Original story from Guna Mani Nitai Dasi.
Original photographs from Bhaktin Bernadette.

Kripa Sindhu Dasa - staunchly supported by his wife Ayodhya Rani Devi Dasi - has served as a keystone to our attempt to share Krishna consciousness with Melbourne's Indian student community. However, as his own daughter Rasika nears school age, he is unable to refuse the oppotunity to return to Ayodhya Rani's hometown of Madras. While Rasika can become educated in a devotional atmosphere, a good job awaits Kripa Sindhu.

Last Sunday, ISKCON’s Melbourne community farewelled these three special devotees with a maha-breakfast feast. Musicians chanted kirtana. Sri Gaura Prabhu worked behind the scenes as Charu Caitanya Dasa served as our master of ceremonies. Friends and well-wishers packed the prasadam hall beyond capacity. Charu invited us all to offer our obeisances to each other, accentuating the phrase ‘krpa-sindhubhya eva ca.’ He reminded us how Kripa Sindhu has indeed proved to be an ocean of mercy in his service to ISKCON Melbourne.

Yadu Srestha reminisced how Kripa Sindhu and Nityananda Priya were so eager to attend the morning program they would take a taxi from South Yarra to attend mangalarati. He remembered how - as new devotees - both always asked serious, sincere questions about Krishna consciousness. Yadu Srestha pointed out Krpa Sindhu’s first class example. Coming to Krishna consciousness as a student fresh from India, he fervently preaches to his countrymen to join the same auspicious path.

Charu Caitanya noted that - on Kripa Sindhu’s departure - we will all have to step up to the standard of care and compassion he has set in sharing devotional life with the student community.

Prabhu Dasa spoke on behalf of Aniruddha Prabhu and Acintya Mataji, who are currently serving in Mayapur. He praised Kripa Sindhu’s outstanding contribution to the temple since 1999, and blessed Krpa Sindhu’s move to Madras.

Surya Gopal Dasa was next to the microphone, recalling how Kripa Sindhu was always accompanied by two other mahajanas: Nityananda Priya Dasa and Radha Krishna Dasa. Surya Gopal underlined Kripa Sindhu’s humility and enthusiasm for devotional service, and his other skills which range from ‘computer to cooking’!

Sarva Mangala Dasi, Jnana Samudra Dasa, Tota Gopinath Dasa, Ananda Ballabha Dasa, Mahatma Dasa, Sudershan Caitanya Dasa, Muralidhara Dasa, Jagannatha Rama Dasa, Yogeshwara Govinda Dasa and Gopa Vrindesh Dasa all spoke, glorifying Kripa Sindhu Prabhu’s service.

Lila Mayi Devi Dasi - Kripa Sindhu’s sister - movingly described how her brother brought his whole family to Krishna consciousness.

Kripa Sindhu Dasa was last to speak: endlessly glorifying each of Melbourne’s devotees whom he credited with making remarkable contributions to his spiritual life, and then begging forgiveness for offences.

We join Lila Mayi in her sorrow at separation from this strong Vaisnava family, and in her hope for their speedy return.

You can see a slide show here.


# Posted by Rasanandini at 24/2/09; 5:44:44 PM to the News dept.
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Kripa Sindhu and Family Farewelled

From Bhakta Dasa

Last week the devotees of Melbourne Temple helped a community tragically affected by the Black Saturday bushfires that burnt Victoria. Hare Krishna Food For Life distributed prasadam meals to those in need in the Kinglake region.

This area was severely devastated by horrific bushfires that left many people dead and injured. People were left without accommodation or belongings as so many houses were destroyed as well as businesses, farms and livestock.

At the time of the horrific events the temple devotees as well as our congregation were eager to help these victims one way or another. Obviously the best way for us to help was to distribute Lord Krishna’s mercy in the form of prasadam.

After a meeting, it was decided that we put a plan into action and get things under way. We solicited some of our suppliers to either give produce as a donation or to supply what we needed at cost price. Their generosity was truly amazing and very gratefully received - we were soon ready to help out.

Unfortunately it was not as easy as we thought to get through to the different relief agencies that were all extremely busy organizing such a huge rescue and relief effort. They also had not previously worked with nor knew about our Food For Life program and our ability to help in such an emergency situation by providing nutritious meals to those in need.

It was only after actually going to the Whittlesea ‘refugee’ camp and speaking to the Crisis Kitchen Director that we were able to start our prasadam distribution campaign in earnest.

We were asked to supply the meals by working alongside the Australian Army, who by this stage was providing thousands of meals to the survivors of the bush fires as well as to the rescue workers who were working around the clock.

In particular, they were looking forward to us coming and assisting them because there are a high percentage of vegetarians in the Kinglake region. They really appreciated us helping them by supplying delicious and nutritious vegetarian meals.

Early on Thursday morning the devotees got to work and produced a feast of delicious rice, subji, pappadams, halavah with custard, and lassi to take up to the heart of the devastation.

After a long and agonizing drive through the fire ravaged landscape and seeing with our own eyes the extent of the damage to land and property, we arrived at the meal distribution centre – a virtual military war-zone base. The commanding officer welcomed us enthusiastically, and we set up and started our service alongside a group of inquisitive army personnel.

For about three hours we were run off our feet serving up to 300 people who were very appreciative of us being there. We received many positive comments: “ No way, the Haris are here and they have halavah and lassi! I’m in heaven.” And, “Oh, I am so glad you guys are here! Some pure vegetarian meals, finally.”

At the conclusion of mealtime, the Staff Sergeant and Corporal directing the proceedings asked us if they could distribute the prasadam that was left over for evening dinner and breakfast the following morning. Who would have ever thought that the Australian Armed Forces would join Lord Chaitanya’s sankirtan army and give out the mercy so eagerly?

Driving home, Suvarna Manjari Dasi, Bhakta Sridhara and I reflected on the incredible events that we witnessed. It was amazing that in such a time of destruction, sadness and pain how the community got together to support each other and how we had the opportunity to be part of that rebuilding. Even though our effort could be seen as minimal, the potency of prasadam distribution is spiritually amazing.

The army is now readying to withdraw their services and life in these communities will slowly get back to some sort of normality as we pray for their well-being.

Now that Hare Krishna Food for Life at Melbourne Temple has learnt lessons from this experience, in the event of any future unexpected natural disaster we hope to be more ready to lend assistance with a much quicker response. We are still seeking donations for the services rendered as the Temple needed to fund some of the infrastructure that is now ready to be utilized for future crisis response.

I would like to thank all of the devotees who volunteered their services. Thanks also to all of those individuals and companies who donated money, supplies and other products to this Hare Krishna Food For Life cause.

# Posted by Rasanandini at 24/2/09; 10:54:15 AM to the News dept.
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Food For Life Serves Prasadam To Bushfire Victims

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.6.31 - We can get the taste of bhakti rasa by regularly serving the person Bhagavata & the book Bhagavata.

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# Posted by Bhakti Sara Dasa at 24/2/09; 8:08:14 AM to the Daily Class dept.
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Daily Class - Kesava Prabhu