PRABHUPADA’S PIONEERS
Spiritual Journeys of His Disciples of New Raman Reti.
Interviews ~ Articles ~ Photos of Their Lives in Service
compiled and edited by
Sri Devi Dasi
proofreading: Vegavati Devi Dasi.
Kaliyaphani Dasa
When Kaliyaphani Dasa first heard the sound of kartals and mridanga during his college days in Paris in 1971, it seemed to awaken an ancient memory and gave him a feeling of coming home. Inspired, he visited the Paris temple a few times, but soon returned to his native England. Dissatisfied, he started reading eastern philosophy and meditating. He also became a vegetarian, and as a result, came to perceive the veneer that covers the “western” way of life. In 1974, Kaliyaphani desired the association of genuine transcendentalists in order to make real spiritual progress. He remembered the devotees, and by Krishna’s arrangement received The KRSNA Book. Searching, he randomly met Ranchor Prime, a British devotee and author, who gave him association and directed him to the London Temple.
In early 1975, Kaliyaphani joined Bhaktivedanta Manor and was initiated by September of that year. For the next five years, Kaliyaphani was a traveling sankirtana brahmachari. He distributed Srila Prabhupada’s books in every town of over 30,000 people in the British Isles. During the first British Christmas Marathon, he won second place and as a prize got to travel to Vrindavan to take second initiation from Srila Prabhupada in 1976. Later he became a sankirtana leader and subsequently sankirtana coordinator for the UK. In 1981, Kaliyaphani became temple commander at Caitanya College in Worcester. After a year, he was sent to New Mayapur, France to train as an ashram teacher. During this time, however, the English gurukula had ceased to exist, and all the children came to board in France. Kaliyaphani taught there for three years. Additionally, his acting talent was discovered at this time by the temple president of New Mayapur, Indradyumna Swami. Apparently Kaliyaphani was so convincing as Hiranyakashipu, that he had made all the little children cry in fear!
During 1986-87, Kaliyaphani became the leader of a traveling festival program in France. They would visit French sankirtana parties and put on cultural festivals. During 1988-93, he came back to England and became the head gardener at the Manor and later ashram director, leading “ishtagosthi” programs for the spiritual development of devotees. From 1994-2000, Kaliyaphani lived in Mayapur, where he directed and produced dramas. There he also acted in Bhakti Caru Swami’s film series Abhay Caran, playing the part of the Governor of Bengal. He also founded and edited Mayapura Katha, and ISKCON newsletter. After Mayapur, Kaliyaphani helped to run the Johannesburg temple in South Africa, and spent some time back in his native England.
In 2005, seeking a devotee community where he could feel at home, Kaliyaphani discovered Alachua. Initially, he took over the running of Sadaputa Dasa’s Govardhan Hill Publishing. Eventually he became the director of temple grounds and property and a key player in our drama productions. Here he has directed, produced, and acted in about 20 plays, and was actively involved with children’s theater. One may remember Kaliyaphani as the figure dangling up in a tree or as one of the ominous characters in devotional dramas!
To progress in spiritual life, Kaliyaphani felt that a period each day is necessary when nothing comes between oneself and the Holy Name. If that is not there, one is lost. Our duty is to focus on our daily sixteen rounds, inviting Krishna’s mercy into our life. We should also give out to others the gift we have been given by Srila Prabhupada; otherwise we run the risk of losing it. Kaliyaphani prabhu left his body in 2019, having suffered a motorcycle accident.
To read the complete book please click here: (51MB pdf file)
https://www.alachuatemple.com/files/PDFs/SP_Disciples_of_Alachua_2021.pdf