Janmastami in Kharkov/Ukraine is always the most blissful event of my entire year. In preparation for the festival I have the opportunity to get absorbed in another mood - not giving lectures, but endeavoring to create a Vrindavan panorama on the altar. I usually go to nature and collect all kinds of flowers, decorative grasses, greenery and other interesting things for the altar decoration. We compose things in such a way that it looks like naturally grown, rather than floristic arrangements. And we don't place things symmetrically on the altar, which once again gives the impression of a window into Vrindavan forest. Some of the boys go to the forest and collect moss and interesting pieces of wood and tree bark, and also stones of all sizes. This year we also had a fountain on the floor in front of the altar - a little Radha Kund. And of course our festival Deities of Radha Syamasundara were the center of attention.
We have established the tradition to every year give a topic to the Janmastami Festival. This year the theme was "Krishna and His beloved peacocks". Already last year at Kartik I bought beautiful peacocks of various sizes in Vrindavan, and devotees took them back to Kharkov. And our pujaris made more peacocks of all kinds. There were also other animals such as frogs, ducks, cows, lizzards, turtles, and also mushroms. And the Deities were receiving a new outfit with peacocks. It was a wonderful absorption to make all these arrangements, and the devotees were fascinated, allowing their eyes and minds to wander and discover all the little details. It was indeed a window into Goloka Vrindavan......!
Every evening during the days leading up to Janmastami Deena Bandhu Prabhu gave Vraja lila Katha, decorated with wonderful Vraja bhajans and kirtans. He truly brought Vrindavan to us all, and devotees were charmed by his sweet personality. Having lived for so many years in Vrindavan, he deeply carries Vrindavan in his heart and serves like a touch stone, transforming every place into Vrindavan. For so many years he has been sacrificing his very body in taking the devotees on parikrama around Vrindavan, introducing them to Krishna's pastime places. What a wonderful way to serve the Vaisnavas!
On the morning of Janmastami Deena Bandhu Prabhu gave the morning program, which was well attended considering it was a working day. There was further katha by senior devotees and readings with kirtan throughout the whole day. At 4pm we witnessed a beautifully arranged abhishek conducted by the pujaris on the altar, accompanied by melodious kirtan. Thereafter Deena Bandhu Prabhu gave a wonderful lecture, describing all kinds of sweet details around Krishna's appearance. We continued with Gaur Artik, followed by offering of gifts and cards to the Lord, and Deena Bandhu Prabhu singing more Vraja Bhajans. A group of matajis offered a poetic presentation as a little cultural program, and then we all received the opportunity to swing Radha Syamasundara, accompanied by sweet kirtans - another opportunity to chant the holy name in a prayerful mood.
The last hour before midnight I conducted our traditional "Krishna Meditation" connected with this year's theme - Krishna and His beloved peacocks. I had collected nice quotes from the Bhagavatam, describing games and pastimes with Krishna and the cowherd boys, in connection with peacocks.
The last hour before midnight I conducted our traditional "Krishna Meditation" connected with this year's theme - Krishna and His beloved peacocks. I had collected nice quotes from the Bhagavatam, describing games and pastimes with Krishna and the cowherd boys, in connection with peacocks.
The most amazing verse and purport is in SB.10.21.10., which describes a sweet pastime explaining why Krishna likes to wear a peacock feather in His turban:
"O friend, Vrindavana is spreading the glory of the earth, having obtained the treasure of the lotus feet of Krishna, the son of Devaki. The peacocks dance madly when they hear Govinda's flute, and when other creatures see them from the hilltops, they all become stunned.
Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura explains Krishna-Lila as follows: "In Vrindavana, the peacocks request Krishna, 'Govinda, please make us dance.' Thus Krishna plays His flute, and they surround Him in a circle and dance in time with the rhythm of His melody. And while standing in the midst of their dancing, He also sings and dances. Then those peacocks, who are fully satisfied with His musical performance, out of gratitude offer for His pleasure their own divine feathers. In the usual manner of musical performers, Krishna gladly accepts these presentations and places a feather upon the turban atop His head. Gentle animals such as deer and doves greatly relish the transcendental entertainment presented by Krishna, and to get a good view they flock to the peaks of hills. Then, as they watch the breathtaking program, they become stunned in ecstasy."
"O friend, Vrindavana is spreading the glory of the earth, having obtained the treasure of the lotus feet of Krishna, the son of Devaki. The peacocks dance madly when they hear Govinda's flute, and when other creatures see them from the hilltops, they all become stunned.
Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura explains Krishna-Lila as follows: "In Vrindavana, the peacocks request Krishna, 'Govinda, please make us dance.' Thus Krishna plays His flute, and they surround Him in a circle and dance in time with the rhythm of His melody. And while standing in the midst of their dancing, He also sings and dances. Then those peacocks, who are fully satisfied with His musical performance, out of gratitude offer for His pleasure their own divine feathers. In the usual manner of musical performers, Krishna gladly accepts these presentations and places a feather upon the turban atop His head. Gentle animals such as deer and doves greatly relish the transcendental entertainment presented by Krishna, and to get a good view they flock to the peaks of hills. Then, as they watch the breathtaking program, they become stunned in ecstasy."
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We were reading from Sivarama Swami's book "Venu Gita", which gives very detailed descriptions of this very astounding pastime - the peacocks were shedding tears of ecstasy when Krishna joined their dancing. The flute in Krishna's hands, seeing the uncommon performance of its master and the peacocks, began to sing of its own accord. This exceptional development greatly surprised even Krishna, who watched as, without His effort, the flute played in response to the dancing of the birds. All the animals assembled to witness this unique kirtan performance and were stunned in ecstatic love. Finally the king of peacocks approached Krishna in a mood of great humility. Bowing low to the ground, he said: "Dear Krishna, we are lowly creatures of the forest and, having no possessions, we live in the trees and eat whatever flowers and herbs are available in season. In making us dance, You have created a great festival of bliss, for which we remain eternally in Your debt. Despite our poverty, it is our duty to offer You daksina, failing to do which we would appear ungrateful and lose our reputation. Therefore, I request You to accept our only opulence, the feathers of our plumage, and wear them in Your crown as its decoration." With large tears of ecstasy flowing down his beak, the leader of peacocks dropped many divine feathers at Govinda's lotus feet.
Krishna accepted the offerings of the peacocks and, while gathering their feathers, He fondly caressed their heads, to everyone's great joy. He placed a few feathers in His turban and, while holding the rest in His hand, He turned to His friends, who embraced Him with love and affection.
Krishna accepted the offerings of the peacocks and, while gathering their feathers, He fondly caressed their heads, to everyone's great joy. He placed a few feathers in His turban and, while holding the rest in His hand, He turned to His friends, who embraced Him with love and affection.
We concluded the Janmastami Festival with the midnight artik and Deena Bandhu Prabhu leading us in kirtan, followed by the feast.....
The next day we celebrated an even more important festival - Srila Prabhupada's appearance in this world. Even though I was tired from Janmastami I couldn't resist coming early to the temple to help decorate his Vyasasana - a long standing tradition. We started the program at 10am with everybody bathing Srila Prabhupada, followed by Deena Bandhu Prabhu's wonderful lecture, sharing many sweet details of the early days. Devotees read glorifications of various Gurus, and then we all offered our own homages. We always like to extend the entire program up to around 5:00pm, absorbing ourselves in hearing about Srila Prabhupada's glories and deeply cultivating our gratitude towards him for saving us from the miseries of material life. I cannot even imagine what my life would be without Srila Prabhupada's gift of Krishna consciousness.....
Deena Bandhu Prabhu shared that his visit to Kharkov was one of the highlights of his tour around Europe. And he had stolen the hearts of the Kharkov devotees........
Your servant, Devaki dd
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Your servant, Devaki dd
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