Srila Prabhupada in Advaita Bhavan

[Guest guest]

Our Srila Prabhupada - A Friend To All - Early Contemporaries Remember

Him

 

Compiled by Mulaprakrti devi dasi. Copyright 2004 Gopavrindapal dasa.

 

Pujari from Sri Adwaita Acarya's house in Santipura, West Bengal

 

This story was heard in Mayapura in 1980. A man came to the ISKCON's

Caitanya Candrodaya Mandira carrying with him a copy of the Back to

Godhead article about Srila Prabhupada, entitled A Lifetime in

Preparation.

 

"Just recently an amazing realization occurred to me that I wanted to

share with devotees everywhere. I have been the pujari and sevaite at

the house of Adwaita Acarya for many years. I was also there back in

the 1940's and 50's. At that time, I noticed that one grhasta

Bengali devotee used to come to the temple quite regularly. He was

dressed in a white khadi dhoti and kurta and he always came alone. He

would sit in the back of the Mandira without speaking, and would chant

harinama on his mala very quietly and deeply. I noticed that he came

on the weekends, usually once every month or two in regular way. After

chanting there for many hours, he would always thank me when he left.

His presence was profound and I became attracted to him. Since his

devotions were solitary, I never spoke to disturb him. Sometimes I

happened to notice that while he was chanting, his eyes would be full

of tears and his voice would be choked up."

 

"Then, for a very long time he did not come. However, I distinctly

recall that in August of 1965, I saw a saffron-clothed sannyasi

sitting in the back of the Mandira. In a moment I recognized him to be

my old friend from before. Again he sat for a long time chanting Hare

Krsna. I could see his beads moving, his eyes closed in concentrated

devotion. He was weeping unabashedly even more than he used to while

he took the Holy Name. Finally, as evening came, he paid his dandavat

pranama for long time. When he arose he came up to me and again

thanked me for my seva here at Adwaita Bhavan. I asked him, "Who are

you? I remember you from so long ago.'"

 

"He replied, 'My name is Abhaya Caranaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami

Maharaja. I am an unworthy disciple of His Divine Grace Srila

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, Srila Prabhupada, my divine master.

I have been coming here for such a long time because my Gurudeva has

given me an impossible mission. His desire was for me to go across the

ocean to the Western countries and spread the sublime teachings of Sri

Caitanya Mahaprabhu. There are countless souls there who have never

heard of Sri Sri Radha-Krsna and so they are suffering greatly. I have

not known how this mission of his will be successful, so I have been

coming here to this special house of Adwaita Acarya, where he,

Nityananda Prabhu, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would gather together

to plan the sankirtana movement. It was here that they launched the

inundation of love of God that swept India and continues to this day.

Thus, I have been praying very earnestly here that they will all give

me their mercy that somehow they will empower me and guide me. I want

to satisfy my gurudeva's desire, but I am feeling unqualified to do

this.'"

 

"As he was speaking to me, I saw tears falling down on his cheeks

again. Then he continued, 'Tomorrow I am leaving for Calcutta to go

upon a ship across the ocean to America. I do no know what will befall

me there, but I am praying most earnestly here for help.' Then he

very humbly asked me for my blessings. I was indeed moved by this

Vaisnava's sincerity and determination was I watched him depart upon

his journey."

 

"It was a few years later that I began noticing, for the first time,

white Vaisnavas coming to Adwaita Bhavan. They were wearing dhotis and

saris and chanting on tulasi-mala. I never spoke to any of them but

then one of them gave me this "Back to Godhead" magazine from

America. As I looked at the photographs, suddenly I recognized a

painting of the Founder-Acarya who had brought Krsna consciousness to

the West. It was a picture of my friend, Bhaktivedanta Swami, who had

come and prayed here so many times before. Then I realized that he has

actually accomplished that impossible mission of his Gurudeva. I saw

that it was indeed he, starting alone and without pretense, who had

accomplished this glorious miracle against all odds."

 

"As soon as I saw this, I came here to his temple in Mayapura to tell

you this information. I know that he has gone from this world now, but

I though perhaps you might want to know this story about you and my

beloved Srila Prabhupada."

 

End of excerpt from

 

Our Srila Prabhupada - A Friend To All - Early Contemporaries Remember

Him

 

Compiled by Mulaprakrti devi dasi.

 

Copyright 2004 Gopavrindapal dasa.