Dear Devotees,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. KINDLY POST THIS ON YOUR TEMPLE NOTICE BOARDS.
We had a great festival in Vrndavana after the Mayapur Gaura Purnima Festival. The day before Ram Nauvami, the temple held a huge community event, Shobha Yatra with all the small Deities on palanquins, moving along in kirtan, department to department. First stop was the Samadhi. It was ladies day at the Samadhi, and we cordoned off the front entrance to protect them all from the Saturday crowd crashing through. Our full team of Ladies’ Kirtaneers sang their offering on the peacock stairs, while another 100 ladies offered rose-garlands, agarbhatti and sweets to Their Little Lordships. It was so nice for all of us to be able to personally do some little service at such close quarters.
Last few months we cleaned the whole dome from top to bottom in preparation for waterproofing on the dome. We have just received the materials and hope to finish the job before the rainy season. We got some special silicon for in between the tiles, reputed to withstand the expansion and contraction of our Vrndavan extreme heat and extreme cold. Then, after any excess is cleaned up, the whole dome will get coated with a clear sealant to protect it from environmental pollutions so it stays white. We might have to keep scaffolding up there for some time. Sorry for the inconvenience. It’s a long, tedious process.
We also look after the Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg signs and Bhaktivedanta Swami Arch, and are doing an overall cleaning, repair and painting soon.
Our Samadhi ladies’ kirtan now has three shifts, morning, afternoon and evening (after 7 o’clock aroti). So many visitors just sit down and join the kirtan, and leave very happy. Before they begin the second shift, we have one preacher who comes in for an hour before she goes to do her garlands at the temple. She gets everyone to raise their arms and chant Hare Krishna. Everyone proceeds on the parikrama with a smile and often sits down for the kirtan for a while.
Even as all this is going on, our brahmacaris on the first floor are preaching and conducting a successful japa program. Very often there is a long queue out from the peacock stairs waiting to get in so they can chant 108 mantras on the beautiful painted lotus on the parikrama around Prabhupada’s altar upstairs. At the end, many participants get books and japa malas.
Adi Kesava prabhu has been running a nice Samadhi face-book page. You can find the link:https://www.facebook.com/samadhimandir.
The Samadhi expenses have increased with time, inflation, and the new government tax laws. Half of our supplies have a 28% tax tacked on, if they are not the supplies that are “only” half that. So your kind donations have never been so needed as they are now. No donation is too big or too small. Purushottama Mas has begun, and your donations will give you unimaginable extra benefit.
This year, donations totaled almost Rs. 7 laks and hundi box donations over Rs.9 laks. Interest from the Samadhi Fixed Deposits was over Rs.9 laks.
Below is information on how to donate whatever your heart desires in reciprocation for Srila Prabhupada’s ever expanding mercy in his Samadhi Mandir. Donations may also be directed to the Samadhi Maintenance Fund Fixed Deposit, or even as a bequeathement, both of which the interest from your donation will serve Srila Prabhupada eternally. Bank transfers are cheaper than wiring.
Somehow, there was a glitch in the online system of donations. I noticed our yearly statement only mentioned cash, cheque or bank transfers, and no online deposits to the Samadhi account for the whole year. Luckily I knew that one devotee was sending monthly, which accounts were adjusted. So, I am embarrassed to request that if anyone else out there has sent online donations in the past year or so, kindly mail-in the details to me so I can get it rectified.
Whether you wish to give to the Vrndavana Samadhi Fixed Deposit; or to a specific project of the Samadhi, kindly contact me (parvati.acbsp@pamho.net) here in Vrndavana so I know to look for it in case of technical delays, especially if you send on-line. To insure appropriate handling, if you mail it or send it by hand, address your envelope to Samadhi Maintenance Fund, attention Parvati devi dasi WITH A COVERING LETTER. Please state your name, address and the purpose of the donation, so proper documentation can be made and receipts and GIFTS can be sent.
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