Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Documentary ‘Hare Krishna!’ casts a devotee’s eye on the ISKCON…
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Documentary ‘Hare Krishna!’ casts a devotee’s eye on the ISKCON movement.
“Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare. A hypnotic, rhythmic chant of 16 words has replaced LSD and other drugs for some in New York’s East Village,” says a CBS network correspondent, referring to a guru who is preaching about Krishna’s teachings inside a store on 2nd Avenue. The black-and-white footage is from the opening scene of Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It All. The 2017 documentary turns the lens on Srila Prabhupada, who made the International Society for Krishna Consciousness popular in the West. It has been directed by John Griesser, an ISKCON member, along with Lauren Ross, and focuses on the impact an old Indian spiritual teacher had on strangers miles away from his country.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/8BMkCm

Film Review: ‘Hare Krishna! The Mantra, The Movement, And The…
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Film Review: ‘Hare Krishna! The Mantra, The Movement, And The Swami Who Started It All’
There’s nothing quite like hearing Hare Krishna, a greeting, echo throughout a crowded theater. If this tells you anything about the new film, Hare Krishna: The Mantra, the Movement, and the Swami Who Started It All, from the husband-wife duo John and Jean Griesser and co-director Lauren Ross, it should be that it knows exactly who it’s audience is. By the end of the film, as we hear the titular mantra chanted in a globe-spanning montage, most of the audience began chanting along.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/qfCnBD

Procession at the Great Temple of Jagannath, Puri,…
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Procession at the Great Temple of Jagannath, Puri, Orissa
Watercolor of the procession at the Great Temple of Jagannath at Puri in Orissa, by an anonymous artist, part of the MacKenzie Collection, dated July 1818. Inscribed on back in ink: ‘Procession at the Temple of Jagannath in July 1818.’
Puri is one of the cardinal centers of pilgrimage for Hinduism and is particularly revered by the Vaishnavas as the principal center of the cult of Krishna in his form of Jagannatha, the Lord of the Universe. The Jagannatha temple is one of the largest in India and was founded in the 12th Century by Anantavarman Chodaganga (r.1077-1147), ruler of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. The temple consists of an enclosed inner sanctuary, covered by a spire (57 m tall) that is richly decorated with figures from Vaishnava myths and topped by the flag and wheel, symbols of Vishnu. This is preceded by a mandapa with a pyramidal roof, surrounded by other mandapas that were added by subsequent rulers. The Rath Yatra (car festival) is the largest annual festival in Puri when the images of Jagannatha, his brother Balabhadra and sister Subhadra are placed in large chariots (raths) and are paraded about the town. The festival is meant to symbolize the journey of Krishna from Gokul to Mathura.

Over 12,000 plates of delicious vegetarian food (prasadam) have…
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Over 12,000 plates of delicious vegetarian food (prasadam) have been served already at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK. (Album with photos)
Hungry? Come find us! We’re in Saxon Market, next to Silver Hayes Field.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/g2ZHJ4

The importance of READING & CHANTING (6 min video) Krishna…
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The importance of READING & CHANTING (6 min video)
Krishna Dharma is “the author of the world’s most popular editions of India’s great epics”: the Ramayana: India’s Immortal Tale of Adventure, Love, and Wisdom (1998) and the Mahabharata: The Greatest Spiritual Epic of All Time (1999). He is also a contributor to the press and a regular radio broadcaster.
Watch it here: Krishna Dharma is “the author of the world’s most popular editions of India’s great epics”: the Ramayana: India’s Immortal Tale of Adventure, Love, and Wisdom (1998) and the Mahabharata: The Greatest Spiritual Epic of All Time (1999). He is also a contributor to the press and a regular radio broadcaster.

Los Angeles Times Review ‘Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the…
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Los Angeles Times Review ‘Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It All’ reveals an inner glow!
Michael Rechtshaffen: The documentary “Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It All” essentially says it all as a fittingly devotional tribute to Srila Prabhupada, who traveled from Calcutta to New York at age 70 and spearheaded a revolution of self-realization.
As chronicled by director John Griesser, it wasn’t all rose petals and hand cymbals when the former pharmacist arrived in America by cargo ship in 1965 without sponsors or suitable winter clothing.

Eventually, hippies, in pursuit of an alternate reality that wasn’t drug-induced, began trickling into his East Village storefront, and, within a few years, Prabhupada’s movement would have high-profile outposts in San Francisco and then London, where it found a valuable ambassador in George Harrison.

With its rare archival footage featuring the quiet Beatle, as well as adherents Allen Ginsberg and, later, Boy George, the film effectively summons an evocative moment in time.

But, in the absence of on-screen detractors, save for brief mention of a backlash from alarmed parents who accused movements such as Hare Krishna of employing mind-control techniques to recruit their children, the film ultimately feels like a marketing tool for ISKCON, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.

Still, and it may just be the lighting, there’s no denying that the swami’s original American disciples, shown a half-century later and 40 years after the death of their leader, all seem to possess a palpable inner glow.
Source: https://goo.gl/7JQGeR

New Updates from the Bhaktivedanta Archives. Published on the…
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New Updates from the Bhaktivedanta Archives.
Published on the Auspicious Disappearance Day
of Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, June 23rd, 2017
The Bhaktivedanta Archives is pleased to offer two new releases:
1) The VedaBase™ 2017.1 update.
2) Original unedited audio for the year 1969.
The 2017 VedaBase™ Update Includes:
a) New Unicode w/Reference Icon!
Authored by Indupati Dāsa
Unicode is a modern typographic standard for processing text in multiple languages. This standard accommodates all the diacritic marks needed for rendering Sanskrit and Bengali in roman transliteration, etc.

The new Unicode icon converts selected diacritic text in the VedaBase to this universal standard which can be applied on the web, emails, Facebook, etc.

Mac: Preinstalled.

Windows: Refer to Unicode—README.
[Advanced Users Only—no tech support]

b) 1969 Reverified Against Original Audio

c) 1975 Room Conversation with Gurukula Teachers
Via Rūpa-vilāsa Dāsa

d) The Way of Kings
Drew Lawrence / Duryodhana-guru Dāsa

e) The Realization & Manifestation of Your Eternal Identity
Uttamaśloka Dāsa

f) Śrī Godruma Kalpāṭavī, The Desire-tree Grove of Godruma
Śrīla Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura
with Translations and Commentary by Jayapatākā Swami

Download VedaBase™ 2017.1
[Both Windows & Mac]

Alternative Downloads:

Windows
Mac

Audio Publishing and Processing Update

Tape Ministry Compared to Original Audio

1977 (038 / 387 (audio files published)
1976 (244 / 703 (audio files published)
1975 (302 / 563 (audio files published)
1974 (309 / 439 (audio files published)
1973 (289 / 418 (audio files published)
1972 (160 / 413 (audio files published)
1971 (015 / 228 (audio files published)
1970 (017 / 084 (audio files published)
1969 (067 / 145 (audio files published)
———————————————————
1968 (052 / 150* (audio files)
1967 (011 / 048* (audio files)
1966 (101 / 118* (audio files)

* Anticipated 316 original audio files [pending]

1969 (102 hours, 145 audio files, 04 Gb)
Individual Downloads

1970 (043 hours, 084 audio files, 02 Gb)
Individual Downloads

1971 (136 hours, 228 audio files, 06 Gb)
Individual Downloads

1972 (258 hours, 413 audio files, 14 Gb)
Individual Downloads

1973 (252 hours, 418 audio files, 11 Gb)
Individual Downloads

1974 (250 hours, 439 audio files, 11 Gb)
Individual Downloads

1975 (315 hours, 563 audio files, 14 Gb)
Individual Downloads

1976 (340 hours, 703 audio files, 17 Gb)
Individual Downloads

1977 (237 hours, 387 audio files, 10 Gb)
Individual Downloads

Total: (1933 hours, 3380 audio files, 89 Gb)*

*[All audios are accompanied by matching PDF transcription files.]

Alternative downloads from Prabhupadavani.org

How to Acquire without downloading:

a) Receive all 145 ‘69 original audios for $50.- on an USB Drive, including shipping and handling worldwide. Includes the latest VedaBase 2017.1 NFO (Mac & PC).

b) Receive all 3380 [1969—1977] original audios for $75.- on an USB Drive, including shipping and handling worldwide. Includes the latest VedaBase 2017.1 NFO (Mac & PC).

Contact: info@prabhupada.com or go directly to our PayPal donation page: http://prabhupada.com/Donations/Donations.html

Tech Support

Technical assistance is provided via email only for bona fide VedaBase versions, phone support not available. When contacting us about a particular problem, try to be as specific as possible. For example: state your Operating System (version), computer type, VedaBase version, etc. If required include screenshots to help clarify your issue. We normally reply within 24 hours.

We do not provide help with your computer’s Operating System or how to operate your computer.

Questions for VedaBase (Windows): ekanatha@prabhupada.com
Questions for VedaBase (Mac): nitya@prabhupada.com

Thank you.

Your grateful servants,
The Bhaktivedanta Archives staff

Parama-rūpa Dāsa
Nitya-tṛptā Devī Dāsī
Kula-priya Devī Dāsī
Ekanātha Dāsa

To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/Ag3yWf

Boy goes into a “trance” by getting the…
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Boy goes into a “trance” by getting the Bhagavad-gita!
Mohanasini’s Sankirtan Pic/Pick of the Week: After his parents gave a generous donation for Food for Life, I offered them a Bhagavad Gita for being so kind. Well, this 5-year-old, Cayden from Arkansas, who will be going into 1st grade in the fall, spontaneously grabbed the book from his father and opened up to the picture of Krishna and His different incarnations. He got a big smile and was practically glowing. He tried to show the picture to his parents but they didn’t pay so much attention. I asked his mom if he can read and she said yes. They were waiting on the corner for some time and I looked over and saw this intelligent boy sitting like a yogi on the sidewalk perusing the Bhagavad Gita very intently. Looks like he’s picked up where he left off! 🙂

Two Million And Counting (Album with photos) Indradyumna Swami:…
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Two Million And Counting (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Today myself, Bada Haridas and several local devotees in Skopje, Macedonia were on two prime time television programs; one in the morning at… breakfast time and another at lunch time. Each program was watched by over one million people. When I inquired how it was possible so many people could be watching, one of the producers smiled and replied, “It’s a habit here in Macedonia to watch television while enjoying breakfast and lunch.” Srila Prabhupada, we offer the results to your lotus feet and pray that we may serve your samkirtan movement until all the 14 worlds are chanting the holy names!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Z5gTwh

Iskcon London Update: Temple Facade Refurbishment. Last year we…
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Iskcon London Update: Temple Facade Refurbishment.
Last year we undertook a major refurbishment of the temple from Govinda’s restaurant right up to the mens ashrama at the top. It took over three and a half months to complete. There has been consistently wonderful feedback from everyone about how the temple has never looked so beautiful and inspiring. But the plan was not to stop there. The outside of the temple was also in dire need of a ‘facelift’ to recover from damage done to it as a result of the construction in adjoining building and the rigors of time. Finally all the elements came into place to undertake this work. So from the week starting 12th June, scaffolding was erected to facilitate this work and the repair work commenced on Monday 19th June. This includes repairing the numerous major structural cracks throughout the facade, installing new windows and lighting and of course a beautiful new coat of paint. And upon further consideration now a complete retiling of a portion of the roof has been added to the works, as previous repairs have failed to stop leaks that are coming into the ladies ashrama. The proposed duration of work is up to four weeks. While the work is going on, there will be absolutely no impact on the restaurant or temple activities and everything is running as usual with no change to opening hours. We thank you for your patience during these essential works and request your support in well-wishes and prayers that everything proceeds nicely in continuing to ‘Beautify Krishna’s Temple’.

Gaura Sharanam – the new album of Badahari prabhu (Audio…
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Gaura Sharanam – the new album of Badahari prabhu (Audio tracks)
Whether you prefer your kirtan music for meditation, yoga, dancing, or singing, your desires will be satisfied with Bada Haridas’ new album, Gaura Sharanam.
Easy to sing-along melodies, original tunes and stunning arrangements, the tasteful fusion of musical accompaniment, and the beautiful voices of guest artists, combine to make Gaura Sharanam a new favorite kirtan album. From beginning to end, it’s uplifting and engaging. Truly, anandambudhi vardanam: an ocean of bliss!
Listen to them here: https://goo.gl/QctVPZ

Iskcon New Delhi, Gundicha Marjan: 23-06-2017 (Album with…
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Iskcon New Delhi, Gundicha Marjan: 23-06-2017 (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/XrPEzR

What Kirtan means to me (3 min video)His Holiness Kadamba…
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What Kirtan means to me (3 min video)
His Holiness Kadamba Kanana Swami is a spiritual leader of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, an author of several books such as, “Nothing but the Holy Name” and “Words of a Public Hermit”. He has also recorded over ten albums to fund the various projects that he supports. Being widely recognized for his melodic voice and up-tempo rhythm, Kadamba Kanana Swami is frequently invited to perform at various singing festivals. In this video, he shares what Kirtan means to him.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/miDPB9

NYC Premiere of Hare Krishna! (Album with photos) Srila…
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NYC Premiere of Hare Krishna! (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: We have to work sincerely, and because Krishna is in everyone’s heart, there will be no difficulty to have the necessary facilities. Letter to Satsvarupa, September 14, 1969.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/gbEs7w

Iskcon of Silicon Valley: Vedic Academy Sunday school annual day…
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Iskcon of Silicon Valley: Vedic Academy Sunday school annual day & Graduation (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Our relationship with Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is eternal. Nitya-siddha Krishna-prema. The pure souls are eternally in love with Krishna. Simply by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra one revives his original relationship with God and thus becomes so happy that he does not want anything material. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 7.7.39 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/HMZYCA

“HARE KRISHNA!” A New Documentary Tells the Story of the Swami…
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“HARE KRISHNA!” A New Documentary Tells the Story of the Swami Who Started It All.
What first comes to mind when you hear the word “yoga”? A sun salute? Your favorite flow class? For bhakti-yoga practitioners, it’s so much more than a way to sweat off the day—it’s a way of life. And they have Srila Prabhupada to thank for their practice.
The new documentary HARE KRISHNA!, directed by John Griesser with Jean Griesser and Lauren Ross, is an in-depth look at the man who brought the now worldwide spiritual phenomenon known as the Hare Krishna movement to America. A 70-year-old Indian Swami when he came to the U.S. in the 1960s, Prabhupada offered the world what it needed the most: a revolution of consciousness.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/FNbiCM

Snana Yatra & Panihati with 2.000 Devotees!ISKCON Sri…
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Snana Yatra & Panihati with 2.000 Devotees!
ISKCON Sri Jagannath Mandir Bangalore: This year, The Devotees of ISKCON Seshadripuram celebrated the annual Festival of Sri Jagannath Snana Yatra along with Panihati Cida Dahi Mahotsav Festival at Dodda Gosai Ghat, Srirangapatna. More than two thousand devotees thronged from all over the state to receive the mercy of the Lord.
Volunteers arrived the previous day and arranged a makeshift altar along with a tent and kitchen next to the holy river, Cauvery to facilitate the devotees and the Lord.
The Festival began with a Drama by our Youth forum continued by Abhiseka to the Deities Sri Sri Jagannath, Baladeva, Devi Subhadra and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. Followed by which Sri Sri Gaura Nitai were taken for a dip in Mother Cauvery. There was excitement in the air as the deities were taken for a dip in the Cauvery river. All of us jostled for space to get a glimpse of the Lords while in the waters of the Cauvery and to receive their merciful blessings as they came out. Then came our turn to take a dip in the cool waters of the river touched by the lotus feet of the deities. It was time for some fun and splashing around. However one could see devotees paying obeisances before entering the waters, sprinkling some water on their heads before carefully stepping into the river.
Soon afterward, His Holiness Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Goswami Maharaja (ACBSP) spoke on the most wonderful pastimes of Lord Jagannath and the Festival had concluded with Hathi/ Gaja Vesh Darshan of Lord Jagannath and a delicious Prasadam feast comprising of Cakes, Cida-Dahi, Sweets, Pulao, Sabzi and Roti.
Everyone felt truly blessed. Being in the association of so many devotees is something we all yearn for. Why can’t such festivals just go on and on. Why can’t there be a festival everyday where every word is a song and every step is a dance?
Your Servants
ISKCON Seshadripuram Communications
http://iskconbangalore.co.in/

Please join us in prayers for our dear Godsister Aditya Devi…
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Please join us in prayers for our dear Godsister Aditya Devi Dasi, who left this world here in Vrindavan on Ekadasi evening!
Giriraj Swami: Aditya Dasi was a pure, devoted soul who sincerely served Srila Prabhupada and his Lords for the last forty-five years. She was our secretary in Juhu, and after Prabhupada’s departure she did wonderful service in his quarters, and then she went to Vrindavan to serve him. She was ill these last days and wanted to leave her body on Ekadasi, and Prabhupada fulfilled her desire. We feel her separation, but we take solace in knowing that she has gone to continue her service to him and his Lords in a better situation. Nonetheless, I am praying for her. And I am reminded of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta’s description of Haridasa Thakura’s funeral ceremony: “Thereafter, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu bade farewell to all the devotees, and He Himself, with mixed feelings of happiness and distress, took rest.”

The personal and dear servant of Srila Prabhupada, Srutakirti…
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The personal and dear servant of Srila Prabhupada, Srutakirti Prabhu, recovering after suffering a seizure.
Vishakha Fiorentino: My husband was discharged from the hospital. Cat scans for head and stomach didn’t show anything that could trigger seizures. All of his vitals are normal. He has bad pain in the middle of his back and it’s difficult for him to breathe if he is standing up or sitting straight.
Thank you all for all your love, care and prayers.
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We were happily celebrating my husband’s birthday with our family and friends on the Big Island. My husband was talking about Srila Prabhupada and his mother. Suddenly he got quiet and started shaking in seizure. Thankfully there were 2 registered nurses. They took control of the situation. I will not tell you all the sad and shocking details. Later on, he regained consciousness. We are in the hospital now. He is going through checkup. Will update when we will hear anything from the doctors. Big thanks to Debra , Radhana Rupini, Mayapur and Campakalata and all the devotees for the help and prayers.
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Urmila Devi Dasi: He was speaking at his birthday party about Prabhupada, and then said, “I need to go now” and then went into a grand mal seizure for a long time. He seems to be mostly ok now and is recovering at his son’s home. After many tests at the hospital, the doctors were not able to discover the cause. Prayers are welcome.
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Further updates: https://goo.gl/JSgzKk