New Govardhana News
	The New Govardhana Community Newsletter International Society for Krishna Consciousness 525 Tyalgum Road, Eungella NSW 2484 Founder Acarya; His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Telephone: 6672 6579	January 2008 www.newgovardhana.net	email: ad@in.com.au

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Bhakti Shastri Course at New Govardhana

Govardhana Institute

Bhakti Shastri Course

The first Bhakti Shastri course to be held at New Govardhana Community will commence in the week of 2^nd February 2008.

This course is in accordance with the wishes of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedata Swami Prabhupada that devotees should study in depth the scriptures, and his books, to gain a solid understanding of the science of Krishna Consciousness.

The course will be conducted over one year and will study Bhagavad-gita, Nectar of Devotion, Sri Isopanisad and Nectar of Instruction.

The course will be co-ordinated by Saranya Devi Dasi with visiting shastri teachers and sannyasis.

ISKCON GBC endorses all authorized Bhakti Shastri courses. At present these courses are conducted in Vrindavana, Mayapur, Belgium, South America, Africa, Melbourne and Brisbane.

All those who wish to study Srila Prabhupada’s books and have a greater under standing of devotional service will benefit from this course.

There will be no fee charged for this inaugural course.

Registrations of interest should be made to:

Saranya Devi Dasi 02 66725295
Gaura Shakti Devi Dasi 02 66722773 0415 276757

Registration forms are available on the notice boards at the temple and can be handed to the above devotees.

It does not matter at what level of devotional service you are currently at. By taking part in this course you will increase your understanding and advance greatly in devotional service.

A registration form along with class times is on the next page.

Please enrol ASAP to ensure sufficient handbooks are ready for commencement of the first semester.

Govardhana Institute

Bhakti Shastri Course Enrolment

Venue: New Govardhana Temple Room / Gurukula
When: Synchronizing with NSW School Terms:

2^nd week February - 2^nd week April inclusive
5^th week April - 1^st week July “
4^th week July - 4^th week September “
3^rd week October - 3^rd week December “

Times: Group 1 Tuesday 9:30 am - 12:30pm
Group 2 Wednesday 5:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Group 3 Saturday 9:30 am - 12:30 pm

NAME: ………………………………………………………………

Category: (circle one) Fully committed / Interested / Need to discuss further

Address:

Telephone: ………………………….Mobile: ………………………………

Email: …………………………………………………………………………...

Group of Choice: (circle one) 1 2 3

Hand this form to: Saranya Devi Dasi or Gaura Shakti Devi Dasi
or post to:
Govardhana Institute
Bhakti Shastri Course
P. O. Box 687
Murwillumbah NSW 2484

Prabhupada Nectar

New Govardhana Summer Festival

The New Govardhana Summer Festival was one to remember, not only for the transcendental pastimes but for the torrential rain and flooding.

His Holiness Prahladananda Swami, His Holiness Prabhavisnu Swami, His Holiness Janananda Gosami, and His Holiness Idradyumna Swami all gave seminars and classes and ecstatic kirtans. Unfortunately, all outdoor activities were cancelled due to the heavy and continuous rain.

Missing from the festival for the first time in many years was His Holiness Jayapataka Swami. He was hospitalized in Melbourne after standing on a nail which infected his foot. Maharaja is now recovering, and hopefully we will have the mercy of his presence next year.

His Holiness Mukunda Goswami, who lives nearby, was unable to enter the farm due to the flooding.

His Holiness Idradyumna Swami brought his Troupe to perform Les Carnaval Spiritual at the festival, but while they left the community to perform in Byron Bay we experienced hours of torrential rain which caused major flooding and they were unable to return. Many devotees later travelled to the Gold Coast to see the show after the flood waters receded.

The flooding was so severe that the bottom guest house was inundated. Sadhana and her family were woken as a flood surge entered their room. Mattresses, clothing and computers were saturated and all the cars parked outside the guest house were flooded.

New Govardhana resident Syama paddled his kayak into the flower garden in the early hours of the morning to check on Ian, our resident gardener. While Ian’s caravan was awash, Ian was safe.

When daylight arrived Syama paddled down a fast flowing and dangerous river in search of missing cows but was not successful in finding any.

We are saddened by the loss of several of the cows on New Govardhana which were swept away by the flood water. Some were recovered later on neighboring properties, but some are still missing.

A large refrigerated container was swept from the property to end up several hundred metres down river.

The container holding catering supplies, plates, cups and spoons, as well as dry foodstuffs was moved off its foundations by the force of the water. Most of the food was lost, an estimated cost of $8000.

Many devotees and visitors were unable to return to the farm due to the fast rising water. Temple President Ajita Dasa made arrangements with the owners of the next door property to travel across their property and ferried people across.

A big thank you to Mr. McKenzie for his generosity and understanding.

In the aftermath of this disaster, the residents of New Govardhana and the festival visitors all worked together to clean up and salvage what goods were not damaged.

His Holiness Janananda Goswami was like a transcendental general striding around the property encouraging and directing devotees in the cleanup. Spattered with mud, hand in his beadbag, he would wade ankle deep through the mud helping recover goods from the container. And then what seemed like moments later would be at the Greenhouse helping unload the goods ferried up there. Then he would be seen in the flooded paddocks to the east of the property looking for the missing cows. He would then be at the temple to conduct the evening program.

His Holiness Prabhavisnu Swami, stripped to his t-shirt, helped unload the trucks as the salvaged goods arrived.

Many of the community children took advantage of the big wet to splash in large puddles and create mud slides. Many very muddy, wet, but happy children were seen on the property.

Temple Manager Gaura Shakti Devi Dasi put in a lot of hard work and late hours organising the festival and accommodation for the visitors and is to be congratulated for holding it all together in the face of such adversity.

Above: One of the cows that survived being swept down river in the flood onto a neighbouring property, showing the cuts, scratches and bruises she received in her ordeal. She is receiving treatment for inhalation of water.	The Flood
The aftermath..........

 

IMPORTANCE OF COW PROTECTION

By His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.16.1 -- Los Angeles, December 29, 1973

So similarly, vaisya. Vaisya, they should be trained in three things, productive -- krsi-go-raksya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava-jam [Bg. 18.44] -- krsi, agriculture; go-raksya, cow protection. Go-raksya. That is essential, agricultural and cow protection. And vanijyam. Vanijyam means trade. If there is excess milk product, if there is excess grain product, then you can sell to others. Nowadays the trade is that you take as much milk as you can, and then kill the animal and sell the flesh to other countries. That is going on. No. Go-raksya. Go-raksya. Cow protection is very, very essential in human society because it gives the milk, the miracle food. You can prepare hundreds and thousands of preparation, all not only delicious, but brain-maintaining. You can get good brain. Therefore go-raksya, cow protection is especially recommended, not that animal protection.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 12.2.1 -- San Francisco, March 18, 1968

Prabhupada: According to Vedic injunctions, children, woman, brahmanas, old men, and cows. How many? Children, women, brahmana, cow, and what else?
Devotees: Old men.
Prabhupada: Old men. Yes. These five items, according to Manu-samhita, or Hindu law, they have no offense. They have no offense. They cannot be criminally prosecuted. Excused. If a brahmana has committed some fault or a woman has committed some fault or a child has committed some fault or a cow has transgressed the law, oh, there is no punishment for them. Daya. They should be shown always mercy. They require protection, especially. These five items have been especially enjoined that they should be given protection. That is required in human civilization. Cow protection is very important. Woman's protection is very important. Brahmana's protection is very important. Children's protection is very important.

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.14.34 Purport

The Lord is the protector of cows and the brahminical culture. A society devoid of cow protection and brahminical culture is not under the direct protection of the Lord, just as the prisoners in the jails are not under the protection of the king but under the protection of a severe agent of the king. Without cow protection and cultivation of the brahminical qualities in human society, at least for a section of the members of society, no human civilization can prosper at any length.

His Holiness Prabhavisnu Swami speaking with Braj Guaranga Dasa	His Holiness Indradyumna Swami with Mohini	His Holiness Janananda Goswami
Taking Prasadam

Devotee Profile

Ten year old Srinatha has done more in her life than most girls her age. Born at New Govardhana, she spent the first six years of her life in the community before her family moved to Sri Mayapur Dham.

Always adventurous, Srinatha has swum across the Ganga River with her elder sisters on more than one occasion.

His Holiness Indradyumna Swami invited her to accompany him on his Polish tour which she did with her elder sister Madireksana.

Maharaja’s tours are famous. He tours throughout Poland in the northern summer with a large entourage entertaining, preaching, distributing books and prasadam to enthusiastic spiritual seekers. Perhaps the most famous venue is the Polish Woodstock which attracts tens of thousands of young people.

There can be no better life for a devotee than to be living in the Holy Dham and associating with such pure devotees.

Srinatha and her family have been visiting New Govardhana for the past couple of months. She is seen at the temple each morning chanting the Maha Mantra and attending the morning program and around the farm with her friends, swimming in the river, and climbed to the top of New Govardhana hill.

She will soon return to Mayapur.

VAISVANA CALENDAR   January 2008

Narayana Masa, Gaurabda 521

Murwillumbah, Australia (153E24 28S19, Time zone = +10.00)

DATE ● TITHI ● PAKSA ● YOGA ● NAKSATRA ● FAST

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 Jan 2008 ● Tu ● Astami ● K ● Sobana ● Hasta

2 Jan 2008 ● We ● Navami ● K ● Atiganda ● Citra

3 Jan 2008 ● Th ● Dasami ● K ● Sukarma ● Swati

4 Jan 2008 ● Fr ● Suddha Ekadasi ● K ● Dhriti ● Visakha ● *

Sri Devananda Pandita -- Disappearance

Fasting for Saphala Ekadasi

5 Jan 2008 ● Sa ● Dvadasi ● K ● Sula ● Anuradha

Break fast 04:55 - 09:33 (Daylight saving not considered).

6 Jan 2008 ● Su ● Trayodasi ● K ● Ganda ● Jyestha

Sri Mahesa Pandita -- Disappearance

Sri Uddharana Datta Thakura -- Disappearance

7 Jan 2008 ● Mo ● Caturdasi ● K ● Vriddhi ● Mula

8 Jan 2008 ● Tu ● Amavasya ● K ● Dhruva ● Purva-asadha

9 Jan 2008 ● We ● Pratipat ● G ● Vyagata ● Uttara-asadha

Sri Locana Dasa Thakura -- Appearance

10 Jan 2008 ● Th ● Dvitiya ● G ● Harsana ● Sravana

11 Jan 2008 ● Fr ● Tritiya ● G ● Vajra ● Sravana ● *

Srila Jiva Gosvami -- Disappearance

Sri Jagadisa Pandita -- Disappearance

12 Jan 2008 ● Sa ● Caturthi ● G ● Siddhi ● Dhanista

13 Jan 2008 ● Su ● Pancami ● G ● Variyana ● Satabhisa

14 Jan 2008 ● Mo ● Sasti ● G ● Parigha ● Purva-bhadra

15 Jan 2008 ● Tu ● Saptami ● G ● Siva ● Revati

----------------- Makara Sankranti (Sun enters Capricorn) -----------------

16 Jan 2008 ● We ● Astami ● G ● Siddha ● Asvini

17 Jan 2008 ● Th ● Navami ● G ● Sadhya ● Bharani

18 Jan 2008 ● Fr ● Dasami ● G ● Subha ● Krittika

19 Jan 2008 ● Sa ● Suddha Ekadasi ● G Sukla ● Rohini ● *

Fasting for Putrada Ekadasi

20 Jan 2008 ● Su ● Dvadasi ● G ● Brahma ● Mrigasira

Break fast 05:07 - 06:49 (Daylight saving not considered).

Sri Jagadisa Pandita -- Appearance

21 Jan 2008 ● Mo ● Caturdasi ● G ● Vaidhriti ● Ardra

22 Jan 2008 ● Tu ● Purnima ● G ● Viskumba ● Punarvasu

Sri Krsna Pusya abhiseka

Madhava Masa, Gaurabda 521

Murwillumbah, Australia (153E24 28S19, Time zone = +10.00)

DATE ● TITHI ● PAKSA ● YOGA ● NAKSATRA ● FAST

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

23 Jan 2008 ● We ● Pratipat K ● Priti ● Pusyami

24 Jan 2008 ● Th ● Dvitiya ● K ● Ayusmana ● Aslesa

25 Jan 2008 ● Fr ● Tritiya ● K ● Saubhagya ● Magha

26 Jan 2008 ● Sa ● Caturthi ● K ● Sobana ● Purva-phalguni

27 Jan 2008 ● Su ● Pancami ● K ● Atiganda ● Uttara-phalguni

Sri Ramacandra Kaviraja -- Disappearance

Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami -- Appearance

28 Jan 2008 ● Mo ● Sasti ● K ● Sukarma ● Hasta

Sri Jayadeva Gosvami -- Disappearance

29 Jan 2008 ● Tu ● Saptami ● K ● Dhriti ● Citra

Sri Locana Dasa Thakura -- Disappearance

30 Jan 2008 ● We ● Astami ● K ● Sula ● Swati

31 Jan 2008 ● Th ● Navami ● K ● Ganda ● Visakha