Author Archives: Admin108

Worship of Lord Nrsimhadeva (5 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Each day I worship Lord Nrsimhadeva for protection in spreading the glories of the holy names far and wide, as well as for removing all obstacles on the path of pure devotion to the divine co… Read more ›

Hare Krishna! The Art and Culture of Leadership Succession (video)
Anuttama dasa and Tamohara dasa. Class at Iskcon Chicago, Sri Kishore Kishori temple streamed live on Aug 20, 2015. All authority in ISKCON is derived from the order and directions of His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Thus to the degree a member of ISKCON is following Srila Prabhupada’s order and direction he/she carries authority. In general spiritual matters, this authority is naturally manifest. It does not need to be officially conferred. However based on Srila Prabhupada’s direction to cooperate for a unified preaching endeavour the members agree to cooperate in the practical exercise of all authority, whether self-manifest (as in spiritual authority) or conferred (as in management positions) within the management system of ISKCON under the direction of the Governing Body Commission.
Watch it here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19232

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GBC Mayapur Meeting 21-8-2015.
Ramai Swami : The GBCs of Mayapur were supposed to go to Mayapur for the summer meeting. However, because of severe flooding, the meeting was held in Kolkata.
Bhakti Caru Maharaja graciously organised everything at the la… Read more ›

About Varnasrama and the Need to Establish it in ISKCON (video)
Presentation by Sivarama Swami to the North American GBC on 18 August 2015. We have a three-fold psychological typology. The mode of goodness is manifest by an attitude that is detached, d… Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Whatever Happens, Don’t Stop Chanting
Giriraj Swami: At her initiation ceremony yesterday, Rose Forkash received the name Rajani-priya dasi. Rajani is a name of Durga, an expansion of Srimati Radharani, who is the divine, universal mother. Rajani was also the name of Srila Prabhupada’s mother. Priya means “dear” or “dear to,” and dasi means “servant” or “servant of.” During the ceremony, Rtadhvaja Swami, Niranjana Swami, and especially Indradyumna Swami encouraged Rajani-priya via Skype with words of appreciation, affection, and instruction.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19223

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ISKCON Taiping Ratha Yatra, Taiping, Malaysia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: By chanting the Hare Krishna mantra without offenses, one increases his love for Krishna. As stated by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, preme pum-artho mahan: one’s main concern should be to increase one’s attachment to the Supreme Personality of Godhead and to increase one’s love for Him. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.3.24 Purport)
See them here: https://goo.gl/j4qvHi

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Hare Krishna! Unity in Diversity or Unity in Perversity: The challenge of a unified and diverse Iskcon (video)
Evening Class at Iskcon Chicago, Sri Kishore Kishori temple streamed live on Aug 19, 2015. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu confirms the conclusion of… Read more ›

Green Gathering Festival (Album with photos)
A wonderful week spent at Green Gathering festival situated in the Wye Valley, Chepstow, UK. The festival self-advertised as a festival “beyond hedonism” is a space for alternative, higher thinking people to connect. The presence of the Hare Krishna’s is very well recieved and with it being a small festival we encounter almost everybody there, and share the transcendental chanting, dancing and feasting. Hare Krsna!!
See them here: https://goo.gl/fROrzI

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Joyful Harinama in Moscow (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In the sastras it is said that if a person only once chants the holy name and completely surrenders unto the lotus feet of the Lord, the Lord immediately considers him His ward and is alwa… Read more ›

Hare Krishna! MVT – Vrindavan celebrates 50th Anniversary with prasadam distribution
As Vrindavan rejoiced in the Hariyali Teej festivals yesterday, MVT (Mayapur Vrindavan Trust), management, staff and residence decided to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s Jaladuta Yatra by distributing delicious kitchari prasadam cooked in desi ghee for over 3000 pilgrims and visitors to Vrindavan. The kitchari prasadam cooked with devotion by Gopal Das (ACBSP) in the staff kitchen, had everyone who tasted it come back for seconds. Manager of MVT Prem Kishore Das said “ISKCON world-wide is celebrating the momentous journey of Srila Prabhupada’s to the West, which is truly a legacy in the making. Indeed, a historical feat at the age of 70, overcoming all obstacles to bring us the glorious heritage of our parampara.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19204

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Hare Krishna! Respect for Individuality
Urmila Devi Dasi: The individuality of the self is a central teaching in Vaisnava philosophy, but what is our practical understanding of this term? Individuality is present in all living beings on both a material and a spiritual level. This article translates how this concept needs to relate to education practices in ISKCON today. The author explores evidence in some of Srila Prabhupada’ writings and scripture that deal with the issue of individuality together with some more recent research by academics in the field. With this data, the author builds a persuasive argument for devotees to become more aware of the individual, both in themselves and in others so that they may respond with respectful awareness to the individuals needs.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19199

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Hare Krishna! Golden Anniversary : Srila Prabhupada Arrival Festival in Boston
Several esteemed ISKCON sannyasis will be joining the celebration. They include: HH Jayadvaita Swami, HH Niranjana Swami, HH Radhanath Swami, HH Giriraj Swami, HH Bhaktimar… Read more ›

Hare Krishna! “Swamiji at Sea” drama script
The Vande Arts Team would like to offer this special drama script depicting Srila Prabhupada’s epic voyage on the Jaladhuta. Devotees are welcome to use the script for there own celebrations of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in the USA and throughout ISKCON’s 50 Anniversary Celebrations in 2016. This play is heavily musical (the main soundtrack theme is the beautiful “Prayers to the lotus feet of Lord Krishna” as recorded by Indradyumna Swami), with carefully choreographed scenes. A professional soundtrack has been recorded that provides background noise and the musical soundtrack (not the actual lines).
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19189

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Hare Krishna! ISKCON Seattle’s Ananda Mela in its sixth year- Bridge Preaching Through Culture
ISKCON Seattle is making great strides in preaching the holy name to the greater Seattle, WA community. Anandamela, the festival of India is a unique cultural event that bridges east with the west. Organized by ISKCON seattle for the last five years, this event comes in the wake of the festival of colors – Holi that has captured imagination of folks in Redmond and neighboring cities representative of general America. The festival is designed to gradually introduce the general population filled with kama, krodha, and lobha to Krishna consciousness.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19186

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Food For Life – Nepal: Today, 15th Aug 2015, Food For Life Nepal fed hot meals to 100 more students of Panchakanya school. (Album with photos)
The innocent children enquired if they could have such meals everyday. By now FFL Nepal is feeding total of 3… Read more ›

Gurukuli Archives: 7 min video of New Vrindaban Gurukulis from sometime around 1980. Footage courtesy of ITV archives. Compiled and edited by Manu dasa. Songs “Oh Govinda” and “There is a Light” courtesy of Mangalananda dasa (Michael Cassidy).
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/xhmXVi

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Hare Krishna! Bhaktivedanta Hospice: Aid for the Journey Home
Shortly before passing away in Vrindavan, a devotee requested her spiritual master to establish a “Back to Godhead” clinic there for Srila Prabhupada’s followers. The land is adjacent to the parikrama road trod by pilgrims during their devotional walks around Vrindavan. It is a sacred grove of mostly kadamba and tamala trees known as Giriraj Bhag (“Giriraj’s garden”). For five generations it belonged to the family of Sri Padmanabha Goswami, hereditary priests and caretakers of Vrindavan’s Radha-ramana Temple.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15967

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Hare Krishna! Spiritual Need, Pain and Care: Recognition and Response in ISKCON
In this presentation, Hari-dhama dasa discusses an important social issue for the Society: that of providing care for the terminally ill in the movement. Since Vaisnava hol… Read more ›

Hare Krishna! How Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundar and Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Manifested in Jaipur
Sitala devi dasi, a resident of Mayapur Dham, had been ordering deities for ISKCON since 1975. Many temples around the world have used her services to obtain their deities. In the 1990’s the devotees of New Raman Reti asked her to order deities in India for our Temple. “It took a while for consensus to be reached among devotees here as to who should be the Lords of New Raman Reti,” she says. “Once the decision was made, Radha Shyamasundar manifested pretty quickly – about a year from order.” Sitala prabhu’s main service was to place the order with the murti wallah and ensure that the carving was in accordance with the desires of the Temple community. The Pandeys of Jaipur were Yamuna devi dasi’s choice for deity sculptors. She had ordered ISKCON’s first deities herself from them.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19175

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Scenes from Jacksonville Rathayatra -Festival of Chariots – August 15, 2015 (Album with photos) ( Thank you Mahattama Rahla for the great photos)
See them here: https://goo.gl/aXLTiQ Read more ›

Tulsi Gabbard’s (the first Krishna conscious member of the United States Congress) message for Srila Prabhupada’s Journey to USA. (5 min HD Video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/pI93zm

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Hare Krishna! Resources From Girls Home Science Camp.
Among the various areas that the Bhakti Women team serves women in, we are also very inspired to support mothers in empowering their daughters and to honor and value their role as women. We wish for… Read more ›

UAE allocates land for Abu Dhabi’s first Hindu temple.
The Indian government has lauded a decision by the United Arab Emirates to allocate land for the building of the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi.
Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, currently on a two-day trip to the UAE, said on Sunday, that he was thankful to the UAE government, describing the move, “a great step”.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/gmDSCb

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Vancouver Rathyatra 2015 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The Hare Krishna mantra is specifically mentioned in many Upanisads, such as the Kali-santarana Upanishad, where it is said: “After searching through al the Vedic literature, one cannot find a method of religion more sublime for this age than the chanting of Hare Krishna.” (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 3.40 Purport)
See them here: https://goo.gl/0n4gak

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Watch how this nice painting of Radhanath Swami was done, step by step (4 min video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/rZhSyx Read more ›

Sanskrit to be made compulsory in govt schools.
Himachal Pradesh Chief minister Virbhadra Singh on Monday announced that Sanskrit will be introduced as a mandatory subject in all government schools in the state.
Presiding over a meeting at Himachal San… Read more ›

TOVP’s North American Tour – HG Jananivas Das (4 min video)
His Grace Jananivas Das describes his experiences during the TOVP North American fundraising tour.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/Bq7Jbz

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Hare Krishna! Visitor From Calcutta
I first see him just after crossing the Bowery at Houston Street. As he passes before the iron-mesh fence of a playground, I distinctly glimpse the aura of saintliness. I watch him through the rushing traffic and stumbling derelicts. He strolls almost jauntily down the sidewalk. He is an old man whom age has never touched. Aloof from the people and bustle about him, he walks proudly, independently, his hand in a cloth beadbag. He wears the saffron robes of a sannyasi, and on his feet are quaint, pointed white shoes. Only seven months ago, I had seen many saffron-robed monks and holymen walking the dirt roads of Hardwar and Rishikesh, and stopping beside the Ganges to bathe. For me, that had been a futile journey to the mystic East in search of the all-knowing guru. But now—what’s this?
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19143

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Harinama in Moscow, Russia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: When there is large-scale congregational chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, we keep our temples open for everyone to join, and by the grace of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu this policy … Read more ›

Kidsstorytime videos from LightOfGodhead
Recently we started kids story time in an innovative way. We pick three stories weekly and let kids read/summarize and have engaging discussions with kids on Krsna conscious concepts. As we call “storytime” we break the barrier kids may have and this concept is creating magic. They have become very interested to these sessions and actively participate.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19140

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Hare Krishna! Rose Forkash (FOLK) soon a member of the Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya Sampradaya
Giriraj Swami: By Srila Prabhupada’s causeless mercy, Rose Forkash, who developed the Friends of Lord Krishna (FOLK) program with Srila Prabhupada’s direct encouragement and guidance, will receive initiation at my ashram in Carpinteria on Wednesday, August 19, between 10 a.m. and noon. She is four weeks away from her ninety-fifth birthday. Please bless her that she achieves complete success in Krishna consciousness in this very lifetime.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19137

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Seventh Annual Ratha Yatra At Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Devotees of the Harrisburg, PA nama hatta (Institute of Higher Understanding, IoHU, under His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada) cordially invite you to the seventh annual Ra… Read more ›

Invitation to Farm Conference Novelle Mayapura FRANCE 16th, 17th, 18th Sept 2015
The Conference is open to those who have an interest in or are actually practiced in rural development, agriculture, handicrafts, horticulture, protected dairying, ox draf… Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Krishna Kirtan’s Continued Journey
For those of you who read the previous Iskcon Prison Ministry news, you will remember that inmate bhakta, Richard Chase—affectionately nicknamed “Krishna Kirtan”by Sarva-drik prabhu—was very well situated in a prison in Petersburg, Virginia where he had started what became a very successful and popular Hare Krishna program at the chapel library. Last year, however, he was transferred to a prison in Lisbon, Ohio where the chaplains were quite inimical toward Krishna Consciousness and who prevented him from starting a Hare Krishna program at their chapel. However, after some tribulations in Lisbon, Krishna Kirtan has been transferred back to the Petersburg prison, back in the swing of things! Sarva-drik prabhu is still visiting and leading amazing programs, which are enthusiastically attended by many inmates! Below Krishna Kirtan recounts the first dream he had of Prabhupada, in 2006.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19128

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Hare Krishna! Mercy and Compassion Flows through our Sampradaya
Lord Chaitanya predicted that the glories of the Holy Names of the Mahamantra would take place in every town and village throughout the world. This energy was reflected in the person of Srila Bhaktivinode Thakur who wrote of the Bhagawat and sent a copy of this book to Canada around the time of our Srila Prabhupad’s appearance. The great carrier of that mercy was illuminated by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupad. He gave the order to Abhay Charan De, later known as His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupad, to present the teaching of Krishna consciousness in the English language. Our Srila Prabhupad passionately and methodically took this order to heart and both translated Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition into English, and inaugurated the Back to Godhead magazine.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19124

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Hare Krishna! DIARY OF A TRAVELING MONK – Volume 14, Chapter 5 – August 17, 2015 – “Our Happy Summer Days”
Indradyumna Swami: After a month of harinams and festivals and a mammoth three-day Woodstock festival, our tour devotees were exhausted. When I mentioned during a meeting that we had seventeen more festivals to go, I saw many devotees catch their breath and roll their eyes upward. “It’s our duty,” I said. “We can’t give up, we can’t give in. We’ve inherited a tradition that goes back five hundred years. Many great devotees have served selflessly for this very moment that we are living: when the holy names of Lord Krishna are being broadcast all over the world. We have to push on for this next month. So much can be achieved.” There was a loud roar of approval. I felt proud of the devotees. They understood the responsibility we had and the mercy we could deliver. They were ready to push on despite their fatigue.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19120

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Hare Krishna! 14 different melodical renditions of Jayapataka Swami’s song: “Yadi Prabhupada Na Hoito” (14 short musical videos by different artists)
Some of the lyrics: Who else would have tolerated all difficulties, and distributed Harinama with a pleasant heart? Who would have given us the dhamas such as Mayapur, Vrindavan and Jagannatha Puri? The teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu constitute the greatest and most auspicious treasure. Who else would have engaged us in constantly practicing and preaching it? Sri Sri Nitai Gaura are desire trees of love of Godhead. Desiring a drop of Their mercy, Jayapataka’s heart incessantly takes shelter of Your Divine grace.
Watch them here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19114

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Lord Krishna: “I am the ability in man…” (8 min video)
This is a beautiful painting of Srila Prabhupada by DasArts.
You can watch the video of the artist as he was creating it with digital painting here: https://goo.gl/5qKx9N

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Rathayatra Festival in Saint Petersburg, Russia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: It is the spiritual master who delivers the disciple from the clutches of maya by initiating him into the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. In this way a slee… Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Musical Symphony at 50th Anniversary on the song “Yadi Prabhupada Na Hoito” (12 min video)
Lyirics: If Srila Prabhupada had not come, what would have happened? How could we have passed our lives? Who else would have distributed the unlimited mercy of Lord Nityananda and Lord Gauranga all over the world? Which other compassionate person would have endeavoured to deliver the miscreants , sinful, impersonalistic and voidistic people in the West? Who else would have come to distribute Harinama to them? Who else would have come forward to transform them into civilized beings? Who else would have taught them how to worship the Deity form of Lord Hari day and night with arati-kirtana, and how to conduct the Ratha-yatra and
other grand festivals?
Watch it here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19110

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