The highlights of my visit to Dhaka/Bangladesh were the two main festivals of the Kartik season: Govardhana Puja and Srila Prabhupada's disappearance.
In this part of the world, Krishna lifting Govardhana Hill is commemorated in a very traditional way - exactly as the lila goes. The devotees arrange for a big mountain of rice - the annakuta, which Krishna had requested as an offering to worship Govardhana Hill instead of Lord Indra. And then He appeared in an unprecedented and gigantic form on top of this hill of rice in order to accept the offerings. And little Krishna exclaimed: "Just see! Your Indra never comes to accept the offering, but Govardhana Hill appears to accept whatever you have offered to Him!" And Krishna pays obeisances to His own gigantic form. This is remembered by creating a big face of Krishna on top of the annakuta, made from all kinds of eatables. And there were around eight hundred clay pots with a variety of preparations offered to Govardhana Hill, to sumptuously feed the brahmanas and all devotees. It is a very joyful event, and several thousand devotees and guests are coming throughout the day to take prasadam.
In this part of the world, Krishna lifting Govardhana Hill is commemorated in a very traditional way - exactly as the lila goes. The devotees arrange for a big mountain of rice - the annakuta, which Krishna had requested as an offering to worship Govardhana Hill instead of Lord Indra. And then He appeared in an unprecedented and gigantic form on top of this hill of rice in order to accept the offerings. And little Krishna exclaimed: "Just see! Your Indra never comes to accept the offering, but Govardhana Hill appears to accept whatever you have offered to Him!" And Krishna pays obeisances to His own gigantic form. This is remembered by creating a big face of Krishna on top of the annakuta, made from all kinds of eatables. And there were around eight hundred clay pots with a variety of preparations offered to Govardhana Hill, to sumptuously feed the brahmanas and all devotees. It is a very joyful event, and several thousand devotees and guests are coming throughout the day to take prasadam.
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I was invited to give the main lecture at noon, sharing some sweet details of the famous lila. Srila Visvanath Chakravati Thakur explains the finer moments of the loving exchanges between Krishna and the residents of Vrindavan when they took shelter underneath Govardhana Hill, which Krishna had picked up like a mushroom. According to their own relationship with Krishna, they engaged in loving exchanges: the elder gopas felt they had to help Krishna holding up the hill with their sticks. Sometimes Krishna would lower the hill to pretend that He was getting tired, which increased the loving anxiety of the gopas and associates. Mother Yasoda was in anxiety that Krishna may be tired and hungry, as she watched Krishna's belt becoming loose as if He was losing weight. And she offered a spice mixture for His refreshment. And the young gopis were secretly exchanging loving glances with Him, drinking with their eyes the beauty of Krishna's charming form while embracing Him within Their hearts.
In SB.10.25.33 it is explained in this connection: "It is natural that a young man wants to do something wonderful in the presence of a beautiful young girl. The gopis were the most beautiful and pure-hearted young girls, and Sri Krishna performed the most wonderful activities in their presence. Thus He entered deep within their tender hearts, enlivening their eternal devotion to Him."
By hearing again and again Krishna's pastimes and sweet loving exchanges our eternal devotion for Him will also be aroused.
In SB.10.25.33 it is explained in this connection: "It is natural that a young man wants to do something wonderful in the presence of a beautiful young girl. The gopis were the most beautiful and pure-hearted young girls, and Sri Krishna performed the most wonderful activities in their presence. Thus He entered deep within their tender hearts, enlivening their eternal devotion to Him."
By hearing again and again Krishna's pastimes and sweet loving exchanges our eternal devotion for Him will also be aroused.
A few days later we observed Srila Prabhupada's disappearance, which gave me a blissful opportunity to remember our beloved Srila Prabhupada. The devotees kept me busy with three speaking engagements throughout the day: The morning class, where I elaborated on the deeper meaning of Srila Prabhupada being our Founder-Acharya, and an afternoon class sharing pastimes of Srila Prabhupada. In the evening we conducted a big stage program attended by many devotees and guests, and various dignitaries and politicians honored and glorified Srila Prabhupada, according to their realization.
At the end of my last speech I introduced some of Srila Prabhupada's main books, inviting the audience to come to a book table where I would sign them with good wishes. And I was sitting there until late evening distributing lots of books - my most joyful moments while perceiving Srila Prabhupada's satisfaction. It had been a very blissful day, being intensely absorbed in remembering Srila Prabhupada.
At the end of my last speech I introduced some of Srila Prabhupada's main books, inviting the audience to come to a book table where I would sign them with good wishes. And I was sitting there until late evening distributing lots of books - my most joyful moments while perceiving Srila Prabhupada's satisfaction. It had been a very blissful day, being intensely absorbed in remembering Srila Prabhupada.
Srila Prabhupada performed two special pastimes during the last days of his physical presence in this world. Prabhupada almost trixed the devotees in order to deepen and intensify their loving feelings and attachment for him. And it drove some of his care-givers almost to transcendental madness. Prabhupada had called all his disciples to come to Vrindavan to be with him, and to witness his departure from this world. HH Bhakti Charu Maharaja, Bhavananda Maharaja and Tamal Krishna Maharaja were his foremost care-givers, arranging for Srila Prabhupada's personal needs. Srila Prabhupada had come to the conclusion that his body had become more and more useless for his preaching mission, and he had decided to fast in order to prepare his departure. At some point he had made a statement to his disciples that it was actually in his hands whether to stay or leave. This confused and perturbed the devotees. In great anxiety they met to discuss the situation and concluded, that they should beg Srila Prabhupada to stay with them. Under tears his personal servants appealed to him to stay in this world, since they so badly needed Prabhupada's presence. And Prabhupada nonchalantly agreed and started eating again. In this way, Prabhupada greatly intensified their anxiety and loving feelings for him to ultimately deepen their mood of vani. Prabhupada's sister Pisima insisted to cook for him, and Prabhupada agreed to the proposal, although her cooking was known to be very heavy and thus not really suitable for Prabhupada's condition. Thus the devotees objected, requesting Srila Prabhupada that she should not cook. But he in turn insisted to accept her cooking, which drove the devotees further into great anxiety: How would he be able to digest her preparations?!
To Prabhupada's greatest pleasure HH Lokanath Maharaja had started the Padayatra around India. And now, in his weak and most fragile condition, Srila Prabhupada expressed the desire to go on a parikrama to Govardhana Hill in a bullock cart. A loving sweet controversy ensued: What was the right thing to do? To execute Srila Prabhupada desire, or to appeal to him to give up the idea? The doctors said that he would never survive such a rough journey in a bullock cart, on the bumpy roads to Govardhana Hill. His body had become so fragile, thin and weak. The plan for such excursion almost appeared like utter madness! However, some devotees felt that the order and desire of the spiritual master has to be executed, and thus all preparations for the parikrama were made. Finally, Bhavananda and Tamal Krishna Maharaja were up all night in utter mental turmoil, and under tears they were pleeding with Srila Prabhupada not to embark on this crazy journey. And Srila Prabhupada immediately dropped the idea, saying: "Oh, you are so worried about me? OK, I don't want to worry you - I will not go then." And to his godbrothers he commented: "Just see how they love me....."
The devotees had scheduled further preaching engagements for me: a student program, and a two-day seminar in our new temple in Uttara, a suburb in New Dhaka. We churned the topic of death, ending with the foremost way to prepare for it: the chanting of the holy name. Death seems to be the only entity which can truly shake us up and make us helplessly turn towards Krishna.....! And after all programs I distributed lots of Prabhupada's books.....!
On the 14th of November I flew off to Sylhet.....
Your servant, Devaki dd
To Prabhupada's greatest pleasure HH Lokanath Maharaja had started the Padayatra around India. And now, in his weak and most fragile condition, Srila Prabhupada expressed the desire to go on a parikrama to Govardhana Hill in a bullock cart. A loving sweet controversy ensued: What was the right thing to do? To execute Srila Prabhupada desire, or to appeal to him to give up the idea? The doctors said that he would never survive such a rough journey in a bullock cart, on the bumpy roads to Govardhana Hill. His body had become so fragile, thin and weak. The plan for such excursion almost appeared like utter madness! However, some devotees felt that the order and desire of the spiritual master has to be executed, and thus all preparations for the parikrama were made. Finally, Bhavananda and Tamal Krishna Maharaja were up all night in utter mental turmoil, and under tears they were pleeding with Srila Prabhupada not to embark on this crazy journey. And Srila Prabhupada immediately dropped the idea, saying: "Oh, you are so worried about me? OK, I don't want to worry you - I will not go then." And to his godbrothers he commented: "Just see how they love me....."
The devotees had scheduled further preaching engagements for me: a student program, and a two-day seminar in our new temple in Uttara, a suburb in New Dhaka. We churned the topic of death, ending with the foremost way to prepare for it: the chanting of the holy name. Death seems to be the only entity which can truly shake us up and make us helplessly turn towards Krishna.....! And after all programs I distributed lots of Prabhupada's books.....!
On the 14th of November I flew off to Sylhet.....
Your servant, Devaki dd
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