Hare Krishna Dear Guru Maharaja!
Dandavat Pranams!
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to your grace! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
We were part of Sydney yatra till June 2017 and recently moved to Melbourne as I had to change job. It was tough decision for us to leave Sri Sri Radha Gopinath and Bhakti Vriksha team that we were hosting under the guidance of HG VijayGopikesh Prabhuji near the temple. Everything was arranged by your grace and the mercy of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath that we transitioned Bhakti Vriksha team to HG Harinama Kalpavriksha Prabhuji who recently moved to Sydney from Bahrain and stays near the temple in North Sydney and close to our family.
In Melbourne, we are living in Glen Waverley suburb, which is 30mins drive from temple and we are attending weekend programs for children in Albert Park temple. I am yet to join or restart attending Bhakti Shastri classes and Prabhupad dressing service here in Melbourne. HG Chandra Vallabhi Mataji is guiding us for children's progress in Krishna consciousness and we are trying to assist her in various programs that she does for children. HG Ananda Vallabha prabhu became very close to our children Sarath Chandra and Harsha as Prabuji is with every child here at temple. HG Guru Gauranga Prabhu, HG Ravikula Prabhu became good family friends.
I want to share my two recent experiences for your pleasure. Last year when we visited India, we took my wife Madhula's sisters and family members to Tirupati balaji temple and visited ISKCON Tirupati where we subscribed them for monthly magzines. One of the family visited with us started following Ekadashi and chanting Hare Krishna maha mantra. My wife Madhulata is motivated by the power of Prabhupad's books when her sister's family started chanting and following Ekadashi sincerely. One of my fathers friend recently went through heart surgery and staying only at home, who started chanting when we are connected with him through whatsapp and through my father's encouragement. It was known that he broke all the four regulative principles throughout his life but started chanting 4 rounds in the morning and 4 rounds in the evening and reporting daily to my father on phone call. He says that he is getting good sleep as he started chanting. We are really amazed how fortunate he is to start chanting towards the end of his life. My sister Jaya and family are also connected with ISKCON devotees in Tanuku (Andhra Pradesh) identifying them by Tulasi kanti mala on the road and attending the programs there conducted by ISKCON Tirupati on regular basis. I understand that your mercy is flowing through out Andhra Pradesh in to towns and villages.
With your mercy I am completing my 16 rounds of chanting daily and do Tulasi parikrama at the temple. Just last week, we received Tulasi plant as gift from a colleague and we are doing Tulasi parikrama daily now. I am trying to improve my chanting with the motivation from team of devotees lead by HG Sharanmukhi Mataji in Sydney yatra in Japa group. We are yet to start serrvices to you and Srila Prabhupada in Melbourne yatra. We are very excited by the association of many sincere god brothers and sisters serving Srila Prabhupada and your grace in Melbourne. Sarath Chandra and Harsha our two boys are learning various slokas from Bagavad Gita and Srimad Bagavatam in weekend classes from HG Chandra Vallabhi Mataji. Now both of them learnt chapter 7, 10 and 12 in full and learning Kunti prayers. We participated in Snana Yatra and Panihati festival and was able to do service under the guidance of HG Navadvipeswara Mataji. I felt close to you through your recent health updates and very touched by your recent messages.
I believe whatever service we could do so far and wanted to do is only your mercy and through God Brothers guidance and association and is not possible with our little endeavoring. I have a desire to serve Prabhupad's mission in big way and progress in my personal Sadhana while helping Madhulata, Sarath Chandra, Harsha, my parents Ramarao, Krishna Veni and other relatives, though I am not sure of purpose bringing us in to Melbourne yatra. We missed your physical association in Sydney and Melbourne from last two years. We pray to Sri Sri Radha Gopinath and Radha Vallabha for your good health and quick recovery.
Please forgive us for our offenses and enable us to serve you in the mission of Srila Prabhupada. I pray at your lotus feet and beg for your guidance to progress in our services to Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON through Melbourne yatra while developing taste in chanting, improving in our Sadhana and following four regulative principles.
Your humble servants,
Virabhadra Nityananda Das,
Madhulata.
Sarath Chandra,
Harsha.
