WVA Newsletter #2
World Vaishnava Association
Visva Vaisnava Raj Sabha
World Vaishnava Association
All glories to Sri Guru and Gauranga!
All glories to Jagadguru Sri Srimad Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada and Guru Parampara!
Respected sannyasis, vaishnavas and vaishnavis
Please accept our humble obeisances from the WVA-VVRS' Internet Committee.
In this edition of the WVA Newsletter we share the report of the last WVA Meeting held at Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math, Sridham Mayapur, during Goura Purnima time, in which many important decisions were taken by the present acaryas.
This past 18th of March the annual meeting of vaishnavas from many missions took place regarding the Goura Purnima period, at the sacred Samadhi Mandir of Srila B.P. Puri Goswami Maharaja.
It started with the blessings of the actual Executive Chairman of the WVA-VVRS and Acarya of Sri Devananda Gaudiya Math, Srila Bhaktivedanta Paryatok Maharaja. After glorifying Sri Guru Gauranga Radha Vinod Vihariji, Srila Maharaja brought back the importance of the Vishva Vaishnava Raj Sabha established by Srila Jiva Goswami, as a group concerned about spreading the glories of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu all over the world:
"Only by devotion we may get to the Lotus Feet of Sri Guru, Sri Gauranga - Nityananda and Sri Radha and Krishna:
Harer nama harer nama
harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva
nasty eva gatir anyatha
We must share this knowledge with everyone, and to unite strengths Srila Jiva Goswami established the Sri Vishva Vaishnava Raj Sabha. This is the WVA's and the Gaudiyas Math's goal. To preach the glories of Sri Caitanya Dev will bring the blessings of Mahaprabhu and Radha-Krishna."
The vaishnava assembly discussed many important issues, the main ones are:
- The impact of using plastic in our maths, the importance of completely eradicate them and the different alternatives for it.
- The creation of a WVA Trust that may collect donations and funds in order to improve the projects realized by the sabha.
- The release of the new and important materials to the expansion of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada's glories: "The Photo-Biography" printed in magazine format and the "Srila Bhaktisiddhanta's Museum" as an exposition of pictures that tell about his life and work.
- The fortification of the Publication's Committee of the WVA.
- The publication of vaishnava news on the newspaper "Caitanya Mail", distributed in Bengali and English through all West Bengal.
- The acceptation that the maths associated to the WVA should care to use "ahimsa mridangas" with raw material coming from naturally dead cows.
- The discussion about WVA's opinion on the delivery of the siddha-deha pranali diksa by certain line of babajis from Radha Kunda.
- The new projects of the Education Committee.
- The importance of the presence of the WVA in the society and the upcoming events that enable it.
- The next general assembly of the WVA will take place on the 19th of October, 2014, in Vrindavan. The place will be previously confirmed.
The following vaishnavas were present in the meeting:
- Srila Bhaktivedanta Paryatok Maharaja – Acarya of Sri Gaudiya Vedanta Samiti
- Srila Bhakti Bibudh Bodhayan Maharaja – Acarya of Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math
- Sripad Bhakti Prabhav Mahavir Maharaja - Acarya of Sri Mahavir Gaudiya Math
- Srila Bamsi Das Babaji Maharaja
- Srila Bhakti Alok Paramadvaiti Maharaja – Vrinda Mission
- Sripad Bhakti Nandan Swami Maharaja – Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math
- Sripad Bhakti Vichar Vishnu Maharaja – Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math
- Sripad Bhakti Prasun Madhusudhan Maharaja – Tirtha Ashram, Govardhan
- Sripad Bhakti Raksak Swami Maharaja – Sri Jahanavi Kunja Gaudiya Math
- Sripad Bhaktivedanta Padmanabha Maharaja – New Vrindavan farm, Argentina
- Sripad Om Prakas Brijvasi prabhu – Sri Gopinathji Gaudiya Math
- Sripad Tamal Krishna Das Brahmacari – Sri Imlitala Gaudiya Math
- Sripad Ramdas Dasadhikari – Earth aware editions
- Sripad Radha Madhav Das – Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math
- Sripad Rama Kant Das Brahmacari
- Sripad Rajib Chakravarty – Caitanya Mail newspaper
- Sripad Gopal Das
- Sripad Madan Mohan Das
- Sripad Gaura Hari Das – Friends of Mayapur
- Sripad Arup Govinda Das – WVA corresponsal
- Sripad Vidyapati Das – Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math, Australia
- Sripad Bhagirat Das – Sri Jahnavi Kunja Gaudiya Math
- Sripad Rup Sanatan Raghunath Das – WVA office, Bangladesh
- Sripad Ananga Mohan Das – Sri Keshavaji Gaudiya Math
- Sripad Subha Krishna Das - ISKCON
- Sripad Dinasharan Das - Sri Gaudiya Sevashram, Mathura
- Sripad Satya Bhagavat Das - Sri Rupanuga Gaudiya Math
- Sripad Shubhananda Das -Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math
- Sripad Caitanya Das - Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math, Hyderabad
- Sripad Satya Krishna Das Brahmacari – Sri Jahnavi Kunja Gaudiya Math
- Sripad Ananda Vigraha Das Brahmacari – Sri Jahnavi Kunja Gaudiya Math
- Srimati Kamala Priya Dasi - ISKCON
- Srimati Prisni Dasi – Mayapur cleaning program
- Srimati Gandharvika Dasi – WVA Internet committee
- Srimati Mantra Murti Dasi - Brazil
The details of the covered topics are the following:
1- News from the different committees of the WVA -VVRS
In this meeting was confirmed the participation of many vaishnavas in some of the WVA committees:
a. WVA’s secretaries in different areas:
Secretary for Braj Mandala: Sripad Tamal Krishna Das Brahmacari
Secretary for Gaura Mandala: Sripad Satya Krishna Das Brahmacari
Secretary for Bangladesh: Sripad Rup Sanatan Raghunath Das
Mayapur WVA office in charge: Sripad Pradyumna Das
b. WVA-VVRS' Education Committee:
- A project of a health clinic will be developed and a school for children of the WVA in Mayapur Dham with the support of the Sree Caitanya Gaudiya Math.
- Sripad Om Prakash Brijwasi prabhu offers Hindi lessons to all interested devotees. The seminaries will take place in Yamuna Kunja, Vrindavan.
c. WVA-VVRS' Publications Committee:
- New members of the committee: Sripad Bhakti Ratna Sadhu Maharaja, Sripad Bhakti Nandan Swami Maharaja, Sripad Radha Madhav Das, Sripad Rajib Chakravarty.
- The committee will be in charge of publishing few important books of our sampradaya and also to organize translations to different languages.
- It was presented a list of the different printed and digitized materials produced by the WVA-VVRS in the past 20 years of service done for mankind.
- Was performed the release of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada's Museum, a collection of 108 printed graphics that gather the most important moments of Srila Prabhupada's history and his legacy to the world. Hundreds of vaishnavas attended to the exhibition and everybody appreciated this effort for the expansion of the glories of Srila Prabhupada. The museum's collection is also available in a DVD-video format, that includes the historical narrative for each graphic.
- A new material also released during Gaura Purnima 2014 was the Photo-Biography of Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta, a project developed by the Publications Committee of the WVA along with Vrinda Kunja team in Vrindavan.
d. WVA-VVRS' Environmental Committee:
- New members of the committee: Sripad Ananga Mohan Das and Sripad Radha Madhav Das.
e. WVA-VVRS' Public Relations Committee:
- New member of the committee: Sripad Arjuna Das
- On november will take place the World Hindu Congress in Delhi, the participation of the WVA is very important there. Those interested please contact Sripad Bhakti Vichar Vishnu Maharaja from Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math.
f. WVA-VVRS' Temples Adoption Committee:
- Bhaktivedanta Charity Trust is repairing some of the buildings in Mayapur. They are in charge of the care of a few buildings of our gaudiya sampradaya.
2- Special petition of the Environmental Committee:
In the WVA meeting held on the 30th of October, 2013, at Srila Bon Maharaja's bhajan kutir (see report here), the assembly approved the initiative of completely eliminate the use of plastic plates and cup in our maths, mainly during special festivals and vaishnavas events. The point is that, even though it is a decision of all maths, many of them still utilize these elements that are very harmful to the holy Dham.
Srila B.B. Bodhayan Maharaj confirmed the danger posed by the use of plastic pointing that the garbage and the plastic of our cities contaminate even the water: "This is not positive for health and it is converted in a critical topic for the future. We must completely stop the use of plastic. In other countries they make big investments to utilize only recycled plastics, but here, in India, we don't do it. The cities has become really dirty because of the plastics. I ask Rajib Chakravarti to please publish an article about the horrible effects of plastic on the newspaper in which he writes to."
On the other hand, Sripad Arup Govinda Das confirmed that many maths on Mayapur Dham, such as Sri Bhagavat Math, Sri Krishna Caitanya Math and Sri Gopinath Gaudiya Math, has completely stopped the use of plastic. Sripad Bhakti Nandan Swami Maharaja fully supported the initiative, confirming that we not only have to eliminate the use of plastic plates and cups, but also the polyethylene bags. Srila B.A. Paramadvaiti Maharaja added that "we must become more aware of the use of the products we use in our worship to the Lord, we need to know about GMO, the impact of plastic, oils harmful to health etc. There are many connected topic that request big conscious from our part."
Sripad Ananga Mohan Das from Keshavaji Gaudiya Math gave a complete and scientific description over the impact of plastics, proposing to the assembly the use of paper plates for the festivals. All confirmed the proposal. Prabhu suggested that also the WVA publications could be made in different materials, not only in plastic.
The WVA cleaning department in Sridham Mayapur asked all present members on the assembly to please keep the garbage of their temples in the corresponding containers that have being implanted on strategic sites, inside the mandir and along the Bhaktisiddhanta Road. The cleaning team takes the garbage away from the temples every two days and asked the vaishnavas to keep Sri Mayapur Dham clean and beautiful. The devotees may also participate by supporting more workers. This is an issue that must be addressed by all together, the temples are committed to take the garbage off the corresponding containers and then the cleaning team take it away to the city's dumping ground that has been kept by ISKCON.
The Environmental Committee has been responsible for making a strong campaign of environmental education in Sri Vrindavan and Sri Mayapur Dham. Sripad Vishvarupa Das from Colombia has designed some very beautiful posters in English, Hindi and Bengali that are been glued all over the Dham. Along with it, the theatrical team of Vrinda Kunja has presented the play "Our Last Chance" in many schools and rural communities of Delhi, Rishikesh, Braj Mandal and Goura Mandal, to expand the urgent need of protection of the holy rivers and holy places of pilgrimage.
3- Creation of a new branch of the WVA-VVRS to collect funds in favor of the service to the vaishnavas and to the dham.
Sripad Bhakti Ratna Sadhu Maharaj could not be physically present on the meeting, but in previous days made the proposal to the WVA-VVRS of starting a legalized Trust that allows the WVA to collect funds and donations in aid of the different services to vaishnavas and holy dhams. Sripad Bhakti Vichar Vishnu Maharaja from Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math will be the leader of this new Foundation. In this way, all those vaishnavas and friends that want to participate by funding the WVA projects, may do so through donations.
A few of the projects of this future Trust are: to publish books of our vaishnava grantha, to make preaching festivals with the vaishnava leaders, to support temple restoration linked to the gaudiya sampradayas, to make educational campaigns to promote cleaning the Dham and against the use of plastics, spread the glories of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta and his mission around India and the world, among other.
4- Printing books department
The Publications Committee of the WVA presented to the assembly of vaishnavas the release of two important materials: the Photo-Biography of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada that can be downloaded from internet HERE, or can also be founded at the WVA office in Yamuna Kunja (Vrindavan) and Mayapur. The other release of Gaura Purnima time was the collection of 108 poster about the life and work of Srila Prabhupada, an exhibition that was organized at the Sri Gaudiya Gopinath Math (Mayapur Dham) and is now permanent at the Samadhi Mandir of Srila B.P. Puri Goswami Maharaja. The museum can also be visited on the Internet at the following web address: bhaktisiddhanta.com/museum
This committee will be strengthened by the involvement of Sripad Bhakti Ratna Sadhu Maharaja who offered to actively participate in the printing of fundamentals books of our sampradaya. Sripad Radha Madhav Das, who published a complete thesis about Acintya bedhavedha tattwa, will also be an active part of this committee. The publications will be financed from the funds collected with the aforementioned Trust. The Publications Committee will also encourage the translation of literatures in different lenguages: Hindi, Bengali, Oriya and English.
5- Vaishnava News on West Bengal Newspaper
Rajib Chakravarty develops a monthly newspaper in Bangla and English that publishes actual news from India along with important topics and news of the vaishnava tradition. It was introduced and presented to the assembly, putting it at the service of the WVA. "We publish religious topics and from the Bhagavat Dharma together with all other social issues of the country so people can know what is currently happening and also see the example of the sadhus and so follow it", said Rajib Chakravarty.
The assembly organized to monthly acquire 1000 copies of the newspaper to be distributed in Mayapur while supporting the financing of certain advertisements within it. It was also required that the topics discussed in the meetings of the WVA will be published on the newspaper itself. The invitation was extended to all those that want to participate in the Publications Committee and in the Internet Committee to share vaishnava news.
6- The importance of ahimsa mridangas in our math
The following question was posed to the assembly: "Is there any reaction for using musical instruments and mridangas, in special, in which materials come from the mistreatment of cows?". The present sadhus answered based on the vedic scriptures and also gave their proposals to resolve the issue.
The conclusion was synthesized by Sripad Bhakti Nandan Swami Maharaja: "We must completely eliminate the use of mridangas that are not ahimsa (whose raw materials are not from naturally dead cows, but the killing of them), otherwise, we become directly responsible and we accumulate the reactions of the case". Sripad Bhakti Prasun Madhusudhan Maharaja said that he has contact of different gosalas in Braj Mandal that may provide raw ahimsa material, but that some one must take the responsibility to organize it.
To close the topic, Sripad Ananga Mohan Das gave a complete and shocking discourse over the importance of cow protection and the proper way to do it, considering the appropriate extraction of milk and other products that go mata offers. Srila Bhakti Alok Paramadvaiti Maharaja adds that: "We are responsible of destroying our own vedic tradition, if we do not use milky products from protected gosalas, then we are guilty of mother cow's exploitation".
This topic became part of the environmental committee which Ananga Mohan Das and Sripad Sripad Radha Madhav Das became new members.
7- The opinion of the assembly over the siddha-deha pranali diksa
The topic of the re-initiations and siksas given by certain groups of babajis of Radha Kunda was also posed to the assembly. Many vaishnavas gave their opinion on it:
What is the vision of the Gaudiya Math over the re-initiations given by the babajis of Radha Kunda to devotees that had already being initiated in our parampara? Should the WVA-VVRS do something about it?
Srila Bhakti Bibudha Bodhayan Maharaja started posing that the protection of a gaudiya vaishnava is to follow the appropriate siddhanta, adding that it is not possible to prohibit our members to associate with other lines, because the desires is what leads the practitioner to his downfall. Sripad Bhakti Prasun Madhusudhan Maharaja added that we must strengthen the study of the siddhanta that has been already established by our acaryas, statement saying: "The issue is how can we deepen the siddhanta to protect our lineage.”
Sripad Madhusudhan Maharaja gave an example in which an foreign devotee was initiated in the siddha deha pranali diksa twice by the same person, removing value and veracity of this process. Said: "There are many points to consider about it, me myself talk about this issue in each of my Hari-katha to clearly teach people the difference between the two."
8- New Educational Projects of the WVA
The WVA-VVRS has the initiative to develop a project of a vaishnava school for children of Sridham Mayapur. This service will be performed in connection with Sripad Bhakti Vichar Vishnu Maharaja of Sri Caitanya Gaudiya Math, where there are many accommodations available for it. Sripad Bhagirath prabhu, from Jahnavi Kunja Gaudiya Math, will take charge together with his wife Anandamayi Dasi. Prabhu will be also in charge of the WVA clinic at the same place, wherein he may not only receive and attend patients with health problems, but also educate them the vaishnava teachings and about the importance of protecting the dham and to keep it clean.
9- The presence of the WVA-VVRS in society
The last topic discussed at this meeting was the importance of a team work with different participants of the WVA-VVRS, by creating a circle of sadhu-sanga with a common goal.
"Very powerful decisions has descend to us by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and the Guru parampara, and if we keep united, we will be strong enough to keep expanding it. The WVA-VVRS must become an element to social impact, so the teachings of Sri Caitanya that all Gaudiya Math promotes may have a bigger impact. For example, there are important situations such as protection and cleaning of the dham, cow protection, and others, in which the WVA-VVRS may be presented to the authorities and request changes; but for that it needs to strengthen the unity of members. The board of sadhus is essential in today's society. In vedic times the sadhus were the King's counsellors. Nowadays there are no kings anymore, but a government that accomplish the same function. All that needs a bit of energy, but in essence it is what we must do. There is no need to talk about our sadhana because this is already part of our sadhana, but we do need urgently to talk about our position in society", said Srila B.A. Paramadvaiti Swami Maharaja.
Sripad Madhusudhan Maharaja supported the initiative saying that the WVA-VVRS must identify the thematics in which fights for, for example against the selling of non-vegetarian products in the dham etc. "We must organize a system to recollect signatures in different vaishnava festivals and then approach the government".
The assistants supported the need for the WVA-VVRS to become more active on this issues, for that it was also posed the importance of WVA's participation in the next World Congress of Hinduism to be held between 21st and 23rd of November 2014 in Delhi, India. A team header by Srila Paramadvaiti Maharaja will be incharge to make all inquires about it and ensure the participation of the sabha in the event.
See a few pictures of the meeting:
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Srila B.B. Bodhayan Maharaja and Srila B.V. Paryotok Maharaja
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Distribuiton of conscious poster on Sacred Dham's protection
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The acaryas gathered at Sro Gopinath Gaudiya Math
See more pictures HERE.
For the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the Visva Vaishnava Raj Sabha - World Vaishnava Association, we happily share in video format the historical register of the first WVA-VVRS meeting, that took place in Modi Bhavan, Vrindavan Dham, in the year of 1994:
First WVA-VVRS Meeting, 1994 [Part I]:
First WVA-VVRS Meeting, 1994 [Part II]:
Vaishnava Calendar
Vrindavan, U.P., India (077E40 27N35, Time zone = +5.30)
13 May Nrisimha Caturmasia
14 May Krsna Phula Dola, Salila Vihara
Srila Paramesvari Dasa Thakura Disppearance
Srila Sri Radha-Ramana Devaji Appearance
Srila Madhavendra Puri Appearance
Srila Srinivasa Acarya Appearance
End of Jala Dana
19 May Srila Ramananda Raya Disppearance
24 May Apara Ekadasi
In the service of Sri Guru, Vaishnavas and Bhagavan,
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