Report from Govardhan

Please accept my dandabat pranams!

Well, today is a fairly quiet day here, with everyone tidying up their rooms, finishing up laundry, and packing their belongings into bags for the journey to Calcutta. Munindra Mohan Prabhu of Italy has made sure everyone's car arrangements have been sorted out for the ride to Delhi, and Suddha Krishna Prabhu has arranged for everyone travelling by the Rajdhani Express to be in the same carriages. Tickets are all booked, and it looks like the grand caravan will indeed move out in the morning.

Srila Gurudev Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj came out early today to inspect the newly paved road. The work is finished, the machines gone, the pavement is dry and the rumbling, roaring, shouting and clatter is now quiet. Srila Gurudev was very pleased with the job the workers did, both in speed and expertise.

As we stood admiring Sri Anu Giriraj Mandir, Srila Gurudev told us that he designed all the Temples in our Mission, including Moscow, St Petersburg, and our new Temple in Mauritius. He said that Srila Guru Maharaj Srila Sridhar Maharaj liked the Temple Room to be 20 feet high, and that later he understood that to be a perfect height.

Last night Sripad Goswami Maharaj sat and talked to the devotees in the courtyard of the old guest house, Sri Dayitadas Sevakunja, answering questions and telling wonderful Pastimes for almost two hours. He has agreed to give another five o'clock class today, so everyone is happily looking forward to that.

I regret not mentioning Suresh Krishna Prabhu as one of the dedicated service crew here. He has been a faithful householder servitor in our Govardhan Math for many years. He runs around day and night taking care of so many things that come up, and is often assisted by one of his children who proudly and soberly helps carry a load or runs quickly off to fetch this or that for a job.

All glories to the all merciful Sri Govardhan Hill, Who appears as both the Lord and the servant. Srila Gurudev says we worship Him as the Lord Who ate the offerings of the Braja-basis with two hands.

We have tried to do a little service here, only by the grace of our most exalted Srila Gurudev, and pray that we have made no disturbance. Jaya Sri Anu Giriraj!

I will get this off and the next report will be from Calcutta!

With my dandabat pranams,
~Srilekha Devi Dasi