Indian PM gets Janmastami Prasad

[Guest guest]

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

 

 

Note: Sarvabhauma is in white, Rupa Raghunatha in saffron, and Col. Ravat in

pant & shirt