This document is a report of some of the details that occurred during the last five days of Srila

Prabhupadas presence with us in Vrindavan, India. It is a diary which was written every day in
Vrindavan at that time. It herewith is delivered as it was written down 38 years ago in l977, with no
additions.(Indeed,eventheoriginalwordmisspellingsareincludedastheywerewrittendownatthat
time).
11Novemberl977.
I arrived at the Mandir (from California) at about 9:30 A. M. As soon as possible I entered Srila
Prabhupadasroom.HeislyingonhisbackinhisKingSizedbed,beingmassagedgentlybyhisclose
associates.Thereisakirtaninprogress.SrilaPrabhupadaisincrediblythin,andhishandsandfeet
are swollen. His limbs are supported by pillows. There is a discussion in progress between Srila
Prabhupada and his close disciples. Srila Prabhupada has expressed his wish to go on parikram to
GovardanHill.Uponbeingaskedifhewillrideinaminibus,hisanswerisBullockCart.
(Thisdiscussionisbeingrecordedandisontape,Ibelieve).TamalKrishnaiswritingdownonapad
whatSrilaPrabhupadasdesiresare.SrilaPrabhupadaissoweakthattheonlypartsofhisbodythat
heismovingarethelowerpartsofhisarms,andthenonlybarely.Heatmostpushesagainstacover
slightlyorraisesahandasasignal.Ifhewantstomovealegevenslightly,heaskssomeonetodoit
forhim.Itjustdoesnotseempossibleforapersontobesoemaciated,butthereHeis,ourSpiritual
Master, in His transcendental body that looks thinner than people who have been living under near
starvationconditions.Andinthisunbelievablyweakenedconditionheisproposingtogodowntheroad
20 miles in a bullock cart. What to speak of then circumnambulating the hill, staying overnight, and
thencomingbackthenextday!Eveninthisunbelievablebodilycondition,Heremainsourintrepidand
enthusiaticdevotionallycourageousSpiritualLeader.Hecertainlyisntgoingtoletanykindofbodily
conditionstophimfromgoingtoGovardhanHillforGovardhanPuja.We,ofcourse,areallworried,but
startmakingplansfortheparikram.
12Novemberl977
During the night, at about 1:00 A. M., I reenter the room. Srila Prabhupada is resting. Swarup
Damodara,oneofHispersonalservants,istendingcloselytoSrilaPrabhupada.ShortlyafterIarrive,
Swarup Damodara is relieved by Bavananda Maharaj who helps Srila Prabhupada turn over in bed.
Bavananda begins massaging Srila Prabhupada, and while Srila Prabhupada rests, the room is
completely silent. We chant Japa under our breaths. When Bavananda comes close to help, Srila
Prabhupada asks, Who is it? Later on I find out that some of Srila Prabhupadas associates have

talkedhimoutofgoingontheparikram,andHehasagreedthatwewillgoinstead.Thenightischilly.
TodayisGovardhanPuja,andlateroninthemorningtheTemplewillbedecorated.
Kaviraj(Shastriji,thedoctor)comesinat8:00A.M.HetakesSrilaPrabhupadaspulseandstatesthat
thepulseisperfectlynormalagain.Kavirajsaysthathehasseenmany,manypatients,butneverone
withabodylikeSrilaPrabhupadas.Onedayeverythingwillseemtobeindisorder,butthenextday
everythingwillbeperfectagain.Todaythereisnomorehighbloodpressureeither.Kavirajsaysthat
he will have to go to Jaipur to get the ingredients for a special medicine. He is sure that if Srila
Prabhupadawillcontinuetotakemilk,takethemedicine(whenitbecomesavailable),and(oneother
thingIcouldnthear),thenSrilaPrabhupadawillbewell.
Kirtanstartsquietly,andmostofusleavetheroomwithShastriji.
Atabout3:50P.M.Ireenteredtheroom.Thereareabout10devoteessinginganicekirtanforSrila
Prabhupada. Shortly thereafter, another devotee and I are given a chance to lead the kirtan. He is
playingtheharmonium,andIaccompanyhimwithapairofkaratals.Wesingcontinuouslyuntil7:00
P.M.DuringthistimeSrilaPrabhupadaaskstobeseatedupinbed!!!Henotonlysitsupinbed,but
alsoacceptsaportionofchoodynoodles!Hechewsjustalittlebitofit,and,afterheisdone,Upendra
carefully distributes to us that which is left on the plate. Needless to say, the devotees in the room
wastenotimeinhonoringtheMahaPrasadthathascomerightofftheplateofthepuredevotee!Srila
Prabhupadaisalwaysgivingtous,nomatterwhathisapparentcondition.
Sunday,13November,1977.
Upon entering the room at 1:00 A.M., I prostrate myself near the bed, and offer obeisances to our
Spiritual Master. The room is completely silent except for two sounds: the very faint sound of Srila
Prabhupadas breath as he sleeps and the slight rustle of Bavanandas beads as he chants silently.
Therearefourofusintheroom:SrilaPrabhupad,BavanandaMaharaj,Giriraj,andmyself.Itakethe
opportunitytochantsilently.SrilaPrabhupadasleepswellforawhile,butthenheawakens.Hebegins
to have more trouble with his body. Bavananda does everything that he can rearranging pillows,
massaging,movingSrilaPrabhupada,changingtheblankets,butnomatterwhat,SrilaPrabhupadais
still not doing well at all. Bavananda gives the order to go wake up Upendra. Upendra is here in no
time and takes care of things nicely enough that Srila Prabhupada calms down and goes back to
sleep.Hesleepswellfrom2:00to3:00A.M.Thenhewakesupagain.Forawhileheiscold,butthen
thequiltwhichisputonistooheavy,andHeasksthatitberemoved.Heevenpushesstronglyagainst
it. His left leg is in pain, and he asks to be helped to pass urine. Things go from bad to worse. He
insists that all covers stay off. We get Upendra up again, but then, in addition, we have to rush for
Shastrijiandgethimuptoo.
Therearemoredevoteesintheroomnowtoo,sincemanyarenowgettingupearlyinordertochant
someroundsbeforemongalaaroti.Inthemiddleofallthisaction,SrilaPrabhupadaeruptswithavery
loudanddistinctHareKrishna.Atthat,Bavanandastartstochantoutloud,butduetotheattention
that he is giving Srila Prabhupada, he stops chanting a few minutes later in order to concentrate on
whatheisdoingforSrilaPrabhupada.Atthattime,SrilaPrabhupadaagaineruptswithHareKrishna!
and Bavananda chants even louder. Five minutes later, another Hare Krishna! from Srila
Prabhupada, and at that point Upendra turns around to us and says, You may all chant japa out
loud. Kaviraj takes the pulse, looks over Srila Prabhupada, and then leaves. Srila Prabhupada
becomesalittlequieter.Ileftat4:15A.M.
At 6:45 A.M. I reentered the room. About 20 devotees are being led in a nice kirtan by Satswarup
Maharaj. Srila Prabhupada is now worse. Now he has a cold, too. Now a cold on top of everything
else.SrilaPrabhupadassisterarrives,dressedallinwhite,andgoestotheheadofthebedtoseeher
brother.Shereachesoutherhandtogivehimalong,consolingtouch.Shethenproceedstothefoot
ofthebed,reachesunderthecovers,andtoucheshisfeetbeforesheleaves.Atabout8:30A.M.Ileft
theroom.

Atabout9:00P.M.IreenteredSrilaPrabhupadasroom.Thereareabout15to20devoteesgathered
around the bed including Kaviraj and another elderly gentleman friend of Srila Prabhupada. Srila
Prabhupadaisbeingmassagedononelegwithlookslikeanoilofsomekind,andacompressisbeing
appliedtotheotherleg.Hedoesntseemtobedoingwellatall.Manydevoteesarestayingandnot
leaving to take rest. At about 10:30 P.M. He begins to sleep very well. He is on his left side and
sleeping silently. By 11:00 P.M. there are only four disciples left in the room: Swarup Damodara,
Jagadisha Prabhu, a bramachari (who is reading under a lamp in the corner), and myself. Swarup
Damodara is sitting quietly in the corner keeping an eye on Gurudev Jagadish is seated quietly
againstthewallthebramacariisreadingIamchantingHareKrishna.Atthispoint,theonlysoundin
theroomisAnantacharyawhisperingtheHareKrishnaMantra.
Thenightisgettingcoldoutside,andSwarupDamodarawantstostopacolddraftwhichiscomingin
onSrilaPrabhupadabywayofaFrenchwindownearthebedbutitwontclose.SoIgooutsideand
pushwhileSwarupDamodarapushesfromtheinside.Somehoworotherwemanagetogetitclosed
withoutwakingupGurudev.
Lateron,at11:40P.M.,SrilaPrabhupadaawakesandaskstoberolledfromhisleftsideontohisback.
SwarupDamodarahelpshimrollovertoHisback,thengivesHimhismedicine,andthenfixeshimup
withtheurinal.WhileHeisbeingmovedtohisback,SrilaPrabhupadasfeetbecomeuncovered,soI
gooverandtuckinGurudevslotusfeetundertheblankets.
Monday,14November,l977.
Itisnow12:15A.M.Gurudevisstillsleepingsoundly.Bavanandashowsuppromplyat1:00A.M.,and
hetakesuphisvigilinthechairbythefootofthebed.AtthispointItaketheopportunitytoalsogo
overclosetothebedsothatIcanbeclosertoSrilaPrabhupadawhileIchanttheMahaMantravery
softly.ForthenexthourandahalfIstandrightthere,nexttoGurudev,lookingathislovelyheadand
face.Heisrestingsonicely,andforthathourandahalf,Icantseeanythingelse.Istandinonespot
and meditate upon his lotus face and head. Bavananda gets up and goes over to sit by the far wall
withsomeotherdevoteeswhohavenowbeguntoarriveintheearlymorninghours.(Itisnowabout
2:00A.M.)SosomehoworotherIamaloneatthebedwithGurudevasIchantsoftlyforHim.Littledo
we suspect that this will be the last night that we will be able to be with our spiritual master by his
bedside.
Itisnowabout2:30A.M.and,insofarastherearemoredevoteesintheroomtokeepSrilaPrabhupad
Company,Idepartfromtheroom.
AllGloriestoourinconceivablymercifulandinfinitelywonderfulSpiritualMaster!
Atabout10:15inthemorning,IampassingbythewindowsofSrilaPrabhupadasroomandheara
loudkirtangoingonintheroom.DuetothestrengthofthekirtanIfindmyselfthinkingthatnowSrila
Prabhupada is feeling better, but shortly later one of the devotees tells me that his condition is as
criticalasever.Againatabout12:00noonIpassthewindowsandthekirtanisstillgoodandstrong.
Prasadamtodayisat1:15P.M.,andaswearetakingprasadam,aserverwalksintothecenterofthe
prasadamroomandsays,Idontknowhowmanyofyouhavealreadyheardaboutit,butKavirajhas
saidthatSrilaPrabhupadahasonlyfivemorehoursinhisbody.AtthatannouncementIbegintogulp
downtheremainingprasadamonmyplateandthendoubletimetoSrilaPrabhupasroom.Iamafraid
thattheroomwillbesopackedthatIwillbetoolatetogetinside,butuponarriving,theroomisabout
1/3filledwith25to30devoteeswhoaregatheredclosetothebed,chantingstrongly.
OurSpiritualMasterisinwhatlookslikeacoma:Heisnotmoving:Hisfacialexpressionislikethatof
atrance.Heislyingonhisbackwithhisheadtiltedbackandtotheside.Hislipsareparted,butthere
is no movement, and his eyelids are closed down tightly. Gurudevs bed is a nice large bed. It is
sizeable enough that, even though Gurudev is lying in the middle of it, there is plenty of room for
severaldevoteestositonthebedalongsideofHim.Upendra,BavanandaMaharaj,andotherclose
disciplesofSrilaPrabhupadaareseatedonthebed.Carudas,thepresidentoftheBerkeleyTemple,

is seated on the floor at the foot of the bed, massaging Srila Prabhupada gently. Tears are coming
downhisfaceashegentlystrokesthelegsandfeetofhisSpiritualMaster.
Other devotees are crowding around all sides of the bed, getting as close as they can, and singing
kirtancontinuously.AllSrilaPrabhupadaspersonalservantsareinattendanceandtheyhaveworried
looks on their faces (Bhakta Caru Maharaj, Upendra das, Bavananda Maharaj, Swarup Damodara
das). The room is starting to fill up fast as the word gets around the Mandir about what Kaviraj has
said. Everybody is now pouring into the room to chant for Srila Prabhupada, the brahmacharis,
matajis,childrenfromtheGurukula,Sannyasis,visitors,andeverybody.HamsaduttaMaharajsitsona
cornerofthebeddownbySrilaPrabhupadasfeet,andtakesoverthekirtan.Heleadsthekirtannicely
andkeepsuschantingtherightprayers(PanchaTattvaMahaMantra,HareKrishna,SamsaraDava).
HeasksforaprayerbookandthenleadsusinthecompletesetofGovindamPrayers.
Wedontknowallthewords,ofcourse,butheissingingthem,andthenwealljoininfortherefrain
(Govindam Adi Purusam, Tam aham bajami). The room is now getting stuffy because so many
devoteesarepackedin.Weopenallthedoorsandwindowsandturnonthefans.Morepeoplefrom
outsidetheMandirarenowshowingup.SrilaPrabhupadassisterisalreadyhere,seatedonthefloor
nexttothebed.Forthemanyhourstofollow,shealmostconstantlyremainsclosetohim.Nomatter
whathappensnext,shewilldoherbesttohobblealongtobewithSrilaPrabhupada.SomeofSrila
Prabhupadaselderlyvaishnavafriendsarearrivingandabenchisbroughtinforthemtositon.The
roomisjammed.KirtangoesonwithoutceasingasHamsaduttaleadsusthroughtheafternoonhours.
Theafternoonisfilledwithdevoteescomingandgoingandchanting.SomeoftheelderlyVaishnava
gentlemenlaterondecidetoleave,buttherealfrailshortonestayson,sittingpolitelyonthebench
andquietlychantingjapa.ArealVaishnavagentleman,chantingHareKrishnacontinuously.WillIever,
inthislifetime,beabletoappreciatewhatamercifulprivilegeitistobeallowedtoassociatewiththe
wonderfulVaishnavasinthisroom?
At 5:00 P.M. Kaviraj arrives and proceeds to the bed. The devotees crowd close. In no time he has
searched for Srila Prabhupadas pulse, but then reaches for his stesthoscope. He moves it around
from point to point on Srila Prabhupadas chest and midsection, and then says something to Bhakta
CaraMaharajwithaworriedlook.OnlyahandfulofdevoteescouldactuallyhearwhatKavirajsaid,but
somehoworotherthewordispassedaroundonly3morehours,thatsall.Kavirajasksthatsomeof
Srila Prabhupadas books be placed nicely around his head on the pillows and some pictures of the
Dietiesalsobeplacedonthepillowsattheheadofthebed.
Thebooksareplacednicely,andthedietypicturesarenowleaningagainstthepillowsandbedstead.
Therearealsojapabeadslyingnearhishead.Sohislovelyheadandfaceareframedwithsomeof
hisfavoritetranscendentalparaphernalia.ItissobeautifultoseetheheadofGurudevsurroundedthat
way.
Bynowithassunkintouswhatishappening,andPradyumnaandothershavebegunpreparationsfor
the Samadhi. There is talk of palanquin, fresh saffron cloth, garlands, etc. Hamsadutta looks very
worriedbutkeepsrightongoingwithdedicationanddevotion.SrilaPrabhupadaisnowoccasionally
swallowing with his mouth closed. His breathing is noticeable by the slight rise and fall of the sheet
whichcovershisfrailbody.HeisgivensomekindofliquidbyBhaktaCaru,butIamtoofarawayto
see exactly what it is. From 5:00 to 6:00 P.M. I am appointed guard duty and sit in the vestibule.
Peoplefromthetownarearriving,andIcanttellwhotoletinandwhotokeepout.
EveryoneisextremelydeterminedtoseeSrilaPrabhupadaandbegtopleasebeletintotheroomfor
one last Darshan with him. At 6:00 P.M. I leave guard duty and reenter the room. Now even the
Matajis are crowding right up to the bed in order to be as close as possible to Srila Prabhupad.
ISKCONphotographersarecarefullytakingphotographsandmotionpicturefilms.Asbefore,manyof
usarecrying.AsforBavananda,hiseyesarecontinuouslyfilledwithmoisture.Upendratoo.Weare
allpressingtowardthebedtoseeGurudev.Nowheismotionlessagain.

Kaviraj walks in at about 7:50 and goes to the bed. He bends over for the pulse and we all push
forwardevenmore.Icannotseewhatisgoingon,soIstandonachairinthebackoftheroom,but
stillIcannotseeSrilaPrabhupad.ButIcanseeKaviraj,andinstantlyuponcheckingforthepulsehe
swiftlysaysfinished.He(orTamal?)immediatelygivestheorderforloud,loudchantingoftheHare
KrishnaMahaMantra.WealleruptwiththeHareKrishnaMantrawithanalmosthopelessfrenzy.Now
itreallybeginstosinkintouswhathashappened.Kavirajhassaidthatitsallover.Manyofusstart
sobbing.Therearedevoteesfranticallychanting,crying,sobbing,andbreakingdowncompletely.
One boy goes into a crying convulsion and has to be dragged to a corner where he collapses in
convulsive sobbing. Devotees are crying, sobbing, chanting, and running in every direction. Tamal
orders us to leave the room. I go upstairs to cry alone. The night is filled with close and distant
sobbing,womenwailing,bellsringing,andeventhedogsarebarkingandhowling.
Iwentbackdownstairsabout3/4ofanhourlater.Nomorematajis,children,orvisitorsarepresent.
The devotees in the room are now the saffron clothed ones. Mostly leaders in the Hare Krishna
movement. Kirtan is continuing nicely. Srila Prabhupada has already been clothed nicely in saffron,
garlandsofflowersareplacedonhim,andalovelybouquetofTulasimanjarisislaidacrosshischest.
There is sandlewood pulp covering his forehead and a large tulasi leaf fixed in the middle of his
forehead.
Hisskinhasnowturnedpale,butonelookatthatpowerfulfaceandyouknowthatwhateverarethe
conditions,Heisstilltheboss,stilltheSpiritualMaster.Saffronmaterialisnowcoveringhisform,and
asaffroncoloredswamihatiscoveringhishead.Webringinthepalanquin,andheispickedupfrom
the bed by four or five devotees and placed securely in the seat of the palanquin. Other Vrindavan
Vaishnavasnowcomebackin,ledbyNarayanaMaharaja.
Theypaytheirheartfeltobeisances,andplaceflowergarlandsaroundtheirbelovedfriend.Theyare
clearlymuchaffectedbythedepartureofGurudev,andoffertheirmostreverentobeisancestohim.At
thispointIamcryingalmostallthetime.
Tamal Krishna states the plan for the next couple of hours: The palanquin will now leave for the
Temple Room where Gurudev will see the Dieties and an Arotik. Then a Gurupuja, an offering of
flowers by devotees, and then chanting until the samadhi is ready. The palanquin containing Srila
Prabhupada is lifted, and with strong chanting is carried out of the room. Srila Prabhupada in his
palanquinisthentakenaroundthearoundtheoutsideoftheKrishnaBalaramTemple3times.
Three times around the circumference of the Temple Building with the devotees following and
chanting.Itisajoyous,happykirtan.RoundandroundtheTemplewithSrilaPrabhupada,andthenhe
entersthetempleasourtranscendentalleadertoseethedieties.Firstthepalanquinisplacedinfront
ofGourNitaiwiththedevoteessingingjoyouslyfortheirGurudev.OntoKrishnaBalaram:andthento
RadhaKrishna.Thekirtanisstrongandjubilant.ThenthepalanquinisliftedandSrilaPrabhupadais
takenaroundtheinsideoftheTemple,thenoutside,andthenreentersagainandisplacedbeforethe
KrishnaBalaramDietiesforcontinuedjubilantkirtananddancing.
The devotees are singing and dancing and circumnambulating the palanquin. The devotees circle
closetothepalanquinanddrinkinthenectarofclosedarshanwithSrilaPrabhupada.Wegoaround
many times, circling closely. Now the palanquin is lifted and proceeds to the Vyasasan where both
palanquinandGurudevareplacedrightonandintheVyasasan.Heisinhispalanquinwhichisonthe
bluevelvetasana,withlionfiguresonbothsides.
Gurupuja begins. Omkara dasa does the arotik while Hamsadutta leads us in a riproaring kirtan.
Really riproaring. After the Gurupuja, we prepare for the offering of flowers (marigolds) to Srila
Prabhupada.The first devotees to offer flowers and obeisances to Srila Prabhupada are: His sister
His Vrindavan friends Tama Krishna Maharaj then Upendra Pradyumna, the ISKCON swamis and

Temple Presidents. Some of the Gaudiya Math offer garlands of flowers and decorative spiritual
paraphernalia.WeofferthemarigoldsbycirclingmotionsandthenshowerthemonSrilaPrabhupada.
Then each devotee (after offering his flowers) prostrates himself before the Vyasasan. While this is
goingon,NarayanaMaharajleadsusinavery,verynicekirtan.Heisleadingussovery,verynicely,
andfromhisleadingchant,onecanappreciatehowmuchheisdevotedtoSrilaPrabhupada.Afterthe
menhaveofferedflowersandobeisances,thenthematajisoffer.Attheend,Tamalannouncesthatthe
townspeople of Vrindavan have requested to please let them have darshan once more with Srila
Prabhupada, so now instead of proceding directly to the samadhi, Srila Prabhupada will wait in the
VyasasanaduringthenightandthenproceedtotheseventemplesofVrindavaninthemorning.After
theparikramofVrindavaninthemorning,Hewillreturnforsamadhi.WeareorderedbyTamaltostay
upallnightwithGurudevforcontinuouskirtan.SrilaPrabhupadaisnowbeingfannedbycamarawhile
thekirtangoeson.
ITISNOW12:30A.M,15NOVEMBER1977.
Thekirtangoeson,andthenightimeisbeginningtogetverycold.By1:30A.M.thepopulationinthe
templeroomisbeginningtothinoutandthereareonlyafewofuswhoareactuallydoingkirtan.There
are about 20 to 30 devotees in the temple room, but many are chanting japa. I am beginning to get
tired myself, so I quickly dash upstairs for a cold shower and then dash back to the kirtan. At about
2:00 A.M. the air has become penetratingly cold. Four or five of the younger Indian ISKCON
devoteesandmyselfarenowclusteredtogetherupclosetotheVyasasaninordertokeepthekirtan
goingstrong.
Also up by the Vyasasan are two of the older dedicated Indian devotees who refuse to leave Srila
Prabhupada even though they can hardly stay awake, and no matter how cold it gets.The little frail
one sits motionless in front of the Vyasasan with only a chowda wrapped around his shoulders.
Pradyumnasitswithusandchantsonhisjapabeads.Heislookingquitewornout,butstayswithSrila
Prabhupada.TheIndianISKCONdevoteesleadthekirtanandkeepitgoingnicely.Also,therearea
fewmatajisintherearofthetempleroom,chantingjapa.VirahaPrakashMaharajisnowstandingat
attentionbythesideoftheVyasasansteps.
About3:00A.M.IamaskedtofanSrilaPrabhupadawithoneoftheCamaras.Istepupnexttothe
palanquin at Srila Prabhupadas right side and relish every moment of being able to whisk Srila
Prabhupada.Iamtalkingtohimsilently,andthetearswontstoprollingdownmyface.Itisjustdark
enoughthatthedevotees(Ihope)cannotseethatIamcrying.SrilaPrabhupadaissokindthateven
thoughhefinallydecidestoleaveus,hestillmercifullystayswithusforanextranightsothatwemay
haveonelastchancetoseeHisDivineForm,chantkirtanforhim,andwhiskhimwiththeCamara.By
4:30manyofthedevoteesarebeginningtoreturntothetempleroom.
SrilaPrabhupadassisteralsoreturnsatthistimeandpolitelysitsonthefloornearthevyasasan.She
obviouslywantstositevenclosertoSrilaPrabhupada(onthematsupfrontwithus)butthiscarpetis
filledwithmaledevotees,soshehumblysitsdownovertothesideonthecoldfloor,nexttooneofthe
pillars. At this point the women come forward and offer incense to Srila Prabhupada. At 4:45 I
volunteertowhiskGurudevagain,andtaketheleftsidethistime.HowniceitistobeabletofanHim
duringhislasthourswithus.By5:00A.M.everyoneisback.
Asmongolarotikstartsalittlelater,manydevoteesturntheirbackstoSrilaPrabhupadainordertopay
prostratedobeisancestotheDieties.NarayanaMaharajandhisassociatesremainmotionlessanddo
not budge. In no time at all, Narayana Maharaj is laying it on the line to Gopal Krishna Das, the
devoteesaretostayattheVyasasanfacingSrilaPrabhupada,andthereistobeasimultaneousarotik
for Srila Prabhupada at the Vyasasan while the arotik also goes on for the Dieties. Gopal Krishna
quicklygetseverythingarrangednicely,andanicearotikisheldateachofthethreealtarsplusatthe
Vyasasan.NarayanaMaharajleadsthekirtanandwindsupeverythingwithrepeatedandresounding
JayaGurudevas,oneafteranother.Afterward,therealsoisanarotikforTulasiDevi.

TheParikrambeginsatabout6:45A.M,andthepalanquinisliftedfromtheVyasasanandcarriedto
thecenterofthecourtyardofthetempleroomwherewecircumnambulateSrilaPrabhupadawithmore
chanting, of course. We then proceed through the front gate of the Mandir, down the road to
Vrindavan, and parikram to each of the (7)? Temples of Vrindavan. Narayana Maharaj is arranging
everything nicely, leading the procession, leading the kirtan, and seeing with great attention that
everythinggoesalongperfectlyforourGurudev.NarayanaMaharajisnowconductingtheparikram,
actingonourbehalfasourverycapableleader,andseeingtoitthateverythingisconductednicelyfor
Srila Prabhupada. For the next 6 hours, he is indefatigable, watching everything, and continuously
providing the devoted and competent leadership needed so that all the details of the parikram and
samadhiareexecutedperfectly.
Itcertainlyisquiteanimpressiveprocessionasitmovesalongdowntheroad.Theprocessionactually
consists of two parts. First, there is a large group of devotees consisting of Narayana Maharaj and
most of the Sannyasis (and others, too). This group leads the procession and also leads the strong
kirtan.Thenthereisagapofabout20yardstothenextgroupwhichconsistsofthePalanquinwith
Srila Prabhupada, the palanquin bearers, close attendants, devotees, and others. Immediately
followingthisgrouparethematajis,andthenseveralrickshascarryingSrilaPrabhupadasSisterand
someofthechildrenfromtheGurukul.
There are eleven dandas gliding through the air. When one looks toward the palanquin, he usually
sees Citsukananda bearing the load up front and Vishnu Tattva Das supporting the rear of the
palanquin.Althoughtheyarefromtimetotimetemporarilyrelieved,thesetwoboysareseencarrying
theheavypalanquinformostoftheprocession.Anditisindeedheavy.Someboyswhotrytocarryit
cannotevengetthecarryingbaruptotheirshouldersothatitcanmove,and,asaresult,arenotable
to share in this mercy. For the entire procession, Bavananda Maharaj is inseparable from Srila
Prabhupadasside.
TamalKrishnaisalsothereatthepalanquin,takingpartofthispartoftheprocessionandgivingthe
directions and leadership to the second group of devotees. From time to time the going gets a little
rough.Atthis,thereisanxietywrittenalloverUpendrasface,becausethereisntmuchthathecando
aboutit.Nevertheless,SrilaPrabhupadaandhisdevoteessailthroughthestreetsofVrindavan.The
streetsarelinedwithpeopleshoutingHariBol!HareKrishna!JaiGurudev!.Familiesarecoming
outontherooftopstoseetheprocession,andthetownsfolkofVrindavan,youngandold,arepaying
standing obeisances to Srila Prabhupada. We stop in front of each of the Temples and there are
resoundingJaiGurudevs.
Atonepointontheroad(nottofarfromthemandir)thereisayoungwomanstandingatthesideofthe
roadwatchingtheprocessiongoby.Afterthelastdevoteewalksby,hereyesbegintogetwide,and
theylightupwithamazementandveneration.Shefollowstheprocessiondowntheroadwithhereyes,
and then turns and walks to the center of the road. She bends down, and with hands outstretched,
palmsdown,sherubsherhandsinacircularmotioninthedust.Liftingherhandsshethen,againina
circularmotion,smearsthedustofthelotusfeetoftheVaishnavasalloverhercheeks.Atthatpoint,
witheyesstillaswideaslargecoins,shebeamswithasmile,andwiththatsmileradiatestousthat
sheunderstandsthatitisnoteverydayat7:30inthemorningthatapersongetsachancelikethis!!!!!
Alittlefartherdowntheroad,anotheryoungwoman,dressedinthefinestofexquisitegarments,steps
fromherhouseintothestreetditchinordertoseethepalanquingoby.Whensherecognizeswhoisin
thepalanquin,then,regardlessofthefinerysheiswearing,sheimmediatelybendsherkneesintothe
gutter,bringsherheadandarmstotheground,andpaysobeisancestoSrilaPrabhupada.Howisit
possibletokeepfromcryingwhenoneseesjusthowmuchSrilaPrabhupadaislovedandreveredby
everybody?
We return to the Mandir, and the samadhi begins immediately. Srila Prabhupada has a bathing
ceremony, a change of garments, flower garlands, puja offering, prasadam offering, and is finally
coveredwithsaltandthensand.Itisalengthyandbeautifulceremony,anddoesnotterminateuntil

1:00 P.M. in the afternoon. The temple bell is ringing continuously, and the kirtan goes on without
interruption.Atabout1:00P.M.thesamadhiceremonyends,andthedevoteestakePrasadam.
These pages began as a diary, but somehow or other turned into something like a partial report of
someofthedetailsofthepastfewdays.Inconsequence,eventhoughitisclearthatIamcertainlynot
competent to write about those events, I am begging the mercy of our Gurudev and the Disciplic
Succession to allow me to write down as a diary this little bit of information for those devotees who
werenotabletobewiththeirSpiritualMasterduringhislastdayswithus.Please,SrilaPrabhupada,
forgive my offenses. It is only by your mercy that I can possibly do anything. You have given me so
much,andIhavegivenyousolittle.
NamahOmVishnupadayaKrishnaPresthayabhutale,
SrimateBhaktivedantaSwaminitinamine.
NamasteSaraswatiDeveGauravanipracarine,
Nirvisesasunyavadipascatyadesatarine.
AnantacharyaDas.
KrishnaBalaramMandir,Vrindavan,India.
17November,1977.