The Sankirtan Movement and Srila Prabhupada’s Poisoning

The Sankirtan Movement and Srila Prabhupada’s Poisoning
Hints from the Srimad Bhagavatam:

TEXT 36
tayor asurayor adya
tejasā yamayor hi vaḥ
ākṣiptaṁ teja etarhi
bhagavāṁs tad vidhitsati

SYNONYMS
tayoḥ—of them; asurayoḥ—of the two asuras; adya—today; tejasā—by the prowess; yamayoḥ—of the twins; hi—certainly; vaḥ—of all you demigods; ākṣiptam—agitated; tejaḥ—power; etarhi—thus certainly; bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tat—that; vidhitsati—desires to do.

TRANSLATION
It is the prowess of these twin asuras [demons] that has disturbed you, for it has minimized your power. There is no remedy within my power, however, for it is the Lord Himself who desires to do all this.

PURPORT
Although Hiraṇyakaśipu and Hiraṇyākṣa, formerly Jaya and Vijaya, became asuras, the demigods of this material world could not control them, and therefore Lord Brahmā said that neither he nor all the demigods could counteract the disturbance they created. They came within the material world by the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and He alone could counteract such disturbances. In other words, although Jaya and Vijaya assumed the bodies of asuras, they remained more powerful than anyone, thus proving that the Supreme Personality of Godhead desired to fight because the fighting spirit is also within Him. He is the original in everything, but when He desires to fight He must fight with a devotee. Therefore by His desire only were Jaya and Vijaya cursed by the Kumāras. The Lord ordered the gatekeepers to go down to the material world to become His enemies so that He could fight with them and His fighting desires would be satisfied by the service of His personal devotees.

Brahmā showed the demigods that the situation created by the darkness, for which they were disturbed, was the desire of the Supreme Lord. He wanted to show that even though these two attendants were coming in the forms of demons, they were very powerful, greater than the demigods, who could not control them. No one can surpass the acts of the Supreme Lord. The demigods were also advised not to try to counteract this incident, because it was ordered by the Lord. Similarly, anyone who is ordered by the Lord to perform some action in this material world, especially preaching His glories, cannot be counteracted by anyone; the will of the Lord is executed under all circumstances. (SB/3/16/36)

TEXT 37
viśvasya yaḥ sthiti-layodbhava-hetur ādyo
yogeśvarair api duratyaya-yogamāyaḥ
kṣemaṁ vidhāsyati sa no bhagavāṁs tryadhīśas
tatrāsmadīya-vimṛśena kiyān ihārthaḥ

SYNONYMS
viśvasya—of the universe; yaḥ—who; sthiti—maintenance; laya—destruction; udbhava—creation; hetuḥ—the cause; ādyaḥ—the most ancient person; yoga-īśvaraiḥ—by the masters of yoga; api—even; duratyaya—cannot be easily understood; yoga-māyaḥ—His yogamāyā potency; kṣemam—good; vidhāsyati—will do; saḥ—He; naḥ—of us; bhagavān—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tri-adhīśaḥ—the controller of the three modes of material nature; tatra—there; asmadīya—by our; vimṛśena—deliberation; kiyān—what; iha—on this subject; arthaḥ—purpose.

TRANSLATION
My dear sons, the Lord is the controller of the three modes of nature and is responsible for the creation, preservation and dissolution of the universe. His wonderful creative power, yogamāyā, cannot be easily understood even by the masters of yoga. That most ancient person, the Personality of Godhead, will alone come to our rescue. What purpose can we serve on His behalf by deliberating on the subject?

PURPORT

When something is arranged by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one should not be disturbed by it, even if it appears to be a reverse according to one’s calculations. For example, sometimes we see that a powerful preacher is killed, or sometimes he is put into difficulty, just as Haridāsa Ṭhākura was. He was a great devotee who came into this material world to execute the will of the Lord by preaching the Lord’s glories. But Haridāsa was punished at the hands of the Kazi by being beaten in twenty-two marketplaces. Similarly, Lord Jesus Christ was crucified, and Prahlāda Mahārāja was put through so many tribulations. The Pāṇḍavas, who were direct friends of Kṛṣṇa, lost their kingdom, their wife was insulted, and they had to undergo many severe tribulations. Seeing all these reverses affect devotees, one should not be disturbed; one should simply understand that in these matters there must be some plan of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Bhāgavatam’s conclusion is that a devotee is never disturbed by such reverses. He accepts even reverse conditions as the grace of the Lord. One who continues to serve the Lord even in reverse conditions is assured that he will go back to Godhead, back to the Vaikuṇṭha planets. Lord Brahmā assured the demigods that there was no use in talking about how the disturbing situation of darkness was taking place, since the actual fact was that it was ordered by the Supreme Lord. Brahmā knew this because he was a great devotee; it was possible for him to understand the plan of the Lord. (SB/3/16/37)

Srila Prabhupada: “So as Krishna was attempted to be killed… And Lord Jesus Christ was killed. So they may kill me also.” (Srila Prabhupada, May 3, l976, Honolulu)
Srila Prabhupada: “my only request is , that at the last stage don’t torture me, and put me to death” (from SPC Vol. 36, November 3, 1977 tape recorded Room Conversation)

Srila Prabhupada: Someone says that I’ve been poisoned. It is possible.
Bhakticaru: Someone gave him poison here.
Kaviraja: If he says that, there must definitely be some truth to it.

Srila Prabhupada’s own words, stating that his poisoning is possible, is the strongest possible evidence, since these are the words of the acharya. Such directly revealed evidence is conclusive since it is beyond the four defects. Even supposedly water-tight forensic evidence has to take second place to the words of the acharya. Any sincere disciple of Srila Prabhupada will believe in His words.

Any sincere disciple and follower of Srila Prabhupada will accept His complaint of being poisoned and try to find out the poisoners. Why a guru has to beg his disciples not to torture him to death is another inconceivable question. We only can guess that these so called devious torturing disciples are so bad, as to cause such a horrible statement of the guru, who helplessly has to beg for His life:

Srila Prabhupada: “my only request is , that at the last stage don’t torture me, and put me to death” (from SPC Vol. 36, November 3, 1977 tape recorded Room Conversation)

Prabhupada Risked Everything for Krishna

Note: Srila Prabhupada wasn’t a wishy-washy “it’s all one” type of guru. He was a fighter for Krishna with a divine mission. Prabhupada arrived on the shores of America to challenge the very foundation of a materialistic civilization steeped in sinful activities which he claimed was doomed unless people seriously took to God consciousness or Krishna consciousness. Srila Prabhupada knew the risks, but he fearlessly preached the truth without hesitation or compromise, always depending on Krishna.

“So far I am concerned I always take risk for Krishna. I came here in your country risking my life. And still although I am physically unfit, I am trying to execute the orders of my Guru Maharaja as far as possible. So to take risk for Krishna is very good. You know the history of my starting the society in 1966, it was all risky, and I was alone, but I took it depending on Krishna.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter, February 12, 1968)

“I have come here to fight with these atheists, you see, and we go everywhere. We are fighting with atheists all over the world. So we are meeting so many opposing elements. You see?” (Srila Prabhupada Conversation, Indore, December 13, 1970)

“It may be that government may take action against me because I’m speaking something revolutionary. Yes. But that is the fact.” (Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Stockholm, September 8, 1973)

“They will want to crush down this movement. So this will be up to Him. Kṛṣṇa or Kṛṣṇa’s movement, the same thing. And Kṛṣṇa was attempted to be killed by Kaṁsa class of men and his company, the demons. So it will be there; it is already there. Don’t be disappointed, because that is the meaning that it is successful. Kṛṣṇa’s favor is there, because Kṛṣṇa and Kṛṣṇa’s movement is not different, identical. So as Kṛṣṇa was attempted to be killed, many, many years before He appeared… At eighth child, if the mother produces child yearly, still ten years, eight years before His birth, the mother was to be attempted to be killed. So there may be attempt like that. And Lord Jesus Christ was killed. So they may kill me also.” (Srila Prabhupada Conversation, Honolulu, May 3, 1976)

Devotee: Srila Prabhupada, you said yesterday, or a few days ago, that this movement will go on unimpeded for ten thousand years, so…
Prabhupada: Yes, provided we keep it uncontaminated. You should take this opportunity.
Devotee: So after ten years we have gotten so many devotees and so many houses, so I can’t imagine how big this movement will be after ten thousand years.
Prabhupada: Yes. You’ll get the government.
(Srila Prabhupada Morning Walk, June 11, 1976)

“One politician in U.S.A., he has remarked that ‘This Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is increasing like an epidemic.’ He has said that. ‘And if we do not check it, one day it may take our government.’ He has opined like that. So any intelligent man can know what is the ultimate result. Everyone… Because mass of people, if they take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, then government is yours. That is a fact. And if the Kṛṣṇa consciousness government is there, no meat-eating, no smoking, no illicit sex, so many no’s, the demons will die. That is the position.” (Srila Prabhupada Lecture, Vrindavan, October 6, 1976)

“They are now feeling the weight of this movement. Formerly they thought these people come and go, but now they see we are staying. Now we have set fire. It will go on, it cannot be stopped. You can bring big, big fire brigades but the fire will act. The brainwash books are already there. Even if they stop externally, internally it will go on. Our first class campaign is book distribution. Go house to house. The real fighting is now. Krsna will give you all protection. So, chant Hare Krsna and fight.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter, October 30, 1976)

“One thing has developed now in the Western countries. They are feeling the weight of our movement. Therefore, an attempt is being made to suppress or stop the movement in Europe and America. In America the parents of my disciples are combining together. On account of the Hare Krsna Movement people in the Western countries are being attracted. There is now counter-propaganda by the enemies.

“The idea is, that the rapid advancement of the Hare Krsna Movement has threatened the foundation of Western Civilization. One American politician has remarked in this connection, that the Hare Krsna Movement is spreading like an epidemic. If we do not take steps to stop it, it may one day capture the government. This is a good certification for our success, but the time has come now when we have to meet strong opposition.” (Srila Prabhupada Letter, November 1, 1976)

Devotee: The same thing happened to Jesus. Because so many people would follow him, the government became very…
Prabhupada: Yes. That, what do you call it? Crucified him?
Devotee: Yeah.
Prabhupada: He was becoming very popular. So…

…They have proposed it. That Houston politician, “It is spreading like epidemic.” Hmm? “It is spreading like epidemic. Something must be done. Otherwise one day they’ll capture our government.” That’s a fact. (Srila Prabhupada Conversation, Vrindavan, October 31, 1976)

Prabhupada: They’re feeling the weight, the Western countries. They are opposing means that those who are thoughtful, they are thinking that “If this movement allowed to go on, then our civilization will be finished.” That is their… That… They are right. They are right. If these young men, they go on under my instruction, I shall finish their civilization.

Devotees: Jaya!

Prabhupada: That’s a fact. No meat-eating in Western countries. No intoxication. No illicit sex. No gambling. That means their life is finished. (Srila Prabhupada Conversation, Bombay, January 3, 1977)

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