Glorifying Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura

Devotees from ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor participated in a special event in observance of the 150th anniversary of the birth of His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.

The event, hosted by the Gaudiya Mission at the Harrow Leisure Centre, brought together representatives from a number of other Vaishnava organisations who all glorified the great personality.

ISKCON devotees heartedly participated in a hari nama chanting procession between the Siddhashram Shakti Centre and the Harrow Leisure Centre.

ISKCON Bhakivedanta Manor’s Temple President, Visakha Dasi, was invited to join the host of dignitaries from across the borough, as well others, including the President of the Hindu Forum of Britain. In her talk Visakha Dasi said, “The exalted Vaishnava acharya, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura, was a spiritual revolutionary. He said that anyone could render devotional service — bhakti yoga — to Krishna, regardless of their caste, nationality, race, gender, or economic status. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta asked his educated followers to spread Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s message to the English-speaking people of the world, and one of his disciples made that desire his life and soul. That was His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who spread Krishna consciousness throughout the globe.”

Other features of the stage program included an extract from the movie Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It, introduced by Yadubara das. Also the Manor’s Sunday School performed an enchanting Krishna pastime, The Lifting of Govardhan Hill. The finale was an emotional performance by ISKCON’s Bhaktivedanta Players “The Life and Mission of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura.”

Organisers of the event greatly appreciated the contribution by the ISKCON devotees, and also acknowledged the practical assistance made during and after the event.

Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was the spiritual master of Srila A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. In 1966, Srila Prabhupada (as he became known), established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in New York and over the next eleven years established temples, farms, restaurants and preaching centers throughout the world on the order of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura.