Dedicated to HisDivineGrace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder- oftheInternationalAcharya Society for Consciousness 2018 July pastimes of Gadadhara pandit + ratha-yatra +infocus The Conch “Lord SriKrishna andArjunablew theircelestial conches to rally andenthuse thedevotees.” New Govardhana Community Newsletter

www.conch.org.au krishnafarm.com Gadadhara Pandit

By Kisori devi dasi Gadadhara Pandit was a childhood friend of Nimai and both were students in the same school. Photo: Courtesy Google image Courtesy Photo: The Gaura-ganodesa-dipika states: ISKCON Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace “The pleasure potency of Sri Krishna A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada formerly known as Vrindavaneshvari Srimati Radharani is now personified Srila Prabhupada Uvaca in the form of Sri Gadadhara Pandit So this Bhaktivinoda Thakura was in the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya [a] grihastha, [a] very responsible Mahaprabhu.” officer, a magistrate. And he was From his early childhood, Gadadhara so exalted that he would come was serene, patient and calm, fond of Mayapur.com Photo: from his office generally at five solitude and renounced. The resplendent Deity of Gadadhara at o’clock, then take his supper and Mayapur. immediately go to bed … Say at Lord Chaitanya during the time of His seven o’clock in the evening he precocious youth would ask his fellow tell me.” Gadadhara answered, “Your goes to bed, and he wakes up at students meaningless, fallacious Krishna is hidden within Your heart.” twelve o’clock … it is sufficient questions in logic. Gadadhara, At this, Nimai started digging into sleep, five hours. One should not however, was not especially fond His chest with His nails. Gadadhara sleep more than five to six hours. of this pastime, and therefore he leapt forward and held Nimai’s hands sometimes used to remain at some tightly. The used to sleep not distance from Him. more than one and a half hours, On an auspicious day, Sri Gadadhara or two hours. Sleeping is not a Once while Gadadhara was plucking Pandit received the divine mantra very important thing. Even big flowers at the home of Srivasa Pandit, from Pundarika Vidyanidhi as formal politicians, they used to sleep Srivas came up to Gadadhara with initiation. for two hours. So especially a basket for the flowers, beaming in spiritual line, they should with joy. Gadadhara asked “What After Lord Chaitanya had been living in Puri for some time, Gadadhara minimise as far as possible eating, makes you so happy?” Srivasa replied, sleeping, mating, defending. “Nimai has returned from Gaya just accompanied some devotees from Navadwip to visit Mahaprabhu in Puri. Gradually it comes to nil. yesterday. It is unbelievable that Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, he the cheeky and arrogant boy has He stayed on in Puri, not returning to Navadwip. Gadadhara started living in was eating only a little piece of changed so completely. He has turned butter every alternate days. into a compassionate, humble and Jameshwar’s Tota (garden). Everyday, meek person. Continuously shedding Gadadhara would read out aloud So this Bhaktivinoda Thakura … tears, he writhes in agony and cries from the Srimad-Bhagavatam for the regularly he was coming from his piteously, ‘Krishna, Krishna …’ “ pleasure of Mahaprabhu. he used to write books. … He left behind him about 100 books. From childhood Gadadhara had Once while sitting on the beach, followed behind Nimai as if he were discussing some topics on Krishna, And he excavated the birthplace his shadow. Gadadhara’s only object Nimai decided to bestow His special of Lord Chaitanya, organised of attachment was Nimai. Nimai told grace on Gadadhara. He told how to develop that birthsite, Gadadhara, “My dear Gadadhara, Gadadhara to dig in a particular Mayapur. He had so many since your early childhood you have spot. After digging for sometime, business. He used to go to preach always been devoted to Lord Krishna. Gadadhara discovered the beautiful about Chaitanya’s philosophy. But I have simply wasted My time in Deity of Shri Gopinatha. The Deity He used to sell books to foreign false pursuits and achieved nothing. was established in a temple in the countries. In 1896 he attempted garden and came to be known as Tota to sell Life and Precepts of Lord “At one time I too was close to Sri Gopinatha. Caitanya in the MacGill University Krishna, but due to My own fault in Montreal. So he was busy – Source: iskcondesiretree.com I have now lost this invaluable acharya. One has to adjust things. treasure. Please tell Me, how can I (Gadadhara Pandit’s Disappearance Not that “Because I am grihastha, find Him again?” Day is on 13 July.) householder, I cannot become a After some time, seeing Gadadhara preacher.” alone, Nimai asked him again, Lecture – , 3 September, 1971 “Where is My Lord Krishna? Please (Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Disappearance Day is on 13 July. See page 8 for festival details.) Cover photograph: Gadadhara Pandit. Courtesy tovp.org Ratha-yatra

By Dhriti Gopi devi dasi At New Govardhana, the Ratha- yatra festival has been going on annually since the early 2000s. Initially Their Lordships were carried by the devotees in Their palanquins from the temple, around the grihastha circuit, where the devotees would bring out offerings from their homes, around the lake and down to what is now the Krishna Village Gardens, where there would be a kirtana and class. The Deities would then return to the temple for the feast. We did this for two years until the

idea came to use the big cart. Initially Gore Trevor Photo: we were unsure if the devotees The majestic chariot travels on the leafy New Govardhana road. would be able to pull the 6.5 ton cart up the hill, so a tractor drove behind to push if necessary, but it wasn’t needed. Ratha-yatra is one of New These simple offerings are full of Govardhana’s largest festivals. immense benefits for you and your “The devotees were pulling with such Devotees love to come from all over family. enthusiasm I had to apply the brakes to pull the Lord up to the temple. a little to stop the cart from lunging This year the festival will begin forward,” says Ajita dasa. We have three areas along the way with all the devotees assembling where the chariot stops and devotees at the bridge at 2pm for a 2.30pm My favourite Ratha-yatra was in can bring bhoga offerings to Their start, where once again they can 2016 to coincide with ISKCON’s 50th Lordships. Ratha-yatra is the only enthusiastically pull the Lords up Anniversary. Under the direction procession where everyone can cook to the temple, where we will have of Mukunda Maharaja, we held an for Lord Jagannatha and offer their an afternoon of entertainment and Open Day and Ratha-yatra together. preparations to Him on His return to feasting, including jumping castles for We hired a large outdoor stage and the temple. Everyone is encouraged the kids. a huge screen to showcase New to cook something at home (however Govardhana’s finest actors, dancers See you there! small) and bring it to Lord Jagannatha, and musicians. There was also a great Baladeva and Subhadra on Sunday. market area.

instrumental in pioneering the Hare Appreciation Krishna Movement in Australia since of Venugopal the early 1970s. Prabhu “It is with great sadness that we now miss his transcendental association, From National Council Australia but sincerely thank, appreciate and admire him for all the amazing service In May this year, at the annual general he rendered in so many ways over meeting for ISKCON Australia’s National the years. Council, Venugopal dasa’s passing was formally acknowledged. This was “All of the members [of the National recorded in the Minutes: Council] remember him with love “At the annual general meeting of and affection and are aware that ISKCON Australia held in May, we the he is indeed a very special dear son of the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON Facebook Courtesy Photo: members of the Zonal Council would Venugopal dasa with his beloved cows. like to acknowledge the passing of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta our dear friend, Godbrother and Swami Prabhupada. colleague His Grace Venugopal “Our condolences and deep sympathy Prabhu. go to Venugopal’s wife, Her Grace “A senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada, Nikunja Seva Devi Dasi, and the Venugopal Prabhu has been family. Hare Krishna! Community Program

By Mandakini devi dasi Rupa Raghunatha dasa first started hosting home programs in his apartment in Sydney 12 years ago. His present home in Murwillumbah is an ideal venue to invite guest speakers and kirtana leaders. The relaxed and informal atmosphere provides a good spiritual space, especially if devotees are unable to get to the temple regularly. The house is child-friendly, with swings, a trampoline and cubby house as well as a swimming pool. Having devotee guests Rupa Raghunatha feels, “Purifies the home and ultimately pleases our presiding dasi devi Jyestha Photo: Deities, Malola Nrsimha and Sri Sri His Holiness at one of Rupa Raghunatha dasa’s home Gaura . We also enjoy cooking programs. nice palatable preparations and serving the devotees, especially using choosing. Questions and answers 589 to clarify dates in case of any produce from our organic garden.” are uplifting, followed by kirtana and changes. sometimes harinama processions into Recently he organised a sanga To date, Rupa Raghunatha and his the garden! program that meets on alternate wife, Jyestha devi dasi, also host the Wednesdays from 5pm until 8pm. Everyone is cordially invited to attend weekly Thursday Nursery group and The speaker for the evening reads the programs. However, please check the Vaishnava Care Committee once a and comments on a book of their with Rupa Raghunatha on 0423 121 month on Saturdays.

devi dasi are enquiring into support If devotees are in need of assistance, Vaishnava Care available for the sick/dying through they can send out information to By Ambika devi dasi the health care system and local community members. Next meeting, societies such as Tweed Palliative the best medium for this will be Late May, a second Devotee Care Care. (Malati devi dasi, who teaches discussed – Whatsapp, Messenger… meeting was held with 15 community and works in this area, will address us Kind volunteers agreed to be listed as members in attendance. An additional at a future meeting on this issue.) 94 devotees watched it livestreaming available for the following services: Devotees are encouraged to prepare over the internet. • Kirtana/reading for those who are a signed Advanced Care Plan to sick or dying At the first meeting in November, ensure their wishes are followed senior Srila Prabhupada disciple should they meet with an accident • Visiting the sick at home or in Gurudas had urged us to select or severe illness and be unconscious. hospital office bearers. Accordingly, the These are available on the Internet. following office bearers were • Transporting devotees to unanimously chosen: Vasusrestha A letter was tabled from Simon appointments dasa as Chairman; Mandapa dasa as Baldry, wherein he generously offered • Cooking meals for sick devotees Treasurer; and Ambika devi dasi as his services, along with his son, Secretary. Brihaspati, for practical assistance • Handyman services for those who such as shopping, cleaning and are sick or disabled. Since good health is required to maintenance for those who are sick Anyone who would like to add their prevent illness, the suggestion to or disabled. encourage devotees to take care of names to any of these lists would be their diet and general health was Fundraising for a future facility for very welcome to do so. By serving supported by attendees, and some dying devotees on New Govardhana Vaishnavas, the Lord Himself is fun fitness activities will be looked will be discussed at the next meeting, pleased. into by Mandakini devi dasi and and meanwhile Karunamayi dasi will Please contact me on 0434 214 186 if Sadhana devi dasi. contact a favourable architect who you’d like to help out. may be able to assist in planning such Ekadasi devi dasi and Dhanistha a facility. In Focus: devi dasi

The Conch interviews Sita devi dasi. Q: How did you first come into contact with Krishna consciousness? How old were you? SD: I first came into contact with Krishna consciousness when I was four years old. I still remember the first temple we attended, its fragrance and atmosphere. In 1991 the first gurukula in Russia (Moscow) opened. I think I was five Photo: Mahateja devi dasi devi Mahateja Photo: when I started attending. Despite Sita devi dasi at New Govardhana. some difficulties, the next 12 years were filled with fun, the mercy of different sannyasis visiting and festivals. Australia and received initiation. During the same trip I met my Welcome As students we participated in Srila husband Syama McRae, and in 2011 Prabhupada’s marathon (we called I moved to Brisbane. to New it that in those days) – a month of Govardhana sankirtana before the New Year. In Q: Was making the big move difficult for you, in terms of language and sub-zero temperatures, I would go By Kisori devi dasi door to door with my gurukuli friends, culture? Recently Charumukhi devi distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books. SD: Sometimes it can be challenging dasi and her husband, Ananta It was a lot of fun. in terms of the different language and Vrindavan dasa, both disciples culture, but because I have family and In 1996, which was Srila Prabhupada’s of Devamrita Swami, along with friends here now, I feel Australia is Centennial year, I achieved first place their daughter Gauri, moved to more my home than Russia. It feels for sankirtana in gurukula. I received Murwillumbah to join the New like we are living in a small town full a medal and other wonderful gifts. It Govardhana community. They of devotees. We have everything we was very special to me. had lived in Brisbane for 22 years need here. It is simply wonderful! We also sang bhajanas and later we before moving to the area. Since I moved here, my focus has recorded a couple of CDs. My mother Ananta Vrindavan is a well- been to serve my spiritual master, would always take any opportunity to known photographer and travels with great support from my family. engage me in devotional activities. extensively with Indradyumna We would drive every Sunday from Swami, pictorially documenting I also remember my guru maharaja Brisbane to cook lunch for him and his travels and activities. His [Mukunda ] coming to my kids literally grew up in his house, excellent photographs and stay in our house in Moscow when crawling under his dining table. I was six or seven years old. Around videos are highly sought after by that time I began to aspire to be his Q: Why did you begin your home devotees worldwide. programs? disciple. Charumukhi, a qualified Q: What brought you to Australia? SD: As my two children grew older, kinesiologist and energy healer, I had some spare time. I started to is busily occupied with motherly SD: After I finished gurukula, I felt a wonder what else I could do. My duties for now. The family bit lost coming into adult life, taking spiritual master instructed me to start is looking forward to Gauri responsibility for my own decisions home programs. At first I was terrified attending the gurukula soon. and choices. So I guess I had a little and kept postponing. But then I dance with maya for some time. realised I should give it a go. Just My Dad always found a way to because my spiritual master wants it, connect Krishna conscious philosophy it must be a wonderful thing. So far in our everyday life, so that it wasn’t we have been conducting the home just theoretical. Eventually I realised programs for a year. It’s not easy, but that I wanted to commit to bhakti- slowly I’m developing some taste for yoga. At that time my spiritual master doing it. stopped travelling and settled in Australia. So I started saving for my ticket to visit him. Photo: Courtesy Charumukhi Courtesy Photo: In 2010 I came for the first time to L to R: Charumukhi devi dasi, Ananta Vrindavan dasa and Gauri. The other half struggled to remove cookbooks and one fascinated lady Never too late their shoes and settled comfortably bought tilaka and learnt how to By Shanti Parayana dasa on the benches outside the temple. apply it. Last month a group of senior citizens After some time I addressed the It’s satisfying that we have such a from the Gold Coast ‘Active60+’ whole excited group. During the place where people from all walks came to visit New Govardhana farm. ensuing Q&A session 40 people of life can come to garner solid I was prepared for a regular guided hung off every word. We discussed experiences of spiritual culture. tour of the vegetable gardens, cows definitions of yoga and Brahman, Let’s wish them all return visits and and temple until the lively bunch vegetarian diets, sustainable progress on their spiritual journey. revealed their deeper interest in all gardening and introduced our aspects of our community, including worshipable Deities as the spiritual the school for children, ashramas for focus. I asked if they wanted to try our residents and retreat facilities for mantra meditation and to unanimous themselves. agreement I taught them our method of chanting Hare Krishna. Within two From the oldest at 94 years old, and repetitions they jubilantly chimed in from the sprightly to the walker- together, sweetly singing the maha- frame assisted – all became visibly mantra. enlivened. Half the group entered the temple and buzzed around, getting Finally delicious prasadam was served the Deities and Srila Prabhupada’s to everybody’s satisfaction. One lady Fleming Sherree Photo: darshana, watched garland making said, “That is the most adventurous Some members of the Gold Coast Active and praised the lead-light windows. meal I’ve ever had”. Some purchased 60+ club on their recent visit to New Govardhana.

Festivals: We like each festival to have Powerhouse: its own unique flavour. We would love Dhriti Gopi to engage devotees in the community more, too. For example, Liliko (from By Vaisnavi devi dasi Japan) made origami decorations As an adult, Bhisma Durr remembers for Lord Nityananda’s Appearance and tells Dhriti Gopi mataji that one Day. We have annual service of his fondest childhood memories opportunities, such as the Panihati was playing on the jumping castle on pot [painting/artwork] festival and her wedding day [19 years ago]. Years this year we will be celebrating later, he brings his own son, Ishaya, the 39th Anniversary of to the jumping castle, which is part Govardhanadhari with 39 cakes that of the kids’ engagement over major I will be co-ordinating. festivals at New Govardhana. Dhriti dasi devi Vaishnavi Photo: Govindas Sweets: I make all of Gopi devi dasi works hard behind the Dhriti Gopi devi dasi in action. the desserts for Govindas, such as scenes, making each festival more cheesecakes, tiramisus, raw sweets special each year. … I do this six days a week, six–eight How long have you been doing the Temple decorations: I have hours a day. kids activities over the festivals? been dressing the Deities at New Govardhana regularly since moving Where do you get your ideas/ Dhriti: Lord ’s Appearance here 19 years ago from Brisbane inspirations from for festivals? Day mother-nature themed Temple. I started with decorating Dhriti Gopi: Everywhere I go and ‘scavenger’ [treasure] hunt has been the temple room when my daughter, everywhere I look, I’m thinking of going for about six years now. The Kalindi, was in a pram. I remember ideas. When Kalindi was six, we went other day, Vijaya [Mcrae] was when Kalindi was in Grade K-2 class, to France, and I looked into the Dior asking me, “which is the festival when we made the Deities a yellow and window in Paris. I took photos and we find the stuff?” To me it’s a real white set. Every Thursday afternoon filed them away. Five years later, highlight of the festival seeing the for 10 weeks I’d go to the gurukula, Guru Prasad devi dasi and I were kids so happy and engaged. and Kalindi and her classmates buying flowers in Sydney where I saw For the past two Sacred Sounds Kirtan would help decorate the set. This has decorations at a newsagent that I Retreats, we have a purpose-built resulted in an ongoing involvement was inspired to buy. Turns out, a year area, Krishna-ised crafts and activities for Kalindi [now in Year 11) and or so later, that [Paris inspiration] for kids. It’s great to arrange activities her classmates. All children are was the theme of the Radhastami so children have something that’s welcome – they make jewellery and decorations … Krishna in the heart! theirs. decorations for the Deities and look for them on the altar. They develop What are some of your other their love for Krishna by being engagements? involved in activities like this. Crowds lined the streets and many Sankirtana were chanting, dancing and waving as Voyage Jagannatha, Subhadra and Baladeva passed by. Srila Prabhupada quotes By Suvarna Rupa dasi a verse, rathe ca vamanam drstva In May this year, local Murwillumbah punar janma na vidyate – simply by devotee Nila Poudal, 19, embarked seeing the Lord on the chariot, one upon an exciting six-month sankirtana makes advancement for stopping the voyage. First stop was Sydney for repetition of birth and death.” the Vivid light festival, where he At the completion of the parade there went out in Circular Quay with the was sumptuous prasadam supplied Govindas team every evening for by dasa and gulab jamuns two weeks, chanting the holy name made by Sulakshana devi dasi. among millions of enthusiastic festival goers. Nila brought lots of life and joy Many thanks to our donors from to the harinama party by engaging Gore Trevor Photo: the Bhakti Centre who made it all with the public and busting out some L to R: Bhakta dasa, Australia’s possible, and to Madhu and Bhisma Communications Minister, and Nila from Govindas Surfers Paradise for dynamic dance moves. All this was in Poudal. preparation for the next, even more assembling the cart. intensive, leg of his devotional tour. Following Sydney, on 7 June, Nila Cooly Rocks By Subhangi devi dasi headed to for the Polish tour with and many For the fifth year running, the ISKCON devotees. Currently he is serving Bhakti Centre Gold Coast Ratha-yatra with the theatre group, representing cart participated in the popular Cooly Australia and New Govardhana in the Rocks parade at Coolangatta. international arena. He leapt straight The Bhakti Centre Ratha cart was into two weeks of vigorous rehearsals built by Janmejaya dasa eight years as soon as he arrived and is now ago and participates in many parades performing on stage most days for all over Australia – Townsville, the next two months. Cairns, Towoomba, Ipswich, Lismore, “I’m looking forward to the Polish Adelaide, Canberra, and Sydney – tour because it’ll be good for my showering mercy on many souls. Krishna consciousness. I will be in The entire cart and Their Lordships the association of so many devotees, were decorated opulently in fragrant which is the best way to the practice and colourful flowers by Sukla devi of devotional service”, said Nila. dasi and Rasarani devi dasi. His Gore Trevor Photo: “People say that it will be super tiring Holiness Mukunda Maharaja graced This year, His Holiness Mukunda Goswami and busy, but I’m looking forward to us with his presence this year for the Joined in the parade. the challenge and I think it’s going to entire parade. be really fun.” More than 100 devotees gathered The final part of Nila’s journey together from the Gold Coast and will take him homeward bound – New Govardhana to escort Their spiritually and geographically – to Lordships. Lively kirtanas were lead Correction Vrndavana and then on to Nepal to by Damodara dasa, Govardhanadhari see some family before heading back and Ayu. This year an estimated The photograph on page 3 in June to New Govardhana at the end of the 20,000 people attended the festivities issue was incorrectly credited. It year. and were blessed to see Lord was taken by Radha Ickrath. Jagannatha and hear the maha- mantra.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES EDITORIAL BOARD: Krishnarupa devi dasi, Kisori devi dasi, Jhulan The Conch is your community name of the author and the dasi, Suvarna Rupa dasi newsletter. Please be a part of it! photographer. LAYOUT AND GRAPHIC DESIGN: We invite you to submit articles Deadline is the 10th of each Urvasi devi dasi and Jhulan dasi. for publication. month. Occasionally a submission STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER: Articles should be 300 words or could be held over to a later Trevor Gore. less and supplied in MS Word edition. All submissions will be DIGITAL CONCH: via email to caroleditor@gmail. edited, proofread and may be Mukunda Goswami, Paul Baily, Vishnujana dasa. com. Photographs must be in rejected without notice. FOR ENQUIRIES, COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS: JPG format. Please provide the Contact: www.conch.org.au

7 Bhaktivinoda Thakura Pani Hati Festival Disappearance Day Gundica Marjana 3pm Sunday 1 July 7.30am Friday 13 July 5am Saturday 14 July

DID YOU KNOW? Please join us each By Mukunda Goswami Ekadasi for Srila Prabhupada, during the days of Srimad-Bhagavatam his grihastha ashrama, read Srimad- class given by ISKCON’s Bhagavatam and worshipped Radha Founder-Acharya and Krsna Deities for four hours every day, according to his late son, His Divine Grace A.C. Vrindavan Chandra De. His Holiness Bhaktivedanta Swami Tamal Krsna Goswami stated this Prabhupada. in a recorded interview published in the book, Memories — Volume These classes will 3, pages 12 and 13. It can also be feature subtitles. viewed in the DVD Memories series Tape # 29. Darshan arati 7am Class 7.30am Ratha-Yatra 2pm meet at the bridge Sunday 15 July Harinama Sankirtana ki jaya! July Calendar (from Vaishnava calendar www.vaisnavacalendar.com) 1 Sun Panihati Cida Dahi Utsava observed today 8 Sun Sri Srivasa Pandita – Disappearance 9 Mon Ekadasi (suitable for fasting) – Fasting for Yogini Ekadasi 10 Tue Dvadasi – Break fast 7.19 – 10.07am 13 Fri Sri Gadadhara Pandit – Disappearance Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura – Disappearance 14 Sat Gundica Marjana Weekly at various locations 15 Sun Ratha-Yatra Contact Garuda dasa for details Sri Svarupa Damodara Gosvami – Disappearance 0423 170 267 23 Mon Ekadasi (suitable for fasting) – Fasting for Sayana Ekadasi 24 Tue Dvadasi – Break fast 6.33 – 10.06am Sunday Mornings 27 Fri Srila Sanatana Gosvami – Disappearance Northern NSW & Gold Coast First month of Caturmasya begins [PURNIMA SYSTEM] Visnujana dasa 0498 141 021 (green leafy vegetable fast for one month) © 2018 The Conch copyright of New Govardhana www.conch.org.au