Hare Krishna! Welcome to Waves of Sankirtana!
Hare Krishna! Welcome to Waves of Sankirtana!
On this auspicious occasion of the 100th anniversary of the
holy disappearance day of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur, we are pleased to offer at
the lotus feet of His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada this
monthly newsletter dedicated to systematically propagating and facilitating the
distribution of Srila Prabhupada's books. Through this monthly newsletter, we humbly attempt to facilitate the expansion of book distribution by connecting and inspiring devotees across India to take up and continue this most dear service to Srila Prabhupada. This effort has been made possible by the blessings and guidance
of HG Vaisesika prabhu and HG Bhima prabhu.
Message from HG Vaisesika prabhu on "Waves of Sankirtana"
Highlights
- Srila Prabhupada Speaks
- India Sankirtana Report Card - May 2014
- Sankirtana News
- Sankirtana Training: The Four Laws of Book Distribution
- Sankirtana Insights: HG Sundar Shyam Prabhu (ISKCON Pune)
- Sankirtana FAQs
Srila Prabhupada Speaks: "Book distribution is also chanting."
Regarding Sankirtana and book distribution, book distribution is also chanting. Anyone who reads the books that is also chanting and hearing. Why distinguish between chanting and book distribution? These books I have recorded and chanted, and they are transcribed. It is spoken kirtanas. So book distribution is also chanting. --- Letter to Rupanuga; Mayapur, 19 October, 1974.
India Sankirtana Report Card - May 2014
The chart below shows Indian temples ranked by book points for May 2014
Horizontal: Temple name and rank Vertical: Book points
All glories to the wonderful service by devotees across India! The table below lists individual book distributors for May 2014 with book points, and temple affiliation.
Sankirtana News
Books released for the Blind (Braille Language) in Hyderabad
We wish to introduce the readers to the lovely and wonderful bhakta vrinda of Devnar School for the Blind at Hyderabad, which has 450 children of 5-16 age group studying in grades I-X. The school administration had agreed to allow Bhagavad Gita classes on every sunday to 190 students, who are hostelers. By the causeless mercy of Srila Prabhupada, the sravanam and kirtanam have been going on since two years at their premises and during these interactions, we identified the need for printing Srila Prabhupada's books in Braille.
Consequently, the first Vaisnava Song Book in Braille was released by HH RP Bhakti Raghava Swami Maharaj on 19th May 2014 at Sri Jagannath Puri dham.The kids have learned Damodarastakam and Siksastakam very nicely and some of them are chanting 16 rounds and following ekadashi vrata and many have abstained from meat eating and chocolates too as they contain cocoa! Because most of them cannot afford to buy these books, we have distributed them freely and also plan to execute subsequent braille projects: A story book and a book containing "108 important shlokas from the Bhagavad Gita. Devotees interested in sponsoring these books to the kids or in funding our subsequent projects may contact Champaka lata devi dasi at pranavalatha@gmail.com or 91- 9849043420
Sankirtana News
Books released for the Blind (Braille Language) in Hyderabad
We wish to introduce the readers to the lovely and wonderful bhakta vrinda of Devnar School for the Blind at Hyderabad, which has 450 children of 5-16 age group studying in grades I-X. The school administration had agreed to allow Bhagavad Gita classes on every sunday to 190 students, who are hostelers. By the causeless mercy of Srila Prabhupada, the sravanam and kirtanam have been going on since two years at their premises and during these interactions, we identified the need for printing Srila Prabhupada's books in Braille.
Consequently, the first Vaisnava Song Book in Braille was released by HH RP Bhakti Raghava Swami Maharaj on 19th May 2014 at Sri Jagannath Puri dham.The kids have learned Damodarastakam and Siksastakam very nicely and some of them are chanting 16 rounds and following ekadashi vrata and many have abstained from meat eating and chocolates too as they contain cocoa! Because most of them cannot afford to buy these books, we have distributed them freely and also plan to execute subsequent braille projects: A story book and a book containing "108 important shlokas from the Bhagavad Gita. Devotees interested in sponsoring these books to the kids or in funding our subsequent projects may contact Champaka lata devi dasi at pranavalatha@gmail.com or 91- 9849043420
India Sankirtana Leaders Team Convention, January 2014
The first of its kind in India, this event served as a platform for sharing techniques and strategies of organized book distribution and focused on the need to develop the attitude and taste for book distribution. Devotees from different temples very enthusiastically shared their best strategies, lessons learned from past experience, challenges faced, and success stories. Appreciation gifts were given to attendees.
The India Sankirtana Leaders Team (ISLT) is a network of devotees across India united in their vision to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books. ISLT will convene for another conference in New Delhi between 6 and 7 October, 2014. To register for this event, please contact sriramadasa.brs@gmail.com or vinodhvalluri@gmail.com. Read more at: Original announcement; News clip.
India Sankirtana Leaders Team Convention, January 2014
The first of its kind in India, this event served as a platform for sharing techniques and strategies of organized book distribution and focused on the need to develop the attitude and taste for book distribution. Devotees from different temples very enthusiastically shared their best strategies, lessons learned from past experience, challenges faced, and success stories. Appreciation gifts were given to attendees.
The India Sankirtana Leaders Team (ISLT) is a network of devotees across India united in their vision to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books. ISLT will convene for another conference in New Delhi between 6 and 7 October, 2014. To register for this event, please contact sriramadasa.brs@gmail.com or vinodhvalluri@gmail.com. Read more at: Original announcement; News clip.
The India Sankirtana Leaders Team (ISLT) is a network of devotees across India united in their vision to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books. ISLT will convene for another conference in New Delhi between 6 and 7 October, 2014. To register for this event, please contact sriramadasa.brs@gmail.com or vinodhvalluri@gmail.com. Read more at: Original announcement; News clip.
Sankirtana Training: The Four Laws of Book Distribution
Book distribution is fun and easy! How? By implementing the four laws of book distribution explained in the video below. Try them and see how they work for you...
Sankirtana Insights: HG Sundar Shyam Prabhu (ISKCON Pune)
In this section, we present an interview with HG Sundar Shyam prabhu of ISKCON Pune who kindly agreed to share his book distribution insights to motivate us.
Q. What inspires
you to take up/ continue book distribution?
A. Reading Srila Prabhupada's
books drives me mad to distribute them, as I find so much taste, interest, and inspiration by reading them that I feel why should these books and this knowledge
be kept limited to me alone! Why not it be shared with all the people we come
across!
Q. There are many "techniques" of book distribution; what works for you?
A. Strong sadhana (esp. morning program in the temple), always carrying books and never
hesitating to show them to people. (Follow the first 3 laws of book distribution).
Q. Please share a memorable
moment from book distribution, and any lessons learned.
A. Some 8-10
years back, at Pune Luxury bus stand, I saw a young, handsome man standing in a
queue to purchase his ticket before boarding the bus. I approached him with
Bhagavad Gita As It Is (English). As I approached him & was about to start
speaking, he right away started rejecting me from even explaining about the
book. I was taken aback, but still humbly gave BG in his hand (somehow), he
started turning the pages for a second or two & asked me how much it costs.
I told the cost Rs. 100/-, he put hand in his pocket, took out a currency note
& handed me over (DONE!). I thanked him & invited him to our temple.
Lesson: 1. Just by touching SP’s book, people’s sukruti
(devotional credit) increases & they are inclined to take the book.
Lesson 2. We should never be disheartened (no matter
what happens out on the field) & have unlimited perseverance as did
Srila Prabhupada.
Q. Why do you
think devotees should take up book distribution?
A. To become the
humble servants of Lord Chaitanya’s message: “jare dekho tare kaho
krsna-upadesha…” We cannot give lecture to everyone, but Srila Prabhupada
through his books can. Books reach where we can never even dream of reaching
EVER. “Dharmo rakshati rakshatah” The dharma that you protect, that very dharma protects you; thus books of
Srila Prabhupada that you distribute will protect you in the future, in the
times of need.
Q. What is your
favorite book to distribute (written by Srila Prabhupada); why?
A. Perfection
of Yoga, as it helps me to know about my mind & to control it. I have read
it 6 times by now, while distributing it.
Q. From whom do
you feel inspired to do book distribution?
A. By all the
senior devotees whose lectures, lifestyle, attraction for the Lord are so
charismatic, that I get thoroughly inspired to carry forward this mission
following in their footsteps.
Q. How do you
inspire other devotees?
A. By myself
distributing books first & then coming up with different schemes for
inspiring them like contests, Counselor-counselee team distribution efforts,
rewarding them amply, distributing certificates for book distributors, prizes,
medals, etc.
Sankirtana FAQ
We all come across many questions about book distribution, both practical and philosophical. In this section, we highlight common, important, and relevant questions and outline some possible answers, with support from shastras and sadhus.
Why is book distribution called "Sankirtana"?
Srila Prabhupada has elucidated his devotional ecstasies in his books, presenting glorification of the Supreme Lord and His dear devotees. Therefore, the act of going out together and taking Srila Prabhupada's books into the streets to distribute to everyone is practical glorification of Lord Krishna, Lord Chaitanya, the twelve Mahajanas, and all the pure devotees described in these books, as well as the previous Acaryas of our sampradaya who have given us this treasure.
One of our acaryas, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur has stated that the publication and printing of spiritual books is the Brihad Mridanga. During musical kirtana of the Holy Names and bhajans, the
hearty notes of Sri Mridanga reach out to the conditioned souls to
entice them towards Krishna; similarly, the merciful and
transformational words of the acharyas reach out to the masses through
our sincere efforts to distribute these books. When we distribute a single book, that single book may be read by many people other than the person who took it; their family, friends, neighbors, and even future generations! Therefore, book distribution is the sankirtana that employs the brihat mridanga, the great drum that is heard for a long time by many different persons.
Tell us what you think!
We are eager to learn how to serve you better! Please write to us at indiasankirtana@gmail.com:
- Share your experiences of book distribution,
- Ask (or answer) a question on book distribution,
- Suggest a book distributor who could share valuable insights,
- Give ideas for how to make this newsletter better and sweeter,
- Get involved with ISLT strategy and help develop this newsletter,
- Show your support and encouragement by giving us your blessings!
For your convenience, we have also included a contact form on the right hand side bar of this page. Thank you very much for reading this month's newsletter!
Param Vijayate Sri Krishna Sankirtanam!
Your servants at the India Sankirtana Leaders Team.
Srirama Dasa (BRS)
Krishna Mitra Nitai Dasa (JPS)
Bhakta Vinodh
Param Vijayate Sri Krishna Sankirtanam!
Your servants at the India Sankirtana Leaders Team.
Srirama Dasa (BRS)
Krishna Mitra Nitai Dasa (JPS)
Bhakta Vinodh
