Websites from the ISKCON Universe
What is going on behind-the-scenes in Mayapur’s kitchen? (Album with photos)
In our latest photo-journalism piece blogger Manoj, an Indian living in Australia, shares a highlight of his recent trip to ISKCON’s headquarters in holy Mayapur, India. There, he caught a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how the hard-working temple cooks prepare food for thousands of devotees every day!
Find them here: http://goo.gl/p4HArX
Mayapur: Kirtan Evening with H.H Lokanath Swami (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If one can control the tongue, then there …
Visiting the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium in Mayapur (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The devotee’s life’s mission is to please Krishna, and he can sacrifice everything for Krishna’s satisfaction, just as Arjuna did in the Battle of Kuruksetra. The process is very simple: one can devote himself in his occupation and engage at the same time in chanting Hare Krishna. Such transcendental chanting attracts the devotee to the Personality of Godhead. (Bhagavad-gita 12.6-7 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/m4zx9
A lone Vaishnava mendicant.
Somehow my life trajectory led me to the life of a monk. As years progress, I realise that the renounced order is not just a dress, an identity, role, position, or life situation. It must mature into a deep internal conviction. Saffron signifies fire; the setting ablaze of all material concern. Saffron is not just a statement, but the opportunity and responsibility to embody genuine detachment. Not a dry, bitter, heartless or forced detachment, but a natural indifference coming from genuine spiritual inspiration. Without this higher taste, what is the real substance of one’s so-called renunciation? I’m falling short, and challenged to dig a little deeper.
In 1958, while residing as a lone, penniless mendicant in this remote town, Srila Prabhupada wrote a beautiful poem. “In this mood,” he said, “I am getting many realisations.”
Krishna has shown me the naked form of material nature,
By his strength it has all become tasteless to me today.
“I gradually take away all the wealth of those upon whom I am merciful.” How was I able to understand this mercy of the all-merciful? (Stanza 1)
Everyone has abandoned me, seeing me as penniless,
Wife, relatives, friends, brothers, everyone.
This is misery, but it gives me a laugh. I sit alone and laugh.
In this maya-samsara, whom do I really love? (Stanza 1)
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/e2p6H3
TOVP: First Segment of West Wing Kalash Installation Begins (3 min video)
We have commenced the stainless steel structure for the West Wing kalash.
What you’re seeing in the photo and video is the first segment for the small dome. There will be three more layers on top of that. This gives an indication of the immense size of the kalashes. Soon work will commence on the main dome kalash.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/Yok1O1
Preaching in Nepal (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is described as maha-vadanya, the most munifi…
The Adventurous Govardhan Parikrama.
Sutapa das: Yesterday I went on Parikrama, which literally means to “walk around.” Circumambulation of holy places has a symbolic meaning – to always keep our spiritual aspirations central and close, regardless of where we are in life (whatever point on the circle, one is never further away from the centre). There is also a transcendental benefit: anyone who sincerely circles these holy places accrues the conviction and devotion to escape the cosmic cycle of birth and death. Bare footed, and carrying the bare necessities, I set off, trying to keep a spiritual meditation in mind.
An hour into my journey, a local resident whizzed past me. Half my size and double my age, but somehow walking at twice my speed! How was it possible? Not to be defeated (as if it was a race anyway), I upped my tempo. At this point I was practically running, but he was effortlessly pulling away. As he floated ahead into the morning mist, I wanted a glance of his face. I was waiting, praying for him to look back – who was this man? He eventually disappeared out of sight, and never looked back even once. He was totally focused on the path ahead.
Residents of these holy places, we are told, are not ordinary souls. They travel light, with few attachments, speeding towards spiritual perfection. They’ve closed all their chapters, tied up their worldly concerns, and now invest everything in their cherished spiritual aspirations. They don’t look back. Yes, I thought, maybe I’m not moving as fast as I’d like because I’m still looking back. Looking back to see if I’m missing out on something. Looking back and regretting actions and decisions of the past. Looking back to see what people think of me, preoccupied with public opinion, image, name and fame. Looking back to see how everyone else is doing, continually comparing my progress to others and competing with the world. In this way we continually look back, and unknowingly slow down our progressive march forward.
I resolved to not look back for the rest of my walk. It helped, and I prayed that ‘not looking back’ will become a deeper meditation in my life. Oh, and I did indeed meet that mystical man again. A half hour down the road he was sitting on a wooden bench sipping coconut water. He had finished his circuit, while I still had a good few hours left. He smiled, and I smiled back, folding my hands in respect. Gracefully and humbly, he returned the gesture. It was touching. I walked off and wondered who he was… a small man, but likely a spiritual giant.
Read more: https://sutapamonk.wordpress.com/
March 2. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Typing His Words.
In February 1966 Prabhupada spoke, over the space of two lectures, what later became the introduction to his Bhagavad-gita As It Is. He recorded these lectures himself and we typed them later. In a 1968 letter to me, Prabhupada wrote, “You have to meet many opposing elements in the matter of preaching work; therefore, you should always be careful to follow the principles in Bhagavad-gita As It Is. You will be glad to know that our arrangement with Macmillan for publishing Bhagavad-gita As It Is, is already complete and the manuscript has been handed over to them. We should clearly preach that our Krishna consciousness movement is purely based on Bhagavad-gita As It Is. Any other movement which does not tally with the principles of Bhagavad-gita As It Is, is considered unauthorized by us.”
I was still typing for him in 1968 despite many opposing elements. Typing is yoga. You sit on the floor cross-legged in front of the typewriter. Instead of performing pranayama and raising the life air in the cakras, you type the words of Swamiji from the Bhagavad-gita manuscript. If you make a mistake in typing, then stop and correct it. Everything is concentrated on looking at the message and making it right. Thinking of typing as yoga gives a nice spirit to the work, but the most important thing is that it is in connection with the Swamiji. It is his words of Bhagavad-gita. Besides the recorded lectures, he had bundles of thousands of pages that he had typed, wrapped in saffron and lying on the floor in his closet. When he first took some typing out of this mass of material and gave it to me, I remarked, “I think you have enough work to last me a whole winter.” Swamiji laughed and said, “I have many lifetimes of work for you.”
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=6
Mauritius Plans New School, Medical Center for 50th.
ISKCON of Phoenix, Mauritius, is planning a whole host of exciting events and projects for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary year, including a new school and medical center, and the groundbreaking for a new $3 million temple.
Devotees have already secured a 5-acre plot of land in the town of Phoenix in the center of the island, and hope to hold the groundbreaking ceremony within the next few months.
The ambitious project, which is expected to take a minimum of three years to construct, will include a 600 to 800-capacity temple hall for Radha-Golokananda, a guest house and accommodation for devotees, a prasadam hall, a conference hall, exhibition areas, an auditorium and a five-star restaurant. It will blend traditional domes with modern western features.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/gH7JVi
A visit to the Temple of Vedic Planetarium in Mayapur by the Grade 2 students of SMIS (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Som…
ILS Cow Protection Work shop 2016 (Album with photos)
Sri Mayapur International School Grade 5 visited the Cow protection work…
Everything Srila Prabhupada did, he did for our benefit, for the benefit of the living entities and especially for his disciples.
Ambarish: I found a palatial estate that was the Fisher Mansion and later became the Bhaktivedanta Cultural Center. We went there to look at it, and Srila Prabhupada immediately liked it. He mentioned, “Who would not like such a building?”
Govardhan said, “Well, Ambarish doesn’t like it.” It was dirty, and there were dogs in it, and the neighborhood was really bad. I couldn’t see what was going to happen to it, but Prabhupada had a vision of what this place could be.
Govardhan said, “Ambarish thinks it’s maya.” Prabhupada said, “Yes, but Krishna is also maya, and maya can be utilized in the service of Krishna.”
After we looked at the building, we went to see the man who owned it. We were sitting by his pool. He was materialistic and greedy and wanted as much money as he could get, but the neighborhood was so bad that I couldn’t see how he was possibly going to get that much money, three-hundred-fifty thousand.
Prabhupada told the man that he liked the building. He said, “Of course, we’re mendicants, we’re monks, we don’t have much money.” He suggested that the man give the building.
The man was cool. He didn’t seem too shocked with that suggestion, but the real-estate lady almost fell over backwards in her chair, because she was counting on her commission. Her jaw dropped when Prabhupada said that.
The owner was respectful and said he couldn’t possibly do that, as he had invested money in the property. So they settled on a price, and Prabhupada asked if Lekhashravanti and I could come up with the money. We ended up purchasing the building that way.
We were walking in the gardens, when Prabhupada explained that he wanted to make this Detroit building a showplace for Krishna consciousness. He specifically mentioned putting in diorama exhibitions.
He was very enthusiastic about these diorama exhibitions because his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, had used dioramas throughout India as an effective way of preaching.
Prabhupada saw that non-devotees like Disney were using them, and he wanted us to have them. Dioramas were one of the first things that I wanted to get working on when we bought the property.
I was concerned with the neighborhood because there was a lot of crime and burned-out buildings. Prabhupada said “If you simply bring Krishna here, everything will improve.” At the time, I didn’t have much faith in that, but it’s well known how the neighborhood has improved.
Now there are luxury condominiums there, and there’s the first new housing development within the city limits of Detroit in forty or fifty years.
The whole neighborhood has been transformed, and they have said specifically that it’s because the temple is there. Prabhupada could see that this was going to happen.
What I learned from this experience was that simply by following the instructions of the spiritual master, you become successful. As disciples, we don’t have to try to be innovative or think up new things, but just by following Prabhupada’s directions things will work out.
Prabhupada could see past, present, and future because he was in touch with Krishna. The Detroit building has worked out really well.
It has become a wonderful center and people who would never visit any other temple come there. I think Prabhupada would be very pleased with the way things developed.
The night after the new temple was purchased, the real-estate lady and her partner, two middle-aged Polish women, came to congratulate Prabhupada. They both were intoxicated and were laughing.
Prabhupada was kind and friendly with them, and he was very happy too, because he had purchased the building at a good price. Prabhupada didn’t discriminate. He always made whomever came feel comfortable. His attitude was so personable it was amazing.
During the last few months of his life, I knew Prabhupada was really ill, but I never thought that he was going to depart. I thought, “How can he leave? He can’t leave us now,” so I did not go to India.
In retrospect I wish I had gone, but Govardhan, the president of the Detroit temple, went, and when he first went into Prabhupada’s presence, Prabhupada said, “How is Ambarish?”
He was on his departure bed, yet he was asking how I was doing. It’s amazing to me that he was always so concerned. Right up to the end, he was translating and giving instructions.
Everything he did, he did for our benefit, for the benefit of the living entities and especially for his disciples. It’s such an example of love. I never knew what love was before I met Srila Prabhupada.
I had no idea, because we get so many perverted reflections. He was an example of Krishna’s love, and it is amazing that we’re able to see that.
—Ambarish
Excerpt from “Memories-Anecdotes of a Modern-Day Saint”
by Siddhanta das
www.prabhupadamemories.com
March 1. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: His Lectures.
Prabhupada’s lectures were always of a good quality, although he never prepared them. Usually he went to the engagements without having chosen a topic, although, if a club or organization requested a topic, he would agree to it. Neither did he ever appear nervous or uncertain of what he would say, yet he writes with joy in his diary for February 1966: “Today’s meeting was attended by a greater number of members than other days.”
His preparation was his total commitment to Krishna consciousness. In that sense, he was more prepared than any speaker on any topic. He lived and breathed Krishna consciousness twenty-four hours a day. There was no question of his speaking about anything else. In one lecture at Northeastern University in 1968, Prabhupada began, “Thank you very much for allowing me to take this opportunity to glorify the Supreme Personality of Godhead.” That was always his topic – glorifying Krishna. His speeches always appeared well thought out because he had such realization of his topic.
Prabhupada’s main emphasis was to present Krishna consciousness; therefore, he was sometimes concerned about his audience and was prepared to address their particular concerns. At other times, however, he was not. When reporters asked their hackneyed questions, Prabhupada often springboarded off their questions to his own points of interest in the philosophy. Similarly, he would give lectures to particular groups, but remain the irrepressible Prabhupada. He was independent.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=6
He Who Charms the Heart (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: As the sun was setting we walked down the parikrama path and ju…
Drishti – ISKCON Pune’s Mega Youth Fest!
The ISKCON Pune temple (www.iskconpune.in) has been conducting youth-development activities on a large scale since 1996 & have reached out to 2 lakh+ students. Thus with an aim to celebrate the golden jubilee, we are organizing a youth festival ‘Drishti’ (www.facebook.com/dyfest). We are inviting more than 1.5 lakh students for this absolutely free program to be held on 20th March 2016, Sunday at Bharti Vidyapeeth College ground, Katraj Pune. We are expecting a turnout of approx. 15,000 students to visit us for this event which will be a mix of cultural, musical & spiritual renaissance. At the end of the event all participants will get free Dinner prasadam. Thus we request you to please bless so that we can bring many many youths in the service of Srila Prabhupada!
For more information click here: http://www.iskconpune.com/drishti/
Kalash Yatra (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: For the 13th Annual Vrinda Kunda Festival, we did a kalash yatra with all t…
The Heart of a Vaisnava.
A wonderful lecture by Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami about the Vaisnavas who voluntarily, out of thei…
Harinam Sankirtan in Bali, Indonesia (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/0mS2Bv
Gunagrahi das Goswami Health Update – Official.
Written by Mahahari das and Gandharvika devi dasi
Dear Devotees, family an…
February 29. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: I Had So Much Hardship.
About the Jaladutta voyage to America, he said, “It is a great history. There were two days I had heart attacks on the ship. I had so much hardship.” We may only try to think of how Srila Prabhupada put up with such difficulties: vaiṣṇavera kriyā mudrā vijñeha nā bujhaya. One can never understand the mind of a great Vaisnava, and although we are advised not to try to read his mind, yet we may worship Prabhupada’s example of tolerance and distress. There is a great risk in assuming we can read devotees’ minds and motivations. Yet we can just remember that on the Jaladutta voyage to America, Prabhupada twice experienced heart attacks. And he continued to suffer strokes and many other maladies while discharging his duties on behalf of his spiritual master.
When we are physically disposed, we may also meditate on how Srila Prabhupada does not reject us because of illness, and how he did not stop because of hardships. We should not feel sorry for ourselves, or think that our spiritual master is unsympathetic to our material condition. He himself has gone through pain; he knows that we are sincere and that we will work more actively on his behalf if we were fit.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=5
Congregational Preachers to be awarded in Sridham Mayapur!
This year, for the first time ever, we will be hosting our annual award ceremony during the ISKCON Leadership Sanga in front of all the leaders. We will be awarding those devotees around the world who have done an outstanding service in the area of congregational preaching.
During the 2016 Annual Award Ceremony, the congregational ministry will recognize devotees in a variety of areas. From pioneers and supporters of the preaching mission to those who have had long-term achievements with their congregations, or in the area of production of preaching material and even those devotees who may have given substantial financial contributions for the preaching will receive due recognition for their endeavours. Another important award is for those devotees who travel far and wide trying to encourage and train congregational devotees in their spiritual life. Other significant areas are prison preaching, festivals and youth.
In celebration of ISKCON’s 50th year, we are humbly presenting medallions to devotees who have made exceptional progress in their preaching endeavors.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/Es2AFv
Beautiful Vrindavana (Album with 112 HR photos)
Srila Prabhupada: These four principles: Always think of Krishna, become Krishna’s devotee, worship Krishna and offer your respect, obeisances to Krishna. That’s all. This is Krishna consciousness. Hyderabad, November 17, 1972.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/SpRQ87
Harinama at Burleigh Heads (a suburb on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia) – 28 February 2016 (Album with photos)
Srila …
Bonds of Love: Brahmi Devi Dasi.
Brahmi Dasi: My first memory of our beloved Srila Prabhupada was my discovery of him in a book I found in a secondhand bookshop called Krsna Consciousness: The Topmost Yoga System. I also found Easy Journey to Other Planets. I was so intrigued by these titles that I bought them both. One paragraph made such an impression on me. It was, as I remember it, “Why are we sending all these young men to the war in Vietnam when there is a fighting class of men?” That is when I recognized my spiritual master, and I said aloud to myself, “This man is beautiful.” I looked at the back of one of the books, saw the number of the Toronto temple, and called and asked if I could visit. When I was told I could, I took my baby daughter, Visakha, and went to meet the devotees.
I have loved Srila Prabhupada from the moment I read that first one of his books. He has been my life and soul from that moment on. I am, by Krishna’s mercy, now in a 77-year-old body – in the dwindling stage, to be precise. When I think of how my life would have been without Srila Prabhupada’s loving guidance and teachings – well, I shudder to think about it.
I first saw Srila Prabhupada in person at my initiation in West Virginia. We were like excited children, and I felt completely inadequate and unworthy. When I approached his dear lotus feet, he looked at me with his beautiful, noble, dark eyes and said, “Your name is Brahmi Devi.” I felt so ashamed to dare to stand before him. He was sitting on a vyasasana outside in the open, and all the devotees present were looking at that glorious figure of nobility and purity with adoring eyes. We were all his children, lost in the material world and coming to his dear lotus feet for security. There was a dog sitting under his vyāsāsana. When the devotees tried to move him, he said, “Leave him there.” How fortunate to be that dog!
Well, we simply felt jubilant to have Srila Prabhupada with us. The joy of it all! I remember dancing in the temple with maybe fifty devotees, and there was a devotee who had been a ballet dancer. He was jumping high in the air while the rest of us danced in unison, like in a ballet. I swear I felt time stand still, my heart felt such joy I couldn’t feel my feet touch the floor. The arati bell was ringing, and I just felt suspended in time.
I felt had this before in the Toronto temple during Radhastami – the fire sacrifice, the chanting of the maha-mantra, and time suspended, just the chanting of Hare Krishna.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/6HQf5c
Radhe Kaise Na Jale Bharata Natyam Candrakanta and Narayan’s Wedding (7 min video)
Champakalata Devi Dasi: With guest dancer Malini Devi, our Padma Academy dance troupe presented Radha Kaise Na Jale from the movie Lagaan performed in Bharatanatyam style. Malini (playing Krishna) is a student of Srimati Viji Prakash of Shakti Dance Company and Champakalata (playing Radha) is a student of Srimati Sudha Chandrasekhar of Hindu Temple Rhythms. Both dance gurus come in line from the famous Tanjor gurus of Sri Raja Rajeshwari Bharata Natya Kala Mandir in Mumbai.
We danced for the occasion of Candrakanta and Narayan’s wedding on February 26th, 2016 and especially chose this song as a gift to the bride. Please excuse the “rough” beginning as we could barely hear the music at first. But once those drums kicked in, we were off! …into the land of Vraja where Radha and Krishna enact Their lila.
Dancers as seen in the line-up at the end: Right to Left (since the camera pans that way) Ramani Shiromani, Rupa Kishori, Karika, Champakalata, Malini, Kali Lalita, Tarani, Vinodini, Shrida, Nadia.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/3Ci1fc
ISKCON-Delhi – Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Appearance (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: There are two ways of association—by vani and by vapuh. Vani means words, and vapuh means physical presence. Physical presence is sometimes appreciable and sometimes not, but vani continues to exists eternally. Bombay, November 10, 1974.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Xf7D6a
February 28. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: A Further Prayer to Prabhupada.
Our heartfelt prayers to Prabhupada should be guided by śruti smṛti purāṇādi-pañcarātra vidhiṁ vinā. I am praying to Prabhupada to please direct me in the best way for my spiritual life. In one sense, we are waiting for an immediate response from Prabhupada, although we must also understand that prayer is itself a process. It is an ongoing meditation, rather than an isolated event with a set result.
Dear Srila Prabhupada, today I asked a devotee how to pray to you. The answer I got was that we should speak in prayers composed by the previous acaryas. I thought one of the most obvious prayers is the pranama mantra, which you yourself gave to us. “I offer my obeisances to His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who is very dear to Krishna on this earth, having taken shelter at the lotus feet of the transcendental Lord.” And sometimes we pray to you spontaneously in our own words, “Prabhupada, please help me,” “Prabhupada, thank you for allowing me to serve and function as your assistant.”
Prabhupada, please let me go forward in Krishna consciousness, please let me serve you, please let me remember you, please guide me. I want to especially concentrate on that prayer – please guide me. You yourself were so confidential, private, and grave that you didn’t even tell us about it. You knew that preaching to us meant stressing the Bhagavad-gita and convincing us that God exists. But you also gave the postgraduate study, Srimad-Bhagavatam, and beyond that, Caitanya-caritamrta. You gave us the truth that Krishna came to taste Radha’s love in the form of Lord Caitanya. You explained to us that Lord Caitanya wanted to distribute that love, the love of the gopis, to the whole world. You introduced us to the Six Gosvamis. But you were also careful. You didn’t want to confuse us. You wanted to protect us.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=5
Appearance Bhaktisiddhanta Prabhupada.
A Prayer at the Lotus Feet of the Gaudiya-Vaishnavas.
In all of the Vedas and Puranas it is said that the dear devotees of Śrīman Mahāprabhu are deliverers of the patitas, the most degraded. Beca…
A new sannyasi for Iskcon.
Indradyumna Swami: Today the GBC have given their blessings for my beloved disciple, Uttama Sloka dasa, to enter the renounced order of life. On March 12, the appearance day of Srila Purusottama das Thakur, I will perform Uttama sloka’s sannyasa ceremony in Sridham Mayapura. All those who can attend that most auspicious function are welcome.
The Iskcon Education ministry awards for adult education goes to…….. MAYAPUR ACADEMY. Gaurapremanande!
A one time only big book offer, free download/read.
A free download for a period of time for the 20th Anniversary of Sri Srimad…
Phase Five of the Sri Govind Gau Gram Prachar Yatra.
MADHYA PRADESH VILLAGE PREACHING REPORT – FEBRUARY 13 TO 21
Reported by HH RP Bhakti Raghava Swami
As often expected, the unexpected happened. One day before Gour Gopal prabhu was to arrive from Secunderabad to Madhya Pradesh he had an automobile accident that prevented him from travelling. Instead, Hari Kirtan prabhu had to replace him along with Bhakta Ashok but they could only reach MP after a few days. Our first two programs were thus without mrdanga.
This preaching program had been planned long back by Samikrsi prabhu whose devotional and professional career has been in America but who desired strongly that Lord Caitanya’s mercy be introduced in his own and surrounding villages. He had requested his old friend and Godbrother, Bala Krsna prabhu from Saranagati Village in Western Canada, to come to India specifically to visit his village and advise how to develop his land as an ideal sustainable project. He also desired devotees from our Sri Govind Gau Gram Prachar Yatra to also participate and help revive village preaching in his area close to Khandwa and Khargone.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/NwpzBM
The All India Padayatra Itinerary And Book Scores – 2016.
By Acarya Dasa (assisted by Jayabhadra Dasi)
Here are the main places that Padayatra India visited in the month of January and their book scores. Some of these places have already been mentioned in previous articles. This summary of locations will help give you an idea of the places and distances traveled by this padayatra party.
January 1: Vijaya Durga Kalyana Mandapam – located on Vellore Road in the Chitoor district of Andhra Pradesh
January 2: Vasanthapuram – a village situated in Gudipala Tehsil and located in the Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.
January 3: Katpadi (pronounced [katːpaːdi]) – is a locality in Vellore, in the northern part of Vellore city. After leaving Andra Pradesh we entered the Indian state, Tamil Nadu in South India after travelling for 14 kilometers.
January 4-5: Katpadi – our party traveled to Gandhi Nagar to visit the ISKCON center there. We traveled for 7 kilometers on this day.
January 6-7: Jai Ramsi Kalyan Mandapa – located in the city of Vellore. Travel distance 8 kilometers.
January 8: in the city of Vellore (8 kilometers traveled).
January 9: Ratnagiri – located in Vellore. We traveled 7 kilometers.
January 10: Ranipet – also known as Ranipettai, ‘Rani’ refers to queen and ‘pettai’ means district. It is a suburban town and the industrial hub of Vellore city. Travel distance, 11 kilometers.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/xiaXcL
The Mysteries of Kamyavan (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Kamayavan, a two-hour drive from the town of Vrindavan proper, is full of transcendental holy places. Most significantly the Deity of Vrinda devi, worshipped by Srila Rupa Goswami, resides there. Kameswar Mahadeva, one of the 5 principle Siva lingam’s of Vraja is also situated in Kamyavan. There are numerous sacred kundas, including Dharma kunda, where Maharaja Yudhistira successfully answered the questions of Yamaraja in order to save his brothers. There are also several prominent Radha Krsna temples. We spent the entire day exploring the mysteries of Kamyavan, where it is said one can fulfill all the innermost desires of the soul.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/p0Jvdo
February 27. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: The Art of Prabhupada Prayer.
Devotees suggest that one should pray to Prabhupada. We use this word “pray” frequently in Krishna consciousness. “Pray to Prabhupada.” But what does it really mean? How do you do it?
One way to pray to Prabhupada is to sit in a place where his presence can be felt intensely, such as his samadhi mandir, or in his rooms at Radha-Damodara Temple, or we may go to a place where he performed some pastime that is easy to meditate on. We can then attempt to engage in sustained conversation with him. We can help ourselves by making notes on a piece of paper first, or we can just sit quietly, although our minds will have a greater tendency to wander. We could also sit in our chosen spot and chant japa, although there are specific advantages to planning our prayer-time ahead of time and going prepared to spend that time with Prabhupada.
Prayer to Prabhupada presumes that we have the faith that he is present and that he can hear our prayers. It also presumes that we have the faith he will bless us in our endeavors on his behalf. The Lord and Prabhupada already know what is in our hearts; technically, we don’t need to pray to report to them. But we want to speed things up the way Narada Muni sped things up in Krishna’s pastimes. We need to speed things up because our time in this body is short and we have a lot of distance to travel. We are not satisfied with our progress. There are also immediate points and crises and times and pathways facing us with different, alternative routes to take on the road. We need to pray for direction.
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HH Kadamba Kanana Swami’s health update: After a successful 2nd operation on Wednesday afternoon Maharaja was recovering on Thursday and Friday morning. Kadamba Kanana Swami is currently recovering from the operation at the Durban temple. If his health permits, he will give SB class Saturday at 11 am SAST which will be streamed live in Mayapur.tv.
Class by Radhanath Swami, today, February 26th, 2016 8 A.M in Mayapur, West Bengal. (video)
Summary: Vaisnava is one who is free of envy. One who is a well-wisher of everyone. This is what we must aspire for. To be well-wishers of everyone. Chanting of the Holy Name is the only medicine for those who are tormented by the age of Kali.
If someone saves us from dying… how could we ever give up the service to them. We will be internally indebted.
When the spiritual master saves us from envy…how can we ever give up the service to him. That is our gratitude.
Vasudev Datta prayed to Lord Caitanya to accept all sinful reactions of everyone, so they can be happy. Let me suffer instead of them.
Mahaprabhu’s heart softened by hearing that.
Haridas Thakur saw everyone as a brother and a sister.
Krsna also comes to show compassion. What’s the greatest service we can do? We must assist Him in His mission of compassion.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared here in Nawadvip to reveal the heart of Sri Radha.Her compassion.
3 principles.
1. Our own sadhana to be serious- All around the chanting the HN. Careful study of S.P’s books. We need mercy to chant, read and serve the Vaisnavas.
Humility is empowering. Tolerance, Forgiveness, offering all respect to others.
Abuse, justice must be motivated by compassion.
If the doctor gives us medicine to relieve us from cancer we will take it very seriously. But the medicine for envy, we do not wish to take. Envy is the greatest disease that causes us to fall into this world again & again and suffer many diseases, old age and death.
2. Deep relationships – in the mood of being the servant of the servant of others.
3. Spreading Krsna consciousness:
Prabhupada was willing to physically die if that was to please Krsna, while spreading Krsna consciousness.“ Pls give me the power so that the people can understand my words…to be a puppet.”
How to please? Srila Prabhupada: Just receive what I have given you. The Holy name, books and farm communities.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/ln2U4p
The ISKCON Leadership Sanga is in full swing in Mayapur!
BB Govinda Swami: We have had 2 full days of ISKCON Leadership Sanga since I last posted.
The meeting opens daily at 10 AM with a plenary session with keynote addresses presented by an variety of the wonderful servants of ISKCON.
Then the delegates break out into a vast array of seminars.
More than 1,000 ISKCON leaders have come from around the globe to associate, hear seminars, share their experiences, and come “up to date” with ISKCON’s Organisational Development initiatives.
A beautiful meeting area has been developed by Her Grace Laxmimoni Mataji. She has spent each day since late November here in Mayapur and has organised an amazing team to perform this service for the pleasure of His Divine Grace.
It is simply fantastic seeing smiling faces like a rainbow: black, white, yellow, brown, haven’t seen blue faces yet, and old rednecks like me … becoming inspired to return to their countries and firmly establish the Krishna consciousness movement to carry the legacy of Prabhupada to future generations.
The mood here is calm, peaceful, audarya Mayapur.
The pre-meeting tensions were stirred by an individual who took advantage of an already tense situation to stir up the hearts of our ever sweet, gracious, loving Bengali vaisnavas hosts.
I remember years ago hearing some song:
“Don’t Funk With My Heart.”
Well, I really don’t feel we should funk with Vaishnava hearts to gain political momentum.
So, it is beautiful here. Enthusiastic here. Peaceful here.
The Gaura Prema is flowing, filling the hearts of all those who wish to taste that sweetness of His love.
May the love imbued rays of Sri Mayapur Chandra fill our hearts with enthusiasm to serve ever diligently;
To bring the slightest sweet smile to the face of Srila Prabhupada.
Good night to all from Sri Mayapur Chandradoya Mandir.
Jayapataka Swami Official Health Update 26/02/16 (8:50 Mayapur time)
Jayapataka Swami is now out of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the specialist hospital in Delhi. He was transferred to a private room within the same hospital and is responding quite well to the treatment. The doctors are reporting his progress as promising.
Jayapataka Swami has been receiving get-well-soon video messages and he is happy to receive good reports about the developments in Mayapur with the gathering of over ISKCON 1200 leaders before the Gaura Purnima festival.
As we all know he is very keen on being able to recover as soon as possible so he can attend the celebrations in Mayapur. He has requested to participate the GBC meetings via teleconference and arrangements have been made for that to happen.
Although these are all good signs, we still are concerned that there is a relapse, thus, we kindly request all Jayapataka Swami’s disciples and well-wishers to, at this time, please maintain your sincere prayers for Lord Nrisimhadeva and Srila Prabhupada to kindly protect HH Jayapataka Swami so he is able to recover rapidly.
Your servants, Jayapataka Swami’s Health Team
Lost in the crowd.
We arrived at Kolkata airport and while waiting for our luggage meet another pilgrim heading to Mayapur, the sacred center of bhakti yoga in West Bengal. Her name is Krishna Mala, and she is from Istanbul. There in no temple there, but she has a small yoga studio where she teaches yoga, healing arts and Krishna consciousness.
The next morning, I attend mangal arati, the 4.30am kirtan, and worship service at the Temple. I am not alone. There are at least 5,000 other pilgrims in the huge kirtan hall and I am feeling the pinch. Being used to small crowds so early in the morning at DC–5 to 10 people at our kirtan–I have some trouble adjusting. I move to the edge and observe. I’m feeling lost in the crowd and back away.
And then I see her, Krishna Mala from Istanbul, right in the center of the crowd. She is beaming, completely relishing the company of thousands, and the energy of the huge chorus of voices chanting the maha-mantra. She is totally lost in the crowd, lost in the moment, and experiencing great joy. She moves in closer. She rarely is allowed to have loud kirtan in Istanbul, and never is it with 5000 others!
That small vision snaps me out of my petty selfishness and I begin to feel gratitude. How much I take for granted my place in the world, where I can freely and publicly be a devotee of Krishna. In Istanbul and other places one has to be careful. Bhakti-related spiritual practices are more hidden, more guarded. But here in Mayapur, it’s everywhere, it’s open, and it’s exhilarating.
I’m still not a huge crowd person. I still stand at the edge but that doesn’t matter anymore. The crowds are just what Krishna Mala needs. And I need them too.
By Ananda Dasi (Community President of Iskcon Washington)