OM SRI SURABHYAI NAMAH! OM SRI GURAVE NAMAH!
This is the eighteenth 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.
APRIL 2019
OM Sri Surabhi Campaign in Europe and the Gulf
The OM Sri Surabhi Campaign was introduced in various countries of Europe beginning with Germany and Hungary as reported in our last Quarterly Report for January to March 2019. From April 4th to 11th I travelled to La Nouvelle Mayapur in France, then to the Manor in the UK from April 15th to 22nd ending in Almvik Farm in Sweden, from April 22nd to 30th.
A short stop-over in the Gulf gave me the opportunity to present the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign to devotees in Damodar Desh. The response was very positive.
A Short Trip to Chenna Keshava Village
Part of the Ministry’s service is to visit devotee projects where one can learn to appreciate the effort of various devotees. Our Director for Youth Rural Outreach, His Grace Rama Laksman prabhu, was able to visit where Priya Govinda prabhu is engaged in village preaching. For full details of the report sent by Rama Laksman prabhu, please see the following link:
http://www.srisurabhi.org/latestnews/a-short-trip-to-chenna-keshava-village/
MAY 2019
Ministry of Education Call for Paper
The Ministry of Education will be holding their annual conference in Sri Mayapur and in preparation for this event is requesting selected individuals to write a scholarly paper on the topic of Philosophy of Education. IDVM-India Minister has been requested to present such a paper for the planned conference scheduled some time in February of 2020.
Varnasrama Books Translated in Braille
One of the congregational members in Hyderabad, Her Grace Champaka Lata d.d. has successfully translated a number of varnasrama books into braille. These were officially presented to the Ministry on a special occasion.
For more information on this new development, please follow this link:
http://www.srisurabhi.org/latestnews/books-in-braille-released/
Hindi Translators Group Established
A group of devotees headed by His Grace Parasurama prabhu was recently established to help translate various titles of the Varnasrama Book Trust into various local language, beginning with Hindi.
Sri Surabhi App Translated in the Russian Language
Under the initiative of Yamuna Prana prabhu from Mother Farm in Ukraine, the Recently launched Sri Surrabhi App will soon be made available in the Russian language. The translation work is being headed by Cheslav and is near completion.
ISKCON Bhagavata Mahavidyalaya
Two members of IDVM-India have been requested to become involved with the recently established ISKCON Bhagavata Mahavidyalaya in Vrindavan. Our National Director for Education, His Grace Venu Gopal prabhu, has been appointed as the Principal of the school and our Minister, HH Bhakti Raghava Swami has been added to the Board of Directors
IDVM-India and Mid-term Meeting
The mid-term meeting of the Ministry took place this year on May 25, 2019, at the recently inaugurated OM Sri Surabhi Campaign Office in Secunderabad. Most of the Directors of the Ministry were present for the meetings. One can read about the outcome of the meeting at the following link:
http://www.srisurabhi.org/latestnews/idvm-india-midterm-meeting-may-25th-2019/
SSKBK to become Extension Center of ISKCON Mangalore
The ISKCON Bureau of India, the highest managerial body of ISKCON India, is in the process of recognizing the Sahyadri Sri Krishna Balarama Ksetra (SSKBK), often referred to as the Hebri Farm project, as an Extension Center of ISKCON Mangalore.
SRI SURABHI APP
The Sri Surabhi App inaugurated last year has steadily been introduced to devotees and other well-wishers at it present on-going new features that facilitate the use of the app. Close to 1,500 persons have downloaded the Sri Surabhi App with over 50 downloads every month since the beginning of the year, with a record of 150 downloads in one month. The most recent update includes the new feature of forwarding contents from the Daily and Weekly Quote section as well as from the Events and News sections.
We are in the process of making the Sri Surabhi App available in different languages. In Ukraine, the devotees have already translated the content in the Russian language. We plan to make the Sri Surabhi App in various local languages of India beginning with Hindi.
Varnasrama College Courses
A series of varnasrama courses were conducted by the Ministry through His Grace Hari Kirtan prabhu. The first was held in Chirala from May 5h to 9th, then in Kamyavan (recent project close to Hyderabad) from May 11th to 19th, and May 20th to 26th at the Visva Mangala Goshala near Medchal, Telangana.
GBC Resolution on Ahimsa Milk
This year the GBC body passed the following important resolution:
406.2 Ministry of Cow Protection and Agriculture
Milk from Protected Cows — 2019
RESOLVED: By Janmastami 2022 all ISKCON centres should develop a plan whereby all milk and milk products — butter, ghee, yoghurt etc. — offered to the deities are procured from protected cows. The centres may approach the International Ministry of Cow Protection for assistance.
Surabhi Mantra Box
With the help of a few devotees, the Director of Marketing, His Grace Subhananda Hari prabhu, has produced 50 Surabhi Mantra Boxes that have been distributed to various Goshalas. The mantra box plays the OM Sri Surabhyai Namah mantra and was recorded by devotees in Bali, Indonesia. Anyone wishing to order the Surabhi Manrra box may contact Subhananda Hari prabhu at shubhraj.mit@gmail.com
Weekly Varnasrama Classes in Sweden
Devotees at Almvik Farm Community in Sweden have revolved to systematically study the subject matter of varnasrama by weekly reading and discussing the content of the book Speaking About Varnasrama compiled by HG Hare Krishna Dasi. The varnasrama books is an outcome of an initiative taken by the GBC body in connection with Srila Prabhuopada’s Centennial celebration in 1996. The book is a compilation of quotes from purport, conversations and lectures on the topic of varnasrama dharma.
JUNE 2019
Organic Farming Training Program at SSKBK
A three-week training program in organic farming began on June 6th at SSKBK in South India. Students were fortunate to get the good association and teachings from His Grace Giriraja prabhu, long-standing and experienced devotees serving for close to 15 years a Director of Agriculture and Cow Care. Topics included 1) Seed selection and treatment, 2) land preparation (ploughing with the local bullocks, Bale and Krishna, 3) preparing organic fertilizers called bivariate, and 4) transplanting of paddy from the nursery.
Becoming Truly Rich
A seminar held on June 15, 2019, by His Grace Hari Kirtan prabhu at ISKCON Punjabi Bhag in Delhi.
DHARMA GAU GRAM YATRA
Since April of 2018, the Dharma Gau Gram Yatrra, an initiative of IDVM-India as well as doctoral research on the topic of Vedic Sociology has resulted in the following research statistics. The research entails visiting 108 villages in India and 10 Vaisnava Communities outside of India.
VILLAGES (Target to reach) 118
Villages in India visited 51 out of 108
Villages outside India visited 09 out of 010
Total visited 60 out of 118
Total yet to visit 58 out of 118
To visit in India 57
To visit outside India 01
Total to Visit 58 out of 118
INTERVIEWS (Total to conduct) 708
Villages in India completed (51 x 6) = 306 out of 648
Villages outside India completed (9 x 6) = 054 out of 060
TOTAL Completed 360 out of 708
TOTAL to complete 348 out of 708
INTERVIEWS (to transcribe) 708
Villages in India transcribed 192 out of 648
Villages outside India transcribed 006 out of 060
TOTAL 198 of 336 collected
TOTAL BASIC NEEDS (40 x 118) 4,720
Basic Needs Done 2,400 out of 4,720
Basic Needs to Do 2,320 out of 4,720
Reported by HH Bhakti Raghava Swami