namahatta.org - Congregational Development Ministry

A team of devotees from Bhaktivedanta Manor headed by Ramanuja Prabhu, disciple of HH Giriraja Maharaja, have set up a TV programme called "Hare Krishna Culture" which is already being broadcast on Satellite TV. This programme is dedicated to ISKCON and His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (Founder-acarya of ISKCON). It is being run under the name Hare Krishna Mission Ltd and it is a completely non-profitable organisation run entirely by volunteers.

This programme has lectures by senior devotees of ISKCON, kirtans from around the world, and interviews and footage of Srila Prabhupada by ISKCON Cinema. It has been very warmly received by devotees and the general public, with very good reviews in the UK and Europe.

It can be viewed in UK and Europe on a free Sky channel called MATV, channel 793 at 10.00 am every Sunday, repeated on Wednesdays at 4.30 am (UK time).

After the filming of the opening of Radharani's Bakery's new shop, Kripamoya Prabhu quietly mentioned that it may appear on the net soon.

Well, after much thought I have decided not to post it!

HA!

For all who want to see the opening of the shop it's available here:

[Watch Video]

And for a short tour of the facilities you can do here:

[Watch Video]

I hope as always that these clips meet the needs of the devotee's

ISKCON aims to bring the holy name to every town and village, and this program is helpful in fulfilling this vision. If properly implemented, there will be massive harinama sankirtana festivals across the planet every year, generating a tremendous amount of media interest and coverage. Every year, devotees around the world will share their ideas on spreading and glorifying the holy name, resulting in an increased focus on the chanting of the holy names.

This year, World Holy Name Week will be observed from 13–21 September; this nine day period includes the following auspicious tithis:

• Saturday, 13 September: Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura's Appearance Day
• Sunday, 14 September: Srila Haridas Thakura's Disappearance Day
• Monday, 15 September: Acceptance of sannyasa by Srila Prabhupada (also: Sri Visvarupa Mahotsava; beginning of the third month of Caturmasya, fasting from milk)
• Sunday, 21 September: Srila Prabhupada's arrival in the USA

Please celebrate World Holy Name Week on as many of these days as possible. Some Suggestions:

by Anuttama das

On June 20, 2008, Paramount Pictures releases The Love Guru nationwide. The film tells the story of Guru Pitka (Mike Myers), a westerner raised at an Indian ashram, who grows up to be a high-profile and eccentric holy man come west.

While the level of humor contained in the film is crass, the comedy has drawn significant attention even before its official opening—both pro and con—and from Hindu-Americans concerned that it violates appropriate boundaries in dealing with a religious subject.

On behalf of the North American chapters of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), a Vaishnava, or devotional Hindu organization with an ethnically diverse membership, we understand that many Hindus are concerned that the film may mock their faith. At the same time, having seen the film in its entirety, we find it to be a typical satire that does not intend to hurt religious sentiments.

This week there has been a tremendous amount of media coverage of the cow-killing at the temple. The story appeared in newspapers, radio, television, and online as far away as Australia. But now its old news.

Its now been just over a week since Gangotri, a cow at our temple, was needlessly killed while the community members were at prayer—and that's a long, long, time ago in media terms.

I'm writing at the end of a long day. I arrived at the temple for the 7.00 am darshan this morning, and immediately went to work completing the final details of a Powerpoint presentation on "2008: The Year of the Congregation." Next year is thus designated so that we'll all put more effort into developing strategies for 'Learning, Guidance and Organisation' for our growing congregation in London and the South.

The senior managers of the temple took everything needed for long-term growth in this important area and formed a strategic planning document for it. Well, at least we completed the Vision, Mission Statements and the Key Result Areas. Our KRAs came to eight in number, so we labelled that the 'eight petals' of our lotus and head-hunted qualified devotees for those areas.

Included in this online-book:

I went into London at 6.00 am to give the morning class at our Soho street temple. I was invited for the 38th anniversary of the installation of Radha Londonishvara, the presiding Deities there. After class we posed for a group photograph outside the temple.

Returning to the Manor, I learned that various Hindu organisations had put out their own press releases, and that BBC Radio 4’s Sunday programme will be featuring the story tomorrow after 7.00 am.

This morning began with a breakfast interview on BBC Asian Network Radio with Srutidharma Das, the vice president of Bhaktivedanta Manor, and Tim Wass the RSPCA man responsible for yesterday’s killing.

It continued with CNN News filming at the Manor and the examination of this mornings national press. Times, Telegraph, Guardian, Mail, all featured good pieces and used photos of Gangotri.

Many phone calls kept coming, including one from London Newsquest which serves all the local newspapers in the metropolitan area. The interviewer was extremely interested and sympathetic.

On the political front, Barry Gardiner was able to ask questions in the Commons last night, saying that an ‘outrage has been done to the Hindus in this country’ and Harriet Harman replied on behalf of Defra minister Hilary Benn, in Bali for the UN Climate Summit, that she understood the depth of feeling on this issue and that a reply would be forthcoming.

You can watch last night’s television news about the incident here, and read today’s press-release below:

A piece written last night by author and broadcaster Krishna Dharma Das

When the RSPCA decided yesterday to ignore the protestations of her devotee carers and "put down" the ailing Gangotri, a thirteen year-old cow living at Bhaktivedanta Manorthey were moved by compassionate considerations. Their spokesperson said, "We do understand and respect religious beliefs but at the heart of our organisation is the belief that animals should not suffer." In their view the pain she felt from "infected sores" was such that the only answer was to kill her by lethal injection, which they duly administered as the horrified devotees looked on.

Though is claimed to be compassion, killing as a response to suffering is not something readily countenanced when it comes to humans. In Britain at least euthanasia is a crime, even if the suffering person desires his or her own death. Even in cases where the suffering is acute or there is terminal illness, killing is not allowed. Care will be administered to give the patient the best possible quality of life till death naturally occurs.