"Visnujana's Disappearance"
This is the story of Visnujana Swami's disappearance from this material world, back to Godhead. I have talked to witnesses that heard and saw some of the things that led up to Visnujana's alleged suicide. Visnujana Maharaja was a very advanced sanyasi and he enlivened living entities moving and non-moving all over America and beyond. Before Visnujana joined the Hare Krishna Movement back in the 60's he had separated from his wife and daughter. He talked to them at the 1975 San Francisco Rathayatra for about an hour. Visnujana heard that it was considered a 'falldown' for him to talk to his ex-wife since he was a sanyasi. Although I'm sure Visnujana was pure in his intentions; he still felt guilty as charged. This bothered him for quite some time. He came to India for the 1976 Goura-pournima festival. Visnujana Swami approached Srila Prabhupada who was walking on his rooftop and asked him what a sanyasi should do if he 'falls down'. Srila Prabhupada answered that like Chota Haridas he should commit suicide. There were quite a few devotees crowded around Srila Prabhupada as he walked. Srila Prabhupada hesitated for a moment and continued; but in this age the atonement is to just re-engage in devotional service. Visnujana Swami didn't hear this part. He thought Srila Prabhupada had already answered his question and he faded to the back of the crowd. That night Visnujana disappeared. He went to where Chota Haridas, from Chaitanya lila, committed suicide at Prayag and paid a few sadhus to help him with the ultimate sacrifice. They chanted special mantras so that he would not talk a 'ghost body.' Then rocks were tied to his cloth and he jumped off the boat into the Holy Waters. The Sadhus went to the New Delhi temple and told them about the 'white sanyasi' and what had happened. As the news spread around the world we were/are all deeply saddened by the event.
"Srila Prabhupada's Reaction"
Srila Prabhupada was sitting in his new quarters in Bombay when Tamal Krsna Maharaja entered. He began to tell Srila Prabhupada about the disappearance of Visnujana Maharaja. TKG said that Visnujana had not applied for a new passport to leave India and he was sure the 'white sanyasi' that the sadhus who went to the Delhi temple, talked about was Visnujana Maharaja. At this point Srila Prabhupada appeared to weep. He turned his head and gazed out the window. He said, "He did not have to do that". TKG asked if Srila Prabhupada knew where Visnujana was. Srila Prabhupada said, "Visnujana was very advanced; he's still chanting Hare Krishna. He's very advanced"! It was obvious that Srila Prabhupada did not want to talk about it anymore as he tearfully gazed out the window. About two weeks later Srila Prabhupada told us that Visnujana was chanting to him in his dreams. (Just like Chota Haridas who chanted for Lord Chaitanya.) I felt good hearing this from Srila Prabhupada. Later I also had a dream about Visnujana. I was following him up a mountain trail when he stopped and turned to me and told me to wait. He said I was not ready to go yet. I stood and watched as my first spiritual mentor disappeared up the trail like Maharaja Yudthistira.
For Visnujana; Jayananda and then Srila Prabhupada to leave the planet was a great loss for all of us. We can only remember their great pastimes and gain inspiration from that. Hopefully when it's time we'll be fortunate enough to join them again.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada and all of his devotees!