Srila Prabhupada in Santa Fe

[Guest guest]

Srila Prabhupada visited the Santa Fe, New Mexico

Temple (ISKCON) in 1968. Tosan Krishna and I were the

two initiated disciples living at the temple. What

follows is the interesting story of events leading up

to his arrival and how he greeted us.

 

Govinda dasi who at that time was his servant,

arrived in Santa Fe a few days early to see that the

accommodations were proper. A few hours before we were

to pick up Srila Prabhupada at the Albuquerque

airport, Govinda dasi told us she had just talked to a

doctor who said that a high altitude (like that of

Santa Fe) was not good for people with heart

conditions (Srila Prahbupada recently had a heart

attack). Govinda dasi suggested we meet Srila

Prabhupada at the airport in Albuquerque and explain

to him that arrangements were not complete in Santa Fe

and that he should fly on to Los Angeles. Govinda dasi

felt that if we told Srila Prabhupada that the Santa

Fe altitude might be bad for his heart, Srila

Prabhupada would protest and for preaching would be

willing to take the risk to his heart.

 

The four or five other devotees at the temple were

bewildered about what to do. Should we ask Srila

Prabhupada to fly on to Los Angeles or to come visit

the Santa Fe Temple? Much work had been done in

preparation for his visit including housing

arrangement, decorating the temple and telling many

people about the visit.

 

Govinda dasi and myself drove to the Albuquerque

airport, a distance of about 60 miles. We met Srila

Prabhupada at the gate. We sat down in a nearby

sitting area. Feeling foolish, I told Srila Prabhupada

that arrangements were not complete in Santa Fe and

that he should fly on to Los Angeles. Srila Prabhupada

was upset. `What is this? You invite me to come and

when I get here, you tell me to leave.' Govinda dasi

started to cry. Srila Prabhupada said he was tired and

wanted to stay in Santa Fe at least for the night

before traveling on to Los Angeles. At that time I

told Srila Prabhupada the reason we wanted you to

continue on to Los Angeles is that Govinda dasi just

talked to a doctor who said that the high altitude of

Santa Fe could be bad for a heart condition. Srila

Prabhupada said his heart was in good condition to

stay in Santa Fe. He said, ` It is Govinda dasi who is

sick. She will be sick in Krishna Loka.' He asked us:

`What do you want to do?' Govinda dasi said:

`Prabhupada, you know Krishna. What does Krishna want

us to do?' Srila Prabhupada said: `That is not the

point. Krishna wants to know what you want to do!' At

that point I decided we should take Srila Prabhupada

to Santa Fe.

 

 

Baladeva-Subadra-Jagannatha

Original Santa Fe Deities now located in Denver

Colorado

 

We drove Srila Prahbupada from Albuquerque to

Santa Fe in our Volkswagen beetle and as we drove past

the suburbs and outskirts of Albuquerque, Srila

Prahbupada said, `Just like India.' The devotees at

the Temple were very happy and surprised to see him.

He paid obeisances to Lord Jagannath.

 

A little later on four or five devotees sat in a

circle with Prahbupada who was in a jolly mood.

Prahbupada took out his lunch bag and distributed

remnants of his lunch that had been cooked for him in

Montreal where Srila Prabhupada was previously. He

gave us pieces of kachaoris and laddu. At that time we

did not know what a laddu was (a laddu is a sweet ball

made by mixing butter-roasted chick pea flour with

powered sugar.) He put some laddu in each of our

hands. He told me Here, Harer Nama. Take!' One guest

said, ` This is the best peanut butter I ever had. (The laddu tastes like

peanut butter.) Srila Prabhupada

said: This is what Krishna and his friends eat for

their lunch. The guest asked: Who is Krishna? Srila

Prahbupada said, " Krishna is the Supreme Personality

of Godhead who plays with the cows in the fields."

 

Sri Krsna having lunch with his friends

 

Srila Prahbupada stayed in Santa Fe for two or

three days. His health was good. Many guests attended

the evening program. He said they were intelligent.

 

All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta

Swami Prabhupada, who encouraged his young disciples

and inspired us to continue on the path of Krishna

Consciousness.

 

Submitted by Harer Nama Das

( ACBSP 1967 )

 

 

from dharmakshetra.com