Author Archives: Admin108

Hare Krishna! Tamil Bhagavad Darishanam Festival 2015, Vellore
The 4th Annual Tamil Bhagavad Darishanam, or Tamil edition of Back To Godhead Festival took place in Vellore on Saturday, 9th May 2015 at the Jayaram Chetty Hall in Vellore city, Tamil Nadu… Read more ›

What it Means to be Detached, by Radhanath Swami
Question: I am married and have a family with certain responsibilities. Recently I took up the spiritual practice of Bhakti-yoga and heard about ‘detachment’ as one of the principles. With so many responsibilities how can I practice this principle? Radhanath Swami: We have to understand from Bhagavad-Gita, what it means to be detached. To be detached means that you are attached to the service but you are detached from the results of the service for your personal enjoyment. Arjuna was a warrior and his duty was to fight. Lord Krishna told him, “You must fight. You must fight better than anyone else. You must fight with care, with conviction, and with all your intelligence, strength and energy; but fight for me. Do not fight according to your own will, but according to my directions. This is the responsibility that I am giving you.” It is detachment that Krishna is herein teaching Arjuna. For instance, if you have a child, that means God is giving you that child. You are the secondary father but God is the primary father and he has the ultimate proprietorship. You are only a father on his behalf but he is the father. Therefore, you have a great responsibility to be a father on behalf of God and to raise that child according to His will and not according to your whims. If you neglect your duty and your responsibility, you are not on the path of God consciousness.

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Harinam in ancient Prague, Czech Republic (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… Read more ›

Heaven On Earth (6 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: It was ‘heaven on earth’ as myself, Bada Haridas and Chaturatma spent our last day in St. Petersburg chanting Hare Krsna and dancing in ecstacy with all the wonderful devotees in the temple. Special moments that we will remember and cherish until we return again.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/qJrNBE

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Hare Krishna! Second Ratha Yatra at Surabaya, Indonesia
Ratha Yatra on Narasimha Caturdasi, a wonderful coincidence or two pastimes on the same day. On the auspicious day of Lord Narasimha’s appearance day, a flood of mercy swept out the second biggest city of Indonesia, Surabaya. Lord Jagannath, His brother Lord Balarama, and His beloved sister Subadra Devi on his ratha yatra chariot bestowed Their causeless mercy to the citizens of Surabaya on this year’s Flower and Cultural parade commemorating the anniversary of Surabaya city on May 3, 2015. This being the second Ratha Yatra in Surabaya.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17350

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Hare Krishna! Second Ratha Yatra at Surabaya, Indonesia
Ratha Yatra on Narasimha Caturdasi, a wonderful coincidence or two pastimes on the same day. On the auspicious day of Lord Narasimha’s appearance day, a flood of mercy swept out the second biggest city of Indonesia, Surabaya. Lord Jagannath, His brother Lord Balarama, and His beloved sister Subadra Devi on his ratha yatra chariot bestowed Their causeless mercy to the citizens of Surabaya on this year’s Flower and Cultural parade commemorating the anniversary of Surabaya city on May 3, 2015. This being the second Ratha Yatra in Surabaya.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17350

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Hare Krishna! ToVP Newsletter: April – June 2015
Never before seen design sketches! The artists and architects have been hard at work designing the temple to make it look more beautiful than any other in the world. Their sketches fill the art room walls with color and wonder, sastric books are stacked high on the large conference table for reference and drawing materials are strewn about as if a tornado hit the room. We have been anxiously waiting for some approved sketches to show all of you what ‘out of this world’ progress is being made, and now, for your pleasure, we have some.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17338

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Hare Krishna! Why to become fan of lesser mortals who shatter our emotions?
Stars of this world are mortal beings, they are infinitesimal. Their name and fame stays with them for a limited period of time. In fact Krishna is the original superstar becau… Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Sri Bhishma-Stuti: A Prayer from the bed of arrows
NBS # 12: This edition is in honour of Sri Bhishmadeva, the pure devotee of the Lord who conquered Him on the battlefield of Kurukshetra! 1) Lord Krishna And Bhishmadeva 2) An Exchange Of Transcendental Pleasure 3) Yudhisthira’s Sorrow 4) Various Rishis Assembled To Witness The Passing Of Bhishmadev 5) Bhismadeva’s Prayer To Lord Krishna 6) Why Was Bhishma So Dear to Krishna?
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17329

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Hare Krishna! TOVP Tour Daily Diary: Day 45-47, Programs in Portland, Boise and San Jose, Silicon Valley
The San Jose Temple (ISV) is home to some of the biggest book distribution scores in North America. This dedicated team of grhastha devotees living outside the temple, under the inspiration and guidance of His Grace Vaisesika prabhu, distributes almost as many books as some of North America’s full-time book distributors. On the weekend before our arrival they had distributed 14 full sets of Srimad Bhagavatams, along with many other books, and they now have over 150 youngsters going out weekly in teams.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17322

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ISKCON Manchester, UK: Hare Krishna event and free food festival returns to city
Hundreds of Hare Krishna devotees will parade through a Sheffield park when a festival returns for its second year. The Sheffield Rathayatra is taking place from 1pm in E… Read more ›

Harinama in the central park of Moscow (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: When a Vedic mantra is chanted within the mouth so that only the chanter can hear, the chanting is called japa. But when such mantras are chanted loudly it is called kirtana. … Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Vaishnava Etiquette
Folding his hands, Sanatana Gosvami said, “My Lord, You ordered me to write a directory about the activities of Vaishnavas. I am a most lowborn person. I have no knowledge of good behavior. How is it possible for me to write authorized directions about Vaishnava activities?” Sanatana Gosvami then requested the Lord, “Please personally tell me how I can write this difficult book about Vaishnava behavior. Please manifest Yourself in my heart. If You would please manifest Yourself within my heart and personally direct me in writing this book, then, although I am lowborn, I may hope to be able to write it.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17318

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You most surely never have seen a bus like this before! (Album with photos)
Check this new look of the traveling Harinam Sankirtan bus from the devotees of the Shri Harinam Mandir in their 4th year of traveling!
See them here: https://goo.gl/HNv78s Read more ›

Hare Krishna! The Extra Plants
Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita metaphorically describes love of God as a creeper, or vine. The following story is based on that metaphor. I reared my head like a cobra, not to strike at someone but to catch the sun. Holding a… Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Questions and answers about the Sannyasa Asrama in Iskcon
This is the audio recording from a Lecture by Prahladananda Swami – SB 2.7.18 “Questions About Sannyasa Asrama” at Radhadesh (Celibacy) with interesting questions and answers about the sannyasa asrama in Iskcon. How, when and why one devotee should enter the sannyasa asrama. Includes also some history about how the sannyasa asrama was established in Iskcon and some of its results.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17310

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Hare Krishna! Ramayana Festival 2015 by Lil’ Krishna Kidz (ISKCON of Silicon Valley)
I would like to bring to your notice regarding the current event “Ramayana Festival 2015″ conducted at Scott Lane Elementary School, Santa Clara, California. More than 120 kids participated in this event, we have a Lego competition about the Ramayana theme. INDTV covered the whole event for live telecast.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17305

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KK Bindu #350: The latest issue of Sri Krishna-kathamrita Bindu e-magazine was just released. Gour Govinda Swami on sex in grhastha ashram.
* EATING HABITS DURING EMERGENCIES – Some collectedinstructions of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
* NOT FOR SENSE ENJOYMENT – Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swamispeaks about sex-life in devotee marriages.
* THE FIRST ATTRACTION — PART 16 – Continuation of a fresh translationdone especially for Bindu from Srila Jiva Goswami’s Gopala Campuh, speakingabout how Radha and Krishna first met.
It can be downloaded here: https://archive.org/details/bindu350

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Hare Krishna! Haryana Chief Minister inaugurates ISKCON RathaYatra at Karnal
By the blessings of Srila Prabhupada, this year also we had very wonderful Lord Jagannatha Rath Yatra festival at Karnal. This rath yatra was inaugurated by Honorable chief mi… Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Haryana Chief Minister inaugurates ISKCON RathaYatra at Karnal
By the blessings of Srila Prabhupada, this year also we had very wonderful Lord Jagannatha Rath Yatra festival at Karnal. This rath yatra was inaugurated by Honorable chief mi… Read more ›

Shri Radhe ~ A Music Video Without Borders (5 min video)
A promo for a new musical production by Krishna’s devotees
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/0gsTst

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Hare Krishna! What’s Wrong with Sex?
When the media assault our eyes with images of half-naked bodies, lawmakers fight back with anti-obscenity laws, and the media complain that the government is policing personal morality. “Who are you to restrict our sexual enjoyment?” cry the libertines. “Ubiquitous sexuality,” say the cultural conservatives, “degrades society.” Everyone cherishes the right to enjoy life, and libertines, to defend themselves, appeal to this right. But could they be defeating the very purpose they claim to champion? Could moral restrictions on sexuality uphold, rather than impede, our right to enjoy life?
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17299

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Hare Krishna! What’s Wrong with Sex?
When the media assault our eyes with images of half-naked bodies, lawmakers fight back with anti-obscenity laws, and the media complain that the government is policing personal morality. “Who are you to restrict our sexual enjoyment?” cry the libertines. “Ubiquitous sexuality,” say the cultural conservatives, “degrades society.” Everyone cherishes the right to enjoy life, and libertines, to defend themselves, appeal to this right. But could they be defeating the very purpose they claim to champion? Could moral restrictions on sexuality uphold, rather than impede, our right to enjoy life?
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17299

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Jayapataka Swami’s Health update 12/5/15 (3 min video)
Jayapataka Swami: To My dear disciples and dear well wishers, I was praying to the deities for the various disciples , grand disciples , GBC’s bureau to receive and the content providers of the TOVP exhibhits and TOVP in general. And I was praying that if I have to leave Mayapur that deities are well taken care of. So with your prayers, I wanted to leave that day to Delhi but apparently I was unconscious and I went to the local hospital in Kolkatta. So as a message, I would just like to say please follow Purushottam month, chant Hare Krsna, read Srila Prabhupada books, stay in Prabhupada’s ISKCON and Gauranga!!!.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/YE3t1A

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Brisbane Ratha-Yatra. Part 2. (Album with photos)
See them here: https://goo.gl/s86eLp Read more ›

Sexual entanglement
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 03 April 2015, Durban, South Africa, Ratha Yatra Lecture: Sexuality and Spirituality)
I saw in Mangosuthu, Umlazi (in Durban), just outside the university, that abortion was safe, happens on the same day and for only R200. Cheap and best! So, just see, problem solved. But what about the karma… the karma for murder… the charges? Because abortion is murder! Murder in the womb because there is a living being in there. When the baby is out of the womb and if you cut its throat, they will come to pick you up, right? The guys with the blue lights, they will take you in. With abortion, not so much happens now but after this life, the reactions come. Karmic reactions come.
Read the entire article here: https://goo.gl/XrF6vK

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DID – Dance India Dance parody by Gaurava 🙂 (2 min video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/zNctHN Read more ›

Devotees celebrate WWII victory celebrations in Moscow in their own way! (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: A pure devotee cannot forget the Supreme Lord for a moment, and similarly the Supreme Lord cannot forget His pure devotee for a moment. This … Read more ›

This devotee, Gaura Nataraj das (Aleksey Furdak) performed Bharatha Natyam in a Metro Station in USA. His Reply to the Haters was Awesome!
“Who goes to see classical dance or music performances? Elderly people and other musicians and dancers! Of course the subway is not the best place where the art can be appreciated. But nevertheless there were so many people who were touched by my performance and expressed their gratitude. But they would never go to see classical dance or music performance in the theater. So maybe it was their only opportunity to encounter this beautiful art. And if you still think that what I did is unacceptable and crazy… well, love makes us do crazy things. As Kulashekara Alvar says in his Mukunda Mala Stotra: “My mind cannot turn from Sri Krishna’s lotus feet, even for a moment. So let my dear ones and other relatives criticize me, my superiors accept or reject me as they like, the common people spread evil gossip about me, and my family’s reputation be sullied. For a madman like me, it is honor enough to feel this flood of love of Godhead, which brings such sweet emotions of attraction for my Lord.”
Watch the video and read the rest of the article here: http://goo.gl/ZDVojw

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By His Mercy (4 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Each time we come to Russia our visit to the St. Petersburg yatra is one of the highlights of our tour. Our visit this past week was no exception, as we had kirtan for hours each day with hundreds of devotees in their center downtown. All glories to Srila Prabhupada, by whose mercy the chanting of Lord Krsna’s holy names have spread to every town and village in this land!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/coLYVz

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Hare Krishna! The Best Benediction
Some people fantasize about accumulating immense wealth and dream of what they would buy if they only had enough. To them, happiness hovers elusively on the other side of that new car, that big house, that diamond necklace. While many of us will say, “Money can’t buy happiness,” do we really believe it? If not money, what is the solution to our hankerings? What is the greatest treasure that will bring true happiness? And how do we acquire that treasure? Srila Prabhupada answers these questions in one of his purports, which recounts the story of a fortunate brahmana who sought the best benediction from Lord Siva
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17294

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Harinama in Prague (Album with 200 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Fire will act, regardless of whether handled by an innocent child or by someone well aware of its power. Similarly, one may or may not know the power of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, but … Read more ›

Hare Krishna! Parenting as Service to God
The best parents are good role models for their children. They demonstrate the spiritual way of life through words and deeds, understanding that children learn what they live. They seek out other parents or families trying to raise God-conscious children. In this way, they create a much-needed support system. Truly “It takes a village to raise a child.” (Ancient African Proverb).
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17291

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Day 15 FOOD FOR LIFE NEPAL 10th May 2015 Nuwakot (Album with photos)
After the 15 days of massive Earthquake we are facing minor earthquakes in these days too. Our 8 volunters from FFL Nepal with 9 other volunters from #SahidBhagadSinghBrigate from Har… Read more ›

There is hope!
In Skanda Purana, Bhagavat-mahatmya (the glories of Srimad-Bhagavatam) Suta Goswami narrates the conversation between Lord Krishna and Brahma. While describing the glories of His name, Krishna says, “If a person remembers Me every day, chanting, ‘Krishna, Krishna,’ I will save him from all misfortune. One who worships Me just for fun, or out of hypocrisy, or due to foolishness, greediness, or even fraudulently, is My devotee. There is no need for him to repent. When death is imminent, if a person chants, ‘Krishna, Krishna,’ he will not have to see Yamaraja or his servants, even if he was sinful. Earlier in his life, a man might have committed so many sins but at the time of death, if he remembers or utters the name, Krishna, he will attain My eternal abode. If a helpless, miserable person says, ‘Obeisances to Sri Krishna, the Supreme Lord,’ he attains My eternal abode. When death has arrived, if a person chants, ‘Krishna, Krishna,’ and dies, the Yamadutas stand at a distance and watch as he ascends to an exalted destination. Whether it be in a crematorium or in the street, if someone chants, ‘Krishna, Krishna,’ and dies, he comes back to My eternal abode. There is no doubt of this.”

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Hare Krishna! Jaladuta Yatra & Golden Jubilee celebration of ISKCON in Kolkata
On 13th August 2015 ISKCON Kolkata is kick-starting the yearlong celebration of Jaladuta Yatra and Golden Jubilee celebration of ISKCON. On that occasion we want to present a 21 to 25 minutes chanting of Mahamantra by devotees from 7 different continents of the world namely: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Europe, North America, and South America. While they will be singing, their respective continent map and country map will be displayed on the big LED Screen’s.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17273

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New Mayapur, France
Between 1970 and 1974 ISKCON in France was rapidly expanding, along with the rest of Srila Prabhupada’s worldwide movement.
Seeing this, Prabhupada told the local management to acquire a rural property connected to the city temple in Paris. He wanted a place that would house the increasing number of devotee families under conditions favorable to their spirituality and public reception.
In July 1974, after visiting several properties in France, Srila Prabhupada personally chose the field of Oublaisse. Upon it sat a beautiful chateau that had been built in 1905. “This property will be perfect for the devotees,” he said. With his usual charm, he soon convinced the owner to sell it to him cheaply, and used the proceeds from the sales of his books by the French devotees to make the payment. Devotees moved to the property that fall, and installed Deities of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai in the winter. In Their honor, and in honor of the sacred West Bengal town They appeared in in the fifteenth century, he named the new community “New Mayapur.”
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/Cu3sso

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Hare Krishna! His only goal was to infect as many people as possible with love of Krsna
This was one of Srila Prabhupada’s qualities. He was very careful not to discourage anyone through criticism. If they were capable of dealing with it then he would chastise them. Otherwise, he was the greatest transcendental diplomat there ever was. His only goal was to infect as many people as possible with love of Krsna and if you had the chance to personally associate with him then there was a strong possibility of becoming deeply attached to him, no matter how hard you fought it.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17267

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Hare Krishna! Somehow Fix Your Mind on Krishna
Srila Prabhupada: Krishna is described as akhila-rasamrita-sindhu, “the ocean of rasas.” There are five primary rasas. Rasa means the mellow or the taste we enjoy in every activity. Everything is done with some taste. Whatever you do, you must enjoy some taste out of it. There are twelve rasas, out of which five are primary and seven are secondary. They are described in this book. For example, we can consider Bhishma, the grandfather of the Pandavas. During the Battle of Kurukshetra, he fought on the side of Duryodhana, against the Pandavas.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17263

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“This kachori has created havoc”
Srutakirti dasa, January 25-31, ISKCON Calcutta
Calcutta was definitely Śrīla Prabhupāda’s hometown. The temple, which had a relaxed atmosphere, was situated on the second floor with a modest-sized temple room. Śrīla Prabhupāda’s room was at the end of the building. The nicest part of the facility was a marble verandah that ran the width of the building. It overlooked a pond that was across the street.
While in Calcutta, we could not stop the flow of guests entering Śrīla Prabhupāda’s room. It was different from other temples where there was much more control. When Śrīla Prabhupāda rested in the afternoon I would lie down in front of the doors of his room so no one could enter. It was one of my favorite services, getting the chance to be his guard dog.
Śrīla Prabhupāda knew it was the hometown crowd so he was especially gracious. There were always a few boxes of milk sweets in his room that had been purchased at the local sweets shop. Sandesh of many varieties were the best tasting in the world. Śrīla Prabhupāda always emphasized, “All guests should be given prasadam”
One day I noticed that a box of sweets was covered with ants. I thought if I showed them to Śrīla Prabhupāda he would tell me to discard them. Then I could dust off the ants and keep them for myself. I lustfully walked into his room and offered my obeisances. I told him of the dilemma. He smiled at me, no doubt reading my mind.
“That’s all right,” he told me. “They don’t eat very much. Go get a thali (a plate with a one” rim around it) and put water in it. Then you can put a pot in that upside down and put the sweets on the pot. That will make a moat so the ants can’t get at the sweets.“
One of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s transcendental characteristics was he never, ever wasted anything. This quality manifested itself in many pastimes.
One afternoon while lying outside his room I heard him moaning. I didn’t know what to do. A few times I looked in and saw him tossing and turning on his bed. He didn’t call for me, but I couldn’t take it any more. Finally, I rushed into his room.
“Śrīla Prabhupāda, what’s wrong?” I asked.
“My stomach, very painful,” he said. “It must have been something I ate. It’s very, very painful.”
He didn’t ask for any assistance. I remained in the room and gently rubbed his stomach.
Later he said, “It must have been that coconut kachorī my sister made me for lunch. It was not cooked. The coconut was very difficult to digest. It is causing me very much pain.”
Throughout the evening different devotees took turns rubbing his body. The pain continued all night. With each breath he took he would let out a sigh. In the morning the kaviraja came. He confirmed what Śrīla Prabhupāda had said. I entered Śrīla Prabhupāda’s room at 4:00 a.m.
“This kachorī has created havoc,” he told me. “All night I have not been able to rest. It has created havoc in my life.”
Śrīla Prabhupāda, please forgive me. Because of voluntarily accepting the reactions to my sinful activities, you had to endure suffering. I watched as you were quiet and never complained. I am forever indebted for what you have done for me.
–Srutakirti dasa

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