Letters to the editor

Dear Maharaj:

Pamho. AgtSP. Hare Krsna!

1. You're right, I am new to the Vedic calendar. However, I'm not new to naked eye astronomy which has been my favorite science since childhood.

2. I discovered these errors quite unexpectantly; moreover, I couldn't believe it myself that so many people could miss this but now I understand why. 

3. First off, I was puzzled that the particulars of the Lord's birth in Phalgun, Sakabda 1507 didn't seem reflected consistently by our Vaisnava calendar. Second, it wasn't until I could understand the present method of calculation that I was confident of my conclusions. The present method is the one followed by the Indian National Calender with respect to the national Hindu holidays. The present method of calculation makes sure that every lunar year begins after the vernal equinox (Mar 20/21), instead of simply following the astrological sign of Pisces to determine the start of the new year. In additon,  there is a strong sentiment in India amonsgt the so called educated to rid Indian of it's passion for astrology, so therefore, the equinox is favored over the sidereal Sun sign.

4. Next, the topic of the Hindu lunar calendar is very complex. So, it's very easy to see why anyone in Iskcon would miss this. Moreover, it's easy to see why the whole Vaisnava community chooses to accept the national dates. Afterall, who would want to buck the national standard; unless, of course, that person was absolutely sure of what they were doing. I'm becoming quite knowledgeable on this topic.  I have already spent 100's of hours research on this topic.

5. I have already pointed out that this change can be pinpointed to 1957 when the Indian government adopted and set the standard for the Saka calendar. Prior to that the Sri Caitanya Math determined the correct dates. Since any knowledgeable person knows about the precession of the equinox, it would be easy over time with each new generation of devotees to miss this point about the Lord's birthday and other errors regarding the lunar calendar.

6. Also, as a result of this enquiry, I have been able to completely cracked the mystery of the 27/28 nakshastras of the Vedas but I will go into this in the near future.. As I pointed out in the beginning, change will happen slowly and for some it will never happen. My plan is simply to present the facts and hope the reader will become educated on this topic.

7. In closing for now, it is amazing what this research has revealed to me about dating in the Vedas, etc.  Also, the astrology community doesn't really have a vested interest in this historical aspect. What they do works perfectly well for today's birthdates and horoscopes.

YHS, Saranga Thakura das

HpS -ASA - AGTSP!!!!!    Still no handles for us laymen!   Do you mean that Gaura purnima is the purnima one month earlier than the one we celebrate?

AGTSP

Please accept our humble obeissances

Dear Maharaja

We`ll ask and chant endlessly to the Lord for your health.   We wish we could be of more help but India is far away.    Your constant commintment and self giving to Srila Prabhupada and his Sankirtan is boundless and awe inspiring.   We know in a couple of years you`ll be smelling the fragrance and solitude of a peaceful fully contemplative abode somewhere on this earth, India or the US.  Well diserved rest.    This time we didn`t get the Kapi Dhvaja on e mail so it took us longer to re-load on your mercy but here we are.   Things getting better.  We got a lap top deal from a devotee and plus all loaded with Srila Prabhupada`s  personal  verse dictaphone readings from  Bhagavatam, bhajans.etc   Incredible and you said it `Rama will give you back your computer``  and so He did, fully loaded !    LOTS  of  devotional stuff came in it.    We are findind more and more interesting the ASA  links and Library,  wow !   endless supply of post-modern Vedanta presentation on earth I believe.  We`ll continue reading and serching through it,  we can see lots of material to eventually use in any presentation,  web link,  sankirtana,  even story telling and graphic novel style  editions.  We`re currently learning about it .  We are creative writers and really appreciate creative Vaisnava educational material like yours.  It`s just a joy to read and watch.  

Musical group still strong, rehearsing a lot. We are hoping to get the maha mantra song recorded soon to send a link and pics.  

jaya Srila Prabhupada !       hari bol !       best to you and the program in India

Raul from Montreal

ASA -  Oink!   Oink!    WHoop!    WHoop!                  finally we are writing, but now we have to go from Kolkata to Lake Town.  Its on the ouskirts of Kolkata. Everything here is old/new/crowded/hot-humid/noisey/cheap/big results... We are trying to orient to more more efficient work, that's all. Getting ready to change our body.

Write us a story about a Pig you doesn't like sausages!

Gurudeva, Hare Krsna
Please accept my humble obeisance
All glories t Srila Prabhupada!
During a Srimad Bhagavatam class in Chiclayo you spoke that in Isckon there is already the possibility to follow a brahminical formation, even to the bachelor degree, and you mentioned the Bhaktivedanta College in Belgium.
Also, when I talked to you about my education, you mentioned that I could study education. And I was working on that idea, and finally I am convinced: I want to do it!
So I wrote to the Bhaktivedanta College, to Maharaja Yadunandana Swami, I spoke to my parents, and it seems everything is favorable!
I was thinking to go there the next year, but Maharaja Yadunandana has told that it is good if I can start this year, also my parents think so.  The classes start at middle of September.

The positive points to go this year are:
-I can start earlier and finish one year before
-My younger brother starts the university the next year, and the economic charge for both educations together will be hi. If I go this year, it is 2, and not 3 year of difficulty to pay both education fees.
The negative points are:
-I made plans here, with the authorities, and I have to change, it may be a perturbation (I had to collect my ticket, the bhakti sastri fees), it may be not… I didn’t talk yet. But I feel it is not nice to change, because it was me who ask to come.
-Here I am learning also many things, like a spiritual childhood: asrama, sankirtan, service, sadhana! I will have to leave this, I wonder if it is good for me to continue with this experience longer than September?

I don’t have a ticket to return to Perú, I can go to Belgium form here. I don’t know what it is the best:
1. To continue the whole year here and do lot of sankirtan, and brahmacarini life, and go to Belgium next year.
 2. Or stay here until September, do Bhakti Sastri at Cueramaro, and then apologize myself for the changes and ask if I can leave earlier, so I can start this year at the College?
Both options seems nice to me, what would be more inteligent from a spiritual point of view? For my spiritual formation and development?

Your eternal servant,
Nitya Kisori devi dasi

HpS - ASA - AGTSP     paoho....  Just ask Asta sakhi, Maitrey and Bhakta Vatsala what they think.    Get  all the facts on the table and then chant Hare Krsna and contemplate them and you should get a clear idea of what is best.

AgtSP!

Agt Guru y Gauranga!

Pamho.

Hare Krsna

Saludos Maharaja, soy Bhakta Pablo del Parikrama, de España.

Espero que este mucho mejor cuando reciba este mensaje, y espero que este muy bien en todos los aspectos.

Yo Maharaja ya no estoy en Madrid Mandir, estoy en Balarama Loka.

HpS - TlgaSP   pfanrh.  Estamos oyendo que ha cambiado su reseidencia!

Mi idea era irme al extrangero pero no puede ser por ahora, tal vez un poco mas adelante. Cosas fuera de mi control no me lo permite.

HpS - Bien, Bien!   Bien.

4 principios, 16 rondas pero fuera del Brahma Muhurta casi todos los dias, he tenido un sadhana un poco caotico estos dias pero intentando concienciarme de ser mas efectivo y no desperdiciar el tiempo.

HpS - Entonces no estamos en Madrid, ni tampoco, cual quiere parte del  universo.  Estamos en Goloka con Krsna.

No tengo internet en la granja y esta lejos, queria escribirle antes.

Estoy intentando concienciarme de crear mi union al Sankirtana, tal vez algo como " El arbol Sabio ", y asi continuar los proyectos Amalaki Babaji y Rishi Technology Proyect.

Mi hermano y yo hemos estado discutiendo sobre el Varna-Ashrama Dharma y hemos llegado a la conclusion que no puede ser introducido completa y eficientemente si la gente no tiene disponible un sistema de vida autosuficiente, cremos que la cadena de ayuda mutua y sinergia no puede activarse.Que cree Usted?

ASA - En la Kali-yuga el base es Sankirtana.  Harinama. Desea glorificar Krsna por Sankirtan de Sus Santos Nombres primero, pero despues por media del Varna ashrama Dharma.

Le llego el paquete a Radhadesh?, perdone no escribirle una carta, todo fue muy rapido.

ASA - Si, Si.  Muchas gracias.  Es muy placentera recibir algo de devotos mientras estamos occupado en viajando tan mucho.

Perdone ser tan extenso, intento asociarme continuamente con la recitacion de los Santos Nombres. Intento ser mas efectivo.

Podre ganarme su asociacion?

Muchas gracias por todo Su esfuerzo e inspiracion.

Hare Krsna.

HpS - Una vez cada dos semanas va al internet con sus palabras bien organizado. Desriptions de la naturlez.

Hare Krishna Hanumat Preshaka Swami Maharaja,

All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Gouranga.

Greetings again Hanumat Preshaka Swami, I think it may be a bit uncommon to ask but since you are a strict sanyassi and renunciate, what do you think is Turning the other cheek in Biblical/Brahminical/Sattvic terms? So even if some people become violent (Very often in this time now) and attack you with physical force/weapons, you just take the pain and damage and do not do the same back to them?

What do you think is the easiest way to change one's guna to the mode of goodness? Just simply following the regulative principles without fail and chanting offenselessy and rising early daily, consistently?

Thank you Maharaja,

Your servant, Bhakta Reilly.

HpS -    AGTSP   paoho  Our filosophy is to avoid the demons.  When they come with their knives to cut you up, run away.   Takes practice.

Learn the age old art of   RUN  FU > > > > >!

Yes, the regular Sadhana will do it ... "srnvatam katha krsna ..."  Read the purr port in the second chapter, of canto one!

Jaya!!

Hare Krishna.

  Mis reverencias a sus pies de lotos,

ASA - TlgaSP   Pfanrh.  Pies de lodo!

todas las glorias a Sila Prabhupada.

      Mucho trabajo junto a la maha anandini y el Prasadam sale para muchos lugares por la misericordia de todos Usted ( Krishna, Prabhupada, Usted,etc....)

Tambien por pura misericordia comenzamos nuevamente con el programa maravilloso de ¡¡¡¡¡¡ Harinam!!!!!! por las calles d ela ciudad de Santiago 1 vez al mes por ahora esperamos sea 2 veces en un par de meses mas llevamos las 2.000 galletitas y muchos devotos asisten regularmente cada mes y se ha transformado en una fiesta linda junto a los devots y las personas que cada vez tienen un actitud mas favorable al movimiento de SRI NITYANANDA Y DE SRI CAITANYA, en la familia estamos cantando las rondas regularmente, y esta semana la Maha Anandini ( mi esposa) va a Peru a estar con su Guru Mharaj JAYAPATAKA MAHARAJ y yo estare solo con los 5 niños uf¡¡¡

  Mi reverencias a Usted y muchas gracias por todas SUS BENDICIONES¡¡¡¡¡

HARE KRISHNA  

HpS - Jaya!   TlgaSP      y     Jagannatha, como esta?               Mooo   Y    Bien, Sankirtana.    El resultado es guarantizado!!!!    Krsna va a hacer una arregla muy especial para Vds.   Yo he visto.  Devotos trabajando super fuerte para Krsna para muchos anos, entonces Krsna haciendo un arregla incomprehensible!   Vamos a ver.  Espero ir a Chile pronto.  Podemo quedar en su pueblo!