Vaisnavi Asraya Inc. Enriches the Lives of WOmen-Devotees

[Guest guest]

Dear prabhu,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

Can you please post the notice below? Thank you.

Your servant, Manjari dd

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Vaisnavi Asraya Inc. Enriches the Lives of Women Devotees

 

About the website vaisnavi.org

 

A group of women devotees has established an organization called Vaisnavi

Asraya Inc., a project intended to empower ISKCON women to become stronger

in their personal and spiritual lives. Taking the motto, "Women especially

are the highest refuge of women" (spoken by Lord Siva to Uma Devi in the

Mahabharata), the group hopes to "help create a vibrant and positive future

in Krishna consciousness for all the Vaisnavis based on caring relationships

and our identities as spirit souls."

 

Trustees for Vaisnavi Asraya include Malati dasi, one of the early disciples

of Srila Prabhupada, the first woman GBC member and a strong advocate for

devotee-women; Manjari dasi, a lawyer, former GBC secretary, and author of

the book, Gauradesa; and Krsnangi dasi, a holistic counsellor and a teacher

of yoga and stress management.

 

Two GBC members have offered their appreciations for the work of this

project for the Vaisnavis.

1. HH Bhakti Caru Swami: "In Vedic culture a woman is not only treated as

mother but is also considered the source of power, opulence, knowledge and

fortune. This is not a sentimental concept but is a perceivable reality,"

said HH Bhakti Caru Swami. "Time and time again the Vedic scriptures remind

us that respect for women brings auspiciousness and prosperity, whereas the

opposite causes one to lose those qualities. I humbly request the members of

ISKCON to consider the importance and need of this project and to help it

grow," he said.

 

2. HG Anuttama das, Minister of Communications: "Women are a natural source

of shelter, encouragement and strength for each other," said Anuttama das.

"By working together they can have a very powerful and positive effect on

themselves, our families, and the greater mission of Srila Prabhupada."

Women are "uniquely qualified" to build "a more stable and caring

foundation" for Vaisnava communities, he added.

 

Projects of Vaisnavi Asraya Inc.

1. VAISNAVI COMMUNITY CENTERS: Vaisnavi Asraya Inc. hopes to establish a

network of community centers for women devotees to offer mutual

encouragement through seminars, festivals, instruction in devotional arts

and a range of support groups, and to further interfaith contact with other

women's religious and spiritual groups.

2. JAYA RADHE PUBLICATIONS: Devotees have set up a publishing firm, called

Jaya Radhe Publications to encourage and facilitate Vaisnavis to publish

materials on their spiritual lives and realizations.

3. VAISNAVI ASHRAMAS: Vaisnavi Asraya Inc. also would like to set up a

series of ashramas to enable elderly Vaisnava women and others to live

together with other Krsna conscious women of the same mood and stage in

spiritual life.

4. VAISNAVI EDUCATION AND CULTURE: aims to facilitate and promote

educational and training opportunities. Seminars will be based on the

teachings of Srila Prabhupada, Vaisnava culture and sastra, and will include

personal growth workshops and life-skills training, for the realistic

application of Krishna consciousness in today's world.

 

PARTICIPATION IN THE WEBSITE AND PROJECTS -

Participation in our website can include sending us: inspiring quotes from

Srila Prabhupada and stories of him with his female disciples, sastric

quotes and other thoughts to encourage women in devotional life, profiles of

devotee women who inspire you, your best recipes, news items, short essays

(around 500 words) for the 'Your Say' page, questions, suggestions and

feedback, ideas and support for the support groups and personal growth

workshops, reviews of books and other items produced by Vaisnavis for the

market place, and participate in discussions, on-line seminars, etc.

 

Participation in our different projects - Oh! There is a whole lot more! You

can research Vaisnava scriptures, write articles, seminars, books, Vaisnavi

profiles and hagiographies, teach and develop the Vaisnavi Academy seminars

and training courses, edit and proofread our publications or do artwork &

layout design, do market research and distribution, engage in public

relations, start a local community centre, develop interfaith preaching with

other women's religious groups, develop social benefit programs, research

grants/charity organizations for donations to our projects, or help

administer the website, its pages and its activities. Send us your ideas! We

want to hear from you! Please contact us : info (AT) vaisnavi (DOT) org

 

Vaisnavis who are interested in knowing more of the projects and other

activities of Vaisnavi Asraya Inc. and how to participate can read the full

description in the website (vaisnavi.org).

 

MEMBERSHIP OF THE WEBSITE -

The Guest section of the website is open for everyone while the Member's

section is reserved for Vaisnavis. Membership for the Member's section is

free of cost and gives - access into the member only section of the website,

priority participation in projects and activities, discounts on books,

seminars, conferences, and special training courses, as well as the

association and friendships of many Vaisnavis around the world.

 

For membership into the Member's section of the website, you can give your

information via the website Members page or by completing the Membership

Form at the end of this message and sending it to info (AT) vaisnavi (DOT) org.

 

SUPPORT AND DONATIONS -

There is a lot you can do to support this project and to support individual

Vaisnavis in their spiritual lives. This will in turn support and strengthen

the social and preaching foundations of Srila Prabhupada's family. Thank

you.

 

Yours in service,

Vaisnavi Asraya Inc. Trustees

Malati dd, Manjari dd and Krsnangi dd

 

MEMBERSHIP FORM FOR vaisnavi.org WEBSITE

1. My name is:

2. My spiritual master is:

3. My local nearest temple is:

4. I joined ISKCON in the year:

5. I am single/married/other:

6. I live in a temple, a devotee community or other:

7. The name and email address of a devotee who knows me (this is for

reference purposes):

8. I have an interest in:

Vaisnavi Centers

Jaya Radhe Publications

Vaisnavi Ashramas

Vaisnavi Education and Culture

 

Thank you and welcome.

Yours in the service of Srila Prabhupada's family,

Vaisnavi Asraya Inc.