Bharatpur - Rajasthan

Expressions researched:
"Bharatapur" |"Bharatpur" |"Bharatpura"

1968 Conversations and Morning Walks

Questions and Answers -- Montreal, August 26, 1968:

So your question, Rukmiṇī's question, Lord Caitanya's opulence... There are six kinds of opulences: richness, then fame, strength, influence, beauty, education and renunciation. So He exhibited all these six. He was very beautiful; therefore His name is Gaurasundara. Very beautiful-tall and stout and strong. There was no comparison of His beauty at that time, He was so beautiful, fair complexion. This time He did not appear in black complexion because people after fair complexion. So... And son of a very respectable brāhmaṇa family, and very highly educated. His scholarly manifestation you'll find in the explanation of one verse:

ātmārāmāś ca munayo

nirgranthā apy urukrame

kurvanty ahaitukīṁ bhaktim

ittham-bhūta-guṇo hariḥ

This verse was twice explained, two times explained: once before Sanatāna Gosvāmī and once before Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya. Sārvabhauma Bhaṭṭācārya was considered at that time to be the greatest learned man in India. At that time nyāya-śāstra, logic, amongst the learned scholar logic is the greatest weapon to get victory over His opponent. So learned scholar is always a very learned scholar in logic, nyāya-śāstra. So this logic was taught in Bihar, Dharvanga. India, in different parts of India, different kinds of education was imparted. In Benares, the Mayavāda philosophy was very prominent. In Dharvanga, logic was very prominent. In Navadvīpa, philosophy was very prominent, and nyāya also. Similarly, in Bharampura, Bharatpura. There are many places, just like at the present moment there are many places, university. So He was great logician, Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

1972 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- October 25, 1972, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: Now in Vṛndāvana here is one temple... There is likely that they cannot (indistinct for several minutes) Suppose everything is (indistinct). Therefore accepting (indistinct) how to manage. This is between ourself. Suppose if Bharatpur Mahārāja (indistinct). In this temple also, I am making (indistinct) decision. (break) ...is not in favor of any of the parties. So if it also comes in our hands, it has to be (indistinct). Now, supposing you have got three, then how you shall manage? Simply taking over is no good. Because they are giving, means they cannot manage. That property is very valuable property, Bharatpur place. So they are thinking of giving it over to us because it is not being managed. (indistinct) position is here. So up to now we are strong. But if our, what is called, cooperation becomes slack, then our temple also the same thing will be. That, the (indistinct) that I am staying here for the last ten or twelve years and paying, but the property belongs to the Deity. And there are (indistinct) sevaites. Sometimes somebody starts noting that you neglect sometimes somebody takes money in advance. So what is my position? (indistinct) the rentor may decide what is my position. Actually, in terms of the rentor, I am tenant for these two rooms, and that also. (indistinct) Of course, I have got many (indistinct). But it is sentiment. We (indistinct) these things. This is criminal arrangement(?). Suppose when you the management of all these, how we shall manage?

Room Conversation -- October 25, 1972, Vrndavana:

Gurudāsa: Subala Mahārāja and I are going to Mathurā today to find out the position what they have done in relationship to this sanction, written sanction.

Prabhupāda: From Mathurā, then go to Bharatpur.

Gurudāsa: Yes.

Prabhupāda: From Mathurā, Bharatpur is near.

Gurudāsa: Yes.

Prabhupāda: I think there is train or bus.

Gurudāsa: There is bus, train. But the thing is, he may be sending a car here.

Prabhupāda: Oh.

Gurudāsa: So I am getting a message from that boy who wrote the article, with the moustache. The boy who wrote the article, he has gone to Bharatpur with that note.

Prabhupāda: Oh. He is very good boy.

Room Conversation -- October 27, 1972, Vrndavana:

You know the meaning of satyam? Satyam means truth. The first quality is he is truthful. Satyaṁ śaucam ārjavam āstikyaṁ jñānaṁ vijñānam. The beginning is satyam. Generally the people in pilgrimages like Vṛndāvana, they have taken this religiousness as a profession to earn money, just like other businessmen do. That is cheating. Generally they do so. In Los Angeles they are keeping the standard given by ourself. At every āratik in early morning, at least 150 men. Even though I am not present, by system, by kīrtana, dancing, offering Deity worship nicely (indistinct). So we have to maintain the standard very strictly. Otherwise it will again become Rādhā-Dāmodara temple and Bharatpur Mahārāja (indistinct). You will have to find out some customer to sell it. What is the use of starting temple if you do not do it properly? Why should you waste your energy? Better travel and preach. Don't take the risk of starting big, big temple. As soon as the energy is gone, there will be trouble. That Govindajī's temple, that man lost everything because he was cheating. If this man is also cheating, then he will also. Our Tīrtha Mahārāja is cheating, then what is his...? He got so many things but he could not do anything. Now he is after these buildings, that's all. Otherwise, what is his credit? He is not a good preacher. He was at the head of Caitanya Maṭha. How much duty was..., heavy duty he had to preach. But he has no preaching capacity.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk -- November 19, 1975, Bombay:

Man: Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Prabhupāda: Jaya.

Brahmānanda: (break) He makes railway cars in Bharatpur.

Prabhupāda: Huh? Where? Bharatpur?

Brahmānanda: Yes.

Prabhupāda: That is in Calcutta.

Brahmānanda: Isn't there a Bharatpur near Agra?

Girirāja: Bharatpur.

Prabhupāda: Bharatpur. Oh, yes. (break)

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: India exports to Africa and Middle East countries.

Brahmānanda: The bogies.

Prabhupāda: How they dispatch? By ship?

Brahmānanda: Yes, I think so. I remember reading once, in Tanzania they received twelve bogies.

Prabhupāda: Twelve bogies at a time?

Brahmānanda: This one shipment.

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- November 20, 1976, Vrndavana:

Prabhupāda: When I first came in Vṛndāvana I stayed in the Keśī-ghāṭa. That is very palatial building. My room was as big as this. Yes, as big. Plus one side room, plus one entrance room. I was paying fifteen rupees. And I could see whole Vṛndāvana, Yamunā, from the top my house. It is very nice, very palatial.

Hari-śauri: That's in the big building on the, right on the side of the ghāṭa?

Prabhupāda: Which gate?

Hari-śauri: That's in the big building right on the side of Keśī-ghāṭa?

Prabhupāda: No.

Hari-śauri: No?

Prabhupāda: No. There is a big building, Bharat Maharaja, yes, Bharatpur, just by the side of that house. It is in the corner. The door is in the corner. The road is going this way in the corner. It is stone. Face is stone. Good building, but... (break) ...in thought of Kṛṣṇa, outside cleaning by oil and soap. Soap. Bāhyābhyantara-śuciḥ. This is quite comfortable, not very chilly, within this room.

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- January 8, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: So this is documentary. And the Europeans and..., they are not fools and rascals that they are interested in purchasing other religious book, not their Bible. You see? So it has got very great potency. So under the circumstances, we should now make combined effort that it can be pushed on more organizedly. I am doing now alone with the help of these... But no Indians are coming. This is the difficulty.

Guest (2): I think, with all due respect, many Indians are trying to do things in their own religious sect or in their own districts.

Prabhupāda: Nobody is doing.

Guest (2): Well, I mean, if you had been to Bharatpur recently, about 5,200 beds were there for netra-yajña, for the eyes operation.

Prabhupāda: I know that. That I know. But I am speaking of this culture.

1970 Correspondence

Letter to Gurudasa -- Bombay 7 November, 1970:

I just received one letter from Radha Madhava Sharan and he has informed me that a big temple and compound belonging to the Maharaja of Bharatapur on the bank of the Yamuna at Kesighat is for sale. Therefore I would like you to go immediately to see Radha Madhava Sharan in Vrindaban (Address: 2/157, Radha Raman; Vrindaban; U.P.). You can go and see the sight and find out exactly from him the terms of negotiation of purchasing the temple and property. When you have understood the terms, you can go to Bharatapur along with Radha Madhava Sharan, taking him at our expense, and find out the exact person with whom the negotiations should be finalized. If everything is in order and the property can be purchased, then remain in Bharatapur. If the transaction is to be done there, you stay in Bharatapur and telegram me immediately. I will come myself and complete the purchase. We would like to get this temple and land at all costs, as it is very nicely situated on the Yamuna River. I know of this temple. I used to live next to it before living in the Radha-Damodara temple. It is a very palatial building. The remainder of your party, including your wife, may remain in Delhi under the leadership of Giriraja Das Brahmacari and see the men whom I've mentioned above.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Bombay 18 November, 1970:

Your report from Vrndavana is good. I think you should negotiate for the first palace near Kesighat, called Laksmikunj, from the Maharaja of Bharatapur. That place is just suitable for us. It should be easier to come to terms for this place also because it is vacant. If you can establish one nice palatial Temple for our Society in Vrndavana, that will be a great credit for you. I am awaiting your telegram or telephone call in this connection.

Letter to Yamuna -- Bombay 18 November, 1970:

I have already written to Gurudasa to try for one very nice Temple in Vrndavana which is in good repair. If we can establish one center there it will be very, very nice. Our foreign devotees must have one very nice place in Vrndavana where they may stay while visiting there and I think this palace of the Maharaja of Bharatapur is just right for us. So you both together work very strenuously in Delhi for making Life Members. That will provide the means for establishing our branches.

1972 Correspondence

Letter to Gargamuni -- Bombay 1 January, 1972:

Whatever letter you send I immediately reply. But whether you have received my telegram and letter telling you to go to Agra. We have received one letter from Cox and Kings who are very big tourist guides and they have asked that they would like our Society to help them in meeting the increasing demand of tourists to India who come to India for spiritual and religious reasons. So Agra is a very big tourist center. There is one man Mr. Bansal, you may remember that he came to Delhi and Vrindaban trying to arrange for a pandal program in Agra. He has one house in mind which he says will be very suitable for our needs. So I want you to go to Agra immediately to see this house and give me your report. If your report is favorable we can purchase that house. You may also see the Maharaja of Bharatapur and try and convince him to give us the house. Mr. Banasal or his manager are expecting you and they will take you to see the house and the maharaj. Mr. L. D. Bansal, Bansal Building, Subhash Bazar, Agra-3. So as soon as you see this house report to me what is your opinions. I think if it is possible you should get a Post Office Box or if that is not possible then make a letter box. Then we will be sure to receive all mail properly.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 29 August, 1972:

Your telegram re: Bharatapur temple on Kesi Ghat I don't exactly know the details. Then how can I offer price? Send me all details as well as what is their expectation? inc. site plan.

Letter to Gurudasa -- New Vrindaban 1 September, 1972:

I am in due receipt of your telegram as follows: "Bharatpur Trust will donate Kesighat Temple will sell surrounding rooms and garden we must offer price wire immediately." So I have received this telegram and have replied by telegram as follows: "Why not donate the whole thing and we spend money to make super gorgeous. Otherwise how we can offer without knowing details and site plan of temple? Rush them New Vrindaban." So the thing is if I do not know how much land is there, what is the condition, what is the price, what are the terms, how I can make concrete offer? That is not good businesses. So you can send me immediately everything, the site plan, what are the exact terms of the contract, etc., then we shall see. I think that is a very grand temple, and we shall be able to utilize it if the other party is willing to help us. But one thing is, why they cannot donate the whole thing and we shall spend our money to make it very wonderfully done up and renovated. But I think their plan may be to give us the temple only, because that cannot be sold, and no one can maintain it any more, and then we shall have to buy the residential buildings, the compound all the other buildings there, and that is their trick to get money for those buildings, by so-called offering us the temple without having to pay anything for it, because they cannot sell it anyway.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 15 September, 1972:

King should donate to brahmanas. We are a society of brahmanas, therefore the king should donate us those temples and we shall keep them in his name, and we shall renovate them and make them very gorgeous for the foreign tourists. And they will appreciate the contribution of the king of Bharatapur and will perpetuate his memory. If the 25 lacs which the king proposes is spent for renovation and making the places very nice, that is better. We will spend at least 10 lacs for renovating all these places up to date. We shall everywhere advertise that it is the king of Bharatapur. We are prepared to make a formal agreement that we shall spend a minimum of 10 lacs for renovating, if he will donate. And if we get that land, we can cultivate agriculture. So approach him yourself immediately and ask him to donate. We will occupy immediately and renovate and fill the places with foreign tourists.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 30 September, 1972:

Regarding the Bharatapur house, try to convince the present king that everything will be in his name, that is, we shall name it ISKCON Bharatapur Temple or ISKCON Bharatapur House and we shall fix up a marble plaque in the front. For renovating we shall spend for all the three or four houses and they will be used for the same purpose, as a Radha-Krsna Temple and for accommodating foreign visitors and devotees. This movement is so great and ISKCON is propagating Krsna Consciousness all over the world, so why not Bharatapur Maharaja donate the building for this great purpose? They have lost their kingdom but still they have these buildings, so if they are given in our hand it will perpetually commemorate their nice gift to the ISKCON institution and thus to the world. We are purchasing a very palatial building in London and the Maharaja will be welcome to stay there as long as he wishes, or in any one of our places, especially in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, London, Bombay, etc. In this way try to induce him.

Letter to Rupanuga -- Vrindaban 24 October, 1972:

Regarding the KLM Airlines, Syamasundara is corresponding with them in this connection and he shall write to you separately. We are trying to get one very huge and beautiful Palace of the Maharaja of Bharatapur, just on the Kesighat by Yamuna River in Vrindaban, and our devotees are living there now. He has promised to donate, so we shall know very soon if he is sincere. If we get this place, many many foreign tourists and devotees can be accommodated, it is so nice. So try to assist Syamasundara from your side to attract many foreign tourists to stay with us in India.

Letter to Giriraja -- Vrindaban 1 November, 1972:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated October 22, 1972, regarding the supply of deity for Chicago centre. I am told that the Bharatapur deity is more than 200 years old and is made of solid silver, and therefore it will be very difficult to get government permission to export it from India. It will be too much trouble, so if nice deities can be gotten from Jaipur as we have done before, that is better.

Letter to Gurudasa, Yamuna -- Bombay 31 December, 1972:

Now some of our men have met with the Maharaja of Bharatapur here in Bombay, he sent his men to fetch us, and in a bitter mood he requested us immediately to return his idols of silver Radha and Krsna. So let us return them to him, we do not want any ill feeling to be against us. So you may return those deities to him at earliest opportunity, either at Delhi or at Govardhana. He also has requested his book. I do not know which book that is, but he said that Acyutananda has it and he wants it back without delay, so return him.

1975 Correspondence

Letter to Sri V. S. Murthy -- Bombay 14 November, 1975:

At present I am at Bombay and you are welcome to come and see me and we shall discuss these things broadly. And if possible I am prepared to go to Bharatapur and speak my views on spiritual advancement of life.