Narrated travelogue of an ISKCON "safari" in Bangladesh (March 24, 2008) by HG Vasudeva Dasa. The narrator documents joining a 120-person Hare Krishna pilgrimage from Mayapur into northern and eastern Bangladesh, describing visits to historical Vaishnava birthplaces (Shrivas, Jagannath-related sites), holy springs (Madav Kund), rural ISKCON temples and farms, morning programs, evening kirtans, speeches (including Jaya Pataka Swami and Morichi Das appearances), shared accommodations and prasadam, and teases a Part Two continuing south to Cox's Bazar and other holy places. The piece mixes on-location description, historical background about Sankirtan/Shri Vas, and devotional atmosphere reporting.
Me daría mucha pena porque no es mi sentimiento. No lo podría. Me da pena no compartir ese criterio con el devoto. Porque para mí no hay sufrimiento en el suffering. No hay suffirmiento en el safari. There is no suffering. On March, twenty fourth, two thousand eight, one hundred and twenty Hare Krishna devotees in three buses left Sri Mayapur in West Bengal. They were heading east toward the Bangladesh border only thirty kilometers away. But my camera and I were left behind in Srimayapur, North Bangladesh. That's where you all are now. Well, yes. High definition filming. I bring the whole gear. I am Vasudeva Das French, born and red now living in Sri Mayapur. I just heard the ISKCON safari Two Thousand Eight has already started a week ago. So I decide to jump on the bandwagon and catch up with it in Bangladesh. Come on, let's go. I am landing in Dhaka. Dhaka is a thriving metropolis much like those in neighboring India. Except for a few minor differences. For instance, the auto richers look like converted motorbikes. And the country seems particularly proud of its cycle richers judging by. That is the very first thing. Air travelers are invited to admire on arrival at the airport. Another difference, more subtle but no less visible is overwhelming. Majority of Muslims compared to Hindus. And again, the majority of these Hindus being Vaishnavas. You end up with men and women inspiringly meek and humble what to speak of the ancestral background of this people. Rupa and Sanatan Goswami, Vasudevadatta and some of the greatest devotees who've ever lived were born and raised in this sacred land. On the overnight coach from Dhaka to Silet, we're passing near Jagannath Mishra and Sachidevi's birthplaces. This is where the safari goers paid their respects a couple of days ago. And so must we for. But a few seconds has a rural temple community nearby. And this is where after a sleepless eighteen hour journey I am happy to join the one hundred twenty international adventurers of this year's safari tour located atop. This hillock is the home of Lord Jagannath which I reached just after daybreak during Japan. To my surprise. Several devotees are only just rising Last night's pantal program I am told went on past midnight. A fairly common thing on safari. Oh, but it looks like Dash and Alti is about to begin. Here we are in remote North Bangladesh and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness features the same familiar morning program as you would have it in any center worldwide. I don't know how many centers have tier tanks quite like this one, though. Time to join in on my first day in Bangladesh, I'm in for a treat. We're on our way to the birthplace of Shivas Kafur. Shivas is Navarra moody incarnation in Gora Lila Lor Cetanya inaugurated his sankirtan movement at Shrivas House and used to sing there every night with his original sankyatan party. Srila Prabhupada spoke of Gadarhar here on the left and Shrivas on the right as Lord Chetanya's devotional energy. The panchatatra mantra itself refers to him, Shrivas Adi, which makes him the leader of chanting devotees worldwide. On the far right of this picture is a massive seven foot high deity of Shivast Hakur. It was installed at Iskcon Mayabur with his hands notoriously folded in prayer to welcome. The foreign visitors local devotees have erected a tent whereas Holiness, Chaipatakaswami and other dignitaries will now address the fervent and packed audience.
This is our safari manager Morichi Dash. And I wonder Safari manager Manichi Dash. Hare Krishna, thank you very much for this wonderful reception. Please, everybody chant. Wow, this is very good. But I think this village they made it louder than the men, and now also the ladies. Okay. Wow, that was very good. Now remains she was like that. I teach it. All right. Just to go over there, got initiated, came back, saw the way, saw Lord Krishna. And when he came back, people were saying that he has some air displaced airs in his brain. He asked sivas and ask your question to my whole riches. Yes, we have a disease and our honors. I actually love that disease that the deeds are. Krishna Prishnapreena. The very rare thing that everyone gets. You should come to my house and do keep time.
To do.
Surviving.
The rest of the story is that after accepting Shrivas keen invitation to sing with but a select few in the holy privacy of his home, Lord Shaytan Yasun took the ecstatic chanting onto the streets for all to take part regardless of one's religious qualification. This is how at the dawn of the sixteenth century, public chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra originated. It became known as Sankt Kirta. It is only after hearing about Shiva Stakur that devotees walk opposite this pond to pay their respects at the exact location of Sribas school and his childhood playground. A few miles down the road is a giant waterfall on a stream running along the country's northern border. This is a holy spring by the name of Madav Kund. Yes, Madhava, like Krishna's deity in Mayapur. While all the travelers are off for a swim, Japata Kaswami is on call for another speech. This one to but a tiny group of jungle dwellers. But no group is too tiny, nor remote for Jaipatakaswami's preaching appetite. I hear he wants admitted he was completely addicted to preaching. Are Christian Devon Prophet Achak Jo Ashak Shivas Kakure. Over there. All right now. So much for the fun. After the discourse, their guru wrapping his sacred thread around his thumb shifts the disciples spirit from jest to meditation. ¿How do you feel, Maharaj? I feel very ecstatic and cool down in the cool waters of Marubakunda. Back on the road, we admire unusual hills covered in tea shrubs. The safari buses had to drop off the travelers on a country road five kilometers away from tonight's accommodation. Everyone got on smaller conveyances or on foot to reach an iskcon farm. Situated deep in the countryside near the small town of Kulra, there are quite a few acres of fertile land with healthy cows grazing on it. A solid temple structure has just been built to house, one of the most exquisite set of jagannath deities I have ever seen. By the way, it's prasadam time. Yes, at last, so you'll have to excuse me. And by the way, I was just told this tent is going to be everyone's shared accommodation for the night. And yes, that includes the mosquitoes, so you may call it austerity or sleeping rough. If sleeping at all. That is. Good morning. Some of us did survive the night sleepless or otherwise. And for those who didn't, there is chopper time in the morning bus to recoup. After a seemingly endless ride all south, my attention is suddenly drawn to a truckload of chanting devotees in front of our bus. I am moved upon learning. This is a chanting party that has been sent to Cheera's courtesy, the temple of our next destination. We arrive there around mid afternoon. Kumila is a big town of East Bangladesh, so I can't wait to attend one of the safari's larger evening programs, which I've heard were rather intense. And it's good news on the accommodation. Side this time, an entire four storied hotel has been booked exclusively for a safari lot. Last night is forgiven, but the headache begins for the lady who is waving. She is Sava Shakti Mataji, whose job it is to feed each and all in rooms of two to five persons. I said a four storied hotel, not five stars. Although I do find the three D flaky artwork on the wall rather interesting. Well, let's assume you viewers are as anxious as I am to get to the stage program without further ado. Here it is starting with Bhakta Atoll from Russia whom you've already met. This is all very nice, you might say, but we long to hear that sweet traditional Bengali style kirtan. Yes, I retort request, granted. Kirtaniya mukti data prabhu, take it away. I don't know about you. But filming tonight's event has already filled me with the kind of inner bliss and exhilaration that requires nothing more. And yet, this is one of those moments of spiritual high yet craving for more. It seems as though the Russian Tirtan Band is now rising to a sort of self affirming challenge to show Bangladesh the potency of their Slavic style kirta. I say, let's give their devotional greed a chance and be ready to fly along. You were just watching Part one in our series No Suffering on Safari. The three kirtans were edited down to six minutes out of an original three hours itself out of a four, five hour, long evening program which has many other interesting features. ¿Should you wish to stay with us in Bangladesh for more adventures? Our safari tour continues in Part Two, which will take us all the way south. We will travel to Feni and to one of the world's largest sand beaches at Cox Bazaar in the Chittagong area. We will discover Major Holy Places, including Vndarik Dam and the birthplace, and Bajan Kut of two famous brothers, Gundadatta and Basadev Data. See you all there. Thank you for watching our videos. Be sure to subscribe to our channel. We publish new videos every day. And don't forget to like and share our channel.
