Sudama Maharaja, His Service and Association
BY: HASTI GOPALA DASA
Feb 20, 2011 — TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA (SUN) —
I was a new bhakta in 1973 when the new neem wood Gaura Nitai Deities arrived at Toronto temple. Most of us had no idea of Their impending arrival, so we were in ecstatic shock when Sudama Maharaja personally carrying the Deities with another devotee simply entered the temple room unannounced during a kirtan. They were placed onto the altar to the right of Sri Sri Radha Ksircora Gopinatha. It was a perfect operation and came off without a flaw. They were dressed to dance and had their space reserved and ready. The temple authorities, I am sure, had kept Their arrival a secret from most of us and that was the way of devotees, as it is now. To please others before themselves.
When I was in New York City for the first Rathayatra Parade in 1976 I took a lot of photos, but the ones I like best are this series of 9 action photos of Sudama dasa dancing in the park where prasadam was set-up. His nature was to always give Krsna to others, no matter where he was at anytime. He stayed in Toronto for at least a week, if memory serves. Everywhere he went we relished his association. He was a most upstanding, courageous and generous devotee. Most sincere and a great disciple of Srila Prabhupada.
These photos are declared by me to be public and not copywrite so enjoy and share with everyone. The last one, where he is dancing with the young bearded man from the crowd, shows his compassion and generosity. It is a photo worth turning into a Renoir type painting or oil pastel for those with that talent.
I have penned a short poem which is inspired by Sudama dasa's life. Following the poem are two accounts by Uttama Sloka dasa and Laxmimoni devi dasi regarding what they briefly remember about the arrival of Gaura Nitai to the New Remuna Temple in Toronto in 1973. You will find images of Gaura Nitai of New Remuna Toronto on their website.
Lastly, from the Lord Caitanya in Five Features book, first edition 1973 by Srila Prabhupada, we read the following inspiration:
Adi-lila Chapter 7, Text 22
Translation
"Sri Panca-tattva themselves danced again and again and thus made it easier to drink nectarean love of Godhead. They danced, cried, laughed and chanted like madmen, and in this way they distributed love of Godhead.
Purport
People generally cannot understand the actual meaning of chanting and dancing. DEscribing the Goswamis, Sri Srinivasa Acharya, stated krishnotakirtana-gana-nartana-parau: not only did Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His associates demonstrate this chanting and dancing, but the six goswamis also followed in the next generation. The present Krishna consciousness movement follows the same principle, and therefore by simply chanting and dancing we have received good responses all over the world. It is to be understood, however, that this chanting and dancing do not belong to this material world. They are actually transcendental activities for the more one engages in chanting and dancing, the more he can taste the nectar of transcendental love of Godhead."
First Lotus Feet
Grasping tightly within the heart
Want for Krishnas' love and streets.
Gathered with exciting soulful chatter
All instruments ever poised to play.
Hari Nam players want to be a part
Knowing Krishna's name completes.
Drums lay down the rhythm draw
Singing kartalas lead to sway.
Everyday now around the world
As back when with cheering smiles.
Hearts are soaring like a hawk
With the love of God they've found.
All part and parcel of Lord Krishna
They share His love with personal styles.
Recalling for all and evermore
That true life by eternal sound.
Lifting up and pulling back
Maya's curtain reveals the play.
Each can chant Hare Krishna
And enter true life to defeat
The cycle of birth and death
To go to Krishna and stay.
Srila Prabhupada's books will inform you
Now first take his lotus feet.
~ Hasti Gopala dasa
From Uttama Sloka Prabhu:
"I was Temple President of Montreal then. I had been in communication with Manibandha in India, and I wanted to get a set of neem wood Gaur Nitai Deities to 'one up' Toronto, who at the time had small brass Gaur Nitai Deities.
Once I confirmed the shipment, I called Laksmimoni and said, in my best 'nya nya nya nya nya' voice, "Guess what, we're getting neem wood Gaur Nitai Deities!" She said, "Guess what, we're getting neem wood Gaur Nitai Deities too!" D'OH!!! Krsna doinked me good. But it was a win/win for everyone.
Then she told me about Sudama, etc."
Gaura Nitai
The wonderful story about the arrival of Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda in New Remuna Dham (Toronto)
by Laxmimoni dasi
"At the time in Toronto, about 1973, we were worshipping a small brass pair of Gaura Nitai and had a large picture of Panch Tattva on the altar. We were really hoping that neem wood Gaura Nitai Deities could be installed in Toronto and were making plans with Uttamasloka prabhu in Montreal to purchase two sets. At this time, Sudama Swami came to visit Toronto. He was traveling and preaching from a van. In the van was a beautiful set of neem wood Gaura Nitai Deities!!
The Toronto devotees were alarmed however with this situation, because the van was small and the Deities could easily have become damaged. We asked Srila Prabhupada what should be done. He said that the neem wood Deities should be installed in Toronto and that Sudama Swami should take the small brass Gaura Nitai to worship on sankirtana. Everyone was happy with this situation.
Our beautiful Gaura Nitai neem wood Deities came to Toronto completely unsolicited, by Their causeless mercy, in order to fulfill the desire of the devotees. As chance would have it, Montreal temple received an identical set. It was rumored that they were carved from the same neem tree. Given the close association of Montreal and Toronto temples at the time, and the strong emphasis on book distribution, this seemed like a wonderful and auspicious situation.
The small brass Deities who were originally being worshipped in Toronto are now in Hawaii as far as I know, and are being worshipped there."
