01/17/98 - 1512

Srila Narayana Maharaja Blesses Fiji

Fiji (VNN) - A report by Sridama Sakha das

We have recently left Fiji, where we stayed for nine days. Of all the places that Srila Narayana Maharaja has visited so far, nowhere have we been so inspired and enthused by the tremendous potential and promise that we saw in the Fiji islands, which is 50% Indian.

Srila Narayana Maharaja arrived in Nadi airport at 6:30 pm. Several Indian families, numbering about thirty people were there to meet him. Because we were not allowed to sing in the airport, as soon as Srila Maharaja's danda was sighted in the distance, Prema Prayojana Prabhu plunged suddenly into a prearranged top-gear kirtan, attempting to give the impression that we had all been singing there for hours, and were finally reaching the long-awaited climax of a tumultuous kirtan.

As our host, Kantilal Punja prabhu drove Srila Narayana Maharaja back to where we were all going to be staying, Lautoka town, he described at length the wonderful places there are to visit in Fiji, which is full of beautiful, tropical scenery. After listening for some time, Srila Maharaja said: "I have not come to Fiji to see anything, to take anything. I have only come to bring something."

When he finally arrived at the Punja's home, a small group of families were waiting to receive him. As he sat down, he asked them all about Fiji, remarking that it was like a mini India.

"Do you have beli flowers here? Do you have cameli or chui flowers? Are there mangos and papayas? Are there jackfruits, bananas or sugar cane? Which kinds of birds there are? Cuckoos are here?" The Fijian devotees happily replied affirmatively to all of his questions but one; there are no peacocks. Fiji has many hills and mountains, and Srila Maharaja said how it reminded him of Govardhana. He also compared the rivers and beautiful palm-fringed white sandy beaches to the Yamuna. In this way, Srila Maharaja thoroughly charmed everybody there. After some period of conversation, Kantilal prabhu, and his wife, Jaya, came forward and performed a foot bathing ceremony, accompanied by the guru vandana prayers.

After this, Srila Narayana Maharaja retired to his room (on the ground floor), and very opulent prasada was served to all of us. This was to set the tone for the rest of our time in Fiji; every day we were served very high class sumptous Indian cooking.

The family (or should I say dynasty) of the Punjas hosted Srila Maharaja and the touring party all the time we were in Fiji. They are very wealthy, and their business empire is second to none on the Fiji isles. The Punja family consists of five brothers, and their own extended families. The oldest brother, of 73 years, is Bhuvan Mohan prabhu, who is a diksha disciple of Srila Prabhupada. The next is Vasudeva prabhu, who is 70, and also a diksha disciple of Srila Prabhupada. After him is Kanti prabhu, who is 62, and who has made most of the arrangements for Srila Narayana Maharaja's and our stay here. His younger brother, Hari, is 60, and the youngest, Jagannath prabhu, who is 55, is the temple president of the Kaliya Krsna ISKCON temple in Lautoka, which is ISKCON's main centre in Fiji. ISKCON has a very well established and respected status there, and this is predominantly thanks to the generosity, patronage and input of the Punja brothers. The Kaliya Krishna Temple, which was the first custom built temple of ISKCON to be erected outside of India, and which was especially designed and requested by Srila Prabhupada, was funded by them. The Punjas also hosted Srila Prabhupada when he came to Fiji.

Two senior ISKCON representatives, Prahladananda Maharaja and Tirtharaja prabhu, the temple president of Brisbane temple had arrived in Fiji just prior to Maharaja's coming. They mobilised certain of the ISKCON devotees to arrange and publicise programmes to take place in exactly the same towns on exactly the same days and times as those preaching programmes which had been arranged for Srila Narayana Maharaja. They even returned back to Australia on the same plane as Maharaja.

Despite their opposition to Maharaja's preaching, attendence to his programmes grew day by day. Srila Maharaja commented humorously: "They are broadcasting my name all over the world at no charge, and everyone is coming." He explained how Rupa Gosvami has told his readers in the Bhakti Rasamrta Sindu not to come to Mathura if they are attached to their families, and worldly life. And, if they come to Mathura, they should not come to Vrindavan. But if they do go to Vrindavan, they must not go to Kesi Ghat. If they do go there, then they must not visit Vamsi Vat, because there beautiful Krsna is standing, in His threefold bending form. Having seen this, they will never be able to return to worldly life. Although Rupa Gosvami appears to be warning us not to go, his real intention is to induce us to do the very opposite. Similarly, Srila Maharaja said, although ISKCON leadership are saying: "Don't go to hear from Narayana Maharaja!" it is having the opposite effect.

Kanti prabhu did a good job in advertising Srila Narayana Maharaja's presence here, thanks to which many people were able to meet him, and hear him speak. We also have Devendranath prabhu to thank as well, for his coming to Fiji originally, and conceiving, coordinating and arranging Srila Maharaja's whole visit there.

On the day of Srila Maharaja's arrival, Friday 2nd January, Kanti's son, Yogeshwar drove Lalita Mohan prabhu and myself to the town of "Ba", where Srila Maharaja was going to be speaking on the evening of the next day. With a stack of flyers each, we began to stick them up all over the town, and give them to shop keepers and pedestrians. People were very appreciative. However, we had a hard time explaining to them why Prahladananda Maharaja had chosen to hold a programme there at the same time!

The next day, Saturday 3rd Jan, Devendranath, his wife Meena, Brajanath, Prema Prayojana, Krsna das, Hari Priya, Deepak, Lalita Mohan, Kisori Mohan and Madhava Pandit prabhus as well as Vrnda, Tunga Vidya and Sudevi didis and myself were all driven up to Ba, in the bus laid on by Kanti prabhu for the duration of our stay, for naga sankirtana. We walked all around the town, Krsna das prabhu charming all with his sweet melodious singing. In the outside market area, a huge crowd of people gathered, and to our surprised delight, began to come forward in a steady stream of ones and twos to give small donations, and take flyers, which we handed out everywhere. As we walked around, we would stop periodically, and Deepak prabhu would declare in a booming voice over our portable loud speaker the time and place where the programmes were going to be held in Fiji. That evening, we all assembled at the "Sanatana Dharma Mandir", which overflowed with guests from outside. A representative of the temple introduced Srila Maharaja, and then went on to speak briefly about Sanatana Dharma. He compared it to a garland, saying that its flowers represented the different Vedic paths, each of which was equally powerful in revealing the truth to a spiritual seeker. After this, Srila Maharaja spoke.

Carrying on from the introduction, he made sanatan dharma the main theme of his lecture. He opened by making the point that if we are to know what sanatan dharma is, we must first understand the meaning of sanatan, which is "eternal". He explained that both the jiva and paramatma are eternal, and that their eternal relationship and the activities of that relationship constitute sanatan dharma. Returning to the example of the garland, he explained that in the garland of sanatan dharma there are five flowers, each representing one of the five rasas in relationship to Sri Krishna. Srila Maharaja then told the story of Astavakra Muni's visit to the royal assembly of Janaka Maharaja. He travelled all the way from the Himalayas, having heard that there was a great assembly of sadhus there to discuss the atma. However, no sooner had he entered, everyone began to laugh uproariously at the sight of his grotesque form. To their amazement, Astavakra Muni began to laugh too. Janaka Maharaja then asked him why he was laughing, to which Astavakra replied that he was not laughing, but crying, because he had made a long journey for nothing. He had thought that he was going to meet with spiritually elevated personalities to discuss the nature of atma, but all that he had found was a convention of shoe makers. Shoe makers are only interested in leather or skin, and, similarly, the so called sadhus there were seeing only his body, and judging him exclusively on his external appearance. They were not able to see the beautiful atma serving Krishna within.

In this way, Srila Maharaja contrasted the difference in consciousness between one in maya and one in sanatana dharma. Srila Maharaja explained how sometimes people raise the objection: "What if everyone takes to bhajan -- what will happen to the world?" His answer was that this is like saying: "what if everyone gives up crime and sinful activities -- all the prisons will become empty!"

Kanti Prabhu told me how much the Indian people in Fiji were greatly appreciating Srila Narayana Maharaja. He could understand them as people, and did not scorn their cultural ways. Although he would explain unequivocally that the love of the brajabasis was greater than that of all the other devotees mentioned in sastra, what to speak of the demigods, he never criticised any of them. The Indians in Fiji worship many different devas, but were relieved not to have to hear from Srila Maharaja, in authoritarian tones: "You can't have any pictures or deities of demigods in your houses! You must be devotees of Krishna. Don't worship Hanuman!" Rather, they became inspired and enlivened instead, as he guided them towards the seva of Radha Krishna, using the power of love rather than force.

Since the Indians in Fiji all speak Hindi, 90% of the bhajans sung by Krsna dasa prabhu were in that language. Like a conductor, Srila Maharaja would masterfully indicate to him with a twitch of his eyebrows, a slight inclination of the head, or a murmured instruction just what, and how to sing. In lilting melodies, and softly vibrating voice, Krsna dasa prabhu seemed to hold our guests under a spell with his beautiful singing. Although they know all these songs, which they now sang with a new relish, they had never before heard them rendered quite so exquisitely. On Sunday morning, our whole party accompanied Srila Narayana Maharaja to the ISKCON temple in Lautoka, the Kaliya Krishna Mandir. At the time that we entered, Prahladananda Maharaja was giving the morning class. He did not offer the vyasasana to Srila Maharaja, offer his pranams to him, or in any way indicate recognition of Srila Maharaja's status as a senior Vaisnava and intimate friend of Srila Prabhupada. Srila Maharaja, followed by his disciples, offered pranams to all of the Deities, Gaura-Nitai, Kaliya-Krishna and Radha-Govinda, and then sat down to hear the class. From the vyasasana, Prahladananda Maharaja declared, among other things, that Srila Prabhupada was a success because he followed the order of his guru, whereas his godbrothers hadn't. He also claimed that Srila Prabhupada had had to establish the ISKCON society without any help from India. He talked about the Gaudiya Math at some length. When the class was finished, one of the local devotees approached Srila Narayana Maharaja, and garlanded him. Prahladananda Maharaja descended from the vyasasana, and indicated Srila Narayana Maharaja towards the Deities. The curtains opened, and, after darsan, the guru vandana prayers were sung to Srila Prabhupada. Srila Maharaja was not asked to offer arati. A short kirtana followed, after which Prahladananda Maharaja briefly showed Srila Maharaja the temple, in a display of friendliness.

When the short tour was over, and Srila Maharaja and his party began to leave, Prahladananda Maharaja took the garland from his own neck, and put it on Srila Narayana Maharaja, whereupon Nabin Krishna prabhu (Srila Maharaja's servant) immediately removed it. After everyone had left, I remained behind with one other godbrother, who wished to ask Prahladananda Maharaja some questions about statements that he had made in that day's class, as well as others previously while in Fiji. Prahladananda Maharaja had claimed that Caitanya Mahaprabhu's primary reason for appearing on this earth was because He wanted to preach, and that the fulfilment of His personal desires were secondary. From this, he reasoned, since Srila Prabhupada had succeeded in preaching so effectively all over the world, it was therefore evident that he had fully understood Caitanya Mahaprabhu's heart, more so than any of his godbrothers, who had therefore failed to serve Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada. On meeting with Prahladananda Maharaja, my godbrother asked him to confirm whether or not he thought that Caitanya Mahaprabhu's primary reason for adventing was to preach, to which Maharaja said that it was.

"Please tell me where that is stated" my godbrother asked.
"In Bhagavad Gita" replied Maharaja. "dharma samsthapanarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge. 'To establish the principles of religion, I Myself appear, millennium after millennium.'"
"Yes" my godbrother replied, "but this sloka is about Krsna, not Caitanya
Mahaprabhu."
"Are you trying to say that Caitanya Mahaprabhu is not the same as Krsna?"
Maharaja asked incredulously.
"Yes!" said my godbrother. "that is exactly what I'm saying, and it is also the statement of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Rupa Gosvami and Srila Prabhupada in his books: 'krsno'nyo yadu sambhuto sa purna so'sty'atah para, vrndavanam parityajya sa kvacin naiva gacchati' "Krsna the son of Vasudeva who is a prince in the Yadu dynasty and the speaker of Bhagavad Gita, is not the Krsna who is the son of Nanda Maharaja because the son of Nanda Maharaja never leaves Vrndavana."

By now, quite a crowd had gathered, all of whom listened intently.
Producing a copy of the Caitanya Caritamrta, adi-lila from his bag, my godbrother said:
"Although you say that Mahaprabhu's main reason for adventing was to preach, the exact opposite is stated many times by Krsna dasa Kaviraja." He flicked open the book, and quoted word for word:
"The Lord came to propagate sankirtana. That is an external purpose as I have already indicated. There is a principal cause for Lord Krsna's appearance. It grows from his own attachment as the foremost enjoyer of loving exchanges."
"Yes" Prahladananda Maharaja answered "but He is God. He both tastes and distributes the love of Srimati Radharani simultaneously."
"Yes Maharaja" said my godbrother, "that may be, but please answer my point."
"Try to listen" said Prahladananda Maharaja. "If you don't hear anything that I'm saying, then how do you expect to be able to understand?"
He then repeated the statement again.
My godbrother then asked:
"Maharaja, are you saying that what Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to taste and
what He came to distribute are one and the same thing?"
"Yes, that's correct" Maharaja replied.
"But Maharaja," said my godbrother, "This is not what our acaryas have commented. They say that Caitanya Mahaprabhu came to taste radha bhava, unnatojvala rasa, and to distribute sva bhakti-sriyam, which is manjari bhava."

"But Caitanya Mahaprabhu exhibited so many different rasas to His different devotees," said Maharaja "for instance in the house of Srivasa Pandit. We may also consider the example of Murari Gupta who is one of Mahaprabhu's eternal devotees, but he could not give up the service of Lord Rama."
"But" my godbrother pointed out, "we are not in Murari Gupta's sampradaya. All the acaryas in our line are following Rupa Goswami, and he came to give manjari bhava. Caitanya Mahaprabhu may have reciprocated with other devotees in different rasas other than madhurya, but our acaryas have never told us to follow them."
"We are also followers of Krsna dasa Kaviraja" retorted Maharaja "and he has described all of these things. Are you saying that you don't follow Krsna dasa Kaviraja?"
When my godbrother tried to point out to him that following Rupa Gosvami did not equate to not following Krsna dasa Kaviraja, Maharaja again chastised him for not listening properly.
My godbrother's last question to him was:
"Is it Vaisnava etiquette to offer your garland to a senior Vaisnava?"
Maharaja replied: "He is like a godbrother, so I did it out of affection."
Then, after reflecting briefly, he added:
"I gave it to him because he didn't have one."

However, we knew that this was not the case, since Srila Maharaja had been garlanded in the temple by one of the local devotees at the beginning of the guru vandana prayers to Srila Prabhupada.

At this point, Prahladananda Maharaja departed in a car, and we went back to talk to the devotees in the temple. They all wanted to know what the debate had been about, so my godbrother told them what Prahladananda Maharaja had said about Caitanya Mahaprabhu's reasons for descending, and then showed them the slokas from the Caitanya Caritamrta. On seeing what was written, they unanimously agreed with my godbrother's argument. As further discussion began to reveal, they were very much misinformed about Srila Narayana Maharaja. We spoke to them at length, showing them in particular our recent publication "Srila Prabhupada's letters from America to Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja". This booklet, consisting of letters never before seen, demonstrates unequivocally the intimacy of their friendship, and the great extent to which Srila Narayana Maharaja assisted Srila Prabhupada in his preaching mission. They asked us many questions, and before we left, we sold a number of books.

Unknown to us, while we had been talking to the devotees in the Kaliya Krsna temple, Srila Narayana Maharaja had been invited for a breakfast programme at Hari Punja's house. To the surprise of everyone in our party, soon after both Prahladananda Maharaja and Tirtharaja prabhu arrived too, also invited by Hari Punja. Prahladananda Maharaja sat down next to Srila Narayana Maharaja, who immediately mentioned the fact that Prahladananda Maharaja had given him the garland from his own body earlier on that morning.

"One thing which I want to say to you" he said in affectionate tones, "is that you may give your garland to a junior Vaisnava, no harm. But if the Vaisnava is senior, then it is not good. For myself, it is not a problem, but for you it may be. Try to learn proper behaviour, and do not commit the same mistake again." Srila Narayana Maharaja then ordered Krsna dasa to lead kirtan, after which he proceeded to explain the history of his relationship with Srila Prabhupada, and the depth and loving nature of that relationship. Looking at Prahladananda Maharaja, he said: "I knew Swamiji before you had even taken birth, and I was serving him before bhakti had entered your life. I will serve with honour even a dog who has served my guru - so why am I not even offered the respect of a Vaisnava's dog?" He also made the point that one cannot separate one's guru from the rest of the parampara, because if one does, then one's so called service will be accepted neither by him nor Krishna. "Guru and Krishna will never keep a connection with a person who dishonours Vaisnavas." He said. He spoke about book distribution, saying that if you only do this, and neglect the progressive stages of bhakti, then the result would not be good.

"There were so many book distributors in the past," he said, "but where are they now? Where is Acyutananda? Where is Bhagavan? Where is Kirtanananda? Are they in jail or in hell?" He told Prahladananda Maharaja that if he was ordered to act in such a way as to cause offence against Vaisnavas, then he should be ready to disregard such orders. Srila Narayana Maharaja also described the reasons for Caitanya Mahaprabhu's descent into this world, as my godbrother and I were surprised to learn later on. He explained that the principal reason for the Lord's advent was to fulfil His personal desires, namely to understand the glories of Srimati Radharani's love, and that His coming to preach was secondary, or external.

Finally, he pointed out to Prahladananda Maharaja that his claim that no-one from India had ever given any help to Srila Prabhupada while he established ISKCON was quite false. He pointed out how he had personally and on an ongoing basis sent Srila Prabhupada many items, including mrdangas, karatals, tilak, Deities and pera (Prabhupada's favourite sweet) by the kilogram. In the course of his twelve years preaching around the world, Srila Prabhupada had also sent Srila Narayana Maharaja between two to three hundred letters. He told Prahladananda Maharaja that he had been the only person to meet Srila Prabhupada at the airport, when he first returned to India. Although all the gosvamis in the Radha Damodara temple had refused to take anything cooked by his disciples, Acyutananda and Kirtanananda, Srila Maharaja had readily accepted whatever they prepared. Before his disappearance, Srila Prabhupada asked him especially to put his transcendental body in samadhi, and to guide his disciples after his departure. Even after this, Srila Maharaja had testified in the Bombay courts on behalf of Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON, when Srila Prabhupada's sons had tried to stage a takeover of ISKCON's assets.

That evening, many more people were present at the programme. My godbrother and I were very warmed and happy to see all the devotees to whom we had talked to that morning present there. Having had their doubts removed by the powerful preaching of my godbrother, they came in a happy and enthusiastic mood. And, after hearing Srila Narayana Maharaja speak, they were completely won over. We were to see them at every other programme for the rest of our stay in Fiji.

In his class, Srila Narayana Maharaja spoke about how Srila Vyasadeva had felt dissatisfied at heart after completing his recitation of all the Vedas. Seeing his unhappiness, Narada Muni, his guru told him: "In some places you have declared Brahma to be the all in all, in others that the devas are the ultimate, and in yet others that Narayana or Visnu are supreme. But you have failed to establish conclusively that Sri Krsna is Bhagavan!"

Srila Vyasadeva replied: "But I have declared this in Brahma Vaivarta Purana." "But you have not said clearly 'krsnas tu bhagavan svayam' Krishna is the source of all incarnations." said Narada. "Nor have you described how He is an ocean of rasa. Have you told how He is defeated in a wrestling match with sridam, and how he and Krsna both jump up appealing to their friends, claiming to be the winner? Although Krsna has been soundly beaten, he claims that because He finished the fight with his nose pointing upwards, that he is actually the victor. Have you told this?" "No" "Have you told how He who is unlimited, and the bestower of liberation becomes bound by the ropes of Yasoda devi's love?" "No." "Then have you told how He declares to the gopis: na paraye'ham niravadya samyujam 'I am unable to repay my debt to you'?" "No." "Then what have you written?" By this exchange between Srila Vyasadeva and Narada Muni, he explained to us, can also be understood that if a sadhaka tries to understand tattva-jnana alone, he will ultimately become frustrated. However, if he hears rasa-katha too, then true satisfaction will begin to arise in his heart.

Srila Maharaja described that, after having killed the wrestlers Canura and Mustika, and Kamsa, Krsna and Balarama still felt restless. Seeing his friend Sridama, Krsna began to wrestle with him, and Balarama began to wrestle with Subal. Incredibly, Krsna lost his fight with Sridama, whereas Balarama managed to defeat Subal -- but not without some difficulty. Krsna's devotees are so powerful.

The next day (Monday 5th) we travelled to Suva, the capital of Fiji, by bus. It was a four and a half hour journey. After finally arriving at Vasudeva Prabhu's home, Srila Narayana Maharaja was very royally received. About twenty guests were there waiting, and Vasudeva prabhu welcomed Srila Narayana Maharaja with joyous enthusiasm. He bathed Srila Maharaja's lotus feet, while Krsna das prabhu sang the guru vandana prayers and kirtan, after which Srila Maharaja spoke for a short time. After this, a very opulent feast was served. Srila Maharaja was shown around Vasudeva's grounds, where Vasudeva has a 10 foot syama tulasi. In fact, such huge tulasi trees are not uncommon in Fiji.

Our ultimate destination in Fiji for that day was at the house of another very wealthy family, that of "Bachubhai Patel". For some reason, our convoy of three vehicles was unable to find it for some time. We practically combed the area where he lives, driving up every little side road until we finally located it. While driving around this scenic area, Srila Narayana Maharaja said to Nabin Prabhu: "Because I was interested to see the grounds at Vasudeva's residence, now Krsna is showing me the whole of Suva!" Nabin Prabhu replied: "Yes, it is just like when Krsna wanted to have an aerial view of Vrndavana. So Yogamaya arranged for Trnavarta the whirlwind demon to come and show it to Him."

Bachubhai's house, when we finally found it, was quite amazing. Designed in a futuristic style, and lavishly decorated, it looked like a film set for a space age movie. His sitting rooms seemed like furniture store showrooms to us, having so many varieties of armchairs and sofas in them. Everything about his house was the epitome of opulence, including the prasada. The programme in Suva was held at the "Tulasi Manas Mandir" and about 200 guests came on the first evening. Srila Maharaja talked mostly about the Ramayana, enthralling everyone. He explained the term from the Rama carita manasa, siya rama maya sab jag jani, which means that nothing has a separate existence from Lord Rama and Sitadevi, "siya rama". As has been wrongly explained in Rama carita manasa, by Gita Press, the owner of which never had a bonafide guru, everything is Sita and Rama. But, Srila Maharaja pointed out, no one thing can be both Siya and Rama. Siya is sakti, and Rama is saktiman. Everything may emanate from Him, but this doesn't mean that everything is one with Him in the absolute sense. To defeat the mayavada analogy of the jiva merging into Brahman with the river "becoming one" with the ocean, Srila Maharaja gave the example of pouring one full glass of water into another. If the water in both glasses is "one" he said, then when we add one to the other, it will not increase in volume. However, in practical terms, this is not what happens. He explained how dhyana is not a process for Kali yuga, and that any so called teacher who propagates this, is just out to make money from the innocent people. Harinama is the yuga dharma for this age, and Nama, the Name of God and Nami, the person to Whom the Name refers are non-different. To illustrate this, Srila Maharaja told the story about a man who had an oil press, which was drawn by an ox. Upon seeing him labouring hard, Narada Muni advised him: "Chant the Name of Lord Rama" to which the man replied that he didn't have the time. "How about when you are passing stool?" said Narada. "You must have time then." Hearing this, the man agreed, and carried out Naradji's instruction. Hearing the Name of his worshipable Lord, Hanumanji immediately went there, but seeing that the man was chanting in a contaminated place became infuriated, and kicked him very hard in the back. After returning to Lord Rama, he was astonished when Rama accused him of kicking Him. "But I did not kick you my Lord!" he exclaimed. "Yes, but you kicked a man who was chanting My Name. Wherever My Name is being uttered, I am also there. Therefore you kicked Me."

Srila Maharaja explained that Rama's separation from Sitadevi was greater and more intense than hers from Him, because He had no-one in whom to confide. Sitadevi, on the other hand, was able to talk to Valmiki. Srila Maharaja told the people: "I have brought something for you from Vrndavana. If you want it, take it, otherwise I will take it back with me." On a lighter note, Srila Maharaja described a recent visit to the bathroom in one of the palatial houses he had been staying. "I entered there, and thought that I was in a bedroom. But when I realised that it was a toilet, I thought that I must have gone to the heavenly planets!"

After having heard Srila Maharaja speak, Vasudeva prabhu was full of appreciation. He declared that although so many swamis have come to Fiji, never had he ever heard anyone speak so forcefully, so elegantly and so humbly. The next day, while in transit to the programme, Vasudeva humbly began to offer his dandavats to Srila Maharaja on the pavement, who lovingly prevented him, as the ground was very wet.

On Wednesday 7th, we drove back to Kanti prabhu's house. In the second half of the day, a huge storm blew into Fiji. This was caused by "Susan" the cyclone, who was travelling very close to the islands. Luckily she didn't pay us a visit, but her influence was certainly felt. Although a programme had been arranged for that day, in Nadi, it was decided that the half hour drive would be too hazardous. Everyone in the neighbourhood put wooden grids, resembling pallets, over their windows, on hooks especially designed for the purpose. There were gale force winds and torrential rain all that night.

The next day, Srila Maharaja gave a short darshan in Kanti's house. Some of the devotees who wished to take initiation from him were there, and had various questions to ask him. Two of them were twin brothers, named Sunil and Anil. Sunil wanted very much to become Srila Maharaja's disciple, but still felt reservations, because he did not feel qualified. Srila Maharaja encouraged him very much, saying that by taking shelter of Krsna, automatically a taste will arise in the heart and increase and increase. In this way all anarthas and material desires will automatically fall away. Slowly moving his arm in a sweeping gesture to indicate all of his initiated disciples in the room he declared:

"I have never told any of them to chant a fixed number of rounds. But I know without fail that all of them will chant one lakh. Because taste is coming more and more, one day they will all come to this point." He went on to explain that in the beginning, a newly initiated disciple may not neccessarily be able to follow very strictly. But, by having taken that step, Sri Guru will empower him from within, and he will be able to rise above all obstacles. Srila Maharaja gave the example that when a woman first marries, she does not immediately serve her husband in every respect. However, as time goes by, she gradually comes to do so. Srila Maharaja then asked Kishori Mohan prabhu and Sudevi didi (a young ex-ISKCON-gurukuli couple) whether they had ever eaten meat or drunk alcohol. When they replied "no", he beamed with approval. "You are so fortunate" he told them. Then, turning to Devendranath prabhu, he asked: "And you -- have you tasted alcohol?" Pausing for a moment, and glancing around, Devendranath prabhu replied sheepishly: "Yes." Everyone laughed.

Meena didi asked Srila Maharaja why it was that Vaisnavas did not eat onions or garlic. Srila Maharaja told her that there is a plant called dhatura, the fruits and leaves of which are traditionally offered to Lord Siva. However, no-one eats it, since it is deadly poisonous. Similarly garlic and onions are also poisonous, as an article in an American magazine last year revealed. Apparently there are 21 differents types of toxin within them. This was one reason. Also, he said, Vaisnavas avoid them because they are tamasic, and increase lust within the heart.

On Srila Maharaja's last day in Fiji, we all accompanied him to Bhuvan Mohan prabhu's house, where he spoke. All of the Punja brothers, "the Pandavas" as they are known, were present, with many of their family members. Srila Maharaja showered affection on them all, joking with each one individually as they came up to offer their pranams to him. Bhuvan Mohan prabhu's daughter, who is a lawyer, was also there. Since she is now past the traditional age of marriage in an Indian family, Srila Maharaja urged her to marry Krsna. "You have to become married to something." he told her. "I have married Krsna, and I am a man -- so how much easier it is for you!"

Later on that day, Srila Narayana Maharaja travelled to the airport, accompanied by the touring party and a number of the Punja family, where fond farewells continued. We all departed eventually, in the early afternoon.