Start of large scale book distribution

Pragosh : On a morning walk Srila Prabhupada talked about who actually had started book distribution in a big way in America. People were offering different opinions like Keshava, Buddhimanta and Karandhar. Prabhupada stopped. He said, “No, no. Jayananda. Hmmm? Jayananda. He began.”

Jayananda happened to be on that walk and he was in the back and Prabhupada waited for him to come forward. Prabhupada said, “Jayananda.” Jayananda said, “Yes, Prabhupada?” It was classic “Jayananda-Prabhupada rasa”.

Jayananda, who was very tall, looked down lovingly into Prabhupada’s eyes. Prabhupada said, “It was you, wasn’t it? You bought the first printing of Teachings of Lord Chaitanya. Five thousand dollars.”

Jayananda said, “I don’t know, Srila Prabhupada. I don’t know if that was the first.”

Prabhupada said, “Yes, that was the first”, confirming for everyone around.