September/October 2015

WELCOME  

This issue of Back to Godhead coincides with the thirtieth anniversary of the opening of the Sri Sri Radha-Radhanatha Temple of Understanding in Durban, South Africa. It also coincides with the fortieth anniversary of a visit to that country by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. To honor these occasions, we’ve dedicated much of this issue to articles related to the Krishna consciousness movement in South Africa.

The issue begins as usual with one of Srila Prabhupada’s many recorded lectures, this one given in Durban’s city hall. Aware of the country’s racial conflicts, Prabhupada tells his audience, “Our mission is to come to the platform of our spiritual body.”

Nikunja Vilasini Devi Dasi’s “The Sun Behind the Rainbow” presents some history of the Durban temple and of the struggles of the first devotees in launching Krishna consciousness in South Africa. Rukmini Devi Dasi, in “Sprouting Bhakti on Campus,” tells us how Bhakti Yoga Societies are delivering Krishna’s teachings to grateful university students. And Krishangi Devi Dasi picks out “Three Pillars of ISKCON Durban” to highlight, giving us some insight into how this efficiently run temple is reaching people of all backgrounds in this Rainbow Nation.

The second article in Sureshvara Dasa’s series Srila Prabhupada: Our Founder-Acarya tops off the issue.

Hare Krishna. – Nagaraja Dasa, Editor

Departments

Srila Prabhupada’s Giant Step

Letters

Srila Prabhupada Speaks Out

Vedic Thoughts