November 2009

Dedicated to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness

A Story of Dairy Farming

Srila Prabhupada:
Vedic education means taking
care of the soul. Presently the
soul is encaged, embodied,
entangled in material affairs.
The soul is suffering, and it is to
our benefit to rescue him from
these material clutches. This
is real education… the soul
does not belong to the material
world. This means that the soul
is above material action and
reaction. In the material world
even iron and stone can be
melted, but the laws of material
nature do not apply to the spirit
soul.
Teaching of Lord Kapila 13.28 purport
Ranchor Prime and rock star Chrissie
Hynde were joined by manor oxen
at the launch of a new book on dairy
farming. Written by Ranchor das,
and containing 32 pages of colour
photos, the book has received national
media attention since its launch at the
Southbank Centre in London.
Cows and the Earth looks at the
implications of cattle exploitation
in terms of carbon emissions,
food scarcity, water shortages and
animal suffering, and proposes a
radical rethink of the relationship
between humans and the non-human
world. Ranchor has worked with
environmental issues for twenty
years. In 1992 he published Hinduism
and Ecology, still the standard text on
the subject.
Cows and the Earth is the first in a
series of publications from Fitzrovia
Press. The book is available at
Bhaktivedanta Manor as a paperback,
and the hardback edition is available
in high street bookshops. The book is
also available to order through local
bookshops.
Oxen Sukadeva and Sahadeva join For more information visit:
Syamasundara das, Chrissie Hynde and
Ranchor das for the launch http://www.fitzroviapress.com

Diwali Celebrated at 10 Downing St

Prime Minister Gordon Brown celebrated Diwali by lighting
the ceremonial lamp at 10 Downing Street amid chanting
of Vedic prayers for world peace, thus becoming the first
British Prime Minister to personally host the occasion.

In keeping with the spirit of Diwali, all the celebrants were

presented at the end with the delicacies which had formed a
part of the Annakut.

During the event Vinay Tanna, Bhaktivedanta Manor’s Head

of Communications, presented Gordon Brown with a copy
of Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is.
Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter
Manor School
Bonding with local schools
Manor School children performed
the Ramayan to an audience of over
250 at local Fairfield Junior School
in Radlett. They also explained the
meaning of Diwali which was enjoyed
by both students and staff.
Children’s Govardhana Puja
The children of the Manor School and
Pre-school along with their parents
had a special Govardhan Puja festival.
The children made a traditional image
of Krishna in the shape of a stone from
Mount Govardhana (called Giriraj) .
Then they cooked, made decorations
including rangoli and leaf garlands,
and performed dance and drama. Over
fifty one food preparations were made
which were carefully crafted by the
children.
Respecting other faiths
Years 4 and 5 Manor School children
learned about the Islamic faith as part
of their Religious Education studies.
Their guest spoke about the beliefs
and practices of true Muslims and
answered students' questions. Students
were impressed by how strictly
she was following her fast during
Ramadan and by the fact that she is a
vegetarian.
Page 2
November 2009
A life dedicated to their Lordships' service
On the first Ekadasi (fasting day) of the
sacred month of Kartik, senior devotee
Siddharupa dasi passed away with the
Lord’s name on her lips. She came to
ISKCON in 1972 and after the deities
were installed at Bhaktivedanta Manor,
she cooked for them for 24 years.
Siddharupa dasi was very dear to many
devotees in the community.
“Her whole life was for Krishna,”
explained her daughter Chudamani
dasi, “She always wanted to serve, even
when she was sick she was cooking and
worshiping her deity at home”.
The joy of studying the ‘Song of God’
The Bhakti Sastri course, which studies key scriptures, has begun its fourth year
running at the Manor. The course starts every September and takes place on Sunday
mornings over a 13 month period.
“It is a very exciting and
moving experience to be
able to study and share the
timeless words of Lord
Sri Krishna,” explained
teacher Jiva Doya das,
referring to the Bhagavad-
gita. “The books we study
are so profound. For me
as a teacher it is a very
relish able experience
to see how the students’
knowledge and faith in
the books grows. And
with their faith increasing,
their ability to put the
philosophy into practice also increases. That is the real goal of the course – not to
just study the books but to live them.”
Welcoming back the Court’s glory days
“I was honoured to be representing
that period in Croome Court’s history,”
explained Sri Pati das who has fond
memories of that time.
“It was an expansive time of ISKCON
and even though we did not stay there
long, many of the activities that started
there have proved important in the long
term.
“For example, the introductory training
programs, publishing ventures, a
Between 1980-1984 the magnificent
television studio and a school. Local
Croome Court was owned by ISKCON
villagers remembered we had a lama and
and, at the invitation of the National
an ox cart. and others recalled playing
Trust, devotees chanted as part of the
with the devotee children.”
Court’s official opening to the public.
Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter
Dusshera
The Burning
November 2009

of R av a n a
Dusshera marks the triumph of Lord
Rama over the demoniac king Ravana
and the rescue of his wife Sita. Dusshera
literally means the tenth day. It marks the
end of the nine day period of Ashwin also
known as Navratri.
Kamal das and team worked tirelessly to
produce one of the most fearsome looking
Ravana's ever. The ten heads represent the
undesirable qualities in our hearts such
as lust, anger, greed and envy. After an
excellent performance of the Ramayan in
the field, the huge effigy was lit.
As it burned, devotees prayed to Lord
Rama in order that their bad qualities
would be burnt away in the fire of
devotion. The level of enthusiasm and
energy amongst the spectators at that very
moment was incredible to observe.

Chanting returns to the Square

On Sunday 4th October over 30,000 chanting of Hare Krishna reverberated in along to the Hare Krishna mantra. Lord
revellers descended on Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square as devotees blissfully Nelson was blessed yet again! 1,200
for the London Diwali festival. This celebrated the Rathayatra festival there. prasadam sweets were distributed and
year’s Diwali in London Committee was As a finale to the Diwali festival, Jayadeva ISKCON’s Radha Krishna Temple ran
chaired by Bhaktivedanta Manor Patrons’ das and his choir took to the main stage a book store.
Council member Sanjay Gadhvi. and had the whole of the Square chanting
The opening ceremony
was conducted by the
Deputy Mayor for
London, Mr Richard
Barnes, Sanjay Gadhvi
and India’s well-known
yoga instructor Swami
Ramdev. Speaking on
behalf of ISKCON,
Rameshwar das urged
the bustling crowd to
“chant and be happy!”
In the August
newsletter we reported left: Swami Ramdev, Deputy Mayor Richard Barnes and Patron Council member Sanjay Gadhvi conduct the opening ceremony;
how the congregational right: Jayadeva das and choir lead kirtan

Page 3
Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter November 2009

&
Diwali in Parliament

For the eighth year running the Hindu

Forum of Britain hosted Diwali at the
House of Commons. All parliamentary
parties were invited to meet leaders from
the community, religious, commercial,
artistic and academic sectors.
During his address, referring to the
ISKCON temple in Soho Street,
Mark Field MP declared “As Member
of Parliament for Westminster, I am
proud to say that there is an exquisitely
beautiful temple in my constituency. It
also has the best vegetarian restaurant in Diwali Harinama procession in Brent
the country!”
John Bercow MP, the Speaker of the
House of Commons, was delighted to
meet Sruti Dharma das and Bhasker
Rughani during his first attendance
of Diwali at the Commons (pictured
above).

Once again Bhaktivedanta Manor brought a unique touch of

Mark Field MP with Bhasker Rughani
and Alpesh Patel
energy and colour to the Diwali parade on Ealing Road in
the London borough of Brent. As in previous years, devotees
led the huge procession which attracted an estimated 10,000
people, with a bullock-cart, a float depicting Lord Rama’s
forest dwelling, lively kirtan and splendid costumes.
“It was nice to see so many different communities coming
together for such a vibrant and happy festival,” said Bhakta
Kamal, chief organiser behind the Manor’s contribution.

Page 4
 Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter November 2009

& “I was greatly honoured to be allowed to help release one of the Chinese
lanterns with a message of peace that we can all subscribe to, no matter what
our religion and I greatly enjoyed watching the firework display which was
truly spectacular.”
Lewis Osbourne (Radlett United Synagogue)

The weekend of Diwali is one of the busiest times

of year for Bhaktivedanta Manor and this year was
certainly no exception. A record number of nearly
30,000 guests came to Bhaktivedanta Manor to take
darshan of Lord Rama.
Age-old culture of India teaches us to vanquish
ignorance that subdues humanity with the light of
knowledge. Diwali and the Hindu New Year are
enthusiastically enjoyed by people of every religion.
Its magical and radiant touch creates an atmosphere of
joy and festivity.
Celebrations included a magnificent range of pure
vegetarian preparations offered to Lord Krishna during
the annakuta festival. Govardhan Puja was performed
on the day, and the cows were worshipped in a special
ceremony. Through these festivities, devotees sought
to re-create in a small way the corresponding events
over 5,000 years ago in Vrindavan.
As the day turned to night, excitement continued to
mount as visitors enjoyed a very special display of
hundreds of lanterns released by various community
leaders and festival participants into the sky. An
impressive firework display rounded off the evening.

Page 5
Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter
PROGRESSIVE
REGRESSION
There are almost 2.5 million people
unemployed in the UK. Those at least
are the official figures. Over 7% of the
workforce. It’s become a job in itself just
looking for a job. Even the most qualified
find it hard with one in ten graduates
still failing to find a job a full year after
graduating.
Economists and politicians will point
to a host of possible causes, but Srila
Prabhupada suggested that one main
reason for labour not working might be
our ‘labour saving’ technologies. “You
have created a machine that can do the
work of fifty men and now those fifty
men are unemployed. Is this progress?”
Well, that’s how most of us see it. I guess
it depends upon your paradigm. If you
believe life to be about bodily enjoyment
then you will likely view work as a bit
of a problem. You want to free up time
to relax and do things you enjoy, which
is not usually work. Then there is the all
important profit motive. Machines tend
to be cheaper than men. And so it is that
a great welter of machinery has come into
being, along with an equally huge mass
of idle persons.
But has it made us happier? This is surely
the critical question. For those in the dole
queues the answer is not likely to be yes,
but it is not only the direct misery of
the workless that is problematic; there
is also the question of how to support
them. It certainly doesn’t make for easy
economics. Still more social issues arise
from the old idiom that an ‘idle mind is
the devil’s playground’. With increasing
numbers of unengaged and bored young
persons hanging around on our streets,
trouble is sure to follow.
The Vedic paradigm works on the
assumption that human life has a higher
spiritual purpose; that we are meant for
self realisation. Actual happiness comes
from inner contact with the spiritual,
rather than from external sense pleasure.
With such a paradigm there is far less
need to advance technology in order to
increase material comfort. Those who are
happy within are less concerned with their
worldly situation. Srila Prabhupada called
this ‘simple living and high thinking.’
The simple life of Vedic society means
one closer to the land; an agrarian lifestyle
Page 6
where people grow their own food within
local economies. We can easily produce
all we require in this way. The basic
requirements of the body are analysed
as eating, sleeping, mating and security,
and these can be had without excessive
work. Prabhupada would often point out
that the animals have no industry and
technology but still they obtain all the
same necessities as us simply by nature’s
arrangement.
But we have moved right away from
this kind of simple agrarian life. Local
economies are being swallowed in the
engulfing tide of globalisation. Great
corporations and conglomerates are
producing all our necessities, as well
as countless not so necessaries, and all
we can do is try to get a job with them
to get the money to buy that stuff. We
find ourselves at their mercy in so many
ways, dependent on fragile infrastructures
and supply chains, along with volatile
market forces controlled by cash hungry
investors.
All this so called progress over the
centuries has been driven by a desire to
improve our material sense pleasure. It
has been the march of ‘civilisation’ which
Prabhupada dismissed as “sophisticated
animal life”. Virtually all human
endeavour now is about advancing
material facilities. The idea that life is
meant for self and God realisation is all
but gone, along with the experience of
spiritual happiness, far superior to any
November 2009
by Krishna Dharma das
worldly joy. But only when we discover
this spiritual pleasure can we reverse the
materialistic trend that appears headed
for disaster.
And it surely does seem that disaster
looms. Unemployment is just one of
many looming social problems. Family
breakdown, addiction, mental health and
poverty are all major areas of concern
now. There is a growing crisis on our
streets. The chairman of the Centre for
Social Justice, Iain Duncan-Smith said,
“We are working in communities without
hope. It is not that they have even known
hope and had it taken away. Rather, the
people in the communities you work with
are quite literally without hope: they are
hopeless.”
Prabhupada once said that in modern
society we first of all put ourselves into
anxiety and then we struggle to get out of
it. “That is your heroism”, he said.
In a properly functioning Vedic society
everyone works according to their nature,
doing what they enjoy and can do well.
There is no jostling for promotion and
ever increasing salaries. People are
satisfied due to their spiritual practise. A
house built upon rock rather than sand, as
Jesus Christ advised a long time ago.
It is a simple formula. Krishna says in the
Bhagavad-gita, “Worship me and work
for my pleasure. Thus you will be happy
in this life and the next.” It is time we put
it to the test.
 Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter November 2009

Sanjay Gohil

:
Age: 17

C S O C S
K   
Studying: Studying A-levels

What made you start attending

IPS events?
About 11 months ago I heard about East London
Jammin. It sounded interesting and different
and so I decided to check what it’s all about. I
found the talks and the association to be very
appealing and inspiring. I’ve been going to IPS
events ever since.

What did you find appealing

about KC?
 


Being a ‘fresher’ at university is
an unforgettable experience. It is
a time to step out into a new world, a chance to
grow educationally, socially and emotionally, form
opinions and principles and see the world with
new eyes. ‘Freshers fayres’ aim to epitomise this
attendance rate of 25 students
per session. There are WEEKLY: Yoga classes,
interactive workshops, debates, vegetarian
cooking lessons and mantra meditation classes
to name but a few of the activities that KC Socs
are actively conducting in a campus NEAR YOU!
appealed to me as well as the association of
the devotees. To add to that, I found that the
philosophy of KC made sense and I could notice
the changes in me as I took up the process.
What services are you currently
involved in?
I am part of the East London Jammin team
mood; from tai chi to toga parties – there’s room Every Wednesday, there is ‘Oasis in the City’ at  

for everyone!
Taking this spirit to heart, the ISKCON Pandava
Sena (IPS) Krishna Consciousness Society (KC
Soc) team have been having fun and offering
our London Radha Krishna temple, a session well as just helping out here and there.
organised for students to come together and
dive into a sacred space. More than 30 students Interesting fact about yourself
 
     " #
students the chance to experience ’a life less
ordinary’ the ‘Krishna’ way!
The 2009-2010 project kicked-off in late August
Guide’ – the evening included an interactive
self development workshop, soul stirring kirtan
(spiritual music) and delicious prasadam
I used to get involved in a lot of art competitions
when I was in school and once achieved the
‘Artist of the Year’ award in my high school. I
also managed to get myself on TV through my
 

$%
with a exciting workshop at Bhaktivedanta
Manor for everyone who wished to be a part
of a university KC Socs. Presenters, society
presidents and volunteers all got together (over
participation in various different skits at school.
University affords a chance like no other to shape
minds, build character and transform the heart.
Being a part of a university KC Soc is a chance

jammin
to give people Krishna, the source of all that is jammin
50 of them!!) to plan the revolution…as well as to
jammin
jammin
have some of the yummy pizza lunch! beautiful in a personal, creative and dynamic way.

jammin
Next up: Freshers!! Armed with eye-catching
It is a chance to watch someone’s life change in
front of your eyes.
jammin jammin
banners, mantra kits, delicious cakes, matching
T-shirts, pamphlets, books, incense sticks, face- Whether you are into rigorous philosophical
         debate, discussion about the deeper aspects of
appearance by His Grace Pankajangiri Prabhu life, or even if you want to chill out with people that
in Birmingham!) the university spiritual warriors think about life, this is the place to be! Coupled Jammin is a fortnightly youth event organised
cooked up a real storm. A number of enthusiastic with a friendly bunch of hosts and presenters, KC and facilitated by IPS
university students formed ‘The A-Team’ and Socs gives you access to the ancient teachings Forthcoming Jammins:
attended most of the London based university of spiritual India and allow you to understand how 06/11 - East - Me, myself and Facebook
‘freshers’. Their presence caused a real stir… they relate to contemporary life. 07/11 - Crawley - How big is your but?
raised pulses and enthused everyone involved So please join us for a year which is not to be 13/11 - Harrow - The ugly truth
including those they came into contact with. missed. Check us out on www.krishnasoc.com or
20/11 - East - Flash forward – what would
In what has been one of our best starts ever, we email Sandipan Krsna Dasa at skdasa@gmail. you if you knew your future
have held our own alongside (and made friends com. See you soon!
04/12 - East - Now I see it, now I don’t
with) hundreds of cultural, political, religious and A university near YOU: Aston, Birmingham,
social groups in 20 universities nationwide. With Brunel, Cambridge, Cardiff, City, Coventry, 05/12 - Crawley - Sex, drugs and soul
hundreds of paid members, thousands of contacts DMU, Hertfordshire, Imperial, Kings, Leicester, 18/12 - East - Christmas bash
- each university has made between 100and LSE, Portsmouth, QMUL, SOAS, Southampton, For more details see wwww.psena.com
300 student contacts and now have an average Swansea, UCL, Warwick…with more planned. Subject to change

Page 7
Bhaktivedanta Manor Newsletter
Consecration of the Deities at
Krishna-Avanti Primary School
On 28thh September,
b Srii Srii Krishna-
ih
Balaram were welcomed to the Krishna
Avanti Primary School in an installation
ceremony conducted by His Holiness
Bhakti Charu Swami and Pankajangari
das. The centre courtyard features a
beautiful temple made from carved white
Weekend Warriors make history in Windsor
Forty devotees gathered in the historical
town of Windsor to hold the first ever
Rathayatra chariot festival there. Many
passers-by stopped to marvel at the
beauty of the mini-Ratha cart, along with
the accompanying chanting and dancing.
Prasadam (sanctified vegetarian food),
Calendar Dates
November 2009
Sun 1st Disapp of Sri Bhugarba Goswami &
Sri Kasisvara Pandit
Mon 2nd Sri Krishna Rasayatra
Kartik ends
Thur 12th Utpanna Ekadasi
Sat 14th Disapp of Sri Saranaga Thakura
Sat 28th Moksada Ekadasi
December 2009
Sat 5th Disapp of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta
Saraswati Thakura
Sat 12th Saphala Ekadasi
Sat 19th Disapp of Srila Jiva Goswami
Mon 28th Putrada Ekadasi
Page 8
November 2009
Makrana
k marble.
bl It acts as a spiritual
ii l
heart-beat for the School. Along with
learning the National Curriculum the
children attend religious ceremonies
and prepare, cook and sanctify some
of their food.
On the 10th of October, Open
Day guests learned that the new The school also has adventure
building is equipped with a range of playgrounds, an amphitheatre, and a
environmentally friendly technologies, football pitch made of astroturf. The first
and eco-values will permeate school term at the new premises began on 8th
life. September 2009.
Water is warmed by pumping it 70 meters The school is a Voluntary-Aided
below ground level, achieving 70% project launched by the I-Foundation in
savings in heating bills. Each classroom conjunction with the DCSF and Harrow
has a small garden that children will Council. ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor
look after. is the official Faith Partner.
Notting Hill Carnival
Devotees gathered from across London
to add a spiritual ingredient to the famous
Notting Hill Carnival, the largest festival
of its kind in Europe. An estimated
one million revellers participated in the
event!
books and mantra meditation kits were
also well received by the locals. At
the end of the day, the devotees were
treated to a feast prepared by the local
congregational group. The Windsor
festival is one in a series of events held
in and around the London area.
Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna Driving School
Dharam Marg · Hilfield Lane
Aldenham · Herts
WD25 8EZ
(for sat-nav only, please use
postcode WD25 8DT)
01923 851000
www.krishnatemple.com
Please send your news, photos
and comments to Radha
Mohan das at: Krishna Balaram das launches a bold
new operation - the Hare Krishna
newsletter@krishnatemple.com
Driving School!
© 2009, All articles & photographs copyright of Bhaktivedanta Manor