Hrsikesa Krsna Navami

Here is the place of Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja, just off the courtyard of Sri Sri Radha-Damodara. Srila Svami Maharaja took sannyasa in Mathura, and then he moved near to here and would sometimes go to Delhi. At last he came to this place – the place of Srila Rupa Gosvami’s samadhi and bhajana kutira. Here, he used to write books...

For several days leading up to the Appearance Day of Bhagavan Sri Krsna, thousands of sadhus and pilgrims were finding their way to Mathura Dhama to observe the Janmastami-vrata (vow), to have darsan of Kamsa's Dungeon where Vasudeva Krsna appeared 5000 years ago, to bathe in the sacred Yamuna, and to perform parikrama of the many significant tirthas in and around Mathura...

Srila Narayana Maharaja was happy to share his fond memories of this long-standing and affectionate relationship. Excerpts from a variety of Maharaja's informal interviews and statements have been used. We also have lightly edited his often ambiguous and misunderstood English. If he had presented these memories and appreciations in Hindi, his native tongue, the details and heartfelt explanations would be far more eloquent, clear, and detailed. However, time and circumstances have not yet permitted this...

One special quality I saw in him was that he was very simple, and always smiling. Before him, other preachers from India had gone to Western countries. They were very intelligent and knew all philosophical truths, but they were not so simple that they could mingle with everyone, including children. I have seen Srila Swami Maharaja; he used to play with little children and he was so funny. He had no false ego...

Today is very auspicious. Last night Nanda Baba and Yasoda had a very beautiful son, and they were so happy. Vasudeva and Devaki also had a son, in jail, and they also became happy, but not as happy as they could have been - because there were guards. Who were the guards? Demons on the caliber of Putana, Aghasura, Bakasura, Canura, Mustika, Sala, Kosala, and so many others. And even now Janma-Bhumi is like a jail. Due to the intensified situation...

Today is a very sacred day. It is Nandotsava (the celebration of Krsna’s birthday). Nanda Baba, Yasoda Maiya, and all the elder Vrajavasis had as their son the Supreme Lord Krsna Himself. Krsna took birth on the previous day, at midnight, and today, one of the associates of Krsna, Abhaya Caranaravinda, Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja took birth. How many years before? 109+.

Today is the auspicious birthday of nitya-lila pravista om visnupada Sri Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami Maharaja Prabhupada. Jagat-guru nitya-lila pravista Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Thakura Prabhupada, following the order of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, wanted the glories of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu, and krsna-nama-sankirtana to be preached all over the world...

Without power from Krsna, no one can preach all over the world in a couple of years as he did. The power and inspiration of Krsna and the power of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu were with him, and that is why his Gurudeva told him to write articles in English and to preach in Western countries...

A festival report...