Govardhana Annakuta, India -- November 13, 2004

 

Govardhana Annakuta, India -- November 13, 2004

Following in the footsteps of Lord Krsna and His beloved associates who worshipped Govardhana Hill, Srila Narayana Maharaja and his followers performed Govardhana annakuta. Srila Maharaja led the devotees in first performing go-puja (worship of a cow) in front of Sri Giridhari Gaudiya Matha, and they also performed Vaisnava puja. Then they performed Giriraja abhiseka (bathing a Govardhana stone with auspicious ingredients like yogart, ghee and milk) and then they offered 1,200 food preparations to Govardhana. Srila Maharaja discussed the glories of Sri Govardhana and then led the devotees in prayers to receive his blessings.

 Before worshipping Giriraja Govardhana Srila Maharaja led the devotees in cow worship.

Devotees carrying offerings through the town of Govardhana to present to Giriraja (Giriraja literally translates as King of Mountains, and that is Govardhana himself)

 Offerings being presented to Giriraja
 Srila Maharaja bathing Giriraja
 Giving hari-katha and leading devotees in offering prayers to Sri Giriraja Govardhana

Govardhana, India -- November 12, 2004

 

Govardhana, India -- November 12, 2004

Srila Narayana Maharaja and the parikrama party arrived in Govardhana, at Sri Giridhari Gaudiya Matha, on November 10, 2004. Pleased with the development of the temple, he toured the outside garden, guesthouse (which includes his own room) the inside temple room, the new hand-carved wooden altar, and the newly painted Govardhana pastime bas reliefs. Since that day, in the temple room each morning after mangala arati and bhajanas, he has been giving classes on Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura's Sri Bhajana Rahasya. In the evenings he gives class on Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami's Sri Manah Siksa. Both mornings and evenings he discusses the glory of Govardhana and sometimes he glorifies the holy places visited by the devotees that day.

Looking at the bas relief paintings at the entrance of Sri Giridhari Gaudiya Matha

After morning class Srila Narayana Maharaja installed Sudarsana Cakra, to be soon placed on the highest spire of the new Giridhari Gaudiya Matha

The parikrama party circumambulates Manasi Ganga

At Srila Sanatana Gosvami's bhajana kutira and Cakalesvara Mahadeva on the bank of Manasi Ganga

 Manasi Ganga