Author Archives: H.H. Ramai Swami

I always enjoy visiting Sri Nitai Gauracanda temple in Christchurch. The dieties are beautiful in Their dancing pose and the devotees so welcoming when visitors come. The temple here had to be rebuilt after the big earthquake in 2011 and … Continue reading →

Whenever I visit Melbourne temple I like to go to some home programs if possible. Fortunately, there are twenty seven Bhakti Vrksa groups (meaning fruit-bearing tree of bhakti) in the suburbs where regular gatherings take place. The evening usually starts … Continue reading →

Ramacandra Kaviraja, the son of Sri Ciranjiva Sena (eternal associate of Lord Caitanya), appeared in Sri Khanda. “Ramacandra Kaviraja was especially earnest, beautiful, intelligent, energetic, and enthusiastic,” said one biographer.  Although married, Ramacandra and his wife, Ratanala, had no material … Continue reading →

In Vraja there was a dancer named Chandrahasa who was very expert in the tasting of rasa. In Caitanya-lila, he became Jagadisa Pandit who also took great pleasure in dancing for the Lord. Jagadisa came with his wife Duhkhini and … Continue reading →

Once, when King Sagara wanted to perform an ashvamedha yajna, Indra stole his sacrificial horse.  The king sent his 60,000 sons to find it, and they found it next to Kapila Muni’s ashram, where Indra had hidden it. Mistaking Kapila … Continue reading →

Canberra is, of course, the capital city of Australia and has a growing population. Our temple is a small residence in the suburb of Ainslie. The devotees organise regular Sunday and midweek programs, as well as festivals, Food for Life … Continue reading →

There was a severe drought at New Gokula, the worst in more than 2 decades, throughout the winter and spring. Although, there has been some rain, it wasn’t enough to normalise the situation. Now with the summer in full swing … Continue reading →

There’s always plenty of kirtan going on with devotees from Govindas Asrama in Sydney, from harinama downtown to programs back at the asrama itself. I visit quite regularly and it’s always a pleasure to be able to participate with leading … Continue reading →

In the course of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s travels throughout India he became much pained at the erroneous teachings of many pseudo sects and sahajiya groups.  There arose in his heart a burning desire to widely preach the true siddhanta according … Continue reading →

The auspicious day on which the Bhagavad Gita was revealed to Arjuna by Lord Krishna at Kurukshetra, 5000 years ago, is celebrated as Gita Jayanti. It is observed on the Shukla Ekadasi, the 11th day of the waxing moon of … Continue reading →

Sri Sri Radha Madhava and Sri Sri Radha Gopinath temples in Bali are both very beautiful with a large community devotees living just nearby. This is ideal because the grhasthas, although working in day jobs, are close enough to attend … Continue reading →

Sri Sri Radha Rasesvara temple was opened 19 years ago just outside Denpasar, Bali. Since then the community of devotees has grown extensively with many purchasing houses in the area. Atmanivedana Swami, Bhakti Jivan Maharaja and I were invited for … Continue reading →

There are between 25 to 30 Rathayatra parades held every year in Indonesia, even though it is a predominantly Muslim country. This is because devotees work with local committees in different areas and enter as a cultural participant. Bali is … Continue reading →

Klungkung is the smallest regency in Bali, Indonesia. It has a population of approximately 200,000 people. Some years ago, the devotees purchased some land that was formerly a rice field. Now, we have a beautiful temple and asrama where Their Lordships, … Continue reading →

Indonesia has so far around twenty temples, some big and others smaller in size. In Bali there are six main temples and one is the Jagannatha Gauranga temple, which has a very sweet atmosphere. I visit regularly and it’s always … Continue reading →

Most temples around the world encourage devotees to hold programs in their homes as well as attend temple functions. These can be informal gatherings or more structured like Bhakti Vrksa programs. I attend many of these in my travels and … Continue reading →

I was invited to a new restaurant in Perth run by two of our congregation members, Ravi and Vivek. Formerly it was an Italian restaurant but now it is a prasadam restaurant. When I went I was served various preparations … Continue reading →

I was staying at our Adelaide temple for the last few days of the auspicious Kartika month. Many were coming morning and night to sing Damodarastakam prayers and offer lamps to the deities. Some devotees were following the extra vows … Continue reading →

Srinivasa Acharya is one of the most important personalities in the religious history of Bengal, perhaps the most important Vaishnava teacher in the generation immediately following Shri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He is chiefly remembered as the illustrious disciple of Gopala Bhatta … Continue reading →

On November 14, 1977, at 7:30 P.M., in his room at the Krishna-Balaram Mandir in Vrndavana, Srila Prabhupada gave his final instruction by leaving this mortal world and going back to Godhead. His departure was exemplary, because his whole life … Continue reading →

The Southport Centre on the Gold Coast celebrated Govardhana puja a couple of days later on the Saturday. Devotees made preparations to put on the replica Govardhana hill commemorating the pastime of Lord Krsna’s instruction to the inhabitants of Vrndavan. … Continue reading →

Diwali is celebrated by Hindus all over the world, generally over a five day period. Depending on where in India, Kali puja is the main day, or Laksmi puja etc. Srila Prabhupada said that we as vaisnavas celebrate the festival … Continue reading →

I was able to attend the Govardhana Puja celebration at New Govardhana. Giri Govardhana from the altar was taken on a bullock cart and chanting His glories everyone followed Him down the hill to the lake area. Standing on top … Continue reading →

Appearing as the son of a king, Narottama Dasa Thakura showed all the bodily symptoms of a mahapurusa.  In school, he was a sruti dhara, able to memorise whatever he heard. Although he quickly mastered Sanskrit and the Vedas, he … Continue reading →

There are three altars at the Kanpur temple. The deities are, Sri Radha Madhava, Lalita, Visakha, Sri Sita Rama, Laksman, Hanuman and Sri Gaura Nitai. During our meeting, the anniversary of the deity installation was observed by abisekha of the … Continue reading →

The GBC has a meeting midyear and for the last 10 years it has been at one of temples in India. Devotees come from all of the world to participate in either the general meeting or subcommittee meetings. Our hosts, … Continue reading →

I had the opportunity to attend a GBC meeting at our Kanpur temple. ISKCON Kanpur’s Sri Sri Radha Madhava temple is located in Mainavati Marg, 4 km away from Kanpur. It is constructed on a fifteen acre plot on Bithoor … Continue reading →

As usual, it was standing room only at the Tuesday Govindas Asrama kirtan program. Sri Prahlada was in town and led kirtan for the first half and I took over for the second half. Everyone was clapping, chanting and some … Continue reading →

It’s been a few months since I visited Sydney temple and this time I was able give the Sunday feast class and lead the 12.30pm arati. The Sydney Management changed the timing of the program from late afternoon to midday … Continue reading →

Srila Prabhupada first set foot in the West more than fifty years ago, after a 35 day journey from Calcutta. The steamship, Jaladuta, arrived at Boston’s Commonwealth Pier at 5:30 am on September 17, 1965. He reached Boston’s Commonwealth Pier … Continue reading →

Thakura Haridasa was present during most of the Lord’s pastimes in Nadia, and when the Lord went to Jagannatha Puri, Haridasa also went and took up residence there. Everyday, after attending Lord Jagannath’s mangal arati, Lord Caitanya would come to … Continue reading →

Toowoomba is a small city west of Brisbane, Australia. Every year the town celebrates the spring flower festival with a carnival and parade. For the last 5 or 6 years the Bhakti Centre on the Gold Coast has entered Lord … Continue reading →

In the Brihad-Gautamiya Tantra, Radharani is described as follows: devi krishna-mayi prokta radhika para-devata  sarva-lakshmi-mayi sarva kantih sammohini para “The transcendental goddess Srimati Radharani is the direct counterpart of Lord Sri Krishna. She is the central figure for all the … Continue reading →

The Seattle Rathayatra parade was on the second day of the festival. Lord Jagannatha, Balarama, Subhadra Devi rode majestically on Their cart, which was brought up by devotees from Los Angeles. I was privileged to start the kirtan and was … Continue reading →

I was able to attend the Rathayatra festival in Seattle, which went over two days. Tents, stalls and stages were set up in a park in the suburb of Bellevue and many people from devotees to casual visitors participated. On … Continue reading →

ISKCON Seattle recently purchased an acreage about an hour’s drive from the temple. This facility is mainly for our beautiful cows and bullocks and also for a Krsna Conscious retreat centre. The devotees named it New Goloka after the Lord’s … Continue reading →

Srila Prabhupada is the Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krsna Consciousness. As such, he will always hold the most prominent position in ISKCON, for grand disciples and especially for his direct disciples. I was privileged to attend his … Continue reading →

Although it was a rainy night at New Govardhana and a Monday, there were still many devotees who attended Sri Krsna Janmastami. The deities were gorgeously dressed and little Radha Krsna came out to be swung on Their swing. There … Continue reading →

Krsna Janmastami is the most important day in the vaisnava calendar. Every year devotees from all over the world come together at temples and centres to celebrate the anniversary of Lord Krsna’s appearance. This year I was fortunate to attend … Continue reading →

Adi Kesava, Syamarupa and their daughters live in Cairns and have regularly programs at their house, as well as other devotee’s houses.  They daily worship their deities, Sri Radha Syamasundara, Sita Rama Laksman, Hanuman and Gaura Nitai. I visit every … Continue reading →