September 11, 1969 : London

Satsvarupa: Only a few weeks before Prabhupada's arrival the record, "Hare Krishna Mantra," was released. The first day the record sold seventy thousand copies. Within a few weeks, the devotees appeared on the popular TV show Top of the Pops, singing "their song." The stage was set. Lord Krishna's pure devotee was at last coming to England. For the six devotees who had pioneered Krishna consciousness in London, it had been a long struggle. But now it seemed that all their once-impossible dreams were coming true.

With the cooperation of Apple Records and Lufthansa German Airlines, the devotees arranged a reception for Prabhupada at London's Heathrow Airport. Inside the terminal, Prabhupada confronted a mass of reporters and cameramen and several dozen friends of the devotees. Prabhupada walked over to the sofa and sat down, and Shyamasundara garlanded him with red and white carnations. Prabhupada began leading kirtana.

Finally, Mukunda invited the reporters to come forward: "If any of you gentlemen have any questions, you can ask them of Prabhupada."

Sun reporter: "What do you try to teach, sir?"

Prabhupada: "I am trying to teach what you have forgotten."

Devotees [laughing]: "Haribol! Hare Krishna!"

Sun reporter: "Which is what?"

Prabhupada: "That is God.”

Prabhupada went from the building to the gleaming white Rolls Royce awaiting him outside, courtesy of John Lennon. Prabhupada entered the back seat and sat crosslegged. He was in England. His father, Gour Mohan, had never wanted him to come to England. But now, seventy years later, Prabhupada had indeed come to London - not to be influenced by the Englishmen but to influence them. He had come to teach them what they had forgotten.