Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Photos and videos from the Sravanam-Kirtanam Festival in…
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Photos and videos from the Sravanam-Kirtanam Festival in Villa-Vrindavana, Florence, Italy.
Srila Prabhupada: The Lord’s holy name is called sravana-mangala. This means that one receives everything auspicious simply by hearing the holy name. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 2.7.15 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/4XFFGs

A two day retreat by HH Bhanu Swami on Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu…
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A two day retreat by HH Bhanu Swami on Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu and the Sandharbhas (Album with photos)
HH Bhanu Swami had visited Govardhan Ecovillage on 2 nd June and had given seminars on Rupa Gosvami’s work, Bhakti Rasamrta Sindhu; Madhurya Kadambini of Srila Visvanath Cakravarti Thakur and Tattva-Sandarba of Jiva Gosvami. The 2-day retreat was held in the seminar hall of the Satsang Bhavan and was well attended by the students of Bhativedanta Vidyapitha and the resident monks of Govardhan Ecovillage

Rathayatra and book distribution in Surat (Album with…
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Rathayatra and book distribution in Surat (Album with photos)
Jagannatha Damodar das: There was arranged the Rathyatra festival on 25 June’17 Sunday, on the auspicious day of Ashadh dwitiya in the city of Surat, Gujarat. Since Surat is one of the major cities of Gujarat, many thousand faithful people took part in it with a great enthusiasm. It was one of the best chance for the devotees to please Srila Prabhupada by distributing his books as Rathyatra is a festival in which totally new beginners who even don’t know the lord, some faithful people, few who do not believe in lord and even the people of different religions and sampradayas take part. As Srila Prabhupada once said in his lecture that “ There is no question of darkness where there is light, and Krishna Consciousness is the light that dispels the darkness of material sense enjoyment.”( Lecture, Ratha-yatra-San Francisco, June 27, 1971 ) and to bring the light of Krsna Consciouness to the conditioned people, under the guidance of the vice president of Surat ISKCON temple H.G. Vrindavan Das, team of around 150 devotees leaded by H.G. Radhesh Das celebrated this festival of Chariot by sacrificing their time totally to book distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s books for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada and in order to bring the Mercy of Lord Jagannatha to every people. The following is the book distribution report:
Maha Big books – 491
Big books – 75
Medium books – 25
Small books – 991
Srimad Bhagwatam full set – 13
Caitanya Caritamrita set – 1
Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Vaibhav – 1 Set
Lose BTG – 860
BTG 1 year subscription – 33
Plus some more books which are not counted
Total 2.07 L INR Lakshmi received.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/3eQ4Eq

Unfolding Srila Prabhupada’s biggest vision on…
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Unfolding Srila Prabhupada’s biggest vision on Education.
Srila Prabhupada incorporated his worldwide mission with deep concern for the suffering humanity. He outlined seven purposes which capsulized the essence of his mission. In these seven purposes Srila Prabhupada has immensely stressed on education.
Srila Prabhupada wanted to provide opportunity for all people to gain a systematic understanding of the profound vedic scriptures.
Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakura mentioned in a letter to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura in 1910 – “Saraswati! I had a special desire to preach the significance of such books as Srimad Bhagavatam, Satsandarbha and Vedantadarshan. You have to accept that responsibility. Sridham Mayapur will prosper if you establish an educational institution there”
Also, Srila Prabhupada wrote in a letter to Atreya Rishi Prabhu in August 20th 1971 – “Throughout the whole world there is no institution to impart knowledge in the matter of spiritual understanding. So we are going to open a big centre in Mayapur where this education will be internationally imparted. Students from all parts of the world will go there to take education in this important subject.”
All our previous acharyas – Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakura and Srila Prabhupada desired to establish educational institute at Sridham Mayapur for the benefit of devotees worldwide.
To fulfill this vision of our previous acharyas, Mayapur Institute (MI) was established in the year 2000. Since the launch of the Institute in 2000, over 3500 students of various race, ethnicity, gender, and economic status coming from various places like USA, UK, Russia, China, Australia, Africa, Europe, etc. have been benefited immensely from different courses at MI.
Due to significant growth in student enrollment every year, the current Mayapur Institute classrooms and offices are inadequate. Hence, MI had embarked on setting up an exclusive campus at Mayapur.
Now, Phase-1 of the Campus Project is almost ready and the time has come to offer this to our previous acharyas for their pleasure.
3rd July is going to be a historical event as the vision of our acharyas will start to unfold, creating facility for hundreds of students to come to Mayapur to study the scripture.
We invite you all to witness this wonderful historic event.
On 3rd Jul 2017, 8.30 Am onwards
Venue: MI Campus, Crossing Taranpur Road, Mayapur
Program details: Kirtan, Srila Prabhupada arrives at MI Campus from Temple, Guru Puja, Video Lecture by Srila Prabhupada, Speech by HHJPSM, Sannyasis, SP Disciples and Senior devotees, Inauguration and offering of the New Campus to Srila Prabhupada by H.H. Jayapataka Swami followed by Mahaprasadam at 12.00 PM

Harinam, book and prasadam distribution @Bajrasandi Park, Bali…
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Harinam, book and prasadam distribution @Bajrasandi Park, Bali (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “As a result of chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one makes such great advancement in spiritual life that simultaneously his material existence terminates and he receives love of Godhead. The holy name of Krishna is so powerful that by chanting even one name, one very easily achieves these transcendental riches.” (Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.28)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/EqX4A3

Joy of Krishna Consciousness (7 min video)Bhakti yoga is the…
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Joy of Krishna Consciousness (7 min video)
Bhakti yoga is the eternal science of loving service to Krishna or God. The philosophy of this movement is rooted in ancient Vedic texts, particularly the Bhagavad Gita (Song of God), which contains the essential teachings of Krishna on how to achieve the highest perfection of life.
The Hare Krishna devotees are known throughout the world for their melodious chanting of the Hare Krishna Mantra, which the Vedas declare as the most sublime and effective means for spiritual enlightenment in the current age:

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Ram Hare RamRam Ram Hare Hare

Krishna is a name of God meaning “the all-attractive one,” and Rama is another name meaning “the reservoir of pleasure.” Hare invokes His presence in our lives. This Maha (great) Mantra is chanted either congregationally (sankirtan), or individually (japa), as a meditation. Since each of us is constitutionally a part and parcel of God, the chanting of His holy names brings one innate satisfaction and the highest pleasure.

The chant is called a mantra, a vibration of sound that cleanses the mind, freeing it from anxiety and illusion. And this is a mantra anyone can chant. It’s for people of all religions, all nations, all colors, and both sexes. No need to pay any fees, join any group, or turn your life upside down. Whoever you are, whatever you do, you can try the chanting for yourself and experience its result.

Krishna and His energy are fully present in the sound of the mantra, so even if we don’t know the language or intellectually understand how it works, by coming in touch with Krishna we’ll become happy, and our life will become sublime.

Music:
His Grace Mahatma Das
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/NyIDTP

300 kg of paneer from ISKCON farm, Gita Nagari Everybody has…
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300 kg of paneer from ISKCON farm, Gita Nagari
Everybody has heard about the amazing Sadhu Sanga Retreat in North Carolina last month. What most people didn’t know is that one less publicized dream of Srila Prabhupada was also becoming true. An ISKCON farm, Gita Nagari, delivered 300 kg of paneer, produced with the farm’s milk from protected cows, to the festival kitchen. Hope this will become a reality soon, that the farms will produce food to our temples, restaurants and congregations. All glories to Gita Nagari, for their exemplary karma-free dairy and all glories to the event organizers, who encouraged and valued the farm’s produce by buying it! This is a way to go!
https://www.facebook.com/gitanagarifarm/

Exclusive look of the red carpet at the Los Angeles Premiere of…
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Exclusive look of the red carpet at the Los Angeles Premiere of Hare Krishna! The Film with guests including New York Times Best Selling Author and Spiritual Guide Radhanath Swami (3 min video)
Giriraj Swami: I just saw the film for the second time, and got even more out of it than the first time, and I am eagerly looking forward to seeing it again—and again.
…last night at the movie ‘Hare Krishna: The Mantra, The Movement and the Man who started it all’ …….with some wonderful association, including Guru Maharaj, the Producers and the Director (Yadubara das and Visakha dasi) of the film.
I highly recommend it!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/6XFREC

Baltic Sea Festivals began (Album with photos) Indradyumna…
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Baltic Sea Festivals began (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday we held our first festival of the summer. As I looked at the photos I realized they could have come from any of the 1,200 festivals we have done along the Baltic Sea coast over the last 28 years. But then I realized that each festival is unique in itself, for every year the guests at our events are different. Remembering a purport from Srimad Bhagavatam, I was struck with wonder how by participating in our programs many hundreds of thousands of people [ Srila Prabhupada uses the term ‘onlookers’ ] have benefited:

“As the river flows on till she reaches the sea, similarly pure devotional service flows by the association of pure devotees till it reaches the ultimate goal, namely, transcendental love of God. On the contrary, it increases more and more without limitation. The flow of devotional service is so potent that any onlooker also becomes liberated from the modes of passion and ignorance.” [ SB 1.5.28 purport ]
Find them here: https://goo.gl/iWyFiU

Have you heard of “Mistik Pizza”? Iskcon Turin’s 2nd Anniversary
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Have you heard of “Mistik Pizza”?(4 min video)
Turin Hare Krishna Cultural Center in Italy has celebrated the 2nd Anniversary.
It is a miraculous story like the ones of Srila Prabhupada! Prabhu das, Hayagriva das and Abhiram das came to Turin, Italy, to establish ISKCON Turin with nothing in their hands. It was a mission given to them by H.G. MadhuSevita Prabu.
They had only their camper and a desire to give the Holy Name to the city of Turin. With the power of sadhana bhakti, they started preaching and distributing books in Turin and the little cities around the town.
On the way, Bhakta Simone joined them. At the end of the first year, they have already established Hare Krishna Cultural Center, performed programs during the week, organized Sunday Feast every Sunday, distributed food at the homeless shelters of Turin.

They financed everything with donations and by distributing books of Srila Prabhupada. Krsna was generous to their sincere efforts.

Bhaktya Labhya Prabhu and his family was a big help from the start to this transcendental team by always going to the center once a month, cooking and giving lectures right from the start. Mercifully, Sannyasis and elevated Vaishnavas go there to give lectures like H.H. Krishna Kshetra Swami, H.G. Madhu Sevita Prabhu, H.G. Param Gati Prabhu, Ali Krishna Mataji, Gandharvika Mataji, Kaunteya Prabu, Praghosh Prabhu, Harikirtan Prabhu and Parabhakti Prabhu.

Now, they have celebrated the second anniversary and they showed us the power of service attitude. They have doubled the amount of visitors. They have fixed programs during the week. They have created nice relations with the Municipality of Turin and get their support. This enthusiastic bhaktas are already looking forward to create a bigger center to have more guests and to give more service.

Citra Karuni devi dasi / Turin / Italy
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/RTmCka

Beautiful temple room in a devotee’s house (Album with…
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Beautiful temple room in a devotee’s house (Album with photos)
Bhakti Caitanya Swami: Today we had a wonderful house program at the home of Madhavi devi dasi. Her temple room has been decorated in wonderful ways. She has nice altars and a beautiful ceiling. I think any householders would be proud to have a temple room at home like this.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/MgtdnW

Preaching program in Tantris Center for Yogic Science with Radhanath Swami
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Preaching program in Tantris Center for Yogic Science (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “O Lord,” the demigods say, “the impersonalists, who are nondevotees, cannot understand that Your name is identical with Your form.” Since the Lord is absolute, there is no difference between His name and His actual form. In the material world there is a difference between form and name. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 10.2.36 Purport).
Find them here: https://goo.gl/TycprP

The Real Adventure (video)PS Alumni presents: “Krishna…
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The Real Adventure (video)
PS Alumni presents: “Krishna Consciousness – The Real Adventure” by HH Kadamba Kanana Swami – An insightful evening into the life of a present day Swami who has dedicated his life to spirituality and sharing with others.
“It is in the compelling zest of high adventure and of victory, and in creative action, that man finds his supreme joys.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Along the path of Kadamba Kanana Swami’s spiritual journey, he has encountered many adventures which will enthrall you all throughout this unmissable evening where he will share his insights and inspirations.

About the Speaker….
Kadamba Kanana Swami started his spiritual life in Vrndavana, the Holy land of Krishna and immediately felt he found his home. He became a disciple of HH Jayadvaita Swami.
He joined ISKCON in 1978 shortly after Srila Prabhupada’s departure from this world and served in Vrndavana from ’78 to ’84 in various types of management.
After a one year break from India in Australia he returned to India this time to take charge of the construction of Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi in Mayapura and remained there from ’85 to ’90.
He liked the pioneering spirit of working in India and above all he liked to stay in the Holy Dhama.
In 1990 he became the Temple President of the Krsna Balarama temple in Vrndavana and remained in that position untill ’95.
After that he began to travel and preach around the world and in 1997 he received sannyasa.
These days besides preaching in Europe, South Africa, India and Australia, he still has some involvement in supervision of the Vrndavana temple.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/F6jCGL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOzR4maVU8E

Kurma Rupa’s Disappearance Day 2nd Anniversary (2 min…
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Kurma Rupa’s Disappearance Day 2nd Anniversary (2 min video)
Kurma Rupa prabhu was initiated by ISKCON Founder Srila Prabhupada and for some time, he served at ISKCON New York by training new devotees in the practice of Krishna consciousness. But after Prabhupada passed away, he felt less inspired to continue that service and followed his heart’s desire to serve in Vrindavana, India. In the early 1980s, he moved to Vrindavana, started Care for Cows in 1997, and never left.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/aK2ZFm

I like one girl in the Temple, can I approach her? (3 min…
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I like one girl in the Temple, can I approach her? (3 min video)
By bhaktin Mrinal Ghiya.
Srila Prabhupada: Formerly marriage, at least in India, at least up to our time, the marriage was taking place not on the liking of the boy and the girl. No. It was decided by the parents. So… Just like I was also married man. I was married when I was a student, and I did not know what will be the… But the parents arranged.
[Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.15.46, Lecture, Los Angeles, December 24, 1973]
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/CRhoYc

46th Kolkata Rathyatra (2017) (Album with photos) Srila…
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46th Kolkata Rathyatra (2017) (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The secret of surrendering to Krishna is that such surrendered devotee sees that everything is part of Krishna’s plan. Whatever is meant to be I am doing. Let me do it with my full attention to every detail. Let me become absorbed in such service, never mind what it is. Let all other considerations be forgotten and only my desire to do the thing best for Krishna’s alone pleasure is my motive. Letter to Jayapataka, December 19, 1972
Find them here: https://goo.gl/t2m6cj

ISKCON London 2017 Mentorship Retreat at Plas Glansevin in Wales…
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ISKCON London 2017 Mentorship Retreat at Plas Glansevin in Wales (2 min video)
This year we had the great fortune to have HH Kadamba Kanana Swami as our guest speaker.
Maharaja took us through the theme of – “The Essence of Bhakti”, the nine processes of devotional service.
The retreat lasted 5 days, giving the mentees the unique opportunity to dive deeper into their Krishna conscious life. The retreat provided to all the opportunity for vaisnava sanga, kirtan, seva, and delicious prasadam… all focused to help uplift and rejuvenate body, mind and soul.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/5RJtx6

Hare Krishna! The movie: Film Review by Rachael…
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Hare Krishna! The movie: Film Review by Rachael Stark.
Coinciding with the 50th year anniversary of the birth of the ISKCON movement, Director John Griesser and co-directors Jean Griesser and Lauren Ross, have brought the film, “Hare Krishna! The Mantra, The Movement and the Swami who started it all,” to theaters world-wide celebrating the extraordinary life of Srila Prabhupada. The film, which debuted in New York City’s East Village, on June 16th, is a rare, thoughtful, and vivid glimpse of the worldwide Krishna movement and the complex state-of-the-world that Prabhupada encountered.
To behold the miraculous journey of Srila Prabhupada, founder and spiritual emissary of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), is to witness
a dream fulfilled; an epic nothing short of the divine.
This dynamic new film directed by John Griesser and co-directed by Jean Griesser and Lauren Ross titled, “Hare Krishna! The Mantra, The Movement and the Swami who started it all,” attempts to chronicle his extraordinary life and succeeds—not only as a first-rate biopic but also as a profound examination of America and the world during a turbulent 1960’s and 1970’s when Vietnam, racial injustice, and the Cold War had descended.
Through vivid documentary footage and thoughtful, probing interviews with former devotees and scholars, a portrait of Prabhupada emerges. At once intimate and complex, the charismatic Prabhupada comes alive, particularly his immense capacity for devotion. For many in the Krishna movement, the biographical details of Prabhupada’s life are known. Yet they are no less dramatic for the retelling and the filmmakers do an excellent job of overlaying imagery, narration, and incorporating ethereal music and chanting to tell their story. Truth is grander than fiction, the backdrop all too real. The most imaginative fairy tale or Horatio Alger story couldn’t be more vivid than the events of Prabhupada’s life.
In 1965, at the age of 70, the penniless Swami from Kolcotta abandoned his beloved India and traveled by cargo ship to New York City’s Lower East Side—a far cry from America’s gold-paved streets–where he undertook the singular task of beginning a world-wide devotional movement. Black-and-white photographs—Prabhupada in his monk’s clothing, stubble visible on his face- against the backdrop of the jagged streets of New York City –offer the audience a visceral glimpse into the world in which Prabhupada emerged, a reminder of the leap of faith required for this former businessman to start a spiritual revolution alone in a strange land.
With only sacred texts and a 16-word mantra for companions, Prabhupada takes up residence in a storefront on 26th street and Second Avenue and begins his Homeric task. At the behest of his guru, Prabhupada arrived to bring Krishna consciousness to the West and superb first-hand footage shows just how skillfully he translated his mission into the quotidian of daily life; prayer, sharing food, reading from his beloved Bhagavad Gita to those who sought refuge. Soon, a rag-tag handful of devotees understand his message of “bhakti” –devotion and love to all– and are mesmerized.
As momentum builds for the Krishna movement and ISKCON’s devotees grow in number, the filmmakers also portray the “other” America outside of Prabhupada’s sanctuary. Finding themselves an international presence (there is wonderful and surprising footage of parades in London that fill Trafalgar Square, Washington Square Park in New York City alive and electric with Krishna devotional dancing), there are also those that have little, if no regard, for Prabhupada or his teachings—a secular America weary of cults and “thought programing” who believe that Prabhupada mission is ephemeral; a temporary haven for the disenfranchised.
There are clips from “Anti-Cult Movement experts” who warn of the dangers of “mind control” and the film depicts the “People versus Murphy” when criminal charges were brought against two devotees, a case that went to the New York City Supreme Court only to be dismissed. As one of Prabhupada’s closest associates tells us, “The more Prabhupada got attacked, the more energized he became.” Ever assured of the power of his teachings, Prabhupada had used only The Bhagavad Gita for his defense.
Ultimately, however, what makes the film such a vibrant portrayal of the history of the Krishna movement, is its refusal to give in to stereotypes or the grandiose–from painting Prapubadha and his devotees in too broad strokes. Perhaps the most telling vignette about Prabhupada, comes from rare footage of a trip he undertook to the Soviet Russia. In 1971 almost no Americans, certainly not Swamis, were granted visas. Yet, he applied and visited the country. Upon his arrival at Moscow, his Bhagavad Gita was confiscated by customs and after being detained, was finally released.
Instead of feeling bitter, the viewer watches him wander through Moscow, amazed, reflective, ever attentive to the beauty of the churches and architecture. Probing beneath the surface, as he so often did, Prabhupada sees the presence of Soviet guards and lack of crowds at religious sites, only noting with compassion, “the ordinary citizens of Russia are spiritual but because of their leaders they have no access to God anymore.”
As his death becomes imminent, the filmmakers bring the audience into his inner circle seated at Prabhupada’s bedside in the holy city of Vrindavan. Feeble, barely audible, his body a shell, he is nonetheless still hard at work. A devotee holds a tape recorder to his dying lips to allow Prabhupada to record his last words, “we are not this body. We are eternal life. It is an immense measure of freedom.”
“In the 12 years that he was alive,” the credits at the film’s end inform us, “he circled the globe 14 times, established 108 temples on 6 continents [and] saw 60-millions of his books distributed in 25 languages.” Whether you are a person of faith, a devotee, a skeptic, atheist, agnostic, or student, the film, “Hare Krishna! The Mantra, The Movement, and the Swami who started it all,” will amaze you. It is an insightful, enduring portrait about one of the most important figures of the twentieth century whose message of Krishna consciousness continues to reverberate in today’s fragile world.

*Rachael Stark is an Adjunct Professor of Technology, Culture, and Society at NYU Tandon School of Engineering and an Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing at St. John’s University. She has her MFA in writing and has published numerous articles in Namarupa, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, and is a featured blogger for The Huffington Post. She teaches yoga and is working on a novel.”

Rachael Stark interviews Lauren Ross: Co-Director and Producer:
“Hare Krishna! The Mantra, The Movement and the Swami who started it all.”

Lauren Ross is the Co-Director, Producer, and Editor of “Hare Krishna! The Mantra, The Movement and the Swami who started it all.” The film, which debuted in New York City and Los Angeles in June, is opening at selected theatres world-wide. While traveling in Los Angeles, Ms. Ross spoke about the film’s premise, its meaning in these fractured times, and her belief in Prabhupada’s message. What follows are brief excerpts from our conversation:

Rachael Stark: I’d like to take a moment to assess the film in our culture at large. Recently, Wonder Woman has been released in the mainstream media and the modern version of the heroine, played by Israeli actress, Gal Gadot, has been lauded as a contemporary epic—a much needed heroine for our times. Transitioning from the fiction of Hollywood to the documentary, “Hare Krishna! The Mantra, The Movement and the Swami who started it all,” can you speak a little bit about Prabhupada’s actual journey and his mission? In other words, why is this movie so critical and why is it vital that we hear Prabhupada’s story now?

Lauren Ross: It’s interesting that Prabhupada came to America in the 60’s and 70’s, at a time of great revolution and change when people were looking at the world and the state of it and questioning their own identities thinking, ‘I am so dissatisfied. Is this it? Who am I, really? What is my purpose in life? Is this all there really is–getting married, having kids, working a job—and if it is, why do I feel so empty.?’

And so, particularly in this climate, I think that Prabhupada’s message was revolutionary. Here was this man saying, ‘we are so much more than these material bodies. We need to connect with this idea and we also very much need to connect with one another. These are the things that truly bring us together as human beings. Our souls. That’s our commonality.’

That was, and still is, a timeless message. Just looking now at America now and the world in general, there’s so much discrimination, so much hate speech. In reference to your point about Wonder Woman, people are really looking for heroes. We all want people who lead by example and that’s exactly what Prabhupada did. It wasn’t that he just ‘went home’ and was a different person. People then, and also nowadays, want deeper answers to their questions and more profound solutions. Prabhupada’s story and in particular, him as a character, is more relevant today than ever.

But unlike a fictional superhero, Prabhupada was very humble. He never put emphasis on himself. He made his mission universal and he was steadfast in it. And that mission was, ‘Practice.’ ‘Bhakti.’ ‘Yoga.’ He told the world that there was wisdom that you can find in other traditions. He always emphasized our humanness, that we, as souls, are all connected to one another. Therefore, how can you hate someone who shares a soul with you?

RS: Can you speak a little bit about what initially drew you to this project and what, in particular, what the most poignant moment of the filming?

LR: Initially, I had been on a journey myself. I had been living in Sydney, Australia and I had similar questions such as, ‘why do I feel like something is always missing? I have all these things but something just doesn’t feel right.’ So, I went traveling for about year and I found myself in India and in Nepal feeling happier than I had been in a long time. When I came back to Australia, a producer friend of mine put me in contact with John and Jean Griesser [the directors of the film] and I fell in love with Prabhupada’s story. That’s how I initially got drawn to the project and I’ve been working on it for 3-4 years.

In fact, the whole journey and the making of this film has felt very transformative. It feels like Prabhupada is very much alive. His voice has been such a guiding voice. But I have to say that the most significant memory was having the chance to film the

re-enactments of his life when Prabhupada was a boy and when he was also a young man, visiting Kolkata where he grew up, filming the scenes where he watched his father perform religious rituals and all the while remembering that at the age of twenty-two, when his teacher told him to go to the West, it wouldn’t be for another fifty years that he could fulfill this journey. Even though he was married and had children, he patiently waited for his moment to begin. That was particularly inspiring.

RS: Finally, if you could address the “average” viewer directly, someone who has never heard of Prabhupada, who knows nothing about the Krishna movement or ISKCON, a non-devotee or “non-believer”—what would you want a spectator to take away from the film?

LR: I guess first and foremost, I would want the “average person” to take away an appreciation of Prabhupada. Here is a very unique story of a man who had two heart attacks on a freight ship from Kolkata to New York City and another heart attack later in the country. Yet he created a whole history–an entire movement all on his own, the Hare Krishna movement that is now global.

Then of course, I would also hope the film inspires dialogue for people to see it but especially in their daily life. For example, we often hear of bad experiences about different religions or customs we’re not familiar with—but after viewing this film, I hope that it will encourage everyday people to explore different ways of finding spirituality and happiness and how they can share these experiences with others to form community.

In other words, Prabhupada’s message was that spiritual life can be accessible to anyone. Everything that you do in your life can bring you spiritual perspective. Religious devotees aren’t just a stereotypical vision that society has of bald-headed men dancing in bed sheets. I would hope the film opens and provides prospective on the whole Hare Krishna movement and that this film shows the fun, complex story of an extraordinary man and moment in history with all of its true ups and downs.

Ratha Yatra Rijeka 2017 (Album with photos)
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Ratha Yatra Rijeka 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The mango fruit is different from the name of the mango. One cannot taste the mango fruit simply by chanting, “Mango, mango, mango.” But the devotee who knows that there is no difference between the name and form of the Lord chants Hare Krishna and realizes that he is always in Krishna’s company. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 10.2.36 Purport).
Find them here: https://goo.gl/NiqeHw

Supporting the Hari-nama Party. Giriraj Swami: Sri Rama Raya and…
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Supporting the Hari-nama Party.
Giriraj Swami: Sri Rama Raya and his Hari-Nama-sankirtana party are faithfully executing Srila Prabhupada’s mission as explained in his letter to authorities in America in 1969: “Our basic mission is to propagate the sankirtana movement (chanting of the holy names of God) all around the world as was recommended by the Lord, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. People in this age are reluctant very much to understand about God consciousness on account of their unfortunate condition of life. They are working hard day and night simply for sense gratification. But this transcendental vibration of sankirtana will knock at the door of their hearts for spiritual awakening. Therefore, they should be given the chance for this opportunity.
“It is not recommended that a Krishna conscious devotee go into seclusion for chanting by himself and thereby gaining salvation for himself alone. Our duty and religious obligation is to go out into the streets where the people in general, can hear the chanting and see the dancing. We have already seen practically how by this process many, many boys and girls of America and Europe have been saved from the immoral practices of this age and have now dedicated their lives for the service of Krishna.”
To taste and share the nectar of God’s holy names, the devotees of the New York City hari-nama party brave all kinds of weather and surroundings and responses from people; they live in austere conditions and eat the most simple prasada.
These devotees are fulfilling the words of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya, Lord Chaitanya’s intimate associate, in Susloka-satakam, 62:
yad avadhi hari nama pradur asit prithivyam
tad avadhi khalu loka vaisnavah sarvatas te
tilaka vimala mala nama yuktah pavitrah
hari hari kali madhye evam evam babahuva
“From the moment that the holy names of Krishna became manifest on the earth, Vaishnavas began appearing everywhere. Wearing tilaka and neck beads and equipped with the maha-mantra, they are present in the very midst of the darkest of ages, purifying the atmosphere by chanting ‘Hari! Hari!’ ”
These Hari-Nama devotees are worthy of our full support. If possible, we should join them for chanting, and we can also help by cooking and providing other services, and by contributing financially. To donate, simply go to the Yuga Dharma Ashram website https://www.nycharinam.org/donate and select a donation option (monthly or one-time).
“Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the father and inaugurator of the sankirtana movement. One who worships Him by sacrificing his life, money, intelligence, and words for the sankirtana movement is recognized by the Lord and endowed with His blessings.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi 3.78 purport)
Hare Krishna!
Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

Iskcon Alachua’s Eco Teaching Farm Update Chiki Hut Built…
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Iskcon Alachua’s Eco Teaching Farm Update
Chiki Hut Built on Eco Farm.
Mukhya devi dasi: We are moving along at the Eco Teaching Farm to create a great learning place for alternative living ideas, as Srila Prabhupada wanted. One of the newest additions is the Chikki hut sponsored by Akuti devi dasi. It will be used for gatherings, bhajans, classes, yoga, prasadam distribution, and more. Akuti prabhu remembered how at the old Miami temple there were two Chikkis made by the Seminole Indians, and they were exempt from permits. Due to this exemption, and the costs of building another type of structure, the Chikki was a good fit for the Eco Farm. The Seminoles still have the business, and they provide service here in Alachua too. They completed the project in 2 days with more than 3,000 sabal palms, cypress poles, and pressure treated uprights.

Akuti prabhu plans to make an India-style outdoor kitchen here, along with a cob oven off the back side. It will be a great place for picnics. At the encouragement of Sakshi Gopal das, she will make a traditional raised cow dung earth floor. You may also want to check out the newly installed (almost hooked up) bio-gas digester in the barn kitchen that can convert all kinds of organic materials, even left over prasadam, into fuel for a stove! This project was encouraged and assisted by two UF professors with whom Akuti prabhu has made friends.