Blog

Tuesday, 6 May 1975 - Perth, Western Australia

Srila Prabhupada arrived at Perth airport at 11.45am from Bombay, accompanied by Srutakirti, his servant, and Paramahamsa Swami, his secretary. Vigilant Western Australian quarantine officers -- amongst the strictest in Australia -- confiscated some choice mangoes the devotees had brought with them from India. Srutakirti asked them why they allowed dried meat but didn't allow mangoes. The men told them that according to Australia's quarantine laws, imported mangoes were more potentially dangerous than dried meat.

Prabhupada was disgusted. "They will allow importation of dry meat, three hundred years old. That is not infectious," he said to Srutakirti sarcastically, "but mango, very nice mango, fresh mango -- we started in Bombay at night and we arrived here this morning -- and it has become poisonous!"

Srila Prabhupada was greeted by Amogha with full prostrated obeisances and an exquisite garland of roses and carnations. Jayadharma attended to the baggage as Amogha escorted Prabhupada and his entourage to the waiting rented burgundy Ford LTD.

Prabhupada relaxed in the back seat of the car as they drove through the suburbs. He inquired about Amogha's immigration status. Amogha explained that the United States Government had dropped all charges against him for failure to report for draft induction, and he was now awaiting police clearance for citizenship. The drive along the Swan River was picturesque. Prabhupada asked about Perth, and the devotees answered as best they could.

Perth, the capital of Western Australia, was a low density city with a pleasant and moderate Mediterranean climate, similar to Southern California or South Africa. Despite its somewhat harsh natural environment, it had a reputation for a clean atmosphere, especially unpolluted water in its rivers and lakes, and fresh, clean air. With a population of a little more than 750,000 people, Perth was one of the most isolated cities of its size in the world -- over 2100km from Adelaide, the nearest urban centre with more than 25,000 people.

The site of Perth had been discovered in 1829 by an English navigator, Captain James Stirling, who named the Swan River after the black swans he saw there. For many years it was known as the Swan River Colony, until the large settlement was named Perth after the Scottish city of the same name. Prabhupada told the devotees that Perth's layout, style of buildings, and its climate reminded him of Los Angeles. Looking out at the riverside views, he cited Canakya Pandit: any city with a temple, a river and a friend, is first-class. "Therefore," he said, "we should have a temple here."

Srila Prabhupada asked if flowers grew easily. "Yes," replied Ganesa from the driver's seat, "especially roses." Prabhupada also wondered about fruits. Ganesa explained that since Perth's soil was very sandy, few fruits grew there. Prabhupada added his own horticultural observation. "But potatoes should grow well," he said.

Prabhupada asked further questions: Were the local people predominantly Englishmen? Was English the official language? The devotees took great pleasure in answering them all for the remainder of the drive.

The car drove down an attractive, tree-lined cul-de-sac and pulled up outside a modern house situated on a large block of land in a pleasant garden setting. This was 9 Marimba Crescent, a modest house compared to many others in the upper-class suburb of City Beach. The location, Ganesa explained, was not far from a selection of beaches, especially City Beach itself. The house, by design, was secluded. Trees and shrubs obscured it from vision. Although there were immediate neighbours at the rear and one side of the property, the fencing and garden allowed complete privacy.

The devotees performed a simple foot-bathing ceremony for Prabhupada inside the house. As Ganesa held the bowl, Amogha and Jayadharma poured the various auspicious substances, noticing that Prabhupada's legs and feet were slightly swollen from the flight. They carefully dried Prabhupada's feet, then slid a pair of soft, saffron-coloured woollen socks onto Prabhupada's equally soft feet. They felt blessed, and meditated on their good fortune to have been chosen out of hundreds of devotees to be there with Prabhupada.

Jayadharma offered apologies on behalf of Madhudvisa Swami -- he could not be present due to the heavy work commitment in Melbourne. Prabhupada nodded approvingly. Srila Prabhupada wasted no time in resuming his usual daily routine, starting with massage. After the massage he took a short tour of the house, silently noting the three bedrooms, bathroom, living room, kitchen and the backyard swimming pool. Devotees had reserved the large, carpeted main room for Srila Prabhupada, and had arranged mattresses covered with white linen and pillows, air-freighted from Melbourne, for Prabhupada's comfort. Upon seeing all the facilities, however, Prabhupada decided that he preferred to use two of the smaller bedrooms -- one for resting and one for a darsana room where he could read and translate, meet guests and take prasadam.

The devotee hosts made a quick rearrangement, setting up Prabhupada's simple bed and lamp in one bedroom, and his low desk in another. The remaining bedroom was set aside for Srutakirti and Paramahamsa Swami.

The devotees were still in a state of blissful, semi-shock. Finding such a pleasant place was miraculous, they thought, especially since they had flown to Perth only the previous Sunday. In only two days, they had located the house, finalised rental arrangements, borrowed furniture from Ganesa's mother, purchased and flown-in extra fittings, and set everything up. Surely, they reasoned, it must have been 'Krsna's arrangement' for the convenience of His dear servant Srila Prabhupada.


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