India's Leaders Honor Krsna Prasad

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Indian PM Gets Janmastami Prasad

BY DEENA BANDHU DAS

Click for photo of PM getting Prasad

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INDIA, Sep 18 (VNN) — On the 2nd September, the day after

Nandotsava and Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja, devotees from

Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir in Vrindavan gave Chappan

Bhog Janmastami Prasada to the Honourable Prime Minister,

the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable

President and Vice President of India.

Sarvabhauma Prabhu, co-director of Indian Communications,

along with Rupa Raghunatha, director of Vrindavan Food for life,

presented the Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Bajpayee with a

specially designed metal container with five kilos of Vrindavan

Janmastami Prasad with Tulasi on top. This meeting was

organised by Sri Col. R. C. Ravat, the secretary of the Sri Sri

Krishna Balaram Committee. This is an advisory committee

formed by co-president Devakinandan Prabhu of prominent well-

wishers among local industrialists and professionals.

Sri Bajpayee immediately picked up some Tulasi leaves

touched them to his head and honoured them. Then he was

presented with Bhagavad Gita As It Is and a small statue of

Makhan Chora. He was enchanted seeing all these wonderful

gifts and exclaimed, "How come you brought all this?"

Sarvabauma Prabhu replied, "It was Krishna's desire that He

inspired us to bring this special mercy to you so that you will be

able protect the citizens of this great country." The Prime Minister

said, "If He desires and gives me the energy, I will try to bring

peace in this country." Smiling, Sarvabhauma replied, "He lifted

Govardhan Hill on his little finger, so if He desires, He can give

you. He inspired us to convey all this to you today."

Sri Bajpayee then invited the devotees to sit and they requested

him to visit Vrindavan. The Prime Minister immediately replied, "It

is my hearts desire to have darshan of Vrindavan." The devotees

requested him to visit in Kartik, especially since this Kartik

marks 25 years since Srila Prabhupada's disappearance.

Following this, they visited the Honourable President of India, Sri

A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. Although there was very heavy security to

visit the Prime Minister, after seeing his pleasure on our visit, the

security phoned our car number ahead. Everywhere else we

went, on seeing our car number, all the gates automaticaly

opened just like the gates to Kamsa's prison on Janmastami

Day.

Mr. Kalam immediately honoured prasadam, and inviting us to

sit, he reciprocated by offering lemon juice and sweets. The

president asked the devotees what was their mission.

Sarvabhauma replied, "We're a spiritual movement spreading

love of God to bring brotherhood and peace globally." Mr. Kalam

exclaimed, "Oh, spiritual group! Good, I don't meet religious

people, I meet spiritual people. Spiritualality is the post-graduate

of religious movements." Then he offered a challenge that your

spiritual movement bring peace in Gujerat and Kashmir in the

next 10 years. That will be a great achievment for the glory of

India.

Mr. Kalam was also appreciative of receiving Bhagavad Gita As It

Is and Makhan Chora. Unfortunately the official photographer did

not arrive on time and due to security reasons, no one else is

allowed to take pictures. So we have no photo.

Their next visit was to the Honourable Vice President, Bhairav

Sing Shekhavat.

Upon receiving the Janmastami Prasad, he honoured Tulasi

prasada and exclaimed, "Jaya Gopinatha!" He explained that in

his native village of Rajasthan, they worship Gopinatha. When

the devotees requested Sri Shekhavat to visit Vrindavan and see

the Food for Life programs of Rupa Raghunatha, he happily

replied, "That now I have ample time to visit Vrindavan and

Hrishikesh!"

The Honourable Deputy Prime Minister, Sri Lal Krishna Advani,

was not present in the city that day, so the devotees returned to

Vrindavan. The next day, Mr. Advani called Vrindavan asking,

"Where's my prasad?" So the devotees returned to Delhi and

delivered Janmastami Prasad, Bhagavad Gita, and Makhan

Chora to his wife. Sarvabhauma explained, "Mr. Advani was

called to an important meeting before we could reach Delhi, so

we met his wife. I spoke to her in her native language and she

was charmed. She said she was very interested to visit

Vrindavan and see the Food For Life programs of feeding and

educating children and providing drinking water in the villages of

Vraja. Mrs. Advani expressed her appreciation to Rupa

Raghunatha Prabhu for his service."

In service of Sri Sri Krishna Balaram, Deena Bandhu dasa