I came here not to take but to give you.
Prabhupada went to America for not to take any thing but to Give them Krishna consciousness My first visit to New York was in 78 and from then nearly 50 times I visited New York and around the world.

In early days when I visited to western countries, people asked me Swamiji where from you have come? When I said from India. They would reply, ohh India that beggars country, you have come from there. This was identity of our country in those. Because when ministers and leaders or others went to West they had gone only to ask for something.

Bhakti Vedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada told that I came here not to take but to give you.
Srila Prabhupada ki jay.!!

Wisdom Nectar from Srila Prabhupada Disciple

ISKCON Calgary

27 March 2021

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Ram, Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Thank you Sacipran Gauranga Prabhu, all the way from Calgary Canada, remembering us and inviting us to this forum where you have been discussing experiences, remembrances of Srila Prabhupada and I am sure there are other topics also. And this is organized by ISKCON Calgary. I remember visiting Calgary long ago, in the early 80s, I did visit Calgary and I am visiting again today – I am in Calgary right now. So remembering Srila Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada ki jay!

I am sure you knew this, this year is 125th birth anniversary of Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada was born in 1896, this is the 125th anniversary. And the whole world is having lots of celebrations and part of the celebrations is remembering Srila Prabhupada. So I suppose, what we are doing right now, right here is celebrating the 125th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada as we talk about remembering Srila Prabhupada.

And as I was here in my introduction, I thought it was too long. Mataji went on and on and on. So one item she did read was that I met Srila Prabhupada in 1971 and this is 2021, so how many years ago is that? 50 years ago.

So not just that, I first ever meeting of mine Srila Prabhupada happened 3days – 50years ago and 3days ago, 25th March I met Srila Prabhupada. Today is 27th and we are having a celebration in fact, every day at six o’clock. We are celebrating my meeting with Srila Prabhupada – it’s very special for me. How I joined Srila Prabhupada, Hare Krishna festival Cross Maidan Mumbai and the first thing I saw there was kirtana. We are talking about kirtan standard.

So the first thing that impressed me was kirtan on the stage performed by his American sadhus, European sadhus. This is how the festival was advertised “Oh American sadhus are in town, in Bombay town.” And I was just a college student and I was amazed to see; not just myself but this caught the imagination of all the folks of Bombay.

“American sadhus! Forget it! How can American be sadhus?”

So I had gone to check out whether that’s reality fact or fiction and I realized in fact that they are genuine sadhus. Srila Prabhupada had transformed Americans or revolutionized their consciousness, their appearance, they just not only look like sadhus but they behaved talked like sadhus and especially they were performing kirtans like sadhus with all their heart, with all their strength, they were chanting and dancing on the stage and that is where I picked up this kirtan 50 years ago.

So that festival lasted for 11days. Then I also started chanting and dancing from that time onward and to this day I am doing chanting and dancing. So I think that the mood of the chanter is also standard, so I picked up that the devotees were chanting with full absorption. They were not distracted although there were some reasons to be distracted, thousands around in the audience and other sounds there but they were in their own world. Chanting and dancing, so if there is a kirtan standard then that is the standard chant with attention, with meditation. That kind of mood, and of course we heard from Srila Prabhupada, he wanted us to chant like the crying of a baby. That is another standard, the mood crying like a baby. Like a baby cries for his mother, and a devotee chants for Krishna, who is also mother and father of us. So only when you cry like a baby – When a baby cries, he wants his mother to come to him, pick him up, feed him, or give him some gifts or toys. So chant like a baby cries for the mother.

So, Srila Prabhupada gave me this mantra,

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Ram, Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

And he did say, this was in Vrndavana during Kartik in 1972 in Radha Damodara temple, in between Rupa Goswami’s bhajana kutir on one side and the Samadhi mandir on other side and so that is where I received this mantra from Srila Prabhupada. Chant 16 rounds. Once I asked Srila Prabhupada “Why 16 rounds Srila Prabhupada, what is the significance of the 16 rounds?” and Prabhupada was trying to explain why we have fixed this number? Srila Prabhupada answered why 16 you can chant 16,000 rounds. Who could stop you? Minimum 16 rounds” And busy as Srila Prabhupada was, it was the first time I was experiencing it, so what to do. He used to ask me from time to time “Are you chanting 16 rounds, are you completing your rounds” I don’t know why, I was a good chanter but Srila Prabhupada he did care and he was making sure he was concerned if you were chanting 16 rounds.

Since 1977, Srila Prabhupada wasn’t well and in Bombay, in the guesthouse (one of those towers) on the fifth floor, Srila Prabhupada’s quarters are there. That is when Srila Prabhupada first time ever, moved into that new residential quarter of Srila prabhupada. But he was not well. He had returned from London and he meant to go all the way to Gita Nagari farm from Vrndavana – that’s the whole history, whole life and teachings of Srila Prabhupada.

But from London he returned because he was not getting better and in Bombay he was in bed and I used to chant for Srila Prabhupada by myself, which we took turns. With a little kartala, we sat on the floor and next to him, we were chanting, getting tired, falling asleep, waking up and chanting.

During my turn to chant, sing for Srila Prabhupada, I asked “Srila prabhupada, is anything that we have not done or that we should now do so that you could be cured and be healthier. What have we neglected something or not gone out of our way?” His brief and simple response was “chant Hare Krishna.”

“What could we do more so that you could be cured?”

Prabhupada said “chant Hare Krishna”

In Vrndavana also, during the last days of Srila Prabhupada, whenever I used to enter Prabhupada’s quarter, Tamal Krishna Maharaj used to say “Prabhupada! Prabhupada! Lokanatha swami is here, you would like him to chant for you?” Then Prabhupada would say, “Hmm yes”. Then I would chant, sing for Srila Prabhupada.

I think it was Srila Bhakti Sidhhanta Saraswati Thakura’s disappearance or appearance, I don’t remember which one, but Prabhupada wasn’t in Mumbai and celebrating that occasion, bhoga, arati and kirtan. So, I was assigned to sing that day. So I started singing, –
“Samsara-davanala-lidha-loka
tranaya karunya-ghanaghanatvam”

So like that I went on singing that Guruastaka, and then we did our first ever parikrama in late 80’s. That’s like 30 years ago. And then we had been every year, 30 day parikrama, with big number 1000, 2000, thousands of devotees of 30 days of camping out.

So after, I think 20 years of that parikrama, I decided to write my experience of Vraj-mandal Parikrama. So parikrama takes place for 30 days, so I have 30 days, 30 chapters. And those days, from beginning to finish, all the places that we visit and all the pastimes Lord has performed and we hear during that day, it is all there packed in Vraja-mandal. As you read the new kind of, hear the sounds and you smell Vraja and hear Vraja and you get some being there as you read this experience.

So we encourage you to actually have a copy of this book and the devotees who do not manage to come to Vrndavan to do parikrama, what they had been doing was, they sit back relax and read the chapter that keeps the maya away. And next day. So we follow our schedule and they find out where is parikrama today. Today we are at Radhakunda. So they open that Radhakunda chapter or Govardhan chapter or we are in Kamyavana, we are in Bhadravana. So they read that chapter. And then thus connected and this how they celebrate kartik vrata. So it’s available on amazon. So those interested. You can buy that. 10, 20 dollars or something.

Do nagar kirtans, do street kirtans public chanting, conduct festivals like rathayatra. Festivals, people like festivals, culture, events. So that mean, we have to bring Krishna to them, Hare Krishna to them or bring prasad to them. They may not come to where Krishna is, where Hare Krishna’s are. And ofcourse book distribution, that means you are going out and distributing books. Performing kirtans, distributing prasadam, holding rathayatra festivals and other programmes. Govinda’s visitors in restaurants. So this way, we get their attention.

Remember Srila Prabhupada. Remember Srila Prabhupada’s sacrifices. New generation could remember what Prabhupada has done for us. Krishna is kind of being home delivered by Srila Prabhupada’s Hare Krishna movement. So much grateful we should be for such contribution. Remain grateful, we are indebted to Srila Prabhupada. One time some disciples were talking to Prabhupada, said, “Prabhupada we are indebted to you, you have done so much us. Is there any way we could become free from such debt”. Prabhupada said, “ No, no. You can’t be free from this debt”. Then there was a pause and then said, “ yes, yes. You could do one thing”. What is that Srila Prabhupada? Prabhupada said, “You do as I did. Doesn’t mean imitate me, but follow in the footsteps. And that way you will become somewhat, to some degrees free from that debt”.

So younger generation, Prabhupada has so much faith and expectation from young generation, or second generation or third generation. And you know what the world is going through. So world needs Krishna. Youngsters need Krishna and Hare Krishna. Okay.

Srila Prabhupada’s desire to establish Vedic farms

November 23rd 1997
Maharashtra Tour,
Chamorshi, India

Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya

Krishna who is the source of all incarnations. So let’s hurry up a little bit as we have to go to Nagpur yet. On the way back to Godhead we have to go past Nagpur which is on the way. From Nagpur we can go back to Godhead and Pandharpur is going back to Godhead right? Going there means going back to Godhead where on the way is Nagpur.

na casya kascin nipunena dhatur
avaiti jantuh kumanisa utih
namani rupani mano vacobhih
santanvato nata caryam ivajnah [SB 1.3.37]

Translation

The foolish with a poor fund of knowledge cannot know the transcendental nature of Krishna’s forms, names and qualities of the Lord, who is playing like an actor in a drama.

In a drama sometimes you do not know who is acting, who is Vitthal, who is Rukmini. We do not know his real name so who can understand the Lord who acts like a nata caryam ivajnah. So this sort of foolish person through his words or speech contemplation cannot express the understanding of the Lord through their contemplation or speech.

Purport
No one can properly describe the transcendental nature of the Absolute Truth. Therefore it is said that He is beyond the expression of mind and speech. And yet there are some men, with a poor fund of knowledge, who desire to understand the Absolute Truth by imperfect mental speculation and faulty description of His activities. To the layman His activities, appearance and disappearance, His names, His forms, His paraphernalia, His personalities and all things in relation with Him are mysterious. There are two classes of materialists, namely the fruitive workers and the empiric philosophers. The fruitive workers have practically no information of the Absolute Truth, and the mental speculators, after being frustrated in fruitive activities, turn their faces towards the Absolute Truth and try to know Him by mental speculation. And for all these men, the Absolute Truth is a mystery, as the jugglery of the magician is a mystery to children. Being deceived by the jugglery of the Supreme Being, the nondevotees, who may be very dexterous in fruitive work and mental speculation, are always in ignorance. With such limited knowledge, they are unable to penetrate into the mysterious region of transcendence. The mental speculators are a little more progressive than the gross materialists or the fruitive workers, but because they are also within the grip of illusion, they take it for granted that anything which has form, a name and activities is but a product of material energy. For them the Supreme Spirit is formless, nameless and inactive. And because such mental speculators equalize the transcendental name and form of the Lord with mundane names and form, they are in fact in ignorance. With such a poor fund of knowledge, there is no access to the real nature of the Supreme Being. As stated in ,Bhagavad-gita the Lord is always in a transcendental position, even when He is within the material world. But ignorant men consider the Lord one of the great personalities of the world, and thus they are misled by the illusory energy.

When you in the midst of disturbances that disturbance enters your head and heart. People cannot even compare the peaceful time with the disturbed moments because throughout their lives all they have experienced is disturbance, noise and so when you come to a place like this you understand then what you were missing. Here you have to struggle hard to see whether there is any sound of anywhere in the creation.

On the contrary, in the modern cities we have to look for a place where we can find some peace and some quiet. By the grace of the Lord there are a few places left in the world where you could still go to for preaching and achieve to peace. Of course one time what we experience here now, this peace used to be all pervading. It used to be all over and now it’s a different situation.All glories to somebody, someone who has worked very hard and disturbed that peaceful situation- Jai ho! Someone has worked very systematically, bringing us to the worst state of affairs.

So it was the desire and the endeavour of Srila Prabhupada to establish and identify peace. This is the reason we got this idea with a farm and also cows, we could have a small temple and grow vegetables. Prabhupada inspired us to do this.

So what Prabhupada did was he endeavored to uphold these Vedic principles. Prabhupada started emphasizing the farm communities and the cow protection. Prabhupada personally went to New Vrndavan and sat there under a tree. We had lots of land but we had no development, no buildings and no temple facilities. So Srila Prabhupada just stayed in a very simple dwelling in West Virgina, New Vrndavan and he went there several times. He spent days and weeks each time and I was feeling very bad that I also come to Chamorshi but I do not spend as much time as Prabhupada used to spend time in New Vrindavan.

Some other farms also in the west, Prabhupada used to go and stay there. Even in Hyderabad we had a big centre in the city and Prabhupada used to go and stay on the Hyderabad farm. It is shown in photographs and is in conversations also Gita Nagari farm in America Prabhupada would go and stay there. So all that we are doing here, our founder Acarya Srila Prabhupada has encouraged us to do these things.

This is right here is the International Society for Krishna Consciousnesses. Around here we have 40 kilometres of land and we are trying to utilize this land as per wishes, desires and direction of Srila Prabhupada. We are not like other farmers in the region or in this part of Maharashtra, we also grow useful grains and vegetable, flowers and fruits.

All these flowers are grown in our own garden and Prabhupada used to say also that there are lots of farmers and they go for the crop that brings cash and they try to commercialize the farming. So they grow tea and coffee and tobacco and all those kind of stuff. So that’s again the part of the age of Kali, the mentality of the age of Kali. There are two kinds of economies in the world – one is called agrarian economic development depending on the land and agriculture and the other one is industrial economy.

So there’s a competition between the two and somehow industrial economy is a predominant force and agrarian economy in the background is being ignored and being forgotten. These days intelligent, those who think that they have some brain, that they are intelligent, they rush to the cities. They think this work of agriculture is for low class, unintelligent persons and this is a widespread misunderstanding in the world including India.

Doing farming, taking care of the cows and doing trading, if you have some extra grains you could sell them or do bartering. This is part of the Lord’s Varnasrama Dharma system.

krsi go raksya vanijyam (B.G 18.44)

This is Vaisya, even Nanda Maharaja was a Vaisya. And Krishna was the son of a Vaisya. What was Krishna doing? Herding cows all day, he did not go to some factory. He lived in Vrndavan, he did not go to Delhi to find some job. Haribol! But we are running. So we were talking how there’s lots of disturbance in the world, there is no peace and so much disturbance, so much noise and running around.

This is all caused by the industrial economy. As soon as you come to the villages or go to the farms, the other disturbance is finished, it’s over. There are so many side effects, bad effects of the industrial economy and the body is getting a bad deal, the mind is getting a bad deal from this industrial economy. The soul is completely covered over and there is not even talk of the existence of the soul.

So many doctors and medicines and hospitals why? 80 % of the population of India is still in the villages but twenty percent of the population that live in the city have more doctors and more hospitals and more medicines for that twenty percent population compared to the rest of the eighty percent.

In Dehli, in Nagpur, every lane has a signboard of this doctor or that surgeon or this specialist. But in the villages they don’t have any doctors, there’s no need because there’s nice fresh air, the fragrance.

punyo gandhah prthivyam ca

The sweet smell that you get there is directly coming from the earth and ‘that is me’ the Lord says. This is the tenth canto. So when you work in the farm especially, after a few months of summer season when it rains for the first time. I mean you have no experience, but as village boys we have experience. That smell, the first time it rains, that kind of smell that you get it’s amazing. That kind of smell is Krishna. Hare Krishna!

Also the flowers add to the beauty and the fragrance, so there is no comparison between industrial and agrarian economy and the simple villages and the big complex cities. They are hellish. Prabhupada also said about London or England ‘you don’t have to go to hell. Just by going there you can have firsthand experience of what hell is like.’

So this has to be changed. As a scientist and the materialist and so many other staunch followers of the age of Kali, they have worked very, very hard and systematically to bring the situation to the present day levels. And now someone else, the other party, Krishna conscious party, the Vedic team will have to work equally or even harder to reverse the situation and bring people back to the nature, back to the villages, the land and the cow.

So as we are so much spoiled as we always prefer big cities and towns- even Iskcon devotees, they always run to the cities. You could see the devotees of Iskcon Chamorshi, they are such dedicated servants of Srila Prabhupada. They are very much here staying on the property and serving mother earth and the cow. So we appreciate their dedication and we can’t say how much appreciation they deserve.

We can’t say just a few words for a few minutes, they are working – what we said, that someone has to start working. So they have started working on establishing this farm so they are upholding the principles of Vedic culture.

Haribol! Iskcon Chamorshi ki jai!

So we wish that there will be more and more devotees who will join this team here. They are also capable of organizing a grand festival and reception as we have seen, as they have done for us. This is the best program of the tour, right? Gauranga, Gauranga!

Nowhere else have we had so many people or public and according to Subhag Maharaja, not only was there a large number but they were also listening attentively. We had speeches in Hindi, Marathi, Bengali and English also. And no-one left until the end but were increasing till the end. And you know after the drama, people sat down, they wanted to stay. So they were attracted by Vitthal Rukmini and by the devotees.

We could see that sincere efforts were being made here. Otherwise we had nothing to offer, we were not offering any other kind of money or support. Temporarily they had forgotten their homes so there was no desire of going back. It was a very, very successful program and the credit actually goes to Parameshwar Prabhu and of course his team.

They are not here as they are still winding up the show and I am very happy. Are you all visiting devotees happy also? So sometimes you could come and stay here and you could do your Sadhana, some reading and work in the field. There is a field right outside here so you can work in the field right here. You don’t have to drive, Prabhupada said they drive literally, as you know, a hundred kilometres. Some people everyday go from Pune to Bombay everyday in the morning on the train called Deccan Queen, you don’t even know how.

Everyday for three, four hours on the train one way and those many hours on returning in the evening and it is like that in many cities around the world. They are wasting their time where here it takes half a minute to go in the field and you can work. So this is a mad world with crazy people and so let us not join those crazy people.

Stay wise and make best use of your time and energy and here you could do Sadhana and peacefully you could chant. When you chant Hare Krishna there is nothing else.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

There’s nothing else that mixes other sounds in it. You can only hear Hare Krishna Hare Krishna and the soul can hear this. It is so very hard in the cities to do this and even if you don’t want to hear there are so many other sounds to disturb you. In Hong Kong we were just there a few months ago, Giridhari Maharaja said there’s a point high up so all the sounds of the cities all go up into the air in this place.

All the sounds, vibration, talks and honking of the horn- everything goes in the air and you can go to this one point to hear it (Maharaja makes a funny sound of all these sounds mixing). This is what you hear because each sound is trying to collide with the vibrations and it neutralizes to nothing really and ultimately this kind of sound is so much surcharged with so many vibrations that there is no room for additional sound effects there.

So when you put your mind in the midst of all this, you go crazy. So I feel times are hard but we have Chaitanya Mahaprabhu with us. Gauranga Mahaprabhu is very much on our side and so we already have succeeded and more success is now awaiting us. We can see so many people, all those who are assembled agreeing with what we are talking here and following it to different degrees. Ten, twenty, thirty years ago even we did not -we were part of that other crowd.

This is just a few devotees, there are hundreds and thousands times more bigger devotees on this planet with this conviction. And this is all in the last thirty years, in 1965,1966 there was one person with this philosophy and by association of Prabhupada, he has converted us, he has entered our hearts and his contagious association has transformed us and certainly if you have started listening to what he has said.

We have a lot to learn and he is the source of all knowledge, we have these books which are Prabhupada’s thoughts and we have Krishna, of whom he has spoken about and so Prabhupada always emphasised book distribution. We must always go on distributing books. Even our Iskcon Chamorshi now is distributing books, Jai!

They got this vehicle Jeep donated and immediately they made that into a Sankirtan vehicle. Same thing also in Nagpur, we had few scooters but when we got our first vehicle of four wheels- a Jeep, we immediately put that into action distributing books. So now these two centres, one in Nagpur and one in Chamorshi -they are reviving the five thousand year old culture by distributing Prabhupada’s books and also we have Antaryami and Dakshina Mataji’s home village. Soon they are going to be giving up everything American and be giving a big kick to America and that will give a big boost. So they will big a big kick and then come and they will land in India. Haribol!

Like that, that region also they will take care. So please leave becoming more enthusiastic and stay that way too. So we will come back maybe next time but there is always shortage of time but we should stay here for a few days. Some devotees were not very happy that we were coming and quickly going back in one day. But by some arrangement we at least got to spend one morning program here.
Jai Radha Shamsundara ki jai!

Otherwise having to get up at 5.30 and just take off. Yesterday’s book score?

Devotee: Four thousand nine hundred

Maharaja: Almost five thousand rupees worth of books were distributed yesterday. Hari Haribol! Five thousand rupees in Krishna’s pocket, huh? Now that five thousand has to be used to glorify Radha Shamsundara and has to be used in buying more books. So thank you, all the devotees, Parameshwar Prabhu and his team for a wonderful reception, nice prasadam Even I sat down and took a whole plate of prasadam after the drama at ten o clock.

It was nice prasadam with not too much spices and so we will stop here. Any questions?

Devotee: Maharaja can you tell us something about these self manifested deities?

Maharaja: So these are the personal deities of Parameshwar Prabhu and they appeared to him and he found them in Bangladesh, how many years ago? When he was eight years old. He is forty years now so when he was eight years he came in contact with these deities.

(Devotee speaks of how the deities came to him in a dream and then they came into his house in self manifested form and he started to speak for first time as he was born without speech prior to this and had never spoken as a child).

Maharaja: you should write about all this. His parents are not here now so he could just write the history. So these are really special deities.

Devotee: So many wonderful devotees have come here but due to the situation here we were not able to properly receive them nicely and this is a mistake and inconvenience on my part and so I beg for the forgiveness of all Vaishanavas. The district authorities would like us to make a tourist spot here and many devotees can come so please give blessings and pray that we may be able to do this. We want a beautiful farm here and a small temple.

In Sastra it is written that the Mother or Father’s favour on us can never be returned and nor can the spiritual master’s favour be returned as he takes us back home, back to Godhead. So I would like everyone’s blessings so I may be able to do like this and be able to make a small temple to dedicate to Prabhupada no matter how hard it may be and no matter how many difficulties I may have to face. I am ready to do this.

Your strength and good wishes will be my greatest strength so that’s why I pray that you all may pray to the Lord so this may come to pass. Hare Krishna.

Maharaja: we have at least someone who is very committed. You could see that his commitment is very deep and you can see that this is his life and soul. This is the meaning of following the instruction of the spiritual master or doing something, no matter what, you would like to do it. This is very..

So I wish that we can also all take some impression from the example of Parameshwar Prabhu and stick to some instruction which is important and given to us by our authorities, our spiritual master so we could also dedicate our life like that. In every way our tour of Chamorshi has become successful and inspirational. So we will stop here and take rest. During prasadam Hari Kirtan Prabhu will make an announcement about when we have to be gradually leaving for Nagpur. We are not going by train there which is clear. We will be going by bus.

These are the kind of hardships to spend in Krishna consciousness

Pastimes of Srila Prabhupada’s

Hare Krishna,

It is nice to be back in Vrindavan which is our home. This is Srila Prabhupada’s home also, Vrindavan. So, this gathering is international. 20 nations have gathered all the way from Australia, Italy, Russian, South Africa, United Kingdom, other countries,India? Poland, Holland okay Holland. Ukraine, Narada from Ukraine, Bhramachari here.

Gathering like this is a quite a rare occasion we don't get to be together. When I go to South Africa,there are South African devotees there. I go to American and American devotees like that. Or wherever I go, that country devotees gather or may few other countries. And then when is Vyas Puja, of course some more devotees come together. We have been doing these gatherings off and on. Trying to take the opportunity of the presence of the devotees from various countries in one place one time. There's someone from Kenya also. Ha Kenya? Okay, Someone from Kenya, little boy. Wonderful setting Vrindavan. Wonderful Krishna and His abode is also wonderful.

Adabhut Krishna, Srila Prabhupada describes Krishna has wonderful Krishna, begin with Krishna is wonderful. Srila Prabhupada has revealed Vrindavan unto us. Previous acarya has done this and then on behalf of previous acharya then Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, Bhakti Vinod Thakura. Previous
acarya Srila Prabhupada has made Vrindavan kind of a talk of the town. Some people know Vrindavane very where. They know Mayapur every where also. I knew Vrindavan, but I did not know Mayapur. Only when I came to Hare Krishna movement, I heard of Mayapur. And again, when we heard of Mayapur. When you go to Maya’s Pur, Mayapur might be something is wrong with this name.

So Srila Prabhupada, very successfully reveal Krishna and Vrindavan, His abode to the whole world. Isn't it? Prabhupada gets the credit for this. One of the 10 offense is against the holy dhama. The acarya or the spiritual master, who reveals dham unto you, you offend him and there is an offense to dham. One who reveal dham unto to you, you offend him,then the dham gets offended. Dham is displeased with you as you displease or hurt or offend that acarya in some ways.

10 offences against holy name.You offend a vaishnav acarya, then holy name is offended, and you again offend that acarya a vaishnav who reveals dham unto you, then dham gets offended. We should be only glorifying Srila Prabhupada, all glories to Srila Prabhupada! Say it, all glories to Srila Prabhupada! So that's the rule, we should always be saying All Glories to Prabhupada! So, by his mercy, or merciful arrangement, that we are we are here in Vrindavan.

It was in 72 I got to come to Vrindavan for first time during this month, month of Karthik. I was in Vrindavan. I have not imagined I was just few, few months in the Hare Krishna movement and, and I got to come to the Vrindavan. And I didn't realize my good fortune that I was going to Vrindavan, Srila Prabhupada did all this. Importance of Kartik so he had invited his followers to come to celebrate this Kartik, Damodar mass in Vrindavan. And there were not so many devotees at that time. There were only 40-50 devotees were attending that International Festival Kartik mahotsav.

And we were thinking, Oh, so many devotees here. Those days 30-40 to 50 devoteesin Vrindavan. So many devotees. Now there are thousands just here just little tiny gathering in a corner somewhere. They already have 40-50 devotees or more, they're on their hundreds of such big and small gatherings.

With so started small like that, it was Kartik festival in 72. We were in Radha Damodar temple. That is where I saw Srila Prabhupada, I mean I have seen him in 71 Hare Krishna festival in Mumbai and 72 Hare Krishna festival.

But I didn’t meet Srila Prabhupada. I never was that close during that Kartik 72 as we arrived at Radha Damodara temple during early morning hours, early morning hours you are in Vrindavan and you are at Radha Damodara temple and your spiritual masters is right there and you're going to see him you know, so many the best combinations and permutations were taking place right there.

So as soon as, Srila Prabhupada, I mean he knew we had arrived, and we knew that he was just there. Srila Prabhupada’s door was wide open.Open door policy not closed door.And we didn't know how to knock, no knocking was required because doors were already opened. Can we, 10-15 devotees
we have come from Mumbai to join this festival, soon we sat around Srila Prabhupada. Room of this size you know, Srila Prabhupada’s quarter,room of this size, that not that not this, kitchen was across that room.

And Srila Prabhupada sat on the asana, “this is too high”, it was not even half of this height. In a corner Prabhupada sat and we sat around him and we were, I was sitting kind of where Radha-Kunda is sitting, this Radha-Kunda. So, I was never that close to Srila Prabhupada. And I was carrying a letter, I meant to meet Srila Prabhupada. As carrying letter of recommendation from my temple president for my initiation. Okay that I have that in my pocket.

And the very first meeting that I had, Srila Prabhupada was talking to us.He was, as he was talking was also looking at us, I guess. A camera around his head was going from one end to the other,taking pictures, taking notes.

So, when he would be looking at me, say when it was my turn to look at him, or him looking at me, and Prabhupada would stop as moving and then he was stop, before you would move again. When he was coming back where I was sitting, again he would stop each time this was had this happen many, many times. And I was wondering why Srila Prabhupada was, what was so special about me. As getting further the tension, I was wondering are my buttons okay? Or my tilaka? And trying to figure it out why was Srila Prabhupada staring at me and you're stopping, pausing there. So, I could not figure it out. I was just speculating, wondering, and then profile that doesn't stop it. Only then I realized what was wrong with me. In those days, I had a habit of moving my thighs. Whenever I heard someone with attention attentively. I was kind of absorbed in the hearing.Then I would move my thighs. Maybe vigorously or violently, I don’t know. And that was disturbing Srila Prabhupada. That was just anartha, not necessary.

“Could you stop” So that became my first instruction from Srila Prabhupada. Stop it! Do it, don’t do it. Two sets of instructions.And the very first one in my case was Don’t do this. Don't do this. And of course, that was one of the items, this could be made bigger, don’t do this. Don’t do this. Don't do that. And before even he asked me to chant Hare Krishna, I was gonna get initiated.

So, my instructions started with it. “Don’t do this” So, we got to be with Srila Prabhupada for whole month of Karthik. Hari Bol! But for two of us, we couldn’t be here for whole month as myself and Pancha Dravida. I got my first initiation. We were both from Mumbai, Bombay. So, we were sent to Agra (City in India).

You go to Agra, you collect grains, ghee,and gud and this and that come back to have the big festival for Govardhan festival. So poor, everyone else stayed on with Srila Prabhupada. We had come all the way from Vrindavan. And in those days, I more than seeing Krishna now we're more eager to see Srila Prabhupada. We're gonna miss Srila Prabhupada. We’re gonna miss Srila Prabhupada in Vrindavan. This was more on our mind that we are going to see Krishna in Vrindavan. See Krishna and we are going to see Srila Prabhupada and then he's going to show us Krishna. This idea will go to Srila Prabhupada and he'll show us Krishna. So,we are so much Srila Prabhupada conscious, those days and these days also consists of our spiritual master. We are gonna miss Srila Prabhupada!

We were young boys I was just in our early 20s and Srila Prabhupada: father, grandfather . Children want to go see daddy or the grandfather, so we are like that or I had that thinking. Then we were around Agra for some time, so we missed some fun, we missed Vrindavan and the transcendental fun,
pleasure being with Srila Prabhupada, hearing Srila Prabhupada and other darsanas for some time we, we have to be out so that was also another instruction from Srila Prabhupada,you go. You go out! I received first initiation from Srila Prabhupada in Vrindavan during Kartik. Probably some of you know, at Radha Damodar temple next to Rupa Goswami Samadhi, and I also received my sannyasa, initiation here in Vrindavan. I've tried to take sannyasa and I also wanted to be. In Vrindavan Srila Prabhupada said, you stay you stay wherever you are. You stay in Bombay and you study in Bombay, you preach in Bombay. I thought I am not sannyasi, I should do some serious studies. I even said, I will read your books, I want to read your books.

I'm a preacher, I'm going to be getting microphone all the time. So, I'm a preacher, you made me preacher. So, let me go to Vrindavan study. Prabhupada said you study here, you preach here. That in Bombay, you stay here for each year.

Then again in ’76, Srila Prabhupada said, we were in Vrindavan. And now you go to Mayapur. How do you go to Mayapur? You walk to Mayapur. Or if you're tired sit in the cart, bullock cart. So that program also started the padayatra, the famous padayatra project, program whose founder acarya is Srila Prabhupada. He gave instructions to do, bullock cart can kirtana on Radhastami. That was in New Delhi at Radha-Parthasarthi Mandir, that is his instruction, you go on a bullock cart. We're having nice time driving in German buses. I was part of Bombay crew Bombay devotees . Hansduta Swami, he wanted me to, we were kind of friends and we had we always did kirtanas together. So, he had come with the buses and he wanted to travel in India, but then his most of his party members were from Germany and few other countries, there was no one from India to translate or talk in Hindi. So he convinced me and then my GBC, Gopal Krishna Prabhu, Gopal Krishnadas adhikari at that time.

I joined the bus party and traveling all over North India with those buses we traveled a long time. And then buses had to go to Germany. And Srila Prabhupada found out that buses had to go and we had a two good size party, Sachinandana. He was part of the party and many others. Some devotees from India. Srila Prabhupada have said I should travel with a bullock cart. So, we're having a good time traveling in German buses and special horn special automatic door closing and opening system. Melody sound also, so 50 people will be watching how the door of this car is going to be closed and how it opens. Then the buses had to go and we had no transportation.So Prabhupada said, “Get down from the bus.” Where do I go, go to the bullock cart? I was kind of showing my position, I was born next to the bullock cart. And my first mode of transportation was bullock cart, when I was only a few months and I was taken around in a bullock cart. From place to place or from one town to another. So Srila Prabhupada,somehow, he knew this background so he asked me to do. So that was Radhastami. And then we met the preparations, we came to Vrindavan and Srila Prabhupada sent me to the bullock cart. The day we departed for Vrindavan, Srila Prabhupada gave the inaugural speech. All the devotees going on that party, we all gathered into Srila Prabhupada’s quarters. We broke a coconut, coconut breaking ceremony and we had coconut on Srila Prabhupada’s desk, for him to take the piece.

And he spoke to us for a long time giving all the guideline how, how we should be performing this Bullock Cart Sankirtana. “You should have Bullock card with a rubber tires” he said like that. “And when you go into the village, you should park near the well.” Why near the well? you will remain clean because there's water next to the water body. Why next to the well? Because well is the heart of the village. All the villagers come to the well, so if you are near the well then you don’t have to go from door to door, they will come to you. So, you parked next to the well, like that. And this winter month, each one of us should have two blankets, Prabhupada said. And he was giving all these instructions. His little children were going on the road, you had already taken them out of their homes and comfort zones and then he was sending them. Just sending out whatever. Just stay under the tree or on the bank of the river. And Krishna’s mercy, Srila Prabhupada was very kind.

So, we did that. And we went from Vrindavan to Prayag, Allahabad and Srila Prabhupada had come there for Kumbha mela and we had our bullock cart party and riding also there. Our cart was parked right in the camp, in the Kumbha mela camp. During morning walk, Srila Prabhupada did kind of
inspection of our bulls how they look like and looking at our cart. On the side of the cart, we had the name of our party we had written on the side of the cart. BHAKTIVEDANTA BULLOCK CART SANKIRTANA PARTY. So Srila Prabhupada,when he started reading that he held his head like this. He was reading the sign of the party by moving his head around. And he was very eager to know how party was performing and he called me one day into his tent and he wanted to know all the details of the bullock cart traveling Sankirtana party and I provided, I shared all the experience of our traveling party from here Vrindavan to Allahabad, Prayag. So Srila Prabhupada was so pleased, his face was beaming with beautiful pleasure emanating from his face. So, delighted to hear what simple thing basically he was happy that we're undergoing lots of inconvenience tapasya and we're depending upon Krishna.

How we are distributing his books and how we are going door to door and begging in the village, bhiksam dehi, people are giving us some potatoes and chilis and aata. And then when towards the end we are cooking all that whatever was available to cook. We were only getting aata, but not suji, so one devotee Siddharth prabhu, he started making a halwa from aata. It very famous and he was mixing some bananas also in it and it was very delicious and refreshing. Our good cook offered to Nitai Gaurasundar, we had a small deity. And you know we're inviting whole village and after kirtana talk, whatever balanced prasaad, after we had our bellies full. That we will do before any program and then whatever was balanced, and we'll announce that there's a prasaad, so people were coming with a plate. So, we make them sit down and serve them for prasaad. So, lots of people turning up and hearing Hare Krishna and philosophy and books and prasad. So, when we share this with Srila Prabhupada, he was so happy.

Then we were heading towards Mayapur. But we're only halfway through and we had only, you know, short time at our disposal. At the end of January, we were still in Allahabad than the beginning of march, we had to reach Mayapur and we were thinking for how to do it. We're thinking we want to be in Mayapur for Mayapur festival, but we are 800 miles away from Mayapur and there's no way in one month we could be in Mayapur. So, we're breaking our brains what to do. And then we came up with a, we could do this. Don't tell this to what we did.We hired a lorry.

In the beginning, we decided to travel at night, and we loaded everything our cart,our booth, ourselves into the lorry, also our baggage. And all night long, lorry drove us and dropped us at the border of Bengal and Bihar. So, through the entire Bihar we also had read from Chaitanya Charitamrita that it is risky to travel in Bihar! we had a good reason. About 500 years ago or when travelers would encounter difficulties, Srila Prabhupada told why to take risks. So, we started the journey in the evening and by the morning before sunrise, we had traveled a lot of distance. And we're very close, just maybe 100-150 kilometers from Mayapur. And then again, our program started.Walking and with a cart, kirtana. And we
had grand receptions in Bengal and ladies washing our feet and it was too much we're just 22-21 year old boys and they are considering we are some mahatmas here.

So anyway, we arrived in Mayapur during the day.That time Mayapur, this was 77 for some developments.There was a just Lotus building was there you know this building and the long building construction I think was still going on. So, we arrived and those are the going on at Radha Madhav temple. We took part in kirtana and immediately we wanted to meet Srila Prabhupada and Srila Prabhupada was in his quarters. As we climbed up lower and the second floor, we're about to get on the same floor as Srila Prabhupada, second floor.And then was only turning right and then Prabhupada’s
door, as we're about to climb up that floor. There was a Harisauri prabhu, well-built Australian. He stopped us and said where are we going? we thought we had a right to see our spiritual master,Srila Prabhupada. He was doing his duty he thought why disturb Srila Prabhupada.

So luckily, Srila Prabhupada, he had gone to the bathroom and he was coming out of the bathroom and he was about to get into his room. Then he saw some tussle, some pulling and pushing, and argument is going on and then here alizes the bullock sankirtan party and I was there. “Let them come” Hari Bol, the path was cleared, and we entered Srila Prabhupada’s quarters. We offered our obeisances to Srila Prabhupada and as we took our seats, all devotees from Bullock cart Sankirtan party received garland. There were big, big garland, smell of roses big roses there are many devotees who offered garland to Srila Prabhupada.

So, Srila Prabhupada puts the maha garland on the side. So, Srila Prabhupada was killing us with love. Yes, killing, killing with so much affection. If we were soldiers and we had come victorious and his congratulating, welcoming, param vijayate sri krishna sankirtanam. All glories to sankirtana, Padayatra Bullock Sankirtan!And then he again as he was very anxious to hear reports on experience for Sankirtan party from Vrindavan to Allahabad, he had heard that report. Now he wanted a hear from Allahabad,Prayag to Mayapur. So how was the journey, Srila Prabhupada asked. “It was easy journey to Mayapur planet Srila Prabhupada” That is how I tried to make it little humorous. “It was easy journey to Mayapur planet.”

And we provided some more details of our journey . Like that we were talking to our spiritual master Srila Prabhupada. Now you go to Bhubaneshwar and then go to Jagannath Puri and he immediately gave us another destination. We have gone from Vrindavan to Mayapur and to Jagannath Puri. So then, that was decided to be the next destination.

I was not with a party another it was idea to start another party from Hyderabad farm so I was on the way to Hyderabad. Then I was passing through Mumbai, on the way to Hyderabad and Gopal Krishna maharaj,he had lost me one time and he thought this is his opportunity to get me back again.And he spoke to Srila Prabhupada. And proposal was I should head up BBT traveling sankirtan party, Maharaja was in charge of BBT Bombay. And the proposal also was that while I'm traveling and preaching with a van distributing books, I could also oversee the bullock cart Sankirtan party. So, I could take care of two projects at the same time. So, we had gone to in a BBT van and tours of Bhubaneshwar and Jagannatha Puri and that was first time I was there 77 Jagannatha Rath Yatra Festival time and I'm very, very anxious to have the darshan of Jagannatha, the day before Rath Yatra they open the doors.

After Snana Yatra ,bathing to Jagannatha, and he gets sick and the doors are closed, no darsana for two weeks or so. And then day before Rath Yatra, they open the door so that day I was there with our party. I was trying to get in each other into the temple for the darsana. This time, we were stopped by the pandas, big pandas and a lot of prasaad. It was a bit surprise for us. Everyone else was going in for the darshan and some kind of pandas, they liked us, or disliked us, picked us up.

I had my danda and all that I thought that would make to be helpful. I had my passport to see Jagannatha. But there was no way they will not let me in Jagannatha Puri temple, because we are ISKCON followers. Rest of the India was thinking we are agents. We told them why we cannot take darsan? They replied,“You are Christian before and this ISKCON has converted you so you're not born Hindu”, so go out so we're still arguing and debating but nothing was working out so what worked out was they just picked me up those pandas and put me outside the door and for me I couldn't take darshan that day. But one devotee born in Christian family, he was also following me. My god brother from America, the black body, but not totally black, Indian looking kind of body. So, while we're battling with a panda, he kind of distanced from that battling crowd andhe went in and get a darshan of mam Jagannatha and he came back and “Maharaja tulsi for you!” [devotees laughing]

“Charan Tulsi from Jagannatha lotus feet”.I said thank you but how did you manage to get it? You were born in a Christian family! Jagannatha Lila! Jagannatha made all arrangements, because that Prabhu had strong desire to have darsan of Jagannath. Srila Prabhupada came to know, I was stopped from darsan and there was some correspondence but that expressed displeasure to Srila Prabhupada. Like that and so, that was we are talking about Jagannath Rath Yatra in 77. So, that is month what is that month, July month of July and then Srila Prabhupada was in Bombay and then he had to heal as you know, 77 and he had come to Vrindavan and then he had gone to Rishikesh for recuperation, and he had come back to Vrindavan. And then he had gone out to London. He was on the way to America, then he was again his health, not getting better. So,he wanted to go to Vrindavan, so he had come to Bombay. And so, then I also had come to Bombay. That Srila Prabhupada was different physically. He also looked physically less active although spiritually he was most active.

So, we had opportunity, I don't know whether that time could be that time on another time during that year. The BBT of Mumbai have just now published “The Perfection of Yoga”, translated in Marathi and printed in Marathi. So, I went to Srila Prabhupada’s quarters. My godmother Prassanatha Maharaj and his wife Parvati, we were together, and we went to Srila Prabhupada, we presented the book Perfection of Yoga in Marathi.

As a new publication in Marathi language, Prabhupada took it and was very happy and he handed book back to me and he said read so I, I read a little bit, a few lines are a small paragraph and I was thinking this is a Marathi Why should I be bothering to Srila Prabhupada, Marathi, Perfection of Yoga. So, I was kind of closing the book stuff in reading,“read on read on” and I had to read I read on and on. Srila Prabhupada was listening to perfection of yoga in Marathi language.Taking that to be transcendental language different a lot of times he would say in Mumbai to us, “look at the children in the audience”, he would speak in English, then he would point to us,“they don't understand but they are still there hearing”.

“They'll be benefited even if they don't understand the language, just because it is spiritual,it is about Krishna, they know it is about Krishna, so benefit is there.”So, he was appreciating that perfection of yoga in Marathi language. This was August-September We had opportunity to do kirtans with small kartal will be chanting.

Chant for Srila Prabhupada, every day I had my turn singing for Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada lying on the bed and sitting only one person sitting next to him on the floor and singing. One day I had gone out preaching all day making like members or something like that and then the debating ahead of my turn to chat and I was very tired, very tired.

Srila Prabhupada realized and “go take rest” He understood me and “go take rest” Another time, I don't know the context he that Guru puja.

ara na kari ha mani asha

There's no other desire other than fulfilling the desire of spiritual master. “ara na kari ha mani asha” Another time I chanted, and towards the end I stopped, and I asked Srila Prabhupada, “Prabhupada, Prabhupada does anything that we have not done as of yet that we should do so that you are cured and his answer was chant Hare Krishna.”

“Just chant Hare Krishna that will cure me just chant Hare Krishna.” He would say something. He said the medicine is to just chant Hare Krishna. So, he was there for some time in Mumbai Then Srila Prabhupada departed for Vrindavan, he came by train. This time he came by train. Normally, he would fly to Delhi, Mumbai-Delhi and then he will drive, but the reason wasfrom Delhi to Vrindavan that road was not in good shape. Or it had rained so potholes and so to avoid that Srila Prabhupada took that train journey. So, all there as Srila Prabhupada was leaving from the train station, train Mathura-Vrindavan. Bhima Prabhu, I suddenly remember. From Mumbai, BBT member, our god brother.

He had cooked something and brought for Srila Prabhupada so of course, he will see Srila Prabhupada. But then what had happened was someone locked him. It must have been accident. And he realized it was Prabhupada’s train at such and such time and for that he must be now leaving for the station. And he was banging doors and doing this and doing that could somehow get me out of here. I want to see Srila Prabhupada leaving for train station. Andno one came to rescue him that time. So, I had interviewed him and working on that many book projects, one of them is Bombay days.

Srila Prabhupada in Mumbai is one of my book projects.

That's where I had a lot of association of Srila Prabhupada and not just me for Bombay Yatra! So, Bhima prabhu was deprived of progress to see Srila Prabhupada, just before going to Vrindavan. And then 77 October, whole month of October, and then part of November, which was part of Kartik also 77 Srila Prabhupada was here and Vrindavan, that is homeand many more things happened, Srila Prabhupada was very active spiritually very active,fully conscious, Krishna conscious or aware. Srila Prabhupada was still writing his books. His purport on the 10th canto (Srimad Bhagavatam) 13th chapter he was working on. Next to his bed, there was big books drawer of our Acharya’s commentaries. Pradyumna prabhu will read out Sanskrit commentaries and Jayadvaita Maharaja will hold dicta-phone next to his mouth.

So Srila Prabhupada, he would listen to the commentaries and then he would write his comments and purport. So that went on even during those last days in Vrindavan. And I had another opportunity serving Srila Prabhupada, I had to find doctor for Srila Prabhupada. Some of these things I have shared other day when I had my time to talk Srila Prabhupada katha before Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance day. Srila Prabhupada had a friend called Dr. Ghosh from Allahabad. He was a grihastha from Allahabad so Prabhupada remembered him. So, I was asked to go find a doctor and was emergency and everything had to happen fast, so I had to travel fly, and this was the first time I flew into the plane. There's another time I was in the plane. I saw Srila Prabhupada in a plane. Only one time,that was in Mumbai.

Srila Prabhupada had boarded the plane. But we realized something Prabhupada had left behind and we wanted to get that to Prabhupada. He was already sitting in his seat and it’s time to start engine and we made arrangements through the authorities. This has to be delivered to Srila Prabhupada. So, I was sent “go, go, go”. So, the security I ran up the stairs and then I found Srila Prabhupada sitting to the window seat and I offered my obeisances and Dandavats. Everyone was surprised what is going on here.

For the first time in the history of Air India, someone offering falling flat in the aisles,collapses in concealed what happenedor as we saw Srila Prabhupada, Dandavats! So, we I delivered that item which was left behind and then I paid obeisances and so this is the only memory I have of Srila Prabhupada, sitting in the in the plane. I wished all the time to pick up Srila Prabhupada at the airport and once Prabhupada was in the plane and would go to the top of the another terminal building and would always keep an eye on that that that aircraft is Srila Prabhupada’s, now it is going to the runway, now is taking off, now taken off and we would keep looking at the plane till and finally disappeared and then as we could not see the aircraft anymore, Obeisances! and then back to the temple.

Similar to the gopis.
The gopis also when Krishna and Balarama living for Mathura. They kept looking at that chariot.There's some point they could not even see the chariot, they were looking at the dust that was raised by that chariot. And when they couldn't see anything anymore, they just collapse, fell on the ground. So, every time we would go to the airport, we would to go through these emotions as Prabhupada’s aircraft. Now he is leaving, 77 Srila Prabhupada wanted his doctor so he arranged me to go pick him bring him and he paid for my airfare. Of course, I had no money, have my own profile paid from his own funds. I managed to finally get that doctors that was one service I rendered and then we were traveling.

By this time our traveling party, that BBT traveling party, we had changed the name of a party as “Narada Muni travelling Sankirtana Party” as he was traveling very fast everywhere. Distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books we have gone all the way to Bhadrikastam. From Vrindavan to Bhadrikastam
distributing books.

And then we have no news of Srila Prabhupada’s health. This is 77, there was no email, there were no mobile phone even calling from Delhi to Vrindavan. You're lucky if you could get on the phone, or You come to Vrindavan to deliver the message say this or say that. You know what, there was no way you didn't succeed every time that he got on the phone, get message from Delhi to Vrindavan. So, what to speak of Bhadrikasram to Vrindavan.

So, we're in anxiety, so we were rushed back to Vrindavan. And that was only like a one week before Srila Prabhupada’s departure. And so, I have lot to do that time, which was departing days and his wishes too. He wanted to travel in with the bullock cart.

In 76, he had asked me to go start the bullock cart sankirtana and given me instructions and blessings and he thought by now we're kind of well-versed we, we have learned to act. And so, 77 November he wanted to personally go on that bullock cart, travel with the bullock cart as an experiment he wanted to travel.

He said, “Start and let’s go to Govardhan.”

So, there's a whole emotions and commotions and lot of things are going on or this proposal of Srila Prabhupada’s desire to travel to Govardhan on the bullock cart. And then that idea was dropped although bullock cart had come and was parked in front of Krishna Balarama temple. Srila Prabhupada could have asked for helicopter or he could have asked for some other transportation but no, he wanted to travel with bullock cart.

That's how Krishna travels in Vrindavan.

And when Krishna travelled from Gokul to Vrindavan, all residents of Gokul travelled, how did they do that? All weretravelling with bullock Cart. Krishna, Balarama, Yashoda, Rohini was sitting in one bullock cart and all those bullock carts were parked at Chhattikara. Chhattikara is town village all the bullock carts are parked there. And they stayed there for some time before they moved on to Nandagram finally.

That simple basic mode of transportation Srila Prabhupada preferredduring his last days also. Then after just one day in between again he proposed is traveling plans, traveling desires.And this time you wanted to travel with the buses, going to the place of the pilgrimage and as we were busy, I was one of those persons supposed to be organized each of Srila Prabhupada’s travel arrangements, busses and advance party and lots of talks about Srila Prabhupada. He was lying in bed and he was giving all the ideas of how to do the command party in advance party and that's party one was the main party arrives advanced party goes in advance and like that. We still follow the formula that he gave.

And that time we're also very happy thinking that Srila Prabhupada is going to stay longer with us because he wants to travel and he has dropped his ideas of going back to home or back to Krishna, he is going to stay on longer with us. So, we're happy that Prabhupada is going to be traveling all over India with the buses and we get to travel with him also. “So, could I travel?” different devotees proposing,Giriraj from Mumbai was proposing. “I will make live members wherever we go. There are rich people, some businessman, industrialist, I could make some nice members. Could I go through the program with you?”

Yes.

Not yes! [Srila Prabhupada making sound of yes] Bhakti Swarup Damodara Maharaja could I go and the scientific people? I could organize some bi conferences. Could I go?

[sound of yes] This was being made Yes, yes. Yes, you're okay. You could go.

And some of us Bhakti Chaitanya from Chandigarh, he was a good driver. Could I go I could drive you Srila Prabhupada? [Srila Prabhupada saying yes] So, like that many leaders were taking turn. Could I go Could I? Srila Prabhupada was agreeing, yes, you could go. And although I knew that I would definitely go that there are lots of discussions prior to this. But again, Iwanted to confirm so when I said, “could I also go Srila Prabhupada?”

Srila Prabhupada said, “he will be our leader”

So, I was also booked, confirmed. And in fact, that is the last dialogue encounter I remembered. Iremember Srila Prabhupada that STOP IT! [laughing] that was the first one and the very last one I remember is his traveling party idea. “You will be our leader”, and this was few days before
Prabhupada’s departure.

All glories to Srila Prabhupada! [Devotees chanting All glories to Srila Prabhupada]

So, Srila Prabhupada is the revealer of the Dham unto us. He invited us, to me also I remember in 72 or he allowed me to come and since then I've beencoming to Vrindavan. That was the first Karthik, I got to be Vrindavan, 72. And then with that bullock cart program that he asked me to do, traveling all over India and finally we came to Vrindavan. We are doing padayatra everywhere so why not in Vrindavan?

So,while making plans for Vrindavan padayatra, we made plans I'm going on Parikramapath. And that was the first ever Parikrama, ISKCON’s Parikrama. So, starting from that year then so that Parikrama we did was just around Gaur Purnima, Mayapur Vrindavan festival time so that all the devotees could take part.

And then following year with started doing Parikrama during Kartik and then that year to this year is a 22nd year, 22nd annual Vraja Mandal Parikrama which we are just about to conclude. So, because of the mercy of this the Damodara Masa and Kartik festival.

I just doing other calculations I normally think I don't get to stay in Vrindavan you go Bombay and preach there. But then when you do the grand total time, 22 months that is almost two years, almost two years I stayed in Vrindavan, besides some other in and out. And due to this padayatra and parikrama then we're also introduced to the wider Vrindavan. Prior to that we all we knew Vrindavan loi bazaar Vrindavan and may be Barsana, Nandagaon and Gokul…finished! That was kind of extent how much we knew. But around the time that we did padayatra in Vrindavan for first time, my God brother, Dhruva Maharaj prabhu, he had made us slideshow of Vrindavan’s twelve forest. That was first time I saw that photographs, deities and so that also kind of gave me idea so let's go.

How can we go to all 12 forests? The only way we go is through Parikrama. Only when we went on parikrama we got the see whole Vraja Mandal dimension. I did not know Raval. That Radharani was born in Barsana. Everyone knew Radharani was from Barsana, but later she moved to Barsana. So, all being revealed unto us by Srila Prabhupada’s Grace.

And it's no small thing what we are revealed, what has been revealed by previous acharyas and Srila Prabhupada. So, the truth has been revealed. Krishna has been revealed, Krishna’s dham has been revealed, Krishna’s name has been revealed, Krishna’s form has been presented and revealed unto us. His qualities, his pastimes, and we have brought so close to Vrindavan. We are brought in the midst of Krishna, cow herd boys, they could be just around us they see us we don't see them.

Cowherd boys maybe just around right now right here.I don't know whether on this floor but they could be they're herding their cows and Krishna may be sitting now on these trees and playing his flute right now! Or he may be at Radha Kunda, noon time is for gopis.

Astakaliya pastime!It’s amazing what has happened to us what Krishna has done to us with the help of our previous acharyas, Vaishnava acharyas and Srila Prabhupada. and we have brought back toKrishna’s lotus feet. And revealed Krishna to us And we are here back in Vrindavan,one year [passed] this quickly that one devotee on Vraja Mandal Parikrama towards the end of the parikrama, we asked him to share the realizations and one devotee
share his realization and he said, You know, he was from the west and he said in the West, he always thinks so, while he's on Sankirtana or wherever he always thinks, of going back to home, back to Godhead, meaning I had to go somewhere. It is not here. I'm not back. I had to go back somewhere I had to go then that is going back to home.

But then he said, as he since the time he, he came to Vrindavan, and he was going on Vraja Mandal parikrama, this thought that he had that he has to go somewhere, this thought was no more there, going back to home, back to Godhead is going somewhere else is going back to Godhead. That thought
was no more there. It was realization, meaning he was thinking I have come back home. I'm home. I'm back. I'm back. I'm back. Here the strong realization that I have come back from here, I don't have to go anywhere I have. I'm back. I am in Vrindavan.

So, how valuable is that realization? Someone could realize this. This is my home. This is Krishna’s land. I'm with Krishna. I'm here. Enter that spirit and when devotees doing Govardhan hill parikrama little home you know with one drop here at the rocky another one on the top Sheila stand in the front and they pray! What is their prayer? They may have a big bungalow wherever but they make little house there and “My dear Lord when I'm finished with his body could you give me shelter here is my house could I put on my dwelling be here in the Valley of this Govardhan hill, could you give us spot here” This is the mood and is a prayer please bring me back here.

So, there's nothing better to be had. There's nothing there's Krishna you know Krishna there's nothing more you need to know andwe have Krishna and is nothing more that he had toacquire.So, that kind ofarrangement or facility. Everything has been provided. We just have to go for it. Grab it. You're giving so much of your mercy Srila Prabhupada to this sannyasi, which sannyasi? Hari Bol? Bol Nityananda Bol, Hari Bol Hari Bol!

Prabhupada has given so much mercy to this Visnujan. And Srila Prabhupada, “No, no, I'm equal to everybody”, but he has taken more mercy.It is equally equal opportunity. But he has taken more.So, like that everything is available.And we all have equal opportunity. If we could take more and be greedy and grab this opportunityand grab Krishna’s lotus feet.

So, we are on the wayand if you could keep going keep movingin the direction that we are shown, the direction that previous Acarya hasgone followed

mahajano yena gatah sa pantha (CC Madhya 17.186).

That's the way, we have to make sure we are on the right path.And, in the right company the devotees, like minded devotees,sincere seekers of the truth, sincere seekers of Krishna, those kinds of devotees. And then, once you’re part of thatassembly crowd of the devotees, then what happens then you will naturally end up with Krishna.

Like if you have gone to Allahabad and you want to go to triveni sangam to take bath, as soon as you get off the bus or train, then you see people going, you don't even have to ask. In Allahabad you don’t ask, you don't ask people oh, which way is sangam where I go take bath. You don't ask, you just see which way people are moving there. Because everyone has come to take baths and they don't go anywhere else. So, you don't even ask, you know what people have come for. You just become part of that crowd. And once you're part of that crowd, sometimes you don't even have to walk. What happens, it is so crowded that you can't even put your foot on the ground, you are lifted, you get a lift. You are crushed within between two strong fellows. They're just pushing you bringing you forward. So that kind of devotee association benefits derives. So, chant, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare| Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare [devotees also chanting] and be with devotees and engage in Krishna’s various services and make your life perfect.

Thank you! Hare Krishna
Lokanath Swami Maharaja ki Jai

Srila Prabhupada introduced Caitanya Mahaprabhu to the whole world

Venue : Mayapur

Dated :  December 31, 2018

By establishing ISKCON Srila Prabhupada has done a great welfare work for this world. Like Mayapur dhama was revealed to the world only because of  him. Srila Prabhupada brought the devotees from all over the world to Mayapur. This is a great achievement. Srila Prabhupada has given us this Mayapur dhama.

First of all Srila Prabhupada gave Caitanya Mahaprabhu to the world. But the world was not  understanding that Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Lord Himself. People used to take Him as a saint like Tukaram in Maharashtra, Narsingh Mehta and Tulsi Dasa.

That is also not wrong concept. He was playing a role of a devotee, but He was not only devotee. We all should know His tattva. There are many sastras which give reference of appearance of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He is Krsna only, just the name is different. Srila Prabhupada gave the real introduction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu to the whole world. This is debt of Srila Prabhupada on all of us. He also ordered his devotees to print Caitanya Caritamrita and distribute it.

Caitanya Caritamrita gives us all details of Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s teachings and pastimes. Now Caitanya Caritamrita is also printed in Chiness and Chinese are also reading it. Initially only Bengali people could read it, but Prabhupada printed the copies in all the languages and made it available to the whole world. What else he gave us?

anarpita-carim cirat karunayavatirnah kalau
samarpayitum unnatojjvala-rasam sva-bhakti-sriyam (CC Adi 9.37)

There were many previous incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but none were so generous, kind and magnanimous as Caitanya Mahaprabhu, for He distributed the most confidential aspect of devotional service, namely, the conjugal love of Radha and Krsna.

Madhurya rasa and madhura pastimes and Krsna prema Caitanya Mahaprabhu relished Himself and He became magnanimous and distributed it to the whole world.  So Mayapur is audarya dhama. Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave us unnat ujjwal rasa. The best mellow that’s visrambha was given by Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

What else did Srila Prabhupada give you? Whatever Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave us the same thing Prabhupada gave us.

emona doyala data

Who is so merciful as him. That merciful Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted this wealth of Goloka which He brought to be given to the whole world.

sarvatra prachar hoi be mora nama

That was the will of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Prabhupada executed the will of the Supreme father. And he made plans to distribute it to the cities and villages. He also gave us ratha yatra. Srila Prabhupada liked ratha yatra the most. The work of ISKCON will go on till 10,000 years. So in only 50 years ratha yatra is being organized in more than 100 countries and more than 600 cities. This is going to multiply in the coming years.

The way Caitanya Mahaprabhu performed devotional service it is only to teach others.

yad yada acharti srestha

So who is the most superior?? The Lord. Caitanya Mahaprabhu was a great example. The same things were repeated by Srila Prabhupada. He followed the teachings of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Prabhupada also instructed to teach it to the whole world. Caitanya Mahaprabhu did not just appear for Hindus but for all.

Caitanya Mahaprabhu also said,

“amara ajnaya guru hana tara’ ei desa”
“y?re dekha, tare kaha ‘krsna‘-upadesa“

“Whomever you meet, simply talk with him about the instructions given by Krsna or tell him of narrations about Krsna. And Prabhupada said preaching is the essence.  The best welfare activity for the world is giving them harinama and that’s the fulfillment of this life.

If there is a boy who is lost, the best welfare work for him is taking him to his original parents. Many leaders say always chalo Delhi but Prabhupada said, “Chalo Goloka.”

A servant had a picture of Krsna in his purse.

First I kept pictures of my mother and father but they left me. Then when I got married I kept picture of my wife then she also left me then I thought whatever picture I keep that person leaves me. Why  not I keep picture of a person who will never leave me. So I kept picture of Lord Krsna.

Hari Bol

Prabhupada’s Kolkata connections
Kolkata is janma bhumi and the whole world is karma bhumi of Srila Prabhupada
Dated: 14 August 2015
Venue: Kolkata
Occasion: ISKCON 50th Anniversary Kolkata

Hare Krsna, a pretty serious group here in Kolkata. All hundred countries representatives are here today. Many of you must have come here for first time in Kolkata, I welcome you all here. And many Prabhupada disciples and grand disciples are here. Haribol! Quite a grand number.

Yesterday HH Bhakti Purosottam Maharaj was saying “the grand disciples are more dearer to Srila Prabhupada than us.” Haribol

Father loves his children but father loves his grand children more, that’s the experience of the world also. So not only we direct disciples of Prabhupada love him but what about you all, do you all love Prabhupada also? Haribol. I know how much you love Prabhupada.

Srila Prabhupada is our loving spiritual father and yours loving grand spiritual father. In his home town we have assembled, Kolkata dhama ki…jai. We have a different relationship or approach with Kolkata then most of the other people of Kolkata. For us this is a holy place birth place of Srila Prabhupada and today you are going around exploring Kolkata. I was also thinking as you are going around Kolkata you are going back to the old days, how Kolkata was 100years back. What happened here? What happened there? And for us what happened in relationship with Prabhupada in Kolkata?

Kolkata is Prabhupad’s janma bhumi, have you heard this term before ‘janma bhumi’, janma is birth and place is place. And then Prabhupada has his karma bhumi also, janmabhumi-place of birth and karma bhumi- place of activities. Of course place of activity of Srila Prabhupada is all over the world, he went 14 times all around the world.

I was thinking as we are going around Kolkata visiting Prabhupad’s pastime places. When I went to New York for first time in 1978, the day after our arrival we took a tour of places in New York we were visiting all places of activity of Prabhupada his karma bhumi. We were just Giriraj prabhu that time and myself and there were few others who had travelled with me that time from Mumbai then to New York. We had one more disciple of Prabhupada called Puru Prabhu, he was incharge of Prabhupada museum in New York. He used to take devotees around places of New York. So we had a nice tour as you all are going Kolkata having tour of his janma bhumi places, we had visited his karma bhumi places in New York. We had visited Tompkins Square Park. Haribol. There is a tree under that tree Prabhupada used to give a talk to assembled devotees. First public chanting took place at Tompkins Square Park.

Then we visited 26 second Avenue the matchless gift shop, ISKCON’S first center ever. Now we have over 500 centers, in every town there is a center and 1000s of namahatta center. But ISKCON’S very first center was in New York-The matchless gift shop, we visited that. Then we went to Bowery, the drunkards of New York that Pabhupada used to mix and mingle, travel and preach, that’s called Bowery.

Then river side the yoga center where Prabhupada used to do his kirtan. Like that we went around New York visiting Prabhupads places. Here you including myself going to visit Prabhupad’s house. My guide here told me, half of the town was owned by Suvarna Malik family, Suvarna means gold. People used to say you are Abhya Mohan Dye then what’s this Malik. Prabhupada said Malik is a title given by mohammadin rulers. When Prabhupada was born and brought up but prior to that there was ruled by mohammadin for almost 1000 years. So this title was given by Muslim rulers. Prabhupada was explaining Malik means Maalik they used to be the maalik – the owners –big land lords, business men and the whole economy was in their hands. Prabhupada was staying with his grandfathers they were Malik. Even the person who took Prabhupada to meet Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur in 1922 at Gaudiya matha in Bagbazar was also Malik.

The MG road as we were coming here we saw MG road- Mahatma Gandhi road, Prabhupada’s house is on MG road. In 1896 Prabhupada was born Guar Mohan Dey his father and Prabhupada recalls how when he used to get up he used to hear “ding ding ding….” What was that ding ding ding? Bell ringing and counch shell blowing. Prabhupada would get up these sounds were like alarm bell, bell is ringing and conch shell is blowing and Prabhupada would get up. This was the home atmosphere, father devotee and deity family and worshipping family. Well we say life time preparation prior to his departure yesterday 50 years ago from Kolkata. Again Prabhupada was born in Kolkata, he was given instruction to go to the West and preach in English language that instruction also came in Kolkata and he also departed for the West from Kolkata quiet a coincidence, Kolkata connections.

So life time in preparation, that preparation did not begin with the instructions of Bhakti Siddhanta ‘you to the west preach in English language.’ But I was thinking that life time preparation began with his birth in Kolkata and even coming in contact with Bhakti Siddhanta Sarawati Thakur he was preparing that was also part of life time in preparation before he was leaving for the West. The way he was born and brought up, as he was born this boy is very special boy he will establish over 100 temples. So this prediction also took place at Kolkata.

Guar Mohan Dey very religious, very pious gentleman, so many sadhus coming to his house. So they would come to Guar Mohan Dey’s home also. Sadhus coming for prasad, sadhus coming for satsanga and Guar Mohan Dey would appeal to these sadhus “please bless my son so that he becomes devotee of Radha Rani.” There are so many tuitions going on all over but Prabhupada was getting Mridanga lessons. They had their own small Radha Krsna deity and Prabhupada and his sister together would worship Radha and Krsna. The boyhood days worshipping Radha and Krsna. He used go to Radha Govind temple, did you visit?

We hear in lilamrit, Prabhupada as a small boy would spend hours in the temple, attend arti. Little Abhya used to just stand and stare at pujari offering arti to Radha Govind and for hours he would look at the deities of Radha Govind, Radha Govind ki….jai

So later on Prabhupada installed RadhaKrsna deities in ISKCON Kolkata, he named those deities Radha Govind and then in New York first deities he installed he again gave the name Radha Govind deities, Haribol. So these are the connections whatever Prabhupada did, his life time preparation he had been doing himself learning and latter on he taught to the whole world.

When he started temples in Mayapur and other places and here he started food for life. No one should go hungry in radius of 10 miles around the temple. This spirit he had picked up in Kolkata as he was born and being part of. He himself ofcourse was lover of prasadam. He used to love kachoris and he used to fill his pockets, hands are full, mouth is full of kachoris. Because they used to see his mouth always filled with kachoris, he was called as kachori mukhi. He is kachori mukhi- his mouth is always filled with kachoris.

He wanted his own ratha, elders were organizing big big ratha yatra festivals, big chariot, big Jagganath. But he wanted his own ratha yatra festival. So Guar Mohan Dey was going around looking for a chariot, either they were too big or too expensive. So in time they were returning home disappointed they could not find any ratha, but as they were returning home they saw in a small lane there is a ratha and they entered that lane. One lady was selling the ratha and bargain was stopped at deal was closed and price was affordable and Guar Mohan Dey immediately bought that chariot. And Prabhupada would organize ratha yatra festival in Kolkata with his friends and he used to insist, hye! When we conclude ratha yatra we must have prasad distribution. His elder sister Bhavatarini Mataji, Pisima as they call her here, she used to cook for Prabhupada. Many Prabhupada disciples have seen her she used to spend lot of time in Mayapur and Vrindavan. So Abhaya used to instruct his sister, hye! You have cook prasad.

Kolkata’s one name before Britishers rule was Govindpur. So as he was growing he went to school, Motilal school, britishers could not pronounce Motilal such a nice name so they spelled it Mattilal. Motilal School founded by Malik family so Prabhupada went to that school. Then he went to Scottish church college, as he was growing he was getting influenced by independence movement Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Prabhupada used to attend some of their gatherings. And on another side Mahatma Gandhi also, Prabhupada was getting influenced. He started wearing khadi clothes and then around that time Malik took Prabhupada to see Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur. They both offered obeisance’s to him and they had not even sat properly, Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur said “you seem to be very intelligent you should preach Bhagvat dharma all over the world” that instruction came and then Prabhupada was having debt independence is a priority. Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur said, no no there is another kind of independence we have to fight for and then Prabhupada said “I was defeated.” And in that very first meeting he was convinced that “Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur is my Guru Maharaj.” Then he executed the will of his Guru Maharaj, for that 50 years ago on 30th August 1965 he departed for the West from Kolkata. So this is quite a historic place for us. And ISKCON Kolkata has explored all the hidden treasures they have discovered. We are very thankful to ISKCON Kolkata authorities.

I would just say that when Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited birth place of his guru maharaj Iswarapuri it’s in Bengal, which he visited with all owe and reverence. And one thing he did he took some mud with him. They call it dirt; dirt is not a good word. So he took some mud from there that mud have touched the lotus feet of his Guru maharaj. So Caitanya Mahaprabhu did this. And then everyday Caitnaya Mahaprabhu would take few particles of that scared mud from his Guru maharja’s birth place and he ate that honored that . So this way we could see how significant is the birth place of spiritual master and how that should be honored, remembered and contemplated upon and take inspiration from also. We should also take lot blessings from this place. This place will bless all of us to carry on Prabhupada’s mission.

Srila Prabhupada ki…jai
Kolkata dhama ki…jai
Radha Govind dev ki…jai