New Dwaraka, LosAngeles

Introduction

Los Angeles temple has always been the leader in book distribution in North America. Los Angeles International Airport was the main place for book distribution. Devotees find people from all walks of life at this busy airport and there is always scope for more distribution at this venue. Devotees would leave in the morning and distribute books all day and return to the temple in the evening. Just recently the California Court has denied permission for book distribution at the airport. This was a big disappointment for the distributors but Lord Caitanya's Sankirtan movement cannot be checked so easily. Devotees go to various marketplaces, universities, shopping malls, parking lots and other congregational places to distribute books.

Training

HG Bhrigupati prabhu, senior Prabhupada disciple, distributes books and trains devotees in the art of book distribution. He goes on travelling sankirtan targeting universities and rock shows over the country. He usually stops people by asking a qualifying question like, "Do you study here?", "Are you flying in or out?” For any reply, the person is qualified to receive a copy of Prabhupada's book. Then he goes on to explain the merits of the book and also shows the pictures and comments on them. Without discomforting them, he easily manages to get a good donation for the copy distributed.

Keeping track

HG Vijaya Prabhu is the minister of book distribution and he too travels and distributes books in various schools and universities in the US. He keeps a roster of the most exceptional persons he meets and they receive an e-mail newsletter from him.

Some Successful Strategies

Gita Jayanti

One very interesting approach to book distribution which has shown success here for some years is the celebration of Gita Jayanti. Every year in New Dwaraka a fire yajna is held during which all the slokas of the Bhagavad-Gita are chanted. This is a popular festival because people in America, as well as the Indian congregation, have some basic appreciation for the Gita. Chanting all of the slokas together with a leader, who also makes some comments based on Srila Prabhupada's purports, is a very uplifting experience. At the conclusion of the yajna the leader of the chanting sacrifice makes the suggestion that after the kirtan there will be thousands of cases of Bhagavad-Gita made available at wholesale cost. The purchasers can find a happy way to share the Gita knowledge with others as holiday presents, for distribution to colleagues at work.
In LA this Gita Jayanti festival kicks off the Prabhupada Marathon. The devotees are even seen to decorate the temple, as usual for a big festival, but they do it with Bhagavad-Gitas. The temple room looks beautiful and very enlightened with the array of golden Bhagavad-Gitas standing up on the Vyasasana and all over the altar area.

Gita in Motels

Another popular new method of distribution is to place them in the rooms of motels. Under the guidance of His Grace Vaisesika Dasa Adhikari, President of ISV (ISKCON Silicon Valley), the Pancajanya Project reached out to motel and hotel owners and requests them to stock their guest rooms with soft-bound copies of Bhagavad Gita As It Is, the best-selling English edition of Bhagavad-gita. Just as they place Holy Bibles in motel and hotel rooms throughout the world, the Pancajanya Project would like to introduce Srimad Bhagavad-Gita in as many rooms as possible, to provide inspiration and education to travelers and other guests. Spoken by Lord Krishna Himself, the eternal message of Bhagavad-Gita is all auspicious and has the power to enlighten everyone and brings about Peace, Prosperity, Victory and Justice wherever it goes.

Resources

For more details please visit:
www.motelgita.org

Contact Details

For more inquiries please contact:
Krishna Namacarya Dasa
Email-Id: kndas.rns@gmail.com