My Memories of Srila Prabhupada
During this visit, Srila Prabhupada accepted several new candidates for initiation, including me. On the following Janmastami, our GBC, Hansaduta Prabhu, conducted the initiation ceremony on behalf of Srila Prabhupada. I was given the name Ilapati dasa brahmacari.
The second time I saw Srila Prabhupada was in England in 1976. Srila Prabhupada stayed about four days, and I was able to go on one morning walk with him -- the only morning walk I ever got to go on with Srila Prabhupada. Maybe thirty devotees accompanied him. Devotees were discouraged to accompany Srila Prabhupada, so as not to have two hundred devotees on the walk. As Srila Prabhupada left, myself and many other devotees were told by the temple president not to follow. But when I saw someone else coming who had been told not to come, I also went along, and no one objected. Srila Prabhupada did not say much on that morning walk. Mainly he chanted japa. I was just trying to get a glimpse of Srila Prabhupada, and could not hear anything he said, because there were so many senior devotees all around him. I was at the back of the group.
During this visit Srila Prabhupada twice gave darsana in the morning, in his room at the Manor. In the first, Nanda-kumar, his traveling servant, sat chanting in front and slightly to the right of Srila Prabhupada. Nanda-kumar's chanting beads were around his neck, and he was chanting holding his beads with both hands. Srila Prabhupada had been answering some questions when he suddenly turned and asked Nanda-kumar, "Where is your beadbag?" Nanda-kumar replied, "It is being washed, Srila Prabhupada." Srila Prabhupada, indicating towards the next room (his bedroom), said to Harikesa (now) Maharaja, "Some beadbags have been donated," in a voice that questioned Harikesa Maharaja's knowledge and remembrance of this. Harikesa Maharaja replied in the affirmative, and Srila Prabhupada said, "Give one to him," indicating Nanda-kumar. Then Srila Prabhupada said to Nanda-kumar, "You should keep two beadbags. Always chant with your beads in your beadbag. When one is being washed, use the other one."
- From the "My Memories of Srila Prabhupada" by HH Bhakti Vikas Swami
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