Lord Balaram's Appearance Day

The devotees all came together for Sri Arotik in this most auspicious occasion to celebrate the advent of Lord Balarama.

It is said in the Chaitanya Charitamrita (Adi-lila 5.4-5) that "The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is the fountainhead of all incarnations. Lord Balarama is His second body.

These two are one and the same identity. They differ only in form. Lord Balarama is the first bodily expansion of Krishna, and He assists in Lord Krishna’s transcendental pastimes."

Once a devotee asked Srila Sridhar Maharaj: I noticed that at this Math, while circumambulating Tulasi during her arati, here,the devotees don't like to chant the mantra yani kani ca papani brahma-hatyadikani ca, tani tani pranasyanti pradaksinah pade pade ("Those who circumambulate Srimati Tulasidevi step by step destroy whatever sins they have committed, even the killing of a brahmana"). Why is this? And Srila Sridhar Maharaj said: A devotee of higher order must not have any prayer to "Absolve me from sin." The first-class devotee will pray, "Whatever I have done wrong, I am ready to suffer for that, to the farthing. But my prayer is only that I may get a drop of the nectar of the favor of Krsna."

Our beautiful devotee children participate very happily in kirtan.

Sripad Sarvabavana Prabhu and Sripad Parvat Maharaj told many stories and pastimes of Sri Balaram and His beautiful nature.

Meanwhile in the Seva Ashram Kitchen the crew is making all kinds of preparations for Their Lordships.

There was a Honey Drink, and Baklava, Honey Sweet Rice, all using the honey from our Ashram bees,

Sandesh and Subji with Curd,

Puris, Rice and many other foodstuffs made with much affection.

Sripad Yudhamanyu Prabhu was very enthusiastic in taking pictures of our devotees to take with him to China.