770805 - Letter to Ramesvara from Tamal Krsna

Vrndavana,

August 5, 1977

From: Tamal Krishna

Los Angeles

My dear Ramesvara Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your feet. I have been instructed by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada to thank you for your letter dated July 21st, 1977. Srila Prabhupada was very much impressed to see the figures which you have compiled regarding the advanced state of all of our students at the LA Gurukula. He was also very glad to note how Ambarisa Prabhu will be participating in the Washington D.C. doll museum. When you described the black-out in N.Y.C., Srila Prabhupada commented, “Things are becoming horrible gradually. N.Y. is already horrible city. There is no peace there. Varna-sankara population everywhere. Things are becoming from bad to worse.” As you have probably been contacted by Abhirama Prabhu by telephone from Delhi, you should already know that His Divine Grace has been relapsing in His health. Srila Prabhupada has not translated now for nearly ten days. On account of not eating for over one month (except for drinking some small amount of milk each day) Srila Prabhupada has become very weak and so cannot translate. One very capable astrologer has given horoscope and recommended the wearing of a blue sapphire stone of at least seven carats weight. Hopefully by now money has been sent for the purchase of this stone. In addition there are various prayers which have been recommended to be chanted and Pradyumna will chant these regularly daily. Srila Prabhupada has recommended that all of the devotees may as a daily routine, pray to Lord Krishna, “Dear Lord Krishna, if You desire, please cure Srila Prabhupada.” According to the horoscope, which describes Srila Prabhupada’s entire life very accurately (this is acknowledged by Srila Prabhupada), the next six months will be very critical and difficult to pass over. Srila Prabhupada is taking extra rest throughout the day and night, and at other times is hearing the Caitanya-caritamrta.

I have written you quite some time ago, and even before that discussed with you personally when you were here last in India, that you should investigate the approximately Rs.93,000 which the Punjab National Bank, Vrndavana, has paid twice into Prabhupada’s account, though they claim to only have received amount once. You were to have investigated this and to have reported to me, but you have never done this despite my writing you. Actually Maharaja, many devotees complain that they write to you but they never receive a reply. I always joke by telling them that if you want to know how many letters Ramesvara has on his desk, he doesn’t tell you the number of them, but tells you how many feet high they are. Actually this is not a joking matter. Srila Prabhupada makes it a habit to always reply all of the letters properly which He receives. This is only proper and businesslike. If you do not have time to answer the letters, then you should engage one or two assistants to simply take care of your correspondence, just as Srila Prabhupada has a secretary to do this. Please take this advice and please let me know immediately about this double transfer, as the bank is about to deduct Rs.93,000 from Srila Prabhupada’s account unless you tell me otherwise.

In regard to the June, 1977 BBT Trustees report—U.S.A. division, I have a number of points. The question is when will the L.A. Temple begin to repay the huge loan it has taken for the doll project? Previously we had discussed that they would pay at least $5000 per month. I have thought about which volumes could be used as “best sellers” for printing of 500,000 copies each in 1978 to replace the Bhagavad-gita. I would be in favor of seeing three different books, each printed at 500,000 copies, rather than one book printing 11/2 million. My choice in order of preference is Srimad-Bhagavatam (1) 2:1 (2) 3:4, (3) 4:4.

Srila Prabhupada’s God-brother Dr. Kapoor has asked for a copy of a photo showing the L.A. doll exhibit of the Sri Krishna sankirtana, 8 X 10 in color. Srila Prabhupada asked that you send a copy to us here to be given to him.

Hoping this meets you in the best of health and Krishna consciousness.

Your servant,

Tamal Krishna Gosvami

Secretary to Srila Prabhupada

His Holiness Ramesvara Swami

c/o ISKCON L.A.

/tkg P.S. In reading “The Author” appendix at the end of 9:3 I notice we are still printing about Dallas gurukula with 150 students. Also New Vrindavan is not the most thriving farm community in our Society—New Barsana is. Prabhupada talks far more about New Barsana because as a farm, New Vrndavana is not successful. I feel these points should be adjusted.