Vraja-mandala Darsana: A 30-day parikrama experience
By Buddhimanta Dasa
His Holiness Lokanath Swami Maharaj’s book ‘Vraja Mandala Darsana’ was internationally launched by Honourable Indian State minister of Culture & Tourism, Dr. Mahesh Sharma at ISKCON Noida temple on 9th Sept.2015 at 11am. Noida MLA Mrs.Bimla Batham was also present there. Mr.Minister mentioned that Govt. of India has chosen out of many proposals, ISKCON, to be Govt. partner in celebrating Lord Caitanya’s 500th anniversary of Vraja Mandal Prikrama. Mr.Minister glorified the contents of this book and utility especially for the people who cannot visit Vraja Mandala physically, they can tour Vraja Mandala through this book. He also praised ISKCON’s participation in promoting rich Indian culture all over the world. He emphasised on the importance of scriptures like Bhagavad Gita, Mahabharat and Ramayan in our school education system. A day later he made an official statement from his ministry to include Bhagavad Gita, Mahabharat and Ramayan in educational curriculum and this was a prominent news in the leading newspapers.
Lokanath Swami Maharaj has been leading Vraja Mandala Prikrama for past 28 years with international devotees. Maharaj had a vision 20 years ago to write such a book which not only takes the reader to Vraja Mandala by turning the pages but also to attract the reader to Vraja dham.
Vraja-mandala Darsana is a descriptive and experiential account of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.The book has thirty chapters, one for each day of the parikrama. It will thus take you on a month-long journey with the parikrama party, giving you a feel for what it’s like to walk – the pace, the sights, the sounds and the smells of Lord Krishna’s sacred land.
Vraja-mandala Darsana is a hard-bound 608-page presentation with colour printing across all pages, featuring a unique design, 246 photographs, 107 paintings, accounts of personal experiences shared by the pilgrims themselves, and 28 route maps for those who wish to use it as a guide for touring Vraja.
The author, His Holiness Lokanath Swami, joined ISKCON in 1971 and became one of the first Indian disciples of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder Acharya of the Society, currently serves as the chairman of the parikrama management board.
The release of Vraja-mandala Darsana is being done this year to commemorate the 500th anniversary of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s visit to – and parikrama of – Sri Vraja dhama, which commenced on the second full-moon day of the upcoming month of Karttika. So the book launch is happening at a momentous time in the history of the Society.
"For me, Lokanath Mahraja’s Vraja-mandala Darsana is not only a guide through Vrndavana but a means to live in Vraja while I serve in Hungary. I urge the readers of the book to use it not solely as a guide through Vraja, but as a guide through life back to Kirshna.”-- (H.H. Sivarama Swami) To order to book visit www.lokanathswamibooks.com/order/. International devotees can book their copies by contacting Deenanukampa Devi Dasi through email: deepeekag@gmail.com or through phone: +27827033980. And in India the orders can be placed by calling: +91 9654473213 or through email: pvnd.lns@gmail.com.
Devotees can order the book in USA using the following link: https://mkt.com/Lokmedia/vraja-mandala-darsana. For bulk orders in USA, you can reach out to Divyanam Das at divyanam.lok@gmail.com or 786-218- 2824
For more details please follow below links: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19743 http://iskconnews.org/new-book-vraja-mandala-darsana,5079/#gsc.tab=0 https://youtu.be/ervg40Audqk
Thank you very much.
Hari bol.
Your humble servant,
Pundarika Vidyanidhi Dasa
Buddhimanta Dasa
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