Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Karel Gott chants Hare Krishna (2 min video)
Karel Gott is considered the most successful male singer in former Czechoslovakia …Read More…

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

Famous American actor Vin Diesel talking about Karma, Yoga, Krishna (1 min video)
Watch it here:

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 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 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

Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama 2017 worldwide invitation (3 min video)
Dear devotees of Lord Gauranga, you are very welcome to…Read More…

TOVP update.
Sadbhuja Das: You have been following the photos from Russia regarding the Kalash and Chakras.
There are 2 Ch…Read More…

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 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 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

Radhadesh (Belgium): Nityananda Trayodasi & 40 Years Installation of Sri Radha Gopinath (Album with photos)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/IEZp2t

Chant Anyway!

Your mind is wandering all over the universe when you chant.
Chant anyway!
Your mind is wandering to the past and future when you chant.
Chant anyway!
You are not able to concentrate on Krishnas names while you chant.
Chant anyway…

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.

Notes to myself today:
Listen to your japa with rapt* attention.
Beware of plateaus* and comfort* zones.
Cultivate* humility*.
Remember that Krsna is the maintainer* of everything and everyone.
Say an encouraging* word to everyone you meet.
Drink…

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.
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.

Samapriya devi dasi: Betrothed by Srila Prabhupada the holy name to wed,
vowing not to put another in His sacred bed.
You rest upon my tongue, taking me a journey far,
throughout the worlds and inner space revealing who You are.Read More…(This p…

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.
“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 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
.
.
Excerpt from “Memories-Anecdotes of a Modern-Day Saint”
by Siddhanta das

Srila Ramanujacarya and Mayapur.
HG Jananivas Prabhu: Tomorrow is the disappearance of Srila Ramanujacarya. I will speak a little bit on his relationship with Mayapur dham. He visited Puri with his disciples. He was conquering the whole of India with …

Increase your spiritual appetite!
In the Srimad-bhagavatam, Kavi Yogendra (a great sage) compares the process of bhakti yoga to eating.
When a famished person eats a good meal, she feels satisfaction, nourishment, and her hunger lessens with each bite.
In a similar way, says sage Kavi, those who worship Krsna through the process of bhakti get devotion, direct experience of the Supreme, and detachment from other things not related to Krsna.
In his remarks about this verse, Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura, the great Srimad-bhagavatam commentator says:

“Just as a person who eats a little gets a little satisfaction, a little nourishment, and a little relief from hunger, so a person who worships the Lord a little with hearing and chanting, gets a little experience of the Lord, and a little detachment from material life.”

“And just as a person who eats a lot gets full satisfaction, full nourishment and full relief from hunger, so a person who worships the Lord fully experiences the Lord fully and becomes completely detached from material life.”

Visvanatha Cakravarti adds:

“Although it is impossible to eat food continuously, one can increase his worship of the Lord without limitation. That is the difference.” (Sarartha Darsini Vol. 9, Pp. 31-32)

To increase one’s spiritual appetite, Suta Goswami says that one should serve great souls, because by rendering such service “one gains an affinity for hearing about Krsna.” (Bhag. 1.2.16)

Srila Prabhupada explains Suta Goswami’s statement thus: “By serving the servants of the Lord, one gradually gets the qualities of such servants, and thus one becomes qualified to hear the glories of the Lord.” (Bhag. 1.2.16, purport, p. 112)

According to scripture, the purpose of human life is to increase one’s hunger for hearing about Krsna.

Do something today to increase your spiritual appetite.
Vaisesika Das

TOVP updates (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: In the next few weeks the first shipment of the small dome Kalashes will arrive,…Read More…

Govardhan Parikrama, soon restricted for cars!
The pilgrimage walk around Govardhan Hill has become increasingly dangerous in r…Read More…

Flower Festival At Govardhan Eco Village Wada, India (18 min video)
Deities are showered with colorful flower petals. The best flowers are procured from different parts of the country especially for this occasion – Roses from Vrindavan, Jasmines from various parts of India.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/3ZzpuJ

A special gift for devotees all over the world for the 40th anniversary of Jayananda Thakura`s departure (Album with photos)
In this week the construction of the bas-relief on dedicated to the first Saint of ISKCON near to the Samadhi of Sriman Jayananda Thakur, on the wall behind the Samadhi in the temple of Lord Jagannatha, was completed. Three sections of the bas-relief depicted scenes from the life of Jayananda his outstanding contribution to the development of the mission of Lord Caitanya, his spiritual master Srila Prabhupada’s love and gratitude to him.
Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhu, the sculptor of the project is a well-known disciple of Srila Prabhupada, who has sculpted many murti of Srila Prabhupada worshiped around the world. Panels located in the Samadhi of Srila Prabhupada in Vrindavan, also are the creation of his hands. Above the bas-relief project Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhu worked in Mayapur for a few months. He took it with enthusiasm, wanting to glorify and perpetuate the memory of his dear spiritual brother and friend. Until recently, the author of the bas-relief is kept secret that is depicted in it. Now his creation, designed to preserve the memory of a wonderful example of the outstanding disciple of Srila Prabhupada, is available public.
If you see fit please post on the website the news that will be a gift for devotees all over the world for the 40th anniversary of the Jayananda Thakura`s departure.
Krishna Mangala das
Find them here: https://goo.gl/49oKmV
An other work of Bhaktisiddhanta prabhu in Vrindavan in the Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi here; https://goo.gl/AMIMwn

Radhanath Swami: Today is the day when we honor that personality who has brought the descent of Lord Caitanya into this world Shri Advaita Acarya, He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, He is Mahavishnu, He is the personality who created this enti…

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

“FORTUNATE SOULS” (Album with photos)
Dharmatma Das: Some of the many people who received Srila Prabhupada’s Books and took part in the Harinam during our tour of Gold Coast and New Zealand. These are to show the unfathomable mercy of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada, by whose grace these people, us and so many more have become, “Fortunate souls.”
Find them here: https://goo.gl/tNgVcL

The Conch – Newsletter of the New Govardhana Community.
EDITORIAL BOARD: Damodara Pandit dasa, Govardhana Seva dasa, Krishnarupa devi dasi (ACBSP), Urvasi devi dasi
(layout and graphic design).
Srila Prabhupada: Vedic civilization is very strict. Because the whole aim was how to go back to home, back to Godhead, not sense gratification, eat, drink, be merry, enjoy. That is not the aim of human life. So everything was planned with that aim. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 2.3 – London, August 4, 1973
Find it here: https://goo.gl/0XlLoq

Meet Guru Prasad devi dasi an Iskcon pujari, cook and popular myotherapist in Australia.
Mandakini devi dasi: Popular myotherapist and remedial massage healer Guru Prasad devi dasi decided last year to study Occupational Therapy (a specialized, four-year degree) at Southern Cross University.
Occupational therapy is a client-centered health profession concerned with promoting health and well-being through occupation. The primary goal is to enable people to participate in the activities of everyday life. Therapists achieve this outcome by working with individuals and communities to enhance their ability to engage in the occupations they want to, need to, or are expected to do, or by modifying the occupation or environment to better support their occupational engagement.
Once fully qualified, Guru Prasad may be called upon to assist children with learning disabilities, assist adults to bathe and dress after experiencing a stroke, modify workplaces so that injured people can return to work, teach parents how to care for a child after a motor vehicle accident, or design renovation plans to ensure a person’s home is accessible for their wheelchair and much more.
For Guru Prasad, this degree means mountains of study, particularly at the weekends, but she is embracing it wholeheartedly. Undaunted by the fact that her workload may well double next year, she is putting her best foot forward for the long haul.
In spite of her busy schedule, Guru Prasad is maintaining her commitment for two days a week Deity dressings and she also helps Ambika and Krishnarupa devi dasis with the practical devotee care program by cooking for devotees in emergencies whenever time allows.
Since mid-year 2016, she has reduced her usual five days a week clinical hours at her therapeutic massage clinic to two days. She is now available for consultation and treatments at her Main Street clinic on Mondays and Wednesdays only.

ISKCON-Delhi: Srila Raghunatha Das Goswami Appearance 01-02-2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If you make your friendship with Krsna, that will never break. If you make your master Krsna, you’ll never be cheated. If you love Krsna as your son, He’ll never die. Similarly, if you love Krsna as your lover or husband, He will be the best husband, the best lover. There will be no divorce. That is Krsna consciousness. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Bhagavad-gita 4.13-14 – New York, August 1, 1966
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Transcendental Street Art (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: For so many countless lifetimes the conditioned souls have been giving all of their service and energy to the service of Maya, and I am requesting all of my disciples that for this one lifetime you give all of your energy and service to Krishna. The spiritual force is eternal, so to give simply one lifetime to Krishna is not a very difficult thing. And yet if we are serious in executing the devotional principles, this one lifetime of service to Krishna will absolute and final solution to all the problems of life. Sincere devotional service in even one lifetime is sufficient to make one eligible to return to the Vaikuntha world permanently. Krishna Consciousness has got this power. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Madhudvisa – Hamburg 7 September, 1969
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Five Principles of Vedic Education (12 min video)
His Holiness Bhakti Raghava Swami explains about the basic principles of Vedi…Read More…

Umang Festival at ISKCON Gaya (Album with photos)
On 29th Sunday evening, Umang Festival was celebrated at Dharmsabha Bhawan, Gaya by ISKCON Youth Forum, Gaya. More than 500 students attended the festival from Gaya Engineering College, Gaya College, Magadh University, Central University and some other educational institutions. The festival started with a movie “Bina PK” (A movie where all the answers are given to the questions asked at PK). After that, a seminar on “Mind Your Mind” was given by Hg IsvarNam Prabhu(Director, IYF, Bhagalpur). Hg Rambhadra Prabhu(Director, IYF, Bihar) delivered the concluding points. A drama on “Me & Mind” was performed by the IYF, Gaya devotees. Thereafter the students enjoyed the Mantra Rock and delicious dinner…Iskcon Gaya website was launched….Please visit www.iskcongaya.com
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Urmila devi dasi: These are very professionally done videos on recent seminars about Manah siksa. Manah siksa is the step-by-step gu…Read More…

No Whites! (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday I went out with devotees on a Food For Life program in a Zulu township near Durban here in South Africa. As we drove to the township Vrindavan Candra das, who heads up Food For Life in Durban, told me the township was one of the most notorious in the country.
“On average there are 10 murders each weekend”, he said. “The situation is so bad that the police rarely, if ever, enter the township.”
“And we’re going in there?” I asked a little surprised.
“Lord Caitanya is the deliverer of the most fallen,” he replied with a smile. “Plus I convinced 3 policemen to accompany us with AK-47’s,” he said. “They like what we do.”

As we entered the township we saw a big sign that read, “No whites!”

“Don’t worry.” Vrindavan Candra said looking over at me. “The people love us. They are the poorest of the poor and down and out. We’re feeding them prasadam, giving them Srila Prabhupada’s books and having kirtan with them. They truly appreciate.“

Then he paused and said, “But do be careful.”

“Sounds good,” I said. “I’ll take some photos to show the devotees around the world what an amazing service you guys are doing down here.”
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Radhadesh Mellows 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The vibration of Krsna’s flute is always prominent in the ears of the gopis. Naturally they cannot hear anything else. Constant remembrance of the holy sound of Krsna’s flute keeps them enlightened and enlivened, and they do not allow any other sound to enter their ears. Since their attention is fixed on Krsna’s flute, they cannot divert their minds to any other subject. In other words, a devotee who has heard the sound of Krsna’s flute forgets to talk or hear of any other subject. This vibration of Krsna’s flute is represented by the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. A serious devotee of the Lord who chants and hears this transcendental vibration becomes so accustomed to it that he cannot divert his attention to any subject matter not related to Krsna’s blissful characteristics and paraphernalia. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Madhya 21.145
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Maha Harinam Party in Wellington, New Zealand (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: When a devotee asked Srila Prabhupada how to attain perfection after Srila Prabhupada’s departure, Srila Prabhupada replied, “When you chant harinama purely, then the sun of love of Godhead will rise in your heart. You will then see everything clearly, as when the sun rises in the morning sky. You’ll see Krsna and you’ll see yourself and I will be there and will instruct you. Srila Prabhupada Vyasa-puja book 2008 p. 47.
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