Author Archives: Dandavats

By Shyamasundar Das

Whenever you came to the Swami’s door, your heart was in your throat. (This feeling never left me, even after a thousand trips to that door.) There was a heightened sense that something marvelous was about to occur, a tingling in the blood. You never knew what to expect, just that it would be a wonderful surprise, whatever happened. He’d be sitting behind his little table or in his rocker clicking his beads, dressed in saffron, maybe with a white sweater, sunlight through the south-facing window shining on his freshly-oiled head and his face a radiant gold, emerging from some deep bliss—and he would welcome you no matter what hour of day or night.

By Anuttama das

Anuttama and Sanullah decided to create a forum for deep dialogue between Muslims and Vaiṣnavas in Washington, D.C.—perhaps at the same time providing a format and example for others to follow. It was obvious to both, that very large meetings were not conducive to dialogue that would be truly satisfying. However, their mutual experience of that large-scale event did give them an opportunity to reflect together on the process and transformative power of dialogue itself. It is during those conversations that Anuttama voiced his interest in organizing a small Hindu-Muslim dialogue in Washington D. C. He had confidence in such an approach, having been instrumental in the founding of the still-ongoing Vaiṣnava-Christian Dialogue in 1997. “Given Anuttama’s enthusiasm, his energy, and—particularly—his faith,” says Sanaullah, “I felt it was worth a try.”

By Antardwip das With a click of a button in the MayapurTV masteradmin, broadcasters can co-broadcast on their Facebook page. One single broadcast to MayapurTV gets split at our server to reach both www.mayapur.tv, your temple/individual website and no…

By Kesava Krsna dasa If we intend to be a credible alternative to the woes of society, we must analyze how we conduct ourselves in the public arena – namely the internet. Our discussions are by and large intelligent respectful dialogue. The occasional …

26th Annual Festival Honoring Srila Prabhupada May 27th and 28th, 2017 – Memorial Day Weekend. At ISKCON Los Angeles. If you have never experienced a Prabhupada Festival, we enthusiastically invite you to attend; and if you attended in the past, then …

Kirtan program with Tarana Chaitanya in Athens. Kavicandra Swami: “After a super feast devotees begged for more kirtan”Read More…

It is with our whole heart, that we humbly invite all of Srila Prabhupada’s disciples to Sri Vrindavan Dham, in honor of the solemn and auspicious occasion of the 40thAnniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s Tirobhava, on the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of October 2017.

By Anand Caitanya das

Over 150 business professionals & entrepreneurs attended this event. By hearing the experiences of esteemed speakers, the attendees were empowered with answers to the questions “What is the dharma of business? And why is connecting with that dharma vital to the future of humanity and the planet?” Amit Chandra, noted businessman and MD, Bain Capital, called upon the audience to get involved in charitable works and learn to give back to the society. “We must spare at least one-third of the time to do social work,” he said. In a country which celebrates its wealth creators, Amit Chandra and his wife are known to be a couple that both give between 50-75% of their time and annual income to social causes. Many business leaders grapple with the issue of when is the right time to start giving, how much should they give, and should they get involved with their time? Sunil Sanghai in the question and answer session with Amit Chandra requested him to help answer this question for the assembled audience.

By Gauranga Das

The Smart Cities Award Ceremony was part of the Mega Event organized by the India Trade Promotion Organization (ITPO) and the Exhibitions India Group. The three-day event hosted over 400 global exhibitors from around 40 countries across 20,000 square-metres of exposition space on the themes of Buildings India, Solar India, Transport India, Smart Cities India and Water India. Along with the expo there was also a three day conference and other key programmes including the CEO Speaks, Mayor’s Conclave, Smart Cities India Awards, Smart Village Conclave and Youth Leadership Summit. GEV also participated as one of the panelists in the Smart Village conclave which was focused on bringing together individuals, institutions, Government, industry/Technocrats, NGOs, etc. to bridge the urban rural divide and provide best practices, learnings or case studies which the other villages can replicate or learn from.

By Atmananda dasa

There is no contradiction. Rather, we become both: simultaneously dependent and independent: independent for Krishna; both surrendered – thinking ourselves fully dependent – and autonomous. By becoming instruments, we act as little Krishnas, manifesting His brilliant and magnetic qualities, as Srila Prabhupada does. He instructs and guides us to become fully qualified – like touchstones – to transform others also, into pure servants of the servants of the Lord. Surrender means that we are willing and able to carry out the apparently impossible mission, the desire of guru and Lord Chaitanya, just as we see Arjuna doing on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

By Sunanda Das

For twelve days, from April 21st – May 2nd, Lord Nityananda’s Padukas and Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Sitari led the TOVP Fundraising Team consisting of Jananivas and Vraja Vilas prabhus on a multi-city tour of Malaysia. The results were astonishing and unprecedented for a relatively small country like Malaysia. Over $2 million U.S. in pledges was raised!!!

By Massimo Introvigne

The first is that this trend would not stay in Russia only, it will spread to neighboring countries. Already in Kazakhstan a Jehovah’s Witness, who moreover is suffering with cancer, has been sentenced to five years in a labour camp based on accusations of extremism very similar to those raised in Russia. The second is that these easy accusations of “extremism” will be rapidly extended to other groups. Some Baptist Protestants are already complaining that they are being attacked in Russia as “extremist”, and the same is true for the Hare Krishna (ISKCON) and other communities. But, as I said, with this definition of “extremism” nobody is safe.

By Devaki Devi Dasi When the diagnose of cancer hits us, we experience a sobering wake-up call. It might take some time to come to terms with it, and accept the facts of reality. We might struggle with a tendency for denial – no, can’t be! How can this…

By Mitra Dasa How many of you know Panchagauda? I was impressed with his management skills. The Vrndavan temple is so welcoming, so inviting, clean and on time, yet he doesn’t show any signs of stress. He always had time to talk with me. I took a half …

By Prishni Devi Dasi As one of the founding members of the Bhaktivedanta Institute, Sadaputa dasa left a large collection of historical materials pertaining to the early achievements of the BI during its pioneering unified phase. Part of the mission of…

Srila Prabhupada: “But one thing is, you were spending $900 monthly for deity expenses, and still you are spending $900, so if total income is increasing more than double, why not increase also expense for the deity? We may spend anything and everythin…

By Kesava Krsna dasa

If there is a method for advancing quickly, what is it? The beauty of it is, anyone can do it – married or unmarried, in or out of the temple, renounced or steeped in bhoga-tyaga. But one has to be prepared, because the weapon of detachment – asanga-sastrena BG.15.3, will develop as a natural consequence of sincere chanting.

By Bhuvana Pavani Devi DasiLord Caitanya then inquired: What is the most profitable thing in the world, the essence of all auspicious events? Ramananda Raya replied that there is nothing as profitable as the association of pure devotees.” (Teachings of…

By the GBC Brooklyn Temple Sale Committee

The pending sale of the ISKCON Brooklyn Temple (Radha Govinda Mandir) has generated interest, concern and even controversy in ISKCON, not just in the New York Metropolitan Area but also around the world, especially in light of the GBC Body’s stated opposition to the sale (see attached GBC Resolution no. 314). In order to foster openness, inclusivity and awareness of the current state of affairs as well as to dispel confusion and misconceptions, the GBC Brooklyn Temple Sale Committee is hosting an ISKCON Informational Town Hall Meeting at the Brooklyn Public Library on Monday, May 15, 2017 at 7:00 PM sharp. The evening’s program and ground rules are set forth below.

“I remember at the Ardha Kumbha Mela in Allahabad, when some of your disciples felt it was too difficult to rise early, take bath and attend the morning program with you. Seeing this, you encouraged us by personally going outside in the dark of night, at 3 A.M., to bathe in unheated water and in near freezing weather, despite your age and dwindling health. Then, wrapped head to toe in wool, you sat with us outside in the wet predawn cold for a full three-hour morning program—without fail. In this connection, I pray that this vision of you always remain framed in my heart to give me strength against austerities.”

By Romapada Swami

The process of retraction of bad habits can be summed up as follows: Recognition, Regret, Rectification, and Reinstatement – aided by saintly association and devotional practices. Retraction of bad habits was compared by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura as being synonymous to the jiva’s returning back to the spiritual world, because in effect these bad habits are nothing but the binding effects of our long material association and past activities. The first step in overcoming this material conditioning is of course to recognize the bad habits themselves. This recognition should be accompanied by sincere regret followed by firm resolve to give up the habit. But often we find that despite being aware and regretful for their habits, many people are unable to avoid their sinful tendencies, because of the lack of proper effort. It takes great commitment sustained over time to accomplish the result.

By Gargamuni das The man said thanks and walked away towards his next car. Little did he or I know how much that two minute exchange would alter my life forever. To this day, wherever he is, I thank him, for the bomb he dropped on my life that afternoo…

By Gauragopala dasa Deep within the “Brahmanda” universal egg or bubble that oriinates from the Body of Maha Vishnu, some trillions of miles within is where one will find the small “4 billion mile diameter Bhu-mandala Universe’ exists surrounded by the…

By Nrisimhadeva das Darshan, classes, videos and many other festivities for the pleasure of Lord Narasimhadeva from the followers of Srila Prabhupada. “I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Nrisimhadeva, the source of all power. O my Lord who poss…

Srila Prabhupada liked trusts. He set up at least 3 trustsRead More…

By the TOVP Staff

We are extremely happy to announce the launch of a new website, tovp360.org, which offers a virtual tour through the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, one of the largest temples in the world. The virtual-reality panoramas in this site will show you every nook and corner of the magnificent temple. From 24 different places, you can see all around you and look both above and below to get a feel of this sacred space. Walk in and around the temple, from the temple rooms up to the roofs and domes. There are even 360 degree bird’s-eye views from above the temple that show the whole Mayapur Project.

By Braja Vilas das As you all know, Mayapur Nrsimha is a very special Deity. Although He is in His manifestation as Ugra-Nrsimha, the most fierce and angry form, because Lord Nrsimha is especially favorable to the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahapabhu, He…

Jayananda didn’t like being praised over others, he felt others to be doing more service than he, and he was always a team player, giving all credit to Srila Prabhupada and all the devotees, never thinking any one devotee to be less significant than hi…

By Michael Scherer I met Madhuha dasa as we prepared for the Holi festival at the Hare Krishna temple in Potomac, Maryland. I was working on the stage sound, and he was setting up the stage, tents, sound system, and much of the equipment needed for su…

By Nandini Radha devi dasi

Krishna remains a mute witness to all this drama and rubs salt into the open wounds of Satyabhama’s ego that he has now to become a slave to some cowherd and will have to suffer the separation from his dear wife. Narada suggests to Satyabhama that Rukmini may be able to get her out of the predicament. She finally swallows her pride and appeals to the devoted first wife of Krishna. Rukmini comes and with a prayer to her husband puts a single leaf of the sacred Tulasi on the scale (Tula). The scales then become all at once so heavy that even after removing all the jewels, the scales are weighed down on the side of the Tulasi leaf. Satyabhama and Rukmini are called Tulabhrami.

By Nandini Radha devi dasi Murari Gupta continued narrating the story to Damodara Pandita. Murari said, “After hearing Rukmini Devi’s wonderful words, Krishna’s heart danced in ecstasy. His lotus eyes, reddish like the rising sun, filled with tears of …

Fortunat souls receive Srila Prabhupada’s books which are their tickets back Home, back to Godhead! The son of the famous artist Bob Marley was one of them.Read More…

Hi, my name is Jayananda. Do you know how to handle a nail?Read More…

This incident gave me some lessons and also some realization understanding how Lord is very merciful!Read More…

Srila Prabhupada: By practice of kumbhaka-yoga, the yogis increase the duration of life by many, many years. A Krsna conscious person, however, being always situated in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, automatically becomes the controller…

By Mahatma Das “Too Busy to practise Bhakti” “Six Generations from now” “Discipline vs Regret ” “Face Your Demons” “You Teach your kids by your marriage” “Unhealthy Possessiveness” “Krsna knows everyone’s heart” “Promise of Vaikuntha” “Envy affects y…

By Iskcon Desire Tree A collection of videos, lectures, photos, stories, prayers, posters, coloring books and more. In the purport of 7.8.51 of Srimad-Bhagavatam, Srila Prabhupada writes, “The Supreme Personality of Godhead in His transcendental form o…

By His Divine Grace A.C.B. Swami Prabhupada So today, appearance day of Lord Nrisimhadeva. Lord Nrisimhadeva appeared on this Nrisimha Caturdasi on account of His devotee, Prahlada. As it is stated in the Bhagavad-gita, yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bh…

By Shyamasundara Dasa This section of the Hari-bhakti-vilasa 14.418-441,(the glories of Nrsimha-caturdasi) quoting from Brhan Nrsimha Purana, describes who Prahlada Maharaja was in his previous life and how he became a Narasimha Bhakta. Read More…