Blog

Wednesday, 21 May 1975

A little before 4.30am each morning, the devotees would head for the temple room to attend the mangala arati ceremony. Sometimes, before entering the temple, they would look up to see Srila Prabhupada's form silhouetted behind his blue curtains as he sat translating, or sometimes standing at his door which led out to the veranda.

Gaura-mandala-bhumi: A devotee had begun to lead the chanting of Gurvastakam -- the eight prayers to the spiritual master -- in a non-conventional tune. I was feeling uncomfortable because I knew Srila Prabhupada liked us to sing the "morning melody" during mangala arati. Suddenly Srutakirti entered the temple and stopped the kirtana. He whispered something to the devotee leading, who then started up again singing the correct melody. Later we found out that Prabhupada had heard the singing from his room and had sent his servant down to make the necessary corrections.

After some hours of translating, Srila Prabhupada turned off the desk lamp and rose from his seat. Now the room was lit up with the very soft glow that came from within an illuminated vinyl globe of the earth sitting on the right-hand side of Prabhupada's table. Prabhupada softly chanted japa, pacing in his room or sitting on the white rocking chair in his bedroom. After freshening up, he chanted until it was time for his morning walk.


- From "The Great Transcendental Adventure" by HG Kurma Prabhu