Published on July 4th, 2020 | by Madhudvisa dasa

In God’s Name — A Documentary on Australian Hare Krishna Devotees in 1973

This is one of the earliest complete and professionally-made full-length films made about life in ISKCON in the early ’70s. The filmmaker, William Kerr, went on to make many more iconic films of Srila Prabhupada’s visits to Australia that have featured in the Acharya film series.

In this 57-minute film centered around devotee life at Radha Gopinath’s Sydney Temple in Double Bay that was produced over 45 years ago.

The voice-over is especially nicely done.

Music by Bhakta Lyndsey Bjerre, the iconic lead singer from the 1960’s Australian psychedelic progressive and surf rock band Tamam Shud. There is also some wonderful unseen footage of Srila Prabhupada.

There are many famous great souls featured in this film, including Buddhimanta Dasa, Madhudvisa Swami, Tripurari Brahmacari, and a host of stalwarts too numerous to name, many still living.


About the Author

My first contact with a Hare Krishna was a most merciful Mataji in Oxford Street, London who sold me a "Higher Taste" cook book in 1984 while I was on holidays there. I started seriously reading Srila Prabhupada's books in Australia 1985 and by 1986 Srila Prabhupada had convinced me "Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead" and "we should surrender to Krishna." I joined the Hare Krishnas in Perth, Western Australia in 1986. Since then I have been chanting Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, reading and distributing Srila Prabhupada's books and preaching as much as I can. That's my life and full-time occupation now really. I like it more than anything I've ever experienced before. Srila Prabhupada's books are so amazing... Even after reading them all many times they're still fresh and new. They are truly transcendental! That's it really. Now I'm just hankering to once again see the world chant Hare Krishna, dance and feast and float away in the ecstasy of Lord Caitanya's Sankirtana movement as it did in Srila Prabhupada's physical presence. Let the whole world drown in the ecstatic flood of love of Krishna!



2 Responses to In God’s Name — A Documentary on Australian Hare Krishna Devotees in 1973

  1. Aman Pandey says:

    Simply by seeing prasadam in this video, I’m feeling ecstatic!

  2. Mark Orwin says:

    Hare Krishna Madhadvisa das
    Thanks for the memories, it’s just how I remember

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

Back to Top ↑