Wednesday 3rd August 2005 - 11:31New information needed for the Biography of HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami - 10 August 2005If anyone can help with the following please contact Satyaraja Prabhu: satchmo868@aol.com
(1) Ancestry. I know the family was in Cleveland and before that, Alabama. But further back...? Where in Africa? I had read that Maharaja, when in Africa, discovered the tribe from which his biological family originated. Who has this information?
(2) When he tells the story of getting into the Jagannath Puri temple, sometimes he says it happened in the year of Prabhupada's disappearance (1977) and other times he says he was a new sannyasi at the time (which means it was post 1979). Does anyone know which year it was?
(3) He says two devotees were with him in Puri when this happened. Who were they?
(4) While at Princeton he adopted an African name (Toshombe Abdul). Does anyone know the story around his receiving this name? Does anyone know what the name means?
All the best. In the service of Srila Prabhupada and Bhakti Tirtha Maharaja --Satyaraja Dasa
The authorized Biography of HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami is currently being compiled by author of "The Hidden Glory of India" any many more highly acclaimed books, HG Satyaraja Prabhu (Steven Rosen).
HH Bhakti Tirtha Swami specifically requested Satyaraja Prabhu to take up this task. We are humbly requesting that if you have served with Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj and are willing to share your experiances with him, can you please get in contact with Satyaraja Prabhu. He is especially in need of details from the period in which Bhakti Tirtha Maharaj took sannayas (1979). There is very little known about this period apart from that it was in New Vrindavan. Satyaraja Prabhu has even spoken with the person who conducted the initiation, but he is unable to remember any details. If you know of anyone else initiated alongside him at the ceremony, or if anyone just knows any more details, please get in touch.
It would also be very helpful if anyone has any stories that might shed light on the chronology of Bhakti Tirtha Swami's life. These would include (but are not exclusive to) major preaching milestones and places visited, stories of meeting celebrities and other pivotal events in his life.
You can contact HG Satyaraja Prabhu at: satchmo868@aol.com
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