ISKCON YOUTH FORUM AHMEDABAD

EVENT:Umang Festival- Transformation of Heart I Venue: ISKCON Ahmedabad I Date: 22nd September, 2012 I Participants: 700

Event: Umang Festival- Transformation of Heart

Venue: ISKCON Ahmedabad

Date: 22nd September

Participants: 700

( Sola Medical College, LD Engineering College, HL Commerce College, KS School, National College of Commerce, Vishwakarma Engineering Institute etc)

Drama: Bilva Mangal Thakur

Umang festival was organised in ISKCON Sri Sri Govind Dev Dham, Ahmedabad on 22nd sep, 2012. 700 youths participated from various colleges in the festival. The wholw festival was managed by H.G. Madhukant Pr, H.G. Vishnu Nam Pr, H.G. Kalanath Chaitanya Pr, H.G. Madan Mohan Krishna Pr and IYF Team.

Events

Welcome Kirtan

Participants were greeted by welcome kirtan perfromed by H.G. Shivam Pr, H.G. Bhabartha Pr, IYF Team.

Lecture

The topic of the seminar was 'Transformation of Heart' given by HG Sundar Gopal Prabhu (Director, IYF Delhi). The seminar depicted the fact that there is crisis on every level - individual, society, world. We have advanced so much in science and technology but still we are not happy, peaceful and secure. The root cause of all the problems are the sinful tendencies in our heart - Lust, Greed , Anger, Pride, Illusion, Envy, - which forces us to sin and break the laws of nature which in turn punishes us just like a criminal is punished by government. The solution given was to purify our heart by following 'ABCD' formula. A- association of devotees, B- spiritual books, C-Chanting the holy names of the Lord 'Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare' , D- Diet (Pure sanctified food offered to Lord with love and devotion).

Drama

A wonderful drama 'Bilva Mangal Thakur' was presented by H.G. Shyamlal Pr, H.G. BhabarthaPr, Bipin, Ketan and Piyush and music was given by H.G. Uddhav Priya Pr.The drama depicted the life story of great Vaishnava saint Bilva Mangal thakur who was very lusty in his youths but his heart was by the words of a prostitute who indirectly instructed him to go to Vrindavan and worship Lord Krsna and chant His holy names 'Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare'

Cake Cutting Ceremony (for the occasion of Radhastami)

For the occasion of Radhastami an oppulant cake was offered to the dieties of Radha and Krishna by HG Sundar Gopal Prabhu (Director, IYF Delhi) and HG Vishwaroop prabhu (Director, IYF Ahmedabad).

Mantra Rock Show

Mantra Rock show was performed by H.G. Vishwarupa Pr, H.G. Gauranga Pr. Everybody danced in ecstasy when the holy names of Krsna 'Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare/ Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare' touched their tongues.

The festival was concluded with sumptuous and delicious feast prasadam.

Hare Krishna

Comments

Best Definition of God according to Vedas

Source In the Vedas, it is said, parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate : “The varieties of energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are differently known." So let’s look at some of those varieties. First off, God is the personal aspect of The Absolute Truth which encompasses the Supreme controller, the living entities, the spiritual and material universes, time and activity. He is the original cause of all causes, an undifferentiated entity as there is no distinction between potency and the possessor thereof. He is the absolute substantive principle being the ultimate entity in the form of the support of all existence both natural and supernatural.

The Essence of the Srimad Bhagavatam

Source The essence of Srimad Bhagavatam is the essence of everything. It is the essence of all the Vedas, all philosophy, all knowledge, all theology, all religion, and all activity. This is not hyperbole it can be demonstrated. Let us accept that the Vedas contain all the relevant knowledge for mankind. But it is not well-known how little of the Vedas remain today.

How can we render service to Lord Krishna? With example.

Source The only service Krishna is interested in is service that is done with love and devotion. He is not in need of anything, but being a perfect ‘gentleman’ He appreciates anything done for Him with love. So step one is to develop our relationship with Krishna. Everything is based on this point of relationship.

The Hare Krishna Maha mantra - Simplest way to attain Salvation

Source Chanting Hare Krishna is the simplest way to attain salvation. Chanting Hare Krishna develops bhakti and in Kali-yuga the most effective way to salvation is by developing bhakti through chanting Hare Krishna which is the simplest of all systems of self-realization. One can meditate, perform jajnas, perform opulent deity worship, study relentlessly, follow one’s prescribed duties perfectly, but unless there is a touch of bhakti added, they will not be successful. In previous yugas different means of salvation were practised. At those times the power, intellect and opulence of people was far higher than today, and they were able to achieve success through different methods. The life span was longer so they could sit and meditate for thousands of years. They could scrutinise and remember all the Vedas. (We have only about 6% of them today). The brahmanas had great power through their purity and perfection of chanting mantras. They had access to many kilos, (maybe tons)

What to do if we don't enjoy chanting Hare Krishna Maha Mantra like other devotees?

Source There’s only one reason we don’t enjoy chanting, and that’s because we aren’t chanting properly. When I started chanting we would say this verse below together, after reciting the ten offences. Then we would all start chanting and go into our own worlds. If one is infested with the ten offenses in the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra, despite his endeavor to chant the holy name for many births, he will not get the love of Godhead that is the ultimate goal of this chanting. Adi 8.16 It’s an offences to chant inattentively and it’s also an offence to maintain material desires. Wanting our own enjoyment is close enough to a material desire, and obviously a wandering mind results in inattentiveness. So there are a couple of issues. But these are not reasons to stop chanting. It just means there’s a little work to be done. Billions of people have wanted direct experience of God for thousands and thousands of years. History shows that it’s not a common experience a

Who is Shri Krishna? His Personality, Colour, the Absolute

Source Sri Krishna is the son of Mother Yasoda and Nanda Maharaja and the younger brother of Balarama. He is the boyfriend of Radharani and many other beautiful young girls who live in and around Vrindavan.