Padmalochan Das is with Srila Prabhupada now...

by Vrindavan Lila Dasi

My husband, Padmalochan Das, disciple of Srila Prabhupada,  has left his body on 27 March, Dvadasi.  He was worshiping Vrinda Devi and She took him on Her day (Dvadasi).

One night close to dvadasi (when he left) there was a loud deep voice that called his name twice. At the time i was trying to sleep and woke up from it, Rajendranandana Prabhu who came to stay that night to help with care was just doing something out on veranda... I guess my husband did not know we heard the voice, so he did not mention anything to us, but when Jananivasa came next day (he was coming every day), he told him that Srila Prabhupada was calling him last night...
He was peaceful. The day before he left, he chanted GAURANGA at intervals, every few min repeating name Gauranga... peacefully...

He left body on Dvadasi morning.
He remembered in Vrindavan, Srila Prabhupada was there, I can't remember the ocasion, and my husband was fanning him, suddenly Prabhupad started to motion to him to come closer, he leaned forward, Prabhupad wanted him to come even closer, he put his ear near Prabhupad's mouth and Srila Prabhupada said "go put all the lights on" - so, he went and turned every light on, came back and started to fan Prabhupad again.
The morning he left I did not see any signs that he going to leave at first when I woke up.... then suddenly he started to say "I want to sit up", "put all the lights on" - I did turn lights on and tryed to help him to sit, then he asked me to bring chair in the room, as for someone else - I did bring a chair... then he started to say - "look what's going on outside!" - i did not see anything... then he asked for Tulasi leaves, put them in his mouth and left....
after very strong chest massage offered by one acupuncture doctor, Maithely, who was present in the room then, he came back for short time and his look was unusual - like he is looking at everything at once... (as if compare what kind life he has here if he stays with what he was perceiving, which I could not see...) and taking one very deep breath he left.... - in full conscious, with peaceful mind and understanding of the situation.

For years he felt a lot of pain from seeing that Srila Prabhupada movement isn't been developed true to the original mood that Srila Prabhupada had given... that Srila Prabhupada's direct instructions sometimes manipulated and changed at convenience....
He is a happy person by nature, very understanding of people's nature, compassionate and forgiving... he is also very honest - thus it was really tormenting him - to see the wrongs in Srila Prabhupada's movement that he had no power to help to correct, due to not been given the right opportunity according to his qualities... 
His attachment to Srila Prabhupada is un-measurably deep, he could never leave Prabhupad's movement for another.... he had no interest in Maya's comfort either... so he moved on with Srila Prabhupada....
He told me couple of times that in the past year he kept on seeing same dream few times - he comes in where Srila Prabhupada is sitting on large very beautiful sit and around him many other sitts for devotees, there are uncountable devotees sitting all around Srila Prabhupada, but somehow everyone fits, there is space for everyone, everyone has full opportunity to relate with Srila Prabhupada... So, when he came into the assembly Prabhupad and devotees greated him and he was giving service to show new coming people to their sits. He saw this dream few times...

The day he left many devotees came to have his last darsan and kirtan was going on all day non-stop into the middle of the night.
The next day his body was taking to the Ganga for the funeral - all Gopal dieties in Mayapur and Navadvip area were drinking milk that day... (if offered milk on a spoon Gopal drunk it)... and the weather was beautiful.

Now I am trying to increase my chanting and reading.
* will try to publish his unfinished work on Navadvip book, Audarya Dhama;
* improved Udhava Sandesh (accurate translation from Sanskrit with expanded Notes) is already ready for printing;
* also will try to re-print Gita Mahatmya, with illustrations (for the first time);
* hopping to reprint Pada Sevana;
* also asked Bhakti Vidyapurna Swami to reprint Chintamani Dhama (Vrindavan parikrama), which my husband donated to Mayapur Gurukula;
* hopping to keep Madhurya Dhama in print (guide to Govardhan parikrama).

I am preparing publications now, need sponsors for printing. Please let me know if you interested to contribute for printing of Prabhu's books.

Also, devotees asking me to write my husband's biography, but I need more info to put together, from devotees who knew him at any times, had any service and association with him. I will include all the memories, realizations of him and biography into a publication of Prabhu's unfinished research work on Navadvipa Dhama. Please write something if you knew him.
Below this letter I am posting his basic biographical details.

I beg your blessings to remain Krishna Conscious, accomplish publications I've mentioned above and to join my husband again...
Thank you for association and encouragement in our service that we have received from many devotees over the time.

Hare Krishna,
your servant, Vrindavan Lila Dasi



Basic Biogpaphy of Padmalocan Das, disciple of Srila Prabhupada:

Padmalocan Das was born in England, met Srila Prabhupada in 1971 (18 years old), when he was 19 he moved to India and was assisting Srila Prabhupada establishing His International ISKCON  movement in India (Kolkata, Mayapur, Vrindavan, Bombay, Hyderabad), he had also constructed ISKCON temple in Vidyanagar (Gujarat).
He spent 20 years of his life in Vrindavan, where he was researching deeply the Holy Dham, places of Krishna's pastimes, traveled a lot all over Vraja Mandala, making friends with Vrajabasis. As the result of his travels and research he wrote books - Chintamani Dhama (Vrindavan parikrama), Madhurya Dhama (guide to Govardhana parikrama), he also wrote book about glories of Yamuna Devi (in Hindi), also translated Gita Mahatmya and Tulasi Devi Mahatmya - from Padma Purana (Sanscrit).
He also wrote book Audarya Dhama - Navadvipa Dhama parikrama.
He researched and compiled another book, called Pada Sevana - description of Lord's Lotus feet with pictures of lotus feet and hands of Radha-Krishna and Lord Chaitanya, Nityananda and Advaita.
He also translated Udhava Sandesh  by Srila Rupa Goswami.
Besides writing books he was also actively served in ISKCON Vrindavan temple management in the mid-1970's.
He was a temple comander at some point, he was also in-charge of ISKCON Goshala in Vrindavan (in 1980-s).
When Srila Prabhupada instructed to reduce mahaprasad offerings in Vrindavan temple, he was in-charge of kitchens and he had been accused by some of taking maha-prasad for himself - his answer to the accusations was to STOP eating grains (!), he had not taken grains since then for the rest of his life... in fact he had lived only on milk for 15 years, other times taking non-grain diet...
After living 20 years in Vrindavan, he spent 8 months traveling in Russia with wife Vrindavan Lila dasi,  then they lived for one and half year in England and then came to Mayapur in 1995, where had been living since, until the end of his body on morning 27 March, 2010, at the age of 57...

Gauranga! Hare Krishna

The Temple of Vedic Planetarium

You may want to read this
(click on this line)

Odana Sasti darsan of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava in Mayapur, 2009

Odana Sasti is the first day of winter. Sri Sri Radha-Madhava & asta-sakhis were dressed in Manipuri outfit, made in the memory of Bhakti Swarup Damodara Goswami.

To see photos taken in 2009 click this line

Srila Prabhupada Disapearance Day, Mayapur, 2009

Devotees observing Srila Prabhupada's disapearance night in Samadhi Mandir - aroti & offering lamps:



Kolkata - Srila Prabhupada's birth place. Sankarsan Prabhu, physical family member of Srila Prabhupada, talks about importance to preserve places of Prabhupada's early life.



Poem Srila Prabhupada wrote to glorify His Spiritual Master, Bhaktisidhanta Saraswati Thakur - reading by RajendranandanaPrabhu:



Devotees assembled in Srila Prabhupada Samadhi, ISKCON Mayapur, to celebrate His Divine Grace's disapearance day. Devotees singing Samsara song - prayers to spiritual master.



Hare Krishna kirtan on Srila Prabhupada Disapearance Day in Samadhi Mandir:

Govardhan Puja in Mayapur

Divali lamps offering at Damodara aroti

There nearly 4000 devotees came with him to Mayapur, with so many people lamps offering in the temple is spectacular expirience.

Radhanatha Swami is leading Damodara prayers.

ISKCON Mayapur Goshala - cow's recovery from foot-&-mouth disease

They just have recovered from very dangerous foot-&-mouth disease. Many have died, however, many of the main milking heard cows have survived. Milk is little less now, but the cows are still offering their milk to Radha-Madhava and devotees here, hopefully they will continue to get well.

Radhapati, the old padayatra bull, have expired 3 days ago and was put in Samadhi behind Gosala. He was pulling cart with Gaura-Nitai deities in whole India Padayatra for years, then retired in Mayapur Gosala and have now gone back to Godhead.

A new little cow was born, the calf is very small and prematurely born from recovered from the disease mother. The baby cow appears to be healthy and running on her own feet now.

Srila Prabhupada's Trees

by Giriraj Swami

Srila Prabhupada had to struggle very hard to build the Juhu temple. The first struggle was to get the land, the next struggle was to get the permission to build the temple, and the last struggle was to actually build the temple and install the Deities. And we had worked very hard to get the permission, but Indian permits often include many conditions. So although they give permission, the permission is not actually valid until one fulfills the conditions.

One of the conditions was that we had to have an internal access road of a certain width. And it just so happened that right where the access road was supposed to go, there were some palm trees. Once, when Srila Prabhupada came to Juhu after being away for some time, he noticed that one or two of the trees had been cut down, and he was very concerned-I would even say upset.
He asked, "Why did you cut down the trees?" We thought we had the perfect answer: we had to build the temple, and to get the permission for the temple we had to cut the trees in the way of the road. Srila Prabhupada said, "No, you go to the municipality and tell them it's against our religion to cut down trees." So we had no choice, and we did it. And of course the municipal officers objected.

But one thing that really struck me about how concerned Srila Prabhupada was for the trees was that the next time he came back to Juhu after a world tour, practically the first thing he said was, "I was in Tehran, and I have seen they have trees in the middle of the streets. So we can also have trees in the middle of our street." So on Srila Prabhupada's order, we held our ground with the municipality, and in the end they gave us the permission to keep the tree. And even today you can see that tree, which Srila Prabhupada protected, still standing there with asphalt all around it.

So I am thinking that if Srila Prabhupada has so much concern and care - and even love, I would say - for a tree, then how much care and love he must have for us. And it's just because of Srila Prabhupada's care and mercy and protection that we are able to stand in Krsna consciousness--no matter what else is around us.

All glory to Srila Prabhupada.
Hare Krsna.

Big Kadamba trees are cut down to make way for the new temple

Yesterday Mayapur Project started to clear up grounds for the Temple of Vedic Planetarium to be built in the area presently taken by the famous Mayapur gardens, situated on the age of Rudra-dvipa (Antradvipa begins just behind Lotus building).
Big Kadamba trees are getting chopped down, nearly 100 trees have been sentenced to die for the greater good.

Earthquake in Mayapur

by Samba Das

On Monday 21st September, Mayapur was swayed by an earthquake that was centered just inside the border of Bhutan, where it registered as 6.1 on the richter scale.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8267067.stm
I was sitting for a few minutes and at exactly 2.30 pm I felt the whole building swaying gently. The chimes above my head began to ring, and I saw the water in a 12 liter bottle on the concrete floor moving from side to side.
It was the first time I ever actually felt an earthquake. I had experienced one once in Los Angeles, but it was only for a split second, and I heard it rather than felt it.
Very few devotees in Mayapur even noticed it. If you were moving about you could not tell. My neighbor Madan Mohan (originally from Canada) confirmed that he also felt it while sitting at his computer.
It would be interesting to know what time exactly it struck in Bhutan. There apparently it was only for a moment, but in Mayapur it appeared to last for about 30 seconds, albeit just a gentle swaying.

Your servant
Samba das

Radhastami in Mayapur, 2009

Here is a video of mangala-aroti after Radhastami:

Srila Prabhupada's Appearance Day celebration in Mayapur, August 2009

Srila Prabhupada's Appearance Day was celebrated in Mayapur by devotees offering their glorifications to His Divine Grace, followed by abhisekha, puspanjaly, Gurupuja, kirtan and prasad.
Devotees read their offerings from community Vyasa Puja Book offered to Srila Prabhupada. Hari Sauri Prabhu was MC of the program, Padmalochan Das presented Vyasa Puja book, which is hand-made by community devotees, Suchitendriya Das was translating to Bengali.

This year we offered 12-th Vyasa Puja Book of this kind for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada:



Vyasa Puja book offering - acknowledgments of devotees participating in making this large hand-made book for Srila Prabhupada:



Offering by Padmalochan Das:



Jananivasa Prabhu reading his offering to Srila Prabhupada:



Umapati Swami reads his offering to Srila Prabhupada:



Hrimati Mataji reads her offering to SrilaPrabhupada:



In the evening devotes offered lamps to Srila Prabhupada:



Children's program was orginised by Ragatmika Mataji and took place day before Janmastami in the SB class room on the second floor of Pancha-tattva temple extention blding.
Children held the full Vyasa Puja celebration with reading offerings, abhisek, puspanjaly, Gurupuja, kirtan and prasad.

Janmastami in ISKCON Mayapur temple, August 2009

Janmastami day darsan:



Mangala aroti next morning after Janmastami night, shot inside the altar:

Balarama Appearance Day in Mayapur, August 2009

Abhisekha in the temple:



breaking honey pot pastime on Lord Balarama's Appearance Day:

Jhulan yatra in Mayapur, 2009

Devotees are busy making Vyasa Puja book

Mayapur devotees are busy making community Vyasa Puja book for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada.
Vasa Puja offerings from Mayapur residents will be presented in a hand-made book, made by hands of community devotees.

pictures of work in progress:

Free calls within ISKCON Mayapur compound

Mayapur telephone exchange has adjusted the system of calling on Government land line phones within ISKCON Mayapur compound. Now we have to dial "9" before dialling the number we want to call. If you calling to a land-line phone within ISKCON compound you don't get charged for the call.

Offerings for Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja book

Dear Mayapur devotees,
Hare Krishna!
Please accept my humble obeisancies.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Please write your offering to Srila Prabhupada for His Vyasa Puja this year and send it to us for inclusion in the Community Vyasa Puja book.
Devotees are already working on making the book, please send your offerings before 4-th of August 2009.
Those who are presently in Mayapur, please print your offering or write it neatly by hand on one side of A-4 paper. You can submit the offerings to New Devotee office in the Long bld or give to us directly.

Thank you, Hare Krishna.

your servants,
Padmalochan Das & Vrindavan Lila Dasi

Jagannatha snana yatra celebration in Mayapur, June 2009

Lord of Universe, Jagannatha, along with His brother Balarama and sister Subhadra are bathed by devotees 2 weeks before Ratha-yatra parade. On this ocasion not only priests, but lituraly EVERYONE is allowed to bathe and touch the Lord. It is once a year ocasion.
Snana yatra - bathing of Lord Jagannatha. The story is that the deity is bathed (on this ocasion everyone is allowed to come and bathe, touch the deity, normally only priests can do it).
Then Lord "catches cold" after so much bathing and goes to bed for 2 weks, when He is given a special medicine to get better, it made of mixed curd, cream, candy and butter with cinamon.
After He gets better we will have even a bigger festival, Ratha-yatra, Lord Jagannatha will go out of His temple (once a year ocasion) in a big cart with large wooden wheels pulled by people. He goes around streets and everyone can come and offer service to the Lord, even people who normally don't go to the temple, animals, etc - all are given darsan and mercy of the Lord on that day.

Radha-Madhava water pastimes 2009

Water pastimes of Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Madhava is one of the summer festivals - Small Radha-Madhava deities are placed in a lotus fauntain - it is in the shape of a lotus and also filled with pink lotus flowers, infront of Radha-Madhava is a small fauntain and Their altar is surrounded by water.
Devotees come and offer flowers to Their Lordships chanting Their names, Jananivasa Prabhu and Ramaniya Mataji giving out flowers along with one of 1000 names of Radha-Krishna to chant.