July 8 - July 15, 2005

The European Festival was held in The Hague, Holland on the coast of the North Sea. 1,200 devotees and guests from around-the-world attended the grand hari-katha festival with Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja.

In the evenings, Srila Narayana Maharaja spoke about Ratha-yatra and Sri Raya Ramananda Samvad. During the day he met with devotees, performed initiations, marriages and first grain ceremonies.

On the last evening of the program, guru-puja was performed. After that the organizer of the festival, Ashok Krsna dasa, honored Srila Narayana Maharaja with a trophy and plaque, and he gave thanks to the sannyasis and other organizers.

Altar

Performing a Vedic marriage

Grain Ceremony

Guru-puja

Sita Thakurani dasi

Srila Narayana Maharaja called on his spiritual daughter, Sita Thakurani dasi (one of the leaders of the Gangamata Temple in London) to explain the verse beginning, “nanopacara-krta-pujanam arta-bandhoh…,” quoted by Sri Raya Ramananda to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. After Sita dasi spoke, Srila Narayana Maharaja said, “I fear that she may take the position of Syamarani. If women are not intelligent, how could she speak like this? Although she is a baby (young), she is speaking like this. I want all my daughters to be like her – very bold.

“Also, my sons should be more bold. They should learn all the things she told, and they should preach everywhere as boldly as she is doing. She has given me a proposal that a male can not easily give. She said, ‘Next year, please come to London. The whole world can come, and I will manage everything.’ She is able to manage. How strong she is.

“My blessings to you, and to my daughters who are with you. All should take lessons from her. If you know that you don’t want to be hogs, dogs, cats, donkeys and honkeys, then you should be bold enough to be brahmacari. Why again become dogs and pigs? You have tasted all these things in your previous millions of lives. Now you should control your minds.”

Srila Narayana Maharaja then called on his young spiritual son, Jiva-priya dasa brahmacari, to speak something more on the same topic. After he spoke, Srila Narayana Maharaja said, “All my brahmacaris in France, Germany, England, and everywhere in Europe and other countries should be bold like him. They should try to know all these teachings and preach my mission boldly. I am very happy that he expressed the points very well, with no fear at all. Thank you.”

Leaving Holland to go to Delhi, India

Installation of Sri Sri Radha Vindoda-vihari, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu

and Srila Bhakti Prajnana Kesava Gosvami Maharaja at

Sri Sri Giridhari Gaudiya Matha in Govardhana

November 28, 2004

On November 28, 2004 devotees from around the world and sadhus from all parts of India gathered in Govardhana for the auspicious installation of Sri Sri Radha Vinoda-bihariji, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Bhakti Prajnana Gosvami Maharaja. The ceremony began with recitation of the jaya-dvani prayers, then throwing of flower petals and rice, and then auspious mantras and arati. After arati, abhiseka of the Deities was performed, while simultaneously a fire sacrifice was taking place by the garden outside the temple room. After abhiseka the Deities were given a bath with auspicious substances, from pots having thousands of holes, and then Thakurji was elaborately dressed and decorated. Once the Deities were dressed Srila Narayana Maharaja installed them according to Vedic tradition, after that noon arati and bhoga offering were performed, and then over a thousand devotees were served prasadam.