Computer and/or Sanskrit Help Needed
By Garuda dasa
Posted November 20, 2002

Hare Krishna! Please accept my humble obeisances. Jaya Prabhupada!

Dear devotees,

Please, I need help to develop a simple idea. If you are good on computer, or Sanskrit, (or both) and want to do some service, I could use the help.

The idea is to design on computer, song boards that will be made at a sign company. The basic song will have the regular verses in one color, and between the verse lines, in a more subtle color, and in smaller print, the English word equivalent. I have done tests with devotees, and they say that there is more feeling in their singing of our morning songs, when they can understand the meaning (at a glance) of each word as they go. Also, my idea is that it will help new devotees, as well as congregational people who visit the temples, to understand and sing with more devotion.

I have heard again and again over the last decade, (after questioning strongly in classes) that we are to study the songs so we can understand and feel what we say when we make these elaborate Sanskrit and Bengali sounds. As for most of us, it has proven to be a difficult task to become adept at such practices, even after chanting for decades. Therefore I feel this innovation could be of real help.

If you think you can help, and be diligent in translating or designing (computer) the main body of songs and bhajans, as above mentioned, onto the right format, that would be great. I am not so literate on computers and spend most of my extra time doing more manual services, so this would be a great help.

Such signs would be used at Rainbow gatherings, where tens of thousands of hippies would see them and thousands would chant with us. Also, I have deep roots in the eastern United States ISKCON temples, and if the signs are nice enough, and the reception warm from local authorities, then there is a good chance they will be put into use at some of these facilities.

As far as Sanskrit help goes, if you are good at Sanskrit, or Bengali, then your services would be graciously appreciated in this endeavor. I have a nice little word-for-word song book put out by H.G. Dasarath Suta das Prabhu, in his Nectar books, but there are some important songs in that which are not translated (perhaps on Srila Prabhupada's Vedabase?). Plus, some innovation has to be employed in shortening the meanings of some single words that are packed with information.

That is the body of my plea for help in this endeavor. It is not that difficult. All I would ask is that services rendered be in a positive, loving spirit. That will come out in the work.

Please email me to discuss this further. garudadasa@yahoo.com

Thank you so much.

Your servant,
Garuda dasa

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