1. Disciples becoming demigods

    I remember in Hyderabad during the temple opening in August 1976 a devotee asked you about Visnujana Maharaja. You looked concerned for a moment then said he was on a higher planetary level continuing his devotional service. Bhavabhuti Prabhu, who was then co-temple president of ISKCON Madras [Chennai], then asked you about taking sannyasa. “I understand the value of taking sannyasa,” he said, “but what should one do when still in a young body with prabala indriya, such strong senses?” One catches himself looking at the pretty girls in the kirtana during arati,” he confessed, “So which is better?” he asked, “Is it better to get married and thus satisfy ones desires until saturated or is it better to take sannyasa by suppressing ones urges?”

    You walked on a moment, then stopped and said, “If one is really intelligent, he takes sannyasa even if he is full of desires. In the heavenly planets, when the heavenly damsels walk in the breeze, the air becomes perfumed. When they bathe in a lake the water becomes perfumed.” You stopped, turned to us, opened your eyes big and said, “Then you can really enjoy!”

    You continued on a few steps then said softly, “Most of my disciples will become demigods.” We discussed this among ourselves afterwards and were shocked that perhaps, due to our material desires, we would not be able to go back home back to Godhead in this very life.

    (Arjuna Dasa, Srila Prabhupada Tributes 2013, p. 446.)