Shri Pushpanjali

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Shri Pushpanjali by Patita Pavana Das Adhikary Published in USA by I International Institute of Indology, Inc., 174 pages, profusely illustrated, $12 (incl. ship) Shri Pushpanjali is first a collection of about 800 of Shrila Prabhupada's most-often-employed analogies. In 1969, after my second initiation, I began to keep a notebook of these analogies at Shrila Prabhupada's lectures or darshans, and from the scriptural writings of His Divine Grace.

 

Early in this endeavor, I discovered that the mayavadis likewise have their own body of analogies which they employ in the vain attempt at establishing impersonalism. Further, I found that the general thrust of Shrila Prabhupada's analogies is twofold: (1) to defeat the mental speculation and word jugglery of the impersonalists, and (2) to establish the personal and devotional life of Krishna consciousness as the only path to eternity, knowledge and bliss. Shri Pushpanjali has bee brought out in pursuance of this dual purpose, as per Shrila Prabhupada's example.

 

The story of Shri Pushpanjali is set in the early 1970's, in Berkeley, California. At the time, hippies were everywhere and dozens of mayavadi so-called "gurus" had migrated from India to preach impersonal and voidist pseudo-doctrines and to create a following of Western disciples. Shrila Prabhupada alone held high the brilliant torch of the Absolute Truth in a time of turmoil. He strictly propounded the Vaishnava theological siddhanta and incorporated it in his then-newly-published Bhagavad Gita As It Is.

 

In Shri Pushpanjali, the recently initiated California devotee Krishnadas, while gathering flowers for the Berkeley ISKCON temple, meets his old high school friend Nathan. Now Nathan has fallen under the spell of a countryside mayavadi swami, although in his heart he still pursues his search for Truth. Nathan, now Nirvishesh, greets Krishnadas and the two old friends sit down upon the campus green to talk. Krishnadas is especially enthusiastic to preach, having only days earlier attended the San Francisco Rathayatra with Shrila Prabhupada in personal attendance.

 

The philosophical discussion that ensues between Krishnadas and Nirvishesh holds the nearly eight hundred collected analogies that I began writing down from 1968. By placing these gems of transcendental wisdom within the orderly bounds of a progressive conversation, these witty yet poignant examples of Shrila Prabhupada are rendered easily remembered by both the aspiring or seasoned Vaishnava preacher.

 

Later, at the then-developing Hare Krishna Land at Bombay, Shrila Prabhupada used to sit with a few disciples upon the rooftop of his small apartment in the early afternoon. While he would discuss management, tell transcendental jokes or read mail, I would sometimes sit at his lotus feet — off to the side — to organize and write Shri Pushpanjali while seated in his very presence. When the first draft of the book was completed, I wrote a letter to Guru Maharaja and very soon thereafter received his letter ordering Shri Pushpanjali published. In that letter to me His Divine Grace cited the necessity of defeating the pointless speculations of lewd mundane wranglers who, through inventive mental gymnastics, would try to make the infinitesimal jiva into the Supreme Lord. Over the years since receiving that divine command, I was to write and re-write Shri Pushpanjali over a dozen times.

 

Finally, with the help of my wife and a few close Godbrothers and sisters, the book has been published in a first-class fashion and format. By the mercy of Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead whose Holy Name is the divine panacea in Kali Yuga, the book is being well-received. Older and newer devotees alike have commented that Shri Pushpanjali recollects the simpler times of preaching Krishna consciousness to a frustrated youth at a time of turbulence caused by wars and mass spiritual confusion. Those Vaishnavas who would like to have Shrila Prabhupada’s most-often employed analogies in one convenient volume may send $10 +$2 (shipping) to Patita Pavana Das Adhikary, 1303 Columbus Ave. San Francisco CA 94133 (USA).