Iskcon, Mira Road

Hare Krishna,

The above may ring a bell (or 2) for what this place is known for. It is where the Bhaktivedanta Hospital is situated at. There is a life size deity of Srila Prabhupada in the lobby as you would find in any temple and I witnessed visitors and out patients paying obeisances while coming in or leaving. Srila Prabhupada's chanting is played continuously in every room of this hospital.

At the entrance there is hospital directions and among the usual directions to the Pharmacy, Community Health Center, Rehab, there is also a sign which reads, Spiritual Care and Temple. Nurses nourish patients not only with medical care but with spiritual essence as well. We visited the small temple room where Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Lady Subhadra reside. They are offered regular aroti and bhoga offerings so you will hear conch shell and bells during your visit there. I feel it gives an understanding to the patients that they are not just these bodies and could try to surrender unto the Supreme Lord, who is right there. It is usually that stressed or depressed time when we develop more awakened conscious and having devotees around you all the time is all what we need at the time of our death. Devotee nurses also sometimes take Their Lordships to each patients room.

We also visited the temple which also a few blocks away to attend 4.30pm aroti. It was Moksada Ekadasi that day. Gita Jayanti was also celebrated that day. Devotees here and at Juhu temple approached everyone to distribute some literature. I noticed for the first time that on Ekadasi days in India, Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Lady Subhadra are attached with golden arms.Usually they are present before us in an incomplete form but on Ekadasi days They are put on either silver or golden forms of arms and decorated with camara, fan etc. In Puri, they even create full forms of Their Lordships, is what I heard from one devotee.

Do you remember the Jolly Swami? Within walkable distance is HH Sridhara Swami's flat where he resided for almost 2 years before leaving for Mayapur to eternally join Srila Prabhupada. I was told that Sridhar Maharaja never left India since he came here in 1971. We visited that place as well. His shoes and saffron robes are displayed and his flat is maintained by Haridas Prabhu, the coordinator of ITV.

It is unfortunate that I am not able to upload any pictures at this time.

Until soon,
Your servant,Dvaipayana dasa