Author Archives: Admin108

Hare Krishna! Jhulan Yatra
Sri Hari-bhakti-vilasa states, To please Sri Hari, devotees hold numerous festivals on every occasion and continuously perform sankirtana. According to their ability, the devotees serve the Lord during the summer by placing H… Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Grand Ratha Yatra celebrations at Gurdaspur, Punjab
Gurudaspur is a city situated in the state of Punjab. According to a latest census, the population is just less than 2,300,000. Two rivers flow here: Beas and Raavi and is just 10km from the international border between India and Pakistan. A grand Ratha Yatra festival for the Lord’s pleasure was arranged on the 22nd August by local devotees. Devotees performed Harinam Sankirtan and book distribution twice daily. Pamphlets for the festival were also distributed simultaneously. A yajna was performed in the early hours of the morning on the festival day to create auspiciousness. A stage program was held between 11 am till 3pm. Kirtan, drama, lectures by international devotees and performances by the children inspired all present to take part sincerely in this festival for the Lord’s pleasure.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19314

Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Symptoms of affection expressed in Srimad Bhagavatam
(From a Srimad Bhagavatam class given Aug 23, 2015 at the Iskcon Chicago temple. )
Malati Devi Dasi: Due to the different types of attraction for Krsna, there are different varieties of… Read more ›

1st Radha Krishna Temple in Malaysia – Grand opening on 29th August 2015. (Album with photos)
Temple Opening in Sebarang Jaya (Shivaram Jaya) in Malaysia! Truly a wonder for this country!
See them here: https://goo.gl/LgWhqZ Read more ›

The final days of the huge Hare Krishna summer festival in Poland. (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The final days of our summer festival tour on the Baltic Sea coast in Poland were bittersweet. While tasting the nectar of sharing our good fortune with others, we knew it would only last a few days more. Now the drums, accordians and kartalas have gone silent. The loud chanting of Krsna’s sweet holy names are no longer resounding along the beaches. Nowhere do we see the large crowds that assembled each evening in front of our stage. And gone are the many people eager to purchase our books on the absolute truth. O Lord Caitanya! Savior of the fallen! We are all weeping in separation from the glorious service You entrusted to us. Please engage us again!
See them here: https://goo.gl/XeJUBa

Read more ›

Harinama in Trutnov open air festival, Czech Republic (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Sadhu-sanga, or association with a devotee, means always engaging in Krishna consciousness by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and by acting for Krishna. Specif… Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Festival of Vedic India at Melbourne High School
What an Incredible evening at Melbourne High School’s International night! Scrumptious Prasadam, ecstatic kirtan and amazing dancing with parents, staff and students from over 70 nationalities! We were fortunate enough to be part of this great evening at one of the top ranking schools in the state, in Australia. As part of the program we presented a stall Henna/facial art as well as Indian cultural costumes, kirtan on stage and prasadam distribution. Among other things in our stall we also had Higher Taste cook books and the ever attractive and fragrant Maha garlands, which were greatly appreciated.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19302

Read more ›

“In Giving, We Receive” – World Holy Name Week
Let’s vow to make this week special this year. There are heaps of activities we all can perform in order to spread the holy name across every town and village, just what Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu had predicted. From nagar sankirtans, to japa workshops, to retreats, the WHNW provides us with different avenues wherein each of us can utilize our potential and skills to creatively contribute to this event. If nothing, we can all, at least, pledge to chant extra rounds ourselves, thereby internally purifying ourselves
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19305

Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Srila Prabhupada’s Voyage To The West – A Play
Sankirtana Das (ACBSP): When I saw the recent article, posting the drama “Swamiji At Sea,” I remembered a script I had written back in 1985 of Srila Prabhupada’s journey to the West. The unique thing is that this play below can easily be performed anywhere as Reader’s Theater, with script in hand. It requires a minimum of three actors: one to play Prabhupada; another male actor to play – Godbrother, Choksi, Bhattacarya and Capt Pandia; also a female actor to play Narrator, Mrs Moraji, Mrs Naga, Reporter and Mrs Pandia. Of course, it can also be performed on a larger scale with a different actor playing each role.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19299

Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Hare Krishna in popular culture
From Wikipedia : Contributions to popular culture involving direct reference to the Hare Krishna mantra, or the Hare Krishna movement include the following. 1 In music 1.1 Beatles influence 1.2 Music 1.3 St… Read more ›

Early morning drone flight at Mayapur. (Album with photos)
The TOVP is nearing the stage of receiving the enormous Kalash.
See them here: https://goo.gl/THNsnl Read more ›

Hare Krishna! The Art and Mechanics of Inspiration
“Everything should be done on the basis of love. Strictness is not very good. The students should act automatically, out of love. That is wanted. [However,] Superficially, strictness may be necessary—some material laws or basic principles—and if they don’t follow they’ll be reprimanded. But they should develop the idea of love. Sometimes you have to [force], but even so, the basic principle should be love. Sometimes, out of love, a father must force his son to do something; that does not mean the father is the enemy of the son. [If the teacher or preacher has not yet cultivated love:] In the meantime our regulated living will teach. Either with your son, your disciple, or your student, you should always strictly enforce the rules. Don’t be lenient. Out of love, shall we let our disciples and sons go to hell? That is foolishness.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=1243

Read more ›

Hare Krishna! On Conceiving the Inconceivable – Some Principles in Understanding the Origin of the Conditioned Soul
Ravindra Svarupa dasa: We conditioned souls are originally Krishna conscious living entities, but owing to a desire to be independent of God and to be the Supreme ourselves, we have fallen from our original position and become covered by maya (illusion), who provides us with false identities of gross and subtle matter. By the grace of Krishna and His pure devotees we fallen souls can regain our original Krishna consciousness and in so doing go back to Godhead. This simple dramatic narrative tells the story of who we are, where we came from, how we fell, and how we can be restored. Srila Prabhupada tells us this story, and so do the previous acharyas and the scriptures. This story is the profoundest truth about ourselves, and there is no fault in it. Yet the story becomes complicated when we discover (from the identical infallible sources) that the souls in the spiritual world are nitya-siddha, eternally or perpetually liberated souls, and that no one falls from the spiritual world.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19289

Read more ›

Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir of Iskcon Vrindavana featured on History channel (Network 18) today (23-8-2015) evening. (3 min video)
History TV18 (formerly known as The History Channel) is a pan-Indian television channel broadcasting programmes relate… Read more ›

Ratha Yatra in Soweto, South Africa Read more ›

An album of many old, new and rare photos of Jayapataka Swami.
Jayapataka Swami is a Vaishnava swami and a religious leader for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. He is a senior disciple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
See th… Read more ›

UK, Southall Ratha Yatra – 23 Aug 2015 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Practicing the yoga system of exercise and breath control is very difficult for a person in this age, and therefore Lord Caitanya recommended, kirtaniyah sada harih: one shoul… Read more ›

Huge Harinama in Madrid, the capital city of Spain (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: For a devotee, liberation is no problem at all. The impersonalists undergo severe penances and austerities to attain mukti, but the bhakta, simply by engaging hims… Read more ›

Iskcon Mayapur Devotees On Zee Bangla Tv Show (13 min video)
This video clip is an excerpt from Prarthana Special episode of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa of Zee Bangla TV show. This is the 33rd episode of the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa performed on August 12th, 2015. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa which is Bengal’s best platform for music, rightly put as ‘Sangeet er shera mancha. It is the most popular and respected musical Reality Show of Bengal. In this special prayer episode Tulika Mondal and Gangadhar Mondal sing Krishna Kirtan together with the ISKCON Mayapur Devotees.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/jrLPiF

Read more ›

Hare Krishna! UK temples come together for first ever ISKCON National Convention
Devotees from across the UK came together today in Leicester for the first ever ISKCON UK National Convention, organised as part of the celebrations for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary. Taking place in ISKCON Leicester’s magnificent Grade II listed building in the city centre, hundreds of devotees took part in a day of collaboration and learning, and celebrated the successes and new developments taking place in the UK today. This was the first time in the history of ISKCON UK that a maha sanga was organised on this scale. Inspiring presentations were delivered by many senior devotees, including HH Bhakti Charu Swami, who spoke about unity in diversity in ISKCON. In addition, devotees heard from GBC HG Praghosa Das, who spoke about HDG Srila Prabhupada and celebrating the successes of ISKCON UK, and from GBC Minister for Communications HG Anuttama Das, who delivered a talk on ISKCON being 50 years young and roaring on.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19279

Read more ›

TOVP: Supports for the gigantic Kalash! (Album with 2 photos)
Sadbhuja Das: We have seen the Kalash mock-up from McCoy industry, made in titanium nitride coated stainless steal, being fabricated in Mumbai.
Our latest addiction is this real life size br… Read more ›

Please always meditate on beautiful Vrndavana!
Bhurijana dasa: Sri Prabhodananada Sarasvati offers us wise words: I offer my respectful obeisances to the wonderful effulgent, transcendental land of Vrndavana, which is splendid with glistening gold, sapphires, rubies, red-coral, lapis lazuli, and candrakanta jewels. I eternally meditate on the land of Vrndavana, which is glorious above everything, an island of sweetness in the shoreless ocean of nectar, wonderful with the bliss of transcendental pastimes, blinded by the nectar of love for Radha-Krsna, its limbs rolling about on the ground in ecstasy, and a wonderful treasure of transcendental beauty and good fortune. Without ever becoming tired, please always meditate on beautiful Vrndavana, which is glorious with numberless charming forests of parijata and other splendid trees, worshipped by demigods full of love for Lord Hari’s lotus feet, plunged into an ocean of the light of millions of moons, and unapproachable even by the host of Upanisads. Brother, are you trapped in the jungle of repeated birth and death? Can you find not even a moment’s relief from the three-fold sufferings? The words of the scriptures don’t tell you how to escape? Simply meditate in your heart on the trees of Vrndavana, which are so dear to Lord Krsna.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/ZmLKN0

Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Advancement, Anyone?
The topic of Sadhu-ninda is given such importance because one can be desensitized to its effects. Persistent exposure to hearing criticism of vaisnavas can cause this, which is so insidious as to be unnoticeable by many. When one realizes his taste for chanting is waning, it is of concern. Advanced devotees just cannot, will not and do not offend vaisnavas. Can one be said to be thinking of Krsna while doing so? Highly unlikely. As BG.18.58. says, ‘if however, you do not work in such consciousness but act through false ego, not hearing Me, you will be lost ‘. Lost where? Perhaps in the misunderstood banyan tree.BG.15.3-4. Even though the taste has gone, if one continues to practice devotional service without making palpable advancement it may just drag on as in –niyamagrahah – performing regulations just for the sake of it.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=953

Read more ›

Hare Krishna! On Rising Early
Sivarama Swami: “So, you must practice how to love Krishna. First you have to rise early in the morning. You don’t like to, but you think, ‘I will rise early to satisfy Krishna.’ This is the beginning.” If we do not think we need to do it, or think we are advanced, then we will fall down… “We must rise early in the morning, bathe, attend mangala-arati, worship the Deities, chant the Hare Krishna mantra, study the Vedic literatures and follow all the rules prescribed by the acaryas and the spiritual master. If we deviate from this process, we may fall down, even though we may be very highly advanced.… Even if one is in the renounced order, he should never give up the regulative principles.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=995

Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Looking for the Dearest Friend
Ranchor dasa: This paper was the ISKCON keynote address at an Inter-faith conference hosted by our communications group in the UK and devotees in Bhaktivedanta Manor. Twenty Christians and twenty ISKCON members took part in the exchange, which was described by Rev. Michael Barnes SJ as, “one of those rare occasions when head and heart seemed somehow to be united…. I was left wondering why it is that Catholics and Vaishnava Hindus get on so well together.” Ranchor’s paper was very well received and the sincere realisation and gift of presentation it displays can serve us as well in our efforts in dialogue with other faith communities.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19269

Read more ›

Vaishnava marriage ceremony in Spain, Guadalajara (Album with photos)
See them here: https://goo.gl/uzy9kT Read more ›

Lively Harinama in Madrid, Spain (2 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare—these sixteen names composed of thirty-two syllables are the only means to counteract the evil effects of Kali-yuga. In all the Vedas it is seen that to cross the ocean of nescience there is no alternative to the chanting of the holy name.” (Kali-santarana Upanisad)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/T1c4cT

Read more ›

Harinama at Barrikadnaya (a station on the Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya Line of the Moscow Metro.) (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “The essence of all Vedic knowledge—comprehending the three kinds of Vedic activity, the Vedic hymns, and the processes for satisfying the demigods—is included in the eight syllables Hare Krishna Hare Krishna. This is the reality of all Vedanta. The chanting of the holy name is the only means to cross the ocean of nescience.” (Narada-pancharatra)
See them here: https://goo.gl/Gv185H

Read more ›

Harinama in Genova, Italy (2 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: In the material world, everything is full of anxiety (kuntha), whereas in the spiritual world (Vaikuntha) everything is free from anxiety. Therefore those who are afflicted by a combination of a… Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Hare Krishna Yasoda Dulal embarks on a year’s pilgrimage
When John Herbison said goodbye to his wife before setting off on a walk, he didn’t say “I’ll see you later”, it was “I’ll be back in about a year”. The devout Hare Krishna of 30 years has set out on a pilgrimage to mark the 50th anniversary of the Hare Krishna Society’s arrival in the western world. He left Christchurch 10 days ago with a stroppy horse named Samson and a restored 100-year-old wagon, intent on travelling the length of New Zealand.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19263

Read more ›

Go-Fest festival near Moscow, a festival dedicated to Cow care and protection) (Album with photos)
The place is called Cintamani Dham, it is a few devotees families’ settlement.
See them here: https://goo.gl/XIiZob

Read more ›

Hare Krishna! The Welfare Of Others
Srila Prabhupada: May there be good fortune throughout the universe, and may all envious persons be pacified. May all living entities become calm by practicing bhakti-yoga, for by accepting devotional service they will think of each other’s welfare. Therefore let us all engage in the service of the supreme transcendence, Lord Sri Krsna, and always remain absorbed in thought of Him. Just like a desire tree, a Vaisnava can fulfill all the desires of anyone who takes shelter of his lotus feet… he prays not for himself, but for all living entities—the gentle, the envious and the mischievous…This is the attitude of a Vaisnava, who always thinks of the welfare of the entire universe.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19260

Read more ›

Holy Name Festival in Spain (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Caitanya Mahaprabhu says: “I have brought medicine to awaken very living being from perpetual sleep. Please receive the holy name of the Lord, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and awaken. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.13.9 Purport)
See them here: https://goo.gl/qxeNTq

Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Lord Nrisimha: Protector of Devotees
Hiranyakashipu, the universal tyrant, wished to reverse the system of piety. He wanted the impious to be rewarded and the pious to be punished. Thus upon the death of Hiranyakashipu, all the demigods and inhabitants of various planets offered their prayers to Lord Nrisimha, expressing their gratitude for the Lord’s slaying the daitya, who had usurped all their riches, wives, and shares of sacrificial offerings. Only Prahlada Maharaja, however, could pacify with loving prayers the transcendental wrath of Lord Nrisimha, who is prepared to even appear as half-man, half-lion for the sake of His pure devotees.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19254

Read more ›

Radhadesh Summer Holi Festival: Kids Ratha Yatra (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: One has to continue chanting the Hare Krishna mantra and preaching the chanting of this mantra because such preaching and chanting constitute the perfection of life…. Read more ›

Hare Krishna! When Swami Met Sally
Satyaraja Dasa: He was the easiest guest I have had in my life, because when I couldn’t spend time with him he chanted, and I knew he was perfectly happy. When I couldn’t talk to him, he chanted. He was so easy, though, because I knew he was never bored. I never felt any pressure or tension about having him. He was so easy that when I had to take care of the children he would just chant. It was so great. When I had to do things, he would just be happy chanting. He was a very good guest. When the people would come, they were always smoking cigarettes, but he would say, “Pay no attention. Think nothing of it.” That’s what he said. “Think nothing of it.” Because he knew we were different. I didn’t smoke in front of him. I knew I wasn’t supposed to smoke in front of Gopal’s father, so I sort of considered him the same. He didn’t make any problems for anybody.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19250

Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Spiritual Television: Is the World Ready for a True Spiritual Network
Yogesvara dasa: A Native American storyteller named Ron Evans tells a tale that warms the heart of all who agonise over the effects of contemporary media. Ron visited Africa some years ago and was present the day electric lines were installed for the first time in a tiny village. Along with wiring came a gift from the local government: the village’s first television. Ron describes how the entire village sat mesmerised for three days watching every programme. Then as if on cue, rose, turned off the set, and went about their business. Curious as to their motives, Ron approached the village chief and asked, ‘Why did you stop watching the television?’ The chief smiled and replied, ‘We don’t need the television. We have our storyteller.’ Delighted but not completely satisfied by the reply, Ron commented, ‘The television knows many stories, too.’ The chief bowed his head thoughtfully, then looked up with a smile and said, ‘Oh, no doubt the television knows many stories. But our storyteller knows us!’
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19246

Read more ›

Hare Krishna! NASN July 2015 – North American Sankirtan Newsletter
For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of July. North American Totals, Monthly Temples, Monthly Weekend Warriors. Monthly Top 100 Individuals, Monthly Top 5, Cumulative Countries, Cumulative Temples, Cumulative Top 100 Individuals, Cumulative Top 5
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19243

Read more ›

Harinama in every city and village! (Album with photos)
Sri Nama Prabhu, the Holy name, likes to be distributed. Especially in kali yuga, Sri Nama Prabhu wants to go to every village and every person. Every devotee should be a distribution outlet for t… Read more ›

Hare Krishna! The complete list of videos from the epic 50th Anniversary celebration at Kolkata
From August 13th to 16th a massive event in Kolkata – celebrating the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s journey to the U.S. – drew 35,000 people, including representatives of 125 countries and many prominent politicians and VIPs. All were coming to pay their respects to the great spiritual teacher, who left his home alone at age 69, braved two heart-attacks during a month-long voyage on the cargo ship Jaladuta, and struggled with little help in one of the roughest parts of New York City for nearly a year before establishing ISKCON on July 13th, 1966.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19239

Read more ›