Watering the Seed (Hindi)

Product Details

---

Watering the Seed by Giriraj Swami Anecdotes and articles from the pastimes and teachings of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Revised and Expanded Edition, Hardbound, 361 pages, 8 chapters, 11 color photos. Foreword by Radhanath Swami. Published by Torchlight Publishing.

"Prabhupada told me that if I simply study the character of Lord Caitanya in Caitanya-caritamrta--even apart from His being the Supreme Personality of Godhead--just by studying Him as a Vaisnava, I will become perfect. So in the same way, if people study Prabhupada, apart from what his inner identity might be--which even we don't know--if they study him just as a Vaisnava or as a great acarya or as a great personality, they will benefit." -- from Watering the Seed

About the Author Giriraj Swami was born Glenn Phillip Teton, the only son of a respected Chicago lawyer. In March of 1969, while studying at Brandeis University in Boston, he met His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder-acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, and considered that he learned more from Srila Prabhupada in five minutes than he had learned in his twenty years of academic education. After graduating from Brandeis cum laude, Glenn took formal initiation from Srila Prabhupada and was given the spiritual name "Giriraj das." Giriraj quickly became a leading member of the Boston center. He was then given the opportunity to go to India with Srila Prabhupada and helped establish his mission there.

In 1972, after Giriraj had toured India with Srila Prabhupada, Prabhupada appointed him president of ISKCON Bombay and trustee of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust. Since then, he has made many significant contributions to Srila Prabhupada's mission, most notably overseeing all aspects of the development of Hare Krishna Land in Juhu, Bombay. He was instrumental in the development of the Bhaktivedanta Ashram in Govardhana and more recently led the development of the Kirtan Ashram for renounced women, the Bhaktivedanta Hospice, and the Vrindavan Institute of Palliative Care, all in Vrndavana, India. Through all his efforts, Giriraj Swami has become known for the austerities he has accepted, for his loyalty and dedication to Srila Prabhupada's mission, and for his ability to raise funds and cultivate important members of society.

In the year following Srila Prabhupada's departure in 1977, Giriraj das was awarded the renounced order of life and appointed president of ISKCON's board of trustees in India. In 1982 he was made a member of ISKCON's Governing Body Commission, the ultimate managing authority for the movement, and went on to oversee the Society's activities in Bombay, Mauritius, South Africa, Spain, Portugal, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan.

Giriraj Swami has toured extensively throughout India and many other countries, carrying knowledge of Krsna and helping to develop Srila Prabhupada's mission. He has also taught at the Vaisnava Institute for Higher Education in Vrndavana and now gives presentations at japa retreats and workshops for the Bhagavat Life educational foundation.

Although for the past ten years health considerations have limited his international travels, Giriraj Swami has taken this as an opportunity to focus more on one of Srila Prabhupada's personal instructions: to write. Now based in Southern California, he is a frequent contributor to Back to Godhead magazine and is working on several publications, including books about his search for a spiritual master and his early days in the Boston temple, his travels with Srila Prabhupada in India from 1970 to 1972, and Srila Prabhupada's monumental efforts in Bombay.

Reviews of Watering the Seed "In 'Watering The Seed' we will be given entrance into Srila Prabhupada's private quarters to see the beautiful human qualities of a world acarya from behind the scenes. We will witness his gentle fatherly love toward his young and sometimes perplexed spiritual child. Srila Prabhupada's innocent childlike humor will bring intimate joy to our hearts. Giriraj Swami candidly shares with us his priceless realizations as he recounts how Lord Krsna's beloved gardener had taken such personal care to water the seed of devotion within his heart. -- from the Foreword by His Holiness Radhanath Swami

"Get the association of Giriraj Swami. Soft heart, very soft heart, and good brain -- good combination. That's why Srila Prabhupada liked him so much." -- His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami

"'Watering the Seed' allows all of us to share the close association Giriraj Maharaja had with Srila Prabhupada. His remembrances capture a unique and historic period in ISKCON, when Srila Prabhupada was personally guiding his disciples in their daily spiritual lives. The instructions and inspiration that Giriraj Maharaja received from Srila Prabhupada will no doubt benefit all readers and what's more, will help us to appreciate Srila Prabhupada in a deeper and more personal way." -- His Holiness Indradyumna Swami

"His Holiness Giriraj Swami had so much association with Srila Prabhupada, more than most leaders. He has started writing and sharing some of his experiences and realizations. It is so wonderful that devotees are beginning to write more and more about the pastimes of Srila Prabhupada. It's very special for the devotee community as well as the world. As the years go by some things will not be quite as distinct. Sometimes essential things become confused or even lost, or, worse, people begin to interpolate, speculate, etc., causing a lot of confusion. Sometimes it becomes ambiguous what the great acaryas actually did and said, and those who had personal association, who were given personal instructions, have a special responsibility to share that literally with the world. The life of the acarya is his message and in 'Watering the Seed' we find some of the amazing glories of Srila Prabhupada." -- His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami

"I just finished reading 'Watering the Seed' and wanted to thank you for sharing all the wonderful memories and instructions of Srila Prabhupada with us. I found the book spiritually uplifting and inspiring in ways too numerous to mention. I look forward to reading more of your work in the future." -- His Holiness Giridhari Swami

"Thank you for 'Watering the Seed'. We read it through within hours, and have passed it on within hours. We can only look forward to the upcoming proposed volumes with a focus on specific time and place pastimes.... The beginning and end were especially powerful, as was Radhanath Swami's part. Please, please share your wonderful example to all who need it so--new and old." -- Her Grace Yamuna devi dasi ACBSP

"I am very much impressed by the serious quality contents and the nice presentation. The first thing that struck me was the beautiful front picture. Srila Prabhupada's expression is so absolutely charming. It is amazing that this is the first time I have seen this picture!" -- Sriniketan das ACBSP

"I relished reading "Watering the Seed" so much. It was like the fullfilment of a long lasting desire, that of hearing Srila Prabhupada katha from your holy lips, you who had that extraordinary privilege of being so close to him.... Please kindly keep churning out the nectar with more and more books. Srila Prabhupada's books will save the world, and books about Srila Prabhupada will save his devotees. Tadiyanam samarcanam. -- Arjuna das ACBSP

"I appreciate the deep Krishna conscious insights." -- His Holiness Bhakti Vikas Swami

This book is not just a memory of past events, but a vital principle for being alive spiritually. With this exhortation, Giriraj Swami draws a very subtle dramatic picture of the hard times in ISKCON but also brings back memories of a time where determination was the key to a successful mission in the world... What could be appointed as a fault, turns out to be a big virtue of the book which has a stimulating effect on the reader since it can be read by many people as it is not directed to a specific kind of reader. Wherever you open it, the spirit of the reader embarks on a voyage with course and compass: Srila Prabhupada, the conduct line to Krishna... This is a reference book to read and (re)read slowly. This is not a story of a life but a life with many stories--some of them merely circumstantial anecdotes, but always showing characteristics of Srila Prabhupada's great sense of humor and his ever renewed endeavors to give Krishna consciousness to the world. -- Maria Fernandes, poet and teacher, Lisbon

On the surface, this is a book of anecdotes and articles from the pastimes and teachings of Srila Prabhupada. It says so on the cover. But Giriraj Swami's wonderful collection is a lot more than this modest description, taking the reader as close to Prabhupada as a roti in a pan. The joy of Giriraj Swami's writing is his ability to add ingredients gradually and allow the story to piece itself together chapter by chapter, starting off with some delightful anecdotes and ending with a poignant epilogue. Sandwiched in between are six chapters titled Spiritual Solutions to Material Problems, Appeals and Messages, Lectures, Advice, Prabhupada's Books, Srila Prabhupada and Krsna and His Devotees. And because they were written at different stages of the author's path in Krsna consciousness, each one is a separate gem which finally make up a sparkling crown for his spiritual master. -- Andrew Whitlock, journalist and writer, Johannesburg

"I found the book exceedingly easy to read. It has a simple and effective style and provides a clear insight into some of the very personal teachings and experiences of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. So exciting to share the thoughts and ideas of one of the greatest spiritual leaders in history. -- Justin van Rensburg, advocate, Cape Town