iskcon pune today

Dear Devotees,

Hare Krishna. The month of Karthik (November) is dear to Srimati Radharani and the month of Margashirsh (December) is dear to Sri Krishna. Thus Krishna performs plenty of His loving pastimes, lilas in the Karthik month to show His reciprocation to Radharani's devotion. Diwali is 'Deepa awali' rows of lamps kept in the sides of streets to welcome Lord Rama back to Ayodhya, when He returns victoriously after defeating Ravana. We also celebrate 'Deepotsava' lighting up homes and temples with hundreds and thousands of lamps offered in love to Lord Krishna called as Damodar, whose belly though containing the whole universe, was bound with an effulgent rope by the love of mother Yashoda. Krishna accepts unlimited offerings from His devotees as Giriraj and later lifts Giriraj Govardhan like an umbrella and offers protection to all the vrajabasis from the rain of wrath poured by Indra, subduing Indra's pride, delighting the hearts and souls of all vrajabasis without any discrimination -- cowherdmen and ladies, cowherd boys and girls, cows and calves -- for seven full days and nights! Every one of the pastimes of Sri Krishna offers pleasing experience to mind, enlightening lessons to intelligence and purification cum nourishment to our souls. Auspicious months like this month are times of unlimited

Newsletter Vol 10 / Issue: 6 (Monthly) / November 2012 / Price: ` 1/-

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare | Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare ||

shower of mercy of Lord and His Supreme devotee, Srimati Radharani. By increasing the quantity and quality of chanting of the holy names of Krishna, by offering the lamplight of our love to the delighter of our hearts, manohar Krishna, by taking out time to read, hear, relish and speak to others the divine pastimes of stealer of hearts, Citta-hari, Sri Krishna will steal away our sinful reactions, steal away our hearts, purify them and spiritualise them. The result of becoming Krishna conscious is that we rise above tension and stress when our hearts are satisfied and become free from hankering for material enjoyment. Every year, I consider these two months special for me -- NOVEMBER month for taking in KC through yatra, vaisnava sanga and celebrating festivals; and DECEMBER month for Krishna Seva by taking up Srila Prabhupada Book Marathon very seriously and reaching out hundreds and thousands of spiritual literature to suffering souls by performing paropakara, the greatest welfare activity. Thus one month for 'janma sarthaka kori' and another month for 'paropakara'. My request to all the devotees of our congregation, Youth VOICE and Brahmacaris to keep this in mind and take advantage of these two golden months of the year to make the most Krishna conscious advancement now. Thank you. Hare Krishna.

Yours in service of Lord Sri KrishnaRadheshyam Das, M.Tech IIT Powai

Temple President

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From the President 's Desk

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Festivals

Dussehra: Victory of Good over Evil

indebted by the love of Gopis that He is not able to repay for the love of Gopis. This is the position of the most selfless devotees of the Lord, which can never be imitated on the mundane and material platform. Thus supreme Lord Krishna comes as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to exhibit the same mellow of Rasa-lila in the form of sankirtana yajna.

- Sripad Mahaprabhu Das (M Tech, NIT Warangal)

Sharad Purnima is the day when that Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna reciprocated with the selfless love of Gopis. That is Rasalila – the perfection of the perfected liberated souls’ love for God. Krishna standing under a Vamsi-vat tree played the most enchanting flute and attracted the hearts of his pure, selfless devotees. It is said that, Lord is

Sharad Purnima

As Satya yuga is the best of yugas, as the Vedas are the best of scriptures, as Ganga is the best of rivers, so Kartika is the best of months, the most dear to Krsna.In the month of Kartika, one should visit the temple daily for worshipping Lord Damodara (Krishna tied to grinding mortar) and sing the Damodarstakam for the glorification of Krishna and thus one can become very dear to Krishna. One should also offer a ghee lamp to the Lord daily.Householders can create the same festive

atmosphere in their homes and offices and provide an opportunity for their family members and colleagues to experience this great culture of devotion for getting unlimited happiness and blessings of Lord Krishna.Five activities are glorified: chanting the Holy names of the Lord, early morning bath, worship of Tulasi, offering lamps and performing austerities. One can also increase one’s devotional service by performing deity worship, giving charity, practicing bramacharya and visiting holy tirthas.- Ramsevak Das (M. Tech. IIT Khg)

evam ksipan dhanusi sandhitam utsasarjabānam sa vajram iva tad-dhrdayam bibheda

so 'srg vaman daśa-mukhair nyapatad vimānāddhāheti jalpati jane sukrtīva riktah - Srimad Bhagvatam 9.10.23

After thus rebuking Rāvana, Lord Rāmacandra fixed an arrow to His bow, aimed at Rāvana, and released the arrow, which pierced Rāvana's heart like a thunderbolt. Upon seeing this, Rāvana's followers raised a tumultuous sound, crying, "Alas! Alas! What has happened? What has happened?" as Rāvana, vomiting blood from his ten mouths, fell from his airplane, just as a pious man falls to earth from the heavenly planets when the results of his pious activities are exhausted.

Glories of Kartik Month

guest visits

HG Sankarshan Das Adhikari Prabhuji

HH Loknath Swami Maharaj

HH BB Bhagvat Swami Maharaj

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“HARINAM SANKIRTANA” was started in early 1970s in America by Srila Prabhupada, but now it’s a regular affair all over the world including India. This Harinam sankirtana is an amazing experience where you can see people of variety of backgrounds, young, old, children, men, women, rich, poor, Indians, westerners etc …. All coming together & chanting the Holy names of Lord Krsna as “Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare. This is such a pleasurable experience not only for the performers but even for the observers ! Believe me, none can resist smiling, glancing at & even shaking their bodies upon seeing the devotees dancing & singing, because it’s the natural propensity of the soul to glorify God by dancing & chanting his Holy names. Along with Harinam Sankirtana many devotees distribute spiritual literatures like Bhagavad Gita & many other books of ISKCON. Some devotees distribute Prasad (sanctified

World Holy Name Festival 2012 (28th Sept – 7th Oct, 2012)

He is known for his ready sense of humor and appeals to everyone whether it is youth, children, adults or old people, as Radheshyam Prabhu, ISKCON Pune’s temple president, puts it. I for myself have never heard such sublime humor anywhere else before I came to ISKCON. This, I am talking about HG Gaurang das, well-known devotee, preacher & member of Predential Council from Chowpatty ISKCON temple, Mumbai. And as for my parents who sometimes visit Pune, they never generally agree to come for lectures without much persuasion, but when it comes to Gauranga Prabhu’s program, they are ready one hour before and reach before me.

A Memorable Sunday on 7th oct at Nehru Memorial Hall

This time too devotees and well-wishers had all gathered from all over Pune on Sunday evening to a full house at Nehru Memorial Hall. This get together was arranged by ISKCON Pune for NVCC Sevaks (NVCC Sevaks are helping in the Construction, Inauguration and Maintenance of New Vedic Cultural Centre at Pune). The topic of the lecture was, “The First Partner”, Bali Maharaj’s surrender to Lord Vamanadev. He spoke, if Lord is made our first object and offer our love and devotion, in return we will get in million folds. Towards the end he related an incident from his own life that greatly strengthened my conviction that Lord Krsna takes full care of devotees who dedicate their lives for His mission. He related how his father and mother became wonderful devotees by the miraculos mercy of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath. He ended the lecture by stressing that Krsna never fails His devotees. With this parting thought and carrying deep impressions in our minds we all left for our homes discussing and meditating on all that he said. - M. P. Seema, Manager TATA Motors

Wonder on the Streets - DANCE WHILE YOU CAN

events

/spiritualized lacto vegetarian food) to anyone & everyone in the vicinity of sankirtana.

- Amol Pawar (BE, Comp)

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

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

Registered NewspaperISKCON PUNE TODAYPosted at GPO, PuneOn.................................................To,

4, Tarapore Rd, Next to Dastur Boys School, Camp, Pune | Phone: 020-41033217 / 18 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

Srila Prabhupada translated ‘bhakti’ not just as “devotion” but as “devotional service”. Bhakti is a matter of heart but what is in the heart is expressed in one’s words and one’s actions and in one’s very life. When a mother loves her child, she serves the child by cooking a delicacy for him. Similarly, we should express our love for Krishna by serving him by engaging our talents and resources, our intelligence and our energy. The Community Building at the upcoming NVCC at Katraj – Kondhwa is specifically aimed at providing a platform for devotees to come together and realize this fact.Located exactly in front of Sri sri Radha Vrindavanchandra Temple is the four – storeyed Community

New Vedic Cultural Centre, PuneSpiritual, Cultural, Educational and Architectural Landmark of Pune

building which will be the hub of all activities of NVCC. The ground floor comprises of kitchen having state-of-the-art facilities and covers an area of 4000 sq feet. A section of the ground floor and the entire 1st floor is dedicated to Prasadam Hall where 2000 devotees can honour Prasadam at a time. The 2nd floor houses 10 seminar Halls for Congregation and Corporate Voice, which will facilitate meetings, seminars and get together functions. Catering to the needs of the burgeoning youth preaching of Boys Voice, the 4th floor of the community building will have 4 large Seminar Halls dedicated for lectures, dramas and presentations. By the inspiration of our

GBC, HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja, HG Shuddha Nitai Chandra Pr and his team comprising of Rukmininath Pr, Sahasranetra Pr, Atul Gauranga Pr, Medhankar Pr and Nilesh Agarwal Pr have shouldered the

responsibility of erecting this community building. With his previous experience of handling Kitchen in Temple Shuddha Nitai Chandra Pr is leading from the front by personally overseeing the entire construction.

The Community Building Proposed community building

Upcoming community building