Author Archives: H.H. Ramai Swami

Every night at our ISKCON Juhu temple during Karttika month, thousands of people offer lamps to Their Lordships. It is said in the Hari Bhakti Vilasa: “O tiger of sages, a person who during the month of Karttika eagerly hears … Continue reading →

The mid-term GBC meeting usually comprises strategic planning sessions with the leaders discussing a range of topics on how to develop and spread Krsna Consciousness all over the world. The local devotees, headed by TP Brajahari das, provided all the … Continue reading →

Srila Prabhupada struggled in the early 1970s to acquire the ISKCON Juhu property. He promised Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari, who were then housed in small shack, a beautiful temple. The complex opened in 1978 and now includes a spacious marble … Continue reading →

The first full moon of the autumn season marks the celebration of Krsna’s dancing with the gopis. On this day the deities of Vrndavana are nicely decorated in white. Krsna lila dramas are enacted. Because the moon is very auspicious, … Continue reading →

Shri Madhvacharya appeared in 1238 A.D. near Udupi, Karnataka in South India. He was considered an incarnation of Vayu (wind god). He had an unusually strong physique and extraordinary intellectual power. Madhvacharya took diksha at age five, sannyasa at twelve … Continue reading →

The fourth Sydney Temple fund raising dinner for the year was attended by about 150 devotees and guests. Special speakers were HH Bir Krsna Maharaja, Gaura Gopal from Mumbai and myself. The evening went well with kirtan, dance, progress report … Continue reading →

Our Bhakti Tree Centre in Newcastle is going from strength to strength. Apart from catering for Newcastle University 3 days a week, it is also a fully fledged restaurant operating 5 days a week. On top of that, there are 2 … Continue reading →

One of the recent events celebrated for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary by the Brisbane devotees was a boat ride on the Brisbane River. About 140 devotees ( that’s all the boat could fit ) assembled at a Southbank jetty in central … Continue reading →

Recently, it was the anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival into Boston on the ship Jaladuta. In 1922, when Srila Prabhupada first met his future guru, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur, he was requested to spread the message of Sri Caitanya to … Continue reading →

Sri Haridas Thakur is an eternally liberated associate of the Lord. The associates of the Lord are worship-able wherever they make their appearance. Just as Garuda appeared as a bird, and Hanuman as a monkey, Haridas Thakur appeared in a … Continue reading →

Sri Sacidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura appeared in 1838 in a wealthy family in the Nadia district, West Bengal. He revealed that he is an eternal associate of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu by his extraordinary preaching activities and prolific writing. The original appearance … Continue reading →

After the disappearance of Shri Rupa and Shri Sanatana Goswamis, Shri Jiva Goswami became the Gaudiya Sampradayacharya to guide all Vaishnavas in Navadwipa, Vrindavana, Jagannatha Puri. Although he was the undisputed leader, he always acted as a humble servant of … Continue reading →

Srila Prabhupada wrote: Srimati Radharani is described in the sastra: radha-krsna-pranaya-vikrtir hladini-saktir asmad [Cc. Adi 1.5]. That is Krsna’s hladin-sakti. She gives pleasure to Krsna. So She is very kind. And today is Radhastami. If we pray to Srimati Radharani… … Continue reading →

Govindas Asrama in Darlinghurst has had regular programs for years. Many visiting devotees like Devamrta Maharaja, Janananda Maharaja, Kadamba Kanana Maharaja and recently Syamasundara Prabhu lead kirtana and speak. I am also a regular visitor and often attend to head … Continue reading →

Visnucaran and Sravaniya are originally devotees from Singapore but have been living in Canberra for over 10 years. They are regular attenders at the temple and also run a weekly program at the Australian National University where they have kirtan … Continue reading →

This is an excerpt from a poem I wrote for Srila Prabhupada: Srila Prabhupada, by all adored A true follower of the lord He toiled hard with every limb Around the world were signs of him There was no person … Continue reading →

Krsna is the embodiment of love and affection. He sees the good qualities of a living entity, overlooking the bad. Even if someone is in a lowly position Krsna is so kind that He can raise him to the topmost … Continue reading →

The idea for “Sadhu Sanga Sunday” was conveyed by HH Mukunda Maharaja to Pratapana as a follow up to the Sydney Opera House program. It was held at the Arts Centre in Darlinghurst that was decades ago a local prison. … Continue reading →

Hundreds of devotees and guests attended two programs at the Sydney Opera House. One in the afternoon and the other at night. The theme was, “The Transcendental Journey,” which depicted Srila Prabhupada’s coming to America and incorporating ISKCON 50 years … Continue reading →

On the Friday night before the Sydney Opera House event, Pratapana and Jayasri hosted a “patrons” dinner for all the devotees who donated generously to help sponsor the function. Special guests were HH Mukunda Maharaja, HH Bhakti Caru Maharaja, Syamasundara … Continue reading →

Balarama Jayanti celebrates the appearance day of Lord Balarama, the elder brother of Lord Krishna. Lord Balarama was born as the seventh son of Devaki and Vasudeva. After Kamsa had killed all the children of his sister Devaki, an unborn … Continue reading →

The Jhulan Festival is celebrated in July – August commemorating the pastimes of Lord Sri Krishna enjoying His childhood pastimes with His friends – the young cowherd boys and girls, swinging underneath the trees. It is a festival to celebrate … Continue reading →

When I was in Seattle I had the privilege of staying in the home of Senthil Nallasamy, his wife Sujatha, his son Nithin and daughter Navyah. Originally from India, they moved to Seattle around 15 years ago and became devotees … Continue reading →

One of the main attractions of the Ananda Mela in Seattle was the “Vedic Village” section. A ten metre long diorama was erected showing the descent of the Ganga from the toe of the Lord, through the Himalayas, through various … Continue reading →

Devotees at our Seattle temple have been working for months to organise the Ananda festival at a prominent park in Redmond Shire. The festival spanned a 2 day weekend and it was estimated that nearly 14,000 people attended. There were … Continue reading →

Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami (the son of a Vyenkata Bhatta, a Sri Vaisnava brahmana) appeared in Sri Rangam, South India. Lord Caitanya once stayed four months in his home, and con­verted the family to Gaudiya Vaisnavism. A mere boy at … Continue reading →

There are five full fledged temples in Bali. However, there are also regular home programs around the island where many visiting devotees give lectures. Bhakta Sasha from Russia has been in Indonesia for many years and recently started having programs … Continue reading →

The celebration of Rathayatra in ISKCON is popular all over the world. In Indonesia there are more than 20 Jagannatha Rathayatras in areas of Sumatra, Java, Bali, Lombok, Sulawesi and Kalimantan. I was able to attend 3 Rathayatra festivals when … Continue reading →

As part of ISKCON’s 50th year celebrations, the Balinese devotees organized a Bhakti Festival at a prominent park in Denpasar. Important leaders from local government, the Hindu Parisad and other organizations gave speeches of appreciation for ISKCON’s work in Indonesia. … Continue reading →

Some of the Indonesian devotees thought that it would be a good idea to have an ISKCON Leadership Sanga in Bali. Many had been to Mayapur and were enthused by the ILS there. The event was organised and experienced speakers … Continue reading →

One of the closest associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Purusottama Acarya (Svarupa) knew exactly the heart of Sri Krsna Caitanya. Glorifying him as “the storehouse of all devotional mellows,” Lord Caitanya added the word Damodara to his name. Svarupa Damodara … Continue reading →

Srivasa Pandit, the fifth member of the Panca-tattva, who are, Sri Krishna Chaitanya, Prabhu Nityananda, Sri Advaita, Gadadhara, Srivasa, lived in Navadvipa before the advent of Lord Chaitanya. He often met with Shri Advaita Acharya Prabhu and studied Srimad Bhagavatam … Continue reading →

Disciples of HH Tamala Krsna Goswami came from around Australia, New Zealand and Fiji to celebrate their Guru Maharaja’s 70th birthday and Vyasapuja over 3 days. The festivities were held at Sydney temple and on Vyasapuja day God-brothers and God-sisters … Continue reading →

The third Sydney West temple fundraiser this year was well attended. Vedavyasapriya Maharaja and I were guest speakers and also gave gifts to donors. The was a beautiful  bhajan led by Sri Prahlada and some of our devotee ladies presented … Continue reading →

The Vivid festival in Sydney has been going for the last 2 or 3 years and it attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors to the down town area. It spans a 23 day period and engages lighting artists, designers and … Continue reading →

Bhima the mighty warrior of the Pandava dynasty requested one vrata day by which he could obtain the fruits of all the other days of vrata that he was incapable of observing. Vyasadeva advised him to follow this difficult vrata. … Continue reading →

The Melbourne temple “kitchen project” has been in the planning stages for years. The old kitchen, which supplies prasadam for Crossways, festivals and feasts, has reached it’s use buy date. The temple management signed with a contractor and work has … Continue reading →

Vedavyasa described Krishna-lila in the Srimad Bhagavatam. Non-different from Vyasa, Vrindavan Das Thakur described Mahaprabhu’s lila in his Chaitanya Bhagavat. His book was first called Chaitanya Mangala, but when Locana Das gave the same name to his biography of the … Continue reading →

At the end of May the leaders around Australia assembled at Melbourne temple for the annual general meeting. Every year the AGM is held at different centres and after many years it was graciously hosted by Aniruddha and his team … Continue reading →

Gopal’s restaurant in Melbourne was renovated at the end of last year when the owners of the building put in a new elevator. Unfortunately, it had to be closed for a couple of months while work was going on but … Continue reading →