Nitai Pada Kamala

[Guest guest]

Dear Maharajas, Prabhus and Matajis,

 

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

 

We are writing you on behalf of the Bhaktivedanta Academy, Mayapur. Recently

the Mayapur authorities gave us the opportunity to be responsible for the

repair and maintenance of Srila Prabhupada's Nitai Pada Kamala boat. Our

plan is to have it fixed by the coming Gaura Purnima. We would like to use

the Nitai Pada Kamala for preaching with our Gurukula boys, especially

during Gaudiya Vaisnava festivals held in different holy places of Bengal.

 

For example, a few months ago we went to the place of Srila Abhirama Thakur

in Hooghly district to observe his disappearance day (see CC. Adi 11.13

purport for more information on this festival). It was amazing to see the

huge crowds eagerly taking part in the festival. Unfortunately the

kirtaniyas were professionals from Calcutta (Gauranga-nagaris). We thought

it would be very nice to have our own group of devotees to do kirtana, and

distribute books and prasadam.

 

In letters to the managers of Mayapur, Srila Prabhupada himself emphasized

the need for this boat preaching:

 

"So continue this boat program. I do not know about motor launch or not, but

you should consult and do the needful. I simply want to see that the

preaching goes on. That's all."

 

--letter to Gargamuni, 7 June 1976

 

 

"The boat party must continue preaching. It is very nicely responded to."

 

--letter to Jayapataka and Bhavananda, 7 December 1976

 

 

The Mayapur pujari brothers, Jananivasa and Pankajanghri Prabhus, who were

in Mayapur when Srila Prabhupada started the boat program, also remember

Srila Prabhupada saying that "The preaching on Nitai Pada Kamala

should never stop." Unfortunately, for many years now the boat preaching had

been suspended and the Nitai Pada Kamala was lying near the Ganga in

disrepair. Now the chance is there for you to help revive this important

program, and thus receive Srila Prabhupada's and Gaura-Nitai's mercy.

 

We need around Rs. 4 lakhs (US$ 8000) to complete the repair work. So far

we have collected Rs. 87,000; so we need around Rs. 3 lakhs (US$ 6000) more.

The first job is to fix the hull so the boat can properly float before the

flood comes this year, which may be after 4-5 weeks.

 

Once the boat is on water, we will fix the upper deck, probably during the

month of Karttika. We want to renovate the boat to become like it was during

Srila Prabhupada's time, using only the best quality sal and teak wood that

will last for many years.

 

So it is our earnest and humble request to all the Vaisnavas to kindly help

us in this mission which was so liked by Srila Prabhupada.

 

Please contact us if you would like more details or pictures.

 

Thank you very much.

 

Jai Nitai!

 

Your servants at the Bhaktivedanta Academy, Mayapur

 

Priti Vardhana Dasa

Subheksana Dasa