Author Archives: Dandavats

National Geographic Channel highlights ISKCON Kitchen
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Hare KrishnaBy Kripamoya das

Just last month our teams prepared hot meals for 17,000 in Trafalgar Square. In Glastonbury the Hare Krishna tent fed 15,000 hungry mouths over the festival, and the same team prepare 900 meals daily for the homeless and hungry students. Besides singing and dancing in public places, or distributing books, giving out blessed food or prasadam is the activity for which ISKCON is known. Today, 50 years after it started, that essential activity of cooking in large quantities has been raised to a fine art. It takes some feat of organisation to prepare food for thousands of people but it seems to be one thing that ISKCON does well. Here’s how the National Geographic Channel picked up on one such ‘mega-kitchen’ this week.

Happy Janmashtami!
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Hare KrishnaBy Girish Sarin

Cymbals, damru drums, bherries, and big drums vibrated auspicious sounds in specific melodies. A celestial concert of precise poetical meters, proper rhythms, and metrical compositions suddenly manifested there. The musical ensemble inspired the society girls to sing and dance in mirth and merriment. Though not good singers, by the will of the Lord they sang with great virtuoso. Their wonderful songs filled Nanda Maharaja’s heart with joy. The combined vibrations of brahmanas’ chanting Vedic hymns, the recitation of Puranic lore, and the panegyrists’ prayers trans­formed the ethers into sabda brahman. The joy of Krishna’s birth celebration taxed the drains of Nanda’s capital city as they swelled to the brim with milk, yogurt, and other auspicious liquids. Soon rivers of this nectar flooded the streets of the town and permeated the entire atmosphere with a sweet fragrance. Disguising them­selves as birds, the demigods descended to Vrajapura to happily drink the flood of nectar. The Vrajavasis decorated their cows with gold and jeweled ornaments. Then in great excitement they smeared them with oil, fresh butter, and turmeric paste. Beholding Krishna in their hearts, these fortunate cows looked like the essence of the earth’s auspiciousness. The whole world resounded with their jubilant bellowing.

Krishna among the Mormons: Hindu-based sect plans temple in heart of Salt Lake Valley
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Hare KrishnaBy Lee Bensen

Suffice it to say that the success in Spanish Fork paved the way for plans to build a similar, if smaller, temple in Salt Lake County on property the Hare Krishnas own just east of 900 East and south of 3300 South. Also designed by Vai, the completed temple “will be exquisite,” promises her husband. Caru envisions the Salt Lake temple as a beacon of spirituality for not only the 100 families active in the faith in the valley, but for others looking for positivity and enlightenment as well. “Salt Lake City is a different story than Spanish Fork,” he says. “There are more here who need ministration. We can make a difference in more lives here.” It took three years to get enough funds pledged and secure the proper building permits to get started, but on July 10, after a ceremony apologizing to Krishna for disturbing Mother Earth (but for all good purposes), track hoes moved in and dug the hole Caru has been admiring ever since. Soon enough, the foundation will be poured and the temple will take shape. The domes and cones that will grace the exterior, Taj Mahal-style, have already been built and are in storage, awaiting the walls to get framed.

2016 Open Vyasa-puja book: pdf now available online
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Hare KrishnaBy SPtributes

The 2016 Srila Prabhupada Tributes book – “the open Vyasa-puja book” – is now available as a pdf file from www.sptributes.com. Physical books have already been mailed. Each year, all initiated disciples of Srila Prabhupada are welcome to write offerings for the book. And any disciple who sends an offering will receive a physical copy of the book.If you were initiated by Srila Prabhupada but didn’t receive an invitation to contribute, please write to sptributes (at) gmail.com in order to be added to the mailing list.

Radha Madhava are welcomed to ISKCON Leicester
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Hare KrishnaBy Nimai Devi Dasi

ISKCON Leicester has welcomed Sri Sri Radha Madhava from ISKCON Belfast to accept worship in Leicester, UK. A special welcome ceremony took place today (Sunday 21st August) to receive the beautiful brass Deities Who have been worshipped in Belfast, Northern Ireland for the last 35 years. The community offered abhishek to the 2.5 feet tall Deities to welcome Them to Their new home in the heart of Leicester City Centre. Devotees travelled from all over the country to witness the special event, and celebrated the arrival with a yagya, and a full day of kirtana. UK GBC Pragosa Dasa, and Shaunaka Rishi Dasa, Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies shared memories of Sri Sri Radha Madhava and blessed the congregation to serve Them wholeheartedly. Praghosa Dasa, GBC for the UK said: “Having known Radha Madhava since 1983, I cannot remember a more auspicious and blissful event in Their association than today in Leicester”

IMP Press Release: Gita Changes for Chapter Nine
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Hare KrishnaBy Vishakha Lila Devi Dasi

The scans for this chapter give you much to see. You’ll see the extensive first paragraph to 9.26 (patram puspam phalam toyam). This paragraph appeared in the 1968 abridged edition, and devotees often relished and quoted it, especially its memorable line “Who is such a fool that he does not want to be Krsna conscious by this simple method?” In the 1972 edition this paragraph was left out. In the 1983 edition it has been restored. You’ll see twenty-six of Srila Prabhupada’s Sanskrit quotations recovered (seven in the purport to text 2 alone). You’ll see several places where the 1972 edition includes Srila Prabhupada’s explanation for a Sanskrit word but leaves out the word he is explaining — and the second edition restores the missing word. (For example: “avasam” in the purport to text 8, “udasinavat” in text 9, and “vyapasritya” in text 32.) You’ll find out about new translations the original editor pasted into the manuscript over Srila Prabhupada’s (and see examples). You’ll also see the thirteen verses for which the original word-for-word meanings were done by a BBT Sanskrit editor, not by Srila Prabhupada himself. Apart from images for specific changes, the scans for this chapter include thirteen complete sample pages from the original manuscripts, including four pages showing those BBT-supplied word-for-word meanings. Whether you’re for “the changes,” against them, or neutral, here’s another opportunity to see what the changes actually are.

Homage to Srila Prabhupada at ISKCON Mayapur
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Hare KrishnaBy Subroto Das

The fragrance of incense, variety of beautiful colourful flowers, illumination of glittering lights, melodious chanting of Hare Krishna Mahamantra and glow on the faces of shaved headed tilak borne devotees transformed the auditorium of Prabhupad Samadhi Mandir at ISKCON Mayapur into a transcendental heavenly planet. To mark the Golden Jubilee celebrations( 1996- 2016) of International Society for Krishna Consciousness, the devotees organised the programme- “Homage to Srila Prabhupad” to pay tribute to His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupad, founder Acharya of ISKCON.

Baroda’s triple celebrations for the ISKCON 50 World Holy Name Week
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Hare KrishnaBy Romapada Das

ISKCON Baroda organised three major Harinama processions to celebrate the World Holy Name Week for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary, which drew thousands of devotees and passers-by into the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra. The first Harinama procession was held on 6th August at Padra Village, the second one on 7th August in Baroda, and the third one was at the holy pilgrimage town of Dakor near Baroda, which has the renowned temple of Ranchhodraiji, a form of Lord Krishna. The final celebrations included a 24-hour kirtan programme on 14th August that coincided with the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s first Harinama procession in 1966 on the same day from 26 Second Avenue to Washington Square Park in New York.

Special Honour to Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON
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Hare KrishnaBy Ram Murari Das

In Commemoration of ISKCON Golden Jubilee Celebrations, Department of Postal Services of India has released a special cover. This limited edition cover will be available in post offices for purchase at Rs 10 each. In a grand function at the premises of Buckingham Post Office in the heart of Vijayawada, this special cover was released. The meeting was presided over by the Vijayawada SSPS Head Sriman S V Prasad. Postal Services Director Sriman K Somasundaram was the Chief guest. Sriman K S V Venkateswara Rao, Superintendent of Postal Storage also participated. Sriman Revati Ramana Dasa, ISKCON GBC Member & Andhra Pradesh Zonal Secretary as well as Sriman Ram Murari Dasa, Vijayawada Temple President and In-Charge of Krishna & Guntur Districts graced the occassion. All the speakers praised the spiritual and social services that ISKCON has been rendering. His Grace Sriman Revati Ramana Dasa shared with the gathering how Srila Prabhupada had changed the lives of many across the globe through his teachings for practical application of Srimad Bhagavad Gita. Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!!!

Inspiration Series: three more videos released by ISKCON 50
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Hare KrishnaBy Romapada das

“Temple managers should make sure that for this Janmashtami season, they have splashed the ISKCON 50 posters, banners and the exhibition panels from the ISKCON 50 Expo prominently in your premises,” said Anuttama Dasa, GBC Minister for Communications, and a member of the International Executive Committee for ISKCON 50. “The Inspiration Series videos will hopefully bring home the importance of why we should all lead the way in educating the world about Srila Prabhupada, his achievements, how ISKCON has grown in the last 50 years and highlight our achievements.”

Innovative Outreach Event for celebrating ISKCON 50th Anniversary
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Hare KrishnaBy Daamodara Dhananjaya Das

On account of the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON, we, at ISKCON Ahmedabad, have been working together as team, for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada. Under the kind guidance of HG Jashomatinandan Prabhu (ACBSP) and by Krishna’s mercy, our core committee, while churning for the nectar, derived at an amazing and innovative idea of conducting an outreach program for the top-notch corporate tycoons, based in and around Ahmedabad. We had two prime factors to validate this event. 1. ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary and 2. A new temple project at our Gaushala.

Ambitious renovation project for the LA temple completed
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Hare KrishnaBy Madhava Smullen

It was a truly uplifting and festive time for ISKCON of Los Angeles from August 4th to 7th recently, with celebrations for both the 40th anniversary of the city’s Rathayatra festival, and the 50th anniversary of ISKCON in full swing. The ISKCON of LA property looked fresh and beautiful for the festival, with temple president Svavasa Das and his brother Naikatma Das completing an ambitious renovation project just in time. All the windows were replaced and the temple, Govinda’s buffet and kitchen buildings sandblasted and re-stuccoed. The temple entrance received a face lift, with new ornate wood decor, a beautiful stone tile entryway and a grand maroon canopy. The area in front was also re-designed with drought resistant landscaping and stone tile work to handle the increased flow of foot traffic for festivals and general increase in daily visitors.

Kick Out Darwin
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Hare KrishnaBy Urmila Devi Dasi

The doctrine Of evolution is difficult to hide from. It is so pervasive in textbooks of science, geography, history, and literature that the reader, numbed by repetition, hardly notices the constant drone. Our children need help to remain awake to spiritual life amidst this sleepy cloud of propaganda. We need to teach them the truth. And we need to show them, clearly and specifically, how evolutionists are lying. Does it really matter? Is it important for our children to know the origin of life and the universe? Perhaps they can be clear about spiritual life without bothering to think about Darwin one way or the other. But can they? In most standard modern versions, evolution links tightly with the outlook that all order, law, and life come about by chance. But spiritual life means connecting with the Supreme Spirit, Krishna, who is a person directing the cosmos and giving the seed of life. Also inherent in most of today’s evolutionary views is the notion that life is a complicated organization of matter. But spiritual life begins when one understands that the self, the essential living being, is irreducibly spirit, always distinct from matter.

Surat Mayor unveils Prabhupada plaque in a public park and plants a tree for the 50th anniversary
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Hare KrishnaBy Romapada Das,

The Mayor of Surat, Mrs. Asmitaben Shiroya planted a tree on 14th August in the Trikam Nagar Chowpathy Park in Surat and unveiled a marble plaque with Srila Prabhupada’s name to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ISKCON’s first public Harinama procession in New York, exactly 50 years ago to the day in August 1966. The event which was organized by the Hare Krishna Dham preaching centre in the city of Surat attracted 500 devotees who sang the Hare Krisha mantra while walking down the city centre to arrive at the public venue where the Mayor delivered a rousing speech.

A Caravan of Blessings
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Hare KrishnaBy Beige Luciano-Adams

Temple president Svavasa Das, who has overseen the event in Los Angeles for 30 years, described a network of consecutive festivals throughout the U.S. connected by a caravan of devotees who truck the collapsible chariots from city to city. “Ours is the largest in the West,” he says, meaning outside India. “Around the world everyone knows about this one. People come from all over.” Here the festival plays to its mixed audience with a mélange of ancient ritual and contemporary festival atmosphere, with chanting, yoga and cultural music and dance blending with children’s activities and vendor booths during the free feast. The continuation of a centuries-old Hindu sect, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) was founded in the U.S. in 1966. Today the organization includes hundreds of centers and affiliated vegetarian restaurants — like Govinda’s Natural Foods, the one attached to the temple in Culver City. To celebrate its silver anniversary, ISKCON is extending the festival this year, starting Thursday with chanting and seminars at the temple, which organizers expect will draw thousands of participants.

Janmastami
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Hare KrishnaBy Braja Vilas das

The name Madhava is a very prominent name for both Lord Vishnu and Lord Krishna. Srila Prabhupada has translated Madhava in his Bhagavad-gita and Srimad Bhagavatam in many ways: “Husband of the goddess of fortune,” “Master of all energies,” and “He who appears in the Madhu dynasty.” As a name of Vishnu, “Ma” refers to Laksmi and “Dhava” means husband or consort. In reference to Krsna, Madhava is usually explained as coming from the root “Madhu”. “Srila Sanatana Gosvami has explained the various meanings of the word Madhava as follows: Madhava normally indicates Krsna to be “the Lord, who is the consort of the goddess of fortune, Laksmi.” This name also implies that Lord Krsna descended in the dynasty of Madhu. Since the spring season is also known as Madhava, it is understood that as soon as Lord Krsna entered the Vrndavana forest, it automatically exhibited all the opulences of spring, becoming filled with flowers, breezes and a celestial atmosphere. Another reason Lord Krsna is known as Madhava is that He enjoys His pastimes in madhu, the taste of conjugal love.” (SB 10.15.2)