Dear Devotees,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Jaya Rādhā-Śyāma!
A Pause in Pilgrims, But Not in Devotion
In contrast to our usual newsletters filled with joyful festival reports, this edition begins with a slightly different tone. Whilst the holy dhāma always provides shelter to the devotees, even those living in New Vraja-dhāma are not immune to the challenges of the material world. Recently, an outbreak of hoof-and-mouth disease spread across various regions of Hungary and Europe, endangering Śyāmasundara’s beloved cows. With their welfare in mind, we made the difficult but necessary decision to temporarily close Kṛṣṇa Valley to visitors. As a result, this year’s Nṛsiṁha-caturdaśī festival, which is always celebrated alongside Śrīla Śivarāma Mahārāja’s Vyāsa-pūjā, was not the international Kṛṣṇa conscious extravaganza it usually is, and was rather observed in a more modest manner locally at each temple and centre around the country. Nevertheless, devotees were enlivened and Rādhā-Śyāma resplendent, as usual.
Separation and Longing: A Divine Dynamic
Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī writes that the greatest agony in this material world is to be deprived of the association of devotees. This pain touched us as well, as a mood of sadness briefly descended on Rādhā-Śyāma’s abode. However, we are reminded that the transcendental pastimes of the Divine Couple are driven by the alternating moods of vipralambha (separation) and saṁbhoga (union). The pain of separation only deepens the sweetness of future reunions. We therefore await with hope and eagerness our next major gatherings—Janmāṣṭamī and Rādhāṣṭamī—when, by Their mercy, we can again all be united in devotional celebration.
Rādhā-Śyāma’s Global Family
Whatever may be happening in the world outside, Rādhā-Śyāma continue to reveal Their charm and magnetism to devotees from all corners of the globe. Over the past months, we have had many devotees joining us, some brief, some longer-term.
- Śrī Vrajabhūmi Dāsa and Śyāmā-harṣitā Devī Dāsī, a couple from Qatar, spent a week in the dhāma with their two children. Deeply touched by the experience, they became Nitya-sevā donors.
- Dīpikā Devī Dāsī from Italy has joined as a pūjārī and is joyfully serving the Divine Couple.
- Amala-prema Dāsa, from Bahrain, has arrived for a five-year stay.
- Bhaktin Aidenis, from Turkey, now serves as the seamstress for Gaura-Nitāi in the Budapest Temple.
- Bhakta Daksh, a young man from Dubai who first visited Rādhā-Śyāma’s abode with his parents last summer, has returned this year to spend three months in dedication to service.
- We also had the pleasure of hosting devotees from Australia, Africa, and the United States.
As Śrīla Prabhupāda envisioned, we are witnessing the manifestation of a home in which the whole world can live.
Welcoming a New Nitya-sevā Donor
This month we are pleased to introduce a new member of the Nitya-sevā family: Rāma-rāja Dāsa, from the UK. His entire family is absorbed in devotional service. His parents, Dhanurdhara Dāsa and Jaya Lakṣmī Devī Dāsī, were among the earliest Nitya-sevā donors, and Jaya Lakṣmī Mātājī came especially to Budapest for two Decembers to serve the Book Distribution devotees with her exceptional cooking, tirelessly serving them with all her heart. And his sister, Śālinī-priyā Devī Dāsī, is also a Nitya-sevā donor. She previously served as a pūjārī in Kṛṣṇa Valley for half a year and later brought a group of forty students to New Vraja-dhāma for a week of service.
Rāma-rāja himself rendered guru-sevā for half a year to Śivarāma Swami Mahārāja, following the principle that a brahmacārī should live in the guru’s āśrama and serve. Now a practising dentist, he continues to use his spiritual name—Dr. Rāmarāja—and on his wedding day, which fell on the auspicious day of Akṣaya-tṛtīyā, he and his wife Bhaktin Ambika became Nitya-sevā donors.
We are grateful for their exemplary service and pray that Rādhā-Śyāmasundara and Dayāl-Nitāi-Vijaya-Gaurāṅga bestow Their full mercy upon them, and all of you, in all respects.
On behalf of the Nitya-sevā team,
Your servant,
Mohana Dāsa
16th July, 2025., Somogyvámos