Cow Quote #30 - Tamal Krsna Maharaja and Gita-nagari Dhama

[Guest guest]

Very nice. I was just talking with Mother Satyabhama yesterday, and she was

telling how instrumental Tamal Krsna Maharaja was in setting up Gita-nagari.

She said at first devotees at "New Varsana" (Gita-nagari was called "New

Varsana" at first, but later Prabhupada said he wanted the name changed to

Gita-nagari -- devotees found out why when Satsvarupa Maharaja discovere the

Gita-nagari Prophecy after Srila Prabhupada's departure.) were apprehensive

that

he would be too imposing and not understand the farm mission -- but in fact he

demonstrated that he was very supportive. She said that at one point the

devotees were getting ready to order deities for the temple. They sent a

notice

to Tamal Krsna Maharaja describing the arrangements they were making. They

were

somewhat shocked when they got a note back from Maharaja saying, "Don't order

any deities. I will talk with you when I see you."

 

Then, when he came to Gita-nagari, Maharaja told them, "I have decided that Sri

Sri Radha Damodara are not going to travel any more -- I want them to live here

at Gita-nagari." -- The rest is history. Tamal Krsna Maharaja -- ki jaya!

 

 

May I also suggest the October 8 conversation -- listed as "I Wanted to

Introduce This" in the Prabhupada Varnasrama book. I was looking at it over

the

weekend and noticed that not only is Maharaja pictured on the front of the

book,

with Prabhupada, Paramananda and others -- but also his statement is the last

statement by one of Prabhupada's disciples in the conversations.

 

your servant,

 

Hare Krsna dasi

 

"Gauranga Prema (das) BCAIS (Cape Town - SA)" wrote:

 

> Room Conversation- Vrndavan- October 6 1977

>

> Tamäla KåJëa: "ISKCON farm report: Port Royal, Pennsylvania, report for year

> 1976. ISKCON Incorporated of New York owns a prime farm in Juanita County of

> Pennsylvania. The land is nearly four hundred acres in size, valued at

> around five hundred dollars per acre, or two hundred thousand dollars. In

> addition the buildings on the property consist of the following: barn worth

> $40,000; outbuildings worth $10,000; calf barn $25,000; equipment $50,000;

> residential building $45,000; guesthouse and public kitchen and prasäda

> pavilion $75,000; and silos $20,000. Total, including land, $465,000. The

> purpose of this land is to produce foodstuffs to meet all the needs of the

> farm community as well as the needs of our temples in New York,

> Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore.

> Another purpose is to demonstrate the principle of cow protection, as we are

> strict vegetarians and do not believe in slaughtering cows. Our herd of cows

> is Brown Swiss, and they are rated amongst the top one percent of dairy cow

> herds in the United States. All of the cows are pedigreed. Our farm holds

> fifty milk cows and fifty young cows, heifers. The milk cows milk an average

> of 40 kilos of milk per day in their first month of lactation and average 25

> kilos per day over the whole year. We have 140 acres of crop land and 30

> acres of pasture, the balance being woods, primarily hardwood, which is

> excellent for fuel. On our land we grow not only all the food for the

> residents but also for the cows. The following is the yield for 1976:

> corn-200 tons, soybeans-10 tons, barley-10 tons, oats-10 tonsI"

> Prabhupäda: What do you do with the soybeans?

> Tamäla KåJëa: The soybeans are ground and given to the cows.

> Brahmänanda: In the winter.

> Tamäla KåJëa: In the wintertime. This wayI

> Prabhupäda: They're very nutritious.

> Tamäla KåJëa: Very nutritious. The cows give more milk according to how much

> nutritious foods you give them.

> Prabhupäda: Oh, yes.

> Tamäla KåJëa: So much of this, what we produce, is given for the cows,

> because the cows cannot graze year round. Because for about four or five

> months there's too cold weather. Four months. So they have to have stock of

> food. "Oats-10 tons, wheat-10 tons." The wheat isI You tasted the cäpäöi.

> Brahmänanda: Excellent.

> Tamäla KåJëa: Very tasty.

> Brahmänanda: Nearby there's a mill, and they grind the wheat fresh.

> Prabhupäda: Hm?

> Brahmänanda: Near to our farm is a mill where they grind the wheat fresh.

> Prabhupäda: Our mill?

> Brahmänanda: No.

> Tamäla KåJëa: We are going to get one now. It is not difficult to have a

> mill. "Hay-45 tons."

> Prabhupäda: In India the practice was hand grind daily. The women will do

> that. That's exercise for them, and they keep their body fit and beautiful.

> Tamäla KåJëa: Oxen can also grind, I think. Can oxen also?

> Prabhupäda: No, there is no need oxen. Individually, small grind

> ing-chapki(?). And in the morning they chant Hare KåJëa and grind. (sings)

> Hare KåJëa, Hare KåJëa, KåJëa KåJëa, Hare Hare/ Hare Räma, Hare Räma, Räma

> Räma, Hare HareI This is very nice process. Whatever they require for the

> day, they grind fresh. Very nice system. And actually, by this exercise,

> they keep their body beautiful.

> Tamäla KåJëa: Keeps them well engaged.

> Prabhupäda: And engagement. Yaçodämäyi was doing that, even she is the queen

> of Nanda Mahäräja, what to speak of other women. Churning milk, grinding the

> wheat, this is their household. We have got that picture. Full engagement.

> Otherwise gossipingI

> Tamäla KåJëa: Trouble.

> Prabhupäda: Trouble. And whisping for laugh. That's all. (laughs) Whisping

> or whispering?

> Tamäla KåJëa: Whispering.

> Prabhupäda: (chuckling) "Idle brain, devil's workshop." Then?

> Tamäla KåJëa: "In the year 1976 we cultivated 5 acres of vegetables,

> including 24 tons of potatoes. We also have 25 beehives, which produce 100

> pounds of honey per hive. There is also a fruit orchard with 150 trees,

> including apples, pears, peaches, and plum trees. Lastly, we are fortunateI"

> Prabhupäda: Those fruits are nice fruits.

 

--

Noma Petroff

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BOWDOIN COLLEGE

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