Experience the sweetness – 2

BY JEYANTHY PILLAI

Malaysia – Grand start of our new Temple building

BY JANANANDA GOSVAMI

The Temple Model

After years of planning and endeavour by many devotees in Malaysia, the moment everyone had been waiting for, the moment some doubted would ever happen, the moment which felt like Srila Prabhupada’s face lit up, the moment which beckoned the fulfilment of his desires finally dawned.

38 year earlier (almost to the day) on his visit to Malaysia Srila Prabhupada had come in anticipation of settling some land for a temple here. It didn’t fructify. Undaunted Srila Prabhupada expressed his eagerness when meeting with the wife of the leading Indian minister at the time.

As Prabhupada explained the process of Krsna consciousness he quoted many Sanskrit verses. Mrs Sambanthan said: “Yes that is so true. You quote Sanskrit so nicely Swamiji.” After some time Srila Prabhupada said: “So you are appreciating our philosophy very nicely. You must help us spread this Krsna consciousness movement.” She answered: “With your mercy, Swamiji.” Srila Prabhupada said: “Mercy is already there. You simply have to take it.” She answered again: “With your mercy Swamiji.” Then Srila Prabhupada gave an analogy. He said: “If someone is drowning in a well and crying out ‘Help’, and another person hears him and throws down a rope so he can catch it. If the person drowning in the well cries, ‘Help me take the rope’, it is not right. It is up to him to take the rope and be pulled out. The mercy is there. You simply have to take it and become freed from all illusion and lamentation.”

As Prabhupada continued talking he seemed very intent but at the same time acting nonchalant. Then a wonderful thing happened. Prabhupada asked for his white vinyl hand-case, and pulled out a paper and put it in the lady’s hand. He said: “I want a temple like this.” Prabhupada very much wanted this lady to help build a temple here in Malaysia. At the same time by his calm expression he seemed to be restraining his extreme enthusiasm.

Sankirtan news from the Pacific Rim

BY JANANANDA GOSVAMI

Malaysia

December Malaysia – Rathayatra season. 3 a week. We attend 5 or 6 of them. Many of these festivals have been going on annually for 20-25 years. Penang is especially interesting as we get a lot of foreign tourists and Chinese taking part. There were several families of Iraqis pulling the cart – they were really wonderful people.

An interesting Rathayatra Hall programme in Malaysia

Gaura Purnima in Klang

BY JEYANTHY PILLAI
KLANG, 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.

The Black Outfit

BY JEYANTHY PILLAI

SUBANG JAYA, MALAYSIA – My children were so very excited to return after their maiden sojourn trip to Mayapur this year. Not that Mayapur was boring….far from it. They had an amazing time. It was like living in Srila Prabhupada’s books that we had painstakingly preached to the children all these years.  They even missed their monthly exams to see the Maha Abhishek for the Pancatattva. Their friends told them, “Your parents are really cool!”

Nityananda Trayodasi in Klang

BY JEYANTHY PILLAI

KLANG, 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.

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.

A Spiritual Juggernaut in Kuala Lumpur

BY UTTAMA CAITANYA DASA

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Most of the times we don’t know what in store for us. It was virtually pouring cats and dogs from early morning of Saturday, 3rd January. The was no sign of the sun. A dreary change of weather from the previous sunny days. Is the 28th  wet affair? Many feared so.

Reaching out to Single Mothers

BY UTTAMA CAITANYA DASA

KLANG,  MALAYSIA – The Social and Welfare Wing of Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) in collaboration with The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Taman Sentosa, Klang, organised a one-day seminar for some 30-odd single mothers of the Taman Sentosa residency.

Krishna Pushya Abhishek in Klang

BY JEYANTHY PILLAI

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.

Japa Retreat 2008 in Sungai Gabai, Malaysia

BY HEMALAN NAMBIAR

SUNGAI GABAI, MALAYSIA – The Vedic Oasis for Inspiration Culture and Education (VOICE) organized its first Japa Retreat on the 6th and 7th December, coordinated by Bhakta Navin Raja. The event saw participation of 14 prabhus and 2 senior devotees, HG Rasika Murari prabhu and HG Madhumaya Krishna prabhu.

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.

Charity fair draws 3,000

Source: thestar.com.my

Fishing for a duck: A boy playing a game during the charity fair

SEBERANG JAYA, MALAYSIA – About 3,000 people visited the Food and Fun Fair For Charity 2008 organised by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) at its Bhaktivedanta Cultural Centre in Seberang Jaya recently.

Ratha Yatra – Penang Island

Source: Iskcon.com.my

PENANG, MALAYSIA – You can be sure to be immersed in kirtan and dance during the Ratha Yatra in Penang Island. This festival was celebrated this year on 13 December. The chariot procession started at 5.30pm from the Dato Keramat Sivan Temple with crowd of devotees only enough to pull the chariots of Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Subhadra Devi and Gaura Nitai. But within one hour the crowd swelled to about one thousand and when the chariots reached little India at about 8pm the crowd had jammed the streets. At Little India some tourists and onlookers joined the festival, singing and dancing with the devotees.

President of ISKCON Malaysia hospitalised

Source: iskcon.com.my

BY SIMHESWARA DASA

His Holiness Bhaktivrjendranandana Swami Maharaj, President of ISKCON Malaysia is now hospitalised at the Institut Jantung Negara for heart tests and observations.

Annual Ratha Yatra in Klang

BY 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.