June 14, 1969 : New Vrindavan
Hayagriva: June 14. We are entering Prabhupada's fourth week at New Vrindavan. He is looking robust and is enjoying himself immensely. In the early morning, he walks down Aghasura Road to the spring and takes a little fresh water in his hand and sips it. He comments on everything: the birds, flowers, fence, pasture, buildings. Nothing is too insignificant to escape his attention. He even inquires about a stray dog.
"Does he have a name?"
"We call him Hare Rama," I say.
"And how's that?"
"Because he chants. He can't say Hare Krishna, but he can say Hare Rama."
When I coax Hare Rama by chanting "Hare Rama," he responds, as always, by lowering his head between his paws and making a strange sound that very closely resembles "Hare Ramaramarama."
"Oh, very good!" Prabhupada laughs. "Even the stray dogs are making nice progress here. That is the potency of a holy dham. In Vrindavan, you will see many dogs running loose in the streets, but when they die, they are liberated. That is a special benediction for those who have committed offenses in Vrindavan. They receive one life as a dog or hog in Vrindavan. Then liberation."
"Does he have a name?"
"We call him Hare Rama," I say.
"And how's that?"
"Because he chants. He can't say Hare Krishna, but he can say Hare Rama."
When I coax Hare Rama by chanting "Hare Rama," he responds, as always, by lowering his head between his paws and making a strange sound that very closely resembles "Hare Ramaramarama."
"Oh, very good!" Prabhupada laughs. "Even the stray dogs are making nice progress here. That is the potency of a holy dham. In Vrindavan, you will see many dogs running loose in the streets, but when they die, they are liberated. That is a special benediction for those who have committed offenses in Vrindavan. They receive one life as a dog or hog in Vrindavan. Then liberation."
Reference: The Hare Krishna Explosion - Hayagriva Dasa
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