Author Archives: H.H. Ramai Swami

The new goshala at New Govardhana was finally completed and the devotees organised an official opening just before Gaura Purnima. This, for many years, was the dream of my God-brother, Venugopal das, who passed away last year. Many devotees attended … Continue reading →

Apart from the meetings and presentations at Mayapur, there was, of course, the regular festival going on, that is, kirtan mela, parikrama and various activities like the elephant procession. This all continued culminating in the grand festival of Gaura Purnima. … Continue reading →

ISKCON leaders were invited to attend a presentation by the committee for the ToVP Planetarium. This important aspect of the new temple was very much desired by Srila Prabhupada who wanted to show Vedic cosmology and the underlying spiritual aspect … Continue reading →

As usual at the Mayapur GBC meeting, the first section is dedicated to hearing about the progress of the Temple of Vedic Planetarium. This was headed up by the chairman of the ToVP, Ambarish das and he was followed by … Continue reading →

Every two years at Mayapur there is a SGGS ( Sannyasi, Guru, GBC, Sanga) where devotees come from all of the world to associate with each other and discuss philosophy and exchange ideas on spreading Krsna Consciousness. The three day … Continue reading →

Every five years the Mayapur devotees organise a Maha Abhiseka for Sri Panca Tattva during the festival time. There were so many devotees and guests who came that they couldn’t all fit into the temple but spilled outside by the … Continue reading →

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura appeared at Jagannatha Puri on 6 February 1874 as the son of Srila Sacidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura. In his childhood he quickly mastered the Vedas, memorised the Bhagavad-Gita, and relished his father’s philosophical works. He became known … Continue reading →

I celebrated Lord Nityananda’s appearance festival with the devotees at Brisbane temple. Although a week night, hundreds came for the abhiseka, lecture, drama, kirtana and feast. Lord Nityananda is, of course, the incarnation of Lord Balarama who came to assist … Continue reading →

The day after the Food Festival, the devotees at New Varshana organised a Holi celebration. This has been going on for a number of years and the attendances has gown significantly. This year, more than 10,000 people came and about … Continue reading →

I was at New Varshan for the “Food festival.” A couple of years ago, the devotees had an idea to invite the public to come to the temple to purchase and experience a variety of fine prasadam cuisine. It started … Continue reading →

As I am traveling this time, I have been getting a fair few invitations to outside programs, either Nama Hatta style or Bhakti Vrksa.  It’s always a pleasure being in the association of devotees who are sincere to advance in … Continue reading →

There are many devotees in Wellington serving in various capacities, such as Devamrta Maharaja’s disciples doing harinama, book distribution and running the Bhakti Lounge Ambarish Maharaja is a leader of namahatta and bhakti vrksa programs. Every Friday he has a … Continue reading →

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 →