Saturday, September 29, 2007

Weeks of Tours

This is has been a wonderful week here at Sri Sri Radha Kalachandji Dhama in Dallas Texas. We had several weeks of temple tours. Our temple in Dallas is accompanied by a fantastic restaurant, Kalachandji's. Because of the restaurant the temple is a hot spot for tourist and students. Personally I feel that having a restaurant next to the temple is a real blessing. The people that come to visit know that it is a public place and open to guests of all backgrounds. For some visiting a church/ mosque/ temple can be intimidating for such places are generally for only those of their particular faith. A restaurant makes a nice addition to for it gives the reassurance to the curious that this is a place for all.
http://www.3cim.com/opb/tour.do?method=viewTour&id=1166484836750

So far in the past 2 weeks over 50 students have come in for interviews and tours as part of their school projects. Most the students have been coming from the Dallas Theological Seminary. Although these seminary students are not aggressive with their questions, you can get a sense that one their purposes is come to the temple to gather information about how Krishna Consciousness is not Christian. They are surprised however when the come the temple and find so much in common so much so that they struggle to find in any way how is bhakti yoga, loving devotional service to God, Krishna, any different than Christ Consciousness. In following post I have given a link to a blog written by an aspiring Christian minister after attending a tour. http://connect.krishna.com/node/175

The tours and interviews are always very wonderful and never has their been any confrontation of beliefs. Many of the students are also students of regular non religious colleges and are doing a report for their world religions class. There are all generally surprised to hear that the Vedas are monotheistic and also very scientific and inclusive. Just last night a 45 year student who was actually a pastor came here for an interview. This gentleman was just golden, you could speak to him day and night about Krishna, and service to Krishna and he simply enjoyed it. His association was very delightful. He stayed talked and observed for a full 3 hours and then enjoyed prasadam. Later on that evening I ran into a boy at the restaurant, who was a musician, whom I recognized from the health food store. We hit it off well and I offered him some kirtan CDs. He also stayed around for about 3-4 hours chatting about life and Krishna and left with a smile. I pray that I can alway do this service and hope you all can bless me to continue to serve in this way. The picture below is of a tour that I performed for four 80 year old ladies. These ladies had been friends since high school. When these very open minded old Jewish ladies found out that the Bhagavatam was written over 5000 years ago they remarked, "Wow that is only 1000 years after creation." (In their belief system the ladies believed that the world created some 6000 years ago) with big smile on my face I said, "Yes that would be true." as to not cause any contention. Hare Krishna
Your humble servant,

Nityananda Chandra Das

punky kids enjoy the restaurant and talking the with devoteespunky kids enjoy the restaurant and talking the with devotees

Older ladies come to the temple for a tourOlder ladies come to the temple for a tour

Monday, September 17, 2007

Janmastami in Dallas, Sri Sri Radha Kalachandji Dhama

This year's Janmastami was absolutely wonderful. For first time ever in Dallas we had some of the Gopis accompany Krishna on the altar. For the 4:30 am artik both Radha and Kalachandji were stunning. Kalachandji wearing His fancy turban and Radharani was there giving out blessing for all who came to see her beloved, Sri Krishna, on His most wonderful appearance day.
The devotee danced ecstatically for the pleasure of Their Lordships, led in a wonderful kirtan sung by Bengali brahmacari Baladeva Prabhu. The crowd of devotees then chanted their daily japa with great enthusiasm awaiting the beautiful day darshan of the Lord. As time passed excite increased over and over until finally our eyes were blessed with this vision.

Radharani's Morning DarshanRadharani's Morning Darshan

Kalachandji Morning DarshanKalachandji Morning Darshan

Kalachandji Morning DarshanKalachandji Morning Darshan

Mangal KirtanMangal Kirtan

Full Darshan mid dayFull Darshan mid day

The altar, like the temple room, was made into a great forest replete with monkeys,
monkeymonkey

Beautifully painted cows, parrots, peacocks, peacockspeacocks

along with many many plants decorating the pillars, corners, and altar of the temple. We were all in the forest of Vrindavan.

The early day darshan was suberb. Radha and Kalachandji wore another new outfit that was adorned with strawberry designs and if that is not sweet enough for you, They were accompanied by four of the intimate friends, the Gopis. Early day DarshanEarly day Darshan

Especially amazing was Lalita

Lalita SakhiLalita Sakhi

and Visakha Visakha SakhiVisakha Sakhi

These two Gopis along with many peacocks, cows, and monkey(which decorated our temple room) were artistically and devotionally made by our wonderful devotee, Bhakta Mark. Bhakta MarkBhakta Mark

Bhakta Mark has been coming to Kalachandji's restaurant for 12 years but only recently by the long term mercy of prasadam (spiritual food) and by the mercy of the association of the devotees he has now full heartedly and very sincerely has taken to the process of Bhakti Yoga, loving devotional service unto the Supreme Lord. We can see how wonderful the Gopis look with the Divine Couple when they are decorated with Their late day flower outfit.

Flower OutfitFlower OutfitMark Prabhu, a tattooist by trade, is an excellent artist and is working right now on many paintings of Prabhupada and other Krishna Conscious items. He will be helping my wife and I to make the base of Govardhana hill this year. For the Govardhana festival we generally make a 8ft by 3 foot mountain of Carob cake. The base is a paper mache model on which the cake is layered. On the mountain there is usually a couple lakes of pudding and underneath it beautiful dolls of Krishna with His friends holding the hill up.

But it doesn't seem that we have to wait that long to again get the darshan of Mark's wonderful Gopis. Recent news is that they will be making their divine appearance on Srimate Radharani's auspicious birthday. While this years theme for Janmastami was Bhakta Vatsala-Krishna as the servant of His devotees, for Radhastami the theme will be beautiful pearl story from Sivarama Swami's wonderful book, Krishna Sangati. Hare Krishna
Your humble servant

Nityananda Chandra Das

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Comments

Sun, 05/04/2008 - 00:28 — ravinjay

Kalachandji

Kalachandji looks shiny! Nice lalita, visakha, peacocks, flowers, cows, etc.... VERY good idea to make Lalita and Vishaka as cut-outs!

Tue, 09/25/2007 - 14:30 — Krishna Mangala...

Beautiful!!!

Dearest Nityananda Chandra Prabhu
This post is wonderful! Thank you for always being so enthusiastic, and inspiring. Keep up the good work!!!

your wife and servant
-Krishna Mangala Devi Dasi

Tue, 09/18/2007 - 23:35 — Navasi

On Top Of Karna's Comment:

All Glories to Sri Sri Radha-Kalachandji!!! All Glories To Sri-Sri Radha Kalachandji! All Glories to Shri-Shri Radha and Kalachandji!!!!
I am so greatful to be able to view the Lotus Like Countenance of Lord Kalachandji and His Devine Consort Srimati Radharani!!!

I am especially appreciative of this opportunity as I was in the van that drove from Dallas to New York to receive Their Lordships when they arrived in New York from India! (along with, at the same time, Sri-Sri Radha Kunjabihari (detroit)! I did not go all the way to New York to get them as I was sent to the Detroit temple and that was my service, to stay there. I never got to witness the installation ceremony of Sri-Sri Radha Kalachandji because I stayed in Detroit. However, I did have the tremendous great fortune to witness the installation ceremony (and participate in it thru my humble service) of Sri-Sri Radha Kunjabihari! Now, that was one incredible ceremony!!! I can CERTAINLY tell you that!!! As a result of my good fortune to be able to serve Lord Kunjabihari, I have always appreciated "black" Krishna deities! (I think it gives a whole new meaning to the term "black is beautiful" :).

Thank you again, and again, and again, for allowing me to view these BEAUTIFUL DEITIES!!!!

Sara Elizabeth Hartman

Tue, 09/18/2007 - 03:18 — Karnamrita.das

Great pictures

Pranams! Jai Radha Kalachandji!! Thanks for sharing this event with such beautiful pictures. I have wanted to begin adding photos to my blogs and you are giving me a push in that direction. Bhakta Mark has made a wonderful addition to your Temple and special days. Keep the nectar flowing!!

Yours in service ,

Karnamrita

Mon, 09/17/2007 - 07:33 — Navasi

Wonderful Photos!

Thank you Nityananda Ram,
Those are such very beautiful photos! What an amazing celebration that was! I appreciated being able to see it!

Thank you,

Sara

Mon, 09/17/2007 - 09:50 — NityānandaChandra

We all had a wonderful time

thank you for commenting and your encouragement. I may do some post about our trip to India.