In Memory of Gopi Lila
(Ed. note: read Hari Bhakta’s (her husband) blog update here)
by Gokulataruni dd
Two days ago I woke up to a phone call telling me that Gopi Lila passed away. Though I knew that this was coming it still came as a surprise. She was someone that was dearly loved by the devotees in our community, and will be greatly missed.
Gopi Lila joined at the rainbow gathering in the early 90’s and spent well over a decade living in the New Vrindavan and Columbus temples. Her son, Gopala Bhatta, was born in the little green house next to Tapah Punja’s garden. For a while she lived with her husband and baby on the third floor of the temple building. I remember her walking around, gathering herbs with little Gopal toddling behind her. Her son had long hair at the time and she wrapped it into a top knot and put kajjal on him so that he would look like baby Krishna. Seeing them brightened everyone’s day.
The thing I remember about her the most is what an amazing mother and wife she was. When I was pregnant I spent a lot of time talking to her and getting tips on childbirth and caring for a baby. She was into a very natural way of life and had given birth to both of her children in houses, without the use of modern medicine. I enjoyed hearing her stories and I learned a lot from her about what it meant to be a mom.
She also helped me out quite a bit financially during that time. She passed on a ton of maternity clothes, nursing shirts and baby things that kept me going for quite awhile. My son is close in age to her daughter and whenever they would visit (since she lived in Columbus at that time) the two played together.
The last time I saw Gopi was right before she moved to China. Her husband, Hari Bhakta, had been hired to teach English as a second language over there. I remember thinking how brave she was to move with two little kids to a country where she had never visited and didn’t know the language. We sat around joking about some of the problems she would likely encounter. Though she had a few hesitancies, her adventurous spirit eventually took over and she moved overseas.
While she was in China we kept in touch and she wrote about the things she struggled with there, sometime amused by it, sometimes frustrated. After that she went to India to spend time with Hari Bhakta’s family. While she was there she started to write about different health problems and infections that she was getting. She was soon diagnosed as having the advanced stages of cervical cancer.
After that her health rapidly declined. I was amazed though by how well her and her husband were handling it. I’m sure that they had their weak moments and breakdowns, but every time I spoke with them they were amazingly detached from the situation. Both of them seemed very clear and focused on the fact that she had spent all of her years as a devotee preparing for this. They both accepted that it was time for her to move on.
I spoke with her a few days before she passed away and I couldn’t believe how much things had changed since the last time we had spoken. She was on too much morphine to have a conversation and was moaning from the pain.
Though I will miss her I am glad that her passing was relatively quick and that she is no longer suffering. Her husband stayed home with her the last few months and did everything possible to take care of her and make her comfortable during her last days. The devotees from Boston also spent a lot of time with her and were there with her when she passed away. My sympathies go out to her family that has been left behind.
A Drive Into New Vrindaban
Road work on the slip between Tejo’s and Sudhanu.
After the road work is a good view of the pasture at Mahaban.
Parking at the Prabhupada’s Palace and looking up these cherry blossoms block the sky.
Please Help Write History of New Vrindaban Dhama
Did you live in New Vrindaban or visit here when Srila Prabhupada visited the community? If so, I need your help.
Over the years I’ve been asked to develop an oral history of New Vrindaban. This would be an enormous undertaking. But with a new blog I would like to humbly begin this endeavor by first focusing on Srila Prabhupada’s visits to New Vrindaban. He visited on four occasions in 1969, 1972, 1974, and 1976.
I am requesting devotees to send their remembrances of Prabhupada’s visits here. You can begin with one or two accounts and add more later. A rule of thumb for blog readability is to keep accounts at below seven hundred words. Of course, if you have an exciting Prabhupada account, forget the rules. But don’t forget to mention the year it happened. Also include 2 - 3 sentences about yourself - what your service was at the time and perhaps what you do now. If an account has been posted, don’t hesitate to respond with more insight or information. Submit all Prabhupada accounts to Sankirtanadas@yahoo.com
Will start posting submissions in the next week or so. The site is http://www.prabhupadaatnv.blogspot.com/
Prabhupada Letter August 21, 1969
Tridandi Goswami
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Founder-Acharya:
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
August 21, 1969
My Dear Kirtanananda,
Please accept my blessings. I am in due receipt of your letter of 12 August, 1969, sent along with a package of sandish. I am sorry that I was not able to see how you have nicely made the sandish because upon arrival it was found to have gone bad. So I do not think it will be practical to continue sending foodstuffs through the mail. It has not proven successful. Anyway, I thank you very much for your efforts in this connection. Your proposal to sell sandish to the temples will also not be practical.
I am very pleased to learn that there is a new boy living in New Vrindaban, named Dan, and please help him advance nicely in Krishna Consciousness.
You have not mentioned anything about Jadunandan and Taruna Dasi. I hope everything is going nicely for them and their child in New Vrindaban.
As the Composer I.B.M. machine will be in Columbus by this time, Hayagriva and Shamadasi may go there to take care of the book composition as early as possible.
Please convey my blessings to the others. I hope this will meet you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
FOI Swap Meet and Registration For Locals
The Festival of Inspiration Transcendental Swap meet is looking forward to a lot of participation……remember, this is for Devotional items only, clothing, jewelry, Deities paraphernalia, sacred books, photos, works of art. Request any clothing to be clean and in good condition. All other items should also be in decent condition. This segment will take place Saturday, May 10th. Contact Radha Sundari at rs@pamho.net or (304)845-9591. There will be a minimal fee according to the size of your table and this will be given to Radha Vrindaban Chandra.
If you live between Rt. 250 & the Big Barn, you are an invited to attend as a guest of FOI, but you still need to register. Come to the Registration Cabin (aka the Goraksa Seva Cabin, or the CD Cabin or whatever you know it by) beginning Sunday May 4th at 12 noon to pick up your FOI Wrist Band. Please come in person as they will only be given one per person, in person. (Remember, you will need a wrist band for the seminars and prasad.) This offer is for legitimate residents only and does not apply to anyone living outside of the area described.
Pujari Department Meeting
Dear devotees,
please accept my humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
The Pujari department of the ISKCON Radha Vrindavan Chandra Temple is organizing a pujari meeting on the 8th of May 2008 at 2:30 PM in the templeroom. All interested are welcome to attend and participate with suggestions.
Most of the topics will be related to the upcoming festivals, namely FOI and Narasimha Caturdasi.
Your servant, Mandali Dasi
–
Govindam adi purusam tam aham bhajami…
Festival of Inspiration 2008 Schedule of Events
PRESENTATION ROOM ASSIGNMENTS:
(A) Main Conference Room under Guest Lodge
(B) Large Prasadam Hall Adjacent to Temple Room (Behind Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasasana)
(C) Small Kitchen/Prasadam Hall Adjacent to Temple Room (Behind Jagannath’s Altar)
(D) Carpeted Room Next to “A”
(E) Guest Lodge Room 8 on Ground Floor Between Snack Bar & “A”
FRIDAY, May 9th
7:00 am Guru-puja
7:30 am Darsana-arati
7:45-9:00 am Class: Memorizing Slokas: B.V. Madhava Swami
8:15 – 10:30 am Breakfast Prasad Served
11:00 – 11:30 am (A) Welcome by Organizers
11:30 – 1:00 pm SESSION I
(A) The Guru-vandana Prayers: An Overview: Candramauli Swami
(B) Pitfalls on the Pilgrim’s Path: Laksmi-Nrimsha Das
(C) The Healing Power of Prasadam: Krpamaya Das & Soma Das
1:00 – 2:30 pm Lunch Prasad Served
3:00 – 4:30 pm SESSION II
(A) Spiritual Economics: Romapada Swami
(B) Vaisnava Youth Empowerment through Entrepreneurship and Education: Vasudeva Das & Prithu Das
(C) Hopeless to Highest Hope: Nanda Dasi
(D) Mahabharata in America: Sankirtan Das
4:45 – 6:15 pm SESSION III
(A) The Complete Art of Transformation – The Vedic Way: Sacinandana Swami
(B) Esoteric Hints of Japa: Atmarama Das
(C) Srila Prabhupada’s Virtual Encyclopedia: Nrsimhananda Das
6:30 – 7:30 pm Dinner Prasad Served
7:00 pm Gaura-arati
8:00 pm Entertainment in Tent
SATURDAY, May 10th
7:00 am Guru-puja
7:00 -8:00 am (E) Yoga with Damodar
7:30 am Darsana-arati
7:45-9:00 am Class: Bringing Our Chanting to Perfection: Sacinandana Swami
8:15 – 9:30 am Breakfast Prasad Served
10:00 – 11:30 am SESSION I
(A) PLENARY: Leadership & Service: A Spiritual Perspective: Peter Burwash
(B) Catch the Fever of Book Distribution: Vaisesika Das
(C) Teaching Vegetarian Cooking Classes: Apurva Das & Kamalini Dasi (Limit 12)
11:45 – 1:15 pm SESSION II
(A) Visiting Radha Kunda & Syama Kunda: Romapada Swami
(B) Taste for the Holy Name: Arcana-siddhi Dasi & Karnamrta Das
(C) A Pleasing Management Pleases Prabhupada: Anuttama Das
(D) Using Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Ekanath Dasa
1:00 – 2:30 pm Lunch Prasad Served
3:00 – 4:30 pm SESSION III
(A) The Yoga of Comedy: Beth & Yadunath Das
(B) Mending Broken Relationships: Sukavaha Dasi & Vrajalila Dasi
(C) Writing to Share Krsna Consciousness: Srinandanandana Das with Madhava Ghosh Das & Sankirtan Das
(D) Prayers to the Holy Name: Awakening the Heart to Chanting with More Feeling: Divyambara Dasi
4:45 – 6:15 pm SESSION IV
(A) Spiritual Recovery from Consumerism: Varsana Swami
(B) TBA: B.V. Madhava Swami & Dravida Das
(C) Preparing for a Krsna Conscious Marriage: Krsnanandini Dasi, Tariq, & Arcana-siddhi Dasi
(D) The Magic of Cow Protection (Excursion/Tour): Balabhadra Das
6:30 – 7:30 pm Dinner Prasad Served
7:00 pm Gaura-arati
8:00 – 11:00 pm Maha Nama-Yajna in Tent: Sacinandana Swami & Friends
SUNDAY, May 11th (Mother’s Day)
7:00 am Guru-puja
7:00 -8:00 am (E) Yoga with Damodar
7:45 am Darsana-arati
8:00-9:30 am Class: Honoring Our Mothers: Radhanath Swami
8:15 – 10:30 am Breakfast Prasad Served
11:00 – 12:30 pm Special Presentations Dedicated to Our Mothers
(A) Laughing in the Material World: Yadunath Das & Beth & Friends
Vamana (Drama): Directed by Bhaktimarga Swami
12:45 – 2:15 pm SESSION II
(A) Remembrances by Departed Vaisnavas (DVD Premier): Siddhanta Das
(B) Preaching Power of Rural Communities: Tapahpunja Das
(C) Teaching Vegetarian Cooking Classes: Apurva Das & Kamalini Dasi (Limit 12)
2:00 pm Sunday Feast
The Kidnapping of Hanumanji
by Saci mata dd
This is the story of the day the N.V. management decided to give our beautiful Sita, Ram, Hanuman, Laksman Deities away. It was a gloomy day for the residents of New Vrindaban Dhama. All the mothers (well most of them) were crying, and the morning program was an extremely sad experience. After the Greeting of the Deities was over, it was time to take the Deities away. They said there weren´t enough pujaris to take care of Them properly and They were going to Towaco, where the devotees there would offer Them proper facility and worship. So we weren´t supposed to be sad, but glad that they would be taken care of in better fashion.
Still it was heartbreaking. Anyway, they began with Ramachandra, then Sita, then Laksman´s turn, and all the while the devotees would be chanting as they carried Their Lordships out to Malati´s van. As each Deity was taken, Mother Premika, would lie down on the altar, trying to block them from taking the next Deity, but they wound up just carrying the Deity over her and stepping over her as well. Little did they know that as they brought Laksman to the van, and were busy tying up the Deities to keep Them safe for travelling in the van, Premika decided to help Hanuman stay at New Vrindaban. No one actually saw her do it, but she managed to take Hanuman from the altar, put Him in her car, and speed off down the road. As soon as they realized that Hanuman was gone, it was evident that Premika had pulled off the job.
I was hanging out at the front of the temple, with Jayamurari and Patrick, Tilakini, and some others. We were all talking and actually laughing cause it was kind of funny. The managers at the time, Jayasri, Nityo Dita, and Malati were really mad and quite frantic.
After a while, I decided to go home for breakfast, and lo and behold I´m driving up to the house and I see an old Mercedes in my driveway, I´m thinking, who could that be, no one usually comes over this early in the morning. And then it hits me, oh my God, it´s Premika. I walk in the house and sure enough she´s sitting there with Sacipita and Nitchi eating breakfast.
They take me into Cai´s room, and lo and behold there´s HanumanJi in the closet. Next thing, the phone rings, it´s Krpamaya from down the road. ¨Saci, they´re coming to get Hanuman, they´re driving over.¨I´m like, “What??? I don´t know what you´re talking about Krpamaya.¨ He said, “Listen, I´m just giving you a warning. haribol!¨ So, me, Nitchi and Premika try and figure out what to do, while Sacipita is finding the whole episode quite amusing, as he hasn´t been down to the temple recently he is thankful that Hanuman came to visit him.
Anyway, we convince Premika to take off quick and try and get away, because they were saying down at the temple that they were going to have her prosecuted for grand larceny!!!! So she leaves, and me and Nitchi gently take Hanuman down to the woods. We figured that He is used to living in the forest, and would be quite comfortable there. We carried him down a hill scooped out a large hole put some nice soft leaves in there, and some cloth and laid Him down. Then we covered him with my coat, and more leaves and quickly climbed back up the hill.
Next thing, here come the police up the drive.
Gopal’s Garden Week 4
On Tuesday April 22nd the kids took a vote on what vegetables they would like to plant in their garden. The following six vegetables were the winners:tomatoes, beans, basil, cilantro, swiss chard and spinach.
After voting. the lkds, led by Bindu and Lalita Gopi, walked up to the garden of Seven Gates to pull out the remaining kale stalks from the ground. Using big and small shovels the kids loosened the dirt around the stalks and were finally able to pull them out of the ground. The last step was to knock the dirt off the roots.
On the walk back the kids noticed the footprints of deer, raccoons and small birds in the mud along the path.
On Friday April 25th the kids planted some of the seeds for the vegetables they selected. Tapa-Punja prabhu showed the kids how to plant the seeds and they all took turns planting spinach, cilantro and swiss chard. It was a hot day and the kids enjoyed getting sprinkled with the hose. Vishaka said that getting sprayed with the hose was her favorite part of the day.
The Solar Garden of Eden
Two of New Vrindaban Dham’s dearest devotees, HG Vyasasana Prabhu and HG Loka-Drsti Prabhu, have started up a wonderful home decor and garden business based entirely around solar power. Their website is real snazzy and their environmentally enlightened products are the real deal.
Check it all out here at www.solargardenofeden.com
The Play’s the Thing
by mrupa
“The thoughts of my pure devotees dwell in Me, their lives are surrendered to Me, and they derive great satisfaction and bliss enlightening one another and conversing about Me.” (Bg. 10-9)
Following this central principle plays and dramatic arrangements have always been part of ISKCON’s arsenal in its ‘cultural revolution’ of Krsna consciousness. Just as the devotional pictures of the artists inspired by Srila Prabhupada are windows to the spiritual world, so well done and well performed plays can wrap up an audience in the experience of the transcendental world.
ISKCON has a rich history of using this medium to reach the hearts and minds of people — from simple street theater, to professional off Broadway plays of Mahabharata and Ramayana. And so too plays have always been a part of major feast day celebrations in New Vrindavana.
Up top at Vrindavana Farm, the brhamacarinis would put on plays for Radha-Vrindavanath after Their Lordships’ installation. We’d go out and get all kinds of branches and leaves and turn the whole temple room into a forested scene. Sometimes we’d set up a little garden or waterfall type arrangement in the old fireplace. With the leaves and some colored paper over the fluorescent lights, the temple room already surcharged with the presence of Radha-Vrindavanath would undergo quite a strong transformation. Then Isani, who would usually be the narrator, did her reading parts with a flastlight, while we tried to act out a pastime for Their Lordships’ pleasure.
Not to many months after Radha Vrindavana Chandra had returned to Their altar, the brahmacarinis did the Prahlad-Nrsnghadeva play in the temple room at Bahulavana. Vidya played the part of Lord Nrsnghadeva and a devotee named Vrajesvari played Hiranyakasipu. Vidya had ratted her hair all the way out as the mane of Lord Nrsnghedeva with surprisingly good effect. When Vrajesvari came out of the anthill as the fully empowered Hiranyakasipu, strode towards the altar curtain turned and said her line with the same mannerism as the mortorcycle leader had, the ripple/chill experience was very powerful.
But plays in New Vrindavana remained pretty rustic until Sankirtana and Ruci moved here during the hepatitis epidemic and quarantine.
Sankirtana is a tremendous actor in his own right and a very good director as well. While he did plays the quality and impact they were capable of became exquisite. There were a couple of one-man plays that Sankirtana did: Krsnadas Kaviraj, and Sanatan Goswami that were simply ecstatic actually.
Most of our community plays, however, often have a touch of the giggles to them. One play about the Yadu dynasty in particular stands out in memory. Kuladri was playing Samba and as his character was introduced he pulled back on his bow and intoned, “Om tad Visnu boinggg!” I think it was in the same play that Taru was playing Lord Balaram.
You can be sure Taru approached the role and the service with all sincerity and very good realization as well. But Taru was one of those guys who when they take off their shirt, you wonder why he’s wearing a sweater underneath it. He was a very hairy Hare Krsna. For some reason, instead of simply giving him a full type costume, he’d been dusted down with what looked like talcum powder to try to give him a Balaram-like complexion. Definitely a ‘special effect’, but nope, not even close.
In another Lord Nrsnghadeva play, probably one of the best really ever done here, Bimbadhara played Lord Nrsnghadeva and Bhagavat Ananda played Hiranyakasipu. Bimbadhara is simple huge tall-wise. And even though Bhagavat was no midget, when Lord Nrsnghdeva put Hiranyakasipu on His lap it made for an extremely explicit depiction.
That Nrsnghadeva play was performed in the same year that the concrete casting started. The concrete shop was at first crewed entirely New Vrindavana women who wanted to do something ‘solid’ for Prabhhupada’s Palace, but it ran under the direction of Bhagavat. During the play; as the characters and the pastime were unfolding, Gomata leaned over to me in the audience indicating the intense performance of Hiranyakasipu and whispered almost shakily, “He’s not acting!”
But whether the plays are simple, professional, or even a little silly, they serve so many elements of devotional service, the association of devotees, and elements of community building, and bonding, they all have a special value. They are potentially a very efficacious way to catch the consciousness, which is the thing.
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Local Defines What Is Local: A 2008 Festival of Inspiration Workshop
HG Tapahpunja Prabhu wants to let you know where we can pick up where Gandhi left off, using our rural communities as outreach powerhouses. You can find out at the upcoming 2008 Festival of Inspiration (May 9-10-11, live at New Vrindaban Dham in West Virginia). Tapahpunja’s presentation will happen at 12:45 pm on Sunday the 11th, Mother’s Day
For the full rundown, click here….
Prabhupada Letter August 6, 1969 (Shyama)
Tridandi Goswami
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Founder-Acharya:
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
August 6, 1969
My Dear Shama Dasi,
Please accept my blessings. I beg to thank you very much for your nice letter of July 28th, 1969, and I am glad that you are working very hard in assisting your good husband. So my idea of combining you as husband and wife is now fulfilled, and you both continue to render your important service to Krishna. I am so glad to learn that you are preparing enthusiastically for the Janamastmi Ceremony. The atmosphere in New Vrindaban created by all, especially your husband, is very nice. Almost daily I hear the kirtan sung by your husband and the prayers offered by Paramananda. So you have got a very good combination. Follow the program and gradually you will feel more and more transcendental bliss. Perhaps you have already received the memo, but on Janamastmi Day there will be a test on Bhagavad Gita and Ishopanishad. I will send the test to each center, and the devotees or anyone can sit down and answer the questions, consulting the Bhagavad Gita and Ishopanishad.
I hope this will meet you in good health.
Your ever well-wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
PS: The prayers by Srila Raghunathadas Goswami which you have submitted to me are very nice, and they may be printed in BTG
Gopal’s Garden Update
by Bindu Sarovara Dasi, April 15th.
A tour of the garden followed by a taste test of the herbs they observed
constituted the class for Thursday. What did they see and what did they eat?
Tapa-Punja led the kids through the teaching garden to see the infamous Stinging Nettle and the notorious Dandelion weed. After learning what a Dandelion looked like, Vedahi exclaimed, “There’s a Dandelion! There’s a Dandelion! There’s a Dandelion!” pointing to wherever she saw one. Vishaka now knows how to identify a Dandelion just by the leaf. Did you know all parts of the Dandelion are edible?
“The kids got their first taste of Dandelion tea that Bindu Sarovara kindly brewed for them. She also steamed Stinging Nettle and gave a sample to the kids with crackers. When Stinging Nettles are cooked they loose their sting. Nolan has eaten Stinging Nettles before and says he likes them. Some of the other kids liked them too. Bindu was pleasantly surprised that all the children were willing to try these new foods. On Friday, April 18th the kids replanted peas in the garden that had failed to germinate due to cool and wet conditions.
Festival of Inspiration Schedule
Check out the Festival of Inspiration schedule of presentations here.
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Hare Rama Hare Rama
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Hari Bhakti-vilas 16.252
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