As our readers already know, we've been at trying to get the construction work of our bhajan kutir started for a good long while now. The land has now been paid off in total, and we are the blessed future servants of 220 square yards worth of Vraja-bhumi. Yesterday brought us one step onward towards the attainment of our objective.

Monday, Bhaimi Ekadasi, was the day to get the work started. The day was good in every respect – we consulted Venimadhava Sila's Panjika for the best available date. Monday in general is a good day. Ekadasi is a good day. Sukla-paksa, the light fortnight, is a good time. The month of Magha is good and well suited for the purpose. And atop that, according to our rasi (sign), this Monday was a good day for beginning new undertakings. We can use every favorable wind there is.



Traditionally the undertaking begins with bhumi-puja, worship of Prithvi-devi. We did the puja with the guidance of Sanatana Dasji, our affectionate teacher of many devotional arts, stopping at our land on the way from Radha-kunda to Govardhana-parikrama. On the way to the land, we met with some affectionate Vaisnavas who conveyed their blessings for all success in the work. Thakurji came along and presided over the event, as it is he who is to become the lord of the land.

Water from Radha-kunda was sprinkled across the area to sanctify the already sacred land. The puja began with worshiping Giridhari with candana, flowers and so forth, preceded by acamana and the rest of the standard preliminaries. Thakur's prasadi was offered to Prithvi-devi, whose presence was invoked at Giridhari's side, and she was also worshiped at the four corners of the land – both in her global form of Prithvi, and specifically as Vraja-vasundhara, with ample prayers for Vraja-vasa and successful bhajana at what is to become our haven in this blessed land.



I had also prepared a fruit offering for Giridhari to take at the conclusion of the puja – an offering that was later distributed to the Vaisnavas around. Good fortune was with us in every respect, as several Vaisnavas showed up for kirtana right on the moment and brought along their harmonium and karatalas to accompany the maha-mantra-kirtana that went on as Thakur enjoyed his meal.



With whatever little funds we have gotten together one way or the other, we have enough to get the work started with – though the source of the balance remains a bit shrouded in mystery for the time being. As we've gotten this far, there is no reason why we wouldn't be able to eventually bring everything to a successful completion.

Tomorrow is Nityananda-trayodasi. Regardless, I will have to be around to observe the work's getting started. A truck-load of bricks is coming in from Govardhana, and all things necessary for setting up the well and the pump should come together, too. I will have to be sitting around at the land for a lakh or two worth to be around when needed. Something I'd wanted to do on the new land regardless, to establish its purpose as a bhajan-sthali – and as nothing but that, and that alone.