Srila Prabhupada’s glories (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Swami Avdheshanand is the leader of one million renunciates called Naga Babas. The Naga Babas are given the privilege of being the first to bath in the Ganges at Kumbha Mela. But before they bath, their guru Swami Avdheshanand bathes. When we met yesterday he said, “Oh yes, I know you. We have met several times before. Your movement is spreading all over the world, creating a genuine spiritual revolution. It is most wonderful what your Prabhupada has done!” It is deeply satisfying to hear so many spiritual leaders speak highly of our spiritual master’s achievements.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/jSB53y
My seva at the Kumbha Mela in Prayag is to meet prominent sadhus and spiritual leaders. Yesterday with the help of Pundrik Goswami from the Radha Raman temple in Vrindavan I met with Rajendra Das Ji Maharaja a well known sadhu also from Vrindavan. We discussed ISKCON’s growth around the world. He was amazed to hear that Srila Prabhupada went to Russia in the 1970’s and how there are now many thousands of devotees there as a result. When I told him that a google search reveals that Prabhupada’s books now appear in 10 of Russia’s official languages and that eleven million copies of Bhagavad Gita have been distributed he just shook his head in amazement.
Continuing with my meeting of sadhus at Kumbha Mela, myself and Pundrik Goswami spent several hours with Swami Chidananda of Parmarth Niketan from Rsikesh this morning. Upon hearing the glories of Srila Prabhupada and Vrindavan he spontaneously offered his help in renovating several holy places in the dhama. It was an amazing offer and we will be keeping in close touch. Myself and Swami warmly embraced as we parted!
Yesterday evening we met with Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of The Art Of Living Foundation with centers in 156 countries. We spoke to him of ISKCON’s success in spreading Krsna consciousness in the United States and mentioned, in particular, our annual Sadhu Sanga Retreat which takes place in his large retreat center in Boone, North Carolina each spring. He was very impressed that over 2,000 devotees come together for 3 days of kirtan and katha during the event. In appreciation, he kindly gave me a gift of a beautiful silk chaddar. So nice to be sharing our movement’s accomplishments around the world with the spiritual leaders of India. It is all the mercy of Srila Prabhupada.