Giriraj Swami’s Vyasa-puja—Talk by Giriraj Swami

Giriraj Swami: We should end with a little kirtan. And yes, my appreciation and thanks to all of you for your devotional service. I was going to say steadfast devotional service and, in any case, your struggle to continue in devotional service.

Just on the subject of Bombay and “Giriraj is Bombay and Bombay is Giriraj.” I guess it was the day before Haridasa Thakura’s Disappearance Day. No, actually, it was on Ekādaśī, yes, the day before Vamana-dvadasi, and two days before Srila Haridasa Thakura’s Disappearance Day, I spoke at the Berkeley temple. As we were driving down Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, Krishna Kirtan was driving, and Rada Govinda from Portugal was in the back seat, and he said, “Look at that sign! It says Juhu Beach.” [laughter] So, Krishna Kirtan stopped the car, and we looked out the window, and there was the Juhu Beach Club. So, we decided we have to go in and see what this is. I mean, who in Berkeley is going to name their business the Juhu Beach Club? So, we went in and we said, “Who owns the place?” And it turns out that she is a very modern Indian young lady, very modern. [laughter] And I said, “How did you name your business the Juhu Beach Club?” And she said, “Well, my mother lives in Bombay, and I had the idea of making a cafe that had Indian street food: Bhel Puri, Pani Puri, Pau Bhaji.” [laughter] And so, she was thinking, What should I name my cafe? And then, suddenly, all the aromas from the Juhu Beach Chowpatty where they have all the stalls rushed into her mind, and she said, “That’s it. I will call it the Juhu Beach Club.”

So, I don’t know if I could say Bombay is everywhere, but definitely the influence of Bombay is everywhere. [laughter] Well, I will try to do my best for everyone according to my capacity, but I am happy here, also. [laughter] [applause] Okay, so we can end with a mellow kirtan, or any kind of kirtan. [laughter] Thank you all very much.

Hare Krishna. [applause]

Devotee: Giriraj Maharaja ki jaya!