26/05/2026
ISH*TA MONDAL
Durgapur, Paschim Bardhaman
West Bengal
[Published in Bliss][ŠBliss Network]
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It was 11.00 AM on 16th December, 2021. Due to a headache, I stopped working on my regular writing assignments and went to rest for a while. All of a sudden, the phone beeped. A WhatsApp message from Sthiti Di, one of my sisters in faith from Tripura, popped up. The message said, âAcharyadev aar neiâĻâ (Acharyadev has ended His mortal sojourn on earth). âAcharyadevâ was Supremely Ven. Sree Asoke Chakraborty, popularly known as Sree Sree Dada, the Acharyadev of Satsang at that time. I immediately called Sthiti Di, and she confirmed the news once more.
The urge to take a nap went away. I sat on my bed for a few minutes, bewildered, struggling to cope with the situation. Then, I took my bag and went to catch a bus from the nearby bus stand. I was in the same city where Sree Sree Dada was hospitalised. So, my destination was the hospital where He took His last breath. It was an act of emotion. Itâs impossible to express in words how I felt at that time. To my surprise, although I had never met Him before, it seemed that someone very close to me was drifting apart from me. [Published in Bliss][ŠBliss Network]
While sitting by a window seat in the bus, my mind was entangled with diverse thoughts. Since the day I was initiated in 2020, I had wished to see Him once in Deoghar. I could never fulfil that due to multiple reasons, including the pandemic.
All such thoughts were crowding my mind. With a mask on my face, I was busy hiding my face from the people inside the bus all the time, as my eyes were on the verge of tears. This was beyond human understanding. My eyes had tears for the One I had never met. One can hardly define this emotion. I, too, didnât understand. Probably, this is what a connection to the heart really is, a bond that remains even when life pulls people apart. [Published in Bliss][ŠBliss Network]
Getting off the bus, I reached the hospitalâs main gate and came to know that Sree Sree Dada would be taken to the Dakshin Durgapur Satsang Mandir for the funeral rituals.
I decided to wait by the side of the road near the hospital, along with many other Satsangees, to see Him once. I could not get a chance to meet Him before. So, that was the moment when I would be seeing Him for the first time. I was waiting silently with innumerable thoughts in my mind.
âDoes He look the same as His image?â
âIs the divine glow we see in his pictures real?â
âAbove all, why am I being so emotional even though I have never met or spoken to Him? Who is He?â
With all these questions overwhelming my mind, I saw a hearse carrying Sree Sree Dada from the hospital coming towards the road where we were waiting. [Published in Bliss][ŠBliss Network]
In that very moment, I experienced one of the most heartwarming and divine occasions so far in my life. I was introduced to the intensity of peopleâs love for Supremely Ven. Asoke Chakravarty, our Honâble, loving Param Pujyapad Sree Sree Dada, the grandson of Supremely Beloved Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra. Indeed, it was a day of overwhelming emotions! Although activities and movements were restricted to some extent due to the pandemic, it was still beyond imagination.
The closer the hearse was, the louder the chorus of âVande Purushottamamâ (Adorations to Fulfiller the Best) grew. The whole hospital area was echoing peopleâs love and reverence for Sree Sree Thakur, Sree Sree Dada, and Satsang. And thereafter, finally, I saw Him. He was lying peacefully on the bed inside the enclosed space of the hearse, as if He were in deep meditation. I could see Him only through the closed glass windows. But still, I was awestruck by the radiating glow on His face. I had not seen such a glowing face ever before. [Published in Bliss][ŠBliss Network]
From the hospital, the hearse covered in white flowers moved forward on the way to the Dakshin (South) Durgapur Satsang Mandir, one of the two Satsang mandirs in Durgapur, where the last rituals of Sree Sree Dadaâs mortal form was to be held. Another vehicle carrying a Kirtan group, and thousands of Satsangees followed the hearse. Along with them, I too, got a chance to take part in that heavenly procession. It was serene. I realised how the devotion of the common people for Sree Sree Thakur and Satsang in my own surroundings was beyond my imagination. The echoes of âVande Purushottamamâ dhwani filled the air frequently throughout the whole journey. Numerous people of all ages were standing on both sides of the road with tears in their eyes. Many of them were paying their obeisance to Sree Sree Dada by touching their foreheads to the ground when the procession was passing in front of them. On that day, I felt blessed that Durgapur is my hometown, where I was born and brought up. Durgapur is popularly known as the Steel City, and has many other names, but since that day, it has become even more significant for eternity. [Published in Bliss][ŠBliss Network]
At Dakshin Durgapur Satsang Mandir, another divine scene was awaiting me. A space close to the new Padmapukur (a pond that was dug as per the wish of Sree Sree Dada) inside the temple premises was selected for the holy rituals. People from different places came to the spot. Tears were rolling down the faces of thousands of devotees as they bade adieu to the mortal form of Sree Sree Dada.
Supremely Beloved Sree Sree Thakur always wants us to be ideal human beings, and Satsang is known as âmanush toirir karkhanaâ (a man-making factory). That day, I realised how it truly shapes people, inculcating love, fellow-feeling, courage, and devotion within them. Thousands of people across West Bengal and beyond, from different backgrounds, occupations, and natures, were present there together for that one last time. [Published in Bliss][ŠBliss Network]
Although we still cannot completely defeat our negative traits, we have love within us for Sree Sree Thakur, for His Satsang. And as Sree Sree Thakur says,
âLove is good,
Hence, Love is God.â[1]
As the clock marked the hour of prayer, the air filled with the echoes of congregational voices. Such a large number of men with diverse virtues and vices, coming from different places and states, were connected with the Name of love. The rendition was uninterrupted, rhythmic, and delightful. [Published in Bliss][ŠBliss Network]
I must say, the day was a memorable one for me. It is an experience to carry with me for a lifetime. The city indeed became no less than a pilgrimage. Itâs the place where Sree Sree Dada decided to stay forever. And it is the best among all the names, identities, and attributions.
After returning from the Mandir on that day, emotional upheavals hit me. For several days, a feeling of sadness and loneliness grew within me. My professional assignments lay pending. A few days earlier, I had started reading the text âPrasanga Satyanusaranâ, but now it remained unfinished. I could not gather the energy to start anything. It was like I had lost someone very close to me. I was reluctant to move ahead with my personal or professional responsibilities. [Published in Bliss][ŠBliss Network]
Every moment, it came to my mind that I could never see Sree Sree Dada in person. My wish to visit him in Deoghar will always remain unfulfilled.
I could barely concentrate on anything. All seemed futile to me. At such a vulnerable time, Supremely Ven. Acharyadev Sree Sree Arkadyuti Chakravarty came on stage as a saviour. When the final Holy obsequial rites of Sree Sree Dada, His Venerable Father, were performed in Deoghar, He spoke words of courage and boldness for everyone present. He boldly said,
ââĻ āĻļā§āĻā§āϰ āĻāĻāϰā§āώāĻŖ āĻāĻŋāύā§āϤ⧠āύāĻžāĻāĨ¤ āĻļā§āĻā§ āĻŦāĻŋāĻāϰā§āώāĻŖ āĻšāϝāĻŧāĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻžāύ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻā§āĻ āĻļā§āĻ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§ āϝā§āϤ⧠āĻāϏāĻŋāύāĻŋāĨ¤ āĻāĻŽāϰāĻž āĻĒā§āϰā§āώā§āϤā§āϤāĻŽāϧāĻžāĻŽā§ āĻāĻāĻŋāĨ¤ āϝāĻžāϰ āϝā§āĻāĻž āĻšāĻžāϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§, āϤāĻžāϰ-āϤāĻžāϰ āĻŽāϤāύ āĻšāĻžāϰāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§āĻā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻŋāύā§āϤ⧠āĻāĻŽāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āĻāϞāĻž āĻāĻŋāύā§āϤ⧠āĻĒā§āϰā§āώā§āϤā§āϤāĻŽāĻā§ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§āĨ¤ āĻāĻŽāϰāĻž āĻļā§āϰā§āĻļā§āϰā§āĻ āĻžāĻā§āϰā§āϰ āĻŽāĻžāύā§āώāĨ¤ āĻāϰ āĻāĻ āĻŽāĻžāύā§āώ āϝāĻžāϰāĻž, āϤāĻžāϰāĻž āĻāĻāύāĻ āĻļā§āĻā§āϰ āĻāĻŦāĻšā§ āĻĨāĻžāĻā§ āύāĻžāĨ¤
âāϏāϤā§āϤāĻž āϏāĻā§āĻāĻŋāĻĻāĻžāύāύā§āĻĻāĻŽāϝāĻŧ āϤāĻŋāύāĻŋ āĻŦāϞā§āĻā§āύāĨ¤ āĻāϰ āĻāĻ āĻāύāύā§āĻĻā§āĻ āĻāĻŽāĻžāĻĻā§āϰ āĻĨāĻžāĻāϤ⧠āĻšāĻŦā§āĨ¤ āĻāϰ āϤāĻžāĻāĻā§ āύāĻŋāϝāĻŧā§āĻ āĻāύāύā§āĻĻā§ āĻāϰāĻĒā§āϰ āĻšāϝāĻŧā§ āĻĨāĻžāĻāϤ⧠āĻšāĻŦā§āĨ¤âĻâ[2]
(ââĻGrief does not attract. Instead, it detracts. We have not come here to carry forward loads of grief with us. We are in the Holy Land of Fulfiller the Best. Whoever has lost whatever, they have lost in their own way. But our journey is with Fulfiller the Best. We are people under Sree Sree Thakur. And such people do not remain in the shadows of grief.
He has said that âBeingâ is imbued with existence, consciousness and bliss. We have to live with that Bliss. We have to live with Him, enjoying abundant Bliss...â) [Published in Bliss][ŠBliss Network]
Yes, nothing is lost. Those few words rejuvenated me and all Satsangees. After all, He (Sree Sree Dada) is the âApostleâ of Fulfiller the Best of Ages! Can he ever go away? Not at all.
On one occasion, Sree Sree Thakur said to Sree Sree Dada, âJesus had twelve Apostles. You are verily that.â [Published in Bliss][ŠBliss Network]
He then enquired what Apostle means. According to the dictionary, it means One who is sent. Thakur proclaimed, âThat's it. You are verily that.â[3]
So, the Apostle has to come back again and again when the time comes. After His mortal demise, He is more connected to us now in His subtle form. And Durgapur is blessed with His holy presence. May I be able to fulfil Sree Sree Dadaâs wishes to help more people find the Ideal-centric path directed by Supremely Beloved Sree Sree Thakur. As Sree Sree Dada said,
âāϏāĻŦāĻžāĻ āϏāĻŦāĻžāĻāĻā§ āύāĻŋā§ā§ āĻāĻāϝā§āĻā§ āĻ āĻžāĻā§āϰāĻā§ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻž āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻāĻžāĻāĻĒ āĻĻā§āĻā§āĻžâāĻāĻ āĻšāĻā§āĻā§ āĻā§āĻŦāύ- āϏāĻžāϧāύāĻžāĨ¤ āĻāĻŽāĻŋ āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻāώā§āĻāĻĻā§āĻŦāϤāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻž āĻāĻžāĻ, āϤā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻžāĻ, āϏā§-āĻ āĻāĻžā§âāϏāĻŦāĻžāĻ āĻāĻžā§āĨ¤ āϏāĻŦāĻžāĻāĻā§ āύāĻŋā§ā§ āĻ āĻžāĻā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻž āĻāϰāϤ⧠āĻšā§āĨ¤ āĻ āĻžāĻā§āϰ āĻŦāϞāĻā§āύ āĻāĻāĻžāĻĻāϰā§āĻļ āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻĨāĻžāĻā§, āϤāĻžāϤ⧠āϏā§āĻŦāĻž-āϏāĻŽā§āĻĻā§āϧ āĻ
āĻā§āĻ āĻāĻžāύ āϝāĻĻāĻŋ āĻĨāĻžāĻā§, āϤāĻžāĻšāϞ⧠āĻāĻā§āϝ āĻ
āĻŦāĻļā§āϝāĻŽā§āĻāĻžāĻŦā§āĨ¤ āĻŽāĻžāύā§āώāĻā§ āĻāĻ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāĻāĻžāĻ āĻšāĻā§āĻā§ āĻāĻāĻŽāĻžāϤā§āϰ āĻāĻžā§āĻĻāĻžāĨ¤ āĻ āĻāĻžā§āĻž āĻ
āύā§āϝ āĻĒāĻĨ āύāĻžāĻāĨ¤ āϏāĻŦāĻžāĻ āĻāĻāĻāύāĻā§ āĻāĻžāϞā§āĻŦāĻžāϏāĻŋ, āĻāĻāĻāύā§āϰ āϏā§āĻŦāĻž āĻāϰāĻŋ, āϤāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāώā§āĻ āĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāĻŖāĻĒāĻžāϤ āĻāϰāĻŋāĨ¤ āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŋā§āĻĒāϰāĻŽāĻā§ āϤā§āĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻāĻžāϞā§āĻŦāĻžāϏāĨ¤ āĻāĻāĻžāĻ āϝāĻĨā§āώā§āĻ āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖ āϤā§āĻŽāĻžāĻā§ āĻāĻŽāĻžāϰ āĻāĻžāϞā§āĻŦāĻžāϏāĻžāϰāĨ¤ āĻāĻžāϞā§āĻŦāĻžāϏāϤā§āĻ āĻŽāĻžāύā§āώ āĻāĻāĻĒā§āϰāĻžāĻŖ āĻšā§ā§ āĻāĻ ā§āĨ¤"
(Everyone taking everyone else along and taking the plunge to establish Thakurâthat is the avowed activity of life. I want to establish my Ideal, you too want this, he wants it as wellâall of us want the same. One needs to establish Thakur taking along everyone. Thakur says that if there is one Ideal, and if there exists an unbroken pull enriched by service, then unity is inevitable. This is the only way to unite people. No other path exists other than this. All of us love One, serve One, and sacrifice our lives to establish Him. You too love my Supreme Beloved. This is reason enough for me to love you. Love unites people into one spirit.) [Published in Bliss][ŠBliss Network]
Vande Purushottamam!!
References:
1. The Message, Vol 2, 4th edition, page 157).
2. Param Pujtyapad Sree Sree Acharyadev, 26th December 2021, Satsang, Deoghar.
3. Diprakshi, 28.12.1955.
4. Param Pujyapad Sree Sree Dada, Ritwik Conference, 16th July, 2017.
This article was published in Bliss Dec 2025-Jan2026 Special Combined Issue. To read our recent issues, click on the links given below. In order to submit your articles, mail us at [email protected].
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