All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga

Mass Prasad Distribution at Govardhan
during Sri Govardhan Puja

10 and 11 November 2007
 
Over 34,000 plates of Prasad were distributed freely by the parikrama-marg during two days of festivals of Sri Govardhan Puja. Varsana Devi Dasi came from America on behalf of Nitya Hari Prabhu and managed all arrangements with the considerable assistance of Visnu Prabhu, Srila Gurudev's dham-basi disciple living by Govardhan Hill.
Pictures and captions by Varsana Devi Dasi, USA.
Text excerpts chosen by Varsana Devi Dasi from
"Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion Vol. 3"
by Srila B.R. Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj.
 

"The principal necessities of any life here in this world are to preserve and to propagate. Our first priority is to preserve, and for self-preservation we create havoc in the environment by exploitation. The first principle of exploitation begins from the urge for self-preservation, and that means eating. We are to adjust our dealings with the environment in our most primitive necessity, which we can't avoid in order to keep body and soul together. So if we can solve this one difficulty, we can almost solve the whole problem.

"Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur says the key to the solution of the whole problem of this mundane life is in Prasad. The first necessity of life is eating, and if we can solve that problem, we have solved the whole thing. The most important thing is to learn how we should take Prasadam to maintain ourselves. Our life depends mainly on that."

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Govardhan puja Prasadam distribution at the foot of Sri Giriraj Maharaj

Sri Giriraj at Srila Sridhar Swami Seva Ashram, Govardhan, India.

Srila Sridhar Swami Seva ashram rises high, flying Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math's banner of all transcendental benedictions.

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Only by the Grace of our Divine Masters is anything possible. By Their Mercy and for Their satisfaction does this program celebrate it's 9th anniversary.

Everyone enjoyed honouring the Mahaprasad.

This year there was a wonderful subji of chickpeas, potatoes, paneer and tomatoes along with thousands of puris and bucketfuls of mundhi.

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Serving out is the most enjoyable though for you get to serve the Jiva souls, engaging them in the honouring of Mahaprasad.

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The rickshaws were line.

Many jiva souls took home bags and boxes of Prasadam to share with friends and family.

"To live here we cannot but consume, and we cannot but create devastation in the environment by our eating. If we go to consume anything, even plants, grasses or seeds, then microscopic creatures are being killed. So the question is: how to get rid of this reaction?

"It is said in the Srimad Bhagavad-gita (3:9): We shall get relief from that reaction only if we can successfully connect everything with the Supreme Satisfaction, with Him whose pleasure all existence is meant to fulfil.

"So, in the taking of food, really we are to be conscious that we are collecting the ingredients for His satisfaction -- that should be our real purpose. And then because our whole life and energy is for serving Him, we need energy and must take something out of that.

"But the main point, the real substance of the transaction, will be to collect, cook, and offer to Him according to His will expressed in the Scriptures. That is the first step, and only after the foodstuffs have been offered to Him shall we take anything ourselves.

"This will help to make us always conscious of why we are taking. We are taking because we want only to serve Him."

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While others just enjoyed the prasadam at Sri Giriraj's feet.

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Even the cows took part in the honouring of the prasadam.

Nandi came, as he does each year and took some prasadam.

Everyone was happy and joyful on this wonderful weekend of seva.

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Even the cows rejoiced in the happy celebrations!

We had a small kirttan of only four people, however 34,000 plates were distributed to all of the Jiva souls that were taking part in the celebration of Govardhan Puja.

We announced again and again over the speakers please come and take some Giriraj Maharaj Mahaprasadam from Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math...

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...by the Grace of our Guru Dev, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj!

We pray that we may always have the mercy to try to serve our Divine Masters, all Glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!!

aSri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Nabadwip
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