50 ISKCON (1966 – 2016) celebrations
- Part 5 -

Radhamohan Das *

New ISKCON Temple at Sagaiporou :: March 2009 :: Pix - WT

Jaladuta Dairy: On September 13, 1965, Srila Prabhupada wrote in his diary, "Today I have disclosed my mind to my companion Lord Sri Krishna".

"I do not know why You have brought me here. Now You can do whatever You like with me. But I guess You have some business here, otherwise why would You bring me to this terrible place?

How will I make them understand the message of Krishna Consciousness? I am very unfortunate, unqualified and most fallen. Therefore, I am seeking Your benediction so that I can convince them, for I am powerless to do so on my own".

"If the Atlantic would have shown its usual face, perhaps I would have died. But Lord Krishna has taken charge of the ship".

After a group of devotees and a temple had been established in New York another Centre was started in San Francisco in 1967. From there Srila Prabhupada travelled throughout America with his disciples, popularizing his Hare Krishna movement through street chanting (sankirtana), book distribution and public speeches.

Thus, Srila Prabhupada established temples in London, England and many more elsewhere and ISKCON had thus become an internationally known expression of Vaishnavism.

Conclusion:

By this time, ISKCON has become a confederation of more than 600 temples, (increased from 108 temples); various institutes and eco-farm communities. In twelve years, Srila Prabhupada initiated many disciples; awarded Sannyasa initiations; introduced Vedic gurukul education to the Western audience; founded BBT to be the world's largest publisher of ancient and classical Vaishnava religious texts; founded New Vrindavan in West Virgina as the religious colony; authored more than eighty books including four in Bengali (list given); introduced annual form of celebrations like that of Lord Jagannatha processions in the capitals of the world.

By now, as said earlier there are many more eco-farms and vegetarian restaurants of the order of 65 and 110 numbers respectively. And over 516 million books and magazines were distributed. There is a project, 'Akshaya Patra' of feeding to the school children in many centres in India particularly at rural areas with massive cooking arrangements.

There are more than tens or hundreds of thousands of initiated disciples of ISKCON centres throughout the world, with millions of believers accepting the teachings of Srila Prabhupada as genuine and bona-fide.

Srila Prabhupada had fulfilled his mission to communicate the teachings of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for introducing Bhakti-yoga to an international audience as it is a long time mission to introduce Lord Caitanya's teachings to the world.

Before this, he was not so certain whether he could have fulfilled his mission as one could read his Jaladuta diary and he said, "Under the circumstances since 1936 up to now, I was simply speculating whether I shall venture this difficult task and that without any means and capacity; but none have discouraged me, I have now taken courage to take up the work". [Ref. Back to Godhead magazine: Vol, 1-4, 1944]

His trip to the United States in 1965 was not sponsored by any religious organisation, nor he met upon arrival by a group of loyal followers.

Last hours of Srila Prabhupada:

Srila Prabhupada left the mortal world to go back to Godhead in November 14, 1977, at 7:30 p.m. in his room of the Krishna-Balaram Mandir in Vrindavana Srila Prabhupada's last breath was glorious, not because of his last-minute mystical demonstration, but because of the fact that he remained in perfect Krishna consciousness like great grandfather Bhismadev.

Srila Prabhupada was instructing until the last minute of his breath, as informed by his secretary who was at his bedside. He was teaching how to die by depending on Lord Krishna. His passing away was peaceful and in perfect situation in Vrindavana, the holy place which is the perfect Krishna consciousness.

However, Lord Krishna states in the Bhagavad-gita that "One who passes away thinking of Me, surely attains to Me". Srila Prabhupada was chanting and hearing the holy names of God upto the last disappearance, as Bhismadeva was passing away seeing Lord Krishna.

Srila Prabhupada underwent death in a way that was perfect and glorious and at the same time in a way which we all can follow, by way of thinking of Lord Krishna. The whole purpose of the life of human being is to be always aware of going back to the spiritual world or back to Godhead in the words of Srila Prabhupada. But, it is natural for a devotee or disciple to have an unrestricted grief due to separation from Srila Prabhupada on his departure on November 14, 1977.

Srila Prabhupada's last instruction, as he was teaching how we should die, is to continue the revolutionary life of Krishna consciousness even after his passing away and as before because the devotees of Hare Krishna movement must be aware that Srila Prabhupada's presence still remains in all his books and instructions, and he is therefore still taking charge of the philosophical teachings of Gaudiya Vaishnavism.

concluded....