Nrsimha Caturdasi in Simhachalam/Germany

I arrived in Simhachalam on the 29th of April - a few days before the Nrsimha Caturdasi Festival, which fell this year on Saturday, the 2nd of May.
For many years this event has been one of the main Festivals in Western Europe. Lord Nrsimhadev is here in His large murti form - one of the very few in ISKCON world wide. Devotees from all around Germany and other neigboring countries such as Poland, Czech, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Slovakia, Swizzerland and Austria are assembling here every year to celebrate the Lord's appearance in His most amazing and famous lila avatar. This year more devotees came to join the auspicious event - maybe around five hundred, which almost reminded me of the 'early days', when we attended this festival some 25 years ago.

It was nice to arrive a few days earlier. I had often considered to visit Simhachalam outside the festival days in order to serve the local devotees by trying to offer some inspiration. And now Krsna had fulfilled my desire by giving me this opportunity.
As soon as I arrived I was invited to give the SB class on the next two mornings, and also an evening BG lecture - a nice opportunity to tune in and get to know the local devotees. The second morning's lecture I dedicated to Nrsmhadeva's appearance in order to highlight various interesting details, anticipating the upcoming festival. Some devotees had already arrived, and the festive atmosphere was gradually building up.

On Friday afternoon I was invited to offer an introduction to the seminar on 'Giving and Accepting Shelter' - a most relevant topic, which caught the minds of the devotees in the audience.

This year we received HH Krsna Ksetra Maharaja, HH Kadamba Kanana Maharaja and HH Bhakti Vaibhava Maharaja as the main speakers and kirtaniyas. The main festivities took place throughout the Saturday with a special darshan of the Lord, a longer morning class given by HH Krsna Ksetra Maharaja and Kadamba Kanana Maharaja, and throughout the day we could relish various seminars.

Since this year we did not have so many speakers visiting the festival, my insignificant self was invited to give a seminar over two sessions, and I chose to discuss the topic of death. It connects very nicely with the appearance of Lord Nrsimhadev, since we often pray to Him for our protection. The ultimate protection which we should always seek is the protection of our rememberance of the Lord at the moment of death. Krsna might or might not protect our body, and eventually it must disintegrate anyway. Our ability to remember the Lord in this moment will be of eternal benefit. And this ability to remember the Lord will depend on how much we have endeavored to establish our relationship with Him through chanting the holy name. Death is the moment where we are tested what is most important for us - our relationship with Krsna, or maybe so many other things....?

The Lord was dressed in a very unique outfit made from colorful sandesh. Especially the trousers had a jolly looking design - orange with blue dots!

An elaborate abhishek of Lord Nrsimhadeva's large form, accompanied by wonderful kirtans was the highlight of the festivities. As every year we ladies were also invited to come on the altar and bathe the Lord - special mercy which I did not want to miss out on....
When the Lord received the many fruit garlands followed by the 'banana-pack' I couldn't help smiling to myself, thinking: "What are they doing with you, my Lord?!" And I was marveling how patiently the Lord is enduring all our dealings and attempts to offer our devotion to Him! Some of those bananas which were stuck on the Lord's body fell off - as if He was jokingly shaking them off, saying: "No, that doesn't feel so good....! Try again somewhere else...." The loving exchanges between Lord Nrsimhadev and His faithful servants....

On Sunday we could attend the yearly reports each and every leader of the German and Austrian yatra was presenting. It is a nice way to broaden our horizon and hear what every temple is doing in order to push on Lord Caitanya's Sankirtan movement - informative and inspirational.

This festival is always a great opportunity for me to meet devotees and connect with them, exchanging visions and ideas for preaching, and giving attention to devotees' sorrows and difficulties by trying to offer inspiration and encouragement. My contemplation is 'where is someone I can give something to' - some encouragement, attention, some well-wishing words of guidance and support. And with this attitude and mood Krsna sends so many devotees along our way to offer our service to.
And there are always some joyful surprises - we meet people who we have not seen for a long time, and who we did not expect to meet....

In the evening we were swinging Laxmi-Nrsimha, accompanied by sweet kirtans sung by HH Krsna Ksetra Maharaja and Kadamba Kanana Maharaja. Many devotees had left already in order to return to their homes and get ready for Monday as a working day. The festival was gradually coming to an end with a final sweet pastime of the Lord, in the assembly of a confidential circle of devotees.....

On Monday, the 4th of May I made my way to the Munich airport and flew off to Budapest....

Your servant, Devaki dd