Gurudev’s glorification of Srila Prabhupada in Vrndavana on HDG Disappearance day 2018
Today is of course Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day, but right now is also when the lifting of Govardhana pastime took place. A few days ago Govardhana was worshipped with Govardhana Puja and then the lifting happened today. In order to protect the devotees, the Lord lifted Giri Govardhana.I think it is very significant that Prabhupada chose to leave on this day.
Before I talk a little more about the protection of the devotees by the Lord and Srila Prabhupada, there is a little bit of my connection with Giri Govardhana and of course, Srila Prabhupada. The very first instruction and service that I ever received from Srila Prabhupada was in Vrndavana ’72. We had come from Bombay and Prabhupada immediately sent Dravida Prabhu (who became Pancadravida Swami that Kartik) and myself to Agra to collect grains. When we come back with lots of grains and ghee, ghor and other ingredients, there will be a big Govardhana Puja Festival. Then in ’77, again during Kartik, just a few days before Govardhana Puja and the Govardhana lifting was to happen, Prabhupada wanted to go on pilgrimage making Govardhana his first destination. He asked me to organise a bullock cart for him so that he could travel to Govardhana and take part in the Govardhana Puja Festival and witness the lifting Govardhana pastime.
It is significant that Srila Prabhupada left on the day that Krsna had lifted Govardhana Hill to protect His devotees. Srila Prabhupada was happy that his followers, his devotees, are now protected. That day, considering that as an eternal pastime, his devotees are protected, taken care of and Prabhupada left in the evening.
Lord Sri Krsna lifted Govardhana Hill for seven days to protect His devotees. In the case of Srila Prabhupada, Krsna made Prabhupada an instrument, nimitta-matram, to create protection, build a house, establish Vaikuntha, Goloka on earth. He gave the mahamantra – chant Hare Krishna and be happy! He established, not just a little matha or mandir, but a society, and that too the INTERNATIONAL SOCIEY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS. He had done that for the protection of his followers, his devotees who are also devotees of Krsna. That institution that he established, spread and left behind so that the whole world would take shelter and be protected for all the time to come.
Sometime before leaving, Prabhupada made a very profound statement: “I have built this institution. Your love for me will be seen by how you protect this institution after I am gone.”
“I love Prabhupada! I love Prabhupada!” Do you? Prabhupada did not just want lip service – “I love… I love…” He wanted that love to be translated into action. Srila Prabhupada wanted us to become the executors of that will. I would say that this is one of the principle wills – protection of his institution. That has to be done by cooperating with each other and all the generations to come in the future.
Let us remember this will of Prabhupada and take a vow on this occasion of Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day Festival of cooperating with each other so that this institution, the INTERNATIONAL SOCIEY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS is protected for all time. Are you ready?
Srila Prabhupada Ki Jai!!! Nitai Gaura Premanande!!!