Memorial Function for Jashomatinandan Prabhu

Giriraj Swami:

LETTER to Srila Prabhupada by Yasomatinandana Prabhu

. . . Go out on saṅkīrtana and distribute your books, and Krishna is rewarding me with unexpected pleasure.

Every day, I am realizing more and more the magnanimity and potency of your saṅkīrtana movement, which is giving me the strength to resist the attack of the dense forest of the material world with its wild animals, the karmis (materialists). People in general are taking one major step every day towards degradation. I cannot understand their royal march toward hell, even though I would have been one of them had you not picked me up from this holocaust. This is more true of Indians than anybody else, especially those in this country. They do not know anything about Vedic philosophy. They do not have any religion but Carvaka’s, “Eat, drink, and be merry.” Varnashrama-dharma is existing only in a skeleton form. The brahman class has become almost extinct. The society is a headless body. How can there be any peace and prosperity when they do not know what peace and prosperity mean? How can there be brotherhood when they do not know who their father is? How can there be rāma-rājya [the kingdom of God] without Rama [God]?

COMMENT

So, I’ll just stop reading the letter now to share some reflections. The first is how so early in his devotional career, he had such a clear understanding of the philosophy of Krishna consciousness, of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings. And another thing is what a heart he had? How much compassion and care he had for the people of the world. I mean, in a way, I would say he was a born Vaishnava, but I would say that he was a Vaishnava before this birth also. He was a natural Vaishnava, both in terms of his knowledge and learning, and in terms of his compassion and caring. So, now I’ll continue with his letter to Srila Prabhupada, beautiful and shastric, as you will see.

LETTER (continued)

Amidst all the hypocrisy, quarrel, chaos, and disarray, you have come forward with the nectar of bhāgavata-dharma, the function of the soul. Only very fortunate people, those who are picked up by the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna Himself, can taste this nectar, as confirmed in the Gītā:

bahunam janmanam ante
jnanavan mam prapadyate
vasudevah sarvam iti
sa mahatma sudurlabhah

“After many births and deaths, he who is actually in knowledge surrenders unto Me, knowing Me to be the cause of all causes and all that is. Such a great soul is very rare.” (Bg. 7.19)

This saṅkīrtana-yajña is undoubtedly the highest of all yajñas [sacrifices], and anybody, whether a brahman, or sudra, or even worse, pure or impure, can take part and get the highest benediction, bhakti antho adhokṣaja, Sri Krishna. Out of causeless mercy, you have planted these seeds in our hearts and chosen us to go all over the whole world and plant the seeds of devotion in everyone’s heart.

COMMENT

Wow. I mean, such a beautiful grasp of the philosophy of Krishna consciousness, and of Srila Prabhupada’s mission.

LETTER (continued)

Out of causeless mercy, you have planted these seeds in our hearts and chosen us to go all over the whole world and plant the seeds of devotion in everyone’s heart. Only through your transcendental mercy. . .

COMMENT

And this is his faith, his exclusive faith in Srila Prabhupada.

LETTER (continued)

Only through your transcendental mercy can one approach Ajita, Krishna. Krishna has given you all powers to purify anybody. The Bhāgavatam confirms this:

yat pada-samsrayah suta
munayah prasamayanah
sadyah punanty upasprstah
svar-dhunyapo ‘nusevaya

“O Suta, those great sages who have completely taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord can at once sanctify those who come in touch with them, whereas the waters of the Ganges can sanctify only after prolonged use.” (Bhag. 1.1.15)

COMMENT

So, this is a very appropriate verse by Yasomatinandana Prabhu, who is demonstrating his scholarship in his letter to Srila Prabhupada, “those great sages who have completely taken shelter of the lotus feet of the Lord,” that’s referring to Srila Prabhupada, “can at once sanctify those who come in touch with them, whereas the waters of the Ganges can sanctify only after prolonged use.” Then, Yasomatinandana Prabhu continues.

LETTER (continued)

One of the most important and attractive things about you is that you started this movement after being on the brahma-bhūtaḥ 

[self-realized] platform, on which one does not have to perform any duties and has already realized the Absolute Truth. Every word in Bhagavad-gītā As It Is and Bhāgavatam volumes is a proof of this fact. Only a fool can read Bhagavad-gītā As It Is and not understand that you are an absolutely realized soul. (A nice Indian friend of mine has already read your Gītā twenty-five times.) Your purports in Bhāgavatam are so powerful and honest that sometimes I simply cannot take so much mercy and cry in ecstasy. Bhāgavatam, the most ripened fruit of the Vedic tree, is naturally very beautiful and is made sweeter by Śuka, its speaker. Your final touch in the form of purports has made it unbearably beautiful.

COMMENT

Such a wonderful realization.

LETTER (continued)

I was so stupid and dumb. Although born in a pious brahman family and brought up nicely, I went off track and was living like a dvija-bandhu [degraded brahman]. Somehow or other, Krishna gave me the intelligence to realize that Your Divine Grace is my only hope, and I surrendered to you wholeheartedly. Ever since then, there is always bliss in my life. The emptiness and vacant mood that I was feeling before have been replaced by enthusiasm and satisfaction. In you, I have seen a wonderful lake with cool water in the midst of a plain desert. You have given me both jnana [knowledge], and vijñāna [realization]. You have given me the vision that vāsudevaḥ sarvaṁ iti [Krishna is everything], knowing which, I do not have to know anything else. I have no qualifications whatsoever, but because I have accepted you as my master and guide, and whatever I know comes from you, I am sure of success, even with all my imperfections and defects.

COMMENT

I mean, Yasomatinandana Prabhu had absolute faith in Srila Prabhupada.

LETTER (continued)

api ced asi pāpebhyaḥ

sarvebhyaḥ pāpa-kṛt-tamaḥ

sarvaṁ jñāna-plavenaiva

vṛjinaṁ santariṣyasi

“Even if you are considered to be the most sinful of all sinners, when you are situated in the boat of transcendental knowledge, you will be able to cross over the ocean of miseries.” (Bg. 4.36)

My attachment for you is not at all sentimental. Until now, my definition of love was in terms of superficial material relationships with parents, family, and friends. Now, since I have developed feelings for you, I’m beginning to realize what love is like and how perfect and blissful a loving relationship can be. From time immemorial, I have been rotting in this hell, and of trillions and trillions of living entities, how fortunate I am to be born at the same time that you have appeared, and to be accepted by you as your spiritual son. You are not an ordinary saint or sage. You can very easily be considered as influential as Christ, Mohammed, or Shankaracharya, and yet they did not preach the complete transcendental truth or bhāgavata-dharma. Like the twelve mahājanas, you are a mahā-bhāgavata [fully realized devotee] who has influenced this whole age. All Vaishnavas for all time must pay you their obeisances. Oh, Srila Prabhupada, may I lose my legs, may my hands be cut off, may I lose the sight of my eyes and my ability to speak, but may I never lose the shelter of your lotus feet. I do not know if I can develop love for Krishna in this life, but if I can develop love for you, that will be enough.

Anyone who comes in contact with you directly or indirectly will be benefited. The best way one can come in contact with you is through your books.

COMMENT

And then, he goes on to speak about how important Srila Prabhupada’s books are, and how he contrasts them with the so-called spiritual Indian books with their impersonal interpretations. So, then he says. . .

LETTER (continued)

I did not expect to make this letter so long. But I do not know how to write nicely and briefly. However, if you read my broken language, then the goddess Sarasvati will be pleased with me, and I will be able to write better in the future.

yasya deve parā bhaktir
yathā  deve tatha gurau
tasyaite kathitā hy arthāḥ
prakāśante mahātmanaḥ

“Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.” (Svet. Up. 6.23)

It is true that you are present in your books, but as I read your books more and more, I feel your separation more and more, and my desire to see you becomes more and more intensified. I am looking forward to seeing you when you visit Chicago next spring. Please accept again my prostrated obeisances.

Eternally at your lotus feet,

Yasomatinandana dasa Brahmachari

COMMENT

And that one paragraph that I didn’t read through, he had offered to translate Srila Prabhupada’s books into Gujarati.

LETTER (continued)

I am wondering if I can translate your books into Gujarati. Gujaratis seem to me to be comparatively a little more God conscious than others, and materially, they are happier too. If they can read your books, they may become fortunate enough to recognize you.

COMMENT

And then, Srila Prabhupada replied:

LETTER by Srila Prabhupada to Yasomatinandana

My dear Yasomatinandana,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter, and I am so much pleased to read it. Your letter is so nice that I am advising that it be published in Back to Godhead. In the meantime, you can immediately begin translating all our books into the Gujarati language. All these translations will be published in series in our Gujarati BTG, and if you are serious about it, you can be the Editor. So, immediately begin translating and regularly produce books in Gujarati, and it will be a great service for you. The more you render service, the more you will be enlightened by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thank you once more for understanding our philosophy very nicely.

Hoping this will meet you in good health,

Your ever well-wisher, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami.

COMMENT

And the theme of Yasomatinandana Prabhu’s exclusive dedication and devotion to Srila Prabhupada runs throughout his life. When I received the news that our dear Yasomatinandana Prabhu had left us, I thought of a conversation on Juhu beach with Srila Prabhupada.

On a morning walk, Srila Prabhupada asked Dr. Patel why he was coming daily. “I don’t know,” Dr. Patel replied. “I’ve got some. . .” “We don’t pay you any fee.” “I feel some sort of attachment to you, that is why I come. I don’t understand why I’m attracted to you specially. I don’t understand. I’ve been thinking about it. I’m very much thinking there must be some ‘purva janma,’ something from the past life. I don’t know. No sadhu has been able to attract me as much as you have. Not even temples have attracted me, to tell the truth. And at that point, Yasomatinandana Prabhu chimed in, “There is no sadhu except Prabhupada,” which exemplified his absolute dedication and devotion to Srila Prabhupada.

So, my dear Yasomatinandana Prabhu, we miss you terribly, but we know that you’re with Srila Prabhupada, and I hope, when the time comes, after I do what you and Srila Prabhupada would want me to do here, I can also join you. As Srila Prabhupada said, “We’ll have another ISKCON in the spiritual world,” and I want to serve you now in separation, assist your mission, serve those who are near and dear to you, and await that time when we will all be together again in the ISKCON in the spiritual world. So, please smile graciously on us and encourage us in our service to you and Srila Prabhupada in separation. Hare Krishna.

So, I don’t know how much time a speaker is allowed, but I feel that I’ve had something to express my appreciation for and gratitude to His Grace Yasomatinandana Prabhu. Hare Krishna.

Host: Thank you very much, Maharaja, for your inspiration and your time with us today, and we look forward to having your association very soon. Now, we have with us Narada Rishi Prabhu from USA joining, and I request Narada Rishi Prabhu, because for USA, it is very late in the night, still, Narada Rishi Prabhu is joining us, and I request Narada Rishi Prabhu to speak about Yasomatinandana Prabhu. Narada Rishi Prabhu, over to you. Narada Rishi Prabhu, are you there? Can you unmute and say a few words?

Okay, I think there is some difficulty in getting Narada Rishi Prabhu. We will come back to him later. So, we also have His Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja joining from New Delhi. Maharaja, would you like to speak now, Maharaja? His Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja.

Jaya Maharaja! Maharaja, would you like to speak now, Maharaja? If you would like to speak a little later, that is fine also, Maharaja. If you would like to speak now, you could.

Gopal Krishna Goswami: Later, after the speakers.

Host: Okay, Maharaja. We also have with us His Holiness Amiya Vilas Swami Maharaja on the Zoom. His Holiness Amiya Vilas Swami Maharaja, you can unmute, Maharaja. Okay, we will come back to him later. We also have with us Srutakirti Prabhu. Srutakirti Prabhu is with Pancha Gaura Prabhu. Srutakirti Prabhu, you could speak first, and then Pancha Gaura Prabhu can speak. Both of you are there together. Yes, Srutakirti Prabhu, over to you.

Srutakirti Prabhu: Hare Krishna. Yes, we’re here in Krishna-Balarama mandir. Just a couple of words. Of course, I joined Srila Prabhupada in September, 1972, and after that time, Prabhupada came to Vrindavan for Kartik on October 15th, and I believe the next place he went to is Hyderabad and Aminabad, where he did programs. So, at that time, I got to meet one of the very few devotees of Indian birth who immediately came to Srila Prabhupada. So, that was Yasomatinandana Prabhu. He immediately became attracted to Srila Prabhupada and surrendered. At that time, as everyone knows he was such a force in Krishna consciousness everywhere he went, and he was always so happy to be in Prabhupada’s association. Prabhupada gave him a lot of association, knowing his ability and what he would do in the future.

So, I had not seen him so much over the years since that time, just here and there, but hearing of the legacy that he left behind and the people he touched, even to the extent of having Narendra Modi send a message to everyone talking about what he did as well. So, he was quite a dynamic person, a wonderful devotee. I saw the letter he sent to Srila Prabhupada, surrendered himself, said no matter what he lost, all his limbs, if he could just develop some love for Srila Prabhupada in this lifetime, then he would consider himself a success. And he certainly has done that throughout his life, and he’s shown it throughout his life.

And I’m sure we all know that Prabhupada has called him, as it seems he’s calling many of our godbrothers and godsisters at this time, to engage in service eternally. And as also Maharaja mentioned, Prabhupada said we would all be together. So, I just look forward to the opportunity to again having his association and the association of so many others who have dedicated their lives to Srila Prabhupada.

Like I saw with him, fifty years from the time he gained, all he did was want to serve Srila Prabhupada. So, we’re all indebted to him very much, and it’s another great loss for us within ISKCON. But I’m sure he’s very happily situated again at Srila Prabhupada’s lotus feet. So, I’m happy to be able to have just a few minutes here with everyone. And Giriraj Maharaja, it’s very nice to see you on the other side, literally halfway around the world, twelve hours away. But I’d like to offer my respects to you at this time. Hare Krishna.

Host: Thank you very much, Srutakirti Prabhu. Now, another godbrother of Yasomatinandana Prabhu, Pancha Gaura is with us. His Grace Pancha Gaura Prabhu, over to you.

Pancha Gaura Prabhu: Hare Krishna. Thank you. It’s a great honor to be able to glorify such a nice Vaishnava. When my family moved here in 1993 to Vrindavan, Yasomatinandana let us stay in his house in Sri Vrindavan dhāma, and I’m very grateful for all that, for his encouraging us to stay in Vrindavan. Every time he would come to Vrindavan, I would see that smile and the focus. I loved his classes, very clear classes, very to the point. Also, I could see that he was very determined to give service to Srila Prabhupada by helping spread the saṅkīrtana mission. Not only just theoretical or philosophical talking, but practical application. He personally made the endeavor for the translation work and all the preaching efforts throughout Gujarat, and you can see the accomplishments by the empowerment of Srila Prabhupada.

So, we’ll miss him, wonderful Vaishnava. Srila Prabhupada gave his blessings, perfection of life to give satisfaction to Srila Prabhupada and assist him in the spreading of Lord Chaitanya’s saṅkīrtana mission. So, we’ve seen also at the last Kumbh Mela, I was just amazed how even though struggling with his physical body and the various health issues, he came to the maṅgala-ārati for Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai, Nitai Gaurasundara, and he was participating wherever he would go. Even in meetings, practically speaking, the energy was not there, but you could see his enthusiasm and drive for Prabhupada’s mission. His dedication is very praiseworthy and we’re all going to miss him, but at the same time, we’re inspired by having his association. Yasomatinandana ki jaya! Hare Krishna.

Host: Thank you. Thank you very much, Pancha Gaura Prabhu. Now, I request His Grace Devakinandan Prabhu, who had lots and lots of association with Yasomatinandana Prabhu, to speak about Yasomatinandana Prabhu. His Grace Devakinandan Prabhu is sharing a powerpoint presentation, and he will speak alongside.

Devakinandan Prabhu:

vāñchā-kalpa-tarubhyaś ca
kṛpā-sindhubhya eva ca
patitānāṁ pāvanebhyo
vaiṣṇavebhyo namo namaḥ 

With heavy heart and sadness, missing Bappa, I will try to say something in his glorification. So, unfortunately, India lost, after Prabhupada, we lost four of our leaders. Earlier, His Holiness Shridhar Swami left us, then Bhakti Svarupa Damodara Maharaja left us, then, in less than six month time, His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami left us, and now, our dear His Grace Yasomatinandana Prabhu left us.

So, it’s a great loss, but Srila Prabhupada is the Supreme Manager of ISKCON, so he knows whom he wants where. Yasomatinandana Prabhu joined in America, Prabhupada brought him to India. He was in Bombay, but Prabhupada wanted him to go to Gujarat. So, that was Prabhupada’s desire. So, same way, now Prabhupada wanted him to go to some other place to preach. My association with Yasomatinandana Prabhu goes back. It was 1980, His Holiness Gopal Krishna Maharaja sent me to Ahmedabad for that year’s Janmashtami.

The temple was in ashram road on the bank of Sabarmati River. A small apartment, two to three rooms were there and a temple hall. So, Yasomatinandana Prabhu came, and he gave a lecture on this verse, janma karma ca me divyam, very nice. And the first time when I heard his lecture, I was just moved how shastric he gave it. And as Giriraj Swami Maharaja was mentioning that he read Kṛṣṇa book on Janmashtami time, it’s true enough. That time, he asked us to read Kṛṣṇa book. So, thereafter, of course, I have high regard and respect for him. So, whenever he came to Bombay, we were very cordial. He was very kind to me, and arranged his classes, served him.

So, time passed. Then, we always had competition between Gujarat and Bombay, especially in book distribution marathon, whoever was the loser, they had to give a party. I remember once we lost, and we gave party in Karjat. We had a farm in Karjat those days. So, party means chanting, dancing, wrestling, swimming, and feasting. One time, they lost, and we had a party in Surat. Krishna Murari Prabhu was there, Bhagavan Prahu, and we had a wonderful program.

Time passed. It was 1984 or 85, Bhima Prabhu became the president, and I became vice-president. So, Bhima Prabhu and Yasomatinandana Prabhu, they were very great friends for a long, long time. So, whenever Yasomatinandana Prabhu came, I always saw Bhima Prabhu and Yasomatinandana Prabhu fighting, which means argument. And what was the argument about, fight about? Stealing; stealing the books, and stealing the devotees.

So, can you show the PPT? So, in those days, we had four or five buses. Nathji Prabhu is no longer with us, but he said every year, he will give one bus. So, he gave the bus to us as well as to Yasomatinandana Prabhu. So, just show that bus wala photo. Okay, you want to go one by one? I just saw the bus wala photo, I’m talking about bus wala. Go, go. Yes. So, see this Jagannatha bus? We stroll, of course, the Jagannatha bus is also no more. He’s buried now.

So, this is one of our saṅkīrtana buses, all the boys came; Jaidhavaj Maharaja and me and Yasomatinandana Prabhu, Sridhar Swami was there, Atma Prabhu is there. There are not many. Jainandana Pandita is there, who passed away. Amritmaya, you were there somewhere? Not many devotees are there. So, Yasomatinandana Prabhu used to come to Juhu. He was very miser in spending money. He would only spend for ISKCON or Prabhupada’s service, not even for himself or his family or anyone.

He was very careful in spending money, but whenever he came to Bombay, somehow or other, he would talk to some new bhaktas, and he would give some money to them. He will not give money to anybody, not even his children, but only a bhakta he will give. And you know why he was giving that money? So that they can go to Gujarat. And after a few days, we would find there only bhaktas. So, Bhima Prabhu and them, they always had this kind of quarrel.

So, after Yasomatinandana Prabhu was exposed, then he brought another agent in the name of Jai Jagdish. So, he also used to come and do the same thing, and I had a big fight. So, once, Yasomatinandana Prabhu came and he was talking to me, and he said, “What is your problem? You have so many devotees in Juhu. You have two hundred devotees. Somebody comes to Gujarat, what is your problem?” And in the talk, I also started arguing with him. He said, “You babuchak.”

So, I did not know what the meaning of babuchak was at that time. So, I asked my wife, “What is the meaning of babuchak?” So, she is a disciple of Yasomatinandana Prabhu. She joined in 1981 in Ahmadabad, and Visakha and Surangi devi were there too, membership collectors. So, in those days, anybody brought money, even His Holiness Giriraj Swami, he is hearing. He used to be down, waiting for our membership preacher to come; Dhanvantari, Gaursundar, and Maharaja, and we had mahā-prasāda in marathon time, January time. So, money was always important. Of course, now we have so much money, but in those days, there was always a problem.

So, Surangi told me, “Who told you this word? It must be Bappa.” So, that time, I also heard for the first time the name Bappa. So, with love, they call him Bappa. I said, “Yes.” Then, I asked, “What is the meaning of Babuchak?” She said, “Fool.” So, I came to know the meaning of Babuchak means, “You fool.” So, anyway, this was one of the things in that one-to-one interaction. Can you show. . .? Go on the beginning one, the photo? Go on the first one, before that, the first one.

Okay. So, this is our gurukula in construction. He and Prabhu Dayal. Come on, move on. This is, of course, one old photo. Giriraj Swami there next to Brahmananda Swami, and Yasomatinandana Prabhu sitting back down. Go ahead. This is the first Vyasa-puja of His holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja in 1983. Next to Prabhupada’s asana, there was one asana where in guru-puja time, we keep the flower. There is marble asana of Kritanand Maharaja, and on the other side where the ladies sit to make garlands, the other asana of Gopal Krishna Maharaja. So, the first vyāsāsana and first Vyasa-puja, Yasomatinandana Prabhu is there feeding Maharaja cake. And Srila Sridhar Swami, he took the big piece and put it in Maharaja’s mouth. And then, Yasomatinandana Prabhu and myself, Dhanvantari Prabhu, Ambarish Prabhu with the glass are seen there.

Okay, move on. This is one of the meetings we had in Ahmedabad. So, we went for the meeting that time. I think in this meeting, we had Hare Krishna Food for Life, Mid Day Meal Foundation started at that time. That is a photo. So, Yasomatinandana Prabhu was very welcoming. He would not spend any money anywhere else, but to serve a Vaishnava, he would spend any money. So, this was one of the meetings. He welcomed all the Vaishnavas. We came for the IISC and bureau meeting.

Next. Every year, after Janmashtami, we had a felicitation meeting for our committee members in the auditorium. So, this is one of the pictures. The four sannyasis here; Bhakti Charu Maharaja, Gopal Krishna Maharaja, Narmada Maharaja, Vedvyas Maharaja. And Yasomatinandana Prabhu and Bhima Prabhu, they are sitting there behind Vedavyas Maharaja. One picture of that, some memory.

Go on. Okay, move on, move on. We had a program, I think this is, if I’m not mistaken, it is either B.K. Goenka’s house or Gupta Ji’s house, somewhere. We had a program, and it was a long time ago, a program. So, Sankirtana dasa, who is looking here. . . Brajanandan had a long shikha, Sankirtan dasa, Mahamantra Prabhu in Delhi, then me, Radha Vallabha Prabhu, and Yasomatinandana Prabhu. Always, there was some not very good prasādam in the temple, so we ate prasādam in life member’s house. Of course, we did offering and everything, and we always had nice prasādam.

Okay, move on. Haribol! This is the Kanpur installation of Radha-Madhavaji in 2009. Here, Yasomatinandana Prabhu came. He led the longest kirtan, almost three hours, he led kirtan. Those days, his health was good, in 2009, and he gave two, three classes. He stayed for long.

Move on. I’ll go short. He’s again the same abhiseka. He was sick, he was holding my hand. Okay. Then, this is Ratha-yatra time, and I don’t know where, maybe Lokhandwala Garden. It was Ratha-yatra time. Gupta Ji was there, and so many sannyasis and senior devotees came. Move on. Same. Okay, keep moving. Bappa was leading kirtan at that Ratha-yatra. This is in gurukula when construction was in progress, Bhajahari Prabhu took them to see.

Okay, move on. Yeah, same. This is Ratha-yatra, of course, Bhajahari Prabhu and Bappa talking, Mukhmala Prabhu driving Jagannatha rath. Move on. This is, again, Kanpur. This is last year, we had a meeting in Ahmedabad. Again, Bappa opened, he heard so nicely. They made a fantastic restaurant in Ahmedabad. How much? Eighty lakhs. How much? They spent a lot of money, four crores, to make a fantastic restaurant. And not only that, the restaurant is okay, but he made it free for all devotees wherever they want to eat, whatever variety they want to eat. So, all the Italian; pasta, pizza, and whatnot were there. So, I mean, at that time IIFC, ICC bureau, all the meetings were there. It was hosted last year by Yasomatinandana Prabhu.

Okay, move on. Okay, move on. Yes. So, here are some of the things I wanted to show. Then, later on. . . I will take only two more minutes. Yasomatinandana Prabhu was very, very kind to the devotees. He was also tough, but at the same time, he was very kind. He was always taking the side of any devotee who had made some mistake and they were asked to leave the temple, or they were in trouble. So, once, I asked him, “Why are you taking the side of those devotees who had made the mistake?” He said, “It is very easy to throw somebody out, but it is very difficult to make a devotee.” And he said, “Hate sin, not the sinner. Our job is to purify. Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to purify everybody. So, you purify, you give them shelter.” And he said, “If you don’t like them, you send them to Gujarat.”

But he was always very kind. I mean, all the devotees who have any trouble, Bappa will stand by them. So, they are the other wonderful qualities Bappa had. He was very dear to one and all, whether politician, or bureaucrat, or general public, or devotee. I remember one year, Bhakti Vijnana Maharaja, myself, and Yasomatinandana Prabhu, we went to meet Narendra Modi. Narendra Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat. And as soon as he heard that we had our appointment fixed, when we went there, everybody was checked thoroughly, but we didn’t get much check because Bappa was well known, and we went. So, there were two rooms. One room was for general people to sit and wait, but he secretly took us in a different room, in which only three of us were there and we were talking, and then water was brought, some fruit was brought.

So, Bappa was telling that how Narendra Modi, when he was pracharak of RSS, he used to come to the Ahmedabad temple and take prasādam and stay with Bappa for hours together and talk about the RSS and ISKCON activities. Bappa said, “I have preached to him a lot, but he is a strong follower of Vivekananda.”

So, Bappa told this thing when we were waiting for Narendra Modi, and when we went to meet Narendra Modi, it didn’t take much time, five to seven minutes. He stood up, Narendra Modi, I mean, chief minister. He stood up, huge office, like this, he stood up and literally came and touched the feet of Bappa, and he also remembered. So, we were talking about Moscow because Narendra Modi had promised Bhakti Vijnana Maharaja that he will help in Moscow. So, Bappa, such a great personality, I cannot imagine. He started giving introductions, because I was the only one who was new. Bappa was known by Narendra Modi, Bhakti Vijnana Maharaja also, they had met.

So, Bappa was introducing me, so much he introduced, and he talked about when he told about B.K. Goyenka. Then Narendra Modi said, “Yes, I know. I have gone to their factory in Anjar and we talked.” And Bappa said, “We need your help. We need your help to build.” And he assured, he said, “Yes, I will help you to build in Moscow.” And after the meeting, we came out and Bappa said, “Don’t count anything on politicians.” Those were his words.

So, anyway, this was my other dealing with Bappa. So, anyway, there are many more wonderful pastimes we had together. I mean, he was well-read, especially Caitanya-caritāmṛta and Caitanya-bhāgavata. Just like Śukadeva Gosvami, when he was narrating kṛṣṇa-līlā. I mean, if you read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, you will feel that he is not remembering and speaking, but he is seeing everything and speaking. Same way, whenever Yasomatinandana Prabhu spoke caitanya-līlā, if you just close your eyes, and even today, if you hear his lecture, I will request ISKCON Desire Tree and Hare Krishna TV, if they have Bappa’s lecture, they should play for a few days that lecture, so devotees can get benefit.

If you hear his lecture, you’ll feel like he was watching everything and talking. You can observe, and emotion will change. So, that was the power in his speech. Of course, single-handedly, he preached in Gujarat, opened several temples, got so many properties, and he was very, very dear to His Holiness Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja. Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja had firm faith in Yasomatinandana Prabhu. Maharaja told many times, ”Gujarat, I don’t have to worry, Yaso is there.” And of course, he had no rival in Gujarat, he was the king of Gujarat. And he didn’t enjoy the luxury, but he gave his life to preaching in Gujarat.

So, Bappa, we will miss you, and we’ll try to follow your footsteps of preaching the teachings of Lord Chaitanya and Srila Prabhupada’s movement, ISKCON. Hare Krishna. Srila Prabhupada ki jaya! His Grace Yasomatinandana Prabhu ki jaya!

I have a lot to say, but I know time is passing, many devotees are there. So, I’ll cut it up. And his letters were powerful letters. Once, a devotee. . . Bhajahari Prabhu maybe can tell more detail on this. I’ll leave this one for him because we were a part of that letter.

Once, Bappa was sixty years old, and he wanted to get married again because Radhakund Mataji and he had some problems. So, he wanted to marry, but we went in Baroda, and we had a meeting in Baroda, and we all were there; Dayaram Prabhu, Bhima Prabhu, Basu Ghosh Prabhu, Bhajahari Prabhu, and myself, and [?] prabhu we all begged him not to do that, “Please don’t marry.”

So, he was not doing that out of lust, but he felt that he wanted a partner. And after we begged him, he accepted our request and he didn’t get married. So, he took advice from others also. So, there are many more confidential dealings. I mean, this was one of them. I don’t want to tell, but I just thought I should tell how he had sense control also, and he saw Prabhupada and the movement first, before him.

His Grace Yasomatinandana Prabhu ki jaya! Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!