{"id":61905,"date":"2018-05-05T06:07:26","date_gmt":"2018-05-05T04:07:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/?p=61905"},"modified":"2018-05-05T06:07:26","modified_gmt":"2018-05-05T04:07:26","slug":"news-from-new-govardhan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dandavats.com\/?p=61905","title":{"rendered":"News from New Govardhan"},"content":{"rendered":"
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MAY 2018<\/h3>\n<\/td>\n

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THE GLORIES of RAMANANDA RAYA<\/h1>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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By Ambika Devi dasi<\/strong><\/p>\n

Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the incarnation of both Radha and Krishna, decided to tour South India from Jagannatha Puri. His great devotee, Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, advised Him to meet a very special devotee called Ramananda Raya during the tour.<\/p>\n

Ramananda Raya had a high position as Governor of Madras. He daily took his bath in the Godavari River, accompanied by many brahmanas, musicians and soldiers.<\/p>\n

Lord Chaitanya met Ramananda Raya by the banks of the river. Their initial meeting was very emotional, since Ramananda Raya\u2019s spiritual identity is Visakha \u2013 a very dear companion of Radha and Krishna. As they embraced, ecstatic symptoms appeared in each of them. Their natural love was awakened and they fell to the ground.<\/p>\n

Forced to restrain themselves, they sat and began a session of questions and answers that was repeated over the following ten days. Lord Chaitanya would ask Ramananda Raya about the goal of life and encourage him to go deeper and deeper with his answers, until the highest conclusion of love of Godhead was reached, specifically the love the gopis have for Krishna.<\/p>\n

At the end of these transcendental discussions, Lord Chaitanya revealed His divine form as Radha and Krishna to His very dear devotee. He then requested Ramananda Raya to come and live at Jagannatha Puri so that they could relish Krishna\u2019s pastimes together there.<\/p>\n

Ramananda Raya was one of the Lord\u2019s two most confidential associates in Jagannatha Puri along with Svarupa Damodara. When the Lord became completely absorbed in love for Krishna during evenings and nights, His ecstatic symptoms frequently resulted in Him becoming unconscious. At these times, it was Ramananda Raya who would quote relevant verses from Srimad- Bhagavatam to pacify the Lord and Svarupa Damodara, who would sweetly sing of Krishna\u2019s pastimes. In this way, they gently brought the Lord to external consciousness.<\/p>\n

Highly respected by the King of Puri, the brahmanas, Vaishnavas and local residents, Ramananda Raya lovingly served his Lord throughout the remaining years of His earthly stay, in full Krishna consciousness. By remembering such an exalted soul, we please the Lord and make spiritual progress.<\/p>\n

Source: Caitanya-caritamrta<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Lord<\/p>\n

Lord Chaitanya reveals His divine form as Radha and Krishna to Ramananda Raya<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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\"ISKCON<\/p>\n

ISKCON Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Srila Prabhupada Uvaca<\/h2>\n

On Vrindavana dasa Thakura<\/p>\n

Just as Vyasadeva compiled Lord Krishna\u2019s pastimes in Srimad-Bhagavatam, Thakura Vrindavana dasa depicted Lord Caitanya\u2019s pastimes. His Caitanya Mangala annihilates all misfortune. From it, I learned the wonders of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda and came to know all the most subtle doctrines of devotional service to Krishna. Vrindavana dasa Thakura has summarized the essence of the teachings of the Srimad-Bhagavatam in his Caitanya Mangala. If even a Muslim or an atheist should listen to Caitanya Mangala, he immediately becomes a great Vaishnava. An ordinary human being could not have composed such a sublime work; Lord Chaitanya himself has spoken through the mouth of Vrindavana dasa. I offer millions of obeisances unto the lotus feet of Vrindavana dasa Thakura who has delivered the entire universe through his book. He was born in the womb of Narayani who eternally enjoys Sri Caitanya\u2019s remnants. How wonderful is his description of the activities of the Lord, simply by hearing which the three worlds have become sanctified!<\/p>\n

(Caitanya-caritamrta 1.8.34\u201342)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Sacred Sound Retreat<\/h1>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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By Ajita dasa<\/strong><\/p>\n

The purpose of the Sacred Sound Retreat (SSR)<\/em> is to enliven the devotees. ISKCON\u2019s Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada wanted us to fill stadiums and have everyone chant and eat prasadam, just like the festival he held in Nairobi.<\/p>\n

SSR\u2019s goal is to eventually gather all the devotees in Australasia to chant, dance and take prasadam together. Chanting japa purifies us, and kirtana improves relationships among participants. This will eventually give great strength to the Australasian yatra by breaking down any barriers.<\/p>\n

Therefore it is vital that everyone participates in such national events. One of Srila Prabhupada\u2019s key instructions is to co-operate, which can be easily achieved by all of us participating in kirtana at the same place and time.<\/p>\n

The cost to hold such a festival varies from $35,000 to $45,000, so everyone who donates towards it receives tremendous benefit and ensures its continuity for the good of everyone.<\/p>\n

SSR 2018 was very special, more so than SSR 2017 because rarely had we seen such a variety of participants being so enthused, enlivened and spiritually surcharged. It was very moving and rewarding to observe the increasing bliss of the participants \u2013 be they our volunteers, yoga students, visitors, guests, and new as well as the senior devotees.<\/p>\n

For SSR 2019, we aim at improving the services offered to our guests, create better facilities both in the venue and in accommodation. I think everyone was very satisfied with the quality of the prasadam.<\/p>\n

This year our organising crew gained a few members but lost Venugopal dasa and Braja Vallabhi dasi, so it was somewhat challenging. However, we are very grateful for the new members of the 2018 organising team, especially Braja Vallabhi\u2019s family, who were integral in the organisation of the festival.<\/p>\n

Please register for SSR 2019 now and be part of this growing and exciting preaching event.<\/p>\n

\"Bhadahari<\/p>\n

Bhadahari dasa leading one of his sweet kirtanas at the Sacred Sound Retreat.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n

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Transformation at SSR<\/h1>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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By Jhulan dasi<\/strong><\/p>\n

We received so much positive feedback from devotees and guests alike at New Govardhana\u2019s Sacred Sound Festival (SSR). Here is one testimony from a student at Krishna Village.<\/p>\n

Winter Harvey from Hawaii, an attendee at the Yoga Teaching Training<\/a> course at Krishna Village, said, \u201cIt\u2019s hard to believe that less than a year ago I was deeply fearful of singing in front of anyone. I wouldn\u2019t even sing Happy Birthday to my husband. My fear was so bad, I actually ran out of a workshop crying on Day 2 of Yoga Teacher Training at Krishna Village because the instructor asked me to sing.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cFast forward to the Sacred Sound Retreat 2018. There I was chanting at the top of my lungs \u2013 belting out the maha-mantra as loud as I possibly could \u2013 not a care in the world about who might hear me. Chanting the maha-mantra has rewritten my destiny, and kirtana has been the instrumental tool in finding a voice and cultivating the self-confidence I needed to share yoga with the world.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI was blown away by the soulful musicians at the Sacred Sound Retreat \u2013 they were next level. At certain points during the festival I felt that I had reached samadhi \u2013 with the mantra flowing through my veins, my body kept moving as my soul floated high above New Govardhana in pure ecstasy. Best weekend ever!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Each year becomes sweeter<\/h1>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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By Jhulan dasi<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was my third year attending the Sacred Sound Retreat<\/em> as a resident of New Govardhana<\/a>. It is becoming sweeter and sweeter. Each year I am in a different mindset. The first year I absorbed myself in the holy name and developed a taste for kirtana; in the second year, my focus was more on the devotee association. This year it was serving the Vaishnavas.<\/p>\n

I was engaged in the Temple Shop service, and I also tried to help with the needs of our guests. It was very nice to connect with many devotees and see them pleased with my little services for them. They weren\u2019t necessarily big things, just little favours such as finding their lost property, helping with directions, answering questions, and so on. It was nice to get out of my daily routine and engage in spontaneous service.<\/p>\n

Various people came with different requests, that sometimes I even felt like it was a game Krishna was having with me. Each time He gave me a mission that I had to deal with, it seemed as if He also gave me a score of my service attitude. There were challenges, but whenever I felt weak from my mind and body I reminded myself of the power of the blessings of the Vaishnavas.<\/p>\n

It was also nice to co-operate with our community members in preparation for the festival. I really like being a part of New Govardhana as it is my most favourite place in the world.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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