Devotee Memory:
Srila Prabhupada’s first disciple, Acarya Prabhakar Misra, was a respectable Sanskrit scholar and teacher, who held an MA and PhD title.
In an interview in the 1970’s, Acarya Prabhakar stated that in 1954 he was with Srila Prabhupada on Krsna Janmastami in Jhansi.
He related how he woke up at 1:00 a.m. and heard Srila Prabhupada ecstatically playing mridanga in the temple room upstairs.
When Acarya Prabhakar went upstairs, he saw Srila Prabhupada dancing around the temple room performing kirtan.
Prabhupada was wearing a kadamba flower garland that went all the way down to his feet.
Kadamba flowers are very rare in Jhansi and when they are available they are usually the size of a golf ball. But the one’s Prabhupada were wearing were the size of tennis balls.
And the entire room was surcharged with the fragrance of the heavenly planets.
Acarya Prabhakar asked Srila Prabhupada: “Where did this garland come from? It is not available from the market.”
Srila Prabhupada did not answer. His Divine Grace continued with kirtan, chanting and dancing around the room.
The next morning Acarya Prabhakar asked Srila Prabhupada: “Where did you get the garland? Why does it have such a rich fragrance? And why were you feeling so blissful?”
Srila Prabhupada replied: “I was chanting to Krishna and feeling some love for Him. He appeared and gave me this garland. I went to touch His feet and He disappeared. Because of that I was dancing around the temple room.” Srila Prabhupada then began crying.
Acarya Prabhakar also related that sometimes Prabhupada’s mood was to perform kirtan very intensely. He would chant on and on and on for three days straight.
Such are the pastimes of a pure devotee [Srila Prabhupada], immersed in love for the Lord.
Some of us might have heard or read this pastime but it is worth reading it or hearing it millions of times. It is faith-giving and nourishing to our souls.
Shaktyavesh Avatara
Guru Qualifications
