Recent Highlights

I was really fortunate that I was prompted by Krishna and the devotees to stay back from Africa in London for the 40th Anniversary of the installation of my ishtadeva (?) Deities Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Londonishwara starring Gurudas, Yamuna, Malati and Shyamasundara Prabhus. I met Gurudas Prabhu for the first time and an empty association gap was filled in my heart. Now I have almost finished reading his wonderful book "By His Example" I feel so grateful for the wonderful service he and the original 3 grihastha couples did by adventurously establishing Krishna consciousness in the USA, UK and India. It was a blessed time when Krishna conciousness was sprouting adventurously, spontaneously and joyfully under Prabhupada's loving inspiration and guidance. Unfortunately and fortunately I came just in their wake because when I joined in Jan 71 Yamuna and Gurudas had just left for India. But Malati gave me my first prasadam and Shyamasundara put me in charge of London Rathayatra 73. Mukunda was my 1st TP. I also took part in one of the very last Radha Krishna Temple gigs. Its a subsidiary story to be filled out later sometime maybe.



Grihastha Preachers

After the movement got more established on the West Coast Srila Prabhupada's chief grihastha pioneering couple's feet began to feel itchy for more preaching adventures in devotional service. They wanted to leave the Haight Ashbury San Francisco scene and set out to try and meet the Beatles in the UK. They dreamt that if the Beatles were attracted to the family mood of Krishna conciousness the whole world could get infected. Father Prabhupada encouraged his children in this adventure and sent them, guided them, partially financed them and their combined dream came true by Lord Chaitanya's mercy ! We went on harinam to the same Betterton St address tirtha where the 6 first stayed together in London and where Malati lived in a cardboard box in the garage with Saraswati. They were so convinced and enthusiastic that Krishna arranged so many "coincidences" to happen until they made close friends with George Harrison. He was attracted to the close family atmosphere of loving cooperation. The rest is trancendental history.

 

The blind man with lame legs carries the lame man with blind eyes

Prabhupada sometimes gave the example of "andha pangor logic". The Blind man with good legs should carry the lame man with good eyes and there will be good progress. The West is likened to the blind man with good legs and the East, especially India, is likened to the lame man with good eyes. This sounds appropriate. But what about Africa? Mostly it doesn't seem to have good legs or eyes! But thanks to Srila Prabhupada now Africa has some good devotee eyes and legs.

My 1st Website Pitch

So I have done my best to get various grihastha centres going by spending some windfall from the sale of my late parent's house in Dartmouth, UK. But my funds will soon be running out and I'll soon be back out on the ISKCON circuit with my slide shows, films and begging bowl and of course special gifts. But since I have this website at my service I am trying my first pitch to raise funds for the "Kirata Suddhi" Grihastha Centre in Mbarara,West Uganda. Srila Prabhupada named Nairobi Temple "Kirata Suddhi" (the place where the non-vedic people are purified) but Brahmananda Prabhu admits openly in "Memories" that he did not dare to put this controversial name up on the temple signboard because they depended on the Indian Hindus for everything and the Indians and the blacks didn't mix so well (nuff said).( Please get and see No 10 DVD of Yadubara's amazing new chronological Srila Prabhupada video series called "Travelling with Srila Prabhupada"). What to do? "Mental Speculation leads to frustration in every situation" (Quote the late Druvanath Das ACBSP )

Nitty Gritty - The Present Centre

The place Veda Priya and Harinam are staying in Mbarara, Uganda, has been paid for by me for the last 4 months at about $150 US per month paying every 2 months in advance. We have paid up to February 2010. It is in a private walled compound of about 3000 sq feet overlooking a nice landscape of a huge grassy common where a variety of cranes feed and kids play football. It is a respectable, not a slum, area not so far from the stadium and university. The smart looking house itself is about 10 years old and of about 1500 sq feet. It has 3 sizeable bedrooms, a medium-sized hall for the temple room, bathroom, kitchen and garage. It has good water and electric supply. What's more, it has a secure high wall and main gate, the neighbours do'nt complain and the landlord is friendly. BUT (a big BUT) the comparatively well-to-do location is about 20 minutes walk from town and not so many people can ever make it for the daily and Sunday programs. The roads are also dirt tracks and not easy for cars. Mostly its only the neighbours who can come regularly.

The proposed New Centre

*BUT today we just saw a really good place! It is bit bigger but older place (these houses were well built by the Indians 40 years ago) in its own compound ONLY 5 MINUTES WALK from the city centre on quite a good road for cars! It has a great long hall which could be used for both a temple and reception. We all really think it would be a boost to the preaching if we could afford to move. We would certainly save quite a lot on transport and it would be easy for people to drop in from the city centre and for the harinams and book distributors to go out. BUT... Edgar the Landlord (an ex- Radhaswami Bhakta) wants 12 months in advance at 340,000 Ugandan Shillings per month. Still he may come down a bit with bargaining tactics- but not much more. With at least a third of this he wants to fix up some windows, paintwork, plumbing, plaster etcetera. So about $ 1800 US is needed for a year's rent in advance. Naturally we will not have to pay more rent this year and with a lawyer we will make a favourable agreement for the following year.

URGENT! Xmas Action time!

Seasons of goodwill and all that my dear bhaktafolks! Please put on your Santa Claus hats, get on the sleigh and dig deep in your red sacks! My stocking is hanging at the end of my bed! Seriously I humbly request the visitors to this website to consider how they can contribute their mites to this good cause of supporting the African preaching in Uganda . So far the local african preaching has not really taken off. Perhaps it has been neglected for various reasons. But now things can change with your assistance.

But please remember that EDGAR the landlord needs the laxmi fast and the renovations must be finished by end of Jan. Please support Veda Priya and Harinam Sevaka in their preaching mission. Thank you.

Money Transfer

To get money in or out of Africa often poses problems. The easiest, safest and fastest way to do it is usually through Western Union. If you are inspired to kindly assist, please send an email to HH Mahavishnu Swami to inform him of the donation, as well as to Harinam Seva dasa to discuss options of sending the Laksmi safely:

Mahavishnu.Swami@pamho.net
"harinam seva das" <jagadisvara2000@yahoo.com>

After thought

I also have the various other African projects which need support as I indicated above. So at a later date I can list them in more detail. But any excess of the $1800 needed in Uganda can be well utilised for Srila Prabhupada's mission in Africa.

Thanks

Many many thanks and Srila Prabhupada's and all my enfeebled blessings
on all my website readers especially for those who can contribute something
for the preaching in Africa, Kirata Shuddhi Desh. Krsne matir astu.

Your Wellwishing,
Mahavishnu Swami