Gurumaharaja came to Italy to celebrate Villa Vrindavana's 20th
anniversary Festival and meet Italian desciples.
Later on His Holiness visited Croatia and returned to London.
Here is the summary report.
July 10th
Gurumaharaja, Rama Narasimha Prabhu and Guru Priya Mataji landed
at the Bergamo airport late in the
afternoon. Italian desciples - Nikunjavasini d.d, Garuda
Caitanya Prabhu(ex Bhakta Gaston I think), Tusta
Gaura Prabhu and Vrajasundari d.d - waited for them and then
directly went to Vila Vrndavan (VV),
city Florence. Late after midnight they arrived to VV.
Gurumaharaja led a short Kirtan and distributed
Maha prasadam to welcome devotees. Gurumaharaja many times
praised VV as the beautiful Temple with quite big property on
land and forests and even a small lake. He said that VV is like
a heaven for the young people to live and practice Bhakti yoga.
July 11th
After the Mangala arati / early morning program, Gurumaharaja
stayed in His room having conversation
with devotees and finishing his Japa. After lunch devotees
gathered in the court and went for the big
Harinam into the city center. More than fifty devotees attended
Harinam which lasted almost 3 hours.
July 12th
Early in the morning, after the morning program, Gurumaharaja
led the wonderful Go-puja in the nearby improvised goshalla (cow
stall). He personally worshiped mother cow, and later read from
the book ''Gopal, protector of the Cows''.
After the big feast in the nearby forest named Naimisharanya we
went to an open yard under the
temple for the initation ceremony. Gurumaharaja gave the
harinama initation to ex-Bhakta Gaston descended
from aristocratic Family from D.R. Congo, and gave Him the name
'Garuda Caitanya dasa'. Garuda Caitanya Prabhu is a very dear
devotee serving for many years in the Temple - Hare Krishna
Villago near Bergam/Milan. The 20th anniversary Festival ended
by the rich evening program.
July13th
After greating the wonderful Deities of Sri Sri Radha
Vrajasundara, Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra and Gaura-Nitai,
Gurudeva went with a group of disciples to take bath in a Hot
Spring some 100 km south-west of Florence, the place where
Bhakta Mario lives (Bhakta Mario is our aspirant Godbrother).
Maharaja also held a Srimad Bhagavatam Lecture on verse 1.2.6 in
the water of a nearby stream. After a short picnic we went back
to VV.
Nearly after midday three cars were ready to leave beautiful VV
and very dear devotees as Ramacandra Prabhu and his wife,
Damodhara-Priya dd, Parabhakti Prabhu, Sanatana Prabhu and his
wife, Namaruci and the others. The small devotees' convoy left
for the nearby vilage where Mangalaya Mataji d.d. lives. In
front of her Her house we all (Gurumaharaja, Rama Narasimha
Prabhu, Nikunjavasini d.d, Laksman Prabhu, Marga Sirsa Prabhu,
Tusta Gaura Prabhu and his wife Vrajasundari d.d, Garuda
Caitanya Prabhu, Guru Priya d.d, and myself) took very nice
prepared prasada (best Spagetti in Italy). Mangalaya Mataji is
not only a good cook but is very much inclined to Cow
protection. She is working with other devotess to
improve/rebuild a new goshalla in VV. Then the cars split.
Garuda Caitanya Prabhu, Nikunjavasini d.d, and Guru Priya Mataji
went beck to Bergamo. The other two cars continued, with
Gurumaharaja toward Bologna. In the afternoon we came to a small
preaching centre run by Traydas Prabhu, Srila Prabhupada
desciple, and his wife. After the lively Harinam in the streets
of Bologna Gurumaharaja gave an evening lecture and nice kirtan
in the small Temple room full with devotees.
Late in the night we came to Cesenatico City where Vrajasundari
d.d, and Tusta Gaura live.
July 14th
After the morning program and prasada, Gurumaharaja suggested to
take one day rest in the nice house of his very dear and
hospitable desciple couple.
Letter we discussed and worked out the plan for the
Gurumaharaja's further journey:
- stay in Casentico on the 14th night
- drive to Croatia (Rijeka Rathayatra) early Wednesday
- arrive Rijeka round 16 PM
- Wednesday evening drive to small farm in Lika
- stay in Lika one day
- visit Sacimata and programs in the Zagreb temple
In the late afternoon we had very interesting harinam on the
streets and beach of Cesentico. Gurudeva also invited
Vrajasundari d.d. mother Marija to join the party, and she
gladly accepted.
July 15th
Guru Maharaja rewarded Vrajasundari d.d. mother by performing
sweet kirtan in her rooms upstairs.
Then we packed again and two cars ran to ''Montgomery'' airport
in Bologna. Rama Narasimha Prabhu left us
going back to London, and we continued some 400 km to Croatia.
Rijeka Rathayatra was great. There were many devotees lead by
H.H. Candramauli Swami, H.H. Prahladananda Swami, H.H. Bir
Krishna Goswami, H.H.Krishna Ksetra Prabhu, H.H. Pankajanghri
Prabhu, H.H. Vaiyasaki Prabhu…. Late in the evening we reached
very quiet Lika village, small farm of Srivan Prabhu and
Draupadi Mataji.
July 16th
Gurumaharaja, Marga Sirsa Prabhu and myself slept in the Marga
Sirsa's house 2 km away from Srivan's house.
Even though we went late to bed we also woke up early and had
spontaneous Mangala Arati. Later Gurumaharaja climbed the nearby
hill for the morning japa.
Planned morning program by Srivan's House was shifted for the
midday. Marga Sirsa Prabhu took a walk with Gurumaharaja to a
nearby river but it was dried up. Then we took a car and went up
to stream till the small river lake, where we had quick but soo
pleasant bath.
The midday kirtan finished at the stall where mother Lalita and
two huge oxen live. Later in the house in front of the
simply-arranged altar with Sri Sri Gaura Nitai deities,
Gurumaharaja began a lecture reminding us about the anniversary
day of the incorporation of ISKCON in New York City 1966. Then
His Holines spoke about the importance of Cow protection, and
how mother cow's milk is particulary essential to human beings.
Before prasadam Gurumaharaja called us for 20 minutes of weeding
the garden. Late in the afternoon we left these very dear
devotess who practise simple living high thinking, and continued
to Croatien capital Zagreb. When we parked in the temple yard
devotees greated Gurumaharaja performing joyful kirtan. Then
Gurudeva continued kirtan in the temple room, and leter on gave
an evening lecture.
July 17th
After the Mangala arati and morning programs Gurumaharaja led
such a nice long kirtan, and later on gave
morning Srimad Bhagavatam lecture. Then His Holiness took
prasadam with devotees and went to His room.
Again midday, two cars packed and we went to Sacimata's flat on
our way to Zagreb airport. In the early afternoon Tusta Gaura
lead soft kirtan accompanied with Sacimata d.d., Vrajasundari
d.d., Vrindarika d.d and Marga Sirsa Prabhu while Gurumaharaja
left toward the toward exit terminal. We missed His Holines very
much, and with sadness in our hearts we went back to so-called
reality.
During these seven great days our very dear Gurumaharaja was
sincerely traying to help as best as he can
to each of us equally. Thank You Gurumaharaja and please forgive
us for the childish faults.
Your humble servant in the service of Gurumaharaja,
Isvara Puri dasa. |
