Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

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Shree Shree Radha Krishna Cultral Centre

My dear Uddhava, one should always

discuss My birth and activities and enjoy

life by participating in festivals, such as

Janmastami, which glorify My pastimes.

In My temple, one should also participate

in festivals and ceremonies by singing,

dancing, playing musical instruments and

discussing Me with other Vaishnavas.

One should observe all the regularly

celebrated annual festivals by attending

ceremonies, pilgrimages and making

offerings.

Lord Krishna

Shree Krishna Janmastami

Celebrated during August/September each year

Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In the Srimad-Bhagavatam there is a description of all kinds of incarnations of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and in this list the name of Krishna also appears. However, it is then said that this Krishna is not an incarnation of God but is the original Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself (ete camsa-kalah pumsah krsnas tu bhagavan svayam)

Lord Brahma says in the Braham Samhita: isvarah paramah krsnah sac-cid-ananda-vigrahah anadir adir govindah sarva-karana-karanam

“Krishna, who is known as Govinda, is the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He has an spiritual body full of eternity, knowledge and bliss. He has   no beginning, for He is the beginning of everything. He is the cause of all causes.”

In the scriptures it is said, “the Supreme Absolute Truth is the person, His name is Krishna, and He sometimes descends to this earth.” Lord Krishna appears once in a day of Brahma. He last appeared on the earth 5000 years ago, namely at the end of the Dvapara-yuga of the twenty-eighth millennium of the seventh Manu. Although the Lord appears on schedule, He has no obligation to adhere to such rules and regulations, because He is completely free to act in many ways at His will. He therefore appears by His own will whenever there is a predominance of irreligiosity and a disappearance of true reglion.

In temples throughout the world festivals are organised where the Lord’s appearance is celebrated with great pomp. Devotees fast until midnight (the time the Lord appeared) on this day.

Ram Navmi

(Birth of Lord Ramachandra, celebrations during March/April each year)

Millions of years ago Lord Ramachandra appeared in Ayodhya, as the son of  King Dasarath. The day before His coronation the King, His father was forced to order Rama to go to the forest for fourteen years. His younger brother, Laksman and eternal consort, Sitadevi joined Him. After thirteen years in the forest Ravana, an enemy of the Lord, kidnapped Sita and took Her to Lanka.

Dussehra

(The slaying of Ravan, celebrations during September/October each year)

With the help of His devotees such as Sugriva and Hanuman. Lord Rama reached Lanka. For nine days there was fierce fighting between the Lord’s army consisting of monkey devotees and the Ravana’s army. On the tenth day (Dussehra) Lord Rama killed Ravana, who had ten heads, and He rescued Sitadevi. On this day an effigy of Ravana is burned.

Diwali

(The return of Lord Rama to Auodhya, celebrations during October/November each year)

This ceremony was observed by the inhabitants of Ayodhya, the kingdom of Lord Ramachandra, when the Lord returned after fourteen years away. Diwali ceremony can be observed in the temple by illuminating hundreds of candles, in the different parts of the temple, and offering opulent foodstuffs to the Deity.

Hanuman Jayanti

(The birth of Hanuman, celebrations during April/May each year)

Hanuman Jayanti is the birth of Hanuman, the greatest servant of Lord Rama. Hanuman was always engaged in carrying out Ramachandra’s orders and therefore has attained perfection. In Hanuman’s pastimes, one of the greatest service was to search for and find mother Sita in Lanka after her abduction by Ravan.

Govardhan Puja

(Celebration during October/November each year)

Formerly, some 5000 years ago, all the cowherd men of Vrindavan had arranged to worship Kind Indra, but they gave this worship up, following the advice of Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Indra had become very proud at being the supreme controller of the heavenly planets and so the Lord wanted to teach him a lesson. Instead of worshipping Indra, the honest and simple cowherd men, headed by Nanda Maharaja, accepted Krishna’s proposal and executed in detail everything. He advised, Learned brahmanas began to worship Govardhan Hill by chanting Vedic hymns and offering prasas (sanctified food). The inhabitants of Vrindavan assembled together, decorated their cows and gave them grass. Keeping the cows in front, they began to circumambulate Govardhan Hill. At that time Krishna expanded Himself and delcared,” I am Govardhan Hill,” In this way He accepted all the paraphernalia and food offered to Govardhan Hill.

When Indra saw that Nanda Maharaja was worshipping Govardhan Hill, he became very angry and sent vicious clouds to inundate all of Vrindavan with a flood. Krishna then showed Indra that his power was not even competent to deal with the little finger of His left hand. Therefore Krishna lifted Govardhan Hill with the small finger of His left hand and used it as an umbrella to save all the people of Vrindavan from Indra’s torrents. In this way Indra was humbled by the Lord. In all the temples of Vrindavan or outside of Vrindavan, huge quantities of food are prepared in this ceremony and are very sumptuously distributed to the general population.

Radhastami

The Apperance of Srimati Radharani

(Celebration during September/October each year)

Although Radha & Krishna are one in identity, They separate Themselves eternally to enjoy loving pastime. Radharani possesses all the attractiveness to attract and enchant even the all-attractive Supreme Lord, Shree Krishna. Radharani is the one who gives pleasures to Krishna and Her only desire is to fulfill the desires of Krishna. Radharani is the eternal consort of Lord Krishan.

Radharani is the pleasure potency of the Lord. She appreared fifteen days after Krishna’s birth. When she appeared, Her birth was not from the womb of any human being. Radharani was found by Her father, in a lotus flower in the Yamuna river. Radharani is the greatest devotee, the emblem of maha-bhagavat. Even Krishna, Who knows everything, still fails to understand Radharani.

Radharani is hari-priya, very dear to Krishna. So if we approach Krishna through Radharani the Lord will easily accept us. If Radharani recommends that “this devotee is very nice”, then Krishna will immediately accept that.

Gaura Purnima

The Appearance of Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu

(Celebrated during February/March each year)

Lord Shree Chaitanya Mahapraphu is an incarnation of Lord Krishan, who appeared 511 years ago in Mayapura, West Bengal. He personally taught the congregational chanting of the Hara Krishna maha-mantra is the primary means of God realisation in this present age of quarrel and hypocrisy. He ordered His followers to spread the chanting to every town and village in the world.

Although Lord Chaitanya is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Krishna Himself, He played the part of a devotee of Krishna. When  people addressed Him as God, He would   sometimes hold His hand over His ears. However, although He attempted to conceal His real identity, Vedic scholars could understand that He was the incarnation predicted in the Srimad Bhagavantam, which declars:

In this age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead, who constantly sings the name of Krishna. Although His complexion is not blackish. “He is Krishna Himself.”

ISKCON temples throughout the world organise festivals where the Lord’s appearance is celebrated with great splendour. Devotees fast until moonrise (the time the Lord appeared) on this day.

Nrsimha Caturdasi

The Appearance of Lord Nrsimhadeva

(Celebration during May each year)

Lord Nrsimhadeva is the incarnation of the Lord, who appeared in a half-man, half-lion form in order to protect His devotee, Prahlad Maharaja, from the attacks of his atheistic and demoniac father Hiranyakashipu.

After performing severe austerities, Hiranyakashipu had acquired a boon from Brahma that he could not be killed by any human being or animal, nor on land or sea, nor during the day or night, nor by any weapon, not inside or outside.

Hiranyakashipu thought this boon made him invincible and soon he terrorised and conquered everything he could  see. His son, Prahlad Maharaja, however, was a great devotee of the Lord.

Hiranyakashipu did not like that and tried to kill him in so many ways. Finally, the Lord decided to appear and He came in a half-man, half-lion form. He vanquised Hiranyakashipu while it was dusk (not considered inside or outside).

This the Lord proved that He is always the protector of His beloved devotees. By taking shelter of Lord Nrimhadeva, the devotees remain fearless in all conditions of life. Devotees fast until dusk on this day.

Ratha-Yatra

The Festival of Chariots

(Celebration during June each year)

Ratha-Yatra is an ancient festival that has been celebrated in Jagannath Puri for the last 3000 years ISKCON has been celebrating this festival in major cities around the world since 1967. It is one of the most joyous and unique festivals of the year. Deities of Their Lordships, Shree Shree Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra are taken out of the temple for a ride on a beautiful chariot decorated in traditional Orissan style. This commemorates Lord Krishan’s return to His childhood home of Vrindaban, which he left as a young boy. During the Lord’s absence, His family, friends and lovers were all feeling intense separation were always meditating on His return.

These special forms of the Lord were originally carved for the very pious and exalted king of Orissa, Maharaja Indradyumma. Although  the carvings were never completed, the king worshipped the forms as they appeared.

Guru Purnima

The Appearance of Lord Vyasadeva

(Observed on Full moon day in the month of ASHADA July, in honour of Sage Vyasa)

Guru Purnima means Vyasa-Puja. On this day the spiritual master or Guru is honoured because he is the representative of Srila Vyasadeva. Vyasadeva, who is an incarnation of Lord Vishun, is the original author of Vedic literature. He gave all Vedic knowledge, which he received from Narada Muni, who received the knowledge from Lord Brahma, who received the knowledge from Lord Krishna. Similary Vyasadeva passed the knowledge to his disciples and through this disciples succession transcendental knowledge has been passed on, without any change, to the present spiritual masters.

On Guru Purnima, the spiritual master receives all honour, all dakshina (donations), on behalf of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The spiritual master does not receive the honour of himself. Just as the knowledge is received by the student from the higher authority, the respect given to that higher authority by the student is similarly passed onwards, ultimately to the Supreme Lord.

The appearance day of Srial Prabhupada on 23rd August is an occasion when those who appreciate Srila Prabhupada gather together to glorify his activities and exalted qualities and to express their immense gratitude for his bringing Krishna consciousness to them and the world. All devotees especially pray to Srila Prabhupada on this day to bestow his mercy upon them so that they can make progress in Krishan consciousness.

Ekadasi

The day of Lord Hari

(Observed on the 11th day of the waxing & waning moon)

Ekadasi falls twice montly on the eleventh day of the waning and waxing moon and is an auspicious day for making advancement in one’s spiritual life. On this day the observer of the fast increases spiritual activities and minimises bodily necessities. Devotees fast from grains and beans as enjoined in the scriptures. One who observes fasting on Ekadasi is freed from all kinds of reactions to sinful activities and advances in spiritual life. These sacred fasting days greatly help any sincere soul achieve, even within this present lifetime, liberation from birth and death.

The most important of all the Ekadasisis called “Pandava Nirjal Ekadasi” or Bhima Ekadasi.” It is said that if one observes this Ekadasi by fasting completely (not even water), then the benefit of fasting on all the Ekasadis accrue to that person. Please refer to our Vaishnava calender to check the fasting dates.