krishna/articles/2013/124

Jayadvaita Swami: Another time Srila Prabhupada was having his massage in his Henry Street quarters in Brooklyn. Someone had gotten him a little vibrator, and Prabhupada’s assistant was massaging Prabhupada with it. Then Baradraj Prabhu came in to ask questions about the paintings. But Prabhupada had an issue to take up with Baradraj. Prabhupada said, “What are these bust pictures?” Prabhupada was referring to paintings of the acharyas that portrayed only their head and shoulders. Prabhupada didn’t consider those paintings appropriate, and he instructed Baradraj that their full forms should be shown. He said, “The paintings are not for decoration, they are for worship.” He said, “Vande guroh sri” (I offer obeisances to the spiritual master), and he pointed to his foot, “. . . caranaravindam” beginning with the lotus feet).

It was around 1969 that it became important to identify Srila Prabhupada as the Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. At first Srila Prabhupada was known as A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, then he was A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and then A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. The Founder-Acharya part began while we were publishing the Second Canto in chapter-by-chapter booklets. From the West Coast we heard that we were supposed to write Founder Acharya. But the message was garbled, so we only printed “Founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.” Prabhupada was upset with us. Then another message came and we reprinted. We ran a black line through “Founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness” and put “Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.” Again it was wrong. Finally we got it right—”Founder-Acharya”— and since then that’s been there. Prabhupada foresaw that his position as Founder-Acharya should be well established.

Later, when the Press was in Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada passed by our newly occupied BBT building and saw the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust sign without “Founder- Acharya” underneath it. Even though Radha-vallabha, who was in charge, had the letters in a box, ready to go (they just hadn’t been put up yet), he got blasted by Srila Prabhupada: “Why is this missing?” Prabhupada considered it crucial. In fact, at one point he issued a letter to all the centers that on all the letterheads, on all the cards, on all the publications of the Society, this line had to be there, “Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.”

Prabhupada foresaw how significant and important it would be for us and for others to understand the Society properly with its Founder Acharya.

Ref: Memories of Srila Prabhupada Tape 40