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Sridhama Mayapur
Preaching programs
Devotees on the campus distribute the ISKCON newspaper, "Sankirtan Samachar," and Bengali versions of Srila Prabhupada's books. Books, beads, clothing, pictures, tapes and other paraphernalia may also be purchased at the many bookstalls, found at every major intersection. Located in the middle of the main garden is the Hari Nama Parikrama Project, established in 1986 on Lord Caitanya's 500th appearance anniversary. Here one can circumambulate the lotus footprints of Lord Caitanya by stepping from one oval stone tile to the next while chanting one complete Hare Krishna maha-mantra on each stone. At the end of the ring of stone tiles, one comes to the lotus feet of the Lord, situated on a monument dedicated to the travelers of the ISKCON Padayatra party. At the Lord's lotus feet, one receives certification of completing the course of chanting. One also may receive prasadam, purchase books, and become enlightened in the process of chanting from the devotees who oversee the site. Nearby, one may sit down and hear and read the Krishna book, written by Srila Prabhupada. This book describes the pastimes of Lord Sri Krishna when He appeared on this earth more than 5100 years ago. Persons participating in this "theme park" read the book to other listeners and may win a prize. Thus both the readers and the hearers benefit from the program. Visitors to the Samadhi are also drawn into the spiritual atmosphere by the resident preachers who guide them around the building and introduce them to Krishna conscious literature and philosophy. Occasional sankirtan parties chant and dance through the campus, and a Vedic elephant procession carries the Deities around the main gardens on Saturday night, with full fanfare of lamps, conch-shells, flags, chanting, mantras, and fans of all description. Every morning at 5 a.m. there is a fire sacrifice in the main sacrificial arena (yajna shalla), where Vedic mantras are chanted and grains and ghee are offered into a fire that has been burning continuously for the last ten years. The only other place in India where this offering is performed daily is in Udupi at the ashram of Madhvacarya, the sampradaya-acarya of our line. At the house where Srila Prabhupada first stayed in 1971 when he obtained land in Mayapur, a 24-hour kirtan is performed. Dedicated devotees take turns chanting the Lord's holy names and playing the mridanga drum and karatala cymbals non-stop, year round. It is a common occurance for Chief Ministers and Governors of the states of India, as well as Central-government ministers and other friendly politicians to visit Mayapur. They come to pay their respects to the Lord and see the work that ISKCON is doing. During the hot or rainy seasons when tourism is reduced, groups of Mayapur devotees leave the campus and travel by bus throughout Bengal. In the towns and villages they set up a stage, where they hold a kirtan with the people, show a movie or slide show about ISKCON activities worldwide, and distribute prasadam. Every person in the villages and thousands in the towns attend these programs. A regular sankirtan party also travels from town to town distributing books. One of the most successful programs besides book distribution is the nama-hatta program. In this congregational preaching program, over 10,000 centers of chanting the holy name of the Lord have been established in Bengal during the last 20 years. These centers are usually in the villages, where the people are simple but pious and are interested in learning to chant and become Krishna conscious in the association of other persons similarly inclined. |
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Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare |
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