About a beatle and a bengali

[Guest guest]

I'm posting this because it's cute.

The activities of devotees on this level are always fun.

Hope everybody enjoys it.

These two, Prabhupada and George, got some things done together for the

KC movement.

Now they're both gone, but the joy lingers on. -Das Goravani

 

 

 

 

A Story about George and Srila Prabhupad

by Nanda Kumar Das

 

 

Hare Krishna Prabhus,

 

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila

Prabhupad. All glories to Bhakta George Harrison,

who is very dear to His Divine Grace.

 

I would like to share a story about their connection on one

occasion in London. I was traveling with Srila

Prabhupad, as well as Syamasundar Das and Pradyumna Das, in 1972

(I have a poor memory for dates. I

believe this was the year). Syamasundar was instrumental in

connecting George with Srila Prabhupad and

our movement and had a lot of association with him. They were

close friends.

 

I was in the secretary's office, which was more like a large

closet off of Prabhupad's quarters, typing letters,

when a head popped in the door, and in a very British accent,

someone said, "Hello, is Syamasundar here?"

 

I looked over and said that he was out and would be back later. I

went back to my typing and then did a double

take, as it was George. I got up and went over to him and said

that I would tell Prabhupad that he was here.

 

He said, very humbly, "No, no, I don't want to bother him."

 

I assured him that it would not be a bother, and I went into

Prabhupad's room to tell him that he was there.

Prabhupad immediately said, "Oh! Have him come in."

 

I went back out and told George that he wanted to see him. He was

removing his socks and looked over at me and

said, "I get so nervous when I am around His Divine Grace."

 

I told him that I felt the same way. He had just shaved his beard

and cut his hair back to a Beatle's style, and he

said, "I just got my hair cut to see Prabhupad." He was so humble

and unassuming. It was like being around a

great devotee. It was being around a great devotee.

 

He went into the room and closed the door. I could not stay

outside, I had to go in and see the exchange. I opened

the door, and George was doing full dandavats and offering both

prayers to Prabhupad, with perfect

pronunciation. Prabhupad had an ear-to-ear smile. George got up

and sat back by the door.

 

Prabhupad said "Come in, come in" and George edged forward

towards Prabhupad's desk, very shy and

respectful. Prabhupad said "No, here, here" and patted the asana

he was sitting on. George came around his

desk to the edge of his asana, and Prabhupad reached out and

pulled him into his chest, hugging him,

laughing, messing up his hair, and saying, "It is so good to see

you. How is Patty?"

 

They had a wonderful conversation, where at one point George

asked him if he should move into the temple and

shave his head. I believe he would have if Prabhupad had said

yes. But Prabhupad said emphatically "No! You

have a great gift for the world in your music. Just continue your

music and Krishna will be greatly pleased and

He will bless you." Then he said "I will give you some ideas for

your songs" and he got out Srila Bhaktivinode's

Songbook and went over a number of the songs, reciting the

translations for George.

 

It was soon after this that he wrote "My Sweet Lord." George came

daily for a week, along with Ravi Shankar, to

have Prabhupad's darsan in the afternoon. Ravi Shankar is a

Bengali, so he and Prabhupad talked and

laughed together as Bengalis.

 

Of course, Srila Prabhupad's remnants were always a

transcendental treasure for all the devotees, and I was

blessed to be able to distribute them after His meals. During

this week, when I would take the plates away,

many of the temple matajis would crowd around, asking "Could I

have some of George's remnants, please?"

 

I have remembered this story so many times over the years, with

joy and great respect for Bhakta George. He is

truly a humble devotee and a great man. I am currently living on

Maui, where George had a home, and the

stories from the local people are all good. He spread goodness

wherever he went. I am greatly honored to have

met him on that occasion, and I send him my love. There is no

doubt in my mind about where he is now. I hope

to see him again.

 

Offered to the Vaishnavas with love and respect.

 

Your servant,

 

Nanda Kumar Das

narasimha1212 

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