Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Sankirtan in London.
KavicandraSwami: I recentely spent a few blissful days at SRI SRI Radha London Isvara Mandira.
They were just starting a KRSNA BALARAM marathon. Many devotees, about half of them Bhaktas and Bhaktins, were going out with great enthusiasm and distributing many books while charming the people on Oxford street and other parts of London.
Bhakta Simon was leading in distribution when I left for Africa. Some of the Bhaktas had never distributed before but were telling me that they would probably continue after the marathon.
They even let me go with them a bit. It was interesting that I met one boy from Germany who had seen devotees in Japan (where I serve as GBC). He happily took a Srimad Bhagavatam. It is a small world and we never know were the results of our preaching will fructify.
It is nice to see that so many people in London are very appreciative of the “Hare Krsna”.
Letter to: Jagadisa Hyderabad 18 November, 1972
“The thing is, our main business is to distribute books, either here or there it doesn’t matter. So if there is transcendental competition for increasing sale of books, that is good. If he buys one book his life may be turned, that is best preaching work.”
letter to: Hrdayananda Maharaja Hyderabad, November 23, 1972
“And distribute books, as many as you can and I think you can distribute many millions of books alone, that Krishna will help you do.”
letter to: Rupanuga Sydney, Feb 14 1973
“If someone has desired to distribute books all day he may do this, but he must always follow the principles of rising early, chanting 16 rounds, etc. Just as some rich men have no inclination for studying, but still he opens many schools for others to study at. Like this, all of my students may not be inclined to study but they are very much eager to give others the opportunity to read my books and this should not be discouraged. All programs must go on but it is a fact that this book distribution program is very very important.”
letter to: Balavanta Vrndavana, Oct 4, 1976
“The main thing is to distribute books more and more. That remark by the man in Houston is to your credit, that this movement is becoming an epidemic. Actually, everywhere envious people are against this movement, especially communists, because this movement is a threat to them. The main thing is to distribute books the communist idea is spread practically all over the world on account of distributing huge amounts of literature, but they have no substance. Introduce Rathayatra very nicely and distribute books.”
In the photo: Book distribution in Bali.

Lalita Sakhi’s Village (7 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Lalita Sakhi is one of Srimati Radharani’s 8 principle girlfriends. Her home in Unchagaon is close to Radharani’s residence in Varsana. Our parikrama party visited Unchagaon on the 1st day of Kartika and enjoyed many wonderful hours of Krsna katha, kirtan and association with the villagers who live in that sacred abode.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/yQh17E

Iskcon’s growth (Yesterday’s audio lecture in Iskcon of DC, Washington)
Anuttama das: The other day I was downtown and meeting with the US ambassador and International Religious freedom representative and it was about 15 people there from different religious traditions talking about what’s going on in Russia and they asked me to speak because they know the Hare Krishna devotees were the first ones to get arrested under this new law and people that are in the know are very much concerned, very frightened about these new laws in Russia that rolling back what was for a while very reasonably liberal laws about religious communities, and they are overturning those only going back to like communist era. So they want us there because they know we are Cutting Edge on religious freedom issues. They want to know what’s happening to us what is our experience.

A beautiful video is coming, hopefully will be released during Srila Prabhupada’s disappearance day. It talks about Eco communities and focuses on Hungary and this community of Iskcon in Brazil.
The video mentions about our farm in Hungary being the largest conscious living Green community in all of Europe and people come there to study in to see what we’re doing.

To listen to the whole audio lecture: https://soundcloud.com/iskconofdc/sb-1181-anuttama-dasa

Receiving God’s blessings on the street.
Hare Krishna devotees have their day filled with bliss when they join the procession at the annual Chariot Festival (Ratha Yathra). The main purpose behind this initiative is to take the murts of three deities, Lord Jagannath, Baladev and Subadhra, to the devotees who are unable to visit the temple regularly. By the time this article is read by Nation readers, the chariot, carrying images of deities, would have been pulled along the streets of Colombo and made participants experience a spiritual bliss.

Days before the festival (Scheduled for October 15), the priest of Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple in Kotahena, Maha Kartha Das, said in an interview with this scribe that events like this also help create awareness about Krishna Consciousness. “However, we are careful about the rate at which our religious movement grows. Spreading of a religion must be done in a careful and systematic manner. We don’t want religion to spread arbitrarily,” explained Kartha Das.

As in the past, temple authorities expect about 1000 devotees to return to the temple once the chariot completes its scheduled course in Colombo. The procession generally begins at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple with devotees walking the streets singing songs in praise of the Lord. “When you hear the chanting you are cleansed within and obtain the Lord’s blessings,” said Kartha Das.

The chariot festival has a long history and is celebrated in over 100 cities around the world. This tradition of taking the chariot, along with statues of deities, on the streets originated in Puri, Odisha back in 1968. That was the time when the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) fast gained in popularity. The religious movement experienced a rapid growth globally, thanks to the presence and efforts of its founder A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Kartha Das acknowledged that people are at present driven more towards material possessions, rather than spirituality. He said that those interested in Krishna Consciousness can follow a devotee, take part in rituals or listen to lectures on the Baghavad Gita. He added that spiritual progress can be slow, but what really matters is whether the effort put in by a practitioner is sincere.

This priest is making a sincere effort to complete a temple project (in Kotahena) he initiated many years ago. There is more work needed to complete the first phase of this project. “When the temple is complete, it will help build a larger congregation,” Kartha Das said.

He said that he wishes to conduct a course titled ‘Gita Life’ which will be aimed at catering to the spiritual needs of the busy people engaged in the corporate world. The six-day course makes it compulsory for participants to attend all sessions. The course will be conducted by Bhakti Vinoda Swami. Participants will be charged a course fee and given a copy of the Baghavad Gita free.

Events like the chariot festival help spread the message that seeking spirituality must be done under the guidance of an experienced devotee or an authorized guru. When the chariot passes on the streets, it gives that little mental nudge to the materialistic person that he is missing something in life. Sometimes that nudge sparks off a search for the truths in life.

The traditional chariot festival concludes at the temple. Here, devotees are served food (prasadam). There is something special in going this full round on the streets and winding up at the temple. If you are a serious devotee, it would feel ‘just like coming home’.
(Pics by Ravi Nagahawatte)
Source: https://goo.gl/mdUfu4

Bhaktivedanta Mission School (Album with photos)
Kavicandra Swami: This school is attached to SRI SRI Radha Rasa Bihari Mandir, Juhu, Mumbai.. The pictures are from their ISKCON 50th anniversary festival.. All the displays were made by the students and they stand by to enthusiastically describe things in detail..
This is a great credit to the teachers. The covered every detail of Srila Prabhupada’s life and his accomplishments. They are themselves proof of the potency of the society that Srila Prabhupada has established. Many of the students and teachers are children of devotee parents..
The school has five floors and each was dedicated to a different phase of Srila Prabhupada’s life.
The school day starts with Hare Krsna kirtan in the large temple of Lord Jaganatha, Subhadra and Baladeva.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/4gwTRu

Today’s Rathayatra in Mathura by Iskcon devotees (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: One is understood to be an eternal servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead if he considers himself a servant of the holy name and in this spirit distributes the holy name to the world. (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.16 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/p61k4k

Kartik 2016 celebrations at Bhaktivedanta Manor (Album with HR photos and slide show with musical background)
Srila Prabhupada: To the sincere devotee, this ocean of maya is easily crossed by the cool breeze of Krishna’s Grace. This is our business, to submit to Krishna’s desire to have us back with Him in the eternal sky of Krishna Loka. Letter to Syamasundara, November 24, 1968.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/e8RaHf

ISKCON Hungary Organizes Interfaith FFL on UN World Food Day.
With its organic farm Krishna-valley, ISKCON Hungary has been one of the most well-known champions of sustainability in Europe. To respond to the appeal of the UN FAO about the balanced distribution of food, on Sunday, October 16th, ISKCON Hungary organized a major free food distribution event to the needy in Budapest.
On October 16th the United Nations and the world celebrate World Food Day. In their communications the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) emphasizes: “Climate is changing. Food and agriculture must too.” And they urge everyone: “Let’s adapt agriculture to climate change to build the Zero Hunger Generation.”
According to Vladimir Rakhmanin, the European regional director of FAO, “while we have enough food to feed the entire human population, there are still millions out there starving. The problem is, he says, is not the quantity of the food we produce, it is the unbalance in distribution.”
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/iJ2waL

Lalita Sakhi’s Village (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday on the 1st day of Kartika, our parikrama group visited Unchagaon, the home of Lalita Sakhi. We discussed her glories, had kirtan and walked around the Vrindavan countryside. We also took darshan of the samadhi of Narayana Bhatta Goswami, a great devotee of the Lord accredited with finding many of the holy places of Krsna’s pastimes in Vrindavan.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/9brupT

Srila Prabhupada’s kind and affectionate dealings.
Yashomatinandana das: Sometimes Prabhupada was very tolerant of his devotees.
After he read some letters from New York about Bali Mardan and his wife, Prabhupada said,
“The whole problem is sex life. Yan maithunadi-grhamedhi-sukham hi tuccham. Tuccham means insignificant. One may think that sex is the greatest platform of happiness, but actually that happiness is insignificant. In fact, sex life is a source of distress. We have so many problems because of sex life.”
Although the situation in the New York temple was a big problem, Prabhupada spoke in this way for five minutes and then dropped it.
He reduced every problem to a philosophical understanding because he saw everything from a philosophical viewpoint.
I saw that in his every action Prabhupada never thought of himself as the doer but fully dependent on Krishna.
He would pursue a certain line and leave success or failure up to Krishna.
Some devotees wanted to go from Juhu to Bombay by taxi, and being a miserly man, I agitated them by saying, “Why should you go by taxi?”
I told Prabhupada, “When I tell the devotees that it’s too expensive to go to Bombay by taxi, they get agitated.”
Prabhupada said, “Just consider that before becoming devotees they were eating flesh and blood like tigers. Now they are chanting Hare Krishna, they are dancing and they are enjoying spiritually. Haven’t they accomplished something great? So if they want some extra money, give it to them. Don’t worry about their faults.”
Then in a lecture the next day he said, “Money is very hard to earn. Money is like Krishna’s blood and we should not waste it. Every rupee should be considered as a brick in the temple.”
So to me he said, “You tolerate,” while to them he said “Don’t waste money.”
In other words, he helped me increase my tolerance in the service of Krishna, and he helped them increase their frugality in the service of the Lord.
He approached the difficulty from different angles and instead of feeling discouraged, everyone saw a way to increase the quality of their service.
This was a key principle in Prabhupada’s dealings with every devotee, and that’s why he was able to produce so many managers.
In spite of our many mistakes, the movement grew because of Prabhupada’s kind and affectionate dealings.
The last verses of the Nectar of Instruction say, vaikunthaj janito vara madhu-puri tatrapi rasotsavad,
“Greater than Vaikuntha is Mathura mandala, and greater than that is Vrindavan where the rasa dance takes place. And greater than Vrindavan is Govardhan. And in Govardhan, Radha-kunda is the best place. Where is a knowledgeable person who will not serve the holy place called Radha-kunda?”
When that book came out, Prabhupada’s secretaries complained that devotees wanted to give up distributing books to stay in Radha-kunda.
Prabhupada said, “Just see the rascals. They have not followed the first verse of Upadesamrta and they are jumping to the eleventh verse.”
The first verse is vaco vegam manasah krodha-vegam jihva-vegam udaropastha-vegam,
“One who controls the pushes of the senses is fit to be guru and make disciples everywhere.”
Sarvam apimam prthivim sa sisyat. Prabhupada said,
“Let them control their senses first, then they can think of Radha-kunda. Their mentality is called markata-vairagya, the renunciation of the monkeys. Monkeys also live in the forests, eating only fruits and leaves, but they are thinking, ‘Where is the she-monkey?’ The desire to give up one’s service and go to Radha-kunda is simply monkey business.”
—Jashomatinandana
.Excerpt from “Memories-Anecdotes of a Modern-Day Saint”
by Siddhanta das

A monk who bought a Ferrari! (3 min video)
By Gaur Gopal Das. A personal coach, monk, lifestyle & motivational strategist, sharing deeper spiritual insights with the world.
Srila Prabhupada:
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/HMeinu

Hare Krishna Times (4 min video)
Wellcome to the Hare Krishna TV! And news for today is…
The team from the Iskcondesiretree website is producing videos with the latest news from the Iskcon world.
To watch today’s news: https://goo.gl/adzVTo

First day of the GBC meetings in Mumbai. Wonderful gathering of amazing sadhus. Jaya Srila Prabhupada!Read More…

Memories of Tribhuvanatha Prabhu (6 min video)
Today marks 15 years since His Grace Tribhuvanatha Prabhu left his body.
A …Read More…

Parikrama in Javat and Ter Kadamba 15.10.2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: When loud chanting of the Hare Krishna mant…Read More…

Good morning Vrindavan! (Album with photos)
How did lovely Vrindavan look this morning, the first day of Kartika?
Srila Pr…Read More…

The well known Shetty family gets blessings (Album with photos)
On the evening of Saturday, October 15th, HH Jayapataka Swami w…Read More…

The Midterm Meetings of the ISKCON GBC Society are taking place at ISKCON Juhu, Mumbai, India.
They will last from October 15-…Read More…

Today’s initiations ceremony in Villa Vrindavana, Italy (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: By following the principles of devotional service strictly, chanting twenty-four hours a day the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one makes positive progress in spiritual life and ultimately becomes completely fit to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.21.42 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/WCAIWE

Lively preaching program in a school (2 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: Instead of actively taking part in politics, saintly perso…Read More…

Kartika time! (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The auspicious month of Kartika here in Vrindavan is just around the corne…Read More…

Planting marks Hare Krishna milestone (2 min video)
Fifty years of the Hare Krishna movement is being celebrated in Dunedin, Ne…Read More…

D.C.’s Historic Chant 4 Change!
Political pundits last weekend were calling the second presidential debate “the darkest and nastiest in modern history,” full of scandals, personal attacks and insults. And the ongoing drama may be what’s taking over the news lately.
But not everyone, even in Washington, is being dragged down by it. On Saturday October 8th, thousands of people from different faiths and backgrounds gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for a “Chant 4 Change,” trying to bring some light into the darkness.
Throughout the ten-and-a-half-hour event, they chanted God’s names together in each other’s traditions. They sang songs of peace, unity and love. They sang to change the consciousness that has caused so much violence, racism, corrupt leadership, environmental destruction and economic collapse recently.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/ZzZruL

There’s still hope in society!
Vijaya das: While distributing books at Cal State Northridge University, I met a couple of students at my table who were asking about the books on display. They were both enthusiastic to take a Gita. After explaining the tenets of the Gita, I asked for a donation.
One of them enthusiastically gave a donation, but the other said, “I don’t have anything to give.”
The person who did give a donation said, “No problem. I’ll get it for you.”
He then gave another donation. I asked the one that had no donation whether she knew this person.
She said, “No, I’ve never seen him before.”
I said, “Well, that goes to show you that there’s still hope in society. Here’s a person you don’t know, and he’s going out of his way to help you.”
She was as surprised as I was and profusely thanked the young man.
The very next day at UCLA the same thing happened. I was talking to a young man about the Gita and showing him the pictures when another young man showed up and listened in. When I asked for a donation, the one that came while I was talking to the first person enthusiastically gave a donation, and the first person said he had nothing to give.
The second person, who turned out to be named Ryan, said, “It’s OK. I’ll get it for you. I like to do spontaneous acts of kindness.”
The young man receiving the kindness couldn’t believe it and thanked Ryan for his kindness.
What I find with these two incidents is that book distribution brings out good qualities in the book distributors and in the people we distribute books to. One thing I suggest that devotees do: When someone doesn’t have money for a book, give them a piece of paper with vedabase.com on it. All of Srila Prabhupada’s books are on this website. Had these two persons not received a book I would have given them this paper so that they could still read the books. Most students don’t have money, but they always get this paper from me and many of them go to the site and later thank me for directing them to it.
Your servant,
Vijaya Dasa

Three Life Lessons from Our Founder.
50 years ago, at this time of the year, a 69 year old sadhu (saintly person) was on a cargo ship traveling from Kolkata to New York. He was alone on this journey and his journals at that time are a moving read. Within a year he would officially establish the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in a store front in the Lower East side of New York. Today ISKCON is flourishing throughout the world all because of the journey of this one man – our Founder-Acharya A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

We can list hundreds of things that we have learned from Srila Prabhupada but here I will share just three:

1. It’s Never too Late to Start

At 69, Prabhupada set out on this long and arduous journey. It was the request of his spiritual teacher to bring the teachings of Krishna to the West. This request had been given when he was a much younger man; the time wasn’t ripe then.

Sometimes we may feel we have missed our chance, or it’s too late to begin, or we are afraid to fail. Prabhupada didn’t let his age, or similar misgivings or circumstances stop him. Neither should we – especially when it comes to important and meaningful spiritual actions and activities.

2. Early Morning Treasure

Every day, no matter where he was in the world, Prabhupada would rise very early in the morning (from 1.30am onwards) to write his translations and commentaries of sacred Sanskrit literature belonging to the Bhakti tradition. He planned his day so those hours were protected and available for him. It was there he produced his masterpieces – his books that can bring the greatest spiritual insights to anyone who reads them. The early morning hours are available to all of us. It’s the open secret of spiritual advancement.

3. Individuality

The essence of the Bhakti practice is developing our personal relationship with Krishna. Prabhupada again and again stressed the individual and personal nature of God and our unique and personal relationship with Him. This is perhaps his greatest gift to us and our greatest lesson – we belong to Krishna, are eternally related with Him, and thus we are never alone. Despite whatever desperate circumstances we may find ourselves in, we are never, ever, alone.

Ananda Vrindavanesvari Devi Dasi

The Kartik Project.
Sacinandana Swami: Throughout the year Krishna’s devotees pursue various projects: their devotional practices (sadhana), their various services (seva), work projects, various family projects, building projects, private projects, etc. Once a year comes a time when another project arises: the Karttik project, which offers a rare chance to come close to the Lord. Srila Prabhupada told his disciples that even ‘unserious persons’ who execute devotional service during this month of Karttik are easily awarded the Lord’s personal service (1)
What is the Karttik project?
It is a 30-day vow taken during the month of Karttik. (This year according to our sun calendar Karttik begins on 16 October and ends on 14 November.) During this time the Lord’s internal potency, who is the presiding deity of this month and who is therefore known as Karttika Devi, is pleased by serving the Lord of Her heart – Damodara Krishna. It is stated in the scriptures that during Karttik all the holy places of pilgrimage with their rivers and lakes also come to Vraja. It is certainly a very special time of the year…
In this world we know of special times of the year that bring certain gifts: the summer gives us warmth, the beginning of autumn many fruits, late winter gives us snow and early spring brings flowers, etc. According to the 16th chapter of Hari-bhakti-vilasa, Karttik gives us inexhaustible benefits. There are many descriptions how even little amounts of devotional service are regarded by the Lord as very special – because they are done during this month of His beloved Radharani.
For this special month the devotees take to various devotional practices, which bring them more in contact with Srimati Radharani and Krishna. Traditionally these vows are executed on the sacred land of Vrindavana, but are certainly not limited to Vraja. If you cannot be in Vrindavana physically during this time make sure your heart is there – by remembering the pastime places or looking at the many beautiful pictures of Vraja taken by the devotees on their many pilgrimages.
What can you do to observe the Karttik vrata?
The first point is that a personal vow should be something we do regularly and unfailingly each day of the month. Srila Prabhupada encouraged the devotees in all temples around the world to execute the Damodara vrata by offering a light to the Lord each morning or evening (or both).
Let me give you some suggestions based on what I do personally:
1) Rise early and offer a little aratik. You can choose how many items you wish to offer but certainly there should be at least a ghee lamp offered to Lord Damodara (by placing a picture or deity of the Lord on your altar)
2) Chant extra rounds – or you can at least make sure that you increase the quality of rounds
3) Increase your reading of Vaisnava scriptures – especially Srimad Bhagavatam
4) Recite various prayers, like the Saranagati Prayers
5) Worship Tulasi devi
6) An absolute must – recite the Sri Damodarastakam
These are minimal requirements, but of course you can add any devotional practice that brings you closer to the Lord. The main point is that it is done daily as a loving offering.
Additionally, it is recommended to observe some austerities with regards to eating. There is an absolute restriction on the consumption of urad dal. I always like to desist from all kinds of sweets, but this is optional.
Please know the main point is to increase positive devotional practices.
You can expect that your resolve will be tested – rest assured that you will pass all tests if you remember your priority: to please Srimati Radharani by engaging in devotional service to the Lord.
Let me end with a wonderful verse written by Raghunatha Dasa Goswami about the mercy of Srimati Radharani:
“From birth Srimati Radharani has been naturally affectionate to all… She is the protectress of the poor and unfortunate.” (2)
Special Karttik inspiration
Many devotees have requested me to give a regular audio message as a day-by-day Karttik inspiration. As a servant of the Vaisnavas, I have happily accepted this service. It is my desire to try to nourish devotees during this month with short inspirational messages. Thus, please be so kind to share these with anyone you know who would be interested to hear. These Karttik inspirations can be downloaded and heard from www.sacinandanaswamipilgrimage.com starting on Sunday 16 October.
Let us associate through sound at this most exciting time: Srimati Radharani’s month which carries the name of Her beloved Damodara.
Wishing you all the best and lots of spiritual strength
Your humble servant,
Sacinandana Swami

15th Anniversary of Tribhuvanatha Prabhu’s Departure.
Padmapani das: I think the most important thing that I learned from Tribhuvanatha Prabhu is that one can serve the spiritual master in any condition of life and under any circumstances. We joined forces just after Srila Prabhupada’s departure, and from then on it was nonstop adventure and challenges. We had to quickly become self-reliant. It didn’t matter if we found ourselves in a safe situation or not, or whether we had lots of association or none at all. The main thing was serving Prabhupada. Service was our lifeline. So the Middle East program was great training, like being thrown into deep water without knowing how to swim. It was sink or swim, do or die. The material world is a war zone and only the strongest survive. Tribhuvanatha was a soldier for Srila Prabhupada and he led by example. The war against maya isn’t over, but at least I have some hope and inspiration thanks to Tribhuvanatha Prabhu.
Here is a video of Tribhuvanatha Prabhu’s memories of Srila Prabhupada: https://goo.gl/s2PYBq

Kartika is coming!
In the Padma Puräëa it is said, “The Lord may offer liberation or material happiness to a devotee, but after some devotional service has been executed, particularly in Mathurä during the month of Kärttika, the devotees want only to attain pure devotional service unto the Lord.” The purport is that the Lord does not award devotional service to ordinary persons who are not serious about it. But even such unserious persons who execute devotional service according to the regulative principles during the month of Kärttika, and within the jurisdiction of Mathurä in India, are very easily awarded the Lord’s personal service. (NoD chapter 12)

As we read the above lines from Nectar of Devotion, we can not help but appreciate that if ‘unserious’ persons can be awarded so much benefit then surely Krishna may bestow on us, aspiring devotees, something even more valuable to hold on to and cherish all our life. Kartika is the month which is most dear to Krishna. We receive so many articles/ whatsapp messages/emails glorifying Kartika and how Krishna is easily pleased by anyone who renders even little devotional service to Him during this special month. So we can not even imagine what great benedictions await each one of us, aspiring devotees, if we make some sincere and serious endeavour to please Krishna, and Srimati Radharani, this Kartika.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/JaZMh7

From the performance of “Give It A Chance” during the Cologne Rathayatra Festival 2016 (3 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: The mantra delivers the conditioned soul from his bondage; so simply by chanting the mantra Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare, one can gain deliverance from any condition. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.24.42 Purport)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/TSuttS

Srila Prabhupada gets his golden tooth in Tokyo, Japan.
This photo was taken in the office of the CEO of Dai Nippon printers in Tokyo.
Japan was wonderful. All the young guests who came to see Srila Prabhupada at the temple humbly offered Him flowers and bowed down at His lotus feet, many of them offering full dandavats.
Respect is part of the Japanese culture, and very beautiful.
At Dai Nippon, which was so big that the offices and factory took up an entire city block, they offered His Divine Grace the chance to see their dentist to replace the single lower front tooth He had just lost.

He went to their dental clinic, which was part of their very large medical office, and met the young dentist who would make the solid gold tooth and bridge for Him.
Since gold is good for the heart, and was an ingredient of the heart medicine Srila Prabhupada used every other day, “yogendra-ras” (it also contained pearls and coral and came in a small red pill form), He asked if they could use gold and they immediately agreed.
The young dentist was so joyful, honoring and respectful, and bowed over and over to His Divine Grace as He did the needful and took a plaster cast of His lower jaw and teeth.
The gold replacement was ready the next day, and when the dentist put it into Srila Prabhupada’s mouth, He moved His mouth around and exclaimed… “This is very nice… I can hardly feel it!”!
He reached up and pulled the dentist’s head to His heart, hugged him and messed up his hair (as He did with George Harrison once in London) and thanked him over and over… the young saintly dentist was in bliss, as you can imagine, and was smiling from ear to ear 🙂

Srila Raghunatha Das Goswami Disappearance observance in ISKCON-Delhi (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: We are in so many w…Read More…

A bonafide substitute for a meat substitute: mangodi or wadas.
Citraka dasa: Recently the renown and expert devotee cook Kurma dasa answered an inquiry about the use of the common meat substitute product known as soya chunks or soya mince. He concluded that “these products are made in an elaborate industrial process using industrial solvents. They are in the worst category of soya products” and also that “Soy was not considered suitable by Srila Prabhupada”
You can read the whole post here: https://goo.gl/cSevA2
It may be helpful to know that there is a very similar dumpling, traditionally made in India for centuries, which was liked and eaten by Srila Prabhupada.
They are the well-known mangodis or wadas or baris, badis, vadis, wadiyan etc. which are basically sun dried split mung or urad dal dumplings.
Here Yamuna devi, a personally trained by Srila Prabhupada cook, describes how he would ask for these South Indian wadas [urad dal dumplings] or have Punjabi badis: https://goo.gl/9E2GwD
These are healthy, tasty, nutritious, economical and simple to make them at home, although available in the market too.
Once made they can be stored for months and can be used practically with everything: sabjis, rice, soups, salads or eaten by themselves in a tomato or other sauce, yogurt etc.
Some strict vaishnavas will avoid urad dal because it contains a great amount of protein, but it is not necessary to use it.
Here is a basic and simple way to make mangodis: Soak split mung dal in the water all night after having it washed properly.
Next day you drain all the water, add salt (and hing) and grind it into a paste with your mixer. With the help of a spoon you take small, equal portions of the paste and you place them on a tray which then you expose to the sun until they dry completely. That is all!
Ready for storage or use!
It usually takes 2 days under the sun. If there is not sun you can place them in your oven, setting it in the lowest temperature possible and leaving its door half open; it will take 4 hours like this.
If you google “mangodi” or any of its other names you will find hundreds of videos or articles about how to prepare it and/or use it.
Much much better than the soya chunks under any point of view!

Harinama Tel Aviv, Israel, 07.10.2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Krishna is within your heart. If you kindly continue to hear about Him, as you are doing then Krishna will be very much pleased, “Oh, this person is now interested in me.” Because nobody’s interested in Krishna, so Krishna is also silent to them. But as soon as you become interested, oh, Krishna becomes very active, “Oh, he’s trying to do something. I shall help him.” Los Angeles May 19, 1972.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/XVGXvN

Fortunate people who utter the Lord’s Name even unconsciously (3 min video)
Merciful devotees request the people they meet in the streets to chant a whole maha-mantra while they are video-recording them. In this video you will see an animated compilation of such recordings.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/3EoxJ1

Neophyte, but Pure!
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada: When one is situated on the neophyte platform, one cannot understand the devotional ingredients of a pure, unalloyed devotee. However, when the novice engages in devotional service — especially in deity worship — and follows the order of a bona fide spiritual master, he is a pure devotee. Anyone can take advantage of hearing about Krishna consciousness from such a devotee and thus gradually become purified. In other words, any devotee who believes that the holy name of the Lord is identical with the Lord is a pure devotee, even though he may be in the neophyte stage. By his association, others may also become Vaishnavas.
KK Bindu #385: With first time translation of a little known song glorifying Srila Raghunath Bhatta Goswami. CONTENTS INCLUDE:
* NEOPHYTE BUT PURE – His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada speaks about the power of someone following the process of bhakti.
* ALL GLORIES TO RAGHUNATH BHATTA GOSWAMI – A first time translation done especially for this issue of Bindu of a Bengali song by the medieval poet Radha Vallabha Das.
* VRINDAVAN SADHUS AND BHAGAVAD-GITA – Another first time translation done for this issue of of an excerpt from a little known book by a disciple of Srila Gopal Bhatta Goswami.
* IDEAL RESIDENCE IN VRINDAVAN – Another fresh translation from Srila Prabodhananda Saraswati’s Vrindavan-mahimamrtam. This issue can be downloaded here: https://archive.org/details/bindu385

The Harinama “fiesta” in Mexico continues (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: To manage a sankirtana party nicely is more precious than all other activities. That is the verdict of Bhagavad-gita and the mission of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/isw7Fa

A visit to New Vrindaban Dham, USA (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Krishna’s Lila in Vrndavana is prakata or manifest Lila, and the same is going on eternally in the spiritual realm, which is known as aprakata or nonmanifest. Krishna’s planet and Krishna’s pastimes are going on eternally, and the same is manifested before the conditioned souls at certain intervals, once in one day of Brahma, exactly as the sun is visible for 12 hours once a 24 hour cycle of and night. When the sun is visible it is called prakata, and when the sun is not visible that is called aprakata or unmanifested. Non-manifested therefore does not mean there is no existence, but the terms are used in relation to the visibility or non-visibility to the limited conditioned souls. Letter to Shyamasundara, May 14, 1970.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/ZhrIhf

Enjoy the complete Mahabharata narrated by Nirantara Das ACBSP available freely in audio mp3 files.
You can download them fro…Read More…

9th EU Farm Conference in Villa Vrindavana, Florence, Italy (Album with photos)
The farm conference brought together empowered citizens and communities to celebrate 50 years of spreading sustainable Krishna conscious community life. It was presented the knowledge acquired by many unseen heroes along these pioneering years and there was an effort to build a bridge with the vibrant youth which is so connected to sustainable solutions for the planet. There was offered a connection of friendship to enable sharing our experiences and solutions.
Together, we shared realistic glimpses of possibility and hope for a thriving future.
Villa Vrindavana, a big villa built in 1500, and it was bought by ISKCON in 1979. It is located on the sweet Tuscany hills in the Chianti area, in S.Casciano Val di Pesa, a few Kilometers away from Florence. The main building, from the renaissance period, is surrounded by a wide Italian garden with many colorful peacocks, fields and woods for about 90 hectares. The central rooms of the building are occupied by MOSA (Museum of Sacred Art), a unique artistic gallery displaying art works which show ancient sacred Indian themes. Inside the temple, restored in Vedic style by the devotees in 1983, there are the beautiful deities of Sri Sri Radha Vrajasundara, Sri Sri Gaura Nita and Sri Sri Jagannath Subhadra Baladeva.

There is also a nice Govinda’s restaurant, restored in Tuscan style. The guest house and various multifunctional rooms are ideal for meetings, spiritual retreats, cultural gatherings and yoga courses.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/TPQi8Q

Navina Nirada Syamam (Narada Pancaratra, Ratra 4 Chapter 6; Gopala Stotram) Author: Vyasadeva.
1) I offer respectful obeisances to Lord Krsna, the transcendental cowherd boy, who is the dear son of the gopi Yasoda. Krsna’s complexion is as dark as a fresh rain-cloud, and His eyes are as beautiful as blue lotus flowers.