Radhadesh May - June 2022 Newsletter

Radhadesh E-Magazine

NRSIMHA CATURDASI also in this issue: SNANA YATRA INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY YOUTH CAMP

Issue 15

MAY/ JUNE 2022

Dedicated to...

This newsletter is dedicated to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Founder-Acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

We remain forever indebted to him, our eternal spiritual master, and pray for his blessings so that we may continue to establish Vrindavan here in Radhadesh.

CONTENTS Bhakti Sadacara

11

Radhadesh offers an all-new Bhakta program specially developed to educate you in the basics of a Krsna Conscious life-style

Upcoming festivals

12

Krsna Consciousness is full of festivals! Every year we celebrate again and again! Find out which are the upcoming ones!

Nrsimha Caturdasi

13

It is Lord Nrsimhadeva's appearance day that is nearing!

Come and join us for the celebration.

Snana Yatra

16

Lord Jagannatha, Srimati Subhadra devi, and Lord Baladev get bathed in auspicious articles by all of you who would like to participate in this Holy festival.

Nirjala Ekadasi

18

Spend your fasting day in the association of like-minded devotees by chanting all day in the templeroom of Radha Gopinatha!

International Yoga Day

19

The international yoga day is a day of full dedication to yoga practices. Yoga is meant to uplift one to a higher platform. Join experienced teachers and beginner Yoga lovers in this collective celebration.

Youth Camp After last year's successful youth camp, Radhadesh is happily hosting another Youth Camp for all our Krsna Conscious youth! Register today !

"After killing the demon Hiranyakasipu, the Lord Nrsimhadeva was pacified by Prahlada Maharaja, who offered prayers in hymns which are very instructive. I shall be preparing these for you in my Srimad-Bhagavatam. I will simply cite one nice verse: "Oh Benevolent Lord!

Friend of the fallen! Oh the Tender-Hearted! Bound by my own Karma I have been thrown into the midst of these demons who are destroying every thing of Your devotees!

I am therefore extremely averse to the unbearable and terrible miseries of this cycle of birth and death in this world devoid of service and devotion to You. Oh Lord!

When will You be pleased with me and call me to the shelter of Your Lotus Feet which are soothing like the smiling beams of ten million autumnal moons?"

Letter to Uddhava -- Los Angeles 16 February, 1968 A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada

31

Editorial team : Shyamsakhi dasi, Surabhi Kunja dasi, Syamananda das Photography: Syamananda das, Surabhi Kunj dasi, Gert Eelen / Brocco PhotoGour Govinda, Caroline Berveling and our community members.

IIllustrations: Saccidanandana das, Radhe Gendron. Lilraincloud & unknown artists Graphic design: Surabhi kunj devi dasi Proofreader: Shyamsakhi dasi

DEAR READER, Festivals are an integral part of ISKCON. With a myriad of colourful decorations,

multi-course

feasts,

elaborate

rituals,

kirtans,

dance

and

dramas, festivals make spiritual progress a fun-filled enlivening experience.

This issue is definitely a good example of this. We have beautiful pictures from our previous festivals to share with you and we want to invite you to upcoming

events.

The

sacred

bathing

ceremony

of

Lord

Jaganatha,

Baladeva and Subhadra will be held on the 29th of May. Everyone is invited

to come and participate in this special ceremony. A couple moths later we will once again have our biggest annual event, the Cultural Janmastami. It

will be held on Sunday 21 August here in Radhadesh and we are expecting over 2000 pilgrims from all over the auspicious event of Sri Krishna's birth.

Benelux to come and celebrate the

Our cover story in this issue relates to the appearance of Lord Nrsimhadeva,

Lord Krishna’s incarnation as half-man, half-lion. This pastime shows us that

if we are sincerely following the path of Bhakti, we will attain the highest goal of life.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, in his Navadvipa-bhava-taranga, writes of the significance that worship of Lord Nrisimhadeva has for Gaudiya Vaishnavas:

Therefore, I pray to the feet of Lord Nrsimhadeva to purify my heart and give me the desire to serve Krishna. Weeping, I beg at the lotus feet of Nrsimha

that I may worship Sri Sri Radha and Krishna at Navadvipa-dhama, free from all obstacles.

The

devotees

Nisimhadeva.

Hare Krishna,

Shyamsakhi dasi

aspire

for

such

perfection

under

the

shelter

of

Sri

Bhakti Sadācāra The Radhadesh Bhakta Program We would like to invite potential

Over a period of three months, the

candidates to our upcoming three

following modules will be covered:

month Bhakta Program called the

Theology and Philosophy, Devotional

"Bhakti Sadācāra" which will start in

Practice and Vaishnava Culture. This

Autumn this year, from the 24th of

will also include a full dose of daily

August to the the 24th of November.

early morning sadhana & kirtanas,

Please help us spread the word and

wonderful temple & community

direct towards us any potential

service opportunities, plenty of

candidates that are ready to have a

delicious prasadam and load's of

residential experience within our

Krsna conscious fun... guaranteed!

Radhadesh temple ashram.

For more information, please contact: gopinatha@radhadesh.com

Upcoming Festivals 15 May

29 May

Narasimha Caturdasi

Snana Yatra

Appearance day of the

The Maha-abhishek of Lord

half-man & half-lion

Jagannatha, Lord Balava

incarnation of the Lord

and Subhadra Devi. The only abhishek that can be performed by everyone!

11 June

19 June

Nirjala Ekadasi

International Yoga Day

Nirjala Ekadasi is a one of a

A day dedicated to the

kind ekadasi where one

celebration of Yoga all

fasts even from drinking

around the world. Also

water in order to full

celebrated at large in

dedicate the consciousness

Radhadesh.

to chanting the Holy Names

e Prote c t vin

The Di

or

BY RADHANATH SWAMI

śrī-prahrāda uvāca brahmādayaḥ sura-gaṇā munayo ’tha siddhāḥ sattvaikatāna-gatayo vacasāṁ pravāhaiḥ

This verse is being offered to the Lord by

nārādhituṁ puru-guṇair adhunāpi pipruḥ

his dear devotee Prahlad Maharaja. In this

kiṁ toṣṭum arhati sa me harir ugra-jāteḥ

chapter, Lord Nrsimhadev not only accepts the praise of Prahlad but reciprocates by

TRANSLATION: Prahlāda

praising

possible for me, who have been born in a

Lord Nrsimhadev is being spoken for the

family of asuras, to offer suitable prayers

ultimate welfare of all living beings. And

to

of

whatever

the

speaking

Godhead?

Supreme

Even

until

How

is

Prahlad

Maharaja is explaining in his prayers to

the

prayed:

Everything

it

satisfy

Mahārāja

Prahlad.

Personality now,

all

Nrsimhadev to

Prahlad

responded is

for

all

of

by our

demigods, headed by Lord Brahmā, and

ultimate benefit. The Lord personally said

all the saintly persons, could not satisfy

that because Prahlad maharaja is such a

the Lord by streams of excellent words,

humble,

although such persons are very qualified,

controlled devotee, therefore anyone who

being in the mode of goodness. Then

understands his character and makes a

what is to be said of me? I am not at all

sincere effort to follow in his footsteps will

qualified.

achieve the highest goal of life.

gentle,

tolerant,

truthful,

What is that highest goal of life?

Pure unalloyed devotional service to the Supreme Lord.

self

The Appearance of Shri Radha-Ramanji Shrila Gopal Bhatt Goswami was worshipping a Shaligram Shila in the forest of Nidhuvan in Vraja Bhoomi. Once it happened that a very wealthy person was giving nice paraphernalia to the Goswamis of Vrindavan to worship their deities. At that time, the beautiful form of Radha Govindaji was being elaborately worshipped by Rupa Goswami, of Shri Madanmohan by Sanatana Goswami and that of Shri Radha Gopinath by Madhu Pandit and others.

Shrila Gopal Bhatt Goswami also with great devotion was worshipping his Shaligram Shila but he very much longed to have the fortune of increasing his worship and services to the Lord. He wanted to serve the beautiful three fold bending form of Shyamsundar by offering nice dresses and other paraphernalia like the other Goswamis. So, on one Narsimha Chatudashi he was meditating that on this day the Lord had manifested His beautiful ferocious form from even a stone pillar.

Thinking like this he prayed to Lord Shyamsunder that He may kindly allow him to serve His beautiful threefold bending form by revealing it through His Shaligram Shila.

So on the very next morning when he returned from his bath in the River Yamuna, he found that his Shaligram Shila had manifested into the most beautiful form of Lord Shri Krishna standing with three curves in His body, playing upon His flute.

The Pujaris of the temple explain that in the back of the deity a part of the original Shila is still present from which the deity grew out by His own sweet will. Hearing the enthralling news of the Lord’s special appearance from a Shaligram Shila all the Goswamis of Vrindavan gathered together at Gopal Bhatt Goswami’s place to congratulate him and to take darshan of the Lord. There was a great celebration to commemorate this wonderful appearance of the Lord. Rupa Goswami at that time, named the deity as “Radha-Raman” because the area of Vraja Bhoomi near Nidhuvan where He appeared is the place where Krishna gives pleasure to Shrimati Radharani. RadhaRaman means Krishna who is the giver of pleasure to Shrimati Radharani.

BY RADHANATH SWAMI

Snana Yatra

BY GIRIRAJ SWAMI

The appearance of Lord Jagannatha also is

Of course, that is another question, about His

mentioned in the Skanda Purana. As

hands and feet. A disciple once asked Srila

recounted there, Lord Jagannatha tells King

Prabhupada, “We are told to meditate on the

Indradyumna, who had the first Jagannatha

Deity beginning with the lotus feet, but how do

deities carved and who built the first, great

we begin our meditation on Lord

temple for Lord Jagannatha in Puri, that He

Jagannatha? He doesn’t have feet.” And Srila

appeared on the full-moon day of the month

Prabhupada replied, “You can meditate on

of Jyestha, being pleased with the king’s

whatever you can see.” (Advanced devotees

devotion and sacrifices. It is on this date

can see Lord Jagannatha’s lotus feet.) There

every year that Snana-yatra, the public

are philosophical principles and specific

bathing of Lord Jagannatha, is held.

pastimes that account for why He has no feet

For the Snana-yatra in Puri, Lord Jagannatha

or hands—or why they are not visible. The

is brought into public view on a rooftop, or

Upanishads say that the Lord has no legs but

terrace, of the great temple and bathed. Then,

that He can overcome all others running. “No

as it is said, the Lord catches a cold and is

hands or feet” really means that He has no

removed to His private quarters—the quarters

material hands or feet. He has spiritual hands

of Lakshmi, the goddess of fortune, who for

and feet. Still, in ecstasy, He sometimes

two weeks serves Him hand and foot.

withdraws His limbs and widens His eyes.

N

si

E k a l a a d j a ri

SATURDAY 11 JUNE 2022 On the occasion of Bhima ekadasi, we invite everyone to come and embrace the heart of following ekadasi and that is to increase our hearing and chanting.

Devotees are encourage to chant as many rounds as possible with many chanting 64 rounds on this day. Please join us!

Support our ISKCON Relief fund

Bank details Triodos Bank ISKCON Communications Europe asbl 197 Ave d Auderghem 1040 Bruxelles Belgique IBAN: BE27 5230 8129 5573 BIC/Swift: TRIOBEBB Communication: ISKCON Relief Ukraine.

GAURA PURNIMA

Memberships programs Become a member and directly serve Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha.

For more information go to radhadesh.com/members or email members@radhadesh.com

Radhadesh is a non-profit organization with over 100 permanent residents and more than 5000 congregational members and friends.

Become part of this wonderful spiritual family and participate in our lovely programs from your home.

From only €10 a month you are then united with us in helping Radhadesh achieve amazing things. You can then also become part of our annual member's weekend and participate in this joyous occasion.

You also with us plenty of attractive benefits depending on the support package of your choice!

Bronze membership € 10 / month

Silver membership

Gold membership

Platinum membership from € 84 / month

€ 50 / month

€ 30 / month

SPRING HOLI FESTIVAL 2022

Youth Camp 25TH JULY - 1ST OF AUGUST 2022

re e h r e t s regi

Dear devotees, after the success of last year's Radhadesh youth camp, we are delighted to announce that we have decided to host another youth summer camp here in Radhadesh in 2022. It is a chance for those who are very interested and eager to spend some quality and fun Krsna conscious time together with likeminded youth from different countries.

The camp will offer a variety of different workshops and activities, and one excursion is included in the price (probably kayaking). We may offer an additional optional excursion if possible but not presently included in the basic price.

By spanning the QR code there are the details for registering your place...which are limited, so first come, first served!

Please contact Visakha dd for any queries at visakha1008@gmail.com Children of 16 years or older can come to the youth camp alone and stay in a shared room with other participants.

Children of 14 and 15 years old cannot come alone and have to stay either with their parents/authorized guardian elsewhere or with a participating adult sibling/participating authorized adult guardian in a shared room.

We do encourage any accompanying parents to look at booking rooms at the Sunclass Bungalow park nearby Radhadesh since we do not have any additional rooms in the Radhadesh guesthouse available this year. Parents are expected to pay for prasadam for the entire week if they want to eat in Radhadesh.

DEEPENING YOUR PRACTICE PLUS WORLD YOGA DAY WITH BHAKTI YOGA 16 Jun, 17:00 – 19 Jun, 17:00

This retreat is a little longer retreat for a deepening experience internally and a variety of fun and peaceful activities together around Radhadesh.

The programme is yet to be finalised, but will be soon.

The retreat ends Saturday evening , however Sunday is a day the international yoga open to all, a full day of yoga festivities!!

WWW.RADHADESHRETREATS.COM

CHAKRA YOGA RETREAT BY JAHNAVA 26 Jun, 17:00 – 29 Jun, 17:00

Sometimes we wonder about ourselves for years and try to get solutions which seem always far away.

In this short but effective retreat you will be amazed by the deep knowledge you will get about yourself, your life, your physical ailments and you will have so much clarity regarding what is happening to you. But awareness is not enough and thus the techniques you will learn in this retreat will be helpful for the rest of your life. You can learn to find a balance that you always dreamed about.

We will use essential oils, crystals, shamanic techniques and yogic techniques to explore our energy centres.

Radhadesh highlights!

Are you coming to Radhadesh?

For those of you who would like to sometimes visit Radhadesh and do some practical devotional service, kindly write to us in advance to service@radhadesh.com . In that way we can anticipate your visit and arrange some particular service for you.

For your inspiration, let us consider the following: In the 12th chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, Krsna explains that the best thing you can do is to 'just fix your mind upon Me'. Of course, most of us are not able to 'just' do that all the time. Therefore Krsna continues to say that if we cannot do that, we should engage ourselves in sadhana bhakti, meaning to rise early, chant the holy names, read Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam, etc. But again, not all of us are able to continuously engage ourselves in sadhana bhakti and therefore Krsna says that if we cannot do that, we should work for Him. In fact, the combination of remembering Krsna, hearing and chanting about him and doing some practical service is a very powerful one. Feel free and inspired to visit Radhadesh and experience this combination yourself.

WEDDINGS Plan your outdoor wedding in Radhadesh.

Wedding season is from May - August.

Email to weddings@radhadesh.com

"When there is love in our heart, only love will come out" RADHANATH SWAMI

Tibetan singing bowl Singing bowl, sometimes called Tibetan bowl or prayer bowl, is a type of a standing bell. It can be played by using a bamboo stick.

Our bowl is small in size and comes with a bamboo stick. It produces delicate sounds that you can enjoy yourself or offer to others.

Some of our products available online...

€65,00

Sri Radhe Medallion Necklace Beautiful Tulasi necklace with Sri Radhe Medallion.handmade in India

€8,00

Customer Reviews: Hare Krishna Mataji, My package has arrived😃🤗 Everything fits and what a very, very beautiful dresses. What a beautiful quality!

I am very happy with it! 🥰🙏🏻 Would you please let me know when you will receive a new collection of dresses/ Anarkali (example summer or spring collection)?

I will definitely be your regular customer from now on🥰 🙏🏻 Thank you so much, Mataji😘... Hare Krishna 🙏🏻🕉️🦚🐚

Buy online WWW.RADHADESH.COM/ESHOP

Guided tours of CHÂTEAU DE PETITE SOMME French Dutch English

1 october - 30 june 15:30 10:30 | 11:30* | 15:00 16:00

1 july - 30 september 11:00 | 15:30 10:30 | 11:30 | 15:00 | 16:30 16:00

*only during the weekends From October till June, we are closed on Mondays. Except for school and bank holidays and prebooked groups.

Due to government guidelines and to avoid disappointments, we recommend you book online, by e-mail, or by phone.

Visitors without a reservation are still welcome but may be refused if the capacity is reached.

Currently, there is a maximum of 20 people per tour.

WE ARE OPEN!

visit

WWW.RADHADESH.COM for more information

@RADHADESH.OFFICIAL

FB.COM/RADHADESH

@CASTLE.DURBUY

FB.COM/RADHADESHBOUTIQUE

@RADHADESH.MELLOWS

FB.COM/RADHADESHGOSHALA

@GOVINDAS.RADHADESH @PREMACULTURE

YOUTUBE.COM/C/ISKCONRADHADESH

@DURBUYBOUTIQUE

YOUTUBE.COM/C/RADHADESHTV

@RADHADESH.COWS