BV Damodara Maharaj Guyana Tour & Opening of Sri Sri Radha Govinda Gaudiya Matha (Guyana)

Dandavat Pranams

All Glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga.

Recently myself and Narasingha Prabhu, from Washington, returned from a succesful visit to Guyana and Trinidad. I would like to inform the devotees about what we have achieved there. Myself, Madhuvrata Brahmachari, and Rohini Nandana Prabhu went to Guyana in the beginning of 2003, just after my sanyasa.

We had been invited by a small group of devotees, and we were amazed by the potential of the place. Guyana is populated by black bodied peoples, who were the descendents of slaves brought from Africa by the British and Dutch, and Indians, who are descendents from indentured labour. There is a huge Hindu community, and temples are everywhere.

Since the last eight years we have visited there, as well as visits from PP Sajana Maharaja and Syamarani didi, who came this year. We have grown now to a sanga of perhaps more than 80 devotees. Unlike other places, most of the devotees who have taken initiation have remained strong in their commitment to the practices of bhakti.

Last year the devotees asked Gurudeva’s blessings to construct a temple, and He gave some personal instructions regarding the architecture. So we are pleased to announce the opening of our new Sri Sri Radha Govinda Gaudiya Math, on the auspicious day of the appearance of Srila Veda Vyasa. At least 250 people attended the opening ceremony, and the devotees have committed themselves to two weekly programs at the temple, as well as weekly outreach program at other venues.

Of course we are mainly a Hindu sanga, but very happily some of the black bodied people have come forward and accepted initiation. They are wonderful devotees.

One amazing incident occurred at one of our programs. After prasadam a young black man who had attended the class came forward and told us that he was homeless and had lost his job, and he had decided to commit suicide that night, but after hearing the hari-katha, and feeling the love of the devotees, he had changed his mind. We told him to follow ekadasi, (tomorrow) and everything would become auspicious for him, not to worry. Two days later he came again. He had completely changed, he was almost weeping in happiness as he told us he had only observed ekadasi by only eating fruits, and the next day, his mother called him back home, and he got his old job back. It was amazing!!

The devotees recently ordered $3,500 worth of our Gurudeva’s books from India, and are going out weekly for their distribution. If you want to help out, then please contact Ramanath Dasa for more info at ramanatha_dasa@yahoo.com.