Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Bhakti Without Borders Producers to Attend Grammys.
Four people are set to represent Bhakti Without Borders, only the third kirtan album ever to be nominated for a Grammy, at the 58th annual Grammy Awards on February 15th. Main artist Madi Das – who duets on the album with eleven Vaishnavi co-vocalists – and producer Dave Stringer will attend as the Grammy nominees. They will be joined by KMA record label representatives Chaitanya Mangala and Kamal Vyas. With the exception of Stringer, who is a well-known kirtan artist outside of ISKCON, all are second generation Hare Krishna devotees. The award ceremony will be held at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles, and will be televised live at 8pm ET / 7pm CT / 5pm PT on CBS. It will also be streamed online at live.grammy.com or through the GRAMMY Live app.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/qlc5iV

School to Work Program.
Damodara Pandit dasa: This year the Bhaktivedanta Swami Gurukula (Hare Krishna School in Australia) beg…

Harinama in Mount Maunganui, New Zeland (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In the Age of Kali, there is no religious principle except chanting Krishna’s name. It has been ascertained from all the scriptures that Krishna’s holy name is the essence of all mantras. (Renunciation Through Wisdom, 5.1 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/pWlBBx

Back To Godhead magazine Reaching Prison Inmates.
Hardik Kaswala: I am a second-generation Indian-American devotee. I was born in Gujarat state and raised in Atlanta. I have been in prison for almost 3½ years and have about 3½ years to go, unless I am paroled earlier.
I cannot express in words what BTG means to me and what impact this magazine has had on people’s lives in prison. There are so many testimonials of “BTG-lila” in prisons that I could give you. Here are just a few:
Once, a South American inmate started chanting and dancing when he saw my BTG and found out that I am a devotee. The other Latino inmates smiled and listened attentively as he told us how his old girlfriend in his native Uruguay was a devotee, how he went to the temple, ate prasada, etc. He told me, “You have a real good culture, real good religion.”
Another time, at another prison, another Latino inmate saw the BTG in my hands and immediately started chanting Hare Krishna and dancing in ecstasy. I hadn’t mentioned a thing, and we hadn’t even introduced ourselves to each other. He told me how he used to go to the Laguna Beach temple, how nice the devotees were, how he liked the programs and the food. He immediately took the BTG. Srila Prabhupada’s BTG has a transcendental life of its own.
Another time, I was moved into an open dorm, where I knew only one person out of eighty or so inmates. I had the BTG issue of Shri Pancha-tattva in Mayapur and another issue, which had His Holiness Shridhara Swami’s life story. I hadn’t even set my mattress and belongings down when a crowd of people immediately started picking up and looking through the BTGs, saying they wanted to read them. They felt a spontaneous attraction.
It seems that no matter what religion, viewpoint, opinions, background, experiences, culture, or knowledge a person has, there is something for everybody in BTG. I want to thank you and the staff Vaishnavas for writing and producing such an excellent, interesting, spiritually entertaining, and enlightening magazine.
Hardik Kaswala. Calhoun State Prison, Morgan, Georgia

February 5. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Discouragement from Singhania. February 5, 1966.
Discouragement came to the plans Prabhupada had formed around the promise of support by Badampat Singhania through Dvaraka-vala, who wrote to express his dissatisfaction with the Seventy-second Street building:
“I am afraid that I cannot agree with your suggestion that you should buy a small house and erect something on top of it. Unfortunately, such a kind of proposal will not suit me. The temple must be a small one, but it must be constructed properly. I quite agree that you cannot spend a lot of money at present, but within the amount the government may sanction, you should build something according to the architecture of Indian temples. Then only will we be able to create some impression on the American people. This is all that I can write to you in this connection. I am grateful for you taking the trouble of writing me.”
Prabhupada did not take this letter as final. He maintained hope that Sri Badampat Singhania would still give money for the temple, if only the transfer of money could be arranged. He continued writing his godbrothers and other devotees, asking them to try to secure the government sanction. He maintained his same aspirations, even though his sole prospective donor had rejected his scheme of a cakra and dome atop a conventional two-storey building.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=5

Gunagrahi das Goswami Health Update: Maharaja is following a very strict daily regimen of herbal remedies and other bodily treatment…

Where did we begin our karma and when and why?
Answer by Radhanath Swami: I will answer briefly because this is the very long explanation but i.e. certain point in our existence as part and parcel of Lord Krsna. We have given free choice to either serve Krsna and love Krsna or to exploit what is the property of Krsna. When you made that choice you have given entrance into the material creation. And in the very beginning at the don of our existence in material creation we began to perform activities in the realm of exploitation and then our karma begins. Sometimes we exploit in a pious way and we get good karma. Sometimes we exploit in an impious way and we create bad karma. But Srila Prabhupada rarely would become very specific in regard to this question of our origin in this material creation. In fact generally when devotees would ask him he would very purposely answered in an indirect way. Generally when people would ask him this question he would say the problem is you are in Maya. Now how you got here its not so important what’s important is to get out. The Scriptures explain in specific detail how we come here. But Srila Prabhupada he would say if you are drowning in an ocean and someone comes to throw you a life preserver while sitting on the boat and says- come, I will pull you up to the boat and you say- wait! first I want to know when I fell on the ocean and why I fell on the ocean. Mean while there is sharks surrounding you ready to eat you alive. In the same way the shark of death is ready to devour us. It is not so important to understand why and how we came but it’s essential to hold on to the life raft and to get out. How our karma began through perhaps millions and millions and millions of births it has developed but the point i.e. of concern now is you have the opportunity to be free from all karma now. Krsna says in Gita- Abandon all varieties of religion, abandon all varieties of speculation and just surrender to Me. I shall protect you from all sinful reactions of whatever you have done, whenever you have done.
Always think of Me, become My devotee, worship Me and offer your homage unto Me. In this way you will come to Me without fail. I promise you this. So guru maharaj put all the emphasis on the here and now. Here is the life raft the association of devotees, the Holy Name, his transcendental books which teaches us how to live in such a way today by which can get out. And as far as he was concern the only real subject matter of any importance in regard to our origin in this material existence is that we misuse our independence exactly when, exactly how is not important. So what is important is we have misuse our independence? And why is it so important because we are still misusing our independence. So let us utilizes this independence for Krsna and become librated from the cycle of birth and death because you see theoretically we can explain these things but you will not understand it until you Back Home Back to Godhead. Ha… So therefore our concern is- you Back Home Back to Godhead and understand that realization and not put so much effort on trying to theoretically understand what we can’t understand. Is that answers question? So chant Hare Krsna Be Happy. Go Back Home Back to Godhead. You may have been worm, you may have been snake, you may have been reptile, a bird, a pig, a human being, a Mataji so many things. This is anything wrong with Mataji now you are brahmachari matajis are devotees you know all devotees we were so many things, we don’t care for any what we been we are concern with where we are going. Where been in this life. We are not concerned. Jagai and Madhai sinful didn’t matter when they took to Krishna Consciousness they became pure, pure than the pure. Doesn’t matter what we have done, where we come from all that matters is where we are going. So take Krsna. Lord Nityananda prayed in this way. Take Krsna. The only price is that you accepting with faith. Hare Krsna.

The Yogi’s Wager.
A servant of a very rich man came before his master one day and told him of an interesting yogi he had seen in the river. The servant said that this yogi claimed he could stay in the water all night in the middle of the river without any outside heat. The yogi was willing t take a wager with anyone to prove that he could do it. When the rich man heard this, he decided to wager against the yogi. So the bet was made to see whether the yogi could stay in the water all night. The yogi went into the water, and the rich man and his servant went home. The next day word came that the yogi had successfully stayed in the water all night. The rich man went out to see the yogi, and indeed he was still standing in the water. Therefore by all rights the rich man had lost the wager. But then a friend of the rich man said, “Wait! See that light?” He pointed to a small flame far away in a temple. The rich man’s friend said, “By his mystic power, this yogi has been using the heat of that light to keep warm in the water. So he shouldn’t be paid, because the bet was that he would stay in the water without taking any heat.” Taking advantage of this word jugglery, the rich man said, “Yes I’m not going to pay you. You’ve tricked me.” Then the rich man and his servant went back to the house. The rich man asked his servant to quickly cook him a nice breakfast, but after waiting for some time, the servant had not produced anything. The rich man expressed his impatience, but the servant replied, “Please wait. I’m cooking.” The rich man waited, but it got later and later and no food was brought. When he demanded food from his servant, the servant only replied, “I’m cooking. It’s going to be ready soon.” Finally the rich man became angry and walked into the kitchen. “What is this cooking?” he demanded. And there he saw that the servant had a very strange arrangement for cooking. He had a very small fire on the ground an a tall bamboo tripod to hold the pot he was supposed to be heating high near the ceiling. Obviously, the small flame would never be able to reach the pot to heat it. “What do you think you’re doing?” demanded the rich man. “Well,” said the servant, if you claim that the yogi was keeping warm in
the water by that light, then I am also cooking.“ The man could understand that his servant was dissatisfied with the outcome of the wager with the yogi. And so he went and paid the yogi the wager.
MORAL: If you practice Krishna consciousness “part time” you can’t expect to be “completely cooked”. If the fire of purification you apply is too far and weak won’t be able to separate the impurities and create a nice ghee for Krishna 🙂
To watch this parable in video: https://goo.gl/jzzZP3

Krishna Conscious HIP HOP ALBUM.
Milan Parmar is an individual who is part of the youth group ISKCON Pandava Sena. He has been practising Krishna Consciousness for over 5 years by reading and studying the Bhagavad Gita where he finds, what he likes to call – “every moment”, inspiration and in depth meaning to life. Milan became more involved with Pandava Sena late 2014 and found himself engaging in different services instantly such as, the Pandava Sena Janmashtami play and Something Spiritual (A creative arts group that aims to spread Krishna Consciousness in fun and dynamic ways). For over 10 years, he has been writing poetry and music lyrics where he finds he can express his inner thoughts and realisations to a wider crowd. He has released 3 Hip-Hop mixtapes over a 3 year period which were his experimental points to find himself within his musical field. On January 29th 2016, he released his first album called “When A Soul Acknowledges” through PandavaSena and aims to connect the World to Krsna Consciousness through Hip-Hop & music. When A Soul Acknowledges is a Hip-Hop album that portrays a story of an individual soul within a material lifetime. A journey that starts from birth into the material world, to growth of this body, experiencing the ‘pleasures’ of material life and finding no real essence in them, to becoming realised of the true self and finding a Guru who has shown this individual the truths of life, then taking on a spiritual life and finding the greatest love towards the Supreme and finally, the soul leaving the body and returning to the spiritual realm where the Supreme resides. This album is compiled of 10 tracks that allow you to immerse yourself in different stages of this individual’s lifetime and finding a deeper meaning through each chapter of their story. A symphonic book which many, if not all, can relate to and take on lessons that lie within each lyric, verse, song and the album as a whole. All proceeds for the album go to Pandava Sena. You can also view a video on the PandavaSena YouTube of the album highlights here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2co-8jHUllQ When A Soul Acknowledges is available to download/stream from all digital media formats iTunes: https://itun.es/gb/TIvuab Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/music/album?id=Btlr3pwzqkq7lav2x3q4tyz25li Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7o3bYfrTHk3BPn6Czp1GGC Amazon Music: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01B6YOE7S?ie=UTF8&*Version*=1&*entries*=0

Why Biology is Beyond Physical Sciences?
Abstract: In the framework of materialism, the major attention is to find general organizational laws stimulated by physical sciences, ignoring the uniqueness of Life. The main goal of materialism is to reduce consciousness to natural processes, which in turn can be translated into the language of math, physics and chemistry. Following this approach, scientists have made several attempts to deny the living organism of its veracity as an immortal soul, in favor of genes, molecules, atoms and so on. However, advancement in various fields of biology has repeatedly given rise to questions against such a denial and has supplied more and more evidence against the completely misleading ideological imposition that living entities are particular states of matter. In the recent past, however, the realization has arisen that cognitive nature of life at all levels has begun presenting significant challenges to the views of materialism in biology and has created a more receptive environment for the soul hypothesis. Therefore, instead of adjudicating different aprioristic claims, the development of an authentic theory of biology needs both proper scientific knowledge and the appropriate tools of philosophical analysis of life. In a recently published paper the first author of present essay made an attempt to highlight a few relevant developments supporting a sentient view of life in scientific research, which has caused a paradigm shift in our understanding of life and its origin [1]. The present essay highlights the uniqueness of biological systems that offers a considerable challenge to the mainstream materialism in biology and proposes the Vedāntic philosophical view as a viable alternative for development of a biological theory worthy of life.
Recently our Institute scientists published a paper entitled Why Biology is Beyond Physical Sciences? in the Journal Advances in Life Sciences. This paper discusses some of the points that are under discussion in this group. Details of this paper are given below.
Cite: Bhakti Niskama Shanta and Bhakti Vijnana Muni (2016) Why Biology is Beyond Physical Sciences?, Advances in Life Sciences, Vol. 6(1), pp. 13-30. doi: 10.5923/j.als.20160601.03
Full-text HTML: http://dx.doi.org/10.5923/j.als.20160601.03
Full-Text PDF: http://www.sapub.org/global/showpaperpdf.aspx?doi=10.5923/j.als.20160601.03

Nityam Bhagavata-sevaya e-magazine#30 Lord Kapila’s Teachings.
This issue brings to light the teachings of Lord Kapila Muni, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Glories of Devotional service, which is the basis of bhakti yoga, is explained by Lord Kapila to His mother, Devahuti. Along with that, a fresh translation for Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur’s song from the book Saranagati has been included. We pray this issue brings some pleasure to the devotees of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. NBS # 30 Features: 1) Lord Kapila Intructs Devahuti Sri Maitreya Rishi 2) Bhakti-Pratikula-Bhava Varjanangikara A promise to give up attachments which are unfavourable to Devotional Service Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur 3) Unauthorized Sampradayas Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur 4) The Process Of Advancing In Krishna Consciousness His Divine Grace A .C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada 5) How To Attain Devotional Service Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami This issue can be viewed through these links: ISSUU: http://issuu.com/nbsmag/docs/nbs_30 Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/doc/297875116/NBS-30

KK Bindu #368, “The Ornament of Equivocal Phrase”, plus more. The latest issue of Sri Krishna-kathamrita Bindu e-magazine was just released. This issue includes: * PREACHING IN INDIA – In this letter from 1968, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada speaks about the only solution for the problems of India. * THE ORNAMENT OF EQUIVOCAL PHRASES – 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. An excerpt: Radha: Who are you, dark fellow? Krishna: I am Hari! Radha (interpreting “hari” as “lion”): But this Vrindavan forest has become devoid of such ferocious animals. How can a lion be present here? Krishna: O Radhika! I am Madhava! Radha (interpreting “madhava” as the month of Madhava, also known as Vaishakh): How has the Vaishakh month arrived untimely? Krishna: O charming lady! I am Janardan! Radha (interpreting “janardana” as “he who gives all people trouble”): Oh! It’s nice that a troublesome person like you is staying here in the forest, away from the city and people in general. It can be downloaded here: https://archive.org/details/bindu368

February 4. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Letter to Tirtha Maharaja. February 4, 1966. He wrote again to Tirtha Maharaja, who had agreed to try for the government sanction if he first received written confirmation from a responsible donor pledging the funds for a temple. Prabhupada informed him that the donor would be Sri Badampat Singhania, and he enclosed Mr. Singhania’s favorable letter of the fourteenth. Prabhupada reminded his godbrother: “Srila Prabhupada Bhaktisiddhanta wanted such temples in foreign countries such as New York, London, Tokyo, etc., and I had personal talks with him when I first met him at Ulta Danga in 1922. Now here is a chance for me to carry out his personal order…. I am just seeking your favor and mercy in making this attempt successful.”
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=5

Harinamas in Allahabad, India (33 min video)
Sri Sacitanayastakam: I salute the Son of Mother Saci, Whose heart is in a state o…

Preaching program in Zurich (Album with photos)
Kurma Dasa: A Night at Radha Kripa’s
Last night we were invited to her lovely apartment just outside Zurich (transformed from a barn) for a program of kirtan, Prabhupada katha and delightful prasadam. Radha Kripa and her husband Jaya Gopal are kind and thoughtful hosts. Jaya Gopal attended my first cookery courses here almost 20 years ago, and drove me to Germany for a huge catering program.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/skUDvc

An exceptional presence today in the subway 🙂
Srila Prabhupada story: Srila Narada Muni come!!!
One night an extraordinary thing happened. Prabhupada led the first kirtan and then gave a lecture. I sat on the floor just to his right with the harmonium, and after the lecture, I began leading the second Hare Krishna kirtan. All of a sudden, Srila Prabhupada’s voice cut through the auditorium with the potency of Lord Nrisimha, right in the middle of my chanting. I had never heard Prabhupada do that, nor had I heard the words he chanted. ‘Narada Muni bhajaya vina radhika ramana namne,’ he sang. And then again he repeated it. I looked up, and he looked down at me, signaling me to carry on. So I continued chanting Hare Krishna, and he continued singing his prayer to Narada Muni into his microphone. I closed my eyes and carried on, not knowing what was happening. Then he started leading with me. We could all understand that something inexplicable but amazing was happening. Everyone was literally jumping off the ground, leaping in the air; even little baby Saraswati was two feet off the ground, and the audience was leaping into the air. We jumped off the stage and all of us began running around the perimeter of the auditorium with the audience. It was one of those Krishna magic moments. Just amazing! The next morning I asked what had happened the previous night. “Didn’t you see?” Srila Prabhupada said. “Narada Muni came to our kirtan.” “No, I didn’t see him,” I answered. “Yes, Narada Muni came.” ( Yamuna devi dasi – London 1969 )

TOVP: A few updates of the floor screenings at the Nrsimhadeva wing and the iron grill work. (Album with photos)
Find them here…

Radhadesh Mellows 2016 at ISKCON Radhadesh, Belgium (Album with photos)
Sri Sacitanayastakam: I prostrate myself before the Son…

Vrindavan Parikrama in Govardhan Eco Village (Mumbai)! (Album with photos)
One day HG Deena Bandhu Prabhu took us all for Vri…

February 3. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Krishna’s Dutiful Preacher.
Srila Prabhupada was not a rebel-rouser. He didn’t get any particular joy out of people trying to harass; he simply knew that he had to preach seriously and accept the consequences from the materialists who became disturbed. And of course, he pointed to the long tradition of Vaisnavas who were grateful for all troubles that came as a result of their preaching. They knew it was bringing them closer to Krishna and accepted it as proof that their preaching was effective. Prabhupada sometimes gave the example of Jesus Christ on this point of opposition. He called it “the favorite example,” that Jesus was willing to disturb people, even at the risk of his life. But he also spoke of those in the Vedic tradition – Lord Nityananda, Haridasa Thakura, and many others – who were willing to give up their lives for the cause of spreading Krishna consciousness. Prabhupada was in the same mood.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=5

“Spying Kindness”: Rasalila Wins National Writing Contest.
TKG Academy: Our dear 4th grader, Rasalila Shinde, has recently participated in a national “I Spy Kindness” writing contest and won first prize for the 3rd – 5th grade category. She wrote an essay describing acts of kindness she has witnessed and experienced in her life.
The “Be Kind People Project” wrote: “Her essay stood out because of her ability to see kindness in the smallest action (helping ducklings cross the street), to a global response (fundraising for flooding in Mayapur, India). It is clear that Rasalila sees kindness as an empathetic choice rather than a decision worthy of reward or praise. She gives me great hope for the future.
We warmly congratulate her for her accomplishment. Well done!
Read more: http://goo.gl/VCpbkN

The devotees and the temple of Iskcon Zurich, Switzerland (Album with photos)
Some of the nice residents of Zurich Iskcon: Left…

The Night Bo Diddley Got Krishna’s Mercy.
Gaura Das: I used to do Harinama Sankirtana with our godbrother Vivasvan prabhu in Tampa in 1993 , while I was maintaining The Bhaktivedanta Cultural Arts Center I opened in Clearwater Beach . We would do Harinama Sankirtana in an area where a lot of clubs and bars were. One night I thought I was seeing one of my teenage music idols “Bo Diddley” standing outside one of the clubs. I walked up to him and introduced myself and he confirmed that it was him. I told him how I used to enjoy playing his songs previously in my blues band, and complimented how much influence he had on The Rolling Stones, and popular music in general. He accepted my compliment graciously, thanked me, and I gave him a Bhagavad Gita As It Is. He thanked me for the book as well and gave a donation for the printing cost. I had always wanted to meet him in my youth, as I had also met Chuck Berry, but had no idea that one day I would be distributing Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is to him.

Ratha yatra in Osmanabad plus Sunday Program in Solapur (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Pure devotees chant the Hare Kris…

TOVP’s Gardens masterplan.
Sadbhuja Das: Please have a look at the marvelous TOVP masterplan by clicking on this link- http://masterplan.tovp.org/
This will give you an idea of how we are trying to create the most magnificent gardens in the whole of India, for the pleasure of The Lord.

Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Meerut: 31-01-2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: All glories to the all-blissful holy nam…

Where Natural Enemies Are Friends (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The other day we drove many hours through a jungle ar…

February 2. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Prabhupada’s Uniqueness. As we hear from Prabhupada, we also begin to recognize other preachers and ways of presenting the parampara, although no one knows as much about Krishna as Prabhupada, or teaches Vaisnava philosophy in exactly the same way. There are other Vaisnavas and other ways that present the same conclusion, but this does not diminish our desire to hear directly from Prabhupada. Our equating Krishna consciousness with His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada is not accidental; we deliberately cultivate this loyalty on the advice of the sastras. Unless we please our spiritual master, Krishna will not be pleased with us. The personal presence of the spiritual master is necessary to enforce some of the more difficult injunctions of Vaisnava tradition. For example, Prabhupada came to America and taught that sex life should be restricted. He told us right from the beginning that our Western emphasis on sex would be very detrimental to our spiritual lives. One should restrict it. If possible, one should give it up entirely. Some devotees mentioned to Prabhupada that these restrictions would be difficult for Americans to accept. Prabhupada replied, “I cannot change the philosophy to suit the Americans.”
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=5

Attentive Japa Brings Quality and Happiness in Our Life.
Candramauli Swami: When we try to chant our japa seriously, with attention, day after day, after day, after day, we will get the taste and begin to lose our desires for material happiness. Fast! It is all in the chanting.
But we don’t have a time for japa. We think we have to do it, and then we can “start our day”. Japa is just a “necessary botheration”. The “real thing” is to “do” things, because then we will get some “results”. “I don’t get any results from japa! I am using 2 hours every day, but nothing is changing. Nothing happened in my life in 2 hours! But if I am doing something, then life has got a meaning.” Look at the people outside, they are so busy they don’t even have time to sleep. Like that animal, the beaver, in America they call him “busy beaver”. He is so busy he cannot stop to not do something. Always so busy, but who cares!
Our actions will have quality when our hearing and chanting is done nicely. We may do less, but we will find satisfaction in whatever we do. We will offer arati and it will be so nice, because we will offer our devotion in such a nice way to the Deities. And when walking from the altar, we will feel satisfied, and not that, “All right, I got it done!” We want to do everything with attention and that comes from our chanting japa. This brings attention to everything we do. The quality of japa is the basis for everything and then the attraction for material desires goes away fast.

Ratha Yatras in Maharastra (Album with photos)
After Andhra Pradesh now we are in the state of Maharastra based in the city called Pandharpur.
We have the good fortune o have HH Lokanatha Maharaja with us in every Ratha Yatra. His birthplace is nearby and there the biggest Ratha Yatra will take place.
Syama Natarani, Govinda Prachara, Sarasvati and Lalita have performed their dances with the new Bharatnatyam dance costumes and jewellery.
Maharastra is an explosion of culture and devotion. Almost everybody is a devotee of Lord Vitala or Krishna. This beloved deity was worshiped by the saint Tukurama and is also known as Pandoranga. This deity is standing with His hands on the waist waiting for the devotees to come.
Now when see the devotees posing with their hands on the waist you’ll know why.
Lokanatha Maharaja said that Lord Jagannatha is more merciful. He doesn’t fro HIs devotees to come, but He goes out and meets them. Jay Jagannatha!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/fOQYn4

Close encounters of the B.B. King kind.
Jiva Nath: The year was 1977 and i was distributing books in O’Hare airport. One day while between concourses I noticed B.B. King walking towards me with a few other companions . There was nobody else around but us and I was determined to get him to stop and take a book. I approached him acting like I didn’t recognize him as a celebrity. His group paused and gave me a chance to approach him. I told him I had the Bhagavad Gita , a book renowned for its inspirational teachings. The book was used by many famous musicians to get lyrics for songs. People like George Harrison, John Lennon, B.B, King and Bob Dylan. I was looking at all the guys faces as they impatiently were giving me the time of day. B.B. King was just getting ready to say something to me about my statement to him, when I gave him a wry smile. He smirked and said” Oh this guy is good. Give him some money” One guy ripped out his wallet and gave me a $20. We all shook hands, he took his book and we all went on our merry way.

Srila Prabhupada in the Radha-Damodara Bus (Album with photos)
Vakresvara Pandit das: Prabhus, I have never ever ever experienced fear, anxiety, suffering like that!
I was told that the ride on the Radha Damodar bus was Prabhupada’s long-cherished dream. And because the vehicle that we had just repaired was in such first-class shape, we were informed that our bus would be used to take Srila Prabhupada and that I would be the driver and Mahamuni would be the servant and Sunanda would be the cook.
Now, prabhu, I was an expert bus driver, expert! I could pull that bus into any spot, eyes closed. Somehow or other when Prabhupada and all these sannyasis and senior devotees got on the bus, I was terrified. I was really hyper nervous.
So we go out of the Lincoln Tunnel. Now, that’s a huge curve and the curb itself, it has a really high cement curb. And somehow or other, the wheel itself, it gets stuck on the curb. I can’t turn it to get it off. So the curb is guiding the whole bus, and sparks are flying out and no one knows but me. And I’m just praying, I said, “Krishna, why are You doing this to me now? I’m going to kill my guru, sannyasis, the Deities, we’re all going to go tumbling…” I said, “Kill me anytime, anyway You want, please don’t…”
Prabhu, I have never ever ever experienced fear, anxiety, suffering like that. So I was just praying, trying to hold the bus so that the wheel would veer off to the left. And finally, after about two minutes of that intense, intense…two minutes was like an eternity, a few eternities.
So finally the bus pulls away. Definitely some of my life force was dropped on that curve coming out of the Lincoln Tunnel.
Following Śrīla Prabhupāda Remembrances.
By Yadubara dāsa adhikari and Visakha devi dāsi
Find them here: https://goo.gl/oqYmcW

Bhagavata Subodhini Canto 3 – New Release!
Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha (GEV): The Vedic Encyclopedia, Srimad Bhagavatam, like an ocean, is expansive with its nominal and phenomenal subject matters and deep in its spiritual and philosophical insights, making it a text for both research and relish by many. On 21st September 2015, Radhastami, Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha at Govardhan Ecovillage, launched the first volume of the Bhagavata Subodhini, an inspirational study guide to the Srimad Bhagavatam. This book published by the Tulsi books featured verse-by-verse overviews of Cantos One and Two. It also contained a variety of thematic compilations and resource material suited for preachers.
BHAGAVATA SUBODHINI: CANTO 1 & 2, has been appreciated by many Vaisnavas for its systematic and colorful presentation of the Bhagavatam in a lucid manner, that facilitates the reader’s understanding and increases his or her enthusiasm for studying the Bhagavatam. It sold almost 2,000 copies in its first month of launching and went for a reprint immediately. Currently Hindi, Chinese and Russian language translations of this first volume are in progress.
With this encouraging appreciation from the devotee community, the Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha is pleased to release the second volume of the series titled, BHAGAVATA SUBODHINI: CANTO 3. The beauty of the third canto lies in the variegated range of topics that it covers and the awe-inspiring characters of great personalities that it describes. The topics include creation, subcreation, time, embryology, family life, Sankhya, bhakti yoga, Astanga yoga, Jnana yoga, karma, culture, spiritual world, material world and hell. These topics are interwoven in the stories,prayers and conversations of illustrious personalities like Vidura, Uddhava, Maitreya, Brahma, Kumaras, Jaya, Vijaya, Svayambhuva Manu, Devahuti and Kardama. While Lord Varaha’s pastimes create special exhilaration, the teachings of Lord Kapila will provide one of the most deep philosophical experiences for the reader/ student of the Bhagavatam.Bhagavata Subodhini Simplifies The Apparent Complexity In Understanding The Bhagavatam, By Uncovering and Integrating The Explanations Of Srila Prabhupada And The Previous Acaryas, And Thus Caters To The Taste And Need Of Avid Readers, Scholars, And Even Newcomers To The Srimad Bhagavatam.Have a bird’s eye view of the Srimad-Bhagavatam Cantos
Explore the Interconnections between different Sections
Familiarize yourself with the Flow of verses in a chapter
Dive deep into the Authentic imports of Vital verses
Delight on the Thematic perspectives and Compilations
Marvel at the richness of the Characters, Holy names and AnalogiesFor ordering your copy, please visit www.tulsibooks.com or send an email to tulsibookssales@gmail.com
Also available at Flipkart, PayTM and ShopClues.

Harinama Nectar Bliss in Kiwi Beach, New Zeland (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/vIUlQf

February 1. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: We are Especially Following Srila Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada exposed material life as a defeat. People think they will obtain happiness by sense gratification, but in the end, they are only frustrated. Prabhupada taught this repeatedly because the struggle for happiness is so pervasive among the people of the world. Although most people concentrate on money-making as their goal, Prabhupada instructs them, “No, that cannot make you happy.” He also tells us not to seek liberation from material life. One might ask, “Neither sense gratification nor renunciation – what’s left?” Srila Prabhupada teaches that the goal of life is service to Krishna, bhakti yoga. This is the message of the six Gosvamis, Lord Caitanya, and Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad-gita. Prabhupada preached it and we are following him. Often, our appreciation of Prabhupada is based on appreciation of the Vedic truths. One may say that Prabhupada’s teachings are just those of a typical Vaisnava sannyasi. By glorifying Prabhupada, all we are doing is appreciating Lord Krishna in Bhagavad-gita. Srila Prabhupada would appreciate that estimation of himself. In fact, that’s how he wanted us to appreciate him – as one who delivered Krishna’s message unchanged.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=5

Always! (5 min HD video)
Balaram Briant: I have always wanted to make a short film from a poem. We have music videos; why not poem videos? I wrote this poem and made the film using footage from the few years that I had the good fortune of studying in Gurukul in India. I was inspired to write this poem about some of the things I’ve been going through in my life, but I believe it’s really about the experience that we all have in this material world.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/dkcJ47

Initiation ceremony at ISKCON New Govardhana – Sri Sri Radha Govardhanadhari 31 January 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupa…

Ekachakra Temple Inauguration.
With great happiness, we are happy to announce the Inauguration Festival of historical temple of Lord Nityananda Prabhu at Ekachakra Dham on 14th Feb. 2016 – a humble offering at the lotus feet of HDG AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, on the golden jubilee year of ISKCON. Though temple construction started way back in 2010, there was a struggle to complete the project due to lack of sufficient funds and other impediments. As an offering for the 50th anniversary of ISKCON inauguration of the TOVP was planned. However, this could not manifest, but it was our sankalpa to offer a temple to Srila Prabhupada in the Golden jubilee of ISKCON. Therefore, we decided to complete the temple at Ekachakra Dham in 2016 and the inauguration date was finalized. In a short notice we started our marathon to complete the construction of the temple since April-May 2015. Another two weeks to go for inauguration, the project is going through a deficit of around 60-70 lacs Indian Rupees (around 100,000 US dollars) to complete this historical temple. To gear up the completion of temple on time, we are soliciting donations from devotees worldwide at this hour of need. The project is going through a deficit of around 60-70 lacs Indian Rupees (around 100,000 US dollars) to complete this historical temple. We sincerely appeal to each of you to take part in this Maha Yajna and receive the blessings of Nitai. This is once in a lifetime limited opportunity to serve Lord Nityananda Prabhu at His birthplace. Levels of sponsorships to enable everyone to participate and you can choose from Vaisnava Sevak for Rs.1500 per sq.ft to Radha Krishna Sevak for Rs.500,000. We shall be happy to offer a tulasi archana on your behalf on the inauguration day praying for your family’s well-being. For details and to submit your offerings, visit here: http://www.mayapur.com/serve-mayapur/ekachakra-dham-project/

Yuki conquers Bhakti.
I walked into a classroom filled with little children all busily working in groups. “Welcome!” said the teacher with a smile. “You’re here for observation, right? To see if you want the job as a part-time teacher? Well, you can take this group here in the library, read to them, engage in discussion,” “Sure, thank you,” I replied wobbily. I had never, ever worked with children so young – five and six years old. In my path to being a teacher, I had always focused on high school. But this was the position that was open – Kindergarten. And I was being warmly persuaded to come on board by practically the entire administration staff of Kahakai Elementary. So I came for observation, to test the waters. The library session was sweet and cute, although I did freeze up a couple times. Overall, nice…
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/xFoQYV

Pushpa Abhishek! Showering of flower petals on the deities of Radha Gopinath at Iskcon Chowpatty (Album with photos)
Srila Prab…