pulp ofsandalwood, seems like and Hisbody, smeared withthe complexion. Hislimbs are beautiful, as ahouseholderwith golden In Hisearlypastimes, Heappears in SriKrishna wears thesedecorations to dance pulp ofsandalwood. Heespecially and armlets andanointed withthe decorated with sandalwood bangles toward allliving beings.Heis He isgentle andequallydisposed affectionate toward His devotees. ofLordservice SriKrishna. Heis fully devoted to thetranscendental He ispeaceful, self-controlled and face isasbeautifulthemoon. nose islike asesameflower andHis eyes are just like lotus flowers. His long enoughto reach Hisknees. assembled clouds.Hisarmsare conquers thethunderingofnewly gold. ThedeepsoundofHisvoice expansive bodyresembles molten of Lord SriKrishna. Theluster ofHis teaching aboutthenameandfame He blessesthewholeworld by known asLord SriKrishna Caitanya. beings. InHislater pastimes Heis devotion, andthussaves theliving the world withthenectar of Visvambhara because Hefloods His earlypastimes Heisknown as away one’s elephantine vices.In resounding roar, may Hedrive every livingbeing.Thus,withHis seated inthecore oftheheart voice ofalion.May that lionbe the powers ofalionandtheloud He hastheshoulders ofalion, Navadvipa (West Bengal, India). Lord Caitanya hasappeared in extracted fromAdiLila,Chapter 3. Caitanya. Thefollowing versesare all auspiciousappearance ofLord Krishna dasKaviraj, wereadofthe In theSriCaitanya Caritamrta by Extracted by DamodaraPandit dasa Maarch 2013 Dedicated to HisDivineGrace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder- acarya oftheInternational Society for Krishna Consciousness sankirtana. The Appearance of SriCaitanya Mahaprabhu The Conch “Lord SriKrishna andArjunablew theircelestial accompanied by Hisassociates, He isKrishna Himself. Heis His complexion isnotblackish, the nameofKrishna. Although of Godheadwhoconstantly sings chanting to worship theincarnation persons perform congregational In theAge ofKali, intelligent impersonalist non-devotees. and devotion, for Hesilencesthe He isthehighest abodeofpeace and Heisequipoisedpeaceful. He accepts thesannyasa molten gold. InHislater pastimes conches to rally andenthuse thedevotees.” of New Govardhana Community Govardhana New of www.theconchnewsletter.org Newsletter order causeless mercy. Lord Caitanya, show usHisgreat Supreme Personality ofGodhead, fourth order (sannyasa attained thehighest stage ofthe for theparamahamsas He istheonlyworshipable Deity the feelings ofSrimati Radharani. because ofthe great upsurge of Krishna, whoisnow non-blackish, in theAge ofKali worship Lord of theHolyName,learnedscholars sacrifice of congregational chanting companions. By performing the servants, weapons andconfidential
, whohave ). May that krishnafarm.com Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji by Mandakini devi dasi 13 March marks the anniversary of the disappearance of Jagannatha dasa Babaji. His Divine Grace took his birth in a small village in Bangladesh in 1776 and disappeared from our mortal sight in 1894. Taking diksha from Jagadananda Gosvami, he later accepted babaji initiation from Madhusudana dasa Babaji . He met Bhaktivinode Thakura in 1880 and became his spiritual master. He also initiated Gaura Kishore dasa Babaji, who later became the initiating guru of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta. Devoted to Lord Caitanya, Jagannatha dasa Babaji spent his last days in Navadvipa and Vrindavana, performing bhajana and chanting japa.
An integral part of The Gaudiya Vaisnava http://www.iskconharidwar.webs.com/ Guru Parampara, Bhaktivinode Thakura Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja ‘Vaisnava Sarvabhauma’ (best of the referred to him as, ‘The Commanding Vaisnavas) who confirmed the actual birthplace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Chief of the Devotees’. by jumping out of the basket he was being carried in due to old age, exclaiming “This is indeed the birthplace” The Appearance of Bhaktisiddhanta by Mandakini devi dasi Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura fervently prayed to Lord Jagannatha to send someone to assist him in presenting the teachings of Lord Caitanya to the English-speaking world. In 1874, his prayers were answered with the apperance of a son, Bimala Prasada. This auspicious birth anniversary falls on 2 March, this year. An extraordinary soul, he became a scholar of the highest calibre, excelling in Sanskrit, mathematics and astronomy. In recognition of his scholastic achievements, he earned the title Siddhanta Sarasvati. Taking sannyasa in 1918, he organized 64 Gaudiya Vaisnava branches in India, with Sridhama Mayapura as the headquarters. Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja was famous for his acute intellect and fiery preaching. www.krishna,cin
His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja Prabhupada, spiritual master of AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. It was on Srila Bkahtisiddhanta
bingimages.com Maharaja’s order that Srila Prabhupada AC Bhaktivedanta Swami and his son visit with His Divine Grace travelled to the western countries in 1965 to Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Maharaja Prabhupada propagate the chanting of Hare Krishna. 2 Wonderful Days by Parama Karuna dasa The sankirtana party formed a circle on the footpath near the beachfront of Byron Bay. The freshness of the ion-charged air and the dark hues of the rain clouds combined with the ocean breezes to create an electrifying atmosphere with which to rejoice in the chanting of the Holy Names. Despite the lack of beachgoers we enthusiastically sang and danced, witnessed by the occasional passer-by and hundreds of seagulls. A young family with two children attired in swim suits and towels was drawn to the festive mood. The two young girls jinked and swirled and smiled, shyly coming forward, their souls wishing to enter the devotees’ circle; only caution of the unfamiliar restraining them. The whole family beamed and thanked us. The girls continued dancing and glancing all the way down the street. A police car that had driven by minutes before reappeared and stopped. Ben and Hannah, both young officers, spoke, “You seem very joyful. What are you doing?” After a brief explanation of the yuga dharma, they asked, “What do you believe?” At the behest of their probing ISKCON Founder-Acarya His Divine Grace questions the conversation that followed covered the nature of the soul; A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada service and pleasing Krishna; reincarnation; the similarities between all religions rather than the differences; the reason for purity; the abstinence “The members of the of corrupting elements such as alcohol, drugs, gambling and bodily International Society for Krsna consciousness. The officers seemed interested to talk of such subject Consciousness should go to matters which must have provided a great contrast to the dour, mundane India during the birthday and sometimes harsh dealings in policing an uncivilized population. They ceremony of Lord Caitanya left, very happy to have learned about and witnessed Lord Caitanya’s Mahaprabhu at Mayapur ecstatic harinama sankirtana. and perform sankirtana congregationally. This will Many thanks to Dylan, Rick, Iko, Sandra, Prem and Vaisnavi devi dasi for attract the attention of all participating in our weekly program. the important personalities in India, just as the beauty, bodily luster and sankirtana performance by the associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu attracted the attention of Maharaja Prataparudra.” (Caitanya-Caritamrta Madhya-Lila 11.96 Purport) Photographer unknown Photographer L. to R. Bhusaya dasa, Pandu Putra dasa, Parama Karuna dasa and Sanatana dasa Indrani Arrives Amid Floods of Excitement Rukmini gave birth to Indrani 28 January
2013, during the flood. She got off to Urvasi dasi devi a shaky start, unable to stand properly L. to R. Indrani and Nitai owing to the pen floor being saturated Indrani has been sponsored by Sharne. by torrential rain. She sustained minor If you would like to sponsor one of
Urvasi dasi devi abrasions in her attempts to stand, but Krishna’s cows please contact with the assistance of the cowherds, she Urvasi devi dasi has recovered fully. She can be seen most [email protected] days in the fields frolicking with Nitai, born to Malika a few weeks before. 3 4 Padma devi dasi devotees. Occasionally oneortwo harinamas years, saidthat theregular Sunday mobile and headingupNew Govardhana’s dasa, whohasbeenorganising very enjoyable time for all.Isvara the onlookers contributed to a breezes andthesmilingfaces of The clearskies,thecool ocean of 30participants. WWOOFers makingupaprocession an harinama the GoldCoast were treated to and visitors to Broadbeach on On Sunday 3February, residents “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna .“ by Padma devi dasi details and skills. To express your interest, pleasecontact [email protected]. Kindlyincludeyour name,contact consciousness movement. Furtherdetails, includinghowto submitto theDSRwillsoonbe circulated inanemail. show SrilaPrabhupada how we can furtherourspirit ofco-operation witheachotherinspreading this Krsna Please give thisNew Govardhana initiative your full co-operation by subscribing totheDSRandhelpus to members are thereby encouraged to submitdetails of theirown skillsto theDSR. tertiary qualifications, and talents that individual devotees inour regional area maypossess.All community to access.TheDSRwillcontain listings ofany typesof work skills;knowledge; devotional service experience; management hasdesignedaDevotee SkillsRegister (DSR)whichwillbeavailable for allcommunity members In order to preserve what we have sofar achieved andto furtherdevelop ourcommunity, New Govardhana community for by using, themost part,ourown skills,knowledge andingenuity. past 35years, devotees withintheNew Govardhana district have designed andcreated thisentire devotional that there exists anunusually highdegree of talent andabilitywithinourlocal devotee population. Over the Since theinauguration ofNew Govardhana farm in1977,ithasbecome clear to bothdevotees andvisitors alike by Padma devi dasi GovardhanaNew Devotee Skills Register SankirtanaHarinama kijaya ! Devotees onharinamaatBroadbeach lead by RadhaMadhavadasa harinama usuallyattract 12 to 25 withdevotees and for thepast four
happiness. vibration and experience genuine in thetranscendental sound any time, can become submerged Krishna’s HolyNames. Anyone, at harinamers. Thisisthepotency of and dancedwithjoy amongst the became enthused by thekirtana elderly Chinesegentleman, also Some onlookers, includingan dancing inecstasy. joined thedevotees, singingand particular occasion sixWWOOFers join the New Govardhana WWOOFers will Padma devi dasi participating intheharinamaprocession Gia-ru Lin(left) oneoftheWWOOFers harinama team, butonthis (“ transcendental bliss.” Lord, thedevotee ismerged in by hearing theHolyNameof Him inawe andveneration. Simply times greater thandealingwith brings happinessmany millionsof Supreme Personality ofGodhead “Dealings inaffection withthe personal presence. ushers thedevotee into theLord’s Lord Krishna’s personal names The pure devotional chanting of Isvara dasa0411825549 folkrishna.com/program.htm hand cymbals)and harinama musical instruments played on In addition to thetraditional Prabhu for details. Sundays. Pleasecontact Isvara invited to jointhe All devotees andWWOOFers are sounds to therhythm instruments. These instruments add portable harmonium. team alsoplay guitars anda headed drums),Isvara’s harinama Sri Namamrita” veda74.ru , namelykaratalas , Introduction) harinama mrdangas melodious on (small (two
Sam I Am by Govardhana Seva dasa Sam is a regular visitor to New Govardhana. His full name is Sampangi Venkachalata Rao. He was born 86 years ago, in the town of Vijayapura in the Bangalore District of India. Now, since his retirement in 1992, he spends six months in Australia and six months in Bangalore every year. He first came to Australia in 1964, after studying in America, to take up a teaching position in Management Theory at the Political Science Department of the University of Tasmania. He also travelled to continue his studies, and amongst his qualifications are a BA (Hons), an MA (First Class), an MPA and a PhD from Cornell University. He left America just before Srila Prabhupada arrived there, and during his life their paths never crossed. Sam has been an ISKCON devotee since 1984 after visiting the Sandy Bay temple in Hobart. He has been a devotee of Krishna all his life, coming from many generations of Hindu Brahmanas in the Shringeri tradition of
Shankaracarya. dasa Seva Govardhana He loves to visit New Govardhana, where he is always treated as a long- Sam Venkachalata Rao time friend. Gurukula Hall and Arts Centre Ready for use for your next function. Whether through celebration, education, entertainment, or meditation, the Gurukula Hall & Arts Centre provides a sanctuary for life-enriching experiences. Website: ghac.com.au Email: [email protected] Phone: 0427091364 ghac.com.au Located near the Gurukula, the new Hall and Arts Centre is available for hire
Editorial HH Janananda Swami Vyasa Puja by Ganga devi dasi Guidelines On Saturday 2 February, a Vyasa Articles submitted to the Conch Puja ceremony was held at the must contain 200 words or less and home of Pandu Putra dasa and must be supplied in either MS Word Ganga devi dasi in Murwillumbah. format or typed directly into the Approximately 25 people attended body of an email. Photos must be the service, which was conducted submitted in JPG format. by Dandakaranya dasa. He was All articles and photos must be ably assisted by Parama Karuna sent to [email protected] dasa and Pandu Putra dasa. The between the 1st and 14th of each Vyasa Puja was followed by moving month. Articles and photos must homages and personal stories. include the names of the author The evening concluded with and photographer. Your name will
relishable prasadam. iskconleaders.com appear exactly as you submit it. HH Janananda Goswami EDITORIAL BOARD: Damodara Pandit dasa, Mandakini devi dasi, Govardhana Seva dasa, Urvasi devi dasi (Layout and Graphic Design) For enquiries, comments or suggestions please contact www.theconchnewsletter.org 5 Upcoming Events ... Adivas Ceremony Tuesday 26 March 7.00 pm Gaura Purnima Program Wednesday 27 March 7.30 am Greeting Deities 8.00 am Srimad Bhagavatam Class 10.00 am Harinama in Surfers Paradise 3.00 pm Bhajanas/Cultural presentations 3.45 pm Gurukula Play 4:15 pm Bathing of Lord Caitanya 5:00 pm Class on Gauranga Lila - HH Hanumat Presaka Maharaja 6:00 pm Offering of gifts to Lord Caitanya (please bring a gift*) 6.30 pm Gaura Arati 7.15 pm Feast Information & Puja sponsorship Dandakaranya dasa 0450 965 992 *Suggested Gifts for Lord Caitanya Kalash Sponsorship Guru Prasad devi dasi 0417 130 191 Honey, saffron, jewellery, fruit & Accommodation Bookings Mahesvari devi dasi vegetables, etc. For those who would like to help with the preparations for the festival please call Dandakaranya Prabhu 0450 965 992 Harinama HH Hanumat Presaka Swami will be visiting New Govardhana for the Sankirtana ki jaya first time. He arrives late afternoon Monday, 25 March after programs in Sydney. He will give “Light of the Bhagavata” four-part seminar on Tuesday, 26 and Thursday, 28 March at 7.30 am and 5.00 pm. He will present “Gauranga Lila” on Gaura Purnima at 5.00 pm. Maharaja departs for Brisbane on Friday, 1 April after lunch.
Wednesdays 10.30 am Byron Bay Hari Nama at the March Calendar park opposite the Post Office. (from the online Vaisnava calender www.vaisnavacalender.com) For further details and transport 2 Sa Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura -- Appearance information 8 Fr Ekadasi(suitable for fasting)Fasting for Vijaya Ekadasi Parama Karuna dasa 9 Sa DvadasiBreak fast 06:43 - 10:52 (DST) 0439 280 362 Sri Isvara Puri -- Disappearance Friday Evenings 6.30 pm 11 Mo Siva Ratri Bhakti Centre Surfers Paradise 13 We Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji -- Disappearance bhakticentregoldcoast.com.au 23 Sa Ekadasi (suitable for fasting)Fasting for Amalaki vrata Ekadasi 24 Su DvadasiBreak fast 06:51 - 10:52 (DST) Sunday Mornings Sri Madhavendra Puri -- Disappearance Northern NSW & Gold Coast 27 We Gaura Purnima: Appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu folkrishna.com/program.htm (Fast today) Isvara dasa 0411 825 549 28 Th Festival of Jagannatha Misra 6 7 Krishna Gana dasa For furtherinformation please contact Dhruvananda dasa for details 0423 014 634 Krishna’s temple grounds. of thetemple gardens. Thisseva position requires someone to maintain anddevelop furtherbeautification of All thehard work hasalready been doneby Dhanesvara Prabhu. Last year heconducted amajormakeover TEMPLE GARDENER For furtherdetails, pleasecontact Venu Gopaldasa0411444934. to love theworms unconditionally ! Worm seva definitiely requires rollingup your sleeves. This project is stillinitsearly stages andneedssomeone WORM FARM MANAGER For afullseva description please contact Maha Mantra dasa0413669345 gardens, isfor thisservice you ! If you want to create, andmaintain beautify thedevelopment oftheNew Govardhana Parikrama Path and Great Opportunity GOVARDHANA PARIKRAMA GARDENER Contact Venu Gopaldasafor details 0411444934 Fringe benefit: Regular supplyofmilkproducts for yourself and family. milk andpaneer. entailsThis service preparation andallocation ofmilk to various cooks, as wellas making yoghurt, condensed MILK MANAGEMENT Govardhana anditsupcoming projects. with theKrishna Consciousmovement isalways gratifying. Also, theprofits help towards financing New preparations. Many peopleare visiblymoved by their experience of prasadam The rewards for thisentire endeavour are the favourable reactions from everyone whenthey taste the with nineto ten thousandfeast plates. Particular favourites are thekofta balls(inthepast, upto 65,000 have beensoldduringthefive days) together the first timethis year. and 450kgflour. Many otheritems are also required for theprasadam Purchase oftheproduce neededfor thefive days includesup to 1.5 tonnes potatoes, 800kg carrots, 500 their rounds. The core group willwork from 7.30amto 2.00ameachday, for thewholefive days. They willrise early to chant Devotional Service Vacancies Preparing for acatering (BluesFest) event Govindas attractshugecrowds atBluesFest eachyear the five days. About 12to 14 workers willvolunteer for theirservices kitchen andalltheextensive equipment needed. Then there isthepreparation oftheninemetre travelling substantial fees. includes proof ofessential licencesandthepayment of First, there isacomprehensive application procedure. This considerable forward planning. New Govardhana catering calendar, service andrequires year from 28March to 1April.Thisisamajorevent inthe The Bluesfest isafive-day festival, whichwillbeheldthis by Govardhana Seva dasa preparation. Saladswillbeintroduced for , andthefact that itisidentified kg rice An image of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Krishna Kids Korner to be coloured-in
Answers from last months crossword puzzle 2 Across: Blue; 3 Across: Jahnava; 5 Across: Virabhadra; 6 Across: Cidadahi; 7 Across: Ekachakra; 8 Across: Nitai 1 Down: Jagai; 2 Down: Balarama; 4 Down: HadaiPandit 8