Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Romapada Swami: the distinction between `ego’ and `false-ego’
Question. Our BG discussion group has been rambling for lack of our ability to grapple with the meaning of ‘ego’. All of us generally agree that spirituality is abou…

Harinama in Moscow, Russia (3 min. video)
Srila Prabhupada: In the material world, if one engages in chanting a material name, …Read More…

ISKCON LAGOS prasadam distribution. (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If Krishna does not supply you this light, sunlight, you will die. But he does not charge anything. But because you are human being, you should try to repay: “Oh, Krishna is giving us so much facilities. Let me render some service unto him.” This is Krishna Consciousness. This is to acknowledge, “Oh God, You are so kind. You are giving so many things. So I have collected this fruit. It is Your fruit, I know. Still, please accept.” Columbus, May 9, 1969.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/FZLEBz

Challenges in Understanding Srila Prabhupada’s Words (Video)
Sriman Garuda Prabhu’s (Prof Graham Schweig Ph.D.) lecture at ISKCON Los Angeles, yesterday, during the Annual Prabhupada Festival
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/ID5mlZ

On Tour In Eastern Europe “Destination Hungary” (7 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: The Hungarian yatra is a model for Krsna conscious throughout the world with a beautiful temple in the capital Budapest, centers throughout the county and farming community, New Vraja Dhama, in the south.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/RAIbgS

Iskcon Kharghar under construction (Album with photos)
Kharghar is a node in the city of Navi Mumbai.
Srila Prabhupada: D…Read More…

Rath Yatra in Nairobi (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: These temples, they are just like oasis in the desert for the cond…Read More…

Festival Alert!! Iskcon Chicago Rathayatra – Saturday, June 17 @ 1 pm.
Srila Prabhupada: “..to take part in the Rathayātrā festival means to associate with Kṛṣṇa directly. So in this way, if we associate with Kṛṣṇa’s name, Kṛṣṇa’s pastimes, Kṛṣṇa’s qualities, Kṛṣṇa’s form, then, gradually, we transcend this material existence.”
– Srila Prabhupada Ratha Yatra lecture, London, 1972

Ecstatic Kirtan (30 min video)
An evening followed by an enchanting Kirtan which has captivated hearts globally lead by Kadamba…Read More…

Students visit Moscow’s Iskcon temple (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: It is the duty of the mahatmas to chant the Hare Krishna mantra and try to spread it all over the world to the best of their ability. Unfortunately, society is in such an uncivilized state that there are so-called mahatmas who are prepared to kill cows and children and stop the Hare Krishna movement. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 10.2.37 Purport).
Find them here: https://goo.gl/KOS4AG

Pandharpur Yatra 2017 by Iskcon Vapi devotees (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/H37YYF

Ratha Yatra Parramatta 2017 (Album with photos)
Prince Alfred Square to Centenary Square Parramatta, Sydney, Australia
Srila Prabhupada: “O Lord,” the demigods say, “the impersonalists, who are non-devotees, 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/7Qh1yi

Motel Gita Program (Album with photos)
Madhuriben is an amazing devotee. She just bought Gitas for each of the rooms in her h…Read More…

Her Grace Gandharvika Dasi has left this world. Gandharvika Dasi, previous Iskcon San Diego Temple president has left her body. She left quickly, with family and friends, while listening to Srila Prabhupada chant, with Lord Nrsimhadeva’s dhoti (from Mayapura) touching her head, and with Ganga jal and Tulasi in her mouth… on her way back to Sri Sri Radha Giridhari’s Lotus Feet.
Please send prayers for Gandharvika, her husband, her young son, mother, father, siblings, other family members, and friends. Gandharvika is loved by so many and has deeply touched so many hearts. Her ability to selflessly give is not of this world. She will be missed, but her transcendental legend will live on.
Radha Dasi just shared her realization with me, “Gandharvika did three lifetimes of service in one lifetime.”
Thank you, Gandharvika, for your beautiful life, an example for us to treasure and remember. She is free now from this condition and in the hands of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna.
All glories to Gandharvika devi dasi!“

Radhanatha Swami’s book shown on the Nasdaq Tower which is an icon of New York City’s Times Square and the largest stationary video screen in the world, standing seven stories tall.
It is approximately 10,000 square feet and consists of nearly 19 million light emitting diodes. An estimated 1.5 million consumers view the site on a daily basis. Generally, it’s space is rented by Nasdaq-listed companies as a unique and unprecedented platform for promotion. On May 8th, 2017 The Nasdaq Tower featured Radhanath Swami’s New York Times Bestselling book, The Journey Within.
The promotion accompanied by Radhanath Swami’s appearance on Nasdaq Reads an ongoing book series featuring talks with the authors of books about innovation, entrepreneurialism. The Interview was conducted by motivational and lifestyle vlogger Jay Shetty. The live feed of the interview was viewed by 184,00 people on Facebook. You can see the interview here: https://goo.gl/z7Nsnm

250 devotees, yogis, seekers and kirtan enthusiasts in New York’s Bhakti Center (video)
On May 4th, 2017 Radhanath Swami joined a group of over 250 devotees, yogis, seekers and kirtan enthusiasts for an evening of devotional song, leading the group as part of The Bhakti Center’s regular Thursday Night Kirtan in New York City. Word’s fail to capture the essence of the evenings joy, but you can watch the video below to get a better idea.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/n8Zg6i

New Vrindaban Celebrates 10th Anniversary of 24 Hour Kirtan!
Vrindavan das: The 10th annual 24-Hour Kirtan at New Vrindaban, West Virginia, USA, will be held on June 17thand 18th, 2017, featuring an amazing group of kirtaneers from all over the world. The organizers cordially invite all devotees to join in the continuous congregational chanting of Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra, which is a unique opportunity to become absorbed in the holy name.
Every year, several hundred devotees from all over North America come together to chant the holy names of the Lord in the divine serenity of New Vrindaban Dham, which is “non-different from Vrindavan”. The presence of Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra inspires an atmosphere of pure devotion instilling contentment and spiritual awakening in the hearts of all. This Harinama sankirtan, chanting and dancing in the association of devotees, joyfully brings us closer to Krishna and each other.
The festival will begin on Friday evening (June 16th) with kirtan for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada at his Palace from 7pm to 9pm. On Saturday morning, there will be a special Bhagavatam class on the glories of chanting the holy names. The official 24 hour kirtan will start on Saturday at 11am and continue until Sunday 11am.
Some of ISKCON’s most renowned kirtaneers will be leading Kirtan throughout the weekend. Varsana Swami’s heart-touching meditative kirtan will certainly help participants to delve deep into the eternal yearning of the heart for loving connection. Agnidev’s mesmerizing, sweet Bengali melodies will immediately connect people with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Ajamil’s traditional “folk style” kirtan has always energized the crowd into a dancing frenzy. Amala Kirtan’s devotional melodies create an aura of transcendental bliss. Other kirtaneers — Gaur Mani, Srivani, along with the youth from New Vrindaban and Gita Nagari will also be singing their hearts out.
This year, a special addition to the festival incorporates free adult yoga sessions on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 6am to 7:15am at the new Yoga Shala, on the banks of the beautiful Swan Lake. Festival attendees will have opportunity to learn and practice yoga asanas and mudras from New Vrindaban’s expert yoga teacher to refresh their mind, body and soul. Three yoga sessions for kids will be held at 9am, 11am and 1pm on Saturday.
Sumptuous prasadam will be served on Saturday for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with surprise snacks throughout the night as well as Sunday breakfast, and an early Sunday Feast at 12:30 pm.
“We look forward to offering you an amazing weekend filled with uplifting association in a transcendental atmosphere. Our children’s program is designed to keep your kids safe and happily engaged. Please take full advantage of this wonderful opportunity to chant Hare Krishna in the Holy Dham in the association of devotees” — says Jaya Krsna das, Temple President of ISKCON New Vrindaban.

To book accommodation, please visit at www.palacelodge.com, or you call at 304-843-1600 ext. 111. For more information, please visit at www.24hourkirtan.net.

Invitation for Festival of Fiji 2017.
We would like to invite everyone for the upcoming Festival of Fiji 2017 from 30/09 to 08/10.
HH Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaja started this back in the 80’s and 90’s when he brought international devotees from various temples around the world to Fiji and did a wonderful Harinam Sankirtan Festival inspiring locals and international devotees. Later on, his disciples decided to continue this service, of preaching in Fiji for the pleasure of Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga. It will be an enjoyable experience if you are able to attend this festival and be a part of this Harinam Sankirtan preaching event. Since 2008 this festival has been carried out on an immensely large scale and has continued to do so every two years. Many devotees have been very supportive of this event and have made sure to attend every time it occurs.

The highlights for the festival this year include, two Sannyasi’s coming, international kirtan teams from Aus and NZ, Harinam in every town and village, bus tours with devotees around the Fiji Island, camping, wonderful prasadam and an extra special event for this year includes a hired day in a Island, only for our devotees for kirtan and Fiji style picnic and prasadam.

We request devotees to please register through our website www.festivaloffiji.com.

So far confirmed numbers are as follows:
20+ from New Zealand
20+ from Australia
Still awaiting numbers from USA.
Usually we have 60-80 international devotees and 300-600 local devotees attending.

This is ISKCON’s biggest international Harinam festival happening in South Pacific so please don’t miss it !!!!

Bhaja Govinda dasa
on behalf of Festival of Fiji 2017 team

Harinam in Vienna, Austria (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: When the transcendental vibration of Hare Krishna is sounded,…Read More…

Character versus reputation (5 min video)
Mahatma Das: Your character is who you really are. Your reputation is who people think you are.
You may go somewhere with your reputation, but only character will keep you there.
Read More…

Iskcon of Silicon Valley devotees perform Harinam and distribute books in Paloalto – May 19th, 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila P…Read More…

Harinama in Tokyo (Album with photos)
Vraja Krsna Das: Bliss from the 5-hour Harinama in Tokyo 🙂 Maybe 1 million people heard Krsna’s name. Most busy downtown 🙂
Find them here: https://goo.gl/f2G3ED

Australian leaders Meeting (Album with photos)
Ramai Swami: Devotees came from all over Australia to attend the ISKCON three-d…Read More…

Historical photos from the first ever Jaganatha Rathayatra to take place outside Puri! (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If…Read More…

Vedic wedding at Radhadesh, Belgium, 26.04.2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: For a transcendental blissful life, chan…Read More…

TOVP: Almost ready! (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: The team of Russian technicians are at work inside TOVP putting together …Read More…

“Inspire Sunday” event in the Manor (Album with photos)
Bhaktivedanta Manor: Pictures from the second ‘Inspire Sundays’ event with HG Chaitanya Charan Das. The thought provoking class led so many devotees to ask intellectual, insightful and interesting questions and Chaitanya Charan Das answered them expertly.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/QP1YQa

Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtan 2017 (photos and videos)
Several hundred people attend the Birmingham 24-Hour Kirtan now in its 18th …Read More…

Nirantara Dasa, ACBSP: Instructions of the Yama-dootas (video)
Srila Prabhupada: These two things are always side by side – Maya and Krishna – Krishna is service and Maya is sense gratification. Our duty is therefore to be very, very caref…

Chasing Sustainable Happiness (video)
Devamrita Swami at UniMelb Bhakti Yoga Club Event at Melbourne University, 18 May 2017.Read More…

Indian culture festival in Prague (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s transcendental mission is to distribute love of Godhead to everyone. Anyone who accepts God as the Supreme can take to the process of chanting Hare Krishna and become a lover of God. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 4.41 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/i1wFlo

Calves Happily Reunited (3 min video)
A calf just saved from being dehorned and branded is in the trailer entering the Internat…Read More…

“The GBC College for Leadership Development is training the present leaders to do their jobs better, plus training individuals to take higher responsibility. This is very much needed in ISKCON.” (HH Gopal Krishna Goswami)
Watch the video here: https://goo.gl/k3mxaY

Preaching program in Murmansk, a city in northwestern Russia with Bhakti Caitanya Swami (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: So in this way Raghunatha dasa Gosvami, one of the six Gosvamis, very important devotee, he used to live. He used to eat every alternate day, not daily. One day starving, and the next day, a little butter. But he was observing his regulative principles, taking thrice daily bath and offering dandavat, what is called? Counting, numerical. Just like we count twenty-five rounds minimum, so Raghunatha dasa Gosvami was also chanting by counting. Similarly, he was offering dandavat. You offer dandavat, the same way. That is also counting. Sankhya-purvaka-nama-gana-natibhih. Sankhya-purvaka, keeping a strength, a numerical strength, just like we are advised at least sixteen rounds. So these things were going on. Not that because he was taking little butter alternate day, he lost his strength. No. The strength was all right. So the fasting means if you don’t feel weak, then you fast. Not that you imitate Raghunatha dasa Gosvami. That is not possible in the beginning. But it is possible if you practice, if you practice. Nidrahara-viharakadi-vijitau catyanta-dinau ca yau sankhya-purvaka-nama-gana-natibhih kalavasani-krtau. So everything is possible. But that is advanced spiritual life. It is no use imitating a higher authority >>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.22 – Chicago, July 6, 1975
Find them here: https://goo.gl/vecGYI

I am a big moralist!
Srila Prabhupada: What Krishna desires, if one dies, he’s above all this material. But it should not be manufactured. The thing is that our spiritual master wants to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness, and he has r…

‘The Walking Monk’ visits York.
YORK – Bhaktimarga Swami, or The Walking Monk as he’s known internationally, walked through York at midday Tuesday on his way to San Francisco.

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