A white Rolls Royce pulled up to a chaotic sidewalk scene on Saville Row. People pushing and shoving, trying to get into the door. The paparazzi flashbulbs capture Yoko Ono, who sees Shyamasundar das in the crowd and says, “Oh you must be one of George’s friends come in.” And though they were yet to meet in this lifetime, that friendship would have a profound impact on pop culture and mass consciousness.
Picture Yourself In A Boat On A River
George Harrison had been curious about Indian Spirituality since he first saw a sitar on the set of The Beatles film, Help! in 1965. During a dinner party at their dentist’s house, George and John Lennon discovered their coffee had been dosed with LSD. Harrison explained, “In the back of my consciousness. It was like somebody was whispering to me ‘Yogis of the Himalayas.”
Ravi Shankar and George Harrison practicing sitar on the banks of Dal Lake in Sringara, Kashmir .
A year later a friend introduced Harrison to Indian music virtuoso, Ravi Shankar. They lived together on a houseboat in Kashmir so the moptop could immerse himself in the instrument and the philosophies that surround it. He read Rajas Yoga by Swami Vivekananda and Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda, practiced Hatha Yoga and pranayama (yogic breathing).
Krsna Consciousness Comes West
Shyamasundar das was born Sam Speerstra in Oregon, USA. The son of a farmer, this Fullbright Scholar lived in Switzerland for a year. He recalls, “I went there to ski basically. But meeting all of the young people at this school, I suddenly realized Wow, there’s a lot of us out there looking for the truth. And Rock Scully was one of those. He was a rare soul.”
Rock Scully (L) and Sam Speerstra (R) roommates at a ski college in Switzerland 1960s
The duo moved to San Francisco, where Sam became an enterprising drug dealer. He imported hashish from Tangiers, gave Owsley’s “Purple Haze” to a then unknown guitarist named Jimi Hendrix, and hung with Grace Slick during the “White Rabbit” era. But he and his friends were seeking “the real thing” – a teacher, a guide, a guru. They found him in AC Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabhupad.
Beat Poet Allen Ginsburg Accompanies “The Swami” to San Francisco – SFO January 17, 1967. Sam third from left.
Beware Of Darkness
Harrison and then-wife Pattie Boyd were visiting her sister in America. George later recounted, “I was really afraid because I could see all of these spotty youths and they were still under the current of Beatlemania, from a kind of twisted angle..and trying to give me drugs, I’d say ‘no thanks I don’t want’, we were walking quicker and quicker.”
George Harrison and Pattie Boyd in Golden Gate Park
The ominous crowd aggressively followed the couple through the park and into a getaway car. George continued, “Got on the jet, and as it took off the plane went into a [engine] stall [and started to plummet]. And the whole dashboard lit up saying ‘UNSAFE’ right across.…so at that point I stopped taking it actually, the dreaded lysergic, that’s where I really went for the meditation.”
Mantra-Rock-Dance
Sam and a childhood friend scraped together a few hundred bucks to rent a storefront turned temple space in the heart of The Haight at 518 Frederick Street. Rock was living at 710 Ashbury Street with a new band he was managing, The Grateful Dead. They requested “The Dead” perform a benefit concert to raise money for The Swami to come to San Francisco. Guitarist Jerry Garcia agreed, “Sure why not? Sounds groovy man.” Hundreds attended the revolutionary Mantra-Rock-Dance event. AC Bhakti Vedanta Swami Prabupad addressed the crowd,
“This chant comes from India. It will lead us to the spiritual world…
The mantra is not only for Indians. Hare Krishna chanting is for all people…
The words of this chanting are ‘Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare”
Mantra-Rock-Dance Poster Avalon Ballroom 1967
The next morning the temple program was packed and the West Coast movement had begun.
Shyamasundar das reflects, “No, we didn’t think that it would be historical. The dance and all that achieved so much fame later, but at the time this whole scene was starting up, the groundswell was happening, and we all just kind of jumped into it together.”
Within You, Without You
Some of the Beatles, wives, and friends attended a Transcendental Meditation (TM) program with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at a Hilton Hotel in Wales. The “fifth Beatle” business mastermind, Brian Epstein stayed behind. The newspaper headlines read, “EPSTEIN (the Beatle-Making Prince of Pop) DIES AT 32.” While committing to their inward lives, the person responsible for their outward identities left this world. (I read the news today, oh boy…).
The Beatles, their wives, Mike Love of the Beach Boys, Donovan, Mia and Prudence Farrow with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
Reeling from this seismic shift, the group famously traveled to Rishikesh for an extended two-month TM retreat. The Maharishi advised them, “You are a powerful force, If you hold on to Brian it will stop his soul from going to its next evolution. You know you have to grieve for him and love him. Now you send him on his way.” These experiences became Beatles’ songs including, “Across the Universe,” “Sexy Sadie,” “Dear Prudence” and much of the White Album.
Every Town + Village
Sam and his girlfriend Melanie were married, initiated by the Swami, and given the spiritual names Shyamasundar das and Malati devi dasi. These 20-somethings gave up drugs (and drug running), alcohol, caffeine, cigarettes, meat and “free love.” They immersed themselves in the ardent study of ancient wisdom and action; received personal instruction on holy texts like the Bhagavadad Gita, devotional call and response singing known as “kirtan,” the art of cooking blessed food called “prasadam,” the act of selfless service referred to as “seva” and much more.
Prabuphpad, Shyamasundar das and Friends, early days
“Well, we had seen a lot of people who had presented themselves as big gurus, but they weren’t that convincing to us yet,” Shyamasundar das explained. “But seeing, Prabhupad, we knew immediately that this was a bonafide, genuine article. He was a transcendental personality. He exceeded everything we could imagine. It was a magic time, a magic experience.”
Shyamasundar das became Prabhupad’s personal secretary working intimately with the Swami on correspondence, transcriptions, recordings, outreach, special projects, and even carving the first Jagannath (sacred statue) in the West.
The first Ratha Yatra Festival in America. Shyamasundar das behind the wheel.
Together with childhood friends recently renamed Mukunda das, Janaki devi dasi, Gurudas, Yamuna devi dasi, this group became religious and cultural pioneers ushering in a new era of spirituality. They sufficiently spread the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra into music, movies, stage plays and nervous newspaper men in America.
Then they packed it up to do it all over again.
Chant + Be Happy
The outer pressure of Beatles-life was becoming unbearable. So the lads considered buying a private island where they could breathe. En route to their real estate trip, George picked up “The Happening” — a 33 1/3 album of Swami Prabhupad chanting The Hare Krsna Maha Mantra. He later said, “We sang it for days, John and I, with ukulele banjos, sailing through the Greek Islands chanting Hare Krishna.”
Beatles In Greece
George continued, “Like six hours we sang, because we couldn’t stop once we got going. As soon as we stopped, it was like the lights went out. It went on to the point where our jaws were aching, singing the mantra over and over and over and over and over. We felt exalted; it was a very happy time for us.”
If I Needed Someone
In September of ’68 Shyamasundar das convinced the crew to move from their tight community of sunny San Francisco to a big, drafty warehouse in London. These OG devotees were on a mission to spread the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra, but it wasn’t coming together as quickly as it did in California. And now he had a family to support too. Shyamasundar das and Malati’s daughter was the first child born into the Hare Krishna movement, Baby Saraswati. On a December afternoon the phone rang. It was Rock Scully, who was in town and headed to a Christmas Party at Apple Corp.
Malati, Baby Saraswati, Swami Prabhupad, devotees and Shyamasundar das ( R) waiting in an airport.
I’ve Been Waiting To Meet You
Shyamasundar das had butterflies in his stomach as he made his way through the mob outside 3 Saville Row. A broad-shouldered bobby in a black suit yelled, “Stop!” He tried to explain, he was invited, that his friends were inside, but the unconvinced guard asserted, “Run along now laddy.” Their exchange was interrupted by the sound of teenage girls screaming, and a white Rolls Royce pulling up. It’s then that Yoko Ono saw Shyamasundar das in the crowd and said, “You must be one of George’s friends come in.”
The room was filled with the so-called beautiful and important people, all anxiously awaiting an appearance by The Beatles. The fab four were having a heated meeting with new management behind a set of closed doors. Shyamsundar das took a seat in a far-off corner, away from the unruly energy of the Hells Angels, who had just dismembered and devoured a turkey before it could get to the buffet table. One by one John, Paul, and Ringo poked their heads out and rushed to the exit.
Beatles
“George, he peered out there, he started to leave, but he saw me and he just SHOT through all of these people. He sat down right beside me and said, ‘‘Hare Krishna! Where have you been? I’ve been waiting to meet you.” Shyamsundar das grins, “And it was like seeing my brother that I hadn’t seen in a long time.”
They talked of the sitar, Ravi Shankar, Vivekananda, psychedelics, the plane plummeting, The Happening Record, The San Francisco Temple, The Mantra-Rock-Dance concert but mostly they spoke of Swami Prabhupad, Krishna, and the search for God, Santana Dharma. Jealous and confused party-goers gawked over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. As the discourse continued George said, “Shayam-sunda, you know, I feel like I’ve always known you somehow, maybe from a life before, like maybe we were brothers or something.” He scribbled his address on a napkin and left.
Whisper Words of Wisdom
Tensions were mounting at Twickenham Studios. With documentary cameras rolling, The Beatles were battling their way through ten plus takes of George’s Song “I-Me-Mine” based on the Gita passage 2:71;
“They are forever free who renounce all selfish desires
and break away from the ego-cage of
‘I,’ ‘me,’ ‘mine’.”
Harrison’s bandmates seemed unable to really hear him, so he asked Shyamsundar das to explain. “All right, what’s it all about then?” John Lennon asked. Among other things, Shyamasundar das said, “So now all of you, you four guys, you’ve taken these very highly elevated births through so many previous austerities and pious acts. Krishna says, ‘Yad yad acarati sresthas tad tad evetaro janah’‘ Whatever action a great man performs, common men will follow.’ So now each of you has this golden chance to find the perfection of life and then lead everyone else up the path to self-realization.”
John Lennon, Shyamasundar das and Paul McCartney at the Let It Be Sesssions at Twickenham Studios
He continued, “Krishna consciousness doesn’t say, ‘Give up your life, your occupation.’ No. You can be a doctor, a mother, a bum, a Beatle—but be a doctor for Krishna, be a rock star for Krishna, dedicate everything to Krishna.”
After this exchange, George wrote, “Hear Me Lord.”
“Forgive me Lord, please / Those years when I ignored you
Forgive them Lord / Those that feel they can’t afford you.
Help me Lord, please / To rise above this dealing
Help me Lord, please / To love you with more feeling.”
Four days later he left The Beatles.
Here Comes The Sun
In late February of that long, cold, lonely winter, the Krishna crew piled into Shyamsundar das’s rusted out pick-up truck and drove to George and Pattie’s house. Malati placed hand-made flower garlands over their hosts’ necks, and cooked Prasadam in the kitchen. Mukunda noticed a harmonium in the corner. George asked, “Shall, we have a kirtan then?”
George and Pattie sharing Kirtan and offering Prasadam
As the instruments were being shuffled around, Harrison started to pluck out a few chords on the guitar and said shyly, “This is a little song I’ve been working on do you want to hear it?” Then sang, “Something in the way she moves, attracts me like no other lover, something in the way she shows me, I don’t want to leave her now, you know I believe and how…” Shyamsundar das, remembers “We were awestruck, of course, transported beyond space and time We didn’t know if we should look at him or close our eyes. When it was over, he said, ‘Do you think it’ll sell?” We all laughed, Then George said, “It’s about Krishna, but I can’t say that, can I?”
So moved by this song, the group began a soft and slow version of “Hare Krishna” with Yamuna leading on vocals. Over the following hours it revved up into a fully ecstatic devotional expression, with booming mridanga drums, kartals clanking, and baby Saraswati bopping along in their laps all the while. After the final blissful chords George shouted out, “That’s it! We’ve got to make a record! The Radha Krishna Temple—I can see it now, the first Sanskrit song in the Top Ten!” That evening a smile returned to George’s face, it had been years since he felt this way.
John Lennon, Shyamadundar das, John Lennon, Yoko Ono, George Harrison and Pattie Boyd talking Santana Dharma
As the guests were leaving Janaki turned around, saying “I forgot to give you this” and handed George an embroidered bead bag, with a japa-mala inside. She thought it may help him keep his mind (and heart) on God.
A few months later, Harrison called Shyamsundar das from a villa in Sardinia, and sang some lyrics,
“Little darling / It’s been a long, cold, lonely winter
Little darling / It feels like years since it’s been here
Little darling / The smiles returning to their faces
Little darling / Here comes the sun
Here comes the sun /And I say, it’s all right .”
Shyamasundar das remembers, “I was speechless. I loved it. He asked if I thought people would like it. Then he said, ‘You know it’s about Krishna coming into my life but I’ve got to disguise it a bit.”
Prayer To The Spiritual Masters
John, Paul, George, and Ringo decided they could work it out, and finish what they had started. Harrison called Shyamasundar das saying, “I’m over here at Abbey Road studios. We’re making our Beatles album here, but John’s got into a car crash and he’s going to be late, so we’ve got a few hours free in the studio can you all come over right away? Let’s make a record together. Hare Krishna!”
Paul McCartney was perched in control booth. Mukunda sat at the piano. Yamuna, Gurudas, Janaki and friends got situated behind mics, adjusted their instruments and attempted to sync into rhythm.
Shyamasundar das retells, “George, fresh from his holiday in Sardinia, shifted from harmonium to guitar and back, then settled behind his psychedelic sit-down harmonium…there were only eight tracks in those days, so we had to get it right early on…one take, two takes… into the third take we know this is the one. The maha-mantra leapt off our instruments and tongues and grew and gained momentum and weight and spiritual depth as it whirled in a three-minute, thirty-second package to the end: Bongggg! as Malati hit the gong.”
As abruptly as they came, George and Paul rushed off to work on their Beatles album, and the devotees went back home, wondering if anything would come of it.
Hare Krishna Mantra Single
Apple released the Radha-Krishna Temple’s “Maha Mantra” as a single. It sold 70,000 copies in one day, and though it didn’t hit the Top Ten, it played before Dylan took the stage at the Isle of Wight Festival and during half-time of a Manchester United football (soccer) match. The rowdy stadium crowds were able to sound out the syllables, “Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Hare Rama, Rama Rama…”
The following year the “Radha-Krishna Temple” returned to the studio to make a full-length album. The infamous George Martin co-produced, while some of Harrison’s best friends added their talents, including Cream guitarist, Eric Clapton bassist Klaus Voorman, and Beatles drummer Ringo Starr. Wanting to emulate that Sergeant Pepper’s / Hey Jude full-string sound, Martin booked the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
George Harrison, Shyamasundar Das, Malati, Baby Saraswati and the Radha Krishna Temple in the studio
The album offered obeisances to AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, the 16th century saint Sri Krsna Chaitanya Maha Prabhu, the Hindu God Krishna, his beloved consort Radha, and their many pastimes from texts like the Bhagavad Gita, The Brahma Samhita, the Srimad Bhagavatam and more.
Decades later George said joyfully, “It was to be of service…but it was the greatest fun of all, really, to see Krishnas on Top of the Pops.”
Instant Karma
John was recording the“Instant Karma” when super-producer Phil Spector said to Harrison, “You should consider doing your own record.” Spector later recounted, “I went to George’s Friar park which he had just purchased, he said ‘I have a few ditties for you to hear.’ It was endless! He had literally hundreds of songs and each one better than the rest! He had all of this emotion built up… I don’t think he had played them to anybody…”
Phil Spector and George Harrison “All Things Must Pass” Sessions
They were songs like, “All Things Must Pass” a deep track about the Tao, inspired by Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, overlooked for both the Abbey Road and Let It Be Records. “Wah Wah” a dissonant track mimicking inner-Beatle conflict written the night George left the band, “What is life?” pondering the make-up / break up state of the Beatles and a post-Beatle era.“Isn’t it a pity” a ballad reflective of the pending dissolution of his marriage and complications of a close friendship, “Beware of Darkness” a cautionary tale about letting yourself be pulled into the mundane parts of life, “Hear Me Lord” a longing for Krishna, and “Awaiting On You All” – an upbeat anthem about japa, long-rumored to be inspired in-part by the bead-bag Janaki gave him.
“By chanting the names of the Lord and you’ll be free
Yes, the Lord is awaiting on you all to awaken and see”
Spector and Harrison co-produced, enlisting friends and musical family in the collaborative (if perfectionistic) six-month odyssey. And though the EMI/Apple production team took meticulous session notes, it was near impossible to clarify who exactly played on the multiple takes and tracks – many were not credited. Derek and the Dominos guitarist Bobby Whitlock has said, “[George} included everyone on everything, he did because there was enough for all.”
All Things Must Pass Masters
The musicians included; Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton; Allen White and Dave Mason of Yes, keyboard/organ players Billy Preston, Gary Brooker and Gary Wright, members of the band Bad Finger, a pre-genesis Phil Collins, Bob Dylan co-wrote a song, and George covered on of his. Alan White wrote the orchestral arrangements, John Lennon and Bee Gee, Barry Gibbs are said to have played on two tracks. In the liner notes, Beatles roadie Mal Evans was credited with “tea and sympathy,” while the heart of Apple Records Chris O’Dell was known for providing the same.
It seemed to be a masterpiece in the making, but they couldn’t agree on a single.
My Sweet Lord
Amidst all the upheaval and artistic expression, George purchased Friar Park, a 100 + room 18th Century Castle, left to the Catholic Church in desperate disrepair. With 35+ acres of lawns, gardens and underground grottos to care for he asked Shyamsundar das and the crew to move in with him. Three couples (with four young children between them) took residence in one of the wings of the estate. They engaged in construction, renovation, and landscaping projects, built a Krishna Temple on the ground floor, cooked prasadam, chanted kirtan, and kept a devotional mood.
Friar Park Vintage Postcard
Because it was the largest and warmest room of the massive mansion, the 1,000+ ft Victorian kitchen became the hub of the home, “Everyone more or less lived in the kitchen.” Shyamasundar remarks,” it had beautiful wood work covered with brown or green paint. So the idea was to scrape it off and paint it white.” What started off as an ordinary morning, would effect the material and spiritual worlds for years to come.
Shyasundar das remembers,
“It was foggy, and kind of dismal, but the sun was coming out.
I got up early, had some porridge, and I was up on the ladder,
scraping paint when the guys came in,
they were all pumped up from something
they had been playing in the studio all night.
Billy [Preston] went over to the electric organ and started playing
gospel riffs [he sings] ddaaaa daaaa daaaa daaa daaa daaaaa.
Klaus [Voorman] plugged in his bass, George grabbed his guitar.
They all start singing
‘Myyyy Sssswweeettt Looooorrrddd,
Mmmmyyy Ssswweettt Looorrrddd’.
When they were doing the ‘Hallejulah’
I yelled out, ‘Haaarreee Krrriisshhnaaa,
Haaarreeee Krrrriissshnnaaa.”’
They all turned to look up.
Pretty soon we’re all dancing around and singing on the top of our lungs.
‘This one is gonna be on the album’ George says.”
George Harrison All Things Must Pass Photoshoot Outtake
It soon became a favorite around the studio, and with Spector, who knew it should be the single, but the corporate music machine and Harrison himself had concerns. Phil later said,
“I picked ‘My Sweet Lord’ of all of the songs,
because I told him that’s the hit, and everybody fought me on that
‘cause they said it had religious overtones in it, and I just said,
‘It didn’t matter — it’s the most, commercial, song.
George was even nervous about it,
because the Hare Krishna in it,
and was the public ready for it?
I said it didn’t matter it’s a hit record.”
My Sweet Lord Lyrics handwritten by George Harrison
Years later Harrison remarked,
“I thought a lot about whether to do ‘My Sweet Lord or not.
Having written it, I thought it’s really committing myself to something.
There’s gonna be a lot of people who are gonna really hate me,
because people fear the unknown, ya see.
It’s sort of an instinct in people.
The point was, I was sticking my neck out on the chopping block.
But at the same time I thought,
‘Well nobody is saying it.
I wish somebody else was doing it,
ya know cause everything should be represented in a way.
Because if everybody’s just going [mimicks pop music] be bop baby, then yea ok…”
By Chanting The Names Of The Lord, You’ll Be Free
My Sweet Lord became, the #1 single worldwide. It sold 5 million copies initially, and another 10 million copies in subsequent years. It was awarded song of the year, single of the year,
and world’s single of the year by inner-industry publications.
All Things Must Pass Album Cover
All Things Must Pass was the #1 album on the UK charts for 8 weeks. It topped the Billboard chart for 7 weeks, sold more than 7 million copies and aas certified platinum 7 times over.
That’s The Way God Planned It
In an analogue era, Shyamsundar das hadn’t heard the good news about the song, or the record. He had been traveling the world with Prabuhuapd and found himself in New York City in the Summer of ’71. He learned George was nearby at the Plaza Hotel.
“Shayamsundar! Hare Krishna! Hey, what a great surprise. It’s really good to see you!” George remarked, before sharing about his charity initiative, The Concert for Bangladesh. George had wanted to have a kirtan as part of the show but no one else thinks it’s a good idea. “That’s Alright, George” Shyamasundar das said, “You’ll be singing My Sweet Lord and that’s got the mantra. What you’re doing is the highest form of service to Krishna: spreading His name to millions of people. Krishna will help you, you’ll see. The concert will be perfect.”
Phil Spector co-produced with an all-star line up: Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Ringo on drums. Klaus Voorman, Jim Keltner, Billy Preston, Soul singer and piano player Leon Russell, part of Joe Cocker’s back-up singers including, “Miss Brown Sugar”, Claudia Lennear.
The concert began with Ravi Shankar, the esteemed Ali Akbar Khan and Alla Rahka playing classical Indian music. Then George pointed down at Shyamasundar das in the front row, and said quietly, “Hare Krishna.”
The Concert For Bangladesh
The band broke into an electrified version of Wah-Wah. They sang “Beware of Darkness,” “Awaiting On You All” and a ten minute version of “My Sweet Lord.”
Shyamasundar das stared was in awe as everyone in the audience knew, and sang along to every word…
My Sweet Lord / Oh My Lord
My, my Lord (Hallelujah)
Mm, mm, my Lord (Hare Krishna)
My, my, my Lord (Hare Krishna)
Oh, oh my sweet Lord (Krishna Krishna)
Ooh, ooh, ooh (Hare Hare)
Now, I really want to see you (Hare Rama)
Really want to be with you (Hare Rama)
Really want to see you, Lord (Ah, ah)
But it takes so long, my Lord (Ah, ah, hallelujah)
Mm, my Lord (Hallelujah)
My, my, my Lord (Hare Krishna)
My sweet Lord (Hare Krishna)
My sweet Lord (Krishna Krishna)
My lord (Hare Hare)
Mm, mm (Gurur Brahma)
Mm, mm (Gurur Vishnu)
Mm, mm (Gurur Devo)
Mm, mm (Maheshwarah)
My sweet Lord (Guru Sakshata)
My sweet Lord (Parabrahma)
My, my, my Lord (Tasmayi Shree)
My, my, my, my Lord (Guruve namah)
He recalls, “My heart swelled with bliss at Prabhupada’s achievement, as George, Dylan, Ringo and Eric led 40,000 people singing ‘My Sweet Lord, Oh My Lord, Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna, Krishna…’–from that tiny moment in George’s kitchen when the song was born, to Krishna’s Name rattling the rafters at Madison Square Garden!”
Claudia Lennear later emoted, “That show was just something that was cosmic. If you were there to experience it will be something you will take to the grave.”
Inner Light
In the following 40 years George Harrison toured, remarried, had a son, recorded albums with friends, produced movies, went on pilgrimages to India, gardened in Friar Park and chanted to Krishna all the while.
‘My Sweet Lord’ remains in heavy rotation in radio, has 587 million Spotify streams to date and is consistently ranked as one of the greatest songs of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine and other noteworthy lists.
“Something” became known as one of the greatest love songs of all times.
“Here Comes The Sun” remains the #1 streamed Beatle Song even today.
“Beware of Darkness” was re-popularized during the global pandemic after appearing in the TV Show Ted Lasso.
“All Things Must Pass” is considered the most successful solo album of any former Beatle, consistently ranked in “Greatest Album of All Times” lists. It is often credited as the first ‘Triple Album” by a single artist. It was nominated for album of the year, and later inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. The 30th anniversary re-issue received six-platinum certifications.
The Concert for Bangladesh would become known as a pioneering event and the first mega-concert for charity raising an initial $243,000. The album sold over 5 million copies globally, and charted internationally. It won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1973.
“Hari’s Son’s” as George is sometimes called, left this world in 2012. Shyamasundar das reflects,
“There’s no doubt in my mind, looking back, that George and the other Beatles,
but especially George, were highly-developed yogis in their past lives,
born into this incredible opportunity to finish the job and get out of this material plane…
I still have dinner with Ringo and Barbara from time to time,
when I’m in LA—and Paul sometimes pops by the London Krishna temple
from his office just around the corner in Soho Square.
George. George and I were together right to the end of his life
—and we still visit in my dreams,
and sometimes,
I swear,
I hear him whispering,
“Hare Krishna, Shyamasundar…”
George Harrison and Shyamasundar das
Chasing Rhinos With Swami
To hear more of this first hand account of Shyamsundar das’ autobiographical trilogy, Chasing Rhinos with Swami is available on his website ChasingRhinos.com and on Amazon here.
Follow Shyamasundar das on IG here.
Learn more about the first London Krisha Temple here.
Listen To My Sweet Lord here.
Photos Credits + Thanks
Photos are courtesy of Shyamasundar das, The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) and public domain. For sources, citations and permissions, please reach out to AmyVDewhurst@SenseAndColor.co #HareKrsna
To Check Out Amy’s Work Go To; Sense + Color, You Can Reach Her At IG: Amy_V_Dewhurst + AmyVDewhurst@SenseAndColor.co #PutYourGoodWhereItWillDoTheMost