HG Bakula Devi Dasi ACBSP
Looking back over my life, I have often marveled at the mysterious ways Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna arrange events. At the time, we rarely understood why something happens. Only years later do we begin to see the beautiful patterns and deeper connections in events.
One experience has stayed with me all these years; On December 8, 1980, my second daughter, Srngara, had just been born at the 340 West 55th Street temple. HH Satsvarupa Maharaj had personally given her that name because she was born during the time of Srngar (dressing the deity). She was only a newborn when she developed a persistent cough.
At the Sunday feast my husband, Surottama mentioned her condition to a doctor who regularly attended the temple’s Sunday program. The doctor became concerned and told him, “Take the baby to the hospital.” Surottama then later informed Adi Kesava Maharaja that we needed to leave, and he kindly lent us a temple car. One of the devotees Keshihant, who lived on the ninth floor of our building (our next door neighbor) drove us to the emergency room at Roosevelt hospital.
After arriving, I sat in the waiting area with my baby. We waited… and waited… and waited. Finally, we were taken into an examination room.
We had barely settled in when a loud announcement echoed throughout the hospital:
**”Emergency! Emergency! Please leave what you’re doing and come immediately!”**
Our doctor immediately rushed out of the room.
Now, my husband, Surottama, is claustrophobic. Hearing the announcement, he wanted to know what was happening. He followed the doctor through the swinging emergency doors.
There, he saw medical staff frantically working around a man who had just been brought in on a stretcher. At first he had no idea who it was.
Then someone said, “That’s John Lennon.”
John Lennon had just been shot outside his apartment building across from Central Park and had been rushed to the hospital.
Within minutes, everything changed.
News spread across New York almost instantly. Television crews arrived. Reporters filled the hospital. Crowds of fans gathered outside, singing over and over again, *”All we are saying is give peace a chance.”*
The hospital had to be completely locked down because so many people were trying to get inside.
Surottama and Keshihant were interviewed by television reporters about what he had witnessed. Later, devotees saw the news broadcasts and were amazed that two of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples had been present during such a historic event and John Lennon had the blessing to have a devotee at his side during that moment.
But for me, there was something even deeper to reflect upon.
Years earlier, Srila Prabhupada had stayed at John Lennon’s home in England. He had personally preached Krishna consciousness there and had given John Lennon and Yoko Ono the association of a pure devotee.
When I later thought about that, I couldn’t help feeling that it was no accident that two of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples happened to be in that very hospital, at that very moment, when John Lennon was leaving this world.
Krishna could easily have arranged for us to arrive half an hour later. Even ten minutes later, and we would never have been there.
But He didn’t.
That reminded me of another story.
When Vaikunthanatha Prabhu and Saradiya later traveled to Trinidad to preach, he thought he was bringing Srila Prabhupada’s teachings there for the first time. Instead, when he visited the St. James Mandir, Simbhoonath Capildeo proudly showed him a set of Srila Prabhupada’s *Srimad-Bhagavatam* books that had already arrived years before. Srila Prabhupada had already prepared the way for Vaikunthanath.
I see the same principle in what happened with John Lennon.
Srila Prabhupada had entered his life years earlier. Then, at the end of his life, Krishna arranged for two of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples to be there.
To me, this was not merely coincidence. It was another example of how a pure devotee continues to care for souls in ways that are far beyond our understanding.
These experiences have strengthened my faith again and again.
Srila Prabhupada never forgets anyone.
Krishna’s arrangements are perfect, even when we cannot see them.
Looking back, I feel deeply grateful that He allowed Surottama and me to witness something that reminded us so powerfully that the mercy of the spiritual master reaches farther than we can ever imagine.
Based on this video: