SP stroke

The New York temple is blissful with the return of Swamiji, but he sees that they have become weaker during his absence. Their faith is fragile and is only nourished by his direct association and service. Prabhupada pushes himself in order to strengthen them. Soon his health deteriorates due to over-exertion. The San Francisco devotees are in great anxiety to hear this news and stay in close touch with the New York temple. When his condition becomes critical, Prabhupada teaches the devotees a new prayer. Jadurani devi dasi: He taught us the prayers to Lord Nrsimhadeva. He said the words one by one and I wrote them down. I called up the temples in San Francisco and Montreal and told them the prayer. Swamiji said, "You should pray to Krishna that my spiritual master has not yet completed his work, so please let him finish." On May 25 Kirtanananda calls Hayagriva from Beth Israel Hospital. Prabhupada has suffered a stroke and his left side is paralyzed. The devotees in San Francisco should chant all night and pray to Lord Nrsimhadeva. The temple on Frederick Street is overcome by grief. A lot of the devotees break down and cry. Jayananda is particularly distressed. He can't understand why Srila Prabhupada has to undergo such difficulty. After all, he is the pure servant of Krishna, and has only come to America as an act of mercy to uplift the fallen mass of disturbed youth. Everyone gathers together to "summon up a mass consciousness by chanting," to request the help of Krishna to give Prabhupada strength. The news spreads throughout Haight-Ashbury. People crowd into the temple to offer prayers and to join the all-night vigil. The chanting goes on past midnight. One by one the guests begin to leave, but the devotees continue on and on, refusing to succumb to the effects of sleep. They chant through the night, sometimes playing different instruments, sometimes chanting japa, sometimes dancing just to keep from drifting off. The temple is filled with an incessant drone of Hare Krishna. Fourteen hours later, they are finally overcome by fatigue. The news filters in from New York. Swamiji is getting better and is pleased the devotees have prayed and chanted all night. The doctors are impersonal and treat Swamiji like their own property. He says he prefers Ayurvedic treatment. Swami Satcidananda also paid an unexpected visit to the hospital to offer his blessings. The devotees gather in Frederick Street to put their signatures on a letter. Mukunda records the devotees chanting, sri rama jaya rama jaya jaya rama, and sends that off too. On June 5 Prabhupada writes a reply from the hospital. I am so much obliged to you for your prayers to Krishna to save my life. Due to your sincere and ardent prayer, Krishna has saved my life. I was to die on Tuesday certainly, but because you prayed sincerely I am saved. Now I am improving gradually and coming to original condition. Now I can hope to meet you again and chant with you Hare Krishna. ?Letter to Krishna Devi, Subala, Lilavati, Yamuna, Jayananda, Upendra, Malati, Gurudasa, Syamasundara, Haridasa, Mukunda, Janaki, Aunt Edna Howell The letter is read aloud at the evening program and gets posted on the bulletin board. The devotees are relieved and the tension eases. The next day a second letter arrives. Prabhupada thanks the devotees for the bhajan recording and promises to return "as soon as I get a little strength for traveling." He also allays Jayananda's concern why his spiritual master has to suffer heavy illness when his mission is only for the service of God. Also inform Jayananda I have received his letter and the difficulties of life may come as seasonal changes, but we should not be disturbed by all those difficulties. Our process is to chant and that process will gradually clear everything in due course. There is nothing to be disrupted?you should go on with your work with enthusiasm, and everything will be solved. We are on the sound footing of Krishna consciousness. ?Letter to Mukunda, June 6, 1967 Everyone is thrilled and the mood of the temple returns to normal. They have to seriously begin organizing a grand procession for Lord Jagannath. On the morning of June 8 Hayagriva gets a call that Swamiji has been kidnapped from the hospital by Brahmananda and Gargamuni because the hospital authorities were insisting that he needed brain surgery. He is now at a seaside resort in Long Branch, New Jersey. His appetite has returned and he is eating prasadam again. Gaurasundara and Govinda dasi have arrived from San Francisco and are happily taking care of Swamiji.