Photo courtesy of Sri Nathji Das Contents In this issue... Editor’s Note Message from the Co-President Yadi shyamlal na hoite tabe ki hoite? 3 When I was growing up, my father used to say that his primary duty as a parent was to provide me Making Durban Proud 3 with the best available education. He was a humble Festival Focus and simple man, but firmly believed that a decent 6th Annual Festival of Chariots in Cape Town 4 education would form the backbone to a promising future of independence. After we joined ISKCON, Tribute to Nelson Mandela 5 his education policy became two pronged to include helping me acquire spiritual knowledge about “who Once Upon A Time I am?” and “why am I here?” After acquiring a few Civil Disobedience for Religious Freedom 8 degrees, I find that the material knowledge I’ve gained has been beneficial in helping me fulfil my spiritual Notice Board 9 goal of performing devotional service. Nelson Tribute to His Grace Shyamlal Prabhu 10 Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Our God Conscious Parenting parent column takes an indepth look at the spiritual Education – The Key To Devotional Service 12 benefits of a material education. Our Vedic observer explores both sides of the education coin; a higher Vedic Observer quality of life or exploitation of society’s working Get Educated 13 class. Youth Column As the world wept for Nelson Mandela, fellow South Book Wars 14 Africans of all races and religions joined together to create one united family, mourning the loss of our Vaishnava Calendar 16 nations father. The Hare Krishna News pays tribute Vaishnava Kitchen to one of the world’s greatest leaders. On Sunday 5 Madeira Cake 16 January, we also bade farewell to one of ISKCON South Africa’s brilliant leaders, His Grace Shyamlal Young Vaishnavas Column Prabhu. He was instrumental in the building of the Lord Vishnu’s Chakra 16 Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple and in actualising the annual Festival of Chariots. We share a few farewell messages from friends of Shyamlal Prabhu from around the globe. Srila Prabhupada’s Book Marathon 2013 was a resounding success. Many of the participants talk about their experiences and realisations from selling a combined total of over thirty thousand books. Well done to the almost one hundred participants. Our “Once Upon A Time” column starts the year with a new series of stories on the glories of Lord ISKCON Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace Chaitanya, the golden incarnation. A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada For those avid bakers out there, look out for our On the Cover delicious Madeira cake recipe. His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami shows Nelson Until next time, happy reading. Mandela a photo display of ISKCON’s global feeding programme, Food for Life at the Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple in Chatsworth. Quoted verse translations and excerpts from Letters to the Editor purports to Bhagavad-gita As It Is, Srimad If you would like to share your temple experience, Bhagavatam, Sri Chaitanya-Charitamrita, and spiritual or service related realisations then write to letters and photographs and art on pages 5 and 8 are Haripriya Devi Dasi: [email protected] or Rasa- © The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc. sthali Dasi: [email protected] PRINTERS ATLAS by Printed www.Krishna.com. Used with permission. Design and Layout by Lashika Ravjee - 082 309 2396 2 Yadi shyamlal na hoite tabe ki hoite? Amongst the multitudes of examples Shyamlal Prabhu set as a Vaishnava, I just want to point out Message from the Co-President three: He was so encouraging; he was so expert Swarup Damodar Das at ‘catching’ devotees doing something right and Srila Prabhupada gave us many gifts—the holy name making a big thing about their contribution by of Krishna, transcendental literatures, temples, appreciating them for their service and by pointing engagement in devotional service, and loving devotees it out to others. He was so good at this. Another was to care for us. In South Africa Srila Prabhupada how good a friend he was. Although so senior, being a blessed us by placing us all disciple of Srila Prabhupada under the care of His Grace and taking birth in the holy Shyamlal Prabhu. Shyamlal land of Navadvip, we were Prabhu was a leader in able to count him as our the department of care. close friend — he would Now that he is no longer laugh with us and crack the physically present there is funniest jokes; we would much to do to continue the love honouring prasada unique care he provided. with him, he would chastise us when necessary, and Shyamlal Prabhu used encourage and comfort to often quote to me the us when we were facing beautiful Bengali song of challenges. And above all, Basu Ghosh: yadi gaura na his most striking quality hoite tabe ki hoite – what would have come of us had was his commitment to Srila Prabhupada; his love Lord Chaitanya not appeared? And in great relief, for Srila Prabhupada. This was clearly shown how, he would also appreciate Srila Prabhupada: yadi despite his memory being wiped out, he was always prabhupada na hoite, tabe ki hoite – what if Srila remembering Srila Prabhupada and the sweet Prabhupada had not descended? In the last year, interactions they had. The Srila Prabhupada Vyasa- during Shyamlal Prabhu’s protracted illness, I often puja and Disappearance Day festivals here will never thought of him similarly: yadi shyamlal na hoite tabe be the same—he brought such a spirit to it that carried ki hoite? The South African yatra, the world over, us all closer to Srila Prabhupada. is so indebted to Shyamlal Prabhu for introducing many, many of people to Srila Prabhupada, for I pray that in Shyamlal Prabhu’s passing, we all will engaging them in Srila Prabhupada’s divine service, be blessed with at least some development of these and for caring for all of us. qualities. I know it will make a world of difference in our lives. Making Durban Proud award and Mandela’s visit was certainly by the By Yamuna Devi Dasi grace of both God and this phenomenal human being. When the temple received the invitation As the world grieved the passing as a finalist to grace the awards on 4 December away of legendary icon Nelson by chief executive Mr. Andrew Layman, Swarup Mandela, I remembered his visits Damodar Das, the Temple Co-President, was to our Durban temple in the 90s. surprised at the unexpected win on that day, His humility and compassionate “Our prestigious temple was listed as Durban’s smile had touched the hearts of landmark attraction in the People’s Choice of the thousands, and his visits had been globally renowned travel website Trip Advisor. monumental moments in the We have become Durban’s favourite tourist history of the temple. This year establishment.” when another such moment arrived, I felt that his footprints had certainly left behind a Reading the article in the Mercury which covered the historic mark that had contributed for many years to inaugural awards, I remember how Srila Prabhupada the attraction and wonder of our temple. had specifically established temples across the world to attract people of all races and creeds to visit and The years of priceless contributions that the Sri Sri partake in temple worship and festivities. By the Radha Radhanath Temple has made to the society blessings of Srila Prabhupada, great persons such and Durban as a city culminated in 2013 when the as Nelson Mandela were given the opportunity to temple received the Landmark Category Award from receive the love and auspiciousness of real Vedic life the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry in such a temple. Mandela’s visit had impacted and Tourism Awards just before the news of Mandela’s added to the magnificence of the temple that will death. I somehow felt that the connection with the surely increase for generations to come. 3 6th Annual Festival of Chariots in Cape Town Festival Focus By Gokulesh Das The amazing chariot carrying the deities of Jagannath, Baladev and Subhadra returned to the streets of Cape Town on Sunday, 15 December 2013 for the 6th annual Festival of Chariots. The festival site at the Greenpoint Urban Park was a riot of colour and sounds with festival goers treated to sumptuous vegetarian meals, a line-up of cultural entertainment featuring international artists and the opportunity to learn about the Hare Krishna devotees and Krishna consciousness. To Be or Not To Be Remarkably, the Ratha Yatra festival as it is traditionally known almost didn’t happen. A few living entities. She also distributed Bhagavad-gita’s days before the festival, the ISKCON devotees at the to audience members who were eager to hear more Cape Town temple were in a quandary. The father about these subjects. Parividha, an accomplished of the nation, Nelson Mandela had just passed away playwright and singer from the Netherlands, and his funeral was scheduled for the same day as captivated the audience with the drama, “Transylvania the planned event. Leaders were concerned that the Transcended” - a story of Count Dracula transformed festival would be seen as a sign of disrespect to the by a devotee he tried to attack. The play introduced world-renowned former president and the people the philosophy of Krishna consciousness in a relatable of South Africa. After due consideration the festival way that was easily understood; even by the children. organisers decided to go ahead and appropriately celebrate the statesman’s life.