Vol. 7 Fall Issue a Krishna Janmastami in Sri Mayapur dham • Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasapuja • Gaura Purnima 2014 • Krishna’s Swing Festival • Radhastami Festivities • GuruKula Anniversary Krishna Janamastami “Oh my Lord, when will my eyes be decorated with tears of Love…” This year, I think I saw a completely different “It was a real moment side of Lord Sri Krsna, a side I knew before but I seem to forget all the time. of pure spiritual bliss” The most amazing celebration of the Beautiful Lord appearance day, reminded me of while, there was no possible way to get inside how we should see Lord Krsna not only in his the temple. most merciful vigraha form, but how we can see The smell of the burning offering of grains and understand him in the sweet and pure love and ghee in the hot flames of the fire yajna done his devotees have for him. by Gurukula boys under the guidance of Bhakti Contents On Janmastami day, nothing touches the Vidya Purna maharaja, only added to the mystic Page 2 Krishna Janmastami Page 3 Srila Prabhupad’s Vyasapuja Events Page 4 Gaura Purnima 2014 Bhaja Hu Re Mana Prabhupada Speaks Kid Corner Page 5 Krishna’s Swing Gurukula Anniversary Mayapur Sankirtan Page 6 Cooking with SrilaPrabhupada Radhastami Festival heart and soul like seeing the Love and devotion ambiance of the sweet kirtan that was going on Page 7 all the thousands of devotees crowded in the as the devotees awaited patiently the opening Gurukula temple room, have for the Lord of their heart. of the curtains to take darshan of their beloved Anniversary At least 5000 people from all over the world Lord. Page 8 & 9 came to Sri Dham Mayapur, by bus, car, train… When the conch was heard, everyone Festivals at a Glance so many austerity…to drown in the spiritual stopped breathing for a couple of seconds and Donor Appeal atmosphere filling the Holy Dham. when the curtain finally opened, the cheering Devotees smiles and tears could not compare crowd joyfully together praised their Lord. Produced and Published by: to any book knowledge, this was the real thing. The altar beautifully decorated with love Mayapur Tourism Department While Sri Krsna was being literally covered and devotion, was the perfect setting for the by the huge amount of sweet honey and yogurt Lord to reveal himself to his devotees. ISKCON Chandrodaya Mandir delicately poured on him, time stood still as the Everyone on the altar was smiling, everyone Sri Dham Mayapur soft flow of flower petals came down and covered in the crowd was in bliss, nothing compared to Nadia, West Bengal 741313 our Lord’s body. that moment. It had to be felt and only in Sri Ph: +91(3472)245-219 It was a real moment of pure spiritual bliss… Dham Mayapur can one feel it in this way. Nothing else in this world mattered, no one In a celebration like this one, devotees have www.mayapur.com in the temple room had anymore care for this many realizations. www.visitmayapur.com world, all attention was on our Lord Sri Krsna The time we are spending in this world [email protected] sweetly smiling at all his devotees and showing us is so small and insignificant; it is just a very his real identity. tiny part of our eternal life. The Lord allowing In the morning, while the temple was being us to celebrate his “Birthday“ is giving us an “To wander through the nine islands of Sri Navadwipa-dhama flooded by a crowd of devotees, everyone was opportunity to realize His Beauty and Love is the essence of all opulence, the thankful to have even the smallest spot to stand threw his devotees. essence of all religious principles, the essence of all bhajana, the inside. Hundreds and hundreds had to stay In a celebration like the Lord’s Birthday, essence of all perfections, the outside in the courtyard as after a very short everyone becomes equal; one no longer sees essence of all glories and the essence of all kinds of oceans of sweetness” Mayapur Sanga - Fall Issue Page 2 Srila Prabhupada’s Events Vyasapuja Day Krishna Janamstami Continued This day commemorates the birthday day 14.10.2013 - Monday or feel the difference between races, caste, age, of His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Ramacandra Vijayotsava gender. Our hearts open and an exchange of Prabhupad, who was born exactly a day after Sri Madhvacarya’s Appearance Love flows between the devotees no matter who Janmastami in the year 1896. 15.10.2013 - Tuesday they are. Usually there is a fast till 12 mid-day to Fasting for Pasankusa Ekadasi If we could keep those feeling permanently, observe this day and most devotees see it as an 16.10.2013 - Wednesday the material world cease to exist and everyone opportunity to show some appreciation to the Break fast 05:34 - 07:51 Srila Raghunatha Dasa Gosvami’s & floats in bliss and Love, at least for a while. love and mercy Srila Prabhupad has shown us Srila Raghunatha Bhatta Gosvami’s & And of course the best way to end this all by distributing this Bhakti knowledge all Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami’s Disappearance most auspicious day is the midnight Darshan of over the world. After darshan arati, bhajans the Lord followed by his causeless mercy in the were been sung while various offerings were 27.10.2013 - Sunday form of a delicious prasadam feast. made to Srila Prabhupad. His Grace Jananivas Bahulastami This most amazing day puts all the devotees and HG Pankajangri Prabhu presided over 30.10.2013 - Wednesday in a perfect mood to celebrate our most beloved the Abhisek ceremony amidst a lot of Srila Fasting for Rama Ekadasi Spiritual Master AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad disciples here in Mayapur. This went 31.10.2013 - Thursday Srila Prabhupada’s appearance day the next on for quite some time as many devotees had Break fast 05:42 - 09:27 morning… Sweet Sri Krsna Janmastami Ki Jay! the chance to bathe Srila Prabhupad too. 3.11.2013 - Sunday After the offerings were made disciples Dipavali of Srila Prabhupad, devotees, grand disciples 4.11.2013 - Monday amongst others came forward to read their Govardhana Puja & Go Puja vyasa puj offerings to Srila Prabhupad. The Guru astaka prayers was then sung followed 7.11.2013 - Thursday Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance by puspanjali offering, where everyone had (Fasting till noon) an opportunity to offer Srila Prabhupad some 10.11.2013 - Sunday flower of love. Gopastami The Day was rounded off with a sumptuous feast at the Gada kitchen. We all look forward to 13.11.2013 - Wednesday Fasting for Utthana Ekadasi another beautiful Vyasa Puja next year. Haribol! Srila Gaura Kisora Babaji’s Disapp. (Fasting till noon) Bhisma Pancaka 14.11.2013 - Thursday Break fast 05:50 - 09:31 17.11.2013 - Sunday Sri Krsna Rasayatra Tulasi-Saligrama Vivaha (marriage) 29.11.2013 - Friday Narahari Sarakara Thakur’s Dissap. Fasting for Utpanna Ekadasi 30.11.2013 - Saturday Break fast 06:01 - 09:37 Sri Kaliya Krsnadasa’s Disappearance 1.12.2013 - Sunday Sri Saranga Thakura’s Disappearance 8.12.2013 - Sunday Odana sasthi 13.12.2013 - Friday Fasting for Moksada Ekadasi Advent of Srimad Bhagavad-gita 14.12.2013 - Saturday Break fast 06:10 - 09:33 21.12.2013 - Saturday Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura’s Disappearance (Fasting till noon) 29.12.2013 - Sunday Fasting for Saphala Ekadasi 30.12.2013 - Monday Break fast 06:18 - 09:52 Sri Mahesa Pandita’ Disappearance Mayapur Sanga - Fall Issue Page 3 Gaura Purnima 2014 “O Ocean of Mercy, Shri Chaitanya! Let that Festival Schedule. which easily drives away whatever pain we have been experiencing in this material world; that If you are planning to visit Mayapur for Gaura which is all-purifying, that which manifests the Purnima 2014, send your guest house request greatest transcendental bliss; that which by its to [email protected] before 15th of October. sunrise casts away all the doubtful conclusions of the shastra; that which rains rasa on our hearts and Make your journey comfortable. Book your Bhaja Hu Re Mana minds, rules our consciousness and thus causes taxi with Gauranga Travels at gaurangatravel3@ Govinda Das Kaviraja (1) jubilation; that all-liberating, all-auspiciousness- gmail.com. bhajahu re mana sri-nanda-nandana giving, the limit of madhurya-rasa mercy of abhaya-caranaravinda re yours—let it arise within our hearts. “ For the whole festival, we charge NO durlabha manava-janama sat-sange Sri Mayapur is getting ready for the grand FESTIVAL FEES and FREE PRASADAM to taroho e bhava-sindhu re Gaura Purnima festival 2014. Packed with plenty all the registered devotees. (2) of festivities and events, Gaura Purnima 2014 sita atapa bata barisana promises to be a great spriritual retreat. Join us in To book your day to serve prasada to the e dina jamini jagi re Mayapur dhama to drown in the mercy of Lord devotees, write to [email protected]. biphale sevinu kripana durajana Gauranga. Highlights of the festival will be: capala sukha-laba lagi’ re Regular updates will be posted in mayapur. • Kirtan Mela – non stop Harinam for 3 days (3) • Sravan Utsav – Festival of Hearing com. Keep visiting our website to follow up on e dhana, yaubana, putra, parijana • International Leadership Sanga the festival info. ithe ki ache paratiti re kamala-dala-jala, jivana talamala • Panca Tattva Maha Abhisheka bhajahu hari-pada niti re • Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama • Gaura Purnima (4) Please visit www.mayapur.com for Gaura Purnima sravana, kirtana, smarana, vandana, pada-sevana, dasya re pujana, sakhi-jana, atma-nivedana Srila Prabhupada Speaks govinda-dasa-abhilasa re “Only those who have (1) passed their lives in O mind just worship the lotus feet of practicing the regulative the son of Nanda, which make one fearless.