USA
January 6, 2003 VNN7705
Godruma Gardens
BY JAGADDHATRI DD
HILO, HAWAII, Jan 6 (VNN) —
All Devotees Respected Here
We Celebrate Unity in Diversity
Chant, Dance, Hear Hari Katha,
Honor Prasadam, and Be Happy
This sign is posted on the front door of the new Vaisnava Sangha Center in Hilo, Hawaii, which is also becoming known as Godruma Gardens. By Krishna's arrangement, this center has opened for the many devotees that have made this island their home.
On December 23rd, Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Thakura's Disappearance Day, there was an informal opening for the center. Approximately 65 devotees, from different groups, attended the program which culminated in ecstatic kirtan and a sumptuous feast. For some of us, it was an amazing reunion. Babhru, Satyaki, Gopavrndapal, Mulaprakrti, Raghunath, Madhu Kanta and I were with Srila Prabhupada 29 years ago when he celebrated this day and offered arotika to his Gurudev in Los Angeles. There were also many other older disciples of Srila Prabhupada present.
A community is forming here that is Prabhupada-centered but honors other vaisnavas in a non-sectarian mood that has developed with the past annual Hilo Ratha Yatras. Babrhu Prabhu has agreed, along with a group of senior Prabhupada disciples, to provide brahminical guidance for the community.
The Hilo community has had the good fortune of hosting many wonderful vaisnavas in the past, including Srila Bhakti Ballava Tirtha Maharaja, Srila Bodhayan Maharaja, Srila Narasingha Maharaja, Srila Paramadwaiti Maharaja, Srila Bhakti Tirtha Swami and others. We are looking forward to the arrival of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Maharaja, who is coming January 10th to the 17th, for we now have a facility especially suitable for hearing from these exalted vaisnavas as they preach Hari Katha.
Jagaddhatri dd
Hilo, Hawaii
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