Monthly Archives: April 2014

We need quality
→ Servant of the Servant

Everyone has got some followers. This…. What is that? Guruji Maharaja. He has got also so-called followers. The T.M.,(Transcendental Meditation of Mahesh Yogi)  – – – he has got also some followers. Everyone has got some followers. But what kind of followers they have ? That is quality. Everything has quality. Simply quantity is not. There are many Christians. Even up to date, some Christian fair or…. Many millions will come. What is the quality ? Quality is all meat-eater. But Christian means he should not kill. Where is the Christian ? So we have to test by the quality, followers. Not many followers, the quality of the followers. My Guru Mahäräja used to say like that, that “If I get at least one quality disciple, then all my labor will be success.” He was saying like that: quality, not the quantity.

– Srila Prabhupada (Room Conversation  –  The Spirit of Preaching is to Make Perfect Disciples
– May 2, 1976, Fiji)

Hare Krishna

The Word Is Out!
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das

The response to my new book Mahabharata: The Eternal Quest has been streaming in: 

“Wonderful! Your storytelling art – which quickly gets to the essence of everything – has opened the world of Mahabharata to me , for it has opened up the world of the feelings and emotions of Mahabharata.” Sacinandana Swami

“Got the books. Already finished the first chapter….really nice. Have a friend who teaches comparative religion classes at the University here, I’ll give her a copy.” Trivikrama Swami, FL

“Reading your book! Such a great job – deep and flowing. You are truly gifted to share this profound story the way you have. Outstanding!” Krsnanandini Dasi, OH 

“Thank you Andy for this wonderful book. As I sit here reading I feel whole regions of my mind and heart awaken. Soul food for our times.”  Rasika Walkingfeather

“I could not put it down…. I am going to give it out to others who I think have an interest…. It’s a landmark work….. How difficult it must have been to reduce the volume of the text and not loose the threads of the story, nor the essence of the philosophy! Magnificent!” Josef Lauber

“I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you for your unbelievable gift of Mahabharata:The Eternal Quest… I found myself picking it up only minutes after putting it down and reading it all in every spare moment I had…… a great telling of the classic…… When I came to the chapter where you condensed the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, I found tears in my eyes. It was wonderful, concise, and exceptionally powerful.” Emil Sofsky

“Thank you for this engaging rendering of Mahabharata. You’ve performed a great service.” Dr Vicky Jenkins, IN 

“Wow, what a wonderful book. We just finished it this morning … i’m sad it’s over…we’ll have to read it again!” Mohanasini Lighfoot

“I just finished reading Mahabharata. Wonderfully done. Except I started to do the math to calculate the years of Kali-yuga remaining and…think I’ll just keep playing my flutes. Thank you a great read.” Lou Boden

“Hare Krishna. May you live for many years and keep producing wonderful stories that lift the spirits of all who hear them. ” Vegavati DD  

“The book has brought Stephanie and I so much joy, we couldn’t put it down and read it to one another so we could both enjoy together. We also love the cover artwork. Our complements to the artist.” Luke Kopyar

“I am almost finished reading the book. Very mesmerizing.” Dheeraj Handa, CA 

“I couldn’t put it down.” Vidya DD 

“Andy Fraenkel’s Mahabharata is a transcendental experience on every page.” Steve Howard, CO

“The book and website look really good. I’m excited that this important subject is getting attention.” Roi in Israel

“Very well written. You have kept the meaning of Mahabharata and have given life to the major and minor personalities.” Appa Roa Gollamudi, Hyderabad, India

“His book is an incredible rendition of one of the oldest written books on the planet. I highly recommend it if you want to immerse yourself in the most amazing drama and intrigue ever recorded.” Darrell Martin, Blue Boy Herbs


“Cows flying” in the festival of the cows’ first spring pasture, Krishna valley, Hungary (Album 166 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

This event would make excellent natural wonder visible to those who visit the valley Krishna Sunday April 13 th, as at the date of holding the “first spring grazing”! The first spring sprouting is one of the most joyous holiday for the cows, as after the long winter confinement for the first time and enjoy the taste of fresh grass in the soft sunlit meadow in spring Read more ›

ISKCON NEPAL 18th Anniversary of Sri Sri Radha Govinda Hari (166 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Celebrating 18th Anniversary of our beloved Sri Sri Radha Govinda Hari 14th April 2014, Monday. It had been 18 years of the deity installation @ ISKCON Nepal, Buddhanilkantha. With the Special Presence of His Holiness Mahavishnu Swami and 2000+ Devotees & Visitors. And In Nepal its a New Year too. So visitors also came to have darshan Everyone were gifted by a A4 sized Radha Govinda Hari Photo and a Back To Godhead Magazine.. everyone seems to be happy for getting those New Year Gifts. Read more ›

Ratha-yatra Morning, April 12, Dallas
Giriraj Swami

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 1.46–81. “At the Ratha-yatra, Lord Chaitanya recited the following verse: seita parana-natha painu yaha lagi’ madana-dahane jhuri genu ‘I have gotten that Lord of My life, for whom I was burning in the fire of lusty desires.’ (Cc Madhya 1.55) “All the scriptures proclaim that the gopis’ […]

Prayer to Hanumanji – Welcome the Rama-duta in the heart with eagerness
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Manojavam maruta tulya vegam, jitendriyam buddhi mataam varishtham vaataatmajam vaanara yooth mukhyam, shree raama dootam sharnam prapadye. Let me pray to the one who is swift as thought (manojavam-), the one who is more powerful than the wind (marut.tulya.vegam-), the one who has conquered his senses (jitendriyam-), the one who is supreme among all intelligent […]

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Don’t just become a strict vegetarian but also become a devotee of the Lord
→ The Spiritual Scientist

In the Bhagavad-gita (9.26) the Lord directly states that He accepts vegetarian food from the hands of a pure devotee. Therefore a human being should not only become a strict vegetarian but should also become a devotee of the Lord, offer the Lord all his food and then partake of such prasadam, or the mercy […]

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Why Is the Bhagavad-gita So Pessimistic? (Expanded with four-point analysis)
→ The Spiritual Scientist

(As many readers liked the earlier article by the same title and wanted more analysis along similar lines, in this article I expand on the theme) People with cursory knowledge of the Gita’s philosophy sometimes ask: “When the world offers both pleasures and pains, why does the Bhagavad-gita call the world a place of misery?” […]

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Listen Closely
- TOVP.org

Stories of preaching the glories of the TOVP usually conjure images of sannyasis speaking to crowds of devotees, or Ambarisha prabhu addressing rooms full of eager donors. How often does the audience think of Bengali laborers? Interestingly, it is this section of the Mayapur community who are often overlooked. Beyond the glories of artistic creations,