Remembering Srila Prabhupada - Little Drops of Nectar

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Little Drops of Nectar

 

 

In India Prabhupada proposed that the devotees set up

a library in a separate building. It would house all

of Prabhupada's books as well as all the books of the

great acaryas, including the Upanisads and other Vedic

literatures. He even said that Sankara's works could

be included, but not anything from modern popular

swamis and political leaders who claim to be spiritual

writers.

"They're all rascals," Prabhupada said. "The Vedas

instruct us that we should not even look at their

faces."

"But doesn't Caitanya Mahaprabhu say that if one even

reads Sankara's books, he'll be doomed?" asked Hari

Sauri.

Prabhupada replied, "Not if he reads with proper

understanding. We can read to know what is their

philosophy."

 

During a short visit to Boston in 1971, Prabhupada

gave the devotees a gift for their altar.

Brahmananda had asked Prabhupada why he always applied

his Vaisnava tilaka by using water from an old jar.

Prabhupada replied, "I will give it to you. It is

Ganga water and never decomposes."

Brahmananda thankfully accepted the jar of water.

"Thank you, Srila Prabhupada. We will get a silver

container for it."

"No," said Prabhupada. "Put it on the altar as it is."

So the devotees placed the jar, which was clearly

labeled "Maxwell House Coffee," on the altar alongside

the Radha-Krsna Deities and all the other standard

paraphernalia. Sometimes visitors to the temple would

ask about the significance of the Maxwell House jar on

the worshipable altar, and the devotees would proudly

and gladly explain that it was a gift from Srila

Prabhupada.

 

When Srila Prabhupada began the worship of

salagrama-sila in Mayapur, he did not give much

instruction to the pujaris.

"Give some tulasi," he said, "and then you can give

this water drip." He meant that the salagrama could

receive a daily watering as does tulasi during the

month of Vaisakha. "Salagrama-sila means mantra," said

Prabhupada. "Mantra, sleeping, mantra, sleeping,

mantra, sleeping ..a " Prabhupada started laughing. He

explained that salagrama-silas are worshiped not so

much in the temple, but privately. A brahmana will do

his puja and then put the sila away in a box, and then

again at a later time take Him out and do puja, and

then put Him away in a box. "Mantra, sleeping,"

laughed Prabhupada. "this is salagrama worship."

Hari Sauri dasa, diary; Balai-devi dasi and

Jahnava-devi dasi, interviews; Satsvarupa dasa

Goswami; Jananivasa dasa, interview.

 

- From the Prabhupada Nectar by HH Satsvarupa dasa

Goswami Maharaj

 

 

 

 

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