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Thursday, June 14, 2012

1000 of Srila Prabhupada's books distributed on the streets of Johannesburg

Chanting and dancing in the streets is pure bliss

Explosive drum beats


Great team

They danced with us

Bus drivers must get books too!


Sincere distributor


Young Radhe distributes books bravely


They open these books immediately


Would you like another book?


An invite with the addresses of the temple and an explanation on chanting

She gets a book too

Pretty in a saree


Giving and receiving pure happiness


She dances blissfully along the chanters


Bliss beats!


Vibrant chanting and dancing


Dancing with no inhibitions.


Priceless facial expressions from chanters

The team although many are missing having gone upstairs already to the parking area
  "Although there are various kandas, or divisions, of Vedic discipline, such as karma-kanda (fruitive ceremonies) and jnana-kanda (regulated speculation), Caitanya Mahaprabhu's hari-nama sankirtana movement is kevala ananda-kanda, the pathway of pure bliss. Simply by chanting the holy names of Krishna, eating the remnants of sumptuous food offered to the Supreme Lord and hearing the enchanting pastimes of the Personality of Godhead, one merges into an ocean of bliss called Krishna consciousness." [Srila Prabhupada's purport to SB 11.2.49]

Last Saturday June 9th, 2012 devotees participating the harinam sankirtan on the streets of Johannesburg experienced great bliss. By the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and his followers 1000 of his books, 2000 leaflets explaining the chanting of the maha mantra and inviting people to our various centres and 3000 packets of caramelised peanut prasadam were distributed. The loud chanting of Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare also resound through the streets for many hours continuously.

"Lord Krishna Himself appears as Lord Caitanya to preach the highest gospel. Varnayati means 'utters' or 'describes.' Lord Caitanya always chants the holy name of Krishna and describes it also, and because He is Krishna Himself, whoever meets Him will automatically chant the holy name of Krishna and later describe it to others. He injects one with transcendental Krishna consciousness, which merges the chanter in transcendental bliss." [Srila Prabhupada's purport to SB 11.5.32] The devotees experienced great joy in chanting the holy names and distributing the mercy in its various forms.


One man who was approached with a book declined to take it saying he got them from us on our last harinam. He said he knew our song, "Hare Krishma, Hare Krishma, Rama Rama Hare Hare." And of course he smiled when he told this to me.

One devotee used frequent a pie shop often. He would ask the lady many questions about the way the pies were made - if they were brushed with eggs etc. the lady would make it quite evident that she was annoyed by his questions. But the boy was attached to the pies so he kept going there. Recently he walked passed now having had some strong devotee association and he saw the lady standing outside the shop. She greeted him enthusiastically saying, "You are a Hare Krishna. You follow the four regulative principles. That is why you ask me so many questions about my pies." She went on to mention all four regulative principles and said she read it in a book she received on the recent harinam held in Midrand. (The boy has since learnt the benefits of cooking and offering his food.)

Several pictures of the blissful devotees can be seen in a photographic documentation at the link below together with comments from devotees.
https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.3852191477606.152561.1662852058&type=3

We pray that our lives may be filled with more of such engagements and that our meagre attempts may bring pleasure to His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and his followers. May our attempts bring many a soul closer to life's ultimate goal.

Friday, May 25, 2012

First Harinam in Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa


"So at the present moment no other yajna is possible. The only yajna, sankirtana-yajna, is possible. Yajnaih sankirtana-prayair yajanti hi su-medhasah [SB 11.5.32]. So if this Krsna consciousness movement is taken seriously all over the world and they perform sankirtana-yajna, everything will be adjusted immediately. Everything." [Srila Prabhupada lecture Bhagavad-gita 1.12 -- London, July 13, 1973]

Last Saturday, May 19th, 2012 the first harinam was held in Midrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. Eighty devotees participated. During the harinam 300 of Srila Prabhupada's books, 600pkts of caramelised peanut prasad and more than 300 ppamphlets/handbills were distributed. Great donations too.

The distributor and the receivers smile
People open these books immediately

Immediate interest

Smiling recipients and compassionate distributor


Hemavati Radhika Dasi approaches a shopper

Many devotees had left by the time someone suggested a group photo. These devotees just wanted to linger on forever!

HG Nrsimhananda Prabhu who organises and encourages these harinams to take place plays a red mrdanga while leading vibrant kirtan


People were very receptive


Young Madhava Caitanya played kartals too while his dad Lokanath Prabhu carried him along.

The event was published in the local newspapers too and can be viewed here: http://www.looklocal.co.za/looklocal/content/en/midrand/midrand-news-general?oid=5621609&sn=Detail&pid=490215&Hare-Krishna-spiritual-group-take-to-the-streets

More pictures can be seen here: https://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10150990226217049.482915.644957048&type=3

In the days following the harinam a devotee received this inspiring letter from his cousin who is actually a Christian and received a book from a devotee during the harinam. "...I have some books, that’s also why I asked you. I got on Saturday. The Harikrishna society was in Midrand. So someone gave me a book. I just read the pamphlet and I was surprised u know to do something so simple like chanting could help so I thought, I have nothing to lose, I should just try it and I thought you the only person who knows about it. I don’t want to waste your time. Let me first read the book I have, and if I need more, I will ask you. I don’t want to change my religion; I just want to understand things better. Plus I don’t want to be spoilt by material things. Put simply I want to be able to find a balance between being a good person and being happy and to do that I need information to understand life better. Regards/Groete..."


Shane Prabhu on whompers was very instrumental too in securing assistance from the police, who escorted us for the entire two hours as well as various other permissions. The police told Devan Prabhu at the end that they really liked it and will be happy to join us on the next harinam. This is amazing as previously permission was never granted for this to happen.

 HG Nrsimhananda Prabhu currently holds regular Bhagavad-gita classes on a Monday evening in the area and has more than sixty students from the co-operate world that are in attendance. Most of these students are new to Krishna consciousness. He is currently in the process of opening up a center in this area. On Nirjal Ekadasi the first Namahatta will be held in this area too. The enthusiasm of the leader and the team keep each other spiritually nourished. 

We pray that our humble endeavors may be pleasing to His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada who introduced the western world to these sublime teachings and activities in Krishna consciousness. Our lives have no other purpose but to strive to serve his mission and his sincere followers.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Maha harinam with 4200 books distributed video1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NJq5KwoxO4

Maha harinam and 4200 of Srila Prabhupada's books

 For three hours last Saturday, 6th August 2011 two hundred devotees participated in a maha harinam in downtown Johannesburg, South Africa. 4200 of Srila Prabhupada's books and 9500 packets of caramelized peanut prasad were distributed to Native African citizens.



This is the third such program held here during this year. In March this year we went on maha harinam and distributed 1000 books, more prasad packs and pamphlets with 70 devotees. Then Nrsimhananda Prabhu who is the organizer of this event encouraged the devotees to double it for Srila Prabhupada's pleasure. Then on the 7th May 2011 he arranged another maha harinam and 100 devotees attended. The target was surpassed by Srila Prabhupada's mercy and the devotee’s enthusiasm. More than 2000 of Srila Prabhupada's books in English, 5000 pamphlets, 4500 packets of caramelized peanut prasadam was distributed during the harinam.



Nrsimhananda Prabhu, who also serves as the co-international director for Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture, then embarked on a program of doubling the effort. Hence with the support and co-operation of more than 200 devotees the program reached new heights distributing 4200 books in two hours. Understanding that these attempts have not reached millions more we plan to double the numbers for the next harinam. Planning has already begun.



Many devotees who participated in these efforts have never distributed books before and have commented that the experience was most inspiring. Some said that despite having attended many blissful festivals in various Iskcon centres this sort of festival of giving really touched their hearts. Indeed the missionary spirit of distributing the mercy has a special effect.



The harinam chanters lead such ecstatic kirtans and the chorus was tumultuous. Srila Prabhupada's books, prasadam and the holy names, Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare, form a complete package of happiness for the giver and the receiver - of this there is certainly no doubt.



The recipients of the books could be seen immediately reading or paging through the books on the pavements, bus stops or taxis. We pray that the Vaisnavas and readers bless these humble attempts.



Devotees chant and dance


People were very receptive

Seen above are our green eco friendly sankirtana bags

Blissful chanters in the incomparable  beautiful devotional attire

Collective devotion in the sankirtan mission makes a difference.

Ecstatic kirtan leaders with contagious enthusiasm

We just wanted to please Srila Prabhupada

Their lives will never be the same!

Pretty in sari

The interest was so inspiring for the distributors
The sankirtan bags were packed and ready

All the green bags in the background!

Merciful mothers distributing books

Even baby Vaisnavas came!

Something in the books for everyone

Reading immediately - good things should never be postponed!

Vaisnava krpa- these lives have been touched

Planting the seed of Krishna consciousness

Reading immediately

May Sri Nitai bless our future endeavors to follow His mission


Can afford it...give what you can!

Witnessing the captivating sight of harinam sankirtan