1
DEPARTMENTAL CONTACTS
2
JAI NITAI DASA Temple President Charity Chairman Member of Management Board South Regional Coordinator UK Zonal Supervisor Mentor
BHAVA BHAKTI DEVI DASI Temple Administrator Charity Secretary / Trustee Member of Management Board South Regional Secretary Mentorship System Coordinator Mentor
JAGA MOHINI DEVI DASI ISKCON Educational Services Ladies Ashram Leader Member of Management Board Mentor
MURLI MANOHARA DASA Head Pujari Charity Trustee Member of Management Board Member of Brahmacari Council Mentor
RAM CHARAN DASA Financial Controller
THIRUPATI GAURANGA DASA Govinda’s Restaurant Manager Kitchen Manager Member of Management Board
RADHA RAMAN DASA Charity Trustee Mentor
ACUTYA CHARAN DASA Food for Life Coordinator
ANDREI JUCHNEVIC Radha’s Boutique Manager
DAYAL MORA DASA Outreach Coordinator Men’s Ashram Leader
DEBASMITA FRANCIS London College of Vedic Studies Coordinator
DEVAKI DEVI DASI Community Development Coordinator Volunteers Coordinator
DHAVAL DATTANI Volunteers Coordinator Festivals Coordinator
KAPILA MONET Radha Krishna Records Manager
KRISHNA KANTA DEVI DASI Food for Life Coordinator
LAURYNAS MIKALAUSKAS Head of IT Data Protection Lead
MAIRIS UÅ ACKIS Temple Commander
MANJARI GOPIKA DEVI DASI Russian Vedic Society Coordinator
NAMA SANKIRTAN DASA Sankirtan Leader
NATASHA MENON Communications Secretary
PRITESH PANDYA Child Protection Officer
PRIYA KUNDA DASA Atma Lounge Manager
RSI RAYA GAURANGA DASA Facilities Manager
TITIKSU DASA UK Rathayatra Coordinator
SYAMA GAURI DEVI DASI Atma Lounge Manager
CLOSET KRISHNA
3
Table of CONTENTS 5
Temple President’s Activities
10
Community Development Team
12
Deity Department
13
Festivals
21
Food For Life
21
Govinda’s Restaurant
22
Harinama
24
London College of Vedic Studies
27
Outreach
29
Radha’s Boutique
29
Regional
31
Sankirtan
32
Spiritual Mentorship System
35
Volunteering
37
50th Anniversary
Graphic Designer: Chandra Bellamy Editorial Team: Devaki devi dasi Neha Bhatt Padmanabha Nityananda dasa 4
For any comments or queries on this publication, please email newsletter@iskcon.london
5
6
7
8
9
Community development team ISKCON-London Golden Anniversary Volunteers Dinner Saturday 28th September 2019
T
he annual ISKCON-London Volunteers Dinner honours all the devotees who have offered service during the past 12 months. For 2019, being the Golden Anniversary, all devotees who had offered service to Sri-Sri Radha-Londonisvara over the last 50 years were invited. The assembled guests were therefore blessed with the association of many Srila Prabhupada disciples and senior sevaks.
Srila Prabhupada then led the Mangalacarana prayers, via an audio clip, before giving excerpts from one of his 1969 lectures at Conway Hall during the course of the evening. Another of his lectures at Conway Hall had been used for the introduction to Sri Isopanisad and one of his disciples had brought an original copy of the book with him.
An interactive session on the “26 Qualities of Srila Prabhupada” was then held. Groups of guests sat with his disciples and heard how he had exhibited them.
The venue for the event was Conway Hall, where Srila Prabhupada had given a series of lectures in 1969. Guests were welcomed and given a gift bag containing a beautiful wooden layered photograph of Sri-Sri Radha-Londonisvara on Their altar. Bhajans were led by Gopibhava devi dasi and Krishna Club, while a crèche was provided so that parents could enjoy the evening in full. Srila Prabhupada came from his temple Vyasasana to be personally present and the assembled devotees offered Guru Puja to His Divine Grace. 10
Temple President, Jai Nitai dasa, then led a series of appreciations which began with a standing ovation for the early pioneers. Long-serving devotees, Maha Nrsingha dasa and Murli Manohara dasa (the latter whose birthday it also happened to be) were then honoured with large canvas prints of Sri-Sri RadhaLondonisvara. Devaki devi dasi and Dhaval Dattani were mentioned for their work in coordinating the volunteers, and successful recent outreach events were reflected on. The focus then went to the forthcoming 50th Anniversary celebrations and a trailer for a video “50 years of service” was played. Devotees were next treated to a delightful drama on The Creeper of Devotion before Srila Prabhupada concluded his lecture and an ecstatic final kirtan was held. A sumptuous prasadam feast of course rounded off the evening, with Srila Prabhupada disciples served in a separate room and enjoyed each other’s company.
Community Development Team
11
N
12
deity department ishikanta Krishna dasa and Vamsivata dasa started services such as cooking for Their Lordships, after recently getting second initiation.
festivals jhulan yatra Sunday 11th August to Thursday 15th August
13
Festivals
balaram jayanti Thursday 15th August
14
Festivals
janmastami Friday 23th August
15
Festivals
srila prabhupada vyasa puja Saturday 24th August
16
Festivals
radhastami Friday 6th September
17
Festivals
sharad purnima Sunday 13th October
18
Festivals
govardhana puja Monday 28th October
G
ovardhana Puja festival was celebrated at ISKCON-London on Monday 28th October. The festival started with a special darshan of the Deities wearing a new outfit and followed by a special class. The pujaris prepared a special Govardhana Hill in the Temple Room which was made of sweets, biscuits and cakes prepared by pujaris as well as the community members. The hill was also decorated with monkeys, birds and snakes. During the Raj Bhoga Arati, lots of devotees engaged in parikrama of Sri Giri Govardhana and Govardhana Hill. Once the parikrama was finished, it was time for the feast which was followed by the Maha Harinama. Later on in the Temple Room, a grand abhishek was offered to Sri Giri Govardhana, followed by a special Govardhana Puja class. In the evening, there was a special drama on Govardhana and at the end of the drama everyone had an opportunity to do parikrama around a Govardhana sila.
19
Festivals
Srila Prabhupada’s Disappearance day
I
Thursday 31st October
n the morning there was Pushpanjali to Srila Prabhupada, followed by a morning class by Srila Prabhupada’s disciple, Ranchor dasa. After break fast at noon, a special feast was served to all the guests followed by an ecstatic Maha Harinama led by Jai Nitai dasa. The evening, which had a special mood, started by showing a video on the memories of Srila Prabhupada followed by the “Hare Krishna Movie.” The Temple Room was packed full of devotees awaiting in anticipation to offer their gratitude to Srila Prabhupada during the Gurvastakam prayers.
japathon festival
O
Saturday 5th October
n Saturday 5th October, ISKCON-London Festivals Team organised a full day special Japathon in the Temple Room from 9.45am to 9.30pm. Devotees were absorbed in chanting the holy names. The programme also included prayers to the holy name and a themed drama on the life of Haridasa Thakur. There were lots of guests who came for darshan who chanted japa on beads, some of them for the first time. The Japathon was a great success with some devotees who stayed for the full day and managed to chant over 50 rounds of japa and had a blissful experience.
20
food for life T
he team has made great progress with their endeavour of improving Food for Life. To date, the team has devised a volunteer induction training programme which consists of several facets such as an introduction to ISKCON, the temple and Food for Life project, a tour of the upper building, information on communication such as the use of social media, quick guide to the code of conduct, health and safety procedures, tour of the kitchen, guidance on how to offer prasadam, and feedback on anything not understood or is a source of difficulty. Additionally, a document on Risk Assessment has been produced which highlights all of the potential risks that could be encountered whilst carrying out the service and actions to be taken to avoid or mitigate any such risks. This is a checklist that all Food for Life coordinators will aim to follow. The team are endeavouring to initiate signing up for the service online so that it is much more easier, structured and simpler to access and sign-up, particularly for new volunteers. A website is currently being developed that enables new volunteers to choose what day/date they’d like to volunteer on (depending on availability). This will make the service much more accessible and hopes to attract new volunteers from a wider section of the community. Talks are also underway on ordering a bespoke electric food van after the phenomenal success of the Walk against Hunger fundraising campaign. The van is envisaged to arrive around January of 2020 which should mark the start of a new and revolutionary era for Food for Life. The team are also currently looking for new volunteers to help out with Food for Life on Saturdays as they’re currently short of volunteers on that particular day. If you would like to help out or get involved, please contact the team on www.foodforlifelondon.co.uk
G
govinda’s restaurant ovinda’s Restaurant won first place in the Curry King/Queen category at the London Curry Awards 2019!
Govinda’s Restaurant manager, Thirupati Gauranga dasa, with the award. 21
harinama
22
Harinama
23
london college of vedic studies A wide range of courses and other activities took place at the London College of Vedic Studies (LCVS) between august to october august
october
Saturday 3rd: Devaki devi dasi facilitated an interactive, hands-on workshop on ‘Flower Arrangements’. Saturday 10th: Chaitanya Charan dasa provided valuable and practical life lessons on cooperation and teamwork in the seminar ‘Teamwork Lessons from the Ramayana’.
Saturdays 5th & 12th: Sri Prahlada dasa conducted an immersive and enriching course ‘The Yoga of Kirtan’, covering historical, theoretical and practical aspects of kirtan.
Sunday 11th: Jai Nitai dasa led the first session of the course ‘Overview of Srimad Bhagavatam’, a summary study of the timeless classic. In August, the ‘Bhakti Sastri’ students had an enlivening and enriching experience studying Sri Isopanishad with Nama Sankirtana dasa.
september
Sunday 13th: : Jai Nitai dasa led the third session of the course ‘Overview of Srimad Bhagavatam’, a summary study of the timeless classic.
Saturday 21st: Devaki devi dasi (from Mayapur, India) provided valuable insights on uplifting our consciousness at the seminar ‘False Ego - our Constant Companion and Troublemaker’. Saturday 21st: Vamsidhari dasa taught the final session of the ‘Bhakti Yoga for Beginners’ course this year, introducing Krishna consciousness to our new guests.
other updates In August, we interviewed Kadamba Kanana Swami on various spiritual topics. It can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKwSGHM49iE In September, we introduced ‘Vedic Facts’ - short videos to get bite-sized knowledge and wisdom straight from the Vedas! Check out VedicFact #1: https://youtu.be/XaNXd4XJvXA We also introduced ‘Sweet Cheese’ - a brand new weekly Facebook show by our monks, which includes the latest news, upcoming events, interviews, and much more. Tune in to www.facebook.com/londoncvs every Thursday at 7.00pm for guaranteed spiritual entertainment! In October, we started hosting ‘Holistic Yoga’ (weekly yoga asanas, wisdom and meditation classes) every Monday from 7.00pm in the Seminar Room at ISKCON-London. We also completed the year-long ‘Bhakti Sastri’ course for the 2018-19 batch. Subscribe to the London College of Vedic Studies newsletter: www.iskcon.london/lcvs/signup www.facebook.com/londoncvs www.instagram.com/londoncvs 24
LCVS
25
26
outreach A
Walk for Peace, Kent
ugust was a month of intense and dynamic outreach. The fourth year of Padayatra UK, also known as “Walk for Peace” took place in Kent from the 12th to 21st August. Bringing together fresh newcomers with sannyasis and senior devotees including Maha Vishnu Swami, Parasurama dasa and others, the padayatra has proved once again an incredible life-changing experience for all. United by the mercy of the Gaura-Nitai deities, driven by two majestic bulls, the pada-yatris became a real travelling family for nine days with the unique purpose to chant and share the holy names, books, and prasadam. For the 50th Anniversary year of Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara, the pilgrims walked 50 miles from Ashford to Margate, stopping in all major towns of Kent such as Canterbury and Ramsgate, in all of which, they were merrily welcomed by the respective Mayors. The higher taste arising from such activities, plus the constant association and the simple living in the countryside, allowed the 40 to 50 pilgrims to easily face heavy storms, cold showers, lack of proper toilets, and various other challenges that they faced.
B
ack in London, the Outreach Department has inaugurated the Contemporary Vedic Ashram.
Inspired by the success of Devamrita Swami’s projects in New Zealand, the Prema Lounge, an extension of the brahmacari ashram outside the temple, is now ready to host youngsters who are willing to take Krishna consciousness seriously and who aspire for brahmacari life. With the same intent
27
to Krishna. This allowed a hundred newcomers who would have found Janmastami at the temple too intense to celebrate Krishna’s birthday. Despite the festivities, Wisdom Wednesdays had not stopped, and a special one was held on Wednesday 26th August featuring two pillars of our community, Jai Nitai dasa and Radha Raman dasa as special
to “make it easier” and be more accommodating,
“guests”. Radha Raman dasa led a most catchy
on the 23rd August a special Janmastami was
kirtana and Jai Nitai dasa gave a personal and
organised in union with the Kirtan London team.
inspiring talk. They left the young audience amazed,
The event featured kirtan by Jahnavi Harrison,
thus making the programme one of the most
story-telling by Kripamoya dasa and a fire offering
impactful of the whole year.
Outreach With the beginning of a new academic year, September has seen the Outreach department engaging in new activities and programmes. Book distribution was arranged at various universities (SOAS, UCL and Kingston University) during Freshers’ Week. Of these universities, especially two, namely SOAS and UCL, proved ideal for book distribution for the reason that prasadam has been served to students daily for many years by Parasurama dasa’s project, Food for All. This has created a popular appreciation and gratitude towards the Hare Krishna’s amongst the many youngsters who line up everyday from 11.30am to 2.30pm to receive their free delicious vegetarian plate. The Outreach department was requested to help facilitate the weekly meeting of the Krishna Consciousness Society at Kingston University on Wednesday night and at SOAS on Thursday night. Always on Thursday, the new programme, Thoughtful Thursday, will soon start at Krishna’s Castle (headquarters of Food for All) where devotees were requested to facilitate an introductory programme for the many young volunteers who have heard of ‘Food for All’ through the WORK AWAY website and come from all over Europe to be part of the project while having the possibility to stay and visit London with no cost. Simultaneously, the weekly schedule of programmes held at ISKCON-London have reached a more structured shape with Prema Lounge on Monday evenings (Level 3 cultivation programme), Wisdom Wednesdays (Level 1 introduction programme) and the new Fortunate Fridays (Level 2 cultivation programme) which, along with Secrets for the East on Sunday, is meant for those interested in more indepth philosophy. The Outreach department has also been involved in the production of a new song in cooperation with the singer, Jake Emlyn, and Radha Krishna Records’ producer Jagannatha Suta dasa. The video of the new single called ‘Jaya Radhe-Shyam’ will be out soon with catchy and upbeat melodies.
O
ctober was the start of a new academic year for thousands of young students in London. The Outreach department attempted to make the most of this time mainly by focusing on book distribution at UCL and SOAS University. At the latter,
28
we have started running the Krishna Consciousness Society together with ex-students. The weekly programme happens every Thursday at 6.30pm and it features kirtan, a presentation on specific topics, and prasadam from Govinda’s Restaurant. In the meantime, the programme ‘Thoughtful Thursdays’ has carried on at Krishna’s Castle. There we are having the chance to address more and more volunteers and protesters (from extinction rebellion) who help Parasuram dasa and his Food for All team. Wisdom Wednesdays hosted a one-off mostspectacular and successful night featuring Jayadeva dasa, who led the crowd of 60+ into a polyphonic singing kirtan and shared personal stories. Joining the Krishna Consciousness Society of University of Kent run by Mantra Caitanya dasa and his wife, Hema Muki devi dasi, we took eight newcomers for their first visit to Bhaktivedanta Manor on October 1st. The full-day visit included the Bhagavad Gita woodland walk, taking part in arati, lunch, visit to the Goshala and Srila Prabhupada’s rooms. On the 8th of October, Dayal Mora dasa, Shyam Govinda dasa and Radha Raman dasa travelled to Canterbury to conduct a special Govardhana Puja programme at University of Kent for the members of the Krishna Consciousness Society there. We have a very successful programme called Fortunate Fridays which is a follow-up from Wisdom Wednesdays. It has a more intimate setting and contains more philosophy and has a more personal feel. It is especially suited for those who want to take their mediation and understanding of Krishna Consciousness to the next level. Other programmes include Secrets from the East and Thoughtful Thursdays which are introductory programmes meant for those who want a taster of what the Hare Krishna’s have to offer. The song Jaya Radhe-Shyam by Jake Emlyn and Shyam Govinda dasa was released. One can watch the lyrics video made by Kavi-Karnapura dasa at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CONG_apufKo
V
RADHA’s boutique isit Radha’s Boutique for a variety of new saris, gopi dresses, T-shirts, kurtas, and different types of dhotis. The shop also has 50th Anniversary hoodies and T-Shirts on sale.
regional Bhakti Yoga Centre, Crawley
D
uring the month of August the Crawley Bhakti Yoga Centre, hosted a Holy Name Weekend with special guests, Kripamoya dasa and Badahari dasa. The festival took place over the 10th and 11th of August and was attended by over 200 enthusiastic chanters from all over the UK. The weekend consisted of seminars on the Holy Name, bhajans written by the previous acharyas , enlivening kirtans, and of course delicious prasadam feasts. The following weekend, the auspicious occasion of Balarama Jayanti was celebrated, with a special class given by Chaitanya Charan dasa. The month of August culminated in the wonderful festival of Janmastami on Friday 23rd August, with over 250 devotees attending the festival from all over the south region. The evening was filled with ecstatic kirtan and a beautiful abhishek ceremony. Throughout the month, two out of the four Bhagavad Gita study groups were preparing for presentations which were made through poems, videos, and slide presentations. During Badahari dasa’s visit, he also facilitated a Maha Sanga with all the sanga groups on how to maintain a good routine of reading. The weekly Sunday programme class is streamed live on the Facebook page, ISKCON Crawley, at 6.30pm every week. On Sunday 7th September, Bhakti Yoga Centre held their annual Rathayatra festival.
29
Regional
ISKCON Canterbury
T
he University of Kent weekly preaching programme on campus has restarted with a brand- new committee of home-grown student devotees. We are getting 25+ students each week for kirtan, discussion, and prasadam, often serving prasadam to 20 more students after the programme. Saturday Nama Hatta is continuing at the Canterbury Umbrella Centre with harinama and/or book distribution beforehand. We have just started a popular weekly prasadam distribution program in Margate every Sunday in conjunction with Food For All UK (serving around 30 plates each week), and the Mayor of Margate and local councillors have had lunch with us! That programme is now followed by kirtan and Bhagavad Gita discussion, with around ten in attendance. The Canterbury Nama Hatta group grew so much that it has expanded into an additional Bhakti Vriksha programme every Sunday.
North Kent Sanga On Sunday 7th July, the North Kent Sanga held their annual Rathayatra in Cobham in Kent. Starting from Radhanath dasa’s Dabbs Place Farm and going around the local beauty spot called Jeskyns Community Woodland, devotees from the local area and as far away as Kingston & Epsom joined in along with Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra to chant the holy names and as like every year, the local community looked on and appreciated seeing the festival. They chanted, danced and sang culminating with Gaura Arati and finally an amazing prasadam feast prepared and served by devotees. This is a regular yearly event and has been going on for some 13 years plus.
30
sankirtan “In July, the two main UK temples, Bhaktivedanta Manor and ISKCON-London, had a great month. They had a summer marathon as they celebrate fifty years of Hare Krishna culture in the UK this year. The Manor did 615 book points, a 234% increase, and London did 5,297 book points, a 116% increase. These results made them the two top temples in Europe. These two temples have a special place in Srila Prabhupada’s heart. Sri Sri Radha- Londonisvara were transcendentally kidnapped by Srila Prabhupada, and Bhaktivedanta Manor was the last temple in the West he visited. Many book distributors from Europe went to visit him at that time and were glad they did, because for most it was the last time they saw him.” Vijaya dasa - WSNL, July 2019
31
spiritual mentorship system Interview with Vamsivata dasa if any ingredients are missing or if someone has a query in regards to the pujari, their service etc . Keeping an eye open on pujari standards is also always necessary to ensure that quality service to the Deities is maintained. I sometimes correct and educate where necessary. At other times, I go to the Head Pujari and discuss with him how to deal with the situation. Our stance is to encourage devotees in their service, therefore we try to deal with devotees is an individual way, based on considerations of etiquette, etc . It is never a onesize-fits-all scenario.
Here is an interview with Vamsivata dasa who is in Murli Manohara dasa’s mentee group. Recently, he took second initiation from HH Bhakti Caitanya Swami. He has also taken on the responsibility as Assistant Head Pujari at ISKCON-London. Bhava Bhakti devi dasi: Hare Krishna Prabhu! First of all congratulations on your second initiation. So ... how does it feel?
Vamsivata dasa: Now I feel like a completely different person. The initiation itself was so ecstatic and I felt cleansed of so many layers of false ego that were weighing on me. I also feel a sense of ‘completeness’ now, as though everything is right finally, like finding at last the much needed piece of a jigsaw puzzle.
Q: Sounds amazing. Like you really felt a transformation after taking this important step. And also you have accepted another important step of being Assistant Head Pujari. Seems like Krishna really has your hands full ! But what exactly does it mean to be a ‘Assistant Head Pujari?’
32
At the moment I arrange the daily rota for bathing trays service as well as Srila Prabhupada wake-up and dressing service. When new devotees come into the fold, I ensure they get trained either by myself or some other well-trained devotee. I also try to engage devotees in cleaning and tidying services - not an easy task! Most of the time, I myself undertake the task of cleaning and tidying up areas such as Deities’ jewellery drawers, Deities’ outfit room and paraphernalia cupboards. And when the Head Pujari is away for a few months at a time, this means I take on his responsibilities as well.
Q: Sounds like a lot of responsibility to me ! So what is your favourite service in the Deity department?
A: I really like assisting, in the background, pujari’s in their dressing of Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara, in the form of flower garlands, flower jewellery, flower accessories etc. Such opportunities don’t always arise, but when it does, it’s like the spiritual world. In the spiritual realm, it is never a case of ‘Me and Krishna only’. It is always about serving those who serve Krishna . And it is a really wonderful mood to have.
A: Along with the Head Pujari, I help ensure the
Q: Sounds lovely for sure. On your path in Krishna
smooth running of the department. I see to it that we have the main ingredients and spices for the cooks stocked in the pujari. I’m the go-to person
Consciousness, you have taken shelter of the Mentorship System at ISKCON London?
A: It feels I have really been able to grow up as a
Spiritual Mentorship System person and devotee, knowing that I am under the shelter of someone I can trust and who deals with me on a personal level. One of the things I am most grateful for is that my mentor gave me space to grow internally and cultivate my faith in the process, whilst at the same time nudging me forward, encouraging me to take the next step. In this way, whatever decisions I’ve taken in my spiritual life were based on my own personal conviction rather than peer pressure that can sometimes be there in spiritual circles.
Q: Well that is the environment that we try to cultivate in the Mentorship System, a friend, philosopher and guide, someone who has treaded the path before you and is able to show you the way towards progression. Just wondering what was the first temple you visited?
A: ISKCON-London Radha-Krishna Temple, believe it or not! I was around two years old at the time, so I don’t have a memory of that.
Q: Wow really? Just wondering how did you first find out about ISKCON? A: I first found out about ISKCON through my grandparents who were part of the ISKCON temple congregation in Mauritius. Everyday at 4.30 am they would have a full mangalarati of their Deities Sri Sri Radha Shyamsundar. I, being 5 years old at the time, would - hearing my grandad singing - wake up and crawl to the Deity room. I vividly remember going through the Krishna Book for children - which is beautifully illustrated - with my grandfather and he told me that Krishna is God, and I asked, ‘what is God?’ !! And from then on, he would take me to the temple for the weekly Sunday Feast programme and I would attend the Sunday gurukula (something quite similar to Sunday school).
Q: Well thank you for your time. You have taken on great responsibility at an early age. I am sure Sri Sri RadhaLondonisvara will be with you all the way as you progress in your spiritual life.
Here’s an interview with Dhaval Dattani who is in Jai Nitai dasa’s mentee group
Q: Wow sounds pretty exciting and like you have big
Bhava Bhakti devi dasi: Hare Krishna Dhaval! First of all huge congratulations on your recent promotion to Head of Festivals department. How do
Q: Tell me when did you start to come to
you feel about it?
Dhaval Dattani: It’s a very big responsibility and a great opportunity for me to be more humble and undergo more personal improvements. I would like to make every festival a very special, lively and memorable experience for every visitor by bringing more interesting aspects to the festivals such as special kirtans, dramas etc. I would also like to see more and more devotees coming forward to take more responsibilities and all the areas growing within the Festival team. I will also try to work on hiring Soho Square / Soho Street for the festivals. 33
plans...what other services are you involved in?
A: Sunday Feast, Community Development Team, and singing Gaura Arati when I can. ISKCON-London?
A: I started coming to ISKCON-London from June 2006 after seeing the London devotees during London Ratha yatra. Before that, I used to go to Bhaktivedanta Manor from the year 2005 to 2006.
Q: And you are currently in Jai Nitai dasa’s men’s mentee group - how long have you been in the Mentorship System?
A: I have been in the Mentorship System for over five years. There are lots of things I like about the Mentorship System. The friendly nature of Jai Nitai Prabhu, group of similar age and similar-minded, always make you feel very special, interesting and uplifting discussions on various topics, always inspiring each other, various group activities, delicious and very unique prasadam including special dessert. Q: Well thank you for your time and wish you well in your devotional services!
Spiritual Mentorship System
Mentee Group Activities This summer, we saw two mentee groups take part in external group activities. On Saturday 10th August, there was the annual BBQ held by Jai Nitai dasa and Bhava Bhakti devi dasi’s grhastha mentee group. Each year, a different couple host the BBQ and this year it was Nimish and Ashika Patel. Everyone brings a dish for the event and there are always plenty of games and distractions for the children in the group too! This year, there was an obstacle course in the garden, spiritual “give us a clue” and plenty of prasadam to eat!
On Saturday 31st August, there was an excursion to a pottery class by Bhava Bhakti devi dasi’s mentee group. This group has not been able to meet for a few months due to summer holidays and festivals falling on the days of mentee meetings. The ladies met in East London and made their way to a two-hour introductory pottery class held in a renovated fire station. They were pleasantly surprised with some of the creations they managed to produce!
34
35
36
50th anniversary Sunday Times article The Sunday Times published an article about ISKCON UK’s 50th Anniversary, an opportunity which was organised by ISKCON UK Communications. The paper has an average circulation of 1.5 million readers in their print edition and many more online. The article references 50 years of the Radha-Krishna Temple in London and the new commemorative photo book launched by the UK 50th team called “A Legacy Begins” (available for sale now at Radha’s Boutique). The journalist had an in-depth discussion with Gurudas dasa and the article features some of his original photos taken from the time. The link to the article is here: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/hare-krishnas-came-to-bag-a-beatlecome-hell-s-angels-or-high-water-0v9238srf
A Hare Krishna devotee was sent from San Francisco to the UK in 1968 with two missions: to set up the movement’s first temple in London — and to meet the Beatles. It was a seemingly quixotic quest, according to Gurudas, 78, otherwise known as Roger Siegel, who has released pictures from the period that will be published to mark the temple’s 50th anniversary. 37
50th Anniversary
With the release of The White Album, the Beatles were at the peak of their fame, and, as Gurudas puts it, “were being submerged by self-proclaimed Messiahs”. When he and six other devotees attempted to make contact, their gifts, including a wind-up toy apple that played the Hare Krishna mantra, were binned by the band’s gatekeepers. Their luck changed when the American rock band the Grateful Dead came to meet the Beatles in London and their manager invited one of the devotees, Shyamasundar Das, to accompany them. However, two members of the Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang were also part of the Californian rockers’ entourage. Gurudas said that as they all waited at the Beatles’ headquarters, the Hell’s Angels threatened to attack all four members of the band they had come to meet. “Shyamasundar Das is in the corner chanting with his beads. John Lennon looked into the room and, being a smart Liverpudlian street lad, he could feel the vibrations, as we said in the Sixties, and he left. Ringo looked in and saw John had left and Ringo followed John; Paul looked in and also sussed out what was going on and he left. George saw Shyamasundar and made a beeline for him, saying, ‘I’ve been wanting to meet you’. It changed the atmosphere and the Hell’s Angels decided they weren’t going to do it.” It was the beginning of a curious relationship, which saw Gurudas appearing on Top of the Pops to sing the Hare Krishna mantra, which Harrison produced as a single, and spend six months living in Tittenhurst Park, Lennon’s Georgian mansion in Ascot where he went on to record Imagine. Harrison, who once resorted to chanting the Hare Krishna mantra in an attempt to distract an intruder who broke into his home and stabbed him in 1999, bought Bhaktivedanta Manor near Watford as a gift for the movement in 1973. Such was the ability of the Beatles to reshape the cultural mainstream that the Hare Krishna mantra single sold 70,000 copies on its first day of release. But there were limits. Something, the first of Harrison’s compositions to be issued as a Beatles A-side single, is supposed to have been written about Pattie Boyd, his wife at the time. However, Gurudas said: “George said to me, ‘I’m falling in love with Krishna and I wrote it for him. But if I wrote “Something in the way he moves”, they would misunderstand.”
Nicholas Hellen, Social Affairs Editor June 30th 2019, The Sunday Times 38
BECOME A GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY SPONSOR Take Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara home with you in the form of Their padukas (shoes)
Embossed golden padukas with the lotus feet markings of Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara
FRIEND
£251
Receive padukas of Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara.
HALF-PATRON £501
Receive padukas and an exclusive large canvas print of Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara.
PATRON
Receive padukas, an exclusive large canvas print of Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara, deity maha jewellery and an arati sponsored on the day of your choice.
£1008
Your sponsorship will support the 50th Anniversary celebrations. Become a 50th Anniversary Friend or Patron now! TO SPONSOR VISIT: WWW.ISKCON.LONDON/ GOLDEN-SPONSOR
FOR ENQUIRIES CONTACT: DEVAKI DEVI DASI ON 07727 019785 OR DONATIONS@ISKCON.LONDON
INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR KRISHNA CONSCIOUSNESS FOUNDER-ACHARYA HIS DIVINE GRACE A.C. BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI PRABHUPADA
39
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 PROGRAMME (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
ISKCON-LONDON Radha-Krishna Temple 10 Soho Street London W1D 3DL
40
CONTACT: T: +44 (0)20 7437 3662 E : info@iskcon.london W: www.iskcon.london
/iskconlondon /iskconlondon @iskconlondon
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada