September 12, 1966 : New York

Satsvarupa: The morning after the initiation, Prabhupada sat in his apartment reading from a commentary on the Srimad-Bhagavatam. Mukunda and Janaki, opened the door, peering in. They sat down before him, and Prabhupada playfully addressed them by their new initiated names. "So, you are living together, but now you have taken serious vows of initiation. So what will you do about it?" "Well," Mukunda seemed puzzled, "isn't there any love in Krishna consciousness?" Swamiji nodded. "Yes, so I am saying why don't you get married?" They agreed it was a good idea, and Prabhupada immediately scheduled a wedding date for two days later.

About thirty people attended. The Swami's friends were used to seeing Janaki, as she always came with Mukunda, but usually she wore no makeup and dressed in very plain clothes. They were astounded and somewhat embarrassed to see her enter wearing jewelry, makeup, and a bright red sari. He explained about the relationship between man and wife in Krishna consciousness, and how they should serve each other and how they should serve Krishna.

Prabhupada then asked Janaki's sister to present her formally to Mukunda as his wife. Mukunda then repeated after Swamiji, "I accept Janaki as my wife, and I shall take charge of her throughout both of our lives. We shall live together peacefully in Krishna consciousness, and there will never be any separation." No one knew anything of what was going on except Swamiji. He led the chanting, he gave the lines for the bride and groom to exchange, he told them where to sit and what to do - he, in fact, had told them to get married. He had also cooked the elaborate feast that was waiting in the kitchen for the completion of the ceremony.

Prabhupada's followers, who were accustomed to the simple daily fare of rice, dal, sabji, and chapatis, found the feast intoxicating and ate as much as they could get. Many of Mukunda's friends were macrobiotic followers, and at first they fastidiously avoided all the sweets. But gradually the enthusiasm of the others wore down their resistance, and they became captivated by the Swami's expert cooking.

After the ceremony, Mukunda and his wife entertained many of the devotees and guests in their apartment. Then someone turned on the television to catch the scheduled interview with Allen Ginsberg, the poet, and much to everyone's happiness, Allen began playing harmonium and chanting Hare Krishna. He even said there was a swami on the Lower East Side who was teaching this mantra-yoga.

Back at his apartment, Prabhupada, along with a few helpers, cleaned up after the ceremony. He was satisfied. He was introducing some of the major elements of his Krishna consciousness mission. He had initiated disciples, he had married them, and he had feasted the public with Krishna prasadam.