Speaking to the Heart

Dear Devotees, Friends and Well Wishers,

Please accept out best wishes. 

It is the end of Kartik. The month seems to have gone by in a flash. We hope that your Kartik has been spiritually uplifting and rejuvenating. We invite you to share your realisations with us.

We are entering the holidays soon. People look forward to this time of year with hope of filling their hearts. In the pursuit of happiness we desire by direct perception: a branded item, the newest gadget, the must-have summer fashion, etc., leaving many hankering and lamenting. While these things may fill one, it only does so for a short time, and then the emptiness returns. Ancient philosophy presents one essential truth about desire and money, "Our desire will always outweigh our income." The wanting, the desire, is never truly fulfilled by things but by love of the Supreme Lord. The great mind who is Srila Prabhupada understood this and painstakingly provided the balm for the craving heart. 

His books is the salve for the soul. We begin the Srila Prabhupada Book Marathon on Wednesday, 28 November as an act of gratitude, and as a act of compassion. As Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura elegantly says, "The softness of the heart towards Krishna is bhakti, and the softness of the heart towards other living entities is compassion." This book marathon is our time to practice both bhakti and compassion.

All energies will be spent in distributing Srila Prabhupada's books and the temple morning program will be adjusted. Everyone is invited to take part. 

And if you are going on pilgrimage, holiday, working, suffer from poor health, or any other reason that you may not be able to go out on book distribution, then we ask a small gesture from you: The BBT Africa have recently published 3 isiZulu books and they cost just R6 each. We appeal to each and everyone to sponsor minimum 5 of these books for the cost of R30. We host programmes in Umlazi and KwaMashu, the heart of the Zulu people, in Durban. Our roll out plan is to distribute those books in these areas.

Vibhu Caitanya Das writes in the Nov/Dec Hare Krishna News, "Nelson Mandela once said that if you speak to a man in a language he understands, it will go to his head but if you speak to a man in his own language, it will go to his heart. It is for this reason that we are attempting to reach people in their mother tongue, to connect to their hearts."

This simple gesture that does not even require you to leave your desk can cause a spiritual shift, enter the heart and transform the consciousness. The devotees from the book office have made it easy for you to purchase or sponsor books during the marathon with extended hours. The timings are:

Mondays to Friday:  12pm - 7pm

Weekends: 9am - 7pm

Please make prior arrangements for requests/purchases required during other than the times listed above. You may contact:

Prasuti Dasi: 084 919 4090

Aradya-murti Dasi: 083 652 1525

Vrajanath Das: 083 974 8314

Krishna Baladev Das: 082 551 8047

Sad Goswami Das: 084 621 8904

Rajiv: 073 422 8709

Cunerl: 083 373 5313

This festival will be broadcast live. Please go to www.mayapur.tv 

Last Day of Kartik Programme:

Wednesday, 28 November 

5.30pm Prasadam feast

7.00pm Arati

7.30pm Class by His Holiness Bhakti Brhat Bhagavata Swami

8.15pm Srila Prabhupada Book Marathon Launch

8.30pm Offering clay lamps to Lord Damodar

Sunday, 2 December 

11.00am Snana-yatra at New Jagannath Puri Temple

3.30pm ISKCON Durban's Child Protection Team (CPT) has planned the following activities:

1. 4 to 9 year olds Fun-filled activities to empower children in this age group to prevent them from being victims of abuse.  Self-esteem building skills will be included in this programme.

2. 10 to 16 year old Dealing with peer-pressure, developing positive self-image and bully-proofing yourself.
The above activities will run concurrently in the temple grounds.
3. A 15 minute talk will be presented to the adults in the temple at the end of the Sunday class.  

Topic for discussion: What is abuse and how to effectively discipline a child without losing your cool. 

There will be give-aways for the children.

4.00pm Sunday Love Feast

We hope this meets you in the best of spirits

Your friends and well wishers at 

Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple

Temple Website: www.iskcondurban.netFacebook : https://www.facebook.com/DurbanKrishnaTwitter: http://twitter.com/DurbanKrishnaEmail: ISKCON.KZN@pamho.netTelephone: +27 (0)31 4033328Fax: +27 (0)31 4034429

You and your friends are invited to a

Young Hearts Night of Fun with His Holiness Bhakti Brhat Bhagavat Swami at Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple, 24 November at 4pm.

Amazing Grace

Hare Krishna Friends,

As we enter the last week of Kartik let us meditate on the words of His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami, "The transcendental flute player, Krishna, is now present in His holy name and I have the good fortune that I am allowed to chant." 

Bhisma Pancaka begins on Saturday, 24 November. It is like a sale within a sale-this is the amazing grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. While many of you may be feeling inundated with one festival after the other, remember it is like buying diamonds at the price of plastic stones. 

You are encouraged to come to the temple not because you are expected to, or even due to promises, but as an answer to your soul's yearning. Take this opportunity to fill your heart with Srimati Radharani's mercy and dive deep into the ocean of bhakti. There are only a few days left to offer a lamp to Lord Damodara, bring someone new to the temple with you. In the mood of Sri Krishna's topmost devotee, Srimati Radharani, bring as many people as you can to Lord Damodara. 

If you cannot come to the temple everyday, we post pictures of the Deities on our Facebook page, ISKCONDurban, or you can follow us on twitter (@DurbanKrishna) for periodic Deity darshan pictures.

Events to note this week:

Bhakti Yoga Society (BYS) Retreat 

21-24 November (Wed-Sat) 

Students from all campuses in and around Durban are attending. 

Go to our Facebook page over the next few days for photos of this event. 

We welcome His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami for a much needed rest and recuperation, and on Thursday, His Holiness Bhakti Brhat Bhagavata Swami.

Wednesday, 21 November

1. Gopastami

2. Srinivas Acarya's Disappearance Day

Thursday, 22 November

Arrival of His Holiness Bhakti Brhat Bhagavat Swami

Saturday, 24 November

1. Ekadasi (Fast from all grains and beans)

You are also invited to spend time reading and chanting at the temple.

2. Srila Gaura Kisora Das Babaji Maharaja's Disappearance Day (fast till noon)

3. First Day of Bhisma Pancaka.

4. Padayatra starting at 9.30 am from Laksmi Narayana Hall in Mobeni Heights to Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple. 

Srila Prabhupada will lead the procession on a palanquin.

Join us for chanting, dancing, prasada and book distribution. 

Lunch will be served to all participating devotees at the temple. 

5. Srimad Bhagavatam Morning Class by His Holiness Bhakti Brhat Bhagavat Swami. 

Sunday, 25 November

1. Chanting in the Park at 10am. Please view attached flyer for details. 

2. Sunday Love Feast at New Jagannath Puri Temple with His Holiness Bhakti Brhat Bhagavat Swami at 11am.

3. Sunday Love Feast at Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple at 3pm with His Holiness Bhakti Brhat Bhagavat Swami.

4. Govardhan Puja Festival hosted by the Pietermaritzburg Nama-hatta at 1.30pm.

Monday, 26 November

Morning Class by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada at 7.45am.

Tuesday, 27 November

Lotus Park Nama-hatta with His Holiness Bhakti Brhat Bhagavat Swami at 6.30pm.

Wednesday, 28 November

Last Day of Kartik

Special Evening program with His Holiness Bhakti Brhat Bhagavat Swami at 7pm.

Srila Prabhupada Book Marathon Launch.

As always, we look forward to seeing you.

Your friends at 

Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple

Temple Blog: http://durbankrishna.blogspot.com (For Program Updates)

Temple Website: www.iskcondurban.net

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/DurbanKrishna

Twitter: http://twitter.com/DurbanKrishna

Email: ISKCON.KZN@pamho.net

Telephone: (031) 4033328

Srila Prabhupada's Festival

Dear Devotees,

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to our Founder Acarya His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

We celebrate Srila Prabhupada's Disappearance Day festival tomorrow, Saturday, 17 November 2012. We are blessed with the opportunity to freely serve and worship Srila Prabhupada tomorrow. You are welcome to bring bhoga offerings, flowers and flower garlands for Srila Prabhupada.

We are especially decorating Sri Sri Radha Radhanath's altar for Srila Prabhupada's pleasure.

You are invited to help by sponsoring the following:

Mangal arati garlands: R608

Day garlands: R1008

Srila Prabhupada's abhisek: R508

Altar decorations: R3008

Raj bhoga offering: R1008

Srila Prabhupada's vyasasana: SPONSORED

Devotee Feast: PARTLY SPONSORED

Contact the Book Table (031 4033328) for a sponsorship.

Note that the Sunday programme during Kartik begins at 3pm.

We look forward to honouring Srila Prabhupada with you tomorrow.

Your friends at 

Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple

Temple Website: www.iskcondurban.net

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/DurbanKrishna

Twitter: http://twitter.com/DurbanKrishna

Email: ISKCON.KZN@pamho.net

Telephone: (031) 4033328

Celebrating the Best Devotees

Dear Friends

We celebrate Srila Prabhupada's disappearance festival this week. It seems contradictory that the passing of a Vaisanava is a festival. But in Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura's words, "He reasons ill who tells that Vaisnavas die. When thou are living still in sound! The Vaisnavas die to live, and living try to spread the holy name around!"

Srila Prabhupada is never lost to the faithful follower and on Saturday, 17 November 2012, we have the opportunity to worship him, remember him and give thanks to him. His books-his sound-is our guiding light and will continue to guide us for many years.

Our week ahead is filled with the much loved Govardhan Festival and we also get to worship one of our mothers, the cow.

Wednesday, 14 November

Govardhan Puja and Go Puja

4.30am: Mangal Arati and kirtan

5.00am:  Tulasi Puja, Japa, and Srila Prabhupada’s Guru Puja

7.10am:  Srimad Bhagavatam Class

8.00am:  Greeting Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Radhanath (in Their new outfit)

10.00am:  Kirtan

10.30am:  Go-Puja

11.00pm: Abhisek (bathing ceremony) for Sri Giriraj

11.30pm: Class

12.30pm: Raj Bhoga Arati and Govardhan Parikram 

1.30pm:  Prasadam Feast

7.00pm:  Arati and Kirtan

7.30pm:  Offering of lamps and Damodarastakam bhajan

8.00pm:  Milk drink prasadam

NOTE: Govardhan Puja Festival at New Jagannatha Puri, Phoenix, starts at 6.30pm with Giriraj personally present.

Govardhan Puja Festival and Go-puja at 27 Evans Road, off Tensing Road, Umkomaas at 6.30pm. Call Haridev Das on 039 978 3000 for more details. 

Saturday, 17 November 2012

Srila Prabhupada's Disappearance Day

4.30am:  Mangal Arati and kirtan

5.00am:  Tulasi Puja and Japa

7.00am:  Greeting of the Deities, followed by Srila Prabhupada’s Guru Puja

7.10am: Class

7.30am:  Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HDG AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

10.30am:  Kirtan

11.00pm: Abhisek (bathing ceremony) for HDG AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

11.30pm: Talks by Senior Devotees

12.30pm: Raj Bhoga Arati and kirtan

1.00pm:  Puspa Puja and Guru Puja to HDG AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

1.30pm:  Prasadam Feast

5.30pm:  Offering of lamps and Damodarastakam bhajan

7.00pm:  Arati and Kirtan

7.15pm:  Guru Puja to HDG AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhuapda

7.30pm:  Remembering Srila Prabhupada

9.00pm:  Light prasadam

Sunday, 18 November Love Feast with class by Prabhanu Das at 4pm

Monday, 19 November Morning class by His Divine Grave A. C. Bhaktivendanta Swami at 7.45am

You are invited to bring bhoga offerings on both Govardhan Puja and Srila Prabhupada's disappearance day and you can make a garland for Srila Prabhupada on Saturday.

Your friends at 

Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple

50 Bhaktivendanta Swami Circle

Unit 5, Chatsworth

Temple Website: www.iskcondurban.net

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/DurbanKrishna

Twitter: http://twitter.com/DurbanKrishna

Email: ISKCON.KZN@pamho.net

Telephone: (031) 4033328

Happy Diwali

May the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Ramacandra reside in your heart.

Giving the gift of Karik this Friday, 9 November

Sweet Festivals

Dear Friends

The rain does not seem to be letting up and it reminds one of the seven-day devastating rainfall in Vrindavan, when Indra thought he could teach Krishna a lesson. In remembrance of this pastime we can also take shelter of Krishna and make our way to the temple and not be deterred by the rain. The residents of Vrindavana left their palatial homes, made their way under Govardhana and simply took shelter of Krishna's beautiful smiling face.
We can welcome Lord Ramacandra into our homes on Tuesday, 13 November. 


Srila Prabhupada says about the Diwali celebration:
"Diwali ceremony can be observed in the temple by illuminating 100's of candles in different parts of the temple, and offering a special prasad to the Deity. This ceremony was observed by the inhabitants of Ayodhya, the Kingdom of Lord Ramachandra, while Lord Ramachandra was out of His Kingdom due to His 14 years banishment by the order of His father. His younger step-brother Bharat, took charge of the Kingdom and the day on which Lord Ramachandra took back the charge again from His brother, and seated on the throne, this is observed as Diwali, and Deepavali. Deepavali means the same thing - Deepa means candles, and vali means numerous. When numerous candles are lighted, it is called Deepavali"


Also, Mother Yasoda bound Sri Krishna on Diwali day…so we can meditate on how Krishna can become bound by the love of His devotee.


There is an exciting week ahead:


Wednesday, 7 November Sri Bahulastami (the appearance of Sri Radha Kunda) Special class by Jasacinandana Das at 7pm Shallcross Nama-hatta's Diwali Celebration Shallcross Community Hall at 5.30pmThursday, 8 November Virabadra Goswami appearance (Lord Nityananda's son)Friday, 9 November ISKCON VRF hosting special evening "Unwrapping the Gift of Kartik" class by Jaisacinandana Das at 7pmSaturday, 10 November Ekadasi You are invited to spend the day hearing and chanting at they temple. Look out for our float on the Durban Diwali Parade Prade starts at 10am on Prince Edward StreetMonday, 12 November Morning class by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami PrabhuapdaTuesday, 13 November Diwali Mother Yasoda binds KrishnaWednesday, 14 November Govardhana Puja Go Puja Greeting Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Radhanath in Their new outfit at 8am Sri Sri Radha Radhanath program starts at 10am. Devotees may bring offerings no later than 11am. Govardhana Parikrama at 12.30pm New Jagannath Puri programme starts at 6.30pm


We wish you a blessed week ahead.


Your friends at Sri Sri Radha Radhannath Temple
Temple Website: www.iskcondurban.netFacebook : https://www.facebook.com/DurbanKrishnaTwitter: http://twitter.com/DurbanKrishnaEmail: ISKCON.KZN@pamho.netTelephone: (031) 4033328

Liquid Love

Celebrating Sri Krishna's best devotee's liquid love

Delicious Diwali Sweets

For the most delicious traditional Diwali Sweets come to the Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple in Chatsworth. Call Govinda's Restaurant: 031-4034600

How to Offer a Lamp...

If possible offer a lamp daily during Kartik, either in the temple or before your altar at home. 

You can sing or play a recording of the Sri Damodarasataka prayers while offering lamps. These prayers are found in the

 Padma Purana. Sri Hari bhakti-vilasa (2.16.198) states, “In the month of Kartik one should worship Lord Damodar and daily recite the prayers known as Damodarastaka…which attracts Lord Damodar.”

You can download an audio of the song from our website:www.iskcondurban.net. Go to the “downloads” tab and make your selection.

Generally in our temples we use clay lamps, each one having a single ghee wick. Brass lamps may also be used which should washed before reusing. A viable alternative is to use small birthday candles. The candles may be placed in a small bowl of sand after offering.

Offering Your Lamp

Remove your shoes and socks and wash your hands.
Light a lamp and sprinkle it lightly with water to purify the lamp before the offering.
Present it before the picture of Srila Prabhupada, and then follow this process:
1. Offer the lamp to Lord Damodar by circling seven times,
2. Then offer the lamp to Mother Yasoda by circling seven times,
3. And finally offer to Srila Prabhupada by circling his face three times.
Thereafter place the lamp before your altar. You can then bow down before your altar and offer your personal prayers.