Successful preaching in Kwa-Zulu Natal by Syamarani devi dasi

Hare Krsna all
All Glories to Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja and Srila Prabhupada
Please accept my dandavat pranams.

We are extremely fortuanate to be having
all this very High Class Vaishnava Sadhu Sanga.
First it was Sripad Damodara Maharaja,then
Madhuvrata prabhu our beloved Srila Gurudeva`s
personal cook now HG Syamarani and Vasanti didi`s.
Syamarani didi as you all may know her as Jadurani
devi dasi ,who met Srila AC Bhaktivedanta Swami
Prabhupada in 1966.Syamarani didi recalls that
early meeting in Thomkins square park with
fond memories and recalls how she was thinking
that Srila Prabhupada was from a different planet
and then after closeley associating and serving
her Gurudeva she realised he actually was from
a different planet not material though but from
Sri Goloka Vrndavan Dham.

Syamarani didi also recalls how Srila Prabhupada
thought her to paint although she was an art
student who had graduated from the New York
art university and when Srila Prabhupada asked
to see her paintings she did not show him which
painting she had drawn but showed a friends
painting but Srila Prabhupada being transcendental
picked out her drawing and in this way by Srila
Prabhupada`s mercy instructed didi how to
paint Sri Radha and Krsna and many other
transcendental paintings including for his
books and temples.

Syamarani didi also recalled how after Srila
Prabhupada`s dissapeareance in 1992
she met our Beloved Srila Gurudeva
Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja
her Siksha Gurudeva and also relates
how according to Srila Prabhupada
and our previous Acharaya`s there
is no difference between the Diksha
Guru and the Siksha Guru.Srila
Prabhupada has written about this in
his books.Now under the guidance of
our Beloved Srila Gurudeva didi is
painting all these beautiful paintings
and the most famous one is the one
titled Seva Kunj which was personally
supervised by our Srila Srila Gurudeva
and said that this painting of the Divine
couple Sri Sri Radha and Krsna is actually
a picture of his heart.

Now by the Mercy of our Beloved Srila Gurudeva
Syamarani didi is travelling all over the world
and delivering Hari Katha as she has heard from
the Lotus Mouths of her Beloved Diksha and Siksha
Gurudeva`s.We are eternally grateful for didi`s
association and all of her advice.Actually whilst
writing this blog Didi phoned me from Johannesburg
and requested me to do some thing,at first i hesitated
and then agreed and i told her i have so much respect
and also she has so much Guru Nistha for both her
Diksha and Siksha Gurudeva`s something which
i`m hoping to have in one future life.By always
associating with devotees who already has such
qualtiies then i`m sure i`ll be successful one day.

SADHU SANGA KI JAI!

Syamarani devi dasi arrives in Pietermaritzburg Today

Hare Krsna all
Please accept my dandavat pranams
All Glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga

By the Mercy of Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga
Syamarani didi arrives in Pietermaritzburg
today from Cape Town where she was
preaching for the last week.This is Syamarani
didi`s first visit to the Magical province
of the Zulu.Syamarani didi will be here
for 1 week for preaching engagements
that we have arranged.Starting tmrrow
Syamarani didi will speak at a house
programme in Pietermaritzburg ,then
on Wednesday a hall programme is
arranged at the Ved Dharam Sabha
hall in Northdale a suburb of Pietermaritzburg.
Syamarani didi will also be exibiting her wonderful
artwork and delivering Hari Katha.

Then on Thursday the programme will be
in Phoenix at the 15 Acropolis steet Durban.
Then on Friday at the Pietermaritzburg
Nama Hatta ,Newholmes Primary School
commencing at 18h30 for all the programmes.
I would like to thank all our supporters
and well wishers for contributing to all
our very succesful programmes and the
many emails i`ve received thank you all
for your kind words and support.

I`ll report back after each programme.

Syamarani devi dasi arrives in South Africa

Hare Krsna to All
Please accept my dandavat pranams
All Glories to Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga

Hope all is well,By the Grace of Sri Guru
and Gauranga, HG Syamarani(Jadurani)
devi dasi arrived in South Africa ,Johannesburg
today and will fly to the Mother city ,Cape Town
for programmes and return to Durban on the 20th
July and come to Pietrmaritzburg the City of Choice
for Gaudiya Matha.

HG Syamarani devi dasi is a very senior disciple
of His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami
Maharaja Srila Prabhupada.Under Srila Prabhupada`s
expert guidance she painted the first Radha and Krsna
paintings in in the late 1960`s.After Srila Prabhupada`s
dissapeareance,Syamarani didi met our Beloved Srila
Gurudeva Bhaktivedanta Narayana Goswami Maharaja
in 1992 and has taken siksha(instructions)from our
beoved Srila Gurudeva and she now travels around
the world delivering Hari Katha on behalf of our Beloved
Srila Gurudeva.She is also famous for her very beautiful
paintings as she is such a gifted artist.

The most famous painting is Seva Kunja,of the Divine
Couple Sri Sri Radha and Krsna.To view her beautiful
paintings please visit her website www.bhaktiart.net.

Syamarani devi dasi will be in Pietermaritzburg on
the 20th July 2009 and the first programme will
be held at the Ved Dharam Sabha hall on
Bombay Road ,Northdale at 18h30.
Then at unit 10 Phoenix Durban.
For further info on all her programmes please
contact me on +27827479669
or email me at acyuta.bvnm@gmail.com.

I `ll keep you all posted on the programmes.
Jai Srila Gurudeva ,Jai Srila Prabhupada.

Tomorrow 7th July is beginning of Caturmasya and Eclipse

Haribol All
All Glories to Srila Gurudeva,Jai Sacinandana

Tomorrow is beginning of Caturmasya and
Eclipse.I`m attaching some information
on both events.Also some info on Ekadasi.




Monday, 26 January 2009
The 2009-10 Vaisnava Calendar (Panjika) has been made in accordance with the rules for making exact solar and lunar calculations as delineated in Hari-bhakti-vilasa by Sri Sanatana Gosvami, and as followed by Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja in the various locations he visits during his worldwide preaching.
Break Fast Times: As in last year's calendar, the parana, or exact times within which to break a fast, is listed according to location. You will note that these times vary considerably. This is due to a location's latitude, longitude, and time of year.
Such times are marked by the words: Break fast times. For example, Amsterdam (06:53-10:51) informs a person in Amsterdam to break his fast between 6.53am and 10.51am
Daylight Savings Time: Daylight savings time (DST) not considered. This means that the exact break fast and eclipse times given herein does not take Daylight Savings Time into account. The reader is therefore advised to add the DST difference for the local time zone (usually one hour ) when DST is in effect (during summer months). For example, 09:01 am becomes 10:01 am. When DST is not in effect, simply observe the local break fast or eclipse times as listed.
It is the desire of Sri Srimad Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja that the calculations for the individual time zones around the world be followed.
Calculations: In the previous year calendar, the calculations for the positions of the sun and moon were made from the center of the earth (geocentric). In this year's calendar, under the guidance of Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayana Gosvami Maharaja (Srila Gurudeva), the calculations are being made from the surface of the earth for each location. Due to this difference, you may find that this calendar will vary slightly from other vaisnava calendars that are using geocentric calculations.
Maha-dvadasi: There are eight special conditions when a dvadasi lunar tithi becomes a Maha-dvadasi. In such cases, fasting is done on the Maha-dvadasi and not the ekadasi. A Maha-dvadasi may be in effect for one location and not another. A regular dvadasi can also become a fast day for an ekadasi under certain conditions. Please pay attention to the fasting instructions for each location which are listed under the location name.
Eclipses: This year we have included worldwide eclipse times. Please see rules to be followed during eclipses below.
Special Festival Days: The Gaudiya Vaisnavas observe the appearance days of Visnu tattva incarnations of Lord Sri Krsna by fasting on those days (no grains): Sri Advaita Acarya, Lord Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, Lord Sri Ramacandra, Lord Sri Nrsimhadeva, Lord Sri Balarama, Lord Sri Krsna. For the festival days of Lord Varahadeva and Lord Vamanadeva which are on a dvadasi tithi, fasting is done on the dvadasi when it becomes a maha-dvadasi, else fasting is done the day before on ekadasi.
For more details and explanations about the different festivals and appearance and disappearance days, information about the various programs and festivities in your local area and around the world, or to view transcendental art and lectures online, please visit our website: www.purebhakti.com
Rules for Observing Ekadasi Fast and Break Fast
If you have observed a complete fast (meaning, you have not even taken water on Ekadasi day) you do not need to break the fast the following day with grains. You can break it with caranamrita (Krsna's foot bathing water) or fruit at the times mentioned herein. But if on Ekadasi you took fruit, vegetables, etc. then you should break it with grains next morning at the proper times listed for paran.
Maha-dvadasi is observed like Ekadasi when listed for your location.
Ekadasi
The essence of Ekadasi is to spend as much time as possible hearing, chanting and remembering Sri Sri Radha-Krsna. Therefore, on that day, it is recommended that one eat simply, only once or twice. Never eat meat, fish, eggs, onions, garlic, carrots, red lentils (masur dahl) green flat lentils, mushrooms or products thereof.
Restricted foods on Ekadasi:
Tomatoes, eggplants, cauliflower, broccoli, bell peppers, beets, bitter melon (karela), loki, parmal, toroi, kunli, drumsticks, bindi (ladies' fingers) and banana flowers
Peas, chickpeas and all types of beans, including products made from beans (e.g., papadams, tofu, tempeh and other soy products)
All leafy vegetables (e.g., spinach, salads, cabbages) and leafy herbs like parsley, coriander leaves, celery, curry leaves etc.
Grains (e.g., millet, barley, farina, pasta, rice, corn & quinoa) and all types of flour made from grains and beans (e.g., rice flour, chickpea flour, urad dahl flour) Buckweat is allowed on ekadasi
Starches from corn or grains, and products made from or mixed with these starches like baking soda, baking powder, certain soft drinks with corn syrup, custard, certain yoghurts and puddings, certain varieties of cream and cottage cheese, certain sweets and candies, and tapioca balls which often mixed with rice powder.
Oils made from grains (e.g., corn oil, mustard oil, soybean oil, sesame oil and general vegetable oil) and products fried in these oils (e.g., fried nuts, potato chips and other fried snack foods)
Honey, and sweets made with starches
Spices used only on Ekadasi:
Fresh ginger, fresh turmeric, black pepper powder, pure salt (preferably rock salt) taken from a new and clean package
All other spices are not used on Ekadasi: (for example: hing (asafotida), cumin, fenugreek, mustard, tamarind, fennel, cardamom, kalanji, nutmeg etc...
Foods that can be taken all days of the year, including Ekadasi and Caturmasya:
All fruits (fresh and dried), all nuts and all oils made from nuts
Potatoes, pumpkin, cucumber, radish, squash, lemon, avocado, olives, coconut, buckwheat, all sugars
All pure milk products (except yoghurt during the 2nd month of Caturmasya and milk during the 3rd month)
For sannyasis, brahmacaris and vanaprasthas: shaving head and cutting nails is to be done on full moon days only.
Caturmasya
Restricted foods during the entire four months of Caturmasya:
Eggplants, tomatoes (if possible), loki, parmal, urad dahl, honey
Particular foods that are restricted during each of the four months:
First month: No leafy vegetables, such as spinach, salads of all types, cabbages of all types, kale, leafy herbs like coriander, mint, parsley, curry and powdered leafy herbs and teas
Second month: No yoghurt (if one requires it for health, it can be mixed with some water)
Third month: No milk (if required, it can be mixed with a drop of lemon juice)
Fourth month: No Urad dahl, mustard seeds, mustard oil, sesame seeds and sesame oil.
Eclipses
There are three types of eclipses: total, partial, and penumbral.
Eclipses are considered inauspicious. To counteract inauspicious effects and to create auspiciousness, during an eclipse one avoids sleeping, eating, drinking, bathing or using the bathroom. It is recommended to stay indoors, not to look at the eclipse, and constantly chant Harinama.
Eclipses will be listed for your location. It is possible that an eclipse may not be visible, or it may be only partially visible from your location. To check eclipse visibility maps, see the Nasa Eclipse website at eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov. If an eclipse is not visible in your location, it is not necessary to observe it. However, it is still considered an inauspicious time. Although you may find eclipse viewing instructions at the above website, Gaudiya Vaisnavas do not recommend viewing eclipses.





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Sripad Damodara Maharaja preaches at the Pietermaritzburg Nama Hatta

Hare Krsna Devotees
All Glories to Srila Gurudeva

Please accept my Dandavat pranams.

We were very fortuanate in the last
2 weeks we had the association of Sripad
Damodara Maharaja with us here in Pietermaritzburg
and also Maharaja was travelling to Durban meeting
with devotees and also preaching at different programmes
organised by devotees.We were even more fortuanate that
last week another senior Godbrother arrives Sriman Madhuvrata
prabhu who is the personal cook of our Beloved Srila Gurudeva
Bhaktivedanta Narayana Maharaja and also travels with our
Srila Gurudeva and has graced us with his association here in
Pietermaritzburg.

Madhuvrata prabhu sings very beautiful Gaudiya Bhajans
very melodiously that one gets lost in the song when prabhu
sings.Madhuvrata prabhu also related some sweet pastimes
of our Beloved Srila Gurudeva.Last Friday Sripad Damodara
Maharaja and Madhuvrata prabhu attended our Nama Hatta
and Damodara Maharaja spoke on the verse from the Bhakti
Rasamrta Sindu Bindu "anyabhilasita-sunyam
jnana karmady-anavrtam
anukulyena krsnanu-
silanam bhaktir uttama

Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu(1.1.11)

"The cultivation of activities that are meant exclusively for the
pleasure of Sri Krsna,or in other words the uninterrupted flow
of service to Sri Krsna,performed through all endeavours of
the body,mind and speech,and through the expression of various spiritual
sentiments(bhavas), which is not covered by jnana(knowledge aimed at
impersonal liberation) and karma (reward -seeking activity),and which
is devoid of all desires other than the aspiration to bring happiness to Sri
Krsna, is called uttama-bhakti, pure devotional service."

Maharaja expained each word in this sloka beggining with
Anusilinam-Constant cultivation.
We would like to thank Maharaja for explaining this sloka
to us Maharaja is a real pandita.Maharaja is assiting
all the devotees in South Africa and assisting us in
preparing for our Beloved Srila Gurudeva`s Divine
Historic visit to South Africa and will return in November
to finalise all the arrangements.

Maharaja is now in Johannesburg delivering Hari Katha
and making arrangements for our Beloved Srila Gurudeva.
Anyone there who would like to meet with Maharaja please
contact Maharaja on +27714164211.