Red Square Earlier this Year

Here's Red Square in August of this year.

It was warm, t-shirt weather. We had our festival at Avadhuta Maharaja's cultural center.

 I have the photos of the festival in another place that I can't access right now. But here's a few photos of how it looked in summer.

This is the National History Museum, just of Red Square.

And an equestrian statue, I think it's Lenin, just before you enter Red Square. 

Here I am with my old friend Madhusudana Maharaja, this was also from August. 

And here I am with Prithu Das, yesterday morning as we arrived on the bullet train from Saint Petersburg. The rest of the photos below are from August. Yesterday we had the big Vyasa Puja celebration for Govinda Maharaja. And today, I think we're all going ice skating in Red Square. See you there. Mahayogi.

Moscow Yoga Center

At the Moscow Krishna Yoga Center, the devotees were very kind.

As it is below freezing, Arjuna Das was kind enough to offer me a chaddor to keep the cold off my back. 

My old friend Muralishwara showed up as translator and interpreter. He is a highly learned man, knows Sanskrit, Bengali, Russian and English. His help is invaluable as without him it would be impossible to communicate with the Russian public at the center.

With Achyutananda Prabhu, another important member of the Russian section.

After a short rest I spoke about the importance of  the great teachers in our sampradaya with special focus of Govinda Maharaja, as his birthday is this week.

And after the talk we had a little bhajan.

Finally we had a chat with some of the devotees and met Sadhu Priya, an old friend of Shruta Shrava.

Petersburg to Moscow: The Hawk

In the early morning just before dawn, shadowy figures emerge from the eery streets where haunted and abandoned government buildings stand watch over onion-domed churches. Ice covers their path. The huddled figures carry heavy bags through darkened alleys. They emerge near the Moscow-Petersburg Vauxhall train station. Their goal: reach the Sapsan Bullet train before 6:45.

 Prithu and I are accompanied by our driver Aditinandana, who has navigated the snowy streets from Lahta to downtown Petersburg. On our way we pass the temple of the blood where Tsar Alexander was murdered.

Rolling suitcases through the back alleys of Petersburg we arrive at the station.

The Hawk awaits us like a silent giant. We will race through the Russian country side at blinding speed..

Sapsan: the Hawk. Fastest bullet train in the world. Top speed 200 kilometers per hour.

 We say goodbye to our driver and prepare to race to Moscow.

 The 6:45 Hawk bullet train from Petersburg to Moscow, ready to board.

I try to capture the Russian countryside, but it's no good. The Hawk is flying so fast that everything is a white blur of snow. This is a lake, frozen by the polar cold front that is currently lashing the North with ice and snow.

And after a long conversation with Prithu about the nature of reality and the relationship between jiva, Paramatma, and the mayic misconception in the world of exploitation, we arrive in Moscow.

Moscow is a good 5 degrees colder than Petersburg and I understand why my Russian friends told me to dress warmly.

The Swami-mobile awaits. My translator and friend Prithu and I are whisked away from the train station and into the heart of downtown Moscow.

Our yoga center is only a few blocks from Red Square, across the street from the secret police and around the corner from the charming golden domes of a Russian church.

The kind and humble Russian devotees put me up in the VIP room, Avadhuta Maharaja's private chambers in the 3 story building that is our Yoga Center. This is the view from my window.

The trusty Swami-mobile like Don Quixote's Rocinante provides a mighty service. Her it is parked under my window.

Finally the faithful Prithu and I are able to relax in the comfort of the warm Yoga Center. Here's Prithu with Achutananda Das.

Prithu Das: translator, personal assistant to Vijaya Raman, Sanskrit Pandit, book publisher and Russian teacher. Jack of all trades and master of quite a few of them.

Moscow library of Swami B.B. Avadhuta spiritual leader of Russian Mission.

And at last a plate of prasadam prepared by the Internationally reknowned Master Chef, Ananda Vardhana. 

Internationally reknowned Master Chef Ananda Vardana asking me if I prefer Russian or Indian cuisine. He's a brilliant cook and makes some of the best chipatties I've ever tasted.

Govinda Maharaja Birthday Party

After we finished the Samurai Exhibit it was time for the Saturday Program here at Lahta. It was the celebration of Govinda Maharaja's birthday, and I was the keynote speaker. I'm not a great devotee, but I knew Govinda Maharaja personally from back in the 1980s and the devotees wanted to hear some personal anecdotes.

Celebrating Govinda Maharaja's birthday, Lahta December 6, 2014

Talking about Govinda Maharaja

I am humbled that the devotees wanted me to talk about Govinda Maharaja. He was a swan-like soul who knew how to include everyone. He had no enemies. We are all part of his spiritual family.  I felt blessed by the humility and warmth of the Russian devotees. 

The Radha-Krishna-Mahaprabhu deities on the altar at Lahta, Petersburg

Afterwards there was the aroti ceremony with a roaring kirtan...

Followed by a hot and comforting plate of prasadam with Vegetarian kafta-balls, kous-kous, curried rice, firey hot green apple chutney made from freshly picked organic apples right off the tree here in Lahta, and home made cinnamon buns....mmmmmm good.

Tomorrow: The bullet train to Moscow.

Arrival and Samurai Exhibit

Back in the USSR. Makes one long for the good old days of Brezhnev, Jimmy Carter, The good old days. the 1970s...Gasoline was 50 cents a gallon, Hare Krishnas were cool. Well, back to the future.

Frankfurt, Germany

The Frankfurt airport was terrifying, but I made it to the great Rosiya Airlines which carried me straight into the heart of Russia. Petersburg, home of poets, thinkers, and the Neva river.

Saint Petersburg, Airport

Minutes later I was whisked away to Lahta, on the Gulf of Finland. The gulf is pretty much frozen over right now. It was snowing in Lahta. Here I am braving the freezing temperatures.

Lahta, on the Gulf of Finland.

And then it was off to the Samurai exhibition at the old artillery, now a museum.

At the Artillery Museum. Peace.

Vijaya Raman drove us over to the Tsar's Arsenal or the Artillery Museum, where the Samurai Exhibition awaited. Called 47 Ronin, the exhibit shows off the arms and armor used by the Samurai up to the end of the 18th Century

Is that a horn growing out of my head?

With lovely Geisha, Sveta Sundari

47 Ronin Exhibit in Petersburg

Samurai Head

 According to legend the Samurai became Ronin or outcaste warriors when their master was killed. The story of the 47 Ronin is about how 47 Samurai became Ronin outcastes when an envious king killed their master. They spent time in hiding, plotting their revenge and finally executed the murderer of their king, redeeming themselves.

With old friend Gopa Kishore and lovely Geisha.