Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Harinam in Bali, Indonesia (Album with photos) Srila…
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Harinam in Bali, Indonesia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Krishna said “You chant! You Remember Me; at the same time, fight.” He did not say, “Simply fight” or “Simply chant.” Because in the material world that is not possible. Therefore we must chant and at the side time we have to work to continue this movement. The movement requires a lot of energy. (Lecture on Bhagavat-Gita, 16.4 Hawaii)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/krEbpd

February 26. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily…
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February 26. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Mr. A.P. Dharwadkar of the Universal Book House replied:
I cannot give you very happy news on the progress of the sale of Srimad-Bhagavatam, because the subject is religious and only a small section of society may personally be interested in the books … We try to push them through some book sellers in Nagpur Ahmedabad, Pune, etc., but regret to inform you that after some time these booksellers return the books for want of response. As such, we are not only unenthusiastic to agree to your proposal of taking up sales for all India, but we were just thinking of requesting you to nominate some other people in our place to represent your sale program in Maharashtra.
So far, they had sold only six sets of books, for which they were about to transfer Rs 172 to his account. This was hardly encouraging to the author. Again, India was not interested. Even in “the land of religion,” religious subjects were only for “a small section of society.”
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=5

ISKCON Leadership Sanga in Mayapur 2016 (Album with…
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ISKCON Leadership Sanga in Mayapur 2016 (Album with photos)
Ramai Swami: This year’s ISKCON Leadership Sanga coincided with the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada incorporating ISKCON in New York.
Over 1200 devotees travelled to Sridham Mayapur to attend 8 days of seminars, kirtan and transcendental association.
On the first day everyone was welcomed by the GBC Chairman, Praghosa das, and Gopal Bhatta das, chair of the GBC Strategic Planning Team outlined the schedule of activities for the week.
Find them here: http://goo.gl/2IYshD

Devotees in Mayapur (Album with photos) Srila Prabhupada: If one…
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Devotees in Mayapur (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If one renders even a small amount of sincere devotional service, Krishna becomes obliged to elevate such person; and what to speak of one whose entire life and soul has been dedicated to Krishna’s service. Letter to Harer Nama, November 6, 1969.
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Invitation for Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama 2016. Dear Gaura…
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Invitation for Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama 2016.
Dear Gaura bhaktas,
With great pleasure we invite all of you to participate in Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama 2016.
ISKCON’s Golden Jubilee year promises to be very special for the pleasure of our Founder Acharya His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He wanted all of us to follow in the footsteps of the previous acharyas, and make Mayapur, Sri Navadvipa Dhama very famous around the world.
Last year, Parikrama was an ecstatic experience for so many devotees from many different countries:
“I don’t think I can describe fully about this program. I’m too happy and excited that I had participated. I felt very much changed up..” Bala Bhadra Krsna das (Malaysya)
“Gets more ecstatic each year… I really appreciated the Caitanya Caritamrta Katha. Only one problem with Parikrama- it’s too short!” Prabhupada Priya dd (USA)
Divided into 6 different groups, 8500 devotees performed Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama for a chance to be close to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the ocean of mercy.
In 2016, fulfilling the devotee’s desire we increased Parikrama’s duration in one day. Instead of 6 nights and 7 days, we will have 7 nights and 8 full days of bliss! Hari bol!
Ecstatic kirtan, enlivening Katha and delicious prasada, is surely an inspiration to any sincere soul desiring to continue further on the path of devotion!
HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj said, “This not like you do Parikrama once or twice, you should do Parikrama every year!”
By the association of great souls like HH Jayapataka Swami , HH Lokanatha Swami, HH Bhakti Caitanya Swami, HH Gopal Krsna Goswami, HH Kavicandra Swami, HH Sacinandana Swami, HH BVV Narasimha Swami, HH Bhakti Dhira Damodara Swami and HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami, and HG Rajendranandana prabhu who join Parikrama every year, all our desires will be fulfilled.
As written by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur in the Navadvipa Mahatmya, performing Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama is the way to get free from material bondage. And with every step in the dhama, a person gets the same benefit as if he would have performed an Aswamedha Yajna.
So, please let us serve you with our best. And note the Parikrama dates in your diary!
Highlights 2016
ISKCON 50th anniversary
Sri Mayapur dhama is waiting for 50 thousand devotees from more than 60 countries. The association of so many devotees gives us a unique experience in devotional life!
Sadhu Sanga
Great opportunity to have close and personal association with many ISKCON gurus, sannyasis and senior devotees.
Kirtan
The most ecstatic Kirtan lead by different devotees from all over the world!
Evening Cultural programs
Beautiful and insightful drama, recitation, dance presentation and much more!
Navadvipa Dhama’s divine nature
Seeing and touching the most beautiful place in the whole creation with sacred rivers, lakes, birds, trees and village life, give us a glimpse into the eternity of Sri Navadvipa Dhama
Gauranga lila
An opportunity to learn the confidential meaning of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s pastimes, from the most learned devotees.
Prasada
HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj said, that even the vegetables of Sri Navadvipa Dhama are surcharged with Krsna Prema, what more can be said!
Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama dates:
Adivas day (Opening ceremony at Yoga Pita): 10th of March
Registration: from 8th to 10th of March
Parikrama starts: 11th of March
Parikrama finishes: 18th of March
For on line registration and information: www.navadvipaparikrama.com
For Contact: register.parikrama@gmail.com
Parikrama Chairman
HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj
HH Lokanath Swami Maharaj
Parikrama Coordinator
HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami Maharaj
bps@pamho.net
Parikrama Manager
HG Sankarshan Nitai das
snd@pamho.net
Parikrama Secretary
HG Sundar Govinda das
sgd108@pamho.net
International Group Leader
HG Krsna Vijay das
kvd@pamho.net
Marketing Coordinator
Nitya Kishora dasi
nityakishora@gmail.com
Please find us here:
http://www.navadvipaparikrama.com/
https://www.facebook.com/NavadvipaMandalaParikrama/
https://twitter.com/NavadvipaP
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrpi5XEZKW05aCaMNo8aqWQ
Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama 2016 promotioal video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKJmmCV7v1U

February 25. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily…
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February 25. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Prabhupada’s Compassion.
Prabhupada felt great compassion, the compassion of Lord Caitanya. He was saturated in it. We sometimes say Lord Caitanya manifested audarya (compassion) in Mayapur, and in Vrindavana we see the madhurya, or the relish of sweetness between Krishna and His associates. Prabhupada definitely revealed both. He was particularly strong in his desire to spread the glories of the Lord. As we read the descriptions of people who experience internal meditation on Krishna’s pastimes and the different qualities they have, we see that Prabhupada is never lacking in devotion to Krishna in any of those ways.
Prabhupada followed his spiritual master, who followed Gaurakisora dasa Babaji. These teachers worked to eradicate all pretention. They were extremely humble and completely devoted to Radha-Krishna. Their intense meditation should always be appreciated. Prabhupada manifested such internal-deep states in his activities. He was so selfless to come to America and engage in the kind of preaching he did. And the extraordinary thing about Prabhupada’s apparent outwardness, is that it all came from the inside, from his devotion. He didn’t do anything for his personal sense gratification, but only pushed on with his preaching. Prabhupada’s thoughts (as expressed through his writing) often reflect his intolerance for the ignorance that existed in the world. He wanted to save people.
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Hari Hari!! Bhaktin Jamuna: All must chant this whether in a…
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Hari Hari!!
Bhaktin Jamuna: All must chant this whether in a dhoti or sari.
You may worship Govardha as Giriraj or Giridhari.
But whenever you hear these names approach the sound vibration quick be in a hurry.
There is danger at every step but just proceed don’t worry.
Because ito Harih parato Harih !
Plus Sri Nimai instructs us kirtaniyah sada Harih !
—
This maha mantra is like music to the ears.
O jivas! lets opt for relishing it in these 10 000 years.
To the heart it brings joy and to the eyes blissful tears.
The contribution required simlpy be that one hears.
So lets come together and drink this nectar- cheers !
—
Take Care !
This human form of life is very rare !
Spending one’s life serving this body no I wouldn’t dare.
For this is called maya and is a very tricky snare.
This Krishna Consciousness is complete and the greatest wellfare.
You can see all the suffering going on so don’t just stand back and stare.
Distribute Sri Gauranga’s mercy because this irreligiosity you can’t bear.
In this way you will qualify to go back home and wake up from this nightmare.

An Ambiance of Antiquity (Album with photos) Indradyumna Swami:…
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An Ambiance of Antiquity (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Radha Kunda is one of the places that has retained an ambiance of antiquity despite all the development and construction around Vrindavan.To convey that special mood I used different filters on my camera lens to capture the mood of “old Vrindavan” at Radha Kunda.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/dxLqok

February 24. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily…
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February 24. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: A Pure Devotee Preacher.
The pure devotee is not restricted to the limitations of sadhana-bhakti, but follows those practices which nourish pure devotion. Pure devotion means Krishna consciousness, which specifically means service to Radha-Krishna.
Prabhupada conducted his life in that way. His only concern was for things that fostered the preaching and spreading of Krishna consciousness and the cultivation of essential spiritual life. The more we study texts about the most advanced Krishna consciousness as it exists between the Lord and His eternal associates, the more we see that Prabhupada was in that league.
He introduced Westerners to Radha-Krishna from the very beginning, but he also demonstrated gravity and privacy in his emotions. He taught that even if one is above the rules and regulations, he should still follow most of them to set an example. Prabhupada was sober. He didn’t give vent to many ecstatic expressions. Lord Caitanya was also careful about revealing His internal emotions when He was near superficial, ritualistic brahmanas while he was speaking with Ramananda Raya. Similarly, Prabhupada was always in the presence of doubters and atheists while preaching in the West, and thus his demeanor was sober and reserved.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=5

Simply Bluffing in the Name of Science! The following…
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Simply Bluffing in the Name of Science!
The following conversation between His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and some of his disciples took place in October 1975 during an early-morning walk in Durban, South Africa.
Srila Prabhupada: Man came from the ape. So why is man not coming from the ape now?
Disciple: It only happened once, and that was enough to start the whole thing.
Srila Prabhupada: Only once? Another rascaldom! We see the flowers and fruits are coming every season. Why once? This is dogmatic. Do we have to accept it? Our experience is that, by nature’s way, the same flower is coming again in the same field.
Disciple: Well, actually Darwin said that there is a missing link.
Srila Prabhupada: What is that missing link? Simply bluffing, and it is going on in the name of science. Just see the fun. Simply misleading, and people are such rascals civilized man, so-called they are accepting it as a great theory: “Darwin’s theory is a very big discovery.”
Simply childish rascaldom. There is no reasoning. There is no sense. Man came from the monkey, they say. So why is he not coming now?
Disciple: Well, sometimes there’s a freak of nature.
Srila Prabhupada: “Sometimes” it is simply for Darwin. To support his rascaldom, nature has to serve him: “sometimes.” Just see. Why should we believe all this? “Sometimes” is not nature’s law. Nature’s law is the same, symmetrical. Nature is not obliged to serve Mr. Darwin. “Sometimes,” he said, and only he knew. The rest of us are simply supposed to believe him. “Sometimes” it was done, and it was revealed to Darwin. How did he come to know? How is it that no one but Darwin could understand?
Disciple: They use the same argument against us: that so few people can understand God.
Srila Prabhupada: No. We don’t say that. We say that God first spoke to the sun-god, and the sun-god spoke to his son, Manu, and Manu spoke to Iksvaku, who spoke to his son, and in this way, the knowledge came down. Evam parampara-praptam. That is quite reasonable. We don’t say, “God spoke to me.”
God spoke to Brahma, and Brahma spoke to Narada. Narada spoke to Vyasadeva. Vyasadeva spoke to others. If my forefather said to my grandfather, and my grandfather said to my father, and the same information is passed down through my family, then what is wrong? Evam parampara-praptam. Krishna spoke to Arjuna, and what Arjuna understood, we are understanding in the same way. How Arjuna understood it, is written in the Bhagavad-gita.
We don’t accept knowledge like that: “Darwin simply knew it.” No. They are number-one rascals, all these so-called scientists. “There is a missing link. Only once from a monkey, man came.” What is this nonsense? Do we have to believe this? Does it make any sense? But because Mr. Darwin is speaking we are expected to accept it.
Disciple: Certain changes take place. Just like if you’re in a hot climate all the time, your blood thins. If you take that further, all of these changes can mount up to some big physical change.
Srila Prabhupada: No change is taking place. Nature is working symmetrically, always. The sun is rising in the morning. That has been going on for millions, millions, millions, millions of years.
Disciple: Gradually the change is taking place.
Srila Prabhupada: No. What change is taking place? In the morning the sun rises on the eastern side. That is going on. The seasonal flower changes according to the season winter, spring, summer. Everything is going on symmetrically. Because it is going on symmetrically, we can say that next February it will be a nice season here. Why? Because you have your own experience of last February. We are certain that the same thing will happen next February. Therefore we can say, “There is no such change.” This is nature’s way: prakrteh kriyamanani gunaih karmani sarvasah. It is very symmetrical. Everything is going on nicely. Nature’s way.
Disciple: One of the strong points of Darwin’s theory …
Srila Prabhupada: I don’t find any. Simply foolishness. [Laughter.] A foolish rascal like you will believe it.
Disciple: They argue that five thousand years ago they had no history. So they think that before that time, there was no civilization. Therefore man was like the monkey.
Srila Prabhupada: We don’t speculate. We have got millions of years of history. A child may think something, but an elderly man will not think like that. Because the rascals are thinking in some way, do we have to believe it? Why should I take their word?
We are taking the word of Lord Krishna. We accept Him as Supreme. All the great sages accept Him. Why should I accept this rascal Darwin? We are not so foolish. We cannot accept.
Disciple: The scientists always say, “Last year we made a mistake, and now it’s all right.”
Srila Prabhupada: Hmm. “Now we are advanced.” And what is the guarantee that your present theories are correct? You will advance again. That means you are always incorrect.
You say that by chance man came from nature. But you don’t find nature working by chance. Therefore your theory is disproved. If your calculations have even one error, then your whole statement must be accepted as nonsense.
Disciple: People think that life is always getting better.

ISKCON Pakistan: Printing Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad Gita…
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ISKCON Pakistan: Printing Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad Gita As It Is in Sindhi Language!
Srila Prabhupada: I don’t say, “Follow me.” I say “Follow Krishna.” Krishna says, “Surrender unto Me.” I say “Surrender unto Krishna.” Is there any difference? My position is simply repeating because Krishna says, “Anyone who preaches this confidential subject matter, he is dear to Me.” Allahabad, January 18, 1971

Bonds of Love “Loving Krishna will help you love your…
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Bonds of Love “Loving Krishna will help you love your son”
From the time she was 4, Urmila (Dr. Edith Best) was looking for God. If somebody said, “What do you want to do?” she’d say, “I want to be spiritually perfect. I want to find God.” They’d say, “Don’t you want to get married, have kids, have a career?” She’d say, “I just want to find God.”
Urmila Devi Dasi: My first contact with Prabhupada was in ’67 when I was 12 years old. I would regularly listen to him chanting on the Happening album playing in Alan Kallman’s shop on the Lower East Side. I’d ask, “What is this record? Who is this?” My next contact was through the Radha Krishna Temple Album, which I heard on the radio. Prabhupada’s picture was on the album and my initial response to it was skeptical. I thought someone who takes the role of guru might think he’s better than others.
When I was 17, I got Prabhupada’s translation of Bhagavad-gita. After reading it, I decided to move into the temple, but at first I didn’t want to get initiated. Soon after I moved in I got married; my husband was already second initiated, and in his association I started thinking, “How am I going to be able to find God and become spiritually perfect without a spiritual master?” Gradually my relationship with Prabhupada developed and I became his initiated disciple, after he accepted me through the mail.
When I first met Prabhupada in Chicago in the summer of ’74, a little more than a year after I’d moved in. I was expecting a mystical experience. Prabhupada was sitting on the vyasasana giving class and I was fanning him. I was standing very close, to his left, moving the peacock fan, absorbed in every word and gesture. My experience was, indeed, mystical, but not in the way I expected. I felt, “Prabhupada has always been here, because playing a recording of Prabhupada lecturing and listening to him lecture in person is exactly the same.” I was hearing him directly but I felt the same as when I was listening to a recording. It was satisfying and amazing – I realized that I could associate with Prabhupada even in his physical absence with potency equal to his presence. Still, I felt incomplete in the experience.
Later that morning, my father, husband, and I met Srila Prabhupada in his room and I got to know him as a person – he was funny, laughing, casual, jovial, and exchanging affectionately with my father. I understood he cared about me, as an individual, and I felt a loving relationship with him. At that point there was full satisfaction.
My father asked why we give people prasada, and Prabhupada said, “Just like if you eat the food of a sick person, you will get their disease. If you eat Krishna’s food, you will get Krishna’s disease.”
My father thought he was only supposed to come to the temple if he was a devotee, so he asked, “Can I come to the temple just to see my daughter and son-in-law?”
Smiling, Prabhupada said, “They are loving Krishna. Chanting and dancing are symptoms of loving Krishna. You are loving them and they are loving Krishna, so two things equal to the same thing are equal to each other.”
Prabhupada’s mood was light, but I thought, “Prabhupada said I love Krishna, so it’s just a matter of time. Someday I’ll love Krishna.” That meeting changed my life. And it moved my father. He said, “Prabhupada’s a genuine holy man.” He enjoyed Prabhupada’s company and became somewhat of a devotee.
Less than a year later, my baby son Madhava and I were with a group of devotees seeing Srila Prabhupada off at a New York airport. Prabhupada was sitting on a couch in the VIP lounge talking with Satyabhama, Kirtanananda, Jayadvaita, and a few others. I was a couple of feet away, holding Madhava. I felt left out of those devotees’ intimate connection with Prabhupada. I thought, “They really know Prabhupada well,” but it was also a relaxed time for me, getting to be with Prabhupada in a personal way again. During the kirtana, Prabhupada transported everyone to the spiritual world; I forgot that I had a body and that I was in New York. Prabhupada was meditating on chanting and I thought, “Prabhupada is chanting for his guru just as we are chanting for him.” It was incredible. Then at some point in the kirtana my external awareness flooded back: I was again in New York holding a baby.
For a year and a half after Madhava was born, I dove into Srila Prabhupada’s books and lectures. I read 4–6 hours a day, and listened 3–4 hours a day. Doing that deepened my relationship with him as much or more than when I personally saw him. During that period, in the summer of ’75, I went to Philadelphia for Ratha-yatra and to get Gayatri mantra. At class that morning, the devotee reading from the Bhagavatam manuscript said, “[Ajamila] called the name of his son very loudly three times, ‘Narayana, Narayana, Narayana!’ “
Prabhupada responded, “Who said in the manuscript? There is no three times. Not “Narayana” three times. One time, ‘O Narayana,’ that’s all. So did I say ‘three time’? Hmm? No, it is not said here. You should correct it. Once, ‘He, O Narayana,’ that’s all. There is no reason for calling three times. There is no mention here. Once is sufficient. [laughter] Hmm.”
(lecture Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.28–29, July 13, 1975, Philadelphia)
It was life-transforming for me to hear him say that calling out Krishna’s name just once in helplessness is enough.
Later that morning my father, husband, and I met with Prabhupada again. When he saw us Prabhupada’s whole face lit up as if we were his favorite people in the world. Like he was meeting a dear old friend he said to my father, “How are you now?” My father responded with similar exuberance and joy. As we were leaving Prabhupada said, “Good father, good daughter.” Prabhupada saw something good and worthwhile in me; he was pleased with me.
When I got Gayatri mantra my husband was carrying Madhava, and Prabhupada’s attention went to the baby. Prabhupada said, “He’s laughing. He’s very intelligent and fortunate.”
Prabhupada had me repeat the mantra, and I thought, “I don’t want to say it perfectly because Prabhupada will think I’m puffed up.” To try to be humble I purposely made a mistake when I repeated the last line. Prabhupada looked disgusted. I thought, “Oops, that wasn’t the right thing to do.” I said, “Prabhupada, I want to preach and please you, but I have this little baby. It’s hard to go out on book distribution.”
He said, “You must take care (of the child) so you may not go out.” The feeling I got from Prabhupada was, “This is really a stupid question.”
The next time I saw Prabhupada was in the summer of ’76 when he came to New York for the Ratha-yatra. Again my father met with him. At one point Prabhupada pointed to me, with my eighteen-month-old son on my lap. He said, “Just like this mother is loving her son without any expectation of return, in that way you should love Krishna.”
My father said, “Will loving her son help her love Krishna?”
Prabhupada said, “No, but loving Krishna will help her love her son.” I understood that if we have Krishna as the center and are attached to Him, then we can love everyone else. If we love people on a mundane level, it doesn’t help us love Krishna – it takes away from that love.
Somehow what Prabhupada said when I was with him was just what I needed to hear. His words changed me in deep and lasting ways.

Sriman Mahaprabhu Dhyana. From Srila Dhyanacandra…
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Sriman Mahaprabhu Dhyana.
From Srila Dhyanacandra Gosvami’s “Sri Gaura-govindarcana-smarana-paddhati”
—
In his manasa-deha, the sadhaka will follow his guru, parama-guru, paratparaguru and paramesthi-guru to the temple of Sriman Mahaprabhu. By their order, he will awaken the Lord and offer Him scented water for washing His lotus face, etc., and do other seva as is appropriate. Then he will meditate upon the Lord as described in the Urddhvamnaya-samhita:
—
Absorbed in prema, the golden Lord Gaura stands holding one hand in the benediction pose and the other in the pose for awarding fearlessness, while He incessantly chants the holy names.
—
(20) Sri Gauracandra Pranama
I offer my humble obeisance again and again to that great soul who is known as Visvambhara (maintainer of the universe), Gaura, Caitanya, Saci-putra, the Husband of Laksmi and the Friend of All.
—
(73) Sri Gauranga’s Asta-kala-seva
The nectarous pastimes of Sri Navadvipa-candra are very wonderful. Eager to serve the Lord, the sadhaka shall always think of these pastimes.
(74) At the end of night (nisanta), he shall meditate on the Lord sleeping in His own home. In the early morning (pratah-kale), the Lord rises from His bed, bathes and takes His meal.
(75) In the forenoon, the Lord becomes deeply absorbed in krisna-lila-smarana and experiences intense feelings of separation. In the middle of the day, Mahaprabhu performs astonishing pastimes on the bank of the Ganga. The sadhaka shall meditate on Lord Gauranga in this way.
(76) In the afternoon, Gaurahari very joyfully roams about Sri Navadvipa-dhama. In the early evening, He returns to His own home, revealing His enchanting beauty.
(77) In the late evening, He meets His dear associates at the home of Srivasa Thakura, where they perform a great sankirtana festival far into the night. The sadhaka shall thus blissfully meditate on Sri Gauracandra.

New Android App “Krsna – The Sweet Lord” Launches. An app for…
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New Android App “Krsna – The Sweet Lord” Launches.
An app for Android smartphones, entitled “Krsna – The Sweet Lord,” is now available on the Google Play Store for free and promises to place the best of what ISKCON has to offer in the palm of your hand.
The app, developed by ISKCON Juhu of Mumbai, received a soft launch for an internal devotee audience on December 14th, when it was unveiled by Radhanath Swami at Mumbai’s Chowpatty temple.
Bollywood actress and Mathura MP Hema Malini then launched it for the general public on February 7th, during the Mumbai ISKCON 50 celebrations, with the aid of a life-size smartphone imprinted with the app’s name.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/9TiUqs

Krishna is the real husband. Ruchika Srivastava: I have written…
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Krishna is the real husband.
Ruchika Srivastava: I have written this poem based on Srimad Bhagavatam slokas 5.18.19-21, where Laxmi Devi says that Krishna is the real husband of all living entities.
“Seeking a husband for protection,
Of children, wealth and life’s duration.
Seekers of such a benediction.
Dwell in the kingdom of illusion.
Says LaxmiDevi with compassion
And guides us to this illumination.
—
Dependent on karmic reactions
Based on past fruitive actions
Who himself needs supreme protection
That is material husband’s position.
—
Krishna respects your decision
If worshipped with pure devotion
But outcome of material requisition
Is broken heart and lamentation
—
Supreme shelter and protection,
Deliverance from sinful reactions,
Krishna’s promise knows no violation,
One must have that firm conviction.
Trying to claim His position
Is false prestige and self-deception.
—
Serve Him without motivations,
Guru’s guidance and regulations
With dormant love’s manifestation
He guarantees His care and protection.
—
Living entities are all females
Krishna is the only male
We are not this body at all,
Soul is our identity real.
—
Who has nothing to demand, stay always at His command
Whose majesty is grand, and Whose glories outstand
Braj Gopis always understand, Krishna is the REAL husband…”

February 23. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily…
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February 23. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Prabhupada Was Not Obliged.
The Krsna Book describes the spiritual master as a waterfall, which sometimes flows in the rainy season and sometimes is still. When I asked Prabhupada what this meant, he said that the spiritual master is not obliged to speak. When he feels inspired, he will speak to his disciple in a relevant way. He will not give the disciple information he is not ready to receive. But he never handles his disciple roughly. He is interested in the disciple’s welfare, and therefore, he’s willing to teach Krishna consciousness according to the disciple’s needs.
Prabhupada was like this. He was not obliged. The fact that he did not speak so much Vrindavana krishna-katha was his mercy, his expertise. At the same time, he gave everything, including knowledge of krishna-lila, caitanya-lila, and the foundational wisdom of the Lord’s talks with Arjuna in the Bhagavad-gita.
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Book distributors in action (Album with photos) Srila…
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Book distributors in action (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If one renders even a small amount of sincere devotional service, Krishna becomes obliged to elevate such person; and what to speak of one whose entire life and soul has been dedicated to Krishna’s service. Letter to Harer Nama, November 6, 1969.
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Srivas Pandit’s mysterious clap
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Srivas Pandit’s mysterious clap.
Purushottam Nitai Das: Once Lord Chaitanya asked Srivas Pandit, “I do not see you going anywhere to earn livelihood. You have a big family so how you maintain them.” Srivas Pandit replied, “In my heart I do not have any desire to go anywhere. Whatever is destined will come to me anyway.” And then Srivas clapped three times. One. Two. Three.
“What does it mean?” the Lord enquired.
“If three times food does not come to me, I will fast, and then I will tie a waterpot to my neck and drown myself in the Ganges.”
Hearing this extreme vow Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was astonished. The Lord said, “Why should you fast Srivas? Even if Goddess Lakshmi becomes poverty stricken still poverty will not enter your house.”
Srivas Pandit’s vow was not based on some sort of sentiment. He along with his family members used to remain absorbed in chanting the holy names of the Lord entire day and night. Being a pure devotee of the Lord he was well aware that the Supreme Lord is the maintainer of all the living beings of the universe.
And moreover Srivas Pandit’s house although was in this material world but it was in fact a part of the spiritual world because Lord Chaitanya, the Supreme Lord, personally used to come to his house and in his house the holy names of the Lord continuously reverberated. And we know that in the kingdom of the Lord no one has to work hard for their maintenance. In the spiritual abode everyone just serves the Lord and experiences complete satisfaction while doing so.
In B.G. 9.22, Krishna says, ‘To those who always worship me with exclusive devotion, meditating on my transcendental form, to them I carry what they lack and preserve what they have.’ Lord has promised that he personally takes care of his unalloyed devotees.
Hairidas Thakura was not allowed inside the Jagannath temple but Lord Chaitanya who is none other than Lord Jaganath would personally bring different varieties of delicious mahaprasadam of Jagannath temple for Haridas Thakura and he used to make sure that Haridas Thakura ate it.
Mrugrari, the cruel hunter, got enlightened by the mercy and teachings of Narada Muni. But he was bit worried, he asked Narada Muni, “If I give up hunting then how will I maintain myself and my family.” And the great sage replied, “You don’t worry. Once you take shelter of the Lord then you will not be deprived of any necessities of life.” Mrugrari gave up his sinful profession, became a devotee, and the Lord made sure that his needs are well taken care.
When Durvasa Muni told to the Pandavas that he along with his thousands of followers will come to have food at their house then the Pandavas were in great anxiety. They were living in the forest and had nothing with them to feed their guests at that time. Draupadi had Akshay patra, a divine pot, which could supply unlimited food but once Draupadi finished her food then the supply of food used to stop for that time period. And all of them including Draupadi had finished their meal. It was a great crisis; Draupadi remembered Lord Krishna and he immediately appeared. In that divine pot just a grain of rice was left and the Lord ate it. And as soon as Krishna ate it everyone’s hunger got satiated including that of Durvasa Muni and his thousands of followers.
When Krishna is satisfied everyone is satisfied. As soon as we bring Krishna in our life then we do not remain deprived of anything. In this material world all the necessities which is a must for our survival has been arranged by the Lord: the water which we drink, the air which we breathe, the food which we eat have not been invented by mortal beings but has been given to us by the Supreme Lord.
Extremely pleased by the devotion of Srivas Pandit, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, “To anyone who always meditates on me with exclusive devotion, I carry alms for them on my head. Anyone who meditates on me need never leave his door. All perfections will come to him automatically. Piety, wealth, happiness, and liberation will come to him. My servant need not ask for them. They will never leave my servant. My Sudarsana-chakra will always protect My servant. Even when all the universes are destroyed, he will not perish. Whoever remembers my devotee, I will feed and protect. The servant of my servant is very dear to me. Without even trying, he easily attains me. Why should he worry about food? I personally feed my servant. Srivas, you happily stay where you are. I will bring everything to your door.” (Srila Vrindavan Das Thakura’s Chaitanya Bhagavata Antya 5.38-64)

February 22. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily…
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February 22. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Prabhupada’s Versatility.
Prabhupada was sometimes as strong as a thunderbolt, other times soft as a rose. When, sometimes, persons would ask Prabhupada esoteric details about Vrindavana or the rasa dance, he would cut them short. Rather than answer their questions directly, he would address their mentalities. Yet, at the same time, he would fully answer the questions of a sincere inquirer.
We should be proud to have such a guru, who adopted the chopping technique of his own spiritual master in trying to save the world from maya, but was fully capable of understanding Vrindavana bhajana-rasa. After all, he lived in Vrindavana for years, wrote his books there, and lived alone at the Radha Damodara Temple. He was very, very sensitive to the atmosphere in Vrindavana. Even his silence on the subject of rasa-lila made us feel his potency, his power. Krishna’s pastimes took place in Vraja, although, at present, They are aprakata, not manifest now, Prabhupada knew about Krishna’s pastimes.
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Sri Svapna-vilasamrtastaka. Eight Prayers Describing Nectar…
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Sri Svapna-vilasamrtastaka.
Eight Prayers Describing Nectar Pastimes in a Dream
(by Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
—-
Srimati Radharani said: Beloved, in a dream I saw a river shore like the Yamuna here. There were many expert dancers as in Vrndavana. There were mrdangas and other instruments. There was a brahmana jewel as splendid as lightning who was tossing the universe into an ocean of pure love.
—-
Sometimes He calls out: “O Krsna!” and sometimes He sighs: “O Radha, where are You?” Sometimes He falls to the ground, sometimes He acts wildly, losing all composure, and sometimes He dances ecstatically with His loving associates. He has made all the residents of this world, from the blades of grass up to Lord Brahma, loudly call out the name of Krsna.
—-
As I gazed at Him, My intelligence became bewildered. If He is my lover, where am I? If He is I, where is My lover? If He is My lover, where am I? As I slept, I became more and more bewildered.
—-
Sri Krsna said: O inquisitive girl, when I showed You Narayana and My other forms You were not surprised. Why does this brahmana surprise You? Why does He bewilder You so You say “Who is He?”
—-
After speaking these words to His beloved, the smiling lover, Krsna, touched His Kaustubha jewel. The jewel, understanding the Lord’s intent, glowed and then showed all the same pastimes and all the moving and non moving entities She saw in her dream.
—-
Srimati Radharani reflected for a moment and said: Beloved, I know what is in Your heart now that makes You smile. You are He. What You have said and thought is now clear to Me, and therefore I think I am also He.
—-
Making this Kaustubha jewel, which is so delightful to Us, shine in this way, You have revealed Yourself to all living entities. By Your own transcendental potency You will appear, display Your pastimes, teach everyone, and again plunge the world into the ocean of pure love.
—-
In the king of Vraja’s presence, the learned Vedic scholar Gargacarya said that You will appear with a yellow complexion. He did not lie. This dream of Mine is true. It is not an illusion. In this dream I have directly seen You.
—-
If the bumble-bee of the reader’s mind drinks the nectar of this Svapna-vilasamrta, then that intelligent reader will quickly awaken from the dream of materialistic doubt. Such a reader will attain Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. He will sport in the ocean of pure love. He will attain the peerless mercy of the king of Vrndavana.

Festival for Lord Nityananda in Russia (Album with photos) Srila…
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Festival for Lord Nityananda in Russia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Sri Sankaracarya says: na hi na hi raksati dukrn karane. “Simply by juggling grammatical suffixes and prefixes one cannot save himself from the clutches of death.” The grammatical word jugglers cannot bewilder a devotee who engages in chanting the Hare Krishna naha-mantra. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 7.73 Purport)
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Nityananda trayodasi celebration at ISKCON Salem (Album with…
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Nityananda trayodasi celebration at ISKCON Salem (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s transcendental mission is to distribute love of Godhead to everyone. Anyone who accepts God as the Supreme can take to the process of chanting Hare Krishna and become a lover of God. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 4.41 Purport)
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Shilanayaas Puja @ ISKCON Jalandhar. The Devotees of ISKCON…
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Shilanayaas Puja @ ISKCON Jalandhar.
The Devotees of ISKCON Jalandhar celebrated Sri Nityananda Trayodashi in a very special way. On The special morning the devotees had organized the Shilanyaas puja and Yajna for Lord Jagannath’s upcoming Installation Ceremony.
The Yajna was performed by HG Balbhadra Das, and was overseen by Temple President Ramanuja Acharya Das and approx 150 of the Temple devotees.
Special Guests included Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Sh. Vijay Sampla (Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Cabinet Minister) and Ashwani Gupta (Former Independent Director of State Bank Of Patiala).
Devotees chanted mantras during the Yajna and afterwards placed the sacred pot in the ground where Lord Jagannath will be Sitting)

February 21. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily…
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February 21. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Please Bless Us for Advancement.
One should pray to Prabhupada, “Please bless us for advancement,” with confidence that everything we desire in spiritual life can be achieved by his mercy. His mercy comes in many forms. It comes in his books. He gave us his books, but we have to enter them. If we pray for understanding when we read, Krishna will give us the intelligence.
Prabhupada can also help us through the heart. The pure devotees are just as good as Krishna. They can expand in different places at the same time. They are inconceivable in their power. They are not limited by material circumstances. Prabhupada’s mercy can act in many ways. The sastras tell us of gurus who come back to help their disciples.
We want to reciprocate with Prabhupada by fulfilling his intentions for us. He intends that we become pure devotees of Krishna. Therefore, we can take siksa from someone who is also in line with Prabhupada, someone who can help us to better understand Prabhupada’s teachings.
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