April 2005

Film Shooting Trip in Puri, Kolkata & Mayapura
On 4th March, H.H. Bhakti Vijnana Giri Maharaja and Gaura-gopala Dasa Brahmacari traveled to Jagannatha Puri, Kolkata and Sridhama Mayapura to film for the upcoming Devavision documentary on the life and precepts of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Prabhupada.

Jagannatha Puri
In Puri, Giri Maharaja and Gaura-gopala filmed at the birthplace of Srila Sarasvati Thakura and also at his bhajana-kutira at Purusottama Gaudiya Matha that is situated at Cataka-parvata. It is interesting to note that at this bhajana-kutira, Srila Sarasvati Thakura installed Deities of Vyasadeva and Madhvacarya.

They also went to Sri Brahma Gaudiya Matha at Alalanatha where they took darsana of Sri Sri Gauranga-Gopa-Gopinatha, the Deities installed by Sarasvati Thakura. The temple president, Sripad Bhakti Prasuna Sadhu Maharaja also allowed them to take see the room of Srila Sarasvati Thakura.

Maharaja and Gaura-gopala Dasa filmed various holy places such as Jagannatha Temple, Siddha-bakula, Gambhira and Tota Gopinatha. They also took footage at several Gaudiya Mathas, one of which was the Sarasvata Gaudiya Asana established by Nitya-lila Pravista Srila Bhakti Srirupa Siddhanti Maharaja and Nitya-lila Pravista Srila Bhakti Viveka Bharati Maharaja. The devotees there, led by Sripad Bhakti Pranata Muni Maharaja. were very friendly and helpful.

Kolkata
The trip to Kolkata was especially important as Giri Maharaja and Gaura-gopala Dasa had the good fortune to meet and interview some of the last remaining disciples of Sarasvati Thakura. Firstly they met Srila Bhakti Kusuma Santa Maharaja at Sri Krsna Caitanya Gaudiya Matha. Srila Santa Maharaja joined the mission of Srila Sarasvati Thakura when he was just 11 years old after meeting Srila Bhakti Pramoda Puri Maharaja.

They also met Nitai Dasa Prabhu and Latika Devi, the son and daughter-in-law of Sripada Sakhi-carana Bhakti Vijaya, the famous disciple of Sarasvati Thakura who built the adbhuta-mandira at the birthplace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They both shared their memories of Srila Sarasvati Thakura and his prominent disciples. Giri Maharaja and Gaura-gopala Dasa also took darsana of the Govardhana-sila that Srila Sarasvati Thakura had given to Sakhi-carana prabhu's family and the chair that Sarasvati Thakura used to use when he visited Sakhi-carana's house. Nitai Dasa Prabhu also showed Giri Maharaja and Gaura-gopala Dasa the original house at No. 1, Ultadanga Junction Road that Sarasvati Thakura rented in the early days of the Gaudiya Matha.

They also visited the house of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura at Rambagan and took darsana of the Kurma Salagrama that was worshipped by Srila Sarasvati Thakura when he was a boy. They also saw the Govardhana-sila given to Bhaktivinoda Thakura by Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji.

Devotees at the Kolkata branch of Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Matha were very cooperative and helped in many ways. Giri Maharaja interviewed Sripad Bhakti Ballabha Tirtha Maharaja who spoke about Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada and his relationship with Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhava Maharaja.

Sridhama Mayapura
At Sridhama Mayapura, Giri Maharaja and Gaura-gopala Dasa interviewed Sripad Bhakti Prajnana Yati Maharaja, president of Sri Caitanya Matha and the Yogapitha temple. Yati Maharaja was kind enough to allow them to film around the premises, including Bhakti Vijaya Bhavan, the house of Srila Sarasvati Thakura at Caitanya Matha and the samadhi mandira of of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada. Caitanya Matha was the headquarters of Srila Sarasvati Thakura.

Several devotees were interviewed, such as Sripad Bhakti Aloka Paramadvaiti Maharaja (of VRNDA). Sripada Bhakti Bibudha Bodhayana Maharaja (of Gopinatha Gaudiya Matha), Sripad Bhakti Vedanta Parayataka Maharaja (of Devananda Gaudiya Matha) and Srila Bhakti Sarana Trivikrama Maharaja, who resides at Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Matha and is a direct disciple of Srila Sarasvati Thakura.

Giri Maharaja and Gaura-gopala Dasa also took footage of various holy sites such as Srivasa Angana and Svananda-sukhada Kunja (the house of Thakura Bhaktivinoda in Godrumadvipa), as well as shots of several Gaudiya Mathas and parikramas.

The documentary of the life and precepts of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada is scheduled to be released on DVD during Karttika this year. This DevaVision Video production as well as previous DevaVision videos will be available from Mandala Publishing.

March 2005

Sri Gaura Purnima Maha-mahotsava
The divine appearance of Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu was celebrated in a grand style at the asrama on the 25th of March.

After mangala-arati, devotees profusely decorated all the temples with flower garlands while the pujaris performed the pujas to the Deities and offered elaborate srngara to Their Lordships.

At 9:00 am there was darsana-arati followed by a wonderful palaki festival. Sri Sri Laksmi-Narasimha were carried round the temple complex six times to the accompaniment of Hari-nama sankirtana before returning to the temple of Yoga-Narasimha.

After a short break, Srila Narasingha Maharaja gave class on the topic of the Holy Name and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's advent. He then gave hari-nama initiation to twelve devotees and mantra-diksa to five devotees.

At 2:00 pm nagesvaram was played for the pleasure of the Deities and at 5:00 the Deity of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was carried by Srila Narasingha Maharaja to the veranda of the Jagannatha temple for the maha-abhiseka, accompanied by kirtan led by H.H. Bhakti Srirupa Madhava Maharaja. The Lord was bathed in various substances and then returned to the altar for the bhoga offering.

During the sandhya-arati, H.H. Bhakti Srirupa Madhava Maharaja led an enthusiastic gathering of devotees and guests in the chanting of the Holy Name and after the jaya-dhvani, Srila Narasingha Maharaja and Srila Visnu Maharaja distributed prasadam sweets from the altar.

Over 240 devotees and guests filled the prasadam hall to honor the prasadam of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu after taking darsana of the auspicious full moon that ushered in the year 520 Gaurabda.

Maha-Sivaratri
The devotees of Sri Narasingha Caitanya Matha observed Maha-Sivaratri by bathing Gopisvari Mahadeva in the Kaveri and offering an evening arati. A special prasadam offering to Sri Sri Radha Madhava was then offered to Gopisvara Mahadeva and was then honored by the devotees.

Avirbhava Mahotsava of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada
The holy appearance day of Jagad-guru Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was observed by the devotees on Tuesday 1st March.

After the devotees offered arati and puspanjali, Sripad Visnu Maharaja spoke about Srila Sarasvati Thakura from "Of Love and Separation" by Srila B. P. Puri Maharaja. Maharaja emphasized the exhaulted character and qualifications of many of the disciples of Srila Sarasvati Thakura, their great affection for their guru and his affection for them.

Giri Maharaja sang Srila Prabhupada Vandana and explained in detail the various precepts mentioned in the song, such as Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's declaration of war on maya and his uncompromising preaching.

At midday a feast was offered to Srila Sarasvati Thakura consisting of banana-flower subji, paneer butter masala, puspanna rice, fried nima-flowers, fried bitter-melon, fried cauliflower subji, puris, sambar, fried mung-dal, tossed salad, sikharini (a drink made from yoghurt, milk, sugar, pepper, camphor and cardamom), sweet samosas, maple cheese cake, sweet rice, glazed puris, and lemon juice.