Trees, planting and the Govardhan works (dairy, campus)

KAMADHENU PROJECT

could You tell us about Kamadhenu project?

Guruji: well, I’ve never done business in my life – but suddenly in 2015 there was government scheme for promoting cows and milk, because milk is getting less and less. Many people took the loan from government – most of their projects failed. There was a pressure from local administration that they should give the big scheme to some local farmer. It was the great honor for me that local administration told that I’m the most reliable farmer here and they forced me to take that government loan. It is about 400 cows. I’ve discussed it with my disciples and some people. Here in Govardhan the real genuine milk is nearly impossible to find. Even for the worshipping to Govardhan hill it’s not so commonly available. So we were given that loan and we started work from 15 th of January. Thanks to my lawyer and his team – within a year a project was done: all buildings, all the cows and buffaloes are here. We’re producing nearly 1000 liters of milk everyday- it sounds not much, but if I say that we’re producing 3500000 liters of milk annually – it sounds big. Many Govardhan local people are buying milk from us, Govardhan Maharaj is worshipped with it, many people are coming to take from us the purest of pure milk – which is a great honor for me to provide. Now my feeling is very good. If their number will grow – let it grow, we will continue to support them. It’s a privilege – I’m having the very different experience now.

what products you’re producing in this farm?

Guruji: mostly it is milk and sometimes some ghee – that’s it. Milk is so much in demand here – because milk is rare commodity nowadays; it’s our privilege and great honor to provide it. Even though it’s not so much now – but let’s hope in future it will be more and more. I’m farmer now. The complete scheme is amazing: cow dung is storing somewhere and producing bio gas, with that bio gas the generator is running – and all cookings for cows and staff is absolutely free. And the bio product is the high quality fertilizer. Clean energy – free energy. I was reluctant to accept it – but it was the part of the scheme so I have to do it. Now I’m glad that some wise people thought about it. People are going for solar energy and nuclear energy – but it’s very simple thing: if you have lot of cows – you just have it made and it will give you absolutely pollution free energy and fertilizer as well as bio product. With solar things you’ll have no bio product – so this is better. It will make the land fertile and gives clean energy. We have 120 cows and buffaloes there – they’re providing enough energy. It is fully automatic program: it will need service in every 4 year for 10 days – otherwise it will run continuously. Now I’m thinking for installing it here also – government is giving big subsidy in it and the loan is available. I think we will keep producing milk and ghee. Large proportion will be of milk and if some milk will remaining – we will create ghee also. Milk is too much needed here. I can never imagine that I’ll be the owner of the dairy farm at it will running even without my visiting it – that is the grace of Govardhan Maharaj. Officially I’m a farmer from Radhakund. Amazing thing: the map of my farmland is like a heart. Most of the farmers are not aware of the programs. They were really create very good scheme. Cows are ok, milk is ok – but this pure bio energy for free was beyond my wildest imagination. In summertime generator could run continuously for 24 hours without stopping. Now it’s winter time, the gas is less – but even now the generator is working for 8-9 hours every day.

How do you like my garden here?

it’s beautiful.

Guruji: I’ve been planted 150000 trees in the last 12 years and they are growing very well. Absolute new life started there with that. It is now difficult to imagine – it was only cactus growing here when I first came. Soil was so saline and acidy – nothing was growing here, except cactus.

you change the whole system

Guruji: the nature is supporting.

WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD…

K: You mention from time to time the community work, all the improvements of the area you’ve done over the years.

G: We have spent a lot of money on it. Money, efforts…Money, which we never had, but it was somehow arranged and done.

K: How did it start?

G: It started from the part of the Parikrama road, around Radhakund town – it was extremely dirty. There was no government support. So after one meeting with the local administration one of my disciples approached me, asking to volunteer – because things were bad…

The 9km stretch of the Parikarma marg and the Radhakund town needed to be cleaned. I said, ok it’s a very good thing.

I had been cursing authorities for some time, ‘why nobody cleans’ – and here was our chance.

We hired more than 15 sweepers, and told them ‘You will do giraji seva, will serve Govardhan Hill” – and that I was paying them myself.

They started the work and they did an extraordinarily good job – they have been sweeping this part of parikrama for 9 years continuously, together with Radhakund town – and it became very clean by the standard of pilgrimage cities.

We cleaned everything: there were big mountains of garbage – they were removed; the smashan of Radhakund was cleaned.

Every street, every drain was cleaned weekly. Then I said to the sweepers, “I will give you a uniforms."

We bought jeans, red jackets, red caps and heeled boots for the sweepers and said, “now you are in style, so work in style.” It went well – for 9 years, and then the government finally allocated some funds – and we stopped…

The state started to build roads and improve the grounds around the Hill – and finally our efforts were not needed anymore.

Meantime, the new plantation was on my mind. One day somebody put fire to the forest behind our campus. We went there – and it was a heartbreaking scene. Many birds flew away from the fire, but some of them dove back into the flames because their nests with chicks and eggs were there. That was really upsetting.

The forest was burning, some people did it; and we will not know whether it was careless or deliberate.

I began to correspond with the forest department, and it went on for some years. Then, with the intervention of the human resources ministry of India, they agreed to permit me to plant trees and to clean the area.

On the second of October, 2004 we started this work – and we cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. It was full of a dense forest of cactus and thorny bushes, two big JVC machines for 700 hours were used – and the land was cleared and plowed more than a 150 times.

Then the pits for the trees were dug and we planted many trees. There was no water, but I was arranging a tanker.

Our first party of the trees died, because the soil was bad. But we did it again and filled the holes with fertilizer, as there was enough cow dung – and the second attempt was successful – threes began to grow. Then another proposal came from the government: to take care of the water spots all around the parikrama, at the entire length of 21kms. Because we had already done so much work they handed over this to us..

We took care of the water supply tubes, had to maintain them and pay the electricity bill; we built several water tanks from where people could drink.

I made basins for thousands of other animals – and they are still working.

Because of those maintained tubes and pipes we got enough water to irrigate our own plantation. And it’s successful – we planted 150 different types of trees; out of that 45 to 50,000 of those trees are jojoba berry, which is very tasty – for monkeys and anyone who wants to take it.

And cadam trees, and different varieties of the trees and shrubs; thousands of bougainvillea…

We planted trees in Govardhan Mathura road, in Goverdhan Barsana road, in the poorest area of Govardhan; so many trees..

Now, when I climb on the roof and look at the surrounding area, I feel very good – because it was good work. Govardhan Maharaj is responsible for that.

In the meantime, there was a big relocation of the police force to Govardhan: the police station was made bigger, many new policemen were appointed, but none of the local people were renting our rooms for them.

So the police captain visited me asking if I could help, because they were suffering, living in temporary housing and unsuitable conditions. Last thing you want is to have a pissed off unhappy police in the town…

Some Russian friends were here, and donated – and we built a big dormitory for policemen, with a water treatment plant- so they could have drinking water. The completion of this work gave great satisfaction, a good feeling.

A stone plaque with my name and Siddha Siddhanta Yoga Academy title was installed.

K: How big were the barracks for the police officers

G: 60 officers are able to sleep and live in it. We made 10-20 toilets for them also. And a water filtration system for drinking water.

We also gave water supply to a local hospital.. And provided water to many places in need – different goshalas, different people who were cut off from the permanent water supply … It was good to do some community work. It always feels good.

When a big flood came and the Manasi Ganga was overflowing,the temple went down. The houses were underwater for more than 20-40 kmsr.

Local people appealed to me, saying ‘you are doing great work, thank you for deciding to drain the water.’ Which I had not yet- but then you cannot back out from such a mission and the work began.

We drained all the water, which also gave great satisfaction.

When I saw all those humble people, who have nothing , with all their houses and possessions underwater in distress – and then, when the drainage was completed, I saw the happiness on their faces – it was a great prize.

To see that happiness on their faces when the water was drained out. It happened almost miraculously, within only a month we were able to drain great quantities of water. After all previous floods the government was able to complete the drainage only in 6 months. We were able to do it in less than a month.

K: How much labour did you hire?

G: We put big water pumps and we gave them out on a contract basis. It was a pretty expensive enterprise. Big pumps were working non stop – and other farms were going under water because of the lifted water, so we had to put more water pumps there, to lift the water from there to drain to another location. It was a huge problem, but it worked out and I’m very happy that I was given this chance to do it. Russian friends helped a lot in that.

An irrigation system was put along the Hill for some time and it was functioning well; it was broken and fixed – it is still operating. We are taking care of about 1.5 kms of Govardhan hill. From here to the Radhakund parikrama, the small parikrama, all of the trees you see by the roadside were planted by us. 150,000 trees. It’s very green now.

It was an enormous amount of work, but it just happened. We were full of energy and the funds came.

K: How many sweepers did you hire the first time when you started to clear the Siddha Siddhanta Academy campus – and they refused to come?

G: Many. Maybe 30-35. I mean it’s a big area.

K: And how much alcohol did you give them to drink?

G: One pouch; half a litre every day. It was the local liquor in plastic pouches. We were distributing half a litre – only then would they go inside the area, which served as a local shitting grounds, public toilet, for years – only then they agreed to start.

K: And how long did it take them to clean up the campus?

G: It took about 3-4 months.

In those days I was using astonishingly strong curses. Several malas of curses every day. Now it is impossible to imagine what we went through back then. But it was good work, because somehow we managed to succeed, to survive – with the grace of Babaji and Giraji. Otherwise it was mission impossible.

K: Guruji how big is the area of the campus, acre wise?

G: 9 acres.

K: And the plantation?

G: The plantation in between parikrama is about 100 acres.

K: And this adjacent area which is yours, behind the fence…where the pond and the two cottages are?

G: That is about 25 acres, and then there is the private land on the other side, about 70-80 acres, till Cusum Sarowar…

K: And what was the story with the Chunmun Bandariya?

G: Oh, she gave me the inspiration to plant jamun trees…

somebody brought some jamun. I rarely eat fruits, except for the fruits of my karmas. I was offering them to Chunmun Bandariya and she was eating with such relish that an idea came into my mind, ‘why not plant these trees for other monkeys.’ Because she inspired me by eating jamuns with such enjoyment.

So we started to plant 11,000 jamun trees and put up a big sign, ‘courtesy of Chunmun Bandariya, a gift to other monkey folks, 11,000 jamun trees’. The board holding is there, and a small storyline of her; she is a celebrity here.

K: Yes. And I hope it will inspire other humans to do good things.

G: Maybe in the future. Most humans are focused on the mission of how to collect funds from the government, how to bring their earnings home. How they can manage the books and take from others…

Our plantation started by chance. We were already corresponding with the forest department about this plot of land – in the meantime someone sent me $21,000 from America to buy a car.

And coincidentally the forest department replied: ‘permission granted’ – and the land was for me to manage.

So I told that person who had sent money that I was going to plant trees instead, I don’t go anywhere, so I don’t need a car. And with that funding the work on the plantation had started.

More funds came – and it continued.

There is still a large number of workers, so we have to pay them monthly salaries. To maintain, to clean, to irrigate the area. Yes. It’s expensive work.

K: How big is the staff that you are keeping there for the plantation?

G: Well, I’m paying almost 200,000 rupees every month…. It is a lot to manage but it feels good.

And that’s the point. We do things in life just to feel good. That is the essence of our inspiration

K: I think it’s the motto.

G: My god, this is big community work. Now I realize.

K: You mention it, but it’s usually very casually…And when the journalists come, they never get the facts straight.

G: Public memory is very short. Now the new generation will think that this area has always been like this. Only the older people who have seen the jungle of cactus, will know the difference between now and then. And I think this is good this way. There is a line in a very famous Bollywood song: “Tomorrow others will come; they will speak better than me, there will be listeners who will be better than me. Why will somebody remember me?

Society is too busy already, why will they waste time on remembering? This is good philosophy.

But I live by different rules.

THE BATTLE FOR THE SMASHAN

Watch the video

how old is this cremation ground? And how were they able to build these kshattris? What type of technologies did they use?

Guruji: that is special architecture from Rajasthan and Bharatpur. This house is 200 years old; and Babaji’s building was built in 1823, three years after this house. And Hanuman Ji’s building came later.

so the house was the first?

Guruji: yes; the kund was there – and the kshattris are the cremation spots of Brijendr Singh and Balwant Singh.

how were they able to create such precious and precise stonework?

Guruji: handmade only. These types of buildings are one and only in the world. When I bought this place – it was in a very bad condition; even though it was archaeologically protected – nobody was doing anything. So I took it as a big responsibility – because they are not going to build like this anymore; so we tried our best to preserve it. That’s why I don’t allow many people to enter.

how long have You been living here?

Guruji: I have completed my 33rd year. This house is more than 200 years old; it was built in 1820. It is absolutely square: 21 meters by 21 meters – and there are 108 doors in this house. This is a one-bedroom house – I live here alone. Nobody could live here before: they were either found dead – or went mad.

why can we be here now?

Guruji: because I’m here! 33 years – and repairs are still going on. Now I was told that the Government is again giving 1 million dollars for the restoration of the kund and all those kshattris. They are planning to clean the kund and put stone on the steps. They will strengthen the roofs of the kshattris and make them completely waterproof. And all the floors will be made of stone.

are they planning to drain the kund?

Guruji: I’m very curious to see it – how it will go the second time. This time they are going to bring big pumps. Now people can’t imagine how this place looked when I came here: now it looks like another life, another time. But I remember every inch of the struggle.

Q: could You tell us about Kamadhenu project?

Guruji: well, I’ve never done business in my life – but suddenly in 2015 there was government scheme for promoting cows and milk, because milk is getting less and less. Many people took the loan from government – most of their projects failed.

There was a pressure from local administration that they should give the big scheme to some local farmer. It was the great honor for me that local administration told that I’m the most reliable farmer here and they forced me to take that government loan. It is about 400 cows. I’ve discussed it with my disciples and some people. Here in Govardhan the real genuine milk is nearly impossible to find. Even for the worshipping to Govardhan hill it’s not so commonly available. So we were given that loan and we started work from 15th of January.

Thanks to my lawyer and his team – within a year a project was done: all buildings, all the cows and buffaloes are here. We’re producing nearly 1000 liters of milk everyday- it sounds not much, but if I say that we’re producing 3500000 liters of milk annually – it sounds big. Many Govardhan local people are buying milk from us, Govardhan Maharaj is worshipped with it, many people are coming to take from us the purest of pure milk – which is a great honor for me to provide. Now my feeling is very good. If their number will grow – let it grow, we will continue to support them. It’s a privilege – I’m having the very different experience now.

Q: what products you’re producing in this farm?

Guruji: mostly it is milk and sometimes some ghee – that’s it. Milk is so much in demand here – because milk is rare commodity nowadays; it’s our privilege and great honor to provide it. Even though it’s not so much now – but let’s hope in future it will be more and more. I’m farmer now. The complete scheme is amazing: cow dung is storing somewhere and producing bio gas, with that bio gas the generator is running – and all cookings for cows and staff is absolutely free. And the bio product is the high quality fertilizer. Clean energy – free energy. I was reluctant to accept it – but it was the part of the scheme so I have to do it. Now I’m glad that some wise people thought about it.

People are going for solar energy and nuclear energy – but it’s very simple thing: if you have lot of cows – you just have it made and it will give you absolutely pollution free energy and fertilizer as well as bio product. With solar things you’ll have no bio product – so this is better. It will make the land fertile and gives clean energy. We have 120 cows and buffaloes there – they’re providing enough energy. It is fully automatic program: it will need service in every 4 year for 10 days – otherwise it will run continuously. Now I’m thinking for installing it here also – government is giving big subsidy in it and the loan is available. I think we will keep producing milk and ghee. Large proportion will be of milk and if some milk will remaining – we will create ghee also. Milk is too much needed here. I can never imagine that I’ll be the owner of the dairy farm at it will running even without my visiting it – that is the grace of Govardhan Maharaj. Officially I’m a farmer from Radhakund.

Amazing thing: the map of my farmland is like a heart. Most of the farmers are not aware of the programs. They were really create very good scheme. Cows are ok, milk is ok – but this pure bio energy for free was beyond my wildest imagination. In summertime generator could run continuously for 24 hours without stopping. Now it’s winter time, the gas is less – but even now the generator is working for 8-9 hours every day.

Q:

Guruji, could You tell us about your dairy farm and Kamadhenu project?

Guruji:

I’ve never done any business in my life – but suddenly, in 2015, there was a government scheme for promoting cows and milk, because milk is getting less and less. Many people took the loan from government and most of their projects failed. There was a pressure on the local administration that you should give a big scheme on a local farm – and we would like to see You in that role. So it was a great honor for me as the local administration told that I’m the most reliable here – and they forced me to take that government loan. It is for about 100 cows. I discussed it with some of my disciples and other people – they say ok. Because here, in Govardhan, real genuine milk is nearly impossible to find. Even for the worshipping the Govardhan hill it is not so commonly available. So we were given this loan and we started work from 15

th

January and – thanks to my lawyer and his team – within a year the project is done. All the buildings are here, all the cows and buffaloes are here and we are producing thousands of liters of milk every day. It sounds not much, but if I say that we are producing 315 000 liters in a year it sounds big. Many Govardhan local people are buying milk from us and for Govardhan Maharaj worshipping many people are coming to us to take the purest of the pure milk, which is a great honor for me to provide. Now my feeling are very good when I go there – and you also seen it – so if the number will grow- we will let it grow as much as it can grow, we will continue to support. It’s a privilege – I have the very different experience now.

Q:

what kind of products You can produce at Your farm?

Guruji:

mostly it is milk and sometimes some ghee – that’s it. Milk is so much in demand here, because pure milk rare commodity nowadays. It’s our great privilege and great honor to provide it. Even it is not much now – but let’s hope in future it will be more and more.

… we were not aware of so many things – even I’m a farmer here. Now complete scheme is amazing: we have free energy there. Cow dung is store somewhere and it is producing gas, and by that biogas so much things is running, they cooking food absolutely for free. And that product is of very high quality. It’s amazing thing. Clean energy – free energy.

Q:

it’s your idea to put this machine for biogas?

Guruji:

no, it was part of the government scheme. I was reluctant to accept it, but it was the part and we have to do it. Now I’m glad that some very wise people thought about it. People are going for solar energy or nuclear energy, but it’s the very simple thing: if you have a lot of cows, you will have its milk and they will give you absolutely clean pollution free energy and fertilize as well. Solar things are not bio product. It will fertile the land and give the free energy.

Q:

and it’s enough energy from cow dung?

Guruji:

we have 120 cows and buffaloes there and they are provided enough energy. It is now much more advanced – the technology. The program is fully automatic, and engineer said that every four year it will need service for ten days – otherwise it will run continuously. I’m thinking to install it here also.

Q:

what products You are planning in future?

Guruji:

I think we will keep producing milk and ghee – that’s it. The large proportion will be of milk, and if some milk remaining – then we create ghee also. Cows and buffaloes ghee, both.

Q:

maybe paneer or cheese?

Guruji:

no – milk is so much needed here. And I never imagined – I will owner a dairy farm and without visiting now it is running. That is the grace of Govardhan Maharaj and Radha Ji. I’m officially farmer from Radhakund. It is amazing thing to know – map of my farmland is like a heart.

Main thing is – lots of the people, farmers, are not aware of the programs. There should be some more communication – from the government and from the farmers also. They really created a very good scheme – I was not aware of it but now I know. This pure energy for free was beyond my widest imagination. Engineer tells me that in the summer time generator will run continuously for 24 hours without stopping. Now is winter time, it is cold – so the gas is much less, but even then it is running for 8 to 9 hours every day.

Trees.

… if you love them – they are your best friends. And also I think, the trees if they take you as a friend – they will try to protect you also. You see that tree on the corner? Everyday in the evening I’m going to the gym – I’m touch that tree, and it’s grown like this( show the down direction). Because you are connected with a tree – it has direct connection with the Earth. So many type of spirits are said to live on banyan trees, also on udumbar trees. We have many – they grew automatically in 1997. Also big bats are coming to eat kadamba fruit.

Q: what do you think about celtic druid tradition – they are saying, that some trees are take any sort of energy, and some give?

Guruji: I think they are right. Trees like the feeling of love. And they are sensitive ant telepathic also. So they will exactly feel your emotions, your thoughts about them. I can’t see the scene from “Avatar”, when the big tree is falling. It’s too much. When Pandavas were going to make their capital – there was the very big forest, Khandavaprastha where the thousands of creatures was living. Krishna and Arjuna went there and Agni element appear and say, that he is sick, he need some big fire – please, make it. And Arjuna begins to torch the trees with his weapons. And this was the first time we come across anything about destroying forest by fire. All animals were simply burnt in that fire. And then see, what happened to the Pandavas – so much people died, big battle came, and there was no peace, and they are suffered to death. And this is the only one example – destroy the forest by fire to create a big city. The results was not good. I remember many years back I read a story in some book, and he was the great man, who wrote that; on the human body there are millions of viruses living. Two viruses, who living on the cheek are talk with each other. They were sitting on the big trees, they were growing there, and they were discussing , is there life on other planet, which we see. And one virus said – no,no, we are the best creation in the world, we were created by the grace of god; and then another virus came and the argument begins – he was not believing in god. And they began to argue, and suddenly some out of phenomena talk all the big trees they were sitting, living, were simply cut away; there were suddenly big antiseptic scent came. The man shaved and put on after lotion. It was the end of the world for them.