Programs and Events
Daily Temple Schedule
| 5:30 - 6:00 a.m. | Mangal Arati and Tulasi Puja |
| 6:00 - 7:00 a.m. | Morning Kirttan |
| 7:45 - 8:30 a.m. | Chaitanya Charitamrta Class |
| 9:00 a.m. | Morning Prasadam |
| 12:30 - 1:00 pm | Bhoga Arati and Madhyana Arati |
| 1:15 p.m. | Lunchtime Prasadam |
| 6:30 p.m. | Sandhya Arati and Tulasi Puja |
| 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. | Evening Kirttan |
| 8:00 - 8:45 p.m. | Bhagavad-Gita or Theme Specific Class |
| 8:45 p.m. | Evening Prasadam |
"With all your energy, all your senses, and all your activities, engage yourself twenty-four hours a day in the service of the Lord. That is real bhakti."
- Srila Govinda Maharaj, The Divine Servitor
Weekly Programs
For more information, please click on the program you are interested in.
Programs and Events at the Seva Ashram
Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram offers a variety of programs and events open to the public which provide abundant opportunities for both existing community members and first time visitors to participate in the practice of devotional service bhakti-yoga.
Life at Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram centers around the full scale daily temple program. Morning, noon and evening devotional programs include arati and kirtan worship accompanied by song and dance. In conjunction, classes are given in the morning and evening upon the revealed scriptures Srimad Bhagavad-Gita and Sri Chaitanya Charitamrta or the teachings of the Spiritual Guides of the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Seva Ashram community, Srila Govinda Maharaj and Srila Sridhar Maharaj. During each program foodstuffs are offered to the Lord and sanctified. The Lord's spiritually purifying food remnants or prasadam are served following all the temple programs.
Throughout the week, theme-specific evening devotional programs provide the community with convenient times to gather together in the Ashram to participate in live kirtan, congregational devotional chanting, as well as build friendships and communal bonds which nourish and sustain one's growth in devotional life.
Throughout the year, special festivals drawing large-scale community attendance are held to celebrate the appearance and disappearance days of great saintly teachers and incarnations of the Lord Sri Krishna. Opportunities are always available to assist with festival organization, decoration, food preparation and clean-up.
Additional ways to engage oneself in the community include public outreach programs, as well as periodic job-specific work days, seasonal group projects, children's services and community fundraising efforts.
Sundays Feast
Every Sunday evening the majority of our community members and their families convene at the Seva Ashram to participate in hari-nama-sankirtan, the congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord. A traveling monk or distinguished member of our community lectures on the sublime devotional teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and a multi-course vegetarian feast is served free to all in attendance.
Mondays at Cabrillo College
The Bhakti Yoga Club of Cabrillo College meets weekly on Mondays at 3:00 - 5:00pm. Combining visual presentations on spiritual themes with kirtan (devotional chanting) and prasadam (spiritual food), the club provides a space where spiritually inspired youth can meet in a public setting among peers to share their experiences and challenges on the path of bhakti-yoga.
Tuesdays
Sripad Sarvabhavana Prabhu speaks weekly on the writings and teachings of Srila Govinda Maharaj, successively studying the numerous publications of compiled lectures by His Divine Grace. This class is ideal for all who are interested in understanding the unique spiritual lineage and conception maintained in the Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math - not as an abstract philosophy, but as a practicable spiritual lifestyle we can successfully incorporate in our lives. The unique mood and conception of Srila Govinda Maharaj is emphasized with practical explanation centering on understanding the the goal of life and the natural process to achieve it.
Thursdays at the Veterans Memorial Building
Sripad Sarvabhavana Prabhu organizes a free public program complete with kirtan (devotional chanting), spiritual discourse and prasadam (spiritual food) in downtown Santa Cruz every Thursday evening in the Veterans Memorial Building (846 Front St.) at 7:30pm. The program is in open discussion format enabling people to inquire into the ways bhakti-yoga can be applied in their lives and how the guidance of Srila Govinda Maharaj can help them progress in their spiritual lives.
Thursdays Ladies Night
Every Thursday evening the women of our community gather to worship Their Lordships Sri Sri Guru Gauranga Gandharvika-Giridhari, chant the holy Names of the Lord and other devotional songs, study the Scriptures and share their experience and inspiration congregationally.
Fridays Harinam sankirttan
On Friday evenings at 6 pm devotees gather on Pacific Ave. in downtown Santa Cruz to participate in the ideal spiritual practice for the modern age, congregational chanting of the holy Names of the Lord. In remembrance of the divine Pastimes of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, devotees sing and dance up and down the street sharing their inspiration, as well as printed information, about Krishna consciousness with the general public.
"When all over the world the devotees are chanting and dancing with the holy Name of Sri Krishna and receiving transcendental inspiration with their service-mood, then, by participating in that congregational chanting, we can feel real joyfulness and happiness."
"When all over the world the devotees are chanting and dancing with the holy Name of Sri Krishna and receiving transcendental inspiration with their service-mood, then, by participating in that congregational chanting, we can feel real joyfulness and happiness."
Srila Govinda Maharaj
Saturdays Harinam sankirttan
Prior to our weekly Saturday feast devotes gather around 4:30 pm for a congregational chanting procession through downtown San Jose. In remembrance of the divine Pastimes of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, devotees sing and dance through the streets enthusiastically participating in the ideal spiritual practice for the modern age (kali-yuga). This weekly event is enlivening for everyone who participates and is also an ideal way to share inspiration and information about Krishna consciousness with the general public.
"When all over the world the devotees are chanting and dancing with the holy Name of Sri Krishna and receiving transcendental inspiration with their service-mood, then, by participating in that congregational chanting, we can feel real joyfulness and happiness."
"When all over the world the devotees are chanting and dancing with the holy Name of Sri Krishna and receiving transcendental inspiration with their service-mood, then, by participating in that congregational chanting, we can feel real joyfulness and happiness."
Srila Govinda Maharaj
Saturdays The Community Feast
Every Saturday evening our community gathers to participate in hari-nam-sankirttan and hear from a traveling monk or distinguished community member about the divine message of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and His modern representatives. A free multi-course vegetarian feast is served free to all in attendance and everyone has the opportunity to exchange spiritual inspiration and experience with their friends, families and new acquaintances.
"As I have told you all before, we need a progress report every week. That will come if we join in congregational chanting and discourses. Every week it is necessary, otherwise our practicing life will not increase. If I see some nice flowers and the Deity and everything in front of me, through that I must get some happiness, some inspiration. And if I see other devotees practicing happily, I also will get inspiration from that. My prayer to you all is that you all try to chant congregationally. Then you can reciprocate with each other and get encouragement from each other. That is necessary. You need heart transactions with all the devotees. Everybody´s heart will be one temple if you all have loving exchanges with each other - you will learn from everybody the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. We must take that opportunity. Everybody has some difficulties, everybody has some problems. But we can solve them when we meet with the devotees. It may not be possible to meet everyday but it is very nice if once weekly everybody can join together in a program. Many questions we can solve in our assembly of devotees. Then it is my prayer to you all, that you will give your attention for that. If you will give your attention for that, that is very good for your spiritual life. If we want to practice, then we´ll get a good result. The flame I have ignited, that must grow in an exalted way in everybody´s heart. What light I am bringing, I want that to go happily within everybody´s heart. That is my prayer to you all."
"As I have told you all before, we need a progress report every week. That will come if we join in congregational chanting and discourses. Every week it is necessary, otherwise our practicing life will not increase. If I see some nice flowers and the Deity and everything in front of me, through that I must get some happiness, some inspiration. And if I see other devotees practicing happily, I also will get inspiration from that. My prayer to you all is that you all try to chant congregationally. Then you can reciprocate with each other and get encouragement from each other. That is necessary. You need heart transactions with all the devotees. Everybody´s heart will be one temple if you all have loving exchanges with each other - you will learn from everybody the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. We must take that opportunity. Everybody has some difficulties, everybody has some problems. But we can solve them when we meet with the devotees. It may not be possible to meet everyday but it is very nice if once weekly everybody can join together in a program. Many questions we can solve in our assembly of devotees. Then it is my prayer to you all, that you will give your attention for that. If you will give your attention for that, that is very good for your spiritual life. If we want to practice, then we´ll get a good result. The flame I have ignited, that must grow in an exalted way in everybody´s heart. What light I am bringing, I want that to go happily within everybody´s heart. That is my prayer to you all."
Srila Govinda Maharaj
Bhagavad-Gita Class
The timeless wisdom of Srimad Bhagavad-Gita is celebrated around the world as a necessary cornerstone in the process of self-discovery. At the Seva Ashram, Bhagavad-Gita is continually studied with the help of Srila Sridhar Maharaj´s unique commentary known as The Hidden Treasure of the Sweet Absolute. Therein the esoteric depths of the Gita are revealed in the light of unalloyed devotion and the path of divine love, bhakti-yoga. This class is informative and nourishing to all persons interested in the Gita, whether a lifelong student or a newly inspired seeker.
"I owed a magnificent day to the Bhagavad-Gita. It was the first of books; it was as if an empire spoke to us, nothing small or unworthy, but large, serene, consistent, the voice of an old intelligence which in another age and climate had pondered and thus disposed of the same questions which exercise us."
"I owed a magnificent day to the Bhagavad-Gita. It was the first of books; it was as if an empire spoke to us, nothing small or unworthy, but large, serene, consistent, the voice of an old intelligence which in another age and climate had pondered and thus disposed of the same questions which exercise us."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Get Involved »
Calendar »
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare