Book Devotee Special : Nidra-Devi Dasi in Denver
As many of you know, my service in ISKCON is to travel worldwide to inspire devotees to distribute Prabhupada's books, but quite often when I visit temples, someone inspires me. I recently experienced this in Denver. Nidra Dasi joined in 1976 and has been distributing since that time. She made a vow to distribute books every day.
She has the most dedicated devotional schedule that I've ever seen. She starts her day at 2:00 A.M. every morning and chants most of her rounds before waking the Deities and then offering arati. Altogether she is on the altar for six hours in the morning and then she goes on book distribution. She comes back for lunch and then goes out again every day. She's about sixty years old, but is one of the top book distributors in the USA, and she's quite often in the top ten. Denver is very cold for half of the year, but she is out there daily distributing Srila Prabhupada's books. At one point in the 80s she and her book distribution companions decided to distribute for twelve hours every day. I asked how long she did that.
She replied, "For years."
Shocked, I could only think, "Here is a devotee completely absorbed in book distribution."
Prabhupada once said, "Don't divert your attention for a moment from this book distribution." She is in that category.
I asked her whether she had any amazing book distribution stories for the devotees.
She said, "I approached a lady that looked a little suspicious but I thought I'd try anyway and see what happens. The lady gave a small donation, took the book, and threw it in the trash. She wanted to get the book just to do that.
"Then some time later I saw her at our Govinda's restaurant, I was very surprised that someone so demoniac would come to our restaurant. When she saw me, she said, 'I'm here just for the food, no other reason, so don't any of you start telling me about Krsna.' She regularly visited, taking lots of prasada. Well, prasad did what it does best: purifies. She became purified, started having nice relationships with the devotees, and eventually started working in the store. Then she got initiated. This is the amazing affect of prasad and association with devotees. Even someone so demoniac as to throw Srila Prabhupada's book in the trash becomes a devotee."
I did an hour-and-forty-minute interview with Nidra. She tells how she joined and other book distribution experiences she's had. Very interesting. I'll let you know when it will be on the Web site.
Your Servent
Vijaya Das
