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Sri Dhama Mayapur

February 20th, 1976

Today is the appearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada, which we are all observing with a half-day fast. 

The Gaudiya Matha down the road has invited the Governor of Pondicherri to speak at its function, which is being held at the samadhi-mandira of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta. Jayapataka Swami was supposed to ask the governor to visit our temple later, but somehow he failed to do so. The only way it could be arranged at this late date would be for Jayapataka Maharaja to go to the Caitanya Matha this morning and ask the Governor's aide-de-camp. Srila Prabhupada decided against this because, as he jokingly put it, "The hosts are host-ile!" The Gaudiya Matha didn't invite Prabhupada, and we have not invited them. "Anyway," he said, "one book distributed in America is more important than the visit of any governor. In America we have never approached any politicians for support." * * * Prabhupada kept his usual schedule today with a walk, greeting the Deities, and class, on Srimad-Bhagavatam 7.9.13. He clearly defined the nature of our movement. "If we want to adjust this chaotic condition, then we require the incarnation of God. That is already there. Nama-rupe kali-kale krsna-avatara. This Hare Krsna movement is the incarnation of Krsna in the form of name. "The sankirtana movement which was inaugurated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Krsna Himself. So this Hare Krsna movement is not different from Krsna or Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So if we take shelter of this holy name of the Lord, Hare Krsna, then we shall be saved." He revealed also how the name of the temple here is a beautiful metaphor. It's based on the statements of Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati, one of the great devotees of Lord Caitanya, describing the temple's purpose of saving the fallen souls. In Prabodhananda's Sri Caitanya-candramrta Lord Caitanya is compared to the full moon. He said, "The ultimate benefit of life is compared with the moon. So spreading Krsna consciousness means spreading the moonlight. Therefore we have named this temple Sri Mayapur Candrodaya [The Rising Moon of Sri Mayapur]. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Gaura-Hari, and Prabodhananda Sarasvati said, sadhavah sakalam eva vihaya durat caitanya-candra-carane kurutanuragam." * * * Prabhupada sent me down to the temple at 9:00 a.m. to see whether many visitors had gathered for the coming program in honor of his Guru Maharaja. To my surprise, the temple was empty. Prabhupada then called for Hridayananda dasa Goswami to discuss why there were no visitors yet on such an important day. Hridayananda Maharaja said that it was probably due to the fact that the general public are not aware of the occasion. The festival had obviously not been well-advertised, because at Gaura Purnima tens of thousands of people come here during the festival week. Prabhupada wasn't very satisfied. He thought more should have been done to attract the public. After an early massage Prabhupada went down to the temple room at 11:10 a.m. He offered his obeisances to the large painting of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura that had been placed on the vyasasana. He seemed very satisfied to see the beautiful decorations. There were long, multicolored drapes hung along the back wall, as well as strands of marigolds draped around the vyasasana, and banana trees and leaves were placed all around. Moving to the front of the vyasasana area, he sat comfortably on an asana on the floor, with his back to the jali-work fence. Acyutananda Swami sang songs glorifying Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, notably Ohe Vaisnava Thakura. Afterward Srila Prabhupada gave a wonderful lecture requesting the devotees to do two things: help develop Mayapur and distribute many books. He said this was his Guru Maharaja's desire. His Guru Maharaja's father, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, had rediscovered the birth site of Lord Caitanya, and it was his attempt to develop it. Then Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura continued the effort. And now he and his Godbrothers were also doing what they could. "We have got great ambition to develop this place nicely and gloriously, and fortunately we are now connected with foreign countries, especially with the Americans. Bhaktivinoda Thakura's great desire was that the Americans would come here and develop this place and they would chant and dance along with the Indians. "So from this place Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu started this movement, and He desired that 'As many towns and villages are there, this Krsna consciousness movement should be spread.' So this Krsna consciousness movement is now in your hand. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he wanted me to do something in this connection. He wanted from all his disciples. Especially he stressed many times that 'You do this. Whatever you have learned, you try to expand in English language.'" Prabhupada told us how in 1935 he had gone to visit his Guru Maharaja in Radha-kunda. At that time he had received some frank and revealing advice from his spiritual master which formed the basis of all his future endeavors. "When he was in Radha-kunda, I was at that time in Bombay in connection with my business life. So I came to see him, and one friend wanted to give some land in Bombay for starting Bombay Gaudiya Matha. He's my friend. So that's a long story. But I wish to narrate this, the Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami's mission. "Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada immediately took up the land. He continued that 'There is no need of establishing many temples. Better we publish some books.' He said like that. "He said that 'We started our this Gaudiya Matha in Ultadanga. The rent was very small, and if we could gather two to two-hundred-fifty rupees, it was very nice, going on. But since this J. V. Datta has given us this stone, marble stone thakurbari, our competition between the disciples has increased. So I don't like any more. Rather, I would prefer to take out the marble stone and sell it and publish some books.' "So I took that point, and he also especially advised me, 'If you get money, you try to publish books.' So by his blessing it has become very successful by your cooperation. Now our books are being sold all over the world, and it is very satisfactory sale. So on this particular day of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura's advent, try to remember his words. That he wanted many books should be published about our philosophy, and it should be given to the English-knowing public especially, because English language is now world language. We are touring all over the world. Anywhere we speak English, it is understood, except in some places. "So on this day, particularly on the advent of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, I especially request my disciples who are cooperating with me that you try to publish books as many as possible and distribute throughout the whole world. That will satisfy Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu as well as Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. Thank you very much." After his speech we gathered in front of the vyasasana and performed the puspanjali-puja, an offering of flowers. Prabhupada had Acyutananda Swami chant the four pranama prayers to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. Then, following Srila Prabhupada's lead, we offered a flower to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati's picture on the vyasasana. This procedure was repeated three times. Prabhupada then called for Bhanu dasa, a Japanese-Canadian brahmacari from the Nama Hatta party, to offer the arati. The special feast cooked in Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's honor was brought in and set out on low tables directly in front of the vyasasana. Srila Prabhupada stood in front and played his karatalas, while Acyutananda Maharaja lead an ecstatic kirtana, which had us all jumping high in the air. During the kirtana Prabhupada asked me to gather a sample of every preparation onto his plate and take it up to his room. He wanted to check what the devotees had cooked to glorify his Guru Maharaja. He also wanted to offer his own respects by taking Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's remnants. After the program finished, Prabhupada returned upstairs and ate the feast. He was happy with all the arrangements, but he again appeared disappointed that only about 100 guests had come. In fact, during his massage, he had criticized the management for erecting such a large building and not inviting anyone to come-only local people, no one from Calcutta. "Only the Deity program is going nicely," he remarked. Referring to the two English identical -- twin brothers who are the head pujaris, Prabhupada declared, "The two brothers Pankajanghri and Jananivasa -- there is no comparison. Everyone should know, there is no complaint."