Bhakti Charu Swami in Paris [July 2012]

I feel quite enlivened to share those ecstatic 2 days with you all as Guru Maharaja treaded again on the parisian soil after so many years of his absence (Guru Maharaja was a GBC here in France 20 years ago and he was quite instrumental in saving New Mayapur and reestablishing the faith in many devotees after Bhagavan prabhu's falldown).

Nitai Gaur Sundar prabhu, the temple president of Paris, had been repeatedly soliciting Guru Maharaj for his coming to our temple. About 3 weeks ago, Guru Maharaja called Nitai Gaur Sundar prabhu out of the blue to express his desire to come by since he was so near (in CH).

The news spread widely and quickly and soon enough,  all the disciples of Guru Maharaj, were told about his coming and made time provision to be here for the precious time frame (from July 18th til the 20th).

He arrived from Zurich by train at 1.39 pm on July 18th with 2 of his secretaries: Krsna Arjun prabhu and Subal prabhu!
Guru Maharaja had never visited the newly acquired and ISKCON-owned premises of Sarcelles village with its temple/guesthouse compound! He was taken to the guesthouse for a long-awaited foot-bathing ceremony! Some disciples had not literaly seen him for years in a row! So you can well imagine the emotions in the air!

Little to say that lots of devotees specially matajis had thoroughly prepared his quarters (3 rooms upstairs the guesthouse and his own bathroom) and the place was sparkingly clean and dazzling!

It was a short afternoon for Guru Maharaj as he left the guesthouse by 6 pm by car to a Paris semi-public program. Mystically, even though we were caught up in the usual deep traffic jam of Paris, we arrived slightly before time to the program. Guru Maharaj was a bit panting due to climbing the
3-story staircase leading to the hall (no lift, my mistake) and also slightly upset by the poor turn out of the audience. Yet, the whole program happened to be a vivid success as soon after, people started pouring in late and the crowd swelled over 100. Guru Maharaja addressed the people with his classical title "Reincarnation and beyond" the same that he used to speak on 20 years ago in the same city of Paris! This topic concerns everyone regardless of one's walk of life, this was proven by the endless flow of questions at the end that lasted for an hour. The French audience tends to
be interested in philosophy in general though they speculate like anyone not connected to pure Krsna Consciousness!

On July 19th, Guru Maharaja gave harinam diksa to bhakta Eric who became Ekanath prabhu and Annie, 78, who became Anant Prema. 2 sisyas also took their Gayitra mantra diksa from Guru Maharaj namely Gopala dasi and her mother.
Lots of new devotees were totally enwrapped in bliss  as they had never seen an ISKCON initiation obviously concerned with their sitting one day by the fire yajna in due course of time!

The temple president emphasized the necessity for ISKCON leaders specially gurus to get much more involved in France as other non-ISKCON maths tend to initiate left, right and corner irrespective of pre-requirements. Guru Maharaj was very much sensitive to this appeal and it was clear to many of
us that it may be a good incentive for him to get more involved in France, much like a continuation of his 1st involvement 20 years ago.
That afternoon on July 19th was a succession of private darshans for devotees male and female as they felt the need to seek his all-around guidance!

In the evening, he spent another 2.5 hours giving pravacan to a local audience of Bengali followers who were quite happy to at last listen to Bengali  Krsna katha. That darshan was followed by a regular english-speaking discourse translated in French ending in a series of loving Krsna conscious tunes well-acquainted to Guru Maharaja that he only masters.

Guru Maharaj then left on July 20th at 9.30 am from Orly airport toward Malaga Spain.

We do hope the Panca Tattva will send Guru Maharaj again towards our shores.
Many of us have the implicit conviction that he will.

Sent by : HG Madhavendra Puri Prabhu