by Prabhava dasa (ACBSP)
At that time, our Mayapur gurukula had only around fifteen boys, and that year, in 1975, three American boys joined us. They stayed in my room as I been in ISKCON gurukula already for two years, and among them was Dwarkadish, a boy whom Srila Prabhupada was particularly fond of. I was the strongest among the boys despite my young age (at that time I was only 9 years of age), and our main ashram teacher, Hiranyagarbha Prabhu from Canada, was both strict and kind. A very good teacher, actually.
Those days going to mangala-arati was the main priority no matter what age. They even had one western devotee taking note of attendance standing at the temple gate at 4:30 in the morning. I was always tired due to lack of sleep. But there was no way of getting prasadam if we didn’t go to mangala-arati.
One day, I devised a plan and shared it with Dwarkadish. “Why don’t you three skip mangala arati and get some extra rest?” I suggested. Of course, we had to find a hiding place where no one would check. “Radha Madhava’s garden is perfect to sleep in,” I told them.
The plan worked like a charm. Snuggled in our sleeping bags, we slept soundly there until 8 o’clock—something we hadn’t done in a long time. Feeling refreshed, we quickly took a bath, dressed in our dhotis, applied tilak, and decided to go directly to see Srila Prabhupada.
By the time we arrived, he had just finished his Srimad Bhagavatam class and was chanting japa outside his room on the third floor of the Lotus Building. None of us were stopped by security as we walked up—Dwarkadish in the front and I stayed at the back of everyone, being the youngest and least fluent in English, only knowing one key phrase: “No mangala arati, no prasadam.”
As we paid our obeisances, Dwarkadish explained why we had come. Srila Prabhupada’s eyes widened in surprise. “Oh, no prasadam?” he repeated, his voice full of concern. In that moment, he looked at us with the affection of a loving father. Without hesitation, he called for one of the twin pujaris—Jananivas Prabhu.
Srila Prabhupada gave a direct order: “Feed them breakfast immediately.”
What happened next was overwhelming. Devotees hurried to bring us a feast right where we stood—hot, puffed puris, flavorful potato sabji, poha mixed with vegetables, sweet and fragrant halava, sandesh, and fresh bell fruit juice. We ate sumptuously, tears welling in my eyes as I felt an immense love that no one—not even my own parents—had ever shown me.
After finishing our meal, we expressed our heartfelt gratitude to Srila Prabhupada and left to attend our classes, arriving just in time.