The Supreme Lord blesses the Supreme Court and more from the Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter

15^th Anniversary of the Radha Krishna Deaf Association
The Radha Krishna Deaf Association (RKDA) celebrated its 15^th Anniversary in style with a full day event at the Jasper Centre in Harrow.
The RKDA started off as a handful of congregational members getting together at Bhaktivedanta Manor on Sunday mornings. It included deaf members and hearing members with a developed knowledge of sign language. Their main objective was to make all devotional activities more accessible to the deaf community.
Since then the RKDA have taken on many exciting projects, such as the publishing of the “Sign Language in Hinduism book, sign language courses, taking part in Harrow United Deaf Club events and running monthly programs open to all.
Special guests that evening included members of the British Deaf Association (BDA) and Cllr Jean Lammiman from Harrow Council.
“The success of the RKDA proves that Krishna consciousness is fully accessible to everyone, regardless of any disability, said Radha Mohan das, “After all the soul, our true identity, is beyond the mind, body and senses.
 

Remembering our Founder-Acarya
The Disappearance Day of Srila Prabhupada is perhaps the most significant community event in the calendar. That weekend there was a special hari nama procession in central London, and a wonderful new play by the Bhaktivedanta Players about Srila Prabhupada’s journey from Calcutta to Boston Harbour on the steamship Jaladhuta.
Community youth made a huge contribution to the food (bhoga) offerings by working in the kitchen to make a staggering 250 preparations, out of 300 altogether!
Other special features this year included the flower decorations in Srila Prabhupada’s room, complete with lighting and ˜sounds of Vrindavana’, and the corridors of the Manor were adorned with beautiful photographs.
 

Outstanding reviews for IES
 ISKCON Educational Services (IES) often receive very positive feedback from teachers, parents and students after their visit to Bhaktivedanta Manor:
“Having had many trips in the past in my 14 years of teaching, this certainly stands out as the most interesting and beneficial experience for pupils. The opportunities that were provided for the children to gain an insight into a different religion and ways of life were delightful wrote Sarah King, teacher at Holmer Green First School.
 

High Sheriff’s Justice Service
Srutidharma das represented Bhaktivedanta Manor at Hertfordshire’s High Sheriff’s Justice Service at St Albans Cathedral. Attendees included religious leaders, Judges, Mayors, leading Councillors, police and Armed Forces representatives from across the County. Special prayers and a two minute silence were included in the service, in honour of the 130 people killed during the terrorist attacks in Paris.
Pictured– Srutidharma das with the Bishop of St Albans Rt Revd Dr Alan Gregory Clayton Smith (left) and Bishop Angaelos of the Coptic Orthodox Church.
 

Thousand-fold devotion
It is said that every act of devotion performed during the auspicious month of Kartik is multiplied by a thousand times. The importance of this month is described extensively in the scriptures, especially in Srila Rupa Goswami’s Mathura Mahatmya. There Radharani, Lord Krishna’s consort and personification of devotional service, is described as the presiding deity of Kartik.
Devotees came every morning and evening to offer candles in the Temple room and sing the traditional Damodarastakam prayers.
 

Prayers at Number 10
For the third year in a row Srutidharma das was invited to chant prayers at the Diwali function at Number 10 Downing Street.
Religious leaders from the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain communities, as well as leading businesspeople attended the function at the Prime Minister’s residence.
David Cameron expressed to Srutidharma das how lovely it was to receive members of Bhaktivedanta Manor.
 

EU Parliament’s first Diwali celebrations
The Hindu Forum Europe (HFE) celebrated Diwali for the first time in the EU Parliament in Brussels. ISKCON devotees from all over Europe were among more than 100 attendees of the historical event. Key organizer and Chair of the HFE, Mahaprabhu das, explained there are plans to celebrate Diwali every year in the European Parliament.
 

Labour Lights the Lamp
Godrumna Bihari das recited ˜prayers for peace’ at the Labour Party’s annual Diwali function in their Westminster headquarters. Afterwards Jeremy Corbyn MP, the Leader of the Labour Party, lit the ceremonial lamp.
 

Providing refuge to the refugees
Parasuram das and other members of Food for All collected clothes, food, blankets, tents, pots, pans and funds for the refugee camps in France and Belgium.
“This was a purely humanitarian endeavour, explained Parasuram das. “Especially with the winter weather the camps are a big health hazard. There are no proper toilets and people are living in makeshift tents. These are fellow human beings and we felt compelled to do what little we could to help.”
Working with members of “Feeding the 5000, the team took two vans to the settlements just outside of Calais, where there are over 6,000 refugees struggling to survive terrible conditions.
 

Green Apple Award
On behalf of the devotees who run the Govardhana Ecovillage near Mumbai, Srutidharma das accepted the Green Apple Award at the House of Commons. The scheme is run by The Green Organisation and the award was presented by its General Manager , Mr Mark Wolens.
The Green Organisation is an international, non-profit environment group dedicated to recognising and promoting environmental best practice around the world.
The Govardhan Ecovillage, which received a ˜Gold Award’ for Environmental Best Practice, is a farm community and retreat center highlighting the importance of spiritual ecology: the need to live in harmony with ourselves, nature and the sacred.
 For more info about Govardhana Ecovillage:
http://ecovillage.org.in/
 

Community Cohesion in Letchmore Heath

As part of Mitzvah Day, a team of devotees from Bhaktivedanta Manor’s community joined Jewish and Christian locals to plant hundreds of daffodil bulbs on Letchmore Heath Village Green. “The village residents should have a beautiful Green to look forward to this spring, explained organiser Lewis Osbourne. “These type of events are great for building local community spirit, added Radha Mohan das. Mitzvah Day is an annual day of faith-based social action.
 

Local Gratitude 
Every Wednesday Japayagya das and Shantasya dasi, with help from well-wishers, cook a free vegetarian lunch for locals. They have developed a community based at the Church Hall of Saint Teresa of The Child Jesus in Borehamwood, and the lunch is now attended by at least 30 people. Participants come from a variety of different backgrounds, and for some it provides a haven of friendship and a decent meal.
 Last autumn the lunch was graced by Oliver Dowden MP and six Hertsmere Councillors, some of whom have visited in the past. All of them are all highly appreciative of the project.
 Representative members of Bhaktivedanta Manor’s Lotus Trust Sanjay Gadhvi and Rameshwar das also attended to witness the great work for themselves.
 In the middle of December, Gratitude organised a popular a festive dinner, to which everyone was welcome. The event was presided over by the Mayor of Hertsmere and the Mayor of Borehamwood.
 

Every December the entire ISKCON world focuses on the distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s books to the public. This year, in observance of ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary, the Manor devotees are making a special effort to distribute no less than 100,000 books this month alone! Last year the community distributed 51,000 books, and that was the most successful marathon for 18 years. So this year’s “100k Effort is a truly marathon operation!

School goes to Parliament
On a trip to the Houses of Parliament and the new Education Centre, the Manor School’s Vrindavan class met with Hertsmere MP Oliver Dowden.  After a tour of the House of Commons an exclusive tour of the House of Lords followed.  
 

Hosting a Bollywood Pilgrim
Anuradha dasi and Tulasi Seva dasi were happy to host Sonu Nigam during his pilgrimage to Bhaktivedanta Manor. Sonu Nigam is a famous Indian singer whose songs have been featured in many movies. He has also released Indian pop albums and appeared in Bollywood movies.
 

University of the Third Age
A group from a University of the Third Age group based in Southampton spent an entire day at Bhaktivedanta Manor.
The University of the Third Age is a unique organisation which provides life-enhancing and life-changing opportunities for retired and semi-retired people.
 

A Mountain of Sweets
On the day after Diwali, the Manor ceremoniously performed Govardhan Puja, Annakut (offering of sweet) and Go-puja (honouring of the cows). Govardhan Puja is when Lord Krishna stopped the people of Vrindavan worshipping King Indra because he had become too proud of his position. In retaliation, Indra sent torrential rains in an attempt to harm the citizens. Miraculously, Lord Krishna lifted the sacred Govardhana Hill to act as a huge umbrella. After the rains had stopped, Krishna took the huge form of the Hill, called Giri-Govardhana.  The festival of Govardhan Puja celebrates this pastime of the Lord by creating a hill made from prasadam sweet delicacies.
 

Celebrating at the House of Commons
At the annual Diwali function at the House of Commons, ISKCON was duly represented by Farish Lakhani and Ravin Ganatra.
The event was attended by the former SNP Leader Alex Salmond, the Leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn MP, London Mayoral candidates Sajid Javid MP and  Zac Goldsmith MP, and the High Commissioner of India His Excellency Ranjan Mathai.
The event was pleasantly upstaged by the arrival of the famous American Civil Rights Leader Rev Jesse Jackson who delivered a message of Peace and Unity during these troubling times.
 Photo Caption: Farish Lakhani with the former SNP Leader, Alex Salmon
 

Remembrance Day
Gauri das and Devaki dasi took part in the annual Remembrance Day function on Letchmore Heath Village Green. Amongst other local faith representatives, Gauri das recited prayers and Devaki dasi laid a wreath at the foot of the War Mememorial on behalf of Bhaktivedanta Manor.
 

The Supreme Lord blesses the Supreme Court
The first ever Diwali reception was held at the Supreme Court of the UK. The event was hosted by the Hindu Lawyers Association and was attended by prominent lawyers and judges from across the legal sector.
Attendees included Srutidharma das, Alpesh Patel, lawyer and Principal of Praefinium Partners Ltd,; the Vice President of the Law Society, Robert Bourns; and the Minister of Justice, Shailesh Vara MP.
 

Rear Admiral leads from the front
Jaya Krishna das and Godruma Bihari das attended the Diwali Celebration organised by the Armed Forces Hindu Network, which took place at the Royal Naval Reserves unit, HMS President, in London.
“During the function many personnel took literature from us and showed genuine interest, explained Jaya Krishna das, “Especially the Rear Admiral Graham Mackay.
 

Temple of the Vedic Planetarium- Fund-Raising Tour
The International Team for the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) held fun-raising events in London and Leicester.
The team included Jananivas das, (Mayapur’s Head Pujari), Ambarisa das (Chairman), Praghosa das (Vice Chairman) and Radha Jivan das (Global Campaign Director).
They gave a detailed explanation of the building and its meaning and essence, which captured the curiosity of all those present. Many people were inspired to donate, and in return they received the benedictions of Lord Nityananda in the form of his Padukas (shoes) along with Lord Nrsimhadeva’s protection in the form of his Sitari (helmet).
 The fulfilment of the desire of spiritual-visionaries, from Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to Srila Prabhupada, the TOVP is a unique and ambitious ISKCON project. Rising from the plains of the holy land of Sri Mayapur, on the banks of the sacred Ganges River, the TOVP will be a shining beacon to all aspiring spiritualists.
For more information:
http://tovp.org/
 

An Experience to Remember
On Saturday the 28th of November Bhaktivedanta Manor’s Outreach department organised a very successful gathering where some 65 people they had been keeping in touch with had the opportunity to hear from Radhanath Swami and chant along with Ananda Monet, Jahnavi Harrison and accompanying musicians. Matthew Offord, MP for Hendon was amongst the guests. All participants relished their spiritual experience and look forward till the next event.