Monday, August 8, 2011
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.
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| Devotees chant and dance |
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| People were very receptive |
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| Seen above are our green eco friendly sankirtana bags |
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| Blissful chanters in the incomparable beautiful devotional attire |
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| Collective devotion in the sankirtan mission makes a difference. |
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| Ecstatic kirtan leaders with contagious enthusiasm |
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| We just wanted to please Srila Prabhupada |
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| Their lives will never be the same! |
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| Pretty in sari |
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| The interest was so inspiring for the distributors |
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| The sankirtan bags were packed and ready |
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| All the green bags in the background! |
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| Merciful mothers distributing books |
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| Even baby Vaisnavas came! |
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| Something in the books for everyone |
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| Reading immediately - good things should never be postponed! |
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| Vaisnava krpa- these lives have been touched |
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| Planting the seed of Krishna consciousness |
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| Reading immediately |
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| May Sri Nitai bless our future endeavors to follow His mission |
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| Can afford it...give what you can! |
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| Witnessing the captivating sight of harinam sankirtan |
Monday, May 23, 2011
A Feast For The Eyes
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| Their Lordships Sri Sri Nitai Gaura-Hari |
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| our sankirtan inspiration |
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| May He who has broken open the store house of love of God and freely distributed it keep us engaged in His divine mission |
Friday, May 20, 2011
More than 2000 Books Distributed on Maha Harinam - 7 May 2011
In March this year we went on maha harinam and distributed 1000 books, more prasad packs and pamphlets with 70 devotees. [I blogged videos and pic previously of this.] My husband, Nrsimhananda Prabhu was determined to double it for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada. So 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 devotees enthusiasm. More than 2000 of Srila Prabhupada's books in English, 5000 pamphlets, 4500 pkts of caramelized peanut prasadam was distributed during the harinam. Of the 100 devotees that attended, some distributed books, others chanted with intense enthusiasm, some held mantra cards and flags and some carried bags for the book distributors. The weather was rainy and cloudy as we congregated in the car park and took our sankirtana bags. So the devotees gathered under shelter and chanted on the street below the parking. Some of us started book distribution. The sun came out for the two hours that the harinam lasted and as we returned to the parkade the heavy rain resumed. The mini bus taxi's stopping off to drop and pick up passengers proved a good spot. Generally here in Johannesburg mini bus taxi drivers are known to be dangerous and short tempered. It is common knowledge that they generally carry guns and don't necessarily obey road rules. However the smiley faces and friendly approaches of the book distributors even earned their attention and many left with books. It was fun to stop a taxi and distribute books to everyone inside even the driver. The area that we go on harinam is central Johannesburg. It is inundated with many shoppers. Actually there are so many people that we are only able to reach a few of them. If a person rejects a book there are so many more people to approach. This helps build a momentum of one's enthusiasm. 20 years ago I recall we would go to the same spot every Saturday. And when I was a full time book distributor we would do the spot on some weekdays too. One can meet people from all over Africa there. And they all speak fluent English so we distribute books in English and are able to have great conversations with them. In the week that followed Nrsimhananda Prabhu received calls from people who received the pamphlets that had his mobile number and the addresses of the local temples. People wanted to know more about Krishna consciousness. A week later one devotee who owns a business in Turfontein, which is far from the harinam spot encountered a gentleman who walked into his business. As the devotee attended to his request the man asked him if he was a Buddhist. The devotee pointed to a picture of Srila Prabhupada and Krishna that he had on his wall and asked the man if he knew Them and if he heard of the Hare Krishna Movement. The man pulled out a copy of 'Raja Vidya The King of Knowledge' and asked the devotee if he read this book. The devotee asked him where he got that book from and the man said he got it the previous Saturday from a distributor in central Johannesburg. Since then he had been carrying the book everywhere he went and was reading its contents with great interest. After the harinam and book distribution many devotees spoke of their realizations. One said that he realized being part of Lord Caitanya's sankirtana movement meant that he simply had to do sankirtana. Many others remarked that it was the best day of their life because in participating in sharing the mercy with others they were able to feel so much happiness themselves. Nrsimhananda Prabhu told me that even though he served as temple president for many years in the past and organized many festivals and Ratha Yatra's and even had acquired land and established a temple for the installed Deities this service of organizing maha harinam with book distribution and simultaneous harinam and prasad distribution gave him unparalleled feelings of happiness. Maybe because it involves reaching out to new persons. After the harinam book distributors were in agreement with Nrsimhananda Prabhu's idea that we should 'double it' for the next maha harinam in August this year. So the target is now 4000 books and 8000 pkts of caramelised peanut prasadam. We pray that by the mercy of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada and all his sincere followers that we may be able to be of continued service to his great mission. Even though our attempts are simply like a spider trying to help the great Hanuman build the bridge to Lanka, with sincerity we pray to continue to be part of the spreading of Srila Prabhupada's teachings.  |
| 200 sankirtan bags packed with books, prasad and pamphlets |
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| Jubilant devotees from the Soweto Yatra |
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| Recipient of the Mercy |
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| Krsnalaya Mataji distributing books |
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| Book distributors grabbed two bags each to distribute! |
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| Young devotee children did not want to miss out on the mercy |
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| Mother and daughter distribute books |
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| Books were well received |
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| Taxis in motion must be stopped for a book! |
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| The kirtan was reaching such heights of ecstasy while the books were being distributed! |
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| Cars in motion were stopped to get the mercy |
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| Harinam organizer Nrsimhananda Prabhu calls for 2nd vehicle to deliver more books |
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| Everyone must get some mercy |
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| The holy name resounded |
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| The devotees were blissed out |
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| Together we made a difference |
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| Books finished in less than 2hrs and the distributors chanted with greater ecstasy |
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| HG Nrsimhananda Prabhu thanks the devotees in the car park and gets everyone's approval to double it next time. |
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Happy devotees
"Regarding dancing, our dancing is ecstatic. We need not waste time 5 hours daily instead of chanting, for practicing. We are not professional dancers, neither we require it. These things should not be encouraged. In New York they have such activities, but they should not be going on in Gurukula. " [Srila Prabhupada Letter to Satsvarupa -- Los Angeles 19 April, 1973]
This was last Sunday morning at Iskcon Pretoria. High energy sadhu's.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
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