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.”

Miami Yoga meets Yogamaya

Report written by Tamal Krsna dasa brahmacari

After serving Sripad Vana Maharaj on his winter tour of America, I had a few weeks in Miami until he would return from his Brazilian tour. By good fortune, I was able to receive a box of Srila Gurudeva's divine literatures at no cost, via the GVP book-sponsorship program, and was thus able to stay connected to the disseminating flow of Sri Gaura-vani in this world. I have always struggled to distribute books on the street, but according to my own nature and the opportunities presented by providence I had some good success and fun. These are two highlights , both facilitated by our godsister Lasika didi who pilots the Bhakti House, a yoga ashram in Miami Beach:

First, the national television station PBS filmed a segment on the Bhakti House as part of an Arts & Culture in Miami program. I was filmed beside a large portrait of Srila Gurudeva answering the questions what are are yoga, mantra, and bhakti. We gave the whole camera crew mahaprasad and Srila Gurudeva's books.

Second, we were invited to lead a 4-hour module on bhakti as part of a yoga teacher training coursewithin the Jivanmukti lineage, and impersonalist yoga school. We boldly emphasized the infinitely superior charm of the personal conception and illustrated the nine limbs of devotional service as taught by Sri Prahlad Maharaj. Thereafter, we took the entire class (as well as the CEO of the yoga studio) on nagar-sankirtan to the nearby Bhakti House where they witnessed the arati of the Divine Couple and honoured mahaprasad. All of the participants expressed great appreciation, and upon the foundation of that favorable impression, each was presented with a copy of Beyond Liberation and Sri Prema-Samput. This is particularly exciting because these were yoga teachers in training, who in the future will influence their innocent students regarding the meaning of yoga. We pray that the incomparably beautiful conceptions of Srila Visvanath Cakravarti Thakur and Sri Gurupad-padma will steal their minds and color their presentation of Vedic philosophy with the rosy lustre of pure bhakti.

(What books remained when I resumed traveling with Vana Maharaj were entrusted to my mother Malati didi, who is very enthusiastic to distribute books in Miami in preparation for Srila Gurudeva's visit there this spring.)

Bhubanesvara Book Fair

Report written by Bansibadana dasa:

All glories to Sri Sri Guru & Gauranga

By Gurudev's causeless mercy and blessings, the 12 day Bhuveneshavar bookfair was very successful. We are able to distribute books and posters worth one lac and twenty thousand rupees. (books Rs.1,00000/ and postersRs. 50,000/-) This figure is almost double the sales of last year.

At present times, the books of our gosvamis in the line of Mahaprabhu,like Ujjvalnila-mani, Brhat-bhagvattamrtam, Madhurya-kadambini, Gita-govinda(with tika), Rasapancadhya, Jaiva- dharma, Cara vaisnava acharayjivani ,etc are not available in Orissa, nor in oriyan language, so people have warmly accepted these books. During the book fair 12 sets of Brhad-bhagvatamrtam and many copies of each of these big books alongwith lots of small books have been distributed. Also 25 copies of English Jaiva Dharma and 15 copies of English Bhagavad-gita with many many small english books were distributed. We have made a set of 9 Oriya books published so far and we distributed 150 sets of these Oriya books in the book fair.

On the last day of book fair, one persons probably the librarian of the local college took all of Gurudeva's Hindi, English and Oriya books worth Rs.6000/- We are now planning to go to all colleges in Bhuvaneshavar,Cuttack and Puri to show them the books and propose them to get themfor their college libraries.

Also we have translated just the prastavana of hindi Bhagvad-gita,written by Gurudev, into Oriya , printed its 10,000 copies which is likea pamphlet of 16 pages with title "Bhavat gitaar vastava uddesya" and freely distributed them during the book fair. The entire printing was sponsored by the books sponsorshp program, so we were able to do for free distribution for the occasion ofMokshda ekadasi(gita jayanti).

Everyday around 8-10 devotees went to Bhuvaneshara by car and among them would be 4-5 devotees from Mathura everyday accompanyingus turn by turn.

We are thinking to make a small booklet of Paramagurudeva article (Jive daya). around 20 or 30 thousand copies to distribute freely at Ratha-yatra.

Vaishnava Dasa Anu Dasa--Bansibadan Das .Jayshreedamodar Gaudia Math,C.T.Road,Puri-2, Orissa , India.