FW: How Prasadam distribution began in ISKCON - H.H Jayapataka Swami Maharaj
Rammohan G
Subject: How Prasadam distribution
began in ISKCON - H.H Jayapataka Swami Maharaj
It was the second or third international Mayapur festival. We
had just finished the four storeyed building which is today known as the Lotus
building. (This Lotus building was the temporary mandir at that time). Srila
Prabhupada had invited several devotees from all over the world for the
inauguration of this mandir. On this occassion we had a big feast. After the
feast Prabhupada took the prasadam and then a little rest. But his rest was
disturbed by the howling of the dogs and he got up. Prabhupada said,
"Bring all the sanyasis, bring the GBC immediately ! Bring them !"
Usually if Prabhupada wanted to say something, he would say, "Bring my
secretary”. But in Mayapur he would call everyone. He would want everyone to
hear what he was saying. At that time the devotees were just 'recovering' from
a big feast.
When Prabhupada called, all devotees came down rushing, "what is
Prabhupada calling for? What is happening?". They saw Prabhupada looking
out of the windows intently with tears in his eyes - he was crying ! They
looked out and saw a big pile of leaf plates thrown at the back of the temple
after the feast. There were about fifteen dogs, and about fifteen to twenty
boys and girls, little kids between eight and fourteen years, picking through
the leaves and fighting off the dogs. They were eating the leftovers and
licking the leaves. They were ordinary village children who were basically
clean but poor.
Prabhupada was silent, and everyone was astonished as to what Prabhupada was
trying to communicate. Then Prabhupada revealed his mind, "How hungry they
must be! They are picking the prasadam from the pile - they must be so hungry!
We must arrange for their prasadam! If you want to make this a mandir, a house
of Krishna, then you must see that within ten
kilometers radius, no one goes hungry. That will be your success. Krishna is everyone's father. How can the son go hungry
in the presence of the father? Immediately arrange to distribute the
prasadam."
When prabhupada wanted something done immediately, it meant the next day was
too late. But anyway, we could not get it together before the next day. We just
had a big tent in those days, and since Prabhupada wanted prasadam
distribution, we cooked some kichidi, and in this way started to distribute the
prasadam.
Prabhupada said that if we could have prasadam distribution center at every ten
square kilometers throughout India, then we would transform the whole of India. People
will become so grateful to ISKCON that they will all definitely accept Lord
Caitanya's movement - it will be the most important movement, and they will
follow very strictly. Simply by prasadam distribution, all the effects of Kali
Yuga can be stopped.
--
"How many of us, while going through unfavorable situations, think
"Why me ?"
How many of us, While being rewarded, think "Why me and not he?"
How many of us, While seeing others suffer, think "Why he and not
me?" "