OM SRI SURABHI CAMPAIGN
QUARTERLY REPORT
January 1, 2016 to March 31, 2016
OM SRI SURABHYAI NAMAH! OM SRI GURAVE NAMAH!
This is the fifth Quarterly Report summarizing the on-going developments of the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign – 2015 to 2027.
We have now entered our second year of the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign that coincides with the Golden Jubilee year of ISKCON’S being established, 1966/2016. The year 2016 is indeed very special in that the whole of ISKCON commemorates its 50 years of existence with so many special events taking place all over the world.
Our OM Sri Surabhi Campaign 12 year endeavor offers us a rare and indeed a unique opportunity to commemorate not only the Golden Jubilee Year but actually the “Golden Jubilee Era” that started with Srila Prabhupada’s historical departure from India in September of 1965 followed by his unprecedented global preaching outreach and unfathomable accomplishments that carried until his departure in November of 1977, with November 2nd 2027 that will mark the end of the Golden Jubilee Era for all of us.
This Quarterly Report highlights various developments taking place during the first three months of the year 2016. What we originally thought would take only one year to accomplish, the foundational work of the campaign, we now envision will take us another year or so. In this way, we hope that the last 10 years of the campaign can be more systematically and progressively introduced.
We thank all those involved with the Surabhi Campaign and invite more devotees to take advantage of this rare preaching opportunity.
CAMPAIGN COORDINATORS VISIT INDIA
During the month of February 2016, three Surabhi Campaign National Coordinators met in Mumbai touring the Nilachal Dham Rural Project (under ISKCON Juhu) headed by ISKCON India’s National Minister for Cow Protection and Agriculture, Sriman Damodar Dulal prabhu. From Canada, Sriman Bala Krsna prabhu and from Indonesia, Sriman Kisora Krsna prabhu both visited the farm and sampled some of the locally dried fruits and spices, in particular the Chikoo Chips that are made from their 200 Chikoo tree orchard. Devotees then visited the Govardhan Eco followed by a 10 days village tour in Madhya Pradesh. All three Coordinators then made their way to Sri Dham Mayapur in W. Bengal to attend some of the important events taking place during the Gour Purnima Festival.
Another National Coordinator also visited Sri Dham Mayapur, Sriman Yamuna Prana prabhu from Russia. Although his visit was short, he brought with him important news of on-going developments in both Russia and Ukraine, some of which we share in this report.
WEEKLY VIDEO INTERVIEWS AND POWER POINTS
From January 1, 2016, for the last three months, viewers to our two websites have been privileged to watch both a weekly interview documentary as well as a Power Point Presentation. So far we have covered 14 weeks of the projects 53 weeks pledge that will terminate officially on Friday December 30, 2016.
Two devotees have been helpful in taking interviews from different devotees who are involved in some aspect or other of the varnasrama mission, Sriman Madhava prabhu who is based in Mumbai and Sriman Prafulla who is based in Bangalore.
The work has continued with the help of our Webmaster, Sriman Syamananda prabhu who has been diligently putting together these video interviews.
ITINERARY 2016
Various contacts during the year 2016 are enabling us to plan specific programs on different continents during this up-coming year. We plan to cover the following continents and countries before the end of the Golden Jubilee Year:
Hong Kong
With our two Indonesian devotees, Guna Avatara prabhu and Yadhava Hari prabhu, attending the Ratha Yatra in Hong Kong during the month of December last year, we have now confirmed a visit to Hong Kong from May 17th to May 25th. The local GBC members, HG Chandrasekhar prabhu along with Jayasri mataji who oversees the preaching in Hong Kong have confirmed our short up-coming tour. This time our Surabhi Campaign National Coordinator from Indonesia, HG Kisora Krsna prabhu, will be visiting Hong Kong for the first time along with Guna Avatara prabhu.
RUSSIA/UKRAINE
Our Surabhi Campaign National Coordinator for both Russia and Ukraine, Sriman Yamuna Prana prabhu, is organizing a Varnasrama Seminar at his farm community in Kaluga named MOTHER FARM. Originally planned during the month of July, the 3 days seminar has been shifted to August 25th to 27th. Devotees from all over Russia are invited to attend the various sessions to be held during this period.
AFRICA
Coordination has been done between HH Carudesna Maharaja, Temple President of the Ivory Coast and HH Bhakti Dhira Damodar Maharaja, Deputy GBC for West Africa. Every year devotees hold a Ratha Yatra Festival in one of the West Africa countries, this year being held in Nigeria. We plan to begin our tour of the Ivory Coast, followed by Ghana, Togo and culminating in Lagos, Nigeria. We will be presenting seminars along the way on the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign.
FRANCE
While in Mayapur we had the opportunity to participate in a French Get-together with French speaking devotees from Quebec in Canada, La Nouvelle Mayapur in France, La Cote d’Ivoire in Western Africa and a few other French speaking countries. This year marks a very special event in France, as devotees will commemorate the 40th anniversary installation of Sri Sri Krishna Balarama at La Nouvelle Mayapur. Sriman Devarshi prabhu who was hosting the small gathering in Mayapur invited us to attend this ceremony that will take place on August 16th. This will give us a wonderful opportunity to introduce the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign to all those who will attend the festival.
SWITZERLAND
One of our devotees who had served at New Vrindavan for a few years, Sriman Jaya Rama prabhu, is now back in Zurich and will facilitate our visit to Zurich. Our planned visit to Zurich will be from June 25th to June 30th.
We also plan to visit the following countries to help promote the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign, Cambodia, Canada, Australia and the Gulf Countries.
CAMPAIGNER’S GUIDE PRINTED
We were able to print a small brochure entitled CAMPAIGNER’S GUIDE to help promote the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign. The 37 pages booklet contains useful information and practical guidelines to those who wish to help introduce the Surabhi Campaign in their respective areas. The pamphlet is available on-line at our websites. We invite devotees to help us translate the booklet in different languages so that the campaign can be introduced more widely.
ILS-2016 SURABHI CAMPAIGN PRESENTATION
The ISKCON Leadership Sanga (ILS) saw a record-breaking number of devotees attend the 6 days meet in Sri Dham Mayapur. Some 1200 delegates from all over the world attended the event participating in close to 90 different seminars and workshops. One of the seminars dealt directly with the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign and was well received by those attending.
MONTHLY GO PUJA REPORTS
Devotees in Indonesia through their well-organized national committee called Indonesia Peduli Surabhi Network (IPSN) continue to perform their monthly Go-Puja on every Purnima and share some of their photos.
ZURICH OUTREACH
Our USA Continental Coordinator for the Surabhi Campaign, Sriman Sri Krishna Purusottama prabhu, had an opportunity to visit Zurich in the month of March. During his busy schedule in Switzerland he could visit the ISKCON Zurich temple and a few nearby rural projects where he received very positive response. The following is an excerpt of the appreciation expressed to him after his visit:
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“Please allow me to express my gratitude for your recent visit to ISKCON Zurich. Your association and presentations were loaded with spiritual realizations and practical applications.
I myself experienced a deep transformation by your strong conviction in following your Guru Maharaja. The importance of cow protection and varnasrama dharma has never been more present in my life than now. Just recently I discussed with one senior devotee in our yatra about Possibilities to develop a self-sufficient community in Switzerland. Now it is clear for me that this is the way to go. I will carefully study the books of your Guru Maharaja and will endeavor to apply principles declared therein.
Furthermore I went already in discussion with devotees about adopting a cow for the temple and ways how to maintain here in old age as well as newborn calves. Thank you again for offering Mother Surabhi at the feet of Giriraja on my little altar.
I hope that we might stay in contact and meet soon again.
Wishing you all the best in your service.
Your aspiring servant,
Divya-simha dasa
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RURAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE IN RUSSIA
Largely due to the consistent efforts of Sriman Yamuna Prana prabhu who heads up two farm communities (both named Mother Farm), one in Russia and one in Ukraine, the ISKCON Russian decided to establish a National Committee for Rural Development. Yamuna Prana prabhu was asked to take up the responsibility of cow care because of his deep involvement and commitment to Mother Surabhi.
GO KRIPA MAHOTSAV in RAJASTHAN (India)
IDVM-India will be attending the Golden Jubilee event named Go Kripa Mahotsav that will be held at Shree Manorama Goloktirth Nandgaon (Branch of Shree Pathmeda Godham Mahatrith) in chaitra navratri 2016 from April 8th to 16th. The Pathmeda Godham Mahatirth is the largest goshala in the world with over 200,000 cows in their care. We plan to introduce and distribute some of our literatures such as the Campaigner’s Guide during the event and establish important allies with those already involved and concerned about cow protection.
CONCLUSION
This year being ISKCON’S GOLDEN JUBILEE YEAR should serve to inspire all devotees and well-wishers of Srila Prabhupada’s movement to come forward and help kick off the beginning of yet another Golden Jubilee period that will culminate in ISKCON’S “Centennial Anniversary” in the year 2066.
Beginning this year we will witness the Golden Jubilee celebrations of many of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples as a good number of them began meeting Srila Prabhupada and joining his mission in the year 1966.
During this Golden Jubilee Era up to 2027, we should enthusiastically celebrate Srila Prabhupada’s establishing various cornerstones events commemoration 50th anniversaries of temple openings, Deity installations, Book Publications, foundation of Bhaktivedanta Book Trust and Bhaktivedanta Institute, inauguration of Governing Body Commission (GBC) and many other similar historical markings.
In closing this report, I wish to thank all the devotees, friends and supporters who in different ways continue to assist in the development of the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign.
Trusting this finds you well. Krsne matir astu.
Yours in service to Mother Surabhi,
RP Bhakti Raghava Swami
IDVM-India, Minister