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The Conch Krishnafarm.Com “Lord Sri Krishna and Arjuna Blew Their Celestial Conches to Rally and Enthuse the Devotees.” The Conch krishnafarm.com www.conch.org.au “Lord Sri Krishna and Arjuna blew their celestial conches to rally and enthuse the devotees.” September 2014 September Newsletter New Govardhana Community Dedicated to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness R adhastami The Queen of Vraja Appears Ukraine Update How to Help the Devotees Srila Prabhupada Uvaca + in Focus + Goshalla Goss + Upcoming Events RADHASTAMI! By Ambika devi dasi The auspicious day of Radhastami will be celebrated on 3 September. Srimati Radharani made Her divine appearance in Varsana where She was adopted by the pure devotees Vrsabhanu and Kirtida, who raised Her with great love and affection. From the moment of Her appearance, She was filled with love for Krishna. She and Her gopi friends constantly performed wonderful pastimes for His pleasure. Srimati Radharani’s complexion is Photo: Trevor Gore Trevor Photo: lustrous golden, Her deep blue eyes Facebook Photo: Sri Sri Radha Govardhanadhari. are restless in search of Her beloved, ISKCON Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace She is filled with feminine charms, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada She has soft and delicate lotus feet and She is the abode of abundant opulences. Srila Prabhupada Uvaca So try to understand Krishna. And Her very name, Radharani, when Krishna wants to enjoy, comes from the verb ‘to worship’, what kind of enjoyment that shall and indeed, She is the greatest be? Try to understand this point. worshipper of Krishna. She is Krishna is so great; God is great, Krishna’s internal potency, and She everyone knows. So when the eternally intensifies His pleasure. She great wants to enjoy, then what embodies the highest transcendental quality of enjoyment that should love for Krishna, and is the topmost be? That is to be understood mistress of the comforts of Her Lord. … The loving affairs of Radha She fulfills all His desires. and Krishna are not ordinary, Radha and Krishna are one, but in these material loving affairs, order to enjoy blissful pastimes, They although it appears like that. became two. Krishna is the energy But one who cannot understand and Radhika is the energetic. Just Krishna, avajananti mam mudha as heat and fire cannot be [Bhagavad-gita 9.11]. Mudha, separated, Radha and Krishna Image:jaynemcpherson.com rascals, fools, they understand cannot be separated. Srimati Radharani, Queen of Vraja. Krishna as an ordinary man. As Everyone is trying to love Krishna – to soon as we take Krishna as one get Krishna prema. But He is trying to of us … manusim tanum asritam get the love of Sri Radhika, who is so param bhavam ajananto. These beautiful and enchanting – therefore rascals, they do not know param in a sense, She is greater. bhavam. They try to imitate Krishna’s rasa-lila. There are Radharani is the embodiment many rascals. of all good qualities. She is very So these things are going on. compassionate, and cannot bear There is no understanding of to see the sufferings of the living Krishna. To understand Krishna is entities. very difficult. Since She is the medium transmitting Radhastami Lecture, London the service of the living entities to 29 August 1971 Krishna, we can pray to Her for Her mercy. When She is pleased, Krishna is automatically pleased. This is the perfect time to humbly beg Her to bestow Her grace on us. Front cover image: Urvasi devi dasi Taken from Caitanya Caritamrta and Srimati Radharani from New a lecture by Srila Prabhupada on Image:vrindavan.de Govardhana, Australia. Radhastami, 1968 Srimati Radharani’s lotus feet. KULI CATCHUP . Splendour in Krsnabhavana the Grass By Govardhana Seva Das By Vaisnavi devi dasi Q. Can you tell me your full name? Govinda’s team has been catering for the Splendour in the Grass festival A. Krsnabhavana devi dasi, but most for the past 10 years, in addition people call me Bavi. to the numerous other events they Q. Where and when were you cater for around Australia throughout born? the year. The funds raised support A. I was born in Vrindavana in April various projects at New Govardhana. 1982. My father’s name is Jashomati Ajita dasa kindly brought Govinda’s Nandana dasa and my mother, restaurant prasadam for the Govindas’ catering crew to add Radhakund devi dasi. I am very Gore Trevor Photo: variety to the daily catering menu. grateful to them for showing us how Krishnabhavana devi dasi. to serve Srila Prabhupada, Krishna Approximately 30,000–35,000 people and the Vaisnavas. me to New Govardhana in October attended Splendour 2014. 2013, where I was re-united with my Q. Where did you attend gurukula? Krsna Gana dasa reported: “The children. Ajita prabhu kindly allowed Govinda’s crew cooked 600 litres of A. I went to pre-school in the New us to live in the community. With subji; 400 litres of rice; 350 litres of Talavan Gurukula in Mississippi. I my children in gurukula I started off halava, and distributed more than attended the gurukula while my doing all kinds of service, including 4,500 to 5000 serves of prasadam”. parents were serving in Gujarat, India. my favourite – making garlands! I Koftas were the highlight of the stall Unfortunately I missed them so much now work at the gurukula four days yet again, with 30,000 being sold. that I was only able to complete pre- a week, in administration and as a school and year 1, before I returned teacher’s aide. Srila Prabhupada’s books and the Higher Taste cookbooks were on to India. Later I returned and Q. So you like New Govardhana? completed Year 4. display at the Govindas’ book table. A. It’s wonderful – I am so grateful The large ‘Changing Bodies’ mural Q. What are your recollections of for the friendliness and care shown by at the table was a wonderful visual your gurukula days? the management and the devotees. preaching aid. Each dining table also A. Oh, there were so many things: I feel really happy and so close to had Srila Prabhupada’s small books, the kind and caring teachers; the Krishna. courtesy of Govindas, for interested daily Brahma Samhita prayers; people to take home. the frequent festivals with lots of The strength Krishna gives His ‘goodies’; the big swing; the beautiful NEW BOOK from devotees in any circumstance was river with rope swings; visits by evident; Vrinda reading Ramayana Jayapataka Maharaja, and so much AUCKLAND by Valmiki over the loud din of music more! Witness to a Temple by Madri devi that literally made the heart throb Q. What did you do after leaving dasi is an Auckland ISKCON history. and pots shake; Krsna Murari dasa gurukula? This 406-page sitting at the front of the Govinda’s softbound tent and printing free Vedic design ink A. I returned to my parents in India book, with 150 tattoos on passersby, winning them and I attended the local school at pages of colour over with his smile and enthusiasm to Ahmedabad, Gujarat. My father photographs, share Krishna consciousness; Teiana, is the president of the local Hare will bring back sitting during quiet times and drawing Krishna Temple. My mother and all memories Lord Jagannatha in her notebook; and my siblings were brought up doing to the older devotees, and second and third generation devotees service at the Temple. I was married serve as an engaged in devotional service. at 18 and have three children. inspiration to What great fortune we have in this Q. When did you come to Australia? those who are new Kali-yuga to serve Srila Prabhupada’s to Krishna consciousness. It is also an mission with the devotees! A. In 2009, after spending a month ideal book for families and friends, in Sydney we moved to Melbourne, demonstrating the lifestyle, ideals and Like and support ‘Govindas catering, where we lived for two years. My philosophy of Hare Krishna devotees. New Govardhana’ on Facebook. time was spent in housework, service, So don’t miss out on your piece and home-schooling the children. of history! Correction Q. When did you come to New The book sells for NZD $40. Free In the August issue of The Conch, Govardhana? postage. Reviews and ordering details on page 5, in the ‘Delectable www.witnesstoatemple.info A. After a few traumatic events, or contact Madri Muffins’ article, the name should which included a marriage breakdown [email protected] have been spelt Radha Sakhi. and other problems, Krishna guided native places. After they relocated, Worms – Worse Helping ISKCON they received US$150–$300 from for Wear devotees in the Bhaktivedanta Fund based in Kiev. Some devotees are staying back By Damodara Pandit dasa Ukraine within the zone of war, and they Being the worm lovin’ newsletter we are, By Govardhana Seva dasa need money to relocate themselves. I thought I’d tell you the latest about our A further expense we have is to feed As you will all be aware, the atrocities wriggly friends down at the goshalla. and support single mother devotees are continuing in Ukraine, with no with children in our camp near Venugopala dasa recently locked up all apparent relief in sight, and many Dnepropetrovsk. Another intended the grains and cow feed in the goshalla ISKCON devotees have serious project is to obtain and develop to keep the rats at bay. What he didn’t problems, both physically and another camp that will accommodate realise was that it meant the local rodents financially. Most of the devotees more devotees.” began to starve. So when he took a quick in Ukraine are either being located look in the worm farm recently, what did directly from the battle areas or are In response to this, on Sunday, he see? being isolated within these areas, 3 August, a special Sunday Feast taking care of the Temples, the Deities fundraiser was organised at New More than 50 starving, carnivorous and conducting preaching programs.
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