Author Archives: Dandavats

“Transcendental Journey” at the Sydney Opera House sells out in 3 days
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Hare KrishnaBy Damodara Pandit das

The special global event to celebrate ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary at the Sydney Opera House has sold out in record time. The show entitled ‘Transcendental Journey: Hare Krishna Celebrate 50 Years’ was quite an ambitious and optimistic project but with overwhelming support from devotees and Australian public the show sold out in just 3 days. Transcendental Journey is a theatrical, musical and multimedia spectacular showcasing how Srila Prabhupada’s extraordinary journey transformed the lives of millions. The performances scheduled on Saturday 20 August, 2016 follows the life of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada as he journeys west to introduce the Krishna Movement in United States in the mid 1960-70’s. The show then presents the Hare Krishna explosion World-wide and the wonderful achievements to date. Showcasing devotional music, dance and drama, the show will explore the challenges a young Bhaktivedanta Swami faced, as well as sojourning back to the era of Sri Chaitanya and then Krishna’s time some 5000 years ago. The show presents the cultural roots of Gaudiya Vaisnavism and celebrates the development of the movement in the West over the past 50 years.

Festival “Golok-FEST” in Moscow hugely successful! (photos)
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Hare KrishnaBy Bhakti Vijnana Goswami

On May 15, 2016 the festival of Vedic culture Goloka Fest in one of Moscow’s biggest clubs sent everybody for an “Easy Journey to Other Planets”. The program was improved by 108% than previous years and left an unforgettable experience and a great joy to all those who participated. It was designed for a wide audience and was interesting therefore for all, newcomers to this spiritual tradition and for those who practice for many years. All were exposed to teachings of invaluable knowledge about their spiritual nature and reality around us. It was like going on a journey to other planets and learn the Vedic model of cosmogony. The presentations were made by two signor monks and spiritual teachers of the ancient tradition of the Gaudiya Vaishnava, Bhakti Vijnana Goswami and Bhakti Ananta Krishna Goswami There were chanted lyrical, beautiful and fascinating ancient mantras by Aditi Dukhahi Prabhu. A known musical group named “For one thing” performed their show as well as other well-known and distinguished guests. Tasty treats were distributed to everyone and the chanting had everybody dancing and crying from the joy!

Why Do We Criticize Others?
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Hare KrishnaBy Arcana-Siddhi devi dasi

Krishna, the Supreme Lord, met with both Maharaja Yudhisthira, a pure devotee of the Lord, and Duryodhana, an extremely envious king who had acquired his position through cheating and deceit. Krishna asked Maharaja Yudhisthira to go out into the kingdom and return after finding someone less qualified than himself. And He asked Duryodhana to search the kingdom for someone better than himself. When wicked Duryodhana returned, he told Lord Krishna that he couldn’t find anyone better than himself. Most of us would describe a person like Duryodhana as narcissistic, bombastic, conceited, and egoistic. Many of today’s leaders would t that portrayal.The saintly Yudhisthira, on the other hand, returned unable to find anyone inferior to himself. Such humility is practically gone among today’s leaders.

Special Mercy in Istanbul!
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Hare KrishnaBy Nrsimha Krsna das

We had busy days in Istanbul last week. HH Niranjana Swami visited us in Istanbul for the 5th time. Maharaja arrived on 26 May and left Istanbul on 31 May. We organized 4 programs including Sunday Feast in our Goranga Yoga Center. Programs were advertised as Vedic Philosophy & Bhakti Yoga Seminars and Niranjana Maharaj gave classes on well-known Bhagavad Gita Catur Sloki verses. There was a great interest in Niranjana Maharaja’s programs by Turkish audience. Couple of disciples of Maharaja came from Georgia to get association of their Guru Maharaja. Around 170 people attended for 4 programs. There were regular visitors and devotees also every day we got 4-5 first time comer to our programs. Niranjana Maharaja talked in such simple and wonderful way that new comers could understand speech perfectly and devotees were fully satisfied. New devotees got so much inspiration to do more service to devotees, Guru and Krishna by association of Niranjana Maharaja. In addition some seekers in spiritual path got inspiration to start practicing KC seriously. One of the new comers were very grateful to Maharaja and said to our Sri Rama Prabhu after programs: “I always had difficulty to understand philosophy in my all life however whatever Maharaja said I could clearly understand every single word.” When I told it Niranjana Maharaja, he simply said: “This is what Srila Prabhupada taught us. Present philosophy in a simple way so that everybody can understand easily.”

The Tale of Dorothy
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By Radhanath Swami

It was a fifty-seat commuter jet. The good news was that the plane flew. The bad news was that the toilets were boarded shut, the lighting did not work, and the air conditioner, after all that time, still didn’t work. It was a ninety-five-degree day. The plane was hot, muggy, dark, and Timmy decided he really did need to pee-pee and cried the whole trip. By the time we landed, every passenger was miserable. Except one. As we trudged down the steps of the plane and onto the tarmac, there was Dorothy sitting in a wheel chair that she had requested, smiling and waving as everyone rushed by. The passengers were stunned to see one among them who could be so happy. I stopped to say farewell. “Swami,” she said, “I chanted the mantra nonstop throughout the flight. I can’t remember being that happy in a long time.” She handed me the slip of paper with the mantra. “Will you write a message for me to remember you?” Taking her pen, I wrote of my appreciation for her and a little prayer. She pressed the note to her heart and smiled while tears streamed down her cheeks. Then she said something that I will never forget. “Now, living or dying,” she said, “is only a detail. I know that God is with me. Thank you.”

Birth Control Myths
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Hare KrishnaBy Urmila Devi Dasi

Many people will argue that without birth control, families will have a dozen or more children. Yet in societies where birth control isn’t practiced, the average number of children per family is six. Six children per family may seem too many for the earth, but the entire present world population could fit in France or in the state of Texas, with 1,500 square feet per person. We could feed ten times the present population on an American-style diet, and thirty times the population on a Japanese-style diet. (Colin Clark, Oxford University) All the world’s scriptures urge us to have many children, and describe children as a blessing. The only burden on the earth mentioned in the Vedic scriptures is that of a large population of sinful people who live lives of crime and deceit. The Lord, Sri Krishna, is unlimitedly wealthy and can easily provide adequately for all His obedient children. Harmful Side Effects Not only does birth control not solve the problems for which it claims to be the solution, but it has harmful side effects as well.

ISKCON Rohini, a dream which is coming true
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Hare KrishnaBy Keshav Murari Das

Yes we are talking about Sunder hall of Hotel City Park Pitampura, where about 150 businessmen with family, who are contributing for ISKCON Rohini project gathered on Sunday, 29 May. Subject was to present progress report of ISKCON Rohini construction. In the this program HG Varah P ( CO-President Punjabi Bagh) perform kirtan. Then the Deep was ignited by HH Gopal Krsna Goswami Maharaj. Rukmini Krishna P (Co-President Punjabi Bagh) briefed the audience about the contribution of ISKCON around the world followed by the presentation by HG Keshav Murari P (Temple president Rohini) on progress report of Rohini Project. The beginning of Program was done by Chanting of Manglacharan by Mayapur Gurukul Boys. Project Chairman HG Ved Vyas P welcomed all the guests & Maharaj. HG Ved Vyas P mentioned that in future the temple will have Gift shop, Museum, Guest house, Large Temple hall with 3 altars SRi SRi Panchtatwa, Sri Sri Radha Madhav & Sri Sri Sita Ram Laxman Hanuman. HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj in his speech spoke about that how temples are serving & saving the humanity. He thanked them for contributing in Project. Later he presented every well wisher a beautiful gift of Krishna Art Book. Donors & visitors showed their interest & commitments for finalizing this project in next two years positively.

Transcendental Postman
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Hare KrishnaBy Kirtan Rasa Das

A few months after I started working with ISKCON Prison Ministry, I received a letter from an inmate which helped drive home to me the nature of this service and just how important it is. “I only know what I read in your letters and Prabhupada’s books,” was part of his response to me, regarding my reply to a question he had posed. His words brought me a sudden, clearer understanding and. I’ve often since reminded myself of them. Although I had some idea of the nature of this service when I began, this particular letter made me acutely aware of how isolated and cutoff these men and women can be and how critical is our role as one of their few, if not only, avenues of inquiry and discourse. As a devotee, I’ve naturally come to understand association as a fundamental element of the bhakti-yoga process. I also have practical, personal experience of what it can be like to lack this association.

Gita contest of ISKCON goes global in 2016
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Hare KrishnaBy Times of India

MUMBAI: Gita Champions League (GCL), a popular national contest on Bhagwad Gita , has for the first time becomes global in 2016 by opening the competition to school children from all over the world. GCL, an educational initiative of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), will now be open to children from schools all over the world to test their knowledge and understanding of Gita, an ISKCON press release said on Sunday. In 2016, GCL contests are taking place in Australia, Mauritius, Kenya, South Africa and United States of America apart from Indian cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Nashik, Belgaum, Ujjain. This year, around 8000 students from around 134 schools have participated in the contest in Mumbai. Taking inspiration from the competition in Mumbai, GCL contest is also happening in many other cities in India, the release added. Recently, the GCL contest was held in Mauritius and Malaysia. It is slated to start in South Africa and USA also in 2016. The spiritual leader of ISKCON, Radhanath Swami said, “GCL helps the school children to absorb the teachings of Bhagwad Gita. We have attempted to enrich the lives of children in a right manner so that it becomes a helping hand for them to learn self-discipline and imbibe within them a strong value system.”

Nitai Gaurasundar Steals Sahadev Dasa’s Heart
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Hare KrishnaBy Acarya Dasa

We have realized that the people of Chennai do not respond when we address them in Hindi. So we have now begun to ask aTamil devotee to do all the announcements. This Tamil devotee actually taught Sahadev Dasa a few words in Tamil which he uses when he distributes books. This proves that a difference in language does not bar one from preaching the message of the Lord. We have seen how inspired people are by hearing a foreigner speak about the message of God. They may not listen to us but they are attracted to him. Whenever we ask Sahadev Dasa about how he does it, he responds by saying, “I just meditate on the lotus feet of Gaura Nitai and say, Oh merciful Lord please bless these souls. It works and people take a Bhagavad-gita.”

ISKCON Governing Body Comission – Minutes Of The Annual General Meeting 2016 and Zonal Assignments
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Hare KrishnaBy the GBC

Devotee Outreach Initiative: Whereas a number of devotees, active in ISKCON in the past, have rendered service to Srila Prabhupada’s mission with devotion and distinction but are now distant from, though not inimical to, ISKCON; Whereas reaching out to such devotees with affection and gratitude during the 50th anniversary year of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in America and the founding of ISKCON would be pleasing to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON: RESOLVED: That the GBC Body wishes to empower a team of devotee volunteers to reach out with affection and gratitude to those who once served Srila Prabhupada energetically and faithfully in ISKCON. Although no longer engaged actively in ISKCON, these devotees may not be inimical to ISKCON. Such an outreach team of devotee volunteers will be coordinated informally by Guru Gauranga Das and Badrinarayan. Swami.Whereas a number of devotees, active in ISKCON in the past, have rendered service to Srila Prabhupada’s mission with devotion and distinction but are now distant from, though not inimical to, ISKCON; Whereas reaching out to such devotees with affection and gratitude during the 50th anniversary year of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in America and the founding of ISKCON would be pleasing to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON: RESOLVED: That the GBC Body wishes to empower a team of devotee volunteers to reach out with affection and gratitude to those who once served Srila Prabhupada energetically and faithfully in ISKCON. Although no longer engaged actively in ISKCON, these devotees may not be inimical to ISKCON. Such an outreach team of devotee volunteers will be coordinated informally by Guru Gauranga Das and Badrinarayan. Swami.

A House of Harmony: A College Student’s Hare Krishna Experience
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Hare KrishnaBy Bhakta Patrick

“If I ever decided… like… not to be a devotee” the words caught in my throat, “would you be disappointed?” “You shouldn’t let me influence what direction you take your spiritual life” she said, “You need to do what you feel is right, regardless of what anyone might think”. “Don’t worry about it. This place is meant to be a shelter; somewhere where you can come to rest and plug in, not where you have to worry about living up to expectations. We’re not here to make you into a devotee. We love you, and we care about you, and we just want to help you have the best spiritual life you possibly can.”

Narasimhadeva Appearance Day Festivities Roar with Enthusiasm in Toronto’s Hare Krishna Temple!
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Hare KrishnaBy Kevala Bhakti das

On Friday, May 20, 2016, Toronto’s Hare Krishna Community celebrated the appearance day of Lord Narasimhadeva – Lord Krishna’s half-man, half-lion incarnation. Lord Narasimhadeva descended to protect his young devotee Sri Prahlada Maharaja from his torturous father, King Hiranyakashipu. There are many prayers to Lord Narasimha that invoke powerful mantras for protection, appealing to the Lord’s half-lion incarnation and His weapons. These are for protection from such things as malevolent spirits and material desires, as well as increased devotion and a peaceful world. The festival kicked off with a lively kirtan and was followed by an enthralling class by Vaisesika Prabhu. The class focused on this most munificent form of the Lord and devotees were hanging off every word of our guest speaker.

108 Iskcon mini temples coming up in Andhra Pradesh
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Hare KrishnaBy thehansindia.com

Amaravati: International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Iskcon) is constructing 108 mini temples (mandirams) at the upcoming Golden temple premises at Changheeskhanpet near Kondaveedu in Guntur district. These mini temples will depict various phases in the life of Lord Krishna like ‘Kali Mardanam’, ‘Godavardhanagiri’, ‘Geethopadesam’ and others. The mini temples will depict various phases of the life of Lord Krishna First phase of construction to be completed in two years Two audio-visual theatres being set up to disseminate Vedic knowledge A show using robots is being mooted to drive home the impact of good and bad deeds The Iskcon started construction of Golden temple with a cost of Rs 200 crore. The phase one works which began few months ago are expected to complete within two years. It is said that the temple will be a cynosure of all eyes after the completion of construction and will attract tourists from far and wide.

A testimony of Sri Paramahamsa Goura about his years in Gurukula
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Hare KrishnaBy Sri Paramahamsa Gaura dasa

On the 4th of May, 2016, I graduated from the school and now along with my two good friends Baladev Śrīman dāsa and Krishna Caitanya dāsa we are helping as trainee principals and headmasters of the Academy. I hope that I may be a servant of Śrīla Prabhupāda’s mission and be an instrument in the gurukula educational system we all know was so dear to him. In conclusion, my experience of gurukula was by far the greatest thing I could have ever imagined. I love my gurukula, my life, so much that now even though I graduated, and could go where I like — and ‘experience’ the world — I really want to stay and serve in the gurukula. I want to help others, and to make sure that their experience of gurukula will top even mine. When I think back it fills me with pride to say that I really lived such a life. The relationships I made will last a lifetime, and my memories I hope will too. Of course, there were ups and downs; being six in the ashram is no walk in the park. But thinking back I wouldn’t have changed my past for that of a prince. For it made me what I am today, and although I’m not much, I really do want to serve and I ask for your blessings.

Ramananda Samvada: The Perfect Conversation
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Hare KrishnaBy Satyaraja Dasa

Everyone likes to converse with loved ones. There is nothing quite as satisfying as sitting back and spending time with like-minded souls, sharing thoughts, ideas, and intimate feelings. In spiritual life, too, there is nothing quite like conversation – a back-and-forth that deepens one’s knowledge of transcendence and increases the possibility of spiritual loving exchanges. Because dialogue is a fundamental form of communication and interaction, numerous texts from antiquity have used conversational structure as a literary device to convey deep truths. Religious works such as the Bible, Buddhist sutras, and Confucian texts partake of this method, and in philosophy Plato’s use of dialogue is particularly well known.

Surabhi Campaign in Hong Kong
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Hare KrishnaBy Gunaavatara das

Resently by Krishna mercy and Prabhupada mercy we have a chance to visit Hong Kong and conduct some various program related to the Campaign, and few other program. We had four seminars in diferent scedule time, one is about ISKCON four movement and Surabhi Campaign, Best Practice ISKCON where Maharaja introduce about the farm project all around the world, and on the other day we also have peace inter faith dialoge. One very inspiring program that we visited one local goshala where they have 150 cows, bulls, and calves, the owner is one chinese leady who love cows very much. So we become to relise actualy there is cow protection movement been going on not to far from our temple, same is in Cambodia, Thailand, and many other places, because although those people may not yet be devotees, but due to their natural love that inspire them to protect the cow. As how all living atities naturly is to love Krishna and by daily seeing the Krishna form, name and pastime we will review our pure love to Him. It similar naturaly we will develope love to cow if we live with them and be friend to them.

A Wonderful Trip to Spiritual World!
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Hare KrishnaBy Nrsimha Krsna das

When spring comes we always get excited like most of the people. But reason our excitement is about trip to New Vraja Dham, Hungary. Every year we take Turkish devotees twice to New Vraja Dham festivals. With total of 10 devotees we went to New Vraja Dham for Nrsimha Caturdasi and HH Sivarama Swami Maharaja’s Vyasa Puja Festival. Festivals are always wonderful to be a part and always meant to do more sravanam, kirtanam and smaranam. Our devotees took part in kitchen services and chanted and danced in front of Sri Sri Radha Shyama for hours. Actually, the most important part of the festival for us was the initiation ceremony that took place on Nrsimha Caturdasi day. Our 3 devotees Bhakta Nezih, Bhakta Kaan and Bhaktin Gultekin took harinam initiation from HH Sivarama Maharaja and committed their lives in the service of Guru and Gauranga. Their new names are Nanda Kumar das, Krishna Candra das and Gaura Prema devi dasi. Nanda Kumar Prabhu and Krishna Candra Prabhu are brothers by birth and they are the youngest initiated members of our congregation. It is very encouraging to see development of our Turkish Congregation. Iskcon Turkey is expanding. Slowly but surely! It gives more strength and inspiration to do more & more services.

Good times ahead for Gomata and Go-sevaks
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Hare KrishnaBy SriRamaDasa

The Indian Government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working on modalities to bring in a new law to combat illegal cow transport and slaughtering. Ministers Prakash Javadekar and Radha Mohan Singh (Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare) called for restrictions on killings saying even in old age cows can be financially viable. He also said that “cow hostels and sanctuaries are being established across the country, and five new veterinary colleges have been set up to take care of old and ailing cows.”

Jagannath appears in Cligeon, Indonesia
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Hare KrishnaBy Hari Narayana Das

At present there are only a couple of devotees, Bhakta Putu Parwata and his wife, who reside in Cligeon. They have a good relationship with Mrs . Wira who works as secretary in government office. She also communicated the ratha yatra to the local Hindu community and got the support of the local Hindus to help participate in the festival under the banner of Balinese culture. Hearing the good news from Cligeon, Indonesian leaders spread the word to all Indonesian devotees and requested all those who could to attend.

WSN April 2016 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
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Hare KrishnaBy Mayapur Sasi dasa

Here’s the good news about the world of book distributors: It used to be said that the sun never sets on the worldwide British Empire, but now it does. However, now the sun never sets on Srila Prabhupada’s book distributors. Every seven seconds a book is distributed, and 24/7 the books go out to conditioned souls. This gives many people the opportunity to understand that they belong in another world, a transcendental world where everyone has full knowledge and an eternal position and feels unlimited happiness in the service of Krsna. In April, one of the temples in Sri Lanka had one of its most successful months. The city with the big score, Batticaloa, is not huge – 300,000 people. And the center has very few book distributors, but they did so well spreading Lord Krsna’s glories that they accumulated 4,510 book points, an 898% increase over April 2015. They distributed 2,760 books.