Report from Mauritius

My dandabat pranams to all the Vaishnava readers,

Well, I just have to write what has happened today. Actually we cannot in any way tell or see what is happening in the divine day of our Gurudev.

This afternoon at 3:30 His Divine Grace Srila Govinda Maharaj fulfilled the hopes of the devotees of the Vaishnava Seva Society again by returning to the home of Dipta Krishna Prabhu for his remaining hours here in Mauritius.

The devotees all assembled and Srila Gurudev spoke about 'trnad api sunichena,' encouraging everyone. He expressed again his satisfaction with the beautiful new Temple at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Long Mountain, and the three acre land of the Vaishnava Seva Society. Then His Divine Grace asked for a mrdanga to be brought, and told Kamal Krishna Prabhu to start singing 'Prema Dhama Deva Stotram' followed by 'Parama Karuna....' Then Srila Gurudev lead 'Nitai Pada Kamala....' It was a wonderful, beautiful Kirtan which could be heard all over the neighbourhood.

Just now at 6:15pm Srila Gurudev came out after a short rest and gave more initiations, in spite of the very long night of travel ahead.

The devotees have just now concluded a joyfully offered Guru Aratik. I say joyfully, but the curtain of separation is definitely falling over everyone's hearts.

Every child and even the dogs who have JUST NOW decided not to eat me after all, have become so dear to me here. We all spent the afternoon taking pictures of each other (dogs excluded) and exchanging email addresses, putting off any goodbyes.

Srila Govinda Maharaj is sitting at his desk in his sitting room, so relaxed as he has always been here. And devotees are gracefully and gently, with natural affection and respect, wandering in and out at will. Some are coming forward to offer obeisances to His Divine Grace's lotus feet, others presenting offerings. Gentle and affectionate chatter and laughter is going on outside the doors in front of Srila Gurudev and the whole atmosphere is very sweet.

OK that's it for now!