January 1, 1937 : Calcutta
Satsvarupa: Srila Bhaktisiddhanta disappeared from the mortal world on January 1, 1937. He had been spending his last days reading Caitanya-caritamrta and chanting on his beads. When a doctor had visited him, wanting to give him an injection, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta had protested, "Why are you disturbing me in this way? Simply chant Hare Krishna, that's all." In his last days he had remained fully conscious and had given instructions until the end. At 5:30 a.m. on January 1 he breathed his last.
Word very soon reached Srila Prabhupada in Bombay. His immediate response was to cry with grief - no more the joy of an anticipated meeting, no more trips to Calcutta or Vrindavana on the plea of business just to see the tall, commanding form of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, the "evangelic angel." This sense of never meeting again was difficult to bear. Philosophically, Srila Prabhupada knew that there was no reason to lament. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati had come into the world to execute the mission of Lord Chaitanya, and now it was required that he leave this place and go to another, where he would again engage in the same activity.
Yet even armed with this philosophy, Srila Prabhupada felt all alone. His two great well-wishers were gone - his father and now his spiritual master. But he felt grateful that he had received a special mercy, a final instruction, just two weeks before his spiritual master's departure. Srila Prabhupada read his letter again and again - there would not be another. The intimate talks and meetings were now gone, but by this letter especially, Srila Prabhupada would live in the instructions of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. The letter had come just in time. Now he knew for certain, no matter what anyone else said, how to please his spiritual master and stay linked with Krishna. Following his order, he would conquer the feeling of loss at the disappearance of his most affectionate well-wisher.
Word very soon reached Srila Prabhupada in Bombay. His immediate response was to cry with grief - no more the joy of an anticipated meeting, no more trips to Calcutta or Vrindavana on the plea of business just to see the tall, commanding form of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, the "evangelic angel." This sense of never meeting again was difficult to bear. Philosophically, Srila Prabhupada knew that there was no reason to lament. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati had come into the world to execute the mission of Lord Chaitanya, and now it was required that he leave this place and go to another, where he would again engage in the same activity.
Yet even armed with this philosophy, Srila Prabhupada felt all alone. His two great well-wishers were gone - his father and now his spiritual master. But he felt grateful that he had received a special mercy, a final instruction, just two weeks before his spiritual master's departure. Srila Prabhupada read his letter again and again - there would not be another. The intimate talks and meetings were now gone, but by this letter especially, Srila Prabhupada would live in the instructions of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. The letter had come just in time. Now he knew for certain, no matter what anyone else said, how to please his spiritual master and stay linked with Krishna. Following his order, he would conquer the feeling of loss at the disappearance of his most affectionate well-wisher.
Reference: Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta Volume 1 - Satsvarupa dasa Goswami
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