Dear Devotees,
Parramatta, Sydney Australia, during an all-auspicious Srila Prabhupada
marathon, was the location for a very significant milestone in one fortunate
jiva's life.
Not only was it very hot weather but also it was extra passionate because,
apparently, soon it was Jesus Christs birthday, and strangely, although a
lot of things were being purchased, it didn't seem as though any of the
gifts were for him. But fortunately Prabhupada's books were being profusely
distributed to reconnect this occasion to God.
Intelligently following in the footsteps of one of my senior god brothers, I
spent a lot of time excavating in the air-conditioned "Mall Mines" (shopping
centres) trying to save any gold-hearted souls from Maya's dungeon.
It was much too busy to be noticed on the cameras by the sleeping
surveillance team so I could let my shika hang out.
Due to my lack of purity not every attempt was successfully but one simply
sweet exchange still stands out in my memory even though it was the
marathon 2008.
I stopped one average everyday Australian looking couple pushing a stroller
(baby carriage) and handed them the SB 1.1.
I can't remember exactly what I was saying as it was some time ago but they
seemed to think it was pretty spiritual because they became exited and
stopped me.
"Hold on." They said as they eagerly opened the veil of their child's
stroller while turning it to face me.
At this point I was a little perplexed. Was there some kind of deprogramming
device in there?
"Let him here all this." Said the mother.
She wanted her child to hear what I was saying.
I was bewildered by the simplicity of this couple but I continued my
presentation now including the new infant observer.
Recognising some of the pictures, they said that there child's babysitter was
an Indian lady.
The mother said "Oh! Oh! Our child hasn't been baptised yet. Can you do
something for him?"
Now my head was really spinning. I had no yajna pit handy, nor the golden
paraphernalia and the qualified Brahmans to chant the Vedic hymns needed to
conduct it. And sadly I couldn't find any live cows in the shopping mall to
supply the buckets of ghee.
Luckily Krsna supplied me with some quick needed intelligence and I explained
to them the potency of what was about to happen so they were ready for this
uncommon event.
So I (uninitiated at the time) an aspiring devotee of Krsna, empowered by
Guru parampara and witnessed by the Srimad Bhagavatam, conducted Parramatta
Westfield mall's first public baby initiation into the chanting of the Hare
Krsna Maha Mantra.
I crouched down, look the child in the face and thought of Srila Prabhupada
as I chanted...
Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare,
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
They gave a nice donation and took the book and I hope some time in the
future, that baby will become a great devotee.
Srila Prabhupada Ki Jai!!!!!!!

An aspiring priest,
Dhruvananda Das
(Formerly Uddhava Das, gurukuli)
(Text D:2243955) -------------------------------------------
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