All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga

Report from Mauritius

by Srilekha Devi Dasi of USA, accompanying the entourage with
Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj
on his 24th World Tour

10 February 2008
Pictures: Jamuna Priya Devi Dasi

Dandabat pranams to All, from Mauritius!

Yesterday morning I was just getting ready to go over to Srila Govinda Maharaj's quarters when I heard his beautiful voice coming over the speakers in the courtyard. As Srila Gurudev was using the microphone, I knew he was saying something of special importance. I rushed out and sat among the devotees assembled, and heard once again His Divine Grace emphasizing that the material world of illusion is maintained by eating sin. One living being in this plane is living by eating another. Srila Gurudev said that we must not do this since eating anything whatsoever without first offering that to Krishna, is simply sinful.

Srila Gurudev also stressed this principle recently in the pivotal lectures he gave in the January in Calcutta. These are posted on the website, by the way, if anyone hasn't heard them (see the recordings of 12th and 14th and 16th January 2008.) In these lectures, Srila Gurudev carefully laid out, for one and all, the basic principles of our Vaisnava practising life in the holy and perfect Line of Sri Sri Rupa Saraswati and Srila Guru Maharaj.

After this, Srila Gurudev gave Harinam initiation to still more fortunate souls, and in the early afternoon, Srila Gurudev moved to his room in the newly constructed nat-mandir of the other Ashram in Mauritius, the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math International. The devotees here were pitifully stricken by Srila Gurudev's sudden departure, but soon began to do the needful to assist in His Divine Grace's comfortable stay there.

This morning, Feb 10th, Srila Gurudev gave Harinam initiation to more than thirty new devotees. He also gave Gayatri Mantra initiation to fifteen more, and a beautiful fire sacrificed was then performed here in this courtyard. The devotees over at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math are busily preparing for the Deity Installation Festival to be performed tomorrow morning in the beautiful, newly-constructed Mandir there.

In spite of so much exertion, Srila Govinda Maharaj remains ever gracious and effulgent, sweetly smiling and delivering his wonderful affection and blessings to each and every auspicious soul here. His Divine Grace himself has been vigorously leading the devotees in wonderful kirttan after every assembly and event.

OH! And a correction on the numbers who came to the opening of the Vaisnava Seva Society Temple: it turns out there were nearly 3,000 fortunate souls in attendance!

Tomorrow is a big day at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Mauritius. More later! And more dandabat pranams!

~Srilekha Devi Dasi


aSri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Nabadwip
http://scsmath.com | What's New | Main Centres