Iskcon Bhu8baneswara was quite small and peaceful. 100% brahmacaries and a sannyasi, with many nice villagers who visited us regularly. There was Srila Gour Govinda Swami, Lagudi brahmacary,, Vaisnava dasa, Brajanatha Prabhu, Bhagavata Dasa, Nayapalli village devotees, myself.
We lived in a small cottage with thatched roof and open small windows, with one old-style heavy black telephone on the floor, one small electric fan, otherwise no appliances or onveniences of modern life. A lightbulb hung from the roof in our small temple room and living quarters.. The shower facility was a cement pad with a shower conncted direct to the water tower nearby. Mahatrajah preferred taking his baths using a nbucket and lota, out in the fields. He bathed religiously 3x daily, never missed.
LOL, I was chanting continuously japa in those days, impressing the devotees, lol. It was just a good habit on my part. Life was very simple there, free of sense gratification, and so we werew very happy and of excellent health, all.
We had many friends, however, one being the New York city Sri Sri Radha Govinda TSKP, our "sister" Temple in America. They were all heavy-hittet sankirtan book distributors, and sohad tons of sukrti and shakti ! These Prabhus visited us in India, and we devised plans for a devotional tour.
They were quite enchanted with our renounced happy cottage life style. I cooked for them, we had dahlma , rice, capatis, and a Orissan style fresh tomato chutney. It was so delicious, the men all enjoyed and complimented us.
First, we went to uri and stayed in an elegant large empty ashrama near the beach. We had arranged a bus to take us to holy place.
Srila Gour Govinda Swami wished to visit Remuna, Orissa, where Madhavendra Puri got magickal sweet rice from Lord Gopinatha. The deity Name is Ksira-Chora Gopinatha (also known as Kheer Chora Gopinatha). , is famous for He stole sweet rice for His devotee, Madhavendra Puri, in Remuna, Orissa. The name "Ksira-Chora" translates to "one who steals sweet rice".
There were about twelve of us in the party, including the New York kirtan and sankirtana crew. They were strong, and great mrdanga players.
We were greeted nicely and ushered in, the kirtan growing more ecstatic with each door passed through The New York kirtan devotees were in top shape and driving kirtan
The sevatas had never ever heard such enthusiastic beautiful devoted kirtan! They were dumbfounded. They were rolling on the ground almost. Most were wide-eyed with tears and joy.
When we finally reached Gopinath's room, the intensity of the kirtan had devotees smiling and crying, laughing, mouths open, astonishment, liberation, dancing highly, it went on for a few minutres. It ended with pranamas and Gaura Haribol !
We were invited to touch the lotus feet of Sri Gopinatha! Which we did, and received tilak and flowers. It was quite intimate in those days, not a huge temple. He was red-lotus eyed and blackish, with a lovely smile.
In due course, Gour Govinda and friends were served delicious kheer in the courtyard.
Afterwards, we remounted our bus, and away we went, japa mala in hands.
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