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NATION - RELIGION - KING KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA Siem Reap ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------- September 2010
OM SRI-GURAVE NAMAH !
Hare Krishna.
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The Angkor Bulletin September 2010
HIGHLIGHTS
• Sacred Cow • Why cows are sacred? Activity • Janmastami in Indian Community at Stoung Thmey • Sri Krishna Janmasthami in Ashram • Srila Prabhupada Appearance Day • H.H. Bhaktivinoda Swami Maharaja Lecture on Bhagavad Gita ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ NEWS IN DETAILS Sacred Cow
In the picture we can see about the equivalent word for “Gau”( Sanskrit) in some languages. In Cambodian also similiar , Ko. Cow is actually the descendant of Surabhi. The following is the description about it. Surabhi cows are generally found on the Vaikuëöha planets. As described in Brahma-samhita, Lord Krishna, on His planet, Goloka Våndävana, engages in tending the surabhi cows (surabhir abhipalayantam [Bs. 5.29]). These cows are the Lord's pet animals. From the surabhi cows one can take as much milk as one needs, and one may milk these cows as many times as he desires. In other words, the surabhi cow can yield milk unlimitedly. ( SB 8.8.2 Purport )
The following verse of Srimad Bhagavatam also describe that Surabhi was a result of Churning of Ocean Milk.
On the purport of verse above, Srila Prabhupada wrote about the relations between cow, yajna, and cow protection as follow: The surabhi cow is described as havirdhani , the source of butter. Butter, when clarified by melting, produces ghee, or clarified butter, which is inevitably necessary for performing great ritualistic sacrifices. As stated in Bhagavad-gita (18.5), yajna-dana-tapah-karma na tyajam karyam eva tat: sacrifice, charity and austerity are essential to keep human society perfect in peace and prosperity. Yajna, the performance of sacrifice, is essential; to perform yajna, clarified butter is absolutely necessary; and to get clarified butter, milk is necessary. Milk is produced when there are sufficient cows. Therefore in Bhagavad-gita (18.44), cow protection is recommended (krshi-go-rakshya-vanijyam vaisya-karma svabhava jam). ( SB. 8.8.1 Purport )
The following verse explain about the sages who took charge of Surabhi cow, as the result of Churning of Milk Ocean.
On the purport section, Prabhupada wrote about the cow protection: Milk is necessary for the performance of yajïa. Sages know how to use milk to elevate human society to the perfection of life. Since cow protection is recommended everywhere in the çästras, the brahmä vädés took charge of the surabhi cow, in which the demons were not very interested. (SB. 8.8.2 Purport)
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Why cow is sacred? Srila Prabhupada Room Conversation March 1, 1975, Atlanta
Indian man(1) : Swamiji, can I ask you a very silly question which has been asked to us a lot of times, and we don't have satisfactory answer to it. Why is the cow sacred and not the other animals? Prabhupada : Because it gives milk. Indian man(1) : But there are a lot of other anim... Buffaloes give milk too. Prabhupada : Not so much. Indian man(1) : In larger quantities. Prabhupada : But milk means...It is scientifically proved. Milk mean cow's milk. Indian man(2) : But what about the killing of those cows which are not milching type as cow that are being bred here. Prabhupada : First of all, killing is sinful. Christ said,”Thou shalt not kill.” That is sinful. It doesnot matter whether you kill cow or goat or any. But from economic point of view, cow is very important because it supplies milk. And milk preparation, we Indians know how many we can get, nice milk preparation. Dahi, rabri, this, that, burfi, that hw nutritious, how palatable. And that is good for human being. First thing is that why we should you kill if you have got sufficient food. Patram puspam phalam toyam. The vegetable, fruit, then food grains, thgen sugar, and everything is there, sufficient. AT least we Indian, we know. We can prepare hundreds and thousands of preparation, nice, palatable, enjoy it. Why should you go to kill animal? Indian man(2) : But scientist have claimed that meat provides... Prabhupada : Scientist, first of all we have rejected them. Indian man(2) : ...excellent quality of protein. (laughs). Prabhupada : But however protein you may accumulate, can you stop your death? Indian man(2) : No. Prabhupada : Then what is the value of protein? If you think that protein will save you from death, then you collect the best protein. But after all, you are going to die. Nature will not allow to live, even you take much quantity of protein. First of all make solution that you will not die. Then try to find out the best protein. What is your answer about this birth, death, old age, and disease? Can you check it? Indian man(2) : No, Sir. Prabhupada : Then? You take protein. Why you are becoming old? Indian man(2) : The researches, those that have been made, they are imperfect again. They are imperfect, surely imperfect,”Maybe, “Perhaps”. Those doubt are there. But the scientist say that ”Rome was not built in a day.” Prabhupada : Therefore Indian civilization is that you take rice, dahl, vegetable, and little milk. Whatever protein and vitamin A, B, C, D can be available, that is sufficient. Indian man(2) : Dr. Mahoja has done excellent work on nutrition, and has written two ooks, and in those books he has advocated that milk is not only the best diet. Balanced food you can have by your dahls and so many other sources. Milk is not the only one. Prabhupada : Yes. In your Punjab, in United Province... Indian man(2) : In this he is, I think, very right in his approach. He is not one-sided. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Activity Janmastami in Indian Community at Stoung Thmey (2 th Sept 2010) In about one week before the Sri Krsna Janmasthami day, there were some Indian people, who stay in Siem Reap, visiting us. They invited us to join the celebration of Sri Krishna Janmasthami on 2th September 2010. They said that they would held this celebration in Stoung Thmey, Old Market, Siem Reap. They asked us to join the program that have been planned to be held from 06.00 pm to 12.30 am. The celebration of Sri Krishna Janmasthami in Gaudiya Vaishnava Calendar is also on 2 th September 2010, so we would not be able to join the program fully, we have to perform celebration in our ashram also at the midnight. But still we would come to join for specified time, at most until 10.00 pm. After Sandhya Arati, on Janmasthami day, we came to Stoung Thmey and joined the program. We went by motorbike with two people who picked us up, also Mr.Sophat came along with us by his motorbike. There were around forty people over there. Mostly they are Indian who stay in Siem Reap. There were also Cambodian people. The people sat down on the mat in front area of building.
At the front side the altar have been made. There were many pictures placed in the altar. At the top, there was picture of Krishna. At the lower side of altar there were also Krishna pictures and other personalities like demigods' pictures. Uniquely they also put Buddha pictures. They said that they also ask for protection from Buddha. The incense sticks burned continuously. Some fruit they put on the altar as an offering. After next several minutes, we started to hold Hare Krsna Mahamantra Bhajan. Some attendant following to chant. The time was not so long, we have to go back to ashram to perform arati. More Photos on Photo Gallery
SRI KRISHNA JANMASTHAMI IN ASHRAM Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare The Lord Appearance day has come.........
As soon as we went back from Stoung Thmey, we prepared several thing for celebrating Sri Krsna Janmasthami in our ashram. After took bath, we continued to chant together until the time of abhiseka came. Abhiseka then did by Guna Avatara Prabhu. Mr. Sophat also attended this program and got the opportunity to bathe the deity. After abhiseka, we offered and then performing arati. After arati done, we took prasadam for breakfast then we took rest. More Photos on Photo Gallery Jaya Sri Krsna Janmasthami Maha Mahotsava ki jaya! Hare Krsna
Srila Prabhupada Appearance Day On the next day is the day of Srila Prabhupada Appearance. Srila Prabhupada is Founder-Acharya of International SOciety for Krsna Conciousness. More Photos on Photo Gallery ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ H.H. Bhaktivinoda Swami Maharaja Lecture on Bhagavad Gita On Monday, 13 September 2010 His Holiness Bhaktivinoda Swami visited Kingdom of Cambodia. His Holiness arrived in Siem Reap Airport and directly, by assistance of Guna Avatara Prabhu stay in Angkor Saphir Hotel Siem Reap. At the same day, in the evening, in Bhakti Yoga Ashram His Holiness gave Bhagavad Gita lecture to some participants. The verse discused was Chapter 7 Text 3
In the next day, His Holiness again gave the Bhagavad Gita lecture. On that day, more participants came. It was about ten people attended the class. His Holiness mainly gave the lecture in Hindi because the participantly majority is Indian people stay in Siem Reap who had been invited. The sloka discussed was Chapter 7 Text 4
The guests very enthusiasthically listening to the lesson. Maharaja give lesson in Hindi and sometimes little English. Some guest also asking for question in Hindi. After that, we have some little prasadam and Maharaja went back to the hotel. On the naxt day, His Holiness leaved Cambodia from Siem Reap Airport for Kuala Lumpur. We are fortunate to get His Holiness' association. More Photos on Photo Gallery
References: Srimad Bhagavatam by HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Srimad Bhagavad-Gita by HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Samskriti Foundation. www.samskriti.org
KRSNE MATIR ASTU BHAKTI RAGHAVA SWAMI |
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