March 2023 Newsletter

March 2023

ISKCON of Arizona Newsletter

Just a sampling of one of the hundreds of crystal booths at the gem show.

Greetings & Namaste,

In early March we'll celebrate the advent of Lord Chaitanya and in late March the advent of Lord Ramachandra, respective avatars of divine love and divine justice.

By dancing and chanting Hare Krishna, Sri Chaitanya evoked pure love of God in everyone He met, and by His prowess on the battlefield, Sri Ramachandra rid the earth of demonic leaders. God's kissing and God's killing are, indeed, all-good.

Meantime, spring's warmer temps will bring everyone back to our patio to dine, while our intrepid volunteers have a field day planting and weeding in our expanded garden. If you'd like to help, please call (520) 250-0299 or drop an email to the address below. Blessings!

Yours in service,

Sandamini Devi

[email protected]

Best March Days for

Meditation and Fasting

Amalaki vrata Ekadasi

Thursday, March 2nd

Fasting from grains & beans

Advent Day of Lord Chaitanya

Gaura-purnima

Monday, March 6th

Festival at temple from 5 to 8pm

Fasting till moonrise

Papamocani Ekadasi

Friday, March 17th

Fasting from grains & beans

Advent of Lord Ramachandra Rama-navami Festival

Sunday, March 26th

5 to 8 pm

(actual date is Thurs March 30th,

fasting)

Recent Activities

Celebrating a

special birthday

Longtime congregational devotees Dina Mani Prabhu with his sons, Arjun, aged 9, and Karan, who just turned 7. To mark the occasion we had kirtan and wonderful prasada cooked by his dedicated wife. All the devotees were happy to visit them after a long Covid absence. We're looking forward to many more gatherings at Dina Mani's house.

Scouts of America cleared land for planting at temple

Govinda's gardens will have plenty of flowers and produce this spring. A Scouts of America troop, starring Auhona Shil, a regular dancer at our festivals and a junior at Basis School, did her Eagle Scout Badge at Govinda's by planning, fund-raising, and executing this enlarged garden project. By her grace, we're looking forward to serving more organic produce to the public.

Welcome back to our Jivananda, Kirtanesvara, Bala Gopinath, and

Balarama Shakti Prabhus!

After more than four months in India taking intensive courses and touring holy places, Jivananda Prabhu is returning with his students. He introduced them to sacred sites in Mayapur & Vrndaban.

We're all eager to hear their amazing adventures and realizations.

Shiva Ratri in Review - a great time for all!

We want to thank the Infinite Compassion Orchestra, plus our amazing dancers, volunteers, and attendees for making Shiva Ratri a grand success!

Gaura Purnima & RamFest coming soon!

Gaura Purnima The Advent of Lord Chaitanya

Monday, March 6th

5 to 8 pm

5pm - Bhajans

5:30pm - Pastimes Presentation

6pm - Abhishekam (sacred bathing)

6:30pm - Arati

7pm - Prasada Feast

RamFest - Rama Navami

Festival of Lord Rama

Sunday, March 26th

5 to 8 pm

Indian Dance, Live Music, Kids Activities, Temple Ceremonies, Fire Dance & more!

Sponsor the festival and receive a Silver Hanuman Pendant & Chain

$54 donation

Click Here To Sponsor

Rama Navami

Sponsor the Sunday Feast

Feeding guests prasadam

(food offered to God) benefits everyone!

Sunday Feast Sponsorship

Sponsoring our Sunday feasts is a wonderful way to receive the blessings of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. Your sponsorship may honor a loved one, mark a birthday, an anniversary, or some other special occasion. To make an offering, use the link below to identify who or what you're honoring plus the date of your sponsorship. Your donation is tax deductible.

Click Here To Sponsor

the Sunday Feast

The Sunday Feast & Festival

Join us each Sunday for an evening of musical meditation, topical philosophy, an ancient worship ceremony, and an

8-course vegetarian feast.

ALL FREE!

5:30 pm - Bhajans

6 pm - Topical talk

6:30 pm - Worship ceremony

7 pm - Announcements

7:10 pm - Feast

March Sunday Talk Lineup

March 5th - Jivananda Prabhu, fresh from his pilgrimage to India

March 12th - Kirtan Isvara Prabhu

March 19th - Suresvara Prabhu

March 26th - Dhiro Datta Prabhu

Support Your Temple

Maintain Your Temple with a Monthly Tithe

"The question is not how much of our money we should give to God, but how much of God's money we should keep for ourselves.”

Your tithing dollars help maintain your temple and pay regular monthly expenses:

electric
gas
water
bhoga expenses (produce)
flowers for Deities & vases
yard & property maintenance

When you come to the temple any day of any week and see the beautiful darshan, the refreshing gardens, breakfast, lunch, and feast prasadam, understand that this is possible because of our generous regular monthly tithing donors.

It is our privilege and responsibility to support Krishna's temple! Become a tither today. Choose an amount you feel comfortable giving each month.

Set up your monthly contribution at Pledge 2023!

Or give a one-time donation through PayPal HERE.

If you are not in a position to become a sustaining member, a one-time donation is also a big help. All donations are much appreciated and tax deductible!

Assisted Living Update

Krishna's Home

News Update

Please take a look at our latest one-page March newsletter to see the home's progress. The roof is tiled and we have a very qualified manager for the home. Click HERE to read.

The roof has been tiled with terracotta clay tiles and now the landscaping needs to be done.

We have a Go-Fund-Me to provide the finishing touches. Please consider donating to finish this much needed project. All donations to the project are tax-deductible!

Govinda's Vegan/Veggie Restaurant

Govinda's Self-Serve

All-You-Care-To-Eat Hours:

Lunch - Wednesday through Saturday 11:30 am to 2:30 pm

Dinner - Tuesday through Saturday

5 pm to 8 pm

Sunday Brunch - 11 am to 2:30 pm

Closed Mondays

March Menu Click Here

Check out our web site at www.GovindasOfTucson.com

To all our helpers & performers for Shiva Ratri - the band, dancers, servers, cooks: You are amazing! Thanks to our steady crew who pull off these festivals year after year and many thanks to all our donors. You make it happen!

Income/expense Tracker: Please click to view our temple financial statement

for the month of January 2023.

Check out this clip by Srila Prabhupada,

"You Cannot Manufacture Religion.”

Authentic Indian

Cuisine Catering!

All varieties and quantities of Indian foods for parties, dinners, weddings, and banquets. All main Indian dishes cooked by

Master Chef Kul Sharma.

520-891-8083

”My dear friends, just see how Śrī Kṛṣṇa is enjoying the season of spring! With the gopīs embracing each of His limbs, He is like amorous love personified. With His transcendental pastimes, He enlivens all the gopīs and the entire creation. With His soft bluish-black arms and legs, which resemble blue lotus flowers, He has created a festival for Cupid.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Ādi-lila 4.224)

From Srila Prabhupada's Bhagavad Gita As It Is...

"Of seasons I am flower-bearing spring."

(Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita, 10:35)

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