Author Archives: H.H. Ramai Swami

It’s always nice being invited to Nama Hatta programs when I come to Auckland. The devotees have them regularly every week at different homes around town. One function I went to was with the family of Suryacandra Krishna das and … Continue reading →

Nimananda Prabhu came with his family from Fiji to New Zealand some twenty years ago. He and his wife performed services in our temples like cooking, deity worship and HK Food for Life. After a time he started selling bhuja … Continue reading →

Some of the congregational leaders from the New Varshana Auckland temple organised a Bhakti Shastri retreat for a group of devotees studying for the degree. It was in a beautiful area of Auckland called Huia and the devotees stayed in … Continue reading →

I am very close to my dear godbrother, Venugopal das, since we were young brahmacaris living and travelling together in the early days of ISKCON Australia. Venu was diagnosed with terminal cancer a few months ago and will leave his … Continue reading →

Adi Purusa Das, the TP of Canberra temple, invited me to a kirtan program on a Saturday night. Even though on that day it was nearly 40 degrees, quite a few devotees attended the evening of blissful chanting. Apart from … Continue reading →

I was invited to lunch with Bhakti Caru Maharaja during his recent visit to Sydney. This was arranged at the home of one of his disciples. I must say that it was so nice because his disciples are such good … Continue reading →

It’s been a tradition for me that when I’m in Sydney for New Years Eve I go on Harinama around the Opera House, Circular Quay and Rocks area. We usually go down a little early around 5 or 6pm because … Continue reading →

Christmas is celebrated by millions all over the world. Thousands of the ISKCON congregation, although not Christians, visit our temples on Christmas day. Carparks are full and temple rooms packed out. Srila Prabhupada commented on Jesus Christ many times: “Jesus … Continue reading →

Srila Jiva Goswami made his appearance in 1533 and disappeared from view at the age of 85 in 1540. As a child, Sri Jiva took up the worship of Rama-Krsna Deities. Carefully decorating Them, and offering bhoga and arati, he … Continue reading →

Srila Locana Dasa Thakura appeared in this world in 1520 A.D., thirty-four years after the appearance of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Locana Dasa wrote a biography on Lord Caitanya entitled Sri Caitanya Mangala, based on the diary of Murari Gupta. He … Continue reading →

There are many devotional programs going on in the greater Sydney area. Sometimes they are held in halls and other times at devotee homes. Generally, there is kirtan, lecture, arati and prasadam feast. Recently, I was invited to attend a … Continue reading →

Occasionally, when I travel to our ISKCON centres, I like to visit the restaurants to see how they are going. Generally, all of them do very well and some exceptional well. On a recent visit to Perth I headed into … Continue reading →

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, appeared in Sri Ksetra Dhama, (Jagannatha Puri) on February 6th 1874 as the son of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. In his childhood he quickly mastered the Vedas, memorised the Bhagavad-Gita, and relished his father’s philosophical works. He … Continue reading →

I was recently in Perth and attended the Sunday program where I led kirtana and gave class. As always, it’s always a pleasure visiting the devotees as well greeting new guests. There were many nice questions and comments and afterwards … Continue reading →

On this day, 5000 years ago, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, the Supreme Lord Krsna delivered the most confidential and topmost knowledge of devotional service in the form of Bhagavad-Gita to His dear devotee Arjuna. The Bhagavad-Gita is also meant … Continue reading →

Prahladananda Das and Vraja Kumari Devi Dasi decided to have their wedding at New Gokula, Millfield. Jayasri devi dasi and Pratapana das, the parents of the bride, organised it very nicely. A special guest was Indradyumna Maharaja, Vraja’s guru, who … Continue reading →

After visiting Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne temples, the ToVP team went to Sydney. The function was held at the North Ryde School of Arts hall, which the temple management use to fund raise for their new temple out west. The … Continue reading →

The famous kirtan leader, Sri Prahlada, was scheduled to head up the chanting at the Bhakti Tree in Newcastle on Friday evening, but everyone was pleasantly surprised when Indradyumna Maharaja accompanied him and gave a talk as well. Maharaja was … Continue reading →

Most devotees around the world have heard of the Temple of Vedic Planetarium (ToVP) in Mayapur. The super structure is finished, tiles  are being laid, but there’s a long way to go. To this end, a devotee team headed by … Continue reading →

A lot of people visit New Govardhana and stay in either the asramas, (for the serious ones) the cabins, retreat facility, or perhaps down at Krsna Village for Wwoofers and yoga aspirants. The devotees have regular programs of lecture/seminar, kirtan … Continue reading →

The marriage of Tulsi with Vishnu/Krishna resembles a traditional wedding. The marriage ceremony is conducted at homes and temples where a fast is observed on the Tulsi Vivaha day until evening when the ceremony begins. The bride, Tulsi, is clothed with … Continue reading →

His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada departed from this world on November 14, 1977, in Vrindavan, India, in his rooms at the Krishna-Balarama temple, surrounded by hundreds of his disciples chanting Hare Krsna. Up until moments before his passing, … Continue reading →

Govardhana Puja is celebrated in the month of Kartika (October – November) to commemorate the pastime of Lord Sri Krishna lifting the Govardhana Hill to protect the residents of Vrindavana from the wrath of Indra. When the Supreme Lord Sri … Continue reading →

Kartik (Damodar) is the best, the purest of purifiers, and most glorious of all months. Kartik month is particularly dear to Lord Sri Krishna. This month is full of bhakta vatsalya. Any vrata, even the smallest, will yield huge results. … Continue reading →

The GBC Body met at ISKCON Ujjain on the invitation of HH Bhakti Caru Maharaja, this year’s GBC Chairman. The mid-term meeting is held at a different location every year and next year it will be at ISKCON Kanpur. The … Continue reading →

Our temple in Ujjain was officially opened in 2006. It is a magnificent structure with beautiful deities of Sri Sri Radha Madanamohana, Krsna Balarama, Jagannatha, Balarama, Subhadra, Gaura Nitai and Lord Nrsimhadeva. The compound also has a large brahmacari asrama, … Continue reading →

I accompanied a small but enthusiastic band of devotees from Govinda’s Asrama on harinama to Newtown. This inner suburb of Sydney is famous for students and alternative lifestyle residents. The shopping strip has about 8 vegetarian/vegan restaurants and some years … Continue reading →

Tuesday night kirtans at Govinda’s Asrama in Darlinghurst draws a wide variety of people from young to old. There are many regulars but about a third are newcomers. I haven’t attended for over 6 months but was fortunate recently to … Continue reading →

Govindas restaurant and the Lotus Room in Darlinghurst are still going strong after more than twenty years of operation. The restaurant, run by devotee couple Pratapana and Jayasri, is pretty much packed out every night. The Lotus Room hosts kirtan … Continue reading →

Srila Prabhupada: “I planned that I must go to America. Generally they go to London, but I did not want to go to London. I was simply thinking how to go to New York. I was scheming, “Whether I shall go … Continue reading →

The anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in the USA is very significant. It is celebrated by devotees all over the world because shortly after ISKCON was born. From the Prabhupada Lilamrta: “The ocean voyage of 1965 was a calm one … Continue reading →

The deities at Seattle temple are magnificent and I feel very fortunate to have Their Darshan. It took a great effort to install Them and build a beautiful temple but now the whole city is benefitted. On Janmastami there were … Continue reading →

Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra devi rode wonderfully on Their Rathayatra Cart throughout the city of Bellevue, which is like a city within the city of Seattle. Many thousands of devotees, some as far away as Vancouver and L.A. participated … Continue reading →

The devotees at Seattle temple organised a two day festival at Bellevue Crossroads Park to celebrate Lord Jagannatha’s Rathayatra. On the first day activities were going on in various tents and performers in the main tent entertained with dance, kirtan … Continue reading →

Srila Prabhupada said of Srimati Radharani: tapta-kāñcana-gauraṅgī rādhe vṛndāvaneśvarī vṛṣabhānu-sute devī pranamāmi hari-priye Rādhārāṇī is hari-priyā, very dear to Kṛṣṇa. So if we approach Kṛṣṇa through Rādhārāṇī, through the mercy of Rādhārāṇī, then it becomes very easy. If Rādhārāṇī recommends … Continue reading →

Lord Jagannatha’s Rathayatra cart was brought up from the Gold Coast to Cairns to enter the Multicultural Parade that goes around the streets of the city. On the way it stopped at Townsville where local devotees organised a Rathayatra in … Continue reading →

Srila Prabhupada was born Abhay Charan De on September 1st 1896 in Calcutta, India. His father was Gour Mohan De, a cloth merchant, and his mother was Rajani. His parents employed an astrologer to calculate the child’s horoscope, and they … Continue reading →