Tour Report - GOVARDHANA - March, 2007

GOVARDHANA TOUR REPORT
MARCH, 2007

After the completion of Navadvipa-dhama parikarma, Srila Narayana Maharaja returned to his Giridhari Gaudiya Matha in Govardhana, where he will remain until March 25th. He will then spend three days in Mathura to celebrate Rama-navami, and then proceed to Delhi (Noida) for a 3-day pandal program before leaving for his Western tour.

Every morning at about 6am he goes for a morning japa walk, during which time he also answers devotees' philosophical questions, and he returns at 7:00am. He then enters the temple and circumambulates the Deities of Sri Sri Radha-vinoda-bhiharji and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and the assembled devotees circumambulate with him.


Morning walk


Circumambulating the Deities


Sri Sri Radha-vinoda-bihariji and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu


Obeisances to Their Lordships

During the day, Srila Narayana Maharaja translates the acaryas' Sanskrit commentaries of Srimad-Bhagavatam into Hindi, answers numerous letters, and meets with devotees.

He was invited one day to a nearby village named Shonk to speak about the Gaudiya-Vaisnava philosophy, and he also initiated 30 villagers there.

On another day he went to Vrndavana, to visit his Sri Rupa Sanatana Gaudiya Matha and Gopinath Bhavan. While at Sri Rupa Sanatana Gaudiya Matha, he spoke for a fe w minutes in English. The following is a transcription of that short talk:

“Do not commit any offense towards the holy dhama. Also, do not criticize any Vaisnava. Perform bhajana.

"This place is very sacred. Srila Rupa Gosvami, Srila Sanatana Gosvami, Srila Lokanatha Gosvami, Srila Bhurgarba Gosvami, Srila Gopal-bhatta Gosvami, Srila Jiva Gosvami and the other Gosvamis, Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura and Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana have performed bhajana here and are eternally present in Seva Kunja. And some special Gaudiya Vaisnava temples are here. You are very fortunate to be here. Be surrendered to Srila Gurudeva and Sri Sri Radha-Krsna.

"Be careful. Be wholeheartedly surrendered to Gurudeva and Radha-Krsna conjugal. What I have told in my classes about your aim and object of your life, you should realize here.

tan-nama-rupa-caritadi-sukirtananu-
smrtyoh kramena rasan a-manasi niyojya
tisthan vraje tad-anuragi jananugami
kalam nayed akhilam ity upadesa-saram

[“While living in Vraja as a follower of the eternal residents of Vraja who possess inherent spontaneous love for Sri Krsna, on should utilize all his time by sequentially engaging the tongue and the mind in meticulous chanting and remembrance of Krsna's names, form, qualities and pastimes. This is the essence of all instruction.” (Sri Upadesamrta, verse 8)]

"You have heard this verse many times. Try to follow it. It is a very important verse. It is the essence of all instructions of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Rupa Gosvami.

"I am also fortunate that I am here in Vraja. Sometimes I am here, sometimes in Mathura, sometimes in Govardhana, sometimes in Navadvipa, and sometimes in Radha-kunda. Perform bhajana very sincerely and try to be totally surrendered, with no duplicity or hypocrisy, and thus your lives will be successful."

Every evening at Govardhana, at about 5:30pm, Srila Narayana Maharaja walks on the grass while intermittently doing his japa and meeting with devotees and guests. During this 30 minute period, devotees sit on the ledges and temple steps to chant along with him. Most evenings, after this japa period, he gives short classes in the temple room. One night he spoke about the discussion between Nemi Maharaja and the Nine Yogendras concerning the process by which conditioned souls can attain liberation and ultimately Krsna-prema. One night he spoke about the significance of the Holi festival. On the night following the solar eclipse, which had taken place between 6.28am and 9.55 am, he spoke about the significance of the solar eclipse. He related the history of Krsna and His associates performing pastimes at the time of the eclipse at Kuruksetra, 5,000 years before.




Walking from his room to the garden


Japa walk in the garden 

Report submitted by Vasanti dasi
Editor: Syamarani dasi
Editorial Advisors: Sripad Brajanath dasa
Pictures submitted by Subal Sakha dasa