Shiksha Patra By Shyam Das
Preface - It was December, 1972 and I was a nineteen-year-old spiritual seeker. A series of karmas had brought me to Lord Krishna's playground-the sacred lands of Vrindavan in northern India. I was called there to meet the saint Neem Karoli Baba. During my first days there I stayed with a small group of other westerners at the jaipuriya guest house, near the Banki Bihari Krishna temple in downtown Vrindavan. It was an exciting and exotic time to be in India. I met "the Man" as we sometimes affectionately called Neem Karoli Baba, but because we could only meet with him for a few hours each day, I had ample time to explore the ancient devotional city.
One day, as I wandered along a path that encircled the city, I came across a small, idyllic ashram on the banks of the Yamuna River. I walked toward the main altar, a small Radha Krishna temple in the middle of a gentle courtyard that housed two cows and several holy, yogi-looking men. Suddenly a stout, long haired, black bearded man appeared on the scene of what seemed like a well-crafted yoga movie and called out to me in Hindi. It was my first week in India and his words, although warm and welcoming, I could not fathom. Sensing my confusion, he called up to the second story of the Krishna temple, which was shaded by a sacred Pepul tree. A few moments later, a slender man with silver hair neatly tied into a bun on top of his head slowly descended the stairs on the western side of the temple and approached me. I was mesmerized as he greeted me in perfect English, "Welcome to Vrindavan! What brings you here?" After I recounted my brief yogic history, he turned to me and said, his eyes peering into my soul, "From now on, recite this mantra: shri Krishnah sharanam mama."
I repeated the sacred phrase after him a few times, and after it had settled in my mind, he continued, "My name is Mangaldas, which means 'The follower of auspiciousness.' The blessed Lord called me here to Vrindavan, and now it is time for you to come live here with me. This ashram is called Shyam Kuti-Krishna's Love- bower Cottage."
top of page
SKU: 9780982538333
₹1,499.00Price
Only 1 left in stock
No Reviews YetShare your thoughts.
Be the first to leave a review.
Related Products
bottom of page