Sarvabhouma das ACBSP Hip surgery!

About

Sarvabhauma das (Robert Steinbach) was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1971. From then on, he has served Srila Prabhupada through book distribution, prasadam distribution, and harinam sankirtan. He has been living in Mayapur for the past three years and regularly participates in harinama sankirtan with Gaura Nitai and devotees around the ISKCON campus.

The expenses associated with his spinal surgery, ankle deformity correction, and left hip replacement are beyond his ability to pay. Your support and financial contribution towards the surgeries would be greatly appreciated.

Expenses for Hip Surgery

1 Room Rent 83400.00

2 Nursing Charges 5950.00

3 DMO 8075.00

4 Safety and Hygienic Charges 14025.00

5 Operation Theatre Charges 56000.00

6 Surgeons Fees 90000.00

7 Assistant Surgeons Fees 22500.00

8 Anaesthesia Fees Charges 22500.00

9 Medical Records Charges 600.00

10 Nutrition Planning charges 250.00

11 Medical Equipment ( OT ) 9900.00

12 Medical Equipment 3690.00

13 Investigations 26350.00

14 BedSide Procedures 1450.00

15 CSSD 10000.00

16 Physiotherapy 8730.00

17 Doctor Fees 13200.00

18 DRUGS. 1372.00

19 Food and Beverages 185.00

20 GST 5 % on Room Rent 3230.00

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Hospital Amount(A) 381407.00

21 Pharmacy 243455.36

22 Pharmacy Returns -747.00

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Pharmacy Amount(B) 242708.00

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Bill Amount(A+B) 624115.00

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Balance Amount(+) 624115.00 ($7,570)

Sarvabhauma’s Service to Srila Prabhupada

by Paratrikananda dasa

I first met Sarvabhauma prabhu at the Washington D.C. temple on Q Street in 1974. At

that time, he was a member of the BBT sankirtan party, headed by Tripurari prabhu.

Sarva would often gently attempt to wake me for mangala-arati as he stood in the

bramacari ashram in his spotless, wrinkle-free dhoti, about to dash over to the temple to

greet Radha Madana Mohana. At that time, waking me up for mangala-arati was no easy

task so I always appreciated his attempts.

After the morning program all the devotees would begin their respective services and

Sarva, along with other sankirtan devotees, would spend the rest of the day at Dulles

Airport, selling Srila Prabhupada's books. Sarvabhauma had been trained under the

legendary book distribution pioneer and San Francisco temple president, Kesava prabhu.

Kesava once referred to Sarva as "one of the immortals" of book distribution. In one

instance, Sarva and other devotees were preparing to distribute at an Elvis Presley

concert. To everyone's amusement, Sarva advised the team to "Tell everyone that

whatever donation they give, Elvis will match it."

This was the early seventies––the era when book distribution shifted into high gear and

throughout the entire movement devotees were mobilized for sankirtan. A sankirtan

newsletter was published every month with scores from different zones, temples and

individuals. When the BBT travelling party was formed, headed by Tripurari prabhu,

Sarvabhauma was the first person he asked to join this elite group.

In the late summer of 1974, Bhuddhimanta prabhu, also from San Francisco, distributed

an astounding (for that time) 134 hardback books in one day. Prabhupada expressed his

deep appreciation for the efforts of his disciples in the following passage from a letter

sent in August of that year.

"Regarding sales figures, please endeavor in this way. The sales figures—this is the only

solace in my life. When I hear that my books are selling so nicely, I become energetic

like a young man".

Sarva was in Chicago when he read this letter and he was so moved by the words of his

spiritual master that he became determined to please His Divine Grace by attempting to

break Bhuddhimanta's record. The next day he headed to the airport with unwavering

resolve. Sarva: "I went out early all the time. On that morning Tripurari came out at

10:00 am and asked how I was doing––I had 48 books out already."

He kept at it for the rest of the day and into the night, trolling the terminals and corridors

of O'Hare International, seeking new beneficiaries of the transcendental message. And

when everything died down at the airport, he even went to Chicago's night clubs to sell

Prabhupada's books. In the end he had surpassed the highest scores of all Prabhupada's

elite book distributors, including Tripurari, Pragosh, Vaisesika, and yes...he even beat

Bhuddhimanta! In well under 24 hours, he had sold a phenomenal 138 hardback books!

Word of this astonishing feat quickly spread around the world and it inspired many book

distributors to re-double their efforts on sankirtan. Srila Prabhupada had stoked the fires

of transcendental competition and when he heard of Sarva's great achievement he wrote

the following:

"I very much appreciate your report of Sarvabhauma prabhu who distributed 138

hardbound books simply because of hearing about my letter. That is very, very nice. They

are all very nice, Krsna will bless them. This boy he immediately attempted and Krsna

immediately responded. So this is the success of your book distribution. So if our books

are distributed nationwide that is the success of our movement".

Srila Prabhupada letter to Ramesvara

Vrindaban, September 14, 1974

In later years, Sarva devoted himself to prasadam distribution and after operating a

successful prasadam cart business in New York, he migrated to Los Angeles. In the mideighties he formed National Food Relief––a non-profit corporation––to distribute

prasadam to the homeless in Southern California. He soon received a letter of

appreciation from the Los Angeles Mayor's office and occasional support from notable

celebrities like Martin Sheen, Dan Aykroyd and others. And though ministering to the

homeless, at times Sarva himself was down on his luck and without a home. While living

in his van, he would still cook a big pot of kittri for daily distribution using only a

portable stove. When his vehicle broke down, he and Valmik Muni prabhu would wheel

the kittri down to Venice Beach in a shopping cart––a one-way trek of 5 miles. While

prasadam was being distributed, Sarva would play harmonium and chant with his unique

brand of kirtan. On occasion, he would also visit a fancy hotel or restaurant and after

receiving permission from the manager, sit down at their grand piano and sing an original

guruvastakam melody while skillfully playing the ivory keys. Sometimes customers of

the establishment would compliment him and request him to play a classic song from the

fifties or sixties, (a la Frank Sinatra or Tony Bennet) but he preferred to play songs

glorifying Krishna and His devotees.

At this time Sarvabhauma prabhu is in need of surgical procedures to repair his worn and

broken physical shell. If you'd like to see him continue to chant and dance in kirtan, and

distribute books, please consider offering him a donation.