Something amazing happened last Sunday, 23 August 2020. More than 500 sankirtana leaders from across the world joined a global Zoom call* 1at 7:30 PM IST. The occasion? “Go To Goloka” – a concerted campaign for the upcoming Bhadra Purnima (2 September 2020) when more than 10,000 sets of Srimad Bhagavatam will be distributed and placed around the world, flooding these dark and turbulent times with the transcendental light of Srimad Bhagavatam.
Led by HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja, HH Bhakti Raghava Swami Maharaja, HG Bhima Prabhu, and HG Vaisesika Prabhu, the online meeting evoked great inspiration in the attending devotees for both relishing the Srimad Bhagavatam and for vigorously distributing it to others as part of the ongoing Global Bhadra Purnima Campaign 2020.
HH Radhanath Swami Maharaja set the tone of the meeting with a deeply uplifting talk on the glories of Srimad Bhagavatam. “Srimad Bhagavatam is the highest revelation of spiritual truth and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the personification of the Srimad Bhagavatam,” he said. He encouraged us to distribute as many sets as possible before this Bhadra Purnima, saying that a devotee is soft hearted and thus wants to give light to the world in dark times. Narrating from the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, His Holiness helped us appreciate the transcendental value of the Srimad Bhagavatam. “When Gadadhar Pandit would read the Srimad Bhagavatam, His tears would wash away the words. Srinivas Acharya went to Bengal to make a copy, which in those times, took several months to complete.”
His Holiness also recounted the great efforts which Srila Prabhupada took to write, print, and publish the Srimad Bhagavatam, urging us to please Srila Prabhupada by distributing Srimad Bhagavatam profusely. Srila Prabhupada spent years in the Radha Damodar temple in Vrindavan, studying the commentaries of the previous Acharyas, meditating, praying, and writing the purports, typing with his own hands. The Srimad Bhagavatam helped Srila Prabhupada begin ISKCON and sustained his effort in spreading the movement around the world. “As Srila Prabhupada saw the sets of Srimad Bhagavatam loaded onto the Jaladuta in Kochin, he realized Krishna was with him.”
HH Bhakti Raghava Swami Maharaja highlighted the need for distributing Srimad Bhagavatam in every town and village. “When leaders come together in a heartfelt spirit of cooperation, the four movements of ISKCON can progress together.” His Holiness stated that placing Srimad Bhagavatam sets in villages is a powerful first step in re-spiritualizing them. He said that the Srimad Bhagavatam gives people a window to the Vedic culture and it teaches us how to live, and we should demonstrate the practical application of the Srimad Bhagavatam philosophy, especially in the context of our modern world. Pledging support to the Campaign, His Holiness announced that the ISKCON Daiva Varnasrama Ministry (IDVM) – India shall sponsor 108 sets of Srimad Bhagavatam to be placed in 108 villages across India, which His Holiness has toured through in the last few years.
HG Bhima Prabhu, a veteran sankirtan leader and current head of Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) – India recounted the fervor with which books were distributed in the times when Srila Prabhupada was personally present. He says “Last October, Vaisesika Prabhu and the team took a sankalpa to distribute 10,000 sets for Bhadra Campaign 2020. At that time, it seemed like the bar was set too high, and as the lockdown emerged, I wondered how this would be possible,” he said. Saying that, “As followers of Srila Rupa Goswami, we understand that there is no material impediment to pure devotional service,” he recounted how devotees in Northern Ireland once continued to distribute books even as a war raged on around them. By the inspiration of HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja and HG Vaisesika Prabhu, we at ISKCON Juhu are set to distribute more sets than we did last year. ISKCON temples in New Delhi and Mayapur temples have also set high goals. Now, it seems like the global goal of 10,000 sets will be met by temples in India itself!
HG Vaisesika Prabhu, who leads the Global Bhadra Purnima Campaign, informed the audience that “a special Narasimha Sudarshana Yagna will be held at Ahobilam on behalf of all the participants who donate and distribute sets of Srimad Bhagavatam.” HG Vaisesika Prabhu appreciated HG Bhima Prabhu for his calm and steady service to the BBT-India and to the team of leaders across the world including HG Sri Rama Prabhu, HG Divya Nama Prabhu, and others who have been actively coordinating the global campaign. He also outlined four ways in which to participate in the campaign this year:
1. By purchasing one or more Srimad Bhagavatam sets.
2. By gifting one or more Srimad Bhagavatam sets to people you know.
3. By sponsoring Srimad Bhagavatam set for a worthy recipient. (We have a list of people who are eager to read Srimad Bhagavatam).
4. By referring 5 or more contacts who will potentially purchase a Srimad Bhagavtam set.
To participate in the campaign and find useful resources, please visit the website www.bhadracampaign.com or write to info@bbtbooks.org
It is not too late! Jump on board now and attend the upcoming call on 28th August at 7:30 PM (IST) with HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaja and HH Indradryumna Swami Maharaja!
Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=88745
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