Tour Report Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja's Summer Visit to Hawaii and Fiji May-June - 2005

Hawaii

On May 13, 2005, Srila Narayana Maharaja left Fiji for Oahu, Hawaii. Srila Narayana Maharaja regularly spends time on the Northshore in Hawaii to focus on his writing and translating of Gaudiya Vaisnava literature from Bengali and Sanskrit into Hindi. These books are thereafter translated by his disciples into English and the world’s other main languages. This summer Srila Maharaja was able to spend almost a full month resting and writing in Hawaii. On May17th Srila Narayana Maharaja flew to the Big Island to visit his dear disciple Gaura-sundara Prabhu, who was seriously injured last year in the ocean at Jagannatha Puri. Gaura-sundara Prabhu was deeply moved by the visit. He told Srila Maharaja that as soon as he recovers from his injury he will run towards his lotus feet.

The following day, Srila Narayana Maharaja celebrated Sri Nrsimha Caturdasi with all the devotees at the temple in Hilo, which is well looked after by Gopa-vrndapalla Prabhu and his son Sravana Kumara Prabhu. The temple was packed with some 150 devotees, and Srila Maharaja spoke for a full two hours on the glories of Sri Nrsimhadeva and the emperor among devotees, Sri Prahlada Maharaja. The devotees were deeply inspired.

On the Northshore, Srila Narayana Maharaja has been working relentlessly on his writing and translating work, putting in six to eight hours of undisturbed work daily. He has now completed Sri Bhagavatarka-marici-mala, an exquisite compilation by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura of the most important verses of Srimad-Bhagavatam together with their deep meanings. He is now working on three books simultaneously: Sri Raya-Ramananda Samvad from Sri Caitanya Caritamrta with his own explanation and commentary, Sri Sri Prema-samputa by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura and Sri Sri Camatkara Candrika by the same author. These last two books are beautiful accounts of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna’s sweet pastimes in Vraja.

It cannot be overstated how significant a work Srila Maharaja’s Sri Raya-Ramananda Samvad will be, and how much it will help all the devotees in their spiritual practice. Srila Narayana Maharaja is determined to complete this work during his current world preaching tour. This means that this year will hopefully see a total of eight new Hindi books in print: Sri Brhad-Bhagavatamrta in three volumes, Sri Ujjvala-nilamani, Sri Bhagavatarka-marici-mala, Sri Raya-Ramananda Samvad, Sri Sri Prema-samputa and Sri Sri Camatkara Candrika. We wait with great anticipation for these books to be translated into English.

[Submitted by Sundar-gopal dasa of the tour]

Fiji

Srila Narayana Maharaja arrived in Fiji on the evening of the May 3rd. He stayed at the home of Kanti-lal dasa Adhikari in Lautoka. He began giving informal darsans until the 6th. From the 6th to the 12th there were evening programs at Sri Visnu Mandira, at which time he explained about sanatana-dharma (the eternal relirion of the soul). He told his audience that the intrinsic nature of sanatana -dharma was prema, pure love for Lord Sri Krsna, and that the topmost sanatana-dharma is gopi-prema.

In his series of classes he spoke from the most basic topic to the highest. He spoke about the gradation of devotees from Dhruva Maharaja to Prahlada Maharaja to Ambarisa Maharaja to Hanuman to the Pandavas to the Yadavas and ultimately to Sri Uddhava. On the last evening he spoke about Uddhava going to Vraja and meeting with Nanda Baba. He concluded by briefly discussing the verses of Bhramara-gita, the song of the Bumble-bee.

Many devotees were inspired by Srila Narayana Maharaja's harikatha, and about 500 people attended on the last two evenings. Over 70 took harinama initiation and many took diksa (brahmanical initiation).

Srila Maharaja went on daily morning walks, after which he would speak for a few minutes to the devotees assembled at Sripad Kanti-lal dasa's house. At midday, programs were regularly held at the homes of the local devotees, where Sripad Damodara Maharaja and Dhira Krsna dasa gave classes on the subjects of guru-tattva and nama-tattva. Sometimes Srila Maharaja would also attend.

[Submitted by Sundar Gopal dasa from Fiji]

Arrival in Hilo, Hawaii January 31, 2005

On the morning of January 31st, Srila Narayana Maharaja arrived in Hilo, Hawaii from the island of Oahu, where he had been writing for the past two months. At the Hilo airport he sat down on a bench, and spent a few minutes greeting the 40 devotees who had come to meet him upon his arrival. From the airport he went to the home of Narahari dasa and Bhavatarini dasi, where he will continue his writing until the festival begins in downtown Hilo, from February 4th - 10th. Srila Maharaja is presently working on "Sri Bhagavatarka-marichi-mala", a compilation of verses from Srimad-Bhagavatam as closen by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and arranged according to topic. On the morning of February 4th Srila Maharaja, will move to his temple in Hilo, which is run by Sripad Gopavrndapala dasa and his son Sravana dasa.

In his room at Narahari dasa and Bhavatarini dasis home

As well as writing and translating and replying letters, Srila Narayana Maharaja is giving darsana to devotees now and then. In this darsana on February 1st, he told Syamarani dasi, "There is an artist named Kanai in Vrndavana, who has been given an award by the President of India after he saw Kanai's paintings. If the President will see your pictures [referring especially to the large bas relief paintings done recently by a team of his artist-disciples at the new Govardhana temple], what will he do? I want you to make a book of all your pictures, and this should be given to the President of India."

Kauai, Hawaii January 2, 2005

On January 2, 2005 Srila Narayana Maharaja gave a lecture in the home of Visvambhara dasa and Pancali dasi on the island of Kauai. Over 160 people attended. The program started out with traditional devotional songs, and then Srila Narayana Maharaja spoke about the need for people to come together from all faiths and learn the science of bhakti-yoga. Love of God transcends religions because it is the true nature of the soul. He explained that running after material life is only a distraction from the real reason we are here on Earth, which is to learn to love and to serve God. There are so many tragedies in this life; how do we deal with them? Many people turn to drugs or some other distraction to try to feel better, but that does not work Even if the results appear pleasant, they do not last. Bhakti-yoga teaches the method to uncover our true self, our spiritual self, through serving and loving God.

Srila Maharaja requested that everyone come together and have compassion for each other, instead of fighting over material designations such as skin color, nationality, or religion. After He spoke, there was a beautiful poem read by Chandrika dasi, and then more music and group chanting. The last part of the evenings program was a 7 course meal of maha-prasada and discussions of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja's many books. Everyone enjoyed themselves.

Giving class

Meeting with former Kauai Mayor, Marianne Kusaka,

and local radio celebrity and author Dr. Ann West.

On far left is Eric and his girlfriend Rebecca (handing Srila Maharaja a flower)

who were picked up by the devotees while hitchiking.

Pictures courtesy of Jayanti dasi