Author Archives: Admin108

Ratha Yatra in Munich, Germany (Album with photos)
Everyone should be given a chance to take prasada and thus be induced to chant the holy names of Hare Krishna and also dance in ecstasy. By these three processes, although performed without knowledge o… Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Serving Prabhupada Together
Giriraj Swami and Shyamasundar Prabhu: One of the programs that I remember best was a midday program at the home of Ramchand Chabria. He invited a lot of big people, including Sadajivatlal. Now, Sadajivatlal was, in a nice way, a Hindu chauvinist. And while everyone was mingling, he somehow sat down next to me and began telling me about the glories of India’s heritage. He just went on about the superiority of Indian culture, focusing on Indian sweets. He said, “What do you have in America? Only chocolates and cake–that’s it. And we, just from milk and sugar, have burfi, pera, sandesa, rasagulla, rasamalai, rabri, gulabjamun–more than one hundred varieties.” He just went on and on. “And then with grains there is halava, malpura, jalebi, laddu, khir …” Just on that point he was completely smashing Western culture and establishing the superiority of India’s.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=1899

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Hare Krishna! Devotees carry out founder’s wish for temple made 44 years ago
WHEN His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada visited Malaysia in 1971, he had a vision for a Krishna temple to be built in Penang. The founder of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) had then drawn a rough sketch of the temple and left instructions for the devotees here to follow. It was quite a tall order but the devotees will soon see the fruits of their labour when the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple of Devotion and Understanding in Bandar Seberang Jaya officially opens on Aug 29.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18641

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Hare Krishna! Whatever Happened to the Revolution?
Padmapani das: For many of us who came of age in the Sixties and Seventies, the counterculture and its promise of an alternative society based on love and peace was an important part of our lives. Art, music, poetry, philosophy, ecology and human rights were just a few of the buzzwords floating around the collective psyche of the Sixties generation. Revolution was in the air. “The establishment” was doomed and soon to be replaced with a kinder, gentler society. Peace would reign supreme and all peoples of the world would unite and be free from the chains of oppression. Or so we thought. At the time, it appeared that massive cultural changes were about to sweep away the capitalist system (or the “military-industrial-complex” as we used to call it). Every day there was a new victory for change.
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Hare Krishna! 34th annual Baroda Jagannath Rathayatra festival 2015
The Jagannath Rathayatra festival was seen by approximately four lakhs (400,000) local residents. Many devotees commented that the size of the crowds right from the Railway Station wer… Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Sumati Morarjee and Prabhupada’s Journey West
Satyaraja Dasa: Sumati Morarjee first saw Srila Prabhupada in the 1950s at Kurukshetra, where Lord Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gita. She later told an audience of his followers that he was sitting under a tree, chanting on beads. Sensing that he was a distinguished sadhu, she approached him, hoping to receive his blessings. At the time he hadn’t yet taken sannyasa, the renounced order of life, and was thus still a married man. Nonetheless, she was impressed with his humility and devotion, and she mentioned this to him when they met again in Bombay. By that time Prabhupada was a swami asking her for help in getting to America. He had met a gentleman named Mr. Agarwal, a Mathura businessman, and had mentioned that he wanted to go to the West to fulfill the order of his spiritual master to preach the message of Lord Chaitanya in English.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18632

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Hare Krishna! Rameswaram Yatra
Rameswaram is situated at the extreme south end of India on the Gulf of Mannar. The island is in the shape of a conch shell, 55 km by 12 km. It is one of the most prominent holiest pilgrimage places in India. Srimad-Bhagavatam (canto 10 chapter 79 verses 16-17) states that Lord Balarama visited “Setubandha [Rameswaram]” in the course of His pilgrimage. Lord Caitanya also visited Rameswaram during His South India tour as mentioned in Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila Chapter 9 verses 199-209. Rameswaram is tropical island surrounded by coral reefs and sandy beaches with coconut palms and tamarind trees. It is a major centre of pilgrimage. The Sri Ramanathaswamy temple is one of the most important in India. It is a massive complex with a number of shrines, holy wells, gopurams, and several long hallways, one reaching 4000 feet in length, the longest in the world.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18620

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Hare Krishna! Time and Again
Creation, maintenance, and destruction in the course of time are not features of the spiritual nature. The Upanishads say that before the creation there was no Brahma and no Siva, no sun, stars, or sky. There was only Vishnu, His expansions, and the pure souls who have no desire for a life separate from Him. With only Vishnu, and no Siva or Brahma, there is only maintenance, with no creation or destruction. Time exists in the spiritual nature without its destructive side, and without the type of creative side that is merely destruction’s necessary counterpart. And yet the spiritual nature is said to be full of activity, more so than its material reflection. Lord Vishnu and His devotee servants expand spiritually there to enrich, vary, and perpetually increase the pastimes of blissful loving devotion.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18617

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TOVP – Sadbhuja Das: The inside of the inner domes, main dome and Lord Nrsimhadeva’s, will have a coffered ceiling. Here we can see a full size prototype of the ceiling segment.
See the photos here: https://goo.gl/dc65Nm

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TOVP: New Materials – Burmese Teak Wood for Windows and Doors
(Album with photos)
Teak wood is a naturally grown wood from Myanmar (previously Burma). This wood is known for its superb stability, good strength, easy workability, bug proof- and most of all, its outstanding resistance to decay. It basically last for ever.
Burmese teak wood is exported all over the world for its quality.
Sadbhuja Prabhu personally travelled to Myanmar to negotiate the best price and pick the best quality of wood.
This wood will be used for all windows and doors in the Temple.
This is the 2,600 years old Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon (Myanmar capital) where it is believed to hold eight hairs of Bhudda.
See them here: https://goo.gl/GlZ0aT

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Berkeley’s 49th Ratha Yatra Festival 2015
The “Festival of the Chariots,” known throughout India as the “Ratha Yatra” festival, has been performed for thousands of years in Puri, India, and today it is celebrated in all major cities through out the world. More than 3,000 people attend each year in San Francisco alone.
Typically at this annual interactive parade, people pull three large chariots by ropes throughout Golden Gate Park, ending at Sharon Meadow on the corner of JFK Dr. and Stanyan Street around 1 pm for the Festival of India.
Look forward to a free vegetarian meal, live music, ancient Indian dances, exhibits, books, and more.
49th Annual Festival of the Chariots
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
– Parade Begins: 11 am (JFK & Transverse, GG Park)
– Festival: 1 pm (Sharon Meadow)
Read the entire article here: https://goo.gl/APzsA9

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Hare Krishna! Iskcon 50th year anniversary – kindly help!
The Hon”ble Chief Minister of West Bengal (Ms. Mamata Banerjee) & UP (Mr. Akhilesh yadav), Governor of West Bengal, Ms. Kiran Bedi , the Secretary General of the United Nations Mr. Ban Ki Moon and host of other VVIP’s will be present for the occasion. We have ordered to make a sculptor of Srila Prabhupada boarding Jaladuta and alighting from Jaladuta for Kolkata and Boston by famous sculptor from Kiev, Ukrain. We are expecting that the Mayor of Boston to be present, and Mayor of Kolkata has confirmed his presence at the program. So the plan is that Mayor of Kiev will hand over the sculpture to Mayor of Boston (Hopefully he will confirm his participation) and Kolkata respectively. We are also working on to ship the Boston sculpture to be shipped to boston taking same route Srila Prabhupada took 50 years ago.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18612

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Hare Krishna! Rathayatra: When the Lord Comes Out, Let’s Invite Him In
While in Dwarka, Krishna heard about their love-afflicted plight. In amazement, His mouth fell open, His eyes became large, and His limbs became motionless and withdrew into themselves just as His consciousness withdrew from everything else to focus on His devotees. And Krishna became Jagannatha. The celestial sage Narada blissfully beheld this extraordinary form and begged the Lord to bless everyone with its divine darshana. His desire was fulfilled through a later king, named Indradyumna, whose haste-induced error turned out to be part of a divine plan, as narrated in the Skanda Purana and the Brahma Purana.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18609

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Hare Krishna! Sri Jagannath Rath Yatra – A manifestation of the spirit of Vasudhaivam Kutumbakam
Jagannath Puri is one of the most important holy places of this planet. It was here where this Rath yatra originated and the date of origin goes back to Satya-yuga (beginning of cosmological era) as the temple was inaugurated around that time as per the scripture Skanda Purana. There is also information in other scriptures that mentions about Rath yatra being celebrated in 3rd century BC and credits it to King Pandyavijaya, a devotee of Lord from south India. But with reference to present age, one can say the Rath yatra of Lord Jagannath is going on since time immemorial and there is not much information available regarding the nature of celebrations during yore days.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18606

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Hare Krishna! My Sources of Inspiration
I came to the United States in September of 2000 to pursue the great American dream. I was twenty-three, had just finished medical school in India, and had secured a residency spot with The Ohio State University Medical Center, one of the top internal medicine residency programs in the country. My apartment was but a few blocks away from the medical center, which I soon discovered was just across the street from an ISKCON temple. During my residency, I started visiting the temple regularly for pious association, prasada, and some peace from a hectic life of training. The devotees were nice; they never “preached” to me but always gave me prasada and encouraged me to join the kirtanas. Over time, I made friends with lots of devotees and slowly started relishing going to the temple. Then, in May 2003, something special happened. I overheard devotees talking about an upcoming festival at New Vrindavan, the ISKCON farm community in West Virginia.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18603

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Hare Krishna! Miracle Day in Stockholm – Book Distribution with Maha-Harinam
A few amazing things happened during the book distribution, things which only happen when one is out of the mental platform, when the mind is not in between you and the person you meet. For example, there were two boys who bought books, they said they were from Dalarna County, and without any thinking I just exclaimed, “From Avesta?” “Yes”, they said, completely astonished. There was a living statue standing in Gamla Stan, with outstretched arms with slighly bent fingers in a graspable position. It looked so inviting, as if something was missing there, so I got inspired, couldn´t resist to place a Srimad Bhagavatam in the hands of her. Paramesvari devi dasi helped me with this delicate task.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18597

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Even bears and monkeys join the Sankirtana movement! (7 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: One is understood to be an eternal servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead if he considers himself a servant of the holy name and in this spirit distributes the … Read more ›

Simply Wonderful Harinam in Prague, Czech Republic (Album with photos)
Harinama sankirtana and book distribution are 2 sides of one arrow to hit the target of making people Krishna conscious. Srila Prabhupada had such an ambitious plan to change the world, because harer nam harer nama harer nama eva kevalam: “Harinama is the only way for spiritual perfection in this age.” But Prabhupada saw that people don’t have time, nor the inclination. This modern society makes the people into demons. So this simple life is very conducive for spiritual advancement.
See them here: https://goo.gl/g2QLoH

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Hare Krishna! Compassion Well Placed
Srila Prabhupada: When a person is advanced in spiritual consciousness, or Krsna consciousness, he naturally becomes very sympathetic toward all living entities suffering in the material world. Naturally such an advanced person thinks of the suffering of the people in general. However, if one does not know of the material sufferings of fallen souls and becomes sympathetic because of bodily comforts, … such sympathy or compassion is the cause of one’s downfall. If one is actually sympathetic to fallen, suffering humanity, he should try to elevate people from material consciousness to spiritual consciousness. … As far as the material body is concerned, we cannot do anything for anyone.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18593

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We cannot love God and not love every living entity
Radhanath Swami: We cannot love God and not love every living entity. The testimony of the authenticity of our love for God is how it extends to everyone. When we love God, we see a part of God in every heart beyond the superficial differences we saw earlier. But also, in order to achieve that love of God—through the chanting of God’s names and the practice of bhakti— it is an elementary practice of bhakti to be amanina mana-dena — to honor and respect others and feel oneself the servant of all beings.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/7EvTgZ

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Seeing God and Helping the Blind (3 min video)
Radhanath Swami offers heartfelt observations about the “eye camps” he organizes in the holy land of Varsana, India, where the impoverished are treated for various eye diseases. Doctors from all over the world who provide this service free of charge, amazingly, consider their acts as their own humble efforts to “see” God.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/UJiMcm

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Muslim Devotees of Krsna – Launched
The book – “Muslim Devotees of Krsna” was launched by HH Bhakti Vikasa Swami during Baroda Ratha Yatra festival on 18th July, 2015. The book contains synopsis of biographies and works of thirty Vaisnavas from Islamic background. This book has been reviewed by Srila Chandramauli Swami, Srila Hanumatpresaka Swami, and other eminent devotee and Islamic scholars.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18590

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Karuna-avatara – Guna-grahi & Kirtan for the Soul (15 min musical video)
Melodious rendition of the mahamantra with chorus and good quality recording.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/urCgu1

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TOVP Universal Chandelier Video Presentation (5 min video)
The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium is named as such because within its main dome it will house a 3-dimensional, moving model of the universe according to the Vedic scriptures. This explanation… Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Spiritualizing The Fillmore Jazz Festival of San Francisco
The Fillmore Jazz Festival of San Francisco is the biggest free jazz festival on the West Coast attracting a variety of jazz enthusiasts from all over the state of California. Int… Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Rath Yatra in Kisumu – Kenya
The Lake shore city of Kenya –Kisumu, celebrated its annual Rath Yatra on the 18th of July, coinciding with the Puri Rath Yatra, and IDD- UL-FTR. Taking advantage of the auspicious date, the Kisumu devotees organized the festival in less than a week. 127 devotees travelled from the capital city Nairobi covering a total distance of approx.355kms to participate in the event. Kisumu devotees are known for their hospitality and very delicious Prasadam that was served three times a day at the temple premises to everyone who was present days before the festival started and after as well.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18581

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A super dynamic and happy Harinama in Prague, Czech Republic (5 min video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/AMY3Vl Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Prime Minister of India Extends his Good wishes for the Kolkata Event
Devotees can book their seat at Netaji Indoor stadium through our website: www.iskconkolkata.com Also humbly request to take the 4 or 5 print out of the attached poster… Read more ›

Dublin Festival Temple Bar (Album with 43 photos)
For one month we are staying in Ireland putting on a hall festival every Thursday. Here are the pictures from Dublin festival. There was dance, drama, a talk, a fired up final Kirtan with everyone danci… Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Why Is the Bhagavad-gita So Pessimistic?
Here’s my short four-point answer: • The Bhagavad-gita is not pessimistic, but realistic; the reality is that the pleasure-pain balance of the world is tilted heavily toward the pain side. • Even if we still consider the Gita philosophy pessimistic, that pessimism is only initial, not final. In its conclusion, the Gita offers a supremely optimistic message. • Even the best worldly optimism pales and fails in front of the longing of our heart, a longing fulfilled only by the vision of reality offered by the Gita. • The Gita doesn’t teach us to reject this world for the spiritual world, but to harmonize this world with the spiritual world. Let’s look at these points systematically.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18574

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Hare Krishna! My Experiences And Associations With Srila Prabhupada
Bhakti Caru Swami: They asked Srila Prabhupada, ‘Why are you converting the Christians into Hindus?’ Prabhupada’s response was, ‘No, I am not converting Christians into Hindus or Muslims into Jews. I am simply making better Christians out of Christians, better Jews out of Jews and better Muslims out of Muslims, better Hindus out of Hindus. Prabhupada is situating them in their perfect identity. Jesus came and spoke. Who is a Christian? A true follower of Jesus Christ is a Christian. And what did Jesus preach? Jesus simply spoke about God, the Father. Who is God the Father? Are there many Fathers? Are there many God, the Fathers? There is only one God, the Father. So that God, the Father is Krsna. Who is Allah? Is there any difference between God, Allah, Krishna, Jehovah? So we have to understand that essential truth. If that essential truth is properly understood, then there cannot be any conflict between different religions.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18571

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Hare Krishna! Celebration of Lord Jagannatha Rathayatra Festival in Canberra, Australia
By the mercy of Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra and His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada we had wonderful Lord Jagannatha Rathayatra in Canberra, Australia on 18 July 2015. The Hare Krishna (ISKCON) Canberra devotees along with local community members celebrated Rathayatra Festival seeking the blessings of Their Lordships. Fortunately 18 July 2015 coincided with this year’s actual date of Lord Jagannatha Rathayatra at Sri Ksetra Jagannatha Puri Dhama; especially this year marking the first Rath Yatra with Nabakalebara Deities at Jagannatha Puri. Please find below Rathayatra photos and videos.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18563

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Tulsi Gabbard (U.S. Politician and devotee of Shri Krishna) met leading members of ISKCON Radhanath Swami and Vaisesika Prabhu! Read more ›

Hare Krishna! The Krishna-Approaching Body
Ravindra Svarupa dasa: As soon as I am desiring something, immediately my body is formed. Immediately a particular type of body begins to form, and as soon as I am mature to change, my next body I get accordin… Read more ›

Latest album of beautiful photos from the Hare Krishna Festival Tour in Poland
Indradyumna Swami: If public opinion were to gage the popularity of our festivals I’d like to think we’d get, “ten out ten.” Both on the streets when we do harinama and at the festivals, people show their appreciation with great enthusiasm. What more could a devotee ask for?
“Incessantly they discuss the narrations of Sri Krsna ’s pastimes which bestow pure devotion. Overwhelmed with ecstasy they preach the Maha-mantra throughout the earth when Gaura descends to destroy the sins of the age of Kali.” [ Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Susloka Sarakam, verse 77 ]
See them here: https://goo.gl/SsDYTy

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2nd day – New Zealand Kirtan Festival 2015 (19.7.15) (Album with photos)
Devotees immersed in joyful singing and dancing in front of the beautiful Sri Sri Radha Giridhari @ ISKCON Hare Krishna Auckland Temple during the 2nd Day of the 3rd New Zealand K… Read more ›

Professional, HR photos from the Rathayatra festival in Prague, capital of the Czech Republic.
See them here: http://goo.gl/eipBkU Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Surfing or Suffering?
Sometimes when sitting on the beach blanket in New Jersey, Srila Prabhupada would look out at the waves while chanting japa. He was very beautiful and serene, always absorbed in Krishna, yet also carefully scrutinizing the world around him. On some days there were big waves and surfer boys would be out, swimming and surfing in the waves. Srila Prabhupada watched with great interest as they mounted their boards and slid down the faces of the waves. He asked us: “What is this?” Gaurasundara and I replied that this is a sport called “surfing” … Srila Prabhupada watched intently for some time, then began to chuckle. He said: “You call it surfing; I call it suffering. They are simply wasting their valuable human form of life by jumping in the ocean waves. They have no idea what will happen next. If they become so much fond of remaining on the ocean, then Krishna is very kind: he will satisfy their desire and give them bodies of fishes so that they can enjoy jumping in the ocean more and more, but that will be greater suffering . So I call them sufferers, not surfers.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18555

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Hare Krishna! Tears of Sorrow, Tears of Gratitude: Seeing Krishna’s Hand in the Tragic Deaths of Devotees
The name of this all-consuming disaster is the relentless approach of death: A hundred percent of the people reading this article will be wiped out a hundred years from today. Despite this hundred-percent casualty rate, most of us don’t feel that life is like a disaster movie. One reason is that the movie of life unfolds in slow motion, allowing us to forget the direction of its motion if we want to. And we fervently want to. Why? Because the reality of death is inconvenient and unpleasant for us. It ruins our hopes for success and glory in the material realm. So we want to forget it. And forget we do.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18551

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Badrinarayana Dasa Goswami’s presentation about ISKCON Worldwide – 7-20-15, Los Angeles (31 min video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/pPMLrT

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