jANMASTAMI CELEBRATIONS.

[Guest guest]

I usually plan my Janmastami few months ahead of the actual event and

this year also was no exception. JANMASTAMI AND VYASA PUJA are the two

most important days of the calendar year on our planet and I try to make

them as memorable as possible.Last year I was in Dallas and had a

wonderful time so this year I planned to be closer to home. I live in the

southeastern part of THE UNITED STATES and have had visited nearly all

the ISKCON centers. This Janmastami I wanted it to be very special and

did not wished to be overwhelmed by visitors.My desire was to spend quite

and quality time with my KRSNA LORD and GURUDEV, so my choise was ' NEW

TALAVAN'

 

Named after the famous Talavan forest near Mathura this place was visited

by Srila Prabhupada in the seventies. New Talavan is a rural farm

community situated roughly about 70 miles northeast of New Orleans. It is

really very rural and come very close to what a modern day forest could

be. My home town is Tuscaloosa, Alabama and New Talavan in the state of

Mississippi was nearly a 250 miles drive so I got started a day before.

It was about a six hours drive before I reached Carriere, Mississippi

where New Talavan is located. Any of you visiting New Talavan for the

first time should call in advance and get very good directions. The drive

to the community centre from the intersection of Interstate I-59 is

nearly 12 miles, very rural and not well marked but by KRSNAs mercy I

arrived safely.

 

KRSNA my Lord and everything is known here as ' SRI SRI RADHA RADHA

KANTA', he is youthful,awesome and as beautiful as can be, even billions

of cupids put together could not match his luster and grandeur. Krsna was

equally complimented by Radha at his side and together the couple looked

like the full moon on the Rasa Dance night.There is no way for me to

fully describe the beauty and glamour of Sri Sri Radha Radha Kanta. It

will be best to see for yourself and if your eyes are anointed with love

you will see their lordships as they truely are. Facing Radha Krsna to

the left is the munificient Mahaprabhu and Nitananda Prabhu. At a right

angle to the alter is the Murti of Srila Prabhupada.

On the evening of the 11th the whole community was getting ready for the

grand event next day. So I and another visiting devotee got prasadam and

planned to return the next day for mongal arati.On the day of Janmastami

we attended the mongal arati and I have to confess that the Matajis in

New Talavan are gifted with incredible virtue of making RadhaKrsna

gorgeous which I consider a talent on loan from the gopis in the

GOLOKA.

 

After arati I got a chance to visit with the other visiting devotee and

guess who it was? It was our own 'PRASAD RAO'. I really felt uplifted by

KRSNAs grace and mercy to run into Prasad and took that as KRSNAs divine

blessings. What more could I ask then to be in front of KRSNA on his

appearance day with a fellow devotee who has come all the way from the

Carolinas to pay his homage. KRSNA pulls his own to him.

 

The whole Janmastami day was full of wonderful events basically following

what happens in other Iskcon temple worldwide. There was a drama which to

the best of my recollection was called ' THE EIGHTH SON', and it was

about the advent of KRSNA leading upto the killing of KAMSA.Then after

midnight festivities we had the grandest of the feast.

 

The next day was Prabhupadas appearance day and again the Matajis here

have incredible talent and they created a forest canopy within which the

murti of Srila Prabhupada was contained. It appeared as if Prabhupada was

among us and blessing us. His presence was greatly felt and there was

assurance that soon we will be reunited with him where he will engage us

in ever loving eternal service of KRSNA LORD. I took a wrist watch as a

gift for Srila Prabhupada for his this appearance day. I read on this

site that there was a devotee who wanted to steal Prabhupadas watch but

by his mercy the would be thief become a devotee.On the flip side of that

I pray that by giving Prabhupada a watch I too become a great devotee.

Such are the blessings of the transcendence that in the absolute realm

all receive the infinite mercy of the supreme absolute truth SRI KRSNA.

Following that the remainder of the schedule was like that of other Iskon

centers and it was a grand blessed day.

 

Now I am back to my regular life with one exception, behind my writing

desk is a huge picture of ' SRI SRI RADHA RADHA KANTA',beautifully framed

in gold color.I bought the picture in this Janmastami auction at the New

Talavan temple. It was for fund raising for the various New Talavan

Projects where the money will be used in KRSNAs service.Eventhough the

time has moved on the picture will remain as a reminder of the great

Janmastami of 2001 and many many blessings of their lordships. As i am

writing this note New Talavaneswara is watching and sends his blessings.

All glories to Maha prabhu and Prabhupada. All glories to the spreading

of the maha sankirtan movement which saves the most fallen from the evils

of Kali Yuga.All glories to the tireless devotees who make Prabhupadas

desire come true. Your Most Humble Servant, Ashokamrita.

 

P.S. Prasad Rao Prabhu please stay in touch.