Gopaljiu News and Parikramas

New Web Site Launched by Gopal Jiu Publications

2009-06-24T06:58:00.001-07:00

Gopal Jiu Publications is pleased to announce our completely new and reconstructed web site:

www.gopaljiu.org

Desiring to serve devotees, scholars, and aficionados of Krishna-katha, gopaljiu.org now offers:

1) Downloadable PDF extracts from all of our books and magazines

2) Some complete books available for reading online

3) Downloadable PDF articles

4) Over 200 back issues of our free email magazine Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu

5) A search engine accessing all the past issues of Bindu and other articles on the site

6) Over 200 photos of Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Maharaja

7) Over 250 MP3 audio recordings of Maharaja available for free listening or download

8) Video lectures of Maharaja available for free viewing or download

9) A calendar of upcoming Gopal Jiu Publications parikramas

10) Facility to purchase all of our books and magazines online

11) Reviews of Gopal Jiu Publications books and magazines from various senior devotees

12) Immensely improved design and functionality

And more...

Article on ISKCON News

2009-06-19T05:07:00.000-07:00

ISKCON news recently gave a write up on Gopal Jiu Publications on the occasion of the 200th issue of Bindu with a very nice article. Check it out!

http://news.iskcon.com/node/2081

Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu issue 203

2009-06-03T07:48:00.000-07:00

We just sent this issue out. There are some nice articles and pictures in it. Here is a brief description:

* "'Come to India'" -- His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada encourages devotees to as far as possible attend the yearly Gaura Purnima festival in Mayapur.

* "Sri Guru Reciprocates in All Rasas" -- Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur describes how Sri Guru manifests in different ways to different devotees.

* "How Krishna's Mercy Manifests" -- Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode explains three ways in which Krishna's mercy appears.

* "The Story of Mandavya Muni" -- Even being punished for a crime he did not commit did not disturb the meditation of this great Rishi. An anecdote with drawings from Mahabharat.

Bindu is a free service (we are trying to promote hari-katha!). It comes in pdf format twice a month. If you would like to subscribe write us at: minimag@gopalajiu.org

To see back issues go to: www.gopaljiu.org and click on the Bindu back issues link on the left.

Painting: Mandavya Muni sitting on the sula (stake). From a Hindi edition of Mahabharat published by Gita Press.

Krishna Kathamrita Bindu Hits 9 Years and 200 Issues

2009-05-03T05:42:00.000-07:00

Here is the latest news with Bindu. Our humble and sincere thanks to all of the kind vaishnavas who have supported this service over the years.

Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu, the free e-magazine from ISKCON Gopaljiu Publications, has just entered its ninth year of circulation, and has reached 200 issues distributed to its ever-growing list of subscribers.

Started in 2001 as a humble attempt to serve Srila Prabhupada and the preachers of the mission of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu is especially meant for devotees who were interested in going deep into the tradition and literature of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. Our policy from the beginning has been to simply focus on krishna-katha – no politics, exposes, revolutions, or institutional bashing or promotion. Tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo – our conviction is that krishna-katha and krishna-nama automatically changes everything for the better. They are the ultimate solutions to all problems in this world. In the words of Srila Saraswati Thakur, “The person who determines that there is scope for reform of the world himself stands in need of reform. ... As soon as Krishna enters the listening ear, he clears up the vision of the listener so that he no longer has any ambition of ever acting the part of a reformer of any other person, because he finds that nobody is left without the very highest guidance. It is therefore his own reform that he is increasingly able to realize, by the eternally continuing mercy of the Supreme Lord.” [Read the complete article in Bindu 177]

Bindu has featured many first-time translations, including stories and songs from little-known works, such as Sri Tilak Ramdas’ “Abhiram Lilamrta”, Yadunandan Das’ “Karnananda”, Jagadbandhu Bhadra’s “Gaura-pada-tarangini”, Gopijanavallabha Das’ “Rasika Mangala”, Krishnadas’ “Syamananda Prakash”, Jiva Goswami’s “Gopal Campu” and Padma, Nrsimha, Brahma-vaivarta and other Puranas.

Bindu comes out twice a month, on every ekadasi. Each four-page issue begins with an inspiring article from His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, and nearly every issue includes something from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur and Thakur Bhaktivinode. Articles by Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami are a common feature as well as contemporary articles by the Bindu editors.

Bindu is a free service. To subscribe, write to: minimag@gopaljiu.org

Below are some of the kind words of encouragement about Bindu received over the last 8 years:

I would like to subscribe to your publication. I looked at some back issues and enjoyed the contents very much. I have stopped looking at the ISKCON web sites except for our local site, because they are all obsessed with politics and nonsense. Your publication is very nice. We just need to chant together in a humble and loving frame of mind in order to solve all the problems. Thank you, prabhus.
-- Praharana Dasi, Toronto

Your publication is an invaluable source of inspiration and important sastric reference.
-- Vaisesika Das, San Francisco

Please include me in your subscribers' list for KK Bindu. I enjoyed the fourth issue very much. May all of your efforts be crowned with success, and may this meet you in the best of health and blissful spirits.
-- Tamal Krishna Goswami

Your magazine is the best on the earth.
-- Jayatam Jaya Sila Das

It is my great happiness to see that instead of joining the revolting political debates and fights continuously taking place amongst the vaishnavas of different groups, the sisyas of Gour Govinda Maharaja are peacefully engaged in distributing pure, universal hari-katha without propagating any institution in a sectarian way. You are doing a wonderful job for the pleasure of Sri Guru and Gauranga. I wish you all success in your service.
-- Peter Erdody, Budapest

My sincere congratulations and gratitude for putting together a fine Gaudiya Vaisnava online publication that we can all feel proud of.
-- Vicaru Das, Editor, "Sanga"

Thanks for all this nectar.
-- Indradyumna Swami

Your Bindus are WONDERFUL!
-- Mahavegavati Dasi

With great happiness I received your wonderful e-mail and devoured it immediately. The Krishna Kathamrita Bindu is simply ecstatic. Short, concise, thick with nectar, and fully authorized and in line with our glorious sampradaya as revealed by Srila Prabhupada. It is just what a preacher needs who wishes to inspire people. Please keep the good stream of nectar flowing!
-- Sacinandana Swami

Thanks for the latest KK Bindu. As usual, it was nectarean and a pleasant ekadasi surprise for my wicked mind. I especially appreciate the non-partisan spirit of the publication. I can hardly read anything on the internet these days that isn't trying to promote, argue pro or con, or solicit. There is a place for that I admit. I have my opinions, too. But it's easy to forget our real business in life. At least I am reminded, by your kindness, on a bi-monthly basis. Thank you.
-- Sarva-drk Das, Denver

Aapko bahut dhanyavaada!!!
-- Dasarath Suta Das, Georgia

I always look forward to receiving Krishna Kathamrita Bindu. It's just the right size and just the right substance -- so short that I can easily devote the time to it yet so juicy that a few drops go a long way. A newsletter with nothing but pure Krishna-katha -- so refreshing! This is the real need of the day. Thank you so much!
-- Jayadvaita Swami

Many thanks for a copy of the book, "Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu, Issues 1-17" which I have just finished reading. In fact, I was not able to take up any of my other works until I finished this book. I am happy to tell you that one can really have a taste of sindhu reading the said issues of the Bindu.

One small suggestion: Can you start incorporating in each issue translation of a portion of a Vaishnava Sanskrit text not yet translated? Wishing you success in your venture.
-- Yours affectionately, Professor Samaresh Bandyopadhyaya, Head of the Department of Ancient Indian History and Culture, University of Calcutta

Your wonderful writings have been so inspiring to devotees all around the world. I can truly say I have always looked forward to every new presentation. My own copies have been marked many times. I have shared them with so many other devotees. Somehow each time they have appeared it has been so timely.
-- Bhakti Tirtha Swami

Someone recently directed me to your site and it is encouraging to see this kind of preaching continuing some years now after Sri Gour Govinda Maharaja has departed.
-- Swami B.V. Tripurari

I heartily approve the spirit of this message.
-- Jagadananda Das (Jan Brzezinski), Toronto

I’m a journalist from the “Economic Times”, Bangalore edition, trying to be a vaishnavi. I have always loved “Krishna Kathamrita Bindu” and the excellent books you publish. “Krishna Kathamrita Bindu” and “Mathura Meets Vrindavan” are so good. I repeatedly tell stories to people from them while preaching.
-- Chandni Raj, Bangalore

Departure of Srimati Sundaramani Giri

2008-04-08T06:19:00.000-07:00

We are sorry to inform you of the departure of Srimati Sundaramani Giri, the beloved wife of Sri Damodar Giri.

For those of you who may not know, Damodar Giri is the maternal cousin of Srila Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja.

Damodar Giri Prabhu came to visit us this morning with the news. He also provided us with the following information: Sundaramani Giri was born in the village of Hajipur in Orissa. Her marriage was arranged by her father. She was 14 and Damodar Giri was 19 at the time of their wedding. They were married for 63 years. Sundaramani was very fond of nama kirtana. She departed this world in her home in Gadeigiri at the time of Gopal's evening arotika (about 6:30 PM) on the 2nd of April on the auspicious day of Papamocani Ekadasi.

Damodar said that about 6 months before she had some kind of stroke after which she was paralyzed from her legs down. During the last 6 months she was mostly sleeping, as she was when she left her body. Seeing that she was going to leave soon the Gadeigiri devotees were doing asta-pahari kirtana in front of the house when she left.

We asked Damodar what his realization was after losing his wife of so many years. He said that he no longer wanted to live at home and had moved into the ashram at the Gadeigiri Temple where he is now absorbing himself in bhajan and worship of Gopal.

Sundaramani leaves behind her husband Damodar Giri age 82, two daughters: Savitri age 50, Revati 45, and two sons: Ramakanta 42 and Umakanta 39.

There will be a festival of kirtana and prasadam in honor of Sundaramani on the 15th of April 2008 in Gadeigiri village around 12 Noon. That same evening the annual Vasanta Rasa Lila Festival will be observed for Sri Sri Radha Gopaljiu.

Although apparently a simple village lady, Sundaramani lived a very glorious life with a wonderfully auspicious departure. We pray for her blessings.

We hope to get a photo of her soon. When we do we will post it here on our blogsite.

Vaishnava kripa prarthi,
Madhavananda Das

Thought about Puri Yatra-2008 by Sarvajna Prabhu

2008-03-11T05:11:00.000-07:00

It's already one month passed since this wonderful event happened. Still, I practically remember everything: Morning nectar from Satsvarupa Maharaja, profound realizations of Dhanurdhara Maharaja, who, speaking very simply and sincerely, touched my heart, ecstatic kirtans on parikramas, talks by senior Vaishnavas on the holy places, incredible feasts of Jagannath maha-prasadam, and even more nectarian evening sessions with Dhanudhara Maharaja, Madhavananda Prabhu, Fakir Mohan Prabhu and other Vaishnavas.

I can understand that my only qualification to experience this mercy was that Vaishnavas kindly allowed me to do some insignificant service to them. This is the key point made in "Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya" by Nityananda Prabhu in response to Srila Jiva Goswami's question about how one can enter into the Holy Dham. It is possible only if we attract mercy of Vaishnavas - dear servants of Lord Chaitanya. They are so compassionate to the fallen conditioned souls that they sometimes engage them in devotional service even when they don't want it. That was my case - I came with an enjoying spirit but instead practically didn't have any time to relax - sometimes up to the point of chanting my japa late at night after a whole day of service. But it was really ecstatic! And I'm very much grateful for these days and anxious to have that time again. I feel that I left in Puri some particle of my heart and will never forget it. Thanks to all the devotees, who took part in this wonderful parikrama.

Desiring to remain your humble servant

Sarvajna das

Schedule for 2008 Disappearance Festival

2008-02-19T04:31:00.000-08:00

Gopal Jiu Publications is pleased to invite all Vaishnavas to attend the 9th annual disappearance festival of Srila Gour Govinda Swami.

The festival will take place from the 23rd to the 27th of February 2008 at ISKCON Sridham Mayapur. Everyone is welcome.

SCHEDULE

23 - 25 FEB Seminar on:
Srila Gour Govinda Swami’s teachings in the book
Mathura Meets Vrindavan chapter four (Bound by Love)
* Focusing on the pastimes of Krishna’s butter stealing
* Conducted by Madhavananda Das
* 4 to 6 PM at the MIHET classrooms

24 - 25 FEB Orissan style bhajans with:
Sri Damodar Giri and the Gadeigiri kirtaniyas
* Sri Damodar Giri is a kirtana-guru and cousin brother of Gour Govinda Swami
* Time and place to be announced.

26 FEB Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Maharaja
Disappearance Day
* 11:00 AM kirtana, arotika and puspanjali at Gour Govinda Maharaja’s Puspa Samadhi
* 2:00 PM Feast prasadam for all devotees at the Gada Bhavan
* 4:00 PM Gadei Giri kirtana at Srila Prabhupada’s samadhi auditorium
* 5:00 PM DVD lecture Part one, Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja on:
“The Glories of Lord Shiva”
* 6:00 PM Remembrances and talks
* 8:00 PM Maha prasadam distribution

27 FEB Events at Srila Prabhupada’s Puspa Samadhi Auditorium:
* 4:00 PM Gadei Giri kirtana
* 5:00 PM DVD lecture part two, Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja on:
“The Glories of Lord Shiva”
* 6:00 PM Remembrances and talks
* 8:00 PM Maha prasadam distribution

Memories of Puri 2008

2008-02-16T00:28:00.000-08:00

A poem from Nityananda Das about the Puri Retreat

Here is my small poem about the Puri parikrama:

I wish to again pass the same Puri streets
And feel the warm, soothing embrace of the Name,
Bright streams of whose sound inundated our ears.
We rejoice with His choice - to be proofs of His fame.

I wish to again hear loud chords of great ocean
That help me to hanker, remember, and pray
After all that I've heard - pure love and devotion
To the Lord who has bathed His passed servant that day.

Will I see this again: myself serve out the nectar
from the lips of the Lord, and the Lord's devotees,
Wishing thousands of tongues just to relish their fortune,
Think aloud of what, if not him, they would miss?

My memory stretches just to capture pure faces
That highlighted the souls in close touch with Divine.
Dear golden Lord, may your sweet will again place us
All together in Puri, where we'll see your sweet smile.

Your servant, Nityananda dasa

What is Vaishnava Sanga?

2008-02-14T03:07:00.000-08:00

Contemplations on the recent retreat in Puri, by HH Dhanudhar Swami

January 29, 2008
Sri Vrindavan Dhama

What is Vaisnava Sanga?

I just returned from a very spiritual uplifting pilgrimage to Sri Jagannatha Puri. I felt I got a taste of gaura-lila, not just the bhava of the devotees towards the Lord, but the open spirited devotion between the devotees in gaura-lila themselves. In that sense, I think I can speak for everyone who attended. We realized that by intensely focusing on kirtan, gaura-katha, and mutual service to the sanga, we tasted a drop of what Sri Caitanya’s sanga in Puri must have been like. I’ll try to communicate that experience by discussing the realizations I gleaned about Vaisnava sanga from our sanga:

Vaisnava sanga is an assembly of devotees mutually dedicated to the assembly’s objective - the glorification of the Supreme Lord.

As all members of the Vaisnava sanga are focused on that objective, personal objectives become secondary.

Although the leaders and senior Vaisnavas may help guide the sanga, and are appropriately respected, all participating members are deeply and equally valued as essential members of the sanga.

Vaisnava sanga is spontaneous. As much as practical, hierarchical or corporate structures of authority are not externally imposed on the sanga, but manifest genuinely out of the feelings of natural attachment and respect for authority within the sanga.

The channel of relationships in a Vaisnava sanga is open due the trust among its members. Sanga members thus get the maximum benefit from each other’s insights, including the realizations of its more spiritually mature members.

As mercy flows so freely in a Vaisnava sanga, a Vaisnava sanga naturally inspires humility in its members, which is the natural response to mercy.

The activities (service) of a Vaisnava sanga are born from a humble mood of service and thus truly become seva, or devotional service.

As the members of the Vaisnava sanga are humble, they are constantly absorbed in nama-sankirtan.

A Vaisnava sanga is confident in the mercy it is experiencing within its sanga. The members welcome and value any visitor as long as they sincerely want to serve the sanga’s objectives.

A Vaisnava sanga does fear Vaisnava aparadha. Its members deal very carefully and respectfully with everyone.

A Vaisnava sanga is thus the yoga of association where members control their minds and lower impulses out of respect and appreciation for the association and kindness they are receiving within the sanga.

The duty of an acarya is to create Vaisnava sanga based on the six loving exchanges of a Vaisnava. To assist in its development is the best offering of service for his pleasure.

A Vaisnava sanga is most attractive. Sincere people will appreciate it. Pure devotees will naturally gravitate towards it. It is the basis of spreading Vaisnava dharma.

You can connect with Maharaja at some of the following links:

Waves of Devotion - The Writings and Realizations of Srila Dhanurdhara Swami

http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/

Weekly Sangas
http://www.weeklysanga.com/

Weekly Sanga Podcast
HYPERLINK
http://feeds.feedburner.com/bhagavatmedia/sanga

Weekly Sanga Podcasts are available on the iTunes Store. Click the button
below.

HYPERLINK
http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=127550244

2008 Mayapur Disappearance Festival for Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja

2008-02-10T07:27:00.000-08:00

Gopal Jiu Publications is pleased to invite all Vaishnavas to attend the 12th annual disappearance festival of Srila Gour Govinda Swami.

26th and 27th February
ISKCON Sridham Mayapur
Everyone welcome!

This year again, Gopal Jiu Publications hopes to bring Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja’s cousin, Damodar Giri Prabhu, and his Orissan-style kirtan party. The Gadeigiri village kirtan party has become a popular cultural addition to the festival.
We are in urgent need of funds for this year’s program. At this point we don’t have enough money to bring the Gadeigiri kirtan group. After the schedule below there is a breakdown of estimated costs.
Questions or comments can be written here, or contact us at: katha@gopaljiu.org
Your servants at Gopaljiu Publications
=========
SCHEDULE
=========
23 February to the 25th
Seminar on Srila Gour Govinda Swami’s teachings in Mathura Meets Vrindavan
4:00 to 6:00 PM daily by Madhavananda Das
In the MIHET Classrooms

25 February (Mon)
Video lecture of Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja
Time and place to be announced.
If we are able to bring them, the Gadeigi kirtan party will also chant on this day.

26 February (Tue)
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Maharaja's Disappearance Day

Events at Maharaja's Puspa Samadhi:
* Guru puja, arotika and kirtana (timings to be announced)
* 5:30 PM Bhajans
* 6:15 PM Gour Govinda Maharaja Video lecture
* 6:45 PM Remembrances and talks
* 8:45 PM Program ends, prasadam distribution

===============
FUNDS REQUIRED
===============
If you could offer some donation to help with this festival it would be greatly appreciated. We need to collect US $2,125. We have a balance of funds left over from last year of $445.00. Our balance required is $1,680.00

Here is a breakdown of expenses

$100 (approx 3,900.00 Indian Rupees, INR) for flowers

$25 (approx 980.00 INR) for pheni prasadam distribution (a traditional Oriya sweet liked by Lord Jagannath and Gour Govinda Maharaja)

$ 1,500 (approx 59,140.00 INR) for feast

Cost to bring and accommodate Damodar Giri Prabhu and kirtan party = $500 (approx 19,780.00 IRS)

Total $ 2,125 (approx 83,800 INR)

Balance left from last year’s festival: 17,626 INR (approx US $445.00)

Balance required: $1,680.00

As soon as we collect our goal we will post a notice here informing everyone that we don't need any more money for the festival. If we collect over the amount we will inform the particular donors and they can either get their money back or use it for extras at the festival (more flowers and prasadam) or if they like it can be used for our book publishing efforts.

Donations can be received by us through the following means:

* By credit card via PayPal through the link on the bottom of our homepage:
www.gopaljiu.org

*By Western Union.

Puri Retreat 2008

2008-02-10T07:08:00.000-08:00

We just finished a memorable parikrama in Puri with H.H. Dhanudhara Maharaja, H.H. Satsvarupa Maharaja, and H.H. Jayadvaita Swami. A blissful week of intense hearing and chanting – a large, but small enough to be intimate, assembly of altogether about 50 devotees. For the second year in a row the cost of prasadam for everyone as well as the accommodations for senior devotees was sponsored by H.G. Sastra Prabhu. Our salutations and thanks to Sastra Prabhu! Also present was Sri Fakir Mohan Prabhu, Mother Srimati, devotees from Gopiparanadhana Prabhu’s Sanskrit school at Govardhan, as well as members of the 24 hour kirtana group from Vrindavan. Fantastic, fantastic, fantastic bhajans and kirtans. A great group - wonderful association!

A few highlights:

* Dhanudhara Maharaja's morning and evening talks about Gaura-lila. Suffering from the “germs of material activity and the boils of envy” [CC antya 5.1] we have to imbibe dainya-bhäva, the essence of Vaishnavism, to be able to experience mercy, love and the happiness inherent in bhakti.

* Rama Ray and Bhagavat Purana Prabhu’s evening bhajans. WOW! We received news that the seismographs at the National Seismological Database Centre in Delhi were registering major earthquake readings each night. Strangely, the readings were limited to the area of the hotel where our kirtans where going on.

* Nityananda Prabhu’s heartfelt rendering of Narottam Das Thakur’s bhajan Gauranga Karuna Koro every morning, which became the signature song, setting the mood of this year’s Puri Retreat: ”Holding grass between my teeth, O Lord Gaura, I am calling out to you now! Please be compassionate upon me and come to reside within the temple of my heart!”

* Daily readings from H.H. Satsvarupa Maharaja’s writings. Some unforgettable images include: The Puri Waves pounding like the hearts of the gopis feeling separation from Krishna, a wake-up call about japa walks in Puri – “is any one of us actually praying?!”, and a warning: “Do not be twigs that break off the Chaitanya tree ; be flexible and bend.”

* Helpful meditations and insightful comments from Mother Srimati, like the one about “the independence of one fully dependent on Krishna”, referring to Srila Prabhupada’s boldness during his famous ‘book inauguration’ in the Jagannatha Mandir where he said: “He is Jagannatha, not Purinath or Oriyanath”, so why don’t you let my Western disciples in his temple?!

* Kirtan by Yadunandan Prabhu at the Garuda Nrsimha and Tota Gopinath Temples

* Madhavananda Prabhu's talks, particularly his evening series about the esoteric significance of Jagannath Puri, his stories about Ganga Mata Goswamini at Sweta Ganga, and his talk about Ramachandra Puri and the dynamics of faultfinding on Sat Asan road.

* Nityananda Prabhu's poetry, and his flute accompanied singing of Raghunath Das Goswami's prayers, "Gauranga Stava Kalpa Våkña" at the Gambhira.

* Expert mrdanga playing by Jaya Gopal from Switzerland

* Sri Fakir Mohan Prabhu’s deep kathä. What affected me most deeply was his statement, “When Krishna says mäm eva ye prapadyante [Bg. 7.14], he means take shelter of nama-vigraha. nama will arrange everything.”

* Harinams, especially on the beach road and circumambulating the Jagannath Mandir, when people were dancing in the streets, on the roofs nearby, the beach and all around us.

*Aside from all the wonderful Vaishnavas mentioned, H.H. Partha Sarathi Maharaja was quietly staying nearby occasionally sharing some confidential and very deep topics privately with a few individuals and otherwise making his presence felt by his disciples, who were taking part in and helping the parikrama.

* Last but not least, Gita Nagari Prabhu’s poetry: “I cannot imagine how much nectar is in Jagannatha Mahaprasadam! After tasting one bite, I want millions of tongues, and after it reaches the courtyard of my stomach, I want millions of bellies!”

Places visited included: Sweta Ganga, Sarvabhauma Bhattacharya's house, Tota Gopinath, Garuda Nrsimha, Jambeswar Mahadeva, the birthplace of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, Siddha Bakula, Sat Asan road places including: Haridas Thakur's samadhi, Jagadananda Pandit's deities of Radha Giridhari, Bhaktivinode Thakur's bhajan kutir, Brahmananda Bharati's deities of Radha Syamasundar, Raghunath Das Goswami's deities of Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan, Sri Sri Krishna Balaram worshipped by Chota Haridas and Kunja Bhagavan, and the Sat Asan Gaudiya Math temple established by Siddhanti Maharaja, a disciple of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur.

To see some pictures of the retreat, go to:

* Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gopaljiu_publications/

Written by Krishna Kund Devi Dasi

Srila Gour Govinda Swami's Mayapur 2007 Vyasa-puja Festival

2007-09-15T17:41:00.001-07:00

Here is a link to some pictures and information that was sent to us by Gopijanavallabha Prabhu:

Festival

Krishna Kathamrita Talks — Europe 2007

2007-04-27T03:22:00.000-07:00

Krishna Kathamrita Talks — Europe 2007

Madhavananda Das will be traveling in Europe this summer giving classes and seminars. The following is his tentative itinerary. If you would like to organize some program at your home or center, or if you would like further information regarding times and places of tentative programs, please contact us at katha@gopaljiu.org. We will try to keep this page updated as more information becomes available.

11-16 May Budapest
18 May - 12 June Hungary/Italy/Scotland (?)
14 June Class in Berlin
15 June Class in Leipzig
16 June Home program in Germany
17 June Class at ISKCON Koln
19 June Home program in Germany
20-27 June Polish Festival of India Tour
29 June -1 July Snana Yatra/Seminar on Lord Jagannath at ISKCON Zurich
4-7 July Classes/seminars in Switzerland
8 July Classes at ISKCON Zurich
10-13 July Classes/seminar at Bern
14-16 July Bhaktivedanta Manor London or Zurich Ratha-yatra
16-23 July Budapest

Topics will include:

* Mathura Meets Vrindavan

* False Gurus, Institutions and the Holy Name

* How Gaura lila is Going on Today

* Culture of Respect

* The Secret Identity of Lord Jagannath

* The Esoteric Significance of Jagannath Puri

* Lord Shiva the Greatest Vaishnava

* Vaishnava Aparadha

* My Revered Spiritual Master (Srila Prabhupada's Position)

* The Secret of Gaura's Sannyasa lila

* The Process of Hearing

* Nityananda Prabhu the Lord of Mercy

* Characteristics and Types of Disciples

* Guru - Disciple Relationship

* Preaching Means Relishing

* Krishna is Actually the Son of Yasoda

* The Supreme Thief

* The Role of Forgiveness in Spiritual Life

* Krishna is Defeated by Love

* The Greed of the Lord - the Purpose of Gaura-avatara

* Nama-yajna

Sri Ksetra Parikrama January 2007

2007-01-29T09:22:00.000-08:00

From the 22nd to the 27th of January we had the opportunity to host HH Jayadvaita Maharaja, Dhanudhar Maharaja, Gunagrahi Maharaja and about 50 devotees from various places around the world. Wonderful kirtans! Lots of deep katha, and Jagannath prasadam. Here are a few photos taken by Bhakta Karlis: http://new.photos.yahoo.com/madhava64108/album/576460762387422607

Pics from the new book

2007-01-29T08:09:00.000-08:00

You can see a few pictures from My Revered Spiritual Master, here: http://new.photos.yahoo.com/madhava64108/album/576460762387429685

2007 Mayapur Disappearance Festival for Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja

2007-01-10T03:43:00.000-08:00

Hare Krishna!

Gopal Jiu Publications is pleased to invite all Vaishnavas to attend the 11th annual disappearance festival of Srila Gour Govinda Swami.

7th and 8th February, ISKCON Sridham Mayapur

Everyone welcome!

Usually 200 to 500 people attend this festival including anywhere from 15 to 30 sannyasis and senior vaishnavas. Many devotees say it is the highpoint of the Mayapur festival for them.

This year again, Gopal Jiu Publications will bring Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja’s cousin, Damodar Giri Prabhu, and his Orissan-style kirtan party. The Gadeigiri village kirtan party has become a popular cultural addition to the festival.

Festival schedule posted below.

We are in urgent need of funds for this year’s program. You will find below a breakdown of estimated costs. Naturally, the program is subject to however much we are able to collect. If we don’t collect enough we will cut back on some items.

Questions or comments can be written here, or contact us at: katha@gopaljiu.org

Your servants at Gopaljiu Publications

=========
SCHEDULE
=========

7 FEB
Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Maharaja's Disappearance Day
Events at Maharaja's Puspa Samadhi:

* Guru puja, arotika and kértana (timings to be announced)

* 5:30 PM Bhajans by Gadeigiri kirtaniyas

* 6:15 PM Gour Govinda Maharaja Video lecture

* 6:45 PM Remembrances and talks

* 8:45 PM Program ends, prasadam distribution

8 FEB

* 2:00 PM Mahaprasadam Distribution at ISKCON campus.

Evening Events at Maharaja's Puspa Samadhi:

* 5:30 PM Bhajans by Gadeigiri kirtaniyas

* 6:15 PM Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja Video lecture

* 6:45 PM Remembrances and talks

* 8:45 PM Program ends, prasadam distribution

9 FEB

* Evening: Orissan style bhajanas by Gadeigiri kirtaniyas. Venue and timing to be announced.

16 to 19FEB

* Seminar on Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja’s book: “Mathura Meets Vrindavan”, by Madhavananda Das. (Venue and timings to be announced)

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FESTIVAL COSTS

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$200 for pandal and sound system

$100 for flowers

$25 for pheni prasadam distribution (a traditional Oriya sweet liked by Lord Jagannath and Gour Govinda Maharaja)

$ 1,500 for feast

Cost to bring and accommodate Damodar Giri Prabhu and kirtan party = $500

Total $ 2,225

Pledges already received: $500.00

Balance left from last year’s festival: $177.83

Balance required: $1,547.17

As soon as we collect our goal we will post a notice here informing everyone that we don't need any more money for the festival. If we collect over the amount we will inform the particular donors and they can either get their money back or use it for extras at the festival (more flowers and prasadam) or if they like it can be used for our book publishing efforts.

Donations can be received by us through the following means:

* By credit card via PayPal through the link on the bottom of our homepage:

www.gopaljiu.org

* In India and the USA, bank transfers can be made.

* Western Union.

Please contact us for details.

(Scroll down this page to see highlights from last year’s festival.)

New Book Coming: "My Revered Spiritual Master"

2007-01-09T20:24:00.000-08:00

We are in the passionate last days of work on the latest book from Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja.This will be a very special presentation of remembrances and realizations about His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. It will contain original art work by the well known artist Anuradha Dasi. Below is a rough outline of the book (the sequence and titles of some of the chapters will likely change in the next few days).

"MY REVERED SPIRITUAL MASTER"

Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja

OUTLINE

Mangalacarana: (from one of Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja's lectures)

Intro: The Mercy Manifestation (also from one of Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja's lectures)

Section One: I. MY REVERED SPIRITUAL MASTER
=======================================

1) Establishing a Temple in Bhubaneswar

2) Always Present

3) Srila Prabhupada was Empowered

4) Beyond Birth and Death

5) Krishna's Own Man

6) Our Well-wishing Friend

7) He Gave Life

8) Meditations (Excerpts from conversations etc)

Section Two: II. PRABHUPADA'S IDEAL SOCIETY
======================================

9) Prabhupada's Ideal Society

10) Understanding Prabhupada's Purpose

11) A Home for Everyone (Centennial Interview)

12) Prabhupada's Padayatra Preaching

13) Dedication to his Mission

14) Prabhupada Laid the Foundation

15) Vaishnava Institutions and the Sweet Dealings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

16) Meditations

Section Three: III. AFTER PRABHUPADA'S DISAPPEARANCE
==========================================

17) When the Acharya Leaves

18) After the Disappearance of Sri Guru

19) After the Guru Leaves

20) Guru has not Left

21) The only Lacking is with Us

Section Four: IV APPENDIXES
=============

a. Correspondence (72 pages of scans of the original letters exchanged)

b. Room Conversation with Srila Prabhupada

c. A Brief Life Sketch of Srila Gour Govinda Swami

d. About the Artist

e. Sources of materials

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Artwork
=======

This book will be lavishly illustrated with original drawings by Anuradha Dasi. Anuradha is a well-known and talented devotee artist. Her specialty is pencil sketches of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja. She has been staying here in Bhubaneswar for the last month making some special artwork just for this book. She has provided us with over 30 drawings of Srila Prabhupada, Thakur Bhaktivinode, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati, Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja, the Bhubaneswar temple, Srila Prabhupada's hut in BBSR etc etc.

We are still negotiating with the press and working out the design and layout. We intend to print in two colors (text in black and drawings in dark brown) on recycled, slightly yellowish paper with a natural texture. The cover will be made with handmade, papyrus style, rough paper. We hope it will be different and striking.

This book will contain much little known information about Srila Prabhupada's relationship with Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja, as well as early history of the Bhubaneswar temple. Please bless us that it will come out nicely for the pleasure of Sri Hari, Guru, Vaishnava.

Vraja Bandhu's Chuin

2007-01-07T07:54:00.000-08:00

As a child, when Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja was studying in upper primary school he stayed in his uncle's home in Gadeigiri. In his youth he was known by his birth name, "Vraja Bandhu". From his earliest years, Vraja Bandhu was very attached to the ancestral deities of his family -- Sri Sri Radha Gopal Jiu. Most afternoons young Vraja Bandhu would play near Gopal's temple. Next to the small thatched temple was a paddy field that was used for cultivating mung beans. The village boys used to enjoy picking and eating the fresh raw beans. Late one afternoon Vraja Bandhu was picking some mung dahl (known as chuin in Oriya). Whatever he could hold in his small hands he would take and put on the veranda of Gopal's temple, and then go back to collect more. One time when Vraja Bandhu returned from the field with his handful of beans, he noticed that his original pile of chuin had vanished. Surprised, he looked around wondering who had taken it, but no one was to be seen. So he put that handful of bean pods down and returned to the field to pick more.

Carrying all that he could in his hands, Vraja Bandhu went back to Gopal's veranda and found that once again his pile of chuin was gone. This time he was determined to see who it was that was taking his chuin, so while he returned to the field to collect more, he kept looking back at his pile on the veranda of Gopal's temple.

Suddenly Vraja Bandhu saw a small boy with a dark black face quickly grabbing all his chuin. Vraja Bandhu ran towards the boy shouting "Gopal is taking my chuin." Gopal fled around the temple with Vraja Bandhu in hot pursuit.

By this time it was getting dark, and Gopinath Giri, Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja’s maternal uncle (whom Maharaja recalled as a pure devotee) was going to Gopal's temple for his evening prayers. He was surprised to find Vraja Bandhu running around and around the temple calling out that Gopala had taken his chuin! Gopinath Giri called the boy, asking why he was running around the temple on his own in the dark. Vraja Bandhu told him that Gopal had taken his chuin. Gopinath Giri started to tell him that he should go home as it was getting late. Then suddenly he saw a boy's shadow rush in through the temple doorway. Seeing this, Gopinath Giri became ecstatic. With his hair standing on end, tears in his eyes, and a trembling body, he embraced young Vraja Bandhu, understanding that Gopal was playing games with his nephew.

Puri Ratha-yatra 2006

2006-07-31T19:56:00.000-07:00

Harinama with HH Indradyumna Maharaja

This year's Puri Ratha-yatra was an amazing experience. HH Radhanath Swami came with a group of 2,000 devotees, mostly from Chowpatty. On Radhanath Maharaja's invitation a number of sannyasis and senior devotees were present including: HH Indradyumna Swami, HH Sacinandan Swami, HH Devamrita Swami, HH Bhakti Caru Swami, HH Candramauli Swami, HG Jananivas Prabhu, HG Pankajangri Prabhu, and HG Dharmatma Prabhu.

This year was very special for me, as I got to fulfill a long cherished desire to do some parikrama in Puri with HH Indradyumna Maharaja. We went with a small intimate group and Sri Prahlada Prabhu led harinama on our way to all of the places. Amongst the other devotees accompanying us were HG Dharmatma Prabhu, Narottam Das Thakur Prabhu, and Jayatam Sila Prabhu.

We started the parikrama with a visit to the ancient deity of Shyamakali. Shyamakali has been the official deity for the gajapati kings of Orissa for hundreds of years. Over her altar one can see the insignia of the royal family of Puri. Of course Kali is not the istadeva or deity of the heart of the gajapati kings. It is a tradition in India for the kings to worship Kali and take her blessings for their rule. Amongst other things, it encourages the citizens to be respectful to Krishna's devotees the devatas.

After Shyamakali, we went to the Asta-sambhu Mahadeva temple. This is another ancient temple connected with the Puri kings. The siva-lingas here are ones that were captured when the kings defeated opposing kingdoms. The Asta-sambhu temple is a small temple on the campus of the Sri Sri Radha Rasik Raj temple. These are the family deities of Maharaja Prataprarudra and were worshiped even before the time of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Also in this temple are Gaura Nitai deities that were personally installed by Maharaja Prataprarudra.

We next made our way through the small back streets to the Kunja Math where we had darsan of the deities of Sri Sri Radha Rasika Raya that were worshiped by Srila Rasikananda Prabhu. There is a very wonderful story about these deities.

Once Rasikananda Prabhu was on his way to Puri to attend the Ratha-yatra festival. On the way many people stopped him to take his darsan and blessings. Because of this he was late, and missed the pahandi ceremony, when Lord Jagannath comes out of the temple. That year an amazing thing happened; after Lord Jagannath was placed on the cart and everyone started to pull it, they found that they were unable to budge the cart. Just as during the time of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu when a similar thing happened, they got wrestlers to try to move the cart, but that didn't work, finally they engaged huge elephants to push the carts. But they still would not move.

That night the king of Puri had a dream. Lord Jagannath came to him and said, "I am waiting for my dear devotee Rasikananda Prabhu to come. You will not be able to move my cart until he arrives." Upon awakening the king immediately sent out messengers searching for the sadhu named Rasikananda. They found him a short distance away from Puri and escorted him to the carts. When Rasikananda Prabhu saw that the carts had not moved and he heard about the king's dream, he began to cry. He offered his prostrate obeisances to Lord Jagannath and then approached the cart. He no more than touched the cart, when it started moving on its own.

The king was highly impressed with the devotion of Rasikananda Prabhu and offered him whatever he would like. Rasik replied, "Maharaja, I am just a humble servant, there is nothing that I require from you. However, if you are willing, I would be very happy if you could give to us the deity known as Bhatta Krishna who resides in the Jagannath Mandir."

The king happily fulfilled Rasikananda Prabhu's request and also presented him with some property behind the Gambhira that had been used to grow flowers for Lord Jagannath's seva. Rasikananda installed Bhatta Krishna along with a deity of Radharani in a small temple there that is today known as the Kunja Math. In recognition of Srila Rasikananda Prabhu's worship the deities there are today known as Sri Sri Radha Rasik Ray.

After the Kunja Math we made our way through the alley behind the Gambhira. On the way we were blessed to meet up with HH Radhanath Maharaja and HH Devamrita Maharaja. After speaking with them for a few minutes we made our way to the temple of Sri Sri Radha Vrindavan Chandra the beloved deities of Srila Kanai Khuntia Prabhu the associate of Mahaprabhu. From there we had darsan of Sri Sri Radha Krishna the deities worshiped originally by the wife of Kashi Mishra. There are also wonderful stories about these two last deities, I won’t tell them now, perhaps in some later blog.

On our way back to the hotel we stopped at the samadhi of Gangamata Goswamini. Now lying in disrepair, this important shrine has nearly been lost. It was only recently revealed to us by one of our panda friends in Puri.

Click here to see photos of the deities and our parikrama

Vaishnava kripa prarthi,
Madhavananda Das

2006 Disappearance Festival: Summary

2006-07-29T08:45:00.000-07:00

Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja, Bhubaneswar 1995

The 2006 Mayapur program for Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja’s disappearance festival was again a two day affair from the 18th to the 19th of February. It began with traditional Orissan style bhajans by Gour Govinda Maharaja’s cousin, Damodar Giri and the devotees from Maharaja’s village of Gadeigiri. This was followed by a premier of the first 30 minutes of a newly produced film of a darsan with Maharaja in Australia in 1992. This film produced by Gopal Jiu Publications and the Bhubaneswar Gour Govinda Swami tape ministry included the work of Bhakta Karlis who labored hard to insert English subtitles in the DVD presentation. It went over very big with the devotees, a crowd of around 100 watched transfixed as Gour Govinda Maharaja spoke strongly on the topic of guru-tattva. Following the film, Bhaktisvarup Damodar Maharaja offered the new booklet produced by Gopal Jiu Publications, “Auspicious Invocations”, to Gour Govinda Maharaja at his samadhi mandir.

The talks then went on for the next two evenings. The speakers this year included the following sanyasis: Bhaktisvarup Damodar Maharaja, Jayadvaita Maharaja, Gopal Krishna Goswami, Guru Prasad Maharaja, Sivarama Maharaja, and BB Govinda Maharaja who offered a heart rending kirtan for the remembrance of Gour Govinda Maharaja. Other speakers included, Visuddha Sattva Prabhu from South America, Devakinandan Prabhu from Mumbai, Rajendra Prabhu from Mayapur, Mother Ramaniya from Mayapur, Mother Lilavati from France, and Mother Prasanta from Vrindavan.

Puskaraksa Prabhu and his wife Lopamudra, in the name of Mrs Asima Mookerjee, sponsored an elaborate feast for the entire Mayapur community. Our heartfelt thanks to them. The feast was a highlight of the festival. Many vaishnavas came, including a few devotees from the Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mission branch of the Gaudiya Math. The mood at the feast was very joyful and there was wonderful camaraderie amongst the twenty-five devotees who volunteered to serve out the preparations.

Click here to see pictures from the festival

2006 Disappearance Festival: Remembrance Excerpts

2006-07-29T08:35:00.000-07:00

Sri Damodar Giri and the kirtaniyas from Gadeigiri

The following are a few lightly edited excerpts from the talks:

Sri Srimad Bhaktisvarup Damodar Maharaja: My association with Gour Govinda Maharaja was primarily in 1977 when I was with Srila Prabhupada in Bhubaneswar for laying the foundation stone of the temple. I saw Maharaja staying in the hut, which is still there. He was serving Srila Prabhupada by doing translation work. He was humility personified. I always liked him, but our responsibilities were in different fields. So we didn’t get to often meet. But in the GBC meetings we always sat together.

When Maharaja came to South France we had dinner together and I asked him, “It seems like you have some difficulty with your body. You cannot walk freely. Doesn’t this journey give you some problem?”

He replied, “So long as I can preach; I can speak on Srimad Bhagavatam, it gives me unlimited pleasure, unlimited happiness.”

I told him that he had been given some special blessings by Srila Prabhupada. I admire your courage and your determination in order to carry out Prabhupada’s order in order to please him. Our exchanges were very informal.

One can say many things about Maharaja. He was a greatly advanced soul. One of the most qualities that I remember of Maharaja was his humility and his great attachment and determination to execute the orders Srila Prabhupada gave him. Following Prabhupada’s instruction he was continuously translating his books from English into Oriya. Because of his work, most of Prabhupada’s books are available in Oriya. These books are a very big source of inspiration for the Oriya devotees. When I’m traveling around the world today it’s very wonderful to find so many devotees reading the books, beautiful printed magazines, and email magazines that the devotees at Gopal Jiu Publications have been producing based on Maharaja’s lectures. These are an important source of inspiration for many, even for those who never met Maharaja. Just by reading these books they get inspired. Maharaja’s disciples who are carrying out his desire to make these lectures available are giving a very important contribution to our Krishna consciousness movement.

Sri Devakinanandan Prabhu: I first met Gour Govinda Maharaja sometime in the late 1970s. We were on a traveling party with Bhava-bhuti Prabhu. From Calcutta we went to Bhubaneswar. Maharaja was always very Krishna conscious, always thinking of Krishna. He wanted to talk about Krishna and he would do so very forcefully. In his talks, so many times the name of Krishna would appear. He used to repeat, “Krishna, Krishna”, many times. That is the symptom of his attachment to Krishna. He was very jubilant, very friendly. Maharaja was a great vaiñëava. He was always Krishna conscious, and he wanted to give everybody Krishna.

Sri Srimad Jayadvaita Swami: Seeing the video of Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja. I was remembering how he had given up his connection with material life and was searching for a spiritual master. He himself had become a sadhu, giving up his family life and was wondering place to place and came to Vrindavan. Naturally he must have come in touch with so many gurus, so many swamis, so many sadhus. But he rejected them. “This person is a cheater. That person is a Mayavadi. They are not pure devotees of Krishna.” So he was rejecting, he wasn’t finding what he was looking for. Then he came to Vrindavan and by the arrangement of Krishna he came in touch with Srila Prabhupada. There he saw, “Yes this is what I’m looking for.” And he surrendered to Srila Prabhupada and became engaged in Prabhupada’s service. It means that his whole program of life was Krishna consciousness. Of course he appeared in a Krishna conscious environment -- with kirtan, with Bhagavatam -- he grew up with all of these things. Then he came in touch with Prabhupada, then he was really serving Bhagavatam by that translation work by preaching and by service up to the end.

Sri Rajendra Prabhu: Srila Prabhupada has a wonderful disciple in His Divine Grace Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja. He was a great inspiration for me in my life. He accepted the order of his spiritual master as his life and soul and didn’t consider anything else. I never saw in anybody other than Srila Prabhupada such surrendered devotional service as I did with Gour Govinda Maharaja.

Click here to see pictures from the festival

Helpers and Details of the 2006 Disappearance Festival for Srila Gour Govinda Swami

2006-07-29T07:05:00.000-07:00

Vidvan Gauranga Prabhu and other devotees helping to serve out the feast for Srila Gour Govinda Swami's Disappearance festival

We haven’t updated the blog for several months. We hope to catch up a little with the following entry and intend to start posting regularly.

The following blog is a list of the devotees who helped to put this festival together. Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make it a success.

2006 Festival Committee:

Madhavananda Das: Director, Program Emcee

Bhakta Pradosh: General Manager

Samba Das: VIP reception for the men

Damini Dasi: VIP reception for the ladies

Anupama Das: Visiting guest

Madanalasa Dasi: Visiting guest

This committee met a few days before the festival and again a few days after to discuss how to make things better for next year. This was the first year that we had the association of Samba Prabhu and Anupama Prabhu and his wife Madanalasa. With his friends amongst the senior devotees and his good sense of vaishnava etiquette Samba’s presence made a great difference. Anupama and Madanalasa took videos and photographs of the program and had many good suggestions for how to organize things. It was wonderful having their input; we hope that they will come every year.

Other assistance was kindly given by:

Bhakta Karlis: Photography and MP3 recordings

Bhakta Jason Rapp: General assistance

Amrita Charana Das: General assistance

Bhakta Bipin: General assistance

Bhagavan Das: Cooking and pujari-seva for Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja’s puspa samadhi.

Suprasad Das: Cooking and pujari-seva for Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja’s puspa samadhi.

Long before the festival started, Bhakta Karlis was hard at work here in Bhubaneswar producing a high quality DVD video production with English subtitles of a lecture by Srila Gour Govinda Maharaja. During the festival in Mayapur he was in charge of operating the DVD player to show the video and he also managed to take pictures and making recordings of the talks and bhajans. Aside from all of that he also found time to occasionally help with the book table. He was very professional in his work, a dear friend, and a great help. Another dear friend, the gentle Bhakta Jason was also running around, helping to take care of the guests. He was also fanning them on stage for some time to keep the mosquitoes away. Amrita Charan Prabhu, and Bhakta Bipin also helped in many ways, by cleaning, helping decorate the pandal and the samadhi, bringing prasadam, serving out the devotees and many other things. They worked very hard and were integral in the success of the festival. Lastly but not least, Bhagavan and Suprasad Prabhus worked very hard cooking, and doing all of the puja for Maharaja’s puspa samadhi Our sincere appreciation for the efforts of all these devotees, without whose input this program would not have taken place.

Donors:

The following devotees kindly contributed and supported the festival this year:

Bhakta Krishna Murthi, Bhaktin Cindy, Dhanya Dasi, Madhava Pandit and Deva Deva Dasi, Matheesha, Purusottam Tirtha and Sita Devi Dasi, Puskaraksa and Lopamudra (sponsored the entire feast), Radha Nama, Sarva Drk, Tota Gopinath, Vaidehi Mutylal.

Feast Servers:

Our thanks to the following devotees who volunteered to serve out the feast in honor of Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Maharaja:

Akincana Das, Anupama Das, Bhakta Antonio, Bhakta Barry, Bhakta Damodar, Bhakta Mahendra, Bhakta Pradosh, Bhakta Ruben, Bhakta Sergio, Damini Dasi, Gopijanavallabha Das, Gopijanavallabha Das, Gunarnava Das, Jaya Gopal Das, Kalavati Dasi, Krishna Kishore Das, Krishna Mishra Das, Lilavati Dasi, Madanalasa Dasi, Madhavananda Das, Nilambara Krishna Das, Sadashiva Kaviraj Das, Sri Chaitanya Das, Suprasad Das, Vidvan Gauranga Das.

Preparations for the feast included:

Sukta, Dahl, Khir, Curd Subji, Lemon Drink, Plain rice, Puris, Pasta, a second Subji, Pakoras, Fancy Rice, Sweet Yoghurt.

Click here to see pictures from the festival

Click here to download a copy of the festival financial report

A Comment on Kapilas Tirtha

2006-02-10T22:52:00.000-08:00

Deity of Garuda in front of the ancient temple of Lord Vishnu on top of the hill in Kapilas Tirtha

We recently got the following letter from Vrindavanesvari Dasi in Cuttack Orissa:

On this Sankranti, I went to the Kapilas tirtha. Many thanks to your site information, it helped me to comfortably find and visit the sacred places there. When I visited the Jagannantha temple there was having three days of continous nama sankirtana. They had made a small cottage in the middle out of wood/straw, banana and other leaves. There they were worshipping pictures of Nitai Gaura/Pancha tattva, and circumambulating it, while doing Hare Krishna Kirtana with mrdanga and kartalas. The devotees there are very helpful and joyful.

Above is a picture of the Jagannath Mandira she is talking about

Here is a picture of one of the young sadhus at the Jagannath Mandir

Gadeigiri Radhastami 2002

2006-01-10T03:42:00.001-08:00

Here are a few shots of a wonderful festival in Gadeigiri taken by Madhavendra Puri Prabhu. This was a particularly special event as Sri Sri Radha Madhava the original deities of Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode were also gracing the occasion.

Sri Sri Radha Gopal Jiu ready for their festive bath

Sri Sri Radha Madhava. If you would like to know more about the amazing story of their rediscovery write us at: katha@gopaljiu.org

Both sets of deities on the snana-vedi, bathing platform

Closeup of Gopal getting his bath

Closeup of Madhava

The palm leaf Bhagavatams read by Srila Gour Govinda Swami. Each volume is wrapped in red cloth to protect it from insects. One volume can be seen opened.

View of the entire altar

Closeup of the big deities of Sri Sri Radha Gopaljiu

Sri Sri Radha Gopaljiu and Sri Sri Radha Madhava together on the altar

Sri Sri Radha Gopaljiu temple in Gadeigiri Orissa

Misc Bhubaneswar 2005

2006-01-04T15:45:00.000-08:00

Below are a few pictures from some parikramas and research we did here in Bhubaneswar in 1995:

Bindu Sagara: this lake was created by Lord Shiva for Parvati from all the sacred rivers of the universe in the center of the lake you can see the island they use for the candan-yatra festival of Sri Madan Mohan.

This is the Lakshmanesvar temple in Bhubaneswar where Lord Rama's brother Lakshman worshiped Lord Shiva

The ancient Yameshwar (now pronounced Jambeshwar) Mahadev temple, where Yamaraj worshiped Shivaji

Found in a 20 foot deep well, outside the Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar, this is said to be the deities of Lingaraja's mother and father

Megheshwar Mahadev temple where the personified clouds worshiped Lord Shiva

This saintly lady has been serving the deities at the Megheshwar temple for many years

Left to right: pujarini at Megheshwar temple, Janice E Miller (mother of Madhavananda Das) and Pradosh

Mrs Miller and Pradosh at the temple of Brahmeshwar Mahadeva in Bhubaneswar. This is where Lord Brahma worshipped Shivaji

Pujari at one of the many side temples at the Brahmeshwar Mahadeva complex

Closeup of carvings at the Brahmeshwar temple

The ancient temple of Bhaskareshwar Mahadev, where the sun is said to have worshiped Lord Shiva

Left to right: Our friends Srivatsa Puja Panda and Madan Mohan Das. Madan Mohan Prabhu is a Gaudiya Math devotee who has been living like a babaji at the temple of Gauri Sankar for many years. Whenever we come to visit there he is very happy to see us and provides everyone in our group with a place to sit. Srivatsa Puja Panda is a brahmana who lives next to the temple, he is almost always there when we come.

This deity of Satyanarayan (Lord Vishnu) was found about 50 years ago when they drained the Bindu Sagar lake (see top) for cleaning. He now stays in one of the main temples at the Gauri Sankar temple complex. Madan Mohan Prabhu (seen above) has been staying in His temple and performing the worship. Many deities were found on the bottom of the lake. It is common for Hindus to put broken deities into the water. They may have also been put in the water out of fear of invading muslims.

Kapilas Tirtha

2006-01-03T18:34:00.000-08:00

Kapilasa Tirtha is considered in some sthala-puranas to be one of the five most sacred places in Orissa. It is about a three hour drive north of Bhubaneswar. There Lord Kapiladev performed bhajan, Srila Sridhar Swami wrote his famous commentary on the Bhagavatam (his samadhi is also there) and Maharaja Prataprarudra rediscovered the ancient deities of Lord Vishnu and Chandrasekhar Mahadeva. It is on top of the largest mountain in the region, within a heavily jungled area. There are elephants, cobras, tigers and many other wild animals in the area. A number of ancient caves can be found in which many sadhus reside, some of whom are said to have be meditating there for hundreds of years. Although there was a bit of a heavy crowd when we arrived (we went on Monday, always the busy day of the week at Shiva temples) the atmosphere was very serene. We intend to print something about the place in our next magazine.

Entrance to the ancient Chandrasekhar temple complex

Sesadeva standing on the steps going to the Vishnu temple on top of the hill. There is a natural spring there that comes from the right foot of this deity. It goes down the hill where it comes onto the head of the Shiva deity of Chandrasekhar Mahadeva. There are over 1,300 steps to go from the bottom of the hill to the top.

The ancient deity of Lord Vishnu resides on top of the hill. This temple was said to have been established by Maharaja Prataprarudra in the place where he found the deity.

This shrine is the full samadhi of Srila Sridhar Swami. His famous commentary on the Bhagavatam was greatly appreciated by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and was said to have been written here at Kapilas.

The footprints of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The local tradition describes that Mahaprabhu visited here just before he went through the Jarikhanda forest on his way to Vrindavan.

Temple of Jagannath, Baladeva, Subhadra and Sri Sri Sita Rama. This mandir is located a few hundred yards below the Chandrasekhar temple. The sadhu at this temple was kind enough to provide wonderful prasadam (very tasty, cooked over local firewood) for our group of 10 devotees.

Sadhu at the Jagannath temple. He is almost 90 years old and
has been staying and doing his bhajan at Kapilas since 1940.