Deity Darshan: Sunday, November 14, 2010

Photos taken by Thageesan Thanabalasingam

Honouring Srila Prabhupada with HH Devamrita Swami

Tuesday, November 9th will mark the day that we commemorate the disappearance (passing) of our movement's founder, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. This is always a soulful event wherein devotees get a chance to gather to honour our loving guru who gave us our vast and beautiful Hare Krishna family.

The Hare Krishna Temple is excited to announce that joining us for this wonderful evening will be HH Devamrita Swami, a senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada. Devamrita Swami is a teacher and author who speaks at universities, colleges, businesses and temples around the world. He has been visiting Toronto for the last few years conducting ground-breaking outreach programs, presenting Krishna consciousness in incredible ways.

Joining Devamrita Swami will be a host of disciples of Srila Prabhupada who will also be sharing memories of the "early days" of the Hare Krishna movement. The schedule is as follows (subject to change):

6:00pm to 6:30pm - Arati

6:30pm to 6:40pm - Welcome & Announcements

6:40pm to 7:20pm - Class by HH Devamrita Swami

7:20pm to 8:00pm - Memories of Srila Prabhupada

8:00pm to 8:30pm - Arati (Kirtan Led by HH Devamrita Swami)

8:30pm to 8:40pm - Damodarastakam

8:40pm to 9:00pm - Prasadam

We hope you and your family can join us for this very special evening which will be filled with sweet moments, honouring Srila Prabhupada.

Deity Darshan: Govardhan Puja & Diwali

Govardhan Puja: Saturday, November 6, 2010

Diwali : Sunday, November 7, 2010

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Govardhan Puja and Diwali Celebrations this weekend!

This weekend will certainly be a special one at Toronto's Hare Krishna temple! On Saturday, November 6, we will be celebrating Govardhan Puja and on the following day, November 7, we will celebrate Diwali (actual date for Diwali is Friday, November 5)!

The story of Diwali stems back to ancient times when inhabitants of Ayodhya celebrated the return of Lord Ramachandra. Lord Rama was in exile, away from His kingdom, for many years. The joyful day on which He finally returned is observed as Diwali, or Dipavali (“dipa” means candles, and “vali” means numerous.). We will be celebrating this festival on Sunday during the Sunday Festival however, there will be an evening of kirtans and bhajan with special Damodarastakam prayers tonight from 6:00pm onwards. Please join us for this special evening tonight!

The day after Diwali is referred to as Annakuta, or Govardhana Puja. On this day the inhabitants of Vrindavan (Lord Krishna’s abode on Earth) would hold a harvest festival in honour of King Indra, the demigod who provided the rains essential for the harvest. One day, however, Lord Krishna wanted to teach Indra a lesson. He convinced the inhabitants of Vrindavan to honor Govardhana Hill instead, whose fertile soil provided the grass upon which the cows and bulls grazed, and to honour the cows and bulls who provided milk and ploughed the lands.

Outraged, Indra retaliated with terrifying thunderstorms. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, calmly lifted Govardhana Hill with the little finger of his left hand. For seven days and seven nights the Lord held up Govardhana Hill, providing a giant umbrella to shelter the inhabitants of Vrindavan from the torrential rain.

Govardhan Puja celebrations at the Hare Krishna temple have always been popular and this year will also feature a grand "Govardhana Hill" made entirely of sweets in the middle of the temple room! Please join us for festivities from 6:00pm onwards to celebrate this festival!

We hope to see you and your family at the Hare Krishna temple this weekend!

Prayers for Purnachandra Goswami

We regret to inform you of the passing of Purnachandra Goswami, one of Srila Prabhupada's senior disciples and a renunciate monk of bhakti-yoga for nearly 40 years in the Hare Krishna movement.

He was recently admitted into the hospital after suffering from severe internal bleeding. He gradually moved into a state of coma at the hospital in Moscow and he passed away on Thursday, November 4th.

He visited Toronto two years ago and inspired many with his inspiring talks and kirtan. The Hare Krishna Community around the world will miss him immensely.

Please join us in the memorial prayer kirtan for Purnachandra Goswami at the Hare Krishna temple tomorrow evening from 6:30pm which will also include Damodarastakam prayers at 8:00pm.

Deity Darshan: Sunday, October 31, 2010

Photos taken by Rishi Kumar