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Radhanath Swami’s Divine Palms

Radhanath Swami and his entourage of monks scurried along the alleyway towards my home.  Their presence had created a stir in the neighborhood, and out emerged curious faces from doors and windows of makeshift apartments that lined the alleyway. Why so many swamis in a not-so-religious neighborhood of suburban Mumbai?

It was 10 January 2006. My mother, 67, suffered from last stages of bone cancer, and that morning her body had stiffened—presaging her imminent death. When the news reached Radhanath Swami, by late afternoon, he promised to be on her side at the earliest, surprising me: he was altering his schedule that was planned atleast months in advance. Usually, thousands awaited him every evening at gatherings where he spoke from the scriptures, but today someone special and intimate awaited him. His father, 85, was visiting him from Chicago after many years, and the two were to dine together that evening at Mr. Mafatlal’s bungalow in downtown Mumbai. Radhanath Swami’s driving two hours to suburban Mumbai to visit my mother—a little-known old dying lady, one amongst thousands of his students—meant his old father would undergo an indefinite fast—of the stomach and the heart.

“Radhanath Swami is coming,” I had whispered to my mother. The pleasant shock triggered her instant recovery. Though she helplessly still lay in bed, her body loosened, and she started to converse once again.

Radhanath Swami, upon reaching our humble dwelling, sat at my mother’s bedside. With reassuring affectionate eyes, his voice choking, Radhanath Swami expressed his gratitude to my mother for her services to her family, to devotees and to society. The monks then sang a prayer in unison. Meanwhile, my mother clenched Radhanath Swami’s right palm as a person helplessly hanging from a cliff clings to the rope that separates him/her from death.

Thirty minutes passed by. Wanting to leave, now that my mother’s departure didn’t seem imminent, Radhanath Swami slipped his palm out of the tight grip it was in, only to have it snatched once again by my old mother. Now she held captive that palm, in more desperate determination than before. Radhanath Swami relented and sat down again. He waited for forty five minutes more, until he reluctantly broke loose of those shackles that ached for shelter. He had to be practical. But at a higher level, was my mother to let go of his shelter? And was Radhanath Swami to really abandon my mother?

24 January 2006. In the night, my mother was seen stretching out her arms, as she lay in bed, towards the framed photographs of Radha Krishna and Radhanath Swami hanging on the wall opposite. “Please take me,” she pleaded again and again. The next day she departed from this world.

In the second week of February, my brothers and I went to the holy town of Mayapur to place our mother’s ashes in the holy Ganges. During this time Radhanath Swami was also in Mayapur for the annual meeting of the ISKCON leaders. A grueling schedule occupied his day, and also a part of his night. The meeting went from 7.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m., breaking at lunchtime for half hour. At 7.00 p.m. he met pilgrims waiting for him outside the boardroom, and he returned to rest at about 11.00 p.m.

A day before the vidhi, the rites that accompany placing the ashes in the Ganges, I stole enough time of Radhanath Swami to inform him of the vidhi schedule. “We are starting at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow.” That was the time convenient for the head priest of Mayapur, Jananivas Prabhu. Radhanath Swami initially said nothing. But after a while, after I had returned to the guest house, Radhanath Swami’s secretary came running to me. He informed what Radhanath Swami had just confided in him, “Why is Shyam Charan behaving in this way? I want to be there when his mother’s ashes are placed…” Radhanath Swami’s voice had trailed off in dejection. Immediately, I rushed to Jananivas Prabhu to reschedule the rites. He gladly agreed and it was decided that the vidhi rites would be held just when Radhanath Swami was free at lunch time the next day.

The next day, despite her three sons personally present, my mother’s ashes merged into the current of the Ganges after falling off the divine palms of Radhanath Swami, those same palms which had soothed my mother’s soul a few weeks ago.

–Shyam Charan Das.

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119 replies on “Radhanath Swami’s Divine Palms”

Prji, your mother is so fortunate to get mahraj’s touch. We are so fortunate to hear this pastime.

Really very touching story. Maharaj gives more emphasis on personal relationships and cares for his devotees. Thank you prabhuji for sharing such a wonderful incident.

Radhanath Swami has equal love & care for all his disciples…….it is just that sometimes that love actually manifests in action & sometimes in his prayers…..

even a touch of HHRNSM is simply blissful and your mother is definitely a very fortunate soul, thank you for sharing this experience, haribol, bhakti

This shows how much Radhanath Swami cares for his disciples and family members and in fact each living entity. Thank you so much for sharing this.

Radhanath Swami Maharaj’s love leave everyone’s eyes moist with gratitude! Thank you Prabhuji from my heart!

By his personal example Radhanath Swami is teaching that we have to be ready and willing to sacrifice everything to help another person. How and to what extent we should sacrifice? This is taught by him in this story.

Radhanath Swami is personally very loving and caring from the highest platform of compassion (spiritual). We can see from such incidents that Maharaj personally is willing to sacrifice for spiritual needs of souls who need him the most at crucial times. This is a wonderful example for us to become sensitive and personal in our dealings with others.

I have experienced the love of that mother… and so amazing are the relations of spiritual teacher and student….

I pray that when my end comes, H.H Radhanath Swami also holds my hand and takes me thru this material world to the lotus feets of the Lord.

Thank you for sharing these touching feelings. You are Mother both are very very fortunate to have received the mercy of HH Radhanath Swami

HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj is so very personal and caring in his dealings. giving top pririty to take proper care of devotees. was a wonderful experience thank you pr for sharing

Radhanath Swami has a very personal touch in all of his interactions with each and every individual.

Prabhuji this pastime is really touches heart just by reading…those who saw it and felt it are really fortunate to be present there …..
all glories to HH Radhanath swami maharaj

Thank you very much for sharing this very heart touching incident. Radhanath Swami is the real Guru, who cares not only for his disciples bur for everyone who seek his shelter and guidance.

This article shows how deeply loving & compassionate Radhanath Swami is for everyone, even if one may not be, materially speaking, in the higher league of society.

Radhanath Swami longs from his heart to be with his disciples and followers to please them, even though he may not be able to do so always due to his schedule.

In the time of need you might have no one around but Radhanath Swami will be always there for you

HH Radhanath Swami’s acts are not out of formality but out of genuine love and compassion.

A spiritual Master is always concerned for the disciple until the soul reaches back Home back to Krishna

Radhanath Swami Maharaj supports when we are happy & gives us his unlimited love when we need it the most.

Very touching story…..You are really fortunate Shyam Charanji to have such a caring & loving guru…….

No words to describe this touching story. How much Maharaj cares for all of us, there is no limit to it.

Thank you for sharing such a heart-touching experience with all of us. This incident proves how great saintly persons are willing to sacrifice their time to any extent for the benefit of every living being.

Thank you for sharing this experience with us.Actually Radhanath Swami never wanted to leave hand of your old mother nor your mother wanted to leave his shelter.This is because reciprocation of love between Guru and his desciples.The great example of mercy and humility.

I have seen that video in which Maharaj was doing the last rites of placing the ashes into Ganges and HG Jannivas Prabhu was doing the Puja. It was so touching that all the assembeled devotee were crying in seeing the video.
I was deeply touched and impressed after that incident.

thank you prabhu ji for sharing this incidence which show that devotees of Lord are going to be there at our lost critical time of life , thank you a thousand times , hari bol ,

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