Hare Krsna Everyone!
As most of you know HH Radhanath Maharaj was at Villa Vrindavana Temple, in Italy just a couple of weeks ago, the home of Sri Sri Radha Vrajsundara! The altar is extremely extravagant and the deities so beatufiul and unique. Lord Nityandanda's crying eyes, Lord Jagantha's great big smile and Radharani's red cheeks - WITHOUT DOUBT THIS TEMPLE HAS TO BE VISITED TO SEE THE WONDERFUL DEITIES!
Fortunately a lot of Sena's including me got to be their to receieve their wonderful association and be a part of the absolutely mind blowing classes and kirtans, facilitated by Maharaj!
We got their a few days early, just so we could sort out accomodation, get a quick look around the city of Florence, eat lots of pizza and be there at the welcome celebration for Maharaj! From the point Maharaj entetred the temple everyone was smiling and completely ecstatic. Maharaj had the most wonderful smile on his face at all times and greeted the devotees with so much love!
He was very pleased to see the amount of Sena's that had come from London and welcomed them with an abundance of hugs and sweet words! Maharaj in the first few minutes had lit up everyone's hearts!
During the week, Maharaj gave the most powerful and inspiring classes, coupled with the most vibrant and ecstatic kirtans, literally NO-ONE was standing [they weren't sitting stupid, they were dancing]! Devotees from all over the world Croatia, Germany, India, Belgium, South America and obivously England and Italy all dancing together in kirtan - it was truly a unifying and bonding experience!!!
During the day everyone was lucky enough to get the association of the wonderful interantional devotees. It was great to see how far ISKCON is spreading and how enthusiastic people are for Srila Prabhupada's mission! Inspiration was buzzing and the willinges to serve and support was overflowing! Maharaj's words had touched everyone's hearts and had affected everyone's consciousness, uplifting them!
We were also fortunate enough to have the presence of His Grace Matsya Avatara Prabhu, a lcose friend of Mahraj and another very influential and key leader of ISKCON. He has designed many ISKCON temples, one of them being the one we were at - an altar beyond our imagination.
His Grace Hare Krishna Prabhu [i know what a name] led
one of the most ECSTATIC Gaura arti's and then kirtan on the request of Maharaj! This kirtan is one to ask all the sena's about!!!
The highlight of the whole week was the harinam in florence! Over a 100 devotees flooded onto the streets of florence with instruments, prashadam, maha mantra signs and leaflets to take over! We danced are way through the main city centres encouraging as many people as posible, young and old, from all parts of the world to chant the holy name and dance!!! So many people toom prashadam, so many people danced, so many people chanted, all of whom were invited to the Sunday feast at the temple!
And now I'm going to explain why the harinam was the highlight of the week...lol...It was the highlight because Maharaj led the dancing and all the devotees were honestly just trying to keep up with him as he leaped elegantly through the streets, inbetween the stalls and in the centre of the churches. Watching Maharaj was unbelievable!
Trips like this provide us with so much rejuvination, inspiration and the ability for reflection on the quality of our own spiritual lives! They give us the chance to focus on our Sadhana and spend time with a spiritual master who can guide us in the best way! All of Maharaj's classes were recorded and there are MANY MANY more photographs [thanks to our very own Janak Prabhu] so make sure you get a peek!
I am now even more eager and fired up to serve you, the devotees of Pandava Sena. I have been incredibly inspired and enthused by Mahraj's classes and understood the importance of Pandava Sena dn how extremely amazing and unique we are! I hope to have all your association with you very soon, and be in you service more effectively from now on!
The Italian devotees were the most hospitable, caring and helpful devotees I have ever met! Their service attitude, sincerity and humility was astounding! I offer my most humble obeisances unto them as they took care of us so well and facilitated such a beautiful event!
Thank you very much!
The next two Jammin's look like they're going to be quite entertaining!
blue/green eyed brothers Viveak and Anshu! We know them as the cool guys or the funny ones or just the two that look the same! Their Jammin' entitled 'Standard Questions: Perfect Answers' a spin on the book written by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivednta Swami Srila Prabhupada [READ THIS BOOK, it's short, fun and most of all you'll learn so much without noticing]! This Jammin' promises to be full of laughs, for more details check out www.psena.com!
blue/green eyed brothers Viveak and Anshu! We know them as the cool guys or the funny ones or just the two that look the same! Their Jammin' entitled 'Standard Questions: Perfect Answers' a spin on the book written by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivednta Swami Srila Prabhupada [READ THIS BOOK, it's short, fun and most of all you'll learn so much without noticing]! This Jammin' promises to be full of laughs, for more details check out www.psena.com!
