Battlefield Bhajans Vol. II

Dedicated to HDG AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, savior of the most fallen souls.

For the last eighteen days I have tasted the nectar of the association with devotees, I have tasted the nectar of serving them, dancing and chanting with them. Discussing Krsna and developing relationships. In this material world this is all we have. The most amazing part of this spiritual vacation was to be in close association with my Spiritual Master.

The relationship between guru and disciple is an eternal one. The guru is the disciples ever well wisher. At the time on intiation the spiritual master gives the disciple the Maha Mantra. He also promises to do whatever it takes to bring the disciple back to Krsna. For me this takes more meaning and the relationship goes deeper.

I have very little pyschical contact with my spiritual master. We mostly correspond through email. So when I do have his ascsociation, it means much more. I have learned to appreciate more his insructions and his mood. So this is my thoughts on spending eighteen days with my hero, my friend, and my ever well wisher.

Woke up at 5 am. showered and set up to perform seva for my Sila’s. Maharaja made jokes after seeing the Lord’s paraphnallia, that I was a pujari. All in good fun. It was very nice to offer the Lord such a nice meal, with fresh fruits, nuts…. the works. Also They had new ornaments that Maharaja brought from Vrindavan. Chanted my rounds in the house. This house is amazing, everywhere you turn there is a picture of Krsna. How can you forget Him in this house! I read some article Maharaja wrote for website about vaisnava sanyassa. It was very powerful, really sank in and gave me a better understanding of this special and high ashram. Soon off to a new temple in Blomfontain.

Picked up by Rupa Ragunnatha Prabhu and his son Nimai. He is an amazing householder and a trail blazer in my eyes. Their center is amazing and has such great facilities. They have a restaraunte and also do alot of college preaching. He also has the sweetest Govardhana Sila. His smile will steal your heart, be warned. This program just revolves arounf bringing others to Krsna. We have an amaizng feast prepared by Luigi. next morning Maharaja had me lead mangala arati, this was a nerve racking experience. While singing prayers to the spiritual master, I realized that Maharaja has saved me and given me new life. This cause a funny scene of me sounding very nervous singing. Class on Madhavendra Puri given by Maharaja. Then to the uni for a program. The turn out was good, about thrirty came, a mixed crowd, Africans, indians and whites. He dealt so kindly with them and really broke down the philopsiphy to a very conclusion. Everyone I talked to was very satsified. I distributed 10 books. On Wendsday, we had an evening program. About 50 people came. Maharaja gave an amazing class. And the audience was into it, he had them hanging on every word and they gave a huge round of applause afterwards. He really knows his audience. My Prabhupada mercy I distributed another 8 books. I recommend to any preacher to go there. This town is ready for a KC explosion. Next stop Durban.

20-29 March: Durban

Woke up early Sat. 1:30 am and chanted all my rounds before Mangala Ar His name now is Bhakti Narsimha Swami. Today is a special day HG Jagat Guru Prabhu will become the first South African born sanyassa. The tent was packed during the ceramony, unfortunatly I could not stay Maharaja had me in the questions and answers tent, while he was in the ceromony. Q&A went well, some very nice questions, when Maharaja arrived he had me sit on stage with him and answer questions. I am seeing that I need to become more serious in studying Srila Prabhupada’s books. Another late night, Sat in Maharaja’s room and ate some mango slices with him then took rest.

Monday brought initations, among them Luigi became Lagu Hari Dasa and Pancajaya Dasa was also initated and both donned saffron. What a day, very inspiring. The rest of our stay in Durban was spent with Maharaja’s discples, he wanted to have some quality time with them. For me this also gave me a chance to have the association of HH BB Govinda Swami. He took me to the South Coast, where I was stuffed with prasadam and went for a swim in the ocean. It was tranquile and amazing. Govinda Swami is so down to Earth and really made me feel at home. We talked about preaching and my future in ISKCON. He is a big inspiration in my life. I was also interviewed on the Main Stage about my preaching and also by a TV station about ISKCON, all ame out well.

This was a nice stop, Capetown is a laid back city. Maharaja just relaxed this stop, focused on connecting with the devotees and gave class twice a day. We were both ill with a cold. So we just chanted and read. This also gave me an oppurtunity to connect with Vraja Krsna and the rest of the Capetown gang. I also got to see some of my godsisters. It is always nice to see the family. I met a very nice person in Nitai Prabhu who is my godsister Tamalini’s husband. We talked Sila’s and about seva. I ended up gifting them a Laksmi Narsimha Sila. They were estatic. Maharaja had me put my Gang on the altar and then engaged everyone in Their service. Garlands were made, sweets offered. They were getting the good life.

realization: We should not be selfish with serving Krsna. He actually likes it when everyone is engaged in His service. So we should make that a point in our life to inspire everyone we meet to perform devotional service to Krsna.

Spoke with HG Mukunda Charan Prabhu about future preaching in South Africa. It is nice when devotees came come together for the pushing foward of this Society. This is what Srila Prabhupada wanted, work in cooperation. Ok off to Pretoria.

Arrived after a delayed flight, met some devotees at the temple. Then off to rest. Up at 1 am the next day. This stop was out final stop and also a special stop becuase Maharaja was here to spend time with his discples. For me it was extra special because I spent time with a good friend. What can I say about Africans…. they love kirtan. That was the theme of this stop. We had huge kirtans anxd bhajans all day. We really tasted the nectar of the Holy Name. I lead bhajans at Sunday fest and I never lead like this. Everyone was fired up and into it. Bhava Bhakti Mataji walked in the temple and said who is leading, saw me and said I didn’t even know Partha could play the harmonium! Maharaja gave a wonderful class.. but the nectar didn’t stop there. Next day, I cooked the morning offering and Maharaja was leading a ripping kirtan when all of a sudden it got closer. The door busted open and the kirtan was now in the kitchen! Not missing a beat Pancajaya Prabhu grabbed a pot to act like a gong and I grabbed two huge pot lids as womppers! Kitchen kirtan’s are so transcedental.

Before we left, I lead another bhajan with the devotees. This was nectar and as soon as the nectar was started, we had to stop. Time for a ride to Govardhan Prabhu’s for my final night.

So now I am in Kuwait and thinking of all these memories from the last few weeks. They are ingraved in my heart. They will keep me going. I took the association with devotees for granted my whole time in ISKCON. But now I relaize what a treasure they are. All that are reading this journal, forgive the length and any offensses made.