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Chicago Rathayatra, '75

It was a warm humid summer in Chicago in Evanston at the Hare Krsna Temple, 1975. It was a wonderful temple, with Sri Sri Kishor-Kishori, Gour Nitai, and Lord Jagannatha Swami and his Brother Baladeva, and Their beautiful and sometimes ksatriya-like sister Subhadra devi, resplendent inside.

There were many devotees' vehicles, including the bus party, lining streets all around the mandira. There was to be Rathayatara, initiations including a babaji sannyasa initiation for Audolomi Prabhu, Deity installations, and Srila Prabhupada would lecture on Ajamila from Srimad Bhagavatam.

Srila Prabhupad met Illinois state officials and spoke on the topic of "Crime, What to do", from the Times headlines of the month, and offered them a real solution. He asked for use of buildings, and cooperation. Although the official was respectful and attentive, he seemed fixed to a "non-secular" agenda, or was doubtful of our acceptance by the public or government, or doubted o

Mar 14, 08 MONTREAL, CANADA — A few weeks back the question of devotee omniscience arose, as to whether such was possible, and whether Srila Prabhupada had such.

I recently came across a mention in the Nityananda Caritamrta of Vrndavana Dasa Thakura, as translated by Isvara dasa. Within, it describes how, on their way from Puri to Bengal for preaching, Nityananda Prabhu empowered several close associates with omniscience, as well as the ability to bestow love of God, just as He himself can. The specific word used was omniscience. I am therefore assuming a correct translation.

When we consider the Lord's pastimes, we note that, although Godhead, He pretty much sticks to the immediate surroundings in terms of omniscient dealings, ie., the pastime here and now dominates. So, as is most usual, Krsna primarily acts or reveals to our sensation and best knowledge within the context of the particular location and pastimes.

We know that the jiva is an article of the Absolute: isavasyam idam sarva

About five years devotee now, "I had been engaged in Montreal temple as sometimes sankirtana devotee brahmacari cook and pujari of Jagannatha Swami, Baladeva Prabhuji, and Srimati Subhadra-deviji. Between duties, I was one of the best candle carvers of our temple-purchase business, and earned a smallish stipend which enabled me to head to India after the Christmas rush was over. Montreal was big back then, and we had at least 25 brahmacaris living there at any time. Nandikeswara Prabhu was the president. Knowing what variety was there in India from previous visits, I prayed to Jagannatha Swami to guide me to the service He wanted me to do once I got there.

We were standing atop the apartment / brahmacari quarters at the rear of the property behind the temple, shortly after arriving in Bombay. I was wondering what Krsna had in store for me. Then Bhagavata dasa brahmacari saw me there, and came up beside me with, "Jaya Jagannatha! " He proceeded to explain that they were planning a Rath