Monthly Archives: January 2015

Appearance of Lord Varahadeva
→ Mayapur.com

Please view the following galleries: Darshan Abhishek   vasati daśana-śikhare dharaṇī tava lagnā śaśini kalaṅka-kaleva nimagnā keśava dhṛta-śūkara-rūpa jaya jagadīśa hare   As glorified in the verse above by Jayadeva Goswami, Lord Krsna appeared as Varahadeva (a boar) to rescue mother earth that had been submerged in the Garbhodaka Ocean by demon Hiryanyaksha. Like other incarnations […]

The post Appearance of Lord Varahadeva appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Join us with your family & friends for this Sunday, February 1st 2015 from 11:00am to 2:00pm. Hear and associate with His Grace Mahabhagavata Dasa for our special discourse."The Glories of Lord Nityananda"
→ ISKCON Brampton

Sunday Special Feast for AllWhen?Sunday,Feb 1st,2015Program starts at 11 amWhere?6 George Street SouthBrampton, OntarioL6Y 1P3, CanadaPark underground(free) @ City HallPhone:416-648-3312New! ListenClick here to listen to previous cl…

Hare Krishna! Mother Earth: Holder and Giver of Wealth Srila…
→ Dandavats.com

Hare Krishna! Mother Earth: Holder and Giver of Wealth
Srila Prabhupada writes, “Whatever is taken from the earth—either from the mines, from the surface of the globe, or from the atmosphere—should always be considered the property of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and should be used for Yajna, Lord Vishnu. As soon as the process of yajna [sacrifice] is stopped, the earth will withhold all productions—vegetables, trees, plants, fruits, flowers, other agricultural products, and minerals.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15306

Read more ›

Harinaam in Krishnanagar
→ Mayapur.com

For the pleasure of their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Madhav, Pancatattva, Prahlad-Nrisimhadev and Srila Prabhupada, Mayapur Local Preaching (MLP) organized a Mahaharinaam sankirtan in Krishnanagar on 21st January, 2015. MLP preaching co-ordinator HG Mathuresh Prabhu managed to take all necessary permissions from Krishnanagar administration for this event. Devotees from various preaching organizations like Bhakti Vriksha, […]

The post Harinaam in Krishnanagar appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Pastime places of Lord Nityananda! (photos) nityanandam aham…
→ Dandavats.com

Pastime places of Lord Nityananda! (photos)
nityanandam aham vande karne lambita-mauktikam
caitanyagraja-rupena pavitri-krta-bhutalam
“Salutations to Sri Nityananda Prabhu, Who has a single pearl suspended from one of His ears, Who is the elder brother of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and Who is the purifier of the world.”
Here i a glimpse of pastime places of Lord Nityananda! May Lord Nityananda bestow His causeless mercy on all of you and keep you at His lotus feet!
Have a blissful festival!
See them here: http://goo.gl/0gecID

Read more ›

A visit to Maan Sarovar – Bhandirvan – Belvan – 29.01.2015…
→ Dandavats.com

A visit to Maan Sarovar – Bhandirvan – Belvan – 29.01.2015 (Album 125 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In the Age of Kali, there is no religious principle except chanting Krishna’s name. It has been ascertained from all the scriptures that Krishna’s holy name is the essence of all mantras. (Renunciation Through Wisdom, 5.1 Purport)
See them here: http://goo.gl/0B4x9f

Read more ›

Appearance Day of Lord Varahadev Lord Brahma and the other…
→ Dandavats.com

Appearance Day of Lord Varahadev
Lord Brahma and the other demigods quickly arrived at that spot, to see the slain body of the demon close up. Still biting his lip, Hiranyaksha’s bodily luster had not faded, in spite of the absence of the soul, because the Lord’s lotus foot remained touching it. Lord Brahma admiringly said, “Oh, who could meet with such a blessed death? This fortunate demon was struck by the lotus foot of the Lord, upon Whom yogis meditate in mystic trance in the hopes of gaining liberation from their unreal, material bodies.”
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/R22nE1

Read more ›

Finding Our Personal Mission and Potential Power—Part 2
→ Karnamrita.das's blog

Author: 

Karnamrita Das

photo 10863915_10152536669226433_55515737_zpsbf2f0443.jpg

One of my main points over many months of writing is that personal growth can be very favorable to our steadiness in spiritual practice. Such work is certainly not an end in itself, but can be helpful along with our sincerity of purpose and prayer in sorting out our life issues, and accessing our personal power for our service to Guru and Gauranga, and for the people in general. We can judge a thing by its results (phalena pariciyate) and if through such personal growth work one is more enthused in bhakti and in one’s life, this is proof of its value.

All change begins with knowing we have a problem, sometimes the most difficult awareness. However, this still isn’t sufficient to create change without working and praying to remove our shortcomings, and replacing them with better qualities or habits. Expert guidance in doing this work is indispensable. My understanding is that assisted introspection (as I have coined it) with experienced mentors will be helpful in rising to the stage of nistha (steadiness), an interim goal on the long road to prema (pure love of God).

The Gita teaches us that to not follow our nature is artificial and unsustainable. So our spiritual practices should be in sync, not just with our work (as important as that is), but with our sense of personal mission. Our power, or empowerment, in life comes from connecting our personal mission to our spiritual mission, making them one, if you will. Some teachers today say that just doing our personal mission, or being a balanced human being, is spiritual. While this is a crucial part of the equation, it is only part of it, and remains incomplete without addressing the needs of the soul.

read more

Harinama in Auckland NZ: Chanting our way Back To Godhead!…
→ Dandavats.com

Harinama in Auckland NZ: Chanting our way Back To Godhead! (Album 45 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “If one’s heart does not change, tears do not flow from his eyes, his body does not shiver, and his bodily hairs do not stand on end as he chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, it should be understood that his heart is as hard as iron This is due to his offenses at the lotus fee of the Lord’s holy name.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.24)
See them here: http://goo.gl/3jovb0

Read more ›

WSN December 2014 – World Sankirtan Newletter – best year since…
→ Dandavats.com

WSN December 2014 – World Sankirtan Newletter – best year since 1996!
Good news about the Prabhupada marathon: Although we hardly ever see a score from Govindadvipa, an small island temple in Ireland, the devotees there went for the mercy of Srila Prabhupada and did 10,226 book points. Also, Bhaktivedanta Manor did a huge marathon, with 74,253 book points, fired up by Visvambara Prabhu and Sutapa Prabhu. In the USA Bhrgupati Prabhu was pouring out the books. Although he’s 63, he scored 13,326 book points. Amazing!
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15302

Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Devotees Remember Sankara Dasi on 30th Anniversary…
→ Dandavats.com

Hare Krishna!
Devotees Remember Sankara Dasi on 30th Anniversary of Her Passing
“Sankara was easy to do service with; having an insightful and creative nature,” says Rupa Dasi, who worked with her on a sewing project. “She had a keen sense of focus for the project and really put all her heart into the service. She also was always very concerned for the welfare of her children. And this was a frequent topic of her talks. She knew her time was limited, and she was determined to use it to the very best advantage she possibly could on their behalf.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15297

Read more ›

New Vrindaban Honors Memory of Her Grace Sankara dasi
→ New Vrindaban

Devotees Remember Sankara Dasi on 30th Anniversary of Her Passing

By Madhava Smullen

Friends and family are remembering Srimati Sankara devi dasi — known for her deep love of her children and quiet dedication to Krishna’s service even in the face of adversity — as the 30th anniversary of her passing approaches on January 25th, 2015. On that day, the Sunday Feast program at ISKCON New Vrindaban will be held in her honor.

Born Sylvia S. Walker on January 5th, 1946, Sankara dasi was raised in Michigan. She first met ISKCON devotees in Haight Ashbury, San Francisco in 1969, two years after the first ever Rathayatra there.

Moving back to Michigan, she lived near the Detroit temple with her young family and visited often. In the early 1970s, she and her then husband regularly invited devotees to hold weekend festivals at their farm in Ann Arbour.

In 1978, tragedy struck. Sankara was diagnosed with acute hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES), an extremely rare form of leukemia. She wanted to use whatever time she had left delving deep into her Krishna consciousness. So she moved into the Detroit temple full-time.

“When I first met Sankara and her children, in Detroit, she was a happy introspective person who held an extrordinary ability to see God everywhere,” recalls her friend Mrigaksi Dasi.

In 1980, when her five children had grown too old for the school in Detroit, Sankara moved to ISKCON’s New Vrindaban farm community near Wheeling, West Virginia, which she felt would be the best place for them.

Her own children weren’t the only ones Sankara cared for. From 1980 to 1983, she watched fifty children aged up to five years old at the New Vrindaban nursery. From 1983 on, she taught kindergarten and first grade at the community’s Nandagram School to over 200 children from all around North America. Her former students remember her fondly as patient, sweet and caring.

Sankara also sewed for New Vrindaban’s presiding Deities Sri Sri Radha-Vrindabanchandra and made their garlands daily, which was her favorite service.

“Sankara was easy to do service with; having an insightful and creative nature,” says Rupa Dasi, who worked with her on a sewing project. “She had a keen sense of focus for the project and really put all her heart into the service. She also was always very concerned for the welfare of her children. And this was a frequent topic of her talks. She knew her time was limited, and she was determined to use it to the very best advantage she possibly could on their behalf.”

During this time, Sankara had to go for heart surgery more than once due to leukemia enlarging her heart. She also suffered from asthma. Yet Vidya Dasi, who lived and worked with her – both in the nursery and in garland-making – says that no matter how sick she got, Sankara always did her service with devotion and dedication.

“I don’t think we understood at the time how her failing health must have made her feel,” says Vidya. “And I’m thinking back, ‘Oh my God, how did she not complain, how did she keep up with us?’”

Even on the morning when Sankara went to the hospital for the last time, devotees remember her making sure her daily garland-making service would be covered and that her children would be looked after. It was this mood that encapsulated her life.

At the Intensive Care Unit, when doctors declared they couldn’t do anything more and invited her devotee friends in, Sankara’s vitals stabilized as she heard them chanting the Hare Krishna mantra. When the doctors saw this and returned, she finally left this world, due to heart failure. It was January 25th, 1985. She was the first female New Vrindaban resident to leave her body. 

Sankara Dasi is survived by her five children, Chaitanya Mangala, Makara, Veena, Sesa and Bhima; her five grandchildren, Airavata, Kalindi, Lauren, Hayden and Daniel; and her former husband, Danakeli Das.

Her family had her remains cremated, and scattered her ashes among the flower beds at Prabhupada’s Palace Rose Garden. In 2005, on the 20th anniversary of her passing, they dedicated a Nama Samadhi in the form of a granite memorial bench in her honor at New Vrindaban.

The bench is situated along the scenic walkway that winds around the Kusum Sarovara Lake at the lotus feet of Gaura Nitai and in the shadow of Srila Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold. It serves as a place for people to relax and appreciate their surroundings as they follow a parikrama path through the holy dham.

Etched into the bench are the words: “In loving memory: Sylvia S. Walker – Sankara devi dasi. January 5th, 1946 – January 25th, 1985” and a quote from Sankara herself – “I am surrounded by the radiance, glory and richness of the Creator. In the final analysis, all things come from the same Source. We are all related; even the rocks are our brothers.”

 “My mother was a sensitive, thoughtful and highly spiritual person who quietly and determinedly performed her services despite whatever obstacles were placed in her path,” says her eldest son, Chaitanya Mangala, who is a board member of ISKCON New Vrindaban. “To me, that’s a sign of a genuine devotee.”

“Moreover,” he continues, “She cared deeply for her children and was totally convinced that the fledgling Hare Krishna Society, and more specifically New Vrindaban, was the best place to raise us. Despite the hardships and shortcomings, I do appreciate the sincere attempts made by my mother and others of her pioneer generation. And, as we honor the 30th anniversary of her passing, I humbly dedicate my community building efforts in her memory.”

A new program to assist and inspire communities to increase…
→ Dandavats.com

A new program to assist and inspire communities to increase their public kirtan programs!
Vaisesika Das launched a new program along with an accompanying e-newsletter and website, kirtanparty.com, to assist and inspire communities to increase their public kirtan programs.
Vaisesika is inviting ISKCON community leaders and members all over North America to join the Kirtan Party Google group through www.kirtanparty.com and begin reporting every two weeks on how many times they’ve sent kirtan parties out to chant publicly.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/Kn1BmG

Read more ›