Among Srila Prabhupada's efforts to inspire a Krishna Consciousness Movement in America, he sent six of his devotees to London with the hope of establishing another International Society for Krishna Consciousness center. A fortunate occurrence for the London devotees was becoming acquainted with George Harrison of the 'fab four' singing group The Beatles. The events are chronicled by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami in Volume Four of his seven-volume biography of A.C. Bhaktivedana Swami Prabhupada. Volume Four of Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta is subtitled "In Every Town And Village Around the World 1968-1971." Srila Prabhupada's ambition was to engage everyone in loving service to Krsna and he commented: "Christ Consciousness is also Krsna Consciousness . . ." He is an example of the scholar whose dedicated and extensive Vedic research brought him the conviction that what he'd read is true.
In a crowded room at Apple Records, Syamasundara [devotee], shaven-headed and wearing robes, sat hoping for a chance to have a few words with someone connected with The Beatles. Then George came down the stairs from a conference. As he entered the room, he saw Syamasundara. Walking over and sitting down beside Syamasundara, he asked, "Where have you been? I've been trying to meet the Hare Krsna people for the last couple of years." Syamasundara and George talked together for an hour while everyone else hovered around. "I've really been trying to meet you people," George said. "Why don't you come to my place tomorrow?"
The next day Syamasundara went to George's for lunch, where he met the other Beatles: Ringo Starr, John Lennon and Paul McCartney. They all had questions but George was especially interested.
George Harrison had previously obtained an album with Srila Prabhupada singing "Hare Krsna" with devotees. George had seen the Krishna Consciousness devotees on the streets of Los Angeles and New York.
George, who had been practicing a mantra given him by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, began to hear for the first time about bhakti-yoga and the Vedic philosophy.
George Harrison is quoted in the book:
A yogi I met in India said, "You are really lucky. You have youth, fame, fortune, health, but at the same time that's not enough for you. You want to know about something else." Most people don't even get to the point where they realize there's something beyond that wall. They are just trying to get up on top of that wall, to be able to eat and have a nice house and be comfortable and all that. But I was fortunate enough to get all that in time to realize there's something else to life, whereas most people get worn out just trying to attain material things.
There are some gurus who go around making out that they are "it," but Prabhupada was saying, "I am the servant of the servant of the servant of Krsna," which is really what it is, you know.
Srila Prabhupada George became friends with the London devotees and talked with them about his spiritual quest.
George offered to help the devotees get a building in London, and he and Syamasundara spoke of making a Hare Krsna record.
When Prabhupada heard about George, he took seriously the possibility that George might fully take up Krsna consciousness.
The biographer reported that George suggested the devotees make a record on the Apple label. George is quoted; "You guys make the money, rather than we get it. Let's make a record." After two preparatory sessions, a recording date was selected.
On the day of the recording about a dozen devotees, including some newly recruited Britishers, assembled at EMI recording studios on Abbey Road. When the first group of devotees arrived in George's Mercedes, a crowd of teenagers began singing Hare Krsna to the tune popularized by the rock musical "Hair." While Yamuna applied Vaisnava tilaka to the foreheads of the recording technicians, Malati [wife of Syamasundara] began unpacking the picnic baskets of prasadam she had brought, and some of the other devotees displayed pictures of Krsna and lit incense.
During the recording session, Paul and Linda McCartney operated the control console, George played organ and the devotee Mukanda played mrdanga [drum].
On the fourth take, everything went smoothly, with Malati spontaneously hitting a brass gong at the end. Then they recorded the flip side of the record: prayers to Srila Prabhupada, Lord Caitanya and His associates, and the six Gosvamis. Afterward, George dubbed in the brass guitar and other voices. The devotees, engineers—everyone—felt good about it. "This is going to be big," George promised.
When the devotees found it difficult to find a place to live and worship together, John Lennon suggested to Syamasundara that they come and live with him at Tittenhurst Park, an estate he'd recently purchased near Ascot. The devotees moved into a small building near the Manor that had once been used as servants' quarters. Prior to the release of the record "Hare Krishna Mantra," Apple Records "staged a promotion and brought press reporters and photographers in a multicolored bus to a blue and white pavilion where the devotees had gathered with George."
The record's cover photograph was taken by Ethan A. Russell.
On the day of release, the record sold 70,000 copies. Within a few weeks, the devotees were featured on the TV show "Top of the Pops."
Srila Prabhupada arrived in London on September 11, 1969. The press was there along with several dozen friends of the devotees. The reception had been arranged with the cooperation of Apple Records and Lufthansa German Airlines. Then a gleaming white Rolls Royce whisked Srila Prabhupada away to Tittenhurst Park, where in his new apartment he was soon visited by George, John and Yoko.
He told them about the transmigration of the soul and the importance of music in the Vedas. There was also discussion about 'Brahman'.
In the evening, Srila Prabhupada learned that the previous day the "Hare Krishna Mantra" record had sold 50,000 copies. A series of scheduled public lectures in London required him to stay in London for several months.
It is reported in the book that John and Yoko only occasionally mingled with the Swami and his devotees. Although not mentioned in the book, on September 20 John informed his bandmates that he was leaving The Beatles.
George Harrison is quoted in the book:
Although George and John were about the same age as most of Prabhupada's disciples, Prabhupada considered them sresthas, respected leaders. "You are also anxious to bring some peace in the world," Prabhupada continued. "I have read sometimes your statement. You are anxious also. Everyone is. Every saintly person should be anxious to bring in peace in the world. But we must know the process." He explained the "peace formula" according to Bhagavad-gita: only those who recognize the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the proprietor of everything, the object of all sacrifices, and the friend of everyone can find peace.
He told them about the transmigration of the soul and the importance of music in the Vedas. There was also discussion about 'Brahman'.
In the evening, Srila Prabhupada learned that the previous day the "Hare Krishna Mantra" record had sold 50,000 copies. A series of scheduled public lectures in London required him to stay in London for several months.
Prabhupada and his people and John and Yoko and theirs made an odd combination. Two days after Prabhupada's arrival at Tittenhurst, John and Yoko had flown to Canada to perform with the Plastic Ono Band at Toronto's "Rock-N-Roll Revival" at Varsity Stadium. In October John and Yoko had recorded "Wedding Album" and began work on a film, "Rock-and-Roll Circus," and John had recorded "Cold Turkey."
It is reported in the book that John and Yoko only occasionally mingled with the Swami and his devotees. Although not mentioned in the book, on September 20 John informed his bandmates that he was leaving The Beatles.
George Harrison is quoted in the book:
Krsna is not limited. And just by Prabhupada's being there and pouring out all this information, I was moved. It's like the mind is stubborn, but it's all Krsna. That's all you need to know — it's all Krsna. This world is His material energy too — the universal form. And in Prabhupada's books there are these pictures showing Krsna in the heart of a dog and a cow and a human being. It helps you to realize that Krsna is within everybody.
"Hare Krishna Mantra" was a hit record throughout Europe and also in Japan. Srila Prabhupada eventually was invited to appear on Britain's popular TV talkshow "Late Night Line-Up." When the interviewer asked him about hell, Srila Prabhupada replied, "London is hell. It is always damp, cloudy and raining. In India the sun is always shining. Of course, it is a very great credit to the English people to have established such a great civilization in such a climate." The following day a London newspaper headline announced "Swami Calls London Hell."
Also that Autumn, Srila Prabhupada and his disciples' expenses were paid for traveling to Amsterdam, where they appeared in a Dutch TV show. After the group was seen performing while the "Hare Krishna Mantra" record was played, Srila Prabhupada delivered a succinct oration —
"We have been chanting this Hare Krishna mantra. This is a transcendental sound vibration, nondifferent from the Lord. The Lord’s name and His form are the same. Please chant this sublime sound, and your life will become perfect. You will become happy, and you'll realize your true nature — that you are an eternal servant of God, Krsna. This process is called bhakti-yoga, and we request everyone to take to this chanting. Thank you very much."
It is reported that at Tittinghurst manor Srila Prabhupada was displeased by aspects of his hosts' way of life. By late October some of the devotees had already moved out and on November 3 Srila Prabhupada relocated to a furnished apartment on Baker Street in the vicinity of the Bury Place Temple, which was scheduled to formally open on December 14.
One of Srila Prabhupada's immediate plans was publishing the first volume of Krsna, a summary study of Srila Vyasadeva's Srimad-Bhagavatm, Tenth Canto. He convinced George Harrison to contribute the $19,000 publishing cost as a devotional service to Krsna. George also wrote a foreword to the book. In the religion of Hinduism, 'Krsna' (or 'Krishna') is an important figure of human incarnation who has been subject to comparisons with the individual known as 'Jesus' (or 'Jesus Christ') in the Holy Bible of Christianity. Srila Prabhupada wrote in his Preface for Krsna:
In the Bhagavad-gita it is said that the individual person is the proprietor or master of the body, but Krsna, who is the Supersoul present in everyone's heart, is the supreme proprietor and supreme master of each and every individual body.
The art of focusing one's attention on the Supreme and giving one's love to Him is called Krsna consciousness.
Whatever percentage of Krsna consciousness we can perform will become an eternal asset to our life, for it is imperishable in all circumstances.
In 1973 George Harrison donated the property that would be called Bhaktivedanta Manor to Srila Prabhupada's International Society for Krishna Consciousness. A short biography of Srila Prabhupada (1896-1977) encapsulates the events in his life:
In 1965, when he first arrived by freighter in New York City, Srila Prabhupada was practically penniless. It was after almost a year of great difficulty that he established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in July of 1966. Under his careful guidance, the Society grew within a decade to a worldwide confederation of almost one hundred asramas, schools, temples, institutes and farm communities.
In the last ten years of his life, in spite of his advanced age, Srila Prabhupada circled the globe twelve times on lecture tours that took him to six continents. In spite of such a vigorous schedule, Srila Prabhupada continued to write prolifically. His writings constitute a veritable library of Vedic philosophy, religion, literature and culture.
In this video of a San Francisco television interview, Srila Prabhupada is heard to say that the purpose for religion "is to understand God" and the motivation for chanting "Hare Krishna" is "to keep association with God, always . . . ."
George Harrison's metaphysical song "Within You Without You" is from the album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" of 1967.
Also see the article: "Rosemary Brown Channeled Songs from John Lennon"
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