Damodara World Launch Diary 1

By Uttama Chaitanya Das

 

Day 1: Thursday, KLIA – Chennai – Mumbai

Hare Krishna. Please accept my humble obeisances.

By the mercy of Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga, we are embarking on our first
international promotional tour of Damodara preaching programme. It was not a
long-thought off plan. Rather, it all happened within one month – the
planning and execution.

The last few days before departure required constant communication with all
the temples that I would be visiting in the next 20 days.

At this time, our dear godbrother, HG Rasika Murari pr, defying his health
problem, is on a 1-week South India tour, covering ISKCON temples in
Tirupati, Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Bangalore, Coimbatore and Chennai.

Tomorrow HG Srivas Caitanya pr will be visiting New Delhi as part of his
tour.

My tour is rather more extensive – Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Baroda, Vallabha Vidya
Nagar, Mauritius and South Africa. I am the only one who could afford the
time, so to speak.

This time we were a little well prepared. We had a promotional kit – a crisp
15-min documentary on Damodara programme, brochure and mini altar. On top of
that we had the blessings of our spiritual preceptors and Vaisnavas. We are
prayerful but confident.

My flight KLIA-Chennai scheduled at 0945 left on time.

At departure room in KLIA, I was greeted ‘Hare Krishna’ by two youths. As
Srila Prabhupada says, the devotee attire reminds others of Krishna. They
were heading for Chennai.

This is my fourth visit to India this year. Maybe there will be a fifth
one?!

Arrived in Chennai at 1100hrs. The connecting flight via Spicejet left at
1400hrs and arrive in Mumbai at 1545hrs.

Mumbai was never my favourite city. But this time it was a pleasant approach
to the city. The new domestic airport is a welcomed change. It looks
state-of-art.  A sure tale of the burgeoning Indian economy.

HG Upendra pr greeted me at the airport. He has always been very kind during
our stay in Mumbai.

The taxi ride to his house in Santa Cruz took about 15 minutes. Though the
name sounds Christian, the area is full of Muslims. Butcher shops and a
mosque are part of the local set-up.

This is my second visit to prabhu’s home. He cooked some delicious kitchri
for dinner – my first meal for the day.

Day 2: Friday – Mumbai ISKCON Juhu

After breakfast we visited the travel office to collect my international
ticket.

At 4pm we left for ISKCON Juhu – my home for the next three nights.

I had made few short visits to Juhu before. This is going to be my longest.

My room that was booked was not to be. The guest house was overbooked. I was
accommodated in a simple place. I am satisfied.

ISKCON Juhu is one of the favourite places of Srila Prabhupada. He once
said, for spiritual atmosphere I visit Mayapur, Vrindavan and Juhu.

HDG also said Mayapur is my home, Vrindavan is my place of worship and Juhu,
my office.

From Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta we can read how HDG had to struggle
tooth-and-nail to acquire this precious property. So many difficulties
marred the early days of ISKCON in Mumbai. This temple and the deities are
very close to Srila Prabhupada’s heart – Sri Sri Radha-Rasabihari.

HDG wanted this temple to attract the affluent class of people. So as HDG
envisaged, today this temple attracts some 3000 people daily and may reach
up to 10000 on weekends.

It is one of the most famous temples in Mumbai located a 5-minute walk from
the famous (infamous) Juhu beach. This beach has been sanctified by the
touch of the lotus feet of HDG when he goes on morning walks here.

After settling down, I quickly made it to the temple to have darsan of Srila
Prabhupada, Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai, Sri Sri Radha-Rasabhihari and Sri Sri
Sita-Rama Laxman-Hanumanji.

The beautiful poise of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai reminds us of the Vrindavan
deities and so does Sri Sri Radha-Rasabihari. When I gazed at Them somehow I
am reminded of Sri Sri Radhe-Shyam. Sri Sri Sita-Rama-Laxman-Hanumanji look
splendorous. No wonder so many are stunned by the beauties of these Deities.

I feel truly blessed to be able to have my eyes purified by having Their
darsan. Another priceless gift of Srila Prabhupada for the whole world.

Today I was unable to meet the vice-president as planned.

Day 3: Saturday – Mumbai ISKCON Juhu

Mangala arati – 0430hrs.

Some 150 devotees attended, mostly resident the devotees.

The practice here is to read Brahma-samhita before japa. It takes at least
12 minutes to complete.

Darsan arati was a marvel to relish everywhere, what could we say about this
temple.

Met HG Ghanasyam pr and another devotee from Australia. They are on a temple
tour in India. We had long chat on many things – temple life, counselor
system, etc.

Finally had chance to meet the VP, HG Mukunda Madhava pr, a relatively young
devotee, who hold a doctorate in vedanta philosophy. He invited two other
congregational preachers and I presented the Damodara programme to them.
They were impressed, but the VP had one concern – the Damodara programme
season is close to December Book Marathon. He was wandering whether this
would affect the marathon.

Day 4: Sunday – Mumbai ISKCON Juhu

Being a Sunday, the flow of human traffic in and out of the temple created a
festive-like mood.

There was no real Sunday Feast the kind we are familiar with. There were
many devotees visiting today for the Priti-Vardhanam programme. The devotees
are split in a few groups based on language, age, etc.

The largest group attended an English class given by HG Atul Krsna pr. He
spoke on Bg 9.34 and a little of glories of Kartika month.

This group consisted of largely new devotees and guests.

An interesting aspect after the class was the quiz session where three
groups of three members each pitted their KC knowledge skills.

At 4.00pm I was invited for the congregational leaders’ meet for my
presentation. About 20 devotees were present. After my presentation, I
answered some doubts and questions.

All in all the leaders were enthusiastic. They did not commit to any figure
but they were geared up to try to expand the Damodara preaching programme in
Mumbai!

It was satisfactory.

My mission in Juhu is over for now. Tomorrow – Ahmedabad.