20130314 Śrīla Prabhupāda Kathā

Talk Given by H.H. Jayapataka Swami Maharaj on March 14th 2013 

At Sridham Mayapur, India

The talk was about pastimes with Srila Prabhupad

So this class will be on Prabhupad Lila and Gaur lila. I thought to first mention Prabhupad Lila , this will form the part of the book that some devotees are requesting me to write about Srila Prabhupad. Soon after the establishment of Iskcon Mayapur, it was decided by Srila Prabhupad to have the Gaura Purnima festival. So even there was no building, there were only tents, still Srila Prabhupad wanted the festival , and so different devotees came to Mayapur, maybe first year about 150. So we gave them prasadam, and Prabhupad spoke every day. We also distributed free food to the local guests and the festival was very well attended. It seemed that there were many people who came,  so at that time we had bamboo gate and the people were invited in . So they came and  Prabhupad gave very nice classes. 

Like this first Srila Prabhupada wanted us to make our own products, so he told me to facilitate devotees to make mridangas. Also to have handlooms to make cloth. So we learnt  some  secrets about  the mridanga making. The ordinary leather cannot be used. If a cow or bull is killed ,  then they would put salt on the leather .Salt expands with humidity and that’s not useful. So we needed a cow or bull that dies a  natural death, and leather had to be tied, stretched and dried in the sun.No Salt. So we have to keep away the dogs . Then after the leather was dried and washed, then it was cut into strips , so that it could be placed on the mridanga and some could be used as the heads. So then the mridanga maker,  he showed us how to  string on the mridanga and how to put the mud on the head. Mud is called Gab,  Gab, G-A-B ,  they put one layer of the mud, it dries , put another layer, it dries, another layer, it dries, like this they  put many layers. It has to be particular mud, not any mud. Because when you hit it , it shouldn’t crack and fall off, it has to stay there.( Gurumaharaj makes sound  and shows action of playing a mridanga, Haribol!!) So like this ,where the long building is there now, we had three or four devotees who learnt to make mridangas. Later they went to Los Angeles and  there they made the mridanga drum with fiberglass. Also here they make clay round mridanga  instead they make thin fibreglass and put the leather over, so that’s not breakable...not breakable ( Gurumaharaj repeats) So like this they would have variety of mridanga products. So this was started here in Mayapur.

Also Prabhupad wanted to export the kartaals. We had brass kartaal, bell metal kartaal, Big Difference, brass kartaal goes Bing Bing Bing Pong Pong Pong ( translator repeats the same , audience giggle and laugh), but if you have a bell metal kartaal  Tinnnnggggg  Tinnnnggggg Tinnnnnggggg, ( Gurumaharaj makes the sound and action) when tested it should ring for a minute  or more Tinnnngggggggg. 

So there were people who were expert in making bell metal kartaals. And bell metal costs more than brass, so Srila Prabhupad wanted the best kartaals, Tiiiiinnnnnnggggg.So like this mridanga and kartaal  they were the basis.

Then we had also the handlooms. There was one guy who said,”I can’t see it , it’s too thin”. Then we sent him to Navadwip to see an eye doctor, he got glasses, Ha Ha Ha ( Gurumaharaj laughs) , spectacles.

“Oh !! now I can see Ha Ha. ( Gurumaharaj laughs) So like this we had our own handlooms. There were two kinds of handlooms. There was a handloom which had some gears and automation, little bit, that’s called the Chittaranjan. And there was old traditional handloom, called the Taktaki, because of the sound it makes Tak Tak Tak. So we had both types, the Taktaki is very good for fine cloth, ( Gurumaharaj repeats ) Prabhupad said, how  in Santipur they were expert in  making fine cloth. And they could make such a fine cloth,that the British fine cloth merchants were out of business. So the British cut their thumbs off , of the fine cloth makers, so that they wouldn’t compete ,according to Srila Prabhupad.  They could fit a whole dhoti in a little match box, so fine. Anyway we didn’t make that fine, nobody cut our thumbs, Ha Ha ( Gurumaharaj laughs) Like this we made sarees, dhotis, ghamchaas. But devotees they are misers, if they charge one rupee more than the market they would buy from the market. But our dhotis were all the way same , all the way through. But the market dhotis, on the edge they show fine weave, but in the middle it spreads out, because nobody checks the middle. But you wear in the middle, you don’t wear  in the edge. Our dhotis would last longer, but people would save their rupee , buy from the market and get cheated.

Srila Prabhupad said we should make our own products, we should grow  our own food and that would be karma free, but it may cost an extra rupee Ha Ha ( Gurumaharaj laughs).So learning all these things was a  very nice experience.

Srila Prabhupad said , “Since we need a boundary wall , on the front boundary, build boundary rooms”. So we have the rooms along the long boundary,  and those are still there. That side all the shops are those rooms, and this side some medical and dharamshala  ( translator says type shops) ( Gurumaharaj corrects and repeats ) dharamsala type.

I was a science student, I bought the Indian Civil engineering manual, it was that thick. And we would build according to the specifications, you  see now even after 40 years, no crack. 

This building was built according to the design of Srila Prabhupad. He was very tight with the Laxmi. You know how much we spent on this building?? Six lakhs, twenty five thousand. One room in the other building cost six lakhs, and this whole building costs six lakhs, twenty five thousand. Of course there was some inflation. So all of sudden we had boundary rooms, we had kitchen, we had prasad hall and little bit to the west  of the samadhi was outdoor bathrooms and shower rooms , (repeats) shower rooms. Ladies facilities were inside and outside for the men, circular, it was a crazy design. One day Prabhupad was inspecting and he knocked open one door, (repeats) knocked open. Someone had passed, but didn’t flush it down,it was still there ( devotees giggle and laugh) Prabhupad said, chastising all of us,”What kind of Brahmins are you, where there is a Brahmin there should be cleanliness.This is not clean, what kind of Brahmins are you.Just at that moment, (Translator says pardon, Gurumaharaj repeats), just at that moment one of the GBC’s from England, ( repeats) England , UK , he showed up , he came up. He saw Prabhupad chastising us and he was smiling ( audience giggle and laugh) Prabhupad got onto him, “What kind of Brahmin are you??”( Gurumaharaj and all laugh) No, I just came.” ( All laugh) Because Srila Prabhupad , he was training us that we have to take responsibility, to see that the temple is very clean. Srila Prabhupad was training us into that mood. So if he turns into that mood, everybody knew he was very serious and this GBC came, he was smiling, it was a WROONNGG  mood . ( all laugh, Gurumaharaj ask in the audience, so what do you think, then he laughs Hah hah). So it was very ecstatic to be with Srila Prabhupad, but it was very heavy also. But that heavy was nectar, because you really felt he was training you, and that he was caring for everybody, he wanted to establish a proper standard.

Then he was walking by, there was a pile of sugarcane stalks. Because at that time there was a sugar cane crusher across the road and they carry over the sugar cane, crush it, get out the juice , then they would get down into gur, that is a whole process.( repeats) that is a whole process. Meanwhile, some kids had taken  out some of the sugarcane stalks and they were chewing on them, and spitting the pieces on the ground. There was one kid about three years old, he had a little or no clothing ( repeats) little or no clothing I don’t know, he  was running around, one of Prabhupad disciples was sweeping the spittings. And sweeping it up next to the stack of the sugarcane stalks. So Prabhupad said to him,” Why have you come to the temple,you are Indian , you don’t know you are keeping the ucchishta, the spits  right next to the bhoga sugarcane, unoffered sugarcane.Then the whole thing becomes contaminated and won’t be able to offer to Krishna.Why are you sweeping next to the sugarcane”. Just at that moment , a little baby , three years old , a toddler, chewing on the sugarcane,spitting here and there , he ran by. So that  gentleman he went to grab the baby. Prabhupad said , “Don’t show your ustadi here.” (All laugh) ( Translator asks Gurumaharaj to explain what USTAADI means,as many wanted to know the meaning)

 Guru maharaj replies Ustaad is like a grand teacher like a mridanga , harmonium teacher. So Prabhupad was saying like don’t show off. “ What does the three year old know? He doesn’t  know  right  and  wrong you are sweeping the spit next to the bhoga , you should know better not this little baby. He doesn’t know.” So Srila Prabhupad was like this, you never knows what to expect but he wanted to train us and he was in Mayapur ,Vrindavan and he was hands on, put up his sleeves and get into it . Any dirt , anything ,he focused . The first two days of  his  visit, all praises , so nice,  temple is clean,  very nice and then  something would happen. Why this? Why this? ( All laugh ) The training begins.( Gurumaharaj laughs) Once Srila Prabhupad asked, “ What is the progress of the Lotus building. I sent  the pictures of stone chips, bricks and cement bags. He wrote me back, I don’t want to see bricks I want to see the building. ( Gurumaharaj and all laugh ) Srila Prabhupad ki jai!! 

 I had the mercy for working directly under the guidance of Srila Prabhupad. One time one member of the Gaudiya math, he wanted to stay in Iskcon Mayapur then Srila Prabhupad said, “ OK, you can stay in one of those rooms.” and when he was walking by he tapped on the door it was already six and that sadhu opened the door and he had  white mucus in his eyes. Prabhupad looked down, “Hit the road back.” He didn’t say that, he said  in Bengali but same purport . So if you want to stay here you should go to the morning program and, so like that Srila Prabhupad was showing us how to work. 

One day I was walking with Prabhupad  on the main road, there were many devotees and Prabhupad he was instructing me  something about the cows and when Srila Prabhupad gives his advice usually you should be submissive and take it but in this case I gave some argument  against him and then suddenly he didn’t talk to me anymore . “Cut off “ and then he turned to someone else and started talking to them. I felt every bad I realized I crossed the line and then some distance ahead I paid my obeisances and begged for forgiveness. So it was very intense sometimes to be with Srila Prabhupad. 

Srila Prabhupad sometimes advised  us that we should have 500 student devotees in the gurukul . At that time may be, we had almost hundred . Many were poor boys, whose parents otherwise couldn’t afford for education. Some of them were also from foreign countries somehow we were all together .Some of them now became leaders of our society like temple presidents or other leaders . So they had a very nice training and their parents, many  became devotees, also took initiation. 

Local stick fighters wanted to put on a performance for Srila Prabhupada, at that time this building was just finishing Prabhupad was on the first or second floor watching them and had two guys fighting with stick and one guy against two and one guy against three and one guy against four and they were swinging their sticks . One was reminded of Lord Krishna and Balaram who were also experts in stick fighting and then they asked a special permission for a show on dacoits, armed  robbery, it was a drama and then they were dancing with stick fighting and then one he filled his mouth with kerosene and he  blew, flame came out and they showed a mark robbery the feats of the robbers and I was thinking , “What this has got to do with devotional service?” But Prabhupad was watching them he thanked them. So in this way he was having his public relations with the local villagers. 

One day, every day  early in the morning we would have a race , who will clean Prabhupada's bathroom first  because the plumbing was not finished , so there was just  only one gallon empty  paint can and that would hold the night soil . That’s what we call what we produce in the toilet . ( Gurumaharaj chuckles) So we  would run there , who could take that bucket first, so that was the daily thing. 

One day I heard Prabhupad calling, “Jayapataka !! Jayapataka!!” I went running and there I saw a very unusual situation ,there was a snake in the door it was poisonous viper it was trying to bite Prabhupad .It just missed him, Prabhupad holding the door  and it was stuck in the door. Prabhupad couldn’t close the door and he also couldn’t come out. He was stuck and this snake was trying to bite him  and then he called me and it didn’t need any words. What to do? What to do?  It was a deadly snake.  So, I prayed to Krishna, for some intelligence  for what to do? Then I asked Prabhupada to remove his hand and as soon as he took the hand off I crushed , closed the door crushed the snake. ( All clap and say Haribol!!)  and then I quickly opened the door and grabbed took Prabhupad out. It was very ,very ,scary what to do at that time? Then Prabhupad said , “,if there is one ,there  must be  two, look around .” Sure enough ,there was another one, on the top ,that one fell down the chute. So we we tried  to find that, but we couldn’t. So the local villagers said they will burn the snake because the last person  the snake sees, the  image stays in the eyes.  Mate sees the image and  tries to kill that person .So we have to burn the snake. Like this  there was some danger at every step .Haribol!!  Any questions ?                  

  Question: I heard Srila Prabhuapad installed Ananthasesha. i wanted to know where he installed the Anantha sesha?

 Answer: This is in  reference to the class yesterday ,so the answer is somewhere near the West dome. There are three domes in the temple, West, East and the center any other questions?

 Questions from the classes?  Girls  

Question: Gurumaharaj, when we chant for the welfare of other person is it ok to imagine and chant in the ear of a  particular person?

 Answer: it is better if you chant in that person’s ear , otherwise are chanting for the pleasure of Krishna and if it pleases Krishna we want Him to save that devotee or to do something .But since we do not want to dictate to Krishna. If he could ,there should be some relatives or some other person and he could pray that if it is  not your wish to have that person safe he or she be born in the family of devotees. Something like that we have  a Facebook site called transcendental blessings, it is  my attempt for an outreach. You won’t find my name anywhere. 

You will find quotes  from various scriptures to establish the Supreme Personality of Godhead and to introduce some devotional service, to get some blessings .So there is a verse in the tenth canto, Lord Vishnu saving Siva from Vrithasura demon who got the blessing that anyone's head  he touches he will die and he wanted to test it first on Lord Siva, who gave him the blessings. So Siva was running away of course Siva is so powerful that  even he could kill  him , he could regenerate himself . He didn’t wanted to be tested ,so he was running away, but no one else could save him then he came to Vishnu loka . So Vishnu said hide I will take care of this.  So Lord Vishnu took a brahmin boy’s form, and then He said , “ Oh!!” to the Asura, what are you doing ??

“I am looking for Lord Shiva.” “Why?” “He gave me a blessing. Anybody’s head I touch that person will die.” “Do you believe in Lord Shiva? Do you believe in Lord Shiva?  Touch your head and see.” (Gurumaharaj touches his head.) ( All laugh)

So in that chapter it says, that anyone who reads it will be protected from all enemies and they are sure to go to the spiritual world. (Devotees , clap ,chanting Haribol!!) So these are transcendental blessings. So I have a site for this to get people to read the Vedic literatures.

Question: How many remaining instructions that Srila Prabhupad gave you that you need help?

Guru Maharaj: Who likes to help me to fulfill Srila Prabhupad’s vision and mission?

Devotees raising hands

 Gurumaharaj: Thank you!!

Translator says, Marici prabhu says to note down the names of all the people who raised their hands.

 Gurumaharaj:Most of the instructions are still pending. He told me please distribute the Krishna conscious philosophy unlimitedly, still little left.  (All Laugh along with Gurumaharaj)

Question :  After Guru Maharaj killed the snake, did you have any concern for karmic reactions?

Guru Maharaj: Because the shastras says that if you kill a snake because the snake by nature is so envious,  that if the snake bites anyone ,without any cause. I mean it’s not that you eat. You won’t eat him.  Srila Prabupad was not disturbing him but it was trying to bite Srila Prabhupad. So anyway it was a self-defence for the loved one. Or it was snake anyway. So even a saint is happy when a snake is killed because the snake is by nature envious against everyone. In this case I would not have any karma. It was protecting Srila Prabhupad and I have to save Srila Prabupad and for that if I have to visit hell , that’s ok.( Devotees chanting Haribol)

Devotee: Can you tell how Safari program started?

Gurumaharaj:Srila Prabhupad he would observe the festival first in Mayapur and then in Vrindavan and in between he took devotees to various places and had some in between festivals like Hyderabad and other places. So we wanted to keep up this tradition. Later the Vrindavan festival was more prominent in Kartik month. After the Gaura Purnima festival we would take devotees on a preaching safari. Sometimes we entered along the Ganges ,came by boat and then came to be known as Ganga Safari. Somehow every safari they had a song.

Gurumaharaj sings 

Ganga Ganga….Panihati….on the Ganga Safari. Ganga Ganga !

Like that every year they would present a song and a dance, so this year because it’s very late ,very hot so we are going North to Guwahati ,which ancient name is Divyapragjothishpur and Krishna visited there about three times. Once to save Rukmini, once to rescue 16,000 princesses from Narakasur and once to rescue his son or  grandson from Banasur who had a fight with Lord Shiva and there is also an ashram of Vashishta Muni. There’s a place where Krishna’s horses melted the stone and an ancient temple of Devi called Kamakhya Devi. Although she is the material energy she had various pastimes with Krishna. When Narakasura’s daughter came to attack Krishna after he liberated him, but Krishna doesn’t fight against any women. Then Kamakhya Devi came and Narakasura’s daughter immediately offered obeisances to Kamakhya Devi. Kamakhya Devi said “Touch Lord Krishna’s feet, that will be your uncle -in- law”. So she touched his feet later she became the wife of Ghatotkacha the son of Bhima and Hidimba, whose was half demon and half Bhima. Because she touched the feet of Lord Krishna she became purified therefore she could marry the son of Bhima.

Recently only about thirty years ago or more one devotee saw so many materialists praying to Kamakhya Devi , ‘Give me this ! Give me that ! Give me a new house! Give me a new car!! He said ‘I don’t want anything like this I just want to know who is the bonafide Guru. Which parampara I can reach Krishna?’ That night Kamakhya Devi came in his dream and said ISKCON , Srila Prabupad and Guru Parampara. (Audience saying Haribol! ) I know that this devotee is here now. I won’t say who it is. (Gurumaharaj  laughing)

Marici Das is here, we can go to Assam on safari. We are also visiting two places which we never went before. One is Southern Assam which was part of the ancient Sylhet, it was the place where mother and father of Lord Chaitanya were born. In Bangladesh this is  only 20 miles distance or 20 km but it is in India, but it used to be part of Sylhet. So we have a nice temple there and we are going to see that place also we will go to Tripura for the first time. And there in Tripura, Om Vishnupad Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur he was the teacher for the royal family. And one member of the trustees of the birthplace of Lord Chaitanya is from the descendant of the royal family. So we will go there and see that auspicious place and do some preaching.

Marici Das he can speak little bit.  Is he there?

Mahavara Prabhu : Before that Venudhari has a small announcement. 

Guru Maharaj: After the announcement, Marici  Das, then we will have ladies on one side and prabhus this side. Those who want darshan they can see Mahavaraha  Das. He’s not repeating. (Guru Maharaj laughing)

Venudhari prabhuji: Harekrishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances!! Many devotees would like to know, how many instructions Srila Prabhupad gave to  Gurumaharj. There were many instructions, but one instruction, Gurumaharaj declared in one of his classes in 2007,” I have an unusual request from Srila Prabhupad, I don’t know , if any of you have such an instruction. Of course he told  all of us have to be Krishna Conscious and help others to be Krishna Consciouus. But he told me that I should distribute every month 10,000 Maha big books and 1 lakh small books. 

Gurumaharaj says One hundred thousand small books.

Venudhari prabhuji: I need lot of help , it was told in 1970. With interest may be that must be more now.So Mayapur Sankirtan Party helps, by distributing books. Gurumaharaj said, “Anyone wants to help me, pay my debts”.Gurumaharaj whenever he comes to the Sankirtan party, book distribution party, he always reminds us,” Please help me to distribute, ten thousand big books and one lakh small books every month .” So coming Vyasa puja, which is next month, please help us to please Prabhupad. We are from Vyasa puja committee, we have made a special plan, a special Vyasa puja offering, to sponsor 64 Bhagavad Gita, anybody can sponsor. These books will be distributed in jails, hospitals, libraries. Last year devotees had sponsored, 25,000 Bhagavad Gita’s …………………….

Gurumaharaj: I dedicate all the …..books towards book distributors.