Caring for Krishna’s Devotees: The VCC Gets Official!
By Ambika devi dasi, VCC secretary Photo: Jagat Priya devi dasi
As many are aware, New Govardhana’s Vaishnava Care Committee (VCC) has formed to assist seriously ill devotees and those in need of palliative care within our community. On 20 February, the VCC officially registered as a non-profit incorporated association. The VCC has also applied to the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission (ACNC) for charity status, which, if approved, will allow tax deductions for contributors. The VCC requires this status because it plans to construct a palliative care residence on New Govardhana.
New VCC members are welcome! The VCC meets every six weeks to discuss devotees currently requiring home assistance and to push ahead plans for the care residence. Social welfare and care programs are expanding across our Hare Krishna movement, signalling maturity and a growing realisation of the importance of caring for each other.
“One of the symptoms of a devotee is that he is kind. If our Godbrother becomes ill it is our duty to help him get the proper medicine and treatment so that he can recover”, Srila Prabhupada, Letter to Sukadeva das, 5 April, 1974.
To become a member or for any enquiries, please contact Ambika devi dasi on 0434 214 186.
Three of the core members of the Vaishnava Care Committee (VCC) (L-R): Vasusrestha dasa, Chairman, Ambika devi dasi, Secretary, and Mandapa dasa, Treasurer.
Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
“Nrsimha deva may save you. Lord Nrsimha, prahlada ahlada-dayine. And to the Hiranyakasipu, sila-tanka-nakhalaye. Both ways Krishna is protecting. And Vishnu, you see He has got four hands. In two hands He’s carrying sankha, cakra, and in two hands gada, padma. This sankha and padma is for the devotee, and gada and cakra for the demon. Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita, yada yada hi…, paritranaya sadhunam vinasaya ca duskrtam [Bg. 4.8]. His business is to give protection to the devotee and to kill the demons. But the result is one. He does good to the demons by killing them, and He does good to the devotees by giving them protection.”
Purport to Nrsimhadeva prayers, Los Angeles, 1970
Please join us each Ekadasi for Srimad-Bhagavatam class given by ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
These classes will feature subtitles.
Darshan arati 7:00am
Class 7.30am
Highlights from the Sacred Sound Kirtan Retreat 2019
By Syamala Gopa Kishori devi dasi, Photos: Ananta Vrindavan dasa
This year’s Sacred Sound Kirtan retreat was a great success and we are very grateful to the many kirtaneers, devotees and guests who made it possible. The annual event, which was held during the Easter weekend, drew a crowd of almost 1000 guests, all enthusiastic to share in the nectar of the holy names.
One of the highlights of the retreat was the uplifting kirtanas led by some of ISKCON’s most prominent kirtaneers, including Indradyumna Swami, Bhakti Bhringa Govinda Swami (BB Govinda), Bada Haridas prabhu, Sri Prahlad dasa, Bali and Dhanya Rico and Akincana dasa, among others. These kirtanas had the devotees dancing and chanting with great devotion. Another great memory of the retreat was the illuminating seminars given by BB Govinda Swami on the Brhad Bhagavatamrta.
The retreat hosted a fantastic market, which offered delicious prasadam as well as gifts handcrafted by talented members of the New Govardhana community. In addition, the Krishna Kids area was a welcome treat for children and their parents, who were able to immerse themselves in kirtanas while their little ones engaged in crafts and activities.
Devotees felt spiritually surcharged by this year’s retreat and are eagerly awaiting the 2020 Sacred Sound Kirtan event.
Krishna Village Update : New Developments on the Way!
By Anasuya dasi
Exciting times are ahead for Krishna Village folk with a host of exciting courses coming up and the construction of a new yoga hall and massage room. Damodara Govinda dasa, the General Manager, welcomes the improvements. He says, “Krishna Village is only getting busier, and the current yoga hall is becoming increasingly impractical due to much needed repairs.”
In the past few years, Krishna Village has proved to be a highly successful preaching project with an extensive waiting list.
Teamwork works! The wonderful Krishna Village team at a recent gathering.
Damodar Govinda readily credits this success to the hardworking, committed and, most importantly, Krishna conscious village team. “Without a firm foundation in Prabhupada’s teachings and spiritual practice,” he says, “it would not be possible.”
Recent courses:
- Level 2 Yoga Teacher Training
- Yoga for Mental Health, and
- The Art of Ayurvedic Cooking.
Upcoming courses:
- Ayurveda Sadhana Course for Women, 5-9 July,
- Yoga for teens, October 2019
- and more to come!
Book at www.krishnavillage-retreat.com
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
The Conch is your community newsletter, and we invite you to submit articles for publication.
Articles should be 200 words or less and supplied in MS Word via email to caroleditor@gmail.com.
Photographs must be in JPG format.
Please provide the name of the author and the photographer. Anonymous submissions will not be published.
Deadline is the 10th of each month.
Occasionally a submission could be held over to a later edition.
All submissions will be edited, proofread and may be rejected without notice.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Krishnarupa devi dasi, Jhulan dasi, Aindavi devi dasi, Syamala Gopa Kishori devi dasi and Anasuya dasi
LAYOUT AND GRAPHIC DESIGN
Urvasi devi dasi and Jhulan dasi
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Trevor Gore
DIGITAL CONCH
HH Mukunda Goswami, Paul Bailey, Jhulan dasi and Visnujana dasa
FOR ENQUIRIES, COMMENTS OR SUGGESTIONS
Contact: info@conch.org.au
UPCOMING EVENTS
His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami
08/05/2019 @ 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm AESTFESTIVAL OF CHARIOTS (Brisbane)
11/05/2019 @ 11:00 am - 4:00 pm AESTNrsimha Caturdasi
18/05/2019 @ 3:30 pm - 9:00 pm AEST
MAY CALENDAR
(from Vaishnava calendar www.vaisnavacalendar.com)
| 1 | Wed | Ekadasi – Fasting for Varuthini Ekadasi |
| 2 | Thu | Dvadasi – Break fast 06:13 – 06:39am |
| 13 | Mon | Srimati Sita Devi (consort of Lord Sri Rama) – Appearance Day Srimati Jahnava Devi – Appearance Day |
| 15 | Wed | Ekadasi – Fasting for Mohini Ekadasi |
| 16 | Thu | Dvadasi – Break fast 06:22 – 09:56am |
| 17 | Fri | Sri Jayananda Prabhu – Disappearance Day |
| 18 | Sat | Nrsimha Caturdasi – Appearance of Lord Nrsimhadeva (Fasting till dusk) |
| 19 | Sun | Sri Madhavendra Puri – Appearance Day Sri Srinivasa Acarya – Appearance Day |
| 24 | Fri | Sri Ramananda Raya – Disappearance Day |
| 30 | Thu | Ekadasi – Fasting for Apara Ekadasi |
| 31 | Fri | Break fast 06:30 – 09:59am |
Harinama Sankirtana ki jaya!
Weekly at various locations
Contact Garuda dasa for details
0423 170 267
Sunday Mornings
Northern NSW & Gold Coast
Visnujana dasa 0498 141 021
© 2019 The Conch copyright of New Govardhana www.conch.org.au