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November 23, 2001 VNN6981 Comment on this story
New York City Mayor Dedicates Srila Prabhupada Memorial
BY BRAHMABHUTA DASA, NEW YORK IRM
 NEW YORK, USA, Nov 23 (VNN) — On November 18th 2001, on Srila Prabhupada's Disappearance Day, a landmark event in the history of Vaisnavism took place.
35 years after Srila Prabhupada began the Hare Krishna Movement by chanting under a tree in Tompkins Square Park, New York, this historic fact was officially recognised by the city of New York at a ceremony in Tompkins Square Park organised by the New York IRM center. New York City officials, IRM devotees and members of the public officially honoured Srila Prabhupada with the installation of a permanent historical plaque commemorating him at his tree in Tompkins Square Park. The text of the plaque is as follows:
HARE KRISHNA TREE
Tompkins Square Park
One of Tompkins Square Park's most prominent features is its collection of venerable American elm (Ulmus americana) trees. One elm in particular, located next to the semi-circular  arrangement of benches in the park's center, is important to adherents of the Hare Krishna religion. After coming to the United States in September, 1965, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977), the Indian spiritual leader, founded the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in New York. He worked from a storefront on nearby Second Avenue that he used as the Society's American headquarters. Prabhupada and his disciples gathered in Tompkins Square Park in the fall of 1966 to introduce the East Village to the group's distinctive 16-word mantra:
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
On October 9, 1966, Prabhupada and his followers sat beneath this tree and held the first outdoor chanting session outside of India. Participants chanted for two hours as they danced and played cymbals, tambourines, and other percussive instruments; the event is recognized as the founding of the Hare Krishna religion in the United States. Prabhupada's diverse group that day included Beat poet Allen Ginsberg (1926-1997). Krishna adherents continue to return to the tree to acknowledge its significance.
American elm trees are known for their towering canopies, which provide abundant shade through spring, summer, and fall. It is rare today to find such a collection of American elms, since many of the mature elms planted across the country have been killed by Dutch Elm Disease. This incurable disease, a fungus carried by bark beetles ( Coleoptera Scolytidae) which colonize on the branches of the elm tree, swept across the United States in the 1930s and remains a threat to the park's collection of elms. Despite having lost at least 34 of the trees, Tompkins Square Park still hosts a large assemblage of elms, which continue to this day to enchant park patrons. The East Village Parks Conservancy, a volunteer group, raises significant private funds for the ongoing care and maintenance of the American elms and other historic trees in Tompkins Square Park.
City Of New York
Parks and Recreation
Rudolph Giuliani, Mayor
Henry J. Stern, Commissioner
October 2001
As can be seen, the memorial has been established under the authority of the now world famous outgoing New York City Mayor, Rudolph Giuliani.
So for thousands of years to come, visitors to this famous park in New York will get to read about Srila Prabhupada, his great contribution to the world, and the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. The City of New York paid for the full cost of the plaque and installation and will always cover the cost of its maintenance and security.
New York City Commissioner Henry J. Stern came personally as the representative of the city for the joint IRM and New York City installation festival. The plaque was inaugurated by him and local IRM devotee Mother Vani pulled off a large yellow bow ribbon that dropped an elegant silken cloth from the plaque. They both gave speeches.
Mother Vani spoke about how Srila Prabhupada was ordered by his spiritual master to spread this great transcendental knowledge to the Western world and the congregational chanting of the Holy Name of Krishna throughout every town and village, and how this was the first place that public congregational chanting took place in the Western world. She commented on how the Hindustan Times compared Srila Prabhupada's tree to the Bhodi Tree. But that actually the Hare Krishna Tree is even far more glorious, in that Srila Prabhupada's tree was the location for the advent of public congregational chanting of the Maha Mantra in the Western world, which is spreading FULL enlightenment to everyone throughout the world.
Commissioner Stern spoke about his love for trees and his desire to protect them. He compared them to the lion: as the lion is the king of the jungle, the trees are the kings of the plant kingdom. He was very much appreciative that the Hare Krishna Movement as a culture would hold a majestic American elm tree in such a high regard by the loving care Mother Vani gave to it, and its position is to be considered one of the most important sacred places of pilgrimage. He acknowledged other cultures held similar esteem for trees and seemed very approving. He also noted with pleasure that Srila Prabhupada was a friend of Allen Ginsberg, since he was a close friend of Allen's as well and included Allen on all of his committees because he liked him.
The Commissioner stated that he enjoyed his association with the devotees very much and happily noted that he thought he would be working with us for a long time.
Before he gave his speech Commissioner Stern chatted with the devotees and posed for pictures for about a half hour, which were taken by our resident IRM photographer, Bhakta Subji. He was curious to know more about who Srila Prabhupada is and the devotees answered his questions. Mother Vani gave him a first edition of Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Madhusudana Prabhu had also set up a wonderful book table by the tree in question, and distributed many of Srila Prabhupada's literatures to all the guests who attended the ceremony. He also showed the Commissioner the original picture of Srila Prabhupada under the tree in question taken in 1966. He also gave him a maha garland that was offered to Srila Prabhupada. In fact one of our members, Mother Katie, had come all the way from Connecticut to bring gorgeous huge garlands for the tree and Srila Prabhupada.
New York IRM Founding member Arthur (Bliss) Googy prabhu, former drummer for the renowned rock group 'The Misfits', also gave Commissioner Stern a Higher Taste vegetarian cookbook. Commissioner Stern's eyes lit up and said he loved this food and asked,Where is your restaurant? He had taken prasadam before and loved it. He laughed with delight when we told him that Srila Prabhupada called Krishna Consciousness the kitchen religion. We invited him to our regular Sunday Feast and Jayananda dasa (lead singer of another famous rock band - the Cro-Mags) told him soon we would be opening a vegetarian prasadam carry out. Commissioner Stern then said, In that case I better give you my card. He left as the IRM devotees led an uproarious kirtan at Srila Prabhupada's tree. As he left, Commissioner Stern told Mother Vani to please call him and keep in touch.
New York City Commissioner Henry J. Stern should certainly be remembered fondly by all Vaisnavas. Just as Srila Prabhupada said how grateful the devotees should always be of New York High Court Justice John Leahy who declared the Hare Krishna Movement to be a bona fide religion. Of that declaration Srila Prabhupada commented with great satisfaction that: now my mission is a success.
Due to Commissioner Stern, Srila Prabhupada's success is now immortalised with an official monument in New York City, installed on the auspicious and holy event of his Disappearance Day. Surely Srila Prabhupada will be pleased.
After the festival in Tompkins Square Park, one hundred devotees and guests gathered a half a block away at the Sri Sri Radha Govinda Temple on Saint Mark's Place for a maha festival glorifying Srila Prabhupada's Disappearance Day and Govardhan puja. This also included devotees who had come from the ISKCON Brooklyn temple to attend the ceremony, but had just missed it. Visiting ISKCON Bangalore devotee Citranga Caitanya prabhu led a beautiful Damodharastaka bhajan and Bangalore temple vice president Cancalapati dasa gave an ecstatic lecture. Afterwards there was a arotik, kirtan, Srila Prabhupada video and an opulent feast in which Bhakta Avatra dasa's family provided 108 sweet preparations.
We would also like to very humbly and graciously acknowledge Parks Deputy Chief of Operations Officer Margaret Asaro who was Mother Vani's liaison to Commissioner Stern for the two and a half years that Mother Vani worked tirelessly to make her plaque proposal a reality. In the Bhagavad-Gita Lord Krishna states:
"But those who worship Me with devotion, meditating on My transcendental form --- to them I carry what they lack and preserve what they have" (Bg 9:22)
Lord Krishna as Paramatma (Supersoul) in the heart certainly utilised Margaret Asaro as His miracle maker when Mother Vani needed one to get the plaque installed. (Please see our earlier IRM newsletter, no. 29 -"City Of New York to Honour Srila Prabhupada" - in which we detailed Mother Vani's fight to have the City of New York officially honour Srila Prabhupada). It was Margaret who arranged for the IRM to get an official acknowledgement letter from the City regarding the installation of the plaque. The text of this letter is as follows:
Arsenal West
16 West 61st Street
New York, New York 10023
Adrian Benepe
Borough Commissioner
November 12, 2001
Vani devi dasi
c/o B. Oshuns
224 E. IOth St. #4
New York, NY 10003
Dear Vani devi dasi:
We are pleased to inform you that a historical sign commemorating the American elm tree under which the spiritual master of the Hare Krishna Movement, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, started the Hare Krishna Movement has been fabricated and is ready to be installed in Tompkins Square Park.
Thank you for your assistance and cooperation in the historical research of the tree and for your help in caring for the tree and the area that surrounds it. The historical plaque will be hung in the park prior to your unveiling ceremony on Sunday, November 18 when you and members of your temple will gather to view the plaque.
Sincerely,
Adrian Benepe
We would also like to thank our dear friend Harry Greenberg, Tompkins Square Park Manager, without whose advice and willingness to help, none of this would have been possible. Also thanks goes to all the devotees who helped us in starting the Manhattan IRM Temple. It was only after the IRM temple became established in New York that Mother Vani was able to make her dream of glorifying Srila Prabhupada come true. Only then did she get the necessary encouragement and advice to convince the City to honour Srila Prabhupada. Even after the plaque was approved, a year went by with the city constantly delaying its installation. The IRM's success in getting a major Indian newspaper, The Hindustan Times, to run a front page story of Mother Vani's successful proposal to the city, was crucially influential in Mother Vani's preaching to get the Park Commissioners office to finally actually install it.
The mood of the whole event is summarised perfectly by Jayananda Das, as above-mentioned lead singer of legendary hardcore rock band the Cro-mags, who was one of the main movers behind getting the IRM temple in Manhattan established. He said that:
"The success of this event in glorifying Srila Prabhupada came about because of one factor only. And that was the world-wide co-operation of the IRM devotees putting only Srila Prabhupada in the center as the Guru. That is why today, on Srila Prabhupada's Disappearance Day, we have been successful at establishing this much needed and fitting memorial to Srila Prabhupada where so many others have failed in the last 24 years. And though today may be the day that Srila Prabhupada physically disappeared from our vision, this memorial establishes that his spiritual legacy continues,and is now permanently honoured for generations to come".
Jayananda Prabhu states that since the plaque was put up he has been to the park every few hours just to see it again and again, and he still cannot believe that it is actually there, and still needs to rub his eyes. He also makes a point of taking his many friends and associates there to see the plaque.
This historical plaque installation is due to the sincere devotion of one devotee to her spiritual master, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, whom she never personally met. And it has been less than ten years since she even became a devotee. Mother Vani hears Srila Prabhupada every day, and every day reads his books. Through the association of the pure devotee's vani (transcendental instructions) she has happily surrendered her life to Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya's mission. For several years now Mother Vani has swept the cobblestones around the tree and has always preached the glories of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna to the people she meets at this majestic elm tree in Tompkins Square Park. Lord Krishna has now taken that devotion and immortalised it for the benefit of all humanity.
All glories to Mother Vani devi dasi's devotion to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Sri Krishna. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Commissioner Stern had specifically brought an archivist reporter and photographer with him to this event because even the City of New York considers this event so historic that they intend to officially record it in the New York City Municipal Archives. So as well as being honoured by this memorial in the plaque, Srila Prabhupada's contribution to the world will also now be officially preserved for posterity by the City records due to their archiving this landmark event.
We have attached a picture of the plaque with this newsletter, and we will soon be posting up the many more pictures which were taken at this amazing event on our website as soon as they are properly developed. We will soon be dedicating a portion of our website to a special New York IRM Photo Library, which you will find at: http://farsight.members.beeb.net or http://come.to/irm.
Thank you.
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