The devotees gathered at the Pushpa Samadhi of Srila Govinda Maharaj in Soquel California on the second anniversary of the disappearance of Srila Govinda Maharaj. Srila Janardan Maharaj returned from India to lead the program and his beautiful words helped soothe the hearts of everyone. Here are some photographs taken by Jatindra Mohan Prabhu.

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Srila Govinda Maharaj's Pushpa Samadhi at the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram in Soquel, California

Beautiful flower garlands of roses and plumeria flowers adorn Gurudev’s Samadhi Mandir

Srila Janardan Maharaj speaks about the wonderful pastimes of Srila Govinda Maharaj

Srila Janardan Maharaj expresses how happy he is remembering how the whole community of devotees joined together to build this beautiful Pushpa Samadhi Mandir

The winter rains stopped just in time and it is a beautiful sunny day

On the hillside and under the majestic oak trees, Gurudev’s Samadhi is located in the most beautiful setting at the Seva Ashram

Bimala Devi, Ajita Krishna Prabhu, Krishna Kanti Devi & Sushila Devi (in the foreground)

Devotees sit and listen to the speakers and remember so many sweet memories of Srila Gurudev

(back left to right) Dina Dayal Prabhu, Dina Bandhu Prabhu. (middle) Jaya Ram Prabhu, Vaidehi Devi, Krishendrani Devi, Anupama Devi. (front) Ajita Krishna Prabhu, Krishna Kanti Devi

Diksavati Devi

Garlands decorate the lions from Thailand who stand guard over Gurudev’s Samadhi Mandir

(left to right) Bhakta Swarup Prabhu, Devaki Devi and Mallika Devi

(left to right) Chaitanya Prabhu, Daru Brahma Devi and guest Hale

(left to right) A guest, Braja Mohini Devi, Ramananda Prabhu, Kalindi Devi and Harindu Prabhu’s relative Carlos

Srila Janardan Maharaj and Sarvabhavana Prabhu

Hasyapriya Prabhu

(left to right) Dinatahara Prabhu, Madhumati Devi, Krishna Madhuri Devi, and Damodar Krishna Prabhu, making flower garlands the night before the program

Narayani Devi and Laskmi Priya Devi stayed up late the previous night to decorate the Pushpa Samadhi Mandir

Ramai Prabhu begins the arotik to Srila Gurudev

Srila Janardan Maharaj leads the kirtan

Even the sounds of the conch shell are especially beautiful today!

Meanwhile, back in the kitchen, the super excellent cooks including Shatrugna Prabhu are hard at work

Rajani Devi, the head cook for the Soquel Seva Ashram

Neela Mani Prabhu

Sanatani Devi, one of the pillars of the Seva Ashram community

Damodar Prabhu

(foreground left to right) Sureshwari Devi, Dinatahara Prabhu, Vrinda Devi, Radhika Devi, (background) Neela Mani Prabhu and Harindu Prabhu

Srila Janardan Maharaj ki jaya!

Ajita Krishna Prabhu

Ratan Krishna Prabhu

Anxiously awaiting the Lord’s mercy! Prasadam ki jaya!

Nabadwip Prabhu and Tilak Devi (left)

Mallika Devi & Jahnava

Sarvabhavana Prabhu

Dinatahara Prabhu

Dina Bandhu Prabhu

Damodar Prabhu

Bimala Devi

Hasyapriya Prabhu, Swarnangii Devi & Diksavati Devi taking prasadam

Vaidehi Devi (Ekala Prabhu in the back left)

Dinatahara Prabhu

Sushila Devi

Dwaitananda Prabhu

Madhu Krishna

Srila Govinda Maharaj came to California 10 times between 1992 and 2007. He would describe his trips as coming to visit with his friends and their families. However, for us it was so much more than that. His association changed our lives and revitalized Krishna Consciousness for thousands of devotees around the world.

In 1992 he requested that we purchase a center, since previously we had been renting the building at 17th Street in San Jose, where Jayanta Krishna Prabhu and Braja Mohini Devi now live. Yudhamanyu Prabhu Seva Vikram organized the collections to fulfill Gurudev’s request and in September 1993 on the auspicious day of Sri Radhastami, we received the deed to the property that would become the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram in Soquel, California. Here is a selection of photographs from Sanatani Devi’s vast collection from those early years.

Hasyapriya das

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(right to left) Srila Govinda Maharaj, Hasyapriya, Pitambar Prabhu, Sarvabhavana Prabhu, Ashram Maharaj, Sagar Maharaj. Standing in the carport, where we will later build the prasadam hall. (1993)

(left to right) Srila Govinda Maharaj, Sagar Maharaj, Giri Maharaj & Yudhamanyu Prabhu Seva Vikram, touring the buildings at the Soquel Seva Ashram. (1993)

Yudhamanyu Prabhu Seva Vikram meets with Srila Govinda Maharaj. Gurudev stayed at Rsabdev Prabhu & Kumkum Devi's house in 1992 & 1993 before we purchased the Soquel Ashram.

Srila Govinda Maharaj with Janardan Maharaj & Sagar Maharaj in the newly renovated temple room at the Soquel Seva Ashram. (1993)

With Sarvabhavana Prabhu driving, Srila Govinda Maharaj visits Srutasrava Prabhu & Sanatani Devi's house. Every time Gurudev came here, he always visited their home. (1992)

(left with red turban) Mohan Ananda Prabhu, who organized Srila Govinda Maharaj's very first world tour in 1992.

Srila Govinda Maharaj leads the devotees in kirtan in the new temple room at the Soquel Seva Ashram. (1993)

Srila Govinda Maharaj supervises the installation of Sriman Gauranga Sundar as the presiding Deity in Soquel. (1993)

Srila Govinda Maharaj with the devotees outside the temple building at the Soquel Seva Ashram. Diksavata Devi, Hasyapriya to his left, Kumkum Devi to his right. (1993)

(left to right) Yudhamanyu Prabhu Seva Vikram, Srila Govinda Maharaj & Siddhanti Maharaj (known then as Chitananda Prabhu).

Srila Govinda Maharaj casts his auspicious glance over the Soquel Seva Ashram. (1993)

Srila Govinda Maharaj inspects the building that was partially constructed when we purchased the Soquel Seva Ashram. Later it is finished as Gurudev's quarters and guest house. (1993)

Srila Govinda Maharaj gives a lecture at the Louden Nelson Auditorium in Santa Cruz, California. (1992)

Srila Govinda Maharaj surrounded by all the devotees at the San Francisco airport before he left California. (1993)

Srila Govinda Maharaj at Hasyapriya & Swaranagii Devi's house. (1992)

Srila Govinda Maharaj in the temple room at the Soquel Seva Ashram. (1993)

Srila Govinda Maharaj & Sripad Janardan Maharaj arrving at the airport. Jaya Gurudev!

Srila Govinda Maharaj visiting Sarvabhavana Prabhu & Diksavati Devi's home in Scotts Valley. (1993)

Srila Janardan Maharaj ki jaya!

Srila Govinda Maharaj gives darshan to the devotees outside at the Soquel Seva Ashram. (circa 1995)

The First Anniversary of the Divine Disappearance Day of
Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj

MaharajRaghunatha Dasa Goswami has said,
“In the absence of my Gurudeva, Govardhana hill, the representation of Krishna Himself, seems to me just like a big python coming to devour me. And Radha-kunda, the holiest place of divinity of the Gaudiya-sampradaya, seems like a tiger’s mouth coming to devour me. They are giving me so much excitement in the absence of my Gurudeva, my dearest and highest spiritual guardian. My Gurudeva, who has the most intense affection for me, is not here? How can it be? Everything is void. All has vanished with his departure.”
Such a deep sense of separation will come in the heart of a sincere disciple.

Once, one of your devotees said in his lecture that separation is the highest realization. I was very happy to hear from his lips that separation (vipralambha) is the highest attainment. Without separation, nothing else can come to us. The anticipation of meeting Krishna will appear to us as vipralambha, so vipralambha is the most auspicious thing pertaining to Krishna consciousness. And we can have Krishna’s connection also in that separation. So, the safest and most fearless position is vipralambha. If we can stand firm and retain the memory of Gurudeva in his separation, then we will have passed the highest test.

-Sri Guru and His Grace
Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj