Dandavat and Hare Krishna. One point that I made regarding Vyasadeva yesterday, the greatest "heavy" philosopher writing the Gopi Gita, was that it was Vyasadeva who may have been alluded to like an elephant dancing in his Gopi Gita. The meaning, as Sripad Goswami Maharaj elucidated, is that the slokas in the Gopi Gita are alluded to by Srila Govinda Maharaj like the dancing of an elephant. We, of course, are not referring to Vyasadeva as an elephant, but only mention this to clarify that the greatest philosopher capable of presenting the Vedanta Sutras and the Srimad Bhagavatam, etc. was the author also of the Gopi Gita and the sounds are thus uniquely appreciated by Srila Govinda Maharaj.

In addition, one long held desire of Srila Govinda Maharaj may come to fruition. He has long wanted a Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Cart Festival. He has given the dimensions he would like the cart to be with precision, and Urmila dd, our wonderful Chinese devotee is using her brilliant artistic talent to make a drawing of this. The festival would take place around the time of Mahaprabhu's Appearance Day but not so as to interfere with the Nabadwip festival. At this time Maharaj envisions a parade here in Calcutta from the Dum Dum Park Math to the Kaikhali Math. We shall see!

I am so impressed personally, as we all are, with the extraordinary qualities of Urmila dd. She has never been outside of China before, has never seen the ocean. One would think that the opportunity to see and experience new things would lead one to have a "tourist mentality." Far from it! When she visited Nabadwip for three days, and being a very skilled artist, she did an amazing drawing of the Main Temple building as looking from the viewing area of the Samadhi Mandir. She presented this to Srila Govinda Maharaj upon return to Calcutta as a gift, and so sweetly said, "I hope that my teacher is happy with this." Just wonderful qualities, spontaneous affectionate service, despite all the language barriers. What more can I say? Maharaj is doing better healthwise today. Let us pray that he continues on this way.... Hare Krishna.
Your servant,
Pusta Krishna das

Today is Tuesday July 19. Srila Govinda Maharaj began speaking informally about how wonderful a food moori (puffed rice) is. Srila Govinda Maharaj had some difficulty swallowing the moori this morning as it was getting stuck in his throat. He was reminded of Shankari Devi Dasi, a wonderful elderly bhakta of the Nabadwip Math. He praised her as a great servitor. She did so much, like cut up the straw for the cows, feed the cows, make dung cakes for cooking fuel, and, most pertinent here, was her cooking. She would cook urad dahl with some vegetable, like eggplant, etc. and they would serve this with moori. Srila Maharaj said that this was a favorite food for Nityananda Prabhu (a pretty high endorsement!).

Then this led to Srila Govinda Maharaj remarking how Srila Guru Maharaj gave so much to the Westerners who came to him. He used the word "mlecchas." Srila Guru Maharaj was from such a high Saraswat Brahmin family line in Hapaniya. Srila Govinda Maharaj jokingly said, "I have made Guru Maharaj's mission into 'mleccha.'" He explained that on urging Srila Guru Maharaj to give nourishment to the Western devotees, Srila Guru Maharaj gave so much of what had been inside of himself for so many years, like his explanation of the Gayatri Mantra. The books which then came forth, like Search for Sri Krishna, Golden Volcano of Divine Love, etc., Srila Govinda Maharaj said that he looked upon these books like Deities, really.

How could the Westerners have gotten this great fortune?

nitya-siddha krishna-prema 'sadhya' kabhu naya,
sravanadi-suddha-chitte karaye udaya
(CC Madhya 22.107)

It is already there within the jiva soul, it is not being imposed upon the jiva. Simply by this association, it is coming out. Just like the wonderful young Chinese bhakta, Urmila dd. She never had even met Yudhamanyu Prabhu yet. She simply saw a photograph of the Soquel Deities, and she painted her painting of the Deities of Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharvika Giridhari-jiu. Spontaneously, it came out with that contact!

Then Srila Govinda Maharaj relates that there was a lady disciple of Srila Prabhupad named Kulangana dd. She was from Malaysia and she stayed at the Math. Anyway, she used to make pizza for Jayatirtha Prabhu who was staying at the Math then. Kulangana dd very much wanted to, with great humility, offer some of this to Srila Guru Maharaj. So, Srila Govinda Maharaj brought a plate of her pizza to Srila Guru Maharaj. Srila Govinda Maharaj said to him, that she is a disciple of Srila Prabhupad Swami Maharaj, so Srila Guru Maharaj sampled a small taste. In this way she came up and paid her dandavat pranam to Srila Guru Maharaj and went off satisfied. Srila Govinda Maharaj pondered where Kulangana dd might be nowadays.

Srila Govinda Maharaj remarked how fortunate the people of Bengal are. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, used the Bengali language to teach us. Still, the Bengalis generally do not accept, whereas the Westerners they are accepting, despite the language difference. He recalled a Bengali saying to exemplify the situation of the Bengalis in this regard: "Dure keshe ghana lage." A cow has got its nose in lush green grass, but the cow is thinking the grass is better over there.

Later, Srila Govinda Maharaj sang a bhajan softly to himself while we sat not wanting to disturb his ecstasy. His health is fragile but he is maintaining. I am here for three more days, and it is my privilege and joy to share all of this with you.

Yours in service,
Pusta Krishna das
----------------------------------------------------

This afternoon after taking lunch prasadam, Srila Govinda Maharaj was contemplating whether to go to Russia or the USA, but he said, "I will go to the USA to die." At that, I added, "Yes, we will keep you there for twenty years happily!" His thoughts turned to the wonderful and simple-hearted devotees of both places. He gave much praise to His Holiness Janardan Maharaj and to Rsabdev Prabhu in USA. And Srila Govinda Maharaja gave much affectionate praise for Vijay Raman Prabhu in Russia. He described him as having a clear view of the target and used the term vyavasayatmika buddhi, "resolute intelligence in Krishna consciousness."

A picture of our dear friend Rsabdev Prabhu from Soquel who passed on several years ago hangs directly in front of a pillar just to the left of Srila Govinda Maharaj's desk in Calcutta. "Which way I am giving a garland every day to Rsabdev Prabhu. He told me something in confidence and that I am not telling, but how he had obtained what even Lord Brahma and Lord Siva cannot get?" were the words of His Divine Grace.

We both praised the wonderful qualities of Rsabdev Prabhu. He stayed at my house in Santa Cruz for 4-5 months before he made his final journey to Nabadwip to be with Srila Govinda Maharaj. Rsabdev Prabhu had no desire for liberation or moksha. In fact, he did not want to be a disturbance to Srila Govinda Maharaj at all. Although Rsabdev Prabhu was suffering terrible physical pain from the final effects of stomach cancer, he lived and suffered with great and exemplary dignity. Finally, his health was barely good enough for him to make the trip to India, and I practically had to force him to go then - again not wanting to be a burden to the devotees. He went only because his dear daughter, Mandakini dd, accompanied him to care for his needs, and as he expressed to me, he wanted her to have a strong connection with Srila Govinda Maharaj. She performed beautifully and with great love in Rsabdev's last days. He said to me, "I have no worries to Bharat, his son. He is resilient."

Rsabdev told me he simply wanted to go be near Srila Govinda Maharaj and sit on the floor before him. He said he did not care if His Divine Grace was watching television or reading a newspaper, he only aspired for the occasional glance and priceless smile that would come from Srila Govinda Maharaj to Rsabdev Prabhu. Yes, Srila Govinda Maharaj had, and has, ongoing great affection for Rsabdev Prabhu. In fact, his affection for the devotees around the world was expressed in this way today: "They are all my servitors and I am very satisfied with them."

Then he noted that Krishna is a thief, 'chora.' Not only Krishna, but the Vraja-Gopis also. The Gopis will steal your mind and use it for their service. His Divine Grace said that when others try to compare their religion with Krishna consciousness, Srila Govinda Maharaj tells them, "but can you play football with your Lord." You may worship Allah, etc. but you cannot play with your Lord as we can play with Krishna."

Well, just two more days here for me with Srila Govinda Maharaj's direct association. I do not know if I will have the opportunity to write further any such notes from these informal darshans or not. One good thing, I understand that Sruta Srava Prabhu is coming to Calcutta in early August. He is always able to extract nectar from the "Source" and perhaps we can appeal to His Grace Sruta Srava Prabhu to take such service upon himself for the benefit of the devotees suffering love in separation from Srila Govinda Maharaj. As always, I remain...,