Hare Krishna News - Vina Gaudiya News

Preaching in Panihati by Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acarya Maharaj

On 2nd June 2012, Srila Bhakti Nirmal Acharya Maharaj and devotees from Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math held a preaching programme in Panihati on the anniversary of Srila Raghunath Das Goswami’s Danda Mahotsav. In remembrance of the mercy Nityananda Prabhu bestowed upon Raghunath Das Goswami, chira and doi (chipped rice and yoghurt) were supplied, offered, and distributed in mass quantities to all in attendance.

In his lecture Srila Acharyadev commented that the festival’s name is the ‘Danda Mahotsav’ but that this ‘danda’ (‘punishment’, or ‘fine’) is actually the blessing of Nityananda Prabhu by which Raghunath Das Goswami obtained Sriman Mahaprabhu’s lotus feet and service under the guidance of Svarup Damodar. These Pastimes are described at length in the fifth chapter of Antya-khanda in Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat and provide a vivid example of Vrindavan Das Thakur’s glorification of Nityananda Prabhu:

ye bhakti gopikā-gaṇera kahe bhāgavate
nityānanda ha-ite tāhā pāila jagate
(Sri Chaitanya-bhagavat: Antya-khanda: 5.303)

“The world received the Vraja-gopis’ devotion, which is described in Srimad Bhagavatam, from Nityananda Prabhu.”

Source: Gaudiyadarshan.com

Bhagavad-gita Banyan Tree Dying in Haryana

The legendary banyan tree under which Lord Krishna is believed to have delivered his message of Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna is dying a slow death. Considered to be more than 5,000 years old, this tree at Jyotisar near Kurukshetra in Haryana is reportedly the only remaining relic from the time of the Mahabharata. Now, a tussle between the two claimants over the holy place on a puerile issue has left the tree completely neglected, putting it on the verge of extinction.

TOI found that the area surrounding the tree has been covered with marble pavement and it can't draw nutrients for its growth. Fancy lights and lamps are fitted with nails on the tree for lighting during night and big bells are tied all over it. The 'holy thread' tied by the visitors has covered most of the lower branches. Tying threads is considered to be wish-fulfilling. Sadly, chunks of branches were also chopped off recently by the caretakers without any expert advice.

The two stakeholders - Hindu Mission, a local religious body that has been taking care of the tree for years and the Kurukshetra Development Board (KDB) - are sparring over the ownership of the space where the tree is located.

Pandit Sukhpal, who is currently taking care of the disputed portion on behalf of Hindu Mission, said, "We have been looking after the holy tree and even constructed a marble pavement for its upkeep. Our gardener prunes it from time to time." Sukhpal added that there is no need of any scientific preservation of the tree because that would invite some 'problem' for this holy area, as the KDB would then levy fee on visit to this place.

When contacted, KDB curator Rajender Rana told TOI that for scientific assistance for maintenance of the tree, they had contacted officials at the Sunderbans in West Bengal, which has the largest forest cover of old trees in the world. He added that on receiving feedback from the Sunderbans, they had chalked out a plan for its preservation but the claim by some individuals over the area has prevented them from taking any concrete step.
A case between Hindu Mission and KDB is pending in the apex court, which has ordered to maintain status quo.

Source: harekrsna.com

Preaching report from SCGmath India - by Sripad Bhakti Vichar Vishnu Maharaj, In-charge, New Delhi Math

By the mercy of Srila Gurumaharaj, His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Ballabh Tirtha Goswami Maharaj and under the guidance of General Secretary of Sree Chaitany Gaudiya Math, Srila Bhakti Saurabh Acharya Maharaj, devotees of Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math organized successful preaching programs between 23rd March, 2012 and 14th May, 2012 in various states of India namely Delhi, Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab, Jammu - Kashmir and Mumbai.

Group of 8 sannyasis and 21 brahmcharis were travelling across India for preaching on behalf of Sree Chaitanya Gaudiya Math. Sannyasis as senior as Srila Bhakti Sarvasva Nishkinchan Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Prabhav Mahavir Maharaj, Srila Bhakti Mayukh Bhikshu Maharaj and others graced the occasion. In most of the programs Sankirtan was led by Srikant Prabhu, Ram Prabhu, Deenbandhu Prabhu, Paramhamsa Maharaj and Ramprasad ji.

During the programs, many special invitees graced the occasion.

Delhi

Pujyapad Bhaktialoka Paramadvaiti Maharaj (Founder Acharya - Vrinda Mission, Secretary - World Vaishnav Association), Germany.

Mr. Sunil Kakkar (Councillor, Paharganj, New Delhi)

Chandigarh

Shri Arvind Thakur (Chairman - Global Human Rights Council), Major General Rajendra Nath PVSM (Retd.),

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Amar Dutt (Former Judge, Punjab & Haryana High court),

Shri Girdhari Lal Jindal (Chairman - Ram Devi Jindal Group of colleges),

Smt. Raj Bala (Hon'ble Mayor of Chandigarh),

Hon'ble Mr. Justice MR Sharma (Former Judge - Punjab and Haryana High Court),

Dr. S K Sharma (Former Director PGI, Chandigarh),

Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal (Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs / Water Resources),

Pathankot

Sardar Malkiat Singh (M.L.A., Amritsar)

Shri Puneet Saini (Pinta) (General Secretary -- Youth Congress, Punjab)

Ludhiana

Sri Bharat Bhushan 'Ashu' (M.L.A., Ludhiana)

Preaching to Members of Argentinean India Embassy

Successful Preaching to members
of the Embassy of India in Argentina

Devotees from Vrinda Mission have published at their blog http://vrinda-argentina.blogspot.com/ about the visit of Sripad BV Padmanabha Swami at the home of one of the secretaries of the India Ambassador in Argentina which took place last month. Padmanabha Swami was accompanied by brahmacaris of Harijan Mandir from Buenos Aires, Argentina Yatra.

Sripad BV Padmanabha Swami sharing with the attendants for about 3 hours in length the millennial message of Vedic culture. Different members of the Embassy of India along with their wives, attended the meeting, during which devotees also sang beautiful devotional songs.

The enthusiastic audience kept making several questions about Vaishnava philosophy, and its correct relevance and implementation in these times.

The audience absorbed in listening to the stories of Krishna lila and His Many lessons.

And as a finishing touch, delicious prasadam prepared by the same members of the Hindu community, was happily shared by all.

More information here:
http://vrinda-argentina.blogspot.com.ar/2012/02/exitosa-predica-junto-la-embajada-de-la.html

Hare Krishna Missions, ki jay !
Hare Krishna News, ki jay !
World Gaudiya News, ki jay !

Historical work in Sri Vrindavan Dham

"Bringing Yamunaji

back to Keshi Ghat"

Today we share with you a report about the revolutionary and innovative task of "bring back" the Yamuna to Keshi Ghat.

Since the early beginning of December 2011, Chandi Heffner and K.P.S. Gill began a groundbreaking work in Sri Vrindavan Dham to "bring back" the Yamuna to Keshi Ghat.

Until then, all that came to the shores of Ghat was water from the city drains that flow along the Yamuna. The water became so dirty that while the famous puja at the Yamuna was made, in front of the pilgrims there were just a lot of waste, sewage and plastic garbage.

Drain that ends into the river, at the height of Cheer Ghat

Waters of the Yamuna in December 2011

Banks of the Yamuna near Keshi Ghat

It is in this context, that the two mentioned above, began to dig a small canal that would ideally fresh water from the Yamuna and clean up all waste accumulated in such an important place.

Workers starting the channel

Canal at the beginning - not yet passed the water

The channel was launched with blades of about 30 workers, who did not imagine the impact of their efforts; they dug for more than a week determined by the project.

Workers digging the canal - Jugal Kishor Mandir and Keshi Ghat at the background.

Enthusiastic collaborators joined the cause, even a group of over 50 students of Sandipani Muni School along with other organizations and mandires supported the excavation in its beginning, however, Chandi Heffner, K.P.S. Gill and their people were the ones who continued to work until today.

Volunteers who participated in the beginning of the channel.

The moment when Yamuna's water began to run down the narrow channel; it was undoubtedly historic and filled with joy all the ones present there.

The water begins to pass through the canal - its quality was still very dirty.

The quality of water passing through this channel was not very good, but as it became more wide, water's appearance became more clear. With the passage of time, it began to increase the number of workers who were doing this channel bigger and bigger.

Workers finishing their work at sunset.

At its peak, the number of workers reached 500 people, who during the whole day (despite the cold and fog of winter) very strongly engaged in this excavation to allow Yamuna Devi came with greater force. It was not just workers, but devotees and Yamunaji's agents directing Her way to Keshi Ghat.

Overview of the process of digging the canal in the early moments.

Gradually, it began to be required greater impact at work, and it was at that time when a bulldozer began to work day and night, removing the sand from the road and allowing Yamuna Devi had more space to flow.

Backhoe machine doing the channel wider.

Origin of the channel, up to Imlitala Mandir - in the background: Yamuna water entering through it.

At the same time, in the Yamuna at the height of Imlitala Mandir, a dam (made from sand bags) was begun to allow the entire runway to go through the new channel.

Overview of the dam at first - the ground was half a meter above the surface of the river.

The "army builder" of the dam.

The dam was getting taller and wider every day. The observers could see hundreds of people moving like ants, carrying sacks of sand from one side to another.

Advancing in the construction of the dam.

Group of workers filling bags of sand.

Bags ready to be picked and placed in the dam.

While one group fed the dam with bags, the other was busy filling them with sand. The picture was like being witnessing the lila of Sri Hanuman and his army building the bridge to Sri Lanka.

The dam under development - the ground was already more than one meter above the surface of the Yamuna.

Every day hundreds of workers were responsible for increasing the height of the dam.

Overview of the dam and its workers.

The hardest job was to close the dam and it was succeeded on the first days of February. For nearly a month workers were "fighting" against the strong current of Yamuna Devi to lead its full watercourse to Keshi Ghat.

The space between the two sides were not more than three meters, but the strong current prevented the closure of the dam.

Current of the Yamuna in the middle of the dam.

Several attempts to close the dam with large wooden sticks.

Finally, on February 1st, the dam was closed completely. Large nets filled with sandbags allowed the Yamuna's watercourse be directed completely towards Keshi Ghat.

At present those sandbags are acting as a filter for water, thus Yamuna Ji is flowing clearer.

View of the current channel to the height of Imlitala Mandir - the arriving water is much cleaner.

View of the channel from Keshi Ghat - all this space once was just sand and sewage.

The bridge constructed of sandbags has become increasingly broad and firm and now work has focused on clearing the land and organized the "mountains of sand" which had been formed due to the opening of the channel.

Bulldozers clearing and leveling the ground.

The outlook for these spring days is very sweet and friendly; thus many different bird species have begun to appear on the banks of Yamuna, becoming it a true sanctuary. At the same time, the pilgrims who come to the banks of the canal take darshan and bathing in what was once just sand.

The banks of the Yamuna have been converted back into a bird sanctuary.

Different species have settled in the place.

The wind blows softly as Yamunaji flows with force directly to Keshi Ghat; in the meantime the bulldozers continue their work of clearing the land.

The space which formerly was sand mixed with wastewater now has welcomed pilgrims who come to take darshan of Yamuna Devi.

Nowadays, Yamuna Devi is flowing much closer to the Parikrama Marg and sometimes She comes right on the shores of it. This is of great impact, as it allows that the possibility of the river coming back to the original Ghats becomes more real.

View of the Yamuna in front of Jai Singh Ghera - water touches the edge of the path of Parikram.

Actually, all this service to Yamunaji is historic; an amazing effort that no doubt leads to more work in the future.

The Yamuna water is coming closer to the temples that are in the way of Parikrama. At the background we can see the Mandir Imlitala's domes.

Now the boats can navigate waters much cleaner

View of Yamuna from Keshi Ghat - even the pillars of the "unfinished bridge" were submerged.

Much remains to be done on the treatment of sewage from Vrindavan and finally stop their way to the river; lots of service to be done to create an efficient waste cleaning and treatment, lots of efforts to make that many people - both the permanent people and pilgrims with their heart in Vrindavan - become part of the task of maintaining the Dham clean and protected. That is the service, which for mercy, has reached each of us.

More pictures here:

https://picasaweb.google.com/111758976162532024385

Channel Digging at Keshi Ghat, ki jay !!!
Vrindavan Dham, ki jay !!!
Yamunaji, ki jay !!!
Gaura Haribol !!!

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupad's Disappearance Day

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupad's
Disappearance Day at Radha Damodar
Temple - Vrindavan

Today we share with you a report posted today by prabhu Subal Das at VINA News Blog - http://vinacc.blogspot.com/2012/01/srila-bhaktisiddhanta-prabhupad.html - This time is a beautiful picture report and video of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas celebration by which it was commemorated the 74 disappearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad at Sri Sri Radha Damodar Mandir in Vrindavan.

Video:

"Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Prabhupad - The Greatest Hero of The Divine Love."

This is a video interview with Krishna Balaram Goswami of Radha Damodar Mandir in Vrindavan about the remarkable contribution of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupad to India and the entire world.