By Sri Krishna Purusottama Das
Small temples are where the big action is! ISKCON Nellore is famous as a fired-up preaching center in Andhra Pradesh. Under the leadership of His Holiness Sukadeva Swami Maharaj, the temple is doing exceedingly well on all grounds. Preaching is on full steam, with their large congregation now actively preparing for the upcoming “Gudur Rath Yatra,” set to happen in another one month. Devotees also distribute books regularly. During a recent program, they distributed 300 copies of Bhagavad Gita As It Is at Jammalpalem, near Kavali, on the occasion of Antyesti of late Ketureddy Kesava Reddy.
ISKCON Nellore also recently held a public preaching program on Hanuman Jayanti at Gudur,. Temple leadership is actively inspiring the congregation to get involved and develop the land into a well-shaped, thriving devotional farm community that is dependent simply on the Lord’s mercy and the provisions of Mother Nature. Moving towards a sustainable ISKCON Nellore, the temple leadership has already implemented standards for deity worship such as:
a. Use of Ahimsa Milk for all deity bhoga offerings; the temple is protecting 4 cows for this purpose
b. Use of Cow dung dhoop/incense sticks worship in the temple
c. Use of fire-wood for cooking of bhoga for the deities.
Since I am visiting from ISKCON of Silicon Valley His Holiness Sukadeva Swami Maharaj gave me the opportunity to present Sets book distribution presentation and SriSurabhi Campaign topics to the devotees in Sunday feast and Srimad bhagavatam classes. All Glories to His Holiness for spearheading the entire Nellore ISKCON yatra.
It is inspiring to see these fresh and exciting developments at ISKCON Nellore. As a visiting devotee, I felt that these are simple practices that can be easily implemented by other ISKCON centers; for the continued glory and bright future of ISKCON, 50 years from inception by Srila Prabhupada.
“Book distribution and farms: these are our solid programs. They can change the whole world’
— Srila Prabhupada