Weeks 3 and 4 in India

Greetings again from India from the Cincinnati gang here.  Last post was the first 2 1/2 weeks in India that I posted from Rishikesh.  We are now in Puri.

Arthi at Anada Moi Ma's Place

After Rishikesh, it was off to Haridwar, where we went to Ananda Moi Ma's temple for Arthi.  What a wonderful place and a very elaborate arthi.  All of our spirits were lifted high at this place. 

Place of Lahiri mahasaya's Ashes.

Then we visited Keshabananda's ashram who was our guru's Sanskrit teacher and a direct deciple of Lahiri Mahasaya.  Here a portion of Lahiri Mahasaya's ashes is buried and we meditated for a while at this site of the ashes as well as at the adjoining Keshabananda's place.  What an incredibly peaceful and serene place this is !!!

Then it was off to Mathura (Birthplace of Krishna) and Vrindavan.  Krishna's birthplace (no photographs allowed) is a relatively huge complex with an adjoining Mosque.  The Krishna Temple in Vrindavan is a fabulous place with all Marble entrace ways with intricate carvings.  Inside it is a fabulous temple where weparticipated in the arthi to Lord Krishna (picture below).  Lots of chanting, great devotion of the devotees, lots of dancing and prostrations to the lord. Of course, this place is ISKCON - the Hare Krishna Group. We had a very devotional and enjoyable evening.

Krishna's Temple

After this, it was off to Agra and then to Puri.  I am ahaving a lots of trouble with the computer here ans it is taking along time.  So, I will stop here for now and hopefully will refresh this page in the next few days.  Look out for the editing and adding of new material in the next few days.

Bye for now,

Jai Guru.

Ray V