Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s prophecy

iskcon pune today

Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s prophecy – the Holy names of Krishna will be sung in every town and village – is the vision for our Krishna consciousness movement. Srila Prabhupada, His Commander in Chief of the Sankirtan Army was the first one to accomplish the great task of distributing the Holy name outside of India, to every nook and corner of the world. He desired to fulfill the mission of Lord Chaitanya by adopting two ways --

1. To spiritualise America and inspire the American youth to take up Krishna consciousness seriously.

2. Inspire the American youth to spread Krishna consciousness in India and rest of the world

Srila Prabhupada was convinced that a great revolution in the misguided civilization of modern times is possible by administering the medicine of spiritual sound vibration in the form of spiritual literature. He spent sleepless nights dictating Bhaktivedanta purports for our benefit. He wanted devotees to study his books and reach them out to suffering souls. Chanting the Holy Name and glorifying the Supreme Lord are the supreme methods of purification of heart. Once a loss-making pharmaceutical company sought help of a consultant. He noticed that the company's life-saving drugs had huge

Newsletter Vol 10 / Issue: 9 (Monthly) / December 2012 / Price: ` 1/-

market potential but the employees had become lethargic, dull and demotivated. “Just send 10 men to places where your medicine is used,” advised the consultant. When these men saw how the medicine was saving people on the verge of death, they came back with great enthusiasm and inspired their colleagues.

Thus every December devotees all around the world, participate in the Prabhupada Book Marathon, to reach out the spiritual literature to thousands of suffering souls, to reclaim them and connect them back to Krishna. In Pune, we are embarking on reaching out two lac Bhagavad Gitas to School children, corporates, students and others. Just as during time of war, everyone including accountants, cooks, pujaris, etc. go to battle if required, we request all of you, to come forward, in bringing new people to take part in Gita Jayanti Daan Yajna, to help distribute Bhagavad Gitas on a large scale and attain the divine blessings of Lord Sri Krishna, as He has promised in the last Chapter of Gita.

Hare Krishna. Thank you.

Yours in service of Lord Sri Krishna,Radheshyam DasPresident, ISKCON Pune Director, Gita For World Peace

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“join GitaForWorldPeace.com”

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (1896-1977) is considered the foremost contemporary authority on Bhakti Yoga, devotional service to Lord Krishna as explained in the Vedas. Srila Prabhupada (as he is known to his followers) translated and commented on over eighty volumes of sacred Vedic texts, such as the Bhagavad Gita and the multi-volume Shrimad Bhagavatam.

Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati, his spiritual master, had instructed Srila Prabhupada to spread the message of Krishna consciousness in the Western world. Boarding a steamship from Calcutta to New York City in 1965, at an advanced age of sixty-nine, with forty rupees and a trunk of his Bhagavatam commentaries, Prabhupada set out to introduce "India's message of peace and goodwill" to the world. He represented a parampara of spiritual masters extending back to Sri Chaitanya mahaprabhu, the divine avatar who spread Krishna-bhakti all over India in the sixteenth century.

During the last twelve years of his life, Srila Prabhupada would inspire thousands of Westerners and Indians to devote their lives to Krishna consciousness, encircle the globe over a dozen times presenting Krishna consciousness to a diverse audience, and guiding his followers, launch one of the fastest-growing spiritual movements in the history of the world.

His translations and commentaries on scriptures such as the Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam and Chaitanya Charitamrita form practical guidebooks for the spiritual and material benefit of human society. Scholars and professors showered praise on his writings, filled with clarity and depth, so faithful to the Bhakti tradition. Srila Prabhupada’s books are used as standard texts in all major Universities across the world. He inspired the creation of farm communities, gurukula

schools, cultural centers and Sri Radha-Krishna temples such as in Mumbai, Vrindavan and Sridham Mayapur. ISKCON is popularly known as the "Hare Krishna" movement, due to its members' widespread practice of chanting the Holy name in public. With over 600 centers worldwide, devotees continue to spread the legacy of Srila Prabhupada. On October 17, Srila Prabhupada’s 35th disappearance day was observed in Sri Sri Radha Kunjabihari temple, with bhoga cooking, kirtan and offerings by devotees glorifying Srila Prabhupada.

--- Parasuram Das

Save suffering soulsModern day children are faced with cut-throat competitive lifestyle leading to suicides; they are bombarded by media leading to degradation of Character and excessive Greed. Education, instead of offering peace and joy is spreading bitterness and pain. For these poor non-earning children, we are distributing Bhagavad gita at subsidized price, to help them cultivate good samskars and to lead a happy life bringing joy to home, nation and the whole world. Our goal is also to reach the gift of Gita to orphans and under-privileged, who may be deprived of this valuable wisdom.

How can you help? You can subsidise copies of Bhagavad gita. We can paste your

name inside so the reader can appreciate your kindness. Benefits for you1. You will be invited to be a part of ‘Gita Jayanti Yajna’ Fire

Sacrifice program. Day : 24th December 2012, ‘Gita Jayanti’ day Time : 6:30pm to 8pm Venue : ISKCON, 4, Tarapore Road, Pune Camp, Pune Contact : Dayasindhu Das on 9552790595

2. Dinner prasadam for all participants You will be taking part in the homa yajna and can invite your

family members and friends to witness the event. Take as many Prasadam passes as you need for your family members and friends!

3. You will be included as a member of ‘Gita daan Club’ if you wish. Such members will take part in offering charity every year for subsidizing Bhagavad gitas for the poor.

They will be invited to be a part of the yearly Yajna held on Gita Jayanti day. They will introduce at least one member to join this club every year. Club members will received ISKCON Pune Today newsletter.

4. Your donation will be eligible for 80G tax exemption.5. You will get an opportunity to perform Balaji Puja on

your birthday.

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Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare | Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare ||

His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami SrilaPrabhupada

Gita Daan Yajna

ISKCON Pune Today | December 2012

Help us flood Pune city with wisdom literature. Let every Puneite hear the Song of God ! Every year during the month of Gita Jayanti (December), devotees the world over participate in the book distribution marathon, reaching out to lacs of people, transforming their lives for good. You can participate in these and more ways.

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Month of the MarathonHighest Charity. Highest Blessings. Your sponsorship of Gita copies will go a long way in reaching the Gita in the hands of the under-privileged. With friends and family, you can participate in the Gita Daan Yajna – a fire sacrifice with recitation of Bhagavad Gita verses – to be held on 24 December. The Gita was spoken on this day by Lord Krishna to Arjuna on Kurukshetra, about 5000 years ago. To contribute in this event pl contact: Dayasindhu Das - 9552790595

Raja-vidya: The Highest Education The Gita Talent Search Exam for students has been announced in leading schools in Pune and neighbouring towns. Our target is to enrol 30,000 students in 250 schools. With an exam fee of Rs.80/-, students get a free copy of Bhagavad Gita, workshops from our preachers clarifying key concepts of the Gita, and preparation material on CDs. Exam will be held in August 2013. You can help us get school contacts and sponsorships. To contribute in this event pl contact: Vishwambhar Mahaprabhu Das - 9922252567

Make your life a Joyful SongWe are conducting special seminars for corporates in and around Pune. Our speakers are equipped to present a series of talks on topics like Stress Management, Lifestyle Management and Power of Habits. You can help us get in touch with your company HR and secure a slot for these talks. Seminars have been presented in Tech Mahindra, Symantec, Cognizant, etc. To contribute in this event pl contact: Madansundar Das - 9657940283

Matchless Gifts Gita Expo is a popular way to introduce the Bhagavad Gita to your colleagues. Help us put up an expo in your office and social events like birthday parties and marriages. Our volunteers will demonstrate how the Gita is so relevant in today’s stressed-out lifestyles and present tips on Gita wisdom. Expos have been held with great response in companies like Kirloskar, Thermax, Bajaj, Tata Motors, IBM, Cummins and Bharat Forge. To contribute in this event pl contact: Madhavseva Das - 9049816092

Taste the joy of handing out a Gita Join hands on the streets! Our devotees will be doing book distribution at bus stands (Swargate, S’Nagar, Pune station), malls, outside temples, toll nakas, popular streets (Laxmi road, etc.) You can help us secure permis-sions in these places and join these devotees for a first-hand experience in transforming lives for good! To contribute in this event pl contact: Lalit Madhav Das - 8087807224

Gift Gita to a loved one Help us place a Gita in hospitals, hotels, marriage events, birthdays, parties, as new year gifts of companies to employees, long-distance luxury buses, aircrafts, libraries, book shops, reading rooms, study rooms, youth forums, mandals, and other scores of opportunities. To contribute in this event pl contact: Ravindra Chaitanya Das - 8087728533

Overweight? Good! Gita-tula-bhar is a popular and auspicious ceremony recommended in the shastra. On your birthday or any joyful occasion in your house, sponsor Gitas worth your weight for distribution to students, in rural areas or the under-privileged. If you are 80kg, you can make a difference to 150 souls! Be proud of your weight! To contribute in this event pl contact: Braja Vilas Das - 9527547199

A Marathon of 2,00,000Our target is to distribute 2 lac Gitas to Puneites – 1 lac by brahmacaris and 1 lac by congrega-tion members before 15-Jan. Remember, even 1 Gita distributed by you can make a difference to many lives! To contribute in this event pl contact: Sundarshyam Das - 8805492076

ISKCON Pune Today | December 2012

HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj

iskcon pune todayRNI Res. No. 72522/2000 No. L/RNP/PNCE/M-136/2012-2014

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

Registered NewspaperISKCON PUNE TODAYPosted at GPO, PuneOn.................................................To,

4, Tarapore Rd, Next to Dastur Boys School, Camp, Pune | Phone: 020-41033217 / 18 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

Nitya Seva Festival 6th January 2013 The Nitya Seva Festival for all members contributing to the Nitya Seva Fund will be held on 6th

January 2013 in Sri Sri Radha Kunjabihari temple. The Nitya Seva Committee, headed by HG Shuddha Nitai Chandra Prabhu was formed in 2007 for managing monthly donations by congregation families. Under the guidance of HH Gopal Krishna Goswami and HH Radhanath Swami, the programme has flourished and contributes to major monthly expenses of the temple. Every penny donated by well wishers like you is spent on glorious holy services like

• Outfits, bhoga, worship and care of deities who are our heart and soul. • Prasadam distribution for thousands of visitors. • Preaching related engagements like vehicles, sound system, transport etc. • Maintenance of missionary celibate preachers whose body, mind and words

are Lord's property. • Organizing festivals and celebrations in the temple for thousands of congregation

to take part. • Maintaining & expanding preaching to children, girls, boys, families, senior citizens etc. When we offer a portion of the food cooked with love and devotion to Krishna, the whole food

becomes karma-free sanctified diet. When we offer a couple of hours of 24 hrs in a day to chant the holy names of Krishna and hear Krishna katha, the whole day becomes sanctified. When we offer a portion of our house to make an altar for the Lord and glorify Him through worship and prayers, then the whole house becomes sanctified. Similarly, when we offer a portion of our salary to Krishna's service, then our whole earning becomes sanctified. Such earning, born of yajna, alone can satisfy the heart.

HH Gopal Krishna Maharaja, GBC, ISKCON, Pune will be gracing the festival with his address. All are welcome!

Maharaj, one of the senior disciples of Srila Prabhupada, is Governing Body Commissioner for the ISKCON society. Maharaj is also Chairman of the Bhativedanta Book Trust, the world’s largest publisher of the Bhagavad Gita and other Vedic literature. Srila Prabhupada personally instructed Maharaj to translate his books such as Bhagavad Gita As It Is, Srimad Bhagavatam, Chaitanya Charitamrita and others in the Hindi language, distribute books all over the world in large numbers, and open temples all over the world. Maharaj is serving Srila Prabhupada with exemplary dedication, guiding thousands of disciples and devotees all over the world, and especially helping in the construction of upcoming Sri Sri Radha Vrindavan Chandra temple in Pune.