Venkat Raman
Auckland, August 11, 2024
The Head of one of the most celebrated religious and spiritual organisations will visit New Zealand to deliver discourses and meet the members of the community.
Srila Bhaktivedanta Vana Gosvami Maharaja, President of International Gaudiya Vedanta Trust will be in Auckland from September 20 to 24 and in Christchurch from September 25 to 27, 2024, as a part of a global tour which will also take him to Hong Kong and Australia.
In Auckland, Goswami Maharaja will deliver nightly discourses (at 6 pm) on Transcendental Wisdom at the Sri Sri Radha Damodar Temple, located at 125 Queens Road, Panmure.
Temple Trustee Deepak Ratti said that the discourses will be held from September 21 to September 24, 2024.
“As a part of the visit of Srila BV Vana Goswami Maharaja, Spiritual Master and an exalted Vaishnava, there will be a special ceremony and Sunday Feast at 8 am on September 22, 2024 at the Temple. Subject to various compliance factors, we will perform Hawan, the benefit of which will accrue to everyone present in the premises and in the neighbourhood,” he said.
(Photo Supplied by the Temple)
Upcoming Festivities
Mr Ratti said that two important Festivals will be held over this fortnight– The Julan Yatra (The Swing Festival) from August 16 to 19 and the Balram Jayanti on August 20.
“Balram Jayanti, commemorating the Appearance of Lord Balaram will held on August 20 (from 6.30 pm to 9 pm), Sri Krishna Janmashtami, the Birthday of Lord Krishna on August 27 (from 6.30 pm to midnight) and the Appearance Day of Abhaya Caranaravinda Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (Founder of the International Society for Krishna consciousness ISKON) on August 28 from 6.30 pm to 9 pm,” he said.
About Goswami Maharaja
Sripada Bhaktivedanta Vana Gosvami Maharaja was born in the Midnapura District of West Bengal on January 2, 1959, near the Pada-Tirtha (footprints) of West Bengal Saint Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (born Vishvambhara Mishra), the Founder of Gaudiya Vaishnavism. He was attached to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and Nityananda Prabhu (worshipped as the reincarnation of Balarama) since his boyhood.
After graduating in Economics from Calcutta University in 1980, he moved into the Matt of Sri Devananda Gaudiya and started attending the classes of Sri Srimad Bhakti Rakshaka Sridhara Gosvami Maharaja.
Ordained by his Guru, Gosvami Maharaja went to Sri Keshavaji Gaudiya Matt in Mathura in 1982 and served Srila B V Narayana Maharaja. He was a keen student of the scriptures, absorbing the essence of Vaishnava philosophy and Rasa Shastras (scriptures describing transcendental mellows).
The Hare Krishna Movement
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), known colloquially as the Hare Krishna movement, is a Gaudiya Vaishnava Hindu religious organisation.
Founded on July 13, 1966, in New York City by Swami Prabhupada, Its main headquarters is located in Mayapur, West Bengal.
Its unique form of monotheistic core beliefs is based on Hindu scriptures, particularly Prabhupada’s commentaries and translations of the Bhagavad Gita and the Bhagavata Purana. ISKCON is the largest and, arguably, most important branch of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, which has had adherents in India since the early 16th century and its American and European devotees since the mid and late 20th century.
ISKON is present in more than 150 countries, with 135 Centres in Europe, 80 in Asia, 69 in Africa, 68 in the USA, 10 in Australia and four in New Zealand.
The religious organisation practices vegetarianism and was initially formed to spread the practice of Bhakti Yoga. Its followers (Bhaktas), dedicate their thoughts and actions towards pleasing Lord Krishna, whom they consider the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Its most rapid expansion in registered membership has been within India and (after the collapse of the Soviet Union) in Russia and other formerly Soviet-aligned States of Eastern Europe. Besides weekly gatherings, devotees within the ISKCON movement celebrate a diverse array of Hindu festivals, including Janmashtami, Radhastami, Diwali, Gaura Poornima, Ekadashi, Holi, Rama Navami and Gita Jayanti. The Ratha Yatra Festival of Chariots is an annual parade with devotees chanting and dancing on the street, pulling a chariot with the Deities of Jagannatha, Balabhadra, and Subhadra behind them. This public procession is typically followed by performances and free vegetarian food.
About Sri Radha Damodar Temple
The Panmure Temple is named after the popular Sri Radha Damodar Temple (in Vrindavan Dham in India), considered a sacred place for the Vaishnavism tradition of Hinduism.
The Sanskrit name Damodar means ‘Rope around the belly.’
According to the legends, Krishna was known for his pranks and bravery from his formative years and played a major part in Mahabharat, especially in the Great Battle of Kurukshetra, which ended the reign of the Kaurava clan, reinstating the rule of their cousins, the Pandavas.
It was at this battlefield that Lord Krishna enunciated the Bhagavad Gita to a confused Arjuna, commanding him to fight and conquer the evil, namely the Kauravas.
Mr Ratti said that the Sri Sri Radha Damodar Temple is affiliated with the International Gaudiya Vedanta Trust and as its President, the visit of Srila Bhaktivedanta Vana Goswami Maharaja is of great significance.
“He is a travelling monk, the author of several books on Vaishnava philosophy and a respected preacher in the modern world. His Grace has been travelling the globe for over 25 years sharing the wisdom and teachings, imparted through the disciplined succession of Divine Spiritual Masters, coming from Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The discourses are open to all communities,” he said.
Mr Ratti said that Sri Sri Radha Damodar Temple is a not-for-profit charitable organisation established in June 2023.
“It is a Temple of the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, more commonly referred to as the Hare Krishna Movement, which was made famous in the Western world by His Divine Grace Swami Prabhupada. The aim is to develop pure Bhakti towards Sri Radha and Krishna, the Divine Couple,” he said.
The common chant is:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
The Temple hosts the Sunday Love Feat from 11.30 am to 2. 30 pm. The Programme includes Kirtans, Bhajans, Vedic Wisdom Talks, Aarti, and vegetarian food.
“It also provides a community platform whereby people of all walks of life come together, exchange good thoughts and ideas, strengthen family ties, and promote goodwill and harmony in society. The Centre also preserves, protects and promotes traditional Vedic values which primarily encompasses the four regulative principles of no meat eating, no illicit sex, no gambling, and no intoxication,” Mr Ratti said.
Further information can be obtained from Deepak Ratti (021-2265050), Vinay Dookeeram (027-2765916), Ratnesh Raj (021-2388819) Melissa Madan Mohini (027-361 2824).
