All glories to Sri
Guru and Sri Gauranga
19th
World Tour visit to London
of
Srila
Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj
Ratnavali Devi
Dasi and Jaya Shree Devi Dasi reflect upon Srila Gurudev's recent visit.
Dear Devotees,
Please accept our dandavat
pranams!
We'll try to start off where Mukunda
Prabhu left off, but please forgive us if the quality isn't the same.
On Sunday Srila Gurudev was up and
giving his mercy as usual. It was Sadananda Prabhu's birthday, so that evening
he invited Srila Gurudev and all the devotees over to his new house for Prasadam.
He is an optician, as Mukunda Prabhu reported, and had Srila Gurudev's new glasses
ready. After we all had a lovely walk around he presented Srila Gurudev with
his new specs. They are frameless, photosensitive, titanium, Hugo Boss bifocals,
and they look wonderful on him. Some of the devotees were saying that they look
as though they have always been his. You can see his face a lot more now. Hopefully
there will be some photos posted soon. Sadananda Prabhu's mother Ishwari Didi
and his wife Krpa Didi had made a beautiful Gujarati style feast for everyone.
So after taking Prasadam we all followed Srila Gurudev back to the Temple quite
happy.
Monday
After Monday morning darshan, Gurudev
visited the new home of Saraswati Didi and Aditi Nandana Prabhu, and took breakfast
there. The morning's menu had a very international theme, with home baked croissants,
Venezuelan corn bread and herbal chai amongst other dishes. Around fifty devotees
accompanied Gurudev on this visit. Gurudev had a little tour of their home and
even young Vira Chandra's pet rabbit, named 'Ki Jai'!, was blessed by having
a moment's darshan with Guru Maharaj. Gurudev then stayed for an hour and a
half before returning to the Temple.
During
an ever-packed evening darshan Sripad Swarupananda Prabhu and Mrs Ena Chakrabharty
paid their respects to Guru Maharaj. The visits were very special, as it marked
the completion and publication of the highly anticipated Sri Garga Samhita,
which they so dedicatedly worked to produce. Guru Maharaj was overjoyed at seeing
the finished works and stated that whenever he opens Sri Garga Samhita he becomes
completely captivated and absorbed by it and totally unaware of his environment.
Tuesday
Tuesday lunch-time Prasadam was
yet another sumptuous feast prepared with devotion and the culinary expertise
of Divya Sari Didi and Danda Karanya Prabhu. The preparations were also a success
due to the entourage of devotees who tirelessly chopped, cleaned and washed
the dishes and kitchen. The feast was in honour of Damodar Prabhu's grandmother
who passed away recently. Damodar Prabhu talked to Gurudev about his Grandmother,
and Gurudev instructed him to offer some Maha Prasadam to her, something which
Damodar Prabhu was more than happy to do.
Also on Tuesday the children really
wanted to do something for Gurudev. So, a few days before, Srilekha Didi had
written a play for them to perform for him. She wrote of the Pastime of Lord
Krishna stealing butter and the deliverance of Nalakuvera and Manigriva. They
did a really sweet performance for His Divine grace in the afternoon. There
were monkeys and Gopis, and they even managed to fell trees, with only a little
giggling. It was really wonderful to see all the younger devotees from the tiny
monkey three-year-olds to the 19-year-old arjun trees doing service for their
Gurudev! At the end they all offered pushpanjali and gave their dandavat pranams.
It was a very beautiful afternoon.
Wednesday
Wednesday morning was the day that
all the devotees avoided thinking about -- the day Gurudev would be leaving.
The morning was eventful and spontaneous as ever, as the brother of Lalita Krishna
Prabhu took initiation amongst all the leaving preparations. Gurudev and his
entourage left the Temple at around 6:30 am heading for Gatwick airport, followed
by the usual frenzy of devotees canvassing for spaces in cars and trying to
estimate how many devotees can fit into a single vehicle without the tyres giving
way.
Srila Guru Maharaj reached the airport
at around 8 o'clock. At the airport a young Colombian girl met by chance with
Gurudev and inadvertently became the spokesperson for the devotees, and helped
to arrange a wheelchair for Gurudev. She also bore the brunt of the Airport
officials' telling off, as they were perturbed by the mass of devotees who had
congregated around Gurudev. They thought she was his daughter and dealt with
her directly for all the official matters. She was a very fortunate person who
was able to engage in some service, and Gurudev personally invited her to visit
Nabadwip.
It was very sad to see Gurudev leave.
When Gurudev arrived he brought
sunshine and warmth to the Temple and lives of the devotees, as well as beautiful
summer weather for Britain. As Gurudev was leaving the weather very much reflected
the moods of the devotees as the skies became grey and it began to rain. Everyone
consoled each other and prayed for the safe and comfortable journey of our dearest
and most loved Guru Maharaj.
Whenever Gurudev blesses us with
his presence he brings along with him so many devotees who again and again show
us what it means to be devoted. We pray for the opportunity to serve such servants
of our Gurudev! We are left with beautiful memories and are ever grateful for
the opportunity to serve Guru and the Vaishnavas. Dandavat pranams from us both!
Jay Om Vishnupada Srila Bhakti
Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj ki jay!
Your Servants,
Ratnavali Devi Dasi and
Jaya Shree Devi Dasi
London
