Richard (now Radhanath Swami) travelled to Pashupatinath at Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. He was disappointed at not being allowed entry into the famous Lord Shiva temple because of his being a foreigner. Being determined, he covered himself with sacrificial ashes and disguised expertly. This time not only he wasn’t recognized, he was also honored with exclusive worship of God in the temple. Richard felt humbled and also grateful at being allowed entry into the temple; he felt he deserved to be beaten for breaking the rule.
Reading this exciting adventure of Radhanath Swami attempting to enter a temple reminded me of Radhanath Swami’s closest friend, Bhakti Tirtha Swami, on whose instructions Radhanath Swami has written the ‘Journey Home’. Bhakti Tirtha Swami also once attempted to enter the famous Jagganath temple in Puri, India. In 2005 Radhanath Swami described this exciting story in a marathon six hour class on the glorious services of Bhakti Tirtha Swami.
Radhanath Swami narrated that in 1978, Bhakti Tirtha Swami was in India. At that time in history, not a single foreigner had ever been inside Jagannath’s temple in Puri, in the state of Orissa. Bhakti Tirtha Swami had been once told by his guru that in this lifetime he would see God. So he thought, “Maybe I will see God as Lord Jagannath in this temple.” He had a black complexion and thought perhaps the ever vigilant temple priests at Puri may think he is from from South India and they would allow him in. He tied a towel around his head to look Indian. There were big crowds, and he walked right by the gatekeeper. He went deeper and there was a massive crowd, thousands of people near the main altar of God. At that time, Bhakti Tirtha Swami thought, “If they catch me now they are going to really beat me, I don’t know what will happen”. All of a sudden, the pandas, the official door keepers in the temple stopped the crowed and began choosing people that they thought had money and called them forward. One of them called Bhakti Tirtha Swami Maharaj forward, “You come.” He spoke in Oriya language, and Bhakti Tirtha Swami was afraid because if the panda spoke to him, he would be caught because he only spoke English. The person started asking questions. Bhakti Tirtha Swami couldn’t understand a word. He just remained silent and was praying to the Lord. The person brought him right up to the altar and pushed his head right on the altar, and let him stand there to offer his prayers of love. He then took him to circumambulate the temple, and meanwhile so many other pandas tried to get money from him but this one panda was saying, “He is mine, he is mine.”
After he had this amazing experience,, the panda who was actually the chief priest of the temple called him out and spoke to him in English, “I know who you are. I don’t agree that you people shouldn’t be allowed in the temple, so I have arranged this audience for you with the Lord. Bhakti Tirtha Swami was so overwhelmed with this divine spiritual experience that the next day he thought he would do it again. However this time the pandas discovered he was not an Indian, and they started screaming at him and chasing him and Bhakti Tirtha Swami ran. He narrowly escaped and realized we should be satisfied by what God has given us.
Radhanath Swami says that Bhakti Tirtha Swami was the first foreigner to have ever personally got the audience of the Lord at Jagganath Puri. His guru’s prophecy had indeed come true “You will see God in this lifetime.”
Table of Contents
Founder-acharya of the International Society For Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON)
“Go to India” a sweet but commanding voice; spoke up in the heart of young Richard (later Radhanath Swami) who was immersed in meditation, his search for meaning in life has brought him to the Isle of Crete. Today he was ordered to go to India. Born and raised in the middle class suburbs of Chicago, Radhanath swami grew up in the 1950’s and 60’s era when popular musicians protested war, prejudice and social injustice. Radhanath swami would listen to these songs again and again, but their lyrics referring to God stirred his soul. Peter, Paul and Mary- the folk trio from Greenswich village sang in their debut album
“Early in the morning, about the break of day
I ask the Lord, to help me find my way”
This simple prayer was to guide Radhanath swami in the coming years of his life........
Awesome, amazing to know about this fact. Thank you very much for sharing.
View CommentIn english they say ‘no guts, no glory’. This was very aptly shown by HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami and HH Radhanath Swami.
View CommentSuch eagerness to see the Lord…I wish I too get such eagerness.
View Commentreally an amazing courage
View Commentthank u very much for posting this amazing story.
View CommentThank u Maharaj for sharing this wonderful article.
View CommentThank you Maharaj for written such a nice experience in your Journey home book.
View CommentWhat an adventurous darshan of Lord Shiva!
View CommentRadhanath Swami & Bhakti Tirtha Swami have shown that a deep eagerness in the heart & the Guru’s mercy are the only qualifications to see God.
View CommentOn one hand Srila Bhakti Tirtha Swami had such a intense eagerness to see the lord and on the other hand was the divine will of the lord fulfilling the desire of his dear devotee.
View Commentamazing story
View CommentThese incidents show that God is as eager to meet his pure devotees as the pure devotees are eager to meet him……..
View CommentReally, it is the exmple that that Lord personally take care of the devotee who is sincere, honest and love him.
View CommentBrilliant article.Haribol!Jai.Very nice.
View CommentThank you for sharing this divine experience shared by HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami.
View CommentVery nice incident from the life of Radhanath Swami!!!
View Commentsimply wonderful. radhanath swami ki jai ho
View CommentThank you for posting this story!
View CommentAmazing eagerness.
View CommentAmazing one.
View CommentSrila Prabhupada was a great devotee and by his blessings only Bhakti theertha swami got the darsan of the Lord.Really great.
View CommentJai wonderful article. Story of devotees eagerness and Lords mercy.
View CommentIf we have a strong desire to see the the Lord, He reciprocates.
View CommentThank you for sharing this story which demonstrates the love of the Lord toward His devotee.
View CommentAmazing incident! thank you for sharing. The Lord always arranges an audience for those who have a strong desire.
View CommentThis is the eagerness to see the Lord. Thanks for sharing.
View CommentRadhanath Swami has given us such a wonderful account of how his friend H H Bhakti Tirtha Swami got the darshan of Lord Jagannath.
On the one hand, we are told that ALL living beings are children of God, then I’m surprised at this controversy of Indians being allowed to get darshan and foreigners being denied entry into the temple.
Aren’t all of us children of God ?
But as Radhanath Swami has explained, the Lord makes arrangements for his sincere devotees.
View Commentwonderful such an amazing pastime of H.H BhaktiTirtha Swami Maharaj thank you for sharing this hari bol !!!!
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