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An Endless Divine Continuity - Part 2

 
Our Association With Nanna - Part 2
   
*Nanna's words
*Mothers words of benediction
*Foreword by Author
 
 
1Secret of the secret
2Sakhi bhava
3Sri Radhasakhi's love
4Butterfly
5Sri Radha's oblation (Prasadam)
6Four Divine Principles
7 Nanna's charismatic power
8 Finite and Infinite
9 Silence is penance
10 Extra-ordinary powers
11 Self surrender
12 Bhaktanugrahakatara Sri Radhasakhi
13 Sri Radhasakhi's message
   
 
BUTTERFLY

Butterfly

Iswarah Paramo Krishnah Sacchidananda nigrahah
Krishnastu Bhagawan swayam

Lord Krishna, who was thus eulogized as God-head himself is also constantly drawn towards Brindavan-the 'Rasdham'. This dham is a bhava loka (world of bhava), which is the abode for that Rasa tattva, resplendent with infinite aspects, abundant splendour, rasa and love. Rasa tattva is beyond name and form; beyond the three gunas. The unique characteristic of that world is natural and spontaneous love towards all human beings. The Sovereign of that Bhava loka is Sri Radha - the embodiment of Maha bhava. She is the Supreme Goddess worshipped by even Sri Krishna.

Radhamahadevi is at the highest plane that is unattainable even to Brahma and other Gods. Only Sakhi bhava can enable us to reach the holy feet of Mother. Radhasakhi constantly has Sakhi bhava towards her 'Swamini' - the ruler of 14 worlds! Radhaji also behaves with Sakhi bhava towards them (Sakhis). Though apparently Sakhi jests and jokes she is always conscious of the fact that 'Mother is her Swamini'. She is a Radhaji's Sakhi, a personification of Radha who possesses several divine powers. She is a Mother's constant companion and is present with Her every moment. Thus 'Sri Radhasakhi' is a representative 'form' of the 'formless' Radharani'.

Radhasakhi who is of such a stature came down to earth with love and grace towards mankind. As a reward of our good deeds over several lives, Radhasakhi took the form of 'Nanna'. It is well known to Mother and to those benefited, how many leelas he showed and how many lives he transformed! Sometimes, those people do not even know who Nanna is and what he has done for them. Yet, Nanna does not bother about this. With heart full of love, he protects them and puts in efforts to divert them towards Mother. On 16th August, 2003, Nanna withdrew his physical form. Since then, he has been showing many more leelas in his formless state and continued welfare activities for mankind. One such leela shown by Nanna is his choice of the extremely delicate being - the beautiful butterfly as his representative 'form'. This is a fact, however astonishing and unbelievable it may be!

Why do we believe that Nanna chose a butterfly as his representative? Since May 2003, Nanna gradually reduced intake of food as he made a 'self decision' to go to Mother and was waiting for the appropriate time. When Nanna said that the period after August 15 would be favorable for him, we all were happy that he would recover soon. On 28th July evening, he told me 'Rasamani, when everything is settled, we must write the book Rasa Brindavan. I need your cooperation for that.' Overcome with grief, I said 'Cooperation from my side, Nanna! You are so benevolently granting me such a boon'. Nanna simply smiled. I could not realize then what Nanna was implying in that smile.

On August 15 (Friday night), Rasa dham was full of activity The atmosphere was festive with all arrangements being made for a ceremonial welcome. This was the vision Nanna showed to a devotee ('Sankeertan Lalitha' ) in Brindavan on 15th night itself.

Nanna was in Guntur on 15th August. Everyone in Nanna's ashram in Brindavan were hopeful that he would recover soon and were waiting for his arrival. Like every friday, on 15th also the devotees (Bhuvana, Lalitha, Tulasi, Yamunayamma) came to the Ashram and started sankeertan. Suddenly a vision appeared before Lalitha.

'In the premises of Nikunj, the welcome letters to 'Sri Radhika Prasad' are visible. The Sakhis are making arrangements for the welcome festival. Two Sakhis are holding hand fans; other Sakhis are ready with roses and other flowers. Lalitha beckoned a Sakhi and enquired about the festive occasion. The Sakhi silently pointed towards the letters 'Sri Radhika Prasad' and then towards Nikunj.'

Lalitha opened her eyes, realized that Nanna is leaving for Sridham and began to weep.

Exactly a year ago (on 15.8.2002), when Sekhar was in meditation, a few sentences 'occurred' to him in Telugu. He noted them in the diary.
Sakhi bhava sammelanam pramoda paripooritham
Punaragamana mahotsavam rasika sakhi pariveshtitam
Bhavya nikunja prangana sammarjanam.

These sentences also indicate the celebration of sakhi's arrival to nikunj being supervised by the Rasika sakhi amongst congregation of sakhi bhava!

When we compare these sentences with the vision seen by Lalitha, it indicates that Radharani is awaiting the re-arrival of Her sakhi. She is supervising the arrangements for the ceremony like a Rasika sakhi. Nanna once said, "Just as I am unable to stay away from Mother, She is also not able to stay without me". Mother who is the embodiment of love, who sent Her intimate, confidential Sakhi to earth for the welfare of mankind is now personally supervising the arrangements of that Sakhi's arrival with joy and sakhi bhava. All the Sakhis have adorned the premises of Nikunj and are eagerly waiting for their Sakhi. Swamini is also waiting for reunion with Her Sakhi after a very long span of separation.

Anjani amma was very concerned about the state of Nanna's physical body and decided to admit him in the hospital. Although Nanna told, "This is not a doctor's case. Don't put me in their hands" amma could not accept it. Arrangements were being made to go to the hospital. Nanna reclined and closed his eyes. Radharani made Her arrangements to take Her dearest Sakhi while immersed in rasa.

At 9.30 PM, suddenly a butterfly appeared from nowhere and landed on the rotating ceiling fan. While all of us were worried what would happen to the delicate butterfly due to current effect, it flew directly towards Nanna and rested on his neck. After a few seconds, it rested on his heart Then it flew towards the mirror on the wall and then out of the room. We were all stunned, watching this scene in shock. Though the implication behind this incident did not occur to us then, the series of circumstances associated with Nanna's leelas led us to gradually understand what happened that day!

It is relevant to recollect Nanna's words of 25.2.2002 in this context.


" Mother has granted permission; I shall leave soon. I received a promotion. My stay here is for a short while. When the caterpillar metamorphoses into a butterfly it flies away "


Yet another time, when Anjani amma asked him what his spiritual practice was he replied,


" A butterfly enjoys nectar from all kinds of flowers. It doesn't leave a single flower. I am also like that! I have seen all religions and realized that the essence of each one of them is 'Rasa' only. Rasa is Radha. I worship rasa. Butterfly is a free living being with no restrictions. I am also a free living being. "


Thus Nanna gave us an indication of the butterfly well in advance. Ever since Nanna went to Mother's abode in his original form of a Radhasakhi, the butterfly thus chosen by him played an active role in his leelas.

Nanna decided to go to Mother directly from his Dhyana room in Guntur ashram and not from the hospital. Radharani understood Her Sakhi's desire and created a butterfly that devours rasa. When it rested on his neck and heart, the rasa consciousness within him went to Mother. The vibrant sakhi within him went to Radha's sacred feet like a royal swan from his room, which is always vibrating with the waves of Sri Radha dhyana. His body was admitted in the hospital at 10 P.M. On 16th morning, 9 A.M. doctors declared that 'Radhika Prasadji Maharaj is no more'.

From then onwards our all-pervading Nanna's leelas began. He chose the butterfly as a part of his play. Why butterfly only? Just like Radhasakhi butterfly also drinks nectar (Rasa) and remains intoxicated under that effect. Delicate appearance, delicate behaviour and pure life - these qualities of buttefly are the qualities of Radhasakhi also! Maybe that's why Nanna chose butterfly as his representative.

While Nanna's divine body was being brought to the ashram, the butterfly accompanied us. As long as Nanna's mortal frame remained in the ashram (till 17th night) the butterfly was hovering around the ashram. A devotee mentioned that while he was performing dhyana on 16th night, the vibrations and fragrance from Nanna's divine body surrounded him. Even on 20th in Brindavan ashram, the entire surroundings were filled with a divine mystic atmosphere when Nanna was being bathed. Even those who did not know about Nanna till then realized who he was that day.

On 17th night, while Nanna was being taken from Guntur to Vijayawada in a lorry amidst Sankeertan, verses of Radha sudhanidhi and fire-works, the butterfly accompanied him. When the body was kept in Vijayawada railway station, it rested beside him. When we alighted the train at Mathura in the early hours of 19th, the butterfly appeared! How astounding! We all wondered if this butterfly is omnipresent? Nanna's body remained in Brindavan ashram till 20th Morning 11 A.M., when the last rites were performed on the bank of Yamuna. Needless to mention,the butterfly took part in each and every activity.

Anjani amma, Santakka and Babu(devotees in ashram) took Nanna's mortal remains and went first to Prayag and then to Kasi. Whether rites were being performed at Triveni Sangam, banks of Ganga, Godavari or Krishna river - the butterfly was seen everywhere. How could this happen? Whether it is hot, cold or rainy, day or night - from where is this butterfly coming? It was seen in every part of the country they went. By the series of events that occurred, we felt as a representative of the all-pervading Nanna , the butterfly is also all-pervading.
Naiva stri na purumaneshu napunsakhaha
Yadrissarira madatte thena thena nayujyathe

In Mother's dham, there is no discrimination between gender (masculine, feminine and neuter). Sakhi is at a state beyond gender. Radhasakhi who is beyond the three genders and possesses bhava deha chose butterfly as her representative and thus made it blessed!

Whenever we see a butterfly, our heart is filled with emotion and the jubiliant feeling that we are seeing Nanna himself. Since that day till this moment, Nanna is always present among his devotees in the form of a butterfly and continuing all the activities he planned.

On 27th July, 2003 Nanna promised Malathi that he would be present for her house warming ceremony. True to his word, he entered her house in the form of a butterfly in the early hours of May 29, 2004. In Sri Radha Mahotsav celebrated in her house from 29th to 31st May, 2004, Sakhi bhava was evidently overflowing every moment. On 30th, devotees from S.Kota performed Nama Sankeertan for 24 hours. As midnight approached, the atmosphere was filled with Sri Radhasakhi's effulgence. At 4 A.M., a small butterfly entered the house and sat on her lap. How did it come at that odd hour? No wonder Nanna once said that Radhasakhi's love is comprehensive, infinitesimal and invisible. Nanna organized the celebrations in Malathi's house with that love.

On 7.3.2002 at 9 A.M., speaking about Sri Radha Tattva Nanna said, "Mother has sakhi bhava towards human beings. If you call out 'Dear sakhi save me', she will come immediately. If you call out 'Mother, save me,' she will think 'Let's see'. Even when you are in deep trouble, you should think of Mother only with sakhi bhava". Radhasakhi tattva is also like Radha tattva. As long as we remain in the bhava that 'Nanna is our dearest sakhi' he will certainly be with us as our sakhi.

One day in March 2003, Nanna remarked that we consider him as a great person (and hence treat him with respect only). When I responded 'you are definitely great, Nanna! But along with this bhava, the bhava that you are our dearest sakhi is always present within me', Nanna felt very happy.

One day in March 2003, Nanna remarked that we consider him as a great person (and hence treat him with respect only). When I responded 'you are definitely great, Nanna! But along with this bhava, the bhava that you are our dearest sakhi is always present within me', Nanna felt very happy.

One day in March 2003, Nanna remarked that we consider him as a great person (and hence treat him with respect only). When I responded 'you are definitely great, Nanna! But along with this bhava, the bhava that you are our dearest sakhi is always present within me', Nanna felt very happy.

On 27.8.2002 at 10.30 P.M., I heard Nanna's voice during dhyana "You can reach Sakhi only through sakhi bhava". So it is essential to have sakhi bhava to reach the feet of Sakhi. The means and end are the same. Undoubtedly it is only through sakhi that we can reach the holy feet of Sri Radha. That is why Nanna always stressed on the importance of Sakhi bhava and its sweet love.

Nanna is always present with those intimate devotees who have sakhi bhava towards him, guiding them to propagate Sri Radha rasa tattva. The programmes conducted during May 29 - June 25 were a part of Nanna's plan. We visited S.Kota, Boddavara, Vinayakapalli, Rajipet and Sitampet in Andhra Pradesh during June 6 - 8. Satsang, Sankeertan, Lectures and Dhyana were arranged at every place. Wherever we went, appearance of butterfly was a must! Slowly we stopped feeling astonished. In Rajipet, at 9.30 P.M., it flew amidst so many people and sat on the offering made to Mother. We became very emotional as we felt that Nanna personally accepted the Bhog. On 8th night, Sankeertan was arranged in Rishi garu's house. Just after midnight, a butterfly circled all the devotees and left. Wherever we talked about Mother and Her Sakhi, we felt Nanna's presence there as if he was listening to us. When we reached Vizag, a devotee took us to Simhachalam, Kailasagiri and RushiKonda beach. Anjani amma and some of us were walking along the waves in the beach talking about Nanna. Suddenly we saw a butterfly flying above the waves. I was awe-struck. A sea and a butterfly! The little butterfly with such tiny wings was flying over the rough sea with risig tides; that too at noon in the peak heat! As we watched, butterfly disappeared. How can we describe this unbelievable incident?

On June 20th Anjani amma was giving a talk in Venugopala Swami temple in Sattenapalli. At 9.30 P.M. a butterfly came there and attentively listened to the talk. In this way the intuitive opinion that the butterfly is Nanna's representative became stronger day-by-day.

Another incident occurred on July 2nd, 2004(Gurupoornima). When I talked to Nanna on this day last year, he loudly uttered "Radhe Radhe" on the phone. That voice is reverberating in my ears even today. Nanna is not physically with us on Gurupoornima this year. Added to this, I had to go to Tirupati, thus unable to spend the day with Radha family. Though I talked to Anjani amma and other devotees on phone, I was not satisfied. 'Nanna! Nanna!' - my mind was chanting every moment. As I came out of the cottage in Tirumala, a beautiful butterfly passed by me. 'Nanna' I thought. Towards evening I was feeling restless that the whole day passed without Guru puja and satsang. Seeing my state, Nanna immediately arranged for pooja followed by my lecture. I spoke about Radharani and Radhasakhi whole-heartedly with enthusiasm.

On July 3rd evening we left for Guntur. From the time the train started, I was looking out of the window to see a butterfly. Till 7.30 P.M. my wish remained unfulfilled. 'Nanna, can't you appear once' I thought. At 7.40 P.M., I turned away from the window disappointed. I began to sing the song describing the butterfly (which occurred to me on Gurupoornima) as my husband listened.

I was singing the first stanza. The train was moving fast. Suddenly from behind me, a white butterfly appeared and sat on my left cheek. That tender touch was so pleasant. The next second, it flew and rested on my husband's shirt. One of the passengers sitting opposite to us commented, 'Oh! a butterfly; here and at this time!…'. Within seconds, it disappeared as quickly as it appeared. Thinking of Nanna's love and benevolence, I became very emotional. What can we give Nanna in return for appearing whenever we call him?

There is truly no 'end' for this Chapter 'Butterfly' because Nanna is appearing in this form before someone or other every moment and indicating the steps towards propagating Radha Tattva.
 

 

 
 
Radhasakhi ki pad kamal mein nith
chanchal man rakh achanchal raho nith
Radhasakhi hi Radha sthithi gathi
Radha rasamaya jeevan dethi
----
 
 

Always at the holy feet of Sri Radhasakhi Keep your wavering mind firm and steady Radhasakhi is your means and end to reach Radha Radhasakhi only can give you a life of Radharasa.

 
 

-Sri Radharasa Madhuri 

 
 

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