Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Harinama in a Gipsy colony (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: A Vaishnava should not try to minimize anyone else’s position. It is better to remain humble and meek and chant the Hare Krishna mantra. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.17.10 purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/cGnv9i
Further TOVP updates. (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: Here’s some more pictures of what the ‘ribs’ on the outside of the (small) dome will look like. We’ve used gold paint as a ‘mock-up’ on the sides, but in the final stage it will be a lot more golden as it will be made in Titanium Nitrade. Gauranga!!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/n8dKzA
TOVP update (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: Some exciting new artwork has been happening. The first picture below shows you a real ‘mock-up’ of a coffered ceiling piece in GRC, painted by one of our Russian artists.
From this we took a photo which we copied and pasted to see the effect on a bigger scale. Although the colors may slightly change,
this is what the inner main dome & Nrsimhadeva’s inner dome will look like.
Next stage, we’ll do a 3D mock-up on the inner dome.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/NGwbxi
Iskcon Grammies?
Gaudiya Vaisnava songs are foundational to the spread of the Sankirtan movement. Every since the Radha Krishna album, devotees have been producing phenomenal arrangements of both traditional and innovative songs. There are too many great names of devotee composers, performers, and singers to mention here, but, thus far, there has been no formal recognition of their contribution. An awards festival to commend the various musical artists and bestow a Nityananda award is long overdue. Anyone interested in organizing, contributing, or being included for consideration in a Vaisnava version of the “Grammies,” please contact me: nrismhananda@gmail.com
June 2. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Genuine Kirtana.
Exotic it was, yet anyone could see that a swami was raising an ancient prayer in praise of God. This wasn’t rock or jazz. He was a holy man, a swami, making a public religious demonstration. But the combination was strange: an old Indian swami chanting an ancient mantra with a storefront full of young American hippies singing along.
Prabhupada sang on, his shaven head held high and tilted, his body trembling slightly with emotion. Confidently, he led the mantra, absorbed in pure devotion, and they responded. More passers-by were drawn to the front window and open door. Some jeered, but the chanting was too strong. Within the sound of the kirtana, even the car horns were a faint staccato. The vibration of auto engines and the rumble of trucks continued, but in the distance now, unnoticed.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=9
Offering to Srila Prabhupada on ISKCON 50th anniversary
Braja Mohan Das: I would like to compare your personality and glory with two of the biggest corporations. Now, there is this famous company Amazon, where they promise, everything under the sun can be delivered but you, Srila Prabhupada not just delivered everything under the sun but gave us a process to go above the sun to our supreme home, to the spiritual world. They also claim why they named their company as ‘Amazon’ as this word has an arrow from A to Z meaning everything is available with them that makes us happy (curved line). But can worldly things make the world happy? You showed us what makes one really happy. ‘Chant Hare Krishna and Be Happy!”
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/np4V93
KK Bindu #376: All Attractive Hari-katha!
The latest issue of Sri Krishna-kathamrita Bindu e-magazine was just released. This issue includes:
* MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS FOR KIRTAN – Instructions from His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
* ALL-ATTRACTIVE HARI-KATHA – First time translations done especially for this issue of various commentaries on Srimad Bhagavatam 10.1.4.
* VRINDAVAN-DHAMA AND RADHA-NAMA – A fresh translation from Srila Prabodhananda Saraswati’s Vrindavan-mahimamrtam (9.84). It can be downloaded here:
https://archive.org/details/bindu376
Yogesvara Prabhu’s excellent presentation during the Srila Prabhupada annual festival in Los Angeles (video)
“How to present Srila Prabhupada to the non devotees”
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/jriwXT
“The End of the Beginning” (video)
Ekendra das discusses “The End of the Beginning” of ISKCON on its 50th anniversary in his talk at the recent Festival of Inspiration in New Vrindaban, West Virginia.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/Tegynh
“Seven temples on seven hills” (Album with photos)
Varsana Swami: When I moved to New Vrindaban in 1972, this community was a “spiritual frontier”nestled within the rugged foothills of Appalachia.It was a community of devotees who were dedicated to Srila Prabhupada’s vision for New Vrindaban which holds sacred two primary mandates: (1) to live in harmony with one another, depend on nature, and protect Krishna’s cows; and (2) to develop a replica of Vrindavan.
The entire community was comprised of men and women endowed with the pioneering spirit required to carve a community in the inhospitable West Virginia countryside. The devotees referred to this pioneering mood as the “Brijabasi Spirit” and the mantra which inspired and united that community was “seven temples on seven hills.”
“Seven temples on seven hills” became the mantra of the entire community when Srila Prabhupada wrote to Hayagriva on November 18, 1968, “But now, let us build at least seven temples. On seven hills we will build seven main temples as in the original Vrindavan: Govindaji, Gopinatha, Madana-Mohana, Shyamasundara, Radha-Ramana, Radha-Damodar, Gokulananand.”
Bhauma Vrindavan folklore is divided regarding which of the seven temples was constructed first. Some say Madan Mohan Mandir while others say Radha Gopinath Mandir was the first. In New Vrindaban, we began construction of Radha Gopinath Mandir (across from the Palace of Gold) in order to provide a suitable residence to Their Lordships Who are already residing on the premises.
A few weeks ago, half a dozen devotees gathered at Radha Gopinath Mandir to offer practical service in fulfilling Srila Prabhupada’s vision of “seven temples on seven hills.” ISKCON pioneers and second generation devotees offered service at Sri Sri Radha-GopinathMandir to install the expanded metal lathe over the steel frame. My godbrothers Gaura Sakti das (a New Vrindavan resident) and Akhilananda das(from Ohio) provided guidance and inspiration to the younger men. Second generation Dhruva das from Alachua and Bhakta Jake from Michigan were amongst the fortunate recipients.
The camaraderie, team spirit and working relationships were reminiscent of the Brijabasi Spirit upon which this community was founded. All the work is being done by volunteers, and all the steel and masonry sand are donated.
In the photos, you can see the installation of the metal lathe. The lathe goes on both sides of the steel, and it is ideal to install both sides at the same time. This lathe will hold the cement stucco that will provide the form, mass, strength, and eventually the artistic embellishments for the dome.
Short pieces of PVC-coated tie wire are used to hold the lathe tight to the steel structure. These are inserted from one side and twisted on the other side to draw the metal lathe tight to the steel. The crew completed half of one side in just a few hours.
The lathe will be installed from the top down, so workers can stand on the steel frame while working. The cement stucco will be installed from the bottom up, giving strength from the bottom up.
We will continue the construction during the Kulimela and 24-hour Kirtan Festivals, June 15 – 19. If you desire to participate in fulfilling Srila Prabhupada’s vision for “seven temples on seven hills,” please contact us at DhamSeva@gmail.com.
– Varsana Swami
Find them here: https://goo.gl/7Evp44
Sadhu Sanga Retreat (2016) (Album with 107 photos)
5th Annual Sadhu Sanga Kirtan Retreat at Art of Living Retreat Center in Bo…
June 1. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Swamiji’s Kirtana.
When the kirtana suddenly sprang up from the Swami’s cymbals and sonorous voice, they immediately felt that it was going to be something far out. Here was another chance to “trip out,” and willingly they began to flow with it. They would surrender their minds and explore the limits of the chanting for all it was worth. Most of them had already associated the mantra with the mystical Upanisads and Gita, which had called out to them in words of mystery: “Eternal spirit … Negating illusion.” But whatever it is, this Indian mantra, let it come, they thought. Let its waves carry us far and high. Let’s take it, and let the effects come. Whatever the price, let it come. The chanting seemed simple and natural enough. It was sweet and wasn’t going to harm anyone. It was, in its own way, far out.
As Prabhupada chanted in his own inner ecstasy, he observed his motley congregation. He was breaking ground in a new land now. As the hand cymbals rang, the lead-and-response of the Hare Krishna mantra swelled, filling the evening. Some neighbors were annoyed. Puerto Rican children, enchanted, appeared at the door and window, looking. Twilight came.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=9
ISKCON-Delhi: Festival of Inspiration – 28 May, 2016 (Album with photos)
Several thousands attended ISKCON’s Festival of Inspiration to celebrate the 500th Anniversary of Lord Sri Chaitanya.
India’s Union Minister for Tourism and Culture Dr Mahesh Sharma inaugaurated the event and spoke on how Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s movement is about devotion and compassion. He thanked ISKCON for taking India’s culture around the world.
The festival saw several stunning presentations by national and international artists. These included Odisi Dance on Dasavatar, Shadow Play, Drama on Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
A kirtan team of members from Urugauy, Venuzeual, Uganda, Russia, Spain, India, Mauritius enthralled the audience with their meditative and uplifting kirtans.
ISKCON Sannyasis and members spoke on the legacy of Sri Chaitanya and Srila Prabhupada.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/h5Z96j
Prabhupada Festival 2016 — New Dvaraka, Los Angeles (playlist of 10 brief clips)
Srila Prabhupada: Lord Krishna stresses the importance of remembering Him. One‘s memory of Krishna is revived by chanting the maha-mantra, Hare Krishna. By this practice of chanting and hearing the sound vibration of the Supreme Lord, one’s ear, tongue and mind are engaged. This mystic meditation is very easy to practice, and it helps one attain the Supreme Lord. (Bhagavad-Gita 8.8 Purport)
Watch them here: https://huzzaz.com/collection/prabhupada-festival-2016-new-dvar
Living Your Calling in an Age of Confusion.
On the evening of Friday, May 6th, New York’s Bhakti Center partnered with Upbuild to hold a dinner event featuring a talk by Radhanath Swami on the topic “Living Your Calling in an Age of Confusion”.
Upbuild is an educational social enterprise created by Rasanath Das and Hari Prasad, who both used to live and serve at The Bhakti Center as monks. Upon graduation from the monastic order they went on to launch Upbuild which aims at maximizing the human potential by creating environments that inspire genuine purpose and authentic connection. Among the dinner’s 100 guests were many leaders in business, journalism and other creative fields.
Below are excerpts from Radhanath Swami’s talk on how true wealth and happiness are found through finding and sharing the divine love that lies within the soul.
Living Your Calling in an Age of Confusion.
Radhanath Swami: The times like we are facing these days are periods in human history that could potentially bring a rise in enlightenment, or just the opposite. Times of difficult, individually and collectively, are crossroads where we have to really question our lives.
What gives a thing value to a person’s heart is not the monetary price of it, or how it may stimulate the eyes or the mind. What gives value to anything is the exchange of love.
What is valuable? Things can give some degree of pleasure to the senses and the mind but things can never give fulfillment to the heart. Only love can do that. The nature of the heart is to love and be loved. The heart is starving for love. If it is not nourished, no matter what we get, we can never be satisfied and we can never be an instrument to give true satisfaction.
When we realize that love within us, and make it our life’s service to be an instrument of that love, which is expressed through compassion for the body, mind and souls of others, then our life is truly meaningful and fulfilling. With that integrity we can work harder than anyone, if that is required, but it is not motivated by greed, envy or arrogance – it’s motivated by love. By really caring and wanting to make a difference.
The greatest thing that we can pass down through our legacy is compassion, love and care based on moral values – principles of spiritual integrity. There is a saying, that if you lose your wealth you lose nothing, if you lose health you lose something, and if you lose your character you lose everything. Of course we need wealth and we see that when the economy is struggling it can really bring out the worst in people. But where there is compassion, where we see humanity and life itself as a family, then we will make our policies with the mindset that we are caretakers of each other, whether we are in investment bankers, farmers or even swami’s.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/WWhNI9
Door to door book distribution.
Bhakta Akshay: Since the start of this year, in the mood of Haridasa Thakura and Nityananda Prabhu, I’ve been doing a lot of what I think is an under-rated form of book distribution: door to door. I was inspired by a devotee friend, who used to be a Jehovah’s Witness.
She said that they are really systematic. They keep notes and even revisit favorable people they’ve met. I adopted this systematic approach in distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books, and I now make notes on the favorable people I meet. I revisit them and bring them gifts, prasada, and beads.
It’s been less than half a year, and I’m really pleased with the results.
While the quantity of books going out may be less than through other forms of book distribution, door to door may be more powerful, because you can cultivate the really favorable people you meet in the comfort of their homes.
Already, by Krishna’s mercy, I meet regularly (roughly once a week) with a really nice lady and discuss the Bhagavad Gita in her own home. I simply revisited her and brought her gifts like prasadam and beads. Before I knew it, she invited me into her home and wanted to discuss the Bhagavad Gita with me on a regular basis.And this isn’t the only case like this. I’ve met dozens of people who receive me favorably when I revisit them.
By Krishna’s mercy many of them are willing to let me in to talk about Krishna conscious philosophy. You can really feel the mercy of Nityananda Prabhu and Haridasa Thakura, the original door-to-door book distributors. It’s also great for those of us who aren’t full-time sankirtana devotees. Right now I’m a student, and I mainly go out when people are getting back from work and on weekends. I really wish door-to-door book distribution would catch on. I’ve seen too many devotional creepers wither away, because no one watered them. Door-to- door book distribution solves this problem by letting us cultivate the people we meet.
Your servant, Bhakta Akshay
ISKCON Pakistan: Presentation on Sindhi Bhagavad Gita printing in Damodhardesh-May 2016 (3 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: I don’t say, “Follow me.” I say “Follow Krishna.” Krishna says, “Surrender unto Me.” I say “Surrender unto Krishna.” Is there any difference? My position is simply repeating because Krishna says, “Anyone who preaches this confidential subject matter, he is dear to Me.” Allahabad, January 18, 1971
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/H1Lefy
Pre-Marital Questions.
Uttama devi dasi: This list of questions, in two sections is intended for couples to think about and discuss with each other as a means to reach understanding about each other’s expectations and desires. It will take some time to read and answer all these questions, so please undertake this when you are relaxed and have time.
Remember that this is just to help you become aware of many aspects of marriage and you may find that more questions will come up that are unique for you. Feel free to get in touch with any of the GVT members for premarital education. All the best!
Section I-Marriage, Family and Friends, Relationships, Children
MARRIAGE
What is your concept of marriage?
Have you been married before? What are you expectations of marriage?
Why have you chosen me as a potential spouse?
What is your understanding of a Krsna Conscious marriage?
What is the role of the husband?
What is the role of the wife?
After marriage, do you think that you are one to express romantic feelings verbally?
After marriage, do you think that you want to express affection in public?
When there is a dispute in your marriage, religious or otherwise, how should the conflict get resolved?
When do you think it is appropriate to initiate mediation in marriage?
If there are members of my family that are not devotees, that are of different race or culture, what type of relationship do you want to have with them?
If you have a Guru, what should be his/her role in the marriage?
What is your approach to sexual relationship and intimacy in the marriage?
FAMILY& FRIENDS
What is your relationship with your family?
What do you expect your relationship with the family of your spouse to be?
What do you expect your spouses relationship with your family to be?
Is there anyone in your family living with you now?
Are you planning to have anyone in your family live with you in the future?
If, for any reason, my relationship with your family turns sour, what should be done?
Who are your friends? (Identify at least three.)
How did you get to know them?
Why are they your friends?
What do you like most about them?
What will your relationship with them after marriage be?
Do you have friends of the opposite sex?
What is the level of your relationship with them now?
What will be the level of your relationship with them after marriage?
What type of relationship do you want your spouse to have with your friends?
What is your opinion of speaking other languages in home that I do not understand? (with friends or family)
RELATIONSHIPS
How do you express your admiration for someone that you know now?
How do you express your feelings to someone who has done a favor for you?
Do you like to write your feelings?
If you wrong someone, how do you apologize?
If someone has wronged you, how do you want (s)he to apologize to you?
How much time passes before you can forgive someone?
Do you use foul language at home? In public? With family?
Do your friends use foul language?
Does your family use foul language?
How do you express anger?
How do you expect your spouse to express anger?
What do you do when you are angry?
Define mental, verbal, emotional and physical abuse.
What would you do if you felt that you had been abused?
Who would you call for assistance if you were being abused?
CHILDREN
Do you want to have children? If not, how come?
To the best of your understanding, are you able to have children?
Do you want to have children in the first two years of marriage? If not, when?
Do you believe in abortion?
Do you have children now?
What is your relationship with your children now?
What is your relationship with their other parent?
What relationship do you expect your spouse to have with your children and their parent?
What is the best method(s) of raising children?
What is the best method(s) of disciplining children?
How were you raised?
How were you disciplined?
Do you believe in spanking children?
Under what circumstances?
Do you believe in public school for your children?
Do you believe in Krsna conscious school for your children?
Do you believe in home schooling for your children?
What type of relationship should your children have with non-devotee classmates/friends?
Would you send your children to visit their extended family if they lived in another state or country?
What type of relationship do you want your children to have with all their grandparents?
For the Section II (Regarding Goals, Religion, Entertainment & Leisure, Health, Finances) click here: http://goo.gl/G73sl3
Two Highlights From The Waikato (Waikato is a local government region of the upper North Island of New Zealand).
Damodara Krsna Dasa: Recently, I went on a six-day stint in the Waikato.
I was in Hamilton East–in a small car park–and stopped an athletic lady. She happened to be Joelle King, the best women squash player for New Zealand.
After an injury, her ranking dropped from No. 4 in the world to 17th. Six months after her recovery, she is now up to 11th in the world. But she explained that she isn’t satisfied. Her sports psychologist suggested meditation to her, and there I was, holding the books that give the most authentic knowledge and the fullest inner satisfaction.
She happily gave $20 (US) and left with SSR, the Gita and Enough magazine.
Another day, I ventured over to Te Awamutu, and just before my day of sankirtana was finished I stopped a young man parking a scooter. He was originally from Arizona USA. I showed him the SSR & BGH and put them both in his hands.
I said, “A good donation for these is $30.” He looked at me and replied, “So if I give you $50, I can take these?”
We walked to the ATM. He withdrew $60, for which I gave him $10 change.
He mentioned he liked “fact books” so I gave him another book.
“All our books are fact books,” I said. “That’s for you.” And he happily gave the other $10.
Srila Prabhupada, ki jaya!
Your servant,
Damodara Krsna Dasa
May 31. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Psychedelic Congregation.
Prabhupada stepped out of his white shoes, sat down on a thin mat, faced his congregation, and indicated they could all be seated. He distributed several pairs of brass hand cymbals and briefly demonstrated the rhythm: one … two … three. He began playing – a startling, ringing sound. He began singing: Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare / Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. Now it was the audience’s turn. “Chant,” he told them. Some already knew, gradually the others caught on, and after a few rounds, all were chanting together.
Most of these young men and the few young women present had at one time or another embarked on the psychedelic voyage in search of a new world of expanded consciousness. Boldly and recklessly, they had entered the turbulent, forbidden waters of LSD, peyote, and magic mushrooms. Heedless of warnings, they had risked everything and done it. Yet there was merit in their valor, their eagerness to find the extra dimensions of the self, to get beyond ordinary existence – even if they didn’t know what the beyond was or whether they would ever return to the comfort of the ordinary. Nonetheless, whatever truth they had found, they remained unfulfilled, and whatever worlds they had reached, these young psychedelic voyagers had always returned to the Lower East Side. Now they were sampling the Hare Krishna mantra.
In their psychedelic ambitions to see the face of God, fantasies and visions of Hindu teachings, and the presumption that “IT” was all impersonal light, Prabhupada had encountered a similar group on the Bowery, and he knew this group wasn’t experiencing the mantra in the proper disciplined reverence and knowledge. But he let them chant in their own way. In time their submission to the spiritual sound, their purification, and their enlightenment and ecstasy in chanting and hearing Hare Krishna would come.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=8
Sadhu Sanga Retreat 2016 (8 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: The Sadhu Sanga Retreat 2016, in the beautiful mountains of North Car…
New Devotee Marriage Service in UK.
A new marriage matching service for devotees has recently been launched in the UK as a combined effort between the former ISKCON Marriage Team UK and Sacred Ashram Team, who have joined together to become the Krishna Marriage Team and have amalgamated their databases together to provide a coordinated national service.
Current members of the new team are Visvambhara das and Jagannathesvari devi dasi, Gaura Kishore das and Saumyaradhika devi dasi, Sundarananda das and Kirtiradhika devi dasi, and Brijesh and Priya Vadhvania. Jagannathesvari described the team as follows: “We have now amalgamated a quality team of deeply committed and enthusiastic devotees, and I feel very grateful to be working with them.”
As part of the service, a new website has been launched to facilitate registration, but team members will continue to provide a private and confidential service, and devotees’ profiles will not be displayed in the public domain. Everyone who registers will get to choose either their own personal matchmaker, who will suggest possible matches for them, or a team of administrators who will share multiple profiles that they can choose from.
ISKCON UK GBC, Praghosa das, had this to say about the new website: “Knowing all the wonderful devotees involved with running krishnamarriage.com, I am very confident that this facility will be a fantastic resource for one and all finding the right marriage partner, and I wish all who use this resource the very best in finding their lifelong soulmate.”
The service is available for anyone who is chanting the Hare Krishna mantra on a daily basis and following religious principles, and who can provide 2 character references from senior ISKCON devotees, such as mentors or service authorities. As well as matchmaking services, the team will be developing training courses for marriage, and they also offer pre and postmarital counselling on request.
Bhaktivedanta Manor Temple President, Srutidharma das, had the following to say: “It’s very inspiring that our new team will help devotees in making this very important decision, in educating them after they are married, and counselling them whenever challenges arise.
This is a great offering for the 50th anniversary celebration to Srila Prabhupada.” Krishna Marriage Team members are currently based in Watford and London. Plans for expansion include inviting qualified couples from other ISKCON centres around the UK to join the team and represent devotees from their own communities. Bhaktivedanta Manor Managing Director, Gauri das, expressed his opinion as follows: “Marriage is the biggest decision and responsibility of our lives, and one in regard to which ISKCON has to provide more help. Therefore it is truly inspiring to see that the Krishna Marriage Team has come together and now launch this tremendous marriage networking facility.”
For further information about the service and team, as well as access to helpful resources for devotees changing ashram, please visit www.krishnamarriage.com
Star Wars or Ramayana? (3 min video)
Let Yogesvara prabhu walk you through some facts about it! This is an excerpt from his pre…
New Ekacakra Festival in Slovakia. Sri Sri Nitai Gaura Candra installation and Harinam (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Krishna said “You chant! You Remember Me; at the same time, fight.” He did not say, “Simply fight” or “Simply chant.” Because in the material world that is not possible. Therefore we must chant and at the side time we have to work to continue this movement. The movement requires a lot of energy. (Lecture on Bhagavat-Gita, 16.4 Hawaii)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/xn9XbX
Food For Life Mayapur: Bhaktivedanta Anna-Dan Complex to serve Gauranga prasadam. A daily free meal programme. (2 min video)
The Anna Dan Food for Life complex in Mayapur serves thousands of meals every week. Everything is done to the highest standards, from filtered water, to stainless everything, and very high standard of cleanliness.
To fulfil the desire of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada that “No one should go hungry” his followers, well-wishers, supporters have started a non-profit, non-sectarian, non-religious charitable project to connect with humanity by a humble endeavour to distribute sumptuous-vegetarian-sanctified food (prasadam) wherever need for the needy. Our food is available for everyone without discrimination of caste and creed, as a symbol of mutual and global brotherhood. The food is free for everyone.
Prasadam Menue: Rice, Dal (Lentils), side item, Main seasonal sabji, Chutney or Dhai or Matha or Papad, Sweet
When: Daily 1.00pm
Where: “Bhaktivedanbta Anna-Dan Complex” at Mayapur.
How: Daily within 6am-6.30am we distribute coupon to individuals (first come first serve). No advance booking.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/4OkyEd
Ratha Yatra 2016 (21.05.2016) s.Dnepr, Ukraine (35 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: In the material world, if one engages in chanti…
Jala Krida Festival (Album with photos)
Sarila Vihara aka Jala Krida was celebrated in the serene Yamuna river at Govardhan Ec…
At Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia, as Andrew Günsberg narrates, life guard Nicola Atherton rescues a Hare Krishna devotee. Then a blissful Hare Krishna chanting party ascends the life guard tower. ( 6 min video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/zXHN7b
Why Do I Wear Sari.
By Rambhoru devi dasi (wife of HG Prithu Dasa and a senior disciple of HDG Srila Prabhupada)
Recently in India I inquired from a Mohammedan gentleman why their women are ardently concealed behind a curtain of cloth, which often completely covers their faces? He replied, “If you have a valuable diamond, which to you is precious and dear, how will you keep it? Will you store it in an old cardboard box in the backyard rubbish heap? No, naturally, you will protect it by putting it safely and securely in a place where the untrustworthy can neither see it nor steal it. Our women are very important to us; they are the personality behind a happy household. We know that if they flaunt themselves in public, they will be mislead, and then the foundation of our society will be ruined.”
My mouth dropped open; I was speechless. The Muslims, like the Hare Krsnas, obviously have this question repeatedly asked to them by the “non-believers”, and this gentleman had a very poignant answer. He was not intimidated by the query, rather, he proudly made this presentation on behalf of the women in his community.
I have observed that ISKCON women more often are replacing the sari with other kinds of “more practical” attire. Many wear Punjabi suits, long skirts (or even short ones) dresses, moo-moo’s, jogging suits or shorts to putter around the house or go shopping. Often the only time a sari is worn is to come to the temple feast on Sundays. Even more often we see that the sari has been replaced by Western clothes in the name of “selling more books” or “collecting more laksmi.”
As a mother and an experienced frontline preacher, I can appreciate the points made for wearing western attire, particularly in a western country. Sometimes the sari may make us feel awkward, too cloistered, or separated from others. However, as my Muslim acquaintance indicated, we would be more inspired to wear devotional clothes if we have a proper understanding of its benefits.
Srila Prabhupada wanted the women in his movement to cover their bodies in a chaste way. Although in the beginning, while living in the temple, most ladies wore long skirts and blouses, his instruction was that the breasts should be covered twice. Therefore, some ladies wore sleeveless maternity smocks over a long sleeved shirt, and perhaps a scarf on her head. Srila Prabhupada, not satisfied with this attire, taught his spiritual daughters how to wear the sari. He also specified which wrap they should use.
Once while preaching in Gujarat, Srila Prabhupada saw two of his women disciples, Malati and Kausalya, wearing their saris wrapped like the Gujaratis. He became furious. “Where have you learned this? I did not teach you this?” Wanting his followers to represent the highest class in the social order and to set an example for the rest of the world to follow, he had taught his women followers to use the sari-wrap worn by Brahmins for temple service.
Srila Prabhupada mentions in the Caitanya Caritamrta that devotees can wear the attire of the materialists for preaching Krsna consciousness, especially while distributing books. However, Srila Prabhupada himself, although preaching, never changed his devotional dress to gain some supposed advantage. Rather, he taught us to turn apparent disadvantages into advantages.
Srila Prabhupada gave the example shown in a Charlie Chaplain movie where a young “bucking bronco” and his girlfriend were at a formal ballroom dance. When the man rose to dance, the long coattail of his tuxedo caught on the chair and ripped half way up his back. Unperturbed he gestured to his girl to wait while he proceeded to the men’s room, removed his jacket and ripped it all the way to the neck creating 2 long blackstreamers. Unabashed, he swept his dance partner up in a rigorous waltz, whirling in circles all over the ballroom floor. All eyes are focused on them, as they became the center of attention. Awed and dumbfounded, the by-standers admired the confidence of this enthusiastic dancer. One by one the other men on the ballroom floor retired to the men’s room. After a few moments they emerged with their coat tails ripped up to their necks. Srila Prabhupada commented that the devotees should be confident and enthusiastic like the dancer and then people will follow their example.
The intimidation a devotee feels while wearing devotional attire is often a projection of his insecurity at being a devotee. He doesn’t want to be confronted and defend Krsna’s message or movement from seeming discrepancies in the philosophy or adverse media propaganda. Such a devotee should analyze within himself why he joined Lord Caitanya’s movement.
As food prepared by materialists is contaminated by their consciousness and will infect one who eats it, similarly, clothes fashioned by persons catering to the whims of lusty people, will degrade our consciousness. Srila Prabhupada, therefore, encouraged cottage handloom industries, so that even a devotee’s physical necessities could be satisfied purely.
A Vaisnava should wear only pure fabrics, for example, cotton, wool or silk. Since synthetic fabrics are derivatives of plastic and will not absorb water, they are virtually impossible to clean. That “cleanliness is next to Godliness” encourages a devotee to surround himself with the purest environment possible. This protects him from the modes of passion and ignorance, which can bewilder his intelligence and keep him bound in this material world.
Several years ago, I discussed this issue with Arabian Muslim women in Kenya. I asked them “Why do you cover yourselves completely in such a hot and stuffy robe?” They replied, “The gaze of lust will make us dirty and we will become sick from it. Lust is a poison that attacks like a poison gas and affects our minds and makes us unclean.” ISKCON devotees understand that even while making an offering of food to the Supreme Lord, if the plate is not covered before being placed on the altar, it could be spoiled by the lusty glance of an animal, a child or an unqualified person. If a greedy person lusts over our food it becomes poisoned and we risk falling sick from eating it. So, like a plate of food, a woman might be seen as a sense object and should cover her body so as not to be the object of lust. In this way, she will remain pure for the Lord’s service.
A woman’s covering her body chastely in a sari is a declaration that because she is Krsna’s maidservant, she is not interested in capturing men by her material form. In that sense she is no longer a “devil in disguise”, someone out to capture the weak, but someone who is a well-wisher, a “mother” or one who cares for others. She especially becomes concerned about men’s spiritual life. She desires that they achieve the highest goal in life, to go back home, back to Godhead; that they not remain conditioned by material illusion, mesmerized by the decorations of her dead body.
The sari is not only a chaste covering for a woman’s body, protecting her from unwanted lusty gazes, but, it is also a “spiritual uniform.” Just as the policemen are identified by their uniform, the devotee’s dress identifies her as a person who can give spiritual instruction and shelter. Therefore, people should be able to identify the devotees as members of a spiritual institution.
I find that wearing a sari enhances my preaching. Practically each day I have to explain why I wear it. Wearing a sari helps me be a proper spiritual example and forces me to consider how my activities affect people who have faith that ISKCON devotees are sadhus.
One simple reason I continue to wear a sari is that I know it is pleasing to Srila Prabhupada. He was fond of saying “The dhoti makes thedevotee!” which indicates that wearing devotional clothes effects a spiritual transformation. Knowing that Srila Prabhupada is our ever well-wisher and eternal protector, to please him, I tolerate seeming inconveniences of wearing a sari.
To watch a video about how to wear a sari: http://goo.gl/EVOHBG
Jagannath Ratha Yatra at Malang, Indonesia (Album with photos)
Kavicandra Swami: Here is Lord Jagannath, along with His Brother and Sister. Traveled far through the crowded city to join the “Percussion Festival”. There were 5 hours of kirtan, book and prasadam distribution. One ton of sweet oranges were grabbed up by the population.
At the end of the pictures are those of the next day’s early morning Harinam at our local temple.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/rD4ZPe
May 30. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Prabhupada’s Entrance.
The summer evening was warm, and in the storefront the back windows and front door were opened wide. Young men, several of them dressed in black denims and button-down sport shirts with broad, dull stripes, had left their worn sneakers by the front door and were now sitting on the floor. Most of them were from the Lower East Side; no one had to go to great trouble to come here. The little room was barren. No pictures, no furniture, no rug, not even a chair. Only a few plain straw mats. A single bulb hung from the ceiling in the center of the room. It was seven o’clock, and about a dozen people had gathered when the Swami suddenly opened the side door and entered the room.
He wasn’t wearing a shirt, and the saffron cloth that draped his torso left his arms and some of his chest bare. His complexion was smooth golden brown, and as they watched him, his head shaven, his ears long-lobed, and his aspect grave, he seemed like pictures they’d seen of the Buddha in meditation. He was old, yet erect in his posture, fresh and radiant. His forehead was decorated with the yellowish clay markings of the Vaisnavas. Prabhupada recognized big, bearded Howard and smiled. “You have brought your friends?”
“Yes,” Howard answered in his loud, resonant voice.
“Ah, very good.”
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=8
Iskcon UK, Bath Rathayatra 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “The essence of all Vedic knowledge—comprehending the three kinds of Vedic activity, the Vedic hymns, and the processes for satisfying the demigods—is included in the eight syllables Hare Krishna Hare Krishna. This is the reality of all Vedanta. The chanting of the holy name is the only means to cross the ocean of nescience.” (Narada-pancharatra)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/PFZbUj
Sri Sri Radhika Bansidhar in Nagar Untari – Garhwa, Jharkhand:
The beautiful murti of Sri Sri Radhika Bansidhar was established by a great devotee of Lord Krishna, the Queen of Garhwa (Jharkhand in India), Shivmaani Kunwar Dev in 1830s. The 32 Mann (1280 Kg) murti of Lord Bansidhar is made up of pure gold and was buried in Shiva Pahari of Garhwa for 120 years. The murti is found in Shubh Samvat 1885, when Dynasty of King Bhawani Singh. His wife Smt Shivmani Kunwar is devotee of the Lord Krishna. She was widow and not having any child. She was very kind and generous and devotee to the Lord Krishna. On the day of Janamashtmi (birth day of Lord Krishna) she was dreamed of the Lord and found him calling to come and get me to your place. When she woke up in the morning she called to the assistance and explain the whole story. A team of Karmakandi pundits, rajkarmachari and team of musical team proceeded to find the murti. When she reached that space, the same space appearing in the dream, digging work started taking place along with the citation of Vedic mantras. The head of the murti started appearing. After some time the whole murti came out. The murti is a symbol of artistic metal work of the era of Samvat 1761. Lord Krishna is situated on a lotus flower inbuilt on Sheshnag. In this murti He is appearing in a smiling face with flute. The height of the murti is 4 feet and weights approx. 1280 Kg. The other murti, besides Lord Krishna, His beloved Radha, is made of alloy of Astdhatu by the artists from Varanasi and is placed by Ms. Shivmani Kunwar
It is believed that this yellow metallic beautiful, attractive and artistic rare murti is not available anywhere else in this world.
The murti was earlier worshiped by the daughter of Aurangzeb and later by the daughter of the King of Singrauli. At that time, Srimati Radhika Ji was also present. During the reign of Ahmad Shah Durrani of Iran, Lord Krishna’s murti was separated from Srimati Radha Rani and hidden inside a hill (Shiva Pahari) in Garhwa district of Jharkhand by the followers of Shivaji. Radha Rani’s murti remained in Singrauli with the daughter of the King of Singrauli and later it was submerged with the fort in Rihand Dam. During summer, the part of the fort is still visible in Rihand Dam.
Presently, the murti of Sri Sri Bansidhar Radhika Ji is established in Nagar Untari of Garhwa district of Jharkhand and the murti of Radharani was created in Varanasi from the Asht Dhatu.
Yours Servant
Somendranatha Das (Disciple of HH Gopal Krishna Goswami)
Putting on Tilaka
In the Uttara-khanada of the Padma Purana, Lord Shiva says to Parvati that in the middle of the “V” of the Vaishnava tilaka mark there is a space and in that space reside Lakshmi and Narayana. Therefore, the body that is decorated with tilaka should be considered a temple of Lord Vishnu. The Padma Purana also states:
vama-parshve sthito brahma
dakshine cha sadashivaha
madhye vishnum vijaniyat
Tasman madhyam na lepayet
“On the left side of the tilaka Lord Brahma is situated, and on the right side is Sadashiva, but one should know that in the middle dwells Lord Vishnu. Therefore one should not smear the middle section.”
One should pour a little water into the palm of his left hand and rub gopi-chandana (mud from Dwaraka) into it. When making Tilaka the following mantra from the Uttara Khanda of the Padma Purana:
lalate keshavam dhyayen
narayanam athodare
vaksha-sthale madhavam tu
govindam kantha-kupake
vishnum cha dakshine kukshau
bahau cha madhusudanam
trivikramam kandare tu
vamanam vama-parshvake
shridharam vama-bahau tu
hrishikesham cha kandhare
pristhe tu padma-nabham cha
katyam damodaram nyaset
tat prakshalana-toyam tu
vasudeveti murdhani
In accordance with the above mentioned mantra one should apply the gopi-chandana with the ball of the middle finger tip to make the tilaka marks on the twelve parts of the body. According to the Brahmanda Purana, one should not use the fingernail to make the space in the middle of the tilaka. One should place a thin damp cloth over the finger and make the space with that. Thus, when the tilaka is applied, the following mantras should be chanted:
The forehead–om keshavaya namaha
The belly–om narayanaya namaha
The chest–om madhavaya namaha
The throat–om govindaya namaha
The right side of the waist–om vishnave namaha
The right upper arm–om madhusudanaya namaha
The right shoulder–om trivikramaya namaha
The left side of the waist–om vamanaya namaha
The left upper arm–om shridharaya namaha
The left shoulder–om hrishikeshaya namaha
The upper back–om padmanabhaya namaha
The lower back–om damodaraya namaha
Finally, after washing one’s had, whatever water is left should be wiped on the top of the head in the region of the shikha (tuft of hair) with the mantra: om vasudevaya namaha.
In the Padma Purana it is stated:
nasadi-kesha-paryantam
urdhva-pundram sushobhanam
madhye chidra-samayuktam
tad vidyad dhari-mandiram
“That marking (of tilaka), which begins from the root of the nose and extends up to the hairline, which has a space in it and is very beautiful, is known as urdhva-pundra (tilaka). One should know it to be a temple of Lord Hari [Vishnu].” The Padma Purana also mentions that the tilaka marking should only extend three quarters of the way down the nose from the root of the nose, which is located between the eyebrows. The space in the middle of the tilaka should begin from between the eyebrows and extend up to the hairline. The marking on the nose and forehead should be connected. That is a perfect tilaka marking.
Read more: http://goo.gl/XjhYPu
5th Annual Sadhu Sanga Kirtan Retreat (video)
Srila Prabhupada: “The essence of all Vedic knowledge—comprehending the three kinds of Vedic activity, the Vedic hymns, and the processes for satisfying the demigods—is included in the eight syllables Hare Krishna Hare Krishna. This is the reality of all Vedanta. The chanting of the holy name is the only means to cross the ocean of nescience.” (Narada-pancharatra)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/PLelBz
The demon within.
Kadamba Kanana Swami: It is true that there is that inner animal within us. The animal that we hide. The animal that lives behind the saintly expressions on our faces. There is this animal and we have chained him up in regulative principles by Srila Prabhupada’s mercy but he wants to break loose. That inner animal which lives within and he OR SHE wants to break loose and waits for opportunities!
I like this theme. I found it somewhere in a magazine, a lady writer picked up on it. She had this bag of special chips and she was like really lusting over the chips in her mind for a long time, and was waiting for an opportunity to sort of like get into it and stuff them in her mouth. So when no one was around, she attacked it, ripped it open and just like packed it in… and then someone came!
Now we can easily translate that into a mangal aarti sweet. You know, you get caught just as you secretly stuff it in your face. For a moment, you give some room to lusty desires by taking shelter of prasadam. It is good to take shelter of prasadam but you feel embarrassed when you get caught with a mouthful and you try to inconspicuously swallow it, as if everybody does not know what you doing since everybody you know does it too!
The point I am making is that it shows that we are indeed a combination of the modes of material nature and that indeed all these pushings of the senses are within us and we are controlling them with good behaviour. We say the right words, “Jaya… nectar… bliss.” Whatever words are there in the jargon, we say them and we dress in a particular sort of way… We are experts in projecting an image but internally it is still raging – there is still a volcano. There are still so many influences pulling us in so many directions. And therefore there is still a little bit of Kamsa in us… still a little bit of Putana and still a little bit of all these demoniac personalities.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 04 February 2016, Bhaktivedanta Manor, United Kingdom, Srimad Bhagavatam 10.2.21)
Harinama in the Czech Republic (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In the material world, everything is full of anxiety (kun…
5th Annual Sadhu Sanga Kirtan Retreat (Album with photos)
Ecstatic kirtans, inspiring classes and delicious prasadam in the amazing association of exalted devotees of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna in Boone, North Carolina, USA.
Srila Prabhupada: Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s transcendental mission is to distribute love of Godhead to everyone. Anyone who accepts God as the Supreme can take to the process of chanting Hare Krishna and become a lover of God. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 4.41 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/vZtZN5
May 29. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Howard Wheeler Meets Swamiji.
Howard Wheeler was hurrying from his apartment on Mott Street to a friend’s apartment on Fifth Street, a quiet place where he hoped to find some peace. He walked up Mott Street to Houston, turned left and began to walk east, across Bowery, past the rushing traffic and stumbling derelicts, and toward Second Avenue.
Howard: After crossing Bowery, just before Second Avenue, I saw Swamiji jauntily strolling down the sidewalk, his head held high in the air, his hand in the bead bag. He struck me like a famous actor in a very familiar movie. He seemed ageless. He was wearing the traditional saffron-colored robes of a sannyasi and quaint white shoes with points. Coming down Houston, he looked like the genie that popped out of Aladdin’s lamp.
Howard, age twenty-six, was a tall, large-bodied man with long, dark hair, a profuse beard, and black-framed eyeglasses. He was an instructor in English at Ohio State University and was fresh from a trip to India, where he had been looking for a true guru.
Prabhupada noticed Howard, and they both stopped simultaneously. Howard asked the first question that popped into his mind: “Are you from India?”
Prabhupada smiled. “Oh, yes, and you?”
Howard: I told him no, but that I had just returned from India and was very interested in his country and the Hindu philosophy. He told me he had come from Calcutta and had been in New York almost ten months. His eyes were as fresh and cordial as a child’s, and even standing before the trucks that roared and rumbled their way down Houston Street, he emanated a cool tranquility that was unshakably established in something far beyond the great metropolis that roared around us.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=8
Bhakti Vriksha- 10 roles in a Bhakti Vriksha group (3 min video)
Train your Bhakti Vriksha Members in becoming future Bhakti Vr…