04/02/98 - 1725

Punk Rock Concert Triumph

USA (VNN) - By Brahma-bhuta Dasa

Former Cromag member Jayananda Dasa, now the leader of his own new group, "Both Worlds", staged a milestone rock music event Sunday March 29th as a charitable benefit for The Hare Krishna Food Relief Program, a division of the Prabhupada Sankirtan Society of New York City.

The Temple president, His Holiness Kapindra Maharaja was given the royal treatment by the media as he stepped into the "Tramps" concert hall, while a large and anxious crowd of non-ticket holders looked on from across the street of the long sold out show.

There was world wide media coverage including Billboard, MTV, the Village Voice, Kerrang and a couple of dozen others. An interview with the NY Times is scheduled at 10am today (Thursday) at the Prabhupada Sankirtan Society temple at 48 Avenue B. At the concert, there were interviews with Jayananda Prabhu, Kapindra Swami, and photo sessions with Maharaja and the band members. MTV carried the show live on the Internet and were repeating portions of the show all day Tuesday on MTV cable in America. There is a possibility of MTV rebroadcasting parts of the show this coming weekend.

We will keep you informed of the press clippings as they come out in the next few weeks.

The event had a lineup of 14 hardcore rock bands including an international super-group and a potent crowd pleaser, "Sick of it All". There was also an "Ex-Cromag Jam", "25 to Life", etc.

Lord Gauranga took charge of the whole affair from start to finish, and the entire crowd of over 1200 young people became transformed into a spiritual frenzy. Immediate purification took place as the kids were taking prasadam, seeing the maha mantra banner, and a large picture of Srila Prabhupada. Despite all of the noise and slam dancing the entire atmosphere became purified by contact with Krishna consciousness as represented by the Prabhupada Sankirtan Society. As if Krishna made the constellations in perfect order, Lord Gauranga made all arrangements.

Prasadam was delicious. Reciprocation was astonishing. There were glowing prasadam faces everywhere, and the devotees who were ecstatically serving prasadam were not even disturbed by the bedlam around them.

Transcendentally sensational is what everyone was feeling. Even one demon who was harassing the devotees by tearing down the maha mantra banner, using obscene hand gestures, very foul and threatening language, etc. received instant karma as Srila Prabhupada's famous words "kick on his face with boot" was literally applied. The crowd did that very thing to him. I cannot even describe how ecstatically his face was stomped upon before he was dragged out of Tramps.

On the preaching front, hundreds of leaflets and 60 books were distributed. "Krishna Consciousness, the Topmost Yoga System" and "Perfection Of Yoga" were very popular among the crowd of mostly young revelers. A profit of $9400 was received from ticket sales. $1650 from t-shirts, and $950 in donations for a total of $12,000! This will be used to purchase new kitchen equipment and a van, to renovate the storefront, kitchen, and basement, and to set up a new office.

More than five hundred plates of prasadam were distributed, and HH Kapindra Swami personally distributed prasadam to the band members backstage.

Many, many people signed up on our mailing list and many inquired about volunteering in the future.

Some of the comments we heard were: "Overall vibration was positive.", "Like one big happy family.", "The entire event went incredibly smooth.", "The bands, the Hare Krishnas with their delicious food, the management, and everyone else were all smiles." "It is a great cause.", "No sectarian feelings." and "No one got caught up in that it was just for the Hare Krishnas."

Our new storefront for the Hare Krishna Food Relief Program was debuted Sunday by Bhakta Don Foose and his fiance Mother Tanya. They cooked up the first prep to go to the concert site: buckets of delicious blueberry and coconut halavas. Their love for Srila Prabhupada glowed brightly with enthusiasm as they graciously and tirelessly served prasadam the whole evening.

Bhakta Ray prepared a very transcendental banana, orange and milk nectar, that extinguished the blazing fire of material existence for the crowd that lined up at the table during intermissions between bands.

Bhakta Rajeev singlehandedly rolled and cooked in ghee, 300 perfectly round puris. Made with love and devotion for the pleasure of Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga.

Rajeev, Kaviraja, and Kapindra Swami made a khichari prep with spinach, potatoes, broccoli, tomatoes and with a smoking hot chaunk.

Mother Vani, the first initiated disciple of Srila Prabhupada at the new Lower East Side temple inspired by love for her spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, collected donations totaling over $500.

Former gurukuli Nimai Dasa acted as photographer and proved roller blades can be used in Krishna's service by whizzing around the city on them doing last minute service for the event.

Bhakta Ralph, our Hari Nama sankirtana inspiration, helped with everything and made many friends for our Hare Krishna Food Relief Program. By Krishna's arrangement, I, myself, a 1997 initiate of Srila Prabhupada, appeared from Cleveland, Ohio with my pickup truck to deliver the transcendental paraphernalia on time to the concert site.

Kulasekhara Prabhu, a great supporter came all the way from Houston, Texas to inspire all of the devotees by sharing his pastimes with Srila Prabhupada, leading ecstatic kirtans, and by designing our logo and a flyer.

We will be forever grateful to Pratyatosa Prabhu for allowing all of you, from around the world, to learn about our Hare Krishna Food Relief activities. As a result of this, many of you sent donations for the purchase of a computer. This selfless outpouring of support definitely inspired the local congregation here in New York to also come forward and help out. We are also very grateful for his diving into the spirit of the day and helping devotees prepare for this big event.

As the name of his band is "Both Worlds", Lord Gauranga chose ex Cromag Jayananda Prabhu to bring the whole thing together. By his great inspiration he brought thousands of young people to the spiritual world.

On the front line HH Kapindra Swami was a great instrument in the battle against the influence of the material energy, inspiring us with his staunch dedication to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupada.

The most wonderful thing of all is that Krishna is manifesting all this through mostly NEW disciples of Srila Prabhupada.

Since 1988 The Hare Krishna Food Relief program has experienced great success and appreciation, although on a very small scale, such as at our Tompkins Square Park and Lower East Side needle exchange prasadam distribution programs. We have still seen great appreciation, reciprocation, and friendship because of serving out delicious and nutritious high quality meals. Our friends are so favorable that they are changing their habits and learning to cook the way that Srila Prabhupada taught us.

The needy in New York City are not only suffering from hunger but also malnutrition. A hunger and health crisis is just around the corner here in NYC because of major cuts in welfare that are about to go into effect. For this reason, this concert event was staged to further us toward our goal of acquiring a building to serve out 500 plates of prasadam per day, seven days a week, and also to serve Srila Prabhupada's mission.

Srila Prabhupada said that "New York will be conquered by prasadam distribution."

Your servant,
Brahma-bhuta Dasa
(agtsp@bright.net)

PS: Anyone who would like to make a tax deductable donation for
the purchase of a new Hare Krishna Food Relief building, please
call our toll-free number: 1-888-HUNGRY5.