Author Archives: Dandavats.com

KC presentation at ‘Take Pride 2018’ at the BSE (Bombay Stock…
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KC presentation at ‘Take Pride 2018’ at the BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) International Convention Hall in Mumbai.
Radhanath Swami recently was a keynote speaker at the event ‘Take Pride 2018’ at the BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange) International Convention Hall in Mumbai. The event was organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the most visible business association in India. ‘Take Pride’ is a platform offered to eminent leaders of India to share inspiring thoughts with Young Indians (Yi), which is the youth arm of the CII. The event was attended by over 600 young professionals.

Radhanath Swami was requested to speak on the topic “Steadiness Amid Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous Times”. He compared life to a boat sailing through a turbulent sea. “Even a boat caught amid the sea storm will eventually reach its destination if it’s guided by a compass. Similarly, if our life is guided by the spiritual compass, we too can successfully sail through the inevitable storms of life.”

Other speakers at the event included the president of Coca-Cola India and South West Asia business unit Mr. Krishnakumar T, Founder of Piramal Reality Mr. Anand Piramal, Chief Coach of India’s badminton team Mr. Pullela Gopichand, film director Mrs. Gauri Shinde, and renowned scientist Dr. R Mashelkar.

“Bhaktin” Kasia from Poland – 20 years…
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“Bhaktin” Kasia from Poland – 20 years later.
Indradyumna Swami: This is Kasia. She first came to our festival with her parents when she was 11 years old. As a child she was fascinated by everything. She even won a sari in the dance competition. She still has it. She returned this evening, 20 years later, with her own daughter. “I wanted her to have the same wonderful experience I had at your festival when I was young,” she said. “And most important I wanted to buy the book I remember you spoke on during my first visit years ago.” She is standing here next to me with that book: Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad Gita As It Is. Just one of the many miracles these festivals are producing. All glories to Sri Krsna Samkirtan!

Harinama in Genova, Italy, with the international Padayatra team…
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Harinama in Genova, Italy, with the international Padayatra team (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: A devotee always thinks of the Lord continuously. While chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, the words Krishna and Hare immediately remind him of all the Lord’s activities. Since his entire life is engaged n the service of the Lord, a devotee cannot forget the Lord at any time. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.1.6 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/gntdN8

VIHE Holy Name Retreat- 2018 Meena Chand: On behalf of the…
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VIHE Holy Name Retreat- 2018
Meena Chand: On behalf of the teachers, His Holiness Sacinandana Swami and His Grace Bhurijana Prabhu, we heartily invite you to take part in this wonderful week of hearing and chanting of the Holy Names from Nov 27 to Dec 2. Our residence will be at the foot of Govardhan Hill. From there we may travel short distances for outdoor chanting of japa and kirtans. We will gather to chant 64 rounds at Terkadamba and have inspirational readings. Classes enhancing our understanding of and practice of the chanting of the Holy Names will be held during some of the time. But since the main purpose of the retreat is to work on our chanting, lots of the time will be spent doing japa. We invite all serious practitioners to come and experience chanting in the Holy Dhama in the association of devotees seeking to improve their relationship with the Holy Name. The Retreat includes daily evening kirtans as well as an entire day dedicated to kirtan. The Holy Name Retreat is open to devotees aged 14 and up, as we strive to maintain a serene and meditative atmosphere.
To get further insights of the Holy Name Retreat, please visit the retreat photo/gallery.The recording of previous years’ retreats are available from the VIHE Audio Ministry.
Registrations will open in 5th of August. Please write us on vihe.retreats.registrations@pamho.net

Radha Kunda Seva: June 2018 Photos and Updates (Album of…
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Radha Kunda Seva: June 2018 Photos and Updates (Album of photos)
We spent the month of June organizing and preparing to serve an additional 70 meals per day to the ladies of Radha Kunda bringing the total meals daily served to 150. On July 1st, the new program was launched successfully. A hearty thank you to all of you who contributed to this cause! 68 of the new ladies still need sponsors. Please go to https://radharani.com/widow-help/ to help in this endeavor. For many years, we’ve had to come up with creative solutions in order to accommodate our increasing number of ladies since our rented facility is very small. As many of you know, we were waiting for a very long time for government permission to build a large kitchen and other facilities on land we had purchased near the Parikrama Marg. Now, we are on the lookout for a building for sale within or on the outskirts of Radha Kunda town. Please pray that we are able to find a suitable, affordable place soon. As always the cleaning, gardening, and prasadam distribution are continuing at Radha Kunda and around Govardhan. Please browse our latest photos and join our efforts by visiting www.radharani.com. Your servants, Campakalata Devi dasi, Padma Gopi Devi dasi, Sri Arjuna dasa, Urmila Devi Dasi, and Mayapurcandra dasa.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/REnGq1

Avoid prajalpa (Idle Talking)!
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Avoid prajalpa (Idle Talking)! (3 min video)
All prajalpas that are unfavorable to Krsna’s service are adverse to devotional service. The practitioner should carefully give up prajalpa. They are of many types. Useless talks, arguments, gossip, debates, fault-finding in others, speaking falsehoods, blaspheming devotees, and worldly talk are all called prajalpa. Useless talk is extremely detrimental. Practicing devotees should discuss topics of Lord Hari in the association of other devotees and remember Hari’s name, form, qualities, and pastimes in a secluded place without uselessly wasting time.
In newspapers there is so much useless talk. For the practicing devotee to read newspapers is a great loss. But if there are topics about pure devotees described in the newspaper, then that can be read. After finishing their meal, mundane people normally smoke and engage in useless talk with other godless people. It is certainly difficult for them to become followers of Srila Rupa Gosvami. Reading novels is the same. But if one gets a novel with a story like that of Puranjana in the Srimad-Bhagavatam, then reading that is not an impediment, rather it is beneficial.
Those who talk about others while influenced by devotional impediments like envy, hatred, pride, or distinction are offenders at the feet of Bhaktidevi.
Debate arises only from a desire for conquest. It is extremely abominable. Fault-finding arises only from imposing one’s own bad habits on others. This should be given up in all respects. Speaking falsehoods is another form of useless talk. Worldly talk is completely rejected by renounced devotees. Householders may accept some worldly talk that is favorable to devotional service. If topics like archeology, zoology, astrology, and geography are devoid of God consciousness, they should be rejected.
In the Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.28.2) Lord Krsna instructed Uddhava as follows:
“Whoever indulges in praising or criticizing the qualities and behavior of others will quickly become deviated from his own best interest by his entanglement in illusory dualities.” [An Excerpt from Sri Bhaktyaloka by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura: https://goo.gl/aMJoRZ]

Eight Prayers To Krishna’s Names. Srila Rupa Goswami’s…
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Eight Prayers To Krishna’s Names.
Srila Rupa Goswami’s Namastakam With the Stava-mala-bhusana commentary of Srila Baladev Vidyabhushan Srl-namastakam is a bouquet of eight verses offered by Srila Rupa Goswami in praise of the transcendental names of Lord Krishna. One special quality of these prayers is that Srila Rupa Goswami has composed each verse in a different meter. Meters in Sanskrit usually have feminine names, and thus he has surrounded Krishna’s holy names with eight beautiful ladies in the form of eight beautiful meters Just as Krishna is surrounded by eight principal gopis. There is some question about the authorship of the Stava-mala-bhusana commentary. Some suggest that it was written by Srila Jiva Goswami and others say it was written by Srila Baladev Vidyabhushan. Haridas Das in his Gaudiya Vaisnava Abhidhana gives some reason why the confusion may have arisen. He says that Srila Jiva Goswami took many of the loose prayers of Srila Rupa Goswami and compiled them into the volume known as Stava-mala, and that later Srila Baladev Vidyabhushan wrote the Stava-mala-bhusana commentary on the book.
To read the complete Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu issue 428
click here: https://goo.gl/M1xFNm

Gaura Purnima Festival 2019 Festival Schedule: ISKCON Mayapur…
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Gaura Purnima Festival 2019 Festival Schedule:
ISKCON Mayapur management invites worldwide devotees for Gaura Purnima festival 2019, from 27th February to 23rd March.
This year, the most awaited Sri Panca-tattva Maha abhisheka will be celebrated on 3rd March 2019. Once in four years, the big deities of Sri Panca-tattva will be offered Maha Abhisheka.
Kirtan Mela will be from 5th March to 8th March , followed by Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama from 9th March to 16th March.
Gaura Purnima 2019 festival schedule:
27th February Devotee’s Arrival
28th Feb to 03rd Mar. Sravana Utsav
03rd March Sri Panca-tattva Maha Abhisheka
04th March Festival Flag Hoisting
Kirtan Mela Adhivas
05th to 8th March Kirtan Mela
08th March Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama Adhivas
09th to 16th March Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama
16th to 20th March Cultural Presentations
16th March Sri Sri Radha Madhava Boat Festival
17th March Elephant Procession &
Immersion of Ashes of Departed Souls
18th February Shantipur Festival
19th February Ganga Puja
20th March Jagannath Rath Yatra
21st March Gaura Purnima Festival
22nd March Jagannath Misra Feast
23rd March Devotees Departure
For more details of the festival or any queries, please write to info@mayapur.com or visit http://www.mayapur.com/

Wonderful narration of Lord Krishna’s childhood by Deena…
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Wonderful narration of Lord Krishna’s childhood by Deena Bandhu Prabhu (video)
Srila Prabhupada: Our Krishna consciousness movement is how to become one of the gopi-jana. Then Krishna will save us from any danger, even by lifting a hill or mountain. New York, July 20, 1971.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/H2mLSi

Festival Hare Krishna – with a nice note from the…
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Festival Hare Krishna – with a nice note from the photographer.
Dave Bledsoe, photographer: The Hare Krishna Movement came to the United States in 1965 and had tremendous impact on our culture. Sadly, said impact has not always reflected kindly on the Krishna’s. Anyone who watched a television or movie comedy in the 70’s and 80’s can attest to this. The parade today along 5th Avenue was filled with joy, fellowship and love. You can see it reflects the broad swathe of cultures, ethnicities and religions here in NYC. The only stereotype which was remotely true was that I DID find myself chanting along a time or two…honestly, you just can’t help yourself!
Hare Krishna Parade 2014: https://goo.gl/sYeGcX

Devotees chant and distribute books at the Warped Tour (Album…
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Devotees chant and distribute books at the Warped Tour (Album with photos)
Giriraj Swami: Today I spent two hours at the Warped Tour, a tour of rock concerts, in Dallas. What an event—what a gathering! And what an experience! For me some highlights were kirtan with the devotees, led by Vrnda Priya, and meeting the brahmachari book distributors, who give out thousands of books every day on the tour.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/qe5zC7

Bhakti-sastri 2018 opening ceremony (Album of photos) This…
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Bhakti-sastri 2018 opening ceremony (Album of photos)
This year’s Bhakti-sastri opening ceremony was held on July 5. The classroom was filled with 34 students from 9 different countries. There were representatives from South Africa, Moldova, Nepal, Thailand, UK, Ireland, India and other places. Everyone, regardless of age, gender or nationality was filled with enthusiasm and strong desire to study Srila Prabhupada’s books under the guidance of experienced senior devotees
Find them here: https://goo.gl/RSKfVH

July 4th Parade Grand Success in Ojai, California!
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July 4th Parade Grand Success in Ojai, California! Our entry in the parade is unlike any other float. We are colorful, large, innovative, captivating, transcendental, and very auspicious. This year we introduced Vayu Hasti (the huge inflatable elephant) to the public which includes the sound of an arriving elephant that allows him to declare the grand arrival of Lord Jagannatha’s chariot! This was greeted with big smiles and a robust applause of appreciation!

Harinama in Bondi, New South Wales, Australia (Album with…
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Harinama in Bondi, New South Wales, Australia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Others, who are not devotees, may think, “How can people devote so much time simply to talks of God?” The chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra is simply the repetition of three words, Hare, Krishna, Rama, but still devotees can go on chanting this Hare Krishna mantra twenty-four hours a day without feeling fatigued. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.13.1Purport)