Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Back To Godhead: New Vrindaban’s 50th Anniversary 2018 (Album…
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Back To Godhead: New Vrindaban’s 50th Anniversary 2018 (Album with photos)
For the first time in 37 years, New Vrindaban is the featured article on the front cover of the Jan/Feb 2018 issue of Back To Godhead magazine. Perfect timing, as the village residents and well-wishers, begin their 50th-anniversary celebrations!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/kZYq6P

Shantipur celebration!! (Album with photos) Bhakti Chaitanya…
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Shantipur celebration!! (Album with photos)
Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: Today was the anniversary of Advaita Acarya’s celebration of Madhavendra Puri’s appearance day, in the presence of Lord Caitanya, in Shantipur. About 40 bus loads of devotees went there and served prasadam to thousands of local dhamavasis.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Lp544r

Krishna conscious program at Techfest
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Krishna conscious program at Techfest (Album with photos)
On December 31st, 2017 Radhanath Swami spoke on ‘A scientific Case Study of Spiritual and Religious Faith’ at Techfest, the annual science and technology festival hosted by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. Techfest is Asia’s largest tech festival with an attendance of approximately 160,000. Over 3000 colleges from around the world participate.

Lord Gauranga’s Gift. By Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur…
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Lord Gauranga’s Gift.
By Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur Prabhupada.
By preaching the message of Srimad-Bhagavatam,
Gaurasundara showed that all so-called great
sampradayas and sadhanas that have appeared in the past
and will continue to appear in the future are extremely
weak and full of cheating. He has also revealed that
the congregational chanting of Krishna’s holy name
is the only way for humanity to achieve its ultimate
benefit. But this chanting should be about Krishna
and for Krishna. Whatever we do to enjoy our senses
is not “Krishna”, and chanting to satisfy the senses of
conditioned souls is not Krsna-kirtana. If we mistake
maya’s kirtan for Krsna-kirtana — a seashell for silver,
an ordinary sound for the holy name — then we have
been deceived!
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/p1RRs6

That was one life-changing photography thesis! Durban – When…
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That was one life-changing photography thesis!
Durban – When American photography student John Griesser took a flight to India in the early 1970s on an assignment to document the Hare Krishna movement, he did not only earn credits to finish his course; it sent him on a spiritual path that changed his life.
Visiting Durban this week, Griesser (whose initiate name is Yadubara Das) is in town to promote his film Hare Krishna! The Mantra, the Movement and the Swami Who Started It All, which will show at Suncoast cinemas on February 21 and 22.
His film is a documentary on the life of Srila Prabhupada, the 70-year-old Indian religious teacher who arrived in America without support or money in the 1960s and started the Hare Krishna movement.
“The long journey towards making Hare Krishna! started almost 50 years ago in 1970, when I found myself, camera in hand, smack bang in the middle of frenetic and beautifully intoxicating India, in a little town, steeped in ancient spirituality, called Surat. It was here that I first met Swami Srila Prabhupada.

“At the time I was a student enrolled at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York doing a master’s in photography, and I had travelled to India to do my thesis on the origins of the Hare Krishna movement,” recalled Griesser.

He had also produced a documentary in 1978 that captured the spiritual and traditional cultures of India, in a documentary titled Vrindavan: Land of Krishna.

“I was not prepared for the impact of that first meeting with Prabhupada. In person, he was diminutive and yet exuded a powerful presence that was both attractive and mystifying.

“During the following months in his company, surrounded by the rich spiritual culture of India, I found never-ending sources of inspiration from behind my camera.

“I experienced something beyond explanation, and felt that I had finally come home to people and places I had known before.

“In the following years, Jean (my then girlfriend and later my wife) and I continued to document Prabhupada and his movement, up until his passing in 1977,” said Griesser.

Much of the film’s content had been shot during the Griessers’ travels with Prabhupada from 1970 to 1977.

There are about 30 interviewees in the film, including Beatles guitarist George Harrison and American poet and philosopher Allen Ginsberg.

Griesser said the movie was special because it had allowed him to tell the story of Prabhupada.

“During production we revisited Prabhupada’s extraordinary life, piecing together clips and audio of his, and telling his own story. After the release in 2017, it was good to experience the excitement of viewers who saw Prabhupada come to life on the screen,” Griesser said.
Source: https://goo.gl/FYA7gD

Members of Parliament and police in Iskcon Auckland’s Holi…
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Members of Parliament and police in Iskcon Auckland’s Holi (Album with photos)
Auckland NZ held its annual Holi festival today with over 10 thousand guests turning up to our hare Krsna temple in Riverhead. We served out over 5 thousand plates of prasadam and distributed lots of Srila Prabhupada’s books.
We started the Holi festival 5 years ago with around 1500 guests, the feedback is Super positive lots of the guest saying it one of the best festivals they have been to and are planning to return the following year, they are amazed how they can enjoy a day without any intoxication and love the vegetarian meal.
One of the many great things about our Holi festival is that we can hold it at our temple so its full on Hare Krsna.
The guests got the opportunity to have Darshan of Lord and hear the Kirtan which goes on in the temple during the day.
The local members of Parliament were the special guests, and the police always enjoy spending the day with us and they are favorites for throwing the colors at. Also, the Fire Brigade turn up each year and spray the guest with colored water.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Y9vfyG

2018 Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama Day 7 (Album of photos) Hare…
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2018 Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama Day 7 (Album of photos)
Hare Krishna! After offering the most auspicious Mangalarati to Nitai Pada Kamala, and Madan Gopal -the deity of NilambarkaChakravarti -Saci mata’s father- the devotees paid their respects to Belpukur and proceeded towards Simantadvipa, the island of hearing. At the second stop there was Guru Puja led by HG Sikhi Mahiti Prabhu. Soon after the devotees were happily surprised to see HH Subhaga Swami Maharaja who so kindly gave his association. There was another surprise at Jagannatha Mandir hidden inside buckets… that was pasta prasadam. Every year at Jagannatha temple pasta and fruit salad is served. After breakfast parikrama moved towards the fields just behind the temple, where the house of Kolaveca Sridhara lies. There HH Bhakti Caitanya Maharaja as well as HH Bhakti Nityananda Maharaja spoke about the relationship between Sridhara and Lord Gauranga. Sridhara’s humility touched everyone’s heart. Although the camp had been reached by breakfast time. That was not the end of the day. In the evening we had a drama on Chand Kazi and then HH Bhakti Purusottama Maharaja gave a most nectarean lecture about the nature and relationship between Lord Caitanya and Lord Jagannatha. At last like every year we had a realization session, which was being watched by HH Jayapataka Swami through Mayapur TV. A young mataji from Mongolia shared: “ This is my first time to India and thus first time on Parikrama. My father is a devotee so he has always been advising me to chant Hare Krishna, but I never really understood who Krishna is. And I didn’t want to start doing something just because I had to. After this parikrama I saw how all the devotees are so kind and caring. My faith increased a lot, and now I want to become a devotee” HH Jayapataka Maharaja spoke to the devotees through a phone call reassuring them that he was waiting to hear everyone’s realizations. Being touched by Maharaja’s care most devotees came up to share the jewels which they had received during this Parikrama. Someone said: I wish this would continue for more days” Someone else said: “ This is the best time of the year for me. To come to Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama and chant and dance with all of you for 7 days. Thank you so much.” In this ways it went on for 2 hours, until the lights had to go off. In conclusion it is not possible to express sufficiently the blessing, the bliss and the transformation that parikrama brings to a devotee. The mercy of these two Lords Gaura and Nityananda are a bottomless ocean. They embrace one and all. What to speak of those who come to Navadvipa and even more those who perform parikrama. Be prepared to be overwhelmed by Krishna prema!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/9u83t1

Untold Florida: SanctuaryAlachua Opens As Place of Empowerment…
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Untold Florida: SanctuaryAlachua Opens As Place of Empowerment for Women, Children.
A new Krishna house opened in Alachua offering a safe haven for women and children in the community.
The nonprofit interfaith community services center, SanctuaryAlachua, located at 13700 NW U.S. 441 in Alachua, is offering events and classes to empower women and children.
The property that the building is located on had not been in use for a decade and instead of selling the property, the owner and director, Gaura Purnima, known as Mother Gaura, decided to convert the building into SanctuaryAlachua, according to Maha Mohini, networking director.
The center acts as a sanctuary in that it is a safe, sacred place that enforces an ahimsa (nonviolent) environment, according to Krsna Jivani the manager of SanctuaryAlachua.
SanctuaryAlachua is owned and managed by people from the Krishna community, however, the house, services and classes are open to everyone in the Alachua community.
The Krishna movement started in Alachua County in the 70s, when the founder, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada visited Florida. In the 40 years since Prabhupada visited, the community has expanded to over 1,000 followers in the Alachua area, according to Mother Gaura.

Mother Gaura spends half of the year in Vengavi, India, working with underprivileged children and teaching them and their parents about self-defense and about sexual assault.

Her teachings in India are also carried over to SanctuaryAlachua. There are classes for children’s self-defense and tutoring.

Profits from SanctuaryAlachua go towards supporting Vrindavan Child Protection, an organization in India that has a focus on protecting and supporting victims of child abuse as well as preventing abuse in the community, according to Krsna Jivani.

The center also acts a meeting ground for women to come together and support each other. While the center is not anti-men, and does offer events that include men, it is a safe place targeted towards women.
“Although we are open to and want to include our entire community, we also believe strongly in women empowerment and want to provide a space for women in our community to have a voice and feel safe and comfortable in using it,” said Krsna Jivani. “We are offering New Moon Gatherings exclusively for women every month. These gatherings are for women to connect, and support each other and to help each other feel empowered.”

More upcoming events in the next month include a “Sage Gathering – To Honor the Truth of Womanhood” on Thursday and a Kid’s Day Open House, at a date to be determined in March, according to Krsna Jivani.

Weekly classes at SanctuaryAlachua are holistic healing classes such as Bhakti Yoga, belly dancing fundamentals, Odissi Dance and martial arts self-defense for both adults and children.
Source and more photos: https://goo.gl/oKFFyc

Sankirtan Mandali artists want youths to adopt…
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Sankirtan Mandali artists want youths to adopt spirituality.
BHUBANESWAR: Thousands of people from different districts of the state congregated at Lower PMG here on Wednesday to hail god through Sankirtan (musical performances) seeking peace and brotherhood in the society.
Normally people gather at Lower PMG to stage protest dharna and demonstration seeking fulfillment of their demands related to their livelihood and other disputes. But these people had no complaints against anybody. They were marching in the city for peace and harmony in the world.
Sankirtan or Kirtan in short, a popular form of performance art to pay obeisance to the god, was developed in fifteenth century by Chaitanya from West Bengal. The troupe performs this spiritual act is called as Sankirtan Mandali.
In every troupe, there will be singers, one or two persons to play Mridanga (a percussion instrument of ancient origin) and cymbal players. Chaitanya’s this Bhakti movement had attracted people from all castes. Later Sankirtan Mandalis were created in most of the villages of the state.
“Even today also several villages have kept the tradition alive by performing Sankirtan every day and organizing Kirtans in other villages to spread the name of god. Though the number of troupes is decreasing day by day, still around 20,000 troupes are functioning in the state,” said Dibakar Patra, president of Shree Shree Jagannath Kala Sanskruti Sankirtan Seba Bikas Parishad, an umbrella organization of Sankirtan Mandalis.
Patra said the new generation is not interested either to learn the art of playing Mridanga or singing the Kirtan songs. “It is fact that children go out for study or job. Only the old or middle-aged people perform these kirtans in the villages. We want to revive the tradition and create a movement in the state to attract the youths towards this tradition,” he added.
Bipin Bihari Das, a coordinator of the Parishad, said they are concerned about the future of the tradition. “We want the state government help them in preserving the ancient art. At least the government can donate instruments and pensions to the artists to carry it forward,” he added.
Manoranjan Panigrahy, the secretary of culture department, said the state government has included Sankirtan as folk art and provided pension to some of its artists. “Now 4,000 artists of different folk arts are getting a pension of Rs 1200 per month. Name of another 1,000 artists has been finalized. As chief minister Naveen Patnaik has decided to provide pension 50,000 artists, more Sankirtan artists will get monetary help,” he added. He said the state government is working on preserving the old art forms like Sankirtan.
Source: https://goo.gl/5xMj9R

India Govt funding two ISKCON centers in Bangladesh. Indian High…
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India Govt funding two ISKCON centers in Bangladesh.
Indian High Commissioner Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Friday said Indian government is funding two ISKCON centers in Sylhet and Savar, on the outskirts of the capital.
He was addressing a function at Sri Sri Radha Madhav Jiu Temple of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) at Jugaltilla in Sylhet.
Recalling support from Indian government to ISKCON centers, he said, “We are funding development projects in two ISKCON centers in Bangladesh. In ISKCON Savar, the Government of India is funding the construction of an old age home and orphanage at a cost of BDT 5.54 crore.

In ISKCON Sylhet, the Indian government is providing BDT 7.4 crore for construction of a five-story student hostel.”
An amount of Tk 1.54 crore has already been released to ISKCON Sylhet for this project. He handed over a cheque of BDT 1.05 crore as part of the next installment for the project there.

Both these projects were inaugurated during the visit of the Indian external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to Bangladesh in October last year.

He extended felicitations to ISKCON for the festival to mark the appearance of Srivas Thakur – a close companion of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu –to be celebrated next month in Beanibazar of Sylhet.
Source: https://goo.gl/mJcUuQ

2018 Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama Day 6 (Album of photos)…
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2018 Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama Day 6 (Album of photos)
Gauraangaaa!!!! In the early morning devotees took a boat to Rudradvipa. The process corresponding to this is island is the sakhyam, becoming a friend of the Lord. Here is where Vishnuswami had the darshan of both Lord Shiva and Lord Gauranga and thus became empowered as the acarya of the Rudra sampradaya which is one of the four bona fide sampradayas. First the boats landed at Nidoya ghat . HH Bhakti Chaitanya Maharaja explained the pastime of Nidaya. There were rumors throughout Navadvipa that Nimai Pandita was going to take sannyasa. This news perturbed mother Saci’s heart very much. Aggrieved she addressed her son: “ Oh Nimai, please don’t leave your poor Mother. First your brother, Visvarupa, left, then my husband and now if you leave, I will be all alone”. Mahaprabhu replied:“ My dear mother, I must do this. This is an essential part of the mission which I have come to accomplish.” Maharaja continues: “ Just like Lord Krishna left Vrindavan and thus gave the Brajabasis love for Him in separation which is the highest, Lord Gauranga left Navadvipa. It was from that very Nidaya ghat, that Mahaprabhu left to Katwa where he took sannyasa from Keshava Bharati.( “Ni” means “no” and “daya” means mercy). This katha was held at the Radha Madhava Jiu temple. The Gauranga deity of that temple is the deity which Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur used to chant his 300.000 holy names in front of, during his vrata of chanting 1 billion names. After hearing about all these deep topics the Delhi devotees played a drama which made everyone to roll on the ground in laughter. The drama was about Shankara Acarya and his preaching of Mayavada all over India. When he reached this Rudradvipa Mahaprabhu appeared to him. This evening class was given by HH Lokanatha Maharaja, at Belpukur. Tomorrow we head towards Jagannatha Mandir.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/xgBR9B

In Search of Kartals… Ananda Vrindavaneshwari Devi Dasi:…
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In Search of Kartals…
Ananda Vrindavaneshwari Devi Dasi: In search of sweet sounding kartals (small hand cymbals used in kirtan) I was led to the recommended store through the winding streets of the small and sacred town of Navadvipa. When we arrived we took off our shoes and entered a small space filled with brass items of all shapes and sizes.
The shopkeeper, sitting with straight back and cross-legged behind a small desk, held a stoic and serious disposition. As we tested the kartals and asked our questions of quality, weight, and price he barely interacted with us. It seemed he couldn’t care less whether we bought anything or not, whether we were taken care of or not. He was totally disinterested.
I turned to my friend and whispered, “Boy, what a shopkeeper. He is doing his best to ignore us.” She laughed and said, “Sometimes that’s better than the ones who follow you around and insist you buy something.”

On the boat ride back to Mayapur, I reflected on the experience. For my spiritual growth I can learn from both kinds of shopkeepers. In my daily japa meditation I need to be detached and disinterested in all that is going on around me. I need to switch off the world and switch on the focus and presence and absorption in sound. And I need to intentionally create the time and physical spaces in my life to do that.

At other times for my spiritual growth I need to be interactive, and interested, and involved with others. How can I serve them, hear them, support them, work with them with joy and presence and energy. For as much as 1 am responsible for my own personal spiritual journey, that only I can do, I am also totally dependent on the company of others and their lives and journeys.

In the end I did find some sweet sounding kartals and a good lesson as well. All in all, a good day of shopping.

Motel-Gita: Amazing comment from a thankful receiver – Jon…
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Motel-Gita: Amazing comment from a thankful receiver – Jon Rodriguez – Guest at Best Western, Memphis.
Jon Rodriguez: The Bhagavad-gita is a profound literature.I thank the motel authorities who allowed me this opportunity.
It has helped me to understand who am I and what is this life about.
Life is much happier and less stressful. I still can’t believe my luck. Thank you!
More photos of MOTEL Owners, happy to receive Bhagavad-gitas in their motels here: https://goo.gl/yXMw6G

2018 Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama Day 5 (Album of photos)…
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2018 Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama Day 5 (Album of photos)
“Arkadeva (the sun god), being merciful upon me, will appear in front of me with his reddish complexion, wearing saffron-colored cloth, his whole body smeared with sandalwood and tears flowing from his eyes while he chants the holy name of Gaurahari.” Hare Krishna, After traveling though Ritudvipa and Jahnudvipa, today the international party has arrived in Modadrumadvipa. First devotees took darshan of Vasudeva Datta’s deities, which are ever so charming. Then they visited the birthplace of the celebrated Vrindavan das Thakur the compiler of many books, out of which Sri Caitanya Bhagavat stands out. He is an incarnation of Srila Vyasadeva, who came in this age to narrate Lord Caitanya’s pastimes. He was the last disciple of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. After listening about his sublime character as well as pastimes of Lord Ramachandra who wanders through Modadrumadvipa accompanied by mother Sita and Laskhman. Next devotees came to Vaikhuntapur, Mahatpura and Arkatila where HG Pancaratna Prabhu and HG Sikhi Mahiti Das together put a spontaneous drama about Narada Muni and this place. Tomorrow there will be a boat ride, which is everyone is waiting for. Tonight after Priti Vardhana Prabhu’s lecture all devotees drink their evening milk and head toward their camp… waiting for one more wonderful day. Nityananda prabhu said, “This place, which is situated in one corner of Navadvipa-dhama in the shape of an eight-petalled lotus, is undoubtedly Vaikunthapuri. Lord Narayana resides in this Sri Vaikuntha, which is situated in the spiritual sky, Paravyoma. Vaikuntha lies beyond the Viraja River. Maya or illusion has no influence upon this place. Here Lord Narayana is served by Sri-devi and Bhu-devi, and the brahmajyoti is the effulgence of this spiritual land. With their material vision, people cannot understand the transcendental nature of this place. In his Narayana-dhama, Narada muni once saw the Lord with his transcendental vision. Narada saw the Narayana form turn into the form of Gaurasundara. After seeing this, Narada Muni stayed here for some time. ” Navadvipa Dhama Mahatmya, By Bhaktivinoda Thakur
Find them here: https://goo.gl/wmwywK

The Power of faith by Gauranga Das (3 min video) – Yoga…
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The Power of faith by Gauranga Das (3 min video) – Yoga Stories.
Srila Prabhupada: “Aryan” refers to those who are civilized, whose manners are regulated according to the Vedic rituals. Any devotee who is chanting the holy name of the Lord is the best kind of Aryan. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.33.7 Purport)

Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: Today is the 5th day of the Navadvipa…
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Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: Today is the 5th day of the Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama, 2018. (Album of photos)
We went through Jahnudvipa to Modadrumadvipa, visiting the temple of Saranga Thakura, the area where Vasudeva Datta’s house was, the birthplace of Vrindavana das Thakura, and Arka Tila.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/6AEmpb

Iskcon Center Navasari Ratha Yatra And Books Distribution Report…
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Iskcon Center Navasari Ratha Yatra And Books Distribution Report (Album of photos)
So selling books is the best preaching activity. Sell books, hold the kirtana in public places like schools and colleges, preach–if you practice these things, and try to improve them more and more simply by your practicing sincerely, that simple programme will please Krishna the most and you will see that very soon.
Srila Prabhupada Letter to Sudama,25th November 1972

“Hare Krishna!” the movie in Botswana. Yadubara das:…
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“Hare Krishna!” the movie in Botswana.
Yadubara das: Successful screening of HARE KRISHNA last night in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana a country bordering South Africa. Influential people attended including the police chief and prominent businessmen.
Members of multiple races and religions turned out and appreciated Prabhupada’s message of our spiritual oneness as children of God.
The theater owner in Gaborone, a nice lady of Muslim faith, offered her theater free of charge for another screening! She loved Prabhupada’s story and the audience it attracted.
Review from Gaborone – A University Head of Christian faith, exited the theater and showed me his arms. “Goosebumps,” he said. “I still have them!”
More photos here: https://goo.gl/Rvt6Lk