Harikeśa Swami

Harikesa Swami
Dear Srila Prabhupada,
Please accept my most humble obeisances prostrated in the dust of your lotus feet. All glory to you, who are the perfect representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna. You are the most perfect servitor of the Lord. In fact, you are the Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead, and your every motion is dedicated to fulfilling the desires of the Supreme Lord. You have no desire independent of the Lord, but rather your every thought, word, and deed is directed solely and wholly to causing the mission of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to be spread all over the world.
Someone might find it strange that I am writing this letter to you, for you have "departed" and "left" this world of men and matter. But how can I consider that you are no longer here and cannot read my letter? In fact (dare I say it?), you are more present now than before. In fact Your Lordship has expanded yourself far beyond the capacities of any normal yogi who has achieved the perfection of expanding himself into eight forms (although each of these forms must merely duplicate the actions of the other seven). You are presently chastising, correcting, instructing, inspiring and associating with me within my heart. (Am I merely sentimentally babbling? Have I gone mad? Am I a sahajiyai?) You are sitting in my heart and you refuse to let me go (I am not sure if I may say this with such confidence, but I also refuse to let you leave me).
If you remain there, you will not have to suffer any inconvenience. I have arranged for a first-class vyasasana for you, with very soft white velvet and satin cushions with gold borders. It is deep green onyx with a golden streak and curved artistically on a twelve-pointed lotus. The breezes, quite warm and pleasing, are filled with the fresh scent of parijata, occasionally mixing with the campaka. In your golden glass (the larger one, with Krsna and Radha on the swing carved in relief) resting under the marble and teak table, you will find fresh dob juice, which you may drink at your convenience through the silver straw. The flower garland is of newly grown red and white roses, and some of your favorite Hawaiian magnolias are arranged on the desk, making the whole atmosphere fragrant and pleasing to see.
Lunch will be ready right after your massage and bath (the pure sandalwood oil, very cool and soothing on the head), and I have prepared some special kacoris (with mint chutney), some sukta and sak (with potatoes), just as Pisima taught me.
Please come and sit in the garden. The aroma of camphor is purifying the atmosphere, which is alive with the sound of the peacocks gently cooing as they tiptoe their way through the grass. Sometimes they prance in the forest, searching for a mate, and their loud cries and expanded tail fans combine together tastefully with the sound of the cataka birds flying high, close to the clouds, looking to drink their water, although the cloud will not give rain. (they will never accept the water which has touched the ground, although the cloud may not give rain but thunder, just as a devotee will never accept any offerings from maya.)
The camara is long and full, with an ornately carved silver handle. (I can fan you for hours; it is my favorite service). Here in my garden there is no disturbance from the sun to cause glare in your eyes, as the campaka and pipal trees intertwine to form an umbrella over your head. There are no disturbing insects; only the butterflies softly fluttering from one bush to the other and the bees humming as they collect the pollen from flower to flower in their daily routine. Perhaps it is your desire that I sing for you with mrdahga and karatalas the Hare Krsna mantra with your favorite Bengali melodies?
I hope that you will not be disturbed with the constant stream of precious gifts which I am bringing to you on a silver tray. (I am offering everything to you; please accept it.) in the golden dish, lined with deep green jade, is a freshly ground sandalwood pulp mixed with camphor, saffron, and rose water, a year old, which was made from the finest red roses. Your afternoon garland is made from the finest yellow roses without any stems, points, or gaps, and they are as light as a feather. I think the fragrance will fill the forest, invoking the envy of the lotuses, which are swaying as if offering you their obeisances again and again from their positions in the nearby lake.
Here is a picture of your Guru Maharaja, garlanded with flowers strung between pearls, and please allow me to place on your lotus hand this precious ring of gold and sapphire. In this white and blue coral box supported by silver Nrsimhadeva lotus feet there are many varieties of two- and three-layered sandesa, some of it first-class dry and some first-class soft, just like we had on the plane when we returned to Bombay from Nairobi. The rasagullas are in a crystal jar under your desk, and whenever you want me to serve you, please ring the bell (it will hit the fifth note).
I have also arranged your bed under the trees. The mattress is made from soft leaves and grasses covered by slightly scented flowers. The sheets are the softest silk and velvet, and I have made the pillow just right to hold your lotus head in perfect comfort. You may sleep without any fears as I will stand guard and not allow anything to disturb you, and you may think of your service to Radha and Krsna constantly. Now and then in your ecstasy of love you might glance upon me sidelong, but as I am so insignificant I shall not disturb you, but if I do, my dear Srila Prabhupada, if I do, please, please, beat me severely. I shall never do it again.
You are my intelligence, Srila Prabhupada, and you have come just to give me strength.
nama om visnu-padaya krsna-presthaya bhū-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesa-sūnyavadi-pasatya-desa-tarine
Submitted by your eternal servant,
Harikesa Swami
Initiating guru
GBC-Germany, Scandinavia, Switzerland, Austria, Eastern Europe, Lebanon
BBT Trustee.
 

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