“The sounds of the distant Kirtans and Temple bells along with the cries of the peococks, Shyam, Shyam, makes for a magical mystical experience”
BY: GAURIDASA PANDITA DASA (ACBSP)
Here are some pastimes of Srila Prabhupada from Vrindavan in the summer of 1977 regarding Prasadam. Srila Prabhupada had not been eating for quite some time due to his health. When his lunch was brought to him he said to distribute it to the devotees. Sometimes I would do the distribution. On one such occasion Srila Prabhupada noticed some of the devotees pointing at the particular preparations that they wanted.
Srila Prabhupada called me over and told me to mix the Prasadam all together and said that the devotees should not discriminate with Maha Prasadam. I mixed it up and continued distributing to the devotees. Now they were looking a bit confused and taking a more humble amount.
Srila Prabhupada would sip a little rock candy dissolved in water while he translated his books all night long on his rooftop. That was the only thing I remember him taking for weeks so he could do his service of writing the spiritual ‘lawbooks’ for at least the rest of this 10,000 years of the Golden Age of Lord Chaitanya.
Another one of my services was to hold Srila Prabhupada’s spittoon if he needed it. Due to his illness he did. One time one of the devotees took the container and began to ‘Honor the Prasada.’ When Srila Prabhupada found out he said not to do that. The devotees were so anxious to ‘get the mercy.’ Sometimes they went a little too far. LOL.
Another time Prabhupada was sitting with some devotees up on his roof at sunset in Sri Vrindavan Dham. The sunrises and sunsets are so awesome in Vrindavan. The sun seems much bigger and so orange. The sounds of the distant Kirtans and Temple bells along with the cries of the peococks, Shyam, Shyam, makes for a magical mystical experience. Devotees chant the sacred Gayatri Mantra at those times. I was sitting by the air-conditioner trying to keep it running as it was still very warm being summer.
Srila Prabhupada motioned for me to come over to him. He said that he wanted some limbo-pani, (Lemon-water). I looked around for Upendra Prabhu or Bhakti Caru Swami, who would usually do that service. I couldn’t find either one of them so I trotted into the kitchen to do it myself. Sometimes you just have to do the needful as Srila Prabhupada always said. This wasn’t my normal service so I was a little nervous.
I squeezed some lemons into a silver cup; got a cup of water and put some honey in another little silver cup. Putting them on a silver tray I hurried up the stairs and presented the offering to His Divine Grace. He immediately pointed at the honey and asked what it was. I said it’s honey and he said, “Did I ask for honey?” I said, “well no Srila Prabhupada; that’s why I didn’t mix it in.” I thought , that’s it I’m going to get the sauce, but Srila Prabhupada kindly nodded his head in approval and I returned to the air-conditioner with a satisfied feeling and a smile. Another, ‘mission accomplished’!
All glories to Jagat Guru Srila Prabhupada who honored Prasadam just as he honored Krsna, because he knows They are the same.
Hoping this meets you well and Happy in Krsna Consciousness
Your eternal friend and servant
Gauridasa Pandita Dasa
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