K-POI Radio, the most “happening radio” station in town, gave us airtime on the weekends. So, many more people in Honolulu heard the Hare Krishna Mantra. Goursundar and Turyadas, and sometimes Balabhadra and others, would go in early morning to the radio station to play Srila Prabhupada’s Happening Record, to talk about Krishna, and sing the Hare Krishna Mantra, accompanied by guitar, kartals, and mridanga. Our public kirtans, concert appearances, and radio shows, as well as newspaper articles, led to our presence being known all over the Islands.
Goursundar das and Turya das
Meanwhile, Sai, our yoga teacher friend, was also encouraging his yoga students to chant Hare Krishna. He was studying and following Srila Prabhupada’s “Bhagavad Gita As It Is.” Within a year or so, Sai, along with his many disciples also joined us, and Sai received initiation from Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada gave him the name Siddhaswarup Ananda, saying he had come from Siddha Loka to preach the message of Lord Chaitanya in Kali Yuga.
Many of Sai’s disciples went to join various other Iskcon centers throughout the world, and several joined us in Honolulu. Maile, a sixteen year old school girl, came to us in that group and was initiated as Manjari devi dasi. Michael, another young student from Honolulu, also came, and was then initiated as Prahladhlada das. Many others came, among them were Phenop, Balakhiya, Jivan Krishna, Saisisekar, and several others. Sai also donated his three acre yoga ashram on Maui, and it became the Maui Hare Krishna Temple. He donated a one acre ashram/farm at the North Shore as well.
When he came to the Lotus Feet of Srila Prabhupada, Sai surrendered his heart fully, as well as over a hundred disciples, land, houses, properties, and of course, thousands of dollars as well. His mood was admirable. His desire was to give everything to his Spiritual Master, not to simply take from him. I have always appreciated his depth of love and surrender, though unfortunately, some others became quite envious of him. For this reason, he has long maintained his preaching programs in Hawaii, and elsewhere, quite separate from the critical vision of his Godbrothers. But he continues to powerfully impact the youth of Hawaii and elsewhere, teaching thousands of young people to chant Hare Krishna--which is the most essential element of the Krishna Consciousness movement begun by Lord Chaitanya.
When he came to the Lotus Feet of Srila Prabhupada, Sai surrendered his heart fully, as well as over a hundred disciples, land, houses, properties, and of course, thousands of dollars as well. His mood was admirable. His desire was to give everything to his Spiritual Master, not to simply take from him. I have always appreciated his depth of love and surrender, though unfortunately, some others became quite envious of him. For this reason, he has long maintained his preaching programs in Hawaii, and elsewhere, quite separate from the critical vision of his Godbrothers. But he continues to powerfully impact the youth of Hawaii and elsewhere, teaching thousands of young people to chant Hare Krishna--which is the most essential element of the Krishna Consciousness movement begun by Lord Chaitanya.
In less than two years, by Lord Chaitanya’s Mercy, and with the magic leadership of Srila Prabhupada, our Hare Krishna Hawaii Temple blossomed into a full-fledged preaching center, reaching even the Outer Islands. Our Sunday Love Feast was held at our McKinley Street Temple here in Honolulu, as well as on Maui at our new farm, on Kauai, on both sides of the Big Island, and on our new forty acre farm there as well. It was an exciting time!
