namahatta.org - Congregational Development Ministry

Issued by the Governing Body Commission of the International Society for
Krishna Consciousness

The following link contains a letter from the Executive Committee, a
transcription of the conversation of 8 October 1977 between Srila Prabhupada
and Narayana Maharaja (Bengali with English translation), and an analysis.

The Last Conversation

by Padmanetra das

It was the most remarkable year in my life when I joined ISKCON in 1989. Since being a new devotee I have always been interested in preaching activities, so I joined the Nama-hatta preaching division, helping HH Gauranga Prema Maharaja's preaching in north Bengal.

Later I got involved in our Nama-hatta office in Sri Mayapur, which manages preaching in India's eastern region, including the the states of Bengal, Orissa, and Assam. At present I am serving as one of the co-regional directors in charge of the southern parts of West Bengal. My godbrothers Gaurachandra and Biswajit Prabhus manage Nama-hatta preaching in central and and northern Bengal respectively. Over and above HH Gauranga Prema Maharaja guides us in reaching out to more and more people in a systematic way.

by HH Gauranga Prema Swami

In our country, particularly in east India, "Nama-hatta" is not a new name. 'Nama' refers to the holy name, the maha-mantra:

hare krsna hare krsna krsna krsna hare hare
hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare,

and 'hatta' means market place. Even in casual Bengali, hatta means market, but in this case there is a difference:

In material market places so many people come together for material exchanges like selling and buying. In the Nama-hatta, the market place of the holy name, Vaisnavas gather for congregational chanting, discourses, krsna katha, and exchange of loving feelings relating to Lord Krishna.

by Iksvaku das

This year, ISKCON Sri Mayapur is commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of their congregational preaching, or Nama-hatta. The initiative constitutes a milestone in fulfilling the desires of Sri Caitanya and the previous acaryas.

It started in West Bengal when a group of western and Bengali devotees, followers of Srila Prabhupada, began to preach Krishna consciousness in the villages around Mayapur. Despite the lack of facilities, the results were surprising: in less than one year thirty Nama-hatta sangas were formed.

In our ongoing publication of the Bhakti-vriksha Diaries we are jumping to the current year; earlier entries will be published later.

Katwa, Sitahatti, and Bangladesh Tours (April 2009)

Vijay Venugopal das
and Prema Padmini dd

On 8 April we were taken in a Tata Sumo to Nirmala Krishna Prabhu's house, accompanied by Sumadhur Krishna Prabhu, his wife, two daughters, and two sons. The daughters Vrinda and Sumitra now speak excellent English, studying at the Bhaktivedanta School in Mayapur, and the sons, Sudama and Subal Sakha, are very mischievous. The girls are closer to us due to our association in Mathuradesh, and we had many loving exchanges with them throughout the trip.

Also with us was Sita Ram Lakshman Prabhu, temple president of Perth, Australia, whom we have known since he accompanied Guru Maharaja to Mathuradesh years earlier; with him we discussed preaching in Australia.

( Click to see the full flyer)

Since its inception Friends of the BBT has made its primary focus the training and nurturing of new talent for the service of Srila Prabhupada's publishing mission, especially in the field of Sanskrit translation and artwork.

The BBT will be holding their third annual art seminar in Vrindavana, India, from 20 October to 9 November, 2009.

Following this year's Gaura Purnima celebrations, two serious road accidents took place, involving seven ISKCON devotees—five left their bodies, and two have been critically injured. All of them have been working with ISKCON's Congregational Development Ministry, as community preachers (Mathuradesh) and editorial staff (Mayapur).

Both accidents took place the day after Gaura Purnima, 12 March 2009.

Development during the Year 2008

Bangalore Bhakti-vriksha Yatra follows the Bhakti-vriksha method of preaching to spread Krishna Consciousness. By the causeless mercy of Guru and Gauranga, this year we could attract lots of new people to devotional service under the ISKCON umbrella; this brought about advancement in the existing members' spiritual lives, too. Everyone is enthusiastic, inspired and we could witness a steady growth all around.

Following are some of the factors in the Yatra's growth:

by Deena Bandhu das

Yesterday, our Prison Preaching team went for their regular program in the Bharatpur Jail, just forty km from Vrindavan in Rajasthan. They were wonderfully surprised when they reached the jail: the prisoners were having Srimad Bhagavatam class.

On their own, around fifty prisoners who are practicing Krishna consciousness have set aside time daily for Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam class. Many of this group are chanting thirty-two rounds, others sixteen rounds and follow the four regulative principles.

by Vijay Venugopal dasa and Prema Padmini dd

Everyone got their turn to pour different coloured ingredients on their Lordships: milk, ghee, curds, and all sorts of juices. Then, as They were being dried and dressed, my husband narrated the story of the pastimes at Panihati, which everyone heard with great enthusiasm and joy, resolving to think of the lake as the river Ganga, hoping Their Lordships would bless them.

Once dressed, Caitanya Avatari and I in turn led a rousing kirtana, going round and round the deities with the devotees. Offerings were made, and we finally enjoyed the delicious mahaprasadam—chipped rice separately, and all the other items mixed together. The other visitors to the lake, as well as some locals, also got their share.