Speaker: Tamal Krishna Goswami
Source: TKG’s Diary: Prabhupada’s Final Days
3rd May 1977:
Today we received word that Jayananda Prabhu had given up his body. When Srila Prabhupada was informed he said, “Yes, sooner or later we must all go.” Afterwards, tears came to His Divine Grace’s eyes. “He was one of my very best disciples. He was the first to give me five thousand dollars, which was used for printing Teachings of Lord Caitanya. He used to drive me in the car, and while driving he would be chanting.
I asked Prabhupada about Jayananda’s destination, “He is not lost. He will be promoted. If he still has some desire for sense gratification, then he will be promoted to the higher planets where he will live for ten thousand years with full enjoyment. By then, he may have perfected his devotional service and he will be transferred back to Godhead. Or, if he has not yet perfected his devotional service, he will be reborn in a very high, aristocratic, pious family but if he was thinking of Krishna, then he can have gone directly to Krishna-loka.”
11th May 1977:
Today, everyone thought much about the departure of Jayananda Prabhu. Srila Prabhupada received further word about his last hours. Jayananda had been in great pain for months, but he never ceased serving Lord Jagannath and making arrangements for His Ratha-yatra celebration.
On his last day, the pain increased to the point that he could no longer even chant the holy name. Moaning in great pain, he expressed the uselessness of maintaining his diseased body any longer. At the very end, he hugged his tape recorder tightly, listening to his spiritual master’s chanting of Hare Krishna, and left his body.
Of his beloved disciple, Srila Prabhupada said, “I am very proud to have such a disciple. He has died gloriously. His death is wonderful and we should all follow his example”. Prabhupada quoted Bhagavad-gita 8.5 and read the purport in confirmation. Jayananda has gone to Vaikuntha to be with Krishna. His photo will be placed on the Ratha cart, and in all our temples we will hold a feast in his honor as we do on the other vaisnava’s disappearance days. Jaya Jayananda! Jaya Jayananda! Jaya Jayananda! Prabhupada cries remembering you.
13th June 1977:
The new Ratha-yatra issue of Back to Godhead arrived, and Prabhupada had me read a few of the articles. After looking for a long time at the cover photo of Lord Jagannath, pictured with His faithful devotee Jayananda, Prabhupada took off his glasses and wiped tears from his eyes with his handkerchief.
