Disappearance of Srila Prabhupada

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada departed from this world on November 14, 1977, in Vrindavan, India, in his rooms at the Krishna-Balarama temple, surrounded by hundreds of his disciples chanting Hare Krishna. Up until moments before his passing, he was dictating commentaries on the tenth canto of the Srimad-Bhagavatam.

Today the entire world is inundated by the chanting of the holy names of the Lord, being sung by people from all walks of life who have transformed into Vaishnavas by taking to the process of Krishna consciousness. The prophecy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has indeed come true, as today in every town and village the Mahamantra can be heard purifying all living entities.

This massive transformation of a great portion of society from a majorly materialistic and atheistic mentality to one in which the practitioner of the spiritual path is encouraged to realize their eternal relation with God in loving service, was brought about in this age by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. It is nothing less than a true miracle that Srila Prabhupada performed by transforming numerous materialists into faithful followers of the Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya and imbibing them with a desire to attain the ultimate goal of life, to go back home, back to Godhead.

The departure of such a great personality, the savior of the entire world, Srila Prabhupada, from amidst the fallen conditioned souls is greatly mourned. As it is mentioned in the bhajans written by our previous acharyas, the mere darshan (audience) of a great Vaishnava purifies one of all sins.

Hearing transcendental spiritual discourses from the lotus mouth of such exalted Nitya-siddha associates of Sri Krishna sows within the hearts of one and all the seed of Bhakti. Although the instructions (vani) of the guru are given higher importance than the physical presence (vapu), yet the impact of the constant association of the guru is of unquestionable importance, for the presence of the pure devotee makes the jivas feel the presence of Krishna Himself, as the guru is the representative of Krishna.

It was on this day in the month of Kartik that all the devotees were plunged in an ocean of distress when Srila Prabhupada departed from this world and entered nitya lila at 7:20 in the evening. This day of Srila Prabhupada's disappearance is celebrated in ISKCON Vrindavan surcharged with prayers in separation, as it is in Sridham Vrindavan that Srila Prabhupada left this world in his quarters amidst kirtan and surrounded by his disciples.

His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Observance of the Disappearance Day

As every year, this year also Srila Prabhupada's disappearance day is observed with constant glorification and remembrance of the divine pastimes and extraordinarily amazing feat of his spreading Krishna consciousness throughout the world.

After the daily morning program, the deity of Prabhupada is taken to the temple hall where a grand guru puja is performed with the assembled devotees experiencing simultaneously both inexpressible joy at being blessed with the good fortune of having come in touch with him and intense separation of not having his physical presence amongst us anymore.

Thereafter, a drop of the unlimited glories of Srila Prabhupada are described by the fortunate Prabhupada disciples who had personal association of Srila Prabhupada. Following the glorification, Srila Prabhupada is bathed (Abhishek) by his loving disciples and grand disciples, while the sweet holy names of the Lord are sung with accompaniment by mridangas and kartals, creating a beautiful atmosphere. The pushpanjali and arati are offered after Abhishek in Prabhupada's Samadhi, in which all the devotees offer their hearts and souls to Srila Prabhupada, for his lotus feet are the boat that can deliver all souls from the ocean of nescience.

After the bhoga offering prepared by the devotees for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada comprising of various delicacies—including Prabhupada's favorite kachodis, shukta, and other items—is offered, all the devotees honor the grand feast. The glorifications continue in the afternoon after which all the devotees assemble in Prabhupada's house for the arati at 7:20 PM, where all assembled Vaishnavas sing the Guruvastakam with tearful voices and hearts filled with intense separation while they pray to Srila Prabhupada for a particle of his mercy.

No matter how much one may endeavor, without the mercy of the Vaishnavas, we cannot make progress in our spiritual life. Therefore, we pray to Srila Prabhupada to please always keep us under the shade of his most merciful lotus feet and engage us in the service of Sri Sri Guru, Gauranga, and Krishna.