OM SRI SURABHYAI NAMAH! OM SRI GURAVE NAMAH!
This is the nineteenth Quarterly Report summarizing the on-going developments of the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign – 2015 to 2027 – in our attempt to promote the Varnasrama Mission both in India and in various countries. All the previous reports published can be read on our two main websites at www.iskconvarnasrama.com and www.srisurabhi.org.
This report gives but a summary of some of the activities connected with the ISKCON Daiva Varnasrama Ministry in India and the initiative OM Sri Surabhi Campaign. More details can be had at the above-mentioned webpages.
JULY 2019
INDIA
IDVM-India conducted village outreach programs near Bangalore for the first time in and around Tumkur village from July 1 to 15. This was made possible by the kind help of His Grace Abhiram prabhu and some devotees who helped make various arrangements. In between the village program, the devotees held various seminars in Bangalore, also for the first time.
On July 6, 2019, devotees organized a conference on the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign at the Ashtanga Yoga Kendra, with Sri Rama prabhu, Co-Director for OM Sri Surabhi Campaign, His Grace Damodar Dulal prabhu, Co-Minister for Cow Protection in India and His Grace Ananta Tirtha prabhu, National Director for Traditional Technologies. The event was organized by His Grace Guru Gauranga prabhu who is the main Yoga Teacher at the Ashtanga Yoga Kendra since many years.
On that same week-end of July 6 and 7, devotees organized a series of lectures at the local ISKCON temples in and around Bangalore beginning with the ISKCON Bhakti Center in Whitefield, followed by lectures at ISKCON Sri Narasimha Giridhari Mandir, at ISKCON Sri Jagannath Mandir, Seshadripuram and lecture at ISKCON Convention Center, South Bangalore.
On July 12, 2019, the ISKCON Bhagavat Mahavidyalaya (IBM) conducted its Adhivasa Ceremonay in the presence of HH Bhakti Raghava Swani and HH Bhakti Dhira Damoadara Swami (Nigeria). IBM was recently established to promote traditional education. Some 20 students from different countries registered for the 3 year residential course.
On the week-end of July 13 and 14, IDVM-India held a Seminar on Vedic Sociology at the Balaram Hall of the Sri Sri Krishna Balarama temple in Vrindavan.
On July 20 & 21, devotees at Kamyavan organized a course entitled “Holistic Farming: A Common Sense Approach to Land and Cow Care”. The seminar facilitated by Dr. Sreekumar and Dr. Sreekala.
AUSTRALIA
A series of seminars on Vedic Sociology were given at the New Govardhan community in Australia from July 15 to July 28, 2019. On August 20, a seminar entitled “Living a non-violent Life” was given at the Bhakti Yoga Centre at the Krishna Village.
INDOENSIA
Safari Indonesia was organized for the first time from July 28 to August 12, 2019 organized by Kisora Krishna prabhu. Joining the safari were Yadhava Hari prabhu from Yogyakarta, Vishnurata prabhu from Mayapur. The safari provided an wonderful opportunity for devotees to visit a number of project beginning with Bali on July 28.
AUGUST 2019
From August 1 to 4, the devotees visited two projects on the island of Kalimantan, one near Palankaraya, Lalitpur Seva Ashram Community, and Ganga Sagara Baru.
From August 5 to 10, devotees visited Gita Nagari Baru on the island of Sumatra. Devotee opened a new goshala encouraging as many families as possible to have their own family cow. A seminar on “Ahimsa, the Ideal Lifestyle for an Advanced Civilization”.was held in the Community Hall at GNB.
From August 12 to 28 Ukraine visiting Mother Farm and opening the Varnasramna College by performing kirtan for the first time in the new premises soon to be completed.
On August 28, there was a special seminar at Kamyavan and a visit to a new village called. at visiting Vanampally, Telangana District.
SEPTEMBER 2019
Kamyavan
On September 8 at Kamyavan project, three devotees were officially appointed as State Directors for the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign: 1) Syamananda prabhu became the State Director for the State of Maharashtra, 2) Sreeraj prabhu became the State Director for Karnataka and Vasudama prabhu became Director for both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Ranchi and Purulia
From September 10 to 30, a number of villages were covered in both the State of Jharkhand and the State of W. Bengal. By the end of September, thus reaching a total of 70 villages, 60 in India and 10 outside of India.
Nizamabad, Telangana
Devotees headed by Hari Kirtan prabhu, National Director for Village Development under IDVM-India, organized a Gramotsav or Village Festival on September 15 near Nizamabad to bring more awareness of the importance of natural farming.
By: HH Bhakti Raghava Swami