S S K B K

Narada Bulletin

April 2017

*Hebri/Udupi* Karnataka* India*

H I G H L I G H T S

Festivals

Nagar Sankirtan

Service to Mother Cow

Harvesting Fruits

Visitors

Upcoming Activities

Varnasrama Reading

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N E W S I N D E T A I L

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FESTIVALS

Gaurabda 531, the appearance day of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is one of the main festivals for the followers of Gaudiya Vaisnava. Devotees decorated Sri Sri Krishna Balaram temple with mango leaves, banana leaves and flowers. On this day it is a custom to fast till moon raise. We performed pancagavya abhiseka (bathing the lord with five products derived from cow) ceremony to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. During abhiseka, Brahma Samhita prayers were chanted and devotees performed Hare Krishna Maha mantra kirtan. Raghu Misra Prabhu along with his children and other local devotees enthusiastically participated in the ceremony. Abhishek was followed by a talk on glories of Gaura Purnima festival and holy name. Devotees happily feasted on sumptuous Krishna prasadam after the program.

NAGAR SANKIRTAN IN HEBRI TOWN

Lord Sri Chaitanya had predicted - " påthivéte äche yata nagarädi gräma sarvatra pracära haibe mora näma" (Caitanya-bhägavata, Antya 4.126) - “In every town and village, the chanting of my name will be heard.” This prediction is being fulfilled by the grace of Srila Prabhupada. Devotees enthusiastically participated in Nagar Sankirtan in Hebri town along with book distribution. People welcomed and even joined the Hare Krishna Kirtan as the Hebri town was already decorated for the Reinstallation of Sri Ananta Padmanabha Temple and its annual Ratha Yatra Festival which was held on 2nd April, 2017.

The glories of mother cow and service to her are unlimited. Wherever cows are happy that place becomes filled with happiness. Cows have mystic power to purify the whole atmosphere and make it auspicious. She brings us to sattva guna and is the most dearest to Lord Krishna. Lord Krishna is always with Cows. Gomata is worshiped even by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Sri Krishna. Both Lord Krishna and Balaram used to take the cows for grazing. We can practically see in SSKBK that around 6 am, the peacocks and cows make sounds “Kiyaav Kiyaav”, “Ambhaa Ambhaa” reminding us of Goloka Vrindavan – the transcendental abode of Lord Krishna. In SSKBK, few devotees go for morning japa-walk and they often chant the holy-names at the goshala near the Cows and Peacocks.

This “Malanadi-gidde” cows are the sources for wonderful pancagavya products –like milk, curd, ghee, cow urine and cow dung. Cow dung is used in agriculture and also as a cooking fuel. For cooking, dry cow-dung cakes or “gobar gas” is the best. Second best is fire wood, third LPG Cylinder and fourth is electricity. At SSKBK we use either cow-dung cakes or gobar gas and sometimes fire wood. This reminds us of the humble service mood of the Vrajavasis, the mood of simple living and high thinking, the mood of madhurya bhava instead of aishwarya bhav and dependence on land, cows and Lord Sri Krishna. We made a special simple shelter for new born calves and diseased calves. We have started keeping the cows in the fields by arranging for grass and water. SSKBK gives us opportunity to be closer to Sri Sri Krishna Balaram by serving cows and the deity in different ways. Co-incidentally, Gomata Gaurangi delivered a male calf on the Gaura Purnima day (12/03/2017), at 5.45 pm during the moon rise. Gomata Tilaki also delivered a male calf on Friday(17/03/2017) at 10.35 am. By the grace of Sri Sri Krishna Balaram, both the cows and calves are healthy and happy. Jay Gomata Jay Gopal !

Sahyadri area is famous for its natural environment where we can be satisfied by simply local fruits such as mangoes, coconuts, cashew nuts, guava, soapnuts, sitaphal, Ramaphal etc.

Summer is the season of mangoes. Various types of mangoes are available in this region like Totapuri, Malabhar. Wild variety of Mangoes are also available and used for making pickles. On Ugadi day (South Indian new year) we made Ugadi pickle with mango, tamarind, neem, gur - all from SSKBK farm. Srila Prabhupada has instructed us to produce what we need and to use what we produce. Excess coconuts are used for oil. We harvested 25 coconut trees and got around 600 coconuts. We extracted coconut oil from them. Cold pressed coconut oil is one of the best oils for cooking. We use them daily in curries. Eating pure coconut oil has so much medicinal value. However refined-oil available in the market acts as a slow poison for the body and are even a cause of many diseases.

The following devotees arrived at SSKBK - HG Prabhu Nityanda Prabhu from Mayapur, HG Hridaya Chaitanya Prabhu, Bhakta Shiva Prabhu from Mangalore, HG Vrajendra

Nandan Prabhu and his wife HG Rameshwari Mataji from Bangalore, Hebri Forest Officer Bhakta Lohitji and his family members Forest Department Bhakta Sureshji and his Wife Asha mataji from Hebri. We are thankful to them for giving us opportunity to serve them and we hope they will keep coming regularly.

1. Agricultural well excavation and construction- Before the start of rainy Season we

will be finishing the boundary of agricultural well with Granite Stone. With this well we can cultivate paddy, pluses like Jawar, Ragi, get green grass for Cows. Cows will be healthy and happy with this green grass.

We need to do this in this summer before rain hits. The repair includes excavation of mud and making it deeper to atleast 25 Feet. We also need to have a stone construction around the well so that mud won’t fall back inside to well. Water in this well is very sweet and have lot of minerals and rich in nutrition, even in summer this well would provide sufficient water for cows fodder. The biggest challenge for now is to renovate this well so that cows get enough green grass entire year.

We need support from all devotees and well wishers so that cows get good green grass entire year. You are indirectly serving mother Surabhi who is dear to Lord Krishna. Please help us generously for this endeavor Estimated well repair cost -> 4.5 Lakhs

2. Need to repair Bhakti Kutir ( Guest house of Sannyasi quarters) .

3. Oxen- Bala and Krishna goshala needs reconstruction before rainy season .

4. Devotees Kitchen will be repaired as well.

SUPPORTING MEMBERSHIP

We are very grateful to all the devotees who have accepted to support both in

cash and kind, the farm especially in these initial days of its growth. We hope that all the

gifts that we have sent are received by post in proper condition. We will be very happy

to reciprocate more. We also look forward for your personal visit to the farm. We pray

at the lotus feet of their Lordships Sri Sri Krishna Balaram to shower their blessings on

you and family for your well being in Krishna Consciousness.

For devotees interested in supporting the farm in small ways on a monthly

basis, kindly contact: sriramadasa.brs@gmail.com or call 9642330011

Monthly Contribution Scheme

Suhåt Membership ... Rs. 10001 per Month

Mitra Membership .. Rs. 5001 per Month

Bandhu Membership …….. Rs. 3001 per Month

All Members will receive various products which are naturally produced by devotees in the Farm Community every month. Free accommodation and Prasadam will be provided when they visit the Farm.

VARNASRAMA READING

Srila Prabhupäda: Now, with the scarcity of grain, the earth also does not

become muddy. It becomes dry earth. But in those days, with milk it was muddy. Just

imagine how much milk was... And how it is possible? Siñicuù sma vrajän gävaù

payasodhasvatér mudä [SB 1.10.4]. The milk bag was so fatty and full with milk. Why?

mudä, they were so happy. They were so happy. So if you keep the cows happy, then

cow will supply large quantity of milk. If the cow knows that you are going to kill it, she

is always afraid, always fearful: "Oh, this man will kill." They can understand. I have seen

in New Vrindaban. One cow, she was crying because her calf was taken away. So she

was feeling so sorry. Now in our New Vrindaban, we see how the cows are happy, how

they are dealing. They are not afraid. This is our duty, to keep the cows happy. Just like I

want to see my wife and children happy, similarly, it is the duty of the human society to

see that the cows are feeling very happy. This is human civilization. (Srimad Bhagvatam

1.10.4, November 25, 1973 London)

Prepared by: HG Sri Jiva Dasa Assistant Editors: HG Sri Rama Dasa and HG Parasurama Dasa

Please visit the following websites for more information on varnasrama developments: www.sahyadriksetra.org