August 2, 1974 : Vrindavana
Satsvarupa: When Prabhupada's car pulled up at the ISKCON property in Ramana-reti, a group of devotees greeted him with kirtana and flowers. Some twenty-five devotees from temples around the world had already gathered for the grand opening celebration, and along with the Vrindavan devotees, they crowded happily around Srila Prabhupada. "What is this?" Prabhupada demanded as he toured the construction site. "There is nothing here. Where is the temple? You told me the temple was finished." Prabhupada was furious. "How can you open this?"
"Stop them immediately!" Prabhupada said. "There will be no opening!"
"Srila Prabhupada," Surabhi said, "the doors are not ready. They are still cutting the wood." Prabhupada inquired about the Deities from Yamuna, who explained that Their paraphernalia had been purchased but that the thrones were not ready.
Prabhupada was silent, looking displeased. Surabhi spoke up. "It will take six months, actually seven months." Then Prabhupada chose the day of Rama-navami, in April; the opening could coincide with the annual gathering of devotees in Mayapur and Vrindavan. Ultimately, Prabhupada's anger with his disciples was incidental, the reaction due them for their foolishness. It was also a way of instructing them and testing them. But deeper was Prabhupada's transcendental impatience and frustration that his devotional service in Vrindavan was still not manifested.
"Stop them immediately!" Prabhupada said. "There will be no opening!"
"Srila Prabhupada," Surabhi said, "the doors are not ready. They are still cutting the wood." Prabhupada inquired about the Deities from Yamuna, who explained that Their paraphernalia had been purchased but that the thrones were not ready.
Prabhupada was silent, looking displeased. Surabhi spoke up. "It will take six months, actually seven months." Then Prabhupada chose the day of Rama-navami, in April; the opening could coincide with the annual gathering of devotees in Mayapur and Vrindavan. Ultimately, Prabhupada's anger with his disciples was incidental, the reaction due them for their foolishness. It was also a way of instructing them and testing them. But deeper was Prabhupada's transcendental impatience and frustration that his devotional service in Vrindavan was still not manifested.
Reference: Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta Volume 5 - Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami
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