Celebrating in Style: Krishna Janmashtami
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September 2009 Dedicated to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness Celebrating in style: Krishna Janmashtami Bhaktivedanta Manor celebrated it's 37th annual Janmastami festival this year - marking over 5,000 years since Lord Krishna's appeared in this world. The festival delighted over 65,000 pilgrims, guests and seekers with rich experiences that caught the eye, stimulated the mind and captured the hearts of the young and the young-at-heart alike. The celebrations, which spanned over two days, were very well recevied by newcomers too. “This was my first visit to Bhaktivedanta Manor and to the Janmashtami Festival,” Srila Prabhupada: recalls Cllr Rosemary Gilligan, Mayor of Hertsmere Borough Council. “It was lovely to see so many people attending the Lord Caitanya advocated a festival - the one thing I noticed was the sense of peace and process whereby everyone may harmony amongst all the visitors. I was particularly interested in the remain in his present position way in which farming without cruelty is actively promoted and in without change but simply hear the way the Manor devotees manage their cows and oxen.” from the proper authoritative sources about Krishna…We do In the magical Forest of Vrindavana visitors were enticed by a not ask anyone to first change multi-sensory presentation of glorious scenes from Krishna's pastimes. The woodland walk around the Manor's lake was his position and then come to transformed into an immersive experience for the eyes, ears us. Instead, we invite everyone and nose: with colourful displays, audio re-enactments and to come with us and simply a plethora of fragrances. Visitors continued their journey chant Hare Krishna because we through the temple building, which was bedecked with know that if one simply chants displays and illustrations of Krishna's activities. As they and hears the topics of Krishna, came eagerly before the magnificent shrine they one's life will change; he will see were delighted to see the beautiful forms of Sri a new light, and his life will be Sri Radha Gokulananda. In the atmosphere successful. of singing and devotion they offered heartfelt SB: 4.7.44 purport prayers to Lord Krishna. continued on pages 4-5 Happy Healthy Cows - raising awareness of the plight of dairy cattle On 26th July, commuters found themselves in the unusal The Lotus Trust is against the intensive farming of animals situation of sharing London’s roads with a herd of bicycle- and expresses that all cows should be given free access to riding cows! Thirty fearless riders representing The Lotus outdoor grazing and space to roam. Lotus Trust spokesman Trust, a charity based at Bhaktivedanta Manor, travelled from Sita Rama das said: “We are saying to the public: let's take Trafalgar Square through Knightsbridge, Westminster and the first step to improving cow welfare by drinking organic Victoria to raise awareness of the welfare of dairy cattle. milk.” Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter September 2009 Presenting to a The Most Blessed Event fresh audience Vyasa Puja of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada This year, after participating in the Guru Puja ceremony in the temple room and glorifying Srila Prabhupada with traditional prayers to the spiritual master, we moved upstairs to Srila Prabhupada’s darshan room. Devotees had beautifully decorated his residential quarters and on either side of His Divine Grace were two gorgeous urns of flowers whilst a floral arch framed his deity form. White sheets were spread on the floor as was customary when devotees and The Ipswich and Suffolk Indian Mela was guests would attend a darshan with very well attended and local devotees Prabhupada. sponsored a stand for Adi-Guru das to Disciples who had the good fortune to promote Krsna consciousness. Antardwip serve Srila Prabhupada when he was das also organized a mini Ratha Yatra personally present with us took loving (chariot procession) through the festival. care to prepare his rooms as attentively BBC Radio Suffolk's presenters donned and devotionally as possible, in the Indian dress for the event and performed hope that this would help to invoke an a live radio interview with Adi-Guru increased sense of his eternal presence das, presenting Vaishnava culture to a with us. As the devotees respectfully This year Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja fresh audience. entered Prabhupada’s rooms, a murmur fell on Saturday 15th August and as on all of appreciation and an aura of awe and years, that is one day after Janmastami. reverence pervaded the atmosphere. Lesson in Recycling That’s how closely linked Krishna and Hertsmere Borough Council's Officer Srila Prabhupada are for the devotees! Here we all were, sitting in His Divine of Education, Gemma Godfrey, paid Every morning at the mangala arotik, Grace’s presence, his disciplic children a visit to the Manor School to refresh we sing: and grandchildren who have dedicated the children's commitment to recycling. yasya prasadad bhagavat prasado their lives to follow in his footsteps and After an interactive workshop involving yasya prasadanna gati kutopih commit themselves to the mission of sorting rubbish, Gemma helped the dhyam stuvams tasya yasastri sandhyam Lord Chaitanya. Rupa Vilasa prabhu, children make recycled paper. vande guroh sri caranaravindam as our master of ceremonies invited devotees to read offerings to Srila The meaning of this is that by Krishna’s Prabhupada and all were inspired and mercy we are given the association of deeply moved to hear the outpourings the spiritual master and by the mercy of love, commitment and praise of Srila of the spiritual master, we can attain Prabhupada’s glories. Krishna. Few temples in the world have quarters Srila Prabhupada, as the Founder in which Srila Prabhupada stayed so Acarya of ISKCON wrote that one of often and for such extended periods. On the foremost reasons for establishing this day of all days, in this most sacred The children also visited a quarry near this international society was to bring place, we sensed his eternal presence St Albans to learn about the recycling of the devotees together in association so with us on an even deeper level. we might keep each other strong and natural materials and the restoration of After many precious moments of the countryside after quarrying. enlivened in our spiritual practices and devotional service, in an atmosphere reminiscent and often very humorous Sports Day for the Manor of love and trust. Srila Prabhupada stories about Srila Prabhupada’s School and Pre-school emanated pure love for the Lord and merciful association, we performed the engendered trust in those who came into Pushpanjali ceremony after which arotik his association. was offered to His Divine Grace to the sound of sweet kirtan. Such a man was George Harrison of the Beatles who offered this beautiful home, Please visit Srila Prabhupada’s quarters later to be known as Bhaktivedanta when you next come to Bhaktivedanta Manor, for the service of Krishna. Srila Manor. Just one moment’s association Prabhupada stayed here many times with a pure devotee can change the heart and informed us that he would eternally and the course of our existence. reside in his rooms at the Manor. by Sarva Mangala dasi Page 2 Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter September 2009 Srimati Radharani’s Love The topmost expression of Krishna Consciousness Radhastami, which marks the birth of are aware that devotion to Radharani interested in the welfare of all devotees Krishna’s female counterpart and eternal is the topmost expression of Krishna and that devotees can pray to Her. He divine consort, Srimati Radharani, was consciousness. explained that one cannot go directly to celebrated all day in an atmosphere of Although Srila Prabhupada was on the Krishna, but if Radharani is pleased with joyful devotion on 27th August. one hand very reserved in speaking about someone She will kindly recommend Knowledge about Radharani, Her Radharani, he nevertheless imparted a them to Krishna. The easiest way to pray relationship with Krishna and Her sweet and pure understanding of her. He to Radharani is to chant the Hare Krishna girlfriends is present throughout the sometimes described her as Krishna's Mantra which includes the names of Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition, most tenderhearted female counterpart who Radha and Krishna: “O Energy of the notably the writings of Srila Rupa, Jiva personified love of Krishna. Srila Lord (Hara), O Lord, please engage me and Sanatana Goswamis. Devotees Prabhupada explained that Radharani is in Your service." Lord Balarama Jhulan Yatra Whenever Krishna takes birth in this material world, He brings his associates from the spiritual world with Him. Five thousand years ago when Krishna was born in Mathura, Balarama came to assist in His pastimes as His elder brother. This year His Appearance Day fell on 5th August. Garga Muni, the family priest of the Yadu dynasty, revealed to Rohini (Balarama’s mother), that the child she was carrying was divine. He named the child ‘Rama’, meaning ‘one who gives all pleasure’. Noting the immense strength of the child, Garga Muni said that He should also be known as Balarama (‘bala’ meaning strength). As the elder brother of Krishna, Balarama was the object of His love and respect. Once when walking in the forest of Vrindavana, Krishna The annual five-day swing festival took observed the trees bending down as if paying place between 1st and 5th August. Every obeisances to Balarama. When Balarama would morning Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda get tired by playing, He would lie down on the were placed on a beautifully decorated lap of one of the cowherd boys and Krishna swing in the temple room.