Srila Prabhupada Ashram, Srila Prabhupada Marg, Srila Prabhupada Nagar, Udhampur, Jammu & Kashmir – 182101Ph : 01992 – 276146 Fax : 01922 – 270298

Mail us at iskcon.udhampur@rediffmail.com Visit us @ www.iskconudhampur.com Monthly News Letter Issue : 02 august 2013

All glories to Sri Guru & Gauranga All glories to Srila Prabhupada All glories to Srila Nityanandapada

Relief distribution at kedar ghatiby HKFFL Team....

Team of 30 volunteers under the banner of HKFFL Udhampur and directed by Chairman H. H. Nava Yogendra Maharaj made the base camp at Haridwar to distribute relief among the victims of flash floods in Kedarnath valley and adjoining areas. In June 2013 there was heavy rainfall and cloud burst in Kedar valley in the Uttarakhand state of India, which is a well known pilgrimage site. According to some unofficial reports more than 50,000 people lost their lives in this disaster and lakhs were affected.Moved by the incident His Holiness sent a 4 member team of local volunteers to check the conditions of local people at the affected area and the help they are receiving. Their reports were surprising. According to them the worst affected people are surviving on the leaves of trees. The so called relief distribution as propagated by the media is not more than a hoax. Of course everyone wants to help the victims but no one was getting the proper channel. So much money was sent for the relief work from all over the world but not even one percent was being used properly. In fact money is not the only thing but more important is that victims require adequate assistance.On the call of His Holinessvolunteers of HKFFL tightened their belts and collected the basic necessities of life, required to rehabilitate the survivals. A Package was made to be given to each family, containing 19 items (wheat

flour, rice, pickle, refined oil, pulses, salt, spices, black channa, sattu, chipped rice, puffed rice, powdered milk, cooker, torch, candle, match box, blankets, t shirt and plates). Items worth Rupees 7 Lakhs for 450 families were collected. Team headed by the Managing trustee Kunti Devi and Sanjay Vyasa

Das started early in the morning, packed in three trucks, unaware of the challenging mission. Passing through the damaged and land slided roads, which itself was showing the intensity of the devastation, we reached Tilwada. After passing the night in a hotel we started for Guptkashi. Although it was only 72 Kms far, it took us whole day because of damaged road. One of our

Truck out of three remained stuck in the Jaam for more than 20 hours because of Landslide. At Guptkashi there was no electricity since past one

month. Our mobile phones discharged. We had some biscuits and rested for the night.Next day onwards, for three days we started distributing relief to the nearby villages like Phata, Kalimath and others. Our volunteers went to some inaccessible villages and called local villagers from there to receive the aid. We were happy that the aid went to the persons in need

of it.Kunti devi said that we will try to collect more funds and help by providing them all basic necessities of life, and arrange for some fixed source of income for them. The team returned back succeeding in the mission, taking with them sweet and bitter memories of the incident.

finding calm in a world of

calamities.....by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

This material world is certified by the Lord in the Bhagavad-gita as a dangerous place full of calamities. Less intelligent persons prepare plans to adjust to those

calamities not knowing that the nature of this place is to be full of calamities.The duty of the sane person, therefore, is to be undisturbed by worldly calamities, which are sure to happen in all circumstances. Suffering all sorts of unavoidable misfortunes, one should make progress in spiritual realization, because that is the mission of human life.The material world is full of dangers (padam padam yad vipadam). As long as we are in this material world there must be calamities, because this is the place of calamity. But even with calamities our business should be to develop our Krishnaconsciousness, so that after giving up this body we may go back home, back to Krishna.As mentioned in Bhagavad-gita [2.14], Lord Krishna told Arjuna:

matra-sparsas tu kaunteyasitosna-sukha-duhkha-dah

agamapayino 'nityastams titiksasva bharata

"O son of Kunti, the non permanent appearance of heat and cold, happiness and distress, and their disappearance in due course, are like the appearance and disappearance of winter and summer seasons. They arise from sense perception, O scion of Bharata, and one must learn to tolerate them without being disturbed."A devotee, however, is never disturbed by dangers, reverses, or calamities. Rather, he welcomes them. Because he is a surrendered soul, he knows that both dangers and

festivals are but different demonstrations of Krishna, who is absolute. In the sastra, the Vedic literature, it is said that religion and irreligion, which are complete opposites, are merely the front portion and the back portion of God. But is there any difference between God's front and God back? God is absolute, and therefore devotee, either in opulence or in danger is undisturbed, knowing that both of these are Krishna.When a devotee is in danger, he thinks, "Now Krishna has appeared before me as danger.'' In His form as Narsimhadeva, the Lord was dangerous. to the demon Hiranyakasipu, but the same Narsimhadeva was the supreme friend to the devoted Prahlada Maharaja. God is never dangerous to the devotee, and the devotee is never afraid of dangers, because he is confident that the danger is but another feature of God "Why should I be afraid?" the devotee thinks. "I

am surrendered to Him."So if we are put into a

dangerous position and that danger gives us an impetus to remember Krishna, that is welcome: "Oh, I am getting this opportunity to remember Krishna.'' Why is this welcome? It is welcome because seeing Krishna or remembering Krishnameans advancing in spiritual life, so that we

will not have to suffer any more of the dangers. Tyaktva deham punar janma naiti mam eti so 'rjuna. If one become advanced in Krishnaconsciousness, the result will be that after giving up the body (tyaktva deham) one will not have to take birth again in this material world (punar janma naiti). This is to be desired.If we live Krishna consciously under all

circumstances, we shall not return to this material world (apunar bhava-darsanam). If we repeatedly think of Krishna, see Krishna, read of Krishna, work for Krishna, and somehow or other remain in Krishnaconsciousness, we benefit in such a way that we shall be saved from taking birth again in the material world.

That is true benefit.

Significance of chaturmasya(23rd July to 17th November)

The Chaturmasya period begins from the day of Ekadashi called Shayana-ekadashi and ends on the Ekadashi day known as Utthana-ekadashi, The scriptures refer to this period as the duration of Lord Vishnu’s sleep in this universe.The main goal of observing Caturmasya is to decrease attachment to material things and to increase devotion to Krishna. Srila Prabhupada writes in Caitanya Caritamrta, “Caturmasya should be observed by all sections of the population. It does not matter whether one is a grihasta or a sanyasi. The observation is obligatory to all ashramas.” It is stated in Hari Bhakti Vilasa 15/113 that ‘after properly praying to the Supreme Lord near Him, one should properly take a vow to follow the proper rules and regulations and process of caturmasya to increase one’s devotion to Lord Sri Krishna.’ During this time, giving up certain types of food as prescribed in shastra is considered as a special form of worship to the Lord. These vratas remove one's sins and pave the way for one which in turn gets his vishesha prasada in the form of moksha. The

reason for making a list of prohibited items separately for each of the four months is in the nature of dietary discipline, and declared as daily regimen (nityavrata) by the scriptures.Each vrata is commenced with a sankalpa, and at the end of chaturmasya it is concluded with yagyaand Brahmana puja. During this time, Sanyasis stay in one place and follow special procedures as worship to Lord. Snana, Japa, and Dana done during these four months get immense phala. The first month is shaka vrata, where all green leafy vegetables are given up to please Lord Sri Shridhara, the niyamaka for this month. Dadhi vrata is the second one and all items of curd are given up to get special blessings from Sri Hrishikesha, the niyamaka. During Kshira vrata, all milk items are given up to get the prasada of

Sri Padmanabha. The last vrata is Dvidala and bahubhija where all di-cots and multi seeded items are given up to get the grace of Sri Damodhara. In addition to these one can also give up additional items. A sadhaka can do more hari naam and do extra service of any kind to Sri Hari and His bhaktas. So please take this opportunity and engage

yourself in the service of the Lord with much enthusiasm and make your life sublime.

mauritius yatra with guru maharaj by HG Madhav Priya Devi Dasi

Our beloved Gurudev H H Navayogendra Maharaj inspired 20 devotees to visit Mauritius from 16th to 29th June from Udhampur, Amritsar, Uttaranchal, Delhi and Kolkata with him. Maharaj ji had organised all details, such as accommodation, spiritual programs and visits in the beautiful island country.All the devotees stayed with Maharaj ji as one big family under one roof in the house of Shri Radhamohan Gujadhar.For the first time in Mauritius, "Jagannath Snana Yatra" was held. Maharaj ji conducted this programfrom 21st to 23rd June. Maharaj ji mesmerised everyone with his kirtans and Jagannath katha. The Mauritian devotees put up an amazing play-"Jagannath prasad"-which

Maharaj ji appreciated very much. Maharaj ji performed a grand abhishek of their Lordships on the 23rd.Every morning, mangal arati was held in a Mauritian devotee's house, followed by pravachan and tulasi arati.Daily, after prasadam, one of the godbrother took us out for sightseeing to various places, such as a museum, Crocodile Park, beaches; ride in a glass-

bottomed boat, underwater sea walk and a nature park. It was great fun, like having a family picnic.Every evening, Maharaj ji took lectures which were attended by a large number of Mauritians, followed by sumptuous and tasty prasad.Thus, our spiritual master distributed his mercy to all so that the

fallen souls could take the maximum benefit of sadhu sanga by associating with a pure devotee.

Sri Gundicha marjan lila

The cleansing of the Guṇḍichā Temple is summarised by Śrīla Kṛṣṇadās Kavirāj Goswāmī in Śrī Chaitanya-charitāmṛtaMadhya-lila, Chapter 12)Sri Gaurasundar swept and cleansed the Gundicha temple with His devotees, making it as cool and bright as His own Heart and a befitting sitting place for Sri Krishna.Sriman Mahaprabhu cleansed the temple with brooms, water pots and His own cloth, accompanied by hundreds of devotees. The Lord swept in the ecstasy of prema while calling the Holy Name of Krishna. The devotees also called out, ‘Krishna!’ as they engaged in their service. The body of the Lord became covered with dust and dirt and was beautiful to behold. The Lord cleansed some areas of the temple with His tears. Combining all the grass, dust and sand into a pile, the Lord began to gather it into His outer cloth and throw it outside.In this way all the devotees, in great ecstasy, then started throwing all the grass and dust outside using their own cloths. The Lord said to the devotees, “By seeing how much grass and dust you throw outside the temple, I will know how much you have laboured and cleaned.”The dirt collected by all the devotees was combined into one pile yet the pile made by the Lord was greater.In this way the interiors of all the temple’s rooms were swept. This lila shows on the importance of chanting the Lord’s Holy Name while engaged in practical service.For the transformation of the mind’s nature,cheto-darpana-marjanam, it is necessary to remember the Lord constantly. One who is able to do this will experience that transformation. Devotees perform many activities, but while they are doing their work they will always try to chant the Name of Krishna. Then, through their habit of chanting, their mood and mind will transform.

Jaya Jaya Sri-Caitanya Jaya Nityananda !!

Jaya Advaita-candra Jaya Gaura-bhakta-vrnda !!

Announcements:1. From next issue we are starting a column

titled “My Experiences with Srila Gurudev”. All are invited to share their experiences. They will be published in forthcoming editions. Your are requested to send your experiences in ENGLISH on our postal address or mail atiskcon.udhampur@rediffmail.com

2. Suggestions and articles are welcome at iskcon.udhampur@rediffmail.com

Birthday’s

Srila prabhupada transcendental Bookdistribution score

Top Book Distributor : HG Baldev Prabhu

Big Books (Bhagwat Gita)

Hindi/Urdu/English 578 Nos.

Medium Books 11 Nos. Small Books 31 Nos.

Vaishnav calendar

Editorial board:PATRON : HH NAVA YOGENDRA SWAMI MAHARAJEDITOR : Nadia Vihari DasEDITORIAL CONSULTANT : HG Kunti Devi Dasi HG Sudarshan Prabhu & HG Madhu Priya Prabhu HG Radha Rani Devi Dasi

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Hare Hare !!!Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare !!!

We Sincerely pray to their Lordships Sri Sri Gaur Radha Krishna, Sri Sri Sita Ram Laxman Hanuman, Sri Sri Narsimhadev Prahalad Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada & Sri Gurudev to bless the devotee’s good health and Krishna Consciousness on their birthday.

1st AugustHarit Bhalla

(Jammu)

2nd AugustVijay

4th AugustShankutala Kulkarni

(Jabalpur)

6th AugustDinesh Marwah

(Patiala)

7th AugustShobha

(Udhampur)

8th AugustJitender

(Amritsar)

9th AugustSurinder Kakroo

(Jammu)

10th AugustPooja

(Udhampur)

12th AugustPradeep Sharma

16th AugustRishi (California)/

Amit (Delhi)/ Vishal Sehgal (Jalandhar)

17th AugustShyamul Bansal

(Australia)

19th AugustChiraag

(Jammu)/ Lalit Agarwal (Kathua)

22nd AugustNarayani

(Udhampur)/ Divyansh

(Jammu)/ Manvi (Udhampur)

20th AugustSandeep (Noida)

23rd AugustPurnima Marwah (Patiala)

24th AugustGopal Mahajan

(Udhampur)

2nd AugustFasting for

Kamika Ekadasi

11th AugustDD of Sri

Raghunandan Thakura/ Sri

Vamsidasa Babaji

18th AugustDD of Srila Rupa

Goswami/ SriGauridasa Pandita

21st AugustJhulan Yatra Ends/ AD of

Lord Balarama

22nd August2nd month of

Chaturmasya begins (Fast for Yogurt for

1 month)/ Srila Prabhupada’s

Departure for USA

28th AugustSri KrishnaJanmastami

29th AugustNandotsava/ AD

of Srila Prabhupada

* DD : Disappearance Day/ * AD : Appearance Day