The Week Ahead

Dear Friends,

Food for thought:

"Every moment we have the free will to react to whatever comes upon us; and character is how we respond to every situation by feeding the goodness of our heart, the divinity within us, rather than the anger, envy and selfishness." HH Radhanath Swami

We are in the process of upgrading our website. You can now take darshan of the Deities on the website, click on the "Multimedia" tab and select "Daily Darshan".

If you subscribe to Back to Godhead magazine, you can expect it in the mail, along with the May/June 2013 Hare Krishna News, during the course of next week.

The Bhaktivedanta College will be starting 3 courses this weekend:

Sri Isopanisad with HG Ramanujacharya Das (073 466 0521)

Over 10 Saturdays between 3-4.30pm

Srila Prabhupada's Room

Starting 1 June 2013

Bhagavad-gita Overview with Jaisacinandan Das (083 777 3328)

Sundays, 1-3pm

College Room

Starting 2 June 2013

A special  two day Seminar with Partha Prathim Das

Obstacles on the Path of Devotion

Srila Prabhupada's Room

Saturday, 10am-2pm

Sunday, 10am-2pm

Your Week Ahead

Wednesday, 29 May

Sri Ramananda Raya-Disappearance Anniversary

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu revealed to Ramananda Raya that He was the combined form of Sri Sri Radha-Krishna.  

Thursday, 30 May

Morning class on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.3 with Jaisacinandana Das at 7.45am

Friday, 31 May

Morning class on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.4 with Ananta Sesa Das at 7.45am

Saturday, 1 June

Morning class on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.5 with Pralambari Das at 7.45am

New Jagannath Puri Sankirtan Fest

Join us on Harinam (leaving from the temple at 10am), Book Distribution and Food For Life at Phoenix Plaza

Harinam starting at Nicol Square Parkade starts at 10.30am

Sunday, 2 June

Morning class on Caitanya Caritamrita Adi 17.273 with Saksi Gopal Das at 7.45am

Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple Love Feast with His Grace Raghava Pundit Das at 3pm

Monday, 3 June

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

Tuesday, 4 June

Ekadasi

Wednesday, 5 June

Srila Vrindavana Das Thakur (author of Sri Caitanya Bhagavat) -Appearance Anniversary

Break fast between 6.45-10.11am

Weekender Programme For Boys

Contact Ashley 082 783 3599 or you can leave a message for him at the temple reception and he will get back to you. 

As always, we look forward to seeing you and hope this finds you in the best spirits,

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

Celebrating the Transcendental Lion

Dear Friends,

On Friday, 24 May 2013 we celebrate the appearance of a most unusual manifestation of the Lord Krishna - Lord Nrsimhadeva, the half man-half lion incarnation of the Lord Krishna. Lord Nrsimhadeva appeared in that form to kill Hiranyakasipu, a great demon who obtained a benediction from Lord Brahma to not be killed a by either a man, demigod, or beast. But most of all, he appeared to protect his devotee, the young Prahlada. It is natural to pray to this form of the Lord for protection, especially the protection of our spiritual lives. 

A meditation on Lord Nrsimhadeva:

"Lord Nrsimha roars loudly and causes other to roar. With His many arms He tears demons apart and kills them. He is always seeking out and torturing the descendants of Diti (the demons), both on Earth and on higher planets, and while, with His unlimited hands He destroys demons in all directions, He uses these same hands to sustain, protect and nourish the entire cosmic manifestation. I offer my deepest respects to this aspect of the Lord, Who has assumed the form of a transcendental lion." Sri Nrsimha Kavaca, verse 30, spoken by Sri Prahlada Maharaj

Please note that you can view or download the May/June 2013 Hare Krishna News at www.iskcondurban.net. 

Also Food For Life recently launched their Facebook page. Please like the page on https://www.facebook.com/FoodForLifeSouthAfrica?ref=hl 

Your Week Ahead

Thursday, 23 May

Jayananda Das Disappearance Anniversary

Morning class on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.21 and Jayananda Prabhu with Jaisacinandana Das at 7.45am

Friday, 24 May

Nrsimha Caturdasi: Appearance of Lord Nrsimhadeva 

Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple Schedule

4.30am Mangal arti 

5.15am Japa

7.00am Srila Prabhupada guru-puja

7.10am Class with Raghava Pandit Das 

8.15am Greeting Sri Sri Radha Radhanath in Their new outfit 

5.30pm Prasada Feast

6.00pm Kirtan 

7.00pm Arati and kirtan

7.30pm Class with Swarup Damodar Das

8.30pm Drama

Other Nrsimha-caturdasi festivals on Friday, 24 May, include:

Phoenix New Jagannath Puri Temple at 5.30pm 

Pietermaritzburg Nama-hatta with Vibhu Caitanya Das at 6.30pm

Scottburgh at the Town Hall at 6.30pm

Newcastle Nama-hatta at 6.30pm

Ladysmith Nama-hatta at 7pm

Saturday, 25 May

Sri Madhavendra Puri and Srinivasa Acharya Appearance Anniversary

Morning class on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.22 with Pralambari Das at 7.45am

Harinam starting at Nicol Square Parkade starts at 10.30am

Sunday, 26 May

Morning class on Caitanya Caritamrita Adi. 17.268-272 with Ramvijay Das at 7.45am

Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple Love Feast with His Grace Ramanujacharya Das at 3pm

Monday, 27 May

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

Weekender Programme For Boys

If you are over 18 and would love to experience temple life, then this is for you. From Friday, 5pm to Sunday until after Love Feast. Activities include harinama, book distribution, learning Vaishnava etiquette with Saci Kumar Das, and different temple services. Of course there will be loads of prasad. Spend a weekend of good, clean fun with us. Contact Ashley 082 783 3599 or you can leave a message for him at the temple reception and he will get back to you. Boys under 18 are welcome to attend during day. Comment from one of the boys:

"I want to be here this weekend, the next weekend and every weekend thereafter for the rest of my life." Vyan (25 years old)

As always, we look forward to seeing you and hope this finds you in the best spirits,

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

Celebrating Krishna's Devotees and Creation

Dear Friends,

Here is a snippet from His Holiness Jayadvaita Swami's brilliant lecture at Wits University:

"I want to be happy, and so too do all other living beings. And just as I feel pain, so too do all others. Why then should I not want all other living beings to be happy? And why should I cause any other living being needless pain? And so the Vedic aphorism, sarve sukhino bhavantu: “May there be happiness for all.” In practical terms, this implies a change of diet, from a diet that relies on cruelty and slaughter to a diet gentle and humane. To inflict pain and suffering on millions of animals through wholesale slaughter and then to expect friendship, peace and tranquility among human beings is to live in a fool’s dream."

To download the full audio recording and transcribed version of The Bhaktivedanta Swami Lecture 2013 please visit www.bbtafrica.co.za/bhaktivedanta-swami-lecture/ 

Your Week Ahead

Thursday, 16 May

Morning class on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.19 with His Holiness Rama Govinda Swami at 7.45am

Friday, 17 May

Morning class on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.20 with Rama Govinda Swami at 7.45am

Saturday, 18 May

Vyasa-puja Celebration of His Holiness Indradyumna Swami at 7am

Sunday, 19 May

5th Annual Vedic Ecology Convention

Please see attached poster for details and the programme schedule

Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple Love Feast with His Holiness Partha Sarathi Das Goswami at 3pm

Monday, 20 May

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

Weekenders Programme For Boys

If you are over 18 and would love to experience temple life, then this is for you. 

From Friday, 5pm to Sunday until after Love Feast. Activities include harinama, book distribution, learning Vaishnava etiquette with Saci Kumar Das, and different temple services. Of course there will be loads of prasad. Spend a weekend of good, clean fun with us. Contact Pyari Mohan Das 0836026008 or you can leave a message for him at the temple reception and he will get back to you. Boys under 18 are welcome to attend during day. 

As always, we look forward to seeing you and hope this finds you in the best spirits,

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

Mothers and Devotion

Dear Friends,

Srila Prabhupada once said that the love a mother has for her child is the closest thing to real love in the material world. We can meditate on the Supreme Lord Krishna's mother, Yasoda:

"There is another description of mother Yasoda in a devotee's prayer: 'Let me be given protection by mother Yasoda, whose curly hairs are bound with thread, whose hair is very brightly beautified by the vermilion placed in the part and whose bodily frame derides all her ornaments. Her eyes are always engaged in seeing the face of Krishna, and thus they are always filled with tears. Her complexion, which resembles the bluish lotus flower, is enhanced in beauty by her dressing herself with many colorful garments. Let her merciful glance fall on all of us so that we may be protected from the clutches of maya and smoothly progress in our devotional service!'" Nectar of Devotion, Chapter 33

Mothers Day is on Sunday and we encourage you to honour your mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and the mother figures in your lives.  May Mother Yasoda bless us all with love for her beautiful son, Krishna.

Please note that the Sunday Programme has been moved to Winter timings and will now begin at 3pm.

Every year ISKCON Governing Body Commission (GBC) meet in Mayapur, India, to discuss the many facets of ISKCON; from resolving issues, strategising for the further, to reporting from all temples across the world. You can view the GBC 2013 Resolutions and the paper, "Harmonizing Lines of Authority" on our website www.iskcondurban.net by simply clicking on the "GBC News" tab.  

Weekenders Programme For Boys

If you are over 18 and would love to experience temple life, then this is for you. 

From Friday, 5pm to Sunday until after Love Feast. Activities include harinama, book distribution, learning Vaishnava etiquette with Saci Kumar Das, and different temple services. Of course there will be loads of prasada. Spend a weekend of good clean fun with us. Contact Pyari Mohan Das 0836026008 or you can leave a message for him at the temple reception and he will get back to you. Boys under 18 are welcome to spend the day with us. 

Your Week Ahead

Wednesday, 8 May

Special evening programme with His Holiness Rama Govinda Swami at 7pm

Slide show of ISKCON World Headquarters, The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium

Thursday, 9 May

Appearance anniversary of Sri Gadadhara Pandit

Morning class on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.14 with Rama Govinda Swami at 7.45am

Lotus Park Nama-hatta with His Holiness Partha Sarathi Das Goswami at 7pm

Friday, 10 May

Morning class on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.15 with Rama Govinda Swami at 7.45am

Arena Park Nama-hatta with Rama Govinda Swami at 7pm

Saturday, 11 May

Morning class on Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.16 with Rama Govinda Swami at 7.45am

Thornville Goshala Festival with Rama Govinda Swami at 11am

Sunday, 12 May

Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple Love Feast with Partha Sarathi Das Goswami at 3pm

ISKCON Ladysmith Love Feast with Rama Govinda Swami at 4pm

Monday, 13 May

Morning class by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Estcourt Nama-hatta with Rama Govinda Swami at 6.30pm 

Tuesday, 14 May

New Castle Nama-hatta with Rama Govinda Swami at 6.30pm

Please note you can see the full Nama-hatta list and contact details on the temple website www.iskcondurban.net, click on the "Contact Us" tab.

As always, we look forward to seeing you and hope this finds you in the best spirits,

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

Investing in the future...

Dear Friends,

Srila Prabhupada said that Mayapur is his place of worship and that is true for all Vaishnavas in the world. For devotees of Sri Krishna and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu all roads lead to Sridham Mayapur, the birth place of Lord Caitanya, and the world headquarters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Over 100 years after Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur's vision, this temple is slowly becoming a reality and you can be a part of the history. This prime investment is not for retirement but for eternity. There will be a special programme on Wednesday, 8 May at 7pm, with His Holiness Rama Govinda Swami doing a slide presentation of the spectacular vision for the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium in Mayapur, India. 

The Week Ahead

Friday, 3 May

Morning Class with Rama Govinda Swami at 7.45am

Saturday, 4 May

Morning Class with Rama Govinda Swami at 7.45am

Harinam in Durban Central at 10am. Meet at Nicol Square Parkade

Sunday, 5 May

Ekadasi - fast from grains, beans and legumes

Morning Class with Jaisacinandana Das

Sunday Love Feast with Rama Govinda Swami at 4pm

Monday, 6 May

Morning Class with His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Wednesday, 8 May

Special evening programme with Rama Govinda Swami on the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium at 7pm

As always, we look forward to seeing you and hope this finds you in the best spirits,

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