The Divine Appearance Day Celebration
of his Divine Grace
Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj
December 23, 2010
Click on the pictures for larger view (you must have javascript enabled)
Captions by Vrinda Devi
Captions by Vrinda Devi
Srila Gurudev's beautiful Pushpa Samadhi Mandhir.
Excerpt from Sri Guru and His Grace:
"Gentlemen, although we are like ignorant children in the knowledge of Transcendence, still my Gurudeva has kindled a small fire within us to dissipate the invincible darkness of empirical knowledge. We are now so much on the safe side that no amount of philosophical argument by the empiric schools of thought can deviate us an inch from the position of our eternal dependence on the lotus feet of His Divine Grace.
Gentlemen, had he not appeared before us to deliver us from the thralldom of this gross, worldly delusion, surely we should have remained for lives and ages in the darkness of helpless captivity. Had he not appeared before us, we would not have been able to understand the eternal truth of the sublime teaching of Lord Chaitanya.
Personally, I have no hope for any direct service of the coming crores of births in the sojourn of my life, but I am confident that some day or other I shall be delivered from this mire of delusion in which I am at present so deeply sunk. Therefore let me with all my earnestness pray at the lotus feet of my divine master to allow me to suffer the lot for which I am destined due to my past misdoings, but to let me have this power of recollection: that I am nothing but a tiny servant of the Almighty Absolute Godhead, realized through the unflinching mercy of my divine master. Let me therefore bow down at his lotus feet with all the humility at my command."
Abhay Charan Das
For Members, Sri Gaudiya Math
Bombay
"Gentlemen, although we are like ignorant children in the knowledge of Transcendence, still my Gurudeva has kindled a small fire within us to dissipate the invincible darkness of empirical knowledge. We are now so much on the safe side that no amount of philosophical argument by the empiric schools of thought can deviate us an inch from the position of our eternal dependence on the lotus feet of His Divine Grace.
Gentlemen, had he not appeared before us to deliver us from the thralldom of this gross, worldly delusion, surely we should have remained for lives and ages in the darkness of helpless captivity. Had he not appeared before us, we would not have been able to understand the eternal truth of the sublime teaching of Lord Chaitanya.
Personally, I have no hope for any direct service of the coming crores of births in the sojourn of my life, but I am confident that some day or other I shall be delivered from this mire of delusion in which I am at present so deeply sunk. Therefore let me with all my earnestness pray at the lotus feet of my divine master to allow me to suffer the lot for which I am destined due to my past misdoings, but to let me have this power of recollection: that I am nothing but a tiny servant of the Almighty Absolute Godhead, realized through the unflinching mercy of my divine master. Let me therefore bow down at his lotus feet with all the humility at my command."
Abhay Charan Das
For Members, Sri Gaudiya Math
Bombay
Sureshwari Didi always working hard in the kitchen to make sure all goes on beautifully.
Devaki makes her famous ladoo.
Annapurna Didi drove down from San Francisco to make her chutneys.
Sanatani Didi is the queen of the kitchen, under her guidance all the offering is orchestrated.
Our Mahadevi Didi along with her many other service engagements helps with the decorations.
helped by Virachandra Prabhu and many more.
Laskmi Priya Didi with the help of many others organized the temple room decorations.
All the devotees await patiently for the arrival of Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj and Sripad Madhava Puri Maharaj.
And so joined by Sripad Hasyapriya Prabhu and Sripad Sarvabavana Prabhu and many devotees the program starts.
In the mean time outside under Sureshwari Didi's guidance everybody rolls Samosas.
Our Divya Shakti Didi who just returned from New York, helps fry them.
Sachi Didi helps with many preparations all around.
Nandarani Didi gets ready to make one of her famous delicious preparations.
Vrinda Didi makes khir and sweet rice.
Satrughna Prabhu makes his delicious sandesh
Our giant pot of ghee. Srila Gurudev would often affectionately refer to Soquel as the place where ghee flows like water.
And the program continues happily.
After singing Srila Janardan Maharaj speaks of the glories of Srila Gurudev's beautiful mood, and everybody shares so many pastimes that bring much joy to everyone's heart.
Young Lavanika and Sivani, under the direction of Rasaraj Prabhu help to clean the Prasad Hall.
Then it's time for Arotik.
Vidura Krishna Prabhu brings the 108 wick ghee lamp.
Next, by Srila Janardan Maharaj's direction the devotees go up the hill to pay our obeisances to Srila Gurudev in the Pushpa Samadhi Mandhir, where His Divine Graces arotik is going on.
Mahadevi offers Arotik to His Divine Grace as the devotees gather and chant " Sri Guru Arotik."
It is a most glorious day with hearts full of affection for our beloved Srila Gurudev.
The time for prasadam time arrives,
and everybody is happy to honor Mahaprasadam.
Srila Gurudev's beautiful Vyasasana.
Srila Gurudev says on the Benedictine tree of Divine Aspiration,
"What we need are good friends and association, then we can proceed happily. And the other factor is that if our surrender is perfect, then from the upper level faith will come to us and protect us. If someone is fully surrendered to Krishna in His form as Guru or sadhu, then Krishna will certainly protect him. He must protect him. But it is also sometimes a factor of time as to when Krishna will accept that devotee or how much time He will spend for him. But we should not feel hopeless because of that. When the time actually comes we shall surely understand."
Srila Gurudev says on the Benedictine tree of Divine Aspiration,
"What we need are good friends and association, then we can proceed happily. And the other factor is that if our surrender is perfect, then from the upper level faith will come to us and protect us. If someone is fully surrendered to Krishna in His form as Guru or sadhu, then Krishna will certainly protect him. He must protect him. But it is also sometimes a factor of time as to when Krishna will accept that devotee or how much time He will spend for him. But we should not feel hopeless because of that. When the time actually comes we shall surely understand."
Their Beautiful Lordships Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharvika Giridharijiu are dressed in a new outfit using Their traditional colors as revealed by Srila Gurudev, made by Swaranangii Didi.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare