KrishnadhamUSA NL-2019Q1 Mailing address

(Vaishnav Samaj of RTP Inc) April 2019 135 Parkway Office Ct., Suite 201 Non-Profit Organization (Id: 47-4639529) Cary, NC 27518

Message from KrishnadhamUSA (aka Vaishnav Samaj of RTP Inc):

Jai Shree Krishna. KrishnadhamUSA had wonderful start of the 2019 year. Since last newsletter, We have made very good progress with

• KrishnadhamUSA Haveli project;

• Constitution bi-laws, and

• On communications front. We are also having very active participation from Triangle area Vaishnavs during the weekly Shrinathji darshan and monthly Pushtimarg Utsavs. We appreciate all the support we are getting from vaishnavs

Volunteers Needed:

Will you be interested to volunteer for Krishnadham USA?. We need volunteers for several day to day and long term activities. Next page in the newsletter includes list of all activities requiring volunteers. This is excellent opportunity for you

to get involved in KrishnadhamUSA. Please review next page and send email to krishnadham.nc@gmail.com and let us know your interest.

Communication Update:

At present, in addition to this newsletter, KrishnadhamUSA is using e-mail, WhatsApp and Facebook for periodic communications to triangle area vaishnavs. If you would like to be added in to this, please send email to

krishnadham.nc@gmail.com with your information.

We are also pleased to inform everyone that we now have ownership of www.krishnadhamusa.org domain. Our volunteers are working diligently for construction / setup of the website. In addition to KrishnadhamUSA related information, our goal is to provide Pushtimarg related educational information on our website. We will inform everyone as soon as the website is ready.

What is KrishnadhamUSA?

KrishnadhamUSA’s mission is to foster richness of Hindu cultural heritage and Pushtimarg in our children and to provide learning experiences on our cultural values to visitors and residents alike. Our goal is to unite all vaishnavs in RTP area. Religious objectives of KrishnadhamUSA shall be to:

• Perform religious services as per the teaching of Jagadguru Shri Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhuji;

• Celebrate Pushtimarg traditions.

• Support Hindu-Vaishnav-Pushtimarg religion related events, interchanges among the followers in the United States;

• Establish, manage, promote, and / or guide Hindu-Vaishnav-Pushtimarg Haveli and community center in RTP area.

Educational objectives of KrishnadhamUSA shall be to:

• Establish and promote educational programs. Conduct seminars, workshops and lectures related to Pushtimarg philosophy. Also, promote study and understanding of Hindu-Vaishnav-Pushtimarg religion.

• Acquire and publish books/articles/manuscripts/magazines on Hinduism (including Pushtimarg) and Indian culture;

• Create Web-Site to provide educational information about Hinduism (including Pushtimarg)

• Make available Hindu-Vaishnav-Pushtimarg religious educational resources thru E-Books Library.

• Invite descendants of Shri Vallabhacharya Mahaprabhuji for religious discourses and to promote interfaith harmony.

Social objectives of KrishnadhamUSA shall be to:

• Assist and promote charitable community service activities in the United States and around the world,

• Be a responsible organization in the community.

Divine Land of Shree Krishna Leela

KrishnadhamUSA Volunteer Activities

Please review the volunteer activities included below and send email to krishnadham.nc@gmail.com with area you would be interested in:

Overall organization administration (by Trustees)

External Communication- event exploration and develop overall strategy (good verbal, writing, presentation and technological skills be must)

External Commination- Explore event sponsors (good verbal, writing and technological skills must)

External Communication after math (sending out thank you notes etc.)

Preparation of event flyer (good writing, graphic and presentation skills)

Event space exploration (knowledge regarding available spaces, rent, available services) Space set up for an event (must be good with getting help)

Space wind up for an event (must be good with getting help)

Event related decoration

Event day financial management (must have good verbal and management skill)

Event day arrangement of musicians, artists etc.

Event day MC (must have good, dynamic verbal skill, instant speech)

Event day speakers, microphones, laptop connections etc, (Must have good understanding of the systems and be available throughout an event)

Event day food menu selection and food ordering or preparation

Event day food distribution (arrange serving tables, warm-up, serving team and then wrap up including clean up)

Event day clean up (vacuum, trash removal, rearrange tables chairs, floor mats etc)

Event day space closing

Managing supplies for an event (must coordinate with other volunteer tasks, keep track of all expenses related to event supplies)

Event financial wrap up and reporting

Saturday Darshan activities- Shringar

Saturday Darshan activities- Bhog

Saturday Darshan activities- Kirtans/Bhajans

Saturday Darshan activities- Set up and clean up

Regular Communication for Krishnadham activities via Newsletter

Regular Communication for Krishnadham activities via e-mail

Regular Communication for Krishnadham activities via Face Book

Regular Communication for Krishnadham activities via WhatsApp

Manage Krishnadham website (keep track hosting, domain name, passwords, updates regularly, at least twice a week)

Prepare meeting notes, task assigned and circulate

Periodic Internal Communication with volunteers

Children’s Education

Adult Education

Photos and videos library back-up in PC/cloud and retrieval for online

New kirtan, bhajans, readings etc. collections and organize

Convert hard copies into digital format preferably Gujarati /English

Follow up with donors if not collected funds

Grand scale event related advisement

Grand scale event related souvenir

Local Vaishnav database (Name, spouse, kids, address, phone numbers, e-mails, preferences)

Prabhu Seva education and guidance

Prabhu Padharamni once a month

Out of area event organization

Humanitarian activities

Meditation and yoga activities (physical wellbeing)

Health related activities (Aryuveda, homeopathic, regular checkup)

Please Volunteer and Support your KrishnadhamUSA

KrishnadhamUSA Activities

1. Shrinathji Darshan & Satsang every Saturday from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. We meet at 4000 Bearcat Way, Suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560 for Satsang or monthly Manorath

2. KrishnadhamUSA-VYO Pushtimarg classes for children on Saturdays at HSNC Learning Center. Students also participate in Monthly Utsavs.

3. Prabhu Padhramani on every 4th Sunday of the month. Prabhu Padhramani is meant to provide vaishnavs an opportunity to experience divine presence of Thakurji and inspire and purify our thoughts and actions. For the duration of 4 weeks, Vaishnav family gets opportunity to learn and do Shrinathji shringar & seva.

4. Monthly Utsav to celebrate Thakurji Leela on 2nd Saturdays of Month from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm. We have included brief summary of Utsavs celebrated since last newsletter in this newsletter.

5. Humanitarian Project: Roti Kapada Makan - On the day of Pitru Shardha (Hindu holiday), we are donating vegetarian grocery to Soup Kitchen/Shephrded table to feed homeless in downtown Raleigh.

Calendar of upcoming Utsavs Calendar of upcoming Utsavs is included below.

Date Utsav

May 11, 2019 Chirharan Leela/ Chandan Yatra

June 1, 2019 Yamunaji Utsav

July 13, 2019 Rathyatra Utsav

All vaishnavas are welcomed to join the Satsang and Utsav. This is also an excellent opportunity for you to celebrate personal landmark events like birthdays, anniversary etc. with all vaishnavs by becoming Sponsor for the Utsav or for the Food. For sponsorship, please contact Manisha Patel (919) 622-4514; Sandhya Shah (919) 400-6056; or Heena Majmudar (919) 247-7670.

Vallabhkul Balak visits

Please look out for email from KrishnadhamUSA for additional details about Vallabhkul Balak visits.

By P.P Goswami 108 Shri Yogeshbawa Mahodayashri Kadi- Ahmedabad - Surat. Place: 4000 Bearcat Way, Suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560 Date: Saturday, May 11, 2019 Time: 5:45pm – 7:45pm

P.P. Goswami 108 Shri Aniruddhlalji Mahodayashri Surat, Gujarat Place: 4000 Bearcat Way, Suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560 Date: Saturday, May 18, 2019 Time: 5:45pm – 7:45pm

By P.P Goswami 108 Shri Hariraiji Mahodayashri Place: 4000 Bearcat Way, Suite 102, Morrisville, NC 27560 Date: Saturday, June 1, 2019 Time: 5:45pm – 7:45pm

By P.P Goswami 108 Shri Vaishnavacharya Vrajrajkumar Mahodayashri Place: To Be Determined Date: Tuesday, July 23 – Thursday, July 25 Time: To be determined.

2019Q1 Activities in review

Weekly Darshans and Monthly Manoraths:

KrishnadhamUSA continued having weekly Darshan and monthly Manorath to celebrate various Pushtimarg utsavs. We meet at 4000 Bearcat Way, Suite 102 in Morrisville, NC 27560 on Saturdays from 5:30pm to 7:00pm for Satsang or monthly Manorath. We continued celebration of Pushtimarg utsavs in 1st Quarter of 2019. Our sincere thanks to

• All vaishnavs who attended and made all manoraths one of a kind.

• All Manorathis for sponsoring and supporting Pushtimarg utsavs.

• All the volunteers for working tirelessly for success of the Pushtimarg utsavs; and for making delicious prasad for all.

If you have any suggestions or comments for this Newsletter, please provide your feedback by contacting Piyush Sura @ (919) 924-8895 or send email to krishnadham.nc@gmail.com

Rang Mahal & Shri Gusaiji Utsav - January 5, 2019 Shri Gusaiji utsav is also called Jalebi utsav. This utsav falls on Magsar vad navam. Shrinathji himself ordered to prepare jalebis on this day to celebrate the birthday of Shri Gusaiji. From that day onwards to this very present. That is why this utsav is called jalebi utsav. The Gusaiji utsav was celebrated by triangle area vaishnavs with Shri Gusaiji’s and Shrinathji’s kirtans followed by prasad.

Shrinathji Patotsav - February 9, 2019 Shrinathji Patotsav is celebrated on Maha Vad 7, when Shriji had come to Shri Girdharjis House at Satghara, Mathura. Patotsav is celebrated in all the houses of Pushtimarg commemorating the visit of Shrinathji to their house.

Dolotsav - March 9, 2019 Dolotsav takes place on the day after Holi, when the demoness Holika is burnt. There is great rejoicing and gulala is sprinkled on devotees. Adola, swing, decorated with mango blossoms, and with various other flowers and creepers, is placed in the Doltibari Navanitpriyaji is placed on the swing which is swung by the high priests. The priests spray gulala on the swing and the Tilakayat in turn sprays gulal on the priests and servants. Shrinathji is dressed in a white gherdar wagha and pagha, surmonted with a peacock feather plume. The pichhvai is white.

Manorathi: Maya & Hemant Sheth, Niti & Mitesh Modi and Smita & Shailesh Patel

Mahaprabhuji Pragatya Utsav - April 16, 2019

Shri Mahaprabhuji (Vallabhacharya) was born on the 11th day of Chaitra Vad Vikaram Samvant 1535 in Champaran. His father's name was Shri Lakshman Bhattaji & mother's name was Illammgauriji. Mahaprabhuji founded the Pushtimarg ("the Path of Grace"), a Vaishnav sect of the Hinduism. KrishnadhamUSA / VYO Eduction children presented about Mahaprabhuji. More than 125 vaishnavs celebrated this Utsav with Mahaprabhuji kirtans followed by Maha Prasad. Manorathi: Maya & Hemant Sheth, Varsha & Ajay Shah, Chetna & Kanak Purohit

KrishnadhamUSA Children education

School year for KrishnadhamUSA education started in September, 2018. Our goal of the education classes is development of spirituality, leadership and self-esteem in our children using well-planned modules to raise awareness for Hindu and Pushtimarg way of life. Students also learn Shrinathji kirtans and participate in celebration of the KrishnadhamUSA Utsavs. We invite all interested children to join us every Saturdays for well researched curriculum and leadership program. Please contact Kirti Gandhi (919) 523-1811, Piyush Sura (919) 924-8895 or Suruchika Bhatia (847) 749-7516 for more information.

KrishnadhamUSA Education Corner

1) Why should we greet each other by saying “Jai Shri Krishna”?

God resides in our soul. By saying “Jai Shri Krishna”, the pious name of the Thakorji reaches our heart through our ears. Thakorji’s name cleanses our soul and sins. In other words, we acknowledge his presence and supremacy. It should be said as an actual with pleasure by joining two hands & head bowed.

2) Why should we not greet the Vallabhkul balaks by saying “Jai Shri Krishna”?

We believe “Hari, Vallabh ek saman". Vallabhkul balaks represent Mahaprabhuji himself and we are just their followers or disciples. Since Vallabhkul balaks represent Mahaprabhuji himself, it is not appropriate to say “Jai Shri Krishna” to them. But we should greet them with the words 'Dandavat pranam' and obtain their ashirvad.

3) When we are in presence of the Thakorji, why should vaishnavas not say “Jai Shri Krishna” to each other?

When we are in front of Thakorji in the haveli, there is one superior to God so it is not proper to respect anyone clan in his presence.

4) Why should we not force Vallabhkul balak for partake anything we offer when they come to our home?

It is obvious that any are from the V clan come to our house they are in a position of our Guru. Enthusiastically we greet them, offer milk, fruits etc. , but at the same time we should remember that they adhere to the rules laid down by Shri Mahaprabhuji, so we should not force them to partake anything we offer to them.

5) What is the significance behind 'Vandan', 'Pranaam' namaskaar?

Vandan: Vandan and Chandan sandalwood are the Thakorji's favorite, because both give Cooling and pleasing effect. Chandan cools our forehead, Vandan pleases our hearts. When we say Vandan, we remain faithful to God and never betray him in any way. Pranam: Pranam is a sign of honesty. We say to God "I will always remain honest to you in the same honest way you gift us with food, water and light". Namaskaar: Is a way of saying of God that I will be once again be faithful to you by bowing to your lotus feet.

6) What are the types of Dandavats, which is the best way and why?

One way of dandavat is to bow our head and say “dandavat” and address our Guru by saying Je Je. and hold our hands.

7) Why should we take Charnamrut ?

We should take Charnamrut as it purifies our body.

8) How is Charnamrut made?

The mud on the banks of River Yamuna is mixed with water with which Shrinathji is given a bath and are made in the shape of small balls.

9) Why should we wear the tulsi kanthi?

The material with which the tulsi beads are made is related to Shri Krishna. It is something which Krishna likes immensely. It should always be worn with love after taking Brahmsambandh.

10) Why are the temples built?

Necessity is mother of invention. When the society needed to be educated, schools of learning centers were built, health required hospitals, so they were built. Our sages and saints had a vision. They visualized that the society along with all this, also needed peace and specifically for this purpose, temples were built.

11) Why do we call the place of worship 'Haveli' in Pushti Marg?

In Pushti Marg, guru offers swaroop of Thakorji as gift. The vaishnav performs seva of Thakorji as a family member according to his/her feelings and capacity. The seva of Thakorji becomes a personal affair. Hence it is called Haveli .

12) Why do we go to a Haveli for darshan?

In Pushti Marg, “Gruhseva' or the seva performed at home has a very important role. Yet to attain peace we can go to a Haveli. In a Haveli, Thakorji is adorned with different types of 'Vastra' and ‘Shringars’ according to the seasons. 'Kirtans' are also sung according to the seasons. We should do the 'Darshan' of the Thakorji from his feet to his face and keep our eyes wide open.

13) Why is the bell rung before the darshan?

The notes of the bell ringing given us an echo of 'Aum'. So, to make the atmosphere pious, the bell is rung before darshan.

14) Why is the bell rung during aarti?

Bell is rung during aarti to drive away the inauspicious vibes and bring in a pure and auspicious atmosphere.

15) Why should we do the aarti?

Agni keeps bad spirits away. Aarti is done to keep bad spirits away from Shri Thakorji. That's why we do aarti in whole circle, never half. First, we start doing aarti from Thakorji's feet, then waist, followed by chest area and finally Thakorji's mukharvind. We show respect toward aarti & do naman.

We should not take the aarti because we respect this ritual. This symbolizes the feelings of the 'Vraj bhaktas' and Yashodaji. They cannot bear the separation of Krishna even if he goes to graze the cows.

16) Where can the money (coins) thrown during Nand mahotsav kept?

In many havelis during Nand Mahotsav some coins are thrown in the air as a part of the celebration of the Shri Krishna’s birthday. If any Vaishnav gets any of these coins, he can place it in the place of the seva in his house or even keep it in the place where he keeps the cash for his business, so that he does his business with honesty and right intentions.

17) Why is Shrinathji's left hand over his head and the right on his waist?

The positions of Shrinathji’s hands definitely say something. By his left hand, he calls all of us to his abode and the thumb of his right hand assures protection from him. Also, Right hand as fist binds vaishnavs to Shrinathji. It even says that I affect all and give shelter to all. His eyes are in a slanting position and all those people who have their sight on his Lotus feet are assured of his Shelter.