New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

In May 1972, Kirtanananda Swami received a message to meet Prabhupada in Los Angeles, wherein Prabhupada ordered him to return to New Vrindaban and take over the management. Prabhupada had heard disturbing reports that the farm was not faring well and there was some talk of closing it down. Up to that time, the community had been organized by householders such as Hayagriva and Paramananda.

When Kirtanananda Swami returned to the community he recognized a problem instantly: Radha-Vrindaban Chandra were being neglected. Immediately he implemented a plan to unite the community. The first thing he did was to bring the deities from the original Old Vrindaban farm to the newly-purchased Bahulaban farm, which had, in the meantime, become the center of the community. Deity worship became the number one business and the community flourished.

Prabhupada wrote to Kirtanananda, “I am very glad to hear that you are giving your full attention to the worship of Shri Shri Radha-Krishna there at New Vrindaban, and it shall be your task to make certain that they will never be so much neglected in the future. Your proposal is very nice to make the atmosphere of the Deities very, very opulent, and the temple must be kept always very nice. That will be the attractive feature and people will come to see for that reason. So far as your road show is concerned, we are not meant for giving performances, we are simple kirtan men. There must always be kirtan going on wherever we travel, and nothing else.” (111)

Kuladri expressed his appreciation of Kirtanananda Swami’s devotion to the deities, “Just like the Goswamis, you serve the deity of your heart, Shri Shri Radha-Vrindaban Chandra. You would come right on the altar, bringing more jewelry than the rest of the deities in ISKCON combined.” (112)

Hladini Dasi praised Kirtanananda Swami’s devotion to Shri Shri Radha-Vrindaban Chandra: (113)

“Just as Lord Chaitanya sent Rupa and Sanatan Goswamis to reestablish Vrindaban which was just a field, Shrila Prabhupada sent you to establish New Vrindaban which was simply a farm. Before you came, Radha-Vrindaban Chandra had nothing opulent. They had only two meager dresses and a couple strands of dime store jewelry. They ate off stainless steel plates and rarely were They offered nice preparations cooked in ghee.

“Then Prabhupada sent you back here to stay. Within hours of your arrival, the place was buzzing. You escorted Their Lordships to Bahulaban and built Them an altar. You decorated Them with big garlands and whatever jewelry They had. Then you ran into the kitchen and spent hours preparing the most incredible feast They’d ever had. Not only was there an immense ghee feast, but ghee lamps were burning all over the altar. It just so happened that you had a whole silver set in your van from the road show to offer the feast on. The whole atmosphere became surcharged with your enthusiasm.

“Within a few more days, you went to New York and came back with pujaris, cooks and seamstresses. Radha-Vrindaban Chandra were repainted and Their features revealed Their new contentment. They looked so beautiful and happy. It was the first time ever that I had seen Shrimati Radharani smile. You brought back a topaz on a gold chain for Radharani and ran from room to room with a huge smile, showing it to all the devotees. Everyone was drowned in your enthusiasm even though we couldn’t understand what was going on.”

End Notes

111. Prabhupada, letter to Kirtanananda Swami dated June 25, 1972 .

112. Kuladri Das, “Vyasa-puja Homage” ( Shri Vyasa-puja: September 4, 1978), 6.

113. Hladini Dasi, “Vyasa-puja Homage” ( Shri Vyasa-puja: September 4, 1978), 43.

(Third song from the first chapter of Krishna book)

Words and Music by Devananda Pandit das

Vasudeva stood up and he began to speak so clear,
Saying:” Kamsa don’t you realize that death is always near.
The moment that you took your birth you began to die,
If you are now but twenty years then so much of death has passed you by.

This transitory body that you treasure oh so much
Is changing every moment and is keeping you out of touch.
You’re traveling in a world of purely make believe,
Not really knowing your destination when it’s time for you to leave .

These bodies that we have are but creations of the mind;
Our desires and our thoughts do determine what will be the kind.
But the living being is like the moon reflected on the sea,
Though it appears to be moving it is standing still like a tree.

Therefore I beg you my dear brother please try to keep your cool,
To kill your sister now would kill your reputation too.
Try to imagine in the future what the people of the world will say,
When they come to hear you killed your sister on her wedding day.”

Kamsa had a string of bad association on his side,
So despite the good instructions he could not be pacified.
The nature of a man who is bent on his evil ways,
Is that he can’t hear a word of what the sober man has to say.

Vasudeva was silent and was thinking of his wife:
“For the moment let’s consider how to save her precious life,
If in the future she can bear a son to slay this wretched man,
Then both the child and the mother will be saved according to God’s plan”.

“Presently there are no children ain’t it plain to see,
You are safe for the moment please set Devaki free.
I promise you brother if there are any sons born of her,
I’ll give ’em all to you and on that you can trust me sir.”

Kamsa knew the value of Devaki’s husband’s word
Convinced by the argument of what he had just heard,
He desisted from committing such an outrageous crime;
Being praised for his decision he went home in a nick of time.

copyright 2001 Denis Moreau

by Suchitra devi dasi, as taken from the November Issue of the 1977 Brijabasi Spirit

 ITEM: Since becoming the official women’s asrama of New Vrindaban, Madhuban temple has shown a new face. Although an outpost in certain respects, Madhuban’s core has always been rigorous devotion.

 For example, after a genuine ice cold shower at 2 a.m. in an unheated tin bath house, Mother Hladini chopped the wood for the kitchen stove, started the fire and then went down the steep, slippery hill in the dark to fetch water from the ghata, sometimes facing harassment from cantankerous oxen, headed by the infamous Dharma.

  After that is cooking, then down for more water, and at last mangala aratrika; then water, cook, chop, etc. throughout the day. Madhuban is more developed materially these days, but the same enthusiasm, engendered by temple president Advaitacarya dasa, remains, and when one enters there that impression of devotion is very strong and the call to do something for Krsna is irresistable.

  Now Madhuban is taking a new turn, for the women living there are engaged in the new casting shop, intent on producing those beautiful plaques everyone is talking about lately. The molds for the plagues have been taken from Sri Sri Radha Vrndavana Candra’s srngasana throne, which was hand carved in India by master craftsmen. The plaques depict the incarnations of Godhead. The molds have been made by the Palace crew and to date Kuladri has been hand-painting them using real gold leaf on details such as Krsna’s jewelry, etc.

 Now the women are taking over the casting and painting on a mass scale and a colorful brochure dis­playing the plaques plus information on our New Vrindaban Community is being planned for distribution to temples and stores. In the future, Maharaja wants the mothers to do the plaques in clay and glaze them using a kiln for drying. Also, if they do well, the women will be able to try their hand at casting the larger pieces meant for the Palace!

 ITEM: Govardhana puja has been joyfully anticipated here by the devotees since the last Govardhana puja, for it is one of Kirtanananda Swami’s favorite festivals, as it glorifies devotional service as the most exalted principle of existence. Also, of course, Govardhana puja is well-noted for its volumes of super excellent prasada, spiritual food, certainly one of all-attractive Sri Krsna’s more famous features.

Our celebrations were further enhanced by the appearance of Their most beautiful, renown Lordships Sri Sri Radha Damodara, Who, along with Radha Damodara’s Traveling Sankirtana Party headed by Gopijan-avallabha das, graced us with Their glorious presence in order to further deepen our meditation on wonderful Krsna.

 

Certainly all the transcendental Deity personalities assembled on the altar were breathtaking in Their splendor. Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Vrndavana Candra were more beautiful than ever, if that is possible, with all new attire, intricate, layered crowns supporting mammoth Topaz jewels, a resplendent effulgence and dazzlingly jeweled silk clothing. Indeed, They must be seen to be believed and at that Their beauty is unfathomable.

During the ecstatic feast ara-trika a five foot palanquin, bearing a prasada replica of Sri Govardhana Hill, supporting giant sugar candy cows and peacocks and topped with an elaborate temple dome (cooked in Palace molds) was placed before the Deities, much to the amazement of all, especially the children there.

 Following a wonderful lecture by Kirtanananda Maharaja, during which the perfection of hearing was easily attained by all the assembled devotees and guests, the children of New Vrindaban school presented a very enlivening play concerning this celebration of the transcendental historical event of child Krsna’s lifting of Govardhana Hill to protect His devotees, and finally all was followed by another bountiful New Vrindaban feast.

 

Please accept my obeisances. Jai Srila Prabhupada!

I’m happy to report that Kamalavati is progressing nicely. Yesterday for the first time she was able to wiggle all four fingers on her right hand. The left arm and hand are at about 75% normal mobility and strength. Her right arm and hand are at about 40% normal use. It looks like were destined to be here until Dec. 4th in order to take advantage of the physical therapy and daily massage. We’re staying about 15 miles from the orthopedic clinic in the city of
Bremen. Travel is by taxi.
Bremen has beautiful gothic churches dating back to Lord Chaitanya’s era.

  Our gratitude to all the devotees for their prayers and well wishes.  ………..Tapahpunja dasa

by Janaka Mahajana das

Thursday 22nd

“Hanuman” cartoon show in the temple 4:00 PM
Thanksgiving sermon 6:00 PM
Evening Arotik 7:00 PM
Auspicious fire sacrifice “YAJNA” 7:30 PM
Sri Sri Radha Vrindabna Candra’s Darshan- 8:30 PM
” PRASADAM AVALIBLE IN THE SNACK BAR
From 12 PM till 9:30 PM

Friday 23rd

“Black Friday”
Chant Hare Krishna and be Happy!

Saturday 24th

NV Community Thanksgiving Dinner
Tulasi Salagram Marriage Festival
. Last day of Month of Damodara. End of Kartik and Caturmasya.

Hare Krishna Bhajans- All Day
Presentation  6:00 PM
Evening Arotik 7:00 PM
Tulasi -Salagram Vivaha ceremony 7:30
Dinner Feast 8:00*
(Cooked by Rukmavati and helpers)
(*there will be no lunch feast on following Sunday)

(if you would like to cook something for the feast please do so)

Picture on left was taken yesterday around noon and the close up was taken on Nov. 9th. 

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Dear Devotees,

Please accept our respectful obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

We request your gracious presence on our son Premanand’s Birthday. Please come and bless little Premanand.

H.H Varsana Swami will be blessing us with his presence.

Date: Friday 23rd November

Time: 5:00 pm

Venue: Guest Kitchen( left of the temple hall)

Your servants,
Govinda Priya Devi Dasi & Shankaranand Das

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Here’s a link to an article on ISKCON News in which our very own Gopinath Prabhu speaks about his recent liver transplant operation, his recovery, and his insights. We wish him the absolute best and look very much forward to seeing him soon. I personally miss his Bhagavatam classes, especially the ones where he has to speak on whether we went to the moon or not. Gopinath Prabhu ki jay!

   

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by Hrishikesh 

Exquisitely beautiful deities hand-carved from white marble were imported from India, installed at New Vrindaban on Janmastami, August 13, 1971, and named Shri Shri Radha-Vrindaban Chandra: the most beautiful Radharani and Krishna (the moon of Vrindaban).

Kuladri Das explained, “Shrila Prabhupada personally picked out Radha-Vrindaban Chandra for New Vrindaban. They were carved by the same murti-wala (probably in Jaipur) who created the Rukmini-Dvarkadish and Radha-Londonishvara deities for Los Angeles and London.

“The installation was a major event in the life of the community; the temple room was packed with devotees (I don’t know where they all came from). The deities had only one set of clothes; a purple and silver outfit made by Hayagriva’s wife, Shyama Dasi. There was a large curtain for the deities’ privacy; it had a long drawstring which the pujari would pull and the curtain would slide along a track on the ceiling.” (105)

End Notes 

105. Kuladri Das, from a conversation with the author at New Vrindaban on October 8, 2003.