Thursday 31 January 2013

Weekend Highlights


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Wednesday 30 January 2013

Chandan, Chariots and Children


Dear Friends,

Hare Krishna.

We are eight weeks away from the Durban Festival of Chariots. The official website, www.festivalofchariots.net, with festival updates will be up and running early next week. 

Look out for the Hare Krishna News also available early next week with the Durban Festival of Chariots highlights at www.iskcondurban.net. Swarup Damodar Das quotes Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur in his message in the Hare Krishna News, something worthy to meditate on: "Gradually, when the offensive portions of the established religions are destroyed, there will be no more differences in the bhajan performed by the various sampradayas nor any quarrel between them. Then as brothers, the people of all castes and countries will spontaneously chant the Holy Names of the Supreme Lord together. At that time, no one will hate anyone or consider others dogeaters; nor will anyone be overwhelmed by the pride of high birth. The living entities will not forget the principle of natural brotherhood." His article and other news will posted individually on the website and you are invited to comment and ask questions. 

The Caitanya-caritamrta describes that Gopala, the Deity that was rescued from a bush, appeared to Madhavendra Puri in a dream saying that even though Madhavendra Puri had performed a bathing ceremony for Him with thousands of pots of water, Gopala was still feeling hot. So, even though it has been overcast and rainy in Durban over the past week, Sri Sri Radha Radhanath are still feeling hot. To cool the Lord's body we are having another sandalwood festival. You are invited again, to the come and help grind sandalwood into paste until Saturday, 2 February. On Sunday, 3 February we will have darshan of the Lord covered in chandan.   

We are hosting Her Grace Urmila Devi Dasi, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada from 31 January to 12 February. Urmila Dasi is a leading educator in ISKCON and has made giving children a healthy Krishna conscious foundation her purpose in life. Many will be familiar with her as she has written for the Back to Godhead magazine for many years specifically discussing raising children. We encourage parents and future parents to take full advantage of her association. She will be hosting seminars, morning classes, and discussions. This is Urmila Dasi's first visit to South Africa. 

Urmila Devi Dasi's schedule for this week:

Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple
2 Day Parenting Seminar
Day 1 Friday, 1 Feb, 6.30pm-8.30pm
Day 2 Saturday, 2 Feb, 4pm-6pm
See poster for more details.

New Jagannath Puri Temple
3 Day Seminar (Topic to be announced)
Tuesday, 5 Feb-Thursday, 7 Feb 

Sunday, 3 Feb
Morning Class with Urmila Devi Dasi at 7.45am
Ista Gosthi with Swarup Damodar and Vibhu Caitanya and their team at 2pm in Srila Prabhupada's room.

Sunday Love Feast Programme
Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture (BCEC) 2012 Graduation. Graduating students are requested to mark themselves present no later than 3pm. 

Other happenings:

Saturday, 2 Feb
Harinama at 10am 
Starts at Nicol Square Parkade
Monday, 4 Feb
Morning Class with Srila Prabhupada

BYS (Bhakti Yoga Society) Orientation Week 
4-9 February
Meet and greet BYS students at all UKZN campuses (Howard, Westville and Edgewood)

You can view or download the 2013 BCEC prospectus at our website www.iskcondurban.net

Until next week,

Your friends at Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple

Temple Website: www.iskcondurban.net
Telephone: 031 4033328
Fax: 031 4034429

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Wednesday 23 January 2013

Sandalwood Festival


Dear Friends,

Please accept our best wishes.

Just over nine weeks to the Durban Festival of Chariots! If you do not have any service during the festival as yet we invite you to contact Bhava-bhakti Dasi on 0712434179 to find out how you can contribute to this exciting festival. This year the Durban Festival of Chariots is like no other and as the hosts there are ample ways to get involved and be part of this historical event.

For those of you planning your travel and accommodation in Durban over the festival, please note that the chariot procession will be held on Friday, 29 March at 10.30am. The procession is two hours only and there will be NO night procession on Monday, 1 April.

Ksudhi Das, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, is still staying with us and you can associate with him at the following events:

Wednesday, 23 January  
Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple at 7pm

Thursday, 24 January
Asherville Nama Hatta at 7pm

Friday, 25 January
Stanger Nama-hatta at 7pm


On Sunday, 27 January we celebrate Chandan Yatra! Do not miss this beautiful darshan of Their Lordships covered with chandan paste to cool Them from the Durban summer.
Love Feast Lecture by Swarup Damodar Das at 4pm, together with the honouring of the devotees who participated in the Srila Prabhupada Summer Book Marathon.

You can come by the temple to help grind chandan wood into paste from today until Saturday. This service is a rare opportunity as generally not everyone has the opportunity to render direct personal service to Sri Sri Radha Radhanath.

Community Ista Gosthi on 3 February 2013 at 2pm in Srila Prabhupada's room with the temple management (Swarup Damodar and Vibhu Caitanya and their team).

Your friends at Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple

Temple Website: www.iskcondurban.net
Email: temple@iskcondurban.net
Telephone: 031 4033328
Fax: 031 4034429

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Wednesday 16 January 2013

Good Housekeeping


Hare Krishna All,

Please accept our best wishes for the new year. May Krishna bless you in your endeavours.

With just nine weeks away, we at the temple are busy with the Durban Festival of Chariots preparations. You can keep in eye out for the forthcoming Hare Krishna News with official updates on the festival.

Today is also the first day of the school year for KZN learners. Many parents and learners have put in place their year schedule and goals- a type of housekeeping. Considering this, how about your plans for spiritual practice? While spiritual practice is the foundation of a happy and fulfilling life, it may not always feature high on our lists as it is not in the urgent or crisis quadrant of our lives. Spiritual practice is like the air we breathe, we don't notice it until it’s not there. So, let’s not set ourselves up for a slow death and consider carefully how to set up our "house rules". Now these "house rules" are for you only, and whatever spiritual practice you decide to do this year, no matter how great or small, stick to it - call it good housekeeping. Without realising, it will be the lubrication for anything that might be thrown your way.

You can look forward to a message from us every Wednesday to fill you in on what is happening at Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple. We do not need to remind you that Sri Sri Radha Radhanath loves visitors and They accept all our offerings. You are encouraged to spend more time with Them or engage in Their service. 

We are fortunate to kick off the year with His Grace Ksudhi Das, a disciple of Srila Prabhuada and who was the very first devotee to pioneer the Krishna consciousness mission in South Africa at the very young age of seventeen. Be sure to get his association at the following programs:

Thur, 17 January: Lotus Park Nama-hatta

Fri, 18 January: Clare Estate Nama-hatta

Sun, 20 January: Morning Class at 7.45am and Sunday Feast Class at 4pm

Mon, 21 January: Morning Class at 7.45am with Srila Prabhupada.

Wed, 23 January: Ekadasi
Special programme with Kusdhi Das at 7pm. Please see attached poster for more details


Other important information to note:

The Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture will be hosting their 2012 graduation on Sunday, 3rd February. Graduates are requested to mark themselves present by 3pm. Students can contact teachers to confirm their graduation. Also note that the 2013 BCEC prospectus will be available on that day. 

Our special Take Care of Krishna deity sponsorship programme is open for bookings. We have 160 bookings for this year already. If you would like to book a day please contact Bhakti Katha Dasi at 031-4033328 between 8am-2pm or email bhaktikatha@iskcondurban.net

Finally, if you are between the ages of 16 and 30 and would like to serve closely with HH Bhaktimarga Swami, we are looking for committed actors for the Durban Festival of Chariots dramas. You must be available from Monday, 25th March. If you able able to come only in the evenings that is fine too. Please contact Rasa-sthali Dasi on 031-4033328 between 9am-4pm or email rasasthali@nitai.co.za

We trust that this finds you in the best spirits.

Your friends at Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple

Temple Website: www.iskcondurban.net
Telephone: +27 (0)31 4033328
Fax: +27 (0)31 4034429
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