By Manah Siksa Devi dasi

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It was a joyful meeting when Srila B.A. Paramadvaiti Swami returned to visit Sweden after decades of preaching in other places in the world. He was picked up at Arlanda airport by three devotees, of which one of them was his spiritual brother Raivata Das. Coincidentally it turned out to be almost exactly thirty years ago since Srila Paramadvaiti Maharaj met with prabhu Raivata for the first time on the streets of Jönköping in the south of Sweden, and thirty years since their establishing of a little temple there at that time.

This weekend, 4-5 December 2004, a new centre was opened in Jönköping, under the leadership of prabhu Raivata and the blessings of Srila Guru Maharaj. On Saturday afternoon there was a nice program with a very inspiring class, bhajans and prasadam. Around 40 friends and devotees from different parts of Sweden - and even from Finland - had come for the program. One devotee got her pre-initiation this weekend, and two got their brahminical initiation.

However, it is not only Jönköping that has got a Vrinda centre. Also Huskvarna has a newly opened brahmacari ashram, named "Nimai Sankirtan Ashram" in the former public culture house, and Srila Paramadvaiti Maharaj was very pleased to see how nicely the prabhus Brahma Samhita Das and Vasudeva Das had arranged the ashram when he visited there on Sunday.

Next stop for Guru Maharajas visit in Sweden was Umeå, after one night on the train. A glowing sky over the snowy winter landscape welcomed Swami Paramadvaiti and his four disciples who accompanied him on his trip to this town in the north of Sweden.

Guru Maharaj and the devotees were invited to stay with Manah Siksa Devi dasi at the Vishnu Priya ashram, called "Parama Karuna Ahsram" in Umeå. On Monday and Tuesday evening Guru Maharaj held lectures about the Vedic philosophy and bhakti yoga. A small group of interested souls had found the way to the location, and they got inspiring teachings followed by many questions and answers.

The last day in Umeå, Guru Maharaj and the devotees got the opportunity to go for a short sightseeing in Umeå and its surroundings, and the Holy Names flied over the sea and over the frozen landscape, accompanied by the tones of the charango in the hands of Guru Maharaj. Finally the citizens of Umeå could experience a little harinam on the local bus and at the mini-mall of Ålidhem.

It was a great blessing for all of us to have the association of Srila Guru Maharaj during these days. So wonderful to be in company with a group of such nice devotees, to taste the nectar of Krishna katha, to share experiences, to sing and chant together the names of the Lord and to take prasadam together. It was days of great joy and inspiration, which will be remembered in gratitude and happiness for long time.

Sri Sri Gaura Nitay, ki jay!!!