Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Initiation ceremony (Album with photos)
Nitya Lila Devi dasi receiving Harinam diksa and Vedanta-krit das receiving brahminica…Read More…

Torrents Of Rain!
Giriraj Swami: Reading Srila Prabhupada’s Light of the Bhagavata, I was struck by text 12 and his commentary on it:
“The mountains, although being struck by torrents of rain during the rainy season, are not shaken, just as those whose hearts are dedicated to the transcendental Personality of Godhead are never disturbed, even when harassed by great misfortune.” (LOB 12)
“Because a person who is spiritually advanced accepts any adverse condition of life as the mercy of the Lord, he is completely eligible to enter into the spiritual kingdom. Even though a person takes to the devotional service of the Supreme Lord, he may sometimes become diseased, impoverished, or disappointed by life’s events. A true devotee of the Lord always considers these sufferings to be due to past sinful activities, and thus without becoming disturbed he patiently awaits the mercy of the Supreme Lord. Such devotees are compared to high mountains, which are never agitated in any way, even when struck by powerful torrents of rain in the rainy season. Rather, such devotees remain humble in spiritual enlightenment. Free from pride and envy, they easily gain the mercy of the Lord and go back home, back to Godhead.” (LOB 12 purport)
Hare Krishna.

“Translating ‘Dharma’ and the Dharma of Translation”
Krishna Kshetra Swami: Yesterday I gave a 2-hour lecture at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (Faculty of Religion) here in Beijing. My lecture title: “Translating ‘Dharma’ and the Dharma of Translation” (focusing on the Bhāgavatam). Nice, bright group of students and scholars, some of whom I met last year.

Bhagavad-gita and Lord Jesus Christ.
I was showing the Bhagavad-gita to one gentleman, he expressed his interest but said he was a Christian. He said, “If you can show me in this book where Jesus is praised I’ll take it.” I showed him 11.55 purport where Prabhupada says, “There are many examples in history of devotees of the Lord who risked their lives for the spreading of God consciousness. The favorite example is Lord Jesus Christ. He was crucified by the nondevotees, but he sacrificed his life for the spreading of God consciousness.”

Prepare!
The verb, prepare, means: to make something ready for use or consideration. Great thinkers everywhere speak enthusiastically about the power of preparation. For instance, George Clason writes: Opportunity is a haughty goddess who wastes no ti…

Initiations of new disciples in Vrindavan and Braj Parikrama 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Let us forget past incidents and let us look forward to rectify our defects. So far you are concerned, I am very much convinced of your sincere service. Go on with your work, and other instructions will follow. Simply become more concerned with increasing the spiritual content of our lives, and in this way all other problems like management will be easily solved, not that they can be solved by making some legal formula and having big big meetings and talks. The politicians have been holding such meetings and talks for some time now and the world is no better place for it, and they have only made things worse. We should not follow their example. The world is in a very precarious condition simply for lack of God-consciousness, so this should be our point of stressing, that we should revive this emphasis on God-consciousness everywhere in the world and that will be our contribution. Srila Prabhupada, Letter to: Jagadisa – Tokyo 2 May, 1972.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/ZhVvp4

BBT represented at the American Academy of Religion Conference 2016.
The American Academy of Religion (AAR) is the world’s largest association of scholars in the field of religious studies and related topics. It is a nonprofit member association, serving as a professional and learned society for scholars involved in the academic study of religion. It has some 10,000 members worldwide, with the largest concentration being in the United States and Canada. AAR members are university and college professors, independent scholars, secondary teachers, clergy, seminarians, students, and interested lay-people.

The Annual conference was held this year in San Antonio, Texas. The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust was represented by several Iskcon devotees such as HH Jayadvaita Swami, Dr. Graham M. Schweig (Garuda Das), Stuart Kadetz (Sura Das), Dr. Ravi M. Gupta (Radhika Ramana Dasa), Jaya Chaitanya Das and others.

AAR hosts an Annual Meeting each year in November. The AAR Annual Meeting is the world’s largest meeting for religious studies scholars. Over 400 events, including meetings, receptions, and academic sessions, occur on the AAR program alone; hundreds more, hosted by affiliated societies and institutions, occur over the course of the meeting. Some 10,000 people attend the AAR Annual Meeting; the location of the meeting changes each year. The AAR Annual Meeting program is developed entirely by volunteers involved in program units representing disciplines and sub-disciplines within the field.

Historic archive of photos from Iskcon Brasil (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Don’t think preaching is so easy going – eating, sleeping, and sometimes chanting “Haribol,” that’s all. [laughs] That is not preaching. We must be ready to implant Krsna consciousness ideas throughout the whole world. Just like these people, either in India or here, they remain simply Churchianity, going to the church without any understanding. Therefore it is failing. Now churches are being closed. Similarly, if you do not keep yourself fit to preach, then your temples will all be closed in due course of time. Without preaching, you’ll not feel enthused to continue the temple worship. And without temple worship, you cannot keep yourself pure and clean. The two things must go on, parallel. Then there is success. In modern time, either Hindus, Muslim or Christian, because in these places there is no teaching of philosophy, therefore they are closing, either mosque or temple or church. They will close. Therefore we are writing so many books. Unless we take care of the books and preach and read ourself, understand the philosophy, this Hare Krsna will be finished within few years. Because there will be no life. How long one can artificially go on, “Hare Krsna! Haribol!” That will be artificial. No life. ———————————— From Srila Prabhupada’s Morning Walk – December 12, 1973, Los Angeles
Find them here: https://goo.gl/jz3jLd

Hare Krishna Festivals UK: Hemel Hempstead Festival – 18th Nov 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The chanting process is that you chant with your tongue Hare Krsna and hear. That’s all. Then you are saved. Hare Krsna must be chanted by the use of tongue, and you hear it, that’s all. Where is the difficulty? Everything may come, but this is the process. This is the process. Chant Hare Krsna and become happy. Nothing is difficult in Krsna consciousness movement. One has to execute it very seriously and sincerely. Then it will come. Nothing is difficult, not at all. harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha Chant Hare Krsna and hear, and everything will come. Krsna’s… By chanting purely, without any offense this Hare Krsna mantra, then you will understand Krsna’s form, Krsna’s qualities, Krsna’s pastimes, Krsna’s entourage -everything. ———————————— From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Bhagavad-gita 4.4 – February 12, 1974, Vrndavana
Find them here: https://goo.gl/krJPPX

Huge Ratha Yatra Festival in Buenos Aires, Argentina (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Simply our prayer should be, “My dear Krishna, please remind me to always chant Your holy name, please do not put me into forgetfulness. You are sitting within me as the Supersoul, so You can put me into forgetfulness or into remembering You. So please do not put me into forgetfulness. Please always remind me to chant, even You send me to hell, it doesn’t matter, just so long as I can always chant Hare Krishna.” [Srila Prabhupada; letter to Devananda, Los Angeles, 23 November, 1968]
Find them here: https://goo.gl/73jCtd

In a parking lot in Budapest…
I approached a middle-aged lady. She was favorable, and I offered her the Krishna book, but she didn’t want to accept it. She started to explain why.
“You know, when I was seventeen, I read the Bhagavad Gita, and while reading it, I was constantly crying, because it was what I was always looking for. I directly felt Krishna’s presence.
“When I was a little girl, I always felt that this world is not my home. I told my parents many times: ‘You are not my parents. I want to go home!’
The last fifteen years I have lived a mundane life with my husband and children, but I have always desired Krishna’s association. I meditate every day, and I read the Gita, but I feel that in this world everything is gray and empty, and I desire to go to Krishna’s home to be with Him. He is like my secret lover.”
Finally she bought the Krishna book and said that at first she didn’t want to, because if she would read more about Krishna, then she would cry a lot again. She actually cried several times during our conversation.
She also said that she regularly visits people in the hospital who have cancer and preaches to them, because the last part of human life is the most important.
And she told me that it’s very difficult for her to try to become Krishna conscious alone, so she was happy that I invited her to the temple and to join our community.
She came to the temple for the Sunday program with her husband, and they liked it very much.
Your servant,
Mohana Dasa

Vaishnava wedding in Mayapur.
The wedding of 2nd gen Sahki Caran and 3rd gen Madhavi Lata in Mayapur 20/11/16.Read More…

Krishna-kshetra Swami: I am happy to report that Prof. Ravi M. Gupta, Radhika Ramana Prabhu, my longtime colleague who teaches at Utah State University, has received the annual DANAM Best Book 2016 for his edited volume, Caitanya Vaisnava Philosophy: Tradition, Reason, and Devotion (Ashgate, 2014). (DANAM = Dharma Association of North America, a practitioner-friendly academic initiative with an annual conference linked to the annual American Academy of Religion meeting). Ravi’s book contains five essays (including an introductory essay by yours truly) and five short translations (more details at amazon’s ‘look inside’: https://goo.gl/BP2mGE).

What subjects have I subjected myself to today?
The word, subject, is both a noun and a verb.

When used as a noun, subject, means a person or thing that is being discussed. For example, “The teacher brought up the subject of Lord Krishna tending the cows.”

14th Annual Vrinda Kunda Festival.
This coming February will be the auspicious 14th Anniversary of Vrinda Kunda Temple opening! To celebrate we are organizing special parikramas to the Holy Places of Braja. The Festival will culminate with our famous…

Members of the Rotary club help Iskcon Food for Life Nepal (Album with photos)
(Rotary International is an international servic…Read More…

Bhajans in the Balboa Park, San Diego – Nov. 19, 2016 (Album with photos)
Yesterday, Syamali and I had the great privilege to take part in ISKCON San Diego’s weekly “Bhajans in the Park”, at Balboa Park. Srila Prabhupada spoke and walked this 100+ year old park several times, and this chanting endeavor has been going on since the early days of our San Diego yatra.
Harinam Sankirtan Yajna KI JAYA!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/CDm09q

Srila Prabhupada On The Srimad-Bhagavatam As The Natural Commentary On Vedanta-sutra

From Teachings of Lord Kapila, Chapter 4: ‘Srimad-Bhagavatam is a commentary on Vedanta-sutra. Vedanta-sutra explains that the Supreme is the source of everything, and the nature of that source is explained in Srimad-Bhagavatam (1.1.1): janmady asya yato ‘nvayad itaratas carthesv abhijnah svarat. That source is abhijna, cognizant. Matter is not cognizant; therefore the theory of modern science that life comes from matter is incorrect. The identity from whom everything emanates is abhijna, cognizant, which means He can understand. The Bhagavatam (1.1.1) also states, tene brahma hrdaya adi-kavaye: Krsna instructed Lord Brahma in Vedic knowledge. Unless the ultimate source is a living entity, how can He impart knowledge? Srimad-Bhagavatam was compiled by Vyasadeva, who also compiled the Vedanta-sutra. Generally the Mayavadis emphasize the commentary made on the Vedanta-sutra by Sankaracarya, the Sariraka-bhasya, but that is not the original commentary on Vedanta-sutra. The original commentary is given by the author himself, Vyasadeva, in the form of Srimad-Bhagavatam. To understand the actual meaning of the Vedanta-sutra, we must refer to the commentary made by the author himself. As stated by Sri Krsna Himself in Bhagavad-gita (13.5):

A letter of appreciation from a satisfied receiver of Srila Prabhupada’s books.
Jiva Doya das is a book distributor from the Bhaktivedanta Manor. He travels around England with three other devotees.
Dear Jiva,
thank you very much for contacting me. It was nice to speak to you in town when I saw you. I had had a rather uninspiring day and it was eye opening to talk to someone who seems to have a real passion for what they believe in. At the moment I am at a point in my life where I am happily floating on a cloud of contentment for who I am and what I believe in, which at present is unknown even to myself.
I have the greatest respect for people like yourself who have kept the lifestyles of those before you in an unbroken chain of philosophy and spiritualism. I believe that if I hadn’t already been captured in the cycle of what is my turbulent near adult life I would have liked to have done something similar to yourself.
Thank you for stopping me in the street and being so warm and friendly, you have opened my eyes to the world that is around me and the amazing people such as His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (see I have read the books you gave me!) who have inspired millions upon millions of people.
I must repeat my thank you again as your email has been like a ray of sunshine to what has been a rather boring life and I am grateful to you for that, as it is not an easy job restoring my faith.
I hope you are well and enjoying life
all my best wishes
Helen

Chanting on the biggest ever japa beads? (Album with photos)
Bhakti Caitanya Swami: This morning we visited the peaceful and be…Read More…

Rectify! The word, rectify, means, “to put something right.”
Devotee: “I asked Prabhupada the other day: ‘Because Bhaktivinoda Thakura says, ‘Forget the past that sleeps, and of the future never dream at all. Live in times that are with thee, and progress thee shall call’; does this mean that it’s possible to forget the past?
“Srila Prabhupada answered, ‘No, that would not be possible, but we can think like this: ‘I have done so many foolish things,’ and then rectify them. Not that we should remain fools. Then what would be the value of our experience?”
“Isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?”
– L.M. Montgomery
“If you make a mistake and do not correct it, this is called a mistake.”
– Confucius
“Was it you or I who stumbled first? It does not matter. The one of us who finds the strength to get up first, must help the other.”
–Vera Nazarian
“One should not be discouraged in the discharge of devotional service. Failures may not be detrimental; they may be the pillars of success.”
–A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada (Light of the Bhagavata 43)
Om Tat Sat

Vaisesika Dasa

Radharani’s Appearance Place (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Five thousand years ago, Srimati Radharani appeared in a small village in greater Vrindavan called Raval. To this very day, it retains it’s simplicity and charm. During the month of Kartika our parikrama group visited Raval and recounted many pastimes of Srimati Radharani. Kartika is over now and I am missing those days
Find them here: https://goo.gl/SYtp6A

ISKCON Auckland NZ: Rathyatra 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: You cannot survive without my mercy and I cannot surv…Read More…

New Orleans RathYatra (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: I am very much pleased that you have opened a very nice center in Madison, Wisconsin. Thank you very much. Now develop it very nicely, and especially make certain that the daily routine program is held nicely and to the regular highest ISKCON standard, that is, you should see that our rising early, holding mangala arati, chanting 16 rounds, reading books, having classes, street sankirtana, etc., go on just to the highest standard and are never for any reason neglected. In this way your success is assured, but if we neglect even for a moment our routine, work, if we allow the regular program to become slack then everything else we may try will fail. (From Srila Prabhupada’s letter to Rudra, Radhika – Calcutta 20 February 1972)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/MwqfR3

Srimad-Bhagavatam Canto 3: Chapter Twenty-nine, Text 34 TRANSLATION: Such a perfect devotee offers respects to every living entity because he is under the firm conviction that the Supreme Personality of Godhead has en…

TOVP: Winter Adventures In Moscow (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Prabhu, the TOVP Managing Director, safely arrived in Moscow, Russia and the trip has been a great success!
He has gone to visit the Production Company where all of the TOVP’s Kalashes and Charkras are being manufactured. He will also preach about the magnificence of the TOVP to the Russian devotees.
Despite the extremity of the temperature being a chilling 1 degree Celsius /33 degree Farenheit, Sadbhuja Prabhu is fully satisfied with his visit to the manufacturer’s workshop. The results of the work that has been produced in the factory are excellent. The manufactures are making the 3 Chakras, the 3 Dome Kalashes, and all 8 of the Chatri Kalashes for the TOVP.
The first container of finished products will be dispatched from Moscow in the middle of December and sent to Mayapur.
The assemblage of the products will begin in February when the container arrives in Mayapur. Once assembled nicely, the pieces will then be installed on the top of TOVP to crown our temple with the effulgence of victory and triumph.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/KEJXo6

The “Real Thing”
I was distributing door to door: I rang the bell, and a middle-aged woman opened the door. When she saw me she opened her mouth and eyes wide.
Slightly laughing, I said, “I’m a missionary, do not worry”.
In the meantime her husband came, saw the situation and invited me to enter the apartment.
After few moments the woman “woke up” and told me,“ Please excuse me if I did not let you in immediately but I was very shocked to see you here, it is the first time…. you are a Hare Krishna right?”
“Yes it is, and yes I am” I answered back.
She continued,“ I am simply in love with Srila Prabhupada and His more than wonderful books.”
Then I asked which books she had and she showed me six books of S.P that she bought in a used books store. I presented to her the Caitanya Cairitamrta set and other introductory books that she immediately accepted.
I felt very encouraged after this because I saw the potency of the SKT movement and in particular of S.P. books. I used to say sometimes to the people I meet: “I know you do not read but take this book anyway because these are the only books with legs….” The only contact she had with Krishna Consciousness was Srila Prabhupada books. Actually, “They” are doing sankirtana we may be or not be there but S.P’s Books are there, and they’re the “Real Thing”.
Your Servant,
Anakadundubhi Das

Conference for the 50 years of ISCKON at the Facultat de Geografía i Història de la Universitat de Barcelona, Spain (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The whole world is running on a false theory that life is born out of matter. But that is not a fact. So how to defeat this theory? That is our business. We have to defeat this rascal theory. We have to challenge all these rascals and defeat them. How it is possible? By logic, by science. Anyway, that we have to make program. Because this is most misleading. The whole human society is affected by this misleading theory. We have to make program, go from place to place and invite all big men, all scientists. That program we have to make. We cannot allow this nonsense theory to go on. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Morning Walk – May 3, 1973, Los Angeles
Find them here: https://goo.gl/udYXXz

Where are you now, old friend?
To Tribhuvanatha Prabhu (1952 – 2001)
By Padmapani das.

Where are you now, old friend?
Where are you now?

Have you gone ahead to lead another sankirtana party
for Srila Prabhupada in a far distant land?
Are you…

A special birthday poem, for Guru das

An intricate mosaic is Guru das ji
Experiences life footloose and fancy free
But a closer look reveals a tender heart
Moved by compassion, caring as an art.

You have known the highs and lows of human life
…

Harinam Sankirtan in Santiago de Chile (Album with photos)
This hari-nāma-saṅkīrtana, that is not any vibration of this material world. That is spiritual. If you want to get out of this viṣānala, the blazing fire of poison o…

Mansarovar in Braja (Album with photos)
Once in while you come across a hidden place of such stunning beauty that you wonder how it has remained `undiscovered’ for so long…

Index of Names in Bhagavad-gita
This index lists, explains and provides verse locations for 237 names occurring in the texts a…Read More…

Transcending the Times.
Does transcendence mean we ignore current events? Does it mean ‘we are spiritual’ and ‘that is material’ and we don’t get involved? Does being detached mean we don’t care?
Yes and no.

MotelGita Report, Nov 17, 2016

MotelGita has distributed ten thousands of Bhagavad Gita’s in hundreds of motels and hotels across the United States of America in the last couple of months.
With the help of a call center, MotelGita is making sure that all the hotel/motel owners get new or replacement books in a timely manner so that Srila Prabhupada’s books are in the rooms.

Nandagram Karttika 2016 (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Our visit to Nandagram begins with Uddhava Kyari, the place where Sri Uddhavaji delivered Krishna’s message to the gopis. This the place of Srimati Radharani’s conversation with the bumble bee! Next we visited Pavana Sarovara and the Bhajan Kutir of Srila Sanatana Goswami. After taking darshan in Nanda Bhavan, we concluded at my lovely Vrinda Kunda! Relish these photos of Vittalrukmini Das!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/TCIg2S

A Damsel of Vraj, Nadia Weds the Gentle Cowherd, Krishna premi (Album with photos)
In the milk soaked land of Vraj, where honey drips from the trees, the beautiful damsel Nadia married the gentle cowherd man, Krishna premi of 24 hour kirtan at KiKi Nagala amongst the well love cows of “Care for Cows”!

ISKCON Auckland NZ: Friday night Harinam! (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: You are asking what should your preaching work be now that you are attending the university. So the first preaching work is that yourself should become an ideal devotee. Lord Caitanya said that one should first make himself perfect and then attempt to instruct others. There is no point in telling another man to stop smoking if you yourself are smoking cigarettes. Even though you are mixing with all kinds of the student class at the university, you must strictly refrain from the four prohibitive sinful activities, and as an initiated student you must not let a day pass when you do not chant at least 16 rounds of Hare Krsna Mantra. If you can follow just these things nicely that in itself will be strong preaching by behavior. You should also always wear Kunti beads around the neck and wear the marking of tilak. People will inquire from you and you can tell them about Krsna Consciousness and sell them books also. You should also try to associate with the devotees in England and Scotland. If possible, visit the temple on Sundays and whenever you can, and always read my books. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Niranjana — Hyderabad 23 April, 1974
Find them here: https://goo.gl/G3hGds

Cooperation is Higher Than Integrity.
Mahatma das: Today I heard a wonderful story. A devotee wrote Srila Prabhupada because his disagreed with the tactics devotees were using to raise donations, tactics supported by the Temple President. He expressed…

Transformation: Second birth in Russia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Continue chanting and associating with devotees and your spiritual growth will be assured. In this way, be happy, that is my blessing. I want to see the whole world happy in this way – that is my only ambition. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Letter to: Tracy and Rita, 15 February, 1977
Find them here: https://goo.gl/8Ncwsk