2014 Photo Gallery :: Seva Ashram News of the Vaishnava Seva Society

Archive for 2014 Photo Gallery

Kids Class with Vishakha Devi Dasi

Posted by Radhika Devi Dasi on Thursday, December 3rd, 2015 in 2014 Photo Gallery, Friends of the Ashram | Comments (0)

This past winter Braja Mohini Didi hosted a class for the young devotees of our community with Vishakha Didi. These pictures were taken by Braja Mohini Didi.

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Many of our young devotees gathered at Braja Mohini Devi's house to receive the association of Vishakha didi.

The program started with Kirtan...

With everyone happily chanting.

And hearing Krishna Katha from Vishakha didi.

Our beautiful Vishakha Devi graciously led the program.

Prabhus Ramananda, Jayanta, Murali Mohan, Prema, and Jananivas taking prasadam.

Thanksgiving at the Seva Ashram

Posted by Radhika Devi Dasi on Sunday, February 1st, 2015 in 2014 Photo Gallery, Events, Photos | Comments (0)

Here are some pictures from the Thanksgiving day lunch at the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram in Soquel, California. We were very thankful this year to have the association of Madhusudan Maharaj.

An unbelievable feast was prepared for the Deities and Their prasadam was welcome by everyone!

Tofu turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, fresh cranberry salsa, candied yams, green beans with slivered almonds, cream corn, raspberry trifle, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, buttered rolls and Martinelli apple cider!

Pictures provided by Krsnapriya Didi.

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Sri Pushpa Samadhi mandir of Srila Govinda Maharaj at the Soquel Seva Ashram

Sripad Bhakti Ranjan Madhusudan Maharaj

(left to right) Sita Devi & Vaishnavi Devi

(left to right) Jai Ram Prabhu, his son Nabh & Sripad Madhududan Maharaj

(left to right) Vaidehi Devi, Kalindi Devi & Sita Devi

Madhusudan Maharaj speaking to the devotees at Gurudev's pushpa samadhi.

Their Lordships Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharvika Giridhari

Devotees and friends line up for special Thanksgiving prasadam

Over 150 friends & guests came for the sumptuous feast!

Hari Ballava Prabhu, Diksavati Devi and others.

Divyashakti Devi and others serving the Vaishnavas prasadam.

Sureshwari Devi serving Srila Janardan Maharaj and the other devotees.

Vyasa Prabhu with his wife Meesh & daughter Sayana.

It was a beautiful sunny day at the Soquel Seva Ashram.

Arindam Krishna Prabhu in the back in the white turban.

(on the right) Vaidehi Devi waving.

(left to right) Nandarani, Jivana, Laskmi Priya, Janava, Madhumati, Lorinda, Sita, Divyashakti, Narayani & Sangita Devis. In the background is Sushila & Braja Mohini Devis.

(left to right) Sita, Divyashakti & Narayani. In the background is Braja Mohini Devi.

Raspberry trifle made by Swarnangii Devi.

Pumpkin pie made by Madhumati Devi.

Ramai Prabhu ki jay!

(left to right) Laskmi Priya Devi, Sakhi Charan Prabhu & Srila Janardan Maharaj.

(left to right) Sripad Madhusudan Maharaj & Dhruva Prabhu

Sushila Devi & her son Deva Krishna.

(left to right) Ashapurna Devi, her son Abhay & Vyasa, Nitai and Gaur Nataraj Prabhus.

Sureshwari's grandson Preston.

(left to right) 3 brothers Dhruva, Vyasa & Laksman Prabhus.

Christmas at the Seva Ashram 2014

Posted by Radhika Devi Dasi on Friday, December 26th, 2014 in 2014 Photo Gallery, Photos | Comments (0)

Here are some pictures from the Christmas lunch at the Ashram. This year many devotees participated in cooking and preparing a prep for the opulent feast. We also had our own Mrs. Clause at the temple with Sureshwari didi who gave out presents to all the devotees!

Pictures provided by Swarnangii didi.

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Kumari Anuradha helps prepare the Christmas feast at the Ashram.

Prabhus Vidura Krsna, Shambunath, and Ananta Govinda along with Divyashakti didi all help prepare the lunch feast.

Many devotees came to the Ashram and participated in honoring the delicious Prasadam.

Sureshwari didi incredibly gave out so many gifts to all the devotees in our community!

So many different devotees participated to make such an opulent feast.

The official menu with many of the devotees who helped make it possible.

Kids camp at the Seva Ashram 2014 part 3

Posted by Radhika Devi Dasi on Wednesday, September 24th, 2014 in 2014 Photo Gallery, Development Plans, Friends of the Ashram | Comments (2)

Another successful kids camp has come and gone. Under the affectionate guidance of Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj and with Braja Mohini didi facilitating the event everything went smoothly. Here is the last installment of pictures from the four day festival at the Ashram commencing on the Grand Appearance Day Festival of Lord Balaram. We are looking forward to another kids camp festival next summer.

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Kids camp at the Seva Ashram 2014 part 2

Posted by Radhika Devi Dasi on Wednesday, September 24th, 2014 in 2014 Photo Gallery, Development Plans, Friends of the Ashram | Comments (2)

Here are more pictures from the annual kids camp held each summer at the Seva Ashram. This past summer Braja Mohini didi, along with the help of many devotees, facilitated the camp.

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Kid’s camp at the Seva Ashram 2014 part 1

Posted by Radhika Devi Dasi on Monday, September 15th, 2014 in 2014 Photo Gallery, Development Plans, Friends of the Ashram | Comments (1)

This past summer we had another auspicious gathering of vaisnava families coming to the Ashram for the annual kids camp. Braja Mohini Devi Dasi graciously facilitated the four day camp festivities. Of course many devotees stepped up to offer their knowledge and expertise for the benefit of all the children (and adults!) involved. All of this was possible under the affectionate guidance of our beloved Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj. A huge thank you to all who participated!

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Orchard Nourishment Party on July 4th

Posted by Sushila Devi Dasi on Thursday, July 10th, 2014 in 2014 Photo Gallery, Events, Friends of the Ashram, Photos | Comments (0)

Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to nourish all the fruit trees at the orchard nourishment work party on July 4th and 5th. And a special appreciation for those devotees who came back the second day, including Dinartihara Prabhu who is not shown in the photos below but has been working hard.

Special thanks as well to the cooks who prepared a feast for a couple dozen people including two different kinds of coleslaw, corn of the cob, vegetarian Bhima burgers, ice cream sandwiches, fries, and more!

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Hasyapriya Prabhu leads the work party

Neelamani Prabhu waves "hello"

Vaidehi Didi gets footage to use in her videos of the Ashram

Bilwamangal Prabhu hard at work

He keeps an eye on the orchard all year long and picks the ripe fruits for Their Lordships' offerings

Vidura Krishna Prabhu does the heavy work shoveling compost for the trees

Divya Shakti Didi prunes some branches

Rasangi Didi and Madhumati Didi also tend to some trees

Saki Charan Prabhu and Bilwamangal Prabhu team up

Sonya's son Landon lends a hand

Saki Charan Prabhu applies compost to a small tree

Neelamani and Saki Prabhus working together

The ladies also team up with great enthusiasm

Rasangi, Krishna Kanti, and Madhumati Didis shouted "Nitai Gaura Hari Bol"

Brajanath Prabhu came both days to help out

Swarnangii Didi made the beautiful flier for the event

Swarnangii and Sureshwari team up with others to make a big feast!

Sureshwari offering lettuce, tomatoes, secret sauce, and other toppings for the Bhima burgers

Sureshwari Didi serving tirelessly

Ramananda Prabhu, Jivana Didi, and Kalindi Didi serving out french fries, corn on the cob and Swarnangii’s delicious Bhima burgers!

Krishna Kanti Didi - happy to honor prasadam and serve with all the devotees.

A peek at the hungry crowd of tired but enthusiastic servitors.

There was a big turn out on Friday for the July 4th work party

Great prasadam & hard work serving the trees in the orchard attracted many devotees to come.

Vidura Krishna, Parameshwar, and Saki Charan Prabhus certainly came to work

And so did Ilya, who generously donates spinach every week for Their Lordships' service

Vaidehi and Sita Didis

Yudhamanyu Prabhu who just returned from China, came to help.

Srila Janardan Maharaj and Sripad Parvat Maharaj honor prasadam

Along with Sarvabhavana Prabhu and Dikshavati Didi

Finally Sureshwari Didi takes a break to honor prasadam as well

With Hasyapriya and Brajanath Prabhus, and with Divya Shakti Didi

It was a very sunny day and it was a relief to sit in the shade

Gaur Nataraj Prabhu and Malika Didi brought some friends to help out

Young Jahnava

And little Deva Krishna with Sonya

Ramai Prabhu Archana Niketan with Bilwamangal Prabhu, one of his assistant pujaris

It was a beautiful day to catch up with friends at the Ashram

Narayani Didi was here to offer arotik to Srila Gurudev at his pushpa samadhi and helps clean the Deities' plates after the offering

It was a wonderful day. Thanks to everyone who helped out!

We have about 100 fruit trees in the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram orchard.

Including Asian pears, peaches, apples, avocados, figs and 6 different varieties of plums.

Vijay, always ready to help with the heavy lifting!

A century cactus that is getting ready to bloom. This one took about 15 years to start to blossom!

Gundicha Marjana in Soquel – 2014

Posted by Hasyapriya Das on Sunday, June 29th, 2014 in 2014 Photo Gallery, Friends of the Ashram | Comments (0)

An excerpt from Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita about the pastimes of cleansing the Gundicha Temple, Madhya Lila 12.

“Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu washed and cleansed the Gundica temple with His devotees and associates. In this way He made the temple as cool and bright as His own heart, and thus He made the place befitting for Lord Sri Krishna to sit.”

Here at the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram in Soquel California, the devotees enthusiastically joined in to clean the Lord’s temple…

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Premanidhi Prabhu

Sushila Devi

Kalindi Devi & Krishna Madhuri Devi

Narayani Devi

Gaur Nataraj Prabhu

The sparkling clean temple room

Sushila Devi, Janhava & Malika Devi

Alex

Vishakha Devi attends the Cabrillo Bhakti Yoga club

Posted by Radhika Devi Dasi on Monday, April 28th, 2014 in 2014 Photo Gallery, Friends of the Ashram, Introduction to Krishna Consciousness | Comments (0)

The Bhakti Yoga Club meets every Wednesday at Cabrillo College. Braja Mohini Devi organizes this weekly sankirtan program with many of the other devotees helping. They distribute prasadam, chant, read, and speak informally to the students, many of whom have visited our Ashram for the Sunday Feast program.

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Vishakha didi attended the Cabrillo Bhakti Yoga club during her stay here in Soquel.

Prabhus Bilva Mangal, Shambunath, and Dina Bandhu were in attendance along with Bimala didi and Bimalanandini didi.

Devotees chant on the main quad of Cabrillo College in Aptos, CA.

Students from Cabrillo also joined in the chanting.

All who attended were fortunate to receive the sweet association of Vishakha didi.

Students and devotees alike enjoyed chanting, discourse, questions and answers, and of course Prasadam.

We are all happy to have Bimalanandini didi living with us here at the Ashram.

Bilva Mangal Prabhu answers questions from an interested student.

Namahatta program at Hemant Prabhu’s Home

Posted by Radhika Devi Dasi on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2014 in 2014 Photo Gallery, Friends of the Ashram | Comments (0)

Hemant Prabhu has been helping our Seva Ashram for many years. With Sureshwari Devi’s encouragement, he and his family invited Srila Janardan Maharaj and all the devotee to his home for an evening of Kirtan, Krishna Katha and Prasadam.

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Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj, along with devotees, guests and relatives of Hemant Prabhu.

Srila Janardan Maharaj leads a kirtan to start the program.

Bimala Devi and Vishakha Devi join in the chanting.

Pitambar Prabhu playing the kartals and Jayanta Krishna Prabhu playing the mridangham.

Srila Janardan Maharaj speaking to the assembled devotees and guests.

Many devotees and guests came to get the association of Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj.

Everyone is enjoying the spiritual discourse of the evening.

Jairam Prabhu along with his family, Abba Devi, Nabh Das and Kumari Lavanika.

It was a very beautiful evening for all who attended.

Sri Ram Navami in Chongqing

Posted by Hasyapriya Das on Tuesday, April 8th, 2014 in 2014 Photo Gallery, Audio | Comments (0)

The devotees under the guidance of Yudhamanyu Prabhu Seva Vikram celebrated the festival of Sri Ram Navami in Chongqing, China. Our Sita Devi in Chongqing, took the story of Lord Ram that was published on our website, translated it and narrated the story in Chinese to all the assembled devotees and guests.

Here are a few short video clips of the program…

The Story of Lord Ram part 1 (in Chinese) 5 min

The Story of Lord Ram part 2 (in Chinese) 5 min

Click here for the story of Lord Ram from our website in English…

Srila Janardan Maharaj’s Appearance Day

Posted by Radhika Devi Dasi on Thursday, February 20th, 2014 in 2014 Photo Gallery, Guardians | Comments (0)

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Many devotees gathered at the Ashram to honor Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj on the auspicious day of his appearance.

Devotees from Soquel, San Jose, Oregon, Mexico and more attended the festival.

Jagganath Swami Prabhu from Chula Vista drove up with his son to attend the program.

Devotees offering arotik to Srimati Tulasi Maharani.

Vishaka, Vaidehi, Deva Priya, Krsna Madhuri, and Govinda Nandini didis chant evening bhajans during the program.

President Sevaite-Acharya Srila Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj

Yudhamanyu Prabhu Seva Vikram spoke very eloquently about the qualifications of Srila B. P. Janardan Maharaj and the service he has accomplished for our mission.