Later that morning, Srila Prabhupada conducted an initiation ceremony in the temple room. He had already sanctified his relationship with his new disciples around the fire at the temple inauguration. Now he was formalising that relationship.
Nineteen devotees were to receive initiation. Prabhupada sat on his vyasasana, and as Madhudvisa called their names, those receiving first initiation came up one by one, offered prostrated obeisances on the marble floor, and stood to receive their new names and chanting beads.
Prabhupada asked each initiate to repeat their vows. One by one the men and women promised before guru, Krsna and the assembled devotees to refrain from illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling.
Bare-chested, skinny young Steve bowed and held out his hands expectantly. Prabhupada placed the string of beads in his right hand.
"Your name is Setukrit dasa, an associate of Lord Ramacandra", he said.
As the boy turned to return to his sitting place, Prabhupada, noticed that the boy's ribs were clearly visible through his thin frame. Smiling at Madhudvisa, he quipped, "Are you feeding him?"
Giulio, a young brahmacari from Sydney became Jyotirmaya dasa.
Narayana: I recited the four regulative principles and promised to chant sixteen rounds. Srila Prabhupada handed me my beads. "Your name is Narayana dasa. I bowed down, and as I was walking away, Prabhupada, speaking clearly into the microphone, added, "He will go to heaven or hell in the service of the Lord. That is Narayana dasa."
- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu
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