- He did not have Chandan Tilak, but on the place of that he used his tooth paste.
It was his first lecture today on Srimad Bhagavatam. It was Sunday program and His Grace Vital Prabhu by the request of senior Devotees agreed to give a lecture.
Since senior Devotees had gone to the pilgrimage, younger Devotees' duty was to take care of whole Sunday program. Temple cook Prabhu from early morning was not seen in the altar room but dedicated all his time for cooking. Pujari Prabhu also was running here and there was serving to the Deities, doing abhishek then decorating the Lord as if They just arrived form Goloka Vrindavan. Kirtan singers also were eagerly trying to sing and play Mridanga, karatals with great attention and devotion. Others at the time of Kirtan clapped their palms, danced for the pleasure of the Lord. As a result everyone started to dance and jubilantly cry out the Holy Names of the Lord.
Sometimes someone cried out: Haribol!!!
Other one: Gouranga!!!
Someone started to jump, someone was closing eyes listened and seemed like was emerging in the ocean of the Holy Names.
Kirtan finished. But now my question was: who will give the lecture?
For my great surprise it was His Grace Vital Prabhu. Who was as like as Krishna's soldier had time to perform all his material duties, taking care of his parents, wife, and also preaching to his colleagues at his job place – Enforces; also finding time for reading Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavad Gita.
As it was his first time, all other Devotees prayed for his successful lecture and accompanied him in singing Jaya Radha Madhava.
Today's text was one of the questions which gave sages in Naimisharaniya to Suta Goswami.
- What is the best thing we should do in order not to loose time and to be fully engaged with the best service?
In the end of the lecture His Grace Vital Prabhu told about Russian Devotees which he read in the book "Salted bread".
It was in Soviet Union, in Siberia. Those days communist people were afraid of religion because of that did not want anyone to practice any religion. The government started to control everyone who seemed religious. Muslims started in a hidden do their Namaaz.
And Krishna Consciousness movement was new for those days. Only 2-3 Devotees started to preach, distribute books of Srila Prabhupada. As they did not had right to copy it they copied Bhagavad Gita by hand. When they distributed sometimes they covered the books with other coverings making similar to karmic books.
But even thou the government agents were so strong that they found Devotees and put them into jail. They confiscated their Japa Malas, even Tulasi Malas. Sometimes they forced them to eat non vegetarian food. But ordinarily in the jails it used to give the simplest food which is bread – Russian Buhanka and little non vegetarian soup.
But Devotees took that bread, brought out the soft part and mixing it nicely made from that chanting beads. Exactly 108 breads. But this cruel people saw that and took out that also. Then they made smaller ones with only 27 beads and chanted in them.
Those Devotees were so eager that did not stop to fulfill the desire of their beloved Gurudev Srila Prabhupada – no matter what ever difficulties are there, we will chant the Holy Names because it is the wish of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Chaitania!!!
By the time some Devotees could not survive in those miserable conditions of Soviet jails and had to give up their bodies.
Once one Devotee, as if he new that he is leaving his body, that day put Tilak with a tooth paste in 12 places of his body and sitting in a lotus form and chanting in bread beads left his body.
In this way His Grace Vital Prabhu with trembling voice finished his lecture with this story and touched everyone's heart in the Altar room, he himself hardly kept his tears from falling.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada! All glories to great Vaishnavas!
Comments
Jai Shri Krishna..
Sri Brahma Samhita...The pure nectar..such a sweet book.. mesmerizer of souls.. Hare Krishna!
i sent to Him a link, and hope he will see it and be happy to see You here.
Your servant,
My humble Obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!!
I am so excited to know that His Grace Vittal Prabhu gave lecture during this Sunday Program. He blessed me with Krishna Consciousness. I am deeply saddened at the same time that I could not attend his lecture. VIttal Prabhu has always been an inspiration for me and will continue to be. Please convey my best wishes to him the next time when you meet.
RadheKrishna!!
Your Servant,
Ram