Niyam Seva is the period between Papankusha Ekadashi and Utthana Ekadashi. At this time, Gaudiya Vaishnavas far and wide gather in holy places such as Vraja-dham. Radha-kunda in particular is popular, I keep hearing how in all of Vraja the events at Radha-kunda are the greatest, just as Radha-kunda is the mukut-mani of the entire Vraja Mandal. This year the tithi was not pure, and the vrata started on the following Dvadashi.

A great adhivas-kirtan took place yesterday evening in preparation for the disappearance festivals of Raghunath Das, Raghunath Bhatta and Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswamis. They all departed on the same day, on different years. Yugal has uploaded some video footage from the occasion, check it out at Jayasriradhe.Com. I also have a stack of videos, but will in all likelihood only get around to processing them once I'm back in Finland.

Devotees undertake a number of vows for the duration of Niyam Seva. Babaji Maharaj said that hearing Krishna katha is the principle vow to follow. One should also spend time doing kirtan and reciting varieties of ashtakams and stotras. You may download some ashtakams here (pdf). Translations to follow whenever I get around to that, if I do. Our own schedule is rather tight, and I have a number of things to tend to besides the regular observances as well. There are also a number of dietary restrictions. The bottom line is that one should eat simply and sattvik foods, only once or twice a day, and if possible, the same foods throughout the month.

I'll cut this short this time. We're following nirjal vrata on Ekadashis, and I have a comfy 38+ degrees fever on top of it to make my day. Curious as it is, the mind is peaceful while the body is a bit emancipated. It's now beyond nine in the evening, and we'll be getting up at two to attend the Kunjabhanga-kirtan followed by mangal arotik at Gopinath Mandir on the bank of Radha-kunda.