Mr. Robert Nelson – Srila Prabhupada’s Friend

By Chaitanya Ananda Das

Dear Devotees and Friends,

Please join the New York ISKCON devotees to remember one of Srila Prabhupada’s earliest friends in New York City – Mr. Robert Nelson, a.k.a. Jagannath Prasad Dasa.

He recently passed away in his New York City apartment, due to unknown causes.

Mr. Robert, as Srila Prabhupada affectionately called him, met Srila Prabhupada in early 1966 at the New York City ashram of Dr. Mishra, and they became fast friends. Ever since the early days of the movement, Mr. Robert remained in touch with the New York temple through thick and thin, and kept at what he did best, unmotivated devotional service. Often arriving unannounced, he was always sought to render some service to the temple, especially in matters of Temple maintenance. He was always humble yet jovial and his simple warmth would always enliven the devotees. He was very dear to Srila Prabhupada and to all of the devotees of the New York ISKCON Community.

Your servants, NY ISKCON www.radhagovinda.net

Adapted from Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta: March 1966 – Robert Nelson was affectionate toward the Swami, and out of the eight million people in the city, he was practically the only one who showed personal interest in him, and offered to help. Mr. Robert (as the Swami called him) and the Swami made an odd combination. Prabhupada was elderly and dignified, a scholar of the Bhagavatam, whereas Robert was artless in worldly ways. Together they would walk the streets of New York City – the Swami and Mr. Robert. Prabhupada walked with rapid strides, outpacing the lumbering, rambling, heavyset boy who had befriended him.