Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada

Dum Dum Park:


Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Madhan Mohana

Ashram Maharaja Giving Class

Devotees

Arotik

Photos and stuff

Hello and Dandavats all! I have been sick in bed for four days with no excuse not to be doing this-- except, really feeling lazy and it all sounds a little too much like doing stuff.

I got a fun explosive vomit sick. The first day was the worst, but I am still having a hard time taking in any solids... so I am on a tea, juice and water diet. I can tell you with authority that chamomile and green earl gray teas as well as dob jal don't taste too bad coming back up, but any juice or 7 -up really isn't that nice. The devotees, as usual, are wonderful and taking care of me.


Here are some pictures from the last weeks I thought you all would want to see:

Ashram Maharaja and Chinmoyidev Prabhu at the Lotus Feet of His Divine Grace

Srila Gurudeva welcomes Radhanath Swami from ISKCON who always makes Gurudeva his first stop when he visits Kolkata. The visit was full of affection and sweetness.

Srila Gurudeva and Radhanath Swami

Swami Hug

Ashram Maharaja, Mangal Maharaja, and Nakul prabhu in a group hug

Krishna Shakti Prubhu

Saraswati Didi and Nukul prabhu

Salt Lake's own at the feet of His Divine Grace

I have pictures from the Prabhupada Saraswat Thakur festival and will work on that tomorrow... I think I have a video too.... I think I can work out how to post that.

this amazing morning

Srila Gurudeva starting chanting "hari haraya nama Krisna..." this morning and then told a story of how He and Srila Guru Maharaja went to the Ganga and while dunking again and again in the water sang this song "in very happy mood". He was smiling so much and looking at all of us with so much affection. I just had to share. 

Earlier today he also sang a song by Chandidas. He said, looking at me, "this is about your name". He sang several lines 'utari kisori'.... and then translated. Morning when I wake I see Kisori, I wear a necklace of Kisori, etc. Part of it was recorded and I am hoping to get a copy. Really heartbreakingly merciful. 

veranda news

Srila Gurudeva has been showing some improvement in His energy levels the last few days. Today he spoke a little about Sidhanti Maharaja... saying that his Sraddha ceremony is on Sunday and they will make it as big as possible. Then he said a few verses about Cidananda one from Bramha Samhita and the other from Johnavi somehting or another.... Ashram Maharaja is trying to find them. Also today after lunch His Divine Grace started speaking gita. He spoke verses 1:1 - 1:7 and 2:1 - 2:3... VERY AMAZING.

Here are a few picts from the veranda area:

Nakul Prabhu

Bindu Mati didi cleaning the floor

Bindu Mati didi bugging Nakul Prabhu as he tries to rest. LOL!

Lavanya Mai didi cleaning the carpet (or trying to) before the new vaccume came.

Saraswati Puja aftermath

Around and about

Here are some pictures around and about the math.

Gate to the Spiritual World

The Mandir and my sari

Beside the Sevak Bhavan and that is Srila Gurudeva's car!

Devotee Tata Sumo

Flowers for Krishna!

Ok got chastised last night by Kesava saying that if I don't write everyday, it is very bad.... So I will really try... promise. This morning Srila Gurudeva went to the roof to have a look at the garden up there. While he was there Saraswati didi and I cleaned the veranda. Isha from England just brought a new vacuum cleaner... wonderful... it actually cleans. Amazing how much dust come out.  The whole canister was full. 

When I started Srila Gurudeva was still in the room. Funny how one forgets how to push the on button when being watched by the Guru of the Universe..... 

I am sitting outside the veranda on a guard chair trying to wake up. It is a chilly morning, but inside is very warm and sleepy. At one point, I fell asleep for a second and knew that I had to get out for a while. Srila Gurudeva is resting.

Last night was huge party night in Dum Dum... I think it was the last day of Saraswati Puja because folks were- with drums, clangers and really really really really loud bollywood style music -dumping their used up deities into the pond, teen number tank. This went on until 1230 am.

Why does the music have to be so loud. Is that really necessary? Even now there is incredibly loud music blasting from some house nearby and has been since 6 am.... why?

I fail to understand why the music has to be so loud and why the electric is never quite done in hotels, houses, etc... and why when there is a refresher coat of paint they just paint over whatever is on the wall. Little pieces of string, blue tac, bugs... if the gheko didn't move, they would paint over him too....

I am having a not understanding moment.... morning....

Money Square

I had the opportunity to go to Mani Square (pronounced Money Square) shopping mall today. It is, like, a mall. A real mall with escalators and a food court and stores and stuff. AND Baskin Robins 31 flavors with mint chocolate chip ice cream... :-D yay. Most things are western prices... but I got a really cute kurti top for 299 rps which is about 8 bucks. There is a Reebok store and a swatch watch shop and subway sandwiches. ... I actually, no kidding, forgot I was in india several times. Then I noticed I wasn't wearing jeans like EVERYONE else. They have an IMAX theater that I think I must go to at some point.

Then, coming out of the mall and turing right... there is a tent and hut slum with people picking through piles of garbage to find stuff to sell and use... ya, still india. There was a cow and a rickshaw right outside the door... so strange. India is such a land of extremes... like POVERTY and WEALTH, filth and shining marble palaces, beauty and hideousness... sickness and health... life and death.... it is all there in the open for one to see. Gives a perspective on the temporary nature of this world... and the incredible attachment to things material.

Srila Gurudeva is mercifully sitting in the room next door, and I am on shift. TTYL

Dandavats to all.

Wow, my face is red

I just came from the veranda to share a very embarrassing story with you all!

I was standing by as Chinmoydeva Prabhu was helping Srila Gurudeva pick out some fruit for a snack. His Divine Grace selected an orange and Chinmoy went to the kitchen to prepare it. Srila Gurudeva then turned to me and asked for some grapes. I ran into the kitchen to wash and rewash the grapes, pick out the best ones and make sure they were not sour. Gurudeva called out after ages of washing and I ran in with the grapes… no spoon or fork or anything… ok, this isn’t the bad part. Thankfully He had a fork that He was using for the orange. He ate some grapes and asked me for an apple. I again ran to the kitchen. Saraswati didi peeled and cut the apple much more quickly than I could have and then I brought it out. When I came out, Srila Gurudeva had moved closer to the end of the room so I brought the apple there… not thinking that he didn’t have a table. Jamuna Priya didi motioned for me to go get the table so I grabbed it and knocked it over sending the grapes and oranges all over the floor…. That would be the embarrassing part. My face was the color of the carpet (for those of you who haven’t been to the Kolkata Math Veranda… RED). Jamuna and Saraswati didi helped me out and brought the table/helped clean the floor and then sent me in for another grape washing bringing time… by the time I brought them, Srila Gurudeva didn’t want them…. Ya….. I am a klutz.

Srila Gurudeva is so merciful. I can’t believe I am here. I have a theory: I must be really bad so His Devine Grace wants to keep me out of society and is keeping me close to him so I don’t disturb the real devotees. He Himself is so merciful that he can tolerate me.

>>>>>>>>> I was going to post this immediately but the internet has taken 20 min and hasn’t loaded the website yet. I give up.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

It is now the next morning. Srila Gurudeva is resting. Ramchandra and Kalachand prabhus are sitting outside doing guard duty. Iti didi (from SLC) is getting ready to go to Nabadwip for a few days. She is only here for like 9 days and two of those she was sick, so time is short for her and she is taking a Tata with Satyabama from Italy.I am glad she is getting the opportunity to go.

It is really nice to have her here. She is a very nice devotee and is loving Kolkata! She says it feels like home... strange girl. I took her to VIP sweets... maybe that has something to do with it. :-)