New Mandir in Queens to Carry On Teachings of Jagadguru Shree KripaluJi Maharaj
he newest mandir in the landscape of the Indian community in Queens is Radha Govind Dham in Glen Oaks. Radha Govind Dham will open its doors to the public for the first time on Saturday, December 7th at 11:00 am. Radha Govind Dham is a center for Radha Krishna devotion, which has been founded based on the teachings of the great rasik Saints of Vrindavan, who have taught selfless devotion to Radha Krishna in an uninterrupted tradition of thousands of years.
ost recently, this tradition of rasik Saints was further glorified by the life of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, whose scriptural knowledge is so unparalleled that he was named as Jagadguru by the Kashi Vidvat Parishat in 1957. He was only the 5th original Jagadguru in the last 5,000 years. On November 15th, 2013, Shree Kripalu Ji Maharaj left this material world. Shree Maharaj Ji, as he was lovingly called by devotees all over the world, was the embodiment of Radha Krishna bhakti (devotion) and spent his entire life teaching and guiding souls to engage in selfless devotion to Radha Krishna. The legacy he left behind will continue to guide and inspire both scholars and devotees for thousands of years to come.
Not only was Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj the first Jagadguru to reconcile the philosophies of all the scriptures and previous Jagadgurus, but he also left behind the essence of his explanations in the form of recorded lectures and published books in simple Hindi, so that they are easily understood by the general public. The series of 103 lectures called "Main Kaun Mera Kaun" has been airing on international television for several years. It is so comprehensive and replete with precise quotations from so many scriptures that it has become required listening for the serious students of Sanatan Dharm. Writings such as Prem Ras Siddhant (the complete philosophy of the Vedic scriptures encapsulated in only 200 pages) and Radha Govind Geet (11,111 couplets poetically describing the complete path of God realization) have already become classics in the field of devotional literature and are praised by scholars and devotees alike. The collection of 1008
pad kirtan called "Prem Ras Madira" is a devotional treasure which is being used for study in certain graduate literature programs and which develops selfless devotion in the hearts of those who sing its songs. Suffice it to say that the volume and quality of the literature left behind by Shree Kripaluji Maharaj rivals that of even great Saints like Surdas Ji and Goswami Tulsidas.
Inspired by, and in order to promote the teachings of the
rasik Saints of Vrindavan as most recently expounded by Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, Radha Govind Dham New York is being established.
However, as the followers of the path of
bhakti grieve the physical departure of Shree Maharaj Ji, the foremost authority on
bhakti at the present time, Radha Govind Dham has decided to postpone the Deity Establishment Ceremony that it previously announced for December 7, 2013. Nonetheless, keeping in mind Shree Maharaj Ji's emphasis on the importance of satsang and kirtan, Radha Govind Dham New York will open its doors to the public for the first time on that day and will remain open to serve as a center for Radha Krishna bhakti (devotion).
The opening program for Radha Govind Dham New York on December 7, 2013 has been changed to the following:
11 am - 1 pm
Kirtan and live discourse by Swami Nikhilanand Ji
1pm - 2 pm Lunch
Mahaprasad
2pm - 3 pm Introduction to the mission and vision of Radha Govind Dham New York
Swami Nikhilanand Ji will also give live discourses on "The Significance of Radha Krishna Devotion in Kaliyug" from December 8-22, 2013 and January 2-31, 2014. The discourse will be held daily from 7 pm - 9 pm followed by dinner
prasad.
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