Draft:Aindra Das

Aindra Das

Aindra Das (born Edward Franklin Striker, "Eddie", 12 March 1953 – 16 July 2010) was a prominent disciple of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Renowned for his unwavering dedication to the practice of kirtan, Aindra Das significantly influenced the global kirtan movement through his leadership, recordings, and teachings.

Early Life and Spiritual Awakening

Aindra Das, left rear, in 1976 with A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada at ISKCON, Potomac, Maryland.

Eddie Striker was born to Diane and Art Striker in Arlington County, Virginia, U.S.A, on March 12, 1953. He was the third of five children – a girl and four boys: Carlyn, the eldest; Chris; Eddie; Graham; and John.

"The kids' mom and dad, Diane and Art, grew fruits and vegetables, kept animals, and raised their children in a 1960s back-to-nature alternative lifestyle in a log cabin that, with Eddie and Chris's help, they built themselves in the secluded hills of rural Haymarket, Virginia."

His father was a bluegrass musician, his mother played the harp, his brother played the bass, and Eddie himself learned to play the guitar and other instruments. His early exposure to music would later play a crucial role in his devotional life.

In the summer of 1973, Eddie encountered devotees from ISKCON while they were performing sankirtan (public, congregational chanting) in Washington D.C. at a demonstration against the Vietnam War. Deeply moved, he began reading Sri Isopanisad, translated and commented on by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and later became a resident at the ISKCON temple on Q Street, Washington D.C. Later that year, he was initiated into the Gaudiya Vaisnavism tradition by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, receiving the spiritual name "Aindra Das".

From the very beginning of his spiritual journey, Aindra displayed remarkable dedication to his spiritual practices. He began his service with deity worship in Washington D.C. in 1974 and continued this service as he travelled with the Radha-Damodara Traveling Sankirtan Party, then in New York City until 1986, and finally in Vrindavan, India.

Deity worship is the devotional practice of offering service to sacred images or deities that represent different forms of the Supreme Godhead, Krishna, and His various manifestations. This practice, known as archana, is a central part of the devotional life in the Gaudiya Vaisnavism tradition, to which ISKCON belongs. In ISKCON temples, deity worship involved activities like dressing, bathing, offering foodstuffs, offering prayers and engaging in other rituals at regular intervals throughout the day.

Aindra Das's spiritual journey evolved significantly during his time in New York City. In 1981, he began taking kirtan to the streets using a small amplifier and a hand cart, often accompanied by fellow disciples, and sometimes grand-disciples, of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. HIs creative efforts in New York City include converting a panel box van into a mobile temple, which he used to conduct kirtans in prominent locations like Broadway and Central Park. These efforts attracted widespread attention and led many to embrace the path of devotion.

The Krishna Balaram Mandir 24-Hour Kirtan Mandal

In 1986, Aindra Das relocated to the Raman Reiti area of Vrindavan, Uttar Pradesh, where he re-inaugurated the 24-hour kirtan at the Krishna Balaram Mandir, ISKCON Vrindavan. This initiative was inspired by the understanding that the loud chanting of the Holy Names of Krishna is the supreme means of spiritual victory, as taught by Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

The Krishna Balaram Mandir 24-Hour Kirtan Mandal was inaugurated as a continuous kirtan initiative under the guidance of ISKCON's founder-acharya, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, in 1975 at the Krishna Balaram Mandir, ISKCON Vrindavan. This initial endeavor, although fervent in its inception, was ceased altogether in 1978, less than a year after the founder's passing in 1977. With the support of a few like-minded associates, Aindra Das reconstituted the 24-hour kirtan endeavor as a formal department within ISKCON Vrindavan. Initially, the department hired singers and musicians but, within six month, Aindra dismissed all the paid performers due to concerns about philosophical conflicts regarding payment as a motive for service to God according to Gaudiya Vaishnavism. From that point onwards, all members of the 24-Hour Kirtan Mandal have engaged in the non-stop kirtan purely as a devotional service without monetary compensation.

The Krsna-Balaram Mandir 24 Hour Kirtan Mandal is dedicated to the propagation of hari-nama-sankirtan, the congregational chanting of the Holy Names of God, as the primary spiritual practice for this age, known as Kali-yuga. This practice is regarded as the most effective means of self-purification, self-realization, and attaining love of Godhead.

Members of the kirtan mandal are committed to continuously performing hari-nama-sankirtan by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. The initiative aims to foster spiritual well-being, which is believed to lead to material well-being, as confirmed by experienced transcendentalists. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, an incarnation of Krishna, emphasized the importance of spreading nama-sankirtan for the spiritual upliftment of human society.

Aindra's commitment to the 24-hour kirtan was unwavering, despite the significant challenges he faced. The extreme weather, especially during the summers, and the austere living conditions in the Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula Building made life difficult. However, Aindra's determination and purity of purpose gradually attracted dedicated followers who joined him in his mission.

Over the years, Aindra Das's kirtans, recorded in Vrindavan, became widely popular among devotees around the world. Albums such as Cintamani-name and Vrindavan Mellows are considered classics, blending the natural sounds of Vrindavan with Aindra's soulful chanting.

"These recordings were at the forefront of a developing worldwide kirtan culture – a progressive, even revolutionary, movement that was bringing back an enthusiasm especially but not only among young devotees for the kind of spiritually surcharged nama-sankirtan that had marked the early days of ISKCON."

• Deities at the Krishna Balaram Mandir, ISKCON Vrindavan
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  Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundar at the Krishna Balaram Mandir, ISKCON Vrindavan
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  Sri Sri Krishna Balaram at the Krishna Balaram Mandir, ISKCON Vrindavan
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  Sri Sri Gaura Nitai at the Krishna Balaram Mandir, ISKCON Vrindavan
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  Aindra Das's altar in his room at the Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula Building
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  Sri Sri Nitai Sacisuta
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  Deities of Gaura-Nitai, Jahnava Devi, Srila Prabhupada, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
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  Aindra's Giriraj Sila
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  Aindra's Giriraj Sila and others
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  Aindra's Shaligram Silas
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  Aindra's Shaligram Silas

Discography

Year	Title
1992	Cintaman Nam
1992-1994	Vrindavan Mellows Vol. I, II, III
1994	Kirtan is our Bhajan
1997	Prayers to the Dust of Vraja
1999	Vraja Vilasa

Death and Investigation

In the late hours of July 16, 2010, while preparing to cook for his deities, Aindra Das passed as a result of a fire in his room at the Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula Building, Vrindavan.

On Friday, 23rd July 2010, an investigation was initiated regarding the cause of the fire and the death of Aindra Das. The investigation, led by the then Head of Department of the 24-Hour Kirtan Department at the Krishna Balaram Mandir, ISKCON Vrindavan, included interviews with several persons who were present or had relevant information, for the purpose of providing clarity and an accurate account of the events surrounding the incident. The following details were taken from the report.

Room Description

The room Aindra Das stayed in at the Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula, Vrindavan, where the incident occurred, was approximately 20 feet in length, 11 feet in width, and 10.5 feet from floor to ceiling. The room only had one entry and exit point, consisting of three doors. The first, a mosquito screen door, was nailed to the original front door. A small trap door or air vent was located at the bottom right corner. Behind these two doors was a second, airtight door made of wood and covered with soundproofing rubber and foam materials imported from New York. The room had been retrofitted over the course of Aindra's occupancy to facilitate his production of kirtan recordings.

Inside the room, kitchen shelves were positioned three feet from the ground on the immediate left, with two gas burners connected to a gas cylinder via a rubber hose at ground level. An altar and his deities were located at the far end of the room, the furthest point from the door.

Discovery

On the morning of July 17t, 2010, at approximately 6:30 am, it was noticed that Aindra Das had not come to perform his usual morning service of dressing the deities at the Krishna Balaram Mandir, ISKCON Vrindavan, which prompted concern. Calls to Aindra's room went unanswered and several persons later mentioned hearing sounds and seeing smoke coming from Aindra's room the previous night at around 10:30 p.m.

After several unsuccessful attempts at calling out to Aindra inside the room, a small team of people were gathered and they forced the door open using an iron pipe. Upon entering, a strong smell of gas permeated and the room was partially burned, with Aindra Das's body behind the altar, in a bowing position, suffering first and second-degree burns, primarily on the face, shoulders, and arms. The devotees carried Aindra's body out of the room and place it on a grass mat covered with saffron cloth.

Reports

Residents, and department members, in the neighboring rooms that were a part of the team effort to gain entry into Aindra's room, recounted that there was nothing suspicious in the room to indicate arson or suicide, especially as the cooking apparatus, according to one witness, had a history of minor explosions. Several residents also reported that they last saw Aindra Das around 9:20 pm purchasing ingredients for cooking and, the last two persons to interact with him on the night of July 16, 2010, reported that there was nothing unusual in the room at the time, and neither noticed any smell of gas.

Several devotees also reported that Aindra has a limited sense of smell, which may have prevented him from detecting the gas leak, and that he was seen on the evening of July 15th carrying a gas canister similar to the one found in his room after the incident.

Conclusion

Based on the interviews conducted and the evidence collected, as well as the condition of the room and the burns on his body, it was concluded that the fire was likely caused by a gas leak from the cooking apparatus, which ignited when Aindra Das attempted to Cook. The intense fire and lack of oxygen in the room made it difficult for him to escape, leading to his unfortunate death. The incident has been classified as a tragic accident.

Samadhi and Legacy

Aindra's Samadhi Stone

On August 15, 2010, thirty days after Aindra Das's tragic death, his samadhi (memorial tomb) was installed in his room at the Krishna Balaram Mandir, ISKCON Vrindavan.

Aindra Das was known for his intense personal sadhana (spiritual practice). For years, he chanted one hundred thousand names of God daily, eventually increasing this to two hundred thousand names. His life was marked by simplicity, devotion, and a deep commitment to the service of both his personal deities, as well as the deities worshiped on the altar of the Krishna Balaram Mandir, and to the sankirtan movement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

His tragic passing was deeply mourned by the global ISKCON community, and he is remembered as a spiritual giant who revived and sustained the 24-hour kirtan in Vrindavan for over two decades.

His teaching continue to inspire devotees to deepen their commitment to chanting and devotional service according to the Gaudiya Vaishnavism tradition. His life exemplified the principle of surrender to Krishna, and his legacy lives on through the ongoing 24-hour kirtan at Krishna Balaram Mandir, ISKCON Vrindavan and the countless lives he touched through his kirtans and personal example.

Following in his footsteps, Aindra's style of kirtan has been widely adopted by kirtan enthusiasts worldwide and continues to be one of the most prevalent Gaudiya Vaishnava kirtan styles, especially within ISKCON.