Travel diary - from our last trip to Radhakund

Jay Radhe!

Usually when we travel to Vraja, I keep a travel diary, writing down where we have been, whom we have met, our exchanges with our Baba and so on. I thought it would be nice to share some of our experiences with you.

I will post some parts of my diary along with pictures, some parts I will keep to myself

Next time when we go to Vraja, we should have internet connection in our room. If you so wish, I can write and post some news from there.

-Malati

Hm... where to begin?
It is 7th of February, early morning. That's me in the airport at Helsinki eating youghurt.


First we are flying to Moscow, where we have to wait 7-9 hours. The airport in Moscow is cold and there's nothing to do and not enough places to sit down. So we spread our chaddars and try to sleep for some hours.

Little after midnight we arrive in Delhi. We think it is not a good idea to take a taxi at this time, so we sit down for a while. After some time we meet another devotee, who is also going to Vrindavan, and we decide to take a taxi together. So, we are riding in a taxi, it is very dark and very foggy and our driver seems to be tired..

When we are 10 kilometers away from Vrindavan, the car starts to slip on the road, we go around and around and BUM! hit the center wall of the road. "Radhe Radhe", I am chanting and looking around me, we are all alive and not hurt. We step out of the car and wonder what had happened.

We see that there is sand on the road, and that caused the slipping of our car. As soon as we are out of the car, another car starts slipping and hits our car (the picture above).

After that we take our things out of the car, and take some distance form the accident place. And it doesn't take long when we see a big truck coming and hitting these two cars and then jumping into the air, making a few rounds in the air and falling down on the side of the road.


All the people from the local village gather to see what has happened. Everyone is alive, even the driver from the truck seems to be Ok, no blood is seen.

Nice beginning for our journey!

After some time we take a motor riksa to Vrindavan, where this other devotee will stay. From there we will continue to Radhakund. Later we hear that after we left, there were yet two other cars slipping on the road and hitting the other cars. And nobody is coming to direct the traffic or to do anything to the road, this is India...

Finally we are at home, Radhakund. So beautiful! Finally after our long journey we are here, I can't wait to see Baba and all the Vaishnavas.

Acyutananda has our room ready for us, and his wife, Sudevi, has cooked. It is so nice to see them and their wonderful son, Gaura Krishna. Today is Sri Advaita Saptami. We take prasad together, after which we will go to take rest.

Radhe Radhe Malati lata didi!

WOW! A diary with pictures as well! Fantastic, please keep adding little more!

YS
sudevi dasi

9th of February, 2003

We were just supposed to take a little rest after the trip, but I only woke up at two o'clock the next night. So we ended up sleeping almost 12 hours, and missed seeing Baba yesterday. It was a nice feeling waking up at Radhakund. First thing after shower we did was to build an altar for Gaura Nitai and woke them up. I was a little afraid how they survived the car accident, but they were allright.

After taking care of the needs of Gaura Nitai we are now going to Radhakund parikrama. How beautiful, and how wonderful it is to be here!

Here is the samadhi of Srila Raghunatha das Gosvami.



And here we see Pran Krishna das Babaji, smiling and happy as always. He comes to greet us and gives us some maha prasad. We pay our dandavats to him.



We continue our parikrama, all the animals of Vraja are in the picture; green parrots flying, monkeys jumping from roof to another, pigs eating whatever they can find and dogs taking rest.

I am very eager to see our Baba, I can't wait to see him. Soon we will go to his place.

Finally we are going to see Baba, it was almost a year ago, since we last saw him. We walk up the stairs into Baba's room, he is sitting there reading something. We pay our dandavats to him and he greets us by happily chanting Radha's names.



We are so happy to be with our Baba again, and baba is also happy to see us. Baba asks why we didn't come to see him already yesterday, he was waiting for us. We tell him about the accident and that we fell asleep for many hours after our exhausting journey.

Baba asks how long we will stay at Radhakund, we say that we will stay for three months. Only three months, he replies, why not the whole life?

We give Baba the presents we have brought him as well as the letters many devotees have wrote to him. He reads the letters and looks at the presents while we speak with him about many things.

After some time we all go to downstairs and Baba brings us a plastic bag full of prasad. He thought we might be hungry after the travel. He is always so sweet and caring, I can really feel how he cares for us. These qualities of his touch my heart very deeply.

Jay Radhe!

It's so sweet! Thank you so much for sharing your diary along with the pictures. You and Madhava, both are so fortunate to be there in such an early stage of your life! I look forward seeing more...

10th of February

There is a local brahmin called Mathura prasad, who likes to do kunda-puja with the westeners. Last year we did this with him together with Advaitadas. Yesterday we met him and he wanted us to do kunda-puja with him, so we promised to do it with him today.

But first we are making a parikrama around the kundas and going to see our Baba. Baba is sitting outside of his templeroom and when he sees us, he asks us to sit down close to him.

After some time Mathura prasad comes there, and Baba gives us a permission to go with him. Mathura prasada has a basket which contains a blue sari, a coconut, sweets, flowers, incenses and other items for worshiping Sri Radhakund. We sit on the stairs very close to the waters of Radhakund, Mathura prasad chants some mantras while offering with us these different items to Radha. At the end of the puja he asks how much money we will give him, and then he announces it also in front of Radhakund. We give him the money and he gives us some sweets and blesses us with manjari bhava. He also asks if we will come for luch to his house. I hesitate a little, but Madhava says we can come.



Later he comes to our house to bring some rotis. That means we will not go to his place for lunch, instead he brought some rotis for us. I am happy that we will not go, because my stomach is always upset after eating something not cooked by myself. (because I have many allergies and my stomach is hyper sensitive)

Madhava went with Acyutananda to some festival at Manasi Ganga. Meanwhile I am spending my time with my best friends Sudevi and Gaura. Gaura is so sweet, from morning to evening he is only chanting Radhe, Radhe, Radhe, Radhe, Radhe, Radhe, Radhe, Radhe, Radhe, Radhe.

In the evening we go to see Baba again. Previously we had set a date for our diksa, and now we are talking about it. Baba says to Madhava that he should shave his beard before receiving diksa. What about the hair, we ask. Baba says, hair you can keep or shave, you can decide yourself.

Later we go to sabji market to buy some vegetables. In front of the ISKCON temple we meet Mahanidhi Svami, and end up talking with him for two hours.

Wait that my Krishna Caitanya joins the team too....He just started the school few days ago.He told me just yesterday, when i told him that all of you are going to see Baba, when will we go and see our Baba?
Children are gold....

11th of February

Today Madhava is going on Govardhan parikrama with Bir Krishna das Gosvami and Syamakunda (one disciple of his from Finland). Syamakunda's wife Radhakunda (don't they have such nice names!) along with their two children is staying with me at Radhakund.

Firts we all do together kunda parikrama, after which the men leave to Govardhan and we stay at Radhakund. Radhakunda and Syamakunda are a very nice couple, we have known them for many years, since our first days in ISKCON here in Finland. They have very beautiful Radha Krishna Deitys and they also like to read our Baba's books. So while the men are doing the Giriraja parikrama, Radhakunda is cooking for her guru, and I am looking after her children.

Finally the men return from the parikrama, Madhava seems to be all right, but Bir Krishna and Syamakunda are very tired, their feet are hurting a lot and they are hungry. They almost crawl back to our room. Radhakunda serves them prasad, which helps a little their exhaustion.



In the evening we go with Madhava to see Baba again. Baba asks Madhava; "That saffron cloth devotee, who was?"

When we leave from Baba's place, we meet Amiya Gopal das and Subhangada dasi. They are a very nice couple from Spain, they have been living at Radhakund for many years. They seem to be very happy living at Radhakund. We go to spend the rest of the evening with them in their house.

14th of February

For the last three days I have been sick, I think we have both cought a cold. The nights are very cold here, and we don't have enough blankets. Two days ago we visited a doctor and got some medicine from him, otherwise I have been just resting and chanting. After two days we will receive diksa, I hope I will be healthy by then.

Madhava is already shaving his beard for the diksa, after which we will go to see Baba.


When Baba sees Madhava, he says that Madhava looks so beautiful without the beard. (this is the first time Baba sees Madhava without the long beard) Baba says that the beard was no good, and he ask me also which I like better, with or without the beard. Baba smiles and laughs in his usual way.

We are asking Baba what do we need for the diksa. He replies that we need new japamalas for chanting the diksa mantras, pancamalas and harinama chadars to be kept on while chanting the mantras and flowergarland to be offered to Him.

In the evening Hari Charan is coming for prasad, and I am happy to get Madhava to do the cooking.

15th of February - Nityananda Trayodasi



Today is Nitai's birthday. In the morning we dress Nitai and Gaura with Their new pink clothes, and give Them lots of different fruits to eat. Madhava is going to Giriraja parikrama with Hari Charan. I stay at home with Nitai and Gaura, because I will cook for Them. (also because I am still sick)

Now I am here on the roof of our house. (Radharani seva center) It is nice to come here to chant. From here one can see all around Radhakund. Behind me far away is the village of Lalita Sakhi. It is so beautiful!

The nature around Radhakunda is green, green parrots are flying here and there, from one tree to the other. And sometimes they are sitting at the electric wires and looking at the people walking underneath them. Monkeys are jumping from one building to another, trying to look for food everywhere. Very cleverly they are making plans how to steal their food.

Cows and buffaloes are resting in the shadows. The Dogs are wandering around, sometime barking at the people who pass by them. There are different gangs of dogs at Radhakunda. Usually some 10-20 dogs form one group and they reside in different parts of Radhakunda village. At nights they are awake and they have "concerts". One group of dogs bark and sing from one corner of Radhakunda, then another group from far away answers and then the next. And this goes on for hours, just when you are trying to sleep. Usually they begin at ten at night and continue for a few hours. (It's good idea to bring earplugs with you to Radhakunda.) During the daytime these dogs are mostly sleeping on the roads. (I couldn't find a picture excatly from this situation, so here are cows and buffaloes from Govardhan and a dog somewhere in India, having holi-colors on him)

The Hare Krishna mantra is being sung everywhere in different beautiful melodies. One Brijbasi is taking care of her buffaloes, another one is carrying a big load of dried grass for the cows to eat. One older man is lying on his bed outside of the house, and some ladies are doing laundry. Small children are teasing the small dogs, and a newborn buffalo is saying his first "nhööh".

Some sadhus are sitting and chanting, some are washing themselves at the wells. Many people are doing kunda parikrama, you can see everything here from the roof.



Everything is so sweet and beautiful, I can only hear the chirping of the birds and the Hare Krishna mantra. From one temple I hear they sing "Nitai Gaur Radhe Syam, Hare Krishna Hare Rama"

Madhava and Hari Charan should be already back from the Govardhan parikrama, but it always takes more time than one has planned. While waiting them, I cook everything ready for Nitai's birthday meal.



When they finally come back, we do kunda parikrama together and go to see Baba. We ask Baba some guestions about receiving diksa (which will happen tomorrow!) after which we come back to our room to offer Nitai and Gaura their meal and honour their maha-prasad.

16th of February, Maghi Purnima

After the morning bath I woke up Nitai and Gaura and gave them something to eat. We performed kunda parikrama with Madhava and bought some flowers on the way. Then I made two garlands for Baba. Now we are going to receive diksa. We take the garlands with us, the new malas we have brought Baba beforehand.





We arrive at Baba's place, it is a quiet and beautiful morning. Baba is sitting in his templeroom. I have waited long for this moment to come, before I have asked some of Baba's disciples what it is like to receive diksa from him. They have answered it is very personal, there is only you and your guru, no other people or audience.

Madhava is going in first, he goes to Baba's templeroom and the curtain is closed. I am sitting outside and waiting. While Madhava is inside Baba's room, I see a small mouse running into there. After some time the mouse comes out, looks around and goes there again. Then it comes out again.

Now Madhava is also coming out of Baba's templeroom, and I go in, closing the curtain befind me. Now it is just me and my guru in front of Radha Krishna and many Govardhan silas.

I pay my obeisances to Baba and sit down in front of the altar. Baba is sitting on the left of the altar, we both sit on the floor. He sprinkles water on my hands as I do the acamana. I am performing guru-puja, Baba is asking me to repeat the mantras for worshiping guru after him. First I offer him tulasi-leaves then flowers and finally I put the flower-garland I have made around his neck. I pay my obeisances again.

Now he is giving me the diksa mantras. I look into Baba's eyes as he recites the mantras word by word, I repeat them after him. First comes the Guru mantra and Guru gayatri then Gaura mantra, Gaura gayatri, Nityananda mantra, Nityananda Gayatri, Advaita mantra, Advaita gayatri, Gadadhara mantra, Gadadhara gayatri and Srivas mantra and Srivas gayatri. Then comes Gurumanjari mantra and Gurumanjari gayatri.

Now Baba asks me to turn my right ear towards him. He bends closer and recites the Gopal mantra and Kama gayatri into my ear. Then I sit back as before, and Baba continues with Radha mantra, Radha gayatri, Lalita mantra, Lalita gayatri, Ananga Manjari mantra, Ananga Manjari gayatri and Rupa Manjari mantra and Rupa Manjari gayatri.

At the end of the ceremony Baba gives me new japamala for chanting Harinama. He says I should chant the diksa-mantras with my old japamala. I pay my obeisances to Baba again and leave the room and make parikrama around Param Gurudeva's samadhi.

This experience was something very special!

Baba comes out the the templeroom and calls Madhava and me to him, he gives us some maha-prasad. He then invites us for a lunch at noon at his place. He also asks us to come again to him at three o'clock to receive a paper, where the diksa-mantras are written.

At noon we go to Baba's place. We are asked to sit down and many different preparations are served to us. Baba is sitting at a little distance chanting and observing the situation.

At three o'clock we go to meet Baba again, he is sitting outside in the sunshine and chanting. We sit close to him and he explains to us how to chant the diksa-mantras. He shows that we should put the panca-mala around the neck and the harinama chaddar on the head. Then he explains which mantras we chant 10 times and which a whole round with our tulsimala. Baba then gives us the papers where the mantras are written and we ask him some questions.

During the rest of the day, we still go to meet Baba a couple of times, whenever questions arise in our minds. It is so nice that Baba is so kind to us, he is always there for us and our hundreds of questions.

17th of February

Today we were chanting the diksa mantras for the first time, it took me one and a half hours. It was an interesting and a beautiful experience to chant these new mantras.

One Vrajavasi has invited us to visit him, he is happy because of us just receiving diksa and he wants to serve us some prasad because of that. First we are going to see our Baba and after we go to this Vrajavasi's place.

This Vrajavasi still lives with his parents, he is the only one in the family, who didn't get married. (at least not yet, we hear from elsewhere that he wants to marry a western girl) We are sitting in his small templeroom and discussing about Krishna, while he serves us some milk and halava. He has a big Giriraja in his templeroom.

After some time he starts telling that his mother's sister's daughter (his cousin) is living at Govardhan and she is getting married. ... and they are very poor.. So, he asks if we want to donate something for their wedding, he is proposing that we buy 100 kg sugar.

Hm.. I don't know him, I know his cousin even less, never met her, we are not even invited for the wedding, we should just give money to buy 100 kg sugar, because they are poor and we are westeners. Well, he is a very nice person, so we say that we will think about it and see if we have that extra money.

We are going to see our Baba again, he serves us some prasad too. Madhava is asking him many questions.

We are now walking to Govardhan town, we need to buy some things for building our altar. We find a big table and some smaller things too, so we decide to take a riksa back to Radhakund instead of walking.



We are going again to see Baba. Mahanidhi Swami has given Madhava 100rs as a donation because of his diksa and Madhava is now giving that money to Baba. Baba is laughing and asking why Madhava is giving that money to him because Mahanidhi Swami gave it to Madhava?


It is time for the evening arati, one pujari is doing the arati for Baba's Giriraja and for other Deities, who are in the same altar. Baba rises from his chair and goes to see the arati. We stand behind him watching the arati also. The atmosphere is very sweet, it is dark, only the candles are giving some light. There is only Baba and 3-5 other devotees. We can hear the evening arati being performed in almost all the temples around Radhakund at the same time. So many bells ringing.

18th of February

It is raining the whole day and Madhava is little sick, so we just stay inside and chant harinama.

19th of February

Today we are also only resting and chanting. Yesterday we planned to go to Vrindavan, but it was raining. Today we also planned to go, but we heard that on wednesdays the shops are closed. Maybe we will go tomorrow.

In the evening we go to see Baba and ask him many questions - again.

20th of February

We are on our way to Vrindavan now, these tempo rides are so nice.. shaky like anything.



First thing we do in Vrindavan is we visit an ayurvedic doctor and receive some medicine from him.

From Loi Bazaar we take a riksa to MVT, where our friends from Finland (Radhakunda dasi and Syamakunda das + the children) are staying. They wanted to see Varsana before they go back to Finland, so we decide to go there together. We take a taxi to Varsana then.

We spend a few hours in Varsana, seeing the different temples and pastime places. It is beutiful and peaceful. At the end of our tour some enthusiastic children appear and start begging money from us. They don't accept a polite "no" but decide to start hanging -literally- on our clothes. One young girl is hanging on Syamakunda's shirt so enthusiastically that it is torn. After this Madhava raises his voice a little to chase them away.

We admire the beauty of Varsana still for some time and take then the taxi back to Radhakunda.

21st of February

Today we are again in Vrindavan, doing some shopping at Loi Bazaar. Yesterday we didn't have enough time to do our shopping, because of our trip to Varsana. We need all kinds of things for Gaura Nitai, new cloth for making new clothes, ornaments, cooking utensils and some other things which are not available at Radhakunda.

22nd of February

Today as we go to meet Baba, we see there one old friend of ours, whom we haven't seen for a long time. She used to a disciple of Narayana Maharaja too, but now she had taken diksa from one Babaji living at Radhakunda. We spent some hours with her discussing many things.

23rd of February

Today we are having prasad at Baba's ashram. One devotee had given 800rs to Madhava to be given to the service of the sadhus at Radhakunda. Madhava gave that money to Baba, who organized a feast at his ashram for the sadhus. Many sadhus happily came and honoured prasad.

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24th & 25th of February

These days we are preparing to give our Nitai Gaura to Baba to be "installed". I am making new dresses for Them and we meet Baba many times to ask what we need to give him. We have pictures of Baba, Paramguru, the six goswamis, Panca tattva and Radha Krishna. We have also bought frames for these pictures and now everything is ready for the seremony.

26th of February

Now we finally bring Nitai Gaura and the pictures to Baba. For three years we have had Nitai Gaur with us day and night, so it feels little odd to be a few days without them. But now we can see them standing on Baba's altar.

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27th of February - Ekadasi

It is 5.30 in the morning, we are going to Baba's temple to see the abhisekha of our Nitai Gaur. We are sitting in front of the templeroom and watching how our Nitai and Gaura are bathed with different ingredients. We have never done this before, since they are made of neem. We are just a little worried how they will survive.

They did survive, they just look little bit more yellow than before.

After taking a little rest, Madhava, me and my friend Sudevi go to Giriraja parikrama. This is my fist Giriraja parikrama on this trip. Giriraja is so beautiful and the weather is just pefect for doing parikrama, that means little cloudy and some raindrops falling. It is nice that it is not too hot, it is easier to do the parikrama on this kind of weather then on a very hot day.

We spent the whole day doing this parikrama, we visit many places on the way. We are back in Radhakunda only after seven, when it is dark already. We still go to see Baba.

We start our parikrama from Radhakunda, the first place where we stop is Kusuma Sarovara.

1. Kusuma Sarovara
2. Beautiful flowers at Kusuma Sarovara
3. Painting at the roof of one of the buildings at Kusuma Sarovara
4. Gwal Pokhar

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Some "houses" on Govardhana in the beginning of the parikrama.

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Now we have arrived at Manasi Ganga. We visit the Harideva temple also.

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Now we are walking towards the tail of Govardhana. This is some nature on the way and finally on the end we see Apsarakunda.

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This is Surabhikunda, many monkeys reside in here..
and the buffaloes also like the cooling water.

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A camel on the way to Uddava Kunda and finally Uddhava Kunda before going back to Radhakunda.

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28th of February

Baba is going to give our Nitai Gaura back to us today. At midday we are invited by Baba to take prasadam at his ashram. We are now sitting in line with many vaishnavas, who has been invited here. We get the leaf-plates and cups and some water. Then rice, many different subjis etc. are being served.. all of a sudden Dina das, a servant of Baba, runs to me and says: "No no, don't eat this - wait!" And he takes my plate away, I am wondering what is happening now.

After a minute Dina das comes back with a big plate of different kinds of fruits, only for me. Then he goes and comes back again with a plate of sweet paneer and youghurt. Then he goes and comes back to bring me a cup of warm milk and a whole pitcher of that warm milk. All the old babas, who are eating there, are watching.. I am so embarrased that I want to sink under the ground. I am also astonished and very touched, he prepared all this for me, because earlier on we had a discussion where I had mentioned something about my allergies etc. Baba had also asked before what I can eat, he is so considerate. But it was so embarrasing to eat specially made prasadam in front of all the old vaishnavas..

After the prasadam we talked for a while with Baba, he said we can come at four o'clock to have our Gaura Nitai back.

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At four we go to Baba to have our Nitai and Gaura back. We cook for them and do an arati, all according to the new rules we have learned. Nitai and Gaura seem to smile a lot. They look also very shining and more yellow then before (because of the abhisekha), but they have not yet spoken a word to us..

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1st of March, Siva-ratri

In the morning I went to Vrindavana with Sudevi and Gaura. We visited an ayurvedic doctor and did some shopping.

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In the evening, we are doing kunda-parikrama with Advaitadas, who just today arrived with Anuradha to Radhakunda. We visit different Siva Deities, because today is Siva-ratri.

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Here are some pictures around Syamakunda and Radhakunda:

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2nd of March

This is the first morning we are doing the puja the way Baba is teaching us. It takes some time, we have to read from the paper how to do everything and which mantras we chant and when. After puja I cook breakfast, after which I start immeadately cooking the lunch. After lunch Gaura and Nitai will take some rest, and we have some time to chant.

In the evening we do kunda-parikrama and visit Baba and ask him many questions about puja.

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3rd of March

In the morning we spent many hours doing puja, mantra smarana, japa, cooking etc. Only after 1 o'clock, when Gaura Nitai are taking rest, can we sit down and relax for a while. The mornings are very intense with all puja etc. Especially now in the beginning, when we are still learning, everything takes a lot of time. I like very much doing puja, I always wanted to focus more on doing puja, but didn't know how. Now I have a wonderful guru, who is very carefully teaching me everything, and making sure I learn everything properly.

Most of the time of the day is spent in Thakur seva, this naturally makes Thakurji the center of our lives. In the morning we wake them up, bathe, dress, decorate, offer tulasis and flowers. Then we do arati and offer breakfast. Then lucnh and another arati, after which they take a little rest. In the evening we cook for them again and make
third arati. (This is wonderful, I just wonder how I will have time for all this in the west, when I have to go to work also..)

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[malati]vrajamatka/madhava86.jpg[/malati]

In the evening we visit our Baba again. We have been discussing with him about the worship of Giriraja. Baba asks what size sila we want to worship, we tell Baba that we want him to choose a Govardhan sila for us, we will be happy with whatever he chooses. He says he will do that.

[malati]vrajamatka/silas87.jpg[/malati]

4th of March

In the morning we do kunda-parikrama and go to visit Baba.

In the early evening Mahanidhi Swami comes to visit us, he spends many hours discussing with Madhava.

In the evening we visit Baba again, it is so nice that we can go to see our Baba every morning and every evening, sit there with him and ask questions. Today we are sitting with Baba in his kutir in a candle light. There is only Baba, us and Acyutananda, it is very peaceful and sweet atmosphere. We discuss with Baba about siddha-pranali, manjaris, the worship of Giriraja etc. These moments are very special.

[malati]vrajamatka/baba88.jpg[/malati]

5th of March

In the morning we go to see Baba. Baba tells us: "A very beautiful Giridhari has come to you, very beautiful. Giridhari says: 'I have come to Madhavananda das and Malatilata dasi for their auspiciousnes and seva.' Now you give him some nice things to eat. Giridhari will eat now and take some rest and at four o'clock you can come to get him. Giridhari is very beautiful!"

We didn't see our Giridhari yet, now we will eagerly wait a few hours and then go to bring him home.

Madhava is going with Acyutananda to Mathura to see some trees. They are going to plant some trees here at Radhakund and now they will look for trees in different shops.

[malati]vrajamatka/acyuta89.jpg[/malati]

Madhava was supposed to come back before four, because at four o'clock we are supposed to go to Baba to bring Giridhari to our home. It is almost five and still they are not here..

I am going to see Baba now.

I tell Baba that Madhava is in Mathura, he was supposed to come back before four o'clock, but still he is not here.

Baba was wondering why Madhava went to Mathura just today and what is he doing there. I tell Baba about the tree project, and he actually knows about it already. Baba says he will go now to Raghunatha das Gosvami's samadhi for the holi kirtan and that he will give Giridhari to us tomorrow then, because late in the evening it is not good time.

Before Baba goes he shows me our Giridhari. Giridhari is sitting on Baba's altar next to Baba's own Giridhari. Baba points at him and says our Giridhari is there next to his.

[malati]vrajamatka/babagiridhari90.jpg[/malati]

Jay! Giridhari ki jay!

I go also to the holi-kirtan for a while.

[malati]vrajamatka/holi91.jpg[/malati]

After five o'clock Madhava and Acyutananda finally come back from Mathura, and we go to see Baba again. Baba says that he will give Giridhari to us tomorrow. We talk for a while with Baba and all of a sudden Baba goes to the altar and brings Giridhari to us - just so see. He holds Giridhari in his hands and shows him to us and then he speaks in Giridhari's voice: "I will come to you tomorrow." Baba is so sweet!

6th of March

Today we will finally bring our Giridhari home. In the early morning we do puja to Gaura Nitai and do our mantra-smarana too. I also start cooking the lunch, so that when Giridhari comes he can have something to eat.

At 9.30 we go to Baba's ashram. Baba brings Giridhari from his altar and gives him to our hands. Baba says that Giridhari was calling for us. He also gives one yellow chaddar to Giridhari. Baba then tells us what we need for Giridhari; a silken cloth to sit on, a turban, ornaments etc. And we should also paint him a mouth, so that he can eat good food.

I ask Baba what Giridhari likes to eat. Baba says: "He likes what you like, he is your Giridhari."

Baba says when we have everything ready for Giridhari, he will come to visit us and see how Giridhari looks.

We bring Giridhari home, cook him a lot of food and feed him. After lunch we take Giridhari with us and go to vrindavan to buy him eyes , ornaments etc.

It is so nice that Krishna came to live with us!

[malati]vrajamatka/giridhari92.jpg[/malati]

7th of March

This is the first morning I am worshipping Giridhari, I give him oil massage, bathe him, dress him in new clothes and ornaments, decorate his sweet face and offer him tulasi leaves and flowers. He is so sweet!

[malati]vrajamatka/giridhari93.jpg[/malati]

In the afternoon I go with Sudevi and Gaura to Govardhan town, we take a tempo there. We do some shopping there and walk back to Radhakunda. It is so beautiful here at the foot of Govardhana, the sun is setting, on top of every tree are a lot of birds and the peacocks are singing.

[malati]vrajamatka/govardhana94.jpg[/malati]

[malati]vrajamatka/peacock95.jpg[/malati]

It became dark too soon, so we have to stop a tractor and ask for a ride to Radhakunda. It is not so safe to walk here after dark.

[malati]vrajamatka/sunset96.jpg[/malati]

At Radhakunda we go to see Baba, Madhava arrives there also. We ask Baba some questions and watch the evening arati with him.

8th of March

The morning is spent worshiping Giridhari and Gaura Nitai, cooking for them and making new dresses.

In the evening I go with Gaura and Sudevi to Govardhana again. It is so nice and peaceful to walk around Govardhana.

9th of March

Now Baba is giving a lecture on Bhramara Gita. I don't understand anything, because I don't know bengali. Subhangada tells me that Baba has said the same purification of heart happens to those who understand (while listening to Hari katha) and to those who do not understand. The difference is that those who do understand can relish it also.

[malati]vrajamatka/baba97.jpg[/malati]

10th of March

Today Baba is also giving a lecture on Bhramara Gita. Madhava is recording the lectures and after the lecture Baba wants to hear from the tape how the recording worked out. I wish so much that I could understand bengali, it would be so nice to understand what Baba is speaking.

We ask Baba after the lecture, when he wants to see our Giridhari, and Baba says tomorrorw morning we could bring him to Baba, at ten o'clock. (it is too difficult to Baba to come to our room, because the stairs to upstairs are very difficult to walk)

[malati]vrajamatka/baba98.jpg[/malati]

Thank you Malatilata. I love hearing about Sri Ananta das Baba. Its been so long since I have seen him (& others). Your Thakur looks beautiful!

Malatilata! I keep relishing every bit of it. Thanks for sharing your journey to Vraja with us.

Dandavats. All glories to the Vaisnavas.

Just wanted to send you a note to let you know just how much I appreciate your posting your diary. Every time I read your posts I get more excited abotut my trip to Braja and especially to meet Baba. Everything sounds so sweet.

Thank you.

Aspiring to serve the Vaisnavas,
Rasaraja dasa

Jay Radhe!

Thank you for all of you for your nice feedback. It is nice to know that you like reading this. I will try to finish this before the next trip begins, I still have two months left in my diary to write, but three weeks left to write (before our next trip).

I will still write about the tree-planting project, trip to Delhi to print books, receiving siddha-pranali, holi etc.

11th of March

In the morning I am dressing Giridhari in his new clothes, turban and ornaments. I am placing him a tray, so that I can carry him properly without messing up all of his clothes. We carry him now to Baba.

Baba is sitting upstairs and writing something, I place Giridhari in front of him. Baba is smiling, he fixes Giridhari's turban a little and says that Giridhari is happy. He asks if Giridhari speaks to us already. I answer that not yet. Baba says that he will - soon! I will wait for that day very eagerly.

Baba is admiring Giridhari's clothes and is very pleased that I have done everything myself.

We bring Giridhari back home and cook the lunch. I am now making new dresses for him and Gaura Nitai for Gaura Purnima, which will be after a few days. Madhava is working with the book-project.

In the evening we do the kunda-parikrama, as we do everyday and go to see Baba.

[malati]vrajamatka/baba99.jpg[/malati]

12th of March

We are living next door to Anuradha, and she has often problems with her computer. So today Madhava is spending the whole day fixing her computer. I spend some time walking in the nature around Radhakund and sitting next to the kunda just admiring her beautiful waters and chanting.

In the evening we attend Baba's lecture on Bhramara Gita.

[malati]vrajamatka/roadsurya100.jpg[/malati]


[malati]vrajamatka/radhakunda101.jpg[/malati]

Malatilata Mataji

I just want to add my voice of thanks for all of your postings. All the arguments, discussions and disagreements that go on in all of the other threads melt away when I read your diary entries.

The pictures you post are amazing, and very inspiring to those unfortunate souls like myself who have not yet undergone a trip to Vraja.

Thank you so much!

Dearest Malatilata,

Jai RAdhe! Indeed this is the ultimate in relishing the company of Baba for those of us who have yet to make the trip to Radha Kunda. Thank you so much for posting these wonderful photos and telling us all about your nectarean experiences of learning and growing under the guidance of such a wonderful Vaishnava Guru as Baba!

I hope that you will be able to post everything before you leave, and then when you are there, you can post some more!

Thanks for your great service,

Your servant
Sudevi dasi

Thank you again everyone for your kind words!

When you will visit Vraja, or other holy places, it would be nice to read your experiences too and see your pictures.

I liked reading Braja's visit to Vraja too, thank you!

13th of March

Baba is still giving lectures on Bhramara Gita, we go there enthusiatically, although I understand maybe five words in the whole lecture. Madhava seems to understand little bit more.

Radha Krishna das (from Germany) comes to visit us in the evening, we spent some hours with him discussing guru-tattva.

Late in the evening we do kunda-parikrama and visit Baba. We ask Baba is it difficult to practise yoga-pitha seva, because many devotees say so. Baba says that it is not at all difficult, first practise little, then it should come. Then we ask Baba when he will give us siddha-pranali, and Baba says after Purnima is good time, Gaura Purnima itself is a very busy day.

[malati]vrajamatka/baba102.jpg[/malati]

14th of March, Ekadasi

Today I spent more time reading and chanting. Madhava is still very busy with editing the books.

15th of March

First we planned to go to Vrindavana today, but we decided to go tomorrow. Today we just chant and rest a little.

[malati]vrajamatka/ikkuna103.jpg[/malati]

16th of March

In the morning we go to Vrindavan and spent the whole day there. We check our e-mails, do some shopping at Loi Bazaar and go to meet Yugal Kishor. Madhava speaks with Yugal about the printing of Baba's books. Yugal prints some samples of the book-covers, which Madhava has designed, so that we can show them to Baba.

[malati]vrajamatka/babayugal104.jpg[/malati]


We come back to Radhakund only after dark, it is not so nice to travel at dark, the tempos don't even drive after five o'clock.

We go to meet Baba and show him the samples, we just printed. Baba looks at them carefully and suggests then some changes. In the cover of Siksastakam is Mahaprabhu as a householder, but Baba wants to change that picture to another one, where Mahaprabhu is a sannyasi, because at that time he spoke the Siksastakam.

17th of March

Just resting today and playing with Gaura. In the evening we do parikrama and visit Baba.

[malati]vrajamatka/gaura105.jpg[/malati]

[malati]vrajamatka/gaura106.jpg[/malati]

Thanks Malatilata and Madhava for sharing this wonderful world!

Radhe-Radheeeeee!

18th of March, Gaura Purnima

[malati]vrajamatka/gauranga107.jpg[/malati]

In the morning Gaura Nitai and Giridhari get their new white clothes, and many, many flowers and flower-garlands. It is also holi today, as it was yesterday and will be tomorrow also, so we are staying inside most of the time. The vrajavasis like to celebrate the holi for many days. Among the children it just gets wilder and wilder every day. First they only throw colored water, but later it will be sewage water and what not..

As I look thru our window to see what the neighbours are doing, I see that the older people are also playing holi, they just don't do it so much in the open, but in their own yards. I see the grandparents of the family, the grandfather is picking buffalo-dung from the ground and smearing it to the face of the grandmother. Grandmother laughs and yells at the same time and also takes some dung and smears it to the head of her husband. Such a funny sight!

After the sunset we do abhisekha, arati and the offering. I have cooked potato-paneer-cream subji, buckwheat-rotis, banana-apple-chutney, sandesh and srikand. Sudevi has cooked many more preparations, and we all share the prasada together. (There's not so much choice on what to cook, because on festival days we eat the same as on ekadasis.)

[malati]vrajamatka/giridhari108.jpg[/malati]

[malati]vrajamatka/gauranitai109.jpg[/malati]

(Our previous camera didn't take such good pictures inside, this time we will have a better camera.)

At midnight when we see the full moon at the sky, we do kunda-parikrama. It is actually very nice to do parikrama at this time, it is peaceful and quiet, the air is fresh, there's almost nobody out there, even the monkeys are sleeping. And the waters of Radhakunda look very beautiful at the full moon night.

The full moon is giving so much light, it is very bright. It looks as if everything is covered with snow, it is so wonderful, I have never seen the full moon nights look like this anywhere else. Now I understand why Radha and friends dress in white clothes, ornaments and flowers on full moon night so that their superiors don't see them, when they go to meet Krishna at night. They simply merge with the whiteness of the night.

It is totally the opposite on new moon nights, it doesn't give light like the full moon. On Amavasya (new moon) Radha and friends dress in black clothes so that they are not seen.

[malati]vrajamatka/fullmoon110.jpg[/malati]


[malati]vrajamatka/radha111.jpg[/malati]

19th of March

Today we have some discussions with Baba about printing his books.

20th of March

In the morning we go to Baba and ask him when we will receive siddha-pranali. Baba says that the day after tomorrow is a good time.

21st of March

In the morning we go to Vrindavana to take care of our e-mails and do some shopping again. In Vrindavana there is more vegetables and other foodstuffs on the market, at Radhakund the market is not as good.

In the evening we spent long time discussing with Baba different things.

[malati]vrajamatka/radhakunda112.jpg[/malati]

[malati]vrajamatka/radhakunda113.jpg[/malati]

22nd of March

Today is the day I have been waiting for so long! We will finally receive siddha-pranali. It is quite an extraordinary thing that we will now find out our siddha-svarupa, our seva to Radha etc.

[malati]vrajamatka/baba114.jpg[/malati]

In the morning we go to Baba, bow down before his feet and sit down close to him. Baba had meditated on this before and written down the details of our svarupas on a paper. First Baba tells the name, color, clothing, nature, seva etc. of Madhava and then mine. Such beautiful names we have! (But I can't tell them, of course. )

How wonderful it is to know now who I truly am! This is just simply wonderful!

Then Baba explains us how to do yoga-pitha-seva, he gives us the papers where the details of our guru-pranali and siddha-pranali are and also the yoga-pitha-maps. We talk with Baba for a while, and then come home to study the papers more carefully and meditate on ourselves!

In the evening we do kunda-parikrama and go to meet Baba again.

My head is already full of questions about my svarupa, I want to know more details. It feels really beautiful to think of myself as a manjari.

I am so grateful to Baba for giving us this greatest treasure we could ever have.

[malati]vrajamatka/manjaris115.jpg[/malati]

[malati]vrajamatka/manjaris116.jpg[/malati]

Just amazing.. I wish we could get more details

Thanks for the great pictures!

23rd of March

This morning we are doing first time the yoga-pitha-seva. After shower we sit down in our room and start meditating. One hour passes, another hour passes, third hour passes. After three hours I have done the seva. Madhava is still meditating. I do the morning puja and mantrasmarana, and Madhava is still meditating. After five hours have passed, Madhava returns to external consciousness. We have heard that usually devotees do this meditation in 1-2 hours, so maybe after some practise it won't take us three and five hours.

It was fascinating and interesting to step into this world of Radha and Krishna. It feels like my heart is overflowing with joy while doing this seva. It is nice to close my eyes and see the real me (although I don't see it so clearly yet ). It was so beautiful to approach Radha and Krishna for the first time in my real svarupa. This is truly wonderful!

[malati]vrajamatka/radhakrishna118.jpg[/malati]

After breakfast we go to meet Baba our heads full of questions. We ask him details about our svarupas and the seva we do in yoga-pitha. I also ask what is the meaning of my name. This is what I have always thought the guru-disciple relationship to be like. I can sit at the feet of my guru and ask about the deepest and most essential things in bhakti.

I ask Baba for example what is the color of the eyes of the sakhis and manjaris, how do they stand in the yoga-pitha meeting, what is the color of the sari of some sakhi, are Radha and Krishna sitting or standing while we serve them, where do we arrange the items for the service etc. Baba answers all our questions very carefully.

[malati]vrajamatka/baba117.jpg[/malati]

[malati]vrajamatka/radha119.jpg[/malati]

[malati]vrajamatka/radhakrishna120.jpg[/malati]

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24th - 27th of March

During these four days we try to concentrate on learning the yoga-pitha-seva. On the first day it took us many hours and we also asked Baba does it always take this long. Baba was laughing a little and said after some time one can do it in less than one hour.

The mornings go really fast, first we do puja, then mantra-smaran and then yoga-pitha-seva. Only after 5-6 hours after waking up I can eat the breakfast.. Someone told us that one should not take even water before completing all these morning services, and I am used to eating something immediately after waking up, otherwise I will faint. Well after a few days of austerity I had to start eating again before doing anything in the morning, otherwise I would be only thinking of food while trying to serve Radha and Krishna.

Slowly we start to memorize more of the details of Yoga-pitha and we continue asking Baba every day many questions about it. And Baba keeps answering our questions very carefully and he gives very interesting answers too!

[malati]vrajamatka/smallmanjari.jpg[/malati]

One of these days we visit one "tree-shop" in Catikara. We go there with Acyuta, Sudevi and Gaura. Soon Madhava and Acyuta will buy many trees and plant them at Radhakunda. There are many kinds of trees and flowers here, Tamal-trees, Campaka-trees, Kadamba-trees etc.

[malati]vrajamatka/treeshop125.jpg[/malati]

[malati]vrajamatka/treeshop126.jpg[/malati]

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[malati]vrajamatka/treeshop128.jpg[/malati]

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28th of March

This morning Madhava and Acyutananda went to Catikara to buy trees. They have long desired to plant more trees at Radhakunda, and many devotees have also given donations for this project.

They have also asked different babajis around Radhakunda, who would want to have these trees in their gardens and take care of them. Many were enthusiastic to have trees or roses around their kutirs.

After some hours Madhava and Acyuta come back to Radhakunda with a truck full of trees.

We unload the trees from the truck and bring them first to Jiva Gosvami ghera. Some men from the tree-shop came along and help carrying the trees.

[malati]vrajamatka/tree130.jpg[/malati]


[malati]vrajamatka/tree131.jpg[/malati]


[malati]vrajamatka/tree132.jpg[/malati]


[malati]vrajamatka/tree133.jpg[/malati]

Some curious people gather around us to see what is going on. Then one babaji, belonging to the local managerial committee, comes there, causing a big uproar, trying to prevent us. Long discussions follow, but I am not close enough to listen to it. He makes a big fuss about it, and it seems that gist of the problem is that we are Westerners.

We have to stop distributing the trees and just leave them there and go to speak to our Baba.

At night when everyone is sleeping, the babajis, who wanted the trees, go sneaking to the place where the trees are. They take them to their own kutirs and secretly plant them.

[malati]vrajamatka/tree134.jpg[/malati]


[malati]vrajamatka/tree135.jpg[/malati]


[malati]vrajamatka/tree136.jpg[/malati]


[malati]vrajamatka/tree137.jpg[/malati]

Dear Malati lata didi!

Radhe RAdhe!

What wonderful pictures you have shown of the tree planting effort in RAdha Kunda! It is blissful to see that and also to learn more about your experience with practicing yoga pitha seva.... fantastic!

Can you kindly share a little more about Acyutananda Baba that we see in the pictures?

Jai RAdhe!

YS
Sudevi dasi

Acyutananda is one among the many Babas who have come from Bengal to Radha-kunda. He has a nice little kutir with a direct view of Syama-kunda. He's a very green baba, love to take care of plants and trees, not in the bricks-and-cement sampradaya. I can't remember right now whose disciple he is, he might be initiated by Nandalal Pandit, or then someone from Bengal.

29th of March

Today Madhava rests almost the whole day, he is very tired from yesterday's hard work. In the evening we go to see Baba.

30th of March

It is nice to spend the mornings doing puja and yoga-pitha-seva. Everyday something new comes into mind.

When we go the meet Baba, he tells us a funny story:

"There was one man, who went to visit the parents of his wife. There the parents served him some sweet cake, but the man refused, he didn't take the cake. But at night when everyone was sleeping, the man went secretly to the cake and licked the cake around it."

Then Baba continues that the same thing happened with the trees, during the day they refused to take the trees, but at night they were greedy and secretly took the trees and planted them.

Baba laughs out loud for many minutes, I have never seen him laughing like this. It is so funny, we laugh together with Baba. But then Baba tells us that we shouldn't tell others that he told a story like this about them, they might get angry.

31st of March

In the morning we discuss with Baba about the books, which will soon be printed.

During the day we do some cleaning in the house.

[malati]vrajamatka/gaura138.jpg[/malati]

And in the evening we do kunda-parikrama and go to see Baba.

1st of April

In the morning we take a taxi to Vrindavana with Acyuta and his family. I visit an ayurvedic doctor and meanwhile Madhava checks his e-mails.

When we come back to Radhakunda, we speak with Baba about the books again. Soon we should go to Delhi to get them printed. We also ask Baba when he will tell more details about our siddha-svarupas; the name of our parents, husbands etc. Baba says that he will tell us before we go back to Finland.

2nd of April

We are both sick today. My stomach is upset and Madhava has fever.

During the day we visit Baba, otherwise we rest the whole day. In the evening Madhava's fever is almost 40 degrees(=104 fahrenheit)

3rd of April

Today we visit a doctor at Gaura Dhama, he suspects that we have food-poisoning. It must be the sugarcane-juice we drank in Vrindavana two days ago..

We tell Baba that we cannot go to Delhi yet, because we are sick. Baba is very understanding and advices us to rest a lot and not worry.

[malati]vrajamatka/hospital139.jpg[/malati]

4th of April

We are still sick, so we rest the whole day. Well, not the whole day, we still have to do puja, mantra-smarana, yoga-pitha, cooking twice to Giridhari and Gaura Nitai..

5th of April

Today we visit the doctor again, he said that we should be Ok now. I still feel very weak though. But today we have the energy to do kunda-parikrama again and visit Baba. Baba asks if we feel better already.

6th - 9th of April

The books are still not ready, and we should go the Delhi already. These days we work on the books from morning to evening. Sometimes we go to see Baba and ask him if some part of the text is traslated correctly etc.

[malati]vrajamatka/weddingparty140.jpg[/malati]

10th of April

I go to Vrindavan with Sudevi. We do some shopping there, I try to find some presents for my relatives and friends back home. It is not so easy to find something for them in Vrindavana if they are not devotees or otherwise interested in Indian culture. Still I manage to find something for them, some ayurvedic things and ornaments etc..

11th - 14th of April

Still working on the books - we are in a hurry already. We are going back to Finland in three weeks and before that the books should be printed.

Here are some paintings from Baba's room:

[malati]vrajamatka/painting141.jpg[/malati]


[malati]vrajamatka/painting142.jpg[/malati]


[malati]vrajamatka/painting143.jpg[/malati]

15th of April

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In the morning we take a bath at Radhakunda, after which we take a taxi to Delhi - finally. Late in the evening we arrive to Rakmo Printing Press, where we speak for some time with the owners of the press. The owners are two brothers, Rakesh and Mukesh, that's where the name Rakmo comes from.

They arrange a hotelroom to us for two nights and they pay for it also. They have one questroom in the printing-press, but there is one brahmacari staying already, so we cannot stay there. We are already in Delhi, but the books are not 100% ready. I go to sleep, but Madhava continues to check the books throughout the night.

[malati]vrajamatka/brahmacari145.jpg[/malati]

16th of April

I am sick like anything, my stomach has never hurt this much. I have to run to the toilet every 2-8 minutes.. I can only lie on the bed the whole day. Madhava goes to the printing press to give the files and see the drafts.

17th of April

In the morning we visit an ayurvedic doctor here in Delhi. Triguna is the name of the doctor, and many devotees say that he is a good doctor. When we go there, there's about 200 persons waiting to see him. But because we are Westerners we can go to see him before everyone else. He gives me some liquid and powdered medicine for parasites.

[malati]vrajamatka/delhi146.jpg[/malati]

We also visit a bank and Aeroflot-office to confirm our flight-tickets. We still visit the printing-press before we start to drive back to Radhakunda. We drive back to Radhakunda thru Nandagram and Varsana, it is nice to see these places on the way. We arrive at Radhakunda only at nine o'clock in the evening.

18th of April

I am still sick. I have to rest the whole day. In the evening we see Baba and tell him the news from the printing-press.

19th of April

Madhava goes to Vrindavana with Acyutananda. They visit the Vrindavana research institute and some other places. I stay at home and rest.

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I am still very sick, my stomach is still upset and I am getting weaker and weaker. The ayurvedic medicine is still not working. We decide with Sudevi that I should go to see the doctor at Gaura Dhama. We go there together and I get some allopathic medicine. Usually I don't like to take allopathic medicine, but now it seems that the ayurvedic medicine is not working and I am just getting too weak.

20th - 24th of April

Now when the books are finally in the press, we have more time for other things. We walk in the nature around Radhakunda and Govardhana, we also have more time to chant and meditate etc.

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25th of April

Today Madhava goes to Delhi to bring the books to Radhakund. He will be there a couple of days to check that the books will be ok and then he will bring them here. I stay at Radhakunda this time, I didn't like Delhi so much, and I also have to take care of some things here.

I visit Vrindavana with Sudevi and Gaura. We do some shopping there - again. There is one shop at Loi Bazaar where we can buy bread, corn flakes, berry-jams, cream, cheese etc. After eating for almost three months only potatoes and dal I want to eat now something lighter, especially now when it is getting too hot!

When we come back to Radhakunda, I phone Madhava to Delhi to ask the news. Well, he doesn't have so good news. He tells that the binding machine at the printing press is broken, and the books are not ready yet. It will take more time. This is just typical in India..

They say at the printing press that the books will be ready after two weeks or so. Madhava told them that we are leaving to Finland already after 9 days, so they should be ready before that!

You're forgetting that they actually had 50 sample copies of each SAS and RVC binded ready for me. It's a pity though that they had messed up the pages of the two books, and all those 50 sample books had half pages from one and half from the other. And all the pages for 2 x 1000 copies were sorted in the same way. So the guys tore open all the sample books and resorted all the roughly eighty thousand sheets, and no sir, they didn't have machines for that! Please see this thread for images of the state of the art equipment they have there.

26th of April

I spent the day doing puja, smarana etc. In the evening I walk with Sudevi and Gaura to Uddhava-kunda and back. We also go to meet Baba. Usually Gaura is chanting from morning to evening Radhe, Radhe, Radhe and nothing else. But when we go to see Baba, he is not saying a word. Baba is trying to make Gaura chant Radhe in front of Him, but Gaura won't do that for some reason. Then one day he finally chants Radhe Radhe in front of Baba, and Baba is very happy.

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(In the link in the previous post is Madhava's story from the printing press.)

27th of April

Today is ekadasi. In the morning I go with Sudevi to Gaura Dhama to see some peacocks. In the close proximity of Radhakunda there are no peacocks anymore. They like to be more in the nature, so we can find many of them at Gaura Dhama and Govardhana.

Our Baba tells us that when he was younger, Radhakunda was so much different. There was lots of nature around the kundas and not buildings like nowadays. When he was chanting by the waters of Radhakunda, he could see peacocks flying above the kunda. He could also sometimes see a forest-deer come to drink water from Radhakunda. It must have been so beautiful!

We do our mantra-smarana in the midst of the peacocks. Their singing and dancing is so beautiful!

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In the evening it is thunder and the electricity is off for the second day already. That means I cook the evening meal to Giridhari and Gaura Nitai in a candle-light. But at night it is difficult to sleep, because I can't have the fan on without electricity - and it is very hot!

28th of April

Early this mornining we go with Sudevi and Gaura to Vrindavana. A few days back Madhava has bought some books from Vrindavana research institute for Jagat, I should send them now to him.

First we go to the post-office at Krishna Balarama Mandir, but they say that they don't have some custom-papers at the moment. They advice I ask one shop across the street. I ask, but they also don't have them at the moment. So we have to travel to the main post-office at Vrindavana. There they also say that they don't have these custom-papers, they only have one copy. So they give that to me and I have to go myself to some copy-shop to make another copy and pay it too - of course. So I go outside the post-office and look for a copy-shop somewhere in Vrindavana. Finally I find one and make the copy. Then I return to the post and finally get the books posted. It is amazing how some simple things can take so long time in India.

(And Jagat didn't even get the books in time, I think it took one whole year for the books to arrive.)

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While in Vrindavana, we visit Radha-Ramana, Radha-Gokulananda and Radha-Gopinatha temples and some other places too.

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29th of April

I call Madhava to Delhi, he says the books are almost ready. After two days he should come back to Radhakunda.

30th of April

Today we do Govardhana parikrama with Sudevi. In the evening we visit Baba, he asks me if I have heard any news from Madhava. I tell Baba that Madhava should be here with the books tomorrow.

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1st of May

This morning Madhava is finally coming back from Delhi. They drive the truck close to Baba's ashram and and unload the books. Madhava takes few samples and brings them to Baba. Baba is very happy to see the books, he thinks they look very nice. He thanks us very much for doing this seva.

Many devotees come to help bringing the books upstairs to the bookstorage. Then we discuss with Baba where we should sell the book. We will go tomorrow to Vrindavana to brings some books to the bookstores there.

2nd of May

Today we go to Vrindavana. One devotee, Prahlad, comes with us. He is from Delhi, and he came with Madhava from Delhi to Radhakunda to meet Baba.

In Vrindavana we bring Baba's books to some bookstores at Loi Bazaar. We visit Piscima's Gaura Nitai Deities and Radha Damodara. Then we take a boat across Yamuna and bathe on the other shore. We still visit some other places in Vrindavana before coming back to Radhakunda.

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3rd of May

Madhava goes on Govardhana parikrama with Prahlad.

I sit some time at Jahnava Baitak chanting. In the evening I do with Sudevi and Gaura the kunda-parikrama three times. When we arrive at Nityananda Baitak, Gaura gets very enthusiastic. He chants "Nina, Niina, Niia".. trying to say Nitai. Then he tries to go inside shrine, and we try to hold him back. He is so sweet.

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4th of May, Candan Yatra (our last day at Radhakunda)

Today is Candan yatra, all the Deities will be covered with candan. Our Giridhari also gets a candan-covering in the morning.

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Early in the morning I go with Sudevi to Gaura dhama to see the peacocks again. We see many peacocks here, they are having a beautiful morning-dance. We sit here sometime chanting and doing mantra-smarana. I am very sad that we have to leave today. I will miss Baba, my friends Sudevi and Gaura and the beautiful Radhakunda and Govardhana.

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During the day I am packing our things and cleaning the room. Lot of things have accumulated in our room during these three months, where will I put all these? We cannot take all this back to Finland. I have to leave them in Anuradha's room to wait for our return.

This is how the rooms look like at Radharani seva center:

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In the evening we do kunda-parikrama and visit almost all the temples around the kundas. In all of them Krishna is all covered with candan. We visit Radha-Damodara at Jiva Gosvami ghera, the pujari there is very devoted to Radha-Damodara.

Radha-Damodara look very beautiful today. We want to give the pujari a donations for their seva. The pujari becomes embarrased because of our donations and he starts looking around the temple for some prasadi things he could give us. He gives us some maha-prasad and a mango. The mango is not yet prasada, so the pujari shows it to Damodara and pleads him to accept it. Then he gives it to us.

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He's one of the most devoted pujaris I have ever come across. Once, when we went there for Radha-Damodar, he explained why he could not go for Bhagavat-saptaha although practically everybody else was going. He was worried about leaving Radha-Damodara behind. Who would take care of them if he went to attend a class?

Early in the morning if you go for darshan, you'll find him chanting and preparing chandan for Radha-Damodara. In the daytime, you'll often find him reading aloud. Often nobody but Radha-Damodara attend.

The particular incident described by Malati was very touching. We gave a donation of Rs. 300, and he first felt like he could not accept it. However we insisted that we wish to give for the seva of Radha-Damodara. He then ran off to find some prasad to give us from Radha-Damodara. First he found some small left-overs which he brought us, but felt it was not enough. Off he ran to find something else. Then he found a bowl of some special cooling porridge-like preparation that they served at all temples on Chandan-yatra. However even of that there were just small remnants left. Then he ran to get a bag of flour that was used to prepare it and told us in brief how to prepare it. And apparently even that didn't suffice, as he ran off to get a mango. However as it wasn't offered yet, he went before Radha-Damodara and, holding it in his hand, with great enthusiasm pleaded, "Eat, Damodara, eat!" Then he handed over the mango to us.

If you go over to Radha-kunda, be sure to bring something for Radha-Damodara. For example honey and ghee are nice items to bring, good quality of either of the two is pretty hard to acquire in Vrindavan.

We visit Baba and tell him we will come back after five months, for the Kartik. We discuss with him for some time and he wishes a safe trip to Finland and wishes that we come back soon.

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The sun is setting, it looks so beautiful.

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Late in the evening I visit Baba one more time, but I cannot really say anything to him because I am about to start crying. I bow down to his feet and hold them to my head and pray to his footdust that we can soon come back to Radhakunda.

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At nine o'clock in the evening our taxi comes and we start our trip to Delhi. I try to see through my tears the beautiful views of Vraja one more time. Why we have to go..

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