While gathering and reviewing information for writing about Srila Prabhupada and Juhu, I came across an interesting conversation with him that I thought to share with you. —GS

Hrdayananda: Your Bombay project is very impressive. We’ve just taken a tour.

Prabhupada: Therefore I persistently took that place. Nobody encouraged me, “He is all . . .” Nobody helped me. I hesitated a little, that “If I am persistent to take it, they will not cooperate. It may be a failure.” Still, I took it. And only fifty thousand and one lakh of rupees I gave this thief Nair: “All right, take it. Come on. Whatever I have got, you take it.” Still he thought, “Oh. I’ll get money.”

Tamala Krsna: He had already played the trick with one man.

Prabhupada: Still, I took the risk, that “I have no money. If he cheats me, that’s all right, but let me attempt.”

Tamala Krsna: Then you installed the Deity as soon as possible.

Prabhupada: Yes. Immediately Akash Ganga left. All Krsna’s desire.

Tamala Krsna: Everyone is appreciating how wonderful this project is—all of Bombay.

Prabhupada: So many obstacles, one after another, one after another, one after another.

Tamala Krsna: Krsna would not leave.

Prabhupada: No. That was my request: “Please sit down here tight. Then I shall do everything.”

Pancadravida: Practically, Giriraja has not left either.

Prabhupada: Yes. He has not trembled in any circumstance. That is his qualification. That nasty, hot [place], and mosquitoes. You also lived there. No gentleman can live.

Pancadravida: I lived there also, Srila Prabhupada. So many rats.

Prabhupada: Rats, mosquitoes, and so much inconvenience. [You] had no place. Sometimes here, sometimes there, sometimes there.

Tamala Krsna: You were also so inconvenienced. You had to move. One time you were living in that . . .

Prabhupada: But you . . . For me you make good arrangement wherever I live, that’s all. But I know how you were living in that nasty hut, full of dirty things, mosquitoes, rats, dripping of water. And Nair is attacking, municipality is attacking.

Tamala Krsna: You always said that we were so trained that we would even live on the roadside.

Prabhupada: Oh, yes. That you are trained. [laughs] You don’t care for this palace or underneath a tree.

Tamala Krsna: Formerly we were living like that as hippies, and now we live like that to serve you.

(Room Conversation, March 22, 1977, Bombay)

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Is it that we have to come to the stage of ruchi to hear these pastimes?

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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 22 June 2014, Bhaktivedanta Manor, London, Caitanya Caritamrta Adi-Lila 8.63-66)

When Krsna left Vrindavan and entered the wrestling arena in Mathura, which was all staged by Kamsa, it is described that different people in the audience were perceiving Krsna in different ways. Some were seeing Krsna as paramatma; the ladies in Mathura were very attracted to Krsna and saw him as cupid personified but it was also said that there were some people in the audience who saw him just like stone because when one’s heart is made of stone then one thinks that the deity is made of stone.

The Caitanya Caritamrta describes how Lord Caitanya left West Bengal and went to Jagannath Puri. It is described that when he went to Jagannath Puri, on the way he stopped in a few places – one place was Remuna and another place was just outside of Puri, at the temple of Saksi-gopal. Then we get to hear both those stories – the story of Ksira-cora-gopinath in Remuna and the story of Saksi-gopal.

In the story of Ksira-cora-gopinath, Lord Caitanya remembered how previously Madhavendra Puri was there and how Madhavendra Puri had heard about the sweet rice which they offer in Remuna to the deity of Gopinath; it is known as amrta-keli – a play of nectar. It was very famous. So when he saw this offering that was going on, he developed a desire to offer a similar preparation to his own deity, and therefore he desired to know the taste. Then he was thinking, “I am such a sinful wretch. I am desiring to taste things when the offering is not even completed!” He left that place seeing himself as an offender but later that night, the pujari had a dream.

In his dream, the pujari saw the deity of Gopinath who told him that he had reserved a pot of sweet rice for his devotee Madhavendra Puri and the deity ordered the pujari to make arrangements to deliver that sweet rice. So, the pujari immediately got up, first took his bath and then went onto the altar to take that sweet rice and deliver it to Madhavendra Puri although he had no idea who Madhavendra Puri was or where he was! But he just took the sweet rice and went calling out loud, “Is there some called Madhavendra Puri? The Lord has kept some sweet rice for you… Oh, Madhavendra Puri!” Eventually, Madhavendra Puri identified himself and got that sweet rice.

The other story of Saksi-gopal, is of two brahmanas is Vrindavan. One is elderly and wealthy and the younger other one was quite poor. The younger one served the elder one very nicely and as a result, the elder one was so pleased that he said, “You should marry my daughter.” The younger brahmana said, “Sir, you are an aristocratic brahmana and I am just a simple person. I am not a suitable match! Your family will not approve.” The elderly brahmana replied, “No, you must marry my daughter! I am the boss in my house.” But when they returned home, it wasn’t quite so. The family was very upset and threw a major tantrum. His wife was saying that she would commit suicide and the rest of the family said that they will take poison and kill themselves! Finally the elder brahmana asked, “What do I do? I made a promise!” His eldest son said, “Just say that you don’t remember…”

So the situation came when the young brahmana asked for the promised to be fulfilled and the elder brahmana said, “I cannot remember!” As is customary in India, when there is some disagreement, then a crowd of people get involved and they pass judgment. So the whole village was called and they heard the story from both sides and they were in doubt.

The young brahmana said, “I have a witness. The deity is my witness!” and he went to Vrindavan and he brought that deity. He went before the deity and said, “Gopal, you have to come as a witness.” Gopal said, “I am a deity. How can I walk?” The young brahmana said, “If you can talk, you can walk!” So subsequently, the deity walked across India and came to the village to testify and then everyone believed the younger brahmana.

Both the stories are interesting because they show that the deity is Krsna. In both stories, the deity becomes active and does things. In this way, there is no doubt… it takes it beyond doubt, “Is he really God?” The stories prove that the deity is really the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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Lord Siva as the deliverer, carving a deity of Krsna, guidance for keeping pets and the creation of souls.

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Srimad Bhagvatam Class – His Holiness Candramauli Swami – 27th June 2014 – 6.05.25

Srila Prabhupada greets Sri Radha Vrindaban Natha at the original New Vrindaban farmhouse – June 1976.

Srila Prabhupada Sees Deity Worship in New Vrindaban as Being of “the Highest Standard” in ISKCON – December 1974.

From a series of letters written by Srila Prabhupada outlining his vision for New Vrindaban.

Thanks to Vanipedia for the source material.

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December 19, 1974

Bridesville, Canada

My dear Bahudak,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated Dec. 3, 1974 and have noted the contents.

The pictures of your newly installed Deities are very very nice. And you can name them Sri Sri Radha-Madan Mohan. The Deity worship should be done very carefully and nicely. Sri-vigraharadhana-nitya-nana, srngara-tan-mandira-marjanadau, yuktasya bhaktams ca niyunjato’pi, vande guroh sri-caranaravindam. You should make sure that there is nice arati program; six arati daily at least. You should make sure that there is nice fresh, clean dress every morning, nice bathing ceremony every morning, nice offerings of prasadam. You should see that the Deity is tended for and cooked for only by the duly second initiated brahmanas. The Deity should have nice flowers everyday etc., etc. You should try to bring Them up to the highest standard, such as we have in Los Angeles or New Vrindaban. Sri Sri Radha-Madan Mohan have kindly descended in Their arca vigraha form now you must receive Them with that consciousness. And by serving Them you will all develop pure love of Krsna.

Thanking you for helping me in my mission. Occasionally send me report of how things are going on there. I hope this meets you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS/ps

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This talk is a part of the "Fascinating Mahabharata Characters" series. To know more about this course, please visit: bhakticourses.com

BG 08.26-27 Devotee Pro & Tennis Fanatic 2014-07-03 LJUBLJANA

Lecture – Bhagavad Gita 8.26-27 Devotee Pro & Tennis Fanatic 7/3/2014

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 11 April 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, Lecture at House Program)

I remember a Vyasa puja offering from Bhurijana, a senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada. He joined in 1968 and then around 40 years later, Bhurijana wrote an offering to Prabhupada. In the offering he wrote, “I do not really have anything to report. I did not really do anything extraordinary this year. I did not distribute many books. The only thing I can say is that I am still here.”

I liked that offering because he made a deep point – 40 years and still here! That is something. There are many who have been around for more than 40 years and are still here. If we are still here that makes all the difference. At the end of the day, we can try to convince the world but are we ourselves convinced?

We have to be convinced; we have to really dedicate ourselves and to give everything we have. It has to come to that, we can take some time to get there, no problem. It is not that we have a burnout program where everyone has to push themselves beyond their limits, but for how long are we going to drag our feet? A few more grey hairs and still dragging our feet! How many years do we have anyway. Actually, what guarantee do we have that we are going to get old so how long can we postpone? This is not only for you – it is for me also. How long can I postpone? So many things I am postponing. How long can I postpone?

I have books I want to finish. I always find a reason why I cannot do it – too busy, too tired, health, this that, always reasons not to finish and I was thinking, “Yeah, but Srila Prabhupada just focused. He just focused.” So if we focus, it will be done. If we focus, so many things will be done. If you really focus then I think so many things become possible! So when will we focus?

Those kinds of thoughts we have and we think, ‘Yeah, but I also want some happiness in this world.’ All right, have some happiness in this world but understand that it is going to be ‘some’. Have a piece of cake with lots of cream, and it is tasty, but then afterwards you have to deal with the thing, you know. Once you have swallowed it, the fun of it is over. Once it has passed the tongue then the fun of the cake is over. It blows up in the stomach like a sponge, ‘That was a heavy cake!’ Oh God, how many heavy cakes is it going to take? How much enjoyment? Have some but it is over in a snap.

‘I want some love.’ Okay have some love in the world. Love, love, love and then it gets down to business. It is not only love but it is also bills, it is also duty, it is also responsibility! There is also maintenance and taking care, and when you do not want to then it is not so romantic at all. Fine have all these things but when are we going to focus on Krsna and on going back to Godhead, and making that a priority? That is the question?