20th issue - Nitya-seva Newsletter

 May, 2017.

 Dear Devotees, 

We were very happy to see so many of you at our festivals held in May at New Vraja Dhama!  It was lovely being in your association and celebrating together. We thank you so much for the presents and donations you offered to Radha-Syamasundara on this festive occasion too! We received special darshans on both days, which was the result of the devotion and hard work of many local and guest devotees. Radha-Syama delighted us on those days being dressed in new morning and evening outfits. The highlight of most festivals are the evening bhajanas and kirtanas, and it was no different this time either: on the day of Vyasa-puja the evening bhajan lasted until the next morning. It’s been a long time since many devotees danced so happily for the pleasure of Radha-Syama!

Probably many of you met one of New Vraja Dhama’s youngest residents, Jiva das, during the festivals. He was collecting donations for Radha-Syamasundara’s Nitya-seva project. Not long ago he received a letter from His Holiness Sivarama Maharaja telling him what services could he learn to do in the future. Maharaja asked him  – until he grows up - to help with the collecting of Nitya-seva contributions from the guests who attend our festivals. Jiva is five years old now, and he attends the local nursery. So he was eagerly waiting for the festivals to begin to start this service. He had also made a donation box along with his mother, which featured photos of Radha-Syama and was labeled - 'Radha-Syama Nitya-seva'.  But he became ill just before the festivals… so his mother told him he had to now wait until the next one.  But he was feeling so determined and wanted to start immediately not having to wait until Janmastami. So with the help of his father (for now) he began approaching guests and  he received such a good response, it is a sure thing that he will achieve a full Nitya-seva amount before he grows up to start his service of the future.

We had a really successful month regarding Nitya-seva payments too: we received five full Nitya-seva donations, which is our monthly record so far!  We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who participated in ensuring the stability of Radha-Syama’s future worship this month as well! Since we have already mentioned a few of Radha-Syamasundara’s donors before, let us write about another kind devotee this month too, who lives the other side of the country.  Although not having participated in any full time service before, he surely received Radha-Syama’s merciful glance upon him for his offerings.

After he met the devotees and received Srila Prabhupada’s books he started to chant along with following the rules and regulations. Unable to get the opportunity for devotee association he "only” had the shelter of the books. But he wanted to connect through some service, so he decided to start donating to Radha-Syama, and because he read that Srila Prabhupada’s suggestion for sponsorship was 50%, he started to put aside half of his salary each month and donating that sum to the devotees each time he met them.  He leads a very simple lifestyle as he gets a minimum wage, but never falters from giving half of it to Radha-Syama.  He paid two Nitya-sevas according to the previous system, contributing Seva-pujas each year too, and now he is continuing on to increase his Nitya-sevas to the present amount.

Jaya Radha-Syama!

8th June, 2017. New Vraja Dhama

In the name of the Nitya-seva team your servant,
Syamajiu dasi