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February 2024
ISKCON of Arizona Newsletter
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Guests, congregation, and temple residents
took part in our New Year's fire ceremony.
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Greetings & Namaste,
While the Gem Show folks and snowbirds keep packing the temple restaurant this month, a glance at our spiritual calendar reveals opportunities to observe advent days for four divine avatars.
Sri Advaita Acharya is an incarnation of MahaVishnu, who exhales and exudes countless universes from the pores of his spiritual body. Cosmologists take note!
Lord Varaha once rescued the Earth, which had fallen out of its orbit after an infamous brute had plundered all its gold. Lord Varaha made short work of that rogue.
Sri Nityananda Prabhu is an incarnation of Lord Balarama, the first expansion of Krishna, and hence is called the "original spiritual master." The more fallen we are, the more Nityananda is inclined to help us.
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati, the first spiritual master to bring Krishna culture out- side India, inspired our Srila Prabhupada to spread Krishna consciousness all over the world, and that, dear reader, is why we're able to gather together today.
Take advantage of February's sacred days and join us in hearing about four avatars!
Yours in service,
Sandamini Devi
sandamini108@gmail.com
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Best February Days for
Meditation and Fasting
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Sat-tila Ekadasi
Monday, February 5th
(fasting from grains & beans)
Appearance Day of
Sri Advaita Acharya
Thursday, February 15th
(fasting till noon)
Bhaimi Ekadasi
Monday, February 19th
(fasting till noon for Lord Varaha's Appearance Day tomorrow)
Appearance Day
of Lord Varaha
Tuesday, February 20th
(no fasting)
Appearance Day of
Sri Nityananda Prabhu
Wednesday, February 21st
(fasting till noon)
150th Advent Anniversary of Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati
Thursday, February 29th
(fasting till noon)
| Welcome Gem Show and Winter Visitors! We love this time of year to serve and host all of you. We appreciate your support! | |
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Ringing in the New Year the Vedic Way
Every January 1st we usher in New Year's with an ancient fire ceremony and the chanting of Vedic mantras to invoke the spirit of sacrifice, key to living happily in this life and the next.
The ceremony is called Navagraha Yajna, an appeal to our solar system's nine predominating deities to help us please the Supreme Lord by our thoughts, words, and deeds for the coming year.
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Celebrating Holidays the Mantra Oasis Way
Since 2022, Mantra Oasis, the temple's outreach extension in East Tucson, has been sharing Krishna consciousness with seekers of all ages through talks, chanting, and sharing blessed food.
And when it comes to spiritual holidays, Mantra Oasis likes to celebrate with unforgettable marathon sessions of chanting Hare Krishna.
For news of upcoming events at Mantra Oasis, go to MantraOasis.com.
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Devotees Love to Share Transcendental Knowledge with Others
Whatever the venue, Krishna's devotees love to share His sublime wisdom by distributing the books of His pure devotee, Srila Prabhupada.
Here the devotees are displaying Prabhupada's books at a vegan festival in a Tucson city park.
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Major Festival Coming in March! | |
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Click HERE to see the poster
A $108 donation nets donors a Rudraksha & Lapis Mala Necklace
CLICK HERE TO SPONSOR
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Featuring a special concert by the
Infinite Compassion Orchestra.
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Maha Shiva Ratri
Saturday, March 9th
5 to 8 pm
Join us for this lively celebration featuring Indian dances, a Fire Show, Temple Ceremonies, Kids Activities, a Free Feast & much more!
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Don't miss this family friendly event!
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Architecture Design Submitted for Pre-approval | |
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The design is "Rajasthan meets the Southwest," by
the renowned architect
John Maddocks.
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We submitted the design to the City of Tucson for approval, but to accomodate the guesthouses and devotee rooms, we have to change the zoning for our residential property from R1 to R2, which takes three to five months. Meanwhile we will continue designing the temple gardens & eating area. | |
Highlights of January in Review | |
Ushering in 2024 with an auspicious Fire Ceremony in the Temple Room. | |
Affectionately known as "Nana," 97-year-old Barbara Gail Robson is dancing in kirtan with her affectionate grandson, Bhakta Nik. Nana chants Hare Krsna on beads, sings in kirtan, and enthusiastically takes part in whatever spiritual events we have at the temple. While some wonder if there's really a hereafter, Nana looks like she's already there. | Temple residents traveled to Juarez, MX, with devotees from our El Paso Center to hold a program in Spanish for local seekers. | | |
Still pondering a New Year's Resolution? | |
How about a resolution to become a monthly temple donor? | |
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"The question is not how much of our money we should give to God, but how much of God's money we should keep for ourselves.”
(John Wesley, Founder of Methodism)
Your tithing dollars help maintain your temple and pay regular monthly expenses:
electric, gas, water, vegetables, grains, flowers, yard maintenance & insurance.
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When you come to the temple any day of the week and see the beautiful darshan, the refreshing gardens, free breakfast and feast prasadam, remember that this is possible because of our regular monthly donors.
It is a privilege and responsibility to support your local Krishna temple. Become a tither today. Choose an amount you feel comfortable giving each month.
Click here to sign up!
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The Sunday Feast & Festival | |
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Feeding guests prasadam
(food offered to God) benefits everyone. Both the givers and the receivers get the mercy!
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Join us each Sunday for an evening of musical meditation, topical philosophy, an ancient worship ceremony, and an
8-course vegetarian feast.
ALL FREE!
5:30 pm - Bhajans
6 pm - Topical talk
6:30 pm - Worship ceremony
7 pm - Announcements
7:10 pm - Feast
PLUS! New Sunday School
for kids from 5:15 to 6:30 pm in the Cove!
February's Sunday Speakers
Feb. 4th - Kirtanesvara Prabhu
Feb. 11th - Lavanga Mataji
Feb. 18th - Dhiro Datta Prabhu
Feb. 25th - Balarama Prabhu (visiting from San Diego)
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Sponsor the Sunday Feast for an upcoming birthday, anniversary, or special day in the name of a loved one. Donations are tax deductible.
Sunday Feast Sponsorship for 75-100 plates is $151. SPONSOR HERE
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Are you ready for the ISKCON Disciples Course? | |
San Diego Temple President Balarama Prabhu will be teaching the ISKCON Disciples Course. | |
From Friday, February 23rd thru Sunday, February 25th, Balarama Prabhu will teach the Disciples Course live in the Krishna Cove/Library Room. | |
Based at ISKCON San Diego, Balarama is knowledgeable, experienced & fun to learn from.
Friday, Feb 23: 6 to 8 pm
Sat, Feb 24: 10 to 2 & 3 to 5 pm
Sun. Feb 25: 10 to 2 pm
The $40 course fee covers your student handbook, exam,and graduation certificate.Text Sandamini at (520) 250-0299 to sign up now. Space limited.
Note: Anyone aspiring to receive initiation from an ISKCON spiritual master must pass the ISKCON Disciples Course.
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Krishna's Home Update: Inspection Time | | |
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Krishna's Home
News Update
Please take a look at our February one-page newsletter to see the Home's progress.
Click HERE to read.
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Krishna's Home Care Tucson
514 E. Blacklidge Dr. (just one block west of the temple across 1st Ave) krishnashome.org
At left, the new kitchen and dining area at Krishna's Home.
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Feeding the Unhoused on Tucson's Southside | |
Kirtan Radio Show in Tucson | | |
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Kirtan Cafe is on the air
with kirtans, bhajans & more!
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The show is hosted
by Krishna-nama dasa
from our Tucson community.
SHOWTIMES
Monday & Friday 3-5 pm
Sunday 8-10 am
KMKR-LP 99.9 FM
Or listen online at
https://xerocraft.org/pages/listen
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Govinda's Vegan/Veggie Restaurant | |
Check out our ever-changing menu and new offerings. | |
India Night every Tuesday.
Delicious, mildly spicy Indian cuisine.
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Govinda's Self-Serve
All-You-Care-To-Eat Hours:
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Lunch - Wednesday through Saturday 11:30 am to 2:30 pm
Dinner - Tuesday through Saturday
5 pm to 8 pm
Sunday Brunch - 11 am to 2:30 pm
Closed Mondays
See the menu on Govinda's webpage: iskcontucson.org/govindas
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Govinda's guest quote of the month: "The young lady in the boutique was just lovely...and so was the food as well as the ambience. I love it there.
A little oasis in the middle of Tucson."
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Many thanks to our wonderful volunteers who make it all happen: Murli, Aggey, Melissa, Chris and our Food for LIfe helpers. And to the teens serving our Sunday Feast, you rock!
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Would you like to volunteer your
devotional service at the temple?
If you are an experienced carpenter, electrician, plumber, painter, gardener, HVAC person (the list goes on), we would deeply appreciate your advice about some maintenance and repair projects we've started. Please contact Sandamini at 520-250-0299
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Income/expense Tracker: Please click to view the Monthly Financial Statement on our Seva webpage - iskcontucson.org/seva
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Check out this clip about The Importance of Patience... | |
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Authentic Indian
Cuisine Catering!
All varieties and quantities of Indian foods for parties, dinners, weddings, and banquets. All main Indian dishes cooked by Master Chef Kul Sharma. To book call Kul at 520-891-8083.
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"Material world is miserable. Just like cold season, this winter season, today we are feeling most inconvenienced...But still, in this age it is most miserable...But the boon is, the first-class boon is that even there are so many miserable conditions, in the midst of all those disadvantages, one can become free from all contamination simply by [chanting Hare Krsna]. Simply by this."
(Lecture excerpt on Śrī Caitanya-caritāmṛta, Madhya-līlā 20.337-353, 12/26/1966 New York City)
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From Srila Prabhupada's Srimad-Bhagavatam commentary | |
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"Lord Kṛṣṇa points out that it is the relativities like winter and summer that give us trouble in the material world. In the winter we do not like taking a bath, but in the summer we wish to take a bath twice, thrice or more a day. Thus Kṛṣṇa advises us not to be disturbed by such relativities and dualities when they come and go.
(Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.28.37 purport excerpt)
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Perform a sacred ceremony.
Have your home, car, business, or family blessed and protected
with the help and guidance of our experienced temple priest, Kirtan Yajna Prabhu. You may call him at (520) 288-1775, or email
pkeshavraj@gmail.com
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