Devotees came from near and far, from all ten directions.

Hospitality and care was there from the start.

As I entered the compound, a whole new array of buildings unfolded. When I left Bombay in 1977, just the skeleton of the new guesthouse had begun. Now two grand hotel-like guest apartments greeted me.

The signboard at the entrance was prominent in front with all the names of the speakers. The names were many old prabhus, friends getting together again. The names before me were all formidable servants of Srila Prabhupad, in their own rights, who would do and did most anything for Prabhupad. The personalities on the signboard went to foreign lands and tolerated austerities in good spirits just to please our spiritual master.

I marveled at the names before me who were arriving: Madhudvisa, Radhanath Swami, Shyamsundar, Brahmananda, Yadubara, Vishakha, Kausalya, Giriraj Swami, Sridhar Swami, Lokanath Swami, Gopal Krishna Swami, Srimati, Gargamuni, Jagat Purush, Jayapataka Swami, Nara Narayan, Deena Bandhu, Abhinanda, Tatpur Maharaj, Abhirama, Gurukripa, Nistraiguna, Srutikirti (Add any I left out).

We built ISKCON together as a family, and now we were together again.

The katha (stories) about Prabhupad flowed, and more specifically, how the Bombay temple got started was retold from as many angles as the individuals involved.

The devotees told how the land was littered with feces and so far away from the center of town that all the leaders advised Prabhupad against getting the land. There were tales of austerities in "the hut" and how the cement would come off daily.

There were tales of the first arrivals to India and pandals, travels, and kirtans, and even initiations and marriages. Much recounting of interactions with Mr. Nair, an actual truer-than-fiction villain occurred, with the many failed negotiations, changes, and ups and downs, always with Prabhupad leading the way, giving the best of advice and in the end signing the papers for this cherished land.

The remembrances continued with descriptions of the early uses of the surrounding buildings, now occupied and exuding bhakti and devotional activities.

The accommodations were superb, and the service attitude, hospitality, and attentiveness were better than at a four-star hotel.

There were reunion visits to the Sea Palace hotel and with Mr. Chabria, my old friend from London and Bombay, now 86 years old. Revisiting Akash Ganga was a treat that brought many memories back, and riding with Shyamsundar, with him reminding me of roads and places was like the old days all over again. The visit to the hospital was inspiring— to see a compassionate atmosphere, a model for other hospitals to learn from.

The Chowpatty temple was artistic and had a wonderful atmosphere. There was the pushpa flower ceremony with over a ton of petals being showered upon Radha and Krishna and then all of us, and everyone was blissful.

Sridhar Swami organized expertly and was an easygoing master of ceremonies as well. Cars were provided as well as places to stay, more prasadam dinner invitations than I could attend, more garlands then I deserved, and so many gifts given to me that I had to purchase a trunk to put them in.

What great personal hospitality and payback for some kindness I gave in the past!

A feeling of fraternity and family was present and, I hope, can be a springboard of the enthusiasm that was evident before and can now, I hope, be re-experienced in present devotional interactions with each other, Vaishnava devotees serving together in the spirit of cooperation.

Your servant,
Gurudas

© dipika.org February 5, 2003