The new Pancha Tattva dieties
FINALLY, after months of work, our Pancha Tattva Deities were complete!
All the devotees worked together on this project, and it unified us as a
“family.” We were working cooperatively on a project that Srila Prabhupada wanted. Our mood was one of loving service; there was no thought of money, fame, or adoration. We simply wanted to see our beloved Srila Prabhupada smile. His lotus smile, his pleasure, and his approval was far more valuable than all the wealth in the world! If only we as a movement, can capture that mood, truly the road to success will be paved with rose petals!
Goursundar took photos of the Divine Five, and we sent them to Srila
Prabhupada. Ironically, in Hawaii there is a group of companies commonly known as the “Big Five.” These are old landholder trusts/corporations that hold most of the wealth and assets of the former Kingdom of Hawaii. Now, we had our own “Big Five,” and They stand far bigger, greater, wealthier, and more merciful, for They are the Supreme Lord and His Divine Associates!
Srila Prabhupada received the Pancha Tattva photos, and he let us know hewas pleased. He began making his plans to come to Hawaii to install our Pancha Tattva Deities as he had promised. We began decorating the temple room, designing and creating a beautiful Vyas Asana, and preening the rose and Tulasi gardens that graced the front of our Manoa temple.
Srila Prabhupada always loved to have Tulasi gardens right in front of the
Lord’s temples. That way, all visitors would first honor Tulasi Maharani,
and then approach the Lord’s temple. However, our Tulasi plants had gotten far larger than we expected. We read that the plants usually would reach 3 or 4 feet tall, but our plants had grown to be well over 7 feet tall! Perhaps due to the mild climate of Hawaii, and the rich volcanic soil, Tulasi Devi thrives in Hawaii.
As a result of the Tulasi plants’ enormous size, the front entry to the
Manoa temple was becoming narrower and narrower. So Goursundar asked Srila Prabhupada if the Tulasi plants could be pruned back, in order to widen the entry way. Srila Prabhupada very adamantly said, “No, you *cannot* cut Them. That is a great offense. But you can tie back the branches.” So we tied the branches back to widen the entrance.
The Tulasi plants continued to grow, however, and so after some time, the
entry way was again being blocked. The plants were now much taller, so
that the tops of the Tulasi plants reached skyward, and there was only
space to enter beneath Them. Temple guests would have to duck down under the branches just to enter the temple courtyard!
So, again Goursundar approached Srila Prabhupada, asking what could be done. He explained that everyone had to duck down to go under the Tulasi branches as they entered the temple grounds.
Immediately Srila Prabhupada’s eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, “Oh, they
are having to bow before Tulasi before entering?” Then he chuckled, and
said, “Very good. This is very good. They are bowing their heads before
Tulasi and then coming to the Lord’s temple. This is very good!” And that
was the end of the discussion. He did not see it as a problem, but as a
spiritual asset.
Now, at our present temple in Nuuanu, the Tulasi garden is no longer
located at the front of the temple, where it was for many many years. For
many many years, the huge Tulasi plants greeted the guests, and all the
devotees chanted their rounds while repeatedly circumambulating the round Tulasi garden right in front of the temple. Srila Prabhupada sat on the balcony above and chanted japa while admiring this centrally located
moon-shaped Tulasi garden. Now, due to years of poor management, the Tulasi garden has been replaced by grass and small ornamentals like pansies and impatiens, mostly due to ignorance of the importance of Srimate Tulasi Maharani. And our Tulasi garden has been relegated to some other area off to the side of the temple.
I personally believe that our Hawaii Temple will really flourish once
again when Srimate Tulasi Devi is again placed in front of the Lord’s
Temple where She belongs. That way, Srimate Tulasi Devi’s mercy is readily available to everyone who visits the Lord’s Temple.
By now, not only were the Tulasi gardens thriving, but our Honolulu temple was thriving as well. Our 3 story Manoa home was packed with new devotees. Devotees like Balabhadra das,Turya das, Babhru das, Govardhan das, Prahladhada das, Tarun Kanti das, Vrishni das, Ananda das, Saisesekar das, Phenops das, Balakhiya das, Jayasri dasi, Kusha devi dasi, Manjari devi dasi, Shakti Mati devi dasi, Lilashakti devi dasi, and many more whose names I cannot recall.
When Sai joined with us, he brought many of his own followers to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada--disciples such as Maile, who became Manjari dasi, and Balakhiya, Saisesekar, Phenops, Prahladhada das and many more. Sai was initiated by Srila Prabhupada and given the name Siddhasvarupananda das. He was given Brahmin initiation and sanyas on the day of the Installation of the Pancha Tattva Deities.
All the devotees worked together on this project, and it unified us as a
“family.” We were working cooperatively on a project that Srila Prabhupada wanted. Our mood was one of loving service; there was no thought of money, fame, or adoration. We simply wanted to see our beloved Srila Prabhupada smile. His lotus smile, his pleasure, and his approval was far more valuable than all the wealth in the world! If only we as a movement, can capture that mood, truly the road to success will be paved with rose petals!
Goursundar took photos of the Divine Five, and we sent them to Srila
Prabhupada. Ironically, in Hawaii there is a group of companies commonly known as the “Big Five.” These are old landholder trusts/corporations that hold most of the wealth and assets of the former Kingdom of Hawaii. Now, we had our own “Big Five,” and They stand far bigger, greater, wealthier, and more merciful, for They are the Supreme Lord and His Divine Associates!
Srila Prabhupada received the Pancha Tattva photos, and he let us know hewas pleased. He began making his plans to come to Hawaii to install our Pancha Tattva Deities as he had promised. We began decorating the temple room, designing and creating a beautiful Vyas Asana, and preening the rose and Tulasi gardens that graced the front of our Manoa temple.
Srila Prabhupada always loved to have Tulasi gardens right in front of the
Lord’s temples. That way, all visitors would first honor Tulasi Maharani,
and then approach the Lord’s temple. However, our Tulasi plants had gotten far larger than we expected. We read that the plants usually would reach 3 or 4 feet tall, but our plants had grown to be well over 7 feet tall! Perhaps due to the mild climate of Hawaii, and the rich volcanic soil, Tulasi Devi thrives in Hawaii.
As a result of the Tulasi plants’ enormous size, the front entry to the
Manoa temple was becoming narrower and narrower. So Goursundar asked Srila Prabhupada if the Tulasi plants could be pruned back, in order to widen the entry way. Srila Prabhupada very adamantly said, “No, you *cannot* cut Them. That is a great offense. But you can tie back the branches.” So we tied the branches back to widen the entrance.
The Tulasi plants continued to grow, however, and so after some time, the
entry way was again being blocked. The plants were now much taller, so
that the tops of the Tulasi plants reached skyward, and there was only
space to enter beneath Them. Temple guests would have to duck down under the branches just to enter the temple courtyard!
So, again Goursundar approached Srila Prabhupada, asking what could be done. He explained that everyone had to duck down to go under the Tulasi branches as they entered the temple grounds.
Immediately Srila Prabhupada’s eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, “Oh, they
are having to bow before Tulasi before entering?” Then he chuckled, and
said, “Very good. This is very good. They are bowing their heads before
Tulasi and then coming to the Lord’s temple. This is very good!” And that
was the end of the discussion. He did not see it as a problem, but as a
spiritual asset.
Now, at our present temple in Nuuanu, the Tulasi garden is no longer
located at the front of the temple, where it was for many many years. For
many many years, the huge Tulasi plants greeted the guests, and all the
devotees chanted their rounds while repeatedly circumambulating the round Tulasi garden right in front of the temple. Srila Prabhupada sat on the balcony above and chanted japa while admiring this centrally located
moon-shaped Tulasi garden. Now, due to years of poor management, the Tulasi garden has been replaced by grass and small ornamentals like pansies and impatiens, mostly due to ignorance of the importance of Srimate Tulasi Maharani. And our Tulasi garden has been relegated to some other area off to the side of the temple.
I personally believe that our Hawaii Temple will really flourish once
again when Srimate Tulasi Devi is again placed in front of the Lord’s
Temple where She belongs. That way, Srimate Tulasi Devi’s mercy is readily available to everyone who visits the Lord’s Temple.
By now, not only were the Tulasi gardens thriving, but our Honolulu temple was thriving as well. Our 3 story Manoa home was packed with new devotees. Devotees like Balabhadra das,Turya das, Babhru das, Govardhan das, Prahladhada das, Tarun Kanti das, Vrishni das, Ananda das, Saisesekar das, Phenops das, Balakhiya das, Jayasri dasi, Kusha devi dasi, Manjari devi dasi, Shakti Mati devi dasi, Lilashakti devi dasi, and many more whose names I cannot recall.
When Sai joined with us, he brought many of his own followers to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada--disciples such as Maile, who became Manjari dasi, and Balakhiya, Saisesekar, Phenops, Prahladhada das and many more. Sai was initiated by Srila Prabhupada and given the name Siddhasvarupananda das. He was given Brahmin initiation and sanyas on the day of the Installation of the Pancha Tattva Deities.
Srila Prabhupada giving danda to Siddhasvarupananda Maharaj
Siddhasvarupananda Maharaj receiving danda
When we moved into the Manoa house, we were only five devotees,
Balabhadra, Jayasri, Turyadas, Goursundar and myself. Within months, the place was brimming with new and enthusiastic devotees! Such is the power of the Holy Names, and daily Sankirtan parties on the streets of Honolulu!
Balabhadra, Jayasri, Turyadas, Goursundar and myself. Within months, the place was brimming with new and enthusiastic devotees! Such is the power of the Holy Names, and daily Sankirtan parties on the streets of Honolulu!
Daily sankirtan party
Up on the hill behind our temple, Goursundar had built an outdoor bhajan kutir for the brahmacharies, complete with a water hose for a shower. Outdoor life in Hawaii has always been attractive to the youth, so we made sure there was plenty of outdoor activities such as gardening, swimming, and most of all Sankirtan parties every day.
Huge leafy squash vines climbed up the hill behind the temple, ready to
offer fresh leaves and flowers to Srila Prabhupada when he arrived. This
was the same type, Chinese long squash, that he relished in Kaaawa during his first visit to Hawaii. He liked the leaves cooked with potatoes, as a dry veggie, and he liked the flowers made into pakoras.
Huge leafy squash vines climbed up the hill behind the temple, ready to
offer fresh leaves and flowers to Srila Prabhupada when he arrived. This
was the same type, Chinese long squash, that he relished in Kaaawa during his first visit to Hawaii. He liked the leaves cooked with potatoes, as a dry veggie, and he liked the flowers made into pakoras.
Chinese long squash vines: Srila Prabhupada liked the leaves cooked with potatoes and the flowers made into pakoras
Chinese long squash
Because our temple was so packed, and a veritable beehive of activity,
Goursundar and I began to search for a suitable place to house Srila
Prabhupada during his planned month-long stay. Srila Prabhupada always liked to stay by the ocean whenever possible; he used to say the ocean air is “full of vitamins.”
Because it was a short drive from Honolulu, we chose Waimanalo Beach.
There we found a nice vacation rental, right on the beach. It was a large
comfortable house, with an expansive wall of windows looking out onto the ocean. And there was a small cottage next to it, a “maid’s quarters,”
where Goursundar and I would stay.
Goursundar and I began to search for a suitable place to house Srila
Prabhupada during his planned month-long stay. Srila Prabhupada always liked to stay by the ocean whenever possible; he used to say the ocean air is “full of vitamins.”
Because it was a short drive from Honolulu, we chose Waimanalo Beach.
There we found a nice vacation rental, right on the beach. It was a large
comfortable house, with an expansive wall of windows looking out onto the ocean. And there was a small cottage next to it, a “maid’s quarters,”
where Goursundar and I would stay.
Srila Prabhupada liked the ocean air saying it is "full of vitamins"
The beach house was large enough for Srila Prabhupada and his travel
troupe--Shyamsundar das, his secretary, Nanda Kumar das, his cook, and
“Panditji,” Pradyumna das, his Sanskrit scholar. Pradyumna das traveled
with Srila Prabhupada everywhere, as they worked on the Srimad Bhagavatam together daily. Sometimes his secretary or cook would change, but Panditji was always next to Srila Prabhupada.
troupe--Shyamsundar das, his secretary, Nanda Kumar das, his cook, and
“Panditji,” Pradyumna das, his Sanskrit scholar. Pradyumna das traveled
with Srila Prabhupada everywhere, as they worked on the Srimad Bhagavatam together daily. Sometimes his secretary or cook would change, but Panditji was always next to Srila Prabhupada.
Srila Prabhupad chanting japa at the beach house
Srila Prabhupada had full faith in Pradyumna’s understanding of Sanskrit
and his grasp of the philosophical aspects of Krishna Consciousness, as
well as his very excellent devotional mood.
“Panditji,” Pradyumna das, lived in the world of Srimad Bhagavatam; he was absorbed day and night in Sanskrit slokas. He had no interest in name, fame, and wealth and their accompanying problems. He loved Srila Prabhupada sincerely, and served him selflessly.
For these and other reasons, known only to Srila Prabhupada, he appointed Pradyumna das to complete his great work of translating and adding purports to Srimad Bhagavatam. Perhaps one of the greatest tragedies that befell Iskcon after Srila Prabhupada’s untimely departure from this world is that his Srimad Bhagavatam was not completed according to his desires. Pradyumna das was unable to complete the work as Srila Prabhupada had ordered due to some of the ugly politics that crept into Srila Prabhupada’s Iskcon shortly after his demise. This, among other things, should really be corrected as part of our effort to restore the original harmony of Iskcon as Srila Prabhupada designed.
Like worker bees, the Hawaii temple devotees buzzed day and night, making ready the beach house, the temple, the Vyasasana, and many gorgeous outfits for Sri Pancha Tattva. Some of the girls stayed up all night working on the Vyasasana and the ornamentation around it. One of the Brahmacharinies made a new cover for the cushion in Srila Prabhupada’s rocking chair, and we then placed it in the living room of the beach house. The boys constructed a temporary altar in the beach house living room, and just before the day of the installation, I placed my painting of Gour Nitai on it. This was the painting that we had been worshipping on our main altar for many months. It became the main Deities on his home altar.
and his grasp of the philosophical aspects of Krishna Consciousness, as
well as his very excellent devotional mood.
“Panditji,” Pradyumna das, lived in the world of Srimad Bhagavatam; he was absorbed day and night in Sanskrit slokas. He had no interest in name, fame, and wealth and their accompanying problems. He loved Srila Prabhupada sincerely, and served him selflessly.
For these and other reasons, known only to Srila Prabhupada, he appointed Pradyumna das to complete his great work of translating and adding purports to Srimad Bhagavatam. Perhaps one of the greatest tragedies that befell Iskcon after Srila Prabhupada’s untimely departure from this world is that his Srimad Bhagavatam was not completed according to his desires. Pradyumna das was unable to complete the work as Srila Prabhupada had ordered due to some of the ugly politics that crept into Srila Prabhupada’s Iskcon shortly after his demise. This, among other things, should really be corrected as part of our effort to restore the original harmony of Iskcon as Srila Prabhupada designed.
Like worker bees, the Hawaii temple devotees buzzed day and night, making ready the beach house, the temple, the Vyasasana, and many gorgeous outfits for Sri Pancha Tattva. Some of the girls stayed up all night working on the Vyasasana and the ornamentation around it. One of the Brahmacharinies made a new cover for the cushion in Srila Prabhupada’s rocking chair, and we then placed it in the living room of the beach house. The boys constructed a temporary altar in the beach house living room, and just before the day of the installation, I placed my painting of Gour Nitai on it. This was the painting that we had been worshipping on our main altar for many months. It became the main Deities on his home altar.
Altar in the beach house living room
For transportation back and forth to Waimanalo, Goursundar purchased a roomy, comfortable car, so wide that four or more passengers could easily fit in the back. It was an old Chrysler or Mercury; surely a gashog in its day. It turned out that Srila Prabhupada liked that great big car, and
even asked about shipping it to India!
We were ready and waiting.
even asked about shipping it to India!
We were ready and waiting.
