Association with H.H.Vedavyasapriya Swami - 2011.

Disciple of HH Vedavyasapriya Swami, Her Grace Jayashri Devi Dasi (of Papua New Guinea) gives an account of her Dham Yatra and association with devotees.

Hare Krishna dear devotees
Please accept my most humble obeisances at your Lotus Feet.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
All glories to Srila Gurudeva.

I am recently back after a very short visit to Sri Rangam and Sri Vrindavan. I was able to participate in the Sri Vaikuntha Ekadasi festival in Sri Rangam after nearly twelve years. The main deity Lord Ranganatha was very opulent, lying in the bed on Adi Shesha fully dressed in pearl garments and pearl jewellery. The Utsava Murthi was beautifully adorned with dress encrusted fully with diamonds and brought to the thousand pillared hall through the Paramapadavasal. The Paramapadavasal is the gate to Vaikuntha and is opened only once a year. Thousands of devotees throng to pass through the Paramapadavasal and have a glimpse of the Lord’s Lotus feet. By Krishna’s causeless mercy I was able to pass through this gate on Vaikunta Ekadasi.

For the nine days after Vaikuntha Ekadasi The Lord was dressed in various outfits depicting different pastimes. Lord Ranganatha was glorious and magnificent. It was great to see the Hare Krishna devotees engage in Harinam Kirtan in and around the temple.

Soon after this I visited Sri Vrindavan for only four days as it is very hard for me to bear the cold. I am still highly body conscious. The moment I came to Radhe Dham and prostrated at the Lotus Feet of Srila Gurudev, I felt very blissful. Soon after we visited the Ashram. I do not have words to describe the beauty of Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundar. They were exquisitely dressed and stood shining in the altar. It is hard to remove one’s eyes off them. Gurudev worked so hard to get The Ashram functioning for the benefit of all of us. All Glories to You Srila Gurudev. You are working tirelessly to serve Krishna. Next what can I say of Lavangalata Mataji under whose care The Divine Couple are showering their mercy on everyone. I seek your blessings so that one day I can also become a sincere and pure devotee like you. I can vividly see that Mataji has nothing in her mind other than Radha and Krishna. They are her only goal, her life and soul. She is so dear to Guru and Krishna. All Glories to you Lavangalata Mataji.

The Mangala Aarthi first at the temple and then at the Ashram the next morning was a spiritual transformation, closed door to all material worries and anxieties. It was wonderful associating with Srila Gurudev. Unfortunately I was not able to serve Him much. I lacked the fighting spirit to fight the chilly weather. On the other hand, what rascal I was to accept so much service from Maharaj. Gurudev made luscious sweets, pizzas and noodles. It was amazing to see Maharaj working hard to serve his disciples. His phones were constantly ringing. Devotees from all over were visiting Him one after the other. Maharaj did not even have a minute’s rest.

We went to the Vrindavan temples with Kavitha Mataji, aspiring God sister from Melbourne. While at Radha Ramana temple, the curtains were closed. We had to wait for nearly 30 minutes. As I was waiting, I was meditating on Lord’s Chaitanya’s visit to the house of Gopala Bhatta Goswami at Srirangam. Why did the Lord specifically instruct Him to come to Sri Vrindavana? Having recently visited Srirangam, I thought to myself, “ Although Ranga Kshetra is so opulent, I could not feel the presence of Srimathi Radharani there. What makes SriVrindavan unique is the presence of Madana Mohana Mohini, who is the centre of all activities. She is constantly engaged in serving the Lord. Sri Krishna is most pleased by Her worship. Sri Krishna never leaves Vrindavana as Srimathi Radharani is always present in Vrindavana engaging in the Lord’s transcendental service. In SriRangam, devotees glorify the Lord as beautiful while in Vrindavan devotees glorify Radharani as beautiful. That is the difference. The Lord is most pleased when Radharani is glorified. As the devotees of Vrindavana are constantly engaged in serving Srimathi Radharani, ecstatic bliss is experienced upon touching the dust of Vrindavana. We were reading Srimad Bhagavatam this morning discussing the reasons for writing Srimad Bhagavatam. One of the realisations was to establish the supreme elevated position of Srimathi Radharani. Hence Lord Caitanya specifically instructed Gopala Bhatta Goswami to come to Vrindavana. I have previously read all of this. I am now understanding this. I know it is a long way to realize these Tatvas.

I am able to say all this due to the causeless mercy of Srila Gurudev who revealed this Dham to me five years ago when he visited Papua New Guinea. He instructed us to visit The Dham in 2007. At that time little did I realize that I will be visiting Vrajabhumi every year and that appreciation would increase with every visit. Maharaj I offer my most bumble obeisances to you again and again and seek your mercy to follow in your footsteps ad take shelter of Srimathi Radharani’s Lotus Feet.

Maharaj has been visiting this tiny land of Papua New Guinea for the last five years. He first came here in 2005 accompanied by His most wonderful disciple. Today there are four initiated devotes here. Maharaj has been so kind to also give us brahminical initiation. Honestly I am finding it hard to live up to Vaishnava principles with very little sadhu sanga here. Maharaj is our only source of inspiration. The congregation here is too small. There is no temple or preaching centre here. We only have Maharaj who is able to win everyone’s heart by his affection, kindness and tolerance. Gurudev’s current instruction is to have a temple here. We are working our best to make this happen. This is the only way to please Him. Not even a blade of grass can move without the sanction of the Lord. What to speak of bringing a temple in Papua New Guinea? We humbly seek the blessings of all the Vaishnavas in our endeavor. This is only possible by the causeless mercy of Maharaj and all the Vaishnavas who are like desire trees.

Please pardon for any offenses in writing this.

Your most insignificant servant in the service of Sri Guru and Gauranga.

Jayashri Devi Dasi