Department Heads JAI NITAI DASA Temple President Charity Chairman Member of Management Board South Regional Coordinator Mentor
ACUTYA CHARAN DASA Food for Life Coordinator
BHAVA BHAKTI DEVI DASI Temple Administrator Charity Secretary / Trustee Member of Management Board South Regional Secretary Mentorship System Coordinator Mentor
DEVAKI DEVI DASI
Head of Community Development Team Volunteers Coordinator
MURLI MANOHARA DASA Head Pujari Charity Trustee Member of Management Board Chair of New Temple Committee Member of Brahmacari Council Mentor
RAM CHARAN DASA Financial Controller Member of Management Board
THIRU DHAYALAN Member of Management Board Govinda’s Restaurant Manager Kitchen Manager
RADHA RAMAN DASA Charity Trustee Mentor
DHAVAL DATTANI Volunteers Coordinator
GURPAAL DEOL Radha’s Boutique Manager
JAGA MOHINI DEVI DASI ISKCON Educational Services Ladies Ashram Leader
KAPILA MONET Radha Krishna Records Manager
KRISHNA KANTA DEVI DASI Food for Life Coordinator
MAHA NRSINGHA DASA
PRIYA KUNDA DASA Atma Lounge Manager
RAKESH SHAH
Festivals Coordinator Mentor
Head of Communications
MUKUNDA KISHORE DASA
SANJAYA MADHAVA DASA
Closet Krishna Assistant Manager
London College of Vedic Studies Coordinator
NAAM SANKIRTAN DASA
SYAMA GAURI DEVI DASI
Sankirtana Leader
NANDINI RASIKA DEVI DASI
Atma Lounge Manager
SYAMANANDA DASA
Closet Krishna Manager
General Manager Govinda’s Restaurant Manager
OLGA DOROVKO
TITIKSU DASA
Head of Russian Vedic Society
PRITESH PANDYA Child Protection Officer Community Care Officer (Ombudsman)
CLOSET KRISHNA
UK Rathayatra Coordinator
VAYU DASA
Men’s Ashram Leader
Table of CONTENTS
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Community Development Team
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Update from the Temple President
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Festivals
Outreach
Russian Vedic Society
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Sankirtan
Spiritual Mentorship System
For any comments or queries on this publication, please email newsletter@iskcon.london
UPDATE FROM THE TEMPLE PRESIDENT
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Vedic Society’s sixth anniversary after which he visited the ISKCON Scotland Temple in his role as the Zonal Co-ordinator.
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On Wednesday 19th April, Jai Nitai dasa met Jonathan Heliwell who is the religious advisor to Theresa May, UK Prime Minister. Later that evening, he shared Krishna Conscious principles with the teachers at Krishna Avanti School.
n Sunday 2nd April, Jai Nitai dasa gave a talk at the Sunday feast gathering in the South Norwood Centre. As Chairman of the Board of Trustees for this project, Jai Nitai dasa visits the centre regularl. n Tuesday 4th April, he attended the UK Management Council meeting held in Cardiff and later that week, he gave the Friday night talk at the Closet Krishna shop in Rochester. On Saturday 8th April, he attended the Russian
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On Friday 21st April, he performed initiation fire yajna for Shyama Kisora dasa and Priya Kund dasa at the Atma Lounge shop in Folkestone.
t the start of the month of May, Jai Nitai dasa attended the UK Management Council meeting at ISKCON Scotland followed by a meeting at the South Norwood Centre with the Centre’s Board of Trustees.
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he week starting Friday 12th May, Jai Nitai dasa attended the ISKCON-London Mentorship Retreat in Wales and facilitated a japa workshop with Bhava Bhakti devi dasi. Towards the end of the week, he taught the ISKCON Guru-Disciple Course, attended the Grhasta Seminar with Sridama dasa and Kishori devi dasi from ISKCON-Chowpatty. In the last week of May, Jai Nitai dasa attended the Euro Governing Body Commission (GBC) meetings in New Vraja-dhama, Hungary.
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Community Development Team VOLUNTEERS UPDATE ISKCON-London has been attracting lots of new volunteers recently especially helping in the kitchen, festivals as well as during the Sunday Feasts. Tasha, who recently started volunteering at the Temple, shares her experience of serving in the Temple kitchen: “I really enjoyed serving
at ISKCON-London, wonderful devotees and their association is enriching. I will make this my habit to come regularly to the Temple for service ’’ There are various teams that cook the
Sunday Feast every week and the feast attracts lots of newcomers to join and experience Krishna Consciousness. One of the Sunday Feast cooking teams, led by Prema Niketan dasa, comprise of all young devotees who are inspired to cook delicious prasadam every two months. Volunteers who are part of the security and ushering services will be given new Hi-Viz jackets with the ISKCON-London logo printed at the front side of the jacket and ISKCON-London Volunteer text printed at the back. This is a small but important step towards professionalising the service. On Monday 29th May, the Volunteer Coordinators organised this year’s first Volunteers Sanga, with special guest, Tribhangananda dasa, Srila Prabhupada disciple. The sanga consisted of ecstatic kirtans and bhajans, introductions of the 22 attendees present, interactive sessions which included writing an acronym for the words “Hare Krishna and Hare Rama’’, an intriguing question and answers session, and concluded with delicious prasadam. One of the Closet Krishna volunteers commented, “This session was really inspiring and is a fantastic group, thanks to the guys who made it all possible ’’
Save the date for all ISKCON-London volunteers: ISKCON-London Annual Volunteers Dinner has been confirmed for Saturday 4th November at a venue in Hyde Park. If you are a volunteer, please sign up for more information on: http://bit.ly/2qw3fRn
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On Tuesday 11th April, Tapan Misra dasa, from the ISKCON Congregational Development Ministry, was a special visiting guest (from Sridhama Mayapur) at our CDT Meeting. He inspired the team by leading an interactive discussion on the critical aspects of community development, how our services have the potential to support community development, and Congregational Development Ministry resources that we can tap into.
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FESTIVALS RAMaNAVAMI Wednesday 5th April 2017
The appearance of Lord Rama is celebrated as Ramanavami. Lord Ramachandra is a powerful incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead as an ideal king. He appeared in the Treta yuga, more than two million years ago. Lord Ramachandra ruled the Earth as the ideal king and under the order of His father, Maharaja Dasarath, Lord Ramachandra lived in exile in the forest for 14 years, along with His wife, Sita Devi, and His younger brother, Lakshmana. After the powerful demon Ravana kidnapped His wife, Lord Ramachandra rescued her, with the help of His faithful servant Hanuman, and killed Ravana along with Ravana’s armies. The history of Lord Ramachandra’s pastimes is recounted by the sage Valmiki in his Ramayana.
Festivals
NRSIMhA CATURDASI Tuesday 9th May 2017
On Tuesday 9th May, we celebrated the appearance of Lord Nrsimhadeva, the Lord of divine protection. This material world is full of danger and uncertainty and devotees turn to Nrsimhadeva for shelter and protection. On the day of Nrsimha Caturdasi, devotees gathered in large numbers at the Temple to take part in the celebrations throughout the day. To mark this festival, the Temple Room was very colourfully decorated by a team of devotees headed by Champakalata Priya devi dasi. In the morning, devotees were blessed with the wonderful darshan of (Amala Manjari devi dasi’s) Nrsimhadeva, shaligrama shilas and Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara, Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra Maharani, Giri-Govardhana and Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai decorated with fresh jasmine flowers. Following Deity Greetings, there was a wonderful class by Srila Prabhupada disciple, Tribhagananda dasa, reminding devotees of the pastimes of Nrsimhadeva. In the afternoon, devotees from Bhaktivedanta Manor and ISKCON-London led an ecstatic harinama with long-standing stalwarts like Sakshigopal dasa, Srutidharma dasa and many others. In the evening, there was abhishek (bathing) of the Nrsimhadeva deity amidst kirtan, followed by an interactive presentation by Syamananda dasa and an energetic Gaura Arati kirtan led by Tota Gopinath dasa. Devotees were then served the festival feast and for the first time ever, under the direction of Thiru, manager of Govinda’s Restaurant, devotees including Jayram, Ramya, Sabita, and Srinivas prepared a special South Indian feast for 350 attendees - sambhar rice, uttappams, medu wada, potato subji, chutney, and carrot halva to everyone’s delight and satisfaction. 10
OUTREACH LADIES SANGA The Ladies Sanga highlight for April was a dramatic reading on the «Exile of Lord Rama» that took place the day after Ramanavami. The team continued commemorating the appearance of Lord Rama by conducting two consecutive movie nights watching the animation movie «The Legend of Prince Rama».
Highlight of the month of May was the increased number of guests with one of the sessions welcoming seven newcomers and a couple of returners.
Please see the poster for all the activities in April planned by the Ladies Sanga. All ladies welcome!
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OPEN DAYS The first Open Day of the year took place in May where volunteers hosted more than 300 guests over six hours. Open Days are an opportunity for guests to experience the chanting of the Holy Name and learn about the philosophy. Attendees were enlivened by the ecstatic kirtan outside the Temple as well as inside the Temple Room. There were interesting talks and meditation sessions where guests were made to feel welcome and many returned to the sessions again. One of the new guests, Jackie, shared a personal message to the Open Day team, “Just to say thank you. I attended the Open Day today and the
atmosphere was incredibly welcoming and uplifting. I very much enjoyed Neera’s singing/mantra meditation taster session and the gentleman’s talk beforehand. Plus all the singing in the main shrine room and outside were fabulous.’’ By pleasing attendees we are pleasing Krishna, and by making new devotees, we are finding new ways to please Krishna. Well done to everyone making this day a success!
To participate in the next Open Day events, please contact Jaga Mohini devi dasi: jagamohinidevidasi@gmail.com
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Russian vedic society Celebrating six years of the Russian Vedic Society in London
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Sankirtan
SPIRITUAL MENTORSHIP SYSTEM 12th to 16 May: ISKCON-London Mentorship Retreat The ISKCON-London Mentorship Retreat was held in Wales this year and the team travelled by coach to their destination. His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami was the special guest and stayed with the teams on the wonderful grounds of Plas Glansevin Manor house. The schedule comprised of an early morning programme where the mentees were given the opportunity to offer arati and do kirtans. Syamananda dasa, the official head chef, delivered two interactive drama workshops. Jai Nitai dasa and Bhava Bhakti devi dasi facilitated a japa workshop surgery outlining common pitfalls in trying to chant attentively and regularly. The retreat was fully occupied this year and plans for the 2018 retreat are already underway. 16
HERE’S WHAT SOME OF THE MENTEES HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE Bhaktin Sophie
(Bhava Bhakti devi dasi’s mentee group)
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Why did you join the Mentorship System? I joined the mentorship system because I felt I needed to be guided by someone more senior to me. I have realised there is not a lot in this world I can actually do on my own and by receiving guidance it will help me live with more devotion. What do you like about this System? Committing to the mentee meetings makes me feel like I am surrendering more to Krishna and that I have a duty to attend. I like to be in the association of more senior devotees so that I can seek guidance and knowledge from them. I also like being associated with other devotees as we all have the same purpose and there no one is judgemental of the other on where they are in their spiritual growth. Bhaktin Nimisha
(Satya Narayan dasa’s & Madhvi devi dasi’s mentee group)
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Why did you join the Mentorship System? We need a close devotional relationship with senior devotees who work as a positive role model so we feel cared for and are inspired. We want to continue advancing and serving Krishna and at the same time learn the value of Vedic culture. Our mentors uplift us spiritually and help us remain strong and faithful towards our duties to our family, Temple and the Lord Himself. They involve us in learning scriptures through sangas and mentee meetings. I personally like the love, care and
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What have you enjoyed the most so far? We chant one japa round together during our meetings and this is very special to me as I know that one round we do together is always very powerful and sincere. What I enjoy the most in our meetings is the talks that I always find very enlightening and help me understand Krishna and myself a little bit more. Would you recommend it to others? I would recommend joining the Mentorship System as a lot of the time we don’t actually know what is best for us and we may not understand events that are happening in our life. By having a mentor, it will help to keep you enthusiastic and sincere in your devotional practice with a clearer understanding of the experiences in your personal life. nurture that we receive from them. They stay close to us and encourage us to do our daily sadhana. They motivate us to seek the association of devotees and attend Temple activities like festivals and events. They regularly monitor our progress. The most enjoyable was the recent retreat to Wales where I stayed under one roof with like-minded devotees and His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami. I felt I was living in the Temple. The services, programmes, classes and seminars were all extremely spiritual experiences. My chanting has improved a lot since going there. I can’t wait till the next one! I would definitely recommend this to my friends and family as it is a life changing relationship which we all deserve. I feel extremely fortunate to be sheltered by ISKCON-London.
DAILY SCHEDULE ARATI TIMES 04:30 05:00 07:00 08:00 12:30 16:15 19:00 21:00
Mangal arati Tulasi arati Deity greeting Dhoopa arati Raj Bhoga arati Dhoopa arati Sundara arati Sayana arati
These are times when items are offered for the pleasure of the Deities.
DARSHAN TIMES
CLASS TIMES
04:30 to 05:00 07:00 to 07:30 08:00 to 11:45 12:30 to 13:00 16:15 to 18:30 19:00 to 19:30 21:00 to 21:30
07:30 Srimad Bhagavatam / Caitanya Caritamrta 13:00 Introductory talk * 18:00 Bhagavad Gita *
These are times when the curtains are open and the Deities can be seen.
* Excluding Sundays
LUNCH PROGRAMM E - MONDAY TO SATURDAY 13:00 to 14:00 Introductory talk and lunch. SUNDAY FEAST PROGRAMME 15:30 to 19:30 Includes arati, introductory talk and feast.
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE
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International Society for Krishna Consciousness Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada ISKCON-LONDON Radha-Krishna Temple 10 Soho Street London W1D 3DL
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