Gurudeva is his youth.
Famous kirtaniya and blessed disciple of the famous Namacharyya Siddha Sri Sri 108 Ram Das Babaji Mahasaya, Sri Sri 108 Hridayananda Das Babaji Maharaja left this mortal world to join his beloved Guru Deva in Nitya Lila on the 23rd of May at 12:33 AM in full consciousness. He was 78.
Sri Srimad 108 Hridayananda Das Babaji was the family descendant of Mahaprabhu’s famous associate Uddharan Dutta who was among the Dwadash Gopalas of Nityanada Prabhu. He was saved at the age of four from a life-threatening disease by Sripad Ram Das Babaji at Jhanjpita Math in Puri, where Babaji Maharaja saved his life by placing his Japa Beads on his head and shouting "Jay Nitai." According to the words of Hridayanada Das Babaji, “When Babaji Maharaja placed his Japa beads on my head, and shouted "Jay Nitai!" a current flowed through my spine and I was completely relieved from suffering.” From that time onwards Babaji Maharaja became his heart and soul for all his last days.
He was from a very aristocratic family. One of his family members was the District Magistrate in Orissa, but despite that, his mother left him in the shelter of Babaji Maharaja at the age of five. His intelligence was reflected in his eyes, in his talks, in his arguments and in his boundless love for others. He was full of life energy and was an unbiased positive thinker. He never hesitated in making the correct call no matter what the consequences might be. He even told me that despite the success/failure or lack of paramapara stuff, ISKCON founder Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami was indeed energized by Sriman Nityananda Prabhu.
He received the full blessings of his beloved Guru Deva in regards to Kirtan. His Kirtan was very famous throughout the Gaudiya Vaishnava world. He followed in the footsteps of his Guru Deva by visiting various Gaudiya Vaishnava pilgrimage sites to perform astonishing soul-wrenching Kirtan describing the various lilas of Sriman Mahaprabhu and Sriman Nityananda Prabhu. Among those were Danda Mahotsava at Sripat Panihati at Raghava Pandit’s house, Raghava Pandit’s Jhali Samarpan Lila at Sri Gambhira in Puri, Sriman Mahaprabhu’s search for Krishna at Sri Vrindavan, Swapna Vilasa Kirtan at Sri Nidhuvan Brindavan, Bhramara Ghat Kirtan at Vrindavan, and RathYatra Kirtan at the forefront of the Ratha Yatra procession at Sri Kestra Puri to name a few. He wrote numerous Suchaka Kirtanas of various Gaudiya Vaishnava Mahatmas. Famous siddha Sri Sri 108 TinKuri Goswami Prabhu was very much affectionate to him. He used to love him so much that once on hearing the news of his arrival, Tinkuri Goswami Prabhu broke his vow of silence (Mauna Vrata) and asked him to perform kirtan for him. He also wrote the suchaka of Tinkuri Prabhu.
One of the most striking features of his Kirtana was his Bhava during kirtana. He used to become so engrossed in Lila while performing Kirtan that he used to forget all external affairs. The audience sometimes used to burst into tears or fall unconscious upon hearing his Kirtan but he used to remain unfazed externally while internally he was swimming in the Lila of his beloved Gaur Sundar. In Sri Khestra Puri even devotees of the Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya used to request Diksha upon hearing his Kirtan. Though he refrained from giving Diksa to already initiated disciples from other valid Sampradayas, he sometimes gave them Nitai-Gaur mantra, keeping their original Guru Line. In West Bengal at Asansol he once delivered sweet, nectarean Nityananda Tattva, upon hearing this even sadhus from Gaudiya Math fell at his feet and received his blessings and collected his Nityananda Tattva grantha.
Though he was suffering from heart disease he was doing very well for the last couple of years. He continuously performed Kirtana at various holy places around Vrindavana, West Bengal and Orissa with the same affection and enthusiasm. On the 1st May 2007 he was admitted to the hospital for some minor problem with his stomach, without much anxiety. Upon diagnosis the doctor all of a sudden discovered a growth on his liver. Later on a detailed medical test confirmed a case of cancer, which had already spread throughout his body. Despite the seriousness of his health, Babaji Mahasaya did not feel any pain which was normal for this kind of cancer. The news of the medical findings were kept hidden from him and as per the doctor's advice he was taken back to Sri Pathbari Ashram to spend his last days.
The next two weeks he spent with his beloved disciples and dearest ones at Pathbari, reading, chanting and hearing Hari Katha without the slightest sign of pain. He always gave good feedback about his health. On the evening of May 22nd, he spent an entire four hours in hearing Hari katha and various recitations by a disciple in cheerful health, and was doing intense chanting and meditation. At about 12 o’clock at night he suffered a slight breathing problem and coughing and called his dearest disciples. He indicated by gesture to start chanting Sri Nama. He called out, "Jaya Guru Ram, Sri Guru Ram" he left his body to join his beloved Gurudev in Nitya Lila.
At the end of his various writings he seeks the blessings from the Vaishnavas to grant him the boon that while he is taking his last breath he can call out, “Jaya Guru Ram, Sri Guru Ram” It seems that he was not denied his prayer.
Jay Nitai Jay Gour Jay Sri Radharaman
Sri Srimad 108 Hridayananda Das Babaji was the family descendant of Mahaprabhu’s famous associate Uddharan Dutta who was among the Dwadash Gopalas of Nityanada Prabhu. He was saved at the age of four from a life-threatening disease by Sripad Ram Das Babaji at Jhanjpita Math in Puri, where Babaji Maharaja saved his life by placing his Japa Beads on his head and shouting "Jay Nitai." According to the words of Hridayanada Das Babaji, “When Babaji Maharaja placed his Japa beads on my head, and shouted "Jay Nitai!" a current flowed through my spine and I was completely relieved from suffering.” From that time onwards Babaji Maharaja became his heart and soul for all his last days.
He was from a very aristocratic family. One of his family members was the District Magistrate in Orissa, but despite that, his mother left him in the shelter of Babaji Maharaja at the age of five. His intelligence was reflected in his eyes, in his talks, in his arguments and in his boundless love for others. He was full of life energy and was an unbiased positive thinker. He never hesitated in making the correct call no matter what the consequences might be. He even told me that despite the success/failure or lack of paramapara stuff, ISKCON founder Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami was indeed energized by Sriman Nityananda Prabhu.
He received the full blessings of his beloved Guru Deva in regards to Kirtan. His Kirtan was very famous throughout the Gaudiya Vaishnava world. He followed in the footsteps of his Guru Deva by visiting various Gaudiya Vaishnava pilgrimage sites to perform astonishing soul-wrenching Kirtan describing the various lilas of Sriman Mahaprabhu and Sriman Nityananda Prabhu. Among those were Danda Mahotsava at Sripat Panihati at Raghava Pandit’s house, Raghava Pandit’s Jhali Samarpan Lila at Sri Gambhira in Puri, Sriman Mahaprabhu’s search for Krishna at Sri Vrindavan, Swapna Vilasa Kirtan at Sri Nidhuvan Brindavan, Bhramara Ghat Kirtan at Vrindavan, and RathYatra Kirtan at the forefront of the Ratha Yatra procession at Sri Kestra Puri to name a few. He wrote numerous Suchaka Kirtanas of various Gaudiya Vaishnava Mahatmas. Famous siddha Sri Sri 108 TinKuri Goswami Prabhu was very much affectionate to him. He used to love him so much that once on hearing the news of his arrival, Tinkuri Goswami Prabhu broke his vow of silence (Mauna Vrata) and asked him to perform kirtan for him. He also wrote the suchaka of Tinkuri Prabhu.
One of the most striking features of his Kirtana was his Bhava during kirtana. He used to become so engrossed in Lila while performing Kirtan that he used to forget all external affairs. The audience sometimes used to burst into tears or fall unconscious upon hearing his Kirtan but he used to remain unfazed externally while internally he was swimming in the Lila of his beloved Gaur Sundar. In Sri Khestra Puri even devotees of the Sri Vaishnava Sampradaya used to request Diksha upon hearing his Kirtan. Though he refrained from giving Diksa to already initiated disciples from other valid Sampradayas, he sometimes gave them Nitai-Gaur mantra, keeping their original Guru Line. In West Bengal at Asansol he once delivered sweet, nectarean Nityananda Tattva, upon hearing this even sadhus from Gaudiya Math fell at his feet and received his blessings and collected his Nityananda Tattva grantha.
Though he was suffering from heart disease he was doing very well for the last couple of years. He continuously performed Kirtana at various holy places around Vrindavana, West Bengal and Orissa with the same affection and enthusiasm. On the 1st May 2007 he was admitted to the hospital for some minor problem with his stomach, without much anxiety. Upon diagnosis the doctor all of a sudden discovered a growth on his liver. Later on a detailed medical test confirmed a case of cancer, which had already spread throughout his body. Despite the seriousness of his health, Babaji Mahasaya did not feel any pain which was normal for this kind of cancer. The news of the medical findings were kept hidden from him and as per the doctor's advice he was taken back to Sri Pathbari Ashram to spend his last days.
The next two weeks he spent with his beloved disciples and dearest ones at Pathbari, reading, chanting and hearing Hari Katha without the slightest sign of pain. He always gave good feedback about his health. On the evening of May 22nd, he spent an entire four hours in hearing Hari katha and various recitations by a disciple in cheerful health, and was doing intense chanting and meditation. At about 12 o’clock at night he suffered a slight breathing problem and coughing and called his dearest disciples. He indicated by gesture to start chanting Sri Nama. He called out, "Jaya Guru Ram, Sri Guru Ram" he left his body to join his beloved Gurudev in Nitya Lila.
At the end of his various writings he seeks the blessings from the Vaishnavas to grant him the boon that while he is taking his last breath he can call out, “Jaya Guru Ram, Sri Guru Ram” It seems that he was not denied his prayer.
Jay Nitai Jay Gour Jay Sri Radharaman
In the top picture with the microphone, Sri Srimad Hridayananda Das Babaji is performing the Suchaka kirtan of his beloved Gurudev Sri Srimad 108 RamDas Babaji at Pathbari. He can be seen here in complete ecstacy and in the state of Bhava.In the next to the last picture Nityananda Prabhu's Descendant famous Vaishnava Acharyya Prabhupad of Sribas Angan Nabadwip, 108 Sri Sri Birchand Goswami is listening to his Kirtan at Pathbari and he is also equally engrossed in Kirtan.
In the last picture Babaji Mahasay is performing the suchaka Kirtan of Sri Sri Uddharan Dutta Thakur at the residence-temple of Uddharan Dutta Thakur in Sripat Saptagram, West Bengal. Babaji Maharaja is performing in front of Sri Uddharan Dutta Thakur's Sri Nitai Gaur Gadhadhar Deity.
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