Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Interreligious Conference on ‘Newborn Child Care’
Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh, May 2, 2017.
According to Srimad Bhagavatam, a child’s consciousness develops tremendously from the seventh month. So at that time spiritual messages, songs, books etc must accompany the mother. Such a process will make for a child endowed with more spiritual values like faith in God, compassion, tolerance etc. that are necessary for healthy citizens. The importance of good association is paramount in the process. The importance of Garbadhana was also mentioned. Especially, he said “HH Sripad Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Maharaja, Ph.D., mentioned several times that the soul first enters through the mind of the father and then comes to the womb of the mother during conception. Therefore the mind of the parents must be trained for begetting a good child and that is called garbhadhana samskar.” This includes increased chanting of the holy names of God, serving the devotees and spiritual master. If the parents are such then there is a good reason for them to beget a child with higher consciousness. Of course, we are not independent in this and depend on the mercy of God.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/tGajkt

Thousands Attend Opening of Gorgeous New Baltimore Temple!
Smashing expectations, around 2,300 people attended the three-day f…Read More…

Ratha Yatra Lisbon (Portugal) 2017.
Over the last decades, International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has been presenting an attractive spiritual festival of ancient India to millions of people all over the world. Ratha Yatra is the biggest street festival organized by ISKCON. Literally meaning Festival of Chariots, this festival celebrates Krishna’s return to His home in Vrindavan, after a long period of separation from His friends and relatives.

Isopanisad’s Message of Care For Earth Shared at D.C. Climate March.
Anuttama Das: “It’s important for us to understand as Vaishnavas that we have an obligation to be active in our communities – to try to create a culture that’s conducive towards pure living and spiritual practice. We’re not meant to live in a vacuum – we need to get involved.”
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/mPtHhv

The devotees of ISKCON Mayapur celebrated Narasimha Chaturdashi, the divine appearance day of Lord Narasimha Deva in the temple on Tuesday, 9th May. The festivities was spread over three days, starting on 7th when devotees fetched water from Ganga with zeal. On 8th-morning Maha-Sudarshan homa was performed and grand Lakshmi Narasimha palanquin procession was taken out in the evening. 12 hour non-stop kirtan was being rendered by devotees to mark the celebrations. In the wee hours Mangal Arti was performed, discourses from Srimad Bhagwatam glorifying the pastimes of the Lord Narasimha Deva was recited by senior devotees on 9th followed by “Darshan Arti”. At dusk, hour-long “Maha-Abhisheka” of the deity was performed by using fragrant oil, perfumes, honey, ghee, yogurt and fruit juices. It was an amazing spectacle when hundreds of devotees raised their arms danced in ecstasy while chanting Narasimha prayers. The fragrance of the oils and melodious chanting by the devotees filled the air with spiritual bliss.
The appearance day of Lord Narasimha Deva is significant because it reinforces the faith that Lord Krishna incarnates in various forms as a savior of His beloved devotee and destroyer of evil. Lord Narsimha Dev appeared to protect the devotional service of Bhaktraj Prahlad and annihilate the demon Hiranyakashipu, hence He is worshiped among Gaudiya Vaishnavas as the One who eliminates the hurdles in the path of the devotee so that he can render his service to the Lord ceaselessly.
The entire temple campus was being beautifully decorated by colorful flowers, dazzling lights. Devotees arrived in huge numbers with great joy and enthusiasm to observe this festival. Besides almost 6000 resident devotees, approximately 500 devotees came from various states of India and adjoining areas, specifically to participate in this festival.
To watch the recording of the celebration: https://youtu.be/xJXS-HUhY20

The WORLD PREMIERE of Hare Krishna!​ at the Illuminate Film Festival​ SOLD OUT in the first half hour of tickets being on sale!

Thank you to all of the Hare Krishna! supporters who bought tickets – we can’t wait to share the film with you!

For those who may have missed out, stay tuned for a possible second screening on Sunday, June 4th.

Congratulations!
Prtha Goldman, daughter of Puskar das and Sukhada devi dasi, graduated from University of Florida on Friday, April 28, 2017. She was presented as Dr. Prtha Goldman when she received her diploma. She is now a Doctor of Physical Therapy and is looking forward to her new career and serving the devotees as well. We offer Prtha all blessings on this very special occasion. Prtha would like to thank her family and friends for all the support and appreciation she has received over the years.
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Vrinda Shah, daughter of Dharmaraja das and Prema Manjari devi dasi, graduated from UF in Microbiology and is moving on to pursue her dental studies at UF in August. THANK YOU TO ALL OUR GLORIOUS VAISHNAVAS who have always stood by us in our journey and achievements in our lives.
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Marisha Innis, daughter of Cetanarahita das and Viracita devi dasi, graduated from Santa Fe College with an AA in Engineering with Highest Distinction and a High School Degree. She will be enrolled in UF College of Engineering. Contratulations to a highly succesful dual enrollment student!

The devotees ran out of books at the Clearwater Ratha-yatra!
Clearwater Beach Ratha Yatra Festival was a great success. Mr. Geo…Read More…

Pastimes of Rukmini by H. H. Bhakti Rasamrta Swami on 6th May 2017 (Video)
Srila Prabhupada: Regarding your first question, is it offensive to think of Krishna’s pastimes while chanting, I think you should know that it is not offensive, but rather it is required. One must try for the point when he simply hears Krishna, and immediately all of Krishna, His pastimes, His form, His quality, are in his thoughts. So to always be immersed in thoughts of Krishna this is our process. When we are full in Krishna then where there can be any chance for maya in us? So this is our duty to remember Krishna’s pastimes. One who cannot remember Krishna, let him always hear Hare Krishna, and then when he has perfected this art, then always he will remember Krishna, His activities, His qualities, and so on. [Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Sivananda, Los Angeles, 4 December 1968]
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/7PkpW1

Shri Narasimhadeva photo gallery with 137 illustrations.
Srila Prabhupada: Krsna-katha means narrations about Lord Krsna. There…Read More…

Tamal Krishna Goswami’s younger brother, Carl Herzig: Last day of university Gita class (shawls from Vrindavan). They were amazing, and I’ll miss them!

ISKCON Ujjain celebrates Narasimha Chaturdasi (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: It is essential for persons who are actual…Read More…

Iskcon of Silicon Valley – Sankirtan Orientation Seminar (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Modern civilization, not referring to the verdicts of Vedic literature, is so cruel to the members of human society that instead of teaching children to become brahmacaris, it teaches mothers to kill their children even in the womb, on the plea of curbing the increase of population. And if by chance a child is saved, he is educated only for sense gratification. Gradually, throughout the entire world, human society is losing interest in the perfection of life. Indeed, men are living like cats and dogs, spoiling the duration of their human lives by actually preparing to transmigrate again to the degraded species among the 8,400,000 forms of life. The Krsna consciousness movement is anxious to serve human society by teaching people to perform devotional service, which can save a human being from being degraded again to animal life. As already stated by Prahlada Maharaja, bhagavata-dharma consists of sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam/ arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam [SB 7.5.23]. In all the schools, colleges and universities, and at home, all children and youths should be taught to hear about the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In other words, they should be taught to hear the instructions of Bhagavad-gita, to put them into practice in their lives, and thus to become strong in devotional service, free from fear of being degraded to animal life. From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to SB 7.6.1
Find them here: https://goo.gl/eWOJQs

Festival Of The Divine Protector in NY (Album with photos)
“As for increasing service to Krishna, Swami has asked me to say that this process of chanting, discussing the glories of the Lord, and the distribution of Prasadam is standard, and that this threefold method is the best means for spiritual progress, and the best service that you can offer to Krishna. The basic principle of our movement is to have people come, and chant, and eat, and discuss Krishna consciousness. Letter from Rayarama, 8 June 1967
Find them here: https://goo.gl/eoVTS9

Rukmini Writes A Letter Asking Krishna To Rescue Her.
Rukmi, brother of Rukmini arranged for Rukmini’s marriage with Sisubalan, the prince of Chedi. Rukmini, who was in love with Krishna by listening to his stories, was resolute that she will marry only Krishna. Unable to bear the decision of her brother, Rukmini thought only Krishna can rescue her from this tragedy. So, she sent a letter to Krishna carried by a Brahmin, asking Krishna to abduct her the day before marriage by defeating Sisubalan and Jarasandhan’s army. She asks him to meet her while she visits the temple of Girija before marriage as a tradition. She also states that if Krishna doesn’t come to rescue her, she will end her life, for there’s no place for anyone else in her life and in her heart other than Krishna.
O the infallible and the most handsome one! Having heard Your qualities, which enter through the path of ears and absolve away the pains of life, and having heard about Your handsome appearance, which is the only asset of the eyes of living beings with eyes, my heart is accepting You as a consort leaving behind shyness.
O Mukunda, the lion among men! Given a chance, which composed girl from a good lineage will not wish for You as a consort; You, Who is the happiness of the minds of people, Who is the happiness of the world, and Who is incomparable from any view point-be it lineage, nature beauty, knowledge, energy, wealth or abode.
Therefore, O Lord! I have indeed accepted You as a consort and I have submitted myself to You. O lotus-eyed Krishna! Please arrive here; so that the Prince of Chedi does not take away the property of brave You-just like a jackal should not take away the prey of a lion.
If I have revered all the pervading Paramathman by social welfares (digging wells), oblations, obeying rules, penance, and serving demi-gods, saints and preceptor, then O Gadaraja! You accept me after holding my hand-instead of anyone else like the son of Damagosha.
Oh Lord, who is unconquered! Arrive secretly in Vidarbha one day before my marriage. Then after defeating all the army commanders from the regions of Chedi and Magadha, marry me with the ways of demons by showing Your valor and conquering power.
If You are wondering that how will you conquer me without killing the women and relatives inside my palace, then I am telling You a way out. As per an old tradition, there is a grand fair before the marriage, during which the bride goes out to the temple of Girija for prayers.
O lotus-eyes Krishna! If I don’t achieve the dust of Your feet, which is sought after by incomparable Ones like Umapathi (Lord Shiva), then I will destroy my life. If the service of Your feet is not achieved in this life, then I will take hundreds of birth and do penance; I am sure I will achieve Your feet someday.
Krishna’s heart was captured with Rukmini, listening about her virtues and beauty gets to recognize about Rukmini’s divine love for him through her letter. He leaves to Vidarbha immediately, to take his love’s hand for marriage.

Inspire Sundays at the Manor (Album with photos)
Bhaktivedanta Manor: Pictures taken from the first event of the Inspire Sunday…Read More…

A visit to Bhaktivedanta Manor.
As a stay at home mum I have plenty of free time to help at my children’s school. This is something I love to do. Every week I listen to children read for a couple of hours and I’ve helped on a few school trips too.
Last term I was lucky to visit Bhaktivedanta Manor with my son and his year group. Their topic was religion and we had previously visited the local Church of England Church.
Bhaktivedanta Manor is a Gaudiya Vaishnava temple, just outside Watford. The Manor is owned and run by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), better known as the Hare Krishna movement. It is ISKCON’s largest property in the United Kingdom, and one of the most frequently visited Radha Krishna temples in Europe. This temple is vey popular with school trips as there is plenty to see and learn.

The Manor house is Grade II listed and stands in 70 acres of landscaped grounds. It was bought and donated by the former Beatle, George Harrison, in 1973. It’s a beautiful building and I felt very lucky to be able to visit.

Our visit started with a trip to visit the Dairy Farm to see the sacred cows, oxen and bull and have a ride on the tractor. We walked around the grounds and saw one of the temples. Then it was time to go into the house for dressing up and a talk by some of the women who worked there. Everyone had to take off their shoes before they went in the house, it was a very busy place with lots of shoes!
It was really interesting to learn a little about Hinduism and the children got the chance to dress-up in traditional dress. I was able to take a photo of my son as long as no-one else was in the picture. I was so glad I was able to see him like this! Then we went downstairs to see the amazing shrine of Krishna, the Deities and watch the arati ceremony. After this it was time for an amazing hot vegetarian feast which was the best meal I’d had in ages.

Our day went very quickly and the children just about had time to get their faces painted before we got on the bus and went back to school.
I think I must have learned as much as the children did and I would recommend a visit to Bhaktivedanta Manor. The atmosphere is amazing and the people were incredibly welcoming. There are lots of opportunities to visit Bhaktivedanta Manor from school trips, to attending one of the daily services, the Festivals or visiting the shop. Admission and parking is free!
Read more: https://goo.gl/ffBwPa

Free changing bodies display.
Anuttama-Tom Morrison: 10 foot long by 4 feet deep on rollers. Call me at 240-603-3109 if you can…Read More…

Ratha Yatra at Brisbane – 06 May 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: So especially you must encourage the students to read our books throughout the day as much as possible, and give them all good advice how to understand the books, and inspire them to study the things from every point of view. Better to boil the milk very vigorously and make it thick and sweet–that is the best progress. So let us concentrate on training our devotees very thoroughly in the knowledge of Krsna consciousness from our books, from tapes, by discussing always, and in so many ways instruct them in the right propositions. (From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Hamsaduta, June 22, 1972)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/YhQUjT

German airport offers travelers prayer booth. It features 300 prayers in 65 languages.
Feeling nervous before Your flight? Travelers at one German airport can now receive spiritual solace by entering a booth and listening to a prayer of their choice before boarding the plane. The prayer booth at Stuttgart Airport’s Terminal 3 features 300 prayers from various religions in 65 different languages. Designed by Berlin artist Oliver Stunts, the photo booth-sized cabin offers a vast variety, including the Christian Lord’s Prayer, the Jewish Shma Israel and the Islamic muezzin’s call to prayer.
The Hindu Hare Krishna chant and a funeral- ceremony from the Solomon Islands are also available. An airport spokeswoman said yesterday the ‘Gebetomat’ prayer booth which was first designed by Sturm in 2008, was installed on Thursday and its use is free. -OP
In the photo: A man stands in front of the ‘prayomat’ installed at an airport in Stuttgart, Germany.

Back In The USSR – “Destination St. Petersburg” (7 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: The artistic grandeur of St. Petersburg, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in the world, formed an appropriate backdrop for the blissful chanting, dancing and Krsna katha that took place during our visit with devotees there. Our programs, blended with impressions of Russia’s “Venice of the North” will long be ingrained in our memories.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/ZzJPBk

Digvijay Gunjaria: Mr C K Shah, father of Vaishnava Seva dasa (Iskcon Desire Tree) is in his last phase of his life. Requesting devotees to pray to Lord Krishna to shower His mercy on his soul.
Mr C K Shah had attended Srila Prabhupada’s Cross maidan pandal program for three days, the same program that Radhanth Swami attended.
Although coming from a jain family background, he was inspired by the foreigners joining sanatana dharma. He became a life member and made 33 friends and his contacts life members in those early days to support ISKCON.

He had a daily habit if going on morning walk on Juhu beach and had from distance seen Srila Prabhupada many times.

However when his son joined ISKCON, his attitude changed. He is one of the few parents who have fought with Radhanath swami on this issue.

When he underwent his first cardiac bypass surgery in 1996, devotees donated blood. He was very moved by this. When prominent senior devotees came to see him while he was in hospital, he was touched. His heart transformed. He gave up his anti ISKCON attitude. He started hearing Hare Krishna kirtans all the time during his recovery in the hospital. Soon he arranged a big program for Radhanath Swami on his building’s terrace and called hundreds of people from the society building and his friends.

He helped Bhaktivedanta hospital. He convinced his friend Mr Damji Anchorwala to donate the entire ICU of the hospital. Since he was from pharmaceutical background, he use to visit the hospital in initial days to help them develop policies at pharmacy.

At times when he would go abroad, he would try to visit nearby ISKCON temples. Once he went to New Vrindavan to meet Radhanath Swami and had a memorable interactions with him.

Last two years he gradually developed dementia and moved from his Andheri residence to his son’s house in Mira road which also happens to be office of ISKCON desire tree. The devotee staff interacted with him mercifully and nicely and he enjoyed their company. At times he use to listen to Srila Prabhupada’s and other lectures and enjoy kirtans which use to play on the speaker system. Devotee staff would serve him nicely and he treated them as their friends.

Two months back he developed left side paralysis.

Radhanath Swami visited him last year and again visited him after he developed paralysis.

He completed 83 years on 27 th April. He is now in his last few hours of his life in this body.

His son, Vaishnava seva dasa requests devotees to kindly pray for his soul.

Vaishnava seva dasa feels that if it was not for the mercy of Guru and devotees and also his father who pushed him to study and become a doctor and earn, he would not have been able to run ISKCONdesiretree.

World champion athlete from Russia becomes a devotee (Album with photos)
Olga Yaremenko (now Kamalekkha Priya Devi Dasi) is an …Read More…

Travel Adventures of a Krishna Monk.
Garuda Prabhu: Often when yoga is there in the verse, Srila Prabhupada puts devotional service in the translation. Some object to this. As far as I am concerned he has every right to. This is because Srila Prabhupada knows goal of yoga is bhakti. As I scholar, I cannot do that.
Houston Smith, who liked many of my books, said the mystics are the impatient ones. They do not want to wait until the end of life.
Union implies two. That means uniting the individual soul with the Supreme Soul.
Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras are the Bible of yoga. In them, there are innumerable references to bhakti, more than I imagined.
In four or five places Patanjali speaks of isvara-pranidhana.
That word has three parts:
pra – moving
ni – deeply
dhana – into the core of our being

Isvara to be means the divine center of all reality. It is Bhagavan and Brahman with us in between.

Yama – ethical disciplines
Niyama – essential practices

Isvara-pranidhana is an essential practice.

Patanjali says samadhi siddhi isvara-pranidhanat. Isvara-pranidhana is the perfection of the perfection. Thus isvara-pranidhana is the beginning and the end.

In the Gita Krishna teaches self-realization and then self-abandonment. We nourish ourselves so we can get ourselves out of the way.

At raganuga every act is part of your service.

Patanjali does not identify isvara but advises one must seek out isvara. The word ista-devata comes from the Yoga Sutras.

Krishna is beautiful, delightful, and playful.

Nirvikalpa samadhi is complete absorption in Krishna.

Bhakti yoga is entering Krishna’s world, the big picture. Our little pictures are sometimes distressing but not the big picture.

Srila Prabhupada calls yoga “devotional service” because it is the union of the individual self and the Supreme Self.

Bhagavan-kripa, the mercy of the Lord, is there in the Yoga Sutras, but people do not know it.

In my book, my thesis is that the Yoga Sutras do not make any sense if we do not understand Krishna bhakti.

Yale was started by disgrunted Harvard professors.

Krishna embraces us as much as we want to be embraced.

Krishna does not force, coerce, and manipulate souls to love Him. He waits for an eternity for souls.

We have one great kirtaniya here. Not you, Gauravani, Srila Prabhupada!

The more love we have for Krishna the more desperate we are when we are separated from Him.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/YjMTmL

Brisbane Rathayatra (Album with photos)
Ramai Swami: Lord Jagannatha’s Brisbane Rathayatra took place with around one thousand devotees attending. Their Lordships rode majestically through the streets of Brisbane with kirtan led by his grace Sri Prahlada.
At the end, the Ratha Cart was pulled into St George Square and placed in front of the Town Hall. There were performances on the main stage and thousands of plates of prasadam distributed. Lord Jagannatha ki jaya!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/zeSW98

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupada gave the following Kavacha for the protection of sannyasis he had send to the west:
Sri Nrisimha Kavacha of the Trailokya Vijaya in the Samhita of BrahmaRead More…

Hare Krishna Festivals UK (Album with photos)
Fantastic festival at the Doddridge Centre in Northampton last night.
A ful…Read More…

BGIS Newsletter 2017.
Bhaktivedanta Gurukul & International School Vrindavan.
Dear Well Wishers,
Thank you for your support towards the BGIS Projects. Year after Year we strive to be more efficient at building a “Better World with Better People”. In this newsletter, we are sharing with you the recent happenings and activities at our school. We hope that you enjoy reading and share it with your friends and family.
Read more: https://goo.gl/9mYDEr

Preaching in Russia – Beautiful City – Beautiful Devotees (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Most certainly St. Petersburg…Read More…

Srimati Sita Devi (consort of Lord Sri Rama) – Appearance.
Today marks the auspicious appearance day of a very great female personality, namely Sita Devi, the consort of Lord Ram. Sita Devi, one of the most prominent personalities in the great epic Ra…

To my spiritual master His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada this Sri Nrsimha Palana Prarthana is respectfully dedicatedRead More…

“Sri Nrsimhapalli” Or Devapalli.
The Place Where Lord Nrsimhadeva Came To Take Rest And Wash The Blood From His Hands After Killing Hiranyakasipu.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=11533

Sunshine on a Cloudy Day.
Vaisesika Das: The Temptations, a wildly popular Motown singing group, released their biggest hit song in 1965.
Read More…

Bhagavad Gita – As It Is Gifted to District Collector and Musical Genius (Album with photos)
Venudhari Kanhaiya das: Today 2nd may 2017 in a library opening ceremony we gifted Bhagavad-gita and Bhagavad darshan (Tamil BTG) to Viradhunagar (South Tamilnadu)
District Collector Thiru ShivaGhanam and Musical Genius & music director Ilaiyaraaja received Bhagavad-gita and said that he already has Srila Prabhupada Books and referring through and also a set of Srila Prabhupada’s Books gifted to the newly opened library at Thiruchuli near Aruppukottai and hundreds of Library contacts collected for monthly Bhagavad darshan – BTG
delivery.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/XtyUGk

Mother Arca-vigraha’s Disappearance Celebration, May 2, Mumbai (Audio recording of a Skype conversation with Giriraj Swami, Narottamananda Prabhu and others)
Giriraj Swami: Today I had a wonderful Skype call with the devotees in Mumbai in celeb…

THE CONCH NEWSLETTER, May Issue.
LORD NARASIMHA – Protector of the Devotees
JAHNAVA MATA THAKURANI – The Great Vaishnavi …Read More…

Requests for prayers.
Ambarisa Das: my old friend Badrinarayan Swami is very sick. Please, all vaishnavas, pray for him. His en…Read More…

Heroes of the Flood.
Krishnarupa devi dasi: It was bigger than the 1954 and 1988 floods as Cyclone Debbie cut a devastating swathe throughout the Tweed Shire, with much of the area (including Murwillumbah) under heavy water. Lives were tragically lost and valuable property ruined. Devotees lost businesses and some had their homes and belongings seriously water damaged. New Govardhana also endured serious flooding, with Krishna Village inundated, fencing wrecked and the animals in danger. As we often see when tragedy strikes, heroes emerge. New Govardhana devotees went into action and provided delicious hot prasadam all over town for some days. Being a recipient of this prasadam, when you are struggling trying to do flood clean-ups, it was a blessing. My neighbors were delighted to receive a home delivery, thanks to Lokesvari devi dasi.
There were many members of our devotee community who went out of their way to help people, such as Shyama McCrae, who kindly offered to help me if I needed some assistance; to Rupa Charana dasa and the four Mayapur Gurukula graduates who lugged an enormously heavy log back to its rightful place in my backyard and who had also been distributing prasadam with Krishna Gana dasa and others like Yasoda devi dasi, to Sridasa Johnson from DAS Construction, who helped many with his pressure cleaner. I was also told he drove around South Murwillumbah collecting floating gas bottles and also Photography: Trevor Gore helped people in Railway Street who were hit badly by the flood. On the farm, Mal Knights and his colleagues demonstrated great leadership qualities when Krishna Village was completely flooded out, and of course Ajita dasa, who was leading with his usual gusto. Other devotees in town shared their evening meals, washing machines – and consoling hugs. For those not mentioned specifically here, on behalf of other flood victims, I extend a heartfelt thank you!

Meet Bhakta Owen.
Mandakini devi dasi: New Govardhana resident Bhakta Owen Maher recalls having an unusual dream in 2015. In this dream, a disembodied hand was extended towards him offering a Bhagavadgita. He had not previously seen any devotees or any devotional literature. When he woke up, he googled ‘Bhagavad-gita’ and was delighted to find out the spiritual significance. Weeks later, while holidaying in Byron Bay, Caranaravinda dasa approached him and handed Owen a Bhagavadgita! After praying to Krishna for another sign, he returned to his hometown of Umina, NSW, and was thrilled to then meet devotees on the street. He invited them to his home after purchasing a Srimad-Bhagavatam. It wasn’t long before Owen was chanting japa every day.
Owen is also a practical man, with years of experience in his father’s painting and decorating business. He has also been a personal fitness trainer, keen rugby player and spent seven years practicing Vipassana yoga. Now living in New Govardhana, he is managing the paraphernalia and bhoga rooms and has proved himself to be a good handyman and gardener. Owen’s very supportive parents appreciate his chosen lifestyle and thoroughly enjoy the atmosphere when he and his Gaura Nitai Deities come to visit. With the aroma and taste of prasadam, the maha flowers placed on his parent’s bed each evening and the soothing sprinkles of offered water, Owen has transformed the family home into a spiritual haven.
His mother is reading Bhagavad-gita and his sister, who is the mother of two young children, has received his gift of chanting beads and bead bag. “All my energy is here at the farm at the moment and I am fully focused on Krishna consciousness,” says Owen. “But I am looking forward to going to India early next year.”

Ramanujacarya meets Iskcon’s Founder-Acarya!
Aniruddha Dasa: Hare Krishna Melbourne – We helped members of the local followers of Ramanujacarya celebrate the 1000th anniversary of his appearance last night. A special occasion no doubt and this meeting struck me with its significance. Srila Prabhupada being the modern day representative of the Vaisnava sampradayas.