur marble palace. In retrospect, it was probably closer to our ability in regards to renunciation. Krishna knows,  all is perfect according to His plan.

We cannot talk about Maharaj without mentioning his kirtans. So powerful. Sometimes mrdanga players had to replace one another, unable to continue at his speed and strength. As his illness progressed, I heard him say that it was these fast vigorous kirtan that gave him energy, life. 

Those who live in his shelter have a glorious life, and death ahead of them. He took the time to set the mood, to teach them how to live and how to leave. His life was organized, his activities scheduled, planned, orchestrated to please guru and Krishna. How he lived is how he died. This may be true for all of us, we may die how we live but how glorious would this be? We may need to prepare, mend our ways and follow in his footsteps. He set the way. 

From a kirtan warrior making everyone dance, he became a swan, gliding across his last days in a mystical and peaceful dance of slow mantras meditated upon. Although approaching death he seemed to shine more and more, becoming more beautiful as he let his soul truly shine through, In full optimism. 

"Soon, very soon, we will meet again and we will celebrate like never before, all together… 

Soon, soon… 

Miracles will happen. 

We will see love, we will see bliss, we will see fulfilment beyond our imagination, beyond our expectation… 

Stay on the path, don't get lost, come quickly, let us join this festival of Krishna, the festival of ever growing love." - Kadamba Kanana Swami Final words

May these words from a friend, guru, well wisher forever resonate in our citta. 

All we need to do is follow the program, fixed as Dhruva, and soon, very soon we will be back with Maharaj in kirtan. 

Let us live... in the way we want to die, 

Krishna dancing on our tongues and minds. 

More next time, as I slowly and happily take one step at a time towards Radha and Krishna's Love and pray for the mercy of the vaisnavas without whose mercy I am lost.

Begging to remain the servant of your servants.