Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Mothers and Kids.
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.
Ananda: It is an odd development of the modern world that being excessively anxious about our children is considered a virtue. We consider ourselves good parents if we make life easy for them, reward them for the smallest achievement, and are anxious for their safety and well-being at all times.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/kAi2Oh

Yagnas and Pujari feast at the Mayapur academy today. (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: According to shastra anyone who we…

Preaching program with Niranjana Swami (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In this Age of Kali, the process of worshiping Kri…

Rathayatra in a small town north of Auckland. (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The true acarya presents Krishna to everyo…

Vedic winsdom to Concerned Doctors at GFESH Summit.
On January 3rd, 2016 Radhanath Swami gave the keynote address at the medical conference Medical Profession – Welfare Not Warfare held at Mumbai. The event was organized by the Global Foundation for Ethical and Spiritual Health (GFESH), a global initiative patronized by Radhanath Swami that aims to blend traditional spiritual science of healing with modern medical science. The event was supported by Indian Medical Association, Association of Medical Consultants, Association of Hospitals, and Mumbai Medical Society. Over 500 doctors attended.
The title of the event refers to a recent trend in India where, due to feelings of having been neglected or cheated, patients have attacked doctors and medical institutions both legally as well as through acts of violence. Radhanath Swami mentioned that the group of doctors gathered for the event, if they join together, can make an impact in reversing the trend and that although these doctors are exemplary, still they could see this as a wake-up call to improve the level of care that they provide. Radhanath Swami said, “A true doctor treats each and every patient as he would like himself to be treated when he is a patient. We must see the presence of God in our patients.”
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/EtwLoS

January 16. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Immortal Prabhupada! We should not think that we are better than Prabhupada because he has passed on and we are still living in this “wonderful” world. It is not that Prabhupada is now among the unfortunate dead and we are living. The whole basis of connection with Prabhupada is that we are all eternal. Socrates said that the soul is immortal, and he chided his disciples for thinking otherwise about him. If we want to be with Prabhupada, we must have faith that he is not dead. He is eternal. He is preaching somewhere, and we will also always be preaching somewhere. Otherwise, what is the meaning of being his follower? Prabhupada has gone ahead of us, and we are following. In the old days, people would go ahead of their families and leave Europe for America. Their families would join them later after everything had been prepared. So Srila Prabhupada has gone ahead, leaving us memories and solid teachings for our lives. If we cannot complete our progress in one lifetime, we will continue in the next. Wherever we go, we want to make further progress with Srila Prabhupada.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=4

Preparing Ourselves Spiritually.
Question: How can an aspiring spiritual practitioner prepare for something disastrous that can happen at any moment, and how can he or she tackle the situation of uncertainty?
Radhanath Swami: Our whole life should be prepared for each moment. If we have a strong foundation, when a storm comes you will have strength. If we have the wisdom and intelligence that is coming from hearing the great scriptures like Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, and Chaitanya Charitamrita, if we are properly nourished with philosophy and if we are chanting the holy names properly and not committing offense to others, we get spiritual strength and intelligence, and then when these moments come we will be prepared.
If we are not prepared when the moment comes it is just like….when I was in Vrindavan, India, in 1971, there was a war between Pakistan and India. At night everyone was told to stay inside; they would cut out all electricity for the whole of Vrindavan, and if you had a candle or something you had to put a black covering over your window. The idea is that when the enemy planes come over and when they see light they will bomb. There was preparation. If you know that you are going to be attacked then you have to prepare yourself to be safe. It is not that just do anything you want and it does not matter.
So we know that maya (illusion) is going to attack. Definitely, she will attack you every day in so many ways from within and without. So we should prepare ourselves. We prepare ourselves by chanting attentively, hearing Srimad Bhagavatam, avoiding offenses to others, sincerity of our prayers of feeling helpless and crying out for Krishna’s mercy. Then when the storms come and the attacks come, we have some preparation.

Life In Full Color.
Ananda: When I took up Krishna bhakti many years ago it was like my life moved from black and white to col…

New Raman Reti: Vegetable Gardens in the Winter.
Dvarkadisa das: For those of us from up north growing vegetables in the winter takes some mental adjustment. For Janamejaya das and Sanka das it’s part of the program. The produce they produce on the farm throughout the year is all for the Deities’ pleasure. It is used for Deity offerings, the devotee lunch at the temple, Sunday Feasts, and occasionally for the Santa Fe College Krishna Lunch program. It is never for sale.
Of course, the winter rotation calls for different crops. Right now various kinds of lettuce lead the way—Iceberg, Romaine, Bib and a Spring Mix. Kale, collards and cabbage are also being harvested. Broccoli and more cabbage are being put into trays for the spring planting, and tomatoes and flowers will follow around the first of February. According to Janamejaya das, the deer have been more curious and less of a nuisance during the fall than they were in the summer. Still, part of the plans for the gardens is to raise the fences from a height of six feet to eight.
The gardens at the temple are an easy place to see devotional service in action. The service is done directly for the pleasure of our Deities and the devotees. It takes patience, perseverance, detachment, humility and dependence on Krishna. Devotees who have some interest in gardening and might want some advice, can feel free to ask Janamejaya das (if he doesn’t have some chores to do). If anyone wants to help directly a large bag of Cottonseed Meal would be appreciated, (available at Alachua Farm & Lumber), which will be mixed with various crushed rocks to amend the soil and support healthier plants.

Becoming One!
“Friday, 7 April 1972 – Melbourne Temple, 14 Burnett Street, St. Kilda
Although Prabhupada took it as his primary business to work solidly on his writing, he was generally always available to talk to guests. But whenever someone would come to see him, he wouldn’t waste time – he talked philosophy and logic. He constantly argued against atheism and impersonalism and, to prove the existence of God and the universality of Krsna consciousness, he often spoke strongly.
Later in the morning, he was visited by a group of followers of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. The spokesperson of the group, the manager of a well-known Melbourne vegetarian restaurant, seemed preoccupied with the concept of merging into the Absolute.
With impeccable logic, Srila Prabhupada patiently explained that the concept of merging was not only unappealing, but also particularly impractical.
“You are all individuals. Every one of us is individual. So how [can] you conceive of merging? Suppose, just like we are here – one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. How we can merge? You just study philosophy. We are here, eight persons. How we can merge into one? Have you got any idea how we can merge? These eight persons, how we can merge into one?”
“To realise ourselves.”
“Well, if suppose you have realised, now, how to merge?”
“In realisation, there is that. In realisation there is merging.”
Prabhupada shook his head. He held up his right hand, his fingers extended. “Now, there are five fingers, one, two, three, four, five. How they can merge into one?”
“By realising this.”
Prabhupada patiently repeated his example. “No. These are five fingers – one, two, three, four, five. So these … there are different, five fingers. How they can merge into one? What is the process?”
“The name of the process?”
“No. Name or not name, how these five fingers can become merged into one? Tell me.”
Prabhupada answered his own question. He reached down and touched the microphone that was sitting on his desk. “Just like here is a thing. All the five fingers capture it.” He picked up the microphone with his fingers. “It becomes one. Although they are five – one, two, three, four, five – they are one.”
“Becomes one?”
“Yes. If the interest is one – to capture this – then it is one.”
Srila Prabhupada replaced the microphone on the table. “That means you cannot lose your individuality. But if your interest is one, then you merge into. Do you understand? Just like you are all Australian. How do you merge into the Australian conception? Because as Australian, you have one interest. So individuality cannot be killed. That is not possible. You are all individual. But when you make your interest one, then you merge into that thing.
“Your personality is different from his. His personality is different from him. He is different from you. But because you have got one interest, therefore you [are] one. Just like us. We are so many individuals. But our interest is Krsna. Therefore we are one.” “
From “The Great Transcendental Adventure” by Kurma dasa

Stay high forever! (Album with photos)
Harinama in Auckland, New Zealand. For the next 10 thousand years, chant, chant, chant!
Srila Prabhupada: “Whatever state of being one remembers when he quits his body, that state he will attain without fail.” If one practices chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, he is naturally expected to chant Hare Krishna when he meets with some accident. Even without such practice, however, if one somehow or other chants the holy name of the Lord (Hare Krishna) when he meets with an accident and dies, he will be saved from hellish life after death. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.2.15 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/v3qd3b

Preaching Program In Coanil Hospital Santiago De Chile (5 min video)
Sri Bhakti Das: Krishna Sambandha and devotees from India …

January 15. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Please forgive me for not speaking more directly of Prabhupada. This is all I have. It may be like reading a menu rather than giving you the feast. However, I am trying, and only by this way can I get closer. When I walk and talk with Srila Prabhupada, I feel that I am with him. It is real, this presence. It is not tangible in the sense that you can touch it or say, “There, I just saw a vision of Prabhupada. He was standing in the forest wearing a saffron coat.” Or, “I suddenly heard his voice saying, ‘Go on, you are doing very nicely.‘” Or, “He just said, ‘You rascal!” Or, “I suddenly smelled the aroma of his body—sandalwood, mustard oil and roses.” Or, “I suddenly felt something within myself and tears flowed and I cried out, ‘Prabhupada!’” I am not deriding such intense encounters, but I am saying the subtle, intangible presence is also worthwhile. When I come back from a walk I do not ask, “Was Prabhupada here? Did I meet him?” I am sure I did. We can talk to him. “Prabhupada, do you hear those birds? I do not know their names, but it is so nice to hear the birds sing in the morning. It is so nice to be in the country where practically the only sounds are those of nature. I know, Prabhupada, that you deplore the industry in the city, although we should be there for preaching. Prabhupada, is it like this in Vrndavana?”
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=4

Chant and be happy! (7 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: All glories to the all-blissful holy name of Sri Krishna, which causes the …

Iskcon Alachua: Community Unity Food Pantry Up and Running!
Every Monday and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. you can stop by and pick up foods to supplement your own family’s pantry. And if you can’t drive for any reason, they can deliver to you. The pantry is housed in a brand new shed, and an AC was just donated to keep items fresh. Go to http://communityunity.me/current-events/ to find out more.

Young Professional Serves Up Gita Wisdom.
“We have this focus on changing the externals, or trying to change things from the outside in, when actually what’s required is a change from within, a change from the invisible world, the eternal.” Ghanashyam Priya’s speed and rhythm builds as he talks, lending the poetic monologue in the latest video on his new Youtube Channel “Invisible World” a dynamic hip-hop flow.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/er4Qz9

To give or not to give? Answer by Radhanath Swami.
Question: While traveling by trains I see many children begging. They seem hungry and I can’t bear the sight. When they ask for money, one side of me says I shouldn’t give them the money, …

Cooking Chapatis for Srila Prabhupada.
Harikesa das: I had been cooking for Prabhupada for a long time, but I really had a hard time making chapatis because we were always in places where there were no proper stoves. To make a good chapati you need a gas stove at least or coals, and here we are in Mauritius and I’m cooking in a closet on a one-burner electric stove that didn’t even have enough power to boil water and I have to make a full meal that he likes up to his standards. So Prabhupada was complaining and complaining about the chapatis and I said, “I can’t get any wheat, I don’t have any stove, it is impossible.” This was going on many times in many places, just having to cook in the worst facilities you can imagine. So finally we get to Bombay and there are good facilities and there is good wheat, Prabhupada knows it. However, the gas stove I had had such a low pressure there was only maybe a little flame like this. So I had made chapatis, and they didn’t blow up all the way. I was really trying my best. So then Prabhupada tells me, “You are so useless. Big, big brain, you can’t even make a chapati.”
I had been struggling with those chapatis for months now, and I was so fried with hearing about chapatis. I said, “Prabhupada, no one can make a good chapati in that kitchen.” Prabhupada said, “No one?” I said, “No one.” He said, “Get out of my way.” He stood up, he marched into the kitchen with me following behind him. He sits on the floor. He says, “Give me the dough.” He was making with the dough, rolls his chapati, puts it on the burner, takes it off the burner. And I’m just sitting there very peacefully, waiting for the outcome. And he’s looking at me, and then he puts the chapati on the flame, turns it over, it doesn’t blow up. I thought, “I got him now. He’s never going to get on my case about that chapati again.” Prabhupada looks at me like he’s going to burn me to ashes. He’s making with the dough, rolls his chapati, puts it on the burner, takes it off the burner, puts it on the flame, it blows up perfectly. He picks it up with the tweezers and throws it right in my face. It bounces off my nose. He stands up and walks out of the kitchen, and I’m sitting there. It was really funny. We had that kind of relationship sometimes. –
From “Following Srila Prabhupada – Remembrances” ISKCON Cinema

Iskcon Pakistan celebrations (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Chanting the holy name is the chief means of attaining love …

January 14. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
By Satsvarupa dasa Goswami.
The Process of Memory Memories slow down and fade, just as the physical body slows down with old age. Aging, though, can be checked so that it does not deteriorate so quickly. If you begin an exercise program and improve your diet, you may feel rejuvenated. Similarly, memories do not have to wither and die if you exercise them. As a singer grows older, he or she loses the wonderful timbre and range of the peak years, but sometimes a singer develops a personal phrasing that substitutes for lack of power. These artists go right on to the very end making poignant expressions. In this way, our memories of Prabhupada may continue as long as we live. As we serve, we get fresh realizations. We want to go back without obstruction to whatever memory is there and accept it. We want to go back and ask, “Memories of Prabhupada, please come forward.” When the memories come forward, we meet them halfway. When events in the world push us to take shelter of Prabhupada, then we can remember him best. Humility and gratitude help us here. In the Nectar of Devotion, we read that remembrance of Krsna may be invoked by hearing someone play a flute, or just by seeing a darkish cloud. These impetuses help us to remember Krsna and become flooded with krsna-prema. It works like that with Srila Prabhupada also.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=4

Japa Retreat by HH Romapada Swami at ISKCON of Central New Jersey, Jan. 2016 (video)
Srila Prabhupada: Lord Caitanya never trie…

On Fear.
Radhanath Swami: Fear is the most prominent human quality. Its either behind the scenes or very much in front motivating people in so many ways. Fear of disappointment, failure, disease, death, poverty – and the more you have the more you have to fear losing. But if we just pray to our mind to take shelter of Krishna, this beautiful cowherd boy who charms us into the realm of love beyond the temporary conditions of this world, then we become fearless.
When we recognize the beauty of God and love God, then we actually see that loving beautiful hand behind every situation. And that doesn’t make us hard hearted, it makes us very soft hearted on every level – body, mind and soul. It equips us to serve people in the highest most comprehensive way. Not only to resolve the suffering of the physical and mental state, but to help people to resolve suffering forever, so that they can see through the lens of truth that the soul is eternal and nothing can destroy it.
Even in this world, where there is danger at every step, our nature is to find complete shelter and complete happiness in remembering Krishna. In this age of Kali Yuga Krishna has made himself so available to everyone and anyone, whoever we are, by chanting the holy names. Krishna is non different from his name and He has given us complete love and shelter in his name. If we love God we will understand that even the fear will be an incentive to help us to love and to be instruments to help others to love.

Harinama at Byron Bay – January 2016 (Album with photos)
Byron Bay is a coastal town in the southeastern Australian state of Ne…

Transcendental Dance in the Courtyard of Lord Shiva.
How is Lord Shiva and Durga considered the Father and Mother of the Universe is explained as follows. Since it is the glance of the Supreme Being over the energy of Durga, maya, which sets in motion the creation of the universes, Durga is therefore known as the universal mother. This is why when people speak of the material nature, it is always referred to as a female, as “she,” Mother Nature, and as the goddess. And the essence of Mother Nature is represented as Durga. She is united with her husband, known as Lord Shiva, who is then considered the father of the universe.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/8Bdqnn

2016 Japa Retreat at ISKCON of Houston with HH Romapada Swami.
I am glad to inform you that 2016 Japa Retreat with HH Romapada…

“The Gateway Effect”
This computer science student from Saudi Arabia saw some of our English books on the table, said he was not very good with English, and then showed little interest.
However as soon as he caught sight of the “Perfection of Yoga”, staring back at him in his native Arabic, his eyes went wide in amazement, his jaw dropped open a bit, and he just had to have it! Then he suddenly seemed fascinated by the whole scene. And it was at that very moment that he changed his mind and insisted on getting some of the English books as well.
This phenomenon has happened so many times in various languages, that we’ve coined a term for it: The Gateway Effect!

January 13. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
By Satsvarupa dasa Goswami.
On the same day he wrote Mr. Hartman, Prabhupada received a letter from Sri Padampat Singhania, the director of the very large J.K. organization in India. Prabhupada had written Sri Padmapatji for financial support, and this reply gave him hope. Not only was the Singhania family fabulously wealthy, but its members were devotees of Lord Krishna. My dear Svamiji, I have gone through your letter. I am very glad to know your idea of erecting a Sri Radha-Krishna temple in New York. I think the proposal is a good one, but the following are the difficulties … Mr. Singhania pointed out two difficulties. 1) He had to get government sanction to send money and foreign exchange to America. 2) Mr. Singhania doubted whether with this small amount of seven lakhs [$110,000] that Prabhupada was asking a temple could be built in New York. He said he was thinking of a temple, a nice construction with Indian-type architecture. For this he would have to send a man to America. These were the two difficulties, “otherwise your idea is very good.” Srila Prabhupada and Mr. Singhania had a basic disagreement. A magnificent temple in New York would cost many millions of dollars to construct. Prabhupada knew, of course, that if Padmapat Singhania wanted, he could provide millions of dollars. But then how would he get so much money out of India? Prabhupada therefore again suggested that they only spend seven lakhs. “After purchasing the house,” he wrote, “we can build another story upon it with a temple dome, cakra, etc.” Prabhupada had his own line of reasoning:
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=4

When Going Gets Tough Then Tough Gets Going.
Papayyapalem is one of the oldest villages in Chirala region and our 46th village…

Krishna Prema Mayi performed by Badahari das (7 min video)
1) Radha is made of pure love for Krsna and Hari is made of pure love of Radha. Life’s greatest wealth is Radha and Krsna: my eternal shelter. 2) Radha is the treasure of Krsna and Hari is the treasure of Radha. Life’s greatest wealth is Radha and Krsna: my eternal shelter. 3) Radha pervades the life-force of Krsna and Hari pervades the life-force of Radha. Life’s greatest wealth is Radha and Krsna: my eternal shelter. 4) Radha is totally melted with Krsna and Hari is totally melted with Radha. Life’s greatest wealth is Radha and Krsna: my eternal shelter. 5) Radha is situated in the body of Krsna and Hari is situated in the body of Radha. Life’s greatest wealth is Radha and Krsna: my eternal shelter. 6) Radha is fixed in the heart of Krsna and Hari is fixed in the heart of Radha. Life’s greatest wealth is Radha and Krsna: my eternal shelter. 7) Radha wears cloth of blue color and Hari wears cloth of yellow color. Life’s greatest wealth is Radha and Krsna: my eternal shelter. 8) Radha is the Mistress of Vrndavana and Krsna is the Master of Vrndavana. Life’s greatest wealth is Radha and Krsna: my eternal shelter.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/0UKtZY

Why do you, devotees of Krishna, dance while you chant?
Sundar Nitai Dasa: Day 11 Surfers paradise, Gold coast, Queensland, Australia.
Every evening the devotees have been going for Harinama on the main street here in surfers paradise.
So many people tell me how they love the chanting and dancing when I meet them.
Today, two young men from a local convenience store were watching me as I was reading while sitting on the bench.
When they got a lunch break they approached me and asked “what is the reason behind the chanting and the dancing, why do your group do that? ”.
I explained “We are signing the names of God, Hare Krsna, this is the way we connect with God and show the world how to connect with God.
This is the universal religion accepted by most major faiths and thought by all prominent prophets.
That is, to chant the names of god and you will be saved.
Some examples I gave were;
Muslims; recite 99 names of Allah five times a day in the direction of mecca.
Christians; Pray our father who art in heaven ‘Haloed by thy name ’, meaning the name of god is sacred or ‘Haloed’.
And the Buddhists also so have their chant for connecting with the supreme.
Most faiths accept this principle of calling upon the name of God to be connected.
So we are doing the same thing”, I explained simply.
“Ok, that makes sense, but why signing and dancing, the prophets don’t recommend singing and dancing ”.
“Have you ever been in love ?”’I asked.
“Yes”, one of them replied.
“So when the girl calls you back or acknowledges you, don’t you feel very happy almost like singing and dancing without even thinking about it.
Maybe you even skip down the street singing her name in joy and anticipation of your next meeting.
No one told you to do it, it just happened naturally, right?”.
“Oh yeah, that is true, i know that feeling ”, he said, as if he was in love with a girl at present.
“So these people are connecting with god/ Krsna and they are feeling His reciprocation and are very happy and excited.
So naturally they sing and skip down the street in happiness, sharing their excitement with others. It is a natural thing !.No one has to tell them to do it, it is a natural progression of their relationship with God /Krsna.
Does it make sense ?’’I asked.
’’yes ! that makes sense, thank you for your explanation”, he said appreciatively.
They had more very interesting questions too.
But that is all for now!
Sankirtan Yajna ki! JJJJJAAAAIIII
HARE KRSNA!
All glories to Sri Guru! and Sri Gauranga!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Srila Prabhupada in Mumbai, 1970 – 1977 (31 min video)
One of the best movies from Srila Prabhupada’s life! All the videos about Srila Prabhupada are transcendentally beautiful but this is particularly nice!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/BXSPmZ

Bhavnagar Rathayatra 2016 (Album with photos)
Taken by Vaman Das at Bhavnagar on Sunday, January 10, 2016. Bhavnagar is a city…

45th village bead of Gavinivaripalem strung in the offering garland.
Gavinivaripalem is a panoramic village amidst lush green farms, huge pond, simple dwellings, two temples and caressed by a gentle breeze coming from the ocean. It’s relatively a new village formed with just a few families choosing to settle there just a few decades ago. Now it’s flourishing with about four thousand population, huge arable land, lovely cows and many buffaloes. The main crops grown here are paddy, peanuts, corn, ragi, pulses and many varieties of vegetables.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/oESudQ

January 12. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
By Satsvarupa dasa Goswami.
A Letter to the Landlord On January 14, 1966, Prabhupada decided to write the owner of the building, Mr. A.B. Hartman. He explained how his plans had been upset, and he proposed a new plan: Now the Prime Minister Mr. Lal Bahadur Shastri is suddenly dead, and I am greatly perplexed … As there is now great difficulty for getting money from India, I am requesting you to allow me to use the place for the Institution For God consciousness, at least for some time. The house is lying vacant for so many days without any use, and I learn it that you are paying the taxes, insurance and other charges for the house although you have no income from there. If, however, you, allow this place for this public institution, you shall at least save the taxes and other charges which you are paying now for nothing. If I can start the institution immediately, certainly I shall be able to get sympathy locally, and in that case I may not be required to get money from India. I am also requesting that your honor become one of the Directors of this public institution because you will give a place to start the institution. A.B. Hartman wasn’t interested.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=4

Interview with Jahnavi Harrison (video)
Jahnavi was born and raised in a family of English bhakti yoga practitioners at Bhaktivedanta Manor in Hertfordshire. Her mother, who is a schoolteacher, and her father, who is a priest and writer, instilled a love of communication, education and strong spiritual values. She is a multi- disciplinary artist, trained in both Indian and Western classical dance and music, as well as writing and visual arts. After graduating with a BA in Linguistics and Creative Writing, she travelled internationally with the sacred music band, ‘Gaura Vani and As Kindred Spirits’, for five years, presenting the dynamic stories and spiritual culture of India for a fresh, contemporary audience. She has been a member of sacred music collective ’Sita and the Hanumen’, and regularly collaborates with kirtan artists like Krishna Das, Shyam Das, Wah!, Shantala and Jai Uttal.

Is Maya the same as Durga?
Yes and no. The engineer of the universe, Brahma, mentions Durga as Krishna’s illusory energy—Maya—in his collection of prayers to Krishna known as the Brahma-samhita. The commentary to Srimad-Bhagavatam, 11.2.48 discusses this:
“…the Brahma-samhita (5.44) says, sristhi-sthiti-pralaya-sadhana-shaktir eka chayeva yasya bhuvanani bibharti durga. Maya is like a shadow of the Supreme Personality of Godhead who serves Him in the creation, maintenance and annihilation of this world. Just as a shadow has no independent power of movement but follows the substance that casts the shadow, the illusory energy of the Lord has no independent power, but bewilders the living entities according to the Lord’s desire. One of Krishna’s opulences is that He is supremely detached; when a living entity wants to forget Him, Krishna immediately employs His illusory energy to facilitate the foolishness of the conditioned soul.”
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/JMvCts

Agrarian Revolution Paving Way for Spiritual Revolution?
Prabhupäda: We have experimented in Bengal, and here also, he is also going, sankirtana party. But he could not do it in a large scale for want of facilities. And in foreign countries these boys are so sacrificing spirit, as soon as we give him some program, immediately they make arrangement. Immediately. We are going village to village with books in buses. Hundreds of buses are working.
Meeting with MP, Mr. Krishna Modi — August 31, 1976, Delhi
On December 22, 2015, the Yatra bus reached the village by the name of Mustiyala at 2 in the evening. This village had played a key role in the history of peasant revolution against the oppressive landlords in 1946. This movement had spread to other neighbouring districts covering 4,000 villages, which ultimately led to reformation in land acquisition law and distribution of 10,000 acres of agricultural land to landless peasants. Mustiyala village still depends a lot on agriculture and traditional technologies.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/PqRnBZ

Meet …Durga! (1 min video)
From a theatrical presentation.
Srila Prabhupada: “Actually, the illusory, material energy is cheating everyone. People do not know what they are doing when they worship the material energy in the form of goddess Kali or Durga for material boons. They ask, “Mother, give me great riches, give me a good wife, give me fame, give me victory.” But such devotees of the goddess Maya, or Durga, do not know that they are being cheated by that goddess. Material achievement is actually no achievement because as soon as one is illusioned by the material gifts, he becomes more and more entangled, and there is no question of liberation.“
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/7zqZmI

The new animation movie: “Krishna Book Busters!” (7 min video)
From the creator of the “Manic Mataji” and “japatrap” 🙂 A book distribution adventure shown as a video game.

GM Seeds Ruin Sambandha with the two Mothers (Gomata and Bhudevi)
Bachannapeta, the Mandal headquarter, was established on 25th May 1985. The mandal is very dry with ground level water at more than 200 ft deep. Cultivation is mainly rainfed. A seed company opened its trial fields in this area with its GMO Bt Cotton. This has not only resulted in easy handing over of farmer’s life line (in the form of seeds) to the company but also destroyed the complete face of farming. Earlier there was a lot of crop rotation (multi-cropping) and millets, but now it has been taken over by mono-cropping of cash crop, that too of GMO. Those seeds were available at subsidized rates and were patronised by the organizations at every level. All their rich crops were replaced by Bt cotton. This belt where water has already been sparse, the area was falling in an arid zone with very low rainfall. This had made the situation very grim and more complicated than ever. The Bt cotton crop had destroyed the soil making it barren, decreased crop variety, zipped biodiversity, replaced food production with cash crops of cotton, thus cutting off the food supply, and introduced dependence on seed companies for seeds unlike the earlier situation of saving from the output itself. Increased vulnerability of monoculture has created a context for debt, suicides and agrarian distress. No wonder, there have been innumerable cases of suicides. This belt has witnessed the highest number of farmer suicides in the country.The people are generally given to wine and meat consumption besides other debilitating habits.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/dNm6WB