MEMORIES OF SRILA BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI PRABHUPADA ASSOCIATION WITH SRILA BHAKTIPRAJANA KESAVA MAHARAJA

CHAPTER ONE

MEMORIES OF SRILA BHAKTIVEDANTA

SWAMI PRABHUPADA

ASSOCIATION WITH SRILA BHAKTIPRAJANA KESAVA MAHARAJA

My Gurudeva, Om Visnupada Srila Bhaktiprajana Kesava Maharaja, would often speak to me about his Godbrother, Pujyapada Sri Abhay Caranaravinda Bhaktivedanta Prabhu. At that time before his sannyasa, we affectionately called him Abhay Caranaravinda Prabhu, or Prabhu. My Gurudeva always told me how, from the very beginning, this Godbrother was so dear to their Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur. He explained to me that their Srila Prabhupada had always highly and intimately regarded Abhay Caranaravinda Prabhu and had requested him to write articles for the Harmonist and other publications. Their Guru Maharaja had especially ordered him to preach in the English language and to distribute this knowledge widely in the Western countries.

According to my Gurudeva, Abhay Caranaravinda Prabhu was a very great personality, very yuktivadi (good at giving logical arguments), always nirvika (bold), and a preacher of satya (truth) who was not afraid of anyone. I had already heard so many times about him from my Gurudeva and from others. I had heard how he was such a close friend to Guruji, such an excellent writer, and such a sincere and qualified devotee. At that time I had not yet seen him, but seeing by ears is even stronger than seeing by eyes.

Abhay Caranaravinda Prabhu was a bosom friend of my Gurudeva when they met in the association of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's Gaudiya Matha since 1922. During those years he was a grhasta and was said to be very beautiful. In 1940, after the departure of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada, there was turmoil in the Gaudiya Matha. One party wanted to arrest some of the senior Vaisnavas and cases were filed in the Calcutta court. At that time our Gurudeva, then known as Vinode Vihari Brahmacari, was akincana (without material possessions) and he travelled to Prayaga, Allahabad. There he stayed at the Rupa Gaudiya Matha for a few days. Abhay Caranaravinda Prabhu, who had his family residence and business in Allahabad, invited our Gurudeva to come and stay in his home with him as a guest. So they lived together there for the next four or five months. During this extended time they became very near and dear to each other. They always discussed Bhagavad-gita and so many other subjects concerning guru-seva for their Srila Prabhupada and his mission. (Appendix 1)

When my Gurudeva lived with him for those months in Allahabad, Abhay Caranaravinda Prabhu organized so much preaching for them everywhere in that city. He had cultivated numerous associates from his pharmaceutical business and knew many educated, qualified people. He also arranged for my Gurudeva to give extensive lectures on Vedanta. Together they defeated mayavadis and also several influential Catholics and Christians. Those opponents were favorably impressed by the bona fide arguments and siddhanta they presented. Because Abhay Charanaravinda Prabhu appreciated this preaching so much he would often tell me, "Your Gurudeva is so logical and he is such a great philosopher. That is why I have selected for myself a very best friend like your Gurudeva." (Appendix 2)