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Home , Krishna Janmashtami, Lalita (gopi), Nitai

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July - 2019

Prabhupda House

Who, in this fallen age of Yuga, would be quarters have served as a museum displaying his capable of delivering the fallen conditioned souls from personal belongings and also as a place where the the deep dark well of the material world, other than one devotees come for chanting , discussing Srimad of the Lord’s personal associates. Therefore, being , and performing . At 7:20 each causelessly merciful upon seeing the condition of the evening, the exact time when he left this world, an Arati jivas, Sri sent his dear associate is performed to Srila Prabhupada, and all the devotees Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Prabhupada to bestow chant the Guruvashtakam prayers, remembering his mercy upon everyone. In order to fulfill the mission of immense mercy upon us all. The Arati is performed by spreading the Holy names of the Lord and fulfill the different devotees, so that everyone can get an inner heart’s desire of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and opportunity to serve Srila Prabhupada in this way. When his dear Spiritual Master Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati leaving this spiritually surcharged premises, all the Thakur, Srila Prabhupada went to the west to preach the devotees are offered some sweet or savory Prasad message of Sri . offered to Srila Prabhupada. Everyday one fortunate Even though Prabhupada was travelling mataji comes and cooks some delicious preparation for throughout the world, successfully preaching the the pleasure of Prabhupada in his kitchen, which is then sublime process of Krishna Consciousness, his heart was offered to him at 1:00 in the afternoon, after the closing always in , and therefore his quarters in the of the temple. Then the same Prasad is distributed to all Krishna Balaram temple in Vrindavan can truly be called the visitors, who relish the delicious Prasad and feel his eternal home. Having stayed here and departed this great bliss in obtaining Prabhupada’s mercy in the form world from here, Srila Prabhupada’s house in Vrindavan of Prasad. Prasad and Harinama Kirtan are, without is surcharged with transcendental energy. This can be doubt, the best remedies to cure us of our material felt by everyone visiting the place. existence and when they are obtained in the quarters of After the departure of Srila Prabhupada, his Srila Prabhupada, they are infused with his special

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mercy and are therefore accepted by all the devotees with great faith and devotion.

Deity Department

Srila mentions in Rasamrita their energy in satisfying the Lord. The Deity Sindhu that one of the five principle limbs of devotional department is one of the biggest departments in the service to Sri Krishna (Panchang Bhakti) is the important temple. It engages numerous devotees in the various limb of Preeti Purvak , Deity Worship done services of the Lord such as worshipping and dressing with love and affection. Because of our material the Deities, making garlands for the Lords, making conditioning, we are unable to see the Lord with our flower dresses for the , cooking, baking, and imperfect eyes. Therefore, the Lord, out of his many other services for the pleasure of Sri Sri Gaur compassionate causeless mercy, manifests in His deity , Sri Sri Krishna Balaram and Sri Sri form, whom the devotees can serve with love, devotion Shyamsundara. Starting from early in the morning, the and enthusiasm and experience great transcendental pujaris wake the Deities, and then offer mangal arati. ecstasy. The Shodashupachar is then performed and the Deities are dressed and decorated with splendid outfits At the Krishna Balaram Temple in Sri and numerous dazzling, jeweled ornaments. Despite VrindavanDham, following the instructions of Srila being more opulent than all the Vaikunthas, the true Prabhupada, the worship of the Deities is performed opulence of Vraja is the fragrant forest flowers of varied with high standards. All the devotees aim to engage all

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colors. Meditating upon the eternal pastimes of the Lord the festivals, and many other services. The performance in Vrindavan, where He removes His precious of service to the Deities should be done in accordance ornaments and replaces them with decorations to the daily eternal lilas of the Lord known as asta-kaliya fashioned out of the beautiful flowers, the pujaris lila. Therefore the pujaris and other devotees bedeck the Deities with abundant flowers. The rest of performing service try their best to always remember the day, the Deities are offered six aratis at regular the sweet pastimes of the Lord and remain in pure intervals and delicious, sumptuous Bhoga offerings Krishna consciousness. The devotees carrying out the comprising numerous preparations. There are seven service to the lotus feet of the Sri Vigrahas are truly Bhoga offerings made throughout the day and night to blessed, for they are constantly reminded of the Lord’s the Deities. transcendental names, form, qualities and pastimes and can therefore be fully absorbed in Krishna consciousness In the afternoons, devoted matajis assemble in and make progress on the path of Bhakti. the temple room to make flower garlands with intricate designs while listening to the sweet melodious kirtan of The Deity Department is managed under the expert the holy names of the Lord. Besides the directly guidance of His Grace Mukundadatta Prabhu, who has perceivable services being performed in the been serving in this capacity for more than twenty-five department, many devotees are engaged in various years. The department is flourishing and collectively all other services such as taking care of the Deities’ garden, of the devotees are endavouring to please Srila distributing charanamrita and mahaprasad to the Prabhupada, Sri Sri Gaur Nitai, Sri Sri Krishna Balaram visiting pilgrims, cooking, making flower outfits during and Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundara.

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Bhaktivedanta Goshala, Vrindavan

The glories of anyone connected to the Supreme rendering service to them has been extolled in all the Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna can never be . It is without doubt the duty and responsibility of overstated; then, what to speak of the tremendous every single person to render service to the cows. In this glory of mother cow, who is personally cared for by Sri age of Kali, when keeping cows at home may not be Krishna. Being famous by the names and , practical for various reasons, one may serve the cows at and residing in as a cowherd boy, He personally the goshala by personally going there and serving them takes them for grazing, milks them, embraces them, or by helping to maintain the goshala. These services decorates them, worships them, drinks their milk with rendered for the pleasure of mother cow shall never go great relish and looks after them in all respects. As an unseen by Sri Govinda, and it is guaranteed that He shall infant, after Sri Krishna was attacked by various bestow his mercy upon one who renders any sort of ferocious demons like Putana, Shakatasura, Trinavrata service to His beloved cows. We therefore invite all and other such demons, at that time, the elderly enthusiastic people devoted to the service of the cows of Vraja and mother would wave the tail of a to contribute towards the loving care and affection cow over His head to ward off all inauspiciousness. Also, being given to the cows in the Goshala of the Krishna during the Abhishek of the Deities in the temple and for Balaram Mandir in Sridham Vrindavan, the very abode other auspicious ceremonies, the have where Sri Krishna eternally engages in taking care of His enjoined the use of Pancha Gavya; milk, , yoghurt, cows. cow dung and cow urine, as their spiritual, medical and purifying qualities are greatly beneficial. It is also stated At ISKCON Vrindavan Goshala, the cows are provided with ample grass, jaggery and other eatables in the that happiness is never separated from a person with a cow. This is indeed true, that are to their liking; having sufficient space, they for by serving the cows, who are so very dear to roam about freely and, when approached by outsiders, they gently accept their offerings and affection, as they Shyamsundara, one is sure to receive HHis mercy and favour, and all good fortune awaits such a person. are accustomed to being taken care of with love and Sitting in the association of the cows, one immediately affection and are therefore very gentle. Taking care of the cows in this way is truly a source of eternal bliss and feels tranquillity spread throughout one’s mind and one may, with the mercy of the cows, spontaneously be arouses one’s good fortune. Therefore, take an active reminded of Sri Krishna and His transcendental pastimes part in this beautiful service and experience the bliss with His dear cows. The importance of cows and yourself.

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Upcoming Festivals

The most auspicious and anticipated time of the During all these festivals, which are celebrated year, Chaturmasya, has started. The air is permeated elaborately in , Their Lordships with excitement for the upcoming festivals of Jhulan are offered up to four new outfits on each occasion, the Yatra, Sri Balaram , Sri and cooks prepare hundreds of various delicacies perfectly Sri Radhashtami, later to be followed by , the most spiced and saturated with their love and devotion, the spiritually stimulating month. Soon the devotees will entire temple is splendidly decorated with hanging start planning and preparing for the upcoming festivals flower garlands, and a huge feast is served to hundreds and engage in making designs for flower outfits, and thousands of assembled devotees and pilgrims at meditating on the delicacies that they want to cook for the end of the . All the devotees in Sri Vrindavan the pleasure of Deities, preparing cultural programs engage in various different services and the devotees depicting the pastimes of the Lord, making new from outside also have a glorious opportunity to engage ornaments for Their Lordships, and various other in the service of Their Lordships Sri Gaur Nitai, Sri services. Forgetting about themselves, they completely Krishna Balaram and Sri Radha Shyamsundara, by dive deep into making elaborate preparations to satisfy sponsoring one of the above-mentioned services or by the Lord, which in turn gives them immense giving donations according to one’s capacity. The transcendental pleasure and inner fulfillment. intricately designed and embroidered dresses that the Deities don on these occasions can be sponsored by the

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devotees and similarly the decorations and the feast can devotional service. Therefore, we invite all the devotees also be sponsored. Devotees can also contribute to contribute towards the festivals in Vrindavan by towards the bhoga that is used to prepare the extensive coming here to perform services or by offering feasts cooked for the pleasure of Their Lordships. By donations according to one’s capacity. By doing this, one thus engaging one’s resources in the service of the Lord, shall surely receive great spiritual sukriti, with the help the devotees can put these resources to the best use of which one can make progress on their journey and thus transform their endeavors to earn into towards attaining Love of Godhead.

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IYF Vrindavan

In the Bhagavad Gita, Sri Krishna personally says: rounds of japa everyday, while simultaneously not only Na ca tasmān manuṣyeṣu kaścin me priya-kṛttama. continuing but also excelling in their academics. There is no servant more dear to Me than he who Chanchal and Laxmi, two remarkable young girls explains the supreme secret of devotional service, and participating in the youth program, have topped their there shall never be one more dear to Me. In this verse, schools, Sandipani Muni School and Dhanuka School the Supreme Lord Himself has stressed the importance respectively, in their 10th board exams, while of propagating Krishna consciousness for the welfare of dedicatedly chanting sixteen rounds daily. Suma, the general populace. It is only in one’s constitutional Neelima, Rani, Lalita and Krishna Rani are other position as the servant of the Lord that one can students from various schools, who while chanting a experience true bliss. fixed number of rounds with firm determination have also topped their respective classes in their schools. This most glorious service of preaching amongst Being positively cultivated by being engaged in kirtan the younger generation at the Sri Krishna Balaram and other group activities to nourish their spiritual Mandir is being performed by His Grace Sureshwar growth, these girls enthusiastically participate in Krishna Prabhu and Her Grace Chaitanya-rupini Mataji. They conscious events and are inclined to wear devotional conduct regular Sunday programs, programs for school dresses rather than clothing which is otherwise popular children, and other such enthusiastic programs, among the young generation in today’s day and time. engaging the youth in the community and the youth in Being the future of the Krishna consciousness various schools in the chanting of the holy names of the movement and the society in general, these young Lord and other spiritual practices. children, if given the right sanskar and principles, can Just as a plant grows into a tree with regular further propagate the message of the Lord, spreading watering and care, similarly with their sincere endeavors the Mahamantra, thus taking forth the and regular cultivation, many of the children attending legacy of Srila Prabhupada. This most valuable service is the youth programs have started chanting sixteen being done with full enthusiasm and great results by the ISKCON Vrindavan Youth Forum.

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ISKCON VRINDAVAN

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