Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Newly Appointed Professor Talks Scholarship’s Role in Vaishnavism.
Professor Ravi M. Gupta (Radhika Ramana Das) is the newly appointed Charles Redd Chair of Religious Studies, and Director of the Religious Studies Program at Utah State University.
It’s a prestigious position that brings to mind a gruff, silver-bearded elder. But Radhika Ramana flips that idea on its head. At a youthful 34, he’s got a beaming smile of pearly whites and a full head of black hair. He’s also disarmingly unpretentious despite his astonishing academic journey.
Homeschooled by his mother Aruddha Dasi at his home in Boise, Idaho, Radhika followed a highly unconventional curriculum based mostly on Srila Prabhupada’s Srimad-Bhagavatam, from which he learned reading, writing, comprehension, grammar, and critical thinking skills.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/mUA437

A Special Welcome!
Indradyumna Swami: Last week In St. Petersburg, Russia we held an initiation ceremony welcoming devotees into our Gaudiya Vaisnava Sampradaya, under the auspice of our beloved Srila Prabhupada. It was a joyous occasion which we celebrated with ecstatic chanting and dancing to the Lord’s holy names. All glories to the samkirtan movement of Lord Caitanya, presently flooding the great country of Russia with causeless mercy!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/FjluhR

ISKCON-Delhi – Sri Narasimha Chaturdashi Maha Abhishek: 20-05-2016 (Album with photos)
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/lyrbcp

Prabhupada said, “If you don’t want to help, I will help.”
Mahakratu: I cooked every day, but early one morning Shakti Mati, a fierce Punjabi lady and a renowned cook, invaded the kitchen and decided that she was cooking Prabhupada’s breakfast.
I said, “Okay, you can do it,” and I went to the morning program and class. Shakti Mati had a group of brahmacharinis with her, and together they cooked a huge feast.
Later, Niragadeva and I came to the kitchen with two big silver platters and loaded them with the different preparations.
We went into Srila Prabhupada’s room, and Prabhupada’s eyes got really big. I put one plate down in front of him, and he said, “You have cooked all this?”
I said, “Oh, no, Srila Prabhupada, not me.” He looked at Brahmananda and said, “Who has cooked this? Shakti Mati?” and they both started laughing.
Then Prabhupada gave everyone—Chayavana, Brahmananda, Niragadeva, and me—a handful of prasadam.
He said, “You take this, distribute the rest, and then come back, and I’ll tell you what I want for breakfast.” He actually wanted local fruits.
He said, “The fruits in Kenya are excellent,” and that’s what he wanted everyday. He also specifically said that he wanted me to make his breakfast. He said, “I want you to do it.”
Prabhupada got angry when he found out that I was doing all the cooking without any help.
Everybody else wanted to be in his classes and go on his morning walks, so I was alone in the kitchen cooking for the Deities, the devotees, and Srila Prabhupada as well. It was quite a strain.
One day we ran out of gas, and Prabhupada’s offering wasn’t getting cooked. Nothing was getting cooked. By that time I was completely stressed. It was too much for me.
Prabhupada told Harikesh to find out what I was doing. Harikesh told Prabhupada, “The kitchen has run out of gas,” and this and that.
Prabhupada said, “Why? Who is helping Mahakratu?” Harikesh explained that I was doing it all by myself. I had to arrange everything and cook as well.
Srila Prabhupada said to Harikesh, “You help cook. I didn’t realize that Mahakratu was under so much burden.”
Harikesh helped for a while but walked out when some matajis came into the kitchen.
When he went back to Prabhupada’s room, Prabhupada asked him, “Why aren’t you helping in the kitchen?”
Harikesh said, “There’s matajis in there. Mahakratu can manage.” Srila Prabhupada got up and said, “I’ll go and help him then. If you don’t want to help, I will help.” In this way Prabhupada was very merciful.
Some Gaudiya Math brahmacharis were cooking a big feast outside, and I was watching them.
Then, all of a sudden, Prabhupada walked up holding his cane, stood a little behind me, and looked also.
I didn’t realize he was there. I turned around, and there was Prabhupada. I offered my obeisances, and Prabhupada said,
“If you can learn to cook like this, you can win the whole world. These Gaudiya Math cooks are very expert.”
Then he walked off. He was strolling around by himself looking at the different preparations.
—Mahakratu

Mayapur Daily Darshan Narasimha Caturdasi 20 May 2016 (Album with photos)
Narasimha-vesa. In the forest Apsaravana at the foot of Narasimha-tila lie two lakes, Puncari-kunda and the glorious Apsara-kunda. Here, by affectionately stroking young Prahlada Maharaja’s head, Narasimhadeva reassured him that he was now free from any further torment from his demoniac father Hiranyakashipu.
The Lord said to his devotee, “Dear child, stay in this forest, and with a purified heart, worship the pastimes of Radha and Krsna by chanting the Holy Name. Soon you will see them.”
(Nava-vraja-mahima, volume 3)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/EvKxNC

Atlanta Annual Ratha Yatra festival.
2016 being the 50th year for ISKCON, we have organized our Annual Ratha Yatra as “MARCH FOR UNITY” inviting 50 organizations to participate in the event.

May 20. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Swamiji Gave Us Confidence.
There were many potentially awkward moments for Srila Prabhupada as he began conducting his movement in America in 1966. We rejoice now in recalling how he was so tolerant. While Prabhupada had some control over events within the storefront, it was more uncontrolled when we went to chant outside in Tompkins Square Park. When someone joined your kirtana by blowing loudly on a saxophone, it was not easy to tell him to go away. But Prabhupada always seemed to know best how to get through such situations.
Prabhupada’s chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra was a particularly effective way to smooth over awkward gaps between himself and the younger generation. He just recommended that people chant Hare Krishna “wherever you go, and whatever you do.”
Although Prabhupada was worlds apart from the young people in America, the younger generation accepted him as “cool”; he was hip in his own way. He was not a middle-class conformist, and he had not come to give us Boy Scout lessons. He was not a church minister giving sermons with a piety that we could not relate to.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=8

Radha Kunda Seva – April 2016 Photos and Updates.
We are excited to share photos with you of the progress on the building of Srila Prabhupada’s temple on the property adjacent to ours in Govardhan. The dome has appeared and is clearly visible from the Govardhana Parikrama path! Construction for the kitchen is scheduled to begin as soon as the temple is complete.
If you’d like to be a part of Prasadam distribution in Radha Kunda, this is an excellent opportunity. More about the project at http://radharani.com/build-a-kitchen/
The service of cleaning and prasadam distribution in Radha Kunda and Govardhan is continuing despite these days of extreme heat and sporadic, extreme storms with baseball-sized hail.
And on this most auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya (the first day of Chandan Yatra), we want to express our humble gratitude for your support and prayers. Thank you!
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/YJO4nI

Rain does not stop the Harinama party in Lithuania (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “As a result of chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one makes such great advancement in spiritual life that simultaneously his material existence terminates and he receives love of Godhead. The holy name of Krishna is so powerful that by chanting even one name, one very easily achieves these transcendental riches.” (Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.28)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/kpYNjl

ISKCON pins hopes on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Krishna temple in Moscow
Indiatimes.com (http://goo.gl/InVviV) Moscow, May 1 (IANS)
It was in the forefront to stall a ban on the Hindu holy book, the Bhagavad Gita, in a Siberian city, but somewhat like the story of Lord Krishna, whose address at birth was said to be a gloomy dungeon in ancient Mathura, the address to Moscow’s only Krishna temple is in a basement in a rented building.
And quite like the story of persecution of Lord Krishna’s parents Devaki and Vasudev, the temple run by ISKCON’s Moscow chapter dedicated to the Hindu god, has had to be shifted to the makeshift subterranean abode, due to what is being perceived as sustained non-cooperation by the authorities as well as conservative religious groups, which have in the past, thwarted attempts to construct a temple on land officially allotted to the New York-founded society.
But for Sadhu Priya Das, who has been pursuing the issue for ISKCON in Moscow, the arrival of Narendra Modi as the Indian prime minister, who has already visited Russia twice since assuming office in 2014, could well be a catalyst in ensuring that a temple for Krishna comes alive in the land of the Kremlin.
“We are very hopeful that in the current tenure of Mr. Modi our temple will be built,” Das told this visiting IANS correspondent.
The history of the Hare Krishna movement’s efforts to build the temple appears as chequered as it seems mystifying.
The Hare Krishna movement was first legalized in the then Soviet Union 1988, after an initial spell of suspicion in the government establishment about the cult on account of its American lineage as well as unique methods of worship.
The real trouble however began in 2004, when its first and only temple located on the Begovaya avenue was demolished by the civic authorities on account of an urban development project. The Society was then awarded an alternative plot of land on the tony Leningradsky Prospekt, a move which saw strong protests from the conservative Russian Orthodox Church and was eventually stalled.An offer of another patch of land in the suburbs of Moscow was also withdrawn by the government just as construction of the temple was about to get under way.
“We have gone through a very long procedure for constructing the temple and finally the land was taken back by the government. Almost five years ago, we were promised another piece of land for the temple construction, but so far nothing has happened. The temple is currently located in a rented building in a basement,” Das said.
The Krishna temple, according to ISKCON, would not just facilitate the religious needs of the 15,000-strong population of Indians and more than 25,000 ISKCON followers living in the Russian capital but also serve as a social and cultural centre for South Asians in general.
Apart from the Modi-led National Democratic Alliance government being at the helm in India, what has given a fresh lease of hope for ISKCON Moscow followers is the permission granted by the authorities in India to build the country’s first Russian Orthodox Church in the national capital New Delhi last year, following requests by the Russian embassy.
Many like Das are perhaps hoping that the Indian government is able to calibrate a diplomatic swap between a church for Christ in Delhi and a temple for Krishna in Moscow.
“If the government of India has approved the construction of the (Russian) Orthodox Church in India that is very good sign of our friendship and a good gesture. I am sure that a Hindu temple in Russia by ISKCON will soon be a reality,” Das said.

Elevate Your Consciousness At Govinda’s Vegetarian!
Like any nice Jewish boy ought to, I decided to have lunch at a Hare Krishna temple.
Govinda’s Vegetarian Restaurant opened in 2007 in the basement of the ISKCON New York Hare Krishna temple at 305 Schemerhorn Street (just off Nevins Street) and it’s only open Monday through Friday from 12pm – 3:30pm.
“If you eat, healthy, good fresh home cooked food, you’re gonna feel happy and lighter and it’s gonna elevate your consciousness,” said Satya, who is both the manager and the chef.
This is Satya, the chef/manager of Govinda’s.
I was surprised to learn that Govinda is much a chain or, as Satya put it, “like a franchise.” They have successful locations in Los Angeles, Tuscon, and in Hawaii as well as elsewhere around the world.
ISKCON New York opened Govinda’s in 2007 as a means of spreading their message and raising funds.
“Hare Krishnas are known for their food, fresh homemade, no preservatives, as healthy as possible,” said Satya.
The food is served cafeteria-style and seating is the same. The no-frills approach masks the many splendors of the meal. Depending on the number of items you get, it can run anywhere from $7 to $12 (cash only.) The menu is always vegetarian, as the name implies, and sometimes it’s vegan, but the emphasis is on whole ingredients and not things like isolated soy protein.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/IzOj99

Grade 5 activities for Lord Nrisimhadeva’s appearance day at Sri Mayapur International School (Album with photos)
Face painting and chanting extra rounds for Lord Nrisimhadeva’s pleasure.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/y1t93HRead More…(…

Vrndavana Vilasini was attached to a hippie life of independence but found that lifestyle to be no protection from painful events and the intense suffering they caused. In her travels around America, she met devotees, heard the holy name, and took pr…

May 19. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Prabhupada’s Gift of Intimacy.
Aside from age and cultural distances, there is always a distance between two persons until they get to know each other. In the beginning, you try to see whether you will be able to be intimate with another person. Prabhupada was able to establish intimacy with hundreds of persons. He did not merely give us lessons in perfection delivered from a mountaintop. Rather, his physical association was always nearby. The awkwardness of not trusting him soon changed, and he also reached forward and pulled us toward him in a spiritual relationship.
Srila Prabhupada removed the awkwardness by convincing us that we did not belong to a different religion than he. He referred to the transcendental level at which all things come together. He used to say, “No one should object and say that they can’t chant Hare Krishna because it is a foreign name and it is not one’s own religion. This is transcendental sound vibration. We are all spirit souls, part and parcels of Krishna.” In this way, he established spiritual intimacy.
Prabhupada taught that all souls have an intimacy with Krishna and any feelings we had of alienation were not based on fact. They were illusion, based on false designation. Thus he gave a new consciousness and a new way to see reality.
As for Srila Prabhupada’s own unfamiliarity with Western culture, it was a feature that simply made him more dear to us. One time a devotee told Prabhupada that he might get fired from his job. Prabhupada was astonished and said, “Fired? They would fire on you?” Prabhupada thought the devotee would be fired with a gun. The devotee replied, “Oh no, Prabhupada! Fired just means they would release me from the job.” We would all laugh together about his not knowing these words. We did not expect him to know such things, but neither did we think of him as a “foreigner.”
Prabhupada knew the transcendental world, the real home. To be unaware of the material world was just another sign of his detachment. We did not expect that eventually he would educate himself in such things. He was not interested. They were all in the category of ignorance and passion.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=8

The Journey Within – book trailer (2 min video)
In this long-awaited follow-up to his international bestseller “The Journey Home: Autobiography of an American Swami”, renowned spiritual leader and social activist Radhanath Swami shares intimate stories from his decades of experience as a guru of Bhakti Yoga that illustrate the basic teachings of the ancient philosophy. With illuminating references to Western religions and ideologies, The Journey Within invites readers from all backgrounds to discover the simple truths that unite us.

Daytona Beach Festival of the Chariots, Bhakti Yoga Culture & Wellness Fest.
Daytona Beach, FL Sunday, May 29, 2016
MEDIA RELEASE
Contact: Bhadra das at 352 316-4560 or Bhadradas@gmail.com
WHAT: An Indian multi-cultural parade and festival will be celebrated with entertainment for the whole family. There will be live music, singing, classical dance, books, bazaar, and lots of free delicious vegetarian food. The Ratha Yatra Parade is the oldest known parade in the world.
WHEN & WHERE: Sunday, May 29, 2016. There is an inauguration ceremony at the Daytona Beach Bandshell located at 70 Boardwalk. The parade begins at 4 PM going North on the beach several blocks, then turns back South, returning to the Bandshell where the free feast and cultural festival take place from 6 to 9 PM.
WHO: All are welcome. Free admission. Wholesome fun for the entire family.
SPECIAL: VERY VISUAL event with colorful traditional costumes and flower decorations. Photography is permitted. Performances by international guest musician, DJ & sound healer Srikology; healthy living booths; yoga/gong workshop (please bring your mats).
If you’ve ever dreamt of visiting colorful, exotic India, we have a treat for you. Get a taste of India without leaving Florida on Sunday, May 29, 2016. The Festival of the Chariots, Bhakti Yoga Culture & Wellness Fest, an Indian multi-cultural extravaganza, will take place starting at 4 PM at the Daytona Beach Bandshell located at 70 Boardwalk. A parade starts here and also ends at the same place, the Bandshell at 6 PM with free food and a cultural program from 6 to 9 PM.
There will be lots of family-friendly activities and entertainment: live music, classical Indian dance, drama performance, face painting & henna, mantra meditation, bhakti yoga. But the big draw is the delicious vegetarian food. There will be a sumptuous feast served free of charge to all.
The procession route is about 2 miles long and can be easily walked by all age groups. The parade will move in a leisurely fashion, stopping here and there along the route, giving way to song and dance. The procession’s unique feature is a huge chariot with a blue, red and yellow canopy decorated with swans, lotus flowers, flags, Hanuman and a brass chakra on top. This chariot has two very thick ropes attached to it that are over one hundred feet long. These ropes are pulled by the parade-goers, propelling the chariot along the parade route. Riding on the Chariot are the beautiful Deities of Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra, decorated with stunning silk outfits & real flowers. It’s a vision from another world. Accompanying the procession is lively Indian music and dancing, backed by double-headed mrdanga drums & karatala hand cymbals. It’s an ecstatic, exciting event.
The festival is mainly sponsored by ISKCON Alachua, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness whose Founder/Acharya, His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, came to America from India forty-five years ago and introduced the timeless tradition of the Festival of the Chariot (called Ratha Yatra in India). Since the 60’s this festival has been held yearly in over 50 major cities in the United States, Canada, and all over the world. Nine Ratha Yatras are held yearly in the state of Florida: Miami, Jacksonville Beach, Tallahassee, Orlando, Tampa, Gainesville, Daytona Beach, Clearwater Beach & St. Augustine.
Local sponsors of this festival include Kale Café, Space Girl Organics, Evolution Health Club, Sacred Strength Healing Arts, and Daytona Wellness.
All are warmly invited to attend this joyous, colorful festival, free of charge. Take advantage of a rare chance to experience the vibrancy of India, right here in Florida.
Questions? Contact Bhadra das at 352 316-4560 or Bhadradas@gmail.com
Please visit our website at www.festivalofchariots.org

Devotee, inventor of “kurma the frog” character left his body.
Jagadambika Devi: HIs Grace Shom Prabhu left the temple around 5:00 p.m. We had to wait until the police investigated, doctor signed off on Death Details, cremation place etc. At first the police would not let the devotees touch Shom’s body. They finally figured it out that there was no foul play. Apparently Shom Prabhu got up at 5:00 a.m. to bath and get dressed for his service. Then Anadi Das Prabhu, roommate, did not hear Shom leave by 6:00 a.m. yet, so he went to his room to check and he was face down on the bed. He was already dressed. So he must have left his body somewhere between 5 a.m. – 6 a.m.
Shom Prabhu’s body was in the house all day. As they took his body away by transport, the devotees were out chanting Hare Krsna to see him off. Then some of us went and opened all the temple doors outside so he could get one final darshan of Sri Sri Rukmini Dvarakadisa. The mortuary transport stopped in front of the temple so Shom Prabhu could say goodbye. I opened Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra’s doors. Other devotees opened the other Deity doors. His body was the color of Krsna. He must have seen Krsna. I’ve seen many dead bodies but have never seen anything like it. He was really blue and had a big smile on his face. He became blue so quickly. He must have had another seizure. He’s had them a lot lately.
All glories to Her Grace Kriya Shakti Mataji! She’s cool calm and amazing! She was with Anadi Das Prabhu and Shom Prabhu’s body all day, arranging everything. She went through Shom Prabhu’s phone and got some close relatives contact, contacted a mortuary, etc. to pick up Shom Prabhu’s body. Mother Kriya Shakti Mataji arranged all the details for Shom Prabhu’s body, garlands and all. His Grace Rabindranatha Das Prabhu, Head Pujari came also. Mother Kriya Shakti must be exhausted from such a long day. I notice whenever a devotee is in need she’s always there to help out. She did such an amazing service with this sudden passing. She even got Shom’s family to allow the devotees to do everything for Shom Prabhu’s body from cremating, etc. There will be a Memorial for Shom Prabhu later. I don’t think they need to do an autopsy since doctor signed off.
It’s times like this I’m so grateful to be around devotees like Mother Kriya Shakti, and all the New Dwaraka Devotees. Family always come together when needed. They are always there. All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada! Such an auspicious day to pass!
This is his facebook page, active until few days ago: https://goo.gl/K21942

The Transformation of a Dish Washer.
Vasudeva Dasa: I come from Holland, which is a very rich country by material standards. However, unlike India, where the family ties are still strong, the family culture in the west is fast eroding. Youngsters move out of parents’ homes to enjoy unrestricted freedom, working hard to finance their studies and social life. I too followed this system during high school, and would study five days a week and then clean dishes at a hotel on weekends. I used the money buy objects of sense gratification. Gradually, however, the hard work, irregular lifestyle, and bad habits began to take a heavy toll over my health.
I remember one particular evening: I had been nearing the end of washing what seemed like a mountain of dishes, when the cleaner dumped another stack before me. I was dead tired, still I continued and managed to clean them by mid night. My body was in excruciating agony, but more work was pending. “Clean the floor!” the boss shouted. Wearily, I picked up the broom and the mop. By the time I finished, the clock showed 2 am.
After the work that night, while walking home I asked myself, “Is this what I want from my life?” All my pent up emotions became impossible to hold back anymore and I broke down right there in the street. I tried to look for a way out of my hopeless situation, but nothing appeared.
Life continued.
Some time later, I came in contact with the Hare Krsna devotees and visited the center at my town. I was completely mesmerized with what I saw. The Deities, the chanting, the dancing, the lectures, the love of the devotees, and above all the prasadam completely conquered my heart. I realized that Krsna consciousness was the thing missing in my life.
One day I decided to render some voluntary service in the temple. I approached a senior devotee and asked him, “Can I help in some service?” He smiled and took me to the kitchen and pointed to huge black bottomed cooking utensils. “Can you clean them?”
“Of course,” I replied. “I have enough training in this art!” I lunged at the pots and began to scrub them with all my might. I soaped, scrubbed, and washed them for hours and hours untill they were sparkling bright. Then I cleaned the entire kitchen. By the time I finished I had half expected to collapse with fatigue. Yet there was something strange going on. I was not feeling tired at all Instead I was feeling fresh; I could have washed pots for another six hours. I was in euphoria! I felt as if I was floating in air.
It was then that I realized that service to Lord Krsna is unlike serving any mundane materialistic master. By serving Lord Krsna we engage in the natural activity of soul, as an eternal servant of Lord Krsna. The pleasure that one achieves by serving Lord Krsna is beyond any sensory and mental experience and purely on the spiritual level. Krsna consciousness’ transcendental nature thus became a tangible reality which I could perceive and experience in simple day to day activities and all this was so blissful. I decided at that moment never again to leave the shelter of Lord Krsna.
-Vasudeva Dasa

Direct Descendants of Sri Advaitacharya’s Lineage Make an Invaluable Donation to Bhaktivedanta Research Centre!
On Feb 18, 2016 BRC was blessed by a generous donation of a
special collection of 40 rare manuscripts from the Sri M K Goswami family, who are directly descended from Sri Advaitacarya (17th generation.) Originally from Shantipur, they currently reside in
Bangalore.
This donation of very precious and rare Vaishnava manuscripts
included Govinda Lilamrita by Ragunath Bhatta Goswami, Padyavali of Rupa Goswami, Stavavali of Ragunath das Goswami, and complete manuscripts of Chaitanya Charitamrita on handmade
paper. They are in good to excellent condition.
This donation was given in memory of Sri Nanda Gopala Goswami
and Nirmalya Rani Goswami, his revered parents. After a nice visit
to the library, Mr. Goswami was extremely satisfied that he had
made a good decision to place his manuscripts in our care. “A great spiritual feeling was accrued after visiting the library,” he wrote in the guest book.
Read this and more in the latest Bhaktivedanta Research Centre’s newsletter: http://goo.gl/hVOE9z

A Floating Harinama (Album with photos)
Yekaterinburg Yatra, Russia, organized a very unusual Harinama from 1 to 3 May.
Imagine: the May holidays, spring forest, tourists, catamarans, campfire, tents and resounding echo of the Hare Krishna mantra. Right in the middle of the river, on a conventional catamaran, with a small “combo”, around which there is ecstatic kirtan: devotees singing and playing, who sings, the rowing – all honestly)). At the sound of the water is carried away. On shore leave are the same “rafters” affably waving, trying to sing along and dance. Passing by catamaran was surprised looking at the proud flag on which is written the text of the maha-mantra. “And why did you write this? To forget themselves ”- trying to joke the passing tourists. “No, you read” – and continue to respond devotees kirtan. The alloy is also small harinama program in villages, distribution of sweets prasadam. And holy name, almost around the clock.
Find them here: http://goo.gl/o2RMJq

Two pairs of twin sisters join the Harinama and book distribution in St. Petersburg, Russia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupad…

Huffington Post article features Agnideva das chanting the Maha mantra! Daily Meditation: Sacred Service (6 min video).
Antonia Blumberg: We all need help maintaining our personal spiritual practice. We hope that these Daily Meditations, prayers and mindful awareness exercises can be part of bringing spirituality alive in your life.
Today’s meditation features a Hare Krishna mantra. The mantra is commonly translated as, “O Lord, O Energy of the Lord, please engage me in Your service.” It is a mantra of devotion and sacred service.
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/wwTiBA

London Wellbeing show (Album with photos)
Devotees in London attended the Wellbeing Mind Body Spirit Expo at Olympia London wi…

May 18. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Evoking Memories of 1966.
There is a famous example in the novel Remembrance of Things Past by Marcel Proust. Proust eats a little piece of pastry, a petite madeleine, and as he mixed it with tea and it softened in his mouth, the scent of it and the taste of it suddenly threw him back many years to his childhood.
Maybe we can do things like that, by hearing the noises on the street and remembering how it was during those 1966 lectures:
I’m in my spot hearing him speak. A little afraid when hoodlums or teenagers out there make noises, but we’re not going to give up our places. I hope it doesn’t get into some big scene, but that they will go away so we can continue to hear the Swami. When someone comes and makes noises at the doorway, you can get a flash of how it looks to outsiders. They see you are just some hippies with this strange Indian man. The whole thing seems weird to them and they can’t figure it out. They just can’t figure it out. The Swami is obviously an Indian, so why is he with these young American hippies? They are street-tough, street-wise; they know American hippies well enough, but they don’t know the Swami.
When we were in the storefront and someone would look in or play their music from the radio and say, “Hey, what the hell is this?” Or just, “Hey!” – you sat there and absorbed it and they would usually go away. But one intruder after another would come; sometimes for a large part of the lecture there would be disturbing sounds. The thing is, Swamiji kept the door open. If he had shut the door, it might have been better, but he wanted people to feel free to come in. Maybe it was better that way. Maybe there would have been more disturbances if they hadn’t been able to look in and check it out and say something. If the door was shut, they might have been more frustrated. But for whatever reason, he kept it open.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=8

TOVP: A short update of what we’re up to at the moment. (Album with photos)
TOVP management has given their approval for the Murti of Lord Siva to be cast into fiber glass, which is the next stage of the process after the clay work is completed.
Sadbhuja and his team of artists are doing the final inspection.
In the background you can see Manu manifesting, who will be the next great personality in-line offering prayers to Lord Nrsimhadeva.
Furthermore, HG Jananivas Prabhu, -our head pujari-, has approved for the final mold-making of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur, for the Disciplic succession altar.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/FkWsqr

Nityam Bhagavata-sevaya #37, Dhruva, Uttanapada and Narada.
NBS # 37 Features:- 1) Unusual verses to wash the sinful reactions….

The accomplishments of Srila Prabhupada (Founder Acharya of Iskcon)
His Divine Grace Srila Abhay Caran Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Evangelic Angel.
Between 1968- 1977 He dictated total of 22,000 pages of text
He translated and wrote purports to 18,000 verses of Srimad Bhagavatam.
Reading one verse with purport daily would take the reader 49.31 years to complete
He translated and wrote the purports to the 700 verses of Bhagavad Gita Coaching
Reading one verse with purport daily would take two years to complete
He translated and wrote the purports to the 17 volumes of Chaitanya Caritamrita – in total 2,170 pages or 11,555 verses!!
Reading one verse with purport daily would take the reader 31.6 years to complete. Reading one page daily would take 5.9 years to complete
He also wrote Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, Nectar of devotion, Teachings of Lord Kapiladeva, Sri Isopanisad.
He created Back to Godhead magazine which was monthly distributed in 1 million copies
He wrote 7000 letters to His disciples which was published in 5 volumes of books
Only Srimad Bhagavatam lectures He gave are compiled in 11 volumes of books
Bhagavad Gita lectures are compiled in 7 volumes of books
His conversations have been compiled in 42 volumes of books
He produced innumerable recordings
He established 108 temples
He published 147 books. Reading one book monthly would take 13 years
If one started to read one book monthly now, in 2014, he would not finish till 2031
He traveled around the world 14 times
Beside this He changed lives of at least 10000 people who become His initiating disciples
And all of this Srila Prabhupada did in ONLY 11 years!! In the age between 70-80!!!

Harinama in Kiev, Ukraine (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If one chants once only, it is to be understood that he has alr…

Human Tie-Dyes: Color Reigns at Oceanside, San Diego, California, Spring Holi Festival.
The Indian cultural event was the Holi…

Traditional Indian street festival set to return to Bath later this month.
A traditional Indian street festival, which has been celebrated in India for almost 5,000 years, is returning to the City of Bath on Saturday 28th May.
Rathayatra, the festival of the chariots, takes place all over the world and will be observed by millions.
It’s been traditionally celebrated annually in Jagannath Puri in Orissa, India, where Lord Jagannath along with His sister Subhadra and elder brother Balabhadra are paraded through the streets of the city.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/YEMGUJ

Iskcon Los Angeles – New Dvaraka – Rukmini Festival (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: No one in this life can chant the ho…

City Of Culture (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: In Russia, St. Petersburg is known as a city of great culture. During o…

May 17. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Hanging Out at 26 Second Avenue.
We’re in the storefront and there are noises on the street, but we’re sitting and listening to the Swami. We like to chant; we like the ringing of the karatalas. Everybody chants together: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare / Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare. (Whoever heard of such a thing? – That you chant with a one, two, three beat and with brass cymbals? You never read about chanting in any book about Vedanta or Bhagavad-gita or yoga. It was far out.) The cymbals ring loudly, and the door is open and he’s singing.
When the chanting was going on and the karatalas were ringing, that would be more likely to attract passers-by to look in. But it was a time when they really couldn’t disturb because the chanting was so dominant. Their shouts and their remarks couldn’t overcome the chanting.
The Swami was more vulnerable when the whole audience was quiet and he was lecturing. But when there was kirtana, it was as if he had the upper hand. And yet more people did gather to look in at that time, and that was part of the adventure of going there. When you chant you are more on the Swamiji’s side, you are not just observing, but you are part of the kirtana – you were what people were looking in at. Yet you did it because you wanted to experience the kirtana, never mind noises from the street.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=8

Amazing Harinam in the ancient city of Prague, Czech Republic (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In the material world, ever…

Setting the Scene for Bhagavad-gita (6 min video)
This is a video based on the “setting the scene” intro to Bhagavad-gita as it is. It was created by Jai Nitai dasa & Bhava Bhakti devi dasi for the ISKCON-London Bhakti Sastri Course.
Shaktyavesha Avatara Dasa: The Radha-Krishna Temple in London looks so gorgeous after refurbishment. Thank you for your beautiful service and steadiness Jai Nitai Prabhu and Bhava Bhakti Mataji and all those who put your heart into making Sri-Sri Radha-Londonisvara’s home so welcoming!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/Xrocx0

Krishna conscious Mother’s day celebration 14/05/16 in Sri Jagannatha Mandir,ISKCON Malaysia (Album with photos)
HG Madhuri Tulasi Devi Dasi: Mother’s Day was celebrated very grandly recently in Sri Jagannath Mandir KL. This event was conducted on 14th of May 2016, Saturday at 6.30pm.
This isn’t an ordinary event where Mother’s Day is celebrated just with good food and nice gift. This was an event where all senior matajis were honored, glorified and appreciated; who has dedicated their time and energy in various ways in our temple for many years.
This celebration is also dedicated to Srila Prabhupada for his Iskcon’s 50th Anniversary. This also is to encourage and motivate the younger generations to take up more service for the pleasure of Their Lordships.
All the senior matajis were given a maha garland, a basket and a picture of Lord Nitai Sunder Gaurahari as a token of appreciation. Besides that, some matajis were truly happy when they won lucky draw.
The evening ended with a wide variety of sumptuous delicacies and prasadam prepared by all Mothers.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/jx0PKT

Destination Russia – Kirtan In The Motherland (5 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Srila Prabhupada once told Govinda dasi that in ancient Vedic times Russia was called the “Land of Rishi’s” because many yogis went to the frozen tundra’s of Russia to perform penance and austerities. These days Russia is being graced with Lord Caitanya’s mercy in the form of the chanting of Sri Krsna’s holy names. We witnessed this as we traveled to several cities in the Motherland where ISKCON temples are flourishing.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/bC5lum

Chant, Chant, Chant!
A great opportunity for devotees worldwide to offer your chanting to Sri Narasimhadeva!
On the day before Narasimha chaturdasi (19.05.16) the Maha Sudarshana Homa will take place at Sri Radha -Madhava temple courtyard at 10 am. The Sudharshana and Narasimha yantra will then be bathed with water infused with the Hare Krishna Maha mantra japa chanted by devotees. This water will be used the next day for the abhisheka of Lord Narasimha deva.
We request devotees worldwide to kindly start chanting their extra rounds of Japa from today or if you are already chanting extra rounds, you can send us the number of extra rounds you have chanted by e-mail to info@mayapur.com or by Whats app to +919593400192. Kindly send us the number of extra Japa before 19.05.16 – 7:00 am Indian time. Please mention your name (if initiated then the initiated name) along with the count. The Japa will be offered in that name to the Yantras. Kindly post this message in your facebook, share it to all your contacts, paste in your temple bulletin boards and reach as many people as you can.
“May there be good fortune throughout the universe, and may all envious persons be pacified. May all living entities become calm by practicing bhakti-yoga, for by accepting devotional service they will think of each other’s welfare. Therefore let us all engage in the service of the supreme transcendence, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, and always remain absorbed in thought of Him.”- Srimad Bhagavatam 5.18.9

Sri Krishna-kathamrita Bindu e-magazine #375: Rare prayers to Nrisimha, and on Qualification of Guru.
The latest issue of Sri Krishna-kathamrita Bindu e-magazine was just released. This issue includes:
* FAITH AND THE GURU’S QUALIFICATION – Teachings of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
* SHORTCOMINGS OF THE PATH OF DRY ARGUMENT – Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada speaks about problems in finding a guru.
* GURU CAN FREE THE DISCIPLE FROM DOUBT – Various commentaries on Srimad Bhagavatam 11.3.21. Some translated here for Bindu for the first time.
* ALL GLORIES TO LORD NRISIMHA – Assorted verses translated for the first time for this issue from a rare book known as Subhasita-ratna-bhandagaram.
* BEYOND FAME, INFAMY AND EXPECTATIONS – A fresh translation from Srila Prabodhananda Saraswati’s Vrindavana-mahimamrtam (3.56). It can be downloaded here: https://archive.org/details/bindu375

May 16. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Magnanimity of the Maha Bhagavata.
Sometimes he’s lecturing and he says, “Yes, come in, sit down.” That would be for a hippie who was deciding whether to come into the storefront or not, and who would look like he was eligible for sitting down and hearing Bhagavad-gita if he really wanted. He might be on an LSD trip or just not wanting to actually become part of the group, and yet he wanted to check it out – so Prabhupada invited him to step over the barrier and actually become a listener. He might invite him to sit down, but they did not always want to come under the Swami’s control, even to take a seat when he asked them.
The Swami was fearless. He was convinced that his message was relevant and had to be spoken. It was his show, he was in control, but he had to protect himself, especially in the beginning. It is not that the devotees were completely ready to be on his side, so he had to control the whole thing and say, “Don’t disturb, don’t disturb.” He depended on Krishna and went on speaking the difficult-to-understand philosophy – concepts of Bhagavad-gita and the assertion that Krishna is God. He just went right ahead without watering it down in the least.
You couldn’t understand it all, but you stayed and listened to him. You caught a word here and there, Caitanya, Krishna; missed a word here and there. I can recall thinking that I did not understand very much of it.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=8