Author Archives: Dandavats.com

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 Even more often we see that the sari has been replaced by Western clothes in the name of “selling more books” or “collecting more laksmi.”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…

Iskcon Youth Bus Tour (13 min video)
We are SO excited to finally unveil our 2016 Australian Bus Tour video, on the same day that our US Kirtan Tour begins :). It’s wonderful to know that the bus tour revolution is still growing globally!
We hope you get just as inspired after watching this film, and please like, comment and share with others. And we hope you get inspired enough to join us on our upcoming second annual Australian Bus Tour!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/9EORLy

The Bonds of Love.
My name is Nadia. I am 13yrs old, live in Zurich, Switzerland, and love cows!
My earliest and happiest memories are of coming to Kurma Rupa Prabhu’s Care for Cows with my mother Mahapuri dasi when we visited Vrindavan and the Krsna Balaram Temple, usually twice a year.
Once in the month of Kartik 2009, along with my mother and some friends, I was at Care for Cows with Kurma Rupa prabhu. We were petting the sick and injured cows, when a poor elderly lady walked into the ghosala carrying a tiny calf. She asked if he could take her calf as she was poor and unable to look after her. Kurma Rupa prabhu agreed. One of our friends decided to adopt her and named her Champaka Lata. Since that time we have taken over her sponsorship.
When I first saw Champaka Lata I felt such love and just wanted to hold and cuddle this sweet little calf. Every day I would beg my mother to bring me to the Care for Cows to spend hours embracing Champi (my name for her). She would lay her head on my chest while I petted and brushed her. Years passed and our bond grew and grew.
In September, 2012 Champi gave birth to a beautiful calf, Sarika. Upon our arrival back in Vrindavan we caught a rickshaw over to Care for Cows, Kiki Nagla. Champi ran to my mother and started pushing and licking her. Champi placed her head on my mother’s lap when she sat down and tears were flowing from Champi’s eyes. Soon all of us including, Keshi Nisudan and our friends were crying tears of affection. Keshi prabhu said she was crying with the joy at becoming a mother. Now she is a mother of a second child, a bull called Kurma Rupa.
Champi gives me so much warmth and love that every second spent with her is filled with great happiness and strength. When I grow up I want to be a Veterinarian and serve the holy cows of Vrindavan. I know I have to study very hard.
Thank you to all the staff of Care For Cows for always making us so welcome and for taking such good care of Champi and all her friends.

Govindas street kirtana in Sydney, Australia (Album with photos)
Kalasamvara Das: As part of the 50th year incorporation of Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON celebration Govindas street kirtana is taking part in the world famous vivid light spectacular for the next 3 weeks which is transforming Sydney into a wonderland of light art and sculptures, like the famous Sydney opera house, the Sydney harbour bridge and other iconic landmark buildings.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/B4gVJb

In Memoriam 2016 – new video by Siddhanta prabhu about the departed sons and daughters of His Divine Grace. (20 min video)
Srila…

It’s On! (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The Sadhu Sanga Retreat 2016, in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina, is on! Just under 2,000 devotees from around the USA have registered and are settling in for a special weekend of kirtan, kirtan and more kirtan. We held the first program this evening.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/KQdXdG

May 28. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Even a Paragraph, A Sentence, A Word.
We want to remember what Prabhupada has written and repeat it to audiences wherever we go. His teachings are memorable truths. Other writers may dazzle us with their presentations, but we don’t want to memorize them. Their so-called truths are not worth repeating. Srila Prabhupada’s writing is powerful truth, and because it is powerful, he can utter it with calmness, restraint, and simplicity. Srila Prabhupada himself is a modest person, but he carries the mantle of the pure devotee of Krishna.
Even one paragraph of Srila Prabhupada’s writing is worth studying and restudying. Often just a small section of a paragraph will expose the complicated waste and misuse of energy that the non-devotees engage in. His writing cannot be read with complacency if one wants to get the full effect of his preaching. Srila Prabhupada is too dynamic a writer to read him in a casual way:
The material scientists – the quasi-priests who invoke such material activities – invent many objects to gratify the material senses, including the eye, ear, nose, skin, tongue, and ultimately the mind, and in this way the scientists create a field of unnecessary competition for enhancement of material happiness, which leads the whole world into the whirlpool of uncalled-for clashes. The net result is scarcity all over the world, so much so that even the bare necessities of life, namely, food, shelter and clothing, become objects of contention and control. And so there arise all sorts of obstacles to the traditional, God-given life of plain living and high thinking.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=8

History of one photo.
Denis, hello. My life has changed dramatically over the last fifteen months. It now makes sense and fullness. My son and husband are happy, our lives normal. I live for the first time. I live with a sense of integrity and involvement to everything around. It all began with a short, but the most important meeting of my life. Denis, thanks to you I have come to Krishna consciousness, it happened six months after it has been made this picture, but for the last six months I read the Bhagavad Gita and had the yatra has already consciously. I have no words to express the sense of gratitude that overwhelms me. It is because you have changed my mentality, attitude towards life and people. Thank you for what you have done to me, for your preaching and for the boundless happiness you gifted me with which I now enjoy. I would be immensely happy to see you again, and personally express you my gratitude.
Answer: Hello, dear Nastya! I am very pleased that my efforts have paid off. In fact, we need to thank Srila Prabhupada, that he saves us. I’m just the postman. I am very glad that your life has changed for the better, it inspired me to continue to distribute the book. Now I live in Omsk, and will stay here until the spring, but when I come back I will be glad to talk with you. I wish you happiness!

Iskcon Alachua: Door left open for Krishna elderly housing.
The decision came after hearing presentations from county staff and representatives of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness’ Alachua County location, which is off State Road 235, northeast of the city of Alachua.
Arvind Singh, a member of ISKCON, is proposing to develop his 12-acre parcel next to the religious facility in the hopes of providing a “congregate living facility” where elderly members of the congregation would live. Being close to temple would make attending 4:15 a.m. prayer easier and also help maintain their vegetarian dietary restrictions, according to Singh.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/fmzU4B

Kumbha Mela 2016 report.
Deena Bandhu Das: This is what one month in Kumbha Mela looks like! We distributed 20,000 Bhagavad Git…

All you ever wanted to know about how to chant japa …improperly 🙂 (4 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: My dear Lord, although You bestow such mercy upon the fallen, conditioned souls by liberally teaching Your holy names, I am so unfortunate that I commit offenses while chanting the holy name, and therefore I do not achieve attachment for chanting. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 20.16)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/PMrWrF

Maha Sudarshan Homa fire yajna for the protection of Mayapur (Album with photos)
The yajna is called the Maha Sudarshan Homa, a…

Maha Harinam in Vienna, Austria (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In this Age of Kali, the process of worshiping Krishna i…

Iskcon Los Angeles: 25th Annual Prabhupada Festival (May 28th, May 29th)
This year marks the 25th Annual Prabhupada Festival. T…

May 27. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: “All Right”
After a 1966 lecture in the storefront, Prabhupada sometimes asked for questions from the audience. When he felt he had answered enough, he said, “All right.” Sometimes he said it with resignation, almost sadness. He seemed to mean, “All right, I’ve tried my best.” Sometimes after answering many questions, Prabhupada’s utterance of “all right” sounded disgusted. He had just given a wonderful parampara speech, and yet people were raising their hands and asking challenging, doubtful, or crazy questions. He looked out at the audience before him, sensing that they were not asking intelligent questions. “All right,” he would say, “let us have kirtana.”
Swamiji sharing an apple with us as the last act of the evening at 26 Second Avenue; when he said, “All right,” it meant we had to leave. It was sad. Although we had just had such a nice meeting, it had to end, just like everything else in the material world. In that sense, “all right” presented a challenge to those souls who wanted to return to their maya in Manhattan.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=8

Beautiful Vrindavana. Aerial shots of this holy place and its residents (5 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: Philosophy is the highe…

Vivaha-yajna in Russia (5 min video)
“In this video is presented a colorful ceremony called – Vivaha-yajna or a wedding ceremony, a Vedic ritual.
It is the key to a successful marriage and one of the ten major purificatory ceremonies, which must pass a man in his life.
This ritual gives a person the strength to follow his vows for the rest of life. The wedding “is recorded in heaven” at a time when the young are aware of the fact that they promised each other, to God and to others never to leave only if they can be considered as husband and wife in the Vedic tradition of marriage – an act of celebration, and not an agreement that people make among themselves, motivated by lust compound of married men and women -. not only the physical, moral, but also -. a spiritual process he imposes on the spouses responsible not only for their material existence, but also for spiritual development. Together husband and wife are united in the service of God. His wife protects her husband from the other women, and the husband the wife of sexual harassment of other men. A woman can only have one husband, and the man only one wife. “
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/q5nRrU

Ratha Yatra in Rijeka, Croatia, 04th June 2016.
We are most happy and enthusiastic to invite you to participate at the 14th Ratha Yatra festival in Rijeka, Croatia.
Festival will be held on the 4th of June at 11 am. This year we celebrate 50 years of ISKCON and we want to make the biggest Ratha Yatra so far.
Please come and join in our celebration for the pleasure of Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Subhadra Devi.
Ratha-yatra procession will start at 11 am from Jelacic Square. It will then proceed through Korzo street to Jadranski trg and back to Korzo. Program on stage will start at 11 am and will be going on continually until 3 pm, with a break when the Ratha chariot passes by.
Special guests of the festival are HH Candramauli Swami, HH Krishna Kshetra Swami and HG Rohini-suta Prabhu.
Prasadam distribution will be at 1,30 pm, close to the parked Ratha chariot and the stage.
Everybody is heartily invited to come and enjoy the rain of mercy that will shower on the whole city, and especially on the heart of our town – Korzo.
To see the photos of last year’s festival: https://goo.gl/9WXMIW

Mega Harinama in Ekaterinburg 07.05.2016 (18 min video)
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.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/ajZviS

The carts for the Ratha-yatra of Lord Jagganath are getting ready in Puri, Orissa, all by hand (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhu…

Girgaum dump now a butterfly garden, thanks to devotees
Mumbai, May 23 – A temple in south Mumbai has created a butterfly garden out of a former garbage dump in Girgaum. After creating the green haven in the middle of a congested area, the temple has taken its green project further by nurturing the garden with compost created from puja wastes.
While much of Mumbai assumes that it is the municipal corporation’s responsibility to collect and dispose of their waste, the Sri Sri Radha Gopinath Mandir at Girgaum, part of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), has been recycling 40kg of flower waste a day into manure that is used at the butterfly garden.

May 26. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Swamiji’s Genius.
It was a sign of Swamiji’s genius to bring together simple instruments that everyone could play. Just as in a kindergarten music class not a single instrument requires one to be a musician – there are blocks, triangles, cymbals, a drum, clackers – so was Swamiji’s genius to bring together all those instruments and hand them out to the children to play. The only instruction was, “one-two-three, one-two-three.”
The naked light, the back bars on the window behind the Swami. Some girls from the Lower East Side coming in with motivations other than to participate in Hare Krishna. New brahmacaris, protective of our celibacy … guys with big, bushy beards reminding us of what we used to be.
Each in our own small space, a box within a box. In a small room with a lot of people, we have to manoeuvre while dancing and moving around. There’s room for everyone. Shoes in the back, smelly. Back to Godhead with many concentric circles on the cover – stencilled, mimeographed copies. A hand-cranked mimeograph machine in one corner. Gargamuni with long hair parted in the middle, looking wistful with his double strand of red japa beads wrapped around his neck. And Swamiji in the center of it all, his pointy white shoes at the door where he left them when he came in.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=8

Gunagrahi Swami’s health update.
Dear friends and well wishers,
It’s been a while since our last update. So many changes have occurred over the past few months. Everything was happening so fast daily, so it became difficult to report up-to-date events and progress.
Gunagrahi Prabhu left Bangalore several months ago and was moved to the Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Mira Road/Mumbai. During his treatment in Bangalore the herbs and physical purification had a profound impact on his emotions, sleep and general mental health. Everyone involved in his care, as well as himself, felt he needed to be under the direct care of a hospital and medical professionals. For that reason we moved him to the Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Mumbai.
Shortly after his arrival to the hospital the doctors were able to stabilize his physical and mental condition. Several devotees traveled with him and continued to care for him during the transition. While in the hospital he received his first lupron/hormone shot. This treatment is supposed to reduce pain, shrink the size of the tumor and swelling and extend his life.
After almost one month in the hospital the doctors and devotee caretakers felt he was stable and self sufficient enough to be moved to a private room in the Iskcon Chowpatty temple. There he is receiving first class devotee care and association, attending temple programs, and able to dive deeply into hearing and chanting.
Recently he received his second shot if lupron, which is allowing him to walk again and experience minimal physical pain.
He feels extremely grateful and humbled by the many encouraging and loving emails from devotees all over the world.
We would like to recognize a few devotees who have been very committed and dedicated to helping him during part, and even some the entire process. They have sacrificed their time, finances and even health in order to assure he has been taken care of. It has given all of us a deep appreciation for unconditional loving vaisnava relationships.
Those devotees are Hansadutta and Savitri Prabhus, Brihat Mrdanga Prabhu, Ekavira Prabhu, Mahatma Prabhu, Virabahu Prabhu, Ekanatha Gaura Prabhu, Akshaya and Giri Govardhana Prabhus, Yudhisthira Prabhu, Pavamana Prabhu, and especially a very special recognition for His Holiness Jayadwaita Maharaja who has not left his side since Bangalore. A special thank you to the hospital and all of it’s wonderful staff. His Holiness Radhannatha Swami for helping arrange the personal care given by the Chowpatty temple.
Of course, all of this would not have been possible without the generous donations and support received from well wishers. It really has been amazing and moving to see everyone come together to help take care of this special soul. If I have left anyone out, please forgive me and please let us know.
Your servants,
Mahahari das and Gandharvika devi dasi

Annual European ISKCON Communications Seminar
A team of devotees from Bhaktivedanta Manor and ISKCON-London attended the annual…

Ratha Yatra kids craft activity.
Sangeeta Rasa DD: Ratha Yatra time is coming. I prepared some devotional kids craft activity…

Harinam Sankirtan in Hong Kong (Album with photos)
H.H. RP Bhakti Raghava Swami has been visiting Hong Kong since May 17th with…

Harinam In Macapa-Amazonia with Bhakti Narasimha Swami (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Kali-kale nama-rupe krsna-avatara…

TOVP updates. (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: At present, the rainwater pipes are being put in place for the TOVP.
The…