iskcon pune todayNewsletter Vol 12 / Issue: 6 (Monthly) / June 2015 / Price: `1/-

17th May, Pune. The Bhaktivedanta Hall in the New Vedic Cultural Centre at Katraj-Kondhwa Road hosted over 1,000 patrons attending a unique Gau-Vigyan Parishad - the Council for Cow Science. The day-long seminar was sponsored by Shri Rahul and Shri Neeraj Bajaj in association with the well-known media group Sakal Newspapers. The seminar attracted gau-sevaks and cow-enthusiasts from all over the state and focused on knowledge sharing for cow protectors and farmers.

HG Govind Das, member of Temple Management Council, ISKCON Chowpatty highlighted the spiritual significance of cows and relation to Lord Krishna. “In the Mahabharata there is description of Goloka Vrindavan as a place where innumerable cows reside happily and fearlessly. Any society where cows feel sheltered and protected, loved, will naturally flourish in all respects. When cows are treated with love and care they will naturally supply profuse amount of milk. Our ancient Vedic wisdom glorifies cows as Kaam-Dhenu - as fulfiller of all desires. If one associates with cows, one will be freed from all mental distresses. Drinking cow’s milk enhances our spirutal acumen. Lord Krishna is known as Gopal, one who protects the cows. Gau-rakshan and Gau-palan is the very culture of India; unfortunately today gau-bhakshan or cow-eating is going on to satisfy the uncontrolled tongue.”

HG Radheshyam Das, president of ISKCON Pune, added that the cow is declared by scriptures as one of the seven mothers of mankind. “Mother cow supplies

milk to all human beings for physical, intellectual and spiritual nourishment. From the pastimes of Lord Krishna in Vrindavan, we can easily understand how cows are very dear to the Lord. When Krishna killed Putana, He was bathed by the Vrajavasis with cow-dung and cow-dust to purify Krishna’s body and to protect Him from evil. Thus we see how the Vrajvasis, greatest devotees of Lord Krishna, respected cows. Actually, milk, curd, butter, butter-milk, ghee, cows, gold and grains is considered real wealth. And when we serve Lord Govinda, master of the cows, material nature becomes happy and rewards us with prosperity.”

Shri Rahul Deshpande, who leads the Venu-Madhuri initiative near Kolhapur, highlighted the importance of using cow products in routine life. He explained how their initiative that began with just 6 cows a few years back has grown to caring for 70 indigenous breed of cows. The Venu-Madhuri initiative has successful exports of products made from panch-gavya. “The dhup sticks made from cow-dung are a sought-after product. Farmers get monetary benefits in exchange of go-mutra and cow-dung and thus are automatically drawn to cow-protection without being burdened,” said Deshpande as he explained the financial sustainability of the cow-protection initiative.

Shri Shekhar Dharmadhikari from Kolhapur explained the procedure and benefits of organic farming in relation to cow protection. “The 5000-years old Indian culture is called as Rishi-Krishi culture. The main business of the rishis or sages was yajna whose ingredients were obtained from panch-gavya products

ISKCON NVCC Organizes Gau-Vigyan Parishad

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ISKCON Pune Today | June, 2015

of Mother cow. The rishis taught the way of happy life and salvation and krishi done with the help of bulls and cows in an organic way is sustainable.” He elaborated on a time-tested financial model of how a farmer with 3 indigenous breed of cows can generate a revenue of Rs.3/- lakh per annum, engaged in organic farming and thus shelter cows.

Shri Uttam Maheshwari from Mumbai explained the medicinal value of products obtained from panch-gavya. Quoting numerous examples from practical experience, he highlighted their immense health benefit: “The indigenous breed of cow’s ghee can be easily applied in treatment for asthama, persistent cold, migraine or snoring by putting a few drops in the nose everyday. Cow dung in combination with a few drops of neem oil can drive away mosquitoes in no time and there are no harmful side-effects.”

Shwetadvip Das, who helped organize the event, offered a 10-point programme especially suited for city-dwellers, appealing for their cooperation in cow-

protection service: (1) On birthdays of your family members, visit your neighbourhood goshala (2) household vegetable peels can be fed to cows in the neighbourhood instead of throwing in wastebox (3) increase usage of cow products like desi cow ghee, panch gavya-based cosmetics, go-mutra, cow-dung and dhup sticks (4) perform Go-puja with all family members during traditional festivals like Vasu-baras, Dipavali, Padwa (5) offer charity to your favourite goshala out of love, not mere duty, which will help develop a relation with the cows (6) revive the traditional daily gogras offering to nearby cows (7) avoid leather products such as leather shoes, belts, wallet, car covers (8) increase usage of organically-cultivated grains and vegetables (9) whenever you visit holy places, make it a practice to offer gogras to the cows (10) avoid products that use questionable ingredients like “animal fat.”

The event was graced by Shri Girish Bapat, Cabinet Minister for Maharashtra State and Pune city’s Guardian Minister. The Minister assured that the Government is committed to cow protection and will be introducing several schemes for their service and care. Shri Yogesh Tilekar, MLA for Katraj-Kondhwa constituency appreciated the noble cause of cow protection and social awareness and benefits of cow products.

Twenty illustrious individuals from various parts of Maharashtra state were honoured with Chatrapati Shivaji Award for their service towards cow protection. Ten more received the Srila Prabhupada Award for their exemplary service of sheltering and caring for unwanted cows. Shri Milind Ekbote was felicitated for his tireless service in saving cows and rescuing them from slaugterhouses even at risk of his own life. Shri Sitaram Kanade, Shri Lalchand Nahar and Shri Shrichand Punjabi were felicitated for generous contributions to ISKCON Pune for farming and cow protection service.

A devotee team comprising Sri Guru Charan Das, Natwar Das, Shrawananand Das, Vaishnav Priya Devi, Sundervar Das, Krishna Katha Das, Sripad Mahaprabhu Das, Ajit Krishna Das, Ashray Govind Das, Bh. Paresh and Kripalu Advait Das and others worked tirelessly to make the event a grand success.

Ram Vilas Das, who helps coordinate several cow-protection initiatives in ISKCON Pune and works with Infosys as a senior project manager, commented: “The Gau-Vigyan Parishad has shown that every individual can and needs to connect to cows and serve them. There are immense socialogical, physical, spiritual benefits to be gained in this simple yet vital service!”

Gau-mata ki jay!

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Chaitanya Chandra Das recounts his days of travel, devotion and service in rural Maharashtra: Recently HG Vijay Das, ISKCON Minister for Book Distribution, visited NVCC and encouraged devotees to form a Travelling Bus Party engaged in distributing Bhagavad Gitas. Soon 8 enthusiastic devotees set off for their first monthly Travelling Sankirtan. Srila Prabhupada once said, ‘These books are just like Deities, non-different from Krishna because they give complete knowledge of Krishna.’ We loaded the bus with books and drove into rural Satara.

When the bus would enter a village, we would begin loud kirtan of the Holy names and Sripad Seva Das would announce our presence! Villagers would promptly gather around the mobile book stall set up at the rear of the bus, manned by Satchidananda Vigraha Das. Hearing our explanation of the importance of spiritual life and appeal to take up reading the Bhagavad Gita, soon one person in the village would break the ice by purchasing the first copy of the Gita. We would thank the person and loudly announce his name. Soon, others feeling why they should be deprived of the opportunity, would follow suit! Kamyavan

Das, Ganesh Das, Chaitanya Seva Das and myself often went door-to-door to distribute books. We would distribute books for 6-8 hours everyday.

In the night, we would halt in the village temple. Villagers were so cooperative that spontaneously satsang programs would get organized and we found ourselves having Krishna-katha and kirtan everywhere. They would offer unlimited milk to us - pure cow milk that we never tasted earlier in the cities! Such was the natural environment and engagement that nobody fell sick despite hot Sun in the month of May. Fresh water, fresh air, prasad cooked from fresh vegetables, and a daily average of 100 Bhagavad Gitas distributed kept our spirits enlivened!

From the bus party book distribution I realized that if we try to give enjoyment to Lord Krishna and His sincere devotees then we are rewarded with a lot of mercy and happiness in return! Srila Prabhupada book distribution ki jai !

---Chaitanya Chandra Das

The annual summer camp for kids was successfully conducted by devotees from ISKCON in many parts of the city. The theme this year was “Respect.”

Kishori Madhuri devi led the camp at the New Vedic Cultural Centre. Explaining about the training for kids, she said, “Our summer camps are not merely vacation engagements for kids; we strive to impart values, culture and vision that forms the basis of a civilized human society. Our training focuses on imparting samskar to develop the innate, natural love of God in every child. Various activities for kids including shlokas, prayers, craft, videos, drama and dance were designed around this principle. Every child was introduced to mantra meditation. The interactive lessons emphasized the importance of respecting elders, grandparents, nature, Vedic culture, cows, etc. Children were taught stories from Srimad Bhagavatam. They also put up a drama on Akshaypatra story from Mahabharata.”

During the parenting seminar organized as part of the camp, Sundar Shyam Das

elaborated on the nine processes of devotional service. He stressed that of all facilities and care offered by parents to children, training children in the science of devotion was most important. “Children will acquire life skills and degrees from so many institutes, however you have to imbibe upon their young minds responsible behaviour and devotional attitude in life by your own example and practice. This will go a long way in developing a healthy character and pure mind, which are essential qualities of a successful person,” remarked Sundar Shyam Das.

Another team of devotees conducted the summer camp in Pimple Saudagar suburb. “We taught how nature is created and controlled by God. Lord Krishna says in the Gita, mayadhyaksena prakrtih suyate sa-caracaram [BG 9.10] Thus respecting and loving God includes respecting His creation including plants, animals, and even the non-living rivers and mountains,” explained Amit Chauhan, who helped organize the camp.

The Travelling Sankirtan Group

Budding Explorers’ Summer Camp - Highlights

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4, Tarapore Rd, Next to Dastur Boys School, Camp, Pune | Phone: 020-41033210 / 22 Mobile: 9225545984 | Email: nvcc@iskconpune.in | www.iskconpune.in

International Society for Krishna ConsciousnessFounder Acharya : His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

“ISKCON PUNE TODAY” monthly magazine is printed and published by Radheshyam Das for the owner ISKCON-Pune Br. Printed at Yashraj Printers, 5 - Gulmohar Manor, Nagar Road, Pune 6 & Published at 4, Tarapore Road, Camp, Pune 411001. Editor - Mr. Kiran Shinde

New Temple Address: ISKCON NVCC, S. No. 50, Katraj Kondhwa bypass, Pune - 411048, M: 9225545984

iskcon pune todayRNI Res.No.72522/2000PCE/043/2015-17 Published on 2nd June 2015

From:Editor,ISKCON PUNE TODAY4, TARAPORE ROAD, CAMP, PUNE - 411001 (MS)Phone: 020-41033222, 41033234

Registered NewspaperISKCON PUNE TODAYPosted at GPO, PuneOn 5th, 6th & 7th of every monthTo,

I am happy to share that our family has been interested in contributing towards social welfare since generations. In fact to serve society is in our blood. Multiple CSR activities are part of our business.

However, as we began learning about the goal and purpose of human life, we realized the importance of spirituality as an essential part of each one’s life. We realized we should be instruments in helping others discover their spiritual goal and attain self-realization. The aspect of spirituality can better this life and next.

During our spiritual journey, we met sevaks and devoted members of ISKCON society. And I understood how important is the work ISKCON has been doing from last so many years. Krishna consciousness is natural and within each of us and it can transform our lives. Our interaction with Shri Anant Balaram Das was a transforming experience. His unconditional, selfless behaviour gave us the feeling that we should be a part of this movement.

Our business commitments allow us only limited time and association with the devotees. When we see people who are offering their complete life - 100% - for this purpose, we feel if we can contribute a little bit from our side, this seva will definitely give great satisfaction and bless us with Prabhukripa of Lord

Krishna. And that is how we began this contribution from our side.

I am amazed to see the expansion of Pune temple and the spiritual impact it is having in the lives of so many. We desire to see Puneites, rather all people to get the benefit of Prabhudarshan and visit temple. And this will happen only if more and more brahmacharis and sevaks continue this mission. Our contribution is but a drop in this ocean. Thank you.

---Mr. Vishal Chordia, Director, Suhana: Pravin Masalewale

(Mr. Vishal Chordia sponsors the annual total expenditure for 5 brahmacharis)

Sadhu (Brahmachari) Sevak for the month of June 2015