Devotees Pay Homage To Śrīla Prabhupāda

The weeks following Srila Prabhupada's passing saw a number of special commemorative events.

On November 27, a viraha-mahotsava (festival in honor of the spiritual master's passing) was held in all the Society's centers throughout the world. Devotees chanted Hare Krsna, expressed their eternal gratitude and devotion to Srila Prabhupada, and served feasts for the thousands who attended. At the Society's center in Mayapur, near Calcutta, devotees held a second festival on December 2. Besides several moving eulogies by Srila Prabhupada's God-brothers and senior disciples, the Mayapur mahotsava included the establishment of a shrine in Srila Prabhupada's honor.

The Vrndavana mahotsava on November 27 was especially significant; some of the world's leading Vaisnavas (devotees of Visnu, or Krsna) came together in the most important Vaisnava city-Vrndavana, where Lord Krsna appeared fifty centuries ago-to pay homage to the most glorious Vaisnava of our era. Prabhupada's disciples deeply appreciated this glorification of their spiritual master. The following are excerpts from the statements of Sri Visvambhara Gosvami (priest of the Radha-ramana temple) and Sri Narayana Maharaja.