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.
