January 2010 Dedicated to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness Srila Prabhupada: "...the devotees, although they are in London or New York, It has been forty years since ISKCON Govindas was one of the first they're in Vaikuntha. That is made its mark on the streets of vegetarian restaurants in central London. The unmistakable sounds London which is still going strong. to be realized when one is in of cymbals and drums, and the The first ever Radha Krishna deities Krishna consciousness. Yatra remarkable sight of saffron and shaven in ISKCON were in London and Srila tishanti mad-bhakta tatra heads, both charmed and even startled Prabhupada installed them in Bury the Oxford Street crowds in London’s Place, the first ISKCON temple in the tisthami narada. Krishna says, West End. Nowadays ISKCON is UK near the British Museum. In 1979 "I live there where My devotees woven in to the fabric of London life, the Temple moved to Soho Street, just are there." So Krishna can and processions of devotees chanting off Oxford Street. be everywhere where there the Holy Names still continue to To mark the 40th anniversary, the enchant shoppers, revelers, business is devotee. So this material Radha-Krishna Temple celebrated people and international tourists alike. with a week of festivities. There were world, spiritual world means 1969 was the year that the late George special presentations from senior when you forget Krishna, that is Harrison of the Beatles produced the devotees including Yamuna dasi, material. When you are Krishna chart-topping "Hare Krishna Mantra" Shyamasundar das, Gurudas and conscious, that is spiritual. single, and the devotees made their Malati dasi, ending on Sunday 22nd first appearance on British television, November 2009. Conversation, 3rd August 1971 singing live on Top of the Pops. .....continued on page 5 Faiths join for local environmental project As part of National Interfaith Week (15th- 21st November), devotees from Bhaktivedanta Manor joined members of the Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue as well as local Christians to clean up Maxwell Park in Borehamwood. “It was a great morning for an environmental clean-up and the sun was shining,” explained Sita Rama das. “It was enlivening to work with members of the Jewish and Christian communities on a local project.” Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter January 2010 Tamal Krishna Goswami Memorial Bench Diwali in London When Tamal Krishna Goswami passed on in March 2002 he left behind an almost evening of thanks completed PhD thesis which he had been working on since 1998 in the serene surroundings of Clare Hall, Cambridge University. It was to commemorate him, Bhaktivedanta Manor hosted a special and the work that he did at the college and university, that a special memorial thank you evening for all those who bench was installed in the grounds of Clare Hall. organised Diwali in London (DIL) in 2009. The inauguration ceremony was attended In attendance were representatives by a number of his close from the ten Hindu organisations that friends and colleagues were involved, as well DIL Committee from the university as Members and Trustees. well as devotees. It ISKCON was the Chair of the DIL was obvious that Tamal Committee in 2009 and was also a Krishna Goswami founder member eight years ago. had had a profound impact on many around him during his stay there. In the various remembrances he was often referred to as a ‘people person’, someone who truly cared about people. Prof Julius Lipner, Professor of Hinduism and the Comparative Study of Religion, spoke fondly of the peanut burfis that Tamal Krishna Goswami would always bring for him and how he would love to feed him with all sorts of vegetarian culinary delights. An annual highlight in Bhaktivedanta Manor's calendar, Gita Jayanti is a celebration of Lord Krishna's timeless dialogue with Arjuna. In the run up to the event over 1800 Bhagavad Gitas were sponsored by individuals and businesses for distribution. Several hundred people braved icy and dangerous driving conditions to participate in this year's celebration at Bhaktivedanta Manor. The recitation was led by Kripamoya das with chapter summaries provided by guest speaker Gauranga das. Over a period of 6 hours, with two short breaks, the entire Bhagavad Gita was recited. Gauranga das presented a topic based analysis of the chapters, with headings such as co-operation, commitment and selflessness. PagePaPaggee 2 Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter January 2010 Sivarama Swami awarded the Gold Cross His Holiness Sivarama Swami, ‘natural living and high thinking’ and a prominent spiritual leader in are engaged in organic farming and ISKCON, received the Gold Cross traditional crafts. award of the Hungarian Republic During the last 16 years, Krishna- from Dr. Karoly Manherz, State valley has become a prime destination Secretary for Higher Education and for domestic and international Research. This was in appreciation tourism. 30,000 visitors come of his charitable, humanitarian and annually to see the ecologic self- value creating work. sustaining community which runs on The function, which took place at the spiritual principles. Museum of Applied Arts in Budapest, was also attended by Zoltan Balogh, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Human Rights, and His Excellency Ranjit Rae, the Indian Ambassador. The Temple, community and organic farm of Krishna-valley began in 1994 and Sivarama Swami is the founder and leader. The devotees of the ecovillage follow the principle of Krishna Consciousness Societies protect them in the future. There was a (‘KC Socs’) are run by members of cooking demonstration on how to prepare the ISKCON Pandava Sena (IPS) a quick and cheap vegetarian student youth group at 20 universities across meal, followed by the extraordinary the country. With weekly interactive experience of milking and feeding the discussions on diverse topics, students Manor cows! experience dynamic presentations, The attendees were treated to a drama topical debates and the singing and called Under The Influence performed by chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, IPS, followed by a workshop discussing all rounded off with a mini-feast of the play’s theme of the three modes of sanctified vegetarian food (prashad). material nature led by Jai Nitai das. At the Inspire retreat last November, The day concluded with a mantra students from Cambridge, UCL, Kings, meditation session, followed by a kirtan City, QMUL, Leicester, Portsmouth, (devotional song), which eventually Southampton and Brunel were warmly erupted into a dance just as the sunlight welcomed at the Manor and taken on was fading – the perfect way to end a a rollercoaster of fun activity. Bhuta spiritually surcharged day! Bhavana das discussed world issues the younger generation will inherit and Get Involved! www.krishnasoc.com how spirituality will inspire, guide and [email protected]. Page 3 Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter January 2010 George the Vaishnava The annual George Harrison Evening on 29th November was particularly noteworthy because Shyamasundar das and Gurudas were present. Shyamasundar das was the first devotee to meet George Harrison in London, and the last to say goodbye the day before he passed away in 2001. He was able to speak about George as a friend, not only from 1969 but right throughout the years that he knew him. George Harrison’s devotional songwriting is noteworthy. In 1969 Srila Prabhupada asked him to write songs about Krishna and the feelings of a devotee. Some of his songs did not appear on Beatles’ albums, but others did. Here Comes the Sun was written to express George’s feelings of coming to Krishna consciousness. A careful reading of the words to George’s songs will highlight many Vaishnava ideas and sentiments, and for this reason he can be considered a modern Vaishnava poet and songwriter. Page 4 Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter January 2010 .....continued from page 1 The main event was a cultural evening at the renowned Troxy Theatre in London on Saturday 21st November. The event celebrated ISKCON’s arrival in London and its achievements in the fields of art, culture, spiritual education, Vedic philosophy, vegetarian cuisine and ecology. The atmosphere in the large and classy venue of the Troxy theatre was vibrant, as 1700 devotees, and VIPs from the worlds of politics, business and entertainment attended. The evening included a three course meal. The stage programme included performances by The Radha Krishna Temple Band, the Subhadra dancers, the new Krishna Avanti School, the children’s Krishna Club and last, but by no means least, the band Kindred Spirits which included ISKCON school graduates from the US and Britain. Ranchor Prime’s long-awaited book There was also a video retrospective from ISKCON Cinema is now published and available at the producer Yadhubara das, showing clips of Srila Prabhupada in Manor. When the Sun Shines tells the London, the original installation of the deities and an interview with story of how the young Hare Krishna George Harrison. Perhaps the highlight of the evening was when devotees came to Britain in the 1960’s. Syamasundar, Malati, Gurudas and Yamuna sang the Hare Krishna It is a touching and personal account mantra to the tune that is featured in the original Radha Krishna of spiritual adventure, when visions Temple Album. Many devotees were in tears and everyone stood of uplifting the world fired an entire with arms raised. generation. “As the Member of Parliament for the Cities of London and “I can’t remember when I saw my first Westminster it was a pleasure to take part in the celebrations chanting, dancing Hare Krishnas. They marking the 40th Anniversary of ISKCON in London,” said Mark were simply there…like the pied pipers Field MP, key note speaker at the Gala Dinner.