Sunday, September 30, 2007

Roaming kirtan in midst of flood in Mayapur

Shastra Prabhu's enthusiastic kirtan is reaching all over the Mayapur area. The kirtan group of few devotees moves about on a boat and because Mayapur is one continues water surface now, sound of the kirtan bounces off the water and spreads far and wide around the whole area - the sound of kirtan seems all-pervading! The kirtan boat came to Goshala side yesterday, please see the video clip:



Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Flood in Mayapur, September 2007

 by Padmalochan Das



29-09-07 @ 5:45 am:

The devotees woke up for the second day in the middle of the Ganga.
The water has not risen in the last three hours and mongala aratic went on in the temple as usual, although there were less devotees present than usual.
The main problem is fresh vegies and fruits, although milk is still being delivered from our Goshala. Medical center, supply stores and Govindas have been relocated in the Chakra Bld.
There is no rain an the power is on although in some parts of the grihasta area the pumps had to be removed. There is no lack of drinking water.
A cow was born in our Goshala as the Ganga rushed all around, the calf is doing fine.
It is possible to travel from Kolkatta to Mayapur although the vehicles have to stop about two km away from were one has to take a boat - if you have a lot of luggage it will not be easy.
Devotees led by Shastra prabhu were moving around by boat having kirtan yesterday.



28-09-07 @ 5:45am:





The devotees woke up this morning in the middle of the Ganga. The rising of the Ganga has continued, but slowed down over night about 1 inch every two hours. The water in the temple room is about 4 feet and ranging from 3 to 7 feet at different places in the ISKCON compound. The power has stayed on all night and there has been no rain over night. The gates of the dam have been closed and if there is no more heavy rain then the Ganga should stop rising and start to reseed in the next 24 hours.
I was in the Goshala this morning and the cows seem to be happy and they are well above the water.




27-09-07



At 4am the Ganga started to rush into our ISKCON compound in the last hour the water has risen 3 inches and it is speeding up. At the present rate Ganga is going to enter the temple in time for darsan aratic.



Yesterday almost everything was lifted from ground level and devotees are struggling to move from those houses which are on the ground level.



Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Vamana Deva Appearance Day

by Vrindavan Lila dasi


This video shows how devotees celebrate Vamana Deva's Appearance Day in ISKCON Mayapur temple in a very original way.

This type of worship of Vamana Deva was introduced by Srila Prabhupada Himself, He had instructed Jananivasa Prabhu to select a small boy, around 4-5-6 years old to take the part of Vamana.
Then the whole worship is performed - as usual when we worship Vishnu tattva.
The boy is concidered to be Vamana Deva and worshipped as such.



This is how Srila Prabhupada wanted this ocasion to be celebrated here in Mayapur. I really don't know if this is apply to other places or not.

If you have more questions regarding this, write to our head-pujari, Pankajanghri Prabhu

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Garlands for Radha-Madhava

by Vrindavan Lila Dasi


Madhumati Mataji is in-charge of garland making for the deities. Her department has 20 permanent ladies making garlands and every day between 6 am and 7 am they producing 100 beautiful garlands made from freshly picked flowers.

Flowers are all coming from Mayapur fields and flower gardens, they picked very early in the morning morning,then brought to the temple, behind Srila Prabhupada's vyasaana by 6 am, where matajis making them into garlands.


Madhumati Mataji is supervising this work.
For Radhastami she personaly sewed garlands for Radhika, meditating that the garland would match the outfit (in photo below is a fragment of that garland).

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Radhastami Abhishek in Mayapur 20-09-2007

Retirement facility in Mayapur

by Praghosa Prabhu, the chair-man of GBCom (GBC commity for Mayapur)

Sesa prabhu made a very impressive contribution during the GBC meeting at New Vrindavan last June. In essence he expressed how swings and roundabouts are the arrangement of the supreme Lord.

He made the point that:

- Most of the child abuse took place in India, yet the US yatra was sued and had to take the brunt of raising the majority of the settlement figure. Still they accepted that graciously and also greatly appreciated the co-operation they received from International ISKCON.

In the same way, why can we not unite around the request (for the facility of retirement for Srila Prabhupada disciples and elder Grihastha couples, who served in ISKCON for many years), that a suitable arrangement be made for the maintenance of senior vaisnavas, those who have served Srila Prabhupada's ISKCON for decades?

In short ISKCON should both support and underwrite the maintenance of it's senior and long serving devotees. That responsibility should not be the exclusive concern of ISKCON Mayapur but at the same time ISKCON Mayapur should be enthusiastic to help as much as they can. We cannot change the fact that Mayapur is the holy dhama, that Mayapur probably has more land than any other ISKCON centre in the world, that Mayapur has more buildings and facilities than any other ISKCON centre. This being the case it is somewhat natural that Mayapur will take the greater proportion of responsibility for making the transcendental 'old vaisnava home' a reality, again these swings and roundabouts are the arrangement of the Lord.

Thus this should be a transcendental labour of love and ISKCON Mayapur will receive both financial support for it as well as receiving the blessings and praise of the worldwide vaisnava community.

Just as some devotees are eager to help financially to establish a library in Mayapur, I am sure if we announce that we want to establish a facility for elderly members, much support will be forthcoming. Of course we need to be enthusiastic and united in our efforts, that will inspire the worldwide devotee community.

Your servant, Praghosa dasa.

Please visit www.dandavats.com

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Vyasa Puja of Srila Prabhupada, 5-09-2007, Mayapur

Posted by Vrindavan Lila Dasi

For the full photo-coverage please click HERE





Hari Sauri Prabhu said:



I just want to personally thank you and all the other devotees
involved in staging Srila Prabhupada's Vyasapuja for making such a
wonderful two days of offerings. I had so many devotees come to me to say
thanks. Some of them said it was the best Vyasapuja they have ever been
too. This is all due to your sincerity and determination to properly
glorify His Divine Grace.
Of course, things can always be improved (don't get puffed up!) but
we made a good start which I hope can be expanded upon each year. I am
sure Srila Prabhupada was very happy with all the presentations, the
Vyasapuja book (which I thought was exceptionally well done), the first
class prasadam, and the program today with invited guests from the local
area.
Once again, my humble thanks for making it a memorable couple of days.

Your humble servant, Hari-sauri dasa



Mayapur community Vyasa Puja book (hand-made by devotees) was offered to Srila Prabhupada on His Appearance Day, 5-09-07 in ISKCON Mayapur.

The book is 18" long, 13" wide and 8.5" fat, it's weight is more than 10 kg.
This is 9-th year we offer Srila Prabhupada such large book of offerings.



The book contains 201 touchy and intimate offerings of glorification and expressions of gratitude to Srila Prabhupada from devotees of ISKCON Mayapur Chandrodaya community. This is trully collective effort to glorify our Founder-acharya A.C.Bhaktivedants Swami Prabhupada.

Also, yet another temple design (improved upon previous one, offered in February) had been offered to Srila Prabhupada on His Vyasa Puja Day:



devotees viewing Vyasa Puja book:







Thursday, September 6, 2007

Here comes the Sun - Srila Prabhupada slide show with George Harrison song

Here is the slide show of Srila Prabhupada photos accompanied by "Here comes the Sun", song George Harrison wrote dedicating to Srila Prabhupada after meeting Him in 1969.

My Sweet Lord (Krishna) slide show

posted by Vrindavan Lila Dasi



We just celebrated Janmastami and Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja.
Both are very big events and devotees worked around the clock to arrange the festivals.

I will start sorting pictures and posting them over next few days.

Here is a slide show of Radha-Krishna pictures with song "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison:



Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare

Saturday, August 18, 2007

Ganga way

by Vrindavan Lila Dasi

Here you can see video clip of a boat ride across Ganga-Jalangi sangam to Navadvipa town.

Now is monson season going on and rivers are swelled with lots of water plants colonies floating down stream.



Also big news is that W.Bengal goverment is puting in place fary landing placies (as you see in the video) all along Ganga banks, when construction in all the planed places is compleat the fary from Kolkata will be going regurlary stopping at Navadvipa and Mayapur side! as well as Swarup Ghanj.
So,there will be another type of transportation available to go to Kolkata city, hopefully soon - Ganga way.

http://youtube.com/Mayapurvision

Sunday, August 12, 2007

The Nagara Sankirtan Party of Sri Dhama Mayapur

by Ila Devi Dasi (Shastra Prabhu's wife)

















One and half years ago, Shastra dasa from Ghana, West Africa came to settle in Mayapur with his family. He is a disciple of HH Bhakti –Tirtha Swami, and he has 27 years of experience as one of the pioneering leaders in Africa heading Food For Life, Harinam parties, Temples and School projects.
Shastra dasa started performing the Harinama Sankirtan in Navadvipa alone riding on a bicycle rikshaw, after a few months, Madana Mohana Prabhu from Canada joined him. They purchased their own flat rikshaw and sound equipment and started going round Navadvipa, Svarup Ganj, Mahesh Ganj, Rajapur and other areas. Then they started adding small packets of dried Prasadam, and then expanded into adding the traditional kichari FFL Prasadam as manpower increased. Many visiting devotees accompany the party and all agree that this is a wonderful program that should be expanded here in Mayapur. It also creates good relations between the temple and villagers.













A daily Harinam Sankirtan Party for Sri Dhama Mayapur was officially inaugurated by Mayapur Administrative Council and HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami, Co –Director of Mayapur Projects, in April 2007 and named “Nagara Sankirtan Department” and Shastra Dasa was to head the department.
“Nagara Sankirtan” (glorification of the Lord in the towns and villages) was the official name given by Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu himself while he was on the planet 513 years ago to inaugurate the street chanting with musical instruments – though this is commonly known in the west as “harinam sankirtan.”













"It is the desire of Srila Prabhupada to have a regular Harinam (Nagara Sankirtan) party going round on daily basis around the nine Islands of Navadvipa and ISKCON Campus.
He wants "Hari haraye namah Krsna Yadavaya namah, Gopal Govinda Rama Sri-Madhusudana" sung along with the Hare Krishna mantra. Though not documented but we heard Srila Prabhupada mentioned that one in his conversations about his vision for Mayapur in Sri Dhama Mayapur…
Whenever I hear the Harinam (Nagara) sankirtan party pass by or stop in front of the Pancha Tattva altar extention vibrating and chanting the holy names, I feel great joy in my heart because one of Srila Prabhupada's desires and visions for Sridham Mayapur is fulfilled......." Pankajanghri Prabhu.

HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami recently sponsored new equipment and instruments for the party. The newly added African djembe drum and the electronic mrdanga (Amplifier) set a new dimension of melodious and irresistible dancing atmosphere in Mayapur. You need to watch it yourself on Sunday when the party finally settles in front of the RadhaMadhava temple, chanting while the pilgrims are taking prasadam offered by the FFL department, to understand what I am hitting at...You will see both old and young dancing in ecstasy with their hands raised and stretched high into the sky sweating profusely, full of smiles, non-stop for hours until the Sandhya arati time when the Nagara sankirtan party members leave to their ashrams..

Last week a Russian devotee who is a nice musician came all the way
from Russia to join the Nagara Sankirtan Department; he can play harmonium
and other instruments. Another English devotee from Cape Town is here to
join the NS dept too.. Room number 7 at the Brahmacari Ashram is donated for
Free to the NS dept and the members of NS are given Prasadam free of charge.

We do FFL twice a week and hope to get sponsorship that will enable us include the FFL along harinam anytime we go out. It is a wonderful opportunity to please Srila Prabhupada and serve the Holy Dhama by sponsoring a village FFL program as they work closely with the Mayapur Food For Life project under the Bhisma Department headed by Sankarsan Nitai Prabhu (General Manager) and his assistant Sundara Govinda Prabhu.













The party goes out six times a week and a new specially designed Rikshaw to be used during the rainy season is being manufactured, to enable us to even go out in the rain without the instruments getting damaged.

By the mercy of Srila Prabhupada, we have started the boat harinam programme from village to village along the bank of Ganga It is an exciting experience and maybe we can write about that later.....
"In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Krishna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Krishna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions." Srimad-Bhagavatam 11.5.32 and 36
Srila Prabhupada built this movement in America on Harinam. Rejuvenate your spiritual life by going back to the root...Harinam Sankirtan.
Join now or support the Harinam party.













The Lord ordered all the citizens of Mayapur-Navadvipa to chant the Hare Krishna mantra, and in each and every home they began performing harinam-sankirtana regularly. (Caitanya Caritamrita, Adi-Lila 17.122)

Everyone should be given the chance to take prasada and thus be induced to chant the holy names of Krishna and also dance in ecstasy” CC Antya lila 1. 32pp.

Our temples should be the media for feeding the poor with food and spiritual knowledge….Srila Prabhupada

Thank you for your kind mercy.



Contact address
Shastra dasa (Nagara Sankirtan department)
Shastra.BTS@pamho.net
Phone call (+91)9732720429

Monday, May 21, 2007

new peacocks are born in Mayapur

Mayapur peacock family has expanded recently, more than doubled, photos are posted Here .

first-lesson

Saturday, April 21, 2007

the way to realise God

from a lecture by Srila Prabhupada:


The process is very simple. Just keep a picture of Lord Caitanya with His associates.
Lord Caitanya is in the middle, accompanied by His principal associates—Nityananda, Advaita, Gadadhara, and Srivasa.
One simply has to keep this picture. One can keep it anywhere. It is not that one has to come to us to see this picture. Anyone can have this picture in his home, chant this Hare Krishna mantra, and thus worship Lord Caitanya.
That is the simple method. But who will capture this simple method? Those who have good brains.
Without much bother, if one simply keeps a picture of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu at home and chants Hare Krishna, then one will realize God.