[Nectar] Mayapur Memories 1972-Iskcon's first Gaur Purnima Festival

[Guest guest]

Written by HG Jananivasa Prabhu

 

Back in 1972 we only had 3 bighas of land, and the only structure was

Srila Prabhupad's small Bhajan Kutir. We put tents up for the

devotees, and where the elephant stays now, a pandal was erected to

hold the program. There were no proper bathrooms or even electricity.

In total there were about 60 to 70 devotees, I think mostly from

America. The locals liked it very much. Around 5000 pilgrims passed on

that way to or from Yogapitha and other Temples.

This was the first time such a large group of foreign devotees had

all assembled to gather for kirtana and glorification of the lord. So

it had a big impact, because until then we were largely unknown. After

all, we were just a few devotees who lived on less than one acre of

land out there amongst some rich fields. It turned out as a big

success.

Up to the time we didn't even have Deities. For the festival small

Radha Madhava murtis

Came from Calcutta and stayed in the pandal. After the festival they

moved to the Bhajan Kutir and stayed there.

Only later did I become their pujari. I received bramana initiation

during the festival. We had a fire sacrifice on Gaura Purnima and

Prabhupada gave first and second initiation and also some sannyasa

initiations.

At that time the program was simple but very sweet. Prabhupada would

give class and his disciples would lecture or read from Srila

Prabhupada books. In the evenings we had a big kirtana at Sandhya

Arati. Also some matajis would sing bhajanas. There were Yamuna

mataji, Palhika mataji and Kausalya mataji amongst others. Everyday

the devotees would cook and distribute kichri prasadam to the

visitors.

At that time we had no big parikrama program. All the devotees went to

Yogapitha Srila Prabhupada was also there. I remember him saying to

one devotee: "Give ten rupees as donation".

On Gaura Purnima Srila Prabhupada invited many of his god brothers.

This created a bit of tension. The reason was that there was a large

bamboo archway at the front of our property where the ditch had been

filled to give access to and from the main road. Right next to it we

made a huge sign that said "Welcome Srila Prabhupada" when Srila

Prabhupada arrived he looked at the sign and said "Oh my god brothers

will like this!"

Later, when these god brothers came, three or four of the 'heavy

duty'sanyasis were very indignant that Srila Bhakti Siddhanta

Sarasvati Goswami's title Prabhupada was being used by Srila

Prabhupada. In side the Bhajan Kutir they became angry and protested

very strongly and criticized Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada's disciples,

especially Brahmananda Prabhu were getting very agitated by hearing

this. Prabhupada then ordered all his disciples to go out of the room,

as this was a private matter between his and his God brothers. But the

Bhajan Kutir is only made of chatai and grass, so we could hear

everything from outside. Prabhupada remained very calm and explained

that he didn't request the title, but that his disciples were using it

out of love and accordance with sastra. Then he called for his

stationary and showed his God brothers that his letterhead didn't

mention Prabhupada. When his God brothers saw that they calmed down

and the atmosphere become more cordial.

Another interesting aspect were the conversation between Srila

Prabhupada and Bob Cohen which were later published as a book called

'perfect Questions Perfect Answers'. Their discussions took place in

the last few days of February 1972 in Srila Prabhupada Bhajan Kutir.

Someone might ask if anyone at that time could imagine that the

festival would develop to such an extent as it has done over the last

22 years. From the very beginning, Srila Prabhupada made it clear that

he wanted to build a city for 50,000 devotees with a huge temple as

its center. And right there and then, in the pandal, Prabhupada laid

the corner stone for the temple of understanding, as we called it at

that time. There was a big hole, about 20 feet deep, and I was struck

with wonder, seeing how nimbly Srila Prabhupada climbed down into the

hole and laid the corner stone. So right from that first festival we

felt that something very wonderful was going to develop here in

Sridham Mayapur, and now each year we see it becoming more and more

reality.

 

 

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