Indian PM Receives Vrindavan Janmastami Prasad
from His Grace Deena Bandhu Prabhu
posted September 17, 2003

Remembering our successful program from last Janmastami, this year also the devotees from Krishna Balaram Mandir, Vrindavan presented Janmastami Prasad to the Honorable Indian Prime Minister, Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Our good friend and secretary of the Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Committee, Col. RC Ravat, again made all the arrangements and he went with Sri Sarvabhauma Das, Vice President of ISKCON Vrindavan and Rupa Raghunath from Vrindavan Food For Life. Rupa Raghunath commented that five thousand years ago, all the doors in Kamsa's prison opened automatically. In the same way, although there was very strict security, five thousand years later, when we mentioned Krishna Prasad from Janmastami in Vrindavan, all the doors automatically opened for us.

All of them were given a copy of Krishna Book, a very beautiful murti of Krishna playing His flute, a lamination of the Lotus of Braja Mandal, and a tiffin with some of the Chappan Bhog Mahaprasad from Janmastami at Krishna Balaramm Mandir in Vrindavan.

First the party of devotees went to the residence of Sri I.D. Swami, Honorable Minister of Home Affairs. Vvery happy to receive Janmastami prasadam, he received the devotees at his residence in a very friendly and informal manner. They saw that his whole house was decorated with many of the ISKCON picures of Krishna. When he was invited to Vrindavan, he immediately replied that he would try to come for Radhastami.

On arriving at the house of the Honorable Vice President of India, Sri B. S. Shekhawat, the devotees greeted him with "Jai Gopinathji!" remembering from last year that in his village they are all devotees of Gopinathji. He warmly invited the devotees in to sit and talk with him for some time. He was very interested in the fact that they were presenting this very valuable Janmastami Mahaprasad to all the leaders of the Government.

The next day, the devotees went to visit the Honorable Deputy Prime Minister, Sri Lal Krishna Advani. Although he was quite busy, on hearing that Janmastami Prasad from Vrindavan had come, he made an appointment to meet the devotees. On their invitation to visit Vrindavan, he lamented that he really wanted to come, but everywhere he goes the security makes so much inconvenience for the public. He said that he didn't want to trouble anyone who was coming to Vrindavan to take darshan of Lord Krishna. He was very happy when the devotees suggested that we could make arrangements in the slow season.

The visit with the Prime Minister was still pending. This was the time when there was to be a vote of confidence in the Parliament, which he easily won. Finally at 11 at night, the PM office called that he wanted to meet the devotees the next day. Then Rupa Raghunatha made his comment about even five thousand years later, for Krishna Prasad, all the doors are automatically opened.

When the devotees met the Honorable Prime Minister, Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he appeared to be tired. But as soon as he saw the enchanting form of the Lord, he immediately perked up and took him in his hand lovingly taking darshan. He again prayed that by sending this Janmastami Prasad from Vrindavan, the Lord should bless him to lead the country to peace.

In Service of Sri Sri Krishna Balaram,
Deena Bandhu dasa