February 18, 1975 : Caracas
Satsvarupa: It was late at night. For years the devotees had been hoping Prabhupada would visit. Every year they heard he was coming, but every year he didn't. But now he had come. In the temple conchshells sounded, and the kirtana was uproarious. Because of the government restrictions, the devotees had not publicized Prabhupada's arrival, which didn't seem to matter, since the temple was more crowded than ever before, with dozens of guests, a reporter and a television news crew with bright floodlights and cameras.
The devotees, many of them from other countries in South America and the guests, friends, seekers, and the curious, filled every inch of floor space. As Srila Prabhupada sat, he beheld the two golden forms of the Gaura-Nitai Deities and spoke of Their mercy. "You are very fortunate," he said, "These two Prabhus, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu, are present with us tonight." Seeing so many devotees and seeing Gaura-Nitai, presiding from Their simple altar, he was most impressed and moved by Their mercy. They had come to this distant place, Venezuela, and Prabhupada was deeply touched at how They had extended Their mercy to the whole world. Tears glided down his cheeks, and his voice broke.
The devotees became wonderstruck, appreciating Prabhupada's vision of the two Deities on the altar. Prabhupada wasn't thinking that he was in South America with some Spanish-speaking people, but he was seeing his beloved Lords and feeling how They were delivering love of God to the fallen souls. Seeing Prabhupada's tears and hearing his choked voice, the people themselves became thrilled to behold genuine, transcendental ecstasy. Although the Deity, the temple and the devotees had only become manifest through Prabhupada's preaching, the fact that they were all here, flourishing before he had ever come, moved him to a visible ecstasy of love as the servant of the Lord. He was awed by the potency of Gaura-Nitai.
The devotees, many of them from other countries in South America and the guests, friends, seekers, and the curious, filled every inch of floor space. As Srila Prabhupada sat, he beheld the two golden forms of the Gaura-Nitai Deities and spoke of Their mercy. "You are very fortunate," he said, "These two Prabhus, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu, are present with us tonight." Seeing so many devotees and seeing Gaura-Nitai, presiding from Their simple altar, he was most impressed and moved by Their mercy. They had come to this distant place, Venezuela, and Prabhupada was deeply touched at how They had extended Their mercy to the whole world. Tears glided down his cheeks, and his voice broke.
The devotees became wonderstruck, appreciating Prabhupada's vision of the two Deities on the altar. Prabhupada wasn't thinking that he was in South America with some Spanish-speaking people, but he was seeing his beloved Lords and feeling how They were delivering love of God to the fallen souls. Seeing Prabhupada's tears and hearing his choked voice, the people themselves became thrilled to behold genuine, transcendental ecstasy. Although the Deity, the temple and the devotees had only become manifest through Prabhupada's preaching, the fact that they were all here, flourishing before he had ever come, moved him to a visible ecstasy of love as the servant of the Lord. He was awed by the potency of Gaura-Nitai.
Reference: Prabhupada-lila - Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami
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