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Jaladuta Dairy - A calm Atlantic crossing

During the voyage, Bhaktivedanta Swami sometimes stood on deck at the ship's rail, watching the ocean and the sky and thinking of Caitanya-caritamrta, Vrindavana-dhama, and the order of his spiritual master to go preach in the West. Mrs. Pandia, the captain's wife, whom Bhaktivedanta Swami considered to be "an intelligent and learned lady," foretold Bhaktivedanta Swami's future. If he were to pass beyond this crisis in his health, she said, it would indicate the good will of Lord Krishna.

The ocean voyage of 1965 was a calm one for the Jaladuta. The captain said that never in his entire career had he seen such a calm Atlantic crossing. Bhaktivedanta Swami replied that the calmness was Lord Krishna's mercy, and Mrs. Pandia asked Bhaktivedanta Swami to come back with them so that they might have another such crossing. Bhaktivedanta Swami wrote in his diary, "If the Atlantic would have shown its usual face, perhaps I would have died. But Lord Krishna has taken charge of the ship."


Reference: Excerpts from Acharya book with illustration by Bhaktisiddhanta Dasa