srila prabhupada said...!!!

[chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)]

SINGAPORE

January 1971

"We arrived in Singapore a few days later. It was quite a change from India, and we didn't have Srila Prabhupada with us to guide us," said Gopal upon his arrival. He and Hanuman soon met up with Bali Mardan and Amogha. Amogha had travelled from Japan to Taiwan by ship, sitting on the floor of the boat with hundreds of Oriental passengers. He had carried big cardboard boxes of prasadam to sustain him on the voyage. In Taiwan, a friendly Indian man flew him to Hong Kong, where again a well-wisher paid his air fare to Singapore. In the early days of ISKCON, devotees would often travel by hitch-hiking or boat. Whatever was the cheapest, as they hardly had any money.

For several weeks Bali and Amogha had been preaching around Singapore, especially amongst the Sindhis. They would go door to door selling large hardbound Krsna books during the day, and in the evenings hold programmes in temples and homes. Although they had the use of a free house, the problem remained that they could not go out to perform Hari-nama sankirtana in the streets, and their visas were very short termed.

In Singapore the first local devotee joined, a young Chinese man, Neo Chee Wee. Neo had first met Bali Mardan on a bus and had been coming to their Sunday "love feasts". Although he continued working, he was serious.

One day they met Mr Ganapathi, the editor for the Tamil Malar. He was very friendly to the devotees and published the following article:

The article describes how the European "Hindu" Swamis dressed in the traditional way, have attracted much attention in Singapore with their orange robes, neck beads and shaven heads. "Although from Amenca, they are not Hippies. The Swamis belong to the Hare Krsna movement, ISKCON started in America. In their temporary residence at 80, Stevens Road, they conduct bhajans and classes on Bhagavad Gita at 7 am. daily. Also on Sundays at 4 pm, and Mondays and Wednesdays at 7 pm. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who originally started the Hare Krsna movement, is from India. ISKCON, started in 1966, now has 52 centres worldwide. The Hare Krsna’s are expecting to establish their own place in Singapore in the near future," the report said.

After preaching at the University of Singapore the following article appeared in the New Nation:

Bells, beads for Hare Krishna

Americans seek followers for 'happiness' cult

Wearing orange robes and beads, and with pigtails trailing from the back of shaven heads, two strangers raised some eyebrows at the University of Singapore campus yesterday.

They were members of the Hare Krishna movement who came to the university to recruit followers to their religious order.

Ringing bells, they sat down In the Student Union's canteen and in a short time a crowd of undergraduates gathered round them.

After a talk, the two, strangers were seen to walk back alone to their recently established headquarters in Stevens Road.

It was In their rambling two-storey home that New Nation found 23-year-old Bali Mardan, a university graduate in English literature from New York.

He and two other Americans, two Singaporeans and a Frenchman moved into the house several weeks ago from where they hope to spread their ideas throughout the Republic.

The movement established 52 centres called "spiritual communities" throughout the world in the past four years, Mr. Mardan said.

The movement's aim was the perfection of life according to the authoritative scriptures by loving God "with all our hearts, with all our souls and with all our minds.'' he said.

Mr. Mardan said: "Even though there is so much technological advancement in the world today there is no spiritual realisation which leads to nothing but frustration as seen in hippies."

The International Society for Krishna consciousness was formed in 1966 by Prabhupada A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami who went from India to New York "to preach love of God to the people of the West."

"This is an international society centred around God and it is therefore completely pure," Mr. Mardan said. "We are servants of the spiritual master."

Followers of the movement do not smoke, drink alcohol, gamble, indulge in illicit sex or eat such foods as meat, fish, eggs or onions.

"We only eat food that God likes according to the scriptures." Mr Mardan said.

Feb 11^th: The time came for the annual Thaipusam festival and the devotees joined in doing kirtan with karatals and dholak. They drew a lot of attention.

MALAYSIA

February 1971

Shortly after this Bali Mardan decided to take the party into Malaysia. Leaving Gopal and Bhakta Neo behind to look after the house, Bali, Amogha, and Hanuman rented a small car and drove across the causeway to Johor, and on to Kuala Lumpur. Initially staying at the old Laxmi Narayana Temple in Gombak, (since then demolished) they would visit local businessmen such as Makhanlal and Kishu T. Samani. Gradually they made contacts amongst the Tamils, Punjabis and Malayalis, as well as the Sindhis, doing programmes in many temples. Although few of the people could speak English, the "white" devotees were very popular. In India, Srila Prabhupada affectionately described his disciples as his "dancing white elephants". Seeing Westerners adopt the principles of Krsna consciousness would naturally increase the faith Srila Prabhupada said of the Indians in their own culture. The same principle was working here in Malaysia.

Krishna Society to set up centre in Penang

Bukit Mertajam, Sat [March 7^th 1971]

The International Society of Krishna Consciousness plans to set up a centre in Penang and Kuala Lumpur soon, according to three of its leaders now here on a South-east Asian tour.

They comprise two American graduates-Bali Mardan Dasa Brahmachari and Amogha Dasa Bhramachari-and a Canadian, Hanuman Dasa Brahmachari.

Since their arrival last week, they have held several prayer meetings in Penang.

The society was inaugurated by Indian swami A.C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada to preach divine love.

Bali Mardan Dasa Brahmachari explained that Krishna Consciousness was a "process of self-purification."

They travelled north to Penang, visiting Teluk Anson, Ipoh and Taiping on the way. Wherever they went they were well received. Local Indians would willingly come forward to provide accommodation, arrange programmes, give donations and feed the devotees.

Amogha recalls the difficulty he encountered being treated in such a way: "During our travels through Malaysia we were plagued with a continuous problem. On one hand a devotee should never eat food cooked by non-devotees or materialistic people. But the Indian people we were preaching amongst, constantly wanted to invite us for lunch, or feed us after a preaching programme. We constantly had to decide who we would eat with, and who we would not. In the months prior to Srila Prabhupada's arrival, we had been eating even in the houses of meat-eaters if we thought they were sincere, and we would ask them to cook in pots never used for meat. We were always stuffed, and it was uncomfortable as well as detrimental to rising early in the morning, and spiritual development in general. If we would not eat in someone's house they would become very sad, and plead with us. It became very difficult to refuse. If we ate in one person's house in a community, they all wanted us to eat at their houses. Sometimes, when we put our hands out over our plates to indicate 'no more', they would slip a chapati past our hands onto the plate."

After the devotees returned to Kuala Lumpur, Bali Mardan went to Australia. Back in Singapore, Gopal was preparing to come up to Kuala Lumpur but before leaving he said to Bhakta Neo: "We're in Malaysia, are you coming to join us or not?" Neo had to make the decision of his life, whether to give up everything and join the Hare Krsna’s full time, or not. He made his decision: "I left my job, shaved up and went to Malaysia."

Staying again at the Laxmi Narayana Temple, they resumed preaching in temples around Kuala Lumpur. After one of the temple programmes, Kamaladevi Nadchitram, a lawyer, approached the devotees and offered them a house on her estate at 6th mile Cheras Road. When the devotees visited Kamaladevi and her husband Dr. Thevarajah, who was a gynaecologist, they quickly developed a good relationship. When Hanuman saw the foundation of a temple she was planning to build on top the nearby hill, he enthusiastically pushed her to give ISKCON the temple, instead of the house. Construction had halted for some time. Discussing with her husband, Kamaladevi initially agreed. Hanuman was in ecstasy with the idea of a temple donation for Srila Prabhupada. He immediately wrote to Srila Prabhupada explaining the whole situation.

Kamaladevi invited the devotees to stay in the small shack in front of the temple grounds. Previously the workers had stayed there, but had returned to India. As they could not stay long at the Laxmi Narayan Temple they willingly accepted the offer. Shortly after this, whilst walking in Mountbatten Road, (later renamed Jalan Tun Perak) Hanuman and Amogha were approached by a young newspaper reporter. He eagerly interviewed them and snapped pictures. To their surprise an article appeared in the Straits Times and the Malay Mail the next day, March 19^th 1971.

Monks with Mohican hairdo to start 'temple of full bliss'

Ambling serenely down Jalan Mountbatten this morning, clad simply, yet ostentatiously in the pale yellow robes of Buddhist monks with heads shaven in Mohican fashion, were two members of the Hare Krishna movement.

They were Hanuman Das, a Frenchman from the University of Montreal, and Amogha Das, an American student from the University of California. Quite unmindful of the tremendous interest they had roused, the two spoke of the purpose of their visit-to start a Hare Krishna temple here on behalf of the guru, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

They were, however, quick to explain that Hare Krishna was a "universal non-sectarian" movement and not a religion itself.

It was a spiritual movement which should "suit every religion" and its formula for "full knowledge, full bliss, and full eternity" to this unhappy world was meditation amidst the ceaseless chanting of "Hare Krishna!"

The Krishna brothers are staying with a third colleague at the Lakshmi Narayan temple in Gombak Lane for a week before going to Singapore for a similar purpose.

How are they being financed?

"Oh, Krishna pays for everything, Hare Krishna!"

Heads turn as Krishna men come downtown

Two members of the Hare Krishna movement today made heads turn in Jalan Mountbatten, clad simply yet ostentatiously in the pale yellow robes of Buddhist monks with heads shaven.

They were Hanuman Das (left), a Frenchman from the University of Montreal, and Amogha Das (right), an American student from the University of California.

Quite unmindful of the tremendous interest they had aroused, the two spoke of the purpose of their visit-to start a Hare Krishna temple here on behalf of the guru, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

They were, however, quick to explain that Hare Krishna was a "universal non-sectarian" movement and not a religion itself.

It is a spiritual movement which should "suit every religion" and its formula for "full knowledge, full bliss, and full eternity" to this unhappy world is meditation amidst the ceaseless chanting of "Hare Krishna!"

Their next stop is Singapore.

Who pays for their travels? "Oh, Krishna pays for everything, Hare Krishna!" they said.

That day Hanuman and Amogha journeyed to Singapore, only to be stopped at the Singaporean border by immigration officers waving a copy of the article at them. "Are you Amogha?" they asked. "Are you Hanuman?" The names in the newspaper picture were the wrong way round so the devotees said: "No!" They were refused. entry and had to return to Kuala Lumpur.

Soon after their return to Kuala Lumpur, a reply to their letter came from Srila Prabhupada:

Bombay

28^th March, 1971

My Dear Hanuman, Amogha, Gopala,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters dated 19^th and 23^rd March, 1971 end have noted the contents carefully. I have also received your telegram and I have already informed you that if need be I am prepared to go there but when things are completely matured. I hope you will consult Bali Mardan in this connection. Upon receipt of your last letter, I have sent one telegram to Kamala Devi, in care of Hanuman, reading as follows: HANUMAN DAS INFORMS ABOUT YOUR DONATION OF LAND AND TEMPLE. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH WITH BLESSINGS OF LORD KRISHNA. SHALL BE GLAD TO HEAR FROM YOU FURTHER IN THIS CONNECTION- BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI, FOUNDER-ISKCON.

Your reports of Sankirtana activities are all very much encouraging. It seems that there is great potential there for spreading our Krishna Consciousness Movement in Malaysia. So work with deternnnation and sincerity and Krishna will give you all facility.

Hoping this will meet you all in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Again Srila Prabhupada wrote to Hanuman:

Bombay

8^th April, 1971

My Dear Hanuman Das,

Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your encouraging letter sent along with the prints of some lands and buildings and temple. As soon as I learn that Temple construction and donation of land is a fact, I shall be glad to go.

We have just finished a series of lectures delivered publicly during our Hare Krishna Festival at Cross Maidan of Bombay. There was a very large pandel constructed and the Deities Who were installed in our Magh Mela camp were installed there. The daily attendance was very good, about fifty thousand persons. The whole program was highly successful. So we shall have to organize such thing in Malaysia.

I am waiting to hear further from you and from Bali Mardan as soon as he reports on the matter. Hope this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS:ds

Sriman Hanuman Das Brahmacary

c/o Lakshmi Narayan Temple

6 Gombak Lane

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

In early April the devotees met "Swami Sivajyoti" in Teluk Anson. The 'mysterious' swami was very cordial and helpful in arranging programmes for the devotees around the area. They remained in Teluk Anson for several weeks anticipating Srila Prabhupada's visit.

LEADER OF HARE KRISHNA TOURING TEAM RAPS HIPPIES

Teluk Anson, Tues.

A Hare Krishna movement leader thinks hippies are the natural result of a society with only material advancement ... not spiritual.

Bali Mardan Das, 24, is currently leading a four-man Hare Krishna movement team on a Malaysian tour.

The other members are Amuga Das, 21, a Bachelor of Arts in literature and education from the University of California, Gopal Das, 21, who majored in religious science in the University of Montreal.

Scripture

The four are in the country to spread the teachings of the love of god according to the scripture of Bhagavad-Gita.

Accompanying them are Swami Sivajothy from Kuala Lumpur and a Singapore recruit, Neo Chee Wee.

Bali Mardan Das said: "We are naturally happy to serve god. When we forget him we try to find so many artificial means to Happiness, but this can only end in frustration.

"The hippies are the prime example of that," said Bali Mardan Das, a graduate in English literature and philosophy from the University of New York.

Missionary

He joined the Hare Krishna movement in 1968 after meeting some disciples of Swami A.C. Bhaktivedanta in New York.

He has since been doing missionary work and opened centres in Tokyo, Sydney, Hong Kong and Fiji. He is hopeful of setting up one in Kuala Lumpur.

Amuga Das became a follower in 1969 when he was doing social work with Negroes in a district near Watts.

Gopal Das, who conducts deity worship (ceremonial "Puja") and plays the cymbals, finds chanting of "mantras" very sublime.

Talks on Hindu philosophy

TELUK ANSON. Fri. -

Four Hare Krishna followers from the United States will sing hymns and speak on Hindu philosophy at the Kwangtung Association tonight at 7.30.

Their visit is sponsored by the Teluk Anson Hindu Youth Organisation.

Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada-Prabhupada in Malaysia-Great Potential-Janananda dasa

[chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)]

INDIA

May 2^nd 1971

Madhudvisa: "No one really thought Prabhupada was leaving India. In India, Prabhupada was the cutting edge of the whole movement. He was the force. Things were moving because of Prabhupada. In the Western countries, Prabhupada would give the idea, and the devotees would expand on it; Prabhupada was the overseer, but he didn't have such an integral active part in the West. But in India, Prabhupada was right in the thick of it. He was checking the accounts. He was so much involved in the Indian scene that Rsi Kumara, the Bombay treasurer, would have to go to Prabhupada every other day and show him the accounts. He was very much involved in everything. The whole movement in India depended on Prabhupada. Because of this, no one thought that Prabhupada would really leave us."

Srila Prabhupada had been in India for more than eight months, but as a sannyasi and founder of a worldwide society, the time to travel to other centres around the world had come. Many sadhus and gurus in India claim to be jagatguru, but never leave Vrndavana or India. But it is the duty of a guru to deliver others. Lecturing from Srimad-Bhagavatam in Vrndavana in October, 1976, Srila Prabhupada elucidates on the duty of a real guru:

Krsna says: "Mam hi partha vyapasritya ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah." Sama-cittah. This is explanation. Anyone who takes shelter of Krsna's lotus feet, he is te 'pi yanti param gatim. He's eligible to go back home back to Godhead. So Krsna gives this liberty, open to everyone. Now who will act it? Who will induce people even though he's born low grade family, mam hi partha ... ye 'pi syuh papa-yoni. Papa-yoni means one who is born in papa-yoni, in low-grade family. They say candala, yavana, mleccha. But Krsna is giving liberty to everyone. Ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah. Ye 'nye ca papa. Sukadeva Gosvami said. Then who will do it? You are a big sadhu, very learned sadhu, and if you sit down: 'No, no, I shall not go out of India. As soon as I cross the sea, immediately I'll become fallen.' Then who will do this business? Krsna wants that te 'pi yanti param gatim. Ye 'pi syuh papa-yonayah. Then who will deliver papa-yoni? If I am a big sannyasi and big devotee, I do not go outside Vrndavana, I do not go outside India. I am jagat-guru. Have you seen jagat? No. I'm self-made jagat-guru. This is going on. Cheating. This cheating is going on.

What is mahatma they do not know; still, they are posing themselves mahatma. Mahatmaji he. So they are not mahatma. Mahat, the first qualification is sama-cittah. Everyone must be delivered. Not I alone. I am undergoing severe austerities, I shall become Brahman and my business is finished. No. Others should be. That is sama-cittah. Others. Just Prahlada Maharaja said: "I do not wish to go alone to Vaikuntha unless I take all these rascals with me." That is Vaisnava. Maya-sukhaya varam udvahato vimudhan. These vimudhan who are so much entangled in this material world and trying to adjust things for peace and happiness, unnecessanly they do not know. So I want to take them. That is Vaisnava. Alone I don't want. Just like Narada Muni. Narada Muni is travelling all over the universe. He's going to hell, heaven, everywhere, and trying to make disciples who can become Krsna's devotee. He does not stay anywhere for more than three minutes, like that. He's travelling always.

This is sama-cittah. Always going everywhere. You become devotee, you become Krsna conscious so that your life will be successful. Preaching. That is wanted.

While in India Srila Prabhupada wrote to Rupanuga:

Sannyasa means they should travel extensively, create new centres and new devotees-that is sannyasa business.

And to Satsvarupa in January of 1970 he explained another reason for his travelling:

In this old age I am going with this party just to set an example to my disciples who have recently taken Sannyasa order.

The real acarya not only teaches but practices himself. He teaches by example. Although 75 years of age, Srila Prabhupada was setting a pace in his travelling and preaching, which his younger disciples could hardly keep up with. Srila Prabhupada was planning to go to Sydney in Australia, to install the Deities of Radha Gopinatha: the same Ones Who had presided over the pandal programmes in Bombay. En route he wanted to stop over in Malaysia to see his disciples there and to follow up on the possible offer of free land and temple. Hanuman and the devotees were requesting Srila Prabhupada to come and like a loving father he was reciprocating. However, Srila Prabhupada's exact departure from Bombay was still not definite. On 26^th April, to Tamala Krsna Maharaja he wrote:

My passport is required immediately. If the new one is not ready then immediately send the old one. I am leaving for Kuala Lumpur this Friday, the 30^th April, and so I must have it, otherwise my journey will be cancelled. Syamasundara has already advised about this by telephone call. The visa problem is also most urgent.

Srila Prabhupada's flight had to be re-arranged. On 30^th April he wrote to Karandhara, Srila Prabhupada said:

I am still in Bombay and am supposed to go to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia next Monday. I was supposed to go today but did not because my new passport was misdelivered by the post office. So I am trying to reserve my seat and probably will be going on Monday.

Back in Malaysia, Bali Mardan had returned from Australia, and preparations were being made for Srila Prabhupada's arrival-accommodation and preaching programmes around the country. Still it was not certain till the last moment whether Srila Prabhupada would come. At last the passport, lost in the post, arrived, visas were obtained and Srila Prabhupada was on his way to Kuala Lumpur. On 3^rd May, 1971, Prabhupada boarded the Air India flight. Accompanied by Vegavan das, his servant for the journey, and the two most exalted passengers, Their worshipable Lordships, the Deities of Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha.

Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada-Prabhupada in Malaysia-Preaching, That Is Wanted-Janananda dasa

[chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)]

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

May 3^rd 1971

"30,000 protestors moved out of Washington by police. Thousands arrested. The Vietnam war rages on. The American troops becoming disheartened. Malaysia sends trade mission to Red China." Big news, capturing the attention of the whole world. In contrast Prabhupada's arrival in Malaysia went almost unnoticed, with little mention in the news. Yet in reality his presence was far more significant than all the mundane events in the media. United Nations, political adjustments, welfare organizations... None can actually bring an end to the sufferings of the world-birth, death, disease and old-age. They have no idea. But Srila Prabhupada was carrying the simple message of how to solve the problems and bring peace and happiness amongst mankind. Srila Prabhupada knew that by presenting purely the timeless message of Bhagavad Gita and the chanting of the Holy Names of God, a true United Nations could be attained, based on the equality of the soul and service to Godhead.

He was coming to a country with a population of around 12,000,000, about the same number as had attended the Ardha Kumbha Mela a few months earlier in Allahabad, India.

Thirty or so devotees and well-wishers, had gathered at the Subang Airport in Kuala Lumpur, eagerly awaiting the arrival of Srila Prabhupada. It was evening time. Only one or two days’ notice had been given, otherwise the crowd would have been larger: Loud kirtana, chanting of the Holy Names, was going on behind the glass partition. Suddenly Srila Prabhupada appeared, followed by his servant Vegavan who was carrying Radharani, wrapped in cloth, in his arms. (The Deity of Lord Krsna was packed in a wooden crate in the check-in luggage.) Everyone fell to the ground to offer obeisances, and then came forward to offer Srila Prabhupada profuse garlands. In the VIP lounge kirtana continued, as Srila Prabhupada offered blessings to those present.

Hanuman had arranged for Srila Prabhupada to stay in the house of Tan Sri Kishu, the wealthy owner of Globe Silk Store. A convoy of cars left the airport, behind the limousine taking Prabhupada to his host's house. Arrangements were lavish, Prabhupada's room being finely decorated with thick soft carpets and beautiful mirrors around the walls. But Srila Prabhupada had come to preach, and not to enjoy comfortable facilities. Shortly after arriving in the house he spoke to the crowd lecturing from the Bhagavad Gita: 14:26:

mam ca yo 'vyabhicarena

bhakti-yogena sevate

sa gunan samatityaitan

brahma-bhuyaya kalpate

"One who engages in full devotional service, unfailing in all circumstances, at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman."

Later that evening he spoke at the Laxmi Narayana Temple in Gombak, where his disciples had stayed when they first came to Kuala Lumpur. As almost all the audience were North Indians Prabhupada spoke in Hindi. The hall was small and rectangular shaped. Amogha recounts the scene: "We made a nice vyasasana from a few items like pillows, beautiful brocade cloth etc. I sat down and sang into a microphone and played the harmonium, while Srila Prabhupada arrived. He sat on the vyasasana we had made, myself being on the floor to his left. I don't remember what Srila Prabhupada said there, but I just remember sitting there trying to listen. How completely calm His Divine Grace was, always spotlessly clean, garlanded with fragrant flowers and emanating the sweet aroma of sandalwood paste which he often had on his forehead."

After the programme they returned to Tan Sri Kishu's house. Prabhupada refused to accept any cooked food, even that cooked by Bali Mardan, as the hosts were not vegetarian. Knowing the difficulty the devotees had been facing when invited by non-vegetarians to eat in their homes, he was showing them the standard, by example. He would only accept milk and fruit.

The Deities of Radha and Krsna, who had accompanied Prabhupada from Bombay, were safely stored in the house until their departure, in a few days to Sydney.

Arrangements for Srila Prabhupada's schedule in Malaysia had not been confirmed because of the uncertainty of his arrival. Actually on that very night Monday, 3^rd May he had been booked to speak at the Moral Uplifting Society Hall in Teluk Anson. Arrangements had even been made to fly Srila Prabhupada in a helicopter straight from Subang Airport to the programme. Advertisements had been printed and distributed around the town:

[HERE FOLLOWS A COPY OF THE PRINTED PROGRAM AND THE ARTICLE FROM THE TAMIL NEWSPAPER]

Even the local Tamil Malar newspaper stated that His Divine Grace will, upon arrival at Subang Airport, leave immediately by helicopter for Teluk Anson. His arrival was late and the plan did not materialise. Hanuman das ended up conducting the programme in front of a packed audience.

The article reads:

SWAMI PRABHUPADA ARRIVES BY PLANE AND LEAVES FOR TELUK ANSON BY HELICOPTER

Kuala Lumpur: May 3^rd

The ISKCON leader Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada arrived from Bombay this evening. He immediately left for Teluk Anson by helicopter. He is on his way to Australia and Moscow and will spend 6 days in Malaysia. This evening he will lecture in Teluk Anson at the Moral Uplifting Society Hall.

Tomorrow (Tuesday), by the invitation of Dato S.P. Seenivasagam, the City Council Chairman of Ipoh, Swami Prabhupada will be leaving for Ipoh. There he will speak in St. John's Hall. The programme is arranged by the Krishna Temple committee.

On Wednesday Prabhupada will leave for Penang. There he will speak at the Ramakrishna Hall.

On Thursday he will return to Kuala Lumpur, as a guest in the house of Tan Sri Kishu, a famous businessman.

On Friday at 8pm Prabhupada will lecture at the Town Hall. The meeting is organised by the Malaysian Hindu Sangam, and chaired by Tun Sambanthan. On Friday afternoon he will take lunch at Tun Sambanthan's house.

On Saturday night Prabhupada leaves for Sydney. From there he will fly to Moscow, on the invitation of the University of Moscow.

PRABHUPADA LECTURES IN IPOH

Tuesday May 4^th

At the St. John's Ambulance Hall in Anderson Rd at 8pm, Srila Prabhupada will be lecturing on Bhagavad Gita and Sri Krishna Paramatma. The Sri Krishna Temple committee kindly invites the general public to attend the function and get the benefit.

Datin S.P. Seenivasagam, wife of the Mayor of Ipoh, and Mr Om Prakash Shukla had met Srila Prabhupada at the airport, and had confirmed that the next day, Tuesday (May 4^th), he would come to Ipoh for a programme. Prabhupada would stay overnight at Datin Seenivasagam's house, so she rushed back to Ipoh to make arrangements.

The next morning, Swami Sivajyoti who had been helping the devotees, arrived to request Srila Prabhupada to come to Teluk Anson. Even though he had missed the programme the night before, Prabhupada agreed. After a breakfast of fruit, they set off, in a rented Mercedes car, with Srila Prabhupada sitting alone in the back seat and Bali Mardan, and the driver in the front. Vegavan and Swami Sivajyoti travelled in another car. Amogha and Gopal left for Ipoh, to prepare for the evening programme there.

Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada-Prabhupada in Malaysia-The Arrival-Janananda dasa

[chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)]

TELUK ANSON

Tuesday May 4^th 1971

The preaching schedule was very tight. Two programmes, far distance from each other, had been arranged on Tuesday. The next day Prabhupada was to fly to Penang for an evening programme there. As they sped up the old road, they were met in the small town of Bidor by some of the programme organisers. They proceeded in a small convoy to Teluk Anson. Although Teluk Anson has a small population, there are many pious Hindus living in and around the town. Tremendous interest had been stirred already by the devotees' presence there for several weeks prior to Prabhupada's visit. Many were eagerly awaiting his arrival even though it was midday on Tuesday.

It had been arranged that Prabhupada would rest for the afternoon in the house of Mr C.G. Waran, a local hospital administrator, and then in the evening speak at the house of Dato Sithambaran Pillay, a prominent member of the Hindu society in Perak. As they slowly approached Mr Waran's house, local Hindus lined the roadside chanting the maha-mantra. Around 200 gathered in the compound of the house, an old wooden government bungalow. It was midday and very hot. The kirtana was rousing, and the barefooted devotees were a novelty for the locals. Mr Waran garlanded Prabhupada and then performed the foot bathing ceremony. Prabhupada then retired to his room for rest.

Mr Waran: "I was to get married in a couple of days, so I had some new bed-sheets saved, which I gave for him to use. I thought it would be a great blessing if Swamiji would use them. I was so blessed and fortunate to have the opportunity to host him, to wash his holy feet, to fan him and garland him. I needed his blessings for my marriage."

Around 4pm Prabhupada took fruits and then came into the hall of the house where a small crowd had gathered. Bhakta Neo describes the scene: "Prabhupada seemed very tired after all the travelling. I don't think he was too pleased with the tight arrangements. He wanted to take rest. After resting Srila Prabhupada came out. He sat on a raised platform. Hanuman conducted the puja. He had all the paraphernalia ready for puja, but he was so nervous, he was fumbling so much, and Prabhupada just gave him a very disapproving look."

After a short talk and bhajanas they proceeded to Dato Sithambaran Pillay's house, where a crowd of around 100 had gathered. Prabhupada played the karatals whilst the devotees sang. Afterwards he spoke for around 20 minutes in English with Tamil translation. Everyone was ecstatic. Mr Shriram who was present describes his feelings: "A wonderful function. I have not seen anything like that before. It was a real experience. That experience we will not get again. That part of life was fantastic. We were very active then. Some people criticized that Hare Krsna was into drugs, but we didn't care because we knew they weren't, and we were happy." Many people of Teluk Intan (Teluk Anson in 1971) treasure that time and are still chanting the maha-mantra today.

After the programme, as the people came before Prabhupada one by one for prasadam and blessings, Prabhupada noticed one man dressed in traditional Bengali style. Dr Deb, with his special silk Bhagalpur dhoti from Gaya. They began to converse in Bengali: "Apnar nam ki? Koto botsor e dese esechen. 50 botsor. Bhalo korechen. Ami amar. Sonsarih khaj ses koile California chore gelam. Jokhon thakur ese dakle..."

Srila Prabhupada said: "What is your name? How many years have you been in this country?"

Dr. Deb: "Fifty years."

Srila Prabhupada said: "That is very good. After finishing my family life I went to California. Lord Krsna called me to go there."

In this way they spoke.

It was getting late and a two-hour journey to Ipoh awaited them. On their way they called at the house of Mr. Kalaisami Pillay, where Swami Sivajyoti stayed. The Swami then took them for darshan at the Maha Mariamman Temple. The programme in Ipoh was scheduled at 8pm. Already it was 7pm. The Swami had promised to arrange transport but nothing was happening. Actually he intended to keep Prabhupada in Teluk Anson overnight and deliberately failed to make arrangements. Eventually Prabhupada had to travel by taxi.

Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada-Prabhupada in Malaysia-A Tight Schedule-Janananda dasa

[chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)]

IPOH

May 5^th 1971-Evening

St. John's Hall was packed with a crowd of almost 1000, eagerly awaiting Srila Prabhupada's arrival. The local members of the Ipoh Krishna Temple, plus a few other supporters had arranged for Srila Prabhupada to speak in this large hall. Prabhupada had not come. Unaware of the cause of the hold-up the crowd became restless. Hanuman, who had left Teluk Anson early on a large motorcycle, jumped up onto the stage, and led a roaring kirtana. The mood changed and everyone was appeased. Around 9pm Prabhupada's taxi pulled in. The crowd thronged around him, covering him with flowers and garlands and touching his feet. They crowded around him all the way to the stage. Children sprinkled flowers at his feet. Others eagerly reached out for the dust. The enthusiasm was tremendous. The crowd was mixed. Mostly North and South Indians with some Chinese. Many in the crowd seemed surprised how so many educated Westerners from good families had dedicated their lives to following an "Indian Swami".

Bhakta Neo was struck with reverence when he saw Prabhupada walking down the aisle: "One thing I remember about that was Prabhupada's face. He was just emanating that humility, extreme humility. Though he was so great it was like he was constantly remembering that he is an insignificant servant of Krsna. That was the impression I got when I saw him."

After mounting the stage Prabhupada led kirtana and then spoke from Bhagavad Gita. Mr Indrajeet Sharma remembers some of the topics Srila Prabhupada explained: "Men are greedy for power, everyone trying to show his superiority over the other. We are forgetting the Supreme power. You have no power, real power is with Krsna. India was once one. Gandhi, one leader, then three. Why? Because of greed leading to destruction. If we want peace we must believe in Him, Lord Krsna. We must give up this greed and take shelter of the Supreme power."

Mr Shamlal: "Prabhupada spoke in English. He seemed very pleased with the large turnout. He explained how he had organised the Hare Krsna movement in the West, and would like to see things organised here similarly. Three of the elderly members of our temple garlanded Prabhupada including my father." Prabhupada spoke for around 20 minutes. Afterwards he distributed prasadam during another rousing kirtana. Around 10.30pm, Prabhupada left the hall.

Many people followed Prabhupada back to Dato S.P. Seenivasagam's residence, hoping to get further darsana with His Divine Grace. It was very late, and Prabhupada had not stopped all day.

Amogha: "It is important to note how determined Srila Prabhupada was to preach Krsna consciousness, entirely dependent on Krsna's mercy. It was very hot, humid weather. He had to travel miles by car to repeated programmes, and still he went on. It was almost as if Srila Prabhupada didn't have a physical body at all. He told Bali Mardan, 'I could leave my body at any moment'."

His host Datin S.P. Seenivasagam showed him to his room. Again Prabhupada refused to eat more than fruits and milk. Datin S.P. Seenivasagam recalls: "I had no problem serving him because the people of Ipoh brought lots of fruit and milk. I prepared his dinner, but Srila Prabhupada said he wouldn't take anything, only fruits and milk, so we offered him that. He called me into his room and gave me some fruits and milk. I asked him about Krsna, 'Is there really a Lord Krsna?' Srila Prabhupada said, 'This is all His work. Can't you see His work going on?' I asked him, 'Can you see God?' He answered, 'Can't you see that I can see God by my work?' A few days before Prabhupada came I had a dream that my servant came into my room and told me that Laxmi Narayana were outside my house talking about me. I didn't know what it meant but I realised when Prabhupada came. It was a great pleasure to host such a great man. I must have done something good in my last life." Prabhupada was very tired and took rest around 11.30pm.

Early next morning Srila Prabhupada visited the Krishna Temple in Lahat Lane. The committee members had invited him and a large crowd had gathered. Prabhupada walked around the temple giving practical hints to the temple leaders how to improve things. Om Prakash Shukla remembers the incident: "As Srila Prabhupada got up from bowing down Srila Prabhupada said in Hindi - vamsi he lathi he. Flute or fighting stick? Somebody had put an extremely long stick in Krsna's hands, supposed to be a flute. It looked more like the stick one would use for fighting. I felt ashamed. He just said to those near him. The Deity's thumb had been broken for years. He told us we should replace with new Deity." Prabhupada also gave ideas as to proper prayers to chant.

The Shamlal family had become very close to the devotees during the previous few months, and had regularly fed them when they were in Ipoh. That morning they had prepared breakfast of milk, parathas, subji and gulabs and they brought it to the temple. Datin S.P. Seenivasagam brought fruits and milk. Everyone got the mercy of Srila Prabhupada's remnants. After prasadam, Prabhupada led a bhajana and spoke in English and Hindi to the audience.

Mr Indrajeet Sharma summarizes the speech: "Srila Prabhupada said how his Guru had sent him to America to spread the word of God. On landing in New York he had no contacts, he did not know where to go. He only had US$9. Srila Prabhupada said he left everything up to the Almighty. He started chanting alone and slowly devotees came forward. Any success was entirely due to the mercy of his Guru and Krsna, and in having complete faith in chanting the Holy Name.

From the Krishna Temple he was to go straight to the airport to catch a late morning flight to Penang. Somehow the car didn't turn up, so Mr A.V Sundram, brother of Tun Sambanthan drove Prabhupada in his car. Around 70 people followed, on motorcycles, taxis or whatever way they could.

At the airport the devotees took the cushions off of the chairs in the waiting lounge and made a makeshift vyasasana. "Prabhupada sat on cushions on the floor. He sat like a Lord," said Indrajeet Sharma. Everyone else sat on the bare floor at his feet. The devotees were leading kirtana. The other passengers stood in amazement. When Prabhupada went through the departure gate the kirtana party just followed him right on to the runway. The airport officials were bewildered and couldn't do anything. No one expected it. The ecstatic chanting went on twenty metres from the plane and continued until the plane disappeared on the horizon. Everyone fell flat on the grass to offer full obeisances.

Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada-Prabhupada in Malaysia-Prabhupada In Ipoh-Janananda dasa

[chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)]

PENANG

May 5^th 1971

"Many people met Srila Prabhupada at the old airport. The path where he was to walk was covered with profuse flowers. The airport authorities were wonderstruck. A flower path from arrival terminal right up to the car. All varieties of flowers. The whole terminal was full with well-wishers. Disciples doing kirtana. Jumping with dholak. The people were also chanting. It was a blissful atmosphere, the kirtana was loud. Many fell to the ground when Srila Prabhupada entered. Many, many garlands. The flight came in the early afternoon." (Mr. Arun Bhatt recalls his memories of Prabhupada's arrival in Penang.)

Mr Shashikant Gupta drove Prabhupada and his disciples in his Toyota car. They were to stay overnight in Mr Shashikant's house in Tanjong Bungah, near the seashore. Shashikant was the son of the late Mr Makhanlal who was very inclined towards sadhus, and liked his house to be offered for accommodating them. The host and his wife, Mrs Rupa Gupta, were both strict vegetarians. Rupa was born in Mathura (Krsna's birthplace). Srila Prabhupada decided to eat food cooked by his hosts for the only time in Malaysia. Mrs Gupta cooked kachoris, and aloo (potato) sabdi. Srila Prabhupada was very pleased and told Bali Mardan that we must all learn from her how to cook kachoris. She gave a lesson to the devotees.

Amogha: "She made them flying saucer shaped with ghee in the white flour dough, like puri dough. She folded in the small amount of stuffing by pushing the centre in, making a hole, and folding the shape back into a saucer shape. The centre filling was dahl soaked overnight and ground, then fried with red chillies, ground, so it was very hot. A little was enough."

Srila Prabhupada always remembered Rupa's kachoris, and even in 1976 in a conversation in Paris he brought the subject up.

Prabhupada: "Penang also I visited. I stayed with one Indian gentleman. His wife made very nice kachori."

Hari-sauri: "It doesn't matter wherever you go around the world..."

Prabhupada: "They asked: 'What you want to eat?' If you can, you make first-class kachori. That is from my childhood. My friends also did it. They'd make the first-class kachoris in my youth hood. I am fond of kachori. Kachori is made first class in Mathura."

A programme had been arranged in the Ramakrishna Hall for that evening. Like in Ipoh, the hall was packed when Prabhupada arrived around 6.30pm. As soon as he got out of the car everyone started to throw flower petals at his feet. First he walked a few hundred metres across the grass to the shrine to offer his respects. The devotees tried to restrain him, thinking that Prabhupada was too tired, but he proceeded none the less. He then walked back to the hall. Bhakta Neo: "I paid my obeisances and started throwing flowers in front of him as he walked to the shrine and then all the way to the stage. He was very pleased, he gave me this very broad smile." Arun Bhatt says: "It was a big event for the Indian community. Before or since, no reception like that for a sadhu."

The programme was advertised in the Penang Straits Echo, morning edition:

Wed, May 5^th 1971.

"KRISHNA LECTURE TODAY"

A public lecture by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in America, will be given on May 5^th at 8.00pm at the Ramakrishna Hall.

All are invited to attend. He has come here on the order of his Guru Maharaja, to preach the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita and to distribute the science of Love of God, as passed down by an unbroken succession, which extends back over 5000 years.

On the stage the devotees were dancing and chanting as Prabhupada sat on the vyasasana Srila Prabhupada said to Amogha, who was leading the kirtana, to sing "Samsara prayers" (as they were known then). Amogha: "I started out but wasn't confident, but Srila Prabhupada took over and sang the Gurvastakam whilst we all followed. There was a microphone for Srila Prabhupada and other ones for us. During the kirtana there were children on stage with us, as they used to regularly do when we had kirtanas." Mr Somasundram Ravindra, who was one of the children on the stage at that time, recalls: "During the kirtana Srila Prabhupada asked us, the youth group who were all inclined towards Hare Krsna, to join in the dancing. Srila Prabhupada was watching, then he played his karatals, bringing incredible life into the air. His playing was amazingly beautiful. Then he started to lead the kirtana."

Mr Om Prakash: "For 15 minutes during the kirtana I was fanning Prabhupada. I have never had an experience like it. I felt I was flying for one week afterwards."

Prabhupada then gave a long lecture in English. Mr Raju: "Srila Prabhupada spoke at length about the science of bhakti-yoga and how to realize God through chanting the Holy Names. He spoke how he went to America, New York with only US$9. He was sitting under a tree with karatals chanting. One, two, three men came, then more." After the lecture Prabhupada nodded his head towards Amogha to start the kirtana. Amogha: "There was a very nice kirtana, with Hanuman drumming on a wooden drum, a dholak. It was a wonderful moment. We were all on stage at Srila Prabhupada's feet, having kirtana on and on."

The programme finished relatively early, and Prabhupada was driven to his residence for the night and a much needed rest.

Thursday, May 6^th.

Srila Prabhupada went for his only morning walk whilst in Malaysia. It was ekadasi.

Amogha: "I was going to drive Prabhupada for his morning walk, but I looked too nervous and was replaced. Srila Prabhupada said: 'He can come', but Bali Mardan insisted that I clean the house." Mr Shashikant drove Prabhupada to the Botanical Gardens for the walk.

Prabhupada's schedule had been really hectic and Bali Mardan was restricting people from going in to see him. One man, Mr B.S Kalia was allowed in. He and his family had been extremely friendly to the devotees, giving them all facilities during their visits to Penang. Mrs Kalia was also arranging Hare Krsna youth meetings regularly. It was time for Prabhupada's massage and Mr Kalia asked if he could help. Prabhupada agreed. Mr Kalia: " Srila Prabhupada said the massage was very beautiful, very relaxing. I knew the art of massage. Srila Prabhupada said: 'These devotees, they don't know how to do it and you have done so nicely. I like it'. I was so fortunate to touch the Guru's feet. They were so soft. I was in ecstasy." Mrs Kalia also prepared pickles, and Prabhupada liked them very much. Mr Kalia asked Prabhupada: "What magic have you done with these boys? They were all meat-eaters, drinkers." Prabhupada replied: "I haven't done anything. This is all Krsna's grace, this is not my doing."

The devotees wanted Prabhupada to rest, but when Mr Joshi invited him to come to his house to speak, Prabhupada taking every opportunity to preach, accepted. It was a late morning gathering but the large satsang hall in Mr Joshi's house was crowded, mostly with members of the North Indian community. It was almost a tradition that whenever a sadhu would come to Penang he would come to Mr Joshi's house. Before speaking Srila Prabhupada said there should be an introduction. Bali Mardan asked Amogha to speak.

Amogha: "I was very nervous about speaking before people in those days, but I stood up and introduced Srila Prabhupada. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, bona-fide representative of the Madhva Gaudiya Sampradaya, came on the order of his spiritual master to spread Krsna consciousness all over the West. I said something like that, as best I could. I remember that Srila Prabhupada was very pleased with what I said. He told Bali Mardan so." Prabhupada spoke in Hindi and English.

He visited the nearby Radha-Kunjabihari Temple to take darsana, before returning to his residence.

Although so busy, Prabhupada still found time in Penang to answer letters, and keep in touch with his movement around the world.

6^th May, 1971

My dear Syamasundara,

Please accept my blessings. I'm very glad to inform you that we have reached Malaysia very shortly, that on my arrival there was nice meeting, and then we have come outside the city. Yesterday I was very busy all day.

6^th May, 1971

My dear Tamala,

Please accept my blessings. You'll be glad to know that I have come to Malaysia. On Monday night there was a good meeting upon my arrival, and then yesterday I was all day busy in attending three or four meetings. All of them were very big meetings, and this place appears to be very prospective for our preaching work. People are inclined to give us land and a house. Two or three such offers are already in view. So, I'll try to open a branch immediately, either in Kuala Lumpur or Ipoh or Teluk Anson. In Teluk Anson one retired principal of college has offered a house which can be used as temple, already started very big. It is understood that the property is about fifty to sixty thousand dollars. So, things are going on nicely, and I shall be glad to hear from you about how things are going on there.

Another point is that from here I shall be going to Sydney, and then from there I shall be going to Calcutta. So, when you expect me there you can write me immediately. I hope this will meet you in good health. Offer my blessings to all others.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

After less than 24 hours in Penang, it was time to return to Kuala Lumpur. Shashikant drove to the airport, with Srila Prabhupada in the front, and Bali, Amogha and Vegavan in the back.

Amogha: "Along the way, Srila Prabhupada said that he had introduced a new song in India, and it went like this. He began to sing Jaya Radha Madhava Kunjabihari. As he sang he would turn his head back towards us, so we could hear his singing. His eyes were deep with love and decorated with tears as he sang this song. I remember that before he began singing I was feeling very bad, as I sat in the back seat, because I felt that I had been very unworthy of Srila Prabhupada. I had so much difficulty keeping regulated and not eating too much. I didn't type very well. Like that I was feeling that I am not very good. In this mood I put my hands up and silently said prayers and obeisances to Srila Prabhupada. Just after that Srila Prabhupada, turned and Srila Prabhupada said, 'Just by offering obeisances all good activity is performed'."

Amogha: "When we all arrived at the airport, there were seats in rows, with one pillar type shaft from the seat to the ground. The seats were made of moulded plastic. Srila Prabhupada walked to one on the left and sat down. I thought we should sit on the floor at his feet, but he motioned and Srila Prabhupada said: 'Sit!' So we sat on the seats in the row opposite to Srila Prabhupada, about 12 feet away. Bali was haggling with the man at the counter about the luggage fees. I just sat there and chanted japa, thinking that I would try not to be so bad. Just then Srila Prabhupada motioned for me to come over. I was surprised because Bali always attended to Prabhupada's personal needs. I came to him and he asked me if there was a toilet. I said, 'Yes, there must be'. So he stood up and gave me his little white vinyl hand bag which he always carried. It had his glasses, pens and other things in it. Srila Prabhupada said to me, 'Take this in your hand and don't let go'. We began to go, and I could not see the toilet. Srila Prabhupada was motioning and calling Bali Mardan, but suddenly I saw the sign and said, 'There it is'. When we came to the entry, Srila Prabhupada wheeled around suddenly and put both hands forward. I was surprised, but understood that I was to take his bead bag and cane, so I did. I held them very carefully while he went inside, and I sang Jaya Radha Madhava off a piece of paper which Vegavan had just given me. I peered inside the bead bag. Prabhupada's beads were very shiny and golden coloured. Then Srila Prabhupada came out and I gave him his bead bag and cane. He walked away with his head held high and back. I felt like a little boy tagging along beside His Divine Grace."

As they were waiting for the flight, Prabhupada talked to Mr Joshi about the visa problem for his disciples. He asked him if he could arrange long term visas for 25 foreign devotees to stay in Malaysia. Mr Joshi thought it would not be possible, so he didn't try.

Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada-Prabhupada in Malaysia-'First-Class Kachoris'-Janananda dasa

[chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)]

KUALA LUMPUR

Thursday, May 6^th 1971

Prabhupada returned to Kuala Lumpur by flight with his disciples. It was ekadasi. They returned to the residence of Tan Sri Kishu, where they were to stay until Prabhupada's departure for Sydney. Prabhupada went to visit Kamaladevi who was offering the land. The devotees had kirtana in her house and Prabhupada asked Amogha to lead the "Samsara prayers". Even though Prabhupada was obliged to eat, he only accepted milk, as Kamaladevi and her husband, were not vegetarians.

Kamaladevi: "Prabhupada came to my house the day we moved in. We were very excited. Mother, father, grandfather all came to receive Swamiji. Prabhupada blessed our house by walking all around. He sat down and we all sat on the ground at his feet even my father. Srila Prabhupada said, 'Krsna's devotees must live long, then they can spread the message of Krsna'. Prabhupada talked informally about Krsna. My father was asking a lot of questions. He had studied the Upanisads, and was an Advaitist. Because I was a Krsna devotee whole life, my father was displeased and would beat me. Srila Prabhupada said many things, which my father didn't agree with. There was a very interesting discussion. Many points were cleared up. My father showed great respect for Prabhupada, and found him very interesting even though he philosophically different."

Kamaladevi drove Prabhupada in her Mercedes car to see the land and temple which she was considering to offer to ISKCON. The foundation had already been built. She still keeps the car, as each time she sees it, it reminds her of Prabhupada, and when she remembers Prabhupada she thinks of Krsna. While walking around the grounds, Srila Prabhupada said: "If you want to spread Krsna's message you don't need a cottage like this. (Referring to the shack in which the devotees had been staying). You can stay under a tree."

Friday, May 7^th 1971

In the morning Prabhupada came out of his room and sat on a dais in an adjoining room. Srila Prabhupada asked Amogha to sing the Samsara prayers (Gurvastakam), but he wanted him to learn the "morning melody".

Bali Mardan: "Prabhupada spoke to me in his room that he was upset with devotees in India inventing some other melodies to sing. Srila Prabhupada said morning melody means singing this melody. And he taught me."

Amogha: "I tried to learn the melody by hearing from Bali Mardan. Prabhupada had been teaching him, but Bali Mardan wasn't very melodious, and whenever I made a mistake he got really heavy. Prabhupada wanted me to sing. I was a nervous brahmacari. For me it was really complicated on the harmonium to follow that melody, and I didn't really know how to do it yet. I just froze; like stage fright. I just sat there, and Bali Mardan was piercing me with a penetrating look. Prabhupada was waiting. Finally, Prabhupada motioned, took the harmonium and played. He started to show me how to play, with one note at a time, but running and trilling on the keys. I remember how softly he touched the keys, with his fingers straight, and how they softly glided, and easily produced a beautiful accompaniment. He often played one octave down at the end of a run, as we can hear on tape recordings of him playing. Still he didn't sing, he wanted me to sing! He waited, I couldn't... Bali scowled heavily at me, 'Go on, SING!' I couldn't. I banged my head against the wall, because it could have been so nice, but I was frozen. The way he was playing, I thought it was too high for me to sing, and I was scared and nervous. Finally, Prabhupada just sang it himself. I felt like a wretch. When I remember this I hanker for another chance, and wish I hadn't been so foolish. I always remember the way Srila Prabhupada played the harmonium and I try to play the way he showed me."

Bali Mardan: "Prabhupada told me that every morning we should sing the Samsara prayers to the spiritual master with all the love that we can feel."

Bhakta Neo: "During the morning darsana Swami Sivajyoti came to see Prabhupada, but he left when Kamaladevi arrived. She, like others felt apprehension about the Swami, and the Swami seemed unsettled. When Prabhupada heard that he had left he seemed to show a lot of concern, and kept asking where did he go. He asked the devotees to find him and bring him back. Srila Prabhupada said we can send him to Australia, or somewhere like that, to train him up. He seemed so compassionate no matter who he was dealing with".

In his dealings with people in Malaysia, Prabhupada externally appeared to reciprocate differently. But in each and every case, he was always seeing them as Krsna's eternal servants, and always looking for ways to inspire them to again serve Krsna. Somehow by Krsna's arrangement, many fortunate souls were coming into the association of the pure devotee and Prabhupada as their well-wishing friend would encourage them no matter what the fault. We all have faults in this world. The only remedy to rectify our condition is to associate with true mahatmas. Such mahatmas are described in the Bhagavad Gita as: Sa mahatma su-durlabhah. Very rare. To get the chance to meet a pure devotee like Prabhupada is so rare. In the Caitanya-caritamrta it is described: brahmanda brahmite kona bhagyavan jiva, guru-krsna-prasade paya bhakti-lata-bija. "According to his karma, the living entity has been wandering throughout the universe in different species of life. One who is very fortunate gets the opportunity to associate with a bona-fide spiritual master, by the grace of Krsna. By the mercy of both Krsna and the spiritual master, one receives the seed of devotional service." Prabhupada was injecting bhakti in the heart of whomever he would meet.

During their preaching in Kuala Lumpur, the devotees had met one of the most prominent members of the Indian community, Tun Sambanthan, a government minister. Knowing Prabhupada was coming, he asked the devotees if Swamiji would come to his house for lunch on Friday.

In the minister's chauffeur-driven car, Prabhupada and the devotees entered the driveway through the large gates. A high dais had been arranged for Prabhupada to sit on. Mrs Sambanthan sat at his feet. Mrs Sambanthan had a reputation for singing bhajanas, and an interest in Sanskrit. Prabhupada preached to her very intently, hoping that she would help to spread Krsna consciousness. Being the wife of the minister, Prabhupada saw that she could be very influential and helpful in spreading Krsna consciousness-a srestha-or leader of society.

As Prabhupada explained the process of Krsna consciousness he quoted many Sanskrit verses. Mrs Sambanthan said: "Yes that is so true. You quote Sanskrit so nicely Swamiji." After some time Srila Prabhupada said: "So you are appreciating our philosophy very nicely. You must help us spread this Krsna consciousness movement." She answered: "With your mercy, Swamiji." Srila Prabhupada said: "Mercy is already there. You simply have to take it." She answered again: "With your mercy Swamiji." Then Srila Prabhupada gave an analogy. Srila Prabhupada said: "If someone is drowning in a well and crying out 'Help', and another person hears him and throws down a rope so he can catch it. If the person drowning in the well cries, 'Help me take the rope', it is not right. It is up to him to take the rope and be pulled out. The mercy is there. You simply have to take it and become freed from all illusion and lamentation."

As Prabhupada continued talking he seemed very intent but at the same time acting nonchalant. Then a wonderful thing happened. Prabhupada asked for his white vinyl hand-case, and pulled out a paper and put it in the lady's hand. Srila Prabhupada said: "I want a temple like this." Prabhupada very much wanted this lady to help build a temple here in Malaysia. At the same time by his calm expression he seemed to be restraining his extreme enthusiasm.

On the paper was a sketch of a three-altar temple, and the floor in a design of squares. It looked just like the Krishna-Balarama Temple, later constructed in Vrndavana. Mrs Sambanthan explained that her husband was already building a temple but she would discuss it with him. There was no definite response. Prabhupada was just overflowing with desire to spread the movement and he took every single opportunity to try to engage others in helping.

Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada-Prabhupada in Malaysia-'I Want A Temple Like This'-Janananda dasa

[chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)]

In the evening back at Kishu's house Prabhupada was giving darsana. Around a dozen guests were present. The weather was hot, and Prabhupada was talking vigorously with a group of young Indians. Previously they had been arguing with the devotees about the worship of Lord Siva, and they pressed their points to Srila Prabhupada. "Is Siva equal to Krsna?" Prabhupada smiled and explained how Lord Siva is Krsna, but in one sense not Krsna. He gave the example how curd comes from milk, and in that sense is not different from milk, but at the same time is not milk. But they kept pressing their point. Prabhupada finally said: "No, Lord Siva cannot give you liberation." (Complete freedom from the material world and reinstatement in our eternal position as servant of Lord Krsna in the spiritual world. Jivera 'svarupa' haya krsnera 'nitya dasa'.)

Prabhupada asked for water. Amogha, who was holding the microphone at the time, got up and went to the kitchen.

Amogha: "In the kitchen a lady handed me a silver tray on which was a pitcher of cold water, with ice in it, and a drinking cup or goblet upside down. The drinking cup had a long slender base that widened at the bottom. As I brought it in I couldn't understand that it was upside down so I conjectured that it was a funnel which would fill the cup if I poured the water into it. I came close to Srila Prabhupada and nervously, in front of the guests, I poured the water into the bottom of the cup which was standing upside down on the tray. Naturally the water spilled out onto the tray, but I didn't notice. I thought, 'They put a funnel there so I wouldn't spill it'. Srila Prabhupada looked at me and the tray and Srila Prabhupada said, 'What is that?' I said, 'Water, Srila Prabhupada', and Srila Prabhupada said, 'NO, what is THAT?', referring to what I was doing. People began to jump up to assist, but suddenly it dawned upon me what I had done. 'Oh, No!' I exclaimed and I poured the water out of the base and filled the cup properly. It was a big embarrassment. Everyone was on edge about it. Red-faced, I sat down where I had been before. At the time I walked in with the cup, Prabhupada was preaching about how people have misused their intelligence. Then I interrupted with the water blunder. After I sat down again Srila Prabhupada said, 'Misused intelligence', and everyone laughed heartily and felt relieved. Prabhupada could always say something at the right time that would put everybody at ease."

Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada-Prabhupada in Malaysia-The Water Blunder-Janananda dasa

[chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)]

KUALA LUMPUR

May 7^th 1971 - Evening

This was Srila Prabhupada's last night in Malaysia, and final public programme. The venue was the Town Hall in Kuala Lumpur. People had come from as far-afield as Teluk Anson, to get this last chance to be with Prabhupada. Minister Tun Sambanthan stepped forward to garland Srila Prabhupada, and introduced him to the audience. Kirtana followed and then Srila Prabhupada spoke, Srila Prabhupada said:

Dear Minister, Ladies and Gentlemen,

I beg to thank you very much for your taking part in this Krsna Consciousness movement, which is going on progressively all over the world. This Krsna Consciousness movement was practically started millions of years ago and Krsna says in Bhagavad Gita: imam vivasvate yogam proktavan aham avyayam. So this bhakti-yoga system as it is described in the Bhagavad Gita, it was spoken first to the sun-god millions of years ago. Vivasvan manave praha manur iksvakave 'bravit. Evam parampara-praptam imam rajarsayo viduh. So it is coming down from sun-god to his son Manu, and from Manu to Maharaja Iksvaku, the first king in the dynasty wherein Lord Ramacandra appeared. It is very old movement but the parampara system, disciplic succession was broken. That is stated by Lord Krsna Himself: sa kaleneha mahata yogo nastah parantapa. Therefore the Bhagavad Gita yoga or bhakti-yoga was originally spoken to Arjuna.

So at least from the historical point of view this movement is not less than 5000 years old. So not that we have concocted a religious process and distributing it. No! We cannot manufacture religion. That is not possible because dharmam tu saksad bhagavat-pranitam. Dharma means the codes given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just like law means the codes given by the government. You cannot manufacture laws in your home. That is not acceptable. Similarly this dharma or bhagavata-dharma. Dharma means bhagavata-dharma, because the rules and regulations given by Lord Krsna, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead-that is dharma. It is clearly stated in the Bhagavad Gita: sarva-dharman parityajya. First of all Krsna said: dharma-samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge. He came to re-establish the principles of religion. Then at the last moment He said: sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja. This means the concocted religion made by man. Man-made religion is not religion. Krsna has distinctly forbidden. Don't accept such religion, because they are all concocted. Real religion is mam ekam saranam vraja. This is real religion. In Srimad-Bhagavatam also this statement of Bhagavan Krsna is confirmed: dharmah projjhita-kaitavo 'tra. In Srimad-Bhagavatam, kaitavah means cheating. Religious principles which are cheating the public, that is completely eradicated. Dharma projjhita.

Paramo nirmatsaranam satam vedyam vastavam atra. It is to be understood by the paramo nirmatsaranam. (Those who are completely non-envious). Nirmatsaranam satam... This is the comment by Sridhara Swami. Sridhara Swami comments on this point that people are after religion-dharma, artha, kama, moksa. Generally people go to the churches, to the temple for religious purposes, but actually it is meant for solving economic problems. Just like the Christians they pray: "O God give us our daily bread." Similarly, you also go to the temple, you also worship many demigods. To the temple of goddess Kali or Durga or Lord Siva: dhanam dehi rupam dehi rupa-pati-bhajam dehi devi dehi. (O worshipable mother Durgadevi (Amman), please give me wealth, strength, fame, a good wife, a handsome husband and so on.) To ask from them. Therefore, the modern politicians, they have become very much disgusted with this kind of dharma. They say that if you want dhanam ( wealth), that's alright. Why don't you produce it, as others are producing it, by economic development? Why waste so much time at the temple. Of course those who go to the temple they are recognized even if they are asking something, because they have approached dharma.

The Bhagavad Gita, it is stated: catur-vidha bhajante mam janah sukrtino 'rjuna. They are su-krtinah (pious). Anyone who, goes to the temple or church for asking God for economic solution; bread, bread solution, they are better than the atheist class, because they are at least going to God. The atheist class of men, they are described in the Bhagavad-gita-duskrtinah. Duskrtinah means miscreant, sinful. Krti means meritorious, but their merit is being misused in wasting time of the very valuable human life. Na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah. And they have been described as mudha. Mudha means the ass. The ass works very hard day and night, but it has no means to understand what is the goal of life. So this human life is meant for getting release from the cycle of birth and death and for enquiries about Brahman. That is the instruction we get from Vedanta philosophy. Athato brahma-jijnasa. This is the actual utilisation of human life.

Now you have come through evolutionary process through various types of species of life from lower to higher. Like that. Now this is the point of human form of life. When we can completely get release from the repetition of birth and death. That is the real problem. Not the economic problem. Economic problem it will always be settled up. Prahlada Maharaja said: sukham aindriyakam daitya deha-yogena dehinam. He addressed his demonic friends that: "My dear friends, this sense gratification programme is already settled by the type of body you have got-deha-yogena dehinam-everyone is getting a certain type of body according to his karma." As it is stated in the Bhagavad Gita that you carry a certain type of body with you and you try not to lose it. If you, just like this air carries the flavour of a rose flower or a filthy place, similarly in our present life if we make our life like a rose flower then I carry the flavour of rose by my subtle body-mind, intelligence and ego to form another body.

Karmana daiva-netrena jantur deho. So that facility is given to us by the Supreme-daiva-netrena-as a superior manager. Just like a clerk working in the office. There is a record, service record and according to the service record he is given promotion or degradation as the authorities like. Similarly, there is a big service record in the superior hand, or in the superior government and that is counted and according to our karma we get a type of body in our next life. This is going on. This is a fact.

So this life, this human form of life is to get out from the control of karma. As it is stated in the Bhagavad Gita: yajnarthat karmano 'nyatra (loko 'yam) karma-bandhanah. Yajna means Visnu, or Krsna, or Supreme Personality of Godhead. We have to work only for the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As it is stated in the Visnu Purana, that: varnasramacaravata purusena parah puman, aradhyate visnu (pantha) nanyat tat-tosa-karanam. By acting according to the varnasrama system; Vedic system. That established system is made by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Krsna says: catur-varnyam maya srstam guna-karma-vibhagasah. So according to varnasrama-dharma everyone has got a particular type of duty. But that duty is made in order to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Not to satisfy your senses. The Bhagavatam states the same way:

atah pumbhir dvija-srestha

varnasrama-vibhagasah

svanusthitasya dharmasya

samsiddhir hari-tosanam

You can act according to your position. It doesn't matter, either you are a brahmana or a ksatriya, vaisya, sudra or sannyasi, brahmacarya, vanaprastha or grhastha. These are eight different orders of social system according to daivika. So everyone has got a particular type of duty. Now by discharging that duty we have to satisfy the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Just like in a factory there are so many departments of work, where everyone is working, but the real purpose is to satisfy the proprietor of the factory. Because the supreme enjoyer or beneficiary is the proprietor, similarly whatever we do it is meant for satisfying the supreme proprietor. And who is the supreme proprietor? Krsna.

Krsna says in Bhagavad Gita:

bhoktaram yajna-tapasam

sarva-loka-mahesvaram

suhrdam sarva-bhutanam

jnatva mam santim rcchati

If anyone wants peace and prosperity then he should know these three things. That Krsna is the supreme enjoyer, beneficiary (of) everything. Whatever yajna or tapasya we are discharging, the real ultimate goal is for the enjoyment of Krsna. Bhoktaram yajna-tapasam sarva-loka. And He is the proprietor-sarva loka. Not only on this planet but there are innumerable planets all over the universe, and there are innumerable universes also. The supreme proprietor is Krsna. Sarva-loka-mahesvaram and suhrdam-sarva-bhutanam and He is actually the well-wishing friend of everyone. Krsna is so nice friend that as it is stated in the Upanisads that He is seated with the jivatma as a friend. Two birds are sitting as friends in one tree. One is jivatma who is enjoying the fruits of the tree and the other is simply watching. Witness-upadrastanumanta. That is stated in the Bhagavad Gita. So Krsna is always trying to give you good advice, suhrt, so that you may come again back home, back to Godhead. That is Krsna's wish.

So Krsna came-dharma-samsthapanarthaya as you all know. But what is that dharma? That dharma is surrendering unto Krsna. Sarva-dharman parityajya. Clearly you haven't got to practice any other kind of religion. If you are actually interested in dharma, then this is the process. "My Lord Krsna I forgot You for so many millions of years and was wandering in different species of life. Now I've come to Krsna consciousness I'm just surrendering unto You." This is Krsna consciousness movement. We are taking this simple tool. There is no complication. But this surrendering method is very difficult also. Difficult for who? Those who are against Krsna. For them it is very difficult. Na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante. That is also stated: Na mam prapadyante. Those who are miscreants, those who are sinful. Those who are rascals. This language is used by Krsna. Not that I am manufacturing. Na mam duskrtino mudhah. Mudhah means rascal, and duskrtinah means merits taken away. Na mam duskrtino mudhah prapadyante naradhamah. Naradhamah. Naradhamah means lowest of the mankind. Because this life is meant for sacrificing for the pleasure of God, and we are misusing. Therefore Naradhamah. Oh, but there are many reputed persons who are gurus, who are not surrendering to Krsna. Mayayapahrta jnana. Their imitation has no value. No value. The essential knowledge has been taken away by the illusory energy of God. Because the real essence of knowledge is to surrender unto Krsna. That is stated also by Krsna: bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate. Actually those who are searching after the Absolute Truth. Athato brahma-jijnasa. By such speculative process after many, many, births they have to come to this point of surrender unto Krsna. Because that is the ultimate goal.

So those who are taking to the process, other than which is recommended by Krsna, they will have to undergo many, many births to come to this conclusion. Vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma su-durlabhah. He has to come to this conclusion. But such kind of mahatma, great soul is very rare. Therefore, Krsna consciousness is very difficult also. But it is easy also. The most sublime and very easy. Simultaneous. Most sublime because many, many philosophers, theologists, they come to this conclusion of surrendering to Krsna. Therefore it is very sublime because it is natural. Krsna and we are related very intimately as part and parcel. Just like my finger is a part and parcel of my body, so there cannot be any separation. If I have got this body, I have got this finger, I have got this nail, I have got this hair. They are all my part and parcel of my body. Similarly either the demigods or the great sages the human society, anyone, they are all parts and parcels of Krsna, but how it is separated? It is separated when we, the part and parcel, do not give service to Krsna. Just like this finger is meant for giving service. I want finger to stand like this, immediately it stands. But if it cannot, it means it is in a diseased condition. This finger, if just upon my command cannot stand up, that means there is some pain and there is some disease.

So because we are part and parcel of Krsna anyone of us who is not in service to Krsna, is in a diseased condition. That is called illusion, maya.

So the Krsna consciousness movement is meant for giving relief to the diseased condition living entity. Those who have forgotten Krsna. Diseased condition means one who has suffered many, many years in diseased condition, one forgets what is a healthy condition. But we should know this is the criterion to understand that whether I'm mudha or naradhama. Whether I am liberated or conditioned. Liberated means to be engaged in Krsna's service and conditioned means otherwise. That is also confirmed in the Srimad-Bhagavatam: mukti hitva anyatha-rupam svarupena vyavasthitih. Mukti means when one gives up his situation otherwise, and becomes situated in his own position, constitutional position. That is mukti. Mukti doesn't mean something very wonderful. Simply this position as Krsna says: sarva-dharman parityajya mam ekam saranam vraja. We should do it immediately. You can get yourself free even within a second, provided you agree. But the difficulty is you do not agree. That is the disease, that is maya. But if we agree, immediately liberation.

My svarupa-my real constitutional position is to surrender unto Krsna and abide by His orders. That is my position. Just like Arjuna. Arjuna was thinking independently. When he was talking with Krsna as friend: "My dear Krsna there is no necessity of fighting, because I have to kill my brother, my grandfather and so on, so on. It is better not to fight. So he was thinking in his own way. That is the disease, and therefore Krsna taught him the Bhagavad Gita, the science of bhakti-yoga, and he enquired from Arjuna. "Now what you have decided. Are you going to fight or not fight?" He said: "Karisye vacanam tava. Yes. Nasto mohah smrtir labdha. Now I am in my real position, I have got my memory back, and I shall act according to You." And he fought. So this is Krsna consciousness. This is Krsna consciousness, that we have to give up our own concocted ways of salvation or mukti, for so many things, or becoming prosperous. At least we have to simply abide by the order of Krsna as a human being, then that is right, because that is my constitutional position. So this position is attained after many, many births, by those who are actually wise. Bahunam janmanam ante jnanavan mam prapadyate, vasudevah sarvam iti. How one surrenders? Because he understands by scrutinizingly studying all the Vedas, that Krsna means Vedas, means knowledge, means...

After the lecture the devotees showed a slide show of general ISKCON activities, depicting Ratha-yatras, ISKCON temples, prasadam distribution etc. Hanuman was giving the commentary, but sometimes Srila Prabhupada would instruct Bali Mardan to tell Hanuman what to say about a particular slide. A picture of Ratha-yatra, showing thousands of people gathered in Trafalgar Square, London, came on the screen. Prabhupada requested Hanuman to say: "No more Lord Nelson, now it's Lord Jagannatha."

Biographies and Glorifications of Srila Prabhupada-Prabhupada in Malaysia-'Now, It's Lord Jagannatha'-Janananda dasa

[chitralekha devi dasi (bcs)]

Saturday, May 8^th 1971

As well as the singing of the Samsara prayers Prabhupada was giving morning class to a small gathering of devotees and guests. Kamaladevi and her husband Dr. Thevarajah, would spend as much time as possible with Prabhupada.

Kamaladevi: "Early morning we'd get up and first thing go to see Srila Prabhupada. The whole day we'd be there. We'd only go home for something to eat. Being with Prabhupada gave us so much peace. We felt we were with Krsna. My husband, being a gynaecologist was often called away to work. Sometimes he'd come late for the darsana. Prabhupada would often ask where he was. When he came to see Prabhupada one day, Srila Prabhupada said, 'Doctor, why are you late today. I've just been talking about you, and there you are, walking in. You will live long.' Prabhupada liked my husband very much. He was very affectionate."

Prabhupada talked to the doctor and his wife several times, but nothing was concluded about the land offer. But Prabhupada talked to him about birth control and how sinful it is. "If we are in this room we require oxygen to breathe. Now if you spray poison in the room then we have to get out, we cannot survive. So they poison the womb so that the child cannot take shelter there. It is poisoned and has to get out. That's what birth control is. People who perform this act have to take birth and suffer the same thing over and over again, from one womb to another to another. It is most sinful..." The doctor was also unable to be a vegetarian. Prabhupada simply told him: "Try to stop eating meat."

Prabhupada welcomed visitors throughout the day, mostly from the North Indian community. Reporters also came from the Straits Times and Tamil Malar. Articles appeared in the newspapers.

Swami on a mission to help find peace

KUALA LUMPUR, Mon

HEAD touching the floor, clad in saffron robes and beads and with a pigtail trailing from his partly-shaven head, the University of Montreal graduate asked for permission to bring in a couple of newsmen.

The object of his devotion was the founder of the Hare Krishna movement, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, whose spartan appearance and dress like those of his disciples contrasted strongly with the luxurious room in the "Kishu-Mona Bhavan"- home of the owner of Globe Silk Store.

Permission granted, he called in the newsmen and photographers.

And then Swami Prabhupada spoke of his quest to help mankind achieve peace and happiness.

His solution is simple-bring everyone to Krishna consciousness, and there would be no war.

"The soul is eternal, but It becomes polluted, Krishna consciousness will help them to purify their souls," he added.

His hope

The swami spoke of his hope of establishing a Krishna temple here for the benefit of Malaysians. He added that his was a universal non-sectarian movement and not a religion in itself even though it drew its inspiration from the Bhagavad Gita and the Vedas.

It only drew inspiration from the Vedas and the Gita because they were oldest literature in the world-"the word of Krishna in its original."

"Hare Krishna is a spiritual movement which suits every religion, does not require its adherents to accept a new religion, and it has a very simple formula for achieving happiness," he said.

Its formula for full knowledge, full bliss and full eternity of the soul was a ceaseless chanting of "Hare Krishna", he added.

Asked why he had not gone to the United Nations first since it was nearer to Los Angeles where the movement has its headquarters, the Swami said: "I must go to the people."

Reject

''When the people reject the UN what good will my trying to bring Krishna consciousness to the delegates there?" he asked.

Just then Hanumandas (the University of Montreal graduate) chipped in: "We are getting nearer to the UN. You see we shall be going to New York soon."

Among the Swami's disciple was a Singapore youth, Neo Chee Wee, who joined the movement four months ago,

His reason for joining, "I got tired of people living like cats and dogs. I wanted something more than just that. Krishna consciousness gives me that," he said.

Radha, sister of Tan Sri Kishu, still has vivid memories of the occasion: "Prabhupada was always smiling and never tired. He never refused any guest who would come to see him. We spent most of our time in the kitchen and doing other services like cleaning. We hardly saw the Swamiji. We never realized how significant an event his visit was."

Prabhupada also awarded brahmana initiation to Amogha whilst in Kuala Lumpur. He personally showed him how to chant on the fingers and pronounce the mantras.

Amogha: "He showed me how to count the ten places on the hand and told me to say the mantra three times a day 'without fail'. I also remember eating carrot halava prepared by the hosts. Even though I offered it I became overwhelmed with heaviness and sleep. When I woke up I went into Prabhupada's room. He was speaking to someone. Not long after I came in Srila Prabhupada said, 'If you want to eat anything without discrimination, you can become a pig and eat anything'."

Time came to leave, and Srila Prabhupada's "whistle-stop" visit to Malaysia was drawing to an end. Somehow, Prabhupada's visa requirements to enter Australia had been ignored, and it was Saturday. He had no visa. The embassies were closed. Amogha had to run around trying to do something, but got nowhere. Eventually Gopal das, went directly to the houses of the visa officers and convinced them to put the necessary stamps in Prabhupada's passport.

Prabhupada was booked on a late evening flight to Sydney. Packing began. Kamaladevi recounts the scene: "Bali was packing the bags. They were way overweight. Prabhupada was telling Bali, 'Why you bring so many things. You're only going for a month'. Prabhupada left for the airport in Kishu's car. We came along behind. We tried to talk to the boys at the check-in counter to let them go through. They were very helpful and said to carry on board what you can. We had left our cheque books at home, otherwise we would have paid the excess. I suggested that Bali carry the Deity of Lord Krsna in his hands and he did. They were no longer overweight, and could check in."

As they sat in the lounge waiting for the departure, Prabhupada told Dr. Thevarajah, who was sitting beside him: "Everything is there in Srimad-Bhagavatam."

Bhakta Neo: "Just before he took his flight we were all sitting together. I didn't know much about Vaisnava etiquette. I was sitting right beside Prabhupada on the long bench. I wasn't sitting at his feet. He turned towards me, and looked at me and Srila Prabhupada said, 'Do whatever you do, do it nicely'."

It was time to board. Prabhupada's only visit to Malaysia had come to an end. Non-stop preaching for five days, planting thousands of seeds for future growth. Srila Prabhupada, his GBC secretary Bali Mardan and servant Vegavan, together with Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha, prepared to board the plane. As they checked in, Amogha looked at Srila Prabhupada's passport. In the front where it said father's name, Prabhupada had written: "The late Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaj."