Important update concerning Bhaktivedanta Goshala and Krsna’s Cows

Posted on April 8th, 2011.

Bhaktivedanta Goshala in Vrindavana spends approximately Rs.650,000 each month on maintaining 380 cows, calves and bulls. That includes all the feed, medicine and labour involved in order to keep everything running. Unfortunately, due to not having sufficient land our cows and bulls are kept in a small restricted area without freedom to roam, exercise and graze. This is not healthy for the cows and bulls; they need space to move about.
Our management in Vrindavana is endeavouring to find 100 + acres of land in the Braja area so that we can provide enough space for our cows, of course land is very expensive in Vrindavana especially now with so much development taking place. We have reliable devotees looking for a suitable location with plenty of fresh sweet water, so that there will be nutritious feed for the cows.
There have been many discussions in the past up to the present considering developing the Goshala area 11+ acres. We want to put gardens, walkways for Japa and we plan to keep all the milking cows and their calves at the goshala, while creating more grazing at our present goshala for about 50 milking cow, and the other 300 + animals would be shifted to the new land, when it becomes available.

The most important and number one consideration is how to take the best care of the cows, and bulls. First and most essential point is that we need to get the land (100-200 acres) which will cost us at approximately 7-10 crores 2-3 million dollars depending on my much land we can purchase in one area.
Our Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula also needs a much larger facility and is very interested to relocate to this rural area with the cows so that they can make their school campus there. They plan to educate the gurukula students in Varnashram Dharma, organic gardening, taking care of the cows and agriculture living off the land as intended by Krishna, (natural living and high thinking). Management along with our Gurukula authorities are working together and making plans and pleas to secure the funds for this needed land.
Everyone is welcome to give your input and ideas, we will consider carefully and together we hope to provide a wonderful facility for our Cows, Calves, Bulls and Gurukula.

This year 36th Anniversary festivals of ISKCON Vrindavan

Posted on April 11th, 2011.

So devotees celebrate this event with great pomp and reverence.Shobha Yatra" is the defining feature of Ram Navami celebrations in ISKCON Vrindavan. Today evening it will be commence at 4.30 pm.Sri Sri Krishna Balarama, Radha Shyamasundara, Gaura-Nitai and ISKCON’s founder Srila Prabhupada will be carried on palanquins in a Sobha Yatra, or festival procession, around the ISKCON Vrindavana complex.Accompanied by many hundreds of devotees chanting enthusiastically and showering them with rose petals…

We hope that you can also be with us to give your association today eve and for tomorrow for Ramnavai, Simultaneous Abhisekh of Their Lordships Sri Sri Krishna Balarama, Radha Shyamasundara, Lalita Visakha and Gaura-Nitai will start at 11:00am

Message from Temple President

Posted on July 26th, 2011.

On the 13th August is Lord Balaram’s appearance day celebrations. From the 12th to the 22nd August 2011, there will be Srimad Bhagavata Katha every morning by His Holiness Radha Govinda Das Goswami Maharaj. Special lectures, offering of new outfits to the Deities, wonderful kirtan , Kalash Abhishek by the donors, Abhishek at the main altar, Bhoga offerings and Midnight Maha Ararti are some of the highlights of Janmastami celebration. On the 23rd August 2011 is Srila Prabhupada’s appearance day. On that day senior Vaisnavas will glorify Srila Prabhupada, and there will be special bhoga offerings, puspanjali and Maha Arati. For those of you who cannot personally attend the programs, you can view everything on live
video at our official website: www.iskconvrindavan.com

There are many seva opportunities to make these festivals a grand success. Please take part and donate generously to receive unlimited mercy and blessings from Their Lordships. We request all of you to take advantage these festivals by personally participating, visiting our website, or contributing for the festivals.

Celebrate Janmastami 2011 in Vrindavan Dhama

Posted on July 26th, 2011.

We are making all arrangements so this will be a grand and blissful event for the pleasure of Their Lordships, Their devotees and well wishers. For those of you who have a desire to celebrate Janmastami in Vrindavan, here is good news! There are three opportunities to help you in fulfilling your desire:
1. For a donation of Rs.35,000/- you may take part in the following:
• Three nights free stay for a couple and their small child(ren) from 20.8.2011 to
22.8.2011
• On 21.8.2011, a guided tour to many of the important holy places in Braj.

Free prasadam on all the three days

Go-puja at BhakAtachmtivedanta Swami Goshala on 22.8.2011

You can personally bathe (perform abhishek) to Sri Krishna on the day of Janmastami
with a pure Silver Kalash.
You can personally perform Maha Arti to Sri Krishna with a pure Silver Arati plate.

The Silver Kalash, Silver Arti plate, Mahaprasadam, and Krishna Balaram Photo
lamination will be given to you as a gift.
2. For a donation of Rs.25000/-:
• Three nights free stay for a couple and their small child(ren) from 20.8.2011 to
22.8.2011
• On 21.8.2011, a guided tour to many of the important holy places in Braj.

Free prasadam on all the three days.

Go-puja at Bhaktivedanta Swami Goshala on 22.8.2011

You can personally bathe (perform abhishek) to the Sri Krishna on the day of
Janmastami with a pure Silver Kalash.
• The Silver Kalash, Mahaprasadam, and Krishna Balaram Photo lamination will be given
to you as a gift.
For a donation of Rs.15000/-:
• One night-22.8.2011- for a couple and their small child(ren) free stay in Vrindavan.

Free prasadam.

Go-puja at Bhaktivedanta Swami Goshala on 22.8.2011

You can personally perform Maha Ararti with a Silver Arati plate on Janmastami Night.

The Silver Arati plate, Mahaprasadam, and Krishna Balaram lamination will be given to you as a gift.

Aindra Prabhu's first passing away ceremony

Posted on 07-07-2011 continued...

Discovering the very different music of the spiritual world, Eddie moved into the ISKCON temple in Washington, D.C. And soon after, in February 1974, on the auspicious day of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai’s installation and Lord Nityananda’s Appearance, he was initiated by ISKCON founder Srila Prabhupada and became Aindra Dasa.Back at the temple, Aindra became known as a rather erudite preacher—he joined everyone else in book distribution on the streets, loved speaking to guests at the weekly Sunday Feast, and was always looking for a way to spread Krishna consciousness.

After 12 years of intense service (Book Distribution, Deity Worship, Harinaam Sankirtans) in America Aindra Prabhu decided to inaugurate the 24-Hour Kirtan at the Krsna Balaram Mandir, Vrindavan. This was the desire of his spiritual master His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada to have 24-Hour Kirtan going on in the temple. But somehow it couldn't continue after his departure from this mortal world. Aindra decided to dedicate himself to the project. He began to soak up the atmosphere of Vrindavana, connect with other kirtaniyas, and learn Indian classical music or ragas, teaching himself the traditional melodies by ear. And eight years after the 24-Hour Kirtan had faded away, he reconstituted it as its own department, organizing a core group of kirtan enthusiasts to ensure its continuance.

Krishna Balarama Mandir’s 24-Hour Kirtan has been running non-stop, 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, ever since.

During his 24 years of selfless service to the Holy Name in the Holy land of Sri Vrindavan Dham Aindra Prabhu gifted the whole world the precious gems in the form of his Kirtan Albums - Cinatamani Naam (1&2), Vrindavan Mellows (1,2&3), Vraj Vilas (1&2) and Prayers to the Dust of Vraja which started a "Kirtan Revolution" within the ISKCON society. You can still hear devotees singing those tunes across the world.

Last Year on 16th of July he disappeared from our material vision which is very hard to believe and it became even more visible when devotees in Krsna Balaram Mandir observed his disappearance day festival yesterday i.e 6th of July 2011 as according to the lunar calender this marks the disappearance of Aindra Prabhu from the mortal world and his entrance into the nitya lila of Radha Shyamsundar.

The festival started with the "Je ha anilo prema dana....." led by HG Martanda Prabhu. There were some video shows also which were some interviews of HG Aindra Prabhu. In the video Aindra Prabhu beautifully narrates the story of his saligram silas - the number of whose is close to 2077. After that temple president HG Pancha Gauda Prabhu started the proceedings and requested devotees give their heartfelt offerings to HG Aindra Prabhu.

HG Dinabandu Prabhu gave a very sweet talk about the early days of his association with Aindra Prabhu. How they travelled with the Gaur Nitai deities all over the North India. There deities later on where taken care by Aindra Prabhu himself and are still being worshipped at his room, the celebrated Their Lordships Sri Sri Nitai Sachisuta. He beautifully spoke about his book and explained that one needs to really be introspective to understand whats written in the book. Behind the hard external cover one needs to understand the essence which he is giving in his book and that is CHANTING OF HARE KRSNA MAHAMANTRA should at the forefront of our movement otherwise there is no use of all the management work we are undertaking as a society. He also talked about the title devotees thought was appropriate for him and they finally decided upon - Sriman Kirtan Chandra Namanandi Aindra Dasa Maharaj.

HG Mukund Dutta Prabhu who had been very close to Aindra Prabhu shared his beautiful relationship he had with him. They both were pujaris and used to do a lot of service in the altar. He remembered one sweet pastime where when the altar opened the flute of Krsna was in the left hand of Srimati Radharani depicting the pastime of Gopis stealing the flute of Krsna. Needless to say the dressing was done by Aindra Prabhu. He explained that Aindra Prabhu was very much spontaneous in his Krsna Consciousness. He remembered him as his sweet friend and a very humble soul.

HG Rama Raya Prabhu one of the close associates of Aindra Prabhu gave a deep insight into the inner life of Aindra Prabhu. How much dedication he had for Prabhupada. How much pain he felt when someone left the shelter of Srila Prabhupada. He beautifully narrated the pastime of passing away of Srila Haridas Thakur from Caitanya Caritamrita which he nicely correlated with the passing away of Aindra Prabhu. He recollected that Aindra Prabhu had told him once that he (Aindra Prabhu) wanted to leave this world quietly near Govardhan in the summer season when not many devotees are around. Krsna actually fulfilled his desire that when is left the body it was hot summer,there was no one around when he left the body and Govardhana in form of a Sila was present there in his room.

HH Lokanath Swami offered his talk over phone and remembered Aindra Prabhu's association whenever they did kirtans together. He explained it is very painful to see and feel his absence but at the same time its a sheer joy that he is now with Sri Sri Radhe Shyam in Their nitya lila.

Later HG Gopal Prabhu, HG Pancha Gauda Prabhu, HG Janaradhan Prabhu, HG Kiran Prabhu, HG Martanda Prabhu and many other devotees also shared their offerings during the day. Later there was puspanjali followed by Kirtans and a 8 course maha feast for everyone.

A calender was also launched today consisting of Aindra Prabhu's pictures and his quotes and will be available for everyone within a weeks time.

Srila Prabhupada Ki Jai !!!

Sriman Kirtan Chandra Namanandi Aindra Dasa Maharaj Ki Jai !!!

Hare Krishna

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