700908 - Letter to Hayagriva from Kirtanananda

Sept 8, 1970,

Calcutta

From: Kirtanananda

My Dear Hayagriva,

Please accept my humble obeisances. So glad to get your letter of Sept 1, yesterday, but I have not gotten Ranadhir’s yet.

Last Wed. we went to Mayapur, which in His Divine Grace’s words turned out to be “Maya”pur. His God-brother Shridhar Maharaj, who has a temple there turned out to be another snake—simply envious. So we did not stay very long, only as long as we were forced by the incessant rain. Calcutta was flooded terribly and on our return it took us 12, no not 12, 15 hours to go 80 miles. We sat just outside Calcutta for about six hours. The tracks were flooded and so the electric engine had to be changed for a steam one. So now we are back in Calcutta doing daily Samkirtan. This week Srila Prabhupad has a big news conference about His plans and also a meeting with the Communist leaders.

By the way, you must write to His Divine Grace when you write to me. He asked if there was any letter for Him and when I said no, He asked why not. So when I read your letter to Him, you had fortunately put your obeisances to him (Namah Om) on the top and when He heard it He said “That’s all right.” I don’t know really what He will want you to do, although when I read your alternatives and read the one about staying at New Vrndaban to bring it up to the standard, He said “This is more important.” So you must ask Him directly.

Regarding my own plans I don’t have the slightest idea. Prabhupada just sent “an appeal to the aristocratic families of Calcutta” to the newspapers in which He asked for some houses in which to train up young men (Indian) in Krishna Consciousness. Yesterday, about ten young men, mostly all Communists (Communists here are simply young people who are frustrated with the present situation) came here and were convinced of Krishna Consciousness by Srila Prabhupad. So it appears that there is a good chance for it.

You asked about Achyutananda – I think I mentioned him in my last letter. He is doing nicely. Speaks very good Bengali, and Srila Prabhupad says he preaches very well. Tomorrow he and Jaypataka will be given Sannyas. Actually, I am getting along better with them and Devananda than anyone else.(sounds dangerous!) Srila Prabhupad is looking wonderful. Yesterday I made a feast and he ate so much. He is in good spirits and working very hard. Last night He resumed His dictation for the first time since before the scandal. He still talks a great deal about “politics” and how it ruined Gaudiya Math—He keeps warning us but the false egos are still there much too much. I pray for the day when I can simply surrender at His Holy Lotus Feet.

Your servant,

Kirtanananda Swami

P.S. Dandabats to all my Prabhus at New Vrndaban. New Vrndaban Dham Kee Jai!