By Deavaki Prana Das

*Iskcon Vrindaban Represents Srila Prabhupada at SyamaKunda*

Dear Respected Vaisnavas, All glories to Srila Prabhupada All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga All glories to Sri Radha Kunda and Sri Syamakunda

The latest update with the cleaning of the kundas is that a main emphasis has now been placed on Syama Kunda with the drainage, rebuilding of the stairs, entrance gates, stone rails on the gazebos, and the relocation of the sacred kunda tilak from Vajra-kunda.

This kunda was created by Krsna’s right heal in its advent. Some local sadhus say it was named after Vajranabha, Lord Krsna’s grandson, while others say it was named after Lord Indra’s Vajra(thunderbolt) weapon, when Indra threw his weapon down at this place to help Krsna create Syama Kunda. King Vajranabha, who desired to glorify the Lord excavated Syama Kunda, he constructed an eight foot high, and sixty foot square sandstone boundary wall around the original kunda, wide enough for people to walk along. Sometimes during the hot summer months when the water level goes down, this sandstone structure can be seen. Presently one can have full darshan of this edifice.

The government is developing the entire area around Govardhana Hill and is focussing on some kunda restoration work, unfortunately their work is slow and mysteriously some crores of rupees have disappeared from the allocated funds for the cleaning which means the work will undergo sporadic delays. The latest news is that the cleaning will drag on all the way to kartika, when the operation will finally focus on Radha kunda. Could be an interesting Bahulastami celebration this year with so little kunda water!… let us see.

Daily various brajavasi and vaisnava camps have come to assist, to take advantage of this bhakti seva. This is the real reason for this cleaning, allowing one and all some direct Goloka sevas. Yesterday we were honoured with Iskcon Vrindaban, Iskcon Govardhan, and Gopal mandir’s contributions , with around 150 devotees all up(even a few Mayapur vasis were in attendance) representing Srila Prabhupada in the morning hours at Syama Kunda.

Two main double lines were formed with men on the one side and women on the other of each, bringing bucket after bucket, hand to hand from the center of Vajra Kunda to the outside, up the 31 stairs to a temple court yard in to a 1 1/2 foot deep pool of mud(which felt just like condensed butter), while the other line placed the tilak in an alley to be picked up by a tractor rig. They say of late 250 tractor loads of mud have been relocated. This is reminiscent of the Gundica marjana lila in the CC, where devotees would line up side by side to bring water into the temple. Here the stronger stood within the kunda and began the bucket chain outward. A melodious kirtan issued forth giving momentum to the yajna. Gaura Nitai and a murti of Srila Prabhupada presided over this seva puja, a very unifying and jovial atmosphere of chanting and mud fun.

Quite honestly many groups have come, but from this team a most unmistakable ‘Prabhupada presence’ was felt, a power impact at the Kunda to the amazement of many Brajavasi on lookers. Even one baba at the top wall asked “When will you all come back again?” Great public relations in service to His Divine Grace!

Everyone could appreciate that there was a ‘unique offering’ at hand. We humbly ask which will be the next yatra to come represent Srila Prabhupada at this time?

This Goloka seva can be likened to placing a ‘tulsi leaf’ on all your other devotional offerings in life. We can not say that we may be allowed enter Goloka in the next life, however this dhama seva or especially these kunda sevas are non different to the Vaikuntha Goloka sevas. A direct offering can be deposited here by even while we drive these selfsame material bodies.

Anyone who may interested to spend any time to at least take darshan can stay with us at Navina Kishore mandir(first left down the alley past Gopal mandir across the street behind the blue iron gate at the end of the alley). Please call me(Devaki) at 09359329301, we have an entire building of 8 rooms available where people can stay for free if they come for kunda seva.

Also if any one would like more detailed photos then please email me.

Jaya Sri Radhe Your servant, Devaki Prana dasa

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