Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Mangalore’s Tenth annual Ratha Yatra! (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Today we had the good fortune to attend ISKCON Mangalore’s 10th annual Ratha Yatra parade through the streets of the city. Both the devotees and the public enjoyed it very much. All glories to the Lord of the Universe – Jagannatha Swami!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/5ZVecB

January 3. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
By Satsvarupa dasa Goswami.
A possible danger as time goes by is that Prabhupada’s followers may lose touch with his personal nature. We can see this in the history of world religions. In Christianity some of the followers have developed an impersonal attitude toward Jesus Christ, and some may not even believe in his historic reality. They talk about “The Christ within each one of us.” There is also a danger of doing that with Prabhupada. Although we do say that Prabhupada is inconceivable and beyond what we know of him, yet we also know that his personal nature is very real, important, and lasting. He is the pure devotee of Krishna, and his appearance in our lives is still our greatest solace. When Prabhupada delivers us Krishna conscious knowledge, we accept it in parampara and because the knowledge is formidable and appealing – but also because it comes from him. By the sheer number of times we refer to Prabhupada and then turn to him, a strain is placed upon the freshness of our perception. Our desire for novelty is not satisfied. When that happens we look elsewhere for pleasure. And then an unfortunate thing occurs. Despite our official praise for Prabhupada, we find difficulty in reading his books. This is the dreaded rigor mortis that comes from too much institutionalism and not enough personal care for our personal relationship and memories with Srila Prabhupada.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=4

H.H. Gunagrahi Goswami Cancer Fund.
His Holiness Gunagrahi Goswami has been diagnosed with cancer and has a 5x5x4cm tumor in h…

The passing of a great soul: Madhava Ghosh ACBSP.
“He reasons ill who tells that Vaishnavas die,
When thou art living still in sound!
The Vaishnavas die to live, and living try
To spread the holy name around!”
Madhava Gosh Prabhu has decided to go off dialysis. His dear wife Mother Vidya posted, “Tomorrow is day 9 …..he may not be able to talk to us but I’m sure he knows he is at home with his family and friends….prayers for a quick trip home ..the cows are waiting…”

Book distribution with Sivarama Swami in Liverpool, UK for Srila Prabhupada’s Christmas Marathon. (5 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: In this age human beings only live for sixty or eighty years, and even this small life-span is gradually decreasing. Therefore it is even more imperative for human beings to take to the worship of the lotus feet of the Lord by constantly chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, as recommended by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.24.67 Purport)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/MYpf5t

The Ethics Of Tree Management In Krishna Consciousness: We are well aware that the ‘tree’ is a person, residing at the temple. The tree is matter, the soul makes it grow and strive for life. Nevertheless, we don’t advocate jungle philosophy; humans have a right to clear a living space (viz. Sri Isopanisad verse One). We advocate yukta vairagya, or pragmatism in clear consciousness. Srila Prabhupada told the New Vrndavana devotees to use local trees to build houses. He also pointed out that fruit and flowering trees are in the mode of goodness, whereas others in the lower modes can be used for firewood. Still, our compassion and genuine, conscious humility in encroaching on the lives of other entities, is not compromised. To attract people to come to New Ramana Reti, we ‘manage’ grass, weeds, hedges, shrubs, flowers…and trees. With devotional intent, we maintain our property to local standards to encourage visitors. (We also have to adjust the living conditions of bugs, rodents, pets and wild-life to maintain favorable, sattvic conditions for practicing and preaching Krsna consciousness.) Much of the wood removed from these trees is being used to beautify the temple Memorial Garden and walkways.
Mukhya devi dasi: Tree Trimming at New Raman Reti, Alachua.
The two Sycamore trees near the main entrance to the temple property have just been trimmed and reduced by a devotee professional. We consulted with two certified arborists from Gainesville, as well as several devotees experienced in the field. The length of all branches has been halved, and the Spanish moss removed. This was done for three reasons:
To remove the danger of falling branches. (All traffic to the property passes under these trees, and the Charter School buses load/unload there.) Major limbs have not yet fallen from these trees, but after close inspection and considering the threat to human safety their position poses; the decision to trim was made.
To prolong the life of the trees. (Both are in poor health having numerous hollows and structural flaws.) Spanish moss is attracted to unhealthy trees, and these two had an extreme moss infestation. This has two ill-effects: a) Light and air circulation are blocked, inhibiting both the growth of foliage and photosynthesis; the tree cannot ‘breathe’, and b) When wet, the weight a branch has to support in greatly increased, making it more prone to breakage in wind. The situation of these two trees could be compared to that of a tar-covered bird on a beach; in being cleaned, it may lose some feathers, but it will live and fly again.
For looks. Frankly, the lanky, moss-covered, uneven shape of the trees gave one the impression that he was entering, not Vaikuntha (the spiritual world), but an Orlando Spooky Park. Admittedly, now pruned, they are still not attractive but will soon ‘bush out’. (Sycamores are resilient and well-known for coming back vigorously after trimming.)

Muslim Student Wins First Prize in Gita Contest in Kohalpur, India.
ISKCON have been conducting Gita Talent Search (GTS) exam …

Toronto’s Incredible New Years Eve Harinama! (Album with photos)
As is our annual tradition, devotees from Toronto’s Hare Krishna community braved the cold and joined tens of thousands of revelers who were ushering in 2016 on New Year’s Eve. While the main (massive) festivities were happening at City Hall, the devotees, led by Bhaktimarga Swami, stationed themselves across the street at Old City Hall with drums, cymbals, voices and more!
Over 100 devotees took part in the outdoor chanting (harinama) and the unanimous feedback was that this year’s chanting attracted the biggest crowd ever! Thousands of people heard the chanting and a countless number of people came to exuberantly dance with the devotees!
Find them here: http://goo.gl/1tAyxF

Preaching programs at the Lotus Room (Album with photos)
Ramai Swami: Saturday night kirtans have moved from the Lotus Room in …

ISKCON Auckland New Zealand: New Years Harinam (3 Albums with photos)
Dancing the night away with thousands of kiwi.
Srila…

January 2. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
By Satsvarupa dasa Goswami.
Prabhupada’s “Involuntary” Smiles. By smiling involuntarily I mean the best kind of smiles, when you can’t help yourself but feel your lips parting back from your teeth, and there you are, smiling. Perhaps you even make an effort not to smile, but you have to smile anyway. It was very pleasing to see Prabhupada smile like that, because it was so humanlike. Somehow or other, we all hankered to see those aspects of Prabhupada. He was godlike; he was heavy as guru. If he had not been so heavy, he would not have been able to take us out of maya. But we all sought his smile as a special kind of lift; and also for tenderness’ sake, we very much wanted to see Srila Prabhupada smile.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=4

Harinama and Prasadam distribution: Foremost Iskcon outreach programs. (24 min video)
Interview with Pancharatna prabhu. Lord Chaitanya’s proven method of reaching to the people of this age and inviting them to be part of the Sankirtana movement, the Yuga dharma,
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/1iZBcu

Celebrating the New Year 2016 in ISKCON-Delhi (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Everyone of us is searching after some mel…

Picnic-2015 (Chapahati) in Mayapur.
Dear devotees, once again Mayapur Bhakti Vriksha (MBV) exploring a very enlivening news for you all that by the 20th December, 2015(Sunday) the annual picnic of MBV held with great joy at champahati (Ritudwip) ‘Gour Gadadhara’ Temple. More than 400 fortunate devotees participated in this festival, who had good fortune to see the beautiful lotus eyed deities of their Lordships Sri ‘Goura Gadadhara’ over there. The program starts at 10:30 AM with mangalacaran and Bhajan-Kirtan for one hour. H.G. Sankarsan Pr. sung a heart touching Goudiya Bhajan related with ‘Goura Gadadhara’ that compiled by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur— ‘kabe aaha gouranga balia’ …… very softly, that created a devotional environment into the consciousness of the assembled devotees. Then worldwide Congregational Development Minister (CDM) H.G. Kounteya Pr. spoke on the importance of spiritual life based on ‘Sraddha’ for 30 minutes and Bhakti Vriksha Director H.G. Sankarsan Nitai Pr. delivered the main part of the lecture for 15 munities and followed by H.G. distributed different certificates on Bhakti Vriksha Siksha Level and Sraddha-Kutir etc. After that the stage occupied with enlivening cultural dance program by one of the BV kid for ten minutes and followed by three different games program namely musical ball for the matajis; spiritually ‘symbolic identifying with gesture’ music play for the children and Tug-of-war- tuging with a huge rope of lord Jagannath Ratha for all the Mel members over there and simultaneously for all these events prize also distributed.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/jKN8ek

This is how the devotees in Mayapur celebrated New Year’s eve (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: This is the solution to all sinful activities. Chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, be freed from all the complexities of life, and realize Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Engage in His devotional service and perfect your life so that you can return home, back to Godhead. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 25.198 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/3f5TPf

TOVP: First sandstone windows with its columns installed (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: Last week we were talking about prep…

The Most Multinational Harinama! (Album with photos)
Mahavishnu Swami led kirtan for 5 hours non-stop!
Srila Prabhupada: …

January 1. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
By Satsvarupa dasa Goswami.
Prabhupada insisted on repeating the point that we are all servants. We may serve our bodies or families or our nation, but it is best to serve the Supreme Lord, and that is our constitutional position. In the Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krishna asks Arjuna, “O son of Prtha, O conqueror of wealth, have you heard this with an attentive mind, and are your ignorance and illusion dispelled?” (Bg 18.72). Arjuna replies, “My dear Krishna, O infallible one, my illusion is now gone. I have regained my memory by Your mercy, and I am now firm and free from doubt and am prepared to act according to Your instructions.” In the purport, Prabhupada emphasizes that we are all in illusion thinking we are someone other than the servant of Krishna. We may even think that we do not have to serve anyone. But we do serve – either the illusory energy or the Lord.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=4

How movies embraced Hinduism (without you even noticing)
From Interstellar to Batman and Star Wars the venerable religion has been the driving philosophy behind many hit movies. Why?
Interstellar’s box office total is $622,932,412 and counting. It is the eighth highest-grossing film of the year and has spawned an endless raft of thinkpieces testing the validity of its science and applauding the innovation of its philosophy. But it is not so new. The idea that propels the plot – there is a universal super-consciousness that transcends time and space, and in which all human life is connected – has been around for about 3,000 years. It is Vedic.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/TnXQhO

Droova. Prince of Anger & Peace (42 min video)
A play adapted by Bhaktimarga Swami from the ancient epic story of Droova, a young boy who runs to the forest to meet God. Full of anger after being insulted by his stepmother, Droova’s prayer is to petition God for a kingdom greater than that of Brahma. Upon meeting God in person, however, Droova changes his mind and only prays for eternal service at the feet of the Lord.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/uLILCO

Announcing the winners of the marathon and awarding sankirtan devotees in Prabhupada Bhavan Temple (Album with photos)
Srila Pr…

Thousands of Brazilians chanting the Maha Mantra at Namrock Festival (5 min video)
Titiksava Karunika Das and his team perform …

Harinama in Surfers Paradise during New Year’s Eve (Album with photos)
Surfers Paradise is a suburb within the local government area of City of Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.
Srila Prabhupada: May the glorification of the transcendental name, form, qualities and paraphernalia of the Supreme Personality of Godhead protect us from the influence of bad planets, meteors, envious human beings, serpents, scorpions, and animals, like tigers and wolves. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.8.27)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/LSFlDx

TOVP: Marble Work Begins (Album with photos)
There has been a lot of excitement in Mayapur about the different types of marble to be used for the TOVP. Over the last few years we have been purchasing and importing marble from all around the word – Bolivia, Vietnam, France, etc. – and now we finally have some marble work ready to show you!
In the photos you will see we have begun the cladding of the stair cases in white marble. This marble comes from Rajasthan, and will be used over the 10 levels of stairs in all 8 staircases surrounding the temple rooms. Each level will be decorated with artistic relief work illustrating different pastimes of the Lord.
Find them here: http://goo.gl/ReE2uB

December 31. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
By Satsvarupa dasa Goswami.
It may be said that as we get attached to Prabhupada, there is a tendency to weaken in other relationships, especially material ones. If family ties are material, then they tend to weaken. The more you become Prabhupada’s disciple, the less you become interested in other things that are not connected to Krishna. You also develop friendships with those who are Prabhupada’s followers.
In my case, I did not know of Krishna except for the painting on the cover of Prabhavananda Swami’s Bhagavad-gita. I thought He was some mythical figure. But by meeting Swamiji on the Lower East Side, I began to know of my relationship with Krishna, starting with hearing about Him. And that has grown to the stage where I now identify Krishna as God, the God whom I understood in my childhood, the Supreme Being, the Creator, the God of religion and so on. As you make further progress, you begin to understand Krishna as Krishna. He becomes part of yourself, just as Prabhupada does. Even if you neglect the attachment, He is still there and He acts from His side, and that is a wonderful thing.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=3

Super dynamic and happy kirtan! (4 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: This is the ecstatic kirtan that concluded our Festival of Cha…

China Art Museum Exhibits MOSA’s Sacred Art Collection.
Asia’s largest museum, the China Art Museum in Shanghai, has dedicated its entire tenth floor to Forms of Devotion, a collection of sacred art from Belgium’s Museum of Sacred Art (MOSA). The exhibit, which opened on November 6th and is on display until February 21st 2016, is part of the “Celebrating India in Shanghai” program put on by the China Shanghai International Arts Festival. It is drawing over 30,000 visitors daily. It features 430 works of art from some of India and the world’s most prominent visual artists. All are inspired by religious, cultural and social visions of India, and rendered in the spirit of devotion and the betterment of humanity.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/HHXYhn

Iskcon Tribal Care Initiative – This is Us (17 min video)
“ISKCON Tribal Care Initiative” is an initiative of the International society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) to care for the tribal people in India. At this stage the initiative is focusing on Northeast and East India states. ISKCON Tribal Care will extend care in five different areas: Spiritual care Emotional care Educational care Healthcare Social care.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/Vo0eLu

Harinama in Moscow, Russia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If one chants the holy name of God-Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare-eventually he will see Krishna’s form, realize Krishna’s qualities, and remember Krishna’s pastimes. That is the effect of the pure chanting of the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. (A Second Chance, 16)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/lDUh9B

December 30. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
By Satsvarupa dasa Goswami.
I like to converse with Srila Prabhupada. I pray to him, along with Krishna. I say their names; I go through Prabhupada to Krishna. The talking is also a form of heart-to-heart talk. I speak, and then I listen to them. Again they are together. Krishna speaks directly in the Bhagavad-gita. He says, “One who understands Me as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, without doubting, is the knower of everything. He therefore engages in My full devotional service.” And after Lord Krishna speaks, Prabhupada elaborates and explains to me what Sri Krishna means. After hearing from them, I speak some more to my masters. I tell them what I am trying to do, where I am at. I ask for help. I express my thanks to them and feel my loving connection to them. I think that this kind of communication is far more important than too much thinking about Prabhupada (rather than being with him.) After all, I am not an academic of Srila Prabhupada. I am a devotee. Conversing with Srila Prabhupada is a form of meditation that can be done on a daily basis. As we face new predicaments, there is always new need to express ourselves to our guides. I try not to speak only at a pragmatic need, but to enter a loving exchange. I accompany my prayers with action. At the end of the day, I give thanks for the service connection that I have enjoyed during the day and the ways in which Prabhupada and Krishna came and touched me – as well as the ways that I failed them.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=3

Radhanath Swami: Gratitude is a divine virtue that is so important that other divine virtues could not exist without it. Spirituality grows like seeds within our heart. The goodness of our lifestyle protects that seed. Our spiritual practice of chant…

VIHE Vrindavan – 2015 Govardhan retreat (Album with 106 photos)
VIHE: Vrindavan Institute for Higher Studies.
Srila Prabh…

Hidden Treasures (10 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: This final video of our Kartika parikrama 2015 consists of highlights of the many places in Sri Vrindavan dhama that we visited. No doubt all devotees who participated hold memories of that month very dear to their hearts. We are grateful to Ananta Vrindavan dasa for capturing the special moments of the parikrama on video. No doubt so are the many Vaisnavas around the world who eagerly followed our sacred journey around Vrindavan through his work. We invite all such devotees to join our parikrama next year! Sastra speaks unequivocally about the importance of visiting the places of Lord Krsna’s pastimes:
“Certainly no means of perfection is superior to the worship of Sriman Madan Gopala’s lotus feet. That worship yields results far beyond what one could expect. It should be performed mainly through nama-sankirtana, along with reverence and affection for the many places of Sri Gopala’s pastimes, places which one should regularly visit.”
[ Sri Brhad Bhagavatamrta, Volume Two, Chapter One, Texts 104 – 105 ]
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/xr3Ohn

Srila Prabhupada: In 1936, just on the 13th, December, I wrote him one letter. Not 13th. I think by the beginning of December, 1936, I wrote one letter to Guru Maharaja. I knew he was little kind upon me, so I wrote that “Guru Maharaja, you hav…

Interview of a Hare Krishna monk on a national TV in Africa (14 min video)
Mahat Tattva Dasa: This is a recording of my appeara…

Women and Self Worth: A Bhakti Perspective (video)
What determines your self worth? Your high paying job, your car, the value o…

December 29. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
By Satsvarupa dasa Goswami.
Srila Prabhupada – The Strength Within Us. In order to stay in touch with Prabhupada, we can’t be dead. We have to be active and reciprocate. However, there are some things that Prabhupada instigates himself. There is spiritual strength, a faithfulness that I feel, which I know is from Prabhupada – it is almost like a growth of some kind, and it has its own existence and its own strength. According to sastra, this is the bhakti-lata, the devotional creeper. It is Prabhupada being with us in an important way.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=3

Recipe – Eggless Plum Cake (9 min video)
Each person has their own list of ‘must have’ foods for Christmas. The most common among all is this Fruit Cake; that wonderful combination of nuts and dried fruits with barely enough cake batter to hold it all together. If you have ever made a Fruit Cake you know that what really sets this cake apart is how we repeatedly feed the cake, over time.
It is jammed with raisins, currants, dried cranberries, dried figs and prunes, dried apricots, and candied fruit and peel (candied fruit is preserved fruit that has been dipped several times in a concentrated sugar syrup). Nuts are also included as is ground almonds.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/jsGWT8

Harinama and book distribution in Tel Aviv, Israel (Album with photos)
Even in Tel Aviv there is a cold winter but the devotees…

Book distributers during the December marathon (Album with photos)
Simply by watching these heroic devotees approaching the condintioned souls and benedicting them with the gift of one or more of Srila Prabhupada’s books is purifying!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/LsLhvZ