Gargamuni Prabhu: A Legacy of Devotion, Innovation, and Pioneering Service
Gargamuni Prabhu (Gregory Michal Scharf), one of Srila Prabhupada’s earliest disciples and a founding officer of ISKCON, stands as a testament to dedicated service in the formative years of the Krishna Consciousness movement. His multifaceted contributions helped establish ISKCON’s financial foundation, publication efforts, and administrative structure during its most vulnerable early period. His story provides valuable insights into the grassroots beginnings of what would become a worldwide spiritual movement.
Early Association with Srila Prabhupada
Gargamuni Prabhu was among the first to join Srila Prabhupada at 26 Second Avenue in New York in 1966. Along with his brother Brahmananda Prabhu, he moved into the temple fulltime, dedicating himself completely to assisting Srila Prabhupada’s mission in America. This early period was characterized by intimate association with Srila Prabhupada, who recognized Gargamuni’s business acumen and appointed him as ISKCON’s first treasurer despite his young age.
In his treasurer role, Gargamuni maintained meticulous financial records, often working in Srila Prabhupada’s personal quarters while the spiritual master translated and wrote. Srila Prabhupada emphasized accountability down to the penny, establishing financial integrity as a cornerstone of the movement from its inception. Gargamuni recalls, “Even when he would go on the subway or on a bus, he would ask me for twenty-five cents and reluctantly I would have him sign a voucher. But he would say, ‘Very good,’ because that was important, and he would sign ‘ACB.’”
A Special Relationship with His Spiritual Master
The relationship between Gargamuni and Srila Prabhupada was marked by mutual respect and affection. Gargamuni noted that he “felt that Prabhupada was doing more for us than we were doing for him,” which motivated him to increase his service. While other early devotees focused on typing manuscripts, Gargamuni sought additional ways to contribute that aligned with his skills and temperament.
A Personal Service and Technological Assistance
Gargamuni also gave Srila Prabhupada his first Dictaphone, which transformed Prabhupada’s literary process by allowing him to dictate purports and commentaries for transcription. This technology substantially boosted the pace and volume of his writing, a lasting gift to the movement.
Administrative and Financial Foundations
Gargamuni’s business sense proved invaluable to the fledgling movement. As ISKCON’s treasurer, he helped establish financial systems that would support the organization’s rapid growth. Following ISKCON’s incorporation on July 13, 1966, Gargamuni Das applied for and secured tax exemption from the Internal Revenue Service, a critical step in establishing ISKCON’s legitimacy and financial viability in America.
His official designation as Treasurer in ISKCON’s founding documents underscores his importance to the administrative structure of the organization. This early financial management created a foundation that would enable ISKCON to expand from a single storefront in New York to an international movement with centers around the world.
Spiritual Sky: An Incense Enterprise That Funded Sankirtan
Among Gargamuni Prabhu’s most innovative contributions was founding Spiritual Sky Incense in the winter of 1968 at the New York temple at 61 Second Avenue, with the playful and spiritually meaningful motto: “Krishna Makes the Best Scents (Sense).” Conceived alongside his brother Brahmananda with Srila Prabhupada’s blessings, this incense business began humbly in the temple’s tiny cellar.
Gargamuni not only produced traditional stick incense but also packaged resin incense purchased from a 90-year-old Eastern European craftsman who made frankincense blends formerly used in churches. He created various scent names and packaged them in attractive containers, including designer dripless perfume bottles. At that time, he was practically the only devotee generating extra financial support for the temple.
Though a one-man operation in New York, Srila Prabhupada encouraged its expansion, and by summer 1969, Gargamuni relocated to Los Angeles at the invitation of Tamala Krishna, where there were more resources and manpower. There, the production scaled massively—thousands of sticks dipped in oils like sandalwood, cherry, strawberry, and almond, dried on 20–30-foot-long tables under the California sun. Up to 60 devotees assisted daily in packaging the incense to the sound of Prabhupada’s kirtans and lectures.
This innovative enterprise revolutionized Back to Godhead magazine distribution. While early sankirtan efforts struggled to engage the public, incense changed the game. With a scented incense pack taped to the magazine, curiosity and appeal grew. “What’s that smell?” was often the opening to a donation. Fruit-based fragrances like strawberry, coconut, and pineapple were especially popular. Donations of \$10–30 were common, and incense became the key to increasing BTG distribution from 3,500 to 60,000 copies per month.
Gargamuni later expanded sales to ISKCON temples across the U.S., enhancing their literature distribution as well. By 1970, Spiritual Sky had become so successful that Gargamuni was able to purchase the largest ISKCON property in America at the time for Srila Prabhupada, costing \$250,000 with a \$50,000 down payment.
Srila Prabhupada himself used the products: “Thank you very much for the sandalwood and sweetpea oils that you have sent me. I was just thinking of these oils because my stock was just finished, and Krishna has sent it just in time through you.” (Letter to Gargamuni, Jan 11, 1969)
Pioneering ISKCON’s Publication Ministry
Alongside his incense initiative, Gargamuni was deeply involved in the early production and distribution of Back to Godhead magazine. Starting with mimeograph machines Srila Prabhupada acquired for \$150, Gargamuni and his brother tirelessly promoted the magazine. Despite initial hesitation, Prabhupada boldly approved a jump in printing from 1,000 to 20,000 copies via Japanese printers, a leap that proved visionary.
Expanding ISKCON’s Reach
In addition to his work in New York and Los Angeles, Gargamuni played a key role in funding and supporting ISKCON’s expansion across the United States. This included securing the LA temple property and promoting a spirit of cooperative resource sharing that fueled the movement’s growth.
Preserving ISKCON’s History Through Personal Memories
Later in life, Gargamuni continued his service by sharing firsthand recollections of ISKCON’s foundational years. A particularly touching moment occurred during a 2015 meeting in Vrindavan with Jayapataka Swami, where they fondly reminisced about Srila Prabhupada’s concern for disciples’ comfort, such as his insistence on proper toilet facilities for Western devotees.
His insights into the guru-disciple relationship are both touching and profound: “The love that the guru has for his disciples and the love the disciples have for the guru should be reciprocal. That is pure Bhakti.”
Brotherhood in Service
Gargamuni and Brahmananda Prabhus represent one of ISKCON’s earliest family pairs in devotional service. Their synergy—Brahmananda’s external outreach and Gargamuni’s internal management—was essential to the movement’s early development. Gargamuni recounted with emotion how Prabhupada reciprocated Brahmananda’s earlier service by ensuring he passed away in the sacred land of Vrindavan.
A Legacy of Vision and Practical Devotion
From treasurer to incense maker, publisher to historian, Gargamuni Prabhu’s contributions reveal how practical service, when infused with spiritual intention, can change the course of a global movement. His incense business did more than produce fragrance—it fueled sankirtan, supported temples, and expanded outreach.
Today, Gargamuni Prabhu continues to inspire by sharing these stories, offering future generations a glimpse into the sincerity, austerity, and creativity that built ISKCON. His life is a compelling example of how deeply practical service—guided by love for the guru and the mission—can leave an indelible mark on spiritual history.
Source: https://www.dandavats.com/?p=115662
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