2006[January-April]
— Hare
Krsna Ashrama Inauguration Festival (Mulki),
Gaura Purnima Celebration, Vasant Pancami Observance,
New DVD Film Biography of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Thakura, Installation of Kaliya Mardana Krsna Deity,
Visit by Sri Nandanandana, Guru Prasad Swami and
Bodhayana Maharaja.
See
Events
Index below for more events from 2005, 2004,
2003, 2002, 2001 & 2000.
Hare
Krsna Ashram Inauguration Festival
In
a most beautiful tropical setting of coconut trees,
palms, clear rivers and the deep blue of the Arabian
Sea, a grand inauguration festival was held at the
newly constructed ashrama [Hare Krsna Ashrama] in
Mulki [near Udupi, Karnataka] on Sunday 2nd April.
This new ashrama is a branch preaching center of
Govindaji Gardens [near Mysore].
Devotees
and guests from Bangalore, Mandya, Mysore, Mangalore,
Srirangapatna, Udupi, USA, Canada, Serbia, Italy,
and South Africa, as well as local devotees from
Mulki took part in the festivities.
The
program began on Saturday evening [April 1, 2006]
with a Hari-nama Sankirtana procession through
the village of Mulki which visited some of the
local temples and then returned to the ashram.
Srila Narasingha Maharaja led the colorful Sankirtan
of chanting the Names of the Lord Krsna. The Sankirtan
party was met with great enthusiasm by the local
people, many of whom joined in with the chanting.
The Hari-nama Sankirtana was also broadcast on
the local TV channel from Mangalore.
The
next morning, another Hari-nama Sankirtana was
held in the village with devotees carrying pictures
of Kaliya-mardana Krsna, Srila Prabhupada and Srila
Sridhara Maharaja.
During
the festival a new Krsna conscious publication
in Kanada [the language of Karnataka] was released
and distributed to several hundred people by the Sankirtana party.
The book [written by Narasingha Maharaja] describes
in brief the miracles and teachings of Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu. When the procession returned to the asrama, arati was
held for the Deities of Kaliya-mardana Krsna, Vira
Narasimha, Giri Govardhana and Sri Salagrama.
Srila
Narasingha Maharaja then gave a lecture on the
topic of 'What is an Asrama?' He explained
the importance of an asrama for those that
wish to serve the Supreme Lord. He explained the
meaning of the word 'ashrama' as 'a-shrama,'
a place where no material work is performed. Maharaja
explained that only selfless service to Lord Krsna
should be performed in an asrama and that no one
should come to live in an asrama for personal
gain. Narasingha Maharaja also narrated some of
the history of the land where the new asrama has
been constructed — how it originally belonged
to the Deity of Kaliya-mardana Krsna of the Madhva
sampradaya and how it is now being re-claimed for
Lord Krsna by the devotees of Sri Narasingha Caitanya
Matha and Govindaji Gardens.
The
lecture was followed by a Vaisnava Homa performed
by Swami B.V. Giri.
Narasingha
Maharaja then led another wonderful kirtana at
the ashrama and prasadam of Lord Krsna was then
distributed to all the devotees and guests.
The
beautiful Deity of Kaliya-mardana Krsna was recently
brought to the new ashrama from Govindaji
Gardens and will now remain at the new ashrama as
the predominating Deity to be served by all the
devotees and to bless the residents of the area.
Plans for the future of the ashrama include regular
street Sankirtana, book distribution and the eventual
construction of a temple building [adjacent to the
ashrama] wherein a larger Deity of Kaliya-mardana
Krsna will be installed and regular pujas will be
conducted.
During their stay at the new asrama, many of the
visiting devotees took the opportunity to bathe in
the Sambhavi River which runs alongside of the ashrama and
to also bathe in the ocean [Arabian Sea] which can
be reached after crossing the river.
Devotees
also visited some of the local temples, such as
the Sri Krsna temple of Madvacarya at Udupi and
the Sri Venkataramana Ugra-Narasimha temple in Mulki.
Sri Gaura-purnima Celebration The appearance day of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was
celebrated at Sri
Narasingha Caitanya Matha on Tuesday 14th March.
Throughout
the week leading up to Gaura-purnima, there were
readings every morning and evening from Sri
Caitanya-caritamrta and
Srila Sridhara Maharaja's 'Golden Volcano of Divine
Love'. Devotees also chanted Srila
Sridhara Maharaja's composition 'Prema-dhama-deva
Stotram' every day.
The
Gaura-purnima festival itself was attended by many
devotees and guests from Bangalore, Mandya and
Mysore as well as from Europe and the USA. The
morning program began with a very inspiring class
by Srila Narasingha
Maharaja who spoke on the advent of Mahaprabhu and
His primary and secondary
purposes for appearing. [This class will be available
online as an MP3 file for download shortly: Swami
Narasingha MP3 Lectures]. He also compared mundane
science and spiritual
science explaining how the mundane scientists search
for the 'anti-matter
particle' has not born any fruit since most of them
deny the element of
consciousness and spirit.
Following
his lecture Srila Narasingha Maharaja gave initiation
to Madhumangala
Dasa, Purusuttama Dasai, and Jahnavi Dev.
Throughout the day different groups of devotees
sat in front of the Deities
singing bhajanas and chanting verses and stotras in glorification of
Mahaprabhu.
Towards
the evening there was an abhiseka for the
large Deity of Mahaprabhu.
The Lord was bathed in a variety of substances and
then dressed and
decorated by the pujaris.
After
the decoration, about 80 different bhoga preparations
were offered to the Lord.
Then,
when the full moon came into view at twilight,
Srila Narasingha Maharaja offered the maha-arati as
Sripada B.S. Madhava Maharaja led all the devotees
in a wonderful kirtana.
All the devotees then gathered in the prasadam hall
and happily honored a
wonderful feast dedicated to Sri Caitanyadeva, celebrating
His 521st
appearance in the world.
Vasant
Pancami
Devotees at Govindaji Gardens celebrated the first day
of Spring
(Vasanta-pancami) on February 3rd.
Traditionally, the Deities of Vraja are adorned in yellow
garments and
profusely decorated with flowers, new buds, flower-blossoms,
mango leaves
etc. The pujaris of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava spent the morning
decorating Their
Lordships and offered a variety of foodstuffs to them.
Vasanta-pancami
is also the appearance day of Srila Raghunatha
Dasa Gosvami, Srila Pundarika Vidyanidhi, Srila
Raghunandana Thakura and Gaura-sakti Srimati Visnupriya-devi,
as well as the disappearance of Srila Visvanatha
Cakravarti Thakura.
In the evening Srila B.B. Visnu Maharaja and B.V.
Giri Maharaja both spoke
on the lives of these great devotees and also explained
the Spring pastimes
of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava.
The
Universal Teacher
Devavision Productions is pleased to announce
the release of the long awaited video THE UNIVERSAL
TEACHER [a documentary on the life and teachings
of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura]. Read the
full announcement for this unique DVD here: The
Universal Teacher DVD.
Installation of Sri Kaliya-mardana
Krsna
On Sunday 22nd of January, a festival was held at
Govindaji Gardens to
celebrate the installation of Sri Kaliya-mardana
Krsna. Devotees and guests
from Bangalore, Mysore, Mandya and other surrounding
towns attended the
program.
Click
graphics for larger image
The
main program was held in the afternoon and began
with bhajans led by Govardhana Dasa and Kunjabihari
Dasa. This was followed by a class by Srila
BB Visnu Maharaja who spoke on the pastime of Krsna
chastising the serpent
Kaliya. Maharaja also explained how according to
Srila Bhaktivinoda
Thakura’s Caitanya Siksamrta, the serpent Kaliya
represents malice and
wickedness. Devotees who desire to remove such an anartha from their hearts
should hear this pastime of Sri Krsna.
At 6:30 the abhiseka began. Srila
Narasingha Maharaja bathed Kaliya-mardana
Krsna in milk and scented water as devotees performed nama-sankirtana. Srila
Narasingha Maharaja then decorated the Deity with
ornaments, garlands, tulasi and candana. After
bhoga was offered to the Lord, arati was held and
a feast was honored by about 130 guests and devotees.
Sri
Kaliya-mardana Krsna will soon be taken to His
new residence at our
asrama in
Mulki, near Udupi (where construction of the
ashrama is now complete).
Visit
by Sri Nandanandana, Guru Prasad Swami
and Swami B B Bodhayana
Sri Nandanandana, a disciple of Srila
Prabhupada, recently visited Sri Narasingha Chaitanya
Matha for several days, visiting local temples
such as Melkote and the Ranganatha temple. During
his stay Sri Nandanandana also visited the Bangalore
ashrama of the matha, which coincided with the visit
of Guru Prasad Swami of Iskcon and also Swami B B
Bodhayan Maharaja of Gopinatha Gaudiya Matha.
A
program was held at the center in Bangalore in
the Diamond District. Swami B B Visnu introduced
the devotees to the congregation and then Guru
Prasad Swami spoke about his opening of temples
in the early days in Mexico City, Panama etc.
Swami B B Visnu spoke about some of his early preaching
activities and the joining of Swami Madhava after
running away from home at an early age to join
the mission. Swami B B Bodhayana related his
experiences in Russia, where to his amazement he
met with great success. Sri Nandanandana spoke
about his preaching in Northeast India, where he
was requested to encourage the locals about their
culture and Krsna consciousness so that they did
not fall prey to the conversions of Christianity.
Sri Nandanandana and Swami Visnu also visited Dr.
N. S. Rajaram, a well known writer on Indian indology,
archaeology and history.
Events
Index by year — from latest to earliest.
2008
2008[April - June] — Narasinghadeva's Appearance Day Festival, Candana Yatra
2008[January - March ] — Gaura Purnima at Govindaji Gardens, Gaura Purnima at Kaliya-Mardhana-Krsna Ashram, Sivaratri, Nityananda Prabhu's Appearance, Vasant Pancami
2007
2007[October - December] — Srila Prabhupada Tirubhava , Karttika in Vrndavan at Radha Damodar, Chief Minister Visits , Govardhana Puja, Sridhara Maharaja Appearance, Kartikka Masa, The Philosophy of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu
2007[March-May] — Sri Narasimha-caturdasi, Chandan Yatra, Srila Rupa Goswami
Samadhi Reconstruction Progresses, Italy Center Opens [Srila Prabhupada Seva Ashram], Gaura Purnima observed at Govindaji Gardens.
2007[February] — Srila Rupa Goswami
Samadhi Reconstruction in Progress, Prabhupada Returns to his Rooms at Radha Damodara Temple, Bhumi Puja at Srila Rupa Goswami's
Samadhi.
2007[January] — Appearance of Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada, visit of Jayadvaita Swami, Visit by Sripada BB Bodhayana Maharaja, Appearance of Lord Nityananda, Marriage of Drdha Vrata and Gandarvika, Vasant Pancami, Visit of Guru Prasad Maharaja.
2006[August-September] — Srila
Bhakti Promoda Puri Gosvami Appearance, Radhasthami, Visiting
Friends in Europe and the USA, 60th
Appearance of Swami BG Narasingha, Vyasa Puja of
Srila Prabhupada, Janmasthami 2006.
2006[May-July] — Wedding
of Sri Gopal Dasa and Anuradha Devi Dasi, Candana-yatra
2006[January-April] — Hare
Krsna Ashrama Inauguration
Festival (Mulki), Gaura
Purnima Celebration, Vasant
Pancami Observance, New
DVD Film Biography of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Sarasvati Thakura, Installation
of Kaliya Mardana Krsna Deity, Visit by Sri
Nandanandana, Guru Prasad Swami and Swami B
B Bodhayana.
2005
2005[August-Dec.] — Visit
of Paramadvaiti Maharaja, Anniversary of Sri
Narasingha Chaitanya Matha, Karttika, Govardhana
Puja, Srila Prabhupada Disappearance, Appearance
of Bhaktivinoda, Radhasthami, Reprinting of Follow
the Angels and In
Search of the Ultimate goal of Life, Srila
Prabhupada Vyasa Puja, Srila Narasingha Maharaja
Vyasa Puja, New Video: Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Biography: The
Universal Teacher, New book
by Srila Sridhara Maharaja entitled Encounters
With Divinity, Sri
Krsna Janmastami Mahotsava.
2005[May
- July]
— Jagannatha
Ratha-yatra, Appearance
of Lord Narasinghadeva, Candana-yatra,
Appearance of Srila Gadadhara Pandita Gosvami.
2005
- 1[Jan-Feb.] — Nityananda
Trayodasi, Vasanta-pancami, Installation of Lord Jagannatha
and Gaura-Gadadhara, Ashrama
Publications & Videos, Kaliya-Mardana Krsna Asrama,
Kannada Songbook Printed.
2004
2004[Nov.
- Dec.] — Disappearance Bhaktisiddhanta, Ten Year
Ashrama Anniversary, Disappearance Srila
B P Puri Gosvami, Disappearance Gaurakisora, Disappearance
Srila
Prabhupada, Karttika Masa, Govardhana Puja, Srila Sridhara
Maharaja Appearance, B B Visnu Appearance.
2004
- 4[Sept.
- Oct.] — Appearance
Day of Srila B P Puri Gosvami, Evolution of Theism reprinted,
Sannyasa of Srila Prabhupada, Appearance of Bhaktivinoda
Thakura,
Radhasthami,
Srila B G Narasingha Appearance,
Srila Prabhupada Appearance,
Janmasthami.
2004
- 3 [April
cont.-August] — Visit of Vijayashankar MP, Visit
of Dr Rajaram, Painting of Narasinghadeva's temple, Himalayan
Pilgrimage video, Library & Devavision Studio opening.
2004
- 1[Jan-Feb.]
— Sivaratri, Appearance
Bhaktisiddhanta,
Nityananda
Trayodasi, Kirtan Hall Artistry, Visits of BV Narasingha
& Guru Prasad Svami, Vasanta-pancami,
Publication of Prakrta-rasa Aranya Chedini, Kumbha Mela
on New Zealand TV.
2003
2003[Sept
- Dec.] — Tirobhava
of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, Foundation of Library & Multimedia
Studio, Yoga-Narasimha Tilaka, Video
Darshan of Yoga-Narasingha, Installation of Sri Sri Laksmi-Narasingha,
Srila
Prabhupada's Tirobhava, Karttika, Govardana Puja, Avirbhava
of Srila BR Sridhara Deva Gosvami, Appearance of Srila BB
Visnu Maharaja, Radhastami.
2003
- 1 [August] — Janmastami and Installation of Yoga-Narasingha,
Srila Prabhupada's Vyasa Puja, Vyasa Puja of Srila Narasingha
Maharaja.
2003
- 3[Jan-April]
— Gandaki
Muktinatha, Gaura Purnima Festival, Varadaraja in Kondaggi,
Laksmi-Narasimha in Javagal, Yoga-Narasimha
in Belavadi, Mahabalipuram, Pakshi-tirtha, Vasanta-pancami,
Wedding of Govardhana and Krsna-priya dd.
2002
2002-2[June
- Dec.] — Srila Prabhupada Deity, Vrndavana Temples,
Subramanya Tirtha, Karttika Masa, Govardhana
Puja, Srila Prabhupada's Tirobhava, Subhaga Svami visits,
Kitchen
Ground-breaking, Sridhar Swami visits, Goshalla
Completed, Vyasa Puja of B. P. Puri Goswami, Radhastami
and Babaji
Initiation, Narasingha Maharaja
Vyasa-puja, Janmastami, Srila
Prabhupada's Vyasa-puja, Audarya Asrama program and San
Francisco Ratha-yatra.
2002[Jan.
- May] — Narasingha Jayanti in Vermont & Govindaji
Gardens, Gosala Foundation, Pejavara Svami visits, Gaura
Purnima in Vermont & Govindaji Gardens, Guru Prasad
Swami Visits, Jayadvaita Maharaja visits.
2001
2001[July
- Dec.] —
Boston Program, Govardhana Puja, Srila Prabhupada Tirobhava,
Govardhana Hill
Manifests, Gurukula boys visit
Nagamangala, Radha Damodara Moves to Vermont, Devavision
Project Moves, Editing
for Devavision Underway, Installation
of Sri Sudarsana Cakra, Radhastami, Vyasa-puja Celebration
of BG Narasingha Maharaja,
Srila Prabhupada Vyasa Puja, Janmastami
& Janmastami videos, Boston Program, West Coast Saranagati Tour.
2001[Jan
- June] —
Cira-dahi
Mahotsava, Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi, Calf born, Meeting with
Asta-matha Swamis in Udupi, Candana-yatra,
Narasingha Caturdasi, Ramanujacaryas Appearance, Gaura
Purnima, Tripurari Maharaja
visits, Tour to Subrahmanya, Halebid
and Udupi, New Center and Deities in Bangalore, Sivaratri,
Nityananda Avirbhava,
Deity chamber decoration, New
Calf, 2001 Kumbha Mela.
2000
2000[Jan
- Dec.] — Govardhana Hill to Manifest,
Copper Plate Project, Installation of Radha-Damodara.