New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

AEP has announced that electrical power will be turned off Sat November 10th from approximately 9 am to 10 am and again at 3 pm to 4 pm. The outage will affect the Limestone area which includes New Vrindaban.

• Leave a comment...

by mrupa

I’m afraid I do not remember too much about the coming of Saligram Sila to New Vrindavana. I do recall when Srila Prabhupad was deciding to begin the introduction of worshiping Saligram Sila in ISKCON, He first entrusted this highly delicate and demanding service to two long proven and highly devoted pujaris: Jananivas in Mayapur and Radhanath in New Vrindavana.

I do not remember who brought our two Saligram Silas here to begin Their service, or who named Them Hiranyagarbha (because He had an egg shaped form like a universe) and Nrsngha (because of the markings on His form). I do remember it meant the end of women on the altar or in the pujari room at Bahulavan, and that that crushed a lot of resigned-to-the-needful hearts.

The other word I associate with Saligram Sila is—dysentery. It was community-wide waves of debilitating dysentery that seemed to follow known or unknown mishaps during the worship of Sri Saligram Sila. These included but were far from limited to a pujari’s chaddar becoming snagged on the hand chased throne of Hiranyagarbha and flipping Him over the altar stairs and on to the floor. Or the highly gasped at faux paux of mixing up the Lord’s bathing substances; and instead of bathing Their Lordships with ghee as was recommended, mustard seed oil was used one morning.

Then in the very early ‘90s as the attempt at Interfaith in New Vrindavana was winding down, one morning the head pujari went on the altar to wake the Deities and Saligram and one of Their chief pujaris were discovered to be missing. It turned out they were all heading for Malaysia, the pujari feeling the Saligrams were not being treated properly enough.

Sri Govardhana Sila however, came separately and some time after the appearance of Sri Hiryanyagarbha, and Sri Nrsngha, as He was to accompany Sri Nathaji and His installation in the present temple.

Sankirtana has a wonderful play about the finding and carrying of Sri Govardhana to New Vrindavana by Radhanath Swami and Mahabhuddi Prabhu.

Sankirtana’s play is based on the account given him by Radhanath Swami after their return to New Vrindavana.

• Continue reading or Read comments...

Hare Krishna

Devotees are approaching various individuals at the temple with questions. As an advisor to New Vrindavan for the last 2 years, I may be able to offer information that you find helpful. Below is a reserved schedule for your use and consideration.

Your servant,
Kuladri das
Kuladridas@aol.com

Every Wednesday 1:30 – 4:30 PM Personal devotee appointments
4:30- 6:00 PM Open door questions or group discussions

A signup sheet for personal appointments is posted by the Club 108 office (first door on the left in the hallway you enter next to the mailboxes) or email me.

Reminder-1-1:30 PM Jappa Monday through Friday, RVC temple.

As Taken from the Oct. 1978 Issue of the Brijabasi Spirit:

   

       The following was compiled from an interview with Kasyapa dasa wherein we talked about how he came to Krsna Consciousness and about his two major engagements-dressing Lord Jagannatha and driving a bulldozer.          

I was always real attached to animals because that was the only kind of friend I ever had. I never hung out much with karmis. Even as a kid I wouldn’t associ­ate with them at all. My father never let me keep domestic animals. If I wanted a pet I went out and caught a wild animal and tamed it. So I had a bunch of wild animals roaming around with me all the time. There was a porcupine, raccoon, opossum and some tame snakes. Wild birds would come down and land on my shoulder and walk around with me.       

The other kids were always talking about how they wanted to grow up and become police or firemen. Somebody asked me what I wanted to do and I said that I wanted to find out about God. They said, “What do you care a-bout that for?” At that point I decided they were all crazy and I didn’t want to have anything to do with them.      

I went to church every Sunday and read the Bible a lot. I used to give all my allowance to the church. I couldn’t think of anything better to do with it. I didn’t want it for myself. But one day I found out that all of the money I was giving was just going to restore the church. It was a beautiful old church and they tore out all the beams and made it into some ridiculous-looking modern thing. I thought why should I work so hard and get all this money and give it to the church and they turn a-round and do that. They always told me they were helping people. So when I found out about this, it all seemed like a complete farce and I got real bitter about it.      

Then I tried being an atheist for a while but it just didn’t seem right at all. I couldn’t believe that man   was meant to be miserable. But I was really frustrated. I got myself into plenty of situations where I could have gotten killed. I didn’t really want to die but I didn’t know anything better to do. I had to avoid guns most of my life be­cause I knew that if I got near one I’d shoot myself.        

But I knew that if I stuck around long enough I’d find what I was looking for. I knew that there was somebody somewhere who would be my guru and teach me. The problem was being able to put up with all the misery. Even one day in the material world is hellish.         

Sometimes I’d just get on a motor­cycle and drive off into the woods and keep going until I couldn’t see any sign of human civilization. Then I’d stay there for a few days and pray alot. I’d say I know there’s somebody with me. I don’t know what he looks like or who he is or anything about him, but I know he’s here with me. I knew that was God and I desperately wanted to know how to reciprocate with Him. But in all my attempts I just wasn’t making any headway at all.        

Eastern philosophy appealed to me and it seemed like there was really something to it. I thought that those people took their religion very seriously.          

So I used to go out to a wildlife reserva­tion and read some of the Vedic litera­tures but I couldn’t come to any con­clusion. You can read the Upanishads but you can’t figure out what to do after that. There is no process recommen­ded.          

One day I was sitting up in a tree reading and this boy climbed up next to me. He had just recently run into the devotees and had bought a Krsna Book. He started telling me all about it and it was just exactly what I wanted to hear.        

After talking to that boy I went right to the temple. I had always had a long list of questions about God, nature and the absolute truth. I knew all my life that if I ever met someone who could answer these questions that he knew the true process of self-realization. When I came to the temple I asked all of these questions and the devotees answered them perfectly, one after another. There was no doubting then.       

I started staying at the temple but it was hard for me. I’d hardly ever been in the city before. They wanted me to go out on sankirtan every day. It was just a terrifying situation for me, being on the street and having to deal with people.        

But I was beginning to see that devo­tional service is so powerful that it can even change a person like me. I began to realize that actually I could make it in the city. That’s when Kirtanananda Maharaja came through and brought me back here.        

When we came to New Vrindaban I saw that here was a chance to work without having to contend with all the hostile people. I tried my best to work hard because I knew that’s what Maha­raja wanted. I didn’t want to be a burden to my spiritual master. So I wanted to work as hard as I could. I’m not very in­telligent. I can’t memorize any scripture. Some stories about Lord Jagannatha stuck in my head but I can’t re­member anything else.

• Continue reading or Leave a comment...

Saturday 10th of November is Govardhana Puja!

We’ll be celebrating Dipavali (Festival of Lights) and Govardhana Puja with a series of seminars, kirtans, and feasts all day long. Stay tuned for a detailed schedule and mark your calendar for the celebration of New Vrindaban’s favorite community festival, Govardhana Puja, on Saturday afternoon!

On Saturday November 10th , the Govardhana Puja program will begin in the
evening. The schedule is as follows:

Go-puja (in the barn) 5:30 PM

Maha Giriraja Abhiseka 6:00 PM

Offering of Mountain of Bhoga to Giriraja 6:30 PM
(Please cook your offerings of Sweets and bring them to the temple, not later than 6 PM)

Govardhana Arati w/Kirtan Around the Hill 7:00 PM

Feast 8:00
*********************************************************************

Tuesday November 13th Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day (fast till noon)

Srimad Bhagavatam Class by Srila Prabhupada 8:30

Group Japa with Srila Prabhupada 12:30-1:30 PM

Lunch Feast 1:30 PM

Srila Prabhupada Movie Marathon in the temple room till 6:00 PM

************************************************************************

Saturday November 24th New Vrindaban Thanksgiving Festival

and
Tulasi -Salagram Marriage Day (Tulasi Salagram Vivaha). Last day of Month of Damodara. End of Kartik and Caturmasya.

Festival will begin @ 6:00 PM with Tulasi -Salagram Vivaha Puja

***************************************************************

If you would like to help in organization of any of the festivals, or just
help please contact Janaka Mahajana Das

(304) 843 1600 ext 105

• Leave a comment...

From March 16, 1975 issue of the Brijabasi Spirit

I must write this down now
As I awaken from my dream
There was Krsna calling me
Through the sunlight’s golden stream

You are back in My Home now
Back in My arms
I am the God you sought
The relief from all harm
It is here on this fertile plateau
Here plant your seeds and any fruits shall grow
And these fruits of Love
Are the finest fruits you will find
Just see the light in the tiny child’s eyes

As we approach the mountainous rise
Home is here and we are freed
From our endless toil and insatiable greed
You are my guide to help me realize this light
Give me the strength give me the might
By Caitanya’s grace our harvest will be great
All that you want you soon shall know
Just make your home on this fertile plateau

— Vasudama dasa

• Leave a comment...

Haribol everyone,

Last week Sunday school started and this Sunday for all those who come bring an empty shoe box for our Govardhana Puja project.

Hope to see y’all there!

Your servant,

Rama Lila dd

• Leave a comment...

by mrupa

I’m not sure of the time sequence exactly. It must have been very early ‘70’s though and Big Lord Jagannatha was staying in one of the old (not the present log cabins) shacks along the little road out from the Vrindaban temple building. These were small one room uninsulated wooden board buildings, some slightly raised off the ground. [There were also two A-frame buildings, one larger for Hayagriva, and a smaller one closest to the temple building. Two geodesic domes were also further down the hillside from the old pig barn. Both of these accidentally burnt down rather early on.]

Anyway, Lord Jagannatha stayed in the third cabin along the road from the temple. It had been the first school house here for a while. And of course, Hladini was also taking care of Lord Balaram, Lady Subadhra, and Lord Jagannatha then as well.

When Bahulavan was acquired, and Kirtanananda was recalled to direct New Vrindavana from the Road Show, Radha Vrindavana Chandra was to be moved to the Bahulavana Farm as soon as the temple room could be constructed on the back of the farm house there. And Lord Jagannatha was to be installed at the Madhuvana farm.

Lord Jagannatha was moved into His new temple on Gaura Purnima . Big Lord Jagannatha, Lady Subadhra, and Lord Balaram were originally carved from logs taken from along the old dirt track to Vrindavana Farm from the main road. I believe Bhagavat Ananda helped carve Them with Bharadwaj. At first They lived in the old Pittsburgh temple. Pittsburgh was sort of an annex of New Vrindavana at the time, sometimes called the gateway to New Vrindavana. When Srila Prabhupada came in ’72, He arrived first at the Pittsburgh temple and stayed there for a little bit before going on to New Vrindavana.

Big Lord Jagannatha rode up the steep hillside to the pavilion set up for the Bhagavat Dharma/Janmastami/Vyas Puja festival in a hay cart pulled by horses. He and Radha Damodara presided there on the stage for the entire festival.

For that visit, Srila Prabhupad and His staff and servant lived at the farmhouse temple at Madhuvana. That original near century old farmhouse and its outbuildings were the only structures there at the time. Madhuvana also included several large fields; one row in the corn field became the place where Prabhupad would respond to nature each morning while He was here.

Hayagriva Prabhu went to India to be with Prabhupada for awhile in Vrndavana in ’73. While there he acquired all the little Deities: three sets of small brass Gaura Nitai, and two small sets of Radha Krsna Deities to be installed at each of the farm-temples. The smaller of the Radha Krsna murtis was to be installed at Madhuvan and were eventually named Radha Madhava. The larger named Radha Vrindavanatha were to be installed at Vrindavana Farm.

Only one of the small brass sets of Gaura Nitai still live on the altar with Radha Vrindavana Chandra. One set of Them is served by Mahati in Talavan here in New Vrindavana, and I have forgotten who is taking care of the third set. The tiny little Laksmi Nrsingha were originally the presiding Dieties of the home/department of Dharmatma and the Sankirtana mothers at the house, now much improved by Lajavati and Sudhanu up the road from old Bahulavan. If I recall correctly, They did not arrive on the mail altar until or just before Radha Vrindavana Chandra moved into Their present temple.

• Read comments...

Here’s a blast from the past (1991), as HH Radhanath Swami sits with HG Soma Prabhu on the right (sporting quite a beard) and HG Raghunath Prabhu on the left in the little white house down the road apiece currently occupied by HG Lalita Gopi and Family.

You can read the article from last week’s Brijabasi Spirit post “The Great Mantra” by clicking here

• Leave a comment...