April 2014 April

Dedicated to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder- of the International Society for Consciousness Gaura Purnima Celebrations

Srila Prabhupada: Krishna assumed the form of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He This year’s Gaura Purnima festival, Abhisek of Sri Sri Gaura deities, desired to know the glory of held on Sunday 16th March, was a arati and an inspired talk by Malati dasi. ’s love. “Why is She so joint celebration between Bhaktivedanta The evening was a most entertaining much in love with Me?” Krishna Manor and ISKCON one: premier drama performances by asked…And when Radharani communities. Organised by Jai Nitai the Bhaktivedanta Players and Radha- feels My love, what is She das, Trinadapi das, and their respective Krishna Drama Group were followed by actually feeling?” To taste the festival team members over a period led by senior devotees from both essence of that loving exchange, of several months, it was a unique and Temples. The ensuing Ekadasi feast Krishna made His appearance highly successful event. was delicious and there was a buzzing in the same way that the moon Over 1200 devotees from both atmosphere throughout the venue. appears on the horizon of the communities came together for the “There was a great response”, explained sea…by the churning of spiritual largest Harinama procession down Secretary Brilata loving affairs the moon of London’s Oxford Street for a long time. dasi, “and devotees really appreciated Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared. This was followed by a wonderful that both communities came together. It Caitanya Caritamrta, Adi Lila, festival in the lavish Grand Connaught was so successful that we want to do it Introduction Rooms nearby, where there was again next year.” more photos on page 3 Avanti House Receives good news Avanti Schools Trust are delighted audience of 2,000 with the to announce that Harrow Borough latest good news. Council’s cabinet have approved plans The proposal has met with for Avanti House Secondary School to overwhelming and unanimous be built on Whitchurch Playing Fields, support from Harrow Council's Stanmore. cabinet. A new secondary This long awaited decision follows just school on the site not only helps days after the completion of a feasibility to meet the high demand for study by the Education Funding Agency new school places in the area, (EFA) who announced earlier in the but preserves the use of the land week that the site is indeed suitable. for community use; in particular That evening, Cllr Susan Hall, Leader sports and recreation. Avanti of Harrow Council was kind enough Schools Trust will therefore to attend Ramnavami celebrations at work closely with developers Bhaktivedanta Manor, updating an to ensure the...continued on page 2 Cllr Susan Hall, Leader of Harrow Council announced the good news to the crowds on Navami at Bhaktivedanta Manor Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter April 2014

Global Minister for Cow Protection and Agriculture During this year’s ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC) meetings Systematic study of Srila Prabhupada’s books in , Syamasundar das was On March 25th students were awarded It is the ambition of our teachers appointed as the Global Minister for the Bhakti Sastri degree Course that devotees taking this course will Cow Protection and Agriculture. He certificate. The College of Vedic experience a positive change in their will oversee ISKCON’s cow protection Studies at Bhaktivedanta Manor has Krishna consciousness and spiritual projects globally, observe techniques been formally running the course now lives. It encourages the students to not and standards and work with local GBC for 8 years. only understand the content of Srila representatives to maintain and develop Prabhupada’s books, but to also digest cow protection and welfare in their areas. The course is suitable for devotees who the philosophy and practically apply it. “ We will be looking to increase the are familiar with the practice of Krishna capacity of milk productivity and increase consciousness, desiring to study Srila The next course starts this September. the amount of agricultural activities and Prabhupada’s books in greater depth. To register, or for more information, transport done by oxen,” he explained. please email [email protected]

Avanti House Receives good news Avanti Schools Trust will now begin but the whole community of Harrow. continued from page 1... school plays an developing a detailed planning “It’s a really positive development for active role in the lives of local people. application, to be submitted in the the school and it has been a long time A state-of-the-art building will be the summer, enabling a partial handover of coming. Once the school is built and centrepiece for the 25 acre site. In the building in time for September 2015, there is a permanent base it will have addition to the specialised areas (such with full completion by September 2016. been worth the wait. as performing arts, science and design On hearing that Harrow Council had “The location of the new school site & technology), sports will also feature granted the site for Avanti House will not only be perfect for our current prominently, with a full size artificial 3G Secondary, Nitesh Gor, Avanti CEO students but for the whole community sports pitch, further natural grass pitches said: “It’s not just good news for the we will serve.” and a multi-use games area. school trust and the parents and pupils,

Run, Jump, Kick and Moo! Syamasundar das. Indeed, devotees farm where we offered Them puja,” love to watch the sight of cows and continued Syamasundar das, “The It was a sunny morning on Sunday bulls running, jumping, kicking, deities were offered a wide range of 23rd March, when all the Manor’s mooing and evening locking horns in dairy products made from the milk of cows and bullocks were let back out excitement! our cows. That day we also laid out into the fields after spending a long a trail made up of rangoli patterns on winter inside. “It was a very enjoyable “Earlier we took the small deities from the floor.” morning,” described Farm Manager the Temple room to the New Gokul

Page 2 Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter April 2014 Snapshots of Gaura Purnima Celebrations

Festival of Colours more popular than ever 15,000 people came together at and the field resembled a steaming lake Bhaktivedanta Manor for the festival of as multi-coloured powder rose high into Holi, a colourful celebration of Spring the air! that marks the start of the new season. The celebrations culminated in a bonfire A designated field was transformed into a to mark the ancient story of the boy riotous kaleidoscope of colour, as young saint Prahlada, with dignitaries from and old joyously threw coloured powder Hertsmere, Harrow and Three Rivers over each-other. More local people than expressing how much they enjoyed their ever attended the festival to take part, experience.

Page 3 Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter April 2014 Save the Temple Campaign celebrated in Parliament

Thousands sat on the road outside that when 37,000 people came together the success since those days has been Parliament 20 years ago protesting about in such numbers they protested with profound and lasting both economically the public closure of Bhaktivedanta integrity. and politically. Manor. However, 20 years later a Srutidharma Das, the current Temple The Minister of Justice and Civil Liberties celebration inside Parliament recognised President recalled the “harnessing of so the Rt Hon Simon Hughes MP said that how it was possible for many diverse many people who marched to Parliament in the end the British democratic system communities to come together and show on 16th March 1994, when all members prevailed and through peaceful protest what can be achieved with one, united of the community and generations of the rights of worship were preserved. voice. families joined together. “ Also present was former Councillor and Scores of Lords, MPs, Councillors, Keith Vaz MP, who helped and supported tireless campaigner Frank Ward, along old friends and key members of the campaign throughout, said that “the with his family, former members of the Bhaktivedanta Manor’s community campaign was a rite of passage for the Campaign’s legal team, Chair of the came together to share their memories of British Hindu community who now Interfaith Network Dr Harriet Crabtree the one and only campaign that brought have a strong and important political and friends from Hertsmere Council and together the British Hindu, Jain and Sikh presence”. Lord Popat echoed that Letchmore Heath village. communities. After opening prayers by Kripamoya das, Mr C.B Patel, editor of the Asian Voice and key campaigner, then launched the souvenir magazine which detailed the history - the low and high points - of the campaign. Akhandadhi Das, Temple President of Bhaktivedanta Manor of the time, delivered an emotional speech recalling

Page 4 Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter April 2014 International Scholars of Canterbury Christ Church University Religion The Manor received a vibrant group kirtan and learnt about the philosophy of Three international scholars of religion, of 25 students of religious studies at the . Eileen Barker OBE, J Gordon Melton Canterbury Christ Church University. The students enjoyed everything, and Timothy Miller were hosted for a Dhananjaya das organised the event particularly feeding the cows! They visit to the Manor. with Professor Katya who works at looked forward to coming again and the University. Radha Govinda das, The scholars were in the area for a commented that 'there is a real genuinely Gurudasa, Jaya Krishna and Ananga conference on minority religions tranquil atmosphere at Bhaktivedanta worked together to give the organised by INFORM at the London Manor' students a full ‘’ experience. School of Economics. Dhananjaya das previously knew On the hot sunny day the students were Professor Katya from his time as the Gauri das, Temple representative, also taken for a tour of the building, gardens head of MVT in , India. spoke at the conference about ISKCON's and farm and partook in hatha , growth and world presence as the Society approaches 50 years in the west.

Bhaktivedanta Players in Prince Edward gets a Gita Mumbai Sitadevi Patel, Krishna Conscious Society Former member of the Manor community (KCsocs) President for Bath University and Sabbatical attendee Prema Kirtan since 2012, was given the opportunity das organised a four day kirtan mela in to met Prince Edward because of her an upmarket venue in India’s largest city, contributions she has made towards which included established ISKCON University life. On behalf on KCsocs she kirtaneers from across the world. He presented the Royal with a copy of Srila also invited the Bhaktivedanta Players Prabhupada’s Bhagavad Gita. to perform two plays a day during the Mela, to add variety to the occasion. A core of Bhaktivedanta Player members flew to Mumbai ahead of time to audition and rehearse with local devotee actors, so that they were able to put on large scale dramas there.

Body, Mind and Spirit Director celebrates Wedding Anniversary at Manor Bhaktivedanta Manor once again opened people all over the world and unites its doors to new guests in the form Israelis and Palestinians in yoga classes. of Body, Mind Spirit Director Mel Adi-Guru das and Jaya Krishna das Carlisle and his wife who chose the conducted a Vedic fire ceremony and Temple to celebrate their 25th Wedding Chakrini dasi sang a kirtan. Anniversary along with family and Mel Carlisle will be assisting the devotees friends. Guests including renowned at this year’s Mind Body Spirit Expo at Yoga teacher David Sye from Yogabeats Earls Court by granting devotees ample who teaches yoga to young deprived tent space and prime time stage slots.

Page 5 Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter April 2014 Bhagavad Gita A Short Summary in Acronyms by Sutapa das Based on Bhagavad Gita As It Is by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Premisha Patel KC SOC RETREAT 2014 Age: 7 - Knowledge of the Absolute 16 Whether it’s your next holiday does have inherent limitations. How can learn to see God everywhere. Studying: destination, the choice of university do you understand those things A – Accept or Reject (Verses 13-19) - for your studies, or the restaurant beyond your immediate perception? Preston Manor If God can be perceived everywhere for next week’s birthday party, For example, if you wanted to and His existence is so strikingly Pandava senas fi nal KCSoc the UK, hoping to bring students High School most things in life require some find out what BBC1 was showing obvious, why is there still wholesale retreat of the term was a great a new insight of spirituality into research. While we may value our tonight, the most obvious approach success with 70 students who their lives, and to continue to denial of Him? Resisting forceful gut feelings, we simultaneously would be to consult a TV guide. visited Bhaktivedanta Manor last serve Srila Prabhupada’s mission compliance, Krishna endows each utilise our intelligence and exercise You could subsequently verify by month. and spread Krsna Consciousness individual with the free will to “fly discrimination. The same goes actually watching the programmes. All the KCSocieties from the UK to everyone. their own plane” and decide where joined together to experience a for spirituality. It is not simply a In other words, we can’t depend to repose their faith. He describes fulfi lling day full of workshops, sentimental impulse or practice; it on our sensory experience to the four types of people who reject seminars, service and mantra How did you fi nd out about Psena? requires intelligent research and provide all the answers. Accepting God due to their preoccupation in meditation. information gathering. It is an affair a “higher authority” opens up new worldly life, and the four types of opportunities to experience Pandava Sena’s most popular I found out about pandava sena through the people who do accept God, albeit the truth directly. Krishna Janmastami show from 2009, manor, I was told about the events that take with different degrees of selfish place, one of the events that takes place is begins this chapter by ‘Under the Infl uence’ was intent. In conclusion, it’s a rare soul ‘HARROW JAMMIN’ which was my fi rst PS stressing the absolute performed by a new cast. in this world who is able to approach Students also took part in milking event! necessity of hearing God free of ulterior motives, and the cows and an exciting samosa from spiritual sources, enter into a selfless relationship of making workshop. to understand universal love. That level of spiritual purity, The retreat ended in a unique realities. This is known Krishna says, may take thousands of way with a bonfi re and pasties. as the descending path of Many students went away with births! knowledge. What did you like about the events? D – Demigods (Verses 20-30) - – Everywhere (Verses E Practically speaking, even a mere 4-12) - By hearing from acceptance of God is a propitious I really enjoy the ps events they are authorised spiritual sources achievement in this age. This really engaging and interactive. Also the one can acquire profound acceptance, however, is not enough senagetaway trips are amazing, you come knowledge of the divine. – one must gain an accurate and back with so many friends, everyone is so In answer to the common welcoming and friendly. precise understanding. If you were challenge “Can you show me God?” of the head and the heart. Einstein to be operated on, you would Krishna cites the analogy of pearls once stated that religion without insist the surgeon be well-versed strung on a thread. The pearls are philosophy was simply sentiment, in the details and intricacies of the perfectly strung and arranged as a and in more acute situations, process. It is, after all, a matter of necklace, while the thread remains downright fanaticism. In Chapter life and death. Similarly, to simply What do you do in Psena? completely invisible. Similarly, God Seven, entitled “Knowledge of believe in God is not enough; one designs, creates and sustains the the Absolute”, Krishna delineates must understand His nature and entire universe yet remains invisible an exciting experience of Krsna Currently I am part of the HARROW JAMMIN certain philosophical truths to instil personality. Towards the end of team, I help to organise prasadam for the to the immature observer. The Consciousness enriched with confidence and conviction in the the chapter, Krishna establishes philosophy, Kirtan and tasty events. I also take part in plays throughout the extreme intricacy and sophistication process of bhakti-yoga. monotheism and distinguishes prashad! year. of the creation, however, naturally ‘demigods’ as powerful entities Every week, all KCSocieties indicates the presence of higher H – Hearing (Verses 1-3) - Modern in charge of universal affairs, preach to young people all over intelligence. Krishna further thinkers often posit a notion of who are in no way, shape or form Last week was the grand explains how He is the essence of celebration of the appearance proving everything empirically, equal to God. Such dangerous everything within the creation – the day of Lord Chaitanya! Pandava rejecting anything which cannot be misconceptions are cleared up as taste of water, the light of the sun Sena prepared the colours used directly perceived by our senses. they have the potential to impede and the ability in man. In this way, for the colour throwing festivals While this may seem a logical, the spirit of pure devotion. through the eyes of knowledge, one two weeks in advance, and objective and rational approach, it helped supervise the festival.

Page 6 www.psena.com Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter April 2014

Premisha Patel KC SOC RETREAT 2014 Age: 16 Studying: Preston Manor Pandava senas fi nal KCSoc the UK, hoping to bring students High School retreat of the term was a great a new insight of spirituality into success with 70 students who their lives, and to continue to visited Bhaktivedanta Manor last serve Srila Prabhupada’s mission month. and spread Krsna Consciousness All the KCSocieties from the UK to everyone. joined together to experience a fulfi lling day full of workshops, seminars, service and mantra How did you fi nd out about Psena? meditation.

Pandava Sena’s most popular I found out about pandava sena through the Janmastami show from 2009, manor, I was told about the events that take ‘Under the Infl uence’ was place, one of the events that takes place is performed by a new cast. ‘HARROW JAMMIN’ which was my fi rst PS Students also took part in milking event! the cows and an exciting samosa making workshop. The retreat ended in a unique way with a bonfi re and pasties. Many students went away with What did you like about the events?

I really enjoy the ps events they are really engaging and interactive. Also the senagetaway trips are amazing, you come back with so many friends, everyone is so welcoming and friendly.

What do you do in Psena? an exciting experience of Krsna Currently I am part of the HARROW JAMMIN Consciousness enriched with team, I help to organise prasadam for the philosophy, Kirtan and tasty events. I also take part in plays throughout the prashad! year. Every week, all KCSocieties preach to young people all over Last week was the grand celebration of the appearance day of Lord Chaitanya! Pandava Sena prepared the colours used for the colour throwing festivals two weeks in advance, and helped supervise the festival.

www.psena.com Page 7 Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter April 2014 Celebrating the birth of Lord Rama

Sunday 6th April saw the public and MPs joined the festival-goers as festival which celebrated the auspicious they respectfully acknowledged the Appearance of Lord Rama, called arrival of Radha-Krishna and Lord Ramanavami. Despite the drizzly Rama. As the festivities ensued, the weather, to the delight of the crowds, the deities were taken aboard the swan- boat boat festival on the lake went ahead. The and were escorted around the lake whilst A Perfect Example entire area was full of colour, charm and being serenaded with kirtan. Later the magic. Special guests included Members evening was perfectly rounded off by a of parliament Richard Harrington, Barry Ramayan drama and bhajans glorifying Gardiner, and Bob Blackman. Mayors Lord Rama. Success at the University of Essex

Mahesh Dhokia runs a health food shop in Streatham, South London and as a healer and practitioner of Krishna consciousness he introduces many of his customers to it with great success. So much so, in fact, that many travel to his home in Surbiton from all over The UK Hare Krishna Festival team students and public - young and old, London to attend his growing sanga coordinated a hugely successful event from English Buddhists to Lebanese group, bringing their friends. at the University of Essex in Colchester. Muslims - everyone deeply appreciated Mahesh is a perfect example of a With the support of a devotee run local the music, dance, philosophy and Prasad. devotee who speaks about Krishna to Student Society, Bhaktivedanta Manor The local Mayor and other dignitaries whomever he meets. He distributes and Food for All, over 180 people had also attended and spoke very favourably many of Prabhupada’s books at his shop an evening to remember. of the devotees’ contribution to the community. and also helps place them in prisons. From the widely diverse audience of

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