ISKCON Pune Today (IPT) inter-viewed the team behind the popular drama "Oh My God, Returns" (OMGR) that is winning praise from the audience and critics alike.

IPT: What is the theme of this drama? OMGR: Oh My God, Returns is a sequel to the movie Oh My God. �e story begins with Kanjibhai facing another major setback in life and this time he appeals to remove Dharma from the Indian constitution itself, and ban all religious activity in the country. �is appeal creates tension all over, with the Court about to pronounce its verdict in Kanjibhai's favour. What unfolds is a series of events leaving the Court spellbound, with Kanjibhai realizing the fallacy of being anti-ritual and anti-Godman. His faith and conviction renewed, Kanjibhai appreciates the practice of Dharma and understands who is a real follower of Dharma and God.

IPT: What philosophical and cultural challenges do you address in the drama?OMGR: �e drama addresses philosophi-cal doubts pertaining to murti pooja (deity worship), correct understanding of "Act of God", offering hair to Lord Balaji, fact behind rituals like offering milk on Shivlinga, differentiating between real and pseudo gurus and the Shastric injunction of accepting Guru for spiritual progress. �e high point of the presenta-tion is that we are able to effectively eradicate misunderstanding caused by a narrow view of our spiritual culture and practices, using the powerful medium of the theatre.

IPT: What is your message to your audience?

OMGR: Indians are being bombarded by the materialistic anti-God and anti-Godmen propaganda that is consciously or unconsciously compelling everyone in society - and in particular the youth - to devalue its own rich culture and tradition. We wish to educate and enlighten the masses that spiritual science is a science like any other. Our nation is culturally potent and philosophically equipped with its own scientific and logical base that if explained systemati-cally, can bring about a spiritual revolu-tion in the hearts of the confused. �e message of the Gita and Bhagavat, when understood from the right source and practiced sincerely, can bestow complete happiness and perfection.

IPT: What inspired you to take up this drama?OMGR: HG Radheshyam Das, our temple president, was keen on having a movie that refutes controversies on spiritual practices and wisdom, created by the movie Oh My God. Inspired by this vision, we took the first step of conceiving a drama that would have the three E's - Entertainment, Education and Enlight-enment.

IPT: Who is part of your team? OMGR: Our core team consists of around 10 young working professionals and businessmen, all below the age group of 30. �eir inspiration is to present devotional and philosophical themes in a down-to-earth manner that can be appreciated and relished by masses. We have chosen the medium of theatre to present our ideas. �e drama was mainly scripted and directed by Sundar Kanai Das, who is a lawyer and practices in the Pune district court, Suvarna Gaurang Das who obtained his Bachelor's degree in engineering and heads Vrindavan

Realtors, and Radha Vrindavanchandra Das, an engineer who oversees sales for Aster Building Solutions.

IPT: What are your plans for this drama performances?OMGR: We want to reach out to each and every Indian through this presentation. We would love to perform for any major public gathering. A high quality video shooting is done and DVDs will be released shortly all over the country. For the global launch, a website is under development.

IPT: What other dramas has your group performed?OMGR: In the last twelve years, our team has performed over seventy professional-quality dramas on various devotional and cultural practical themes in many cities in India. We also have a rich experience of directing 2 Maha-Natyas (megadrama), one on Saint Tukaram, Jau Devachiya Gava, and another on the Vedic sage Vishwamitra, From Pearls To Beads.

IPT: What is the next big thing you are planning?OMGR: Our upcoming major project is a fascinating rendition of the divine, mystical and grand appearance of Sri Balaji. �is Maha Natya will showcase a 100 feet 3-level stage, 200 artists, 50 dancers, 8 melodious songs, live horses and elephants, blended with the latest technology for controlling light, sound and action. We are grateful for the encour-agement and support from corporates Sigma One Constructions and the Mittal Group.

To book your DVD or support the OMGR team, kindly contact 9370722221 / 9881877772.

iskcon pune todayNewsletter Vol 11 / Issue: 11 (Monthly) / November 2013 / Price: ` 1/-

ISKCON Pune Today | November 2013

We are living in an age where pious parents sticking to tradition of worshiping God regularly and living a God-centered life of principles and practices are worried about their children’s disinterest in religious life. �e children argue against God, scriptures, need of morals, values and a religious lifestyle. On the other hand, children and youth are easily swayed by wanton life of eat, drink and be merry. Parents only wait and hope to see their children returning to the right path some day. In the meantime it would be worthwhile for the parents to learn to discover the true understanding of God and

Just as India has Indian Penal codes that are laid down for all Indians to follow, similarly God’s laws are given in the scriptures that teach us right and wrong behavior. Modern man, considering himself all in all and ignoring or disobeying laws of God and Nature, is inviting more and more sufferings in this world. �e reform is to give up selfish, exploitative, enjoying, grabbing approach and to adopt the selfless, extending, serving, giving approach to life. We should hear from the manual of God – Bhagavad gita – to know how we can re-harmonize our lives according to His will which will make humanity happy now and forever.

Yours in the service of Sri Sri Radha Vrindavanchandra,Radheshyam das

the spirit behind performing rituals that will help them present the necessity for a pure, God-centered lifestyle to their children effectively than to make them consider religion as an imposition.

Just like when you pass through a house, sometimes you can observe that the house is not properly taken care of, or if there is no lighting at the entrance, or unattended garbage, we immediately say, “Oh, there is no person in this house.” And as soon as you see the house is very nicely kept, there is lighting, the garden is blooming, we understand there

is a person. �is is common sense. If everything is going on so nicely, how can we say there is no management, there is no brain? Similarly, we see the world that we live in. �e Sun is rising and giving heat and light for our survival and sight, seasons are changing, rains are showering, cooling moonshine gives six types of juices to fruits, grains, vegetables and medicinal power to herbs offering us healthy food and drinks etc. When everything in this world is so nicely organized for providing us abundantly, is it not obvious that the owner of this cosmic machine is orchestrating everything to happen around us,

although we do none of the above things by our endeavour? God is like the invisible thread that keeps pearls of a necklace together. People busily preoccupied in their own little world of business and career have turned their back to Him, blind to God’s glory and greatness.

�e table shows the Universal Government of God functions in a way similar to any country’s government functions ruled by a Prime Minister. �e presence of God in this universe becomes self-evident simply by drawing this comparison:

Page 2 ISKCON PUNE TODAY / November2013

GOVERNMENT OF ANY COUNTRY UNIVERSAL GOVERNMENT

1 Home Ministry (Law and order) Law of Karma : For every action, there is an opposite reaction. Illicit sex – AIDS, Smoking-Cancer Drinking-Liver problem, Tobacco-bronchitis2 Supplying medicines for diseases Ayurvedic herbs3 Domestic water needs supply by Municipality Rains4 Ministry of Social Welfare (Supply of food grains, Air, water, grains – all supplied through mother nature; vegetable, milk for the physical well being) How can Nature(mother) produce without God (father) giving her the seed?5 Ministry of Energy (Electricity and Lighting) Sun and moon6 Finance Ministry (Currency or wealth) Gold, silver, nava ratnas, diamonds etc7 Health Ministry (Hygiene and sanitation) Sun and rain keep cleanliness8 Defense Ministry (Protection from dangers) Ozonosphere protects living beings on earth, self defense immunity system9 Education Ministry (Education for citizens) Vedas, Bible, Quran10 Reward for best citizens Benefits of Yoga, Meditation etc who follow God’s laws and scriptures11 Prime Minister, who controls the country with all the God, who controls the Universe with all incharges of above dept Ministers reporting to him. above departments, playing a subordinate role to Him.

From the President’s Desk: A Special 6-article seriesWhat Holds the Pearls in a Necklace?

ISKCON NVCC Graced by senior ISKCON leadersISKCON Pune Today | November 2013

�roughout the month of October, devotees in Pune were blessed by the association of senior ISKCON leaders and sannyasis. Kanai Krishna Das reports excerpts from seminars conducted in NVCC.

"Duties before Rights"His Holiness Bhakti Rasamrita Swami Maharaj recently graced NVCC. Maharaj spoke from the third canto of Srimad Bhagavatam on the pastimes of the great sage Kardama and his chaste wife Devahuti.

Explaining the responsibilities of an ideal leader, Maharaj said that a cultured person thinks of his duties first and only then about his rights. Only one who is doing his duty properly is eligible to enjoy his rights. He stressed on the point that without joy, responsibility won't last and without responsibility, joy won’t last. He quoted five different responses of Srila Prabhupada to the question, ‘Who is a leader?’ and summarized by saying that a leader is always immersed in freeing his dependents from all worries so that they can practice God consciousness peacefully.

Elaborating on the responsibilities of an ideal follower, he said that in this world, no one can be independent, so everyone should accept some authority. Even the Supreme Lord feels Himself dependent on His devotees. He said that the responsibility of a follower is that he should understand the nature of his authority and accordingly serve him, just as Devahuti did for Kardama. Speaking about grihastha ashrama, he quipped, “Bhavana means house. ‘Bha’ stands for

Page 3ISKCON PUNE TODAY / November2013

Bhagavan, so if you remove ‘Bha’ from ‘Bhavana’, what remains is ‘vana’ i.e. forest, filled with dangerous, two legged animals!”

In a scintillating session on building a vibrant spiritual community, he explained that there are three pillars of a Vaishnava community, namely hearing and chanting, relationships and devotee care, and missionary activities.

"The Sweetness of Govardhan Lila"His Holiness Radha Govind Swami Maharaj is famous for his sweet narration of Krishna Lila and Srimad Bhagavat Katha. In NVCC, Maharaj showered the nectar of Krishna katha on the devotees by discussing Govardhan lila for three long sessions. He remarked that the heart of any festival is prasadam, and explained Krishna’s instructions to the Vrajabasis about what items and how they should cook for the Govardhan Puja festival. With a keen insight into every act of Krishna, he explained how Krishna dispels the pride of his devotee and thus saves the devotee.

His presentations were filled with verses from Bhagavatam, tips from traditional Indian culture and wisdom and quotes from commentaries of previous Vaishnava acharyas such as the Goswamis, Vishwanath Chakravarti �akur and other stalwarts.

In an enlivening presentation, he explained the feelings of Vrajabasis towards Krishna and His display of amazing pastimes. All the devotees were enthralled to see Maharaj’s enthusiasm for speaking Krishna katha, inspite of his severe health problems.

Responding to a question on whether it is necessary to chant japa on beads, he said, "We carry so many things in our pockets; it is not difficult to also carry a mala. �e Goswamis always chanted on beads. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu also chanted on beads, that we understand from the Chaitanya Charitamrita. Srila Prabhupada always chanted on beads, that we have seen ourselves."

"Srimad Bhagavat is the Higest Truth of Vedas"HH Bhanu Swami Maharaj recently graced NVCC. Maharaj is a sanskrit scholar and one of his major services is translation and commentary on the sacred books of the Goswamis and previous acharyas.

Speaking with great wisdom and scholarship from various shastras, Maharaj explained in the Bhagavat class about Lord Krishna's various potencies and their inconceivable nature. In a session titled ‘Easy journey to other planets’, he explained with a graphical presentation how the eternal soul, on giving up the temporary body, is transferred to the next destination after death, based upon one’s practice and knowledge.

He systematically delineated how Srimad Bhagavatam is the highest truth of Vedas and how it offers the highest practice and destination, namely the Bhagavat dharma and Golok Vrindavan. He answered numerous intellectual and technical questions on the scriptures in every class, satisfying the audience with his brief yet illuminating answers. He also presented sessions at various VOICE centers and answered many questions of students.

iskcon pune todayRNI Res. No. 72522/2000 No. L/RNP/PNCE/M-136/2012-2014

From:Editor,

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

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