“I shall live in my books, and you will utilize”
Krishna, the Reservoir of All Pleasure and found what she was looking for. She visited the temples in Hamburg, London, and finally Brooklyn. I stayed in Brooklyn as a brahmacharini for a year.
Bonds of Love: Kanka Devi Dasi While in Berlin in April 1970, Kanka, then 19, read Srila Prabhupada’s Who Is Crazy and Krishna, the Reservoir of All Pleasure and found what she was looking for. She visited the temples in Hamburg, London, and finally Brooklyn.
I stayed in Brooklyn as a brahmacharini for a year. In May of 1971 we received a letter from Srila Prabhupada saying, “Yes, Svarupa Prabhu has my permission to get himself married to Suzy O’Neil [me].” In June he wrote Svarupa, “So now you are married in Krishna consciousness; that is very nice. But sometimes married life is risky business because being attracted by the wife, one forgets Krishna. But if both the husband and wife remember Krishna, then their householder life becomes Vaikuntha. Our acharya Bhaktivinoda Thakura was the perfect householder, and we should take his example. How nice a householder he was and how nice children he produced; one of them is my Guru Maharaja. That is the example. So follow it and become successful in Krishna consciousness.” On July 21, 1971, Srila Prabhupada initiated me. He said Kanka was the daughter of a great king who was also a great devotee and asked, “Are you going to be a great devotee?” I was embarrassed and said I’d try to be a good devotee. He said he named his female disciples after great women devotees so they could follow in those devotees’ footsteps. Then, after I said I’d chant sixteen rounds daily, his eyes got big and he said, “That’s all?” I said, “More if I can.” He said, “What’s your new name?” I couldn’t remember and he laughed and said, “You’ve forgotten already.” Once I told Prabhupada that whenever my two-year-old son, Krishna Kumar, saw Prabhupada or his picture, he’d say, “Prabhupada cookie! Prabhupada cookie!” Srila Prabhupada threw his head back, laughed, and said, “Yes, the way to make a friend is to give him a cookie.” Another time I was told to take Krishna Kumar out of class. I started walking out, but Srila Prabhupada stopped me and said, “Where are you going?” I said, “I was told to take the baby out.” Srila Prabhupada said, “No, go sit down.” It seemed he knew I wanted to stay for class, and
afterward, he patted Krishna Kumar on the head; my son had remained quiet the whole time.
In Berkeley in ’75, a reporter asked Srila Prabhupada, “What will happen to the movement in the United States when you die? Prabhupada said, “I will never die.” All the devotees said “Jaya!
Haribol!” and Prabhupada said, “I shall live in my books, and you will utilize.” In the early days, the men weren’t so aggressive, and there was no discrimination between the men and women. We were a loving family of brothers and sisters, enthusiastic and happy. As women, we never felt less; we felt just as able to serve. Sometimes women would lead kirtana and stand next to Prabhupada.
I got and am still getting a lot of mercy. I’m learning from Srila Prabhupada how to love and be compassionate. I’m one of Prabhupada’s daughters, and I’m trying to live my life by his words, “Chant and be happy!”