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R MAYAPURM o n t h l y n e w s l e t t e r f r o m t h e Ç r é M ä y ä p u rTIMES C a n d r o d ay a M a n d i r I nternational S o c i e t y f o r K å ñ ë a C o n s c i o u s n e s s MAYAPUR F o u n d e r - Ä c ä r y a H i s D i v i n e G r a c e A . C . B h a k t i v e d a n ta S w a m i P r a b h u p ä d a Volume #2018, Issue #002/August October 2018

_ LIFE IN JHULAN_ _ BALARAMA YATRA PURNIMA MAYAPUR _ _ JHULAN YATRA A Festival of Sweetness

For the last 33 years, an enthusiastic group of ISKCON Youth has worked together each year for an entire month before the annual Jhulan Yatra festival in Sridham Mayapur. In order to prepare for the festivities, these 54 dedicated servants and vonunteers of Sri Sri Madhava work day and night to ensure that the Divine Couple and Their associates will be well served during the 5-day festival.

The Jhulan Yatra team turn a dense forest of weeds and overgrown trees and plants into a magnificent flower grove decorated with winding pathways lit by lamps and fairy lights, colourfully lit waterfalls and ponds with fountains, blossoming flowers, trimmed bushes and multi-coloured lights. The breath-taking marvel of the grove is accompanied by an atmosphere surcharged with the boundless love and devotion of the Lord’s devotees, making it the perfect place for Their Lordships to enjoy many wonderful pastimes together and to engage the devotees in Their loving devotional service.

1 Every afternoon for the duration is done, devotees immediately the pleasure of Their Lordships of the festival, a small group of rush in to swing the Lord of and Their devotees. devotees decorate a beautiful their hearts. All throughout the palanquin to transport Sri Sri festival, delicious prasadam is To conclude the night’s festivities, Radha Madhava to Their flower served to the devotees who have Sri Sri Radha Madhava are laden bower for Their evening finished swinging the Lord. Over mounted on Their beautifully pastimes. It is also during this 17,500 people got to swing Their decorated palanquin and are taken time that a different group of Lordships and take prasadam. to a small pukur, or pond, close devotees make a brand new outfit to the entrance of Their kunja, for Their Lordships to wear when For the duration of Sri Sri Radha and enjoy a display of lights on They go out for Their evening Madhava’s swinging pastimes, the water. Once the light show is rendezvous. These outfits are Their devotees worship Them finished, the Lord is then taken made entirely of flowers, and with many sweet songs of back to the temple, and is greeted decorated with peacock feathers glorification written by our with more displays of lights on and multi-coloured pearls, gems previous acharyas, such as Srila the road, accompanied by the and ribbons. Rupa Goswami, Das, dramatic exhibition of devotees Bhaktivinoda Thakura and others. breathing fire. The procession When Sri Sri Radha Madhava The Lord is also entertained by a is ecstatically tumultuous and is have donned Their flower outfits, range of dances and dramatic re- heard in all directions. They head out from the Sri enactments of various pastimes, Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir all performed by the devotees for on the beautifully decorated palanquin to Their secluded kunja, which is located near the ISKCON Mayapur Goshala. The Divine Couple are taken with a grand procession, led by blissful singing and dancing.

Once Sri Madhava and Srimati Radhika are comfortably seated on Their jewel-encrusted throne, They are given a wonderful reception and are offered various refreshments. Devotees eagerly wait in long lines to get the opportunity to swing Their Lordships, and once the reception 2 _ Balarama Purnima Lord Balarama’s appearance day, commonly known as Balarama Purnima or Balarama Jayanti, is celebrated in ISKCON Rajapur Jagannatha Mandir and in the Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir. In the ISKCON Rajapur Jagannatha mandir, the devotees have a wonderful abhisek ceremony for Sri Baladeva with ecstatic , and distribute maha prasadam.

In the Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir, just before midday, an abhisek is performed, along with a grand bhoga offering, followed by puspanjali, or offering of flowers. Thereafter, there is a Maha Arati and the distribution of the maha prasadam.

In the evening, devotees bring offerings for Lord Balarama, throw coloured powders on each other, and celebrate the breaking of Varuni pots. Clay pots of various sizes are filled with sweet honey nectar and other delightful sweets and are strung up in the air. The devotees take turns to hit the pots while blindfolded, and once a pot is broken, the contents of the pot are distributed, another pot is strung up, and the devotees get ready for another round.

Throughout the festival, Lord Balarama’s favourite ambrosial drink is served out. Although not containing any intoxicants, the Varuni drink seems to have a similar effect on those who drink a lot of this honey flavoured drink. Celebrations continue later into the night with ecstatic kirtan.

3 3 THE NETWORKING TREE OF LORD CAITANYA

Countless people come to whose name comes from the now conducts a wide variety of ISKCON Mayapur from all Caitanya-caritamrta’s description preaching programs in Navadvipa over and the world, and of the tree of devotional service, and in the surrounding area, in ISKCON Mayapur has a number or bhakti-vriksha. Mayapur’s places such as Krishnanagar, of preaching endeavours to attract Bhakti Vriksha is an initiative , , Shyampur, these people to Mayapur and to which preaches the teachings Suvarna Vihar, Srirampur, preach the science of Krishna of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Dharmada, , and consciousness to them. ISKCON specifically to the local people in . Mayapur’s preaching targets all and around Nadia. people, both those from far away The Bhakti Vriksha Department lands and those who reside within Mayapur Bhakti Vriksha began attracts people in a variety of and near Mahaprabhu’s own land. on a very small scale as a local ways. Often, the devotees do preaching program in Navadvipa. Nagar Sankirtan and arrange One of these preaching programs Devotees would simply drive to special programs known as is the Mayapur Bhakti Vriksha a nearby locality in Navadvipa Jivan-jignasa in which they have program. Bhakti Vriksha and have lectures, kirtan, and kirtan, present a slideshow, have preaching is a method derived prasadam distribution. Since a Questions and Answers session, from Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s then, it has expanded into a full- and serve prasadam. Sometimes, Sri Godruma Kalpatavi, and scale Bhakti Vriksha program and they arrange special stage 4 for Bhakti Vriksha participants to visit holy places such as Kanai Natashala, , Ramakeli, , and others. In the year 2016 alone, the Mayapur Bhakti Vriksha Department organized almost two hundred events for members to participate in.

Another unique way Mayapur Bhakti Vriksha encourages its members and attracts new Bhakti Vriksha members is by holding picnics on the different islands of Navadvipa Dham. Attendees are fed sumptuous prasadam, engage in kirtan, listen to classes, and participate in fun Krishna programs in different places. The programs, spiritual picnics, visits conscious games and contests. devotees rent an auditorium and to Mayapur, book distribution, Attendees are requested to bring many devotees from ISKCON prasadam distribution, kirtan a friend along who is not already Mayapur come to participate utsavs, and more. Participants a Bhakti Vriksha member, so in in the program. They perform are engaged in service in Sri addition to enlivening current dances, musical presentations, Dham Mayapur on festivals such Bhakti Vriksha members, these and dramas, and senior devotees as Rama Navami, Sri Krishna picnic programs also serve to speak. There is also kirtan and Janmastami, and Nrisimha attract new members. prasadam distribution. During Caturdasi. They engage in the month of Kartik, the Bhakti vaishnava seva during Navadvipa Mayapur’s Bhakti Vriksha Vriksha Department conducts Mandala , serving Department desires to engage Damodara Programs, in which refreshments to the devotees on local people of all varieties attendees hear about Damodara parikrama as they pass through in the practice of Krishna lila and offer lamps. In 2016, the Bhakti Vriksha members’ consciousness. In some of the the Damodara Programs were respective areas. Mayapur’s areas in and around Navadvipa so successful that the Mayapur Bhakti Vriksha team also arranges Dham, the local population Bhakti Vriksha Department is not very literate; therefore, engaged over 100,000 people in offering lamps to the Lord. All of these programs are very effective for attracting the local people to become a part of Mayapur’s Bhakti Vriksha.

Those who are members of the Bhakti Vriksha program are enlivened in their Krishna consciousness in many ways. Each group meets weekly, and monthly they have larger get- togethers. The Mayapur Bhakti Vriksha Department organizes many different events for Bhakti Vriksha members to participate in, including Gita seminars, house 5 the devotees arrange special programs catered specifically for these localities. They have special groups for members from these areas, known as Radha Madhava Bhakta Samaj groups, which have regular programs that facilitate members’ spiritual development despite their limited ability to read Srila Prabhupada’s books.

A key aspect of any Bhakti Vriksha program is its networking system, because once one Bhakti Vriksha group is established, its members are encouraged to start new Bhakti Vriksha groups, and thus the Bhakti Vriksha program expands exponentially. Although there are only ten devotees serving fulltime within Mayapur’s Bhakti Vriksha Department, there are now thirty-eight Bhakti Vriksha groups and eight Radha Madhava Bhakta Samaj groups.

Sri Dham Mayapur is the headquarters of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His preaching movement, and so Mayapur’s Bhakti Vriksha program envisions that from this central hub, the Bhakti Vriksha network will continue to spread outward throughout all regions. In this way, people from many different areas will be connected to Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and His glorious and most merciful Dham. .

6 Life in Mayapur

We (myself, my wife, and two Children are given a rare 1 daughters) moved to Mayapur in opportunity to attend schools Daily recite Sri May 2011. Oftentimes devotee- where there are Krsna Conscious Navadvipastakam by Srila friends from the West would teachers, a Krsna Conscious Rupa Goswami ask if we would leave Mayapur curriculum, devotee students, and go back to the West. The prasadam etc. In Sridham answer is an unequivocal – NO. Mayapur, there is a festival 2 Who wants to leave Mayapur? every day. Outside Mayapur, Daily pay obeisances to the Why would we want to? It’s the influence of material energy Dhama the best place in the world. We is quite heavy, especially on our get the madhurya (sweetness) children. 3 of Vrndavan in addition to Sri Daily take the dust of the Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s audarya After living in Mayapur for Dhama onto our heads (magnanimity). some time, we can very easily become complacent. My 4 I heard a senior Vaisnava once Maharaj, HH Partha-sarathi Das Daily taking drops of Ganga on say that just living in India, one Goswami, oftentimes reminds our heads if we cannot bathe in makes spiritual advancement us of our extreme good fortune her waters quicker than in the West. What to be given the rare opportunity to speak of being in the Holy to live in Sridham Mayapur. For now – the above is pretty Dhama of Sridham Mayapur He warned us about becoming mechanical for me – but I’m where advancement is thousands overly familiar with the Dhama praying to the Dhama that of times quicker? It’s like a and the residents, and he gave someday I will be more sincere pressure cooker that cooks the us specific instructions whilst in my attempt at the above. dal quicker than an ordinary pot. living in the Dhama. I will like to BUT, the intense pressure means share some of these instructions By the mercy of Srila Prabhupada that purification comes quicker with you since I’m certain it will and his followers, we have a very ... and it is more intense. help you in your appreciation of nice community of devotees Sridham Mayapur : where the centre are the Sridham Mayapur is the perfect presiding Authorities viz. Sri Sri place for bringing up a family. Radha Madhava & Astasakhis, 7 Sri Sri Pancha-Tattva & Sri Sri Prahlad Nrsimha. We have the rare opportunity to be able to have Their darsan everyday – how wonderful is that?

Although we may (and do) have our differences, the central goal is that we are all aspiring to stay here in Sridham Mayapur and develop our love for the Divine Couple by the extraordinary mercy of the Panca-Tattva. Devotees outside the Dhama should plan their lives so that they can retire early and come to stay in the spiritual world ...

Sridham Mayapur ki jai!! Your servant, Vrsabhanu Das

ACTIVITIES

Akhanda-nam kirtan for the recovery of His Holiness Jayapataka

For the speedy recovery of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami, the temple had organised and Akhanda, or non-stop kirtan in Sri Sri Radha Madhava’s temple hall for Maharaja’s wellbeing. In the month of August, over 590 hours of kirtan was offered for the pleasure of Their Lordships. A core team of over 50 disciples, aspiring disciples and well- Nama-hatta bhavan events from August: wishers have volunteered to keep this service going, that is North 24 Parganas Nama-hatta Sanmmilan – 3,000 attending still going on to this day. On a devotees daily basis, hundreds of devotees participate in this Akhanda South 24 Parganas Nama-hatta Sanmmilan – 2,000 attending kirtan. devotees

Hoogly Nama-hatta Sanmmilan – 2,000 attending devotees

8 THE POWER OF THE HOLY NAME

n the Puranas there is a I in his record to show that As everyone knows for decades story of one old man who was he did anything pious or now Christmas has developed addicted to sinful activity he transcendental. So what are you into one of the biggest money was very cruel person. But when doing here?” spinning ventures of all time. he was on his death bed, at the It has been so institutionalised last minute he had a change The Visnu-dutas replied, like this that even our devotees of heart.He said, “Well, why “We have come to take this man would “get into the Xmas spirit” not try it? All my life I’ve seen back to Godhead simply be to distribute more books. these Vaisnavas chanting Hare cause he had a desire to chant Krsna. I’m going to die anyway, Hare Krsna. Putting on Santa Klaus outfits so I might as well try it.” they would take to the airports and try to stop passers by. On one such occasion, during this He called his servant and Moral of The Story partying period of the year a told him “Go to the marketplace drunk came to harass a devo- and purchase some of those If Namabhasa, or tee dressed as Santa. The irate beads I see the devotees chant- drunk shouted, whilst brandish- ing on, those -malas.” contaminated changing ing a hand gun at the devotee, His servant was sur- of the holy name is so “You’re not Santa, your one of prised. “You want japa-mala? powerful, just imagine those ’s ...... What are you going to do with the power of chanting you’re not Santa you’re a fraud.” them?” the holy names purely. “I’m going to chant Hare Krsna. The devotee keeping a cool head opened his As It Give it a try.” Is, to the verse 3:13 and showed the irate drunk. See Srila Prabh- So the servant went to the upada says here in this purport, marketplace, but unfortunately “That all the devotees are santa !” the old man died before ....now we expect you to go to his servant returned. that purport right now, come on it’s worth it. So at that time the .....needless to say shastra saved Yama-dutas came, and the the day again, and the devotee Visnu-dutas also came at the went on to distribute many of same time.Both questioned the Srila Prabhupada’s books other’s presence. Told by Brighupati dasa ACBSP in 1993, who was there at the The Yama-dutas said, “This time.(http://www.hknet.org.nz/Newsletter-Jokes192.html ) man was a very sinful per- son. He never did one pious activity.There is nothing 9 9

AUGUST AUGUST 668,054 26,429

NUMBER OF VISITING NUMBER OF PILGRIMS VISITORS STAYING IN MAYAPUR GUESTHOUSES

AUGUST 141,231 AUGUST NUMBER OF PLATES OF PRASAM 8 DISTRIBUTED NUMBER OF NEW BHAKTAS JOINED

SANKIRTAN BOOK POINTS 51,056.50 AUGUST AUGUST 33,000

FACTS & FIGURES & FACTS BOWLS OF KITCHARI DISTRIBUTED

1010

Management Notification As Reported by Mayapur Communication Office

Official ISKCON Mayapur outpost are the following:

Nama-hatta outposts: 10.Singur at district of Hoogly 21.Katwa at East Burdwan 1.Dhupguri at district of managed by Atmananda Gour Das managed by Tota Gopinath Das Jalpaiguri managed by Biswajit Das 11. at district of 22.Gushkara at East Burdwean Hoogly managed by Seva Nidhi managed by Sushil Sribas Das 2.Radha Nagar at District Das of Howrah managed by Sujoy 23.Gopalganj, Kumarganj at Madhav Das 12.Arambag at district of South Dinajpur managed by Dina Hoogly managed by Premananda Dayal Keshab Das 3.Belsing at district of South Gopal Das 24 Parganas managed by Bimal 24.Raghunathganj at Krishna Das 13.Baruipur at district of South Mursidabadad managed by 24 Parganas managed by Surasen Bindumadhab Das 4.Roypur at district of Bankura Das managed by Rasomayananda 25.Kalyani at Nadia managed by Krishna Das 14.Moukhali Madhuban, at Subhas Krishna Das district of South 24 Parganas 5.Jagtagaon, Islampur district of managed by Sachidulal Chaitanya 26.Chakda at Nadia managed by Uttar Dinajpur managed by Joy Das Raghab Gouranga Das Gadadhar Das 15.Purulia managed by Sribas 27.Contai East Midnapur 6.Baburhat at district of Charan Das 28. at West Midnapur Coochbehar managed by Sham 29.Jhargrame at West Midnapur Sindhu Das 16.Lal bazaar at district of 30.Gorbeta at West Midnapur Bankura managed by Ashesananda 7.Rupahar Roygang at District Das 31.Fairanijot, Ranidanga at of Uttar Dinajpur managed by managed by Manik Nanda Gopa Kumar Das 17.Hat Asuria Bankura at Barman district of Bankura managed by 8.Gangarampur at district of Joy Bijoy Das 32.New town, Alipurduar Dakhin Dinajpur managed by Lila- managed by Shyam Sakha Sahadev hari Das 18.Puncha at district of Purulia Das managed by Daya Chandra Hari 9.Chinsura at district of Hoogly Das managed by Uttam-sloka Das 19.Asansol at district of West Burdwan managed by Daya Chandra Das

20.Burdwan town at district of East Burdwan managed by Niladri Das

11 11 Srila Prabhupada’s Lotus Park Historic Gita course outposts: Monument Vaishnava

1.Uday Narayanpur (Howrah): In order to mark the historical amadhis Bhabamrita Prabhu S significance of the Srila Prabhupada’s lotus park, certain Whereas most Vaishanva 2Srirampur (Hooghly): Sudhama adjustements were proposed, Samadhis in area are Bandhu Prabhu such as putting an arch with the generally uncovered, the MAC name over the bench where Srila has resolved that in order to 3. (31 Lake Avenue) Prabhupada used to sit, MAC maintain the visual sanctity of & 24 Parganas (Basir Hat): therefore approves that Srila the Vaisnava samadhi area, there Lakshmi Govinda Das Prabhupada’s Lotus Park Historic will be no structures, permanent Monument project is presented or otherwise, on top of any of the Samadhi Kalash to the Master Plan team, and Vaishnava samadhis. will evaluate the project based installation on their (MPA) feedback and In addition, the Master Plan team proposal. is requested to advise on proper shade trees to protect pilgrims The MAC approves the and from the weather. installation of new kalash on Srila Prabhupada Samadhi Division Srila Prabhupada’s samadhi dome. Committee for Head will ensure that the present MAC would to especially like structures are removed and that to thank His Grace Naresvara Development no new structures are raised. Prabhu forhis assistance in this of ri ayapur project. Efforts are being made S M to complete this project before hama Garua Purnima 2019. D

The MAC recommends MEB to form a committee for the development of Sri Mayapur Dhama.

1212 “He Built a House in Which the Whole World Can Live"

“Now I have come back to my home, Vrindavan. If anything should go wrong, atleast I will be here in Vrindavana. Vrindavana is for residence, Bombay is for office for organization, and Mayapur is for worship of the Supreme Lord .” - Letter to Gurukripa, May 18,1977.

Appreciation for previous newsletter team

We would like to take this opportunity to thank the previous team of the Mayapur Times Newsletter, H.G Ananda Prabhu, H.G Daru Brahman Das, H.G Adidevi Mataji, H.G Premadata Mataji, Sarava Priya Gaurangi Mataji for their wonderful service.

Copyright © 2018 by MAC MAYAPUR TIMES - Authorized by MAYAPUR ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL (MAC) The contents contained in this ‘MAYAPUR TIMES’ newsletter are copyright protected. Except with the prior written permission of the MAC, no person may duplicate, reproduce, edit, publish, make available or disseminate through whatever means this newsletter or any content contained in whole or in part. Reported from MAYAPUR COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENT Layout & design - Srihari, Edited & Compiled - Ananga Gopi DD, Vrindavani DD, Binoy Gauranga Das Photos taken from - Mayapur.com, Aradhya Gauranga Das, Mayapur Jhulan Yatra, Narahari Das

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