Bhagavati devi dasi Remembers Srila Prabhupada

Prabhupada Memories

Interview 01

Bhagavati: In a letter to Vasudev, Prabhupada wrote, “By your example teach all of the citizens to become ideal Vaishnavas, faithfully following the regulative principles and chanting regularly the Hare Krishna mantra. Worship the deity very gorgeously with full attention to regularity and cleanliness. Distribute ample quantities of sumptuous prasadam to everyone who visits Kaliya-Krishna. This program will make us successful.” Vasudev thought, “How can we distribute prasad? We can open a vegetarian restaurant.” When we opened the Hare Krishna Restaurant, business people said, “What will people eat there? Grass? Who will come to eat grass?” But it was very successful. People from the Australian, British, New Zealand, and French embassies came for lunch. They said, “We didn’t know that there was so much variety in vegetarian food. We thought it was only boiled vegetables.” Due to the restaurant, the public became more favorable to the Krishna conscious movement. Now we have five Hare Krishna Restaurants in Fiji.

To view the entire unedited video go to Memories 47 - Twenty Disciples Remembering SP

The full Prabhupada Memories Series can be viewed here and also at www.prabhupadamemories.com

Following Srila Prabhupada

Interview DVD 08

Bhagavati: Vasudeva invited him that next time when you pass from Nadi to Hawaii, next year you come and stay in Fiji.

And he said the road should be concrete. For collection, Vasudeva used to go early in the morning, six o’clock, with a BTG in his hand and Prabhupada’s photo there.

And then we got some loan from bank.

When Prabhupada first came, in the morning he was going for morning walk to Marine Drive in Lautoka. After coming from morning walk, we had Guru Puja. His first program in Natabua Hall, Lautoka, and the whole hall was full with people. Vasudeva das: Upstairs, downstairs, 2,000 people were there.

Prabhupada gave lecture for 20 minutes in English. So Vasudeva requested, “Many Indians are here who don’t understand English. So can you speak in Hindi?” So Prabhupada gave same lecture in Hindi. And then he gave one program in Nadi, Ramakrishna Mission, and one at Ba, it was in theater.

Once he didn’t come, so after lunch and rest he rang to call Vasudeva. Then we were sitting in the veranda. And one devotee was there, Satya Nashri, he asked Prabhupada that “Local people say that Kaliya is here in Fiji.” And Prabhupada asked, “Are there any wild creatures here like wild lion and serpents?” He said, “No.” Then he said, “Then Kaliya must be…may be here.” And after that, he changed the…

…to make Krishna Kaliya Temple.

Then the next trip Prabhupada came in 1976.

At that time, we got initiation.

He asked Prabhupada, “Prabhupada, I want to take initiation from you.” Prabhupada said, “OK, shave your head.”

After initiation, the next morning Prabhupada called us in his room and gave second initiation next day to both of us.

And he presented first mala to Vasudeva prabhu, then to me, and then to Bhuvan Mohan.