By Kulavati Krishnapriya Devi Dasi
For over forty years, ISKCON Nairobi has nurtured a devoted community in the country, and recently, Kishori Radhe Devi Dasi, a disciple of Radha Govinda Goswami, addressed the Hindu Council of Kenya on “Preserving Culture and Spiritual Heritage.” In her address, she emphasized the importance of safeguarding Vedic culture through philosophical understanding. The event, jointly organized by ISKCON Nairobi and the Hindu Council of Kenya, brought together temple devotees and members of the wider Hindu community.
The joint meeting came about through the initiative of ISKCON Nairobi temple Co-Vice President, Mukund Murari Das, and Aishvarya Lila Dasi. The program had begun with half an hour of kirtan led by Banke Bihari Das, followed by a series of reflections by Kishori Radhe Devi Dasi on the eternal Vedic tradition, proposing that authentic faith rises from philosophical conviction rather than mere ancestral inheritance.
Her address opened with warm congratulations to the Nairobi community for its steadfast preservation of Hindu customs. She observed that streets and residences bearing names such as Hari Vilas and Krishna Residency, along with a host of vegetarian restaurants and temples, reflect a vibrant cultural identity. But, she also emphasized that outward symbols—traditional dress, dietary choices, and temple visits—are insufficient to carry tradition forward, especially as younger generations drift from vegetarianism and visible expressions of faith. “The younger generation is already losing interest in vegetarianism and traditional practices,” she noted. “To preserve culture meaningfully, we must go deeper into its roots—dharma itself.” She explained that Krishna established the principles of Sanatana Dharma, which Srila Prabhupada often translated as “eternal Vedic traditions.”
Drawing extensively from the Bhagavad-gita, Kishori described dharma as a scientific discipline rather than a blind faith. She quoted shlokas that define righteous action and community duty — kula dharma and jati dharma — emphasizing that these familial and societal obligations form the basis of cultural life.
“It is not enough,” she told attendees, “to know what to wear or what to eat. We must understand why these practices exist and what they lead us toward.” She insisted that by teaching children the philosophical foundations of Hindu tradition, parents and elders can give them a living context for their heritage, rather than leaving them with hollow rituals.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/vaishnavi-addresses-hindu-council-of-kenya-on-preserving-vedic-culture/
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