published by folk (friends of lord krishna) committee of ...godhead. that is the test of a genuine...

February - May 2016 FOLK NEWS | 1

continued on page 8

Published by FOLK (Friends of Lord Krishna) Committee of the Melbourne Hare Krishna Temple February - May 2016

FOLK newsFriends of Lord Krishna Newsletter

The Holy Dhäma: Not MundaneRasänandiné Däsé

come to Me.’ (Bg. 18.65). So wherever you live, do not think that, ‘Because in Melbourne we have got a temple, the Melbourne Deities are here, so that is not Våndävana.’ That is also Våndävana. If you worship the Deity very rigidly, follow the rules and regulations, wherever you do so, that is Våndävana.” (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 2.1.2 lecture: Våndävana 17.3.1974)

Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura lists ten offenses against the holy dhäma that we must carefully avoid to gain the full benefit of pilgrimage or residence in the dhäma (cited in Païcarätra-Pradépa 1.5.8). Among them are ‘to think that the holy dhäma belongs to some mundane country or province’ or ‘to consider Våndävana different from Navadvépa.’

As Gaura Purnima approaches, let’s remember the glories of His abode, Navadvépa dhäma. Our guide is Maïjaré Devé Däsé, author of Gauradeça: A Devotional Guide to Navadvépa Dhäma (Jaya Rädhe Publications 2004).

“It’s just after six o’clock in the evening: the sun is setting on the horizon in Mäyäpur. The beautiful red-orange hue of the evening sky reflects on the flowing waters of the Ganga and dominates the horizon. This is my favourite time of the day, and my favourite place - Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Marg, the main Mäyäpur road - to walk while chanting Hare Kåñëa on my beads. The road is lined by the Ganga on one side and temples on the other. As the temples begin their evening worship, I am drawn into a deep sense of peace and timelessness.

The air fills with the sounds of voices, bells, and hand cymbals as the devotees sing the Lord’s glories. The eternal activity of worshiping the Lord saturates the atmosphere, and past, present, and future merge. Actually, such a sense of eternal time is possible only in the holy dhäma (abode) of the Lord, which

Çréla Prabhupäda tells us, “Wherever there is Kåñëa’s temple, Kåñëa’s saìkértana: that

is Våndävana. Caitanya Mahäprabhu said that ‘My mind is always Våndävana.’ Because He’s always thinking of Kåñëa, Kåñëa is there. He’s Kåñëa Himself, coming just to teach us. So similarly, anywhere you live, if you are actually a follower of the instruction of Kåñëa, then that is Våndävana.

Kåñëa says, ‘Engage your mind always in thinking of Me, become My devotee, offer obeisances to Me and worship Me. Being completely absorbed in Me, surely you will

RATHA-YÄTRÄThe Festival of the ChariotsSunday February 14th.

GAURA-PÜRËIMÄThe Appearance of Lord CaitanyaWednesday March 23rd.

NITYÄNANDA TRAYODAÇÉThe Appearance of Lord NityänandaSaturday February 20th.

RÄMA-NAVAMÉ The Appearance of Lord Rämacandra Friday April 15th.

HOLÉ @ Barwon Park MansionThe Festival of ColoursSunday March 20th.

NÅSIÀHA-CATURDAÇÉ The Appearance of Lord Nåsiàha Friday May 20th.

2 | FOLK NEWS February - May 2016 FOLK news is published by the Member Services Committee of ISKCON Melbourne © 2016 International Society for Krishna Consciousness Inc.

FOUNDER-ÄCÄRYAHis Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Aniruddha Däsa Prabhu DäsaRasänandiné Däsé

CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda Maëibhüñaëa Däsa Bhakta Däsa Keçava Däsa Atulyä DäséSweta Lal Iswariya Vinoth Rasänandiné Däsé

WEBSITEwww.harekrishnamelbourne.com.au

ADVERTISING ENQUIRIESW: harekrishnamelbourne.com.au/publications/folk-news/advertise-in-folk-news-print-editionE: [email protected]

WRITE FOR FOLK NEWS We welcome your contributions.W: harekrishnamelbourne.com.au/publications/folk-news/write-for-folk-news

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTIONS Kejal Shah T: 9699 5122

ContentsFestival of Colours @ Barwon Park 5 Come Celebrate With Us 6 The Festival Of The Chariots 7 Vaiñëava Calendar 9How I Came to Kåñëa Consciousness 10Ayurveda From The Ground Up 12No More Books! 13The Joy of Devotion 14Bhagavad-gétä’s Spiritual Gems 15 Chanting Hare Krishna 17Krishna's Kids 18 Varsha Puja Information 20Hare Krishna Centres Around Australia, Temple Timetable 21Hare Krishna Valley Report / Saàskäras 22

Editorial Welcome to the Gaura Pürëimä issue of FOLK news for 2016. In this edition Çréla Prabhupäda reveals the identity of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and we uncover the significance of His holy Dhama. Glimpse Ayurveda ‘from the ground up’ at Hare Krishna Valley and appreciate Bhagavad-gétä’s spiritual gems.

As always, there’s a lot going on in Melbourne Yatra between February and May. We want you to share in the fun. A highlight of Gaura Pürëimä season will be The Festival of The Chariots at St. Kilda on St. Kilda Festival Sunday, February the 14th. Our 2016 Festival especially celebrates the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON. Lord Jagannätha’s Chariot Parade will begin at noon, and our Vedic Village will run from 10:30am till 8:30pm. Special guests will make this a festival you and your children won’t want to miss.

ISKCON50, The 50th anniversary of ISKCON, is being celebrated from August 2015 till December 2016. Celebrations started with a commemoration of the departure of our Founder-Äcärya Çréla Prabhupäda onboard the Jaladuta from Kolkata to Boston. They’ll continue throughout 2016 with special emphasis on worldwide events to celebrate the actual 50th anniversary of the incorporation of ISKCON on the 13th of July 1966.

In Melbourne, leading up to Lord Chaitanya’s Appearance on Wednesday March the 23rd, we’ll celebrate the Appearance of Lord Nityänanda on Saturday February the 20th. On Sunday March the 20th bring your family and friends to Barwon Park Mansion for the fun of the Festival of Colours (Holé). You can enjoy colour throwing, a Sound Stage and a Vedic Village hosting prasädam distribution, body painting and shopping.

Then on Friday April the 15th we’ll celebrate Lord Rämacandra’s Appearance, followed by Lord Nåsiàha’s Appearance on Friday May the 20th. Please check the festival page for details, we’d like you to enjoy all of these celebrations.

I look forward to seeing you at the temple in the months to come.

Your servant,


Mahäprabhu is Kåñëa HimselfISKCON Founder-Äcärya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda

All the persons associated with Çré Kåñëa Caitanya - Çré Nityänanda, Çré Advaita, Gadädhara, and Çréväsa - are one, in the sense that they are all interested in pushing on Kåñëa consciousness. Çré Kåñëa Caitanya Mahäprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is personally trying, and Çré Nityänanda Prabhu, Çré Advaita Prabhu, Çréväsa, and Gadädhara are helping Him.

To approach these five supreme persons, you require the help of a guru. Therefore the guru is offered respectful prayers first: vande gurün. The word gurün is in the plural, because there are many gurus. Still, the gurus are one. For example, Kåñëa has many forms, but that does not mean He is many. No. Kåñëa is one. Similarly, there are many gurus, but their philosophy must be one: to teach everyone that Kåñëa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is the test of a genuine guru.

But if he does not know what Kåñëa is, or if he’s not a devotee of Kåñëa, he cannot become a guru. On the other hand, one who is coming from the family of dog-eaters, the lowest of human beings, can become a guru if he’s a Vaiñëava, a devotee of Kåñëa. The bona fide guru does not claim to be Kåñëa Himself, but rather he canvasses door to door: “Please become a devotee of Kåñëa.” (From a lecture in Mäyäpur, India, 25.3.1975.)

L ord Caitanya is Kåñëa Himself. That was observed by Särvabhauma Bhaööäcärya, who composed one hundred verses praising the glories

of Lord Caitanya. But because Caitanya Mahäprabhu was playing the part of a devotee, He threw away the verses. “Oh, this is not for Me.” That was Caitanya Mahäprabhu’s humbleness.

But the devotees know that Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu is Kåñëa Himself: mahäprabhu çré-caitanya, rädhä-kåñëa nahe anya. “Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu is none other than Rädhä and Kåñëa combined.” In the beginning there was Kåñëa; then Kåñëa divided into two - Rädhä and Kåñëa. And then They again combined. That combination is Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu.

The conclusion of the Gosvämés, Lord Caitanya’s leading disciples, is that Kåñëa is one. There is no rival for Kåñëa. God is one: ekaà brahma dvitéyaà nästi. There cannot be many Gods.

When God, or Kåñëa, wants to enjoy, He expands His pleasure potency, and that potency is Rädhäräëé. As the çästra (scripture) states, çakti-çaktimatayor abhedaù: “There is no difference between the energy and the energetic.” Çakti means “potency,” and çaktimat means “one who possesses potency.” So Rädhä and Kåñëa are equal. There is no difference between Them.

The sun is a good example. The sun is the powerful, and the sunshine is the power. So there is heat in the sun, and there is also heat in the sunshine. There is light in the sun, and there is light in the sunshine also. Therefore, as far as heat and light are concerned, the sun and the sunshine are qualitatively one. But the temperature of the sun and the temperature of the sunshine are different. So there is a quantitative difference.

That is the basic principle of Lord Caitanya’s philosophy: acintya-bhedäbheda. Acintya means “inconceivable,” bheda means “difference,” and abheda means “nondifference.” This describes the whole situation: there is one God, but He has expanded Himself in many ways (eko bahu syäm). And these expansions are all one with Him and at the same time different from Him.

The acintya-bhedäbheda philosophy is described here in the first verse of Caitanya-caritämåta (Ädi 1.1):

vande gurün éça-bhaktänéçam éçävatärakän

tat-prakäçäàç ca tac-chaktéùkåñëa-caitanya-saàjïakam

“I offer my respectful obeisances unto the spiritual masters, the devotees of the Lord, the Lord’s incarnations, His plenary portions, His energies, and the primeval Lord Himself, Çré Kåñëa Caitanya.” Lord Caitanya is always accompanied by His close associates.” These associates are described here - the gurus, the Lord’s devotees, His incarnations, expansions, and energies.


4 | FOLK NEWS February - May 2016

Liardet Community CentreCnr. Nott & Liardet Sts. Port Melbourne (opposite Coles)

We invite Pensioners, Health Card Holders & Studentsin need of a delicious & nutritious vegetarian meal

FREEWednesdays 6.00pm-7.30pm

We gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the City of Port Phillip

Weekly Special $12.50 • International Cuisine • Samosas • Spinach Pie • Cheese Cake

Level 1, 139 Swanston St. Melbourne Mon - Sat 11:30am - 9pm • T: 9650 1578

• E: [email protected] • W: www.gopalspurevegetarian.com.au • Gopals Vegetarian Restaurant

February - May 2016 FOLK NEWS | 5 February - May 2016 FOLK NEWS | 5

T he Festival of Colours will be held from 11am to 4pm on Sunday the 20th of March at Barwon Park Mansion, Winchelsea. Proudly sponsored by the

Victorian Multicultural Commission and the Surf Coast Shire, this is a special family-friendly event. Everyone is welcome to come along and join the fun.

Festival of Colours (Holi) is an ancient event, first celebrated by Lord Sri Krishna 5,000 years ago. The original site for the Festival was the holy village of Vrindavana in northern India. All who participate playfully throw coloured dye on one another. Festival of Colours is a blissful exchange between all participants, one that also promotes forgiveness and peace. In recent years Holi has gained international popularity, and is celebrated on every continent.

Barwon Park Mansion (105 Inverleigh Road Winchelsea), is an histotical Victorian-era pastoral residence surrounded by sweeping grounds. It is owned by the Australian National Trust. Drive 90 minutes from Melbourne via the Princes Highway (A1), or 15 minutes from Hare Krishna Valley.

On the day, in front of the main stage, together everyone will throw a rainbow of colours into the air. Each hour the MC will alert everyone to throw their packets of coloured powders. Colours will spring from our hearts and rain from the sky as we dance and sing together. A good part of the day will be spent throwing colours. For best results, wear a white T-shirt!

A range of interactive activities, including stage entertainment such as live music and cultural performances, meditation, fortune-telling and henna body-art will add to the fun.

For the little ones, there will be face-painting, a jumping castle, kids activities and more. A diverse range of delicious vegetarian and vegan snacks

and meals will also be available for sale on the day. Prices range from $5 to $10. Your entry fee consists of the purchase of colour.

Packets of colour can be pre-purchased through the Eventbrite website at a discounted price. Three packets are $10 online. At the venue one (non-refundable) packet will cost $5. Pre-purchased colour packets will be delivered to patrons at the venue registration table on the event day (an Eventbrite ticket must be presented). Car parking at Barwon Park is $10 per car. There is ample parking space and disability parking is also available.

For your safety, we regret that should the Fire Danger Rating reach Extreme or Code Red, the Festival must be cancelled. Please check www.festivalofcolours.com.au or Festival of Colours – Australia on Facebook for updates.

Festival of Colours is organised by Hare Krishna Valley, an organic farm and Retreat Centre based on the principles of Krishna consciousness. We are dedicated to demonstrating an example of natural living and higher thinking. The residents of the Valley are committed to the principles of eco-living and practice the ancient art of bhakti-yoga. The farm is in the process of establishing an ahimsa dairy as part of our Care for Cows program.

On the second Sunday of each month, Hare Krishna Valley hosts an Open Day which includes mantra meditation, an enlightening discussion and a sumptuous vegetarian feast. Regular Retreats are scheduled throughout the year, and include topics such as Yoga, Vegetarian Cooking, Ayurveda and Vedic Astrology.

For more information on the Festival of Colours, please visit the official website: www.festivalofcolours.com.au and check out Festival of Colours – Australia on Facebook to see all the photos and fun we had last year!

Festival of Colours @ Barwon ParkKeçava Däsa and Atulyä Däsé


CO

ME

CE

LEB

RA

TE W

ITH

US

CO

ME

CE

LEB

RA

TE W

ITH

US

CO

ME

CE

LEB

RA

TE W

ITH

US

SRI VYASA PUJA

FESTIVAL OF CHARIOTS Sunday Feb. 14th. (St. Kilda)10am.- 9pm. Vedic Village (Catani Gardens)1 - 2:30pm. Ratha Yatra Parade (fromBeaconsfieldPde. & Fitzroy St.)

NITYÄNANDA TRAYODAÇÉ

Saturday February 20th.7:00am. Deity Greeting7:30am. Class10:30am. Abhisheka and Kirtan11:50am. Deities Return to Altar (Kirtan)12:30pm. Arati and Kirtan 1:00pm. Feast

FESTIVAL OF COLOURS

Sunday March 20th.@ Barwon Park Mansion11am. - 4pm.Hourly Colour ThrowingKirtana & DanceFace Painting & Kids ZoneShopping & Prasadam

GAURA-PÜRËIMÄ

Wednesday March 23rd.4:30pm. Arati and Kirtan4:50pm. Class5:45pm. Abhisheka6:30pm Deities Return to Altar (Kirtan)7:00pm. Arati & Kirtan 7:30pm. Feast

RÄMA-NAVAMÉ

Friday April 15th.4:30pm. Arati and Kirtan5:00pm. Class5:30pm. Abhisheka and Kirtan6:00pm. Feast7:00pm. Arati & Kirtan

NÅSIÀHA-CATURDAÇÉ

Friday May 20th.4:30pm. Arati and Kirtan5:00pm. Class6:00pm. Abhisheka and Kirtan7:00pm. Arati & Kirtan7:30pm. Feast

2 016 is the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON. So Melbourne’s

Festival of the Chariot Parade and Vedic Village is geared to glorify this wonderful Krishna Consciousness Movement and its Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada far and wide.

Indeed, the theme of this year’s Festival of the Chariots is ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary (ISKCON50). Our anniversary will be very prominent within the Chariot Parade. The Lords’ Ratha Cart will feature banners advertising our milestone. You can join the Parade at the corner of Beaconsfield Parade and Fitzroy St. at 1pm.

A special commemorative magazine - The Hare Krishnas: Celebrating 50 Years - will be distributed at the Festival. Celebrating 50 Years has been created for celebrations and events throughout ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary year – and it starts off here at Melbourne’s Festival of the Chariots!

Celebrating 50 Years is intended to help the general public quickly grasp what ISKCON is, who founded this movement, what is its history, what members believe and what the movement does. Our quality 64-page publication is packed with beautiful full-colour photos. It’s aimed at everyday men and women from all walks of life – the young and old, next-door neighbours, students, teachers

Festival Of The Chariots 2016: ISKCON50Bhakta Däsa


Festival Of The Chariots 2016: ISKCON50Bhakta Däsa

and academics, and members of all religions.

Developed and published by ISKCON’s international communications team under the guidance of its Governing Body, the magazine is much more than just a commemorative publication.

Because our movement did not have a publication where most aspects of ISKCON were explained, our team has created a one-stop-shop that can inform everyone about the many aspects of the Hare Krishna Movement. Celebrating 50 Years explains how ISKCON came into existence; its heritage; the good works ISKCON does around the world, and how it has grown into a major religious influence over the past 50 years. Finally, Celebrating 50 Years educates its readers about the Vedic truths so carefully presented in Srila Prabhupada’s books.

At the Vedic Village we’re also hosting a marquee especially presenting the astounding achievements of the Hare Krishna Movement over the last 50 years. A photo display will feature

historic photos of the development of ISKCON here in Melbourne and abroad. Guests can take time out in a theatrette showing promotional films created for our 50th Anniversary.

Of course all our usual Vedic Village entertainments will continue. This year we have a few special surprises to interest younger members of our congregation. Some very talented devotee-entertainers are coming to Melbourne specifically for our Festival. Our stage acts will be first class, and feature magicians, clowns and dancers. This is going to be the best Festival of the Chariots yet!

The Festival offers truly blissful service opportunities for every devotee. If you would like to help, please contact me at [email protected] and complete your Safety Induction at the St. Kilda Festival website by taking their quick and easy quiz.

Read more about this transcendental treat at http://www.festivalofthechariots.com.au or http://www.stkildafestival.com.au. Bring your family and friends: see you there!


• Food distribution• Deity garlands• Flower decorations and vases

• Deity dresses• Marquees• Temple worship



Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 SaptamiGovinda Masa, Gaurabda 529

2 Astami 3 Navami 4 Dasami 5 Ekadasi, fast for Vijaya Ekadasi

6 DvadasiBreak fast 07:09-11:23 EDT

7 Trayodasi 8 CaturdasiSiva Ratri

9 Amavasya 10 PratipatSrila Jagannatha Dasa Disappearance

11 Tritiya 12

CaturthiPurusottam Das Thakura Appearance

13 Pancami 14 SastiLabour Day Public Holiday

15 SaptamiMina Sankranti

16 Astami 17 Navami 18 Dasami 19 Ekadasi, fast for Amalaki vrata Ekadasi


21 Trayodasi 22 Caturdasi 23 PurnimaGChaitanya Mahaprabhu Appearance (fast till moonrise)

24 PratipatFestival of Jagannatha Misra;Vishnu Masa, Gaurabda 530

25 DvitiyaGood Friday Public Holiday

26 TritiyaEaster Saturday

27 CaturthiEaster Sunday

28 CaturthiEaster Monday

29 Pancami 30 Sasti 31 Saptami

continues to exist even after this world is annihilated.

The creation of Çré Navadvépa Dhäma is recorded in the Ananta-saàhitä. Lord Çiva, speaking to his wife, Pärvaté, explains how Çrématé Rädhäräëé had heard on two occasions that Kåñëa was enjoying with the gopé Virajä but that She had been unable to catch them together.

Thinking of a way to entice Kåñëa away from this girlfriend, Çrématé Rädhäräëé gathered Her friends between the Ganges and Yamuna rivers. There She created a beautiful place decorated with creepers and trees filled with bumblebees. Bucks and does happily wandered about, and the fragrance of jasmine, mallikä, and mälaté flowers filled the air. Forests adorned that transcendental land, and Tulasé plants decorated its various groves.

On Rädhä’s order, the Ganges and Yamuna, with their pleasant water and banks, acted as a moat to protect the garden. Cupid, along with Springtime itself, decided to reside there eternally, and birds constantly sang the auspicious name of Kåñëa.

To attract Kåñëa, Rädhäräëé played a beautiful melody on a flute. On arriving, Kåñëa understood Rädhäräné’s mood and spoke with a love-choked voice: “O lovely Rädhä, You are My very life. No one is more dear to Me than You. I will never leave You. Just for Me, You have created this wonderful place. Staying with You, I will transform

continued from page 1

this place, filling it with new cowherd girls and groves. The devotees will glorify this place as New Våndävana [Nava Våndävana]. As this place is like an island [dvépa], the wise will call it Navadvépa. By My order, all the holy places will reside here. Because You have created this place for My pleasure, I will live here eternally.”

Kåñëa then merged with the body of Çrématé Rädhäräëé. Seeing this, the cowherd girlfriends of Çrématé Rädhäräëé excitedly shouted “Gaurahari!” (a name for Lord Caitanya meaning “golden Lord”) and changed their forms to male forms to continue their service to the divine couple, now appearing in Their most beautiful golden form of Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu.

Although the appearance of Navadvépa dates to an unknown time in the distant past, Lord Caitanya lived there fairly recently - from 1486 to 1510. In the Çré Navadvépa Dhäma Mähätmya, Çréla Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura writes that soon after the disappearance of Lord Caitanya, Navadvépa also became hidden.

Lord Nityänanda, speaking more than four hundred years ago, told Çréla Jéva Gosvämé: “When our Lord [Caitanya] disappears, by His desire the Ganges will swell. The water will almost cover Mäyäpur for a hundred years and then recede. For some time, only the land will remain, devoid of houses. Then, by the Lord’s desire, Mäyäpur will again become prominent, and people will live here as before. All the ghats (bathing places) on the bank of the Ganges will again be visible, and the devotees will build temples. An exceedingly wonderful temple will appear, from which Lord Caitanya’s eternal service will be preached everywhere...In this way, the devotees will reveal the lost places. Know this for certain. At the end of four hundred years, the task of recovering the lost holy places will begin.”

In the late 1800s, through extensive research of scriptures, old maps, and government records, Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura discovered many lost holy places in Navadvépa Dhäma, including the site of Lord Caitanya’s birth. He also wrote extensively on the teachings of Lord Caitanya. Then shortly before leaving this world, he instructed his son and spiritual successor, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura, to “develop Çré Navadvépa Dhäma parikrama [circumambulation], for by its performance all people of the world can be liberated.” Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta fulfilled his father’s desire. Upon setting up his headquarters in Navadvépa in 1918, he initiated an annual parikrama of Çré Navadvépa Dhäma.

In Caitanya Maìgala, Locana Däsa Öhäkura explains that Lord Caitanya appeared and preached in Navadvépa just to establish the chanting of the Hare Kåñëa mahä-mantra as the religious process for the age of Kali. Lord Caitanya said, “I want to flood the whole world with the chanting of the holy names. I will personally preach and flood India with the holy name. Later, my commander-in-chief devotee (senapati bhakta) will come, preach in distant countries, and flood the world with the chanting of Hare Kåñëa.”

Just two weeks before he left this world, Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta instructed a young householder disciple to deliver the teachings of Lord Caitanya to the West. By taking this instruction to heart, that disciple inherited the spiritual legacy handed down by Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu and the previous spiritual masters. He later became His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, the Founder-Äcärya of ISKCON, who spread the chanting of the Hare Kåñëa mahä-mantra to virtually every country...’ [and established Mahaprabhu’s worship in Melbourne. Gaura Purnima mahotsava ki jaya!] Maïjaré’s original essay was published in Back To Godhead Magazine #33-06, 1999.



VAISNAVA CALENDAR - FEBRUARY 2016

VAISNAVA CALENDAR - MARCH 2016Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 SaptamiGovinda Masa, Gaurabda 529

2 Astami 3 Navami 4 Dasami 5 Ekadasi, fast for Vijaya Ekadasi


7 Trayodasi 8 CaturdasiSiva Ratri

9 Amavasya 10 PratipatSrila Jagannatha Dasa Disappearance

11 Tritiya 12

CaturthiPurusottam Das Thakura Appearance

13 Pancami 14 SastiLabour Day Public Holiday

15 SaptamiMina Sankranti

16 Astami 17 Navami 18 Dasami 19 Ekadasi, fast for Amalaki vrata Ekadasi


21 Trayodasi 22 Caturdasi 23 PurnimaGChaitanya Mahaprabhu Appearance (fast till moonrise)

24 PratipatFestival of Jagannatha Misra;Vishnu Masa, Gaurabda 530

25 DvitiyaGood Friday Public Holiday

26 TritiyaEaster Saturday

27 CaturthiEaster Sunday

28 CaturthiEaster Monday

29 Pancami 30 Sasti 31 Saptami


1 AstamiMadhava Masa, Gaurabda 529

2 Navami 3 Dasami 4 Dasami 5 Ekadasi (suitable for fasting) Fast for Sat-tila Ekadasi


7 Caturdasi 8 Amavasya 9 Pratipat 10 Dvitiya 11 Tritiya 12 Caturthi 13PancamiVasant Pancami

14 Sasti GRatha Yatra, Melbourne Kumbha Sankranti

15 Saptami GAdvaita Acharya Appearance (Fast till noon)

16 NavamiBhismastamiSri Madhvacarya Disappearance

17 DasamiSri Ramanujacarya Disappearance

18 Ekadasi Bhaimi Ekadasi (fast till noon for Varahadev, feast tomorrow)

19 Dvadasi GBreak fast 09:03-11:20 EDT; Varahadev Appearance

20 G Trayodasi Nityananda Appearance (fast till noon)

21

Caturdasi22 Purnima Krishna Madhura Utsava; Narottam Das Thakur Appearance

23 PratipatGovinda Masa

24 Pratipat 25 Dvitiya 26 TritiyaAustralia Day Public Holiday

27

Caturthi

28 PancamiG Bhakti-siddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Appearance (fast till noon)

29 Sasti


How I Came to Kåñëa ConsciousnessIswariya Vinoth

10 | FOLK NEWS October 2015 - January 2016

What Is the Hare Kåñëa Movement?

Founded in 1966 by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupäda, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) carries on a great ancient tradition rooted in the Bhagavad-gétä, the teachings Lord Kåñëa spoke five millennia ago. The Gétä and the other Vedic scriptures declare Kåñëa to be the original person, God Himself, who appears periodically in this world to liberate all living beings.

Only five hundred years ago, Kåñëa descended as Çré Caitanya Mahaprabhu to teach the most sublime and effective means of meditation for the present day: the chanting of the names of God, especially as found in the Hare Kåñëa mantra.

Today members of ISKCON continue Lord Caitanya's movement by distributing the teachings of Lord Kåñëa and the Hare Kåñëa mantra all over the world.

PronunciationWe spell Sanskrit words and names by a phonetic system that lets you know how to say each word. Pronounce short a like the u in but, long ä like the a in far (and held twice as long as the short a). Pronounce e like the a in evade, long é like the i in pique. Pronounce the vowel å like the ri in rim, and c like the ch in chair. Pronounce consonants like ch, jh, and dh as in staunch-heart, hedge-hog, and red-hot. Pronounce ç and ñ like sh. So for Kåñëa say KRISHNA, for Caitanya say CHAITANYA.

Spiritual NamesISKCON members receive names of Lord Kåñëa or His great devotees, combined with Däsa (for men) or Däsé (for women), both of which mean “servant.” For instance, the name Kåñëa Däsa means “servant of Kåñëa.”


1 NavamiMadhusudana Masa, Gaurabda 530

2 DasamiSrila Vrndavana Dasa Thakura Disappearance

3 Ekadasi (suitable for fasting) Fast for Varuthini Ekadasi

4 DvadasBreak fast 07:03-10:32 EST

5 Trayodasi 6 Caturdasi 7 PratipatGadadhara Pandita Appearance

8 Dvitiya 9 TritiyaAksaya Trtiya, Candana Yatra starts (continues 21 days)

10 Caturthi 11 Pancami 12 Sasti 13 SaptamiJahnu Saptami

14 AstamiTulasi Jala Dan ends

15 NavamiSrimati Sita Devi (consort of Lord Rama)Appearance

16 Dasami 17 Ekadasi

(suitable for fasting) Fast for Mohini Ekadasi

18 DvadasiBreak fast 07:16-10:36 ESTRukmini Dvadasi

19 TrayodasiSri Jayananda Prabhu Disappearance

20 Caturdasi GAppearance of Lord Narasimhadeva (fast till dusk)

21 Purnima Krishna Phula Dola, Salila Vihara

22 PratipatTrivikrama Masa

23 Pratipat 24 Dvitiya 25 Tritiya 26 Caturthi 27 PancamiSri Ramananda Raya Disappearance

28 Sasti

29 Saptami 30 Astami 31 Navami

Many celebrations - including Damodara Masa, Diwali and Snana Yatra - have passed since our last edition. As we become more at home in

the association of devotees, we feel each festival is our favourite. In contrast, austerity in Krishna Consciousness is nothing but showing Krishna our love and sincerity. We voluntarily inconvenience ourselves to offer Him some service. Because Krishna reciprocates with our every endeavour many times over, we cannot compete with the Supreme in showing sincerity, but we can always show Him our endless love.

In this edition Shailaja Mataji answers our five questions. An aspiring devotee, her story can inspire not only beginners, but anyone who values service to please the Lord and His devotees.

Iswariya: How did you come to Krishna Consciousness?

Shailaja: We all start looking for God when we are in a rough patch. My family was new to Melbourne. I was searching for a temple close to home and saw ISKCON on Google Maps. One day after work, feeling very tired and hungry and hoping that there would be some prasadam, I went to the Temple.

To my surprise, by Krishna’s mercy that day was the last day of Julana Yatra (the Swing Festival) and Balarama Purnima (Balarama’s Appearance Day). So I was able to swing Sri Radha-Krishna on my first visit, and - as everyone familiar with the Temple knows – relish sumptuous prasadam. On top of that, when I was without friends in a new country, Krishna gave me the association of wonderful devotees! I was introduced to the local Bhakti Vriksha Group, and started attending immediately.

Then everything in my life changed. What had felt miserable became a ‘golden period’ through devotee association and discussing spiritual life with them. Krishna showed me the eternal path in life where we find our purpose.

I: Can you share an ultimate realisation?

S: “There is no point in suffering” due to the temporary miseries of this material world, although I am still trying to practice this when something bad does happen.

I: If you weren’t Krishna conscious, what one thing would you regret?

S: Remembering Krishna only in difficult times: not offering service in the good times.

I: What would you like to do in the spiritual world if you were there right now?

S: Honestly, I never thought about this until now. But I have come to know that, if we are in the spiritual world, our complete focus and service is towards the Supreme Lord. So I would like to be even a spec of dust there, and most importantly never ever think of coming back to the material world.

I: Do you have any suggestions for our readers?

S: If you are on the path of Krishna Consciousness, hold on to it even though maya (illusion) tells you otherwise: I fail in this. Thank you.


VAISNAVA CALENDAR - APRIL 2016

VAISNAVA CALENDAR - MAY 2016


1 AstamiSri Srivasa Pandita Appearance; Vishnu Masa, Gaurabda 530

2 NavamiLast day of Daylight Saving Time

3 Dasami 4 Ekadasi (suitable for fasting) Fast for Papamocani Ekadasi

5 DvadasiBreak fast 06:37-07:39 EST

6 Caturdasi 7 Amavasya

8 Pratipat 9 Dvitiya

10 Tritiya 11 Caturthi 12 SastiSri Ramanujacharya Appearance

13 Saptami 14 AstamiTulasi Jala Dan beginsMesa Sankranti

15 Navami GAppearance of Lord Ramachandra (fast till sunset)

16

Dasami

17 Ekadasi (not suitable for fasting)

18 Dvadasi Kamada Ekadasi; Vyanjuli Mahadvadasi, Damanakaropana Dvadasi

19 DvadasiBreak fast 06:50-07:50 EST

20 Trayodasi 21 Caturdasi 22 Purnima Sri Balarama Rasayatra, Sri Krishna Vasanta Rasa

23

PratipatMadhusudana Masa

24 Dvitiya 25 TritiyaANZAC Day Public Holiday

26 Caturthi 27 Pancami 28 Sasti 29 SaptamiSri Abhirama Thakura Disappearance

30

Astami


1 NavamiMadhusudana Masa, Gaurabda 530

2 DasamiSrila Vrndavana Dasa Thakura Disappearance

3 Ekadasi (suitable for fasting) Fast for Varuthini Ekadasi

4 DvadasBreak fast 07:03-10:32 EST

5 Trayodasi 6 Caturdasi 7 PratipatGadadhara Pandita Appearance

8 Dvitiya 9 TritiyaAksaya Trtiya, Candana Yatra starts (continues 21 days)

10 Caturthi 11 Pancami 12 Sasti 13 SaptamiJahnu Saptami

14 AstamiTulasi Jala Dan ends

15 NavamiSrimati Sita Devi (consort of Lord Rama)Appearance

16 Dasami 17 Ekadasi

(suitable for fasting) Fast for Mohini Ekadasi

18 DvadasiBreak fast 07:16-10:36 ESTRukmini Dvadasi

19 TrayodasiSri Jayananda Prabhu Disappearance

20 Caturdasi GAppearance of Lord Narasimhadeva (fast till dusk)

21 Purnima Krishna Phula Dola, Salila Vihara

22 PratipatTrivikrama Masa

23 Pratipat 24 Dvitiya 25 Tritiya 26 Caturthi 27 PancamiSri Ramananda Raya Disappearance

28 Sasti

29 Saptami 30 Astami 31 Navami

12 | FOLK NEWS February - May 2016 12 | FOLK NEWS February - May 2016

Ayurveda From The Ground UpRasänandiné Däsé

A n interview with Dayäl-Nitäi Däsa at Hare Krishna Valley: Dayäl-Nitäi is a

stalwart of the Valley community. He helps with the farm duties and caring for the cows, loves cooking for and serving devotees, and sharing Krishna consciousness with whomever he meets. At the last Festival of Colours (Holi), Dayäl introduced Gurudeva’s Natural Remedies to the Yatra.

Rasanandini Däsé: How did you start growing Ayurvedic herbs and using them to make balms and creams?

Dayäl-Nitäi Däsa: About five years ago, I spent a month in Kerala at an Ayurvedic Treatment Centre. I found the treatment very effective. I prefer it to Western medicine. Sometimes you might have a condition which requires Western medicine. But in general, if you find a good Ayurvedic practice, they can also treat disease. I think Ayurveda is the better option because you don’t have problems like strong side-effects: their medications don’t ruin your liver.

My spiritual master said, “I’ll find a place for you which is good.” The Kerala Centre was recommended as having the best medicines and the best treatments. Then, when I came back to Australia, I still wanted to be able to still get good medicines. There are a lot of products that you can get in this country but they’re not always the best quality. The herbs are either very old, or are not organic even though they’re claimed to be.

It depends where the herbs are coming from. You shouldn’t herbs get that come from particular places because their standards may be low. In China, for example, if herbs come from up in the mountains, they can be alright. Generally, to get good quality medicines means you have to get them flown over from Kerala. The medicine itself might be cheap, but then to fly it over is expensive, and even then it’s only worthwhile doing if you’re getting large amounts, which presents another problem. So I looked into growing some herbs and sourcing others in Australia, but usually the medicines are imported from India or China, depending on which herbs they are.

RD: So it’s hard to buy fresh herbs?

DND: Yes, they say when you buy herbs you should be able to go to the place, see where they come from and see them prepared. You should always do that. When you buy over the internet, although herbs are said to come from China or India, you can’t verify that’s true. When herbs are fresh, the effect is good.

Some herbs grow in the Valley climate and some don’t. That’s what we’re doing now on the farm: seeing what grows and how much we can produce. We have two options: growing in gardens in the field, or in hothouses.

Last Holi we sold a range of churnas (powdered herbs) and ointments from a stall. When I was in Kerala, they showed me through their manufacturing facilities. What really inspired me to start making churnas, creams and balms myself was that before I went to India, one of my god-brothers, Gopal Guru Prabhu, mentioned Brahmi oil to me. He said it was good for your head, “When you shave up, put some on.” So I asked for it when I was in Kerala, but they didn’t have it. They gave me something else. I couldn’t find it anywhere in Australia. So I thought, “I can get Brahmi, I can grow Brahmi,’ and in Kerala they showed me. I saw a little of how they make the oils and, when I came back to Melbourne, I was still in touch. So I asked my contact if he could tell me how to make a basic oil and he passed on different recipes for massage oil etc.

RD: So the Kerala Centre treats people and makes all their medicines onsite?

DND: Yes. They’re actually really good. I still get them to send over herbs and medicines. When you contact them, they go and make it fresh: so the medicine is as fresh as possible, then they send it over. The delivery process might not be very fast, but you know that the quality is really good.

RD: So you have Brahmi growing at Hare Krishna Valley and make oil from it?

DND: Yes, basic formulas. I bought some Shea Butter from the Temple Shop

February - May 2016 FOLK NEWS | 13 February - May 2016 FOLK NEWS | 13

and thought about how Ayurvedic oils are made: basically they are hot infusions. You heat up the oil and you put the herb in and let it infuse. That’s how you make a balm or an ointment. Making creams is something I learnt later, at an Herbal Centre based on Western herbal medicine. They had some Chinese and some Ayurvedic herbs as well. We learnt how to make creams and tinctures and so on. A cream is different from an ointment because it has an aqueous component: it’s not just an infusion into oil or butter. You need an emulsifying component like beeswax. Or you can use palm wax, which some people avoid because so much jungle is destroyed to grow oil palms. You can get beeswax from online massage or candle-making sites. Then there are good health websites where you can get jars and other pure ingredients.

RD: Do you want people to come to you for medicines, or become interested in the community that makes them ‘from the ground up’?

DND: I want to create interest in the farm. Manigriva is encouraging and helps to grow the herbs. The idea is that we make products (you can also make preparations with ghee, jaggery or oils), or at least produce dried, powdered herbs (churna).

RD: What was the response like when you first sold Gurudeva’s Natural Remedies at the Festival of Colours?

DND: Very good. The dried herb was most popular: we sold out very, very quickly. At this point in time we’re not producing enough herbs to be able to go out on the market and sell lots of herbs: it’s a very small scale cottage industry. We set up a stall for the Festival to create interest in the farm because so many people were coming.

Since then, in June, we harvested Ashwaghanda: a tonic for strength and the nervous system. We dried the fresh herbs slowly over a wood fire and ground it to make churna. But we’re still seeing what people are interested in, what grows well at what time of year, and how much we can produce.

The other motivation for growing herbs is that if we want a self-sustainable community, then we need our own medicines. We may not be able to cover every problem, but it is said that you only need a few herbs. Many herbs are very good for a range of conditions, so if you are just looking after your family and a few community members’ health, then you don’t need a huge range.

RD: Have you had any interaction with Sri Murti Mataji who is a Naturopath?

DND: Yes, I get advice from her. If you are going to make creams etc. and are going to treat people, you need to be qualified. I began a degree in Western Herbal Medicine, and am looking into completing online now I’m out in the country. We’re just ‘testing the water.’

As we complete the new goshala, we’re going to add on a medicinal herb garden. It will be in front, terraced down the hill. We want to grow different medicinal herbs for the devotees and the cows. We’ll get the tractor out to

dig the beds. Because it’s cooler here, you can embed big rocks to absorb the heat from the sun. It’s good to have a no-dig garden. It won’t be a garden where you are tilling the soil and digging everything up after a crop. It’ll be a permaculture: lots of the roots will come back up year after year, so you don’t want to dig them up. Current best practice is to create a little ecosystem, where fungi that grow in the soil can take time to grow and keep the garden healthy.

We’re considering holding a weekend working bee when the goshala is a least half-finished. We’ll invite ten to twenty people from the local community and Melbourne Yatra to help create a nice garden. We’ll cook for you, so keep an eye out! Hare Krishna.

“No More Books!” Maëibhüñaëa Däsa Adhikäré

Govinda Däsa was distributing books door-to-door in the Commonwealth

of Independant States (CIS) in Eastern Europe. An old woman answered the door and he asked, “Mother, please look at the nice books I have.” She replied, “They may be nice, but I won’t read them.” “Please, just hold them and look at them,” he begged. “No,” she insisted, ‘Since I read one small book by - I don’t remember the author’s name - I realized that no other books are on the same level and I decided not to read any books except by this author.”

“What if these books are better?” Govinda reasoned. “No, they are not better,“ she argued, “Please leave me alone. I don’t want any more books!” Govinda Dasa asked her to show him the book she was talking about. He entered the room and saw several empty bookshelves. It looked as if she had once had many books. Now she had one book, sitting alone as if on an altar - Çréla Prabhupäda’s Easy Journey to Other Planets.

14 | FOLK NEWS February - May 2016 14 | FOLK NEWS August - September 2013

Level 1, 139 Swanston St Melbourne • T: 9650-1578 • FB: Gopals Vegetarian Restaurant • Sudhir: 0426-253-439, [email protected]

Delicious prasadam for family events like house warming, birthday parties & get togethersInternational Cuisine • Affordable Prices • Home Delivery

CATERING

Srila Prabhupada laughed playfully when he first coined the acronym, “We shall call our society ISKCON.“ Such a joyful life of devotion as

his - focused upon the Divine - leads to the ultimate harmony of being.

The Joy of DevotionRasänandiné Däsé

Devotion to God, Compassion to All is ISKCON’s uniques contribution to our world. It is the purpose, the solution; it is the lifeblood and mission of ISKCON. Too often our life of devotion is portrayed vaguely as another trend such as yoga, meditation and eastern promise. ISKCON50 will put our unique contribution front and centre with contemporary relevance.

We can all see that one of the greatest forces in nurturing Krishna Consciousness and spreading it to others is our own sense of well being and pride in ISKCON. What we as members tell our friends and families will determine ISKCON’s credibility. So ISKCON50 will provide us opportunities to plan, listen, reach out, review, and also reconcile matters which may undermine the many millions of wonderful stories we as members have to tell. (You can find more about ISKCON50 at http://iskcon50.org.)


Bhagavad-gétä’s Spiritual GemsSweta Lal

Bhagavad-gita describes the principles by which we can live happily, even in this life. The Gita outlines how to cultivate our inherent

spiritual qualities (compassion, truthfulness, cleanliness and austerity), and how to use our time, energy and talents in loving service to Krishna - akhila-rasa-amåta-mürtiù - the reservoir of all pleasure. For example:

The three modes of material nature: the three main qualities that condition human life are tamas, rajas and sattva. Tamas is the mode of ignorance or disconnection. Rajas, the mode of passion, is ruled by the feelings of ego, anger, greed, and lust. Sattva is the mode of goodness. Even the materials we use in daily life, from clothes to eatables, fall into these three modes. The purest are in the mode of goodness, like cotton, silk and wood. Alloys and synthetics are in the mode of ignorance. When we use materials in the mode of goodness in Krishna’s service, we can obtain the pure bliss of spirituality (suddha-sattva). By purifying the heart, bhakti or devotional service helps us rise from one mode to the next and ultimately to pure goodness (suddha-sattva), which is transcendental to the miseries of the material world.

Karma and dharma: in general karma is understood to indicate the actions we perform. Good actions (karma) or bad karma actions (vikarma) are two faces of the same coin. Both bind us to the material world. Karma incurs good reactions and vikarma incurs bad reactions. So whether it’s a gold chain or an iron chain, action will bind us to the material world. To break these shackles of attachment, we need to perform akarma: activities to please the Supreme Lord, who is always unaffected by material nature. When He accepts our service, by His grace no material reaction is incurred. By performing pure and unalloyed devotional service the soul is liberated from karma and vikarma.

Dharma is the essential responsibility of a particular thing, person or class of people, depending on their nature. For example, the dharma of fire is to provide heat and light (without which it cannot be fire). Similarly the dharma of a mother is to give unconditional love to her children, nurture and guide them. Because the eternal (sanatana) dharma of all souls is service to the Supreme Absolute Truth, the Personality of Godhead, when we offer Him loving service, our actions are akarmic, dharmic and without interruption (sanatana)

Why me? In Bhagavad-gita, Arjuna asks the question that dogs all our lives, ‘Why me?’ He faces the dilemmas that confront us every day, ‘Which choice do I make?’ Krishna revealed the knowledge of Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna because he was Krishna’s very dear friend who always loved Him. Krishna delivered the knowledge of Bhagavad-gita in the middle of the battlefield so that Arjuna would carry out his duty as a warrior (ksatriya) for Krishna’s pleasure. What we can take from this story? Krishna’s instructions on sanatana dharma are relevant to all times, places and circumstances. While we perform our daily duties, face dilemmas

or become confused about which choice to make, Krishna speaks to us too because He is our ever well-wisher and our best friend.

Freedom versus destiny: generally people question how destiny (following the rules that govern us in the material world) and freedom of choice can go hand-in-hand.

Krishna always gives us free will because he loves us unconditionally and only wants to bind us by love. But we forget that - while we have tried to enjoy the material world separate from Him from time immemorial - because the material world is limited, our choices are limited. Using our limited choice, over innumerable lives we have chosen our own destiny. Our choice is sanctioned by Krishna’s incarnation as the Supersoul within the heart and implemented by the laws of karma. The law of karma is so logical and intricate that it is very difficult to understand with a sceptical mind. One has to become submissive and practice the science of bhakti (devotional) yoga (as explained by Krishna in Bhagavad-gita) to experience the loving presence of His divine intelligence, both in and around us.

A gem of books: Bhagavad-gita, the cream of Vedic literatures, belongs to a time when no sectarian religion (whether Hindu, Islamic, Buddhist or Christian) existed, when only pure and unalloyed devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead (sanatana dharma) was practised and revered. Because Bhagavad-gita outlines the sanatana dharma of the soul, it belongs to all humanity and to all species of life wherein the soul takes shelter in forgetfulness of Krishna. The by-products of sanatana dharma, being humane, compassionate and caring - were the crux of civilization. Morality, ethical behaviour, honesty, purity, and gravity could be felt in the air like a fragrance - permeating households, societies and nations.

So the practice of Krishna consciousness (sanatana dharma) makes more sense to me than anything I have ever read or seen. It continues to invoke pure human intelligence, revives scientific curiosity and holy charm, and re-affirms our faith in Vedic culture (the culture of knowledge).


Hare Krishna Home Programs are held in a friendly, family environment to develop your devotion towards Lord Krishna

FARM FEAST

Get away for the day! • 12 noon on the 2nd. Sunday of each month • RSVP to Keshava dasa (0405-577-453)

FARM ACCOMMODATION

Just 25 minutes from Lorne & the Great Ocean Road! • Enjoy fresh country air, see native wildlife, feed the cows • Take darshan of Shrila Prabhupada & Shri Pancha Tattva! • Tariff $45 per night per adult, $10 per night per child • Retreat & group bookings welcome • Contact Keshava dasa (0405-577-453 or [email protected])

Hare Krishna Valley1265 Winchelsea-Deans Marsh Rd., Bambra 03-5288-7383

General Enquiries:●Melbourne Temple

Aniruddha dasa...............................03-9699-5122

Bhakti Vriksha Group Servant Leaders:●Albert Park

Jagannatha Rama dasa...................0437-988-694 ●Albert Park

Muralidhara dasa.............................0409-972-378●Brighton

Gaurava Kamboja...........................0432-068-690●Caulfield South

Karuna Avatara dasa.....................0403-166-099 ●Clayton

Surya Gopala dasa.........................0412-321-951 ●Deer Park

Janeshwara dasa............................0411-726-186●Geelong

Keshava dasa.................................0405-577-453●Hampton Park

Sucisrava dasa..............................0433-565-174 ●Hillside/Sydenham

Shashi Bhushan..............................0415-457-172●Hoppers Crossing

Charu Chaitanya dasa....................0412-696-559

●Srimad-Bhagavatam Classes: Sanctuary Lakes Monday - Friday 7-7:40am.Jadabharata dasa........................0410-339-835

●KeysboroughUddhava Bandhu dasa...................0422-605-976

●Melton SouthJadabharata & Ajay........................0410-339-835

●Middle ParkMadhavananda dasa......................0400-697-993

●Mill Park/EppingDina Vatsala dasa..........................0430-355-571

●MitchamRasika Chandra dasa....................0419-618-585

●MoorabbinAnanda Ballabha dasa..................03-9502-3481

●South Eastern SuburbsYogeshwara Govinda dasa.............0419-493-694

●Point CookAjay Deshmukh...............................0403-574-586

●Point CookOjas Desai......................................0425-780-550

●Wantirna South Sri Krishna dasa..........................0402-576-803


Chanting Hare KåñëaA Practical Guide to Mantra Meditation

Hare Krishna Home Programs are held in a friendly, family environment to develop your devotion towards Lord Krishna

Hare Krishna Valley1265 Winchelsea-Deans Marsh Rd., Bambra 03-5288-7383

Why is meditation important?

Meditation is a necessary function for one who wants to be happy and free from the miseries and anxieties of life.

What is meditation?

Meditation actually means to fix the mind. But we must ask the question, 'Fix the mind on what?' To be above the everyday anxieties which affect the mind, one must raise himself above the material platform. In fact, one must try to situate oneself on the transcendental - or spiritual - level. 'How can I rise to the spiritual platform?' God is on the spiritual level, and if we are in constant contact with God, we can also be situated on the spiritual platform. The easiest way to be fixed in constant contact with God is through chanting His names.

Chanting the names of God

God - according to different scriptures - has many different names like Krishna, Jehovah, Rama, Allah, Buddha, etc. To chant the names of God is very purifying, and will lift one from the material platform to the spiritual. Since the beginning of time people around the world have chanted and meditated on the names of God as mantras.

What is the best mantra?

The most important of all mantras is the maha-mantra. Maha means 'great.' The word manah means 'the mind,' and tra means 'deliverance.' Therefore, maha-mantra means 'the great deliverance of the mind.'

How to meditate on the Maha-mantra

The best way to chant this mantra is on japa (or meditation) beads. A string of japa beads has 108 beads strung in a circle, with one large bead added to mark the start and end point. You shouldn't chant on the large bead. Start on the bead next to it (see diagram). Hold the bead between the thumb and middle finger of the right hand and say aloud:

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

Chant this mantra on every bead until you have chanted on all 108 beads. Then turn the beads and start going in the other direction. You should never chant on the big bead or cross over it. When you have chanted on all 108 beads and have come to the big bead, this is called one 'round.' Each round should take about 7-10 minutes - or maybe longer - to start with: but don't chant too fast! You should chant a fixed minimum number of rounds each day, and we recommend that you try two rounds of japa meditation in the

morning and in the evening. Then you will really discover the benefit! If you seriously practise this meditation, following the golden rules below, you will achieve all success and happiness in life.

Golden Rules for Japa Meditation:

1. Chant the full maha-mantra on each bead: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare; Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

2. Chant each syllable aloud and clearly.

3. Listen very carefully and concentrate on the sound of the maha-mantra as you chant.

4. To obtain the full blessings of Lord Krishna for good meditation, chant the Pancha-tattva mantra before each round: (Jaya) Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Gadadhara, Srivasadi Gaura-bhakta-vrinda



Enhancing your chi ld 's knowledge and spir it :Bhagavad-gita slokas - Krishna stories - Vaisnava ettiquette - Projects - Ramayan & Mahabharat - Japa meditiation - Quizzes - Krishna kirtan - Drama - Picnics - Krishna art

Weekends Hare Krishna Temple, 197 Danks St. Albert Park

Contact: Yamuna Lila dasi 0400-502-806T r a i n i n g• Junior Group (3 - 5 yrs) Sundays 5 - 6pm (Theatre)

• Intermediate Group (5 - 8 yrs) Sundays 4 - 5pm (Theatre)• Senior Group (8 - 12 yrs) Saturdays 5 - 6pm (Prasadam Hall) • Teenage Group (12 - 18 yrs) Saturdays 6 - 7pm (Theatre)

Kr ishna's Kids

Can you write about Krishna, draw Him or

make games about Him? FOLK invites contributions from every young devotee to make KRISHNA’s KIDS. Go to http://www.

harekrishnamelbourne.com.au/publications/folk-news/write-for-folk-news for more

KRISHNA’S BEAUTY FALLEN PHRASE PUZZLE A fallen phrase puzzle shows the spaces for a sentence or phrase. The letters are directly below the column in which they will fit, but are jumbled within that column. The challenge of the puzzle is to unscramble the letters to reveal the original sentence.

R I S A

B E U T C L O S

A N E I C N L F E L O

A K R A S H I O U R U D

T H D A I O N V R I Y F


I K I R T A N N S E V J E R KI A M I N Y G A T O A W N R DA T A N D V C N I G L L I A AR G O E T H H E A H O S G L NU Y N H I A M N E D H N N P CA S W D D A N I L N I I A I EG L E B E A Y C A S T R H V AN V T E T D S N I Y T S M D EI I Z H U D D U A A X N F A DA M I N R U P N Y T D B I V BG O L D E N A H J I I Z E A MW J K T O N T O A A A A Q N SX K H O D A L T Y K G D C V AA S M A R H I X R P I A A U TH H S O L Q S W Z Q Y X I M Z

MAHAPRABHU'S PREDICTION HIDDEN MESSAGE PUZZLE

Find all of the words above in the puzzle below. Cross out the words as you find them.

Go from the top left corner of the puzzle and - continuing horizontally through each row - circle all of the letters that are not crossed out.Put the letters - in the exact order that you circled them - into the blank spaces below. When you’ve filled all the spaces, a hidden message will appear!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

CAITANYA DANCE DHOTI GAURAGOLDEN JAGAI JAGANNATH KAZI KIRTAN KRISHNA MADAI MOON MRIDANGA NAVADVIP NIMAI NITYANANDAPURNIMA RATHYATRA SACHIDEVI SING

R A R R N E E S T A

N R I I I N F F U I

L L N R B R N E B N

E A G A R L A N D A

T U R B A N L N N L

G E R N C A N R R G

F L O W E R E B B L

N E C K L A C E I W

A N K L E B E L L S

A B E L T I L A K A

KRISHNA’S DECORATIONS WORD SEARCH

ANKLEBELLS BELT BRACELETFLOWER GARLAND NECKLACERING TILAK TURBAN


Varsha PüjäA daily gift for Lord Kåñëa

“...for anything offered to Kåñëa with love and affection, Kåñëa can reciprocate many millions of times over, both materially and spiritually. The basic principle involved is an exchange of love...”

Çréla Prabhupäda SB 10.11.11 Purport

Yes!


Take a big step forward in your spiritual life. Give a gift to Kåñëa, and support Varsha Püjä from as little as $2, $5 or $10 a day.

If you support Varsha Püjä, you can take comfort in the knowledge that every püjä offered in the Temple is through your direct effort. Therefore you receive the spiritual benefit of every worship performed. It means that you build more spiritual credits by making sädhu saìghä possible. You also strengthen preaching in the community.

If you support Varsha Püjä, in addition to these eternal benefits, you will buy into a most generous gift scheme and receive for free the cream of our spiritual literature. This is how it works.

Sign up at: Two dollars a day and receive• Bhagavad-gétä, Science of Self Realisation, Your Ever Well-wisher, Kåñëa Book & Hare Kåñëa CD• a copy of the annual Melbourne Temple Calendar

Five dollars a day for a period of 2 years and receive: • all of the above • a subscription to Back to Godhead • a complete Çrémad-Bhägavatam set

Ten dollars a day for a minimum period of 2 years and receive:• all of the gifts above• plus a full Caitanya-caritämåta set

Be wise. Don't miss out. Just fill in and mail the coupon at left, or call: (03) 9699 5122 to give your donation.

Varsha Püjä sounds like a

great way for me to serve Lord Kåñëa!

I would like to know more about Varsha Püjä Sevä!

Please register me for Varsha Püjä Sevä

My Details

First name

Last name

Address

Telephone/Email

I wish to give a monthly donation of:

$62 $155 $310 Other $2 per day $5 per day $10 per day

from the credit card below until further notice

OR Here is my single donation of:

$730 $1,460 $3,650

I am paying by: Cheque/Money Order Visa

Mastercard AMEXCard no.

Expiry date / /

Name: Dr/ Mr/ Ms/ Miss

Card Holder's signature

Address State Postcode Phone (h)Phone (w)Email


Hare Krishna Centres Around Australia

Melbourne Temple Melbourne Temple is open every day. You are invited to visit, associate with the devotees, take darshan of the beautiful Deities at ärati times, participate in the daily program, attend classes, and honour prasädam.

Time Temple Service 4.30am Maìgala-ärati 5.00am Tulasé-ärati 5.10am Japa Meditation 7.00am Greeting the Deities 7.10am Prabhupäda Guru-püjä 7.30am Çrémad-Bhägavatam Class 9.00am Breakfast Prasädam

12.30pm Bhoga-ärati 1.00pm Lunch Prasädam 4.00pm Dhüpa-ärati 5.30pm Evening Prasädam 6.45pm Tulasé-ärati 7.00pm Sandhyä-ärati 9.00pm Çayana-ärati

Darshan Times: Daytime 4.30am - 5.00am 7.00am - 7.30am 9.00am - 11.00am 12.30pm - 1.00pm Evening 4.00pm - 6.30pm 7.00pm - 7.30pm 9.00pm - 9.20pm

Temples:

Adelaide - 25 Le Hunte Street, Kilburn, SA 5084 T: (08) 8359-5120 F: (08) 8359-5149 E: [email protected] W: iskconadelaide.com.au

Brisbane - 32 Jennifer St Seventeen Mile Rocks 4073 T: (07) 3376 2388 E: [email protected] W: www.iskcon.org.au

Canberra - 44 Limestone Ave, Ainslie, ACT 2602 PO Box 1411, Canberra, ACT 2601 T: (02) 6262 6208 M: 0404 486 746 E: [email protected]: www.harekrishnacanberra.com

Hobart - www.iskcontasmania.websyte.com.au

Melbourne - 197 Danks St, Albert Park VIC 3206 PO Box 125, Albert Park VIC 3206Tram 1 (via Swanston St, City) to stop 31 Tram 12 (via Collins St, City) to stop 136T: (03) 9699 5122 F: (03) 9690 4093 E: [email protected] FB: Hare Krishna Melbourne W: www.harekrishnamelbourne.com.au

Perth - 155-9 Canning Rd Kalamunda WA 6076 T: (08) 6293 1519 E: [email protected]: www.iskconperth.com

Sydney - 180 Falcon St, Nth Sydney NSW PO Box 459, Cammeray NSW 2062 T: (02) 9959 4558 F: (02) 9957 1893 E: [email protected] W: www.iskcon.com.au

Farm Communities:

Bambra (Hare Krishna Valley) - Oak Hill, 1265 Dean’s Marsh Rd, Bambra VIC 3241 PO Box 127, Winchelsea VIC T: (03) 5288 7383 F: (03) 5288 7309 E: [email protected]: www.harekrishnavalley.com.au

Millfield (New Gokul) - 83 Lewis Road, Millfield NSW PO Boz 399, Cessnock NSW 2325 T: (02) 4998 1800 E: [email protected] W: www.newgokula.com

Murwillumbah (New Govardhana) - 525 Tyalgum Rd, Eungella NSW PO Box 687, Murwillumbah NSW 2484 T: (02) 6672 3047 F: (02) 6672 6579E: [email protected] W: www.newgovardhana.net

Restaurants:

Adelaide - Govinda’s Restaurant25 Le Hunte Street, Kilburn T: (08) 8359 5120

Brisbane - Govinda’s City, 1st floor 99 Elizabeth St, Brisbane T: (07) 3210 0255 E: [email protected]: www.brisbanegovindas.com.au

Brisbane - Govinda’s West End, 82 Vulture St (above Perfect Potion), West End T: (04) 0417 3027

Brisbane - Hare Krishna Food for Life, 226 Brunswick St Fortitude Valley QLD 4006 T: (04) 2320 1124

Burleigh Heads - Govinda’s Pure Vegetarian 20 James St, Burleigh Heads T: (07) 5607 0782 E: [email protected] W: www.govindas.net.au

Melbourne - Crossways 1st Floor, 123 Swanston St, Melbourne T: (03) 9650 2939 E: crosswaysfoodfor [email protected]: www.CrosswaysFoodForLife.com.au

Melbourne - Gopal’s 139 Swanston St, Melbourne FB: Gopals Vegetarian Restaurant T: (03) 9650 1578

Newcastle - Krishna’s Vegetarian Cafe 110 King St. Newcastle T: (02) 4929 6900 E:[email protected] W: www.iskcon.com.au/Newcastle.html

Perth - Govinda’s Restaurant 194 William St, Northbridge 6003 T: (08) 9227 1684 E: [email protected]

Surfers Paradise - Govindas Veg-O-Rama, 134 Centro Shopping Centre T: (07) 5538 3788 E: [email protected] W: govindas.vego.googlepages.com

Sydney - Govinda’s & Movie Room 112 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst 2010 T: (02) 9380 5155 E: [email protected] W: govindas.com.au



Dayul

Hare Krishna Valley ReportRasänandiné Däsé

Saàskäras: Purificatory CeremoniesSaàskäras: Purificatory Ceremonies

W e are pleased to announce that we are performing saàskäras, or purificatory

ceremonies, for the congregational members of Melbourne Temple.

The Vedic literatures describe that there are many opportunities during one's life - from before birth to after death - when one may perform a ceremony for purification

to evoke auspiciousness and ensure advancement in spiritual life.

Saàskära is not a substitute for the regulative principles of spiritual life as enunciated by Çréla Prabhupäda. However, in conjunction with these principles, performance of saàskära guarantees eventual perfection in life.

Many of the saàskäras offered are more beneficial if performed at an astrologically auspicious time. The head pujari at the temple will be able to recommend a qualified astrologer.

Saàskäras include:

Jäta-karma: Birth ceremony.

Niñkrämaëa: When a child leaves the house for the first time.

Pausti-karma: Ceremony to protect your child's health.

Anna-präçana: Feeding a child grains for the first time.

Cuòa-karëam: Hair-cutting ceremony.

Vidyärambha: Entering school.

Samävartana: Graduation.

Viväha: Marriage ceremony.

Griha-rambhä: Laying a foundation stone.

Griha-praveça: House-warming.

Shraddha-pattra (Piëòa): Oblations to departed forefathers.

Fire ceremony for auspiciousness.

For more information or details of the ceremonies offered, please call Member Services on (03) 9699 5122.


decorating the cows. Guests enthusiastically danced and chanted in procession to greet the beautiful herd at the dairy. After offering respects to the cows, everyone went to the spring to enjoy dramas. Special guest His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Goswami shared the joys of cow protection with the gathering. A delicious feast was served at the Temple and guests browsed specially created festival stalls.

To ensure the safety of visitors and residents alike, Valley residents met with local Country Fire Association volunteers to implement fire plans for the Summer. Manigiva has been reducing fire risks by cutting grasses low and making necessary upgrades to buildings. Forunately the Valley has a reliable supply of water from its natural springs.

Late in October, Hare Krishna Valley hosted a Family Yoga Retreat with the Sabaidee Yoga and Wellness School: classes catered for adults and kids simultaneously. A highlight for November was the latest in the ever-popular retreat series hosted by Devamrta Swami.

Accommodation at Krishna Ashram (Vegan/vegetarian Otway Retreat) can now be booked on Airbnb.com.au by searching ‘Bambra.’ Select Instant Book to view a calendar of available nights.

To book further accommodation or to get advance notice of upcoming events, go to the Valley’s homepage at http://www.harekrishnavalley.com.au. You can receive Keshava’s farm blog by liking Hare Krishna Valley on Facebook. You can also check the Hare Krishna Melbourne website at harekrishnamelbourne.com.au. If you are interested in helping to develop Hare Krishna Valley, you can contact Keçava Däsa on 0405-577-453 or [email protected].

S ummer crops are growing and work on the goshala continues. November saw much of

the exterior rammed-earth walls complete and the poles to support the roof over the open north side of the building in place. All the calves are growing in size and confidence: Giridhari continues to learn how to help Manigriva by pulling loads in the garden. Newcomers Kunti, Prahlada and Lochana are settling in to the herd.

As an outreach of the Winchelsea Community House Program, Manigriva and Tarini Rupa regularly teach vegetarian/vegan/devotional cooking classes at the Valley.

In October the Valley celebrated the annual Festival of the Cows (Go Puja). Around four hundred visitors joined in. Children enjoyed

published by folk (friends of lord krishna) committee of ...godhead. that is the test of a genuine...

Documents