"I have already named eleven of my disciples so you can write to any of them the recommended persons and after receiving the spiritual name, you can hold a fire ceremony."

Instructions for Initiating Devotees in Fiji

Vrndavana, October 18, 1977
From Tamal Krishna [SL_771018_a1]
Fiji

My dear Vasudeva Prabhu,

Please accept my humble obeisances at your feet. I have been instructed by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada to reply your letter dated September 29th, 1977. Although His Divine Grace is very ill, still he is so much interested in Fiji and the Krishna-Kaliya Temple that I thought it proper to read your Letter to him. Srila Prabhupada heard everything with great attention. Srila Prabhupada was very pleased to know that book distribution is being increased with the ample assistance of householders living outside the temple. Prabhupada said that any of these sincere householders should be initiated.

"Increase the number of devotees there. You initiate them with a fire ceremony. I have already named eleven of my disciples so you can write to any of them the recommended persons and after receiving the spiritual name, you can hold a fire ceremony.

"Your idea for dressing the Deity is very good. Krishna˙s lotus feet should always be visible. But Krishna should not have too short a dress, that will not look nice. Yes, the Nagapatnis' tails may also show. Please send a photograph showing how nicely the Deities look now. I will be very happy to see it. Yes, you may initiate the wife of Bhuhan Mohan Das. She may help with the Deity worship."

In general, Srila Prabhupada's main desire is that you should increase the number of devotees. In this regard, His Divine Grace said, "Initiate the local natives. Ask them to give up their bad habits and become Vaisnavas." Four times while Srila Prabhupada heard your letter, He stressed this point of increasing the number of followers there. So just as when Srila Prabhupada went to America, He was very merciful and lenient in giving out first initiations, so you may also be. If someone has agreed to follow the regulative principles and has been attending the temple for some time and chanting rounds, you can encourage them by giving initiation. You may send the names of such worthy persons to any one of the eleven devotees whom Srila Prabhupada has designated to initiate on His behalf, and after receiving the sanctified beads and new names, you can then perform the initiation ceremony. In this way spread very vigorously his glorious movement of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and try to make Fiji the first Krishna conscious country in the world.

Hoping this meets you in the best of health and Krishna consciousness.

Your servant,
Tamal Krishna Gosvami
Secretary to Srila Prabhupada