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.
Editor:Shyamsakhidasi
Photography:JanciGregus,GourGovindadasa&AmaninaPhotography
Illustrations:Saccidanandanadas,RadheGendron,ShreyaJoshi,AnnaJohansson &unknownartists
Layout:Shyamsakhidasi
Inthis lateissueofJulyandAugust,Iextendaninvitation toallofyoutojoinusincelebratingtheappearanceof LordKrishnaonthe25thofAugustatourgrandeventof theyear Weanticipate4000attendeesfromvarious locationstogatherhereinRadhadesh.Kindlyinformus ofyourattendancebyvisitingourwebsiteorscanning theQRcode.
Furthermore,thebuscompanySEE-EUhasonceagain organizedbusesforyourconveniencetotransportyouto thehomeofSriSriRadhaGopinatha.
Ifyouwishtocontributetothisevent,anydonation,no mattertheamount,isappreciatedtohelpcoverthe expensesofthissignificantfreegathering.
LookingforwardtoseeingyouhereinRadhadesh!
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TocomeandseeKrsna,isalwaysanexcitingmeditationforadevotee Butlike everythinginBhakti-yoga,thereisaproscribedwaytodoit Thepropermannerin whichoneshouldtakedarshanoftheLordisdescribedinSrimadBhagavatam 2.2.13:
"TheprocessofmeditationshouldbeginfromthelotusfeetoftheLordand progresstoHissmilingface.Themeditationshouldbeconcentrateduponthe lotusfeetthenthecalves,thenthethighs,andinthiswayhigherandhigher The morethemindbecomesfixedondifferentpartsofthelimbsoneafteranother,the moretheintelligencebecomespurified."
TheChida-dahiMahotsav,alsoknownastheChipped RiceFestivalofPanihati,isayearlycelebrationofthe pastimesofSrilaRaghunathadasaGoswamiandLord NityanandaPrabhu Thisastonishingpastimetook placeonthebanksoftheGangesatPanihati,whichis justnorthofCalcutta LordCaitanyaandhisassociates enjoyedmanytranscendentalpastimeshere ChidadahiMahotsavremembershowtheLordmercifully reciprocatedwithHisdevoteesbyarranging,through NityanandaPrabhuandRaghunathadasa,toprovide anecstaticfeastofyoghurtandchippedrice,along withvariousothernectarfoodstuffs
Radhadeshalsocelebratedthisfestivalswiththeyouth ofRadhadeshpaintingbeautifulpotsandoffering specialpreparationstoGauraNitai!
RVasuttama prabhu, a Prabhupada disciple from Benelux, is a professional painter and restorer, and he has already started on the entrance hall and staircase to the second floor. It will be a metamorphosis that will give additional splendor to the castle! After the entrance hall and staircase, we also want to paint the Temple Room and the two adjacent rooms, the Blue Room and the Lila Room. We need extra hands for all this major work! if you have some free time in the near future and a liking for painting & renovation, please get in touch via email address service@radhadesh.com.
16 AUG19AUG JhulanYatra
Everymorning,thereis adelightfulswing festivalheldforSriSri RadhaGopinathain ourtemple.
LordBalarama,LordSri Krishna'selderbrother,is celebratedonthefullmoon dayofShravana(August).He isalsoknownasBaladeva andSankarshana,bornto RohiniandVasudeva.
Balaramisunique.Thereisnoother personalitylikeHimbecauseSriBalaji, Balaramji,Hetakespartinallthefiverasas intimatelywithSriKrsna. Assantarasa,itisBalaramjiWhoexpands HimselfthroughHisenergytocreateGoloka Vrindavan ThespiritualworldofGolokaisthe expansionoftheenergyofBalaram Aland whichis andallofthesurroundingssimply offeringthemostsweetandlovingserviceto theLord
BalaramalsoexpandsHimselfthroughHis energyasKrsna’scrown,asKrsna’sflute,as Krsna’sslippers,asKrsna’sclothes,asallof Krsna’sornaments ItisallBalaramHimself justappearinginthesemostwonderfulforms justtogivepleasureandservicetoSriKrsna AndtoassistHiminattractingtheheartsof alllivingbeingsbyHisbeautifuldecorated forms servicein5rasas
And because Balaramji is Krsna’s elder brother, He also has vatsalya rasa, relationship Because as elder brother sometimes He takes that position, “Krsna, it’s late. Go home. It’s time to wake up. ” “Krsna, Gopal, today is your birthday You cannot go out and play. You must stay home.” Sometimes in the forest, He would, when there was danger, He would be very protective like a parent to Lord Sri Krsna. Because that is the way an elder brother is supposed to be
And in madhurya rasa, conjugal love, you see Balaram, cannot directly take part in that lila with Krsna. Because it’s embarrassing when Krsna is dancing with gopis For the elder brother to be there, who is, kind of, like a parent, Balaram doesn’t want to create an uncomfortable situation
So He expands Himself as Anangamanjari. How clever Balaramji is! Because Radha and Krsna, their relationship is the summit, the peak, the ultimate in loving reciprocation in madhurya rasa
And because so many secret rendezvous between Radha and Krsna take place, Radharani is very much afraid of Balaram And out of great respect, Balaram is very much afraid of Radharani, because He knows what Her relationship is with Krsna.
So They more or less have Their separate lilas in so many ways. But still Balaram wants to assist the love affairs of Radha and Krsna So He appears as Anangamanjari who happens to be Radharani’s younger sister.
And He lives in the same houses as Her. And He is actually the most intimate confidential sister associate of Radharani And He is constantly playing with Radharani and making all wonderful arrangements for Her to meet with Krsna
Theculturalcelebrationof theappearance anniversaryofLordSri Krsna,theSupreme PersonalityofGodhead
26 AUG
Theappearance anniversaryofLordSri Krsna,theSupreme PersonalityofGodhead.
Asstatedinthe Bhagavad-gītā,theLord saysthatHisappearance,birth,andactivities arealltranscendentalandthatonewho factuallyunderstandsthemisimmediately eligibletobetransferredtothespiritualworld
TheLord’sappearanceorbirthisnotlikethat ofanordinaryman,whoisforcedtoaccepta materialbodyaccordingtohispastdeeds
TheLord’sappearanceisexplainedinthe previouschapter:HeappearsoutofHisown sweetpleasure
Whenthetimewasmatureforthe appearanceoftheLord,theconstellations becameveryauspicious.Theastrological influenceoftheconstellationknownasRohiṇī wasalsopredominantbecausethis constellationisconsideredveryauspicious Rohiṇīisunderthedirectsupervisionof Brahmā,whoisbornofViṣṇu,anditappears atthebirthofLordViṣṇu,whoinfactis birthless
According to the astrological conclusion, besides the proper situation of the stars, there are auspicious and inauspicious moments due to the different situations of the different planetary systems At the time of Kṛṣṇa ’ s birth, the planetary systems were automatically adjusted so that everything became auspicious
At that time, in all directions, east, west, south, north, everywhere, there was an atmosphere of peace and prosperity
Auspicious stars were visible in the sky, and on the surface in all towns and villages or pasturing grounds and within the mind of everyone there were signs of good fortune. The rivers were flowing full of water, and the lakes were beautifully decorated with lotus flowers
The forests were full with beautiful birds and peacocks
All the birds within the forests began to sing with sweet voices, and the peacocks began to dance with their consorts The wind blew very pleasantly, carrying the aroma of different flowers, and the sensation of bodily touch was very pleasing At home, the brāhmaṇas, who were accustomed to offer sacrifices in the fire, found their homes very pleasant for offerings. Because of disturbances created by the demoniac kings, the sacrificial fire had been almost stopped in the houses of brāhmaṇas, but now they could find the opportunity to start the fire peacefully Being forbidden to offer sacrifices, the brāhmaṇas were very distressed in mind, intelligence and activities But just on the point of Kṛṣṇa ’ s appearance, automatically their minds became full of joy because they could hear loud vibrations in the sky of transcendental sounds proclaiming the appearance of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
On the occasion of Lord Kṛṣṇa ’ s birth, seasonal changes took place throughout the entire universe. Kṛṣṇa was born during the month of September, yet it appeared like springtime The atmosphere, however, was very cool, although not chilly, and the rivers and reservoirs appeared just as they would in śarat, the fall Lotuses and lilies blossom during the day, but although Kṛṣṇa appeared at twelve o ’clock midnight, the lilies and lotuses were in bloom, and thus the wind blowing at that time was full of fragrance Because of Kaṁsa ’ s disturbances, the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies had almost stopped The brāhmaṇas and saintly persons could not execute the Vedic rituals with peaceful minds But now the brāhmaṇas were very pleased to perform their daily ritualistic ceremonies undisturbed The business of the asuras is to disturb the suras, the devotees and brāhmaṇas, but at the time of Kṛṣṇa ’ s appearance these devotees and brāhmaṇas were undisturbed.
HisDivineGraceA.C.
BhaktivedantaSwamiPrabhupada appearedinafamilyofpure GaudiyaVaisnavasin1896in Calcutta Fromearlychildhoodhe showedsignsofpuredevotionto LordSriKrishna.
IF SRILA PRABHUPADA HAD NOT COME...
(1) If Srila Prabhupada had not come, what would have happened? How could we have passed our lives? Who else would have distributed the unlimited mercy of Lord Nityananda and Lord Gauranga all over the world?
(2) Which other compassionate person would have endeavoured to deliver the miscreants, sinful, impersonalistic and voidistic people in the West?
(3) Who else would have come to distribute Harinam to them? Who else would have come forward to transform them into civilized begins?
(4) Who else would have taught them how to worship the Deity form of Lord Hari day and night with arati-kirtana, and how to conduct the Ratha-yatra and other grand festivals?
(5) Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam and Caitanya-Caritamrita contain the essence of the nectarean mellows of love of Godhead. Who else would have explained these scriptures so clearly and beautifully?
(6) Who else would have tolerated all difficulties, and distributed Harinama with a pleasant heart?
Who would have given us the dhamas such as Mayapur, Vrindavan and Jagannatha Puri?
(7) The teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu constitute the greatest and most auspicious treasure. Who else would have engaged us in constantly practicing and preaching it?
(8) Sri Sri Nitai Gaura are desire trees of love of Godhead. Desiring a drop of their mercy, Jayapataka’s heart incessantly takes shelter of Your Divine grace.
Translation of “ Yadi Prabhupada Na Hoite”
WRITTEN BY JAYA PATAKA SWAMI
SituatedinthepeacefulArdennesregion,Radhadeshoffersanidealretreattorelaxand rediscoveryourselfinthemidstofnature'stranquility.Easilyaccessiblefromneighboring countries,itscentrallocationmakesitaconvenientescape Ourcommunityisdedicated tothespiritualdisciplineofyoga,welcomingyoutobeginyourpersonaltransformative experiencewhileimmersingyourselfinsensorydelights
RadhadeshislocatednearthepicturesquemedievaltownofDurbuy,apopular destinationfortouristsseekingitsuniquecharm
www.radhadeshretreats.com
I N T E R N A T I
We perform Vedic Samskaras or purificatory ceremonies at the ISKCON Radhadesh temple. Our priests are highly qualified and trained in performing Vedic rites. They have deep understanding of Vedic literatures and Vaisnava philosophy, hence are able to explain every rite and ritual with proper context.
The Vedic literatures describe that there are many opportunities during one ’ s life – from before birth to after death – when one may perform a ceremony for purification to evoke auspiciousness and ensure advancementinspirituallife.
16:00 1 JULY - 30 SEPTEMBER
*onlyduringtheweekends
Duringthehighseason(July,August,September),schoolholidaysand publicholidaysthereceptionisopeneverydayfrom10:00–13:00and from14:30–17:00
Duringthelowseason(OctobertoMay)weareclosedonMondays.
FromOctobertillJune,weareclosedonMondays Exceptforschooland bankholidaysandpre-bookedgroups.
Forinformationandquestionsaboutschoolvisits,pleasewriteto visitors@radhadeshcom
Radhadesh,anon-profitorganization,consistsofover100permanent residentsandacommunityexceeding5000congregationalmembers andsupporters
Youarewelcometojoinourwarmspiritualcommunityandparticipatein ourenrichingprogramsfromthecomfortofyourownhome.By contributingaminimumof€10permonth,youcanplayacrucialrolein Radhadesh,helpingusachieveremarkableaccomplishmentstogether As amember,you'llhavethechancetotakepartinourannualmember's weekend,sharinginthefestivecelebrations Furthermore,dependingon thesupportpackageyouchoose,you'llreceiveavarietyoffantasticperks
