THE big day finally came! After months of preparation, Srila Prabhupada was on a jet flying into Honolulu! Our excitement knew no bounds!
This time Srila Prabhupada’s arrival would be very different from his first visit. At that first arrival, in February of 1969, there was no elaborate devotee greeting party. There was only Goursundar and myself, Mahapurusha, Murari, and Lilavati. Then, Goursundar and I had picked Srila Prabhupada up in our old orange truck, and traveled to our remote beach house in Kaaawa. We had even stopped along the way to pick sugar cane stalks for him--tall, sweet ones that he selected. He pointed them out, and Goursundar went crashing through the cane fields to cut them down for him. He later enjoyed those canes at our country beach house in Kaaawa. It was a quiet time; there were hardly any devotees, only a few programs, and no hurry.
Now, in 1971, less than two years later, things were very different. Srila Prabhupada was greeted by dozens of dancing devotees and a booming kirtan! Flower garlands of every sort were showered upon him! There were so many flower leis that he had to remove some just to make room for more!
This time Srila Prabhupada’s arrival would be very different from his first visit. At that first arrival, in February of 1969, there was no elaborate devotee greeting party. There was only Goursundar and myself, Mahapurusha, Murari, and Lilavati. Then, Goursundar and I had picked Srila Prabhupada up in our old orange truck, and traveled to our remote beach house in Kaaawa. We had even stopped along the way to pick sugar cane stalks for him--tall, sweet ones that he selected. He pointed them out, and Goursundar went crashing through the cane fields to cut them down for him. He later enjoyed those canes at our country beach house in Kaaawa. It was a quiet time; there were hardly any devotees, only a few programs, and no hurry.
Now, in 1971, less than two years later, things were very different. Srila Prabhupada was greeted by dozens of dancing devotees and a booming kirtan! Flower garlands of every sort were showered upon him! There were so many flower leis that he had to remove some just to make room for more!
Dozens of devotees greet Srila Prabhupad
Hawaii is, after all, the land of flowers, rainbows, and sunshine, so there is always an abundance of flowers like plumeria, tuberose, pikake, gardenia, white ginger, and others too numerous to mention. The huge gardenia leis almost covered Srila Prabhupada with fragrant white blossoms.
Srila Prabhupada strode elegantly from the landing gate and sat down on a decorated, makeshift Vyasasana. It was actually a concrete sitting platform, a part of the airport, but we had temporarily transformed it into a Vyasasana.
Srila Prabhupada strode elegantly from the landing gate and sat down on a decorated, makeshift Vyasasana. It was actually a concrete sitting platform, a part of the airport, but we had temporarily transformed it into a Vyasasana.
Srila Prabhupada sitting on a decorated makeshift Vyasasana
There he received more and more garlands from everyone, and smilingly, he greeted all the devotees with the warmth of his spiritual love. He first greeted Goursundar and I, and then called for Siddhasvarupa to come forward. Siddhasvarupa shyly approached Srila Prabhupada, and offered his obeisances at his lotus feet.
Siddhasvarupa had been initiated by mail, and was to be given sanyas and second initiation at the forthcoming Deity installation ceremony. So Srila Prabhupada had not yet met Siddhasvarupa in person.
Srila Prabhupada called him to him, and when Siddhasvarupa bowed down, Srila Prabhupada stroked and patted his freshly shaven head. His Divine Grace was immensely pleased with the surrender of this young man, who had given up everything--disciples, properties, money, and, most of all, his heart, at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada blessed him and Siddhasvarupa radiated with the joy of seeing his Spiritual Master for the first time.
Siddhasvarupa had been initiated by mail, and was to be given sanyas and second initiation at the forthcoming Deity installation ceremony. So Srila Prabhupada had not yet met Siddhasvarupa in person.
Srila Prabhupada called him to him, and when Siddhasvarupa bowed down, Srila Prabhupada stroked and patted his freshly shaven head. His Divine Grace was immensely pleased with the surrender of this young man, who had given up everything--disciples, properties, money, and, most of all, his heart, at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada blessed him and Siddhasvarupa radiated with the joy of seeing his Spiritual Master for the first time.
Srila Prabhupad calls up Siddhasvarupa
Srila Prabhupada had told Sai, Siddhasvarupa, that he would initiate him first, and then he (Siddhasvarupa) could then initiate all his disciples who were already with him. But Siddhasvarupa chose full surrender. He asked that Srila Prabhupada initiate all of his disciples as well. And he humbly stepped down from his position as their guru, after guiding them to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada. Siddhasvarupa then came to live in the quite austere and crowded basement brahmachary ashram of our Honolulu temple. This young man, at 21 years old, already had what nearly everyone wants: money, power, land, properties, disciples, and the fame and adoration that accompany these things. Yet he chose to surrender everything at the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada, and to become a penniless brahmachary. His faith and devotion to Srila Prabhupada were so firm, even though he had not yet met Srila Prabhupada in person.
When young Sai had joined our temple in November of 1970, he brought with him many wonderful devotees, such as Maile (who later became Manjari dasi), Michael (who became Prahladhlada), and later Phenop, Balakhiya, Katyayani, Saisesekar, and many more. His “Krishna Yoga Center” as he had named his organization, had more than sixty young students and disciples; many of them joined Iskcon temples on the mainland, as well as in England, as our Honolulu temple could only accommodate a small number of them. They were all bright, young dedicated disciples.
Once, years later, while Srila Prabhupada was in India, Siddhasvarupa wrote a letter to him, saying, “I hope you will remember me sometimes...” While this letter was being read to Srila Prabhupada, he commented, with tears in his eyes, “I am always remembering him.” Such is the love between guru and disciple.
When young Sai had joined our temple in November of 1970, he brought with him many wonderful devotees, such as Maile (who later became Manjari dasi), Michael (who became Prahladhlada), and later Phenop, Balakhiya, Katyayani, Saisesekar, and many more. His “Krishna Yoga Center” as he had named his organization, had more than sixty young students and disciples; many of them joined Iskcon temples on the mainland, as well as in England, as our Honolulu temple could only accommodate a small number of them. They were all bright, young dedicated disciples.
Once, years later, while Srila Prabhupada was in India, Siddhasvarupa wrote a letter to him, saying, “I hope you will remember me sometimes...” While this letter was being read to Srila Prabhupada, he commented, with tears in his eyes, “I am always remembering him.” Such is the love between guru and disciple.
Siddhasvarupananda Swami walking with Srila Prabhupad in Mayapur
This is the mood that we all experienced with Srila Prabhupada. He was constantly thinking of us, watching over us, and guiding us from within our hearts as well as from the outside, with his many letters, lectures, and conversations. Even now, on the vast spiritual platform, Srila Prabhupada continues to be our greatest well-wisher, always trying to find ways for each and every disciple, grand-disciple, or anyone who even slightly takes an interest in Krishna consciousness, to go back to Godhead.
Since most of our new devotees had been initiated by mail, many had not yet met Srila Prabhupada. So one by one, they come forward and offered obeisances at his lotus feet, while the joyful kirtan reached a crescendo. There was Balabhadra das, Jayashri devi dasi,Turya das, Kusha devi dasi, Govardhan das, Shaktimati devi dasi, Babhru das, Hariballabha das, Saisesekar das, Suparna das, Gour Govinda das, Phenop das, Balakhiya das, Katyayani devi dasi, Jivan Krishna das, Vrishni das, Lilasukhi devi dasi, and so many more nice devotees, too numerous to list. (Please forgive me if I have forgotten someone...)
Srila Prabhupada sat regally upon the cushioned airport Vyasasana, and blessed everyone with his loving glance. We chanted and chanted and filled our hungry eyes and hearts with the purifying vision of Lord Chaitanya’s great devotee, Srila Prabhupada: Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s “senapati bhakta,” His Commander in Chief, His Maha Sankirtan General. Looking back, however, it may be said that we hardly even noticed how incredibly great Srila Prabhupada really is--because we were so blinded by our intense love for him!
Since most of our new devotees had been initiated by mail, many had not yet met Srila Prabhupada. So one by one, they come forward and offered obeisances at his lotus feet, while the joyful kirtan reached a crescendo. There was Balabhadra das, Jayashri devi dasi,Turya das, Kusha devi dasi, Govardhan das, Shaktimati devi dasi, Babhru das, Hariballabha das, Saisesekar das, Suparna das, Gour Govinda das, Phenop das, Balakhiya das, Katyayani devi dasi, Jivan Krishna das, Vrishni das, Lilasukhi devi dasi, and so many more nice devotees, too numerous to list. (Please forgive me if I have forgotten someone...)
Srila Prabhupada sat regally upon the cushioned airport Vyasasana, and blessed everyone with his loving glance. We chanted and chanted and filled our hungry eyes and hearts with the purifying vision of Lord Chaitanya’s great devotee, Srila Prabhupada: Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s “senapati bhakta,” His Commander in Chief, His Maha Sankirtan General. Looking back, however, it may be said that we hardly even noticed how incredibly great Srila Prabhupada really is--because we were so blinded by our intense love for him!
Srila Prabhupada sitting regally on vyasasana at airport
His loving glances fed our hearts and his gentle words were the music we longed for. Yes, it was a very ecstatic airport greeting!
After over an hour of kirtan, we whisked him off to Waimanalo, to his private beach house, complete with a big fenced yard and many flower trees. It was a wonderful day! Hawaii was blessed to receive him, and Goursundar and I were overjoyed that THIS time we could receive Srila Prabhupada more properly than we did at the time of his first visit to Hawaii!
After over an hour of kirtan, we whisked him off to Waimanalo, to his private beach house, complete with a big fenced yard and many flower trees. It was a wonderful day! Hawaii was blessed to receive him, and Goursundar and I were overjoyed that THIS time we could receive Srila Prabhupada more properly than we did at the time of his first visit to Hawaii!
