Maha Gaura Purnima 2014 in Laguna Beach, California, US (Album 51 photos)
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Besides its beautiful location, ISKCON Laguna Beach has the only Pancha Tattva Deities in the Continental US (excluding Hawaii). Meanwhile its festivals throughout the year feature some of the most energetic kirtan and sumptuous feasts you’ll find, delivered with a uniquely heartwarming service attitude. Chief amongst these is Laguna’s regional Maha Gaura Purnima festival in honor of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, held a week after Gaura Purnima Day and attended by devotees from all over Southern California and beyond. Read more ›

Gaurapurnima Maha-abhisheka 2014 at Murari’s Kirtan Valley
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This Gaurapurnima festival at Murari’s Kirtan Valley was wonderful, thanks to you, your help, and enthusiasm. We had a record turnout of souls for this special occasion, perhaps 70 people came to rejoice, chant the holy names and participate in the sacred bathing ceremony of Sri Sri NitaiGaurachandra. That is a little big for little ol Murari. Read more ›

French “spiritual tourists” visit Govinda’s & ISKCON Baroda (Album 25 photos)
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On Friday, March 21, 2014, a group of 30 “spiritual tourists” from France visited ISKCON Baroda. They took lunch prasad at Govinda’s, then visited the temple room at took pictures of the relief art there. The entire group were headed to the banks of the holy Narmada river for 3 days of meditation. Read more ›

Taking darshan of the Kali Gandhaki river (Album 148 photos)
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Indradyumna Swami: Kagbeni is one of the furthest places foreigners can journey in Nepal, as Tibet and China are not far away. Before leaving we took a walk around to see the ancient sites and meet the inhabitants of the village. We also took one last darshan of the Kali Gandhaki river, which now flows with the ashes of my dear godbrother Bimal Prasad das in her sacred waters. Read more ›

Srila Prabhupada Encourages Investment in Devotee Housing in New Vrindaban – February 1969
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Srila Prabhupada Encourages Investment in Devotee Housing in New Vrindaban – February 1969. From a series of letters written by Srila Prabhupada outlining his vision for New Vrindaban. Thanks to Vanipedia for the source material. —————————————————————— February 8th, 1969. My Dear Hrsikesa, Please accept my blessings. I was very much pleased to receive your letter of 3 February, 1969, and […]

Friday, March 21st, 2014
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Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
A Genuine Pilgrim
I met Joyce in 2006 when I trekked through Saskatoon at that time.  She, along with other walkers, runners, cyclists and yoga people, sat down to hear some of my Tales from Trails stories, and lessons learned on the road.  The venue was a place called Yoga Republic, a cozy setting in a building dedicated to healing, and which was formerly a convent for nuns located on Idylewild Road (most people around here call it Iddly Widdly). 
I was happy to connect with her again.  At that time, in 2006, she sent me an e-message, saying she had an aspiration to do the Camino de Compostela, the famous pilgrim walk in Spain.  She also asked me in that message if she could join me for part of my trek while I was in the province of Saskatchewan. 
Meeting someone like her is rare, with all this passion she has for pilgrimage.  She regularly walks.  I expressed at the time that it would be a little bit awkward since I’m a monk, and she’s a woman.  If a third person was there, especially a male, it would be different.  Culturally, traditionally, that’s the way it would work.  I hadn’t heard from her after that.  In any event, I kept walking eastbound to complete a third walk across Canada.  It wasn’t until now that I heard from her and that I saw her for the first time in person at this night’s event.  She mildly persisted in the most gentle way, “Would you be willing to guide a group in a walk across Canada?” 
I could not give a complete answer to that, and I expressed that we could talk after the presentation is over.  My thought on the matter is, “Here is a real live pilgrim who in the meantime did walk the Camino.  How can I inspire and/or facilitate someone like this?”  I will give some thought to it and see if on a small scale something can be accomplished.
Those in attendance at the Yoga Republic joined us in kirtan, followed by halava snacks.  They left feeling lighter in heart and a little heavier in stomach.  I would really like to thank our facilitator, Lorel.  I was also thinking, “This is the silent time of year (winter’s end) when you have big dreams that you have to put in to plan and action.”  Earlier on in the day, my host, Kasyapa, and I were walking on soil as well as on ice and dry snow.  With our feet we were crushing the stuff under us with a crunch and a crackle.  This is the most quiet season of the year, but it’s a time when you can make the most noise. 
May the Source be with you!
5 KM

New Vrindaban Daily darsan @ March 21, 2014.
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The real goal of my life is to attain the nectar of confidential devotional service to Sri Sri Radhika-Krsna. I shall some day renounce everything and live in Vrndavana. These are the words of feigned renunciation spoken by one addicted to the affairs of household life. The holy abode of Vrndavana will not give shelter […]

Chaitanya Charitamrita – Adi lila 13.91-92 – HH Bhakti Caitanya Swami
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[Kindly transcribed by Sheela Ravishankar Mataji) Audio for this lecture may be downloaded here: Download From: Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir! Date: 15 March, 2014 Verse: CC Adi 13.91-92 Speaker: HH Bhakti Caitanya Swami a-kalanka gauracandra dila darasana sa-kalanka candre ara kon prayojana Translation: When the spotless moon of Caitanya Mahaprabhu became visible, what would be […]

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Chaitanya Charitamrita – Adi Lila 1.4 – HH Prahaladananda Swami Maharaja
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[Kindly transcribed by Swetha Ganeshan Mataji] Download the audio for this lecture here: Download From: Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir! Date: March 14, 2014 Speaker: HH Prahaladananda Swami Maharaja Subject: C.C Adi Lila 1.4 HH Prahladananda Swami: I am going to read from Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Adi Lila, Chapter 1, Text number 4. I am just […]

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Srimad Bhagavatam 5.13.24 – HH Bhaktivaibhava Swami
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[Kindly transcribed by Sheela Ravishankar Mataji) Audio for this lecture should soon be downloadable from here: Download From: Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir! Date: 13 March, 2014 Verse: Srimad Bhagavatam 5.13.24 Speaker: HH Bhaktivaibhava Swami sri-suka uvaca ity evam uttara-matah sa vai brahmarsi-sutah sindhu-pataya atma-satattvam viganayatah paranubhavah parama-karunikatayopadisya rahuganena sakarunam abhivandita-carana apurnarnava iva nibhrta-karanormy-asayo dharanim imam […]

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Sannyasa initiation ceremony of Bhakti Gauravani Goswami (Album 27 photos)
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Bhakti Gauravani Goswami (previously known as Vedavyasa Prabhu ACBSP), born in Germany, in 1951, met devotees in Hamburg in the summer of 1971, while doing mandatory military service. After reading “Sri Isopanisad” and receiving guidance from Srila Prabhupada’s disciples there, he became a vegetarian, shaved his head, and lived (as far as circumstances allowed) a devotional life while still in the army.
To help him focus, devotees asked him to translate the Second Canto of Srimad‐Bhagavatam into German. Shortly after his discharge, he traveled to Paris in June of 1972 to meet Srila Prabhupada and receive initiation. For the next eight years, he translated books and managed the German BBT. After marrying a Spanish devotee and arriving in Spain, in 1981, he oversaw printing for the Spanish BBT and assisted in the administration of the Spanish temples. In 1985, he established the European office of the Spanish BBT (previously, he worked through the Spanish BBT office in Los Angeles). During the next ten years, the “Srimad‐Bhagavatam” and several other books were published, and the “Sri Caitanya‐caritamrita” was translated and prepared for publication.

For the occasion of Srila Prabhupada’s centennial celebration, Vedavyasa wrote and published a book called “Srila Prabhupada and His Disciples in Germany,” which narrates the history from 1969 to 1977 and features the memories of Prabhupada’s disciples. Vedavyasa is the president of both the Malaga temple and the New Vrajamandala farm community, and the Euro RGB Commissioner for ISKCON’s activities in Spain. He is also serving as an initiating guru in ISKCON. Read more ›

How is a day like in Sri Mayapur International School? (12 min video)
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A Day in SMIS is a short video which shows how the school gives a unique opportunity for young devotees to progress in their academic education, while at the same time having the unique experience of living in Sri Mayapur Dhama. If you are interested in admitting your child in Sri Mayapur International School we have a few places left in Grade 4 and waiting lists for other primary classes. Places are available in Grades 7, ( 11 and 12 year olds) 8,9,10 and 12. From Grade 7 upwards classes are separate for boys and girls. Read more ›