Mayapur festival

Expressions researched:
"Mayapur" |"Mayapura" |"celebration" |"ceremony" |"festival" |"festivals" |"function"

Notes from the compiler: VedaBase query: "Mayapur* festival*"@20 or "Mayapur* function*"@20 or "Mayapur* celebration*"@20 or "Mayapur* ceremon*"@20

CC Madhya-lila

CC Madhya 11.96, Purport:

The members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness should go to India during the birthday ceremony of Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu at Māyāpura and perform saṅkīrtana congregationally. This will attract the attention of all the important personalities in India, just as the beauty, bodily luster and saṅkīrtana performance by the associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu attracted the attention of Mahārāja Pratāparudra. The associates of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu were unlimited during the Lord's presence on this planet, but anyone who is pure in life and devoted to the mission of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu is to be understood as a nitya-siddha associate of the Lord.

1971 Conversations and Morning Walks

Darsana -- June 28, 1971, San Francisco:

Now we are going to have a great ceremony in India, Māyāpur. They have got... I have purchased one land. I took contribution 25,000 from Birla. I wanted 100,000, he gave me 25,000. That's all right. So with that money I purchased one land. So it is just to be developed. The foundation stone, cornerstone laying down.

1975 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk -- March 4, 1975, Dallas:

Devotee: At the Māyāpur festival the older Gurukula boys are coming. Dvārakādhīśa and Ekendra, they're all coming. How many, about twelve?

Jayatīrtha: No.

Devotee: How many?

Jayatīrtha: Four.

Paramahaṁsa: Four. All four of them are coming. (laughter)

Morning Walk -- July 1, 1975, Denver:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I saw her twice.

Prabhupāda: Oh, you saw? How did (s)he talk with you?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: She was very respectful. And she wished our movement well.

Prabhupāda: Ācchā?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: She said that she had difficulty to take an active part, because then she would have to take an active part in all such movements.

Prabhupāda: Hmm. That's it. That is the difficulty. She said frankly.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. Because we asked her to attend the cornerstone ceremony at Māyāpur.

Prabhupāda: So, shall we take a chance?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: I think it might be nice.

Prabhupāda: All right. Then write two registered letters, one to Jaya Prakash Narayana... (break)

Morning Walk -- July 1, 1975, Denver:

Bhāvānanda: During Māyāpur festival, Śrīla Prabhupāda, nicest thing was when we all sat down together and took prasādam.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Bhāvānanda: Five hundred devotees, it was nice, spiritual activity. And everyone took what was given.

Prabhupāda: So what is the difficulty? I do not find. (break)

Morning Walk -- November 14, 1975, Bombay:

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Calcutta had called me up this morning. They are expecting about two lakhs' people in Māyāpur today and tomorrow. There's a big festival, and Jayapataka Mahārāja spoke to me also. He's going to come here next Wednesday.

Prabhupāda: Two lakhs' people?

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: During the next three, four day festival...

Prabhupāda: What is that festival?

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: It's... It happens every year at this time.

Prabhupāda: What is this time?

1976 Conversations and Morning Walks

Morning Walk -- January 13, 1976, Calcutta:

Prabhupāda: Which Śāstrījī?

Jayapatāka: That you preached to last year at the festival time. There were seven śāstrīs, four of which came to Māyāpur, three of which blooped. One is still left. He is very eager to become initiated. He is very hard working and sincere.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: What does he do there?

Jayapatāka: He is teaching Sanskrit to the devotees.

Prabhupāda: Very nice.

Morning Walk -- March 17, 1976, Mayapura:

Devotee (4): Say about four(?) seats. Prabhupāda, four devotees went from Hyderabad, going through Orissa and coming to Māyāpura for the festival.

Prabhupāda: Very good.

Room Conversation -- May 7, 1976, Honolulu:

Prabhupāda: You have paid?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: From Rādhā-Dāmodara party?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: We were doing that, previous to the Māyāpura festival.

Prabhupāda: Yes are also promised (indistinct) you have to continue. There is no temple. Must be constructed.

Morning Walk -- July 14, 1976, New York:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: It's not necessary. Because there is at least, there would be still about a hundred, hundred-fifty devotees there anyway.

Prabhupāda: Some of them. They can go sometime later.

Rāmeśvara: Or the next year.

Prabhupāda: Oh yes. Some batches may go this year, some batches may go...

Rāmeśvara: The following year, Gaura-pūrṇimā festival there can be a pandal program in Bombay. Then they can visit it the next year. The main point is we don't have to be there for the opening.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: As you recall perhaps, in Māyāpura, we discussed that we would like to go in Vṛndāvana first and end the festival in Māyāpura on Gaura-pūrṇimā.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

1977 Conversations and Morning Walks

Room Conversation -- January 9, 1977, Bombay:

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: But we should advertise in America as Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, not Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Prabhupāda: No, no. As Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Actually, we have to keep ourselves.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Yes. Advertise as BBT, because no connection with Hare Kṛṣṇa.

Prabhupāda: If you have got excess money, you can advertise. There is no need of keeping money. Spend.

Rāmeśvara: Money will be excess after the Māyāpura Festival.

Prabhupāda: That's right.

Rāmeśvara: Between now and Māyāpura it's very tight.

Prabhupāda: Very prestigious papers like Time, Reader's Digest. Reader's Digest is the highest circulation.

Arrival of BBT Manager -- January 9, 1977, Bombay:

Prabhupāda: And Dialectic Spiritualism is published?

Rāmeśvara: This year, after the Māyāpura Festival. Hayagrīva hasn't finished working on it completely.

Prabhupāda: How many pages it will be?

Rāmeśvara: Two volumes.

Prabhupāda: Two volumes?

Rāmeśvara: Two volumes, eight hundred pages.

Prabhupāda: Oh? So, big?

Room Conversation -- January 10, 1977, Bombay:

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: Also if we can give these Bhāgavatams for a dollar to America, they can import it from here also, and as I told Rāmeśvara Mahārāja, we can give a plastic cover plus two or three ribbons. Insured, it will cost nothing extra.

Prabhupāda: You decide for (indistinct) why not.

Rāmeśvara: We're going to discuss it at the Māyāpura festival with Tamāla Kṛṣṇa Swami, because he's in charge of distribution.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Rāmeśvara: He has to approve the quality.

Gopāla Kṛṣṇa: The quality's only a little inferior.

Prabhupāda: I don't think India can make such quality.

Room Conversation with Svarupa Damodara -- January 30, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Prabhupāda: So you can arrange when it will be suitable to go there.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Any time will be suitable. This is pretty cold at this time.

Prabhupāda: Then it is not so good.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: After Māyāpura I think it will be best, this Māyāpura festival. Then it will be very nice. It's getting warmer. Actually it was seven degrees this morning, but they have very little snow.

Prabhupāda: So...

Hari-śauri: Very little? (laughs)

Gargamuni: We should go after Māyāpura.

Room Conversation with Svarupa Damodara -- January 30, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Prabhupāda: So when you expect to go there?

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Right after Māyāpura festival, whenever Śrīla Prabhupāda is ready after Māyāpura festival. Any date will be suitable.

Prabhupāda: So Vṛndāvana we may not go? What is the wrong there?

Hari-śauri: About a week.

Gargamuni: Yes. 'Cause when does monsoon start here? In June? Starts very early.

Room Conversation with Svarupa Damodara -- January 30, 1977, Bhuvanesvara:

Hari-śauri: We don't have to be in Bombay for any reason though, now, because the opening is not going to take place till late.

Prabhupāda: So if just after Māyāpura festival, if you go to...

Gargamuni: From Calcutta.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Pradyumna: You're going to go to Haridaspur after that? Or no?

Prabhupāda: That we can go later on. This is very important. Manipur we want to make a very strong center, because it is Vaiṣṇava state.

Gargamuni: And kṣatriyas.

Prabhupāda: Kṣatriyas.

Gargamuni: We can raise an army over there.

Prabhupāda: (laughs) Yes.

Room Conversation with GBC members -- March 2-3, 1977, Mayapura:

Satsvarūpa: Next year at the Māyāpura festival, separate but equal facilities will be arranged for the women. It was felt that they weren't equal this year, that perhaps next year the new building could be divided in half, that they could have the same type of facility but kept separate.

Prabhupāda: That's nice. Now we have got enough place.

Conversations -- May 31, 1977, Vrndavana:

Svarūpa Dāmodara: He's traveling from college to college. So I'm sending him our brochure and the timetable that... I plan to spend about..., till the next Māyāpura festival to do all the India program, finish all over India programs.

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Room Conversation -- October 14, 1977, Vrndavana:

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: You shouldn't try to fast until death.

Prabhupāda: No. That is useless. Do you recommend that?

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: No, definitely not. I recommend that, somehow or other, you go on lying there, and we'll go on chanting, and we'll pass until March-April '78. Then we'll take you to Māyāpura for the festival, and then we'll do a world tour.

Prabhupāda: That is very nice program. You can read Bhāgavata from the point where I have stopped.

Pradyumna: Daśāma-skandha?

Prabhupāda: Yes.

Tamāla Kṛṣṇa: Very good.

Prabhupāda: Is it possible? Eh?

Pradyumna: Yes, Śrīla Prabhupāda.

Room Conversation -- October 21, 1977, Vrndavana:

Bhavānanda: Last year in Māyāpura, Śrīla Prabhupāda, during the festival and before, when you were there, they would, this kīrtana group of your disciples, they would be chanting over microphone so that Your Divine Grace could hear it in your room. I remember you commented many times on how sweet and nice it sounded.

Prabhupāda: It is already very loud.

Prabhupada Vigil -- November 2, 1977, Vrndavana:

Svarūpa Dāmodara: We have our main festival in Māyāpura at the end of March, March 24th.

Śrī Nārāyaṇa: March 24th?

Bhavānanda: This year? Dola-yātrā. Gaura-pūrṇimā.

Svarūpa Dāmodara: Our biggest festival. All the devotees from all over the world...

Prabhupāda: Recently there was a scientific meeting here. Where is that Statesman report?

Śrī Nārāyaṇa: The report from, about Māyāpura? Some literature?

Prabhupāda: No, here. We... Just describe.

1969 Correspondence

Letter to Jagannathan Prabhu -- Los Angeles 25 January, 1969:

My sister from Calcutta has addressed me one letter that she has heard by some source that I am coming to Mayapur during the great festival. This means that some of our godbrothers and sisters may be expecting me during the ensuing festival there. But till now I have heard no news from Tirtha Maharaja.

1970 Correspondence

Letter to Puri Maharaja -- Bombay 2 December, 1970:

So far as Mayapur is concerned, I do not think I shall be able to attend the Gaura Jayanti celebrations at there. The reason is that I have no place of my own, and certainly there will be too much crowd during the occasion. Therefore, I want to avoid this occasion. Sometimes after we may visit.

1971 Correspondence

Letter to Govinda -- Calcutta 28 May, 1971:

From Bombay I may go to Russia (Moscow) and then to London and then N.Y. and then I will be coming to L.A. You will be glad to learn that we have purchased about five acres of land in Mayapur, the birthsite of Lord Caitanya and we have proposed to hold a nice festival there from Janmastami day for two weeks.

Letter to John Milner -- Los Angeles 9 July, 1971:

Yes, I will be very glad to initiate you both before you embark. Depending on whether or not there will be a function in Mayapur in mid-August, I will be going to N.Y. If the Mayapur program is fixed up then I will leave for N.Y. by the 15th of this month. Otherwise, I will be staying in L.A. for some time. So if I go, then you can meet me there, or if not you can come here. Actually it is better to take initiation personally and receive instructions before leaving for Africa. So you can make arrangements accordingly.

Letter to Bali-mardana -- Los Angeles July 11, 1971:

Presently I am in L.A. and everything is very nice here. You will be glad to know that I have again begun my translating work and have sent five tapes to Satsvarupa thus far. Very soon though I will be going to N.Y., probably by the end of this week. From there I will go to Europe and then on to Mayapur for the founding stone ceremony. So most probably we will meet again at that time.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 13 July, 1971:

From Moscow I came to Paris, L.A. and then attended the very successful Rathayatra festival. Now I am again in L.A. and will begin making my way back to Calcutta beginning in the 16th instant. So I hope things are going on nicely for the Mayapur festival. I have had no letter from Tamala since I have come here. So you mentioned in your letter about an appointment with S. S. Dhawan.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Los Angeles 13 July, 1971:

In this connection, Syamasundara. already sent one letter to Tamala to let us know and do the needful. Unless some big man lays down the corner stone, our whole attempt will be frustrated. Actually the function in Mayapur will be held for this purpose.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 14 July, 1971:

I have handed your letter over to Syamasundara for a point by point reply, but one thing is that if it is not possible to get Indira Gandhi or the Governor or the American Ambassador for the festival at Mayapur, then what is the use? In that case, the program should be cancelled until some later date. My going there depends on whether such meeting can be arranged; otherwise there is no need in my going.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 14 July, 1971:

I have got so much engagement here and have resumed my translating work also. So do your best to see that one of these big officials comes to Mayapur for the cornerstone ceremony and let me know as soon as possible what arrangements have been made.

Letter to Makhanlal, Tilaka -- Nairobi 24 September, 1971:

Also I have received the check for $80. as daksina from Tilaka Devi Dasi and I thank you very much for the same. It is interesting to note that her father is consulate general for Madras. He can help us if he gives an introductory letter in favor of Madhudvisa Swami to see the ambassador in Delhi. We want this ambassador should take part in the big function we are going to hold in Mayapur.

Letter to Jayapataka -- Bombay 22 December, 1971:

I am in due receipt of your letters dated December 6, 1971, and 11, Narayana, 485, and I am pleased that you are enthusiastic to deal with all matters of Calcutta Temple with serious view. I have sent Bhavananda there to help you, and you can assist him to organize everything very nicely. I want that we shall hold a grand festival in Mayapur from middle of February to first March, so you may conjointly organize how to raise the money and build cottages and pandal in Mayapur. Acyutananda is coming there also and he has given advance money, so because they are pressing, he must go there to Mayapur and settle up this transaction.

Letter to Yamuna, Palika -- Bombay 22 December, 1971:

I think that Palika dasi may join her husband, Bhavananda, in Calcutta as soon as she recovers her health, & she may help him there organize things very nicely for celebrating our festival in Mayapur from middle Feb. to end Feb, & she may help organize Calcutta center as nicely as they have done in New York. As for Yamuna, she may rejoin her good husband, Gurudasa, in Delhi for pushing on our program there & making many life-members. I shall be very pleased to hear that you have gotten well & that you have both returned to your duties. It is only because Krishna has somehow or other given me such assistants as yourselves that I have got any success I appreciate your helping me in this way, you are more dear to me than my own daughters.

Letter to Amogha -- Bombay 25 December, 1971:

We are presently trying for a very nice house here in Bombay, to make our India headquarters in a very rich quarter of Bombay. In February we shall go with full party to Mayapur for holding festival for Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day.

Letter to Giriraja -- Bombay 28 December, 1971:

As for the pandal program in Madras, that is all right what you have suggested. I may not come, but an adequate party will come there to assist you. Simply you must correspond with Tamala on these points. After the Madras program, we shall all go to Mayapur. I think that Bhavananda and Nara Narayana are organizing a very nice festival there. If you think that I should come there to Madras, then I shall also come. What do you think?

1972 Correspondence

Letter to Kesava -- Bombay 1 January, 1972:

My itinerary is tentatively that by the 12th January I am going to Jaipur for a five day festival, then I will return to Bombay and leave for Nairobi by the 25th January. Then I have to return to India to go to Mayapur for the celebration of Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day. From there I am planning to go to Hong Kong, Sydney, Tokyo, Hawaii, and then return to the U.S.

Letter to Bhavananda -- Bombay 4 January, 1972:

Please accept my blessings. I hope that Mayapur festival preparations are going on and I am awaiting news from you.

Letter to Jayapataka -- Bombay 5 January, 1972:

I am very anxious to know whether we are going to have our Mayapur function? I want very much to hold this function this year with all of my students, and I ask you to kindly serve me by making this possible. It is a very important day and it will be a great service to Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura and to His son Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura. So please arrange for this program.

Letter to Jayapataka -- Jaipur 21 January, 1972:

Regarding Mayapur festival, if we cannot do anything there, then because there is very good prospect in Africa I may remain there and not return to India. I especially wanted to stay in India for this Mayapur celebration, but if there is no scope, or if our men are not able to do anything, then I can return via Africa. But why not it is held? Nobody will check us if we simply go there as ordinary pilgrims. But you try for permission for all our men.

Letter to Jayapataka -- Jaipur 21 January, 1972:

I do not think there will be difficulty if we just go there like the ordinary pilgrims and set up our camp there for kirtana continuously. Anyone will see we are only serious devotees of Lord Caitanya and not Pakistani spies. So I think you should plan that we shall definitely be coming to Mayapur and hold a grand festival there for Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day celebrating. You may collect advertisements for Mayapur on this basis that somehow or other we shall go there.

Letter to Puri Maharaj -- Bombay 5 February, 1972:

One thing, from Visakhapatnam when I go to Calcutta you will have to accompany me along with your important assistants to help me to lay down the foundation-stone at Mayapur during the Appearance Day celebration of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Before leaving India I wish to lay down the foundation-stone at Mayapur and immediately begin our building scheme there. So kindly help me with your good experience in this connection.

Letter to Jayadvaita -- Calcutta 18 February, 1972:

I think Pradyumna is feeling morose about his wife, that is not good so he will not be able to work. Therefore better let him come and live with me here in India and I shall train him properly in sanskrit language. He may come immediately, in time for Mayapur festival beginning by 25th this month. In this way, he can fly directly from New York to Calcutta and live with me.

Letter to Madhudvisa -- Vrndavana 1 November, 1972:

I am very glad to hear all the good news, and I am very much inclined to accept your invitation to come to Australasia zone as per your request. We shall be engaged in Calcutta up to January 20th, so after that date I may fly there from Calcutta, and I may remain in Australia and other places up to March 1st, 1972. Then I shall return to Mayapur for celebrating the Lord Caitanya's festival. So if you are able to supply four round-trip airline tickets from Calcutta for myself and my three secretaries, then I shall be glad to come there.

Letter to Madhudvisa -- Bombay 29 December, 1972:

So I want to proceed from Calcutta to Australia or wherever you suggest on that side. We shall be able to leave on February 1st morning. And you may arrange the program in Australia and New Zealand for the duration of February month. Around the 1st March I shall have to return to Mayapur for holding our celebration of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu's appearance day in early March. So you may plan in that way.

1973 Correspondence

Letter to Amogha -- Calcutta 29 January, 1973:

As far as the dates of the programs, that you must arrange with Madhudvisa Swami as we shall be coming to Indonesia via Australia and New Zealand and then shall be returning to Calcutta by March 1 for beginning preparations for our Mayapur function. So I shall be looking forward very much to seeing you shortly, and at that time we may discuss things at further length.

Letter to Sri Govinda -- Calcutta 31 January, 1973:

I am going some time this week to Australia and shall be returning to India in March, at which time we shall hold the celebration on the appearance day of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu in Mayapura. So similarly in Chicago you may have very nice celebration on that day, as it is very important occasion for us Gaudiya Vaisnavas.

Letter to Bhakta dasa -- Calcutta 4 March, 1973:

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your encouraging letter dated the 20th February. Just yesterday I have arrived here in Calcutta, and by the end of the week expect to go to Mayapur where are having a grand celebration on the Appearance Day of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Calcutta 4 March, 1973:

Just yesterday I have arrived here in Calcutta and by the end of the week I expect to visit our new construction at Mayapur. Arrangements are being made for a very grand celebration on the Appearance Day of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. I hope this meets you in good health and spirits. Hare Krsna.

Letter to Abhirama -- Calcutta 6 March, 1973:

Please accept my blessings and I beg to acknowledge receipt of your unsigned report dated the 18th of February. I have just arrived here a few days ago and by the 15th I shall go to Mayapur on the festival celebration of Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day. We are expecting many thousands to visit there and our nice building is almost completed.

Letter to Niranjana -- Hyderabad 23 March, 1973:

Yes, I am sorry that I could not see you this year at the Mayapur celebration, it was very successful. But anyway because you are in college please take this opportunity to convince some of your fellow students about this Krsna consciousness.

Letter to Sankara Pyne -- Bombay 20 October, 1973:

My program is to start within the next several days for Vrindaban and Delhi. We are having a big festival in Delhi. Then I will go abroad. I expect to be returning to Calcutta for our celebration in Mayapur of Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day in March 1974, and I look forward to seeing you at that time.

Letter to Hamsaduta -- New Delhi 8 November, 1973:

I am very glad to learn that you are composing Krsna Book, and also possibly TLC, so you bring the blueprint with you to Mayapur in March, 1974 for our Festival. The report of all the Sankirtana parties is very encouraging. So you are pushing Caitanya Mahaprabhu's movement very nicely throughout Central Europe. May Krsna bless you.

Letter to Atreya Rsi -- Los Angeles 20 December, 1973:

Enclosed find one sacred thread and one gayatri mantra sheet. You should hold a fire sacrifice amongst our members only, after which the initiate should listen to the gayatri mantra cassette tape which I have made once through the right ear. I hope that you are coming to our Mayapur festival March 1st to 8th. We are having a GBC meeting and your presence is required. After the Mayapur ceremony when I am coming to Europe, I will stop in Tehran for two or three days. Please offer my blessings to your wife, Navayauvana Prabhu, and all of the other devotees there.

1974 Correspondence

Letter to Jagadisa -- Los Angeles 8 January, 1974:

My present itinerary is to leave for Hawaii on January 14 and then reach New Delhi, India by the first week in February. I am very concerned that our temple in Vrindaban be completely constructed by Janmastami next, and I am going to personally see to the progress of that project. I hope to see you in Mayapur for the celebration of the Appearance Day of Lord Caitanya when all GBC shall sit down and chalk out the next years program. Hope this finds you in good health.

Letter to Tamala Krsna -- Los Angeles 11 January, 1974:

Yes, Bhavananda and Jayapataka Maharajas are the approved directors of Mayapur. They are selfless workers. Regarding food for the Mayapur Festival, in other temples they are going and collecting their food, and yet we have to purchase in Mayapur? If you depend always on collecting money from here only it will not be successful. If for buildings, festivals, etc. you have to collect from here, what is the use?

Letter to Bharadraja -- Honolulu 25 January, 1974:

Regarding a photographic exhibit in Mayapur. This is an important part of our Caitanya Festival in Mayapur. Bali Mardan is here and he has agreed that the photographers at ISKCON Press can blow up photographs of our propaganda work and men can take them who are going to Mayapur. As for mounting them, however, that you can do there, and arrange them into an exhibit.

Letter to Kurusrestha -- New Delhi 14 February, 1974:

I hope you will be coming to Mayapur for the Appearance Day celebration of Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

Letter to Bhavatarini -- Bombay 3 April, 1974:

If you are actually going to receive $24,000 I think the best thing is to contribute it to the Mayapur-Vrindaban Trust Fund which you can do either in the U.S. or in India. You have learned from the devotees who have been here, what a large scope our plans are for these two centers in India. During the festival hundreds of devotees from countries all around the world all very much appreciated that these transcendental spots, Mayapur and Vrindaban are place of spiritual inspiration for all devotees of ISKCON. They are the best places in the world to come and chant Hare Krishna and prepare for going Back to Home, Back to Godhead.

Letter to Ksirodakasayi -- Bombay 11 May, 1974:

Since the Mayapur and Vrindaban festivals in March I have been mostly staying here in our Hare Krishna Land. It is a large estate and requires much management. Today I was talking with Caitya Guru das Brahmacari who is the ground manager here and he suggested that your good self come here to take charge of general management here as the younger devotees are having so much difficulty.

Letter to Sri Govinda -- Mayapur 29 September, 1974:

I am in due receipt of your letters dated September 5 & 9, 1974 with enclosed clippings of my visit to Chicago Ratha Yatra. The clippings are especially nice, and I am requesting that they be displayed here at Mayapur for our Gaura purnima festival.

Letter to Ken Kaffke -- Mayapur 2 October, 1974:

I beg to acknowledge receipt of your card from Radha Kunda with enclosed Travelers Cheque for Dollars 50.00. I thank you for this, and I am glad to learn that you are appreciating my books. The opening of the Vrindaban temple has been postponed to after March, 1975, so if you like you can come to our Gaura purnima celebration at Mayapur and then to the Vrindaban festival at that time.

Letter to Ramesvara -- West Bengal 25 October, 1974:

In Bombay a shipment of 2,000 kilos of Australian ghee has been sent by Madhudvisa Maharaj. It will be sold to the Indian temples and used for the festival for the opening of the Vrindaban temple to be held after the Gour Purnima festival in April. For the Mayapur festival ghee will be supplied by each and every devotee who comes. Everyone should bring one tin of ghee. It can be brought for personal use.

Letter to Jayatirtha -- Bombay 16 December, 1974:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated Dec. 5, 1974. Regarding the GBC meeting to be held in Mayapur 1975, the meeting should be held five days before the actual festival is to begin and it will be held in my presence. As far as your proposals are concerned the real thing is that we must make broader constitution of the management by GBC.

Letter to Rupanuga -- Bombay 18 December, 1974:

In connection with the devotees coming to India for the Mayapur festival in 1975, if they come on the 20th of March that is alright. Our installation for the Krsna-Balarama Mandir in Vrndavana will be on April 20th so the devotees should get visas that will allow them to stay until this installation ceremony takes place in April. I think if you make a special request to get these visas explaining about our two very important festivals that there will be no difficulty and they will give them. But I want that the devotees will stay until the temple in Vrndavana opens.

Letter to Hrdayananda -- Bombay 21 December, 1974:

I am very glad to hear you have printed 100,000 copies of this magazine. Now give them to everyone. Also I am very happy to hear the other books will be coming out very soon. If you can finish Bhagavad-gita As It Is in Spanish and show me at the Mayapur festival that will be very sublime.

Letter to Hrdayananda -- Bombay 27 December, 1974:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated December 17, 1974 and have noted the contents carefully. Also I have received the books newly printed in Spanish language; Krsna, vol. 1, Beyond Birth and Death and the new Spanish BTG. The printing job is done very nicely. I hope to see many, many more of them coming in the future. Especially as you mention in your letter, Bhagavad-gita complete by the Mayapur festival this year. That will be very nice.

1975 Correspondence

Letter to All Temple Presidents -- Bombay 9 January, 1975:

This letter is to inform you that Hari das Brahmacari has received permission to go to all of our centers in the west for visiting and gaining the experience of preaching there. He is from Bengal and he can cook nicely, go out on sankirtana, lead kirtanas, classes, as well as teach Bengali bhajans. Please give him all facility to engage in these ways while he is staying at your temple. He will be returning to India for the Mayapur festival in March, 1975.

Letter to Aksayananda -- Bombay 16 January, 1975:

You have mentioned the idea of having a pandal in Madras between the Mayapur and Vrndavana festivals. This will be nice, if it is practical. If you can arrange it co-operatively with the other leaders, then I shall also come there at that time. So, you can consult amongst yourselves and see if it will be possible or not.

Letter to Bhrsakapi -- Bombay 16 January, 1975:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated nil and have noted the contents. Thank you for distributing my books so enthusiastically. Please increase this book distribution as much as possible. Regarding the Mayapur and Vrndavana festivals coming up, you can come to one of them or both of them as it is convenient to you.

Letter to Prajapati -- Bombay 17 January, 1975:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated Jan. 8, 1975 and have noted the contents. You can come to the Mayapur festival and stay until the Vrndavana festival if possible. In between the two festival, we will be trying to arrange other large programs in South India (Madras and Hyderabad), so, there will be a nice program for all the devotees.

Letter to Sukadeva -- Honolulu 2 February, 1975:

Regarding my coming there on this tour, I think it will not be possible this time, but maybe next time after Mayapur and Vrndavana festivals when I come back to the U.S., I can come there and visit you temple.

Letter to Tusta Krsna -- Honolulu 2 February, 1975:

Make sure that you keep the whole program pure by carefully following all of the rules and regulations that I have given, rising early, attending mangala arati and holding classes, chanting 16 rounds daily, observing the four basic principles, no intoxication, meat-eating, etc. Then everything will be a great success. You are an intelligent boy, so, I think you can understand how to manage things very nicely there. I hope to be seeing you in Mayapur this year. The festival begins about the 25th of March.

Letter to Caru -- Honolulu 6 February, 1975:

I am in due reciept of your letter dated nil and have noted the contents. From your letter, it appears that you need a change of activities. I think it will be best if you come to the festival at Mayapur and from there we can decide what project will be best for you to become involved in. For the time being, keep yourself fixed in Krishna's service 24 hours and follow staunchly all of the regulated principles, such as chanting 16 rounds, rising early, attending arati and class, etc.

Letter to Radhavallabha -- Honolulu 6 February, 1975:

I will be glad to see you all (at least 15 of you) in Mayapur for our festival.

Letter to Krsna dasa -- Mexico City 15 February, 1975:

I would like to come there very much and see all of my sons and daughters there. I will be coming sometime soon, maybe next time I come back to USA after the Mayapur and Vrndavana festivals. Be very careful to follow all of the regulative principles nicely and chant 16 rounds and study my books very deeply. This will make you able to go back to Godhead at the end of your life.

Letter to Gurudasa, Prajapati -- Mexico City 17 February, 1975:

Regarding the dance troupe, I request you to prepare 7 different dances (a new one each day) from the Caitanya Caritamrta for displaying and performing during the Mayapur festival. Also, I request you to prepare 7 different dances from the Krishna book for performing during the Vrndavana festival.

Letter to Govinda Datta -- Caracas, Venezuela 19 February, 1975:

You are also invited to participate in our Mayapur festival during Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's appearance day ceremony, as well as the opening celebration of our Krishna-Balarama Temple in Vrndavana on Rama-Navami day.

Letter to Dr. G. Ghosh -- Tehran 15 March, 1975:

I shall be starting from Bombay tonight and will be staying for 2 or 3 days. Then I shall go to Calcutta from there. And after that, I shall go to Mayapur to hold our annual ceremony celebrating Lord Caitanya's Birth day. You are cordially invited to attend our ceremony there and then also our ceremony in Vrndavana. I wish that you may visit our temple along with your wife Mrs. Ghosh.

Letter to Dr. G. Ghosh -- Tehran 15 March, 1975:

Mayapur festival will be held from March 23rd-27th. Vrndavana festival will be held on April 20th.

Letter to Radheswarananda Goswami -- Tehran 15 March, 1975:

So, I am reaching Bombay tomorrow and I shall stay there until the 19th. If possible, please come and see me at my Bombay center as follows: Hare Krishna Land, Gandhi Gram Road, Juhu, Bombay 400 054. Or, if the letter does not reach you in time, I am inviting you to come to our festival at Mayapur from the 23rd-27th of March. Then we have also got the opening ceremony for our Vrndavana temple on April 10th, 1975. If it is convenient for you, please try to come and join the ceremonies.

Letter to Mr. R.L. Bhatt -- Mayapur 2 April, 1975:

I am very glad that you have appreciated our movement so nicely. I am sorry to say that I did not reach your letter until quite a few days after I left Bombay. Our festival has gone very nicely here in Mayapur. About 400 American and European devotees have come for the celebrations this year. We will all be going to Vrndavana for the opening of our Krishna-Balarama temple there on April 20th, 1975. You and your family are cordially invited to attend our functions there if it is convenient for you at that time.

Letter to Tusta Krsna -- Bombay 9 November, 1975:

If you and Siddha Svarupa Maharaja can organize such an institution following yourself the rules and regulations then it will be very glorious thing and I shall be very happy. But in any case both of you do not forget to come to Mayapur during Caitanya Mahaprabhu's birth ceremony. Let us act co-operatively, maybe sometimes separately, but the central point and aim should be one—Krsna.

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Bombay 20 November, 1975:

I have seen the photograph you sent of the Houston temple. It is very impressive building. It looks like a secretariat building. I want that our Mayapur festival there should be booths showing our activities. There should be one booth showing all the photographs of our temple buildings. This will be very impressive. Even big, big businessmen, they haven't got such branches all over the world as we have got. And our business is with honor. Why not purchase the Houston temple? And I am glad to note the successful program in Gainesville temple.

Letter to Svarupa Damodara -- Bombay 17 December, 1975:

The word progress is used when there is imperfection at the beginning. So this regular changing of standard knowledge in the name of progress proves that they are always imperfect. It is a fact that they are imperfect, because they gather knowledge with imperfect senses. At any rate we cannot deviate from vedic knowledge. Regarding coming to Mayapur festival, you must come, because after that we are going to Manipur.

1976 Correspondence

Letter to Trivikrama -- Nellore 3 January, 1976:

Now Gurukrpa Maharaja is being sent to Japan, and as he is already the GBC, you both should work cooperatively. That is the best thing. After all, it is all Krishna's business; there is no personal considerations. When you all come to the Mayapur festival, at that time all suggestions will be heard and the needful will be done.

Letter to Nitai -- Bombay 9 January, 1976:

Now beginning from this year's Mayapur festival the devotees will begin preparing for Bhakti-sastri examination. Therefore we require a guidebook for Deity worship, arcana-paddhati, based on Hari-bhakti-Vilasa. All brahmanas will be responsible to learn this book. I would like to have the manuscript ready as soon as possible, preferably my Gaura Purnima.

Letter to Ramesvara -- Mayapur 23 January, 1976:

Last year at the Mayapur meeting it was decided to build another residential building. Now the festival is fast approaching, so construction has begun today on a very long residential quarters. Due to urgency, I have asked Tamala Krishna to supply funds immediately. So whatever money his Party sends should be credited against their book bill.

Letter to Nalinikanta -- Mayapur 31 January, 1976:

I am glad that you are bringing 10 devotees to Mayapur for the festival. We are constructing 67 rooms more and we hope they will be ready when all the devotees come.

Letter to Ratan Mala -- Mayapur 7 February, 1976:

I shall remain in Mayapur up to the Gaura Purnima festival in April. Then I shall go to Delhi for our festival there. It will be a great pleasure for me to see you, your daughter and your new son in law at that time.

Letter to Gaura Govinda -- Mayapur 12 February, 1976:

Now that you have your cottage, you may remain there and Krishna will help you. You have my full blessings and you try your best and you will be successful. There is no need of coming to Mayapur now. If you can come for the festival, that will be nice, but it is not compulsory.

Letter to P. R. Mohapatra -- Mayapur 4 March, 1976:

As you know March 16 is the birthday celebration of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and you are welcomed at any time to visit our centre in Mayapur. I thank you for your interest and look forward to your visiting our Mayapur centre with your family in the near future.

Letter to Haihaya -- Honolulu 29 May, 1976:

In addition to the picture exhibition in the guests' reception room, you can also have the appreciations for our books exhibited, as was done during the previous Mayapur festival. Fill up the guesthouse with visitors. That is very important.

Letter to Bhavananda -- Nairobi 9 January, 1972:

Those who have got permits may immediately go and remain in the cottage already there. If need be for three days you can rent some tents and cots. I am surprised that Calcutta cannot arrange even for your food expenditure in Mayapur, then what is the question of the festival?

Letter to Ramesvara -- Vrindaban 18 September, 1976:

I am in due receipt of your letter dated September 9, 1976 and have noted the contents with care. I am very pleased with your report and your contact with this author and producer. Now you may take it as my direct order that you must finish the Theistic Exhibit before the Mayapur festival, otherwise what is the use of all this endeavor?

Letter to Prabhanu -- Vrindaban 24 September, 1976:

Please accept my blessings. With reference to your letter to Harikesa Swami dated 15th inst., Sriman Srineketan das Brahmacari may take second initiation at the next Mayapur festival.

Letter to Gurudasa -- Vrindaban 23 October, 1976:

Up to date the Vrindaban guest house is a failure. Nobody's coming. You are always welcome in Vrindaban, but I think you can come for the Mayapur festival. Right now, Harikesa and Sucandra are very eager to preach. So, you should find out where they are and make arrangements to assist them.

Letter to Harikesa -- Vrindaban 28 October, 1976:

I am not very much in favor of Gurudasa coming here. Let him know that his former wife, Yamuna, is here, therefore he should not come. Why is he so adamant to come here. He can come later during the Mayapur festival. Why doesn't he join with you until Mayapur at least?

Letter to Gurukrpa -- Vrindaban 30 November, 1976:

This letter is to inform you that I am sending Bali Mardan to Australia to act as GBC for Australia and New Zealand until the Mayapur festival next year. Now you may concentrate on Hawaii and Japan.

1977 Correspondence

Letter to Satsvarupa -- Bombay 1 January, 1977:

I will be going to the Kumbha Mela around the 10th or 12th of this month. I will stay as long as possible up to three weeks. then we'll be going to Mayapur until the festival.

Letter to Parvati -- Bombay 5 January, 1977:

As far as your own position is concerned, that can be definitely decided during the Mayapur festival. In the meantime you can remain in Kenya.