Hare Krishna.

9th November

I was back in Vrindavan on Saturday afternoon, thanks to Atma Prabhu for inspiring me to come back and Deepak Handa Prabhu for giving me a ride, conclusion always listen to devotees.

In the afternoon I met Nand Maharaj Prabhu in the temple compound. He wanted to know if I had any questions to ask him. I had requested Sumeet Prabhu yesterday that I wanted to meet him. I wanted to hear him speak about Krishna consciousness. I somehow mumbled some questions and comments about how I still get angry when I am in the material world and help me in this regard. Prabhuji told me to learn to be humble and never forget that I am a vaisnava. He added that it doesn’t mean that we let people take advantage of our humility but our behaviour should be that of a vaishanva. He spoke about  four `S’

Sidhanta : Principle, we are eternal servant of Lord.

Sadhna : 4 regulative principles and minimum 16 rounds of chanting.

Service: Serving local temple and devotees to the best of our ability.

Sadachar  : Our behaviour. He mentioned that this is one of the most difficult one to adhere, we can achieve it only by long and careful practice. He told me an interesting story about Lord Krishna and karna about our natural instinct.

Later in the evening I requested Mukunda Priya Prabhu to help in preaching and increasing the congregation in Gurgaon. He gave me very practical advise. We then attended Guru Maharaj’s class at his apartment roof, another good session and association of exalted devotees from across the world.

In the evening I  could get association of Atma prabhu for dinner at MVT, it was nice to hear him at leisure as he is always busy serving Guru Maharaj.

Sunday : I attended Samadhi arti and Mangal Arti in the morning. After Guru Puja I rushed to `Goshala’ where Guru Maharaj was taking a special class on the occasion of Gopashtami. But before that a special mention for the unique gopa dress worn by Radharani today. I always wonder why she dresses as Gopa on Gopashtami. She looked most beautiful. This is the special day when Krishna graduated from herding calves to herding the cows. It is one of the two days in a year when we can get Radharani’s  `charan darshan’.

I went to ISKCON `Goshala’ for the first time ever. It was clean and decent size. It felt nice to be among cows on Gopashtami. As I reached there, some devotees were feeding special laddoos to cows, I too bought a small bucket and for  first time fed anything to cows. They virtually snatched the laddoos from my hand, after my initial hesitation I became comfortable feeding them. They pushed each other to eat them.

Then the procession came from the temple. Guru Maharaj first fed laddoos to many cows, worshiped them and then gave an excellent lecture on Gopashtami.

In the lecture Guru Maharaj explained that on this day Krishna passed the childhood age known as kaumara and stepped into the age of pauganda, from the sixth year up to the tenth year. This particular ceremony was meant only for men and boys but  Radharani wanted to join the celebrations. One of her friends then suggested that she looks just like Subal and then they called Subal and She exchanged clothes with him. She then went to attend the ceremony dressed as a gopa. Hence she is dressed as a gopa on this day in all ISKCON temples and we can see her lotus feet as gopas walk bare feet.  So the mystery for Radharani unique dress got solved for me. Maharaj also spoke on other very sweet pastimes of Krishna like when Mother Yashoda wanted Krishna to wear sandals while herding cows but He refused . Similarly how a worried and affectionate mother Yashoda  instructed Krishna’s friends to always remain close to him, “Balram…you stay in front of Krishna, Subal you stay behind, Sridam and Sudama you stay on Krishna’s sides.” And how the cows refuse to move till Sri Krishna came in front of them. Very fulfilling lecture.

After the ceremony I came back to the temple,took darshan again of Their Lordships. I slept for some time during the day and then I was informed that Guru Maharaj will be giving a class for the Braja mandal parikarma at Chirghat. I missed the bus but by Lord’s mercy Pawan Prabhu and Pooja mataji reached just in time from Gurgaon and we went straight on a long & bumpy ride deep inside the villages, I had never ventured in this interior region of Braja, the villagers here spoke a very different dialect.

Guru Maharaj spoke about different Rasa, `shaant’, `dasya’, `Sakhya’ , Vatsalaya and `madhurya’ and how they are so unique and only in Vrindavan can we get access to play with the supreme personality of Godhead with such loving exchanges. He sang melodious kirtan. We then took a round of the place where Krishna stole gopi’s clothes. There was a very old Kadamamba tree and a temple for katyani Devi. We all paid our obeisances there.

we reached back around 6pm and attended Kirtan at temple. Then Guru Maharaj met us all at his MVT apartment. It was a very good Q & A session. Many devotees asked personal questions and Guru Maharaj replied them back with clarity. He spoke strongly about staying in ISKCON and under the shelter of Srila Prabhupada.

Later,  I said goodbye to dear Mukunda Priya Prabhu, they were leaving next day to Surat. It was my lucky night as Atma Prabhu invited me for dinner, Guru Maharaj’s maharaprasadam. Hari Bol !

I came back to the apartment of Deepak Handa Prabhu around 9.30pm, we talked for sometime and then slept. We left next day early morning at 4.45am back to Gurgaon.

Hare Krishna.

I met a very gentle soul while going with Srila Prabhupada around Vrindavan. She was walking beside the Palanquin. She was full of energy and almost always running in front and side of the Palanquin. After some time as she was holding the side of the Palanquin I requested her that we are all are carrying Srila Prabhupa and she should not exert herself. Her reply stumped me,  she said `I just want to be close to my spiritual master’. After sometime it became warm and she instructed us to remove the shawl from Srila Prabhupada’s deity, not agreeing when someone merely pushed it back. One could see the love and affection she had from her spiritual master. She kept on clicking pictures at all the times. At one time she pointed to a painting of `Hanuman’ on a shop facade. Everyone looked up but we could not get the context. Then she added `he is blessing Prabhupada’.

I could not resist asking her name and contact no.. She is HG Mahadevi Dasi, disciple of Srila Prabupada and now based in Vrindavan dham.

As luck would have it, I met her again at Govinda after the procession, she was there with her friends for breakfast. She was kind enough to gave us her association for almost half an hour, she has so much love for Srila Prabhupada and as a result she has a very soft and tender heart. I pray one day my heart could be 10%  as soft as hers.

We again crossed in the evening inside MVT. I told her that I would bother her again and would like to hear pastimes of Srila Prabhupada with her. She replied `Srila Prabhupada is still here and guides us all’. Jai Jai.

General perception is that Indians are more emotional but Mataji smashed my perception with her deep felt love for Srila Prabhupda and I wonder, with a tinge of envy, what love and affection these devotees received from Srila Prabhupda which they still carry so passionately in their soft hearts.

All glories to HG Mahadevi Dasi.

All glories to Srila Prabhupda.

Hare Krishna.

4th November

It was wonderful to have Guru Maharaj at our home on the Diwali eve, nothing but causeless mercy. I slept late on 3rd night but we all got  up early to leave for Vrindavan with Guru Maharaj.

As usual Guru Maharaj was up and running early morning. We had a wonderful Q & A Session with Guru Maharaj clearing so many doubts of devotees. We left around 7.50am and were in Vrindavan Dham by 11am. Guru Mahraj entered the gates of MVT  to a  tumultuous welcome by the devotees. We later took darshan of Their Lordships, they looked more gorgeous and affectionate than ever, as always.

The next 3 day were spent as if I was on a different plane altogether.

We, me and Sumeet Prabhu, started with darshan of Guru Mahraj at his apartment, then it was time for the Govardhan Puja, the temple compound was decked up beautifully. We watched the beautiful annnakut preparations and so many Bhoga offerings to Sri Giriraj. We took the parikarma and were blessed with prasadam after almost every round. There was festivity all around.

Giriraj Maharaj ki jai !

I later met wonderful devotees from Surat, also HG Nanda Maharaj Das from Chandigarh, then I had lunch prasadam at Guru Maharaj’s apartment. Guru Maharaj met everyone again  in the evening. Later we went to listen to HH Radhanath Maharaj at Fugla Ashram. I saw Maharaj for the first time but it seemed I had seen him many a times, of course, watching so many of his videos earlier. He spoke with so much `bhava’ about Krishna’s pastimes and specially Govardhan Lila. Later Radhanath Maharaj did Kirtan and then Guru Maharaj sang Damodar Ashtakam, the whole complex danced with spiritual potency. We bought some CDs of Maharaj’s lectures. Once the lecture was finished and we were waiting outside, but inside the ashram, for the crowd to disperse. we saw Radhanath Maharaj coming in our direction. Sumeet Prabhu commented ` today I will touch his feet, come what may’. I was a little scared. But he pushed me closer to where HH Radhanath Maharaj was walking. As Maharaj stopped in front of us we both touched the soil, touched by his lotus feet. Hari, Hari !

HH Radhanath Maharaj Ki Jai !

Tuesday : I had the good fortune to attend Mangal Arti, Mangal Arti darshan are always special for me, I can’t pick a finger on the reason but there is something special about Mangal Arti darshan. I  did my rounds in the temple and later at Prabupada’s house. Among many other things, HG Sankarshan Das Adhikari taught  me two special instructions

1. To attend samadhi Arti whenever possible

2. To chant my rounds at Srila Prabhupada’s house.

Both these instructions have helped me a lot.

Evening was very special as I went to take darshan of  HH Radha Govind maharaj. His apartment was so simple, like his very own self. I paid my obeisances and told him how much I love him and I listen to his sweet lectures every day since last 4 months, he has changed me. He heard me patiently, nobbed and I got prasadam from his hands. I would definitely go and meet him again and again and again.

HH Radha Goving Maharaj ki Jai !

In the evening Guru maharaj first gave an excellent on his pastimes with Srila Prabhupada’s at Vrindavan, and later in the evening he made the whole temple dance with his melodious kirtan from 7pm-8pm. I was filled to the core with spiritual energy.

Wednesday :  I attended Srila Prabupada’s arti and the mangal arti. Later I met Gaurav Prabhu after a long gap, it was so good to meet him, he is progressing very well in his sadhna bhakti. We both missed association of Subir Prabhu.

There was an excellent morning Bhagavatam lecture at an early time of 6am by H.G Badrinarayan Prabhu. Then it was a occasion to take Srila Prabhupada to all the six Goswami temples in Vrindavan.  By the mercy of Lord, I got the service to carry Srila Prabhupada’s in his Palanquin. I felt very close to Srila Prabhupada, I was carrying my grandfather all around. Then HH Gopal Krishna Goswami maharaj came and to put a cherry on the cake Guru Maharaj did sankirtan till Radha Damodar temple, My day was made, indeed one of my best days in Vrindavan Dham. Many people paid obeisances to Srila Prabhupada on our way. Thank you so much Srila Prabhupada for allowing me to participate in your procession.

I met a very gentle soul in the procession and I will write about her separately.

After reaching back I got the good association of Vineet Prabhu and later Murari prabhu, both from Jaipur. Is is always a pleasure to meet both of them, they are knowledgeable, humble and very affectionate.

In the evening we had darshan of Guru Maharaj  and then Guru Maharaj sang Gopi Geet to a packed house Balaram House.

As I was offering deep daan with Priti I virtually rubbed my eyes as I saw Karuna Prabhu and then HG Rukmini Krishna Prabhuji. It was so good to see him. Hari, Hari ! What more can one ask in a single day.

I left the same evening back to Gurgaon with a heavy heart. Who would wish to leave Vrindavan in Kartik and the association of so many devotees.

Kartik maas ki Jai !

Vrindavan Dham Ki Jai !

Srila Prabhupada ki Jai !

Hare Krishna.

This was last year winter, japa retreat 2012, Barsana, 1st December.

I was told very highly about this retreat by HG Vrajamohan Prabhu, my inquisitiveness got better of me and I went to attend the first two days. The whole retreat was managed very professionally and, surprisingly, most of the participants were foreigners.

I was told that if I attend this retreat then atleast for few months my japa will improve.

I had no idea who HH Sacinandana Swami and HG Bhurijan Prabhu were.

In the first Session HH Sacinandan maharaj introduced everyone and then the session started. In that closed hall, with Deities, maharaj, and all the other devotees, knowing that we were in Barsana, it took Maharaj just few hours to take us deep within the spiritual sea. It was transcendental. After 3 sessions it was like a transcendental deluge and a competition on who will shower more mercy on us, HG Bhurijana Prabhu or HH Sacinandan Maharaj.

I called up home on the second day and told my wife that I am not coming back for the next 6 days. I had just one set of clothes to wear and no warm clothes,which actually helped.

What they both spoke was pure nectar. The whole atmosphere in the retreat was so pure. I never knew such purity was possible in the material world. But then it was Barsana, Radha Rani’s place and who better to ask for Her mercy then HH Sacinandan Maharaj.

One session after another they made us drink nectar of Krishna’s Name, pastimes and qualities.

One day we had 12 hour continuous Kirtan where the star attraction was HH Indradyumna Swami Maharaj. I heard him for the first time, his kirtan took us to another realm altogether. Another surprise was Kirtan by HG Prasanta Mataji, she was so intense while singing and such purity. I immediately fell in love with her. My ideal Gurumata. I confessed it to her the last day also accepting that I was a gate crasher.

I did not know how those 12 hours of continuous kirtan passed, local ladies joined in as so many devotees danced in spiritual ecstasy outside the hall. We also had kirtan by local Vaishanava babaji, a wonderful style of kirtan. As a surprise, in the end, we had Braja children dressed as Radha, Krishna and gopis. They looked so beautiful, danced graciously, for those few moments I could imagine how young Krishna would be.

Then we had a 64 round day session at `Ter Kadamb’. Most of us did much more than that by 4pm. It gave me tremendous confidence to chant more rounds.

The retreat also brought another change within me. Each night the dinner we got was like a small portion of an appetizer or even less. Infact the first night I thought it was just a dry starter before the sumptuous dinner would be served. I was in for a mild shock when I found that it was the only dinner we will be served. I was told that a light dinner helps us get up early. Well, it indeed helped to get up early every morning. When I came back home I changed my dinner pattern to a very light dinner. It helps me get up early and also reduces my longing for food in general, not that I have conquered it.

I would strongly suggest that any one who is serious about his devotional journey should attend Maharaj’s retreat on japa and then Govardhan Parikarma. It is coming up again this winter, organised by VIHE, one can send a mail to vihe@pamho.net for more details.

My realisations from the retreat

1. I never knew what the taste or `ruchi’ in the Holy Name, the retreat let me taste it. I was always told that `ruchi’ only comes at a very later stage or once I get initiated but Maharaj made me taste it. I knew what to hanker for while doing my japa.

2. Our consciousness while doing the japa should be that of begging or praying to the Lord.

3. All offenses come from false ego and false ego can be dissolved by humility. Humility comes when soul cries from Krishna.

4.  I could never could never visualise how should I look up to Srimati Radharani,  I got a definition : `Karunamayi’.

(Karuna is something which falls on undeserving.)

This retreat was one of the best thing that happened in spiritual journey, and even today when I read my notes I can taste it in my heart. It was an amazing experience and I came back super charged with devotional energy.

All glories to HH Sacinandan Maharaj.

All glories to HG Bhurijan Prabhuji.

All glories to the Holy Name.

All glories to Karunamayi Radharani.

All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga.

Hare Krishna.

Envy is like when I’m drinking the poison and I want the other person to die. 

Envy only hurt us and stop our devotional progress.

A very thoughtful remark by HG Rukmini Krishna Prabhuji.