Author Archives: Dandavats.com

NBS#31 Sweet Pastimes of Lord Nityananda.
On the upcoming auspicious occasion of Nityananda Trayodasi, this issue presents the…

Yatra to Inamanamellur.
On the banks of Gundlakamma river, amidst Guava fruit orchards and blessed by Lord ChennaKeshava is the well-known Inamanamellur village. The village was once well known for its rich Sri Vaishnava traditions; therefore the name of the village has Tamil origin. But presently these traditions are followed more so as obligations. The younger generation is totally apathetic to these traditions. Though situated on the banks of a river the villagers are more focused on agribusiness like tobacco and aquaculture,instead of developing agriculture. Paddy is also a prominent crop. Somehow from over a century guava is grown in abundance in addition to other fruits. As seen in most of the opulent villages the younger generation has settled down in towns and cities, while the large houses in villages are mostly inhabited by elderly people. Village has a mix of traditional houses and concrete structures with all modern amenities.
After the pleasant experience in Gollapalem village in the morning hours of January 14, 2016, the Yatra team arrived in Inamanamellur village to witness a contrastive atmosphere. The youth in Gollapalem village had participated very actively in the program, but here we found the youth in a totally different mood. They were gearing up for a volley ball match that was to commence from 5pm and expected to continue till midnight as a part of sankranthi celebrations. Choosing the right spot for the program was a hard task despite the village being big, the people from one street do not usually visit other streets due to caste constraints and political reasons. Finally after lot of consultations with the locals, we decided to hold the program in the main street near the pedestal where Hanumanji’s 20 feet murthi is installed. Inspite of repeated announcements and having performed harinaam in main streets of the village, people did not turn up even until evening 7.30 pm. We decided to play a few videos and only then people started coming and in no time a decent crowd of over 60 people assembled. The program started by Sripathi prabhu introducing Bhagavad-gita and Krishna consciousness. Later Haridas prabhu spoke about the Holy Name and Ramsharan prabhu about the glories of mother cow. Video on Gau-vaibhavam was also screened. After the pledge to protect mother cow, arathi was performed and prasadam was generously distributed. As we were concluding the program, the village temple utsavamurtis were brought in procession as a part of festival celebrations. Devotees felt that the village temple deities came to bless the Sri Govind Gau Gram Prachar Yatra as a grand finale of the program.

February 18. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Prabhupada Revealed the Topmost Bhakti.
Some devotees are starting to inquire more about how to be part of the intimate pastimes of Radha and Krishna. Some say Prabhupada taught only vaidi-bhakti. They claim they have to go elsewhere to get the higher teachings about the rasas. But it is not true. Everything is there in Prabhupada’s books. Prabhupada is on the highest platform. He is very advanced in his love for Krishna, and he has a very intimate relationship with Krishna in Vrindavana. We should never mistake that. The one important message is to stay faithful to Prabhupada. By faith in guru, we get Krishna. Not otherwise.
We should never think that Prabhupada didn’t teach the topmost understanding. We should always know that only when he allows us, can we enter the dhama and our eternal relationship with Radha-Krishna. Radha and Krishna and Their associates are mysterious, transcendental persons beyond this material existence. They will allow us to come to Them when we are qualified by sincerity and purity. We cannot simply pick up a book on internal Krishna consciousness and expect to be allowed to enter. You have to please your guru, the representative of Radha-Krishna. By his grace, you can make progress.
The real substance is service to Prabhupada. His service does include the higher topics, but like anything in Krishna consciousness, inquiry into these topics is a gradual process. We have to be careful not to hear from anyone who tells us Prabhupada was deficient, or incomplete in his teachings. In fact, it would be better not to know anything than to hear from someone who teaches us that Prabhupada didn’t give us what we need. Better to continue as he wanted us to, chanting Hare Krishna and praying to Radha and Krishna in the temple. We can always please Them with our wholehearted efforts.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=5

Ratha Yatras in Maharastra (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The first result of chanting the maha-mantra, Hare Krsna, is t…

ISKCON Pakistan: Sri Adwaita Acharya Appearance Day 14 Feb ‘16 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Krsna and the sound vibration “Krsna” are nondifferent, so if one loudly vibrates Hare Krsna, he will be able to think of Krishna immediately. This process of chanting is the best process of self-realization in this age; therefore, Lord Caitanya preached it so nicely for the benefit of all humanity. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.24.35 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/b6vaan

Harinama in Moscow (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended five items of devotional service,…

KK Bindu #369, “The Ornament of Equivocal Phrase” part 2, plus more …
The latest issue of Sri Krishna-kathamrita Bindu e-magazine was just released.
This issue includes: * PREACHERS NOT BUILDERS – An excerpt from a letter by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. * HOPE FOR DEGRADED DEVOTEES – Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada speaks of the importance of helping devotees who have had problems following the principles. * NAMA-TATTVA: BACK FROM THE DEAD – A verse from the Vishnu-dharmottara Purana. * SRILA PRABHUPADA’S BOOK DISTRIBUTION – Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja speaks about the importance of distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books. * THE ORNAMENT OF EQUIVOCAL PHRASES – PART 2 – A collection of first-time translations done especially for this issue of Bindu on the subject of vakrokti, or crooked talks that have indirect or unintended meanings. It can be downloaded here: https://archive.org/details/bindu369

Srila Prabhupada involved in a car accident.
Pusta Krishna das: This photograph was taken in Mauritius in 1975, just after Srila Prabhupada’s South African tour. The President of Mauritius sent a Citroen car and a driver to bring him to visit, but Srila Prabhupada, hearing about a recent decision by the government to support chicken slaughter houses, he decided to merely take a ride and then return to the place where we were all staying.
On getting into the auto, I requested Srila Prabhupad to sit on the left in the back seat because it was safer. He complied. We drove for about a half an hour and stopped at a site overlooking the ocean with an inscribed plaque about a historic event that took place there.
When we went back to the car, Srila Prabhupada said, “that side is safer”, the one which I suggested previously. I was sitting next to the government driver (British style, drives on the left side of the road), with the driver on the right, and me on the left, Srila Prabhupada directly behind me, and Brahmananda Maharaj beside Srila Prabhupada on the right back seat.
We were driving through the sugar cane fields on a two lane road, curving to the left. To my horror, a VW beetle car was coming directly at us head on. It was only visible for about two seconds since the sugar cane fields blocked the wider view. Neither car had any opportunity to slow down. I had been chanting Sri Krishna Chaitanya in my mind when this occurred, but I was horrified that this was taking place with Srila Prabhupada in the vehicle. The two cars came together at full speed, with combined speed about 80 miles per hour. I placed my hands before me to brace on the dashboard, and at impact my head went into the windshield on the forehead and my elbow struck the windshield as well. As I looked to my right I saw the government driver with blood coming from his head as his head went into the windshield leaving the impression of his head in the windshield. As I continued to look right and back over my shoulder, I saw Brahmananda with his left arm around Srila Prabhupada’s shoulder and the look of terror in Brahmananda’s face. Srila Prabhupada remained completely silent and grave. He had been sitting cross-legged in the back seat with his cane between his knees. At the time of the accident, his face, especially his lower lip struck the back of the seat I was sitting in. Fortunately, these are well-padded cars. He developed a blood blister in his thumb and as I recall, some swelling in his lip, with no other injuries amazingly. The female passenger of the VW went through the window and out of the car. The government driver of our car with bloodied head got out to attend to the injured in the VW.
I got out of the car and went to Srila Prabhupada seated behind me. He had multiple pieces of broken glass around his feet, which I removed so that he would not be cut. I asked him if he was alright. He remained completely silent, detached and very grave, as much as I had ever experienced of him.
Brahmananda got out to try to flag a car down to take us back to our bungalow. We remained at the accident site for about 15 minutes. A car stopped and took the three of us, but in the wrong direction. We drove for about 15 minutes and then they turned around and took us back past the accident site, and then back to the bungalow.
When we arrived, Harikesa was there. Srila Prabhupad made up a mixture or poultice to apply to any painful areas we might have. He personally applied it to my forehead and elbow (which I thought might be fractured, but it wasn’t). We had a kirtan at Srila Prabhupada’s request which I led, then Srila Prabhupada asked to hear something from the Chaitanya Charitamrita. Harikesa opened the book and it opened spontaneously to the Disappearance of Haridas Thakur, which he read for some time.
The next morning Srila Prabhupad, Brahmananda Maharaj and myself took a walk on the beach outside the bungalow. Srila Prabhupad never mentioned the accident. He did ask us where we thought he should go to next, since there was some program arranged for Nairobi, Kenya. I suggested that he might be shook up from the car accident and perhaps he might like to return to Bombay to rest. Srila Prabhupada said, “we shall go to preach in Nairobi. I knew at that time that I could not second guess His Divine Grace. This all took place before any temple had been established in Mauritius which came about later, and I believe that Srila Prabhupada made a second trip to Mauritius later. He had flown to Mauritius prior to entering South Africa, and again after leaving South Africa.
Apparently, because Brahmananda could not enter South Africa, I performed the duties of Srila Prabhupad’s secretary during his two-week tour. He liked me and he liked my style as his secretary. In February of 1976 when I arrived in Mayapur with a Mercedes we purchased him in Stuttgart, Germany (at his request), Srila Prabhupad personally asked me to be his permanent secretary. I, like some others before me, lasted until July 1976 throughout his last world tour. Indeed, I have many fond memories and also some regrets. All is in Krishna’s Hands. No further questions about that.
Hoping that you will forgive the detail of this true episode in our lives at that time. Hare Krishna. Pusta Krishna das

February 17. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: “Those Were Happy Days”
Srila Prabhupada would often be silent for long periods and then suddenly ask something that was on his mind. I remember once he suddenly asked, “Where in the world can I go where there will be no visitors and I can simply be alone to write my books?” Of all these exchanges, which I witnessed, this one reminds me of the times when our spiritual master was all alone in New York. He has said that those were happy days. One reason was because Prabhupada depended on Krishna entirely without having to depend on many disciples. In the later years, until he came to Second Avenue and saved us, it was not certain whether many Westerners could actually become practicing devotees. Srila Prabhupada’s discovery of this, on behalf of Lord Caitanya, produced happiness for him and for us. He was such a realistic missionary though, he never basked in that happiness or exaggerated it with praises of his own accomplishment. As soon as he knew that Westerners could take to Krishna consciousness, Prabhupada immediately took that good news and went further and further with it, all around the world. In his persistent desire to have time alone to write, we get an indication of what Prabhupada meant when he said, “Those were happy days.”
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=5

Harinama in Pantai 66 (Double Six Beach), Australia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat: even a little devotional service can save one from the greatest danger. Devotional service, which begins with chanting of the holy name of the Lord, is so powerful that even if one falls down, he can be saved from all calamities if he somehow or other chants the holy name of the Lord. This is the extraordinary power of the Lord’s holy name. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.1.63 Purport)
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Ekachakra Dham Birth Place of Lord Nityananda (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.
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Yatra to Gollapalem Village.
Gollapalem is a small hamlet surrounded by green fields all around. People are mostly from Yadava…

First Universalist Unitarian Church – Antariksh Das (Hare Krishna movement) 15/22 ‘Sri Siksastakam’ (2 min video)
SIKSASTAKAM VERSE 3
trnad api sunicena
taror iva sahisnuna
amanina manadena
kirtaniyah sada harih
“One who is humbler than a blade of grass, more forbearing than a tree who gives due honour to others without desiring honour for himself is qualified to always chant the Holy Name of Krishna.”
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/aKX7mp

First University Hostel Program In East Africa (Album with photos)
By Srila Prabhupada’s Mercy, the Hare Krishna Training centre was opened in Nairobi and in 10 months has made 30 devotees. The centre serves as a residential facility for students studying various courses. Our twice weekly program holds 150 students from the local community.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/D0XxYz

How one devotee was saved.
Ramesvara dasa ACBSP: I had just turned 19 and was a student at Reed College. Sriman Locana Prabhu was the temple president of the Portland Yatra and would lead the devotees everyday on Harer Nama Sankirtan chanting all over the City. Krsna led me to him by the sound of those Kartals and I started joining his Kirtan party 3-4 days per week. His preaching and the transcendental knowledge he imparted in answering my questions culminated in my falling in prostrated obeisances on the City street, crying while holding his lotus feet, sobbingly murmuring “You’ve save me, you’ve saved me”! I moved into the temple after quitting college that very evening. As loud as I can boardcast – LOCANA PRABHU SAVED ME and made me a devotee – I am his eternal loving friend and adoring servant, Ramesvara dasa. (In the photo Locana Prabhu with Srila Prabhupada)

February 16. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Focus on Prabhupada the Individual.
We sometimes spend so much time going on with our regular duties that we forget about Prabhupada. We don’t think of him enough to actually stop and focus on Prabhupada as a person. The person who was here is beneficial. We have to become still enough, quiet enough, to be able to remember him.
We tend to be almost arrogant about the fact that we are living now, as if that gives us a superior vision of Prabhupada, as if he is among the dead and we are among the living. Actually, we have a feeble hold on this life. In this tiny amount of space and time, we will each disappear.
The consciousness we command and the space we live in – why do we think this is more important than where Prabhupada is? Is it because we think our world is manifest and Prabhupada’s world is unmanifest? Prabhupada’s world is not unmanifest. Prabhupada is with Krishna in Goloka. That world is the only really manifest world. We may not see him in the material world, but that is because we are so insignificant in relation to Krishna. Prabhupada is in the real world, and we are in the kingdom of death.
Our attitude should be that “Prabhupada has gone to participate in his intimate relationship with Krishna and I have been left behind.” He came here and developed a relationship with us, gave us adequate instructions and we vowed to follow him, but ultimately he left us stumbling behind. We are trying to figure out the meaning of his books, how to act, how to get along with one another. Sometimes we make serious mistakes. But we are also calling to him, running after him, “Prabhupada! Prabhupada!” This is our actual position. Therefore, don’t be complacent. Visit his room and try to taste a little of our own deaths, then feel the need to catch up to him, the need to perfect ourselves.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=5

Hiring – Elementary School Teachers.
Goswami Academy, a spiritually-centered elementary school, located in Houston, Texas, is s…

Venice Maha Harinam 2016 (Album with photos)
The last 6th of February the devotees of the Prabhupada Desh’s community together with devotees from Milan and Florence held an ecstatic Harinama in the streets of Venice. Every year during this time thousands and thousands of people come to Venice to celebrate the famous Venice Carnival. And when the people in mask, who are there in a festive mood, meet the Harinama party begin to dance and chant happily with the devotees, thousands of prasadam cookies was distributed too.
The Venice Harinamas are always especially ecstatic. Next Venice Carnival’s Harinama will be February 25th, 2017, most welcome, who would like to participate please contact Prabhupada Desh’s site or facebook page. Jay Harinama Sankirtana Yajna Ki!!! Jay!!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/wxtBl8

2016-02-12 Vrndavana parikrama and Javat and Ter-kadamba on Vasant-pancami 166 HR photos
Srila Prabhupada: It is not that one must chant at a certain time. No. At any time one may chant. Furthermore, Krishna’s name is identical with Krishna Himself. Therefore the holy name of Krishna is Krishna. (Teachings of Queen Kunti, 8, Purport).
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Canberra Rathayatra (Album with photos)
Ramai Swami: The Canberra devotees were asked to participate in the capital’s multicultural festival that lasted three days and had hundreds of stalls set up in Civic Square.
On the first day, there was a parade and the devotees were able to bring the Rathayatra cart from the Gold Coast and had the temple deities, Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra Devi ride majestically through the city streets.
Find them here: http://goo.gl/IuoTGm

Jayapataka Swami’s Health Update 15/02/16 (14:00 Mayapur time)
Jayapataka Swami is currently hospitalized in Durgapur, West Bengal after becoming unwell and requiring further medical support. At this moment we request devotees to pray intensively for his wellbeing.
Jayapataka Swami arrived in Ekachakra on the 13th of February to install the deities and inaugurate the new temple. This is a fabulous temple and is presided with gorgeous deities. Around 10,000 people attended. On the14th Feb morning he developed a mild fever, which eventually subsided but spiked again overnight, thus the need for hospitalization since this morning.
As you know, Jayapataka Swami’s overall health is generally fragile, so these situations do carry a high risk for him. The team of assistants is ensuring that he receives the best possible medical support available.
We promise to maintain the devotees informed according to how things progress. Meantime let’s unite efforts and request Lord Nrisimhadeva and Srila Prabhupada to kindly protect Jayapataka Swami.
Your servants, Jayapataka Swami’s Health Team

Take up a Mission – Inspirational Video – Akhandadi Prabhu.
Pandava Sena Alumni Monthly’s present Akhandadi das, a previous Temple President of Bhaktivedanta Manor who lead the Manor through the campaign. With decades of experience in service to God, he speaks to inspire the youth and corporates of PSena to Take up a mission!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/p7DGrv

Ekachakra deity installation maha Abhishek 2016 during the inauguration Festival of the new historical Iskcon temple of Lord Nityananda Prabhu at Ekachakra Dham on 14th Feb. 2016 (Album with photos)
“EKACHAKRA”: “EKA” means one and “CHAKRA” means wheel; this place is named “Ekachakra” because this is the place where the chariot-wheel fell, the one which Lord Sri Krishna took to kill Bhismadeva on the Battle of Kurukshetra. Ekachakra is the birthplace of Lord Nityananda (Nitai).
Ekachakra is located 165km north-west of Mayapur and is easily assessable by car or bus. Ekachakra village extends north and south for an area of about eight miles. Other villages, namely Viracandra-pura and Virabhadra-pura, are situated within the area of the village of Ekachakra.
Arjuna Das: I was there for the opening of the new temple at Ekachakra. The temple is very beautiful.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/YgSiSV

Ecstatic Ratha Yatra Festival in St.Kilda Beach-Melbourne (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If one hears a person say even once the word “Krishna” that person should be accepted as the best man out of the common group. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 15, 106)
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February 15. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Moving Apartments.
February 15, 1966. Srila Prabhupada moved from 501, downstairs two floors to a room all his own.
“I have changed my room to 307, in the same building as mentioned, for better air and light. It is on the roadside junction of two roads, the Columbus Avenue and 72nd Street.”
According to Dr. Mishra, Prabhupada moved in order to have his own place, independent of the Mishra Yoga Society.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=5

ISKCON Auckland New Zealand: Krishna Holi Festival 2016 (Album with photos)
Kalasamvara Das: Today thousands of guests turn up …

Choosing to be a part of God’s life.
Ananda Devi Dasi: Every year a group of yoga students from America go to the gardens of a flower grower in Vrindavan (India), who produces large amounts of flowers for the garlands and decorations in the many temples there. This year, however, the gardens did not have much to show. Weather and other factors had wiped out the crop and the gardener, already poor by our standards, was even poorer. As they sat with him he was jovial, telling them stories of Krishna and his temple experiences. ‘How can you be so happy after so much loss?” they asked him. “That part of my life is a struggle, and this year will be hard,” he said. “But my relationship with Krishna has nothing to do with that. That’s always joyful.” Here, I thought, is wisdom in action. Rather than making God a part of his life (and struggle) he was choosing to be a part of God’s life. In other words, as we move along in the world, dealing with the ups and downs, we often lean on God, pray for help, find Him in our little universe, and even complain when we don’t think He is doing his part (i.e., fulfilling our desires). There is nothing wrong with this, and it’s better than not acknowledging His existence at all. Krishna is happy to help and be involved, as he was with Arjuna in the Gita’s battlefield. Yet as students of the science of bhakti yoga we learn that the true goal is to get to know Krishna who exists beyond our mundane life. If Krishna is a person, then He has a life, a place, and all kinds of relationships. The gardener gives us a clue. Instead of pulling God into our own little life, why not set that aside for a while, and start looking into God’s life? Talking time everyday to be in a relationship that has nothing to do with the karma of the world, nothing to do with who we are in this body, nothing to do with the present context of our life – that’s what the gardener was doing. Yes, I lost everything this year, he said, but not Krishna. He is always there. And that’s my joy. Let that be our joy too.

Iskcon Sydney: Workshop with HG Mahatma Das (Album with photos)
“Building Community together”
Srila Prabhupada: Devotee means very liberal and kind to everyone, always gentleman under all kinds of conditions of life. Letter to Hamsaduta, December 10, 1972.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/hvdEk1

Radhanath Swami: When I was young, no one called it Valentines Day, everyone called it Saint Valentine’s day. You remember? Now they just call it Valentines Day because they don’t want to think about saints (laughter). Because it’s actual…

Avoiding Yamaraja: Ajamila’s story. Ajamila’s story is given in the Bhagavata Purana (6th book, chapter 1) as an example to illustrate that even the most wicked person can attain salvation. Ajamila was a brahmana who was once sent by his father to the jungle to fetch leaves and twigs to make the sacrificial fire. Ajamila met there a beautiful sudra woman. Forgetting everything, the brahmana made her his wife and children were born to them. When that brahmana, who was the very embodiment of all vices, reached the age of eighty-seven, the time came for him to die. Yamadutas (agents of Yama, the god of death) had arrived. The frightened Ajamila shouted loudly the name of his eldest son, “Narayana”. Hearing the repeated call of his name “Narayana”, servants of Visnu appeared there and dismissed the agents of Yama. From that day Ajamila became a devotee of Vishnu and did penance on the bank of the Ganges and after some years attained salvation. Ajamila was saved from hell because he chanted “Narayana” as the Yamadutas approached him. Afterwards Yamaraja forbade his servants from touching devotees who “even if by mistake or because of bewilderment or illusion… sometimes commit sinful acts,” because “they are protected from sinful reactions because they always chant the Hare Krishna mantra.” Yamaraja then told the Yamadutas: “Paramahamsas are exalted persons who have no taste for material enjoyment and who drink the honey of the Lord’s lotus feet. My dear servants, bring to me for punishment only persons who are averse to the taste of that honey, who do not associate with paramahamsas and who are attached to family life and worldly enjoyment, which form the path to hell. “My dear servants, please bring to me only those sinful persons who do not use their tongues to chant the holy name and qualities of Krishna, whose hearts do not remember the lotus feet of Krishna even once, and whose heads do not bow down even once before Lord Krishna. Send me those who do not perform their duties toward Vishnu, which are the only duties in human life. Please bring me all such fools and rascals.”

Oneness with God, Different from God, or both?
Urmila Devi Dasi: OBL Kapoor, godbrother of Srila Prabhupada, explains how the various sampradayas view simultaneous oneness with, and difference from, God, in this chapter of his well-known book. Srila Prabhupada especially liked this book and wanted ISKCON centers to distribute it. This chapter makes the concepts of oneness and difference very clear and as understandable as anything “inconceivable” can ever be!
This chapter is helpful for those are practitioners of bhakti-yoga, for those who teach bhakti, for scholars, and anyone who is spiritually curious.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/Ot0iQe

February 14. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Prabhupada Is Not Ordinary.
The sastras warn us not to think of the spiritual master as an ordinary man. That is very hard for the nondevotees to comprehend. They think the spiritual master is an ordinary person because they see him growing old, or they see him show anger. They misjudge him in many ways. They have no idea what is ordinary and what is extraordinary. It takes spiritual vision to appreciate the pure devotee, but the sastras tell us the truth.
The sastras list certain qualifications of a spiritual master, yet even among those who possess these qualifications, Srila Prabhupada is extraordinary. What is it about him that makes him extraordinary? Or, we can ask, “There appear to be some extraordinary things about Prabhupada, so what is it about Prabhupada that makes these things extraordinary?”
Dr. Harvey Cox said, “Prabhupada is one in a million.” He founded the Hare Krishna Movement, which continues to grow and establish roots in countries all over the world. Fulfilling Lord Caitanya’s prediction that the holy name would be known in every town and village of the world was seen as a near impossible task by other sannyasis. Prabhupada fulfilled the Lord’s prediction. He must be an extraordinary person, someone fully empowered by Krishna, to possess so much pure devotion and determination.
One should not see the spiritual master as an ordinary man. This is not only the proper etiquette described in the Vedas, it is reality. The spiritual master is never ordinary, even if he appears to be growing older, or seems to forget a Sanskrit verse, the disciple should never doubt his spiritual master because of these things. Prabhupada explained that his perfection was that he was always preaching and was fully engaged in Krishna consciousness. The guru is not the Supersoul who knows all things, but he has an intimate relationship with the Supersoul. Srila Prabhupada was always dedicated to Krishna’s mission. He produced amazing, tangible results. He is extremely dear to Krishna. All his displays of anger, or illness, or humanness are transcendental; they are meant to bring us closer to him in loving exchange.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=5

Festival of India set to debut in Nigeria.
TVC E, LIFESTYLE – India is one of the most religiously diverse nations in the world, with some deeply religious societies and cultures.
The artistry and culture of the Indians is set to manifest in Nigeria at the first ever Festival of India, a celebration of cultural unity and diversity.
The international society for Krishna consciousness West Africa in partnership with the indian diaspora made the announcement in Lagos.
The Festival of India also called Rath Yaatra festival originated in the holy city of Puri, India and has been celebrated for thousands of years.
Organizers say, bringing the festival to Nigeria is to project the country in positive light.
The festival would include a display of various Indian costumes, dressing and dance groups representing different states in India.
Source: http://goo.gl/2XlPuz

Saturday Night Harinam London 6-02-2016 (11 min video)
RAIN AND STRONG WINDS… said the weather forecast. Still there was a great turnout of devotees and the Harinam was… special again. So many nice things happened. One devotee handed out prasadam to 5-6 police officers, one after the other, all in a row, while we were in Leicester Square. A little later on as we left the Square and moved off towards Piccadilly Circus, one policeman was seen playfully dancing, kicking his legs high into the air. Over the past 4/5 weeks three young students all doing their GCSE’s this year have been coming down from Archway (North London) and enthusiastically joining in with the Harinams. This week they got soaking from the quite heavy rain, but the enthusiasm was not dampened one iota. They all have copies of Bhagavad-Gita and are happily reading them. Also in recent weeks there have been two sisters (Deena & Diane) attending regularly. They are always happy to help hand out “On Chanting” booklets and prasadam. This week I had a little chat with them and was really impressed to hear that they have been taking the day return train from Nottingham each week all the way to London specifically to attend the Samkirtan Parties. They came in contact with Krsna Consciousness through a Hare Krsna Festival programme held in Nottingham not long ago.
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“So we are sending our men for street sankirtana. It doesn’t matter whether people are eager to hear it or not, but it is auspicious. It will create an atmosphere which is very, very congenial to the human society. That should be our principle.” Srila Prabhupada 6th April 1973 New York.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/Cx1euW

Travel Adventures of a Krishna Monk.
Diary of a Traveling Sadhaka by Krishna-kripa das – New York City Harinam, Albany. (Sent …

Garuda and Yamaraja.
“Our friends, relatives and so-called wives and children are not only fallible, but also bewildered by the outward glamor of material existence. As such, they cannot save us. Still we think that we are safe within the orbit of family, society or country.” One who properly prepares for the time of death is really intelligent, while one who thinks he can remain at home forever and enjoy the association of his wife and children is a fool. In illusion a man thinks, “My bank balance, my nice house, and my family will protect me.” But these cannot protect anyone. In this regard we came across following thought provoking story.
High in the reaches of Mount Kailash is the abode of Lord Shiva. One evening Lord Vishnu, came to see Lord Shiva. He left behind at the entrance Garuda, who served as His vehicle. Garuda sat alone, marveling at the natural splendor of the place. Suddenly his eyes fell on a beautiful creature, a little bird seated on the arch crowning the entrance to Lord Shiva’s place. Garuda wondered aloud, “How marvelous is this creation! One who has created these lofty mountains has also made this tiny bird – and both seem equally wonderful.” Just then Yamaraj came passing by with the intention of meeting Lord Shiva. As he crossed the arch, his eyes went over to the bird and he raised his brows in a quizzical expression. Then he took his eyes off the bird and disappeared inside. Even a slight glance of Yamaraj is said to be the harbinger of death. So Garuda told himself, “Yamaraj looking intently at the bird can mean only one thing – the bird’s time is up. Perhaps on his way back he will carry away the bird’s soul with him.” Garuda’s heart was filled with pity for the helpless creature. That it was oblivious of its own impending doom further agonized Garuda and he resolved to save the bird from the clutches of death. He swooped it up in his mighty talons, rushed to a forest thousands of miles away and left the bird on a rock beside a brook. Then he returned to Kailash and regained his position at the entrance gate. Soon after, Yamaraj emerged from inside, and nodded to Garuda in recognition. Garuda greeted him and said, “While going in, you saw a bird and for a moment you became pensive, why?” Yamaraj replied, “Well, when my eyes fell on the little bird, I saw that it was to die in a few minutes, swallowed by a python, far away from here in a forest near a brook. I wondered how this tiny creature would traverse the thousand of miles separating it from its destiny in such a short time. But there are no such serpents here, high on Kailash, and I was briefly puzzled. Then I forgot. Surely it must have happened somehow.” Saying this, Yamaraj smiled and went away. This story nicely explains us however we hard we try to escape from death, “Death is inevitable”. Death in the form of time, kala, will seize us just like the serpent seizes its prey. Srila Sukadeva Goswami is advising us that understanding the temporary nature of material existence, we must utilize our time for the self-realisation. When we fail to do this we will remain bewildered in this material existence, life after life. When we use our time for Krishna, death is also blissful as after death we will again go back to Krishna.

Puri Retreat (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Visiting Baligram, the sweet rural village of Dasya Bauri, a famous out caste devotee of Jagannatha! Then we visited Haridas Thakura’s Samadhi and many important places on Satasana Marg nearby! The Seven Rishis have their asans there. Finally ending the retreat with katha and kirtan.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/RgiWhi

ISKCON Purchases 50 Acres Near Downtown Columbus.
ISKCON of Columbus, Ohio, USA, has purchased fifty acres of prime real estate fifteen minutes’ drive from downtown Columbus. On the land, which they have offered to Srila Prabhupada for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary, devotees plan to develop a Krishna conscious community that offers the best of both urban and rural worlds. The local congregation raised $500,000 and bought the new property outright. Located in a fast-developing suburb called Hilliard, it’s flanked by upcoming million-dollar homes and neighboring land owned by banks. While all amenities are close by, ISKCON Columbus is planning a haven of simple living and high thinking. Within six months to a year, devotees expect to break ground and begin construction on a gorgeous temple with a 500-person capacity temple room, a gift shop, accommodation for celibate students, and a children’s school.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/Iai8qY

February 13. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Talk to Srila Prabhupada.
I have been going too long without trying to talk to Prabhupada. We shouldn’t refrain from talking to Prabhupada out of lack of faith. If a Christian can talk to Christ, and a yogi can talk to his Supersoul, why can’t a Prabhupadanuga speak his mind to Prabhupada? It just takes faith and hope that he will hear us – hope that Krishna will hear us. We may say, “Well, I definitely have faith in Krishna as the Supersoul,” but that faith may be more an acceptance of the scripture, than direct realization of the Lord in the heart. But the same scriptures tell us that the pure devotee, by Krishna’s grace, can be just as present as the Supersoul in the heart of His disciple. We do not have to doubt that, even if we don’t have direct realization of it. If we do doubt it, then we have to pin our hopes on a prayer to both Krishna and Prabhupada, “Please, Krishna, deliver my message to Prabhupada. Please, Prabhupada, deliver my message to Krishna. Please, Srimati Radharani, forgive me for my offenses, and let me become a devotee of my spiritual master, Lord Krishna, and You.”
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=5

Great MANTRA for LOVE and PEACE! (3 min video)
A compilation of friendly people on the streets of London chanting the maha-mant…