First Indian disciple in the West

Paramadvaiti Swami: When I went to London to see Srila Prabhupada, we were all invited one day to come to an Indian man's home. He was a disciple of Srila Prabhupada. For us to join Srila Prabhupada anywhere was our dream and brought us great happiness. So we piled into the vans, in whatever way we could cram ourselves in, and set out. Finally, we reached the house in London.

The only thing I remember was that Prabhupada made a festival that day for the Deities of Radha Govindaji in this house. I distinctly remember the face of this Indian gentleman because he told me he was Srila Prabhupada's first Indian disciple in the West: Kshirodaksayi Vishnu dasa.

At that time I couldn't have imagined that I, by the grace of Srila Prabhupada, would give sannyasa to him many years later. This disciple of Srila Prabhupada later made a very beautiful temple for Srila Prabhupada in Vrindavana, the Goloka dhama Radha Rasabihari Mandir. He had a very intimate relationship with Srila Prabhupada. Shortly after our visit to his house in London, he went with Srila Prabhupada to India where he became the first temple president of the Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir. Furthermore, he was also instrumental in preaching and printing books in India. So I made his acquaintance at that time, even though many years later I really got to know him and his desire to serve Srila Prabhupada as a sannyasi. I was even able to take him on a preaching tour all over South America where he reminded the devotees very much of Srila Prabhupada himself. His heart was melting in the ecstasy of preaching and by seeing the enthusiastic devotees all over the South American continent. He also came to join our festivals in Europe, then known as Kshirodaksayi Bhaktivedanta Vishnu Maharaja.