Sastra Dana

Book-racks Bring Customers Into the Shop

Mr. Baweja has been keeping a Sastra Dana book-rack in his shop for over a year now. Besides getting the pleasure of performing this vital service, he says that the rack brings customers to his shop. The following is a short excerpt from an interview we recently did with him.

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Sastra Dana: You came here from India many years ago?

Baweja: Yes, I came about 10 years ago.

SD: And you’ve been living in San Diego ever since?

B: Yes, San Diego.

SD: What’s the business you have here?

B: I started with a wholesale business, silver jewelry. Right now it’s slow so I opened a store also, retail business.

Mr. Baweja’s shop is located at 4150 Mission Blvd, in Pacific Beach, just a few blocks from the temple.

SD: You have a rack outside here, one of the Sastra Dana racks. How did you learn about those racks?

B: From you, Mahat-tattva Prabhu.

SD: What is the reason that motivates you to have a book-rack like that at your store?

B: I have been religious since childhood and I am interested in promoting Krishna consciousness. I like people to know about Krishna consciousness and Bhagavad-gita, reality of life.

SD: Some people have a fear when it comes to keeping religious items, especially books, in their stores. But you said that this rack actually brings more people to your store.

B: Yes. Everyone likes free items. The sign says it is free. Everyone walking by stops here and when they take a book they come into my store. They look around. Some people buy something, some don’t.

SD: At least they get a book.

B: Yes, at least they get a book, they get Krishna consciousness.

SD: How do people usually react when they see the rack?

B: You can not tell their reaction, but they are interested in getting the book. They may read it or may not, I am not sure.

SD: Do you have any clue how many books you distribute a month?

B: At least ten books a day. When it is a slow time it may not distribute even a single one. But usually, on an average, it is five to ten books a day.

SD: What effort does that require on your part?

B: Nothing. I just take it out every day (place it in front of the shop) and keep it clean. That’s all. When I clean my store I clean the rack a little bit.

Mr. Baweja (right) & Sergio Canela (left) install a Sastra Dana rack in the shop.

Sastra Dana rack in front of Mr. Baweja’s shop.

Entrance to Mr. Baweja’s shop.

Sastra Dana book rack

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Books Make Great Gifts

December is the time of giving gifts. Are you wondering what to give to your friends, coleagues, business partners, relatives, and everyone else? Wonder no more. Give Srila Prabhupada’s books to one and all. What could be a better gift then a book on Krishna consciousness?

Giving gifts and charity is greatly beneficial. Acording to the Vedas, charitable works made with faith and with lawfully-earned money, procure endless rewards. For example it is said that a giver of water obtains the satisfaction of his hunger and thirst, a giver of food imperishable happiness, a giver of land obtains land, a giver of gold long life, a giver of a house most excellent mansions, a giver of silver exquisite beauty, a giver of grain eternal bliss. BUT, a giver of the Veda obtains spiritual world. The gift of the Veda surpasses all other gifts, in spiritual and material merits.

Make your and others’ lives successful: order lots of books today!!!

sastradana.com
sastradana@gmail.com
#310.895.0104

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Advent of the Bhagavad-gita

Thursday, DEC. 14th, we are going to celebrate the advent of the Bhagavad-gita, the day when Sri Krishna spoke Bhagavad-gita to Arjuna. As always on this day, we will make the Bhagavad-gita, and a few other titles, available to one and all for the printing cost only, even to those who are not Sastra Dana members. The goal is to sponsor as many Bhagavad-gitas as possible and thus commemorate this important event in a very glorious way.

You have an option to distribute the books that you sponsor or we can distribute them on your behalf.

Please see the list of available titles. Click image to download the PDF form:

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Your Contributions

San Diego Sponsors:

Dhamesvara Gaura Dasa    $562.00
Harshavardhan Chitta    $150.00
Rahul & Nisha Arya    $143.00
Randy & Kripa Mayi DD    $102.00
Nalin Singhal    $50.00
Jayram Shetty    $25.00
Anonymous    $25.00
Guru Krishna D & Nimai DD    $21.00
Nitin & Jaysri Patel    $11.00
Bhaktivedanta Memorial Library    $2.01
TOTAL:    $1,091.01

Los Angeles Sponsors:

Esekiel Jaggernauth    $400.00
Anastasia Khabenskaya    $400.00
Advaita A. D & Sita Thakurani DD    $254.00
Vamsi Dasa’s family    $176.00
Justin Connor    $93.00
Jiten Patel    $63.00
Cesar O. Lopez    $30.00
Balai Devi Dasi    $21.00
Anonymous    $8.00
TOTAL:    $1,445.00

GRAND TOTAL:    $2,536.01

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Distribution to Institutions

4,587 books!!! have been placed in the following institutions:

6269 / Farmer Valley Market / 9040 Campo Road / Spring Valley
6270 / Farmer Valley Market / 9040 Campo Road / Spring Valley
6271 / 4.0 Deli / 5844 Montezuma Rd. / San Diego
6272 / 4.0 Deli / 5844 Montezuma Rd. / San Diego
6273 / SDSU / 5500 Campanile Drive / San Diego
6274 / Roadpros / 1070 E. Main Street / El Cajon
6275 / Peoples Market / 4765 Voltaire Street / Ocean Beach
6276 / Peoples Market / 4765 Voltaire Street / Ocean Beach
6277 / Peoples Market / 4765 Voltaire Street / Ocean Beach
6278 / Peoples Market / 4765 Voltaire Street / Ocean Beach
6279 / Peoples Market / 4765 Voltaire Street / Ocean Beach
6280 / Peoples Market / 4765 Voltaire Street / Ocean Beach
6281 / Peoples Market / 4765 Voltaire Street / Ocean Beach
6282 / Peoples Market / 4765 Voltaire Street / Ocean Beach
6283 / La Mesita Restaurant / 7012 University Ave. / La Mesa
6284 / La Mesita Restaurant / 7012 University Ave. / La Mesa
6285 / La Mesita Restaurant / 7012 University Ave. / La Mesa
6286 / India Sweets & Spices /  /
6287 / Sipz Café / 5501 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. / San Diego
6288 / Gift & Jewellry World / 4150 Mission Blvd. #147 / San Diego
6289 / Americas Best Value Inn / 1801 Logan Ave. / San Diego
6291 / Cottage Art / 18619 S. Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
6292 / India International Bazaar / 717 South Harbor Blvd. / Fullerton
6293 / Cottage Art / 18619 S. Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
6294 / ISKCON Laguna Beach Temple / 285 Legion Street / Laguna Beach
6295 / Dr. Godbole / 12675 La Mirada Blvd. / La Mirada
6296 / Cottage Art / 18619 S. Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
6297 / Shreeji Jewellers / 16828 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
6298 / ISKCON Laguna Beach Temple / 285 Legion Street / Laguna Beach
6299 / India Sweets & Snacks / 23371 Golden Springs Drive / Diamond Bar
6300 / Safron Spot / 18744 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
6301 / Artesia Center Cleaners / 11831 Artesia Blvd. / Artesia
6302 / Laguna Beach / Pacific Coast Highway / Launa Beach
6303 / Cottage Art / 18619 S. Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
6304 / ISKCON Laguna Beach Temple / 285 Legion Street / Laguna Beach
6305 / Safron Spot / 18744 Pioneer Blvd. / Artesia
6306 / Radha Raman Vedic Temple / 1022 N. Bradford Ave / Placentia