Newsletter July 2022
Dear devotees and friends of Goloka Dhama,
Please accept our good wishes, all glories to our founder Acarya Srila Prabhupada!
This month, we like to share with you an inspiring report on the first Ratha Yatra in Tier, some information about the service of our social media team and a life teaching story from the Vedic scriptures.
Chariot festival for peace and international understanding
(adapted from an article written by Manjula Mani and published in the newspapers)
On Saturday the 18.06.2022, something never seen before in the city centre of Trier happened: a happy, colourful festival for "peace and international understanding". The whole event was organized by Goloka Dhama e.V in Abentheuer. About 200 Krishna devotees from more than 20 nations pulled a big decorative wagon with ropes through the pedestrian zone. They were accompanied with singing, dancing, drums, accordions and cymbals.
This is the first event of this kind in Trier. Originally, this great chariot festival has been celebrated every year for thousands of years and with millions of pilgrims in Jagannatha Puri (India). On this day, God leaves the temple to show Himself and bless all the people who, otherwise would not be able to see Him. In the western world, this event is very popular, especially in metropolises like London, Sydney, New York and Los Angeles. It was introduced in the mid-1970s and brought to the west by Srila Prabhupada, the founder Acarya of the international movement of Krsna consciousness. The city of San Francisco has declared this day to be a public holiday.
The chariot was lavishly decorated with fresh flowers and cloths. On it sat the historic altar figures of Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra, who this year will celebrate their 50th anniversary in Europe. Sri Jagannatha who is also known as the Lord of the Universe (God) has the power to unite all peoples in peace.
For this special occasion we were blessed with the presence of the Consul Mr. Ram Chauhan and the Vice Consul Mr. Rajesh Kashyap from the Indian Consulate in Frankfurt. In his speech, the Vice Consul expressed his gratitude to the city of Trier for their cooperation and support for the successful execution of this event.
Another highlight of the event was the dance of the Ukrainian women who led the procession dressed in saris as colourful as a rainbow. Two schoolgirls from Ukraine performed a classical Indian dance in front of Porta Nigra and at the Kornmarkt which aroused the enthusiasm of the spectators. The two young dancers and 31 other refugees from the Ukraine have found shelter and refuge with their families in the Goloka Dhama Temple.
All along the route, large quantities of Vegan Organic Sweets were distributed by the company Govindas Manufaktur in Birkenfeld. Fresh fruit and flowers were handed out to passers-by. The weather was beautiful and the mood was full of joy and transcendental happiness. The event ended with a festive dinner for all participants in premises provided by Yoga Vidya.
A dynamic social media team
We are happy to present our renewed approach to our social media. With the world's present situation, social media has become an essential part of our communications in our spiritual and daily lives; connecting with each other has just become a click away!
Surely nothing can ever replace a live darshan, a dynamic kirtan, or a live lecture, but different times require different measures therefore, we are doing our best to adapt to this new situation and would like to keep you inspired, providing you with the most recent news and inspirations through our more proactive approach to our social media.
This service is mainly inspired by the desire to make Sri Sri Radha Madana Mohan famous. It is led by Symala Srimati Raya and greatly supported by Bhaktin Valentina and Anirudha. Most of the actual posts are appearing on Instagram, Facebook and on our YouTube channel.
We appreciate your ideas, comments, and suggestions. Please feel free to email us at: Info@goloka-dhama.de. Let us together serve our beloved Sri Sri Radha Madan Mohan and always stay connected with Their divine presence.
Life teaching story
During the daily morning lectures in the temple, we are now entering the fantastic story of Vritasura, which is found in the very middle of the entire Srimad Bhagavatam. At this stage, King Indra and all the demigods come to beg Lord Visnu for help to kill the demon Vritasura.
This time, Lord Visnu is not going to do the job for the demigods. He wants them to reverse the situation. He is nevertheless giving them guidance by telling them: “go to the Saint named “Dadici” and ask him for his bones (his life) from which you will be able to make a powerful weapon to kill this demon Vritasura. Saint Dadici had performed lots of austerities, vows and had accumulated great wisdom, thus making his body and bones very strong.
There is a very relevant side story. Indra, the king of heaven was envious of the two Asvini Kumara (doctors of the demigods) because they were always eager to learn about Bhakti. Therefore, Indra was always neglecting and setting them aside. The two Asvini Kumaras approached the sage Dadici to learn about Krsna Bhakti but when Indra heard about that, he warned Dadici that if he taught them, he (Indra) would personally cut his head off. When the Asvini Kumaras came for their first Bhakti training session, Dadici told them about the warning of Indra. The Asvini Kumaras, who were transcendental doctors, made a proposal to Dadici: “We will replace your head with the head of a horse and with this horse head, you may teach us about Bhakti. When Indra comes to cut your horse head, we will then reconnect your real head to your body”. Dadici Muni was not at all attached to his material body and agreed to this plan. Then it all happened as planned by the Asvini Kumaras and the real head of Dadici was again placed without a drop of blood or any pain.
Back to the main story, Visnu is now telling Indra that his survival and the survival of all demigods is now in the hands of Dadici and that he should beg for his body; his life, to make the weapon. Indra told Visnu: “There is a relationship problem between me and Dadici. I cut his head off! How can I now ask him for a favour?” Visnu, knowing everything, replied: “Why don´t you go to the Asvini Kumaras, they are his disciples. If they ask him for his bones, he will do it out of love for his disciples.”
Now, Indra having no way out, had to become very humble and had to beg for help from the Asvini Kumaras; the ones he always put down and set aside. We can learn a very important lesson with this story. Krsna may arrange the same scenario in our own lives and arrange situations that will help us to become very humble. This story also helps us to show proper respect to all living entities, knowing well that one day we might be a situation of being dependent upon them. The Lord is such an expert in making His devotees humble.
For the month of July, Goloka Dhama will host a few private retreats and one with the disciple of H.H. Caitanya Candra Caran Prabhu. We like also to invite you to the great festivities of August with the Julan Yatra starting on 8th August, on 12th August Balarama appearance day and end of Julan Yatra, on 19th August Sri Krsna Janmastami. Then on 4th September, there’s Radhastami. Special guests for Sri Krsna Janmastami are: H.H.Sacinandana Swami, Madhavananda Prabhu, Ramanaji and Gaura Krsna.
With the hope that this newsletter was inspiring, we like to express our gratitude to your continual support for the Goloka Dhama temple.
On behalf of the community.
Your servant,
Gaurahari dasa