Safari 1st Day in Govardhan 2024

I know Bengali devotees back there. Can Prabhu leading. Prabhu, raise your hand. Who is leading the group? He's outside. He needs to be here. You're also part of the leader, so it's the two of you. But Prabhu needs to be here also. It's important. Okay. She can help also because she speaks English. And she can always assist in the Russian group. Okay. So English speaking devotees from Europe and from North America. We need a leader for ladies and one leader for men. Who is this? Raise your hand. Hare Krishna Mataji. Thank you. And for men, Madame Mohan Prabhu. Okay, so you have a leader.

Please.

Leaders should always be watching. Making sure your group is together. That you know where you're going. Don't stay behind. This is very important. Okay. And buses. Remember there will be buses sometime. Maybe if you have enough 40 people then one bus for North America and Europeans. English speaking.

Okay?

But if you have only 20, you will be sharing maybe with another 20. Because buses are about 40, 45 devotees. Okay? Please remember which is your bus? What color license plate. So you go and come back to your own bus. If anybody gets sick, leaders should know. So l can go back to Marichi or myself. So that we can find a doctor. I know we have some doctors here. Rohini Ekarani. Who else is Dr. Rohini Ekarani? Both ladies are doctors over here. Prabhuk. What is your name? Bakhtadan is also doctor. So we have doctors you can consult. They can help. Hopefully nobody will get sick. But already we have one devotee a little sick with fever. So please, if anybody gets sick, you tell your leader. Leader will connect with the doctors to help you. Okay. Or with Marichi or myself. Okay. Okay. Madreson. Okay. Maybe 25. 20. Okay. Okay. Then we have Chinese devotees. Are there any Chinese devotees?

One.

Prabhu from China. Only one or there other Chinese? Maybe five. Okay. Maybe Chinese devotees can get together with the Latino bus. If it's only five, then you can always load and unload from the same bus. Maybe. Okay.

We.

We're talking about Malaysia now. Can everybody from Malaysia. Okay. This is the big one. You have a full bus for sure. Okay. And please make sure you all know each other. Help each other. Sometimes it's good to change the WhatsApp number. This is a very good idea. Who's the leader for ladies? Okay, doctor, you have Dr. Seva. And you're leading the ladies. Thank you Mataji for your service. And for men, can you stand up, Prabhu, so that everybody can see You Malaysia man leader. Okay. So please, it's the same. You take care of your devotees. Watch that they always get on the bus. They then don't get lost. Whatever they need, they need to go to bathroom sometime. Okay. All right. And who are we missing here in the center? India. Okay. We're missing India. Bengali and men. Okay. So we have about 10 Indian men sitting. 10, 12. Oh, back there is more. 3, 5, 10. So maybe 20. Okay. And ladies. Okay. Full safari registration only please. Full safari register only. 3, 6, 10. So about 15 ladies, 20 men. You have a full bus. India. Okay. There will be more devotees coming. So there will be more devotees from Russia. There will be more devotees from Europe and North America. There will be more devotees from India. More devotees from Malaysia. There's a few more devotees coming tomorrow. So you know that your group maybe one, two, three more people extra. Okay. All right. So please, if you have any questions about service in leading your group, you can come to me. I will help you. Okay. Anything you need, Marichi. Okay. So we. I know we have the bands to give you today.

Also.

This is very humble request. Anybody who's still missing payment for full safari registration, please you come now. We need you to fulfill the payment today after the meeting. Okay. Thank you. Where is Marichi? The chairs have come. There's chairs for anybody who needs. I know we have your wristbands. And I know we also have a special gift for all of you. So please wait for a few minutes.

It.

Thank you for reminding me, Prabhu. Sometimes I forget. So Indians don't have group leader. Ladies, please. I need one lady group leader. She must speak English.

Please.

Okay. Thank you. What is your name? Arty ati. Thank you. So she's going to be the group leader. Okay. And man Prabus. What is your name? Prabhu.

I can't hear it.

What? Did he say something? Madaba Subarna Swana Swarna Madhava. Okay. Prabhu, can you stand up? So this is the man group leader. Yeah. Singapore can be with Malaysia, no problem. Malaysia there.

Yes.

To join.

You join the group you want.

Okay. It.

Life. Okay. Up to you. Life. Okay. Hare Krishna Jai. So thank you. Sarvashakti Mataji. For one of our organizer members. They have a few. I don't know whether is Adigopi Mataji here. Okay. But you know all Adigopi already because you got your rooms from her. She is actually very hardworking. Adigopi Mataji. She was born in Uruguay. Okay. But she lives in Spain. She's. We call her the. The fire dance, she do fire dance for living, you know. And when we do stage programs, our Guru Maharaj, His Holiness Jayapataka Swami, told her also that she can do fire dance on the stage. We have on the safari, we having many stage programs also. The stage programs are very, very good for preaching and also very good for all of us to watch. So we will have also some small stage programs here also. Maybe we do for a few minutes in the evenings. We have some stage programs for the pleasure of all of the Vaishnavas. And in Vrindavan also, we're going to do for the public some stage programs. So we request you also if you are asked to participate, if you want to be part of any drama, we need some volunteers to be part of dramas or musicals, or if you have any talents you want to, you know, to play any instrument or to sing like that. In this particular safari, it's a bit different because we focus more on the installation of the footprints of Lord Caitania. This is the main focus. So we have to sleep early to wake up early. When I came here in December, I came to this place for the first time. I came to see the place because we were finalizing the bookings. We booked this place one year before, actually. But I come to view the place. And when devotee I remember, he tell me, he said, oh, Marici, he said, Vrindavan means Mongol Arctic. That's what he told me. Because in Vrindavan we have to have a very spiritual conscience. It's very important. You wake up early morning Mongol Arti chant. Nice your Japa, you can chant extra Japa also here in Vrindavan, nice place to chant and. And engage in any service. Don't give chance to the mind, you know, to fly away from Vrindavan. Just focus in chanting, in hearing in all the nine process of devotional service. So this safari, you see, as I told you, it's a bit different. We focus in the footprints, installations of Lord Caitania. And what happened tomorrow, you see, we want to reach Darshan Arctic in Krishna Balaram Mandir. Okay? So we can have the, you know, the Darshan of the deities. We were installed by Srila Prabhupada. There was, who was a gargamoni in Vrindavan? He was giving a class. And after his class, he was asking, anybody know why Srila Prabhupada installed Krishna Balaram in Vrindavan, you know, as the main deity? This is the Krishna Balaram Mandir. They have Radhasyama Sundar, you know, but you know, all the Goswami temples, all the temples are, you know, all Radhakrishna. Radhakrishna. But this is the Krishna Balaram Mandir. Why so many devotees start giving answers? This answer, that answer no, because Krishna Balaram this or that, you know. But he said they're all good. But none of them is the real answer. He said the reason why Srila Prabhupada installed Krishna Balaram is to introduce Nitai Gauranga here in Vrindavan, you know. You know Krishna Balaram is Nitai Goranga. So this is very special for us, you know, because you see, this is the dream also the desire of Srila Prabhupada that Nitaigo Auranga to be known also here in Vrindavan. Everybody comes to Vrindavan. We also can, you know, we have to know that we all. Today we have Darshan of the holy places in. In Vrindavan only by the blessings of Lord Gauranga. When Lord Gauranga came here, devotees, they didn't even know where the Radhakunda is. They didn't know it was Lord Gauranga who rediscovered the Radhakunda. And there are footprints of Lord Chaitana installing Radhakunda, you know, by his Holiness Jayapatthakaswami with, you know, ISKCON leaders and sannyasis, some of the Goswamis of Vrindavan they came was a big event to remember him. But Lord Caitanya visit many, many places here. We going to hear also in this safari of the lilas of Lord Caitanya in Vrindavan or the places that he visit. There is one devoted Achintyanitai Prabhu. Is he here? Achintyanithai? Oh, he. He's been doing some research, you know, on this. And then we have some surprise for you. So we can, in the evenings sometimes we can show you of the journey of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu to Vrindavan and the places that he visited when he came here. This is like a. This is something amazing. Once you start hearing about it, you don't want to stop. So you see, when I come to Mayapur for the first time to India. Actually for South Americans, very difficult to come to India because the tickets are so expensive. And you know, we are temple devotees. We don't like to take even for our. Even at that time I was a temple president in one temple in each Ecuador. But I didn't wanted to use Krishna's money for my ticket. Actually, you know, we feel, you know, everything we do is for the temple. So my Parents helped me for the tickets to come for the first time in India after many years. I came in 1989 and when we arrived in Vrindavan, sorry, we arrived in Delhi at that time. It was an old, old Iskcon temple where they had the Radha Parthasarati temple. Now they have a huge one, very beautiful. That time was a smaller temple. And when Prabhupada disciple coming with us, Dharmananda Prabhu, he told us even Vrindavan was so close. He said, no, no, no, we're not going to Vrindavan now. First we go to Mayapur and then after you get the blessings from Lord Caitanya in Mayapur, we get the blessings from Mayapur dam, then we enter Vrindavan. He was saying, sometimes also very important, if you come to Vrindavan, you get the blessings from your guru. Very important. You know, coming to Vrindavan is the most, you know, holy place, you know, in the entire spiritual universe. What to tell about the material universe. This is not an ordinary place. This is the most holy place. So that's why we need this. We need to come with the very humble states of mind in the service attitude. Also. We're going to be here for many days. So we would like to take advantage every day. We would like to get to know each other more. You see here they have few chairs. These chairs are for you, okay? Empty chairs. But at one point you will come here to these chairs here. We want you to share things. To share something about you, to tell something, you know, sometimes we will do sharing sessions. Okay? It's very good to know about how to say devotees life, you know, we have amazing devotees in this safari. Actually, they're doing so nice service. We want to get to know each other more. Also we have two disciples of Srila Prabhupada in safari. No, no, we have more. Actually, no, we have three, four, five, six. No, actually we have about 10 actually. But at this precise moment we have four. I think if I have more, we have the two Maharajas and his guys. Soma Prabhu is here. Oh, Soma Prabhu. Hare Krishna and his guys, Bhagavatamrita Prabhu is here. Okay, so you see, I would like to. You see, we will all have the chance to share things. But today, just as a small session will be more sessions with Soma Prabhu to share more things. But I kindly request Soma Prabhu to come. If you can come, I would like to share at least to share one Leela when he met Srila Prabhupada or when he got initiation from Srila Prabhupada, you know. So not only me, all of you can hear some nectar, you know, we know Sila Prabhupada through them. Actually, a very loud haribol to some of. One more, please. I think you can do better. Thank you so much. You can share us some nectar from Sila Prabhupada.

Hare Krishna Vanjakalpa Kripa Sindhu Vievich. So anyways, it's a great honor and privilege for me to be here in your association. It's very spiritually enlivening, especially to see so many devotees, so many serious, wonderful devotees from all different countries. I've been requested to talk about when I first met Rla Prabhupda and how I got my name. So the very first time that I saw Srila Prabhupda was at the airport in Boston. And we had been preparing the temple for a long time for Srila Prabhupada's arrival. A lot of stories about that, but I'm not going to get into take too much time now. But anyways, I first saw him at the airport. He arrived at that time. He would step off the plane and go down the stairs and walk across the Runway. And as soon as Rla Prabhupda came out on the steps, everybody was just in ecstasy. And they just threw their hands up and said haribo. And even though we were behind glass and nobody could hear us out there, Rla Prabhupda looked up at us and saw us there. So that was wonderful. And he came into the airport. We had kirtan put some garlands on him. He had a car waiting for him to take him to the temple. And for me, you know, I had been serving in the temple for, I don't know, seven months or so, finally getting to have a personal darshan of Rla Prabhupada. It was so wonderful. But then he got in the car and he drove off and we were all left at the airport. And I was, you know, we wanted to follow Rla Prabhupda and be there at the temple with him. But we got stuck at the airport. You know, the person that drove the van had parked the van far away. He had to go get it. And I really distinctly remembering the Szekastaka verse where it says, you know, one moment is like 12 years or more. Because finally seeing Rla Prabhupada, then we couldn't go with him. But finally we came back to the temple, but that was traumatic for me. And even though I had some opportunities, I never went to the airport again to greet rla Prabhupada. I always waited at the temple.

And.

I'm glad I did. Anyways, when I was time for me to get initiated, RLA Prabhupda. That day, there was about 10 of us who got first initiation. There was also a fire sacrifice and didi installation, Radha Gopi Bhallava in Boston. And it was July 19, 1971. So I was very, very nervous. And Rla Prabhupda called me up. I paid my obeisances in front of rla Prabhupda. And I was kneeling on the floor, kneeling right in front of him. And he asked me, you know, how many rounds do you chant? I said, 16. What are the four regulative principles? And I can remember being so nervous, but I said them all and I got them right. And I felt a little relief that I didn't mess that up. So then he had the beads, and he was giving me the beads. And he said, so your name is Soma Das. Das. He said, soma means the moon. And when he said soma means the moon, I was kneeling in front and I was thinking, the moon. You know, I thought we were supposed to get names like Krishna Das of some sort of. So I was really bewildered. And then I thought, oh my God, Prabhupada is rejecting me. And so then I really started to feel like I was going into a deep hole that I couldn't get out of. I was getting rejected. But so then I looked up at Rla Prabhupda's face and he just smiled. And it was like everything else, you know, went away. Just had this huge smile, and he was looking right at me. And you know that he can read your mind and see everything within you. He knows everything about you, your whole past existence. And rla Prabhupada just smiled and he said, you are moonlight. So then everybody went, jai. And finally I paid my obeisances and I had been accepted by rla Prabhupda. And I can remember just feeling so wonderful about that. And that's how I got my name. And the very next person behind me to get initiated was my godbrother Sudas. And Prabhupada did the same thing with everybody. He asked them how many rounds they chant. What are the four regatta principles? And so as he was handing my godbrother Sudas the beads, he said, so your name is Sudas. Sudas means very nice servant of Krishna. Do you understand? And he shook his head no. And so Prabhupada took the beads back and he said, so do you want to be or don't you? And of course he said, yes, Srila Prabhupada. And then Prabhupada gave him the beads. But it was a very wonderful, intimate kind of time with Srila Prabhupada joking with them like that. Do you want me to go on or is this good enough for today? I have many more.

So unfortunately, the wife. Your wife went to Brindavan. His wife have gone to Vrindavan for some diligence he has to do there. But I know his wife, Vijaya Radha Mataji. She have come to safari many times. How many safaris you have come, Prabhu?

I think five. This is number five for me. But she's been like 20 something. Yeah.

Maybe one one pastime on safari. Something that happened or where you went, Something.

I just remember it was such a wonderful time going on safari. I can't think of anything particular, but I was always very well taken care of. Everything, you know, went relatively smooth. I remember Jayapataka Maharaj would come when we were at certain places. And he'd always be also very concerned that everything was well organized and everyone was taken care of. He had that really wonderful mood of taking care of the devotees, which we should all have. So that's what I remember most. It was just, you know, really wonderful, taken care of. And it was just a transcendental time.

Thank you, Prabhu. Thank you so much, Prabhu. So thank you, Prabhu. Hare Krishna. So now I would like to invite one of our. This mic. Still cannot have to. We need this mic actually. Okay, now we're going to invite one of our biggest supporters of the Vrindavan Safari. The first one to subscribe. Almost one year before he said, prabhu, we go in Vrindavan Safari. I will be there. Sign me in. This is Sila Prabhupada disciple, His Grace Bhagavatam Vrita Prabhu. I want to invite him with his good wife, Paripurna Ananda Mataji. Come, come. His grace Bhagavatamita Prabhu. He was born in Brazil. He's American, he's Indian, he's Malaysian, he's from Korea. He's from every place. You may think he has traveled the.

World.

Many, many times and always preaching. I know that he and his good wife, they are, you know, connecting thousands of People to Krishna conscience every month, you know, thousands of them, you know, they have a system, you know, they contacting. So they are. They are preachers, you know, they are really like warriors in this Sankirta movement. It's an honor for us, for them to be with us and then. Prabhu, the floor is yours. Prabhu, anything you'd like to tell?

Wrong question.

Okay.

Hare Krishna Jaisla. Prabhupada. So this is our second. Our second safari. Of course, I see other safaris going on. I used to participate in the meetings in Mayapur. And then somehow last year who went to safari last year who was last year to Patna. Oh, the good place. Yes. So it was a fantastic. It was a fantastic safari for many reasons. But one of the reasons I just found out about the Patna temple. You know, Patna temple is a temple. I don't know. Personally, I think it's as big as Bombay. Nobody even know exists, right? It's a beautiful temple, beautiful deities, guest house. Very nice place. So we become very. At that time, me and my wife were very, how do you say? Impressed. Then we went to see Bodh Gaya and we did pinda ceremony. Pinda ceremony. I remember as a Brahmachari, I visit Bodh Gaya. We passing through, always distributing books. At that time in Bihar. So this time we went there, we had. Was that 120. Sorry. 150 pindas done, you know, in the place. Families, people doing for the brother, sister, the partner, souls, family members. We do it pinda, you know, 150 Jagas going on. And Pujari, you know, is going crazy. Tried to manage the whole thing, but we did good. And they had this balls of flower, right? Was the little balls of flowers. They gave like each one like 20 or something, you know. And each ball is one departed soul. You change, some mantra goes in the ball or something like that, you know, as far as I could understand, you know, that's. So it was a beautiful ceremony. Because see, with devotees we don't do this. We change Hare Krishna and Krishna take care of everything. But it was nice to actually do this in association the devotees. So it was fun. So then we took those flower balls and everybody carrying this, we went to the Bodh Gaya, which is open in the. Is in the floor. And this beautiful lotus feet of Lord Vishnu is there and has a little border around and all chanting mantras and people coming and throwing some water, Ganga water or whatever it was. And so we have to go and take those balls. That is the mantra with the name of the departed souls. And we put there in the feet of the Lord. Right? We did that. And while I was there, I said I came here to. Last time I was a Brahmachari. I. I was very shy and just go and touch a little bit in the border like this. But this time I said no shame. So I went there. I spread myself on the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu. I get this mercy right now. And Bah. And I don't know, some. Some pundits in there. I think they got surprised. But I got away with it. And the point is, when you see the mercy, you take it. Because you don't know what if it's going to be around the second time. So that is the lesson learned. What has to be done, you do immediately. Because Auspicious Subhasya Sigram. What's auspicious? You do immediately. Just like I heard is coming. He's coming here to. When I hear the next one's going to be Brindavan and Govardan, it's like, you know, double yammy. We're very happy, me and my wife said. Because, you know, even though it's a little bit austere here Vrindavan is. I understand it's a little bit more tricky than Mayapur, you know, Mayapur. I know everything is going on in there. But Vrindavan, it's been a long time since I came here. Last time also I was in the Sanctan party. The streaming books. Actually, I remember I got my parents in here. They came to visit. I brought them to Vrindavan. I even brought them to Radhakunda. My parents sight to see. Anyway, there was so much fun having the mercy of the Lord. So you grab this mercy. Because at the end, you see, the wonderful thing is that we're doing this all together, you know. That is the fun. You see, this is a great association of the devotees. And each devotee is special. I see. They're going. They're taking Prashada. They're taking a certain way. Everybody has the little things, you know. And devotees are wonderful people. All of them. All of you. Should I keep going? So this is a beautiful opportunity. This is a very nice place. I didn't even know existed. And who is this? Who owns this place? Very nice. Nice, huh? You like the place? Good. Yeah, Prasada was good. It's not good. Tell me. And one thing I like about Safari is that I see a completely different. This is. He's like a sado, you know, I bang him up like anything. I hit him in the head. Metaphorically speaking. You know, I called yesterday about the bus, you know. You know Prabhuji, we trying to solve this problem. Prabhuji. And I was. And he was. Yes, yes, you are right. We should have done like this, like that. He's a perfect example of a sadhu, you know, under stress. That's why he's so skinny. He takes so much abuse. But it's a transcendent abuse because I just want to see his transcendental qualities to come up. You know, I never angry with this guy. It's amazing. Okay, so thank you Papaji. And last year was like 150 people, right? The safari. No, today is 300 this time plus more people will come. So there is the Matajis in here. They're here, Right there. Thank you Matas. All of you. Wonderful service they're doing. I know it's not easy. Somehow each one of us were a bit of a managers in here. We managed something families, we manage our business. And you know, to be what we are doing, what we're doing is not an easy thing. So always be very kind to people managing this. Even though they're not smiling all the time. And this will be good. Any. Any questions?

Thank you.

I ask all of you to bless. Bless me and my wife to, you know, to maintain the pace of Krishna consciousness. We're not getting any younger so we want to do a lot of seva, all the devotees and please bless us for our service. Thank you so much.

So when Mataji who is there? Who is Ma? Maybe we call one Mataji from Malaysia. Maybe Shanti Rupa Mataji, can you please come and tattoo a bit? Prabhu Tatva Prabhu, can you please come Just sit down here. Okay? Okay. Hare Krishna, come here. Shanti rupamataji devidasio. Dr. Shadirupamataji. She's one of the senior doctors of our Guru Maharaj. His Holiness Sri La Jayapatakaswamy for many years. And also she is, how to say, one of the pioneers devotees starting Krishna consciences in Malaysia. Since the very very, very early 80s. 1881. Ladies, when there was no temple in Malaysia. The programs when his Holiness Jaya Pataka used to come at that time they were at her home. And some initiation program they will take care take place in the garden. And then we have only one Sannyasi disciple. Actually how many Malaysians have proper disciples? Two or one total Malaysian Prabhupada disciples. Yeah. There is only one Malaysian Prabhupada disciple that he took Sannyasi from His Holinesswamy at that time. Which year? It was 1983. No, in 1983. Two Sannyasi in her garden. His holy name Bhakti Brajendrananda Naswami Maharashki. This Sannyas is so humble. He left already a few years ago to go look up Vrindavan. Our Guru Maharaj used to say that he never met a person as humble as Maharaj. He's so pure that many times when he comes to his room in Mayapur, he will tell me, you please touch the lotus feet of His Holiness Bhakti Brajendranandanaswami. And then he's so humble, he will not like me to touch. So he. He will. Will. Will move when he move. And from the back my Guru Maharas will come and he will touch the lotus feet of Bhakti and Swami. So he will feel so embarrassed, you know. And then he will try to touch his feet and they will fight each other inside the room, you know, to see who can touch each other. Lotus feet. Very sweet Lilas. Okay, I would like her to say a few words also. She have cunning safaris before. I wish. Here you come. Your first safari.

Guru Nama Om Vishnupadaya Krishna Prashtaya Bhutali Shrimati Bhakti Vedanta Swaminithinamini Namaste Saraswati Devi Gauravani Pracharine Nirvasesha Shunyavadi Paschatiyade Shatarine Mukam Karoti Vachalam Phangundegirim Yatkrapa Tamaham Vande Sri Guru Dina Tarinam Paramanandammadavam Sri Chaitanya Ishwaram Vanchakalpa Turubi Aschakrapa Sandhubayevaja Pathitanam Pavanebyo Vaishnavyo Namo Namah Hare Krishna. I really did not expect this call. So anyway, I'm happy that I got this opportunity to speak something about this safari. My last safari. I'm not sure about the year, but I also just attended the safari in Vrindavan the last time. When was that you all went to Dwaraka and all that?

2006 or 07.

2006 or 7? At that time I just took this opportunity because I've never seen Guru Maharaj in a Vrindavan mood. So I thought I must take that opportunity. So despite many busy schedules, I somehow just came for five, five days I think. In Vrindavan a few of us attended the safari and it Was a very, very nice experience to be at that time in 2006. So this time when Marichi Prabhu said that he is going to Vrindavan for safari, I wanted to experience the same experience as before, you know, it was so nice. So I thought I must not lose this opportunity. That despite a lot of health problems, I said, I will definitely attend the safari somehow. So we. We are very, very happy with this setup. Very nice accommodation. And the way we see even the first day, we know that the organization is being very organized, you know, very organized. They're doing things. And we are very grateful to the team for so much of. It's not easy. It is not at all easy to do this, this program, you know, for some, for two weeks we have to be together and in different places. This is definitely a marathon task. And we all have to somehow work cooperately and help each other. Like how Sarva Shakti Mataji was saying. And definitely we are going to have a wonderful time. Hare Krishna.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. Shanti Rupa Mataji Haribold, please come. Your wife Mataji. Come also. Who translating for? For him. Who can translate? Somebody can bring Chintamani. Can you bring the chair? We have a Hare Krishna Vada Manapada Prabhu Madhavapriya Mataji. They have come to safari many times also. How many times? Prabhu Safari. Hare Krishna Prabhuji. One more mic. Mic. One, one mic. While we waiting for the mic, you see, I saw Prabhu in Ukrainia. No one man show preaching, you know, he have a car with a Jagan and the sticker he has Prabhupada Jagannath. He has the books. And he along singing with the harmonium. And the people walking on the snow, you know. You know, so cold, you know. Minus 20, minus 30, you know. And he just preaching like this. People listen. The Mahamantra, whoever comes, you know, they also have some carters and mendangas. They can also play with him, you know. And he distributes in the books. And with his good wife they do the preaching. Very, very nice, you know, in these insulated places. No, they are going there and preaching. And then he sing very nice. His voice very strong. And people walking. Wow. From very far they can hear the Harinam of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu devotees. Hare Krishna. Yes, this is better. And then we can request him. First you sing one Mahamandra Pru, sing for everyone, please.

And before safari, they distribute in cd and they have the picture of alligator and Marichi.

Prabhu.

Because it was Ganga safari. And as you know, Ganga is traveling on crocodile. And I was a bit afraid because crocodile was so big and Marichi Prabhu was so small. And I was thinking, where are we going to? What we are going to do with those crocodiles. There were around 150 devotees from 42 different countries. And I remember that we came with safari to Siliguri. And they have grand opening of the new temple in at that time. And when we came by buses, first of all they asked Matajis to carry Ganga on their heads. But then they said they won't do this because they have so many so far to go with the gang. And I decided to give to each devotee from different countries the flag of their country. And I went to make a photograph on my Zenit camera. And I stopped and I saw the elephant and start making picture of this elephant. The temple president came up to me with one man from administration. They gave me the flag of India in my hands. And they said that now you have to climb on this elephant. And I didn't know what is going on. So I thought, okay, I will climb on this elephant and will stay there for 10, 12 minutes. But two and a half hours I have to ride on this elephant. And I was waving the Indian flag, riding on the elephant. And I was chanting the mantra. And people, they throw coins, they throw candies at me and they give me some water to drink. And I felt like a king on the elephant. If Krishna wants, you know, to make someone great, you can feel this. And Prabhu saw that it's only by mercy of Guru Maharaj I'm riding here on the elephant. And when we came up to the temple, elephant was very smart. Before going to temple, elephant want to pass too. And devotees start screaming, why are you pushing? Why you pressing this elephant? You see what he is doing now press him anymore. And then this procession go on. When we came up to the Siliguri temple, the gates were opened. And I saw. I saw myself on the big TV screen riding on the elephant, coming inside the gates of the temple. And simultaneously with thousands of devotees. He went by nearby like big, big sheep. And thousands of devotees following him. And from the other side, the Gopal Krishna Maharaj with the same thousands of devotees come from the other side. And it looks like two ships that get it. Then they take elephant aside. And then men from administration came up to me and asked, please give me back the flag. I said, no, no, it's a present. It's A gift I. I will not give you back. I will take it back to my country. Please, please give back. Because we have only one. You can take this French flag. For any other country you can take I half an hour we discuss. And of course I have to give them this flag back. When I came down from the elephant, there was a big kirtan going on. Indian devotees were while dancing and they around me. And I was almost lose my consciousness. For me it was such a great Samskara. Another safari we went to Jagannath Point was swimming in the ocean. And we went with them together. We all together taking bus in the ocean. And then he left. I was a quite young devotee. And I decided to take bath by myself in the ocean. And I a little bit swim away. And then I saw a big, big wave coming onto me. And as soon as I take a breeze and this big wave just press me. And I felt like it pretty much press me to the button and then just put me out. Then I can make only one breeze and then another knockdown from the other side. And then I was thrown to the shore. And I remember the verse where Krishna said that among the different rivers and lakes on the ocean. And I remember that before I entered the ocean I didn't pay my obeisances to it. That's why, please. If you go into ocean, before you go in there, you pay your basins. And this is. There are two stories that shows that you can be. Krishna can rise you. Our Krishna can make you feel that you are just a piece of sand or piece of grass. Last story I want to tell about Ramakeli. We went with Guru Maharashtra. And then we went to the river named Cauvery. And it is not so much water there. And Gurmaraj, he lay down in this river and we start bathing him. And immediately we start taking this water and drinking it. Of the lectures in one of the class, Gurmaraj said that mercy is all around us. Please feel this mercy. And then you can take it. This mercy we can get through our spiritual masters. And by the mercy of the. By the association with the devotees. And I'm very grateful to Marichi Prabhu because he's given this mercy to all the devotees.

Thank you, Hare Krishna.

Dear devotees.

I'm the second time on the safari. The first time I was last year on the safari. This is my second time I felt such an actor. Because I was participating in all the stage program, in all dramas that I could participate. And because safari is not easy. And I had a fever. But still I have to surrender myself. And I was participating and I was playing the Gopi and dance on the stage. And then I was almost dying. But I have such a big impression that. And I felt such a nectar that I want more and more and more.

Hare Krishna.

Hare Krishna.

Thank you, Madhavapriya. Thank you, Madhavapriya. Thank you, Hare Krishna. So now we're going to change continent and we're going to another continent. Maybe we should go to South America. What do you think? Who is from South America? Where is Manjari? Mataji here. Where is Manjari? Don't understand Madri man. She came. I remember when I came first Safari 19 1989. She also was there, I think. But she came for the Bangladesh safari many times. She and the husband, Guru Mangal Prabhu, who is a temple president in Guayaquil, Ecuador for the past how many years? 32 years, 33 years. They are carrying out the service there. And they have a very, very successful food for life program which I admire very much, you know, very much. They do food for life. They started doing food for life in. In the guasma we call now this is the. The, how you say, upside, the city, you know, where the poor areas are there where nobody want to go because it's very dangerous area that they go in with the prasada. They start doing harinam and then don't need, don't need to bring plates. Now the people will come from the poor houses with the plates and pots and then they will give prashada to them. And also they do in the schools and in the cities. And now they very well organized. They doing outside our temple, in the city center, in the parks, everywhere. They distribute thousands of plates of prasada every year. So this is one of the programs I admire very much. So I want her to say something today about her experiences. So her name, full name is Manjari Saki David Asi. My God. Sister Haribol.

It's a surprise for me that Marici called me to speak. I'm not very good at public speaking, but I want to remember my Guru Maharaj. In my first safari. I think was like five devotees.

Marichi, Dharmananda, Divya.

So we were on safari and people, some people had to walk for many, many miles just to come and meet and hear the preaching of the safari.

Means.

So this is in Bangladesh. So it was so popular that the Doris would paint will make these big, like big signs on the roads. And on the signs you could hear, you could see safari stage program, special Guest Marici, Prabhu from Argentina, Divya from Italy, Everything in Bengali, big advertising. And Guru Maharaj would really enjoy when the Spanish or other countries will speak Spanish or any other language and then it will have to be translated into English and then from English to Bengali. He really enjoyed that.

And Don says.

This will captivate people's mind. It will catch their attention. And sometimes we'll have these stage programs that will last until 2 o' clock in the morning. Will preach in Bengali. And I, I didn't understand Bengali. I could only follow on those words like Krishna prabhupada, but these are the only words I could have understand. But Guru Maharaj was so ecstatic. His energy was so big, so, so intense that I was listening to him, like if I was understanding everything he said, sometimes even up to 2 o' clock in the morning. So sometimes I will sit and wait and stay with him until o' clock in the morning. I will look around and it will be me. And it will be no other foreign devotee. It was only Bengali devotees. So like today, those were very difficult days. Like today, for example, we can travel in AC bus and. But in those days, we used to travel in this big truck that was all enclosed, like a big white refrigerator. So it had a very, very small window and it was high up and it would be on the side where Gurmas would sleep in the car. There were long journey. And I remember one time when Guru Maharash went up the stage and he was by himself, none of us were there accompanying. And then he started calling us on the mic in Spanish and he would say in Spanish, calling all of us, you all are smash. Please come up. Come up and, and come with me. So we all ran to this, to the stage program. Marici was out and on the stage. Gurumas will be calling, Marici, where are you? Please come. So Marici came from the little huts that we were staying at near the stage program. He came, he came running to the stage and then he disappeared again. There was a rug in the stage and there was a hole underneath the rug, and Marici just fell through. So Guru Maharaj kind of smiled, but then Marichi just came up and said, I'm fine. I'm. I'm here, I'm here. Guru Maharajas, Historia mi. So, like these many stories, very beautiful stories that I keep in my heart. And I'm happy to be here with all of you, with all my friends from Chile also. This is an incredible program that Guru Maharaj really enjoys very much. I'm very grateful. So very grateful to Marici and to all the staff, all the teams that are organizing this safari for all of us in a very loving way.

I remember those pandas. It's true. When the pandemic public will like when they have a multiple translations. So because it's a Bengali public. So Manjari Saki. I will say Manjarisaki. English Janina. Bengali Janina. Sudo. Spanish Janine. So wow. Everybody was very surprised that she cannot speak. Speak English. Cannot speak Bengali. So what she speak now we speak now she speak another language now. This is from. From South America. And our Guru Madas will. Will explain. No, now we're going to translate from Spanish to English and from English to Bengali. And everybody. Sometimes you find like 30, 40,000 people. We say, Harry, they were very happy, you know, very simple villager people. But in Bangladesh, one thing happened in Bangladesh, you know, the, the Indian popular Hindu population is small. Maybe to say 15% of the population or maybe 20 is mainly Islamic population in Bangladesh. But from the Hindus in Bangladesh, hundred percent are Vaishnavas. They are Vaishnava families. You know. This is really beautiful to go to the Bangladesh safari. Really is amazing. Next time you do, please. We do. Please don't miss the Bangladesh safari to visit all the holy places of Mahaprabhu and Mahaprabhu's associates. Eternal associates. This is the birthplace of Haridastakur, Rupin, Sanatan, Goswami, Adwait, Acharya, all Panchatas. Pandityananda was in Ekachakra Lo Chaitanya. The other three were born in Bangladesh. You know, Pundarika, Vidyanidi, most of the closely associated of Lord Chaitanya, they were born in Bangladesh. Okay, so we're going to stop this session soon. The session because we're going to. What time is now? Okay, 12. 12, 15. Before we even the wristbands and the gifts for everybody is in this. In these two boxes there. These two, two boxes are for you. Okay. Only one person say Haribol. Haribol. I think one person chant louder than all of you. Come on. Hare Krishna. Very good. Okay, we would like to do some introductions of devotees from Kachadesh, from. Maybe I will request Yalangi to come. And we call devotees from Kashadesh here and you introduce them. That will be. That will be nice. They can come. What is the other mic? One more mic. Oh, I sit here.

They can sit here.

No, you sit. Okay, you sit here. You leave a space for devotees to. To stand here. Behind you have to sit here. Jalangi Mataji also is a very senior Mataji from Kashadesh from China. Oh I, I waiting for somebody to repeat. No translation. Okay. First of all I want to mention something that you know, in Mayapur, every Friday, Friday Matajis are giving the Srimad Bhagavatan classes. And I really admire her. A few classes of Jalangi Mataji. This is amazing. How learned she is, how good preacher she is. She is a very serious person in Krishna conscience. Performing devotional service, Very surrender to devotional service. I don't know how she get the time to do so many things things in the day actually she. She wake up until she go to sleep. She's constantly engaging in services and I have a lot of admiration. I know that my Guru Maharas also have a lot of admiration for her and I want to congratulate her. Because you see now our Guru Maharas and many ISKCON gurus are encouraging devotees to do Bhakti Shastri. I want to know how many devotees in this room, how many devotees are are doing or completed Bhaktishatri? How many? Wow. Let me see. One minute. Keep your hand on because so many. Look, camera there. All the hands I want the camera to see cannot move this one. Okay. A lot of devotees doing okay there. Prabhu Bhakti Kshastri who completed Bhakti Shastri So many through. Continue, continue. I want to congratulate all of you very much. Then after Bhakti Kshatri is what's coming next? Bhakti Bhai Baba. Anyone? Bhakti Bhai Baba doing or complete? 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Well, many also. Okay, okay. I want to know how many there were. How many they did. They were the devotees who didn't do Bhakti Shastri. How many wants to do? We like to do Bhakti Shastra in the future. How many? Okay. Okay. That's very nice. So it's Bhakti Kshatri, Bhakti Bhai Bhava. What is coming After Bhakti Vaibhava, Jalangi Mataji completed the the Bhaktivedanta degree. And she completed it with honors. Actually, actually speaking. No, it was actually speaking very, very nice. Actually the best, best student. Actually this is an example, an inspiration for all of us. And I want you to say a few words. And after we want to introduce the Chinese devotees.

Hare Krishna, I got the inspiration to study from RLA Guru Maharaj. His Holinesswami Guru Maharaj because he always mentioned that in 1971 Prabhupada Vyasa Puja time in London. He told his disciples that all of you should become Paramahamsas. And he hopes that there will be thousands and ten thousands of Acharyas in Iskcon and RLA Guru Mahaj always encouraging us to study all RLA Prabhupada's books. And he set up a very good personal example by himself and hereby. Actually, before coming to Vrindavan, I got another assignment from my princess. Our teacher asked me to lead the project of developing Bhakti Sarva Boma course. And I share this news first with His Holiness Bhakti Vigna Vinasha Narasimha Maharaj. So I hope by Maharaj's blessings by all your devotees blessings we can develop this Bhakti Sarva Boma course as soon as possible and start in Mayapur Institute. Hi Krishna.

Don't go. Okay, you keep this mic. So what I want to request now I need her translation. How many devotees are here from Kashadesh Hong Kong? How many? Okay. Some of them, they are not here. Where is it? Where is other. Oh. How many devotees are online watching? 100 devotees from China are watching. 163. 163 devotees from China are watching live right now. This program a loud Haribo for the devotees from China. They cannot hear this from China again. Thank you. N har Krishna. So now matries you come. You two matries from Casio Des come. We want to introduce the devotees from Kashadesh. Where is Kunti Maharani from Hong Kong? Is she here?

She just arrived with can stand here.

We can. Yes. Ki Makarani not here.

She just arrived in the.

Okay. She just arrived from Hong Kong. Very senior. Our senior Brahma Charini from Hong Kong. And then we have one Brahmacharini always coming on safari also her name is Chitra Villasini now. But this year the devotees from Kashadesh cannot come on safari because they cannot get the visa to come to India. There is some, you know, relationship between countries. So for the past two years visas are not being given to any citizen not from Casadesh. So we hoping this will be resolved soon. But you know nobody can stop the desire of the Kashya devotees to come on safari. They are all here. So we are very happy you are here online. So this is very nice. Thank you. There are devotees online also through Yamuna Lilabati also doing the broadcast for devotees from to Russia, Ukraine and so many other countries. And also they have the live broadcasting Many devotees watching around India and Bangladesh and all over the world. Because the live broadcasting is going all over the world. Any person can connect. And if you don't connect life, you can see all these videos on YouTube anytime that you like. So we will be keeping sending the links of those videos in our WhatsApp group. So you can watch them at any time. So can you introduce them names?

Hare Krishna. I would like to introduce two wonderful devotees coming from Kadesh and they have installed staying in Mayapur many years. This is Mathura Lila Matazi. She has been staying in Mayapur for seven years, more than seven years. And she is His Holiness Bhakti Vikna Veenasha Narasimha Maharaj disciple. Actually both of them are Maharaj's disciples. And both of them are doing wonderful jewelry services for the deities in Mayapur. We just recently completed the Nityananda Triodacy full sets of jewelries for Panchatatra altar. And now actually going on they did half, another half we left with the devotees in Mayapur is Shilajaya Pataka Swami Guru Maharaj Vyasa Puja Day. Also full sets of jewelries for Panchatava Bajan, Kutir Nithai and also Rajapur Jagannath Baldi Subadra as well as Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu and Simantini Devi Haribo. And this how many?

I heard that actually that they brought some the material to do the jewelries, you know, the bits to do the jewelry they brought from Casadez, you know, they brought from them. How many kilos did you bring?

Actually 100 kilo recently.

100 kilos of materials to do the jewelry for Radha Madhava and the different deities.

And also 10,000 head pins for different. And I also bring 10,000 head pins for all the deities in Mayapur. Because whenever you see the big Mukur pieces and also the flower pieces, we made some special pins for the Fujairis. And those pins Europeans are coming from Kachadesh also.

This is very nice service.

This is a very wonderful devotee Shyamarani Devidasi. And she's not only good at jewelry making, she's also very good Kirtanier and Anders Holiness Bhakti Vigna Veenashana Shinghamar's guidance. She's composing some Maham mantra tunes in traditional Chinese music style.

We want to hear. You can sing?

I can sing now a little bit. Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Krishna Krishna.

Actually there is another very beautiful tomb composed by Marie Chiprabu. And last year we Had a retreat very wonderful in Malaysia. And Marie Chi Prabhu introduced that tomb for all of us. It's a Pranam mantra for Lord Sri Krishna and for Shrimati Radharani. Are you expecting to hear that?

Maybe you can sing.

Because after that almost every day I sing that tune. And whenever I'm singing that tune, I cannot help but crying with tears. Such a wonderful tune.

Maybe, maybe we sing in the evening with all the Chinese devotees. You see what we're going to do because devotees from Kasha Desh, some of them, they are not here Today program. Today 5:30 to 7:30pm in our evening program that we have in Krishna, then we're going to sing this tune. Okay. I'm a bit embarrassed now to sing, but we'll do okay. I always wanted to. I was thinking maybe it would be very nice to have a melody, a traditional Chinese melody to glorify Lord Krishna and Srimaturodharani. So this is actually sing with the traditional tunes, no? So perhaps we'll do this evening Hare Krishna. Thank you, Hariwar. They have a few more. They have. Okay, so. And the realization, this not realization, realization will be at the end of the safari. No, the sharing session is over for today. So now what we're going to do, we're going to start. You know, actually I want to know here because here probably will be a mixed crowd. Mixed crowd. I want to know how many devotees have registered, how to say? In the full safari with accommodation. How many here? Can you raise your hands? Okay, okay, good. Almost everyone here. Okay. Maybe some other. How many devotees here? How many in this hall are registered without accommodation? Without accommodation. They have a few also. Okay, okay, okay. Those without the accommodation you see by the reception is one devotee is called Vamsidhara Vishala Prabhu. He have come and he have come. He have the special wristbands for you. You know, they have some different color bands. You know, your one is blue and the other group is yellow or golden color. So they have Gauranga Nithyananda group.