February 11, 1975; Mexico City, Mexico;
Camp: ISKCON, Mexico City
Touching down in Mexico City proved to be an extraordinary experience
today. Srila Prabhupada, a transcendental emissary from Goloka Vrindavan
was greeted with honor by his devotees here. Srila Prabhupada by-passed
all the ordinary mundane customs check points and airport facilities and
walked directly from the plane to a waiting limousine. Then to top it off
the devotees also arranged a police escort to accompany Srila Prabhupada's
vehicle through the city as it went directly to the temple. This was an
extremely pleasant change from our normal grueling airport experience.
We were accustomed to being treated with suspicion like potential criminals
as we went through customs at other international airports.
On the drive to the temple Srila Prabhupada expressed his appreciation
for the VIP treatment. Eager to continue please His Divine Grace, Hrdayananda
Maharaja took this opportunity to report to Srila Prabhupada about all
the exciting service the Spanish BBT had accomplished. Many books were
being translated and distributed in the Spanish language. Srila Prabhupada
was delighted to hear that the glories of the Lord were being spread.
When he arrived at the temple Srila Prabhupada took darshan of Their
Lordships and later asked for the Deity maha. This was Srila Prabhupada's
standard practice as he travelled from temple to temple. He always took
personal interest to see how the Deities were being worshipped. It was
as if Srila Prabhupada was Krsna's transcendental inspector making sure
the Deity worship was being maintained nicely by his children.
After sampling some of the maha prasadam Srila Prabhupada said, "This
prasadam is horrible. The Deity worship here is not up to standard. It
is important to worship the Deities very nicely." Srila Prabhupada again
stressed, "It is as important to perform first class Deity worship as it
is to distribute books." I was shocked! I had never heard Srila Prabhupada
criticise the Deity worship anywhere before. My heart went out to the devotees
doing the cooking, but I knew it was their turn to get some merciful instruction.
This would be something they would never forget.
I speculated about Srila Prabhupada's relationship with the Deities.
Being of mundane vision, I saw the beautiful forms of the Lord, but couldn't
recognise the innate principle of reciprocal interaction (lila). Sometimes,
I tried to imagine what it might be like to take darshan of the Deities
and see Krsna as Srila Prabhupada undoubtedly did. Srila Prabhupada emphasised
that we must understand that Krsna is non-different from His form in the
temple room. He kindly reminded us again and again, "Krsna is here in His
Arca Vigraha form." During this visit His Divine Grace let everyone know
that it was imperative to perform first class Deity worship along with
book distribution. After all, the purpose of all of Srila Prabhupada's
books was to understand that Krsna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead
and we are His servants. Deity worship is the application of the principles
delineated in Srila Prabhupada's books. When it was time for Srila Prabhupada
to leave Mexico City for Caracas the devotees arranged the same police
escort to the airport hoping to alleviate the usual red tape caused by
international travel. It didn't work out very well. When Srila Prabhupada
arrived at the airport in the car there was a delay before he could board
the plane. He had to stay in the car for almost one hour. While sitting
there he said, "It would have been better waiting in the lounge. I am having
to wait in the car." It was an uneasy time for all of us present realising
that Srila Prabhupada did not have the opportunity for his disciples to
see him off.
Srila Prabhupada transcendentally reciprocated with his many disciples
at airports all over the world. For some devotees this constituted a large
part of their personal association. Srila Prabhupada felt great separation
from his disciples while being denied this pleasure. He understood a great
opportunity to enliven us was being missed. I felt uneasy about Srila Prabhupada's
displeasure. When Srila Prabhupada arrived at the temple in Caracas, Venezuela
it was like an instant replay of his arriving in Mexico City. He took darshan
of the Deities and later in his room sampled the maha prasadam. Again Srila
Prabhupada said, "These puris are terrible, the vegetable is horrible.
This prasadam is not good. Deity worship must be first class. You must
worship the Deity very nicely!" Again I was surprised as this was so unusual
for Srila Prabhupada to reprimand his disciples saying they must improve
the Deity worship. Either way, Srila Prabhupada very kindly encouraged
his pious young disciples so that they could make advancement on the spiritual
path.
It was never that Srila Prabhupada was upset with us and we were doomed.
He would stress the importance of performing our service with care and
attention. This is the example that our beloved Spiritual Master gave us.
Everything Srila Prabhupada did was with the utmost of attention and devotion
to the Lord. Srila Prabhupada enjoyed his stay very much in this part of
the world and was impressed with the sincerity of the devotees. I also
enjoyed being at the Caracas temple since I lived there for a few months
when I first left Srila Prabhupada's personal service in January of 1974.
I knew most of the devotees well and it was like going home for me.
Srila Prabhupada, you have created a large family of Vaisnavas. You
are the munificent father and grandfather of tens of thousands of devotees
of Lord Krsna. You have very kindly made it possible for your followers
to go anywhere in the world, take darshan of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead and enjoy the association of friends and family. This is one of
the great fringe benefits of being a member of your Iskcon Society. Please
allow this prodigal son to remain within your family, always. You instructed
us that "Book Distribution and Deity Worship" must go side by side. Your
books inspire and give us knowledge to serve Krsna. Deity worship gives
us the practice. Their Lordships are the original root source of this Vaisnava
family, without Them we are all lost. Your books are like attractive cordial
invitations to please come and personally serve the Deity. Our duty is
to remind who so ever we meet that we are all servants of the Lord. Lord
Krsna's Deity worship takes place at your temples around the world. Your
books invite everyone, "Please, you come and serve the Lord." Deity worship
is the zenith of loving service. Your books give us the knowledge to come
to this platform. You are calling us all "Back to Godhead."
- From the Srila Prabhupada Uvaca by HG Srutakirti Dasa