Yesterday was a day trip to Milan for Harinam Sankirttan. Malini devi dasi was busy throughout the day organising and co-ordinating the excursion. Due to the traffic concerns and also a lack of available parking in the city centre, we decided that the best way to go would be by train. The half hour train ride began in the beautiful hilly area of Villa Govinda but soon we were seeing buildings and suburban life springing up out of the windows of the carriage. After a handful of stops, we arrived at the terminus in Milan, and began to search for our guide for the day.
Madhurananda Prabhu was waiting there for us and after a few stops on the metro we came up, a short walk from the main tourist areas of town. Our party of perhaps 20 devotees led by the ever-enthusiastic Sripad Bhakti Premika Siddanti Maharaj, set out along the streets. Now I could truly say that I was in Italy. The brick and stone streets, tramways and sidewalk cafes were a perfect place for our wandering sankirttan and everywhere we went the public were responsive and interested. We stopped several times on the wide footpaths as devotees handed out red Villa Govinda flyers and offered our books for sale to passers-by. After about an hour we arrived in a courtyard where demonstrations were going on and street performers were eagerly juggling all kinds of things. Soon we were the centre of attention, with a circle of onlookers. Every second person had some kind of camera out taking photos and videos of our group. Dayanidhi Prabhu lifted the chanting to new levels and everyone was dancing happily inspired more and more by the crowds.
Then it was time to move on, through some back streets to our main destination, the Duomo di Milano. It is a cathedral and the most famous landmark in Milan. It stands perhaps 8 stories high and has been under renovation for some years and now shines an off-white colour compared to the blackish colour it was before the work began. It turned out that we did parikrama of the Duomo, finally settling in the large square in front. We could have kept going further up the busy streets but we were running out of time and needed to get back before it was too late. After some lovely sankirttan in front of the Duomo and some crowd participation, our sankirttan party headed back the way we came and eventually arrived at the metro station for our finale nearly three hours after we had started. Some drunks joined in the final stretch adding some further colour to our afternoon.
Unfortunately we missed our train, and had to wait another hour, but upon arrival at the station near our Math, Munindra Mohan Prabhu and the other devotees were waiting with cars to take us to the temple and a delicious prasadam dinner.
Everyone expressed their joy at the sankirttan including Srila Gurudeva, who saw photos and videos the next morning. Some video of this day along with many other videos and photos of the tour are available on Nimai Chandra Prabhu's website, www.vaisnavadarshan.com in the 'What's New' section.

Srila Gurudeva's stay in Italy has been very restful over the last few days. He has been seeing devotees in his room and also going outside a few times a day, both walking and on his scooter. One morning, in the fresh air outside he sat in a nice place with the morning sun at times peaking through the clouds over his shoulder, and informally spoke beautiful slokas explaining the sweetness of the Krishna conception of divinity. He summarised, "We pay our full dandavat to everyone, and then we go to the playground, to play with Krishna and his associates with full intimacy." Here everyone's hearts are being attracted so strongly to surrender and serve, by the shining example and expressions of our beloved Gurudeva.
So many devotees have made the pilgrimage to Villa Govinda Ashram. Today Gurudeva gave first and second initiations, including many of a large group of Hungarian devotees. This was the culmination of their stay with us, as they prepared to take their overland journey back to Hungary. Sripad Bhakti Pavan Janardan Maharaj carried out the fire sacrifice procedures ably assisted by Ranjit Krishna Prabhu. Many devotees from the London Math are visiting in a rotation arrangement and Sripad Nyasi Maharaj has been with us for some days now. Also several devotees have flown in from California to see Gurudeva in this beautiful peaceful ashram. The persimmon trees are covered in almost ripe fruit and there are grapes ready to pick as well. Most of the rose bushes have some flowers on them and there are many other flowering plants. The devotees here also have a large patch of vegetables with many ripe tomatoes along with several other vegetables.

Yesterday evening Srila Gurudeva and all the devotees in his entourage happily arrived in Villa Govinda, Italy after transit through most of the day. Several flight plans for various devotees made the day very difficult for managing and organising, but Sripad Avadhut Maharaj and the Russian devotees handled everything beautifully. It has been cool and wet overnight here in Italy and the clear air from the rolling hills is very refreshing. Sripad Goswami Maharaj gave a lovely talk this morning to begin the day's programs and many many devotees are expected to visit over the coming two weeks.

The final few days in Saint Petersburg were a beautiful completion to a wonderful stay there. On Saturday, Srila Gurudeva came to the temple to preside over the weekly public program. He spoke with great depth and insight capturing the essentials of Krishna consciousness through a few verses and exposing that clearly to everyone for the benefit of their practicing life. Particularly he expressed Srila Guru Maharaj's deep realisation on the verses 'api chet suduracharo' and 'ksipram bhavati dharmatma' from the Srimad Bhagavad-gita. On Monday, the afternoon before travelling, he visited Vijay Raman Prabhu's residence. It is soon to be demolished to make way for a grand guesthouse. The approved plans were shown to Srila Gurudeva and he gave a name for the new building, 'Vijay Manjeel', which he wrote on the plans before signing them. Similtaneously Sripad Avadhut Maharaj invited Gurudeva to come and see and even inaugurate the new building which would take about a year to construct, possibly in time for the summer festival next year. Srila Gurudeva was full of praise for the outstanding service efforts of Sripad Avadhut Maharaj, Sripad Vijay Raman Prabhu and Sripad Satya Sundar Prabhu. On his final morning he came to give his dandavat to Sri Sri Guru-Gauranga-Radha-Madhavasundarjiu. He spoke briefly and sang sweetly 'jaya radha madhava' and 'hari haraye' before returning to his quarters to complete his travel preparations.

Today was a trip to a special traditional Russian 'banya'. In terms of a western equivalent you could call it a sauna with the dial turned up to extreme. I asked them how hot it was and was given a reply, "oh 80-90 degrees celsius." So we all got into our gumchas and covered our heads with cloth hats and went inside. Constructed using bricks and with wooden seats and steps inside, the banya is very intense. Within a few minutes, sweat uncontrollably comes from your pores and gathers in pools on your skin. The first time inside usually lasts about 5 minutes and then everyone is retreating to the cold pools outside. There are even special custom bucket baths attached to the wall with automatic taps and a string to pull to 'cool off'. I was thinking at the time that they would be an excellent addition to our ashrams for the pre-mangal arati preparations. Several Russian men were walking in and out with nothing on, holding towels in their hands. It seems that this particular experience is favoured by men needing to drop some kilos, and seeing them engage in their ritual certainly added to the experience. After a few minutes in the cool, it was time to again enter the banya, this time for perhaps 10 minutes. The idea is to sit inside for as long as possible and then go outside to cool off. It is very very rejuvenating, working on circulation, cleansing the body through the pores and helping in many other ways. After going in and out 5 or 6 times, it was time for a break in the private change room. Time for some very thick and delicious honey and cups of herbal tea. After about 15 minutes it was time to go in for the second session. It seemed that 2 sessions was enough, perhaps 3, for a total of about 2-3 hours. Also during the second session it was time to use some short branches of sage and passionflower to enhance the experience. The branches are dipped in warm water and slapped all over the body, to help stimulate the circulation even more. Also at times the Russians seemed unhappy with the level of heat and would open the door to the fire and throw extra water on the coals to send blinding steam into the air. This increases the temperature even more and usually clears the room within a few minutes. It is no longer possible to remain inside. The whole experience was wonderful and it was also a great chance to get to know the Russian devotees some more and share in some of their tradition.

The last two days have been particularly wonderful here in Lahta, Saint Petersburg, Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math. First was the remembrance and celebration of Sri Lalita-saptami, the Divine Appearance of Srimati Lalita Devi. Srila Gurudeva gave his darshan in the morning, describing very beautifully the position of Sri Lalita Devi in the pastimes of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna. He quoted the well-known first verse of Srila Rupa Goswami's Lalitastakam, "radha-mukunda pada sambhava gharmma bindu..." an explanation of which is given by Srila Guru Maharaj in Sermons of the Guardian of Devotion Volume One. Srila Gurudeva then proceeded to chant and explain aspects of the other 7 verses of this astakam, particularly mentioning the bamya mood which Lalita Devi encourages in Srimati Radharani. This mood is to externally show opposition to Krishna. He also spoke about Lalita's position as the leader and Guru who is training and preparing all of the sakhis and manjaris for the service of Srimati Radharani. He then spoke about Sri Rupa Manjari and Srila Guru Maharaj's connection given by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur and how this current of service is coming through our parampara. He concluded by singing sweetly in a special tune the song "radha-krishna prana mora jugala-kisora."
Sri Radhastami day was particularly wet and windy, and Srila Gurudeva was taken quickly to the temple room in the morning to preside over the celebrations. He said many wonderful things including various verses of the Goswamis in glorification of Srimati Radharani. Particularly he mentioned the "yasyah kadapi.." verse of Srila Prabodhananda Saraswati and the "asabharair amrita-sindhu... " verse of Srila Raghunath das Goswami. After concluding his beautiful lecture, he was requested by the devotees present to sing. He sang very sweetly several songs, just as he used to sing for Srila Guru Maharaj on this occasion; "radhika-charana padma," "radha bhajane jadi.." "radha-kunda-tata kunja-kutira" and others, concluding with "jaya radha madhava." Srila Gurudeva then took his leave and Sripad Janardan Maharaj started a big sankirttan. The sankirttan continued for three hours straight including the Bhoga-arati and Midday Arati. Prasadam included some very beautiful whole capsicum stuffed with rice pilau. The program for the day including invitation of guests was actually scheduled for the evening, so before too long the program again started in the temple. Sripad Goswami Maharaj delivered a beautiful evening lecture at 6pm and then Sripad Avadhut Maharaj sang the evening arati and parikrama to Sri Sri Guru-Gauranga-Radha-Madhavasundarjiu. Avadhut Maharaj then sat down to sing a few more songs before prasadam time, but half-way through the first song, his phone rang taking him away. Then one of the devotees here Abhiram Thakur Prabhu sang the next song, but was soon getting to his feet and beginning a grand finale sankirttan. Everyone eagerly joined him on his feet, and very soon the devotees were dancing from one end of the temple to the other without any care for the time or for prasadam. Then the pujari Ananda Moya Prabhu, who serves from morning to night tirelessly all year round was handed the microphone and the kirttan inconceivably went to another level of sweetness. After almost an hour of sankirttan it was time for prasadam for the guests and devotees. All the while Srila Gurudeva was watching on his television from a webcam permanently fixed above the nat mandir. The feast was delicious and completed an extremely joyful day in the shelter of our beloved guardian, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj.

Sunday was a joyful day on the streets of Saint Petersburg. With devotees from Moscow present to provide extra enthusiasm, we were at times running in sankirttan down Nevsky Prospect, with full energy in our Harinam party. For a full two hour sankirttan with perhaps 30 devotees, we were dancing more than half the time and receiving all kinds of responses from the Russian public. One man particularly sticks in my mind - he had both index fingers of both hands pointing to both of his ears, making circles swiftly, indicating his opinion that an ambulance should swiftly come and take us all off to the mental hospital. It was a very happy day, and many people joined in, although mostly joking. Still by the power of Sriman Mahaprabhu's grace and by the able guidance of the leading sannyasis present, supported by the sincere devotees, so much benefit was being extended to all.

This week in Saint Petersburg has gone steadily with the daily programs going on. Srila Gurudeva has been happily staying in his quarters most of the time and seeing devotees and visitors in the mornings and afternoons. Sripad Avadhut Maharaj spent some days in Moscow, and in his absence the ashram has been nicely ticking over each day, without any extra activities. Srila Gurudeva has given his darshan in the specially made darshan hall here almost every morning, but has only ventured to the temple a couple of times. He is eagerly watching the many videos and photos coming from all over the world including that which the devotees are taking here of the programs of the tour. Sripad Janardan Maharaj, Sripad Ashram Maharaj, Sripad Siddhanti Maharaj and Sripad Srutasrava Prabhu are keeping a constant flow of Hari-katha and sankirttan in the temple three times a day. Sripad Madhava Maharaj is also giving classes in the mornings in Russian. Many devotees came from Moscow over the last week to participate in the festival and have had their first opportunity to see Srila Gurudeva. Today Srila Gurudeva gave further initiations to a few newcomers and then sang sweetly the kirttan "jaya radhe jaya krishna jaya vrindavan". The Harinam sankirttan party went out both yesterday and today warming things up for a busy weekend of programs.

The last 3 days have been full of activity here in Saint Petersburg. Weekends are generally the time when devotees and guests have more opportunity to join the programs aside from their work and study commitments. Srila Gurudeva only gave darshan briefly on both Friday and Saturday along with a few initiations. Friday afternoon was another beautiful sankirttan though the streets of Saint Petersburg. As our sankirttan party was starting out Srila Gurudeva was taking a tour of the city, and he came past in his car to see our party.
Saturday afternoon was the weekly program at the temple where guests are invited to come and experience darshan, arati, a lecture, sweet congregational chanting and an earlier, scheduled mahaprasadam feast. Sripad Siddhanti Maharaj delivered a very beautiful lecture explaining Krishna conscious concepts from a scientific point of view, proving the essential foundation of the necessity of faith. Sripad Ashram Maharaj lead a particularly ecstatic sankirttan in the temple room, showing off his South American dance-steps and attracting everyone to begin dancing from one end of the kirttan hall to the other.
We were again blessed by a sunny day on Sunday and the newly arrived Sripad Janardan Maharaj joined Sripad Ashram Maharaj to lead our devotees onto the streets with our sankirttan party. For two hours they both lead ecstatic sankirttan with Sripad Janardan Maharaj notably dancing very beautifully as he sang along the last stretch, back to our vehicles. Upon returning to our temple, guests had already arrived and Sripad Avadhut Maharaj was ushering us into the temple room to begin the kirttan. Srila Gurudeva entered the temple hall and delivered a beautiful lecture about the "aradhyo bhagavan" sloka of Srila Visvanath Chakravarti Thakur. He then sang sweetly and took his leave as the arati began. Ecstatic sankirttan ensued and afterwards everyone was feeling very happy and fortunate to be able to participate in this wonderful gift of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, in the shelter of Srila Gurudeva and his dear sannyasis.
Today Gurudeva was feeling quite well and gave darshan and initiations in the morning. He came to the temple in the afternoon, first sitting in the outside gazebo and taking in some fresh air. He then entered the temple and began speaking about Jayadeva Goswami and how his deities were Sri Sri Radha-Madhava. He mentioned various songs of Jayadeva, Chandidas and Vidyapati that Mahaprabhu loved. Particularly he commented that we are singing a few of their general songs, but not trying to sing or enter into any of their higher compositions. Then Srila Gurudeva posed for several photos with the devotees before retiring to his quarters.

Sri Krishna Janmastami was beautifully held here in Saint Petersburg led by our beloved Srila Gurudeva. Srila Govinda Maharaj has been giving darshan every day and speaking very beautifully for up to an hour at a time. About a dozen initiations happened over the Janmastami-Nandotsava festival days and over 100 devotees and guests from Saint Petersburg attended the festivals. Gurudeva came to the temple hall after 5pm as a local musician played traditional Indian music and everyone gathered for the ceremony. One of the Russian devotees performed a dance routine about Sri Krishna for the pleasure of Srila Gurudeva and everyone present. Then Srila Gurudeva sang the kirttan 'Yasomati Nandana" and began his lecture. He mentioned the essential aspects of Krishna's birth and very sweetly captivated everyone as he chanted and discussed various verses from the Srimad Bhagavatam. Having spoken for almost an hour he finished his talk singing "Jaya Radha Madhava". Srila Gurudeva took his leave and then Sripad Goswami Maharaj and Sripad Ashram Maharaj spoke briefly before it was time for the evening arati led with full energy and enthusiasm by Sripad Siddhanti Maharaj. Everyone was dancing as we all chanted, celebrating the Lord's divine appearance. After the arati Sripad Vijay Raman Prabhu had scheduled the prasadam for everyone, but first there was the Tulasi parikrama to be done. Through the inspiration of Sripad Siddhanti Maharaj, we took the sankirttan outside and around the whole temple. Perhaps 30 devotees joined in a very lively kirttan that rounded the temple 5 or 6 times and then stopped outside, near the front gate and beside the prasadam servery. Grand sankirttan continued led by Sripad Ashram Maharaj and then Sripad Avadhut Maharaj was handed the microphone and everyone was jumping enthusiastically as the kirttan reached its finale. Afterwards everyone took sumptuous prasadam and then rejoined the program in the temple room where Sripad Avadhut Maharaj sang and gave a lecture in Russian. By 11pm it was time for the fireworks outside on the beach by the Baltic Sea. Most devotees watched from the temple veranda, giggling as Sripad Avadhut Maharaj lit up the fireworks with a long stick that had a large flame on the end, then swiftly ran away in his saffron robes as the fireworks began to explode. This concluded a very wonderful Janmastami day. Sri Nandotsava was equally beautiful with Srila Gurudeva again giving morning darshan including initiations. Then in the afternoon Sripad Ashram Maharaj led us into the streets of Saint Petersburg on nagar sankirttan. We chanted through the streets, to a very receptive public, with Makhon Chor Prabhu stopping several times to explain to the public why we were there. He beautifully talked about Mahaprabhu's gift of Nama-sankirttan and invited everyone to participate. After two hours of dancing and chanting we returned to our starting place and completed the procession. After a long drive through peak hour traffic we arrived back at the temple to join the evening arati and lecture by Sripad Srutasrava Prabhu translated by Sripad Avadhut Maharaj. Tasty wholesome prasadam finished off a very wonderful two-day event.

Srila Govinda Maharaj has safely, happily and smoothly arrived in Saint Petersburg, bringing joy to the hearts of all of the Russian devotees, as well as the visiting dignitaries from around the world. Srila Gurudeva's flight was in his own words "worry-free" and "clear of any disturbance," to his own expressed amazement. Having arisen early on the morning of his flight, he felt strong and travelled 10 hours on the plane along with the extra transit time to arrive in Saint Petersburg late in the evening yesterday. He reached the temple about 10:30pm last night to be greeted by 60-70 devotees loudly chanting in sankirttan on the street in front of the temple. After prasadam and some rest overnight, Gurudeva joined the morning program in the temple with the devotees and gave a lecture for nearly an hour before the beautiful Sri Sri Guru-Gauranga-Radha-Madhavasundarjiu. After further rest, prasadam and meeting with devotees, Gurudeva again gave darshan to everyone in his darshan hall beside his residence this afternoon. He sang four songs and answered the heartfelt questions of the sincere devotees present. During his darshan this afternoon Sripad Ashram Maharaj arrived from Mexico giving much pleasure to all present, particularly Srila Gurudeva. Certainly everyone in Saint Petersburg is looking forward to the nectarean flow of Hari-katha to come over the next several weeks from Srila Gurudeva and his sannyasis. Srila Gurudeva commented this morning, "What fear can one have with so many sannyasis present!?" The planned arrival of Sripad Janardan Maharaj in a few days will bring the sannyasi attendees to seven; Sripad Goswami Maharaj, Sripad Ashram Maharaj, Sripad Siddhanti Maharaj, Sripad Avadhut Maharaj, Sripad Bharati Maharaj and Sripad Madhava Maharaj are all here now nourishing the devotees and supporting Srila Gurudeva in his preaching efforts. Today's Harinam sankirttan was cancelled due to Gurudeva's darshan and also the very windy wet weather outside. But everyone is looking forward to grand sankirttan over the coming days and to continue the glorious preaching efforts here in Russia headed and co-ordinated by Sripad Bhakti Bimala Avadhut Maharaj.

You can find the previous posts about the World Tour via the links in the sidebar.