Kirtan Madhuri Mela - 10 days in Alachua, August 4th-13th

[raga]

 

<i>Kirtan Madhuri Mela is a ten-day gathering in Alachua featuring traditional Bengali devotional music and discourses on the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Narottama Das Thakur. The event is organized to celebrate the beauty of the devotional tradition of the vairagi saints and mystics of Vraja who spent their days and nights in thoughts of Radha and Krishna, worshiping the divine Names.</i>

 

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<b>-o) KIRTAN MADHURI MELA (o-</b>

 

- <i>Alachua, August 4th-13th</i> -

 

<img src="http://www.sadhanadiary.com/images/misc/kirtan-madhuri-mela.jpg" style="margin-left: 5px; float:right;" /> Kirtan Madhuri Mela is a ten-day gathering in Alachua featuring traditional Bengali devotional music and discourses on the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Narottama Das Thakur. The event is organized to celebrate the beauty of the devotional tradition of the vairagi saints and mystics of Vraja who spent their days and nights in thoughts of Radha and Krishna, worshiping the divine Names.

 

The program will last from Friday 4th to Sunday 13th August. The first official program will be held on Friday evening. For latest news, please see <a href="http://www.gaudiyakutir.com/mela" target="_blank">http://www.gaudiyakutir.com/mela</a>.

 

<b>Location</b>

 

The program is located at Braja Gopal's place in Alachua, a few minutes from the local ISKCON temple. We will be able to provide assistance with accomodation, transportation, and prasadation. Exact location at 21511 NW 75th street, third plot south from the NW 218th Avenue crossing - you'll find signs out there to help you find the exact location. For maps, please <a href="http://www.vilasakunja.com/index.php?showtopic=352#entry2573" target="_blank">see here</a>.

 

<b>Classes</b>

 

Classes are given by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/madhavananda" target="_blank">Madhavananda Das</a> (<a href="http://www.audarya-fellowship.com/forums/private.php?do=newpm&u=420">send message</a>). Morning classes will be on Narottama Das Thakur Mahasaya's Prema-bhakti-candrika, the aim is to cover the entire text in the course of the upcoming 10 days. Evening classes will feature Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Siksastakam, with emphasis on the examination of the growth of spiritual emotion in the sadhaka's heart.

 

<b>Schedule for classes and special days during the event</b>

 

<div style="margin-left: 10px; padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #999; background-color: #fff; color: ##339999;"><b>Aug 4th, Fri</b> - Evening program, opening the event. Evening: SAS 1.

<b>Aug 5th, Sat</b> - Pavitra Ekadashi (Vrata): Much extra chanting. Morning: PBC 1-6 (Introduction, Guru-tattva). Evening: SAS 2.

<b>Aug 6th, Sun</b> - Disappearances: Rupa Goswami. Morning: PBC 7-10 (Sadhu-sanga, Rupa Goswami). Evening: SAS 3.

<b>Aug 7th, Mon</b> - Disappearances: Gauridas Pandit, Siddha Manohara Das Babaji. Morning: PBC 11-27 (Suddha-bhakti and Anartha-nivritti). Evening: SAS 4.

<b>Aug 8th, Tue</b> - Morning: PBC 28-39 (Ekanta-bhajana, Atma-nivedana). Evening: SAS 5.

<b>Aug 9th, Wed</b> - Rakhi-purnima. Morning: PBC 40-57 (Yugala-nistha and Raga-bhajana). Evening: SAS 6.

<b>Aug 10th, Thu</b> - Morning: PBC 58-68 (Smarananga-bhajana). Evening: SAS 7.

<b>Aug 11th, Fri</b> - Morning: PBC 69-78 (Asat-tyaga and Sad-asraya). Evening: SAS 8.

<b>Aug 12th, Sat</b> - Morning: PBC 79-100 (Surrender at Radha-Krishna's feet). Evening: Open theme.

<b>Aug 13th, Sun</b> - Morning: PBC 101-120 (Overview and conclusion). Evening: Open theme.</div>

<b>Daily program</b>

 

<div style="margin-left: 10px; padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #999; background-color: #fff; color:#339999;"><b>4:30</b> -> Mangala-arati with kirtan.

<b>5:00</b> -> Individual bhajan

<b>9:00</b> -> Padavali-kirtan: Thakur Mahasaya's Prarthana and reflections.

~ - - - > Class on Prema-bhakti-candrika

 

<div style="color:#993399"><b>17:30</b> -> Kirtan and class on Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Siksastakam.

<b>19:30</b> -> Sandhya-arati and kirtan.

<b>20:30</b> -> Hot milk and friendly chatter.</div></div>

<b>Morning bhajan</b>

 

The carrying theme in the four-hour individual morning bhajan will be accomplishing a lakh (64 rounds) of names, or as much as fits into four hours. We are eager to see everyone dive deeper into nama-bhajan, and the free time everyone has provides an excellent opportunity to at least do it for a while, if not forever, and gain an experience of what to look forward to in the future.

 

<b>Daytime program</b>

 

The daytime program is largely improvised. What's in the air is an introductory Sanskrit class, istagosthi discussions and sadhana workshops on themes of choice, bathing in local tirthas, taking prasad – and much more! The two weekends will have a bit of a tighter schedule than the week in between.

 

<b>Evening programs</b>

 

Some evenings will also see special programs, such as a one-hour non-stop video-parikrama around Radha-kunda with stories of the locations, and possibly a public gathering or two with a broader audience.

 

<b>Songs</b>

 

Given that many may not be very familiar with the traditional arati songs and the such, all participants will receive a fine home-made song book that covers all the standard daily songs, as well as most other songs we'll be singing in the course of the event.

 

<b>Participation</b>

 

Please let us know in advance if you're coming, we'll put aside an extra plate for you. Contact <a href="http://www.myspace.com/_braja" target="_blank">Braja Gopal Das</a> for information on accommodations, directions and other practicalities at <img src="http://www.gaudiyakutir.com/images/email-4.png" style="position:relative; top:3px;" />.

[Guest guest]

As a resident of the Alachua area for the last 11 years, I would like to extend you a warm welcome.

I will not be attending your sanga there, but I am happy that Madhava will get a chance to come to North Central Florida.

I love this area.

It must be some karmic bond or something.

A lot of people do not like Florida.

They say it is too hot, too flat and there are too many bugs.

 

Despite all these things, I love North Florida and I can't think of a place in the USA I would rather be and that includes Hawaii (where I have been several times).

 

Welcome Madhava!!!!!!

 

I am looking forward to your posting from Florida and sharing your thoughts about your visit.

 

I am too fallen and too petty to join you and your friends, but my heart will be with you.

 

I might drive by and honk!!!!(joking)

[raga]

Thanks for the welcome! I was thinking we could have had a Ksamabuddhi evening. You're only a nine minute drive away.

[Guest guest]

Madhava,

While you are here please ask your friends to take you to Crescent Beach just south of St. Augustine. it is my favorite beach. It is about 90 minute drive from Alachua.

It is a very nice beach and it is never overcrowded on the weekdays.

I just went on Tuesday and it was really nice.

 

I have sanctified that beach before with Ganga water from the mouth of the Ganges.

 

If you go there it will be even more of a Tirtha.

Then when we go there to ride the boogie board on the waves we can remember the saintly persons who have been there.

[Guest guest]

 

Thanks for the welcome! I was thinking we could have had a Ksamabuddhi evening. You're only a nine minute drive away.

 

I am actually very shy and very humble.

My internet persona is a total fake.

 

sorry.

I am a hermit.

I don't socialize with anyone, even saints.

 

really. I am a very shy person. I have no friends. I am a cave man.

[jijaji]

I wish I could make it....

 

[stonehearted]

Long swim, eh?

[raga]

Come on, it's not so far. Start swimming now, you'll be there in good time! KB, let me at least send you a flower once I come around. After all these years, I'm coming over and you hide in a cave?

 

We are actually also working on some program around San Diego / L.A. on August 15th-17th -- if anyone's interested, please send a message!

[Guest guest]

Dear raga prabhu,

 

Always good to see someone expanding the movement of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu regardless of what camp he/she is from. In this Kali yuga, the world is in more need of help than ever before. Good luck with your program and I hope it is a success. All glories to your service!

 

 

Come on, it's not so far. Start swimming now, you'll be there in good time! KB, let me at least send you a flower once I come around. After all these years, I'm coming over and you hide in a cave?

 

[raga]

Regardless of camps, we can all camp together and share all we have in common! Thank you!

[Guest guest]

 

Come on, it's not so far. Start swimming now, you'll be there in good time! KB, let me at least send you a flower once I come around. After all these years, I'm coming over and you hide in a cave?

 

 

Send me a flower?

or, turn me into a flower?

Radha's flower is always welcome by me.

 

It's very difficult for me to come.

I haven't even been to the temple in a couple of years and I am only 10 minutes away.

I'm a sad case I know.

 

A broken heart is hard to fix.

 

I will be there in spirit and listening with rap attention.

That's probably the best I can do.

 

In person I am the opposite of the way I am on the chat spots.

 

You have probably never known of a loner as reclusive as me.

[raga]

If you took a dip in Kusuma-sarovara and were transformed into a bud of a flower yourself, you would then be called... ?

 

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West Coast visit

 

In an interesting turn of events, there will also be short program on the West Coast between August 15th-17th in the San Diego / L.A. area. Please drop me a note if you're interested in participating, or even hosting an evening program!