Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Srimaan Bhikhudan Gadhvi receives Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita (Album with photos)
Rameshwar das: With the Blessings of Srila Prabhupada and Vaishnavs I met Srimaan Bhikhudan Gadhvi, Such A Humble Soul, Amazing Personality! No words to describe and express my feelings for Srimaan Bhikhudan Gadhvi Bhai!
Bhikhudan Govindbhai Gadhvi (born 1948) is an Indian folk singer and songwriter, known as a proponent of Dayro, a narrative singing tradition of Gujarat. He is a recipient of the Gujarat Gaurav Award of the Government of Gujarat and the Sangeet Natak Academy Award. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 2016, for his contributions to folk music.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Onjyhu

Harinam, Prasadam and book distribution (Album with photos)
@Taman Kota, Singaraja (Singaraja’ is a port town in northern Bali, Indonesia) 21.5.2017
Srila Prabhupada: The devotees of the Lord, while delivering speeches and describing the transcendental attributes of the Lord, do not think that they can do anything independently. They think that they can speak only what they are induced to speak by the Supreme Lord, the master of the senses… No one is free to act freely and independently, and as such, one should always seek the permission of the Lord to act or eat or speak, and by the blessing of the Lord, everything done by a devotee is beyond the principles of the four defects typical of the conditioned soul. SB 2.4.11 purp.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/aH6XDz

1st Ratha Yatra in Sampit, Indonesia (Album with photos)
Nila Kamal das: Sampit ‎ is a town and a timber port on the Sampit River in the Central Kalimantan province on the island of Borneo, Indonesia. It is the seat of East Kotawaringin Regency. Sampit is the biggest timber port in all of Indonesia.
Sampit town became known worldwide following inter-ethnic violent communal clashes between the Dayaks and the Madurese during the Sampit conflict which broke out on February 17, 2001 and lasted for 10 days. In just two weeks 469 were reported to have been killed, of which 456 of them were Madurese. Virtually the entire Madurese people fled and “ethnic cleansing” has taken place in Sampit and surrounding areas, despite the Madurese previously forming about 60% of the population. However, according to a BBC report, the overall picture of the conflict caused 500 deaths, with over 100,000 Madurese displaced from their homes.
On the 19th of May 2017 the first Ratha Yatra festival was held in Sampit. Presently there are no devotees staying in Sampit but devotees from Palanka Raya (the capital of Central Kalimantan) helped in organizing the Ratha Yatra festival. HG Ananda Maya das (disciple of HH Bhakti Raghava Swami) requested the local Government in Sampit if it was possible for the devotees to join in the annual city parade. After a long and anxious wait the devotees got permission in April and started making preparations.
“This is very good proposal. Make the Ratha-yatra festival very great success. This will be a great introduction in your city and people will appreciate it” (SPL to Syamasundara, 4th May, 1967)
The chariot itself came from Palanka Raya as this has been the fourth Ratha Yatra that has been held in the Central Kalimantan area, the first being in Palanka Raya itself with HH Subhag Swami and HH Bhakti Raghava Swami being personally present.
Devotees arrived the day before the event with many of them staying up the entire night to attend last minute services. The next morning HG Shyamasundarananda das (Mayapur) delivered a lecture to inspire all the devotees present for the upcoming festival. Around 2pm, the devotees departed to the town centre to begin the festival. Along with Lord Jagannath and His Ratha were many wonderful chariots present. From local tribals to a team promoting organic chocolate, you could find it all at the parade!
Just before the parade was about to start it began to drizzle. After ten minutes however the light drizzle turned into heavy rain! Devotees quickly took shelter under waterproof plastic sheets. Half an hour passed but still the rain was coming down strong but the show had to go on. The devotees as well as the other participants in the parade began pulling their respective chariots in the rain. Although the microphones could not be used the kirtan kept going with devotees joyfully dancing the entire way.
Orange prasad was distributed throughout the journey as well as many books. HG Gopal das (Spain) was the top scorer with thirty books been distributed in an hour. During the course of the parade devotees had the opportunity to gift copies of the Bhagavad Gita to various VIPs including Sampit’s chief minister’s secretary. At the end of the event the devotees returned to their base and took prasad. The devotees received some good news the following day that they were awarded the second prize in the parade.

“These public festivals have proven very effective in spreading knowledge about Krsna consciousness to all the citizens”. SPL to Galim dasa, November 20th, 1971
We hope that in the future we can expand our preaching efforts in Sampit as well as other less well known places around Indonesia in trying to assist in Mahaprabhu’s desire to have the holy name spread in every town and village,
Our ever grateful obeisances are due to HH Kavichandra Swami and HH Ramai Swami, the GBCs of Indonesia, for their support and guidance to always look for new avenues for sankirtan.
We thank HH Bhakti Raghava Swami for his efforts to preach in the Kalimantan area and inspiring the devotees there.
Our humble obeisances to HH Subhag Swami for always reminding us of the importance of the Sankirtan movement of Mahaprabu and inspiring us with the dedication of Sriman Jayananda Prabhu, for bringing us closer to Srila Prabhupada and keeping us united in family of ISKCON.
Jay Jagannatha…Jay Baladeva…Jay Subadra devi ….
Jay Srila Prabhupada…..
Find them here: https://goo.gl/QvMzYE

Harinama Sankirtana in Israel (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The mind is restless, always desiring something, desiring something. So the best policy to control the mind is to desire how to spread Krsna consciousness. This is the best. Kamah krsna-karmarpane. Narottama dasa Thakura has said that you cannot be free from desire. That is not possible. This is useless attempt. They say that “You become desireless.” No, that is not possible. How can I? If I become desireless, I become dead. So long I am living entity, I must desire. I cannot check it. Therefore kama means desire. So at the present moment, we are desiring how to become happy in this material world, how to acquire so much money, how to acquire this, how to acquire this, how to get this, how to get that. This is kama. So this brain taxation, if you engage in Krsna’s service – how to spread Krsna consciousness, how to convince people about Krsna, how to take them to the Krsna’s desire, sarva-dharman parityajya [Bg. 18.66] – and in this way, if you go on making plan for spreading Krsna consciousness, then your mind is controlled. From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.27 – January 4, 1975, Bombay
Find them here: https://goo.gl/xR3mjQ

Special darshan of Shri Banke Bihari bed in His Temple of Vrindavan.
Srila Prabhupada: My Guru Maharaja never compromised in His preaching, nor will I nor should any of my students. We are firmly convinced that Krishna is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and all other are His part and parcel servants. This we must declare boldly to the whole world, that they should not foolishly dream of world peace unless they are prepared to surrender fully to Krishna as Supreme Lord. From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Giriraja, 30 December 1971

Carmarthen Rathayatra in UK – 20th May 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: This human form of life is meant for saving time to develop our Krsna consciousness. It is not meant for wasting unnecessarily because we do not know when the next death is coming. And if we do not prepare ourself for the next life, then at any moment we can die, and we have to accept a body offered by the material nature. Therefore I wish that all of you who have come to join this Krsna consciousness movement live very carefully so that maya may not snatch you from the hand of Krsna. We can keep ourself very steady simply by following the regulative principles and chanting, minimum, sixteen rounds. Then we are safe. So you have got some information about the perfection of life. Don’t misuse it. Try to keep it very steadily, and your life will be successful. This movement does not stop anything for comfortable life, but it makes regulated. So if we follow the regulative principles and chant sixteen rounds, that is our safe position. I think this instruction you will follow. That is my desire. Srila Prabhupada; Departure Lecture – February 18, 1975, Mexico City
Find them here: https://goo.gl/FdNXQO

Krishna conscious function in Mumbai (Album with photos)
On the 2/05/17, Gaur Gopal Das spoke at a function with veteran Bollyw…Read More…

A new Hare Krishna temple in Novokuznetsk (Album with photos)
Bhakti Caitanya Swami: Some days ago we were in Novokuznetsk, a small town in Siberia, Russia. The devotees have built a wonderful temple there.Read More…

Harinama in Barnaul, Russia, 20.05.17 (Album with photos)
“We go out on the streets of the city with harinama, and we say to people: “Sing along with us!” Then they come to the temple, and worship the Deities in the temple. We distribute books, and this inspires people to change their lives. If we follow correctly everything that Srila Prabhupada taught us, Radha, Krishna and Vrndavana will unfold in our hearts. There is no doubt about this. The secret is to follow Srila Prabhupada’s instructions in a humble state of mind. To be more humble than a blade of grass, more patient than a tree, and, not expecting respect for oneself, be ready to show respect to everyone. If we get these qualities, and we continue to do what we do, success in spiritual life is guaranteed to us. “
Find them here: https://goo.gl/m84wSG

Another amazing day in Tokyo 🙂 (Album with photos)
@ Yoga Chandra studio. We had kirtan meditation, talk on Krsna consciousness, Q&A session, photo shoot and ecstatic feast. People were in bliss and many could not leave after we finished. Grateful to the organizers and helpers.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/BPWYag

Free food distribution at Ebute meta, Lagos (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Diverting even a little of one’s attention toward Krsna and activities in Krsna consciousness immediately enables one to achieve the highest perfection of life. This is the purpose of the Krsna consciousness movement.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Grc3Wh

Glastonbury Festival: The Hare Krishnas will offer you a warm welcome, and some free food!
You’ve wasted all the money you brought with you on t-shirts, ciders, didgeridoos, and some dodgy vodka jellies somebody was selling in the crowd in the West Holts field, and now you can’t afford to eat?

Shastrakrit Das: Amazing Kirtan by Govinda Swami &Madhava Naidoo Prabhu from New Vraja Dham. Can’t stop listening. Maharaj blew the roof off. So much Bhakti and spontaneity. Madhava Prabhu sings one of my all-time favorite tune.
Listen to it here: https://goo.gl/K1OWsZ

Dartford Festival in UK – 18th May 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If you think of Krsna twenty-four hours, then you’ll become fully Krsna conscious, and your life is successful. Don’t allow anything. This requires little practice, abhyasa-yoga-yuktena cetasa nanya-gamina [Bg. 8.8]. I should not allow my mind to go, to think of any other subject than Krsna. Now we have got so many books. So whenever you find time… You must find time. There is so much time. So read all these books or chant. But when you are hungry, you take prasadam. When you are sleepy, take a snap. Not very much, just to refresh. And go on, either chanting the beads or reading the books or talking about Krsna. In this way, always remain in Krsna consciousness. Smartavyah satatam visnuh. Krsna consciousness means to remember Visnu always, twenty-four hours. Some way or other. Type for Krsna, write for Krsna, go outside for Krsna, sankirtana party, sell book for Krsna, bring money for Krsna, spend for Krsna. Krsna. That’s all. Everything Krsna. This is Krsna consciousness. From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.14-15 – May 31, 1972, Los Angeles
Find them here: https://goo.gl/olyFtM

Rathayatra near the Dnieper river, Russia, May 2017 (Album with photos)
Pradyumna: “If the ear is not engaged in the service of the Lord by hearing about Him in the Bhagavad-gita or in the Srimad Bhagavatam, certainly the holes of the ear will be filled up with some rubbish.”
Prabhupada: Yes. This is the secret. We have got the ears, and we have got the sound also. Just like we are reading this book. So if we don’t fill up our ears with this transcendental sound, then it will be filled up with some rubbish things. It cannot remain empty. Either you fill up with transcendental message, or you fill up with rubbish nonsense. Two ways. So if you take care that your earholes are always filled up with the transcendental message of Krsna, so there is no scope for rubbish things to enter into it. So, therefore, our attempt should be twenty-four hours hearing. Kirtaniyah sada harih [Cc. Adi 17.31]. Twenty-four hours. As soon as you get time, read books, discuss amongst yourself, [indistinct]. Don’t fill up the ears with rubbish things. Then advance will be choked up. June 17, 1972, Los Angeles
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Spiritual world: Please consider yourself invited!
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura was called ‘a vaikuntha man’. He loved the spiritual world, and sternly cautioned all thoughtful men to NOT accept the pale worldly reflection to be…

Bhaktivedanta Manor: Oliver Dowden CBE was delighted to receive blessings at Bhaktivedanta Manor recently. He always attends our fes…Read More…

Srila Prabhupada about prasadam.
01. All to be served should be invited to sit on the floor, and prasadam should be served by qualified devotees.
02. Those who are served should be very clean, peaceful, and satisfied. They should eat before serving, …

New updated picture of TOVP from the space (demigod perspective:))
Abhinandana Nitai das: Google maps this year updated West Be…Read More…

Preaching program in Irkutsk, Russia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: We have created so many problems under the impression of different gunas: “I am this. I am that.” To become sannyasi, that is also another problem. Therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said that “I am not a brahmana. I am not a sannyasi. I am not a brahmacari. I am not a grhastha. I am not a ksatriya.” All “not, not.” “I am not this, I am not this.” “My only identification is that I am eternal servant of Krsna,” gopi-bhartuh pada-kamalayor dasa-dasanudasah [Cc. Madhya 13.80]. This is required. So how this position you can attain, that is described in the next verse, anartha upasamam saksad bhakti-yogam adhoksaje. This is the remedy. Anartha. These are all anarthas. So long I will think, “I am this; I am that,” “I am this; I am that,” or even if you think that “I am big gosvami” or “big brahmana,” that is also anartha. That is also anartha. -From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.7.6 – Vrndavana, April 18, 1975
Find them here: https://goo.gl/W6XUaX

True Spiritual Warriors (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: As government troops, rebel soldiers and Ukrainian citizens die daily in the ongoing fighting not far from their city, Krishna’s devotees in Dnepropetrovsk, continue to spread peace and goodwill through their kirtans in temple programs, book distribution, harinams and most recently a beautiful Ratha Yatra through the city. All glories to these fearless spiritual warriors!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/DvXUWv

Harinama in the heart of Europe, Prague, Czech Republic (Album with photos)
Ancient Prague is for sure one of the best places f…Read More…

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard in ISKCON Honolulu Hawaii (7 min video)
45th birthday celebration since Sri Panchattatva has been i…Read More…

Urmila Devi Dasi: This quote by Aldous Huxley is worth contemplating, especially given the serious concerns we are facing: “The effects which follow too constant and intense a concentration upon evil, are always disastrous. Those who crusade, not for God in themselves, but against the devil in others, never succeed in making the world better, but leave it either as it was, or sometimes even perceptibly worse than it was, before the crusade began. By thinking primarily of evil, we tend, however excellent our intentions, to create occasions for evil to manifest itself.”
“No man can concentrate his attention upon evil, or even the idea of evil, and remain unaffected. To be more against the demon(s) than for Godliness, is exceedingly dangerous. Every crusader is apt to go mad. He is haunted by the wickedness which he attributes to enemies; it becomes sort of a part of him.”

When Russell Brand and Radhanath Swami visit Divya’s Kitchen for lunch, only good things happen. It was so lovely to meet and serve them today. (Divya’s Kitchen is a vegetarian restaurant in New York, famous for its Ayurvedic cuisine)
Divya’s Kitchen just might be the healthiest restaurant in New York—but don’t let that deter you. The food is flavorful and inventive, without the bland healthiness of other vegetarian, kale only restaurants.
The New York Observer
Read more: https://goo.gl/wwmuUg

A special initiation ceremony in Radhadesh, May 2017 (Album with photos)
On 02 May, Kadamba Kanana Swami did a very special initiation ceremony in Radhadesh where Mariette Mataji received the name Manisha dd which means “servant of prayers”. Manisha dd is from Liege, Belgium and is very sick with advanced cancer. She has come to live in the Radhadesh community since finding out that she is in her final days. She has stopped chemotherapy treatment as it was a very painful experience and decided that since she is in her 80’s, she would like to go peacefully in the association of devotees. Manisha dd felt enlivened that Maharaj visited her, initiated her AND that they conversed in French as she is solely French-speaking!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/yU6Hxy

Living in two worlds – the real and the apparent.
Sutapa Das: According to the cosmic cycle described in the Vedas, we are living in the most corrupted epoch. Four fundamental principles underpin any functional society, organization, family or g…

Surrender With Your Hands Up!
Jahnavi: At the end of March, I did something that I have been contemplating for over a decade. People that know me well, know that even choosing a toothpaste can present a challenge – what to speak of big decisions. So when the opportunity came to make formal vows within the bhakti yoga tradition, even though I had been considering it for so long, I hesitated.
I did ultimately go ahead with it, and the morning after, flew to Australia as planned, for some kirtan programs. I landed first in Melbourne, where on my first morning I met a man at the Hare Krishna temple who said he had watched the ‘initiation’ ceremony on a live stream. Hesitating for a moment he then asked, ‘Well, some of us were talking and saying that we thought you would have already done this years ago…if you don’t mind me asking…what took you so long?’ I gave him a short answer. But here’s a longer one:
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/kNbDX7

Interview- Prabhupada das- 1972 Philadelphia (30min audio)
“I was a ghetto rat from South Philly. I would harass devotees chanting on the streets. I’d insult them and intimidate them. After four years of this, a devotee approached me. I gave him my usual Junk Yard Dog response and he just blew me off, “You’re just a little punk.” and then he left.
For some reason that really affected me.
I didn’t want to be like that. I looked for him for twenty minutes to apologize.
I got to see Srila Prabhupada five times, to eat from his plate…
It took me forty years to get initiated.“
Listen to it here: https://goo.gl/0jH2aJ

Amazing prasadam distribution with Harinama in Fuchu, Tokyo (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The holy name of the Lord and the Lord are nondifferent; therefore when a devotee chants Hare Krsna, Krsna and His internal potency are dancing on the tongue of the devotee. (From Srila Prabhupada’s Bg 12.8 purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/TWuqGo

Activities of IYF Vrindavan.
The ISKCON Vrindavan Youth Forum, a department of Krishna Balaram Mandir conducting courses and p…Read More…

Harinam on Titov, Barnaul, Russia 13.05.17 (Album with photos)
Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura: We will fearlessly tel…Read More…

Kirtan Near A Conflict Zone (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Dnepropetrovsk is only 200 kilometers from where Ukraine troops and rebels are fighting in a conflict that has claimed nearly 10,000 lives since 2014. Despite the turmoil, local devotees have continued preaching and have learned the art of taking shelter of the Lord’s holy names. The kirtans in Dnepropetrovsk were especially deep and focused on the sound incarnation of the Lord. Devotees appeared especially happy and grateful for our visit. Bada Haridas prabhu and Chaturatma das gave their full energy to enlivening all the devotees.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/g9yGkR

2017 Daytona Beach Festival of Chariots to be held Sunday, May 28 starting at 4 PM at Daytona Beach Bandshell, Performing Arts Cente…Read More…

A new temple in Izhevsk (Western Urals, Russia) … soon! (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Don’t think preaching is so easy going – eating, sleeping, and sometimes chanting “Haribol,” that’s all. [laughs] That is not preaching. We must be ready to implant Krsna consciousness ideas throughout the whole world. Just like these people, either in India or here, they remain simply Churchianity, going to the church without any understanding. Therefore it is failing. Now churches are being closed. Similarly, if you do not keep yourself fit to preach, then your temples will all be closed in due course of time. Without preaching, you’ll not feel enthused to continue the temple worship. And without temple worship, you cannot keep yourself pure and clean. The two things must go on, parallel. Then there is success. In modern time, either Hindus, Muslim or Christian, because in these places there is no teaching of philosophy, therefore they are closing, either mosque or temple or church. They will close. Therefore we are writing so many books. Unless we take care of the books and preach and read ourself, understand the philosophy, this Hare Krsna will be finished within few years. Because there will be no life. How long one can artificially go on, “Hare Krsna! Haribol!” That will be artificial. No life. From Srila Prabhupada’s Morning Walk – December 12, 1973, Los Angeles
Find them here: https://goo.gl/gDJ6J6

ISKCON BOOTH AT THE ASIAN FOUNDATION EXHIBITION- STAWISHA MAISHA (Album with photos)
Iskcon Nairobi – SRI SRI Radha Bankebihar…Read More…

2017 Nrsimha Caturdasi Festival, San Diego (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The chanting process is that you chant with your tongue Hare Krsna and hear. That’s all. Then you are saved. Hare Krsna must be chanted by the use of tongue, and you hear it, that’s all. Where is the difficulty? Everything may come, but this is the process. This is the process. Chant Hare Krsna and become happy. Nothing is difficult in Krsna consciousness movement. One has to execute it very seriously and sincerely. Then it will come. Nothing is difficult, not at all. harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha Chant Hare Krsna and hear, and everything will come. Krsna’s… By chanting purely, without any offense this Hare Krsna mantra, then you will understand Krsna’s form, Krsna’s qualities, Krsna’s pastimes, Krsna’s entourage -everything. – From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Bhagavad-gita 4.4 – February 12, 1974, Vrndavana
Find them here: https://goo.gl/kNLBg8

London Nrsimhadeva Caturdasi 2017 celebrations (Album with photos)
Please find below photos from Nrsimhadeva Caturdasi 2017 in…Read More…

Back In The USSR (7 min video)
“ Destination Moscow ”
Indradyumna Swami: Despite bone-chilling weather, our visit to Moscow was blissful due to the warm-hearted nature of the devotees who love to chant the holy names and dance in ecstasy. Srila Prabhupada’s visit to Moscow in 1971 planted the seeds of Krsna consciousness which continue to grow in great proportions.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/YP01Jy

Vivaha yajna in Prabhupada Bhavan, Brno, Czech Republic (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The devotee can constantly think of the object of worship, the Supreme Lord, in any of His features – Narayana, Krsna, Rama, etc. – by chanting Hare Krsna. This practice will purify him, and at the end of his life, due to his constant chanting, he will be transferred to the kingdom of God. Srila Prabhupada; Bg 8.8 purport
Find them here: https://goo.gl/rEmMZ8