Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Living what you believe (video)
Mahatma prabhu is giving practical instructions about how to apply your knowledge in every day life. Because just having understood something without actually applying it doesn’t produce complete benefit.

TOVP: Progress on the chatris (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: We are working in such a way that we may cover many areas of t…

The potency of Prasadam…
In one lecture Prabhupada talked about prasadam, and afterwards one of the devotees asked, “Prabhupada, is it true that if you take prasadam even once you’re guaranteed a human birth?” Prabhupada said, “Yes,” and all the “devotees said, “Hooray!” We were thinking, “Wow, we’ve got it made. We’ve got a human birth coming, and that’s all we have to think about.” But Prabhupada became grave and didn’t say anything for a few seconds. Then he said, “But there are some species of monkeys that are considered human.” We all had to think about that for a while and get serious.”
Excerpt From: Siddhanta das. “Memories: Anecdotes of a Modern-Day Saint Vol 4.” iBooks.

December 28. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
The Swami was fearless. He was convinced that his message was relevant and had to be spoken. It was his show; he was in control, but he had to protect himself, especially in the beginning. It was not that the devotees were completely ready to be on his side, so he had to control the whole thing and say, “Don’t disturb, don’t disturb.” He depended on Krishna as he went on speaking the difficult-to-understand philosophy – concepts of Bhagavad-gita and the assertion that Krishna is God. He just went right ahead without watering it down in the least. You couldn’t understand it all, but you stayed and listened to him. You caught a word here and there: “Caitanya, Krishna.” Missed a word here and there. We did not understand very much of it.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=3

Choosing between being a society ISKCON and being a group of theologists (video). By Sivarama Swami.Read More…

UK Marathon results: All records smashed!!! 131,340 transcendental books distributed!!!
Sutapa das: We concluded the counting of scores yesterday evening. More to come in, but we have to stop somewhere. Nikhil prabhu and myself went to Srila Prabhupada’s darshan room to offer him the final results. In that transcendental tirtha, Mahaprabhu’s commander-in-cheif looked effulgent and absorbed, ever exuding the purity and potency which drives this movement forward. As Prabhupada glanced over each devotee’s name, I prayed for compassion, conviction and creativity. Aside from serving this preaching mission, I thought, what else is worthy of our energies? This is the family business – the best job in the world – and many devotees experienced that in the last month.
This marathon, as an offering to Their Lordships and Srila Prabhupada in this 50th anniversary year, over 500 devotees together distributed… 131,340 transcendental books!
A historic effort indeed – all targets smashed. Thanks for taking part, giving your heart, and making it a resounding success. Anticipating more transcendental adventures in 2016.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada! ! !

BBT to Release Books in Native American and Catalonian Languages.
As an offering to Srila Prabhupada during ISKCON’s 50th anniversary year, the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust is set to publish some of his books in two languages – Catalan and Quechua – for the first time ever. Catalan is spoken by around 9 million people in Catalonia, a region of Northeastern Spain and adjoining parts of France; as well as in Valencia, the Balearic Isles, and Andorra. Hanuman Das, trustee for the Spanish and Latin American BBT, grew up speaking Catalan. He explains that because Castilian – the language most of us know as Spanish – was declared Spain’s only official language while the country was under a dictatorship until 1975, speakers of other languages such as Catalan have a strong patriotism about their region and language.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/AiET2F

Fortunate People (4 min video)
Public sharing their feelings about the Hare Krishna mantra and the devotees!
Key quotes from this video: “To share this beautiful vibration with the streets that Hare Krishnas do everyday is beautiful service to the humanity.”
‘Walking passed them I can’t stop smiling. They are pure joy!”
‘It has attracted deep-thinking people of higher minds.
There must, must be something in its message!”
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/pQ1c02

New large brass horns for Mayapur’s elephant procession! (20 min video)
The Jayapataka Swami Archives based here in Sri Dhama Mayapur, received a wooden crate shipped in right before Christmas. We gathered around to open it and to our surprise there were 2 large brass horns. Shyama Rasika dasa said that Maharaj had ordered these 2 brass horns to be used during Sri Sri Radha Madhava’s elephant procession. So yesterday I took a video of the elephant parade. They can be nicely seen at the 18 minute mark on the video.

Air India goes vegetarian from January 1, no tea or coffee either!
Come January 1, loss-making government-run Air India will not serve non-vegetarian food to its economy class passengers on flights upto 90 minutes duration. The national carrier has also decided to strike off both tea and coffee from its lunch and dinner menu. As of now, Air India serves sandwich (both vegetarian and non-vegetarian) and cake on its flights, which are up to 90 minutes of duration, which will be discontinued from January 1, 2016, replaced with “all vegetarian” hot meal, an airline circular said. “It has been decided to provide all Indian vegetarian hot meals in economy class on all domestic sector flights between 61 and 90 minutes duration from January 1, 2016.” the circular issued late last week said.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/EYmXpX

December 27. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: My Prabhupada. Everyone has their own Prabhupada. Srila Prabhupada is an objective reality. And yet, we don’t want to be told by someone, “This is exactly how you must feel about him, and this is what he wants from you.” No, we want our own understanding of Prabhupada, because we have to surrender our own free will to him. Therefore, dear Prabhupada, let me call you, “My Prabhupada.” I don’t mean “pet Prabhupada” or “illusory Prabhupada.” You, Srila Prabhupada, are the master, and you will tell me what to do. And yet I call you “My Prabhupada” because you touched my heart in the beginning and you continue to do so. When a devotee says, “My spiritual master, Prabhupada,” that cry has to come from the self. It cannot be programmed into you by another person. Others may help by giving us Prabhupada’s books and telling us about him, but ultimately, with our own hands, we have to reach out and hold on to his mercy.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=3

Bhagavat Katha in Pune by HH Lokanath Swami (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: My dear boys and girls, you are working so hard for broadcasting the glories of Lord Krishna’s lotus feet and thus my Guru Maharaja will be so pleased upon you. Certainly my Guru Maharaja will bestow His blessings thousand times more than me and that is my satisfaction. All Glories to the assembled devotees. Letter of April 15, 1973.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/EiNu9j

Visit to an ancient Siva Temple (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The other day myself and Badahari prabhu visited an anci…

Preaching program at Budapest, Hungary. Swan Ball (Ball Vedic freshmen) 2015 (Album with 203 HR photos)
Our students this year…

Tribal preaching to remote places of India (Album with 258 photos) Bhakti Purusottama Swami and his team of devotees travel to far away lands, 15 KM distance by walk, to reach tribal population and bring Lord Chaitanya’s movement to them also!
Amazing photos! Find them here: https://goo.gl/wHjYAU

Preaching program with Danavir Goswami (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: By performing congregational chanting of the Hare …

Bondi Beach Harinama Party, Sydney Australia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Let there be all victory for the chanting of…

December 26. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Why Meditate on Prabhupada?
My reply to this is that cultivation of memories of Prabhupada and continuing our attachment to him is connected to learning the knowledge and carrying out the mission. Many of us accept this knowledge and believe in it only because he said so. For some of us, our “bottom line” of faith and realization is “Prabhupada says.” “Prabhupada says that Krishna is God. Prabhupada says that Bhagavad-gita is the best scripture, so read it.” Of course everything doesn’t just end with a dogmatic “Prabhupada says.” Once you actually hear about Krishna from him and read Bhagavad-gita As It Is, you get realization. But it rests on that foundation, that Prabhupada said so. Thus the Siksastakum verse declares, “The sankirtana movement is the life of all knowledge.” Because of him, the knowledge of Bhagavad-gita becomes alive. It was Sanskrit, or mythology, or academic study, but now it comes alive. So it is essential for all the devotees in the Krishna consciousness movement to receive the knowledge through Prabhupada in parampara. Therefore, why should they not want to relish hearing about him, and become attached to him as a person, and understand better how he was a teacher?
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=3

Iskcon Alachua, Florida. Sunday Feast and Festival Committee’s
first meeting.
Mukhya devi dasi: The new Sunday Feast and Festival Committee had their first meeting last week. It was decided the first order of business was prasadam, and everything related to it. Here are some of the discussion items to look for in 2016:
Four feast serve-out lines to decrease your time getting through the line.
A new improved larger Annadhan Board next to a new Volunteer Service Board on the back wall of the Temple room.
Devotees will be calling all families requesting they take one Sunday a year as their family’s day to help with the Sunday feast, either cutting -up, cleaning inside the kitchen or outside after the serve out.
Sakshigopal das is committing to having 30 feasts sponsored in 2016. We’ll be encouraging the community members to get the benefits of distributing prasadam the other 22 weeks. Families can join together on the same day to make it possible. Even individual items can be sponsored.
We will be holding another round of Quantity Cooking Classes to enliven devotees in the fine art of cooking in Radharani’s Kitchen
We will be meeting again soon to look at many other aspects of improving the Sunday Feast experience.

Govindas Asrama. (Album with photos)
Ramai Swami: Govindas asrama in Sydney has three kirtan and prasadam programs a week. The area is not very big but somehow 50-60 people squeeze in to participate in an ecstatic evening.
The crowd is mostly westerners with some coming from other parts of the world. At one recent program everyone heard about Gita Jayanti – Lord Krsna’s speaking Bhagavad-Gita to Arjuna 5000 years ago.
Find them here: http://goo.gl/nW1AH8

ISKCON Durban Goes Green.
“The temple itself has 521 bulbs. As of 1st November ALL temple bulbs are either energy savers or LED bulbs, including the florescent tubes” ISKCON Durban temple is undergoing major restoration for the 30th anniversary next October. Not only are they restoring the temple to its original beauty, but they are making marked improvements. One in particular—that is both admirable and intimidating-;is their Go Green campaign. This campaign is the brainchild of Vibhu Caitanya Das, Durban Temple President.

“First Time 5-SMIS” Art Show (Album with photos)
Sri Mayapur International School’s students exhibit their paintings.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/ViqAJr

UK December Marathon: Counting up… (Album with photos)
The 100k effort ended yesterday. Today is the day of rest. With yesterday’s street scores we have reached 97,000… but fear not… there are many scores still to come in… its looking very positive. Final scores will be announced on Sunday.
Its amazing… how these books travel to every corner of the country, touching people’s hearts and changing their life… whether they realise it or not. This is the family business, the best job in the world. Bowing down to all the book distributors who went out this marathon – we could only capture some of you on camera… for the rest, Krishna definitely saw you All glories to your service!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/9nr2iT

Hope For The Best! (Album with photos)
Iskcon’s Food For Life Nepal begin to feed one more new school, Shree Jaya Bhadrakali Lower Secondary School.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/OJbIqS

Awakening the Light of Dharma: How to Uphold Dharma in the World Today.
On the 6th and 7th of November 2015 Radhanath Swami de…

REVELATIONS —A comparative religious study between —-JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY, ISLAM and the VEDAS.
As you all know: 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s departure to the West. This book is dedicated to His Divine Grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, ISKCON, in July of 1966.
The following scholar has praised the book: “It is rare to find a work which seeks to integrate Hindu and Jewish thought. The book is a rich interfaith exploration.” Professor Dan Cohn-Sherbok Dan Cohn-Sherbok is a rabbi of Reform Judaism, a Jewish theologian and a prolific religious author who has written and edited over 80 books which have been translated into Russian, Greek, Bulgarian, Hebrew, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Swedish, Japanese, Turkish, Persian and German. He is Professor Emeritus of Judaism at the University of Wales, Honorary Professor at Aberystwyth University and a Research Fellow at Heythrop College, University of London and the Centre of Religions for Peace and Reconciliation, University of Winchester.
“In this thought-provoking book the author shows how the concept of demigods was once integral to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He demonstrates how the existence of demigods can be compatible with the existence of a Supreme God, giving the Vedic religion as an example of this.” Michael A. Cremo Author of Forbidden Archaeology, Human Devolution, etc.
Michael A. Cremo is a researcher associate of the Bhaktivedanta Institute specializing in the history and philosophy of science. He is a member of the World Archaeological Congress and the European Association of Archaeologists and is an expert on archaeological evidence for extreme human antiquity.
I hope that this offering will be pleasing to his divine grace Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and that the devotees will derive great satisfaction by reading this book.
The printing is done in Vrindavan. You can get a copy from ISKCON Vrindavan,ISKCON Mayapur,ISKCON Juhu,ISKCON New Delhi and ISKCON Pandharpur.
Your servant Rasamandala das

December 25. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Srila Prabhupada acknowledged that time wears away all things. Even Krishna’s places of pastimes in this world have become covered over, leaving little trace of His presence. Rupa Goswami expressed this in a cryptic message to his brother, Sanatana, in jail. Rupa Goswami’s note stated, “Where is the Ayodhya of Raghupati? Where is the Mathura of Krishna?” His meaning was that everything in this world changes, but if you keep your mind fixed on that which is eternal, you will be steady. This is good advice to anyone in anxiety over the temporary , terrible situation of material prison life. According to Rupa Goswami, even the dhamas within this world undergo change; therefore we should always meditate on the eternal essence of life. Just as Lord Krishna’s dhamas are eternal, Prabhupada’s pastimes have a similar quality; we should not be alarmed or doubt their validity. We may ask, “Where is Ayodhya? Where is Dwaraka, the city by the sea? Where is the Yadu dynasty? Where is the pious humankind whom Krishna came to restore? Where are the Pandavas or their descendents?” Although the spiritual pastimes of the Lord may disappear from our vision, they continue to exist for those who have perfect vision. Time is not greater than Krishna or Krishna’s pastimes. But because the material world is the kingdom of Maya, even spiritual edifices will crumble. The inner spirit is carried on by the parampara of living devotees.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=3

Harinam Sankirtan in Sydney, Australia. (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: By chanting Hare Krishna one fixes his mind alwa…

Vedic Deities Worshipped in Japan (28 min video)
There is a very important bridge of culture joining the countries of India and Japan. In the words of HE Mr. Yasukuni Enoki, Former Ambassador of Japan, “It is very important for the Japanese to know that in the bottom of Japanese culture, Indian culture is very firmly imprinted”.
Buddhist and Hindu deities of India are worshiped by the people of Japan. The 5th century Sanskrit script is revered in Japan and its letters denoting different deities, are considered sacred by the Japanese.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/kIecSC

UK Sankirtan Marathon: Almost there! (2 min video)
Sutapa das: Manor has reached 92,000 Books! We need 8,000 books distributed in the next 14 hours! Today midnight the 100k Effort Ends! Devotees have been distributing around the clock – someone texted me at 23.58 last night saying “prabhu, I need 1000 small books NOW!” I was happy to be woken up! Don’t worry prabhu they are coming to you!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/kzrdE7

Martial Arts demonstration by Dina Dayal Prabhu (Album with photos)
Sri Mayapur International School students learn how to bec…

Lasting Impression…
Today was a beautiful day in Bournemouth, UK. At one point Nandan stopped someone who had received a “Science of Self Realisation” some time ago. The man was so amazed by the pictures that he decided to get one of them tattooed on his back!
Prabhupada’s books leave a lasting impression in more ways than we can imagine!

TOVP: Work in progress (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: As work is proceeding fast, we are already preparing for the next step to follow on regards of the temple sandstone windows.
Under Savya Sachi Prabhu’s guide, production of the GRC columns started, and by next week we will commence installing them on the temple walls, between the sandstone.
In these images you can see the finished product of the GRC columns.
We will keep you updated on this wonderful progress.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/tb1elI

December 24. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Our business is to save ourselves by remembering Srila Prabhupada at the time of death. All his activities are worth remembering and passing on to others, at least for the next ten thousand years of Kali-yuga. It is distasteful to us if someone says, “Prabhupada is just one guru, and eventually he will be forgotten. There will be other gurus with other pastimes and the main thing is the message, not this person.” We don’t want to hear that. If we persist in being attached to Prabhupada, it can’t be inauspicious. Even if aspects of his pastimes were temporary scenes, nevertheless, being attached to Prabhupada in a particular setting will not go in vain. Krishna will recognize it, and He will transform our devotion into eternal benefit. Krishna will say, “Because you were attached to Prabhupada there, now you can be attached to Radha and Krishna and Prabhupada.” Somehow, Krishna can make it all satisfactory. It’s not wrong to remember our teacher, how he taught us, when he taught us, and who he was.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=3

Interest In Vedic Pedagogy Increases in Finland.
Finland has been one of the most successful countries in the world in educati…

Plea in Lok Sabha for ‘National Book’ status to Bhagwad Gita!
New Delhi: BJP members in the Lok Sabha on Monday made a strong plea for declaring Bhagwad Gita as “National Book” and urged the Centre to organise international festival on the lines announced by Haryana government.
Noting that the scripture teaches immortal values and is a guide to humanity, he hailed the Bhagvad Gita Mahotsave held at Kurukhshetra recently. He also wanted that learning of Bhagvad Gita be made part of school curriculum.
His plea was supported by a large number of his party colleagues with thumping of desks.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/XOT1d2

Vaishnava Wedding of ISKCON devotees @ Hong Kong, China (Album with photos)
I am not a brahmana, I am not a ksatriya, I am not …

Encountering Vishnu: The Lion Avatar in Indian Temple Drama.
Five rare wooden sculptural masks made in India—recently acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York—will be highlighted in the special exhibition Encountering Vishnu: The Lion Avatar in Indian Temple Drama, opening at the Met on December 19. Worn by actors in dramatic plays that were presented during religious festivals in southern India, the masks represent a largely unrecorded category of late medieval devotional art from India. The exhibition is made possible by The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Foundation Fund. The appearances of Vishnu in many guises, known as avatars, are most famously celebrated in his Ten Avatars (Dasavatar).
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/MZPCGL

Gita Jayanti 2015 @Gedung Ksirarnawa Art Centre Denpasar Bali (Album with photos)
Gita Jayanti celebrates the appearance day of…

Last Push for the UK Sankirtan devotees who try to reach the goal of 100.000 books distributed during the December marathon.
Sutapa Das: The finish line is in sight – now the marathon runners close their eyes, shut out all other thoughts, and draw on every last bit of energy – all the hard work culminates here! 88,000 reached – we need 12,000 books distributed in 2 days! Its the last push…
Special thanks for the “100k Effort” goes to Tanmay prabhu. For the last month, he has been offloading pallets, giving out books, updating the thermometer, and running around all day facilitating the book distributors. Over 40,000 books must have passed through his trusty hands! Always smiling, no complaints. Tanmay prabhu – you’re the best!
And for that matter, we would like to thank all the devotees doing ‘background services’ (driving, cooking, covering services) to facilitate the devotees distributing books. Without you, the marathon doesn’t happen. Thank you, thank you, thank you