Battling it Out with Kali

BY SANKARSHAN DAS ADHIKARI
WE ARE PRESENTING IN ONE OF KALI’S CAPITALS KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

14/June/2010 KUALA LUMPUR – At the present moment the personality of Kali has taken charge of this planet in every nation around the globe. Therefore there is nothing more important for the welfare of the human society than to spread this Krishna consciousness movement all over the world so that Kali’s influence can be counteracted and everyone can be happy. At the present moment we are very much blessed by the most auspicious opportunity to spread the Krishna consciousness movement in another one of Kali’s capitals, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Continue reading

HH Jayapataka Swami in Klang

BY JEYANTHY PILLAI
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KLANG, MALAYSIA – It was a memorable day for all of us at Iskcon Klang when HH Jayapataka Swami came over to the eye-opening and abhishek ceremony of our Pada Yatra deities. It was his first trip to Malaysia after his illness in 2008. He is currently undergoing some treatment for his stroke in Kuala Lumpur.

He seemed very happy to be here with us. Addressing a packed crowd in the hall, he said Klang was very special to have his presence for the opening of the temple a couple of years back as well as for the eye-opening and abhishek of the Pada Yatra deities. Iskcon Klang had moved a couple of times from a floor in a four-storey building and now to a two floor double-storey building. He hoped we will get another floor to cater for the growing devotees here. Continue reading

Radhastami in Klang

BY JEYANTHY PILLAI

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PICT1280KLANG, MALAYSIA – My daughter, Breenda was so excited as Radhastami was approaching. She kept asking if I could prepare a dance for Radhastami. She looked really disappointed when I told her I was simply too tired after Krishna Janmastami and all that sewing for Radhastami clothes for our lovely deities. I had made an apple green outfit with mush green lace and shimmering turquoise butterfly sequins with little white pearls for Them. I wanted my Nitai Gaurasundar deities to be in real dancing mood so the outfit was fashioned in Rajaput styled skirts. We also made sea green with pearl bead sets for our deities to match their outfits. My children helped in the final touches. Continue reading

Krishna Janmastami in Klang

From Kavi Karnapura’s Ananda Vrindavana Campu, Second Chapter

THE BACKGROUND FOR THE LORD’S APPEARANCE
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Now we will discuss the truth about the transcendental birthplace of Bhagavan and the appearance of Lord Sri Krishna. Once upon a time, Bhumi, the predominating deity of the earth, felt overburdened by different demons posing as members of the royal order. Feeling aggrieved upon seeing her miserable condition, the lotus-born Brahma appealed to Ksirodakasayi Visnu, the maintainer of the universe, saying, “Please deliver Goddess Bhumi who is feeling greatly distressed by these demoniac kings. Only You can remove this terrible influence from the earth.”

The time for an appearance of the Lord coincided with two internal desires of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. First the Lord desired to descend on earth to increase the fortune of Yasoda and Nanda. Also at that time Krishna wanted to relish the sweet mellow of srngara rasa (paramour love) while enacting His worldly pastimes. For these two reasons the Lord appeared within the material creation on Bhuloka, (earth planet), along with His parents, friends, and other eternal associates. Continue reading

Balaram Purnima in Klang

BY JEYANTHY PILLAI
pict11461.jpgKLANG, MALAYSIA – On the last day of the Jhulan, on the Purnima (full moon) this comes Lord Balaram’s appearance day festival. Powerful Lord Balarama is sixteen years old, full of the luster of youth and has a fair complexion the color of crystal. He wears blue garments and a garland of forest flowers. His handsome hair is tied in a graceful topknot. Splendid earrings adorn His ears and His neck is splendidly decorated with garlands of flowers and strings of jewels. Splendid armlets and bracelets ornament Douji’s graceful and very strong arms and His feet are decorated with splendid jeweled anklets. Continue reading

Tribute to a dear friend

BY JEYANTHY PILLAI
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KLANG, MALAYSIA – Life is tottering like a drop of water on a lotus leaf. No one will ever know when it will drop. And when it does drop, the leaf looks so empty.

Sri Jagannatha Mandir, ISKCON KL,  seems like that now, without its Chief Commander, HG Uttama Caitanya dasa. Everything seems so lifeless and empty.

Who would have ever thought this lean and lanky stalwart commander would leave suddenly during a game of futsal in Klang. The Lord, master controller has a peculiar way of doing things. He took him away when we least expected it.

uttama3But we still thank the Lord for giving us the chance to know this soul who gave his all to nurture us in Krishna Consciousness.  He had many strengths and talents. His knowledge was incredible, so was his memory. Once he told me he had a dream and in it Srila Prabhupada lay on his lap and said, “I am too tired to preach”. I guess he was hand-picked by Srila Prabhupada to preach and he had the gift of gab. He could preach for hours on a topic and had a palatable style in writing. He sounded like a scholar, his vocabulary intricately laced with philosophical terms and phrases. Elegant hand gestures and animated facial expressions added considerable impact to his delivery. He got many of us glued to his talks and well-written articles. The very interesting ones were from his visits to India. He took us to this land with his mere words. Continue reading

Ram Navami in Klang

BY JEYANTHY PILLAI

pict0953KLANG, MALAYSIA – ISKCON KLANG is the only centre in Malaysia which has Sri Sri Sita Ram Lakshman and Hanuman deities as one of their presiding deities. One gets the feeling of being victorious just watching them here every Sunday. Continue reading

Gaura Purnima in Klang

BY JEYANTHY PILLAI
pict0062KLANG, MALAYSIA – It was Gaura Purnima Smaran celebrated with a difference. We were literally dictated by their Lordships to do what They desired. ISKCON Klang had planned to get both Sri Sri Gaura Nitai for the usual padayatra procession around the neighbouring areas before performing the abhishek. But it didn’t quite turn out that way. Continue reading

Nityananda Trayodasi in Klang

BY JEYANTHY PILLAI

pict0027KLANG, MALAYSIA – An intricately designed white dress with Holy Names sewn in various languages spoken here in Malaysia was embroidered  by our expert seamstress HG Vimala Madhavi mataji for Nityananda Trayodasi.

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The ‘Hare Krishna’ mahamantra was written in English, Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil on all the dresses of the deities here. White flowers, jewelleries set with gem stones and pearls added to the finishing touches on Their Lordships. Also see the beautiful blue patterns on Krishna’s arms done by Sahadev prabhu.

Continue reading

Krishna Pushya Abhishek in Klang

BY JEYANTHY PILLAI

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KLANG, MALAYSIA – As the full moon cast its rays, devotees in ISKCON Klang showered the gorgeous deities  Sri Sri Radha Govinda with rose flower petals to celebrate the auspicious Pushya Abhishek festival.  Srimati Radharani had the most captivating smile as though she was simply delighted with the whole affair. Continue reading

Lord Jagannath reciprocates

BY JEYANTHY PILLAI

KLANG, MALAYSIA – In Malaysia, the festival deities Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balarama and Lady Subhatra travel throughout the country to give their blessings and mercy to the people at large. There are over 20 Ratha Yatras in Malaysia and the grandiosity and pomposity increases every year. We are also very lucky to get many sanyasis who visit our country during this period. Their presence enhances the festival mood and their purity fills our hearts. Continue reading

Annual Ratha Yatra in Klang

jaganat2BY JEYANTHY PILLAI

KLANG, MALAYSIA – It’s once again time for the annual Ratha Yatra in Klang. There are close to 20 Ratha Yatras in Malaysia yearly and among them, the Klang Ratha Yatra draws one of the largest crowd in Malaysia. The number of well-wishers in this town where “Little India” is found increases yearly and as a show of support they always present many gifts for the Lord of the Universe, Sri Jagannatha during this procession. In fact, the entire cost of the Ratha Yatra is sponsored by them. This year we are also blessed to get four sanyasis, HH Prabhavishnu Swami (Co-GBC for Iskcon Malaysia), HH Bhanu Swami, HH Bhakti Vrjendranandana Swami and HH Janananda Gosvami to accompany the chariot. Continue reading

Klang celebrates Govardhan-puja and Srila Prabhupada Disappearance Day

BY JEYANTHY PILLAI

KLANG, MALAYSIA – The deities in Iskcon Klang were all dressed in flower dresses made by the devotees here. The main altar as well as Srila Prabhupada’s vyasasan was decorated in the Vrindavan mood complete with a myriad of greenaries, creepers, flowers and birds and animals. Sri Sri Radha Govinda, Sri Sri Krishna Balaram, Sri Giriraj. Sri Sri Gaura Nitai, Sri Sri Ram, Sita, Lakshman and Hanuman,  looked gorgeous and resplendent in their new outfits. Srila Prabhupada was given a lovely garland of red and pink roses with baby’s-breath flowers. Not to be left out, the Guru Parampada deities were also adorned with garlands of jasmine and pink roses. Continue reading