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NEW TALAVAN TIMES
February/March/April- 2009
Dear Devotees, friends, and
well-wishers,
Please accept our most humble obeisances,
and we wish you a very happy Spring Season. Jai Srila
Prabhupada! Jai Gurudeva!
Lord Krishna says that, ‘Of seasons I am
flower-bearing Spring,’ and is it any wonder? With the
sweet call of the birds, the shyly
sprouting new leaves in the verdant fields, the buzzing
bees and the
flitting butterflies wooing the
fluttering flowers in the warm, sweetly-scented, spring
air, we have no
doubts whatsoever!
We wish to bring you up-to-date on all
that’s happened here at New Talavana, the Holy Dhama,
which is actually ‘Gupt Vrindavana,’
[Secret/Hidden Vrindavan]. We are sorry that it has
taken so
long, and so we have included the events
of the first half of April. We pray for your forgiveness
and
thank you for your patience.
Without further ado, we present our
report to you, dear readers, and we welcome your
comments,
suggestions, questions and realizations.
Jai Srila Prabhupada! Jai Gurudeva!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
A. FEBRUARY 2009
1. DESTINATION MAYAPUR
2. LORD NITYANANDA’S APPEARANCE DAY
3. MARDI GRAS RATH YATRA
B. MARCH 2009
4. GAURA PURNIMA- THE MOST BLESSED
APPEARANCE DAY OF LORD
CAITANYA.
5. HERB FEST IN OCEAN SPRINGS
C. APRIL 2009
6A. SPRING GARDENING AND GREENHOUSE
6B. SENIOR MEMBER ILL
7. RAMA NAVAMI
8. YOGA GROUP VISITS
9. VYASA POOJA
10. OTHER NEWS
11. SUNDAY FEAST
12. FUND RAISER.
FEBRUARY 2009
1.DESTINATION MAYAPUR
The first week of February saw a mass
exodus of devotees who were headed to Mayapur for the
upcoming Maha-Abhishekh of Sri Sri Panca
Tattva on February 25th, the much-awaited event that
was going to be held only after five
years after Their Installation in 2004 and the last time
until
2014, so naturally devotees were very
eager to attend and get the nectar.
Gaura Purnima–the Blessed Appearance of
Lord Sri Krsna Caitanya, the Most Merciful
Manifestation of the Supreme Lord in
this Age of Kali, followed on March 11 th
in Mayapur-another
reason for the travel out of New
Talavana. Mother Lila Avatara devi dasi, Pundarikakshan
Das
Prabhu, M. Kaivalya Sundari, M. Sripati,
M. Syamalata, M. Sankirtana, Nanda Suta das and his
wife, Sridevi dasi, Lalita Praneshwara
das prabhu, and a lot of the younger folk like Sughosh,
Surariha, Sudesna, Nakula,
Giri-govardhana, Marisha, Balarama dasa, and Devahuti,
left for
Mayapur leaving the stalwarts like M.
Haridhvani, M.Maha-lakshmi, M. Maharani Tulasi, M.
Bhaktidhana etc. along with Yogi prabhu,
Dvibhuja prabhu, Candrabhanu prabhu etc. to take care
of New Talavana Deities.
2.LORD NITYANANDA’S APPEARANCE DAY
February 7 th
was the Most Blessed
Appearance Day of Lord Nityananda, Who is Adi-Guru, the
Most
Merciful and compassionate Lord. Lord
Nityananda is EVEN MORE merciful than Lord Caitanya as
He forgave even the rascals Jagai and
Madhai, whom Lord Caitanya was going to destroy with His
sudarshan cakra, for attacking and
trying to kill Lord Nityananda. Such is His Mercy! Jai
Lord
Nityananda Who is ‘premananda-sukhi.’ We
pray for the shelter of His Divine Lotus Feet!
The abhishekha ceremony was ably carried
out by His Grace Adhrita das, our head pujari. It was a
night ceremony, and all devotees were
ecstatic on the appearance of the Lord. A floor-thumping
kirtan led by His Grace Prahlad
Narasimha das prabhu followed, and our Temple President
Yogindra Vandana das prabhu read from
the Caitanya Bhagavat. After that all devotees
gratefully
accepted the maha prasadam cooked by M.
Gaura.
February also saw the presence of His
Grace Prahlad Narasimha das prabhu, who used every
minute to preach on the coast, attending
various bhakti vriksha groups along with his two sons
and
wife. His Grace also is adept in astro-counseling,
gemology and offering ayurvedic cures to so many
grateful people. His Grace also gave a
wonderful Sunday feast lecture.
The last two weeks of February saw our
Gopi-girl, Jayanti and our dear gurukul teacher, Kalindi
devi, busily preparing the Mardi Gras
Ratha Yatra “cart,” which is actually a huge
semi-trailer
converted into a float for the annual
carnival parade down in New Orleans. It means cleaning
out
the previous year’s decorations and left
over throws, repairing damage, and checking the whole
float
minutely so that it is safe for the
forty or so people who will board it to distribute the
Lord’s Mercy.
After that comes the making of the
decorations and then putting up the decorations- not a
small
task by any means. Lalita Praneshwara
prabhu and Bhakta Scott pitched in and helped a great
deal,
and Yogi Prabhu, Parampara prabhu and
Girigovardhana installed the sound system so that it
played the Maha Mantra the whole day
long on the carnival ride, giving the Holy Name to
thousands. His Grace Jagadvallabha das
afixed the altar nicely to the semi-trailer so that the
Deities
could ride without any hitch. The little
gurukuli kids, Nityapriya and Draupadi, not to be left
behind, helped paint the cart.
It meant many, many hours of labor,
every day, for many days. But our young folks are made
of
stern stuff. Dedicated and committed,
they did not pause until it was all done! The result was
a
beautiful cart with the theme, ‘COME AND
CHANT WITH US-THE PARTY ANIMALS,’ with lovely
murals of various animals, ecstatically
chanting and dancing to the Maha Mantra, a la
Jharikhanda
forest! [See Chaitanya Caritamrta,
Madhya Lila 17.1 for the amazing pastime].
3. MARDI GRAS RATH YATRA
Mardi Gras was on February 24 th,
and this time, His Holiness
Jayapataka Swami’s absence [due to
health reasons] was greatly
missed. Guru Maharaj NEVER, well,
practically never, misses
Mardi Gras Ratha Yatra, and the people
in New Orleans are
thrilled when they see Guru Maharaj,
royally attired in a
beautiful, eye-catching turban, looking
like a Royal Maharajah
waving to the crowd and giving them ‘prasadam.’
However, Guru
Maharaj is always giving us his mercy,
and so we took heart from
that to carry on. We hope very much to
have his kind and loving
association next year for Mardi Gras.
Finally the day arrived, and the cart
was ready for Lord Jagannath to ascend to His Divine
Throne
on the cart. Many devotees were needed
to lift Him and transport Him from the New Talavana
temple to the cart. His Grace Giridhari
prabhu, who is M. Kaivalya’s husband, His Grace Sarvadi
prabhu, His Grace Parampara prabhu and
our tough youngsters Subal and Narayan, and a few
others helped with great happiness, to
bring Lord Jagannath to the cart where the Lord then
gave
His merciful darshan to many people.
The cart was taken to New Orleans early
that morning and last-minute decorations were put on,
and devotees and guests from there
climbed onto the cart. This time there were many devotee
guests on the float, outnumbering temple
devotees. His Grace Dasarath Suta das prabhu came all
the way from Florida to film the Mardi
Gras Carnival, and we are hoping to get a DVD for sale
and a
movie documentary from him. Of the
devotee guests, Mr.
Bansal and Mr. Ram Sharma were attired
in colorful turbans
and looked every inch like royalty from
Rajasthan, much to
everyone’s delight. The Mardi Gras is a
colorful event, and
every little bit of color helps add to
the festive look. They, along
with their wives and many other ladies
[wives of New Orleans
devotees] and their children, made up
the rest on the float.
They all paid the $25.00 fee and brought
their own ‘throws,’-
beads, hats and stuffed animals to throw
to the crowd, which is
always eager for something.
M. Jayapatni made a triumphant return to
do her service by riding the cart this year after her
kidney transplant, and we are very
grateful to Guru Maharaj and Lord Jagannatha for saving
her
life and giving her back to us. Bhaktin
Jennifer who has been coming to our temple for a year
now,
also rode on the cart for the first time
and enjoyed the ride. In all, 40 people rode on the cart
this
time.
The lovely utsav murtis of Lord
Jagannatha, Lady Subhadra and Lord Baladeva were ushered
in
with due pomp and ceremony and installed
on the float, and away the cart went at 9:30 AM.
Throughout the day Their worship was
carried out on the cart by His Grace Biram das for the 3 rd
consecutive year helped by Govinda das.
Their Lordships were offered the noon ‘bhoga,’ and
aratik,
and at 4:30 pm fruits were offered to
the accompaniment of kirtan and aratik.
Why do we take so much trouble to
install Lord Jagannath on the cart and take Him for
giving
darshan? It is the Lord’s desire! He
gives darshan once a year to those souls who refuse to
enter His
temple and worship Him. Instead, in His
Infinite Mercy, He comes out to give His darshan! Just
see
the munificence of the Lord! It is said
that any one who pulls the rope of the Rath Yatra or
offers
obeisances or chants along with others
or even just sees
the Lord in the Yatra
gets rid of ALL
his/her sins of millions of lifetimes!
And that is why the devotees take the Lord on the Rath
Yatra.
Thanks to His Divine Grace Srila
Prabhupada, this festival, once celebrated only in
Orissa, India, is
now celebrated all over the world, and
San Francisco is one among the cities of the USA which
has
an official State Rath Yatra day!
Getting back to the cart- although the
cart took the wrong direction initially and almost got
stuck in
the wrong parade, by Krishna’s mercy
everything went well, and the cart got on to the right
parade
and came before the ‘Crew of New
Orleans,’ who were the judges for every cart. Everyone
on our
float was looking colorful in various
animal masks [see pictures] and ecstatically chanting
the Hare
Krishna Maha Mantra. Throughout the
ride, thereafter, peanuts, bagged by our dedicated
Vaisnavees of New Talavana, were thrown
to the crowds. For almost a month, every morning during
the Srimad Bhagavatam class, M. Maharani
Tulasi, M. Jayapatni [who has made a near miraculous
recovery from kidney failure, via
transplant], M. Mahalaxmi, M. Lila Avatara, Jayanti and
Sridevi
dasi continually bagged peanuts. Not to
be outdone His Grace Dasarath Suta das and Bhakta Blake
also joined in and later joyfully threw
peanuts to the people.
Everyone was made to chant ‘Hare
Krishna’ before they got a prize- throw. We had large
signs that
said, “Chant ‘HARE KRISHNA’ for a
throw,” and in response the crowd was loudly chanting
‘HARE
KRISHNAAAAA!’ thus wiping away the
sinful reactions of millions of lifetimes of sin! Just
by taking
the Holy Name ONCE one is so relieved!
All glories to the Holy Name!
The regulars who know about us hold up
large signs themselves, which say, “Throw me those Hare
Krishna clothes!,” and of course we
oblige them by throwing them colorful saris, salwaar
kameez,
etc., which are received with a roar of
approval. Incense is another hot favorite with so many
asking
for it. Even one single stick of incense
is enough for them!
Next year we plan to have a better
musical presentation for the Mardi Gras parade with
kirtan
music from around the world that
incorporates stringed instruments, horns, and keyboard
to
appeal to the people of New Orleans, who
are the original jazz people. We also want to thank so
many devotees who gave so much to make
it a success, and the list of donors follows:
His Grace Devala Rsi das- 500 hats.
Mr. Bill from Sun Products- $300.00
M. Mohanasini- $108.00
We also wish to thank all the devotees
who work in the French Quarter, selling books, and
collecting
donations for Food For Life who gave
donations ranging from $25.00 to $100.00 each.
His Grace Drumila das, who collected
donations of ‘laksmi’ to pay the fees for the truck and
truck
driver and the insurance, as well as
money to prepare and decorate the cart, personally
donated
$200.00. His Grace collected a total of
$1750.00 that was used for the Rath Yatra. All glories
to his
service! All glories to the devotees who
worked so hard and so selflessly to distribute the
Lord’s
mercy!
We returned to the New Orleans temple at
5.30 p.m. We express our thanks to the New Orleans
temple for providing breakfast and lunch
prasadam to all on the cart and dinner at the temple on
return from the parade. We pray that
together, every year we continue to do our small part in
distributing Lord Jagannatha’s mercy to
all!
JAI LORD JAGANNATHA, THE LORD OF THE
UNIVERSE, WHO GIVES HIS MERCY
UNRESERVEDLY TO ALL FALLEN SOULS!
MARCH 2009
March 2 nd
– we sadly said good-bye to
our Head Pujari, His Grace Adhrita das prabhu, his
lovely
wife, Sukanta Sakhi and their charming
daughter Nityapriya who went back to India to take up
another assignment there. While we wish
them well, we simply pray that one day they will be back
with us, giving us their inspiring
association. We cannot forget their steady, dedicated
service, their
personal purity and their wonderful
example of devotional service to the Deities. The
congregation,
which greatly benefited from M. Sukanta
Sakhi’s steady nurturing through phone calls, e-mails,
and
fliers miss her sorely and pray for her
return along with her good husband to New Talavana. We
miss you, prabhus! Please give us your
kind association from time to time, at least by e-mail.
4. GAURA PURNIMA.
The Most Blessed Appearance Day of Lord
Caitanya arrived on MARCH
10 th.
His Grace Mahendranatha das prabhu, disciple of Srila
Prabhupada,
who was one of the first devotees in the
early 70s to come to the farm, led
an ecstatic kirtan playing the harmonium
in
praise of Lord Narasimhadeva. His Grace
Prahlad Narasimha das prabhu, his two
sons
and his wife were the guests of honor
for the
festival. Vanamali played the harmonium
and
sang beautiful kirtans, while Cidananda
played the mrdanga. His Grace
Prahlad Narasimha das prabhu led an
ecstatic kirtan and also gave a
wonderful Gaura Purnima lecture. His
Grace Doyamoy prabhu cooked
the feast on that day with the help of
His Grace Nikunja prabhu and made
delicious subjis and rice. M. Gaura
baked a lovely 3-tier birthday cake for the Lord.
Devotees also
brought in individual preparations to
number a total of 108 preps that were lovingly offered
to the
Lord.
Everyone had fasted all day, waiting for
moonrise to come to celebrate the birth of Lord
Caitanya.
All were rewarded by the unveiling of
the Deities in all Their Divine Splendor. There were
gasps of
admiration and delight as the Deities
appeared in vivid green and yellow with the theme of
bananas.
Everyone went bananas after that! The
whole altar was decorated with golden yellow bananas,
the
color of Lord Gauranga, and even Lord
Jagannatha had lovely yellow bananas over His ears, on
His
forehead and on His arms. The pillars of
the temple were decorated with, of course, bananas.
Banana trees were brought in from New
Orleans and tied to the pillars with bananas, and the
trees
looked as though they had suddenly
sprouted there, laden with bananas to offer to Their
Lord. His
Grace Asoka Amrita das prabhu, as usual,
sponsored the dress for the Deities, the flowers,
garlands
and decorations on the altar and then
left for Hawaii. M. Lajja also donated some ‘laksmi’ for
the
flowers and many devotees offered gifts
and ‘laksmi’ to Their Lordships.
Mother Mahalaksmi Radha dressed Sri Sri
Radha-Radha Kanta, Mother Bhaktidhana dressed Sri
Sri Gaura Nitai, and M. Maharani Tulasi
decorated the altar. These Vaisnavees are expert in
dressing the Deities and have been doing
so for over 25-30 years. All glories to their service!
Inspite of the fact that it was a
weekday and an evening program, a number of guests
attended
Gaura Purnima. Mr. Mansukh Chudasama and
his family came all the way from Destrehan,
Louisiana and then Bhaktin Linda, Joe
and Babe and Jennifer also came to partake of the mercy.
In
all, about 150 people were present to
glorify the Lord, and Dasarath Suta das and M. Revati
did a
musical piece. M. Revati also offered
massage to some devotees and did a first level Reiki
course for
some of them. After the festival,
Prahlad prabhu and family left for Ecuador to visit
their family
whom they were going to see after 10
years.
5. HERB FEST
MARCH 28 th.
For over 15 years, Dvibhuja das prabhu and his wife have
been regular attendees at
the Annual Herb Fest and offer their
wonderful herbal medicine to many people there. Jayanti
had
everything organized and set up the
herbal medicine table. She is an able assistant, and His
Grace
Dvibhuja relies on her more and more to
take care of the shop. She harvests the herbs, cleans
and
washes them and puts them into specially
prepared bottles to extract the active principle of the
herb. Later they are bottled and sent by
mail to many people or sold over the counter at the
shop.
Herbal medicine is very popular for its
efficacy, safety and lack of side-effects and because it
can be
used in conjunction with other
medicines.
The temple also provides prasadam, and
the food is eagerly awaited by the people who attend.
From
early morning we had people come up to
us asking us if we had ‘brought that lovely food.’ Yes,
we
said. And the next question was, ‘When
will you serve it out?’ ‘As soon as we set up
everything,’ was
the answer. And they could hardly wait.
Some of them remembered the last year when they were
served prasadam and said they had waited
all year for this! In all we served out over 100 plates
of
prasadam.
APRIL 2009
6. A. SPRING GARDENING
On April 1 st,
the New Orleans devotees came over in a big group of
with their wives and children and
started their Spring gardening project
to the accompaniment of rousing kirtan. The temple
president, Ananta Gopala das, along with
Ananta Sesa prabhu, Sukadeva prabhu, Bhaja Govinda
das, Ranchor prabhu, Biram prabhu and
many others cleaned, pulled weeds, planted, and mulched
while some of the ladies cooked up a big
feast which they all offered and enjoyed later on. They
came again, 2 weeks later on April 14 th,
and planted all kinds of
vegetables on a 1-acre patch. In all,
about 40 people were involved in this
vegetable garden project, something that each one of us
will
be forced to do in the years to come,
given the way this world is going. So why not begin now?
New Talavana youth were not far behind,
and they too have undertaken a spring gardening project
on a 1-acre patch. Narayana das, his
brother Prabhupada Charan das, Jayanti and Vishwambara
began the work. Narayan das and
Jagadvallabha also obtained a greenhouse in New Orleans
[which
was donated to us], dismantled it and
brought it over to New Talavana and set it up again
behind
the temple. This greenhouse is to be
used for planting seeds in winter and keeping the plants
alive,
ready for spring planting and also for
harvesting new seeds from others for the next planting.
6. B. SENIOR MEMBER VERY ILL
Unfortunately, the coming of Spring did
little to bring cheer to our senior-most member, His
Grace,
72-year-old Dvijahari prabhu who is
suffering from pleurisy that causes a collection of
fluid in his
lungs. It makes it difficult to breathe,
and the operation carried out to drain it causes him a
lot of
pain. His Grace underwent another
procedure recently to drain it, and experienced some
relief in
terms of pain, but the fluid reportedly
is back and means another trip to the hospital. The
biopsy*
report is awaited. His son Narayan, a
U.S Marine sergeant, who works in California, came over
to be
with him, help him in the hospital and
offer moral support and encouragement during the
surgery,
and after he left Narayan, [who is known
as ‘Da’] Prabhupada Carana, His Grace Candrabhanu
prabhu and Bhakt Roy are assisting him
in his daily needs as well as trips to the hospital. Now
that
Pundarik prabhu is back, he too has
joined in visiting him and helping him. We are humbly
requesting you all to please pray for
His Grace’s health and well-being to the Supreme Lord
Sri
Krishna Caitanya.
*As we put the finishing touches to this
newsletter, we learn that the doctors have made the
diagnosis of terminal lung cancer and
given our resident about 12 months to live if he takes
chemotherapy and about 9 months without
it. Let us all come together to serve and pray for
Dvijahari prabhu and to help him in any
and every way we can. We can never tell what is going to
happen. Many times patients have lived
long after doctors wrote them off. However, it is always
better to be prepared. When Srila
Prabhupda was enacting his final pastimes on this earth,
His
Divine Grace warned all his disciples,
“Don’t think this will not happen to you.” This is a
fact. Death
is certain and will come sooner or
later. The question for all of us is, “Where will we go
next?” The
answer, “It all depends on one’s
consciousness at the time of death.” This will carry us
either into
another body and another death and so on
or to Krishna’s abode and eternal life. The choice is
ours
to prepare for that time- ‘ante
narayanah smritih.’
7. RAMA NAVAMI.
APRIL 3 rd.
The appearance of Lord Ramachandra, Who is none other
than the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, as the ideal son, the ideal
husband and ideal the ideal king, was ushered in with
pomp
and ceremony. Srila Prabhupada
instructed us that the birth of Lord Ramachandra should
be
celebrated as we would the birth of Lord
Krishna or Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, as Lord Rama is
none other than Lord Krishna. Early
morning, at 7 AM devotees chanted the lovely hymn;
‘Raghupati Raghava Raja Rama’ for
Darshan Aratik, and the picture of Lord Rama with His
Eternal
Consort, Sita, Brother Lakshmana, and
faithful servant Hanuman was worshipped on the altar.
Devotees fasted till sunset for the
appearance of the Lord. Everyone came together at 6 PM
to
worship Lord Rama, and we had a nice
kirtan led by our Temple President, His Grace Yogindra
Vandana Dasa. This was followed by a
short reading by our little Gurukuli, Draupadi about the
extraordinary Lord Rama, and then Yogi
Prabhu read about the appearance of the Lord with great
devotion and had us all entranced with
his dramatic reading. All of us listened enchanted to
the
story of the birth of Lord Rama-how His
father Dasarath prayed and then performed a sacrifice
and
then had the Lord Himself advent in his
family. The demigods were also praying to the Supreme
Lord to please relieve them of the
terror being unleashed by the demon Ravana. Lord Rama
appeared in order to destroy Ravana, the
demon, who was tormenting all the three worlds and had
become very cruel due to his enormous
material powers. Lord Ramachandra, being the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, dispatched him
without difficulty. But the trials and tribulations of
Lord
Rama, as He searches for his wife Sita,
is a lesson in dharma and Vedic culture for all of us.
The
Deity of Lord Rama is worshipped not
just in India, but also in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand,
Myanmar [called Burma before], Singapore
and many more South East Asian countries proving
that Vedic culture was not confined to
India. His eternal servant, Hanuman, is a great devotee
of the
Lord and is eternally singing the
praises of his dear Lord Ramachandra.
8. YOGA GROUP
APRIL 4 th.
Bhakta Arvin came over with his group of yoga
enthusiasts to N.T. They practice
‘sudarshan yoga,’ a method of breathing
propagated by the Art of Living Society. They did their
‘kriya’ from 10.30 am-12 noon, took part
in the kirtan in which one of their members, Saroj,
danced,
and then they had prasadam with great
pleasure.
There were also 3 students, one of whom
was Sainath, who came from Baton Rouge. They also took
part in the kirtan and honoring of
prasadam. It was a great opportunity for preaching and
sharing
the Lord’s mercy! Suratani Rangini, M.
Maharani Tulasi, Yogi prabhu and M. Sridevi were around
to help them. The group said they had a
very nice time in the ‘peaceful atmosphere’ of New
Talavana and said that they would come
again. You are always welcome, Arvin, with all your
friends. Hare Krishna!
9. VYASA POOJA OF HIS HOLINESS JAYAPATKA
SWAMI.
Our very dearly beloved Guru Maharaj,
His Holiness Jayapataka Swami, was born on an Ekadashi.
This year His Holiness’ Vyasa Pooja was
celebrated on APRIL 5 th,
Sunday which was Kamada
Ekadashi. The program was slated to
begin at 10.30 AM, but finally we began at 11.30 AM. All
of us
greatly appreciated the well-decorated
Vyasasana of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada and His
Holiness Jayapataka Swami. The flowers,
leaves and creepers seemed to be bowing down to their
lotus feet, and rejoicing at their good
fortune. M. Kalindi and M. Narasimha Laksmi showed us
how
much bhakti and love they have for the
pure devotees of the Lord by their decorations. Local
devotees offered their homage, and then
it was time for the noon aratik. Imagine our delight
when
we found out that apart from our Sunday
guests, a group of students from USM, Hattiesburg came
over to fulfill the requirements of a
college course. We concluded that this was another fine
example
of Guru Maharaj’s mercy! His Holiness,
who is an eternal associate of Lord Caitanya, is ALWAYS
distributing his mercy to everyone, and
this day of his Vyasa Pooja was no exception. These
young
students had the great good fortune of
participating in the ceremonies.
After kirtan from 12 noon until 12.30,
we had Suratani Rangini devi dasi, our Temple
President’s
daughter who is now growing up into a
lovely young girl, singing the prayers to Lord
Narasimhadeva. At 12.45 PM or so, after
the announcements and welcoming our guests with
garlands, we continued with homages
until 1.30 PM. This was followed by Puspanjali and Guru
Pooja. M. Kaivalya Sundari devi dasi
sang the prayers of Gurvastakam and led the kirtan with
great
enthusiasm. Enlivened by her, all of us
sang with great fervor, humbly begging for Guru
Maharaj’s
mercy in our hearts. JAI GURU MAHARAJ!
JAI SRILA PRABHUPADA!
10. OTHER NEWS
Her Grace, M. Bhaktidhana and His Grace
Candrabhanu prabhu, her good husband, were busy
almost the whole first fortnight of
April upgrading the guest facilities. The ‘laksmi’ for
doing that
came from timbering trees from land that
we hope to sell/lease for lifetime leases to people so
that
they may have some security for tough
economic times. After all, real wealth is in the land
and
cows! Working for Mother Bhoomi yields
great blessings and also great rewards! The money from
the trees also went to the ISKCON
Gurukuli Fund, and we hope to upgrade roads and the
kitchen
facility.
Speaking of the kitchen, the Health
Inspector came and certified our kitchen for another
year. She
found everything reasonably clean, and
she found the cooked food at the correct hot temperature
as
required [140 degree F] and the stored
produce also at the right cold temperature [40 F]. She
recommended a new screen door and new
racks in the refrigerator.
Her Grace, M. Gaura, who was never able
to go back to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina,
decided to finally establish a permanent
residence here at New Talavana by buying a trailer. We
are
very grateful to Her Grace for choosing
us to be with, as she is a major part of the staff at
New
Talavana. Temple management, helping
with the gurukula, cooking delectable preparations for
our
Deities, much to the delight of
devotees, are just some of her talents. M. Gaura is also
an excellent
seamstress. Her Grace has stitched
dresses for the Deities, the Deity curtains, the
curtains over the
windows in the temple room, dresses for
the small murti of Srila Prabhupada and the decorations
for the small vysasana. Her wonderfully
baked and decorated cakes come straight from the
spiritual
world! The ‘bhakti’ with which each cake
is made and decorated leaves us all gazing in admiration
and delight. All glories to her service!
His Grace Jayaram prabhu almost
completed one of the pillars on the façade in front of
the temple
altars. We thank His Grace for all his
hard work and bhakti to our Deities.
These very tough economic times-
millions have been laid off, and there are no new jobs
availablesaw
a number of requests for land from us at
New Talavana. We would like to help people find
security by having their plot of land
and growing food. The Board is trying to accommodate the
needs of the people. This is what Srila
Prabhupada wants us to do-work the land, grow food, take
care of cows, chant Hare Krishna, live
simply and focus on going back Home, back to Godhead.
MAY WE ALL COME TOGETHER AND WORK TO
SAVE OURSELVES!
11. SUNDAY FEAST
APRIL 12 th
saw a happy family reunion
for M. Jayapatni with her beautiful children. Dhruva
arrived
with his wife Jodi, Jaya came with
Narayani, and along with Jayanti they will all be going
to the
Festival of Inspiration at New
Vrindavana, May 8 th-10th,
2009. It was a wonderful, special occasion
for M. Jayapatni who has come through a
trying time in the past two years and is now better
thanks
to a kidney transplant. We pray that Her
Grace and her children always give their kind and
inspiring association to all of us at
New Talavana. Speaking of the Festival of Inspiration,
the
Grihastha Vision Team, of which M.
Sridevi is a member, is presenting the first ever
Vaisnava
Marriage and Family Festival. For
details please go to
http://www.dandavats.com/?cat=15.
Our long-time, steady, generous cow
protection program donors from Austin, TX drove for over
12
hours to be with us for the weekend.
They attended mangal-aratik everyday, chanted ‘japa,’
walked
around our lovely fields, toured the
facilities, saw the cow barn, and soaked in the peaceful
New
Talavan atmosphere. And that was not
all- they even sponsored the Sunday feast! THANK YOU SO
MUCH, Mother Padma and Vitthalbhai
Mistry prabhu. Your generous help has made a big
difference to our cow protection
program. May everyone be enlivened to protect Go-mata by
your
example! We pray that Lord Krishna
showers His love and affection on you and your loved
ones.
Our Baton Rouge friends who had come on
April 4 th
also came on Sunday. Sainath was
back with
Ramkishore, Venkateshwar Rao and a few
more student friends. They had brought with them their
friend Farouq, who is a Muslim, and who
came along with them to express his support and
solidarity. Our Temple President was so
delighted to have him at our temple that he exclaimed,
‘Give him 2 garlands!’ (rather than the
customary one.)
We also had longstanding herb clients of
His Grace Dvibhuja das as our guests. Shoney and T. J
along with their father had come early
in the morning and helped in cleaning the temple room
with
a cheerfulness that was infectious.
Thank you so much! We really appreciate any help we get.
Premanjana das led the kirtan, and then
His Grace Dvibhuja gave us a wonderful class on Bhagavad
Gita As
It is 8:16, reminding us that “from the
highest to the lowest planet all are places of birth and
death.” Let us
always remember that, chant Hare Krishna
and go back Home, back to Godhead! Our life here is very
short.
12. FUND RAISER.
In the first half of the month of April,
Yogindra prabhu and Jayanti mailed out an ‘Adopt-A-Cow’
Capital Fund Raiser in a humble attempt
to finance the protection of Lord Krishna’s cows in
these
difficult economic times. Although the
response is slow due to the problems of today’s economy,
many donors have tightened their belts
and somehow contributed some ‘laksmi.’ We are very
grateful for this help. We also humbly
appeal to all, if you can afford it, and can make some
adjustments in your budget, to please
send in some ‘laksmi’ for the protection and care of
Lord
Krishna’s cows. Lord Krishna, in turn
takes care of those who take care of His most beloved
animal,
Mother Cow or Go-Mata. So if you can
make a little sacrifice and/or save some money to send
in to
us we will be deeply thankful.
Why do cow protection programs need
donations? A very good question to ask before you donate
money. The reason is that, “we are
forced to practice cow protection within the context of
a
perverted social and economic context,…
the natural order has been turned topsy-turvy,’ and ‘a
supportive community of devotees can at
least partially make up for that lack so that the cows
can
be protected.” Also, “Krsna is watching
the cow protectors and their supporters, and although
the
present struggle is very difficult, the
spiritual success of the program is guaranteed.” Ref:
http://www.dandavats.com/?p=7142 .
For a very illuminating analysis and answers please
click on
the link.
We take this opportunity to also remind
all our dear readers, well-wishers and friends that the
land
taxes for 2009 amount to $7500.00, due
early January 2010. The ‘laksmi’ for last year’s taxes
was
finally collected in Jan-Feb of this
year and we are very grateful to all who contributed to
save Lord
Krishna’s land, so dear to Him and to
Srila Prabhupada.
Here is the list of donors:
1. His Grace Parampara das- $100.00
2. Everest Consulting Co - $201.00
3. Lajja devi dasi- $200.00
4. Narayana das- $108.00
5. His Grace Dvibhuja das- $108.00
6. ISKCON New Orleans- $ 501.00
7. His Grace Ramakeli das- $ 108.00
8. Donald Harmon- $100.00
9. Anonymous- $ 108.00
10. Anonymous- $ 108.00
11. Anonymous- $ 300.00
12. His Grace Nanda Suta das and Sridevi
dasi- $251.00
13. Anonymous- $ 108.00
14. S.K. Mindon $201.00
15. Bhakt ‘Baba ’
Bill- $1008.00
16. Anonymous- $ 108.00
17. Miriam- $ 108.00
18. Anonymous- $ 61.00
19. Anonymous- $ 108.00
20. His Grace Doyamoy das- $500.00
21. His Grace Yogindra prabhu, M.
Maharani and family- $ 500.00
22. His Grace Bhushaya das and M.
Syamalata- $ 108.00
23. Her Grace Jayapatni Gopi devi dasi
and family- $125.00
24. Beverly and Tyler Cobb- $ 40.00
25. Anonymous- $ 108.00
26. His Grace Adhrita das and family- $
108.00
27. Anonymous- $ 1771.00
28. Vishwambara- $ 300.00.
Again, thank you all so much! May Srila
Prabhupada and Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya shower you
with their mercy!
With this we come to an end of the news
and events for the month of February, March and the
first
half of April 2009. We apologize for the
delay in sending it out due to our writer and typist ,
Sridevi
dasi being away in Mayapur, and then
taking her own sweet time to get down to her service in
spite
of stern orders from the Temple
President to show up and get on with it!
Thank you for your patience, and thank
you for your patronage of our beloved temple.
Sincerely,
Yogindra Vandana Das Adhikari and
your humble servants at New Talavana.
|
NEW TALAVAN TIMES
August-September Newsletter
-2008
Reporter-Yogindra Vandana
das.
Writer: Sridevi dasi [Dr.
Lakshmi Dajak].
Editing- HG Candrabhanu
das.
Typist- Sridevi Dasi.
Layout and design -
Ramatoshan das.
|
|
|
1.
His Holiness Bhakti Purushottama Swami.
2.
HG Deena Bandhu Prabhu’s visit.
3.
Janmashtami.
4.
Vyasa Puja of the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON, His Divine
Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
5.
Two new calves.
6.
Hurricane Gustav.
7.
Radhashtami.
8.
His Holiness Bhakti Raghava Swami’s seminar on
daivi-varnasrama.
9.
Announcements.
10.
Appeal
11.
Financial Disclosure.
Coming Festivals
Tuesday Oct. 9th is
Ramavijayotsava, the killing of Ravana.
This festival is traditionally sponsored
by our Gurukula and consists of evening artik, the
narration of this pastime and the burning of an effigy
of the Rakshasa Ravana. A gurukuli dressed as Rama will
take a bow with a flaming arrow and shoot Ravana in the
heart, (they usually miss) as we all chant the Maha
Mantra. When the effigy goes up in flames we dance
around it and then retire for prasadam, consisting of
noodles, popcorn, cookies and peppermint tea.
See you there……….
Ekadasi is Friday Oct. 10th,
and Thursday Oct. 24th. The Kartik month of
Lord Damodar begins on the full moon day, Tuesday Oct.
14th. Dipavali is Tuesday Oct. 28th,
the new moon. The next day, Wednesday, Oct 29th,
is
Govardhan Puja.
We will celebrate the evening ceremony with
6:00 pm artik, worship of Govardhan hill and
the auction of the model forests created by our
gurukulis. Afterwards there will be a big feast.
During the month there are many
appearance and disappearance days of great Vaisnavas.
Sat., Nov. 1st is the
disappearance anniversary of Srila Prabhupada. It will
be celebrated Sat. at
noon and also Sunday at
noon.
Sat. Nov. 8th is our Second annual Festival
of the cow-Go
Puja Mela.
Since our last newsletter,
life on the farm has been a never-ending cycle of peace
and spiritual locomotion. After all the guests go home
and the festivals come to an end, then calmness and
serenity pervade as the New Talavanites remain animated
for more devotional service.
1. HIS HOLINESS
BHAKTI PURUSHOTTAMA SWAMI’S
arrival at New
Talavana on the eve of Janmasthami was anticipated with
pleasure. All of us were greatly enlivened by the
presence of a pure soul who is one of the stalwart
disciples of HH Jayapataka Swami. Maharaj has done and
continues to do tremendous work in Mayapur and also
organizes the Puri Parikrama. HH’s class was
spell-binding. Maharaj spoke about how fortunate we are
that we celebrate Janmashtami - the birth of the Supreme
Lord Sri Krsna, for in the spiritual world there is no
birth or death hence no Janmashtami! We felt very much
blessed and enthused to hear this and applauded loudly.
Maharaj informed us that this Gaura Purnima of 2009
March is very special because Maha-Abhisheka of Sri Sri
Pancha Tattva will take place for the first time since
their installation is 2004, and will not take place for
another 5 years as this will be done only every half a
decade. Maharaj had brought along program schedules for
Gaura Purnima and the Puri Parikrama festivals and
encouraged all of us to come. The Puri Parikrama
includes free accommodation and free prasadam for those
3 days- the only cost incurred will be in reaching
there! What a wonderfully auspicious opportunity in the
month of Kartik! Maharaj then unveiled his new book on
the glories of Srimati Radharani, and many devotees came
forward to buy the book and drink the nectar. His
Holiness left us feeling nostalgic for the Holy Dhams of
Sri Mayapur, Vrindavan and Jagannath-Puri, and we all
prayed for His Holiness’ blessings so that we could be
there someday.
2. HG DEENA BANDHU
PRABHU,
who has made the
worship and upkeep of the most holy Vrinda Kund in India
his life’s mission, was here on the eve of Janmashtami
and gave us his saintly association all the way till
several days after. He brought with him the
transcendental pastimes of the Supreme Lord Sri Hari in
the Holy Dham of Vraja. His enchanting narration had us
totally in bliss. His Grace’s scholarly and in-depth
answers
to some questions were greatly enlightening to us. For
example, we learned that Sri Krsna never leaves
Vrindavan for even a second- then how was He born in
Mathura?
The answer is that the
baby Krsna brought by his father Vasudeva across the
Yamuna merged into the body of Sri Vrajanandana,
who was lying in the form of a baby next to his mother
Yashoda who had just given birth to him from her heart.
This also puts an end to all doubts about Yashoda really
being the Lord’s mother, for she did give birth to him.
The Supreme Lord’s sister, Yogamaya, who was carried
away in exchange to the prison, was also born to M.
Yashoda just before the arrival of Vasudeva across the
Yamuna. Similarly the baby Balarama, born to Rohini,
another wife of Vasudeva is also a combination- of the 7th
child of Devaki and the baby in the womb of Rohini.
Because the Lord Anant-Sesha was forcibly attracted to
the womb of Rohini by the supreme will of Sri Krsna, He
is also known as Sankarsana.
3. THE BLESSED
BIRTHDAY OF THE SUPREME LORD SRI KRSNA- JANMASHTAMI,
AUGUST 24TH, 2008.
  His
Grace Deena Bandhu enlivened us not only with pastimes
but also with sweet kirtans of Vraja dhama and had us
dancing in bliss and thoroughly enjoying the unique
steps as we followed him. Abhishekha of their Lordships
Sri Radha Krsna was performed under the able direction
of HG Adhrita prabhu, our Head Pujari. Shri Deena Bandhu,
from time to time called out, ‘Sri Krsna Chandra
Bhagavan ki!’ to which the audience roared, ‘JAYA.’ Thus
it was that the Supreme Lord, Sri Hari, was born at the
stroke of midnight to the sound of tumultuous kirtana!
The lovely Deities with all their eye-catching birthday
paraphernalia were unveiled again and all of us gasped
at the gorgeous decorations and transcendental
arrangements of flowers, fish, aquatics, sea shells, in
keeping with the home of ‘matsya’- fish, in the ocean.
What a soothing and cooling presentation, raining the
water of mercy on our parched eyes and hearts! What
bliss to be in that kirtan, drinking in the nectar of
the holy name! What joy to be inhaling the heart-melting
fragrance of incense, rising in billowing clouds on the
altar! Thus the Lord satisfies all the senses of His
eager devotees and fills us with bliss, giving us just a
small glimpse of the sat-cid-ananda nature of the
spiritual world, Vaikuntha, which is eternal, full of
knowledge and bliss!
The beautiful new
dress for the Deities and the blooming flowers and roses
which graced the altar were donated by none other than
our faithful Shriman Ashoka Amrta das prabhu. His Grace,
the first ever Bengali disciple of Srila Prabhupada, who
holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, has a special
fondness for our deities, for His Grace is always here,
every year, and They in turn have singled him out for
the special mercy of decorating Them.
Our dear friends and
congregational members for years, Shri Bharat, Vijay and
Jayesh Patel’s family cooked up a transcendental feast
which included Ekadashi preps. The prasadam was
excellent, and it wowed everyone in terms of variety,
taste, presentation and the ‘bhakti’ that it was
loaded with! Thank you, prabhus; you are celestial cooks
from the celestial world who come specially to cook for
Their Lordships every year, and we are so grateful that
you give your mercy to us. Not to be outdone, New
Talavanites faithfully followed up with their
contribution of 108 preparations that included so many
goodies that all were fully satisfied. What took the
cake was literally a cake- a beautiful offering made by
none other than our celestial baker whose talents in
baking a cake are famous- Mother Gaura. All glories to
M. Gaura, whose cooking must be specially pleasing to
Smt. Radharani, for everything tastes wonderful!
Lots and lots and lots
of guests came this Janmashtami, since it was a Sunday,
and M. Haridhvani made a special mention that she’s
never seen so many people before and that M.
Sukantasakhi is the reason for this. M. Sukantasakhi has
diligently cultivated the devotees, followed up with
phone calls and invited them, and M. Haridhvani
acknowledged this by saying that in her 25 years here at
New Talavana she had never seen anyone so dedicated to
congregational preaching. All glories to M. Sukantasakhi!
We pray that we can follow in her footsteps some day.
4. VYASA PUJA OF THE FOUNDER-ACHARYA OF ISKCON, HIS
DIVINE GRACE A.C. BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI PRABHUPADA.
+++
Vyasa Pu ja celebrations began at
3 PM the next day,
August 25th, 2008,
with homages by His Divine Grace’s disciples. HG
Dvibhuja das prabhu wrote a very sweet, heart-felt poem
of glorification of his spiritual master that we have
sent to Mayapur journal for publication. His Grace
Vitthaleshwar das prabhu gave us a riveting account of
Srila Prabhupada’s meeting with a top professor at a
University who had come along with his students to
challenge Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada proved this
professor to be a ‘cheater’ rather than a teacher much
to the amusement of his own students! Mother Mohanasini,
the exemplary and yet-to-be-outdone book distributor
gave a moving account of how much His Divine Grace has
inspired her and how much she misses his profound love
for her, though she knows it is there. His Grace Deena
Bandhu das prabhu reminded us all, especially his
God-sisters and God-brothers that one after another ‘we
are all leaving our bodies and this is our last chance
to do something for Srila Prabhupada.’ His Grace also
encouraged the next generation by telling us how
merciful the Spiritual Master is to his grand-disciples
and that we receive special mercy because of this. His
Grace Bhushaya das prabhu told us, ‘Ask not what ISKCON
can do for you, but what you can do for ISKCON.’
Mother Lila Avataraa
devi dasi, a devotee of over 35 years, who decorates her
spiritual master, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada’s
vyasasana every year, outdid herself this year. The
whole vyasasana was transformed into a breathtaking
ship- the Jaladuta, on which His Divine Grace
traveled to the USA from India. The attention to detail
did not escape the attention of devotees who gasped and
admired the ship’s fine lantern, chimney, seagulls, sea
shells, starfish, pebbles, blue waves, and the
enchanting ship itself, carefully made out of hardboard.
Srila Prabhupada looked ethereal, sitting on a bed of
soft blue cushions shaped like a blue lotus flower and
seemed to look very pleased with his disciple’s offering
with sea gulls flying in transcendental bliss all around
him. A lot of loving endeavor had gone into it and His
Grace Dvibhuja prabhu said that he’d ‘never seen
anything so fine’ and with ‘so much loving attention to
detail’ on the vysasana before.
5. TULASI MAHARANI
AND CALVES.
Tulasi, one of our
pure Jersey cows, delivered a baby bull. We asked Deena Bhandu Prabhu to name
the bull since the delivery was during his visit. He
decided the name “Kana”, Lord Krishna’s nick name. The
new bull’s father is actually the mean old bull we wrote
about a couple of issues back.
Bhakta Scott has been
bush hogging and turned a couple of pastures that were
overrun with popcorn trees again into pristine pasture.
Narayana, PC, and other young devotees have been
hanging, cutting, garaging, flopping, racking, binding,
and storing it. Without hay it would be difficult to
feed the cows in winter.
6. HURRICANE
GUSTAV.
The
news of the impending Hurricane Gustav, due to arrive on
September 1st, sent all of us New Talavanites
a grim reminder of the ‘adidaivika klesa’- the distress
caused by natural disasters and came as another warning
to become even more Krsna conscious to save this planet.
The phenomenon of global warming has led to an increase
in the fury and frequency of hurricanes in this region.
There is a direct correlation between meat-eating, tree
depletion, water scarcity, global warming and
hurricanes. Be veggie, be wise, and be kind to our
planet!
Fortunately, just
before it hit the Louisiana coast, the hurricane petered
out to a Category 2, and all we received were lots of
wind and lots of rain for the next 24 hours. The Most
Merciful Lord Krsna Caitanya protected us from any
damage whatsoever to the temple or its properties. Jaya
Sri Krsna Caitanya Bhagavan! M.Sukantasakhi was inspired
to write about Hurricane Gustav which got published on
www.iskconnews.com.
 New
Orleans got thoroughly flooded, and since devotees knew
this would happen, they, along with their beautiful
Deities, came to be with us at New Talavana. It was a
lovely, heart-stealing sight to have our altar hosting 2
sets of Deities, Lord Jagannatha, Lady Subhadra and Lord
Baladeva, Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai and Sri Sri Radha Kanta
along with our own Deities. Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai looked
very happy and so personal as they were within embracing
distance of us awe-stricken devotees. We were only too
happy to have the transcendental association of His
Grace Nandanandana das prabhu, the acting Temple
President of New Orleans
temple and his entourage and some lively kirtans
followed. The Deities went back just a day before
Radhashtami, which was on September 7th. That
morning our Temple
President, His Grace
Yogindra prabhu gave us an interesting class followed by
an equally interesting account of the history of the
Deities. We went back 33 years in time to 1974 and came
to the present after half hour as though we had traveled
in a time machine.
7. THE BLESSED
BIRTHDAY OF SMT. RADHARANI- RADHASHTAMI.
Smt.
Radharani takes birth exactly 15 days after Lord Krsna,
and the birthday celebrations of the eternal consort of
Sri Krsna, the most merciful Jaganmata, was another
transcendental event. With great anticipation, devotees
gathered for ‘Darshan arati’
and patiently waited till 7.30 AM when they were
abundantly rewarded to see the lovely Deities in another
gorgeous outfit of midnight blue with lavender which
seemed to have come straight from the spiritual world.
With an edging of silver jari which seemed like
moon-shine the Deities looked ethereally lovely, and we
drank in their incomparable beauty with our eyes. To the
strains of ‘Govindam adi purusam,’ we offered our most
humble obeisances and glorified Lord Sri Krsna, by whose
immense mercy we are able to be in the temple room and
attend these programs. That morning we read about the
appearance of Smt. Radharani in Gokula as well as in
Goloka from the book, ‘The Glories of Smt. Radharani,’
by His Holiness Purushottama Swami.
Being Sunday we looked
forward again to lots of guests and a nice program and
we were richly rewarded by ‘Abhishek’ at 10.45 AM to the
tune of sweet bhajan and a resounding kirtan at 12 noon.
This was followed by a reading of Krsna book, by HG
Dvibhuja das prabhu, ‘Songs by the Gopis,’ and a
wonderful feast cooked by Mothers Gaura, Tulasi
Maharani. A melt-in-your-mouth cake, embellished with
roses and leaves, made by M. Gaura stole the show!
‘Gaura’ is another name for Smt. Radharani, and M. Gaura
outdid herself on this day along with M. Tulasi
Maharani.
 The
whole program was blessed with Mrs. Anne Miller’s
sociology class from the University of Southern MS,
studying cultural diversity. Yogindra’s prabhu’s class
taught us the similarities and differences of semantic
and non-semantic religions and specifically focused on
the worship of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His
Deity form whether made of stone, earth, wood, herbs,
gems or metals. The students and teachers were friendly,
polite guests, who dined with us at the feast program.
Bhakt Steve also came with two other social work
students, classmates of his from the same university.
8. HH BHAKTI
RAGHAVA SWAMI.
 A
very eventful August-September, called the month of
Hrishikesha in our Vedic calendar continued with the
arrival of HH Bhakti Raghava Swami, for a weekend
seminar [Sep 12-14th] on ‘daivi-varnasrama.’
A complete article on Maharaj’s vision, mission, and
accomplishments is available at
http://www.dandavats.com/?p=6434., but a summary is
presented here. His Holiness Bhakti Raghava Swami,
originally from
Canada, was here to convey
the urgency of implementing varnasrama dharma as
envisioned by His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.
Maharaja informed the assembled devotees that as far
back as 1949 Srila Prabhupada wrote a letter to the then
Deputy Prime Minister of India, the Hon. Sardar Dr.
Vallabhai Patel, detailing his four-point program to
establish a house in which all the people of the world
can live peacefully; he coined them as:
(1) the “sankirtana
movement” [the holy name and books],
(2)the “temple worship
movement” deity worship],
(3)the spiritual
initiation movement” [congregational development] and
(4) the “classless
society movement” [daivi-varnasrama]. Srila Prabhupada,
at the end of his pastimes on this earth, stated that
50% of his work was yet to be done, that of establishing
Varnasrama dharma.
His Holiness Bhakti
Raghava Swami has taken up the varnasrama mission as his
life and soul. He is directly involved in establishing
Vedic rural communities in Indonesia, Cambodia, Canada
and India as well as giving guidance on varnasrama
development to devotees in several other countries. His
Holiness has written several books pertaining to the
Varnasrama Mission such as Make
Vrindavan Villages,
Varnasrama Education and Implementing Varnasrama, thus
educating and enthusing devotees all over the world to
lead a spiritual and eco-friendly lifestyle in order to
progress peacefully on the path back Home, back to
Godhead.
In Indonesia, the
project Gita Nagari Baru (GNB), a varsnasram based
eco-village, manifested as reality simply by the
pioneering efforts of His Holiness who carefully
cultivated the bhakti-lata beej of his adoring disciples
who were students at the local university. Realizing
that soon they would graduate from the university and
would fly away in search of jobs, life partners and
greener pastures, Maharaja offered all of that right
where they were! The students responded very
enthusiastically and thus was born GNB, the brain-child
of Bhakti Raghava Swami. In this village community of
more than 100 devotees, one can find teachers, skilled
labourers, community leaders, farmers, cows, students,
grhastha couples [many former university graduate
students] who are all living a very exemplary life by
daily attending the morning and evening temple program
while learning to live the principles of simple living
and high thinking. For details please visit
www.glovesco.org.
One reason why
Maharaja is visiting both the US and Canada is because
so many farm communities, once thought of as role models
for show-casing ‘simple living and high thinking,’ have
fallen into a slumber as deep as Kumbhakarna’s. Maharaja
exclaims, “All these places, some over 1000 acres, are
sleeping giants and have to be woken up. Somehow the
feeling has come in North America that it cannot be done
here.” Not so,” says Maharaja. His mission is to
encourage, enliven and enthuse devotees to take up the
varnasrama mission very earnestly and stick to the
principles and guidelines given to us by Srila
Prabhupada. He explained that, “when we deviate and fail
to apply Srila Prabhupada’s teachings and follow his
orders, then we land in trouble and find it very
difficult to proceed, often giving up in despair.”
Maharaj
then unveiled his 3-month Varnasrama College Course in
South India beginning Jan 1, 2009 until April 15th, 2009
where selected candidates would be trained in all
aspects of Vedic lifestyle, from cow protection,
agriculture, to astanga Yoga, Ayurvedic medical care,
Vastu shastra, pottery making, simple home building with
local materials, basket weaving, cloth manufacture,
including ahimsa silk manufacture, bamboo crafts,
bullock cart transportation etc. Candidates will be
selected on the basis of merit alone, and in keeping
with Vedic teaching, no fee will be charged.
All in all, we devotees at New
Talavana were deeply gratified to see that not only can
it be done, it is being done, and that it must be done,
and we can do it if we all stick to the path and
directions that His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada has
given us to move into “the house that everyone can live
in peacefully.”
9. SPECIAL
ANNOUNCEMENTS.
Some special events
come up in October and early November that we’d like our
readers to know about well in advance. Dassehra is on
Oct 9th and as we do every year, late in the
evening, we will have a 10-headed Ravana, made by our
Gurukuli kids and their teachers, thoroughly destroyed
by Sri Rama’s transcendental arrow, followed by a big,
cheery bonfire to a resounding kirtan and some light
prasadam. HIS HOLINESS CANDRAMAULI SWAMI will be
here on Dassehra and will give evening classes on the
topic: Removing the Anarthas: Krsna’s Killing the
Demons of Vrndavana. The most auspicious month of
Kartik begins on October 14th and also ushers
in the last month of Chaturmasya. The festival of
lights, ‘Deepavali,’ awaited all year long and a special
festival celebrating the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya,
comes on October 28th, followed by Govardhan
Puja on 29th. On November 1st we
will have the celebration of Srila Prabhupada’s
disappearance from this earth planet for the local
devotees and on Sunday, November 2nd at noon
for the general public. We will celebrate the famous
Festival of the Cows ‘Go-puja Mela’ on Saturday,
November 8th. The events in brief:
October 9th-
Dassehra, HH Candramauli Swami will be here and will
give evening classes on ‘Removing the Anarthas: Krsna’s
Killing the Demons of Vrndavana.
October 14th-
Kartik month begins
October 28th-
Deepavali
November 1st
– Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance day festival for
locals.
November 2nd
- Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance day festival for the
public.
November 8th-
Go-puja Mela.
Here’s more on our
famous ‘FESTIVAL OF THE COWS.’ It is the most auspicious
festival of Mother Cow and will feature unique events
such as milking a cow, cooking of various milk products,
lectures and tour guides by HG Dvibhuja das [Darryl
Martin] about herbs and New Talavana, ox cart rides by
Jayantisakhi, sale of some mouth-watering preparations
such as curd burgers by M. Haridhvani, ice-cream by M.
Kaivalya, pizza by M. Gaura, sale of golden honey by HG
Nanda Suta dasa, and many other transcendental booths
all housed in the beautiful Vedic cottages made by our
devotees. There will also be live entertainment,
devotional music, drama, dance, prizes for different
games etc. The gift store will be loaded with unique
devotional clothing and other items and most important
of all- our New Orleans devotees will be coming and will
cook a free traditional Gaudiya Vaisnava feast for 500
people. Everything begins at 11 AM. The feast is served
at 4 PM. COME ONE, COME ALL TO NEW TALAVANA’S
‘FESTIVAL OF THE COWS’, THE GO-PUJA MELA!
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8TH,
2008 FROM 11 AM - 6 PM.
10. APPEAL.
Finally a sincere
appeal from our Temple
President, HG Yogindra
prabhu to all our well-wishers and readers of this
newsletter. We would greatly appreciate the donation of
a car, even if used or old, as long as it is in good
condition for the use of the temple. We will be greatly
obliged, and we pray for the special blessings of Lord
Chaitanya to be showered on or donor and his/her family.
11.FINANCIAL
DISCLOSURE
Income
Aug'08
400 donations
…………………………..5,946.47
410 deity
donations……………………. 732.00
420 festival
income…………………….3,983.00
440 book
sales…………………………..2,481.00
460 cow
income………………………...2,961.00
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total
income 16,103.47
Cost of goods sold
……………………….947.71
500 book costs
……………………………946.71
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total
COGS 15,156.25
Gross Profit
Expense
Agricultural
…………………………18.26
610 veterinary
& medicine ……166.83
650 grain
…………………………….2,943.16
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total
agricultural 3,128.25
Operational
Kitchen
700
foodstuff…………………………..620.37
710 kitchen
equipment…………….317.00
-----------------------------------------------------
Total kitchen
937.37
Overhead
737 internet…………………………….1,025.09
720 property maintenance………….621,97
725 electricity……………………………2,162.21
Gas ………………………………………….705.00
735 telephone……………………………118.65
-----------------------------------------------------
Total Overhead
4,632.92
Personnel
740 devotee maintenance……………642.67
--------------------------------------------------------
Total personnel
642.67
Automobile expense
Gasoline ……………………………………720.13
----------------------------------------------------
Total Automobile expense 720.13
Deity
790 festival expense …………………657.35
------------------------------------------------
Total Deity
657.35
------------------------------------------------------
Total
operational 7,590.44
Administration
800 postage/ freight…………………33061
830 printing/ advertising …………354.15
840 honorarium/ donations……..108.00
880 travel………………………………-415.00
888 bank charges…………………… 27.90
890 other administrative expense 66.66
---------------------------------------------------------
Total
administration 472.32
---------------------------------------------------------
Total
expense 11,191.01
---------------------------------------------------------
Net
Income
3,956.75 |
|
|
|
NEW TALAVAN TIMES
April-May Newsletter
-2008
Reporter- Yogindra vandana das
Typist- Yogi
Editing- Candrabhanu das
Layout and Design- Ramatoshan das
|
\
Apology
\
Ramanami and Indrayumna Maharaja
\
Praladha, the yoga studios and a reunion
\
Bhir Krishna Swami- Jazz fest, Sunday feast and NVC seminars
\
Ranchor Krishna's alternative band, “bridging the gap”
\
Babe and Joe- another house gathering
\
The return of Jose and the Cowmobile
\
Bhaktamarg Maharaja visiting
\
Rama and Christy- tying the knot
c
Apology
d
Dear Prabhus,
I can't believe
I left off the name of one of our most dear Adoptacow donors,
Kadamba and Ranadhir Prabhus from Visalia, Ca., in the last
newsletter. They have faithfully served mother cow and father
bull at New Talavana for several years and are certainly in the
greater circle of donor ship. Our hats are off to them. They
always keep us in their holy prayers and care for their adopted
cow they named Burfy. They especially like the Mongal artik
maha prasadam burfy we offer Sri Sri Radha and Krishna every
morning at 4 AM. We also owe an apology to a few prabhus we did
not mention for the property tax campaign in our last
newsletter.
They are:
Donald Harmon $100
Dwija Hari $100
Balaram/ Mritravinda $100
Sankirtan $100
Gaura/Vrndy $100
Praladha/ Manorupa $100
Kaivalya $108
Narayana $ 50
Thank all the
Prabhus for protecting Lord Krishna's cows and bulls and for
paying the county property taxes. All glories to your service.
c
Ramanami and Indrayumna Maharaja
d
 In
February Indrayumna Maharaja's secretary called saying Maharaja
could visit us on April 14th and 15th. Of course we were
delighted, but when she called back to cancel I lamented that we
had scheduled Maharaja for a Ramanami program on Monday the
14th. We politely said good bye, and later I learned that
Ramanami was actually Sunday the 13th. When Maharaja heard we
were doing Ramanami on the 14th he decided to come. His
secretary called me, and despite knowing the real date, I told
her we were certainly doing the Ramanami program on Mon. the
14th. I did not want the devotees to miss Maharaja's
association. What an evening it was! Our dear God brother,
Vedanta Krit Prabhu, and his wife, Nrisinga laksmi, hosted
Maharaja and his servant Gaurahari Prabhu. Maharaja arrived at
the temple during artik, and despite asking him to finish
leading artik he allowed me to finish. He then proceeded to
sing the prayers to Lord Nrisingadeva that all Iskcon temples
sing after artik. The curtain remained open for 45 minutes;
then the pujari closed the curtain and undressed and redressed
the deities in their pajamas. Maharaja just continued the
sweetest bhajan the entire time, and the curtains opened for the
final artik of the day. The devotees were in ecstasy. Everyone
was getting a good taste for the holy name. After artik the
bhajan gradually came to a close. Maharaja spoke briefly, but
we requested him to speak more, since many of the guests would
not be at our programs the next day. Maharaja spoke about
detachment from the temporary affairs of the material world and
attachment to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Afterwards he
signed books that people purchased from him, while all the guest
and devotees ate the Ramanami feast. The next morning Maharaja
was a boat load of Krishna consciousness at the Srimad
Bhagavatam class. Naturally everyone stayed after class to show
appreciation and to offer him contributions to continue his
sankirtana mission around the world. Finally he retired for
breakfast and writing. In the evening we went to New Orleans
where the devotees had gathered for the appearance anniversary
of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami. After Artik, Maharaja gave a
potent discourse about the spiritual master and how much he
appreciated the efforts of His grace Srila Jayapataka Swami to
carry on his spiritual master's mission all over the world. I
left that night after taking leave from Indrayumna Swami and
asking him to mercifully return again. The New Orleans devotees
got him to the airport early the next morning to fly to
Gainesville, Fl. We pray for his grace's protection as he
travels and preaches the yuga dharma around the world.
c
Praladha at the yoga studios and
a reunion d
His grace
Praladha Nrisinga Prabhu and his dear wife Manorupa Prabhavi
usually visit us once a year and minister Krishna consciousness
to the people on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and in New Orleans.
They do this through astrology and ayurveda lectures and
chanting at the local yoga studios and other alternative health
places used for gatherings and services. They do an excellent
job, and Praladha has been able to create a small following of
sincere devotees and new age practitioners. At many of the
events we cater prasadam from the temple. The people paid $10
pre plate. Praladha also sells many of Srila Prabhupada's "Bhagavad
Gita As it is" and other books about reincarnation and
vegetarian cooking. Manorupa and Praladha Prabhus also give much
time and energy to directly help the temple by performing
kirtans and giving classes and also counseling devotees who need
help or have an interest in astrology or ayurveda. I humbly beg
them to continue preaching in this area since it does so much to
help us develop Krishna conscious in this area of the world.
This was exemplified by the bhakta vriksha reunion we had at
Babe and Joe's home. Around 20 sincere people from past
contacts and current contacts attended to chant the maha mantra,
eat prasadam and listen to Praladha expound on the science of
Krsna consciousness.
c
His Holiness Bhir Krishna
Maharaja at the Jazz fest and New Talavana
d
 HH
BK Goswami, as we lovingly call him, has assisted the devotees
in New Orleans to develop the New Orleans Jazz Festival into a
major preaching event at our temple, which just happens to be
strategically situated on a main thoroughfare to and from the
festival grounds. The devotees set up a stage and tables and
chairs and a prasadam booth. As people come and go they take
prasadam and see and listen to some Krishna conscious
entertainment. Several of Maharaja's disciples came from his
North Caroline temple to help with the entertainment and
preaching activities, and New Talavana devotees also pitched
in. Many people derived much Krishna conscious benefit Thursday
through Sunday for two weeks in a row. In between the festival
days Maharaja came to New Talavana and gave a beautiful audio
visual presentation on pilgrimage to the holiest of holy places,
Govardhana Hill. The crowd sat spellbound as Maharaja took us
around the hill with his slide presentation and an artist’s
painting of the hill with all its holy sites. On Monday,
Tuesday and Wednesday it was nectar in the morning and learning
seminars in the evening. HH BK Goswami always attends Srila
Prabhupada's full morning program and gives classes full of
amritha and devotional information. Afterwards we ate together
with other disciples of Srila Prabhupada and his disciples, and
then Maharaja met with devotees wanting to speak with him. Of
course we arranged time for his communications, rest and
exercise needs. After dinner we went to the newly constructed
Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund Community Building where Maharaja
conducted seminars on Empathic Communications, a process of
listening to people and understanding their feelings and needs
and communicating that to them. Unique to this process is that
it lets participants expose their fallibility by expressing
their own feelings and needs to their associates while teaching
people indirectly to empathize with one another. Of course this
is just an extremely concise description of the process.
Maharaja generally takes a week or more to teach people in
general and devotees the basics, but he did his best to condense
it for us in 2 two hour periods. If you would like to know more
about it please visit Bir Krishna Goswami's website at
www.bkgoswami.com and click on the required link. The devotees
at New Talavana found the usefulness of empathic communications
to be very helpful for relationships with one another and people
in general. After Wednesday morning breakfast Maharaja returned
to New Orleans for an evening housing meeting and a festival.
After the second week of Jazz fest HH Bir Krishna moved on to
other preaching fields, but remains easily accessible over the
internet.
c
Ranchor Krishna's alternative
band, “bridging the gap”
d
On Wednesday,
May 7th , Sughosh, Subal, Dharani and I drove up to Columbia,
Ms. to perform a fire yajana in Ranchor Krishna's new home and
to see his newly constructed music studio for producing
alternative, neo western and eastern classical, heavy metal and
other forms of music with subtle Krsna conscious words. After a
simple yajana and dynamic bhajan we talked and then enjoyed a
feast while continuing the conversation. Ranchor is looking for
a drummer for the new band. Please contact him at
ronojiva@yahoo.com .
c
Babe and Joe- another house
gathering d
Our dear friends
and well wishers, Bhaktas Joe and Babe, again invited ourselves
and their friends to their home to engage in hearing and
chanting the mahamantra and discussing spiritual realization.
Everyone brought a vegetarian preparation, and Babe offered it
to Guru and Gauranga. After a dynamic bhajan lead by Sughosh on
the harmonium and Subal on the drums and discussion lead by the
old herbalist Dwibhuja we all ate together and continued our
talks. I had to slip out early since the next morning I had to
be up by 3 AM to open the temple and wake the Deities.
c
The return of Jose and the
Cowmobile d
Several years
ago Mr. Jose Castile visited New Talavana to shot video of our
cows being milked by hand. He was contacted by a European group
interested in small farms utilizing hand milking. I forget how
he found out about us, but he called me, and we arranged for him
to get the footage. As you know, everything went digital, and
the same group employed Jose to come back again to shoot our
milking operation in digital format. No one deserves the
exposure more than New Talavan’s genuine gopi, Jayanthisakhi
Devi Prabhvi. She grew up at New Talavana learning how to take
care of the cows form Rohita and Dwibhuja Prabhus. She attended
our gurukula and later earned a degree from the University of
Southern Mississippi in geology. She has milked the cows twice
daily for many years and keeps of all the records concerning
birth and history. She also takes responsibility for medical
needs and feed. Jose has been at the milk barn every day for a
week getting as much footage as he needs. Hopefully people will
take advantage of this and learn a thing or two about milk and
milking. Speaking of cows and milk, that reminds me of an
additional content. His Grace Tapan Misra Prabhu, an old and
dear friend of mine, who served His Grace Jayananda Prabhu back
in 1975, has invested his time and energy to try and promote New
Talavana's cow protection program by developing an idea to
advertise it with an automobile designed like a cow called the
"Cow mobile". After consultation with Nilinikanta Prabhu, an
Iskcon devotee astrologer, he sponsored a feast at New Talavana
on an auspicious day in his chart to inaugurate the project.
Traveling here from his home in Meteria, Louisiana, he engaged
me in requesting our beloved Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and Sri Sri
Radha Radhakanta to give Their blessings for this project. He
then made and audio visual presentation to a small gathering of
local devotees, and afterwards we all enjoyed a feast cooked by
Mother Gaura and Ramatoshan Prabhus. Tapan is a very sincere
bhakta and always has our welfare in mind. This project is his
baby for promoting cow protection at New Talavana, and we bless
him to do his best to accomplish it. As he always has our
welfare in mind, similarly I cannot but be ever grateful to him
for kindly helping me grow Srila Prabhupada's New Talavana
project by maintaining our website, thinking of ways for us to
produce income and now the cow mobile. Please give him your
blessings to succeed in this grand endeavor. It will not be
easy. He does not have an unlimited cash flow to work with and
has to figure out everything out from beginning to end. So be
merciful and bless him with sufficient intelligence and power to
accomplish this grand task.
c
Bhaktamarg Swami Coming!
d
 His
Holiness Bhaktamarg Maharaja will arrive in New Talavana May
14th and stay until the morning of May 18th. During this time
he will train actors and produce a drama for Nrisinga Caturdasi-
the appearance of Lord Nrisingadeva, the half man half lion
incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He will give
Srimad Bhagavatam class each morning and will go on a picnic
with the devotees on Saturday, May 17th. That evening his drama
will be staged in the New Talavana pavilion after the sundhar
artik at 6PM. Please attend and give Maharaja your attention.
He is only coming here for our benefit, and we should be ready
to fulfill his every desire. Srila Prabhupada Ki Jai!!!!!!!!!!!
c
RAMA and CHRISTY Tie the Knot
d
If you have not
heard, the son of one of the largest book distributors in the
world, Her Grace Mohanasini, and her dear husband, Mahendranatha
Prabhus, both disciples of Srila Prabhupada, will get married at
New Talavana on Sunday, May 25th at 2:30 PM in the New Talavana
temple room. The bride to be is Christy Townsend-Smith the
daughter of Arvind and Nancy Smith and Christopher and Karen
Townsend. Since it falls on Sunday directly after our Sunday
feast program, we will make simple prasadam for the feast
program and serve out at 1:30 PM. Everyone will be invited to
stay for the wedding which will last from 2:30 till 4 PM.
Afterwards a huge multi menu feast will be served at the
reception under the New Talavana pavilion. There will be live
bhajans performed by Sughosh, Subal and other gurukulies.
Please attend and give your blessings that they may have a long
and Krishna conscious relationship pleasing guru and Gauranga.
Well folks,
that is it for this newsletter. I hope everyone remembers the
Supreme Personality of Godhead and does not forget Him during
happiness or distress. With Him in mind may all of you go back
home back to Godhead as His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada so
much wanted for everyone's ultimate good. THANK
YOU........MUCHAS GRACIAS................!
Sincerely,
Yogindra vandana das Adhikari
Temple President
ISKCON New Talavana
PS: Please help illuminate and cool Their
Lordships! We need to install a new chandelier in the alcove in
front of the deities and replace five, worn out, temple ceiling
fans. Two fans are for over the deities and 3 for the kirtan
hall. All of the items will be purchased from Home Dept. The
cost is $450.00 for the chandelier and $200.00 each for the fans
with light attachment. Please send your check to ISKCON at 31492
Anner Road, Carriere, MS 39426, or just go online to
www.newtalavana.org ,and click on the link for adoptacow.
You can donate via pay pal, and specify
what it is for.
Thank you sincerely.
|
NEW TALAVAN TIMES
February/March
-2008 |
|
Nama om visnu padaya krsna-presthaya bhu-tale
Srimate bhaktivedanta-svamin iti namine
Namas te sarasvte deve gaura-vani-pracarine
Nirvisesa-sunyavadi pascatya-desa-tarine
All glories to Srila Prabhupada- our light and guide in
this dark age of Kali Yuga
I humbly
submit a condensed overview of March for our newsletter
content and hope our readers will take pleasure in
hearing a little about the events that have generated
from the Hearts of the Supreme Lord’s devotees and help
shape the future of Iskcon New Talavana- Mississippi,
USA.
Sincerely, Yogindra Vandana dasa Adhikari
For your information the
newsletter staff is as follows:
Writer: Yogindra Vandana dasa Adhikari
Typist- Hari dasa
Editor – Candrabhanu dasa
Computer and layout- Ramatoshan dasa
1-
Gaura Purnima
2-
Herb Fest
3-
FFL
4-
Mean bull on the loose!
5-
Electricity bill
6-
Property tax collections
7-
Visit by Bhasu Gosh and devotees from Houston and
Atlanta
8-
Sunday feast sponsorships and guests
9-
Land projects
10-
Adopt a cow donors
11-
Ramnavami,
Jazz fest/BK Goswami/ Japa Workshop
12-
Cowmobile update
13-
Drama Workshop
�
GAUR PURNIMA
™
This
newsletter we will start at the end of the month and
work backwards. The blessed appearance day celebration
of The Supreme Personality of Godhead’s most magnanimous
incarnation, Lord Visvambhara/Nimai Pandit/ Gaur Hari
was an act of great team work between all the community
members, whether young or old, male or female, full time
sevakas and devotees living outside.
Everyone
came together to glorify The Lord of Kaliyuga who plays
like a devotee in divine love with the Lord of all –Bhagavan
Sri Krsna!
The
local devotees cleaned the grounds and pavilion and
decorated the temple room and pavilion. Locals were
contacted, and the priest prepared for an abhiseka-a
bathing ceremony of the merciful deity form of The Lord.
Cooks worked long hours and cleaners cleaned after them.
People came and heard the conch shells and saw the
Lord’s Deity form being worshiped by His devotees.
Kirtaniyas sang, drummers drummed, and we all danced to
the rhythms and swooned to the melodies. The priest
offered incense, fire and holy water, and everyone
brought gifts of money, flowers, jewelry, cloth, food
and poetry.
A new
curtain was sponsored by Ashok Amrita- Srila
Prabhupada’s first Bengali disciple.
Mother
Gaura purchased the material and created a curtain.
Jagavallabha installed the new curtain rod, Ashok
financed, and Gaura Mataji purchased. She also cooked
the feast with the able assistance of her children.
The good
ladies, Mothers Bhaktidhana and Syama dressed, and
Maharani and Mahalaxmi decorated the altar while Sridevi
organized and directed the drama. Sankirtan played a
leading role and so did Bhakta Bill from Oregon, and the
gurukulis did all the rest.
Wow!
What a week, what a day, what a night!
Hari
dasa and Hari Narayan and Maharani cleaned everything up
afterwards. Ashok gave the flowers, Kalindi made the
vases, and Haridvani stringed together the garlands.
Maharani went to Mayapur and arranged the new outfit.
and Ashok sponsored it!
The
theme of the outfit was love and hearts of love.
Divyaratna and Haladhara brought the outfit home from
the holy dhama to the Lord’s home at New Talavana.
It was a
loving team effort, and I’ve only named a few. We
weren’t as plentiful as the monkeys who built the bridge
to Lanka for Lord Rama, but we loved the same Lord in a
different incarnation.
This
reminds me of His Grace of fame and adventure, that soul
who spreads the chanting and culture of Lord Krsna’s
Holy name- Indradyumna Swami -who will be with us soon
for Lord Ramachandra’s appearance day, Monday April 14th
beginning at 6pm arotik. He is an ocean of mercy and
most worth seeing and hearing, so please plan to attend
the temple that evening.
� HERB FEST
™
The
final weekend of the month was a grand finale. This was
the 15th year we have helped cater this
festival which has grown into the largest event in the
Mississippi coastal town of Ocean Springs. Food For Life
sponsored the bhoga, and Gaura and Maharani cooked. Yogi
delivered and served. Dwibhuja was a major guest
speaker, since he has been empowered by the Supreme Lord
to teach herbology. Bhaktin Linda was a key festival
organizer. We catered Friday to a national group of
speakers and local Mississippians interested in this
alternative source of wellness. Saturday and Sunday we
and a few other caterers fed the crowd as everyone for
miles around came to the garden and herb show. Only at
our booth could they purchase both food and Krsna prema.
Many said that’s the only reason they come. Believe me
it is true.
�
FOOD FOR LIFE
™
Maharani
and Kaivalya went to the infamous 9th ward of
New Orleans which was bulldozed after Katrina.We
regularly distribute prasadam there to relief workers.
They were hoping to see the film star Brad Pitt and take
a picture of him next to the FFL van, but he was early
and they were late. Still the show goes on, and we
continue to feed the needy our spiritual food.
�
MEAN BULL ON THE LOOSE!
™
I’m not
kidding! We have a young Jersey bull who isn’t so big,
but his meanness makes up for it. When he was just a
young guy he attacked Naikatma who had just joined the
army medical corps. Naikatma is Nityos brother, who’s an
army ranger. Naikatma’s dad beat the baby bull off with
a stick, and the bull turned and sideswiped Sastra’s
truck with his horns! When he got bigger, we put him in
with another bull. We would usually just mosey in and
out of the pen, because the bulls are generally all
docile. But a few months ago Bhakta Scott was moving
some materials, and suddenly this particular Jersey
turned and attacked him! He was knocked to the ground,
gored in the chest and hit on his side! Scott yelled for
help as the bull stood over him until Ramtoshan came and
beat him away with a large stick. Scott was rushed to
the hospital by Narayan and recovered after 2 months at
home with a hairline crack in his chest bone. A few
weeks later Nanda Suta was moving another bull and
thought he was safe when suddenly this same mean fellow
knocked him to the ground like lightning! Nanda grabbed
his horns to keep from being gored, and the devotees
came to his rescue beating the bull on the nose to drive
him away. Nanda was on crutches for 2 weeks. The same
guy also went for Jayanti, our cowherd gopi, but she was
too smart for him. We have decided that this bull will
be better off as an ox, as we generally do not have this
type of problem.
�ELECTRICITY
BILL
™
As you
all know, prices are only going higher including the
farm’s electric bill. Time for wind, solar and oxen
power! Unfortunately, we are not there yet and must pay
for the bills at 27 separate meters. A few are paid by
devotees using the electricity at the cabins they reside
in. The largest consumption is the temple kitchen, which
is almost $400 every month followed by the men’s ashram
which is $240. The temple room is $120, my home $150 and
the pump and security lights $120. The other meters run
as low as $25 if no kilowatt hours were burned to under
$100.
We heat
the temple with a wood burning stove, but we use LP to
cook. Most devotees use electric or LP water heaters. LP
is around $2.50 a gallon. Suggestions and donations for
alternative forms of energy are most welcome!
�
MORE TEAM WORK!
™
You have almost done it! Again we have
proven to be good citizens or donors to our county’s tax
structure which pays for roads, education, policing
etc…This year, after some fortunate negotiation, we paid
$6000. The devotees responsible for securing Lord
Krsna’s land for ISKCON (non-payment means the land is
eventually sold to satisfy the tax debt) are as follows:
�
VISITORS
™
We had a
few visitors from out of state. First was Bhasu Ghosh,
Iskcon’s temple president in Boroda, Gujarat in India.
He stopped on his way from LA on route to Florida. Three
families from Houston, Texas visited. Nadia, an
initiated devotee from our Houston temple, came with his
wife and daughter along with Krsna Batura and his wife,
Vijaylaxmi, and 2 daughters. It was a return trip for
Krsna and family who enjoyed their services here last
year.
Finally,
Mother Sukanya’s relatives from Houston visited her. We
need to plan to build a guest facility, but until then
we will do whatever we can to treat our guests like
Royalty- at least that is the ideal!
�
SUNDAY FEAST SPONSORS
AND GUESTS
™
Mr. and
Mrs. Ashok Kumar sponsored our Sunday feast on March 9th
for their son, Visaad’s, birthday. Mother Gaura made the
birthday cake, and Maharani organized the feast.
Everyone was jolly, and the happy occasion was very
Krsna conscious!
The next
week our dear friends from Pensacola, Lela and Ramamohan
Rao visited us and sponsored the Sunday feast on behalf
of Ram’s dear mother, Yamuna. Maharani cooked the Prasad
which was certainly accepted by the Supreme Personality
of Godhead.
If you
would like to sponsor the Sunday feast and feed all the
local Vaisnavas and our guests, just send a check for
$301 to Iskcon New Talavana, 31492 Anner Road, Carriere,
MS
39426.
Please
include a note letting us know your desire for this
donation, with the names of those on behalf of which you
are sponsoring. This is a great opportunity.
Our dear
Dr. Lakshmi Dojak sponsored a puja to Lord Narasimhadeva
in gratitude for her dear father Vasudeva Ramchandra
Rao’s recovery from heart surgery. He is now chanting
Hare Krsna and has become an Iskcon life member. You can
also become an Iskcon life member. Just contact Yogindra
via email:
talavan@hughes.net or call 601-749-9460 or our
mailing address mentioned in the previous paragraph.
One
Friday, Bhakta Heath from Columbus Mississippi paid us a
visit to taste prasadam and discuss Krsna consciousness.
We really had a good time. Heath was influenced by the
great musician, George Harrison, and had taken up
chanting the Hare Krsna Mahamantra and following our
principles of morality. Heath purchased an arm full of
books and went to share his good fortune with friends in
Gulfport.
Sunday
he returned for the feast program before heading home. I
am sure he will always remember the experience, and now
he is on our electronic mailing list and should be
reading this! Welcome Bhakta Heath!
�
LAND PROJECTS
™
The
temple management board and legal board of directors has
been spending time upgrading our plans to facilitate
future vaisnava homesteads. We have agreed to open up
all the land behind Varaha’s kirtan hall and Nabadwip’s
home for sale and Giri Govardhan-Lord Krsna’s young
bulldozer driver has been clearing the woods and making
a road. This land runs completely around Bhakta Roy and
Juanita’s estate and is approachable from both county
roads that pass through New Talavana. It consists of
around 150 acres of pristine wood and pasture land. A
well and septic tank system is required for water and
septic services.
We will
announce this more formally. Any time guests visit they
express interested in purchasing a plot for a summer
cottage. We are also making suitable arrangements for
leases and full time devotees serving the temple. We
want all the devotees to have the opportunity to
facilitate their needs at New Talavana.
If you
would like more information on this development please
contact Vedanta Krt, Candrabhanu, Dwibhuja or
Bhaktidhana.
�
ADOPT A COW CAMPAIGN
™
The annual adopt-a-cow capital
campaign has produced enough income for us to grow hay
pasture. I thank all the participants. They are as
fallows:
Chattelle Jakson
---
Gold sponsorship
Caitanya & Jayshree
Bhatt --- Gold
sponsorship
Narain
Srivastava
--- silver sponsorship
Sapana
Dixit
--- silver sponsorship
S
Krishna
--- silver sponsorship
Vitthallbi
Mistry
--- Silver sponsorship, Plus $ 251.00 toward cow
medical expanses and $ 201.00 toward
temple expanses .
Dave
Ehler
--- Platinum sponsorship
Carl Cerco
--- one week of
grain
Kanwal Ahuja
---
one week of grain
Krishna
Seth
--- feeding jaggery
Sraddha & M.B. Kumar
--- one week of grain
Gail
Cusmait
--- one week of grain
Rangalera
---
one week of grain
Ron & Liz
Cox
--- feeding jaggery
Prabhu
Desai
--- one week of grain
Nityo
Grenham
--- online contribution
Jeffery
Walters
--- $ 250.00 on time contribution
Quein
Jones
--- feeding jaggery
 Ramakant
Das
--- one
week of grain
Amy Miller&
students
---$ 51.00 on time contribution
Dharni
Parikh
--- one day of grain
Leela
Rao
--- $ 101.00 (for Yamuna, the cow)
Samuel
Walker
--- $ 200.00 online contribution
Ravi Ramrarine
---$ 300.00
online contribution
Bhaktavatsala
Thuammala ---
one week of grain
Ram & Krishna
Kumar ---
two weeks of grain
Sanjaya
Shah
--- $ 25.00 online contribution
Lilly
Mcphee
---$ 25.00 online contribution
Sanjaya
Sampath
--- one week of grain
Kessav & Subda
Eduuganti ---
two weeks of grain
I thank all of you and also ask for
your prays for the program’s success.
�
RAMNAVAMI
™
Last but
not least is an advertisement to entice everyone within
traveling distance to attend our Ramnavami program
beginning with 6pm arati on Monday April 14th.
The guest speaker is HH Indradyumna Swami. He has
sacrificed his life to teach and promote Vedic culture.
 Yearly he masterminds a professional presentation of
Vedic art, music and culture in lively and interesting
ways to people all over the world. Maharaj is a
storehouse of Krsna prema and solely dedicated to Srila
Prabhupada’s mood of giving everyone Krsna
consciousness.
Please
take this opportunity to see and hear him, thus
uplifting your own Krsna consciousness.
The
final weekend of April and the first weekend of May is
the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage festival. It is a huge
event that takes place in the city fairgrounds located
within walking distance of our New Orleans temple. Every
year the devotees turn the front of the temple into a
stage and entertain and feed the people coming and going
from the Jazz Fest since thousands of people park in the
local neighborhood. HH Bir Krsna Goswami has promoted
this cultural event from the start and generally takes
an active role in it. He will be at our New Orleans
temple for the Jazz Fest activities for both weekends.
The week between the 2 weekends, Maharaj will conduct a
non violent communication seminar at New Talavana to
develop a higher appreciation for one another and life
in general. The times will be announced, but please put
this into your daily planner, it is not to be missed!
Later
the final weekend of May we are planning a japa workshop
hosted by HG Ravindra Svarupa and HG Mahatma das. It is
an intensive japa meditation experience, and everyone
seriously involved in Krsna consciousness can take
advantage of this opportunity. Although it may not be
once in a lifetime, it is rare that we have this chance
in New Orleans and New Talavana. All the locals should
take advantage and participate. Please contact Bhaktin
Joy in New Orleans or Yogindra at New Talavana
–talavan@hughes.net or office phone 601- 798- 9460.
�
COW MOBILE
™
 The
unveiling and inauguration of the secret “Cow-Mobile”
will be held at the New Talavana Temple
room at 11am on April 25th. This is the most
suitable time for starting the project, and we will
begin by taking the blessings of Sri Sri Radha Radha
Kanta and Sri Sri GaurNitai. Everyone is invited. There
will be a slide show presentation and feast after the
noon arati.
Contact
Yogi for further info
�
Four Day Drama workshop
with H H Bhaktimarg Swami
™
It is
our pleasure to announce that after some time Hari dasa
has secured a visit from Bhaktimarg Maharaj that will
commence on Wednesday the 14th May up until
Sunday 18th May which is Lord Narasimadev’s
appearance day. Maharaj is known all over the world for
this love of two things: drama and walking. Maharaj has
walked across Canada three times, and Hari dasa has
arranged that he cross the Emerald Isle of Ireland this
summer. For our purposes Maharaj is coming to help us
with our drama performances from the acting to the
directing. He will accept anyone interested and needs
around twelve devotees from the age of eight upwards to
learn and perform a play called “Canto 10”. The
performance will be on Saturday 17th May in
the evening and will be part of a big social event that
will include dance, the play, kirtan, a class on the
Canada walks as well as a gorgeous western style feast.
During his stay Maharaj will give all the Bhagvatam
classes and one in New Orleans on Friday 16th
(and maybe a Harinam) and he will also be going out for
long japa walks and anyone is welcome. Unfortunately for
the budget Maharaj is not walking but flying in from
Toronto. Therefore, we will need some help with the
ticket costs, so we are appealing for help in this
regard. If you wish to be involved and /or help with the
ticket costs please contact either Yogindra prabhu or
Hari dasa. |
|
NEW TALAVAN TIMES
|
|
\
LORD JAGANNATHA MARDI GRAS RATHA YATRA
\
ADOPT A COW ANNUAL FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
\
DONORS
\
GITA JAYANTI
\
DVD
\
COW MOBILE
\
CHRISTMAS BOOK DISTRIBUTION MARATHON
\
USM STUDENTS AND TEACHER VISIT
\
INDRADYUMNA MAHARAJ VISIT
\
GOMATHA , GURUKULA AND KRSNA MURTHY
\
FESTIVALS
\
NEW BABY
\
COMMUNITY WORK DAYS
DEAR READERS,
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
January was cool and wet some days and warm and
sunny on others. Parampara had cut and stacked
up much wood before xmas, but that time is long
gone. Narayan brought in a new load, however, to
keep the temple room warm.
1) MARDI
GRAS
 |
The biggest event was
the annual Jagannatha Mardi Gras Ratha
Yatra. Because Mardi Gras is based on
the Christian holy day of Easter, it
falls on a different date each year.
This year it was early February, and
Gaura purnima is March 21st.
When Mardi Gras is early and Gaura
Purnima is late in March, His Holiness
Jayapataka Maharaj always attends this
most unusual Ratha Yatra. This year was
no exception. |
| When Maharaj comes, so do many of
his disciples, friends and supporters.
The devotees riding on the Jagannatha
cart must pay a fee plus bring throws
and wear the required costumes. This
year we dressed as cows. The costumes
were simple: white, brown or black
sweatshirts and a cow mask. The usual
throws are beads and stuffed animals. |
 |
We Krishnaize the event by throwing Jagannath
dolls, roasted peanuts in a pack with a Maha
Mantra card within, incense offered to the Lord
and a few books, since the direct distribution
of religious or political literature is not
allowed. The fee was only $25 per person, adults
and children alike.
Each year Drumilla prabhu solicits contributions
from devotees in town to help with the cost.
This year’s breakdown is as follows:
Ananta Gopal ………………………...$50.00
Dik Pal ………………………………$21.00
Mahamantra ………………………...
$20.00
Ramakeli …………………………….
$20.00
Drumilla
……………………………...$300.00
Mr. Bill (hat salesman)
……………... $300.00
Divya Gopal …………………………
$50.00
Bhaja Govinda ………………………
$25.00
Sarva Tarak ………………………….
$25.00
Janaka Rsi …………………………...
$25.00
Kalindi ……………………………… $50.00
Kaivalya …………………………….
$30.00
Payonidhi …………………………...
$50.00
Syama ……………………………… $50.00
Deano ……………………………… $50.00
Mohanasini …………………………
$108.00
Birom …………………………….. …$21.00
Anonymous
………………………......$821.00
Devala Rishi (free hats for
throws)...... $850.00
-----------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL…………………………… $
2850.00
Thank you Drumilla prabhu;
you are very dear to us!
The costs of the parade was
as follows:
Parade fees ……………………….$
450.00
Insurance…………………………. $ 550.00
Electronics for sound system ……..$ 551.00
Tire repair ………………………..$ 181.25
Paint ………………………………$ 54.00
Connecting leads ………………….$ 8.54
Ratha Yatra throws ……………… $ 600.00
Inverter …………………………...$ 175.00
Jagannatha Throws ……………….$ 200.00
Peanuts ……………………………$100.00
Books ……………………………..$300.00
--------------------------------------------------------
Total……………………………. $
3169.79
Other donors and volunteers were absolutely
essential:
Jayanti Sakhi- cart design and décor
Bhakta Scott, Narayan, Jaya, PJ, Giri and
Dharani- cart repair, carpentry, installing
décor, clean up etc…
Krsna Sundar – sound system
Jayapatni Gopi $100 for peanuts and purchasing
them
New Orleans temple –breakfast, lunch, dinner and
drinking water for the devotees on the cart.
They also supplied Pujaris on the cart to
worship Lord Jagannath.
Maharani – Jagannatha dolls from India
Kalindi- for helping Jayanti
And extra large special thanx of love and
gratitude to Bushaya prabhu who took 3 days off
work to pull the cart at his own expense and
risk. This is usually $750 expense.
The most thanks have to go you Lord Jagannatha
for bringing everyone there and back safely and
providing the most sublime weather.
Jagannatha Swami, Lord Baladeva and Lady
Subhadra ki jaya!
Next year we hope to make it even better.
Bushaya prabhu is heading a team to collect
funds and rebuild the cart. Neal Duncan, Jayanti
and Jaya’s dad, has offered to buy new tires.
Please be ready and save your throws for next
time!
Jayapataka Maharaj made a suggestion that those
children who ride be at least 12 years old since
it is a long, strenuous day. We must consider
what to do, because when he is not there the
number of riders is much fewer. Therefore,
mothers and children help fill up spaces. We are
making a committee to discuss these issues.
Thanks for hearing and thanks to all
participants!
Last but not least Jayapatni Gopi had a great
idea to make coconuts look like Jagannath,
Baladeva and Subhadra and hand them to people.
Coconuts are a special feature of the Mardi Gras
Zulu parade.
2) ADOPT A
COW ANNUAL FUNDRAISER
We recently mailed out our largest capital fund
raising campaign of the year, the annual adopt a
cow program. This program has been financing the
cow protection service since 1999. There are
several key, steady donors who have really
helped us maintain over the past years:
Drs. Balasubramaniam, Vittabhai Mistry, Krsnan
from Memphis, Gokula Ranjana prabhu, Sterling
art, Chatelli Jacobson and family, Darlyn and
Todd brown, Dr. Kumar from Baton Rouge, the
Joshis from S.C, Dr. Ram & Leela Rao from
Pensacola, Bharat and Riten Patel, Kadamba &
Ranadhir Prabhus from CA., and many others.
God bless them all who help us to protect
Mother Cow and Father Bull; may they receive the
necessary shelter in this world of duality.
3)DONORS
Let me take a moment or two to give appreciation
to our January donors, it is by your grace that
the temple remains financially solvent. Let us
also thank all the devotees who live here and
close by and who give their time and their lives
to carry out all the necessary devotional
services for Guru and Krsna. God bless all of
you!
4) GITA
JAYANTI
In December we conducted a Gita jayanti ceremony
for the distribution of Lord Krsna’s Bhagavad
Gita. Thank you to those devotees who took
advantage and purchased Gitas to distribute or
allowed us the nectar of distribution. Three
prabhus came to mind- Dr and Mrs. Kumar from Oil
City PA, Mahabala Nitai from Chicago and
Vitthabbhai Mistri from Austin Texas.
All glories to those devotees who distribute the
divine words of Bhagavan Sri Krsna!
5) NEW
TALAVAN DVD
We still have DVDs available of the 2007 Go Puja
Mela Cow festival. It costs $10 and shipping is
free. You can also go to
www.news.iskcon and click on New Talavan
Story and see a 9 min video for free!
6) THE COW
MOBILE
Our web master Tapan Mishra prabhu is making a
humble attempt to promote an idea for marketing
our cow protection program. He wants to design
and build a cow mobile! Naturally he will
require financing to purchase fiberglass.
Yajanavallabha has considered donating a used
cab that the New Orleans temple gave him to be
used for the frame. HG Malati dasi GBC for New
Vrindaban recommended one donor for a vehicle.
Tapan’s idea is to distribute prasadam (milk
sweets) and information from this unique and
attractive cow mobile, the perverted reflection
of which might be the infamous Oscar Meyer
weiner mobile! Check out
www.cowmobile.org (under construction coming
soon).
7) XMAS
BOOK DISTRIBUTION
MARATHON
New Talavan has placed #2 in the famous Xmas
marathon in N. America. Of course, the
infallible New Dwaraka was #1, but we whipped
all the others! For the year, we were not so
lucky, but we did place #6. So we were in the
top 10!
Gopal Bhatta and the spiritual strategic team
requested the NA temples to focus on
implementing strategic plans to improve and
maintain Srila Prabhupadas book distribution.
This and 4 other initiatives were focused on in
2007 and reported on at the January 2008 NA GBC
meeting in Dallas.
We were not so successful with the book
distribution strategic planning primarily due to
a shortage of youth who have more time to follow
up on implementing ideas. HG Vaisesika prabhu,
the NA book distribution minister, has
successfully developed many ideas for devotees
to distribute books. One is the “smart box”
which is simply a display box for our books with
a locked place to put payment. These are
distributed in Indian stores, convenience stores
and other types of shops, offices and service
places. This is one idea I think we could easily
put into action. Since myself, Mohanasini and
Drumilla are all growing older we must develop
other means to maintain distribution.
Would you like to join this team and help us?
Sign up today! Just send me an email asking me
to contact you. My address is:
talavan@hughes.net
8) USM
STUDENTS AND TEACHER VISIT
On Sunday, Feb. 10th we were visited
by a sociology class from the University of
Southern Mississippi. The class was concerned
with cultural diversity and spiritual
communities in the South. Naturally we pointed
out that our community was fully devoted to Lord
Krsna, and there are some unique features:
1) We are vegetarians, The community is devoted
to providing protection for their cows and bulls
and utilizing the by-products such as milk and
dung. We are devoted to trying to grow our own
food.
2) We prohibit intoxication including tea and
coffee, although herbal teas and decaf are okay
3) Strictly family orientated-no sex outside of
marriage.
4) No gambling or speculation. We conform to the
scriptures and let them guide our lives.
5) Chanting the Mahamantra is our life and soul
They listened, asked a few questions and took
Prasad. By Lord Krsna’s grace the weather was
great and the devotees kind, soft spoken,
intelligent and friendly.
9)
INDRADYUMNA MAHARAJ VISITING SOON
 By
the grace of the Lord’s devotee we are expecting
His Holiness Indradyumna Maharaj to visit us on
Ramnavami Monday, April 14th. It is
an evening program. I pray to all the readers
and Sri Krsna that we satisfy the transcendental
desires of HH Indradyumna Maharaj so that his
preaching is more and more successful. The
following day’s (Tuesday) program is not yet
decided, but there is a possibility of a New
Orleans temple program or a home program.
Maharaj will leave Wednesday morning April 16th
for the next stop in his adventurous life in
devotional service.
10)
GURUKULA , MURTHI AND GOMATHA
The school, cows and deities are ecstatic! The
fortunate children of local devotees receive
good education and Krsna consciousness. How
lucky can one be!
 The
cows live an austere peaceful life with all
their friends and relatives…protected by man,
not killed and abused. Our deities are served
and worshipped, not left in a closet or box to
collect dust or thought of as statues or
mythological figures. May Lord Krsna protect
this fortunate scenario and allow us to
eternally serve His devotees!
11)
FESTIVALS
Nityananda prabhu’s appearance day is Monday
Feb. 18th. We will observe a bathing
ceremony beginning at 5pm followed by 6pm arotik,
6.45 class and 7.30 prasad.
Monday Feb. 25th is Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta’s appearance. We will begin with
evening arotik at 6pm, 6.30pm Gurupuja and
flower offering, class and finish with prasad at
7.30pm.
Friday March 21st is the appearance
day of Lord Krsna’s incarnation of our time- Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Devotees will fast and cook
an Ekadasi type feast. We will celebrate with a
bathing ceremony at 5pm, arotik at 6pm, class at
7pm and feast at 7.30pm
April 14th Monday is the appearance
of Lord Ramachandra. HH Indradyumna Maharaj will
be here as mentioned before. Our program will
start at 5pm with an abhiseka, followed by
arotik, class and feast.
We hope that this finds everyone healthy and
looking forward towards spring. It has been a
cool winter interspaced with some warm days.
Everyone had come down with the flu, yet life on
the farm forces one to wake the deities, cook
for Them, milk the cows, preach, grow food, take
care of The Lord’s families and chant the Hare
Krsna Mahamantra.
12) NEW
ARRIVAL AND COMMUNITY WORK DAYS
This is simple living and high thinking! On
February 15th Hari dasa’s wife,
Kunjabiharini d.d., gave birth to their son,
Gaura Avatara dasa. He weighed in at 11.5 pounds
which means he is a very big baby! Usually
babies weigh in at around 7-8 pounds! Hari dasa
is begging the vaisnavas to please send their
blessings to Kunja and son. They will arrive
back on the farm in a couple of weeks.
Another new arrival!
Sivani born from our milk cow Chandravali. She
was backwards and Narayana Das had to pull her
out to help the mother with the delivery. I am
trying to make a Youtube
available. Here is the Link :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqTwFZ8J7c0
Hari dasa has also planned with Prabhupada Caran
to start a monthly work day where devotees can
get together and work on a much needed project.
We will start on Sunday 24th at 9am
where we will team together and help with the
garden project that PC, PJ, Sughosa and Dharani
have been working hard on. Let us join together
and support them for a few hours before the
Sunday program!
Let us pray that all remains auspicious, and
that a new light will shine in this dense age of
darkness!
With all due respects
Your servant
Yogindra Vandana dasa Adhikari
|
|
|
|
|
NEW TALAVAN TIMES
Dear Prabhus,
What a month it has been! So much devotional service.
I’ll try to be concise and not too wordy since there is
so much to report on.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1)
Oct. 25th full moon-beginning of month of Lord Damodar (kartika)
2)Rohini prabhu sponsors Sunday feast for his elder
brother, Dwarkadish
prabhu. Dr. Lakshmi and Dwibhuja prabhus give Sunday
feast classes.
3)
Slaying of the effigy of the asura Ravana.
4)Gurukulis in business.
5)Feeding Mother Cow.
6)Rohini and Atmanada prabhus move, and Ranchor Krsna
visits.
7)
Mr. Durgesh Agarwal sponsors feast on mother’s behalf
and performs
sraddha ceremony. Disciples of Srila Govinda Maharaj
conduct Vyaspuja
ceremony for Srila Prabhupada's dear god brother Srila
BR Sridhar Maharaj.
8)
Hari dasa makes good pizza finally using temple wheat!
9)Visit by HH Purushastraya Maharaj.
10) Go Puja Mela!
11) Nanda Suta and Sridevi sponsor and host HH
Candramauli Maharaj.
12) Disappearance of HDG Srila Prabhupada. Disappearance
of Pad, dear
wife of Doctor Acarya. HG Premanjana arrives.
13) Marriage ceremony of Dipendra Kenwal and Santha
Sharma.
14) Birthdays for Bianka Bhattacharya, Pati and Sarvi.
15) HH Bir Krsna Maharaj comes to NT.
16) Thanksgiving and marriage of Nityo Mangala and
Mirabhai.
1)
LORD DAMODAR MONTH BEGINS
Thursday night of the Oct. full moon was worth
remembering. Our dear Ashok Amrita prabhu (ACBSP)
sponsored a new deity outfit. The dresses were sewn by
HG Mother Gaura. After evening arati, we all lit candles
to offer to Lord Krsna in his toddler manifestation
while chanting the beautiful Damodarastakam prayers in
the 1-2 beat rhythm.
2)
ROHINI PRABHU SPONSORS FEAST/ DWIBHUJA AND DR. LAKSHMI
GIVE CLASS
I
had just finished taking prasad at the home of Anandini
and Rohini prabhus in observance of Rohini’s father’s
sraddha or death anniversary when I received a call from
Rohini informing me that his elder brother Dr.
Dwarkadish Kulkarni had unexpectedly passed away,
leaving his wife and 2 children behind. Rohini
immediately engaged us in different prayers and
preparing for a local sraddha program or death ceremony
on the 13th day after the departure. This turned out to
be a Sunday. Thus Rohini sponsored the Sunday feast and
offered his brother the mahaprasad from the feast
offering. Afterwards we read from the Gita and offered
the remnants to Lord Krishna’s cows at New Talavan. This
was Oct 28th.
The Sunday feast lectures on Oct 14th and 21st were
given by Dwibhuja prabhu and Dr. Lakshmi respectively.
They are both excellent speakers, and the audience
appreciated their Krsna conscious message.
3)
SLAYING THE DEMON RAVANA
 This
took place on the evening of Oct 21st. The small but
dynamic program is always organized and performed by our
Guru Kula. The children build a 10 headed Ravana effigy
and place him on a big cross in front of a pile of wood
to soon become a bonfire. One child dresses like Rama
and shoots a flaming arrow into the heart of Ravana.
This eventually catches all the wood on fire and the
devotees dance around the fire chanting Jaya Sri Rama
Jaya Sri Rama-Patita Pavana Sita Rama!
Afterwards everyone enjoys pasta, popcorn and herbal tea
prepared by the Gurukula.
4)
FORMER GURUKULA STUDENTS IN BUSINESS
Vishvambhara and Sughosa hired their brothers and others
to help set up calendar club stores at a fancy mall in
Jackson MS. They have been busy retailing calendars,
games, toys and music boxes to the public. Kalindi and
Lilavana did the same in South Carolina. After set up,
Lilavana returned home and Kalindi's former Gurukula
teacher, Lila Avatar dd, came to help with the
retailing. Lila Avatar just returned from LA where her
daughter Sraddha just delivered a baby girl.
5)
HAY MAKING
 Narayana,
PC, Jaya and Bhakta Scott were at it again. Thanks to
Mr. Wallace and Nanda Suta prabhu, every year we
fertilize and cut hay off Mr. Wallace's farm lands. The
young Gurukula adults manage caring for all of New
Talavana’s herd. Jayanti is the chief cowherd queen, and
she cares for the records, health deliveries, and
milking of the entire herd. Narayana and friends head up
the hay making, fencing, pasture cultivation and bush
hogging or keeping the pastures free of brush and trees.
Every fall we must produce 200 or more 1600 lb. bails of
hay and store it so that the weather does not deplete
the nutrition.
Thank you to NT's cowherd men and woman, and thank you
to our sponsors. New Talavana Adopt a Cow Ki Jaya!
6)
FRIENDS COME AND GO.
Some devotees have moved on to more promising futures
and an old friend has returned. Rohini and family have
moved to New Orleans where his dear wife, Anandini, has
found a teaching job, and Atmananda decided to move back
to where his extended family lives in Washington DC.
Although we greatly miss them, Anandini and her daughter
Gaurangi visit and serve our Deities as often as
possible since they are only 75 miles from us. The old
saying is that you win some and lose some. So as some
devotees departed, a dear friend, Ranchor Krsna,
returned. Ranchor joined us in New Orleans in the early
80's. Later he married a Bengali devotee and they were
blessed with 2 good boys. After living in India for 10
years, Ranchor and family returned to America and are
currently 50 miles from us in Columbia MS. We hope they
visit often.
7)
CEREMONIES
Disciples of Srila Govinda Maharaj, who have served
Srila Prabhupada and New Talavan selflessly, conducted a
Vyaspuja ceremony for Srila Prabhupada’s dear god
brother, Srila BR Sridhar Maharaj, the diksha guru of
their Gurudeva. It was simple and sweet, and all
attendees relished prasad afterwards.
On
the 4th of Nov., Mr. Durgesh Agarwal sponsored the
Sunday feast on behalf of his dear mother. We offered
her the mahaprasad and read from the most holy Bhagavad
Gita. To the sound of kirtan we fed the remnants to New
Talavan's old oxen. My old friend, crooked horn, ate
everything within 2 minutes! Mr. and Mrs. Agarwal were
moved by the program.
8)
PIZZA SUCCESS
As
a highlight, Hari dasa finally turned out first class
pizza utilizing our home grown and milled wheat flour on
Saturday evening, Nov. 3rd. Hari makes this pizza every
Saturday and it is made to order only. Call him at 601
798 9170 before Saturdays to place your order!
9)
SANYASSI VISIT
Lord Krsna arranged for HH Purushastraya Maharaj to
visit us. He gave Bhagavatam classes, sang Sri
Damodarastakam and Mangala Arotik and visited people in
Long Beach to make a PowerPoint presentation on his self
sufficient farm community in Brazil. He made the same
presentation at our Cow Mela but adapted it more towards
cows. We pray for Maharaja’s continued success in
spiritual life.
10) GO PUJA MELA
 Nov.
10th, 2007: About 6 weeks before, at a temple
Isthagosthi, we formulated a festival committee
consisting of Mothers Bhaktidana, Maharani, Sukanya and
Jayanthi, and Dwibhuja, Candrabhanu and Hari dasa
prabhus. They went to work and created the Festival of
the Cows--Go Puja Mela--as an annual New Talavana
festival to promote New Tavalana cow protection and
community spirit.
These guys worked together, planned, raised funds,
organized, advertised and promoted this enlivening,
successful festival. It all happened on a perfectly
beautiful Nov. 10th-what a day!
 The
NT boys 12-19 pitched in to help set it up, cook and
clean up. It was also Govardhan puja, and we made this
aspect fit in naturally. So many local devotees came
forward and helped.
Dasarath Suta from Atlanta visited and entertained the
crowd with beautiful flute music and Krsna Katha. The
2-300 people that came entered into a world centered on
cow protection. Even vegans were astounded by the
atmosphere and love for Mother Cow while enjoying her
gifts.
Life is giving and receiving. The cow gives its blood in
the form of the miracle food pure milk from protected
cows.
T hese
cows are not treated like slaves like the poor cows used
by big corporations whose motive is monetary profit not
love and God consciousness. They want, as Srila
Prabhupada says, "The kingdom of God without God in it."
We are just the opposite. Check out the DVD of the cow
festival and you will see!
Balarama avadhuta got it all on film. You can order the
DVD from Yogi for $10.
11) CANDRAMAULI MAHARAJ VISIT/SRILA PRABHUPADA’S
DISSAPEARANCE
HH
Candramauli Maharaj arrived on Monday evening, Nov. 12th
hosted by Nanda Suta and Sridevi.
Maharaj stayed until early Sunday morning and gave a
wealth of classes!
Tuesday, Nov. 13th was the disappearance festival of
Srila Prabhupada, our beloved founder/acarya. Srila
Prabhupada was Lord Krsna’s direct ambassador. Maharaj
gave us a morning of Prabhupada Katha, and in the
evening we engaged in feelings of separation, further
Prabhupada katha and rip roaring kirtan and finally a
feast prepared by Mother Gaura and her sons and
assistants!
Every morning Maharaj joined us for Iskcon's famous
morning program and gave wonderful Bhagavatam amrita
daily. In the evenings he conducted a mini seminar on
the Holy Name and Vaisnava behavior. All the attendees
derived absolute benefit and blessings and are all
encouraged to continue, with enthusiasm and patience,
the spiritual sadhana Srila Prabhupada has established.
On
this same day one of our own dear doctors in this area
lost his wife after a 4 year battle with cancer. Her
name is Acarya from Orissa, and she is survived by her
dear husband, Dr. Acarya, who has helped with medical
care for Iskcon devotees, and her dear son, who will
graduate from high school this year. May Lord Paramatma
enlighten Dr. Acarya and his son from within and help
them bear the grief of such a loss.
12) PJ RETURNS
The Lord gives and takes from us. HG Premanjana returned
to NT after a mentorship with an Iskcon leadership
program. He is hoping to find some service here he can
bite into. Other devotees are attempting to lure him
away! That’s life!
PJ
must decide where he will serve and make a sacrifice for
Srila Prabhupada. We must do our best to keep him here!
He is a much loved member of our dynamic youth.
13) WEDDING
On
Sat., Nov. 17 NT priests
Adrita and Yogindra conducted the marriage ceremony of
Mr. Dipendra Kenwal and Miss Santha Sharma from Nepal,
studying at the university of Southern Alabama in
Mobile. After a grand ceremony, they cut the cake in our
new building provided by the Bush-Clinton Katrina fund,
ate Krsna prasad and danced to some Nepali music. The
next day Adrita prabhu arranged for the yearly worship
of Lord Ananta Sesa established under the Gazebo in
front of the temple. After the worship and chanting and
dancing around Lord Sesa, myself, Adrita, Giri and
Vrinnie went on top of the temple to bathe the Lord’s
Sudharsan Cakra and offer puja. Krsna Sundar led kirtan
and devotees faithfully followed.
14) BIRTHDAYS
Some recently observed birthdays were Bianka
Bhattacharya, myself and Sarvi and Pati. I am sorry I do
not keep up with everyone’s birthdays like I did in the
past; if someone is willing to help I will gladly assist
them.
15) BIR KRSNA MAHARAJ VISITS
 On
Nov 19th I was privileged to pick up HH Bir Krsna
Maharaj at New Orleans airport. We made it to NT, and
Maharaja’s disciple Mohini Radha prepared his usual
evening prasad of raw vegetables and nutritional yeast.
The greens and broccoli were grown here; the other
purchased veggies were organic. Afterwards Maharaj
showed a DVD of a Laughter Yoga class he gave to non
devotees in Croatia for bridge preaching. The next
morning we were up early for the morning program.
Maharaj gave a class honoring Srila Gaur Kishor dasa
Babaji, whose appearance day it was.
That evening we offered pushpanjali and guru puja for
Srila Babaji Maharaj and BK Goswami continued to glorify
the pastimes of Babaji Maharaj. He also shared some
techniques to appreciate devotees. One is to be specific
about the appreciation and reveal how it makes one feel
and what need it satisfied. This type of appreciation is
more meaningful since it addresses specifics and is
usually more productive than generic praise which can be
flattering but unspecific. This generalized praise does
not help us to understand one another nearly as well.
Maharaj also explained that the party receiving an
appreciation should accept it by extending a welcome
that addresses how it made one feel and what need it
satisfied. That type of welcome will generate an even
deeper understanding. We tried it and it caught on!
The next day after class we all jumped into this mode of
appreciating the other devotees as Maharaj directed. It
really worked as devotees opened up and appreciated and
thanked one another. After breakfast and some work, I
took Maharaj for a preaching program in New Orleans.
Thursday he would spend with the devotees and then fly
out Friday morning.
16) THANKSGIVING/NITYO AND MIRABHAI WEDDING
Noon was our traditional thanksgiving dinner at
Dwibhuja’s and Mahalaxmi’s place. There was a great
attendance, loud chanting and yummy prasad. That evening
saw the biggest wedding we have had to date at NT.
 Mother
Gaura and Ramkeli, Mirabhai and Nityo really worked hard
to plan, finance and conduct this holy samskara. Ramkeli
brought one priest from Alachua, Krsna Swarup trained in
India. He conducted an excellent and precise yajna.
Narrotam, Krsna Balaram and Abhay led ecstatic kirtan
and everyone joined in attentively. After the ceremony
we went to Dwibhuja’s for a reception. Ramkeli and Gaura,
with help, prepared a huge feast of opulent Prasad, and
all the devotees dug in. Outside there was a tent set up
for dining, a DJ and sound system, plenty of cake and
non alcoholic grape juice. The devotees dance on the
basketball court into the wee early morning hours! We
thank all the neighbors for tolerating the loud music
and allowing the reception to be an enjoyable event!
Thank you devotees and donors and well-wishers. May you
all have a happy holiday season.
Please accept my holiday greetings and well wishes. I
pray everyone may taste pure love for the Lotus eyed
Lord of their hearts.
Sincerely
Yogindra Vandana Dasa
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NEW TALAVAN TIMES
October
2007
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Dear Readers,
Hare Krishna! Please accept my pranams in the dust of your lotus
feet. We should always be aware that all living entities are
eternal parts and
parcels of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and are in quality
like
Him. We must also be conscious of the Supreme Being’s all
pervasive
presence in every atom. Then only will it be possible for us to
give up
false ego and illusion and learn to be gentle, tolerant, and
forgiving
of others. This will bring peace and happiness to ourselves and
the
world. This state of consciousness is possible by chanting the
Mahamantra as prescribed by His Divine Grace A. C Bhaktivedants
Swami
Srila Prabhupada, who is the Supreme Lord’s bona fide
representative in
the line of disciplic succession, from Bhagavan Shri Krishna to
Brahma
to Narada to Vyasadeva down to Srila Prabhupada. Srila
Prabhupada has
given the same truth to all his disciples and followers and we
are
continuing that tradition today.
Please excuse me for writing this in the form of a letter,
without
individual headings or a table of contents.
Since Janmashtami and Vyasa pooja, New Talavan has been bustling
with
activity and news. The weekend following Janmashtami, the temple
celebrated the birthday of my dear wife, Tulasi Maharani and of
Girigovardhan das, the son of Pundarik dasa and Mother
Sankirtana. This
was in addition to the Sunday feast. The really good news is
that Mother
Jayapatni gopi devi dasi received a kidney transplant. She went
to
Boston with her daughter, our cowherd girl, Jayanti sakhi and
came back,
feeling better than ever. Bhakta Scott stepped up to the plate
and
milked the cows everyday when Jayanti was gone, which was for
almost 2
weeks. Sughosh and PC cool-sealed the temple and kitchen roofs.
Besides
that, Sughosh and PC, the other young devotees, along with
Dharani,
planted a fall garden. Disking, spreading the cow dung, disking
it in,
making rows, planting and mulching, they planted cabbage,
greens,
cauliflower, lettuce, and broccoli, covering about a tenth of an
acre.
Hopefully, they will be able to keep up on the weeds, since most
of the
work has now fallen on PC’s shoulders. Sughosh left with
Vishwambar to
earn ‘laksmi’ at a mall in Jackson for the Christmas season. May
they be
successful and the garden fruitful. Jai Radhe! The sad news is
that we
lost Bala, the father bull of many in our cowherd. He left his
body and
surely went to an auspicious destination on Monday October the
8^th.
Sept 19^th was the blessed appearance day of Srimati Radhika,
the Queen
of Vrindavan. What a festival! Sukanya mataji organized a play,
“Gopinatha.” Her daughter, Nitya Priya, was Krishna, Mother
Prsni’s
daughter, Taraka, played a brahmana and Atmananda’s daughter,
Melika
played Narada Muni. My daughter, Suratani was one of Lord
Krsna’s
queens. The daughter of Rohininandan, Gaurangi, and the daughter
of
Haridas, Kadamba, acted as the gopis. Kalindi was the narrator,
and the
girls played their roles enthusiastically remembering all their
lines.
The festival started with a bathing ceremony for Radha and
Krishna. This
was organized by Adhrita das prabhu. Surariha led the bhajans on
harmonium, and all the other young adult gurukulis joined in.
Sughosh
led the arati and Nalina the prayers to Lord Narasimhadeva.
Mother
Sankirtana read passages glorifying Srimati Radharani. After the
play,
awards were handed out to the winners of a cultural and art
contest
organized by Mother Sukanya for the school children. Madhava das
dasa
from Slidell, LA sponsored the prizes for the contestants and
the
judges. Mother Sukanya was also given a prize and a big round of
applause. After all the events in the temple room, everyone
enjoyed the
prasadam cooked for Srimati Radharani by the servant of the
servants, M.
Tulasi Maharani. M. Gaura baked the birthday cake.
The Saturday after Radhastami we were visited by the sister of
Ashwin
and Harshad Dave, Shakti Patani and her husband’s side of the
family.
Three students from MSU and their uncle also arrived at the same
time. I
want to thank Dr. Lakshmi, [Sridevi dasi] and Hari das for
taking care
of these guests.
Sunday, September 23^rd was the appearance of Lord Vamanadeva.
Krsna
Sundar das, Sughosh and Ramakeli prabhus led the kirtan, and
afterwards
we read the lila from Srila Prabhupada’s translation of Bhagavat
Purana,
the “Srimad Bhagavatam.” The next day we were blessed by the
appearance
anniversary of our great Acharya, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura,
the great
devotee in our line of disciplic succession who pioneered this
Hare
Krishna movement in the latter part of the 19^th century. Krsna
Sundara
dasa led a very nice evening aratik [we held the festival late
in the
evening so many devotees could attend]. I read a sketch of the
Thakur’s
life, written by Achyutananda dasa, from ISKCON’s Vaisnava song
book,
published in 1972. At the final aratik of the evening Nalina
sang, ‘Jaya
Radha Madhava’ while Krsna Sundar das played beautifully on the
harmonium in accompaniment. I want to thank all the devotees for
participating in, as well as supporting these transcendental
festivals
financially. The feast was prepared by Nikunja bihari dasa, a
Mayapur vasi.
On the 26^th of September, New Talavan hosted a local Food for
Life
meeting. The life of the meeting was Tulasi Maharani’s lasagna,
salad,
rice and chung curry with lemonade to wash it down. The meeting
went
‘thumbs up.’ All the devotees are eager to cooperate in serving
Lord
Krsna’s prasadam to the innocent public.
I thank my dear God brother, Asoka Amrita Das prabhu who lives
in
Tuscaloosa, AL. Although he recently escaped death with a triple
bypass
operation, he has not let it slow down his devotional service.
Instead
he seems more enthusiastic than ever. He recently employed M.
Gaura to
make the Deities’ night outfit to be offered on the full moon
day to
start the month of Damodar, the Kartik season. He also employed
Dhrumila
das prabhu’s wife to make the jewelry for the outfit. Besides
this he
has agreed to finance the new curtain if we’ll do it before
Gaura
Purnima. Thank you, Asoka, M. Gaura and M. Uttra, Dhrumila
prabhu’s wife.
Other kudos to Sastra prabhu for taking care of Burfy, the baby
bull
sponsored by Ranadhir and Kadamba in Velia , CA; to Dharani for
cleaning
out the old barn, rearranging rooms to make them more useful and
repairing rooms upstairs for single men to stay; Dina dayal for
replacing all the old broken doors around the property; and M.
Mohanasini for continuing her exploits, distributing Srila
Prabhupada’s
books to the poor conditioned souls. Although for the first time
in 5
years, she was defeated last month in the local competition, not
by a
young and upcoming upstart, but by another veteran of the
pavement, His
Grace Dhrumila das prabhu who did 1200 medium books, 240 small
and a few
larger books. Jai M. Mohanasini and Dhrumila prabhus!
Kudos to Nanda Suta, Ramatoshan and Nikunja Bihari for repairing
the cow
barn; M. Juanita prabhu for working many extra hours to catch up
on all
the temple accounting, on our computer software; Dvibhuja prabhu
for
preaching Krishna Consciousness through his Blue Boy Herbal
business;
Hari das for selling 25 hardback vegetarian cook books at one of
Dvi’s
herbal seminars.
I want to thank all the local devotees living on the temple
property as
well as those around it, on their own estates. M. Lajja, Rasaraj,
Loka,
Atmananda, Doyamoy, Pundarik- I am not including in this list
the names
of devotees already mentioned. Vrni, Rohini, Haridhvani, Narayan,
Devahuti, Jaya, Kaivalya, Sripati, Devala, Candra and Bhakti,
Veda and
Nrsimhalaksmi, French Rani, Shyamalata and Bhushaya, Ananda and
Lalitapriya, Parampara, Bhakta Roy, Vahara & Nrisingha, Radha
Valabha,
Bhakta Mike, Captain Taly, Vrk & Dvijahari , Rasa & Madhvi etc.
etc.
Let us not forget those who have made everything financially
possible
last month- our beloved donors…
Durgesh agarwal’s family- $ 251 feast sponsorship
$ 501 for the cows.
Gopal Singhal - $ 50 for the temple
Suresh Rai - $ 21 “
Valery - $ 275 “
Donald Harman - $ 200 “
Chattelle Jackson - $ 60 for the cows
Sarvataraka - $ 51 “
Vitthalbhai Mistry $ 750 for the temple and windows
R & N Garg $ 201 for the temple
Patani $ 31 “
Kalindi $ 31 “
Dvibhuja $ 108 “
Kadamba/Ranadhir $ 108 for the cows
Amargopal $ 50 “
Yogindra $ 50 “
Sterling art $ 350 “
Food for Life $ 2000 for utilities and bhoga.
Dr. Sanjay Taking care of Yajna vallabha
Thank you very much,
Hare Krishna!
Yogindra Vandana Das
Temple President
*P.S. *
*/Please note that all donations made to New Talavana go 100% to
the
intended purpose of the donor. This is one advantage being a
small
operation with a small voluntary staff/**. *
Dear Prabhus,
Hare Krsna!
We offer our
humble obeisances to our readers. All glories to our spiritual
master-His Divine Grace Srila Abhay Caranaravinda
Bhaktivedanta
Swami Prabhupada the Founder/Acarya of the
International
Society for Krsna Consciousness.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS!
1) Deity bake
sale.
2)Sughosh and
Visvambhara pick up appliances from Mr. Bharat Patel.
3)Visit from
old friends in Baton Rouge-Suresh Rai and Gopal Singhal.
4) Ladies
from the Gulf coast Mandir visit.
5) Tapan
Misra Prabhu helps set up new computer + gives a little aid to
the website.
6) Gurukula
off to a new year /children in other schools.
7) Gurukulies
gear up for Janmasthami.
8) Arrival of
Kunjabiharini dd and Hari dasa from New Vrindaban.
9) Maharani
and Sahukanya cater for Dr Vajpayee.
10) Aug 11th
Dr Lakshmi graduation.
11) Deena
Bhandu prabhu from Vrinda Kunda visits.
12) Appearance
of Lord Balaram+appearance of Devavratha.
13)
Janmasthami and Vyasa Puja.
14) Donors.
15) Upcoming
Tai Chi course.
16) Projects
on which we need your help on.
17) Katrina
fund building finished at last.
DEITY BAKE
SALE
-----------------------------
Every Sunday
at the feast programme, Sukanya Mataji sets up her confectionary
booth. During the week she prepares different types of Indian
sweets.
Other devotees
bring a variety of American delicacies. The money raised from
her sales goes into a fund for outfits, jewellery and special
purchases for Sri Sri Radha Kanta and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai.
Please support
this bake sale!
GIVING TO LORD
KRSNA
---------------------------------------
Early in the
month of August Sughosh and Visvambhara took the seats out of
the FFL van and drove it to Mobile Alabama where they met with
Mr Bharat Patel.
Bharat's wife,
Amitha, brought them to their house, and they loaded the van
with appliances and furniture belonging to Bharat's late uncle
Raaj.
VISIT FROM OLD
FRIENDS
------------------------------------------
Mr. Gopal
Singhal and Dr Suresh Rai attended our Sunday feast on August
5th 2007. It had been 2 or 3 years since I had last seen Gopal.
Suresh came once during that time.
They were
involved on an advisory board in the mid 90's, and we
accomplished a couple of projects together. Gopal would also
visit with Radha Govinda Maharaja. A little later in the month
Gopal donated some furniture. He is moving to India and will
only visit America.
DR. LAKSHMI
DAJAK
---------------------------------
Our dear
devotee-Sridevi, disciple of HH Candramauli Maharaja,
concluded
several years of education in family therapy and was awarded a
doctorate degree on August 11th 2007. In India she was a
practicing pediatrician and decided to upgrade her education to
include a study of family health. As a pediatrician she noticed
that many problems were created by dysfunctional family
practices, and she wanted to get at the heart of this problem.
She studied at
the University of Louisiana in Monroe which is one of the few
universities in America offering a PhD programme in family
studies.
Dr Lakshmi
Dajak is currently seeking employment and is always ready to
help any devotee. She can be contacted at :
drlaksmi_2000@yahoo.com
/ 228 255 5063
TAPAN MISHRA
HELPS OUT
-------------------------------------------
My old friend
and siksa disciple of HG Jayananda prabhu of Ratha Yatra fame,
Tapan Mishra prabhu, is currently maintaining our website. He
also came to my aid when I expressed to him I wanted to purchase
a new computer before our old one broke. He immediately
purchased and set up a new system.
Thank you
Tapan! All glories to your service!
SCHOOL IS BACK
IN SESSION
-------------------------------------------------
All the boys
and girls at New Talavan are back in school, either at our
Gurukula, the local public school or some private school. Kalindi
dd , our schools principal for the past 3 years, and a former
Gurukuli is taking a leave of absence from full time teaching.
She will handle the administration and substitute. She is
planning an extended stay in Sridham Mayapur. Please give your
blessings to our youngsters to pursue their education
successfully.
GURUKULIS
CLEAN UP FOR JANMASTHAMI
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Although
school had started, the gurukulis teamed up with some of their
alumni to get the grounds ready for Janmasthami. Some old
devotees like Parampara, Sastra and Dwibhuja pitched in.
Vishvambhara
headed up all the boys and cleaned out the bottom of the old
barn which is used for storage, put a new lighting rod in for
Sri Sudharsana Cakra, cleaned grounds, cut grass etc...
Ghosie and PC
formed a team and went to work getting a new clothes washing
area set up, cleaning up the Pavillion, trimming all the trees
and bushes and fixing the soundsytem.
They all
continued their devotional service on Janmasthami day helping in
the temple room, kitchen and dinning area.
Thank you boys
and girls / ladies and gentlemen!
NEW ARRIVALS
-------------------------
Their Graces
Kunjabiharini dd , Hari dasa and their beautiful Daughter,
Kadamba, arrived from New Vrindaban to practice devotional
service and serve Srila Prabhupadas mission here. They had to
take the only cabin available. We spent a couple of weeks
getting it ready. Please pray that they are able to tolerate
Mississippi humidity and low income levels. May they find
happiness and pure devotional service here. Kunja is a couple of
months pregnant and Hari is a real
dive-in-and-help
person. Please
pray for their welfare and Krsna consciousness.
CATERING
----------------
Recently Dr
Vajpayee’s and his wife, Parvati's son, Nishant married one nice
Bengali lady from the USA. Her name is Radha. Dr. Vaijpayee, a
long time professor of Engineering at The University of Southern
Mississippi, called us and asked for my wife, Maharani, to cater
dinner the evening before the marriage and make special sweets
at the marriage reception. We agreed and Maharani and Sukhanya
Devi Dasis worked very hard to please them. They very
graciously gave a reasonable donation to the temple. May
Nishant and Radha have a happy and long life together and
simutanously remember Lord Krsna and not forget Him!
VISIT FROM THE
MANDALA MANDIR
----------------------------------------------------------
The day before
the wanning Ekadasi, August 23rd, New Talavana was
visited by
Mandala Mandir, a ladies group from the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
We fed the
cows, sang bhajans, and had an estatic noon arotika. Dr.
Laksmi led and
all the ladies danced. Afterwards, prasadam prepared by
my wife and
Ramtoshan was heavenly (really transcendental). All the ladies
gave donations and were very happy in Krsna Consciousness.
DEENABANDU
PRABHU VISITS
-------------------------------------------------
From August
18th - 22nd, His Grace Deena Bandu Prabhu from Vrndakunda and
Krsna Balarama Mandir in Vrndavana visited with us
at New
Talavana and New Orleans. We had a birthday party for his
arrival since
it was his solar birthday. The next day he conducted the
Sunday feast
programs at New Talavana and New Orleans. Prabhuji
spent the
night in New Orleans and gave Srimad Bhagavatam class
Monday
morning.
Monday night
we had a big devotional party at Antaryatma's house.
Bhajans,
class, prasad and katha, talk about the Lord and His service
was fully
satisfying. The next morning the devotees brought Deena
Bhandu prabhu
to New Talavana for class. Afterwards we had a grand
breakfast at
Rohini prabhus house prepared by Mother Sukanya
and Anandini
dd.
There we
rested until leaving for swimming at Candra sarovara or
Candrabanu and Bhaktideva's home. There we enjoyed looking at
ITV footage of Srila Prabhupada, swimming and a wonderful feast
prepared by Mothers Bhakti, Sankirtana, Sripati and Kaivalya
sundari. That evening we went to Mother Kaivalyas for bhajans,
katha and simple feasting-herbal tea, popcorn, noodles and cake.
Bhagavatam
class and breakfast at Rohini's was transcendental and
fullfilling. I then took HG Deena Bhandu prabhu to the airport
for his next destination-New Raman Reti Alachua.
APPEARANCE OF
THE LORD AND HIS DEVOTEE
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lord Balarama
appeared on the full moon on Monday Aug 27th. We celebrated in
the evening with an abhiseka performed by HG Adrita prabhu.
Aroti, hearing the pastime of Lord Balarama uprooting and
pulling the city of Hastinapura (modern Delhi) towards the
Ganges and finally a big feast prepared by Mother Gaura,
Vrindavana and Sukha. The next day Mother Gaura's daughter
Mirabhai gave birth to her second son, Devavratha.
Jaya! All
glories to the Lord and His devotees!
SRI KRSNA
JANMASTHAMI AND VYASA PUJA
----------------------------------------------------------------------
As already
mentioned the young people and community in general pitched in
to make a nice public event for Lord Krsna's birthday.
Everything was cleaned: Rohini prabhu arranged for Bharatbhai
prabhu from Mobile to sponsor, organize and cook all the bhoga.
Bharat came with his wife, son, nephew and 2 other families from
Mobile. They cooked and arranged the prasadam buffet. They
purchased nice hard plastic trays with around 1-18 spaces for
everyones convinience. It was a 20 course prasadam dinner. We
feel ourselves and Lord Krsna greatly honored by the fantastic
financing, organizing, cooking and arranging that was offered at
the temple by Bharat prabhu and crew for the pleasure of the
Supreme Personality of Godhead
and his
devotees!
Thank you
Bharatbhai and company.
May you gain
Krsna prema in this life by the grace of Guru and
Gauranga!
Adrita prabhu
lead the 6pm arotik and performed the bathing of Radha Krsna and
the 8 principle gopi's. Sughosh led the bhajan and Devasya and
Adidev chanted the Brahma Samhita prayers. Afterwards, we opened
gifts for The Lord and gave some words of appreciation to
everyone. All the devotees gave service and lakshmi to Lord
Krsna for His birthday.
At 8:30 pm we
served prasad to the public and resumed in the temple room at
10pm with a swing ceremony for Laddhu Gopal. The bhajans were
led by the gurukulis. After that we had a cultural program
beginning with sweet bhajans led by Mother Kaivalya Sundari
followed by Surariha and Nakula’s music school demonstrating
their learning.
Nalina
arranged a dance for all the young girls here to learn and offer
to Lord Krsna on Janmasthami night. It was really sweet. I am
sure Lord Krsna appreciated every step. Dr Lakshmi, Sridevi,
sang 2 bhajans, Krsna Murari and
Bhaja Govinda.
Finally, Dr
Lakshmi arranged for 14 demigods to offer short prayers to Lord
Krsna in the womb of Mother Devaki played by Tulasi Maharani dd.
Midnight, and
the curtains opened. Sughosh led an enthusiastic Harinam
sankirtan, and everyone responded with love and devotion. After
prayers to Lord Narasimha, as the pujaris cleaned the altar,
Nalina sang Jaya Radha Madhava in a sweet voice, and all the
devotees similairly responded.
Finally the
Lord and devotees took rest. Doyamoya and Maharani stayed up
with a number of devotees to clean everywhere. Please forgive me
for not being able to mention everyone that helped. It was
really a community endeavour spearheaded in different areas by a
number of different great souls. The next morning Mahotsaha woke
Their Lordships and performed Mangala arotik, Lajja and Anandini
matajis bathed and dressed, Loka cooked bhoga and Mahotsaha
offered the bhoga.
Tulasi
Maharani got started with the feast, and another devotee cooked
the Raja Bhoga. Ranchor Krsna from San Diego who works with the
Bhumi bars and Doyamoya prabhus appeared on the scene and took
over as chefs with my wife assisting.
They turned
out a grand feast while we all sat inside the temple room
hearing Vyasa
puja offerings. After pushpanjali, gurupuja and deity arati,
the devotees
relished the wonderful prasad.
All glories to
Srila Prabhupada!
DONORS FOR AUG
AND SEPT 2007
------------------------------------------------------
DONOR AMOUNT CAUSE
--------- ----------
------
Madhava $128 temple
Chattelle $60 cows
Gopal
Singhal $51+furniture temple
Dr Suresh
Rai $51 temple
Madhuryalila $66 temple
Nalin
Singhal $372 cows
Kadamba+Ranadhir $108 Janmasthami
Bharat
Patel furniture/appliances
and Janmasthami bhoga
CandraMotwani commercial refrigerators temple
Rohini $501 cows
Radha
Raman $1008 vyasa puja
Lajia and
Rasaraja $201 Janmasthami flowers
Leela and Rama
Rao $301 Janmasthami flowers
Venkatha
Sampalli $21 temple
Dr Ram and
Leela Rao $101 temple
Dr
Dixit $100 temple
Partha
Patel $128 cows (he is 13 years
old and saved
up for this in his cow bank!)
Dr
Kumar $101 Janmasthami
Sterling
art $350 tractor note
Ravi
Ramnarine $50 cows
Mr. and Mrs.
Parcher $101 temple
Lajja &
Rasaraj $101 cows
Kalindi $41 temple
Sankirtan $71 temple
Dwibhuja $1008 property taxes
Mahalakshmi $216 cows/deity dress
Maharani/Sukanyas booth $336 temple
Mr.
Bonne $40
Dr
Das $50 cows
Talavana $30 temple
Dwibhuja $108 Vyasa puja
Dwija
Hari $20 Vyasa puja
Bhusaya $50 Vyasa puja
Doyamoya $20 Vyasa puja
Donation
box $246 temple
Ananda $87 Samaskara
Dr
Balasubramaniam $1000 Janmasthami
Divya
Gopal $51 cows
Ashok
Patel $185 temple
Bhusaya $30 temple
FFL $2000 temple
Tapan
Mishra $28 temple
Jayananda
(French) $30 temple
Sanjaya
Sharma $101 temple
Vedantakrit $101 Vyasa
puja
Samuel
Walker $101 cows (online)
Jeffery
Walton $100 cows (online)
Nityo
Mangala $50 cows (online)
Thank you
devotees! By your offerings the temple and
cows are
maintained!
UPCOMING TAI
CHI COURSE
--------------------------------------------
Starting on
Wednesday 26th Sept at 7pm Hari dasa who is a certified Tai Chi
master and instructor, will offer 10 part workshop on the basic
principles of this wonderful Chinese health exercise. It is also
a martial art but that aspect will only be taught by private
arrangement. The
classes will
be every consecutive Wednesday up until the 28th November. We
have advertised in Picayune businesses and with the local media
so we also expect some locals to come for this also.
In the spirit
of Rupa Goswami's dadati principle, Hari dasa is giving 50% of
the proceeds to the temple, and the rest will go for Kadambas
tuition fees in our Gurukula.
Hari dasa is
offering a 50% concession to local devotees making the fee for
the whole 10 classes $40 (the regular price is $80). Interested
persons are advised to book upfront and commit to the full 10
classes as if any sessions are missed it will slow down the rest
of the students, while Hari Das "catches you up".
Please support
this new endeavor as we plan to hold other courses with the 50%
that goes to the temple being used for the planned guest
accommodation. Light prasad will be served after each class.
PROJECTS
----------------
There are a number of projects we can take advantage of to
engage
ourselves in the transcendental loving service of Radha and
Krsna.
1: New windows
for the Lord’s kitchen and temple room $289 each.
2: Paving the
temple driveway $5000 needed.
3:
Guest house facility, time share rooms-one week
per year for
lifetime. Room will always be marked with your or loved one's
name: $10, 000 needed.
4: Roller
tiller for temple gardens Kaboda brand $1,500
5: New curtain
for deity altar, Ashokamrita dasa from Tuscaloosa
Alachua
has pledged $750, another $750 is needed...yoga joining with
God.... do it!
FINALLY!
--------------
The
Bush/Clinton Katrina fund youth and community building is
finished and will be officially opened on the appearance day of
Srimati Radharani, Wednesday Sept 19th!
Thank you.
Please chant the Mahamantra and make your life sublime despite
the material circumstances.
PS: A new baby
calf named Burfy was born. Kadamba & Ranadhir from Visalia have
adopted her. Mother Mitravenda adopted the pervious calf, and
named it after her husband, Avadhuta. Narayana fertilized the
fields, and Krsna made it rain afterwards. Horibol!!
Aum Tat Sat
Sincerely,
Yogindra
Vandana Das
Temple
President
|
THE NEW TALAVANA TIMES
\ July 2007
\
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna
Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Dear revered
readers:
This issue is most important because
it contains our festival schedule for the upcoming Krsna Janmastami
season.
Table of Contents:
1.
Fourth of July
2.
Sunday feast, July 8th
3.
Temple ceiling repair
4.
Another house opening in
Metarie
5.
Bush-Clinton
Katrina Fund
Memorial Building
6.
Mridanga and harmonium
lessons
7.
Gaura Govinda Maharaja
tape minister visits
8.
Gaudica Marjana,
Bhaktivinode & Gadadhara Pandit disappearances
9.
Radharaman Swami –
Sunday feast class
10.
Gayatrai Yajna in
Jackson, Mississippi
11.
Lafayette, Louisiana, Hindu
Sunday school visits
12.
Culture class from the
University of Southern Mississippi visits
13.
Upcoming festivals
14.
Donors for the month of
July
15.
Projects requiring your
help
1. Fourth of July
It has been many years
since we last entertained a July the Fourth festival. Every year we get
a few calls about it, and sometimes a family or two will show up. This
year Mr. Suresh Sevak, Mr. Ashok Patel and Dr.
Lalet Barasi came, with their wives, from Baton Rouge,
Louisiana. We organized kirtan for noon arotik and
afterwards enjoyed the prasadam feast. We had a jolly time.
Next year we’ll expand the endeavor.
2. July the 8th Sunday Feast
On Sunday, July 8, Dr. Lakshmi
Dajak sponsored a Nrisimhadeva puja on behalf of her
father, Vasudeva Ramachandra Rao. Mr. Rao was scheduled for
heart surgery the upcoming week. Ghosie, my eldest son, led
arotik and Nalina, daughter of
Candrabhanu and Bhakti
Dhana sang Nrisimhadeva prayers. Ghosie
led the Nrisimhadeva puja with his harmonium. Mr. Rao’s heart
surgery was successful and his recovery is going smoothly.
3.
Temple Ceiling Repaired
His Grace Jayarama
Prabhu, disciple of Jayapataka Swami, took up the service of
repairing the cracks in the temple room ceiling. Using his scaffolding,
he cut away the old sheetrock and replaced it, then did the finishing
work. Dina Dayal, Dharani, Sughosh, and
Jaganatha Candana did the painting, which turned out to be a much
bigger job than anticipated. By the time the job was finished,
everything appeared fresh and new. Please give these worthy devotees
your blessings.
4.
Third Devotee to Purchase New Home in Metarie
For the third time in two months, I
was asked to conduct a fire sacrifice at the opening of a new home that
had been purchased by a devotee in Metarie. The first of these, located
on Airline Highway, was
purchased by Gopala and Candrika. Ramatoshan’s
uncle, Anantasesa Das, purchased the second house, which is
located off Napoleon Boulevard, and Samir Roy, who is a friend of
Antaratma, made the most recent purchase, off West Metarie
Boulevard. Each of these yajnas was unique. Each was followed
by an arotik and a fine meal of prasadam, which was
provided by our New Orleans temple. I pray that these devotees will be able to raise their
families in peace and prosperity.
5. Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund Memorial Building
Our new arts and crafts/general
purpose building, which is being made possible through funds provided by
the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund, is nearing completion. Bhakta Sam,
a friend of Narayana and Prabhupada Charan (‘P. C.’), the
sons of Haridhvani Prabhi, provided the ingenuity and constructed
the building’s exterior, with a little help from Jayapataka das
and Visvambara das. Then he went to work on the interior and
arranged the electrical workings and labored on the ceiling, the attic,
and the walls and did part of the trim work. The walls and the trim
work are presently being finished by Dina Dayal, Sughosh, and Jagy.
The building will stand complete after Narayana and P.C., Jayapataka,
Sughosh and Vrisvambara install the tile. We are anticipating a grand
opening. We intend to allow the New Talavana youth to use it as a
recreational facility. All this is expected to take place prior to
Janmastami. Please note that Jagannatha Chandan is one of our
second generation gurukulies who is presently living in Alachua.
He came here to visit us, along with his wife, Lalita, and baby
Thakurani. On Sunday, July 22, Ghosie and Jagy led an ecstatic
Sunday feast kirtan. Jagy delivered the class lecture,
explaining the fundamentals of devotional music, and its development.
6. Mridanga and Harmonium Lessons
Surariha
and Nakula Brahmacari (Nicky)
are teaching harmonium and mridanga from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the temple. They and several
other local kirtaniyas have been hosting nocturnal
bhajans in the temple, and in the homes of various devotees.
7.
Gaura Govinda Tape Minister Dinashan Visits
Dinasham Prabhu,
a disciple of Gaura Govinda Maharaja and head of Maharaja’s North
American Tape Ministry and Book Publishing, recently paid a visit to New
Talavana. He is a dear old friend who joined the Krishna Consciousness
Movement when he was a student at Louisiana
State University. Upon
visiting our preaching center he never returned to his classes or to the
home of his sponsor, where he lived. He remained with us instead, going
on to perform much service for ourselves and especially for his
initiating guru, His Grace Srila Gaura Govinda Maharaja. Dina
always helps us with our cow program and with other projects as well.
8. Gaudica Marjana, Bhaktivinode & Gadadhara Pandit Disappearance Days
Saturday, July 14, was a big cleaning
day for us. Led by Mother Shamalatta, wife of Bhushaya Prabhu,
all of the pujaris and many of the devotees cleaned the entire
altar room, nrismha sanas, and pujari room. The temple
room and kitchen were also made spic and span. All the while Mother
Gaura, Vriny, and Suka were busy in the kitchen
preparing a feast for Srila Gadadhara and Bhativinode Thakura. At noon
all the devotees rose to kirtan, later singing the Gaudiya
Vaishnava song of separation for departed vaishnavas. The feast
was, of course, delicious. Afterward the rain came down, purifying
everything. Later that day we discarded a lot of trash that had been
lying on the grounds.
9.
Radharaman Swami
His Grace Radharaman Swami,
brother of Radha Govinda Swami, visited our New Orleans temple
and was present at Sumir Roy’s house opening in Metarie. On
Sunday he came to New Talavana and gave the Sunday feast discourse. He
admonished the devotees and the crowd to practice Krishna Consciousness
and not to be too attached to the pains and pleasures of this world. He
encouraged us to grow our own food and to chant the mahamantra
day and night. Afterward he departed for New Orleans in order to give
class there.
As a side note, the Food for Life
Program sponsored the wedding cake for a grand wedding reception at one
of the most expensive country clubs in New Orleans, English Turn. The
reception being held was for Bindi, daughter of Jagadish
and Bala Bansal, and Jeff Goodman, an engineer from the
Washington D, C. area. They enjoyed the cake and we enjoyed the
reception, which was catered with exclusively vegetarian cuisine, Indian
and Western.
10.
Gayatri Yajna
Mr. Jayanta Desai
of the Quality Inn and Suites of Jackson, Mississippi, invited us to
perform kirtan during the course of two days of sacrifices held
to honor the Vedic Gayatri mantra, ‘AUM BHUR BHUVA SVAHA…”. On Friday,
July 20, in the evening, our gurukulies gave a Gaudiya
Vaishnava mridanga drum demonstration and then chanted the
mahamantra. While rain poured down, the mahamantra was
heard. Mr. Desai provided us with splendid accommodations for the
evening in his hotel.
11.
Visit From Lafayette, Louisiana, Hindu Sunday School
On Saturday, July 21, we returned home
to help my dear wife Maharani prepare the Sunday feast. When we got
here one of our old pujaris, Gopinatha, was visiting with his
wife and child. It was nice to see him and we had a good conversation.
He is currently living in Atlanta.
On Sunday Ghosie and Jagy led
kirtan. We were joined by the members of a Hindu Sunday school that
has been conducted over the past thirty years in Lafayette, Louisiana by
Mr. Jaya Patel. This gentleman, along with the adults who were
accompanying him, was quite enthusiastic. Once Jagy was finished, Mr.
Jaya led us in singing three beautiful bhajanas. One glorified
the Lord’s ‘Gita’, another was the famous rendition of Srila
Prabhupada’s Pranama Mantra , the Panchatattva Mantra and the
mahamantra, sang by Mr. Citra Singh and his sister to honor
Srila Prabhupada during the 1980’s. Finally, we enjoyed a bhajan
that their class sings weekly. Our devotees really enjoyed the
exchange.
The feast was sponsored by Mrs.
Bhowmick from Mobile, Alabama, who arrived with
several families from Mobile, Pensacola, and the Mississippi
Gulf Coast. Needless to
say, Maharani’s prasadam was a big hit, as it featured
bhasmati rice, curry, cabbage pakaras and chutney, mango
lassi, and mixed vegetable subji. There was also
glab-jamuns and cake. Each person left with a smile on his face.
12. Visit by USM Students Who Are Studying Various Cultures
Mrs. Iesha Owens Lewis,
along with her professor, Mr.
Heffth, visited New Talavana on Tuesday morning, July 24, with nine
students who are studying to be counselors and therapists. They wanted
to experience Indian culture and we did our best to accommodate them.
My presentation was probably a little too religious but they all seemed
to be having a good time, especially when Doctor Lakshmi led noon
kirtan and everyone danced in a circle.
13.
Upcoming Festivals
On Monday, August 27th, the
full moon rises. This is the day Lord Balarama, Sri Krsna’s first
expansion and elder brother in his lila appeared. It is also the
day that Lord Krsna’s Swing Ceremony (Jhulana-yatra) ends.
Jhulana-yatra begins on Pavitraropani Ekadasi, Friday, August 24.
During this time, every morning and/or evening, devotees at the temple
swing the Lord and His eternal consort Srimati Radharani.
Our festival will begin at four
o’clock Monday evening with an abhiseka for Krsna-Balarama.
Arotik will begin at 6:00 PM, followed by prasadam
distribution, which always means a sumptuous feast at New Talavana.
Thank you, Mothers Gaura, Maharani, Haridhvani, and
all their assistants and all the cleaners before and afterward!
Krsna Janmastami is eight days later –
the eighth day of the waning moon – dark moon krsna. This will be
Tuesday, September 4th. The weekend prior to this is Labor
Day weekend, so we’ll dedicate Sunday’s feast to Lord Krsna’s
appearance. Monday is a holiday and many people are likely to be off
work, therefore we’ll leave the curtains open as much as possible.
Tuesday, September 4th, is
the day Lord Krsna appeared, at
midnight. According to the
Vedic lunar calendar, the new day begins at sunrise; thus, this
particular midnight occurs on the eighth lunar day. The devotees will
be cooking, cleaning, and preparing for the festival all day. Evening
arotik will be the first event to occur that honors the Lord’s
birthday, this scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM. It will be followed by an
abhiseka ceremony of Lord Krsna and his eight principal gopis,
headed by Srimati Radharani. This year we will conduct the festival
differently in order to better accommodate the public. Lord Krsna will
be dressed from 1:00 PM until 3:30 PM. After bhoga and arotik the altar will be decorated.
The Lord will make His ecstatic appearance at
6:00 PM this year. He will be viewable for darshana during the
abhiseka and afterward. The abhiseka will be followed by
announcements and messages of appreciation. Then we will open the
presents; thus all gifts for the Lord should have been carried into the
temple by this time.
Prasadam
will be served after the Lord has
received His gifts. This meal should occur around 8:30 PM so that all
guests can eat comfortably under the pavilion. Prasadam and
servers will remain there for the remainder of the evening.
The program in the temple room will
resume at 10:00 PM with a swing ceremony, bhajans, and
storytelling and dramatic acting. The curtains will close at 11:00 PM
for the offering of the Lord’s bhoga and will re-open for the
famous midnight arotik.
After arotik the Lord will be
put to rest, and the devotees will clean up and prepare for Lord Krsna’s
father’s festival the following day, which in the International Society
for Krishna Consciousness is the blessed appearance day of our founder/acharya
Srila Prabhupada, our most beloved spiritual master. This festival
will begin with the noon arotik. Afterward we’ll offer homages to our gurudeva, watch a
film, conduct Guru puja and then take prasadam around
3:00 PM. This means the cooks, cleaners, pujaris, and decorators must
be at the helm early for feast preparations.
The following day, Thursday, September
6, is Annada Ekadasi.
The Blessed Appearance Day of Srimati
Radharani falls on Wednesday, September 19th. We will bathe
Srimati Radharani at 10:30 AM and have arotik at
noon. Afterward a feast will be served in her honor and to her glory.
The ekadasi of the waxing moon
occurs on Saturday, September 22, and Sunday, September 23 is the
Appearance Day of Lord Vamanadeva. Fasting is observed until noon, and our Sunday arotik begins at
noon every Sunday, so this is a
perfect arrangement. The Sunday feast lecture will describe the
pastimes of Lord Vamanadeva, which are so glorious that any sacrifice
becomes perfect that is performed wherever they are recited.
The following day, Monday, September
24th, is the Appearance Day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.
Fasting is required until noon. Arotik will be celebrated at
noon, afterward a feast will be served.
Tuesday, September 25th, is
the Disappearance Day of Haridasa Thakura. We will read this pastime
for our Bhagavatam class.
Wednesday, September 26th,
is a full moon day and is the day our spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada,
accepted sannyasa, in 1959. This day also marks the
commencement of the milk fast for the third month of Catur Masya.
Srila Prabhupada arrived in the United
States on Tuesday, October 2, 1965.
14.
Donors for the Month of July
Ashok Patel – furniture 188 U-Haul rental
to remove it.
Madhava
51 temple
Suresh Sevak 101
temple
Lalit Barai
51 temple
Ravi
25 cows
Samir Roy 151
temple
Dr. Lakshmi
51 temple
Mrs. Bhoumick 251
temple
Kadamba
108 temple
Jaya Patel
201 temple
Dinesh Deoras 51
temple
Valary
250 temple
Senthil Thavamani 31 temple
Food for Life bhoga
and utilities
ISKCON Mississippi computer and air
cooler
Dr. Manish Dixit 289
windows
Vedanta Krita 101
driveway
Sterling Art
351 tractor
Narayana
181 bailing twine for hay production
Ashok Amritha das
flowers and jewelry
15. Projects Requiring Your Help
Want to make a
Janmastami or Radhastami donation? The following is a list of
worthy, partially-funded projects that require help. Just send us a
check made out to ISKCON, state what it is to be used for, or visit our
website,
www.newtalavana.org, click ‘Adopt a Cow’, then click on ‘Donations’
and chose your amount and let us know what it is being offered for.
a)
The cows: We baled 120
big round bales. Now we need to re-fertilize in order to get a second
cutting and have enough hay for winter. The total cost is $1500.
b)
The temple driveway:
Vedantakrtha and Darlyn and Ted Brown have contributed $800. This is a
six thousand dollar project.
c)
New curtains for the
altar! Mr. Ashok Amrita das will match your donation. We need
$1,500. Mother Gaura will do the work.
d)
We want to put new
windows in the Lord’s kitchen and temple room. They cost $289 each.
There are twelve kitchen windows and sixteen temple windows.
e)
Temple maintenance and
operations.
Thank you. We’ll be back
next month. Before closing, rest assured that the cows, deities,
school, Food for Life Program, and Srila Prabhupada’s Book Distribution
Program are alive and well at New Talavana. We pray that our guests of
the past month were well satisfied with our humble hospitality and that
future guests will be even more pleased. Guest facilities and devotee
housing will be a topic next month. Although we are insignificant
devotees, still, out of a desire to do good for others, we pray that all
of our readers will gain spiritual inspiration and will find the Supreme
Personality of Godhead to be more accessible within their hearts, as
well as within the hearts of others.
‘Unity in diversity’ is our
motto.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare!
Sincerely,
Yogindra Vandana das
P. S. A huge thank you to Sastra
Prabhu and to his dear wife, Maharani, for maintaining the temple
landscaping, the fruit trees, flower garden, tulasi and road areas.
Hari bol!
Deenabandu Prabhu from Sri
Sri Krsna Balaram Mandir in Vrindavana will arrive on Sat. August 18th
and be our guest speaker on Sunday August 19th.
Thanks to the Holy Names of the Supreme Personality of Godhead! The
yajna of chanting His names has provided sufficient rains for our
pastures and gardens. Hari bol!
THE NEW TALAVANA TIMES
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama
Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Table of Contents
I.
Panihati, Atlanta, Georgia.
II.
The Return of P. J.
III.
The School is painted.
IV.
Book Distribution.
V.
Dr. Vinod Hasal.
VI.
Bhakti Purusattam Maharaja.
VII.
Narayana Fencing, Dwibhuja Bushhogging.
VIII.
Arrival of Darani Darendo.
IX.
Sradda for Mr. and Mrs. Deka’s Son and Brother.
X.
Narugopal.
XI.
Nrisinga Kuvaca Visits New Talavana, Mother Kaivalya, Devesya
, and Adi return; Jambo and Bindi’s weddings
XII.
An Apology
XIII.
Windows of Opportunity; Donors
I.
Panihati,
Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Over the
course of the many annual Panihati festivals that have been held
in Atlanta –many expertly planned festivals, we may add – the New
Orleans and New Talavana devotees have demonstrated, through their
attendance, an eagerness to support the Atlanta Temple, which is a part
of our Southern USA Zone. This year proved to be no exception. Local
devotees participated in a host of events in Atlanta, including the
installation of chota deties (small, functional deities); the
Jaganatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra rathayatra; and, last but
not least, Atlanta’s famous Sunday Chipped Rice Festival. Preparations
get underway for this event when Jayapataka Maharaja oversees the
preparation of hundreds of varieties of yogurt and condensed milk mixed
with chipped rice and a variety of fruit, vegetables, and sweets, all
served up in decorative pots.
II.
The Return of P. J.
On June
5, His Grace Premanjana returned to us from Bhaktivdanta College
near Durbuy, Belgium, where he has been awarded a study grant aimed at
educating future ISKCON leaders. The grant was bestowed by donors from
North America ISKCON. By Lord Krishna’s grace -- and Premanjana’s
choice -- he returned to New Talavana on a short vacation. Premanjana,
or ‘P. J.’, as we know him, grew up between California, where his mother
lives, and New Talavana, where his dad, Pavitra, used to live.
As a boy, Premanjana was a rascal -- mischievous and argumentative.
After finishing high school, he worked and attended junior college.
Somehow, by the mysterious workings of Krishna’s mercy, he became
serious about spiritual life. Premanjana spent a semester with
Danavir Maharaja’s Rupanuga Vedic College, drove for Madhuha’s
Festival of India, and spent time here studying and serving. In
2006 he was awarded a grant to attend Bhaktivedanta College. We pray
and hope for the best in Krishna consciousness for Premanjana, who is
seriously considering serving at New Talavana so that he may put his
acquired skills to the test. We desire his valuable ‘attitude of
service,’ and we hope he will choose our humble abode to practice
bhakti and varnasharm dharma.
III. The School is Painted
Lord
Krishna is so kind and merciful. He is sending us a few young men who
are capable of putting more life into our worn and weary souls.
Dinadhuyal Prabhu headed up a crew of young men, plus one bhaktin,
Marian, to paint our newly-sided school. Working on ladders and
scaffold is not easy, but the below listed ‘under 30’ devotees managed
it:
Dinadhuyal 28 years old
Lalitpraneswara 26 years old
Sugosh 21 years old
Surariha 16 years old
Subal 13 years old
Nakula 16 years old
Marian eternally young
IV.
Book Distribution
New Talavana
has been a steady contributor to the distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s
books during the past eight or nine years. Although our book
distributing crew needs an infusion of young blood, we are fortunate to
have staunch senior devotees such as Mother Mohanasini,
Dhurmila, and Maha Nrisingha Prabhus. They
rank as three of the top distributors in the world, among Srila
Prabhupada’s initiated disciples.
Please give them your benediction, that they shall maintain their health
so they can continue to distribute their spiritual master’s books.
V. A Visit from Dr. Vinod Hasal
On June 19,
Dr. Vinod Hasal arrived. He is an eighth generation Kathak
dancer. This style of dancing portrays the lilas of Lord
Krishna, and is particularly popular in Vrndavana. Dr. Hasal founded a
school in South Africa eighteen years ago and has successfully trained
the local African population in classical Indian dance. He performed at
the New Talavana and New Orleans Sunday feasts, leaving the crowd
spellbound with his dancing, and with his explanations concerning
dance. From here, Dr. Vinod will travel to Florida and New York. If
anyone would like him to perform, please contact me at talavan@hughes.net
VI.
Bhakti Purusottam Swami Visits New Talavan
The day
following Dr. Vinod’s arrival, Bhakti Purusottam Maharaja arrived
in time to teach our Srimad Bhagavatam class. He read from the
Ninth Canto, chapter 1 (“Ramachandra Rules the World”), text 23:
“O King Pariksit,
anyone who aurally receives the narrations concerning the
characteristics of Lord Ramachandra’s pastimes will ultimately be freed
from the disease of envy and thus be liberated from the bondage of
furtive activities.”
Maharaja reminded us that the ultimate cause of our present predicament
of material existence is our envy of the Supreme Personality of
Godhead. He then cited examples of how jealousy of one’s fellow man is
the cause of much dissatisfaction and enmity. He relayed the story of a
tantric yogi who had received a benediction that he could obtain
whatever he desired, under the condition that his neighbor would receive
twice as much as he did. The tantrist began envying his neighbor; so
much so that at last he prayed one of his own eyes might become blind.
When he saw his neighbor fully blinded, he was delighted.
Maharaja
went on to say that the development of pure love for the Supreme Lord is
the best means to uproot this deep-rooted ambition to enjoy like
Krishna, an unhealthy sentiment that we are all subject to. Our
devotees were ecstatic. After the class everyone enjoyed maha
prasadam, then Maharaja departed for the New Orleans Temple.
VII.
Narayana fencing, Dwibhuja bush hogging
Their Graces
Narayana Prabhu, son of Mother Haridhwani, and Dwibhuja
Prabhu, who is the longest serving member of our New Talavan
community, continue to practice devotional service on the fields of Sri
New Talavana dhama. Narayana is still repairing fences that were
damaged by Hurricane Katrina, and Dwibhuja Prabhu repaired a piece of
machinery (referred to as a ‘bush hog’) intended for cutting grass,
weeds, brush, and small trees in fields and pastures. Soon, Dwibhuja
was cutting the grounds around New Talavana. Narayana recruited some of
the teenagers around the farm like Giri, Surariha,
Vishvambara, and Vrindavan, who sacrificed some of their
soccer time to help him. P. J. also recruited these boys to cut down
the jungle that had grown up around the pond close by my house, and by
Gaura and Kalindi Prabhis’ houses.
VIII.
Darani Darendo
Another
devotee has arrived at New Talavan. From the West Coast, Darani Darendo
has come to help. A friend of Dinadhuyal , he is helping repair the
barn and helping the pujaris with basic preparations. Please
give Darani and Dina your blessings that they may remain here and assist
us, while advancing in Krishna consciousness.
IX. Sraddha Ceremony Performed for Kartikeya
Twelve years ago, on July 26, Kartikeya Deka, the
most dear son of Mr. and Mrs. Deka of Monroe, Louisiana suddenly
left this world. Although plunged into grief, the Deka’s commenced to
dutifully serve their only son by the performance of all the vedic
rituals that are required for the well being of a soul. During the past
twelve years -- every June 26th -- they have traveled to New
Talavana to sponsor the Raj Bhog offering in Kartikeya’s honor.
They attend artik, hear the reading of the Bhagavad-Gita,
and feed the New Talavana devotees. May their son, who ecstatically
danced at our Atlanta ISKCON temple, attain to supreme perfection, and
may the Deka’s grief become joy when they realize their son’s good
fortune. Hare Krishna! AUM TAT SAT!
X. Naragopal, Sridham Mayapur’s CEO, Stops By
His Grace
Naragopal, CEO of ISKCON’s world headquarters in Sridham Mayapur
(the blessed abode of Caitanya Mahaprabhu) blessed us with his presence
the day following the Deka’s sraddha. Reading from Srimad
Bhagavatam, the Ninth Canto, 13th chapter, “The Dynasty
of Maharaja Nimi”, verses 4 and 5:
“After completing the sacrificial performances for King Indra, the
Spiritual Master Vasistha returned and found that his disciple, Maharaja
Nimi, had disobeyed his instructions. Thus Vasistha cursed him, saying,
‘May the material body of Nimi, who considers himself learned,
immediately fall.’ For unnecessarily cursing him when he had committed
no offense, Maharaja Nimi countercursed his spiritual master. ‘For the
sake of getting contributions from the King of Heaven,’ he said, ‘you
have lost your religious intelligence. Therefore I pronounce this
curse: your body will also fall.’”
Prabhuji shared with us his valuable
insights, comfortably and tactfully; despite the apparent contradictions
that are contained in this sloka (a disciple has cursed his
spiritual master). His Grace explained that any of us may find
ourselves in difficult circumstances, and that we can all take the
shelter of our godbrothers and goduncles in an attempt to understand
guru and sastra. He reiterated that the association of devotees
is the most valuable of all possible associations. After class,
Naragopal ate breakfast with us, gave some of our teenagers a
mridanga lesson, and then took a quick tour of New Talavana dhama.
May he return safely to the abode of Lord Gauranga after completing his
mission!
XI.
The arrival of Nrisinga Kuvacha, the return of Mother Kaivalya, and
Devesya and Adi Prabhus, and Jambo’s and Bindi’s weddings
A day or two
prior to Naragopal’s visit, Mother Kaivalya returned from Sridham
Mayapur with her two gorgeous children, Devesya and Adi.
They had spent eight months studying and visiting different holy sites
while living in the land of Caitanya.
ISKCON Deity
Minister Nrisinga Kuvacha arrived in New Orleans on Thursday,
June 28, in the afternoon. He passed a day a half with His Holiness
Nandanandana, the New Orleans Temple’s head priest and its acting
temple president. Nandanandana’s schedule was at that time much
overloaded, since the New Orleans devotees were attending the wedding of
their godbrother, Vedasar to New Talavana’s Jambovathy, the
daughter of Mahalaksmi Radha and Dwibhuja Prabhus. Jambo
is an initiated disciple of H.H Jayapataka Swami. Her initiated
name is Yasoda.
Two
other full time devotees of the New Orleans Temple were in Washington,
D. C. to assist Mr. and Mrs. Bansal with their daughter’s, (
Bindi), wedding. Mr. & Mrs. Bansal are initiated by His Grace
Hridayananda Maharaja. Their names are Jagannath Das and
Madhavapriya Devi.
Bindi,
who grew up in our New Orleans Temple, was married at ISKCON’s
Washington, D. C. Temple, and the holy abode of Ramachandra and of
Mother Sita. I missed both of the weddings, as I was responsible for
hosting Nrisingha Kuvacha.
On Saturday,
Nrisinga Kuvacha and I had a powwow with the pujaris.
Nrisinga prabhu had prepared a list of things to discuss with the
pujaris, and they had their own list to discuss with him as well.
To put things briefly, Nrisinga prabhu greatly emphasized cleanliness
and punctuality. Believe me when I say that he pointed out dozens of
places that need to be cleaned better. By Sunday most of New Talavana’s
devotees had returned from the weddings. Nrisinga prabhu asked that the
below listed devotees be honored. They have served Sri Sri Radha Radha
Kanta and Gaura Nitai for ten years or more:
Name
have served since in which capacity
Mahalakshmi 1979
dressing and cooking
Bhaktin Juanita 1985
deity laundry
Jayapatnigopi 1985
vases
Lila
Avatar 1985
festival vases
Yogindra and Maharani 1985 managing
the program and personally doing whatever needed doing
Haridwani 1986 puja,
cooking, dressing, flowers, tulasis, assistant manager
Kaivalya 1986 dressing
and singing
Sri
Pati
1986 dressing, decorating, painting
Bhaktidana 1986 dressing,
cooking, decorating
Maharani Tulasi 1987 bathing,
dressing, puja, flower, tulasi
Prsni
1990 flowers and cleaning
Shamalotta
1990 dressing, cooking, painting, cleaning
Jayantisakhi
2000 flowers and milk
Rasaraja and Laja 2000
cooking and dressing
Thank you,
Nrisinga Kuvacha Prabhuji, for inspiring us to recognize our
longstanding pujaris. We have several newer ones, some have
served as pujaris in other temples for many years, among them:
Adritha (who is our new head pujari) and Sukanya,
Dayamoya, Mahautsava, Gaura Mataji (who is our new
head cook). Nandasuta, Ramtoshan, Nikunja,
Kalinda, Loka and Sudesna are much newer. There also
many devotees who have served the Lord in this way in the past, but who
are currently serving other temples, or are providing other services at
New Talavana, or who have left this world. God bless them all! May
they all find peace and satisfaction in pure devotional service!
XII. Apology
I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to
Mother Juanita, Bhakta Roy, Vahara, Nrisinga,
Mahasringa , and Radha Vallabha Prabhus for
unnecessarily poking a little fun at them for being part of ISKCON’s
ritvik faction. In actuality, they identify themselves as followers
of Srila Prabhupada. Although they have a personal belief in the post
samadhi ritvik theory, they do not support Krsnakant Desai’s magazine
or his preaching. Nor do they want offensive thoughts, feelings, or
speech transmited between themselves and those of us non-ritviks
who live at and around New Talavana. They would love to cooperate with
us, as, by example, Mahasringa Prabhu does with our Food For Life
Program and book distribution program and Jaunita does with our
deity program and temple treasury department. Varaha, Roy
and Bhakta Mike have contributed significantly in the past to our
agricultural and cow protection programs, and we would like to encourage
this.
However, it is sometimes said that “good fences make good
neighbors”. Philosophically, we are obligated to maintain our integrity
by following Srila Prabupada’s teachings to train and initiate more and
more disciples for the pleasure of the guru parampara. The
ritviks have no mechanism by which to properly accomplish this.
We want new devotees to love and respect older devotees of the
parampara system. The senior devotees have introduced and taught
them the science of Krishna and have officially connected them to the
absolute truth, Bhagavan Sri Krishna, through the initiatory samskara
(sacrament). New initiates accept vows prescribed by our founder-
acharya Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in front of the
sacred fire, the deities and the vaisnavas. We promise to help
them go “back home, back to Godhead” just as Srila Prabhupada promised
us.
XIII.
Windows of
Opportunity
At last we are nearing the end of this month’s newsletter
and editorial. Before providing you with a list of this month’s donors,
I would like to offer our readers a ‘window of opportunity’, an
opportunity to replace the thirty-year-old windows in our temple and
kitchen with high tech, modern windows available from Window World.
These windows, which come with a lifetime guarantee, keep heat out and
are unbreakable. The cost for the full installation of each window is
$289. This is a great opportunity. Please ‘adopt’ one window, two
windows, three, or all of the windows and finance this wonderful service
for guru and for Lord Krsna. Every day the Blessed Lord will look
through the window you have kindly supplied us with. What sort of
benedictions this may bring you is beyond my limited power to predict.
The kitchen requires twelve windows, the temple 16. This is a golden
opportunity for the Lord’s devotees to take action in Krsna
consciousness. Please mail a check or money order to our street
address: ISKCON, 31492 Anner Road, Carriere MS 39426, OR visit
our website,
www.newtalavana.org. Click ‘Adopt a Cow’, and donate there. In the
web mail, let us know you have donated for windows.
Now, for last
month’s donors*:
Mandakini DD
$50 temple
Subrobratha
$111 temple
Sarvatarak
$51 cows
Gaura Krsna
$101 temple
Kadamba
$216 cows/temple
Rahesh and Anupma Kumar $101
temple
Anantasesh Das $151
temple
Ravi
Ramnarine $25
cows (every month)
Chatelle Jackson
$60 cows (every month)
Sarvi $100
templeMadhurya Lila
$15 temple
Mr.
and Mrs. Deka
$301 sraddha for son Kartikeya
Mr.
and Mrs. Deka $101 Mrs. Deka’s
brother
Mail
$251 temple and cows
Prithu Prabhu and Jaya Sri $301 Sunday
feast sponsorship
*Special notice – Sterling Art, which is a devotee business owned by
Candrabanu and Ananda Prabhus, pays, each month, a $360 note
on our cow and agriculture department’s main tractor.
Food
For Life paid for the farm and temple utilities, and for all the
bhoga.
CORRECTION – Last month we reported Ranadhir Prabhu from Visalia,
California, contributed $1008 for the temple and burfy.
Actually, he is adopting our next calf, and he will name this calf ‘Burfy’.
Thank you
Your servant
Yogindra Vandana Das
Temple president
June 2007
Hare
Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna
Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
What a month!
Enough cool/warm spring weather with rain for the grass and
gardens to grow! As mentioned in our last issue, the end of last month
and beginning of May started with a visit from our Governing Body
Commissioner, His Holiness Bhir Krishna Goswami. I was
extremely fortunate, because he stayed at my home due to our guest
quarters being occupied by Rohiniandana and his family, as
Rohiniandana was making arrangements for his own housing. The
timing of the visit was ideal – my own family happened to be in India.
May 3 – 6 was the final weekend for
New Orleans’s Jazz and Heritage Festival. The
April newsletter mentions harinam and prasadam
distribution; however the final weekend was quite unique in that
Her Grace Karnamrita from ISKCON-New Vrndavana performed on
Saturday and Sunday evenings. She is currently rated as one of the best
bhajan singers for kirtan music by Pollsters Magazine.
All reports confirm she attracted a big audience and had them moving to
the holy sounds of her dynamic voice! What a weekend it was!
Over the course of the same weekend, we received a visit
from an old acquaintance from
Malaysia – Dr. Adi Purusa -- and
his dear wife, both initiated disciples of His Grace Jayapataka
Swami. This husband and wife team (both of whom are doctors)
founded one of the largest ISKCON temples on the Malayan Peninsula and formed a congregation that
surpasses all other Malaysian temples in the distribution of Srila
Prabhupada’s books. Dr. Adi Purusa, who is currently affiliated with
ISKCON’s
Melbourne (Australia) Temple, is undertaking a worldwide tour of
ISKCON temples. Prior to his arrival in Mississippi, Dr. Purusa traveled to the Union of South
Africa, Great Britain,
New York, Toronto, Detroit, New
Vrndavana, Washington D. C., Alachua, and Atlanta. From New Talavana he was scheduled to
proceed to Dallas, Los Angeles, and Vancouver. While he remained with us, Dr. Adi
conducted the Sunday feast class, both here and at the New Orleans Temple. He ‘laid low’ the materialistic
conception of life supported by mundane science. May his preaching grow
and may it continue to serve the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada and Lord
Gauranga!
Thursday, May 10 – Food For Life was asked to cater a
‘health fest’ at the Pearl River County Health Department. This was a
real challenge, Pearl River County being a rural Mississippi county. Hardly anyone here is a
vegetarian. I learned a good lesson, applicable when one caters to
Westerners who have little experience with prasadam or
vegetarianism: prepare something with which they can readily identify,
and, for this type of event, prepare only a few items. A menu might
consist of a meal of Ramen noodles prepared with plenty of vegetables
and soybean chunks that is NOT TOO SPICY. Brad, the
Health Department director who invited us, promised to ring us up
again in August for yet another attempt at upgrading the dietary habits
of the rural South.
May 14 – 17-- Jayapataka Maharaja Visits. His Divine
Grace’s flight was late, but his disciples remained at the airport,
eagerly awaiting his arrival. When he did arrive, Maharaja was whisked
to the
New Orleans
Temple, where a grand
reception was held. The following day, the hearing, chanting, and
feasting continued. Maharaja arrived at New Talavan at about 10:30 that
night. Wednesday morning’s Srimad Bhagavatam class was at
capacity, for a change. After class we all enjoyed a fruit breakfast,
with lots of discussion. Lunch was served at Rasaraja and Lajjaji’s
house – multi-vegetable courses having neither fat nor salt in order to
accommodate Maharaja’s strict diet. What a meal! Thank you, Lajjaji!
After lunch I was obliged to depart for Houston. The New Talavana devotees, along with
our special guest, enjoyed a grand festival that evening. Everyone in
our community showed up, except for our ritvik faction, who has
no interest in such association.
The following day, Maharaja attended the morning program,
where he gave class before leaving for the airport to continue preaching
in other parts of the world.
A lot happened that week. Our own Dr. Lakshmi, the wife
of Nandasuta das, traveled to the
University of
Louisiana -- Monroe to defend her PhD.
dissertation. Lakshmi returned to us, victorious, in time to see her
dear husband repair an old van for me to use to drive to the GBC Temple
Presidents meeting, in Houston. These meetings were held Thursday,
Friday, and on Saturday. I sneaked away Saturday morning, prior to
mangala arotik, to return home to see my family, who were just
arriving back from India. I picked up Maharani
in New Orleans
and reported lost luggage to the airport, luggage that contained
devotional musical instruments. As of this writing, the bag in question
remains lost. That evening we went to a home program in
Baton Rouge. On Sunday we were both back at New
Talavan for a reunion with our sons and our daughter.
The
Houston meetings
were sweet -- filled with good discussions, historical explanations,
lively debate, and positive presentations from across the country. The
main issues were the centralization of ISKCON --
North America, and reviews of proposed changes in bylaws.
The centralization issue was shown to consist of baseless accusation.
The bylaw changes proved to be reasonable attempts made by ISKCON’s
Governing Body Commission to obtain a measure of lawfully recognized
authority to carry out the commission’s promises made to our founder-acharya
Srila A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The proposed changes in
bylaws are not an attempt to usurp the power of autonomous
corporations; rather the changes represent a realistic attempt to
reformulate legal documents so these might reflect Srila Prabhupada’s
desired arrangement that the GBC be the final managerial authority in
Srila Prabhupada’s glorious movement, after Srila Prabhupada’s
disappearance.
As we are all well aware, there exists a faction of
initiated devotees who refuse to accept this authority, maintaining that
the GBC has deviated from Srila Prabhupada’s desires and intentions. Of
paramount importance among the supposed ‘deviations’ is the refusal to
abide by Srila Prabhupada’s supposed ‘order’ that he, Srila Prabhupada,
after his disappearance, remain both diksa and siksa guru
for future ISKCON initiates. The separatists claim that those of Srila
Prabhupada’s disciples who have been empowered by the Governing Body
Commission to confer initiations remain mere ritviks, which is to
say, merely initiatory priests, while Srila Prabhupada himself remains
the only bona fide guru. The GBC has contemplated this position,
and deems it a heresy, since it denies the guru/disciple relationship
existing between Srila Prabhupada’s disciples and the newer devotees.
Srila Prabhupada is the founder and acharya of ISKCON, and
he remains the siksa (instructional) guru for all of us, through
his books. And Srila Prabhupada remains the grand spiritual master for
the disciples of his disciples. As a matter unique to ISKCON, an ISKCON
guru comes with a type of ‘guarantee’ attached, insofar as the guru
remains accountable to the Governing Body Commission, and can be
disciplined by that commission. The ritvik followers of Srila
Prabhupada do not have any kind of organized governing body that stands
ready to hold anyone accountable. The ritviks lack gurus, having
only apologists, and do not possess any kind of organizational
structure. Prabhupada wanted the Governing Body Commission to be the
ultimate governing authority in our vedantist society. After a
thorough review of the controversy, the GBC determined that Srila
Prabhupada did expect his disciples to fulfill the role of
bona fide gurus, each one accepting his own disciples, training
them, and inspiring them to enhance our Krsna consciousness movement.
The notions of the so-called ritviks stem from leadership
problems that have occurred in the past within ISKCON. The GBC is
not in agreement with their assessment of the past, of the present,
or of the future. Consequently, there remains a very antagonistic and
very vocal faction of devotees who are doing their utmost to undermine
ISKCON’s leadership. They are presently attempting to gain control of
the ISKCON temples by gaining control of these temples’ boards of
directors. Consequently, the GBC is requesting that all temples
lawfully empower the Governing Body Commission, by means of the bylaws,
to oust any director deviating from Srila Prabhupada’s teachings, as
those teachings have been interpreted by Prabhupada’s Governing Body
Commission. This would be an ecclesiastical type of empowerment merely,
not empowerment over financial, proprietary, or day-to-day management
matters. My personal beliefs are sympathetic to those of the Governing
Body Commission. The Commission is asking for nothing more than power
to remove any directors who have been determined by the Commission to
remain, philosophically, a threat to ISKCON, even after structured
attempts to reform their beliefs.
I do hope that all of the foregoing hasn’t bored anyone
overmuch, but such are the theological issues that are presently being
contended with in our Society For Krishna Consciousness. Often, it is
more pleasant and easier to act as the Lord’s instruments in spreading
love for Himself than it is to correct brothers and friends who remain
in disagreement with our organization’s hierarchy. It cannot be an easy
task for us to undertake – that of maintaining and defending the control
of the organization’s devotees, structures, and properties comprising
our Krishna Consciousness Society, and doing so while maintaining a
correct historical and devotional perspective. Srila Prabhupada did not
bequeath to us an organization of ‘warring warriors’, nor one of warring
corporate executives, contending over power. He did bestow an
organization that has an ability to formulate decisions, while making
allowances for debate, for fair representation, and for the possibility
of the necessity to overturn existing policies while working within
the system. Like most religious organizations, we are a theocracy –
we are led from the top down. In spite of what our critics might say,
we are Srila Prabhupada’s legacy. We are following in his
footsteps, going back to Godhead. In like manner, the parampara
endures over the ages, from Lord Krsna, the Supreme Visnu, to Srila
Prabhupada, and thence to ourselves. ISKCON’s management structure
devolves from its Governing Body Commission to the Regional Governing
Body, then to temple presidents and the various temple
boards of directors, thence to the devotees. Devotees should each do
their best to cooperate with one another, and cooperate with society’s
various authorities.
We, ISKCON - New Talavan, will probably
empower the GBC through our Articles of Incorporation, by adding a
clause empowering the GBC, the sanyasis, the brahmanas,
the gurus, and senior devotees to maintain the philosophical and
theological integrity of our organization, for Srila Prabhupada’s
pleasure. This will be much better than taking a chance that this
corporation will not be viewed as an alter ego of the GBC by
opposing attorneys and judges because of acceptance of proposed bylaw
changes that could be interpreted in that way.
Sunday, Ekadasi, May 27 -- The feast was sponsored by
Mrs. Sonya Amanadia on behalf of her husband and Vedantakrita
Prabhu. Vedanta Prabhu is asking all the devotees to celebrate his
recent marriage to Her Grace Nrisingha Lakshmi Devi Dasi.
Mothers Gaura and Maharani prepared a wonderful feast.
Haris and Jothi Desai and other nice Gujarathi devotees sang
traditional bhajans.
Nandasuta and Ramatoshan Prabhu have produced lots of
vegetables for the Lord’s and the devotees’ pleasure. Everyone should
thank them for their selfless service. They come after work to
voluntarily serve the Lord and His devotees.
Mr. Nicholson, our accountant, got caught up with the
accounting so that we could send reports in to the Immigration and
Naturalization Service for Adritha Prabhu and his family.
Junitha Prabhu has been seriously trying to computerize all our
financial records so we won’t have to hire any outside help; also so
that the reports will now be available to us on a monthly basis.
I also want to compliment the wonderful devotional service
of Citraketu Prabhu, who is managing our Yahoo!
chat site. He is continually posting valuable information, inspiring
everyone with viewpoints, he supports, or doesn’t support, through
scriptural references. Thank you Cit Prabhuji! Keep up the good work!
You can be part of this by visiting yahoogroups.com/talavan.
On the last Sunday in May we finally had a Community Board Meeting, the
first such meeting in several weeks. Unfortunately, we had to deal with
the matter of finding a new facilitator, since Srimate Jayasri
Devi Dasi will soon be leaving this area in order to enter into
private practice as a child psychologist in
North Carolina. She and her husband, Prithu
Prabhu, have become very dear to all of us. Names that were
mentioned as possible replacements were Mothers Mitravinda and
Haridvani and Dwija Hari Prabhu. The facilitator must be
unbiased and fair to everyone, while conducting well-managed meetings.
Since Maharani returned from India, the Food For Life program has
increased its food distribution three-fold. We wish to thank all of the
supporters, the directors, and the servants of this valuable devotional
service, as such service is rendered with loving devotion to His Divine
Grace Srila Prabhupada and Mahaprabhu.
Jayanthi Devi Prabhi reported that the cows are recovering from a
fungus attack. It is difficult to herd them daily, and to administer
their medicine, but she and Devahuti determinedly care for Mother
Cow and Father Bull.
Last but not least, I will list our blessed donors for the month of
May. If you wish to support our Krsna Conscious efforts at New Talavan
this June, please forward a check, payable to ISKCON, to the temple
address: 31492 Anner Road, Carriere, MS -39426, ATT: YOGINDRA, or
click Adopt-a-Cow
and then donate through Paypal.
DONORS FOR MAY
Misra family 55 cows
C
& J Bhatt 210 cows
Jayanthi 25 cows
Dwibhuja 25 operations
Ranodhir 1008 temple/the Lord’s
morning burfy
Anantha 100 taxes
Chatelle 60 cows
Rasa Nitai plants
Madhava fertilizer
Sonya 251 feast
sponsorship
Veda 301 feast sponsorship
Food For Life bhoga and utilities
Dear Devotees- Ladies and Gentlemen,
Another month of devotional activities has
raised the devotees and Srila Prabhupada’s New Talavana to new heights
of ecstatic love of Godhead. Thank you to the Supreme Lord and all His
devotees, they have made all this possible. The following is a table of
contents:
1.
Privacy issue
2.
Fungus.
3.
Spring planting for winter hay.
4.
New Talavana gurukula getting a new face.
5.
Strategic planning committee.
6.
April 14th Catering the alternative health & psychic
festival.
7.
Thanks to Sastra Prabhu and sons.
8.
Pray for Narayan Das in Iraq & Nityamangala on secret missions.
9.
Nityo’s wife Mirabhai visiting with baby Kartikeya.
10.
April 17th Devotees return from Bharat Vrassa, India.
11.
April 21st Duribhuja’s Herbal gayla.
12.
April 20th & 21st FFL N.O. carter’s: Inter
Faith Youth Community Services Weekend in New Orleans.
13.
First weekend of the N.O. Jazz Fest.
14.
Sunday April 29th Jayananda Prabhu’s disappearance.
15.
April 30th Nrisinga Carturdasi, Appearance of Lord
Nrisinga Deva.
16.
Donors
17.
Projects still looking for donors.
Privacy issue
We apologize to all the devotees our news
letter has been sent to since it appeared with the addresses of everyone
it was sent to. This should be corrected in this issue. Thanks to
Sankirtan Prabhi and Ramtoshan Prabhu.
Fungus
First one young oxen developed a fungus that
caused the lost of hair on its body. Next several had it. Our dear Gopi
and chief cow person Jayanthi Sakhi and her assistance, Devahuti, called
a local vet and have attacked the Fungus with medicine they apply by
hand after corralling the victims. Please give these young ladies your
blessings and support New Talavana’s Cow protection.
Spring planting for winter
hay
Their Grace Narayan and Nandasuta Prabhus are
preparing for the spring fertilization of pastures to be cut for winter
hay. This money was raised by our “adopt a cow” program and we
graciously thank all 2007 donors.
New Talavana gurukula getting
a face lift
Our very long and dear friends from New
Orleans Jagaish (Jaganatha Das) and Bala, (Madhava Priya Devi) Bansal
have taken advantage of the opportunity to serve the ISKCON gurukula at
New Talavana. They have contributed thirty three hundred plus dollars
for the purchase of materials to reside the school building. Although
they have not mentioned doing this is an offering for their dear
daughter’s wedding is Washington DC end of next month, we give our
blessings to Bindi and her future husband for Bindi’s mom and dad’s
kindness to New Talavana’s children.
So we had first class materials but some one
has to do the work. Two visiting Vaisnavas from the Sridhar Swami Sect
of Lord Caitanya’s mission, stepped forward and took the bull by the
horns as Lord Krsna did when He married the princess,
Satya.Yajnavallabha Prabhu, who has served our New Orleans temple
extensively since hurricane Katrina; and Dinadayal Prabhu, both are
disciples of Govinda Maharaj, the disciple of Srila Prabhupada’s God
brother Sridhar Swami, are doing an excellent job, dismantling the old
siding, putting up exterior OSB boarding and 30 # felt paper, nailing
and corking 1`x12` sheets of hardy board, ( a cement product ) to the
building, and replacing all the trim with pressure treated 2X4 ‘s and
2x6 ‘s . This requires much measuring, precision cutting and placement
of the materials. It is an act of devotion and we humbly beg everyone
who sees these devotees to whole heartily thank them and Jagish and Bala
for serving our efforts to educate children in Krishna consciousness.
Yajnavallabha and Dino, as we call him, both want to go to India after
they finish. Will you please send us the money or part of it to purchase
their tickets? Thank you. Hare Krishna.
Strategic planning committee
Another devotee, Jayashri Devi Dasi, prabhvi,
disiple of His Holiness Bhir Krishna Goswami, Dr. Jessika Knight, a
child psychologist has spend many many hours over the past two years
serving the devotees at New Talavana as a facilitator. Her dear husband
Prithu Prabhu a professional ecologist has also contributed much time to
this project. Their work is now coming to a close. As a result New
Talavana has gained a vision of the future, decided on its mission and
has determined what its objectives and goals are. This was all done in a
democratic setting with an effect to bring all the local devotees
together to help decide these important matters. Jayashari succeed where
many stalwart ksatriyas and pundits have failed. Her expertise at
managing our meetings will never be forgotten by me and I am positive
she has earned a place in the hearts of all the devotees at New
Talavana. She and Prithu have sponsored Sunday feast, lead kirtanans and
given Sunday classes, besides this they have each invested many hours in
our New Orleans temple, while holding down fulltime professional jobs
and schooling- all glories to the devotional service of the Lord’s
devotees!
April 14th
Catering the alternative health & psychic festival.
On this day we catered the fourth annual Ocean
Spring alternative health and psychic festival. Despite the rain it was
a success and many people tasted maha prasada. Thank you to Goura
Prabhvi and family for cooking.
Thanks to Sastra Prabhu and
sons
His Grace Sastra Prabhu after losing his home
to hurricane Katrina, purchased and rebuiled close to New Talavana. He
took up the mission to care for the landscape from the front road of the
temple between his house and the drive way closest to Spires road. He
personally purchased a new professional riding mower to assists. He then
engaged his two teenage sons in assisting him. Everyone knows how much
work his wife, Maharani does for the temple. Her husband not only helped
her put in this year’s flower garden but did the whole job himself. All
glories to Sastra Prabhu and family.
Pray for Narayan Das in Iraq & Nityamangala on secret missions
Nityo’s wife Mirabhai
visiting with baby Kartikeya
Our military men Narayan Prabhu the son of
Durja Hari and Myumi prabhus was given a command in Iraq. He is a marine
sergeant. Currently he is in Northern Iraq and we ask everyone to pray
for his safe return after completing his work. We also request prays for
Sastra Prabhu’s eldest son, Nitya Mongal, an army Special Forces
deployee who is given secret missions around the world including
Afghanistan and Iraq. Currently his dear wife the daughter of Goura and
Ramakeli Prabhus is visiting her mother and mother-in-law here with
their baby, Kartikeya. When Mirabhai, Nityo’s wife, and her mom are
cooking watch out because believe me the Lord certainly taste food
prepared with their devotion.
April 17th
Devotees return from Bharat Vrassa, India
Haridhwani, Pundarik and son Girigovardhana,
Lalita Praneswara and Madhavananda have all returned from holy
pilgrimage to the lands of Lord Caitanya in Nadia, Vraja Bhumi, Lord
Krsna’s land and a tour of many holy sports in southern India. We take
the dust from their feet which traversed upon this holy soil, bathed in
holy waters and saw many unique manifestations of the supreme
personality of Godhead.
April 21st
Duribhuja’s Herbal Gayla.
April 20th & 21st
FFL N.O. catere’s: Inter Faith Youth Community Services Weekend in New
Orleans.
It was a busy weekend. All glories to our Food
For Life program in New Orleans for catering the important interfaith
program organized by Bhakta Eric Schwarz and Nancy. The program took the
entire weekend and involved young people from all the world’s major
religions. FFL (Food For Life) catered the Friday night dinner at the
Jewish Community center on St. Charles Ave. and Saturday, above and
beyond the call of duty, served the youth at City Park. Sunday’s
finality was presided over by the States Leiutenant governor Mitch
Landieu brother of Louisiana Senator Mary Landieu. They are the son and
daughter of Moon Landieu the New Orleans Mayor, who gave Srila
Prabhupada the key to the city in 1975.
Simultaneously Dwibhuja Prabhu conducted a
seminar of herbalist and alternative health specialist at his new
kitchen and dinning hall facilities connected to his herbal shop. It was
well attended and lasted all day long. FFL catered the lunch and
Mahalaksmi Prabhi, Dwibhuja Prabhu’s wife arranged evening prasadam for
the guest.
That evening FFL catered an event at the
University of Southern Mississippi for the Indian Student Association.
The cooking for this event was done by Adhrita Prabhu and his wife
Sukanya Prabhi. The students were pleased and the event was well
attended by westerners and Indians.
First weekend of the N.O.
Jazz Fest.
For the 15th year our New Orleans
temple has arranged to provide prasadam and devotional entertainment for
the people passing our temple while leaving the New Orleans Jazz
Festival. The festival attracts hundreds of thousands of people and
thousands walk directly by our temple. So, we put up a stage, sound
system, tables and chairs, prasadam distribution booths and go to town
providing all those fortunate souls spiritual entertainment and food.
The founder of this program His Holiness BhirKrishna Maharaja was in
attendance as he usually is. We were all blessed with his association,
enliven by his classes and inspired by his insights into life-teaching
Krsna Consciousness by utilizing different avenues of study to help
people in general become devotees.
Sunday April 29th
Jayananda Prabhu’s disappearance.
His Grace Jayananda Prabhu’s disappearance was
celebrated Sunday April 29th. Usually we read from a
biography of his life on this day. This year it fell on a Sunday and we
maded it the topic for our Sunday feast lecture. Fortunately we have an
intimate friend, admirer and siksa disciple of H.G. Jayananda Prabhu
close by. My friend from High School and fraternity brother, Mr. Charles
French, initiated, Tapan Misra, by Srila Prabhupada in 1974 in San
Francisco lives in Metairie La. He agreed to come out and speak about
Jayananda Prabhu and share his memorabilia. The feast was sponsored by
one visiting professor from Srila Prabhupada’s home town, Kolkata. While
visiting the University of Southern Alabama in Mobile, AL. her father,
Subhash Chandra Saha passed away unexpectedly, She sponsored
the bhoga offered to God and the Prasadam feast feed to all the Lord’s
devotees and guest. All were very satisfied with Tapan’s absorbing
presentation about his old friend and well wisher, Jayananda Prabhu, and
the delicious feast.
April 30th
Nirsinga Carturdasi, Appearance of Lord Nirsinga Deva.
The festival was sponsored by several
devotees, H.G. Sukhadea Prabhu always reserves this day on behalf of his
eldest son Darsana Pranhuji. A few others requested sponsorship. First
Dr. Laksmi aka, Sridevi, disciple of Chandramali Swami and Nandasuta
Prabhu purchased and prepared ghee and contributed $ 201.00. Rasaraj and
Lajja Prabhus gave $ 125.00 for flowers and Kadamba Prabhu from Visalia,
CA. sent $108.00 to please the Lord and His Devotees. Please Lord
Nirsinga Deva bestow your blessing upon these pure devotees. Mother
Haridhawani and Adhrita Prabhu arranged for the Lord’s bathing. Dayamaya
performed artik for their Lordships dressed in a new night outfit
sponsored at Goura Purnim by Ashok Amrita Prabu. The kirtan was lead by
Ramakeli Prabhu’s sons Krishna Balarama and Abhya and finally climaxed
by Ramakeli prabhu himself. Afterwards the cultural program was prepared
and presented by their graces Sukanya and Sridevi Prabhis and the
performers were the elementary school children at New Talavana and
devotee children living in the area. The drama was Lord Nrisinga’s
appearance. Everyone was rapped in attention by Nitya Priya’s
performance as Praladha, Sukadeva’s acting of Hiranyakasipu, and
Vrindavana’s appearance as Lord Nrisinga Deva. The other children and
Ramatoshan, as the school master, were captivating with their sincerity
and commitment to memory of their lives. Thank you children and adult
participants may Lord Nrisinga Deva remember your service at your time
of departure from this world of birth and death.
Donors
Our donors for the month of April were as
follows:
Mr. & Mrs. Bansal $ 3350.00-
Gurukula.
Mrs. Darlyan Brown $ 375.00- road
repavement.
Lila & Ram Rao $ 301.00- feast
sponsorship for Ram’s father and mother.
Vedanta Krit $ 101.00- road
repavement.
Chandrabhanu $ 100.00- Deity.
Lokapala Prabhu $ 100.00-
operational.
Mrs Chattelle Jachson $ 60 .00- Krsna’s
cows.
Tapan Misra Prabhu $ 51.00-
operational.
Plus other feast sponsors already mentioned
and FFL for providing bhoga and utilities.
Thank you and forgive me if I have neglected
honoring yours name here after having given in the holy month of April.
Projects still looking for
donors.
We still need sponsors to pave the Lord’s
driveway and help with the gurukula renovations. Five thousand still
needed for driveway and $2800 to purchase tickets to India for our
carpenters. Please help if possible. The school will also need to be
painted. This cost is estimated at $240.00 for paint and we will pay
someone $10.00 per hour to paint the school. I estimated 100 man hours
to paint by brush thus $ 1240 for paint and labor is what we will pay
someone to do this job and we are hoping someone out there will help
finance it for Guru and Krsna.
I submitted this report at the lotus feet of
all our friends and pray for everyone’s welfare and elevation in Krishna
consciousness.
Sincerely
Yogindra Vandana Das
Temple President
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