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Hare Krishna dear God family,

The events of this blog took place in London just before Maharaj left for India and then to South Africa and was diagnosed with a malignant tumour.

So now I’m writing this blog with an anxious heart. And somewhat regretful that I could’ve served Maharaj a lot better. I hope this blog gives an insight into Maharaj’s state of mind and health before the diagnosis. Thus serving as a source of narrative in his on-going, incredible life journey.

Whatever little fruit this blog may reap, may it be an offering to help in Maharaj’s speedy recovery.

Your servant

Nandan

It was Monday, 01 February, around 5.30 pm in London Heathrow Airport, Terminal 4. The weather was nippy, damp but not too cold. Could’ve been a lot worse considering it’s London in the early part of the year. Three of us were waiting to receive him. Ter Kadamba Prabhu (tall, scholarly with a gregarious personality to boot), Sesa Prabhu (young, full of beans and Bhaktivedanta Manor ‘born and bred’) and myself.

After about 20 minutes, Maharaj came through with his young German servant the ever pleasant Nimai Prabhu. Despite looking a little tired and weary coming through the arrivals lounge, Maharaj still had the bearing of an old lion striding through. Nimai looked like his young cub. No doubt Maharaj attracted a few stares and glances from onlookers, especially when the three of us paid dandavats to him!

In the car ride to Krishna Kirtan Prabhu’s house (Maharaj’s stalwart disciple in England), Maharaj mentioned how nowadays there seems to be sensors everywhere. Coming in and out of cars, buses, terminals, platforms, rooms, they’re everywhere! Soon there will be sensors in our body. A full on big brother society! The devotees stated that  there’s already talk of inserting a microchip in the body and Ter Kadamba Prabhu quipped how this will become the  modern day supersoul! Maharaj chuckled.

Whenever Maharaj is with his British disciples, he loves to take humorous pot shots at ‘Britishness’ and comparing them to the Germans, noting their long held national rivalry. And this time it was no different! Maharaj joked about how the German air staff were a lot more polite than the British ones and there is no way near as many ID checks, interrogations and security measures as in Britain. While Maharaj was making fun of British idiosyncrasies, the road suddenly became very bumpy and full of potholes and all of us saw a man peeing at the roadside. In the middle of Central London! This was too much for Maharaj to resist and he went on a roll about the state of Great Britain now. Everyone was in raptures and our facial muscles were actually hurting from laughing so much!

I had the privilege of driving Maharaj and thought it a good idea to have the heat on full blast. Just to make him feel comfortable… bit of a misjudgement in hindsight. Maharaj looked at me with a semi frown and remarked that it’s pretty tropical in the car! What was I trying to do? Grow fruits in the car! He looked in the back and lo and behold there was a whole bunch of fruits that I had stored for Maharaj! His timing was impeccable and cued more laughter and jokes about the Brits. This time, their weird habit of keeping the temperature at full blast even when it was mildly temperate!

It is interesting because the British love to make fun out of the Continentals but now I realised that it works both ways. True to form Ter Kadamba Prabhu (who is a ‘classic’ Dane) also joined in the fun; remarking how the British are always so comical when trying to interact with locals in India. The British are always stuck on this superficial notion of politeness and consideration. Whereas Indians don’t give a damn about these things, but Indians possess bucket loads of tolerance, tolerance and more tolerance. Now if there was a contest between the qualities of consideration and tolerance, tolerance would always come up trumps. Thus Ter Kadamba Prabhu concluded that the British always end up frustrated in India while the Indians just carry on with their business!! To be fair, it was an astute observation and Maharaj found it rather amusing. At this point, our car got cut up on the highway by another driver. In annoyance I honked my horn. Then the devotees started joking about me having a go driving in Kolkata. Out of the question as far I was concerned. Then Maharaj settled it; driving in Kolkata is easy, just honk your horn and cut the other person, done! The devotees concurred.

After the wonderful bout of humorous revelry, the discussions in the car soon became more sober as Maharaj spoke on his role in Mayapur management and the work still needed to be done on the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. As expected, Maharaj’s eagerness to let go of these managerial duties and do more direct preaching was palpable…

After we reached Krishna Kirtan Prabhu’s house, Maharaj sat on a sofa in the living room. But not his usual spot. It was on the other side of the room under a picture of Krishna and his gopa friends. Srila Prabhupada’s chanting was gently going on in the background and one could sense Maharaj was low on energy. Physically undemonstrative but still keeping the mood upbeat. More for our sake than his own. Naturally Krishna Kirtan Prabhu wanted to pile on as much prasadam as possible for Maharaj but he refused most of it. He simply didn’t have the appetite but he softened the blow for Krishna Kirtan Prabhu; joking that it’s typical of him to want to give as much prasadam as possible. After all Mother Yasoda always wanted to give Krishna more and more, so if it’s a natural tendency in the spiritual world then it’ll certainly be reflected here.

Meanwhile in the kitchen, a couple of devotees were mock wrestling. They thought Maharaj would be unaware but Maharaj immediately clocked it. One of the devotees was German so Maharaj shouted out from the living room, “Watch out, the Germans never like to lose! They may not be the strongest but they NEVER like to lose!” Soon Ganesh Prabhu (a lively, energetic young chap from Himachal Pradesh, now part of the ‘Manor’ ashram) turned up at the house and the devotees glorified him to Maharaj explaining how he did so amazing in the Christmas book marathon. He came third in the country. Ganesh is normally a very upfront, ‘in your face’ kind of guy but this time he was ‘beetroot red’ with a bashful smile. The embarrassment was clear. One could tell Maharaj was pleased with him but at the same time nonchalant in his encouragement to Ganesh. It was obvious Maharaj was protecting his disciple from being over glorified knowing where it could lead. But he did instruct Ganesh saying, “You’re young and strong. So now you have to really do something.” An instruction, I’m sure many of us should follow.

While Maharaj was sitting on the sofa, the rest of us were sitting on the floor spread out in different spots. We all looked like little children and Maharaj was the kindly and humorous nursery teacher! Soon there was talk of Maharaj’s travels. How he was to-ing and fro-ing between Germany for the sankirtan festival and South Africa where he was part of the famous retreat in the beautiful Drakensburg Mountains.

Maharaj mentioned how won’t be going Vrindavan soon; seven degrees at night is just too cold for him right now. Ganesh smilingly protested, “It isn’t that cold Maharaj!” Maharaj just said, “You’re a pahari (mountain folk), so you’re used to it. But I’m Dutch. We’re used to being in the house with the heating on always!” Of course, Maharaj said this out of humility and naturally everyone laughed. But anyone who knows anything about Maharaj’s history will know he’s done more austerities than most of us could imagine.

Maharaj then noticed Sesa Prabhu sitting snugly with his back next to the warm radiator and exclaimed, “Look at Sesa! Always finding where the radiator is; his back will always find the radiator!!” Although Maharaj’s humour was on form, the mood in the room was a lot calmer than usual. Everyone but especially Maharaj was feeling tired. One of the disciples then enquired about Maharaj’s state of health. Maharaj spoke about his recent bout of shingles but he seemed to downplay the health issues in general. But it was apparent that this time it wasn’t the usual strain of travelling. This time it was different, Maharaj was scheduled to spend a day at the Soho temple and he was explicit that doing one of his famous harinams in Central London would be out of the question! Despite all his love for harinams.

For a long time, Maharaj was one of the sannyasis that went for it ‘full throttle’ and maybe devotees expected that from him all the time. Out of his selflessness, he would do it to keep the devotees inspired. He even conceded that he is like a car with a turbo engine. He can’t help it, it’s his nature. But sitting in that room with Maharaj, all the disciples knew that he couldn’t just put others before him all the time. This time he had to put himself first.

It’s interesting because after speaking to a number of devotees about Maharaj, most would agree that even though he was a sadhu of  mature age, he always had this air of ‘cool’ about him. With his sharp features, pale piercing eyes and endless wisdom, he came across as an ageless wizard. But we are in the material world and even transcendental personalities like Maharaj have to deal with these fallible vehicles we are all embodied in. In retrospect, the health issue was more serious than any of us envisaged (including Maharaj himself).

Maharaj spoke in some detail about the horrid effects of ageing. It might as well have been an ‘old school’ Srimad Bhagavatam class. You now the type; those hard core, purifying classes that send shivers down your spine and leaves you under no illusion. Sobering to know, we all have to cross that bundle of misery. While he was talking, some whispering was going on, Maharaj bellowed, “Why are you guys whispering? Don’t you know that’s how poison and rumours will start coming?”

Soon Sesa Prabhu offered to give Maharaj a massage, but he replied that unless it’s a professional Ayurvedic Kerala massage, then forget it! Cue giggles from the others.

Maharaj made it clear that now he’s in England he just wants to take it easy. He has had to deal with so much emotional downloading from so many people across the world. So many people downloading, heavy, heavy downloading and getting his undivided loving advice and care. But now that he was in England he will chill and keep a simple program. Nice preaching, nice association, keeping it cool and simple!

At this point Krishna Kirtan Prabhu said how he had a ‘helluva’ day at his surgery today, “One patient came in for a root canal surgery but she just wouldn’t open her mouth wide enough, no matter how much I told her to. Man, it just did my head in!!” To which Maharaj grinned and said, “Yeah, I know how you feel!” As if on cue from one of those TV show’s based in a house, Sutapa Prabhu (one of Maharaj’s most illustrious and brilliant disciples in the UK) came along. He had just dropped off Jayadvaita Maharaj at another house and the conversation turned to the recording at the studio that Maharaj was due to do in a few days. There was discussion on having an all-star Iskcon cast to participate. Names like Amala, Jahnavi and Ravi Pattni were being put forward. To dub it in or do it all together? Tuning the harmoniums? Where to get ace quality harmoniums? Maharaj reassured Sutapa not to worry, that he won’t hammer the harmoniums too much! Maharaj commented that editing the sounds can be such a painstaking process and when you’re working with proper artists they can be very critical over certain things.

Regarding the casting, Sutapa joked that in case the all-star cast don’t come through there’s always him and Nandan (myself) to be the backup!!! NOT a good move, I assure you dear reader…anyhow the devotees found it hilarious.

Shortly after, Maharaj took a bit of light prasadam and retired for the night. The disciples exchanged a few more words, on this and that, on Maharaj and life in general before heading of.

HH Kadamba Kanana Maharaj ki Jai!

At ISKCON Vedic Farm, Bon Accueil, Mauritius.

Among the many moonlike devotees of Srila Prabhupada, Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja shines brilliantly in the firmament, illuminating the hearts and lives of those who come into his light.

Today we are observing the twentieth anniversary of Maharaja’s divine departure, on Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s appearance day in Mayapur, February 9, 1996. I had left Mayapur earlier that day, after placing my head on Maharaja’s lotus feet and receiving his affectionate blessing. As I learned later, that afternoon Bhaktarupa Prabhu and two senior lady devotees came to meet Maharaja in his room, and they inquired of him about Krishna—why Lord Chaitanya made his base in Puri, what was the relationship between Lord Jagannatha and Vrindavan. Maharaja enthusiastically narrated the pastimes of Krishna and how Krishna, having been in separation from Radharani, assumed the form of Jagannatha. Because of Maharaja’s exalted Krishna consciousness, he felt transcendental ecstasy remembering and narrating Krishna’s pastimes. And in this case he became overwhelmed, and he excused himself, saying that he was unable to speak more. He lay back on his bed and, gazing at a picture of his worshipable Deity Gopal Jiu, while devotees chanted the holy names, in a deep state of Krishna consciousness, he left this world.

In Srimad-Bhagavatam (4.28.47) Srila Prabhupada discusses the departure of the spiritual master: “[W]hen the mortal body of the spiritual master expires, his disciples should cry exactly as the queen cries when the king leaves his body. However, the disciple and spiritual master are never separated, because the spiritual master always keeps company with the disciple as long as the disciple follows strictly the instructions of the spiritual master. This is called the association of vani (words). Physical presence is called vapuh. As long as the spiritual master is physically present, the disciple should serve the physical body of the spiritual master, and when the spiritual master is no longer physically existing, the disciple should serve the instructions of the spiritual master.”

Devotees cried for Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja when he left, and we should cry for him now—for his mercy—and be eager to hear from him, as he instructed: “All sadhus speak through their books. Jiva Gosvami, Rupa Gosvami, Sanatana Gosvami, Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, and Srila Prabhupada all say that they speak through books. . . . This is our Vaishnava procedure. But you should see him. . . . You may say, ‘Oh, I have read their books, I have their association.’ . . . You cannot understand what they have said merely by reading their books.”

At SSR International Airport, Mauritius.

At Hare Krishna Land, Phoenix, Mauritius.

Once, when Maharaja came to Mauritius, after he gave a class at the ISKCON Vedic Farm in Bon Accueil, I mentioned to him the verses in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Madhya 22.128–129) about the five most potent forms of devotional service:

sadhu-sanga, nama-kirtana, bhagavata-sravana
mathura-vasa, sri-murtira sraddhaya sevana

“One should associate with devotees, chant the holy name of the Lord, hear Srimad-Bhagavatam, reside at Mathura, and worship the Deity with faith and veneration.

sakala-sadhana-srestha ei panca anga
krsna-prema janmaya ei pancera alpa sanga

“These five limbs of devotional service are the best of all. Even a slight performance of these five awakens love for Krsna.”

I told him how much I cherished mathura-vasa, residing in Mathura (or Vrindavan).  Maharaja looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Kamsa also resided in Mathura, but still he was a demon.” Immediately I realized that yes, one can reside in Mathura, but he must also give up the demonic mentality of wanting to be the Supreme—the proprietor, the controller, and the enjoyer. Externally one may reside in Mathura, but internally he must do the work of purifying the heart.

Maharaja spoke these words to me with great love and compassion. I felt that he was seeing straight into my polluted heart and acting to purify it. He instructed me that the goal was not to reside in Mathura but to actually develop the consciousness of a devotee. And we can see from this example that the direct, personal association of a sadhu is required to understand the real import, or purport, of the books we read, of scripture.

The sadhus speaking through their books “are very, very merciful,” Maharaja said, “but you should follow the proper path. If you are intelligent you will understand how they are still here, not only in the form of their books, but also they are here. You should see them. . . . If you can get his mercy then you can see him. Otherwise, by your own effort and perception you cannot see him. No, no, no. You always think that you are drasta, the seer, and that the sadhu is drsta, the one to be seen. Everyone is like this. They think they are the seers. But it is just the reverse. You are to be seen and they are the seer.” And when a devotee asked him, “How are we seen by the sadhu—by our service?” Maharaja replied, “Yes. The sadhu is the seer. If he showers his mercy upon you, he sees you. If you receive that merciful glance then you are very fortunate.”

Part of Maharaja’s mission was to show that everything is in Srila Prabhupada’s books. He said that they are like an ocean filled with gems and that to gather those gems one must dive very deep. Maharaja’s own books include talks based on Srila Prabhupada’s books, revealing many beautiful gems there and showing how one can get the highest realizations of Krishna consciousness from them—sambandha, abhideya, and prayojana: what our relationship with Krishna is, how to act in that relationship, and how to actually realize life’s ultimate goal, pure love for Krishna, krsna-prema. We should also dive deep into Maharaja’s books and mine the priceless gems he has kept for us there.

After Maharaja’s passing I was unable to visit Mayapur for some years, and when I finally returned I was most eager to visit the newly constructed samadhis of my dear departed godbrothers—Tamal Krishna Goswami, Sridhar Swami, Bhakti Tirtha Swami, and Gour Govinda Swami. When I offered my obeisance at Srila Gour Govinda Swami’s samadhi, I felt that he gave me a direct instruction: “Do not judge others. You do not know what devotion they have in their hearts.” In other words, I am not the seer of the sadhus; I am meant to be seen by them.

On this occasion, I pray to Srila Gour Govinda Swami Swami Maharaja that by his grace he always keep me under his shelter, instruct me and rectify me without reservation or hesitation, and engage me in service to him, Srila Prabhupada, our parampara, and their mission.

Hare Krishna.

Your—and his—eternal servant,

Giriraj Swami

He Who Charms the Heart (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: As the sun was setting we walked down the parikrama path and just before Kesi Ghat we turned right into the small lanes winding through Vrindavan town to the Radha Raman temple. When we arrived we took darsan of He who charms the heart of every resident in this transcendental abode. The perfect ending to a perfect day in the most perfect town in creation.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/kAGkqZ

Over the past few month’s I have been pondering what for me is the real meaning of mentor, and of those who have been the finest examples of mentor; this given that it is the latest buzz word being bounded around.

In many ways the first devotee’s that I had contact with were the perfect mentors, although they didn’t use such a crude word. The first devotee who stopped me in the streets became my first role model in devotional service, backed up by some amazing devotees who took on that responsibility.

The interesting thing is that it didn’t feel intimidating, no forms, no courses that you had to pay for; but over many months they introduced me to the essentials of a life in devotional service and started to help in the preparations for initiation.

It was inspirational and natural, they spent time to really know me, develop and encourage. Before you realised it your chanting 16 rounds of japa, following the 4 regulative principles and taking any opportunity to do some service.

When they left as I still had a long way to go, another senior devotee took over this personal training of me in Krishna Consciousness to the point were I gave my first class to university students.

I miss those day’s although it did teach me one vital lesson in order to make anyone we meet a fully initiated life time devotee, it takes commitment, time, tolerance, patience and an individual plan on how to bring the best out of the person.

However there is an even greater example of mentor, which emphasises this even more and in many ways defines who we are and remains important to us throughout our lifes.

It also shows that their has to be an underlying addition that without any mentorship will fail, and is the basis of any relationship that lasts and that is simply love.

She held you in her arms, fed and protected you; put your needs before her own.
She taught you how to walk, talk, control your bladder and bowls.
She taught you how to read and write, to colour and express yourself
She taught you how to be polite, to deal with others and how to cope with the problems life brings.

And this is not a week, month, year but a lifetime; indeed even when her child has grown up and has children of their own she still is their, advising and helping. Selfless driven by love.

And if she has several children you will notice the adjustments she makes to simply bring the best out of each child; the underlying principles remain the same; but she understands each child’s personality and the best way to bring the best out of each one.

Our greatest mentor is always their, and even if they leave their body the words remain and the lessons remain; in essence it defines us. With love.

Srila Prabhupada had so much love for his disciples, his guidance, tolerance and showing how to undertake devotional service; his lessons and examples were so powerful that even after all this time his disciples continue. His voice and words remain always in their thoughts, motivating.

This is his legacy, his example is that mentor and teaching is a personal individual thing. Bringing out the best in each person developing them into a lifetime of devotional service, working with what they bring to make then the best devotee they can be.

Yes they may not be perfect, I’m not perfect; that’s why Srila Prabhupada asked us to at least try to get on, but most important we can inspire each other and bring the best out of those we meet, so they too can enjoy a lifetime of devotional service.
Although for some my thoughts will remain as always anti-ISKCON, because they love forms and courses and tests and think everyone does, missing the point of real mentorship; but that’s a long journey if done correctly.

And as Srila Prabhupada said it takes many many gallons of blood to make one devotee, yes real effort.

But I appreciate more those early mentors, who took me on a journey without me knowing it, training in a practical way, challenging and nurturing; may I continue in that tradition as it is truly the most beneficial way in my humble opinion to make and inspire devotees.

Service Opportunity

Bhaktivedanta Manor Ltd – ISKCON Goshalla

Permanent Contract

Position: Goshalla Farm Hand

Bhaktivedanta Manor, Iskcon Goshalla is currently seeking a Full time farm assistant.

Working in all areas and covering all aspects of the Goshalla.

Duties will include but are not limited to:

All oxen work; Plowing, Hay Making, Ferrying loads, Cart rides etc, Milking the cows, Fulfilling the cows daily needs; Food, Water, Bedding etc, Maintaining and cleaning of the Goshalla.

· Assisting with festival days.

Successful candidates will have a genuine interest in, or experience of farming, horticulture and self sustainable living. They will need a strong level of commitment and flexibility.

As a part of the project, you must:

· Be energetic, enthusiastic and committed to creating an exemplary goshalla.

· Work well as part of a team as well as work on your own initiative.

· Be able to demonstrate confidence and competence around cows and oxen.

· Be flexible and adaptable and show a developed competence in problem solving.

We will provide:

· Training and support in all areas.

· Supportive and friendly colleagues.

· Development opportunities including bobcat and forklift training.

35 hours per week Wednesday – Sunday with flexibility.

For further information please contact Bhaktivedanta Manor’s Devotee Placement and Care Manager, Brijlata Dasi.

Email: brijlata@krishnatemple.com Tel: 01923 851000

To apply please send you C.V. to: brijlata@krishnatemple.com

ISKCON Goshalla is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all cows and oxen.

We expect all members of the Goshalla to share this commitment.

The Palace of Gold steps with the higher steps finished and lower steps in progress.

Thanks to our tireless construction teams 2015 was a productive year for New Vrindaban. In December of last year they completed an expansion to the parking lot located across from the temple entrance; bulldozing, leveling and shaping a first class parking area. Guests will now have ample parking to see the Palace and receive Prabupada’s mercy.

The steps leading to the Palace started renovation last summer, the upper portion is now complete. The stairs were expertly rebuilt by repurposing the original material for the risers, pier facings, and adding polished two-inch thick Absolute Black domestic granite for the treads and pier caps. The treads were flamed for traction and made extra thick for long-term endurance. Project manager Gopisa Prabhu mentions, “The end result is stunning and will soon be duplicated on the lower section of the front steps.”

The Palace steps made with Absolute Black granite and flamed treads for traction.

During fall of 2014, the ISKCON New Vrindaban Board endorsed the renovation of Prabhupada’s Palace wall. Since then, the wall structure was stripped of its rock, siding, and though still standing strong, was filled with cement and stabilized with rebar on the inside to secure its structure. The next step is to layer the wall with EIFS material which is basically a combination of wire, stucco and plastic helping with insulation efficiency and the external appearance. Each column of the wall will be decorated on top with an original lotus pattern casted in concrete, while each section of the wall will hold newly casted window frames with their original design. This project is currently being organized.

Prabhupada’s Palace wall is still being stripped of its brick and siding for renovation.

If there is room for more restoration projects, the red railing outlining the inside path entrance to the Prabhupada’s Palace will be renovated too. Gopisa Prabhu estimates the lower section of the stairs and the wall will be completed by the end of 2016.

Gopisa Prabhu also plans to fabricate the decorative wrought iron hand railings for the Palace steps this year as an offering to his spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, for the 50^th Anniversary of ISKCON.  Gopisa Prabhu reflects by saying, “My hope is to be a productive tool in Krsna’s hands, after all, he is doing everything anyway.”

Drishti - ISKCON Pune’s Mega Youth Fest!
The ISKCON Pune temple (www.iskconpune.in) has been conducting youth-development activities on a large scale since 1996 & have reached out to 2 lakh+ students. Thus with an aim to celebrate the golden jubilee, we are organizing a youth festival ‘Drishti’ (www.facebook.com/dyfest). We are inviting more than 1.5 lakh students for this absolutely free program to be held on 20th March 2016, Sunday at Bharti Vidyapeeth College ground, Katraj Pune. We are expecting a turnout of approx. 15,000 students to visit us for this event which will be a mix of cultural, musical & spiritual renaissance. At the end of the event all participants will get free Dinner prasadam. Thus we request you to please bless so that we can bring many many youths in the service of Srila Prabhupada!
For more information click here: http://www.iskconpune.com/drishti/

The main prasadam hall newly renovated.

Recently, New Vrindaban welcomed Bhagavan Bauer to the construction team as the Construction & Maintenance Manager for its current and future development. Bhagavan, along with core team John and Gintrist have been very busy since the end of last year, and this year is already packed with pending projects.

Bhagavan, born and raised in New Vrindaban, the son of Bhokta Prabhu and Sukhavaha Dasi, moved with his wife Ananga Manjari Dasi and his two sons Nava and Nitya, in October 2015 to New Vrindaban. The construction team is working on three main projects.

The first project was to lay beautiful new flooring in the guest prasadam hall, behind Jagannath’s alter, and renovating the guest kitchen. This started in mid-January and the flooring is now complete. The guest kitchen is still underway and will be completed soon.

The nine Palace Lodge rooms under construction.

The second project is laying new floors in the main prasadam hall on the east side of the temple. This project was finished on Nityananda Triyodasi (Feb. 20th) including a fresh new layer of glossy paint on the wooden panels. Initially planning to install five skylights on the east side of the temple, a problem arose; Bhagavan and his team found excess ice and water inside the roof. Due to the damage and age of the roof, it is in dire need to be replaced and Bhagavan says replacing the roof will be done as soon as possible.

The third project in the works is creating nine rooms with attached baths under the east side of the lodge where Krsna’s Attic Thrift Store normally operates. The Thirft Store will be moved to the other side of the lodge. These rooms will be similar to the four rooms built on the other side of the lodge last spring. The aim is to finish the rooms latest for the Kuli Mela in June.

New Vrindaban construction is planning to build a maintenance workshop by the Community Garden (previously the Garden of Seven Gates) and new apartment buildings in the future (as well). This will provide the maintenance team an effective workshop for their tools, supplies, and a productive space when needed. In the spring they plan to fence in the outside playground area for children as well as finish the common rooms in both the men’s and ladies ashrams.

Photos by Sridama das

29^th February 2016, Mayapur, India

By Romapada Das

After screening a short film about Mayapur on the sixth day of ILS, Brjavilasa Das spoke to the ILS delegates on behalf of the Temple of Vedic Planetarium (TOVP), stressing the importance of Mayapur in the eyes of Srila Prabhupada. He mentioned that Prabhupada had wanted to establish Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as the yugavatara for this age from the precincts of this temple.

“In 1969, Srila Prabhupada gave his first ever instruction on Mayapur to Gopal Krishna Goswami,” announced Brjavilasa Das. “He told him that if he went to India, he should go to Mayapur and build a temple there.”

He explained that Bhaktivinoda Thakura had seen a vision of the temple from his residence in Svarupaganj, across the river Jalangi. He had also envisioned Americans, Russians and Europeans dancing and singing here with karatalas and mridangas.

“Srila Prabhupada accepted Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s vision as his life’s mission,” explained Brajavilasa. “He was very clear about his vision for the Mayapur temple. He had thanked all his disciples for helping to build the temple as an offering to Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He had instructed all branches of ISKCON to give money for the construction of this temple. Prabhupada had even instructed us to bring the Queen of England for the opening of this temple. In this way, his instructions for Mayapur were crystal clear.”

Jananivas Das, the Head Priest of the Mayapur temple, described how Nityananda Prabhu in a conversation with Jiva Goswami had predicted that the Ganges would flood the birth-place of Lord Chaitanya, 100 years after his birth.

“For 300 years, the birth-place would be submerged under water,” he explained. “And Lord Nityananda had predicted that it would be rediscovered once again. He had said that houses would be built, kirtan would be held constantly, and a great temple would be built. From this temple, service to Lord Gauranga will spread all over the world. All of this is happening here right now.”

Brajavilasa recollected how Jananivisa Das had accompanied him to North America with Lord Nityananda’s padukas (peg-shoes) to 45 temples where they had raised over $16 million from 3000 people. He explained that the total cost of the TOVP project was $90 million, out of which Ambarish Das had given $25 million, and $15 million had been collected by the worldwide fund-raising drive. “We have pledges for an additional $20 million, which leaves us with a shortfall of around $30 million,” he said. “Even if 3000 people pledge $11,000 each, we can complete this temple in the service of Prabhupada.”

Several ILS delegates immediately pledged their support by filling pledge forms. Over $250,000 were collected in less than an hour, with promises of more pledges during the day. A special mention was made of Gopal Bhatta Das, head of the GBC Strategic Planning Committee, who pledged $100,000.

After the TOVP presentation, Kaunteya Dasa mentioned the launch of Bhaktimarriages.com, an online portal for pre-marital counselling and care.

“We support the devotees who wish to get married, to live together as followers of Srila Prabhupada, and to assist each other in spiritual life,” said Radha Govinda Dasi, Project Director of Bhakti Marriages. “We believe that in ISKCON the only way to stable, successful marriages is to learn and follow Srila Prabhupada’s instructions. Before getting married, all devotees should go through training. Our portal offers many courses for men and women, offers services in astrological compatibility, and a databank of quotes and instructions from Srila Prabhupada.”

In the evening, ILS delegates were treated to a special film festival organised by ISKCON Television and Vande Arts. Over 20 clips and trailers were screened from various genres such as documentaries, narratives and drama to a packed audience at the Nama Hatta building.

THINK 50! Act 50!

Source: http://iskconnews.org/day-6-of-ils-attracting-the-whole-world-to-mayapur,5429/

After screening a short film about Mayapur on the sixth day of ILS, Brjavilasa Das spoke to the ILS delegates on behalf of the Temple of Vedic Planetarium (TOVP), stressing the importance of Mayapur in the eyes of Srila Prabhupada. He mentioned that Prabhupada had wanted to establish Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu as the yugavatara for this age from the precincts of this temple.

A devotee of the Supreme Lord is magnanimous and an inspiration to one and all. A devotee of the Lord is all-purifying and it is by great fortune that one comes to associate with him. Infact even a moment’s association with a Pure devotee of the Lord is highly glorified in the scriptures and is said to bestow all good fortune upon the other. It is by the mercy of the Pure devotees of the Lord, that one can begin to understand Krishna, the supreme Lord, and it is only by serving His devotees, that one can obtain the love of Lord. In this article we would be focusing our discussion about the super-excellent qualities of the devotees, the ornaments that decorate his personality, and how they continue to be an inspiration to all of us. Continue reading "The Magnanimity of a Devotee
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Kalash Yatra (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: For the 13th Annual Vrinda Kunda Festival, we did a kalash yatra with all the ladies carrying water pots with coconuts on their heads. This year all the girls from the Nandagram Bhaktivedanta Vaisnavi Gurukula also joined carrying colorful flags! After reaching Vrinda Kunda, we had katha, kirtan, butter churning, and prasad! Relish these pics of Vittalrukmini!
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The Heart of a Vaisnava.
A wonderful lecture by Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami about the Vaisnavas who voluntarily, out of their causeless mercy come down to this miserable place, this material world.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/Sdmkcz

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Harinam Sankirtan in Bali, Indonesia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “As a result of chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one makes such great advancement in spiritual life that simultaneously his material existence terminates and he receives love of Godhead. The holy name of Krishna is so powerful that by chanting even one name, one very easily achieves these transcendental riches.” (Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.28)
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By Madhava Smullen

“I am grateful to be able to serve in New Vrindaban,” said ISKCON New Vrindaban (INV) President Jaya Krsna Das, looking out at an audience of GBC, board members, temple residents, and community members.

He expressed the emotion as he introduced the Department Head Presentations on December 5^th, part of the biannual INV and ECO-Vrindaban (ECO-V) Board Meetings.

Looking back with fondness on 2015, Jaya Krsna said that the past year had seen INV and ECO-V’s organizational structures, led by 14 department heads, become smooth and stable.

“We started out in 2011 with many new department heads,” he said. “Now most are experienced, and have strong, cooperative relationships with each other.”

He added that visitors could see INV improving on many levels, including its welcoming mood and the physical upgrades to its buildings and facilities. As a result, many senior devotees are now visiting, as well as large numbers of locals through events like Festival of Colors.

Other developments, he said, were showing that “Krishna’s magic” is in full swing.

On their own volition, community members Sundari Dasi and Mercy started the Gopal’s Garden Preschool. Devotees banded together to start the Village Association, which will give New Vrindaban residents more influence on how their community is run. Second generation devotees who grew up in New Vrindaban have moved back, like Nityananda Dasi with her husband Vrajadhama, and Bhagavan with his wife Ananga Manjari. And two other devotee families are about to settle on their own land sold to them by INV.

The Department Head Reports of 2015 followed Jaya Krsna’s introduction, highlighting the stability and cooperative relationships he had praised.

The Deity Department, headed by Abhinandana Das, reported making regular improvements in the standards of worship, cooking and dressing. Particularly exciting was the news that Deity outfits are again being homemade in New Vrindaban, which was once famous all over ISKCON for having the best seamstresses and jewelry designers. So too was the news that in 2015 the Deity Dept. hosted a Deity Worship Ministry Pujari training program for 48 East Coast pujaris for the second consecutive year.

From Govinda’s Restaurant, Vasudeva Das said that visitor numbers had notably increased throughout the year. This was probably due in no small part to the expanded menu, with world cuisine like sushi, tacos, and lasagna, as well as doughnuts, cakes, and vegan items. New décor was also added, including a book table; and increased kitchen space and a new altar made the atmosphere more pleasant for staff.

Vasudeva also presented for Madri Dasi from the Devotee Kitchen, who had to return home to Northern Ireland to be take care of an urgent family matter. Madri introduced a much-needed more healthy, balanced diet for the devotees, a consistent cooking schedule, and the use of ghee rather than oil. The Devotee Kitchen was also brightened up with a newly painted hallway and new doors.

Palace Lodge manager Gaura Bhakta Das, reported that the Welcome Center is beginning to fulfill its central role – it’s now receiving all the mail for ISKCON New Vrindaban; has warm customer service from senior devotees Lilasuka and Lokadristi, and has become the first stop for all visitors. Meanwhile in the Lodge itself, four new rooms with attached bathrooms – one of them wheelchair accessible – have been added, with nine more planned for this summer.

“We’ve received a lot of positive feedback about the improvements in the facilities, and the way we take care of and welcome our guests,” says Jaya Krsna.

One newcomer to Krishna consciousness wrote to Jaya Krsna recently, listing the names of seven different devotees who had introduced themselves and talked to him.

Meanwhile in a Dandavats article, Taraka Das wrote that during his travels to various ISKCON temples, “The place that stood out for me as welcoming and warm was New Vrindaban. Every devotee that I encountered said, “Haribol. How are you?” or similar or just smiled. It warmed my heart!”

Another draw of New Vrindaban for visitors are its Festivals, reported on by Vrindavan Das. In 2015 hundreds participated in the Festival of Inspiration, the June and October 24-Hour Kirtans, and the Festival of Colors. Janmastami attendance tripled over the previous year, with 3,000 attendees. And devotees enjoyed a sweet community Rathayatra festival and an inspiring retreat with Bhakti Charu Swami.

Perhaps the highlight of the year, however, was the Srila Prabhupada’s Arrival Festival in Butler, PA, which saw 200 devotees tour the YMCA building where Prabhupada stayed, hold a huge Harinama on the way to the Agarwals’ old apartment, and praise the ISKCON Founder-Acharya in a Grand Ballroom event.

Vrindavan also presented the accomplishments of the Communications department, which had seven articles published in local newspapers about many of these festivals. Communications staff also improved the design and content of monthly email newsletter Brijabasi Spirit; created archives of New Vrindaban photos and articles from over the years; improved social networking; and published monthly articles on ISKCON News and Dandavats.

In Devotee Relations, Sukhavaha Dasi had a very busy year caring for residents. She offered personal development course The Hero’s Journey; had certified family life educator Krishnanandini Dasi give a couple’s course for future grihastas; and gave one-on-one counseling sessions to devotees with spiritual, emotional or financial challenges.

She also established a child protection team; brought ISKCON North American CPO Lilasuka Dasi to train its members; secured an apartment for a hospice for terminally ill devotees; and established experienced caretaker Jasoda Gokulananda to care for them.

The Congregational Development department with Gaura Nataraj Das, meanwhile, is caring for pilgrims. They offer them a japa introduction course, a visit to the goshala, and a guided Govardhana parikrama when they visit, as well as a live weekly class via webcam. The CD team also keeps in touch with pilgrims at home, sending them gifts for birthdays and anniversaries, calling them up regularly, counseling them in their personal lives, and encouraging them in their chanting. As a result, registration increased by 25%, long weekend turnout by 50%, and 1,500 new familes visited New Vrindaban and registered with the CD office.

Of course, to ensure all these departments run smoothly, good Accounting is essential. In 2015 Laxmi Honest upgraded to a new bank, Chase, that makes transactions much more efficient; and a new, more reliable payroll company that ensures devotees get their direct transfers on time. She also ensured that monthly closing is done and financial data presented to the Board within ten days.

Moving up from the temple to Prabhupada’s Palace, Jaya Krsna reported for Tripad Vibhuti Das that visitors increased 10% to about 20,000 in 2015. In addition, the first chattra was repainted, its pillars replaced, and work begun on the second; the Rose Garden was set on its way to becoming sustainable and chemical-free; and monthly Prabhupada sangas were held in Srila Prabhupada’s altar room.

At the Apartments, new department head Lalita Gopi Dasi did a major cleanup of the building, planted flowers, and cleared the maintenance shed. She also had the toilets fixed, bathroom renewed and the stairs and decks renovated. “The devotee tenants are really happy with how helpful and supportive she is,” says Jaya Krsna.

Finally in Facilities, Gopisa Das oversaw the infrastructure improvement that has drawn the appreciation of visitors. At Prabhupada’s Palace, he had the upper main stairs beautifully renovated by recycling the old pink granite, and adding new black granite treads with polished front edges. The parking lot was expanded from 15 spaces to 70. And contracts have been signed for a construction company to renovate the outer wall.

The Palace Lodge received a new floor in the community hall and attractive and durable new hardy board siding on the side facing the playground – which is also brand new and much safer for the children. The temple got insulated doors and windows to keep the heat in, an efficient gas furnace, a new roof over the guest wing with high quality lifetime shingles and Swiss Velux skylights.

Some of the cabins and apartments also received new roofs, the cracked sidewalks around the temple and Lodge were repaired, and two new apartment buildings are under construction.

Next, introducing the ECO-Vrindaban department head presentations, ECO-V Board Chair Bhima Walker summarized the year’s highlights.

2015, he said, had been all about building the ECO-V team. Two new managers were engaged and brought up to speed: Project Manager Mukunda Das, who started in May, and Garden and Ox Training Manager Nitai Candra Das, who joined the team in September.

Vyasasana Das completed exterior renovations on the once dilapidated Bahulaban Barn. It will now be used as a summer pasturing ground for retired milking cows and some of the elderly oxen.

The purchase of the former ISCOWP farm, which has been named Nandagram since the 1970s, was finalized the day before the presentations. The Nandagram Farm’s excellent ox training facility including barns and outbuildings — built over 20 years by Balabhadra and his crew – will be used to accommodate and train ECO-V’s three teams of young Brown Swiss oxen. The farm also includes two houses: one is already home to ECO-V Project Manager Mukunda and his wife Bhakti-lata, while the other will accommodate other staff members.

Following Bhima, new Garden and Ox Training manager Nitai Candra Das introduced himself. He described his four years of experience taking care of the ISKCON Escondido farm in California, which supplied local temples with vegetables and protected cow milk.

He then explained how he had put the New Vrindaban Community Gardens to bed for the winter; helped Vidya and her crew at the end of the growing season in the Teaching Garden; attended a restorative agriculture course with project manager Mukunda; and begun developing his relationship with the three ox teams. He hopes to have the oxen ready to take Prabhupada’s murti on a parikrama around New Vrindaban by fall 2016, and to take visitors by summer 2017.

Next Ananda Vidya Das reported steady success with the Cows. He and his wife Lalita Gopi are currently milking seven cows, with a yield of 17 gallons a day; keeping the Deity kitchen stocked with fresh butter, and even starting to make and supply ghee to the devotee and Deity kitchens. Two new calves, Shriya and Shiva, were born recently, and three more cows are pregnant and due in March.

Last but not least was new Project Manager Mukunda Das. Mukunda described how he had overseen repairs at the milking Goshala and Palace Rose Garden, including a full renovation on the Rose Garden’s greenhouse with a new fan system, heaters, and electricity upgrade. He also fully renovated the long-neglected conference room at the ECO-Vrindaban Valley Barn, which will now be used for meetings on a regular basis.

Another major part of Mukunda’s work is community building – every week, he leads a number of ISKCON New Vrindaban department heads in exercises on how to deepen their relationships and interactions with co-managers, staff, and guests. He also serves as the chair and secretary of the Steering Committee that is developing the New Vrindaban Village Association.

“During previous years, ECO-Vrindaban spent a lot of time clarifying its mission,” says Bhima in summary. “2015 was all about building a team to realize that vision. And 2016 is the year we anticipate major progress in the gardens, ox training, and facilities upgrades.” He grins. “ECO-V is gonna make a splash!”

“In general, 2015 was a very successful year for both INV and ECO-V,” Jaya Krsna concludes. “We made a lot of progress on many levels. Now we have cooperative, stable teams which allow us to better serve Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Radha Vrindabanchandra. And that gives us a lot of potential for the future.”

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Gunagrahi das Goswami Health Update - Official.
Written by Mahahari das and Gandharvika devi dasi
Dear Devotees, family and well wishers,
Please accept our obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and His Holiness Gunagrahi das Goswami.
My Husband and I both spoke to His Holiness Gunagrahi Maharaja today.
After undergoing his second MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) it was discovered that the cancer has gotten worse. It has not spread to new areas of the body, but has gained strength in existing areas. He is also experiencing increased pain throughout the body, especially in the areas of the tumor near the spine. He is in good spirits and plans to continue the treatments for now. He will be in contact with the doctors, medical professionals and senior devotees as to what he plans to do next. We ask that the devotees please pray for his well being and that he may suffer the least pain possible.
Due to the intense situation, he will be minimizing even more his email, and we request that devotees only write him positive communication if necessary.
As requested in a previous update, he welcomes 30 second video greetings. Please send those to: gandarvika@yahoo.com
Your servants,
Mahahari das and Gandharvika devi dasi

Speaker: HG Jananivasa dasa
Venue: Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir
Date: 28 Feb 2016

So today is the appearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada and the disappearance day of Purusottama Krishna and also the disappearance day of Srila Gaur Govinda Maharaja.

So we were asked to speak on Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. So maybe we can chant these pranams first after Srila Prabhupada’s.

nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
namas te sarasvate deve gaura-vani-pracarine
nirvisesha-sunyavadi-pascatya-desa-tarine

nama om vishnu-padaya krishna-preshthaya bhu-tale
srimate bhaktisiddhanta-sarasvat iti namine
sri-varshabhanavi-devi-dayitaya kripabdhaye
krishna-sambandha-vijnana-dayine prabhave namah
madhuryojjvala-premadhya-sri-rupanuga-bhaktida
sri-gaura-karuna-sakti-vigrahaya namo ’stu te
namas te gaura-vani-sri-murtaye dina-tarine
rupanuga-viruddhapasiddhanta-dhvanta-harine

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura avirbhava mahotsava tithi ki jaya!

Hare Krishna!

So Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati our parama guru or the guru of His Divine Grace Abhay Caranaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He was born in Jagannath Puri, in the dhama, to respond to the prayers of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura who was praying for a ‘ray of Visnu’ to come and save the conditioned souls of this age. So Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was the answer to that prayer and he became a very very powerful, empowered preacher of Gaura bhakti. The prayer apasiddhanta-dhvanta-harine, that he didn’t tolerate anything against proper siddhanta. So that time when he was in Puri, there was one Radha Ramana Carana dasa Babaji who formed some bogus mantra,

Nitai Gaura Radhe Shyama
japa Hare Krishna Hare Rama

Unbona fide mantra but he was very very popular. The tune was very good also, nice, sweet tune. But anyway, it was very popular at that time. And Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati also confronted him about using this improper mantra which had different faults in it. But when they met him and preached to him, he said, ‘What can I do? Now they are already chanting! What can I do?’ So he was so forceful in his preaching that the whole of Puri was like on fire with his preaching because this Radha Ramana Carana was very very popular. But Bhaktisiddhanta was so strict and strong in his preaching that he was disturbing the whole of Puri dhama, so his father Bhaktivinoda Thakura said, ‘You better leave! (laughs) You better leave! Go and stay in Mayapur and develop Mayapur!’

So then he came here and he started to develop Mayapur. He was living at the Sri Caitanya Math, just past the Yogapitha, the birth place of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, then past that Srivasa angam, then the next temple that is Caitanya Math. And he took a very severe vow to chant 1 billion names, I think. It means like you chant 3 lakhs of rounds everyday for nine years. He had to complete that vow and he did! And he was living like an avadhuta here. He would perform the Caturmasya ceremony very strictly – put some khichari on the ground and he would go down one time, put your hands behind your back and lick! lick! lick! and when you come up you don’t come down again, thats it for the day! He had grown long hair, kind of like an avadhuta. We see him very strict in his photographs like this but at that time he was like an avadhuta.

And so he stayed there developing. The first disciple he made, he was a son of a lawyer or something like that. Anyway he came to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura here and he was very much impressed with his preaching. But he said to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura that actually I have got a guru, a guru father and a guru mother. But they were Bauls, another apasampradaya. So anyway he went back to his village where they were staying and at night he had this dream, this young man had a dream and he saw his guru and his wife’s guru and the guru became a lion and she became a tiger. (laughs) And they were approaching their disciple to eat him. So he woke up suddenly, what an astonishing dream! Immediately the next day he went to Mayapur, he begged, ‘You please give me initiation! Please save me from the jaws of the tigers and the lions!’

So Srila Prabhupada said that he was there one time, you know the house of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati is there. Just before the samadhi is the house, like that, Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s house. And there is a little verandah there and Prabhupada said he used to see his Guru Maharaja walking up and down, chanting on the verandah there. And one day the disciple said, ‘Guru Maharaja! Guru Maharaja! A very poisonous snake, big snake here, poison! What shall we do?’ And Bhaktisiddhanta was on the verandah. He said, ‘Kill it!’ And Prabhupada said, ‘I was thinking such a saint, I thought saintly persons they would not harm even an ant, any creature! Why is he ordering to kill!’ Prabhupada said, ‘I was thinking like that, at that time!’ So that snake was killed. Later on when Prabhupada was translating the, anyway in the Ninth Canto Prahlada Maharaja, I think its a prayer of Prahlada Maharaja, in the Seventh Canto, he said, the verse says, ‘Even a saintly person is pleased when the snake or a scorpion is killed!’ Because they are envious, they bite for no reason at all.’ So Prabhupada said, ‘I was very happy when I read that. It was confirmed. I was always thinking why he said that.’

When Srila Bhaktisiddhanta was living with Bhaktivinoda Thakura Svananda-sukhada-kunja across in Godruma dvipa and then Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja came to Mayapur. He spent about 35 years in Vrindavana. He was very famous as a true renounced person and when he heard that the birthplace of Caitanya Mahaprabhu has been revealed again by the mercy of Jagannath dasa Babaji and Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Mayapur you know as the prophecy’s are, its expanding like a lotus flower. The other dhamas in Kaliyuga they close because of the sinful age but Navadvipa has advented especially for Kaliyuga, so its opening, its flourishing, specially from the time of Bhaktivinoda Thakura, it started to revive again. So Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja came to stay in Navadvipa and he spent the rest of his life here practically. He would go here and there sometimes. Mostly he would stay here.

So Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, he would go and see Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, he pointed out my Guru, Bhaktisiddhanta said. He said he is your guru, Gaura Kisora, he said. Take initiation from him. You don’t come home until you’ve got initiation. You don’t come back till you get initiation from him. So he said, I was studying this person who had a little loin cloth, little babaji cloth, tiger skin cap, that was it. He had a few stamps, tilaka stamps, the holy name stamp. That was his possessions, some japa mala, some bit of cloth with knots in it, he used as japa mala. And he gave these possessions, that was his possessions, tiger skin hat, he gave to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. I think in their first meeting.

Anyway Bhaktivinoda Thakura, he is your guru. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said, ‘I was trying to understand him. But I couldn’t.’ He told me, ‘you give up your learning’ because he was a maha pandita. Nobody could defeat Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati at that time. People would flee if he came for a debate, which he liked to do. He said, ‘ When I was young I loveed to debate and defeat others.’ Gaura Kisora says, ‘Give up your learning and give up your attachment to morality.’ He was a naistika brahmacari also from birth. He maintained celibacy whole life. He said these are the two things, these are my identity, Bhaktisiddhanta was saying. I was such a strict moralist and also with my learning and everything I could defeat everyone. This was me, my identity. And Gaura Kisora said, ‘You should give up these qualities.’

So he said, ‘Either this person, he is genuinely renounced. Otherwise he has a huge huge false ego, that I cannot comprehend.’ And after some time he understood, no he is actually a genuine person. ‘I dont know any other person who is more renounced, I dont know of ever there will be one, than Gaura Kisora dasa Maharaja, from the time of Raghunatha dasa.’ I think he mentioned.
So anyway he approached Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, ‘You please give me initiation.’ And Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja said, ‘I am illiterate.’ Practically he was illiterate. ‘And you are great pandita, you are a great scholar. It won’t be a good match!’ So anyway he approached him some time. And Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja said, ‘Ok, I will ask my Prabhu!’ means Mahaprabhu. ‘I will ask my Prabhu! If He gives the order then I can give you the initiation.’ Bhaktisiddhanta very happy. The next day very enthusiastically he went to see, ‘What did He say? What did He say?’ ‘Oh! I forgot to ask Him!’ (laughs) ‘I’ll ask next time!’ So Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said, ‘Just as Madhvacarya’, (Madhvacarya I believe or Ramanuja, Madhvacarya, anyway one of those,) he said, ‘he approached his guru about 18 or 19 times. So you are not going to deceive me. I am going to get initiation from you.’

So again he went to see him, he said, ‘Did you ask Mahaprabhu?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ ‘What did He say?’ ‘He said, He didn’t give me the order!’ Therefore I cannot initiate you.’ And Bhaktisiddhanta feeling very emotional, he stood up and said, ‘karuna na hoile, kandiya kandiya, prana na rakhibo ara’ (Saranagati) – if you are not merciful to me, I cannot maintain my life. And he fell down weeping at the lotus feet of his guru. Gaura Kisora was very moved. ‘Take your bath in the Jalangi. Come back and I’ll initiate you right now!’ So he was initiated into the name of Sri Varshabhanavi-devi-dayita dasa, one of the names of Srimati Radharani, servant of Srimati Radharani. Gaura Kisora sometimes he would see Bhaktisiddhanta approaching – Oh! Here comes a Manjari! That means Radharani must be around somewhere! Where is She? (laughs)

When he got news of disappearance of Srila Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji who was living in Navadvipa at that time. So Bhaktisiddhanta immediately went to the, he was in Mayapur side, so he immediately crossed the Ganga to Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja’s bhajan kutir. And he said he wore green chadar. According to the alankrta sastra, or the sastra that deals with decoration and clothing, green invokes a mood of separation. So he put a green chadar on and quickly went to Navadvipa. When he got there there was some kind of a argument going on, who would give the Gaur Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja samadhi rites. Who would do that, who can claim that! And different babaji’s were saying, I’ll do it, we’ll do it, we’ll do it, everyone was trying to claim. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati was saying it would be quite a lucrative business if they establish his, some were thinking like that, people would come and give money at the samadhi if I maintain. So Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said, ‘No’ll I’ll take the body! I’ll put the body in samadhi!’ They said, ‘But you are not a renunciant!’ This was before he took sannyasa. They said, ‘You are not a sannyasi! You are not a babaji!’ And Gaur Kisora dasa was a babaji. So therefore only a person in the renounced order of life can touch the body and make the samadhi. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura with a voice like thunder, he said, ‘I may not be a sannyasi or a babaji but I can say that I’ve never done none of this monkey business. So I am telling you that if anybody here has no relationship with a woman in the last six months you can come and take the body and do the samadhi rites. Three months. The last one month. Last week.’ All the babaji’s turning their backs. And the chief of police was there also because there was lot of disturbance. And he asked Bhaktisiddhanta, ‘How will you know:’ He said, ‘If they come and claim I will give. But I am saying with all my power, if you are truly renounced, take the body. Otherwise there will be dire consequence.’

So then he said to his disciples, ‘Take the body!’ So they took the body and samadhi. Now there were others there who said, ‘Babaji Maharaja when he was here he was saying that when I die you drag my body through the streets, cover it with the dust of the dhama, then throw it to the dhama dogs.’ So they said, that was his order, one of his last orders, so we should execute the order of Gaura Kisora. Bhaktisiddhanta said, ‘No they could never understand his humility. This is his humility he is saying that. We will carry, just like Caitanya Mahaprabhu He carried Haridasa on His shoulders, we will carry our spiritual master on our shoulders.’ So they carried him away, made a samadhi for him.

We had one, two men who were friends and they helped us to get this land. When we first came here we got 9 bhigas of land, like from the Lotus building down to the main road. That was our ISKCON land and that was helped to get that by two muslim farmers who owned the land, Caku Sheikh and (?) Fakir. Anyway they sold the land to Prabhupada so we could start our project here. But they were telling us because they are from Mayapur village, they said when we were young, we remember Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. When we were little kids because they were in the village. And they said you know we were kids, we were down playing as kids do rolling in the dirt and you know the ladies are down there washing their clothes in the water hole, the kids are looking after goats and things like that. And we were kind of happily playing and then we noticed that all the elderly people they kind of stopped, all activities stopped. The whole village comes kind of still and the kids realised something has happened and they look and they see in Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s house, he comes in the doorway, just on the porch. He is just standing there, looking over. And he said, he had such a presence that the whole present become complete tranquillised, calm, the whole village stopped, all the activities stopped. And all their gazes turned to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. He said he was that kind of person.

So he has very beautiful deities there, Radha Gandharva Giridhari in the Caitanya Math. Radharani very beautiful, very shy looking, very modest, chaste, looking down. But anyway the history of those deities. When he made the math, Caitanya Math, he went to Jaipur where they make all the deities in marble. So they went to one shop and the owner of the shop, he said, here is your deity!’ In the shop there were many deities. ‘ Here is your deity!’ Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said, how do you know thats my deity? No, first of all, how do you know I want a deity? But how do you know that is my deity? He said, because last night these deities appeared in my dream and he said, ‘Tomorrow one mahapurusa will come, one great soul will come here. And I want to accept his service.’ So he said, ‘This is your deity. Please accept your deities as donation.’ So he actually donated those deities to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. And they are considered his favourite, they were his favourite deities. Radha Gandharva Giridhari ki jaya!

So I was asking one of Prabhupada’s Godbrothers, Sridhara Damodara Maharaja. He used to live here, he was a neighbour, where the BBT building is, his house was there actually. And he would come and see Prabhupada all the time. Anyway I asked him this question. There Caitanya Math, you have the Radha kunda. You’ve all been to Caitanya Math yeah. So you’ve seen Radha kunda, Shyama kunda, Govardhana is there also. So I said, how come you’ve got Radha kunda there because according to Navadvipa dhama mahatmaya Radha kunda is in Ritudvipa, the other side of the Ganga, where Ritudvipa. So how come you’ve got Radha kunda here? And Govardhana is in Koladvipa, present Navadvipa dhama. How you’ve got them here? According to Navadvipa dhama mahatmaya they are on the other side of the Ganga. And he said, because my Guru Maharaja, he was doing such a, his vrata, such a vrata, his bhajana was so intense that his bhajana sthana, it manifested here. He said, my Guru Maharaja has an eternal place of bhajana on the bank of Radha kunda and because of the power of his bhajana here, Radha kunda or his bhajana sthana manifested here. He said now I am chanting at the bank of Radha kunda. And he said Govardhana is here also. Can you see? He said, ‘no we cannot see Guru Maharaja.’ But they said, ‘Can we excavate them?’ He said ‘yes’. So then they excavated those ponds, Shyama kunda, Radha kunda. And they built a Govardhana. But Bhaktisiddhanta he could see them, it was all manifested before him.

Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja also, his samadhi was in Navadvipa. But then the Ganga was changing course all the time, by the will of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. And she was always washing away banks and villages and things like that. So she was washing the samadhi. So he got news that Gaura Kisora’s samadhi is about to go into the Ganga. So he went. Some men they rescued the remnants and then they brought them back. And then they put them on the in the temple there, you have seen Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji Maharaja’s samadhi temple, thats also on the bank of Radha kunda. And Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said that, there were many offences being made against Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji in his samadhi site. He said, ‘He did not wish to stay there anymore! And therefore Krishna made this arrangement. So now he is here. This is where he is, his eternal place on the bank of Radha kunda. So Krishna made the arrangement. So now here he is doing his bhajana also at Radha kunda.’

So Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he invited the British Raj here. This was during the British rule, British Raj. Sir John Anderson, British old chap. But he was the Governor of West Bengal, the Governor, I believe the Governor of West Bengal, big position. And Bhaktisiddhanta preached him to come here, he got him to come here, thats not an easy task. You are in a village, there’s nothing happening here, the roads don’t go anywhere, because of the rivers nobody comes here, its a jungle. But he got the British Raj to come here and simultaneously he used this for preaching also. Of course he will get fame but he got him to establish the post office there, Mayapur post office, opposite the Yogapitha, government stamp. Because the other side in Navadvipa there was always the controversy, this is the birth place of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Mayapur, going on for years and years. So he got the British Raj to establish the post office, Government recognised Mayapur. But he said we have to have a road, there are no roads, theres nothing, he will be coming from Krishna Nagar side. So he got everybody fired up, the chief of the village. We have to make a road, he is coming. So within a day they made this road. The raised road outside, Bhaktisiddhanta road, they got all the, local, everybody started digging. And I think they put banana leaves or something on top. There’s a story in the Bible about Jesus, they put palm leaf or something, when he came. (laughs) Well anyway he is not that saintly, Sir John Anderson but Bhaktisiddhanta was. Anyway he got the road constructed at that time. Now we have a road.

When we were here in 1971 when we first got the land, they build the bhajan kutir. And there were couple of devotees staying here. And there was a flood, it flooded that year, so flood was coming up and Acyutananda Maharaja was here. But the raised road acted like a barrage because the Ganga didn’t flood, it wasn’t coming. And so Acyutananda Maharaja he wrote to Prabhupada and he said that, ‘The road of Bhaktisiddhanta that barrage it saved our property, otherwise it would have come and flooded everything.’ And Prabhupada wrote back, he said, ‘Yes the path of Bhaktisiddhanta is saving millions and millions of people!’ (laughs)

So he got Sir John Anderson to come and so he said to his disciples, ‘Now these people are meat eaters. You have to give them food. They are not going to come all the way here and eat rice. You have to give them food that they like to eat.’ So Sir John Anderson means ministers and the assembly. So they said, ‘What should we do?’ He said, ‘You go to Navadvipa. The Kali pujaris they cut the goats, kill the goats. And you can get them the Kali brahmanas. They can come and cook.’
So they did that.

And Sir John Anderson came and so after the function had finished, the disciples they went to their Guru Maharaja and they said, ‘Please Guru Maharaja explain just what had happened! We are completely bewildered! We cannot understand what just took place! They cooked meat right onChandrasekara Bhavan, the site of Mahaprabhu’s uncle’s house! They cooked meat there. And we are completely bewildered. And there is some left, we don’t know what to do! Throw in the Ganga? How we can throw in the Ganga, how we can give it to Gangadevi, she is a pure devotee! We bury in the dhama? But the dust is pure dhama! We are bewildered Guru Maharaja! Please explain just what happened!’

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said, ‘Yes, I used to think like that also, one hundred births ago (?). But when I started this mission I promised to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, there is nothing I will stop, not stop at, to push on your mission, Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Whatever it takes to push on your movement, I will not hesitate to do it.’ So this was his great preaching.

Also when they were excavating that road, they found this Shivalingam, by the hospital, by the kolva, they found the Shivalingam there. So he said this is a confirmation this place is Shiva(?) And another time on that road, again Damodara Maharaja, HH Damodara Maharaja, he was with his guru, they were walking, taking a japa walk on the road. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura he suddenly stopped. He looked up and he said, “Tch! Tch! Tch! Tch! How degraded this age of Kaliyuga! How degraded! Even on Chandraloka they are becoming so degraded! Tch! Tch! Tch! Tch!’ Then he carried on walking. (Laughs) Damodara Maharaja said, then I understood the meaning of Jagadguru. Usually we say Jagadguru, it means your country or something like this. He was, understood what was going on in other planets. And many of his disciples, their conclusion was that from here he went to Chandraloka to preach.

Prabhupada was giving a lecture here one time on the disappearance of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura and he was talking about nityalila, how the sun rises here at 6’o clock in the morning, sets at 6’o clock in the evening, mid day its over here. For someone in the world they are seeing the sun us over here, for someone else in the world they are seeing sun is at 6’o clock, someone else seeing its, its a material example but its nityalila. Similarly he said, ‘My Guru Maharaja, he said he came with a mission to spread Krishna consciousness. And when it was finished he went to another place to do exactly the same thing. He said, this is called nityalila.’

So another time Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, he was leaving Caitanya Math middle of the night. And one of his disciples who became Bhagavat Maharaja, saw his Guru Maharaja leaving middle of the night. Where is he going? Anyway he is walking down. He says, who is that behind me? Who is following me? Always your disciple Bhagavat bramhacari, Maharaja! Ok, come with me! So he walks past here,by the Sulabha kitchen, there is a big banyan tree over the road, just past Prabhupada kitchen, there is a big banyan tree about there. Then they saw a harinama party coming from the other side, from (?) ghat. This is at midnight! There are no boats or anything at midnight. Somehow or another this kirtana party, prema sankirtana, coming. Bhaktisiddhanta saw them and they met and embracing, rolling on the floor, symptoms of ecstasy were there. His disciple was astonished. He said who are they? He said, they are coming from Svetadvipa, from Svetadvipa. Come for a darshan of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. These Svetadvipa vasis they said to Bhaktisiddhanta, ‘We have heard about your glories. We are coming here to hear from you the glories of Gauranga! We want to hear from your mouth. We have heard of your activities here. So you please give us some Gaura katha!’ Bhaktisiddhanta was very humble of course, daso’smi he would say to everyone, you are all exalted personalities! ‘No, we want to hear.’ Actually they went back and he gave Gaura katha, chanting the glories of Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu until the sun started to come Then they went off again back go Svetadvipa from where they had come.

So another time, this was right at the end of his vow. And he describes that he was at the Yogapitha and he said from the eastern direction he saw Panca Tattva coming, prema sankirtana, all the devotees were there, the Goswamis were there, Bhaktivinoda Thakura was there, Gaura Kisora was there, his own guru, they had all left the planet. But they were all coming in prema sankirtana. They approached him, and said, now you should give up your austerities. You should go out and preach. And they said, you don’t worry for anything. You need manpower, we will send. You need money, you don’t worry, we have unlimited resources behind! You just simply go out and preach fearlessly. Don’t worry for the, don’t worry for facility, we are all behind you. So then he took sannyasa after that and he went to preach in Calcutta, where Gaura Kisora das Babaji Maharaja said, don’t go to Calcutta, never go there! Realm of Kali, realm of Kali is there! But first place he went there. And people said,’ why did you do that if your Guru Maharaja told you not to go.’ He said, ‘if I have to preach I have to go where the people are. So they are all in the cities. I have to come to the city to preach. But actually I am not in Calcutta because I am simply preaching the glories of Mayapur and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. I don’t consider myself in Calcutta! I consider myself in Mayapur!’

So these are the extraordinary characteristics.

There was one devotee of sorts. He came here to see Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. Then afterwards he went to Navadvipa to see Gaura Kisora dasa Babaji. He said, ‘Babaji Maharaja, I just went to Sri Mayapur. I saw, met your disciple there. But he is a little bit too much of Vaikuntha for my liking. He is like a bit too much, I am more attracted to raganuga bhakti and you are such a personification of raganuga bhakti.’ He said, ‘ I want to stay in Navadvipa with you and do my bhajana with you because I think Bhaktisiddhanta is too much Vaikuntha.’ And Gaura Kisora Maharaja said, ‘Yes the fact, he is a Vaikuntha man. But simultaneously he has a place in Mayapur.’ He said, ‘You are talking to me, I am in Navadvipa, I’ve got a place also there in Mayapur. But people with your envious mentality will never never be able to understand. Bhaktivinoda Thakura and his son Bhaktisiddhanta are executing pure devotional service to Sridhama Mayapur. And you are criticising.’ He fell down later on that so-called babaji.

So a very very powerful preacher, speciality was attacking mayavada also. ‘The evil fruit of India’, he called it, the mayavada philosophy. (laughs)

One time, they were going to Jagannath Puri with his disciples. Someone came up and gave him a box of mangoes, ripe mangoes. Of course Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati never ate ripe mangoes because when he was a small little boy he took a mango. Bhaktivinoda Thakura said, ‘Did you offer it? Was it offered? Why you are taking unoffered fruit?’ Bhaktisiddhanta was so sincere, he said, ‘Ok from now on I will never eat mango again!’ And Prabhupada said the whole life he never ate ripe mango. And if anybody ever offered to him he said, no I am sinful, I cannot eat mango. But he used to eat kuccha aam, green mango chutney, very nice. But he didn’t eat the ripe mango.

Anyway they gave a box of ripe mangoes. The trains were new in India, they weren’t so fast, so it was long time, long train journey to Puri. And these mangoes started to get a bit bad, a bit rotten. And on the journey there was a mayavadi. He was on the carriage and he was talking mayavada philosophy all the time and he was kind of having a joke that the devotees they are like sentimentalists and he was talking ice cold jnana of mayavada philosophy. So Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura said, ‘Bring the mangoes down!’ By that time some had become really bad. He said, ‘Pick out the worst ones!’ So they picked out really bad stinky ones. He said, ‘Go and offer to that mayavadi. Tell him, my guru is offering you a mango!’

So he took these mangoes and they were stinking, bad smell was coming. They gave it to the mayavadi, ‘Here please accept this from my Guru Maharaja.’ He said, ‘Bad smell is coming, they are all bad!’ No but you’ve been preaching for the last half an hour everything is one. kuccha mango, ripe mango, its all one, take it! So he couldn’t take it! So all the carriage, everyone was laughing at the mayavadi philosophy. He lost all of his credit. Everybody laughed, saw the futility of his philosophy.

He was known as simha guru, very very courageous.
It was seen in Calcutta one time, he was walking with his disciples. They said, ‘Guru Maharaja, look! Here comes that mayavadi sannyasi, big mayavadi with his disciples, coming this way!’ Bhaktisiddhanta he crossed over the road, directly walked straight up to him and slapped him on his face! Why you are teaching this philosophy which denies the living entities eternal love for Krishna? He could not reply. (laughs) Simhaguru! Jagadguru!

So yeah this was one lesson that he often used to tell to his disciples, to his preaches, and sannyasis that you don’t worry for anything. This Trivikrama, like they told him at the Yogapitha, we are all behind you, the whole parampara is behind you. So he often refers to Trivikrama, Vamanadeva. He took three steps, He stuck His toe through the universe with His second step, thats who is behind you, he said! He is Krishna, we are in His line. He is only this big, a little boy, but He can stick His toes, what can He not do? So remember this! Always behind you have, Trivikrama is behind you, what can you not achieve? If your protector, who you are have shelter of, who you are surrendering to, if He can put His second step in the universe, what cannot be achieved. So always be confident of who is behind you. Just go out and fearlessly preach! Have that courage!

So he was a very courageous preacher, very bold and he gives us this lesson that its just not us and our spiritual life. Their is a whole parampara there, there is a whole family still very much living and very much alive. So we are not alone, we have so many friends in our spiritual life ready to help us.

Jaya! Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura avirbhava mahotsava tithi ki jaya!
Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!
Samaveda Gaurabhakta vrnda ki jaya!
Nitai Gaurapremanande Hari Haribol!