Non-GBC Sannyäsés

One might have never guessed at all,
in 1896,
that events exceeding worldly norm were due.
A humble place and time, it seemed,
by measure to us all,
and yet our fates were sealed at that time, too.
No fanfare on the Earth performed
that we could see or hear.
Mäyä’s hand had taken all that we could give.
One prophet predicts this child will cross
a deadly stormy sea
and build a house where all the world will live.
“Abhay,” a tting name, is given
to this infant boy.
Fear not, but change the shape of things to come.
Those times then being foreign rule,
this India was not her own;
the West ruled now but soon would be outdone.
Gour Mohan’s heart was set: his son
would preach the Bhägavatam,
and prayed Rädhä Her blessings would bestow,
and arranged that he would learn to play
the kartals and the drum—
devotion in his heart was sure to grow.
Abhay would get a cart that was
a gift when he desired;
all local children came to pull the ropes.
As he led his small friends that day in
devotion ’round their home,
imagine this would reach a global scope.
To college, a young man, Scottish Churches’;
impressions would unfold,
education meant to invoke the Christian view.
And Western science and values intending,
supplanting the culture of old,
to impress the children in this same way, too.
Homages from ISKCON Centers
Candraśekhara Swami
nama oà viñëu-pädäya kåñëa-preñöhäya bhü-tale
çrémate bhaktivedänta-sväminn iti nämine
namas te särasvate deve gaura-väëé-pracäriëe
nirviçeña-çünyavädi-päçcätya-deça-täriëe
Soon he would marry and soon begin
his family life at home;
responsibilities begin to mount.
But deep within, his heart is searching
a goal beyond this world,
and precious above what most will ever count.
A friend insists that he must go
to Ultadunga Road.
Abhay knows bogus holy men abound.
But this happenstance reveals
the mission of his life,
and his gurudev, who is profound.
Initiation he will take
from Sarasvaté’s hand;
Abhay Charanaravinda he’ll be known.
His master’s mission will come to be
the center of his life,
and books will be his center cornerstone.
“How shall I serve you?” he would think,
in household life he worked,
devotion to Kåñëa the method he would preach.
After guru departed his pen became
a torch of knowledge bright,
as Bhaktivedanta he would be known in speech.
Back to Godhead, a paper to give
those in darkness some light,
started and published during World War II.
An effort in Jhansi to start a Mission,
a world-redeeming League,
a venture to reclaim both me and you.
In 1959 he takes
the order of sannyäsa,
in order to travel to save those in the West.
Bhaktivedanta Swami he now becomes,
the savior of the worst,
and schools them to become the very best.
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