New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Most of our readers see Brijabasi via feed readers and don’t see the comments. Jaya Murari posted the following as a comment and I think it deserves a wider viewing:

Hare Krsna, this is an English version of that same Damodara Song that was used in the RCV Temple during the “Interfaith Days” at New Vrindban, I sure you’ll remember it also, as it is sung with the same exact melody as the Bengali Damodarastakam. I have no idea who the author is however.

Damodara Song

0 Damodara Krishna!
In ropes You are wound,
Yet ropes do not bind You,
By love are You bound !

0 Damodara Krishna !
In ropes You are bound,
Child Prince of Braja
You shall be crowned!

0 Damodara Krishna!
Your mother in silk,
While You were-a-napping
Was churning the milk.

0 Damodara Krishna!
With necklace of pearls,
Your sweet lotus face
Encircled by curls.

0 Damodara Krishna!
Cheeks bimba-fruit red,
With bright peacock feathers
Adorning Your head.

0 Damodara Krishna!
On You the world rests,
Yet You rest on Yasoda
And suckle her breasts!

0 Damodara Krishna!
She left You alone-
The butter crock cracked,
Struck by Your stone!

0 Damodara Krishna!
You threw the rock,
Your lips pressed in anger
As You broke the crock!

0 Damodara Krishna!
How swiftly You fled!
The butter and yogurt
To monkeys You fed.

0 Damodara Krishna!
You ran off in fear,
Chased by Your mother,
Whose stick -was quite near!

0 Damodara Krishna !
With eyes full of tears,
Your lotus face darkened
With eye-ointment smears.

0 Damodara Krishna!
Lord of Gokula,
Bound by Your mother,
To a grinding tool.

0 Damodara Krishna !
With such childlike ease,
You broke into splinters
The twin arjuna trees.

O Damodara Krishna !
Bound up in rope,
Let me recall You,
That is my hope.

0 Damodara Krishna !
How I long to see
You feeding the monkeys
While they dance in glee!

0 Damodara Krishna!
Please hear my prayer!
By mercy You freed
The two sons of Kuvera.

0 Damodara Krishna!
Please smile upon me!
Grant me Your mercy,
So I may be free!

0 Damodara Krishna!
By Your childlike charm
You capture all hearts
In this eternal form!

O Damodara Krishna !
Please hear my praise!
You showed Your pastimes,
The world to amaze!

O Damodara Krishna!
The world rests on You,
Yet You are beyond it
And known by so few.

O Damodara Krishna!
Your childhood play
Is sweeter than nectar-
I’ll drink it each day!

O Damodara Krishna!
Please grant me a boon-
May I always remember?
To sing You this tune!

O Damodara Krishna!
In ropes You are wound,
Yet ropes do not bind
You By love are You bound!

O Damodara Krishna!
In ropes You are bound,
Child Prince of Braja
You shall be crowned!

HARE KRISHNA, HARE KRISHNA,
KRISHNA KRISHNA, HARE HARE
HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA,
RAMA RAMA, HARE HARE

HARE KRISHNA, HARE KRISHNA,
KRISHNA KRISHNA, HARE HARE
HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA,
RAMA RAMA, HARE HARE

HARE KRISHNA, HARE KRISHNA,
KRISHNA KRISHNA, HARE HARE
HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA,
RAMA RAMA, HARE HARE

HARE KRISHNA, HARE KRISHNA,
KRISHNA KRISHNA, HARE HARE
HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA,
RAMA RAMA, HARE HARE

Hrishikesh dasa then chimed in with this clarifying comment:

Thank you for posting this earlier version of the Prayers to Lord Damodar. This version was penned by Umapati Swami and first sung at New Vrindaban during Kartik 1988. Umapati Swami wrote several of the English versions of Vaishnava songs.

A few years later, True Peace wrote his version, which I liked to use during the evening aroti when I led the singing.

Dear Devotees, Please accept my obeisances. Jai Srila Prabhupada. 

My wife, Kamalavati dasi, is en route to Bremen, Germany where she will undergo two major surgeries, one on her lower back and the second operation on her neck. The discs in her lower back and neck are pinching nerves due to deterioration. 

  The date of her surgery falls on Friday Nov. 2nd , the same day as the celebration for Radha Kunda. As you may know, Kamalavati has braved over 25 years of intense back pain without resorting to the usual fix, drug therapy.   

German surgeons at Stenum Hospital have performed over 3,000 successful artificial disc replacements but just the same I am humbly requesting your prayers and well wishes for a successful operation and full recovery.  

If you feel inclined to drop her a line, do so at greatnewshere@yahoo.com  

…Tapahpunja dasa 

From the July 14, 1975 issue of the Brijabasi Spirit

by Ganendra dasa

All Glories to Srila Prabhupada! Have you ever had a feeling right down in your bones that something inauspicious was about to happen? Well, last week Bhakta Kurt and I got up at one o’clock as usual in the morning to go and herd the cows down before the morning milking. We started out on this very dark night with only one flashlight, which was giving a feeble light. We walked up to the two strip pastures and split up in search of the mothers; Kurt took the bottom strip with the flashlight, and I took the top without. As we started out we both had an odd feeling because none of the cows were congregated around the grove of trees at the top of the hill as they usually are. Anyway, half way down the bottom strip, next to the barbed-wire fence, we found her, Mother Sati, New Vrindaban’s first Brown Swiss cow, lying dead. She had fallen down an incline next to the fence and couldn’t get back up despite many struggling attempt. No exact conclusion has been made as to the cause of her death other than a few speculations, but of course we know it was Krsna’s supreme will. Sati had two calves here, the first was a bull that also died, and the last was Siva, a nice bull that appears to be a promising oxen, and who is presently living at Nandagram. Just recently Kirtanananda Maha­raja remarked that Sati was just that type of cow we want to keep. She gave a good amount of milk over several months, steadily, with hardly a sickness, if any. Now however, she is fortunate enough to hate an opportunity of getting a human birth in Vrindaban. Certainly her service was most satisfying to Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-VrndabanaCandra.

That same morning during milking, Citraleka, a Guernsey heifer that we got from
Buffalo farm, gave birth to a dead calf. The calf was so big that it considerable damage to Citraleka’s vagina, so it may take a long time for Ambirish prabhu to get her back in shape to be bred again. Also, Citraleka has the smallest milk bag and the smallest teats of any fresh cow that we have seen, and she takes a long time to milk. For these reasons, Ma­haraja suggested that we put her in a pen with a couple of nursing calves and let them take advantage of whatever milk she is making. We estimate that to be around 20 pounds a day. So now Sriman and Kalki are drinking from her twice a day, and are feeling very blissful.

Three new calves were born live this week. Mother Bhadra gave birth to a bull named
Ravi. Satya had a heifer, named Radhabhava and Bhumi had our bull Rupa’s first offspring, who is a bull calf named Tarksya. There is some controversy as to whether Rupa is really the sire or not, but as far as our records and memories go, he is.

We did some moving of cows this week, as six of our dry mothers went to Madhuban from Bahulaban. Mothers Pritha, Rati, Cintamani, Rohini, Gopipriya and Yasoda were taken up to enjoy Madhuban’s pasture. Up to Vrindaban went recently fresh Mother Satya to take care of Vrindaban’s milk needs. We hear that she was greeted with hugs and kisses from Hari Dhama and Radhanath prabhus. Down from Vrindaban came three soon-to-come-fresh
Holstein heifers; Rathadasi, Gandhari and Kalindi. Most promising of these is Kalindi, whose mother, a karmi cow named Pam, has the
Marshall county re­cord of giving 125 pounds of milk in one day. All of Pam’s other daughters have pro­duced over 100 pounds of milk a day, so we have high hopes for Kalindi.

One last note is on Prajapati, our
Jersey bull, who was staying up at Vrindaban. One day last week he got tired of staying with the mothers up there and decided to walk on his own down the road to Bahulaban. He has been staying in the new barn ever since9 but he looks like he is missing his independence.

All Glories to Krsna’s cows and New Vrindabanss cow protection program without which this wretch wouldn’t have a slight chance of becoming regulated in devotional service. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Ganendra dasa

Programs in New Vrindaban RVC Temple

Srimand Bhagavatam Class – Wednesday Morning 8:00 AM

Gaura Vrindavana Farm presentation –Wednesday Evening 5:30 PM

in the guest prasadam hall

Srimad Bhagavatam Class –Thursday Morning 8:00 AM

MAHARAJA ABOUT HIMSELF:

My name is Purushatraya Swami, Srila Prabhupada disciple, Brazilian, age

62, leading book distributor as brahmacari, Sannyasi initiation in Mayapur

1985, resident of Vrndavana for 8 years in the nineties. Presently, I

coordinate a farm community Gaura Vrndavana in Southeastern Brazil

(www.goura.com.br). By Krishna’s mercy, we have a very big (1500 acres) and

wonderful piece of land on the mountains, which is covered by a famous Atlantic

rain forest. This project, after twenty years, is becoming one of the best

examples of self-sufficiency in ISKCON. Organic agriculture, cow protection,

plowing by oxen, production of electricity, and a dried banana factory are just

some of the rural activities that are going on in our project. We have a nice

slide show presentation which I have shown extensively in many universities and

ISKCON temples around the world.

(Krishna book second song from the first chapter)

Once upon a time there lived a righteous king,
Who ruled over Mathura and whose name was Surasena.
Now Surasena he had a son whose name was Vasudeva,
He married a young maiden, Devaki was her name.

Elephants, horses, chariots and beautiful girls
Followed the young bride into a unfamiliar world,
To ease the pain of separation she felt for her kin,
Entering a new home, where new life begins.

Conches, bugles, voices and assorted drums
All combined together to create a pleasant hum.
The couple shone brightly on that faithful day,
Unaware of danger approaching their way.

While riding on a chariot the newly wedded pair,
Were driven by Devaki’s brother in the festive air.
Kamsa they all new him, a most uncivil one
He had a reputation of oppressing everyone.

The procession ran smoothly along the decorated road
When all of a sudden things took on different mode.
A thunderous voice was heard across the sky
Predicting the future as they went passing by.

” Kamsa, you fool, there will come a day,
When the eight child of your sister will make you pay
For all the heinous crimes that you’ve carried out,
He will take your sinful life and He will blow it out”.

When the vicious prince heard what was prophesied,
He became enraged and fear glowed in his eyes:
He quickly caught hold of Devaki by the hair
Threatening to kill her in his despair.

Words and Music by Devananda Pandit das

Copyright 2000 Denis Moreau

This past Saturday night, the streets of Athens, Ohio was filled with the annual hordes of The Halloween Street Party, a Mardi-Gras type of shindig where the crazy youth of America dress and act even crazier than usual, which is saying a lot. What a perfect time for the all-merciful Lord Jagannatha to make an appearance , courtesy of the Vegan Cooking crew and a few inclined souls from New Vrindaban.

As we came into town, we were the only ones not drunk. We soon became drunk-on the spirit of harinama. Lord Jagannatha towered over the proceedings, as the harinama crew braved rainy weather, intoxicated enthusiasm, ornery policemen, and much more to bring the Holy Names and Their Smiling Face to all the people of Athens, Ohio.

As Soma Prabhu deftly observed, the main reaction for most people to seeing Jagannatha towering over them on this festive evening was “Oh My God!” We can’t say it any better ourselves.

The “Puppet Masters” (Chase and Balarama Chandra) putting the finishing touches on

Mauricio Prabhu, with full gusto, protected Jagannatha from those who wanted to get too close. His ksatriya spirit was a big hit all evening.

Even Jesus approves!

• Read comments...

by Madhava Gosh

There has been a request to see more of Taru’s writings. He was the author of the Prasadam Addict series published in the 1970s in the original print version of the Brijabasi Spirit and recently republished here. The idea has occurred to me to collect all that he has written and make it available in one place.

The difficulty is that I personally don’t have any old Brijabasis. I am requesting anybody who does have a couple of them laying around or a whole collection if they could photocopy any writing by Taru and get them to me.

Any suggestions of where to look if you don’t have any personally would be appreciated.

If you are unable to connect with me directly, leave a comment herein and I will contact you.

Any other Taru memorabilia would also be appreciated, on the off chance any one has any pictures of him or tapes of his classes and kirtans.

Thanks in advance.

• Leave a comment...

“tat premedam sakrd api
sarah snatur aviskaroti”

If one simply bathes once within these holy waters, one’s pure love of Krsna is aroused

SRI RADHA-KUNDA APPEARANCE DAY CELEBRATION
Join HH Varsana Swami at beautiful Radha-Kunda for an evening of sweet celebration in the holiest of all holy places

Feel free to bring offerings of all types

PLACE: New Vrindaban-Govardhana Hill-Radha Kunda (up the hill, by HH Varsana Swami’s cabin)

Thursday, November 1st From Dusk til Late

by mrupa

This is some things about Deities in New Vrindavana. I’ve forgotten more than I remember I’m afraid. Maybe it will help someone else who knows it more and better. Its another longy though. You can use it or not as you think best.

ys rupa

(Editor’s note: this will be published in a few parts)

This is a small attempt to put down as much Deity history as I can still recall for New Vrindavana before I lose it completely. Already exact dates are very fuzzy for me, and there may well be some mistakes and overlapping that I am not even aware of.

But perhaps making this attempt will stimulate others who really have a better grip and knowledge of the service and events who can correct or fill in the gaps.

The first Deities in New Vrindavana were the little Lord Jagannatha Deities that now reside with Krsna Bhava and Krpamaya. They came to be referred to as the “Bahulavana Jagannathas”. I don’t remember so much about Their installation it was before my time. But Hladini told me They had been put in a closet somewhere (I think it was Pittsburg, but am not entirely sure) and had gotten spider webby from neglect, when they were rescued and moved to New Vrindavana .
Then the next Deities Who came were the tiniest pair of Radha Krsna Deities now on the main altar and cared for by Dhara every morning.

They were sent to Kirtanananda personally to be his own Deities by Srila Prabhupada when Kirtanananda was going to go on the Road Show with Visnujana Swami for some time. When he returned to take charge of New Vrindavana, They became the first Radha Krsna to appear here. We used to make little teeny puris and preps for Them, until Prabhupada said to go ahead and make Them a plate like a regular person would eat.

Srila Prabhupada also sent Radha Vrindavana Chandra here. One day a letter came from Prabhupada to Kirtananaanda saying that They would be arriving at such and such a time and place and how much it would cost to get Them here. It was said that the little tiny Radha Krsna were so beautiful, but no one could see Them very well. So now They had expanded Themselves in a form big enough for everyone to be able to experience and appreciate Their beauty.

Radha Vrndavana Chandra were installed at Vrindavana Farm, (I have a copy of a picture of the bathing ceremony in the temple room up there). They were first worshiped by Kutila and Hladini. If I remember it correctly, Hladini told me they did the bathing and dressing puja once a week, and that it took quite a long time even with the two of them to perform the service. At that time They had only wrap-around pieces of cloth for outfits, and pop-it bead jewelry.

The Deity paraphernalia included a pair of pliers and the circular center of a mason jar lid as the ghee wick holder. The pujari had to hold the mason jar lid piece with the pliers to offer the ghee wicks (oil wicks then) because the metal became to hot to hold. Kutila and Hladini would wash, dry, and style Their wigs as part of the puja, that took hours to complete.

There was a period also when the “Tie-dye king” of the time had come to visit and donated bolts of material. For a time, EVERYTHING was tie-dyed including Radha Vrindavana Chandra’s clothes.