August 2011 ISKCON-London Community Newsletter

News from ISKCON-London’s Radha Krishna Temple The August Edition 2011

August Highlights • Balaram Jayanti • Janmastami • Appearance Day of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada • Croome Court Festival • Maha Counsellor/Counselle Picnic • Youth Preaching Report • Book Distribution • 40th Anniversary DVD Now Available • Chakram • Outreach • Govinda’s Restaurant

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Hare Rama Hare Rama Krishna Krishna Rama Rama Hare Hare Hare Hare

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Balaram Jayanti The appearance day of Lord Balaram fell on August 13th. The day was packed with festivities.

There were classes by Tribhangananda dasa and Ramanuja dasa, lively kirtans throughout the day, harinam, a feast and of course, not to forget Lord Balarams favourite, Varuni.

The singing and dancing went on late into the night as devotees celebrated the appearance of Lord Balaram with great energy and love.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

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Janmastami The days leading up to Janmastami were filled with anticipation as devotees eagerly awaited the occasion of the appearance of The Supreme Personality of Godhead – Krishna.

The evening before the big event an adivas ceremony was held to invoke auspiciousness. The next morning, with the temple room decorated brilliantly, devotees felt like they were in a forest of Vrindavan.

Their Lordships were offered a magnificently beautiful new outfit. The temple was a hive of activity including kirtans, stalls with henna and gopi dots, flower arrangements which could be offered to the deities and a stall to promote Ahimsa milk.

The festivities continued throughout the day and as it got the closure to midnight the crowds grew and grew. As thousands waited for midnight darshan the queue run out the building and up to Oxford Street. With the kirtan roaring volunteers did a fantastic job ushering so that everyone had the opportunity to take darshan of Sri Sri Radha Londonisvara.

As always, devotees ecstatically sang and danced until the next morning, which happened to be another special day.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

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Appearance Day of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Although Janmastami was a full day of jubilation and bliss, the fun didn’t stop there.

The very next day another auspicious occasion took place. A grand festival to celebrate the appearance of our most beloved founder acarya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. We were very blessed to have the association of Malati devi dasi and Ranchor dasa, both disciples of Srila Prabhupada.

Devotees filled the temple room to express their gratitude and appreciation to Srila Prabhupada for so mercifully giving us the gift of Krishna consciousness.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

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Croome Court Festival On Saturday 27th to Sunday 28th August the National Trust opened their doors to the Hare Krishna devotees for a two day open event for the public. ISKCON UK used to own Croome Court and all the adjoining land in 1979 to 1984 and the National Trust are looking to bring back all organisations who have previously owned the property in celebration of this lovely estate.

The event was a huge success as devotees from all the various regions came together such as ISKCON-London, Crawley yatra, Bhaktivedanta Manor, ISKCON Manchester, ISKCON Birmingham, the Festivals Team and Food for All in Kings Cross.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

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We were permitted to put up enlarged BTG articles in one of the main rooms in the building for preaching purposes as well as having stalls around the grounds selling prasadam, clothing, jewellery, music and so forth. A large tent was erected for kirtans and a drama which was wonderfully enacted by devotees from various Temples all coming together.

The approximate number of guests who came were over 1,000 on both days and the organisers have already booked us in for next year as they deemed it such a success.

Maha Counsellor/ Counselle Picnic On the 29th of August we held a Maha Counsellor/Counsellee picnic at Regents Park.

This consisted of games, kirtans, dancing, laughter and of course prasadam !

These events are held twice a year - one outdoor event and one in door event - in a mood of bringing together all members of the Spiritual

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Counsellor System to interact together, make friends, create a family spirit and above all be happy.

Each group had to present an item on the day.

We had an appreciation session, a transcendental quiz, a drama on the glories of Facebook, and a pinata where a bucket of maha sweets was tied on a robe between two trees and we all had to take it in turns to knock it down with a stick ... while blind folded.

The prasadam was made by various counsellees and the day ended with an ecstatic kirtan.

Suki Talwar who is the outreach officer for Croome said: “The festival is all about celebrating the time that they were here as well as the movement itself - it’s an important part of Croome’s history.’

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

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Youth Preaching Report August 2011

Who is Krishna?

Lila Kirtan

In honour of Janmastami, this month also dedicated one session to Lord Krishna.

Appreciating Srila Prabhupada

This event included a philosophical discourse on Godhead as a PERSON, and moreover what qualities such a Supreme Person would embody.

The increasing popularity of the lila kirtan events encouraged us to host another session this month, which was one of the most successful lila kirtan sessions yet, concluding with the guests ecstatically dancing and singing late into the evening.

In honour of Srila Prabhupada’s Appearance Day, this month the KC Lounge dedicated one session to appreciating the glories of the Founder Acarya of ISKCON. It was a well attended event, focusing on various aspects of the person himself.

This included a discussion on what made Srila Prabhupada great, his contribution to society and history, a summary of his life, and a short glimpse into his preaching prowess through a short lecture.

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The discussion further led to a glimpse of the character and pastimes of Krishna, along with some consideration of His attributes and potencies that establish Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

The session also included clips from the popular DVD rendition of the childhood pastimes of Krishna, Little Krishna. This event proved very useful for some of the newer attendees of the programme.

VIP Guest This month the Lounge was privileged to have the association of His Grace Kripamoya Prabhu, who held a captivating session on the Layers of Consciousness.

This session attracted around 25 attendees, who enjoyed an evening of lively discussion and debate.

The event was facilitated through video footage of Srila Prabhupada. The group feedback testified that there was now a much greater appreciation of the person Srila Prabhupada and his great contribution, particularly on account of the video footage of his life and classes. It was particularly helpful for some new guests at the programme.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

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Book Distribution During the month of August we collected ÂŁ7,835 and distributed 2,951 books!

The scores are as follows:

Name

Days Lakshmi

Book Points

Big

Maha Big Medium Medium Set Small Hard Hard

Sastra-dhan Sponsorship

1

84.00

23.50

1

5

Bhaktin Julia

2

90.00

25.00

6

7

4

Ananta Nitai das

3

76.00

37.00

1.00

4

Bhakta Noy

10

204.00

42.00

7.00

1.25

5

Bhakta Robert Revel

4

86.00

43.25

1

9.00

1.75

7

WW& NPKTSP

1

191.00

65.00

Russian Bhakti Vriksha

1

10.00

4.00

Sharada dd

1

262.00

68.50

Kashinath dasa

1

59.00

6.00

Bhakta Karlis

1

12.00

6.00

Bhakta Vince

1

35.00

7.50

Bhaktin Louise

2

30.00

9.75

Murli Manohara dasa

1

32.00

10.00

Tattva Jnana Dasa

1

27.00

12.00

Rupa Gosvami das

1

113.00

18.00

16

1

Harinam Party

3

61.00

18.25

3

5

Jhulan Yatra

1

133.00

20.00

10

5

Bhakta Pasha

4

68.00

23.25

Name

Days Lakshmi

Book Points

Bhakta Ravi

1

1.00

0.25

Aditi DD

1

1.00

0.50

Bhakta Vinesh

3

7.00

1.00

Lavanga Latika dd

1

5.00

Bhakta Elin Entchev

1

From Russia with Love

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Big

Maha Big Medium Medium Set Small Hard Hard 1 1

2 3

1

11 5

1

1

46 20

1

70

6

15

46

86

1

63

34

10

2

1

2

Janmasthami 2011

1

410.00

82.75

49

15

2

4

Virabhadra dasa

8

248.00

84.50

1

37

9

30

weekend warriors

3

372.00

99.75

17

24

17

13

Uddhava Damodara Dasa

10

273.00

109.50

6

36

37

Sachi Kumar Nimai das

18

305.00

126.50

Bhakta Alexey

9

329.00

136.75

1

63

Sundara Nitai das

9

704.00

209.75

40

76

Bhakta Laurie

14

670.00

246.75

NPKTSP

2

978.00

424.75

3

184

55

105

Bhakta Eliott Reed

17

1,943.00

678.75

1

292

92

191

1

7

5 23

9

1 9

1 19 3

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

15 20 1

103 52 506 39 2

120

15 27

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

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40th Anniversary DVD Now Available

Chakram Radha Krishna Records has recently released ‘Chakram’ a devotional album featuring Kripamoya Prabhu. It is currently available through various outlets including:

The long awaited DVD of the 40th Anniversary celebrations is now available in Radha’s Boutique.

• HMV Oxford Street • Mysteries in Covent Garden • Radha’s Boutique in Soho St

With highlights of the week long celebrations you can re-live this special event when ever you like.

Don’t forget to get your copy before they run out.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

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This album has taken around two years for it all to be completed, and it would not have been possible without my highly musical, expert and philanthropic friends who so generously gave their time, skills and resources for the project. In that sense, CHAKRAM is the product of a group – and I’m a firm believer in groups as the best human

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

resource for the spiritual life.

When played together at a quiet time, the songs on the album take the attentive listener on a journey through different colours of spirituality.

The powerful Sanskrit mantras contained within the songs, and the ideas expressed within them, form a series of lessons that can help one advance along any chosen path.

And the music is refreshingly different.

Spiritually uplifting and filled with protective mantras, Chakram has something for the yoga practitioner, the meditator, and the world music enthusiast. I hope you will enjoy it and share it with your friends.

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

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Outreach During the month of August Jai Nitai dasa carried out the following activities.

Govinda’s Restaurant takings for August 2011:

4th - Attended the UK Management Council Meeting

£ 55,860.82p

5th - Attended the wedding of Gopi Bhava devi dasi and Shyam dasa

from the above amount: Catering £ 407.00 and Books £ 124.00

6th - Attended Maha Counsellor Training at Manor with members of Pandava Sena Mentorship System, Manor Mentorship System and London Counsellor System which included an interactive session and Q&A with His Holiness Bhakti Rasamrta Swami

*************************************************** Total for Govinda’s restaurant: £ 55,329.82p

12th - Took part in the Wimbledon Weekend Warriors follow up Programme with about 25 guests

***************************************************

14th - Jai Nitai dasa’s counsellee group cooked the Sunday Feast

* 31 working days. * Average per day for restaurant: £ 1801.96p * Govinda’s restaurant made £ 2,956.01 more compared to August 2010.

20th - House Program at Bhaktin Shiny’s with about 20 guests to celebrate Rama and Shyama’s birthday 21st - Janmastami Celebrations at Soho started and Launch of Kripamoya Prabhu’s new album Chakram 22nd - Celebrated Janmastami 23rd - Celebrated Srila Prabhupadas Vyasa Puja 27th to 28th - Attended Croome Court Festival 29th - Maha Counsellee Picnic

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Hare Rama Hare Rama Krishna Krishna Rama Rama Hare Hare Hare Hare

Radha-Krishna Temple 10 Soho Street London W1D 3DL

T: 020 7437 3662 E: london@pamho.net W: www.iskcon-london.org

International Society for Krishna Conciousness Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada