The Conch (Feb 2018)

February 2018 The Conch krishnafarm.com www.conch.org.au “Lord Sri Krishna and Arjuna blew their celestial conches to rally and enthuse the devotees.” Newsletter New Govardhana Community Dedicated to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura The Lion Guru sitala devi dasi Mercy of Vaishnava Acharyas in focus Antardwip dasa gaura nitai and Venugopal dasa + goshalla: breaking ground

The appearance who deviated from the path of pure Photo: theharekrishnamovement.org of Srila Krishna Consciousness with his Bhaktisiddhanta strong, direct and uncompromising ISKCON Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace Sarasvati evidence from Vedic scriptures. A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Thakura His extensive preaching eventually MAHARAJA resulted in the establishment of 64 Srila Prabhupada Uvaca temples throughout India, as well as By Ambika devi dasi the staging of many theistic exhibits PURPORT Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura was throughout the country. These Sri Isvara Puri was a resident of residing in Jagannatha Puri and exhibits and dioramas depicted Lord Kumara-hatta, where there is serving as Deputy Magistrate, when Chaitanya and Krishna’s pastimes. now a railroad station known he and his devotional wife, Srimati He initiated hundreds of disciples, all as Kamarhatta. Nearby there Bhagavati devi were blessed with a of whom chanted 64 rounds of the is also another station named wonderful son on 6 February 1874. Hare Krishna Mahamantra daily. Halisahara, which belongs to the They named him Bimala Prasad. He established a printing press and Eastern Railway that runs from Six months later, as the grand wrote many articles and books, even the eastern section Rathayatra festival took place, Lord publishing a daily newspaper on the of Calcutta. Jagannatha’s cart rested outside their activities being eternally performed in Isvara Puri appeared in a residence. Taking advantage of this, the spiritual world. brahmana family and was the his mother took him on the cart and He encouraged his disciples to preach most beloved disciple of Srīla placed him at the Lord’s lotus feet. Krishna Consciousness far and wide. Madhavendra Puri. Immediately a garland fell from the His glorious disciple, Srila Sri Isvara Puri was the Lord onto the child, signifying to all Prabhupada, took this instruction spiritual master of Sri Caitanya who witnessed this that the child was as his life’s mission, and thus this Mahaprabhu, but before dear to the Lord and a special soul. knowledge of how to love Krishna is initiating Lord Caitanya he went By seven years, he could recite the spreading and expanding continually to Navadvipa and lived for a few whole Bhagavad Gita. As a student, throughout the planet. months in the house of Gopinatha he was exceptional. In later life When Srila Prabhupada was asked Acarya. At that time Lord Caitanya he was referred to as ‘the living about his guru, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta became acquainted with him, and encyclopedia’. Sarasvati Maharaja, he said: “What it is understood that he served Sri As an adult he took initiation from the can I say? He was a Vaikuntha man.” Caitanya Mahaprabhu by reciting renounced saint Srila Gaurakishora His divine Appearance Day this year his book, Krsna-lilamrta. das Babaji. To the delight of his guru will be celebrated on 5 February. To teach others by example how he philosophically defeated many There will be a program at the temple to be a faithful disciple of one’s in his honour. spiritual master, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the SupremePhotot: google image Personality of Godhead, visited the birthplace of Isvara Puri at Kamarhatta and collected some earth from his birthsite. This He kept very carefully, and He used to eat a small portion of it daily. This is stated in the Caitanya- bhagavata, Adi-lila, Chapter Seventeen. It has now become customary for devotees, following the example of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, to go there and collect some earth from that place. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 9.11 Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura - “The living encyclopedia”2

Kadamba KananaSwami’s visitBy Parama Karuna dasa Photo: Trevor GoreWe had an impromptu SummerFestival with Kadamba Kanana Kadamba Kanana Swami leads a blissful New Year’s Eve harinama.Maharaja, full of rocking kirtans,during his recent stay. This year marks 40 years of The New Year’s Eve harinamaAfter a health crisis nearly 2 years enthusiastic service within ISKCON was another massive highlightago, Maharaja is stronger than ever in and over 20 years in the renounced where Kadamba Kanana Maharajahis travelling and preaching. He gives order, after taking sannyasa initiation and Mahavishnu Maharaja sangpractical guidance on applying the from Jayadvaita Swami in 1997. and danced for 7 consecutiveVedic scriptures in everyday modern His recent visit was full of classes hours! We were able to witnesslife, drawing liberally on humorous at the temple and at the Surfers the extraordinary vibrancy andexamples from his personal life. Paradise Bhakti centre. attachment with which these seniorMaharaja has served for 17 years The Krishna Village also hosted a vaishnavas’ chant the Holy Names,in the holy dhams of Vrindavan and program during Pizza night, which which is their life and soul.Mayapur. His services have included we suspect will have to be renamed Yet another highlight was the kirtanmanagement and strategic planning, “dance night” when Maharaja visits that blew the roof off Rupashramtemple president of Krsna-Balarama in future. The fast paced kirtana on 2 January, making for anotherMandir in Vrindavan and overseeing and dancing certainly made it an very memorable program. Byron Baythe construction of the Puspa unforgettable experience for those harinama the next day saw MaharajaSamadhi of Srila Prabhupada who attended. leading kirtan for over 2 hours,in Mayapur. attracting many souls.Maharaja brings a wealth ofexperience and is much lovedfor being approachable andstraightforward. He has had aconnection with the `Aussie` yatrasince his time in management at NewGaudadesh, a farming project nearMildura in the early 1980’s.Sitala reveals knowledge of previous acharyas is Photo: Travellingmonk.commercy of to make them more relatable andacharyas relevant to one’s spiritual growth as Sitala devi dasi shares years of researchPhoto: Kisori devi dasi sources of inspiration and shelter and realisations.By Kisori devi dasi rather than being perceived as mere The unforgettable devotional life ofIn the early 1980s, Sitala devi dasi historical figures. Narottama Dasa Thakura.spent some time serving at the This book is simple and easy to read,Institute for Vaishnava Studies in yet full of profound meaning that is 3Delhi, which focussed on acquiring very spiritually nourishing. It is highlyand translating ancient texts and appreciated by all who have read it.gathering biographies of vaishnava Copies are available from Kisori dasi.saints. It was through this service that During her stay at New Govardhana,she developed a keen interest in the Sitala gave a series of classes on thelives of saintly predecessors of the Six Goswamis of Vrindavan and SrilaGaudiya line and desired to remain Narattoma das Thakura as well asimmersed in these histories as well as Srimad Bhagavatam classes. Hershare them with everyone. deep and sincere realisations andSitala undertook much detailed attachment for these personalitiesresearch and fact-finding from a great shines forth, inspiring many.variety of sources and finished writing She also gave classes at the Gold“The Glorious Life of Srila Narottama Coast Bhakti Centre and Brisbanedas Thakura” 25 years ago, but did temple, drawing many devotees.not get it published till 2017 for Devotees are eagerly awaiting thevarious reasons. series of books on the vaishnavaHer main motive in distributing this saints which Sitala hopes to write and publish in the near future.

The Lord never forgets his devotee By Manjulali devi dasi Photo: Travellingmonk.com For 15 years while travelling on the bus party, Venugopal dasa was the Present day pastimes of the Lord. A short time later, Yogamaya’s main pujari for their Deities Gaura daughter, Radha Kunda dasi, who Nitai.  After touring for all this time, Yogamaya had a bad experience once would usually make a yearly visit to they decided to open a centre to when a devotee asked to take Gaura her mums home in Warwick, called cultivate people at a fixed location, Nitai to India to get new clothes and her mother and informed her she finally settling on Cairns.   ornaments for Them. The devotee would only be able to go as far as They had hired a shopfront that became very attached to Gaura Murwillumbah this trip. was in between a doctor’s clinic Nitai and never returned Them. She Yogamaya decided to take the and a solicitor’s office. They used to had to steal Them back after a year opportunity to meet her daughter receive hundreds of visitors per day and a half, so due to this she was and at the same time bring the for prasadam and kirtana. After 4 particularly protective of Them. Deities to see Venugopal. Arriving months they were asked to leave. Over the years, Venugopal had tried there she finally understood why Venugopal became friends with an to locate Gaura Nitai many times but They had been wanting to see him, Italian real estate agent who found a had always been unsuccessful. as she heard of his terminal illness. building with a restaurant downstairs In September 2017, Yogamaya began Yogamaya had definite plans of and a living quarters upstairs that to have a recurring dream that Gaura taking the Deities back with her after was previously used as a hostel. In Nitai were asking her to take Them to Their weekend of visiting Venugopal exchange for cheap rent she asked Venugopal, but she kept dismissing it. BUT Gaura Nitai had another plan! devotees to renovate the place. This was even before Venugopal was Venugopal had been discussing with Govinda’s restaurant was opened and aware that he was sick. his wife Nikunja Seva Devi Dasi his Gaura Nitai became the presiding hopes of the Deities staying longer, Deities there and the bus party crew but he didn’t want to ask Yogamaya ran the centre for five years. After as she had been looking after them that Govinda’s was taken over by so nicely. Yogamaya devi dasi and Mandana During her stay in Murwillumbah, dasa and after running it for some Yogamaya had a dream of Gaura Nitai time, they closed Govinda’s down. again. In the dream she was trying to Gaura Nitai continued being take them off the altar to take Them worshipped by Yogamaya, who home with her. Each time she tried, moved with Them to the desert town she felt excruciating pain in her head of Warwick, where she worshipped and had to stop. After a third attempt Them privately in her home for she felt so much pain she almost 15 years. left her body and realised that They wanted to stay with Venugopal. ShePhoto: Travellingmonk.com called Nikunja and said she no longer had any intention of taking Them Venugopal dasa, the recipient of Gaura Nitai’s mercy. and that They could stay as long as4 neccesary. Such was the determination of Gaura and Nitai to stay by Their devotee. 4

In Focus: 2. What happened after you joined on the cosmology of the Srimadantardwip dasa the temple Bhagavatam to develop a model for I continued to study medicine the temple.  The model that we haveBy Kisori devi dasi and was a brahmacari living in put together is faithfully based upon1. Please tell me a little about the asrama. I would go to various the instructions of Srila Prabhupadayourself hospitals and the medical school and will be hung in the main dome ofI joined ISKCON in 1990 while during the daytime.  As such, my the temple.  It will be a grand displaystudying at the University of engagement was a bit different from providing an overview of the materialQueensland after I found Srila the other brahmacaris.  Nonetheless, and spiritual realms.Prabhupada’s books in the university they all accepted me as one of them. 5. What are your current services? library. I began reading Bhagavad-gita 3. When did you become involved My main service at present is for theand then Srimad-Bhagavatam. After with the Gurukula initially? TOVP.  I am still involved in developinga number of months I found out Shortly after my marriage I ceased the main dome display.about the temple in Brisbane and working as a doctor and began I am also part of a group of devoteesstarted attending. teaching in the New Govardhana planning and developing the displays gurukula.  For a number of years I for the western dome of the TOVP. From right to left: Antardwip’s wife- taught the grade 3, 4, 5 & 6 class.  At There will be a Vedic Science CentreMangala-gopi devi dasi, Antardwip dasa, that time there were only two classes that has three levels of exhibits andeldest daughter Madhavi-lata devi dasi in the school. I served there between displays and a fourth level with aand her husband Sakhi Caran Ray dasa 1998 and 2007.  dome theatre.  The purpose of theseand youngest daughter Dulali Radha dasi. In  2007 my family and I relocated exhibitions is to bring people closer to to Mayapur.  I became involved in Krishna by showing the Vedic concept teaching and curriculum development of life and the universe.  In doing so, at the Bhaktivedanta Academy. we will also point out the inherent 4. Please tell us a about your weaknesses of any atheistic science involvement with the TOVP. or philosophy. In 2008, I became involved with the At New Govardhana I plan to be Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, deeply involved in temple activities. working with other devotees New Govardhana warmly welcomes Antardwip dasa and his family.Harinama Ruci’s Photo: Trevor Goreharinama tour Harinama Ruci spreading the rays of the benediction moon.By Yamal Arjuna dasaLord Chaitanya has written in His for which we are always anxious is yuga dharma harinama sankirtana,Sri Siksastakam that this sankirtana available in bucket-loads on harinama while remaining smiling and blissful.movement is the prime benediction with Mahavishnu Swami and New Year’s eve is the biggest event offor humanity at large because it Harinama Ruci. the Harinama Ruci group’s tour. Thisspreads the rays of the benediction The Bhakti Centre Gold Coast has year Kadamba Kanana Swami joinedmoon. been accommodating them these Mahavishnu Swami and HarinamaWe can see by their overwhelming last six years but as accommodation Ruci for what has been hailed as theenthusiasm and focus on harinama is very hard to find around New Year, biggest harinama party on the Goldsankirtana that Mahavishnu Swami they sometimes live in very austere Coast ever. They were supportedand Harinama Ruci are undoubtedly circumstances. Nonetheless, they by New Govardhana community,one of the rays of Lord Nityananda’s still manage to have a full morning Bhakti Centre Gold Coast community,benediction moon. program of hearing and chanting and Govinda’s Surfers Paradise andThey have been coming to the Gold spend endless hours on the street Cardamom Pod Restaurants.Coast and New Govardhana for six engaging everyone they meet in theyears now and have been travelling 5around the world performingharinama sankirtana on everycontinent of the planet. To soak upthe nectar, devotees flood to theGold Coast from Queensland andNorthern New South Wales and asfar as Melbourne and New Zealand.These devotees know that the nectar

Devamrita Swami- a potent preacher By Dandakaranya dasa Photo: Dandavats.com Devamrita Swami is an educator, author and spiritual mentor. Originally Devamrita Swami and his new book ‘Hiding in Unnatural Happiness’. from New York, he graduated from Yale University in 1972 and became happiness in our contemporary with the thought-provoking morning a student of AC Bhaktivedanta consumer driven society. Srimad Bhagavatam classes, he gave a Swami Srila Prabhupada. He became Interweaving the latest research in presentation on his cutting edge book a sannyasi in the Hare Krishna neuroscience, social science and at the Krishna Village yoga hall which movement in 1982, and has spent psychology, the book shines a beacon was very well attended. The books are the last forty years travelling to every to the happiness science presented in available from Dandakaranya dasa continent, sharing the teachings and the timeless bhakti yoga texts. or Suratanatha dasa. The website for lifestyle of bhakti yoga. Devamrita Swami visited New Devamrita Swami is His latest book published by the Govardhana in January and along www.devamritaswami.com Bhaktivedanta Book Trust is called ‘Hiding in Unnatural Happiness.’ The book presents a refreshing perspective on the quest for Farm Developments By Ajita dasa Photo: Ajita dasa Our latest restoration project was earth works on the Oxley River, This diagram shows us where how much land we lost. From the orange line of logs to Krishna farm side, beginning the edge of the green cut (south end) was flat land and it is now cut into a batter. The December 2017. The first stage, green area will be re-vegetated with native trees and bushes. consisting of battering banks, placing 40 tons of rocks and 60 logs at the established but not yet big toe of the bank, was completed enough to withstand the force just before Christmas. Planting of of a decent flood. Before the 800 native trees and bushes for 2 year period, trees are small regeneration and erosion control will enough to duck under water begin as soon as fencing to prevent and after 5 years they are entry of neighbouring cows rooted enough to stay. is completed. Around 2009 a major flood affected Stopping cows from entering the course of the river below the the newly planted area is primary school. The situation became a major concern so please urgent when the Oxley River was be sure to SHUT THE GATES eroding the pasturing land so much to protect restoration and that the main stream was about to investment of $200,000 to merge with the old 1890 river bed. repair the banks. Looking left or right after the new entrance gates, the old river bed that Council engaged a fencing This arial shot shows the beginning of erosion runs in front of Krishna Village and contractor to re-establish (orange line) and the yellow line indicates the extends below the school can the fences on our boundary actual loss of land after earthworks. be seen. including some internal After much discussion with Council fencing that was affected by (approximately 2 years), it was the earthworks. concluded the work must be done urgently, in a way that would withstand major floods. The critical time for this project to be successful is between the 2 to 5 year period when the trees are6

sachi’s auspicious Her main service was prasadam Photo: Facebook.com She left her body chanting the passing distribution. With her family, Sachi mahamantra with her son holding her distributed prasadam in many big hand. Devotees put maha garlands By Sadhana devi dasi ways such as the temple shop, and tulasi on her soon after. Sachi devi dasi left her body on restaurants and food vans. She Sachi devi dasi. January 3. She had a deep love for would be happy to cook for visiting Krishna and served Him with all sannyasis and is reknowned for her her being. Krishna Balarama Cake. No one comes She loved to dress the Deities and close to how delicious she made it. would say how beautiful Krishna She had many skills and intimate is. Devotees would know when services such as sewing petticoats for she dressed as Krishna would be Srimati Radharani, cultivating tulasi glistening because she loved to plants and gardening. massage Him with ghee. Sachi was well known for her One time she was polishing the awesome table tennis skills and bathing plate vigorously and when would often beat the gents! She had a asked what she was doing, she said great sense of humour, a warm heart, she wanted it to be really shiny so a frank nature and close friends who that Krishna could see Himself. truly loved her and are going to miss her. woodford and We were given a new location on the Photo: Krishna Gana dasa the mighty kofta festival site for the first time, whichPhoto: Krishna Gana dasa we were a little apprehensive about, Letter from favourable a 12 year old girl. By Krsna Gana dasa but as soon as the gates opened our The Woodford festival, held from fears disappeared. Amazing souls responded to. I will meet her later in December 26 to January 1, was came in droves to get their Govinda’s the year on my travels to Townsville very successful. fix. This year we made over 100,000 and hope to teach her how to make kofta balls. halava and kofta balls. Large queues for prasadam at Woodford Our crew was awesome, everyone Thank you to everyone who gave festival. worked so hard and helped each their time and energy to serve other get through the late nights and at Woodford. hot days. The youth we have in our community are very capable. We had a team of 18 devotees at Woodford and we also had a team of 7 at Falls Festival in Byron Bay, headed by Suratanatha dasa. At Woodford there is a special mail service where anyone can write a letter and get it sent to someone else. We had 6 or so letters sent to us, thanking us for being there and making awesome food. A 12 year old girl wrote a sweet letter and was very inquisitive, which Ajita dasa SUBMISSION GUIDELINES the photographer. Anonymous KEddEKraDiraDssIiishsT,IihnTO,KnaOKiRsarioRsurIorAupIirApaLidaLdedBevdBeOvievOidviAdaiAdRadsaRiDsas.iDis,:i(J:A(hACuCBlaBSnSPP)d,)a,MsMiaannjujulalaliliddeevvi i submissions will not be published. ULULArAvYrvaYOasOiUsidUTdeTevAviANidNdaDasDisGiaGaRnRndAdAJPhJPHhuHuIlaCIlaCnDndDEdaESasSIis.GIiGNN: : The Conch is your community Deadline is the 12th of each CFFcOooonRntraEtecaNntc:Qqtw:uUwwiIrRwiweI.EcswoS, n.,ccCcoohOmn.oMcmrhgMe..oanEurtNgsT.aoSurOsRugSgUeGsGtiEoSnTsI,ONS newsletter, and we invite you to month. Occasionally a submission submit articles for publication. could be held over to a later Articles should be 300 words or edition. All submissions will be less and supplied in MS Word edited, proofread and may be via email to caroleditor@gmail. rejected without notice. com. Photographs must be in JPG format. Please provide the name of the author and 7

Goshallagroundbreakingceremonyby Karunamayi devi dasiAfter a long 12 months of editing,redrawing and complying with anychanges requested, finally the newgoshalla plans have been acceptedby council.Mahamantra dasa has already startedsetting out where the goshalla willsit on the hill opposite the WhiteHouse. Before any building workscommence, auspiciousness wasinvoked by a Vedic groundbreakingand cornerstone laying ceremony onJanuary 10.  The ceremony included afire yajna, conducted by Nrsimhapalidasa and Abhimanyu dasa on thesite. Krishna Kirtana dasa and SriGandharvika devi dasi brought Abhiand Giri the bullocks to the ceremonyadding to the auspicious atmosphere.Photo: Mahamantra dasa The auspicious ground breaking yajna. Photo: Mahamantra dasa The occasion concluded with some Please join us eachNrsimhapali dasa and Abhimanyu prasadam at the site. All glories Ekadasi fordasa performing yajna to the devotees who endured the heat to be a part of the occasion. Srimad-Bhagavatam This new goshalla symbolises class given by His Divine New Govardhana’s dedication to Grace Srila Prabhupada. protecting the cows to as high a standard as possible. These classes will We also welcomed a new calf on the feature subtitles. last day of 2017. Little Gopal was Darshan arati 7am unexpectedly born to Lila who was under the care of Gita Govinda devi Class 7.30am dasi in the ‘retired’ herd. They were moved over to join the milk herd Harinama on New Year’s day. Both are happy and healthy. If anyone would like Sankirtana ki jaya! to sponsor Gopal, please contact Karunamayi devi dasi on 0455227446.february Calendar(from Vaishnava calendar www.vaisnavacalendar.com)5 Mon Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura – Appearance Daily at various locations Sri Purusottama Dasa Thakura – Disappearance11 Sun Ekadasi (not suitable for fasting) Contact Garuda dasa12 Mon Dvadasi (suitable for fasting) 0423 170 267 Fasting for Vijaya Ekadasi Sri Isvara Puri – Disappearance Sunday Mornings13 Tue Break fast 6.26am - 10.49am14 Wed Siva Ratri Northern NSW & Gold Coast17 Sat Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji – Disappearance Visnujana dasa 0498 141 02120 Tue Sri Purusottama Dasa Thakura – Appearance26 Mon Fasting for Amalaki vrata Ekadasi27 Tue Dvadasi break fast 06.36am - 10.51am Sri Madhavendra Puri – Disappearance © 2017 The Conch copyright of New Govardhana www.conch.org.au