Results for Biography

Biography A- uncompromising appearance at New York Harbour

27 September
On September 19th, the Jaladuta sailed into New York Harbour and docked at a Brooklyn Pier at Seventeenth Street. Bhaktivedanta Swami saw the awesome Manhattan skyline, the Empire State Building, and like many millions of visitors and immigrants in the past, the Statue of Liberty. He was dressed appropriately as a resident of Vrindaban. He wore kanthi-mala and a simple cotton dhoti. He carried a japa-mala and an old chaddar. His complexion was golden, his head shaven, shikha in the back, his forehead decorated with the Vaishnava tilaka. He wore pointed white rubber slippers, not uncommon for sadhus from India. He was possibly the first Vaishnava sannyasi to arrive in New York with uncompromised appearance.


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Biography A- uncompromising appearance at New York Harbour Biography A- uncompromising appearance at New York Harbour Reviewed by Hare Krishna Devotees of Iskcon on 27 September Rating: 5

A view of Boston's commercial area

27 September
Bhaktivedanta Swami had to pass through immigration and customs in Boston. His visa allowed him a three-month stay. Captain Pandia invited Bhaktivedanta Swami to take a walk into Boston, where the captain intended to do some shopping. They walked across a footbridge into a busy commercial area with old warehouses, office buildings, bars, tawdry bookshops, nightclubs and restaurants. Bhaktivedanta Swami wrote a poem that he titled Markine Bhagavata-dharma - Teaching Krishna consciousness in America, in which he said, "…but I do not know why You have brought me here…But I guess You have some business here, otherwise why would You bring me to this terrible place?"


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A view of Boston's commercial area A view of Boston's commercial area Reviewed by Hare Krishna Devotees of Iskcon on 27 September Rating: 5

Thoughts of acceptance by America for Krishna Consciousness movement began

27 September
After a thirty-five-day journey from Calcutta, the Jaladuta reached Boston's Commonwealth Pier at 5:30 A.M. on September 17, 1965, to stop there briefly before proceeding to New York City. Srila Prabhupada was wondering how the people of America would accept the Krishna consciousness movement.


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Thoughts of acceptance by America for Krishna Consciousness movement began Thoughts of acceptance by America for Krishna Consciousness movement began Reviewed by Hare Krishna Devotees of Iskcon on 27 September Rating: 5

Indeed it was Lord's Mercy for a calm Atlantic crossing

27 September
During the voyage, Bhaktivedanta Swami sometimes stood on deck at the ship's rail, watching the ocean and sky and thinking of Chaitanya Charityamrita', Vrindaban dhama and the order of his spiritual master to go preach in the West. The ocean voyage of 1965 was a calm one for the Jaladuta. The captain said that never in his career had he seen such a calm Atlantic crossing. Bhaktivedanta Swami replied that the calmness was Lord Krishna's mercy.


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Indeed it was Lord's Mercy for a calm Atlantic crossing Indeed it was Lord's Mercy for a calm Atlantic crossing Reviewed by Hare Krishna Devotees of Iskcon on 27 September Rating: 5

Fearfulness vanished after a dream of Lord Krishna

27 September
On the night of the second day, Bhaktivedanta Swami had a dream. Lord Krishna, in His many forms, was rowing a boat, and He told Bhaktivedanta Swami that he should not fear, but should come along. Bhaktivedanta Swami felt assured of Lord Krishna's protection and the violent attacks did not recur. The Jaladuta entered the Suez Canal on September 1 and the Swami visited the city of Port Sa'id with the captain.


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Fearfulness vanished after a dream of Lord Krishna Fearfulness vanished after a dream of Lord Krishna Reviewed by Hare Krishna Devotees of Iskcon on 27 September Rating: 5

The painful sufferings during journey

27 September
By August 23rd the ship had put out to the Red Sea. The Swami suffered seasickness, dizziness, headache, no appetite and vomiting. The symptoms persisted but it was more than seasickness. The pains in his chest made him think he would die at any moment. In two days he suffered two heart attacks. He tolerated the difficulty, meditating on his mission, but after two days of such violent attacks he thought that if another were to come he would certainly not survive.


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The painful sufferings during journey The painful sufferings during journey Reviewed by Hare Krishna Devotees of Iskcon on 27 September Rating: 5

A complimentary ticket of a regular cargo carrier

27 September
The Jaladuta, under the command of Captain Arun Pandia, whose wife was also aboard, left at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, August 13, 1965. It was a regular cargo carrier of the Scindia Steamship Company but had one passenger cabin aboard which was occupied during the voyage from Kolkata to New York in August and September 1865, by Sri Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami, whose age was listed as 69, and who was taken on board bearing "a complimentary ticket with food."


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A complimentary ticket of a regular cargo carrier A complimentary ticket of a regular cargo carrier Reviewed by Hare Krishna Devotees of Iskcon on 27 September Rating: 5

Prayer to Guru before his departure for America

27 September
A week before his departure for America, Bhaktivedanta Swami travelled to Mayapur to visit the samadhi of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati. He prayed for his spiritual master's blessings and requested him to pray that Krishna protect him.


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Prayer to Guru before his departure for America Prayer to Guru before his departure for America Reviewed by Hare Krishna Devotees of Iskcon on 27 September Rating: 5

Personal interview with Mrs morarji

27 September
Bhaktivedanta Swami, however, was fixed on going. When a subsequent appeal through Mr. Choksi did not convince Mrs Morarji, the Swami demanded a personal interview with her. It was granted and the Swami presented his emphatic request. He was unstoppable and finally Mrs. Morarji agreed to send him on one of their ships.


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Personal interview with Mrs morarji
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Personal interview with Mrs morarji Personal interview with Mrs morarji Reviewed by Hare Krishna Devotees of Iskcon on 27 September Rating: 5

Request through Mr choksei to sumati morarji to send him to USA in 1965

27 September
By 1965 Bhaktivedanta Swami had published the third and final part of the first canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. To pursue his goal of travelling to preach in the West, he requested Sumati Morarji, the head of the Scindia Steamship Company, who had given him a large contribution for printing Volume One of the Bhagavatam, to send him on a Scindia ship to the USA. This request was made through her secretary, Mr. Choksi. Mrs Sumati Morarji said he was too old and that it was better he remained in India and complete the Srimad Bhagavatam.


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Request through Mr choksei to sumati morarji to send him to USA in 1965 Request through Mr choksei to sumati morarji to send him to USA in 1965 Reviewed by Hare Krishna Devotees of Iskcon on 27 September Rating: 5

Rupa Goswami's encouraging words to Srila Prabhupada

27 September
Srila Prabhupada had told Gopal Ghosh about the anecdote when he got the idea for ISKCON. It is where Srila Prabhupada did his own bhajan and many times Sri Rupa and Sri Jiva Goswami's appeared to him in his dreams. Once, when he was staying at Radha Damodara temple, before coming to America in 1965, while honouring  prasadam, Srila Prabhupada was looking out of the window when suddenly Rupa Goswami's appeared before him and spoke encouraging words, "Maharaja, don't worry about anything. Go ahead and travel to the West and preach. Just preach the message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the chanting of Hare Krishna. You will be successful. I guarantee you because I will be right there with you all the time."



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Rupa Goswami's encouraging words to Srila Prabhupada Rupa Goswami's encouraging words to Srila Prabhupada Reviewed by Hare Krishna Devotees of Iskcon on 27 September Rating: 5

Lal Bahadur Shashtri received Srimad Bhagavatam from Swami in 1964

15 September
In June 1964, Bhaktivedanta Swami got the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri. Srila Prabhupada gave the Prime Minister a copy of the his first volume of Srimad Bhagavatam. A photographer took a picture. The Prime Minister smiled at the book. The next day, Bhaktivedanta Swami wrote to the Prime Minister and he soon received a favorable reply, personally signed by the Prime Minister.



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Lal Bahadur Shashtri received Srimad Bhagavatam from Swami in 1964 Lal Bahadur Shashtri received Srimad Bhagavatam from Swami in 1964 Reviewed by Hare Krishna Devotees of Iskcon on 15 September Rating: 5

Initially started with daily travel from Vrindaban to Delhi and back the same night to stay

15 September
For a long time Abhay had wanted to take shelter of Vrindaban and now he found residence in the Vamshi Gopalji temple. His purpose remained the same: he would write Back to Godhead and deliver it to the printer in Delhi. He would take the morning train into Delhi and, having nowhere to stay, return to Vrindavana the same night.



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Initially started with daily travel from Vrindaban to Delhi and back the same night to stay Initially started with daily travel from Vrindaban to Delhi and back the same night to stay Reviewed by Hare Krishna Devotees of Iskcon on 15 September Rating: 5

First volume of Srimad Bhagavatam

15 September
Bhaktivedanta Swami began to translate the Srimad Bhagavatam on the advice of his friend. Since he had left home, Srila Prabhupada had no income and was maintaining himself by selling Back to Godhead. He approached Hitsaram Sharma in 1962 and requested him to publish the book. With his help, the first volume was published, followed by the second part. Sales from the first volume financed the printing and publication of the second. People were appreciative of the book and even the American Embassy purchased eighteen copies.



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First volume of Srimad Bhagavatam First volume of Srimad Bhagavatam Reviewed by Hare Krishna Devotees of Iskcon on 15 September Rating: 5

Moved to Radha Damodara temple in Vrindaban, In 1962

15 September
In July 1962, Bhaktivedanta Swami moved to Radha Damodara temple in Vrindavana. It was a small room, 7x15 feet, with smooth plastered walls and floor of uneven sandstone squares. Without moving from his room, he could look into the temple and see a portion of the altar. He could also see the black marble Deity of Vrindavana chandra that Krishnadasa Kaviraja had worshipped hundreds of years ago.


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Moved to Radha Damodara temple in Vrindaban, In 1962 Moved to Radha Damodara temple in Vrindaban, In 1962 Reviewed by Hare Krishna Devotees of Iskcon on 15 September Rating: 5

Getting committed to finish the work in 7 years if Lord wishes

15 September
It was during this time that Srila Prabhupada worked on his first three volumes of the Bhagavatam. He gauged that the project he was embarking on, to translate the twelve cantos of the Bhagavatam, would eventually be at least sixty volumes. He thought he might finish it in seven years, "If the Lord keeps me physically fit then in the fulfillment of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada's will I could complete this work."


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Getting committed to finish the work in 7 years if Lord wishes Getting committed to finish the work in 7 years if Lord wishes Reviewed by Hare Krishna Devotees of Iskcon on 15 September Rating: 5

Beginning of the Srimad Bhagavatam

15 September
Bhaktivedanta Swami returned to Delhi, living in a free room at a Radha Krishna temple in Chippiwada, near the printing and paper capital of India, Chandni Chowk. He could live in Vrindavana or Delhi and with renewed enthusiasm he picked up some donations and began publishing Back to Godhead. At the same time he began his translation and commentary of Srimad Bhagavatam.


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Beginning of the Srimad Bhagavatam Beginning of the Srimad Bhagavatam Reviewed by Hare Krishna Devotees of Iskcon on 15 September Rating: 5

He took Sannyasa in September 1959

15 September
Abhay took this recurrent dream as a message from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta that he should take sannyasa. But he was reluctant and fearful of leaving his family at first. Once he moved out of the house in 1950 and was on his own, in Vrindavana his god brother insisted that he take the renounced order. Abhay knew that this was actually his spiritual master speaking to him through his god brother. So in September 1959, Abhay took sannyasa at a formal ceremony and was then known as Abhay Charanaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami.


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He took Sannyasa in September 1959 He took Sannyasa in September 1959 Reviewed by Hare Krishna Devotees of Iskcon on 15 September Rating: 5

Dream of the instruction to take Sannyasa

15 September
Abhay pressed on with his mission and despite the difficulties, was fully satisfied that he was working on behalf of his spiritual master. One night he had a dream that he had several times before during his days as a householder : Srila Bhaktisiddhanta repeatedly urged Abhay to take sannyasa. This confirmed the instruction that his spiritual master had given him many years ago in Calcutta - to become an English preacher and spread Krishna consciousness all over the world.


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Dream of the instruction to take Sannyasa Dream of the instruction to take Sannyasa Reviewed by Hare Krishna Devotees of Iskcon on 15 September Rating: 5

Journey of Preaching

15 September
Though Abhay tried to make his family follow the Vaishnava lifestyle and discouraged his wife from drinking tea, she once told him that she would choose tea over her husband. Abhay was shocked when he discovered one day that she had bartered his copy of the Bhagavatam for tea biscuits. This incident made Abhay  leave home; his sons were grown up to look after the business and he could finally engage fully in preaching. They thought he would travel, as usual, for a few weeks and return, but Abhay knew that he would never return. His family life was finished.


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Journey of Preaching Journey of Preaching Reviewed by Hare Krishna Devotees of Iskcon on 15 September Rating: 5
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