As everybody knows, Śrīla Prabhupāda was always protective of his Western disciples.
He very much wanted the Vaiṣṇavas of India to accept his followers as Vaiṣṇava brāhmaṇas, qualified by their sincerity to perform all aspects of Deity-seva, including cooking, offering and serving prasādam.
He regularly alluded to this in letters and other exchanges with them. Śrīla Puri Maharaja humbly recognized our Śrīla Prabhupada’s encouragement.
Years later, he and other godbrothers came to Śrīla Prabhupāda’s bedside at the Kṛṣṇa Balarāma Temple as Prabhupada was preparing to leave this world. There they enjoyed many heartfelt exchanges.
Śrīla Prabhupāda asked his godbrothers in a heartfelt way for forgiveness for any offenses he may have made in the process of his preaching work.
Śrīla Puri Mahārāja responded that Śrīla Prabhupāda hadn’t committed any offense; if anything, it was they who had done so, and he should not worry for this.
Then Śrīla Prabhupāda gently said that he was going soon from this world and asked Śrīla Puri Mahārāja if he would offer him a gift.
Śrīla Puri Mahārāja replied, “Yes, of course, I will give anything.
Śrīla Prabhupāda said that he had very much wanted to perform parikramā of Girirāja Govardhana and Śrī Vraja-maṇḍala, but he was unable to do so.
He also told Śrīla Puri Mahārāja that he remembered when their guru mahārāja, Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Prabhupāda, was leaving this world Śrīla Puri Mahārāja had wanted to sing for him, but had been unable to do so.
Śrīla Prabhupāda then asked Śrīla Puri Mahārāja, “Will you sing for me now? Would you sing ‘Jaya Rādhe, Jaya Kṛṣṇa, Jaya Vṛndāvana’? In this way you can help me perform parikramā.”
Śrīla Puri Mahārāja then sang very sweetly while Śrīla Prabhupāda closed his eyes and listened. Tears were falling from both of their eyes.
After some time Śrīla Prabhupāda opened his eyes and asked if he could now offer from his heart a gift to Śrīla Puri Mahārāja in reciprocation.
Śrīla Puri Mahārāja replied that of course, he would be honored to accept anything from him.
Śrīla Prabhupāda whispered to his disciple who returned after a few minutes with a plate of the mahā-prasādam of Śrī Śrī Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma and Rādhā-Śyāmasundara. With love, Śrīla Prabhupāda had his Western disciple offer Śrīla Puri Mahārāja this gift.
Śrīla Puri Mahārāja accepted Śrīla Prabhupāda’s gift and honored the prasāda, respecting that it had been cooked, offered and served by Śrīla Prabhupada’s Western followers.
Vrindavana | India | October - November 1977
Mūlaprakṛti Dasi | «Our Srila Prabhupada a Friend to all» | p. 25-26
