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1 Sri Sri Radha Rasabihariji TEMPLE MONTHLY Founder - acharya of the international society for krishna consciousness november, 2011 newsletter of iskcon - juhu,Mumbai Vol. 1 Issue 6 Dedicated to his divine grace a.c. bhaktivedanta swami srila prabhupada “Krishna says that His dearest devotee is one who does not put others into difficulty, in fact, who puts no one other into difficulty.” Srila Prabhupada (Excerpt from a letter to Madhukara, 4 Jan 1973) Festivals Celebrated: Govardhana Puja is celebrated the day after Diwali to bring to mind Krishna’s pastime of lifting the Govardhana hill. It is the day Lord Krishna defeated Indra, the deity of thunder and rain. As per the story, Krishna saw huge preparations for the annual offering to Indra and questioned his father about it. He told his father that all human beings should merely do their 'karma' (action), to the best of their ability and not pray or conduct sacrifices for natural phenomenon. The villagers thus convinced did not proceed with the special puja (prayer) and offering to Indra, and instead offered choicest foodstuffs and prayers to the Govardhana hill that supplied them with succulent grass for the cows, cooling waters, caves for cowherd boys to play in and appealing fruits and flowers. This angered Indra, who flooded the entire village with fierce rain and thunderstorm. Krishna subsequently lifted Govardhana hill on his left little finger for seven days as protection for the residents and cattle of Vrindavan. Indra finally realized his mistake of being overtly proud and recognized Krishna as the Supreme and accepted defeat. Govardhana hill attained special status on being lifted by Lord Krishna. Also, at the time of Annakuta ceremony (offering foodstuffs to the Deity), Krishna declared that He was non-different from Govardhana hill. The Vedic scriptures also acknowledge Govardhana hill as the most sacred mountain in all the three worlds and inform us that Govardhana hill is to be understood in two different ways; first as the greatest devotee of Lord Krishna and second as being non-different from Krishna Himself. Govardhana is also translated as 'that which increases the senses' in their attraction to Krishna. Thus, it is believed that the personality of Govardhana blesses the devotee by increasing his devotion. Devotees at the temple remembered and recreated the lifting of Govardhana hill pastime. They conducted the Govardhana puja following in the footsteps of the residents of Vrindavan who had performed this under the guidance of Lord Krishna five thousand years ago. The festivities started with go puja in the morning. The devotees directed their prayers to mother cow by offering her ghee lamp, flower garlands, fruits and grains. Thereafter the assembled devotees, congregation and guests performed the parikrama of the temple with mother cow and her calf while performing kirtan. The program then shifted to the inner courtyard where mounts of food offerings were placed on the platform to symbolize the Govardhana hill. There were more than 500 bhoga offerings including halava, different flavored rice, pulav, sweets, savories, fruits, etc. prepared by the devotees and congregation who toiled for long hours to lovingly make all the preparations. Amid this offering, stood the Deity of Lord Krishna holding the Govardhana hill atop His little finger. The temple looked resplendent with brightly colored flowers and the strains of kirtan beautified the whole atmosphere. The bathing ceremony of the Govardhana Shila was performed using various sacred substances amid the chants of the Brahma Samhita followed by arati. Assembled devotees, congregation and guests then performed the Govardhana parikrama (circumambulated the Govardhana hill) and enjoyed the delicious prasada. Govardhana puja: From the publisher’s desk: The Kartik month marked the presence of several sannyasis and senior devotees who arrived in Mumbai to attend the GBC meetings and this gave a very auspicious start to Kartik masa (month). The morning program at the temple was especially blissful as devotee, congregation and visitors felt inspired and delighted in the spiritually surcharged atmosphere. Everyone felt blessed to have had the opportunity to hear Krishna katha from the exalted Vaisnavas present during the last month. We also had huge attendance for the Damodara Utsav daily and it was most divine to offer ghee lamp to Lord Damodara, which not only lit up the temple hall but also hearts of the devotees! We hope Lord Damodara will bestow His mercy and ignite in all the desire of, how to become dear to Him. December is another month of great importance for the devotees of Lord Krishna. It is in this month that Lord Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-Gita and that day is celebrated as Gita Jayanti. During this month, ISKCON devotees across the world organize book distribution (marathon) for the pleasure of the Lord, where they all have a competition of distributing the maximum number of Bhagavad-Gitas. All of you can also participate in it. So let us all come together and perform this great service to spread the name and glories of the Lord. Hare Krishna. • Gaura Kisora Das Babaji disappearance - 06 Nov- Fasting till noon; Pushpanjali at 12:20 am followed by Arati and prasada • 3 Session Bhagavad Gita Course - 19 to 21 Nov- 07:00 to 09:00 pm; For details & Registration contact 7738093115 (Kuldeep) & 26155614 (office) NOV 2011 Upcoming Events

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Page 1: Sri Sri Radha Rasabihariji TEMPLEMONTHLY...There were more than 500 bhoga offerings including halava, different flavored rice, pulav, sweets, savories, fruits, etc. prepared by the

1

Sri Sri Radha RasabiharijiTEMPLEMONTHLY

Founder - acharya of the international society for krishna consciousness

november, 2011 newsletter of iskcon - juhu,Mumbai Vol. 1 Issue 6

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

“Krishna says that His dearest devotee is one who does not put others into

difficulty, in fact, who puts no one other into difficulty.”

Srila Prabhupada(Excerpt from a letter to Madhukara, 4 Jan 1973)

Festivals Celebrated:Govardhana Puja is celebrated the day after Diwali to bring to mind Krishna’s pastime of lifting the Govardhana hill. It is the day Lord Krishna defeated Indra, the deity of thunder and rain. As per the story, Krishna saw huge preparations for the annual offering to Indra and questioned his father about it. He told his father that all human beings should merely do their 'karma' (action), to the best of their ability and not pray or conduct sacrifices for natural phenomenon. The villagers thus convinced did not proceed with the special puja (prayer) and offering to Indra, and instead offered choicest foodstuffs and prayers to the Govardhana hill that supplied them with succulent

grass for the cows, cooling waters, caves for cowherd boys to play in and appealing fruits and flowers. This angered Indra, who flooded the entire village with fierce rain and thunderstorm. Krishna subsequently lifted Govardhana hill on his left little finger for seven days as protection for the residents and cattle of Vrindavan. Indra finally realized his mistake of being overtly proud and recognized Krishna as the Supreme and accepted defeat. Govardhana hill attained special status on being lifted by Lord Krishna. Also, at the time of Annakuta ceremony (offering foodstuffs to the Deity), Krishna declared that He was non-different from Govardhana hill. The Vedic scriptures also acknowledge Govardhana hill as the most sacred mountain in all the three worlds and inform us that Govardhana hill is to be understood in two different ways; first as the greatest devotee of Lord Krishna and second as being non-different from Krishna Himself. Govardhana is also translated as 'that which increases the senses' in their attraction to Krishna. Thus, it is believed that the personality of Govardhana blesses the devotee by increasing his devotion.

Devotees at the temple remembered and recreated the lifting of Govardhana hill pastime. They conducted the Govardhana puja following in the footsteps of the residents of Vrindavan who had performed this under the guidance of Lord Krishna five thousand years ago. The festivities started with go puja in the morning. The devotees directed their prayers to mother cow by offering her ghee lamp, flower garlands, fruits and grains.

Thereafter the assembled devotees, congregation and guests performed the parikrama of the temple with mother cow and her calf while performing kirtan. The program then shifted to the inner courtyard where mounts

of food offerings were placed on the platform to symbolize the Govardhana hill. There were more than 500 bhoga offerings including halava, different flavored rice, pulav, sweets, savories, fruits, etc. prepared by the devotees and congregation who toiled for long hours to lovingly make all the preparations. Amid this offering, stood the Deity of Lord Krishna holding the Govardhana hill atop His little finger. The temple looked resplendent with brightly colored flowers and the strains of kirtan beautified the whole atmosphere. The bathing ceremony of the Govardhana Shila was performed using various sacred substances amid the chants of the Brahma Samhita followed by arati. Assembled devotees, congregation and guests then performed the Govardhana parikrama (circumambulated the Govardhana hill) and enjoyed the delicious prasada.

Govardhana puja:

From the publisher’s desk:The Kartik month marked the presence of several sannyasis and senior devotees who arrived in Mumbai to attend the GBC meetings and this gave a very auspicious start to Kartik masa (month). The morning program at the temple was especially blissful as devotee, congregation and visitors felt inspired and delighted in the spiritually surcharged atmosphere. Everyone felt blessed to have had the opportunity to hear Krishna katha from the exalted Vaisnavas present during the last month. We also had huge attendance for the Damodara Utsav daily and it was most divine to offer ghee lamp to Lord Damodara, which not only lit up the temple hall but also hearts of the devotees! We hope Lord Damodara will bestow His mercy and ignite in all the desire of, how to become dear to Him. December is another month of great importance for the devotees of Lord Krishna. It is in this month that Lord Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-Gita and that day is celebrated as Gita Jayanti. During this month, ISKCON devotees across the world organize book distribution (marathon) for the pleasure of the Lord, where they all have a competition of distributing the maximum number of Bhagavad-Gitas. All of you can also participate in it. So let us all come together and perform this great service to spread the name and glories of the Lord. Hare Krishna.

•Gaura Kisora Das Babaji disappearance - 06 Nov- Fasting till noon; Pushpanjali at 12:20 am followed by Arati and prasada

•3 Session Bhagavad Gita Course - 19 to 21 Nov- 07:00 to 09:00 pm; For details & Registration contact 7738093115 (Kuldeep) & 26155614 (office)NOV 2011

Upcoming Events

Page 2: Sri Sri Radha Rasabihariji TEMPLEMONTHLY...There were more than 500 bhoga offerings including halava, different flavored rice, pulav, sweets, savories, fruits, etc. prepared by the

2

TEMPL

EMON

THLY

Nov

embe

r, 20

11Vaisnava Calendar: November, 2011

03 Thursday• Gopastami, Gosthastami• Srila Gadadhara Das Goswami

disappearance• Srila Dhananjaya Pandit

disappearance• Srila Srinivasa Acarya disappearance

04 Friday• Jagaddhatri Puja

06 Sunday• Fasting for Utthana Ekadasi• Srila Gaura Kishora Das Babaji

disappearance- fasting till noon• Beginning of Bhisma Pancaka

07 Monday• Breakfast 06:41 am - 10:28 am

09 Wednesday• Srila Bhugarbha Goswami

disappearance• Srila Kasisvara Pandit disappearance

10 Thursday• Sri Krishna Rasayatra• Marriage of Tulasi and Salagram• Sripad Nimbarkacarya appearance• End of Bhisma Pancaka• End of Caturmasya

11 Friday• Katyayani Vrata begins

17 Thursday• Vrischika Sankranti (Sun enters

Scorpio)

21 Monday• Fasting for Utpanna Ekadasi• Srila Narahari Sarkar disappearance

22 Tuesday• Breakfast 06:49 am - 10:32 am• Srila Kaliya Krishnadas disappearance

23 Wednesday• Srila Saranga Thakura disappearance

30 Wednesday• Sri Odana Sasthi

From the office of ISKCON Communications (Sri Sri Radha Rasabihariji Temple ) For feedback write to us at: [email protected]

Other Events:

ISKCON Juhu,Hare Krishna Land, Juhu, Mumbai- 400049

For more news & live darshan log on to:www.iskconmumbai.com

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, founder-acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness passed away in the year 1977 in Vrindavan. He was a pure devotee of Lord Krishna who spent all his time in the loving service of the Lord. On the instructions of his spiritual master Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, he travelled west to spread the glories of Lord Krishna to the English speaking world. Thus, introducing Krishna Consciousness to the western world and bringing millions to the fold of bhakti. He established one of the biggest movements to propagate the love of Godhead. Srila Prabhupada was a prolific writer of the Vaisnava philosophy. He

translated the Bhagavad Gita As It Is, which is most widely circulated worldwide and has made huge impact on the society by turning people into believers. Although Srila Prabhupada is no longer with us physically, on a spiritual platform he is very much present; in his deity form, his books and his instructions. His mercy is there for all those who seek it. Departure of a pure Vaisnava is a celebration as he returns to his eternal service at Krishna’s lotus feet in the spiritual world (Goloka Vrindavana).The disappearance day celebrations at the temple started in the morning with Vaisnava bhajans. Disciples of Srila Prabhupada, senior devotees and guests spoke about their realizations in serving Srila Prabhupada and glorified his contribution to humanity. This was followed by Bhoga arati and Pushpanjali. Fasting for the festival ended at noon with prasada for all. It was a much subdued and meditative evening program where everyone gathered at Srila Prabhupada Quarters to offer arati to him at 7:20 pm, commemorating the time he departed. This was followed by kirtan and the program ended with remembrance of Srila Prabhupada and his activities during his final days in Vrindavan by the assembled devotees, his old time associates and well wishers.

Srila Prabhupada disappearance day

Sannyasis & Senior Devotees at GBC Strategic

Address:

Chant: HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE &

Be Happy!

Gaura-Nitai shobha yatra, Juhu beach

Gaura-Nitai Boat festival Beloved Lord Damodara

Chanting Lord’s Names on Juhu Beach

Flower bedecked temple courtyard for boat festival

Members of GBC offering ghee lamp to Damodara

Devotees offering ghee lamps to Lord Damodara

Wonderful kirtan by Bhakti Marg Swami

The Strategic Planning Meeting in progress

Guru Puja with Sannyasis & senior devotees

GBC members at Morning program

A working lunch break

News at a Glance: