In the summer of 2006, this blog was created when several of us decided to go to Vrindavan to participate in VIHE courses and live in the dham for several months. I can't speak for the others, but for me that was only really a cover reason for going as my main motivation was to participate in HG Aindra Prabhu's kirtans. I had been fascinated with his kirtan for several years before that, eagerly awaiting any new live recordings or videos that would come out of Vrindavan. Back in those days there were hardly any ISKCON related media sites so these tracks were just passed person to person, and they became something to treasure. When I arrived in Vrindavan, what struck me was how simple the kirtan was. What I really mean by this is not the kirtan itself, but everything that seemed to go into it. Aindra Prabhu would sit right down on the floor with his little harmonium, mridanga and kartal players and a mind blowing melody would result from it. For over four months I had the fortune of being able to participate on a daily basis, and it is an experience that I will treasure my entire life.
While in India, I was also fortunate enough to get Aindra Prabhu's association and what struck me about him was just how humble he was. He viewed kirtan as his upmost service, and if anyone asked him to perform it, he would take every possible measure to do so. I remember going to do kirtan with him in several home programs, a jail in Agra and several new temples in Vrindavan and other areas. When Gopal Prabhu had an extra "aindra" harmonium he told me I could have it, and that I should just get it from Aindra Prabhu when it was delivered in a few weeks. When I went to collect it, Aindra Prabhu was sitting there with the harmonium wala demanding that every note was perfectly in key. The wala eventually gave up, but Aindra Prabhu wouldn't give it to me until he was satisfied, so he said that he would just have to tune it himself and told me to come back in a day or two. I couldn't believe that he was putting so much time into this harmonium for me especially when it seemed as if he had a never ending list of things to do. While he did kirtan, Aindra kept two things on his harmonium. Fisherman's Friends which are lozenges to strengthen your throat while singing, and necessary if you sing as much as he did, and a small picture of the pancatatva. It was so simple, yet so perfect, for me a simple reminder that he was just carrying out Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mission in chanting the Maha Mantra to as many people as he possibly could. When I was last in India in January of 2009, I was standing against one of the pillars in the KB mandir after Aindra's kirtan, staring at the wonderful forms of Krishna and Balaram during aroti when I felt someone come up behind me and poke me in the back. When I turned around, it was Aindra Prabhu asking me how long I was there and telling me that when I graduate university I should come for longer.
I was looking forward to the next time I would have the opportunity to Vrindavan and take part in his kirtan again when I received news of his tragic departure this past weekend. I am upset now because I will never be able to do this again, and I cannot imagine Vrindavan without him. Anyone who has ever been to Vrindavan with me knows that it is almost impossible to go do darshan of any of the presiding deities of the dham in the evening because I made it a priority to be in Aindra's kirtans. While I am upset for selfish reasons, I know that Aindra Prabhu is now with Radha-Syamsundara where he belongs. From Krishna Balaram mandir, Aindra Prabhu affected the way kirtan is performed all across our movement as many of our tunes can somehow be traced back to him. He was a legend and he will be missed in ways we still do not know today. I will miss him dearly as well.
Chaitanya
