Srila
Prabhupada comes to South India
In December Srila Narasingha Maharaja and Srila Visnu Maharaja journeyed
to Vrindavana Dhama to meet with Sriman Bhaktisiddhanta Dasa Prabhu and
arrange for a murti of Srila Prabhupada to be sent to the ashram in South
India.
While
in Vrindavana Narasingha Maharaja and Visnu Maharaja had darshan of some
of the main temples and holy places in Vrindavana like Sri Madan Mohan
temple, the Samadhi of Sri Sanatana Goswami, the Samadhi of Sri Rupa Goswami,
the Samadhi of Sri Jiva Goswami and other such places of the Rupanuga-varga.
At Vrindavana
Research Institute discussions were held with the head librarian, Sriman
Gopal Ghosh, on the matter of various historical events in Gaudiya Vaishnava
history and the original writings of Sri Rupa, Sanatana and Jiva Goswamis
were examined.
Narasingha
Maharaja and Visnu Maharaja met with Srila Paramadvaiti Maharaja at Vrinda
Kunja and discussed preaching activities around the world and in Vrindavana.
At Agra,
Narasingha Maharaja and Visnu Maharaja met with Dr. Omkar Nath Sharma
(age 93) who in the time of Srila Prabhupada was the principal of the
Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula in Vrindavana. Dr. Sharma was remembering
Srila Prabhupada and all the devotees with great affection and reverence.
After
returning to Sri Narasingha Caitanya Matha in South India the murti of
Srila Prabhupada was installed in the puspha-samadhi. An abhisheka ceremony
was performed and Srila Prabhupada was bathed with milk, rose-water, and
water from the sacred Kaveri river.
Kirtan
was performed and Narasingha Maharaja gave a short lecture on Srila Prabhupada’s
desire to spead Krsna consciousness in South India. A grand feast was
offered to Sri Sri Radhika Madhava Sundara after which all the devotees
honored mahaprasadam.
The
installation of the murti of Srila Prabhupada in the puspa-samadhi was
held on December 25th. Henceforth, in future years the devotees at Govindaji
Gardens will celebrate December 25th as the day Srila Prabhupada came
to South India.
Subramanya
Tirtha
The gurukula boys of Sri Narasingha Caitanya Matha, along with their gurus,
Srila B. G. Narasingha Maharaja and Swami B. B. Visnu recently visited
the holy temple town of Subramanya, Daksina Kannada, Karnataka.
Samput
Narasingha
This
small temple town comes alive every evening for the colorful palanquin
and ratha festival, where the Deity of Kartikeya is taken on procession
around the temple and sometimes thru the town. This is perhaps one of
the nicest temple festivals in India.
Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu visited this temple while on His tour of South India.
It is also noted that Kartikeya appeared in Caitanya-lila as the son of
Advaita Acarya and became one of the foremost leaders in the Sankirtan
Movement.
The
swamis and the gurukula boys also met the presiding sannyasi, Sri Vidyaprasanna
Tirtha Swamiji, of the Subramanya Samput Narasingha temple and showed
the swami the Devavision video promo. The entire Devavision video promo
as well as short excerpts are available
for download here.
On the
evening of the last day of Karttika, a special puja was offered by Swami
Vidyaprasanna Tirtha in the temple of Samput Narasingha to the Sri Laksmi-Narasingha
Deity and also to Tulasi-devi.
The
nearby cave of Vasuki was also visited by the devotees. The cave complex
includes dioramas of Vasuki, Garuda and Kasyapa Muni, depicting the episode
from the Skanda Purana where the great sage Kasyapa Muni saved
the snake-king Vasuki from being killed by Garuda. For further details
and photos please see "Subramanya Tirtha" in the Pilgrimages
section.
Karttika Masa
The
month of Karttika, or Damodara, is very dear to Srimati
Radharani and with this in mind, the devotees of Sri
Narasingha Caitanya Matha made special efforts to
celebrate Her month in various ways.
Every
night lamps were lit around the temple, kirtana hall, samadhi
and Govardhana Hill as devotees sang the Damdodarastakam and remembered
the pastime of Lord Damodara being bound by Yasoda-devi.
Some devotees made
efforts to increase their japa during this month and others performed
vratas for the pleasure of the Lord.
On Deepavali
(which coincidentally is also the actual day that Mother Yasoda bound
Krsna), the devotees decorated the entire temple with lamps and let off
fireworks.
Govardhana
Puja Celebrations
Sri Govardhana Puja was celebrated on the 6th November at Govindaji Gardens
with great enthusiasm by all the local devotees. Srila Narasingha Maharaja
gave the morning class describing the glories of Giriraja and the importance
that He plays in the lila of Sri Sri Radha-Govinda. He also explained
the significance of Govardhana in the Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya and
the proper worship of Govardhana-sila. There was an abhiseka of
the Govardhana-silas at midday where all the assembled Vaisnavas were
able to bathe the Lord with milk, followed by a grand bhoga-offering and
maha-arati.
Srila
Prabhupada's Tirobhava Celebration The
disappearance day festival of His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta
Svami Prabhupada was observed on 8th November. Throughout the early morning
devotees decorated Srila Prabhupada's puspa-samadhi and adorned
Sri Sri Radha-Madhava with a variety of garlands.
At 9:00am
everyone assembled in the kirtana hall to hear Srila Visnu Maharaja
and Srila Narasingha Maharaja speak. Firstly, Srila Visnu Maharaja spoke
on Srila Prabhupada's poem 'Adore Adore Ye All' and elucidated on the
meaning. After Srila Narasingha Maharaja sang 'Srila Prabhupada Lila-smarana
Mangala Stotram' and explained many details of Srila Prabhupada's pastimes.
At 2:00pm
Srila Visnu Maharaja performed the arati to Srila Prabhupada and
after the devotees offered puspanjali to Prabhupada's shoes, they
sat down to honor prasadam.
The
program continued again at 7:20pm (the time when Srila Prabhupada concluded
his pastimes here and returned to the nitya-lila) with another
arati. After, Srila Narasingha Maharaja led the devotees in singing
'Je Anilo Prema Dana' and then spoke on Srila Prabhupada's antya-lila
(his final days in this world), as well as his own personal experiences
in Srila Prabhupada's association
Visit
to Govindaji Gardens by Subhaga Svami Maharaja H.H. Sripada Subhaga Svami Maharaja made a short visit to Govindaji
Gardens with some of his disciples. Maharaja took prasadam and spoke in
length to Srila Narasingha Maharaja and Srila Visnu Maharaja before leaving
for Bangalore.
Sripada Subhaga Maharaja resides in Sridhama Mayapura
and has translated many of Srila Prabhupada’s
English books into Bengali, as well as other works
such as Ananda Vrndavana Campu by Srila
Kavi Karnipura and Sri Krsna-bhajanamrta by
Srila Narahari Sarakara.
Kitchen Ground-breaking A ground
breaking ceremony was held at Govindaji Gardens for the new Deity kitchen
of Sri Sri Radhika-Madhava-Sundara and Sri Sri Radha-Govinda. Srila
B. G. Narasingha Maharaja and Swami B. B. Visnu were followed by the devotees
in turning the earth to commence the construction.
Just
next to the large kitchen facility a new and spacious prasadam hall will
also be built. Swami B. S. Madhava led the devotees in kirtan during the
ceremony. A month later the kitchen construction nears completion with
the addition of the roof.
Sripad
Sridhar Swami visits
Sripad Sridhar Swami of Iskcon Juhu, Mombai visited Sri Narasingha Caitanya
Matha recently. Maharaja was accompanied by his disciples.
His
Divine Grace gave an enlivening Bhagavatam class, after which all
the devotees went to Melkote for darshan of Yoga-Narasinghadeva,
a Deity self-manifest from Salagrama Sila, worshipped by Prahlad Maharaja.
Yoga-Narasinghadeva
Goshalla
Completed
The ashramagoshalla, with facilities for 50 cows and calves,
has been completed and now has twenty full-time milkers. Everyday,
the Deities at Govindaji Gardens are offered many milk-sweets, curd and
other milk preparations.
namo
brahmanya-devaya
go-brahmana-hitaya ca
"My
Lord, You are the well-wisher of the cows and the
brahmanas."
For
a complete tour of the ashrama goshalla, please visit
Mother
Cow. Org
Vyasa
Puja Observance of Srila B. P. Puri Goswami
Srila B. G. Narasingha Maharaja gave an extensive and enlivening talk
on the holy appearance day of of Srila B. P. Puri Goswami Maharaja. Offerings
to be published in the annual Bhagavat Dharma book were read by
Srila Narasingha Maharaja and Swami B. B. Visnu.
Radhastami
Celebrations and Babaji Initiation
On Saturday 14th September, the devotees of Sri Narasingha Caitanya Matha
observed the auspicious appearance of Srimati Radharani. It was doubly
joyful because of Radha-ramana Dasa Vanacari’s acceptance of babaji-vesa
from Srila Narasingha Maharaja. After the morning puja and special
pancamrta abhiseka of the Deities, all the devotees congregated
outside Srila Narasingha Maharaja’s room where Radha-ramana prabhu
accepted kaupina, vesa, mantra and his new title: Sri Hari Dasa
Babaji Maharaja. Srila Narasingha Maharaja explained the significance
of babaji-vesa in the line of Srila Sarasvati Thakura. He then
gave Babaji Maharaja the privilege to offer worship to Sri Yati-Narasingha
and invoked the Lord’s blessings.
Srila
Narasingha Maharaja led the devotees and the new member of the renounced
order in sankirtana to Srila Prabhupada’s samadhi-mandira
to get His Divine Grace’s blessings, then proceeded to the temple
of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava and Govardhana Hill. After, there was a short
lecture by Srila Narasingha Maharaja on varnasrama-dharma and
a fire-sacrifice. Another kirtana followed and after the noon
arati all the Vaisnavas honored the prasadam of Srimati
Radharani.
More photos
Srila
Narasingha Maharaja Vyasa-puja Celebration
On Saturday 6th September, the Vyasa-puja of Om Visnupada Sri Srimad Bhakti
Gaurava Narasingha Maharaja was held at Govindaji Gardens. Many disciples,
friends and well-wishers attended the function which began at 10:00 am.
Srila Narasingha Maharaja was greeted with kirtana and Vedic
mantras as he left his room and proceeded towards the kirtana
hall to take darsana of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava and offer his respects
at Srila Prabhupada's puspa-samadhi.
After
the adhivasa ritual, Bhakti Vijnana Giri Maharaja was requested
to read a portion form Srila Puri Gosvami Maharaja's book Of Love
and Separation, entitled The Meaning of Vyasa-puja. During
the reading, Srila Narasingha Maharaja interjected and commented on various
points on the guru-disciple relationship.
The
offering of Srila Bhakti Bhavana Visnu Maharaja (who is presently in the
USA) was read by Bhakti Srirupa Madhava Maharaja and then many of the
assembled Vaisnavas spoke.
The
program ended with guru-puja, puspanjali and a prasadam feast.
More photos
Janmastami
Celebrations 2002
and
Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa-puja at Govindaji Gardens
This year saw the most elaborate celebrations of Sri Krsna Janmastami
at Govindaji Gardens to date. Many devotees from Mysore and Bangalore
helped to make the festival a great success. Arriving two days in advance,
many devotees helped in cooking, cleaning, distributing invitations and
a variety of other services.
The
majority of devotees arrived the night before and participated in a nagara-sankirtana
through the town of Srirangapatna, distributing prasadam
to all the public.
Although accommodation was limited at the asrama,
devotees had no complaints and happily underwent
a few inconveniences, happily sharing rooms with one
another. Sriman Nanda Kisora Dasa stayed up all night
with a few devotees elaborately decorating the kirtana
hall, temple and yajnasala and the next morning,
all the devotees attended the mangalarati
which was offered by Srila Narasingha Maharaja. After
the morning program, everyone continued to decorate
the asrama and at 8:00 am Srila Narasingha
Maharaja gave a class on the advent of Sri Krsna.
At the end of the class he also gave hari-nama
initiation to Pradipa who became Prahlada Bhakta Dasa.
At
11:00 am Bhakti Vijnana Giri Maharaja, along with the asrama
gurukula boys and some local Sri Vaisnava priests performed a Panca-sukta
homa offering oblations of ghee, sacred herbs, sandalwood and
tulasi-wood to Govinda, Gopinatha, Madana-mohana, Srimati Radharani, Lalita-devi
and Visakha-devi.
At 2:30
am the Deities were serenaded by nagesvaram for an hour before the maha-abhiseka
began. Srila Narasingha Maharaja performed the bathing ceremony of Lord
Govindaji with panca-gavya, pancamrta and other auspicious items.
After
the abhiseka was over, Sri Sri Radha-Govinda were brought to
the palki and taken on procession around the temple accompanied
by nagesvaram and hari-nama sankirtana. After three circuits
around the temple, the Deities returned to the altar for the maha-arati
wherein Srila Narasingha Maharaja offered eight large lamps to the
Deities as Svami Bhakti Srirupa Madhava Maharaja led the sandhya-arati.
Thousands of people then lined up to honor caranamrta from
the abhiseka.
At 7:00
there was a cultural program held in the pandal where many classical Karnatik
singers sang popular songs glorifying Sri Krsna. Throughout the whole
night, people came to offer flowers, fruits, garlands and donations to
Sri Sri Radha-Madhava and prasadam was distributed to more than
5,000 people.
At midnight
Srila Narasingha Maharaja performed the arati heralding the auspicious
time of Sri Krsna's appearance and afterwards, all the devotees honored
the Lord's prasadam.
The
next morning was the appearance day of His Divine Grace Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta
Svami Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada's puspa-samadhi was lavishly
decorated with flowers and around midday all the devotees gathered to
offer worship to His Divine Grace. Srila Narasingha Maharaja offered the
arati as Madhava Maharaja led the assembled Vaisnavas in singing
Sri Guru-carana-padma by Thakura Narottama Dasa. After the ceremony
Srila Narasingha Maharaja gave an inspiring class wherein he touched upon
many valid points of sri guru tattva. He also explained that
Sri Ramanuja was an avatara of Ananta-sesa and Sri Madhva was
an incarnation of Vayu, yet despite their divine qualifications they could
only propagate their message in a limited geographical area. Srila Prabhupada
however, spread Vaisnavism throughout the whole world and when asked who
he was, his reply was always, "I am the humble servant of my Guru
Maharaja." More
photos
Program
at Audarya Asrama and San Francisco Ratha-yatra Srila
Bhakti Bhavana Visnu Maharaja, along with Govardhana Dasa, Vraja-kisora
Dasa and Krsna-priya Devi Dasi spent four days in the Audarya Asrama of
Sripada B.V. Tripurari Maharaja. Other senior Vaisnavas present were Bhakti
Vallabha Tirtha Maharaja, Jayadvaita Maharaja, Radhanatha Maharaja, Agni
Deva Dasa and a host of other senior Vaishnavas and devotees.
The
San Francisco Ratha Yatra on Sunday concluded a three-day festival at
the Mendocino asrama of Swami Tripurari where all these devotees attended,
gave talks and engaged in wonderful kirtana and association. Many of the
devotees stayed in tents, the asrama not having facilities for all, yet
all seemed to not mind.
At
the Ratha Yatra site golden brooms were offered to Tripurari Maharaja
and Bhakti Vallabha Tirtha Maharaja to sweep the road before Lord Jagannatha.
Agni Deva led the kirtan for Lord Jagannatha for almost all the Ratha
Yatra procession (with Visnu Maharaja and the devotees from Narasingha
Caitanya Matha right by his side the whole way). Tripurari Maharaja offered
the aratika to Their Lordships Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra at the
end on the festival site, Visnu Maharaja, Tripurari Maharaja, Agni Deva
and all the devotees were invited by Rasaraja Dasa, the festival head,
to continue kirtana on stage.
2007[March-May] — Sri Narasimha-caturdasi, Chandan Yatra, Srila Rupa Goswami
Samadhi Reconstruction Progresses, Italy Center Opens [Srila Prabhupada Seva Ashram], Gaura Purnima observed at Govindaji Gardens.
2007[February] — Srila Rupa Goswami
Samadhi Reconstruction in Progress, Prabhupada Returns to his Rooms at Radha Damodara Temple, Bhumi Puja at Srila Rupa Goswami's
Samadhi.
2007[January] — Appearance of Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada, visit of Jayadvaita Swami, Visit by Sripada BB Bodhayana Maharaja, Appearance of Lord Nityananda, Marriage of Drdha Vrata and Gandarvika, Vasant Pancami, Visit of Guru Prasad Maharaja.
2006[August-September] — Srila
Bhakti Promoda Puri Gosvami Appearance, Radhasthami, Visiting
Friends in Europe and the USA, 60th
Appearance of Swami BG Narasingha, Vyasa Puja of
Srila Prabhupada, Janmasthami 2006.
2006[May-July] — Wedding
of Sri Gopal Dasa and Anuradha Devi Dasi, Candana-yatra
2006[January-April] — Hare
Krsna Ashrama Inauguration
Festival (Mulki), Gaura
Purnima Celebration, Vasant
Pancami Observance, New
DVD Film Biography of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura, Installation
of Kaliya Mardana Krsna Deity, Visit by Sri
Nandanandana, Guru Prasad Swami and Swami B
B Bodhayana.
2005
2005[August-Dec.] — Visit
of Paramadvaiti Maharaja, Anniversary of Sri
Narasingha Chaitanya Matha, Karttika, Govardhana
Puja, Srila Prabhupada Disappearance, Appearance
of Bhaktivinoda, Radhasthami, Reprinting of Follow
the Angels and In
Search of the Ultimate goal of Life, Srila
Prabhupada Vyasa Puja, Srila Narasingha Maharaja
Vyasa Puja, New Video: Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Biography: The
Universal Teacher, New book
by Srila Sridhara Maharaja entitled Encounters
With Divinity, Sri
Krsna Janmastami Mahotsava.
2005[May
- July]
— Jagannatha
Ratha-yatra, Appearance
of Lord Narasinghadeva, Candana-yatra,
Appearance of Srila Gadadhara Pandita Gosvami.
2005
- 1[Jan-Feb.] — Nityananda
Trayodasi, Vasanta-pancami, Installation of Lord Jagannatha
and Gaura-Gadadhara, Ashrama
Publications & Videos, Kaliya-Mardana Krsna Asrama,
Kannada Songbook Printed.
2004
2004[Nov.
- Dec.] — Disappearance Bhaktisiddhanta, Ten Year
Ashrama Anniversary, Disappearance Srila
B P Puri Gosvami, Disappearance Gaurakisora, Disappearance
Srila
Prabhupada, Karttika Masa, Govardhana Puja, Srila Sridhara
Maharaja Appearance, B B Visnu Appearance.
2004
- 4[Sept.
- Oct.] — Appearance
Day of Srila B P Puri Gosvami, Evolution of Theism reprinted,
Sannyasa of Srila Prabhupada, Appearance of Bhaktivinoda
Thakura,
Radhasthami,
Srila B G Narasingha Appearance,
Srila Prabhupada Appearance,
Janmasthami.
2004
- 3 [April
cont.-August] — Visit of Vijayashankar MP, Visit
of Dr Rajaram, Painting of Narasinghadeva's temple, Himalayan
Pilgrimage video, Library & Devavision Studio opening.
2004
- 1[Jan-Feb.]
— Sivaratri, Appearance
Bhaktisiddhanta,
Nityananda
Trayodasi, Kirtan Hall Artistry, Visits of BV Narasingha
& Guru Prasad Svami, Vasanta-pancami,
Publication of Prakrta-rasa Aranya Chedini, Kumbha Mela
on New Zealand TV.
2003
2003[Sept
- Dec.] — Tirobhava
of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, Foundation of Library & Multimedia
Studio, Yoga-Narasimha Tilaka, Video
Darshan of Yoga-Narasingha, Installation of Sri Sri Laksmi-Narasingha,
Srila
Prabhupada's Tirobhava, Karttika, Govardana Puja, Avirbhava
of Srila BR Sridhara Deva Gosvami, Appearance of Srila BB
Visnu Maharaja, Radhastami.
2003
- 1 [August] — Janmastami and Installation of Yoga-Narasingha,
Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja, Vyasa Puja of Srila Narasingha
Maharaja.
2003
- 3[Jan-April]
— Gandaki
Muktinatha, Gaura Purnima Festival, Varadaraja in Kondaggi,
Laksmi-Narasimha in Javagal, Yoga-Narasimha
in Belavadi, Mahabalipuram, Pakshi-tirtha, Vasanta-pancami,
Wedding of Govardhana and Krsna-priya dd.
2002
2002-2[June
- Dec.] — Srila Prabhupada Deity, Vrndavana Temples,
Subramanya Tirtha, Karttika Masa, Govardhana
Puja, Srila Prabhupada's Tirobhava, Subhaga Svami visits,
Kitchen
Ground-breaking, Sridhar Swami visits, Goshalla
Completed, Vyasa Puja of B. P. Puri Goswami, Radhastami
and Babaji
Initiation, Narasingha Maharaja
Vyasa-puja, Janmastami, Srila
Prabhupada's Vyasa-puja, Audarya Asrama program and San
Francisco Ratha-yatra.
2002[Jan.
- May] — Narasingha Jayanti in Vermont & Govindaji
Gardens, Gosala Foundation, Pejavara Svami visits, Gaura
Purnima in Vermont & Govindaji Gardens, Guru Prasad
Swami Visits, Jayadvaita Maharaja visits.
2001
2001[July
- Dec.] —
Boston Program, Govardhana Puja, Srila Prabhupada Tirobhava,
Govardhana Hill
Manifests, Gurukula boys visit
Nagamangala, Radha Damodara Moves to Vermont, Devavision
Project Moves, Editing
for Devavision Underway, Installation
of Sri Sudarsana Cakra, Radhastami, Vyasa-puja Celebration
of BG Narasingha Maharaja,
Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja, Janmastami
& Janmastami videos, Boston Program, West Coast Saranagati Tour.
2001[Jan
- June] —
Cira-dahi
Mahotsava, Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi, Calf born, Meeting with
Asta-matha Swamis in Udupi, Candana-yatra,
Narasingha Caturdasi, Ramanujacaryas Appearance, Gaura
Purnima, Tripurari Maharaja
visits, Tour to Subrahmanya, Halebid
and Udupi, New Center and Deities in Bangalore, Sivaratri,
Nityananda Avirbhava,
Deity chamber decoration, New
Calf, 2001 Kumbha Mela.
2000
2000[Jan
- Dec.] — Govardhana Hill to Manifest,
Copper Plate Project, Installation of Radha-Damodara.