April 2015
Dedicated to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
Srila Prabhupada:
A devotee should always aspire
to live in the association of
advanced devotees and engage in
the service of the Lord through
the parampara system. One
should serve the mission of Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu through
the instructions of the great
Gosvamis of Vrindavana…This
is the business of a devotee. A
devotee should not aspire for
material profit or lament for
material loss.
Srimad Bhagavatam 6.15.18-19,
purport
Gaura Purnima: The Advent of the Golden Avatar
In early March, the Manor community
celebrated Gaura Purnima, the
anniversary of the advent of Sri
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He is described
in scriptures as “Golden Avatar”, the
gold-complexioned form of God. Out of
great compassion, He engaged everyone
in chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, the
easiest way for the soul to attain eternal
happiness and love for God.
The celebrations included 24 hours of
kirtan, musical chanting of the Hare
Krishna mantra, and a heartfelt recitation
of the Sikshastakam prayers. These
prayers, written by Lord Chaitanya,
foster a mood of humility and selflessness
by which one can derive the full benefit
of chanting. There was a humorous skit
by the Bhaktivedanta Players entitled
’Nimai and Two Thieves’ which recalled
Lord Chaitanya’s endearing activities
as a small child. This was followed
by an inspiring address by Kripamoya
Das on the significance of the day, and
the birthday bathing ceremony of Lord
Chaitanya.
...continued on page 3
BBC ‘One Show’ 's Holi special
On Friday 6th March a team of devotees from across the
Bhaktivedanta Manor and ISKCON Soho community
participated in the BBC One's live Holi special on ‘The One
Show’ which has nearly five million viewers.
"It was a wonderful opportunity to share the joy of the festival
of colours on national television, and for Srutidharma Das to
speak about the history of Holi,” explained ISKCON UK head
of media and communications Mina Sharma. “He spoke about
how it was a celebration of one of Lord Krishna’s mischievous
pastimes with His devotees, where He would cover them with
colours." The show ended with a huge celebration outside the
BBC Broadcasting House studio, as a riot of colour erupted
covering everyone in brightly coloured paint – including the
presenters Chris Evans and Alex Jones.
Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter
April 2015
Kirtan for everyone
Adi-Guru Das with Kishor Murti Das and
Dunja Dasi organised a kirtan workshop
in Grays, Essex for a small ‘Pagan’ group.
The chanting was very warmly received
and everyone was impressed by the power
of the mantra meditation. The group
made donations, bought some of Srila
Prabhupada’s books and beads and made
a large fruit offering.
Catering for the Catwalk
Govinda’s Restaurant in London was
chosen to cater for world renowned
fashion designer Vivienne Westwood's
backstage area for her catwalk show at
the Science Museum.
As a student almost 20 years ago,
Vivienne Westwood regularly ate at
Govinda’s. When the fashion show was
hosted in Italy, Govinda’s in Italy was
asked to cater. This made Govinda’s a
natural choice for the show in London.
The backstage area was bustling with
models, photographers, make-up artists,
hairdressers and event organisers, who
enjoyed the vegetarian cuisine and
offered many compliments. Many of
them were vegan or vegetarian and
were pleased they could eat everything
on the menu.
Impressed by the devotees’ cooking,
Vivienne Westwood has now requested
ISKCON Paris to cater for her next
show.
Bishop of Chelmsford
The new Roman Catholic Bishop of
Chelmsford, all the way from the Congo,
with Srutidharma das at a Mayoral
function in Westminster Hall
HARE KRISHNA
HARE KRISHNA
KRISHNA KRISHNA
HARE HARE
HARE RAMA
HARE RAMA
RAMA RAMA
HARE HARE
Page 2
Manor School Chess Club
Bhaktivedanta Manor School Chess Club was invited to make a late debut
entrance in a 3-day chess tournament with local schools. As this was the Club’s
first competition, professionals visited the Manor beforehand to give direction
and guidance. The Club’s team of six, under the expert direction of Dhira Lalita
Dasi, was warmly welcomed. The children competed well against much more
experienced teams, impressing the organiser, who was confident that the Club
would do even better in future competitions. The Club has had two years of
training and practice and is now being prepared for domestic and international
competitions. A Beginners’ Club has also been initiated, while the School plans to
host a spring inter-school competition.
Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter
April 2015
Holi:
Festival of Colour
Holi was celebrated in early spring,
a day when everyone comes together
to throw colours at each other! Apart
from being great fun, the throwing of
colours celebrates the beautiful colours
that nature provides in spring.
In the evening there was the annual Holi
bonfire. This celebrates a miraculous
historical event that occurred in the life
of the great devotee, Prahlad. Prahlad
was a young boy who always worshipped
God, Lord Vishnu. However, his father
Hiranyakashipu was a powerful demon
and considered Lord Vishnu an enemy.
When he learned that Prahlad was
worshipping his enemy, Hiranyakashipu
tried to forbid his son from doing so, but
to no avail. The evil Hiranyakashipu
then resorted to trying to kill Prahlad in
so many ways.
Absolutely wonderful to be back at the
Manor. It is like coming home to me.
Thank you for everything.
Hiranyakashipu’s sister Holika had
the ability to enter fire without being
burned. Knowing this, Holika took the
boy Prahlad on her lap and entered a
fire, intending to kill Prahlad by burning
him in the fire. To the great shock
of Holika, when she entered the fire
with Prahlad, she burnt to death while
Prahlad emerged unscathed. Thus the
Holi bonfire reminds us to be fearless in
devotion to God, safe in the knowledge
that He protects His devotees in all
circumstances.
Hannah David (PPC for Harrow West)
It was a pleasure to return to the Manor
after a 30 year gap. A very memorable
occasion. With pleasant and kind people.
Cllr Martin Worster,
Deputy Mayor of Hertsmere
It was a nice experience visiting the
Manor.
We were welcomed with
pleasant volunteers. We always feel at
home whenever we visit. Very best
wishes to you all.
Deputy Mayor of Harrow
Cllr Krishna Suresh
Gaura Purnima
continued from page 1...
The festivities continued as hundreds
gathered in Oxford Street for a colourful
procession of singing, music and dancing.
A drama entitled “The Golden Avatar”
was enacted in the evening at the Manor,
followed by everyone partaking in
the Lord’s birthday feast. The day is
regarded as the New Year for followers
of Lord Chaitanya and thus it was a
day for coming together to celebrate Sri
Chaitanya’s gift of love of God.
Page 3
Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter
April 2015
St Patrick’s Day
BBC’s Big Questions
Visnu Murti Das, Head of Deity Worship
at ISKCON Leicester took part in BBC
One's The Big Questions debate show in
London, where the topic of debate was
“Is there too much evidence to believe
in religion?”
The Big Questions team were keen
to speak to a devotee with a scientific
background, and Visnu's training as
a bio medical scientist stood him in
good stead. He was the only person
on the panel that was representing the
Vaishnava Hindu perspective.
Live on air he was asked a question about
what the Vedas said about the human
condition and his view on the debate
question. He spoke of the scientific
nature of the Vedas and drew on
examples in the Srimad Bhagvatam that
accurately describe the different stages
of foetal development, and highlighted
how this content was contained in an
ancient text.
A Concert in support for Food for All
Compassionate artists united at the
trendy Gilgamesh club in Camden for
an evening’s entertainment, in support
of Food for All.
The gig included actors, DJ's, bands, TV
presenters, football ambassador Danny
Webber, Paul McCartney's son James
McCartney, Jimi Hendrix’s daughter
Hare Krishna culture
In the Hare Krishna culture there
are celebrations for all stages in life.
Special times are marked with singing,
readings, prayers and festive samskaras
or ceremonies. When a baby is born
Page 4
Tayo Irvine Hendrix and Chrissie
Hynde's daughter who helped serve the
sanctified vegetarian food to everyone.
The same week Paul McCartney himself
endorsed the work of Food for Life
Global, ISKCON’s charity which feeds
over two million free meals a day
worldwide.
there is a naming ceremony several days
later. Recently a large gathering took
place in the Temple of Peace and Health
in Cardiff. Before eighty family and
friends, local members Steve and Emma
Phillips named their baby in a ceremony
led by Kripamoya Das.
Devotees were once again a popular part
of the huge of St Patrick’s day parade
across central London.
Bath’s Krishna Festival
The first ‘Hare Krishna Festival UK’
event took place in Bath this year. In
spite of cold and wet weather, close to a
hundred people attended, including three
prominent members of the Council.
Local devotees from Bath joined the
festival team and members of the Manor
and ISKCON-London Temples to
welcome guests.
Cllr Paul Crossley- Leader of Bath
Council, Cllr Martin Veal, Chairman of
Bath & North East Somerset Council and
Cllr Sarah Bevan, the Council's Humans
Rights Champion
Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter
April 2015
Kirtan London
A six hour session hosted by Kirtan
London took place on Valentine's Day at
Bridewell Hall, a beautiful part of the St
Bride Foundation which also houses one
of the oldest churches in London.
Guests chanted along with mantras and,
aided by visuals projections, were led
in guided meditations. At the end they
enjoyed a vegetarian dinner catered by
Govindas restaurant.
Just two days later, at the Mantra
Lounge, participants were guided in
joyful chanting by Abishek Singh, and
later heard about 'The Power of Sound'
by Bhakti Vijnana Goswami. Mantra
Lounge is a twice-monthly event run
by Kirtan London that takes place in
Covent Garden.
For more information visit www.
kirtanlondon.com or facebook.com/
KirtanLondon
Mantra Therapy Retreat
Earlier this year was the first ever
Mantra Therapy Retreat at Buckland
Hall in Wales. Rich with history and
natural beauty, the UK’s premier Retreat
venue was the perfect setting.
Nearly 40 professionals from different
backgrounds came together for the
common purpose of personal, physical
and spiritual transformation, led by
long-standing temple congregational
devotee, Prashant Kotecha.
Mantra Therapy is the culmination of this
outreach work, which includes regular
meetings and Retreats for professionals
between 25-50 years old.
The Retreat included mantra meditation
and personal development workshops
in the mornings, followed by yoga,
hiking and martial arts in the afternoon,
and culminated with Mantra Therapy
freestyle east-west fusion kirtans.
For more information contact Prashant
at [email protected]
Community Service
Leading members of the Probation Services Hertfordshire visited the
Manor to discuss its ongoing relationship with them. The Manor has
been working with them for several years whereby persons serving out
community service orders are sent to perform service on the Manor’s
expansive grounds. The services include gardening, cleaning, farm
related work, general maintenance, cleaning and tidying.
“The Probation Services have seen 67% drop in re-offending
from persons doing service at the Manor,” explained the Manor’s
representative Sanjay Gadhvi. “In 2014 we were short-listed for an
award by the Howard League for Penal Reform. Many of the volunteers
have commented how spending time at the Manor has helped them in
life with skills and appreciation of what it stands for.”
Page 5
Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter
April 2015
Bhaktivedanta Players 30th Anniversary (1985-2015)
“Cultural Awareness Through Drama”
This year marks the 30th Anniversary of
the Bhaktivedanta Manor’s main drama
group. The group has been led chiefly by
Jaya Krishna Das and Dwarka Puri das
but over the years a great many other
devotees of all ages and backgrounds
have participated and given much of
their time.
Disciples of Srila Prabhupada pioneered
the first dramas at Bhaktivedanta Manor
during the early 1970’s. By 1985 the
baton had gradually passed onto the
next generation and The Bhaktivedanta
Players in its present structure was born.
Since then the Players have entertained
and educated audiences consistently
during all of the Manor’s major
functions. Not only at festivals, but also
on Sundays, community functions, Hare
Krishna Festivals UK, universities and
outreach events. Between 1995 and 2004
the Players performed The Ramayan at
more than an hundred schools across
the UK, in conjunction with ISKCON
Educational Services.
Page 6
The Players have also gained a reputation
on an international level. They were
sponsored to perform in the United
States nine times, India four times, plus
South Africa, Mauritius, West and East
Europe, East Africa and Israel.
“Over the last 30 years it has been a lot
of work to organise and take care so
many costumes and props but it has also
been incredibly rewarding,” explained
Dwarka Puri das. “I have calculated
that we have written and performed
exactly 108 different plays over the
years, including both stories from the
scriptures and contemporary plays with
a spiritual message”.
Radha Mohan Das remembers when he
joined the Players:
“During the early 1990’s I was studying
drama at Manchester University and
simultaneously taking my first steps in
spiritual life. At the time I was doing lots
of plays, as I had done since childhood,
but deep down I always felt something
important was missing. In many ways
I enjoyed the Thespian world but I
was looking for more meaning, purpose
and depth than I had previously
encountered. I found that meaning in
Srila Prabhupada’s books and when the
local ISKCON temple told me there was
a drama group based at the Manor, I
naturally wanted to know more.
“The build up to my first Janmashtami at
the Manor was impressive enough, but
when I saw the Players rehearsing for
The Advent of Lord Krishna in the big
circus tent, I leapt at the chance to take
part. That was 21 years ago I suppose
in many ways I have not looked back
since”.
During the Players’ 30th Anniversary
launch, Jaya Krishna Das and Radha
Mohan Das shared how they plan
to observe it. The two most notable
projects mentioned was touring a two
hour Mahabharat play throughout June,,
and a musical version of The Ramayan
in time for Diwali 2015.
Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter
Mahabharata
THE BHAKTIVEDANTA PLAYERS
CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF DRAMA PRESENT
April 2015
SPIRITUAL AWARENESS THROUGH DRAMA
TICKETS:
£15
The presentation was preceded by a class
by Jaya Krishna Das, when he spoke
about drama in the Indian tradition:
"Well known are Sanskrit classical
dramas devoted to Lord Krishna, His
incarnations and His devotees. These
dramas, based on the epics, follow the
rules of drama found in the Natyasastra, the world's oldest manual on
play-writing.
"Specifically within the Gaudiya
Vaishnava tradition, we find that
Srila Rupa Gosvami, Rupa Gosvami,
Visvanatha Kaviraja many others
composed drama scripts. Lord Caitanya
Mahaprabhu himself took part in plays
and Srila Prabhupada would recall that
he would act in lila dramas in his
youth. It is not surprising then, that
Srila Prabhupada saw great potential
for devotional theatre in a country like
England, which has its own extensive
history of playwrights and actors".
International Society for Krishna Consciousness Founder- Acarya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Touring “The Mahabharat”
The Bhaktivedanta Player’s have
a two- and-a-half hour spectacular
drama in the pipeline. They are
planning a more extensive tour, and
it starts this June at three separate
venues across Greater London:
Kenton
Friday 12th June, 7pm
Kadwar Patidar Centre, Kenmore
Avenue, Harrow, Middlesex HA3
8LU
Tickets: Available from the Manor
reception, or online at eventbrite.
co.uk (search for ‘Mahabharat
Harrow’)
Croydon
Saturday 20th June, 2pm and 7pm
Archbishop Lanfranc School,
Mitcham Road, Croydon, CR9 3AS
-Tickets: Available from Radha’s
Boutique (ISKCON London – Soho
Temple)
Ilford
Sunday 28th June at 2pm
Redbridge Town Hall, 128-142 High
Road, IG1 1DD Ilford
Tickets: Available at Eventbrite.co.uk,
search for “Mahabharat Harrow” and
scroll to bottom of page.
(All tickets £15 each)
Page 7
Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter
April 2015
Supporting ISKCON
Intiatives Around the World
Sabbatical Adventures 2014-15
For over ten years now the Manor has
organised an annual sabbatical, a sixmonth residential course for men. Ketan
Suchak shares:
“I enrolled this year, as six of us spent
three months in India, beginning in
September with a three-week stay at a
Mumbai monastery. There we studied
the scripture, ‘Nectar of Instruction’.
We next flew to Calcutta and booked
a car to Mayapur. The spiritual city is
the birthplace of Lord Chaitanya, the
place where the Lord danced and sang
the Hare Krishna mantra. We spent ten
days there and in the evenings I enjoyed
listening to melodious prayers in the Sri
Mayapur Chandrodaya temple.
We then stayed four nights in a beach
guesthouse in Puri, Orissa, famous for
the ancient temple of Lord Jagannath.
We saw the beautiful deities and sampled
some of the 56 (not a typo!) delicious
food items daily prepared and offered
to the Lord.
Then we joined 3,500 pilgrims on an
awesome, well-organised and spiritually
enlightening 8-day pilgrimage of Hampi
and Udupi in South India. We witnessed
breath-taking views and visited sites
recounted in the ancient Ramayana.
Next we spent ten days witnessing
the sheer devotion and beauty of
Vrindavan, where Krishna spent His
childhood days. In the evenings, we
enjoyed beautiful singing of prayers
in the lush grounds of the Krishna
Balaram temple. We embarked on a
six-hour walking pilgrimage around the
sacred Govardhan Hill – some walking
barefoot! We also visited the ISKCON
cow sanctuary, famous for its fresh,
handmade medicinal cow products.
We returned to the UK in time for
the second half of the sabbatical that
began in January, as fifteen of us
participated in a course aimed at gaining
a comprehensive understanding of
Krishna conscious philosophy, culture,
history and scriptures.
The sabbatical provided us with an
extraordinary opportunity to relish the
spiritual treasures of India, the discipline
to rise early and relish meditation, and
an invaluable experience of monastic
temple life”.
Every year Bhaktivedanta Manor
contributes £10,000 towards various
ISKCON projects both nationally and
internationally. Over the last thirty
years many worthy causes have been
supported, including the saving of
the New Mayapur Temple in France,
establishing a centre in Brussels and
the Bhaktivedanta School in Mayapur,
supporting Vrindavan’s Food for Life
program and the Sandipani Muni School
for poor and unprivileged children, and
many more.
Over the last year the following
donations have been made:
UK Festivals: £4,000 – for holding
small festivals once a week in different
towns across UK.
ISKCON Madrid: £400 – for helping
their patrons and congregation
Mayapur TV: £1,000 – for helping a
24 hour cable TV broadcast devotional
activities from Mayapur across West
Bengal and Bangladesh, via a 24 hour
cable TV channel. Estimated viewership
is two million homes.
ISKCON Ministry for Sannyasa:
£2,000 – to boost the outreach in Africa
and South America
Serbia Food For Life: £1,600 – to
re-establish the Food for Life operation
in worn-torn areas
ISKCON Ukraine: £3,000 – for a van
to assist book distribution across areas
where the population are struggling.
The Rt Hon Simon Hughes MP, the
Liberal Democrat Minister of State
at the Ministry of Justice within the
Coalition Government, made a special
visit to Bhaktivedanta Manor.
Page 8
Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter
April 2015
Soul Expressions
The Outreach Team stays in touch with
a wide range of people interested in
Krishna Consciousness and provides
an environment where they can feel
comfortable and learn at their own pace.
Inspiring New Film
The company Be Inspired Films, which
includes Ravinol Chambers and his
team, has produced a great new mini
documentary which shares much of the
magic the Manor has to offer the general
public.
by the extended community and new
people alike,” explained Ravinol.
“Many thousand watched it on Youtube
just in the first few weeks and it is
already being used at outreach festivals
and other settings.
Many devotees from across the
community took part and gave up their
time, which meant the film crew could
really show a good cross-section of the
people who come to the Manor.
“On Facebook people from all over
the world expressed how much the
film brought back deep and wonderful
memories that they experienced during
their visits to the Manor.
The crew, most of whom had never
been to the Manor before, enjoyed the
time they spent there and some are
already making plans to return to attend
yoga classes and learn some more about
Krishna Consciousness.
“New people who have seen it have
expressed a desire to visit the Manor
saying it seems like a wonderful peaceful
and magical place”.
“The film has been received very well
The Manor’s Trustees
The International Society for Krishna
Consciousness Bhaktivedanta Manor
(‘ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor’) is
now a separate registered charity.
It was Srila Prabhupada’s desire to place
control and responsibility in the hands
of local managers through a proper
legal framework of governance and
accountability, as evidenced by the
following statements:
“As far as possible centres should act
freely, but conjointly… They must look
forward to the common development.
That should be the principle.”
More than 70 newcomers attended the
event in January at the Manor, who
witnessed an evening of kirtan and live
drama.
“I had a wonderful inspiring experience,”
commented Sheila, “The atmosphere
was so warm, and loving, and happy.
So much effort was put into a lovely
evening!”
If anyone knows people who would
be interested in such events, get in
touch with Radha Govinda das.
[email protected]
To view the film:
youtube.com/bhaktivedantamanor
responsibility, that is the point”
(Letter Karandhara Das on 22/10/1972)
As a separate legal charity ISKCON
Bhaktivedanta Manor is required to
appoint Trustees to be responsible for
the general management of the Charity’s
administration and to ensure that
everything runs closely to the Charity’s
constitution and that it is compliant
with laws and regulations that affect its
activities. The following devotees have
been appointed as Trustees:
•
Srutidharma Das
•
Dhananjaya Das
•
Akhandadhi Das
(Letter to Tamal Krishna Goswami on
13/10/1969)
•
Rameshwar Das
“Each temple must remain independent
and self-sufficient…everything should
be done by local men…Never mind
there may be botheration to register each
centre, take tax certificate each, become
separate corporation in each state. That
will train men how to do these things,
and they shall develop reliability and
•
Sundarananda Das
•
Dilip Patel
Srila Prabhupada’s Garden
Prabhupada's Garden (the square plot
between the Manor’s lake and the
George Harrison Garden) is being
completely renovated. Being dedicated
to Srila Prabhupada and his disciples,
the garden will reveal something of
the devotional theology behind this
remarkable relationship from which
ISKCON was established around the
world. It will also feature rose arches
and pergola, and the central feature will
be a bespoke fountain which will be
installed early next year. The garden
will open next year as part of the 50th
anniversary celebration for ISKCON.
Madhavi Dasi is the Company Secretary
for the Charity and was responsible for
the legal setup of the charity and the
transfer of undertaking from ISKCON
Ltd to ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor.
Page 9
Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter
Bhakti Shastri Graduation
The graduation ceremony for the 201314 cohort of Bhakti Shastri students
took place on last February with an
impressive twenty one students
successfully completing the course.
The Bhakti Shastri course provides an
opportunity to systematically study four
April 2015
key texts – the Bhagavad Gita, The
Nectar of Instruction, Sri Isopanisad and
The Nectar of Devotion. The interactive
sessions not only equip students with
knowledge of the scriptures but also
explain how to assimilate and apply
those lessons to their own lives.
One of the graduates, Harsha Parmar,
explained ‘ Studying Srila Prabhupada’s
books in the association of devotees
enabled a greater depth of understanding,
it was an enriching and transformative
experience!’
The course is entering
its tenth
successful year this September, with
around 300 students having participated
since its launch in 2006.
Riding the Breeze
Bicycle riders from Breeze (the British
Cycling programme to encourage more
women to ride bikes) chose the Manor
as one of their worthwhile destinations.
Radha Govinda Das and Kalindi made sure
the group of fourteen had a memorable
experience.
Half term Celebration
Children had a special treat at the Manor
during February’s Half Term holidays.
Organised by the Outreach Team, a
wide variety of activities took place
especially for them, including practical
activities such as face painting, dressing
up, hand cow painting, ox-cart rides and
entertainment including Indian classical
dance, drama and a magic show.
“Thank you so very much for inviting
us for that lovely time that we had
yesterday,” said Prof Eileen Barker.
“My grandson Charlie was full of it
when we got into the car afterwards and
couldn’t wait to tell his father all about
it. We all enjoyed ourselves thoroughly
– though we all had far too much of that
delicious lunch!”
Page 10
Local Breeze organiser Veronica
Chamberlain remarked “They all loved the
trip, and never knew so many wonderful
things happen at the Manor. I will come
back in the summer with more ladies and
stay longer to learn more.”
Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter
April 2015
i
Spring 2015
Ravi Desa
Age: 19
Studying:
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Gap Year
conomics
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How did you find out about Psena?
I was introduced to Kishan, who was running
Harrow Jammin at the time, and was forced to
go to Jammin one day and was instantly a fan! I
don't think I missed a Jammin that year !
Sacinandana Swami at Buckland
The winter season has come to
Halls in Wales.
its end, but Pandava Sena have
already been up to lots of exciting
Many members of Pandava Sena,
things!
old and new, reunited once again
in search of their own individual
In February, the KC Societies
'dharma.'
took over 100 students to
Radhadesh in Belgium for one of
Last but not least, the manor
the most anticipated events of the
retreat was one of the most
year, Radhadesh Mellows!
success yet, where another 150
university students spent an entire
Apart from the many challenges
they faced, like enduring the snow day at Bhaktivedanta Manor,
experiencing deep meditation
high in the Belgium mountains
through Kirtan, thought provoking
and hills, everyone that came
workshops and seminars, and a
had an amazing and uplifting
experience. It was the first Krsna delicious meal to end the day.
Conscious experience for many
As summer approaches, Pandava
students from universities all over
Sena look forward to putting
the UK, and it left a deep spiritual
on yet more shows, retreats and
impression in everyone's hearts.
events; watch out for more!
Pandava Sena also held their
Miss it, Miss out. For a life less
annual spiritual retreat with HH
ordinary.
What did you like about the Psena?
I think the people in PS are amazing and I really
like how no matter what your skills are you
can use them in PS for service be it acting on
stage, singing or playing an instrument in Kirtan,
designing or drawing a poster, all the way to
organising an event or festival like Dusshera or
Harrow Jammin!
Facts about yourself?
I'm currently on a gap year and am going to
study Economics at university in September
this year. In my free time I enjoy playing sport
especially rugby and badminton.
What service do you do?
I'm coordinating the Pandava Sena tent for
Janmashtami this year, I also help out regularly
at Harrow Jammin’
Page 11
Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter
April 2015
Rama Navami: The Advent of the Ideal King
Meditation goes Mobile
Bhaktivedanta Manor has embarked on a
journey to share 5000 year old meditation
practices with the millions of Apple and
Android users. The Meditation the Hare
Krishna way (MHK) App provides a
phenomenal reach, and is for FREE,
avoids troublesome adverts and any
in-app purchases.
There is an extensive and growing body
of research that evidences that through
regular meditation one can lower blood
pressure, reduce stress levels, and even
strengthen the immune system. This is
making the take up of meditation popular
across the medical and corporate worlds.
Please share this App with your friends
and family that might be interested.
MHK is downloadable for free from
both Itunes and Google.
www.mhk.today
HARE KRISHNA HARE KRISHNA,
KRISHNA KRISHNA HARE HARE,
HARE RAMA HARE RAMA,
RAMA RAMA HARE HARE
April
Wed 15th Varuthini Ekadasi
Mon 27th App of Srimati Sita Devi
App of Srimati Jahnava Devi
Wed 29th Mohini Ekadasi
May
Sat 2nd App of Lord Nrsimhadev
(fast till twilight)
Thur 14th Apara Ekadasi
Fri 29th Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi (total
fast, if any Ekadasi has been broken during
the year)
June
Fri 12th Yogini Ekadasi
Sun 14th London Ratha Yatra
Wed 17th Month of Purushottam begins
Page 12
In late March, festivities were held in
honour of Rama Navami. The festival
marks the anniversary of the auspicious
advent of Lord Rama, the form of God
who lived as an ideal king.
Ramanavami celebrations included
a traditional dance depicting the ten
avatars or incarnations of Lord Vishnu,
and the ceremonial bathing of the deity
of Lord Rama. The day culminated in a
huge carnival of music in Watford town
centre and a delicious feast back at the
Manor.
The public festival included an incredible
stage show of music, drama and dance.
A beautiful boat-ride for the deities
was planned, with the boat shaped
and designed to resemble an elegant
swan. The blustery weather presented
obstacles, but the festival organisers
improvised, transforming the boat into a
wheeled chariot! To everyone’s delight,
the swan carrier was able to encircle the
temple, as baskets of colourful flower
petals were showered upon the deities.
Wonderful to return again. The events I
have attended at the Manor over the past
year have in their different ways all been
highlights of my Mayoral term. Thank
you for your marvellous hospitality and
spirituality.
Cllr Carey Keates, Mayor of Hertsmere
A huge pleasure to be here for the
5th time for Lord Rama’s birthday.
Peace, tranquillity, and amongst
friends who could ask for more?
Richard Harrington MP
Thank you for inviting me to this
wonderful event. I am always grateful
for the welcome that I receive here.
Oliver Dowden PPC for Hertsmere
Bhaktivedanta Manor
Dharam Marg · Hilfield Lane Aldenham · Herts
(for sat-nav only, please use postcode WD25 8DT)
01923 851000 www.krishnatemple.com
Please send your news, photos and comments to:
Radha Mohan das [email protected]
© 2015, All articles & photographs copyright of Bhaktivedanta Manor