I couldn’t have had a merrier Christmas weekend then attending HH Giriraj Swami’s vyasapuja!
We arrived in Durban on Friday morning and after spending a whole afternoon deeply engrossed in maya (the hotels’s one-eyed guru) we quickly changed in to our devotional attire and sped of to the beautiful temple of Sri Sri Radha Radhanath.
Oh that temple is special and such an oasis of spiritual energy. This night was a kirtan night with HH BB Govinda Maharaja and the sweetest kirtanya I’ve come across …HG Madhava Prabhu! I got roped in to making garlands for the senior devotees for the vyasapuja the next day. Was so happy to see one the garlands I made on HH Giriraj Maharaja the next day…perhaps the perfection of my life? If only my devotional service was pure in heart! My Lord I beg for Your mercy…
What a kirtan!!! I love Krishna Consciousness! I’m so thankful for these amazing experiences that make you chant with sincerity even where no sincerity exists such is the power of chanting with the devotees of the Lord. Gazing at Radha Radhanatha my heart filled with a longing to attain pure, unmotivated service to Their gorgeous lotus feet. My Lord I beg for Your mercy…
The next day was the vyasapuja. Giriraj Maharaja is a special soul, even I who am covered so deeply in maya can recognise a bit of Maharaja’s splendour. The Japa retreat that I attended few weeks back (will blog on that shortly) was the first time I really got to listen to Maharaja speak. ..oh and sing…really heart rendering to hear Maharaja’s slow carefully articulated prayerful singing of Jaya Radha Madhava. How can my heart not change in such association? …Why does my heart change so slowly?!
Several senior devotees spoke in appreciation of Maharaja and the loving dealings Maharaja displays with all these devotees are really, really nice. He is truly an exemplary devotee…so much so that it brings tears to my eyes to find that there are such people in this world and how much I would like to be such a soul!
HH Bhakti Caitanya Maharaj gave Maharaja a specially made bead bag and HH Govinda Maharaja gave Maharaja a japa bead and some thread form a jacket of Madhava Pandits beads from the Gopinatha Temple in Jaipur! Wow! There is so much appreciation coming from these God brothers of Maharaja. I can not imagine how much love they have for Maharaja ...With just a few days association I am affected by Maharaja how much more must these pure souls be affected with all the association they have had.
Maharaja’s key note address was so enriching …one thing that stood out was that a study was done that you will like people that YOU are nice to. Normally we like people who are nice to us but actually if you are nice to people you will like them. Other points: Krishna consciousness is love disguised as philosophy. Have faith and be like the wise Chinese farmer. Maharaja spoke about so mane things ..Srila Prabhupada’s ever so merciful nature who always said TRY to do this or that always protecting his devotees because he know if he says you much do like this and we can not then it will not be good for us but if he says try then at least we can try and like that get the benefit for following the instruction. Srila Prabhupada you are so compassionate!
Attending Vyasapuja’s always reminds me more strongly of my own spiritual master who is also a soul like no other. Dearest Gurudev, My loving obeisances at your Lotus feet! Please don’t forsake your poor disciple. Please continue showering your mercy upon me and grunt me with the intelligence to accept it in the best possible way.
All glories all glories to the lotus-like devotees of the Lord!! Please may I be surrounded by such souls for all of eternity. Please may my heart be pure and surrendered that I may always value their sweet association. Please may my intelligence be purified that I may fully take advantage of their sublime associations. Dear Supreme Personality of Godhead who is the constant companion of beautiful Radharani, I submit these prayers at Your lotus feets. Please show mercy on this poor fool.
Jai Sri Krishna! Jai Sri Radhe!
Jai Srila Prabhupada!
Jai Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga!
