IN PRAISE OF SRILA PRABHUPADA – ESSAY 3: January 1, 2025
- Rasasraya Rama Das
How far would you go in the pursuit of your dream? How many times would you rise after facing the trials of setbacks? After enduring countless failed attempts, would you still chase your dream with the same fiery intensity, even as the years pass you into your seventies? The extraordinary sacrifices that Srila Prabhupada poured into establishing the Krishna Consciousness movement are truly inspiring. While the spectacular eleven-year expansion from 1966 to 1977 is often celebrated, the three decades of solitary struggle that preceded this period are equally compelling. Following the disappearance of his beloved spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada found himself alone, unable to draw upon the hoped-for preaching spirit of his God-siblings. Undeterred, he embarked on a courageous journey, bringing the profound message of Lord Caitanya to the uncharted territories of the West. It is precisely because he never gave up that we are fortunate to experience the boundless compassion of Lord Caitanya today. This essay immerses us into one of Srila Prabhupada’s early struggles in India, particularly in Jhansi, where he aspired to create his first organisation.
From the very beginning, Srila Prabhupada envisioned an international society, believing it was crucial for the sustainable growth of Lord Caitanya’s mission. In 1952, he came remarkably close to realizing this vision in Jhansi, India. During a business trip for his pharmaceutical company, he stumbled upon a fertile ground filled with eager medical students ready to change the world. Recognising the immense potential within Jhansi, he devoted his heart, soul, and energy to nurturing this community. With the support of well-wishers, he organized programs, igniting a burning desire to establish the League of Devotees. Drawing inspiration from the League of Nations, formed in the quest for global peace after World War I, Srila Prabhupada yearned to foster true unity and peace through the League of Devotees. At the age of fifty-six, he felt an intense urgency, believing that if he could not establish something meaningful now, then when would he ever have the chance?
By a beautiful twist of fate, Srila Prabhupada discovered Bharati Bhavan, an exquisite temple complex that was open for his use. A part of the Maha-mantra inscribed on its wall felt like a sign from Lord Caitanya, propelling him forward. The subsequent steps unfolded smoothly. In 1953, the League of Devotees was officially founded, and a grand opening ceremony for Bharati Bhavan was held amidst joyous celebrations. Srila Prabhupada initiated his first disciple, Acharya Prabhakar, and together they conducted the first walking sankirtans, singing and dancing joyously from village to village in Jhansi. This marked the beginning of Srila Prabhupada’s dream becoming a reality, and he began making plans for expansion. He envisioned various rooms in Bharati Bhavan serving various purposes, such as a kitchen, temple room, guest rooms, printing press, and brahmacari ashrams. He also imagined a training centre that could prepare students to carry Lord Caitanya’s message abroad.
However, unexpected challenges surfaced. Although the building was promised to him, a sudden request to purchase the complex created complications. His pharmaceutical business in Allahabad had crumbled, prompting a difficult return to Calcutta to raise money. There, he faced a heart-wrenching shock upon discovering his wife selling his cherished set of Bhagavatam for mere tea biscuits. With no support from his family and his business efforts faltering, he decided to return to Jhansi. Yet, he encountered a more significant obstacle: the governor’s wife, Mrs. Munshi, had other ambitions for Bharati Bhavan, planning to turn it into a hub for women's social programs. Recognising this threat to his beloved League of Devotees, Srila Prabhupada fought valiantly but ultimately found himself powerless against the influence of the powerful. In an instant, he lost everything—his business, his finances, his family, and with Bharati Bhavan, his League of Devotees.
Yet, setbacks did not dissuade Srila Prabhupada. His spirit remained always unbreakable. It did not daunt him when his manuscript for the Geetopanishad—his first commentary on the Bhagavad Gita—was stolen just as he found a donor willing to print it in 1948. Unshaken by this theft, he continued his prolific writings, and Krishna opened the doors for him to publish numerous books read by people worldwide. It did not daunt him when he faced a passport issue that derailed his preaching mission to Japan in 1961, his first potential preaching outside of India. Krishna ensured he would eventually share his teachings across every continent. Similarly, even though he had to dissolve the League of Devotees in Jhansi, he pressed on with unwavering determination. Thirteen years later, under Krishna’s divine orchestration, he successfully established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Srila Prabhupada remained ever a humble instrument in the hands of Krishna, teaching us all to adopt the same mood.
We owe him an eternal debt of gratitude. Our commitment to his movement is the only way to repay his immense struggles on our behalf. He stands as our true friend—the one who never gave up on us.
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