Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Vrindavan Das’s Criticisms of Vaishnava Aparadha
Vrindavan Das primarily Mahaprabhu’s early activities such as his pastimes as a student, his childhood, his chastisement of the Qazi, his departure from Nabadwip, as well as some aspects of his life in Puri. Vrindavan Das Thakur demonstrated infinite mercy on the fallen souls by warning them:
eta parihare-o je papi ninda kare
tabe lathi maron tar shirera upare
Even after being told how objectionable it is, if someone still blasphemes the Vaishnavas, then I will kick him in the head.
These same words are repeated in the Adi, Madhya and Antya-khandas of the Chaitanya Bhagavat. Some foolish and arrogant persons misunderstand such statements and criticize Vrindavan Das for having made them. Such criticism leads them into the mud of offensiveness. In this connection, the remarks of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur, the founder of the Sri Chaitanya Math and all the Gaudiya Maths, are well worth studying: “‘I am ready to kick the heads of those envious and hellish persons who blaspheme Nityananda Prabhu, if by so doing I will be able to forever prevent them from repeating their attempts to show disrespect for the Supreme Lord. Not only that, but if by so doing I can bring about a slear conception of the truth, I will be performing them the greatest service.’
“So says Vrindavan Das, the incarnation of Vyasa and acharya of the Vaishnava faith. If even a single fleck of dust should fall from his foot on the head of a sinful blasphemer, then that person will be blessed and all his sinful conditioning will inevitably be eradicated. In words which embody the Goddess of Learning and a flood of pure devotion, the Thakur reveals compassion for even the most atheistic blasphemer with the unswerving faith appropriate to a servant of Nityananda Prabhu, the supreme guru. He tells them that though they should be the object of indifference due to their foolishness, nevertheless, because of their ignorance of the truth of Nityananda, their insistence on rushing headlong on the path to hell, and their reluctance to act in their own real self-interest, he and other compassionate Vaishnavas like him who practice and preach the Lord’s doctrines unselfishly and disinterestedly act for their welfare. The compassion which is manifested in Vrindavan Das’s statement is beyond the comprehension of those who have no understanding of what is truly in their own self interest. Anyone who follows in the footsteps of Vrindavan Das, the incarnation of Vyasa, and both practices and preaches the Vaishnava religion is always engaged in an effort to bring about the ultimate well-being of everyone. Though he may make a superficial show of wishing to punish the enemies of the Lord, in fact he harbors a compassion toward them which knows no limit.”
Vrindavan Das Thakur’s disappearance day is the Krishna Dashami of Vaishakh. There is some dispute the exact year of his disappearance which was likely 1511 Shaka (1589 AD).

Nikhil and Nikhil’s sister get the mercy.
Shastrakrit Das: I was at my book table. This Indian lady walked by my book table along with her teenage son. I called them over to give them some prasadam. I gave them a spoon of Maha halava each. The mother’s response was “oh we have all these books” but her teenage son was attracted to HH Devamrita Swami’s book “Hiding in unnatural happiness”.
So his mother bought it for him, her son, named Nikhil.
A couple of weeks later this teenage boy walked up to my book table and put a nice donation in my donation box and asked if he can have a copy of The Gita. I was so thrilled that this young man was so eager for The Gita and asked him why he is interested in the Gita?
He reminded me that I had given him the copy of the Hiding in Unnatural happiness earlier and he read it cover to cover and the author inspired him to read the Gita.
And again today I was at my book table, Nikhil came to me along with his cute little sister & he had finished reading The Gita already and he had amazing questions from the Gita like “ Prabhupada says we should go to Krishnaloka & few pages down Prabhupada says that a pure devotee doesn’t even want to go to Krishnaloka, he is happy just serving Krishna, so how to understand that ”?
After our nice discussion, he bought a Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.
And Nikhil’s sister had some deep questions as well like “why in the paintings we see the girlfriends of Krishna and animals are so attracted to Him, etc ”
And Nikhil bought a Krishna book for her little sister.
I was blown away how special these siblings are, must be from last life

Gopal Krishna Maharaj giving the president of India, Pranab Mukherjee, a beautiful deluxe TOVP picture book.Read More…

Srila Prabhupada on Krsna consciousness.
Prahladananda Swami: Srila Prabhupada came to give the world Krsna consciousness. What precisely does Krsna consciousness mean? Srila Prabhupada has explained the importance of understanding this:
Therefore, one has to seek out such a bona fide spiritual master and, under him, learn what Krsna consciousness is, for Krsna consciousness will certainly drive away all nescience, as the sun drives away darkness. [Bhagavad-gita 5.16, purport]
To understand Krsna consciousness, we can examine some of Srila Prabhupada’s definitions. Srila Prabhupada originally took the definition of Krsna consciousness from a line of a verse by Ramananda Raya, quoted in Srila Rupa Gosvami’s Padyavali: krsna-bhakti-rasa-bhavita – absorbed in the mellows of executing devotional service to Krsna. (Padyavali 14, as quoted in Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya 8.70)

To be in Krsna consciousness, one must be absorbed in pure devotional service and experience rasa, or transcendental mellows, by thinking of Lord Krsna.

In Srila Prabhupada’s Krsna book he writes: “The art of focusing one’s attention on the Supreme and giving one’s love to Him is called Krsna consciousness.” (Krsna book, Preface)

Researching Srila Prabhupada’s books, I was amazed to see the extent and depth of the definitions given for Krsna consciousness. In the Bhagavad-gita alone we can find a wealth of understanding of these words:

Constantly thinking of Lord Krsna. “Thus a devotee of Krsna can conquer both sleep and ignorance simply by thinking of Krsna constantly. This is called Krsna consciousness, or samadhi.” (Bhagavad-gita 1.24, purport)

For the benefit of Lord Krsna. “Activity in Krsna consciousness, or acting for the benefit of Krsna without expectation of sense gratification, is the highest transcendental quality of work.” (Bhagavad-gita 2.40, purport)

Full dependence on the good will of Krsna. “This transcendental position is achieved in full Krsna consciousness when one is fully dependent on the good will of Krsna.” (Bhagavad-gita 2.45, purport)

Directly into communion with Krsna. “In Krsna consciousness, one comes directly into communion with Krsna, and thus all directions from Krsna may be understood in that transcendental state.” (Bhagavad-gita 2.53, purport)

Krsna is everything. “The sthita-dhir muni is always in Krsna consciousness, for he has exhausted all his business of creative speculation. He is called prasanta-nihsesa-mano-rathantara (Stotra-ratna 43)

, or one who has surpassed the stage of mental speculations and has come to the conclusion that Lord Sri Krsna, or Vasudeva, is everything (vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma su-durlabhah). (Bg 2.56 purport)

Knowledge of how to use everything in the service of the Lord. “On the other hand, a person in Krsna consciousness knows how to use everything in the service of the Lord; therefore he does not become a victim of material consciousness.” (Bhagavad-gita 2.63, purport)

Only concerned with the satisfaction of Krsna. “Although the person in full Krsna consciousness may apparently be on the sensual plane, because of his being Krsna conscious he has no attachment to sensual activities. The Krsna conscious person is concerned only with the satisfaction of Krsna, and nothing else.” (Bhagavad-gita 2.64, purport)

Engaging all the senses in the service of Lord Krsna. “One can curb the forces of sense gratification only by means of Krsna consciousness, or engaging all the senses in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.” (Bhagavad-gita 2.68, purport)

Perfect stage of Krsna consciousness. “To understand one’s actual position as the eternal servitor of Krsna, without falsely claiming this material body to be oneself and without falsely claiming proprietorship over anything in the world, is the perfect stage of Krsna consciousness.” (Bhagavad-gita 2.71 purport)

Desiring everything for Krsna. “If, therefore, lust is transformed into love for the Supreme, or transformed into Krsna consciousness – or, in other words, desiring everything for Krsna – then both lust and wrath can be spiritualized.” (Bhagavad-gita 3.37 purport)

Simply meant to serve the Lord. “The living entities are parts and parcels of the Lord, and therefore they are simply meant to serve the Lord. This consciousness is called Krsna consciousness.” (Bhagavad-gita 3.41 purport)

Direct connection with the Supreme. “In Krsna consciousness the soul makes direct connection with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” (Bhagavad-gita 3.42 purport)

Deliberate spiritual intelligence. “Thus knowing oneself to be transcendental to the material senses, mind, and intelligence, O mighty-armed Arjuna, one should steady the mind by deliberate spiritual intelligence [Krsna consciousness] and thus – by spiritual strength -conquer this insatiable enemy known as lust.” (Bhagavad-gita 3.43 purport)

Does everything for Krsna. “This freedom from the bondage of actions is possible only in Krsna consciousness when one is doing everything for Krsna. A Krsna conscious person acts out of pure love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and therefore he has no attraction for the results of the action.” (Bhagavad-gita 4.20 purport)

Engaged in the satisfaction of Lord Krsna’s senses. “In material consciousness, the senses are engaged in sense gratification, but in Krsna consciousness, the senses are engaged in the satisfaction of Krsna’s senses. Therefore, the Krsna conscious person is always free, even though he appears to be engaged in affairs of the senses.” (Bhagavad-gita 5.8-9 purport)

The body is the property of Krsna. “The conclusion is that a person without Krsna consciousness acts according to the concept of the material body and senses, but a person in Krsna consciousness acts according to the knowledge that the body is the property of Krsna and should, therefore, be engaged in the service of Krsna.” (Bhagavad-gita 5.10, purport)

He himself belongs to Krsna. “‘A person acting in Krsna consciousness (or, in other words, in the service of Krsna) with his body, mind, intelligence, and words is a liberated person even within the material world, although he may be engaged in many so-called material activities.’ He has no false ego, for he does not believe that he is this material body, or that he possesses the body. He knows that he is not this body and that this body does not belong to him. He himself belongs to Krsna, and the body too belongs to Krsna. When he applies everything produced of the body, mind, intelligence, words, life, wealth, etc. – whatever he may have within his possession -to Krsna’s service, he is at once dovetailed with Krsna. He is one with Krsna and is devoid of the false ego that leads one to believe that he is the body, etc. This is the perfect stage of Krsna consciousness.” (Bhagavad-gita 5.11, purport)

Steady consciousness. “This knowledge elevates him to the station of knowing the complete science of the Absolute Truth, namely Brahman, Paramatma, and Bhagavan. He thus knows his constitutional position perfectly well, without falsely trying to become one with the Supreme in all respects. This is called Brahman realization, or self-realization. Such steady consciousness is called Krsna consciousness.” (Bhagavad-gita 5.20 purport)

Everyone is subordinate to Lord Krsna. “This is the sense of Krsna consciousness: Lord Krsna is the supreme predominator, and all living entities, including the great demigods, are His subordinates.” (Bhagavad-gita 5.29, purport)

Engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord. “Krsna consciousness means, concisely, to be always engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord.” (Bhagavad-gita 6.10 purport)

Mind always absorbed in Krsna’s activities. “Therefore a person working in Krsna consciousness is the perfect yogi, because his mind is always absorbed in Krsna’s activities (sa vai manah krsna-padaravindayoh) (Bhagavad-gita 6.15 purport)

Serving Krsna with purified senses. “Serving Krsna with purified senses is called Krsna consciousness.” (Bhagavad-gita 6.26 purport)

Nothing can exist without Krsna, and Krsna is the Lord of everything. “A person in Krsna consciousness certainly sees Lord Krsna everywhere, and he sees everything in Krsna. Such a person may appear to see all separate manifestations of the material nature, but in each and every instance he is conscious of Krsna, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Krsna’s energy. Nothing can exist without Krsna, and Krsna is the Lord of everything – this is the basic principle of Krsna consciousness.” (Bhagavad-gita 6.30 purport)

Steady concentration of the mind upon Krsna. “At the end of the Sixth Chapter, it has been clearly stated that the steady concentration of the mind upon Krsna, or in other words Krsna consciousness, is the highest form of all yoga.” (Bhagavad-gita 7.1)

TOVP: A Work In Progress (Album with photos)
Parijata Dasi: Exterior finishing work on the TOVP continues without interruption…Read More…

Prayer.
Question: My contemplations on prayer find me asking for a clear definition of what prayer is. I heard that it means to glorify the Lord. Also that chanting the Holy name is the best prayer. Also, that prayer means an intense desire.
What does a prayer mean? Is it accepting the Supreme position of the Lord and subordinating my will to His Will?
How can I pray with a heart that gets frequently doubtful about Krsna and His devotees? Nonetheless, I pray because I have seen nothing else working out and I have been recommended to do so. Reading some of your kind answers I felt like seeking this clarification.
Romapada Swami: Prayer, or vandanam, is the sixth of the nine processes of devotional service. The dictionary meaning of prayer is defined as “a spiritual communion with God or an object of worship, as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession.”
Prayer is a unique way of expressing our heartfelt expressions to Krishna; it is a way of expressing our heart to the Lord. Prayer expressed with deep feeling and sincerity is what is accepted by the Lord. Prayer indicates something that is above us, higher than us, or even beyond us. That which the senses and mind cannot reach, prayers can reach, although we are using the senses and mind to pray.

The best way to pray in this age of Kali is to chant the Maha-mantra with all of one’s sincerity.

The real purpose of prayer is not to gain material resources or even spiritual salvation for oneself. The power of prayer comes when we call to Krishna out of a desire to do His will. Such pure prayers are not means to the end but are themselves loving exchanges between the Lord and His pure devotees. Whether we call on Him from the darkness of our fallen state in the material world, or whether we praise Him in the midst of His liberated associates in the kingdom of God, the pure prayer is the same: “Please engage me in Your service”.

Srila Prabhupada explains the meaning of the Hare Krsna Maha Mantra as follows: “The mantra is a spiritual call to the Lord, meaning, ‘Oh energy of the Lord, please engage me in the loving service of Lord Krishna.’ This chanting of Hare Krishna is directly enacted from the spiritual platform, surpassing all lower stages of consciousness, namely sensual, mental, and intellectual. There is no need to understand the language of the mantra, nor is there any need of mental speculation, nor any intellectual adjustment for chanting this maha-mantra. It springs automatically from the spiritual platform, and as such anyone can take part in this transcendental sound vibration without any previous qualification and dance in ecstasy. The word Hara is a form of addressing the energy of the Lord. Both Krishna and Rama are forms of directly addressing the Lord, and they mean “the highest pleasure.” Hara is the supreme pleasure potency of the Lord. This potency, addressed as Hare, helps us in reaching the Supreme Lord. The three words-namely Hare, Krishna, and Rama-are the transcendental seeds of the maha-mantra, and the chanting is the spiritual call for the Lord and His internal energy, Hara, for giving protection to the conditioned souls. The chanting is exactly like genuine crying by the child for his mother. Mother Hara helps in achieving the grace of the supreme father Hari, or Krishna, and the Lord reveals Himself to such sincere devotees”.

Outlined below are few of the many benefits of Chanting the Maha Mantra:

1. One can be liberated from the effects of all sins simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord.

2. One is directly associating with Krsna by chanting the Hare Krsna maha-mantra.

3. Chanting Hare Krishna awakens love of God.

4. Chanting Hare Krishna brings liberation as a side benefit along the way.

5. When one chants Hare Krishna, one automatically develop knowledge and detachment.

6. Chanting Hare Krishna gets one out of the endless cycle of birth and death.

7. Chanting Hare Krishna cleanses the heart of all illusions and misunderstandings.

8. By chanting Hare Krishna, one becomes free from all anxieties.

9. There are no hard and fast rules for chanting. One can chant anywhere, anytime, under any circumstances.

10. Krishna Himself is fully present in the transcendental sound of His name.

11. All other Vedic mantras are included in the chanting of Hare Krishna maha mantra.

12. A person who chants Hare Krishna develops all good qualities.

Also please find below the link to an audio lecture on the power of prayers and the role of prayer in chanting:
https://goo.gl/ggkh1h

Ecstatic Harinama and book distribution in Israel (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “I worship Govinda, the primeval Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, under whose control even the sun, which is considered to be the eye of the Lord, rotates within the fixed orbit of eternal time. The sun is the king of all planetary systems and has unlimited potency in heat and light.” This verse from Brahma-samhita confirms that even the largest and most powerful planet, the sun, rotates within a fixed orbit, or kala-cakra, in obedience to the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This has nothing to do with gravity or any other imaginary laws created by the material scientists. >>> Ref. VedaBase => SB 5.23.3
Find them here: https://goo.gl/HhfSKc

US$150m new ‘Mahabharata’ movie, the most ever expensive Indian movie soon to begin.
Filming is due to start late next year with the first installment set to hit screens in early 2020, the statement said. It will be released in several Indian languages and dubbed for foreign audiences as well. The blockbuster will be the latest retelling of the Mahabharata, an ancient Sanskrit story about a battle between feuding princes which includes the Bhagavad Gita.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/D08ScN

Indian basmati rice’s increased production is contributing to the problems of the Yamuna river.
Recently, a high court in India declared the Yamuna river a living entity, bestowing on her the same legal rights as a person. Many shared the news on social media, excited about this seemingly major move towards cleaning up the heavily polluted river, once called “dead” by the United Nations.
But a closer look shows that the development, while a nice gesture, won’t actually achieve much.
“This status was only given by a court in the Northern state of Uttarakhand, where the Yamuna is already pristine enough to drink and there’s not much pollution,” says Krisztina Danka, Ph.D. (Krishna-lila Dasi), director of the upcoming documentary The Stolen River. “The problem is that according to Indian law every state has a right to all its natural resources, including rivers. So this ruling has absolutely no bearing on the other states further down the river – such as Haryana and Uttar Pradesh – where most of the pollution is actually taking place. Thus it doesn’t solve the problem!”
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/CoKHtH

Vani and Varun, April 15 wedding in Alachua (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Full dependence on the good will of Krsna. “This transcendental position is achieved in full Krsna consciousness when one is fully dependent on the good will of Krsna.” (Bhagavad-gita 2.45, purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/lC93hx

Harinama in Nice 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: A helpless man can feelingly utter the holy name of the Lord, wher…Read More…

Sacred Sound 2017 (7 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Over Easter weekend devotees from all over Australia, and beyond, came together at the New Govardhan community to chant and dance in ecstasy to the holy names of the Lord. No one, who was present, will ever forget the happiness and joy they experienced in each other’s association. All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/L9h5e0

Easter Saturday London Harinama Sankirtan (Album with photos and video) Video clip:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidcphotography2/33902896232/
alternative version in case the above doesn’t work for you:
http://drive.google.com/open?id=0B_62fHs0aE5XaDJmOFg5ajNXNjQ
Photo slideshow (please turn on sound):
http://davidc.zenfolio.com/easter_saturday_harinama_sankirtan_15042017/slideshow
Photo gallery:
http://davidc.zenfolio.com/easter_saturday_harinama_sankirtan_15042017
With best wishes,
Hare Krishna,
David

Maha Harinam Sankirtan Nectar in Tel Aviv, Israel (Album with photos)
The Absolute Truth is Sri Krsna, and loving devotion to Sri Krsna in pure love is achieved through congregational chanting of the holy name, which is the essence of all bliss.” (CC Adi-lila 1.96)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/aTsZ6A

Hare Krishna Lunch: Govinda is Feeding the Soul of Brooklyn (6 min video)
Read More…

ISKCON Auckland NZ: Transcendental boat festival (Album with photos)
For the pleasure of their Lordships Šrí Šrí Radha-Giridhari on their 45th anniversary.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/htKT1z

Vaishnava marriage in Alachua of Vani and Varun (video)
Srila Prabhupada: Krsna consciousness is so nice. Anyone who comes to Krsna consciousness immediately becomes beautiful in every respect. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation – April 27, 1969, Boston
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/5LQtbN

Srila Prabhupada and His Lady Disciples.
Sydney, April 1, 1972. Srila Prabhupada returned to the temple that evening to attend the 7 o’clock arati and kirtana, and to give a class on Bhagavad Gita. As he entered the small temple room, he was pleased to see it packed with guests and devotees. The vyasasana had been moved, so he could now sit with his left side to the altar. He nodded approvingly.
The pujari blew a big pink and white conchshell. The red velvet curtain swished open, revealing the Deities. After offering prostrated obeisances, Srila Prabhupada stood. Powerfully built Nanda Kumara picked up a clay mrdanga and began to sing the evening arati prayer. Srila Prabhupada remained standing and glanced at Syamasundara, who opened a small velvet bag and passed Srila Prabhupada a highly-polished pair of karatals. Prabhupada played deftly, head slightly to one side, as he stood, looking lovingly and attentively at Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha on Their beautiful new altar. After continuing like that for a few minutes, Srila Prabhupada sat down on his vyasasana and chanted with the kirtana.

After forty minutes, the jubilant kirtana drew to a close. Srila Prabhupada opened up his Bhagavad Gita set on a simple wooden bookstand balanced atop two red velvet covered steps in front of him. Wally, sitting on his right, set up the heavy reel-to-reel tape equipment, ready to record the class. Prabhupada again picked up his shiny karatals, wrapping the red straps deftly around his fingers, closing his eyes and striking the shiny brass cymbals in the familiar one-two-three, one-two-three fashion. Seated amongst the crowd of devotees, Jagattarini was feeling completely satisfied after the joyous kirtana. She had almost forgotten a secret desire that she had been maintaining for a long time: considering herself a good singer, she had hoped one day to sing for Srila Prabhupada.

Nanda Kumara, seated next to Prabhupada on the floor, had scarcely placed the heavy clay mrdanga on his lap when Srila Prabhupada suddenly stopped playing his karatals and opened his eyes. Scanning the silent crowd for a brief few seconds, his eyes fell on Jagattarini seated close by.

“You lead,” Srila Prabhupada said. Mohanananda looked at Syamasundara in amazement. Jagattarini could hardly believe it; she swallowed and sang ‘Jaya Radha Madhava Kunja Vihari’ as loudly and nicely as she could. Srila Prabhupada and the devotees sang the response. Srila Prabhupada’s karatals chimed sweetly as Nanda Kumara increased the tempo with his rhythmic mrdanga beats. The song reached its climax and stopped. Jagattarini, her desire fulfilled, opened her eyes to see Srila Prabhupada staring at her intently. “Krsna has been so merciful to you,” Srila Prabhupada said, and began his evening class.

After the discourse, Srila Prabhupada again glanced lovingly at the altar. Radha and Krsna were wearing impressive handcrafted crowns of soft blue and pink stones, the whole effect reminiscent of mother-of-pearl. He looked around the room, “Who has made these crowns?”

Rasarani flushed and slightly raised her hand. Srila Prabhupada smiled and Srila Prabhupada said, “Very nice”.

(from The Great Transcendental Adventure, by Kurma dasa)

Sacred Sound Kirtan Retreat at Iskcon New Govardhana – 15 April 2017 (Album with photos)
Prabhupada gave his disciples credit for chanting kirtanas with heart and soul as he did. One evening we had a small, informal kirtana in Prabhupada’s hotel room in Hawaii. Since there was no official program at the temple, Prabhupada was spending a quiet evening working, and his servants were also busy with their tasks. However, Prabhupada called us together and asked us to chant. I came from my editorial desk, Pradyumna came from his Sanskrit work, and Bali Mardana and Sudama also came. Prabhupada asked Sudama to lead the singing. As Sudama began to sing a particular tune, he became self-conscious and stopped. He said, “That’s not the right tune.” He meant that it was not the tune that Prabhupada usually sang. Prabhupada encouraged him, “That is all right. That is your ecstasy.” It enlivened us to think that Prabhupada said we had ecstasy within us, and that even a neophyte devotee’s choosing of a particular tune could be called “his ecstasy.”
Find them here: https://goo.gl/vkYyRZ

ISKCON Auckland NZ: 45th anniversary of Sri Sri Radha-Giridhari (Album with photos)
One time, during the annual Gaura-Purnima festival in Mayapura, Prabhupada called his GBC men to his room to tell them that he was hearing and take pleasure in the kirtana. With his leaders gathered before him in the room, Prabhupada stated that all the devotees in the world should come to Mayapura and constantly have kirtana. He was very blissful as he told them of Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s statement that he had searched the fourteen worlds but found nothing of value except the chanting of the holy names.
(From “Prabhupada Meditations” by SDG)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/B20JqT

New Gokul (Bhaktivedanta Manor cow protection and working oxen) (Album with photos)
Our Goshala team are very active and hardw…Read More…

Meet Michael. He got a book a few months ago, became a vegetarian and now wants to read the Gita.
Srila Prabhupada ki Jaya!Read More…

Vrindavana: 24×7 supply of electricity to every household by September 2018.
Lucknow, April 14: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will sign a ‘Power for all 2019’ pact with the Narendra Modi government at the Centre on Friday in a bid to improve the electricity situation in the state. This comes as the Yogi Adityanath government in UP works towards fulfilling its promise of 24-hour power supply in the state. The pact will be inked in the presence of Union Minister of State Piyush Goyal in Lucknow.
In its last Cabinet meeting on April 11, the Yogi Adityanath government included major decisions on power supply in Uttar Pradesh as one of its key decisions. The Yogi Cabinet decided to give 18 hour power supply to rural areas in the state. The UP Cabinet also decided to provide 24 hours of uninterrupted power supply to district headquarters and 20 hours of power supply to Tehsil headquarters in the state.
The Cabinet meet also approved the electricity sharing proposal with the Centre. The UP government announced that Within 48 hours, the UP electricity department has been asked to replace non-working transformers. It has also promised 24×7 supply of electricity to every household by September 2018.
Replacement of transformers in 24 hours and 24 hours power supply in all the cities were also among decisions taken by the Yogi Adityanath Cabinet on Tuesday.
Source: https://goo.gl/ihkhPA

Sacred Sound (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Today was the first day of the Sacred Sound festival at New Govardhan in A…Read More…

Sweet Harinam Sankirtan Party in Manila, Philippines (Album with photos)
Prabhupada gave his disciples credit for chanting kirtans with heart and soul as he did. One evening we had a small, informal kirtana in Prabhupada’s hotel room in Hawaii. Since there was no official program at the temple, Prabhupada was spending a quiet evening working, and his servants were also busy with their tasks. However, Prabhupada called us together and asked us to chant. I came from my editorial desk, Pradyumna came from his Sanskrit work, and Bali Mardana and Sudama also came. Prabhupada asked Sudama to lead the singing. As Sudama began to sing a particular tune, he became self-conscious and stopped. He said, “That’s not the right tune.” He meant that it was not the tune that Prabhupada usually sang. Prabhupada encouraged him, “That is all right. That is your ecstasy.” It enlivened us to think that Prabhupada said we had ecstasy within us, and that even a neophyte devotee’s choosing of a particular tune could be called “his ecstasy.”
(From “Prabhupada Meditations” by SDG)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/xzIsw8

Care for cows in Vrindavana (Album with photos)
Care For Cows was blessed with a visit from H.G Chaitanya Chandra Charan Das w…Read More…

TOVP: Cast iron fences for the Prabhupada bridge (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: We just completed the designs in 3D for the …Read More…

Giriraj Swami: This morning while chanting japa in front of my deities, I perceived some lingering impersonalism within me, and to purify myself, I thought of presenting Srila Prabhupada’s strong refutation of impersonalism from his morning walk on Juhu Beach on January 12, 1976, which I had heard just the night before.
“Impersonal philosophers are more dangerous than atheists,” Prabhupada began.
“That you think,” Dr. Patel retorted.
“No, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu says. Veda na maniya bauddha haila nastika. Vedasraya bauddha-vada nastika ke adhika. We accept as atheist, one who does not believe in the Vedas. Therefore we have rejected the Buddha philosophy. They could not exist in India. But those who are preaching atheism through the Vedas—impersonalism—they are more dangerous.”
“For example?” an Indian man asked.
“Any impersonalist—‘God has no form.’ There are so many rascals. He has got form to speak against God, and God has no form. This is going on all over the world. He speaks against God, that ‘God is not a person.’ So, he is a person, and God is not person. Just see their foolishness. He is made by God, and he is a person, and He who made him, He is not a person. This is foolishness”
The Indian man agreed, “Yes, there’s good sense in what you say.”
“Therefore the impersonalists are senseless. It is understood that I am person, my father is person, his father is person, and the supreme father is not a person. Just see. If the supreme father is not a person, then wherefrom these personal fathers came? Mudho nabhijanati mam ebhyah param avyayam [Bg 7.25]. ‘Mam’—this is person. The mudhas cannot understand that the supreme father is a person. Therefore when Arjuna understood Bhagavad-gita, he declared that ‘It is very, very difficult to understand Your personality. It is very, very difficult.’ Arjuna said. And he accepted Krishna as person, purusam sasvatam: ‘You are eternally person.’ Param brahma param dhama pavitram paramam, purusam sasvatam divyam adyam [Bg 10.12]. These things are there. The real understanding is there. And Arjuna said, ‘This is accepted by Vyasadeva, Narada, Devala.’ Svayam caiva: ‘And You are also speaking.’ Then where is the question of imperson? Therefore Krishna says, bahunam janmanam ante jnanvan mam prapadyate [Bg 7.19]: ‘You are person; I surrender unto You’—this knowledge comes after many, many births of the impersonalist. Vasudevah sarvam iti sa mahatma: ‘That great mahatma is very rare.’ So one who believes and accepts the Supreme as person, he immediately becomes a mahatma. Otherwise he remains duratma.”
Srila Prabhupada reminded me of his description of his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura:
“Absolute is sentient
Thou hast proved,
Impersonal calamity
Thou hast moved.”
I earnestly pray that Srila Prabhupada will remove all impersonalism from within me, so I can properly worship the holy names, my deities, and all persons.
Hare Krishna.

Famous Celebrity ‘Michael Emerson’ Gets Rare Books (Album with photos)
Drumila Dasa: Famous Tv Personality ‘Michael Emerson’ from the Mega Hit CBS TV Show ‘Person of Interest’, and formerly of ‘Lost’ and ‘The Practice’ gets books by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He is an ‘Emmy’ award-winning actor with many accolades. And I can attest, he has not let it gone to his head. One of the most down to earth and unassuming persons I have ever met. He even commented before we parted ways that he was all about the books that I gave him. ‘Chant and be Happy’(an interview with George Harrison about mantra meditation). And the best translation of the Bhagavad-Gita that one could ever receive, called the ‘Bhagavad-Gita As it Is’ which is considered like the Bible of India. It is the sourcebook of all knowledge on karma, yoga, meditation, reincarnation, the soul, and God.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/ZUqjyq

TOVP: See the walls covered with marble (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: On the outside entrance, just before you go into the temple room, you can see the walls covered with marble.
Now we are placing the sandstone decoration around the walls and building up to do the windows a little bit above them as well.
You can see the artwork on the sandstone and what it will look like when it’s completed.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/o8D5tl

Villa Vrindavan Academy opening (Album with photos)
Yesterday, the Mayapur Academy and Villa Vrindavan had the official opening…Read More…

Goodbye Party to the Herd.
Govardhana Farms from Canada (the whole family: cows and humans) is relocating to the ISKCON New Vri…Read More…

Sunday afternoon at the King Fahad Mosque in Culver City for an interfaith program on non-violence. Mahomed Khan, Director of Interf…Read More…

Making of Deity Outfit (4 min video)
Srimad Bhagavatam 11.27.16 says, In worshiping the temple Deity, my dear Uddhava, bathing, and decoration are the most pleasing offerings.
According to this sloka and Srila Prabhupada’s instructions, the deities in ISKCON temples all over the world are dressed gorgeously which is appreciated by one and all.
This video highlights how the gorgeous outfits are made and now one can get quality, customized outfits from one stop shop at ISKCON Mayapur.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/XcQSpl

A difficult phase in bhakti.
Question: Thank you prabhu for sharing the wonderful verse 11.20.27-28 from the SB.
I have a doubt here. I do have some faith in the narrations of HIS glories but yet the stage of being disgusted with material activities has not come about. Here it is being spoken of such people who feel disgusted and then try to leave them although there maybe some relapses. My position is worse prabhu. I am yet not disgusted with material activities. How can i change from here?
Mahatma Das: Open your eyes to what is going on in this world; frustration, cheating, poison as pleasure, etc. You should be frustrated. The thing is that activities in the mode of passion are such that the more you do them, the more you want to do them, so this continually hankering mentality exists and there is no end to it. And it goes on for hundreds and thousands of lives and nothing gets any better. If that is not frustrating, I don’t know what is. Give up all hope for material enjoyment and get all hope for experiencing the bliss of Krsna Consciousness. Keep yourself engaged as much as possible in some enlivening service for Krsna.
SB – 11.20.27-28 Translation:
Having awakened faith in the narrations of My glories, being disgusted with all material activities, knowing that all sense gratification leads to misery, but still being unable to renounce all sense enjoyment, My devotee should remain happy and worship Me with great faith and conviction. Even though he is sometimes engaged in sense enjoyment, My devotee knows that all sense gratification leads to a miserable result, and he sincerely repents such activities.
Purport:
The beginning stage of pure devotional service is described here by the Lord. A sincere devotee has practically seen that all material activities lead only to sense gratification and all sense gratification leads only to misery. Thus a devotee’s sincere desire is to engage twenty-four hours a day in the loving service of Lord Kṛṣṇa without any personal motivation. The devotee sincerely desires to be established in his constitutional position as the Lord’s eternal servitor, and he prays to the Lord to elevate him to this exalted position. The word anīśvara indicates that because of one’s past sinful activities and bad habits one may not immediately be able to completely extinguish the enjoying spirit. The Lord here encourages such a devotee not to be overly depressed or morose but to remain enthusiastic and to go on with his loving service. The word nirviṇṇa indicates that a sincere devotee, although somewhat entangled in the remnants of sense gratification, is completely disgusted with material life and under no circumstances willingly commits sinful activities. In fact, he avoids every kind of materialistic activity. The word kāmān basically refers to sex attraction and its by-products in the form of children, home and so forth. Within the material world, the sex impulse is so strong that even a sincere candidate in the loving service of the Lord may sometimes be disturbed by sex attraction or by lingering sentiments for wife and children. A pure devotee certainly feels spiritual affection for all living entities, including the so-called wife and children, but he knows that material bodily attraction leads to no good, for it simply entangles one and one’s so-called relatives in a miserable chain reaction of fruitive activities. The word dṛḍha-niścaya (“steadfast conviction”) indicates that in any circumstance a devotee is completely determined to go on with his prescribed duties for Kṛṣṇa. Thus he thinks, “By my previous shameful life my heart is polluted with many illusory attachments. Personally I have no power to stop them. Only Lord Kṛṣṇa within my heart can remove such inauspicious contamination. But whether the Lord removes such attachments immediately or lets me go on being afflicted by them, I will never give up my devotional service to Him. Even if the Lord places millions of obstacles in my path, and even if because of my offenses I go to hell, I will never for a moment stop serving Lord Kṛṣṇa. I am not interested in mental speculation and fruitive activities; even if Lord Brahmā personally comes before me offering such engagements, I will not be even slightly interested. Although I am attached to material things I can see very clearly that they lead to no good because they simply give me trouble and disturb my devotional service to the Lord. Therefore, I sincerely repent my foolish attachments to so many material things, and I am patiently awaiting Lord Kṛṣṇa’s mercy.”

The word prīta indicates that a devotee feels exactly like the son or subject of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and is very attached to his relationship with the Lord. Therefore, although sincerely lamenting occasional lapses into sense enjoyment, he never gives up his enthusiasm to serve Lord Kṛṣṇa. If a devotee becomes too morose or discouraged in devotional service, he may drift into an impersonal consciousness or give up his devotional service to the Lord. Therefore, the Lord here advises that although one should sincerely repent, he should not become chronically depressed. One should understand that because of his past sins he must occasionally suffer disturbances from the material mind and senses, but one should not therefore become a devotee of detachment, as do the speculative philosophers. Although one may desire detachment to purify one’s devotional service to the Lord, if one becomes more concerned with renunciation than with acting for the pleasure of Lord Kṛṣṇa, he is misunderstanding the position of loving devotional service. Faith in Lord Kṛṣṇa is so powerful that in due course of time it will automatically award detachment and perfect knowledge. If one gives up Lord Kṛṣṇa as the central object of one’s worship and concentrates more on knowledge and detachment, one will become deviated from one’s progress in going back home, back to Godhead. A sincere devotee of the Lord must be sincerely convinced that simply by the strength of devotional service and the mercy of Lord Kṛṣṇa he will achieve everything auspicious in life. One must believe that Lord Kṛṣṇa is all-merciful and that He is the only real goal of one’s life. Such determined faith combined with a sincere desire to give up sense enjoyment will carry one past the obstacles of this world.

The words jāta-śraddhaḥ mat-kathāsu are most significant here. By faithful hearing of the mercy and glories of the Lord one will gradually be freed from all material desire and clearly see at every moment the utter frustration of sense gratification. Chanting the glories of the Lord with firm faith and conviction is a tremendously powerful spiritual process that enables one to give up all material association.

There is actually nothing inauspicious in the devotional service of the Lord. Occasional difficulties experienced by a devotee are due to his previous material activities. On the other hand, the endeavor for sense gratification is completely inauspicious. Thus sense gratification and devotional service are directly opposed to each other. In all circumstances one should therefore remain the Lord’s sincere servant, always believing in His mercy. Then one will certainly go back home, back to Godhead.

Bhima meets Hanuman.
As the Pandavas made their way from one holy tīrtha to another, they finally came to Badrikashrama in the Himalayan Mountains. It was a very scenic spot that could hardly be described in words. The flowers that bloomed there could not be found anywhere else in the world. One day, as Draupadi was gazing on the beautiful scenery, a strong wind arose and blew a thousand-petaled lotus flower into her lap. The flower had a celestial effulgence, a captivating aroma, and its beauty was unearthly. She took the flower to Bhima and requested, “Behold, O Bhima, this most celestial flower. O repressor of the foes, it has gladdened my heart. I shall present this one to Yudhisthira. Will you also obtain others for my satisfaction so that I may carry them to our hermitage in Kamyaka?”
Bhima was delighted to please Draupadi in some way, and he proceeded to follow the path the scented flower had left. He traced the perfumed air for some time, and suddenly he realized he had covered a long distance. When he blew his conch shell, rousing the lions in the area, he then heard a loud pounding that caused the earth to tremble. As Bhima approached that pounding sound, which was like a challenge to him, he suddenly saw a huge monkey lying on a stone slab. The monkey was waving his tail in the air and dashing it against the ground, causing the tremendous noise that spread in all directions. Bhima was completely amazed, for he had never seen a monkey like this before. The monkey was sitting there with half-opened eyes, calmly blocking the way. As Bhima approached, the monkey advised him, “Young man, why do you make so much noise? Most of the animals in this region were sleeping peacefully, and now you have awakened them. Please be more considerate, and do not be so cruel to the inhabitants of this region. Beyond this point, the forest is impassable. It is a path leading to heaven and cannot be taken by ordinary mortals. Rest awhile here and eat some fruits. After your fatigue is relieved, you may return to your residence.”
Bhima was surprised that the monkey could talk like a human being, and questioned him, “May I know who you are? What monkey speaks like a human being? You must be some demigod in disguise. As for myself, I am the son of Vayu, and my mother is the chaste Kunti. My name is Bhima, and I am one of the Pandavas.” Bhima then told him the history of how they were exiled to the forest. He also informed the monkey that at the present moment they were waiting for the return of their brother Arjuna from the heavenly planets. The monkey smiled when Bhima told him all this, and said, “I know that I am obstructing your path, but I have become ill and cannot move. If you want my advice, you should return via the path by which you came.”
Bhima’s eyes reddened in anger, and he became very impatient. “I do not want your advice,” he said. “Move out of my way, or I will have to move you myself.”
The monkey replied, “I have grown too old to move and most of the time I simply lie here. If you insist on going further, then you can do so by leaping over my body.”
Bhima was becoming frustrated with the whole matter. He said to the monkey, “You are an elderly personality, and you are lying on my path. It is not proper for me to jump over your body, for the Supreme Soul exists in everyone. It is also disrespectful to elders. If I had not known that Supreme Lord exists in everyone’s heart, then I would have leapt over your body and this mountain as the great Hanuman did when he crossed the sea to Lanka.”
The monkey inquired, “Who is this Hanuman who bounded over the ocean? You speak of him with respect. His name comes with affection from your mouth. Have you met him before? Can you relate something about him?”
The monkey looked at Bhima with a smirk on his face, and Bhima became furious. He exclaimed, “You are a monkey, and you do not know who Hanuman is? Hanuman is the greatest of all monkeys. He is also the son of the wind god Vayu and is, therefore, my esteemed brother. He is famed for his devotion to Lord Ramachandra. He is the illustrious chief of the monkeys, who is renowned in the Ramayana. When Lord Ramachandra lost his wife Sita, that brother of mine leaped across the sea to Ravana’s abode and discovered her whereabouts. He then set the city of Lanka on fire. Later, he killed many rākṣasa generals in the battle of Lanka. He even carried a huge mountain from the Himalayas just to save the life of Lord Ramachandra’s brother, Lakshman. I am insignificant in comparison to his strength, but I am able to fight with you if I have to. I must proceed further into this forest, and you must clear the way.”
The monkey smiled calmly when he saw Bhima’s impatience. He said, “Please do not be angry with me. I tell you the truth when I say that I am too old to move from this spot. If my tail obstructs your path, then just move it aside and go on your way.”
Bhima, thinking that the monkey was failing in energy, thought “I will take hold of his tail and throw this monkey, destitute of strength, to Yamaraja’s abode.” Assured of his prowess, and smiling, Bhima approached the tail, and with his left hand he tried to move the tail as if it were a twig on the ground, but the tail would not move. He tried with both hands, but still he could not lift the tail. He tried again and again, but still he could not budge the tail so much as an inch. The monkey was smiling in amusement, which only increased Bhima’s anger. Bhima tried repeatedly to lift the monkey’s tail till his face was completely red, his eyebrows tightened, his eyes rolled, his face was contracted in wrinkles, and his body was covered with sweat. Finally, Bhima had to admit his defeat. He went before the monkey and prostrated himself, saying, “Please forgive my harsh words. Out of ignorance I have transgressed the conduct of good behavior to elders. Your power is greater than mine, and therefore, you must be some demigod descended from the higher regions. Please tell me who you are.”
The monkey smiled at him and said, “I will gladly tell you who I am. I am the son of the wind god, Hanuman.”
With these words, they tightly embraced each other, and tears of joy came from their eyes. They talked for a long time, and Bhima was thrilled beyond words that he had finally met his brother, whom he had only heard about previously.
Before their departure, Hanuman bestowed a boon on Bhima,
vijayasya dhvajasthaś ca nādān mokṣyāmi dāruṇān
śatrūṇāṁ ye prāṇa-harāḥ sukhaṁ yena haniṣyatha
“Staying on the victory flag [of Arjuna], I will shout out fiercely in such a way that it will make the enemies almost lifeless, and thus it will be easy for you to kill them.”
After Hanuman gave this boon to the Pandavas, the brothers embraced and departed.

Festival of Colors Alachua 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: For the benefit of Lord Krsna. “Activity in Krsna consciousness, or acting for the benefit of Krsna without expectation of sense gratification, is the highest transcendental quality of work.” (Bhagavad-gita 2.40, purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/jV3Bik

Many devotees from a far away oriental country perform parikrama in Vrindavana for the first time in complete happiness (Album with photos)
In Srila Prabhupada’s Krsna book he writes: “The art of focusing one’s attention on the Supreme and giving one’s love to Him is called Krsna consciousness.” (Krsna book, Preface)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/fhTiMW

Meeting with Mr. Amit Shah, BJP National President.
We are happy to inform you about a very pleasant meeting that HH Gopal Krishna Maharaja had with Mr. Amit Shah in New Delhi. Mr. Amit Shah is the National President of the ruling Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP). Mr. Shah was very respectful and appreciated the work of ISKCON after Maharaja explained our various activities. He particularly took a keen interest when presented with Srila Prabhupada’s books, spending nearly 10 minutes reading them and was delighted to be presented the Krishna Art Book whose paintings he said were “brilliant”. As he daily reads Srimad Bhagavatam, Maharaja offered to present him with the Gujarati BBT edition with Srila Prabhupada’s purports. Overall, the 25 minutes meeting was very fruitful.
More photos: https://goo.gl/Mrt7zE

Distributing SP’s books in Japanese (Album with photos)
From the famous Meiji Shrine… to their super-efficient train stations and busy streets… the Japanese “Perfect Questions, Perfect Answers”, “Perfection of Yoga” and “Beyond Birth and Death” are blissfully going out all over Tokyo and Osaka…!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/uvFznI