A multi-speaker archival recording (uploaded under the Jayapataka Swami archives) of devotees describing the early ISKCON Calcutta/Kolkata temple history, deity installations and processions (notably May 1971), personal recollections of Prabhupada, and growth of temple worship and membership. Speakers recount arriving in Bombay in April 1972, danger and threats faced during early years, temple leadership changes, and a life-membership program that grew from 1,111 to about 14,000 members.
Questions this video answers
April 1972.
May 1971.
Program started from 1,111 and grew to about 14,000 life members.
Ram Sam Ram.
You know, the T liked rather than Danishwara the most. And he also like, you know, the deepest in New Vrindavan. But I know also Prabhupada Pat had a special appreciation for Radha's Indian here, that they were very much also in his heart because Prabhupada installed these deities. And Prabhupada has given us this opportunity to worship the divine couple. And I'm very pleased to see how the deity worship has been improved so much over the years. Of course it don't be nice, but it's improving all the time, constantly. This is the nature of devotional service. That is you can never think now we're doing enough now it's okay. You have to always increase. You have to always go forward. So it's very nice to see the dynamic growth of the Kaukhavi temple, the preaching here. And it is all going on under the face of the this divine couple.
Radical.
Thank you very much. I also was sent to Calcutta. I arrived in Bombay in April 72. Now, Calcutta is a very small temple.
Which has been Yagya.
And it's a very sanctified place, just like mangusha anya. Whereas 60,000 sages were performing sacrifice. And I'm very eager to hear Jai Pataka Maharaj speak about the magma leader. Already an expert storyteller and he knows more about Khakat than any of us. So let's hear from him.
Jam.
Sa.
About Israelites in chapter.
14.
May.
1971. Chodovay Unisa and Gunter Sally the Dilis were strong here by his divine grace. 35 years have been completed for this workshop. There was a big candle at Indian Maidan Orange and the deities were taken in procession to the Maidan. Right?
Yeah.
That's the big pandemic they will solve first or last. I think before.
Because first.
As I know Bolwat says.
After installation you shouldn't take dt from there.
There was there then may be. But every day 10, 15 people killed many businessmen. This was very big for business was the biggest city. But then after all this Paul God was given death threat. You fly or die. They sent both that was coming. An aerogram. They pasted for a magazine. An aerogram for a magazine. Cutting out a pasted flying or dying. Something like that. The prophet called the police.
And show them.
This is where the thread will Samatra do the handle. Although there was so much danger at the time. I was temple president of Ghanaian in 71. 70 71. I was the first president. First we were staying in Kanbaza and that was really nice. We were all behaving so far. Then one sister Mahathi I forget his full name he was going to take this into a hotel next quarter. And this was going to be connected by a bridge. And he was going to have this as his Baptist. He was facing difficulties because the government was not giving permission because there's no parking. So he said you can stay for one year free only. Mr.
People.
At that time we were staying here. Our host from he provided all of the moga for the ladies for some time. Somehow some devotees. Then after Mr. Stan failed to get his license for his hotel he said okay. We made a profile firstly in this room made agreement with Mr. Sidhai Rai family. This was their house and we got this on one year lease.
And then.
Now we hold this. The problem is very smart not to write the wheels down into everything that's these are people we're grateful to.
Also.
Mohanji and S.
Don'T know where.
This M still looks good. There was Mr. Matt. The Dolores were in the way. I said Matumal I write down, I speak out what some of the devotees that were here. The telling marvels just what I could remember. There was Guru Das in Jamuna and Malady for a little while. Shyam Sunda. There was Manibanda in Kosalya. There was a Bengali Mahaji Sumana. I don't say that.
Yeah.
Sam.
Here we started the line membership program starting from 1,111. Then it's now up to about 14,000 people will become life member. Is the label to serve Rama the most scary one. We don't know how to be that. And then home second Home minister Karun Kanti goes.
Is.
One day the home minister Chakra. He goes in, went into the room, went behind the desk, grabbed Raupa's feet and put his head on his feet was there falling out. He thought what's he doing? His son Prabhupada. He went to bed. There wasn't any marketing in sin. I said no no no. Don't leave the holiness. This is your custom. One day we went to South Country Gaushian house in Maharashtra and he gave us a big feast. He used to regularly sit here. It was a very good post. You passed away.
His way down to.
Nice Prabhupada also he told.
That I.
Said I look at this devotees. So that time. Yes sir. I told you. I told you all. You were born in India. Before you didn't believe. Now he is also confirming. See, I told you. You were Born in India before you were devotees before you have worked to.
Our.
Tonight session of Prabhupada. I very foreign programming for 1 to 14. I don't see how I could have been born before in bushwain and programming. I mean whatever the snowflat can endure with. Don't disbelieve the words of the guru. Any question you were born in India. I was so angry about the omen. Sometimes rich life members of.
Life.
Petra Robertson and Saka. I didn't know from bullets what is the supreme purpose of life. Well, some people say you tell me what is your idea? What's the supreme goal of life? Nobody can say. Some say this no, no, you're living life. What is your idea? Very dynamically fixing joy Amika Boli boys are not proven. He said that I can say things you can't say. I'm an elderly Indian gentleman.
I can say some sannyasi but if.
You say like I'm saying Ningao for the living room. So he was very kind. He installed these Devi these very beautiful Devis. Many people will come and take regular darshan of these deities.
Monique.
Bhakti withdrawal can say part of my case watcher John Wood gave me Graham for 35 years his deans are giving us mercy. And the Pendle program they were presiding was so big that for 20 years people were telling me I remember the Pendle program the Pendo programs are to them. He said, we are not going to give out history. We're going to give out Alis Chati Allah. Very nice, Prashad.
So.
Anything happened here? Prabhupada was teaching us. He walk out in the Verinda. I see Tamabdishavar has built one room here. The time this was closed, we built in the corner of our room. And the crowd was chastised. And sir, don't block my hands made us tear down the room. That's why later Kermal Uber said the.
Crowd.
One day Prabhupada was walking and one day our station. I heard of Raobar to be on place. It was train arbitrage. We went to get Prabhupada at the train station but the train came ahead. We reached Prabhupada was gone. Train was empty. It came racing back here. Amazing.
Actually.
Was at Kuma Miller. This is Agar Kumar and Amara Gala. He sent me back to Calcutta. He said if you don't get the grace, I am not coming back to Karkanda again. We have to be in our own place. Then somehow he found this place. So we sent a message to Prophet that we found a place. And he said okay, now I will come. I don't know what happened to me. One time Guru Das became president. Then there was Babananda and Vinny Das were president. Then I think there was Nagamun, me. Obama was president.
And then.
We have Tyra and Varana.
So.
I think every year before such a go somewhere else the Prabhupada goes back. It's my birthday. How could you cause my birthday sprinkle. Of course Thakur is difficult. I also had to leave Thakur and go to Rama. You can't close the temple of my birthday Siddhi. Then he said, whoever does service in the ISKCON Calcutta this Sunday. There's going to be more remembrances later.
Short of time. We have some felicitation now. Requesting on behalf of Islam Guru on behalf of the devotees congregation response Webinar on behalf of Prabhua on behalf of Sri Sri Radha Govinda. A small token gift that we want to give to all the wonderful devotees who have stayed here and served here. The question is to handle this moment.
Ham Sam Sa Ra Ram Sam Ra Ra Har Ram. Ham Ram with it. Ra Sam Sa Sam Ram. You Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram Sa Jesus Sam Ram Ram Sa Ram Ram.
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