Trinidad and Tobago

Expressions researched:
"Trinidad and Tobago" |"Trinidad"

Arrival Addresses and Talks

Arrival Lecture -- Calcutta, March 20, 1975:

Prabhupāda: Twenty-fourth January to 15th March-less than two months—I had the opportunity to go round about the world. From Bombay I went to Hong Kong, then from Hong Kong to Tokyo, Japan; from Tokyo to Honolulu, Honolulu to Mexico City, then Venezuela. Caracas... Caracas?

Karandhara: Yes.

Prabhupāda: I forget name also. (laughs) South America. Then I was to go to Trinidad, West Indies, but there was no time. The West Indies people came to see me. Mostly they are Indians. And then Miami, then from Miami to Atlanta, Atlanta. From Atlanta to Dallas, our Gurukula, then to New York, then to London, and from London to Bombay again.

Śruta-kīrti: Tehran.

Prabhupāda: Tehran. Yes. I forgot. He has come. Here is the Tehran representative. Yes. So there was very nice meeting in Tehran. Many scholar, Muhammadan, came to see me. So everyone is understanding the importance of this movement. So in Tehran I discussed about chanting of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra.

1973 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation with Dr. Christian Hauser, Psychiatrist -- September 10, 1973, Stockholm:

Prabhupāda: Caracas.

Paramahaṁsa: And Trinidad.

Prabhupāda: Trinidad.

Dr. Hauser: When did this movement start in the western hemisphere?

Haṁsadūta: 1966, in New York City. The teachings are standard, the teachings of this movement are standard, coming down from the original source, Kṛṣṇa, the original speaker. So it is very scientific. It's not manufactured. Today's science... Just like psychoanalysis, so many things, they are created recently. And so there are so many experiments and theories changing every day. But Kṛṣṇa consciousness is different in that it is the standard science for understanding the self.

1974 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk -- April 20, 1974, Hyderabad:

Prabhupāda: She was raped.

Satsvarūpa: Trinidad.

Prabhupāda: Yes. She was raped.

Pañcadraviḍa: How do you teach a varṇāśrama college? In varṇāśrama college if somebody comes in... They say, "I want to be kṣatriya" or "I want to be vaiśya." Is it like that?

Prabhupāda: No, that will be tested by the teachers, what for he is fit. He will be test by the guru.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk -- June 27, 1975, Los Angeles:

Bahulāśva: He is going to eat them.

Brahmānanda: (in car) ...difficult to get visas for Trinidad and Guyana. Especially Trinidad. And once he even got a visa and they rejected it at the border.

Prabhupāda: There is no need of... (break)

Brahmānanda: Oh, Same situation of having a Negro government with a large Indian population. (break) ...will have to be gotten from inside the country and then sent to us here.

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- January 15, 1977, Allahabad:

Prabhupāda: Yes. India did not know what is tea. They started the tea gardens, and they recruited labors from India. We have seen in our childhood that Mahatma Gandhi Road. When I was standing on the gate, five hundred, six hundred laborers recruited from Bihar. Bihar and Orissa, these two provinces very poor. Even all these colonies, just like Trinidad... Where is Englishmen? If the laborers and Indians were sent... Therefore we find in Mauritius, in Africa, so many Indians. Their kingdom, first of all it was conquered by Indian soldiers. Then, when it was to be organized-Indian coolies, Indian laborers, Indian guards. They have got men and money, but they expanded Empire. So I am doing the same business: American money, American... (laughs) I am also a great politician.

Room Conversation -- February 19, 1977, Mayapura:

Prabhupāda: In Africa? Huge Indian, whole Africa-east, west, north, south.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: And also in Trinidad.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Those countries.

Prabhupāda: Trinidad, there are many Indians. They know Hindi.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. They were waiting for Hindi books.

Prabhupāda: Yes. Give them. Print huge quantity. This is very important item, our book distribution. Whole Bombay, whole building should be stocked. Hindi, Gujarati, Telegu, so that one house for one stock. And try to, mean, vacate even by giving them. Simply our business, nothing else. And those who are devotees, they'll follow you, and they can come and live. That's all. And engage whatever help they can give.

Room Conversation 'GBC Resolutions' -- March 1, 1977, Mayapura:

Satsvarūpa: Starting with South America... South America's responsibilities would be divided between Pañcadraviḍa Swami and Hṛdayānanda Mahārāja like this: Pañcadraviḍa would be responsible for the temples in Mexico and Central America, Guyana, Santo Domingo and Trinidad. And he will also work as required in the Los Angeles Spanish BBT office. And Hṛdayānanda Mahārāja will retain direct responsibility for Brazil, Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Chile and Ecuador, and also he was going to take on co-GBC responsibilities in Spain and Portugal, which are the same language as the books he's printing in, along with Bhagavān, in whose zone that is, Spain and Portugal in Europe, for spreading Spanish book distribution. And as for the BBT duties that Hṛdayānanda Mahārāja has, he will have Pañcadraviḍa Mahārāja assist him in that also. We passed a resolution about...

Prabhupāda: What about the French printing and translation? That is stopped now?

1970 Correspondence

Letter to Dinesh -- Los Angeles 26 June, 1970:

So your plan to visit the heads of each of the embassies in Washington to give them some Prasadam and explain our philosophy of Krsna Consciousness Movement is very nice. So do it with great seriousness and Krsna will give you all further intelligence. Regarding the proposal of a new center in Trinidad, that is a nice idea. I know that there is a large Indian community there. For the time being just try to train up this nice older woman who is staying with you. Give her all facilities and instruction for understanding our Krsna consciousness way of life.

Letter to Bhagavan -- Surat 18 December, 1970:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letters November 30th and December 3d, and have noted the contents. I have not received the two sets of slides mentioned in your letter.

Yes, I have heard of your plan to open a branch in Trinidad. That will be very nice and the selected members are approved by me. The more we open branches, the more I feel encouraged. These branches are like the oasis in a vast desert. In the desert there is no water, but occasionally if one is fortunate he may come in contact with an oasis and he is saved. Similarly in this material world we are drying up due to lack of spiritual knowledge.

1971 Correspondence

Letter to Rupanuga -- Allahabad 11 January, 1971:

I have just received a letter from Bhavananda from New York and it appears that there are many persons regularly attending our classes and following the regulative principles as well as chanting Hare Krsna Mantra. That is the success of our preaching work when there is this result of more persons joining, so I am confident that things are going on.

Please increase the book distribution program as far as you can. The proposal to open a center in Trinidad with the help of Mr. Gajjar and others is very encouraging.

Letter to Vaikunthanatha -- Allahabad 12 January, 1971:

That is the sign of advancement in spiritual life that one is detached from material sense gratification and finds pleasure in serving Krsna only.

I think as you say that Trinidad is the "stepping stone" to South America and it is very good proposal that you and your wife shall go there with the encouragement and support of some natives. When people are so eager for Krsna consciousness, it is our duty to go and enlighten them. Lord Caitanya wanted this mission spread up all over the globe. Now you are kindly helping to fulfill His transcendental desire. I am very anxious to see this movement having centers in all the important cities of all the seven continents. That will serve the purpose to bring in unification of the entire world under the banner of Krsna Consciousness Movement within a very short time.

Letter to Dr. Baltwant Singh -- Gorakhpur 22 February, 1971:

I thank you very much for your kind invitation to our organization for visiting your place. Since a very long time I was thinking of going to your place but there was no opportunity to do so. Now as our movement is spreading all over the world and I am working at present in India, two of my disciples, husband and wife, have already gone to Trinidad. They are somewhere in Frederick Street in Trinidad. The couple's names are Vaikunthanatha Das Adhikari and Saradia Devi Dasi and they are now at present in the Port-of-Spain. I'm enclosing herein one picture of the couple. If possible you can open correspondence with them. If you find difficulty then you can refer this matter to Hayagriva Das Adhikari; c/o New Vrindaban; R.D. 3; Moundsville, W. Virginia; U.S.A.

Letter to Abhirama -- Bombay 5 March, 1971:

I am in due receipt of your letter undated and have noted the contents carefully. I am very anxious that Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's message be carried to South America also. Now we have got one center in Trinidad, started by Vaikunthanatha and his wife Saradia. That is a beginning. So your idea of having a large boat travelling from city to city is very encouraging. So if you have got the means, then go ahead and do it. Krishna Conscious men aboard ship and chanting Hare Krishna is very nice program and the coastal people may take advantage of this transcendental vibration and be benefited. So do it cooperatively with Hayagriva Prabhu and let me know of your progress.

Letter to Vaikunthanatha, Saradia -- Bombay 4 April, 1971:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your very encouraging letter dated 21st March, 1971 and have noted the contents carefully. I am so glad and proud of you that you two young boy and girl have gone to Trinidad to preach the mission of Lord Caitanya and you have impressed the public so nicely by your preaching work. May Lord Caitanya bless you and bestow his benediction upon you always.

The news of your newly established temple in Trinidad, San Fernando, is so much encouraging and now Kanupriya and his wife are running that center in your absence. Long ago I was invited by the people of Trinidad but at that time I could not go, although I had great desire to go there. Now you are fulfilling my desire.

Letter to Vaikunthanatha, Saradia -- Bombay 4 April, 1971:

So take advantage and immediately open a center. It is a good field for selling our literature (5000 BTG per month to start is very encouraging) and the inhabitants are cooperative, so it is the ideal opportunity to open a center. So Trinidad or Guyana, one center should be established very nicely. Just like we have got our L.A. center and so many smaller centers. Similarly, in that quarter of the world there must be one very nice center. So concentrate your efforts in that way and when things are ready I shall send you Deities. And when the situation is favorable, I shall go there also.

Letter to Dr. Balwant Singh -- Bombay 4 April, 1971:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated 23d March, 1971 and have noted the contents. I am so pleased that you have taken my two young disciples, Vaikunthanatha and Saradia, from Trinidad for preaching work. It is so kind of you that you are appreciating their work in this connection. Kindly continue to help them so that there may not be any impediment in their preaching work.

Letter to Dr. Balwant Singh -- Bombay 4 April, 1971:

I thank you very much for inviting me to go there. If it is Krishna's desire that a temple be built in Trinidad or Guyana, then I shall go there. I have received one letter from Dindayal of Guyana in this connection and if the two of you can work with Vaikunthanatha and Saradia for establishing one center, that will be very nice. So thank you once more for your kind invitation and when the temple is established, I shall go there as soon as possible.

Letter to Caitanya -- Bombay, India 11 June, 1971:

I am so pleased to hear how you, husband and wife, are doing so nicely in Trinidad. I can see that the response to your preaching work has been very good. You will be glad to know that I have told Kanupriya that if they are willing to make a donation of that house and land, then I'm prepared to go there with Deity and make the installation.

Letter to Caitanya -- Bombay, India 11 June, 1971:

So you should see to it that the trinidad center becomes a grand success. So you must give your good husband all assistance so that he can do things nicely. that is you duty. As his wife, you are his better half and it is your duty to help him in every way possible. So first of all you must keep yourself fit in Krishna Consciousness. the means are simple. Strictly follow the regulative principles, regularly chant at least 16 rounds of beads daily, and without fail; read all our books and discuss them with your husband; go out for preaching regularly. In this way always keep engaged in Krishna's service with enthusiasm and faith in Krishna, and He will give you all facility for developing Trinidad center very nicely.

Letter to Kanupriya -- Bombay, India 11 June, 1971:

I thank you very much for your letter dated 26 Madhusudana, 485 Caitanya Era and I have noted the contents carefully. It is so much encouraging to hear how nicely things are going on there in Trinidad and Guyana also. And the people are appreciating the purity of our teachings. Gradually they will appreciate such teachings more and more, simply if we stick to our principles. Still there is much demigod puja, but you should quote from Bhagavad-gita that Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, says that less intelligent men worship the demigods and the result of such worship is not permanent. Krishna Consciousness is permanent, and the living entities are also permanent. So instead of wasting their time worshiping the demigods, everyone should take to Krishna Consciousness.

Letter to Kanupriya -- Bombay, India 11 June, 1971:

And Krishna is giving you so much facility. So you can immediately open a very nice center there in Trinidad in that newly donated building and I may go there personally with Deities for installation also. So if they are donating the house and land, I am prepared to go there to accept the donation. Petambar Dindayal and Dr. Balwant Singh have both invited me to go there, so if you have been donated house and land, then I can go there without hesitation.

Letter to Kanupriya -- Bombay, India 11 June, 1971:

You will be glad to know that I have consented to accept your good wife as my duly initiated disciple and have given her the name Caitanya Devi Dasi. Her beads and letter are enclosed herewith. So now both of you, husband and wife, work cooperatively and make ISKCON Trinidad a grand success.

Please offer my blessings to Vaikunthanatha and Saradia and ask them to write me and let me know of their activities in Guyana.

Letter to Vaikunthanatha, Saradia -- Brooklyn 24 July, 1971:

I am so glad to receive your letter dated 4th July, 1971 from Trinidad and it has encouraged me so much that I am now confident that my missionary activities will go on even in my absence. You young husband and wife are so nice that Krishna will shower His blessings upon you both incessantly. Please keep up the spirit of preaching work and you will be victorious wherever you go.

Letter to Vaikunthanatha, Saradia -- Brooklyn 24 July, 1971:

I have received your press cuttings and they are very much encouraging. So you concentrate you energy for preaching in that part of the world. You are already popular there and you will become more and more popular.

Nara Narayana may be required for constructing a temple in Mayapur in India, but if he doesn't go to India then surely he will go to Trinidad to construct a new temple there.

So the public is in sympathy with our movement and I am sure that there will be no difficulty in extending your visas further. Work sincerely, keeping faith on Krishna and the Spiritual Master and everything will come out successful.

Letter to Vaikunthanatha, Saradia -- London 9 August, 1971:

So far Nara Narayana is concerned, presently he is applying for missionary visa so that he can go to Mayapur and help with the construction work there. So he won't be able to go to Trinidad. But you write to say that you are trying to get the use of one of many old temples there for an ISKCON center. That will be very nice, so try for it. BTG and book distribution is going on so nicely there. Especially continue this program enthusiastically. It is so much encouraging. I am so much grateful to you both, husband and wife, that you are so much helping me to fulfill the order of my Guru Maharaja and surely Krishna will give you all facility for making our Trinidad center a grand success and surely He will bless you more and more. Just as soon as you have secured a nice temple and have organized a nice program, I will be glad to come and visit there. That will be very nice.

Letter to Suresh Candra -- London 13 August, 1971:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated 15th July, 1971 and have noted the contents. I am glad to learn that you had contact with my disciple Vaikunthanatha and his wife Saradia Devi there in Guyana. Presently Vaikunthanatha and wife are in Trinidad at the following address: c/o B.N. Singh; 258 Christian Drive; Plaisance Park; Pointe-a-Pierre; Trinidad, W. Indies, and are working very hard to push on this Krishna Consciousness movement in that part of the world. They are very sincere young couple and I am very much appreciative of the fine work they are doing there. Formerly they were in Guyana but when their visas expired, they were forced to leave the country, despite the local support. But I know that there are many people in Guyana who are wanting to see us establish one center of our International Society for Krishna Consciousness there in Guyana.

Letter to Vaikunthanatha -- London 6 September, 1971:

I am sending herewith, please find, complete plans for a temple there in Trinidad, drawn by Rancor Prabhu here in London. So as soon as you receive the deed you should give these plans to the government, get them sanctioned and begin construction. In the design you will find a portion especially meant for my residence. So it will be a great pleasure for me to go there and live with you for some time. Since 1965 or before that there was a plan for me to go to Trinidad. I had some correspondence with one Mr. Kuldap. I do not know if you have met this gentleman. He was very anxious to get me there.

Letter to Vaikunthanatha -- Bombay 18 December, 1971:

I had expected some news of this plan you have proposed, but til now I have not received from you any word. I am very pleased that you are progressing nicely in spreading Krishna Consciousness there in Trinidad. I shall be especially glad to hear that you are distributing our books in good numbers, as this is the proof of the strength of our preaching. Until we can build that place, go on preaching very strongly in that Hindu temple, take engagements in various places, teach in schools, like that. In this way, keep yourselves engaged in Krishna's preaching work 24 hours and you will become really happy.

1972 Correspondence

Letter to Saradia -- Bombay 5 February, 1972:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter of January 26, 1972, and I am very upset to learn the news of that incident in Trinidad. Yes, you are right to stay away from such a place, and there is no harm if husband and wife live separately for some time. I do not know if there is good possibility in Trinidad for preaching. If, as you say, you are only preaching among the Indians there, then I think they may not be taking up this philosophy of Krishna Consciousness very seriously, and in that case there may be better scope for you and your good husband to open a center in Europe, as requested by your brother, Krishna das. But if the people of Trinidad are very seriously interested in our ISKCON Movement, then we should remain there and expand our preaching work.

Letter to Vaikunthanatha -- Calcutta 21 February, 1972:

Regarding your proposal to incorporate under the title "Trinidad and Tobago Society for Krishna Consciousness," that's all right. I am very much pleased that you have been given nearly one acre of land, and even though it is not in the most populous neighborhood, still, we can utilize it in the manner you suggest by first building up a smaller place there and keep it as an asrama. Later on, if we get many devotees and friends, we may develop there like we are presently doing in Bombay, where we have just purchased a large 20,000 sq. yd. plot for putting up the first "Hare Krishna City," which will be a cooperative housing society wherein businessmen and professional people, or other substantial people, who are also devotees of Krishna, may purchase flats or apartments in a multi-story apartment house and may live there whenever they like.

1974 Correspondence

Letter to Citsukhananda -- Los Angeles 14 July, 1974:

You can immediately secure that land, and I am asking Saurabha from Vrindaban to send you the sample plans exactly like our Vrindaban temple. When the time is ripe, I shall be very glad come there and open the temple.

Krishna may bless you because you are doing so much for Krishna. Try to have a nice temple for Krishna at Trinidad. It is an important place.

Letter to Karandhara -- Los Angeles 14 July, 1974:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated 25/6/74 redirected from Australia. In the meantime I have received one letter from Karandhara Prabhu, so I am replying two letters conjointly. I also request you to draw an exact similar plan like that of our Vrindaban temple and send it to Trinidad at the following address: ISKCON, 21 C Penbroke St., Port Of Spain, Trinidad, West Indies. The idea is that we have got a land there, one half acre, and we want to construct a similar temple like Vrindaban there. So I hope at your earliest convenience you will send the site plan at least to Trinidad as soon as possible. We have a proposed temple in Bhaktivedanta Manor, Letchmore Heath, London, and I hope in the meantime you might have received the same request from Madhavananda Prabhu.

1975 Correspondence

Letter to Sridhara Maharaja -- Mexico City 14 February, 1975:

Then I went to Hawaii and I received your letter there. Then I went to Los Angeles. Now I am staying at our Mexico City temple at the address below. Here the Mexicans are taking part in sankirtana and Deity worship very nicely. They have become very good devotees. In the neighboring countries like Venezuela, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Trinidad and the Dominican Republic we have also got our temples. So, I am touring in these temples to see how things are going on, and by the grace of Krishna, everyone is becoming Krishna Conscious.

Letter to Hrdayananda -- Denver 27 June, 1975:

It is very nice, and I am glad to learn that our movement is being nicely received there.

So I am prepared to come to South America, but the Venezuela Consulate in Los Angeles informs that they have government order not to give me visa. What is the meaning? You can try to arrange programs in Panama, Trinidad, and Guyana, so I can get down there on my way to Brazil. But, if there is any difficulty in getting the visa for these countries, then we may suspend the program. I do not want to take any risk, just like in Nairobi I was refused entry and it was a great inconvenience. This is not good for me.