On this day in 1972, Srila Prabhupada mercifully awarded me sannyasa in the beautiful old temple room in New Dvaraka.

Prabhupada personally designed the temple room with white tile floors, green window curtains, and a red velvet curtain in front of the Deities. The Deity altars were white marble, and only about 3 feet high. It was a beautiful temple room.

The ceremony took place in the morning, as that day’s morning program. Instead of chanting Jaya Radha Madhava, Prabhupada chanted Bhaja Hunre Mana. I was standing in the back of the temple, and, as Prabhupada chanted, the whole building seemed to dance in ecstasy in response to the singing of Lord Krishna’s pure devotees.

In my heart, I understood why Prabhupada was chanting this song before our sannyasa ceremony. The third line of this song says:

“This wealth, youth, children, and mundane associates — is there any real happiness there? Our life is like a drop of water (precariously situated) on a lotus leaf. Please, worship Hari’s feet.”

I saw and felt clearly that Prabhupada was a loving spiritual father, pleading with his spiritual children, who were about to take sannyasa, not to become entangled in material life, nor lament at giving it up.

After the ceremony, I went with my old friend Satsvarupa Goswami, who also took sannyasa there, to see Prabhupada in his room. Prabhupada told us, “Just as Lord Nrsimhadeva protected Prahlada Maharaja, He will protect you.”

My best wishes to all on this special day.
Hridayananda das Goswami
May 2, 2015