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Sri Sri Radha RasabiharijiTEMPLEMONTHLY

Founder - acharya of the international society for krishna consciousness

January, 2012 newsletter of iskcon - juhu,Mumbai Vol. 2 Issue 1

Dedicated to his divine grace a.c. bhaktivedanta swami srila prabhupada

“Well, our every day is a New Year. Nava-navayauvana. Our

Krsna consciousness is so nice, the more you advance, you see new year, new year. That’s all. Nothing is old.”

Srila Prabhupada(Morning walk, Los Angeles,

1974)

From the publisher’s desk:We would like to wish all our readers a very happy Krishna Conscious New Year! This year begins on a euphoric note following last month’s fervent and successful book distribution. We hope the mood will sustain in this year and all of us will make progress in our spiritual lives. Krishna Consciousness is a life of festivities, so we start the New Year with another festival, Makara Sankranti, which marks the arrival of the Sun-god in the Northern Hemisphere. The period is referred to as Uttarayan Punyakalam and is one of the most auspicious moments. It is said in the Vedic literature that the doors of heaven are opened on this day. Symbolically, the Sun removes darkness and ushers in the light of knowledge. The day is also auspicious for giving food in charity, which is the topmost of all charities mentioned in the Shastra. This day also holds special significance for the devotees at ISKCON Juhu. It is on this day in the year 1978 that the follower, supporters and well wishers of Srila Prabhupada inaugurated the Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari temple, a much cherished dream of Srila Prabhupada. A Maha-abhishek of all the Deities and public distribution of Krishna prasada will mark the anniversary celebrations of Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari on Makar Sankranti day. The scriptures state that among all forms of charity, charity of food (Anna Daan) is the topmost and one who distributes prasada or helps in its distribution gets unlimited spiritual benefit. On the auspicious occasion of Makara Sankranti which will fall on 15 January this year, the temple is planning to distribute about 1,10,000 plates of Prasada comprising of rice, dal, sabji, pickle and halwa in schools, orphanages, slums, hospitals and social institution across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. This is an opportunity for all of you to reap the benefits of this auspicious occasion. Participate in Anna Daan Seva and be blessed. Hare Krishna.

•Jagannath Rath Yatra - 06 Jan - Darshan of Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladev & Subhadra at 4:30 p.m. followed by Kirtan & lecture on Lord Jagannath pastimes at the temple.

07 Jan - Bhoga offering cooked by congregational devotees to Lord Jagannath at 12 noon; Chappan Bhoga Darshan Arati at 04:30 p.m. followed by kirtan & glorification of Lord Jagannath

8 Jan - Inaugural session & Rajbhoga arati to Their Lordships between 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon; Their Lordships mount the chariots at 12 noon; Arati on chariots at 12:30 p.m. followed by the start of Rath Yatra, Arrival at Lokhandwala Gardens at 07:00 p.m.; Sandhya Arati at 07:30 p.m.; discourses on Lord Jagannath by senior sannyasis & disciples of Srila Prabhupada; Prasada for all at Lokhandwala gardens.

•Makara Sankranti: Anniversary of Sri Sri Radha Rasabihariji Temple - 15 Jan; Prasada distribution - all morning; Dhwajarohana at 04:00p.m.; Maha- abhishek of all Deities at 06:00 p.m. followed by Prasada

Jan 2012Upcoming Events

Sanskrit Word of the Month:Ahankara : - false ego, by which the soul misidentifies with the material body

Devotees reach out to Mumbaikars: Widely distribute the Bhagavad-gita As It IsBook distributor at the temple were seen enthusiastically selling the Bhagavad-gita As It Is and other Prabhupada books to the visitors in the temple premises as well as all over the city. They were at various train stations, bus s t a t i o n s , t r a f fi c s i g n a l s , educational institutions, offices distributing books. Many devotees carried books with them wherever they went so as not to miss a chance to reach out to people. There was a nice atmosphere of competition wherein everyone wanted to please the Lord by doing maximum service. This marathon is considered by many to be a chance to intimately serve the Lord by spreading His message to one and all!

Devotees at the book stall in the temple urging visitors to take a book.

Devotees at the Ghatkopar railway station distributing the Bhagavad-gita to

thousands!

The book stall managed by Ladies sold hundreds of the Bhagavad-gita!

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2Vaisnava Calendar: January, 2012

05 Thursday• Fasting for Putrada Ekadasi

06 Friday• Break fast - 07:13 am - 10:34 am• Srila Jagadisa Pandit appearance

09 Monday• Sri Krishna Pusya Abhishek

14 Saturday• Srila Ramacandra Kaviraja

disappearance • Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami

appearance

15 Sunday• Srila Jayadeva Goswami

disappearance• Srila Locana Das Thakur

disappearance• Makara Sankranti (Sun enters

Capricorn)• Sri Ganga Sagara Mela

19 Thursday• Fasting for Sat-tila Ekadasi

20 Friday• Break fast - 07:14 am - 10:58 am

28 Saturday• Vasanta Pancami• Appearance of Srimati Visnupriya

devi, Srila Pundarika Vidyanidhi, Srila Raghunandana Thakur, Srila Raghunatha Das Goswami

• Sri Saraswati Puja• Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur

disappearance

30 Monday• Srila Advaita Acarya appearance -

fasting till noon

31 Tuesday• Bhismastami

From the office of ISKCON Communications (Sri Sri Radha Rasabihariji Temple ) For feedback write to us at: SSRRmonthly@gmail.com

Other Events:

ISKCON Juhu,Hare Krishna Land,

Juhu, Mumbai- 400049For more news & live darshan log on

to:www.iskconmumbai.com

Friends and devotees, young and old came together to usher in the New Year on 31 December at the Hare Krishna Land in a unique way. They enjoyed participating in games, which were played with a spiritual twist and took away loads of prizes! They especially enjoyed ‘Q-uosie’- a transcendental home game cum quiz. There was a fusion dance performance and a Skit which entertained the guests immensely. To prepare for the approaching year, there was an inspirational lecture which drew appreciation from all those gathered. Another highlight of the evening was the special dinner prasada treat. Later, the crowd rocked away till midnight with the ‘Go-pals beat group’, who performed ecstatic kirtan and all those assembled, danced and chanted the Lord’s Holy names. Everyone prayed for a good new year and wished each other a Happy Krishna Conscious New Year!

New Year Welcomed on a High Spiritual Note!

Address:

Srimad Bhagvatam Lecture

LIVE on www.iskconmumbai.com

8am - 9am Daily

Sri Krishna & YouRath Yatra of Lord JagannathLord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra is traditionally celebrated in the

city of Puri in remembrance of the pastime between Krishna and the residents of Vrindavan. The Gopis upon seeing Krishna in Kurukshetra pulled the ropes of His chariot wanting to take Him back to Vrindavan. Lord Jagannath’s Rath Yatra is the much awaited festival for the devotees of the Lord.

Normally one has to go to the temple to receive Lord’s blessings but on the Rath Yatra day the Lord is in such a benevolent mood that He comes out of the temple and distributes his blessings to one and all irrespective of the a person’s qualification. Also, to serve the Deity one has to have so many qualifications, follow strict rules and regulations but just by participating in the Rath Yatra, pulling the rope of the Chariot (Rath), singing and dancing in front of the Deity one can render personal devotional service to the Lord and receive immense mercy and also be purified of all sinful reaction.Lord Jagannath along with His elder brother Lord Balarama and younger sister Subhadra Devi will ride on Their chariots on 08 January 2012 from ISKCON Juhu at 12 noon to distribute Their mercy to the devotees, believers and general public in the Western suburb. We request you all to come and participate in the festival and receive the Lord’s blessings to enrich your life.(For detailed program of the Rath Yatra festival, please log on to www.iskconmumbai.com)

On 05 December, the devotees at the temple received a surprise visitor, Cintamani Devi Dasi. A senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada, she served Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari in the year 1974 - 75 cooking Rajabhoga offering and performing the noon arati. This was her first visit to ISKCON Juhu after she left in 1975. She

recollected many events from during her stay at the temple in relation to Srila Prabhupada and the Deities. She was overwhelmed to see the magnificent marble temple of Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari drawing hundreds of visitors to take darshan of the Lord in Their full glory. She recollected the times she spent here in the simple hut structure and remarked how pleased she was to see the beautiful temple of the Lord.

News at a Glance:

Bhakti Lata - Youth Forum for Girls turned three on 26 November and celebrated the occasion by having an entertaining evening of kirtan, a small play conveying the message of lifting the ‘anchor’ off materialistic life in order to make spiritual progress and a Fusion rap performed wonderfully by the talented girls of the forum. It was followed by a game and some delicious dinner prasada. Apart for the families, friends and other invitees, temple devotees also participated in the program to encourage the girls by their presence and short talks on spiritual culture. Everyone present expressed their best wishes for the Bhakti Lata forum and appreciated their talent and efforts to make a beautiful celebration for the pleasure of guests, devotees, Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari.

Bhakti Lata celebrates its 3rd Anniversary

Chant: HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE

HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE

&Be Happy!

A Special Visitor to ISKCON Juhu - Cintamani Devi Dasi

A Victory for the Peaceful Protestors - signature campaign against the proposed ban on the Bhagavad-gita As It Is in Russia bears fruit!Thousands of supporters, well wishers and devotees at ISKCON Juhu, who had come together to voice their objection against the proposed ban on this most sacred text by signing on the petition were overjoyed when the news of

the case being dismissed by the Tomsk court in Russia reached them on 28 December. Further, the Russian Ambassador to India, Alexander M Kadakin, personally invited Bhakti Vijnana Swami, GBC for ISKCON Russia on

occasion of unveiling a bust of Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, at Nehru Science Center. Mr. Kadakin expressed his solidarity by reciting a verse from Bhagavad-gita and explained how it glorified pioneers like Gagarin.

Go-pals performing ecstatic Kirtan!

An early disciple of Srila Prabhupada, an exceptional cook and a gifted singer, Yamuna Devi Dasi, passed away on the auspicious morning of Saphala ekadasi. She is mainly known as the voice behind the ‘Govindam’ prayer that is played in every ISKCON centre during the Darshan arati. Not many know that s h e w a s a brilliant cook and an e n d e a r i n g p e r s o n a l i t y w h o inspired and encouraged people in K r i s h n a Consciousness.During her last visit to the Juhu temple she remarked being quite satisfied w i t h t h e programs for the youth and appreciated the y o u n g d e v o t e e s a n d m e m b e r s f o r t h e i r dedication and devotion.Her passing away has left a big void in the Hare Krishna community. A memorial service was held in the temple in her honor where some of the senior devotees who had been associated with Yamuna Devi Dasi, shared their thoughts and memories of her. Though feeling sad at her departure, they were glad that she is now reunited with the Lord.She will be remembered every time we hear the ‘Govindam’ prayer!

In Remembrance - Yamuna Devi Dasi

Fun at the games!Devotees performing skit!