(31 January 2008)

Malaysia. Srila Govinda Maharaj arrived in Kuala Lumpur to a warm welcome and Sri Guru-Puja. His Divine Grace was offered a belated Sri Vyasa-Puja "We love you..." cake, and then spoke to the devotees for a short while before settling into his quarters. Pictures of his arrival at the airport, and later at the home of Balendranath Prabhu, in web-pages by Sachinandan Prabhu on the Malaysian website harekrishna.com.my.

Today. Malaysia: Visiting the new Centre in Petaling Jaya run by devotees headed by Aprakrita Prabhu and Krishna Sira Prabhu. Srila Gurudev met with the devotees, honoured noon prasadam, and later in the afternoon continued on to our Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Sadhu Sangam in Klang.

(30 January 2008)

Audio. Starting out for the 24th World Tour. Srila Govinda Maharaj addresses the devotees gathered at our Dum Dum Park Temple on the morning of his starting out on his Tour.
Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj's informal morning darshan, 23 January 2008.
Download, or listen online (16+ minutes, 2 MB mp3 audio)
or:  higher quality (4 MB mp3 audio).

Thailand. Srila Govinda Maharaj giving initiations at our Sri Chaitanya Sridhar Govinda Ashram, Bangkok. Two pages of pictures with captions: 28th January and more on 29th January. Pictures and captions sent by Madhumita Devi Dasi.

Thailand. Thai New Year's Day. Thai monks visit Srila Govinda Maharaj at the start of their New Year. Pictures and captions by Madhumita Devi Dasi.

Thailand. Srila Govinda Maharaj explores the locality of our Sri Chaitanya Sridhar Govinda Ashram shortly after arriving in Bangkok this time. Pictures sent by Madhumita Devi Dasi on the second day of the Tour.

Thailand: Many pictures of Srila Govinda Maharaj's visit to Bangkok on his current Tour, posted in today's update by Jamuna Priya Devi Dasi on her verandaviews.com website.

Soquel, USA. The Bhakti Yoga Club Presents 'The Festival of India' on behalf of the Soquel Seva Ashram. Web-page of pictures and captions made by Vaidehi Devi Dasi.

Soquel, USA. '2008 - The Year of the Ashram' by Hasyapriya Prabhu, outlining the ambitions for new construction at the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram. Also a separate page of pictures showing devotees putting up 'story poles' to show the proposed size of future buildings. Both pages are posted on the Californian sevaashram.org website by Swarnangii Devi Dasi.

Australia. Mission News. 'Big Day Out' edition. This week's seven-page newsletter by Parampada Prabhu from Sri Govinda Govinda Dham, Uki.

Nabadwip. Pictures taken around Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math for Srila Govinda Maharaj to see, and all to share, in a webpage by Giridhari Prabhu visiting from Hungary.

(25 January 2008)

Srila Govinda Maharaj in Thailand. Madhumita Devi Dasi writes from Bangkok last night:
"Srila Govinda Maharaj went on a beautiful scooter ride today for about 40 minutes, and then came in and spoke for another 1/2 hour. He talked about China and how it is developing and about the potential of both China and Japan. Srila Gurudev praised Yudhamanyu Prabhu for his practical presentation by love and affection of the teachings of Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga to the Chinese students."

Thailand. Full quality group photo (2.2 MB jpg picture, 2.8 megapixels wide) of Srila Govinda Maharaj in Thailand, from the camera of Madhumita Devi Dasi.

Thailand: Srila Govinda Maharaj's first day in Bangkok. Many pictures of Srila Gurudev and his entourage as he begins his 24th World Tour, posted by Jamuna Priya Devi Dasi on her verandaviews.com website.

Thailand Tour diary by Sadhu Priya Prabhu restarting the news section of his lightningbeats.com web-log with reports from Bangkok of the preparations for Srila Gurudev's arrival, His Divine Grace's arrival, and yesterday's 'Beautiful Afternoon with the Devotees.'

Video and pictures from Kolkata taken shortly before Srila Govinda Maharaj started on his 24th World Tour, posted by Nimai Chandra Prabhu on his vaisnavadarshan.com website.

Winter preaching in Russia by Sripad B.S. Goswami Maharaj on behalf of Srila Gurudev. Pictorial reports from Siberia, St. Petersburg and Moscow: Siberia (Krasnoyarsk) [10 pictures, 544Kb] | St. Petersburg [6 pictures, 296Kb] | Sochi [14 pictures, 425Kb] | Moscow and devotees who sent the pictures [8 pictures, 81Kb].

Tomsk newspaper article in Russian reporting the visit of Sripad Goswami Maharaj and the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. Full page article by Anushila Devi Dasi entitled 'Old New Year in an Indian way'. 192 K pdf file, download and view with AcrobatReader or similar.

(24 January 2008)

Srila Govinda Maharaj is in Thailand. His Divine Grace is reported as being "very happy" in Thailand. Srutasrava Prabhu drove him from the airport to the Sri Chaitanya Sridhar Govinda Ashram, Bangkok, where several devotees greeted His Divine Grace including five from China.

(22 January 2008)

The 24th World Tour is now imminent of Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Final preparations are under way and, health permitting, Srila Gurudev is on schedule to visit Thailand, Malaysia and two places in Mauritius: first at the newly constructed Vaishnava Seva Society, and second for installation of Deities at the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math International. Devotees interested in joining the Tour may contact the local organisers:

Invitations for the Mauritius destinations, to the V.S.Society and to the S.C.S.Math, are posted here along with further information for pilgrims.

Audio. "The Srimad Bhagavatam said about the meanings of sannyas for a Vaishnava sannyasi....."
Recent informal morning darshan by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, with further reflections relating to Mahaprabhu's sannyas lila.
Informal morning darshan, 17 January 2008.
Download, or listen online (23 minutes, 2.6 MB mp3 audio)
or:  higher quality (5.3 MB mp3 audio).

Soquel, USA. New Year's Eve annual preaching engagement by the devotees of the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram participating in a public programme in Santa Cruz, California. Web-page of pictures and captions by Vaidehi Devi Dasi.

(21 January 2008)

Audio. After sannyas, Sriman Mahaprabhu's journey to Puri visiting Remuna along the way, and a summary of His arrival in Puri and His middle and later Pastimes.
This morning's informal morning darshan by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, continuing recent reflections relating to Mahaprabhu's sannyas lila. 21 January 2008.
Download, or listen online (30 minutes, 2.8 MB mp3 audio)
or:  higher quality (5.6 MB mp3 audio).

Kolkata. Afternoon visit to our Sevak Bhavan's garden by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj. Web-page of pictures and captions made by Vaidehi Devi Dasi recording this surprise visit to our ashram just 50 metres along from the Dum Dum Park Temple.

Russia. Preaching in minus 30 degrees. Sripad B.S. Goswami Maharaj brings the message of Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga to Siberia. Webpages of pictures posted in the English language section of the Russian website harekrishna.ru.

(20 January 2008)

Audio. By the divine arrangement of Nityananda Prabhu, Mahaprabhu came to Advaita Acharyya's house.
At first Srila Govinda Maharaj told the devotees he would not be able to speak due to his health, but then he began talking, slowly at first, in a reflective mood about the Pastimes of Sriman Mahaprabhu at Sri Advaita Acharyya's house after receiving sannyas. Srila Gurudev ends by spontaneously leading a short Nama Kirttan.
Srila Govinda Maharaj's informal morning darshan, 18 January 2008.
Download, or listen online (30 minutes, 3.5 MB mp3 audio)
or:  higher quality (7 MB mp3 audio).

Mexican Vyasa-Puja Offering Book of devotional expressions in English by the spiritual family across the country. Compilation and graphic design by Lal Krishna Prabhu of Merida: 99 page 5.2 MB pdf file (re-compressed 21st Jan), download and view with AcrobatReader or similar, also temporarily available with higher quality pictures: 10.8 MB pdf file.
Plus a separate page of three pictures of Srila Gurudev reading the book in Nabadwip during last month's festival.

Malta. 'The Lotus Room' Bhakti Yoga Centre. The birth and gradual development of the mission of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Malta. Pictures, captions and webpage by Malini Devi Dasi.

Video and pictures from West Bengal. An additional six videos and seven photo series' posted by Nimai Chandra Prabhu yesterday on his website, vaisnavadarshan.com.

Australia. Mission News. The new edition and a further three most recent editions: Issue 14 | Issue 13 | and Issue 12 of the colour newsletter of Sri Govinda Dham, are now added to their online series.

(18 January 2008)

Audio. Sannyas Day of Sriman Mahaprabhu. Informal morning darshan by Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj two days ago at our Dum Dum Park Temple, Kolkata.
Download, or listen online (32 minutes, 3.7 MB mp3 audio)
or:  higher quality (7.4 MB mp3 audio).

Veracruz, Mexico. Sri Vyasa-Puja of Srila Govinda Maharaj held at the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Veracruz. Webpage compiled from pictures sent by Krishna Prema Tarangini Devi Dasi.

Sripad Bhakti Kusum Ashram Maharaj's Sri Vyasa-Puja offering in Spanish, from the Mexican's Sri Vyasa-Puja Book offered to Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj during his recent Appearance Day celebrations in Nabadwip. (3.2 MB pdf document. Download and view with AcrobatReader or similar.)

Paipa, Colombia. Sri Vyasa-Puja of Srila Govinda Maharaj held by our devotional community in Paipa. Webpage by Hriday Krishna Prabhu of pictures with captions.

(14 January 2008)

A Tragedy of Separation. Tonight Nimai Pandit leaves Nabadwip to go to Katwa to take sannyas. An extensive excerpt from the book 'Golden Volcano of Divine Love' by Srila Bhakti Raksak Sridhar Dev-Goswami Maharaj, prepared as a series of fifty-seven web-pages by Damayanti Devi Dasi. She received technical and other assistance from Kundalata Devi Dasi of Russia.

Sri Vyasa-Puja offerings book from Russia presented to Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj's lotus hands on his recent Appearance Day Festival in Nabadwip, largely reproduced here as a series of thirty-seven web-pages in English containing heartfelt expressions of the devotees.

Audio and Video of Srila Sridhar Maharaj and Srila Govinda Maharaj posted on the web by Sripad Bhakti Kanan Giri Maharaj in New Jersey, who writes:
"Sriman Gokulananda Prabhu [pictured inset left] has done a lot of work setting up and maintaining our website, scsmathnj.com. We now have two audio and eight video podcasts available, including videos of Srila Govinda Maharaj's lectures and kirttans and several videos of Srila Sridhar Maharaj, in addition to other content."

Video and pictures. Vaishnavadarsan.com website updated by Nimai Chandra Prabhu with six videos and fifteen photo series' since Srila Govinda Maharaj's return to India from his 23rd World Tour. Many of the pictures are of Srila Govinda Maharaj's Sri Vyasa-Puja Festivals in Nabadwip and in Sripat Bamunpara.

Verandaviews.com website updated with many additional pictures from the last World Tour as well as many pictures taken in Nabadwip including Sri Vyasa-Puja, and on a recent day out with Srila Govinda Maharaj in Bamunpara.

Nabadwip. Works in progress at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. Pictures taken on Saturday extracted from a slide-show given by Malini Devi Dasi for Srila Govinda Maharaj to see.

Porto Alegre, Brazil. Sri Vyasa-Puja of Srila Govinda Maharaj held at our Srila Govinda Maharaj Seva Sangha. Webpage by Partha Sarathi Prabhu of pictures with captions by Shiva Nandini Devi Dasi.

Santa Cruz, California. Sri Vyasa-Puja of Srila Govinda Maharaj held at the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram. Webpage of pictures and captions posted by Swarnangii Devi Dasi on the Californian website, sevaashram.org.

San Jose. Sri Vyasa-Puja of Srila Govinda Maharaj held at the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Ashram. Webpage of pictures and captions posted by Swarnangii Devi Dasi on the Californian website, sevaashram.org.

Moscow. Sripad Goswami Maharaj delivers evening classes at the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Cultural Centre before heading east to Siberia. Webpage of pictures taken by Raseshwari Devi Dasi, posted in the English language section of the Russian website harekrishna.ru.

(12 January 2008)

Audio. This morning's informal discourse by Srila Govinda Maharaj to the devotees gathered at his lotus feet in our Temple in Dum Dum Park, Kolkata. For several days Srila Gurudev has been able to talk only briefly with the devotees due to showing poor health. Feeling better today, Srila Gurudev happily talked with the devotees here.
"Here [are] so many devotees from different countries. Different countries means different language and different culture, and different lifestyle, different food -- everything is different -- but our conception is one: that is Krishna consciousness. And you are together here... Calcutta is transit station but our target and permanent place is in Nabadwip. The culture of Nabadwip is fully Krishna consciousness...."
Download, or listen online (28 minutes, 3.2 MB mp3 audio)
or:  higher quality (6.4 MB mp3 audio).

Video. St. Petersburg Sri Vyasa-Puja offering video with devotees chanting the glories of Srila Govinda Maharaj and expressing their appreciation for the opportunity to take shelter of his lotus feet. 13+ minutes, 19.5 MB mp4 video. Download and view with a recent version of QuickTime, VLC, etc.

Mauritius. Sri Vyasa-Puja of Srila Govinda Maharaj at the Vaishnava Seva Society, Long Mountain, as the devotees prepare for Srila Gurudev's planned arrival at the end of the month. Three web-pages of pictures with captions sent by Dipta Krishna Prabhu.

(9 January 2008)

A further tour abroad is due to start in the second half of January. Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj has now settled that, health permitting, he will go abroad soon, for about a month. He is planning to accept the invitations from Thailand, Malaysia and Mauritius before returning to India for a long hoped for visit to our Vrindavan Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and Mission. Anyone wishing to make a pilgrimage to any of the places Srila Gurudev will visit, may please contact the local tour organisers:


Nabadwip. Sri Vyasa-Puja slide show with audio. Pictures by Nimai Chandra Prabhu accompanied by kirttan recording and an excerpt from the Bengali address by Srila Govinda Maharaj to the devotees. 4.7 MB 'mov' file, 9 minutes, slide show (650 pixels wide) with audio. (Download, or stream if you have the speed, and view with QuickTime, VLC, iTunes, etc.)

China, the Best Trip of our Lives. Radhika Devi Dasi of USA, reports on the recent visit to China by herself and Madhumita Devi Dasi to celebrate Sri Vyasa-Puja. They came to Nabadwip a few days later and gladdened His Divine Grace Srila Govinda Maharaj with their enthusiastic news.

China. Sri Vyasa-Puja slide show with audio. Radhika Devi Dasi reads part of her report as an accompaniment to a series of over 150 pictures taken by her and Madhumita Devi Dasi during their recent visit. 3.9 MB 'mov' file, 7 minutes, slide show (650 pixels wide) with audio. (Download, or stream, and view with QuickTime, VLC, iTunes, etc.)

Videos from USA from Vaidehi Devi Dasi, posted on the vimeo.com website:

Sri Govardhan Puja Celebration. An 18 minute story on the Sri Govardhan Puja Celebration in Soquel, California. Included is a clip from Srila Gurudev's lectures, one of the songs he sang, Radhakundatata-Kunjakutira, the kirtan, and prasadam.

Sri Govardhan Puja Lecture by Srila Govinda Maharaj.
About 1 hour. His Divine Grace's lecture on the celebration of Sri Govardhan Puja in Soquel California. He shares a little about the exalted position of Sri Govardhan, as well as a description of the wealth of Krishna consciousness.

Sri Govardhan Puja Play at the Soquel Seva Ashram.
A 9 minute presentation of the Sri Govardhan Puja play performed by the children in Soquel for His Divine Grace, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

Srila Govinda Maharaj singing Sri Braja-dhama-mahimamrta.
A three minute video of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj singing at the Soquel Seva Ashram on the celebration day of Sri Govardhan Puja.
This song, Sri Braja-dhama-mahimamrta, is followed by the next video in which he sings Nama-Sankirttan.

Srila Govinda Maharaj sings Nama-sankirttan.
A 6 minute clip of Srila Govinda Maharaj singing Nama-sankirttan on the celebration of Sri Govardhan-Puja in Soquel California.

Video. Nine more clips from California shot during Srila Govinda Maharaj's recent visit. Posted by Gopal Prabhu of USA on the youtube.com website.

Video. Four clips from Caracas hosted on devagoswami.com, a new website offered by Nityananda Rama Prabhu of Colombia for Srila Govinda Maharaj's Sri Vyasa-Puja. Includes historic scenes from Srila Gurudev's earlier visits to Venezuela.

Uluberia village preaching programme here in West Bengal. Slide show with captions produced by Malini Devi Dasi, sharing an evening of kirttan, discourse and Prasadam seva, led by Sripad B.N. Acharyya Maharaj. 6.6 MB 'exe' slide show for PC, or: 5 MB QuickTime 'mov' slide show for Mac or PC.

Brazilian devotees' Sri Vyasa-Puja offering book sent by Bhuvana Mohan Prabhu, and received very happily by His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj on his recent Appearance Day Festival. 31 colour pages, 4.1 MB 'pdf' file. Download and view with Acrobat Reader or similar.

Brazil. Sri Vyasa-Puja festival at the Krishna Shakti Ashram, near Sao Paulo. 'Picasa' slide show of 142 pictures of the beautiful Ashram and of the festival led by Sripad B.V. Trivikram Maharaj.

London. Sri Vyasa-Puja of Srila Govinda Maharaj held at the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Green Street. Web-page of pictures posted by Anindita Devi Dasi on the London Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math's website, scsmathlondon.org.

Caracas. Sri Vyasa-Puja Festival held at the Caracas Sri Chaitanya Sridhar Govinda Seva Ashram. Series of thirty-eight pictures posted by Gaurachandra Prabhu on the Venezuelan paramakaruna.org.ve website.

Russia. Sri Vyasa-Puja of Srila Govinda Maharaj. Recent updates in the English section of the Russian website harekrishna.ru/english include a three-page pictorial offering to the lotus feet of Srila Gurudev on the holy day of his Sri Vyasa Puja.

Turkey. Sri Vyasa-Puja of Srila Govinda Maharaj held at the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Asan and Mission under the local leadership of Ramaray Prabhu. Webpage report with pictures and captions, and an additional webpage of several pictures of the event posted on the Turkish website, govindamath.com.

USA. Worshipping and Remembering the Lotus Feet of Srila Gurudev. Picture webpage by Swarnangii Devi Dasi of photos of Srila Govinda Maharaj taken during His Divine Grace's recent visit.

USA. New Year's Newsletter of the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashrams, California. Produced by Swarnangii Devi Dasi, it includes topical items, and articles by Sripad B.P. Janardan Maharaj, Hasyapriya Prabhu and Vaidehi Devi Dasi.

Ohio, USA. Atmarama Prabhu and family honour Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj's 79th Vyasa-Puja celebration and invite locals to attend their home programmes in Columbus. Webpage of pictures and captions by Vaidehi Devi Dasi.