Recently in New York Category

Here are some glimpses of Nikhilanand Bhaiya's special 2 hour Gita discourse at Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, Flusing, New York. Pooja from Flushing, New York said:

This was today and we are so blessed it was an amazing discourse on the Gita and what a karm yogi is and how to to karm yog. Thank you so much Bhaiya Ji we enjoyed so much.

Mark your calendars for Bhaiya Ji's upcoming lecture and kirtan series' at Fairfax Station, Virginia and Adelphi, Maryland in January 2012.

1. The science of Desires, Happiness & Unhappiness
Jan 6 - 8
Presented by: Durga Temple, Fairfax Station, Virginia

2. Prem ki Paribhasha: The True Meaning of Love
January 13 - 16 2012
Presented by: Hindu Temple of Metropolitan Washington, Adelphi, Maryland

Glimpses of a recent visit to a devotee's house by Swami Nikhilanand, a spiritual teacher of Radha Madhav Dham. The program included singing of beautiful kirtan revealed by Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj.

Eight Important Questions about Hinduism
Discourse & Kirtan by Swami Nikhilanand
of JKP Radha Madhav Dham, the US ashram of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj

Dates & Times:
September 4-11, 2011
Sun, Sept 4 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Mon-Fri, Sept 5-10 7:00 - 8:30 PM
Sun, Sept 11 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Presented by:
Hindu Center of New York
4552 Kissena Blvd, Flushing,
New York 11355
(718) 358-6726
www.HinduCenterNYC.org
[MAP]
More info:
Rohit Sharma (516) 582-1113

Topics:
Sept 4: What is more important: religion or science?
Sept 5:Can science prove the existence of God?
Sept 6:Are all religions the same?
Sept 7:What is our most valuable poseession?
Sept 8:What is the aim of human life?
Sept 9:Why are there so many paths to God?
Sept 10:How can we attain the goal of our life?
Sept 11:What are the secrets of doing bhakti?

Each year in Braj, in the midst of the rainy season, when fields and jungle have turned shades of lush green and flowers are blossoming all around, the festival of Hariyali Teej is celebrated. During this time in the Temples of Vrindaban, swings are placed in the shrines of the Temples for the Deities to swing upon. This is called Jhulan Leela (झूलन लीला).

Songs describing the swinging leelas of Radha Krishn are sung and devotees imagine they are actually there swinging their Divine Beloved on the jhula (swing). At Radha Madhav Dham, we carry on the same tradition by decorating a swing with flowers and greenery for the Deities to swing upon. Everyone is invited to take a turn swinging the swing as we chant the incredibly sweet and loving jhulan leela pads of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj.

Here are some glimpses of Swami Nikhilanand and JKP devotees in New York celebrating jhulan leela and raksha bandhan in beautiful style. Swami Nikhilanand led chanting of a charming jhulan leela pad revealed by Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, "Yugalvar Jhulain Kunj Majhar".

[More pictures on facebook...]

Swami Nikhilanand of JKP Radha Madhav Dham, the main US ashram of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj recently concluded a grand series of discourses and kirtan at the Hanuman Temple of New York. The series, called "The Essence of Sanatan Dharm", ran every evening for 2 weeks. Devotees and guests enjoyed beautiful kirtan and lectures on such topics as "Why should we have faith in our Hindu scriptures?", "Can God be known by our intellect, or seen with our eyes?", "The characteristics of a true Guru" and many more. Here are some pictures:

(More pictures available on facebook...)

The Essence of Sanatan Dharm
Swami Nikhilanand of JKP Radha Madhav Dham, the main US ashram of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj, is conducting an extraordinary series of discourses and kirtan at the Hanuman Temple of New York. The series will run every evening for 2 weeks. Check below for topic details and directions. Program is FREE! Everyone welcome! Don't miss even one of these discourses!

Dates & Times:
July 23rd to August 6th, 2011
7:00-8:30 PM Every Day

Presented by:
Hanuman Temple of New York,
111 Jerusalem Ave,
Hempstead,
New York, 11550
Phone (516) 483-9500
[MAP]

More Info:
Rohit Sharma
(516) 582-1113

Topics:
July 23: Why should we have faith in our Hindu scriptures.
July 24: The importance of the human life form.
July 25: The aim of human life.
July 26: Can God be known by our intellect, or seen with our eyes?
July 27: The Grace of God.
July 28: Surrendering to God.
July 29: The meaning of true vairagya (detachment).
July 30: The creation of the universe.
July 31: The nature of true happiness and worldly happiness.
Aug 1: The necessity of a Guru for finding God.
Aug 2: The characteristics of a true Guru.
Aug 3: The path of karm.
Aug 4: The path of gyan.
Aug 5: The path of bhakti (part 1).
Aug 6: The path of bhakti (part 2).

Beyond the Gita: An Introduction to the Bhagwatam
Discourse & Kirtan for adults by Swami Nikhilanand of JKP Radha Madhav Dham, the US ashram of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj. Separate Bhagwatam classes provided concurrently for youth age 6-18

Dates:
July 10-16, 2011
Sun, July 10 4:00-6:00 PM
Mon-Sat, July 11-16 7:00-8:30 PM

Location:
Vaishnav Community Center
100 Lakeville Rd,
New Hyde Park,
NY 11040
[MAP]

To register your kids:
Call Rohit Sharma (516) 582-1113

Adults Topics:
Adults will hear a discourse and do kirtan of Krishn leelas each evening.
July 10: Why the Bhagwatam is beyond the Gita.
July 11: Bhagwatam takes a soul beyond the attainment of mokch.
July 12: The difference between worshipping God and loving God.
July 13: The importance of listening to Krishn leelas.
July 14: Krishn is supreme God.
July 15: The secret of Krishn's appearance.
July 16: Navdha bhakti and the essence of devotion.

Youth Topics:
Youth will learn stories & philosophy of the Bhagwatam, read Krishn leelas and play Jeopardy each evening. There will be an exam on the last day for the youth, with prizes for top scores.
July 10: Story of Narad meeting Bhakti Devi, Gyan and Vairagya in person.
July 11: Story of Gokarn & Dhundhkari; what is the Bhagwatam.
July 12: Story of King Parikchit; story of Shukdeo Paramhans.
July 13: Story of why Ved Vyas wrote the Bhagwatam.
July 14: Story of what happened in Braj after Krishn left the earth planet.
July 15: Krishn and His different avatar as told in the Bhagwatam.
July 16: Krishn is supreme God; the secret of His appearance.

Further Details:
Having taught many family Gita classes in the New York area, this July Swami Nikhilanand is returning to deliver a series of discourses explaining what is beyond the Bhagwad Gita. This program, to be held at the Vaishnav Community Center in New Hyde Park, NY from July 10th to July 16th, 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 Krishna 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.