Dham visit

Srila Prabhupada said:

"Coming to pilgrimage means to come where the sadhus are. I am here, so why is everyone going elsewhere?" "You cannot see Vrndavana with visaya, or material spirit. The test is how much you have conquered over eating, sleeping and mating. Don't think you can just come to Vrndavana and become a Goswami!"

Lilamrta V: 193

1. We come to a holy place to become purified, to develop our Krsna consciousness.

2. It is important not only to maintain a submissive, humble attitude with other ISKCON devotees but with all the residents of the Dhama. (We should be especially mindful of this in "mundane" dealings e.g. arranging transport, shopping).

3. To actually be in the Dhama means to be in the association of devotees, to hear from senior Vaisnavas and serve them. We cannot see a holy place with visaya (material spirit). We are reliant on the mercy of the Vaisnavas.

4. We must maintain Srila Prabhupada's good name by being clean in all our dealings. (This includes everything from eating to changing money).

5. We must be aware that Govardhana Hill, Radha and Syama Kunda etc. are supremely transcendental personalities. If we desire to take Their darsana we must do so in proper consciousness.

6. Animals are also residents of the Dhama. We should neither befriend them nor make them our enemies. It is best to maintain a neutral position.

7. It is important to come to the Dhama in a service mood rather than an enjoying mood. Then our visit will be successful.

Handbooks and Reference-Vaisnava Etiquette-Quotes from Srila Prabhupada-Bhakti Charu Swami

Damodar Invitation

Hare Krishna dear devotees,

Please accept my humble obeisances.

All glories to Srila Gurudev !!!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada !!!

Between *October 25, 2018 and November 23, 2018* we are having Kartik/Damodar month. This is the month in which Krishna was bound to a mortar using a rope by his mother Yashoda. There are many pastimes during this month. During the Damodar month, if one performs even a small devotional service, the effects are multiplied many times. Following is a list of some of the glories of Damodar month. The glories have been taken from various Vedic scriptures.

1) Just as there is no yuga equal to Satya-yuga, no scripture equal to the Vedas, and no place of pilgrimage equal to the Ganges, so there is no month equal to Kartika. Even unserious persons who execute devotional service according to the regulative principles during the month of Karttika, and within the jurisdiction of Mathura (or Vrindavana) in India, are very easily awarded the Lord's personal service". During the Kartika month millions of devotees worship Damodara Krishna with ghee lamps and devotional bhajans, glorifying His playful childhood pastime of stealing yogurt.

2) "When one offers a lamp during the month of Karttika, his sins in many thousands and millions of births perish in half an eye blink."

3) "Please hear the glories of offering a lamp during pleasing to Lord Kesava. O King of brahmanas, a person who offers a lamp in this way will not take birth again in this world."

4) "By offering a lamp during the month of Karttika one attains a pious result ten million times greater than the result obtained by bathing at Kuruksetra during a solar eclipse or by bathing in the river Narmada during a lunar eclipse."

5) "O Tiger among sages! For a person who thus offers a lamp burning with ghee or sesame oil, what is the use of performing an asvasmedha-yajna?"

6) "Even if there are no mantras, no pious deeds, and no purity, everything becomes perfect when a person offers a lamp during the month of Karttika." 

This is just tip of the iceberg.

*What do we do?*

We bring Damodar deity to your place and offer ghee lamps. All we need is a small table to setup an altar. You can invite your friends and relatives for the program so that they can also benefit. We perform a kirtan while everyone performs arati and we have a small class for about 15 minutes. Then we take some prasadam and answer any questions the devotees might have. The whole program does not take more than 30 minutes. This is a great way to spread mercy to your friends and relatives.

*What do you need to do?*

You do not have to do anything except to invite your friends and relatives and spread the mercy. We can schedule the time to perform the program at your convenience any time of the day during this month. We will bring everything with us and we do this for *FREE*.

We request you spread this word. It is only few weeks away and we would appreciate if you could share this information with your friends and relatives so that we can perform this at their place as well.

*PLEASE LET US KNOW IMMEDIATELY SO THAT WE CAN START SCHEDULING THE PUJA AT YOUR PLACE.*

 

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need any further information.

your humble servant,