Feeling inspired after the Sunday Feast, Ekala Prabhu snapped these wonderful shots of the Soquel Seva Ashram property as he walked from the driveway all the way to the top of the hill. After a refreshing rain storm during the week the weekend weather was very warm and clear.
This year we are fortunate that Srila Janardan Maharaj was here to lead our celebration honoring the Divine Appearance of Lord Nityananda. The program started at 11:30 am with arati of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharvika Giridhari and continued with seated kirtan. Maharaj led many songs including: Gaurangera Duti Pada, Nitai Gunamani, Nitai Pada Kamala, Emona Durmati, and others. After the kirtan Srila Janardan Maharaj read from the fifth chapter of Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita by Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami. This chapter explains the ontological position of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, who is non-different from Sri Baladev in Krishna’s lila. Lord Vishnu, Lord Narayan, Sankarshan, the Chatur-vyuha, and all other expansions of the Personality of Godhead are coming from Lord Nityananda’s Divine Personality. Srila Janardan Maharaj emphasized that Lord Nityananda is the “Supreme Personality of Servitor Godhead”. He is the first expansion from Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and is wholesale dedicated to His divine service.
After the class Maharaj led a standing kirtan and everyone honored a prasadam feast.
(photos by Madhumati Didi)
All glories to Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharvika Giridhari
All glories to Lord Nityananda!
All glories to Srila Janardan Maharaj!
Bilwamangal Prabhu's father came to town for the festival
Ratan Krishna Prabhu and Bilwamangal Prabhu
Little Jahnava, Kumari Devaki, and Saki Prabhu
Madhav and Jahnava
Sureshwari, Krishna Kanti, and Rasangi Devis making samosas
Dikshavati and Divyashakti Devis taking a turn with the samosas
Dikshavati is quite a goofy person
Vrinda Devi preaching to Harindu Prabhu...
who seems quite interested
Rajani Devi and Dikshavati Devi
Bhagavat and Hasyapriya Prabhus with Narayani Devi catch up outside
Young Gopal and Jananivas Prabhus
Krishna Priya meets with the kids to plan the Gaura Purnima play
Nabh and his father Jai Ram Prabhu...
very happily honor prasadam together
Sangita Devi, who is going to teach the children an Indian dance
Ajita Krishna and Naveen Prabhus
Vaidehi Devi and Bilwamangal Prabhu
nitai-pada-kamala, koti-chandra-sushitala,
ye chayaya jagata judaya
hena nitai bine bhai, radha-krishna paite nai,
dridha kari dhara nitaira paya
(Prarthana: 37.1)
“The lotus feet of Nitai are cooling like ten million moons. Their shade soothes the world. O brothers! Without Nitai, one cannot reach Radha-Krishna. Firmly clasp the feet of Nitai!”
Without the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu no one will get Krsna-prem, without the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu one will not proceed even one inch in their spiritual life.
We are very fortunate souls because we heard the divine Name of Nityananda Prabhu and we are following, as possible by us, Nityananda Prabhu’s line. That is most clean and clear for the conditioned souls. We will get everything by the grace of Nityananda Prabhu and His associates. I must say to everyone: take shelter of the lotus feet of Nityananda Prabhu and you will have no fear from anywhere. We are all fallen souls and our only hope is the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu.
This quote is from GaudiyaDarshan.com.
This was the second annual Appearance Day Celebration honoring Srila Janardan Maharaj in Soquel and it was unbelievably sweet. For years Janardan Maharaj has traveled annually to Mexico around the time of his birthday. In Soquel we are always sad that Maharaj leaves and that we cannot join the celebration. Now the problem has been solved; we have started to celebrate his birthday according to the lunar calendar. After all, most vaishnava festivals are calculated according to the lunar calendar, including the appearance days of our guru parampara.
Due to his humility Janardan Maharaj only reluctantly agreed to allow this festival but what a wonderful festival it turned out to be! After singing many vaishnava songs all together in the temple room, several devotees were invited to glorify of Srila Janardan Maharaj. If there had not been some concern about finishing the program on time, perhaps many more devotees would have liked to speak. It was an evening program after all, and there was a feast to honor (the menu was selected by Maharaj himself and included his favorite preparations.) We were able to hear from Jivana Devi, Sanatani Devi, Vrinda Devi, Ramachandra Prabhu, Sarvabhavana Prabhu, Sureshwari Devi, Kalindi Devi, and Vimala Devi. Their short speeches were heartfelt and often humorous. The most common themes that arose were humility, humor, friendship and family. Maharaj himself was touched and happy with the devotee’s offerings.
He responded,
…as for hearing everyone I appreciate their kindness and the sweet things they are saying. What can I say? “I just pray I can live up to eveyone’s expectations…The one thing I never wanted to be is a role model of anyone.” I didn’t like being a guru in ISKCON. It is easier to serve someone else than to take responsibility for getting respect from others.
…We have so much we really can’t complain about anything…”We should be ok.”
With that everyone laughed and I believe everyone felt very comfortable and happy. Maharaj was explaining that Srila Govinda Maharaj has given us everything we need and we can have faith that he will continue to take good care of us all. Janardan Maharaj’s mood was that of a gentle and wise father although he expressed himself as a brother. He said he feels like Srila Govinda Maharaj’s disciples are all his brothers and sisters (only some of the children are nieces and nephews.) It was really very clear, even to someone without any spiritual vision such as myself, that Janardan Maharaj is in fact as humble as all the devotees had expressed, and that his whole purpose in life is only to please his spiritual masters.
Jivana related a conversation that Janardan Maharaj had when he left ISKCON (after Srila Prabhupad disappeared from the world) to join Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. Someone asked how much of his heart was for Srila Prabhupad and how much for Srila Sridhar Maharaj. He had explained that all three gurus, Srila Prabhupad, Srila Sridhar Maharaj, and Srila Govinda Maharaj occupy a 100% of his heart. “When someone is in your heart you really can’t take them out.” How fortunate are we to have as our friendly guardian this wonderful personality who personally served all three of these great vaishnavas?
I hope you will listen to the recordings from this festival, especially if you feel like part of Janardan Maharaj’s family. Happiness and affection ring out from the expressions of all the devotees and Janardan Maharaj expresses himself very nicely.
Click to listen to lecture: 120127 BPJ Appearance Day.mp3 (52 minutes, 36.2 MB)
Photos were taken by Murali Mohan Prabhu.
Srila Janardan Maharaj ki jay!
Arotik of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharvika Giridhari
The rhythm section: Sarvabhavana Prabhu, Ramai Prabhu archa-niketan, and Janardan Maharaj
All glories to Srimati Tulasi Devi!
"Nitai Gaura Hari Bol Hari Bol Hari Bol Hari Bol"
Our honorable Sarvabhavana Prabhu
Janardan Maharaj takes a seat...
and leads many vaishnava songs
Seated kirtan continues with mridanga playing
and many happy devotees chanting the holy name
Sushila, Laksmipriya, Vimala and Vrinda Devis
Hale, Jayanta Krishna and Ratan Krishna Prabhus
Jayananda Prabhu is always enthusiastic for kirtan...
And so is everyone else
Sanatai Devi happily glorifies Srila Janardan Maharaj...
and tells some funny stories from the twenty years she has known him
Jivana Devi gave a lovely talk reminding everyone that Janardan Maharaj is very humble
Vrinda Devi tells a humorous story about Janardan Maharaj pretending to steal Srila Gurudev's mango...
and is clearly enlivened
What a smile!
Even Janardan Maharaj is happy to remember so many stories
This is an exciting class
Ramachandra Prabhu takes a turn
Sarvabhavana Prabhu as well
Jivana Devi and Ramachandra Prabhu
Some of lovely community
Kalindi was very moved to say some words about Maharaj...
especially about the good influence he has been in her own life
Vimala Devi also spoke about Janardan Maharaj's influence in her life...
and made him laugh
Kumari Shivani practices a dance
On January 9th Sripad Vaishnav Maharaj left this world. On January 20th his friends and family gathered at the temple for a service in his honor. Srila Janardan Maharaj had recently returned from Mexico and led the program. Sripad Vaishnav Maharaj touched the hearts of many and will be remembered for his dynamic preaching and dedication to our beloved Srila Gurudev.
Please view his website, toshani.com, to read his memoirs.
Photos by Madhumati Didi:
The program started with Arotik to Their Lordships
and Tulasi parikrama
Sripad Vaishnav Maharaj's friends and family
Sanatani didi, Sripad Parvat Maharaj, Mr. Banerjee and Hasyapriya Prabhu
Here is a collection of wonderful photos of Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj from around the world including many taken at the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram in Soquel, California.
In July Sridhar Prabhu and Madhumita Devi invited Srila B.P. Janardan Maharaj, Sripad B.S. Vaishnav Maharaj, and Sripad B.C. Parvat Maharaj to a namahatta at their house in the South Bay. Srila Janardan Maharaj told stories about Srila Gurudev’s world tours and answered questions posed by guests. The prasadam was lovely and everyone was happy.
Here are some photos of the beautiful devotees who have come to the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram in Soquel, California.
Jaya Sri Devi and her cute daughter Tanu Sri
Lalita and Dhanista Devis
Shatrugna, Sudarshan, Dhruva, and Sadhupriya Prabhus
Manasa Krishna Prabhu
Krishna Kanta and Tanu Sri
Sadhupriya blends right in with all those pumpkins
Maladhari and Jashomati Devis
Vidura Krishna Prabhu and Annapurna Devi
Srimati Bhakti Lalita Devi
Dikshavati Devi at her book table
Mathuranath Prabhu and Krishnangani Devi with their kids Sundar Shyam and Vinodini
Lalita Devi
Srila Govinda Maharaj goes for a ride
Our three day camp teaches kids the practices of Krishna Consciousness by engaging them in play, cooking, hiking, and music. Qualified members of our community teach the kids songs, traditional instruments, stories, and more. Some families camp out in tents overnight, while others come only during the daytime. The more kids attend the merrier. If you are interested in participating, please consider bringing your child to our kid’s classes every other week. For more information please call us.
Sanatani didi shows the children how to make sugar cookies!
Everybody gets to make their own cookies
The parents also get to participate in the camp
Gopal plays in the foam fight!
Prema Swarup is always very happy to participate in all the activities of the camp
Annapurna didi gives a class to all the happy children.
Its a Kirtan class!
complete with mrdanga and kartals!
so many different activities were planned and executed by the effort of the devotees
like Krishna Priya didi, Madhumati didi and many others.
everybody gets to play around the Seva Ashram
Srila Janardan Maharaj is very happy giving a class to the children
Last Spring Braja Mohini Devi Dasi and Jayanta Krishna Prabhu invited Sripad Bhakti Madhava Puri Maharaj to their home in San Jose. Their elegant Craftsman bungalow, the former 17th St. temple seemed to glow with affection and dedication. Srila Govinda Maharaj personally visited that house as for many years it was the center of our devotional community. Everyone was therefor very happy to reunite in that blessed house for Harinam Sankirttan, sadhu-sangha and prasadam. Sripad Bhakti Chandan Parvat Maharaj had just returned from Sri Nabadwip Dham and enthusiastically told stories about his travels, especially about the grand inauguration festival in Sri Ekachakra Dham.
