Slumdog Millionaire

Do you remember  the movie Slumdog Millionaire which won academy award for best picture. It pictured story of Jamal, his prodigious journey from poor slumboy to a millionaire. I am feeling same kind of feelings of being unworthy recipient of causeless mercy on receiving intiation by HH Radhanath Swami in spiritual line of glorious Brahma Madhwa Gaudiya Sampradaya. 

Thinking of great Acharyas or personalities who have taught principles of spiritual life by their personal example has always humbled me. Where is their level of devotion, finest of character, absolute loyalty and obedience, extreme humility, staunch faith, blissful service attitude and tremendous advancement of the spiritual path and where am I, absolute spiritual pauper being very poor example in everything mentioned above. Six Goswamis of Vrindavan, Narottamdas Thakur, Vishwanath Chakravarti Thakur, Bhaktivinode Thakur, Bhakti Siddhant Saraswati Thakur, Srila Prabhupada and my own spiritual master HH Radhanath Swami, these all personalities have been and are part of this glorious sampradaya. They have set such an example of what a Vaishanava should be, that just by thinking about them makes me literally feel unqualified to be connected to their line.

Through the process of diksa or initiation, predecessor acharyas effectively accept us as their representatives. Especially for initiated devotees, our character and actions reflect in a good way or a bad way upon them. This makes one feel load of heavy responsibilities of being a proper example on one’s shoulders.

I have been offered the spiritual name as Toshan Nimai Das. Servant of Lord Chiatanya who pleases everybody by his extraordinary beauty, qualities, sweetness, service and devotion, Nimai is another name of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for he took birth under Nim tree). Spiritual name is offered to remind and identify oneself and others of being humble servant of God always.

As this unworthy slumdog has been offered with priceless treasure of being connected to God in intimate chain of spiritual successors, I seek your blessings upon me to be a faithful follower and worthy example of teachings of predecessors. I remain eternally indebted in gratitude for this extraordinary magnanimous offering of enormous fortune.