Hari Nama on a street in Moscow.
January 27, 2023
Dear Srimati Govinda Nandini Devi,
Please accept my blessings and well wishes in remembrance of my Divine Masters.
I hope I will hear from you soon that your health has recovered.
When I first viewed the video you sent me of your street sankirtana (attached to your email of 12/9/22) I didn’t positively recognize you. I just viewed it again and see that you are playing a harmonium, chanting and looking very energetic, happy and still youthful.
Once I was with Srila Sridhara Maharaja who was speaking with us on his veranda as his kirtana party was returning from morning sankirtana around Navadwipa. As the group came nearer to us and the chanting grew louder his attention was being drawn more and more away from us and towards the sankirtana party. By the time it entered the gate of the Math Srila Sridhara Maharaja was becoming more and more joyful and animated. Finally he broke his talk on the present topic and told us (paraphrasing) ”I cannot dance any more, but in my heart I am dancing.” He was so much pleased to hear the kirtana party.
My feeling was similar while watching and listening to the video of your kirtana group and seeing everyone in a very happy mood. It brought joy to my heart. Obviously it had the same effect on many others. What is not so obvious is how it not only gives joy to the hearts of devotees but plants, awakens and nourishes the seed of devotion in others. Paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam!
CC Antya 20.12
ceto-darpaṇa-mārjanaṁ bhava-mahā-dāvāgni-nirvāpaṇaṁ
śreyaḥ-kairava-candrikā-vitaraṇaṁ vidyā-vadhū-jīvanam
ānandāmbudhi-vardhanaṁ prati-padaṁ pūrṇāmṛtāsvādanaṁ
sarvātma-snapanaṁ paraṁ vijayate śrī-kṛṣṇa-saṅkīrtanam
“ ‘Let there be all victory for the chanting of the holy name of Lord Kṛṣṇa, which can cleanse the mirror of the heart and stop the miseries of the blazing fire of material existence. That chanting is the waxing moon that spreads the white lotus of good fortune for all living entities. It is the life and soul of all education. The chanting of the holy name of Kṛṣṇa expands the blissful ocean of transcendental life. It gives a cooling effect to everyone and enables one to taste full nectar at every step.’
I hope this finds you well in health and spirits.
Affectionately,
Swami B.K. Giri