S S K B K

Narada Bulletin SEPTEMBER, 2008

*Hebri/Udupi* Karnataka* India*

Hare Krishna! All glories to Srila Prabhupada and his Varnasrama Mission!

H I G H L I G H T S

v Irregular and scarce rains brought in fear of failure of paddy.

v Cow dung cakes were dried to be used as fuel for cooking.

v Getting ready for Varnasrama College planned to start from Jan 2009

v Bhajan Kutirs, Grhasta Kutirs and umbrella like structures where constructed

v Janmastami and Vyasa Puja celebrated at SSKBK

v Varnasrama Research Activities

v Visitors at SSKBK

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N E W S I N D E T A I L

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AGRICULTURE

Irregular and scarce rains brought in fear of failure of paddy cultivations. Third kind of fodder (Maize) for Cows where sowed. Two more kinds of fodder will be sowed this month.

For the 5th time Amrit pani was sprinkled to the paddy fields as well as to the vegetable garden.

Devotees engaged in the field GO SEVA

Cow dung cakes were prepared as discussed in one of the Istagosthis (meetings). As many as 100 cakes were laid for drying in the hot sun. Hot sun since one week is unusual during the rainy season. But this time, not only the whole area of Udipi district and but also in the state of Karnataka and other parts of India, people have witnessed unexpected climatic changes. Such changes as they say was never seen before in their life.

Cow dung cakes drying on the roof

However, we prepared and lay down as many cow dung cakes as possible. These cakes will be used as fuel for cooking. Especially with Varnasrama College coming up we are preparing for more traditional cooking. The best fuel for cooking, Prabhupäda said, was cow dung; wood was second, gas third, and electricity last.

GETTING READY FOR VARNASRAMA COLLEGE

Srila Prabhupada, the founder Acharya of ISKCON, wanted that every ISKCON temple should have a Varnasrama College. SSKBK in this regard is getting ready for a Varnasrama College. The first batch is planned to start from Jan 2009. Many arrangements are being done. Especially accommodation arrangements were given priority in this month and a kind of Construction Marathon was taken up. The following constructions where taken up. The specialty of these constructions is that they are completely made of natural and locally available materials such as Bamboo, Grass, Stones and Mud walls.

1. Bhajan Kutir:

A Bhajan Kutir is being built for HH Bhakti Raghava Swami near the guest house. His Holiness is planned to come to SSKBK and also conduct seminars and classes for the Varnasrama College.

2. Grhasta Kutir:

Two Grihastha Kutirs are being made ready for the Grihastas attending the Varnasrama College course.

Construction of Kutirs 3. Umbrellas:

Two umbrella like structures where also constructed. This primarily gives shelter from sun as well as rains. They serve multi purposes. There locations where such that it gives a very good view of the agricultural land and one can watch over the fields from here. Apart from its uses they also look artistic and add to the overall beauty of the farm life.

Vastu Sashtra has also been consulted for all the construction. More umbrellas and kutir constructions will continue for the next month.

DEITY WORSHIP – FESTIVALS CELEBRATED

1. Jhulan Yatra

Devotees made a beautiful Jhulan for Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohanji and enjoyed the pastime of Sri Radha and Krishna. Many local people and visiting devotees also enjoyed the festival.

Sri Sri Gaura Nitai bullock cart sankirtana

2. Janmastami and Vyasa Puja Janmastami celebration was unique at SSKBK with a bullock-cart sankirtan yatra. People in general appreciated and took part in the Kirtan. Enthusiastically they honored the wonderful Halwa Prasadam made of pure cow ghee and relished as they chanted Hare Krishna with a joyful heart.

The yatra had a stop-over at the Sri Ananta Padmanabha temple and then was returned after sufficient rest to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, our bulls - Krishna and Bala, and the devotees. Our dog Prasadi also followed the Sankirtan Yatra all the way while fasting the whole day! We started back with more vigorous Kirtana and returned to the farm. Abhishekam was done at around 11:30PM with pure ingredients from the farm and all the devotees enjoyed the wonderful sight. Later all devotees took fruits grown in the farm as feast and rested for the day.

Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja was celebrated the next day by remembering the preaching activities of Srila Prabhupada. We sang songs that where written by Srila Prabhupada. Pushpanjali and arati was performed at noon which was followed with a big feast! Janmastami Maha Mahotsav Ki …Jai! Srila Prabhupada Ki .....Jai!

VARNASRAMA RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

1. Traditional painting of the Bullock cart Bullock cart was painted in a traditional design based on the photos taken by our Varnasrama Research Team members from SSKBK. Four colors were used to paint the wheels and now it gives a very aristocratic look.

2. Search for well water lifting device Due to poor performance of the rain the paddy fields are showing dismal improvement. The Varnasrama Research Team had recently visited a village called “Suraram” in Andhra Pradesh and had discussed regarding traditional well water lifting device. This is being followed up and soon SSKBK will be able to obtain one unit to supply water for the fields.

3. Ayurvedic alternative for pests attacking Cows During the visit, the Varnasrama Research Team, brought home a unique tree whose bark is used to treat cows affected by pests called “Gochari”. The bark was put on each of our cows and lo! In a few days time all the Gochari vanished! This is mainly due to a very strong pungent smell that the bark carries, a wonderful alternative to the chemical poison that the local Veterinary Hospital issues!

A position paper called “Vrindavan Village Development in India” was submitted and approved by ISKCON. This will help greatly in taking up many more activities for varnasrama development.

VISITORS AT SSKBK

Sriman Yadunandan Das, disciple of His Holiness Chinna Jeer Swami coming in Sri Sampradaya visited us and stayed for a few days. Acquaintance of one of our resident devotee, Sriman Krishnachandra Prabhu, Sriman Yadunandan Prabhu is a sanksrit scholar and expert in conversational Sanskrit. We became so confident by his presence that conversational Sanskrit is the future and it is very easy if practiced. He promised that he will be coming in January and stay for few months during Varnasrama College course. We were all grateful to Krishna for sending him to fulfill our recent discussion in a meeting on learning conversational Sanskrit.

Umbrella Structures FINANCIAL REPORT FOR JULY, 2008

Expenditure Amounts (Rupees) Auditor charges 2500.00 Grocery 4969.00 Telephone (two months) 1606.00 Transportation 3947.00 Petrol 600.00 Repair and Maintenance 11911.00 Miscellaneous 770.00 Constructions 5147.00 Total Expenses 31450.00

Donations Amounts (Rupees) Anonymous 400.00 Collections 27050.00 HG Rasamandal dasa 4000.00 Total 31450.00

Donations In Kind Articles Donated HG Ram Sharan Dasa and Kodak Camera and accessories HG Srirama Dasa HG Gangagati Devi Dasi Saplings of sandalwood and others trees

Assistant Editor: His Grace Parasurama Dasa Prepared by: His Grace Bharat Chandra Dasa Please visit the following websites for more information on varnasrama developments: www.varnasrama.org & www.sahyadriksetra.org