Strange gossip about Baba - About Srila Ananta das Babaji

Radhe Radhe

Yesterday me and Monika went to a Sunday-Feast program of a German ISKCON-center where I was asked to cook the feast. A prominent German Sami was supposed to lecture there. Before the program I had a real nice and personal talk with him. But during our discussion he told me some REALLY strange things, and actually I still do not know why...

He told me that a friend of his, who lives at Sri Radhakund, knows Babaji Mahasya very well. And this ominous friend one day went to Baba and then he found out something: According to this friend Baba was worshipping a picture of a sadhu. So I asked which sadhu this was. The Swami said that his friend recognized this sadhu as the German disciple Sadhananda das from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. I was very confused but I let him continue his "story". So Baba worshipped this Sadhananda das because he "influenced" Baba greatly.

The story goes on: Now the Swami told me, that actually Baba "joined" Bhakti-yoga because of the book "Jaiva-dharma" by Bhaktivinod Thakur. I was flappergasted...

But the tough point finished the story: The Swami said, that actually Baba right now listens to classes of AC Bhaktivedanta Swami to get a better understanding of helping his western disciples...in the way as "how to preach to Westerners". Meaning that Baba learns from their Praphupada how to present KC to the Westerners.

I could not close my mouth. And it hurt me so deeply that I couldnt reply on the spot.
Shame on me.

Madhavaji, what can you say about those "propagandish" points?

Well, sorry I just had to spill my guts because to whom else I can speak about these matters. Monika was shocked and confused to.

What a "great" idea to say that now Baba takes stuff from ISKCON whereas everybody knows that ALL read his books....

Thank you for listening. If this post is disturbing, please feel free to delete it.

Radhe Radhe
Tarunji

Please ask who this friend is. I know most, if not all, Western people living there. And everybody has anonymous friends, who are in the end friends of friends of friends of friends who heard things from friends' friends.

I have never seen a picture of Sadananda at Baba's place. I know what Baba has on his altar, and there is most definitely no picture of Sadananda there. Perhaps this person is confusing Baba with the late Madrasi Baba, who was influenced by Sadananda in his early years?

I don't know the story about Jaiva Dharma either. It is possible that Jaiva Dharma may have been among the books Baba read in his early days of devotion. However, what prompted him to come to Radha-kunda was the fame of the late Kunjabihari Das Babaji that echoed throughout the district, from the same area as the two were.

Regarding the listening of classes by AC Bhaktivedanta Swami, that is a bit absurd. The presentation we have is so radically different from that of ISKCON in many aspects. If he is doing this, he is certainly doing it in a very hidden manner, as he never speaks of it to anyone, nor is it visible anywhere in his speech to his Western disciples.

This was the absurdest point I ever heard.

The first question I answered you, dear Madhavaji, in a PM, since the Swami should not be mentioned openly.

Thank you
Tarunji

A prominent non-IGM guru also told his followers that Ananta Das Baba was formerly a member of the Gaudiya Math, where he learnt to preach and get followers.

Everything comes from Iskcon and IGM, because of them the sun is shining.
It is great mercy.

That particular person was actually indicating the opposite but such is the way of politics.

Anyways, we know the truth. The sun shines because Radhika does Surya-puja so nicely.

Incidentally, there was one Ananta das Babaji who was a disciple of Siddha Manohar Das Babaji of Govindakund and the paternal cousin of Puri Das Maharaja (former Ananta Vasudeva). In all likelihood, he was also involved with the Gaudiya Math in the past. There are and were many Ananta Das Babajis out there. If you look at the panjika, on Shukla Purnima of Magh is the tirobhava of Ananta Das Babaji of Bhagavat Nivasa, and Krishna Dvadashi of Magh the tirobhava of Ananta Das Babaji of Aniyor. The later is likely the one related with Puri Das Maharaja. There are many Ananta Das Babajis out there.



I should frame this quote.

Dandavats. All glories to the Vaisnavas.

The responsible thing to do would be to simply ask Baba about such questions. It seems awfully wasteful for people to pass such info around without knowing the validity of the issue.

TGd - If you feel it proper to address such a rumor then simply write Baba and ask. You can then report back to Maharaja what Baba has said. Let Swami decide how much such talk lends to the enlightenment of those he speaks to.

In the past I have encountered similar questions, not specifically about Baba but about some who were thought to be disciples of Baba, which turned out to be incorrect.

Radhe Radhe!

Rasaraja dasa

Rasaraja,
good point.

Since for me this rumour is really hot air, I will write the next one directly to Baba.

Sorry, if it was improper to post such a rumour, but I had to talk it out.
Please forgive me.

Jay Sri Radhe.

On Madrasi Babaji's website there is a prominent picture of Sri Sadanandaji, and in Madrasi Babaji's biography he says he was influenced by seeing Sadananda, and reading Sisir Kumar Ghosh (who was a friend of Bhaktivinoda?), if memory serves.

Many Iskcon devotees visited Madrasi Babaji over the years because he was the only one who spoke english, some were favourable to him, others just curious. They surely have difficulty distinguishing the many Babajis of Radhakunda. I watched them entering the Kund on Parikrama in 2002 - out of excessive awe and reverence they are in a kind of trance. Also few there speak English. For these and many reasons they say many fanciful things.

Surely the 'worship of Sadananda's picture' refers to Madrasi Babaji, though 'worship' is no doubt an exaggeration. Madrasi baba had many pictures in his kutir, perhaps the pic of Sadananda too.

Sadananda was, by all accounts, a great soul, worthy of respect.

I personally tried to discuss Gaudiya Math with Pandit Anantadas Babaji when I met him in 2002. He showed no recognition, but when I mentioned Iskcon he became animated. 'Iskcon, yes. You are from Iskcon?'

Hello Adiyen,

My Babaji Maharaja told me that because of Bhaktivedanta Swami many people came to Sri Radhakunda. One of myriad of attributes my Baba has, is as you know anyway, being humble. You learn a great lot from Him just listening or looking at Him. I never seen anybody like Him in my entire life.

I lived with Madrasi Baba for years, and I have never seen a picture of Sadananda in his kutir or in his mandir.......

Let's try to stay out of ISKCON topics as far as possible. If they aren't directly relevant, please don't post them. Also, as earlier posts indicated, there was no need to mention the name of the Swami in question. Therefore the two last posts have been moved aside.

Radhe!

I sent an e-mail to Srila Babaji Mahasaya and Yugal just sent me Baba´s answer:

And with that, I say we lock this thread up.

Amen to that.

A clarifying note to "never read any Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur or Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami books". This comment is a specific reply to the question, understood as "Back then, I never read any of those books." He is familiar with some of Bhaktivinoda's works.