Kumba Mela 2010 Haridwar - April 16-18, 2010

Book distribution report by Anita dasi

April 16-18, 2010

In deep concentration, balanced on one foot, a realization came to me. Maybe the art of holding yoga positions combining strength, balance and flexibility was perfected on Indian trains. Stretching and contorting, I maneuvered through the packed train towards the toilet; all floor space had someone standing over someone else sitting, packed body to body. Millions somehow came for this holy dip and now millions somehow have to leave. Reflecting back on the last few days in Haridwar, I am warmed to think of all the wandering souls Srila Gurudeva is reaching out to, myself included.

The days after the maha snan we were mostly busy with following up with people we had connected with. We had met some Sanskrit teachers from a local gurukul called Kangari Vidyala Bharmacary Ashram. On the evening of the 16^th we were invited to visit the school. The city was still completely jammed, so we had to walk and hour and half before the roads were open to rikshaws and we could complete our journey to the school. After all the crowds it was a relief to come to the spacious campus. The student band was lined up at the entrance to receive us. Students showered flowers on us as we walked past. They anointed our foreheads with paste and rice. Then all the youngest students lined up and touched our feet. The whole reception felt pretty embarrassing, but gave an impression of what a more satvic India must have been like. We were escorted to a shelter in the middle of the court yard where a fire yanya pit was set up. The students perform a fire yagna every morning and evening. We were seated in the front and offered grains to the fire while four-hundred students recited mantras around us. At the conclusion Caru Chandrika didi spoke about the meaning of Gurukul, the need for a self realized guru, and a personal conception of God. Then we presented a set of Srila Gurudeva’s books to the school library. After the program ended I saw the students eagerly thumbing through the new books. If any of you out there in internet land feel inspired, you can make a donation towards the gift of the set of books. The cost was around fifty US dollars. You can make donations through Vasanti’s cause on face book or through the book sponsorship program. http://www.gvpbookdistribution.com/Sponsor.html

The next we day we set aside to take inventory and pack the books we had left over. We did not finish that relatively simple job until nine pm, because we had a constant stream of visitors throughout the day. Friends and contacts we made in Haridwar stopped by the matha to see us. We chatted, shared prashada, answered questions and discussed Krsna Consciousness. A few leant a hand tapping boxes and moving them to storage. At first I was feeling I had made a mistake in sending too many books, but then I realized it was actually the perfect excuse to come back to Haridwar soon and finish distributing the books. In other years Srila Gurudeva has gone to Haridwar in late summer for a few day program. Hopefully he comes again this year and we can go a few weeks ahead, distribute books and invite people.

Our last day in Haridwar we did not spend in Haridwar at all. We took a two hour bus ride to Saharanpura. When we came to Haridwar for Siva Ratri, we met a man on the train from Saharanpura and went to his home for a house program. When we told him we were in the area again he invited us to return. Rasa Mayi dasi lead bhajans with great enthusiasm; she got all the kids to clap to the beat. Caru Chandrika didi had already gone back to Vrndavan so the class I prepared on the conversation between Vidura and Maitraya muni came in handy after all. Ironically my complete inexperience in giving class worked in my favor. I had prepared very detailed notes (practically sentence by sentence). Only our host spoke English, everyone else only understood Hindi. At first he was struggling to understand everything I said and translate it, but then he began to follow along in my notes and I could see it made his translation easier and probably more accurate. There was one guest in particular who was so sincere. I remember her from last time. With practically tears in her eyes she said (though the translator) that she wants to serve Sri Krsna, but she is getting old and her body has so much pain. She was so happy to hear that chanting and remembering Sri Krsna was a great service.

I’ll sign off here. Please forgive my tongue in cheek style, it just reflects on my low class nature. But it has been nice for me to write these reports and reflect on the mini miracles our Guru paramapara sends every day. Sri Sri Gaura Nitai ki jaya! Srila Gurudeva ki jaya!

Kumba Mela 2010 Haridwar - April 15, 2010

Book distribution report by Anita dasi

April 15, 2010

I never imagined I would find it normal to have a conversation with someone with wet underwear on their head. But now I find if I stand on the side of the road of people leaving the ghat nearly every other man has this peculiar head wear.

We got an invitation to come to speak and do kirtan to 2,000 people. When we arrived at the address, it was a temple we had passed everyday that was doing mass prashadam distribution. When we went inside no one knew anything about the program. A kind Swami spoke to us. It was some kind of misunderstanding. But since we were there with mrdanga and books he invited us to sit in their mandir and sing bhajanas. Two-thousand in actuality was more like 12, but we made some nice connections. One man swayed in clapped in joy with every kirtan. He plans to come to Vrndavan in a few weeks. Also the Swami lives in Prayag, modern day Allabhbad, and insisted we should come there for book distribution. He said they have a big month long festival there every year during the month of mag, around January. He explained that because he has a trust he is given a few tents at the mela and he invited us to distribute our books from there.

Kumba Mela 2010 Haridwar - April 12-14, 2010

Book distribution report by Anita dasi

April 12-14, 2010

Leading up to the main “royal bathing day” on the 14th, Haridwar swelled beyond bursting. News reports estimated 10 million people came to bathe in Ganga devi. They closed all the roads in the city, and they became filled with currents of pilgrims. These long crazy days I think are best presented as a medley:

Mari-lou, our new friend from South Africa. We seemed to run into her everywhere, and she came for lunch a few days and had lots of good questions.

We met Tribhuvanath in the photocopy shop. He came to visit later and brought a beautiful mounted poster of Sri Sri and Radha Krsna as a gift. Then he helped distribute books with us, and was so happy after distributing several books.

Taruni dasi was invited into a pandal. She announced the books. One man said he would pay for the books that anyone wanted.

One sadhu who wanted a pocket Bhagavad-gita so bad he put the book on top of his begging bowl and waited until enough charitable bathers piled money on top so he could buy it.

Yogesh prabhu, a new devotee from Delhi, came for a few days and had his first real taste of book distribution. The first day after selling one book and giving one to a sadhu for free he felt a bit discouraged. But by yesterday he was over the moon when he sold one big Bhagavad-gita and five small ones to one person, and another 38 Siva Tattva to someone else.

Many people who came up to us with ten rupees and asked for a book by name. I guess word spreads.

We ran into a boy who we met in February. At that time he came back a second time and said he took a book for free and felt bad and paid for it. We saw him again and he was so happy to meet again.

One Indian who lives in Hong Kong who bought a few books including the new Journey of the Soul. He says he has lived there a long time but never found people he could really connect with.

A police man Caru Chandrika didi met when we came for Siva Ratri came to visit and asked many questions about prosperity and spiritual life.

One person changed us up, but a day later someone else wanted to give extra of the same amount that was lost.

One sadhu who wanted a book and we told him that he should give something. He tried to give us his whole bag with a tiffin, a cup and a one rupee note inside. We took the rupee but refused the bag.

The man at the ice cream shop remembered us from Siva Ratri. He pulled out the copy of Siva Tattva he got then and asked if he had any new book for him.

Loads of invitations to people’s homes and cities across India.

Kumba Mela 2010 Haridwar - April 11, 2010

Book distribution report by Anita dasi

April 11, 2010

“I will take the book, but I want to ask a question. Do you believe in all this?”

They didn’t ask what country are you from. My mind scrambled to come up with the words to reply. Do I really have faith in all this? In ALL – no. Flying mountains are among the other things on my unreconciled list. In a mild panic I began to wonder what business I had passing out books promoting something I had not achieved real faith in. But then I remembered Srila Gurudeva. I am unexplainably attracted to him and his katha. Like a magnet. Then I remembered so many of his classes . . .

adau sraddha tatah sadhu-sango ’tha bhajana-kriya
tato ’nartha-nivrttih syat tato nistha rucis tatah
athasaktis tato bhavas tatah premabhyudancati
sadhakanam ayam premnah pradurbhave bhavet kramah

"In the beginning one must have a preliminary desire for self-realization. This will bring one to the stage of trying to associate with persons who are spiritually elevated. In the next stage one becomes initiated by an elevated spiritual master, and under his instruction the neophyte devotee begins the process of devotional service. By execution of devotional service under the guidance of the spiritual master, one becomes free from all material attachment, attains steadiness in self-realization, and acquires a taste for hearing about the Absolute Personality of Godhead, Sri Krsna. This taste leads one further forward to attachment for Krsna consciousness, which is matured in bhava, or the preliminary stage of transcendental love of God. Real love for God is called prema, the highest perfectional stage of life."

Finally the words came, “Well I am practicing. It’s a process. See this picture of my Guru Maharaja . . .”

I must remember that you use a thorn to pluck out another thorn. This book distribution is as much to help me as for those who receive the books.

Kumba Mela 2010 Haridwar - April 10, 2010

Book distribution report by Anita dasi

April 10, 2010

In the blazing sun, fasting and calling out the holy name. Some of the yogis doing tapasya? No, us being stupid keeping our book table open too long in the sun on Ekadasi. But every time we tried to close up shop more and more people stopped by. Now it is the weekend, just four days to the last royal bath of this Kumba Mela. Overflowing does not accurately describe the city. In the morning we set up a book table on the hill leading to the main ghat. The book table was a nice chance to sell bigger books that are hard to carry around normally.

We are also finding some people come and see us day after day. For example, two nice guys from Chandigar we see nearly everyday. Each day they take one or two books, and come with their questions. Then we recommend new books for them to take. Yesterday one of them came to the matha and Caru Chandrika didi spent some time answering his questions and beautifully explaining the basics of Krsna Consciousness. He came with us when we went out in the evening to distribute books. He pulled the trolley of books for us, and helped Taruni distribute books by translating. At the end of the night he said, “I will always remember this day.”

Kumba Mela 2010 Haridwar - April 9, 2010

Book distribution report by Anita dasi

April 9, 2010

“Oh Gurudeva, I am very tired. Send someone who you want me to meet,” prayed Taruni.

What would a sailor be doing thousands of miles from any ocean? Apparently he had to get a book. She gave him a Secrets of the Undiscovered Self in Hindi and began to explain that the material world is not the goal of life.

Suddenly he said, “It’s so true. It’s all so useless. As life begins to finish then I wonder, is that all that life was about.” He explained how he was a sailor and spent half the year at sea.

“Your family must miss you.”

“Actually they don’t miss me. Actually they don’t really love me. They only love the money I send them.” She took the chance to explain how the love of a pure devotee is selfless. Then before she got the opportunity to invite him he said, “I am not really a spiritual person, but I think I want to come to Vrndavan to be shanti for a few days.”

Kumba Mela 2010 Haridwar - April 8, 2010

Book distribution report by Anita dasi

April 8, 2010

Sixteen and nine-months, wearing a Che Gueveara t-shirt, with ear phones in, I didn’t think he would take a book. But I try to call out to everyone who goes by. Not only did he stop, but as he pulled out his ear phones he said, “Hare Krsna mataji.” About a year ago he became involved with the ISKCON temple in Ujjain. With joy he pulled out his malla from his bag and informed me he was chanting eight rounds a day, well sixteen since he came to Haridwara for Kumba. He carefully looked at all the books I had with me, and politely asked what I advised. I suggested Harenama Mahamantra, to inspire him in his jappa. When he came to the Siva Tattva book, he said with a start, “But we are devotees of Krsna, why a book about Siva-ji?” I indicated he should read the quote on the back explaining how Lord Siva is the greatest Vaisnava. He took a Siva Tatta and Secrets of the Undiscovered Self too. I felt so light and happy after meeting an Indian youth who all on his own had taken to Krsna Consciousness with so much enthusiasm.

Yesterday before going out in the evening, Taruni dasi watched the book distribution videos that are on www.gvpbookdisribution.com. She took away some inspiration that Srila Gurudeva is doing everything, and this is actually his compassion. When we go through the crowd and there are all kinds of reactions including neglect or even negativity, but actually everyone deserves compassion. One suggestion in the film was to make prayers to Srila Gurudeva as we are distributing. With this mood she went out yesterday and tried to keep in mind that it was not her who was doing the book distribution, and that this miracle of Krsna Consciousness that happened to her could happen to anyone. She felt with this in mind she connected with the people on a level that they could feel was special, and they very readily took books. Even though who did not take books, still walked away with a special impression.

Kumba Mela 2010 Haridwar - April 7, 2010

by Anita dasi

April 7, 2010

The beggars and sadhus crowded round as one charitable lady gave out ten rupee notes. We watched as one sadhu tucked the note away in his inside safe-keeping pocket, and made his way to the cloth we had laid out with books and posters while we sang morning bhajans. This sadhu sat down next to our books. He carefully selected a Hindi Secrets of the Undiscovered Self. Often when we tell the price of the books to sadhus then they either return the book or try to convince you should give it for free, but he pulled out this ten rupee note he had carefully tucked away.

Someone who was upset with the contents of the book he had taken came back and was getting real aggravated. This sadhu tried to pacify him and send him away. In the end we start chanting harinama and the upset fellow gave up and left. The sadhu was quite enthusiastic shaking his bells and singing along. Others joined in, and the uncomfortable moment was transformed completely.

In the evening a camera crew from the national Dish TV station was curious what we were doing and stopped us for an interview. They asked us question about why we are here, what we think of Kumba Mela, Indian culture and our experience here. We did our best to glorify Srila Gurudeva, explain about book distribution and the beauty of such a large religious gathering. You never know, maybe we got on the air.

Kumba Mela 2010 Haridwar - April 6, 2010

by Anita dasi

April 6, 2010

An elephant is a very big animal. You would not miss it coming down the road. I guess that is why they always have the elephant go first in Indian parades. We had just begun to distribute books when an elephant followed by a big parade came down the road from the main ghat. Of course there was a band with those silly velcro-on-boot covers, worn not over boots but battered flip-flops. A float with Lord Siva and Parvati dancing beautifully, about 20 Hanumans dressed all in red with big clubs, Punjabi dancers with big turbans, and a marching ocean of sadhus in orange cloth, except for those who were naga babas., who only wear ashes. As much as I called out and waved books, everyone was watching the parade. I decide to relax and let the parade pass. But a few of the sadhus in the parade saw my books and stopped. I showed them the books, and explained they should give some donation. What followed was mayhem. It was like the whole parade switched course and came at me. Books were wrenched from my hands, the box on the trolley was torn open and the treasures pillaged. A few among the sadhus policed that all should give at least some donation. A few notes, mostly coins, and even a rudraksha and semi precious stone where pushed in my hand as I stood by helpless. Only these words came to mind:

abaddha karuna-sindhu katiya muhana

ghare ghare bule prema-amiyara

“The ocean of mercy had formerly been sealed tight, but Nitai broke the dam. He went from house to house with this nectarean prema, sweetly requesting all to take harinama.” - Naita Guna Mani

I think Nityanda prabhu would have loved it. I know I was laughing like a mad-man at the end.

We were just recoiling from the ransacking when we ran into two guys Taruni dasi met the day before. They said they were talking about her last night and wishing they could meet her again to ask more questions. Amazingly we were just 30 feet in front of the place they live. Another five minutes and we would have missed each other. They had very sincere questions about renunciation and our process. We were explaining how you can just take a little time out of the day to chant. One of the boys reached for his wallet. From a special compartment he pulled out a worn and crumpled paper. As he opened it up he said, “Some years ago someone gave me this mantra to chant. I always kept it because I thought it was sacred.” As I saw the maha mantra I felt the chills. They took more books and we made plans for them to come visit us at the matha to talk and get more books.

Kumbaha Mela 2010 Book Distribution

by Anita dasi

Hari ki Pauri Gahat, Haridwar

April 2, 2010

I named him Gramps; all legs and elbows, with a bulbous nose. Part of a group of dhoti clad villagers which shared our train compartment from Matura to Haridwara. After about seven hours in the heat and overcrowding (I guess you don’t really need a ticket to ride that train), Gramps ripped the book I was reading out of my hands. He began to clap, flapping his elbows, and point at the mrdanga we had stored on the seat above with our bags. I grimaced, grumpy form the heat. But he insisted in clapping and pointing at the mrdanga. Well, we are on our way to Kumba Mela, one of the largest spiritual gatherings in the world. A kirtan would be appropriate.

Before I knew what happened Rasa Mayi dasi and Taruni dasi had everyone in the compartments near ours clapping, chanting and smiling. Gramps never really got the mantra down, “Hare Hare Hare Hare Krsna . . .” But I am glad he insisted on kirtan. It set the right mood for arriving in Haridwara for Kumbah mela book distribution.

April 3, 2010

Shortly after returning from Navadvipa parikrama I sent books to Haridwar with a transport company. The boxes wait in the warehouse until you go to claim them. After our train arrived we stopped at the warehouse, but the books were buried under a mountain of other boxes. It was late, we were exhausted from the journey, and the guys at the warehouse were lazy to move all those boxes. So we made arrangements that they would deliver the books between 6-8 am the next morning. At eleven I called, they said there road closures due to Kumbha mela, it will come at three. Next call, it will come at five. Next call, “I’ll call you back in five minutes.” Grrrrr . . .

Luckily we brought one box of a small Hindi book called Vaisnava siddhanta mala on the train. We filled our bags with those and started into town. It was a good book to get our toes wet. The cost is only 5 rupees.

People talk about “lines” when distributing books. Seeing that none of us really speak Hindi, we can’t say anything too clever. For me it goes something like this:

“Sundar quitab.” Beautiful book - I wonder if it translates like that.

The people stop and I put the book in their hand.

“Panch rupees only.” Five rupees only. I got the only part from all the shop keepers here in India. It’s obviously not Hindi but it brings out a smile.

“**^&%^*^###**” . . . I don’t know what they say exactly.

But when I say “USA” they are satisfied. Maybe then they try to shake my hand. Usually they carefully examine the book, and then pull out five rupees. Of course there are varieties, but that is more or less how it goes.

April 4, 2010

A dip in Ganga literally takes your breath away. Even though it’s April and the temperature in the midday is 35 Celsius (that’s 95 Fahrenheit for those of you who are like me and Celsius means nothing to you), but in Haridwara Ganga is coming right out of the Himalayas. It also takes your sins away:

tayoh samvadatoh suta

pravrtta hy amalah kathah

apo ganga ivagha-ghnir

hareh padambujasrayah

[Saunaka inquired about the conversation between Vidura and Maitreya: There must have been many narrations of the spotless pastimes of the Lord. The hearing of such narrations is exactly like bathing in the water of the Ganges, for it can free one from all sinful reactions” (Srimad Bhagavatam 3.20.5)]

After our bath, Taruni dasi and I made our way back to Madhavai Kunja, Srila Gurudeva’s matha and guest house in Haridwar. All along the way we distributed books to the pilgrims coming and going from the ghats as well as to the locals in shops and on the street. The books had finally been delivered early this morning.:)

We had organized a program with a person that Vasanti dasi met when we were here distributing books at the time of Siva Ratri. I spent the afternoon trying to piece something together to speak about. I decided on the Srimad Bhagavatam 3^rd canto conversation between Maitreya Muni and Vidhura which took place in Haridwar. I wanted to read something that could help me connect to Haridwara as a holy city. I only got though Vidura’s questions, but there was more than enough beautiful material touching on guru tattva, the supremacy of bhakti, and the glories of harikatha. I guess it was for my own purification because just as we were about to leave we got a call that the grandfather from the home we were going to became seriously ill and had to go the hospital. Hopefully he gets better soon, and we can have a program later on.

A quick change of plans. We load up our trolley with a box of books and head towards Hare Ki Pauri, the main bathing ghat, to meet a new friend – Maharaja. Needless to say Haridwar is teaming with sadhus. Thanks to the kind donations to the book sponsorship program we are able to give out books at whatever price people can pay, but we try to ask even sadhus to give something, if even one rupee. One sadhu walked by me and thought I was giving the books out for free, took one, and kept walking. I called after him to give please give some donation. Well, as best as I could express it with the few Hindi words I know. He expressed back that he had no money. I asked again, and he said no and was determined to keep the book. So I relented and let him have the book for free. But then he saw how I was asking others for 10 rupees for books. Out of guilt, sympathy, inspiration or maybe just plain sucretee, he began to call people over to me and invite them to take a book. For the next three hours he drew in people, passed out books, pulled the trolley, and watched that no one took books without paying. All the while smiling and blessing me with his right hand. With practically no common language – all I could understand of his name was Maharaja – we both were just content to see the books work their way into the hands of those on the street. We did our best to let him know we would be back tomorrow, same time same place if he wants to help again.

April 5, 2010

After our morning snan in Ganga devi we displayed books and posters on a cloth. We had Gaura Nitai deties which we put on top of the box. We sat down to sing morning bhajans. In half a second a crowd gathered. Singing, clapping, staring, examining books, someone even wanted to buy Gaura Nitai – not for sale of course.

Many want to take our “snap,” that is local slang for photo. We always try to encourage them to take more than a photo as a souvenir of our meeting. A photo with a westerner is a novelty, but the books of Srila Gurudeva and our Acaryas will change their life. More than their life – drag them out of this samsar.

Taruni dasi had a few inspiring interactions in the evening she wanted to share. She met one newly married couple. The husband said, “I understand material life is useless, and I need to go to guru. But I feel responsible for taking care of my family.” Then they got to discuss how now that he has a family then he needs to also be responsible for the spiritual growth of his family. He wanted to try chanting the maha mantra. She felt the conversation went so nicely because she worked to involve the wife as well as the husband in the discussion.

Later on there was one boy from Delhi, around 16 years old. He bought one book, and then was hanging around as we were distributing the books listening in on conversations. Taruni noticed him and said, “Why just stand around, you can help distribute the books.” He began to help translate and pass out books. Later she saw him smoking. He saw her too and came up and apologized, “I just tried it for the first time with my friend. I am sorry. I will not do it again.”