Srila Prabhupada in Vrindavana in 1935
A Comprehensive Guide to Śrī Vṛndāvana Dhāma
The banks of Radha-Kunda were overhung with bright green foliage growing from the gnarled branches of ancient tamarind, tamala, and nim trees. In the shallows of the water, cranes stood on stiltlike legs, while river terns skimmed across the lake, sometimes abruptly diving for fish. Sometimes a tortoise would poke its nose up from the water's depth, or a fish would jump. Green parrots, usually in pairs, flew in and out of the green trees, and sparrows chirped and hopped from place to place.
Peacocks were also there, mostly in nearby gardens, as were occasional rabbits and even deer.The atmosphere was enriched with the history of Krishna-lila. Five thousand years ago, Radha and Krishna had engaged in transcendental pastimes here, and only five hundred years ago Lord Caitanya had rediscovered Radha-Kunda.
Lord Caitanya's great follower Raghunatha dasa Gosvami had resided here for many years, constantly chanting Hare Krishna and discussing the activities of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And here, in a small bhajana-kutir, Krishnadasa Kaviraja had written Caitanya-caritamtta, the narrative of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya that Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati relished so much. Many of the inhabitants at Radha-Kunda were babajis, living in small bhajana-kutirs and spending their time chanting Hare Krishna.
Having heard of his spiritual master's stay here, Abhay, bringing his son with him, had traveled from Bombay, just to have darSana of his spiritual master. To see Srila Bhaktisiddhanta was always an occasion for jubilation, but to see him in Vrndavana was an added perfection. This meeting with his beloved guide and friend was different from the time in 1932 when Abhay had seen him on the Vrndavana parikrama.
Now Abhay was no longer sitting anonymously in the back of a room. Now he was a bona fide disciple, recognized as the “kavi," who had written the praiseworthy poem and essay, the young man who listened well, the devotee who had helped the Allahabad matha and who had established the matha in Bombay. Already on this visit Abhay had had occasion to be alone with his spiritual master, who had remembered Abhay's son and presented him with a small bandhi (jacket).
And now, as they walked together alone on the bank of Radha-Kunda, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta turned and spoke confidentially to Abhay. There had been some quarreling amongst his leading disciples in Calcutta, he said, and this distressed him very much. Even now, in Vrndavana, it weighed heavily on his mind. Some of his disciples had been fighting over who would use various rooms and facilities at the Gaudiya Math headquarters in Calcutta. These devotees were all members of the same matha, and the building was for propagating Krishna consciousness under the leadership of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati.
Yet even in their spiritual master's presence they were quarreling. Brahmanas and Vaisnavas were supposed to be free from envy of any creature, what to speak of envy of one another. If they were to fight now, what would they do after their spiritual master passed away? Abhay had no part in these matters and did not even know the details or who was involved. But as he listened to his spiritual master, he also became distressed.
Deeply concerned, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta said to Abhay, “Agun jvalbe": “There will be fire"—one day there would be fire in the Calcutta Gaudiya Math, and that fire of party interests would spread and destroy. Abhay heard but did not know what to make of it. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta had fought so long and boldly to establish that anyone of any birth could be elevated to become a brahmana, a sannyasi, or a Vaisnava. But if his followers became contaminated by a little wealth and the desire for prestige, thereby showing themselves to be still low-class men despite their training and purification, then his mission would be disrupted. If in the name of religion they became attached to ease, position, and prestige, it could only mean that they had failed to grasp the teachings of their spiritual master.
Srila Prabhupada: He was lamenting that these men are simply after the stones and bricks of the building. He condemned. He was very, very sorry.
“When we were living in a rented house," Srila Bhaktisiddhanta said, “if we could collect two hundred or three hundred rupees we were living very nicely at Ultadanga. We were happier then. But since we have been given this marble palace in Baghbazar, there is friction between our men. Who will occupy this room? Who will occupy that room? Who will be the proprietor of this room? Everyone is planning in different ways. It would be better to take the marble from the walls and secure money. If I could do this and print books, that would be better."
Abhay felt his spiritual master speaking to him in urgency, as if asking him for help or warning him to avert a disaster. But what could he do? Srila Bhaktisiddhanta then said directly to Abhay,
“Amar iccha chila kichu bai karana": “I had a desire to print some books. If you ever get money, print books."
Standing by Radha-Kunda and beholding his spiritual master, Abhay felt the words deeply enter his own life—“If you ever get money, print books."