SCS Nabadwip Bulletin

[Jagat]

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All glories to Sri-Sri Guru-Gauranga

 

SRI CHAITANYA SARASWAT MATH

 

NABADWIP NEWS BULLETIN, No. 01-071 6 July 2001

 

A Devotional Offering to keep in touch with our Math's family world-wide

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HAPPY RETURN FROM AN OUTSTANDING TOUR

 

After almost a month abroad, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami

Maharaj has returned to India in good health and extremely good spirits. It

will be a further week before His Divine Grace returns to Calcutta, however

by phone Srila Maharaj has happily described some of the recent outstanding

events. These words have brought us all much relief, especially because of

the considerable concern for his poor health just days before starting from

India.

 

Many have enquired, and yes it is true that towards the end of May Srila

Gurudev had a bad day health-wise, and said he felt like he had a mild

stroke. However by next day he was back to his usual jovial self and up and

about more or less as usual. We were all very concerned, and within a few

days Srila Gurudev went to Calcutta and underwent extensive medical

examinations including scans. There was a big sigh of relief when the

reports arrived. He received a clean bill of health except for slightly

high blood sugar -- a mild condition kept under control by diet and

traditional medicines.

 

LONDON

 

First stop was London. Throughout this tour Srila Govinda Maharaj was

accompanied from India by a record six fully sponsored associates,

including Sripad Bhakti Prapanna Tirtha Maharaj, the manager of our

Calcutta Dum Dum Park Temple; Sripad Bhakti Nirmal Acharyya Maharaj, the

manager of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, here in Nabadwip; and Ranjit

Prabhu, Srila Gurudev's personal assistant. This was the first tour abroad

for both Sripad Acharyya Maharaj and Sri Ranjit Prabhu.

 

In London, of course everyone was fully nourished to have Srila Maharaj

with them again. This was his twelfth visit to London and his 18th

International Tour. However Srila Govinda Maharaj soon developed a severe

lung infection and ran a high temperature for 4 days. Then, by everyone's

care and devotion, Srila Gurudev suddenly recovered, one report said

"miraculously," thus giving opportunity for all to have his darshan once

again. His whole stay in London was just over a week, so by the time Srila

Gurudev regained his strength every moment in his association became even

more valuable.

 

St. PETERSBURG

 

Soon Srila Gurudev was on his way to St. Petersburg, Russia. He was greeted

by a large group of devotees headed by Vijay Raman Prabhu, the manager of

our Temple there, and Jagannath Vallabha Prabhu who coordinates the Russian

programmes. Srila Gurudev was clearly pleased by the beautiful, large

Temple as well as by seeing the steady service to Sri Sri

Guru-Gauranga-Radha-Madhavasundar. A special festival was held on the day

of Sri Jagannath Rathayatra, as well as many formal and informal darshans

by His Divine Grace. Harinam Sankirttan chanting was held daily in the

local area and throughout the streets of central St. Petersburg. On each

occasion the "Vijay Murti" of Mahaprabhu who came from India just now,

accompanied them on His palenquin.

 

MOSCOW

 

In Moscow, Jagannath Vallabha Prabhu arranged a large hall in the centre of

the city where programmes were held continuously from 8 a.m. to 9.30 p.m.

for eight days. Srila Gurudev and all the devotees stayed in large

accommodation just a few minutes walk away. Srila Govinda Maharaj reported

that the sannyasis who by now additionally included Sripad Bhakti Kusum

Ashram Maharaj, Sripad Bhakti Sudhir Goswami Maharaj and Sripad Bhakti

Kanan Giri Maharaj, took turns to deliver lectures to the audience and

chant Harinam-Sankirttan. Srila Gurudev personally gave lectures most

evenings, and after returning from one such lecture he phoned to Nabadwip.

He was clearly enlivened by the programmes and by the dedication of the

Russian devotees.

 

There are many success stories amongst our devotees in Russia. As well as

printing around 40 different books in Russian, producing audios and videos,

and developing widely the preaching field, our devotees' "Jagannath

Express" Restaurant in central Moscow stands out as exceptional. It has

just won the top award as the Best Vegetarian Restaurant in Moscow. It

provides service for a staff of almost a hundred, many of whom are

devotees, and provides a vast variety of vegetarian food in different

styles, all prepared on the premises.

 

Speaking over the phone from Vrindavan soon after returning from these

special days, Srila Gurudev himself told these pastimes of the devotees,

clearly with great joy. Like you, we are also eager to hear more and we

look forward to the safe return of Srila Govinda Maharaj and the augmented

Tour group soon.

 

RECENT PICTURES

 

Recent pictures received so far of this tour from London, St. Petersburg

and Moscow are on our Website at: http://www.scsmath.com/new.html. For

those of you with reasonably good internet connections, there are also

three series of larger pictures included there (around 35K each).

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GOVARDHAN TEMPLE DEVELOPING FAST

 

Since the inauguration of construction just last October for Sri Giriraj at

our Srila Sridhar Swami Seva Ashram, Govardhan, the Lord's Temple has been

quickly manifesting around Him. The main part of the simhasan section of

the construction was completed by mid June, and in order to proceed with

the Nat-Mandir in time for Srila Gurudev's return, Sri Giriraj moved to His

new throne on the auspicious day of Sri Jagannathdev's Rathayatra. A

festival was held and many sadhus were fed to mark the occasion.

 

Pictures of the construction taken just a week before Srila Gurudev left

for his recent Tour are on the Web at:

http://scsmath.com/bulletin/memories/me010528_gvrdn.html

Larger pictures of the construction are available at:

scsmath.com/bulletin/memories/govdn_0105fls.html

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MORE TOURS IN 2001?

 

We are receiving many enquiries as to Srila Govinda Maharaj's travel plans

for later this year, but the word is "wait-and-see." Srila Gurudev has

consistently replied to devotees' invitations and questions, that he will

wait to see about his health and his service in India before making a final

decision. His Divine Grace has only just returned to India, but will only

consider he has completed the Tour after returning to Calcutta. So let

Srila Gurudev have some time to settle in, then he shall declare his holy

wish for the benefit of all.

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NABADWIP PREPARES AS RAINS ARRIVE

 

With our Math's Acharyya, Srila Govinda Maharaj, along with our Math's

manager, Sripad Acharyya Maharaj, both abroad, the Temple devotees here in

Nabadwip are all doing their extra bit to help keep everything running

smoothly.

 

Yes, the rains came on time this year, and already Mother Ganges has

flooded the lower fields of the opposite village. With major flooding

happening the last two years, perhaps we now have to accept annual floods

as normal and no longer the exception. In preparation, the upstairs of the

new goshala is now ready in case the cows need to again take shelter on

higher land.

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DISAPPEARANCE INVITATION ON WEB

 

It is now just over two weeks before our dearmost

Founder-President-Acharyya, Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami

Maharaj's Disappearance Festival. If an Invitation has not yet reached you,

there is one waiting on our website at:

scsmath.com/events/disap_invit01.html. We are all hoping Srila Govinda

Maharaj will reach here by then. May this indeed be a glorious festival the

world over.

 

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SRI CHAITANYA SARASWAT MATH'S NABADWIP NEWS BULLETIN

Compiled to Russian Kirttan from the first Tour video to reach us

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Produced by Mahananda dasa Bhakti Ranjan for

Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math,

Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math Road, Kolerganj,

P.O. Nabadwip, District Nadia, West Bengal, PIN 741302, India.

Tel: (03472) 40086 & 40752. Calcutta: Tel: (033) 551 9175.

E-mail: info@scsmath.com Website: http://scsmath.com

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All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga

 

INVITATION

 

to the

DISAPPEARANCE FESTIVAL 2001

of

Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj

 

Honorable Vaishnavas, Godbrothers, Godsisters, Devotees and Friends:

 

Please accept our humble obeisances. We, the Members and Devotees of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math under the divine guidance of our Sevaite-President-Acharyya, His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, are humbly inviting your respected selves along with your associates and families for the Annual Disappearance Festival of our most beloved Srila Guru Maharaj, Om Nitya-Lila Pravista Paramahamsa Churamani Sri Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Visnupad. The festival will be held this year on FRIDAY 20TH JULY, at the dearmost place of his Divine Pastimes, SRI CHAITANYA SARASWAT MATH, NABADWIP DHAM, in the presence of the glorious Vaishnava Godbrothers of Srila Guru Maharaj, along with Devotees of our International Mission from around the world.

 

On this occasion in our Math we shall arrange a grand festival for the special worship, and chanting of Srila Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj's divine glories, as well as Kirttan, special worship of the Temple Deities Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharva Govindasundar, Laksmi-Varahadev, Sri Gopaljiu and Giridharijiu, distribution of opulent Mahaprasadam, and many other devotional activities in the association of honourable Vaishnavas.

 

We shall be very pleased to have your holy presence and your participation in this auspicious occasion which is most conducive for pure devotion.

 

Yours in the service of the Divine Master,

MEMBERS OF THE MATH

 

Dated: 1st July, 2001.

Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Kolerganj,

P.O. Nabadwip, Pin 741302, Dt. Nadia, W.B., India.

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SERVICE OPPORTUNITY

Kindly do the needful to publicize within your communities this forthcoming Festival, and to encourage the giving of service donations to His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj for this auspicious occasion. If the Main Centres and Branches, also individuals, can coordinate a special collection for this occasion it will be greatly appreciated by His Divine Grace.

 

Service contributions may be made by check, bank transfer, etc. For details please refer to our webpage: scsmath.com/events/service.html.

If sending funds, kindly inform us so we can confirm their safe arrival.

 

May this be a glorious festival all over the world.

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