By Mathura Lilesvari Devi Dasi
Yes! 50 years of ISKCON is a big deal. We have come a long way since Srila Prabhupada established ISKCON in 1966 but we still have miles to go. Srila Prabhupada envisioned Malaysia as a fertile ground to cultivate Krishna Consciousness as early as 1971. In May 1971, Malaysia was fortunate to have its soil blessed by the dearest devotee of Srimati Radharani, AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
In Malaysia, the devotees are enthusiastically and creatively coming up with various ideas on how to commemorate ISKCON’s 50 years. One such idea focuses on book distribution.
Srila Prabhupada has always emphasised on book distribution. Our movement was largely expanded in the early days due to book distribution. Keeping this in mind, the devotees in Malaysia came up with an idea that combined book distribution and ISKCON50 celebrations.
Every devotee in Malaysia is encouraged to distribute 50 Srila Prabhupada books as an offering to ISKCON50. 50 books a year translates to an average of only 4 books a month. This is something practically and doable by even a child.
To make it easier for devotees, the books have been bundled up as sets of 50 books and devotees who are eager to participate in this ISKCON50 book rally can take the 50 books up front and distribute it at their own convenience.
The regular book scores by ISKCON Malaysia averages around 40,000 books a year. This effort would increase the number by 25,000 making the yearly score for 2016 to around 65,000 books.
HG Kripa Sindhu Krishna Das, Temple President, Sri Jagannatha Mandir Kuala Lumpur said, “We launched this effort on Nityananda Trayodasi. We saw no better day to launch this initiative as Lord Nityananda is the primary preacher in Lord Caitanya’s movement. We hope to receive Lord Nityananda’s mercy and pray that he empowers the devotees in Malaysia to make this project a success”.
Meanwhile, HG Simheswara Das, Regional Secretary, ISKCON Malaysia said, “With the support of the various congregations in Malaysia we are targeting to at least get 500 devotees to participate in this book rally all over Malaysia. 500 devotees distributing 50 books each would mean by the end of 2016, we would have distributed 25,000 Srila Prabhupada books just on this initiative alone”.
The devotees who are participating in this book distribution rally are also encouraged to distribute the books to people who are completely new to Krishna Consciousness and if possible to take to the streets and create a larger visibility of the Hare Krishna’s in this way.
The devotees in Malaysia are seeking blessings from vaisnavas all over the world in making this effort a success and to bring the message of Lord Caitanya and Nitai to every town and village.
“The main thing is the distribute books more and more.” Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Balavanta, October 4, 1976
Photos : https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.838322276295730.1073742386.532840756843885&type=3