Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Destructive Enlightenment
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When a budding sculptor approached his master for guidance, he received some cryptic advice. After quizzing him on his purpose, the young craftsman replied: “More than anything else, I would like to sculpt a beautiful elephant.” Without …

“Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations!”…
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“Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations!”
We were going to Kumbha Mela on rikshas and trying to reach ISKCON’s tents. Our riksha driver thought that many of the tents were the ISKCON tents, so he was driving us all around. It was already after midnight but we could not find the ISKCON tents. Since we were tired and sleepy, we stopped by some tent in which the people there allowed us to stay overnight.
The party was about to begin. A few hours later, I was awakened by a strange smell. These people didn’t follow the principles. They were smoking some intoxicant. Although influenced by the drug and fatigue, I somehow managed to wake up the devotees, and very soon we left the tent. It was only due to Krsna’s mercy that we managed to find the ISKCON devotees amongst millions of “sadhus.” Actually, when we got there in the morning, they were all gone on harinam and sankirtan.
The thought of distributing books on that day caused an eruption of protests like: “You slept only few hours. You did not even have a bath or chant, while the power of the drug is still working.” Still, the distribution of books is free from the influence of the material world, and when Krsna wants to give His mercy, He gives it.
I asked the devotees to give me the books, and after a long discussion, they agreed. I somehow managed to talk my mind into taking one hundred small books. The distribution of them went on easily by the mercy of Krsna. I was walking from sadhu to sadhu and saying “Hare Krsna” while they were taking books and giving donations. That day was also special owing to the fact that I wanted to have a bath in Ganga before the sunset. It is an offense to bath in Ganga after the sunset. During sankirtana I met a very interesting sadhu who looked like Jesus Christ. He was mute, but still he knew all the Bhagavad-gita by heart! I realized this by observing the movement of his lips: I would start citing a verse and he would simply continue. He also helped me with the distribution. He would contact people by mime, and they were coming and taking the books!
The day was coming to end, but I still had ten books in my hand. I decided to walk toward Ganga and try to distribute. Every so often I observed the sun, then the books. I still had ten minutes, so I prayed more intensely: Krsna help me, Krsna help me – there are just a few minutes left, and I still have books in my hands.“ I hurried towards the Ganga. I had three books left, then two. In one moment more, I was five meters from the Ganga, and the sun was about to set, but I still had one book in my hand! The situation became very tense since I wanted so much to bathe in the sacred Ganges at the right time. At once, two Indian sadhus appeared, and I gave them the last book. They were excited. They gave me a donation, and one of them unexpectedly held out his hand. I was confused. People don’t shake hands in India. I had just one minute left, but I held out my hand too, and to my surprise he said in Croatian (my language): “Congratulations!”
Completely confused and ecstatic, I ran into the Ganga and immediately came out. The sun was setting, and the mercy of Krsna was falling on my head. The sadhu’s words resounded in my head: “Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations!” There was no way he knew where I was from or what I was doing, but surely there is ONE WHO KNOWS!
Sankirtana, ki jaya!
Srila Prabhupada, ki jay!
Mother Ganga, ki jay!
Your servant,
Nitaidaya Dasa

8,000 And Counting! (Album with photos) Indradyumna Swami:…
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8,000 And Counting! (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Acyuta Priya das, the regional secretary for our movement in Ukraine, told me that this year’s attendance at the Bhakti Sangam festival could top 8,000 devotees. What bliss! The festival is being held for the next 6 days near Odessa.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/FcD8YL

Bhakti Gaurav Narayana Swami’s class about Bhaktivinoda…
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Bhakti Gaurav Narayana Swami’s class about Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s Glorious Appearance Day in ISKCON Vrindavan (video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/L4oGa5

Seattle Rathayatra Festival (Album with photos) Ramai Swami:…
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Seattle Rathayatra Festival (Album with photos)
Ramai Swami: The devotees at Seattle temple organized a two-day festival at Bellevue Crossroads Park to celebrate Lord Jagannatha’s Rathayatra.
On the first day, activities were going on in various tents and performers in the main tent entertained with dance, kirtan and drama. Of course, the devotees at the free prasadam tent were busy serving a delicious feast all day.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/HC1wqf

Book distribution by a dedicated Prabhupada disciple on her 70th…
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Book distribution by a dedicated Prabhupada disciple on her 70th Birthday (2 min video)
Gauragopala Dasa: This is a wonderful video on Srimati Mohanasini’s Facebook page of her on her 70th Birthday on the streets distributing Srila Prabhupada’s Books.
It is so inspiring, reminds me of how Srila Prabhupada never even began his preaching in the West until he was 70 years of age and look what he achieved!
This amazing preaching by his dedicated disciple, one of the first in the early years, now 70 years old, is telling us all that our preaching can increase many-fold in our older years and give us eternal life!
In here, along with book distribution, she is also sharing news of the Hare Krishna! Film with visitors in New Orleans.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/oHYNEK

Lord Vamanadeva: The Transcendental Trickster! Gurukula…
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Lord Vamanadeva: The Transcendental Trickster!
Gurukula Milestone: 100th student enrolled!
Who is Mr 24/7?
The gurukula now has more than 100 students and on Monday, 31 July celebrated its success by a special assembly and a delicious cake Dhritigopi devi dasi baked. Mukunda Maharaja also graced the occasion as the VIP guest. Principal Vinod Bihari das said he was honored that many parents were relocating to the Tweed in order for their children to attend the school. As the school expands, preparations are underway for more classrooms to facilitate the 120 students enrolled for the 2018 school year, including 20 HSC students enrolled for Years 11 and 12. In a 31 July Tweed Daily News article, Vinod Bihari is quoted as saying: “This phase includes two classroom buildings, a full-size basketball court, pathways and gardens to preserve the natural beauty of our school’s surroundings.”
Read it all in the latest newsletter of the New Govardhana Hare Krishna Community in Australia: https://goo.gl/87KD8R

Our propaganda is to make people Krishna Conscious! Srila…
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Our propaganda is to make people Krishna Conscious!
Srila Prabhupada: Regarding propaganda against animal slaughter in BTG. Please do not print any picture showing how a cow is being murdered in our BTG. This will pollute the whole atmosphere. We are not meant for moving anyone’s sentiment against animal slaughter, we are neither Buddhists or Jains, whose main propaganda is against animal slaughter. Even the so-called vegetarians who do not take Krishna prasadam are as much sinful as the non-vegetarians. Our propaganda is different, to make people Krishna Conscious, which automatically makes them sympathetic against any kind of animal slaughter. According to Srimad-Bhagavatam, one living entity subsists on the life of other living entities, either vegetarian or non-vegetarian. But we are neither of them. We are not vegetarian nor non-vegetarian. We are transcendental. We are concerned with Krishna Prasadam. Try to popularize Krishna Prasadam as you have already done. People will naturally become vegetarian without any ghastly propaganda. The pictures of a mahajana or similar pictures for propagating the Bhagavata conclusion should be our objective. Other pictures, there are so many subject matters, just like we follow 4 principles, say for example, illicit sex life, we can publish so many pictures of illicit sex life, but that will not advance our cause. Similarly we may make propaganda against animal slaughter, but that will not advance our real cause. KC is based on pure understanding, not by any sentimental provocation. People must be intelligent enough to catch up this KC movement without being carried away by any sentimental wave. We should always remember that we do not belong to any group like the karmis, jnanis, or yogis. We belong to pure devotional service group, following the footprints of great mahajanas. Our purpose should be that we are in one side and all others they are on the other side. We deprecate everyone, even one who is against animal slaughter. In the Caitanya-caritamrta, it is clearly said that there are two classes of activities. Pious and impious. We do not favor any one of them. Neither we favor any philosophical speculation, we simply stick to Krishna, and wish to render loving transcendental service unto Him. That should be our main objective, and the policy of BTG must be pursued on this line of action. I hope you will understand me rightly. Everyone who is not a KC person is a butcher. Even the so-called pious man, who is not in KC, he is also a butcher. Because he is killing his own self. So in our view, everyone is butcher, and everyone is thief also, because he is enjoying Krishna’s property. So how we can discriminate who is honest and dishonest and butcher and not butcher? Our only test is how one is taking to KC: Even a so-called butcher comes we welcome to chant Hare Krishna.
Hoping you are well.
Your ever well wisher,
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami
To read the entire letter: https://goo.gl/CHVU2U

A Secret Pathway (Album with photos) Indradyumna Swami: Just…
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A Secret Pathway (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Just before leaving Vrindavan we went to Varsana to seek the blessings of Radha and Krsna. When a group of blissful sadhus passed by we joined their parikrama and discovered a secret pathway through a forest near Varsana. Some of the ‘desire trees’ in the forest were over 5,000 years old! I hugged one of them and prayed for more service in spreading the holy names of Krsna all over the world. Coming out of the forest we visited other holy places, gosalas and residents of that sacred abode.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/vcjywM

Houston Devotees Safe During Hurrican Harvey, Feeding Victims….
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Houston Devotees Safe During Hurrican Harvey, Feeding Victims.
Hurricane Harvey has caused major destruction in Houston and throughout Texas in the last several days. 21 trillion gallons of rain fell on the Houston area, causing 51 inches of flooding in the worst hit places. Thirty to forty thousand homes were destroyed by floodwaters just in and around Houston; 39 people died, and 13 million were directly affected.
So it’s a relief that ISKCON devotees in Houston are safe – no one was hurt.
They haven’t been completely unaffected: Around eight devotees’ homes sustained flood damage from two feet of water, and they must replace floors, cabinets and doors. Fortunately, other devotees are hosting them while they get back on their feet, and it is heartwarming to see the community members care for each other.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/iwmgpd

How to Reconcile a Sentimental Heart and a Skeptical Mind (5 min…
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How to Reconcile a Sentimental Heart and a Skeptical Mind (5 min video)
Devamrita Swami: It’s a very distressing affliction to have a sentimental heart and a skeptical mind. This syndrome is very prevalent in 1st world and is now even popping up in the 2nd and 3rd world.
Our heart longs for fulfilment, security and love. Simultaneously our mind can be so skeptical and cynical – how to reconcile the two? This problem has to be resolved on a level higher than the material platform through applied spiritual technology.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/1KhYeG

Shraddha Season – Bhaktivedanta Manor. Wednesday 6th September…
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Shraddha Season – Bhaktivedanta Manor.
Wednesday 6th September – Tuesday 19th September
Sraddha period is a very important time for those with deceased parents and grandparents, as during this period offerings are made to help the soul of the ancestor on its journey. Ancestors are important because we owe them our very existence, so the least we can do is to help them, even though they have disappeared from our sight.

ISKCON Vrindavan bags the Green Temple Award 2017 on Vedic Earth…
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ISKCON Vrindavan bags the Green Temple Award 2017 on Vedic Earth Day.
On Varah Jayanti, Friends of Vrindavan held its fifth annual Vedic Earth Day and Green Awards Ceremony at the Swami Vivekananda Auditorium at Vrindavan’s Ramkrishna Mission.
A total of five “Vrindavan Green Awards” were distributed to a distinguished temple, school, campaigner, author and activist.
This year, ISKCON Vrindavan took home the Green Temple award for its environmentally-conscious services, including organic farming, conversion of prasadi flowers into compost, cow protection, marketing of non-dairy cow products like gomutra and govar, and more.

Our Only Hope (Album with photos) Giridhari Swami: This year I…
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Our Only Hope (Album with photos)
Giridhari Swami: This year I had the good fortune of celebrating Sri Radhastami at ISKCON Hong Kong. His Holiness Rtadhvaja Swami Maharaja is visiting and this made the festival very special indeed. We held two programs, one at noon for the temple devotees and close congregational members, and the other in the evening for our Indian congregation. The noon program included an abhiseka of our Devarishi Prabhu’s Radhe-Shyama deities, kirtan, a presentation given by yours truly, aratika, and prasadam. The evening program included a class given by Rtadhvaja Maharaja, puspa abhiseka, kirtan, aratika and prasadam. Both programs were well attended and everyone wholeheartedly engaged in some serious hearing and chanting. I want to share with you an excerpt from a lecture Srila Prabhupada gave in London on the occasion of Radhastami, which I included in my presentation:

Radharani is hari-priya, very dear to Krsna. So if we approach Krsna through Radharani, through the mercy of Radharani, then it becomes very easy. If Radharani recommends that “This devotee is very nice,” then Krsna immediately accepts, however fool I may be. Because it is recommended by Radharani, Krsna accepts.

(Radhastami – August 29, 1971, London)

Our only hope of approaching Krishna is through Radharani. It is fortunate for us that Krishna and Radharani both come together as Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the most merciful Lord of all Lords. He only asks that we chant Krishna’s holy name purely and request others to do the same.

Sri Radhastami ki-jaya!
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu ki-jaya!
Srila Prabhupada ki-jaya!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/kBRXs1

Sankirtan Stories. A bouquet of flowers for ……
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Sankirtan Stories.
A bouquet of flowers for … (surprise!)
I was distributing books at a community market in Australia, where I met a florist who had a booth. He was happy to take the Bhagavad-gita and a few small books. He gave a generous donation and on top of that, he gave me a bouquet of flowers. He expressed his interest in visiting the ISKCON farm, New Govardhana, and said he would come for the Sunday feast. I was happy to meet such a favorable person and pleased that he gave me something special to bring back and offer to the Deities.
I stuck the stalk of the bouquet into my backpack, and the flowers visibly stuck out of the top of it. I carried on distributing books, and after an hour or so of not seeing my sankirtan partner, I happened to walk past her while she was in the middle of distributing a book. She reached over just as I walked by and pulled the bouquet from my backpack.
She said to the fortunate soul with Prabhupada’s books in his hands, “You can give her these.”
I later learned that the man she was speaking with had come to the market to buy flowers for his wife and had brought only enough money for that. Because she gave him the bouquet of flowers I had received, he was able to give a donation and take home the Bhagavad-gita. Krsna couldn’t have had me walk by at a more perfect time.
Cc. Adi 12.94-5: “The ocean of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu is immeasurable and unfathomable. Who can have the courage to measure that great ocean? It is not possible to dip into that great ocean, but its sweet mellow fragrance attracts my mind. I therefore stand on the shore of that ocean to try to taste but a drop of it.”
Yours in service,
Bhaktin Karly

Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra – Sonepat despite the Turmoil! (Album…
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Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra – Sonepat despite the Turmoil! (Album with photos)
SECTION 144 of IPC (Indian Panel Code) was imposed which prohibits any sort of public gathering or gathering of more than 4 people. Internet was shut for over 5 Days, All public transport was stopped, Over 60 trains were canceled, all School, Colleges & Government offices were not in operation, Markets, Malls & Public services were closed & not in services, To control Violence & Riots The Indian Army had to be in action! Yet ISKCON Kurukshetra took EXCLUSIVE PERMISSION from the Higher Authorities & the Haryana Police for this Jagannath Rath Yatra. The Holy Name is the only solution by which we can get Peace & ever lasting Happiness which was clearly evident during the Rath Yatra. Even though there was complete unrest in the Entire State of Haryana yet everyone came out & greeted the Lord & danced in the Kirtan. Under Heavy Police deployment & Administration watch, The Rath Yatra was taken out! We hearty thank the Haryana Police & the Government officials for their kind cooperation. A complete album of Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Sonepat, Haryana.
Hare Krishna from the Land of Bhagavad Gita, Kurukshetra!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/VFfoFe

Radhastami celebration in Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital (Album…
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Radhastami celebration in Vilnius, Lithuania’s capital (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. Specifically, chanting the Hare Krishna mantra purifies one, and this chanting is therefore recommended by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.24.59 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/QDWgLo

Radhasthami at the Iskcon Moscow Temple (Album with…
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Radhasthami at the Iskcon Moscow Temple (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: A devotee always thinks of the Lord continuously. While chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, the words Krishna and Hare immediately remind him of all the Lord’s activities. Since his entire life is engaged n the service of the Lord, a devotee cannot forget the Lord at any time. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.1.6 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/MXV1Zp