Article written by Rukmini Devi Dasi Simhachalam, Germany: “We’re at the edge of the world,” Maharaja commented, “just beyond those hills, after those last trees, it becomes ethereal.” At the German farm, one definitely gets the feeling that the rest of the world just doesn’t exist – except via the internet. It’s a befitting home to [...]
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Queensday 2013: From Amster-MAD to Amster-DHAM
By Rukmini devi dasi Amsterdam is the capital city of the material world. On the Queen’s birthday, people flood the streets, taking the celebration of such a culture to the max. Slicing through the craziness was a group of two-hundred Vaikuntha men and women. With bright, smiling faces and dressed in flowing orange, they danced [...]
Vyasa Puja 2013: The Event
By Rukmini devi dasi Great personalities are like trees. Their roots penetrate deep into scriptures, seeking nourishment. Hence they develop overpowering compassion. Their burning desire is to give to others profusely, without holding back. To do this, they are willing to tolerate any difficulties, as trees generally do. Sun or snow, the tree accepts its [...]
Vyasa Puja 2013: Holy name, Holy people and Holy places
By Rukmini devi dasi Despite the previous late night (27 April), at mangal arati the temple room was packed to capacity with devotees from Croatia, Czech, Germany, Slovakia, Norway, Sweden, Serbia, England, Australia and South Africa. At the class that followed later, Maharaja spoke from the fifth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam on the relationship between varnasrama and devotional service. He [...]
Vyasa Puja 2013: Let the festivities begin!
By Rukmini devi dasi Looking like something out of ‘Lord of the Rings’, the majestic Radhadesh castle emerges stoically from the lush green countryside. The grey stone quickly gives way to the exquisite darshan of Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha. If Radhadesh’s natural richness doesn’t leave you breatheless then the charming smile of Gopinatha most certainly will. [...]
Rama Navami in Sweden
Kadamba Kanana Swami spent the last week in Korsnas Gard (Krsna’s Garden) at the BBT headquarters in Sweden, close to Scandinavia’s capital, Stockholm. Maharaja gave daily Bhagavatam classes there in the morning and in the evenings, he made his way to the Hare Krsna Centre in the middle of Stockholm to participate in other programs. [...]
Visit to Amsterdam and 60th Birthday
(Photos by Rangadevi dasi) Back in Amsterdam and immediately ready for the morning class, even on his birthday. On Friday (12 April), Maharaja turned sixty years old. To commemorate this day, he received a birthday cake and got presents from the devotees in Amsterdam. From the Vyasasan, the cake was cut and distributed after the [...]
The concluding days in South Africa
Kadamba Kanana Swami spent the first few days following Durban Ratha Yatra in recuperation, taking occasional walks along Durban’s beachfront and also connecting with the local devotees. On Thursday (4 April), he gave the morning Srimad Bhagavatam class, highlighting how the Bhagavatam is the essence of all Vedic scriptures. “Srimad Bhagavatam is complete knowledge of [...]
A historic Ratha Yatra in Durban
The Durban Ratha Yatra festival has evolved into one of the biggest, if not the biggest, of its kind outside of India. In its momentous 25th year of existence, the freshly incarnated festival was hosted under the motto Culturally many – Spiritually one and was pioneered by Indradyumna Swami. The Festival of Chariots, as it [...]
Cape Town visit
Kadamba Kanana Swami spent the last week in Cape Town, South Africa (19-27 March) and during that time participated in several preaching programs. On most days during his stay, Maharaja gave Srimad Bhagavatam classes which were rich in both philosophical depth and practical realizations: On Wednesday afternoon (20 March), Maharaja spoke at a Bhakti Yoga [...]
Catching up
Difficult circumstances hindered regular updates on the blog. Not only did I not report on Maharaja’s travels for three weeks but was unable to post daily darshan of Giriraja as well. However, things have now changed and regular blogging will continue once again. We have included a slide-show depicting Maharaja’s travels from Vrndavan to Mayapur [...]
Back home, back to Vrndavan
From London, Kadamba Kanana Maharaja flew via Amsterdam to India. He reached the Delhi airport early on Friday morning (22 February). After a few hours of rest at the Delhi temple, he then made his way to the Krsna Balarama Mandir in Vrndavan which was approximately 150 km away. Maharaja entered a low pace program [...]
Stopover in England
From a snow-filled Simhachalam, Kadamba Kanana Swami made his way up north to the United Kingdom. His first stop there was in Leicester, where he stayed at the home of Puskara and Hara for two days. Using that as his base, Maharaja attended a six-hour kirtan program on Saturday afternoon (16 February) that was dedicated to [...]
Snow-struck Simhachalam
For the last week, Kadamba Kanana Maharaja stayed at the German farm, Simhachalam. This project is unique in the Hare Krsna movement in that it is the only temple that solely and opulently worships a massive Prahlada-Nrsimha deity. For many years, the temple has been stagnant due to a lack of devotees staying at the farm. The main [...]
Never forget for a moment
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 27 January 2013, Radhadesh, Belgium, Radhadesh Mellows Class) In the Caitanya-candramrta (1.5), there is a description from Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura and he writes: durdāntendriya-kāla-sarpa-paṭalī, protkhāta-daṁṣṭrāyate. Then he says: viśvaṁ pūrṇa-sukhāyate. He says that the senses are like black snakes with poisonous fangs that are attacking us constantly. And these snakes will bite. The nature of a [...]
Festivals in Czech and Slovak
Arrival in Czech Continuing with the tour of Europe, Kadamba Kanana Swami made his way from Germany to the Czech Republic where he was warmly welcomed by an enthusiastic harinama party at the Prague temple. The visit began with the weekly Sunday program. Maharaja started-off with an ecstatic kirtan which was followed by a lecture [...]
Leipzig – a place of significance
Back in good old Leipzig! It was here that my service began. Almost two years ago, just a day after Nityananda Prabhu’s appearance day, celebrated in the Leipzig temple, I joined Kadamba Kanana Swami to assist him in his travels. The original plan was to travel together for three months and then separate again after [...]
Radhadesh Mellows, 2013
“Chanting from dawn to dusk…” was the motto of the 2013 Radhadesh Mellows event that took place in Radhadesh, Belgium last weekend (26-27 January). Kadamba Kanana Swami arrived in Radhadesh a week in advance of the kirtan event. He presented a five day seminar on the Caitanya Caritamrita for the Bhaktivedanta College students as well [...]
From KKSwami’s desk
After spending two months on his own in Australia, Jananivasa joined me again in Belgium just before the Radhadesh Mellows (26-27 January). It was nice to see him again; after all he is my disciple, my personal servant and also my personal friend. Jananivasa, living up to his name, is a pujari at heart. So [...]
A Week in Amsterdhama
After the whole month of recovering in South Africa Kadamba Kanana Swami ventured out to the north and stopped for a week in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. With temperatures below -5 maharaja kept us warm with his inspiring presence and interesting classes. Due to his recovering health he took it easy the first few days. He [...]
