Sri Krishna Janmashtami in St.Petersburg

Sri Krishna Janmashtami in St. Petersburg.
Page I

September 4^th, 2007
Saint Petersburg, Russia
Pictures sent by Shyama Mohini Devi Dasi
Report by Kundalata Devi Dasi.

   On September 1^st the devotees here in Russia were blessed by the long-awaited, safe arrival of His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj in Saint Petersburg seva-ashram. Thus began the second part of the annual Vaishnava festival in Russia.
   This festival is a special one for this year devotees celebrate one of the most important days in the Vaishnava calendar — the day of the holy advent of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna, the embodiment of the Absolute Beauty and Charm — in the divine association of Srila Gurudeva. "Emporium of all rasas", "Reality the Beautiful", "the Sweet Absolute" — there are so many names given to express the unique enchanting conception of reality that is personified to the extreme in Lord Krishna.
   On this auspicious day, when Lord is especially merciful to the fallen souls, I am reminded of these words of His Divine Grace:

There are so many different kinds of processes to satisfy the Lord, we can see different kinds of methods in so many scriptures, but here in Srimad Bhagavatam there is a very good expression given to us. If Lord Himself says, "I like this; do this for My satisfaction," that will be the best for the servitors. And bhagavat-dharma means that when Bhagavan Himself tells us, "I will be satisfied through this method. I will be happy with this type of mood of devotion," then it is very easy for us to understand and easy for us to satisfy the Lord.
For example, if someone likes samosa, and if he himself tells me, "I like samosa, give me two samosas with chatni, and I shall be very happy!" — that will be the best for making him happy. It is like that. And Lord Himself told us, "I like bhakti, I like unconditional surrender, surrendering mood, so try to satisfy Me in this way."

So, today, under the shelter of Srila Gurudeva, devotees are blessed with an opportunity to learn the science of exclusive surrender to the Lord by hearing from and pleasing His Divine Agent.
Here are several pictures taken by Shyama Mohini Devi Dasi on this holy day: