Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Today is the auspicious appearance day of Sri Advaita Acharya, the foremost of all Vaishnavas, an incarnation of both Maha Vishnu and Sadasiva. It was due to Sri Advaita Acharya’s deep compassion and pure prayers that Lord Caitanya appeared in this world to establish the Sankirtan movement, counteracting the poisonous influence of Kali Yuga.
Similarly, it is by the blessings of Sri Advaita Acharya that we received our beloved Srila Prabhupada, who carried Lord Caitanya’s Sankirtan mission to the Western world. I would like to share a wonderful narration from a book “Our Srila Prabhupada – A Friend to All” written by HG Mulaprakriti Mataji. She beautifully recounts the memories shared by the pujari from Advaita Acharya’s house in Shantipur, West Bengal.
In 1980, this pujari visited ISKCON Mayapur and shared how Srila Prabhupada, even in the 1940s and 50s while still in grhastha ashram, used to visit Advaita Bhavan once or twice a month. Dressed in a simple white dhoti-kurta, he would sit and chant with great devotion and gravity, his eyes filled with tears and his voice choked with emotion, often for many hours. Before leaving, he always expressed heartfelt gratitude to the pujari for his service at Advaita Bhavan.
In August 1965, the pujari observed Srila Prabhupada returning in saffron robes, chanting with even deeper emotions and tears streaming down his face. After completing his prayers, Srila Prabhupada thanked the pujari, who then asked about his identity. With tears in his eyes, Srila Prabhupada humbly replied:
“I am an unworthy disciple of His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, my divine master. I have been coming here because my Gurudeva has given me an impossible mission—to cross the ocean and spread the sublime teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in the Western countries. There are countless souls there who have never heard of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna and are suffering greatly.
I do not know how this mission will succeed, so I come here to the sacred house of Advaita Acharya, where he, Nityananda Prabhu, and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gathered to plan the Sankirtan movement. It was from here they launched the flood of love for God that swept across India. Thus, I have been praying earnestly for their mercy, that they may empower and guide me. I want to fulfill my Gurudeva’s desire, but I feel unqualified. Tomorrow I am leaving for Calcutta to board a ship to America. I do not know what will befall me there, but I am praying most earnestly for their help.”
Srila Prabhupada then sought blessings and departed. The pujari was deeply moved by his sincerity and determination. Years later, when Western devotees visited Advaita Bhavan and presented a Back to Godhead magazine, the pujari recognized Srila Prabhupada in the photograph.
He realized that this was none other than his humble friend who had accomplished the seemingly impossible mission of his Gurudeva. The pujari reflected, “I saw that it was indeed he, starting alone and without pretense, who had accomplished this glorious miracle against all odds.”
On this auspicious day, let us sincerely pray at the lotus feet of Sri Advaita Acharya to develop selfless compassion for all living beings. Let us beg for his blessings to become tiny instruments in the glorious mission of Srila Prabhupada, spreading Krishna-bhakti throughout the world.
Sri Advaita Acharya ki jai!
Srila Prabhupada ki jai!
Your servant,
Satya Sara das