ISKCON Sri Jagannath Mandir, Bangalore – Srila Prabhupada Marathon 2012 Offering
By Krsnamitra Nitai das
On behalf of ISKCON – Sri Jagannath Mandir, Seshadripuram, Sri Jagannath Mandir – Uttarahalli (Kumaraswamy Layout) and Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, Lingarajpuram For the pleasure of their Lordships Sri Jagannath, Baladeva and Subadra, Sri Sri Radha Krishna Chandra, Sri Lakshmi Narasimha, Gaura-Nitai, Srila Prabhupada and the devotees we hereby make this offering of the Results from the Monthly Sankirtana Festival of “Srila Prabhupada Book Marathon – 2012” that took off in October 2012 and concluded today (9-02-2013).
In Srimad Bhagavatam – Canto 10, Chapter 2 Verse: 37, Prayers by the Demigods for Lord Kṛṣṇa in the Womb, Explains:
srnvan grnan samsmarayams ca cintayan
namani rupani ca mangalani te
kriyasu yas tvac-caranaravindayor
avista-ceta na bhavaya kalpate
Even while engaged in various activities, devotees whose minds are completely absorbed at Your lotus feet, and who constantly hear, chant, contemplate and cause others to remember Your transcendental names and forms, are always on the transcendental platform, and thus they can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
And in the purport, Srila Prabhupada describes how such an “enrolled agent” achieves the perfection of meditation on Krsna, samadhi:
“One should engage in practical service to the Lord. In our Krsna consciousness movement, all our activities are concentrated upon distributing Krsna literature. This is very important. One may approach any person and induce him to read Krsna literature so that in the future he also may become a devotee. Such activities are recommended in this verse. Kriyasu yas tvac-caranaravindayoh. Such activities will always remind the devotees of the Lord’s lotus feet. By fully concentrating on distributing books for Krsna, one is fully absorbed in Krsna. This is samadhi.” SB-10.2.37, Purport
The goals of this MSF were:
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To distribute at least 36,000 books.
We are pleased to report that these goals have been met, surpassed, and smashed!
In keeping with the spirit of this MSF’s theme, devotees conducted massive book distribution in colorful and distinctive ways, beginning with the Vaikuntha Ekadashi festival and culminating in the Gita Jayanti festival held at ISJM. In between, devotees participated in expansive door-to-door distribution all over the Bangalore, including Railway Station, Subway, Malls, and Surrounding villages. Book distribution was carried out during Shimoga Rathyatra Festival and travelling Sankirtana team. Additionally, Gitas were placed in Hotels, as well as various Book Publishers.
For the first time in the history of ISKCON Sri Jagannath Mandir- Team Motel Gita, has been placed 350 Bhagavad Gita books @ Bangalore. GM of that Hotel also mentioned that he will work with us and get us orders for all the hotels that owns in India (close to 10,000 rooms). This proved to be a big success and plans for an even mass level distribution in Motels and Hotels in Bangalore and Other cities coming months are in the works.
We would like to thank Sankirtana Co-coordinators for spearheading this huge marathon and making it a big success.We also thank the Temple Management who gave us their support and guidance from time to time. We would like to thank to those dedicated devotees who went out every single weekend starting from October until last day of Marathon. These goals would not have been met without their enthusiasm and spirited effort. We are also very grateful for those devotees – Bhakta Bharath Pr, Narayana Padbanabha Pr, Bhakta Manish Pr, Bhaktin Manasa and Bhakta Radha Krsna, Bhakta Balaji and others who took part in Shastra Dhan Program to collect funds for the Motel Gita project and Corporate Book Distribution in Bangalore and other cities. Their enthusiasm and dedicated efforts continue to inspire us.
Lastly, we would not be standing here today listening to this offering were it not for the inspiration and motivation of our Guru Maharaj and Vaisesika Prabhu. Their guidance, motivation and belief has made all of this possible. Thank you.
Here are the final results of the Monthly Sankirtan Festival (MSF) honoring ”Srila Prabhupada Book Marathon -2012”. In all 25 Srimad Bhagavatam sets, 11,500 small books, 1,705 medium books, 1200 BTG magazines, and 25,000 Big books were distributed.
We would finally like to leave you with this beautiful verse from the Srimad Bhagavatam glorifying the Sankirtan movement.
tasmat sankirtanam vishnor
jagan-mangalam amhasam
mahatam api kauravya
viddhy aikantika-nishkritam
“The chanting of the holy name of the Lord is able to uproot even the reactions of the greatest sins. Therefore the chanting of the sankirtana movement is the most auspicious activity in the entire universe.” S.B.6.3.31
Sri- Sri Jagannath, Baladeva and Subadra mai ki Jaya!
Sriman Mahaprabhu ki Jaya!
Sri Sri Laxmi Nrsinghadev ki Jaya!
Srila Prabhupada ki Jaya!
Gaura Premanande! Haribol!
Thank you.
With gratitude and affection,
Your humble servant,
Krsnamitra Nitai das
