January 26, 1977 : Jagannath Puri

Bhakti Tirtha Swami: Srila Prabhupada’s missionary efforts have resulted in large numbers of “non-Hindus” adopting the path of Vaishnavism. Predictably, many of these foreign devotees have tried to negotiate entry into the Jagannath temple. Most importantly, the celebrated spiritual master, Prabhupada himself, visited Puri on January 26, 1977, and although he, being Indian, was personally allowed to enter, he came there only to implore temple authorities on behalf of his Western followers. Prabhupada argued as follows:

This stumbling block should be dissolved. You want to pack Jagannath Swami up inside your home, and do not want to allow His mercy to expand. He is Jagannath, the Lord of the Universe, not only the Lord of Puri, or the Lord of Orissa. He is Jagannath. Krishna declares in the Bhagavad-gita that He is Lord of all. So why should you deny the inhabitants of the world? Why not allow them the darshan of Jagannath? Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu never approved such denial. He said, “My name will be spread throughout every town and village in the world.” Now this is being done and people from all over the world are eager to come here. So why do you restrict them?

Of course, if you do not allow these foreigners to enter the temple, there is no loss for them, because Jagannath has already come to them, and they are worshiping Him. But it is the proper etiquette to show respect to the Vaishnavas. Mahaprabhu has condemned offenses to the Vaishnavas. Since these Vaishnavas are so eager to come to Jagannath Puri and to see Jagannath, you should welcome them. I have thus come to specifically request that you remove this restriction and that you be friendly to the foreign devotees.

While Prabhupada’s words fell on deaf ears, he staged a personal protest that was indeed heard by temple authorities – he refused to go into the temple himself.