Author Archives: Dandavats

Steps to Initiation
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Hare KrishnaBy Kripamoya Das

On the day of initiation you will be promising to follow the regulative principles and to chant sixteen rounds every day. You may also be promising to read Srila Prabhupada’s books and to remain faithful to his society. Your guru will give a talk either on the significance of initiation or on the ten offences to the Holy Name. Three strands of tulasi beads will be placed on your neck. You will be asked to perform acaman – a purifying ritual involving sipping water and saying a mantra. You will then be called forward to make your obeisances to Srila Prabhupada and to your guru. Then you will be asked to recite the vows. You’ll be handed your chanting beads, and then given a name ending in dasa or dasi, indicating that you are now initiated. A fire sacrifice follows during which you’ll join in the chanting of prayers to the members of the Vaishnava parampara and the Deities. During the fire sacrifice you will be directed to offer grains into the flames. It is traditional for the new disciple to beg for some alms to give to the spiritual master immediately after the fire sacrifice.

ISKCON Food Relief Foundation receives IMC Ramakrishna Bajaj National Quality Award
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Hare KrishnaBy Radha Krishna Das

The Awards ceremony which was held at Y B Chavan Auditorium Mumbai on 16th March, 2017 saw a gathering of eminent individuals from various sectors like FMCS, Transport, Finance, Healthcare and Social Work. The event was presided over by the esteemed panel consisting of Mr Deepak Premnarayan – President IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Niraj Bajaj – Chairman, IMC RBNQ Award Trust, Mr Suresh Lulla- Chairman IMC RBNQA as well as members of the Managing Committee of the IMC. The Chief Guest for the evening was Dr R. A. Mashelkar, FRS – National Research Professor & President, Global Research Alliance. Dr Anil Kakodkar – Chairma, Rajiv Gandhi Science & Technology Commission was honored with the IMC Juran Quality Medal 2016.

Kulimela: The Next Generation
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Hare KrishnaBy Madhava Smullen

On the tenth anniversary of the first Kulimela, Kulis explore how to create a new and better world for future generations. There’s a consensus that focusing on healthy marriages and happy families will make for a stronger ISKCON. Kulis are encouraged to invest in the future by teaming together on projects that positively affect children in their local communities. They also discuss making lots of small specialized groups in their communities to encourage members’ interests and make them feel like they belong. The conversation is always empowering. “We are the community, we are the temple, we are ISKCON,” says audience member Syamasundari Dasi from Alachua. “So if something needs to be done, we must step up and do it ourselves.”

Markendeya Rsi prabhu becomes Bhakti Mukunda Swami!
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Hare KrishnaBy Nanda Priya Nivedita Devi Dasi

Markandeya Rsi das from ISKCON Malaysia accepted the renounced order of life from Jayapataka Swami, on the auspicious occasion of Gaura Purnima,14th of March at Sri Mayapur. His new name is Bhakti Mukunda Swami. Joined on the seats of honor along with Jayapataka Swami were Gauranga Prem Swami, Bhakti Nityananda Swami ,Prabha Vishnu Prabhu and Atul Krishna Das. Over 500 people witnessed the Sanyas ceremony. Prabhu Vishnu prabhu spoke about Bhakti Mukunda Swami’s numerous achievements and wished him all success.Jayapataka Swami expressed his happiness on awarding Markandeya prabhu Sanyas and sincerely wished that he would carry forward Srila Prabhupada’s mission. When he received the saffron cloth from Jayapataka Swami, the audience cheered, chanting “Hari Bol! and the traditional Bengali Ulu dhwani.

Becoming a Disciple: Entering the Ocean of Nectar
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Hare KrishnaBy Kripamoya Das

When Srila Rupa Goswami talked about chanting the holy name of Krishna he said that he wished he had hundreds of tongues to sing it, and thousands of ears to hear it. Not for nothing is his book named the Bhakti-Rasa-Amrita-Sindhu or the Nectar Ocean of Devotion. Strangely enough, he also said that the five primary items in the life of bhakti all had to do with taking shelter of a guru and accepting initiation from a guru. Why strange? Because the very name of Krishna, that sound vibration which made him ecstatic, was the same that had been given away freely by Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu – without the need for initiation. The giving of a – normally secret – mantra is one of the components of traditional initiation into any of the streams of Vedic philosophy and practise. So why is initiation required when the mantra is no longer secret, and when it has been already given to the prospective chanter, perhaps even in the street?

The Guru: A Checklist
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Hare KrishnaBy Kripamoya Das

Here is a brief checklist to help you with your testing of a prospective guru. Education. Has he studied Vedic literature sufficiently to become a teacher? Has he become an expert in any particular literature? Has he passed any examinations? Can he recite verses from memory? Does he demonstrate his learning by references when he gives classes? Is he faithful to Srila Prabhupada’s translations and commentaries in his presentations? Are you sure that he does not unduly emphasize any particular portion of the philosophy but provides a balanced presentation? Is he knowledgeable of Deity worship? Does he perform Deity worship himself? Can he conduct ceremonies and teach others how to celebrate festivals? Does he know how to cook for Krishna? Does he know the standard Vaishnava songs and prayers?

Opposites & Unlikely Sources
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Hare KrishnaBy Kesava Krsna dasa

Just as the pumpkin transformed into an impressive stagecoach which took Cinderella to the ball, the magic of trnad api …. By which we can obtain Sri Guru’s grace, Sri Nityananda’s grace who as Sri Balarama will be pleased to transform Iskcon into a dazzling Vaikuntha airplane. Our ploughing will then become an easier affair.

New questions same as the old ones
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Hare KrishnaBy Kripamoya Das

I often get asked questions by people who are looking for a guru: “What sort of teacher should I be looking for?” is shortly followed by: “And where do I begin looking for someone like that?” After they’ve thought a few moments the next question is: “What sort of things do I have to do before I can become someone’s student?” “What happens if I don’t quite measure up?” Some time later the questions are more about what will happen after they become initiated: “What is he supposed to teach me?” “How do I know if he’s teaching me the right things?” Lots of questions but, strangely enough, the same questions that people have been asking for a long time. Proof of this is that way back in the 14th century a great spiritual teacher named Vedanta Deshika gave answers to these questions in a short book – Nyasa Vimsati. The answers proved so popular and correct that Gopala Bhatta Goswami included them in his handbook of devotional practise, standard for Gaudiya Vaishnavas for the last 500 years.

BBT Day 2017
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Hare KrishnaBy Bhaktivedanta Book Trust

Our Relationship with Srila Prabhupada’s Books. Srila Prabhupada was concerned that devotees (“centres”) producing his books independently was undermining and potentially threatening the viability of the BBT. · “This must not go on” illustrates an unambiguous desire on his part to stop any printing of his books separate from the BBT. · He stresses that he created the BBT specifically to be the exclusive medium by which his books, lectures, and so on, are to be published and made available. · The BBT has an economic role in funding ISKCON projects. · Diverting revenues elsewhere (by setting up independent printing operations) would undermine the revenue sources for such projects.

Back home, to our True Shelter
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Hare KrishnaBy Romapada Swami

We are very limited. We have tiny knowledge and tiny happiness and tiny free will. We don’t miss our free will, proof is, here we are the place people reside who misused their free will. Some few rathayatras ago I was introduced to a Chinese lady, married to an Indian man. That was a very interesting combination. An elderly, little older and when introduced to her she said I just have one question. What is that? Why creation? I said fantastic question. And the short answer is two parts. We wanted it, when we make a mistake isn’t there a good reason for wanting it? Try to come up with the good reason for wanting it, there isn’t any good reason. It was bad and its really dumb to make such a free will choice, as wanting a place of enjoyment separate from Krishna, such a place doesn’t exist there is no such thing, its illusion, its maya, that’s what maya means, that which it is not. Ma Ya, not this. Doesn’t exist, we desired it, that’s one of the reasons. Opportunity for living to try to fulfill their desire and enjoy separately from Krishna, when here is no such thing. So, the creation comes. And the other is, for Mahavishnu to provide an opportunity for the living entities to come to the position where the fullness of their happiness can be experienced, that’s the hidden purpose of creation. The misery and disappointment, when we want happiness, we get something else, is to help us have the impetus to turn to Krishna again. And there is another reason giving maya something to do. It’s compassion, compassion, and compassion.

5310 biscuits distributed to spread the mercy of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu
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Hare KrishnaBy Krsangi Radhe dasi

The 531st appearance anniversary of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was the inspiration for devotees from the Sri Sri Radha Radhanath Temple in Durban, South Africa to bake, pack and distribute 5310 biscuits. The goal of the biscuit distribution was to help spread Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s mercy to everyone and anyone. A group of devotees gathered at the temple’s Govinda’s restaurant bakery facility which holds industrial ovens to bake the biscuits. Temple President, Vibhu Caitanya dasa said that the thought behind this endeavour came after the devotees baked and distributed 5000 cupcakes for the ISKCON50 celebration last year. Vibhu Caitanya said, “We took advantage that this year the Gaura Purnima festival is on a Sunday. This meant that we could host a 3 day festival. As Srila Prabhupada blessed us with the wonderful gift of Krishna Consciousness, we would like to help him spread the mercy. A small team of 18 devotees began baking which took 18 hours to complete.”

Japa Retreat 2017 at ISKCON Houston
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Hare KrishnaBy Ravinder Yerram

Last weekend (March 3-5), 150 devotees from Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Oklahoma City and New Orleans had a joyful and spiritual Japa Retreat (Chanting of Holy Names) with His Holiness Romapada Swami and His Grace Bada Hari Prabhu at Greater Houston area, ISKCON Houston. This Japa Retreat is an annual event and for this year the theme of the Japa Retreat was “Taking Shelter of Holy Name – Saranagati!” Romapada Swami gave very informative lectures with scriptural evidences and realizations from his decades of scriptural studies and dedication to the chanting of the Holy Name, Maha mantra (Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare). This retreat was a perfect opportunity to enhance the relationship with the Holy Name! The attendees were also drowned by ecstatic kirtan by world renowned devotee musician HG Bada Hari Prabhu and his students from Chicago.

A unit of activities for ages 2-18, centered around Lord Caitanya’s Appearance Day
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Hare KrishnaBy Urmila Devi Dasi

Here are dozens of activities and resources for ages 2-18 about Lord Caitanya, organized around the five most potent limbs of devotional service. It’s designed for parents who homeschool, or who have their children in non-devotee school and want to do something in the mornings, afternoons, or weekends. It can be used by devotee schools, once-a-week programs, or the festival coordinator who wants to do something special for the children for Gaura Purnima. Uses: For children being home-schooled to enrich the devotional part of the program. For regular academic schools that are related to Krishna consciousness. For once-a-week schools, children’s clubs, and similar supplementary programs. For children in non-devotee schools as a supplementary program in the morning or evening.

Lord Chaitanya’s Dancing, Vulnerability and Escapism
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Hare KrishnaBy Kesava Krsna Dasa

The dancing of Lord Chaitanya was so astounding that even the Lord of the universe, Sri Jagannatha was astonished. Lord Jagannatha who has seen the best of everything within and outside of the universes, how can He be astonished? Dance in Vaikuntha and Goloka must be beyond compare. The dance of destruction by Rudra must be inexplicably awesome. What was so unique about Lord Chaitanya’s dancing? Worldly scholars of our Gaudiya tradition will say that Srila Krishna Dasa Kaviraja and other Vaisnava author witnesses to such dancing have a tendency to exaggerate. After all, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is playing a ‘human’ role on earth, so should we not expect human limitations to His dancing at Ratha-yatra and elsewhere?

Horoscope of the Supreme Lord Shri Chaitanya
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By Patita Pavana das

Another fascinating aspect of Mahaprabhu’s chart is that Mercury—planet of communication, learning, literature, etc.—is debilitated in the house of death (the eighth). Shrila Prabhupada, who refused his college diploma, demonstrated that learning without Krishna consciousness is useless. And Mahaprabhu, after His meeting His spiritual master, went from the “wrangling Pandit Nimai” to an ecstatic bhakta who was simply absorbed in calling upon the sacred names of His Lord Shri Krishna, the mahamantra. This was a great shock to some pandits of Nabadwip who responded by ridiculing the Lord’s devotion (until one by one they fell under His sankirtan spell). Furthermore, whereas His followers have produced tens of thousands of volumes of sacred literature, Shriman Mahaprabhu produced only eight shlokas, the Sikshastaka verses. Technically, in Mahaprabhu’s chart, Mercury attains exaltation by the yoga called neecha-bhanga because Mercury is in an angle in relationship to the house lord Jupiter. As an example to us, the Lord demonstrated that learning is useless (as seen by a debilitated or neecha Mercury in the eighth) when it is not dovetailed into Krishna consciousness. And even one who is not learned by material standards must be considered the most intelligent and educated if he understands the science of devotional service

The Sages of Naimisaranya
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Hare KrishnaBy Krishna Dharma Das

A recent class given 19th of February 2017 in Bhaktivedanta Manor, UK. My friend I am severely struck and all my sense departs, when Krishna’s name enters my ears and lodges in my heart. And then there is another one whose flute enchants my mind, seizing it with such madness that I can no peace find. Again there is a third one, whose brilliance I see in pictures of purest beauty that are entrancing me. Shame upon my sinful self for loving all these three at once, and thus I think it best if death does now take me.

Being effulgent
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Hare KrishnaBy Sukhayanti Devi Dasi

In July of 2005, I met the devotees for the first time. I was a young hippie girl, looking for something else that life could offer without really knowing what it was. I went travelling in Europe thinking maybe it could be found there. The East Germany rainbow festival had about 3000 people attending that year, I was there too. By the end of 3 weeks in that festival I was getting tired of it. It felt so fake. All those so called transcendentalist, I felt like I was being cheated. You would see young and old westerner man walking around calling themselves “babji” while having 10 ladies following them and smoking chilom most of the day. I was just thinking how I would really like to get out of that place and go find somewhere where I can really dive deep into spirituality. I was considering asking around where I could attend a Buddhist silent meditation retreat. That is when the devotees appeared. I was in charge of the kitchen that morning and out of no where these monks walked into the kitchen asking me if I can look after their bags as they put up their tent. They were all dressed in their devotional clothes (or at least that is how I remember them), they had their shaved heads and a unique effulgence. I was drawn to them because it was clear that they were true spiritual practitioners.

From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir – Srimad Bhagavatam class, March 1, 2017
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Hare KrishnaBy Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Goswami

This is, this is the poetry and also the full knowledge of Srimad Bhagavatam, and so we can get that by milking the surabi cow of Srila Prabhupada purport. That’s what happens in the opening statement by Srila Prabhupada, it’s in once sense it’s a shocker I don’t know if you caught that. It’s a shocking statement. I will read it again because that’s why I like to go through these purports incumbently because that way we can milk the most out of it. We will cover the whole purport but want to make sure this extraordinarily points and then understand why this opening statements by Srila Prabhupada are shocker.

Gaura Purnima Message 2017 from the TOVP
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Hare KrishnaBy Braja Vilas das

Yet another year has passed in our lives as we approach Gaura Purnima 2017, and we wish to take this opportunity to once again thank you for your support and encouragement. Your dedication has inspired us spiritually, and has helped us practically to achieve our goals and maintain the construction pace over the years. In many ways this is the real New Year celebration for all ISKCON devotees, as we observe Mahaprabhu’s appearance and make our vows and commitments to continue to help expand His mission throughout the world and deepen our own Krishna consciousness.