Two devotees from Indonesia, Kisora Krsna Dasa Prabhu and Yadava Hari Dasa Prabhu, introduced the Om Sri Surabhi Campaign in South Korea. They decided to attend one of the countries in East Asia after a discussion with some ISKCON authorities in South Korea. It seems that the ISKCON Temple authorities in South Korea are very welcoming of their planned visit. Therefore, for the first time, they went to introduce the Sri Sri Surabhi Campaign in South Korea.
Seoul
The first place they visited was the ISKCON Seoul Temple, where Sri-Sri Radha Syamasundar and Sri-Sri Gaura Nitai were worshipped every day. The temple commanded by Amita Balaram Dasa Prabhu has a daily worship program. Some Indian devotees working in Seoul City come to the Temple every day to perform dharsan. Kisora Krsna Dasa Prabhu and Yadava Hari Dasa Prabhu had the opportunity to chat with every guest who came to Temple. On that occasion, they expressed the main purpose that they came to South Korea. The others are greatly improving these things, and they decided to undertake a regular Sunday program at Temple. At that time the program will be held a presentation of Campaign Om Sri Surabhi.
While waiting for the Moon’s day to arrive, they decide to travel around the Temple area. On that occasion, they met with the local residents while distributing pamphlets Campaign Om Sri Surabhi. It is not easy for residents to receive an explanation of the cow protection campaign. Moreover, the number of vegetarians in South Korea is very small, and at least citizens who can speak English. But with the help of a local devotee, Matida Devi Dasi Mataji, all pamphlets and a book called Make Vrindavan Villages have been successfully translated into Korean, the local language of South Korea. So for the local guests who come to Temple, can easily read the contents of OM Sri Surabhi Campaign and Sri Surabhi Global pamphlet.
Several Korean guests came to Temple along with Indian guests on the Sunday program. The program starts with Kirtana. But due to bad weather, not many guests who can attend the program. Only about ten guests came. But it does not dampen the spirit to discuss the importance of cow protection. Similarly, Yadava Hari Dasa Prabhu is eager to present a small stand to serve pamphlets, books, accessories, and cow products. Similarly, Kisora Krsna Dasa Prabhu is excited to present Om Sri Surabhi Campaign to all the guests who come. The discussion is warm enough created in the program. Until finally the program closed by inviting all guests who come to be able to download and install Sri Surabhi Applications and take part in a campaign that will last until 2027 in various ways that can be done.
Busan
After the successful presentation of Om Sri Surabhi Campaign in Seoul, Kisora Krsna Dasa Prabhu and Yadava Hari Dasa Prabhu decided to visit Busan, South Korea’s second largest city after Seoul City. They joined Team Sankirtan from Russia who distributed the books of Srila Prabhupada and Harinam in the city. Their arrival was warmly welcomed by Team Sankirtan Russia, numbering five people. They all live in a small apartment sufficient to accommodate seven of them. Every day they spread up distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books to Busan-dominated citizens of Busan. There are many universities in Busan, which means many young people can be found. Young people in South Korea are generally more familiar with English, making it easier for communication.
On that good occasion, Kisora Krsna Dasa Prabhu and Yadava Hari Dasa Prabhu distributed Om Sri Surabhi Campaign pamphlet, Sri Surabhi Global, Sri Surabhi Application Card, and Cow & Varnasrama books in both English and Korean. Apparently, it is easier to get the attention of the youths there. They are much more open and enthusiastic. Some pamphlets and books are well distributed. Even after a few days of doing Sankirtan, there was a young man who was beginning to be interested in chanting Maha Mantra Hare Krishna regularly. This is a good sign for the spread of the Krishna Awareness Movement in South Korea.
Pocheon
After just a few days of doing Sankirtan in Busan, Kisora Krsna Dasa Prabhu and Yadava Hari Dasa Prabhu decided to visit ISKCON Pocheon Temple. Long ago they had communicated with Temple authorities there, and they were very enthusiastic about the arrival of the Indonesian devotees. Arriving at the Temple, they were greeted by a local worshiper who had long guarded the development of ISKCON Temple in Pocheon, Patanjali Muni Dasa Prabhu. He, who used to work in Bhaktivedanta Manor, UK, decided to continue his ministry at ISKCON Pocheon in connection with Temple renovation plans.
After meeting with President Temple there, namely Sanjaya Yadava Prabhu, they agreed to make a presentation of Om Sri Surabhi Campaign on the Sunday program in Temple. He also made an announcement on Temple’s social media account to invite the devotees in Pocheon to attend the Sunday program. While waiting for Sunday, small talks between Patanjali Muni Dasa Prabhu with Kisora Krsna Dasa Prabhu and Yadava Hari Dasa Prabhu are intertwined. Patanjali Muni Dasa Prabhu describes the history and situation in Pocheon in particular and South Korea in general. Followed by the discussion about the importance of cow protection which today is something that is not well-regarded among the devotees and the public.
Following up on this, Patanjali Muni Dasa Prabhu invited local Korean sympathizers to come to Sunday’s program at Temple. A total of about twenty-five people attended the Sunday program. Om Sri Surabhi Campaign’s presentation is presented in two languages, English and Korean. Kisora Krsna Dasa Prabhu presented the contents in English which was later translated into Korean by Patanjali Muni Dasa Prabhu. For the Indian worshipers who come, cow protection is not something strange. But for Koreans, this is something new for them. Therefore, there was a warm discussion between Kisora Krsna Dasa Prabhu and Korean guests on the topic of the presentation. They greatly appreciate and support Om Sri Surabhi Campaign as a form of contribution in realizing the prosperity of the universe. Kisora Krsna Dasa Prabhu and Yadava Hari Dasa Prabhu ended the journey in South Korea in bringing the Om Sri Surabhi Campaign by returning to Seoul to hurry to the next destination. Kisora Krsna Dasa Prabhu will continue his ministry in Yashodapura Ashram Cambodia, and Yadava Hari Dasa Prabhu will return to Yogyakarta, Indonesia to extend his ministry to Gau Raksya Indonesia – GAURI. Through the journey of Om Sri Surabhi Campaign in South Korea, they both hope that the main goal of Om Sri Surabhi Campaign, which is to embody the culture of Veda through the protection of cows which is the foundation of Daiva Varnasrama-Dharma system to bring prosperity and prosperity of the world community can be achieved by the mercy of Sri Surabhi and Sri Govinda.
Hare Krishna!
Written by
Yadava Hari dasa & Dian Damayanti