March 22, 1976 : Birnagar
Srila Prabhupada visits the ashrama of Srila Lalita Prasad, the brother of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.
As the last remaining son of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, he is very old. His ashrama consists of a small temple and a few red-brick dwellings, none of which are well maintained. Prabhupada talked for some time with him and some of his management committee. They discussed the plans he had for development of Srila Bhaktivinoda's birth site. Nothing conclusive was arrived at with regard to their giving some land or even a lease on the property.
Achyutananda: He looked exactly like their father, Bhaktivinode Thakur. In his house I saw some of the hand written books written by Bhaktivinode Thakur. At that time Prabhupada was living in Bhaktivinode Thakur's birthplace in Birnagar. Prabhupada said, "We will take care of you. We will develop this place. It will be an international center." Lalita Prasad said, "Yes, but I must be guru. You must step down and I must be acharya." Prabhupada said, "Okay," and we left. Prabhupada then looked at me and said, "I didn't believe it, that even after giving up lust, desire for prestige lingers on even to the end." When I asked him, "What broke up the Gaudiya Matha?" Prabhupada said, "They were always worried who was going to give initiation. They couldn't wait a few years until a guru manifested?" He said, "My god-brothers were fighting over material properties and money."
As the last remaining son of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, he is very old. His ashrama consists of a small temple and a few red-brick dwellings, none of which are well maintained. Prabhupada talked for some time with him and some of his management committee. They discussed the plans he had for development of Srila Bhaktivinoda's birth site. Nothing conclusive was arrived at with regard to their giving some land or even a lease on the property.
Achyutananda: He looked exactly like their father, Bhaktivinode Thakur. In his house I saw some of the hand written books written by Bhaktivinode Thakur. At that time Prabhupada was living in Bhaktivinode Thakur's birthplace in Birnagar. Prabhupada said, "We will take care of you. We will develop this place. It will be an international center." Lalita Prasad said, "Yes, but I must be guru. You must step down and I must be acharya." Prabhupada said, "Okay," and we left. Prabhupada then looked at me and said, "I didn't believe it, that even after giving up lust, desire for prestige lingers on even to the end." When I asked him, "What broke up the Gaudiya Matha?" Prabhupada said, "They were always worried who was going to give initiation. They couldn't wait a few years until a guru manifested?" He said, "My god-brothers were fighting over material properties and money."
Reference: A Transcendental Diary Volume 1 - Hari Sauri Dasa & Srila Prabhupada Remembrances - Siddhanta Dasa
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