When Baladeva was in India for Holi (Gaura Poornima) i had requested him to get me a copy of this book ... by hook or by crook. I was dumbstruck when Baladeva placed the book in my hands. Radhanatha swami is a charmer and a gifted story teller, and this is true for his book too.... The book is highly addictive; I would read it whenever and whenever i got time, on way to to office, while waiting for lunch or dinner, and during my reading time. One day i read for about 6 hrs straight, i started at 9 pm and dint realize when it was 3 am, maharaja binds the reader with an unbreakable spell. It is one of those books you just cannot put down.
Srila Radhanath Swami ki jay !
I remember my first meeting with Radhanatha swami, this was in 1996 Ratha yatra (it was ISKCON Juhu's last ratha yatra in Down town area), before ratha yatra started maharaj sang Jagantha astakam, the way he sang was mesmerizing. He had so much of love and devotion in him. Between 1996 and 2000 i met him on numerous occasions in Chowpaty, Juhu, Vrindavan and Mayapur each meeting was better than the last and each meeting itched deeper appreciation and love for Radhanatha swami. I will never forget the day when we met in Naski, we were all their for Kumbha mela, like a loving and caring father he embraced me tightly and enquired about my where about’s and what i was doing. I was highly touched by this display of warmth and affection. When i would visit Maharaj in his room in Chowpaty, he was always welcoming and friendly, his house / room in chowpaty is like a window to the spiritual world, all the walls are beautifully decorated with pictures and posters of the most prominent Krsna deities and vaishanava saints in our linage. It was always a treat to visit him in his rooms, the way he listened to every problem, the way he would guide, the way he would ensure that i was at ease... everything about him was so sweet and tender.
I thank Radhanatha Swami for sharing his life story with us… world needs more souls like him.
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