Ceremony for Establishing the Pushpa Samadhi Mandir
at the Soquel Seva Ashram
July, 25, 2010
Photos courtesy of Krishnapriya didi, Jahnavi Devi Dasi and Swarnangii ::: Click on the pictures for larger view (you must have javascript enabled)
Captions by Vrinda Devi Dasi
Captions by Vrinda Devi Dasi
sri-guru karuna-sindhu, adhama janara bandhu,
lokanatha lokera jivana
ha ha prabhu koro doya, deho more pada-chaya,
ebe jasa ghusuk tribuvana
'O spiritual master, ocean of mercy, and friend of the fallen souls, you are the teacher of everyone and the life of all people. O master! Be merciful unto me and give me the shade of your lotus feet. May your glories now be proclaimed throughout the three worlds.'
After working very hard every weekend the devotees get the construction premises ready for the Ceremony to start.
Flower vases and a picture of Srila Gurudev are placed around the Samadhi.
This spot was specially picked by Srila Gurudev and he had expressed his desire to Hasyapriya Prabhu that he wanted to sit here under the "tree where the children play" and from here you can see the Math and all the activities of the devotees.
Laksmipriya Didi and Madhumati helped to make the many garlands.
Sushila Devi, Prabhus Yudhamanyu Seva Vikram and Sarva Bhavana, Vaidehi and Kalindi Didis.
All the devotees start arriving for this beautiful ceremony.
Mallika Didi and her parents visiting from Russia.
Bimala arrives with her brother and his wife visiting from Brazil.
Sripad Janardan Maharj personally greets Sripad Bhakti Madav Puri Maharaj who is visiting our San Jose Ashram.
Neelamani Prabhu was the pujari for the occasion.
Chairs where placed for the devotees to sit right next to the newly built wall, Hasyapriya Prabhu was remembering that a month ago if the devotees would have sat there everybody would have rolled down the hill!
Parikrama starts and the devotees go around Srila Gurudevs House with a beautiful Kirtan, and everybody goes up to pay their obeisances at his quarters.
Sripad Hasyapriya Prabhu carries the Divine cloth and Pushpa, flowers, from Srila Gruudev's Samadhi in Sri Navadwip Dham.
From Srila Gurudev's house they keep going up the hill as Sripad Janardan Maharaj leads the procession.
The kirtan was glorious,
and seeing the devotees approach was like a soothing salve to the heart.
Up the newly built ramp.
Sripad Janardan Maharaj, Sripad Hasyapriya Prabhu and Sripad Bhakti Madhav Puri Maharaj visiting from New York stand around the Samadhi site.
Sripad Janardan Maharaj asks Yudhamanyu Seva Vikram Prabhu to join them in the site.
The picture of how the Samadhi will look like once its finished.
The devotees worked very hard making garlands for our worshippable Vaisnavas.
Everybody gathers around the Samadhi.
Satrughna Prabhu, Bimala Didi, Krishna Kanti Didi, young Lavanika and Bhakti Lalita Didi.
Sripad Pushta Krishna Prabhu, Ramananda, Brajeswara and Bindhu Madava Prabhus, Devaki and Jahnavi.
Vrinda, Sushila and Sachi Didis.
Prabhus Neelamani, Hasyapriya and Srutasrava with young Madav.
Sripad Janardan Maharaj explained how the Pushpa Samadhi was considered non-different from the actual Samadhi in Sri Navadwip Dham.
In the earth they are placing flowers from Srila Gurudevs garland
and a sheet from the day he disappeared from our vision and entered into Samadhi.
Sripad Janardan Maharaj leads the devotees and everybody gets to place a little earth to cover the Samadhi.
Sripad Puri Maharaj places a shovel full of dirt in the Samadhi.
Next is Sripad Yudhamanyu Prabhu visiting from China.
Everybody follows and after placing the dirt circumbalates the Samadhi.
Srimati Bimala Didi.
Srimati Bhakti Lalita Didi.
Daru Brahma and Diksavati Didis.
Gaur Nataraj Prabhu standing on the children's treehouse.
Krishna Asraya Prabhu.
Kumaris Sivani and Lavanika.
Brajeswara Prabhu.
Bimala Didi's brother Gino.
Her sister-in-law.
Braja Mohini Didi and her daughter Syama Mohini.
Srimati Kumkum Didi.
Madavananda Prabhu and Sachi Devi Dasi.
Kalindi Didi.
Jaya Vardhan Prabhu.
Madhumati Didi.
Bhakta Swarup Prabhu.
Sushila Devi Dasi with Vrinda paying her obeisances.
Nayanananda Prabhu.
Our beautiful cooks, Srimati Sureswari Didi and Rasa Rajani come up from the kitchen to partake in the ceremony.
Rasa Rajani Devi Dasi.
Srimati Jivana Didi.
As the devotees finish we have some kirtan and Sripad Janardan Maharaj sings Srila Guru Arati and Sri Guru Charana Padma.
And then the senior Vaishnavas spoke of Srila Gurudevs' beautiful mood and his kindness and how affectionate he was to this Ashram and to all his devotees around the world.
The devotees listen attentively.
From our stalwart Ladies section Srimati Bimala and Bhakti Lalita Didis.
Pustha Krishna Prabhu also spoke
as did Hasyapriya Prabhu.
Srimati Tulsi Devi.
Neelamani Prabhu blows the conch to start the Arotik.
The devotees rise for Arotik and everybody gets to offer flower petals to Sri Guru.
Our little Sivani, by Sripad Hasyapriya Prabhus arrangement, sprinkles flower petals from the tree.
One by one the devotees come and offer flowers
and their obeisances to our beloved Srila Gurudev.
Sripad Hasyapriya Prabhu and Sripad Yudhamanyu Prabhu
After the ceremony everybody comes down for Bhoga Arotik. As the devotees descend the suns comes out joining in the celebration.
Their beautiful Lordahips Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharvika Giridhari Jiu.
Srila Gurudev's Feast plate.
Sri Arotik!
Rasa Rajani and Sureswari Didis prepared a beautiful feast for this day.
Everybody is happy to honor prasadam,
and to serve it.
By Jivana Didi's request everybody poses for a group picture to remember this beautiful day!
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare