Thank You George

A tribute to George Harrison

by Sakshi Gopal das

Back in late 1969, when Srila Prabhupada installed Sri Sri Radha London-iswara in the Their new temple at 7 Bury Place, no one could have foreseen just how quickly the devotees would outgrow their new five storey building. So many guests came for the Sunday Love Feast programme that the temple room was soon bursting at the seams. Once, even the stairs collapsed. Yes, the preaching was successful and within a few years the ashram was spilling over with new recruits, eager to serve Srila Prabhupada and the mission of Lord Chaitanya. Taking the austerities in their stride as they embraced the spiritual adventure, devotees would sleep in the hall, on the stairs, in the shower room, under the printing press and – during major festivals like Rathayatra when dozens more devotees would flock from Holland, France and Germany – they would even lay out their bedrolls on neighbouring rooftops, much to the dismay of local residents living across the road. Especially since they didn’t wear pyjamas.

As a regular visitor to the temple and honoured guest of Srila Prabhupada, George Harrison was already well aquainted with the devotees’ ever growing need for more space. Perhaps even he was surprised at the phenomenal success of the preaching pioneered by his Hare Krishna friends. But when it came to matters spiritual, no doubt George was used to surprises. Before he even met Hare Krishna devotees, he had already developed a taste for chanting Hare Krishna. He had already been deeply touched by Srila Prabhupada’s kirtan on the “Happening Album”. Consequently, when they arrived in UK and he met the devotees in person, right from the outset it was easy for him to befriend that core group of fresh faced, idealistic American Vaisnavas.
Perhaps he recognised them as being sent to help him on his own spiritual journey. He certainly didn’t waste any time forging a number of deep friendships, connections that would last a lifetime. In their association his taste for chanting grew more and more, matched only by his taste for Krishna prasadam.

Having felt the blissful potency of kirtan together and recognising the potential for a hit record, George suggested they make a studio recording. Naturally it would be released it on the Beatles’ very own Apple label. In the studio, George was in his element and he expertly arranged and produced what swiftly became a worldwide hit single. The Hare Krishna Mantra was followed by The Govindam Prayers and the chart making album, Radha Krishna Temple. As a consequence, devotees soon found themselves regarded as celebraties and billed at various events up and down the country. Armed with mrdanga drum and karatel, the devotees took their devotional bhajans and chanting of Hare Krishna from the street into a variety of venues around UK – and even into Europe. These live performances naturally fell short of the polished production recorded at the Apple Studios, but people were eager to hear a live performance from the band of mysterious, robed musicians they had first seen on BBC television’s Top Of The Pops. So, thanks to George’s timely help, the Hare Krishna mantra went way beyond the street and straight into the hit parade – into people’s homes where it reached the ears of millions while the revenue from record sales helped to pay the temple bills.

The months went by, and now, without him even visiting the temple, George would see and hear the devotees continually chanting on the streets. Every day, as he drove around London, to and from the Beatles’
Apple offices in Carnaby Street, he would come across the the street kirtan. All day and every day devotees were out in all weathers, mrdanga drum and karatel cymbals in hand, accompanying their constant chanting of the Hare Krishna maha mantra. The harinam party quickly became a familiar sight as the dancing devotees wove in and out of the crowds. They were a common sight from Oxford Street to Regent Street, from Portobello road to Leicester Square, giving out Back To Godhead magazines and invitations to the Sunday Love Feast. Hare Krishna was definately part of “the scene”. While some passers-by mistook the chanting to be some kind of drug induced exhibitionism – yet another form of hippie madness - George Harrison was among the growing numbers who knew otherwise. He understood and he was impressed by the devotees’
austerity and single minded dedication to higher purpose. He had turned to India for musical and spiritual inspiration, in his search for life’
s meaning. Now, he was happy to see his personal friends, who seemed to embody that yearning for higher purpose, taking that urgent message out into the world, right here on his own doorstep, rubbing shoulders with the sightseers and shoppers in London’s busy West end. And George was more than happy to be seen as part of that mission. It was what the he – and the world – sorely needed. He personally felt the necessity for a re-spiritualisation of human society and expressed as much in his songs. Witnessing the ever growing need for bigger premises he offered to purchase a property if they could locate something suitable.

“Put your money where his mouth is” ....so the saying goes, but with George Harrison it was never just a saying. Although never a soft touch, for George, generosity was second nature - and it came from the heart. This he demonstrated many, many times throughout his life to friends, associates, and even complete strangers. To him, friendships were especially sacred - and he was always one to show his appreciation and gratitude in the most practical way. So, when the need arose for a bigger temple, George offered to purchase a property in the country as soon as the devotees located something suitable. And it would need to be within striking distance of London.

The story has been told many times already, and it will be told many times again, of how the residents of a quiet little village known as Letchmore Heath witnessed, with some consternation, the transformation of a run down nursing home known as Piggots Manor, into a vibrarant centre of Krishna consciousness that has become celebrated the world over. Bhaktivedanta Manor has grown to fill many roles. It is different things to different people, far too numerous to even begin mentioning here. But without the timely generosity of George Hari’s son, as Srila Prabhupada sometimes called him, we certainly wouldn’t be here if it hadn’t been for his generousity. As George himself said during his last visit to the Manor: “Well, someone had to do it.”

When George’s passing hit the news in November, 2001, the temple room at Bhaktivedanta Manor was quickly filled. Devotees, well wishers and friends gathered to offer their appreciation and gratitude to “Our George” - a great soul and devotee who did so much to popularize Indian music, spiritual culture in general and who personally put himself “on the line” to serve Srila Prabhupada’s mission. It was a moving experience. We have had an Evening For George each year since then – a celebration of his music, his words, and his humour – and it seems to be getting bigger every year. So, if you were unable to make it to this year’s party, be sure to drop by on 29th November, 2008. Then you too can join us as we say...

...Hare Krishna, George. Thanks for doing it!

Written by Sakshi Gopala dasa, December 2007

Copyright © Bhaktivedanta Manor 2008
UK Headquarters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Founder-Acarya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
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