Conclusion of the Jaladuta Diary

The transcendental journey of Srila Prabhupada on the Jaladuta.

Sunday, September 19

“Today is the 38th day of our journey and we reached New York Port at 12/30 p.m. about three hours later than the scheduled time.”

Today marks the conclusion of the Jaladuta Diary series, as Srila Prabhupada describes the 38th and final day of his epic transcendental journey aboard the steamship Jaladuta.

Srila Prabhupada’s ‘Jaladuta Diary’ contains a few entries following this date, wherein he made note of various organizational activities and contacts, but September 13th concluded his westward travels.

In an address he made at Gorakhpur in February, 1971, Srila Prabhupada talked about how the printing of his 3-volume Srimad Bhagwatams were a focus point, both at the beginning and the end of his journey:

“So after publishing three parts [of Bhagavatam], then automatically, Guru Maharaja gave me indication that, “Now you can start for America.” So some way or other, in 1965 I went to America, with great difficulty.

But I took about two hundred sets of books. The customs clearance was done. I told them that “Oh, I am taking these books for distribution. Not for sale.” Anyway, they passed, and with these books I reached America.”

The Jaladuta Diary - September 18

Saturday, September 18

“To-day is the 37th day of our journey & at 4 p.m. we left Boston Port for New York. In the morning I had telephonic talks with Gopal P. Agarwal in Butler and he said that his man will receive me at New York & dispatch me to Butler by Bus or train as convenient. I tried to contact Dr. Misra but he was not available both yesterday and to-day. I do not know if he is coming to receive me.

To-day I met two American nice gentlemen Mr. Gardiner & Fryer. We passed a beautiful canal and crossed underneath two overbridges. But at midnight there was considerable fog disturbance and the ship moved very slowly. The fog persisted till we reached late at New York Port at 12/30 on 19/9/65.

On board the ship Jaladuta, Commonwealth Pier,
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
dated 18th of September, 1965
Markine Bhagavata-dharma

boro-kripa kaile krishna adhamer pratiM
ki lagiyanile hetha koro ebe gati

[Translation] My dear Lord Krsna, You are so kind upon this useless soul, but I do not know why You have brought me here. Now You can do whatever You like with me.

The Jaladuta Diary - September 17

The transcendental journey of Srila Prabhupada on the Jaladuta.

Friday, September 17, 1965

“We are now on the dockyard of Boston and at 10 a.m. the custom officers and others came on the ship. They have now issued the admittance permission after due checking etc. I saw the Boston Town with captain It is very nice and I shall describe it in a separate note. 36th day from starting from Calcutta Port To-day we are expected to reach Boston Port U.S.A. in the morning ACB –/9/65

We stayed the whole day & night at Boston till 4.p.m. next day.”

The Jaladuta Diary - September 16

“Today is the 35th day of our journey and yesterday night at about 10/30 p.m. we have turned one wheel towards north eastern corner from the Bermuda latitude towards Boston port. In the morning the atmosphere was fairly cleared and the ship was plying very smoothly.

The first officer told me that they never had such experience of the Atlantic ocean and he ascribed the good luck to me. I said yes it is all Lord Krishna’s Grace because due to my severe type of sea-sickness, He has Himself taken charge of the ship. In expansion the Lord is rowing the oars. We shall certainly reach to America port safely.

The whole day was clear sun-shine but at 4 p.m. the sky all of a sudden became foggy. The sun became dim covered by foggy weather. The horizon is still visible. Let us see what is still ahead. The ship is stopped completely at about 6 p.m. on account of dense fog.

Be Lord Krishna pleased to get out this fog. By the Grace of Lord Krishna the fog was cleared after 2-3 hours and the ship started. The whole night was non-disturbing and today on the 36th day of our journey we reached safely at Boston Port at 5/30 a.m.”

The Jaladuta Diary - September 14

The transcendental journey of Srila Prabhupada on the Jaladuta.

Tuesday, September 14, 1965

“Today is the 33rd day of our journey and at 3 o’clock in the morning I saw the sky cloudy with dim moon-light. From morning till 1 o’clock the sky remained cloudy and at 1/30 p.m. there was a shower of rain. The sky is still cloudy and the wind is blowing from south-east corner and raining at intervals. The whole day passed in that way and the wind assumed a para-cyclonic face with dense cloud resulting in rain till 9/30 p.m. with regular lightening etc.
At ten o’clock when I was talking in the captain’s room the chief engineer Mr. Travers told me that he had never such experience of calm & quietness of the Atlantic Ocean. There was always typhoon, cyclone, fog, etc. at least for days in every trip in the past. I said it is Lord Krishna’s Grace. If such things as usual in Atlantic would have taken place, I would die.”

The Jaladuta Diary - September 13

Monday, September 13

“Today is the 32nd day of our journey from Calcutta. After midnight yesterday the lurching decreased and I felt relief. In the morning also I could not take my breakfast properly. Then I cooked ‘Bati-chachari.’ It appeared to be delicious and I was able to take some food.

At about eleven there is a little lurching. The captain tells that they had never such calmness of the Atlantic. I said it is Lord Krishna’s mercy. His wife asked me to come back again with them so that they may have again a calm Atlantic Ocean. If Atlantic would have shown its usual face perhaps I would have died. But Lord Krishna has taken charge of the ship.

Today I have disclosed my mind to my companion Lord Sri Krishna. There is a Bengali poem made by me today in this connection.

Prayer to the Lotus Feet of Krsna
krsna taba punya habe bhai
e-punya koribe jabe radharani khusi habe
dhruva ati boli toma tai [Translation] I emphatically say to you, O brothers, you will obtain your good fortune from the Supreme Lord Krsna only when Srimati Radharani becomes pleased with you.

The Jaladuta Diary - September 11

The transcendental journey of Srila Prabhupada on the Jaladuta.

Saturday, September 11, 1965

Today the ship ran on very smoothly. The sky was clear and there was sunshine all the day. At about 7/30 in the morning we passed on the Azore group islands under the Portugal Republic. There was again rehearsal for life boat saving at 4/30 p.m. There was rehearsal of the fire brigadiers also. At night there was profuse moonlight on the ocean and considerable lurching also. But did not affect me very much as it used to do in the Arabian sea. The Atlantic Ocean is more kind to me than all other seas so far we have crossed over. It is all Lord Krishna’s Grace.”

The Jaladuta Diary - September 10

The transcendental journey of Srila Prabhupada on the Jaladuta.

Friday, September 10, 1965

“Today the ship is plying very smoothly. I feel today better. But I am feeling separation from Sri Vrindaban and my Lords Sri Govinda, Gopinath, Radha Damodar. The only solace is Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita in which I am tasting the nectarine of Lord Chaitanya’s Leela. I have left Bharat Bhumi just to execute the order of Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati in pursuance of Lord Chaitanya’s order. I have no qualification, but I have taken up the risk just to carry out the order of His Divine Grace. I depend fully on Their mercy so far away from Vrindaban.”

The Jaladuta Diary - September 8

The transcendental journey of Srila Prabhupada on the Jaladuta.

Wednesday, September 8, 1965

Today at about 8 o’clock in the morning and near about Gibraltar we had a first experience of fog impediment. It was all dark round the ship and she stopped moving completely. She was whistling now and then to protect herself from other unseen ships being collided with. We started at about 11 again. 8/9/65 at about 2/30 p.m. we passed over Gibraltar Port ending at Tarita Light House. The other side is Spanish Morocco There is regular ferry steamer service. The strait is wide about seven miles across. We are in the Atlantic.”

The Jaladuta Diary - September 6

The transcendental journey of Srila Prabhupada on the Jaladuta.

Monday, September 6, 1965

“Today I have taken khichri and kari. It was tasteful and I took them with relish and this gave me a push forward to get renewed strength little by little.”

The Jaladuta Diary - September 5

The transcendental journey of Srila Prabhupada on the Jaladuta.

Sunday, September 5, 1965
“In the evening the sky was cloudy and they expected foggy weather and all of them became little gloomy. But at midnight we passed Malta by God’s grace it was all right throughout the night.”

The Jaladuta Diary - September 4

September 4, 1965

“There was a rehearsal for emergency. We all prepared with belt on the body and the life boat was tested whether they were in order. There were two boats with capacity to load 120 persons. But we were all about fifty five on the board.”

The Jaladuta Diary - August 31

The transcendental journey of Srila Prabhupada on the Jaladuta.

Tuesday, August 31, 1965

“Passed over a great crisis on the struggle for life and death. A separate statement has to be written on this crisis area.”

The Jaladuta Diary - August 25

Aug 25, USA - Between Wednesday, August 25 and Monday, August 30, 1965, Srila Prabhupada’s Jaladuta Journal falls silent for six days. On the seventh day, August 31, the silence is broken with these simple words, “Passed over a great crisis on the struggle for life and death.”

 

 

 

 

“Passed over a great crisis on the struggle for life and death. A separate statement has to be written on this crisis area.”

An excerpt from a room conversation recorded June 8, 1976 in Los Angeles offers us some insight into this period of Srila Prabhupada’s historic journey on the Jaladuta.

Prabhupada: Hmm. So it is a great history. (laughs) There was two days I was attacked in heart on the ship. So hardship.

Guest: Then you had a dream?

Prabhupada: Hmm.

Guest: What was that, Srila Prabhupada?

The Jaladuta Diary - August 24

The transcendental journey of Srila Prabhupada on the Jaladuta.

Tuesday, August 24, 1965
“Today at about 1/30 p.m. I enquired from wheel-room that we have come only 400 miles off the Indian coast. My sea-sickness is still continuing. I take my meals once only but today I could not take my full meals also although I was fasting yesterday. I am feeling uncomfortable.”

The Jaladuta Diary - August 23

The transcendental journey of Srila Prabhupada on the Jaladuta.

Monday, August 23, 1965
Today Annanda Ekadashi We started towards Red sea on the western front at about 12/30 noon. The sky was almost clear and there was sunshine since the starting of the trip from Cochin port. We are floating now on the Arabian sea. My sea sickness again began. Headache vomiting tendency no hunger dizziness and no energy to work. It is continuing. There are sometimes showers of rain but for a short time. There was a fellow passenger in my cabin. He is also attacked with sea sickness. The whole night passed.”

The Jaladuta Diary - August 22

The transcendental journey of Srila Prabhupada on the Jaladuta.
Sunday, August 22, 1965

“At about 10 a.m. we are now in the dockyard of Cochin. The dock is peculiar because it is by nature full of small islands. Some of the islands are full with nice hutments formerly known as British Island. I saw my books from Bombay arrived in five cases and the agents loaded them on the ship at 4 p.m. on 22/8/65. The agent m/s Jairam & Sons kindly sent their car for my driving in the city.

The Jaladuta Diary - August 17

The transcendental journey of Srila Prabhupada on the Jaladuta.

Tuesday, August 17, 1965
“Tuesday morning the sky is scattered with cloud. The ship is going toward western side. I feel a little bit well after passing my stool. The ship is running against wind current. The sea is little rougher. At 10/30 we saw the south coast of Ceylon with a white light house. Two ships passed from the opposite side. Some daring fishermen were fishing in small boats. From distance they appeared to be almost drowning in the water but next moment they appear to be safely working.”

The Jaladuta Diary - August 16

The transcendental journey of Srila Prabhupada on the Jaladuta.

Monday, August 16, 1965

“Today early in the morning I saw that the ship is plying on the surface of the sea almost on 0 degree of waves. Yesterday night was comfortable and although I did not take my lunch, I took a little chara-murki [puffed rice/chidwa] with milk. The ship ran all the night yesterday smoothly and the sky although not very clear there was moon light in the night. In the morning there was sunshine but after 11 the sea became a little more rough showing foamy waves from distance. After passing the latitude of Trichinopoli we experienced a dark cloud subsequently raining all over the sea.

The siren sounded on account of hazy vision to warn other ships coming from opposite direction. At about 12 noon it is raining heavily and the ship is stopped moving occasionally sounding the siren. There is constant sounds of thunderbolt. This is the first time I am experiencing heavy rains in the midst of deep ocean. From 12 noon we are passing through cyclonic weather. The ship is tilting too much. I felt sea sickness all day and night. At 3 p.m. the ship turned towards Ceylon coast and we are now in the Ceylon water.”

The Jaladuta Diary - August 15

The transcendental journey of Srila Prabhupada on the Jaladuta.

Sunday, August 15, 1965

“In the morning I woke up and felt a little better but I felt no hunger. Took only a glass of lemon sikanjie [lemon drink/nimbu pani] but the head dizziness is continuing. Up to 10/30 I was in the captain’s room, radio room, chatting with the officers. In the radio room they were despatching news to other ships.

The captain’s room is full with nautical paraphernalia. I saw a chart of different appearancial photo of the sea. The grades are 0 to 10 degrees and I think we are passing on the sea between 4 to 7 points the scene of the 10th point was furious and the 12th serious. The captain advised me to take more solid food.”