Register Now: 8 Weeks for the Second North American Sravanam Kirtanam Camp hosted by ISKCON Seattle- Aug 12-14, 2016
Radhika Gopinath Das
Dear devotees,Dandavat pranaams! Jaya Srila Prabhupada! Jaya Vaishnava acharyas!We are pleased to announce the Second North American Sravanam Kirtanam camp in our own Sammamish based ISKCON Seattle temple this year (Last year it was in Dallas). Please make it a priority to attend this and other Srila Prabhupada disciples' programs this year in ISKCON Seattle. A similar camp was done in Damodardesh, Belgium and an event in Birmingham UK is planned later this year. https://www.facebook.com/SravanamKirtanamCampDamodardeshPlease read the attached brochure to get a feel for the details - some activities are subject to change as we come closer to the dateWe should try to make this event as popular as Sadhu Sangha in the east coast. A number of services such as welcome committee, parking, food preparation in temple kitchen, transporting visiting devotees from airport, hosting devotees, transporting them from and to temple are available. Let's show North America that ISKCON Seattle are leaders in guest welfare in addition to being a Sankirtana Leader, Outdoor Festival leader, and 365 days a year free prasadam distribution leader.Have copied leaders of other congregations to forward to their congregations to make this West coast event a resounding success. Please forward liberallyBiography of HH Bhakti Vikasa Swami:His Holiness Bhakti Vikasa Swami appeared in this world in 1957 in England. He joined the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in London in 1975 and was initiated in that year with the name Ilapati dasa by ISKCON's founder-acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. From 1977 to 1979 His Holiness was based in India, mostly traveling in West Bengal preaching Krishna consciousness and distributing Srila Prabhupada's books. He then spent the following ten years helping to pioneer ISKCON's preaching in Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, and Malaysia. In 1989 he was granted the order of sannyasa, receiving the name Bhakti Vikasa Swami, and again made his base in India. He has since travelled widely throughout the subcontinent, lecturing in English, Hindi, and Bengali. His Holiness also travels to and preaches Krishna consciousness in other parts of the world such Croatia, Slovenia, Russia, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Wester Europe - England, Germany, etc.He is the author of over 30 books and continues to write books and magazine articles. His books have been translated into more than fifteen languages. Nearly two million books of his books have been distributed in over 40 countries. The pivotal book is Sri Bhakti Siddhanta Vaibhava has received rare acclaim. He currently has close to 1500 disciples, a number which keeps increasing every year.Biography of HG Harivilas prabhu:His Grace Harivilas prabhu was born in Philadelphia January 5 1946. He graduated from University of Pennsylvania in 1968. He studied 1968-1969 at American University, Beirut. He moved to Paris June 1969 and met devotees July 1969 in Paris. He moved to temple in London Bury place in December 1969. Later he returned to Paris and opened the first temple in Paris. He was initiated in June 1970 and became the temple president. His Grace Harivilas prabhu invited Srila Prabhupada to Paris in 1971 to the first ISKCON temple inauguration in France. He got married in 1973 in Paris and stepped down from temple president in 1973 to focus on Grihasta activities. Shortly thereafter started a business called Spiritual Sky. His Grace Harivilas prabhu took on president responsibilities again in 1979. In 1979 he opened a new temple building in downtown Paris and remained president until 1979 – 1981.
His Grace Harivilas prabhu started middle eastern BBT between 1981 – 1988. He guided people in translation of the Bhagavad Gita, Beyond Birth and death, Isopanishad, Coming back in Armenian and printed books with his own funds. Similarly translation and printing of Isopanishad and Coming Back in Turkish and Coming Back in Arabic. His Grace Harivilas prabhu made many donations for printing first Gitar Gaan in Bengali. He also gave donations and printed books in Swahili, Japanese, Urdu, Oriya.
His Grace Harivilas prabhu became GBC 1988, and went to Berkeley California, when the temple was in foreclosing proceedings. Served there as temple president and GBC for 4 ½ years during which time he paid off mortgage. He also completely renovated the entire temple building inside and out.
In 1991 His Grace Harivilas prabhu moved to Seattle because the temple in Seattle was going to close down and deities were to move to Alachua, FL. His Grace Harivilas prabhu expertly managed temple congregation and paid off the mortgage in 2004. By 2008 He built a brand new temple in Sammamish, WA costing $4.5 million dollars and by then there was a developed community of 50 initiated devotees and significant congregation. In 2010 became GBC of Phoenix and help secure that temple from outside influence. From 1988 onwards he helped the Vancouver temple to free itself from the influence of potentially damaging individuals. Eventually in 2006 he organized the payoff for the entire mortgage amount. In 2011 he became GBC for Hawaii and worked to stabilize the temple that has experienced difficulties for the last eight years.
His Grace Harivilas prabhu has six children with his wife Parijata Devi dasi. He has been living as a vanaprasta since 2003. All his children are grown and are independent. His Grace Harivilas prabhu also applied to be put on the list to become a Sanyasi and resigned from the GBC in 2016.
yhs,Radhika Gopinath das
