Websites from the ISKCON Universe
The seriously talented Ekendra Dasa and Tulasi Priya Devi dasi in a hilarious, irreverent skit on issues in life – and in Iskcon. (35 min video) A brilliant recent performance in Towaco New Jersey’s Krishna temple, (USA) on Saturday, July 9, 2016.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/7o4aJ8
Kolkata Ratha Yatra Pandal Program (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: By chanting the Hare Krishna mantra one immediately c…Read More…
Harinama in Tel Aviv, Israel. 08.07.2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In this age, no one is expected to be highly ed…Read More…
Iskcon New Govardhana, Australia – Ratha Yatra – 10 July 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Think of Krishna always an…Read More…
Ratha-yatra in Prague, Czech Republic, the heart of Europe (Album with photos)
“And A Child Shall Lead Them” Isaiah 11-6.
Nine-year-old Vamsi Gopal das led the post-Rathayatra Harinam. With his sweet Kirtan and smile he led for over a half hour. The streets of Prague were packed and he charmed them all…..
Find them here: https://goo.gl/zmCXUP
TOVP: Corian for TOVP Coffer Ceilings (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: The TOVP Design team is considering using a material called corian for the coffer ceilings in the domes. It is cost efficient and light. Its primary use is for counter tops, bench top surfaces, and kitchen sinks. It comes in unlimited colors, so we could chose any color that we like. Our coffer ceilings would be made of a thin layer of corian and would be very light weight. Corian is excellent because it has great longevity, so it could last for a very long time.
The TOVP Design team has created a small sample to test the corian. The demo was made on the TOVP’s personal CNC (Computer Numerical Control) carving machine. This model is not a coffer ceiling, but rather is an example of how the corian may be used with the lighting. Thus, this sample is not what will be built in the TOVP. The model has three patterns of different textured carvings. One of the patterns is a very endearing and well detailed image of Srila Prabhupada.
The corian demo is very attractive when the light is turned on. All the patterns and images light up very nicely. This is the same technique that we can use to light up the domes from behind. We are pleased with the model and are optimistic about pursuing the coffer ceiling construction.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/a9AiD8
45th Kolkata Rathyatra Pandal Program (2016) (4 min video with the highlights)
Srila Prabhupada: As God is good, we are also go…Read More…
Baha, Bali, Indonesia–Village Ratha Yatra (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If one chants once only, it is to be understood that he has already passed all the examinations, not to speak of those who are chanting always, twenty-four hours a day. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.33.7 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/iDZUX7
July 11. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Swamiji Puts on Tilak.
After his bath he would come into the front room, where his assembled followers would sit around him. He would sit on a mat facing his picture of the Panca-tattva, and after putting a few drops of water in his left palm from a small metal spoon and bowl, he would rub a lump of Vrindavana clay in the water, making a wet paste. He would then apply the clay markings of Vaisnava tilaka, dipping into the yellowish paste in his left hand with the ring finger of his right. He would scrape wet clay from his palm, and while looking into a small mirror which he held deftly between the thumb and pinkie of his left hand, he would mark a vertical clay strip up his forehead and then trim the clay into two parallel lines by placing the little finger of his right hand between his eyebrows and running it upward past the hairline, clearing a path in the still-moist clay. Then he marked eleven other places on his body, while the boys sat observing, sometimes asking questions or sometimes speaking their own understandings of Krishna consciousness.
Prabhupada: My Guru Maharaja used to put on tilaka without a mirror.
Devotee: Did it come out neat?
Prabhupada: Neat or not neat, that does not matter. Yes, it was also neat.
Prabhupada would then silently recite the Gayatri mantra. Holding his brahmin’s sacred thread and looping it around his right thumb, he would sit erect, silently moving his lips. His bare shoulders and arms were quite thin as was his chest, but he had a round slightly protruding belly. His complexion was as satiny smooth as a young boy’s, except for his face, which bore signs of age. The movements of his hands were methodical, aristocratic, yet delicate.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=10
Harinama and book distribution in Genoa, Italy (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: These four principles: Always think of Krishna, become Krishna’s devotee, worship Krishna and offer your respect, obeisances to Krishna. That’s all. This is Krishna consciousness. Hyderabad, November 17, 1972.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/iV1tVB
Stockholm Ratha Yatra 2016 (10 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: Philosophy is the highest, but even higher than philosophy is the p…Read More…
Iskcon devotees in Taiwan celebrated the 5Oth anniversary of the incorporation of Iskcon at a retreat at Daxi, Taiwan (6 min video)Read More…
Experiences and realizations of devotees who give people Krsna consciousness by giving them books by Srila Prabhupada and his followers.
Death Wish Stopped
Once I was distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books in a small city in Belgium, and I met a woman who listened very emotionally as I showed her a book. She told me she didn’t need the book, because she had just bought some pills in the pharmacy (she showed them to me) and was on her way home to take them all at once and end her life.
“Launch Party” for the Toronto annual Ratha-Yatra (video)
On Sunday, June 26th, the Toronto Hare Krishna Temple hosted a “Launch Party” for our annual Ratha-Yatra (Festival of India) in the heart of the city at downtown Toronto at Yonge-Dundas Square. Check out the video highlights here: http://goo.gl/gbyAn5
“The Street Is The Temple” (Album with photos)
Dharmatma Das: Morning SKP lecture by Janananda Maharaja with this theme. “You never know what Lord Chaitanya has in store if you just let Him work through you.” The complete surrender of the Harinam Ruci boys is so inspiring. Daily Harinam from three to six hours, without fail, along with strong sadhana. There is nothing more liberating than street Harinam. Visnujana prabhu is a master at getting people to chant the Holy Names. Harinamananda prabhu out dances Baryshnikov. Gaurakaruna prabhu with his smile and horn gives, as he says, “Krishna Consciousness to everyone.” Along with books, CD’s and everything. He approaches anyone and everyone and leaves them with something. Also, Bhima Hari prabhu from Mexico leads sweet Kirtan. I can see him being full time with the boys. They bring joy to all that they come in contact with, both devotees and non-devotees. I thank Lord Krishna for allowing me to keep up with them.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/lW6n3p
July 10. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: More On Lunch With Swamiji.
One boy, Stanley, was quite young, and Prabhupada, almost like a doting father, watched over him as he ate. Stanley’s mother had personally met Prabhupada and said that only if he took personal care of her son would she allow him to live in the monastery. Prabhupada complied. He diligently encouraged the boy until Stanley gradually took on a voracious appetite and began consuming ten capatis at a sitting (and would have taken more had Swamiji not told him to stop). But aside from Swamiji’s limiting Stanley to ten capatis, the word was always, “More … take more.” When Prabhupada was finished, he would rise and leave the room, Keith would catch a couple of volunteers to help him clean, and the others would leave.
Occasionally, on a Sunday, Prabhupada himself would cook a feast with special Indian dishes.
Steve: Swamiji personally cooked the prasadam and then served it upstairs in his front room. We all sat in rows, and I remember him walking up and down in between the rows of boys, passing before us with his bare feet and serving us with a spoon from different pots. He would ask what did we want – did we want more of this? And he would serve us with pleasure. These dishes were not ordinary, but sweets and savories – like sweet rice and kachoris – with special tastes. Even after we had all taken a full plate, he would come back and ask us to take more.
Once he came up to me and asked what I would like more of – would I like some more sweet rice? In my early misconception of spiritual life, I thought I should deny myself what I liked best, so I asked for some more plain rice. But even that “plain” rice was fancy yellow rice with fried cheese balls.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=10
Celebrating the Joy of Devotion in Lapangan Braja Sandi Niti Mandala Renon Denpasar Bali (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada:…Read More…
Car festival gets off to a colourful start – Rath Yatra organised by ISKCON in Visakhapatnam, India.
Sumit Bhattacharjee: Men, women join in traditional attire to pull ropes of the chariot
The annual chariot festival or ‘Rath Yatra’ of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra, was marked with religious fervour, here in the city on Wednesday.
Over 1,000 people lined up to pull the ropes of the chariot carrying the deities during the Rath Yatra organised by International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).
Ritual of ‘Chherapanhara’ or sweeping of the road and the chariot, before the start of the ‘yatra’ was performed by Visakhapanam MP K. Haribabu in the presence of ISKCON – Visakhapatnam president Samba Das and former Vice-Chancellor of Andhra University G.S.N. Raju.
While many men and women dressed in colourful traditional attire joined to pull and ropes, the others danced to the chant of ‘Hare Krishna’.
The procession, started from the Gandhi statue opposite GVMC office and meandered its way through Dabagardens, Jagadamba, Beach Road to Andhra University convocation hall. The convocation hall will be the makeshift ‘Gundicha ghar’ or the house of Lord Jagannath’s maternal aunt.
Due to the procession, there was a huge traffic jam all along the route, despite the presence of traffic police, as men and women joined the ‘yatra’ all along the route.
“The deities will remain there for about nine days and daily puja will be performed,” said Mataji of ISKCON.
This is the 50{+t}{+h}anniversary of ISKCON and globally 555 Rath Yatras will be taken out to mark the occasion, by the end of the year, said Samba Das.
At Ukkunagaram
At the Jagannath Temple in Ukkunagaram, CMD of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant P. Madhusudan performed the ‘Chherapanhara’ donning the traditional attire of a king.
A large number of devotees, employees and locals joined the celebration and actively pulled the chariot through the streets of the VSP Township amidst the chanting of the Lord’s name and dancing to the beats of ‘mridang’ and cymbals.
P.C. Mohapatra, Director (Projects), D.N. Rao, Director (Operations), Raychoudary, Director (Commercial), along with their family members offered prayers.
The evening was laced with colourful cultural programmes comprising Sambalpuri Folk dance and Odissi dance. The festival will culminate on July 17.
Utkal Samaj
The festival was observed with all religiosity by the Utkal Sanaskrutika Samaj and the ‘Rath Yatra’ began from the Utkal Temple with the customary cleaning of the chariot by Pramod Chandra Deo Bhanj.
The colourfully-decked up chariot with the three deities was pulled by devotees from the temple premises at Dasapalla Hills to the Gundicha Ghar at Lawsons Bay.
The chariot passed through All India Radio, HPCL Millennium petrol bunk, Andhra University gates, Chinna Waltair, VUDA Park, Peda Waltair Junction, Geeta Ashram to Lawsons Bay.
Highlight was the performance by the Sarala Ghanata Nritya troupe from Odisha. According to president of the samaj, S.C. Choudhury, former Chief Commissioner of Customs, the deities will be in Gundicha Ghar till July 13 and will return (Bahuda Yatra) on July 14, to the temple premises.
Regular pujas will be taken up at the Gundicha Ghar, during the Lord’s stay, said secretary of the samaj, S.K. Panigrahi.
Annual Ratha Yatra festival of Lord Jagannatha in Kampala, Uganda.
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) held the annual Rath Yatra festival of Lord Jagannatha on Saturday in Kampala.
The event is held annually in July. Rath Yatra involves moving deities Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarshana on a chariot called a ratha or rotho.
The procession led by a band started from the ISKCON Hare Krishna temple on Dewinton road, through Siad Barre avenue before ending at the SSDM temple in Nakasero, where prayers and dinner were held.
With live instruments being played coupled with clapping and dancing, followers chanted “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna-Krishna, Hare-Hare; Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama-Rama, Hare-Hare”. Others held onto the ropes attached to the chariot.
It is believed that one touch of the holy rope of Lord Jagannatha’s chariot can free one of all types of sinful reactions,” according to Rajni Tailor, the ISKCON patron.
This year’s local theme was all about the gratitude for helping Uganda go through a peaceful electoral process.
ISKCON was founded in 1966 by His Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and is headquartered in Mayapur village, near Calcutta, India. It draws spiritual sustenance from the Bhagavad Gita (Song of the Blessed One), a most sacred Hindu scripture.
Safety Check – Affected Zones
Nityananda Chandra Das: This material world is a dangerous place. In fact, if it had a Yelp review you would be quite surprised. Every ancient saint of every tradition had the same thing to say. Whether it was the Buddh…
TOVP: Celebrating the Construction Progress of the Main Dome (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: The first photograph reveals ho…Read More…
The touring festival of India in Poland finds big success (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: One who thinks himself lower th…Read More…
Radha Kunda Seva: June 2016 Photos and Updates (Album with photos)
It’s been hot, hot, hot! And many of our crew have been getting sick and sicker. But life goes on in the Dham, as does our cleaning and prasadam distribution there.
It was with both gratitude and sorrow that we said goodbye this month to a donor who was contributing around 25% of the expenses for our daily prasadam distribution to the widows of Radha Kunda. If you would like to help sponsor one of the 23 ladies now in need of support, please visit… http://radharani.com/daily-meals/
Time is ticking and the temple is looking more and more beautiful. September is just two months away and we are looking forward to construction beginning on the kitchen! To see more about this project please visit… http://radharani.com/build-a-kitchen/
The gardens are thriving. (Yep, they like the heat.) Thousands of pilgrims are still going on parikrama. (They don’t seem to mind the heat.) And the cleaning continues daily. (Our cleaning crew manages to brave the heat.)
Thank you for being a part of our endeavor to clean and serve at Radha Kunda and Govardhan.
Please browse our latest photos and join our efforts by visiting www.radharani.com.
Your servants, Campakalata Devi dasi, Padma Gopi Devi dasi, Urmila Devi Dasi, and Mayapurcandra dasa.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/8MhtPF
Bhaktivedanta Research Centre Team in a mission (Album with photos)
The BRC Manuscripts Mission Team sent these photos from th…Read More…
His Divine Order (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The great Polish Woodstock is only days away. There’s a flurry everywhere as preparations go on at full speed. 900,000 people are expected by next Thursday. By the hard work of devotees, Krsna’s Village Of Peace is slowly manifesting from the grassy fields of Kostrzyn nad Odra. Behind the scenes hundreds of devotees are beginning to prepare 40 tons of foodstuffs that will manifest as 150,000 plates of prasadam. Srila Prabhupada once asked his disciples to preach big. Here at Woodstock 2016 we hope to contribute to fulfilling that divine order.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/hD65HT
July 9. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: “If you are not ashamed”
Before I became a devotee of Prabhupada, my friends and I often expressed our determination not to “sell out.” Selling out meant giving up our free spirit and surrendering to the demands of American society. When I moved to the Lower East Side the expression was, “Don’t cop-out.” Don’t give up the hip life and become an ordinary American shmo.
Swamiji’s disciples didn’t think of themselves as cop-outs, but one day a visitor to the storefront told Gargamuni dasa, “I think Hare Krishna is a cop-out.”
“What?” Gargamuni defended our position. “You call this a cop-out?” We’re not afraid to shave our heads and wear a dhoti and walk around the city like this, but here you are with your black denims and your shirt looking like everybody else. You think you’re so cool, but you’re just another anonymous person on the street.”
What our visitor meant was that we had given up the “responsibilities” of hippie life – no more marijuana or LSD – and we lived in our temple in a different reality with aspirations to return to the spiritual world. It sounded to him like a cop-out. We had our comeback remarks, but if some of the hippies didn’t accept us, then that was a price we had to pay.
One time, when I was sitting inside the storefront, I overheard two guys who stopped to read Swamiji’s sign in the window. One of them read aloud: “Classes in Bhagavad-gita – Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Chant this transcendental sound vibration, Hare Krishna mantra. Learn the science of Krishna from a bona fide spiritual master.” Then he said to his friend, “What kind of word is that to use for a guru – bona fide? It sounds like a legal term.” They laughed at the use of the word “bona fide.” I knew what they meant because I also used to laugh cynically at anything that was a little strange. Their attitude was typical of middle-class Americans who had become hip and were ready to take apart anything that didn’t seem to be hip. By laughing at Prabhupada’s use of “bona fide,” they were mocking our whole scene. In hippie life, the worst mistake was to do anything “square.” So by detecting this one phrase that didn’t seem to fit in with hip consciousness – “bona fide spiritual master” – they laughed and walked on, dismissing the seriousness of our movement.
From inside the storefront I thought, “You don’t understand. Just because the Swami uses a few words differently than you doesn’t mean you have a reason to reject him.” As Prabhupada writes in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, he is more interested in the techniques of bhakti than in the language. By “bona fide” he meant that a spiritual master cannot be concocted, cannot be an upstart. He has to be genuine. There is nothing wrong with the meaning of the words “bona fide” to define a spiritual master, but with the hippie movement, style was worth more than content.
Only among the devotees could we fully express our feelings. “Just think – we have been taking one life after another for millions and millions of years. We’ve been up and we’ve been down, and now we’re at the highest point we’ve ever been in millions of births. We’re associating with the pure devotee and making progress for going back to Godhead. Let’s not blow it!”
Prabhupada had a habit of using initials to express meanings in code form. One of his favorites was S.R. S.R. meant “simply rascal.” He said that we could make a button with the letters S.R. on it and give it out to people who were rascals. He said that even the President of India was “an S.R. man.”
Swamiji was aware that we were going through a conversion from “hippy to happy.” He said, “You can wear your chanting beads around your neck when you go outside the temple – if you are not ashamed.”
“What does that mean, Swamiji? S.M.?”
“Not S.M.,” said Swamiji, “I said ashamed. If you are not ashamed.” Prabhupada meant, “If you are not ashamed of being a devotee.”
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=10
Suresh Prabhu (India’s Railway Minister) tweets about ISKCON:
Wndrful 2 visit ISKCON temple at Sarajevo,capital city of Bosnia & Herzegovina along wth Indian Amb Rahul Chhabra.
ISKCON’s effort 2 tk Indian spiritual culture 2 the world is laudable.Our spirituality gives msg of world peace nd universal brotherhood.
To read them: https://goo.gl/BrqvFQ
Czech Summer Camp 2016 (Album with photos)
Dharmatma Das: A wonderful Vaisnava family mood at this 22nd annual gathering at a beautiful, remote, full facillity campground. Something special about the Czeck and other devotees here. Enlightening Seminars and classes given by Danavir, Bhakti Vaibhava, Bhakti Gauravani, Kadamba Kanana and Bhakti Prabhava Swami’s. And of course fabulous Prasadam. Went to a local town yesterday. Shops were closed and the town empty but the ecstatic Harinam magically brought them out. Recently arrived Janananda maharaja and Prithu prabhu and more nectar Harinam. Then sent Danavir Maharaja off and took over a old time Hippie Underground Music Festival. Talk about deja-vu!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/rxdS4J
Harinama in a park of Moscow (Album with photos)
The devotees there are praying that the new very restrictive law, which may go…Read More…
The highlights of the Jagannatha Ratha Yatra in Puri (5 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended five …Read More…
Harinama in Florence, Italy (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The devotee can constantly think of the object of worship, the Supreme Lord, in any of His features—Narayana, Krishna, Rama, etc. – by chanting Hare Krishna. This practice will purify him, and at the end of his life, due to his constant chanting, he will be transferred to the kingdom of God. Bhagavad-Gita 8.8 Purport.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/WrQSYe
Russia: Waiting list of 80 people to read the Sri Isopanisad!
While in Warsaw, Poland, I asked a devotee how he came to Krishna consciousness. At that time it was still a communist country so book distribution wasn’t allowed, but somehow books would get into places around communist countries. This devotee tells how he came across one of Prabhupada’s books.
ISKCON Baltimore: Srila Prabhupada visiting New Temple Project. (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The holy name of the Lor…Read More…
Peter Max (the world famous artist) gets Srila Prabhupada’s books!
Drumila Dasa: I was talking to a woman outside the famous Omni Hotel. She had contributed to our Food for Life program here in New Orleans. She was so nice I asked if I could take her picture and put her on my Facebook page holding her book. To reassure her I showed her some of the famous people that have gotten books from me. She said, “You know, I’m here with Peter Max.” I said, “You’re here with Peter Max!?”
I said, “Can I go in and give them a book, and take my picture with him?” She said, “I’ll bring him out to you!” I said, “Really!?” She said, “Sure.”
He’s a very famous illustrator from the 60’s and 70’s, whose work was on the Beatles album ‘Yellow Submarine’.
Peter Max (born Peter Max Finkelstein, October 19, 1937) is a Jewish German-born American illustrator and graphic artist currently living in New York City. He’s known for his use of psychedelic shapes and color palettes, spectra in his work, and the counter-culture, pop-art-focused nature of his art.
His work has been featured in various popular publications, events, and various museums and galleries worldwide. Examples of his commissions include being the official artist of the 1994 World Cup, painting of the hull art of a Norwegian Cruise Line, and border murals along entry points to the USA from Canada and Mexico.
LA Sankirtan Team Initiations (Album with photos)
Bhakta Jay Khush & Bhakta Storm get initiated by HH Radhanath Swami and become Jaya Caitanya Das & Sri Nitai Das!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/1BGRrH
July 8. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Dynamic Preacher on the Streets of New York.
“Yes, from the very beginning I went to New York City because I thought that Krishna consciousness is the most important idea in the world, so let me go to that place, New York, which is the most important city in the world, and if I am able to do anything for Krishna and my spiritual master, even I am at the fag-end of my life, at least let me try for it there.” (Letter, December 23, 1972)
New York City was the only city in America where Prabhupada walked the streets alone. It is hard for us to conceive of now. We see pictures of Prabhupada sitting on a large vyasasana and speaking to hundreds of devotees, but in Manhattan in 1965-66, no one was his follower. He walked the streets and thought, “How can I spread Krishna consciousness here?”
In a 1965 lecture, Prabhupada gave an analogy to explain that Krishna is not alone. He said, “All day I am in this room alone, but when you come in the evening, I become more enlivened.” He was like a hermit in the city. He typed Srimad-Bhagavatam and chanted alone, even when the lights went out.
“When I was alone in your New York, I was thinking, who will listen to me in this horrible, sinful place? All right, I shall stay a little longer, at least I can distribute a few of my books, that is something. But Krishna was all along preparing something I could not see, and He brought you to me one by one, sincere American boys and girls, to be trained-up for doing the work of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Now I can see that it is a miracle. Otherwise, your city of New York, one single old man, with only a few books to sell for barely getting eatables, how he can survive, what to speak of introducing God consciousness movement for saving humankind? That is Krishna’s miracle. Now I can see it.” (Letter, December 23, 1972)
Srila Prabhupada had no romantic notions about Manhattan. He commiserated with the human suffering that he saw here. He spoke about the heavy snowfall, and compared the dirt on the streets to the dirt in the heart. He saw the city as big maya, and he wanted to give us shelter.
When Prabhupada revisited Manhattan in 1976, he reminisced about the old days. He said, “When I came here no one cared for me, but now I have so many sons; it is Krishna’s mercy.”
He also wrote in one letter:
“New York is very special to me because I started there without anything except faith in my spiritual master and Lord Krishna. I am very glad to see that things are developing there nicely.” (Letter, October 17, 1975)
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=10
Harinama in Bologna, Italy (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: As far as possible, therefore, the devotees in the Krishna con…Read More…
“The Walking Monk”: Swami Embarks on Transnational Walk Across the USA to Commemorate 50th Anniversary of the Hare Krishna Tradition.
Urvashi Verma: Chicago, Il: Bhaktimarga Swami, a 63 year old Canadian born monk has embarked on a transnational walk of 3,000 miles across the United States from New York City to San Francisco to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the coming of the Hare Krishna Tradition to the West and to promote a more green style of living in America.
Swami who has arrived in Chicago, Il on June 11 has traversed open plains, highways, and landmarks. For the general public, Bhaktimarga Swami is best known as “the walking monk”. To share his message of peace and gratitude he has already crossed Canada four times covering over 17,000 miles on foot.
The Swami is walking to draw attention to the contributions of his own spiritual teacher, or guru, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. Prabhupada arrived in the USA 50 years ago, on September 17, 1965. He came practically penniless from India at the age of 70 on the order of his teacher to promote God consciousness, or devotional bhakti-yoga, to the English-speaking world.
“In the broader sense I’m walking to honor all our teachers,” Swami says. “Our teachers open the doors to the world for us, and to other worlds as well. I hope to remind us all how grateful we should be to those who give us knowledge, especially knowledge about our inner potential, ” he says.
Each day Swami, donned in monastic orange garb and his favorite crocs he walks 20 miles each day along path chartered by his companion assistant Gopala and returns to the same spot where he left the next day to complete another 20 miles.
Source: http://goo.gl/0f4xMy
50 HOURS OF KIRTAN IN HONOR OF 50-YEARS ISKCON
Simhachalam, Germany, Aug.11 – Aug.14, 2016.
We are very happy to invite you again to this kirtan event in Germany. In the mood of Srila Prabhupada, we are trying to organize a kirtan to change the vibration on this planet, and in that way strengthen our own devotion. The whole festival will be centered on singing the Maha-mantra. Throughout the day we will have different kirtan parties performing and bringing you to a deep personal experience in the chanting. There will be a nice, spacious temple room, and areas where devotees can discuss their experiences, meet the gurus and enjoy the atmosphere of the festival. We did our all to invite the best kirtan leaders to celebrate this festival with us. All of them are well known for their unique kirtan style. The whole 50 hours, they will lift us up to the transcendental platform.
Those who have already confirmed their participation:
HH Sacinandana Swami, HH Bhakti Vaibhava Swami, HH Kadamba Kanana Swami, HG Prithu Prabhu, HG Vayasaki Prabhu, HG Aditi Dukha Prabhu, HG Dina Sharana Mataji, HG Sarvatma Prabhu
Please check our website regularly for additional information. Thank you for considering attending this 6th Kirtan Mela festival in Germany. We hope you will join us in a happy mood this summer in Simhachalam. Please register as soon as possible on our website http://www.kirtan-mela-germany.de/index.php/en/ (see “Registration” option), the number of participants is limited.
Iskcon Salem Rathayatra 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The Hare Krishna movement is present in every millennium of Lord Brahma’s life, and the holy name is chanted in all the higher planetary systems, including Brahmaloka and Candraloka, not to speak of Gandharvaloka and Apsaroloka. The sankirtana movement that was started in this world five hundred years ago by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is therefore not a new movement. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 2.7.15 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/x88Jqc