Barsana Dham

Barsana Dham Evacuee Guests

Visitors to Barsana Dham, speaking about their time there.

Barsana Dham Appeal

With the blessings of H.D. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati, Barsana Dham is conducting a Bihar Flood Appeal.

Dear Friends,

The organization I am affiliated with, JKP Barsana Dham in Austin, TX is conducting a disaster relief fundraising drive to help flood victims in India, called the Bihar Relief Campaign.  Our sister organization in India has just donated $450,000 to provide relief for those affected by the floods.  We have started a drive in the U.S. to support their efforts.

Nearly one million people in the Northeastern Indian state of Bihar were displaced from their homes when the banks of the Koshi river burst over its banks in Nepal, sending walls of water to Bihar in the worst flood in 50 years.

More than 400 villages are uninhabitable and aid has yet to reach many of those affected.  The state is facing a severe shortage of supplies.

Please help us reach our immediate goal of sending $150,000 to India which will provide much needed medical supplies, clothing, temporary shelter and food for the nearly one million displaced villagers.

To donate visit: www.BarsanaDham.org or call (512) 288-7180 x30

P.S. There is strength in numbers, so please forward this message to your friends, co-workers and relatives and ask them to do the same.

You can also mail your check to:
Meenu-Vinod Kapoor
P.O. Box 5834
Pasadena, CA 91117-0834

If you have any questions, please call me at: 626-351-5253

Thanks for your support,

Meenu-Vinod Kapoor

IKE Carumba! Millions Flee. Barsana Dham Austin Provides shelter…

Full Article: Barsana Dham Temple Shelters Hurricane Ike Evacuees: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2008/09/prweb1329894.htm

Austin, TX (PRWEB) September 13, 2008 – More than 150 people from Houston and the coastal area evacuated to the Barsana Dham temple located in northwest Hays County.

“The founder of the temple, Swami Prakashanand Saraswati, tells us that one of the main principles of our Hindu faith is service,” said Prabhakari Devi, Vice President of Barsana Dham.

While the evacuees are predominantly of Indian descent and the Hindu faith, Barsana Dham is opening its doors to anyone seeking shelter during the hurricane evacuation.

Barsana Dham members are volunteering their time to provide meals specific to the Indian culture, hosting games, yoga classes, and other activities and holding traditional Hindu services.

Subesh Mehta of Pearland, Texas is one of the evacuees finding safe shelter at Barsana Dham.

Founded in 1990 by H. D. Swami Prakashanand Saraswati, the Barsana Dham Temple and ashram complex serves as a national center of the Hindu faith in the United States and is one of the largest Hindu temples in North America. With more than 1,200 members, Barsana Dham is active in a number of local and global charitable activities including housing rehabilitation work in Central Texas, flood relief efforts for India, and the ongoing support of hospital operations oversees.

Full article and coverage of Barsana Dham’s Hurrican Ike Relief Initiative:
www.prweb.com/releases/2008/09/prweb1329894.htm

Over a MILLION people are without shelter. What are we going to do about it? Simple….IMPROV SHOW!!!! hey, laughter’s the best medicine, right?

www.thetruehistoryandthereligionofindia.org/th_links.htm

(Read about Barsana Dham’s Bihar Relief Fund)

Last evening I had the great delight to attend an inspiring and unique evening performance of an Improv show hosted by K.I.T.E., Kids Interactive Theatre Ensemble on the lovely grounds of Highland Hall Waldorf school in Northridge, CA. The reason I feel compelled to write about this evening is because of unique attributes that as a theatre lover I have never experienced before. This group of talented child actors were joined by a group of adult professionals, but the uniqueness didn’t stop there. It was less than a week prior to the performance that company founders Mark and Hara Lewis decided to mount the production.

Why? As members of JKP Barsana Dham in Austin Texas, they felt a passionate call to respond to the urgent plea issued from their foundation for contributions to the Bihar India flood disaster. Barsana Dham not only supports disaster victims in India but is currently housing close to 200 guests during hurricane Ike. It would seem that their founder, Swami Prakashanand Sarawati has a motto, “Turn no one away!” The Lewis’ wanted to find a way to raise funds to contribute to the JKP Foundation, dedicated to helping disaster victims. With three kids of their own to raise, their hearts were bigger than their pocket books so the family put on their thinking caps and came up with the idea of an impromptu Improv show! In less than one week, they gathered adult and child actors from across the city to come together and donate their time to rehearse and perform the show as a fundraising event for the disaster victims. They worked round the clock for 5 days straight, organizing, promoting and rehearsing. It was this clever invitation that I got via email that made it irresistible for me to attend. It said in part, “Over a MILLION people are without shelter. What are we going to do about it? Simple….IMPROV SHOW!!!! hey, laughter’s the best medicine, right?

When we arrived at the outdoor amphitheater we were met with a striking and artistic display of powerful photographs, beautifully crafted by their talented 12 year old, Rose Lewis. The teasing patter of Hara Lewis who acted as MC for the evening drew us into her world of magical fun while subtly and simultaneously raising our consciousness about the altruistic cause behind the scene. The kids in the KITE company seemed to range in age from about 9 – 15 years and worked together with joyful camaraderie, wonderful imaginations and an uncanny lack of self-consciousness. This was followed in Act II with a company of 5 adult professional improv performers that left us with some memorable chuckles. The great finale was when the kids and adults came together and in the final scene poked fun at the school system itself. Both Rose and Grace Lewis performed in the troop while 7 year old Judah, the youngest, helped out with the raffle. Not only was the show great medicine for my own heart because of my now more educated compassion for the victims in India, the impending hurricane Ike and the unexpected train crash in LA, but I felt by attending that I was actually able to do something myself, to make a contribution where it mattered. If I had to describe the evening in one word I would have to say, “Spiritual.”

Thank you Lewis family and thank you Swami Prakashanand Sarawati and JKP Barsana Dham Foundation for reaching all the way to LA to inspire us with an opportunity give back some of our own good fortune.

www.jkp.org

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

Joyous Barsana Dham Krishna Janmashtmi Celebration

Krishn Janmashtmi at Barsana Dham, the Ashram of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj in Austin.

http://www.indoamerican-news.com/Stories/082908/Krishna.html

Barsana Dham Janmashtmi Discourse by Diwakari Devi Ji

AUSTIN: Krishna Janmashtami is
being celebrated with great enthusiasm
in India and around the world. Here’s
the first of our Janmashtami reports
begins with the celebrated at Barsana
Dham. Hindus all over the world every year celebrate Shree Krishna janmashtami, from simplest festivities with families and friends to large gatherings with thousands in attendance. Shree Raseshwari Radha Rani Temple, Barsana Dham in Austin is unique among them all. Barsana Dham, founded in 1995 by HD Swami Prakashanand Saraswati, has offered truly exceptional and ecstatic
Janmashtami celebrations for the past 13 years.

This year, families from all over Texas and beyond came to Barsana Dham. As usual for celebration times, the ashram was filled to capacity. A delicious dinner prashad was served ; mouth watering puries, chaval, dal, sabji, mithai filled everyone’s plat. Soon everywhere you looked people were eating and relaxing with friends and families in the marvelous and beautiful garden-like grounds.

After dinner, everyone rushed to the Temple to secure a front row seat for the evening program. Children were jumping and giggling, tugging at their parents begging to take them to their own special outdoor program, complete with a baby calf who was quickly named “Cowie”. Chanting soon began– “Mero Gopala Mero Nandlala” and“Govind Gokul Ayo”; jaikars filled the air, dholak, dhol, manjira, jhanch, the traditional instruments of India, enlivened the hearts of all.

A traditional and eloquent Janmashtmi message was delivered by Sushree Diwakari Devi, president of JKP, Barsana Dham. Diwakari devi (Didi) explained the importance of doing bhakti. Following the discourse, the leela presentation began; people mummered in expectant excitement, the prayer hall lights were lowered and conches heralded the first glimpse of 12 year old Shukdev entering the stage. Everyone delighted in receiving the darshan of baby Krishn – candy was thrown to all during the joyous jamn scene. Further, everyone enjoyed a delightfully charming bal leela performed by children from all over Austin.

The evening continued with chanting of Krishn name until midnight in the main prayer hall concluding with the arti of Bal Krishna.

www.BarsanaDham.org

www.jkpbd.org/live/aastha.html