Shrila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji

 

Om Vishnupada Shri Shrimad Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja appeared in this world sometime around 1750 A.D. in a remote village in the subdivision of Tangail, in the district of Mayaman Singh, in what is now known as Bangladesh. He belonged to a very aristocratic family.

The Gaudiya Vedantacarya Shrila Baladeva Vidyabhusanas initiated disciple was Uddhava dasa Babaji and his initiated disciple was Madhusudana dasa Babaji. and Jagannatha dasa Babaji accepted Babaji initiation from Madhusudana dasa Babaji Maharaja. According to the Gaudiya-vaishnava-jivana the diksa-guru of Jagannatha dasa Babaji was Jagadananda Gosvami of Shringar-Vat, Vrndavana, whose vesa-guru was Krishna dasa Babaji of Govardhana fame.

Jagannatha dasa Babaji performed bhajana in Vrajamandala for many years. He was famed throughout the region as a siddha-Babaji (a perfectly realized soul). He was known to sometimes chant continuously for three days and nights in a row without sleeping, and he would fast throughout. After the completion of his vow, he would break fast on flat rice and yogurt prasada.

     In the year 1880, Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura visited Babaji Maharaja’s lotus feet in Vrndavana and got many valuable instructions from him. In the 1880’s the Paramahamsa Babaji came to the Burdwan District, staing in the village of Amalajoda. Shria Bhaktivioda Thakura went. there on the pretext of government business thereby obtaining the association of Jagannatha dasa Babaji for the second time. The Babaji was delighted by Bhaktivinoda Thakura's enthusiasm for preaching the glories of the Holy Name of Krishna. Thereafter, Jagannatha dasa Babaji sojourned in Burdwan for eleven days and performed uninterrupted kirtana (chanting and scriptural discussion) day and night. Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura established a prapanna-asrama (a monastery for surrender to Krishna) in Amalajoda village.

In the year 1893, Jagannatha dasa Babaji was residing in Kuliya, Navadvipa, and he went to see Surabhi Kufija, the residence of Thakura Bhaktivinoda. The entire grove was electrified by his arrival and appeared especially beautiful. Later, together with his followers, he proceeded to Mayapura and visited many holy places like the Yogapitha, Shrivasangana, etc. When he arrived at the birthplace of Lord Gaura, which had been discovered by Bhaktivinoda Thakura, he began to dance in ecstasy, although he was very old at the time, and had previously been thought unable to walk. He thus established the authenticity of the site beyond any doubt. He spent some time at the Yogapitha in the association of Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, and he miraculously cured one of the Thakura's sons of a skin disease simply by telling him to lie down in the dust of the Lord's place of appearance.

He passed most of the time chanting the Holy Name on the bank of the Ganges in Kuliya. His bhajana kutira and samadhi may still be seen there. One day he asked Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura to construct a veranda to shelter the devotees who came to see him, which the Thakura did immediately.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was well-versed in astronomy by the age of twelve. Hearing of this, Babaji Maharaja summoned him one day and instructed him to make a Vaishnava calendar which would include the appearance and disappearance days of all the associates of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Vishnu-priya Thakurani. Accordingly, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura made the necessary calculations and began publication of the Shri Navadwpa-pancika.

Jagannatha dasa Babaji's life and soul was the chanting of the Holy Name and rendering service to Vaishnavas. He lived on this earth for 135 years (according to Gaura-parisada-caritavah) and preached the Holy Name of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Although he was almost bent double in his old age, still, during the time of kirtana, his body would expand to well over six feet, and his appearance would replicate the dancing figure of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

His favorite disciple was Bhagavat dasa Babaji, who had accepted Babaji initiation from him. Gaura Kisora dasa Babji took Baba-ji initiation from Shrila Bhagavat dasa Babaji Maharaja. Gaurahari dasa Babaji, Ramahari dasa Babaji and Nityananda dasa Babaji were disciples of Jagannatha dasa Babaji who hailed from Barsana in Vrajamandala. Another disciple, called Krishna dasa Babaji, was from Kadamkhandi. Shrila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja's personal servant and disciple, Shri Bihari dasa, was very stout and powerful. Due to Babaji Maharj.a's advanced age he could apparently not walk. Shri Bihari used to carry him everywhere on his shoulder in a bamboo basket. Once, when he was traveling thus, a wealthy man gave him a rupee, which was deposited with Babiji Maharaja's servant, Bihari. After journeying for some miles, Shrila Babaji Maharaja had his servant take him back to the donor and he returned his one rupee. He told the man, "I understand that you have a good deal of money. I could not bear the burden of one rupee, and I wonder how you tolerate the burden of so many." Babaji Maharaja sometimes accepted donations for rendering service to the Vaishnavas, but in this instance he instructively exhibited his detachment, showing how one must be wary of accepting charity from the pounds, shillings and pence class of men.

Inspired by Bihari dasa, the villagers of Surya-kunda built a room and a small temple for Shrila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja. The Siddha Babaji asked Bihari dasa to install a Deity in the temple. Upon receiving this order, Bihari proceeded to Sonaruddi village, which was about eight miles from Katwa. He requested the local landlord to give him a Deity. He duly received Gaura-Nitai Deities, went to Calcutta and collected donations totaling 5,000 rupees from Shrinath Rai, the renowned Laha families and others. He then returned to Surya-kunda. With great pomp and festivity, the Deities of Shri Shri Gaura-Nitai were installed in the temple, where They glistened like gold. Shortly thereafter, a band of dacoits stormed the temple one night and attempted to carry away the Deities, thinking them to be actually fashioned from gold. However, they were unsuccessful in attempting to purloin those Golden Lords and fell exhausted in the temple. They fled without achieving their aim just before the arrival of dawn. This incident disturbed Babaji Maharaja greatly, and he told Bihari dasa to donate the Deities to some devotee in Vpndavana. Bihari dasa went to Vrndavana town and presented them to a Gosvami of Bengali extraction. These Deities are still being worshipped in the temple of Dhobigati of Gopalbagh and are famous by the name of Sonar Gauranga, i.e. the Golden Gauranga.

Several days after this incident, Shrila Babajij Maharaja told Bihari dasa, "I cannot live without the Deities. Bring another Deity from wherever you can find one" Hearing his guru’s command, Bihan proceeded to Radha-kunda and met  Dhenu dasa Babaji of Mathura. There, in Radha-kunda in a stack of hay, which had been gathered for feeding the cows, they discovered a Deity of Sad-bhuja, a six-armed Deity of Lord Ramacandra, Lord Krishnacandra and Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu combined. Bihari dasa had the Deity properly painted in Vrndavana, and returned to Surya-kunda with great enthusiasm. The beautiful form of the Lord was installed according to the scriptural ordinances, and Shrila Babaji Maharaja worshipped Him for ten years.

With the passing of a decade, Shrila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja was inspired to go to Navadvipa, and he therefore requested Bihari dasa to deliver the Deity to someone in Vrndavana. Bihari dasa thus proceeded to Vrndavana and gave the Deity to the head priest of the Gopalaguru-asrama, who was known as Shri Narottama dasa Babaji. The Lord in his six-armed form is worshipped to this day in the Sad-bhuja Temple situated in a lane near Nidhuvana.

Bihari then carried his guru on his shoulder to the Mathura Railway Station and boarded a train for Navadvipa. When they reached the Memri station in Bardhawan, a British railway officer was so impressed by the simplicity and blissful nature of Shrila Babaji Maharaja that he assisted them in many ways. They alighted from the train, before reaching Navadvipa, hired a bullock cart and traveled to the asrama of a famous pure soul named Shri Bhagavan dasa Babaji, who resided at Ambika-Kalna in Bengal. This great soul was extremely pleased to see Shrila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja, and he exclaimed in a state of transcendental exultation; "Oh! My friend has come!" He then embraced Shrila Jagannatha dasa Babaji of them fell to the ground in 3 state of profound transcendental ecstasy and, becoming unconscious, entered into an impenetrable, spiritual trance. They remained motionless, locked in their embrace of loving friendship from ten o’clock in the morning until eleven oclock that night. The servants of the two Siddha Babas began to feel uneasy, and Shri Vishnudasa,the servant of Shrila Bhagavan dasa Babaji Maharja, requested Bihari dasa to do something to bring them back to external awareness. Bihari dasa began to massage his gurus chest and chant the maha-mantra — this device brought them both back into external consciousness, and they got up. Shrila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja had not eaten or drunk during his three days of travel, and so prasada was immediately arranged and he broke his fast at midnight. After this, they slept a while.

After staying at Kalna for ten days, Jagannatha dasa Prabhu decided to proceed to Navadvipa by bullock cart. Bhagavan dasa Babaji had only eighteen rupees in his p5session, but he insisted upon giving it to Jagannatha dasa Babaji for his journey, which he happily accepted. On the way, Bihari inquired where they would stay in Navadvipa, suggesting that they stay in a large asrama popularly called "Bada-akhara".

Shrila Babaji Maharaja replied, "No, we will not stay in any asrama. We will stay under some tree." They indeed stayed under a tree for some time, but later a devotee named Shri Madhava Datta purchased the land adjacent to the tree and donated it to the Babaji. A year later, Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura built two small huts there for him. Rajarsi Shri Vanamali Rai, a famous landlord, built three more huts and a boundary wall about them. An elderly and wealthy lady had a well dug for drinking water. The Babaji stayed there in Kuliyar thirty-two years According to Gaudiya-vaishnavajivavia he lived to the ag of 147 years, at which time he

entered the pastimes of the Lord.

He used to strictly and regularly follow the vows of Caturmasya (the four-month-long rainy season). In the first month he wold take only four bananas each day in the evening. In the second month he would only take guavas. In the third month he drank some buttermilk. And in the fourth month, he consumed only the flowers of the banana tree. He once went to Rishikesh to purify his chanting, which involved the performance of the purificatory practice called purascarana. This penance had to be performed with extreme rigidity. He used to bathe at three oclock in the morning and chant inside a closed room until sunset without speaking or eating. In order to complete the vow properly one is expected to take bath after each call of nature and even after passing air. Once, after observing this regimen for two months, he inadvertently spoke to Bihari dasa. He began the entire process again and completed his vow in three months time. He thereafter pronounced that if one wanted to have darsana of Lord Krishna as Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, he should perform purascaraya in this manner.

Babaji Maharaja once accepted some bread from a person belonging to the sweeper caste in Vrndavana. This action was much criticized by the local Vaishnava community. Many people approached him and challenged him to explain his action. He replied, "Do you know who these sweepers are? Before appearing in Vraja-Dhama, Lord Krishna asked 88,000 sages to take birth there, and they were born in low-class families. Devotees reside in Vraja-Dhama simply to get the opportunity of smearing their bodies with its dust and indeed to give up their bodies here. These sweepers are always serving the dust of Vrndavana; therefore, I regard them as servants of Vraja-Dhama and see them as no different from any other Vaishnavas." After this incident, the Babaji decided to chant in seclusion, and proceeded to a place called Pesi Kadankliandi, which was miles away from any village, near Khandiraana, one of Vraja’s twelve forests. He and Bihari spent the Dami and Ekada there, fasting completely. On the Dvadasi morning, Bihari began to think that Shrila Babaji Maharaja had gone to a place where nothing was available to eat, and that the Ekadashi fast could not be properly broken by their eating prasada made from grains. However, the Babaji ordered Bihari to chant the Maha-mantra loudly to the accompaniment of karatalas, and before noon a Brijbasi came and brought some grains for them to prepare prasada. From the following day onward, huge amounts of milk came to them daily.

Wherever they went, prasada was always miraculously available to them. Once, in Navadvipa, a similar event took place during the rainy season. The whole city was flooded with the water of the Ganges, and it continued raining heavily for one week. No one could go out to beg alms. Suddenly, four persons appeared in a small boat and donated Babaji Maharaja 20 kilograms of flat-rice, yogurt and sandesa.

While he was staying in Navadvipa, he became the object of great affection and acclaim. On one occasion, the famous landlord, Shrinath Rai, and several family members went to have an audience with the famous saintly person. Not recognizing him they asked if he knew where the famous siddha Babaji lived. Shrila Babaji Maharaja replied, "I don’t know anyone who is a siddha baba here. I am staying here, but I am simply an ordinary living entity like all of you." The Rais then realized that they were actually addressing Shrila Babaji Maharaja, who was completely free from any desire for recognition or fame. Nevertheless, they humbly asked him to show them a miracle. Becoming disturbed, he replied, "I dont know how to perform any miracles." He then picked up a stick and started beating the ground, apparently out of annoyance. The landlord, fearful that he had committed an offense, begged the Babaji not to be angry with them for their having made an unpleasant request.

Shrila Jagannatha dasa Babaji replied, "I am not angry with you. I was just chasing out a goat who was eating the Tulasi plant near the cottage of Shrila Lokanatha Gosvami at Radha-kunda."

The Rais were much astonished to hear this, and to test the veracity of his statement they immediately sent a reply-paid telegram to Radha-kunda. The reply came back the following day, and it confirmed that a goat had entered the cottage of Snla Lokanatha Gosvami and ruined the Tulasi plant there. This incident convinced many doubting persons of the Babaji’s perfection. They returned to see him and fell at his feet to offer their obeisance. Perfect devotees of the Lord, being disinterested in the material universe, never desired to make an exhibition of miraculous powers. In order to increase the faith of worldly creatures, however, they are sometimes inspired by the indwelling Godhead to perform some supramundane deed for their edification.

Once, while residing in Navadvipa, Bihari dasa became seriously ill. He suffered a severe fever and delerium, and periodically lapsed into unconsciousness. A medical expert was summoned from Calcutta, but he declared that the illness was too far advanced to respond to treatment. He predicted that Bihari would expire before morning. Shrila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja then sat by the side of his dear servant. He put a sanctified Tulasi leaf in his mouth and began to chant the Hare Krishna Mantra. Within half an hour Bihari was cured. He rose from his bed and proceeded to the kitchen to cook prasada, knowing that Shrila Babaji Maharaja, who had fasted throughout his servitors illness, would not eat anything unless it was prepared by him.

Shrila Jagannatha dasa Babaji used to say that the best time for chanting was from three o’clock in the morning until seven in the morning, and again from sunset until eleven o’clock at night. He declared that no serious-minded devotee should sleep during these hours, as Lord Siva comes to inspect the devotees of his guru, Lord Krishna, at those times.

Although the Babaji could not walk properly during his last years, still he would dance very enthusiastically during the performance of sankirtana. His body would expand while dancing. He daily paid one-thousand obeisances to his Giridhari Deity until the last day of his life. He did not like the idea of leaving any prasada on his plate, and if he thought anyone was going to eat his remnants, he would consume every last morsel, and even the leaf plate to prevent it.

Bihari dasa was illiterate and did not even know the alphabet. One day Shrila Babaji Maharaja asked him to read the Sn Chaitanya-charitamrita to him. When Bihari reminded his guru Maharaja of his illiteracy, the Babaji requested him to simply look at the book for some time and then start chanting its stanzas. Within minutes, Bihari dasa started reciting the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya from the pages of Shri Chaitanya-charitamrita.

Whenever he went to Calcutta, he would sojourn in the house of Bhaktivinoda Thakura on Maniktala Street. Many devotees tried to take him to their homes to give him prasada, but he never accepted their invitations. He donated a Govardhana-sila to Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, who worshipped the sila at his Bhakti Bhavan.

His eyesight was dimmed due to old age, and people who came to see him used to offer donations. Bihari dasa would keep the contributions in an empty clay water-pot. One day, Bibaji Maharaja suddenly asked, “Bihan, give me all the donations you have received.” Bihari would sometimes set some of the money aside for Babji Maharaja’s needs, but Jagannatha dasa Babaji would immediately discern the exact amount missing and demand that it be returned. Bihari would laugh and immediately comply. Babaji Maharaja used to spend the collection according to his own grave desires. Once he purchased 200 rupees-worth of rasagullas for the cows of Navadvipa-Dhama, an enormous amount of sweet-meats in those days!

On another occasion, a dog gave birth to five puppies on the bank of the Ganges near Babaji Maharajas bhajana kutira. When the sage sat down to take prasada, the dogs sat around his plate. Bihari tried to move some of the puppies, but Babaji Maharaja said, "Take my plate away, I will not eat today", whereat Bihari would produce the dogs and say, "Here are the dogs." Babaji Maharja would say fondly, "They are the dogs of the Dhama."

Many people used to approach Babaji Maharaja and beg to be initiated by him, but he did not generally accept them. He would, however, request them to render various kinds of service. Most of them would soon leave due to the pressure of being heavily engaged by him. One gentleman in particular, Shri Gaura Hari dasa, came for initiation, but Babaji Maharaja refused to accept him. On that account Gaura Han fasted for three days in front of the Paramahamsa’s cottage. Finally, Babaji Maharaja took mercy on him and granted him Babaji initiation.

He once told a professional Bhagavatam reciter, Your speaking the Bhagavatam is the same business as a prostitute. Those who recite the Bhagavatam as a business are offenders of the Holy Name, and one should not hear from them. If anyone hears from them, he will simply become degraded." That gentleman immediately ceased his recitations, and he became a great devotee, living a humble existence in Vrndavana.

Srlla Jagannatha dasa Babaji used to stay six months in Vraja and six months in Navadvipa-Dhama. According to Gaudiya-vaishnava-jitana, at the advanced age of 146, when he was set to travel to Navadvipa from Radha-kunda, many Brijbasis and other Vaishnavas went to him to inquire why he was leaving Vraja-Dhama at such an advanced age. In a very humble and transcendentally depressed mood he replied, "You can all stay here in Vraja-Dhama because you are all pure Vaishnavas. I am very offensive, and therefore it is better for me to stay at Navadvipa. Their Lordships Shri Shri Gaura-Nita do not count ones offenses, as They have appeared to liberate all offenders. But here in Vraja-Dhama offenses are counted and reactions thereto are strictly enforced." This was his last journey to Navadvipa-Dhama. A few months after his arrival, on the first day of the new moon in the month of Phalguna, a fortnight before the anniversary of Lord Chaitanya’s appearance, he entered the Lord’s eternal pastimes.

Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura used to always call Shrila Babaji Maharaja, Vaishnava-Sarvabhauma,  the "Commander-in-chief" of the Vaishnavas.

 

gauravirbhdva-bhumes tvam

nirdesta saj-jana-priyah

vaishnava-saivabhaumah

shri jagannathayan te namah

 

"I offer my respectftil obeisances unto Jagannatha dasa Babaji, who is respected by the entire Vaishnava community, and who discovered the place where Lord Chaitanya appeared."

 

VAISNAVA SARVABHAUMA

SRILA JAGANNATHA DASA BABAJI

 

The following article appears in the sixth year of the monthly publications of the Gaudiya magazine under the direct guidance of Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.  It is written by the head school master of Satrujit High School, Shri Yanunandana Adhikari, a disciple of Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.

 

It was the second year after the opening of the Shri Chaitanya Matha in Vrndavana.  The resident devotees had left for Delhi to preach the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Shri Krishna.  I had remained behind the others because I often become ill at the festivals.  Three or four days had passed since the devotees had departed.  My mind was feeling somewhat restless and uncomfortable.  I was sitting alone upstairs on the veranda in front of the door to my room.  I was gazing here and there empty minded.  It was now about 10:00 AM when the old Vaishnava Vrndavana resident arrived.  He entered into the temple grounds from the front entrance and gradually made his way up the flight of stairs.  As the old figure climbed the stairs he stopped for a few moments to gain his balance.  He had stumped his foot.  I paid my obeisances unto the old Vaishnava and offered him a sitting place on a nearby large rug.  As he gasped in short drawn breaths it was apparent that he was exhausted from his travels abroad.  The mood in which he humbly introduced himself would be recognized by many Vaishnavas.  I had met this venerable Vaishnava on a previous occasion.  Following a short exchange of reception he said, "I personally served Shrila Jagannatha dasa Babaji for nearly forty years.  At the present age of 86 I feel very weary.  I find it somewhat difficult to come and go these days.  Previously my body was very strong.  Often I would carry Shrila Babaji Maharaja eight to ten miles on my back.  I witnessed a host of transcendental pastimes.  During that time I was discouraged by Babaji Maharaja from living in Vrndavana.  He would frequently say, "Look Bihari, don't ever go and live with those false monkey-like renunciates."  For this reason I never associated with persons outside other than when it was absolutely necessary.  Shrila Jagannatha Babaji was especially close to Shrila Bhaktivinode Thakura.  I have firm faith in your spiritual master.  I often saw him in Calcutta at Manikatala as a boy when I would visit there with Shrila Babaji Maharaja.  Your spiritual master (Shrila Bhaktsiddhanta) would only be clothed with a pullover shirt.  He struck me as always having a serious nature. I was attracted by his efflugence and his learning.  He was always attached to the Holy Name.  In his earlier years his frame was very lean and Shrila Babaji Maharaja loved him very much."

 

The old Vaishnava in this manner described many topics about Shrila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja and also his own life.  I was deeply moved by the realization that this old respectable Vaishnava had undergone innumerable difficulties in his service to Shrila Jagannatha das Babaji Maharaja.  As a neophyte devotee my curiosity was stimulated to no bounds.  There he sat before me, the actual servant of Shrila Jagannatha dasa Babaji. Numerous questions came to my mind.  Indicating that he had anticipated my questions he delivered their answers by recounting his past.  He himself was born in the family of milkmen in West Bengal.  As a youth he had very little academic training.  He had spent much of his time in Bangladesh.  His speech was marked by Bengali spoken in an indistinct, broken fashion.  Even so he was characterized by a very simple, easy going natue.  In this disposition Bihari das Babaji would depict his relationship with Jagannatha dasa Babaji.  In view of our Vaishnava cultural heritage today these topics are certainly priceless.

 

Shrila Bihari dasa Babaji began to speak, "A long time has passed.  It's difficult to exactly recollect.  Once when Shrila Jagannatha das Babaji was living in Navadwipa a householder from Calcutta suddenly appeared before him.  The householder had already spent several days in Navadwip.  Touching Shrila Jagannatha das Babaji's feet, the gentleman seated himself before him.  The unexpected visitor in his first breath requested Shrila Jagannatha das Babaji to come with him to Calcutta.  The man was desiring to take first initiation from him.  Shrila Jagannatha das Babaji was always opposed to the idea of going to Calcutta.  On first consideration he decided that the best decision was not to go.  But the gentleman was very insistent.  He came every day for fifteen days and prayed to Babaji Maharaja to go to Calcutta.  Finally Shrila Jagannatha das Babaji relented and agreed to go with the man to his residence in Kasipura.  Shrila Jagannatha das Babaji made the compromise that he would not accept any foodstuffs from the gentleman's house.  So by boat they went together.  We arrived at the residence of the householder whereupon he immediately tried to coax us into accepting some cooked foodstuffs.  Shrila Jagannatha das Babaji became so annoyed that he said to himself, "Take me to the residence of Shrila Bhaktivinode Thakura."  He then told me the address.  It was midday there so we took a horse carriage to Shrila Bhaktivinode Thakura's house.  When we arrived Thakura Bhaktivinode was upstairs.  A message was sent up.  This was the first time I had seen Shrila Bhaktivinode Thakura.  He was somewhat tall with an effulfent golden hue like complexion.  His nose was very elegant and his mouth well formed.  Oh, and how expertly Shrila Bhaktivinode knew how to serve the Vaishnavas!  Thakura Bhaktivinode would personally serve Shrila Jagannatha dasa Babaji with his own hands.  They would ofter visit one another in Navadwip and Calcutta.

 

Once Shrila Bhaktivinode Thakura arrived at the residence of Shrila Jagannatha dasa Babaji with a kirtan party.  The party, accompanied by Shrila Babaji Maharaja quickly advanced towards Shri Mayapura.  During this time another  kirtan group was approaching from the Namanapukua side.  The two parties chanting the glories of Lord Chaitanya assembled together at the place of the present day Yoga Pith.  Over the age of 130 years, Shrila Jagannatha das Babaji, being humpbacked, normally could not sit in an erect position.  But when he would perform the congregational chanting of the Lord he would extend his body by the distance of five hand lengths and spring upward a distance of over one yard!  How wonderful it was when he pointed out the location of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's appearance site.  It is alaso still fresh within my mind the way he struck his stick on the groud with a resounding "crack" (Shrila Bihari das Babaji, who is holding a stick enacts the pastime again as true as life itself).  He pointed out, some distance away, a well which contained the broken hull of a mrdanga.  Sometimes Shrila Jagannatha dasa Babaji would chastize persons who were opposed to the authenticity of Shri Mayapura.  Again Bihari dasa Babaji began to explain with full vigor other transcendental pastimes he had seen. He continued, "I came to Navadwipa and prepared the foundation of Babaji Maharaja's bhajana kuthir.  I dug it out by hand and constructed a fence around its sides.  Many persons would come and visit Babaji Maharaja, leaving donations.  I would place that money in a water pot for safe keeping.  Every fifteen days to one month I would remove the money and count it.  Normally the funds would be expended each month.  Being fearful I would sometimes hide the money outside the premises.  I considered that I would place 15 rupees aside for any emergency which might arise in the future.  After doing so Babaji Maharaja called me and in a deep voice shouted, "Where did you place that 15 rupees?"  He had never paid any attention to me as his eyelids extended will beyond his lower eyebrow as if they were hanging loosely.  Whenever he wanted to see he would lift his long eyelids above his eyes.  Shrila Babaji Maharaja also never accounted for what was spent or given.  In whatever way he wanted the money was spent.  Once he said, "Go and buy rasgullas!  I'm going to feed all the cows in the holy dhama."  Two hundred rupees were taken an rasgullas were distributed by him to all the cows.  But Babaji Maharaja never wanted to spend anything on the imposter Vaishnavas.  He would say, "Don't let them come here."

 

"Shrila Babaji Maharaja would often sit and accept prasadam from a large plate.  Once five puppies took birth outside his bhajan kuthir.  At prasadam time the puppies would appear from four sides and surround his place.  As they began to eat he would feel to make sure they were all present.  Once, seeing this, I became disturbed and began placing them outside.  Shrila Babaji Maharaja interrupted me in his deep voice.  "Bring them back in or I will not eat."  What could I do?  I again brought the puppies inside and placed them around his plate.  Satisfied, he said, 'The dogs of the dhama.'

 

"Many persons would come desiring his brahmin underwear.  There was one personality by the name of Gaura Hari dasa who was determined to secure his underwear.  But Shrila Babaji Maharaja would never give any personal items away.  For a period of three days Gaura Hari remained outside the bhajan kuthir of Babaji Maharaja.  Finally, Jagannatha das Babaji gave me permission to give him his kopin.

 

"Shrila Jagannatha das Babaji would always become angry when he would see someone acting independently.  Once one kirtan party approached Babaji Maharaja from a distance chanting unbonafide mantras.  Shrila Babaji Maharaja hearing them became very angry and said, 'Drive them all away from here.  Don't let them come!'

 

"I've never seen such an effulgent personality as Babaji Maharaja.  A few days before his disappearance he told me, "Oh Bihari, it's not necessary to inconvenience yourself to maintain your stomach.  You don't have to separately endeaver for this.  Don't ever mix with those false monkey-like renunciates."

 

"He didn't desire to remain any longer.  If I could give up my body thinking of him then I could obtain real happiness."