Jagat Shaksu das Remembers Srila Prabhupada

Prabhupada Memories

Interview 01

Jagat Shaksu: When kirtan was over, Prabhupada said the prema-dhvani prayers, and then he told us, “It is very nice that tonight we have with us these two Prabhus,” indicating the Gaura-Nitai Deities. “There is a very nice song. Can you please follow me?” and Prabhupada started to sing Locana dasa Thakura’s very beautiful song, parama koruna, pahu dui jana nitai gauracandra, saba avatara-sara siromani, kevala ananda-kanda. But when Prabhupada said the first two words, parama koruna, his voice choked and he couldn’t sing anymore. He closed his eyes and put his head back on the vyasasana, and we saw tears gliding down his lotus face. The room was completely silent. I don’t know how long that lasted, but it was like an eternal moment entered the temple room. Everything was still in ecstasy, watching the pure devotee have such a wonderful experience of his love for Gaura-Nitai. Then gradually Prabhupada came back to external consciousness, although he was still affected by spiritual emotions, and he said, “Parama koruna, so merciful. In this dark age of Kali-yuga, if Krishna incarnated to kill the demons, practically nobody would be left. In Kali-yuga, the demonic spirit and the devotee spirit is in the same body. So Lord Chaitanya didn’t kill demons, He killed the demonic spirit by the sankirtan movement and by the association of devotees.” At the end he said, “You are very fortunate. Now you must make others fortunate too. If you chant 16 rounds, follow the four regulative principles and preach, I assure you in this same lifetime you will see Krishna face to face.” Some people may say, “Well, generally it takes more than one lifetime to see Krishna face to face.” But because Prabhupada made that promise, Krishna will surely have to make Prabhupada’s words true.

Prabhupada called me. I went to him and paid my obeisances. He gave me my japa mala and said, “Your name is Jagat Shaksu das,” and he explained that my name meant that we should feel the eye of the Lord watching us. Then he looked straight in my eyes and, pointing his finger, he said, “You cannot hide from the eyes of God.” I thought, “Oh, my God.” I wanted the earth to open up and swallow me because everybody was watching and thinking, “Maybe he did something wrong.” Actually, before I was initiated, I used to steal maha sweets from the kitchen, hide and eat them. When Prabhupada told me what my name meant, I immediately felt caught. I felt that Prabhupada read my mind and knew everything about me. The next day I came back from sankirtan a little early and, forgetting that I was not supposed to pass through Prabhupada’s garden, I passed through it. Prabhupada was sitting on his rocking chair chanting japa. I paid my obeisances, and was going to go back, when Prabhupada waved me over and asked, “Where have you been?” I said, “Prabhupada, I was distributing your books.” We were very enthusiastic to distribute his books because we knew that Prabhupada was blessing all the people of Venezuela through his books. Prabhupada said, “How do the people in Venezuela like my books?” I said, “Prabhupada, the people here are simple but pious. As soon as they read these books, they like them and they want to buy more.” Prabhupada moved his head indicating that he was satisfied and said, “Come, I have to give you something.” I followed him to his room, and on his table was a tray full of sweets. He gave me one and said, “Thank you very much for helping me.” I was so moved that I was crying. I was a new devotee, yet Prabhupada gave me so much mercy. Then I thought, “He is telling me that I don’t have to steal sweets, that he will give them to me.” Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

To view the entire unedited video go to Memories 34 - 25th Anniversary of SP Disappearance

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