Radhanath Swami

Radhanath Swami - Memories of Srila Prabhupada

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• published: 25 Apr 2013
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When I first arrived in India, I went to the Himalayas and adopted the life of a sadhu. I wore sadhu robes, had a little bag and pot, traveled through the jungles and mountains, and learned from many great rishis, yogis, and sages. Sometimes I lived in jungle caves with yogis, and sometimes I lived in caves alone, practicing meditation. At other times I studies Buddhism in Budhist monasteries. In this way I traveled around India, searching for God-realization. Everyone wanted to initiate me, because to have a foreign disciple was very prestigious for yogis, gurus, and all other spiritual personalities. But I felt that until I found a guru whom I would never leave, I could not accept initiation. At one point I went to Bombay to renew my visa, and as I was walking down the street I saw a big sign saying, HARE KRISHNA FESTIVAL AT CROSS MAIDAN. I went there and met many devotees at a big pandal program. Srila Prabhupada was going to speak later that day, so I stayed, talked with the devotees, and read Prabhupada's books. That night Srila Prabhupada came, sat on his vyasasana in the middle of the stage, and had kirtan with all of the devotees. There must have been more than 15,000 people in the audience. I was an insignificant sadhu with matted hair, a bag, and a pot, standing in the back of this massive crowd. One devotee, Gurudas, went all the way through the crowd and came to me. He took me by the hand and said, "Srila Prabhupada wants you to sit beside him." I said, "How does Srila Prabhupada know me?" Gurudas repeated, "He wants you to sit beside him." We walked through the thousands and thousands of people, and I went on the stage. Srila Prabhupada looked at me, smiled, and indicated that I should sit near him. I sat a few feet away from his vyasasana. Madhudvisa Swami led a beautiful kirtan. All of the devotees had clean, shaven heads and beautiful, clean dhotis and saris. I had river-stained sadhu clothes with holes in them and matted hair down practically to my waist. I was trying to be a sadhu. I thought, "Why has Srila Prabhupada called me here? I am not a good example compared to his devotees." But he smiled upon me graciously and encouraged me. https://www.facebook.com/MemoriesOfSrilaPrabhupada DEFINITIONS: Pandal - a large tent covering Sadhu - a saint, or holy man Vyasasana- the seat of honor offered to the spiritual master Dhoti - the standard Indian men's garment, a simple piece of cloth wrapped around the lower body Sari - the standard Indian woman's garment, a strip of unstitched cloth -- Memories: Anecdotes of a Modern-day Saint (Volume 1, Tape 12, pg. 273 - 274) Memories of Srila Prabhupada - Radhanath Swami Copyright © 2002 Monsoon Media All rights reserved Transcriptions from video interviews conducted and compiled by Siddhanta das. To order your volumes of Memories: Anecdotes of a Modern-Day Saint or Memories: The Video Series, please contact: http://prabhupadamemories.com/