The Conch (Nov 2017)

November 2017 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 Temple Rising TOVP Status Guru das Seminar Remembering Srila Prabhupada In Focus Devotee Profiles Conch on the GO Newsletter for Mobile Interactive Bhagavad-gita Classes + digital study apps

The Magnificent In order to fulfil these prophecies, Photo: Facebook.com TOVP His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, ISKCON’s ISKCON Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace Extrapolated from ISKCON’s 50th Founder-Acharya, often expressed his A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Anniversary magazine deep desire that his disciples build a unique “Vedic Planetarium” to Srila Prabhupada Uvaca By Krishnarupa devi dasi present the Vedic perspective of life The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium to the public. Tulasi leaf is very, very dear to (TOVP) is a jewel in the sacred crown The three domes, which are the Vishnu. All Vishnu-tattva Deities of Mayapur. Visible from miles away, dominant features of the structure, require profusely Tulasi leaves. the structure is a surprising sight are impressive. The central dome at Lord Vishnu likes garlands of amidst the lush countryside. 113m (approximately 370ft) has the Tulasi leaves. Tulasi leaves mixed ISKCON’s Mayapur project – began in greatest height and width compared with sandalwood pulp and placed the early 1970s with a small plot of to many famous dome structures on the lotus feet of the Lord is land and just a handful of devotees – worldwide, including St Paul’s the top most worship. But we is now a community of thousands. Cathedral, London, and the Taj Mahal must be very careful that Tulasi The TOVP and its three imposing in Agra, India. leaves cannot be placed on the domes powerfully dominate the Srila Prabhupada desired a state-of- feet of anyone except Lord Vishnu skyline. As an indication of its the art temple in honor of his spiritual and His different forms. Tulasi size, Premavatar Gauranga dasa, preceptors and one that would draw leaves cannot be placed even on Construction Manager of the TOVP, people from around the world to the lotus feet of Radharani or explains, “Once aviation lights are be given a chance for a spiritual on the lotus feet of the Spiritual installed on the top of the main education. Master. It is entirely reserved for dome, it is likely to be seen from On 20 November, New Govardhana being placed on the lotus feet of as far as Kolkata.” will have the privilege of hosting Krishna. We can place, however, Lord Nityananda predicted more than the TOVP’s fundraising event and Tulasi leaves in the hands of five centuries ago that a magnificent providing the devotee community Radharani for being placed on the temple would be built in Mayapur, the opportunity to help fulfill Srila lotus feet of Krishna, as you have and Bhaktivinoda Thakura, as he Prabhupada’s instructions. seen on the Govinda album. stood before his window and looked By the circumambulation of across the Jalangi toward what is now For more information on the Shrimati Tulasi Devi all the sins ISKCON-owned land, experienced TOVP, please visit www.tovp.org that one may have committed are a spiritual vision of a great temple destroyed at every step, even the rising. sin of killing a brahman. The collecting of leaves shouldPhoto: tovp.org be done once in the morning for worshipping and for putting Artist’s impression of the completed Temple of Vedic Planaterium (TOVP). on the plates of foodstuffs to be offered. On each bowl or plate there should be at least one leaf. So you follow and practice these Tulasi affairs and you try to distribute your experience to all the other centres—that will be a new chapter in the history of the Krishna consciousness movement. (Srila Prabhupada to Govinda dasi, 7 April 1970) 4 November is Tulasi-Shalagrama Vivaha Cover photo: tovp.org 2

Advent this sacred spiritual science. Srila Image: googleimages.com of Srimad Prabhupada would often say that Bhagavad-Gita Krishna consciousness is a spiritual Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gita (Song science, and that we should accept it of God) to Arjuna on the Battlefield of By Padma devi dasi as a science. Kuruksetra, India, 5,000 years ago. Five thousand years ago, on the New Govardhana senior devotees battlefield of Kurukshetra, Lord have decided to further deliver Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gita the teachings of Bhagavad-gita, by to His beloved friend Arjuna. In the hosting ‘interactive’ Bhagavad-gita midst of the Earth’s great armies, the classes every Wednesday evening in two friends, mounted on a celestial New Govardhana temple-room. chariot gifted by the demigod These classes run from 5pm to 6pm Agnideva to Arjuna, exchanged and are open to all devotees and the words that have today been visitors who want to participate. encapsulated as Bhagavad-gita, the There are no exams or tests involved ‘Song of God’. This transcendental in these classes. We are simply pastime is commemorated on opening our doors to welcome lively 30 November 2017. and meaningful discussion on the The Bhagavad-gita was spoken not contents of the Bhagavad-gita. Please only for Arjuna’s benefit, but for all come and join us! living beings, so that they may learn The Conch Goes this new mobile-friendly incarnation announce that this new mobile- Mobile! will be based on the publishing friendly site will launch this month. platform Word Press. As mentioned The new approach will include audio By His Holiness Mukunda Goswami above, this new version of The Conch and video embeds. Additionally, & Paul Bailey will be accessible on all devices in the near future, articles will be Starting with the November 2017 – including laptops and desktop viewable (and searchable) by topic, edition, The Conch website (www. computers. The mobile-friendly Conch including sections for current and conch.org.au) will be designed to will be easy to read and navigate on future community and temple events. support existing desktop computers all devices. Nevertheless, back issues And there will be many other new and mobile devices, such as of The Conch will still use the pdf features, as the mobile-friendly smartphones and tablets. version, which will also include the version is still evolving. The new format should not be ‘flipbook’ feature. Check it out via www.conch.org.au confused with the existing pdf version It has taken our online team many for the November 2017 edition of of The Conch (still existing), because months to research and refine the The Conch! new concept, and we are happy toPhotos: Courtesy of Paul Bailey 3

Govindas Catering’s new travelling prasadam pavilion.Photo: Courtesy Krsna Gana dasa Photo: Facebook.comCatering when we built the orginal white design the new facade, to decide howMakeover catering kitchen, but it just wouldn’t to fix it to the tent – and then build a have had the impact I wanted. frame to hold all the panels together to give us the finished product.By Krsna Gana dasa When we purchased the big marquee Literally the day before we hadThe concept of having an image of (now down by the farm lake), we also to set up we completed the newthe Temple of the Vedic Planetarium acquired two smaller 5m x 5m tents. frontage. We are very happy with the(TOVP) as the stall frontage for We decided that we would use the final result. The pictures speak forGovindas Catering was something I smaller tents for ‘Splendour in the themselves.had desired to do for a long time. I Grass’ festival this year. So I thought,had first wanted to try and do this “This is my chance! I can do it with these tents.” So the race began toGuru das I would like you to go …” He would our then fledgling ISKCON Societyvisits New wonder what his spiritual master had onto the world stage.Govardhana for him now. From formal meetings Guru Das is one of the best narrators with India’s Prime Minister Indira in ISKCON today, so don’t missBy Vasusrestha dasa Gandhi, to crossing the Atlantic to him when he comes to visit NewGuru Das, a disciple of Srila Great Britain and befriending The Govardhana on 12 November.Prabhupada since 1966, looks like, Beatles, to overseeing the building ofand is, an impressive personality. the glorious Krishna Balarama Temple Guru Das offering flowers to SrilaGood qualities of great Vaishnavas are in Vrindavana (“But Prabhupada, I Prabhupada during the Baltic Seaalways boundless. As with Guru Das, know nothing about construction,” Festival.he is a warm, humorous, sincere and said Guru Das. “Don’t worry.charming devotee. Krishna will help you,” replied SrilaWhen Srila Prabhupada first arrived Prabhupada) and there were manyin San Francisco he noticed Guru Das more of such incidences.straightaway. That was the beginning Guru Das has been on an extensiveof many loving, personal exchanges lecture tour in Europe this year, andbetween spiritual master and disciple by our great fortune he has agreedthat criss-crossed three continents to come to visit the Australian yatraover a period of 10 years. this month.On various occasions, Srila This will probably be the only chancePrabhupada would say, “Guru Das most of us will get to hear from this iconic personality who, especially in the 1960s and 1970s, helped to thrust 4

Bhakti Centre Bhakti Centre dancing enthusiastically also distribute prasadam at variousSurfers Paradise: in the kirtanas. This year alone vegan festivals.Full of Verve more than 500 people attended the Of course none of it would be Centre’s Janmastami festival and possible without the ongoing supportBy Subhangi devi dasi there are ever-expanding preaching of our members and well-wishers. WeIf you go to Surfers Paradise, initiatives by our members. would name them all but we couldn’tespecially on a Friday night, it is usual Over the years we have had many fit everyone in the space allowed forto see crowds of tourists gathered home programs and even established in this article! around a hari-nama party dancing worship of Gaura Nitai Deities in Thank you to the many seniorand chanting.  many homes. We also do hari-namas devotees who have supported,The Bhakti Centre Gold Coast and have distributed a lot of Srila mentored or spoken regularly at theis a satellite centre for Radha Prabhupada’s books in the streets and Bhakti Centre such as His HolinessGovardhanadhari that my husband, market stalls. Janananda Maharaja, His HolinessJamal Arjuna dasa (ACBSP), Several years ago, ISKCON’s Ramai Swami, Ajita dasa, Garudaestablished. I have tried to assist ‘Vishvakarma’ Janmejaya dasa built a dasa, Damodara dasa, Krsna Ganahim in his preaching endeavours Ratha-yatra cart for parades Australia dasa, Ambika devi dasi, Kisoriover the years. wide. We have even won awards for devi dasi, Mandakini devi dasi,The Centre facilitates those busy our cart and hundreds of thousands Krishnarupa devi dasi, Madhumangalaprofessionals working in the area of people have seen the Lord, dasa, Karunika devi dasi andwho want to associate with other courtesy of the chariot. Dhaneshvara dasa, Subhadra dasaVaishnavas to chant and learn about We also sponsor various kirtaneers and Manjumedha devi dasi.bhakti-yoga. They cannot always and arrange programs to help spread Many thanks to you all, and pleasedrive to New Govardhana, so the the holy name. Now we have a bless our endeavours. Bhakti Centre is the ideal point of monthly kirtana and picnic in thecontact for them. They take darshana Southport Broadwater Parklands. Weof Jagannatha, Baladeva, LadySubhadra, and Gaura Nitai along Photo: Courtesy Sughangi devi dasi Many thanks to thewith Srila Prabhupada and engage in Bhakti Centre andvarious services.  Cardamon Pod forThe Bhakti Centre was started sponsoring Gauraapproximately nine years ago. Jamal Vani’s visit. They wereArjuna had established a Govinda’s enlivening programsrestaurant in the heart of Surfers and without theirParadise and it became apparent that donations the tourthere was a need to further expand would not have beenSrila Prabhupada’s preaching mission. possible!Many devotees who started their Suite 1c, Trust Housepath to bhakti at the Bhakti Centre Building,have taken initiation from various 3070 Surfers ParadiseISKCON gurus. There are families Boulevardand many children attending our Surfers Paradiseprograms on Wednesday and Australia Qld 4217Saturday nights. It’s not unusual to bhakticentregoldcoast.see all the little gopis and gopas who com.auhave grown up while attending the Some of the many events at the thriving Bhakti Centre.Apps Go Spiritual VedaBase and Gitabase we can have then allowed a five-minute break in access to all of Srila Prabhupada’s between these blocks to attend toBy Suratanath dasa books at any time or place. I’ve also other activities. This technique ofReading Srila Prabhupada’s books found the day scheduling Calender staying focused for a solid block reallyis a greatly cherished privilege for apps and Reminder apps helpful, helps you to absorb what you areany devotee, and with a few time- as they remind me to read at a reading.management skills we can all allocate designated time.a bit of extra time each day to relish For those of us with short attention A new app called ‘Be A Sage (Page 5these transcendental literatures. spans, there are apps like BeFocused, By Page)’ can calculate the amountWe live in the age of the smartphone, which are based on the Pomodoro of pages you need to read per dayand rather than spending time on technique. This technique provides a in order to complete a book within aFacebook, why not utilise apps for 25-minute block for staying focused desired amount of time. For instance,spiritual reading? With apps like on one activity (such as reading or to read Srimad-Bhagavatam in one studying) guided by an alarm. You’re year, you’ll need to read 41 pages per day. That’s easy!

Lost & Found Award-winning An audience of more than 220 turned movie comes to out to see the Hare Krishna! movie at theBy Manibandha dasa the Regent Regent Cinema in Murwillumbah.The much-loved African Djembe drumdisappeared from Krishna Village a By Kisori devi dasifew months ago – but recently the HARE KRSNA! The Mantra, themystery has been solved. Movement and the Swami whoJohnno, a musician living in Byron started it all played in Regent CinemaBay, was offered a Djembe drum Murwillumbah on the 24 and 26 offor only $70. Being knowledgeable October. The timing was especiallyof musical instruments, he knew important, as the 24 October was theimmediately it was worth at least 40th Anniversary of the Disappearance$500 and so he became suspicious. Day of ISKCON’s Founder-AcharyaAlthough it was such a good deal, he His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedantathought it was too good! Swami Prabhupada.However, Johnno did purchase it and The movie is the brainchild of Johnin due course found an inscribed Griesser/Yadubara dasa (ACBSP), whomark inside the drum saying ‘ISKCON together with his wife Jean Griesser/NG’. But what was ‘ISKCON NG’? Vishaka devi dasi (ACBSP), made thisPuzzled, he Googled the acronym and award-winning production, whicheventually found a phone number for has received excellent reviews fromNew Govardhana. After speaking to a multiple sources. The documentarydevotee he agreed to bring the drum focuses on the life of Srilato the farm and be reimbursed for Prabhupada, exploring how he ignitedthe $70. He immediately jumped into the worldwide cultural revolution ofhis car and drove to New Govardhana spiritual consciousness.and to our great delight delivered the It is an excellent relevant tool indrum and everyone was happy. spreading Krishna consciousnessA special warning – we get many to a modern society and is highlydifferent types of people on the professional and very tastefullyfarm and everyone should be executed. Many thanks to Pratapanaconscious of security. If you see dasa and Jayasri devi dasi for buyinganything suspicious, please report the distribution rights for Hareit immediately to the farm Krishna! in Australia so we wereauthorities. all given the opportunity to experience it. Awareness Sessions By Krishnarupa devi dasi Last month, the awareness and prevention sessions on sexual harassment were delivered to members of the Sydney yatra over two days. Devotees in attendance gave extremely positive feedback and welcomed the opportunity to become more aware and thereby prevent any issues of sexual harassment. The interactive seminar will be rolled out to all the major temples in Australia before May 2018.Photo: googleimages.com Poster: Courtesy of Sydney YatraAn African Djembe drum, similar to onethat was stolen from the Krishna Village. 6

In Focus: with Food for Life, and finally as The more connections you Ranadhira dasa personal chef for her guru maharaja. can make in your life with and Madhumati After some years she moved to the natural world, the easier devi dasi Australia in 2006. it will be for you and others Once in Australia Madhumati devoted around you to be attracted By Clarissa Pollack her life to full-time temple service to the supernatural. To enter Avid gardeners on the New for the next nine years, which she Govardhana property, Madhumati describes “brought great joy”. “into this spiritual world is the devi dasi and Ranadhira dasa have Ranadhira’s association with New highest goal of human life. been sharing their love of gardening Govardhana devotees began in 1988 To understand that you are a with the local community at regional when he helped to train bullocks spiritual being and that there is markets. for ploughing fields. He lived on a supreme spiritual being is the “Our produce is grown using the property for a couple of years perfection of life. traditional natural methods,” says and returned in 2007 to live here – Traditional Vegetable Ranadhira. permanently. Growing by Ranadhira dasa The couple give informational Since 2009, Ranadhira and lectures to others about the joys of Madhumati have gardened together. Little Vaishnavas healthy eating and food production. Their methods are shared in a Madhumati and Ranadhira are gardening pamphlet that they The New Govardhana community has inspiring, long-term servants here produced to describe their methods been recently blessed to welcome at New Govardhana. Madhumati for gardening in the local climate a number of little Vaishnavas and a began her devotional life in Manilla, and soil conditions. Copies of this Vaishnavi to our community!  Philipines, in 1984. Her services pamphlet will be available to the Malcolm Knights and Lila Kirtan devi included book distribution, serving temple soon. In the future, they also dasi welcomed Taj Nitai Knights on  plan on producing one on traditional 24 July. building using bamboo and earth. Dhruvananda dasa and Dhanesvari devi dasi welcomed their daughterPhotos: Courtesy Madhumati devi dasi Sarasvati Dayana O’Shea on 20 August. Tilakini and Johnny Norris welcomed their son Talin Dray Norris on 22 September. Rupa Raghunatha dasa and Jyestha devi dasi welcomed their son Krishna Balarama on 29 September. (L to R) Ranadhira dasa and Madhumati devi dasi; Ranadhira practicing Traditional The Conch on Holidays Vegetable Growing in the gardens of New Govardhana. For the December, January and February issues the conch will be reduced from eight pages to four pages due to the absence of some editorial staff. We look forward to resuming the eight pages for the March issue. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES the photographer. Anonymous EDITORIAL BOARD: submissions will not be published. Krishnarupa devi dasi (ACBSP), Manjulali devi The Conch is your community Deadline is the 12th of each dasi, Kisori devi dasi. newsletter, and we invite you to month. Occasionally a submission LAYOUT AND GRAPHIC DESIGN: submit articles for publication. could be held over to a later Urvasi devi dasi and Jhulan devi dasi. Articles should be 300 words or edition. All submissions will be less and supplied in MS Word edited, proofread and may be FOR ENQUIRIES, COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS via email to natschipp@gmail. rejected without notice. Contact: www.conch.org.au com. Photographs must be in JPG format. Please provide the name of the author and 7

Upcoming EventsLord Nityananda on Ramai Swami Guru DasWorld Tour 7–9 November 12–17 NovemberIn November 2017, the world tour Tuesday, 7 November Sunday, 12 Novemberof Lord Nityananda’s holy padukas Wednesday, 8 November 4.30pm Sunday Feast Class(shoes) are coming to Australia. As Thursday, 9 November Pastimes with Srila Prabhupadapart of ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary, 7.30am Srimad-Bhagavatam Class Monday, 13 and Tuesdaythis initiative’s aim is to unite all 14 Novemberour congregations in fulfilling the Please join us each 7.30am Srimad-Bhagavatam Classprophecy of Lord Nityananda by Ekadasi for Thursday, 16 Novemberbuilding this unique temple and 5pm Caitanya Caritamrita Classoffering it as our collective gift to Srimad-Bhagavatam Friday, 17 NovemberSrila Prabhupada. (tovp.org) class given by His Divine 5pm More pastimes with Srila Grace Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada These classes will Harinama feature subtitles. Sankirtana ki jaya! Darshan arati 7am Class 7.30amTulasi-Saligrama Vivaha (marriage) isobserved 4 November this year.November Calendar(from Vaishnava calendar www.vaisnavacalendar.com)1 Wed Dvadasi Break fast 6.12am – 10.18am Daily at various locations3 Fri Last day of the fourth Caturmasya month4 Sat Sri Krsna Rasayatra Contact Garuda dasa for details Tulasi-Shaligrama Vivaha (marriage) [email protected] Tue Fasting for Utpanna Ekadasi15 Wed Dvadasi Break fast 5.45am – 10.15am Sunday Mornings25 Sat Odana Sasthi30 Thu Fasting for Moksada Ekadasi Northern NSW & Gold Coast Advent of Srimad Bhagavad-gita Visnujana dasa 0498 141 021 © 2017 The Conch copyright of New Govardhana www.conch.org.au