Author Archives: H.H. Ramai Swami

Lord Nityananda appeared in the village of Ekachakra, in West Bengal, India, around 1474. In the Caitanya Caritamrita and other scriptures He is declared to be the avatar of Lord Balarama, the direct expansion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, … Continue reading →

On the seventh day of the bright fortnight of the month of Magh, the great ocean of ecstasy swelled to its limits, being forcibly attracted by the moon of Advaita. He appeared from the womb of Sri Nabhadevi as the … Continue reading →

The Canberra devotees were asked to participate in the capital’s multi-cultural festival that lasted three days and had hundreds of stalls set up in Civic Square. On the first day there was a parade and the devotees were able to … Continue reading →

Raghunatha Dasa couldn’t live after Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu left this world. So, he came to Vrndavana to end his life by jumping off Govardhana Hill. Rupa and Sanatana Goswamis affectionately received him. They convinced him to live on and enlighten … Continue reading →

The New Gokula Dairy has been operating for about 30 years and there are around 70 cows, bullocks and a bull. The pasture is rich this year after a good rainfall season and Radha Gokulananda have plenty of milk and … Continue reading →

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to especially relish hearing the Gita Govinda as well as the works of Candidas, Vidyapati, Ramananda Ray and the Krsna-karnamrta by Bilvamangala Thakur. Sri Gita Govinda is full of intimate pastimes of Sri Sri Radha Govinda … Continue reading →

Vyenkata Bhatta lived at Sri Rangam and had a son named Gopal. When the boy came to offer his obeisances at the lotus feet of Mahaprabhu the Lord picked him up and very affectionately seated him in His lap. Mahaprabhu … Continue reading →

I had the good fortune of meeting and having lunch with Bhakti Caru Maharaja during his recent visit to Australia. Maharaja usually comes a couple of times a year and this time in Sydney he gave a four day seminar … Continue reading →

Krsna Pusya abhiseka is a not very well known ceremony but wonderful nonetheless. During the morning puja, or worship, the Deity or a salagrama is bathed in pure ghee. Srila Prabhupada once explained the festival this way: “Krishna was just … Continue reading →

By the end of this year, the Christchurch temple will be rebuilt on the same land as before the earthquake. In the meantime, the devotee community has been renting a hall to hold Sunday programs and festivals. Even though not … Continue reading →

Jiva Goswami was one of the most prolific and important acharyas in Gaudiya Vaisnavism. He was the nephew of Rupa Goswami and Sanatan Goswami. Jiva Goswami left this world in 1596 (or 1618 according to some biographies). His samadhi is … Continue reading →

The Higher Taste restaurant in Wellington has been operating for many years with various cooks and management. Last year four devotee chefs came from India to raise the standard of the menu, especially in the matter of “a la carte.” … Continue reading →

Nimainanda, his wife Sucitra and his son Kunaal live in Auckland and attend New Varshana regularly. For a time Nimainanda lived on the farm and was the head cook. Some years ago the family started “Gopal,” a business that supplies … Continue reading →

Over the last year the Auckland temple devotees organised about 10 Rathayatras in the area. The big cart was used for the city and a smaller cart for the suburbs and nearby towns. A few days ago a Rathayatra went … Continue reading →

Saturday night kirtans have moved from the Lotus Room in Sydney to Govindas Asrama nearby. This is because the restaurant is so crowded that both the regular customers and those from the kirtans could not fit in at the same … Continue reading →

The Harinama Ruci devotees are back in Australia traveling to different cities to perform their wonderful kirtans. On Christmas day in Sydney they went with other devotees in the area to famous Bondi Beach where thousands of holiday makers celebrated … Continue reading →

Govindas asrama in Sydney has three kirtan and prasadam programs a week. The area is not very big but somehow 50-60 people squeeze in to participate in an ecstatic evening. The crowd is mostly westerners with some coming from other … Continue reading →

Gita Jayanti is the anniversary of Lord Krsna speaking Bhagavad-Gita to Arjuna. It is celebrated all over the world, especially in ISKCON temples. The first ISKCON Kurukshetra temple was built in the main part of town. The second ISKCON Kurukshetra … Continue reading →

Sarvabhauma and his wife come from Slovenia and are now living at New Gokula farm community.
They are both helping with various services and he is assisting in building the new guest accommodation that is now almost complete.

There are many Sydney devotees in Bhakti Vrksa groups who meet regularly and discuss aspects of Krsna Conscious life. Once a month, four Bhakti Vrksa groups get together and have a program in a Wentworthville hall. A number of devotee … Continue reading →

Along with catering for the Veggie Club at the university, there are programs every Friday and Wednesday evening at the Bhakti Tree in Newcastle.
Friday is especially popular, with people from the local area attending kirtan, talk and prasadam.

During the month of Margasirsha, every day early in the morning the young daughters of the cowherds would take one another’s hands and, singing of Krishna’s transcendental qualities, go to the Yamuna to bathe. Desiring to obtain Krishna as their … 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 Vrndavan are nicely decorated in white. Krsna lila dramas are enacted. Because the moon is very auspicious, … Continue reading →

“Any person who performs bathing in the month of Kartika, remaining awake, offering lamps, giving charity or planting and transplanting Tulasi, he achieves the same form as Lord Sri Visnu.” In Melbourne temple, both morning and night, many devotees and … Continue reading →

Thy gentle graces won our heart We feel too weak to live apart Prabhupada, whom we all revere Our Guru, whom we hold so dear O great saint of noblest heart Auspicious the day you did depart To the bright … Continue reading →

Lord Indra was overcome by anger when the residents of Vraja canceled his sacrifice. He tried to punish them by sending forth a devastating rainfall to Vrndavan. Lord Sri Krsna protected Gokula by lifting Govardhana Hill and for seven days … Continue reading →

The land in Sammamish, Seattle was bought many years ago but in the last 8 years a beautiful new temple has been constructed. The are deities of Radha Nila Madhava, Sita Rama Laksman Hanuman, Gaura Nitai and Jagannatha, Balarama, Subhadra. … Continue reading →

Perth devotees were invited to participate with a South Indian society to celebrate Diwali, the festival of lamps. This was held all day in a beautiful park off the esplanade in Fremantle. The devotees had their own area and set … Continue reading →

Fremantle is a suburb just south of Perth. Every year the Council organises the Fremantle Parade, which comprises about 100 floats and marching bands. The devotees were invited to participate about 5 years ago and entered with Lord Jagannatha’s Ratha … Continue reading →

Every year the GBC has a “mid-term” meeting at a different temple in India. This year the body was hosted at Govardhan Eco Village. For five days the GBCs and other leaders from around the world discussed strategic plans to … Continue reading →

The Bhaktivedanta Hospital is a tribute to Srila Prabhupada, inspired by HH Radhanath Swami. it essentially functions as a “not-for-profit” institution with the motto of “Serving in Devotion.” What started as a dream to provide quality healthcare at an affordable cost by a few devotee … Continue reading →

Govardhana Eco Village is about a two hour drive from Mumbai, India. It is managed by Gauranga Prabhu and his team from Radha Gopinath Mandir in Chowpati. This beautiful project, which is overseen by HH Radhanath Maharaja, is about 70 … Continue reading →

Our Jagannatha Mandir is located in the Pasar Baru or “little India” area of central Jakarta. Nearby is the President’s headquarters and Parliament. The temple building is quite old and the devotees are fund-raising to renovate the top floor where … Continue reading →

The Mahendradatta University is one of the many universities in Denpasar and some of our devotees teach there. I was invited me to give a lecture on the relevance of Bhagavad-gita in the modern age. Kishora das, from Radha Madhava … Continue reading →

Parvati devi dasi from Denpasar is a high school teacher and regularly organisers classes on Bhagavad-gita at public schools. She, along with her husband, who is also a teacher, speak at Universities as well. Parvati asked whether I could come … Continue reading →

The devotees in Bali celebrated Srila Prabhupada’s arrival into America by re-enacting his journey on the Jaladuta. The murti of Srila Prabhupada was taken by car to a boat in a harbour near Nusa Dua and the devotees joined him … Continue reading →

Each temple in Bali hosted a program of evening kirtan for Holy Name Week and this was followed at Radha Rasesvara Mandir. HH Kavicandra Maharaja and I interspersed the kirtan with short talks on the importance of harinama and the … Continue reading →

On the occasion of Haridas Thakur’s disappearance and Holy Name week, more than 100 devotees went on kirtan at Kuta Beach Bali. I had the pleasure of leading the kirtan, which was literally on the sand along the ocean. There … Continue reading →

Carana Mitra, a Calcutta High Court Judge, wrote: “I knew Thakur Bhaktivinoda intimately as a friend and a relation. Even under the pressure of official work as a magistrate in charge of a heavy subdivision he could always find time … Continue reading →

“O Kesava! You assumed the form of Vamana to trick the great demon Bali Maharaja by Your steps, and to purify all living entities by the water that emanated from the nails of Your lotus feet. All glories unto You, … Continue reading →