As soon as I had decided to spend some time in Australia and New Zealand, it was clear to me where I would celebrate Janmastami - at New Gokula, at Radha Gokulananda's lotus feet...
They were the first Deities I worshipped when I came to Krishna consciousness in 1985. I fondly remember those days, when Deity worship was my favorite service: dressing little Radha Gokulananda, and putting Them to rest in the evenings - in Their little bed covered with a light blue mosquito net, placing flowers on the blanket over Their lotus feet... And later I also dressed big Radha Gokulananda.
New Gokula is run by a small crew of around 8 dedicated devotees and a few volunteers who live on the property, and some congregational members and helpers living in the nearby little town. Everyone is working hard to keep things afloat.
New Gokula is run by a small crew of around 8 dedicated devotees and a few volunteers who live on the property, and some congregational members and helpers living in the nearby little town. Everyone is working hard to keep things afloat.
Apart from Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda, there are also Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra and Gaur Nitai residing here. And of course, New Gokula also has around 100 cows who stay outside in the pasturing grounds throughout the whole year, with one of them giving milk.
Australia is famous for its variegated, exotic and colorful birdlife: so many different parrots of various bright colors, several kinds of cockatoos with their odd calls, and of course the kookaburra carrying on with his hilarious laughter! Here on the farm we live with them all, and the tinkling of the bellbirds serves as the constant background music throughout the whole day. And above all, the calls of the numerous semi-domesticated peacocks who joyfully and majestically stroll around the whole property. If devotees forget to close the doors to the prasadam room or temple, they eagerly come inside to look for something tasty to pick on...
The peacocks are a popular attraction, especially for the large numbers of Indian visitors. And these beautiful feathered friends are happily posing for the photo sessions, showing off their attractive and colorful splendour...
In the purport to SB 10.21.10, Srila Visvanatha Chakravati Thakura explains the following: "In Vrindavan, the peacocks request Krishna, 'Govinda, please make us dance.' Thus Krishna plays His flute, and they surround Him in a circle and dance in time with the rhythm of His melody. And while standing in the midst of their dancing, Krishna also sings and dances. Then those peacocks, who are fully satisfied with His musical performance, out of gratitude offer for His pleasure their own divine feathers. In the usual manner of musical performers, Krishna gladly accepts these presentations and places a feather upon the turban atop His head. Gentle animals such as deer and doves greatly relish the transcendental entertainment presented by Krishna, and to get a good view they flock to the peaks of hills. Then, as they watch the breathtaking program, they become stunned in ecstasy."
What a beautiful description...! Here in New Gokula, with all the peacocks displaying their beauty, this pastime comes to life...
In the purport to SB 10.21.10, Srila Visvanatha Chakravati Thakura explains the following: "In Vrindavan, the peacocks request Krishna, 'Govinda, please make us dance.' Thus Krishna plays His flute, and they surround Him in a circle and dance in time with the rhythm of His melody. And while standing in the midst of their dancing, Krishna also sings and dances. Then those peacocks, who are fully satisfied with His musical performance, out of gratitude offer for His pleasure their own divine feathers. In the usual manner of musical performers, Krishna gladly accepts these presentations and places a feather upon the turban atop His head. Gentle animals such as deer and doves greatly relish the transcendental entertainment presented by Krishna, and to get a good view they flock to the peaks of hills. Then, as they watch the breathtaking program, they become stunned in ecstasy."
What a beautiful description...! Here in New Gokula, with all the peacocks displaying their beauty, this pastime comes to life...
A couple of days before Janmastami I went to the flower market in Sydney to choose the flowers I wanted to use to arrange the vases for the altar and Srila Prabhupada's Vyasasana. As always, it was the most wonderful meditation to tune my heart into the festival days.
On Janmastami I gave the morning lecture to a small group of devotees and visitors, and from 10pm to 11pm I offered a session entitled "Krishna Meditation", with lots of nectar from the shastra about Krishna's beauty, His flute, the peacocks, etc. Throughout the evening we had a fire yajna, another lecture, abhishek and more kirtan - no entertainment. The mood was sweet and intimate, with devotees and a few Indian bodied visitors coming out from Sydney and Newcastle. I was glad to escape the huge crowds which would come today to every other temple in Australia...!
On Srila Prabhupada's appearance I decorated the Vyasasana early in the morning, and devotees gathered for the standard program, which was sweet and surcharged with deep gratitude to Srila Prabhupada. A day to reflect on our eternal debt to him, rededicating ourselves to sacrificing our life for his mission - from this day on, I am yours, Srila Prabhupada...!
I stayed on for another couple of weeks, working on my book, giving a few classes and associating with the devotees. This project of New Gokula has huge potential, if devotees could offer all these visitors who come every weekend some interesting engagements: a garden cafe, a ride in a bullock cart and various educational tours around the property. One could develop a bit of a "transcendental Disneyland" here...! If such ideas were privatised, then grihasthas could generate some income for themselves, and naturally the community would grow...
On the 2nd of September I flew over to the other side of Australia to visit Perth - a 5-hour flight...
Your servant, Devaki dd
On Janmastami I gave the morning lecture to a small group of devotees and visitors, and from 10pm to 11pm I offered a session entitled "Krishna Meditation", with lots of nectar from the shastra about Krishna's beauty, His flute, the peacocks, etc. Throughout the evening we had a fire yajna, another lecture, abhishek and more kirtan - no entertainment. The mood was sweet and intimate, with devotees and a few Indian bodied visitors coming out from Sydney and Newcastle. I was glad to escape the huge crowds which would come today to every other temple in Australia...!
On Srila Prabhupada's appearance I decorated the Vyasasana early in the morning, and devotees gathered for the standard program, which was sweet and surcharged with deep gratitude to Srila Prabhupada. A day to reflect on our eternal debt to him, rededicating ourselves to sacrificing our life for his mission - from this day on, I am yours, Srila Prabhupada...!
I stayed on for another couple of weeks, working on my book, giving a few classes and associating with the devotees. This project of New Gokula has huge potential, if devotees could offer all these visitors who come every weekend some interesting engagements: a garden cafe, a ride in a bullock cart and various educational tours around the property. One could develop a bit of a "transcendental Disneyland" here...! If such ideas were privatised, then grihasthas could generate some income for themselves, and naturally the community would grow...
On the 2nd of September I flew over to the other side of Australia to visit Perth - a 5-hour flight...
Your servant, Devaki dd
RSS Feed
