" We had the opportunity of seeing this Radha-Govinda from very childhood "

[krsna]

Srila Prabhupada's Childhood

 

 

 

 

To my father, Gour Mohan De, 1849-1930, a pure devotee of Krsna, who raised me as a Krsna conscious child from the beginning of my life.

 

Prabhupada: My father used to carry salagrama-sila if he was going out in the...

Gopala Krsna: In the neck?

Prabhupada: His Guru Maharaja advised him.

Gopala Krsna: It's auspicious.

Prabhupada: No, it is the safest place. In a linen handkerchief, bound up. Yes. So it is safe always, kantha. My father used to carry. Wherever he would stay, ganga-jala, tulasi, decoration. Say, half an hour business. My father was a great devotee. Yes.

Gopala Krsna: You dedicated the Krsna book to him.

Prabhupada: Yes. Because he was a pure Vaisnava. And he wanted me to become like this. He was praying Radharani. He was praying to Radharani. And any saintly person would come, he would simply say, "Give blessings to my son that he may become a Radharani's servant." That was my father's prayer. He never prayed that "My son may become very rich man." He never prayed like that. Actually, his ardent desire that his son may become a Vaisnava. And my Guru Maharaja's training has put me this position. That I have admitted. Later on. What is that word I have given? Hmm? Find out.

Gargamuni: "The eternal father?"

Gopala Krsna: "Which was later on solidified..."

Prabhupada: Ahh!

Gopala Krsna: "...by my eternal father."

Prabhupada: "The ideas given by my father were solidified by..."

Gopala Krsna: That's what you said.

Prabhupada: Read it.

Gargamuni: "To my father, Gour Mohan De, 1849-1930, a pure devotee of Krsna, who raised me as a Krsna conscious child from the beginning of my life. In my boyhood ages he instructed me how to play the mrdanga. He gave me Radha-Krsna vigraha to worship and he gave me Jagannatha Ratha to duly observe the festival as my childhood play. He was kind to me, and I imbibed from him the ideas later on solidified by my spiritual master, the eternal father."

Gopala Krsna: Very beautifully written.

Gargamuni: Yes, very poetic.

Prabhupada: That is a fact. I got good father and good spiritual master. That's all.

Gargamuni: We have gotten bad father, but now we have spiritual father.

Prabhupada: No bad father. Unless good father, son cannot be good. Yatha yoni yatha bijam.

Hari-sauri: They must be just fallen.

Gargamuni: They have not accepted your mercy.

Gopala Krsna: They'll all benefit by the son's devotional service. It doesn't matter how fallen they are, you know.

Prabhupada: My father never chastised me.

Hari-sauri: I think you said your mother was always very strict.

Prabhupada: Because he was very lenient. So mother had to be little strict for my education.

 

[s.P. Room Conversation About Blitz News Clipping, August 21, 1976, Hyderabad]

 

 

 

We had the opportunity of seeing this Radha-Govinda

from very childhood. When I was three or four years

old I used to visit this Radha-Govinda daily.

 

 

Prabhupada: (Bengali) This Radha-Govinda Deity is very old Deity of the Mullik family. I think not less than two hundred years ago this Deity was established by the mother of Kashinath Mullik. I think you might have heard, another Kashi..., original Kashinath Mullik. I think his father's name was Gaura Mohan Mullik. Am I right?

Indian man: Citra Das.

Prabhupada: Citra Das. No. No, Kashinath Mullik's father? So gradually this whole quarters belonged to this Mullik family. Still in front of this temple there is Gangara(?) building. That is also the property of Radha-Govinda. And as I have shown in coming, our house was just behind the present Govinda Bhavana. And we had the opportunity of seeing this Radha-Govinda from very childhood. When I was three or four years old I used to visit this Radha-Govinda daily.

Pusta Krsna: Jaya Radha-Govinda! Jaya Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: And that is the inspiration of my devotional life. Then I asked my father that "Give me Radha-Govinda Deity; I shall worship." So my father was also Vaisnava. He gave me small Radha-Govinda Deity. I was worshiping in my house. Whatever I was eating, I was offering, and I was following the ceremonies of this Radha-Govinda with my small Deity. That Deity is still existing. I have given to my sister. So then I introduced Ratha-yatra. So I.... My Ratha-yatra was being performed very gloriously. My father used to spend money. In those days ten rupees, twenty rupees was sufficient. I hired one kirtana party and a small friends, they..., I think the brother of the present generation, and there was another De family here, so we performed this Ratha-yatra ceremony. According to our children's imagination, it was very gorgeous. So I think our present Manmohan.... His name is? Gabhur Bhavana? (Bengali) Gopishvara Mullik. That Gopishvara Mullik was my father's friend. So he was criticizing my father that "You are performing Ratha-yatra ceremony and you are not inviting us." So my father said, "That is children's play. What shall I invite you? You are very big man.Oh, so you are avoiding. In the name of children you are avoiding us." On the whole, this Ratha-yatra festival was very gorgeously.... Then imitating me, the other, my brother like, Kangalu(?), he also introduced Ratha-yatra. And.... Kangalu. (Bengali) So all of them introduced Ratha-yatra, and the destination was this Thakurbari, from there. So practically what I am doing now, the same thing, Radha-Krsna worship and introduction of Ratha-yatra. I am not doing anything else. You know very well. We are now performing Ratha-yatra ceremony practically in all big cities of the world, in San Francisco, in...

Hari-sauri: Philadelphia.

Prabhupada: Philadelphia, London...

Hari-sauri: Melbourne.

Prabhupada: Melbourne, Australia...

Pusta Krsna: Paris.

Prabhupada: Paris. So the same thing, the same Radha-Krsna worship temples and same Ratha-yatra, in a bigger scale. But the same thing was begun as play from this quarter, this Thakurbari.

Indian man: Year 1917. (Bengali)

Prabhupada: No, no, no. I began my.... I think from 1904 or '5, from my very childhood.

Indian man: Oh, childhood.

Prabhupada: Yes. At that time perhaps you were not born. (laughter) What is your age now? What is the birth of date?

Indian man: Fifty-five.

Prabhupada: Fifty-five. That means in 1920 you were born?

Indian man: Yes.

Prabhupada: So anyway, this Thakurbari, Radha-Govindaji, is my life. That is the beginning of my, this spiritual life. And after so many years, still Radha-Govindaji has dragged me. So it is His kindness. So the beginning was the same thing--worship of Radha-Krsna Deity and introduction of Ratha-yatra. That is I am doing in a bigger scale and a wider scale all over the world. So it is nothing new. So in the one sense, as it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, sucinam srimatam gehe yoga-bhrasto 'bhijayate. So although I was not belonging to this family.... Or perhaps originally we belonged to this family, because they are also De, we are De, but practically I was born in this family, and sucinam srimatam. And my father was a very pure Vaisnava. So these opportunities we got. Now it is developed in a wider scale. It is all Krsna's arrangement, maybe from my previous life. But you are cooperating, you American and European, so we are spreading the mission of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, this mission. Radha-Krsna mission it is practically. Sri krsna caitanya, radha-krsna nahe anya. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is combination of Radha-Krsna. Radha-krsna-pranaya-vikrtir hladini-saktir asmad. Krsna and Radharani, the same Absolute Truth. Radharani is the pleasure potency of Krsna, and when Krsna wants to enjoy, He expands His pleasure potency in the form of Radharani. And when He wants to spread the loving affairs of Radha and Krsna, He takes the form of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and very kindly He gives the love of Krsna. Therefore Rupa Gosvami has offered Him obeisances, namo maha-vadanyaya krsna-prema-pradaya te. To understand Krsna, it takes long, long duration of life. Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate. And to understand the love of Krsna and Radharani, it is not so easy thing. But by the grace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu we are understanding. Krsna-prema-pradaya te. So it is now spreading all over the world. So this is.... About this movement it may be this Radha-Krsna, Radha-Govinda Deity is the, what is called?

Pusta Krsna: Inspiration?

Prabhupada: Inspiration. So you are all fortunate that you have come here. So let us offer our obeisances.

Devotees: Jaya Prabhupada! (break--to car ride)

Hari-sauri: Those Deities are very nicely looked after, Srila Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Hari-sauri: The Deities.

Prabhupada: Oh.

Hari-sauri: They are very nicely cared for.

Prabhupada: Oh, yes. This is my inspiration, this Deity.

Abhirama: Should we have some program with these Mulliks sometimes, visit?

Prabhupada: No, no. Our house was here. I am coming almost daily, on every moment. I was playing here. They were all my playmates. The whole this, from that street to this street, that was our house, home. Here is the pharmacy, that Kailash Pharmacy. That was very old. Our limit was coming up to this road and up to that (indistinct) road.

Abhirama: Your father would not let you go any farther than this?

Prabhupada: In those days who cared for the father? We were coming and.... It was not so congested. There was a riot, Hindu-Muslim riot. This quarter is Muslim quarter. Oh, in 1911 that was a dangerous day. Perhaps I would have been killed. Riot. Very big riot. This was my school, here, this building. This was my school. And college was Scottish Churches. In this ground we used to play football. Yes.

Pusta Krsna: Hare Krsna. You used to take Jagannatha right through the streets?

Prabhupada: Yes.

Pusta Krsna: How far would you carry Jagannatha?

Prabhupada: From our house to this Thakurbari, Radha-Govinda's house, coming and going with procession of children and khola, karatala and everything. Prasadam distribution, everything was there. My father used to encourage. And in those days if my father would spend twenty-five rupees, it was a great festival. Why not? In those days, fifty, sixty years ago, the money value was at least twenty times. So if my father was spending at that time twenty rupees, now it is at least four hundred rupees. So for a children's play four hundred rupees is not a small amount.

Abhirama: At least fifty dollars in American.

Prabhupada: Yes. So my father used to pay.

Pusta Krsna: You hired a sankirtana party?

Prabhupada: Yes. Only two rupees. That's all.

Pusta Krsna: Our young children are very fortunate also.

Prabhupada: Hm?

Pusta Krsna: Our young children.

Prabhupada: Oh, yes. Yes. Very fortunate. That a small child, he'll take little grain of prasadam. He will not touch the big halava. As soon as I'll give him a little grain, he'll take. Very nice.

Abhirama: (break) ...travel on a coach like this, Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: Hm? Yes, in our childhood. Not so bad. At that time it was not so bad. In 1925 I purchased one Buick car. In our childhood days there was no electricity, and there was no motorcar. No. The tram car was drawn by horses in Calcutta. (break) ...quarter where our temple is situated. This is the best.... (end)

 

[s.P. Talk at Radha-Govinda Mandir, March 24, 1976, Calcutta]

 

 

 

As a child when I was going to the neighboring Mallik temple, I was thinking then when will I have such a nice Deity to worship and now Krsna is so kind that I am establishing so many nice temples all over the world. Now I want that there should be established 108 temples before my death, so you think how to do it. Make some program, train up devotees.

 

[s.P. Letter to: Madhudvisa, Bombay, 10 November, 1975]

 

 

 

In my childhood I imitated my father. He was worshiping Deity

of Krsna. So I asked him, "My dear father, I shall worship.

Give me the Deity of Krsna."

 

So children, they generally imitate, imitate the parents' habits or activities. So fortunately we had the opportunity of getting such a father. So we are imitating our father. In my childhood I imitated my father. He was worshiping Deity of Krsna. So I asked him, "My dear father, I shall worship. Give me the Deity of Krsna." So he gave me a little Deity of Krsna and Radha and I was imitating. So beginning of life... So these are actually facts. Maharaja Pariksit also, he was playing with Krsna, Krsna dolls. Just like Mirabhai. She was playing with Krsna doll and later on she became a very high-grade devotee. So these chances are there.

 

[bhagavad-gita Lecture6.40-42, New York, September 16, 1966]

 

 

 

My father was a pure devotee of the Lord, and when I was only four

or five years old, my father gave me a couple of forms of Radha

and Krsna. In a playful manner, I used to worship these Deities

along with my sister, and I used to imitate the performances

of a neighboring temple of Radha-Govinda.

 

Srila Jiva Gosvami remarks in this connection that every child, if given an impression of the Lord from his very childhood, certainly becomes a great devotee of the Lord like Maharaja Pariksit. One may not be as fortunate as Maharaja Pariksit to have the opportunity to see the Lord in the womb of his mother, but even if he is not so fortunate, he can be made so if the parents of the child desire him to be so. There is a practical example in my personal life in this connection. My father was a pure devotee of the Lord, and when I was only four or five years old, my father gave me a couple of forms of Radha and Krsna. In a playful manner, I used to worship these Deities along with my sister, and I used to imitate the performances of a neighboring temple of Radha-Govinda. By constantly visiting this neighboring temple and copying the ceremonies in connection with my own Deities of play, I developed a natural affinity for the Lord. My father used to observe all the ceremonies befitting my position. Later on, these activities were suspended due to my association in the schools and colleges, and I became completely out of practice. But in my youthful days, when I met my spiritual master, Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja, again I revived my old habit, and the same playful Deities became my worshipful Deities in proper regulation. This was followed up until I left the family connection, and I am pleased that my generous father gave the first impression which was developed later into regulative devotional service by His Divine Grace. Maharaja Prahlada also advised that such impressions of a godly relation must be impregnated from the beginning of childhood, otherwise one may miss the opportunity of the human form of life, which is very valuable although it is temporary like others.

 

[s.B. 1.12.30]

 

 

So the first feasting is for the children. Sometimes I was little obstinate, I would not sit down, no, I would take it with me wherever.

 

Prabhupada: So, have you not taken care of old men and boys who deserve to dine with you? This is Vedic culture. When there is foodstuffs to be distributed, the first preference is given to the children. We remember, even now we are 78, when we were children 4,5 years old, we remember. Some of you have seen that (indistinct) Anyone? Yes, you have seen. So the first feasting is for the children. Sometimes I was little obstinate, I would not sit down, no, I would take it with me wherever. But that was the system. First of all children should be sumptuously fed. Then the Brahmanas and children and old men. In the family, the children and old men. Just see Maharaja Yudhistira. How much he was anxious to take care of Dhrtarastra. although he played the part of an enemy throughout, still it is the duty of the family members to take care of the old men. When Dhrtarastra left home after being rebuked by his younger brother, Vidura. "My dear brother you are still attached to family life, you have no shame, you are taking food from whom you consider your enemies, you wanted to kill them from the very beginning, you set fire to their homes, you banished them in the forests, you intrigued against their life. And now everything is finished. All your sons, grandsons and son-in-laws, and brothers. Father, uncle, I mean to say Bhisma was his uncle. So, all of the family right in the battlefield of Kuruksetra, everyone was killed except these five brothers. Yudhistira, Bhisma, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva, all male members were killed. so, only remaining descendants was Maharaja Pariksit. He was within the womb of his mother. His father died. Arjuna's son Abimanyu, he was 16 years old. Fortunately his wife was pregnant, otherwise the Kuru dynasty was finished. So he rebuked that," still you are sitting here just for a morsel of food like dog, you have no shame my dear brother." So he took it very seriously. "Yes. yes my dear brother you are saying all right. So what do you want me to do?" Leave immediately, come out and lets go to the forests." So he agreed. He went there. Maharaja Yudhistira, he used to come first of all in the morning after taking bath, after worshiping the first duty was to go and see the old man. "My dear uncle, you are all comfortable, everything is all right? Talk for some time just to please him. This is the duty of family members. Take care of children, take care of old men, take care of even a lizard in the house. A serpent in the house. This is the injunction you will find in the Srimad Bhagavatam. 'Grhastha'. How much responsibility it is, that it is said even there is a serpent. Nobody wants to take care of a serpent, everyone wants to kill, and nobody is sorry to kill a serpent. Prahlada Maharaja said that “modeta sahur api vrscika sarpa hatya. He said 'that my father was just like a serpent vrscika, scorpion.' So killing of a serpent or scorpion nobody is unhappy." So my lord don't you be angry. Now everything is finished. My father is finished. So that was. But still if the sastra says, that even in house there is serpent, see that he's not fasting without food. This is spiritual communism. They are now after communism, but they do not know what is communism. Everyone should be taken care of. That is communism. Real communism. Nobody should starve. Nobody should have any want in the state. That is communism. So when we went to communist country, Moscow, I think everyone was in want. They could not even get foodstuffs to their own choice.

 

[srimad Bhagavatam Lecture 1.14.43]

 

 

 

By the grace of Lord Sri Krsna, we had the chance of being born

in a Vaisnava family, and in our childhood we imitated the

worship of Lord Krsna by imitating our father.

 

By the grace of Lord Sri Krsna, we had the chance of being born in a Vaisnava family, and in our childhood we imitated the worship of Lord Krsna by imitating our father. Our father encouraged us in all respects to observe all functions such as the Ratha-yatra and Dola-yatra ceremonies, and he used to spend money liberally for distributing prasada to us children and our friends. Our spiritual master, who also took his birth in a Vaisnava family, got all inspirations from his great Vaisnava father, Thakura Bhaktivinoda. That is the way of all lucky Vaisnava families. The celebrated Mira Bai was a staunch devotee of Lord Krsna as the great lifter of Govardhana Hill.

The life history of many such devotees is almost the same because there is always symmetry between the early lives of all great devotees of the Lord. According to Jiva Gosvami, Maharaja Pariksit must have heard about the childhood pastimes of Lord Krsna at Vrndavana, for he used to imitate the pastimes with his young playmates. According to Sridhara Svami, Maharaja Pariksit used to imitate the worship of the family Deity by elderly members. Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti also confirms the viewpoint of Jiva Gosvami. So accepting either of them, Maharaja Pariksit was naturally inclined to Lord Krsna from his very childhood. He might have imitated either of the above-mentioned activities, and all of them establish his great devotion from his very childhood, a symptom of a maha-bhagavata. Such maha-bhagavatas are called nitya-siddhas, or souls liberated from birth.

 

[s.B. 2.3.15]

 

 

 

My father was worshiping Krsna Deity. So I wanted to imitate him,

and he gave me small Deity. That Deity is still worshiped.

 

Prabhupada: Krsna-kridam. Bala-kridanakaih kridan krsna-kridam ya adade. This is the facility of taking birth in a Vaisnava family. Children, simply by playing with Krsna, they become Krsna conscious. Some way or other, if somebody comes in contact with Krsna, then his life becomes successful. So this krsna-yoga, bhakti-yoga, can be practiced even by a child without interfering with his natural propensities. A child naturally wants to play, so he can play with Krsna Deity. We had the opportunity of doing that. My father was worshiping Krsna Deity. So I wanted to imitate him, and he gave me small Deity. That Deity is still worshiped. My sister and myself, whatever we were eating, we were offering exactly the same arcana. And father used to encourage. This Ratha-yatra and Radha-Go.(?) Krsna temple which we are propagating, it was, from the very beginning of our life, was initiated by our parents. So anyone can initiate his child to this Krsna consciousness understanding from the very beginning.

Without any education, without any knowledge. There is no need of high-grade knowledge or education to understand Krsna consciousness. It is already there in everyone's heart.

 

[srimad-Bhagavatam Lecture, 2.3.15 Los Angeles, June 1, 1972]

 

 

In my childhood, Radha-Govindaji were the source of my

enjoyment. I asked my father to give me Radha-Govinda

deities and he gave me and I worshiped.

 

Regarding Radha-Govinda's temple, it is in shabby condition, that I saw in 1967. I stayed there, and it was a great painful experience for me at least. In my childhood, Radha-Govindaji were the source of my enjoyment. I asked my father to give me Radha-Govinda deities and he gave me and I worshiped. And I also asked him to give me ratha, and the ratha was going from my home by the side of Syamasundara.'s house. Our house was later termed to be Govinda Bhawan, 151 Mahatma Gandhi Road. So Syamasundara. is just like my younger brother, we call him by nickname "Gabu." His elder brother was Siddhesvar Mali and his nickname was "Subida," an he was calling me "Moti," so we were very intimate friends from the perambulator. We were riding on the same perambulator when we were very small children. We were so intimate that he would not go in perambulator without me. We would not separate even a moment.

 

[s.P. Letter to: Bhavananda, Honolulu, 9 May, 1972]

 

 

 

My father was pure Vaisnava and he gave me and my sister the

Radha Krishna Deities to worship and in this way we were trained.

 

I am in due receipt of your letter dated February 1st. with the nice pictures of the Sri Sri Radha-Kalacandji Deities in ISKCON Gurukula. I am very much pleased that the Deities are worshipped so nicely and as this continues, the children there will become more and more purified. These children in Gurukula are the most fortunate children in the world, because right from the beginning they are having the association of Radha and Krishna. This was the case in my childhood also. My father was pure Vaisnava and he gave me and my sister the Radha Krishna Deities to worship and in this way we were trained. And still to this very day my sister is worshiping these very same Deities in Calcutta. So like this the children must be trained.

 

[s.P. Letter to: Bhaktin Toni, Sydney, 18 February, 1973]

 

 

 

When I was six years old my father gave me a ratha and

I was performing the Ratha yatra in my neighborhood.

 

From my very childhood I was also worshipping Lord Jagannatha. When I was six years old my father gave me a ratha and I was performing the Ratha yatra in my neighborhood. And now in the western world you are worshiping Lord Jagannatha so gorgeously and it pleases me very, very much.

 

[s.P. Letter to: Ravindra Svarupa, Paris,10 June, 1974]

 

 

 

This ratha yatra festival is very dear to me from my very childhood days

 

I very much liked your Chicago festival, and I encourage you to increase it next year. This ratha yatra festival is very dear to me from my very childhood days, so I very much appreciate your holding this festival in Chicago.

 

[s.P. Letter to: Sri Govinda: Mayapur, 29 September, 1974]

 

 

 

I organized this Ratha-yatra. I was performing Radhastami and Janmastami, and I was learning how to dress the Radha-Govinda.

 

Hari-sauri: What about those people when we went back to where you used to live? When we came back from Mayapura and we went out that night to, what they called? Your old friend's house?

Prabhupada: Oh, Mulliks.

Hari-sauri: Mulliks.

Prabhupada: They are just like my younger brothers. Their elder brothers were contemporaries. They are all died.

Hari-sauri: Finished.

Prabhupada: They are younger. They are all my childhood playmates. Their older brothers, the eldest one was my very, very intimate friend, Siddheshvar Mullik. We used to ride on the same perambulator when we were three, four years old. And Ratha-yatra ceremony was performed with all these guests. They were about, in our neighborhood there were four, five houses. So all the children of the same age, I was the leader. (laughs) Yes. I organized this Ratha-yatra. I was performing Radhastami and Janmastami, and I was learning how to dress the Radha-Govinda. Yes.

Hari-sauri: You used to go in and dress Them?

Prabhupada: It is, actually, it was our house. Just three, four house after.

 

[s.P. Room Conversation, August 12, 1976, Tehran]

 

 

 

So there was good festival, sankirtana, and procession.

We all little children enjoyed

 

Prabhupada: ...by my sister. And you have seen in the Mullick Thakura-bhati(?) Ratha-yatra?

Guest (Indian man): Yes.

Prabhupada: So after my festival of Ratha-yatra the other boys in the Mullicks, they began. My ratha was, I think, this much high, very nicely made.

Acyutananda: When we had Ratha-yatra in Calcutta we stopped in front of your house and they had that ratha decorated in the doorway. And we turned the ratha towards the house, and they came out and did arati, the Mullick family, Syamasundara.

Prabhupada: So there was good festival, sankirtana, and procession. We all little children enjoyed. And eight days, my mother was cooking different foodstuff for Jagannatha. Then return ratha-yatra. Ratha-yatra means...

Yasomatinandana: Fifteen days festival.

Prabhupada: No, eight days. From dvitiya to dasami. Ratha-yatra.

 

[s.P. Morning Walk, April 6, 1974, Bombay]

 

 

 

So I was seeing the Krsna Deity. Oh, I was thinking...

I still remember. I was standing for hours together.

 

I shall say practically, from my whole life. I was fortunate to get my, I mean to say, birth, in a very pious family. Yes. My father was very pious man, and I wanted to imitate him in my childhood. Of course, our family was not very poor, but we were not very rich men. But my father was very pious man. So he was worshiping Krsna. So in my childhood, when I was five or six years old, I requested my father that "Father, give me this Deity. I shall worship." So father purchased for me little Krsna, Radha, and he gave me, and I was imitating. Whatever foodstuff I was getting, I was offering to Krsna and eating. In this way I got my life developed. And there was a temple in our neighborhood. So I was seeing the Krsna Deity. Oh, I was thinking... I still remember. I was standing for hours together.

So in this way, practically we can understand that these facilities are given by the Lord. The Lord is always prepared to give us facility. Simply He wants to see that we are sincere.

 

[bhagavad-gita Lecture, 6.40-44, New York, September 18, 1966]

 

 

When I think of Radha-Krishna, I think of first the Radha-Govinda Vigraha of Mullicks Thakurabati because from my very

childhood I am devoted to the same Deity

 

So far the Calcutta land is concerned, your ambition to have a place like Mullicks Thakurabati, the pilgrimage of my childhood, is also my ambition. When I think of Radha-Krishna, I think of first the Radha-Govinda Vigraha of Mullicks Thakurabati because from my very childhood I am devoted to the same Deity; but at the same time it is not an easy task to have such a big plot of land in Calcutta city at the present moment.

 

[s.P. Letter to: Acyutananda, Los Angeles, 27 January, 1970]

 

 

"Please bless my son that he can become a servant of Radharani."

That was his prayer. He never prayed for anything.

And he gave me education how to play mrdanga.

 

So if these children are being taught from the very beginning of their life... We had the opportunity of being trained up by our parents like this. So some way or other, they have come to... (break) Many saintly persons used to visit my father's house. My father was Vaisnava. He was Vaisnava, and he wanted me to become a Vaisnava. Whenever some saintly person would come, he would ask him, "Please bless my son that he can become a servant of Radharani." That was his prayer. He never prayed for anything. And he gave me education how to play mrdanga. My mother was against. There was two teachers--one for teaching me A-B-C-D, and one for teaching me mrdanga. So the one teacher was waiting and the other teacher was teaching me how to play on mrdanga. So my mother would be angry that "What is this nonsense? You are teaching mrdanga? What he will do with this mrdanga?" (chuckles) But perhaps my father wanted that I should be a great mrdanga player in the future. (laughter) Therefore I am very much indebted to my father, and I have dedicated my book, Krsna book, to him. He wanted this. He wanted me to be preacher of Bhagavata, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and player of mrdanga and to become servant of Radharani. So every parent should think like that; otherwise one should not become father and mother. That is the injunction in the sastra. That is stated in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, Fifth Canto, pita na sa syaj janani na sa syad gurur na sa syat sva-jano na sa syat. In this way, the conclusion is, na mocayed yah samupeta-mrtyum. If one is unable to rescue his disciple from the imminent danger of death, he should not become a guru. One should not become father or mother if he cannot do so.

 

[s.P. Arrival Lecture, Dallas, March 3, 1975]

 

 

He gave me mrdanga. He engaged a teacher for learning

mrdanga playing. Sometimes my mother was irritated.

 

This Krsna Consciousness Movement is to be learned from the very childhood. So far personally we are concerned, my father taught me this Krsna consciousness from the very childhood. My father was a great Vaisnava, and I had the opportunity of taking birth in that family. So he gave me lessons of this Krsna consciousness from the very beginning of my life. He gave me mrdanga. He engaged a teacher for learning mrdanga playing. Sometimes my mother was irritated. But somehow or other, I got the inspiration from my father worshiping a small Radha-Krsna Deity.

 

[Pandal Lecture, Delhi, November 12, 1971]

 

 

 

I am very much indebted to my father, for he took care of me

in such a way that I became perfectly Krsna conscious.

 

Dr. Benford: Is it true that the children of all such parents are somewhat spiritually superior to the children of other parents?

Srila Prabhupada: Generally, yes. They get the opportunity of being trained by the mother and father. Fortunately, my father was a great devotee, so I received this training from the very beginning. Somehow or other I had this spark of Krsna consciousness, and my father detected it. Then I accepted my spiritual master. In this way I have come to this stage of sannyasa [the renounced monastic order]. I am very much indebted to my father, for he took care of me in such a way that I became perfectly Krsna conscious. My father used to receive many saintly persons at our home, and to every one of them he used to say, "Kindly bless my son so that he may become a servant of Radharani [Lord Krsna's eternal consort]." That was his only ambition. He taught me how to play the mrdanga drum, although sometimes my mother was not very satisfied. She would say, "Why are you teaching him to play mrdanga?" But my father would say, "No, no, he must learn a little mrdanga." My father was very affectionate to me. Therefore, if due to past pious activities one gets a good father and mother, that is a great chance for advancing in Krsna consciousness.

 

[The Journey of Self-Discovery, The Physics of the Self] *For editors comments see appendix 3

 

 

 

Only the new thing I am doing--writing of books by the

order of Guru Maharaja. Otherwise, whatever I have

introduced, I was trained up in childhood.

 

Prabhupada: In Bhagavata there are many instances, very old man married. Anyway, this gentleman was such a nice devotee. Oh.

Tamala Krsna: What was particularly nice about his devotional quality?

Prabhupada: Hm?

Tamala Krsna: Which devotional qualities particularly did he...?

Prabhupada: Because later on he retired--he was a pleader--so whole day and night, simply devotee. Sometimes he would offer obeisances to the Deity. Actually he was old man. He'll fall asleep by... And he would remain in that two, three hours.

Tamala Krsna: Two or three hours? Wow. Wow. Completely devoted.

Prabhupada: Oh, yes. And daily he would go to the Ganges.

Tamala Krsna: What was his name, Srila Prabhupada?

Prabhupada: His name was Nanda Dulal Phaini(?). So yesterday I was thinking of him, and I said it in my... I am being purified by thinking of him. That follows certainly(?).

Tamala Krsna: Yeah.

Prabhupada: Similarly, the whole atmosphere... Because we were children, we were going here and there, the neighboring hoods (neighborhoods), all houses... Everyone devotee.

Tamala Krsna: Must have been a wonderful atmosphere.

Prabhupada: Wonderful. We do not find such atmosphere now. Even maidservant, servant. Their character was not very good--still devotee(?). And this was the opportunity.

Tamala Krsna: Each of us is society.

Prabhupada: Radha-Govinda Mandir. And the center was that Mullik Radha-Krsna. These Mulliks, some of them were characterless. Characterless means rich men, they kept prostitute. But still devotee. In the morning they would, after taking (indistinct), changing clothes, they must go to see Radha-Govinda.

Tamala Krsna: And they liked to see Radha-Govinda.

Prabhupada: They were devotee. Without seeing Radha-Govinda, they would not take their (indistinct).

Tamala Krsna: Was the Deity very nicely worshiped?

Prabhupada: Oh, at that time.

Tamala Krsna: Like in our temples.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: Really?

Prabhupada: Dress, jewelry, and foodstuff, oh... We would offer kacuris, very big, first-class, and luci, all very crispy.

Tamala Krsna: Ah, crispy.

Prabhupada: Yes. And ksira and rabari and similarly other... In the plate, you see?

Tamala Krsna: Wow!

Prabhupada: And it was the custom of the Mulliks, daily prasadam, they should not eat all them. Keep something as a balance--some neighborhood men, they will sell. This was...

Tamala Krsna: Distribution of prasadam.

Prabhupada: Distribution.

Tamala Krsna: So actually you learned all these things in those early days...

Prabhupada: Hm. Hm.

Tamala Krsna: ...at Radha-Govinda Temple.

Prabhupada: Yes, that was the training in the childhood. This Ratha-yatra, Radha-Govinda seva, prasada distribution. Only the new thing I am doing--writing of books by the order of Guru Maharaja. Otherwise, whatever I have introduced, I was trained up in childhood. I simply imitated. I am simply surprised. Now it is... Even a low class... Formerly all our maidservant and neighborhood maidservant, they had two business, one prostitute and one maidservant. Otherwise they could not maintain. Simply by becoming maidservant, no sufficient income. We were paying them for not whole time three rupees.

Tamala Krsna: Wow!

Prabhupada: Per month. So one house, three rupees, another house, three rupees, another house... In this way their income was ten to twelve rupees. So that was not suffi...

Tamala Krsna: Not much.

Prabhupada: So they had to allow the prostitution. But they were happy. But in that income in those men, they had a guru. A guru would come.

Tamala Krsna: They had a guru.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: Even the maidservants.

Prabhupada: In Bengal there is professional guru. They travel from one house to another. Our paternal guru was coming like that.

Tamala Krsna: You had a professional guru also?

Prabhupada: Hm?

Tamala Krsna: You had a paternal guru?

Prabhupada: Yes. I was initiated by that professional guru at the age of twelve years. Later on I rejected that.

Tamala Krsna: I wonder if he had any thought that his disciple, Your Divine Grace, would be one day such a devotee all over the world. You always say that's the perfection of a guru, if he has good disciple. So your professional guru had a best disciple.

Prabhupada: Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami later on, when I was young man, manager in Dr. Bose's laboratory... That my friend, Naren Mullik, he took me. There is direction. For real guru one can give up this professional guru.

Tamala Krsna: Yeah. Oh, yeah.

Prabhupada: So all of a sudden I remember this Nanda Dulal Gosai. I was thinking like this, what a great devotee he was. He was observing some of the festivals, I think, Janmastami or Nandotsava, something, great, inviting friends, offering good prasadam. And he was living in a quarter full of Muhammadans.

 

[s.P. Conversation about, Old Days in Calcutta, July 1, 1977, Vrndavana]