Saints and Service

Dear Friends,

Hare Krishna. The Durban Festival of Chariots is four weeks away. Many volunteers are required to ensure the success of the festival. You are welcome to volunteer even just an hour or two. Please contact us at dfc@iskcondurban.net.

Your week ahead:

Wednesday, 27 February

Special Evening Program at 7pm

Hinduism: God and gods

This topic will be discussed by the brilliant His Holiness Jayadvaita Swami. Maharaja is a walking library of Vaishnava literature. Come and hear the facts.

Thursday, 28 February

His Holiness Bhakti Tirtha Swami's Vyasa-puja anniversary celebration. 6.30pm. Umlazi Centre

Some of us may have had the good fortune of meeting Bhakti Tirtha Swami. His integrity and desire to make heart connections are inspiring.  

"The true spiritualist profoundly appreciates my mother’s statement, 'Give me my flowers while I can see them.' Once the body is gone, the soul departs for its new encounter; therefore, it is important to say and do whatever is best for everyone now! Where we have made offenses, we must stop and ask for forgiveness now! While we have people to meet, places to visit, and experiences to have, we must put first things first, understanding the differences between what is temporary and what is eternal now! We must allow every day of our lives to represent healthy closure now!" The Beggar IV: Die Before Dying, Meditation 10 – Die Before Dying

Saturday, 2 March

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur's appearance anniversary.

Fast until noon.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati is Srila Prabhupada's spiritual master. He was called "Lion Guru" because of his bold and uncompromising presentation of the Supreme Person, Krishna. During his time, the early 20th century, he vigorously established devotion to Krishna as the goal of life. He was progressive in teaching the path of bhakti: He wanted devotees to take a boat and travel from port to port and spread Krishna consciousness. Philosophical and devotional diorama exhibits were his idea, something which we may not consider advanced, but at the turn of the century, it was as innovative as IMAX or 3D films. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati is famous for his austerity, but when it came to spreading Krishna consciousness, he was ready to use anything and everything. Srila Prabhupada, understanding his spiritual master's mind, followed his example and introduced inventive concepts in ISKCON.

11.30am Class with Jayadvaita Swami at Radha Radhanath Temple

12.30pm Pushpanjali, worship with flower petals, followed by guru-puja 

4pm Harinama on Durban Beachfront

6pm Class with His Holiness Partha Sarathi Das Goswami at New Jagannath Puri Temple

Sunday, 3 March

Love Feast with Jayadvaita Swami at 4pm at Radha Radhanath Temple

The 2013 festival sponsorship bookings are now done by Bhakti Katha Dasi: 031 4033328 between 9am-1pm, Monday to Friday, or bhaktikatha@iskcondurban.net.

We hope this finds you in the best spirits, until next week,

Your friends at Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple

T: 031 4033328  |  F: 031 4034429  |  www.iskcondurban.net  |  temple@iskcondurban.net

Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/DurbanKrishna  |  Twitter: http://twitter.com/DurbanKrishna

Look to the East

Dear Friends

In the last days of March, look at the rising sun on the Eastern shore to see the lotus-eyed Jagannath. This form of the Lord is a manifestation of His joy upon seeing His devotees. We are five weeks away from the Durban Festival of Chariots. His Holiness Indradyumna Swami is here finalising arrangements. After many years we host the festival near the sandy shores of the Bay of Plenty. 

His Holiness Jayadvaita Swami is visiting from Friday, 22nd February to Monday, 4th March. Famous as Srila Prabhupada's editor, head of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust and chief editor of the Back to Godhead magazine for some time, he is meticulous when it comes to discussing Krishna conscious philosophy and presenting Srila Prabhupada's books accurately. This Swami is simple, straight forward, and sublime. 

On Saturday, we celebrate the appearance anniversary of the original spiritual master, Lord Nityananda. We can pray that He bless us with faith and conviction in our spiritual teachers.

Your Week Ahead

Thursday, 21 February 

Ekadasi

Fast till noon for Lord Varaha

Friday, 22 February

Lord Varahadeva's Appearance 

Fasting done on Thursday, feast today

We welcome His Holiness Jayadvaita Swami

Saturday, 23 February

Lord Nityananda Appearance

Fasting till noon

Live feed of the festival on Mayapur TV

See poster for details

Sunday, 24 February 

Love feast with Jayadvaita Swami at 4pm

Monday, 25 February

The great Vaishnava poet, Srila Narrottama Das Thakur's Appearance 

Wednesday, 27 February

Special evening programme with Jayadvaita Swami at 7pm

Hinduism: God and Gods

This topic is sure to raise many questions, so join the discussion.

We hope this finds you in the best spirits, until next week,

Your Friends at Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple

Website: www.iskcondurban.net

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/DurbanKrishna

Email: temple@iskcondurban.net

Telephone: 031 4033328

Fax: 031 4034429

How will you host our visitors?

Dear devotees,

Please accept my best wishes. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

We are on the brink of a historic event within ISKCON in KZN and South Africa. This year not only do we are celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Durban Festival of Chariots but we attempt to do what no other religious organisation in South Africa has ever done: organise a coming together of all ethnic and religious groups with the purpose of recognising our common bond as children of God.

We are blessed to have one of ISKCON’s foremost visionary preachers, HH Indradyumna Swami, take the festival under his wing, and carrying it to new heights. Maharaj has successfully secured the prime location, Bay of Plenty on the North Beach that will play host to the four day Easter weekend festivities and has inspired the eThekwini Municipality to support the festival in unprecedented ways.  Many prominent religious and cultural leaders have accepted our invitation to attend the event. These include His Holiness V. V. Shembe, Bishop Rubin Phillips, A. V. Mahomed and Dr Ngobese. The theme, “Culturally Many – Spiritually One” will be carried throughout the festival. His Majesty, King Goodwill Zwelithini has already graciously accepted our invitation to attend as the guest of honour.

The ISKCON Community is now presented with a rare opportunity to present Krishna consciousness culture and hospitality to a wide cross section of the population of KZN as well as to the many highly influential business persons. People from various racial, cultural and spiritual backgrounds will all be exposed to Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON.

This is a wonderful occasion for us as the hosts of the festival to put our best foot forward. Please come forward to take on the various services that are available. See how you can become involved in presenting Srila Prabhupada’s movement to people outside our community. Our presentations may not be as overt as we are accustomed to. We want to use this festival as an opportunity to strongly establish Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON as a major movement within South Africa.

 As of the 23^rd, you can refer to the website www.festivalofchariots.net to get more details of the festival. There are many events which may not be directly Krishna conscious in nature, but they serve to attract many more thousands of people to the festival. And when they do come they will be blessed by pure Krishna prasadam, the pure Holy Names of Krishna and the pure association of devotees. We appeal to all of you to use whatever contacts, time and facility in becoming connected to this wave of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mercy that will definitely take Durban by storm. 

Here is a list of names of devotees acting as heads of different department: 

Overall Festival Management

Anuradha Dasi (GRS) 081 396 5092 anuradha1008@gmail.com

Balaram Das (KDS) 082 881 4521 binesh.rambaran@sunchemical.com

Swarup Damodar Das 083 778 3328 swarupdamodar@gmail.com

Umesh 082 897 1382 umesh.prakash@kaefer.co.za

Cultural Entertainment

Anuradha Devi Dasi (BCS) 082 728 5154 idgovender@telkomsa.net

Culturally Many Seminar Tent

Balaram Das (PSDG) 082 877 0753 golokaconsultants@gmail.com

VIP Management

Champakalata  Dasi 082 824 2203 champakalata@telkomsa.net

Freelance Entertainment

Devaki  Dasi 082 776 1254 chunilallm@saps.gov.za

Retail

Ramvijay Das 084 550 4101 rajiv@nitai.co.za

Youth Engagement

Rukmini Dasi 084 579 1080 rukminidd@yahoo.com

Govinda’s Food Stalls

Sangita 083 3142939 harekrsna@telkomsa.net

Preaching Initiatives

Sri Hari Das 083 656 2172 shd@telkomsa.net

Spiritual Literature

Sudama Das 084 477 1817 sudesh.sheodass@altech-multimedia.com

Lifestyle

Sunil Mohan Das 083 775 0171 practice@surgeon.co.za

Free Food Preparation and Distribution

Uagan 084 464 1285 uagan@impactfreight.co.za

Chariots repair

Anil Churran       082 320 9705 churranac@elec.durban.gov.za

Float and Parade

Ajith Persadh         084 580 9279 PersadAK@eskom.co.za

Kirtan Arena

Kamil Nagasar 082 350 8675 kamilshikhar@yahoo.com

Site Cleanup by devotees

Divesh Maharaj 074 162 6834 maharajd@ukzn.ac.za

Dramas with Bhaktimarga Swami

Rasa-sthali Dasi 031 403 3328 rasasthali@nitai.co.za

Should you want to be involved in any of the above services, please contact the relevant person. For any other queries please contact Bhava Bhakti Dasi on 071 234 4179 or write her at bhava.dfc@gmail.com

Due to the increased scale of the festival and the higher quality of the presentations, it will require significantly more donations, devotees and energy to put on this festival. Please do what you can. 

If you are able to contribute financially towards the festival or encourage others to, please contact Bhakta Rakesh on 071 511 8811 or write him at dfc@iskcondurban.net

Hare Krishna.

May this find you all well.

Your servant,

Swarup Damodar Das

Durban Festival of Chariots

Love and Devotion

Dear Friends

Hare Krishna.

We are six weeks away from the Durban Festival of Chariots. Bhava Bhakti Dasi is waiting to hear from you to volunteer your time during the festival. You can call her between 10am-1pm on 031 4033328 or  bhava.bts@gmail.com.

You can expect the Jan/Feb Back to Godhead magazine and Hare Krishna News in your mail by the middle of next week. 

We welcome His Holiness Devamrita Swami today. Maharaja is the Co-GBC for South Africa. Not only is he a prolific writer but also explains devotion to Krishna in a practical, humorous, and heart-warming way. There is a lot of hype surrounding the 14th of February and people are feeling a variety of emotions, from a sort of euphoria to bottom of the barrel, suicidal. Men are in anxiety about doing enough and women are setting themselves up for failure. Sarasvati puja is on Thursday and we can pray to the Goddess to bless us with the intelligence to come closer to Krishna, the ultimate receptacle of all love. Devamrita Swami, a lover of God, describes the heart's true opulence, "The richness of rendering service to Krishna is not about money or possessions; it's about the opulences of the heart. Not matter what you do, if your heart is not satisfied, you won't think your life is worth much." 

Your week ahead:

Wednesday, 13 February 

Protecting Fresh Enthusiasm in Bhakti

Special Evening Programme at Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple with Devamrita Maharaj at 7pm

Thursday, 14 February

Srila Raghunath Das Gosvami's appearance anniversary.

Morning Class with Devamrita Maharaj at 7.45am

Friday, 15 February

Special Evening Programme at New Jagannath Puri Temple with Devamrita Maharaj at 7pm

Saturday, 16 February 

Durban hosts the ISKCON South African National Council meetings. Many senior devotees from around the country will be present. It will be a nice opportunity take association. If you would like to render some service like driving and serving please write to temple@iskcondurban.net. 

Sunday, 17 February

Sri Advaita Acarya's Appearance Anniversary (Fast till noon)

"Lord Advaita Acharya is the incarnation of Maha-Vishnu…Because He is non-different from Hari, the Supreme Lord, He is called Advaita, and because He propagates the cult of devotion, He is called Acharya. He is the Lord and the incarnation of the Lord's devotee." Cc. Adi 1.12-13. You can read more about Him in the Hare Krishna News.

Sunday Love Feast with His Holiness Partha Sarathi Das Goswami at 4pm

Remember you can have darshan daily of Sri Sri Radha Radhanath, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Sri Giriraj on our Facebook page.

Until next week. We trust this finds you in the best spirits.

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: temple@iskcondurban.net

Telephone: 031 4033328

Fax: 031 4034429

Nectar from the Gods

We welcome His Holiness Devamrita Swami tomorrow, Wednesday, 13 February. Do not miss his lucid talk on love at Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple at 7pm.

Devamrita Swami says, "Every living entity likes to be emotional because all are part of Krishna, Who is the Supreme Emotional Person. Consider this interesting angle: Krishna is God because He's the most expert at emotional expression. Krishna is not simply the creator, the maintainer, and the destroyer. Among all sentient beings, Krishna is the most expert at having emotional desires and fulfilling those emotional desires-that is God." Bhakti Bhava, p.4.

Service, Study and Swamis

Dear Friends

Hare Krishna.

We are seven weeks away from the Durban Festival of Chariots.

At the Ista Gosthi on Sunday, the following topics were discussed:

1. His Holiness Indradyumna Swami and Swarup Damodar Das will head up a special clean-up squad over the four-day Durban Festival of Chariots. You can contact Divesh Maharaj, on 078 870 0861 or Maharajd@ukzn.ac.za, to enrol for this service.

2. The temple is in the process of acquiring medical insurance (hospital plan) for resident devotees, who have committed a minimum of two years full time service. The average cost is R511/month per devotee. Lord Krishna appreciates service to His devotees more than to Himself. In this spirit we encourage you to contribute to this project. You may contact Swarup Damodar or Vibhu Caitanya at the temple.

3. The temple motto is "My Temple, Our Temple, Srila Prabhupada’s Family". In line with this, Subananda Das presented a strategic and operational plan for the temple. Look out for updates and request for suggestions in the coming months.

4. Security. Please note that all vehicles will be searched upon entering and leaving the temple premises. If you are taking any temple property out then you will require a gate pass, which you can get from the General Manager, Dheeruj, 0788700861.

5. There was a discussion on the implementation of a coupon system at the Sunday Feast to improve the quality and mood. The management team and other devotees will take this idea forward. We will keep you updated about what this means and how it will affect you.

Your week ahead

Wednesday, 6 February
Ekadasi
Seminar with Urmila Dasi at New Jagannath Puri Temple.

Thursday, 7 February
Seminar with Urmila Dasi at New Jagannath Puri Temple.

Friday, 8 February
Scottsburgh Banquet with Urmila Dasi

Saturday, 9 February
Eco Awareness for Children at Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple from 10am. Urmila Dasi will join this initiative. Please see attached poster for more details.
His Holiness Partha Sarathi Das Goswami recently returned from India due to ill health. We welcome his association at a special programme at 7pm in Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple.
Pietermaritzburg programme with Urmila Dasi at 7pm.

Sunday, 10 February
Ladysmith Temple Deity Installation Anniversary festival with His Holiness Krishna Das Swami.

New Jagannath Puri Sunday Love Feast with Urmila Dasi at 11am.
Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Sunday Love Feast with Urmila Dasi at 4pm.

Monday, 11 February
Srimad Bhagavatam Class with Urmila Dasi at 7.45am
BYS programme with Urmila Dasi at 12pm

Wednesday, 13 February 

We welcome His Holiness Devamrta Swami, Co-GBC for South Africa back to Durban.
Evening Programme with Maharaja at 7pm.

His detailed schedule will be released early next week.

Bhaktivedanta College Classes in Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple

Living in Krishna Consciousness, Mondays, 6.30pm with Jaisacinandana Das 0837773328
Caitanya-caritamrta Overview, Tuesdays with Vibhu Caitanya Das 0837757515

Bhagavad-gita Overview, Wednesdays, 7pm with Lognath Maharaj 0844106769
Nectar of Instruction, Saturdays, 3pm with Ramanuacarya Das 0734660521
Madhava Class (7-8years), Sundays with Narmada Dasi 031 4001370
Damodar Class (9-10 years), Sundays with Triveni Dasi 031 4001370
Madan Mohan Class (11-12years), Sundays with Krsangi Radhe Dasi 031 9033642

Finally you can read the January/February Hare Krishna News by downloading or viewing it on our website www.iskcondurban.net. It is on the homepage side bar. You can look forward to reading about the Durban Festival of Chariots highlights, a parenting guide series and fulfilling our need for fantasy, an exceptional story telling series from the Vedas.

If you are interested in taking care of Krishna on Lord Nityananda's appearance anniversary please contact Bhakti Katha Dasi 031 4033328 between 8.30am-1pm, Monday to Friday.

Until next week. We trust this finds you in the best spirits.

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: temple@iskcondurban.net

Telephone: 031 4033328

Fax: 031 4034429