Joy Riding for Krishna
BY: PARASURAM DAS
May 17, 2011 — UK (SUN) — In response to Rocana prabhu's recent article, "Joyriding", I felt compelled to straighten out a few facts. It should be me you are directing your critical article towards, not H.H. Mahavishnu Swami. After Gaura Purnima festival, the students in England take a holiday. Our food For Life only has to cook for 200 people, as opposed to the usual 900. So I took my chance to get away.
"Of course, most devotees, especially those who aren't supported by disciples or the society, just don't have the time or money to go on these sorts of adventures. This is something extravagant a rich karmi would more likely do."
I pay for this journey from money I earn as a security guard. I've worked at this since 1996. The boat is homemade and I keep it in Vrindavan. Mahavishnu Swami got a free ride for us up to the Himalayas. The ride down the Yamuna river to Vrindavan was free, and my daughter gave us a ride in her car back to Delhi airport. So the expenses were, some fruits and some veg.
I've done Vraj Mandala 25 times and Madhukari is in my blood, so most of the bhoga was donated. We slept under the stars in our million stars hotel. None of our preaching is financed by any ISKCON temple or sannyasis. So Mahavishnu Swami has not been spending any ISKCON money.
The next point about being dangerous. Everything I do is dangerous. There is danger at every step. A taxi ride in Delhi is dangerous. Or a lunch in an Indian restaurant. Last month, one Russian book distributor died in the Yamuna in less then one metre of water (and probably went back to Godhead). One month on a bullock cart in Vraj is dangerous, but we can distribute 50,000 books each year, hold 25 programs with crowds up to 1,500 villagers.
Our 'Salty Dogs' (which was a joke) are very experienced Padayatra devotees, tough as nails, even Arjuna's wife. We have organized Padayatras in dangerous places such as Israel, Tunisia, Jordan, and Northern Ireland. The Yamuna journey was one of the least dangerous adventures. Mahavishnu Swami does not take disciples on the boat journeys or Padayatras. He washes his own clothes, puts up his own tent, eats the same as us, and is first to offer obeisances to us in the morning. We have full morning program on the boat, harinam all day with plenty of book distribution.
"…the example set by the Swami also creates a certain enviousness amongst those devotees who aren't free to go out having all this fun."
Please come and join the fun. We have 22 Rathayatras to enjoy and I have 2 or 3 places available on the oxcart Padayatra in October. Join us for fun on the Scandinavia tour in July.
"In the latter part of the YouTube video, the Swami is showing people that he and his crew are actually swimming in the Yamuna, right at the most contaminated part"
Check the video again. The Maharaj is lamenting that we cannot take bath even at Palwal, which is 120 km south of Delhi.
I remember the Yamuna and Ganga everyday. I remember the Harinamas and adventures. I know the rivers from top to bottom and I love them. I am I well known rebel, not an institution man. But I love travelling with Mahavishnu Swami and Rocana prabhu, you are always welcome. We are happy to visit all the holy places on the Ganga, especially places like Kittypur dock where Srila Prabhupada entered the Jaladuta.
Just one technical note. Just after Rishikesh the whole Ganga is diverted into a canal that goes to Delhi. The water in the Ganga at Calcutta is actually very clean. The same is for the Yamuna river in the Himalayas. It is almost different from the river in Vrindavan. I would say 0.2% is the same water, 2% from other rivers and the rest 97.8% is sewage water.
I must admit, I did waste a lot of time recently, teaching five moneys to do Irish dancing. See video.
Your servant,
Parasuram das
