New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

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

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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.

Check out the Festival of Inspiration schedule of presentations here.

Unknown date.

Saucer magnolias down by the apartments.

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Tridandi Goswami
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Founder-Acharya:
International Society for Krishna Consciousness
August 6, 1969

My Dear Kirtanananda,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated August 2, 1969, and I have noted the contents carefully. Regarding your recipe for pickling foodstuffs, it is all right, but it will be nicer still if you follow the, following procedure: Cut berries, green apples or green tomatoes into pieces without adding water, add a mixture of equal quantities of salt, tumeric and red peppers. Then let it be dried in the sunlight as far as possible. When this is done, put it either in mustard oil or in olive oil, and it will then keep for years.

Regarding the girls, Hayagriva informed me that there was disturbance, and you informed me that it is all right. So how can I advise in this matter? Try to settle things amongst yourselves. But my idea is that New Vrindaban should be peaceful. There should be no unnecessary disturbances. Regarding Dwarkadish, if his mother leaves New Vrindaban, it is all right if he remains there under your care. When my itinerary is settled up you shall be duly informed.

I hope this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

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This is Sadhvi devi dasi, one of Srila Prabhupada’s loving daughters. She’ll be at the Festival of Inspiration! She will make you and your children laugh with happiness with her sweet funny routines and fantastic on the spot balloon sculptures. Check her web site:

http://webgiftstore.com/start.htm

by Mudakari

This is a tentative schedule that was based upon the 2007 FOI schedule of events. This is subject to change, depending upon the adult schedule (not yet posted to web). This is an idea so that you can begin registering your children at the Festival of Inspiration website.

Children will be signed in and out and have adult supervision for the entire time that they are signed in to the workshop(s). The Nature Journal Workshop is dependent upon good weather. If Friday is going to be clear and rain is forecast for Saturday, this workshop may be switched to Friday. I will update online before the festival.

Friday, May 9 (supervised by Mudakari dasi)

* 10 a.m. –11:30 a.m.: Illuminated Initials
* 11:30 a.m.-12 noon: (supervised) Break for Snack/Bouncing House
* 12 noon—1:15 p.m.: Pop-Up Cards
* 1:15 p.m.: Parental pick-up/Lunch Prasad

* 3:00 p.m.—4:30 p.m. : Introduction to Design
* 4:30 p.m.: Parental Pick-up for Boys
* 4:30 p.m.—5:30 p.m. Stuffed Elephant Toy (Girls Only)

Saturday, May 10 (supervised by Mudakari dasi & Ramlila dasi)

* 9:30 a.m.—11 a.m.: Nature Journal Workshop
* 11:00 a.m.—11:30 a.m.: (supervised) Break for Snack/Bouncing House
* 11:30 a.m.—1:15 p.m. Altar Cards
We will learn simple ORIGAMI after the cards are finished, in order to keep everyone supervised until lunch.
* 1:15p.m.—3:00 p.m. Parental pick-up/Lunch Prasad

* 3:00—4:30 (If needed, we will divide the group and do both at the same time):

A repeat of “Illuminated Initials” from the day before, if there are a lot children who did not arrive in NV in time for the Friday workshop AND Into. To Design II: Learning About Color in Design

* 4:30 p.m. Parental Pick-Up for Boys
* 4:30—5:30 p.m.: Cross Stitch (Girls Only)

Descriptions of the Workshops:

(There are NO MATERIALS FEES for these workshops for the registered children of FOI-registered adults. We need to have sign-ups so that we will have enough supplies.)

Workshop #1: Keeping A Nature Journal (limited to 10) Coed, for age 8 and up Time: 90 min.

Participants will learn observation skills, discuss the use of descriptive language, and take a short walk on NV grounds (Cabin Row and lake area) to write and draw from nature.

$4 materials fee (sketchbook, drawing pencils)

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Dear Devotees:

Come on down and support your local troops! Festival of Inspiration boasts a grand total of seven locals making presentations during the event this year! This illustrious line up includes H H Varsana Swami, Kripa Maya and Soma, Tappapunja, Balabhadra Prabhu’s, Sankirtan and Madhava Gosh. Former resident, Candramauli Swami is also in the line up.

In addition, Jayasri devi is putting up a “Quick Kitchen” featuring Healthy Wraps and Mahati devi dasi will show off her lovely art. It’s not to late for others to join the fun. Remember there is a Transcendental Swap Meet on Saturday May 10th featuring Used or New Devotional Items, Clothing, Paraphanalia.

If you are a genuine on site NV resident (means you live between the big barn and Rt. 250), you are entitled to a complimentary pass. However, you still need to register you name with us to receive a wrist band. You can do this ahead of the crowd by calling the number below or stopping by Malati’s office during the day.

For further details, call Malati’s office @ 304-845-9591 and don’t forget to have a look at our web site.

http://festivalofinspiration.org/

Hare Krishna!

by mrupa

Amburish, the pre-eminent New Vrindavana cowherd boy, wrote this song as part of our Govardhan Puja celebration one year.

Each year the devotees would spend a few days cleaning and whitewashing the barn at Bahulavana.

Amburish had trained the cow herd to come into the barn for milking and feeding when he played the Govindam prayers. The cows would all be bunched up out back of the barn. And when the song came over the loudspeaker, it would be quite an impressive sight as all the mothers would gently trot into the barn each one going to her own stall to begin eating and patiently waiting to be milked.

On Govardhana Puja days, the stalls would be decorated and there would be streamers twined around the pillars of the barn.

Devotees would feed the cows special cow ‘sweetballs’ made of grains and molasses, that the mothers would eagerly gobble up out of your hand.

While some devotees fed cows, others, including many of the children, would be decorating the cows themselves with handprints and other symbols of tumeric. Still others would be offering Deity garlands around the cows’ necks. The cows would really like to nibble on the garlands after their massive sweets.

There would be an arotike offered to the cows while they happily munched and enjoyed the attention and grooming of the blissed out devotees. The whole atmosphere was surcharged with gentle joy. Plus a few high jinx as friends occasionally took the opportunity to decorate each other with a pat on the back or two of cow dung.

Anyway the song Amburish wrote is made up entirely of the names of the cows who were in the barn at New Vrindavana at the time except of course for the refrain as the last line of each verse meant to glorify the cows’ service and special place in Krsna’s affection.

SURABHI OF VRINDABAN

By Amburish Das

(sung to the tune of the Deity Greeting Govinda prayers)

Surabhi Lila Sita Sakti Apeksaniya
Yasoda Raja Madri Bhara Gunarnavasya
Sudevi Desa Rasa Puja Subhadra Mehru
Govindam adi purusam tam aham bhajami

Davagni Raktak Dvipa Reme Rukmini Deva
Manjari Bhumi Devahuti Madhurya-lila
Apara Bala Padma Kutas Vendanta Usa
Govindam adi purusam tam aham bhajami

Vrindabanesvari Prajapati Pancajanya
Trnad-api Sunita Gokula Brijabasi
Govindaji Isani Sala Ananda Bhima
Govindam adi puausam tam aham bhajami

Goloka Bhaktams Lolupasya Santusta Reti
Sadaiva Partha Indradeva Bhava Indranila
Krsangi Maha Varsabhanaji Parijata
Govindam adi purusam tam aham bhajami

Sri Haribolananda Rohini Navadvipa
Taror-api Kutila Bhava Sri Devanagai
Radhika Saci Smarane Cancala Vaibhava
Govindam adi purusam tam aham bhajami

Yamuna Kamadhuk Kaliya Sri Himavati
Siddhanta Satya Sarasvati Rukmini Dodya
Purana Bhadra Dvarakadhama Basya Sukla Pritha
Govindam adi purusam tam aham bhajami

Cintamani Sri Satyabhama Sri Vrajabhumi
Srngara Mangala Sri Salagram Suci Bhava
Laksmana Bela Vraja Dhimahi Aravinda
Govindam adi purusam tam aham bhajami