We hope this newsletter finds you, your family and friends in good health and spirits.
We look forward to welcoming you all to the farm over the Christmas and New Year period. It will be a festive time at the farm. As well as our regular temple program (which can be found on the website), we will also have daily lively kirtan and will be serving sumptuous prasadam.
So bring your family and friends and enjoy a day out. Take darshan of our beautiful deities, feed the cows, go for a bush walk or simply enjoy the ambience of New Gokula Farm.
Best regards,
The New Gokula Team
REMINDER
GUESTS WANTING TO VISIT THE FARM MUST BOOK ONLINE via our website www.newgokula.com due
to laws surrounding the current pandemic.
This booking should be done in ADVANCE, especially for weekends, festival days, long weekends and holiday periods.
What donations should I bring to the Temple?
We appreciate all of your generous donations to the Deities and the temple but at the moment we have an ample supply of atta flour and rice. Items that would be favourable
to bring are; fresh fruit and vegetables, nuts, seeds and dried fruits, spices, fresh flowers and dahl. Thank you.
Whats been happening at the farm?
Govardharn Puja
Govardharn Puja was a wonderful day at the farm with kirtan lead by His Holiness Ramai Swami and many other talented kirtan artists. A lot of love was put into making a replica of Govardharn hill with many special prasadam offerings surrounding it. With the temple and deities decorated beautifully as well, it was a joyous celebration for all who attended.
Initiation ceremony by His Grace Vedavayasa Priya Swami
Recently there was a momentous occasion at the Temple. His Grace Vedavayasa Priya Swami held an online initiation ceremony and several devotees received first and second initiation. Among those who received Diksha intiation were Mahesh now Mahanidhi Das, Muyuri Krishna now Krishna Madhuri Devi Das, Shashen now Shashi Shekhar Das and Radha now Radha Ramana Kantha Dasi and Arun Kumar, from Melbourne, now Akuti Devi Das.
Navadvip Chandra and Radhika along with Prasannatma Prabhu and Gita Govinda received Brahman initiation.
Congratulations to all the devotees taking shelter under His Grace Vedavayasa Priya Swami, we wish you all the best on your spiritual journey.
His Grace Bhanu Swami
Devotees and guests at the farm have been blessed by the association of His Grace Bhanu Swami who has been staying at the farm recently. Below is a link to one of the enlightening lectures which he gave at the temple.
Bhakta Tom who previously served at our New Govardhana community in Murwillumbah for a year working with the bullocks, is now residing at New Gokula.
He is now in the process of training our two younger bullocks, Nandi and Yasoda Dual. This involves building a loving relationship with the bullock which creates a bond of trust.
The goal of this training is to have them involved in plowing the fields along with other tasks. This practical demonstration of involving the bullocks in farming work, as well as cow protection, was apart of His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada’s mission for Hare Krishna farming communities.
Bhakta Tom is loves his service and said that the process is teaching him patience, tolerance and courage.
Veggie Garden
The veggie garden is coming along nicely with the first zucchinis being picked and ready to eat. The pumpkins and tomatoes are growing well. We are praying for more rain to help the crops along. The recent volunteer day was a success with volunteers weeding the gardens.
Devotee Spotlight
Manapati Das
Manapati Prabhu has been living at the New Gokula Farm for over 5 years. He is involved in all areas of maintenance around the farm, agriculture and of course making the devotees pizza. He is a huge pizza lover and makes delicious pizza for everyone.
Manapati Prabhu had an interest in philosophy, eastern religion and ancient wisdom from an early age. This interest grew when he travelled to India in the 80’s. He has travelled estensitvely throughout the world all the way through Europe, India and even America but it was in Zagreb, Croatia that he met the devotees in the mid 80’s. He joined the temple there and stayed for many years, with a small number of devotees. This time holds fond memories for him as he was fully absorbed in his services which included shipment of books for distribution, maintenance repairs, sankirtan and looking after the practical affairs of his fellow devotees. Interestingly, it was his sister who first introduced him to the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra. She gave him a tape which she had purchased from the devotees which he fondly listened to for years. He didn’t find out till later the the devotee singing on the tape was His Grace HariKesh Goswami who ended up being his initiating Guru. Manapati has had a long and eventful life as a devotee and has spent many years of his life dedicated to devotional service in many different countries. He is a valued member of the New Gokula Farm. Thank you for your service Manapati Prabhu.
