Gaura Purnima commemorates the appearance day of Lord Chaitanya who is seen as the most glorious of all incarnations of the Supreme Lord.

This occasion is not only of utmost sweetness for us because Mahaprabhu is the most merciful and magnanimous but also because our temple is named after Him - Melbourne Mahaprabhu Mandir!

The program for the day starts at 4.30pm with arati and kirtana followed by the yajna (fire sacrifice) at 5pm and class at 5.45pm.Please note that arati trays will be offered from 5pm.
We will then hold the abhisekha (bathing ceremony) and arati at 7pm and offering of gifts at 7.45pm. The long awaited moonrise will be at 8.03pm will also mark the equally long awaited feast.

Don't miss out on the nectar!




# Posted by Guna Mani Nitai at 2/2/10; 3:36:33 PM to the Gaura Purnima dept.
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We will celebrate Diwali on Sunday the 18th of October.

Diwali also known as Dipavali depicts the triumph of Lord Rama, over the demon king Ravana.

Please join us at the Melbourne temple to celebrate this auspicious day with chanting, the lighting of ceremonial lamps and feasting. The candle-lit arati and offering of lamps will be at the usual time of 7pm. For those sponsoring special arati to Sita, Rama, Laksmana and Hanuman arati offerings will be from 5pm to 9pm in the Theatre room.

# Posted by Guna Mani Nitai at 8/10/09; 10:29:25 AM to the Diwali dept.
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The month of Damodara factually begins on Sunday the 4th of October and lasts till the 3rd of November.
Damodara means 'He who has a rope around his belly' and refers to Krsna as a very young boy after He was bound by His mother Yasoda.

The devotional service recommended for this month includes—daily reciting the Damodara Astaka, offering of lamps, reading Damodara Lila from Srimad Bhagavatam or Krsna Book, reciting Bhagavad Gita and chanting at least few extra rounds of the Hare Krsna Maha-mantra.

We invite everyone to come and offer candles to Sri Damodara twice daily, at 7am and 7pm.
# Posted by Guna Mani Nitai at 7/10/09; 2:34:33 PM to the Kartika dept.
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As Sri Krishna Janmastami is a few days behind us we are eager to hear your feedback on this year's festival.

Please feel free to express your observations and realisations, negative and positive criticisms as well suggested improvements so that we can better serve Sri Sri Radha Vallabha and Their dear devotees for the years to come.
Please send your comments to Kundalata at iskcon dot net dot au.

We sincerely hope that it was a most pleasurable experience for you and that you had as much fun as we did!

# Posted by Guna Mani Nitai at 20/8/09; 11:38:50 AM to the Janmastami dept.
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This year's theme is: "Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Srila Prabhupada's Sannyasa".

On September the fourth, we are organising a harinama party of 50 or more devotees to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada's taking sannyasa. We will start from our usual Friday night spot at 6.30pm in front of Crossways and continue till 8pm or later if the mood takes us. We invite you all to be amongst those 50 enthusiastic devotees.

During that most auspicious week, devotees worldwide are pledging to chant extra rounds as a contribution to Srila Prabhupada's effort. You might also like to consider increasing your rounds during the week.

For more information on the significance of the event, please visit the World Holy Name Week website.

# Posted by Guna Mani Nitai at 20/8/09; 10:40:56 AM to the Global dept.
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That most exciting time of the year is back again: Radha-krsna's Swing Festival.

And what's even more exciting is that it is a day longer for us in Melbourne! So, come and assist in the direct personal service of the Sri Sri Radha Krsna by applying yourselves to pushing Their beautifully decorated and sweet-scented swing in seva (service).

The bliss starts tomorrow, Saturday 1st August and goes till Thursday 6th August, 7pm Nightly.

# Posted by Guna Mani Nitai at 4/8/09; 7:13:15 PM to the Jhulana Yatra dept.
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Balarama Purnima marks the end of Jhulana-yatra and will be celebrated on Thursday 6th August this year.

As we all know, Balarama is the adi-guru, the original spiritual master, and it is only through His mercy that one can get a glimpse of the transcendental pastimes of the Divine Couple.

That is why, we invite you all to join us in the great jubilation of the appearance day of the son of Rohini and Vasudeva, starting at:

4.30pm - Arati and Kirtana

5.00pm - Class

6.00pm - Arati and Pushpanjali

7.30pm - Offering of Gifts

Balaramaji ki, Jaya!
# Posted by Guna Mani Nitai at 4/8/09; 7:10:18 PM to the Baladeva Purnima dept.
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 His Holiness Bhanu Swami will be our guest of honour for this year's biggest event in the festivals' calendar.

Take the time on Friday 14th August to receive Sri Krishna's causeless mercy; His lotus feet are the only true wealth and the only lasting happiness.
This Janmanstami celebration promises to be even grander than the previous years, featuring:

- Extended darshan

- Prasadam for all

- Drama and dance

- All day kirtana and readings

- Abhisekha

- Fire sacrifice

- Midnight arati

# Posted by Guna Mani Nitai at 4/8/09; 7:08:38 PM to the Janmastami dept.
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Please join us in celebrating the glorious appearance day of our Founder Acarya,
His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

We will start at:

10.00am - Readings and homages

12.30pm - Pushpanjali and Guru Puja

1.00pm - Prasadam feast

May you taste at least one drop of Srila Prabhupada's unconditional love of God.
# Posted by Guna Mani Nitai at 4/8/09; 5:49:52 PM to the Vyasa-puja dept.
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This year we celebrate Srimati Radhika's Appearance Day on Friday 28th August which promises to be enlivening since His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami will be our ecstatic guest for the occasion.

Our festival schedule is:

4.30pm - Arati and Kirtana

5.00pm - Class

6.00pm - Arati and Pushpanjali

7.30pm - Offering of Gifts

Please bless us with your presence and receive Srimati Radharani's mercy.
# Posted by Guna Mani Nitai at 4/8/09; 5:44:37 PM to the Radhastami dept.
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---------------------------- Original Message -------------------------

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Subject: FW: LORD JAGANNATH RATHAYATRA in Canberra on 30 MAY09 From: "Aniruddha" <aniruddha@iskcon.net.au> Date: Wed, May 20, 2009 11:12 am To: "Rasanandini.TKG.JPS(Melbourne AU)" <eleanor@stretch.com.au> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Rasanandini Prabhu,

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

You might like to put this on the FOLK News site and print the poster for the notice board.

Your servant,

Aniruddha Das

-----Original Message--

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From: failure@pamho.net [mailto:failure@pamho.net] On Behalf Of Ranganath Das BRS Sent: Tuesday, 19 May 2009 8:15 PM To: ISKCON Australia Management Subject: LORD JAGANNATH RATHAYATRA in Canberra on 30 MAY09

Hare Krishna prabhus, mata ji and maharaj

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

This is just to invite you all to the rathayatra festival here in Canberra. I would also appreciate if this invitation could also please be included in your temple newsletter and the notice board.

Thanks for your support.

Yhs

Ranganath das

LORD JAGANNATH RATHAYATRA

by ISKCON CANBERRA

30th MAY, 2009

Lord Jagannath Rathayatra Canberra_Sep07_03.JPG

WITH

HIS HOLINESS PRABHAVISNU SWAMI

By the mercy of Lord Jagannatha, ISKCON Canberra temple will be celebrating Lord Jagannatha Rathayatra in Canberra on Saturday, 30th May starting at 10:30AM. This year, we will be blessed by the kind association of His Holiness Prabhavisnu Swami, and the outstation devotees who will be participating in this Maha-Harinam for the pleasure of the Lord.

A Palanquin will be carrying Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra through the streets of Canberra City.

JagannathRathayatra2007_57.jpg

ISKCON Canberra invites you to attend Rathayatra. Please come along and get the Mercy of Lord Jagannath on this auspicious occasion. Everyone will get the chance to carry the Palanquin of Their Lordships.

Rathayatra Program

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Start Time: 10:30 AM from Hare Krishna Temple, 1 Quick St, Ainslie, ACT

Rathayatra Route: Hare Krishna Temple, Quick St -> Limestone Ave -> Ainslie Ave -> Glebe Park to City Walk -> Return to Hare Krishna Temple

Expected Finish time: 1.30PM at the Temple

Prasadam: 1.30 pm at the temple

Contact: Hare Krishna Temple on 62626208 or 0404486746 or iskcon@harekrishnacanberra.com

The Inner Meaning of Rathayatra (ref "Hidden Glories Of India" book, BBT Publications)

Although Lord Krishna became a great king in His time, His childhood He spent in the village of Vrindavan. There He sported with the cowherd boys and girls, and of all of them, Radharani was His most beloved. When Lord Krishna left Vrindavan to become king of Dvarka, however, Srimati Radharani's lamentation was unequalled in the universe. She never gave up hope that He would someday return to Her. In this way She enjoys a special transcendental long known as vipralambha-bhava, or "the mood of love-in-separation".

Once when Lord Krishna was king, He met Radharani and Her friends in a secluded place at Kurukshetra. But when Radharani saw Krishna in His princely grad, with full opulence and regalia, She longed to see Him as the simple cowherd boy She once knew. She longed to bring Him back to Vrindavan.

The mood of wanting to bring Lord Krishna back to the intimacy of Vrindavan is the confidential theme of the Rathayatra festival. When devotees pull the long, sturdy ropes of the Rathayatra cart they are pulling Krishna back into their hearts - back to the land of Vrindavan. Radha and Krishna incarnated as Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and in this way, They were reunited - in His body. Yet during His last years, which He spent in Jagannath Puri, Lord Caitanya fully manifested the mood of Radharani and relentlessly lamented the divine tragedy of Radha and Krishna's separation.

Every year in Jagannath Puri, Lord Caitanya celebrated the Rathayatra festival in Srimati Radharani's mood of pulling Krishna back to the simple, village-like atmosphere of Vrindavan. Mahaprabhu taught that this feeling of separation actually evokes the presence of Krishna and, ultimately, gives way to the highest happiness. This is the internal meaning of Rathayatra.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 20/5/09; 6:13:20 PM to the dept.
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Fresh from their brilliant European Tour, Le Carnaval Spirituel returns toAustralia this summer to celebrate their 30th anniversary.

Established in France in 1979, this fascinating troupe of internationalartists have for three decades delighted audiences worldwide with theircolourful “joie de vivre” performances, bringing the stage to life withtheir mystic blend of ancient eastern spirituality and truly contemporarytheatre.

“Le Carnaval’s” festive and rich tapestry of music, dance, yoga, martialarts and theatre evokes the timeless wisdom of India’s ancient Vedicculture.

Street performances will precede each of the stage shows, so the wholecommunity will get the chance to glimpse a vibrant world – a world thathas enriched and deepened the lives of millions of people for more than 50centuries.

Here is the troupe's performance itinerary:

Friday the 16th.
and Saturday the 17th. of January (7pm.): Fitzroy TownHall, at the corner of Napier and Moor Streets, Fitzroy.

Thursday the 22nd. and Friday the 23rd. of January (7pm.): St Kilda TownHall, 99a Carlisle St. (corner of Brighton Rd.) St Kilda.

Vegetarian food is available from one hour prior to commencement of the show.

Indradumnya Maharaja's disciples are requesting local devotees tovolunteer some time to assist with his preaching program for the wholeperiod of Maharaja's visit to Melbourne with Le Carnaval Spirituel: fromJanuary 13-29th. If you can give some time, please contact:

Melbourne Temple reception on 9699-5122Sri Krishna Chandra das on 0411-466-882Stoka Krishna das on 0411-550-429
# Posted by Aniruddha at 29/11/08; 6:33:22 PM to the dept.
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Please celebrate the month of Damodara with us beginning tomorrow week. By offering prayers and lights to Lord Sri Damodara you will surely receive His very special mercy.

Publishing the Diwali edition of FOLK magazine has been delayed. However we hope it will arrive in devotees' mail the week of October 21st. Here is part of Aniruddha Prabhu's editorial.

'...just like last year we've had a very successful Janmastami festival season. This year's Janmastami was the largest crowd we've ever had at the temple. According to all accounts it was a well organised and immensely enjoyable festival. I'd like to thank all those who helped organise and serve on the day. Its not easy to fast all day and stick to your posts. With Krsna's mercy we managed to pull it off. Thanks to all who helped make Janmastami a success. If you have any ideas on how to improve the festival please email your suggestions to me, aniruddha@pamho.net.

As we head towards the business end of the year we'd like you to be aware of events just around the corner. The next major events this year are Diwali and Govardhana Puja, which we celebrate on a Friday and Saturday this year.

Govardhana Puja is one of our most popular celebrations. Since it is very much a participatory event with a very long kirtana it ranks as a favourite for those who like to chant and dance for a long time. Keep an eye out for these occasions on the 31st of October and the 1st of November...'

The festival programs are as follows:

We will celebrate Diwali on Friday October 31st. You can have arati trays offered to Sri-Sri-Sri Sita-Rama-Laksmana and Hanuman from 5pm till 9pm. You can also join us at 7pm for a beautiful candlelit arati and offer lamps to the presiding Deities.

Govardhan Puja will be celebrated on Saturday November 1st. Following arati and kirtan at 4:30pm, we will circumambulate Lord Giriraja atop his mountain of sweet bhoga. At 6pm. we will serve feast prasadam; then at 7pm we will offer arati and present lamps to Lord Sri Damodara.

Our Founder-Acarya Srila Prabhupada's Disappearance Day falls on Sunday November 2nd. At 12:30pm we will offer arati and Guru Puja, and at 1pm. serve his prasadam feast. At 6pm in the evening we will read from Prabhupada-lilamrta in his room. This will be followed at 7pm by an offering of arati to His Divine Grace.

Please bless us with your association.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 7/10/08; 2:25:05 PM to the dept.
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October's longer and warmer days allow more time outdoors.
The Vedic monthof Damodara (or Kartika) begins on Wednesday week, and continues untilNovember 13.

At Mahaprabhu Mandir, we look forward to chanting Damodarastakam prayersand offering lights to Lord Sri Damodara twice daily (7am & 7pm). Pleasefeel welcome join us, and to give us your association.

Srila Vyasadeva's recorded Sri Damodarastaka in his Padma Purana: it wasoriginally spoken by Satyavrata Muni in conversation with Narada Muni andSaunaka Rsi.

"In the month of Kartika one should worship Lord Damodara and daily recitethe prayer know as Damodarastaka, which has been spoken by the sageSatyavrata and which attracts Lord Damodara." (Srila Sanatana Goswami, SriHari-bhakti-vilasa 2.16.198)

Srila Prabhupada writes: 'Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, quotingfrom the Vaisnava-tosani of Srila Sanatana Gosvami, says that the incidentof Krishna's breaking the pot of yogurt and being bound by mother Yasodatook place on the Dipavali Day, or Dipa-malika. Even today in India, thisfestival is generally celebrated very gorgeously in the month of Kartikaby fireworks and lights, especially in Bombay.' (SB 10.9.1-2: purport.)

Damodara Masa ki jaya.
# Posted by Aniruddha at 1/10/08; 11:21:14 AM to the dept.
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ere's an event coming up at the end of the year for the Gurukula Alumni.That's Yuga Avatara in the tree trying to pick a banana.
# Posted by Aniruddha at 7/9/08; 9:11:42 PM to the dept.
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Vedavyasa-priya Swami will be visiting Melbourne from the 16th till the 22nd of September.
He will be visiting various Bhakti-vrksa groups in the eveningsand giving class at the temple in the mornings.
# Posted by Aniruddha at 29/8/08; 3:34:02 PM to the Visitors dept.
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test

# Posted by Aniruddha at 28/8/08; 8:42:59 PM to the dept.
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Devamrta Swami arrives in Melbourne on 1st September in readiness for a retreat at New Nandagram to be held on the sixth and seventh.

He'll be giving morning classes and possibly a presentation at Urban Yoga during the week. Stay tuned for details.

Maharaja leaves on the eighth.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 28/8/08; 11:12:49 AM to the Education & Training dept.
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# Posted by Aniruddha at 7/8/08; 3:41:30 PM to the dept.
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# Posted by Aniruddha at 10/4/08; 2:37:00 PM to the dept.
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