សួស្ដីសួស្ដីសួស្ដWelcome to the Narayana Masa Gaurabda 525 edition of the ANGKOR BULLETIN. This will serve as a supplement to our website www.bhakticambodia.com. Devotees serving in the Kingdom of Cambodia wouerest and participation, however that may be. We plan to make available literatures in the local Khmer language both those of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) and those of the Varnasrama Book Trust (Vld like to provide various information to our viewers to solicit their intBT). We are looking for interested persons from the Kingdom of Cambodia who can help in various activities, including translation and printing of literatures into Khmer.
Hare Krishna
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How could it come to Lord's Plate
Cambodia, when we enter to this country, it will not aloof from agriculture. According to SIPAR, among 100 people, 80 are farmer. One important agriculture plant is rice, which is main food as source of energy. As our ashram has the first rice harvest this year, we would like to share about what practiced by us and neighbors. Cambodia entering rainy season around May. During this day, farmer will cut bushes. Sometimes they also cut new forested area,for growing rice. The tool used are 'phtau' (axes) and 'phkiak', a curved big knife with long-handle, usually made of lower trunk or root of bamboo. Off course we are not supporting this kind of forest cuting. Yashodapura Ashram keep 7 of 11 hectares as forested area. This is on the southern and western side, as suggested in the Vasthusashtra. By keeping this portion, we are hoping inspired them to take care of forested as it is very important. After being cut, trees, bushes, shrubs etc. will be collected in one area nearby. Some remain plants like weed on the plot will be nicely cleaned by using 'shen nick', javelin shaped spade(see picture). This tool used to dig the roots of grass etc. Grass etc will again being collected to the existing mount of material There will be many small mount shaped of cut trees. Then it will be keep in this way for several days. They wait untill all the cut material completely dry. The times needed will vary according to the kind of material being cut and the intensity of sunrays on the plot. Then they will burn then collected dry material. Ashes will be distributed evenly on the plot by using long wooden stick with burden on the end. This will act as the fertilizer for the soil on the plot. At this stage, the plot will be very clean and being ready prepared to grow rice, especially non-flooded system, dry rice field. Then they choose the good day according their calculation, usually asked to the elder. Maybe it is something like Panchanga for agriculture, as practiced in Bali. Then after the auspicious day being choosen they will star on it. One person will be making holes by using two long stick at his/her hands. Another will take part on sowing seed on the holes made. They use bamboo tube to carry seed and to close the holes sown. They will do it in very fast. One holes will be sown. After the plot finish. Then they will wait till the seed grow and the next treatment being performed to them.
After several days, then the seed will grow. For the dry rice field, i mean non-flooding sytem, it will be needed to pull out the weeds. The weeds must be pulled so that will not disturb the growth of the rice. It is absolutely neede, otherwise, the weeds or grass will surpass the rice. In this condition, rice paddy will not giving good result. This pulling out of the weeds will be performed according the needs. Sometimes just once time till harvest times, another will need more. Several month passes, so the harvest will be nice time. When the rice is'thhum hay' or rippen, so the time for cut it. 
They call 'chrout sraw' or cutting rice paddy. On this we will need 'kenh-diou' or sickle. Cambodian way on harvesting is by cutting around 20 cm from the lowest part of rice bunch. They also usually do it by involving number of people. After all being cut, it will be keep for 1-2 days till little bit dry. The next thing is that collecting the rice being cut. It will be collected in one place, save one. And after all being collected, it is not necessarily separate the seed from its straw. Sometimes they will keep long time until they have time to separate it. How they separate it? They will strecth the mat, take some and step on it till all seed separated from its straw. This is called as 'baen sraw'. This process will giving unhusked rice. Does is stop here? No, we all knowing that we can't eat unhusked rice. The next process is using mortar to dehusk the rice. Yashodapura Ashram also have been using this method of husking the rice. We have one new wooden mortar for this purpose. Now rice is ready to be cooked. Then after cooked, we put it on the Lord Krishna's plate, offer to Him. So, rice 'journey' to His plate end here. See you on the next Yashodapura Ashram story. Hare Krsna.
by:kumudaksa dasa
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Khmer Ceremony:Pchum Ben
&
Vedic Ceremony:Pinda-udaka(sraddha)kriya
Pchum Benh
តាមដែលបានស្រាវជ្រាវមកឃើញថា៖សាស្ត្រា ឬគម្ពីរក្នុងកម្ពុជរដ្ឋនេះ ដែលជាប្រភពនៃបុណ្យកាន់បិណ្ឌនឹងភ្ជុំបិណ្ឌ មាន ៣ បែប ដូចបានស្រង់យកមកសំដែងដោយសង្ខេបៈ ១- សាស្ត្រាវិជ្ជាធរ មានសេចក្ដីថា " មានព្រះមហាថេរ ១រូប ឈ្មោះព្រះឧបគុត្តត្ថេរ លោកហោះជ្រែកក្រឡាមហាប្រឹថពីទៅកាន់ឋាននរក។ ដោយអំណាចឫទ្ធិ៍របស់លោក មានផ្កាឈូកមាសប៉ុនកង់រាជរថផុសឡើងទទួលព្រះបាទលោក លោកក៏គង់ពែនលើផ្កាឈូកនោះអណ្ដែតលើពពួកនរក ។ ហេតុតែអានុភាពព្រះថេរៈ ពួកសត្វពួកនរកបានដកដង្ហើមចេញចូលស្រួលមួយពេលនោះ ទើបនាំគ្នាសំពះព្រះថេរៈ ៗ មានព្រះទ័យករុណាសំដែងធម៌ឲ្យស្ដាប់, កាលពួកសត្វនរកបានស្ដាប់ធម៌ហើយក៏ផ្ដាំព័ត៌មានមកកាន់ញាតិសន្ដាន របស់ខ្លួនទីទៃ ៗ ថា " បពិត្រព្រះមហាថេរបើព្រះករុណានិមន្តត្រឡប់ទៅកាន់មនុស្សលោកវិញ សូមមេត្តាប្រាប់ម្ដាយឪពុកបងប្អូនកូនចៅ ញាតិផៅសន្ដានរបស់យើងខ្ញុំ មានឈ្មោះដូច្នេះ ៗ នៅស្រុកឈ្មោះនេះ ៗ សូមឲ្យអាសូរករុណាមកដល់យើងខ្ញុំធ្វើបុណ្យឲ្យទានឧទ្ទិសផលមកឲ្យ យើងខ្ញុំផង" ។ www.khmersarika.com
Bellow is the description of word Benh, from Khmer Dictionary 2.0, which is published by Buddhist Institute. Benh is activity to unite food to be offered(to the monk). Khmer use the word 'benh' as the name of ceremony(according to country tradition) from first day of waning moon Bhadrapada till the end of the moon(15 days). They call this as Bonn Kan Benh or Bonn Dak Benh. The 15th of this waning moon is called Phcum Benh day. Another Khmer dictionary also explain that ben is food offering presented to the monk. This offering will be brought to pagoda everyday, presented to the monk, and monk will chant the prayer for the forefather. Some books mention that this being held to prevent haunted by ghost or 'kmauit'.
We know that this word 'Benh' which is written 'Ben-dha'. Let us now compare it to Sanskrit word 'Pinda'. Then we will know that they are closely related.
Pinda-udaka kriya
What is a Pinda : - "Pinda" is a Sanskrit word meaning balls of food either cooked rice or rice flour mixed with certain ingredients. A particular feature in our Hindu rituals is the preparation of rice balls (pinda) offered to the spirit of the dead person during the 1 year of the prayers for the departed soul. In part these ceremonies are seen as contributing to the merit of the deceased, but they also pacify the soul so that it will not linger in this world as a ghost but will pass through the realm of Yamaraja, the Deity of Death. The pinda is prepared as follows (this is for just one Pinda): 1 handful rice-flour, some milk, sesame seeds, a few drops of honey, few drops of red perfume water, little sugar, Jav and ghee. Mix all the ingredients together. Now make the dough in to a ball.
Pinda Upanishad
Om! O Devas! May we hear only the good with our ears; O the ones to be worshipped! May we see only the good with our eyes; may we have strong limbs and bodies, which will enable us to pray and worship the Devas. May we live unto such time the Devas feel we should live. May Lord Indra, of great fame, shower some grace and good on us. May Lord Surya (the Sun God), the knower of all, shower some grace and good on us. May Lord Garuda, who has an unfettered clear path (to liberation), shower some grace and good on us. May Lord Brihaspati shower some grace and good on us. Om Shanti! Shanti! Shanti!
All the devas and the wise men asked this question to Brahman:
“How can the dead receive without consciousness their balls of meal, or the Pinda? And when into the five great elements - The body dissolving returns back – And the soul departs from it – At which place does it abide then?”
Then Brahman spoke: “In water, it stays for three days; three days in fire; then it goes through the ether three days; and for a day then, in the wind.”
“Then with the first meal ball – the atoms reassemble again; and with the second meal ball originates new flesh, skin and blood.”
“And with the third meal ball – consciousness originates in him anew; and with the fourth meal ball originates the bones and the marrow.”
“And with the fifth meal ball – Hands and fingers, head and the mouth; and with the sixth meal ball are formed the heart, neck and palate.”
“By the seventh meal ball, vitality for a long life; and with the eighth meal ball he attains the power of speech.”
“And with the ninth meal ball – all the organs are tightened; and with the tenth meal ball comes the powers anew in the stream.”
Thus is formed through the offerings of meal balls, a new body from ball to ball.
Om! O Devas! May we hear only the good with our ears; O the ones to be worshipped! May we see only the good with our eyes; may we have strong limbs and bodies, which will enable us to pray and worship the Devas. May we live unto such time the Devas feel we should live. May Lord Indra, of great fame, shower some grace and good on us. May Lord Surya (the Sun God), the knower of all, shower some grace and good on us. May Lord Garuda, who has an unfettered clear path (to liberation), shower some grace and good on us. May Lord Brihaspati shower some grace and good on us. Om Shanti! Shanti! Shanti!
www.dipika.org
Srila Prabhupada Teaching about Pinda
BHAGAVAT GITA CHAPTER 1 TEXT 41
sankaro narakayaiva
kula-ghnanam kulasya ca
patanti pitaro hy esam
lupta-pindodaka-kriyah
TRANSLATION
An increase of unwanted population certainly causes hellish life both for the family and for those who destroy the family tradition. The ancestors of such corrupt families fall down, because the performances for offering them food and water are entirely stopped.
PURPORT BY SRILA PRABHUPADA
According to the rules and regulations of fruitive activities, there is a need to offer periodical food and water to the forefathers of the family. This offering is performed by worship of Vishnu, because eating the remnants of food offered to Vishnu can deliver one from all kinds of sinful actions. Sometimes the forefathers may be suffering from various types of sinful reactions, and sometimes some of them cannot even acquire a gross material body and are forced to remain in subtle bodies as ghosts. Thus, when remnants of prasadam food are offered to forefathers by descendants, the forefathers are released from ghostly or other kinds of miserable life. Such help rendered to forefathers is a family tradition, and those who are not in devotional life are required to perform such rituals.
After death according to Vedic regulations, pinda-udaka, pinda, offering Vishnu prasada and water at least once in a year is required by the family members. And according to Vedic culture, there is one month fixed up in a year when all people will offer pinda and udaka to the forefathers. Tarpana, tarpana. Week or fortnight, for one fortnight. So the idea is that if the forefather in the family has not achieved a proper life... Sometimes due to sinful activities, too much attachment, a man becomes ghost. Ghost, there is ghosts. Bhuta preta pisaca. Not only this life, demonic life, but after death also, there are ghostly lives. They do not get this gross body. They remain in the subtle body, mind, intelligence, and ego. Due to their gross sinful life, they are punished by not getting a gross life. Because without getting a gross life, we cannot enjoy. With mind, I cannot enjoy rasagulla. I must have the tongue, I must have the hand, fingers, I can pick up, then... In the mind, I may think of eating or collecting rasagulla, but actually I do not get the taste. So gross body is required, because every living entity in this material world, they have come to enjoy. Krishna bhuliya jiva bhoga vancha kare pasate maya tare japatiya dhare. This is the beginning of our material life. When we forget to render service to Krishna, immediately we get a material body offered by the material nature.
So this gross body is required for enjoyment. Spirit, spiritual body is also very subtle, and the astral body, or subtle body, is also very subtle. The gross body is required. So on account of one's severely sinful life, he does not get this gross body (lupta-pindodaka-kriya). Taking for granted that some of my forefathers have become a ghost and has not received a gross body, so by this pindodaka... Pinda means offering prasada of Vishnu prasada. Still in India there is a place Gaya. There is a Vishnu temple, and it is a custom for all Hindus, nowadays, to not go. They do not even believe. They have given up everything. Due to unwanted children, they don't care for it, what is family, what is pinda-udaka. Simply eat, drink, be merry, and enjoy, that's all.
Devarsi-bhutaptam nrnam pitrinam. Pitr, pitr pindodaka-kriyah. So we are obliged to offer pinda and water to the pitris. But here is, what is usually called, an outlet. Devarsi, we are indebted to the devatas. Rishis we are indebted to the great sages. Devarsi, devarsi bhutanam. We are indebted to so many other living entities, bhutanam, and nrnam. We are also indebted to the human society. Nrnam, pitrinam. We are indebted to the pitris, forefather. Pitrinam.
HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Pindas in other Scriptures:
Those who are very sinful and attached to their family, house, village or country do not receive a gross body made of material elements but remain in a subtle body, composed of mind, ego and intelligence. Those who live in such subtle bodies are called ghosts. This ghostly position is very painful because a ghost has intelligence, mind and ego and wants to enjoy material life, but because he doesn't have a gross material body, he can only create disturbances for want of material satisfaction. It is the duty of family members, especially the son, to offer oblations to the deva Aryama or to Lord Vishnu. From time immemorial in India the son of a dead man goes to Gaya and, at a Vishnu temple there, offers oblations for the benefit of his ghostly father. It is not that everyone's father becomes a ghost, but the oblations of pinda are offered to the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu so that if a family member happens to become a ghost, he will be favored with a gross body. However, if one is habituated to taking the prasada of Lord Vishnu, there is no chance of his becoming a ghost or anything lower than a human being. In Vedic civilization there is a performance called shraddha by which food is offered with faith and devotion. If one offers oblations with faith and devotion--either to the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu or to His representative in Pitrloka, Aryama--one's forefathers will attain material bodies to enjoy whatever material enjoyment is due them. In other words, they do not have to become ghosts. [Srimad Bhagavatam 4.18.18]
After giving up the body, one is transferred to another body, but sometimes, if one is too sinful, he is checked from transmigrating to another body, and thus he becomes a ghost. To save a diseased person from ghostly life, the funeral ceremony, or shraddha ceremony, as prescribed in authorized shastra, must be performed. Ravana was killed by Lord Ramachandra and was destined for hellish life, but by Lord Ramachandra's advice, Vibhisana, Ravana's brother, performed all the duties prescribed in relation to the dead. Thus Lord Ramachandra was kind to Ravana even after Ravana's death. [Srimad Bhagavatam 9.10.29]
The inhabitants of Pitrloka are generally men of the karma kandiya or fruitive activities category, who have been transferred there because of their pious activities. They can stay there as long as their descendants offer them Vishnu prasada. Srimad Bhagavatam 5.2.2 purport
From www.dipika.org
Vaishnava and the sraddha ceremony
According to Vaishnava scriptures, the sraddha ceremony may be performed for vaishnavas, but only if the priest is Vaishnava and the offering to the Pitris is vishnu-prasada(food offered to lord Vishnu/Lord Krishna).
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Lord Vishnu known by Cambodian
Lord Visnu as Neak Ta
In Cambodia the belief in ancestor spirits, the best known type of which are called neak ta , a nd by local belief neak ta maintain "the ownership of temples and sites, where they guard and watch over the conduct of people at vantage points to ensure the maintenance of social order and welfare." (Keko Miura, p.56.) They are venerated in boulders, statues, ore fragments of statues. Every ancient temple and sacred site has at least one neak ta . Several temples are named after neak ta such as Ta Keo, Bakong and Ta Prohm. Neak ta can affect the welfare and lives of people. “ Inappropriate conduct by visitors around neak ta shrines and within the temple is seen to anger the spirits. If neglected or disturbed, neak ta can affect the welfare and health of local villagers. There have been several reports of villagers being struck by misadventure and illness after witnessing disrespectful behavior and failing to then provide offerings to gain the forgiveness of the neak ta. Neak ta seem only to turn against local people. Therefore lack of respect in visitors has deleterious effects on locals”. (Georgina Lloyd)
The statue of Vishnu in the southern door of the West Gate of Angkor Wat is inhabited by a neak ta called Leang Neak Ta Reach, a high ranking spirit who is passionately adored by local people. www.angkorguide.net
Lord Vishnu as Purusa Avatara 
According to the Vedic Scripture, these innumerable universes are produced from the pores of the Maha-Vishnu's body. As innumerable particles of dust pass through the tiny holes in a screen, similarly from the pores of the Maha-Vishnu's body innumerable universes emanate. As He breathes out, innumerable universes are produced, and as He inhales, they are annihilated. Thus Maha-Vishnu is the original Supersoul of all the universes and the master of all universes as well. When the first purusa-avatara, Maha-Vishnu, glances over the material nature, material nature becomes agitated, and the purusha-avatara thus impregnates matter with living entities. Simply by the glance of the Maha-Vishnu, consciousness is created, and this consciousness is known as mahat-tattva.
The second Vishnu incarnation, the Garbhodakasayi Vishnu, enters each and every universe, spreads water from His body, and lies down on that water. From His navel, the stem of a lotus flower grows, 
and on that lotus flower the first creature, Brahmä, is born. Within the stem of that lotus flower are fourteen divisions of planetary systems, which are created by Brahma. Within each universe the Lord is present as the Garbhodakasayi Vishnu, and He maintains each universe and tends to its needs. Although He is within each material universe, the influence of material energy cannot touch Him. When it is required, this very same Vishnu takes the form of Lord Shiva and annihilates the cosmic creation. The three secondary incarnations-Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva—are the predominating deities of the three modes of material nature. The master of the universe, however, is the Garbhodakasayi Vishnu, who is worshiped as the Hiranyagarbha Supersoul. The Vedic hymns describe Him as having thousands of heads. Although He is within the material nature, He is not touched by it.
The third incarnation of Vishnu, Kshirodakasayi Vishnu, is also an incarnation of the mode of goodness. He is also the Supersoul of all living entities, and He resides on the ocean of milk within the universe. (AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Teaching of Lord Caitanya)
Vishnu is holding weapons in two of his four arms, a sword and a discus. Vishnu's mount is garuda, the king of the birds. He has an eagle's face, wings, and feet. Vishnu and Garuda are ready to fight against any demon who wants to disturb the harmony of the world.Thommanon relief(right). Demigods headed by Lord Brahma praying to Lord Vishnu (Ksirodakasayi Vishnu) in the shore of Ocean of Milk(left)
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Vaishnava Calendar
Narayana Masa Gaurabda 525
Calculated using VCAL 4.01 for Siem Reap(103E50 13N30, Time zone = +7.00), Cambodia
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11 Dec 2011 Su Pratipat K Sadhya Mrigasira
12 Dec 2011 Mo Dvitiya K Sukla Ardra
13 Dec 2011 Tu Tritiya K Brahma Punarvasu
14 Dec 2011 We Caturthi K Indra Pusyami *
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura -- Disappearance
(Fasting till noon)
15 Dec 2011 Th Pancami K Vaidhriti Aslesa
16 Dec 2011 Fr Sasti K Viskumba Magha
----------------- Dhanus Sankranti (Sun enters Sagittarius) -----------------
17 Dec 2011 Sa Saptami K Priti Purva-phalguni
18 Dec 2011 Su Astami K Ayusmana Uttara-phalguni
19 Dec 2011 Mo Navami K Saubhagya Hasta
20 Dec 2011 Tu Dasami K Sobana Citra
21 Dec 2011 We Suddha Ekadasi K Atiganda Swati *
Sri Devananda Pandita -- Disappearance
Fasting for Saphala Ekadasi
22 Dec 2011 Th Dvadasi K Dhriti Visakha
Break fast 06:23 - 08:59 (Daylight saving not considered).
Sri Mahesa Pandita -- Disappearance
Sri Uddharana Datta Thakura -- Disappearance
23 Dec 2011 Fr Caturdasi K Sula Anuradha
24 Dec 2011 Sa Amavasya K Ganda Jyestha
25 Dec 2011 Su Pratipat G Vriddhi Mula
Sri Locana Dasa Thakura -- Appearance
26 Dec 2011 Mo Dvitiya G Dhruva Purva-asadha
27 Dec 2011 Tu Tritiya G Vyagata Uttara-asadha
Srila Jiva Gosvami -- Disappearance
Sri Jagadisa Pandita -- Disappearance
28 Dec 2011 We Caturthi G Harsana Sravana
29 Dec 2011 Th Pancami G Vajra Dhanista
30 Dec 2011 Fr Sasti G Siddhi Satabhisa
31 Dec 2011 Sa Saptami G Vyatipata Purva-bhadra
1 Jan 2012 Su Astami G Variyana Uttara-bhadra
2 Jan 2012 Mo Navami G Parigha Revati
3 Jan 2012 Tu Dasami G Siva Asvini
4 Jan 2012 We Dasami G Siddha Bharani
5 Jan 2012 Th Suddha Ekadasi G Sadhya Krittika *
Fasting for Putrada Ekadasi
6 Jan 2012 Fr Dvadasi G Subha Rohini
Break fast 06:30 - 10:17 (Daylight saving not considered).
Sri Jagadisa Pandita -- Appearance
7 Jan 2012 Sa Trayodasi G Sukla Mrigasira
8 Jan 2012 Su Caturdasi G Brahma Ardra
9 Jan 2012 Mo Purnima G Indra Punarvasu Sri Krsna Pusya abhiseka
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