Radhastami

James becomes Yadunandan

Today is Sri Radhastami, the appearance day of Srimati Radharani. At the morning darshan, Srila Gurudeva speaks a little about the glories of Srimati Radharani. Srila Gurudeva had earlier expressed a desire to go to our Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math and Mission in Sevakunj, Vrindavan, but he is too tired to travel so soon after his recent world tour.

Yesterday, James, from Byron Bay, Australia, arrived here at the Srila Sridhar Swami Sevashram in Govardhan. He brought some letters from his mates for Srila Gurudeva, as well as a few copies of a booklet, Sri Sri Guru Gaura Vani, put together by Ishabandhu Prabhu and Sadhu Priya Prabhu, in Byron Bay, Australia. Srila Gurudeva is pleased with the publication: "At least they are doing something."

This morning, at ten o' clock, James takes harinama initiation from Srila Gurudeva, and receives the spiritual name Yadunandan das — the servant of the beloved son of the Yadu dynasty, Krishna. New initiates always receive a new spiritual name, and that spiritual name invariably begins with the same initial as your first name. In Bengal, "Y" is pronounced "J" (yoga as joga), so Srila Gurudeva pronounces James' new name as "Jadunandan."

After the midday arati in the mandir, we all partake of a splendid multi-course feast in honor of Srimati Radharani.