Conversation with Devotees

Giriraj Swami: . . . twice in the last few months, I read the script of the book which I did, and the devotees really liked it. And then, just recently, when I was in Ujjain, I also read a chapter from the book about Srila Prabhupada in Indore. So, I think now, here I should tell about Srila Prabhupada’s visit to Surat. In the other cases, I skipped over parts of the chapter just for the sake of time, to make it all fit. But I don’t think I should skip any part of the description of Surat. So, that might take two sessions and it was very special.

There was a plan to celebrate, I think, the fiftieth anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s visit to Surat, and then I think it got canceled. One of the first days after we arrived in Surat was the Ekādaśī. We went to a family’s home for lunch. And there was such a variety of fruits [Laughter] we never saw on Ekādaśī. And I was thinking, Do they know it is Ekādaśī? They must know it is a Ekādaśī. But then, how could they make so many preparations? And then later, I heard a saying “Kashi Maran Surat Bhojan.” So yes, things have a really progressed here a lot. It is because of Radha Charan Prabhu and Radha Renu Mataji’s service. I look forward to the next week or so, and I also think a lot of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja. He changed so many people’s heart and give shelter for so many devotees. And I also said, “He touched so many people’s hearts.” And of course, I stayed with him in Ujjain and remembered him. So, we try to serve him and his devotees as long as I am here.

So, any of you have any questions or comments?

Devotee: Maharaja, thank you so much for coming.

Translator: I had a request that by being here, if you could share your moments with His Holiness Bhakti Charu Maharaja also, so we could serve and remember both of you then.

Giriraj Swami: Yes sure, I could do that. So just one little incident comes to mind. His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami initiated a disciple from Santa Barbara, which is where I stayed in ashram in San Diego. And after the initiation ceremony, another disciple of his, who is also my disciple and she also does a lot of service for me, approached him. So that lady said to Bhakti Charu Swami, “Now you have a disciple in Santa Barbara, so you have a reason to come.” And he looked at me with such love and affection and he said, “I won’t come to Santa Barbara just for my disciple. I will come to spend time with Giriraj Maharaja.” And the way he said my name, with so much affection, was very special. And afterwards, I mentioned it and I heard from others also, they had the same experience. The way he said their names with such love and affection was very touching.

We had number of Vyasa-puja celebration together, because on the Western calendar, his birthday is September 17th and mine is September 13th. So especially in South Africa, we had our Vyasa-pujas quite close to each other. So one year, someone suggested we should have our Vyasa-puja together. But His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami said, “No, Vyasa-puja should be just for one at a time?” He always knew what to do in any circumstances. We put birthday cake in each other’s mouth. So yes, we were together in South Africa as well in Mauritius, and he was an expert cook and host. One year, my niece who had studied culinary arts in Santa Barbara went to India and to Mayapur. And he invited her to a feast that he prepared and served in his beautiful quarters in Mayapur. And she said, it is the best prasāda she had. So we must think of him but we serve him in separation.

Any other questions or comments?

Devotee: Hare Krishna Maharaja. I can assume that His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaja is sitting beside you, both sides.

Giriraj Swami: Beautiful, wonderful.

Devotee: I also personally feel that today, he will be feeling very happy, very happy, because this mood is always that we should give more respect to our godbrothers. Once in Nashik, during the funeral ceremony of Prabhu-Vishnu Swami Maharaja, he told to Prakasananda Prabhu. Now you can tell that point, not me, because he told it to you.

Devotee: Maharaja told me, “Don’t invite me, invite my godbrothers. I love that, if you invite them.”