Sri Pushpa Samadhi Mandir Inauguration

October, 30, 2010

Photos courtesy of B.C. Parvat Maharaj, Jivana Didi and Swarnangii ::: Click on the pictures for larger view (you must have javascript enabled)

After working day and night for months the Pushpa Samadhi Mandhir of Srila Gurudev was ready for its glorious inauguration! So much love and affection was put into it, from the devotees laying bricks and pouring cement to all of the devotees that graciously donated the funds for this beautiful project. Up until late Friday night the devotees headed by Bahulavan Prabhu were still working on the Samadhi. The marble was finished late Friday night.

Canopies were set up in anticipation of the rain. Many flags were placed along the driveway to receive all of our friends and family so when Saturday morning came and rain was pouring down still the devotees were very happily waiting for the program to begin.

Early Saturday morning the devotees decorated the Mandir with flower garlands. Dikshavati Didi found an amazing grower and collected huge baskets of the white stephanotis flowers which enhanced the dignity and beauty.

The beautiful lions that protect Srila Gurudev's Samadhi were sent from Thailand by Sripad Paramananda Prabhu and Srimati Krishna Priya Didi. And the garlands were made with special flowers generously sent from Srimati Sunanda Didi from Hawaii.

With the inspiration of Lasksmipriya Didi and the donation from Kisori Didi in Utah, the temple was adorned with auspicious coconut trees.

Vira Chandra Prabhu was up late the night before getting everything ready and up again early to make sure.

The new steps were inviting everyone with the beautiful flags.

From the parking lot.

Jashomati and Kumkum Didis.

Some early arrivals from our beautiful San Jose Ashram family.

Our Jashomati Didi came from San Francisco.

The devotees happily welcomed each other.

Maladhari Didi and Ratan Krishna Prabhu came from Oregon and Nitai Sundar Prabhu from Utah on samosa duty.

Srila Gurudev's beautiful Vyasasana decorated with so many flowers by the arrangement of Laksmi Priya, Krishna Madhuri, Kalindi, Diksavati Didis and many others.

Krishna Priya Didi, as always, tends lovingly to Srimati Tulasi Devi.

Srimati Bhakti Lalita Didi and Divya Shakti Didi visiting from New York.

Krishnashraya Prabhu and Shyama Gopa Prabhu.

Sanatani Didi and Divya Shakti Didi are very happy to see each other.

Deva Priya Didi and Sushila Didi

Indira Didi

Sureswari Didi

Sanatani and Vrinda Didi

Annapurna Didi and the bustling kitchen crew.

Rajani Didi and Vidura Krishna Prabhu

Everybody has some special preparation for this feast.

Our beautiful Jivana Didi helps Sanatani Didi with the preparations for the festival

The kitchen is in full festival mode!

Rasangi Didi brings her Matzaball soup!

Dhanista Didi puts much effort into making wonderful tamales.

Kumaris Rohini and Devaki help with the cupcakes.

Shatrughna Prabhu makes his special Sandesh.

So many shoes show how many devotees have come for this occasion!

Jaganath Prabhu, the son of Amiya Kanti Didi and Vidyasundar Prabhu plays the Kartals.

Under Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharajs guidance the program begins and everybody gathered in the temple room.

Many bhajans were happily chanted,

then Srila Janardan Maharaj spoke very beautifully to the attentive crowd.

Many happy memories of Srila Gurudev's time in Soquel were recalled.

Our Srila Janardan Maharaj is very happy to welcome everyone

Vidyasundar Prabhu and little Jaganath.

From our stalwart ladies section,Srimati Bhakti Lalita and Divyashakti Didis.

The children played mercifully quietly.

After the program in the temple room the devotees proceed to Srila Gurudev's house to pay dandavats and Srila Janardan Maharaj takes the picture of Srila Gurudev to be placed in the Pushpa Samadhi Mandhir.

His Holiness leads the procession up the Hill with a big kirtan.

Srila Gurudev's picture is placed on the Mandir altar and a most exquisite garland lovingly made is offered.

Once the picture and garlands are placed everyone pays their affectionate obeisances in the rain!

By Laksmi Priya's arrangement and with everybody's help there are flower garlands for all the devotees and guests.

Everyone marvels at the beauty of the temple.

Srila Janardan Maharaj, Sripad Hasyapriya Prabhu, Sripad Srutasrava Prabhu and Sripad Sarvabhavana Prabhu

Everybody listens attentively as Srila Janardan Maharaj welcomes everyone.

Srimatis Dikshavati, Rasangi, Yasoda and Kumkum Didis.

Srila Janardan Maharaj leads the devotees in more kirtan.

Lalita Didi, Maheswari Didi, and Para Didi

And so kirttan begins and Nitai Sundar Prabhu plays the mrdanga

Sripad Sarvabhavana Prabhu.

Srila Janardan Maharaj speaks about the Mandir.

The Samadhi Mandhir is resplendent and breathtakingly beautiful!

The devotees consider the rain wonderful and auspicious.

They happily listen to all the beautiful glories of our beloved Srila Gurudev being told.

Srimati Braja Mohini Didi.

Kumaris Devaki, Sita, Rohini and Krishnapriya, Srimatis Madhumati, Narayani and Bharat Chandra Prabhu.

The grounds were filled with beautiful Orissan hanging decorations brought back from India by Vidura Krishna Prabhu for this purpose.

Sripad Parvat Maharaja is ready with his camera.

Sripad Parvat Maharaj, Srila Janardan Maharaj, Sripad Hasyapriya Prabhu, Sripad Srutasrava Prabhu and Sripad Sarvabhavana Prabhu

Everyone smiles as Srila Janardan Maharaj says that months ago when he heard about this project he thought it would be beautiful but he didnt know it was going to be this beautiful!

Sripad Srutasrava Prabhu explains how this temple is so beautiful it cannot but be that it manifested by the Grace of Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Maharaj.

Later Sripad Hasyapriya Prabhu explained how this beautiful temple was made solely by the effort and affection of the devotees who received so much love from Srila Gurudev that they were happy to somehow show their appreciation for His Divine Grace.

Kumaris Rohini and Krishnapriya.

Madhumita Didi and Srimati Jivana Didi.

Srila Janardan Maharaj recalled how much affection Srila Gurudev had for this Ashram and how he was always happy when he saw the deer, and just the other day Srila Janardan Maharaj saw a little deer playing around the Samadhi Mandhir.

Vidura Krishna Prabhu, Sanatani Didi, and Radhika Didi bring the offering plate with our pujari Ramai Prabhu.

The Arotik paraphernalia and the offering plate are placed in front of Srila Gurudev's picture on the Samadhi.

And so as the auspicious rain falls the puja begins.

Srila Janardan Maharaj leads the devotees as they one by one offer their flowers and dandavats to Srila Gurudev's lotus feet.

Then the rain begins to pour.

The Mandir has a very mystical accommodating quality that if one is there by oneself it is very intimate but yet a couple of hundred devotees can also congregate comfortably.

Phalguni Krishna Prabhu holds his large umbrella to offer shelter to the devotees offering flowers.

Ramai Prabhu gets drenched.

Nitai Sundar, Kalachand and Shatrughna Prabhus play mridangas, Sarvabhavana and Ramachandra Prabhu play kartals while Maharaj leads and the kirtan goes on happily!

gurvabhista-supurakam guru-ganair asisa-sambhusitam
chintyachintya-samasta-veda-nipunam sri-rupa-panthanugam
govindabhidham ujjvalam vara-tanum bhakty anvitam sundaram
vande visva-gurun cha divya-bhagavat-premno hi bija-pradam

"I worship the holy lotus feet of he who perfectly fulfills the most cherished wish of his divine master -- who is adorned resplendently with the blessings of his guru varga; who is adept in all Vedic conceptions, both conceivable and inconceivable; who is the faithful follower in the line of Sri Rupa; who is known as Srila Govinda Maharaj; whose beautiful divine figure revels in the mellows of divine love; who is the guru of the entire universe and the bestower of the seed of divine love for the Supreme Lord."