another back issue--Srila Prabhupada's Disp. Day

Hari Hari!

So this event was from Dec. 2013, but better late than never right?  Everyone gathered in Srila Prabhupada's samadhi for memories, kirtan, offerings, abhishek and pushpanjali...there is a HUGE bhoga offering made and later on during kirtan, all of it is handed out from off the main dais...it's crazy on the women's side--i think american football players would be flattened if they tried to get between bengali ladies and prasadam...

This is the view from inside the samhadhi, with Srila Prabhupada in the center.

Prabhupada disciples were given the opportunity to offer items in abhishek.

The whole dome inside is covered with a beautiful, intricate tile mosaic.  On the ceiling is Pancha Tattva surrounded by demigods showering flowers.

And around the top is scenes from Prabhupada's lila on earth (all tile mosaic!).

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!

Happy Nityananda Tryodasi!

Sri Nityananda Ram ki jaya!!

nitai-charan bina ar nahi asroy--other than the Lotus Feet of Lord Nityananda, there is no other shelter!

The Mayapur Academy boys put on a yajna for Lord Nityananda.

Bala Nitai was chosen as the head priest!

just came out for abhishek (a special bath)

oh!  This was so so sweet--HH Jayapataka Swami was lifted up on stage (wheelchair and all) to participate in the abhishek.  In order for him to offer, the devotee in white would give him the conch with the substance inside.  Then maharaja would touch the shell and the devotee would offer it to Sri Nityananda on JPS behalf.

Then, it was somehow decided for him to stand and offer personally!  This was huge because he isn't able to stand anymore.  Devotees helped him and he offered on conch full of milk.  It was absolutely beautiful.  I got a nice video of it, but it's not loading onto the blog right now for some reason...I'll try to get it on there another time because I'd love to share it with all of you!

These were the birthday cakes.  They didn't distribute them till around 8:30 p.m. that night, near the end of an ecstatic kirtan.  Thankfully, we walked in right when they were serving!

one month mark!

Hare Krsna everyone!

We've officially come upon the one month mark till we return stateside...yay!

Bala Nitai's last day with the academy is tomorrow, the students are involved with seva for Nityananda Tryodasi.  He finished in the top 10 for their last big test.  The "prize" was the opportunity to do personal seva for Sri Pancha Tattva--the same that they were tested on, offering 16 upacharas (items) during bathing, dressing, food offering...he was blessed with service to Sri Gadadhara yesterday morning.

I've been still involved with the midwifery world...prenatals, meetings with apprentices, perhaps one more birth!  

Nitai has been mostly just interested in playing these days...there is a definite "wildness" about Mayapur that is really sweet for kids...they get to just be kids...Nitai seems to always be covered in dirt or dust, carrying a stick and running to the next spot to play...I was thinking that yes, one can walk in the forest in Portland, but all the paths are paved--here, you're lucky to get a paved path anywhere!

Anyways, I was looking through our photos and realized that there's a lot that I had wanted to post, but haven't yet...so here's a back adventure for ya:

A Boat Ride Up Mama Ganga

Some friends of ours from S. Africa organized this trip.  About 15 devotees loaded on a boat and went for about a 2 or 3 hr. ride...this was back in December.

Nitai with his dear friend Lochan from S. Africa.  His mom is the doctor that attended the birth with me.  They've left now, but are returning to try living in Mayapur in August.

Most of the shoreline of the Ganga is frequently populated, which means a lot of trash accumulates...however, we stopped @ an island in the middle of the river that was pristine and beautiful.  The sand is super soft and shiny--it's full of mica specs as you can see here...

Here's us on that island.

View of the TOVP and Prabhupada's samhadi (white dome) from the Ganga. 

Heading back after snacking on homemade cheese cakes and cinnamon rolls...sheesh!

Happy Spring and Advaita Acarya ki jaya!

Haribol!

All of India celebrated the coming of spring this past Tuesday--Vasanta Panchami to be precise.  All the Deites in temples across the country are dressed in yellow and many devotees also dress in yellow :)  Super beautiful festival!  And ya know something interesting, the weather warmed up about 5-10 degrees right on that day!

Sri Sri Radha-Madhava ki jaya!!

These trees were on each side of Radha-Madhava's altar.

And then, yesterday (Thursday), we celebrated the appearance day of Advaita Acarya.  Bala Nitai got some special mercy.  The students from the Mayapura Academy got to help with the abhishek (bathing) ceremony!

Here's Bala Nitai, with the camara (fluffy fan)...he also got to pour a coconut over Advaita Acarya later in the ceremony.

Check out how happy Advaita Acarya is in the back ground!

The lotus feet of Advaita Acarya

One more sweet note--Bala Nitai completed his last assessment with flying colors!  His last official class is this Saturday and next week, he has a few fun seva opportunities, then graduation on the 20th!!

a special visit

Guess who just came for a week long visit to Mayapura...Auntie Jill & J!  It was their first time here and we had a blast.  They were asked to do some special circus seva and hooped, juggled and danced their way into the heart of the community...check out the pics!

A visit to the goshala of course...

Granmaria sent candy cane Christmas presents with Jill for all of us to open when they arrived.

We visited Bala Nitai @ the Mayapur Academy.  Here, he is busy practicing for his final assessment--16 upacharas (offering of 16 items to the Deities during bathing, dressing and bhoga).  His test is this Thursday...

This is what Nitai ordered one night--we didn't realize the dosa would be 2 ft. long!  He ate it all no problem...

 Jill and J were asked to inaugurate an after school program @ the International School here in Mayapur.  They did a little demo, then Jill taught the girls and J taught the boys.  They covered juggling, hooping & staff.

Jill and I got some mendhi done one night by some friends of ours--pretty, huh?

 Saturday night, we all went to the Hati Parade (elephant procession where Radha Madhava are taken around campus, remember?).   

Along with the after school workshop, J and Jill were asked to do a performance for the community Sunday night.  Everyone was so excited, especially after the kids workshop.  The show was excellent and it brought the devotees so much joy.

We also got a special opportunity to visit the elephants in their home.  We brought 2 bags of carrots (way too little!) and the trainers took us out to where the elephants were grazing.

I think the elephant wanted to eat my bangles...

They are so sweet!

After the fire show in the park, Jill and J were asked to teach a workshop at the boy's gurukula!  This was really cool because this is normally a closed campus and not just anyone is asked to come in.

On our way out to the gurukula--we had to somehow negotiate carrying all the props from the International School out to the Gurukula...the bike came in handy!

Right before they left, Nitai, Jill & I quickly paid a visit to Mother Ganga.

Now, they're on a train heading to Varanasi...safe travels, we love you!