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The Conch krishnafarm.com www.conch.org.au “Lord Sri Krishna and Arjuna blew their celestial conches to rally and enthuse the devotees.” Newsletter New Govardhana Community May 2016 Dedicated to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness SPECIAL EDITION Women of ISKCON: Past, Present & Future Shower of Mercy + Meet the Pujari + Cow, Mother of the Universe respect. She can create a spiritual Srila Prabhupada also frequently MOTHERS IN atmosphere in the home and sow explained that all women should be ISKCON the seeds of bhakti in the hearts considered as mothers – even if they of the children. When this role of are without children. Hence females, By Ambika devi dasi motherhood is applied with care, no matter what their age, are to be intelligence, love and sensitivity, the given respect, honour and protection Did you know that there are seven result is the children will have a sense by all the male members of our kinds of mothers? In the Vedas it of security, feel confident in their society. In turn, the women – young is described that these are: the capabilities and become productive or old – must deserve that treatment biological mother; the wife of the in all aspects of their lives. Both by behaving like cultured, chaste king; the wife of the guru; the wife in letters and in person, ISKCON’s women. of a brahmana; Mother Earth; the Founder-Acharya, A.C. Bhaktivedanta nurse (caregiver); and the cow. Other Swami Prabhupada, encouraged references throughout the scriptures the women of the society to be are made to various mothers, such as affectionate and attentive to their Srimati Radharani being the universal children in order that they grow up mother. Mother Parvati is mentioned, as balanced adults who are strong as is Mother Ganga. These mothers devotees. display munificence to those who approach them in a prayerful mood. In 1972, Srila Prabhupada wrote in a letter to his disciple Arundhati devi What is that quintessential quality dasi: “For you, child-worship is more of a mother? It is affectionate love important than deity-worship. If you for the living entity placed under cannot spend time with him, then her care, and, according to Vedic stop the duties of pujari. At least you understanding, it also means playing must take good care of your son until a critical role in ensuring the spiritual he is four years old, and if after that advancement of her children. In time you are unable any more to take xxxx Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, care of him then I shall take care.” it states: “The highest perfection of Image:wikiart.org life is for a father, mother, spiritual master, husband or any other family member to help others return home, equally competent like the men back to Godhead. That is the most in the matter of [the] Krishna preferred welfare activity for the Consciousness Movement. benefit of relatives.” That is why many Please therefore carry on these of our ISKCON mothers, particularly missionary activities, and prove it in the earlier days of ISKCON, made by practical example that there is the supreme sacrifice of sending their no bar for anyone in the matter children to a gurukula, so they could for preaching work in Krishna help perform the “highest welfare Consciousness.” activity” for their children. – Letter to Himavati devi dasi, 20 As devotees in the ISKCON googleimages.com Photo: December 1969 movement, we read about the ISKCON Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace “As far as boys and girls lecturing A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada wonderfully affectionate dealings in the morning, that doesn’t of Mother Yasoda towards Krishna, make any difference. Either boy Mother Rohini towards Balarama, Srila Prabhupada Uvaca or girl devotees may lecture if Mother Saci towards Lord Caitanya they choose to do. We have no and many other examples throughout The following are letters from such bodily designations, male or the scriptures. Equally we see the Srila Prabhupada: female. Krishna consciousness is respectful reciprocation from their “So far your question regarding on the spiritual platform …” transcendental children. women, I have always accepted – Letter to Syama devi dasi, 21 October Although Lord Kapila instructed His the service of women without 1968 discrimination.” mother, Devahuti, it is described in “We are Vaisnavas. We are not the Srimad-Bhagavatam that He was – Letter to Gurudasa on 26 May, 1972 concerned with male or female very affectionate to her. Similarly, “In India all the acaryas and position in life. That is simply Lord Caitanya was always thinking of their descendants later on acted body concept of life. It is not His mother while living in Jagannatha only from the man’s side. Their spiritual. Whether one is male or Puri. He fell before her like a stick wives were at home because female, it does not matter, simply when visiting her, and would send her that is the system from old times chant Hare Krishna and follow the regular gifts along with thousands of that women are not required four regulative principles and your obeisances. to go out. But in Bhagavad-gita life will be perfect.” The Vedic perception of the position we find that women are also – Letter to Jennifer, 15 February 1975 of mother is that she deserves great C: And what is happening on a their own bit. ISKCON’s manpower ISKCON 50TH: national level? is mainly focused around the temple activities, but anyone can make What’s the DPd: Well, on a national level a special effort. There are many an Australian team has created a latest? resources available at the ISKCON50. high-quality, full colour magazine, By Conch Editorial Team org website. There is also a dedicated Hare Krishna: Celebrating 50 years, media company that is on retainer which is tailor-made for outreach. It Recently The Conch caught up with for use with press releases and examines the work ISKCON has done ISKCON Australia’s 50th Campaign advertising. So by the end of this over the past 50 years and gives a Co-ordinator, Damodara Pandit dasa. 50th year of ISKCON we feel that on good synopsis of our philosophy in a an international, national, local and Conch (C): So how is the 50th jargon-free style. We also inaugurated personal level it will be a year to Campaign coming along? an ISKCON Youth Bus Tour in January, remember. Damodara Pandit dasa (DPd): Yes, which was an amazing success. Then great. There is a lot going on. we have a mega celebration weekend in Sydney on 20–21 August. This will C: Can you expand on that? Distribute 50 Books feature a special performance in the DPd: Yes, sure. There are many great Sydney Opera House attended by for ISKCON’s 50th Year international events, such as the many VIPs and artists. Jaladuta Yatra in Kolkata, and then C: What are the local temples doing? Visit: http://iskcon5050.com/ special events in Boston and at 26 Second Avenue, New York planned. DPd: Mukunda Goswami, Bhakta Contact the New In Pune, India, there was ISKCON’s dasa and myself have visited all Govardhana representative: 50th conference that was attended the Australian temples a few times by 20,000 students. The list of special promoting the 50th campaign. All Rupa Raghunatha dasa 50th events is inspiring. These the temples proposed great ideas, events appear daily on our websites: which they are now working through. Ph: 0423 121 589 iskconnews.org and dandavats.com Individuals are also encouraged to do 20,000 students at largest youth festival in the history of ISKCON By Romapada dasa, International Co- ordinator, ISKCON 50th Anniversary Over 20,000 students attended a mega youth festival organised More than 20,000 students attended a mega youth festival organised by ISKCON Pune, by ISKCON Pune on 20 March to India, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ISKCON. celebrate the 50th anniversary ISKCON Pune. He explained that ‘Vande Arts’, a shadow drama on of ISKCON. The event, which was ISKCON had flourished and grown the Bhagavad-gita by students of IIT attended by principals of various rapidly all over the world in just a few Kharagpur, short videos on ISKCON colleges, political leaders from the years, because Srila Prabhupada was and Srila Prabhupada, kirtanas by the youth community, the education supported by many young people Vrajvadhus band from Vrindavana, commissioner of Pune and several who had flocked to hear him in the and a dance-drama called Mauli, other VIPs, was widely covered by late 1960s and early 1970s. which depicted a dialogue between newspapers and broadcast on India’s the medieval saint Tukaram and national TV channel, Doordarshan. “Srila Prabhupada was an expert in the great Maratha warrior-king, The theme of the event was ‘Drishti harnessing the power of youth,” he Shivaji Maharaj. – Bharat leads the world’ and continued. “Therefore, we decided showcased India’s real spiritual that the best offering to Prabhupada ISKCON leaders including Gopal wealth by means of which the in the 50th year of ISKCON was to Krishna Goswami, Lokanatha Swami country has the capacity to lead the bring together a large number of and Gaura Gopala dasa, who is a entire world. young people and harness their WhatsApp celebrity, spoke at the enthusiasm and energy to provide event. Other ISKCON leaders who “Srila Prabhupada established real direction and spiritual values to attended the event included ISKCON 50 years ago to fulfil the make their life successful.” Hanumat Presaka Swami and prediction of Lord Chaitanya that the Bhaktivinoda dasa. holy names of Lord Krishna will be Students were treated to a special chanted all over the world,” explained cultural programme that included Radheshyam dasa, President of a drama by Bhaktimarga Swami’s The four of us were also treated to Shower of Mercy a tour of the holy places in Kolkata By Krsnarupa devi dasi (ACBSP) where Srila Prabhupada enacted his pastimes.

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