Gallery "Sacred India" - a window into the spiritual world

A 5-hour flight took me on the 2nd of September from Sydney to Perth - right across the whole continent of Australia...!

I had not visited Perth for around 35 years, going back to my days in the brahmacharini ashram in North Sydney. I remember driving with another mataji all the way - four to five days, through the Nullarbor Plain (meaning "no trees" in Latin), the semi-arid, desert-like and flat country of Southern Australia; with me being the only driver...!
In those days, we drove there to go on collection to establish various projects in Australia as well as to build Mayapur. Reflecting back, it was rather courageous of our former temple president to send us two young girls off on our long journey - in a rather clapped-out Holden, without AC....! Already in those days, I have always welcomed challenges and adventures in Krishna's service...!
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Meanwhile the Vaishnava community of Perth has grown substantially, and over the years the temple has several times changed its location. At present, Sri Sri Gaur Nitai are being worshipped in a spacious temple in the hilly suburban area of Perth.

​I was so fortunate to make the vases for the altar for Radhastami, and I offered the morning class remembering the glories of Srimati Radharani. During the main festival program Jagattarini Mataji gave the talk and I was at my book table, distributing lots of copies of my books and connecting with devotees - well-known faces from the early days, as well as many new encounters.

During the following days, the devotees kept me busy with various home programs and a seminar at the temple which were exceptionally well attended, with lots of books going out. It seemed as if the devotees were starving of association - Perth is rather isolated, and no preachers had visited here for the last three years because of the pandemic.

The highlight of my visit to Perth was an excursion to Gopinath Dham with the Gallery "Sacred India" of Bhurijana Prabhu and Jagattarini Mataji. This gallery depicting Krishna's pastimes in miniature figurines of Krishna and His associates in Vrindavan is certainly unique of its kind and offers a wonderful window into the spiritual world. I truly enjoyed discovering all the sweet little details - the flowers and trees, rocks and mountains, Govardhana Hill being lifted by little Krishna, Nanda Maharaja's beautiful palace with all the wonderful associates of the Lord. Indeed a breath-taking feast for the eyes and heart....!
It also serves as a unique preaching tool, as non-devotees are also coming to visit the gallery. Recently, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, visited the gallery and was full of praise and adoration - something that hit the news...!

Remembering how Srila Prabhupada liked to visit the Botanical Gardens in Australia, I agreed to join a small group of devotees one morning on a little outing to the famous King's Park showing the exotic desert plants of Western Australia. Until then I did not realise how different the vegetation is here, compared to the East Coast - almost like a different world...! Here we find rather unique plants which can survive in sandy soil, with very little water. Interestingly to notice how many beautifully flowering bushes and plants have nasty thorns to protect themselves. Australia has over 700 different varieties of Eucalyptus trees - who would have ever thought of that....! One can marvel at the abundant varieties of species of life which we better not want to take birth in.....

On the 12th of September I flew back to Sydney to offer a Holy Name Retreat at New Gokula....


Your servant, Devaki dd