Coming Closer to Krishna.
Visakha Dasi has now been warmly welcomed as the new Temple President of Bhaktivedanta Manor.
She is well known in the international devotee community for the time she spent as Srila Prabhupada’s photographer and as an avid writer for Back to Godhead magazine. In more recent years she assisted her husband, Yadubara Das, in producing the award-winning film, Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It All. Her book Five Years, Eleven Months and a Lifetime of Unexpected Love: A Memoir, which depicts her time spent with Srila Prabhupada, has also received great reviews.
“The theme for the Temple community this year is Coming Closer to Krishna” she explained during the first meeting (Manor update) of the year attended by residents and staff members.
She asked those present what they felt they needed and expected from a Temple President. “What came out overwhelmingly was their need for unity in our large and diverse community,” Visakha Dasi explained. “They would like to see devotees of all ages, nationalities, races, genders, and backgrounds overlook these superficial differences and serve Krishna together. With this devotional mood we can all come closer to Krishna and enhance our community’s unity.
“I remember the first pandal [tent] program that Srila Prabhupada’s disciples organised in 1971. It was in Bombay, lasted 10 days, and was attended by 10,000 people each night and 20,000 on the weekends. On the final Sunday, an ISKCON devotee couple were married on stage – – one was from Australia and the other from Sweden. Srila Prabhupada remarked, “This is the real United Nations!” and in response 20,000 people cheered. It was incredible; the sound was tumultuous!”