Sri Sri Radha RasabiharijiTEMPLEMONTHLY

Founder - acharya of the international society for krishna consciousness

February, 2012 newsletter of iskcon - juhu,Mumbai Vol. 2 Issue 2

Dedicated to his divine grace a.c. bhaktivedanta swami srila prabhupada

“The powerful Hari-nama is so strong that even if one

unconsciously or consciously they imitate : “Hare

Krishna.” They have no intention to chant the holy name of Krishna, but they imitate or criticize, “Hare Krishna.” That also has

effect.

Srila Prabhupada(Calcutta, 10 Jan 1971)

From the publisher’s desk:We had a festive month starting with the magnificent Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath that enthralled thousands of Mumbaikars. People participated enthusiastically and made it a huge success. We also celebrated the most beautiful anniversary of the Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari temple where hundreds gathered to witness and participate in the Maha-abhishek of all the Deities, followed by an interesting evening program of recollections and walking down the memory lane of Hare Krishna Land. The temple also successfully distributed 1,10,000 plates of prasada meals on the occasion of Makara Sankranti across the city. We also has the good fortune to once again play host to a number of sannyasis who, during their stay, participated in the temple programs much to the delight of the devotees and congregation. The highlight of their stay were the lectures they delivered. We hope you will take the opportunity to hear the lectures online on our website (www.iskconmumbai.com and click on ‘Audio Lectures’) and experience great bliss. Hare Krishna.

•Nityananda Tryodasi - 05 Feb - Fating till noon. Shobha Yatra from temple at 06:30 a.m.; Lecture at 08:00 a.m.; Abhishek ceremony at 11:30 a.m. followed by Prasada for all at 01:00 p.m.

•Appearance day celebrations of Srila Bhaktisiddhantha Saraswati Thakur - 12 Feb - Fating till noon. Pushpanjali at 11:30 a.m. followed by PrasadaFeb 2012

Upcoming Events

Sanskrit Word of the Month:Mahatma : - a great soul, one who factually understands that Krishna is everything and who therefore surrenders unto Him.

Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari temple turns 34 : Anniversary celebrations held on Makara Sankranti dayISKCON Juhu, an iconic landmark of the city celebrated its 34th anniversary on 15 January. It was marked by a day-long celebration at the Hare Krishna Land, more popularly known as the Hare Krishna temple.The Deities looked majestic in Their new outfits and were a sight to behold. At 04:00 p.m. the pujaris went up in the fire lift to replace the old dhwaja (flag) with a new one. The dhwajarohan (flag hoisting) ceremony went off successfully with the dhwajs fluttering proudly proclaiming the presence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead to the world.

Later, hundreds of devotees, congregation and guests got together to celebrate and witness the special maha-abhishek ceremony for all the Deities, which happens once in a year!There was kirtan and special program at the terrace where senior disciples, friends and associates of Srila Prabhupada recollected the early days of ISKCON Juhu and the construction of this magnificent Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari temple. They talked about how their love and faith in Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna helped them to tide and triumph over the years of struggle and hardships to make Srila Prabhupada’s dream come true and a promise fulfilled. It maybe recalled that in early 1970s Srila Prabhupada had requested Sri Sri Radha Rasabihariji to preside on the newly purchased land and promised that he would build a magnificent marble temple for Them. The chill in the air was beaten by the warm memories of those associated with the temple from its inceptionstage. The evening ended with deliciously hot dinner prasada for all those present.

Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari, Lalita - Vishakha & Giri Govardhan

Gopal Krishna Goswami recollecting the early days of

ISKCON Juhu

Sri Sri Sita Rama Laxman & Hanuman

Sri Sri Gaura Nitai

I t w a s a u n i q u e R e p u b l i c d a y c e l e b r a t i o n a t ISKCON Juhu. In a s p e c i a l p ro g r a m , Radhanath Swami inspired hundreds

with his talk titled “Your Eternal Constitution”, which dealt with the real purpose of human life, unity in diversity and the nature of the spirit soul to serve the Supreme Lord.

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12Vaisnava Calendar: February, 2012

01 Wednesday• Sripad Madhvacarya disappearance

02 Thursday• Sripad Ramanujacarya

disappearance

03 Friday• Fasting for Bhaimi Ekadasi and for

Varahadeva appearance

04 Saturday• Break fast - after 11:07 am

05 Sunday• Sri Nityananda Prabhu appearance -

fasting till noon

07 Tuesday• Sri Krishna Madhura Utsava• Srila Narottama das Thakur

appearance

12 Sunday• Disappearance of Srila

Purusottamadas Thakur and Srila Gour Govinda Swami

• Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur appearance - fasting till noon

14 Tuesday• Kumbha Sankranti (Sun enters

Aquarius)

18 Saturday• Fasting for Vijaya Ekadasi• Srila Isvara Puri disappearance

19 Sunday• Break fast - 07:05 am - 10:56 am

20 Monday• Sri Siva Ratri

22 Wednesday• Disappearance of Srila Jagannatha

Das Babaji and Srila Rasikananda Prabhu

From the office of ISKCON Communications (Sri Sri Radha Rasabihariji Temple ) For feedback write to us at: SSRRmonthly@gmail.com

ISKCON Juhu,Hare Krishna Land,

Juhu, Mumbai- 400049For more news & live darshan log on

to:www.iskconmumbai.com

ISKCON Juhu celebrated a very special Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath on 8 January amid much fanfare. Devotees realized their long cherished dream when they received their own set of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladev and Devi Subhadra Deities and saw Them ride on Their maiden Rath yatra. Earlier the temple would receive the Deities from ISKCON Mira Road for this annual festival.

Rath yatra is the only day in the year when the most merciful Lord comes out of the temple to give Darshan to all. The festival also gives people, who cannot come to the temple, a chance to render personal service

to the Lord and reap immense benefit. The three day festival was marked with special discourses on Lord Jagannath’s p a s t i m e s , k i r t a n , s p e c i a l  c h a p p a n bhoga  offerings by congregation and temple devotees and sumptuous prasada for all. The Rath Yatra parade had rangoli artists drawing beautiful designs and a rock band chanting the Holy names, heralding the arrival of Their Lordships. The enthralled

bystanders joined the Rath Yatra en-route to the Lokhandwala garden where a beautiful pandal was erected to receive Their Lordships. Thousands took the opportunity to pull the Rath and received blessings and peanut prasada packets en route thereby experiencing tremendous bliss.The chariots of Lord Baladev, Devi Subhadra and Lord Jagannath passed the streets of the city showering Their mercy and gave people a chance to participate in the festival that re-enacts the pastime of the Lord, where the gopis feeling separation from Krishna wanted to take Him back to Vrindavan from Kurukshetra by pulling His chariot.

The Rath Yatra festival culminated with fervent kirtan and lectures by the senior vaishnavas and sannyasis narrating the pastimes of Lord Jagannath and the significance of the Rath Yatra festival.On 27 January, the Bhaktivedanta Swami Mission School also celebrated their annual Jagannath Rath Yatra with much enthusiasm. The students, staff and teachers dressed in their best traditional finery pulled the chariot around the temple premise, chanting and dancing to the Hare Krishna Maha-mantra. Teachers and students strived to please Their Lordships by arranging a traditional chappan bhoga offering. The festivities ended on a high note with delicious prasada for all.

Rath Yatra enchants one and all

Address:

Srimad Bhagvatam Lecture LIVE on

www.iskconmumbai.com 8am - 9am Daily

News at a Glance:PM of Trinidad & Tobago comes for Darshan

Devotees at I S K C O N Juhu were in f o r a p l e a s a n t surprise on 13 January.

The Prime Minister of  Trinidad and Tobago  Smt. Kamla Persad-Bissessar along with her Cabinet Ministers visited the temple for darshan of Their Lordships. Mr. Brian Lara, the famous cricketer, was also a part of her delegation. The guests were welcomed and greeted by Gopal Krishna Goswami who briefly explained the philosophy of Krishna Consciousness to them. He also mentioned to the Prime Minister about the outstanding achievements of Srila Prabhupada in propagating Vedic culture and the history of Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari Temple. He presented her with a copy of Bhagavad Gita As It Is and ‘Krishna’ book in front of Their Lordships and gave her his blessings. The honorable Prime Minister was visibly captivated by the grandeur of the temple and commented “I am very pleased to see Their Lordships and the beauty of this temple”. She invited Gopal Krishna Goswami to visit Trinidad and Tobago.

Scriptures state that the distribution of prasada is the highest form of charity among all kinds of charities. Thus, on the occasion of Makara Sankranti, which fell on 14 January, ISKCON Juhu coordinated and distributed over one lakh plates of piping hot prasada meals to institutions, underprivileged and citizens of Mumbai. More than two hundred devotees and staff worked tirelessly to prepare and deliver freshly cooked   prasada of dal, sabji, pickle and halava which was much relished by all. People even took away loads of it to share with their families and friends!

Makara Sankranti celebrated with Anna Dana:

Chant: HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

&Be Happy!

Prasada distributed feeds the body & nourishes the soul

Lord Jagannath blesses Mumbai!

Republic Day Special Talking about the Real Constitution

Jagannath Deities welcomed at Talasari Farm

In 2011, ISKCON Juhu received a farm land in Talasari (Thane district). On 14 January, devotees and well-wishers got together at the farm to welcome the Deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Baladev and Devi Subhadra. A fire sacrifice was performed to sanctify the area followed by a short tour of the farm. Sannyasis and senior devotees including Gopal Krishna Goswami, Nava Yogendra Swami, Bhima Dasa, Devakinandan Dasa, Braja Hari Dasa

and many others blessed the farm with their presence. The 25 acre farm is managed by a team of devotees who care for the cows and grow flowers and vegetables there. The three hour drive distance to and fro from the farm did not dampen the spirits of all those who attended the function and came back feeling refreshed and satisfied with the organic prasada.  

A senior devotee at ISKCON Juhu, Prabhudas Dasa left this mortal world on the early morning of 20 January. He had selflessly served at various departments in the temple for the last 2 8 y e a r s i n s p i r i n g f e l l o w d e v o t e e s and visitors w i t h h i s dedicat ion, discipline in s a d h a n a , car ing and service attitude. He will be missed by all. We pray that he may have found shelter at the lotus feet of the Lord.

In Remembrance:

For more pictures of the festivals log onto www.iskconjuhu.com