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iskcon pune todayNewsletter Vol 12 / Issue: 3 (Monthly) / March 2015 / Price: ` 1/-

On 22nd February, over 2,500 devotees gathered to celebrate Adivas of the second anniversary of Sri Sri Radha Vrindavanchandra's appearance in the ISKCON New Vedic Cultural Centre. Adivas marks the eve of the second anniversary celebrations. In the evening, twenty seven bhoga items were offered to Sri Sri Radha Vrindavanchandra and Lord Balaji including gold, silver, copper, durva grass, chandan, conch, ghee and curd, in an elaborate ceremony.

A team of devotees stayed up the whole night for decorating the Altar and temple hall, in preparation for the mega festival on next day, where over 5,000 devotees were expected. Exactly two years ago, on 23rd February 2013, the honorable President of India Shri Pranab Mukharjee had inaugurated the NVCC complex in the presence of thousands of devotees. After the devotionally surcharged morning program, a Yajna was conducted for invoking auspiciousness under the guidance of HG Rupa Goswami Das, who leads pujari services in the temple. Lord Balaji, Sridevi and Bhudevi also arrived and presided over the yajna ceremony along with Sri Sri Radha Vrindavanchandra, Sri Sri Gaur-Nitai and Sri Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra.

The kirtan team arranged for a 12-hour soul-stirring bhajan-kirtan session. During the cultural programme organized by HG Balagovinda Das, congregation children performed dance, drama and sang devotional songs, winning applause from the audience. His Holiness Lokanath Swami Maharaj graced the event and enthused the assembled devotees with melodious, heart-melting kirtans. Finally, the most-awaited procession of all presiding deities commenced. The procession appeared spectacular as the Lords were majestically floating in the air, carried on palanquins, while taking a tour of Their residence, the NVCC temple. The procession reached the garden area, where the Deities were offered fresh sugarcane juice. A team of teenagers, guided by HG Dayasindhu Das, performed breathtaking feats playing Manipuri-style mridangam. Thereafter, Their Lordships were offered abhishek snana that included fruit juices, sugar water, milk, honey, curd and ghee. During the abhishek, HG Radheshyam Das led ecstatic kirtan and another team of devotees sang the Brahma-samhita

prayers. The grand celebration and temple ambience filled the audience with devotional energy. Addressing the devotees, HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj said, "We should consider the Lord as 'ours' personally, though the Lord is master of the whole universe and resides in everyone's heart. We should have a personal relationship with the Supreme Lord. We should feel we are owned by the Lord. This is intimacy."

Later, HG Radheshyam Das and HG Murari Das listed temple activities and achievements to the Deities and devotees. The Maha-Arti had thousands of devotees dancing in the temple hall. The program concluded with a drama titled "Legacy of Love" on the loving pastime of Lord Gopinath who stole sweet rice for His devotee Madhavendra Puri, earning the name "Khir-Chor Gopinath."

--- Sri Chaitanya Chandra Das

Happy 2ndAppearance Day!

Happy 2ndAppearance Day!

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ISKCON Pune Today | March 2015

My First Duty isto Serve Spiritual MasterOn 6th February, ISKCON Pune devotees were blessed to receive the association of His Holiness Indradyumna Swami Maharaj, who is a senior disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of our society. Maharaj has been serving in the Hare Krishna movement for over 45 years and travels all over the world spreading Krishna consciousness.

Speaking to devotees during the Srimad Bhagavatam class, Maharaj elaborated on the verse spoken by Bhakta Prahlad to Lord Narsimhadev:

evaà janaà nipatitaà prabhavähi-küpekämäbhikämam anu yaù prapatan

prasaìgät |kåtvätmasät surarñiëä bhagavan gåhétaù

so 'haà kathaà nu visåje tavabhåtya-seväm ||

"My dear Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, because of my association with material desires, one after another, I was gradually falling into a blind well full of snakes, following the general populace. But Your servant Närada Muni kindly accepted me as his disciple and instructed me how to achieve this transcendental position. �erefore, my first duty is to serve him. How could I leave his service?" [SB 7.9.28]. Maharaj explained that this verse establishes the relation between Guru and disciple. He stressed that the mood of the

disciple is to remember his fallen condition and remain indebted to the spiritual master, who mercifully has lifted us up. Although the Supreme Lord Narsimhadev Himself is present before His devotee Prahlad and is ready to offer any benediction, Prahlad considers serving his spiritual master as his first duty.

Quoting from the Bhagavad Gita [4.34], Maharaj explained how the disciple must approach the Guru - in a mood of submissiveness. After approaching the Guru, the disciple must inquire about spiritual life and render service. �e Guru plants the seed of devotion (bhakti-lata-bij) in the heart of such a surrendered disciple.

Commenting on the philosophy of a famous Western thinker, Maharaj said that the thinker correctly identified the real problems of life namely, birth, old age, disease and death. �e Bhagavad Gita also identifies these grim realities of life, but unlike the Gita wisdom, this thinker could not provide an alternative to these problems. Maharaj stressed how the Krishna consciousness philosophy is perfect - it identifies the real problems of life and gives the solution - Krishna consciousness. Remembering Srila Prabhupada, Maharaj said, "We are so fortunate that by the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, we have received so much that we can get out of these painful situations of life. �ere will be difficulty when we execute devotional service but rest assured, the end

result will be good!"

On the same day, Maharaj also kindly offered Harinaam Diksha and Brahman Diksha to aspiring devotees. A fire sacrifice (yajna) was performed where the newly initiated devotees pronounced initiation vows of chanting atleast 16 rounds of Hare Krishna mahamantra everyday and following the 4 regulative principles. �e devotees were blissful to accept spiritual names and beads from their spiritual father. Maharaj welcomed the newly initiated devotees to Srila Prabhupada's family and requested all devotees present to bless these devotees on the spiritual path.

--- Ananta Shesh Das

ISKCON Pune Today | March 2015

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A Dream Love StoryHis Holiness Indradyumna Swami Maharaj is famous all over the world for hosting the Festival of India. �is touring festival is held across major cities in the world showcasing the glorious Vedic culture and heritage of India. �e festival includes puppet shows, dance, drama, discourse on Bhagavad Gita, music, kirtan, Ayurve-dic medicine, yoga, martial arts and many other themes that draw thousands of Westerners everyday to the festival. Maharaj invited one team from the festival to Pune to present a drama titled "Usha and Aniruddha - A Dream Love Story". A team of 30 actors from 11 countries including Russia, Poland and Austral-ia, combined with the Sankhya Dance Group from Mumbai, put up a spectacular show lasting 90 minutes. �e Usha-Aniruddha story is depicted in Srimad Bhagavatam. �e

team has had over 15 spectacular shows in Poland with many more lined up at leading theatres in Europe. Usha, the daughter of Banas-ur, falls in love with Aniruddha, the grandson of Lord Krishna. Banasur captures Aniruddha and challenges Sri Krishna to a fight. When Banasur is defeated by Krishna, he seeks the shelter of Lord Shiva, who as per a previous boon to Banasur, appears on the battle-field to fight Lord Krishna. After a great fight between Lord Shiva and Lord Krishna, Banasur surrenders to Lord Krishna and gives consent for the marriage of Usha and Aniruddha. �e audience of over a 1,000 was transfixed seeing the performance, celebrating Indian devotional culture, at the Annabhau Sathe Audi-torium. After a standing ovation, Maharaj promised to organize more such festivals in Pune!

"We all have faced or will face difficulties in our life. Scriptures explain that the attempt to enjoy in this world makes one more miserable, disappointed and frustrated. So what is the solution?" �is was a pointed question by His Grace Krishna Smaran Das, who was speaking to devotees during the Srimad Bhagavatam class. Krishna Smaran Das is a senior devotee in the ISKCON society for over 30 years and was previously scientist and professor at the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. "�e devotee is neither frustrated nor enamoured by Krishna's difficult-to-overcome material energy. �e devotee knows the relationship of material energy with Krishna and utilizes the opportunity to pray with more intensity. Just like Mother Kunti turned to, prayed and thanked Krishna in all difficulties. We can certainly pray to the Lord out of fear of difficulties. But it is better to pray that we do not lose Krishna consciousness when difficulties overwhelm

increase our faith and show us our real position, where we stand," continued Krishna Smaran Das. He narrated the story of Srila Narottam Das �akur, who on the order of his spiritual master Srila Lokanath Goswami, took great risks to obtain a deity of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu from a king's godown that was infested with snakes. Narottam Das �akur's strength came from his humility and taking shelter of his spiritual master. Similarly, a devotee may sometimes take risk in the mission of Srila Prabhupada, but he will be protected by Guru and Krishna.

Krishna Smaran Das concluded the discourse saying we should always pray to Krishna to keep us on the right path and be absorbed in the service and association of sincere devotees.

--- Shankar Pandit Das and Tulsi Das

us," continued Krishna Smaran Das.During the discourse, he highlighted the positive attitude of devotees in all circumstances of life. He explained how if Krishna "magically" removed difficulties from our life, we could become complacent in spiritual life and would begin hankering for sense gratification, which would take us away from Krishna. Worse, we could take the Deities and association of devotees for granted, and make offences knowingly or unknowingly.

He explained that the real solution is to take shelter of Krishna and depend on Krishna. Sri Krishna as the Supreme Person is actually madhuram, sweet, and has nothing to offer to us other than sweetness. Difficulties in our life is also His gift. When we are hungry, food tastes sweeter; similarly when in difficulty, it is sweeter to take shelter of Krishna.

"Difficulties will always continue in some or the other form. �ey help us look inward,

Seeing Difficulties Positively

iskcon pune todayRNI Res.No.72522/2000PCE/043/2015-17 Published on 2nd March 2015

From:Editor,

ISKCON PUNE TODAY4, TARAPORE ROAD, CAMP, PUNE - 411001 (MS)Phone: 020-41033222, 41033234

Registered NewspaperISKCON PUNE TODAYPosted at GPO, PuneOn 5th, 6th & 7th of every monthTo,

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4, Tarapore Rd, Next to Dastur Boys School, Camp, Pune | Phone: 020-41033210 / 22 Mobile: 9225545984 | Email: nvcc@iskconpune.in | www.iskconpune.in

International Society for Krishna ConsciousnessFounder Acharya : His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

“ISKCON PUNE TODAY” monthly magazine is printed and published by Radheshyam Das for the owner ISKCON-Pune Br. Printed at Yashraj Printers, 5 - Gulmohar Manor, Nagar Road, Pune 6 & Published at 4, Tarapore Road, Camp, Pune 411001. Editor - Mr. Kiran Shinde

New Temple Address: ISKCON NVCC, S. No. 50, Katraj Kondhwa bypass, Pune - 411048, M: 9225545984