Adbhuta Hari das
Dear Guru Maharaja
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Last few weeks I’ve been meditating on some of your pastimes while simultaneously praying for your mercy, clear consciousness and tranquil mind which could possibly enable me to remember many more of them.
Your servant
Adbhuta Hari das
After a program in the Sri Sri Radha Gopinath temple. Maharaj was returning back from Chowpatti to Juhu instructing Mohan the driver to take the regular, fastest route through the Bandra highway. That day some roads including Bandra highway, were closed as a sign of protest against the recent bomb blasts. Many people armed with sticks, stones and chains blocked the road forcing every car to turn back. The crowd appeared threatening and violent. Upon seeing that, we were alarmed and instinctively reasoned that the best course of action preventing further agitation, would simply be to follow other cars who in spite of caused inconvenience, searched for other way towards their destination.
But Maharaj was not of the same opinion. He ordered Mohan who already stopped intending to turn the vehicle, to drive forward to the point closer to the crowd.
There was no obstacle that would cause him to withdrew from whatever he intended earlier, especially if it was related to the preaching mission.
As the car stopped Maharaj came out and advanced towards the angered mob.
The first thought that rushed through my mind was, oh, no! Maharaj is in the ksatriya mood again. I was bewildered, so reluctantly I stepped out of the car.
With fearful expression on his face Mohan and gracious, benevolent Durgama Prabhu Srila Prabhupada’s disciple from Italy also followed while Sudevi Mataji remained sitting in the back of the car.
Sight of a western sadhu instantly surprised the horde, which appeared to be consisting of people from different religious and irreligious designations.
Maharaj shouted in Hindi and as little as I could understand he chastised their actions, and especially one Sikh, he instructed him about real course of dharma, which Sikhs were intended to protect and not obstruct.
Astonished that someone dared to face them, the crowd remained silent and in next few seconds even more confused when Maharaj kneeled down and continued shouting. What do you want to do? You want to beat us? O.K. beat me! I was frozen. While kneeling, he bowed his head and repeated, beat me! The crowd was too stunned to respond. So he stood up and nonchalantly waved to us, “Get in the car.” So we sat back on our seats and the car freely paved its way back to Juhu leaving the astounded crowd behind.
This following story is told by Bhaktivedanta Bhagavat Maharaj
At the Mumbai airport S.P. was leaving. And he was sitting in the chair and devotees were sitting on the flour. And he was always looking as king he had his Cain, with head up, very regal. So one god sister she comes to S.P. and she said. S.P. Pradyumna said that you said that on every second ekadasi we are supposed to bath deities in ghee.
S.P. looked at her, what?
So she leaned over, S.P. was sitting so she bended her waist closer. Pradyumna said that every second ekadasi we are supposed to bath deities in ghee.
I said that.
Pradyumna said that you said that.
Call Pradyumna. Pradyumna!
So he stood up and came there. Now he bowed at the waist. Listen to what I said. Tell him what I said. (laughter).
Pradyumna didn’t you tell me that Prabhupad said that on the second ekadasi each month we are supposed to bath deities in ghee?
And S.P. is looking at her making sure that he hears exactly what he heard the last time. Then he turns to pradyumna – I said that?
And pradyumna said, no Prabhupad you never said that – I never said that.
Prabhupad turned to her – see. (laughter).
So she was, Pradyumna how could you do this to me? (laughter).
So they all sat down and S.P. is going like this. Prabhupad said, Prabhupad said. Everyone is saying that Prabhupad said from now you should know when they said I said it that means I never said it. (laughter)
So on the way home in the car and Sridhar Maharaj and I were in car together and he was the brahmachary at the time. He and I, and few other brahmacharis sitting in the car. He said how we are going to tell everybody this story? I said what do you mean.
He said, how we are going to tell people that Prabhupad said that when he said it, that means that he never said what he said, they are not going to believe that he said that! (hilarious laughter)
He was very witty. Sridhar.
Please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Last few weeks I’ve been meditating on some of your pastimes while simultaneously praying for your mercy, clear consciousness and tranquil mind which could possibly enable me to remember many more of them.
Your servant
Adbhuta Hari das
After a program in the Sri Sri Radha Gopinath temple. Maharaj was returning back from Chowpatti to Juhu instructing Mohan the driver to take the regular, fastest route through the Bandra highway. That day some roads including Bandra highway, were closed as a sign of protest against the recent bomb blasts. Many people armed with sticks, stones and chains blocked the road forcing every car to turn back. The crowd appeared threatening and violent. Upon seeing that, we were alarmed and instinctively reasoned that the best course of action preventing further agitation, would simply be to follow other cars who in spite of caused inconvenience, searched for other way towards their destination.
But Maharaj was not of the same opinion. He ordered Mohan who already stopped intending to turn the vehicle, to drive forward to the point closer to the crowd.
There was no obstacle that would cause him to withdrew from whatever he intended earlier, especially if it was related to the preaching mission.
As the car stopped Maharaj came out and advanced towards the angered mob.
The first thought that rushed through my mind was, oh, no! Maharaj is in the ksatriya mood again. I was bewildered, so reluctantly I stepped out of the car.
With fearful expression on his face Mohan and gracious, benevolent Durgama Prabhu Srila Prabhupada’s disciple from Italy also followed while Sudevi Mataji remained sitting in the back of the car.
Sight of a western sadhu instantly surprised the horde, which appeared to be consisting of people from different religious and irreligious designations.
Maharaj shouted in Hindi and as little as I could understand he chastised their actions, and especially one Sikh, he instructed him about real course of dharma, which Sikhs were intended to protect and not obstruct.
Astonished that someone dared to face them, the crowd remained silent and in next few seconds even more confused when Maharaj kneeled down and continued shouting. What do you want to do? You want to beat us? O.K. beat me! I was frozen. While kneeling, he bowed his head and repeated, beat me! The crowd was too stunned to respond. So he stood up and nonchalantly waved to us, “Get in the car.” So we sat back on our seats and the car freely paved its way back to Juhu leaving the astounded crowd behind.
This following story is told by Bhaktivedanta Bhagavat Maharaj
At the Mumbai airport S.P. was leaving. And he was sitting in the chair and devotees were sitting on the flour. And he was always looking as king he had his Cain, with head up, very regal. So one god sister she comes to S.P. and she said. S.P. Pradyumna said that you said that on every second ekadasi we are supposed to bath deities in ghee.
S.P. looked at her, what?
So she leaned over, S.P. was sitting so she bended her waist closer. Pradyumna said that every second ekadasi we are supposed to bath deities in ghee.
I said that.
Pradyumna said that you said that.
Call Pradyumna. Pradyumna!
So he stood up and came there. Now he bowed at the waist. Listen to what I said. Tell him what I said. (laughter).
Pradyumna didn’t you tell me that Prabhupad said that on the second ekadasi each month we are supposed to bath deities in ghee?
And S.P. is looking at her making sure that he hears exactly what he heard the last time. Then he turns to pradyumna – I said that?
And pradyumna said, no Prabhupad you never said that – I never said that.
Prabhupad turned to her – see. (laughter).
So she was, Pradyumna how could you do this to me? (laughter).
So they all sat down and S.P. is going like this. Prabhupad said, Prabhupad said. Everyone is saying that Prabhupad said from now you should know when they said I said it that means I never said it. (laughter)
So on the way home in the car and Sridhar Maharaj and I were in car together and he was the brahmachary at the time. He and I, and few other brahmacharis sitting in the car. He said how we are going to tell everybody this story? I said what do you mean.
He said, how we are going to tell people that Prabhupad said that when he said it, that means that he never said what he said, they are not going to believe that he said that! (hilarious laughter)
He was very witty. Sridhar.
 Vyasa Puja 2009 |
2 / 10 | Campakalata dasi |