OM SRI SURABHI CAMPAIGN QUARTERLY REPORT – January 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018

by | Apr 19, 2018 | Quarterly Reports

OM SRI SURABHYAI NAMAH! OM SRI GURAVE NAMAH!

 

This is the thirteenth Quarterly Report summarizing the on-going developments of the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign – 2015 to 2027 in our attempt to promote the Global Varnasrama Mission. All the previous reports published can be read on our two main websites at www.iskconvarnasrama.comand www.srisurabhi.org.

 

JANUARY 2018

Important events unfolded in the first month of the year, in particular, the launching of the Sri Surabhi Mobile App as well as the inauguration of the IDVM-India Varnasrama College at SSKBK in South Karnataka. And before these two events, some of our IDVM-India members attended a conference on natural farming.

 

  1. NATURAL FARMING CONFERENCE IN AP INDIA

IDVM-India volunteers attended a seminar on ‘Zero Budget Natural Farming’ from December 31, 2017, until January 8 2018.

The Andhra Pradesh government officially arranged a nine-day seminar on Natural Farming for educating farmers about the ill effects of modern conventional agriculture methods and for showing alternative traditional methods of agriculture.

Ten devotees from Chirala and other parts of Andhra Pradesh attended this seminar. PadmaSri Subhash Palekar ji, a pioneer in Natural Farming was the chief facilitator for this seminar on the request of the Chief Minister of Andra Pradesh. The Chief Minister expressed in his inaugural speech of this program that his interest in developing chemical-free agriculture is aroused and would like to focus on it and thus declared this year 2018 to be the year of “Natural farming” for Andhra Pradesh.

Around eight thousand farmers from various districts of AP attended the seminar. The huge pandal was pitched to facilitate eight thousand people to sit at a

time. Both boarding and lodging was arranged beside the pandal. The encouraging feature of the program was that everything was free and only prior registration was mandatory.

Devotees attending made some arrangement in the kitchen to make their own cooking to avoid onion and garlic. The devotee who attended gave their feedback that, more than learning from the seminar, meeting and sharing experiences from the farmers who were already attempting or thinking for a shift to different alternative methods against the conventional methods was very inspiring.

A database of more than three hundred befriended farmers were collected. Some farmers seeing the devotees chanting started to chant Hare Krishna mantra counting on fingers later they were given beads and they promised to continue. Devotees put up stall in the pandal around five thousand worth cow products were sold and inspite of organizers objecting to keeping religious books for sale devotees sold around fifteen mahabooks and sixty small books by personal preaching.

The event can be seen at the following link:

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  1. SRI SURABHI MOBILE APP

January 15thwas a very auspicious and significant day for members connected with the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign. Devotees from IDVM-India chose that special day of Makara Sankranti, to launch the Sri Surabhi Mobile App, Android version. Within the first two months, over 500 persons downloaded the Sri Surabhi Mobile App thus introducing the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign in over 20 countries.

Plans are underway to launch the IOS version of the Sri Surabhi Mobile App and May 20 has been fixed as the launching date for this version.

 

  1. VARNASRAMA COLLEGE AT SSKBK

Hari Kirtan prabhu, National Director for Village Development at IDVM-India, organized a 15-day Varnasrama College at the Sahyadri Sri Krishna Balaram Ksetra (SSKBK) from January 15 till January 31 with over 20 registered students attending. The students participated in many types of activities covering both the theoretical and practical application of various Vedic Arts and Sciences. One can read a detailed account of the Varnasrama College at the following link: www.srisurabhi.org

 

  1. ADDITIONAL COURSES DURING THE YEAR 2018

The IDVM-INDIA VARNASHRAMA COLLEGE will be offering a three months course entitled “INTERNSHIP IN HOLISTIC AGRICULTURE” from June onwards. The course will be given at SSKBK located near Udupi in South Karnataka. Anyone interested may contact the following devotees:

Hari Kirtan das – 8309092414; hkd.brs.108@gmail.comand Sri Ram das- at 9642330011 or by writing at sriramadasa.brs@gmail.com

An additional short course will be given at ISKCON Chirala in Andhra Pradesh entitled “COW CARE & PAMCHAGAVYA PRODUCTS” sometime in September 2018. The Venue has not yet been decided but will be announced soon. For more information one may contact Hari Kirtan prabhu as 8309092414 or write at hkd.brs.108@gmail.com.

 

FEBRUARY 2018

February brings many devotees to Mayapur.to attend Gaura Purnima Festival. It is also the time one can attend the ISKCON Leadership Sanga (ILS) [Held every alternate year] and hear various presentations by devotees from all over the world. It is also during this time that the IDVM-Secretariat organizes Varnasrama Seminars.

 

  1. ILS-2018

There were two presentations made relating to the varnasrama mission. One was by Kaunteya prabhu, Co-Minister for Congregational Development, who gave a seminar entitled VARNASRAMA WITHOUT GURUKULA that was well received by all those attending

The second PowerPoint was given by Kalakantha prabhu, Minister for Cow Protection and Agriculture, on the subject of Ahimsa Milk and also reporting on Farm Conferences in different continents.

IDVM-India had its own bookstall and display booth at the event, distributing various books and pamphlets as well as encouraging people to download the newly launched Sri Surabhi Mobile App. Vishnurata prabhu made a short Video of the event.

 

  1. IDVM-INDIA SEMINARS IN MAYAPUR

The first seminar covered the theme of Astrology and Vishnutatta prabhu conducted the event successfully.

The second seminar was given by Jananivas prabhu and Rama Laksman prabhu on the subject matter of TRADITIONAL MILLETS. Although not many attended, the response was very positive. Those in attendance were from different countries including Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia and others. The devotees from Delhi took a keen interest in the course and invited the devotees to visit them.

 

  1. COW CULTURE CONFERENCE on MAY 20, 2018

The Sustainable Eco Alliance (SEA. Inc), a North America non-profit organization working closely with ISKCON is preparing for the very first COW CULTURE CONFERENCE to be held on May 20that San Jose in California.

The following will be the guest speakers: 1) Dr. Subramanian Swamy, Member of Parliament and an adamant advocate of cow protection, 2) HH Bhakti Charu Swami, GBC member and strong supporter of cow protection, 3) HH Bhakti Raghava Swami, Minister for IDVM-India, 4) His Grace Vaisesikka prabhu, Temple President for ISKCON Silicon Valley and 5) His Grace Damodar Dulal prabhu, Minister for Cow Protection in India. Also attending will be His Grace Basu Ghosh prabhu, Temple President of ISKCON Baroda, His Grace Sri Rama prabhu, Temple President of ISKCON Mangalore, His Grace Sri Krishna Purusottma prabhu, one of the Founding Members of SEA. Inc. and active member of ISKCON Silicon Valley, the main organizer of the event.

Details of the conference and Registration can be had at the following link. www.cowculture.org

From the Organizer Sri Krishna Purusottama prabhu.

“You are invited to an exiting history-making Cow Culture event. Please join us!

Please come join us for the sake of Mother Earth and the Sacred Cow and bull and take advantage of the generous guidance and compelling presentations from leading experts in traditional living. Dr. Subramaniam Swamy, (Rajya Sabha), Former Commerce, Law & Justice Minister, Ph. D. Harvard University and cow lover, His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami, His Holiness Bhakti Raghava Swami, HG Vaisesika prabhu,, His Grace Basu Ghosh prabhu, His Grace Damodar Dulal prabhu and more.

 

  1. DEVOTEES JOIN IDVM-INDIA MINISTRY

Vishnurata prabhu who hails from Indonesia and whose wife is originally from Russia now resides in Mayapur a good portion of the year.  The Ministry offered him some service at the Secretariat and so he has joined full time and has been appointed as Co-Director with Rama Laksman prabhu.

Another devotee has been appointed full is Anirudh  prabhu. Since the last 2 years, he along with Bhakta Hemanth have been actively involved in helping restore the ancient system of cloth making using pure locally grown cotton from indigenous seeds

 

  1. DEVOTEES FROM INDONESIA AND CAMBODIA VISIT MAYAPUR

Some of the key devotees promoting the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign in both Indonesia and Cambodia specifically to attend the ILS-2018 seminars as well as to attend the Varnasrama Courses. These included Kisora Krishna prabhu from Bali, Yadhava Hari prabhu from Yogyakarta, Kumudaksa prabhu from Siem Reap and Guna Avatara prabhu from Yashodapur Eco Village in Cambodia.

 

  1. DEVOTEE FROM THAILAND VISITING SIKHIM

Devotees serving in Sikhim are inviting devotees from IDVM-India to visit them. Here is the message from Nirmala mataji who has been regularly visiting this remote area of north India.

“We Sikimese devotees would like to invite Maharaja to visit us here in Sikhim. Today I visited a most wonderful private school in south Sikhim. This remote place is inside these rugged deep Himalayas Mountains. It is wonderful to see how they train their children in the Gurukula style.”

Devotees in Sikkim are growing their own food and keeping cows as well.

 

MARCH 2018

 

  1. FARM CONFERENCE IN MALAYSIA

The Ministry for Cow Protection and Agriculture is planning a continental conference later this year in Malaysia in conjunction with ISKCON Malaysia Yatra under the guidance of Simhesvara prabhu. Details will be announced in the months to come.

 

  1. VEDIC ECO VILLAGE IN WESTERN CANADA

With the spring finally arriving in Western Canada, devotees are again busy with various activities at Saranagati Village. One of the important activities taken up last year but not completed was the setting up of a fence around the property to prevent outside cows coming on the property.

 

  1. DEVOTEES IN ONTARIO CANADA PLAN FARM CONFERENCE

For the last few years, His Holiness Bhaktimarga Maharaja has been spearheading a yearly farm conference in Canada bringing together devotees involved in various farm projects.

 

  1. ISKCON MONTREAL TO START NANDAGRAM FARM PROJECT

Under the leadership of Temple President, Anubhava prabhu, devotees in Montreal will soon have their own farm project in close proximity to the city of Montreal. Plans were being finalized to acquire a 100-acre property some 30 minutes from Montreal

 

  1. MAKE VRINDAVAN VILLAGES TRANSLATED IN KOREAN LANGUAGE

The translator for the book MAKE VRINDAVAN VILLAGES is from South Korea and shared the following:

“Maharaja, your book will be really helpful for Korean people who are seeking the alternative lifestyle and education and the number of people who are interested in going back to the countryside is rising rapidly.

“I am going to Korea for preaching and helping Russian devotees to settle in Korea this spring, so I thought it would be wonderful to present your book and my Guru Maharaja’s book together.

 

Matida Devi Dasi and Somaka das

Kisora prabhu from Indonesia along with a few devotees is planning to visit Korea and introduce the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign with the help of local devotees.

 

  1. DEVOTEE FARMERS GROUP LAUNCHED IN MARCH

The WhatsApp group, Devotee Farmers, was launched by Aniruch prabhu who recently was appointed as National Director for Traditional Technologies under IDVM-India. The forum has been created only for devotees who are working on the land to discuss everyday practical problems and get solutions. This forum is also only for Devotee Farmers working with cows.

 

  1. DEVOTEE SEEKS GUIDELINE TO CONDUCT GO PUJA

>Can you please tell us what prayers/shlokas we have to read to gomata every morning. I’m listening to Om Sri Surabhi mantra every day.

There are no hard and fast rules to conduct a Go Puja. A general process can be as follows:

  1. Chant the OM Sri Surabhyai namah! (three times)
  2. Recite the Sacred Prayer to Mother Surabhi (on the Sri Surabhi App)
  3. Recite the following mantra in glorification of cows and brahmanas.

 

Namo Brahmannya Devaaya

Go-Braahmanna Hitaaya Ca |

Jagat Hitaaya Krssnnaaya

Govindaaya Namo Namah ||

 

“Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Krishna, who is the worshipable Deity for all brahminical men, who is the well-wisher of cows and Brahmanas, and who is always benefiting the whole world. I offer my repeated obeisances to the Personality of Godhead, known as Krishna and Govinda.” [Vishnu Purana 1.19.65]

 

  1. Chant the Pancha Tattva Mantra three times
  2. Chant the Hare Krishna Maha Mantra

All this can be done while one devotee performs arotika to mother cow.

After the Go Puja, the devotees feed the cows prasadam.

 

  1. UKRAINE

Devotees in Ukraine under the leadership of Yamuna Prana prabhu, assisted by Bhakta Simon, continue to meet with Nam Hatta groups to discuss the importance of cow care and cow culture.

The book Make Vrindavana Villages has already been translated in Russian language but will soon go for a reprint.

 

A HUMBLE REQUEST

Devotees may kindly send us information or articles of interest to info@srisurabhi.orgso we can inform others about your activities in rural areas especially. Please also share some photos or even videos of your local activities. Thank you very much.

 

Prepared by RP Bhakti Raghava Swami

Co-Minister, IDVM-India