Free Spring Break Family Program: Krishn Leelas of the Bhagwatam (New York, April 8 - 13, 2012)

Adults- The main leelas of Krishn's life in chronological order according to the Bhagwatam.

Youth- Youth will also study the leelas of the Bhagwatam, watch videos of Krishn leelas, play Ieopardy, and take an exam on the final day. Prizes for perfect attendance & high score on exam.

Having taught many family Gita classes in the New York area, this February Swami Nikhilanand is returning to deliver a series of discourses explaining what is beyond the Bhagwad Gita. This program, to be held at the Asamai Hindu Temple in Hicksville, New York from Feb 19 - 26, will introduce listeners to the philosophy of the Bhagwatam. The program will combine a discourse and kirtan in the main hall for adults with a youth Bhagwatam class in a separate room. It will also differ from most other Bhagwat saptah programs in that listeners will not only hear the stories of the Bhagwatam, but will learn the actual philosophy of the Bhagwatam, how it relates to other Hindu scriptures, and how to apply it in their own practice of devotion.

Swami Nikhilanand is a disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj. He was born in Canada in a non-religious family and learned about God while attending a Catholic school in his small hometown. Although he knew nothing about Hinduism at the time, his spiritual questions led him to search beyond the conventional religious education he received in school, and he read many religious books of other traditions. As a young man, his quest brought him to a Hindu religious center in Austin, Texas by the name of Radha Madhav Dham. Radha Madhav Dham is the main U.S. ashram of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj. While visiting the ashram, Swami Nikhilanand learned the Hindu concepts of God, soul, reincarnation, karm, and liberation and found many of the answers he had been seeking since his childhood. Soon after, Swami Nikhilanand moved to the ashram in Texas and also started making regular visits to India to learn more about Hinduism. He learned Hindi, and also studied the main Sanskrit scriptures with the guidance of Jagadguru Kripaluji Maharaj. After several years of study and meditation, he was given the order of sanyas, which is a renounced order of living similar to being a monk. He now travels around America giving discourses on the philosophy of Sanatan Dharm to adults and youth, and teaching the path of bhakti as he learned from his Guruji, Jagadguru Kripaluji Maharaj.

In his Bhagwatam discourse this July, Swami Nikhilanand will be going beyond what he has taught in his past Gita classes. Swamiji tells, "It is commonly said that where the teachings of the Bhagwad Gita end, the philosophy of the Bhagwatam begins. The Gita gives general knowledge about who God is, who Krishn is, and how a person should lead their life. The Bhagwatam reveals things about God that are only hinted at in the Gita, and tells secrets about the ultimate goal of life which you could not know by reading the Gita. That is why the Bhagwatam is considered to the crown jewel of all the Hindu scriptures." The satsang will conclude each evening with singing bhajans of Krishn leelas which are based on the stories of the Bhagwatam. This helps participants to engage their mind in remembering God for a longer time, whereas normally the mind is too fickle to allow a person to meditate for more than a few minutes.

While the adults attend the satsang and discourse in the main hall, the youth will be learning the philosophy and stories of the Bhagwatam in a separate class. Youth will also play a fun game of Jeopardy every day to test their knowledge of the Hindu scriptures. Dinner prasad will be served after the arti every day.