Author Archives: Dandavats.com

‘What to Pray for at Govardhana’

Tamal Krishna Goswami: “This Braj is in prakad and aprakad, prakad means manifest and aprakad unmanifest. So, we cannot see the Braj without getting the eyes to see Braj, and Giriraj Govardhana has the power to bless us to be able to see. We can pray that ‘You have seen everything, you have arranged everything, all of the pastimes happened on your own slope, on your lap.’ Just like if a child is sitting on the lap, you can see very nicely that child. So Krishna and Krishna’s associates, they’re performing their activities right on the lap of Giriraj Govardhana, he has seen everything. So we ask him to bless us with the vision to be able to see in the same way.
At the same time we also want another blessing, and that is the blessing which actually preceeds…comes first. ‘Please give us the blessing to somehow be pleasing to our spiritual master,’ because without pleasing the devotee guru, how can one expect to please Krishna. So what is that service or activity which gives pleasure to guru? It is to help the guru in his service to his guru. And what is the guru’s or the guru parampara’s service? To reclaim the fallen conditioned souls. So the first prayer we can also make here is ‘Give me some compassion my dear Giriraj Govardhana, give me some determination, give me the qualities by which I can assist my spiritual master and the other devotees of the Lord in the mission of spreading Krishna conciousness. At the same time give me that purity of heart by which one day I will qualify to be able to absorb myself in constantly remembering Your transcendental pastimes.’
This is the goal of our Krishna conciousness movement, to always remember Krishna, never forgetting Krishna.”

TOVP: Our Thanks To The Canadian Yatra Devotees (Album with photos)
Jananivas, Ambarisa, Svaha and Braja Vilas prabhus, along with the entire TOVP Team would like to extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to His Holiness Bhaktimarg Swami, the Canadia…

Parikrama at Radha Kunda – Kusum Sarovara, Karttika 2016 (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Come on our parikrama of all the…Read More…

The Book Might make him a Celibate Monk…
Today I was in Sydney central I stopped this young Chinese couple saying, “We’re stopping all the good looking couples today and showing these books on meditation,” They laughed and stopped happily. The guy said, “Oh meditation? My golf teacher said that he plays good golf because he meditates daily and he highly recommends it.”
The boy was into it right away. The girl wasn’t into it but ended up she was the one who had the money so I was praying to Krishna to help. The guy asked her if she could give me a donation. She looked at me and said, “I will pay for the book if you promise me that this book will change him.” I said, “It will surely change him,’ and asked, what’s wrong with him anyways?” She said, “Oh he looks at too many girls, I want him to become loyal to me.” and she gave the donation. As I put the donation in my pocket I said, “I don’t know about the book making him loyal to you, but it might make him a celibate monk.” They both laughed and she said, “That’s even better.” And they walked away happily with Srila Prabhupada’s book “THE SCIENCE OF SELF REALIZATION”.
Your Servant
Shastra krit Das.

Lord Jagannath Shobha Yatra at Budh Vihar of North West Delhi district in Delhi by ISKCON Rohini Delhi’s devotees (6 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: If you get one thousand of rupees, ten rupees is already there. If you get Krishna, you get all perfection. Hrishikesh, May 15, 1977.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/yh5WGt

The Summer tour 2016 of the Harinama Yatra Nitai Gauranga group (20 min video)
It is unbelievable how much joy the public chanting and dancing of the devotees is generating. It is also surprising to see the degree of participation from the public, especially in these western countries known for their generally mistrusting and introvert populations. This is a compilation of the highlights of their Harinamas in different cities of the west. It won’t miss putting a smile on your face 🙂
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/nvTD3D

Badrinath in Vrindavan (5 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: It is said that all holy places in India exist in their original forms in Sri Vrindavan Dhama. The other day we visited Badrinath (Badrikasrama) a two-hour drive from Vrindavan town through the countryside. As we approached Badrinath we were surprised to see a small mountain range. Upon arriving we discussed a number of Krsna’s pastimes that took place there, as well as the glories of Gangotri, Yamunortri, Kedarnath and other sacred places that can be found in Vrindavan’s Badrinath. The beauty of the surrounding area was stunning.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/1C6HsF

Splendid Vrindavan during Kartik (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “Just work in such a way that God may see you.” This is the Krishna consciousness movement. Everyone is busy to see God. Of course, it is not so easy to see God. But a devotee is not busy to see God, but he wants God to see him. Bombay, May 12, 1974.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/QXswfJ

Prabhupada said, “Simply by circumambulating Krishna and Balarama, no more traversing up and down in the material universe.”

Harinama at Coolangatta, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia – 23 October 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “It is the nature of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra that anyone who chants it immediately develops his loving ecstasy for Krishna. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 7.83)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/nXBtqS

Dressing up for Diwali: BBC Leicester (2 min audio)
Kiran runs a saree shop in Leicester and Chaitanya is a devotee of Hare Krishna.
Please listen in to the clip from BBC Leicester as part of Radio 2’s Faith in the World Week. Caitanya Cintamani was invited to discuss the concept of dressing up for Diwali with a prominent businesswoman on Leicester’s Golden Mile.
Listen to it here: https://goo.gl/9rryhn

Gopala Campu by Jiva Goswami.
The Gopala Campu is one of the all time classic texts in the library of the Gaudiya Vaisnava. The Gopala Campu, literally “the story of Gopala,” gives descriptions of pastimes of Lord Krsna. As this format is a Campu, a mix between praises, songs, and virudavalis (free-form poetic forms without real adherence to meter of the song), there is text, and at appropriate places, a song will be sung. Within the main text, there are two campus, namely purva (Volume 1) and the uttara (Volume 2). There are nineteen songs found from the Gopala Campu. Each of these songs are found in Volume 2 or the Uttara Campu. As these songs just appear in middle of texts, the listing here will strictly be based on alphabetical order of the first words. For actual placement of the songs in the original texts, please click on the song. The official name will point out where in the text the song is found.
Read more: https://goo.gl/i88zNF

BAHULASHTAMI RADHA KUNDA 23/10/2016 (Album with photos)
APPEARANCE OF RADHA KUNDA
Nectar of Instruction, Text 9
The holy place known as Mathura is spiritually superior to Vaikuntha, the transcendental world, because the Lord appeared there. Superior to Mathura-Puri is the transcendental forest of Vrindavana because of Krishna’s rasa-lila pastimes. And superior to the forest of Vrindavana is Govardhana Hill, for it was raised by the divine hand of Sri Krishna and was the site of His various loving pastimes. And, above all, the superexcellent Sri Radha-kunda stands supreme, for it is overflooded with the ambrosial nectarean prema of the Lord of Gokula, Sri Krishna. Where, then, is that intelligent person who is unwilling to serve this divine Radha-kunda, which is situated at the foot of Govardhana Hill?
Purport
The spiritual world is three fourths of the total creation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and it is the most exalted region. The spiritual world is naturally superior to the material world; however, Mathura and the adjoining areas, although appearing in the material world, are considered superior to the spiritual world because the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself appeared at Mathura. The interior forests of Vrndavana are considered superior to Mathura because of the presence of the twelve forests (dvadasa-vana), such as Talavana, Madhuvana and Bahulavana, which are famous for the various pastimes of the Lord. Thus the interior Vrndavana forest is considered superior to Mathura, but superior to these forests is the divine Govardhana Hill because Krishna lifted Govardhana Hill like an umbrella, raising it with His lotuslike beautiful hand to protect His associates, the denizens of Vraja, from the torrential rains sent by the angry Indra, King of the demigods. It is also at Govardhana Hill that Krishna tends the cows with His cowherd friends, and there also He had His rendezvous with His most beloved Sri Radha and engaged in loving pastimes with Her. Radha-kunda, at the foot of Govardhana, is superior to all because it is there that love of Krishna overflows. Advanced devotees prefer to reside at Radha-kunda because this place is the site of many memories of the eternal loving affairs between Krishna and Radharani (rati-vilasa).
In Caitanya-caritamrta (CC Madhya) it is stated that when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu first visited the area of Vrajabhumi, He could not at first find the location of Radha-kunda. This means that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was actually searching for the exact location of Radha-kunda. Finally He found the holy spot, and there was a small pond there. He took His bath in that small pond and told His devotees that the actual Radha-kunda was situated there. Later the pond was excavated by Lord Caitanya’s devotees, headed first by the six Gosvamis, such as Rupa and Raghunatha dasa. Presently there is a large lake known as Radha-kunda there. Srila Rupa Gosvami has given much stress to Radha-kunda because of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s desire to find it. Who, then, would give up Radha-kunda and try to reside elsewhere? No person with transcendental intelligence would do so. The importance of Radha-kunda, however, cannot be realized by other Vaisnava sampradayas, nor can persons uninterested in the devotional service of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu understand the spiritual importance and divine nature of Radha-kunda. Thus Radha-kunda is mainly worshiped by the Gaudiya Vaisnavas, the followers of Lord Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
All glories to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada by whose causeless mercy we have all come to know the glories of Sri Radha-Kunda!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/sr8YnA

Govardhan Hill! (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Parikrama around Govardhan Hill is always a favorite activity during the month of Kartika for devotees of Lord Krsna. Chanting softly on our japa beads our group of 400 devotees relished every step of the 24-kilometer walk. Ananta Vrindavan dasa kindly captured our experience through the eye of his camera for the benefit of those who weren’t there.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/G4qeiM

Offering to Srinathji Prabhu by HH Radhanath Swami and HH Niranjan Swami at Iskcon Chowpatty – Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Temple (Album with photos)
Chaitanya Charan Das: Remembering Srinathji Prabhu – an intellectual, non-patronizing patron of intellectuals
My first striking encounter with Srinathji Prabhu highlighted his extraordinary attention to specifics. About a decade ago, when I was a fledgling author, I would feel encouraged whenever anyone appreciated my writings. Once after a Pune yatra, while everyone was taking prasadam and preparing to depart, I happened to meet Srinatjji Prabhu. And he spontaneously started appreciating my writings; he mentioned several articles by their titles and went into specific details of an article that had described how I came to Krishna consciousness. I was doubly astounded firstly because I was a little-known brahmachari and secondly because that story had appeared in BTG at least two years ago. And yet here he was, immediately remembering its specifics in just a chance encounter with me.
Over the years and my several encounters with Srinathji Prabhu, one image of him that has crystalized within me is that of an intellectual patron of intellectuals. He supported several of our movement’s authors, enabling them to focus on research and writing without having to worry about pecuniary considerations.
But he was not just a patron of intellectuals – he was an intellectual himself; he read widely and took intellectual responsibility for the tradition he had chosen to practice. He noticed that the version of the Hare Krishna mahamantra we chanted was different from its version chanted in the broader Hindu culture, which began with Hare Rama, not Hare Krishna. So, he embarked on an extensive research into manuscripts to support our tradition’s rendition of the mahamantra. After much searching, he finally found in a remote, little-known library the manuscript of the Kali-Santarana Upanishad that contained the mahamantra starting with Hare Krishna – and he published a book with that manuscript. His meticulous attention to detail during this manuscript research paralleled, if not superseded, that of a careful scholar.
He was a patron for not just intellectuals but also for many of our movement’s most important projects. And yet he wasn’t patronizing towards anyone – he maintained a humility that was inspiring and disarming.
His significance extends far beyond life. Over the last decade, I have been studying and contemplating ISKCON history. And I feel that Srinathji Prabhu represented the rich flowering of the bhakti tradition in modern India and particularly in ISKCON, India.
He embodied the dream success chart for most Indians. He achieved extraordinary academic success, earning degrees from both England – which was the cherished educational destination for pre-Independence Indians – and from the USA, which is the cherished educational destination for post-Independence Indians. And he went on to achieve remarkable success not just as a white collar executive but also as a business magnate, pioneering several technological innovations in India in his companies.
Through all this dazzling success, he maintained his piety and bhakti, which he had acquired from his parents, both of whom were Vaishnavas – his mother from the Vallabha sampradaya and father from the Ramanuja sampradaya.
Even after having this combination of material prosperity and religious piety, it’s telling that he found spiritual fulfillment in the teachings of bhakti as expounded by Srila Prabhupada.
During Srila Prabhupada’s manifest presence, a remarkable number of wealthy and influential Indians were attracted by his purity and potency. And several of them became important supporters of our movement. But somehow after Srila Prabhupada’s departure, they couldn’t take the step forward from being patrons to becoming practitioners.
Srinathji Prabhu was prominent among the very few who took that step forward – and he could do so primarily because he was able to see Srila Prabhupada’s enduring presence in his dedicated disciples. He treasured the personal association of Srila Prabhupada that he had got. But he also saw that Srila Prabhupada lived on through his followers; and he committed himself to serving His Divine Grace through them and with them.
For most of us, second-generation devotees in ISKCON, who have never had the personal association of Srila Prabhupada, our ability to appreciate him depends largely on our ability to see him in his dedicated followers. In this, Srinathji Prabhu set an example for all of us.
Through him, the bhakti culture flourished within its Indian motherland. And through remembering him, I pray that bhakti may flourish in my heart.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/mQsgb1

Today’s program at Sri Vrinda-kunda, Vrindavana (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra is the easiest process of meditation in this age. As soon as one chants the Hare Krishna mantra, he sees the forms of Krishna, Rama and Their energies, and that is the perfect stage of trance. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.53 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/ppYU04

Shri Radhakund on Bahulashtami NightRead More…

Radha Kunda in Navadvipa Dham.
Bahulastami or appearance day of Radha-kunda comes in the month of Kartik. In this month of Kartik the presiding deity of the month is Srimati Radhika and in the same month is also the appearance day of the lake which i…

Chapati means hot!
Sravanananda das: While in Madras we had a nice facility for Srila Prabhupada to stay at in a life members home at night. But during the day he would come to the temple.
One day I was asked if I would cook for him. I said that I ha…

Condolences: Sriman Yugatita Dasa ACBSP.
Kurma dasa: Our Australian Godbrother and disciple of Srila Prabhupada Sriman Yugatita…Read More…

Govardhan Parikram (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra is the easiest process of meditat…Read More…

Hare Krishna Festivals UK: Carmarthen Festival – 20th October 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: By chanting the Hare …Read More…

Houston’s religious diversity reflects community.
Worshippers of faiths from all corners of the world now call Houston home. A Hare Krishna temple – ISKCON Houston was built in 1969, and by the 1970s, the city’s Hindu community had begun expanding dramatically. At first, devotees met in each other’s homes; now, mandirs are sprinkled throughout suburban Houston, most notably in Pearland, Stafford and Sugar Land. The community has now swelled to more than 120,000 people, according to Vijay Pallod, a spokesman for Hindus in Houston, who immigrated here in 1980.

Uniting energies for spreading the Holy Name.
On the evening of 17th October, world renowned Bollywood playback singer, Alka Ya…Read More…

Historic Madan Mohan Temple (6 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: The Madan Mohan Temple, established by Sanatan Goswami, was the fi…Read More…

Just as there is no yuga equal to Satya-yuga, no scripture equal to the Vedas, and no place of pilgrimage equal to the Ganges, so there is no month equal to Kartika. Even unserious persons who execute devotional service according to the regulative pr…

GBC meetings in Mumbai.
The GBC Body today is meeting with the Indian ISKCON Bureau at Juhu in Mumbai.Read More…

Distributing Stacks of Srila Prabhupada’s books (Album with photos)
Jaya Chaitanya Das, from Los Angeles, continues to revolutionize the Sankirtan Mission!
Srila Prabhupada: Lord Chaitanya, although Krishna Himself, appealed to His friends and helpers to help Him in His mission and what to speak of me; I am just an ordinary human being. So I need your help. Letter to Yogesvara, June 12, 1971.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/K4YxQh

The Harinama party in South America Tour, Peru (Album with photos)
For the next one month our crew will travel across Peru, Bol…Read More…

Parikrama to Madhuvan and Talavan on 19.10.2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: First birth is from your parents, but rea…Read More…

Badrinath In Vrindavan (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: It is said that all holy places in India exist in their original forms in Sri Vrindavan Dhama! Yesterday, we visited Badrinath (Badrikasrama) a two-hour drive from Vrindavan town through the countryside. As we approached Badrinath we were surprised to see a small mountain range. Upon arriving we discussed a number of Krsna’s pastimes that took place there, as well as the glories of Gangotri, Yamunortri, Kedarnath and other sacred places that can be found in Vrindavan’s Badrinath. The beauty of the surrounding area was stunning. The local people were simply amazing. Please visit the original Badrinath next time you are in Vrindavan!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/tJBWKB

VIHE NEWSLETTER Second Issue (October-November)
We gladly present to all of you the first issue of our bi-monthly
Vrindavan Institute for Higher Education’s Newsletter.
You will find herein news, interviews, articles, interesting passages from Srila Prabhupada’s teachings and commentaries of the acharyas, class transcripts, announcements, links to recordings, photos and videos and a place for you to share your own thoughts and updates.
We hope this edition will be useful and interesting to you in many ways.
You can download it from here: https://goo.gl/e3T9m0

Sri Harinam Sankirtan Nectar: Sydney 20/10/16 (Album with photos)
Twelve devotees are sharing the names of Radha and Krishna with the people of Sydney.
This month is the very special time of Kartik and very auspicious to distribute the holy names in streets during this period. Any spiritual activity undertaken attracts hundreds of times the normal benefit to everyone involved, the chanter and the hearers.
As the night are warmer more people fill the streets and show their appreciation for the Harinam Party as they pass by.
This week we went along George street to Park Street down to the Pitt Street Mall then back to the home base near Woolies.
Radha Vinoda was on book distribution.
Please accept our invitation to join us whenever you can as every Thursday we are chanting in the streets of Sydney. See you next Thursday.
Sri Harinam Sankirtan ki jaya.
Chant
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare
And Be Happy …
Find them here: https://goo.gl/o9Igoi

Prassantama’s cooking class! (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In the Vedic conception of grihastha, householder, it is recommended that a householder shall see that even a lizard living in the room or even a snake living in that house should not starve. They should be also given food. And what to speak of others? Conversation with Prof. Kotovsky, June 22, 1971, Moscow.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/2hvHZw

Just Like That!
Ananda Vrindavanesvari: When I was 21, a close college friend of mine died. Suddenly, just like that. And I felt like someone had cut the phone line and I could never speak to her again. It was over and I was shaken to the core.
Read …

Miracles by distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books!
Vijaya das: While distributing on the mall in Moscow, Acala Dasa, the regional Sankirtan Minister for Russia, approached a woman and offered her a book. He explained some of the contents, and she enthusiastically took it. Seeing her enthusiasm he invited her to the temple, and a few weeks later she visited. By coincidence, she arrived on the day the devotees were holding a book distribution seminar. Seeing her come as a result of having received a book, Acala Dasa praised her sincerity: “Krishna says in the Bhagavad-gita, ‘Out of many thousands of people, one may inquire into the Absolute Truth.’ ” Speaking to the devotees he added, “Here we have this nice woman coming to inquire about the Absolute Truth. She is not ordinary.” The woman was touched by Acala’s kind words and stayed for the entire seminar.
A year later Acala was on a plane to India. He was seated next to a woman who, after a few moments, asked, “Do you remember me?” He looked at her and said, “No, I am sorry, I don’t.”
“You gave me a book in Moscow. I then visited your temple and you spoke some kind words about me. After reading that book and associating with devotees, I myself have become a devotee. I am on my way to the Mayapur festival.” Acala then remembered her and was pleased to know that she had become a devotee.
After the Mayapur festival this same woman was on a train to Vrindavan. There she met another Russian devotee, whose service it was to do book distribution in India. This devotee offered to teach the woman how to distribute books. Because she knew of the importance of book distribution from hearing about it on her first visit to the temple, she accepted some lessons from him. She had such a nice experience on the train distributing Prabhupada’s books that when she returned to Russia she continued to distribute them. She is now a full-time book distributor in Russia.

“Always be careful, then in due course you will feel bhava.”
Rukmini: The pujaris in Los Angeles had a beautiful and high standard of Deity worship that didn’t exist anywhere else in the society.
Read More…

ISKCON 50th anniversary celebration in Brussels (2 min video)
It took place a few weeks ago – it was originally supposed to tak…Read More…

Important for all kirtaniyas: Fake Paul & co Vs Real Paul & co (4 min video)
It’s all in the details. So many times I’ve seen people buy the harmonium because the cover says Paul and Co on it and the shop guy said it was true. There is a classic design and a logo to look for. If the price is too good to be true, walk away lol.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/hlH8Md

The Hare Krishna’s and Their Books (2 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: Krishna takes special appreciation for His devotees who are engaged in risking for His preaching work, and He will give you special care and guidance at all times because you are sincerely trying to serve Him in this way. Letter to Amogha, August 9, 1972.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/935L6A