Jai Srila Prabhupada

[Guest guest]

Jai Srila Prabhupada

 

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

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

khadidhoti 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. "

[Guest guest]

This is a very precious article! Jai Srila Prabhupada!

 

, " srinath_vj " <srinath_vj

wrote:

>

> Jai Srila Prabhupada

>

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

> 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

> khadidhoti 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. "

>