In The Heart Of Spiritual Love- Ujjain

Uddhava-Gita discourse in the Vaikuntha atmosphere of Iskcon Ujjain

by: Ramananda Raya, Belgium

Two times before I had visited Iskcon Ujjain. The progress on so many levels is simply amazing. In 2008 when I first entered the new temple I had immediately experienced the Vaikuntha atmosphere: the temple is always open, all classes and programs are given with open doors, people can always walk in at any time of the day and they do with tens and hundreds at a time. Ujjain, previously known as Avantika, is already a very special place, one of the oldest cities in India. According to the Vedic sources Ujjain must be millions of years old. Krishna and Balarama were receiving their education in Ujjain 5000 years ago.  Therefore nowadays also Ujjain is a very peaceful place.

 

But  Iskcon Ujjain offers much more than peace. That we specially experienced during the Uddhava-Gita seminar, December 2013.  The impact of this global seminar with over 150 devotees attending from all over the world gave rise to heartfelt happiness and joy. Simply meeting with the Iskcon Ujjain devotees gives rise to joy. Their wonderful attitudes and service makes one quickly forget the bad dreams of this material world.

During The Udhhava-Gita discourse in Iskcon Ujjain in December 2013  I very quickly came to the point where I felt all problems were solved.

Guru Maharaja managed to have all attendees focused for up to six hours a day. At the end I was wondering how that was possible.  Enthusiasm hypnotizes and not only is Guru Maharaja very enthusiastic when he preaches from Srila Prabhupada’s books, to me it is because of the pure love that powerfully radiates from the bottom of his heart that Guru Maharaja mesmerizes his publics for hours together. One simply gets attracted by the beauty and depth of the presentations and everything around the whole happening. The experience is really beyond!

A prime : Lord Jagannatha manifested in Avanti!

Thousands of years ago during the satya yuga King Indradyumna had ruled in Avanti and he had so much desired to get the darshan of the Lord. Krishna was manifested only in Puri, in the form of the Nila-Madhava Deity. When King Indradyumna visited there and attempted to get the darshan of Sri Nila-Madhava, the Deity had disappeared.  Through a wonderful pastime Lord Jagannatha then manifested Himself together with His Brother Balarama and His Sister Subhadra. And since that time billions of pelgrims have been visiting Jagannatha Puri  and thus received the darshan of Their al- merciful Lordships.

Now for the first time since that long forgotten past Their Lordships Jagannnatha, Balarama and Subhadra have come Themselves to Avanti which is now called Ujjain. In that same building Iskcon Hare Krishna devotees prepare every day about 25000 meals for distribution to schools. The food is offered to the Deities and then it is very professionally prepared for distribution.

When the Uddhava Retreat devotees visited the Iskcon Food For Life center, two devotees were so impressed that they spontaneously donated two vans to support the distribution.

Wonderful relationships with  other temples  like  the Maha-Kaleshvara Temple in Ujjain And The Sandipani Muni Pilgrimage Site.  

Subhananda Prabhu : “It was the first time ever that I was allowed to make pictures in the inner core of the Maha-Kaleshvara temple!” We had come with three busses of the Uddhava-retreat devotees. And His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami himself took the lead of our group in the very famous Maha-Kaleshvara temple.  Unlike such places in India no temple brahmins were harassing us for donations or yajnas. It became obvious that the temple brahmins are not only impressed with the Isckon devotees but they appeared to be on friendly terms with us. All people who are in touch with His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami gave full credits to the Maharaja for all such wonderful achievements.

Ecstacies In The Govinda Restaurant At Iskcon Ujjain

Guru Maharaja : “One thing, my disciples all end up becoming wonderful cooks!”  Delicious prasadam served with care and attention in the Govinda restaurant in between the seminar sessions is another top hit in Iskcon Ujjain. 

And during Guru Maharaja’s seminars regularly birthday and other parties are celebrated.