Tag: pastimes

Wonderful pastimes of Srila Prabhupada – Part 2

Let us reflect upon few wonderful pastimes of Srila Prabhupada.

Devotees complain to Srila Prabhupada when they are asked to have only two gulab jamuns

Once there was a challenge to keep devotees happy. In New Vrindavan, devotees were leading an austere life.  Prasadam was very simple. I had gone there in 1977.  In breakfast devotees were taking oat water, lunch was rice, sabji and sag (spinach) which they would get from nearby jungle.  But on Sunday there was big feast – paneer, sweet rice, halwa, gulab jamun etc.

Devotees would take around ten gulab jamuns. Kirtananda Swami said, “No one should do sense gratification. Take only two gulab jamuns.” Devotees were unhappy. They complained to Prabhupada. Prabhupada said, “You all eat as many gulab jamuns as you want to eat but Kirtananda will have only two.”

How Prabhupada encourages a 12-year-old boy

Srila Prabhupada would deal with devotees in amazing way. Once a 12-year-old boy wanted to make lunch for Prabhupada. Prabhupada wanted to encourage him, so he allowed him to make lunch. But everything was a mess. Rice was sticking, chapati went cracker, sabji was not cooked properly. But when the boy asked, “How was the lunch?” Prabhupada said, “It was nice.”

Prabhupada wants the devotees to not have pride

Yamuna Devi Dasi was an expert cook. She was making chapati for Prabhupada. But she got little pride.  She started thinking that my chapatis are so nice – fluffy and soft. Once after serving chapati to Prabhupada, she asked, “How are the chapatis?” Prabhupada said, “Not so good.”

He then asked Satswarup Maharaja to make chapatis. He made chapatis but its shape was that of India and was not cooked properly. But Prabhupada said that the chapatis are nice. When Prabhupada was saying this Yamuna Devi was sitting there.

When we preach then we have the power of entire guru parampara

A godbrother of mine was very kind-hearted. He joined Iskcon in Montreal Canada, in 1968. He was not a charismatic preacher, not a great kirtaniya. Once Prabhupada said that in Europe I want to open a centre. Shivananda Prabhu volunteered to go to Europe. He was in the movement just for 6 months. He opened first temple of Iskcon in Europe. Faith in guru and sastra very important. Most important prayer is

yasya prasādād bhagavat-prasādo
yasyāprasādān na gatiḥ kuto ‘pi
dhyāyan stuvaḿs tasya yaśas tri-sandhyaḿ
vande guroḥ śrī-caraṇāravindam

“By the mercy of the spiritual master one receives the benediction of Krsna. Without the grace of the spiritual master, one cannot make any advancement. Therefore, I should always remember and praise the spiritual master. At least three times a day I should offer my respectful obeisances unto the lotus feet of my spiritual master.”

Each of you can do the same thing. Most of you are having more knowledge and experience then Shivananda Prabhu. When you go to preach, power of entire guru parampara is with you.

Businessmen could not hold their tears when they saw Prabhupada

Srila Prabhupada once went to airport. At that time people could come inside the airport. Hundreds of devotees were there doing kirtan. When Prabhupada came out, devotees started paying him obeisances.  There were two businessmen at the airport, they were well dressed. When they saw devotees love for Prabhupada, tears started coming from their eyes. Prabhupada was like Sukhdev Goswami, he entered everyone’s heart.

Debraha baba composes a sloka to glorify Srila Prabhupada

Debraha baba was very old. Some said, he was 250 years old, some said 500 years old and some said 750 years old. No one knew his actual age.  Great political leaders like Rajendra Prasad, Indira Gandhi would go to meet him.

He stayed on a tree branch near the Ganges. One of my godbrothers went to meet him. When he saw the Hare Krishna devotees, he climbed down from the tree to meet them. He compiled one sloka glorifying Prabhupada.

(These wonderful pastimes of Srila Prabhupada are based on the class given by His Grace Sarvadrik Prabhu, Srila Prabhupada’s disciple, on 18th Aug 2025 at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata).

For more wonderful pastimes of Srila Prabhupada, read – Pastimes of Srila Prabhupada – Part 1

Three Reflections

• Prabhupada appreciates the service attitude of a 12-year-old boy.
• Prabhupada wants the devotees to not have pride.
• When we preach then we have the power of entire guru Parampara.

Ask Yourself

• Am I doing service in Krishna Consciousness movement with right consciousness as per the guidelines of Prabhupada?

Action Item

• Reflect upon the service you did for Krishna, and you looked down upon others thinking that you are the best.
• Take a vow to give up pride and superiority complex and appreciate others for their efforts.

Pastimes of Srila Prabhupada – Part 1

We recently celebrated, 129^th Vyasa Puja of Srila Prabhupada.  On this occasion let us reflect upon few of the pastimes of Srila Prabhupada and the lessons we learn from these pastimes.

There are two Bhagavats – one is “book bhagavat” & another is “person bhagavat.”

We cannot understand “book bhagavata” without “person bhagavat.”

We understand book by the help of devotees, by their teachings and examples. Srila Prabhupada was a “person bhagavat.” By his personal examples, he showed how to be always Krishna conscious.

Just as Krishna comes, similarly his pure devotees come to this world. They come from the Lord’s personal abode like Vrindavan. Srila Prabhupada came from Vrindavan to this material world to take us back to Krishna’s abode.

While he was here, Srila Prabhupada performed many pastimes, let us medidate upon few of those pastimes.

Lord Krishna gives Kadamba flower garland to Srila Prabhupada

Before establishing Iskcon, Srila Prabhupada started “League of devotees” in Jhansi. There he was staying with his first disciple, Acharya Prabhakar. Once it was Janmashtami, Acharya Prabhakar was on a business trip and Srila Prabhupada was alone in the house. When Acharya Prabhakar came in the night, he saw Srila Prabhupada in ecstasy. He was playing mridanga and was dancing. 

Prabhupada was wearing a beautiful garland made of Kadamba flower. The whole atmosphere was filled with the fragrance of kadamba flowers. Acharya Prabhakar was astonished.  He was thinking how can Srila Prabhupada get the garland of this flower.

First, it was not the season for Kadamba flower and also in entire Jhansi, there are no Kadamba flowers. Seeing Prabhupada in bliss, he thought he will ask this question to Prabhupada next day morning.

He asked next morning to Srila Prabhupada, “Last night you were wearing a garland made of Kadamba flowers, from where you got this garland? Also, why were you dancing in such a great joy playing mridanga?”  Srila Prabhupada said, “Yesterday Lord Krishna appeared, and he gave me the Kadamba garland.” Prabhupada further said, “When I tried to touch his feet, he disappeared.”

Power of Srila Prabhupada’s names

As the name of Krishna is powerful so is Prabhupada’s name.  One of my friends, Aindra Prabhu, was attacked by a brahma rakshasa in dream. He chanted Narasimha mantra, but the monster did not go. He then chanted Hare Krishna mahamantra and the brahma rakshasa too chanted Hare Krishna Mahamantra. 

My friend thought I have to die now. Then he began chanting Prabhupada’s name and then there was no more brahma rakshasa.

Krishna’s mercy upon those who perform morning sadhana

Srila Prabhupada said to one devotee, “Your painting is window to spiritual world.” A devotee said to Prabhupada that he wants to join an art class to refine his skill. Srila Prabhupada said, “It is not required. If you want to become an expert artist, do one thing, follow morning program – from mangala arati to Srimad Bhagavatam Class. Krishna will give you all skill required to serve him.”

Krishna says in Bhagavad Gia 10.10.  

teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ
bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam
dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ
yena mām upayānti te

Translation

“To those who are constantly devoted to serving Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.”

And we see the result. Devotees have produced so many beautiful paintings of Krishna and his devotees.

Prabhupada knows how to convince people

Srila Prabhupada instructed one devotee, “You become the temple president.” The devotee said, “I am not qualified.”  But Prabhupada insisted. Devotee was saying, “I will spoil everything. You give me some other service.”  Srila Prabhupada said then take sannyas.

He said, “I am a married man, and I have son. How can I take sannyas? I can do anything you say but do not ask me to take sannyas.”

Prabhupada said, “Ok, then become temple president.”

(These pastimes of Srila Prabhupada are based on the class given by His Grace Sarvadrik Prabhu, Srila Prabhupada’s disciple, on 18th Aug 2025 at Iskcon Newtown Kolkata).

Three Reflections

• Krishna appeared during Janmashtami and gave Kadamba flower garland to Srila Prabhupada.
• Prabhupada’s name saved a devotee.
• Srila Prabhupada said to a devotee, “If you want to become an expert artist, do one thing, follow morning program – from mangala arati to Srimad Bhagavatam Class. Krishna will give you all skill required to serve him.”

Ask Yourself?

• Have I read Srila Prabhupada’s biography – Śrīla Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta?

Action Item

• If not, then please read it here – Śrīla Prabhupāda-līlāmṛta

On this Janmashtami take a vow to never leave Krishna’s shelter

Today is Janmashtami, appearance day of Lord Krishna. Krishna, the Personality of Godhead, does not take birth like you and me. His appearance in this world is extraordinary and transcendental.

This is why in Bhagavad Gita he says that one who understands his birth and activities will never again return back to this material world.  Such a fortunate soul will get freedom from the repeated cycle of birth and death, and he will go back to his abode. 

“One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.” Bhagavad Gita 4.9

Krishna is permanent and everything else is temporary.  Our house, job, family members and even our body will go one day. But Krishna will always remain. So, it is better to develop a strong relationship with Krishna. Material life promises a lot but gives nothing. This is why Krishna says, “Do not waste your time here, you come to me, and I will give you everything.”  

Any sane man will accept Krishna’s invitation and will take a vow to never leave him. Krishna appeared and performed so many extraordinary pastimes to convince us that he is the Supreme Lord. He performed so many sweet pastimes especially in Vrindavan to attract us and also to invite us to be part of such loving pastimes.

You and I have tried our best to be happy here without Krishna. And now we know that life without Krishna is like life without soul. So, now let us give up our stubbornness and take complete shelter of Krishna.

Krishna floods our life with bliss

On this auspicious day of Janmashtami, let us decide to dedicate our life completely to Krishna and say to him loudly and clearly, “Krishna I am yours, please accept me.”   On this Janmashtami take a vow to never leave Krishna’s shelter.

As soon as we will wholeheartedly accept Krishna as the most important person of our life, happiness and auspicious will begin flooding our life. Suffering will just disappear from our life. How can there be any suffering when we begin loving Krishna?

One of the best ways to show that we really love Krishna is by chanting his holy names like the Hare Krishna Mahamantra. When we chant then we connect with Krishna and when we remain connected with Krishna then we will always be in bliss.  

In Srimad Bhagavatam it is described in detail that when Krishna was about to appear then everywhere there was sign of auspiciousness and happiness.  Everyone was experiencing happiness.

Although Devaki’s six children were brutally killed and the seventh child she thought she lost but still she also started experiencing joy from within. Her body became effulgent and there was divine bliss on her face.

“At that time (Krishna’s appearance), in all directions – east, west, south, north, everywhere – there was an atmosphere of peace and prosperity. There were auspicious stars visible in the sky, and on the surface of the earth – in all towns and villages and pasturing grounds and within the minds of everyone – there were signs of good fortune.” Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Chapter 3, The Birth of Lord Kṛṣṇa

Three Reflections

• One who understands Krishna’s birth get freedom from the repeated cycle of birth and death and returns back to the abode of Krishna. 
• Krishna performed so many sweet pastimes especially in Vrindavan to attract us and also to invite us to be part of such loving pastimes.
• One of the best ways to show that we really love Krishna is by chanting his holy names like the Hare Krishna Mahamantra.

Ask Yourself

• Have I completed my chanting of 16 rounds of Hare Krishna Mahamantra?

Action Item

• If not, then please complete chanting 16 rounds of Hare Krishna Mahamantra.