Vaisnavi Care Manual

SRI KRISHNA BALARAMA TEMPLE International Society for Krishna Consciousness Founder-Acharya: His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. E-Mail: iskconvrindavan@pamho.net Web-site: www. iskconvrindavan. com

Dear Vaishnavis

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

The ISKCON Vrindavan Temple Management we would like to heartily welcome you to Srila Prabhupada’s home and Sri Vrindavan Dhama. We pray to our beloved Deities, Sri Sri Krishna Balaram, Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundar and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai that you have a spiritually uplifting stay. We wish that you are able to take lots of Krishna Prema back home.

All of us are in Sri Vrindavan Dhama by Srila Prabhupada’s mercy. For this reason, we need to keep conscious of preserving the sacred atmosphere of the temple. We all yearn for shelter and want to feel the togetherness in an undisturbed atmosphere filled with ecstatic kirtanas, japa and nectarean Harikatha-lectures. For your spiritual well-being, as well as your safety and protection, we have formed a Vaishnavi Care Group. We want to assist you with your health queries, doubts, complaints, general questions, etc., so that you may feel at home.

Are you eager to gather lots of spiritual advancement in the holiest of all Vaisnava places, Vrindavan Dhama? All pious and auspicious as well as all impious and inauspicious activities performed in the Dhama will generate a thousand times the results. If you desire doing direct service to our beloved Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundar such as: garland making, mantra recitation, and kirtan in the Samadhi for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada, assisting in the goshala, book distribution, prasadam serving and baking, polishing of the Lord’s paraphernalia, giving the Holy name in the Samadhi to guests and pilgrims, please contact any of the Vaishnavi Care representatives.

Guidelines
1.) When you are in India, try to learn the sweetness of the Indian behaviour and their style of dressing.

2.) Try to wear Vaishnavi attire, covering all parts of your body. The Matajis here also use non-transparent, thicker clothing while bathing in the Yamuna and in the Kundas.

3.) To preserve and protect the image of this beautiful Temple and of Srila Prabhupada’s movement, we humbly request men and women not to loosely associate with each other anywhere in Vrindavan.

4.) Illicit relations should be strictly avoided as it becomes dangerous in and offensive to the Dhama. We also request ladies to not mix freely with the local men.

5.) The Temple premises as well as surrounding areas should not be used as ‘hangouts’, this gives the wrong impression and also attracts unsavory characters to the Temple. Don’t be fooled by people who claim to be ‘guides’. Use the recommended resources i. e. the Information Centre.

6.)Never go anywhere unaccompanied, even to Loi Bazaar especially after dark. Do not carry a lot of cash around and never open your wallet in public.

7.)Beware of people (including those posing as devotees) peddling and consuming intoxicants. This is spiritually and physically damaging, and can lead to severe mental trauma, due to the Dhama’s intensity. It also has severe legal consequences including imprisonment, fine and blacklisting from visiting India again.

8.)Beware of guest taking photos of you, it might seem an innocent act but there has been a history of this harming the reputation of girls. Because of the unscrupulous computer manipulation of your photos.

9.)We advice Matajis to dance demurely in the temple and not in a way that attracts the wrong kind of attention.

10.) Though it does not occur often, please be aware that unscrupulous men may attempt to touch / grope western Matajis. A justified and appropriate response is a hard slap to the face, and notify security immediately.

You will be able to identify a Vaishnavi care representative by her identity badge. Please approach her should you require any assistance. We look forward to serving you.

Your servants

The Temple Management