Here is a picture of an initiation ceremony at Bahulaban. In the back, skipping the devotees I don’t know, are Sankara, Rasalila, Kalindi, Sacimata, Saradiya, and Premanjari. Seated is Das and his son Duke. Oh yeah, and some guy hooking up with a brand new danda.
Click on thumbnail for larger version.
September 17, 2007 at 9:19 am
Nice picture. Duke wasn’t born until at least 1986, well after this picture.
September 17, 2007 at 10:29 am
Sankara left the planet in 1985 so the picture must be older than that.
It sure looks like Duke.
September 17, 2007 at 8:22 pm
isn’t that Mankumari devi dasi head and shoulders above everyone else?
September 17, 2007 at 9:05 pm
The height would indicate that, though I think it looks more like Kalindi, perhaps leaping during the kirtan.
September 18, 2007 at 4:08 am
Tilakini took this picture originally. She told me its Mankumari (”Stretch”) in the back. And Sumati during her Women’s Sankirtan Party days in the overhooded sari next to Rasa Lila. Tilak said she thinks the little kid next to Das is Dharamkala’s son.
This was the second scheduling of Radhanath Maharaj’s sanyasa initiation. He had out of humility and a deep understanding of what it meant foregone the arrangements for the first fire yajna.
New Vrindavana’s first sanyasa initiate had been Atmabhu the eventual foreman of the construction crew for Prabhupada’s Palace. At his fire ceremony he was presented with two dandas: one the standard tridanda and a second made out of a hoe, a shovel and a rake(?) Because his renunciation was to “get to work”. Last I heard, ‘Bhu was in India, but not in affiliation with ISKCON anymore.
September 18, 2007 at 12:04 pm
I don’t think that is me next to Das. I would have had a shaved head. I’m not sure who it is.
September 18, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Haribol…
so you call Radhanath Maharaja “some guy?”
September 18, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Yes. I assumed he would be recognized.
September 18, 2007 at 7:57 pm
that little kid is not Suddha satva, Dharma’s son. not even close!
September 18, 2007 at 9:08 pm
further correction: Tilak didn’t take the picture herself. She was cooking for the Deities at the time. But she found the original series of three pictures from Maharaj’s sanyasa initiation in an abandoned guest room when she was cleaning. Lots of various copies were made from them over time.
Also it is Lord Nrsnghadeva’s Appearance Day, so it is in early Spring as well as in the early 80’s.
September 20, 2007 at 9:37 am
Could the child in the photo be one of Girindra’s and Syamasundar’s kids?
September 20, 2007 at 8:46 pm
No, not Girindra and Syamakunda’s kid. they all had blond hair.
September 21, 2007 at 9:57 am
Dharmakala thought he may be Raghunandini’s son.
September 21, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Bhakta Ve. Looks like him.
The picture was from 1982 I am informed.
October 26, 2007 at 2:12 pm
That could be Bhaktive, could also be Gaurangi the little blond girl in left corner……it’s a great picture :)
October 26, 2007 at 8:27 pm
Gaurangi is a credible surmise.