There are too many things I would like to say in the glorification of Bhubanesvara Prabhu’s sublime character, example, and deep devotion–but time is limited, so I will try to be brief.
We are all feeling the absence of Bhubanesvara Prabhu now. I knew him since our Radha-Damodara days when he was a grumpy but blissful cook who also danced like a madman in kirtana.
When I came to Vrndavana after not seeing him for decades, I was very happy to get Bhubanesvara’s Satsanga for Rajabhoga Prasada from time to time, which he kindly saved for me, unsolicited. Alas, those days will no longer return in this life.
In his later years, Bhubanesvara’s kirtanas enlivened everyone; I always hoped they would invite him to the kirtana-melas, but somehow they never did. Personally, I feel the 7 am kirtanas in Vrndavana will never be the quite same without him. I’ve kept my recordings of his kirtana, because they were pure, jnana-karmadi-anavrtam.
He was such a staunch Brahmacari that if my wife answered my phone whenever Bhubanesvara called, he wouldn’t even speak to her! But he was also very jovial, simple, and satisfied.
His tremendous sense of humor is celebrated worldwide. He always sent me (and others) transcendental text messages–including this favorite, that I was surprised to receive one day, at 2 am:
“The boys in the 24 hour kirtan say I rock the house!”
Bhubanesvara prabhu was an understated pillar of the Vrndavana temple, and I will very much miss his mordant humor, bright blue eyes, his warm smile, gruff demeanor, humorous criticisms, soft heart, example of serious commitment, humble kirtanas, compassion, simplicity, simple but deeply realized classes, and his irreplaceable cooking.
I humbly offer my respectful obeisances to his lotus feet and pray for his blessings.
Bhubanesvara prabhu ki jaya!
Mukunda Datta dasa ACBSP