The retreat is open to anyone regardless of age, ethnicity, or faith and is an ideal opportunity to:
Spring~Summer Sankirtan 2017
April 20 Tyagi Maharaj arrives Bay Area.
April 20 – April 25- Soquel Seva Ashram & Local Bay Area Programs
April 21, Seva Ashram
April 22, Santa Cruz, Divinitree Yoga, 6 pm
April 23, Soquel Sunday Program
April 24-25-Seva Ashram
April 26-29 Cal Poly & San Luis Obispo, Monterey
April 26, CalPoly University Program, Noon- 3 pm
April 27, SLO Farmer’s market, booktable and kirtan, 6-9 pm
April 28, SLO Yoga Center program, 6:30-9:30 pm.
April 29, Monterey, Wave Street Studios, 6-9pm, $10 at door
April 29-May 1 ~ Soquel Seva Ashram
May 2-May 11 ~ Chico, Ashland, Mt. Shasta, Eugene
May 2- Chico, Hinduism Class, Chico State University, 5-6:15 pm
May 3- Chico, Public program, Unitarian Universalist Church, 6-9 pm
May 5-Ashland, Studio Z, 7-10 pm
May 6th—Mt. Shasta, Temple of Intention, 6PM (EKADASI)
May 7th-Ashland, Rasa Yoga, 1-4 pm
May 9th, Eugene, Heartwise Center, Nrisimha Chaturdasi, 7 pm
May 12-14, Whole Earth Festival, Davis, Book Table
May 14 11am-1 pm, Kirtan Workshop in the Experiential Space.
3:30-5:00pm, Organic Thought: Wellbeing Talk in the Experiential space.
May 15-21- Bay area programs (TBA)
May 15-21-Soquel Seva Ashram
May 21, Program at Shiv-Durga Hindu Temple, Sunnyvale
May 22-28 Tijuana/Las Vegas (TBA)
May 22, EKADASI
May 22-26 Tijuana
May 26-28-Lightning in a Bottle, Kirtan and Bhakti Yoga Classes
May 29-June 8, Salt Lake City
June 2-SCS Mission Evening Program
June 3-Wasatch Ayurveda &Yoga Upstairs, Bhakti Yoga Class & Kirtan, 7-9 pm
June 4-Sunday Program followed by Harinam Sankirtan in Liberty Park
June 8-11, Boulder
June 11-21, East Coast-Florida/NY/NJ
June 11-14 Florida, VA
June 16-18 New York City
June 18-21 New Jersey
June 21-return to Denver
June 22-return to SLC
June 23-25, SLC – California & Oregon
June 24-Drive, SLC-Pittsburg, CA
June 25- home program at Devahuti didi’s, Pittsburg, CA
Subject to change by the Will of Providence!
Jairam Sharma
You are invited to participate and dive deep into the revelations of Srimad Bhagavad Gita in the tradition of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. The original Sanskrit verses will be read, recited, and discussed. The teachings of Srimad Bhagavad Gita are still as relevant as they were over 5 thousand years ago, when Srimad Bhagavad Gita was originally spoken at the battlefield of Kurukshetra, India.
Srimad Bhagavad Gita: The Hidden Treasure of the Sweet Absolute
The discussion will be followed by light refreshments.
Friends, families and kids are welcome to attend.
We request you kindly RSVP for the event to help us prepare adequate amounts of refreshments.
Have questions about Srimad Bhagavad Gita Discussion: Hidden Treasure of the Sweet Absolute?
Jairam Sharma and Arun Sharma are disciples of Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev Goswami Maharaj and members of Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math.
CTC
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Testimonials:
“A deep and intensive study of the meaning of Bhagavad Gita. They spent almost the whole time on one sloka [verse].” –Paul
“I’m learning a lot from this class. They don’t just repeat the scriptures but focus on opening the heart. They’ll do the reading and then share details, stories, and their own experiences. Arun shares parables and examples from science that are really interesting.
The class is very heartfelt and the association there is amazing. There’s a good feeling. Everyone is very genuine and heartfelt. It’s amazing. That’s my experience.” –Jason
Arun Prabhu and Jairam Prabhu leading kirtan
The captive audience
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!
Official festival poster
We will set up under the big shade trees in front of the cafeteria just like we did the last two years.
The Bhakti Yoga Club meets every Wednesday at Cabrillo College. Braja Mohini Devi organizes this weekly sankirtan program with many of the other devotees helping. They distribute prasadam, chant, read, and speak informally to the students, many of whom have visited our Ashram for the Sunday Feast program.
Vishakha didi attended the Cabrillo Bhakti Yoga club during her stay here in Soquel.
Prabhus Bilva Mangal, Shambunath, and Dina Bandhu were in attendance along with Bimala didi and Bimalanandini didi.
Devotees chant on the main quad of Cabrillo College in Aptos, CA.
Students from Cabrillo also joined in the chanting.
All who attended were fortunate to receive the sweet association of Vishakha didi.
Students and devotees alike enjoyed chanting, discourse, questions and answers, and of course Prasadam.
We are all happy to have Bimalanandini didi living with us here at the Ashram.
Bilva Mangal Prabhu answers questions from an interested student.
Is the scientist a noble researcher or someone who is following a lust for recognition? Are we to put our faith in their conclusions and theories when trying to understand what will give us real happiness? Our faith should be placed in the Absolute’s divine agent, the saint, Sri Guru. <em><a href=”http://www.sevaashram.net/3693/faith-in-saints-or-scientists/” target=”_blank”>Read article…</a></em>
Here is the second part of the Mridanga lessons by Sripad Sadhu Priya Prabhu, for an extended version visit his website lightingbeats.com or click here for the direct link to the lessons…
In our last post we had the practicing video for the first playing mantra;
kaharba
da gi te te na gi de na
kaharba 2
dhi ni ta ki te te de na
Watch the continuation for the first playing mantra, in its laghu or soft form and the second kaharba mantra here…
And here is the video for the kirtan using that beat.
At the end of every kirtan song there is a special beat, called te hai and it involves the practice mantra te re ke te da. Watch video here…
tehai
te re ke te da times 3
Watch the video of the kirtan using these mantras here…
Srila Acharya Maharaj leads kirtan and Sadhu Priya Prabhu and other devotees play the Mridanga!
Here is a series of videos on how to play Mrdanga, along with the mantras and practice excercises put together by Sripad Sadhu Priya Prabhu in our Nabadwip Math in India. Sripad Sadhu Priya Prabhu traveled many times around the world with Srila Gurudev, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, on his tours and he has helped put together our Kirtan Guide and has always been a devoted Mridanga player.
To watch the introduction video click here…
Watch the first practice lesson here…
These are the Practice Mantras that would be used in the first practice lesson video:
1. te re ke ta
2. te re ke te tak
3. te re ke te ke te te re
4. te re ke te da
Watch the first playing mantra lesson here…
Playing Mantras
kaharba
da gi te te na gi de na
kaharba 2
dhi ni ta ki te te de na
tehai
te re ke te da times 3
matan
da gi da da gi ni
Srila Janardan Maharaj sings Nama-Sankirttana at the end of the Sunday Feast. Watch video…
Nama-Sankirttana
by Srila Narottama dasa Thakura
(sung after morning and evening class)
(1)
hari haraye namah krsna yadavaya namah
yadavaya madhavaya kesavaya namah
O Lord Hari , O Lord Krishna, I offer my obeisances to You, who are known as Yadava, Hari, Madhava, and Kesava.
(2)
gopala govinda ram sri madhusudana
giridhari gopinatha madana-mohana
O Gopala, Govinda, Rama, Sri Madhusudana, Giridhari, Gopinatha, Madana-mohana
(3)
sri-caitanya nityananda sri advaita-candra
gadadhara srivasadi gaura-bhakta-vrinda
All glories to Sri Chaitanya and Nityananda. All glories to Sri Advaita Acharyya and His consort, Sri Sita Thakurani. All glories to Lord Hari, the Spiritual Master, the Vaisnavas, Srimad Bhagavatam, and Srimad Bhagavad-gita.
(4)
jaya rupa sanatana bhatta raghunata
sri-jiva-gopala-bhatta dasa raghunata
All glories to Sri Rupa Goswami, Sanatana Goswami, Raghunata Bhatta Goswami, Sri Jiva Goswami,
Gopala Bhatta Goswami, and Raghunata dasa Goswami.
(5)
ei chay gosanir kori carana vandana
jaha hotte bighna-nas abhista purana
I offer my obeisances to the Six Goswamis. By offering them my obeisances all obstacles to devotion
and destroyed and all spiritual desires are fulfilled.
(6)
ei chay gosanir yanra muni tanra dasa
tan-sabara pada-renu mora panca-grasa
I am a servant of that person who is a servant of these Six Goswamis.
The dust of their holy feet is my five kinds of foodstuffs.
(7)
tandera carana sebi bhakta sane basa
janame janame mora ei abhilasa
This is my desire, that borth after birth i may live with those devotees who serve the lotus feet of these six Goswamis.
(8)
ei chay gosani yabe braje koila basa
jradha-krisna-nitya-lila korila-prakasa
When these six Goswamis lived in Vraja they revealed and explained the eternal Pastimes of Radha and Krishna.
(9)
anande bolo hari bhaja vrindavana
sri-guru-vaisnava-pade majaiya mana
Absorbing your mind in meditation upon the divine feet of the spiritual master and the holy Vaisnavas, chant the names of Lord Hari in ecstasy, and worship the transcendental realm of Vrindavana.
(10)
sri-guru-vaisnava-pada-padme kori asa
(hari) nama-samkirttana kohe narottama dasa
Desiring the lotus feet of Sri Guru and the Vaisnavas, Narottama dasa sings the sankirttana of the Holy Name.
Srila Gurudev, Srila Bhakti Sundar Govinda Dev-Goswami Maharaj, sings Sri Nama Kirttana in 2006 at the Vaishnava Festival in Lahta, Russia. Listen to the song…
Jashomati Nandana.mp3 (5 minutes, 4.9 MB)
This is the song we sing at morning and noon arotiks in the temples at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in India and here at the temples in San Jose and Santa Cruz.
Sri Nama-Kirttana
by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur
( 1 )
yashomati-nandana braja-baro nagara, gokula-ranjana kana
gopi-parana-dhana madana manohara, kaliya-damana-vidhana
Sri Krishna is the beloved son of Yasodamayi, the transcendental lover of the land
of Vraja and the delight of Gokula. One of His nicknames is Kana. He is the life and
soul of the gopis. He is the enchanter of Cupid and the conqueror of the Kaliya serpent.
( 2 )
amala harinam amiya-vilasa
vipina-purandara navina nagara-bora, bamsi-badana suvasa
The Holy Names of Krisha are spotless and full of sweetness and beauty. Krishna
is the king of the forest of Vrindavan. He is the ever-fresh youth, an excellent dresser,
and the best of lovers. He always plays sweet melodies upon His flute.
( 3 )
braja-jana-palana asura-kula-nasana, nanda-godhana rakhoyala
govinda madhava navanita-taskara, sundara nanda-gopala
Krishna is the guardian of all who live in Vrindavan, and the destroyer of demons.
He tends the cows and is known as Govinda, for He delights the cows, the earthly and the spiritual
senses. He is Madhava, the husband of the goddess of fortune. Krishna, the beautiful
cowherd boy of Nanda Maharaj, loves to steal butter.
( 4 )
yamuna-tata-cara gopi-basana-hara, rasa-rasika krpamoya
Sri-radha-vallabha vrindavana-natabara, bhakativinod-asraya
Wandering on the banks of the Yamuna River, Krishna stole the garments of the
gopis while they were bathing. He enjoys the mellows of the rasa dance. He is the
most merciful, beloved lover of Srimati Radharani. He is the great dancer of
Vrindavan, and the supreme shelter of Srila Bhaktivinod Thakura.
12 steps on how to wear a sari.
This short and sweet introductory book about Krishna Consciousness, Home Comfort by Srila Bhakti Rakshak Sridhar Dev-Goswami has just been reprinted by the mercy of Sripad Bhakti Kamal Tyagi Maharaj and other hardworking servitors at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math in Navadwip, India.
We invite you to browse through its pages here and encourage you to spend a little time reading it. A few sentences may change your outlook for the whole day and could give you a taste of what Krishna Consciousness and bhakti yoga are all about. If you are serious about learning and reading more, just get in touch with us. We can send you a book in the mail or answer specific questions you may have. Contact info@SevaAshram.org or call (831) 462-4712.
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Srila Govinda Maharaj explains to the devotees who have come from all over the world, the importance of practicing spiritual life with love & affection and how harmful enviousness will be for the sincere devotee.
What is the seva ashram? These days we hear words like ashram, kirtan, bhakti, yoga, very easily and very freely. And to discern what is what may not be so easy since everything sounds like a drop of a mystic, far away India. Yet a part of us can feel we are lacking some substance. Read full article