2015 is fast approaching and Gaura Purnima season FOLK news should be delivered to your mailboxes this week. You can read the online edition right here or download a PDF version.
We apologise if you find you have missed out receiving on your printed magazine. While packing FOLK for our mailout we found we were 100 magazines short. We are doing our best to ensure this does not happen again.
You can catch up on past issues at our FOLK homepage.
Looking forward to seeing you at the Temple in the New Year.
Monday 29 December 2014
Sunday 21 December 2014
Middle Park Primary School
Report by: Navadwipa Isvari Dasi
"We were all very excited to be back at Middle Park Primary School to present our Vedic India program to the 4 groups of preps.
This time Middle Park Primary prep teacher wanted us to do workshops on Music and Dance as well as Traditional Wear.
The prep st
udents were full of energy and participated enthusiastically in all aspects of the workshops. They enthusiastically attempted to answer any questions put before them during our interactive PowerPoint presentations and also attempted to complete all the activities put before them.
Principal Mr Tim Newton thanked us for our wonderful contributions towards their prep incursion day. Everyone had a great time and our Festival of Vedic India team are really looking forward to going back again next year."
For full view of the photos please click on the thumbnail.
"We were all very excited to be back at Middle Park Primary School to present our Vedic India program to the 4 groups of preps.
This time Middle Park Primary prep teacher wanted us to do workshops on Music and Dance as well as Traditional Wear.
The prep st
udents were full of energy and participated enthusiastically in all aspects of the workshops. They enthusiastically attempted to answer any questions put before them during our interactive PowerPoint presentations and also attempted to complete all the activities put before them.Principal Mr Tim Newton thanked us for our wonderful contributions towards their prep incursion day. Everyone had a great time and our Festival of Vedic India team are really looking forward to going back again next year."
For full view of the photos please click on the thumbnail.
Saturday 20 December 2014
Multicultural Day at Albert Park College
Report by: Navadwipa Isvari Devi Dasi
"We were invited again for the 3rd year in a row to participate in the grand celebration of Multicultural Day at Albert Park College on 5th December 2014. What a grand celebration and festival it was!
We were all welcomed with a big smile and a traditional welcome “Namaste” with folded hands at the front of the school by the coordinator of Multicultural Day, Mr Wallace Smith. He guided us to the classrooms t
o prepare for the various workshops.
Once again, we had a very enthusiastic group of presenters who coordinated workshops such as Yoga & Meditation, Indian Cooking, Music & Dance, Traditional wear and Henna Art. All the workshops were very well received with great participation by the high school students.
We had set up a very appetising spread of vegetarian cuisine for lunch in the court yard consisting of fried rice, kofta balls with chutney and various desserts. The lunchtime activities also included Indian face painting and henna art. Some students even lined up prior to the lunch break as they swiftly formed a large queue at the various activities. The school courtyard was transformed into a festive atmosphere with traditional vedic singing, dancing, and feasting. It was a very enjoyable and memorable experience for all.
The feedback we received from Mr Wallace Smith was very inspiring to our team and it was pleasing to hear that the students really embraced the day."
For a full view of the photos, please click on the thumbnails.
"We were invited again for the 3rd year in a row to participate in the grand celebration of Multicultural Day at Albert Park College on 5th December 2014. What a grand celebration and festival it was!
We were all welcomed with a big smile and a traditional welcome “Namaste” with folded hands at the front of the school by the coordinator of Multicultural Day, Mr Wallace Smith. He guided us to the classrooms t
o prepare for the various workshops.Once again, we had a very enthusiastic group of presenters who coordinated workshops such as Yoga & Meditation, Indian Cooking, Music & Dance, Traditional wear and Henna Art. All the workshops were very well received with great participation by the high school students.
We had set up a very appetising spread of vegetarian cuisine for lunch in the court yard consisting of fried rice, kofta balls with chutney and various desserts. The lunchtime activities also included Indian face painting and henna art. Some students even lined up prior to the lunch break as they swiftly formed a large queue at the various activities. The school courtyard was transformed into a festive atmosphere with traditional vedic singing, dancing, and feasting. It was a very enjoyable and memorable experience for all.
The feedback we received from Mr Wallace Smith was very inspiring to our team and it was pleasing to hear that the students really embraced the day."
For a full view of the photos, please click on the thumbnails.
Monday 15 December 2014
Middle Park primary School
Report by: Navadwipa Isvari dasi
"Middle Park primary school had invited us previously to participate in their grade 4 incursion day and their annual carnival, but today we were here to participate in their grade 1/2 incursion day which had the theme of culture & celebration. We always offer schools the opportunity to choose what parts of our program interests them and is in line with theme being taught in class. This time around Middle Park primary thought that Music & dance and traditional wear fitted best with their days activities.
During the traditional wear workshop our presenter Rati spoke about and showed a power point on the different types of Vedic Indian clothing, types of food served during different celebrations (mainly focusing on sweets), how during some celebrations fireworks are used. She discussed different coloured powders used for ‘The festival of colours’ (traditionally known as Holi) and showed flowers and flower garlands used during festival times. Rati then asked the students how they celebrate festivals and had a discussion about this. Rati and her assistants showed the children all the different types of clothing and jewellery, before inviting the teachers to be the first ones to get dressed up. The students were so excited to see their teachers participating that it made them even more enthusiastic to get dressed up themselves. After everyone was dressed we added an extra layer of decoration by painting flowers and gopi dots on everyone’s face and adding bindi (jewel like) stickers.
In the Music & Dance workshop our presenter Yamuna Sundari spoke about the types of Indian musical instruments such as kartals, mrdanga, and harmonium and how they relate to some of the western musical instruments. The students were then shown a short video clip on some traditional instruments and how they are used during a festival or celebration. Finally the children were taught how to play the instruments and were taught different mantras that can be sung while playing these instruments. All the students, teachers and presenters sung and danced together while playing these traditional instruments.
Everyone had a great time and our Festival of Vedic India team are really looking forward to going back again in a couple of weeks."
Sunday 14 December 2014
Bestchance Child Family Kinder
Report by: Navadwipa Isvari devi dasi
"We were invited to present our program at Bestchance child family kinder, to the 4 year old Kinder groups and share our vedic culture. The staff organised a whole day’s incursion for the children to learn about our tradition and culture. As the children walked in to the workstations which were well presented, they seemed curious and were interested to learn what it was about, discussing among themselves.
We had modified the program to suit our young participants. The program started off with the introduction of our speakers and then moved on to the presentation of our colourful display of clothing around the room. The children were very interactive when asked about the various types of traditional clothing. We showed the children the length of the sari and they looked amazed. We invited one of their teachers to be dressed in one and the children clapped when their teacher was dressed in the sari with Indian jewellery. They eagerly went to get dressed when it was their turn and busily chose their outfit. They then patiently went and had some special face painting and were excited to see themselves in the mirror.
Story time was next and the children listened attentively. When it came to music and dance session they seemed very excited to try out the instruments that we had brought along to present. They were swift in picking up the kartals and follow the instructions that they had been taught, and tried some intricate beats on the drum mrdanga. They all learnt The Maha mantra we had taught them and they enjoyed singing it independently. During dancing everyone had a great time, as once everyone knew the steps they started to sing and dance. The children looked beautiful wearing the traditional Indian clothing whilst singing and dancing.
After this, they had some prasadam- cupcakes we had brought for them, which was enjoyed by all. Henna art was next as children patiently waited for their turn and watched as the artists created a special design on their hand. Children protected their hands until the henna had dried.
Some children enthusiastically showed their henna to their parents as they came to pick them up and brought their parents to meet us. The educator Christine said that, “this has been the best incursion (they) have ever had.”
Saturday 13 December 2014
Fitzroy North Community School
Report by: Navadwipa Isvari devi dasi
"We were warmly welcomed at the door by bright smiling children and their teacher. They were all so eager to help us bring in our things that we had brought for the program. They offered us water and presented us with a tour around their colossal school building. The students had been eagerly waiting for us to come and present our 'Vedic Indian culture' as per the teacher’s description.
We had mixed age groups of students attending the program, some between 5 to 8, and others were 11-12 year olds in the groups. They had requested for us to present garland making, Henna art, and music/dance. We had 3 sessions of each workshop which we ran simultaneously. There was great cooperation among the students and staff as we clearly noticed across all the groups of children we met.
The children were very keen to try everything we had to offer. Henna art seemed to be an exciting concept and a few even said that they had seen this art done in markets and were excited that they were going to learn how to do this art form. After a short presentation, they all traced an outline of their hands and drew the design that they were going to have on paper, before attempting to use the henna cones. The outcome was amazing. Many required some guidance to use the henna cones to draw the designs on their hands, while others worked in pairs and drew on each other.
Their eyes lit up as they walked into the room and saw the assorted colours of carnations we had laid out on the table for them. They watched the presentation on garland making and interacted well in answering questions that were put before them. Ready-made Maha garlands of assorted flowers, colours and fragrance were used as demos. They then went through the bags of assorted flowers and worked out the colour combination of how their garland was going to look before starting to make their garland. They all worked well to create a garland for someone special. The only thing that they found a little tricky was rethreading the needle as it occasionally came off the thread. All the garlands that the children made looked very beautiful!!!
Music and dance was very enthusiastically received by the students. They were willing to try all the various instruments we had brought harmonium, kartals, and mrdanga. They then learnt the Maha Mantra we had taught them in an efficient manner which was quite evident when they were put to the test by the quiz. The teachers, students, parents and siblings gracefully copied and danced the steps that was shown to them. We could see how well coordinated they were in remembering the steps and singing at the same time. They could have kept singing and dancing if time was not a factor.
All the students gathered in the hall with their teachers. Some students and a teacher on behalf of the school thanked us, and everyone applauded. We thanked them for having us and presented the teachers with maha garlands and maha sweets, and distributed cupcakes to the students.
We were seen out by some students whom on their own had offered to help us. Great cooperation and a sense of willingness to help us seemed to come so naturally to these children. We were honoured to be in their presence."
Thursday 27 November 2014
'Festival of Vedic India' at Albert Park Kinder
Report by: Navadwipa Isvari dasi & Sadhu Seva Das
"The Children at the Albert Park kinder had been excited about us doing a program there since the day we met with the teachers to arrange the program. Being a kindergarten we made a few modifications to the program from the one we usually take into primary and high schools. We had traditional wear, face painting, stories from the puranas, kirtan, henna art, maha cupcakes and maha garlands.
When we announced to the children it was time to get changed into some traditional clothing, they all rushed with smiles on their faces to the tables where we had laid out colorful half size saris in blues, greens, and printed colours. We also had long bright green skirts with gold boarders and short tops to match. For the boys, we had long embroided multi-coloured kurtas with matching pants. They eagerly chose the clothing they wanted to wear and waited patiently to be helped into it. It was then time to have some face painting done and some bindi put on. Both the boys and girls were as enthusiastic as each other. Some kept frequently checking how they looked in the mirror.
With painted faces and still in their traditional wear the children sat down and listened to the Damodara and Gajendra pastimes. The children were so attentive that when prompted they could easily recall what they had heard. Music and dance was next, where the children got to have the experience of seeing and listening to kirtan. The kids got to sing and dance to the Maha mantra along with the instruments. They had fun taking turns playing the kartals. Different dance steps like ‘the swami step’, were taught and performed all together.
The children got changed and sat down to have some Maha cupcakes we had brought to share. Henna was next, which the children all eagerly waited for their turn. Their teacher announced to play till it was their turn, but they surprised the teachers by waiting and observing this unusual art form. We had also brought some Maha flower garlands to show the children and present to the teachers. The children and teachers loved wearing it and smelling the beautiful and colourful flowers that were threaded together.
All the children clapped and thanked us all for coming. We all had a great time.
Two days later we went back to the kindergarten and did the program again for a second group of excited four year olds."
"The Children at the Albert Park kinder had been excited about us doing a program there since the day we met with the teachers to arrange the program. Being a kindergarten we made a few modifications to the program from the one we usually take into primary and high schools. We had traditional wear, face painting, stories from the puranas, kirtan, henna art, maha cupcakes and maha garlands.
When we announced to the children it was time to get changed into some traditional clothing, they all rushed with smiles on their faces to the tables where we had laid out colorful half size saris in blues, greens, and printed colours. We also had long bright green skirts with gold boarders and short tops to match. For the boys, we had long embroided multi-coloured kurtas with matching pants. They eagerly chose the clothing they wanted to wear and waited patiently to be helped into it. It was then time to have some face painting done and some bindi put on. Both the boys and girls were as enthusiastic as each other. Some kept frequently checking how they looked in the mirror.
With painted faces and still in their traditional wear the children sat down and listened to the Damodara and Gajendra pastimes. The children were so attentive that when prompted they could easily recall what they had heard. Music and dance was next, where the children got to have the experience of seeing and listening to kirtan. The kids got to sing and dance to the Maha mantra along with the instruments. They had fun taking turns playing the kartals. Different dance steps like ‘the swami step’, were taught and performed all together.
The children got changed and sat down to have some Maha cupcakes we had brought to share. Henna was next, which the children all eagerly waited for their turn. Their teacher announced to play till it was their turn, but they surprised the teachers by waiting and observing this unusual art form. We had also brought some Maha flower garlands to show the children and present to the teachers. The children and teachers loved wearing it and smelling the beautiful and colourful flowers that were threaded together.
All the children clapped and thanked us all for coming. We all had a great time.
Two days later we went back to the kindergarten and did the program again for a second group of excited four year olds."
Wednesday 29 October 2014
Festival of Vedic India at Albert Park College Art Show
Report by: Navadwipa Isvari dasi & Sadhu Seva Das
"'Festival of Vedic India' is a regular guest at Albert Park college but it really made us feel part of their school community when we were invited back to their annual art show.
Being an art show our stall focused on henna, face painting and garlands. We also had kirtan playing in the background to set a really nice atmosphere. There were lots of students and parents from the school who came to our stall but because the art show was open to the public we had lots of passers-by drop in to have henna & face painting done. The visitors also gratefully accepted the flower garlands we were handing out as gifts. Everyone had a fun day including ourselves.
In December, just as we have in the last 2 years, we will be running workshops as part of Albert Park College’s Multicultural Day."
Tuesday 7 October 2014
New Parking Restrictions to Danks St
Within the next 2 weeks (by October 21 at the latest) you will find new parking restrictions on Danks St. between Mills St. and Kerford Rd.
Parking restrictions will change from '1 hour parking from 8am till 10pm' to '1 hour parking from 8am to 6pm then Permit Zone only at all other times.' This will take effect when new signs go up.
According to the Council's map, the exception will be the parking spaces outside the Temple. Please check the map (below) yourself and adjust your parking strategy accordingly.
Parking restrictions will change from '1 hour parking from 8am till 10pm' to '1 hour parking from 8am to 6pm then Permit Zone only at all other times.' This will take effect when new signs go up.
According to the Council's map, the exception will be the parking spaces outside the Temple. Please check the map (below) yourself and adjust your parking strategy accordingly.
Wednesday 1 October 2014
Go Puja Prasadam
Are you coming to Go Puja at Hare Krishna Valley?
Yes?
SMS 0405-577-453 or email keshava.TKG@pamho.net to let us know you are coming....OR WE CAN"T SERVE YOU PRASADAM!
Yes?
SMS 0405-577-453 or email keshava.TKG@pamho.net to let us know you are coming....OR WE CAN"T SERVE YOU PRASADAM!
Monday 15 September 2014
New Initiates
We are pleased to inform you that Ankit Prabhu and Bhumija Mataji formally took initiation from HG Sankarsan Das Adhikari on 7th Sunday 2014 at New Delhi East of Kailash ISKCON Temple.
From now on they are Anand Vardhan Dasa and Bhakti Priya Devi Dasi!
Let us all forward to them our warmest congratulations and sincere prayers that they may always please their spiritual master in the service of Srila Prabhupada and the previous acaryas.
For full size view, please click on the thumbnails.
From now on they are Anand Vardhan Dasa and Bhakti Priya Devi Dasi!
Let us all forward to them our warmest congratulations and sincere prayers that they may always please their spiritual master in the service of Srila Prabhupada and the previous acaryas.
For full size view, please click on the thumbnails.
Sunday 14 September 2014
Please RSVP if You Are Attending Go Puja
We will worship Mother Cow at Hare Krishna Valley on Sunday October the 12th. Our program starts at noon and ends with a prasadam feast (please see the event posting or the poster below for details).
It is important that you RSVP to Keshava on 0405-577-453 or keshava.tkg@pamho.net if you are attending so that we can serve you prasadam.
It is important that you RSVP to Keshava on 0405-577-453 or keshava.tkg@pamho.net if you are attending so that we can serve you prasadam.
Thursday 11 September 2014
Festival of Vedic India at Wellington Secondary College
Report by: Navadwipa Isvari Dasi & Sadhu Seva Dasa
On10th September we were invited to participate in Wellington Secondary College’s annual Multicultural Day. Our evening started off with curious students and staff checking out our Henna and face painting stall and the artist at work. We had the opportunity to chat to a range of students, teachers and parents, including the coordinator Ms Connie Tzelepis – Director of International Programs and School Principal Mr Hugh Blaikie.
We performed kirtan to a large and packed auditorium. Guna Mani Nitai Mataji led a very lively kirtan that had the whole audience singing, clapping, and swaying in their seats. Kirtan was accompanied by the wonderful sounds of mrdangas and kartals , and devotees singing and dancing along. At the end of the kirtan the auditorium was filled with roaring applause.
After the program we had many students, teachers, and parents come and congratulate us on what they said was a great performance. We also distributed Maha garlands to many people who greatly appreciated them.
(For full size view, please click on the photos)
Wednesday 10 September 2014
ISKCON Ukraine needs our help
Indeed our fellow devotees in Ukraine are going through a very tough patch at the moment and Ramai Swami has forwarded the following poster to be circulated around.
To view the poster in full-size please click on the thumbnail.
To donate to thi
s urgent cause, please click here.
All donations made in the month of September will be matched by a generous donor.
To view the poster in full-size please click on the thumbnail.
To donate to thi
s urgent cause, please click here.All donations made in the month of September will be matched by a generous donor.
Saturday 6 September 2014
Are You Aspiring For Initiation Oct-Nov?
If you wish to qualify to receive initiation during October or November, please take the necessary steps to complete your candidature.
Your examiner takes service leave Friday October 3 till Friday November 14.
Please download your paperwork from www.harekrishnamelbourne/initiations
Contact Rasanandini dasi on 0424-776-188 or rasanandini@gmail.com before September 20.
Your examiner takes service leave Friday October 3 till Friday November 14.
Please download your paperwork from www.harekrishnamelbourne/initiations
Contact Rasanandini dasi on 0424-776-188 or rasanandini@gmail.com before September 20.
Friday 5 September 2014
Diwali FOLK News Online
Read Diwali season FOLK news online here. Your print edition should arrive in your mailbox next week.
In this issue we feature the major vaishnava festivals of October to January and stories that inspire their observance.
We discover how to worship Giri-Govardhana, how we can appreciate Srila Prabhupada’s position and how we can care for Mother cow. We also read about the 2nd. edition of Bhagavad-gita and bringing Krishna to schools. Finally, you can catch up on the State Premier’s visit to Hare Krishna Melbourne.
Please join us at the Temple to offer Lord Damodara lamps morning or evening during the month of Karttika. Srimati Radharani is the presiding deity of the month, so Karttika is particularly dear to Lord Krishna and full of bhakta-vatsalya. Any vrata, even the smallest, yields a thousand-fold result.
Go-puja returns to Hare Krishna Valley in October. Please do join us.
Later in October Diwali and Govardhana Puja arrive, followed by Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance anniversary: a blissful trio of events. Then comes Snana-yatra and New Year's Day. Please mark all these events in your diary - we hope to see you then.
You can catch up on past issues here.
In this issue we feature the major vaishnava festivals of October to January and stories that inspire their observance.
We discover how to worship Giri-Govardhana, how we can appreciate Srila Prabhupada’s position and how we can care for Mother cow. We also read about the 2nd. edition of Bhagavad-gita and bringing Krishna to schools. Finally, you can catch up on the State Premier’s visit to Hare Krishna Melbourne.
Please join us at the Temple to offer Lord Damodara lamps morning or evening during the month of Karttika. Srimati Radharani is the presiding deity of the month, so Karttika is particularly dear to Lord Krishna and full of bhakta-vatsalya. Any vrata, even the smallest, yields a thousand-fold result.
Go-puja returns to Hare Krishna Valley in October. Please do join us.
Later in October Diwali and Govardhana Puja arrive, followed by Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance anniversary: a blissful trio of events. Then comes Snana-yatra and New Year's Day. Please mark all these events in your diary - we hope to see you then.
You can catch up on past issues here.
Tuesday 12 August 2014
Vyasa-puja homage reminder
This is a reminder from our Temple President, Aniruddha Prabhu, to prepare our individual vyasa-puja offering to Srila Prabhupada.
As per the GBC amended resolution of 1999:
"ISKCON members shall celebrate Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa-puja ceremony as the preeminent Vyasa-puja ceremony in ISKCON. All ISKCON members are requested to write an annual Vyasa-puja offering to Srila Prabhupada."
Srila Prabhupada's vyasa puja is on Tuesday 19th; this year we will be focusing on hearing our local devotee's offerings.
As per the GBC amended resolution of 1999:
"ISKCON members shall celebrate Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa-puja ceremony as the preeminent Vyasa-puja ceremony in ISKCON. All ISKCON members are requested to write an annual Vyasa-puja offering to Srila Prabhupada."
Srila Prabhupada's vyasa puja is on Tuesday 19th; this year we will be focusing on hearing our local devotee's offerings.
Sunday 10 August 2014
Festival of Vedic India goes to Melbourne High School
By: Navadwipa Isvari dasi
On July 26, as part of their annual International night, we took our Festival of Vedic India program into Melbourne High School.
We had a henna and Gopi dots stall as well as a space for people to try on Indian traditional wear. The traditional wear included saris, lehengas, jewellery for the women, and kurta, pants, shawl, and turbans for the men.
In the photos you can see that even the principal, Mr Jeremy Ludowyke, was excited to participate by getting dressed up.
We also had Maha garlands which we distributed, and the guests accepted with great appreciation. We served prasadam from 7 pm to 8 pm, which so many people came and complimented us on.
Following this we had a kirtan on stage, where the audience participated in a call and response fashion. Some audience members were so inspired by the devotees dancing on stage that they began dancing in the aisles.
As we had hoped Melbourne High School has already invited us to come back next year.
Saturday 9 August 2014
Festival of Vedic India at the grand opening of Artea
Report by: Navadwipa Isvari dasi
On Saturday the 21st June, we were invited back to the Artea studio for their grand opening.
It was a great opportunity for us to promote our temple and to show our Festival of vedic India program to our local community.
We did henna art, distributed prasadam and maha garlands, and temple brochures. We were also fortunate enough to have a book table where we distributed books such as Bhagavad Gita, Science of Self Realisation, and Higher taste.
At first all the children were really curious by our colourful table setup, and were so excited when they found out they too could get henna done on their hands. It was a great opportunity while the kids were getting their henna done to then talk to the parents about Krishna Consciousness, the temple and our program.
Prasadam has always been one of the most popular points of our program, and this day was no different as people eagerly came back for seconds. It became so obvious that people are so attached to Maha prasadam when one lady had forgotten to take her maha garland but came all the way back from home to collect it.
Memorial for HG Madhudvisa Prabhu
Madhudvisa Prabhu, one of the most prominent pioneers of our Melbourne Hare Krishna Yatra, is no more.
We will hold a memorial ceremony in his honour, this coming Sunday 10th August at the Temple.
Time: 07:45am, after Guru Puja.
The ceremony will include pushpanjali, a class dedicated to his glorification and a video of Madhudvisa Prabhu asking questions to Srila Prabhupada.
Let us all come together to honour such a great personality and show him our eternal gratitude for his hard work and determination is establishing ISKCON in Australia.
We will hold a memorial ceremony in his honour, this coming Sunday 10th August at the Temple.
Time: 07:45am, after Guru Puja.
The ceremony will include pushpanjali, a class dedicated to his glorification and a video of Madhudvisa Prabhu asking questions to Srila Prabhupada.
Let us all come together to honour such a great personality and show him our eternal gratitude for his hard work and determination is establishing ISKCON in Australia.
Friday 18 July 2014
Travel Advisory
Below is a travel advisory notice from ISKCON's Governing Body Commission:
"Dear Friends and Members of ISKCON,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
The tragic news of the deaths of several devotee pilgrims from Russia last
month who died when their bus drove off the road and into the Bhagirathi
River in the mountainous Himalayan region in India has brought us great
sadness.
We send our prayers and support to their families. We pray that those who
lost their lives and those that were injured will be given full spiritual
protection by the Lord.
Reflecting upon this recent accident, we also remember the terrible plane
crash that took the lives of six devotees from the Chowpatty community in
Mumbai who were flying to the Himalayas. Both events remind us how dangerous
this world is and how we must strive to protect our fellow Vaishnavas from
harm.
Years ago, Srila Prabhupada had sober words to share after the death of a
devotee who drowned diving and swimming in the dangerous headwaters of the
Ganga. Prabhupada instructed that we should remember how fortunate we are to
have taken up Krishna Consciousness, and that "we should not take
unnecessary risks."
This order also applies when traveling to visit holy places. While driving
is dangerous everywhere in the world, it is especially so in India where
more than 100,000 people each year die in automobile accidents.
Some of the isolated Himalayan holy places where ISKCON devotees
occasionally visit are particularly dangerous. These include Badrinath,
Kedarnath, Muktinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. The roads to these places go
for many miles over treacherous curves just inches away from steep, deep
gorges. Landslides are common, the roads are poorly maintained, and are
often without any guardrails. In addition, drivers are often poorly trained
and poorly supervised.
Thus, the Executive Committee of the Governing Body Commission, concerned
with the safety of our fellow Vaishnavas, announce the following Advisory
Notice":
Advisory Notice
Devotees and friends of ISKCON are advised to take extra precaution in
planning visits to holy places in India, taking all possible steps to
ensure the safety of themselves, their families, and their traveling
companions.
We particularly advise pilgrims to take caution when visiting isolated holy
places in the mountainous regions in India including Badrinath, Kedarnath,
Muktinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. This is especially true for new members
and visitors to India, and for devotees organizing tours for others.
Anyone who chooses to visit these places should do so only after fully
deliberating upon the risks involved.
India is full of spiritual havens connected with the pastimes of Lord
Krishna, Lord Caitanya, and the Lord's many avatars and devotees. Visits to
most of these tirthas are relatively safe; some are less so.
Thus, remembering Srila Prabhupada's loving words "to not take unnecessary
risks," we strongly advise that ISKCON members apply extra care and caution
while visiting any of these holy places, and we pray always for your safety.
GBC Executive Committee
July 15, 2014
Anuttama das, Chairman
Praghosa das
Sesa das
"Dear Friends and Members of ISKCON,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
The tragic news of the deaths of several devotee pilgrims from Russia last
month who died when their bus drove off the road and into the Bhagirathi
River in the mountainous Himalayan region in India has brought us great
sadness.
We send our prayers and support to their families. We pray that those who
lost their lives and those that were injured will be given full spiritual
protection by the Lord.
Reflecting upon this recent accident, we also remember the terrible plane
crash that took the lives of six devotees from the Chowpatty community in
Mumbai who were flying to the Himalayas. Both events remind us how dangerous
this world is and how we must strive to protect our fellow Vaishnavas from
harm.
Years ago, Srila Prabhupada had sober words to share after the death of a
devotee who drowned diving and swimming in the dangerous headwaters of the
Ganga. Prabhupada instructed that we should remember how fortunate we are to
have taken up Krishna Consciousness, and that "we should not take
unnecessary risks."
This order also applies when traveling to visit holy places. While driving
is dangerous everywhere in the world, it is especially so in India where
more than 100,000 people each year die in automobile accidents.
Some of the isolated Himalayan holy places where ISKCON devotees
occasionally visit are particularly dangerous. These include Badrinath,
Kedarnath, Muktinath, Gangotri, and Yamunotri. The roads to these places go
for many miles over treacherous curves just inches away from steep, deep
gorges. Landslides are common, the roads are poorly maintained, and are
often without any guardrails. In addition, drivers are often poorly trained
and poorly supervised.
Thus, the Executive Committee of the Governing Body Commission, concerned
with the safety of our fellow Vaishnavas, announce the following Advisory
Notice":
Advisory Notice
Devotees and friends of ISKCON are advised to take extra precaution in
planning visits to holy places in India, taking all possible steps to
ensure the safety of themselves, their families, and their traveling
companions.
We particularly advise pilgrims to take caution when visiting isolated holy
places in the mountainous regions in India including Badrinath, Kedarnath,
Muktinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. This is especially true for new members
and visitors to India, and for devotees organizing tours for others.
Anyone who chooses to visit these places should do so only after fully
deliberating upon the risks involved.
India is full of spiritual havens connected with the pastimes of Lord
Krishna, Lord Caitanya, and the Lord's many avatars and devotees. Visits to
most of these tirthas are relatively safe; some are less so.
Thus, remembering Srila Prabhupada's loving words "to not take unnecessary
risks," we strongly advise that ISKCON members apply extra care and caution
while visiting any of these holy places, and we pray always for your safety.
GBC Executive Committee
July 15, 2014
Anuttama das, Chairman
Praghosa das
Sesa das
Monday 7 July 2014
Janmastami FOLK News Online
Read Janmastami season FOLK news online here. Your print edition should arrive in your mailbox by Friday July 11.
In this issue we feature the major vaishnava festivals of August and September and stories that inspire their observance.
Our Founder-Acharya encourages us to relish the benefit of appreciating Sri Krishna Janmastami philosophically and to approach Srimati Radharani for Her blessings by chanting Hare Krishna.
Then, with the help of Srila Narahari Cakravarti Thakur, we remember Lord Balarama’s glorious pastimes at Rama-ghat.
Finally, Acharya Nirmal Chandra Goswami of Radha-Damodara Mandir remembers Srila Prabhupada in Vrndavana.
You can catch up on past issues here.
In this issue we feature the major vaishnava festivals of August and September and stories that inspire their observance.
Our Founder-Acharya encourages us to relish the benefit of appreciating Sri Krishna Janmastami philosophically and to approach Srimati Radharani for Her blessings by chanting Hare Krishna.
Then, with the help of Srila Narahari Cakravarti Thakur, we remember Lord Balarama’s glorious pastimes at Rama-ghat.
Finally, Acharya Nirmal Chandra Goswami of Radha-Damodara Mandir remembers Srila Prabhupada in Vrndavana.
You can catch up on past issues here.
Monday 30 June 2014
Vedic India Program at 'Artea'
Navadwipa Iswari narrates:
Here are some photos of the event.
If you would like to have a similar event in your school, please contact Navadwipa Isvari dasi
(Nala Exley): nala_aravind@hotmail.com
Our Vedic India school program is now starting to spread its wings. While the main focus is bringing Krsna consciousness into schools it seems now that the rest of the community is starting to show interest as well.
We were invited to the new Artea art studio/café/education centre in Port Melbourne where they were being filmed for ‘Big Tv review’ who were in town to review the studio.
For this event we did a mini version of our usual program in that we only had a henna table and prasadam distribution.
The Artea studio allowed us to promote the temple as much as we liked, so we distributed temple cards, and had devotees showing Prabhupada books and talking about our philosophy while being filmed.
Artea has invited us back for their grand opening later on in the month.
Here are some photos of the event.
If you would like to have a similar event in your school, please contact Navadwipa Isvari dasi
(Nala Exley): nala_aravind@hotmail.com
Monday 23 June 2014
School Program at Port Melbourne Primary
Navadwipa Isvari Mataji narrates:
On 23 may we took our Vedic India school program into Port Melbourne Primary school to teach the prep classes about Indian culture. We had 5 workshops that went for 40 minutes each that we were ran over 5 sessions.
Workshops included: Festivals & culture of India, Indian traditional wear, moral story & badge making, Indian music & dance, and yoga.
Because our Vedic India program goes into High schools as well as primary schools, we tailored these workshops specifically for the preps.
All workshops included a power point presentation followed by an interactive hands on activity. The children enthusiastically participated in all the sessions. At recess while we were all taking snacks, some of the students that had attended the Harinama at the Port Melbourne school fete the weekend before were requesting us to do one again. Jaya Jaganath Prabhu and Varadatri Radha mataji were happy to seize the moment and lead a harinam for the entire school.After school we could see the children meeting their parents and many telling them what a fun day they had; the parents looked so happy to see their children so excited. The prep coordinator said both the children and staff all had a great day.
If you would like to have a similar event in your school, please contact Navadwipa Isvari dasi
(Nala Exley): nala_aravind@hotmail.com
Wednesday 18 June 2014
Port Melbourne Primary School Fete
Navadwipa Iswari Mataji narrates:
If you would like to have a similar event in your school, please contact Navadwipa Isvari Dasi
(Nala Exley): nala_aravind@hotmail.com
Here are some photos of the event.
Due to the mercy of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai our school preaching of late has been a great success. Word is getting around and many schools are now inviting us to come and present our Vedic India Program.
One of these schools was Port Melbourne Primary School, who invited us to be part of their annual school fete. The school gave us 2 stalls, one for the ever popular Henna/Face painting and the other for the even more popular prasadam distribution.
The devotees in both the stalls were kept very busy throughout the day, with prasadam being sold out by 3 pm. We were also given the opportunity to do Harinama. The chanting was led by Varadatri Radha Mataji and she had everyone singing & dancing along while the Holy name was amplified throughout the school and into the surrounding streets.
If you would like to have a similar event in your school, please contact Navadwipa Isvari Dasi
(Nala Exley): nala_aravind@hotmail.com
Here are some photos of the event.
Thursday 5 June 2014
Bhagavad Gita Essay Writing Competition - Win $10,000
Enter into Bhagavad Gita Essay writing competition and win $10,000.
Wednesday 4 June 2014
School Preaching at Beverly Hills Primary
On March 28th, Beverly Hills Primary School in Doncaster East celebrated their Annual Harmony Day.
This year they not only invited us to participate but made our ‘Vedic India’ program the highlight of the day.
We ran 7 workshops simultaneously over four sessions. Workshops included henna art, garland making, traditional Indian wear, festivals and culture of India, Indian Music and dance, moral story and badge making and Indian cooking.
When lunch time came we had hot Kofta balls with sauce ready to serve as prasadam while Jaya Jaganatha Prabhu led an ecstatic Harinama. When some of the kids finished eating they joined in with the singing and dancing and everyone had a great time.
After the workshops had finished we split the whole school into two groups. One group was taken through a light yoga session, while the second group enjoyed an interactive Harinama. After 25 minutes the two groups switched.
The day was a great success; many kids showed their appreciation for the program by writing an article for their school newsletter. The school Principal thanked us saying: “this has been the best Harmony Day celebration, and I don’t think anything can beat this”.
Here are a few photos of the event.
If you would like to have a similar event conducted at your school, please contact Navadwipa Iswari Dasi (Nala Exley): nala_aravind@hotmail.com
This year they not only invited us to participate but made our ‘Vedic India’ program the highlight of the day.
We ran 7 workshops simultaneously over four sessions. Workshops included henna art, garland making, traditional Indian wear, festivals and culture of India, Indian Music and dance, moral story and badge making and Indian cooking.
When lunch time came we had hot Kofta balls with sauce ready to serve as prasadam while Jaya Jaganatha Prabhu led an ecstatic Harinama. When some of the kids finished eating they joined in with the singing and dancing and everyone had a great time.
After the workshops had finished we split the whole school into two groups. One group was taken through a light yoga session, while the second group enjoyed an interactive Harinama. After 25 minutes the two groups switched.
The day was a great success; many kids showed their appreciation for the program by writing an article for their school newsletter. The school Principal thanked us saying: “this has been the best Harmony Day celebration, and I don’t think anything can beat this”.
Here are a few photos of the event.
If you would like to have a similar event conducted at your school, please contact Navadwipa Iswari Dasi (Nala Exley): nala_aravind@hotmail.com
Monday 5 May 2014
Is it happening on other planets as well?
Yogeswara Dasa concludes:
Some of the questions I asked him on morning walks in Paris:
“Srila Prabhupada this Krishna Consciousness movement seems so wonderful. Is it happening on other planets as well?”
- “Why not! Krishna is everywhere therefore His movement is everywhere!”
“Srila Prabhupada sometimes the devotees ask me… they express some discomfort over the fact that they don’t get to see you very much. You’re always travelling. And they don’t know what their personal relationship is with you.”
- “What do you answer them?”
“Well I tell them that they shouldn’t feel that way, that you’ve invested yourself personally into all of your books. And if they read the books they can experience your association.”
- “You should first ask them if they’re chanting their 16 rounds! Unless someone follows the basic principles where is there any question of entering into a deeper relationship!”
Some of the questions I asked him on morning walks in Paris:
“Srila Prabhupada this Krishna Consciousness movement seems so wonderful. Is it happening on other planets as well?”
- “Why not! Krishna is everywhere therefore His movement is everywhere!”
“Srila Prabhupada sometimes the devotees ask me… they express some discomfort over the fact that they don’t get to see you very much. You’re always travelling. And they don’t know what their personal relationship is with you.”
- “What do you answer them?”
“Well I tell them that they shouldn’t feel that way, that you’ve invested yourself personally into all of your books. And if they read the books they can experience your association.”
- “You should first ask them if they’re chanting their 16 rounds! Unless someone follows the basic principles where is there any question of entering into a deeper relationship!”
Saturday 3 May 2014
Srila Prabhupada was a master of the quick repost!
Yogeswara Dasa continues:
Other people took the morning walk as a opportunity for engaging in polemic, a debate.
And that was one of the favorite things we used to do. Srila Prabhupada would throw out a challenge to us or we would throw a challenge out to him and there would be a discussion.
Srila Prabhupada was a master of pare; a master of the quick repost!
“Well I think sex is spiritual what do you say to that?”
- “Oh! That’s a dog’s philosophy! Are you a dog?!”
“I understand you’re Allen Ginsberg’s guru..”
- “I am nobody’s guru… I am everyone’s servant!”
Other people took the morning walk as a opportunity for engaging in polemic, a debate.
And that was one of the favorite things we used to do. Srila Prabhupada would throw out a challenge to us or we would throw a challenge out to him and there would be a discussion.
Srila Prabhupada was a master of pare; a master of the quick repost!
“Well I think sex is spiritual what do you say to that?”
- “Oh! That’s a dog’s philosophy! Are you a dog?!”
“I understand you’re Allen Ginsberg’s guru..”
- “I am nobody’s guru… I am everyone’s servant!”
Friday 2 May 2014
What a morning walk with Srila Prabhupada was meant for!
Yogeswara Dasa recounts:
People had different ideas about what a morning walk with Srila Prabhupada was meant for!
Some people thought it was meant for establishing their position as one of the inner circle. They would always jump in there early; making sure they were the first ones out the door of the van or the first ones out the door of the temple.
So they’d be right next to Srila Prabhupada. Usually he would do then them one better…by turning around and go in the opposite direction so the ones who were in the back became the ones to the front.
Or sometimes there was one disciple in Paris, he had this strange crunched up kind of voice and in his French accent would ask, “Srila Prabhupada so Lord Shiva says in the Shiva Purana …”
Srila Prabhupada just looked at him and said, “Don’t agitate your mind!”, and kept walking.
People had different ideas about what a morning walk with Srila Prabhupada was meant for!
Some people thought it was meant for establishing their position as one of the inner circle. They would always jump in there early; making sure they were the first ones out the door of the van or the first ones out the door of the temple.
So they’d be right next to Srila Prabhupada. Usually he would do then them one better…by turning around and go in the opposite direction so the ones who were in the back became the ones to the front.
Or sometimes there was one disciple in Paris, he had this strange crunched up kind of voice and in his French accent would ask, “Srila Prabhupada so Lord Shiva says in the Shiva Purana …”
Srila Prabhupada just looked at him and said, “Don’t agitate your mind!”, and kept walking.
Thursday 1 May 2014
...then you reject the Guru to become God!
Bhavananda Dasa remembers:
Srila Prabhupada was taking his morning walk in Mayapur; he walked up to the Yoga Pita.
When we came back to go into the temple, through the gate, Srila Prabhupada decided he wanted to go the Ganga. So there was that steep embankment and you go to those fields; it was fairly steep.
I got down to the side of the bank and put my arm up. So Srila Prabhupada was leaning on my arm and I helped him down the bank. Then he pushed my hand away. Like very abruptly! And I was a little shocked!
Srila Prabhupada said, “That is the Mayavadi!...They take your help and then push you away! You take the help of the Guru and then you reject the Guru to become God! That is the Mayavadi!”
It’s simply not even nice to be a Mayavadi is what I understood. They have to concept even of manners... on a transcendental level: take your help and then push you away!
Srila Prabhupada was taking his morning walk in Mayapur; he walked up to the Yoga Pita.
When we came back to go into the temple, through the gate, Srila Prabhupada decided he wanted to go the Ganga. So there was that steep embankment and you go to those fields; it was fairly steep.
I got down to the side of the bank and put my arm up. So Srila Prabhupada was leaning on my arm and I helped him down the bank. Then he pushed my hand away. Like very abruptly! And I was a little shocked!
Srila Prabhupada said, “That is the Mayavadi!...They take your help and then push you away! You take the help of the Guru and then you reject the Guru to become God! That is the Mayavadi!”
It’s simply not even nice to be a Mayavadi is what I understood. They have to concept even of manners... on a transcendental level: take your help and then push you away!
Wednesday 30 April 2014
We caught the culprit: what should we do with him Prabhupada?”
Yogeswara Dasa remembers:
There was a young man who was discovered stealing cheques out of the mail in Bombay in the early days.
The devotees captured him finally and brought him to Srila Prabhupada.
“We found out why the bank is not getting cheques Srila Prabhupada; we caught the culprit. What should we do with him?”
Srila Prabhupada replied, “There’s only one thing to do... forgive him!”
But if someone was a repeat offender then Srila Prabhupada asked them to leave the temple because otherwise they would just be compounding the offenses!
There was a young man who was discovered stealing cheques out of the mail in Bombay in the early days.
The devotees captured him finally and brought him to Srila Prabhupada.
“We found out why the bank is not getting cheques Srila Prabhupada; we caught the culprit. What should we do with him?”
Srila Prabhupada replied, “There’s only one thing to do... forgive him!”
But if someone was a repeat offender then Srila Prabhupada asked them to leave the temple because otherwise they would just be compounding the offenses!
Tuesday 29 April 2014
Festival of Colours: the Countdown Begins
...didn't we just celebrate the Festival of Colours last Sunday (you ask)? Yes! If you were one of those blessed to taste the all-out fun of throwing colours with our guests, you will be counting down till next year too! Transcendental music from our sound-stage lifted us all to chant and dance in clouds of colour...with sky and bush welcoming our laughter.
Like Festival of Colours - Australia on Facebook to follow our countdown to 2015, and like Hare Krishna Melbourne for amazing photos.
Like Festival of Colours - Australia on Facebook to follow our countdown to 2015, and like Hare Krishna Melbourne for amazing photos.
“...You will never see the light of day!”
Deena Bandhu Dasa recalls:
I think it must have been 1975; the opening of Krishna Balarama temple was there.
And everyday Srila Prabhupada used to go down what is now legally called Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg.
One day while walking Srila Prabhupada was so heavily preaching against abortion and birth control. He was just going on about how nasty this abortion is, this Kali yuga.
Srila Prabhupada gave the example, “Just like if I’ve purchased an apartment and I go there to take possession, and then you stop me: that is illegal! You will be arrested if I go to the police. Or if I’m living in the apartment and you come to kick me out: it is illegal! You will be arrested! So that soul he’s purchased that womb; that’s his apartment. If you stop him to come that is illegal! If he’s inside and you kick him out: that is illegal!”
Srila Prabhupada went on, “You will go from womb to womb and you will never see the light of day!”
On the way back he was a little quiet. One Indian man suddenly said, “Oh Prabhupada, I read today that this Guru Maharajaji his mother has denounced him!” We all laughed. Srila Prabhupada said, “What is that?”
The Indian man replied, “This Guru Maharajaji his mother has gone to the papers and she’s saying that this guy is bogus and she’s denounced him!”
Srila Prabhupada laughed. We walked a few more steps and the Indian man continued, “Yes, practically she has finished him!”
Srila Prabhupada stopped, dug his cane in the street and looked at all of us, “She should have finished him in the womb!”
I think it must have been 1975; the opening of Krishna Balarama temple was there.
And everyday Srila Prabhupada used to go down what is now legally called Bhaktivedanta Swami Marg.
One day while walking Srila Prabhupada was so heavily preaching against abortion and birth control. He was just going on about how nasty this abortion is, this Kali yuga.
Srila Prabhupada gave the example, “Just like if I’ve purchased an apartment and I go there to take possession, and then you stop me: that is illegal! You will be arrested if I go to the police. Or if I’m living in the apartment and you come to kick me out: it is illegal! You will be arrested! So that soul he’s purchased that womb; that’s his apartment. If you stop him to come that is illegal! If he’s inside and you kick him out: that is illegal!”
Srila Prabhupada went on, “You will go from womb to womb and you will never see the light of day!”
On the way back he was a little quiet. One Indian man suddenly said, “Oh Prabhupada, I read today that this Guru Maharajaji his mother has denounced him!” We all laughed. Srila Prabhupada said, “What is that?”
The Indian man replied, “This Guru Maharajaji his mother has gone to the papers and she’s saying that this guy is bogus and she’s denounced him!”
Srila Prabhupada laughed. We walked a few more steps and the Indian man continued, “Yes, practically she has finished him!”
Srila Prabhupada stopped, dug his cane in the street and looked at all of us, “She should have finished him in the womb!”
Monday 24 March 2014
I guarantee it!
Deena Bandhu Prabhu recalls:
Srila Prabhupada gave a lecture on his big vyasasana in Los Angeles and at the end he declared,
“So… if you would just follow those 4 regulative principles… and chant 16 rounds…
then you will go back to home, back to Godhead; I guarantee it!”
Srila Prabhupada sort of posed and looked around at all of us, and re-affirmed, “I guarantee it!”
Thursday 13 March 2014
Come down and write those books
Bhavananda Dasa recalls:
Srila Prabhupada said, “I have so many palaces all over the world that I can stay in! Practically speaking, there is no difference between me and the Goswamis, in terms of our lifestyle. They stayed under a different tree every night; I stay in a different palace every night. They wrote; I write!"
Srila Prabhupada confided, "Originally I did not want to come here. Not to America... but to this world!
Krishna asked, ‘I want you to write those books. Come down and write those books.’
And I said, ‘I don’t want to go to this material world!’
But Krishna said, ‘Don’t you worry; I’ll take care of everything. You write those books!’
Wednesday 12 March 2014
He was such a mercy giver!
Yogesvara Dasa continues:
Srila Prabhupada was such a mercy-giver! He never asked us to fill any questionnaires. He never asked your history, what’s your background. What have you done good? What have you done bad? There was never any such auditioning for becoming his disciple.
Srila Prabhupada said, "Whatever you have done before that’s behind you. Now, from this point on, follow the rules and regulations."
That should be our disposition towards people in Krishna Consciousness. There should be such an effort to bent over…backwards... to anyone who’s trying to serve Krishna.
What to speak of people who may, for one reason or another, fallen away from the movement. As Vaisnavas we are meant to see what their service has been, and find a way to encourage them; to bring them back by demonstrating to them the same kind of love, affection and concern that Srila Prabhupada showed us.
Tuesday 11 March 2014
Don’t try to find some formula for causeless mercy!
Yogesvara Dasa remembers:
It was not a morning walk; it was a morning sit at Bhaktivedanta Manor. Sometimes we would sit around in a circle and chant japa. Sometimes we would ask Srila Prabhupada questions or sometimes he would ask us something.
So one morning I asked:
“Srila Prabhupada, there are two people…equally unqualified for devotional service; one becomes a devotee and the other doesn’t! What makes the difference?”
Srila Prabhupada shot me a look and replied, “Don’t try to find some formula for causeless mercy! It’s causeless! Ultimately it’s up to the mercy-giver.”
Thursday 6 March 2014
Middle Park Primary School Carnivale
Navadvipa Iswari wanted to share with us how it all went last Saturday:
We had another successful school preaching program last weekend, as we took part in the Middle park primary school Carnivale.
We have also been invited to return in mid March to conduct some Vedic culture work shops and perform kirtan.If you are interested in bringing Krishna conciousness to your child's school
Contact: Navadwipa Isvari devi dasi
nala_aravind@hotmail.com
Here are some photos of the Carnivale.
Wednesday 5 March 2014
Bhurijana Prabhu's Vyasa Puja
Yesterday we had a very sweet celebration of Bhurijana Prabhu's Vyasa Puja. It was utterly inspiring to hear all the heartfelt homages of the devotees glorifying the numerous qualities of Bhurijana Prabhu.
Indeed we are reminded on such occasions how fortunate we are to have such elevated personalities amongst our midst.
It strengthens our faith that if we stick to the process and steadily serve the Vaisnavas we too will get puriifed and will be able to serve at a higher level.
Here are some photos of the celebration.
Sunday 2 March 2014
‘What is there in Krishna's eye?’
Deena Bandhu Prabhu recalls:
One time in Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada came from the back door; he paid his obeisances to the Deities then he sat on the vyasasana. As soon as he sat he cocked his head slightly and asked, ‘What is there in Krishna's eye?’
We only had little Deities at the time. From that back door I couldn’t even see that Krishna has eyes what to speak of seeing what in Krishna's eye.
Even the pujaris were right there; it took them two minutes. They were just looking, moving around trying to figure out. They finally found that when they had put Krishna's tilaka on, a little piece of tilaka had fallen down in His eye.
We were all totally shocked!
One time in Los Angeles, Srila Prabhupada came from the back door; he paid his obeisances to the Deities then he sat on the vyasasana. As soon as he sat he cocked his head slightly and asked, ‘What is there in Krishna's eye?’
We only had little Deities at the time. From that back door I couldn’t even see that Krishna has eyes what to speak of seeing what in Krishna's eye.
Even the pujaris were right there; it took them two minutes. They were just looking, moving around trying to figure out. They finally found that when they had put Krishna's tilaka on, a little piece of tilaka had fallen down in His eye.
We were all totally shocked!
I was being more attracted to that than to Srila Prabhupada
Bhavananda Prabhu recalls:
They used to pick 2 or 3 devotees in Los Angeles who could walk behind Srila Prabhupada during his morning walk.
Usually not very much was said. However he did do one thing when I went along one day.
This was the first time when he had this little house in Beverly Hills. We drove him up to below Sunset; between Santa Monica and Sunset in Beverly Hills.
There were those huge houses and huge cars. Srila Prabhupada would walk along these palm-lined streets. I was walking right behind him, and of course my eyes were attracted to all of these magnificent mansions, gorgeous gardens; I was being more attracted to that than to Srila Prabhupada.
Just as I was thinking that, Srila Prabhupada coughs; he just turns around and he spits…right on the lawn of one of these big houses... with such disdain!
Bhavananda Prabhu laughs heartily as he concludes, ‘So I learned that lesson…'
They used to pick 2 or 3 devotees in Los Angeles who could walk behind Srila Prabhupada during his morning walk.
Usually not very much was said. However he did do one thing when I went along one day.
This was the first time when he had this little house in Beverly Hills. We drove him up to below Sunset; between Santa Monica and Sunset in Beverly Hills.
There were those huge houses and huge cars. Srila Prabhupada would walk along these palm-lined streets. I was walking right behind him, and of course my eyes were attracted to all of these magnificent mansions, gorgeous gardens; I was being more attracted to that than to Srila Prabhupada.
Just as I was thinking that, Srila Prabhupada coughs; he just turns around and he spits…right on the lawn of one of these big houses... with such disdain!
Bhavananda Prabhu laughs heartily as he concludes, ‘So I learned that lesson…'
Thursday 20 February 2014
We’ll stop chanting without association!
Yogesvara Dasa recounts:
In my very first letter, which was my initiation letter in 1970 in London, Srila Prabhupada acknowledged in my letter to him an appreciation for my senior godbrothers and senior godsisters.
He said, "This is Vaisnava!", in his reply to me.
"This is very good that you understand the importance of taking guidance from your senior godbrothers and godsisters. Take guidance from them and go on with your devotional service; Krishna will bless you!”
That association with the devotees and that receiving of guidance from senior vaisnavas is actually more important than chanting. Because the chanting, while it is our number one principle of devotional service unless it is backed-up with association which gives us the information and the understanding, the working through of whatever problems that we may have that get in the way of chanting, the chanting will go away! We’ll stop chanting without association! We’ll dry up."
So actually association with the devotees of the Lord is the most important principle of devotional service!
Wednesday 19 February 2014
You can design a disco and go to hell
Bhavananda Prabhu recalls:
When Srila Prabhupada came back to Los Angeles in 1970, I was appointed to design and decorate the temple's altar. Suddenly Srila Prabhupada appeared while we were at work and asked me, "Oh very nice. You have done this?"
I replied, "Yes Srila Prabhupada."
Srila Prabhupada exclaimed, "You see the difference: you are designing. You can design a disco and go to hell. Or you can design Krishna's temple and altar and go to Vaikuntha!"
When Srila Prabhupada came back to Los Angeles in 1970, I was appointed to design and decorate the temple's altar. Suddenly Srila Prabhupada appeared while we were at work and asked me, "Oh very nice. You have done this?"
I replied, "Yes Srila Prabhupada."
Srila Prabhupada exclaimed, "You see the difference: you are designing. You can design a disco and go to hell. Or you can design Krishna's temple and altar and go to Vaikuntha!"
Tuesday 18 February 2014
Harinama on Hollywood Boulevard
Deena Bandhu Prabhu relates:
I remember we were doing harinama at ‘Diamond Jims’ in Hollywood Boulevard.
Visnujana was there chanting the Hollywood melody. And suddenly his eyes just got big and he said: PRABHUPADA! And he hit the ground and we all turned around and there was Srila Prabhupada in this little Ford Pinto, a small car; Srila Prabhupada was there making pranamas.
I was thinking, “We’re like mlecchas or something. And yet Srila Prabhupada was so happy to see the devotees out on Harinama, preaching the holy name in such a degraded place. So Srila Prabhupada was so happy and folding his hands to us in pranamas.”
We all just paid our obeisances, right there on the street; we all just hit the deck.
Srila Prabhupada was just so pleased to see us out there preaching.
Sunday 16 February 2014
Temple of the Vedic Planetarium Newsletter
Read the newsletter of the Temple of The Vedic Planetarium here.
Rising from the plains of the holy land of Sri Mayapur, on the banks of the sacred Ganges River, the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium will be a shining beacon to all aspiring spiritualists who are searching for answers to the questions of life.
The temple is being designed according to the sacred architecture that has facilitated spiritual self-realisation for millions of people throughout the ages. Simply seeing the outside of the temple will evoke an appreciation, and awaken the dormant devotion for God in every sincere seeker." (From the Opening Statement)
"The fulfillment of the desire of visionaries, from Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu down to Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, saints and incarnations, the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium is a unique and ambitious project to make the vast culture and philosophy of the timeless Vedic tradition accessible to everyone.
Rising from the plains of the holy land of Sri Mayapur, on the banks of the sacred Ganges River, the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium will be a shining beacon to all aspiring spiritualists who are searching for answers to the questions of life.
The temple is being designed according to the sacred architecture that has facilitated spiritual self-realisation for millions of people throughout the ages. Simply seeing the outside of the temple will evoke an appreciation, and awaken the dormant devotion for God in every sincere seeker." (From the Opening Statement)
Wednesday 12 February 2014
Nityananda Trayodasi 2014
This evening's celebration in honour of Lord Nityananda was particularly sweet.
Vijaya Prabhu related the most poignant pastimes of Nitai Rama. Then the bathing ceremony followed with Jad Bharat Prabhu and Vraja Krishna Prabhu leading kirtan successively.
Nitai Gosai was smiling radiantly so see so many devotees participating in His abhishek. He seemed to be equally beaming to have so many more devotees singing their hearts out, with their eyes glued on Him!
Hot from the press, here are the photos of the bathing ceremony.
Vijaya Prabhu related the most poignant pastimes of Nitai Rama. Then the bathing ceremony followed with Jad Bharat Prabhu and Vraja Krishna Prabhu leading kirtan successively.
Nitai Gosai was smiling radiantly so see so many devotees participating in His abhishek. He seemed to be equally beaming to have so many more devotees singing their hearts out, with their eyes glued on Him!
Hot from the press, here are the photos of the bathing ceremony.
Tuesday 11 February 2014
Videos of "Love, Lust and Bhakti; Lessons from Caitanya Caritamrta" Seminar by HH Devamrita Swami.
Love, Lust and Bhakti; Lessons from Caitanya Caritamrta Seminar by His Holiness Devamrita Swami. 29 January 2014 at Melbourne Mahaprabhu Mandir. Click YouTube link to download videos.
Videos of 63rd Vyasa Puja of HH Devamrita Swami
Celebrating 63rd Vyasa Puja of His Holiness Devamrita Swami in his personal presence, Saturday 18 January 2014, at Port Phillip Town Hall, Port Melbourne. Click YouTube link to download videos.
Monday 10 February 2014
There's something strange about this man
The devotees were trying to get some important people to meet Srila Prabhupada because he requested that. You know, like ministers of government, heads of department, ministers of religion and even I think a bishop came, and a high official from the catholic church. So Srila Prabhupada was sitting and preaching to all these people.
And then someone brought in a gentleman; the devotee announced that he was such and such and gave his title. The gentleman sat down. Sitting behind his desk, Srila Prabhupada asked, “So... you have any question?”
But this man he was just looking at him; he was just sitting…and he was wide eyed! He looked a little…unstable actually to me! (hearty laughter). He didn’t say anything; he was just silent!”
Srila Prabhupada just began preaching to him. He didn’t wait for any reply. I mean the man was silent; he didn’t say anything.
So Srila Prabhupada started preaching that ‘you are not the body’, very basic teachings. ‘You are part and parcel of God’; ‘the name of God is Krishna’. He went on and on and on…for a long time! And the gentleman was just sitting; he didn’t say anything.
And at the end that man had this same expression: wide eyed, just looking at Srila Prabhupada.
Then Srila Prabhupada stopped and he said, “So… give him some prasadam.”
So the devotee gave him some fruit or something. Srila Prabhupada thanked him for coming and the whole time he hadn’t said anything! And then they let him outside.
After he left Srila Prabhupada turned to the devotees and declared:
“That man was ghostly possessed!”
Srila Prabhupada immediately knew. But still the wonder of it was that he just preached to him. He wasn’t fazed by his condition or anything. He’d been brought in as a guest and Srila Prabhupada treated him as a guest, no matter what his condition was.
And then someone brought in a gentleman; the devotee announced that he was such and such and gave his title. The gentleman sat down. Sitting behind his desk, Srila Prabhupada asked, “So... you have any question?”
But this man he was just looking at him; he was just sitting…and he was wide eyed! He looked a little…unstable actually to me! (hearty laughter). He didn’t say anything; he was just silent!”
Srila Prabhupada just began preaching to him. He didn’t wait for any reply. I mean the man was silent; he didn’t say anything.
So Srila Prabhupada started preaching that ‘you are not the body’, very basic teachings. ‘You are part and parcel of God’; ‘the name of God is Krishna’. He went on and on and on…for a long time! And the gentleman was just sitting; he didn’t say anything.
And at the end that man had this same expression: wide eyed, just looking at Srila Prabhupada.
Then Srila Prabhupada stopped and he said, “So… give him some prasadam.”
So the devotee gave him some fruit or something. Srila Prabhupada thanked him for coming and the whole time he hadn’t said anything! And then they let him outside.
After he left Srila Prabhupada turned to the devotees and declared:
“That man was ghostly possessed!”
Srila Prabhupada immediately knew. But still the wonder of it was that he just preached to him. He wasn’t fazed by his condition or anything. He’d been brought in as a guest and Srila Prabhupada treated him as a guest, no matter what his condition was.
Tuesday 28 January 2014
...then we can call our beliefs ‘science’!
Amogha dasa recalls:
We were on a morning walk in Perth.
I asked Srila Prabhupada, “Sometimes when we preach to people they say:‘You say that Krishna Consciousness is a science, but we think it’s a belief! Why do you call it a science?’”
Srila Prabhupada replied, “If you can call your beliefs ‘science’, then we can call our beliefs ‘science’!
But what you’re calling science is really just beliefs. For example, you think that the living entity comes from matter, from chemicals. But where is the evidence? Where is the example of a living entity coming from matter, from chemicals? So it’s simply a belief and you’re calling it science. So if call your beliefs ‘science’, then we can call our beliefs ‘science’!”
We were on a morning walk in Perth.
I asked Srila Prabhupada, “Sometimes when we preach to people they say:‘You say that Krishna Consciousness is a science, but we think it’s a belief! Why do you call it a science?’”
Srila Prabhupada replied, “If you can call your beliefs ‘science’, then we can call our beliefs ‘science’!
But what you’re calling science is really just beliefs. For example, you think that the living entity comes from matter, from chemicals. But where is the evidence? Where is the example of a living entity coming from matter, from chemicals? So it’s simply a belief and you’re calling it science. So if call your beliefs ‘science’, then we can call our beliefs ‘science’!”
Monday 27 January 2014
Hellish planets? Hellish planets?
Narahari Dasa recounts:
After class one young girl, a brahmacharini, put her hand up and asked:
“Srila Prabhupada, does Krishna speaks the Bhagavad Gita in the hellish planets?”
Srila Prabhupada thought for a moment and retorted:
“Hellish planets? Hellish planets! You don’t think that this London is a hellish planet?”
Sunday 26 January 2014
Can Srimati Radharani's hair be out?
Ambika Dasi remembers:
Srila Prabhupada gave me a few instructions on Deity worship.
I used to dress Radha Rasabihari, and one day I had put a red Ramanuja-type marking inside Krishna's tilaka.
Srila Prabhupada sent a message and said, "You never put anything in Krishna's tilaka; Krishna’s tilaka should always be clear!
Then another time I asked him about spices because he’d restricted spicing. So I asked him, "Can’t we even use mustard seeds?" To which Srila Prabhupada replied, “Just cumin seeds and hing is actually sufficient for the Deities!”
And I also asked him about Radharani’s hair because there was some contention at the time in Bombay that Radharani’s hair shouldn’t be showing; it shouldn’t be out. It should be tied back because She is the most chaste lady. But we often used to put Her hair out.
Therefore I asked Srila Prabhupada, “Can Radharani’s hair be out or does it have to be tied back?”
Srila Prabhupada replied, “Whatever you think looks nice!”
Srila Prabhupada gave me a few instructions on Deity worship.
I used to dress Radha Rasabihari, and one day I had put a red Ramanuja-type marking inside Krishna's tilaka.
Srila Prabhupada sent a message and said, "You never put anything in Krishna's tilaka; Krishna’s tilaka should always be clear!
Then another time I asked him about spices because he’d restricted spicing. So I asked him, "Can’t we even use mustard seeds?" To which Srila Prabhupada replied, “Just cumin seeds and hing is actually sufficient for the Deities!”
And I also asked him about Radharani’s hair because there was some contention at the time in Bombay that Radharani’s hair shouldn’t be showing; it shouldn’t be out. It should be tied back because She is the most chaste lady. But we often used to put Her hair out.
Therefore I asked Srila Prabhupada, “Can Radharani’s hair be out or does it have to be tied back?”
Srila Prabhupada replied, “Whatever you think looks nice!”
Tuesday 14 January 2014
"They should be the ksatriyas of ISKCON!"
Ambarish Dasa recalls:
In Hawaii, Yogi Bhajan came to visit Srila Prabhupada. He is not so popular nowadays but back then he was quite prominent, with many followers.
He was putting together an international peace conference and was inviting all types of spiritual masters and religious leaders.
So he started to explain that it was all about world peace etc. But Srila Prabhupada stopped him and said that there could never any world peace unless everyone would agree that Krishna was the Supreme Person, and that everything belonged to Krishna.
So he stopped Yogi Bhajan from even presenting this idea of world peace. But Yogi Bhajan kept on trying to sell this idea to Srila Prabhupada. But it was basically just for his own glorification.
Therefore, Srila Prabhupada kept stopping him and reiterating this point: there would never be any peace unless everybody accepts that Krishna was the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that everything was His property.
Yogi Bhajan couldn’t accept this point; he was thinking that he was the supreme personality! So Yogi Bhajan left a little frustrated as Srila Prabhupada didn’t say whether he was going to come or not.
However after he left Srila Prabhupada said that him and his men, because they’re Sikhs, (they wore big turbans), Srila Prabhupada said that they should be the ksatriyas of ISKCON.
So even though there were vast philosophical differences between them, Srila Prabhupada was thinking about how he could bring everybody into Krishna's family.
In Hawaii, Yogi Bhajan came to visit Srila Prabhupada. He is not so popular nowadays but back then he was quite prominent, with many followers.
He was putting together an international peace conference and was inviting all types of spiritual masters and religious leaders.
So he started to explain that it was all about world peace etc. But Srila Prabhupada stopped him and said that there could never any world peace unless everyone would agree that Krishna was the Supreme Person, and that everything belonged to Krishna.
So he stopped Yogi Bhajan from even presenting this idea of world peace. But Yogi Bhajan kept on trying to sell this idea to Srila Prabhupada. But it was basically just for his own glorification.
Therefore, Srila Prabhupada kept stopping him and reiterating this point: there would never be any peace unless everybody accepts that Krishna was the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that everything was His property.
Yogi Bhajan couldn’t accept this point; he was thinking that he was the supreme personality! So Yogi Bhajan left a little frustrated as Srila Prabhupada didn’t say whether he was going to come or not.
However after he left Srila Prabhupada said that him and his men, because they’re Sikhs, (they wore big turbans), Srila Prabhupada said that they should be the ksatriyas of ISKCON.
So even though there were vast philosophical differences between them, Srila Prabhupada was thinking about how he could bring everybody into Krishna's family.
Monday 13 January 2014
"Prabhupada, what book will you translate after the Bhagavatam?"
Pradyumna Dasa recounts:
Srila Prabhupada always considered that 4 books were necessary: Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu (Nectar of Devotion), and Caitanya Caritamrta.
And outside of that everything is really extra.
One time we were in New York, in Srila Prabhupada’s room. And I think it was Radha Ballabha who asked, “After you finish the Srimad Bhagavatam Prabhupada what book would you like to translate?
Srila Prabhupada answered, “Oh maybe… Jiva Goswami’s Sad Sandarbha … or Vedanta Sutra or… there’s so many…maybe Bhagavad Gita!”
And someone spoke up, “But... Srila Prabhupada, you already did the Bhagavad Gita!”
Srila Prabhupada responded with vigour, “We did the Bhagavad Gita but there are so many commentaries. We did part… We did a small.
There are so many commentaries: Ramanujacarya, Madhavacarya… everyone has given their Gita! We can do many Gitas! Not just one…”
Srila Prabhupada always considered that 4 books were necessary: Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu (Nectar of Devotion), and Caitanya Caritamrta.
And outside of that everything is really extra.
One time we were in New York, in Srila Prabhupada’s room. And I think it was Radha Ballabha who asked, “After you finish the Srimad Bhagavatam Prabhupada what book would you like to translate?
Srila Prabhupada answered, “Oh maybe… Jiva Goswami’s Sad Sandarbha … or Vedanta Sutra or… there’s so many…maybe Bhagavad Gita!”
And someone spoke up, “But... Srila Prabhupada, you already did the Bhagavad Gita!”
Srila Prabhupada responded with vigour, “We did the Bhagavad Gita but there are so many commentaries. We did part… We did a small.
There are so many commentaries: Ramanujacarya, Madhavacarya… everyone has given their Gita! We can do many Gitas! Not just one…”
Temple Dining Room And Theatre Closed During Renovations
Dear Devotees,
We have begun restoring the Dining Room in Prabhupada House. It is almost thirty years since this room was fully restored. When our restoration work is complete we will be able to offer special guests a first class facility in reciprocation for their efforts to enliven our spiritual lives. Work will take one week to complete at the very least. Until then the Dining Room cannot be used.
Since all the Dining Room fittings and equipment are being stored in the Theatre, this room cannot be used either. Besides this Srila Prabhupada's Room is a holy tirtha, a sacred memorial to him that we must all maintain for future generations to the best of our ability. So it should not be used for anything else, except occasional classes and japa.
At the same time, just over the road from the Temple, we have a wonderful low-cost Council-owned facility - the Mary Kehoe Community Centre - that we can use for classes, workshops and meetings. Rental is $12 per hour, a charge that can easily be met by our many groups of devotees needing space to meet. As our devotional community expands beyond the capacity of our Temple Campus, would like to encourage all our special community groups to begin to use this facility as their regular meeting place.
Pinky Mataji (0400-901-303) can help you to make bookings immediately. Just advise her of your requirements, pass on your rental fee and she will do the needful.
I hope you will feel enlivened by the great facilities offered by this new community venue.
We have begun restoring the Dining Room in Prabhupada House. It is almost thirty years since this room was fully restored. When our restoration work is complete we will be able to offer special guests a first class facility in reciprocation for their efforts to enliven our spiritual lives. Work will take one week to complete at the very least. Until then the Dining Room cannot be used.
Since all the Dining Room fittings and equipment are being stored in the Theatre, this room cannot be used either. Besides this Srila Prabhupada's Room is a holy tirtha, a sacred memorial to him that we must all maintain for future generations to the best of our ability. So it should not be used for anything else, except occasional classes and japa.
At the same time, just over the road from the Temple, we have a wonderful low-cost Council-owned facility - the Mary Kehoe Community Centre - that we can use for classes, workshops and meetings. Rental is $12 per hour, a charge that can easily be met by our many groups of devotees needing space to meet. As our devotional community expands beyond the capacity of our Temple Campus, would like to encourage all our special community groups to begin to use this facility as their regular meeting place.
Pinky Mataji (0400-901-303) can help you to make bookings immediately. Just advise her of your requirements, pass on your rental fee and she will do the needful.
I hope you will feel enlivened by the great facilities offered by this new community venue.
“He was a big demon wasn’t he Prabhupada?”
Yogesvara Dasa remembers:
In Geneva another ‘big famous’ person came to see Srila Prabhupada, a Sanskrit scholar. His name was Herbert and he had written a book about Krishna. Srila Prabhupada told him, “I have been looking at your book!”
The scholar proudly replied, “It took me 12 years to write this book!”
Srila Prabhupada responded, “Yes, and there’s still mistakes in it!”
Srila Prabhupada went on to talk about the 4 regulative principles to which Herbert commented,
“I drink… I smoke… but… I can give these things up if I want to, but… I don’t want to!”
Srila Prabhupada’s reply was, “Therefore you have many many births to go on the spiritual path!”
After the scholar had left all the devotees assembled were rubbing their hands expecting Srila Prabhupada to heavily criticise Herbert’s malpractices.
So Guru Gauranga Dasa started it off, “He was a big demon wasn’t he Prabhupada?”
Their jaws dropped in surprise when Srila Prabhupada responded,
“Well he has been influenced by association with mayavadis, but I’ve noticed in his book he has mentioned the name of Krishna many times; this will greatly benefit him!”
In Geneva another ‘big famous’ person came to see Srila Prabhupada, a Sanskrit scholar. His name was Herbert and he had written a book about Krishna. Srila Prabhupada told him, “I have been looking at your book!”
The scholar proudly replied, “It took me 12 years to write this book!”
Srila Prabhupada responded, “Yes, and there’s still mistakes in it!”
Srila Prabhupada went on to talk about the 4 regulative principles to which Herbert commented,
“I drink… I smoke… but… I can give these things up if I want to, but… I don’t want to!”
Srila Prabhupada’s reply was, “Therefore you have many many births to go on the spiritual path!”
After the scholar had left all the devotees assembled were rubbing their hands expecting Srila Prabhupada to heavily criticise Herbert’s malpractices.
So Guru Gauranga Dasa started it off, “He was a big demon wasn’t he Prabhupada?”
Their jaws dropped in surprise when Srila Prabhupada responded,
“Well he has been influenced by association with mayavadis, but I’ve noticed in his book he has mentioned the name of Krishna many times; this will greatly benefit him!”
Sunday 12 January 2014
Who Are The Nine Brothers of Narada?
SB 2.6.29 (Bhagavatam class of Sunday 12.1.2014)
(Lord Brahma says) My dear son, thereafter your nine brothers, who are the masters of living creatures, performed the sacrifice with proper rituals to satisfy both the manifested and nonmanifested personalities.
This morning when he gave class Aniruddha Prabhu asked who are the nine brothers of Narada? (Who are the ten sons of Lord Brahma?) I had no idea. Perhaps I was the only one, but for anyone who is interested, Canto 3 of Srimad-Bhagavatam tells us:
SB 3.12.21. Brahma, who was empowered by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, thought of generating living entities and begot ten sons for the extension of the generations.
SB 3.12.22. Marici, Atri, Angira, Pulastya, Pulaha, Kratu, Bhrgu, Vasistha, Daksa, and the tenth son, Narada, were thus born.
PURPORT: The whole process of the creation, maintenance and dissolution of the cosmic manifestation is meant to give the conditioned souls a chance to go back home, back to Godhead. Brahma created Rudra to help him in his creative endeavor, but from the very beginning Rudra began to devour the whole creation, and thus he had to be stopped from such devastating activities. Brahma therefore created another set of good children, who were mostly in favor of worldly fruitive activities. He knew very well, however, that without devotional service to the Lord there is hardly any benefit for the conditioned souls, and therefore he at last created his worthy son Narada, who is the supreme spiritual master of all transcendentalists. Without devotional service to the Lord one cannot make progress in any department of activity, although the path of devotional service is always independent of anything material. Only the transcendental loving service of the Lord can deliver the real goal of life, and thus the service rendered by Sriman Narada Muni is the highest among all the sons of Brahma.
SB 3.12.23. Narada was born from the deliberation of Brahma, which is the best part of the body. Vasistha was born from his breathing, Daksa from a thumb, Bhrgu from his touch, and Kratu from his hand.
PURPORT: Narada was born from the best deliberation of Brahma because Narada was able to deliver the Supreme Lord to anyone he liked. The Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be realized by any amount of Vedic knowledge or by any number of penances. But a pure devotee of the Lord like Narada can deliver the Supreme Lord by his good will. The very name Narada suggests that he can deliver the Supreme Lord. Nara means the "Supreme Lord," and da means "one who can deliver." That he can deliver the Supreme Lord does not mean that the Lord is like a commodity that can be delivered to any person. But Narada can deliver to anyone the transcendental loving service of the Lord as a servitor, friend, parent or lover, as one may desire out of one's own transcendental love for the Lord. In other words, it is Narada only who can deliver the path of bhakti-yoga, the highest mystic means for attainment of the Supreme Lord.
SB 3.12.24. Pulastya was generated from the ears, Aìgira from the mouth, Atri from the eyes, Marici from the mind and Pulaha from the navel of Brahma.
Srimad-Bhagavatam ki jaya!
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