Respects to Drutakarma Prabhu, A Great Warrior of Vedic Culture
Written by Sri Nandanandana dasa, ABOUT DRUTAKARMA PRABHU
My Respects to Drutakarma Prabhu, A Great Warrior of Vedic Culture
July 15, 1948 - Oct 14, 2026
My thoughts and prayers go out to Drutakarma Prabhu (Michael Cremo) who was a very mild-mannered but great and determined Vedic warrior, and disciple of His Holiness Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. We will certainly miss his dynamic lectures and writing, however controversial they may have been, only because he was bold enough not to bow to the conventional ways of looking at archeological findings, and continued to present what was taught in the Vedic literature and scheme of things.
I had met him a number of times throughout my own spiritual journey. He had visited us here in the Detroit Krishna temple a few times when he was on his lecture tours, stopping by to give a talk at the temple. I remember discussing the idea with him that as we were getting older, who might take up the task of doing the service that we, as writers and researchers, will continue to do in our place. I knew that with Drutakarma, that would not be an easy replacement.
I remember that he was often a welcomed and favorite guest speaker on the late night “Coast to Coast AM” radio show to talk about various archeological findings and controversies to the audience. Even if I had not seen Drutakarma Prabhu as of late, I could hear him every-so-often on the radio. I know he will be greatly missed by that audience.
He had also visited the ashrama of Swami Dayananda Sarasvati when we had a meeting of the Vedic Friends Association and he made a presentation of what was going to be the main topic while lecturing across India. He used the opportunity to fine-tune and adjust his slide show to accommodate the audience he was going to meet. He told me in particular that he appreciated the help very much.
I had also visited him when we had a meeting with some of the Vedic Friends Association in India and while we all went on our own excursions for giving lectures across India as arranged by the RSS. He later told me after his tour that everything had gone very well. Obviously, he was not opposed to work with those who could assist him in spreading the Vedic spiritual and historical knowledge to a wider audience. And he did so in great circles of both laymen and in modern academia. It was always interesting because it was in the academic world where he particularly made waves, both of criticism and much approval for his presentations. That is also how he showed his sense of humor by utilizing the name many people called him, “The Forbidden Archeologist,” after his book called “Forbidden Archeology.”
Even later he still planned to help with the Vedic Friends Association with additional presentations and participation in what was called “The Dharma Dialogues.” And we were still looking forward to his continued help in these programs. So, his sudden disappearance from this world left us all feeling his absence.
I know that he had been on life support for the past few months, and several days ago made the bold decision to remove himself from all such arrangements and let nature and Lord Krishna decide what would happen next. So, he was ready to leave and we knew his stay in this world would not last much longer, and we all prayed for his well-being. He had given a very dynamic but short discussion on video to the Russian devotee audience, which showed that his mental faculty was bright and focused to the very end. Even the day before he left us, while going in and out of consciousness, he was barely able to whisper his realization that everyone who ever performed any service to Lord Krishna, whether they were Prabhupada disciples or not, no matter who they were, were most blessed. I can only imagine what he was experiencing to make the endeavor to convey that realization.
Therefore, I feel he has gone on before us in the journey that many of us may soon be taking ourselves. I pray to Lord Sri Krishna that Drutakarma Prabhu may get ever closer to Lord Krishna for all the service he has done, and I know that his service and the impressions he made will continue as his legacy for the benefit of the world.
Drutakarma ki Jaya! Jai Sri Krishna!