Turya das Remembers Srila Prabhupada

Following Srila Prabhupada

Interview DVD 02

Turya: I think there were some disturbances going on, and Prabhupada had given Vishnujan the Nrsingha prayers. Vishnujan had just been up with Prabhupada and came down and we were on the street right in front of the temple, and Vishnujan said to all of us that Prabhupada had given him this mantra for protection of the festival and right on the street he taught us. I think this is the first time we chanted the Nrsingha prayers. Prabhupada was so happy about the Rathayatra Festival and the success of it. He was just going on and on. He was saying, “Why have we done all this? Why have we put out all this energy to put on this festival?” He began to speak that this is the compassion of the Vaisnava. For the purpose of benefiting others, the Vaisnava goes to such great lengths to see to the preaching of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He said, “This is Vaisnavism, this is Vaisnavism,” twice he said, and actually tears began to come to his eyes. And as tears came to his eyes, he couldn’t speak anymore. “This is Vaisnavism,” as he thought of the success of the Rathayatra. So being unable to speak anymore, he actually just waved his hand for everyone to leave. I realized that I was going back to Hawaii very soon, so I let everyone leave and I was the last one and I paid my obeisances. Prabhupada saw me there and he pointed to his servant, at that time it was Karttikeya Maharaja, to give me the garland from his deities. So he put it upon me and I realized that in this moment of Srila Prabhupada’s extraordinary compassion, I was getting his mercy in the form of that garland and paid my obeisances and left.

Interview DVD 11

Turya: I remember standing in the alleyway there watching Prabhupada drive away. And when Prabhupada’s lights were no longer seen, I was reflecting about how Srila Prabhupada’s life’s energy was simply utilized for the purpose of helping others, benefiting others. It was not ever selfishly used but it was selflessly used, and this was Srila Prabhupada’s glory.