Pandava Sena

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On the Pandava Sena logo is Shri Hanuman, a brave devotee of Lord Rama. The logo serves to remind the members to serve God with the fearlessness similar to that of Hanuman
On the Pandava Sena logo is Shri Hanuman, a brave devotee of Lord Rama. The logo serves to remind the members to serve God with the fearlessness similar to that of Hanuman

Pandava Sena is a UK youth group for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).[1][2] Pandava Sena organises and runs festivals, retreats, music, dramas, discussions, presentations, debates, and more, to spread the message of Krishna Consciousness to youth.

Contents

[edit] History

Pandava Sena started in January 1994 with a campaign to save Bhaktivedanta Manor (the Hare Krishna temple in Watford, UK). The campaign was the culmination of over 10 years of legal battling with the local and national government. Pandava Sena entered the battle near its climax.

The Parliament (Department of Environment) had ordered that the temple gates be permanently shut from public worship on March 16th 1994. Their reason was a technical discrepancy in planning permission where Bhaktivedanta Manor was a registered theological college operating as a place for public worship.

On April 1st 1995, Pandava Sena organised the largest student march of its kind[citation needed]. Over 1,000 students from all over the country came and marched from Russell Square to Horse Guards Avenue near the Department of Environment.

And finally, on May 10th 1995 - the government approved the right of public worship at Bhaktivedanta Manor and admitted its undeniable need and value. Significantly, the announcement of the Manor's victory fell on Lord Nrsimha's appearance day (the half-man, half-lion incarnation of Lord Vishnu who appeared to protect His devotee Prahlad). Work began almost immediately on securing land and building the road.

With the successful conclusion of the Manor campaign, Pandava Sena realised the need for a spiritual revolution in the youth. Spiritual values, teachings and practices were in short supply, and where they did exist they were irrelevant or simply just too boring for a younger generation.

Pandava Sena began organising and creating festivals, retreats, music, dramas, discussions, presentations, debates, and more, to carry a simple and relevant message to the youth.

[edit] Aims

The aim of Pandava Sena is very simple - to create a spiritual revolution. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada created the International Society for Krishna Consciousness and Pandava Sena aims to spread the message of Krishna Consciousness to the youth.

Pandava Sena's activities are spread over a wide age group and cover a large number of different events, activities, festivals etc. Pandava Sena conducts 5 ongoing projects each with a specific aim.

[edit] Structure

To educate members in the philosophy and culture of Krishna Consciousness.

To safeguard Vedic values and give a spiritual perspective on modern issues.

To revolutionise university campuses with Krishna Consciousness.

To replicate the activities of Pandava Sena all over the world.

To publish relevant and youthful material for the propagation of Krishna Consciousness.

[edit] 10 Year Anniversary

The Pandava Sena celebrated it's tenth anniversary at Bhaktivedanta Manor, Watford.

[edit] Events

  • Fortnightly Jammin' sessions in Harrow, East London, South London and Watford. These events are completely co-ordinated by the youth, from picking informative and relevant topics and inspirational speakers to communicate them to have rocking kirtans!!
  • Mentorship System - assisting the youth to apply spiritual principles to their daily lives in a progressive and wholesome way.
  • University Programmes - aiming to revolutionise university campuses with Krishna Consciousness. Over the recent years we have established over 20 university societies across the UK. Over 5,000 students have signed up as members of our various societies and we remain the largest spiritual student group in the country. See www.krishnasoc.com for more details about a university near you.
  • IPS Multimedia Services - Production of print, video and audio presentations

[edit] Annual Trips

[edit] Present Chairman

  • Jay Shetty

[edit] Previous Chairman

  • Yuvraj 'Uv' Rana
  • Sandipan Krishna Dasa
  • Navin Krishna Dasa

[edit] References

  1. ^ Nye, M. (1996). "Hare Krishna and Sanatan Dharm in Britain: The Campaign for Bhaktivedanta Manor". Journal of Contemporary Religion 21 (1): 37-56. 
  2. ^ Knott, K. (2000). "Hinduism in Britain". The South Asian Religious Diaspora in Britain, Canada, and the United States, Albany. 

[edit] External links


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