His Grace Kusakratha prabhu.

[Guest guest]

from ganesha dasa (acbsp) written and posted on free forum Feb 23 2003)

 

In glorification of His Grace Kusakratha prabhu.

 

[ Expressing my gratitude to Kusakratha prabhu for his selfless service for

so many years.]

 

Kusakratha prabhu was formally initiated by Srila Prabhupada in New York on

July 21, 1971. Srila Prabhupada was in a humorous mood on that day and was

joking with some of his disciples. When Srila Prabhupada asked Kusakratha

prabhu to recite the four regulative principles he did so, but stumbled on

the last one saying, "um, no intoxication". Srila Prabhupada then said,

"Which you like best? Which of them? " and there was laughter from the

crowd of devotees. Kusakratha prabhu then said, "You are reading my mind,

Srila Prabhupäda," to which Srila Prabhupäda replied laughingly, "All right.

Don't do that again."

 

I first met His Grace Kusakratha prabhu during my first visit to the USA in

summer (July/August) of 1978. It was the time for LA rathayatra. There were

many sannyasis present at that time such as Acyutananda, Ramesvara, etc.

There were literally hundreds & hundreds of devotees who had come from all

over the continental US, as well as from many other countries such as

Canada, Mexico, Germany, France, Australia, etc., who all enthusiastically

participated in Srila Prabhupada's Krsna conscious society, ISKCON. Having

come from a relatively isolated continent which was very rarely visited by

outside devotees at the time, this was the biggest event I had ever attended

and I was completely overwhelmed to experience the greatness, and the

spiritual enormity of Srila Prabhupada's movement and his preaching efforts

around the world. As far as I am aware, the LA rathayatra was at the time,

the largest Krsna conscious festival in the world outside of the Jagannatha

rathayatra in Sri Puri dhama.

 

As I had been a book distributor for some years, one day I decided to visit

the BBT offices, just to see what went on there. When I entered there were

only a couple of devotees there, since everybody else was busy with the

rathayatra preparations. The devotee who greeted me was a very meek and

mild-mannered person who was dressed in typical brahmacari fashion for that

time. The dhoti and kurta were completely wrinkled and seemed not to fit

properly. I think some kurta buttons were also put into the wrong holes. His

head was shaved and the few hairs which constituted his sikha seemed to

stand to attention at the back of his head. He had a smile on his face but

he seemed rather awkward or embarrassed at having to deal with me. This was

Kusakratha prabhu.

 

We only spoke for a short while but during that time he gave me what was

then, a copy of a completely unknown manuscript which he had recently

translated. It was called the Sri Nityanandastakam. I could hardly believe

my good fortune! Having access to such a wonderful stotra as this, was

hardly comprehensible to my limited intelligence. I still have that same

copy which we use to sing with and glorify Sri Nityananda prabhu every year

on His avirbhava.

 

Over the proceeding years, because of our different places of serving Srila

Prabhupada, Kuskratha prabhu and I didn't come into contact again until

around 1986, again at LA rathayatra time. I would always try and acknowledge

him whenever I saw him. But it wasn't until around 1990 or so that our paths

converged in a more serious fashion. It was around this time that I found

out about his efforts to translate and publish himself, the hundreds of

voluminous, esoteric literatures of the Vaisnava acaryas of our Gaudiya

parampara. Kusakratha prabhu was living alone (which I suspect he had

already been doing for some years) and having to pay rent, utilities, buy

computer equipment (the days of 5.25" floppy discs!) and whatever other

expenses living alone incurs...all as a penniless brahmacari, trying to do

this service for the vaisnava community.

 

It had been my habit for many years to try and acquire whatever Bhakti

sastras (besides Srila Prabhupada's translations) were available. So when I

learned of Kusakratha prabhu's endeavor to undertake such a weighty,

time-consuming and valuable service, I was filled with great joy. I

immediately bought whatever few books he had published (Srila Baladeva

Vidyabhusana prabhu's Aisvarya Kadambini), and asked him to please keep me

informed about everything he produced. Over the next ten years Kusakratha

prabhu began to personally translate, edit, type and publish hundreds of

these incomparably valuable literatures, all at his own expense and trouble

and with no help from anyone. However, not having any help was not his only

problem. There were persons within the vaisnava book-publishing world

actively trying to prevent his translation work because they thought his

efforts were in competition with theirs and that they should somehow or

other reap the profits from such work.

 

Whenever I had the opportunity to come to LA it would always be my priority

to visit Kusakratha prabhu's apartment to find out what new valuable nectar

was available there. The only difficulty with that was actually entering his

apartment. Because as soon as he opened his door (which was also sometimes

difficult) one would see dozens of boxes, hundreds of books and thousands of

pages strewn over the apartment floors from one end to the other. In fact it

was not possible to actually see the floor.

 

We would converse for some time and discuss what the new 'nectar' was and

occasionally I would inquire about what seemed to be spelling errors in the

books. He would explain that as he had to do all the work personally, there

would no doubt be some mistakes here and there, which he was sorry for.

 

A few years ago when we were speaking on the phone, Kusakratha prabhu told

me of his plan to relocate to Sri Brndabana dhama. I already had a residence

in the dhama and I was very happy to hear of his decision, because this is

the goal of all followers of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Rupa Gosvami.

 

During the years between 1990 and 2000 I was always complaining to him that

his books were too expensive, especially considering their size. But he

would explain that because there was such a dearth of interest in such

literatures even within ISKCON worldwide, it was not possible for him to

print more than a hundred at one time. This fact obviously drove the price

up enormously.

 

I was also always trying to convince him to put all his books on a CD so one

could have easy access and portability to these sastric jewels, since

traveling is such an intrinsic activity for western Vaisnavas. Around the

year 2000, we met again in Brndabana and while trying to persuade him once

again about the viability of a CD, he happily informed me that someone had

bootlegged quite a few of his books and had transferred them to CD. He even

gave me the names of a few devotees whom he thought had copies of the CD, so

that I may acquire my own.

 

However the most amazing thing was not the fact that he was happy that his

books were being illegally copied onto CD, bootlegged and sold by others for

personal profit, despite his years of sole personal struggle; neither was it

the fact that he was willing to give me the names of the bootleggers from

whom I could obtain such a copy; the truly amazing thing was that Kusakratha

prabhu had no such CD copy himself! Therefore it was no surprise to read of

Kusakratha prabhu's 'pennilessness' today. He is a person who has strived

his utmost to serve Srila Prabhupada's mission for the major part of his

glorious life, despite attempts by others to curtail that service. Glorious

too, is his attitude that others are obtaining his translations, though he

does not profit from that financially.

 

Since our first meeting in 1978, I was of the opinion that Kusakratha prabhu

was rather idiosyncratic in his lifestyle and methodology. But all of us are

that, to one degree or another. The universality of Krsna consciousness is

such that when one can find a like-minded soul who is serious about

sravanam-kirtanam and devoid of false-ego, a person who has no desire for

position, name or fame within the (ISKCON) society, who is happy simply to

try and render service to Srila Prabhupada, who will not be dissuaded from

such service attitude even though the prevailing 'powers that be' may

harangue and criticize him from all sides, one should eagerly try for that

person's sanga. Because it is that universality alone which binds us

eternally at Srimati Radhika's lotus feet. Kusakratha prabhu is such a

person whose sanga should be sought.

 

Srila Prabhupada often stated how uniquely important Krsna conscious book

distribution is. But someone had to write and/or translate those books for

the western world. We know from history that some great personalities like

the Gosvamis write those books, while Srila Prabhupada both wrote AND

distributed his books. Kusakratha prabhu's great service to Srila Prabhupada

& the world is that he has given us all access to the unlimited mine of

jewels that is the books of the great Vaisnava acaryas. By his unflinching

efforts we all have the opportunity to enter into the intimate realizations

of Sri Krsna's confidential servitors. Everybody is indebted to Kusakratha

prabhu.

 

The last time I saw Kusakratha prabhu was in Brndaban dhama in 2001. He

still has the awkward looking sikha and his dhoti still looks like it isn't

wrapped properly. He still eats out of whatever singular utensil he ca find.

Ever since I met him I have told others that he is an avadhuta. He is a real

brahmacari's brahmacari, with no concern for foppery or attracting the

opposite sex.

 

I will personally pray that the Lord keeps Kusakratha prabhu within our

presence for many years to come, despite the prognosis of the doctors. I

would also humbly urge the vaisnava community to give generously to aid his

medical & other needs so that we may all get the chance to serve one more

pure-hearted vaisnava.

 

TRANSLATION

While so traversing the earth, he simply performed duties to please the

Supreme Lord Hari. His occupation was pure and independent. He was

constantly sanctified by taking his bath in holy places, although he was in

the dress of a mendicant and had no hair dressing nor a bed on which to lie.

Thus he was always unseen by his various relatives.

SB. 3.1.19

PURPORT

The first and foremost duty of a pilgrim is to satisfy the Supreme Lord

Hari. While traveling as a pilgrim, one should not be worried about pleasing

society. There is no need to depend on social formalities or occupation or

dress. One should remain always absorbed in the function of pleasing the

Lord. Thus sanctified by thought and action, one is able to realize the

Supreme Lord by the process of a pilgrim’s journey.

 

Hoping this meets Kusakratha prabhu in good health I remain,

your servant,

Ganesa dasa [ACBSP]

(Text PAMHO:6538776) ------

 

------- End of Forwarded Message ------