HINDUISM, Buddhism and Islam are Melbourne's fastest growing religions, but Catholicism remains the city's dominant faith. An analysis of the 2006 census prepared for the city's church leaders also found that fewer people identify as Christians -- down from 66% in 1996 to 59% a decade later. The Christian Research Association's Philip Hughes says 32% identified as non-religious or did not say, while 13% declared they were atheists. The fastest-growing faiths over the decade have been Hinduism (up 157% to 41,000), Buddhism (up 107% to 126,000) and Islam (up 62% to 103,000). There are 40,000 Jews, up 12.6%.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 9/6/08; 12:45:58 PM to the News dept.
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The story, entitled ‘Long Days and Short Nights for a Hindu Monk,' shadows Pandit throughout his daily routine. Listeners join him for early morning worship service (mangala-arati), mantra meditation (japa), Bhagavad Gita study, and cooking.

The show also follows Pandit to Columbia University, where he teaches a weekly vegetarian cooking class to crowds as large as 200 students. "If we're trying to love God but simultaneously causing harm and violence to his children, He's not going to be all that pleased," Pandit tells students. "‘Okay, you love My two-legged children, what about My four-legged ones?'"

# Posted by Aniruddha at 9/6/08; 12:39:02 PM to the News dept.
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You may have seen things on the internet written by "Madhudvisa Dasa." And you may have wondered, Is this the Madhudvisa, the senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada? Or perhaps you assumed it was.

In fact, there are two Madhudvisas, two entirely different people.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 30/4/08; 12:45:25 PM to the News dept.
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I am pleased to announce that there are two new ISKCON sannyasis. Purnachandra dasa is now Purnachandra Goswami and Jagat Guru dasa is now Bhakti Narasimha Swami.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 16/4/08; 8:02:51 AM to the News dept.
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In a very auspicious ceremony in the courtyard of Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir His Holiness Gopala Krishna Goswami awarded Sannyas to His Holiness Prabhodananda Sarasvati Swami in the presence of VedaVyas Priya Maharaja, Radharamana Maharaja, Janananda Goswami, and Damodar Maharaja.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 16/4/08; 8:01:29 AM to the News dept.
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While the festival, which involves guests throwing colored powder on each other in celebration of spring before dancing around a bonfire, has steadily gained in popularity, something changed in the zeitgeist this year. Without warning, attendance skyrocketed from 4,000 last year to 10,000. Organizers simply could not have predicted the sudden popularity and in retrospect were not entirely prepared...

Of the huge crowd, few came with any notion of the spiritual importance of the event, which many simply viewed as a party -- and their attitude showed. College students spread litter far and wide across the temple site, violated rules about removing shoes before entering the sanctuary, and stood on and even temporarily removed two huge golden elephant statues flanking the temple entrance from their pedestals, treating a sacred space like a carnival or worse.

"I was somewhat crestfallen by the sheer amount of debris," Das said, noting it took volunteers a week and a half to clean up.

But perhaps worst of all to Das, of those who came knowing little about the religion or the Holi ritual, approximately none were more educated when they left. That is because Das' 10-minute prepared speech to explain the event, calm the crowd and educate them on the sanctity of the experience they were embarking on never happened. With so many people crowded in and waiting to throw colored powders, temple staff were not able to communicate with Das and lit the bonfire early -- the signal that begins the powder throwing.

And the band, a crucial part of the ritual chanting of prayers, was not able to set up -- one member, so frustrated because he could not get through the crowd to the stage with his equipment, actually left and went home.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 13/4/08; 4:41:03 PM to the News dept.
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A BINGLE between Shane Warne's Mercedes and a Melbourne tram has been caught on camera by a Hare Krishna filming his three-month-old baby.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 13/4/08; 4:26:48 PM to the News dept.
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A popular Hindu temple near London has sued Britain's largest animal welfare charity saying it had illegally carried out the mercy killing of a cow that was under the temple's care.

Gangotri, an ailing 13-year-old Belgian blue jersey that was being looked after by devotees at the Bhaktivedanta Manor temple, was put down by veterinarians of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) last December as priests prayed in the temple.

The RSPCA says the mercy killing was carried out in the cow's interest and that it had a warrant to do so. But temple authorities and other Hindu groups accused the charity of behaving covertly and held protests outside the British parliament earlier this year.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 29/3/08; 3:22:15 PM to the News dept.
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We had decided to get lunch there but the main food for sale seemed to be sausages. So when we saw the Hare Krishna stall we made a beeline for it. The food was excellent -- vegetable curry, rice, kofta balls, tomato sauce and carrot halva -- all for a mere $9. I liked the efficient and cheerful service that made the wait in queue a bit more bearable. The meal was so filling I couldn't finish it. I was quite pleased to try the semolina halva for the first time and am now keen to try more. Once we left I saw lots of other food -- gozleme, vegetable fritters, samosa, corn on the cob -- but nothing as satisfying as the Hare Krishnas.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 5/3/08; 1:40:34 PM to the News dept.
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Yesterday I followed in the footsteps of the devotees who have already visited the ‘Krishna: Love and Devotion’ exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria International. The exhibition draws on the Gallery’s collection. It includes contemporary photographs of today’s Vaisnava culture in Vrndavan as well as paintings from the eighteenth century. I felt that the show demonstrated that although the culture of devotion to Krishna is an ancient one - plainly misconstrued by people labouring under material concepts of life - it thrives in the hearts of Vaisnavas living in centres like Vrndavan and Puri. Here are a couple of the artworks you can see there.

The scene showing Nanda Maharaja carrying Krishna is from a huge patachitra depicting scenes from His life (Niranjan Maharana, 2004, Danda Sahi village, Puri District, Orissa.) ‘Patachitra (painted cloths) are produced for display in temples and in public spaces during religious festivals such as Krishna’s birthday…[Niranjan’s] family have worked for several generations as painters associated with the Sri Jagannath temple in Puri. The temple is a focus for Krishna worship in Eastern India.’ (National Gallery of Victoria [NGV] exhibition notes.)

The lotuses cover a nineteenth century Rajasthani picchvai (painted hanging). Picchvai are hung behind Sri Nathji by devotees of the Vallabha Sampradaya. Different ‘subjects are hung at different times during the annual cycle of worship. Those depicting lotuses are frequently used during the summer months to provide a cool atmosphere for Sri Nathji' (from NGV exhibition notes).

You can find the exhibition in the NGV’s St.Kilda Rd. building. It is free, and runs until March 16.

(from Rasanandini dasi)

Krishna in the arms of Nanda Maharaja

Lotuses to cool Sri Nathji

# Posted by Aniruddha at 27/2/08; 8:20:03 PM to the News dept.
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ANANTAPUR: Governor ND Tiwari inaugurated the grand temple of Sri Radha Partasarathi temple built by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on Sunday.

The grand-looking temple was built at Somaladoddi village on NH 7 at a cost of Rs 5 crore. The Governor installed the idols in the temple and conducted pujas. Describing the temple as a boon to the people here, Tiwari hoped it would inculcate bhakti tatvam among people. He lauded the services of ISKCON which were propagating harmony and brotherhood and spirituality.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 19/2/08; 11:00:44 AM to the News dept.
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Anandalila "Lila'' Salter died surrounded by the sound of sacred songs, the smell of incense and with her wounded head ringed with garlands.

The Australian teenager's three-day fight for life after being shot at close range by a stalker in the north Indian town of Vrindavan ended early today.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 5/2/08; 9:43:32 PM to the News dept.
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Our prayers and condolences go out to Jamal Arjuna, Subhangi and family in what must be extremely trying times for them. On a positive note the public response to this story has been incredible. People from all walks of life have been offering prayers and messages of support on all the major Aussie papers' websites...

"We've been touched by the hundreds of well-wishers who have flocked here to offer their support, prayers and good wishes," Ms Manning said in a statement issued by the Hare Krishna movement.

"Many of these people have known my daughter since she was a child."

Ms Manning regularly attends the International Society for Krishna Consciousness Hare Krishna Temple near Murwillumbah.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 5/2/08; 9:33:14 PM to the News dept.
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The Hare Krishna has been offering hot, inexpensive, vegetarian meals to University of Florida students every week since 1971. On any given day the karma friendly group can serve up to 1,000 students. But due to the rising cost of food as well as the eco-friendly plates and silverware, the group is running short on money.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 25/1/08; 6:35:57 AM to the News dept.
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Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev criticized foreign missionaries on Thursday as a threat to national stability and urged lawmakers to curb their activities.

The mainly Muslim country has positioned itself as an area of stability in the potentially volatile Central Asian region. But some rights groups have criticized its treatment of small groups such as Hare Krishna.

Speaking at a congress of the Nur-Otan party, which holds all seats in the lower house of the parliament, Nazarbayev said foreign missionaries posed a threat to secularity.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 19/1/08; 8:25:47 AM to the News dept.
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This letter from Dandakaranya speaks for itself...

Hare Krsna Aniruddha Prabhu

Please Accept my humble obeisances. All Glories to Srila Prabhupada.

I have attached some snaps of our new boy Toshan Krsna born 10/1/08 at 1.27pm. If you want to show them on the Melbourne website is fine and if you could also thank all the devotees for their loving and kind support and help from Vrindaranya and myself would be great.

Thanks YS Dandakaranya das

Acintya Rupa and Toshan

Sleeping

# Posted by Aniruddha at 18/1/08; 2:22:18 PM to the News dept.
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''This Rath yatra which is being taken out by ISKCON people in Rohini in Delhi is definitely untimely and it has given lot of pain to devotees of Lord Jagnnath through out the world,'' Suresh Mohapatra, Chief Administrator, Sri Jagannath Temple, Puri

''We have written to Delhi government not to allow this Rath yatra and not to participate in this Rath yatra. We request ISKCON devotees not to take out such Rath Yatras,'' he added.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 25/12/07; 7:29:14 PM to the News dept.
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The Jagannath Temple administration is exploring legal options to restrain Iskcon devotees from staging rathyatras of Lord Jagannath at any given point of time of the year in different parts of the country and world. Dismayed over the fact that despite objections a rathyatra was held at Delhi today, the temple administration said it is consulting legal experts to find a way to move law courts in this matter. Rathyatra of the Lord is linked to tradition and rituals and is held on a particular day of the year, noted the temple authorities. It may be noted that earlier they had requested Delhi chief minister not to permit the Iskcon rathyatra today.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 25/12/07; 7:03:16 PM to the News dept.
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Of the top 15 vegetarian restaurants in Australia, four are Hare Krishna restaurants: Govinda's in Darlinghurst NSW, The Cardamom Pod in Byron Bay NSW, Gaura Nitai's in Cairns QLD, and Gopal's in Melbourne, Victoria.

Congratulations! And thanks to the Australian public for letting us know what you like.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 22/12/07; 8:04:13 PM to the News dept.
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Rasanandini just sent me this picture of the final result of her work at the BBT Art Seminar in Vrndavana that I reported on in November.

On the Banks of Yamuna

It's a great picture. You can find one of the young devotee's she was working with blog here. She gives an intimate view of the event from an insider's point of view and some very nice shots of the work in progress on location in various spots in Vrndavana.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 22/12/07; 8:01:20 PM to the News dept.
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Earlier last week, the priests had criticised ISKCON for holding "untimely" Rath Yatra and display of the Lord's picture on the website of an American online shopping outlet.

Samilanee Secretary, Harehrushna Mahasuar, said a number of foreigners under the cover of ISKCON were trying to enter the temple. "Though their passports showed they were Hindus, in reality they hailed from other religious groups," he claimed. "

# Posted by Aniruddha at 22/12/07; 1:15:24 PM to the News dept.
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Servitors of Sri Jagannath Temple here are up in arms against ISKCON for their ‘untimely' rath yatra scheduled for December 23 in New Delhi. In a mass demonstration at the Lions Gate of the temple today, the servitors warned ISKCON devotees not to make mockery of rath yatra.

"We ask them not to organise rath yatra defying the religious principles set by sages.

If they still proceed with the yatra we would be compelled to prevent their entry into this holy city of Lord Jagannath,'' the servitors said. They too criticised the Gajapati King Divyasingh Deb and the temple chief administrator S C Mahapatra.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 22/12/07; 1:11:39 PM to the News dept.
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BHUBANESWAR: After servitors cried foul over the indiscriminate' and ‘untimely' rath yatras conducted by Iskcon (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) in India and overseas, the Jagannath Temple Administration (JTA) today jumped on the bandwagon.

The administration of Sri Jagannath Temple, Puri said it will firmly take up the issue with Iskcon authorities as temple principles do not allow multiple rath yatras across the year.

‘If they don't refrain, we would move the court of law,' Chief Administrator Suresh Chandra Mohapatra told mediapersons.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 19/12/07; 7:14:38 AM to the News dept.
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The CPM had recently brought out a document saying Iskcon was a "major threat" to communists and helped "communal forces" like "the RSS and the BJP". The Telegraph had published a copy of the document in its December 8 edition.

An Iskcon statement said the organisation was "absolutely apolitical". "Our only goal is to carry on welfare activities and propagate the principles of the Bhagvad Gita and Chaitanya Mahaprabhu."

CPM state secretariat member Benoy Konar, however, reiterated the allegation and described Iskcon as an "agent of America".

# Posted by Aniruddha at 15/12/07; 8:26:57 PM to the News dept.
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On Friday, hundreds of Sri Jagannath temple servitors under the banner Jagannath Sevayat Sammillani led by its president Narasingh Pujapanda charged the Gajapati for helping non-Hindus to enter the Puri temple, and encouraging the ISKCON devotees to organise Rath Yatra in a number of foreign countries defying the principles of the Puri temple.

They were critical against the Gajapati King's religious sanction to these organisations, particularly the ISKCON which was organizing untimely Rath Yatras. They flayed the Gajapati for his presence in the `anti-Hindu ISKCON organised Rath Yatras.

They too alleged that the Gajapati had been encouraging so called Hindus of foreign countries to enter into the Puri shrine, the abode of Lord Jagannath, often creating law and order problems in the town besides hurting the religious emotions of the devotees.

The Gajapati King of Puri happens to be the ex-officio chairperson of the temple managing body. This apart, devotees believe him as the religious representative of the Lord Jagannath and revere him as next to the lord. His alleged involvement with the ISKCON evoked severe criticism form the servitors.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 15/12/07; 8:18:14 PM to the News dept.
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A cow kept at a Hindu temple once owned by former Beatle George Harrison was secretly killed by the RSPCA today, Hindu groups have claimed.

Gauri Das, leader of the Hindu Community at Bhaktivedanta Manor temple in Hertfordshire, said that the cow was given a lethal injection this morning while worshippers were at prayer. Hindus consider cows to be sacred and killing them sacrilegious and Times Online understands that temple officials are considering legal action against the RSPCA over its actions.

There are some interesting comments at the end of the article.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 14/12/07; 6:04:43 PM to the News dept.
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We had a surprise initiation ceremony at Govardhana on Wednesday. Sacinandana Swami initiated half a dozen first initiates. On the auspicious occasion Bhurijana Prabhu initiated Murali Prabhu who is now Muralidhara Dasa.

Offering obeisances

Your name is Muralidhara Dasa

Yajna

# Posted by Aniruddha at 8/12/07; 3:03:10 PM to the News dept.
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Anyway, the most important reason for anyone to visit Madrid's Krishna restaurant -- located inside the Hare Krishna Cultural Center at Calle Espiritu Santo 19 in barrio Malasaña -- is the food.

It's 100% vegetarian Indian that has never let me down. You get all you can eat for as little as €4, and you're served with love and a big smile. (If you want to miss all the religious stuff, go around 3:30 p.m.)

# Posted by Aniruddha at 24/11/07; 4:52:52 PM to the News dept.
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The Russian capital would soon have a second Krishna temple. Sergei Zuyev, vice-president of the Centre of the Krishna Consciousness Societies in Russia, told a gathering of Russian Indologists Thursday that the construction of the temple will start next year.

They were participating in a conference: 'The Spiritual Problems of India: Antiquity and Modernity.'  Once completed, the temple complex will have a spiritual centre, an Indian history museum, an Indo-Russian centre, art centre, a library and a vegetarian restaurant.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 24/11/07; 3:07:22 PM to the News dept.
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The Sri Sri Radhakrishna Chandra Manimandir was opened to the public from today by the International Society of Krishna Consciousness amid religious fervour.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 22/11/07; 12:09:53 PM to the News dept.
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The BBT recently held their first Annual Art Seminar in Vrndavana. Rasanandini was one of the lucky inaugural attendees this year and according to the organisers was a hard working participant. As you can see from the shots below each artist looked to be totally engrossed in their work.

You can see Rasa's latest work in these shots I took just before heading off to Noida. The block of flats at Radhe Dhama where we stayed turned out to be the location of their studio so I popped in to get some shots once I worked out what they were up to.

If you look closely you can see the picture that Rasa was working on. She told us yesterday she had brought it to the point where it could be hung. When I saw it, it looked great. I can hardly wait to see the finished product. She's on her way back to Australia today.

Rasanandini's work in progress

Artists in focus

Rasanandini in focus

# Posted by Aniruddha at 15/11/07; 4:17:31 PM to the News dept.
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The Iskcon temple in the Manipur capital is getting ready to showcase Hindu culture and religion, as practised around the world, during a six-day-long cultural extravaganza later this month. The Iskcon community, putting behind the trauma caused by last year's bomb blast at the Imphal temple, is organising a grand show.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 13/11/07; 8:57:27 PM to the News dept.
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At 70, Krishna Devi is impassive about life -- save a desire for a son, for which she ended up having 14 daughters. Her youngest daughter was born when she was 55, making her one of the ‘oldest mothers' in the world.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 11/11/07; 2:04:37 PM to the News dept.
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A man is trapped in his car following a head-on collision with a truck; Advanced Paramedic Nick Scott responds to a Hare Krishna monk kicked in the head by an ungrateful cow; and a little girl chokes on a diamond ring.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 7/11/07; 3:50:45 PM to the News dept.
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The price of success? Everyone wants to stay in Vrndavana...

We look for peace in and around cities of religious importance. But as visitors throng in thousands to such places, these become chaotic. Poor infrastructure becomes poorer. Those who come on religious pilgrimage either stay here forever or look for a cheap accommodation for a temporary stay. The answer lies in providing more accommodation to the visitors. Vrindavan is a place, where such a transformation is taking place at a fast pace.

# Posted by Aniruddha at 20/10/07; 9:29:54 AM to the News dept.
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Festival in South Africa...

The theme of the event and for the broadcast was of religious and cultural tolerance. The two day event had edutainment drama's like a puppet show for the kiddies to teach them about Krishna, hip-hop and African traditional artists performing to a huge audience, a sure illustration that everyone can be tolerant and embracing of other cultures and religions;

Thelma Chetty Radio 2000's marketing manager who was present on both days said "Watching the various cultural denominations interacting, rejoicing, eating together and learning about each other without any hesitation or reservations is an indication that through activities like the Hare Krishna Song and Dance Festival we will be able to create a united South Africa."

# Posted by Aniruddha at 17/10/07; 11:53:49 AM to the News dept.
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Tightened security for festive month i