Atma Nivedana –Biography of a Surrendered Soul

By HG Shanti Rupa devi dasi

“He reasons ill who says that Vaishnavas die, When thou art living still in sound! The Vaishnavas die to live, and live to spread the holy name around.” Bhakti Vinod Thakur

His Grace Uttama Caitanya Dasa Brahmacari, a dear disciple of H.H. Srila Jayapataka Swami Maharaj, departed from this world suddenly but peacefully on Gaurabdha 523, Sridhara Masa, Krsna Paksa (Kamika Ekadasi, July 18th 2009) around 5 pm. On the day, he had observed a full fast, refraining from even water; and had been actively involved in the Congregational Development Ministry's two day seminar which was held at the Klang Valley in Malaysia. He served as the Temple President of Sri Jagannath Mandir, ISKCON-Kuala Lumpur (SJMKL), Malaysia since 2001 until his departure. During his tenure, the temple grew in leaps and bounds, and is now a leading temple in Malaysia. He was an eloquent speaker of Hari Katha and very learned in Gaudiya Vaishnava siddhanta. He was a Bhakti Shastri and Bhakti Vaibhava. An avid reader, he had a wonderful collection of literatures - this he treasured most.

Early Years in ISKCON
H.G. Uttama Caitanya Prabhu was born as Umakanthan to Ramasamy and Rajeswary Ammal on October 30th, 1966 in Batu Gajah, a small town in the state of Perak, Malaysia. Having completed his primary and secondary education in the neighbouring town of Tapah, he proceeded to Kuala Lumpur to pursue pre-university education in the famous TAR College. It is here he came in contact with ISKCON devotees and began to attend programs whenever possible. He often quoted how H.G. Tyaga Caitanya dasa greeted him nicely in 1986 when he first visited the ISKCON temple in Kuala Lumpur. He always spoke fondly of H.G. Siddhi Sadhana dasa, who was then managing ISKCON’s Govinda’s Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur. Siddhi Sadhana Prabhu carefully preached to him and taught him to chant japa. He then pursued a four year degree in Business Management at the Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang where he continued to attend more ISKCON programs.

After completing his university degree, Umakanthan enrolled himself in the renowned Singapore International Airways for a pilot training course. Here, his involvement in Krsna Consciousness became deeper. He would often travel the long distance to Kuala Lumpur to attend important festival celebrations and regular programs. Having passed the theoretical part of the training course, he refrained from pursuing the practical portion. We assume that the reason for this was his ardent desire to become more affiliated with Krsna Consciousness. From being a casual visitor at the Govinda’s restaurant, Umakanthan quickly rose to the extent of giving regular classes during the weekly sat-sangs held in the restaurant. Many were drawn to his preaching and seriously took up Krsna Consciousness after attending his classes.

His prolific writing skills earned him a coveted position as the sub-editor of the Business Times section in Malaysia’s leading daily newspaper - The New Straits Times Press. Here, he would often use his advantageous position to circulate announcements on Vaishnava festivals and releases of the latest Bhaktivedanta Book Trust publications. He also wrote and published several Krsna Conscious articles, one such article was the “Reforestation of Vrndavana”, which appeared in the Life & Times section of the same paper in 1995. It was also during the same year, while being stationed in Kuala Lumpur, that he became even more deeply involved in Krsna Consciousness and spent most of his time in the temple, reading and studying Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy.

Having delved deeply into Srila Prabhupada’s writings, he was fully convinced of the Krsna Conscious philosophy. When H.H. Jayapataka Swami Maharaj visited Kuala Lumpur in 1995, a young Umakanthan shaved his head and received harinam diksha, accepting the name Uttama Caitanya dasa. Just eleven days later on December 31st 1995, during the launch of Srila Prabhupada’s 100th anniversary, he pledged to become a full time devotee as an offering to our great founder. At the time he was 29 years old and in the midst of a very materially lucrative career. This move was truly a story of Atma Nivedana, and it demonstrated his deep attachment and profound feelings for Srila Prabhupada’s teachings.

Adorning saffron robes, Uttama Caitanya dasa joined Sri Jagannath Mandir, Kuala Lumpur as a full time devotee in 1996. Simheswar dasa, then Temple President, immediately made him Temple Commander and began grooming him to become President. Uttama Caitanya Prabhu was not interested in the position and politely declined, stating that there were more qualified senior devotees. However, when his dear Guru Maharaj personally ordered him to take on the position, he silently accepted. Uttama Caitanya Prabhu was never attached to the superiority of his position. Senior congregation members noted that within months of becoming the Temple President, he took an extremely bold step by renovating the current premises, starting with zero finances. He managed to put up a remarkable structure amidst criticism from his peers.

­Guru Seva
Until he left his body, Uttama Caitanya Prabhu’s life was an offering of love to his dear Guru Maharaj. He did everything possible to please H.H. Jayapataka Swami Maharaj, and this led to his tremendous success in leading the Kuala Lumpur yatra to great heights. He always picked the best of what the ISKCON world had to offer and implemented them in Sri Jagannath Mandir Kuala Lumpur, almost always very successfully.

Even during a severe testing period in his life when he was on the verge of giving up the brahmacari ashram, he fled from the thought as advised by his beloved spiritual master and emerged an even stronger brahmacari to carry on his services. This and many other incidents exhibited his stong guru nista. He also successfully organised an unforgettable and most impressive sisya samuh for the disciples of H.H. Jayapataka Swami Maharaj, increasing tremendously the guru nista of each and every devotee who attended this festival.

He was a visionary leader who wanted to serve Srila Prabhupada’s movement in the best ways possible. Congregation Development, which is the heart and soul of his spiritual master, was very dear to his heart. He was keen on building up the Congregation Development Ministry, and with the help of his team made significant progress in systematically organizing this department in the Klang Valley.

He also made considerable effort to extend help to other centers across Malaysia and nearby countries to come together to develop this area in their respective yatras. He organised regular regional congregation development meetings which attracted participants from across Malaysia and neighbouring countries. In fact it was during such a seminar on July 18, 2009 that Prabhu breathed his last.

Uttama Caitanya Prabhu also encouraged the implementation of the Spiritual Counsellor system in SJMKL. He was confident that this system, which has been incredibly successful in Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir, Chowpatty, India, would accelerate the spiritual growth of every yatra member. As he predicted, the congregation of SJMKL has made much spiritual progress since the system was introduced.

The internationally famous Damodara project was born and nourished under the leadership of Uttama Caitanya Prabhu. During one of the annual launches of the Damodara program, H.H. Jayapataka Swami Maharaj was so pleased, that at the end of the program, Maharaj tightly embraced him, bringing tears to Uttama Caitanya Prabhu’s eyes as well as the eyes of many who witnessed this loving exchange. Understanding the desire of his beloved spiritual master, he attempted to educate the worldwide ISKCON community on how to conduct the Damodar home and public programs. He sent his team members far and wide - to Delhi, Tirupati, Vadohara in India, and personally visited Mauritius, South Africa, and Indonesia among other places.

“Prabhupada Man”
Uttama Caitanya Prabhu was through and through a Prabhupada man. He constantly emphasized on sticking to the basics – good sadhana, humble seva, unoffensive japa, and sad-achar. He strongly believed that mass distribution of Krsna Consciousness should be carried on using Srila Prabhupada’s formula – book distribution, prasadam distribution, and harinama sankirtana.

With this firm faith he worked very hard to develop these three areas. Just a few days before his departure, he formally registered ISKCON Kuala Lumpur’s Food For Life program with the registrar of societies - a remarkable milestone in the history of SJMKL. The harinama sankirtana division has sky rocketed to organizing over 100 harinamas each year. Book distribution has also escalated to the point that SJMKL is now the top book distributor in ISKCON Malaysia.

Other Services
Uttama Caitanya Prabhu had a special attachment for deity worship, Sri Vrindavan Dham and Sri Sri Radhe Shyam. He loved to cook for the deities and serve the devotees. During his tenure as Temple President he brought about tremendous changes in the deity worship department and effortlessly organised grand festivals for the pleasure of Their Lordships. He was also an excellent actor and always emphasised on dramas as a good medium to preach. In 2001, his Jagannatha Priya Nataka won raving reviews in many leading local newspapers.

He was a warm host to all those who visited Sri Jagannath Mandir. He always ensured that guests were nicely received and served Lord Jagannath’s prasadam. He extended these warm welcomes even to regular devotees, constantly greeting us with a smile and folded hands, also ensuring that we honoured sufficient prasadam. He always insisted that in Jagannath’s home, no one should ever leave without prasadam.

Uttama Caitanya Prabhu was zealous in implementing programs to train and care for devotees. He also strongly encouraged the development of vaishnava training programs such as the the Gokul Garden for children, Pandava Sena for teenagers, and many seasonal courses on philosophical topics. He lent undivided support to the university preaching program (VOICE), which has been expanding very rapidly.

Inspiration for All
For most of us, he came across as a character straight out of the Caitanya Caritamrita; following as closely as possible in the footsteps of the Gaura bhakta vrindas. His aura was that of a learned saintly person, always detached, calm and composed. His tall and lean form was full of grace; his movements regal yet humble. His big eyes extended like lotus petals; and his face was always adorned with a smile. His nature was soft, compassionate and mellow. He was always mild and gentle in his dealings.

Uttama Prabhu drew inspiration from many of the previous acharyas. He would often shed tears of love while speaking of them in lectures. Apart from his spiritual master, his most recent sources of inspiration were H.H. Gour Govind Maharaj and H.G. Jayananda Prabhu. Devotees have noted the similarities between Uttama Caitanya Prabhu and H.G. Jayananda Prabhu in terms of touching the lives of many devotees and non-devotees alike. Uttama Caitanya Prabhu constantly tried to follow in the footsteps and instil the mood of H.G. Jayananda Prabhu in the hearts of all SJMKL members.

His personal necessities were minimal - he wore simple, worn out dhotis. His eating habits were frugal; and his main delights were speaking Hari Katha and serving the Vaishnavas. He was always detached from bodily needs. On fasting days he would lead ecstatic kirtans until very late, forgetting the needs of the body. He would then serve prasadam to all the devotees and only honour some himself when all had left.

He was a wonderful example of a strict devotee and dedicated follower of Srila Prabhupada. Despite opposition and criticism from many outsiders Uttama Caitanya Prabhu remained steadfast in Krsna Consciousness. He remained humble and unassuming even in immense success.

His life has been a wonderful source of inspiration for all of us - the Congregation of Sri Jagannath Mandir Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The End

To view the success of the Damodar Project, please visit http://puresoul.ning.com/video/2103886:Video:18483
http://puresoul.ning.com/video/2103886:Video:18489


Wednesday, July 22, 2009

"That was his mood...that of a Vrajabasi"


Hare Krishna.

I write this homage or rather glorification of HG Uttama Caitanya prabhu, my Friend, Confidante, Spiritual Mentor and Temple President with a heavy heart, filled with deep sorrow. I never even imagined that this day would come....so soon.

Many a times he would invite me to speak on the Vyasa Puja or Disappearance day celebrations of the spiritual masters and I would say, ‘You better be around to say something nice about me when I die” and he would grin and give me that huge open eyed mocking stare, but now, here I am endeavouring to express my heartfelt loss for this wonderful personality where words will indeed not suffice. Nevertheless, I wish to attempt glorifying him the best way I know how....from my heart.

I met Uttama prabhu at Jeyanthi mataji’s husband’s office opening ceremony in 2002. He was performing the prayers and acknowledged my presence with a nod. When I met mataji later that day, she told me that her Temple President asked her to make sure I got lots of prasad...halva. He was astute from the very beginning.

On my first visit to Sri Jaganath Mandir, he was giving a Bhagavad Gita class which I felt completely related to me. After that he approached me and asked me what I thought about the class, to which I replied, “I felt the class was for me, was it prabhu?” and he replied, “well if you feel that way, then yes, it was for you” This was the beginning of our ‘spiritual connection’. He had the amazing ability to gage my spiritual needs and reached out sincerely and mercifully to fulfil them.

I cannot but wholeheartedly agree with all the devotees about the wonderful qualities and attributes possessed by this vaisnava. By the dint of his causeless mercy, I found my shelter at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON once again. He immediately engaged me in devotional service when we met for the first time. On our second meeting, he promised me that if I engaged in devotional service in Sri Jaganath Mandir, I will never leave ISKCON and that I will be spiritually situated once again, after my 18 year absence in the movement. He fulfilled that promise and he walked the spiritual journey with me until he safely placed me at the lotus feet of my spiritual master, HH Bhakti Charu Swami.

Uttama prabhu wore many hats in my relationship with him. The one he wore the most was that of a friend and confidante. He would take time to speak on the pastimes of the Lord, Vrajadhama, Govardhana and many views of what he had read about. He was an avid reader and always had the need to share his knowledge and express himself in a very profound way with devotees.

He was quite a profound person with deep insight into the teachings of the scriptures and Vedic edicts. This was the case when he gave amazing classes. Nevertheless I used to almost scold him for giving classes that stretched for more than an hour and left us mentally exhausted in the heat of the Temple Hall!. That was his mood and like everyone else I tend to think now that he was trying to give as much as possible in this one life time.

He personally helped me organize my Guru Maharaj’s Vyasa Pujas and gave me all the support of a senior devotee and Temple President in the last 7 years. The years when I was away in Ujjain, Prabhuji was my connection to SJMKL and our beautiful Deities. He would describe Sri Jaganatha with such love and reverence. He was very very attached to Them. I used to tell him that I loved the Deity dressing on Tuesdays the most, not knowing that it was his duty to dress Them on that day. He used to laugh in his usual loud manner and say, “oh...I don’t dress Them so opulently....I like to see Them dressed simple and sweet, like Krishna and Balaram”. Many a time he would say, “You know mataji, I would love to see lots and lots of long pearl strands on Gaura Nitai just like how they dress Krishna Balaram in Vrindavan”.That was his mood...that of a Vrajabasi.

I could write so much about this very loved person, how he thought me how to make pancamrita for abhisek, draft newsletters, cut oranges the correct way, so many things but what remains etched in my heart is how he would find the time, look for another prabhu to accompany him to visit me in my home when I was suffering from cancer.
He would bring with him Sri Jaganath’s garland, prasad and tulsi for spiritual strength to persevere. He brought me an MP3, recorded my Gurudev’s lectures and music to engage my mind, he would give me VCDs and say, “Mataji watch this Nimai of Nadia on your own and feel the love of Mahaprabhu and I guarantee you that your heart will melt and you will weep”. He would literally blast me when I was in a mental state, console me when I was lamenting, teach me the art of being focused and diligent in my devotional service....the list just goes on.

I am determined to make his demise a source of inspiration and guide so that I am able to fulfil his many expectations of me as a devotee. He wanted that I always kept my focus on Srila Prabhupada, that I serve my Guru with unflinching faith and that I detach myself from the influence of quarrel, pettiness and spiritual narrow mindedness that may impede on my spiritual growth. He always wanted that I take the mood of my Guru Maharaj and give genuine affection and care to others around me and bring them to Krishna Consciousness. He wanted me to always write and express myself and my realizations like my Gurudev.

I pray to Sri Radhesyam that I may be empowered to fulfil his wishes and imbibe the teachings and practices of a sincere vaisnava.

My dearest Uttama Prabhu, I will miss your funny faces and big white teethed grins. I will miss your teasing and merry making. I shall miss your divine association and spiritual energy that permeates in your very presence. I shall miss your ‘haribols’ and not so funny jokes. I shall even miss your out of tune kirtans and hearing you sing your favourite bhajans. Your absence Prabhuji, has left a deep void in my life but I am convinced that you are already in the embrace of Srila Prabhupada and serving Sri Sri Radha Syamasundar in your original constitutional position in the spiritual world of Goloka Vrindavan, the way you wanted.

Thank you prabhuji for just being you and for enriching my life in so many ways. Please make some arrangement to greet me there in the beautiful abode of the Lord when my time comes too. Until then I shall endeavour to serve vaisnavas with your blessings always in a sincere, honest and caring manner. You would say that in the end of the day, the essence of Krishna Consciousness is love and when the field of the heart is fragrant with love and compassion then we not only are able to give this love genuinely but receive it also many folds, and you are an example of that. By the mercy of Guru and Gauranga I shall begin the fine tuning process on myself.

All Glories to HG Uttama Caitanya das, my Siksa Guru and Friend.
Yours servant in the service of Guru & Gauranga
Chitrangada devi dasi.
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