© The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. www.krishna.com. Used with permission. Contents 5HÀHFWLRQV Editor’s Note Message from the Co-President of “A new year is a land mark in our lives and a time Shri Shri Radha Radhanath Temple Book Buyers and Sellers 3 IRUUHÀHFWLRQRQZKHUHZHKDYHEHHQZKHUHZHDUH and where we want to go. It’s also time to ponder on Past Spiritual Teacher our failures and mistakes in our spiritual lives. In the Jiva Goswami 4 path of bhakti every occasion and everything is for the purpose of transformation. If the previous year Karma Series Destiny and Free Will 4 EURXJKWVXIIHULQJVLQRXUOLYHVZHFDQWDNHVRODFHLQ the fact that all sufferings and punishments in this Srila Prabhupada ZRUOG DUH IRU RXU KHDOWK\ UHFWL¿FDWLRQ 7RGD\ ZH Purity – The Ingredient for Success 5 need to meditate on what I really want in life.” (His Holiness Radhanath Swami, January 2012) Special Report Temple Opens in Botswana 6 KDVEHHQDQH[FLWLQJ\HDUIRUWKHQHZVOHWWHUWHDP God and Demigods :HKDYHZHOFRPHGQHZDQGYLEUDQWFRQWULEXWRUVDV Saraswati ZHOO DV ELG VDG JRRGE\HV WR VRPH RI RXU IDYRXULWH The Goddess of Learning 8 ZULWHUV$V,UHÀHFWRQWKHSDVVLQJ\HDU,IHHODGHHS Reports sense of gratitude to everyone who has played a role Modern Day Heroes 10 LQPDNLQJWKLVSXEOLFDWLRQVXFFHVVIXO,WWDNHVDWHDP Gurukul Excursion 10 over a period of two months to get the newsletter WR ¿QDO GLVWULEXWLRQ 7KH\ ZRUN WLUHOHVVO\ RYHU ORQJ Vaishnava Kitchen hours to ensure that every issue is interesting, Peanut Brittle 10 informative and fun to read. News BYS Road to Soweto 11 , DP KXPEOHG WR EH ZRUNLQJ ZLWK VXFK D IDQWDVWLF group of dedicated, committed and enthusiastic Special Report SHRSOH , ZRXOG OLNH WR XVH WKLV IRUXP WR H[SUHVV A Young Boy’s Dream 12 my heartfelt gratitude to each one of them for their Vedic Observer team spirit, their tolerance, encouragement and most Age of Austerity 13 especially, their inspiration.
Devotee Focus 7KDQN\RXWRRXUUHDGHUVZKRKDYHEHFRPHDUGHQW Teaching for Krishna 14 followers of the Hare Krishna News. Some of you Young Vaishnavas Column have come up to me and offered encouragement and Book Basics 15 suggestions, all of which is much appreciated.
Notice Board 15 My team and I look forward to continuing to serve Vaishnava Calendar 15 you in this way. News Song of God 16
Holy Place Kurukshetra 16
On the Cover Shri Krishna speaks Bhagavad-gita to His devotee, $UMXQDRQWKHEDWWOH¿HOGRI.XUXNVKHWUD
4XRWHG YHUVH WUDQVODWLRQV DQG H[FHUSWV IURP purports to Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Shrimad Bhagavatam, and Teachings of Lord Caitanya E\+LV'LYLQH*UDFH$&%KDNWLYHGDQWD6ZDPL 3UDEKXSDGD URRP FRQYHUVDWLRQV OHWWHUV DQG photographs and paintings on pages 1, 5 and 16 DUH&RS\ULJKW7KH%KDNWLYHGDQWD%RRN7UXVW International, Inc. www.Krishna.com. Used with permission. 2 Design and Layout by Lashika Ravjee - 082 309 2396 Book Buyers and Sellers Message from the Co-President of Shri Shri Radha Radhanatha Temple %\9LEKX&DLWDQ\D'DV From time immemorial, people have engaged in EXWLI\RXVSHDNWRDPDQLQKLVRZQODQJXDJHLWZLOO GLIIHUHQW DFWLYLWLHV WR HQMR\ PDWHULDO SUR¿W /HDGHUV go to his heart. It is for this reason that we attempt have falsely promised and manipulated the world for to reach people in their mother tongue, to connect to SHUVRQDOJDLQ+LV'LYLQH*UDFH$&%KDNWLYHGDQWD their hearts. 6ZDPL3UDEKXSDGDWKHIRXQGHUDQGDFKDU\DRIWKH ,QWHUQDWLRQDO 6RFLHW\ IRU .ULVKQD &RQVFLRXVQHVV 6KULOD 3UDEKXSDGD GHVFULEHG WKDW KLV ERRNV DUH in his purity and virtue, taught how to engage in WLFNLQJWLPHERPEV2QHPD\SXUFKDVHDERRNZLWK GHYRWLRQDOVHUYLFHWR*RGDQGJREDFNWRRXUHWHUQDO QRLQWHQWLRQRIUHDGLQJLW:HSODFHWKHPRQRXUERRN home, the spiritual world. shelves and they lie there, collecting dust. However RQHGD\E\.ULVKQD¶VPHUF\LQKDSSLQHVVRUGLVWUHVV $Q\ IRUP RI GHYRWLRQDO VHUYLFH LV SOHDVLQJ WR /RUG SHRSOHZLOORSHQWKHERRNDQGWKHWLFNLQJWLPHERPE .ULVKQD EXW WKH VDFUL¿FH WKDW SOHDVHV .ULVKQD WKH H[SORGHVLQWRUHYHODWLRQUHDOLVDWLRQDQGUHOLVK most is sankirtan – a Krishna conscious person HQJDJHV LQ WHDFKLQJ WKH JORULHV RI WKH /RUG 7KLV 9ROXPHV RI LQYDOXDEOH NQRZOHGJH FDQ EH IRXQG LQ is called kirtan $ GHYRWHH DOZD\V UHPHPEHUV WKH 6KULOD 3UDEKXDSGD¶V ERRNV 2YHU GHFDGHV GHYRWHHV DFWLYLWLHV RI WKH /RUG 'XH WR KLV VLQFHUH ORYH DQG DOO RYHU WKH ZRUOG KDYH EHHQ PHUFLIXOO\ JRLQJ RXW FRQFHUQ IRU DOO VRXOV KH DWWHPSWV WR VSUHDG *RG¶V day and night, in the rain, cold, heat, storm and QDPHDQGJORULHVWKHUHE\JLYLQJRWKHUVDFKDQFHWR sometimes even dangerous conditions, to deliver this UHDZDNHQWKHLUGRUPDQWORYHIRU*RGE\HVWDEOLVKLQJ transcendental knowledge in a form of a seemingly a relationship with Him. VLPSOHERRN1RZWKDWZHKDYHXQGHUVWRRGWKHYDOXH RI ERWK WKH ERRNV DQG WKH sankirtan "warrior", let 'HYRWLRQDOVHUYLFHPXVWEHIUHHIURPSHUVRQDOJDLQ XVWDNHDPRPHQWIURPRXUEXV\OLYHVDQGZHOFRPH and speculations. We learn Krishna consciousness, them with a smile and hear what they have to say. It is or pure devotional service, from the authorities and GH¿QLWHO\ZRUWKKHDULQJDVLWZLOOVXUHO\EHVRPHWKLQJ SUHYLRXVVSLULWXDOWHDFKHUV7KLV*RGFRQVFLRXVQHVV WKDW FDQ KHOS XV OHDG EHWWHU OLYHV DQG XOWLPDWHO\ is a gradual cultivation of activities and application attain the goal of life. into our lives. *RLQJRXWRQWRWKHVWUHHWVDORQHZLWKDIHZERRNV 6KULOD 3UDEKXSDGD KDV SURYLGHG D OLEUDU\ RI PD\DSSHDUOLNHDGLI¿FXOWWDVN,WGRHVVHHPHDVLHU WUDQVFHQGHQWDOOLWHUDWXUHV+HVDFUL¿FHGPDQ\\HDUV WRDUUDQJHD¿UHVDFUL¿FHRUZRUVKLSWKHGHLW\LQWKH LQRUGHUWRWUDQVODWHVDFUHGWH[WVLQWR(QJOLVKVRWKDW WHPSOH3HUVRQDOO\,KDYHDOVRVKLHGDZD\IURPERRN ZH PD\ GHULYH WKH XWPRVW EHQH¿W IURP WKHP +LV GLVWULEXWLRQ,QIDFWZKHQHYHUGHYRWHHVLQYLWHGPHWR ERRNV IRFXV RQ ZKR ZH DUH ZKR *RG LV ZKDW RXU JRRXWWRGLVWULEXWHERRNV,ZRXOGPDNHVRPHH[FXVH UHODWLRQVKLSZLWK*RGLVDQGKRZZHFDQUHWXUQWRWKH to engage in another form of devotional service. NLQJGRPRI*RG+LVERRNVKDYHQRZEHHQWUDQVODWHG +RZHYHU DIWHU KHDULQJ DERXW DQG XQGHUVWDQGLQJ LQWR 5XVVLDQ +LQGL 7HOHJX *XMHUDWL 6SDQLVK WKHLPSRUWDQFHRIERRNGLVWULEXWLRQ,UHDOLVHGWKDW French, Zulu, Xhosa and many other languages. WKLVLVQRWRQO\DGXW\EXWDOVRVKRXOGEHDVLQFHUH 6KULOD 3UDEKXSDGD DQG KLV VHUYDQWV DUH PDNLQJ D DWWHPSWWRVKDUHWKHLQFRPSDUDEOHKDSSLQHVVIRXQG prophecy, that foretold one day the holy name will LQ .ULVKQD FRQVFLRXVQHVV 'HYRWHHV UHPHPEHU WKDW EHVXQJLQHYHU\WRZQDQGYLOODJHDQGVDYHWKHHQWLUH they are instruments of Krishna and following in the world, into a reality. footsteps of the great souls try to do something for the EHQH¿WRIKXPDQLW\3OHDVHMRLQRXUEUDYH³VROGLHUV´ Nelson Mandela once said that if you speak to a man LQWKHLUJORULRXVDWWHPSWVE\HLWKHUMRLQLQJWKHPRQ in a language he understands, it will go to his head ERRNGLVWULEXWLRQRUEX\LQJDERRNIURPWKHP
3 Jiva Goswami Past Spiritual Teachers YDVWQXPEHUV of Vaishnava ³7R XQGHUVWDQG /RUG &DLWDQ\D RQH KDV WR IROORZ scriptures and WKH GLUHFW GHVFHQGHQWV RI /RUG &DLWDQ\D ± WKH 6L[ philosophical *RVZDPLV±DQGHVSHFLDOO\WKHSDWKFKDONHGRXWE\ treatises.” 6KULOD-LYD*RVZDPL6KULOD-LYD*RVZDPLLVWKHPRVW (Temples of authoritative acharyaLQWKH*DXGL\D6DPSUDGD\D´ VrindavanE\ (Teachings of Lord Caitanya) 5.'DV
After the disappearance of his uncles, Rupa and In 1570, Moghul 6DQDWDQD *RVZDPLV -LYD *RVZDPL EHFDPH WKH (PSHURU $NEDU acharya of all the Vaishnavas. He consolidated the came to Vrindavan to meet the widely acclaimed ZRUNVRIKLVXQFOHVDQGFRPSLOHGWZHQW\¿YHERRNV *RVZDPLV7KH(PSHURUZDVGHHSO\LPSUHVVHGZLWK RIRYHUYHUVHVEDVHGRQWKH9HGLFVFULSWXUHV -LYD*RVZDPLDQGUHFLSURFDWHGE\HUHFWLQJDOLEUDU\ SURYLQJ FRQFOXVLYHO\ WKDW 6KUL &DLWDQ\D¶V WHDFKLQJV DW 5DGKD'DPRGDUD WR HQVKULQH WKH 9DLVKQDYD ZHUH WKH HVVHQFH RI 9HGLF ZLVGRP -LYD *RVZDPL OLWHUDWXUHV7ZHQW\\HDUVODWHU-LYD*RVZDPLSUDLVHG HVWDEOLVKHG 9ULQGDYDQ DV WKH KHDGTXDUWHUV IRU WKH KLPDJORUL¿FDWLRQFDUYHGLQWKHUHGVDQGVWRQHZDOOV *DXGL\D9DLVKQDYDV RIWKH5DGKD*RYLQGDMLWHPSOH ³(PSHURU$NEDULVD very kind hearted person and a Vaishnava. I give my +H HVWDEOLVKHG D VFKRRO LQ 9ULQGDYDQ WR WHDFK EOHVVLQJVWR(PSHURU$NEDU,QKLVNLQJGRPDOOWKH 6DQVNULW EDVHG RQ WKH GHYRWLRQDO ZULWLQJV RI WKH Vaishnavas are living very peacefully.” *RVZDPLV +LV ¿UVW VWXGHQWV ZHUH 1DURWWDP 'DV Thakura, Shrinivas Acharya, and Shyamananda 7REHQH¿WKXPDQLW\-LYD*RVZDPLRUGHUHG1DURWWDP 3UDEKX-LYD*RVZDPLEHFDPHWKHPRVWV\VWHPDWLF 'DV7KDNXUD6KULQLYDV$FKDU\DDQG6K\DPDQDQGD teacher, and was soon acclaimed as the greatest 3UDEKXWKUHHSHUIHFWH[HPSODUVRIWKHWHDFKLQJVWR philosopher in all of India. EURDGFDVWWKHPHVVDJHRI.ULVKQDFRQVFLRXVQHVVLQ %HQJDODQG2ULVVD7KLVZDVWKHEHJLQQLQJRIERRN ³-LYD *RVZDPL E\ KLV YDVW HUXGLWLRQ DWWUDFWHG GLVWULEXWLRQ scholars from throughout India to come and study with him. They turned the temple precincts into a Adapted from 3UDEKXSDGD DW 5DGKD 'DPRGDU by rare philosophical research station, and produced Mahanidhi Swami.
Destiny and Free Will tthe choice of how we respond Karma Series tto a situation. Two people %\5DPYLMD\'DV ffaced with identical situations ccould respond differently. Thus /LNHDQ\VXEMHFWDVZHJDLQIXUWKHU EE\ WKHLU UHDFWLRQ WR WKH VDPH XQGHUVWDQGLQJ GHHSHU TXHVWLRQV ssituation, they create different arise. kkarmic reactions. These karmic rreactions are stored and will 2QH VXFK IUHTXHQWO\ DVNHG mmanifest in future scenarios. 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In WKH EHVW SRVVLEOH RXWFRPH LQ DQ\ JLYHQ VLWXDWLRQ RWKHUZRUGVNDUPLFUHDFWLRQVEDVHGRQRXUDFWLRQV By improving our overall state of consciousness, LQWKLVOLIHDQGSUHYLRXVOLYHVWKDWKDYHQRW\HWEHHQ GHYRWLRQ PDNHV LW SRVVLEOH IRU XV WR IDFH NDUPLF H[SHULHQFHG LV FRPPRQO\ FDOOHG GHVWLQ\ RU IDWH UHDFWLRQVZLWKRXWEHLQJDIIHFWHGE\WKHP,QDGGLWLRQ This destiny presents us with various situations/ DVRQHVXUUHQGHUVWRWKH6XSUHPH/RUGHYHQRQH¶V reactions in our current lifetime as the reactions to NDUPLF UHDFWLRQV EHFRPH PLQLPLVHG 7KHUHIRUH LQ past actions fructify. every situation, taking up devotional practices like the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, is +RZGRHVIUHHZLOO¿WLQWRWKHHTXDWLRQ")UHHZLOOLV WKHEHVWDFWLRQZHFDQGRIRURXUVHOYHV 4 Purity – The Ingredient for Success Shrila Prabhupada %\9HQX*RSDO'DV 8SRQWKHDUULYDORIKLVQHZERUQSURJHQ\LQ on the understanding of Vedic philosophy. 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The words and instructions from the 0D\ WKH %KDNWLYHGDQWD %RRN 7UXVW %%7 JUHDW VDLQW ZHUH IRUHYHU HQJUDYHG LQ $EKD\¶V ZDVIRXQGHG7KH%%7LVQRZWKHZRUOGV¶ELJJHVW mind and thoughts. SXEOLVKHURIERRNVH[FOXVLYHWRWKH¿HOGRI Vedic teachings. Besides producing all $IWHU IXO¿OOLQJ DOO RI KLV IDPLO\ RI 6ZDPL 3UDEKXSDGD¶V ERRNV DQG FRPPLWPHQWV $EKD\ WRRN WKHVH the Back to GodheadPDJD]LQHWKH instructions to heart and later FRPSDQ\ SURGXFHV ERRNV RQ \RJD EHFDPH LQWHUQDWLRQDOO\ UHFRJQL]HG meditation, karma and philosophy. DV +LV 'LYLQH *UDFH $ & 7KH\ DOVR SXEOLVK DXGLR &'V %KDNWLYHGDQWD6ZDPL3UDEKXSDGD videos and other multimedia Apart from the wonderful presentations. temples and thousands of sincere disciples worldwide, his greatest The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust has accomplishment was his literary VHYHQ EUDQFKHV VFDWWHUHG DFURVV WKH FRQWULEXWLRQ JOREH LQFOXGLQJ WKH UHFHQWO\ IRUPHG $IULFDQ GLYLVLRQ ORFDWHG LQ *DXWHQJ 2YHU WKH PLOOHQQLD WKH VDFUHG 9HGLF 7KH\ DUH UHVSRQVLEOH IRU SXEOLFDWLRQ LQ philosophy was written in the Sanskrit each associated region. As a result, language. The complete compilation the teachings of the Vedas are now is commonly known as the Vedas SXEOLVKHG LQ HLJKW\RQH GLIIHUHQW DQG LV WKH ODUJHVW ERG\ RI VSLULWXDO languages. OLWHUDWXUH LQ H[LVWHQFH 6ZDPL 3UDEKXSDGD VSHQW HDUO\ KRXUV The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust of the morning dictating and LV D QRQSUR¿W RUJDQL]DWLRQ DOO WUDQVODWLQJ9HGLFOLWHUDWXUHEHIRUH proceeds go to a trust fund that continuing with his other duties. 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Being pure means 9HGLF ZRUNV EXW PRVW QRWHG DUH QHYHU EHLQJ LQGHSHQGHQW RI WKH Bhagavad Gita As It Is DQG WKH /RUG ZLWKWKH/RUGLQRXUKHDUWVDQG 000 verse, multi-volume, Shrimad PLQGV FHUWDLQO\ RXU DFWLRQV ZLOO EH Bhagavatam. 6ZDPL 3UDEKXSDGD OHIW VXFFHVVIXO6ZDPL3UDEKXSDGDWHDFKHV XVWKLVE\KLVFRPSDVVLRQDWHH[DPSOH Images on this page © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. www.krishna.com. Used with permission. XVZLWKRYHUWKLUW\FRPSOHWHGERRNVEDVHG 5 Temple Opens in Botswana By Bhaktin Bhavna Ramsarup His Holiness Bhakti Nrsimha Swami and we were KRQRXUHGE\WKHSUHVHQFHRIWKHHVWHHPHG3RQDWVKHJR ,WWRRNFXELWVRIFRQFUHWHEDJVRIFHPHQW Kedikilwe, the Vice-President of Botswana. EULFNVVTXDUHPHWHUWLOHV\HDUVRI 2Q GD\ RQH WKH IHVWLYLWLHV VWDUWHG ZLWK mangala- hard work, enthusiasm and a deep-rooted desire to aratiWR7KHLU/RUGVKLSV6KUL6KUL.ULVKQD%DODUDPLQ SOHDVHWKH/RUGWKDWPDGHWKHGUHDPRIPDQ\GHYRWHHV 7KHLUROGKRPH,Q +LV*UDFH'HYDNLQDQGDQD DUHDOLW\$UULYLQJDWWKH,6.&21%RWVZDQD6KUL6KUL 'DV DQG +HU *UDFH 5DPD 3UL\D 'HYL 'DVL WXUQHG .ULVKQD%DODUDP7HPSOHLQ*DERURQHDQGORRNLQJ WKHLUKRPHLQWRWKH,6.&21%RWVZDQD7HPSOHDQG Shri Shri Krishna Balaram had stayed there since. So it was an emotional day for these devotees. At 6am WKHPRYLQJRIWKH'HLWLHVWR7KHLUDPD]LQJQHZKRPH EHJDQ-R\¿OOHGWKHKHDUWVRIWKHGHYRWHHVDQGWKHLU IDFHV OLW XS ZLWK EULJKW VPLOHV DV WKH\ GDQFHG DQG chanted accompanying Shri Shri Krishna Balaram to 7KHLUQHZEHDXWLIXOKRPH7KLVZDVIROORZHGE\DQ HODERUDWHabhishekRIWKHGHLW\RI6KULOD3UDEKXSDGD DFFRPSDQLHGE\VZHHWkirtan. The swamis took turns LQEDWKLQJ6KULOD3UDEKXSDGD$WWKHEORZLQJRIWKH FRQFKLWZDV¿QDOO\WLPHWRJHWWKH¿UVWdarshan (view) RIWKHLU/RUGVKLSVRQWKHH[TXLVLWHJROGHQDOWDU7KH altar looked perfect with Shri Shri Krishna Balaram, 6KUL6KUL*DXUD1LWDL6KUL-DJDQQDWKD%DODGHYDDQG 6XEKDGUD 'HYL DQG WKH HYHU DGRUDEOH 6KUL /DGRR *RSDOSODFHGEHWZHHQ6KUL6KUL.ULVKQD%DODUDP DWWKHWKUHHGRPHVDQGPDJQL¿FHQWO\GHWDLOHGWHPSOH 7KHWHPSOHLVEHDXWLIXOIURPWKHÀRRUWRWKHFHLOLQJ ZDV DEVROXWHO\ EUHDWKWDNLQJ 7KH WHPSOH¶V PDVVLYH The walls are encrusted with three dimensional RXWVLGH JDWH ZDV DGRUQHG RQ HLWKHU VLGH E\ WZR VFXOSWXUHV RI WKH 'DVDYDWDU WKH WHQ LQFDUQDWLRQV HOHSKDQWVDQGWKHERXQGDU\ZDOOZDVGHFRUDWHGZLWK RI /RUG .ULVKQD 7KHVH DUH 6KUL 0DWV\D WKH ¿VK ORWXVÀRZHUEDVUHOLHIV/RRNLQJDURXQGWKHWHPSOH, LQFDUQDWLRQ 6KUL .XUPD WKH WRUWRLVH LQFDUQDWLRQ VDZWKHVSLULWXDOUHDOP LQIURQWRIPHZHUHEHDXWLIXO 6KUL 9DUDKD WKH ERDU LQFDUQDWLRQ 6KUL 1UVLPKD lion sculptures guarding the stairway leading to the WKH KDOIPDQKDOIOLRQ LQFDUQDWLRQ 6KUL 9DPDQD temple. As I reached the top of the arch-decorated WKHGZDUILQFDUQDWLRQ 6KUL3DUDVKXUDPDWKH/RUG¶V VWDLUZD\WKHUHVWRRGWZRPDJQL¿FHQWVFXOSWXUHVRI ZDUULRU LQFDUQDWLRQ 6KUL 5DPDFKDQGUD WKH /RUG¶V Jaya and Vijay protecting the entrance to the temple room. Shrimad BhagavatamGHVFULEHVWKDW-D\DDQG Vijay are the gatekeepers in the Vaikuntha planets WKH DERGH RI /RUG 9LVKQX %HLQJ WKHUH WUXO\ IHOW nothing short of a dream. 7KH WKUHHGD\ RSHQLQJ RI WKH ,6.&21 %RWVZDQD 7HPSOHZDVLQFUHGLEOHZLWKJXHVWVIURPDOORYHUWKH world participating in the wonderful programmes. Special guests included His Holiness Jayadvaita 6ZDPL +LV +ROLQHVV %KDNWL &DLWDQ\D 6ZDPL +LV +ROLQHVV /RNDQDWK 6ZDPL +LV +ROLQHVV %KDNWL &KDUX 6ZDPL +LV +ROLQHVV 5DPD *RYLQGD 6ZDPL
3KRWRVFRXUWHV\RI6DFL.XPDU'DV 6 lila LQFDUQDWLRQ 6KUL %DODUDP /RUG %XGGKD DQG 6KUL.DONL2QODUJHUZDOOVWKHUHZHUHGHSLFWLRQVRI /RUG .ULVKQD¶V SDVWLPHV²/RUG %DODUDP PDVVDJLQJ +LV \RXQJHU EURWKHU /RUG .ULVKQD %DE\ .ULVKQD EDUWHULQJZLWKWKHIUXLWVHOOHUDQG¿OOLQJKHUEDVNHW ZLWKMHZHOV .ULVKQDDQG%DODUDPWKHIDPRXVEXWWHU WKLHYHV WKHgopis greeting Krishna and Balaram on Their return from the forest and Mother Yashoda ELQGLQJ.ULVKQD WRQDPHDIHZ
/RUGVKLSV 6KUL 6KUL .ULVKQD %DODUDP WKH WKUHH GD\ RSHQLQJ FHOHEUDWLRQ RI WKH ,6.&21 %RWVZDQD 7HPSOH ZDV OLNH QRWKLQJ , HYHU H[SHFWHG $SDUW IURPWKHVXSHUESURJUDPPHVDQGWKHQHYHUEHIRUH H[SHULHQFHG kirtans WKH WHPSOH EXLOGLQJ ZDV astonishing, from the temple yard with a stunning Tulasi garden, to the main dome of the temple with its striking chakra. The eighty kilogram chakra is PDGHIURPHLJKWW\SHVRIPHWDOV LURQFRSSHU]LQF PHUFXU\OHDGEUDVVVLOYHUDQGJROG DQGWKHGHVLJQ UHVHPEOHVWKH1HHOD&KDNUDPRXQWHGRQWRSRIWKH IDPRXV-DJDQQDWKD3XUL7HPSOHLQ2ULVVD In the mornings we felt as if we were touching the I feel spiritually uplifted and enthusiastic from spiritual sky as we danced with our hands raised and WKLVH[SHULHQFH7KHHQGHDYRXUDQGVDFUL¿FHRIWKH leaped in the air to the melodious kirtanRI/RNDQDWK GHYRWHHVLQ%RWVZDQDWRSOHDVHWKH/RUGLVLQVSLULQJ Swami. And in the evenings we were drowning in the DQG,DPFHUWDLQWKDWZHFDQORRNIRUZDUGWRDEULJKW ecstatic kirtan ZLWK GHYRWHHV VXFK DV %KDNWL &KDUX IXWXUHIRUWKHWHPSOH7KH,6.&21%RWVZDQD7HPSOH 6ZDPL%KDNWL&DLWDQ\D6ZDPLDQG/RNDQDWK6ZDPL with its gorgeous guest accommodation is a MUST We felt as if we were transported to the spiritual YLVLW,VXJJHVWWDNLQJD³VKR¶WOHIW´WR%RWVZDQD« realm. 2Q WKH WKLUG DQG ¿QDO GD\ ZH ZLWQHVVHG WKH 'HLW\ installation ceremony, a memory, I pray, will never leave me. As the brahmanas chanted auspicious K\PQV DQG WKH DLU ZDV ¿OOHG ZLWK VPRNH IURP WKH yajnaZHVDWPHVPHULVHGZDWFKLQJWKH'HLWLHVEHLQJ EDWKHG:HZHUHHVSHFLDOO\SULYLOHJHGZKHQZHZHUH DOORZHGWRJRWRWKHURRIWRSWRVHH7KHLU/RUGVKLSV UHVWLQJLQ7KHLUEHDXWLIXOURRP Beginning with the sweet, warm greetings of Rama *RYLQGD6ZDPLWRWKHdarshan of Their handsome Saraswati – The Goddess of Learning God and Demigods %\1LNXQMD9LODVLQL'DVL 7KHVWXG\RIWKHKXPDQEUDLQKDVOHIWUHVHDUFKHUVDQGVFLHQWLVWVLQDZHRIWKHEUDLQ¶VFRPSOH[LW\DQGGLYHUVH SURFHVVLQJDQGFUHDWLYHDELOLWLHV From where does the intelligence originate? Is it merely from a FRPELQDWLRQ RI QHXURQV DQG VRSKLVWLFDWHG V\QDSVHV LQ WKH EUDLQ"" People from different race groups and cultures throughout thee world honour and worship “gods of wisdom”, who award knowledgee DQGVXFFHVVLQOHDUQLQJ7KHUHIRUHPDQ\EHOLHYHWKDWOHDUQLQJDQGG intelligence come from a higher source. Keshava Kashmiri, was onee such person, who worshiped Saraswati, the goddess of learning,, with deep faith and veneration. The Caitanya Caritamrita, thee ELRJUDSK\RI&DLWDQ\D0DKDSUDEKXWHOOVWKHWUXHVWRU\RIWKLVJUHDWW VFKRODUZKRZRQWKHIDYRXURIWKH*RGGHVV$VDUHVXOWKHEHFDPHH “a champion of learning” and no one could match him in argumentt RUGHEDWH 2QFHZKHQ.HVKDYD.DVKPLULPHW&DLWDQ\D0DKDSUDEKXWKH/RUGG DVNHGKLPWRFRPSRVHSRHWU\WRJORULI\WKH*DQJHV)LOOHGZLWKSULGHH DQGORRNLQJGRZQXSRQWKH/RUGDVDQRUGLQDU\JUDPPDUVWXGHQW KH TXLFNO\ FRPSRVHG RQH KXQGUHG 6DQVNULW YHUVHV GHVFULELQJJ PRWKHU*DQJHV/RUG&DLWDQ\DSUDLVHGKLPVD\LQJWKDWWKHUHZDVV QRJUHDWHUSRHWLQWKHHQWLUHZRUOGDQGWKDWLWZDVVRGLI¿FXOWWKDWW only the scholar himself and mother Saraswati could understand it.. 7KHQ&DLWDQ\D0DKDSUDEKXFKRVHRQHRIWKHYHUVHVDQGSLFNHGRXWW many literary faults, although it was seemingly perfect. To Keshavaa .DVKPLUL¶V HPEDUUDVVPHQW DQG DVWRQLVKPHQW /RUG &DLWDQ\D KDGG GHIHDWHG KLP /DWHU WKDW QLJKW WKH VFKRODU RIIHUHG SUD\HUV DQGG meditation to mother Saraswati asking her why she had insultedd KLPWKURXJKD\RXQJER\,QDGUHDPWKH*RGGHVVDSSHDUHGWRKLP VLWWLQJRQDZKLWHORWXV:LWKIRXUDUPVDGD]]OLQJIDLUFRPSOH[LRQQ DQGVSRWOHVVZKLWHVDULVKHHPERGLHGSXULW\DQGJUDFH7KH*RGGHVVV UHYHDOHG WR KLP &DLWDQ\D 0DKDSUDEKX¶V SRVLWLRQ DV WKH 6XSUHPHH /RUG$VDVXUUHQGHUHGGHYRWHHRIWKH/RUGKHUSULRULW\ZDVWRVHUYHH +LPE\PDNLQJ+LVRSSRQHQW¶VZRUGVGHIHFWLYH6KHZDVGHSHQGHQWW RQ+LPIRUKHUUHPDUNDEOHSRZHUV/RUG.ULVKQDH[SODLQVWKDWDOOO intelligence emanates from Him, “I am seated in everyone’s heart,, DQG IURP 0H FRPHV UHPHPEUDQFH NQRZOHGJH DQG IRUJHWIXOQHVV %\DOOWKH9HGDV,DPWREHNQRZQ,QGHHG,DPWKHFRPSLOHURII Vedanta, and I am the knower of the Vedas.” (Bhagavad-gita 15.15) Krishna grants us greater intelligence to that of animals, allowing uss to discriminate and seek understanding to the higher aspects of life.. Therefore, it is not surprising that the name “Saraswati” means “onee ZKRJLYHVWKHHVVHQWLDONQRZOHGJHRIWKHVHOI´RU³RQHZKRÀRZV´´ ZKLFKFDQEHDSSOLHGWRWKHÀRZRINQRZOHGJHWKRXJKWVDQGZRUGV 2QH PD\ ZRQGHU WKDW DOWKRXJK PDQ KDV DGYDQFHG LQ PDWHULDOOO knowledge through the ages, how is it that there is a proportionall increase in suffering? The reason is that knowledge of the self inn UHODWLRQWR*RGLVODFNLQJLQPDQ¶VSXUVXLWIRUKDSSLQHVV6DUDVZDWL DVKHUQDPHLPSOLHVJLYHVERWKPDWHULDODQGVSLULWXDONQRZOHGJH 8 3DLQWLQJE\$QDSXUQD'DVL 6KHVKRZVWKDWVSLULWXDONQRZOHGJHLVVXSHULRUE\KROGLQJWKH9HGDVWKHERRNRIVSLULWXDONQRZOHGJHDQGWKH japa mala FKDQWLQJEHDGV LQKHUKDQGV%HFDXVHRXULQWHOOLJHQFHLVLPSHUIHFWDQGLPSXUHZHKDYHWRUHFHLYH NQRZOHGJHIURPWKH³6XSUHPH,QWHOOLJHQFH´ZKLFKLV*RG+LPVHOI6SLULWXDONQRZOHGJHUHFHLYHGIURPDERQD ¿GHUHSUHVHQWDWLYHRI*RGIUHHVRQHIURPWKHIDOVHSHUFHSWLRQRIHQMR\LQJVHSDUDWHO\IURPWKH/RUGDQGVLWXDWHV us in our constitutional position as servants of Him. Thus the name “Saraswati” is also a title for great souls who DUHHQOLJKWHQHGE\VXSUHPHNQRZOHGJHDQGZKRHQOLJKWHQVRWKHUV 6KULOD3UDEKXSDGDDQHPERGLPHQWRISXUHORYHDQGNQRZOHGJHH[SODLQVWKDWHYHU\RQHKDVLQWHOOLJHQFHEXWRQH KDVWRNQRZKRZWRXWLOL]HLW³6RRQHZKRLVIRUWXQDWHKHEHFRPHVWUDLQHGXSLQLQWHOOLJHQFHKRZWRJRKRPH EDFNWR*RGKHDG$QGRQHZKRLVQRWIRUWXQDWHKLVLQWHOOLJHQFHLV XVHGKRZWRJRWRKHOO7KDW VDOO7REHFRPHDPHPEHURIWKHKHOOLVK FRQGLWLRQRIOLIHWKDWDOVRUHTXLUHVLQWHOOLJHQFH+RZWREHFRPH¿UVW FODVV WKLHI KRZ WR EHFRPH ¿UVWFODVVFKHDWHU ¿UVWFODVVGUXQNDUG ¿UVWFODVV VPXJJOHU²GRHV LW QRW UHTXLUH LQWHOOLJHQFH"´ 6KULOD 3UDEKXSDGD5RRP&RQYHUVDWLRQ 6DUDVZDWLVKRZVXVKRZWRXVHRXULQWHOOLJHQFHSURSHUO\E\EHFRPLQJ ¿UVWFODVV GHYRWHHV RI *RG 6KH KROGV WKH FKDQWLQJ EHDGV LQ KHU ULJKW KDQG DQG WKH ERRN RQ KHU OHIW VKRZLQJ WKDW WKH H[HFXWLRQ RIGHYRWLRQDOVHUYLFHE\FKDQWLQJ*RG¶VKRO\QDPHVLVKLJKHUWKDQ jjnana or the assimilation of knowledge. “The power of speaking LV FDOOHG 6DUDVZDWL RU WKH JRGGHVV RI OHDUQLQJ DQG WKH ELUWKSODFH RIWKHJRGGHVVRIOHDUQLQJLVWKHPRXWKRI%UDKPD(YHQLIDPDQ LV HQGRZHG ZLWK WKH IDYRXU RI WKH JRGGHVV RI OHDUQLQJ LW LV TXLWH SRVVLEOH IRU KLV KHDUW WR EH IXOO RI OXVW DQG PDWHULDO GHVLUH«2QH PD\EHYHU\OHDUQHGLQWKHPXQGDQHHVWLPDWLRQEXWWKDWGRHVQRW mean that he is free from all low activities of lust and anger.” (SB 3.12.26, purport) By studying the scriptures and chanting the names RI*RGDV0RWKHU6DUDVZDWLGRHVRXUKHDUWVDUHSXUL¿HGIURPWKHVH XQGHVLUDEOHTXDOLWLHVDQGRXUHWHUQDOORYHIRU.ULVKQDLVDZDNHQHG Saraswati awards us material knowledge and as the goddess of arts and music she holds a veena (musical stringed instrument) in her KDQGVZKLFKVKHSOD\VIRUWKHSOHDVXUHRI.ULVKQD%\KHUH[DPSOH VKH WHDFKHV XV QRW WR DEDQGRQ RXU PDWHULDO LQWHOOLJHQFH VWXGLHV WDOHQWVDQGQDWXUHVEXWWRXVHWKHPLQWKHVHUYLFHRIWKH/RUG/LNH KHU KXVEDQG /RUG %UDKPD 6DUDVZDWL ULGHV RQ D FHOHVWLDO ZKLWH VZDQ7KHVZDQLVH[SHUWLQH[WUDFWLQJPLONIURPDPL[WXUHRIPLON DQGZDWHUDQGFDQHYHQH[WUDFWQHFWDUIURPDGLUW\SODFH6RHYHQ while living in the material world in unpleasant conditions, we can use whatever we have to advance on the spiritual path and taste the nectar of devotional service. The Shrimad Bhagavatam proclaims that one should offer one’s UHVSHFWVWRWKH/RUGWRPRWKHU6DUDVZDWLDQGRWKHUJUHDWVRXOVEHIRUH reciting from it. Saraswati is honoured as Krishna’s dear devotee and ZH VHHN KHU EOHVVLQJV 6KH IXO¿OV RXU GHVLUHV E\ WKH JUDFH RI /RUG .ULVKQD DQG WKHUHIRUH 6KULOD 3UDEKXSDGD HPSKDVL]HV WKDW MXVW DV WKHUHLVDQLPPHDVXUDEOHGLIIHUHQFHEHWZHHQDZHOODQGDQRFHDQLW LVZLVHUWRGLUHFWO\DSSURDFK.ULVKQDZKRFDQEHVWRZHYHU\NLQGRI EHQHGLFWLRQ%HVLGHV6DUDVZDWL¶VREMHFWLYHLVWRGLUHFWXVWRKHU/RUG as she did with Keshava Kashmiri. $IWHU.HVKDYD.DVKPLULKHDUGJRGGHVV6DUDVZDWLJORULI\WKH/RUG KH VXUUHQGHUHG WR 6KUL &DLWDQ\D 0DKDSUDEKX DQG DFFHSWHG +LP DV KLV RQO\ ZRUVKLSIXO /RUG DQG PDVWHU :LWK FOHDU LQWHOOLJHQFH KHXQGHUVWRRGWKDWGLUHFWZRUVKLSWR/RUG.ULVKQDVDWLV¿HVDOOWKH GHPLJRGVDQGWKDW.ULVKQD¶VGHYRWHHQDWXUDOO\EHFRPHVDUHFLSLHQW RIDOOZRQGHUIXOEHQHGLFWLRQV 9 Modern Day Heroes %\ We studied Animals in the Vedas over one gurukul Ingredients HGXFDWLRQ EDVHG RQ 9HGLF VFULSWXUH VHPHVWHU JEXWWHU With that in mind we decided to take our 35 125ml golden syrup OHDUQHUVRQDQH[FLWLQJWULSWRWKH,QJRJR)XQ 350ml roasted and salted peanut halves )DUP 6HSWHPEHU ZDV DQ H[FLWLQJ GD\ 330ml sugar IRU WKH FKLOGUHQ DQG WKHLU SDUHQWV IURP ,6.&21 POERLOLQJZDWHU Newcastle. Method (YHU\RQHJDWKHUHGDWWKHWHPSOHDWDPDQGZH &RPELQH EXWWHU VXJDU JROGHQ V\UXS DQG ERLOLQJ ZHUH GLYLGHG LQWR WKUHH WHDPV 7HDP -DJDQQDWKD water in a saucepan. Stir to dissolve sugar over 3XUL EOXHEODFN 7HDP9ULQGDYDQ UHG DQG7HDP PHGLXPKHDW%ULQJWRERLODQGWKHQFRQWLQXHWRERLO 0D\DSXU \HOORZJROG :H KDG KLUHG D EXV DQG for a further 30 minutes without stirring. Remove packed delicious biryani that some mothers had IURPKHDWDQGVWLULQSHDQXWV3RXUPL[WXUHLQWRD prepared earlier that morning. After a short temple JUHDVHGFPE\FPSDQ$OORZWRVHWDQGWKHQ SURJUDPPHZHERDUGHGWKHEXVDQGKHDGHGWRWKH FXWRUEUHDNLQWRSLHFHV ,QJRJR)XQ)DUP:HKDGDTXL]DERXWWKH/RUG¶V $OWHUQDWLYH UHSODFHSHDQXWVZLWKPOFDVKHZV SDVWLPHVRQWKHEXVZLWKWKHFKLOGUHQVKRXWLQJRXW 7KLVUHFLSHLVDOVRDJUHDWVQDFNRQ(NDGDVL answers joyfully. At the farm we enjoyed a tractor ride, camel ride, KRUVH DQG FDUULDJH ULGH WKH ELUG SDUN DQWLTXH PXVHXPDQGH[RWLFDQLPDOVDQGELUGV0RVWRIDOO ZH HQMR\HG EHLQJ WRJHWKHU )LQDOO\ ZH VDW GRZQ to a picnic lunch and at the end of the day all the GHYRWHHVUHFHLYHGFHUWL¿FDWHVRIDSSUHFLDWLRQ BYS Road to Soweto %\5XNPLQL'DVL transcendental Hare Krishna house party! The kirtan FHUWDLQO\ OLYHG XS WR WKHLU H[SHFWDWLRQV 0DKDUDMD¶V /XQFK SDFNV ¿UVW DLG NLW FKDUJHU ORWV RI ERWWOHG thoughtful yet colourful presentation evoked many ZDWHU DQG WZHQW\ ]HDORXV DQLPDWHG IDFHV &KHFN TXHVWLRQV :HZHUHDOOVHWDQGUDULQJWRJRRQWKH¿UVW%KDNWL The weekend was action )URP WKH JOLW] DQG JODPRXU SDFNHG .LFNLQJ LW RII ZDV +LV +ROLQHVV .DGDPDED RI 'XUEDQ WR WKH VZHHW VLPSOLFLW\ RI 6RZHWR WKH Kanana Swami with an evening nama-hatta VWXGHQWVZHUHDPD]HGDWKRZ.ULVKQDFRQVFLRXVQHVV programme in the illustrious Savannah Hills. FDQEHH[SUHVVHGE\VRPDQ\SHRSOHRIGLIIHUHQWUDFHV For the students, nama-hatta translated into a DQG SODFHV µ)DFHV¶ EHFDPH IDPLO\ DQG PLQGV VHW DEOD]HZLWKNQRZOHGJH Comments from Students D VHQVH RI EHORQJLQJ´ 3K\OLFLD 0JZHQ\D +RZDUG &ROOHJH8.=1 “The highlight of my trip though was Savannah Hills. We arrived while the kirtan was in progress, “We just sang, danced and ate and then sang, danced DQG WR PH WKDW ZDV E\ IDU WKH EHVW kirtan I have DQGDWHVRPHPRUH«WKHZKROHZHHNHQG,NQHZWKDW HYHUH[SHULHQFHGWKHHQHUJ\IURPLWZDVDPD]LQJ« VSLULWXDO OLIH ZRXOG PDNH RQH SHDFHIXO EXW , GLGQ¶W KH H[SODLQHG DOO P\ WKHRULHV DERXW WKH ZRUOG ERWK NQRZ LW FRXOG EH VR PXFK IXQ´ 5DNVKD 5DJKXELU material and spiritual so accurately and made me (GJHZRRG&DPSXV8.=1 XQGHUVWDQGVRPXFK´)UHHPDQ*FDEDVKH'87 ³6HOI 5HDOL]DWLRQ NQRZLQJ ZKHUH \RX FRPH IURP ³7KHWULSWR-R¶EXUJPDGHPHVHHOLIHLQDGLIIHUHQW in order to know where you are going. These are perspective. I fell more in love with BYS, especially WKH WKLQJV WKDW , OHDUQHG IURP RXU WULS 7R FRPEDW the people. They were welcoming, kind and made ignorance and violence in this world these spiritual me feel at home. They weren’t pretending they were YDOXHV VKRXOG EH WDXJKW HYHQ RQ SULPDU\ DQG just down to earth. I realised that we are one person, secondary levels.” Sanelisiwe Mpungose, Howard UHJDUGOHVVRIVNLQFRORXUEDFNJURXQGRUVWDWXV,IHOW &ROOHJH8.=1 11 A Young Boy’s Dream temple for the day we %\0DKDYLU'DV encountered a pack ,ZDVDWWUDFWHGWR/RUG1UVLPKDDVD\RXQJER\DQG of jackals silently UHJDUGHG +LP DV RQH RI P\ KHURHV 7KLV LQFUHGLEOH crossing our path. form of the Supreme Personality grew on me and for The guide told me to years I desired to go on pilgrimage to that place in remain still and to 6RXWK,QGLD$QGUD3UDGHVKFDOOHG$KRELODP²ZKHUH not look at them. To /RUG1UVLPKDDSSHDUHG my relief and delight they sniffed at us In June this year I went on a three month pilgrimage and went on their to India. I was in Jagannatha Puri during the grand merry way. Finally, 5DWKD\DWUD DQG KDG WKH JRRG IRUWXQH WR HPEUDFH we arrived at Shri HDFK'HLW\RQWKHLUFKDULRW:KHQ,VWRRGLQIURQWRI Karanja Nrsimha /RUG-DJDQQDWKD,SUD\HGWR+LPWRDOORZPHLQWR temple. Here I had a wellll deservedd d rest, sittingii ini $KRELODPDQGWRSOHDVHDOORZPHWRVHH+LPLQWKH IURQWRIWKHGHLW\RI/RUG1UVLPKDKROGLQJDERZDQG IRUPRI/RUG1UVLPKD arrow in His hands. , WKHQ OHIW WR 6RXWK ,QGLD (DUO\ RQH PRUQLQJ , After supper that night I recounted that we had visited WRRN D EXV IURP 7LUXSDWL WR D UXUDO 0XVOLP YLOODJH ¿YHWHPSOHVDQGDOOWKH'HLWLHVLQWKRVHWHPSOHVZHUH called Allahgadda on a rocky and winding road. In VHOIPDQLIHVW²QR PDQ KDG FDUYHG WKHP 7KH QH[W $OODKJDGGD,WRRNDÀDWEHGF\FOHULFNVKDZWRWKHSODFH PRUQLQJ ZH YLVLWHG ORZHU $KRELODP , ZDV WDNHQ ,KDGGUHDPWRI²6KUL$KRELODP,WZDVDQHPRWLRQDO DEDFNWRVHHWKH6KUL After the hair-raising morning prayers in lower 0\UGGD\DW$KRELODPZDVRQHRIWKHPRVWDPD]LQJ $KRELODP,PHWP\JXLGH0\JXLGHJUHZXSLQWKH days of my life. I was going up the mountain where IRRW KLOOV RI $KRELODP DQG VSRNH RQO\ 7HOHJX :H WKH8JUD6WDPEDVWDQGV7KH8UJD6WDPEDLVZKHUH KLNHGWKURXJKWKHURXJKWHUUDLQIRUDERXWNPWR /RUG 1UVLPKD KDG EURNHQ RXW IURP WKH SLOODU DQG Shri Krodha Nrsimha (Vara-Nrsimha) temple. After attacked Hiranyakashipu. We set off at sunrise and seeing the attractive and mystical deity in the dark WUHNNHGXSWKHPRXQWDLQ7KHKLNHZDVH[WUDQHRXV little temple, we left to Shri Jwala-Nrsimha temple, DQG GDQJHURXV ZLWK URFN IDOOV DW DQ\WLPH D ORRVH ZKHUHWKH/RUGLVLQWKHDJJUHVVLYHSRVHRINLOOLQJWKH URFNFRXOGWXPEOHGRZQRQPHRUFDXVHPHWRVOLS demon, Hiranyakashipu, on His lap. A short while WRP\GHDWK7KDQNIXOO\E\P\VWURQJGHWHUPLQDWLRQ later we went down a hilly path to the spot where the and tough legs, I could see myself getting closer and /RUGZDVKHG+LVKDQGVDIWHUNLOOLQJ+LUDQ\DNDVKLSX closer. I had wanted this from when I was a child. I The edge of this pond is red to this day. We then thought that if my spiritual master was present, he passed a mountain with a small waterfall. I stood would have pushed me to go faster. under the waterfall and drank the refreshing, pure mountain water. It helped to cool me as it was a hot :KHQ,HYHQWXDOO\UHDFKHGWKHWRSLWZDVOLNHEHLQJ day and we were in the middle of a forest. on a heavenly planet, the air was light, and there was DQ XQIRUJHWWDEOH FRROLQJ DQG HQHUJL]LQJ PRXQWDLQ We then proceeded to Shri Malola Nrsimha and I was EUHH]H 7KH 6WDPED ZDV DERXW WZHQW\ IHHW WRZDUGV HQFKDQWHG E\ WKH /DNVPL1UVLPKD GHLW\ WKHUH 1RW the edge of the mountain. I got there with tears in my far from there was Prahlad Maharaja’s school, which eyes and my heart full of emotion. I fell down to the ZDVQRZDVKDOORZFDYH:HUHDFKHGWKH6KUL$KRELOD JURXQGRIIHULQJP\REHLVDQFHDQGFLUFXPDPEXODWHG 1UVLPKDWHPSOHZKLFKLVHPEHGGHGLQWKHPRXQWDLQ the spot. I prayed that the whole world could come 7KH 'HLW\ WKHUH KDV VLOYHU\ ORWXVVKDSHG H\HV , WRWKLVSRZHUIXOSODFHDQGIHHOWKHH[WUDRUGLQDU\ sat in this temple and chanted japa, WKH YLEUDWLRQV VSLULWXDOHQHUJ\,ZDVIHHOLQJ²WKHVSRWZKHUH/RUG resonating around me. While walking to the last Nrsimha appeared. 12 Age of Austerity XOWLPDWHO\.ULVKQD/LIHWKDWLVHWHUQDO Vedic Observer %\'ZLMDPDQL'DVL 'KUXYD 0DKDUDM ZDV D ¿YH\HDUROG ER\ DQG XQGHUZHQW VHYHUH DXVWHULWLHV E\ HDWLQJ VLPSO\ GU\ There are three economic powerhouses in the world foliage and drinking only water. In this way, after WRGD\±WKH8QLWHG6WDWHV(XURSHDQG&KLQD$PHULFD VL[ PRQWKV KH ZDV DEOH WR VHH WKH 6XSUHPH /RUG LVLQDUHFHVVLRQ*UHHFHDQG,WDO\DUHLQD¿QDQFLDO IDFHWRIDFH:KHQKHVDZWKH/RUGKHVDLGsvamin FULVLV&KLQDUHPDLQVVWURQJ)URPDOOWKH(XURSHDQ krtartho’smi: ³0\ 'HDU /RUG , DP SOHDVHG´ 7KH FRXQWULHV*HUPDQ\LVDQLQGXVWULDOSRZHUKRXVHDQG 3UDFHWDVREVHUYHGVHYHUHDXVWHULWLHVIRUWHQWKRXVDQG WKH VHFRQG ODUJHVW H[SRUWHU LQ WKH ZRUOG *HUPDQV \HDUV$VDUHZDUG.ULVKQDDSSHDUHGEHIRUHWKHPLQ work fewer hours than anywhere else in the world. His very pleasing form. This appealed to the Pracetas *HUPDQFKLOGUHQVSHQGOHVVWLPHLQVFKRROWKDQPRVW DQGVDWLV¿HGWKHODERXURIWKHLUDXVWHULWLHV RIWKHLUQHLJKERXULQJFRXQWULHV2IWKHZRUOG¶V largest stock-market-listed companies measured In the 17th chapter of Bhagavad-gita, Krishna E\UHYHQXHLQWKH)RUWXQH*OREDODUH GHVFULEHVDXVWHULW\DVEHLQJWKUHHIROG²WKHDXVWHULW\ KHDGTXDUWHUHGLQ*HUPDQ\ RIWKHERG\WRQJXHDQGPLQG 1. $XVWHULW\ RI ERG\ PHDQV XVLQJ WKH ERG\ WR :HOO NQRZQ JOREDO EUDQGV LQ *HUPDQ\ LQFOXGH ZRUVKLS*RGWKHVSLULWXDOPDVWHUGHYRWHHVDQG 0HUFHGHV %HQ] %0: $XGL 3RUVFKH 6LHPHQV ZLVHDQGH[SHULHQFHGWHDFKHUV$OVRRQHVKRXOG $GLGDV DQG 1LYHD :K\ LV *HUPDQ\ WKULYLQJ" 7KH\ SUDFWLFHFOHDQOLQHVVFHOLEDF\DQGQRQYLROHQFH KDYH LPSOHPHQWHG D YHU\ EDVLF 9HGLF SULQFLSOH 2. Austerity of speech means speaking truthfully, Austerity. And have gained great material success. EHQH¿FLDOO\ DQG DYRLGLQJ VSHHFK WKDW RIIHQGV That government uses austerity policies. The 2QH VKRXOG DOVR UHFLWH WKH 9HGLF OLWHUDWXUH :LNLSHGLD GHVFULEHV WKDW LQ HFRQRPLFV DXVWHULW\ regularly. UHIHUV WR D SROLF\ RI GH¿FLWFXWWLQJ E\ ORZHULQJ 3. “And serenity, gentleness, silence, self-control VSHQGLQJ YLD D UHGXFWLRQ LQ WKH DPRXQW RI EHQH¿WV and purity of thought are the austerities of the DQG SXEOLF VHUYLFHV SURYLGHG ,Q VLPSOH WHUPV WKH PLQG´ %J 2QHVKRXOGGHWDFKWKHPLQG *HUPDQV DUH SUDFWLFLQJ DXVWHULWLHV DQG EHQH¿WLQJ IURPWKHREMHFWVRIWKHVHQVHVWKURXJKGHYRWLRQDO tremendously. service. 0HUULDP:HEVWHU¶V GLFWLRQDU\ QDPHG WKH ZRUG 'HYRWHHVSHUIRUPGDLO\DXVWHULWLHVLQWKHLUSUDFWLFH “austerity” as their “Word of the Year” for 2010 RI GHYRWLRQDO VHUYLFH ,Q ZRUVKLSLQJ WKH 'HLW\ LQ EHFDXVHRIWKHQXPEHURIVHDUFKHVWKLVZRUGJHQHUDWHG WKH WHPSOH WKHUH DUH FHUWDLQ VHHPLQJO\ ODERULRXV that year. Austerity or tapasya means voluntary activities. Sri-vigraharadhana-nitya-nana srngara DFFHSWDQFHRIERGLO\SDLQVIRUDFKLHYLQJVRPHKLJKHU -tan-mandira-marjanadau2QHPXVWGHFRUDWHWKH HQG,QKXPDQOLIHDXVWHULW\LVDEVROXWHO\QHFHVVDU\ 'HLW\FOHDQVHWKHWHPSOHSHUIRUParati many times, ,QRUGLQDU\OLIHHYHU\QLFHWKLQJLQWKHZRUOGUHTXLUHV SUHSDUH ¿UVWFODVV IRRG IRU WKH 'HLW\ VHZ RXW¿WV austerity, from writing an artistic song to making HWF6LPLODUO\KDUGODERXULVLQYROYHGLQSUHDFKLQJ D VFLHQWL¿F GLVFRYHU\ %XW LW LV DOO WHPSRUDU\ ,Q SULQWLQJOLWHUDWXUHGLVWULEXWLQJERRNVDQGDUUDQJLQJ VSLULWXDOS OLIH DXVWHULW\\ OHDGV WR VHOIUHDOL]DWLRQ DQG pprogrammes. By such austerity in GGHYRWLRQDO VHUYLFH RQH LV SXUL¿HG RI PPDWHULDOH[LVWHQFH IIn the previous ages, austerities were pperformed as a means in itself, of attaining KKrishna. In Kali-yuga, one can achieve WWKH VDPH UHVXOWV VLPSO\ E\ FKDQWLQJ WKH HHare Krishna maha-mantra. The people RIWKLVDJHDUHVRIDOOHQWKDWWKH/RUGKDVR kindlyk given us the easiest method for VHOIUHDOL]DWLRQ&KDQWLQJKDVEHFRPHWKHV DXVWHULW\D %XW UHPHPEHU E\ DFFHSWLQJ thist austerity in life, one regains his VSLULWXDOV OLIH DQG HQMR\V XQOLPLWHG EOLVV ³,QWKLVDJHRITXDUUHODQGK\SRFULV\WKH³ onlyo means of deliverance is chanting the KRO\QDPHRIWKH/RUG7KHUHLVQRRWKHUK way.w There is no other way. There is no RWKHUZD\´ &F$GL R 13 Teaching for Krishna Devotee Focus Mother Manjari’s close ERQG ZLWK WZR HOGHUO\ %\.ULVKDQJL5DGKH'DVL ZRPHQ 0RWKHU $UFKD 0\ WKRXJKWV JR EDFN WR D SLOJULPDJH Vigraha (SA) and Mother WR 9ULQGDYDQ LQ WKH V :LWK .LUWLGD 86$ ERWK GHOLJKW , UHFDOO PHHWLQJ 0DQMDUL 'DVL of whom have passed (affectionately known as Mother away from cancer. 0DQMDUL D VWDOZDUW IURP WKH 'XUEDQ Mother Manjari spread Temple. In Vrindavan, she lived her nature of deep care LQ D KXPEOH URRP HTXLSSHG ZLWK and compassion to D NLWFKHQHWWH WKDW VWRFNHG EDUH her friends when she necessities, yet she graciously prepared assisted them during a sumptuous South African meal. After their illness. She weeks of travelling around India, such provided great spiritual a meal and familiar face were most and emotional strength welcome. WRERWKWKHVH GHYRWHHV &ODGLQDZKLWH FRWWRQ sari, her pleasant and warm disposition was evident in her +HUUHODWLRQVKLSZLWK,6.&21EHJDQLQ ZKHQ HIIXOJHQWVPLOH+HUGHPHDQRXUDQGFKDUDFWHUFDQEH she supported her sons who were residents at the QRWHGDVWKHHSLWRPHRID9DLVKQDYL VHUYDQWRI/RUG &DWR5LGJHashram6KHZDVDWHDFKHUDQGEHJDQKHU Vishnu). FDUHHU DW WKH DJH RI VL[WHHQ 'HVSLWH EHLQJ D \RXQJ female in a male-dominated society, she worked 5HVLGLQJLQ9ULQGDYDQDQG0XPEDLIRUVRPH\HDUV her way up the school system to achieve the status 0DQMDULKDGWKHRSSRUWXQLW\WRFRRNIRU6KULOD*LULUDM RI 3ULQFLSDO ,Q 0RWKHU 0DQMDUL MRLQHG WKH 6ZDPL DQG 6KULOD 7DPDO .ULVKQD *RVZDPL +HU Shri Shri Radha Radhanath Temple full-time and WUDYHOVDOVRWRRNKHUWR'DOODV86$ZKHUHVKHDOVR soon after received initiation from His Holiness VHUYHGLQWKH'HLW\GHSDUWPHQW *LULUDM 6ZDPL %HLQJ SDVVLRQDWH DERXW HGXFDWLRQ Although widely travelled, Mother Manjari had a VKH XVHG KHU SURIHVVLRQDO EDFNJURXQG WR WHDFK DW special place in her heart for the Shri Shri Radha several international gurukuls (schools that use Radhanatha Temple, which she considered her Vedic scripture as the foundation for teaching and KRPH 2QH RI KHU ODVW HQJDJHPHQWV LQ 'XUEDQ ZDV OHDUQLQJ 0RWKHU0DQMDULZDVDOVRDFXOLQDU\H[SHUW WKH GLVWULEXWLRQ RI maha-prasada (food offered to and used these skills to prepare delicacies for the WKH 'HLWLHV ZKLFK VKH JHQHURXVO\ RIIHUHG WR WKRVH 'HLWLHV 7RJHWKHU ZLWK KHU RUJDQLVDWLRQDO DELOLWLHV DURXQGKHU+HUYHUVDWLOLW\LQWHOOHFWDQGLPSHFFDEOH and forte in the kitchen, Manjari assisted in the character attracted her to many services which she RSHQLQJRI*RYLQGD¶V5HVWDXUDQW VHOÀHVVO\SHUIRUPHG ,Q DQ LQWHUYLHZ ZLWK 3DOLND 'HYL 'DVL 0DQMDUL¶V ,QDUHFHQWOHWWHU*LULUDM6ZDPLDFNQRZOHGJHG GDXJKWHULQODZ VKHH[SODLQHGWKDWDOWKRXJK0RWKHU 0RWKHU 0DQMDUL¶V VHUYLFH WR 6KULOD 3UDEKXSDGD Manjari devoted her life to the Temple, she maintained “Mother Manjari is very dear to me. She came close family ties. Mother Manjari had four sons and IURP D UHVSHFWDEOH SRVLWLRQ DW D UHODWLYHO\ ODWH DJH VL[ JUDQGFKLOGUHQ EXW GXH WR KHU QDWXUDO DELOLW\ WR yet she gave herself fully to the process of Krishna spread love to all those around her, she was viewed as consciousness and the service of the devotees. I can DPRWKHUDQGIULHQGLQWKHFRPPXQLW\,QWKH ¶V never forget her service, her dedication, and her she took on the important role as the ladies mentor at preaching spirit. She has helped many, many souls in WKH'XUEDQ7HPSOH7KLVJUHDWUHVSRQVLELOLW\VDZKHU Krishna consciousness.” DVEHLQJDIULHQGFRQ¿GDQWPRWKHUDQGZHOOZLVKHU to the devotees residing at the Temple. She also spent 0RWKHU 0DQMDUL SDVVHG DZD\ RQ WK 6HSWHPEHU PDQ\ GD\V RQ WKH VWUHHWV RI 'XUEDQ GLVWULEXWLQJ +HUVHUYLFHDQGGHGLFDWLRQWR6KULOD3UDEKXSDGDZLOO 6KULOD3UDEKXSDGD¶VERRNV+DYLQJVSHQWVRPHWLPH IRUHYHUEHUHPHPEHUHG with Mother Manjari in India, Palika emphasised Notice Board VaishnavaVaishnava CCalendaralendar ,I\RXZRXOGOLNHWRUHFHLYH606RUHPDLOQRWL¿FDWLRQV 'HF 'HF (N (NDGDVLDGDVL 7 DERXWYDULRXVKDSSHQLQJVDQGXSGDWHVHPDLOXVDW 'HF'HF % %UHDNIDVW UHDNIDVW N]Q#SDPKRQHWRUWHPSOH#LVNFRQGXUEDQQHW 'HF'HF ( (NDGDVLNDGDVL AdventAdvent ofof ShrimadShrimad Bhagavad-gitaBhagavad-gita )RUJHQHUDOTXHULHVFDOOWKHWHPSOHDW 'HF'HF % %UHDNIDVW UHDNIDVW EHWZHHQ DPSP 'HF'HF 3X 3XUQLPDUQLPD Katyayani vratavrata endsends For programme updates, daily darshan and general -DQ-DQ 'LVDSSHDUDQFHRI6KULOD'LVDSSHDUDQFHRI6KULOD LQIRUPDWLRQ BhaktisiddhantaBhaktisiddhanta SaSarasvatirasvati TThakurahakura 7HPSOHEORJ GXUEDQNULVKQDEORJVSRWFRP (Fast(Fast till noon)noon) 7HPSOHZHEVLWH ZZZLVNFRQGXUEDQQHW -DQ-DQ (N (NDGDVLDGDVL )DFHERRN ZZZIDFHERRNFRP'XUEDQ.ULVKQD -DQ-DQ % %UHDNIDVW UHDNIDVW 7ZLWWHU#'XUEDQ.ULVKQD -DQ-DQ 'LVDSSHDUDQFHR 'LVDSSHDUDQFHRI6KULOD-LYD*RVYDPLI6KULOD-LYD*RVYDPL -DQ-DQ (N (NDGDVLDGDVL 2PEXGVPDQIRU,6.&216RXWK$IULFD -DQ-DQ % %UHDNIDVW UHDNIDVW 7ULEDQJD6XQGDU'DV 26 Jan 20120133 Pu Purnimarnima WULEDQJDVXQGDU#JPDLOFRP 6KUL.ULVKQD3XV\DDEKLVHND SMS 0722715400 32%R[%UXPD 11RWH RWH )DVW IURPIURP DOO JUDLQJUDLQ EHDQV DQG OHJXPHVOHJXPHV RQ ((NDGDVLNDGDVL 6ROXWLRQV ) ) 7 ) ) 7 7 ) ) 15 Song of God Kurukshetra The Pandava and Kaurava armies are poised for EDWWOH Bhagavad-gita³'KULWDUDVKWUDVDLG 26DQMD\Dafter Arjuna asks Shri Krishna to draw his chariot to the middle P\VRQVDQGWKHVRQVRI3DQGXDVVHPEOHGLQWKHSODFHRI RIWKHEDWWOH¿HOG6HHLQJKLVHOGHUVDQGUHODWLYHVRQWKH SLOJULPDJHDW.XUXNVKHWUDGHVLULQJWR¿JKWZKDWGLGWKH\ RSSRVLQJVLGHDQDQJXLVKHG$UMXQDIHHOVKLV*DQGLYDERZ do?” VOLS7KH6XSUHPH3HUVRQDOLW\RI*RGKHDGWKHQLQLWLDWHG ,VQ¶W LW LQFUHGXORXV WKDW D EDWWOH¿HOG FDQ EH UHIHUUHG WR His song, Bhagavad-gita 6KULOD 3UDEKXSDGD GHVFULEHV as a place of pilgrimage? According to the Mahabharat, WKLVIDPHGGLDORJXH ³,WLVWKHHVVHQFHRI9HGLFNQRZOHGJH .LQJ .XUX VHWWOHG RQ WKDW ODQG DQG FKRVH WR HPEHG WKH and one of the most important Upanishads in Vedic HLJKWVSLULWXDOYLUWXHV DXVWHULW\WUXWKIXOQHVVIRUJLYHQHVV OLWHUDWXUH´ %J,QWURGXFWLRQS *LWD-D\DQWLPDUNVWKH NLQGQHVV SXULW\ FKDULW\ VDFUL¿FH DQG FHOLEDF\ ,QGUD GD\/RUG.ULVKQDVSRNHBhagavad-gita to Arjuna. JUDQWHG.XUXWKHERRQWKDWKHZRXOGDGPLWLQWRKHDYHQ Bhagavad-gita As It Is KDV EHHQ WUDQVODWHG WR DQ\RQH ZKR GLHG WKHUH ZKLOH ¿JKWLQJ RU SHUIRUPLQJ ODQJXDJHVDQG PLOOLRQKDYHEHHQGLVWULEXWHGWRGDWH SHQDQFH7KXV.XUXNVKHWUDEHFDPHERWKDEDWWOH¿HOGDQG The knowledge of the soul as marginal energy of the a land of piety. Supreme releases us from linguistic, social, political and Writers and philosophers comment that Kurukshetra is national designations and unites us in our collective D PHWDSKRU IRU WKH ERG\ RU PLQG ZLWK UHIHUHQFH WR WKH SRVLWLRQ RI UHYLYLQJ RXU UHODWLRQVKLS ZLWK *RG :KLOH FRQVWDQW EDWWOH EHWZHHQ WKH KLJKHU DQG ORZHU VHOYHV there are hundreds of translations of Bhagavad-gita, no Saints on the path of bhakti reject such speculation. other translation, with its word-for-word transliteration, ,PSHUVRQDOLVPDQGP\WKRORJ\OHDYHVRQHORVWWRWKH/RUG has made as many Krishna bhaktas as Bhagavad-gita As %DVHGRQVFULSWXUDOHYLGHQFH.XUXNVKHWUDLVFHOHEUDWHGDV It Is. a place of pilgrimage where Bhagavad-gita was spoken, :KHQ /RUG &DLWDQ\D YLVLWHG 6KUL 5DQJDP +H PHW D and where the gopis SXOOHG /RUG .ULVKQD¶V FKDULRW WR brahmana ZKR ZDV ULGLFXOHG DQG FULWLFL]HG IRU KLV Vrindavan (ratha-yatra). incorrect pronunciation and reading of Bhagavad-gita. Kurukshetra, lays north east of Haryana, in North India, /RUG&DLWDQ\DQRWLFHGWHDUVLQWKHbrahmana’s eyes and ZKHUH *LWD -D\DQWL LV KRQRXUHG DV WKH JUHDWHVW GD\ LQ DVNHG DERXW KLV VWDWH 7KH brahmana said that he only the history of mankind. Pilgrims from all over the world VHHV WKH EHDXW\ RI /RUG .ULVKQD VLWWLQJ RQ D FKDULRW DV FRPH WR EDWKH LQ WKH VDFUHG SRQGV 6DQQLKLW 6DURYDUD $UMXQD¶V FKDULRWHHU DQG WKLV ¿OOV KLP ZLWK KDSSLQHVV DQG%UDKPD6DURYDUDEHIRUHHQWHULQJWKHWHPSOHVZKHUH /RUG&DLWDQ\DHPEUDFHGWKHbrahmana and announced, Bhagavad-gita LV UHFLWHG $W -\RWLVDU D PDUEOH FKDULRW “Indeed, you are an authority in the reading of the XQGHUDEDQ\DQWUHHPDUNVWKHVSRWZKHUH/RUG.ULVKQD Bhagavad-gita. Whatever you know constitutes the real spoke the Bhagavad-gita. The festivals are state organised purport of the Bhagavad-gita´ &F0DGK\D and on this day ministers, governors and pilgrims share According to the Gita Mahatmya, “All the sacred places the same goal. The immortal position of Kurukshetra is in RISLOJULPDJHGZHOOLQWKDWSODFHZKHUHWKHERRNWKHGita the hearts of the devotees. is kept and where it is read.” )RUWKRVHRIXVWKDWDUHLQWKHXQHQYLDEOHSRVLWLRQRIEHLQJ :H FRXOG FHOHEUDWH WKH Bhagavad-gita’s philosophical KRPHERXQGLW¶VKHDUWHQLQJWRNQRZWKDWKHDULQJIURP YDOXH²GHWDLOLQJ WKH QDWXUH RI WKH 6XSUHPH /RUG DXWKRULVHG SHUVRQV JLYHV RQH WKH VDPH EHQHGLFWLRQ DV PDWHULDOQDWXUHWKHOLYLQJHQWLW\WLPHDQGNDUPD RUZH JRLQJRQSLOJULPDJHWKHUHVXOWVRIERWKGUDZVXVFORVHUWR FRXOG FHOHEUDWH © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. www.krishna.com. Used with permission.