The End of Sadhu Sanga at the Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir in Queens, NYC?
BY: BHAKTA JOHN JAGANNATHA
Their Lordships Sri Sri Hari-Haladhari
Jun 08, 2016 — NEW YORK (SUN) —
In my current series on the former Maha temple at 340 West 55th Street I have been trying to record for posterity some of the enlivening and spiritually purifying Krsna conscious pastimes of the previous century. Some may consider it ancient history. It was sad and disturbing when I went to visit there after being away for only two years and was greeted by hand trucks and forklifts carrying out pieces of furniture and fixtures from an empty building.
The Deities and the devotees were gone.
That was there and then.
This is here and now.
I had the opportunity in recent weeks to spend some time in Krsna conscious association with the devotees of the Vaisnava temple in the Richmond Hill section of Queens known as the Sri Sri Krsna Balarama Mandir. Specifically I attended the program of abhishekam, bhajan, kirtan, bhakti yoga discourse and a free sumptuous prasadam feast on the auspicious appearance day of Lord Nrsimhadeva and the following week I attended the Free Sunday Love Feast program.
Prior to those two transcendental engagements I had the pleasure of speaking with the founder and temple president, his grace Sunandana dasa prabhu. I spent some hours with the prabhu over the course of a few days discussing different topics, such as our completely different beginnings in devotional life. While I was contacted over and over and refused to surrender, he was praying over and over for the opportunity to surrender. That is a very telling indication of what is in our hearts. He was blessed by Srila Prabhupada to accomplish so much in his short time on this planet while I have produced nothing of consequence in the service of His Divine Grace. We also exchanged views on the past and present situation in ISKCON in general, and the Queens temple in particular, and the future of both.
Sunandana prabhu requested that I write something to promote the temple in Queens. Anyone who has had the misfortune to come across one of my articles would rightfully ask why? He could have thrown a pebble in any direction and hit a more qualified person to advance this cause. The reason he asked me is the same reason that he has been successful in Queens. His only purpose in life is to please Guru and Gauranga. Their transcendental service is his heart and soul. To that end it is his purpose in life to engage everyone in dovetailing their individual propensities in devotional service. He recognized that I have a desire to write, so he is engaging me in writing something about Sri Sri Hari-Haladhari and the Vaisnava community serving Their Lordships.
I have zero humility and even less qualification so I must beg for the mercy of the Vaisnavas, who are like desire trees, so that what is written here may please them and Srila Prabhupada and Their Lordships Sri Sri Hari-Haladhari, and have an overall positive spiritual effect.
So let me begin with the origins and some significant historic events. I have collected some articles on Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir from the internet so everyone may get a small taste of the pastimes of this place of pilgrimage.
The Krishna Balarama Temple has been in existence for many years.
A Brief History:
The origins of the temple took root in 1999, in a small house on 114-37 Lefferts Blvd. Sunanda Dasa had a dream of Srila Prabhupada in large pandal tent in India. In the dream, before thousands of people, Srila Prabhupada called Sunanda to sit next to him, and said, “Your father who passed away, I’ll take him to vaikuntha; but you open one temple in New York, and it will be very pleasing to me.” With the blessings of His Grace Ravinda Swarupa Dasa, in 1999, Sunanda left his book distribution service at the Philadelphia temple to establish a Hare Krishna devotee community in Queens, New York. Previously known as the Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mandir, the Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir now flourishes with a vibrant and active devotee community.
May 27, 2006
Hare Krishna Maharajas,and Prabhus.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Please accept our humble obeisances. We the members of the Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mandir of Queens, New York are pleased to share the darshan of the largest Krishna Balarama Deities in North America with the community of devotees and well wishers. By their Own mercy, Their Lordships have manifested themselves and we feel obliged to accept Their blessings, and humbly extend it to everyone. These Deities are the same size as Sri Sri Krishna Balarama of Vrndavana, India. This Mandir is an affiliate of ISKCON, and is run by HG Sunanda das (disciple of HG Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu). This endeavor has the full blessings of HH Romapada Swami, and HG Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu.
The Deities of Sri Sri Krishna-Balarama were installed in August 13, 2006 by ISKCON GBC and initiating Guru His Grace Ravindra Svarupa Prabhu. They are one of the largest Krishna Balarama deities in North America, given the names Sri Sri Hari-Haladhari. Yearly there is a Maha Balarama Purnima Festival along with our annual Krishna Balarama Ratha Yatra and a number of other regular events and festivals.
Krishna Balarama Deities Installed in Queens, New York
by Mithuna das and Bhakta Nicholas Jinkhoo
Posted September 21, 2006
August 13 at the archa vigraha installation of Sri Sri Krishna Balarama at the SKC Mandir, Queens, New York, Sri Sri Krishna Balarama took Their places on a beautiful vedic-styled altar.
The atmosphere at the temple was joyful as devotees and well-wishers completed preparations right up to the actual ceremony. By 6:00 p.m., nearly 100 devotees in kirtan led by Keshava Acarya das from the 26 Second Avenue temple filled the temple hall. At the same time, 75 persons stood outside the temple; anxious mothers could be seen pacing back and forth, pacifying babies. Not being able to find accommodation in the relatively small temple hall, perhaps 50 of the arriving guests actually left before the program got underway.
At 6:30 p.m., Maheshvara das from Pennsylvania added final touches to the sacrificial fire. As he started the ceremony, GBC member and officiating purohit Ravindra Svarupa prabhu praised the kirtan; he mentioned that Srila Prabhupada had said that the deities are really installed by kirtan, and not by the actual rituals. In tilak and vaisnava attire, devotees echoed the Vedic mantras chanted by the purohit, invoking memories of the great sages who once assembled at Naimisaranya. As the agnihotra ended and the screen was removed from the Deities, a moment of silence was swiftly shattered by the consummate beauty of the black, iron-like Krishna and His radiantly white brother Balarama. Devotees immediately paid obeisances amidst loud cries of: “Sri Sri Krishna Balarama ki jaya; Srila Prabhupada ki jaya; Haribol!”
As a part of the Mahaabhishek ceremony, Their Lordships were bathed with panchamrta and other sacred substances. After Their baths, the two Lords were again screened off and attended to by the officiating purohit, his assistant and the resident brahmanas. Waiting upon Their Lordships with ecstatic kirtan, the devotees from Sri Sri Radha Govinda Mandir (Brooklyn), Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mandir (Queens) and Bhaktivedanta Ashram (26 second Avenue, Manhattan) bonded in wondrous camaraderie. They danced as if there was no tomorrow, externally reminiscent of Vakreshwar Pandit’s 72 hours of non-stop dancing during Chaitanya-Lila. Apart from the officiating purohit and his assistant, other disciples of His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada present were HH Chandrasekhar Maharaja, Maheshvara das from New York, Bushara das and Saudamani dasi prabhus.
In the midst of the roaring kirtan, Ravindra Svarupa das emerged from behind the screen. Formally introducing Krishna and Balarama, he said: “They are Krishna and Balarama, but here in Queens Their names will be Sri Sri Hari Haladhari.” In immediate response and in unison, the crowd of devotees cried out: “Haribol, Haribol.” The purohit continued: “Hari means one who takes away everything inauspicious, and Haladhari means He who holds the plough; one function of the plough is to uproot the weeds of devotional service.” As the transcendental conch echoed the length and breadth of the temple hall, there in all Their Majesty stood the astoundingly beautiful Sri Sri Hari Haladhari. Again, the devotees paid obeisances, crying out: “Sri Sri Hari Haladhari ki jaya!”
Bedecked in peacock feather, glittering jewels and fine garments, Lord Hari glanced upon the devotees. The equally attractive and beautifully dressed Lord Haladhari stood cross legged, resting His transcendental arm on the right shoulder of His younger brother; in His other hand, He held a golden plough. With gorgeous lotus eyes He, too, mercifully glanced upon the assembled devotees. The dressing of Their Lordships for Their first public darshan was the commendable service of Ghandarvika dasi prabhu. Special recognition also goes to Sunanda das and Trishakti dasi prabhus for bringing Sri Sri Hari Haladhari to Queens, New York. Temple president Sunanda das offered the first arati to Their Lordships as the devotees danced about. Lights flashed almost continuously from digital cameras as photographers tried to capture the joyful moments.
At 10:30 p.m., a sumptuous prasadam feast was distributed to the nearly 300 persons present. At 11:30 p.m., some 70 devotees were still in front of the temple premises discussing the wonderful program and other topics about Krishna. Few of them seem to be interested in going home.
During His discourse, Ravindra Svarupa prabhu had mentioned that in the conditioned state, we cannot see spirit, therefore the Lord mercifully descends in a concrete and apparently helpless form. This Deity form offers us the opportunity to bathe, clothe, maintain and feed the Lord, to offer articles and prayers, to have darshan, to sing and dance for the Lord, as well as to encourage the community to do the same. In this way our senses become purified, and we are able to enter into a deeper relationship with the Holy Name. This Holy Name is non-different from Krishna, and when we acquire the suitable adhikar, The Lord will reveal that Rupa, Guna and Lila are non-different from this Sri Nama.
Now that Sri Sri Hari Haladari is here in Queens, They will be worshipped according to the standard of Deity worship indicated in the Pancaratra Pradipa. All devotees are invited to visit our temple and take the darshan of Sri Sri Hari Haladhari. ISKCON preachers who schedule in advance with the temple president can give lectures at our Sunday feasts (5:30 p.m.) and other programs. The Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mandir is 25 minutes from La Guardia Airport and and 15 minutes from John F. Kennedy Airports. The address is 111-14 101 Avenue, South Richmond Hill, New York 11419.
Monsoon Parade – Queens
By: Ravindra Svarupa Dasa for So It Happens on Aug. 8, 2009
The consolidated city of New York comprises five boroughs (each a county): Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island. Among these, the borough of Queens is blessed with The Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma Mandir, which stands in the neighborhood of Richmond Hill.
“Queens County,” we learn, “is one of the most ethnically diverse areas on earth. There are over 130 different languages spoken by its citizens, and in many neighborhoods hearing English is rare.” Richmond Hill is home to many Hindu temples, Muslim mosques, and Sikh gurdwaras that minister to the local, twice-exiled Indian communities from Caribbean lands like Trinidad, Guyana, and Suriname.
On August 2nd, a warm but stormy Sunday, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma (Śrī Śrī Hari-Haladhārī) went out on a parade through Richmond Hill. Outside the temple at 111-14 101 Ave., devotees chanted as Hari-Haladhārī were escorted from their altar to the van that would convey them to their chariot:
Sunanda dāsa, the temple president, playing drum, leads kīrtana
Maheśvara dāsa, assisted by Nityānanda dāsa, carries Balarāma from temple to the waiting van
Maheśvara holds The Holder of the Plow (Haladhārī)
Balarāma in van, cradled by Bhūṣāra Dāsa
For the record, our taking out large marble Deities on parade created some controversy. When the idea of this parade first occurred to Sunanda, he called to ask me, his spiritual master, whether it could be done. Was it bona fide? At once I answered “yes,” and then I recounted a conversation I had in 1974 with Śrīla Prabhupāda himself on this very topic.
That year, I talked with Prabhupāda in his quarters in New Vṛndāvana and gave him an account of our recent Philadelphia Rathayātrā, with the largest cart ever.
Prabhupāda’s response was enthusiastic. He extolled such parades as extremely important. The Deities, he said, can be taken out on parade four times a year. He mentioned Janmāṣṭamī as one such occasion. “Oh, Lord Jagannātha will go out then, too?” I asked. “No,” said Prabhupāda. “Not Jagannātha. Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa.”
Surprised, I exclaimed: “The big Deities?”
He paused a beat and said “Yes. They can go.”
“Isn’t that risky?” I asked.
“Just be careful.” Prabhupāda answered.
He went on to say that when Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa come out in procession, the participants in front of the Deity car hold upraised poles or standards, made of silver or gold, surmounted by lion’s heads.
Then, returning to the earlier topic about bringing out big marble Deities, he said that some temples had special replicas of the altar Deities just for going out of the temple for festivals. He called them “vijaya-vigraha.”
But, he said again, the altar Deities themselves could be taken out, but one had to be very careful.
Having heard this from me, Sunanda went ahead with the festival plans. But soon, other ISKCON authorities registered objections to the marble Deities’ being taken out. By that time, however, the plans and preperations were too far along to change. We understood the concern for the safety of the Deities and planned to have vijaya-vigraha for next year’s festival.
In the meantime, we would take Prabhupāda’s “just be careful” very seriously. That’s why Sunanda and I were thankful for the help of Maheśvara—devout, highly experienced, and strong.
With the care of a mother for her baby, Mahesvara places Haladhari on the chariot
Kirtana before the parade starts
This year we’ve undergone a monsoon season in the northeast United States. The Ratha-yātrā in Purī also takes place during the rainy season.
Gaura Nitai
Gaura Nitāi led the procession. These are the Deities of Akhilānanda Dāsa. He also provided the chariot for Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma.
Getting ready
Setting off
Other divinities join the procession: Śiva, Hanumān, and Gaṇeśa
Bearing the Lion-headed standard
“Singin’ in the rain”
More “Singin’ in the rain”
Proceeding on roads first washed clean by Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma
Akhilānanda adds brass
Devotees of Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa come out to see the mobile Lords
Residents along the way bring offerings for the Deities and distribute prasada to the celebrants
A joyous conclusion
Krishna and Balarama return safely to Their altar
New York (Queens) – Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir
Last updated 2nd September 2013
Sri Sri Hari Haladhari are the first Lord Krishna and Lord Balarama deities to be installed in the United States since August 13, 2006.
They were installed by ISKCON GBC and initiating Guru His Grace Ravindra Svarupa Das.
Every year since 2009, the Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir (of Queens, New York) hosts a yearly Ratha Yatra parade.
To learn more about our Hare Krishna center, please visit our websites:
http://www.krishnabalaramnyc.com
http://www.facebook.com/harihaladhari
Ratha Yatra Parade in Queens on August 30
August 18, 2015
A Ratha Yatra Parade ahead of upcoming Krishna Janmashtami festival is scheduled for Sunday, August 30, 2015 in South Richmond Hill, NY.
Ratha Yatra Parade 2014
Organized by Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir, the Ratha Yatra Parade is scheduled to start at 12PM.
Ratha Yatra Parade – Details
Starts at 12PM Corner of Liberty Avenue and 123rd Street.
Will continue all the way and end at Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir @ 111-14 101 Avenue in South Richmond Hill, NY.
If you plan on attending Ratha Yatra Parade, make sure to visit Govinda’s Vegetarian Grill in Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir for a hearty prasadam meal.
That is just a small sampling of the years of transcendental activities of Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir.
Now I want to offer my own recent experiences at the Mandir. Let me start with Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Appearance day on May 20, 2016. It began with bhajans. Devotees took turns leading the chanting of the holy names – HARE KRSNA HARE KRSNA KRSNA KRSNA HARE HARE / HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE. Following bhajans there was a lecture given by his grace Laxmi-Nrsimha dasa. In place of Jaya Radha Madhava, Laxmi-Nrsimha prabhu led everyone in chanting om namo bhagavate narasimhaya – the beginning portion of the Srimad-Bhagavatam verse, Canto 5, Chapter 18, Text 8 –
om namo bhagavate narasimhaya namas tejas-tejase avir-avirbhava
vajra-nakha vajra-damstra karmasayan randhaya randhaya tamo grasa
grasa om svaha. abhayam abhayam atmani bhuyistha om ksraum.
Translation
I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Nrsimhadeva, the source of all power. O my Lord who possesses nails and teeth just like thunderbolts, kindly vanquish our demonlike desires for fruitive activity in this material world. Please appear in our hearts and drive away our ignorance so that by Your mercy we may become fearless in the struggle for existence in this material world.
A very small portion of the lecture –
What is the demon in our hearts that is obstructing us from engaging in devotional service in its pure form? It is pride. Hiranyakasipu is the personification of pride.
Lord Caitanya states that humility is required to chant the Hare Krsna Maha-mantra incessantly. It is the very first quality mentioned by Lord Caitanya necessary to chant the holy names. Humility is the opposite of pride.
trnad api sunicena
taror api sahisnuna
amanina manadena
kirtaniya sada harih
One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly. Sri Sri Siksastaka, Verse 3.
A potent way of removing the obstacle of pride which may be in one’s heart, and enable one to chant the holy name in a humble state of mind, is to chant and remember this mantra or prayer to Lord Nrsimhadeva, the destroyer of the personification of pride.
After the lecture there was a wonderful abhisheka (transcendental bathing) of the Deity of Lord Narasingha and a Sandhya-arati kirtana wherein the Gaura-arati prayers were chanted by all the devotees.
< i>(kiba) jaya jaya gauracander aratiko sobha
jahnavi-tata-vane jaga-mana-lobha
All glories, all glories to the beautiful arati ceremony of Lord Caitanya. This Gaura-arati is taking place in a grove on the banks of the Jahnavi [Ganges] and is attracting the minds of all living entities.
That was followed by Srila Prabhupada Pranati mantra, the Panca-tattva Maha-mantra and the Hare Krsna Maha-mantra.
Here one “master of the senses” (Who shall remain anonymous.) may want to put his hands over his ears and eyes so he won’t lose control of his senses and become disturbed and possibly commit Vaisnava aparadha and complain “What the hell is that!” I thought a devotee, what to speak of a swami or goswami, was dhira or undisturbed?
We all chanted Jaya Prabhupada, Jaya Prabhupada, Jaya Prabhupada, Jaya Prabhupada, many times over, while jumping up and down with our arms raised up to the sky, even though the majority of us are not diksa disciples of Srila Prabhupada. We know who gave us this process of sadhana bhakti, which we were happily engaging in, and we know how to properly show our love for and indebtedness to, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami.
The evening’s festivities concluded with a sumptuous prasadam feast.
The following Sunday I attended the Free Sunday Love Feast program. Activities began with bhajans. That was followed by Tulasi-arati and Guru-puja for Srila Prabhupada. And yes, we all chanted Jaya Prabhupada over and over again. And no one got a headache.
After Guru-puja all the devotees sat in the temple room and chanted a round of japa. We all chanted the Maha-mantra in unison – HARE KRSNA HARE KRSNA KRSNA KRSNA HARE HARE / HARE RAMA HARE RAMA RAMA RAMA HARE HARE.
After the congregational japa period the altar curtains opened and Their Lordships Sri Sri Hari-Haladhari blessed us with their darshan. The evening program continued following the proper ISKCON standard with Sandhya-arati, Prema-dhvani and Nrsimha Prayers.
His grace Kardama Muni dasa gave the Bhagavad Gita class.
During the lecture a guest spoke out loud more than once. The guest repeated the words “Om Shalom” and “As-Salaam-Alaikum” a few times, slightly interrupting the class. Here are the simplest interpretations of those sound vibrations.
Om – The impersonal sound of Krsna is om, but the sound Hare Krsna contains om. (Bhagavad-gita, As It Is, Chapter 8, Text 13, purport)
In Hebrew, the meaning of Shalom is “Peace and Wholeness.”
“As-Salaam-Alaikum,” is an Arabic greeting meaning “Peace be unto you.”
I remember this same guest visited the Brooklyn temple for the Sunday evening program in the very recent past and did the same thing in the middle of the Bhagavad Gita lecture. In Brooklyn the guest was immediately removed from the temple room and escorted out of the building.
In Queens there was a more tolerant response. Here is an example of practical application of the theme from part of the lecture on Lord Nrsimha’s appearance day from the week prior. Lord Caitanya says one should be more tolerant than a tree. There was no expulsion of the guest. The speaker paused a moment and continued with the class. The guest was quiet for the remainder of the lecture. Afterwards some of the devotees even engaged the guest in chanting “Sita Rama.” The evening concluded with a delicious prasadam feast.
Those were the two recent evenings that I spent in the association of the Vaisnavas of Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir. As you can see from the many photos and testimonies submitted herein, this temple is a very nice peaceful place for Vaisnava association.
In the near future there are some events taking place. On June 18 there is a bus trip to New Jersey to visit a Vaisnava temple there. On July 15 there is a bus trip to New Vrndavan, West Virginia. There is the Maha Balarama Purnima Festival on August 18 and the Krishna Balarama Ratha Yatra Parade which will be announced in the future. Every Sunday there is the Free Sunday Love Feast. There is also a weekly food-for-life prasadam distribution program and a weekly harinama.
For more information everyone interested can visit their website: www.krishnabalaramanyc.com.
Speaking of the future. Everyone in New York and probably in North America and beyond knows something of the situation in the Brooklyn temple. The powers that be are trying to sell the property while the majority of the congregation members are against the sale.
I gave my word to Sunandana prabhu that I would not criticize devotees. All I will say is that some of the same forces behind the sale of the Brooklyn temple are apparently trying to take control of Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir and also trying to stop the annual Krishna Balarama Ratha Yatra. I have to ask myself why? Why would apparent millionaire renunciates, who fly first class around the world, who own many properties and bulging bank accounts, want this humble little temple?
Some possible reasons I can think of are greed, and envy, and an all-consuming desire for power and control. Those are strictly my words and thoughts. I am cynical. It is unfortunate that those who present themselves as devotees could act this way toward anyone, what to speak of a community of humbleVaisnavas.
The situation reminds me of the Christmas movie classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” and the conflict between the crippled in body and soul, the wealthy Mr. Potter (As in Potter’s field aka a cemetery) and George Bailey, the unsung hero of the common man who runs the Bailey Building & Loan, which single handedly is building homes, without personal material profit, for his less fortunate neighbors. Mr. Potter, who owns almost everything in town except the Bailey Building & Loan, wants to dissolve it after the passing away of the founder, George Bailey’s father. George Bailey is inspired to speak before the board of directors against Mr. Potter and a part of it goes like this:
George Bailey: “Why he (George Bailey’s father) ever started this Building & Loan I’ll never know, but neither you (Mr. Potter) nor anyone else can say anything against his character. People were human beings to him, but to you, a warped frustrated old man, they’re cattle. Well, in my book, he died a much richer man than you’ll ever be.
Mr. Potter: “I’m not interested in your book. I’m talking about the Building & Loan.”
George Bailey: “I know very well what you’re talking about. You’re talking about something you can’t get your fingers on. And it’s galling you.”
Further on in the movie, the lost soul Mr. Potter takes advantage of a mistake by someone in the Building & Loan and steals their money causing George Bailey to contemplate suicide in the foolish belief that he is worth more dead than alive. He then wishes that he were never born. Long story short, an angel, second class, visits and shows him the fate of his community if he had never been born. In the end, George Bailey’s faith is renewed, the community rallies around him and more than replaces the lost money, the Building & Loan is saved, and the second class angel gets his wings.
That is a typical Hollywood ending and has little to do with reality. Real life goes on. I don’t expect any angels to intercede here. But you never know. Even a cynic like me still has a smidgen of faith in the possibility of miracles.
Members of the community in Queens are also members of the community in Brooklyn. I have seen many of the same devotees over the years in both temples. They see the practical example in Brooklyn of how there is no input from the congregation, no transparency in temple finances and no freedom of Vaisnava speech or debate. Only a select few “devotees” are allowed to lead kirtana or give class and the temple president does not even participate in the morning program. He does not even speak to anyone at the Sunday program. That is what will become the norm in Queens. There is also the distinct possibility, as in Brooklyn, that the material value of the real estate will outweigh the transcendental value of a temple of Krsna in the minds of the “authorities”.
Perhaps the Vaisnavas of both congregations could come together in some way and find a solution for both unfortunate situations.
I know that Sunandana dasa prabhu does not in any way see himself as any type of hero. However, he has served Guru and Gauranga selflessly and without any desire for material gain or profit, for decades. He has, with the assistance of the congregation, maintained this humble temple in Richmond Hill, Queens for many years. He has successfully served the Vaisnavas and Srila Prabhupada and Their Lordships Sri Sri Hari-Haladhari for decades. What more can he do?
“So everything can be attained very nicely and easily simply by this sadhu-sanga. Sadhu-sanga [Cc. Madhya 22.83]. Therefore we repeatedly say that we are trying to create some sadhu so that in different parts of the world they will preach Krsna consciousness, and people will be able to associate with them, and they will become purified. This is Krsna consciousness movement, that sadhu-sanga… Especially in this age, the human society is in great danger. They do not care what is next. But there is next life. We get it, information, from Krsna: tatha dehantara-praptih [Bg. 2.13]. Dehantara-praptih there is. How you can deny it? The authority says. And we have got experience also. We are having dehantara from boyhood to childhood, from childhood to boyhood, from boyhood to youthhood. In this way, we have changed so many bodies, dehantara. This is called dehantara. Similarly, after death, there will be dehantara. It is very reasonable, but people do not believe it.
So this is our position, and the human life is the opportunity to stop this dehantara. And to stop this dehantara, that is the main business. And how it can be done? Simply by understanding Krsna. And how you can understand Krsna? Simply by association of the devotees. That’s all. It is not very difficult… Therefore our mission is if we can create some sadhu and they distribute themself all over the world… As Caitanya Mahaprabhu says,
prthivite ache yata nagaradi grama
sarvatra pracara haibe mora nama
He wants that in every village, every town of the whole world, there may be a center of Krsna consciousness so that people will take advantage of it and they will also become sadhu. This is the mission of Krsna consciousness.”
Excerpt from a lecture
by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
Founder-Acarya of ISKCONSrimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Chapter 25, Text 24] Bombay, November 24, 1974
That last sentence just quoted, by Srila Prabhupada, describes perfectly the mission of Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir in Queens. If you are hungering for Lord Caitanya’s mercy, otherwise known as Bhagavat prasadam, if you desire the association of humble servants of the servants of the servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, if your devotional creeper is parched and in need of spiritual watering, if you are dying of thirst in the desert of the material world, then I recommend that you go to this address – 111-14, 101 Avenue, South Richmond Hill, Queens, NY 11419.
There you will find a transcendental oasis filled with Vaisnava desire trees ready to accept you with open hearts, in the service of Srila Prabhupada and Sri Sri Hari-Haladhari, and are ready and able and more than willing to quench your spiritual thirst for sadhu sanga.
It is common knowledge among desert dwellers that when an ill wind blows the sand dunes shift and the oasis becomes covered and lost and the unfortunate living entities perish where previously there was life giving water.
Let us all pray to Lord Balarama for the strength to stop the ill winds trying to cover our Vaisnava oases with the materialistic sands of destruction.
Murti of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada garlanded by H.G. Sunandana
dasa
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