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ShivaFan's Slides from India Visits

ShivaFan

Satyameva Jayate
Premium Member
I thought I would start sharing some of my photos from India and Nepal.
I literally have 100's and 100's of them, most are on Kodak Slides taken with a high-end Minolta 35mm SLR with multiple set of lenses.
This Christmas I got a device that can start scanning in my slides and then convert them to photos.
I just started today, but literally as you can see from below I have 100's over the years, also photos as well in boxes/albums.
But here are a few for starters that were originally slide and converted to photo.
I thought I would share some, but I also have to be careful as some are very special indeed and I don't want to lose my "copyrights"!

To give you an example, I just pulled out one big huge binder from my closet with literally 100's of slides in it from all over India.

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Can you guess where these are from? The first one is a special place for me.
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Maya3

Well-Known Member
Wow, thank you for sharing these, I love architecture especially temples or other religious buildings.

Maya
 

ratikala

Istha gosthi
namaskaram Shiva fan ji , ..

Jai Jai , ...I think this first one is Madan Mohan Temple in Vrindarban , it is a beautifull picture , please do tell why it is special to you ?

it is such an ancient and beautifull temple , please tell more
 

ShivaFan

Satyameva Jayate
Premium Member
That is correct darling, Madan Mohan Temple near the Kali Ghat, the oldest temple in Vrindavan India. The temple is very closely linked to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. It was this alley entrance, that I thought I saw something. A lot of people walked up this alley. From a long time ago, into today. Were you one of them?
 

ratikala

Istha gosthi
namaskaram Shiva fan ji

That is correct darling, Madan Mohan Temple near the Kali Ghat, the oldest temple in Vrindavan India. The temple is very closely linked to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. It was this alley entrance, that I thought I saw something. A lot of people walked up this alley. From a long time ago, into today. Were you one of them?

Oh I do not know ??? ....all I know is that when I look at these pictures and at some of the Deities I want to see them again , ..Of course I have not been there in this life , ...But soon I hope to go there , of course it is up to Krsna if he wants to give me his darshan then he will call me , ...those that you saw walking up the alley , they were the fortunate ones who heard Sri Krsna's Flute , .....I want to go there very much (before they destroy Vrindarban by over comercialising it) I dont want to go as a tourist , I want to go as you did and feel the true energy of Vrindarban Dham .

When did you go there ?
 

Kalibhakta

Jai Maha Kali Ma!
The Splendor of Hinduism is our Temples, they stop being wonderful buildings and start being homes for the Gods that we adore.
 

ShivaFan

Satyameva Jayate
Premium Member
I used to tell so many, "You MUST go to Nepal". I guess that is true. But it is changing now. This was before the changes.

I use to stay at the Crystal Hotel in Kathmandu - that has a HISTORY of long
standing all on it's own. Incredible, in those days one bulb hanging from a
wire from down the middle of the roof. Each morning, and evening (only certain
times of the day and night) we would tune in to a radio station that would
broadcast the Royal News of Nepal. I recorded some of it to cassette tape.
Those days are gone. The World King of the Hindus is dead, killed by Maoists
though it is claimed an inside job. There is a view from the Crystal below.
But inside, the bathroom was very, very "ancient", flooded, you would use caution.
I heard it has been improved majestically since then.

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There are legions more I took from Nepal, but I am tired for today. It isn't easy doing all this converting.
Don't worry, I won't "swamp you" with photos - but will pick some interesting ones over the next few weeks if and when I get a chance.
The most "incrediable" are still to come. There are wonders in India, adventure awaits the brave.
 

ShivaFan

Satyameva Jayate
Premium Member
My God, I just looked at the photos of the Crystal today. Is that even the same hotel? My God, what huge improvements.
 

ShivaFan

Satyameva Jayate
Premium Member
Ratikala, actually some of the improvements have been quite good according to one Krishna devotee who was there 2 years ago. There is also some new, but traditional style, large temple. The last time I was in Vrindavan was probably around 2000 (I can check my passport), before 911. You MUST go, Vrindavan and Mathura. I brought back a small piece of the back-side part of Bankee Bihari temple and it is a precious holy murti in itself (about the size smaller than a peanut, red color old stone that was part of the outer wall). Of course, if enough people did what I did there would be no Temple today! I pray to Lord Caitanya you will go there. Go with another or arrange to meet someone there, good help can be had from ISKCON in helping you stay safe. I had my own personal driver, but it can be a little dangerous on the drive into the area depending on where you stay. The first time was a very long time ago, I bought an ISKCON Life Membership from Vrindavan back then for only 1,000 rupees. Think about it. Life membership, might work for you, it entitles you to stay at ISKCON residence in many temple locations in India, they are not bad sleeping accomodations. But I have no idea what it costs today, I heard it is a lot.

You are amazing to spot exactly the temple! You are a great devotee! @ratikala
 

ratikala

Istha gosthi
namaskaram Shiva fan ji

Ratikala, actually some of the improvements have been quite good according to one Krishna devotee who was there 2 years ago. There is also some new, but traditional style, large temple. The last time I was in Vrindavan was probably around 2000 (I can check my passport), before 911. You MUST go, Vrindavan and Mathura.

yes some improvements have been wonderfull and very nececary , there have been many wonderfull programs to restore temples , repair Kunds and to replant trees , but some changes I am a little against . just recently I read a peice about ISKCON building a large complex , they described it as if they needed to compete with Disney world and build a Vrindaban theme park , ....saddly I fear that it is a little too much a show of power rather than an act of devotion .
this I am nost deffinatly against their was ugly talk about building the biggest and most impressive structures , they bost about their designs to build robotocaly engineired Dioramas enacting Krsna lila , ...I canot post a link I find it too distatefull and dounright dissrespectfull !
they talk of ''catching the eye of every tourist who visits '' and ''making Krsna and his pure devotees famous'' , ...in my most humble opinion , that it not the kind of fame I think prabhupada would have wanted , not at the expance of pushing the true residents of Braj out of their homes to make way for the rich devotees who will pay the High costs to stay there and to buy retirment appartmentts , do these wealthy devotees think that they can buy the favour of Krsna and become blessed when they up root the original inhabitants who by dint of their devotion are born to live in this sacred Dham, ....

there must of course be some compromise or ballance that needs to be reached , there are moves to make it a world heritage site , ...prehaps this is the answer ???

I brought back a small piece of the back-side part of Bankee Bihari temple and it is a precious holy murti in itself (about the size smaller than a peanut, red color old stone that was part of the outer wall). Of course, if enough people did what I did there would be no Temple today!

jai jai , ....then you must worship it as a shila , ....you are so fortunate , ....you went there at the right time when one could walk in the dust of Vrindaban Dham and contemplate all that have walked there before you even Sri Radha and Sri Krsna enjoying their Divine lila , ...

I pray to Lord Caitanya you will go there. Go with another or arrange to meet someone there, good help can be had from ISKCON in helping you stay safe. I had my own personal driver, but it can be a little dangerous on the drive into the area depending on where you stay. The first time was a very long time ago, I bought an ISKCON Life Membership from Vrindavan back then for only 1,000 rupees. Think about it. Life membership, might work for you, it entitles you to stay at ISKCON residence in many temple locations in India, they are not bad sleeping accomodations. But I have no idea what it costs today, I heard it is a lot.

thank you for your prayers , jai jai ,...with Sri Radhika's blessings I will go , ...to Vrindarban and to Navadvip and Gadei Giri in Odisha , there are very special Deities here who I wish to visit , ......I have heard that the ISKCON accomodations are very nice and clean , but also very expensive ??? but I do not want so much to visit the large temple
this is Gadei Giri
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You are amazing to spot exactly the temple! You are a great devotee! @ratikala
even more amazing , you went to all these places I can only dream about including Nepal , ...your pictures are so so beautifull thank you so much for posting them
 
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ShivaFan

Satyameva Jayate
Premium Member
@ratikala " they bost about their designs to build robotocaly engineired Dioramas enacting Krsna lila , ...I canot post a link I find it too distatefull and dounright dissrespectfull !"

You are probably one of the most wise of devotees on forums! I agree!

But I might be in part guilty! I actually donated money for the original diorama project for the Los Angeles Temple. But then later I visited it and found it sort of .... bad taste.

I love Orissa. but I do not recall Gadei Giri in Odisha nor ever been there (tell us MORE! Write a post on that for us to enjoy and learn!). You should start one of those online donation links where folks can donate via paypal to help you buy a ticket to India!

FUNNY, I am going to post on this thread later the outside (walking out the door) of a "hotel" I stayed at one night in Orissa. Literally huts, so no there are times "accomodations" are no way 5 star, nor 4 star, nor 3 star or 2 or maybe 1. But just to be there is wonderful! But watch out for the centipedes.
 

ratikala

Istha gosthi
But I might be in part guilty! I actually donated money for the original diorama project for the Los Angeles Temple. But then later I visited it and found it sort of .... bad taste.

pleae please do not feel guilty you donated in good spirit , .....I have had to think hard over many years in these issues , when I was dressing the shrine in our temple I insisted to use 108 clay Diya for Deepavali other people were full of good ideas about getting electric lights , ....I argued many times that these lights are for christmas trees not for God , it is ok to put these things outside prehaps , ...but not on the shrine , on the shrine one is in Vrindarvan with Sri Sri Radha Krsna everything one does there is seva for their enjoyment , it is the same which ever Deity one serves one enters the realm of the Deity to do seva , ....creating all these technologicaly engineired all singing all lights flashing exhibits one is trying to bring the lord into our material world , one has to ask are we doing all these things to please God or to please our selves , ..we are becoming show off about our worship , ...it is one thing to build a big and glorious temple to glorify the lord and to give room for many people to receive darshan of the Deity , ...it is another to talk about siting it in a position that will ''attract many tourists'' ??? ....this is not the right attitude , ....

But it is better we concentrate on Right attitude :)


I love Orissa. but I do not recall Gadei Giri in Odisha nor ever been there (tell us MORE! Write a post on that for us to enjoy and learn!).

it is very small and was only built qiute recenty , the foundation stone was laid in 1994, ...I will tell you more this eveneing this will be very nice seva , I will start a thread , ....

You should start one of those online donation links where folks can donate via paypal to help you buy a ticket to India

I have a little plan , ....I am working on it , ...:)

FUNNY, I am going to post on this thread later the outside (walking out the door) of a "hotel" I stayed at one night in Orissa. Literally huts, so no there are times "accomodations" are no way 5 star, nor 4 star, nor 3 star or 2 or maybe 1. But just to be there is wonderful! But watch out for the centipedes.[/QUOTE]

I will look forward to more beautifull pictures , ...I love Orissa , for many many reasons , ....

Oh no do centipedes bite ?[/user]
 

Aupmanyav

Be your own guru
FUNNY, I am going to post on this thread later the outside (walking out the door) of a "hotel" I stayed at one night in Orissa. Literally huts, so no there are times "accomodations" are no way 5 star, nor 4 star, nor 3 star or 2 or maybe 1. But just to be there is wonderful! But watch out for the centipedes.
They are all there now. 143 have 5-Star ratings. Though the temples have not changed. Odisha Hotel Deals - Special Odisha, India Deals on TripAdvisor
 
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