Author Archives: Dandavats.com

ISKCON 50 Plans Ramp Up in the UK, Worldwide.
In the UK, an avalanche of major, inspirational events for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary are being planned throughout the year 2016, including some that will be tied into international efforts by all ISKCON temples. ISKCON 50 reps at the 13 temples across the UK and Ireland have already held several events in 2015 in honor of the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in the US on the steamship Jaladuta. They included a “Departing India” festival in which a book of Srila Prabhupada’s Markine Bhagavata Dharma poem written abord the Jaladuta was released; a Bhaktivedanta Players production about Prabhupada’s journey; and a kirtan tour of London’s most famous landmarks on open air double-decker buses with hundreds of devotees.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/eegAcC

Ratha Yatra in Guadalajara (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The true acarya presents Krishna to everyone by preaching the…

The book “Free To Preach” Is finally out!
Thanks to all the donations and contributions from many devotees who have so graciously assisted us in our service, “Free to Preach” is finally off the printing press and ready to be delivered to your homes.
This book, by Prema Padmini devi dasi, is a touching and personal account of a grihastha couple spreading Krishna consciousness in a Muslim country in the Middle East. It is destined to both fascinate minds and touch the hearts of hundreds.
“If all can lend their might to fulll Lord Caitanya’s desires, the world will rapidly change and countless souls will get His causeless mercy. That everyone has the potential to become a preacher is such a dynamic idea that it dees my ability to glorify it enough. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura stated, prana ache yara sei hetu pracara, “Whoever has spiritual life and enthusiasm preaches.” How actively devotees preach the message of Lord Caitanya constitutes the practical index of their enthusiasm and life. May Free to Preach serve as an inspiration and practical guide for existing and potential preachers everywhere.”
H.H. Jayapataka Swami (Foreword, Free to Preach)
To purchase this book, please visit our website at http://www.iskconcongregation.com/product/free-to-preach/
For more information, please write to us at cdm@pamho.net

Vrajamandala Parikrama 2015, Vrndavan to Mathura, to Mahavan (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: When loud chanting of the H…

Vrinda Devi’s Sacred Kunda (7 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Our parikrama party spent almost an entire day at the famous lake of Vrinda Devi, who helps Purnamasi plan Radha and Krsna’s pastimes in Vrindavan each day. ISKCON has developed the area in a very tasteful way, keeping the rural setting and spiritual ambience intact. Hearing and chanting the glories of Vrinda Devi helped us to all become spiritually enriched.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/ezFBMr

November 30. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
God consciousness is the goal of human life. If a person is born of a mother or father who can give the child love, as well as a God-conscious education, then he or she is very blessed. According to Bhagavad-gita, if one is born into a family of transcendentalists, that is the result of good karma. “It is certainly very fortunate to take birth in such families. Fortunately, both our spiritual master, Om Visnupada Sri Srimad Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja, and our humble self had the opportunity to take birth in such families, by the grace of the Lord, and both of us were trained in the devotional service of the Lord from the very beginning of our lives. Later on, we met by the order of the transcendental system.” (Bhagavad-gita 6.42 Purport) In gratitude to the father who raised him, Srila Prabhupada dedicated the Krishna Book to his father, Gour Mohan De. Prabhupada described him as, “A pure devotee who raised me as a Krishna conscious child from the beginning of my life. In my boyhood ages, he instructed me how to play the mrdanga. He gave me Radha-Krishna Vigraha to worship, and he gave me Jagannatha-Ratha to duly observe the festival as my childhood play. He was kind to me, and I imbibed from him the ideas later on solidified by my spiritual master, the eternal father.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=2

The One Stop Solution for Bad Karma (5 min video)
How do you make up for wrong when you know you’ve done it and you feel bad for that?
Speaking from the wisdom of the yoga texts, that which is right is that which furthers your spiritual development and that which is wrong is that which interferes with your spiritual development. Who decides what is right and what is wrong? In terms of rectifying those wrongs we’ve done, it’s practically impossible to deal with all our ‘bad karma’ piece by piece. Rather the conclusion of Bhagavad Gita (the timeless yoga text) tells us that we can make a one stop solution to all the bad karma. Such methodology is the essence of the Bhagavad Gita as it is.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/3lReJe

Life Beyond Borders – Highlights | Veda London (3 min video)
We were honoured to host our keynote speaker Radhanath Swami, who explained that “there can be no darkness in the presence of light”, and “our true success is in how we sustain our values.”
We are grateful to Shyam and Krishna Dattani for their wonderful classical dance performance, and Ananda Monet for taking us on a journey with her incredible vocals.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/EosIAo

TOVP UK Tour.
Final House Programme – highest Pledge!
Our stars in the highest pledged category for home programmes pledging a total of £60,000 by the assembled devotees tonight. Our final house programme with the highest score! Majority of the devotees are silver patron pledgers pledging £7000 each! The TOVP team would like to thank the hosts Bhavesh Prabhu and Kundalata mataji for a very successful evening and a grande finale of the house programmes.

Tribhuvanatha Prabhu Appearance Day Harinam in London (28/11/15) (Album with photos)
In Memory of Tribhuvanatha Prabhu over 200 devotees turned out to chant Hare Krishna through the streets of London! We were extremely blessed to have with us Malati Devi Dasi, Gurudas and Shyamsundar – three of the original six pioneers who came to the UK on the instruction of Srila Prabhupada in 1968 to open the first ISKCON temple in London.
47 years later…. They made a special return!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/q4iyuf

ISKCON Puri – Bhoomi Pujan Festival (Album with photos)
In the divine presence of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami Maharaj, His Holiness Lokannath Swami Maharaj, His Holiness Subhag Swami Maharaj, His Holiness Bhakti Purusottama Swami Maharaj, His Holiness Gaura Narayana Swami Maharaj, His Holiness Gauranga Prema Swami Maharaj, His Holiness Bhaktim Priyam Gadadhara Goswami Maharaj, Vasu Ghosh Prabhu, Devakinandan Prabhu, Braja Hari Prabhu and with auspicious vedic mantras recitation from Bhaktivedanta Vidyapita Gurukula students from Mayapur, with presence of more than 6000 devotees today bhoomi pujan – foundation stone laid by His Holiness Jayapataka Swami Maharaj and His Holiness Lokanath Swami Maharaj in our ISKCON Land in Sri Jagannath Puri Dham. And all the devotees fed with Lord Jagannatha’s prasadam. [Photos by: Tulasi Prema Krishna Dasa]
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Laa9Ew

November 29. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Prabhupada knew the value of his own books. He said they were spoken by Krishna, not by himself. If someone reads one page, his life could become perfect. Prabhupada also said that history would prove that his books had saved the world from barbarism. Without receiving the message of Krishna, people are degraded to less than animals – eating, mating, sleeping and defending. Prabhupada’s books make the difference. Prabhupada understood by personal experience that his books were needed. Although he knew that the Bhagavatam described humanity devoid of Krishna consciousness as a species of “two-legged animals,” Prabhupada had personal experience with this. He saw the neon signs for topless and bottomless dancing. He would see the cover of Time magazine: “Crime. Why and what to do?” He personally saw the degraded students and hippies living in the parks, so fallen that they wouldn’t even respectfully listen to Prabhupada when he began to speak in public. He rode in cars and saw the traffic jams on the highways. All these experiences impelled him more and more to give Krishna’s message to the people. He was convinced it would uplift them.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=2

Yet an other Rathayatra festival by ISKCON Auckland in New Zealand (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Depend on Krishna, b…

ISKCON of Silicon Valley Gopastami (6 min video)
Team ISV Go puja for ISV Cow Surabhi at Live Earth Farm at Watsonville, CA

20 Tips for Married Couples.
We came across a wonderful list of guidelines for married couples, families and anyone trying to build a strong Krsna conscious lifestyle. This list was written by Bhakti Rasamrita Swami, a senior sannyasi (monk) in our …

A Most Sacred Place (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Our second and final parikrama around Govardhan Hill this Kartika yielded some wonderful photos showing the beauty and sanctity of one of Vrindavan’s most sacred places.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/PY8oyF

Books are still the basis on Padayatra India.
Our padayatra party travels to every nook and corner of India, to the most remot…

Tribhuvanatha Prabhu Appearance Day (27/11/15) (Album with photos)
Celebrating the birthday of the founder of the festival tea…

November 28. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
He walked up on the stage and introduced himself to the people and tried to get them to come forward. He said, “Come forward, come forward.” A few of them came up to the front. There were mixed couples, many Indians, male and female, mostly middle-aged and some college aged, a lot of professor-types and ladies were there. Then he began his speech. He dove right into it. He just started exclaiming, proclaiming, the greatness of the Creator and that the most important thing is to remember the Creator and remember God. He began to expand on God consciousness, what God consciousness is and how God is everywhere and how it behooves us all to remember God – no matter what we call Him, what names we call Him by, but that we should call Him. He gave a demonstration which was very moving. He chanted Hare Kr.s.n.a, Hare Ra-ma and spoke about the power and saving grace in the mantra. He took a little break about halfway through and had some water.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=2

Warming up for the December marathon of book distribution!
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Balavanta, 23rd November 1976 “I am very glad to hear how the book distribution is increasing more and more. This is our greatest weapon. The more the books are distributed, the more the ignorance of the age of Kali will be smashed. The world is feeling the weight of this Hare Krsna movement, especially in your country. We have to increase this book distribution work more and more to firmly establish this movement, which is the only hope for the suffering living entities.”

“Does God Exist?” (video)
Kishan Paun: an incredible class given by HG Bhuta Bhavana Prabhu on the topic of “Does God Exist?” at Harrow Jammin, a youth event by ISKCON Pandava Sena in London.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/OJSrR0

Srimati Ananda Murti, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada left her body. Trai Das: Hare Krsna I want to inform all the devotees that just…

November 27. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
We didn’t know where Swamiji came from. He was asked, “Where did you come from? Who sent you?” Bit by bit, he told of his Guru Maharaj and the tradition he represented. Nowadays we speak with confidence about Prabhupada’s background and his intentions to spread Lord Caitanya’s sankirtana movement. But in the earliest days, no one knew anything about these things. We only knew Swamiji. First came Swamiji; everything else came later. He just started singing; he explained later. You walked into the park and saw the Indian swami singing, then you waited because he would explain everything later. That was his preaching spirit, his greatness. Vaisnavas who live in India may take their enormous cultural facility for granted. Their culture accepts Hinduism, being Indian, following the Vedas, the Gods, sadhus. To be a Vaisnava in India is similar to being a Catholic priest in the West.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=2

The …Mridangam Purana! (9 min video)
Hare Krishna Halder shares curious anecdotes about the origin of the folk music instrument Shree Khol from different Hindu texts. He traces the journey of Mridangam through the ages, to its present form. He emphasizes on the role of Shree Chaitanya Mahaprabhu in popularizing the instrument.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/yohyGO

The Sankirtana arrives at the Pyramids! (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Let there be all victory for the chanting of the…

Arjuna Krishna’s 3D Mobile free App, Live Wallpaper ( min video)
Everything which reminds us of Lord Krishna is useful! Let us bring Bhagavan to the center of what, for many, is their constant object of their attention 🙂
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/eEupqw

Raval – The Birth Place of Radharani (8 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Srimati Radharani appeared in Raval and later moved to Va…

A visit to Sri Mayapur International School (Album with photos)
Sri Jahnavi dd: Last Wednesday Jayapataka Maharaj came to our school, he gave a very sweet and inspiring class. He said ‘I have faced many obstacles to come here today, but I really wanted to come to SMIS’ referring to a problem with the lift of his building.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/RQiJjg

November 26. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Another example of Prabhupada’s mix of worldliness and otherworldliness is his emphasis on book distribution. Prabhupada was not content to write his books on a palm leaf and just let them sit. He used book printing technology, although he said he was simply “blindly” following the order and example of his spiritual master. It took both spiritual acumen to write the books and down-to-earth practicality to transfer the spiritual message into type and then bind it. The book distribution was not a worldly activity, it required practical intelligence and hard work to accomplish. The difference between Srila Prabhupada and ourselves (there is a huge difference) is that we belong to this world and he was in another world. He always had Krishna on his mind. He could withdraw into himself and become so grave that he wouldn’t be present with us any more.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=2

How I Came to Writing and Srila Prabhupada’s Encouragement for That Service – HG Visakha Dasi (4 min video)
HG Visakha Dasi has been a prolific author with her essays and books being widely appreciated by the Bhakti community and the Secular community as well. Her presentation of the timeless teachings of her Guru Srila Prabhupada in the Bhakti Tradition has been steady and deeply touching for many hearts. How did she start this service of writing? What keeps her inspired? What encouragement did she receive from Srila Prabhupada for this service?
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/HR5oi3

Last Day Of Damodar Month At Iskcon Salem (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Krishna is the root of everything. IF He is pl…

Rathayatra in Kumeu, New Zealand (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Vedic evidence is called sabda-brahma. The real essence …

Harinama Sankirtana in Moscow, Russia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Lord Krishna stresses the importance of remembering Him. One‘s memory of Krishna is revived by chanting the maha-mantra, Hare Krishna. By this practice of chanting and hearing the sound vibration of the Supreme Lord, one’s ear, tongue and mind are engaged. This mystic meditation is very easy to practice, and it helps one attain the Supreme Lord. (Bhagavad-Gita 8.8 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/U1VA6P

The Messenger (34 min video)
Tribute to Srila Prabhupada performed by the students of the Bhaktivedanta Academy, Alachua, on N…

TOVP Facebook Page Reaches 250,000 Likes!
The TOVP Facebook Page recently achieved a landmark 250,000 Likes! All glories to Lo…

TOVP: Electrical Work Begins (Album with photos)
The first phase of the electrical work has started.
This phase consists …

November 25. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
It was unusual for Prabhupada to be anywhere but at Dr. Mishra’s studio. Prabhupada did a little shopping, but he rarely went out on any other kind of outings. Mostly he went out for walks. Occasionally, he went to the bookstores to see how his books were selling. He did not have a car in the early days, so he took the subway or the bus. When he went out, he didn’t take on the appearance of an ordinary person in his old, checkered suburban coat. For one thing, he always wore his dhoti. He was elderly and Indian, but these were all external. He burned with an inner flame that was visible, even as he sat in the subway. He was always intensely focused on Krishna. His eyes were different than other people’s eyes; they shone with inner vision. He was always a pure devotee of Krishna.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=2

Three amazing sales, by Vijaya Prabhu: “At the wonderful Vyasa-puja celebration for His Grace Vaisesika Prabhu, many of his disciples gave him gifts. Sankirtana Dasa, Kumari Lila Dasi, and Iwere thinking about what we could offer him on his birthday.
It was late by the time we left, and we were intoxicated by the feast of delicious prasada. We wanted to offer him something substantial, so we set out door-to-door. (We were later joined by Haladhara Rupa Dasa.) We were driving in the neighborhood of Silicon Valley to find the best place to start. We saw a door that was open, so we decided to start from there.
We met a nice gentleman who worships mother Gayatri. He was full of devotion to the goddess, and he even mentioned that we were sent by her. He accepted a Srimad-Bhagavatam set, in Telegu, even though he and his family were running late for a movie. While we were talking to that family, the neighbors came and invited us to their home.
They were also a very pious family and accepted a set of Bhagavatams. We did a small installation and a kirtan.
While we were all talking, their neighbors (who happen to be old friends of the devotee Srivas) invited us to their home. They were also curious about Srimad Bhagavatam and accepted a set. Sree and Madhu are both pious and learned in some scriptures. They greeted us kindly and offered us fruits when we left, which is traditional for many South Indian families. They wanted us to install their set with an artik and kirtan, as we did in the
previous house.
Kumari Lila said that it was amazing that we had distributed three sets without knocking on any door. It was all the mercy of Lord Caitanya. It was our humble offering to Vaisesika Prabhu.

Glimpses of reality (Winter Marathon 2015) (18 min video)
Dear ISKCON devotees, dear friends!
Please watch this short film! Heart-touching, inspirational and leaving no chance to miss the upcoming transcendental fun!
As you know it’s only a few days left before the long-awaited Srila Prabhupada December Marathon kicks off! If you’re still hesitant whether to go out or not or somehow missing the most uplifting vibe which is already up in the air, then please watch this video made by ISKCON London Sankirtan leader Naam Sankirtan Prabhu with following devotees sharing their realizations:
HH Sacinandana, Kadamba Kanana, Kesava Bharati, Janananda, Dhirashanta Maharajas, HG Kripamoya Prabhu and Guru Carana Padma Mataji, HG Dhananjaya, Jai Nitai, Radha Raman Prabhu and more Srila Prabhupada disciples and leaders of Sankirtan initiatives.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/kb1twb

Tulasi Shalagram Vivah 2015 (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: As every year, on Ekadasi night we had all night kirtan. Then on Dwadasi, we celebrated the marriage of Tulasi and Shalagram! Many people celebrate this, but according to tradition, the marriage always takes place at the bride’s house. So this marriage was super auspicious being performed at Vrinda Kunda, Vrindarani’s home! Relish the pics of Vittalrukmini Prabhu!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/CBJ8UT