Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Jai Radhe Jai Krishna Jai Vrindavan – Madhavas Rock Band new…
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Jai Radhe Jai Krishna Jai Vrindavan – Madhavas Rock Band new video-song (8 min video)
Song Name: Jaya Radhe Jaya Krsna Jaya Vrndavana.
Official Name: Sri Vraja Dhama Mahimamrta
Author: Krsna Dasa
LYRICS
(1)
jaya rādhe, jaya kṛṣṇa, jaya vṛndāvan
śrī govinda, gopīnātha, madana-mohan

(2)
śyama-kunḍa, rādhā-kuṇḍa, giri-govardhan
kālindi jamunā jaya, jaya mahāvan

(3)
keśī-ghāṭa, baḿśi-baṭa, dwādaśa-kānan
jāhā saba līlā koilo śrī-nanda-nandan

(4)
śrī-nanda-jaśodā jaya, jaya gopa-gaṇ
śrīdāmādi jaya, jaya dhenu-vatsa-gaṇ

(5)
jaya bṛṣabhānu, jaya kīrtidā sundarī
jaya paurṇamāsī, jaya ābhīra-nāgarī

(6)
jaya jaya gopīśwara vṛndāvana-mājh
jaya jaya kṛṣṇa-sakhā baṭu dwija-rāj

(7)
jaya rāma-ghāta, jaya rohiṇī-nandan
jaya jaya vṛndāvana-bāsī jata jan

(8)
jaya dwija-patnī, jaya nāga-kanyā-gaṇ
bhaktite jāhārā pāilo govinda-caraṇ

(9)
śrī-rasa-maṇḍala jaya, jaya rādhā-śyām
jaya jaya rasa-līlā sarva-manoram

(10)
jaya jayojjwala-rasa sarva-rasa-sār
parakīyā-bhāve jāhā brajete pracār

(11)
śrī-jāhnavā-pāda-padma koriyā smaraṇ
dīna kṛṣṇa-dāsa kohe nāma-sańkīrtan

WORD FOR WORD TRANSLATION: Jaya Radhe Jaya Krsna Jaya Vrndavana (I)

TRANSLATION
1) All glories to Radha and Krsna and the divine forest of Vrndavana. All glories to the three presiding Deities of Vrndavana–Sri Govinda, Gopinatha, and Madana-mohana.

2) All glories to Syama-kunda, Radha-kunda, Govardhana Hill, and the Yamuna River (Kalindi). All glories to the great forest known as Mahavana, where Krsna and Balarama displayed all of Their childhood pastimes.

3) All glories to Kesi-ghata, where Krsna killed the Kesi demon. All glories to the Vamsi-vata tree, where Krsna attracted all the gopis to come by playing His flute. Glories to all of the twelve forests of Vraja. At these places the son of Nanda, Sri Krsna, performed all of His pastimes.

4) All glories to Krsna’s divine father and mother Nanda and Yasoda. All glories to the cowherd boys, headed by Sridama, the older brother of Srimati Radharani and Ananga Manjari. All glories to the cows and calves of Vraja.

5) All glories to Radha’s divine father and mother, Vrsabhanu and the beautiful Kirtida. All glories to Paurnamasi, the mother of Sandipani Muni, grandmother of Madhumangala and Nandimukhi, and beloved disciple of Devarsi Narada. All glories lo the young cowherd maidens of Vraja.

6) All glories, all glories to Gopisvara Siva, who resides in Vrndavana in order to protect the holy dhama. All glories, all glories to Krsna’s funny Brahmana friend, Madhumangala.

7) All glories to Rama-ghata, where Lord Balarama performed His rasa dance. All glories to Lord Balarama, the son of Rohini. All glories, all glories to all of the residents of Vrndavana.

8) All glories to the wives of the proud Vedic brahmanas. All glories to the wives of the Kaliya serpent. Through pure devotion they all obtained the lotus feet of Lord Govinda.

9) All glories to the place where the rasa dance of Sri Krsna was performed. All glories to Radha and Syama. All glories, all glories to the divine rasa dance, which is the most beautiful of all Lord Krsna’s pastimes.

10) All glories, all glories to the mellow of conjugal love, which is the most excellent of all rasas and is propagated in Vraja by Sri Krsna in the form of the divine parakiya-bhava [paramour love].

11) Remembering the lotus feet of Lord Nityananda’s consort, Sri Jahnava Devi, this very fallen and lowly servant of Krsna sings the sankirtana of the holy name.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/4imGjq

Ragini Dasi, Srila Prabhupada’s disciple from France…
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Ragini Dasi, Srila Prabhupada’s disciple from France leaving this world soon.
Mondakini Dasi: Dear friends, Ragini Prabhu has been struggling with cancer for many years now. She has been very brave the whole time, taking shelter in chanting and hearing with gratitude and grace. For a while now, her health has been deteriorating. Last night, it became worst and the medical team told she could leave this world in a few days or in a few hours.
Some of you may know her, some not. Let us join our prayers to give her support at this crucial time and to wish her from the bottom of our hearts the perfect destination in this big journey that is waiting for each of us, that she may find complete shelter at the lotus feet of her eternal loving father Srila Prabhupada.

Formation of a good habit: Rising Early Question. It is still a…
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Formation of a good habit: Rising Early
Question. It is still a challenge for me to wake up early, so it is often difficult for me to finish chanting my rounds before class, and I often need to finish them later in the day. I have found that I can finish my chanting in the morning if I do not have homework to do, but it is a challenge for me to motivate myself to wake up early enough to have time to do a lot of homework and also do all of my chanting. Do you have any advice that might help me to motivate myself to wake up earlier? Hopefully I will be able to solve this problem next semester by having more time in the afternoon and evening to do my homework.
Answer by Romapada Swami.
1) Good habits are slow to form; bad habits are slow to dissolve.
Be patient for the good habit to evolve; continue to strive for early rising (or any other good habit, for that matter). Allow even that it may take some years to fully become established. While being patient remain fixed in your determination.
Set your goal of WHEN you will rise at an increment that is modest, but doable. Then maintain that standard for some time before you move to the next increment. Repeat. In this way gradually approach your goal.
The first Meditations Upon Krishna that I created was on this very topic: good habit formation. Bhaktivinode Thakur wrote about it in Amnaya Sutra. (Meditation 3)
2) Anticipation!
During the evening before you take rest, fix your mind in anticipation of rising early! Contemplate the core reasons why this will be so beneficial, what inner strength and spiritual strength will arise due to rising early next morning. This mental focus will provide a huge boost in your waking up and rising at a time when you want to.
3) Strength Coming from a Relationship of Dedication and Love
In spiritual life, the role of bhakti-sakti, or the strength that comes for a loving relationship with those who are guiding us in KC’ness, is a huge source of strength for making forward progress.
In addition to efforts for self-improvement, you can draw upon an added impetus of a loving relationship. For example: “I know that it is the advice of my spiritual master (or those guiding me in my spiritual life) for me to rise early, and I know that he will be very pleased if I can accomplish this – plus the fact that I am absolutely confident that by so doing my entire KC’ness will be lifted by performing my sadhana early each morning. Let me try to do this to please him!”
This is not a guilt mood, nor a fruitive mood (seeking praise or acclaim). It is a mood of devotion and love. This connects with and is enacted from the constitutional position of all souls! Connect with that energy, and you will find an enormous source of strength to move forward. And a lot of inner contentment + happiness also!
Hare Krsna!

Sanga of ISKCON GBCs, Gurus and Sannyasis in Mayapur. Most…
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Sanga of ISKCON GBCs, Gurus and Sannyasis in Mayapur.
Most religious organizations fail to survive past four generations. These generations are tasked with challenge of preserving the original teachings of their founder. How each generation successfully navigates issues that arise provide the foundation for the next generation. To illustrate, Srila Prabhupada as the Founder Acharya of ISKCON, is the first generation. His disciples are ISKCON’S second generation. The third generation are the disciples of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples. Lastly the fourth generation are the disciples of the disciples of Prabhupada’s disciples. The way to understand Srila Prabhupada’s intention is to understand his instructions in context. With each successive generation intention, then context and instruction become more blurred and the purity is compromised.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/QaXtvz

The Annual Jagannath Rath Yatra Mahotsava of ISKCON Rohini,…
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The Annual Jagannath Rath Yatra Mahotsava of ISKCON Rohini, Delhi was celebrated on 12th February 2017 (Album with photos)
The occasion was graced by the presence of several dignitaries and VIPs like Sri Vijendra Gupta Opposition Leader in Delhi Govt. & Former BJP delhi President, Sushil Kumar Indian freestyle wrestler (Olympics medallist ) and senior ISKCON Devotees.
On the following day, Delhi city witnessed one of the grandest ever Jagannath Rath Yatra.The auspicious event was inaugurated by Sri Vijendra Gupta Opposition Leader in Delhi Govt.and senior ISKCON Devotees Like HG Mohan Rupa P (President – ISKCON Delhi), HG Rukmini Krishna P (President – ISKCON Punjabi Bagh). It started from Japanese Park, sector 10, and ending at the same point. Devotees from all over the world congregated for the Rath Yatra celebrations and joyfully pulled the chariot of Their lordships Sri Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra Devi through the streets of Coimbatore. Several cultural performances like dance kirtan, bhajans and spiritual discourses by ISKCON devotees enthralled the audience at Japanese Park followed by a feast of Sri Jagannath MahaPrasadam.
Find them here: https://www.facebook.com/iskconrohinidelhi/posts/1239526402795591

Vrindavan Temples 02-17 (Album with photos) Deena Bandhu Das:…
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Vrindavan Temples 02-17 (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Today we did Parikrama of many of the Temples of Vrindavan. We even saw an ancient deity of Purnamasi Yogamaya near Seva Kunja! We ended in time for Raj Bhog Arti in Radha Damodara Mandir. Last we saw Srila Prabhupada’s rooms where he prayed to Srila Rupa Goswami to come to the west to save terribly fallen souls such as ourselves. Come with us by the pics of Vittalrukmini Das!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/vrQQgm

Video: A Vlogger’s Take On Iskcon Toronto’s Temple!…
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Video: A Vlogger’s Take On Iskcon Toronto’s Temple! (2 min video)
We visited the temple during our holiday. A short video of the place itself, our own little tour of the Hare Krishna Temple. Take a look at Shrila Prabhupada’s mission around the world. He created a little piece of HOME everywhere!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/hj6hW9

How to Clean / Bathe Brass, Copper & Silver Deities and…
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How to Clean / Bathe Brass, Copper & Silver Deities and other pure metal Paraphernalia. (5 min video)
After extensive research and testing we have discovered a non chemical, non abrasive, cheap but effective, fast and very easy way to clean our Brass Deities and other Paraphernalia using common household ingredients.
We were so impressed with the ease, effectiveness, cheap and safe outcome that we felt it imperatively beneficial to share this.
1. Mix a teaspoon of salt to a 2-3 table spoons of pure lemon juice. A small quantity goes a long way.
2. Add plain flour to the mixture until it becomes a smooth consistent running paste. You can also use self raising flour where the added bicarbonate of soda aids the cleaning process. If you add self raising flour you will notice a reaction fizz as you mix.
3. Gently apply the paste to brass, silver or copper.
4. Leave for a few minutes to react. Before it dries wash with plenty of warm water.
5. Make sure to wash off all the paste totally. This is a very important step.
6. Please use a new toothbrush to gently scrub away the ingrained paste on paraphernalia that has lots of grooves or intricate work.
7. Wipe / shine with a soft cloth.
8. You may apply a little oil to maintain the luster for an extended period.
9. Please feel free to share these tips and please send us your blessings.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/ofqP2R

Ratha Yatra Festival in Melbourne, Australia (Album with photos)…
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Ratha Yatra Festival in Melbourne, Australia (Album with photos)
Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, He was also engaged in chanting and dancing. His dancing description is there in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta during the Ratha-yātrā festival. So chanting, dancing, chanting of the holy name, and in ecstasy dancing, that is also yajña. That is the most perfectional yajña. Saṅkīrtana means when we combine together, many persons, and chant and dance. that is called saṅkīrtana-yajña. So those who are engaged in the saṅkīrtana-yajña, they are also performing yajña.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/B86AOs

Celebrating Lord Nityananda’s appearance day in Moscow…
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Celebrating Lord Nityananda’s appearance day in Moscow (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: You cannot survive without my mercy and I cannot survive without your mercy. It is reciprocal. This mutual dependence is based on love – Krishna consciousness. (Letter, 22 January 1976)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/hVbVxE

Lord Nityananda App Day 2017 – Auckland, New Zealand (Album with…
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Lord Nityananda App Day 2017 – Auckland, New Zealand (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: So especially you must encourage the students to read our books throughout the day as much as possible, and give them all good advice how to understand the books, and inspire them to study the things from every point of view. Better to boil the milk very vigorously and make it thick and sweet–that is the best progress. So let us concentrate on training our devotees very thoroughly in the knowledge of Krsna consciousness from our books, from tapes, by discussing always, and in so many ways instruct them in the right propositions. (From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Hamsaduta, June 22, 1972)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/hUL0WR

Braja Mohan (Album with photos) Deena Bandhu Das: Today was…
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Braja Mohan (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Today was Narottam Das Thakura’s Appearance Day and there is one of the Deities from Kheturi Festival staying in Vrindavan. They are the most enchanting Sri Sri Radha Braja Mohan! We all went there, did Narottama’s bhajans, Narottama katha, then delicious Bengali Feast! Join us through the pics of Vittalrukmini Das!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/egkQxe

Harinama in Spain – Tenerife, 9th of February 2017 (2 min…
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Harinama in Spain – Tenerife, 9th of February 2017 (2 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: The prayers of Narottama dasa Thakura. This sound is above the material platform. It is directly from the spiritual platform. And there is no need of understanding the language. It is just like a thunderburst. Everyone can hear the sound of thunder–there is no misunderstanding. Similarly, these songs are above the material platform, and they crack like thunder within your heart. From Srila Prabhupada-lilamrta
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/o8czbv

Houston Govinda’s to Receive Grand Opening in March. The new…
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Houston Govinda’s to Receive Grand Opening in March.
The new Govinda’s restaurant at the ISKCON temple complex in Houston, Texas is set to receive a grand opening on March 11th, just before Gaura Purnima, with local TV channels, newspapers and radio stations to get a free meal and tour.
Govinda’s already had its “soft opening” back in July 2016, launching with no fanfare or advertising. But according to manager Shyamasundara Das it’s been a success from day one, often packing out the large 130-person capacity space, and drawing a 4.6 rating from 121 reviews on Yelp and a 4.7 rating from 71 Google reviews. What’s more, 95% of its customers are locals of non-Indian extraction.

Much of this success is due to the fact that Govinda’s is offering people something different. First off, there’s its exotic setting: the restaurant’s bright red awning sits against the backdrop of the 24,000 square-foot Radha-Nila-Madhava temple complex, its eighty-foot tall ornate dome rising into the sky.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/CXkTx7

The leaders of Iskcon began their annual meetings in Mayapur…
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The leaders of Iskcon began their annual meetings in Mayapur about how to expand Lord Chaitanya’s movement all over the world.
Bhakti Caitanya Swami: This morning we began the SGGS. The Sanga of Sannyasis, Gurus and GBCs, here in Sri Mayapur Dham. About 75 of the most senior devotees from all parts of the ISKCON world have assembled here for three days for discussions on developing Srila Prabhupada’s movement.

A new, stunning dress in honor of Lord Nityananda’s…
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A new, stunning dress in honor of Lord Nityananda’s appearance day! (2 min video)
Sponsered By Niyati and Palaka and made by the Mother Antaranga. A true offering of love to Sri Sri Radha Govinda from Their devoted servants!
All glories to Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Govinda and Their loving devotees!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/JTT11h

Harinam Sankirtan in Melbourne, Australia (Album with…
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Harinam Sankirtan in Melbourne, Australia (Album with photos)
Told by Hari Sauri Dasa From a 1991 BTG In February 1976. Srila Prabhupada was in Mayapur, having arrived a few weeks prior to the Gaura Purnima festival. As per his usual schedule, every day he took his massage in the late morning on the balcony outside his room. One morning, as he sat on a straw mat on the sunlit veranda ready to begin, he drew my attention to some sparrows making a nest. The site they had chosen was a hole in the wall behind the electrical circuit box just outside Srila Prabhupada’s sitting-room window. He said they had been disturbing him at night while he was translating his books. So before the birds could build a complete nest and settle in, I removed the bits of straw they had gathered. But as I began the massage, one of the birds returned and began to rebuild, flying back and forth with small pieces of straw. I crumpled some paper and stuffed it into the hole to block it. So when the sparrow came back and found its access barred, it pecked, undaunted, at the paper for almost half an hour, trying to open the hole to continue its home-making. When the bird found this too difficult, it flew off and returned with its mate, and together they worked hard to remove the paper. Eventually they succeeded. By pecking and tugging in unison, they removed the paper and began to build again. All the while, Srila Prabhupada watched without comment. When the birds flew away to get more straw, I again filled the hole with the paper, forcing it in tight so that the sparrows couldn’t remove it. Again the sparrows spent a long time trying, but this time they were unsuccessful. Eventually they accepted defeat, gave up, and left. Srila Prabhupada then drew an interesting parallel. Even though the birds had eyes, he told me, they could not see. They were trying so hard to build their house, but they couldn’t see that the person who had prevented them stood nearby watching. So they continued on in ignorance, trying to make adjustments and struggling against the superior arrangement. In the same way, he said, materialistic persons, though having eyes, could not see how maya, the material energy, was supervising all their efforts. They simply struggled on, making adjustments, hoping to improve their life and secure their place in the material world, not understanding that maya was watching their every move and defeating them at every step.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Rs99bq

Win – Win Situation (Distributing Foreign Books) (Album with…
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Win – Win Situation (Distributing Foreign Books) (Album with photos)
Satyanarayan Das, Trustee for BBT Far East / Middle East: This foreign book distribution adventure is exciting and profoundly blissful – from beginning to end!
It begins with these beautiful books being displayed and distributed in a most wonderfully attractive way.
A divine combination of (1) a book table with a Yoga/Meditation sign that attracts people from 200 feet away, (2) transcendental books with amazing culturally-focused designs, (3) proven and super-successful selling methods developed and demonstrated here by Jaya Chaitanya Prabhu, North America’s #1 book distributor, and (4) with all of this happening in the absolute perfect venues which packed with the ripest fruit: at the universities, tourist places and on Harinama parties.

And it ends with 100’s upon hundreds of blissful foreign students, tourists and foreign communities taking multiple foreign language books Plus local language books on the spot… and THEN taking those same books back home with them to their own home countries in the Middle East and Far East!

Helping to change the consciousness of the most difficult parts of this planet – as one little side benefit!

Maharajas… Prabhus… Matajis… What could possibly be more Win-Win-Win than this?!?

You’ve got to join in and experience this incredible bliss with us. It’s all here. These divine books, this very special training, the precise methods and the exact places to experience this same ecstasy have all been described, and further, we are here to help you with everything…

Come on everyone… Just jump in! The water’s fine!!! :))
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Ez0Xf9

Nityananda Trayodasi celebration at ISKCON Salem (Album with…
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Nityananda Trayodasi celebration at ISKCON Salem (Album with photos)
Tamala Krsna Goswami: If someone wants to understand what Srila Prabhupad was like, he should read about Krsna’s intimate devotees and associates in transcendental books like Nectar of Devotion and Krsna. Actually, Srila Prabhupad manifested all the qualities of the eternal associates of Krsna. His humor was completely sublime, his compassion was sublime and transcendental. Courage, competitiveness–all the qualities we read about in Krsna and Nectar of Devotion were manifested in Srila Prabhupad. He was the living embodiment of Krsna-Krsna’s representative. We learned about Krsna by seeing Srila Prabhupad. And we learned to believe in Krsna by seeing Prabhupada, because we could see that here was a person who had actually come from the spiritual world to be among us. So “beautiful devotee” means that he was a pure devotee of Lord Krsna, with all transcendental, beautiful qualities. Srila Prabhupad called a chapter of one of his books “Wonderful Krsna.” And Srila Prabhupad was Krsna’s representative–so, “wonderful Prabhupada.” Everything he did was wonderful. Everything. All the qualities possessed by the greatest personalities were present in Srila Prabhupad to a wonderful degree. From a 1978 BTG
Find them here: https://goo.gl/3ATFwF

From a seminar of Bhagavata Purana prabhu on karatalas: Six…
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From a seminar of Bhagavata Purana prabhu on karatalas:
Six important things are to understand about karatalas.
1. Direction
2. Pitch
3. Volume
4. Speed
5. Open and closed beats
6. Upbeat and downbeat
In the Prabhupada beat the final beat is half open and half closed.
The thumb is supposed to be fixed on the strap so you do not lose control of your instrument. Use your fingers not the thumb to dampen the sound.
The singer and the mrdanga player work as a team, and everyone else follows the mrdanga player.

The mrdanga is half as loud as the voice, and the other instruments should be half as loud as the mrdanga.

Srila Prabhupada would complain about karatalas clanging [playing all open beats].

Never put a microphone to record a kirtana next to the karatalas. The best place is near the large end of the drum because it is important to hear the bass.

Srila Prabhupada said that karatala and mrdanga is sufficient. The harmonium is not a Vedic instrument, but Srila Prabhupada said there is a small harmonium in the spiritual world. Lord Caitanya said if you do not have karatalas and mrdangas you can just clap your hands.

The whompers should be played open and sweetly. They are not a crash instrument.

Aindra Prabhu once sang for nine hours straight, from after Bhagavatam class to six in the evening. People did not even leave to use the bathroom.

Aindra Prabhu had a dream of Prabhupada in which Srila Prabhupada said, “Why is no one cleaning my toilets?” Thus Aindra Prabhu took up the service of cleaning the toilets.

Aindra Prabhu’s room was 50% mud and 50% cow dung.

Surrendering the Fruits of one’s Actions. Question: In…
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Surrendering the Fruits of one’s Actions.
Question: In Bhagavad-gita 2.47, Lord Krishna says, “…but you are not entitled to the fruits of action.” What does it mean here to be not entitled to the fruits of action? Does it mean that we aren’t the proprietors of the fruits that we get from our work, or does it mean that we don’t have a right to obtain or receive the reactionary fruit itself, good or bad, of anything that we do?
For example, consider that a student has appeared for an exam. Now does it mean that he does not have the right to obtain the result of exam, whether pass or fail, or does it mean that he has no proprietorship over the result when they are declared?

Romapada Swami: Srila Prabhupäda describes the proper approach to work in his purport to BG 2.47: “Arjuna was therefore advised by the Lord to fight as a matter of duty without attachment to the result. His non-participation in the battle is another side of attachment. Such attachment never leads one to the path of salvation. Any attachment, positive or negative, is cause for bondage. Inaction is sinful. Therefore, fighting as a matter of duty was the only auspicious path of salvation for Arjuna.”

Krsna explains the proper consciousness in which to work in the next verse 2:48.

When one works and is unattached to the fruits of such work, he is performing karma-yoga. Detachment is then perfected when he offers the fruits of his work to Krsna. Therefore Krsna tells Arjuna not to renounce work, but to renounce the fruits of work.

Krishna is not saying here that the results should be ignored or that the duties be carelessly performed without concern for the results. What He is saying is simply that we are not entitled to be the enjoyer of the fruits of our duties or activity. They are meant to be dedicated to Him. We have the right to do our duty – very nicely and conscientiously – not so we can enjoy the results but for Krishna to enjoy. If you are cultivating a garden, for example, you should make every effort to get the best yield; however, the actual yield of that garden is up to Krishna. Whatever is produced, offer those fruits to Krishna.

Krishna is the actual beneficiary or enjoyer of the results. This is only natural, because Krishna is the actual proprietor of everything, including the strength and intelligence with which we perform our work. Motivation for work in this case comes not from the expectation of how the results will benefit oneself, but from the expectation of pleasing Krishna, which is far more satisfying, and hence far more motivating than any meager material achievements.

Two disciples of Srila Prabhupada left their bodies
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Two disciples of Srila Prabhupada left their bodies.
Kavicandra Swami: Gopinatha Acarya prabhu, (ACBSP) from Australia has left this world,
He was the first devotee to sell full sets of SRIMAD BHAGAVATAM.
He later took to cow and bull protection very seriously.
His body was found in the cow’s place
May he be surrounded by cows.
——-
Srimati Krishna Kamani dasi passed away in Vrndavana.
She was from Chile and had lived in Vrndavana-dhama for many years. She kept herself as very insignificant, was extremely humble, simple living, and dedicated to her Krsna conscious development and sadhana/bhajan.
Krsna Kamini dasi left her body in her sleep due to smoke inhalation from a fire which started in her room, apparently due to faulty electrical connections.
Her body was not burned by the fire. Neighbors apparently saw smoke coming from her room, went in and discovered her body lying on her bed.
Her funeral and cremation at Yamuna River has happened in recent hours.
She was a lively, sprightly person.
She was (for a Westerner) astoundingly simple living, and staying in Vrndavana-dhama all year round. Once asked how she handled the summer heat. She said, “I just tolerate.” That was quite amazing, as she did not have air conditioning.
She lived on a shoestring, and had the simplest accommodation in the holy dhamas, with such a standard of facility which not many could bear.
Krsna Kamani dasi was the epitome of simple living and high thinking.
Very sad to hear of the passing of that wonderful exemplary lady, though spirit-cheered that it was in the holy dhama.

Only a disciplined disciple develops love for…
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Only a disciplined disciple develops love for Krishna
Purushottam Nitai Das: We are so serious, so enthusiastic and so happy when we are just about to receive the beads from our spiritual master during the initiation ceremony. We promise to ourselves that as soon as we will get the beads we will chant not just 16 rounds but many more rounds with utmost sincerity, will follow the 4 regulative principles not just carefully but with extraordinary determination and with extraordinary zeal will serve the mission of Srila Prabhupada.
And in fact, for few days or weeks or even for few months we live up to our expectations. But gradually the enthusiasm starts waning and we start taking our devotional life casually.
We chant just to complete our rounds, follow regulative principles only grossly and do services casually.
Initiation isn’t a formality or a name giving ceremony but it’s a very serious commitment, it’s connection of the heart. A disciple is utterly serious about serving Krishna and he knows that the best way to be Krishna Conscious is by consciously serving as per the instructions of his spiritual master. Spiritual master isn’t just a designation, he is not an ordinary soul but he represents the guru parampara and so the mercy of Krishna is reaching to us through him.
Great souls in the past through their exemplary examples have shown us the importance of having a spiritual master and how to practice devotional life as per the instructions of the spiritual master.

Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura was seriously contemplating to give up his life when Srila Gaur Kishore Das Babaji Maharaj, out of his humility, was not willing to initiate him. With tears in his eyes, Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura said, “karuna na haile kandiya kandiya prana na rakhibe ara – If there is no mercy, weeping and weeping, I can sustain my life no more. If I do not receive your mercy I do not see any need in holding onto life”. The prayer melted the heart of Srila Gaur Kishore Das Babaji and he happily accepted him as his disciple.

Lokanath Goswami had taken a vow not to accept any disciple so he was finding ways so that he can avoid initiating Narottama Das Thakura. But Narottama Das Thakura desperately wanted to take initiation from Lokanath Goswami. With utmost humility, he pleaded, “The guru guides his disciple in practical spiritual life. I have no spiritual insight, and I am feeling separation from the Lord. For this reason, I beg for your mercy.” In his heart, he had already accepted Lokanath Goswami as his spiritual master. He followed his instructions seriously, happily served him even doing menial services for him and patiently but eagerly waited to get initiated. After waiting for a year, he again approached Lokanath Goswami, “I am like a young woman who has already chosen her husband. My heart is clear without any doubt. A young woman who makes up her mind in this way prays that her father will agree with her choice. I pray that our Father in heaven agrees with my choice.” Lokanath was so moved by his sincerity. Accepting him as his disciple, the great sage said, “Your fierce determination has exceeded my own – but you are the only disciple I will ever make.”

These great devotees of the Lord through their conduct have demonstrated that for our spiritual progress we need a bonafide guru.

Spiritual master is our spiritual father who is very much interested in our spiritual growth. A father knows the best for his child so our spiritual master knows what is the best medicine which should be administered to us to cure our manifold material miseries.
We can never repay our debt to our spiritual father who has taken the responsibility to take us back to the kingdom of Krishna. But yes, we can at least become a responsible disciple and try our best not to commit any sinful activities. We should not be just sentimentally attached to our spiritual master and neither be a pretender trying to portray ourselves as a dedicated soul.

But in fact, we should be devoted and determined. And should always accept the fact without any doubt that our spiritual master is more elevated than us and is our best well-wisher.

Srila Prabhupada explains, “Chaitanya Mahaprabhu taught us this instruction that we shall always remain a foolish student before our Guru Maharaja. That is the Vedic culture. I may be very big man, but still, I should remain a foolish student to my guru. That is the qualification. Guru more murkha dekhi karila sasana (Chaitanya Charitamrita Adi 7.71). We should be always prepared to be controlled by the guru. That is very good qualification. Yasya prasadad bhagavat-prasadaḥ. Ara na kariha mane asa. So, we should become always a very obedient student to our guru. That is the qualification. That is the spiritual qualification.” His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada’s Disappearance Day, Lecture – Hyderabad, December 10, 1976:

Initiation is a serious commitment and if we are serious to seek shelter of Krishna then we must seriously practice our devotional life by enthusiastically following the vow which we take during initiation.

Only a disciplined disciple develops love for Krishna and is welcomed in the kingdom of Krishna.

Sadaputa Prabhu’s Books Are Back in Print
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Sadaputa Prabhu’s Books Are Back in Print.
“Now our PhDs must collaborate and study the 5th Canto to make a model for building the Vedic Planetarium” proved a mandate from Srila Prabhupada that entered deep into the heart of his disciple Sadaputa dasa, in 1976. Having received his PhD in Mathematics from Cornell University just two years prior, he would soon be inducted as one of the founding members of Prabhupada’s Bhaktivedanta Institute.

In that capacity, he devoted over 30 years researching Vedic perspectives on cosmology and the natural world, producing 9 books and numerous writings on these and a variety of other subjects while drawing upon both his scientific mathematical background and devotional experience with Gaudiya Vaisnavism. He was so appreciated amongst his peers and devotees in general that he was affectionately dubbed the ‘transcendental genius’. And in accordance with Srila Prabhupada’s above mandate he also became the principle mastermind behind the main planetarium chandelier, displays and exhibits of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium in Sridhama Mayapur before passing away in 2008. Indeed, because of his unique accomplishments and contributions to Vedic cosmology, the planetarium wing of the TOVP has been dedicated to him.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/B3tFyf

“Simply Wonderfuls for a simply wonderful spiritual…
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“Simply Wonderfuls for a simply wonderful spiritual master!”
Rupa-vilasa: We were spending a little time with Prabhupada’s God-brother Krsna das Babaji Maharaj with whom he had a very affectionate relationship.
He was telling us the story of Prabhupada’s taking sannyas and he said,
“The ceremony was going on. With Kesava Maharaj overseeing and conducting the initiation, Narayana Maharaj was chanting the mantras and I was doing bhajan. But as is my habit I got a little too loud.
“So Kesava Maharaj was making a gesture with his hand palm down as if to say, “Not so loud.” Krsna das Babaji said, “And as soon as he would turn his head, your Prabhupada would go like this.” (turning his palm up indicating to chant louder).

“Then Krsna das Babaji laughed as he always did and he said, “It was then that I knew he would be the leader of the Hare Krishna movement.”

Years later in Dallas when the main airport was Love Field we were escorting Prabhupada through the airport terminal with a roaring kirtan.

I took over the kirtan and began leading but as we entered the main terminal I thought,

“Okay, I’d better bring this kirtan to a close.”

Because all the people were looking really startled and I started to wind down the kirtan the way you do by signaling the mridangas.

Prabhupada saw what I was going to do and he immediately looked at me and made the same gesture with his hand palm up conducting me to continue with the loud kirtan.

I was realizing that chanting was Prabhupada’s life and soul under all circumstances.

There was a room full of Indian visitors in Vrindavan and Kundali was fanning Prabhupada with the chamara.

All of a sudden the door burst open and it was Vishal and Vishalani carrying platters of Simply Wonderfuls.

At the top of his voice he announced as he burst through the door,

“Simply Wonderfuls for a simply wonderful spiritual master!”

Prabhupada started grinning because he was often highly entertained by Vishal.

Then Vishal and his wife went around distributing Simply Wonderfuls to everybody in the room.

Vishal then took one of Prabhupada’s books off the shelf, opened it up and began to glorify Prabhupada and all of his books and his writing and what a fantastic personality Prabhupada was.

Then he went around and distributed books to the people in the room and got donations.

Kundali was describing that his mind was completely blown by all of this because he’d never seen anybody act like this around Prabhupada.

Then Vishal finished up his little book distribution excursion.

Prabhupada the whole time was just smiling, nodding his head and then Vishal said to Prabhupada on his was out, “Prabhupada, just one thing.”

“Yes?” He said, “I haven’t got Srimad-Bhagavatam 7th Canto Part 3 yet. Can I borrow yours?”

Prabhupada said, “Take it!”

Whenever Prabhupada would circumambulate the temple in the morning in Vrindavan, Vishal would be standing with his hands folded chanting prayers from the Bhagavatam and then give the English translations.

On this particular morning there was water on the temple steps because it had just rained.

Prabhupada just snapped at Vishal and said, “Do something practical,” “Clean this up.” (laughs)

So that was his response to the glorification.

Prabhupada ordered him to do some cleaning.

—Rupa-vilasa
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Excerpt from “Memories-Anecdotes of a Modern-Day Saint”
by Siddhanta das