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asirvada-maharaja

In the early morning Srila Prabhupada, Tamal Krishna Maharaja, Harikesa, and I boarded a train heading north to Nellore, a small city in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The local Madras devotees saw us off at the station with a rousing kirtana. The clamor alerted some of the other passengers to Prabhupada's presence, and several men hovered around the carriage, peering in with great interest. 

We shut the door and relaxed in the quiet privacy of the first-class compartment. "First class" is a misnomer, as the compartment was a bit uncomfortable and dirty, with soot from the steam engine speckled throughout. The only advantage was the privacy of the cabin. Still, Prabhupada said he preferred to travel by train rather than plane; there is more room and a satisfyingly sedate pace. We carried with us some fruit and other prasadam for breakfast. After Prabhupada ate, we enjoyed the remnants while he took a little rest, stretching out along the seat, which devotees had covered with clean white sheets. 

Tamal Krishna Maharaja went out to wash and swiftly shut the door behind him. When he came back he sidled through the half-open entry and again quickly shut it. "There are three men hanging around in the corridor hoping to see Prabhupada," he said, answering our quizzical looks. "They'll just come in and ask some nonsense and disturb him, so don't let them in." People in India are often eager to ask for blessings from holy men, but unfortunately they rarely have any serious spiritual intent. There are also many sadhus accustomed to offering such meaningless asirvada, or blessings. Srila Prabhupada refers to this kind of sadhu as an asirvada-maharaja. Usually they give a wave of the hand, a nod, and exchange a few polite words. There is no spiritual discussion, no transmission of knowledge, and no transformation. Yet both parties are satisfied with this giving and receiving of they know not what? 'asirvadas.' From our understanding of Prabhupada's teachings, such intangible exchanges are of no practical value. Naturally, as Prabhupada's servants, we don't like to see his time wasted with such blessing-seekers. 

When Harikesa and I went out of the compartment, the curious men were still there. On our return, despite our obvious reluctance to let them in, they strained to see past us, knowing that if they caught Prabhupada's eye, etiquette would oblige him to let them in. Prabhupada was awake, eye-contact was made, and he instructed us to let them in. The three filed in and sat opposite, smiling and pleased at having evaded the secretaries of someone they knew was a great spiritual leader and holy man. Thus we all sat: we three somewhat irritated by this polite infringement on Prabhupada's precious time, they three ignoring us, eager to have his darsana, and Srila Prabhupada, as always, a warm and cordial host. 

Not at all inconvenienced, Prabhupada received them courteously, asking them a few polite questions: what their names were, where they came from, what they did, and the like. Then he looked directly into their faces and asked, "So, what is it that I can do for you?" "Swamiji, we just wanted to get your blessings." "What is that blessing?" This answer took them by surprise. No one had ever asked them what kind of blessings. Caught off guard, one of them replied, "Well Swamiji, I have this pain in my knee..." We almost groaned out loud and the man, becoming embarrassed, hastily added, "And for our families also..." Strike two. "Ah, and of course we want to do good to others..." As he trailed off into confused silence, Prabhupada indicated his three disciples with shaved heads, sikhas, kurtas, dhotis, and tulasi beads. He told them, "This is my blessing. These boys have given up everything for Krishna's service and to chant Hare Krishna. Are you prepared to accept such a blessing?" At first there was no reply. They were stunned; all kinds of wild thoughts seemed to run through their heads and across their faces. Then, before they could become the beneficiaries of this blessing, they hurriedly stood. One stammered, "Well, actually Swamiji, at the moment we have so many duties with the family and all, this kind of life of a sannyasi, for us it is not possible..." With profuse apologies and many thanks they beat a hasty retreat. We laughed as Prabhupada sat smiling and shook his head. "This is the problem. They simply take a sadhu as some means for avoiding paying the doctor's bill, that's all. Asirvada-maharaja. They are not serious for spiritual life." People have no appreciation of a real mahatma.


Reference: Transcendental Diary Volume 1 by Hari Sauri Dasa





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