Author Archives: Dandavats.com

Radha Kunda Seva: January 2018 Photos and Updates (Album of…
→ Dandavats

Radha Kunda Seva: January 2018 Photos and Updates (Album of photos)
Cleaning alongside Govardhan is going strong! Day after day, our crew sets out to sweep up trash from the foot of Govardhan Hill up to the parikrama path. It’s a large swath of land and the initial cleanup involved truckloads. Our workers remain enthusiastic to do the cleaning, and the Forestry Officers have been supportive of our efforts. We are very hopeful that we will be able to expand this cleaning service to the entire periphery of Govardhan! Meanwhile, we’ve already expanded the cleaning in Radha Kunda to cover the entire parikrama path around Radha Kunda and Shyama Kunda. And we have received permission to begin cleaning the area behind Lalita Kunda too. We had a special visit this month from K.D. McComb and Balarama Joshi on Makara Sankranti day. They distributed warm winter shawls which had been sponsored by the Kulimela Association to all the widows we care for in Radha Kunda. The shawls were well-received, as were the sweets Balarama distributed to our ladies. As usual, the cleaning, gardening, and prasadam distribution continue. Please browse our latest photos and join our efforts by visiting www.radharani.com. We are dependent on your help. Your servants, Campakalata Devi dasi, Padma Gopi Devi dasi, Sri Arjuna dasa, Urmila Devi Dasi, and Mayapurcandra dasa.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/cbj6BP

Radhanath Swami Speaks at Governor’s Bungalow, Pondicherry…
→ Dandavats

Radhanath Swami Speaks at Governor’s Bungalow, Pondicherry (Album with photos)
Radhanath Swami was invited by the Honorable Lieutenant Governor of Pondicherry Mrs. Kiran Bedi to speak at her official residence Raj Nivas on 23rd December 2017. He spoke from his book The Journey Home, and the talk culminated with the launch of his second book The Journey Within. Radhanath Swami’s talk was part of Raj Nivas Lecture Series, an initiative by the Governor “to engage citizens of Pondicherry on thought leadership through a series of interactive sessions by eminent speakers from the fields of history, art, leadership, literature, management, science, culture, health, spiritually and more.”

The talk was attended by Lieutenant Governor Mrs. Bedi, a retired police officer who, while in the police service won the Ramon Magsaysay Award as well as worldwide acclaim for her reforms in Tihar Jail in India. She was the first woman to join the Indian Police Service and the first woman to be appointed the United Nations civilian police adviser. “We can’t thank enough Radhanath Swami for accepting our invitation to come to Pondicherry. I have never seen an audience so rapt in attention as the audience were during his talk today,” said the Lieutenant Governor. “Radhanath Swami is a remarkable gift of divine grace to India. To come across living legends and saints like him is very rare. It will be my dream come true if I see The Journey Home made into a movie during my lifetime,” she said.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/fSTvjc

Meetings And Seminars In Mayapur (Album of photos) Giridhari…
→ Dandavats

Meetings And Seminars In Mayapur (Album of photos)
Giridhari Swami: The 2018 GBC AGM began on Feb. 3. This year the meetings run tandem to the ILS and other events, so suffice to say that things are quite intense here in Mayapur. 850 leaders from around the world have gathered for the ILS and the first day was spent in plenary, ably led by Gopal Bhatta and Kaunteya Prabhus. Some sixty seminars are being held over eight days, and it is quite a challenge to choose one over the other….
Find them here: https://goo.gl/m7eALD

Colorful Harinam Sankirtan in Auckland, New Zealand (Album with…
→ Dandavats

Colorful Harinam Sankirtan in Auckland, New Zealand (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Although Sukracarya was a strict brahmana addicted to ritualistic activities, he also admitted, nischidram anusankirtanam tava: “My Lord, constant chanting of the holy name of Your Lordship makes everything perfect.” (Srimad Bhagavatam, 8.23.16 Purport).
Find them here: https://goo.gl/qqY7cH

A visit to Siliguri Iskcon (Album of photos) Dharmatma Das:…
→ Dandavats

A visit to Siliguri Iskcon (Album of photos)
Dharmatma Das: Credit goes to the wonderful disciples of Jayapataka Maharaja who built and developed this amazing Temple. Well organized and maintained. Beautiful Pancha Tattva and Sri Sri Radha Sundhar with Lalita and Vishaka and many other Temples on the grounds. A real gem of a Temple…
Find them here: https://goo.gl/sCF1fb

No more motorcycles or petrol scooters within Iskcon Mayapur. As…
→ Dandavats

No more motorcycles or petrol scooters within Iskcon Mayapur.
As of October 1, 2019, motorcycles, petrol scooters, and personal use e-rickshaws/totos (over 2 meters long / 80 cms wide) will not be permitted inside any of the following gates and areas:
– Prabhupada Bhavan gate – BBT gate
– Gammon gate – SMIS road
– Gurukula Road gate – Goshala/Vaisnava Academy road
– Gita Bhavan gate – The path between government road and MCS community hall
– Namahatta gate – The road between Nityananda Kutir and Govinda’s
Some parking areas will be available on the perimeters of the campus.
As of February 20, 2020, motorcycles/petrol scooters will not be permitted on East/West road, which will run from Bhaktisiddhanta Road, passing Sakhi Nivas, and connecting with Taranpur Road.
You should expect that eventually, motorcycles/petrol scooters will also not be permitted on most ISKCON owned roads.

Mohanasini Devi Dasi: Well, the Mardi Gras Marathon has…
→ Dandavats

Mohanasini Devi Dasi: Well, the Mardi Gras Marathon has begun…lots of Fortunate People this weekend. Please click on the pics for all the nectar!
Book totals for this weekend: 9 Perfection of Yoga, 10 Chant and be Happy, 86 Higher Taste Cookbooks, 1 Science of Self Realization, 78 Bhagavad Gitas, and 4 Srimad Bhagavatams Total: 188 books.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/mY497v

Krishna-kripa Das: I show and tell about chanting Hare Krishna…
→ Dandavats

Krishna-kripa Das: I show and tell about chanting Hare Krishna in Tallahassee at a home program, Florida State University, and Lake Ella. I show videos of devotees chanting Hare Krishna before, during, and after the first-ever Gasparilla Parade of Pirates Ratha-yatra in Tampa. I share all kinds of kirtans in temples and in public on Lord Nityananda’s Appearance Day. I also show kirtans at Krishna Lunch and tell about a visit to the University of North Florida in Jacksonville with Adikarta Das. I share insights from Srila Prabhupada’s books and lectures and notes on classes by Sacinandana Swami and Adikarta, Kalakantha, and Tamohara Prabhus and others. Please at least glance at my last report: https://goo.gl/dR4hPD

The glorious “Krishna Lunch” and “Krishna…
→ Dandavats

The glorious “Krishna Lunch” and “Krishna House” in Gainesville, Florida (Album with photos)
Giridhari Swami: After the Dallas Kirtan 50, Rtadhvaja Swami Maharaja, Nitai Caran and I traveled to Gainesville, Florida. We stayed with Brahmatirtha Prabhu and his good wife Bhakti (who won’t allow us to call her mataji or prabhu for three days.) They are such wonderful devotees! For those of you who don’t already know, Brahmatirtha Prabhu met Srila Prabhupada in India, while working for the US Peace Corps. His conversation with Srila Prabhupada was later immortalized in the book, “Perfect Questions Perfect Answers.” Gainesville is also home to the University of Florida, where devotees led by Kalakanta Prabhu have established “Krishna House.” There, students rent rooms, follow certain aspects of sadhana -bhakti, get good association and have the opportunity to progress in their practice of Krishna consciousness. Krishna House is also the base for the amazing “Krishna Lunch”, which has been distributing 1200-1500 prasadam lunches to students for more than 20 years. From Gainesville, we drove to Daytona Beach to visit my two sisters and their families. We had one big and lively family get together, and our dear Malati and her good husband Radha Raman Prabhu drove two-hours from Gainesville to personally cater the event with excellent Italian fare. Suffice to say that the prasadam was a big hit and we thank Malati and Radha Raman for helping us out with this. It really made all the difference in the world!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/9qoh9R

Conquering The Iron Fort (Album of photos) Indradyumna Swami:…
→ Dandavats

Conquering The Iron Fort (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: As promised, we returned to the town of Bharatpur, one hour drive from Vrindavan, with with a large harinam party. Bharatpur is famous as the “Iron Fort.” Due to its heavy defenses, it was never conquered by Muslim invasions or during British rule. Not conquered that is until we flooded the town with the nectar of the holy names of the Lord! People we initially stunned to see us but were soon waving and smiling as we passed by. A number of citizens joined our chanting party and danced with us in great happiness. We distributed many books and thousands of pieces of prasadam. Afterwards, we visited a newly opened museum in the King’s Palace. What a joy to spread the holy names here, there and everywhere!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/DuWztN

ISKCON Dwarka New Delhi: ISKCON Dwarka Girls Forum (Album of…
→ Dandavats

ISKCON Dwarka New Delhi: ISKCON Dwarka Girls Forum (Album of photos)
IGF Activity… A cooking class was held in the temple premises to teach the girls,“How to cook pasta without onion and garlic” Also, a small lecture was given by HG Ramani Sakhi Mataji to teach the girls what should be the state of consciousness while cooking bhoga for the Lord.
Small details of cooking, cutting veggies, offering bhoga and cleaning the kitchen were taught. Girls participated enthusiastically and enjoyed pasta prasadam too.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/J6qKE3

Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: Today at the ILS – the ISKCON Leadership…
→ Dandavats

Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: Today at the ILS – the ISKCON Leadership Sanga – many activities took place. We had a look around the site at the various booths along the approach to the main festival building, and then we went in to where the GBC College leaders presented certificates to about 20 devotees from all over the world who have passed the Zonal Supervisor course. Now they can be appointed as Supervisors in the regions in which they are serving in Srila Prabhupada’s mission. (Album of photos)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/7KACFE

When Stephen Colbert would “go to the Hare Krishnas and listen to the Bhagavad Gita in order to get the chickpeas-salad” (1 min video)
→ Dandavats

When Stephen Colbert would “go to the Hare Krishnas and listen to the Bhagavad Gita in order to get the chickpeas-salad” (1 min video)
Stephen Colbert talks about when he used to go to a Hare Krishna temple to save money on food when he wa…

Sunday program, Feb 04, 2018, Krasnodar ISKCON, Russia (Album of…
→ Dandavats

Sunday program, Feb 04, 2018, Krasnodar ISKCON, Russia (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “Sri Krishna, the Personality of Godhead, who is the Paramatma (Supersoul) in everyone’s heart and the benefactor of the truthful devotee, cleanses desire for material enjoyment from the heart of the devotee who relishes His messages, which are themselves virtuous when properly heard and chanted.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 1.2.17).
Find them here: https://goo.gl/iinv6y

The First Day Of Iskcon Leadership Sanga In Mayapur. (Album of…
→ Dandavats

The First Day Of Iskcon Leadership Sanga In Mayapur. (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “For one who wants liberation from the fruitive reactions of material activities, the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, or glorification of the name, fame and pastimes of the Lord, is recommended as the most perfect process of atonement because such chanting eradicates the dirt from one’s heart completely.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.2.12).
Find them here: https://goo.gl/aaLyBG

Ratha Yatra in Whangarei, New Zealand (Album with photos) Srila…
→ Dandavats

Ratha Yatra in Whangarei, New Zealand (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat: even a little devotional service can save one from the greatest danger. Devotional service, which begins with chanting of the holy name of the Lord, is so powerful that even if one falls down, he can be saved from all calamities if he somehow or other chants the holy name of the Lord. This is the extraordinary power of the Lord’s holy name. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.1.63 Purport).
Find them here: https://goo.gl/ZsGNgA