a network of friends - bhaktivedanta manor – hare … das and kisori devi dasi. these programmes...

Sept

embe

r 201

2

Dedicated to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness

Srila Prabhupada:

The Lord says that He appears in His own body. He does not change His body, as the common living entity changes from one body to another. The conditioned soul may have one kind of body in the present birth, but he has a different body in the next birth. The Lord, however, does not do so. Whenever He appears, He does so in the same original body, by His internal potency.

Bhagavad Gita 4,6 purport

A Network of FriendsThose friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them unto thy soul with hoops of steel.- William Shakespeare

There’s no hoops of steel at Bhaktivedanta Manor, but we do agree with Shakespeare. He thought that friendship was so important in life that you should always keep your good friends close to you. The same applies to spiritual life. When the Lord Buddha was told by a disciple that good friends were half of all success in life, he replied: “No, that is not true; they are everything in spiritual life.”

As London marked the end of the 2012 Olympics, Bhaktivedanta Manor held its famous Janmashtami Festival on Friday 10th and Sunday 12th August.

Janmashtami is the birthday of all birthdays, that day when we can put everything from our busy lives to one side and gather together to celebrate the birth of the all-attractive, best friend of everyone, Krishna! Pilgrims eagerly queued to get a glimpse of Him in his dazzling Deity form standing on the temple room shrine. The charming cowherd boy

was celebrating His birthday with Radharani, His beautiful consort, and His devotees were ecstatically singing and dancing!

Tens of thousands of delicious meals were prepared for Krishna’s huge birthday party. These meals are so famous that the BBC spent the whole day capturing exclusive footage of the preparation of those meals in the kitchens. Those kitchens were in operation 24 hours a day preparing free vegetarian meals for everyone.

...continued on page 4

...continued on page 3

Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter September 2012

Providing Spiritual Support at the OlympicsLondon 2012 was revolutionary in many ways, even from a spiritual dimension. One of the unique features of the Olympic site was a multi-faith centre, strategically placed in the heart of the Athletes' Village, offering easy and ready access to anyone who felt the need to seek spiritual guidance.Sachi Kishore das served as one of the chaplains at the centre, taking on a range of responsibilities such as facilitating a puja ceremony on the day of Janmastami. He also provided pastoral care to those

who visited, and administered yoga and meditation sessions, instilling inner stability and strength in the athletes. He also met with support coaches, staff and volunteers.“The multi-faith centre was in my opinion one of the vital aspects of London 2012,” Sachi Kishore das explained. “It offered a haven where anyone was welcome to come and meditate or read from scriptures. For me, this added a much needed spiritual touch to the Olympics, making the Games truly complete”.

Rathayatra Across UKThe Deities of Lord Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra have completed their summer UK tour, with successful Ratha Yatra festivals in Cardiff, Leicester and Brighton, being the most recent. BBC Midlands Today news gave extensive coverage of the Leicester festival and Olympic football fans witnessed the festival in Cardiff.

Olympic ChantingDuring the build up to the London Olympics, local devotees oranised a range of inspiring Olympic themed events. Twice a week throughout the period a series of presentations geared towards spiritual health and self-improvement took place and a marathon of regular public chanting processions were staged across central London. Highlights included days of devotee singers and musicians sharing the Hare Krishna mantra from the top of a bus!

Caring on our FarmThe Manor's farm has been a resource for various local groups including Watford Probation Service, Watford and Radlett Adult Education Groups, Harrow Juvenile Probation Service, and groups from Mill Hill and Harrow West. In addition devotees and dedicated volunteers facilitate the running of the Farm, working under Krishna Chaitanya, the Head of Horticulture.The project has received a grant from Lafarge to enhance surroundings and accesibility.

Cllr Jean Heywood opened the facility

Sharing Festival Magic with the Olympics Ajay Kumar has been a volunteer at Bhaktivedanta Manor for over 15 years, and the skills and experience he gained during that time has led him onto great things. As Chair of the Festival Committee, he was accepted on the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. “My interest in Event Management began when I started volunteering my time and energy for the Manor festivals,” Ajay explained. “What we do at the Manor is inspiring, magnificent and magical and I hope that my experience working on festivals like Janmashtami helped make London 2012 the success that it was.”


The National Anthem of India declares how the name of India rouses the heart and resounds in both the sacred rivers of Yamuna and Ganga. Unfortunately, these days no joy can be found in the flow of untreated sewage and factory waste from the Shahdara drain of Delhi and other drains. What is clearly resounding is that such neglect is responsible for an environmental disaster of massive proportions with a huge threat to human health. Today millions of Krishna devotees from around the world still bathe in the Yamuna’s waters as it travels through the holy towns of Mathura and Vrindavan. Millions of people also depend on it for bathing, their economic needs and religious rituals. On 8 August 2012, coinciding with a mass gathering in Mathura, Hindus around the world delivered letters of concern to the Indian Embassies in their respective countries. In London members of ISKCON, The National Council of Hindu Temples, the Hindu Council UK, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad UK and the Hindu Forum of Britain and delivered a letter of appeal to the High Commissioner His Excellency Dr J Bhagwati insisting he take up the matter

with India’s Prime Minister. The campaigning sadhu, Shri Brajraj Sharan, brought his solemn message to Bhaktivedanta Manor’s Janmasthami festival, where he collected thousands of signatures for a petition that will be sent to the Indian government, and, along with Radhanath Swami, was interviewed on BBC Radio 4.“The river water can be easily returned and there are solutions available," explained Shri Brajraj Sharan. "All we need to save the sacred heritage of so many people is the political will to do so.”The demand is that the Indian Government lives up to India’s own Supreme Court High Powered Committee ruling of 1998 that:1. Sewage should be diverted away

from the Yamuna river and be treated.

2. The states through which the river flows should maintain a constant and adequate flow of natural fresh flow in river Yamuna throughout, to protect and preserve the river’s ecology.

For more information, visit www.saveyamuna.org

Save the River Yamuna

The delegation of leaders and representatives after they delivered the letter to the Indian High Commissioner in London

So the Manor has spent the last year helping its congregation re-form into groups of friends with its Mentorship System. There’s been help and support from many ISKCON leaders throughout the world. Three training sessions from international speakers, and a grand launch which was done in the presence and with the blessings of His Holiness Bhakti Rasamrita Swami and two members of GBC Devotee Care Committee, Sridama das and Kisori devi dasi. These programmes have significantly helped to give the project shape and direction. There are currently 50 mentors, 160 mentees and a dedicated section of the Manor website, already viewed by 800 visitors. So if you’d like to enhance your spiritual life with regular support from a devotee friend, please visit:www.krishnatemple.com/mentorship

“ISKCON is a very young movement and it needs systematic organization and support to grow. This growth is dependent upon proper preaching to the mass, cultivation of interested individuals, training them when they come within the fold and eventually engage them in devotional service. All these purposes are perfectly fulfilled through this Mentorship program”

- His Holiness Bhakti Caru Swami

"I have heard that you are launching the Mentorship System at Bhaktivedanta Manor tomorrow. It's about time. We have been working with it for over two years in Hungary and it has really done wonders for the individuals who participate in it as well as for the devotees community. It is systematic sadhu sanga for devotees really committed to becoming Krsna conscious and I can't recommend it enough."

- His Holiness Sivarama Swami

...continued from page 1

A network of friends


Ambaben Jyoti, who is 101 years old this January, was the most senior person to have ever attended Janmashtami at

Bhaktivedanta Manor.

“It was great to meet so many people who had come to celebrate this important date in the Hindu calendar. Many congratulations must go the organisers for their efforts in making the festival such a success. I am always made to feel very welcome when I visit the Manor and I really look forward to attending more events there in the future.”Ron Hon Theresa Villiers MP, Minister of Transport

There is always something different in the main festival field and this year was no exception: “2012- the end of the world?” was a daring play about potential world disaster and the spiritual solution; while the Pandava Sena offered “True Lies”, a dual experience of motion and theatre. Due to popular demand, everyone got a chance to swing baby Krishna! Every birthday party requires family and friends to help with decorations, food, invites and entertainment and this party was no different. Numerous volunteers gathered every evening after work for a month and put in countless hours of hard work to set everything up just right.

The main marquee was a spectacle of music, dance and drama performed by friends from across England. Devotees from Coventry performed a drama called

“Olympic Games and the Human Race”. Later the Bhaktivedanta Players performed a charming drama called “Sakshi Gopal”, and the special featured artist was Shivali Bhammer who sang from her new album. All this built up to midnight, which marks the time of Krishna’s birth. This was celebrated with the bathing (abhishek) of the Deities of Radha and Krishna in front of a rapturous crowd.

...continued from page 1


“We had a wonderful day and thoroughly enjoyed joining in with the thousands of devotees who were friendly and welcoming. The organization of the event was very impressive- - so well planned and yet so relaxed. Despite vast crowds the atmosphere is calm and unhurried and a great credit to you all”. Cllr Charles Kelly, Mayor of Elstree and Borehamwood

“Thank you to everyone at the Manor for their kind hospitality yesterday. My wife and I received the warmest of welcomes from everybody we met and made many more friends. There is such a wonderful atmosphere at all your events and the work that is put into them by your huge team of volunteers is nothing short of amazing”.Cllr Dave Hewitt, Vice Chairman of Hertfordshire County Council

"I loved my visit to Janmashtami and was moved by the warmth of your welcome and the generosity of your hospitality. There was an atmosphere of calm and serenity even though you fed so many people and it was very special to see so many families enjoying themselves, all made possible by the huge number of volunteers you had helping. It will be one of the highlights of my year as High Sheriff."The Hon Mrs Stuart-Smith, The High Sheriff of Hertfordshire


On this auspicious day devotees celebrate the appearance in this world of Krishna’s pure devotee- - His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. This day is known as Vyasa-Puja, meaning the appearance of the representative of Srila Vyasadev, or more simply

the appearance day of the spiritual master. On Vyasa Puja, the disciples, grand disciples and followers of Srila Prabhupada are given the opportunity to recite their heartfelt homage’s, with senior members sharing fond memories of his association.

Dhananjaya das, one of the most senior British disciples of Srila Prabhupada, presided over the ceremonies. "It was wonderful to hear such a wide range of offerings throughout the day from so many different kinds of devotees,” he explained, “It will be great when we will able to build extended facilities, a haveli, at Bhaktivedanta Manor because during the event the rooms were bursting at the seams!"Srila Prabhupada’s mercy is always accessible to everyone through his books, tapes and videos, - but on the Vyasa Puja day his presence is especially felt.

A new book is now available at the reception of Bhaktivedanta Manor, "A Selection of Raj Bhoga Recipes" by Dhama Sevana das. Raj Bhog means food fit for a king, and that king is Lord Krishna Himself who at noon is offered the largest offering made to the Temple Deities throughout the day. The book reveals the unique ingredients and methods used for preparing the Raja Bhoga.Many skilled devotees prepare Raja Bhoga for the Deities, but Dhama Sevana das has dedicated the last fifteen years perfecting the dishes. Complier Krishna Kishor das, a retired research chemist, joined Dhama Sevana das in the Deity Kitchen, and together they produced the marvellous book. It combined Dhama’s

cooking skills and knowledge with Krishna Kishor’s ability to transcribe the recipes to written word. For more details visit: www.rajabhoga.com

Srila Prabhupadas’s Vyasa Puja - celebrating Krishna’s pure devotee

Raja Bhoga Recipes new cook book

Welsh Green Gathering

The motto for this year’s Welsh Green Gathering was 'small is beautiful', yet there was a sizeable devotee presence. The torrential rain didn’t stop Mahavishnu Swami leading chanting processions around the site and the liberal distribution of santified vegetarian food (prasad) followed.


JANMASHTAMI 2012

ISKCON Pandava Sena proudly presented an exciting production that goes by the name, ‘True Lies’ this year for Janmashtami.The drama, which consisted of filmed footage and a live stage performance, was about a snap shot of a typical students life, at a typical party to how different people have different perspectives of the same situation due to their environment, experiences and association.

The scenes were filmed at a mansion in Carpenters Park using the latest in film technology, worth thousands of pounds, making the final video worthy of being played in local cinemas! Sahil Agarwal, the president of Pandava Sena said ‘The house was literally transformed into a film set, with around fifty youth acting in it. Although it was intense filming the scenes it was definitely rewarding and everyone had an amazing time. It will be good to see the bloopers!’

Apart from days of rehearsals of the live stage performance and decorating the actual stage area, the other side of the Pandava Sena tent consisted of around

I first of all found out about Psena through reading one of these articles in the manor newsletter actually! After that I met a member of the Pandavasena one Friday at the temple, and he invited me along to one of their Harrow jammin’ sessions. After that I just met more great people, found out about more projects and decided to get more involved.

Really I liked everything about the events. I liked the topic, and the way it was explained in an easy to understand and easy to apply way. I liked the friendly people at the events, and of course who can’t like free food! But the main thing I would say is the friendships that I made through the events.

Currently, as it says at the top of the page I’m studying at the Univeristy of Hertfordshire. So I’m also president of the Krishna Consciousness Society there. We hold weekly events, give talks on loads of different topics from “what would you do if you had 24 hours to live” to “the secret to success”

Kavi SivyerAge: 19Studying Graphic Design

@ Hertfordshire

University

How did you find out about Psena?

What did you like about the events?

What do you do in Psena?

thirty volunteers painting and decorating the membership area. The membership area was where people who came to see the show could find out a little bit more about Pandava Sena; about all the different, exciting projects we do from Krishna Consciousness Societies at universities to retreats abroad called Senagetaways. Yaajan Govindia, a student at Haberdashers Boys school commented ‘A whole wall in the membership side showed the past, present and future of Sena, from when they used to campaign to save the manor to the amazing seminars we have all over the UK.’

They also signed up a record four-hundred and fifty new members who showed interest to our modern drama on how to add a spiritual dimension to your life. Hennel Agarawal, the leader of the tent mentioned ‘Its so important that we sign up new people to Pandava Sena to give them an opportunity to experience spirituality but, even more important is that existing members feel enlivened, enthused and cared for while serving in the tent.’Following up from Janmastimi, Sena have an interactive presentation entitled ‘The After Party’ which explores the psychology of happiness and success in a changing world on the 24th August 2012. For more information call Vinay: 07534333884


Young VisitorsStaff and children from the St John's Wood Adventure Playground came to the Manor as part of their 'Have Some Faith in Play' project. “They were some of the most sincere and intelligent children I have ever met” said host Caitanya Jivan das.

September 2012Wed 12th Parama Ekadasi Thur 20th App of Srimati Sita Thakurai Sun 23rd Radhastami - (fast till noon) Tues 25th Parsva Ekadasi (fast till noon for Vamanadeva) Wed 26th App of Sri Vamanadeva App of Srila Jiva Gosvami Thur 27th App of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura (fast till noon) Fri 28th Disapp of Srila Haridasa Thakura Sat 29th Acceptance of sannyasa by Srila Prabhupada October Sun 7th Anni of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in USA Thur 11th Indira Ekadasi

© 2012, All articles & photographs copyright of Bhaktivedanta Manor

Bhaktivedanta ManorDharam Marg · Hilfield Lane

Aldenham · Herts(for sat-nav only, please use

postcode WD25 8DT)01923 851000

www.krishnatemple.comPlease send your news, photos

and comments to: Radha Mohan das

[email protected]

Young Achievers' Award

Hertsmere ConstabularyDean Patient, the Chief Inspector of Hertsmere Constabulary, and other local Officers spent the day at Bhaktivedanta Manor for some internal seminars. “On behalf on my team, thank you so much for your generous hospitality. I

do not underestimate the value of just getting away from the office for a few hours into such a peaceful environment. It was important for key people to get to you and the site as part of my wider ambition to be more involved in all the communities we serve,” said the Chief Inspector.

HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA, KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE,

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA, RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

Jahnavi Harrison was presented with a Young Achievers' Award by Hertsmere MP James Clappison at the House of Lords in June. The ceremony brought together many young people who had distinguished themselves by giving up time to bring hope to others in the form of altruism or uplifting messages.

Jahnavi spoke on how she had travelled the world bringing the therapy of sacred sound in the form of kirtan.Left to right: Lord Tarsem King, James Clappison MP, Jahnavi Harrison, Councillor Margaret Ali, director of Universal Peace Federation, UK.

Patrons' GatheringThis year’s Patrons' Gathering was opened in style with the ceremonial cutting of a ribbon and ceremony conducted by Atmanivedan Swami, Sri Radha Raman das and Arjuna Pandey.

a network of friends - bhaktivedanta manor – hare … das and kisori devi dasi. these programmes...

Documents