“Lord Caitanya is accepted as Krsna Himself. Krsna-varnam tvisakrsnam... [SB 11.5.32]. There are many evidences in the sastra. So it is due to Lord Caitanya's mercy, if we go through the methods... Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared as a devotee to teach us how to execute devotional service.” (Srila Prabhupada Vaani. Lecture on Bhagavad-gita 7.1-3, Ahmedabad, December 14, 1972)

International Society for Krishna ConsciousnessFounder-Acharya: His Dive Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

March 2016 1 ISKCON Kolkata Newsletter

ISKCON KolkataWorld wide rank

11

March 2016Vol 2, Issue 3

ISKCON Kolkata Newsletter

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare | Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare ||"l

ava-

mat

ra s

adh

u-s

ang

e sa

rva-

sid

dh

i hay

e" The month of February was made all the more auspicious for devotees at ISKCON Kolkata as they got the opportunity to associate and hear from many senior Srila Prabhupada disciples. On 7th February, HH Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj addressed the devotees during the Srimad Bhagavattam and Sunday Feast Classes. While giving the Srimad Bhagavattam Class, Maharaj beautifully narrated the pastimes of Prahlad Maharaj and enchanted everybody's hearts with his ever melodious kirtans.

On 11 & 12 February, HG Malati mataji (ISKCON GBC member), along with HG Vishkha mataji, HG Shruti Rupa mataji and HG Krishna Rupa mataji,all Srila Prabhupada's early disciples, gave nectarine class on Srila Prabhupada pastimes and shared their personal memories with him. An important theme highlighted by them was how Srila Prabhupada gave them the opportunity to serve and thus recognized the special position of women within ISKCON.

Vaisnava Sanga

Nityananda Trayodasi

thOn 20 February, the auspicious appearance day of Lord Nityananda Prabhu was celebrated with great pomp and joy. All the devotees fasted till 12 noon and broke their fast after offering abhishek and puspanjali to the Lord. HH Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Maharaj gave an interactive morning class in which he explained the position of Lord Nityananda. HG Shubha Villas prabhu and HG Radheshyam prabhu also gave Nitai-katha on the auspicious occasion. In evening, HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj gave an elaborate class explaining about Nityananda Tattva and how one can progress in spiritual life through His mercy. All the devotees and guests were blessed by the association of so many senior vaisnavas, representing the mercy of Lord Nityananda.

March 2016 2 ISKCON Kolkata Newsletter

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare | Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare ||

Sri Krishna Pusya AbhisekathOn 6 February, 2016, Sri Krishna Pusya Abhishek was celebrated at ISKCON Kolkata. After the Sandhya-arti, when the

temple hall was packed with devotees, Their Lordships, Sri Sri Radha Govindji and Sriman Mahaprabhu and Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra Devi were bathed with about 1,500 kgs of fresh flower petals. Petals from various types of multi-coloured flowers like marigold, rose, dahlia, etc. were used to bath Their Lordships, covering Their entire body. The accompanying kirtans and the enchanting beauty left everybody spell-bound and transported them to the spiritual world.

D va ah da ar sa iV

A p p e a ra n c e o f L o rd

Varahadev, the boar

i n c a r n a t i o n , w a s t hc e l e b r a t e d o n 1 9

F e b r u a r y, 2 0 1 6 . H G

Radheshyam Prabhu,

president ISKCON Pune,

g a v e t h e S r i m a d

B h a g a v a t t a m a n d

described the pastime of

Lord Varahadev killing the

d e m o n H i ra nya ks h a .

Special darshan of Lord

Varahadev attracted the

hearts of devotees and

they offered puspanjali at

12 noon.

March 2016 3 ISKCON Kolkata Newsletter

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare | Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare ||

Bengali "The Journey Home" Launch

Griha Partyabartan, Bengali translation of the autobiography of HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj,

The Journey Home, was released by Mr Mrinal Choudhury, Ex. Mayor of London Borough of Harrow, th

on 19 Feb 2016 at the G. D. Birla Auditorium. Addressing a gathering of 700 guests, Radhanath

Swami said, “Never have I felt in any book release so humbled, so grateful, and so happy, as I am

feeling tonight. Of all the religions, spiritual and yogic paths that I studied, and of all the teachers

that I met – and there were many – in Srila Prabhupada I found the essence of everything I was

looking for. And what was that essence? The spiritual culture of Bengal as taught by Sri Chaitanya.

The lineage that Prabhupada connected me to, the Gaudiya Vaishnava

Sampradaya, is based on the Bengali language, the scriptures that guided the

passion of my soul – Chaitanya Charitamrita, Chaitanya Mangal and

C h a i t a n y a

Bhagavat – are

all in the Bengali

language.And

today this tiny

offering of mine,

T h e J o u r n e y

H o m e , i t s

B e n g a l i

translation is

launched. This is

a s p e c i a l

moment in my

life.”

M o r e t h a n 6 5 d e v o t e e s l e d b y H G

Navayogendra Prabhu and HG Vishvambhar

Gauranga Prabhu visited the beautiful Kanai

Natshala, a holy place connected to pastimes

of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. There the

devotees visited Moti Jharana for boat ride and

performed melodious kirtans and heard

mesmerising classes, while on boat.

Kanai Natshala Trip

The appearance day of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta thSaraswati Thakur was celebrated on 28

February. HH Maha Vishnu Swami Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada disciple, along with devotees offered puspanjali and recited the Guruastaka prayers at 12 noon to receive the mercy of this nitya-siddha devotee.Maharaj performed energetic kirtans and drowned everyone present in the nectar of Hari-Nama. Thereafter, he gave the Sunday Feast class.

More than 150 students attended the nd22 Prerna Festival at ISKCON Kolkata

temple on the theme “Power of Association.” HG Prema Swaroopa prabhu addressed the youths and through the example of Srila Prabhupada, he explained how by association of a pure devotee, hippies became happies. There was also a light hearted yet thoughtful drama put up by the IYF devotees, entitled “Jaisa Sang- Waisa Rang”.

PRERNA - Power of Association

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Appearance Day

Published by: International Society for Krishna Consciousness, 3C Albert Road, Kolkata 17; iskconkolkatanewsletter@gmail.com

5 March: Vijaya Ekadasi6 March: Sri Isvara Puri-

Disappearance8 March: Siva Ratri10 March: Srila Jaganatha Das Babaji

& Sri Rasikananda - Disappearance12 March: Sri Purusottam Das

Thakur- Appearance19 March: Amalaki vrata Ekadasi20 March: Sri Madhavendra Puri-

Disappearance23 March: Gaur Purnima

Vaisnava Calender- March 2016

March 2016 4 ISKCON Kolkata Newsletter

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare | Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare ||Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare | Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare ||

rdWednesday- 23 March, 2016

Gaura Purnima

Special Sringar Darshan at 8:30am, in Temple

Evening celebrations at Gurusaday Road