© 2003 VNN
|
WORLD  About the AuthorOther Stories by this Author The Gathering BY MAHAVEGAVATI DASI INDIA, Feb 27 (VNN) — To all the assembled Vaisnavas. All glories to our Gaudiya Math Founding Father, His Divine Grace, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada by Whose mercy and the mercy of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, we have come to the Lotus Feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. Irregardless of who our respective Guru Maharaj is, at least practically all Western devotees have to give credit to these two personalities for Their mercy in enabling us to come to portals of Gaudiya Vaisnavism. Hundreds of devotees from our Gaudiya family from practically all of the different branches of Gaudiya Math came together on February 20, 21 to commorate Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada?s Avirbhava. Gathering in Govardhan at the new math under construction by Shivananda das Brahmacari on behalf of his spiritual master, Srila Bhakti Dayita Madhava Maharaj, the devotees first took prasadam and then circumambulated Giriraj Govardhan on February 20 with three large groups for kirtan. The parikramers went to Radha Kunda where the devotees gathered at the Kunja Bihari Gaudiya Math which was started by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada. Various senior Vaishnavas from different Gaudiya missions spoke and prasadam was served to the assembled Vaisnavas. The parikram then continued from there after prasadam was honored. The parikram ended up at Sivananda das Brahmacari?s math where they took prasadam and rested up in preparation for the next days events. The February 21st celebrations started off with a huge kirtan and abhishek ceremony for Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada. Continuing with a simultaneous puspanjali and arotike, devotees came up individually to offer their flowers. After this, a feast was held for the local Vrindavan sadhus while the senior devotees from the various Gaudiya missions spoke on the glories of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada. Hundreds of devotees showed up for this glorious event; thus, the celebration went on for five and more hours with amazing kirtan. During this time, the Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti presented a reprint of "Sarasvati Jaya Sri," a biography of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada. The event was wonderful due to so many Gaudiya Vaisnavas from the various branches of the family coming together to honor present-day's Gaudiya Vaishnava's founding father, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada, who also envisioned the Vishva Vaishnava Raj Sabha. May we all put aside our visions of sectarianism and act in the family relationship that will bring the mercy of Lord Nityananda, Lord Caitanya, and Sri Sri Radha-Krsna to this world. I remain your servant, Mahavegavati Dasi Hare Krsna About the Author Other Stories by this AuthorContact VNN about this storySend this story to a friend
|
