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.

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.