abhishek

[Guest guest]

> Dear Braja Sevaki and others:

>

> PAMHO AGTSP

>

> Please keep us posted, we have friends in Mayapur and are always eager to

> get news since we are not fortunate enough to be there this year.

 

Bhakti Purusottama Swami just asked me to sit on the altar with my laptop

and a photographer and send images and text as it is happening, so log on to

www.mayapurnews.com and you'll see it unfolding.

>

> In regards to the logistical issue, I'm not sure I understand fully.

> Could not the devotees proceed in a queue and bathe the Deities as they

> are walking by them? The height problem could be solved with some simple

> wooden ramps coming up and down each side.

 

You'd have to understand the layout of this temple -- there is nowhere for

the ramps to lead. These Deities take up ALL the space on the altar, and the

scaffolding for Their bathing is taking up the rest of the space. It is

simply not possible to accommodate that many people. It sounds great in

theory, but the greatest obstacle in organization is underestimation.

>

> In larger temples such as the Bombay ISKCON temple, they move thousands

> and thousands of pilgrims past the Deities during festivals. If there

> were 700 devotees it should not take more than an a few hours if it were

> done this way.

 

Different layout, different everything. It's simply not an option here, no

matter how easy it sounds in the mind

>

> I didn't mean to offend anyone with my comment about the Gaudiya Math,

> it's just that I know they have a lot of influence there, and the last

> time I was in mayapur in 1998, many of the women were disappointed at not

> being allowed to lead the kirtans. I guess I just assumed this was the

> same case here.

 

I don't know that what we're doing is to try and please the Gaudiya math,

because as far as I knew, it was impossible to do so Prabhupada didn't

seem so concerned with their opinions, besides observing the proper

etiquette towards his godbrothers and so on, and we have the same approach

here: there is an associated group of devotees representing all the temples

and maths, so there are good relations there. But I don't think we do things

to please them. The bottom line is: Srila Prabhupada didn't want women on

the altar in India. Beyond that there's really nothing to say. As for

kirtans, there are women doing the 24 hour kirtan here, but apart from

Yamuna devi and Gaurangi dd from England, I don't personally know any women

who have what it takes to lead and CARRY a kirtan on the same scale as

someone like BB Govinda Maharaja, Naranjana Swami, Sivarama Swami, or Aindra

prabhu, who is also here. So if there was someone like that amongst the

women, I think we'd know about it by now, and no one would be happier to see

them leading than those I mentioned above. Sivarama Maharaja (who is

Gaurangi's spiritual master) has her lead during kirtan. But she's not here.

I'm sure there are others, but are they as good and as powerful as those I

mentioned? There are plenty of men here who are good, but they're not as

good as those above. It's a matter of "we want the best." That's my personal

opinion, for what it's worth, and I know a lot of people who share it.

>

> From what I"ve heard there is a growing dissatisfaction among the devotees

> who are there and will not be allowed to bathe the Deities.

 

There are a few who are disappointed. I've heard from one or two whose

"dissatisfaction" is growing, but what can I say? I'm not in charge

 

> Unfortunately not all the devotees are as mature as Braja Sevaki, and want

> to actually physically participate rather than just observe the ceremony.

 

I can't imagine, after last night, why anyone would be disappointed "just

watching" these Deities. Mindblowing....

>

> Anyway best to all of you, we are happy that Sri Sri Panca Tattva are

> finally there and getting installed! We sent a small donation for the

> feast so please enjoy Krishna's prasadam for all us fallen souls back in

> the USA.

 

No, no, no...the most fallen are the ones who are closest to Lord

Chaitanya's lotus feet...He is Patita-pavana, which explains why rascals

like me are here ....

 

Your servant

Braja Sevaki dd