Author Archives: H.H. Ramai Swami

The glorious full moon night that ends Damodara month marks the last transcendental pastime of the month of Karttik, called Sri Krishna Rasayatra. This is similar to the Krishna’s Rasa dance which takes place during Vasant. To mark this pastime … Continue reading →

The G-20 conference is a forum for the governments of 20 major economies around the world. Collectively, the G-20 economies account for 85% of the gross world product. This year, the conference is being held in Brisbane and leading up … Continue reading →

Lord Chaitanya said: yadi papi chadi dharma dure dese yaya mora senapati-bhakta yaibe tathaya “Taking the sharp sword of the Hare Krsna Maha Mantra, I will root out and destroy the demoniac mentality in the hearts of all conditioned souls. … Continue reading →

“The hill named Govardhan is the king of mountains. It was born from Lord Hari’s own chest. It has come here by the power of Pulastya Muni and by seeing it one becomes free from having to take birth again … Continue reading →

The Tirumala Hill is 853m above sea level. It comprises seven peaks, representing the seven heads of Adisesha, thus earning the name Seshachalam. The presiding deity of the temple at Tirupati is Lord Venkatesvara, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Venkateswara is known by other names: Balaji, Govinda, … Continue reading →

Devotees from all over the world were in attendance for the GBC midterm meeting at ISKCON Tirupati. Time was spent discussing strategic planning initiatives but a few days were put aside to resolve the differences of opinion in the process … Continue reading →

Karttika is the purest of purifiers, and most glorious of all months. Karttika month is particularly dear to Lord Sri Krsna. This month is full of bhakta vatsalya. Any vrata, even the smallest, will yield huge results.   Even for … Continue reading →

Revati-raman Das, the president of ISKCON Tirupati, invited the GBC to have their midterm meeting in the temple complex. Tirupati is famous as the home of Lord Venkatesvara where more than 30 million pilgrims come to take His darshan every … Continue reading →

On one day of the Mayapur GBCom meeting, the leaders met with department managers and divisional heads. There are over thirty departments in Mayapur and some of them have more than 60 devotees doing service in various capacities. The leaders … Continue reading →

Omkara das, a town planner and Yadurani devi dasi, an architect, head up the Mayapur master-plan team. For the last two years they have been working on finishing documents that will outline the development of the town of Sridhama Mayapur. … Continue reading →

Rainy season in Mayapur doesn’t stop construction going on at the Temple of Vedic Planetarium. The stainless steel superstructure for the main dome is progressing steadily and a lot of work has been done on the planetarium structure itself. Even … Continue reading →

Recently, there was a successful test landing of an 11 seater Pavanhans helicopter in the parking lot near the Vamsi Bhavan guest house. Captain Malhotra of Pawan Hans, along with Mr. Virendra Singh-Chief of Durgapur Airport authority of Bengal, were received with … Continue reading →

Toowoomba, about 100 Km west of Brisbane, is known as the garden city. It is also a regional centre for academic study with a couple of universities. Every year the town hosts the Grand Central Floral Parade and there are … Continue reading →

HH Bhakti Caru Maharaja travels all over the world giving wonderful classes, leading blissful kirtan and serving the vaisnava community. He is very attentive to keeping in touch with as many devotees as possible. Every year, his disciples celebrate his … Continue reading →

Madhavananda das and Locanananda das, disciples of HH Janananda Maharaja, are active members of the Bhakti Centre Gold Coast community. Besides working full time jobs they go on harinama and book distribution as well as attend programs at the centre. … Continue reading →

tapta kancana gaurangi radhe vrndavanesvari vrsabhanu sute devi pranamami hari-priye I offer my respects to Radharani, whose bodily complexion is like molten gold and who is the Queen of Vrndavan. You are the daughter of King Vrsabhanu and You are … Continue reading →

Adi Kesava and Syamarupa, disciples of HH Tamal Krsna Goswami, are doctors from Fiji. Their daughters, Pranasakhi and Syamasakhi, are both lawyers and disciples of HH Vedavyasapriya Maharaja. The family moved to Cairns about 14 years ago. Last year they … Continue reading →

This year, after many years, the devotees from Cairns, headed by Adi Kesava Das and Syamarupa Devi Dasi, arranged to have a Rathayatra in the Spring Festival Parade. The parade started at a central park and then went along the … Continue reading →

Govindas Restaurant in Adelaide in situated in the temple itself to the left as you walk in. At the moment it is open only three nights a week but it is proving so popular that the devotees want to increase … Continue reading →

Great Saint the entire world adored, A humble servant of the Lord – “Welcome, Prabhupada!” we would say; Your mercy and grace we cannot repay. Favoured by thee, our wish is still, Prabhupada, to perform thy will. No need at … Continue reading →

Krsna has four qualities, which are not manifest even in the Narayana form of Godhead, what to speak of the demigods or living entities. They are as follows.  He is the performer of wonderful varieties of pastimes (especially His childhood … Continue reading →

In ISKCON, Krsna Janmastami is celebrated around the world sometimes on other days than in India. This is because the calculation of the planetary systems is different in that particular area. Countries east of India generally observe it the next … Continue reading →

His grace Madhudvisa prabhu was a great inspiration to the Australian and New Zealand yatras being the GBC and a wonderful leader from the early to mid 70s.  Actually, he was the GBC for the whole area including countries like Indonesia, … Continue reading →

Sri Sri Radha Madhava temple in Gianyar, Bali has a large devotee community of nearly 200. Many of the grhasthas have built houses near the temple so they can attend and serve the temple regularly.  As you would expect, there … Continue reading →

Yogyakarta is renowned as a centre of classical Javanese fine art and culture such as ballet, drama, music, poetry, and puppet shows. It is also a place of academic learning. The city is named after the Indian city of Ayodhya from the Ramayana epic. Devotees from all over Indonesia … Continue reading →

Many of the devotees of Radha Rasesvara temple in Bali are disciples of Srila Gaura Govinda Swami and Srila Bhakti Svarupa Damodara Swami. These two great devotees have since left this world and are with the Supreme Lord. Some years … Continue reading →

Klungkung, Bali, is an area steeped in ancient tradition. Many years ago the Maharaja ruled the area from his opulent palace near the centre of town.  Today he is not a ruler but presides over ceremonial and cultural activities of … Continue reading →

The Bhaktivedanta Academy is the second school in Bali and opened in July of this year. The first was the Bhaktivedanta Dharma School and now that has over 180 students. There was a need for a secondary school because our … Continue reading →

It’s always a pleasure visiting Radha Gopinatha Mandir at Baha, Bali. I remember just 12 years ago there was only land and a small hut here. In the rainy season it would flood and the property was inaccessible. The devotees … Continue reading →

The devotees at Perth temple have decided to transfer their temple in Kalamunda at the top of the hill to a new residence at Maidavale at the bottom of the hill. The new centre of 2.5 acres, which was formerly … Continue reading →

The Lismore City Council committee in charge of the Festival of Lanterns asked the devotees from the Bhakti Centre to participate in their parade by bringing Lord Jagannatha on His Rathayatra chariot. Many New Govardhana devotees also came and everyone … Continue reading →

Every year devotees at New Govardhana celebrate Lord Jagannatha’s Rathayatra on the farm itself. The parade starts at the bottom of the hill at the river and travels to the top to reach the temple. Along the way there are … Continue reading →

The end of the Festival of Fiji was celebrated in Lautoka. Devotees stayed in and around the original temple of Fiji, Sri Krsna Kaliya Mandir. Now there are also alters for Gaura Nitai and Radha Govinda.  On one day about … Continue reading →

During the festival of Fiji devotees traveled to the Sigatoka temple of Sri Sri Radha Damodara. This 3 storey temple sits majestically on top of a hill that overlooks the town. Devotees went chanting through the markets and streets and … Continue reading →

The festival of Fiji was organised by disciples of HH Tamal Krsna Maharaja and was attended by hundreds of devotees from different countries of the world. It started at Suva temple where devotees gathered to hear lectures, attend arotis and … Continue reading →

Lord Jagannatha’s Rathayatra was celebrated in central Brisbane, after many years absence, using the big Rathayatra cart from New Govardhana. This year the devotees were able to secure a permit from the City Council for the parade and use of … Continue reading →

The inauguration of the Hare Krsna Cultural Centre in Southport Queensland was conducted in early June this year. This is the second preaching centre on the Gold Coast, the Bhakti Centre being the first. The opening was well attended by … Continue reading →

Burleigh Heads is a famous beach side suburb on the Gold Coast. We have our Govindas restaurant nearby that caters to thousands of people every week and the devotees do regular kirtan on the promenade that runs parallel to the … Continue reading →

The Sunday program at Govindas restaurant in Brisbane is continuing nicely. There is an improved decor that makes the ambience of the room warm and inviting. The evening starts with beautiful kirtan led by accomplished devotees and is followed by … Continue reading →

Once again the leaders from around Australia attended the annual general meeting held at Govinda Valley, which is about an hour south of Sydney. This is a twenty acre property with conference facilities that the devotees rent regularly for retreats, … Continue reading →