Initiations
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Los Angeles, April 16, 1973

Prabhupada: So, name? Come on, one after another.

Brahmananda: Arlene?

Prabhupada: Arlene. So you know the rules and regulation?

Arlene: Yes.

Prabhupada: What are these?

Arlene: No meat-eating, fish or eggs, no intoxication, no illicit sex.

Prabhupada: How many rounds will you chant?

Arlene: Sixteen at least.

Prabhupada: What is the…

Brahmananda: Kirtida-kanyaka dasi.

Prabhupada: So your name is Kirtida dasi.

Brahmananda: Theresa?

Prabhupada: What is the name, come on. Come here. What are the rules and regulations?

Theresa: No illicit sex, no intoxication, no meat-eating, no gambling.

Prabhupada: And how many rounds?

Theresa: Sixteen.

Prabhupada: That is the minimum. Yes, come on.

Brahmananda: Tarani dasi.

Prabhupada: Tarini dasi. You can deliver everyone. Come on. Next.

Brahmananda: Cindy.

Prabhupada: What are the rules and regulations?

Cindy: No meat-eating, no illicit sex, no intoxication, no gambling.

Prabhupada: And now many rounds will you chant?

Cindy: Sixteen at least.

Prabhupada: That’s nice.

Brahmananda: Bhagavat-citta-rathini dasi.

Prabhupada: Big, big name. (laughter) So your name is Bhagavat- citta dasi. Bhagavat-citta. Citta means consciousness. Come on.

Brahmananda: Harold?

Prabhupada: What is the name?

Brahmananda: Hasta-yajna.

Prabhupada: Hasya-yajna? (pause) So? Make it Hasyananda. Now get up. Come on. (laughter) So you know what is the rules and regulation?

Hasyananda: No illicit sex, no meat-eating, no gambling and no intoxication.

Prabhupada: All right. Your name is Hasyananda, “who laughs in ecstasy, ecstasy, chanting.”

Hasyananda: Thank you very much.

Prabhupada: Hare Krsna. Next, come on.

Brahmananda: Larry? Laksmana dasa.

Prabhupada: So you know the rules and regulation? What are the rules?

Larry: No meat-eating, gambling, sex or intoxication.

Prabhupada: Illicit sex. So, Sri Laksmana dasa. You know Laksmana dasa? He is the younger brother of Ramacandra. Laksmana dasa.

Brahmananda: Stuart?

Prabhupada: Why you are laughing? So everyone should have neckbeads immediately. You know the rules and regulations? What is that?

Stuart: No meat-eating, no illicit sex life, no intoxication and no gambling.

Prabhupada: Thank you. Sutrajit.

Sutrajit: Jaya. Thank you, Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Hare Krsna. Come on. What are the rules and regulations? (child is crying in background, “I want my mommy!”)

Girl: No meat-eating, no illicit sex, no gambling, no intoxication.

Prabhupada: Susarma dasi. She is your child? So you are married?

Susarma: Yes.

Prabhupada: That’s nice. (laughter)

Brahmananda: Why is the child crying? Roy?

Prabhupada: What are the rules and regulation?

Roy: No meat-eating, no intoxication, no illicit sex and no gambling.

Prabhupada: And how many rounds you will chant?

Roy: At least sixteen.

Prabhupada: Thank you. Ramalala dasa. Hare Krsna. Come on, next.

Brahmananda: Cheryl Nixon.

Prabhupada: What are the regulations?

Cheryl: No meat-eating, no illicit sex, no intoxication and no gambling.

Prabhupada: That’s nice. Saranagata? Saranagata, it should be. Saranagata, long ‘a.’ Saranagata dasi. “One who has surrendered to Krsna.” (to next devotee:) What are the regulative principles? (boy answers) How many rounds you will chant? (answers) Thank you.

Brahmananda: Balika dasa.

Prabhupada: Balika? It should be Balaka, not Balika. Balaka. Your name is Balaka dasa. Balaka, cowherd boy.

Brahmananda: Michael Nixon.

Prabhupada: What are the rules and regulations?

Michael: No eating meat, fish or eggs, no intoxication, no illicit sex, no mental speculating.

Prabhupada: Mahajana dasa. Mahajano yena gatah sa panthah. Mahajana means great authority. Hare Krsna.

Brahmananda: Jim?

Prabhupada: What are the rules?

Jim: No meat-eating, no gambling, no illicit sex and no intoxication.

Prabhupada: Kuvera dasa. (laughter) Kuvera is the treasurer of the demigods. You have to bring money more. (laughter) We require money. Come on. Hare Krsna. When Kuvera wanted to give benediction to Dhruva Maharaja, Dhruva Maharaja was very angry and was killing the descendants of Kuvera. And they were offender. The descendants of Kuvera killed Dhruva Maharaja’s brother; therefore he was retaliating. At that time somebody requested, Brahma, I think, requested that “Now you just pacify yourself. You have done…” So he immediately stopped killing. So Kuvera became very much pleased that although he could kill all the descendants of Kuvera, he stopped it. So he came forward to give him some benediction. Kuvera is the richest treasurer. So he wanted to give some benediction. If Dhruva Maharaja wanted, he could ask him that “Give me all the money of the universe.” He could give. But what did he ask? He said, “Sir, give me benediction that I may remain attached to the lotus feet of Krsna.”

Devotees: Jaya!

Prabhupada: It is a great example. He could ask him for money, but no. “Give me benediction. You are offering me benediction, so give me this benediction, that my mind may always remain attached to the lotus feet of Krsna.” Come on. So what are the rules and regulation? (girl answers) That’s nice. Revati dasi. Regulative principles? (boy answers) Everyone is giving up meat-eating. The slaughterhouse will be closed. (laughter) And the butchers are not very much pleased with us. (laughter) Never mind. We have to do this. Come on. What is the name?

Brahmananda: Brhadbhanu dasa.

Prabhupada: Vratabhanu dasa. That’s nice. So everyone is unpleased except the devotees, for our movement. Hare Krsna. You know the rules and regulation? (girl answers) All right, come on. What is the…?

Brahmananda: Rasaparagni dasi.

Prabhupada: Rasa…?

Brahmananda: Rasaparagni.

Prabhupada: Rasapara… Rasa-parayani. Rasa-parayani. Correct it. One of the gopis. Rasa-parayani dasi, “one who wants to dance with Krsna in rasa dance.” No ball dance. Finished? All right. Now who shall explain the ten kinds of offenses and the meaning of the om apavitrah pavitro va and then perform yajna?

Karandhara: I shall.

Prabhupada: So I can go?

Karandhara: Yes, Prabhupada.

Devotees: Jaya! All glories to Srila Prabhupada! (obeisances) (end)