DepartmentAL CONTACTS JAI NITAI DASA
RADHA RAMAN DASA
Temple President Charity Chairman Member of Management Board South Regional Coordinator Mentor UK Zonal Supervisor
Charity Trustee Mentor
BHAVA BHAKTI DEVI DASI
ACUTYA CHARAN DASA
Temple Administrator Charity Secretary / Trustee Member of Management Board South Regional Secretary Mentorship System Coordinator Mentor
Food for Life Coordinator
JAGA MOHINI DEVI DASI
Adi Gopi devi dasi
Ladies Ashram Leader ISKCON Educational Services Member of Management Board
Radha’s Boutique Manager
MURLI MANOHARA DASA
Debasmita francis
Head Pujari Charity Trustee Member of Management Board Chair of New Temple Committee Member of Brahmacari Council Mentor
London College of Vedic Studies Coordinator
RAM CHARAN DASA Financial Controller Member of Management Board
DEVAKI DEVI DASI
Head of Community Development Team Volunteers Coordinator
THIRU DHAYALAN
DHAVAL DATTANI
Govinda’s Restaurant Manager Kitchen Manager Member of Management Board
Volunteers Coordinator
KAPILA MONET
OLGA DOROVKO
Radha Krishna Records Manager
Russian Vedic Society Coordinator
KRISHNA KANTA DEVI DASI
PRITESH PANDYA
Food for Life Coordinator
Child Protection Officer
MAHA NRSINGHA DASA
PRIYA KUNDA DASA
Festivals Coordinator
Atma Lounge Manager
MAIRIS UŠACKIS
SYAMA GAURI DEVI DASI
Temple Commander
Atma Lounge Manager
MUKUNDA KISHORE DASA
TITIKSU DASA
Closet Krishna Manager
UK Rathayatra Coordinator
NAAM SANKIRTAN DASA Sankirtana Leader
VAYU DASA Men’s Ashram Leader
NATASHA MENON Communications Secretary
CLOSET KRISHNA
Table of CONTENTS 5 6 7 10 11 12 13 14 15 18 20 24 25 26 28 29 36 37
Temple President’s Activities Communications
Community Development Team Deity Department Festivals
Food for Life
Govinda’s Restaurant Harinama
London College of Vedic Studies London Rathayatra Outreach
Radha Krishna Records Russian Vedic Society Sankirtan
Spiritual Mentorship System Volunteering
Hare Krishna! Film
VIP Guests in May and June
Graphic Designer: Chandra Bellamy Editorial Team: Devaki devi dasi Louise Guthrie Neha Bhatt
For any comments or queries on this publication, please email community@iskcon.london
5
Communications NEW LOOK-AND-FEEL WEBSITE FOR ISKCON-LONDON
T
he ISKCON-London website (www.iskcon.london) has a new-look-and-feel which was launched in June. It is the culmination of an 18-month effort from Web Team members - Aashish Sharma and Natasha Menon - and other contributors. The refreshed site has a modern responsive design making it easy to navigate on portable devices. The content is personalised for newcomers and congregation members. It aims to be a central hub of all information, providing what is most relevant to users. If you have any feedback, please email web.admin@iskcon.london.
Support ISKCON-London with Amazon Smile You can now give back to Krishna when you shop on Amazon UK! If you are an Amazon customer, you can support us each time you shop via smile.amazon.com. Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible Amazon Smile purchases to us. Millions of products on Amazon Smile are eligible for donations to charities by Amazon. You will see eligible products marked “Eligible for smile.amazon.co.uk� on their product detail pages. Our Amazon Smile: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1132794-0
6
Community development team Lessons in Community Building from Govardhana Lila Two Community Development Team members, Devaki devi dasi and Paramesvara dasa, attended the two-day seminar “Lessons in Community Building from Govardhana Lila” facilitated by visiting speaker, Madhavananda dasa (Director of ISKCON Gopal Jiu Publications), and organised by the London College of Vedic Studies. It was fascinating how the Govardhana Lila pastime can provide so many insights into community development. Insights will be shared with the rest of the team and will inspire projects going forward.
London Mellows Annual Kirtan Weekend
I
SKCON-London celebrated glorious mid-summer in its own special way by hosting its third annual London Mellows Annual Kirtan Weekend on 16th and 17th June. Talented kirtaneers and instrumentalists across the UK and a special visiting guest were set to perform at ISKCON-London Radha-Krishna Temple, each timetabled to appear in turn to form a seamless musical sequence that would see morning turn melodiously to afternoon, and day run resonantly into evening in the course of both festive days. The musical performances were continuous and guests could opt to take part in the extended kirtan for as little or as long as they liked, free to dip in and out as and when it suited them. London Mellows was consistently well-attended throughout both its scheduled Saturday and Sunday 10am to 10pm sessions. In fact, as soon as one person left their sitting-place at peak times, it was immediately filled by another eager visitor already waiting at the door. The Temple Room repeatedly filled to capacity as every participant sang, clapped, danced or played cymbals, mrdangas or tambourines to complement the flawless timing of proficient kirtaneers who led the singing and kept the mantra rhythm steadily moving with their tabla drums or bass instruments. In classic kirtan fashion, the melodic format alternated between softly expressive “call” and
soaring moments of rousing “response” as everyone in the Temple played their own unique part in producing this ongoing medley of sacred sound and song. At specified intervals, the main focus turned from the singers and players to the Deities, Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara, as regular darshan and arati took place. The Deities were beautifully dressed in apt musical-themed outfits and flower ornaments on both days. Only at one point did the Temple Room fall briefly into noticeably reverent silence, namely early Saturday evening, to herald the arrival of Lokanath Swami, an ISKCON guru from India and senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada. He led kirtan in the Temple Room before taking to the main arterial streets of Westminster to front a most memorable Maha Harinama. Some two-hundred devotees and joiners along the way accompanied Lokanath Swami westwards along Oxford Street, turning into Regent Street, and proceeding through London Piccadilly to arrive in Leicester Square.The Swami and his enthusiastic entourage drew spectators and new partakers all along the route with their colourful exuberance and resonating mantra melodies. The procession duly made its way back towards the Temple via Chinatown and Soho, with the Swami in ever-fine voice and never once faltering in delivering his mantras to the masses.
7
Community Development Team Back at the Temple, delicious evening prasadam sponsored for London Mellows, was honoured by London Mellows attendees and those returning from Maha Harinama. When this year’s two-day mantra marathon eventually reached its Sunday night finale, everyone involved certainly took away long-lasting impressions from what has very soon established itself as an annual ISKCON-London event. Of course, it wasn’t just the musicians who made London Mellows impressive and thoroughly enjoyable for all. The organising team, led by Gopibhava devi dasi and Kancana-beli devi dasi, were supported by a team of volunteers during the lead-up and also volunteers who were on call on the daysmaking sure everything ran efficiently, from those meeting new arrivals with a radiant smile outside the Temple Room, to those recording the kirtans and broadcasting it live to the world, to others downstairs working diligently in Govinda’s Restaurant kitchen to prepare evening prasadam for all. London Mellows is definitely here to stay…
8
Community Development Team
new london mellows album
L
ondon Mellows Annual Kirtan Weekend was inaugurated in 2016 as an offering to Srila Prabhupada as part of ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary celebrations. At the time, the kirtans were professionally recorded and at this year’s London Mellows, an album of all the tracks was launched and went on sale. More information in the Radha Krishna Records section. Purchase the album at Radha’s Boutique or www.radhakrishnarecords/londonmellows
9
deity department Garland-making
T
hree new garland-makers have started training sessions with Devaki devi dasi in making garlands for the Deities and Srila Prabhupada. Although the daily garland schedule is currently filled, there is quite often a need for providing cover and also helping during festivals when more garlands are made. These garland-makers, due to their flexibility, will be able to provide cover when needed. As well as training new garland-makers, a few existing garland-makers have also been learning to make additional garlands to what they are currently making.
10
festivals snanayatra Sunday 10th June
D
uring Snanayatra, devotees get the once-in-a-year opportunity to bathe Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balarama and Lady Subhadra in a variety of colourful and opulent fruit juices (carefully prepared by a team of volunteers the night before and early morning on the day). The bathing is complemented by devotees singing and chanting the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. It is a festival that attracts hundreds of devotees. Due to the public nature of the bathing ceremony, even passers-by can get the blessings of taking part in an auspicious and personal service to the Lords. For example, this year’s Snanayatra brought one devotee, Kelly, to the Radha-Krishna Temple for the very first time. Having heard about the festival at her local Hindu temple, Kelly resolved to arrive extra early in order to secure her place in the queue. “When I arrived, the energy was already great...two hours of queueing seemed to go in seconds”, she recalls. Although Kelly came to the Temple alone, she believes Krishna was instrumental in bringing her together with another lady who was also a solo attendee at the event. The two met by chance whilst waiting in line next to each other on the Temple staircase, quickly struck up a friendship, and were soon deep in conversation. They thoroughly enjoyed the occasion together. “It was very auspicious that the Deities actually came out to us” says Kelly “and we got to bathe them in a yoghurt-like juice.” In accordance with Lord Jagannatha’s pastimes, Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra become sick after Snanayatra and so They take medicines and rest until They become rejuvenated enough to go outdoors for Their Rathayatra festival.
11
food for life food for life sanga
F
ood for Life volunteers often pass like ships in the night as they sail a similar path in the course of duty but without ever quite meeting.Weeks and months (or even years) can go by without those team-members, who provide the service on different weekday evenings, ever getting together. In order to give everyone the opportunity to get to know one another in a more relaxed setting, and also to thank people for their time and dedication, a Food for Life Sanga was organised for Friday 1st June, taking place in the Seminar Room at the Temple. Acyuta Charan dasa, who heads up this Londonbased service, led an uplifting kirtan to greet guests who arrived at different stages throughout the course of the evening. The music and singing was followed by a group discussion so that all those in attendance could exchange thoughts and share ideas about any improvement to the service (such as providing printed guidance notes/instructions for new volunteers, or
12
possibly playing soft background music whilst serving food). They also related stories about some of their experiences whilst serving in this role. One thing all present agreed upon was that it’s not only individuals who take the prasadam that derive great benefit from this initiative but that those providing it also find it a most-fulfilling task to carry out. One volunteer, Srinivas, told his counterparts: “The fact that it is voluntary makes it special. If it was something we were being paid to do, it would not be so rewarding.” Everyone agreed it was one of the most-worthwhile tasks they undertake in the course of their weekly routine. Acyuta Charan dasa said,“It was nice to see volunteers from across the Food for Life days and share ideas. The goal of the evening sanga was to show appreciation for all the wonderful service done by the volunteers. The delicious prasadam cooked by Thiru – pizza, chips, salad and cake – was a great way to finish.”
govinda’s restaurant London’s 10 Best Vegan Restaurants
I
nner place, a personal lifestyle concierge service, has listed Govinda’s Restaurant as one of the top10 vegan restaurants in London.
They write:
“Govinda’s - One of the OG vegan restaurants alongside Mildred’s, Govinda’s is run by the Hare Krishna’s and serves an amazing array of curries, dhals, papads et al. And there’s a good chance that you’ll catch a joyful live performance to boot.”
Celebrity visitor Boy George had lunch at Govinda’s Restaurant on Saturday 5th May. His tweet:
“Went to see the movie ‘Hare Krishna’ about how A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada brought Krishna Consciousness to the west. Then I had lunch at @govindaslondon and chatted with my devotee friends. #HareKrishna”
Customer feedback “I love Govinda’s as it was the first vegetarian place I took my mum to 10 years ago…[who has since passed away]...We both always had the veggie thali. For this reason Govinda’s always will have a special place in my heart.” Rosie Dore “Fabulous vegan food, realistically priced and lovely staff. Can’t rate it high enough” Lãśh V Roberts
13
harinama
14
london college of vedic studies During May to June, London College of Vedic Studies had guest speakers delivering the following courses: • “Ayurveda Seminar: The Science of Holistic Well-being” with Tribhanga dasa • “Lessons in Community Building from Govardhana Lila” and “Vanquishing the Demons of Vrindavana” with Madhavananda dasa • “The Power of Gratitude” seminar with Chaitanya Charan dasa
Subscribe to the London College of Vedic Studies newsletter: www.iskcon.london/lcvs/signup Like the London College of Vedic Studies Facebook page: www.facebook.com/londoncvs Follow the London College of Vedic Studies Instagram page: www.instagram.com/londoncvs
15
14
15
london rathayatra sunday 24th june This year marked the 50th London Rathayatra. London Rathayatra is the only day in the year that Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Lady Subhadra leave the beautiful London temple to shower Their compassionate and smiling glances to the public.
safeguard the procession and the festival. Another trained team sets up Trafalgar Square with brightly coloured tents and a stage. Many people commented on the melodious chanting and dancing displays on stage this year.
It takes 250 dedicated volunteers to make the Lords special day-out possible. Months ahead, the festival route is planned. The London authorities like to take prasadam as they meet about the legalities. And in the weeks leading up to the festival, a team of volunteers meticulously refurbish and clean the Rath chariots.
One of the main attractions is the free vegetarian feast which is planned and cooked off-site. The big barrels of steaming hot food are transported by truck to Trafalgar Square. The serving goes on throughout the day until 5pm. Over 18,000 plates of food were served on the day.
On the day of London Rathayatra, the chariot team load the magnificent chariots onto trucks and transport them at 4.30am. A creative team of decorators bring garlands and banners to hang on the chariots. Dedicated stewards, in bright yellow jackets,
This year, the late Parama Karuna dasa, who passed away last year, was remembered. He planned and arranged the set-up at Trafalgar Square for 25 years. His photo was on Lady Subhadra’s chariot, at Her lotus feet.
Preparations in the lead-up to london rathayatra
18
London Rathayatra
Cooking the London Rathayatra feast in Krishna Castle, Holborn Preparing prasadam for 18,000+ people attending the Rathayatra celebrations in Trafalgar Square.
London Rathayatra festival
19
outreach Ladies Sanga In the months of May and June, Ladies Sanga offered a variety of sessions. SESSIONS IN MAY:
SESSIONS IN JUNE:
• 3rd May: Three-hour kirtan session was held where six of the ladies led a beautiful kirtan in a wide range of moods and styles.
• 7th June: Guest speaker, Jambavati devi dasi, shared insights into her journey becoming a devotee in Lithuania.
• 10th May: Sarasvati devi dasi spoke about pastimes of Lord Krishna. She extracted the essence of the first eight chapters of Krishna Book and kept attendees on their toes with questions that playfully challenged their knowledge of Srila Prabhupada’s teachings.
• 14th June: Keli Vrindavan devi dasi gave a talk about chanting the Holy Names from her experience at Mayapur’s Kirtan Academy. She also reintroduced japa chanting in the meetings.
• 17th May: Readings and discussions of the Bhagavad-Gita (Chapter 4, Verse 27) was led by ladies ashram resident, Aida. The group was also informed about the glories of the month of Purushottama and were given cards with recommended prayers for the month. • 24th May: Attendees visited Krishna’s Castle (run by Parasuram dasa). Narada was invited to lead kirtan and Dayananda dasa (Srila Prabhupada disciple) gave nectarine narrations of early memories of the ISKCON movement.
• 31st May: Ladies Sanga celebrated the return of Keli Vrindavan devi dasi from her three-year stint in Sridhama Mayapur, India.Keli Vrindavan devi dasi spoke in this session about living in Sridhama Mayapur.
20
• 21st June: Ladies Sanga joined the Harinama Ruci sankirtan party on street harinama. • 28th June: The team enjoyed a “Ladies Night Out”at Healthy Wealthy pure vegetarian restaurant where they honoured prasadam in honour of Keli Vrindavan devi dasi’s birthday.
Outreach
open days
21
ben hains - all nicely (w)rapped
Outreach
By Louise Guthrie musical flurry for the delectation of all. However, tonight, it’s a tall, calm and quiet figure on the devotional group’s periphery who captures my immediate attention – a young man wearing an immaculate white dhoti, with a perfect tilak on his forehead, and carrying a large “Maha Mantra” emblazoned banner. It is twentyyear old Ben Hains, who, along with his mother Lou, was among some thirty of us who went on a spiritual trip (organised by Bhaktivedanta Manor’s Krishna Wisdom team) to Northern India earlier this year.
I
t’s a glorious summer evening as I hurry straight to the heart of London’s West End entertainment district. Tourists and locals are out in droves visiting the neighbourhood’s many cinemas, theatres, and restaurants. I am not, however, here in pursuit of such worldly distractions, but rather on a mission to catch up with none other than those committed Krishna devotees who, judging by the time (8.15pm) must, by now, be playing, dancing and singing at the Leicester Square stage of their regular Saturday Harinama route. And sure enough, the orange-clad Vaishnavas are happily ensconced at Theatreland’s open-air epicentre, reliably whirling up a mantra-
22
Ben is now continuing his spiritual journey back here in London, and, for him, this is no ordinary weekend. He has, on invitation from Rsi Raya Gauranga dasa, an incumbent devotee, taken up weekend residence at London’s Radha-Krishna Temple ashram. Bearing in mind Ben has been awake since 3.45am, he is looking remarkably fresh and alert. Not only that, but he has a discernible aura of serenity about him (although I cannot help but fleetingly wonder how long anyone can keep a white garment this spotless in central London). We accompany the merry band back to base on Soho Street and eat prasadam before Ben promptly takes his leave to go back inside the Temple, explaining he has
to be up again very early in the morning. He vanishes up the staircase to spend his second night in the ashram, leaving me more than a little curious as to what Temple life is like seen from the inside. (You really don’t know a life until you’ve lived it...) It’s now two weeks later and Ben and I are among the hungry hordes huddled in ISKCONLondon Temple’s eatery, Govinda’s Pure Vegetarian Restaurant. The place is exceptionally busy today, not least because a lively London Mellows annual 24-hour kirtan festival is taking place above us in the Temple Room. (We will be up there shortly but first of all we need to eat!) Ben finishes off his Paneer Thali. “It was great staying here” he recalls, tucking into his Banoffee Pie dessert and fondly remembering his ashram stay of just a fortnight ago. “I loved it.” Was it not a tad loud, I ask him, to sleep here, just off Oxford Street, one of central London’s main commercial and arterial thoroughfares? “They give you ear-plugs” Ben smiles “to block out any noise.” So what was the daily routine like? Ben relates how, upon arrival on Friday evening, he went straight to the Temple Room to hear devotee Dan (who would be taking care of him for the next two days) speak on matters spiritual.
Outreach Then it was up to the ashram sleeping-quarters to get some sound rest before that allimportant timely Saturday morning start. Having been on a Krishna Conscious path for the last two-and-a-half years, Ben was more than ready to relish this dawn awakening. “I liked being up at that time” he says. “It was great to have something really special to get up for, exciting and really good fun. I brushed my teeth very quickly and took a swift shower. The devotees put a white dhoti on me.” Ben enthusiastically took part in the Temple morning programme, chanting his japa rounds and listening to the allotted speaker, before eating a delicious (banana-porridge) breakfast. He then hopped into a minibus with other devotees to be duly whisked off to Camden where the dedicated Hare Krishna crew set themselves up in a public spot with mats, rugs, kartals, mrdrangas, tambourines and spiritual literature for a morning of generating mantra music and distributing spiritual books. Ben recollects how one devotee, Sam, was also playing a guitar. It was out here making music that young Ben, a self-taught and seasoned “conscious rapper”, who writes all his own lyrics, totally came into his own, getting to not only showcase his talent and but also air his musical poetry in the company of like-minded mystical seekers. Ben wrote his first lyrics at the age of 11, and by the time he was into his teens was joining in at open-mike evenings in Camden and East Finchley. Aged just 17, he performed in front of
1,200 people at London’s Hackney Empire, an appearance which won him the night’s “best rapper” trophy, primarily because the judges were so impressed with the meaningfulness of his lyrics. But it is since joining the Hare Krishna movement that Ben’s refrains have sharpened in focus, and their meaning become fully crystallised. So on the streets of Camden, it was not just his fellow followers of Krishna but also chance passers-by who got to sample some of Ben’s now finely-tuned sentiments:
Lord Krishna, you are what I desire You are the flame in my heart burning as sacred fire I love all of your knowledge and I want to know more You are perfect and complete without any floor I am dazzled and amazed by your infinite shine I wish to experience your spiritual skies I love your glorious and beautiful temples The atmosphere inside them is spiritual and transcendental
That’s great – but I still have to ask Ben whether, given the change in routine waking hours, fatigue set in at any point? “No, I was more alert and awake than when I lie in late on a weekend” he insists. So, having caught up with Ben for the home-stretch of Saturday evening Maha Harinama, I witnessed first-hand how keen he was to retire in order to be refreshed and alert for the Sunday morning programme, where again, he chanted his rounds, listened to the appointed speaker and got involved in a Q&A session. Having taken mid-day prasadam, he finally started to think about making tracks home, but not before spontaneously side-stepping to enjoy a (smaller) Sunday afternoon Harinama around major London landmarks. Would he stay at the ashram again? “I’d love to” says Ben, “I really got to immerse myself deeper in devotional and spiritual life. I felt really looked after. The devotees really helped me. I got on well with them and it was great to have their association.” Ben’s mother, Lou, is delighted to see her son has found his spiritual pathway: “From early childhood, my son Ben was always curious about all world faiths and cultures. In his teenage years, he searched for a deeper more meaningful significance in life. He discovered Krishna Consciousness at Bhaktivedanta Manor and from then on, his spirituality found a home. It gives me joy to see him so happy and fulfilled.”
23
radha krishna records new london mellows album
T
his year, London Mellows attendees could take away more than just memories.
Vasana-harini devi dasi; Vigneshwaran Cumareshan and Radha Mentee Group
The first London Mellows album, produced by Radha Krishna Records, was launched at this year’s London Mellows on Saturday 16th June.
SPONSORS:
The album is unique in many ways. One is that it contains full tracks from every kirtaneer (over 40) who sung at London Mellows 2016 - that is over 40 tracks and 24 hours of live kirtan! Another is that it is an album fully funded by our London Mellows supporters, including a generous contribution from late Janaki devi dasi. The album is also Radha Krishna Records’ first album which is presented in a lightweight, slick USB card format, making it much more easier for you to plug and play wherever you are.
Teeha; Andre Fierens; Andrej Juchnevic; Angela
The extensive kirtan-track collection includes well-known kirtaneers featured in previous Radha Krishna Records albums such as Ananda Monet, Gopibhava devi dasi, Jahnavi Harrison, and Radha London Isvara dasa, as well as host of other talented performers.
Joshi; Nihar Mishra; Paramesvara dasa and Devaki
It is available for purchase at £15 from Radha’s Boutique. Purchase the album at Radha’s Boutique or www.radhakrishnarecords/londonmellows
Thanushri Radha Cumareshan; Varsha Ghosh; Vibha
ARTISTS: Abigail Rocchi; Abishek Singh; Ananda Monet; Baladeva Ananda dasa; Balaram Nityananda dasa; Deva Deva dasa; Gopibhava devi dasi; Govinda Priya devi dasi, Jahnavi Harrison; Jai Nitai dasa and Arjuna Mentee Group; Jake Barlow; Jay Krishna Gadhvi; Jayadev dasa; Jenny Yue; Kancana-beli devi dasi; Kavichandra Sivyer; Kishori Jani; Krishna Chaitanya Parmar; Lilamanjari Sane; Madhavika Kirtan devi dasi; Madhvi Mulji; Maha Nrsingha dasa, Param Sundari devi dasi and Lilamanjari Sane; Manjari Vaidya; Namacharya dasa; Navadvipa dasa; Neera Haria; Nimai Gadhvi; Radha London Isvara dasa; Radhika Joshi; Rasa Lila devi dasi; Sandipani Muni dasa; Shari McNamara; Shyam dasa; The Hari Haris; Tota Gopinatha dasa; Tulsi Leela and Radha Rupa;
24
Major Sponsor: Late Janaki devi dasi Sponsors: Aartee Hardas; Aashish Sharma; Amanda Danieli; Bhagavatananda dasa and Vrajkishori devi dasi; Brajeshwari devi dasi; Dipesh Tailor; Don Sharp; Fiona Patel; Giridhari Krsna dasa; Hladini devi dasi; Heerel Gordhan; Hetal Thakkar; Jennal Amin; Jereme Crow; J Luckyram; Kancana-beli devi dasi; Kant Sharma; Lavanga Latika devi dasi; Mahendra Patel; Manoj Synghal; Mario Moroni; Monica Patel; Nainesh Vasistha; Nanda Kishor dasa (24 Hour Kirtan Radio); Nataliya Minchenko; Neeta devi dasi; Premaniketana dasa; Pritesh Jani; Radha Govinda dasa; Rakesh and Ritika Kalia; Rakesh Mannemoni; Ratish Radhakrishnan; Renu Vasdev; Rita Subron; Ritesh Aswaney; Saanchi Dubey; Sandhya Nathwani; Sandhya Taninki; Tana Rupani; Ruparelia; Vrishnee Ramkhelawon
russian vedic society On Sunday 3rd June, devotee couple, Andrej and Natasha, organised and hosted a Japa Marathon where attendees jointly chanted 16 rounds of the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. It was followed by kirtan and prasadam. The Russian Vedic Society had another sanga on Monday 11th June with Nara Hari dasa, leader of the Russian-speaking congregation in Sridhama Mayapur. He spoke about the importance of devotees having a spiritual mentor. Attendees felt blessed by the darshan of Nara Hari dasa’s “magical” deities Who had a unique history. On Saturday 16th June, Monday 18th June and Wednesday 20th June, Bhakti Rasayana Sagar Swami, together with Nara Hari dasa, led two Nama-Hattas and a workshop on various relevant topics and sweet Krishna-katha.
25
sankirtan
26
Sankirtan
27
spiritual mentorship system Bhava Bhakti devi dasi, the Spiritual Mentorship System Coordinator and also a Mentor herself, was interviewed. Here is what she had to say: When did you become a Mentor? I was asked to become a Mentor in January 2007. Why did you become a Mentor? I was excited to become a Mentor due to my own experiences with the Spiritual Mentorship System at the Temple. I came to the Temple in April 1996 when I was studying at University and initially would come for class at lunchtime, take darshan and leave. I felt quite lonely as although the Temple seemed busy, no one seemed to notice me. I was also regularly reading Srila Prabhupada’s books and chanting 16 rounds before I came to the Temple and all that was missing in my life was some devotee association. As time passed, I slowly got to know devotees and started to do some service in Krishna’s Community Shop, now called Radha’s Boutique, but there was no person assigned to look over me and ask me if I was chanting my rounds, if I was ok etc. or even help me prepare for initiation – something I did want to take eventually. At the same time, I noticed how the Temple residents were all in some sort of mentorship system. After many years, when the process of mentorship was rolled out to the wider community, under the direction of the Vice President (at the time), Jai Nitai dasa, I was very happy and honoured to be asked to take up this service as I felt I could provide to others what I had not received initially when coming to the Temple. And what was that? Basically, to be a friend and a guide who can advise spiritually so we can juggle life’s many demands and still be happily situated in spiritual life. How many Mentees do you have? I have a ladies-only Mentee group which is comprised of 12 Mentees.We meet twice a month on Fridays from 6.00pm to 8.30pm where we discuss Srila Prabhupada’s books, do kirtan, chant one round of japa and take prasadam...oh and we take group selfies too! I also have a grihastha Mentee group (a group for married couples) which is with me and my husband as Mentors and this group is comprised of nine couples. This group meets once a month, usually on Tuesdays at 7.00pm. We do kirtan and then each couple is asked to give a presentation on a chapter of Srimad Bhagavatam in
28
whatever format they like – either a speech, a song, drama or a group quiz – all these channels are regularly used I assure you! Afterwards, we take prasadam together. Both the above-mentioned meetings take place at my flat which is fortunately very close to the Temple so easy for Mentees to travel to after work. What do you enjoy about the service? I love this service as it is super challenging for the Mentor! How? First you must ensure you are spiritually nourished otherwise you cannot help your Mentees to water their own devotional creepers.Having a solid sadhana foundation is the key to becoming a strong spiritual leader.I’m not saying I have a strong foundation but I accept the opportunity to always strive towards that so I can help myself and in this way help others. I sometimes see Mentees as spiritual babies and so it is so joyful when they start to spiritually walk and take up responsibility in Krishna Consciousness and flourish spiritually. As a Mentor, we also have to learn to celebrate their successes and put aside your own false ego and motives, basically becoming selfless. Srila Prabhupada has given us a wonderful life under the shelter of his beloved ISKCON and it is very nourishing to try to connect others to this process and help them mature in their faith so that it becomes a lifelong love affair with the Divine Couple – Sri Sri RadhaLondonisvara. What challenges do you experience in your services as a Mentor? It can be super challenging! Those spiritual babies don’t remain babies and when they grow up and become spiritual teenagers you can face some challenges. But that is the beauty of this system as the Mentor must therefore learn to grow and become less of a parent and more of a friend thus ensuring this wonderful spirit soul that Krishna has entrusted to them is guided properly and appropriately so they remain on this path for a lifetime and always know they have a genuine wellwisher in their lives. What do you envision for the future of the Mentorship System? I envision it can only become stronger and larger in terms of devotees willing to take up the challenge to look after devotees, but this can only happen if we as Mentors provide a positive spiritual experience to those already under our care. Krishna loves His devotees dearly and so what greater service is there than to become a servant of the glorious devotees and somehow, in whatever capacity we have, care for these special souls.
F
volunteering rom Tuesday 22nd May to Thursday 24th May, visiting speaker, Chaitanya Charan dasa, facilitated a three-part seminar series for Temple volunteers on the topic of “Cultivating Sensitivity in Relationships”.
Chaitanya Charan dasa is: • Author of 20+ books • Member of ISKCON’s leading intellectual body, the Shastric Advisory Council • Associate Editor of ISKCON’s global magazine, Back to Godhead The seminars covered: • Why we need to be sensitive and why we aren’t • From judgment to encouragement • Dealing with insensitive people After questions and answers, volunteers honoured prasadam together.
29
30
31
HARE KRISHNA! FILM Further Central London screening There was a further Central London screening of “Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami” that took place at Odeon Covent Garden on the afternoon of Saturday 5th May. Famous guest, Boy George (an English singer and songwriter), attended, along with the film’s director, Yadubara dasa, who came to meet with him.
The Film Launch Team The Film Launch Team, initiated in early 2018, is led by Madhava dasa and consists of the following core team members: Devaki dasi (Bhaktivedanta Manor), Devaki devi dasi (ISKCON-London), Gopal Dave, Natasha Menon, and Siddarth Vachhani. As well as working on the UK film premiere which took place in April, they have also been working on securing and promoting additional screenings throughout the UK. Website: www.harekrishnathefilm.com Facebook page: www.facebook.com/harekrishnafilmuk Email: info@krishnafilm.co.uk
36
vip guests in maY and JUNE The following visiting guests did public programmes at ISKCON-London during May and June: MAY • Thursday 3rd May: “Filming the Swami and his Hare Krishna Movement” talk by Yadubara dasa and Visakha devi dasi • Saturday 5th May: Chaitanya Charitamrta class by Bhakti Charu Swami • Wednesday 23rd May, Thursday 24th May, Saturday 26th May and Sunday 27th May: “How to nourish our bhakti-lata-bija based on Lord Chaitanya’s teachings” classes by Chaitanya Charan dasa • Sunday 27th May: “Nourishing our lives with Bhagavad Gita” talk by Chaitanya Charan dasa • Sunday 27th May: Lila Kirtan Drama by Nitai Kirtan dasa JUNE • Sunday 10th June: Snanayatra festival class by Atmanivedana Swami • Saturday 16th June: Kirtan at London Mellows event by Lokanath Swami • Friday 22nd June: Srimad Bhagavatam class by Lokanath Swami • Saturday 23rd June and Sunday 24th June: “Lord Jagannath and the mystery of Rathayatra” classes by Madhavananda dasa • Tuesday 26th June: Srimad Bhagavatam class by Vaisesika dasa • Wednesday 27th June: Bhagavad Gita class followed by kirtan by Kadamba Kanana Swami
37
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
community@iskcon.london
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
CONTACT: T: +44 (0)20 7437 3662 E : info@iskcon-london.org W: www.iskcon.london
@iskconlondon /iskconlondon