Beautiful Story Regarding Srila Prabhupada

[Guest guest]

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

Mulaprakrti

devi dasi

 

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

Caitanya

Candrodoya Mandira carrying with him a copy of the Back of 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 Abaya 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 not 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 thought

perhaps

you might want to know this story about your and my beloved Srila

Prabhupada."