Barsana Dham’s Bihar Relief Campaign for Flood Victims

http://www.barsanadham.org/2008-Bihar_Relief_Campaign.html

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release Contact: Janeshwari Devi
JKP, Barsana Dham
400 Barsana Rd.
Austin, TX 78737
(512) 288-7180

Bihar Relief Campaign Undertaken by Barsana Dham, the US Ashram of Swami Prakashanand Saraswati
September 5, 2008, Austin, TX – JKP Foundation at Barsana Dham, Austin, TX has begun the “Bihar Relief Campaign” to further the relief efforts in India of Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat. Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj recently presented BJP President, Rajnath Singh with a check for Rs 2 crore ($448,000) to help those affected by the severe flooding that is devastating the northeastern Indian state of Bihar. Barsana Dham has an immediate fundraising goal of $150,000.

The urgent need for aid of all types continues to grow as many of the relief camps are already strained to the limit with more and more people streaming in by the hour. Though difficult to predict at this stage, the number could grow to 20 million in the days and weeks ahead as the full extent of the disaster is assessed by relief organizations.

The need for monetary aid represents a humanitarian opportunity to help for those who enjoy the abundance of modern life in America. Now is the time for each one of us to extend our support to those in Bihar who need it the most.

JKP, Barsana Dham, a non-profit, religious, educational and charitable organization established in Austin, TX by H.D. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati, regularly undertakes philanthropic causes for the benefit of the disadvantaged in India. Visit the website to contribute to this cause:
www.BarsanaDham.org .

For information on how you can expand this effort call Barsana Dham at (512) 288-7180 x307. Donations are fully tax deductible. 100% of funds collected will be sent to India to assist the people of Bihar.

More info: www.thetruehistoryandthereligionofindia.org/th_links.htm

The Search for Happiness by Kripaluji Maharaj

Every soul in the world desires happiness. Happiness is synonymous with God. Whether one says ‘happiness’ or ‘Bhagwan’ or ‘God’, all these have one meaning. The Ved says that God is happiness, anand. As souls, we are a fraction of God who is the form of happiness, and that is why we naturally desire happiness. Every fraction naturally desires its source, and by attaining that, becomes complete. This is the law of nature. In fact, we could never desire unhappiness. Even if we were to try, it is impossible because everyone naturally desires happiness.

Can we determine if there happiness in this world? The Ved defines happiness as, Yo vai bhuma tatsukham. True happiness is of an unlimited limit and it remains forever. What are the qualities of worldly happiness? First, it is limited, because a greater happiness always exists. In our world, those who are millionaires are superceded by multi-millionaires, and ahead of them are billionaires, and ahead of them are multi-billionaires, and the richest is Kuber, the god of wealth. This means that worldly happiness is not of an unlimited limit, and what does exist, keeps on changing and ultimately comes to an end.

Just like you hugged your mother. From the first hug you got a lot of happiness, from the second hug, it was less, from the third, it decreased further, and by the fourth, it was finished. We experience this daily in this world. So there are two problems in the happiness of this world. First, it is not of an unlimited limit, and second, it is not for an unlimited time. The happiness we truly desire is with the unlimited ocean of Divine happiness, Krishn, or you can say we desire Krishn, Who is the form of happiness. But He is not visible to us, so how will we receive His happiness?

If we want something from someone, how do we get that? One way is to grab the person, tie him up and snatch it. Another way is to steal it from him. Another way is to beg. These are the three ways. God is all-powerful and the soul has very limited powers, so it is impossible for a soul to forcibly take anything from God. God is also omniscient, omnipresent and knows what is in everyone’s heart, so stealing from Him is also impossible. So there is only one way left: request God for alms of His happiness. Beg Him. It is God’s rule, “If you ask, I will give.” But you have to request properly. There shouldn’t be any craftiness or deceit in your heart.

How long does a newborn baby have all his desires fulfilled by his mother just by crying? If he feels cold or hungry or if he has pain anywhere, he cries. There is one remedy for all his demands: crying. That is called complete surrender. In the same way, shedding tears before Krishn with a pure and sincere heart, we can ask for Divine happiness. When will this happen? When we have complete confidence. Our present confidence is that perfect happiness is in the world, and one day we will attain it. We have to change this decision. This is done by detaching the mind from this world (vairagya) and attaching the mind to Krishn, (abhyas) and tearfully requesting His Divine Vision, Divine Love, and Divine happiness. Devotional love is the practice and Divine love is the attainment.

The scriptures say that with the Grace of Guru and God everything is possible, but where do the Guru and God bestow their Grace? Grace is received in the heart and the heart is mayic, material. On one side, the heart is occupied by the commanders of maya like lust, anger, greed, attachment, passion, and jealousy. On the other side, all our worldly attachments are seated there. God asks, “Is there any space for Me?” So He says, “Purify your heart first through your tears of love, than I will give My Divine happiness.”

TV Asia airs the discourses of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj (Shree Maharajji) daily

Weekdays at 8:00 am & Weekends at 10:00 am EST.

Shree Maharajji was offered to become Jagadguru by the Kashi Vidvat Parishad of Varanasi, India in 1957. Thus, he became the fifth original Jagadguru in the last 5,000 years. Shree Maharajji founded a worldwide non-profit, educational and charitable organization, Jagadguru Kripalu Parishat which has five main ashrams. Four in India and the fifth, Barsana Dham located in Austin, TX. For further information visit www.BarsanaDham.org or call (512) 288-7180.

www.jkpbd.org/live/aastha.html

www.thetruehistoryandthereligionofindia.org/th_links.htm 

 

 

Barsana Dham – Austin’s First Hindu Temple

Activities and Schedule
Satsang services (literally “divine-assocation”) are held every Sunday morning from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. followed by a prasad lunch. There is also a Sunday evening service from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Darshan sessions are held four times daily. Visitors are free to roam the grounds from 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Visits should be made only during these times.

Barsana Dham

History
Barsana Dham was established in 1990 by H.D. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati. The vision behind Barsana Dham was to recreate the pilgrimage sites of Braj, India here in North America. Braj is a holy district because it is the site where the deities Shree Radha Rani and Shree Krishn appeared 5,000 years ago. Such a project required land with very specific geographical features and an extensive search was done to find a suitable location. The search ended when two devotees living in Austin suggested purchasing a 200 acre Summer camp. At the time, it was the first Hindu temple in Austin. Today, Barsana Dham is one of the largest Hindu temples in North America. A ground breaking ceremony was held in October 1992. Construction began in January 1993 and continued to 1995. Those active in the center began an extensive campaign to educate the local community about Barsana Dham. An open house was held which quickly evolved into an annual tradition known as the Mela fair. The outreach campaign was very effective. To date, successive mayors of Austin, as well as local heads of law enforcement have visited Barsana Dham. In 2002, 8000 people attended the fair at Barsana Dham: half of those in attendance were Indian, the other half were Westerners. That same year, Barsana Dham also hosted the interfaith Thanksgiving celebrations of the Austin Area Interreligious Ministries.

Demographics
Approximately 1000 families attend Barsana Dham. 96% of these are Indian, the remaining 4% being Westerners and people of Caribbean descent. People of all ages can be seen at Barsana Dham. In addition to its regular community, thousands visit Barsana Dham every year to attend festivals or on pilgrimage. Barsana Dham welcomes visitors of all faiths who wish to draw closer to their higher power. Barsana Dham has cultivated a relationship with the local Presbyterian seminary, whose students enjoy the peaceful setting. During Satsang services, sermons (pravachan) are conducted in English while prayer and chanting is done in Hindi. Translated and transliterated worship aids are made available. Barsana Dham also offers classes in Hindu, which focuses on religious application.

Description
The vision of recreating the holy land of Braj India has been realized in Barsana Dham. The land where Barsana Dham now stands features a hill that looks very similar to the Barsana hill in India where the palace of the goddess Radha stood. A pond at Barsana Dham corresponds to the sacred Prem Sarovar pond in Braj. All eight of the holy sites of Braj have been replicated at Barsana Dham. Thousands of pilgrims visit Barsana Dham every year who lack the time or money to visit India. All of Barsana Dham’s 200 acres are well maintained and beautiful. Free roaming peacocks and a large peach-orchard add to the utopic environment. The Shree Rasheswari Radha Rani Temple at Barsana Dham is a beautiful building, combining North and South Indian architectural styles. South Indian Shilpas spent two years detailing the temple. The main prayer hall has both traditional and modern features. The surrounding complex has facilities to host almost any function including traditional Hindu weddings and thread ceremonies. One of Barsana Dham’s most unique facilities is that it has overnight housing. In addition to the roughly sixty people who live on the property, the center can accommodate 200 overnight guests.

Multimedia Offerings
If you cannot physically visit Barsana Dham, you can take a virtual tour on their website. Barsana Dham’s website is just as impressive and beautiful as the physical center. At the website you will find audio clips of chanting and speech and you may sign up for their newsletters. Their annual festivals are documented on the website as well.

Center Activities
Barsana Dham is a center for Indian culture as well as worship. Courses are offered in a variety of subjects including Hindi, yoga, a youth program, and a summer camp teaching classical Indian dance. Barsana Dham hosts a variety of retreats and special events including Holi, Divali, and an annual Mela fair. Consult their website for more information

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p7IKox10lk

www.encyclopediaofauthentichinduism.org/author.htm

Book Review: True History and the Religion of India

The True History and the Religion of India is a concise encyclopedia of authentic Hinduism that reveals the true theme of our scriptures and describes the history of India and the religion of India (Bharatvarsh) of 155.521972 trillion years along with a review of the growth and the development of western civilizations that includes their language, literature, history and religion. It gives a new light to the seekers of the Divine truth and the sincere research scholars of the world.

It reveals the authentic form of Sanatan Dharm (the eternal Divine religion) and tells the original philosophy of our Vedas, Puranas, Gita, Bhagwatam, Darshan Shastras and the writings of our acharyas and Jagadgurus.

It also reveals the hidden evidences of the workings of the British regime of how they mutilated and abused our Divine Hindu history and religion.

After removing all the confusions related to Hinduism, The True History and the Religion of India gives a crystal clear view of Bharatvarsh’s general history of trillions of years with precise calculations, and details the authentic chronology with definite evidences from 3228 BC to 1947 AD.

It explains the eternally existing forms of Divine worship and gives complete information about Hindu (Bhartiya) religion, scriptures, history, and their Divinity.

www.encyclopediaofauthentichinduism.org/author.htm

www.thetruehistoryandthereligionofindia.org/th_links.htm