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Padayatra
America 2004 #1
From Avadhuta
Siromani Dasa
Posted November 17, 2004

November 15-Dec-Jan-Feb 15

Three months in New Raman Reti [Florida]. The winter is coming to an end, and soon the mercy of the Lord will be on the road again.

During this time we have been doing local parikramas every weekend, leaving Saturday and returning to the temple on Sunday. The participation has been excellent (100-150 devotees).

Everybody appreciates Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundara´s mood of walking and chanting—a simple, powerful way of preaching Krsna consciousness. The reception is so good, that devotees are almost fighting, so to speak, to have the Lord in their homes.

Difficulties are there, but there is always a teaching behind them. This winter, the Lord revealed to me why a preacher or aspiring renunciate should not stay too long in one place. Staying in one place tends to bring familiarity, which in turn may generate disrespect, complacency, criticism, politics, and especially the propensity to think ourselves the controllers.

On the road there are no politics, no criticisms, and no familiarity, and the only doer is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who, in His form as Nitai-Gaurasundara, personally reciprocates with His devotees in all spheres. The only consideration there is how to continue: How will the Lord distribute His mercy today? It is perpetually a situation where we humble ourselves and let the Lord take care of everything. We are looking forward to our next trek— Florida to Mexico.

Nitai-Gaurasundara´s padayatra mood is unique and powerful. We have seen the attraction of countless devotees and non-devotees. This is Srila Prabhupada's perfect vision. He wanted programs like this all over the world, and we pray to be an instrument in preserving the simplicity and purity of the program, which is what has made it so appealing.

Also, during this time Lord Nrsimhadeva has fully manifested His vigraha form. His qualities as Jwala-ugra Nrsimha are now fully manifested, thanks to our good friend Indradyumna Prabhu, who helped by painting the Lord.

The Lord always reciprocates with our desires when they are for His pleasure. Some time ago we wanted to cancel a Saturday program in the house of Gadi Prabhu and Mother Sranti because of the distance (22 miles round trip). We thought it would be better to visit them when we would be traveling that way on our way out of the dhama, coinciding with Indrayumna Maharaja´s visit and program.

That way, with the blessings of Maharaja and the Vaisnavas, we could continue. It would be a beautiful way to glorify Their Lordships in Their departure. Thinking like this, we continued and asked no further about it.

Then during the week of the scheduled parikrama, Gadi Prabhu called and canceled the program. Mother Sranti had to finish the Deities' outfit for the Gaura Purnima holiday and didn't have time to make arrangements for the program (and he's out of town on business). Jaya! Nitai-Gaurasundara has reciprocated one more time with this fallen soul.

The date was changed to the day that His Holiness Indrayumna Maharaja will be there, and everyone was happy.

On March 22, we will leave the dhama at 4 p.m. We will have a few more programs within the community before leaving. 

Hare Krsna. Movimg on...

March 23–We have seen how sweet the reciprocation has been between Nitai-Gaurasundara and the community in Alachua, especially the young devotees. Padayatra has been a blessing. It has been an instrument by which the Lord has made impressions in those kids that they will never forget.

For them good, reflections on Krsna conscious activities will help later to have positive and transcendental remembrances. Some things may become routine, but seeing the Deities come out of the temple with the horses and more than 100 devotees moving on the roads in such a joyous procession will help all of them remember these unique moments of Krsna consciousness on padayatra. We have witnessed the impact that the Lord has had on them.

© dipika.org November 17, 2004