Shakespeare, Winter and Kirtan.

When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold;
Bare ruin'd choirs, where late the sweet birds sang. - Shakespeare.

I came across these desolate lines of poetry last week, as winter was setting in. Some scholars think the line "bare ruin'd choirs ..." may refer to Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries, where the monks used to sing their prayers (like this, maybe). The sonnet may describe not only the winter season, but also hint at the Winter of the Ages - Kali-yuga -when spiritual principles lose favour and devotees of God are often hassled and disturbed. When, instead of being the most natural thing to sing thanks and praises to God, that is seen as something odd and even embarrasing. And worst of all, when many religions spring up, each thinking they are the only ones who know the Truth. Instead of recognising and honouring saintly persons of all traditions by their rare qualities of surrender to God, they quarrel with each other over dogma sounding more like crows than 'sweet birds' singing.

But Shakespeare's lines are too bleak. You can't keep a good bird down. Thanks to Lord Chaitanya's sankirtana movement, sweet birds are still singing, all over the world, for Krishna. Kirtan is the way to keep our hearts blazing in the wintry cold of Kali-yuga, and on a dreary winter's day, there is nothing more uplifting than to gather with friends and chant for an hour or so; nothing more warming to the cockles of the heart; and certainly, nothing more pleasing to Krishna.

And here's a nice one led by Ranchor, for the times inbetween.

Festival of Kirtan and Sacred Song.

Inish Rath 1st - 2nd December.

As one of our august predecessors stated: "The only scarcity in this world is that there is not enough kirtan". To help remedy this, the temple at Inish Rath is hosting a weekend of chanting and bhajans on the 1st and 2nd December, to which we are all invited; an opportunity to recharge our spiritual batteries and taste that nectar for which we are always anxious - in a very beautiful setting.

His Holiness Sivarama Swami and well-known kirtaniya, Madhava das will lead us in kirtan and devotional songs from 10.00 a.m. - 10.00 p.m. on both days. There is a charge of £10 or 15 euros per day ( which includes prasadam lunch and ferrying across the lake). And if you'd like to stay overnight, that will be £15 or 20 euros. You can get a taste of Madhava's singing here .

For directions to the lake isle of Inish Rath please click here. And for further enquiries, please contact Manu das at 00353868582392.

By the way, there are some wonderful pictures of Inish Rath here. I hope you can come and join the throng for this very special event.



ISKCON Belfast.

The Little Conch.

I've just come across such a nice blog - The Little Conch - written by Jahnavi devi (pictured above). When we mentioned Kripamoya's blog a little while ago, we had no idea that his estimable daughter Jahnavi writes one too.

Jahnavi's 'boring details' (as she puts it!) are as follows: "I live in England, near the wonderful Bhaktivedanta Manor. I am studying for a BA in English Language and Communication with Creative Writing, at Middlesex University (just finished first year). I also study South Indian Bharatanatyam dance and Carnatic music (singing and violin) which I love."

And the blog itself is filled with the more interesting details of Jahnavi's life - her own poems, pictures, reflections -tastefully presented and refreshingly chaste. Jahnavi has just come back from a Kartik trip to Vrindavana and there are some posts and pictures up about that, right now.

It's also interesting that Jahnavi is one of a first generation of Vaishnavas born into 'Western' families in the British Isles; her blog shows how Krishna consciousness is a very natural way of life for her, yet that she appreciates the richness and privilege of her cultural heritage.

I hope you'll like The Little Conch as much as I do! And I like it very much indeed.

P.S. When you're on bare-foot pilgrimage in Vrindavana, your feet do get dirty...

House For Sale.

St. Hubert's Stables.

News just in from our dear friends Radhanatha and Sukhada, that they are selling their beautiful house on the shores of Loch Erne, Eniskillen. Sad news from our point of view; we were hoping they would return sometime, from Vermont, to live here again, but they feel they are best situated where they are and doing well.

This is no ordinary house! Radhanatha, artist and glass-blower, has created a unique interior, including many fine, imaginative features such as the spiral mosaic at the foot of the staircase here:

And these Gothic-style windows, four hundred years old, rescued from a Dublin church:

You can see some more of them here.

Not only is the house attractive in itself; it's also situated in the heart of the devotee community near the temple at Inish Rath and surrounded by glorious countryside and lake. I remember several occasions when Satsvarupa Maharaja held sangas in this house and the pleasing decor contributed to the wonderful atmosphere of these events.

I wonder who will be the lucky future owner of St. Hubert's Stables? Could it be you??

Link to Sales Information: http://www.radmacdaddy.com/St.Huberts/The_Building.html

Govardhana Hill.

"O Govardhana, like an umbrella, you rested upon the hand of your Lord Krishna, for seven days, to curb the pride of Indra, king of the demigods. O vast hill of large rocks, so dear to me, kindly allow me to reside close to you.

O Govardhana, you are the tilak on the forehead of Vraja-dhama and are described as the best of Lord Krishna's servants, by the nectarine words emanating from Sri Radhika's moon-like mouth. Kindly allow me to reside close to you." - Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswami.

These photos of Govardhana Hill are by a talented Croatian photographer who has a whole gallery of Govardhana pictures here.