Tuesday, February 28th, 2023
Kolkata/Delhi/Vrindavan
In Vrindavan it is customary, and it is natural, for residents and pilgrims to use sacred words in greeting with a “Radhe! Radhe!” or a “Hare Krishna!” There is also the expectation to engage in kirtan and to dance.
For the ceremony Tulasi puja, a number of us got quite revved up to dance which included Jambhavan’s very sough after dance of ‘the worm.’ Also, I was asked to lead the song, “Guru Vandanam,” and that ended up being quite ecstatic in terms of participation.
Rituals are also an integral part of the devoted. Chris from Hamilton, Canada, brought with him the ashes of his deceased father, Bill. A pujari (priest) led a group of us to the Yamuna River where he, Sunil Krishna, led the rite of submerging those ashes into the holy waters. I was proud of Chris for agreeing to follow all the steps. In general, he’s been a real trouper on this entire trip, especially in the area of being on the stage in Mayapura. It was a first for him. That kirtan and that accompanying rite was just right.
A final kirtan conducted by Mahadeva and Annapurna in Prabhupada’s room was so uplifting and drew the attention of many people.
Finally, one squirrel came to pay me a visit, scurrying along the window screen. I was just doing my finishing touches to a poem in honour of Kadambha Kanana Swami who is dying from cancer, when the bushy-tailed fellow came around. “Hare Krishna to you, my friend.”
MAY THE SOURCE BE WITH YOU!
