Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Kirtana Mela Tallinn, Estonia’s capital, 2017 (Album with…
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Kirtana Mela Tallinn, Estonia’s capital, 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In any condition, a man can live in a small cottage, plant a Tulasi tree, water it in the morning, offer it prayers, and continuously chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Thus one can make vigorous spiritual advancement. This is not at all difficult. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 24.261)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/bngnPc

Meet a 64-year-old walking monk
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Meet a 64-year-old walking monk.
Rick Sherman, Sun Advocate Reporter: He has occasionally been mistaken for an escaped prisoner because his saffron robe resembles the orange jump suit worn by many jail inmates. But Bhaktimarga Swami is not a fugitive. He is a Hare Krishna Monk, a Bhakti Yoga instructor and marathon walker. His contacts with law enforcement have generally been benign. “The police have been great by and large,” he mused. “Once they know what we’re up to, they’re impressed, so they’ve been very cooperative.”
Traveling on foot is a common practice in various spiritual traditions, and the Walking Monk believes that it’s an effective way to reach out and communicate the importance of morality and ethical priorities.

The 64-year-old has walked across his home country of Canada and has also traversed Ireland, Israel, Guyana, Trinidad and Mauritius. He is walking 3,500 miles across the United States to promote a healthier lifestyle and a simple meditative life and to celebrate the 50 years since the inception of Hare Krishna in North America.

During a brief sojourn in Carbon County last week, the Swami spoke to a group at the Southeastern Integrated Healing Arts Center in Price, and spent the night in Helper. “People have been very kind to me. I think there is a strong spiritual component to the people here in this state and I think that makes a big difference,” he related.

The Swami’s itinerary follows Highway 6 to Spanish Fork for a few days stay at the Hare Krishna temple, and then on Eureka, Delta, and Garrison, Utah. He said he was looking forward to walking across Nevada on historic U.S. Highway 50 & 6, which are part of the Lincoln Highway. Highway 50 has also been dubbed the “Loneliest Road in America” because towns along the route are few and far apart.

He began his walk across the U.S. in Boston and has divided up the pilgrimage into three “legs.” He walks an average of 20 miles during an eight-hour day, with the goal of arriving at San Francisco by Sept. 15.

There are a few areas where he has had no choice but to ride in his support vehicle on bridges and other areas where pedestrians are not allowed. And he has chosen to walk at night through some areas, such as “hot and sticky” Nebraska.

While Bhaktimarga Swami recognizes the need for personal transportation, he opined that modern society is so obsessed with the automobile, it has resulted in widespread obesity and a disconnect with nature. “Walking is both a physical exercise and it’s also a spiritual experience. There’s charm in the whole thing. You have so much time to ponder and think things over,” he stated.

He observed that Utahns are more fit than the residents of most other states and noted the walking trails in Price and Helper as a step in the right direction. “I would say if everybody gets to do an hour walk every day – like in the morning would be preferable before you get into the crazy world – what a nice difference it would make,” he suggested.
Source: https://goo.gl/PKjSy1

TOVP: The first chakra permanently installed (Album with…
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TOVP: The first chakra permanently installed (Album with photos)
Parijata: Thursday 10th of August, was the auspicious installation of the Planetarium Wing Chakra.
The whole of Mayapur community came to the ToVP site to witness and visually see this monumental event.
The devotees in Mayapur haven’t seen the Chakra before in a close proximity. Everybody was blown out and Mayapur is still buzzing today with this wonderful transcendental activity.
Sadbhuja and the ToVP team were praying very hard that the monsoon rains would hold off while the Chakra and the Kalash were assembled in Mayapur.
The rain had stopped for more than 2 weeks and the weather was perfect! On the installation day, the weather was fabulous without even a cloud in the sky.
One hour after the Chakra went up, it started pouring with rain like we have never seen before for a solid 2 hrs.
Sadbhuja Prabhu feels and has full faith the demigods have come down to bless this Chakra.
The devotees are of the same opinion, the demigods have come down to bestow their blessing on us and this wonderful installation.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/QDn8X1

Vaisesika Prabhu’s recent class in Los Angeles…
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Vaisesika Prabhu’s recent class in Los Angeles (video)
I’m actually meant to love and serve this Personality within the innermost chambers of the heart…
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/o2sVEk

Ambarisa Das: Auspicious Initial Chakra Installation, Mayapur…
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Ambarisa Das: Auspicious Initial Chakra Installation, Mayapur 8/10/17 (Album with photos)
Blessed by the presence of Jayapataka Maharaj, Jananivas prabhu, Mayapur Mangement and Sadbhuja prabhu with the TOVP team. MC’d and organized by Braja Vilas prabhu. Immediately after the ceremony, heavy rain came after many days without. Most auspicious. Srila Prabhupada ki Jaya!!!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/9vSTPw

Marriages which make the Kurukshetra war look tame :-)Kadamba…
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Marriages which make the Kurukshetra war look tame 🙂
Kadamba Kanana Swami: I had a disciple who was living in a small flat – just a one room studio with a bathroom and kitchenette. In the room, there was a sofa which could turn into a bed. There were chairs and every chair had stuff on it. When you would enter, you sort of have to dig through all the stuff to get a place to sit down. This is called a bachelor’s flat!

‘Robin Roberts’, famous news anchor from (ABC)…
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‘Robin Roberts’, famous news anchor from (ABC) American Broadcasting Company’s ‘Good Morning America’ gets a ‘Perfection of Yoga’ book by the great transcendental author Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. (Album with photos)
Drumila Dasa: I was just about to call it a day when I looked down the sidewalk and saw ‘Robin Roberts’ and her entourage coming down the sidewalk in front of the Supreme Court building. I didn’t have time to be apprehensive or get the jitters. I just tried to be as natural as possible and was able to give her the book. And as a bonus, I was able to describe to her the wonderful movie about the author of her book, called ‘Hare Krsna, The Mantra, the Movement, and the Swami who started it all.’ I gave her a bookmarker with all the pertinent info on it about the film(pictured). Then proceeded to tell her, how it won the Jury Prize at the prestigious ‘Illuminate’ film festival in Sedona, Arizona. She was genuinely humble, and gracious, and thanked me for what I was doing. Robin Roberts is also a breast cancer survivor.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/aEZrXq

H.H.Gopal Krishna Goswami about Srila Prabhupada’s…
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H.H.Gopal Krishna Goswami about Srila Prabhupada’s departure for the USA (video)
Srila Prabhupada: I planned to go to America. Generally, they go to London, but I was simply thinking how to go to New York.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/ftv4Af

“A soul in a Georgia State Prison” Chandra Myers: A…
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“A soul in a Georgia State Prison”
Chandra Myers: A devotee walked up to me today before the swing ceremony for Radha Govinda and said, “I want to tell you something…I just ordered a book from Amazon of Prabhupada Memories and when I opened to the first page there was a letter which said, ‘To whoever gets this book….I am not a member of their faith but I have read this book and it has changed my life…’ and he went on for a few pages glorifying the life and character of Srila Prabhupada and how he had experienced a change of heart and made a connection with Prabhupada in his own way.
It was signed…. “A soul in a Georgia State Prison”

Celebrating Radha and Krishna’s pastime of swinging on a…
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Celebrating Radha and Krishna’s pastime of swinging on a golden swing in Vrindavana (video)
Jhulan Yatra during the sacred month of Shravana.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/qFD3kh

Sri Krishna Janamashtami Celebration 2017 @ BGIS (3 min…
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Sri Krishna Janamashtami Celebration 2017 @ BGIS (3 min video)
Invitation video and cards for Sri Krishna Janamashtami Celebration 2017@ BGIS.
Venue Bhaktivedanta Gurukula & International School Raman Reti, Next to ISKCON Temple – Vrindavan, Mathura UP
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/ygi44m

Jhulan Yatra at Bhaktivedanta Swami Mission School, Juhu,…
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Jhulan Yatra at Bhaktivedanta Swami Mission School, Juhu, Mumbai.
The students and staff of the Bhaktivedanta Swami Mission School flagged off the Janmashtami Celebrations with a grand Jhulan festival at the school at Andheri, Mumbai. Besides the students and teachers the festival was enthusiastically attended by the parents as well.
The Janmashtami celebrations will be held on Fri, 11th August with abhishekha performed by the students followed by a boat festival in the temple hall. The 121st appearance day celebrations of Srila Prabhupada will be held on Monday, 21st August 2017 with an offering of 121 bhoga offerings made by the students and staff followed by pushpanjali and various competitions in remembrance of Srila Prabhupada.
The Bhaktivedanta Swami Mission School comprises of approximately 1100 students from all walks of life, studying through the ICSE board offering high quality material education. The various spiritual activities and celebrations involving EVERY child brings about the much needed balance for an overall development and a “Practical application of Spirituality”.

GANDDARI DEVI DASI
DIRECTOR,
CULTURAL AND SPIRITUAL ACTIVITIES

Annual Rath Yatra – Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir – Queens,…
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Annual Rath Yatra – Sri Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir – Queens, New York (Album with photos)
7/30/2017 – Sri Krishna Balarama showered their blessi…Read More…

Griffith University Gold Coast, Australia, Prasadam…
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Griffith University Gold Coast, Australia, Prasadam Distribution.
Radharani Priya devi dasi Tuesday nights at the Griffith University Student Village are ‘Krishna Supper Night’, where we serve out free, hot nutritious vegetarian meals and have kirtana. This project was started through the University Chaplaincy department. The Cardamom Pod Restaurant sponsors the prasadam, and well-known cook Garuda dasa also brings an equal amount of prasadam from New Govardhana.
The Village houses 500 students, who are mainly from interstate and overseas. The students line up for pasta, kicheri, halava and a drink, while listening to the soothing kirtana melodies of Kalyani devi dasi and Garuda. Another valuable member of the team is Rajnesh, a Griffith student. He comes to help serve out every Tuesday and often brings some of his uni friends to assist. The project has been running successfully for two semesters, and the Village management is very happy about the Krishna Supper Night.

The devotee who “kidnapped” the deities from his own…
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The devotee who “kidnapped” the deities from his own wife!
Sri Sri Radha Govardhanadhari’s Installation Anniversary.
Ajita dasa: The New Govardhana farm, Australia, was purchased in May 1977 for $80,000. A year later the temple construction began with its three altars. The middle altar was to become the residence of Sri Sri Radha Govardhanadhari, the transcendental lifter of the hill that fulfills all desires. The devotees decided to install the Deity form of Radha Govardhanadhari as soon as the temple could receive Them. Unfortunately, to design, carve and ship such a wondrous form of God required a lot of time. Imagine India and communications in 1977 … Hari Sauri dasa decided to fly to Jaipur where the professional Deity sculptors (sthapatis) design and carve such forms of Krishna. He arrived at a sthapati’s workshop to place his order for New Govardhana. He saw a beautiful form of Radha and Krishna, who he felt would be perfect for Australia. “Bad news”, says the sthapati with transcendental pride. “They have been pre-ordered, paid for and are ready for shipping to New Mayapur, France.” Hari Sauri wanted the same Deities for New Govardhana, but time was running out. After much haggling, discussions, and bribes the sthapati finally released the already carved Divine Couple to him. He finalized the payment and shipping on the spot. Meanwhile, the sthapati frantically began a replica of the exact same set for the original customer. History confirms that this ‘client’ was not happy upon seeing the slightly modified version. July 1979 was the time for the two installations of the Radha Krishna Deities for New Mayapur, France, and New Govardhana, Australia. Many devotees attended the festival held at the newly constructed temple in Australia. Strawberry halava was one of the many preparations offered to Their Lordships on 15 July 1979 as a welcome feast. (Since then, more than half a million such preparations have been offered to Radha Govardhanadhari.) The other installation took place in New Mayapur, France. Sri Sri Radha Govinda Madhava were installed and also received halava with Their first offering. Now it’s 2004, during our Deities 25 th anniversary, and Hari Sauri is telling the assembled devotees about Their installation but, unknown to him, the ‘customer’ is also among the assembled devotees. Suddenly, the form of Sri Sri Radha Govardhanadhari flashes in her mind – 25 years ago in Jaipur, waiting to be shipped, to France. All hell breaks loose – Hari Sauri and the ‘customer’ together on the same day, same time, same Deities, same temple, same story – but now the customer is his very own wife, Sitala devi dasi!
Hari Sauri had ‘kidnapped’ the Deities who were ready for France and only 25 years later the truth came out on Their anniversary day. Sri Sri Radha Govardhanadhari had previously arranged, some 20 years ago, for the thief and the designer to marry. Who says God doesn’t have a sense of humor? Another little-known fact is that Govardhanadhari temporarily had conch shell eyes. Sri Sri Radha Govardhanadhari are very special Deities. Krishna is the lifter of the hill that fulfills all desires and He does indeed fulfill all desires of His dear servants, but He does so with a twist – as we have learned. So please somehow serve Their Lordships and see how kind They are. Just beware of what you desire …

Sri Krishna Haveli Project Update (Bhaktivedanta Manor,…
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Sri Krishna Haveli Project Update (Bhaktivedanta Manor, UK)
After many months of looking at tenders from over 6 different companies, we are now working with Vascroft Construction Ltd on valued engineering with a view to signing a contract soon. Vascroft contractors have over 40 years experience in the construction industry and have built many luxury hotels, private homes and restaurants delivering them on time and budget.
What happening now:
• The Pre-School has been relocated for the construction period.
• The construction of the interim facilities for the Manor School is ongoing.
• The pre-works to secure the site and provide amenities to construction crew have begun.
• Value engineering to make sure the costs stay within budget are being carried out before the full work commences after Janmashtami.
• The roads leading into the car parks are currently being constructed.
More info: http://haveli.bhaktivedantamanor.co.uk/

Volunteers unwind at uplifting mountain retreat in UK. The…
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Volunteers unwind at uplifting mountain retreat in UK.
The Volunteer Care Council at Bhaktivedanta Manor annually organizes a spiritual retreat at Buckland Hall in the heart of the beautiful rural Brecon Beacons mountains of Wales. This year’s edition in late March saw a record number of attendees, including the management team and residents. There was a total of 170 attendees who were all enthusiastic to immerse themselves in topics about Krishna for the weekend. The theme was ‘Looking back, to move forward’, centered around our meditation for 2017, namely, how to afford godly hospitality to guests. During the retreat, visiting guest speakers delivered thought-provoking seminars. Vraja Bihari das, a monk from Mumbai, emphasized the importance for us to all stop, pause and take time to reflect on our past actions. We can thus learn lessons on how to move forward positively rather than lament about the past. Gaur Gopal das continued the theme of insightful learning, conveying the message of ‘Experience over Convenience’; the process of tolerating inconveniences to concentrate on improving our consciousness. Sutapa das explained how life is like a jigsaw puzzle: to solve it, we first need to put down the corners (understand the overall picture). The children had a fun time going on an organized treasure hunt, as well as taking part in many other activities especially arranged for them. There was also an incredibly heart touching drama based on the history of Lord Ramachandra and His wonderful devotees. Buckland Hall director Akhandadhi das said, “The whole weekend had a wonderful atmosphere where Srila Prabhupada’s Krishna consciousness family came together to support one another and learn in harmony, sharing the same goals in reviving our relationship with Krishna.” Harish Baldi said, “The experience was excellent!” Haridasvarya Das and Sundari Gopika devi said: “We feel spiritually charged. It was a great opportunity to walk in beautiful country surroundings.”

Coming soon – Chantnow.com
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Coming soon – Chantnow.com
Pancharatna Das: We have exciting news to report from ISKCON Online. In just about one month from now, with the mercy of Sri Guru and Gauranga, we will have the beta launch of our first outreach project – Chantnow.com. And with it we’ll be opening up some wonderful opportunities for online seva.

Who are the Gaudiya Vaisnavas?
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Who are the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas?
Devotees of Viṣṇu are called Vaiṣṇavas, devotees of Kṛṣṇa are called Kārṣṇas, and the devotees of Śrī Rādhā (Gaurī) are called Gauḍīyas (Gaurīyas).
Lord Gaurāṅga’s devotees, who are under the shelter of parakīya-mādhurya-rati and who follow Śrī Rūpa, are called Gauḍīyas. The Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas follow Śrī Svarūpa Dāmodara Gosvāmī, the incarnation of Lalitā. Therefore they can be defined as followers of Śrī Svarūpa and Śrī Rūpa. Therefore Mahāprabhu commented to Śrī Svarūpa Dāmodara Prabhu, “This is the behavior of your Gauḍīya devotees.”
The Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavas are interested in mañjarī-bhāva, and Śrī Rādhā-Govinda, Śrī Rādhā-Gopīnātha, and Śrī Rādhā-Madana-mohana are their worshipable Deities.[…]
Generally, Lord Gaurāṅga’s devotees are known as Gauḍīyas (Gaurīyas), and the devotees in Gauḍadeśa (Bengal) are also called Gauḍīyas, just as the devotees in Utkala (Oḍissa) are called Oḍiyās.
Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura
Amṛta Vāṇī – Nectar of Instructions for Immortality
***Phonemes [r] and [ḍ] are both retroflex and sound almost similarly. Gaurīyas and Gauḍīyas are homonyms

Iskcon Center Vesu (Surat) Rathyatra And Book Distribution…
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Iskcon Center Vesu (Surat) Rathyatra And Book Distribution Report (Album with photos)
“Distribution of books and magazines is our most important activity.Without books, our preaching has no solid basis”- Srila Prabhupada’s Letter to Cyavana 26-12-71.
Embracing these divine words of Srila Prabhupada in their hearts and acting accordingly, The devotees from Surat has once again emerged victorious in their 4 hours combat against Maya during a fabulous Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in the Vesu area of Surat city on 30-7-17.
Troops of devotees entered the residential buildings of this posh area and bombarded mostly each and every house with the weapons in the form of Srila Prabhupada’s books.
Other groups of devotees marched along the roads with their hands loaded with Prabhupada books surrounding the Rathyatra of the Lord of the universe who was mercifully delivering the conditioned souls by His beautiful sidelong glances.
This Transcendental 4 hours battle came to end in a moment and by Prabhupada’s divine mercy the devotees were able to distribute the books as follows:
342- Maha big books
21- Big books
56- Medium books
1543- Small books
5 Annual BTG subscriptions. H.G. Radhacharàn prabhu and H.G.Radhesh prabhu administered the proper arrangements in the Rathyatra and book distribution respectively.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada transcendental book distribution.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Xz75q7