New Vrindaban’s Transcendental Throwback Thursday – 12/04/2014
We share two photos of the same event; one featuring women and the other featuring men. Between them there 11 people who can be identified.
This week’s challenge: How many people can you ID? What are they doing? When and where were these photos taken?
Bonus challenge: Can you name the person who appears in both photos (who’s not a Deity)?
What to do: Post your guesses on the “who, what, when, where & why” in the comment section at the New Vrindaban Facebook page.
Here’s the info we have:
This week we have two photos of the same event.
Photo 1, Who (from let to right): Bhava dasi (teen girl with back to camera), Devarshi dasi (wearing a white sari), Stayi Bhava dasa (his head is visible between the two women’s shoulders), Pradhana Gopika dasi (wearing a red and white sari), Krishna Priya dasi (young girl who’s head is visible just below Lord Balarama’s arm), Kripacarya dasa (carrying Lord Jagannath), Bhavisyat dasa (holding Lady Subhadra), Varsana Swami (holding Lord Balarama).
Photo 2, Who (from let to right): Tarkikchuramoni dasi (wearing a blue and white sari), Unknown (wearing a yellow sari), Bhaktin Wendy (wearing a red sari), Sita dasi (baby being held by Wendy), Hladini dasi (wearing pink & green sari), Devaki dasi (her head is visible in the window behind the main group), Kripacarya dasa (holding Lord Balarama).
For those tracking the “bonus challenge” this week, Kripacarya prabhu is the person in both photos.
What: Devotees bathing multiple Murtis of Their Lordships Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra during an annual Snana Yatra Ceremony.
Ambudhara dasi shared a nice memory:
“The devote in far left [of photo #2] is Tarkik for sure. I wonder how many people remember Mother Hladini? I was so very fortunate and blessed to have her association while she was the Pujari and Deity Cook for the large Jagannatha Deities when they where at the original “McCreary farmhouse” (think it was called the “Madhuban” temple?). In in the late 1970’s it was demolished to make room for the original “Palace Gate” across from what is now Sankirtan and Ruci’s house. Mother Rupa was the only other devotee that helped care for the Deities and was her tireless helper/cook/ fire-wood gatherer/starter (all cooking stoves were powered by wood in those days). Hladini was so totally immersed in her service of her beloved Jagannatha. One of her favorite celebrations was Snana Yatra in which she is shown in this photo. It looks like “Old Vrindaban,” the original farmhouse which was accessible only by foot/4-wd [and ox cart] in the old days. A beautiful walk it was!! The one time I was at that location for the Snana Yatra it was so fun!! Kuladri prabhu and others manned fire extinguishers loaded with yogurt from the roof and saturated everyone with the blessed bathing remnants!! Thank you so much for posting this pic it brought back many sweet memories :).”
When: Circa 1981 to 1985.
Where: Outside the original New Vrindaban farmhouse; New Vrindaban, West Virginia.