The poet and the Swami

Pradyumna : Hayagriva went to work as an English professor at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Prabhupada wrote and said, "Start a center there and take Pradyumna das brahmachari with you." So Hayagriva and I shared an apartment in Columbus, and we started something called the OSU Yoga Society, which became successful with a lot of student participation. Gradually I rented a house in Columbus, which we turned into a center, and invited Prabhupada to come. He came in May of 1969.

At that time, Allen Ginsberg used to lecture and recite his poetry at universities all over the country. Before the poetry recitation, he'd always chant Hare Krishna for twenty minutes or so. Hayagriva was quite friendly with Allen, so Hayagriva wrote to him, "Will you consider coming to Columbus and doing a joint program with Swami Bhaktivedanta?" Allen agreed, and in May we had a huge event at Ohio State University with the poet and the Swami.

We put big posters up all over with a picture of Ginsberg on one side and Prabhupada on the other, and we rented the biggest auditorium at the university. A massive crowd came. The event was very successful. When Prabhupada got up on the stage to dance, the entire audience got up and danced. It was the most wonderful sight I've ever seen. It was completely spontaneous.