GBC SPT

Kartika Special: Krishna never leaves Vrindavan: Madhavananda Das  To wrap up our most enriching "Celebrating Kartika" series discussing Krishna's Vraja Lila, we are honored to welcome Madhavananda Das who will share with us about Krishna's eternal residence in Vrindavan and into the minds of all His devotees.  About Madhavananda Das Madhavananda Das is the managing editor of Gopal Jiu Publications and Sri Krishna Kathamrita magazine and the popular email journal Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu. He is also the director of GORA, the Gaudiya Odia Research Association which is a branch of the BRC, Bhaktivedanta Research Center. Madhavananda joined ISKCON in Los Angeles in 1982. He moved to Orissa in 1993 where he has been living since. He was instructed by his spiritual master Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja to render his lectures into publications. He is the author and editor of numerous books and articles; and has contributed to Journal of Vaishnava Studies and Back to Godhead Magazine. Aside from his publishing work, Madhavananda travels worldwide giving seminars and classes. He has a special interest in researching esoteric Gaudiya topics and subjects about Lord Jagannath as well as the culture and sacred places of Orissa. His work can be seen at www.gopaljiu.org or on Facebook at Madhavananda Das.

Akrūra’s Arrival in Vṛndāvana/ Akrūra’s Return Journey and His Vision of Viṣṇuloka Within the Yamunā River (SB 10.38-39) by Devamrita Swami  About Devamrita Swami  Devamrita Swami is an educator, author, and monk in the Krishna bhakti tradition.  For over forty years, he has been traveling the world sharing the teachings and lifestyle of bhakti-yoga. With a unique ability to analyze modern problems through the wisdom of the Bhagavad-gita and Shrimad-Bhagavatam (essential Vedic texts), he challenges audiences to understand that the quest for genuine personal and social upliftment is rooted in precise and comprehensive knowledge.  Adept at applying this spiritual science, he encourages others to enter the laboratory and perform the Krishna experiment, which enables us to fully realize our nonmaterial identity and ultimate connection. While meeting and relishing the diversity of global humanity, he has also established urban and rural sanctuaries for the spiritually inquisitive, especially in New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.

Killing the Keśī Demon and Vyomāsura (SB 10.37)- Sutapa Das  GBC SPT brings to you an exciting series on "Krishna Lila in Vrindavan" with an intention of celebrating Kartika and enriching our Krishna consciousness together.  Our Day 29 Srimad Bhagavatam class will be presented by Sutapa Das on the Chapter 37th of 10th canto of SB/Krishna book.  About Sutapa Das A visionary and natural born leader with razor-sharp intelligence and cast-iron principles. These are some of the qualities that mark out Sutapa as truly a ‘chip off the old block’ and the mastermind behind the School of Bhakti. Born in the suburbs of London, Sutapa was a talented cricket player growing up and was even picked for trials to play at County level. But destiny took him on a different course when at the age of sixteen, he was given a Bhagavad Gita by a Hare Krishna monk. The search for spiritual bliss took hold of him and never let go. After graduating from UCL in information management over 2 decades ago, he spent six months travelling in India and then swiftly joined the Bhaktivedanta Manor temple afterwards. Donning the saffron robes of a monk, he became one of the pioneers in modernising and raising the standards of the Bhaktivedanta Manor monastery and is now one of the strongest leaders in the UK Vaishnava |(followers of Krishna) community. His main motivation behind these achievements is to help people find Krishna, find themselves and find their purpose in spirituality. Over the last ten years, he has also established himself as a prolific author of contemporary Krishna conscious literature. Aside from being the head of School of Bhakti, Sutapa also teaches various courses in the School and is particularly fond of delving into the sacred scriptures. One of Sutapa’s great inspirations in life is the great Vaishnava Saint and poet, Sri Narottama Das Thakur who mentions in a famous poem, that “To serve in the association and live in the association of devotees – that is my only desire!” Many would appreciate this sentiment, but Sutapa has made it his reality.

Kaṁsa Sends Akrūra for Kṛṣṇa (SB 10.36)- Madhumati Devi Dasi  GBC SPT brings to you an exciting series on "Krishna Lila in Vrindavan" with an intention of celebrating Kartika and enriching our Krishna consciousness together.  Our Day 28 Srimad Bhagavatam class will be presented by Madhumati Devi Dasi on the Chapter 36th of 10th canto of SB/Krishna book.  About Madhumati Devi Dasi She joined in Ireland in 1981 while looking for the absolute truth. Since then by the mercy of the vaishnavas still around doing some seva or other. Living in Alachua for last 25 years.

The Gopīs’ Feelings of Separation (SB 10.35)- Amarendra Dasa  GBC SPT brings to you an exciting series on "Krishna Lila in Vrindavan" with an intention of celebrating Kartika and enriching our Krishna consciousness together.  Our Day 27 Srimad Bhagavatam class will be presented by Amarendra Dasa on the Chapter 35th of 10th canto of SB/Krishna book.  About Amarendra Dasa Amarendra Dasa academically holds a double Masters’ degree from the US, one in Electrical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts and the other in Business Administration from the state of Minnesota. He, at the age of 28, is a globe-trotting inspirational speaker, who has travelled over 100 cities in various continents, giving talks on big questions about life such as Science, religion, culture and meditation. His soul stirring and spiritually nourishing discourses on theology, philosophy and the ancient wisdom texts of the east are viral on social platforms such as Youtube and facebook. In his early days as a student he was trained up by HH Bhakti Swarup Damodar Maharaj who was a dear disciple of Srila Prabhupada and the global Director for the Bhakti Vedanta Institute. Pursuing his systematic spiritual study deeper with time, Amarendra completed his Bhakti Shastri study from mayapur at the age of 19 and since then has been invited and has participated in numerous inter-religious faith conferences and at scientific symposiums with talks at world class universities such as MIT and Harvard. Being a diksha disciple of His Holiness Rādhā Govinda Maharaj, Amarendra prabhu aspires to serve Srimad Bhagavatam far and wide to bring in pleasure and satisfaction to the hearts of the vaishnavas worldwide.