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By Subhag Swami

I am now in Bangladesh, surrounded by lush green trees; I just finished
prasad this morning and was relaxing, when suddenly I was informed by
Madhavendu das of ISKCON Vrindavan the news. I was shocked to hear that
Prabhupada’s beloved is not here anymore.


I used to see him time to time when travelling around. I have deep
affection for him because he rendered a tremendous amount of service to
Srila Prabhupada. In two of Srila Prabhupada’s most ambitious projects:
ISKCON Vrindavan and Juhu, he played a key role as architect and leading
manager as well as recently in our temple in Punjabi Bagh, as well as
Siliguri and Ahmedabad as I have been told.


One day we were in Mayapur, many years back, desiring to have his
association I requested him to have a glass of fruit juice with me. During
our conversation we spoke about several things. I conveyed my feelings of
appreciation in how he helped in establishing a wonderful temple: Punjabi
Bagh. Out of his humility, he replied, “Yes, yes but a very small temple
though.” I told him that it doesn’t matter; he helps maintain it and guides
the devotees there through the expert medium of HG Samba das, thus doing a
great service.
I respected his numerous businesses and he was very expert in being able to
earn money for the sake of preaching Krishna Consciousness through all
available means.

I wish I could have had more of his association. He performed abundant
service to Prabhupada, our society and devotees in general, selfless
service. He dedicated his own life to serve the pure devotee Srila
Prabhupada and for the cause of Krishna Consciousness. His life is
exemplary being dedicated to spread Krishna consciousness. He will stand as
an inspiration for devotees all over the world for generations to come and
set an example how to dedicate their lives for the propagation of Krishna
Consciousness. Just assisting in building our Juhu temple is in itself
magnificent preaching. Distinguished VIPs visit regularly. One such person
was President Clinton’s sister. She came many years back incognito to
India, especially Bombay and stayed for some time in the temple. She was
inquisitive as to why so many young American boys and girls join our ISKCON
society, so she decided to have a personal experience of temple life.


I heard that HG Tulsyan Prabhu gave him the responsibility to help in the
construction of the Asta-sakhis at ISKCON Mayapur. Prabhupada gave him a
short time in which to finish the construction of both Juhu and Vrindavan
temples, and Prabhupada was seemingly angry when reports were not up to the
required standard. We understand however that the chastisement of the
spiritual master is actually a blessing and by this we can make
advancement.

To conclude, Prabhupada glorified the Krishna Balaram Mandir in Vrindavan
as the most beautiful temple in Vrindavan: wonderful deities, a wonderful
guest house and a wonderful gurukula. Surabhi Prabhu played a great role in
helping establish it, so accordingly the Lord will also give him the proper
reward. So we feel a great loss, but at the same time we rejoice that he
must be getting the blessings of Prabhupada and going Back Home, Back to
Godhead. By the arrangement of Krishna and also of Providence, he returned
to Vrindavan to leave his body. Living in Vrindavan and dying in Vrindavan
will entail the same result and therefore he will be eternally in the
spiritual world.
HG Surabhi Prabhu ki Jay
Srila Prabhupada ki Jay!
(transcribed by Bhakta Nikhil)