Date: Sun, 13 Jul 2003 08:34:11 -0700 (PDT)
From: Siddhanti Maharaj, California
Subject: Carmel evening public program

The program was at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Carmel which is 50 miles from our Soquel Ashram. It was arranged expertly and beautifully by Divya Shakti Devi Dasi and everyone felt it is was highly successful. The room at the church was decorated beautifully with many fragrant flowers and beautiful pictures of Gurudev, Krishna, etc. After the clear and strong lecture by Sripad Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj, an absorbing hour-long slide-show was presented by Sripad Bhakti Chandan Parvat Maharaj. Accompanied by a personal narration His Holiness showed over 120 pictures from India and California of parikramas, Harinama sankirtan, Temple openings, cow-seva, charitable dispensaries, prasadam distribution, etc. Sumptuous prasadam was then served to the many guests and devotees.

The program reminded me of the Russian preaching mission where programs such as this are arranged all over the country.

Sripad Janardan Maharaj's lecture reminded me of the Srimad-Bhagavatam verse: By regularly hearing the Bhagavatam (and talks of the devotees) practically all that is inauspicious in the heart is removed and loving service is established in one's heart. Nasta-prayesv abhadresu, nityam bhagavata-sevaya.(Bha: 1.2.18)