Author Archives: Dandavats

How are we to see Krishna’s hand amidst tragic, premature death of devotees?
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By Chaitanya Charan das

Death can seem cruel when it takes away a dear one. The Bhagavad-gita may seem to add to the bewilderment when it asserts (10.34) that the death which steals away everything is a manifestation of Krishna. Why would Krishna, who is the well wisher of everyone, want to steal anything from anyone? The Gita prepares us for this discomforting assertion by first broadening our philosophical perspective of life. Many people see life as having only one dimension: the material. Within this unidimensional materialist perspective of life, death seems to be the ultimate disaster: the total irrevocable termination of our identity and destiny. Gita wisdom expands our horizons by informing us that our existence is two-dimensional: material and spiritual. We are spiritual souls residing temporarily in material bodies. In fact, Gita wisdom goes further to inform us that our real life is only spiritual: a life of eternal love and joy in relationship with Krishna. We actually have nothing to do with the material sphere where we presently reside. When contrasted with our ecstatic eternal life in the spiritual realm, the material sphere is seen as a mere distraction – and a miserable distraction at that. Gita wisdom exhorts us to enthrone the ambition of returning back to Krishna in the spiritual realm as the supreme goal of our life.

‘Walking Monk’ makes stop in Joliet during journey across America
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Hare KrishnaBy Mike Mallory

Bhaktimarga Swami sat calmly Monday morning as he rested in the grass of Joliet’s West Park with a water bottle at his side. Known as the “Walking Monk,” Swami covers about 20 miles a day with only a pair of sandals separating his feet from the ground. He’s in the middle of the second leg of his journey from New York City to San Francisco. “I started walking in Joliet today,” Swami said. “I found out the Illinois & Michigan Canal State Trail is here. That’s a piece of paradise. You see a heron every few minutes.” Swami hopes to promote a “greener,” healthier lifestyle in America – one that emphasizes strong morals and ethics. Through outreach efforts along his path, he spreads his message. “My purpose is to make the statement that we need to simplify life,” Swami said. “In many ways this walk reaffirms what we should be doing. Our bodies were made for walking. The question is, are we doing enough of it?” He began this portion of the trip in May in Pennsylvania and plans to finish in early August in Nebraska. Next year, he will make his way to California.

ISKCON Nellore Extension: An offering to Srila Prabhupada for ISKCONs’ 50th anniversary
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Hare KrishnaBy Sri Krishna Purusottama Das

On the occasion of Pani-hati cida dahi festival, His Holiness Sukadeva Goswami Maharaja has announced the offering of a new project for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada in this 50th year of ISKCON’s incorporation. Earlier this year, 10 acres of land with an existing ashram building in Tatipatri village, Andhra Pradesh, were donated to ISKCON Nellore. The land and ashram were cleared and prepared to take shape as a temple, which is now named ISKCON Tatipatri Village Ashrama, an extension of ISKCON Nellore. Following these preliminary preparations, on 15th June 2016, deities of Sri Gaura Nitai were installed in the ashram with elaborate abhishekam, go-puja, tree plantation, aarti, sankirtana & lunch prasadam for all. Henceforth, daily temple programs will continue & gita prachar will be conducted for the benefit of all the villagers in that area. His Holiness Sukadeva Goswami gave a talk on the occasion and invited one and all to participate in the upcoming Gudur Rath Yatra. One Mr. Krishna Reddy donated a cow and calf to the temple for the service of the deities. In tandem with the Gau-gram prachar yatra and Om Sri Surabhi campaign led by His Holiness Bhakti Raghava Swami, ISKCON Tatipatri Village Ashrama is all set to engage in cow protection and village preaching for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada, beginning in this glorious 50th anniversary of ISKCON.

ALL-CANADIAN FESTIVAL for the 50th Anniversary: JOY OF DEVOTION – SRILA PRABHUPADA IN MONTREAL
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Hare KrishnaBy Gokul Ananda Das

JOY OF DEVOTION – SRILA PRABHUPADA IN MONTREAL. The festival is actually divided into TWO PARTS: 1. The SPECIAL CULTURAL EVENT of Friday and Saturday Sept.2-3 for the GENERAL PUBLIC as well as our devotees and members -entitled JOURNEY to the HEART of INDIA, will be held in the huge centre court of COMPLEXE DESJARDINS , one of downtown Montreal’s most well-frequented office and shopping landmarks. Please SEE the 3 ATTACHMENTS below for all the detailed features of this COLORFUL EVENT meant to attract large numbers of the Montreal population. 2. The second part of the Grand Festival will be held AT THE TEMPLE on Sunday and Monday Sept.4-5 , with the theme : JOY OF DEVOTION – SRILA PRABHUPADA IN MONTREAL, with our special guests of honor: Shyamsundar, Guru das, Malati mataji, Suresvara, and Srutirupa mataji. SUNDAY Sept.4th – Besides the regular morning program, there will be an elaborate evening program at the temple, starting with the 4 – 5 p.m. kirtan, then a Maha-Abhiseka of Srila Prabhupada with the special kalashas, followed by testimonials and remembrances (from 6- 8 p.m.) by our many guests of honor, centered on Srila Prabhupada’s historic stay here in Montreal for 3 months in the summer of 1968. During that summer, the 3 couples from San Francisco – Mukunda andJhanavi, Guru das and Yamuna, Shyamsundar and Malati -also came to visit with Srila Prabhupada, who personally trained them in the art of kirtan. He then sent them off, with his special blessings and empowerment, to amazingly conquer England and much of Europe with ecstatic waves of harinam. We will thus be privileged to hear firsthand how Srila Prabhupada set in motion so many of his miraculous achievements and his major impact on countless lives, including all of us attending this historic gathering.

Does My Spiritual Master Care For Me?
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By Kesava Krsna Dasa

The worldwide preaching mission of Iskcon is still a novelty in historical vaisnava terms. This is the first successful attempt, and still very much work in progress. Often we hear that other religious organisations have old-age homes, hospices, hospitals, schools and the rest, and they have been around for many centuries. We have a few of these amenities already, after just 40 odd years, so we’re not doing too badly so far. For a preaching mission that supposedly has little regard for “Home comforts,” it is doing even better. We again often hear the comparison that our worldwide expanse fares poorly with the traditional localised system of guru/disciple relationships. Is this true? The majority of traditional gurus were grhasthas, who for family reasons stayed local. The renounced sannyasa gurus usually wandered like mendicants and so their disciples would expect long periods of separation. It so happens that the majority of our initiating gurus are sannyasis who travel the world preaching. Even the relatively few grhastha gurus also travel and are not always localised. This difference in comparison is not a poor one. Why did Srila Prabhupada set this standard himself? There were times when communities of his disciples waited for long periods before his return from preaching duties elsewhere in the world.

NASN May 2016 – North American Sankirtan Newsletter
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Hare KrishnaBy Mayapur Sasi dasa

For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of May. North American Totals, Monthly Temples, Monthly Weekend Warriors. Monthly Top 100 Individuals, Monthly Top 5, Cumulative Countries, Cumulative Temples, Cumulative Top 100 Individuals, Cumulative Top 5

Seeking the Vaisnava’s Blessings
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Hare KrishnaBy Indradyumna Swami

Dear devotees everywhere: This evening we begin a 2 1/2 month summer festival tour. Myself and a team of 300 devotees will hold a festival every day of the week, except Mondays, from now until the beginning of September. It means over 50 festival programs, including the great Woodstock festival in early July where just under a million people are expected. We are beginning here in Moldova and moving to the Baltic Sea Coast in Poland next week. This is a herculean task and we beg your blessings, along with the blessings of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya, to be successful. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers that we may touch the hearts of literally hundreds of thousands of conditioned souls in the weeks and months ahead. Thank you! All glories to Sri Krsna Sankirtan!

A View inside Hare Krishna
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Hare KrishnaBy Kristina Orrego

ALACHUA – It’s 4:30 a.m., and while the rest of the world is asleep, the Hare Krishna temple in Alachua is softly lit and gently buzzing. Women wearing ornate saris and men in white, flowing dhoti and kurta remove their shoes before stepping onto sacred ground. They enter, bowing their heads and prostrating their bodies in the direction of the statue of Srila Prabhupada, the pioneer of their movement that began 50 years ago. Beads in hand and eyes closed, they’re chanting the names of God and uttering the Hare Krishna mantra. This is all part of their ritual to seek Krishna and ask him to bless them before going on with the rest of their day. Then the sun comes up, and the singing in the temple becomes louder as they raise their voices in joyful and unabashed worship. The Krishna temple in Alachua was built in 1995, but the movement has been a prevalent part of the community since the early 70s, according to Krishna Keshava Das, a temple manager. He said over 400 families within a 20-mile radius are affiliated with the temple and congregate throughout the week or to observe special holidays, such as the birthdays of Lord Krishna and Lord Chaitanya.

NYC’s 5th Avenue Parade Launches ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary
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Hare KrishnaBy newsindiatimes.com

Three 40-foot high, colorfully-decorated Rathayatra carts hand-pulled by devotees and surrounded by thousands of chanting and dancing people —rolled down New York’s 5th Avenue June 11 to kickoff a national celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness better known as the Hare Krishna Movement. The Rathayatra parade began at 12 P.M. at West 45th Street and 5th Avenue, and ended at Washington Square Park where it joined the “Hare Krishna Festival” for an afternoon of free vegetarian food; stage performances of classical Bharatanatyam dance; a one hour dramatic rendition of the Ramayana performed by an theater troupe from the England; and multiple booths about reincarnation, meditation, and yoga. ISKCON’s founder Bhaktivedanta Swami, first came to New York City from India in September, 1965 to spread the teachings of Lord Krishna to the western world. “It’s very special for us to kick off the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON where he began right here in New York,” said Amrita Hari, spokeswoman for the Krishna society.

Woodstock Revisited – A review of Bhurijana das’ My Glorious Master
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Hare KrishnaBy Patita Pavana das

My Glorious Master is an excellent and well written history of an era of Krishna consciousness that would be lost to memory except for the few rare and valuable accounts scribed by far-sighted devotee-writers like Bhurijana. The author’s literary skill captures the reader’s interest in such a way that his journey into spirit is not only shared, but the reader becomes gradually Krishna-ized through the association. The book is rightly titled, for what greater glory can there be for a genuine spiritual master, than the absolute surrender of a sincere disciple? Therefore My Glorious Master is more than a great ride of spirited progress into devotional service. Indeed the author’s various guru-sevas—from driving a cab to laying bricks—represent “association in separation” with the glorious master at the highest level. As the author’s faith in his glorious master becomes strengthened, so does the reader’s.

UK PM David Cameron getting Bhagavad Gita
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Hare KrishnaBy Nrsimhananda das

Some devotees asked me if Cameron had received a copy of Bhagavad-gita since there was no video of him receiving it. A little perspective on PM Cameron’s visit to the Manor. This was his second time, the first in 2006 when he was leader of the conservative party. Krishna Dharma described his visit at that time, “Cameron could well become the next leader here in the UK. He heard the holy name, took prasadam, saw the deities and even had Lord Rama’s shoes placed on his head as he bowed before the altar. In 2010, the Prime Minister again personally encountered devotees at a Diwali celebration at 10 Downing Street, the official residence. He was given a Bhagavad-Gita and said, “I remember coming to Bhaktivedanta Manor and I enjoyed my visit immensely. Thank you. I shall keep this book in 10 Downing Street.” Ten years after his first visit, he returned to the Manor where he in received the deluxe edition of Bhagavad-gita . I’m not sure how many “big book points” are awarded for each gigantic copy distributed. 🙂 The Manor is not the only Hindu game in town, but the British head of state has chosen to highlight it. All glories to the staunch efforts of the leaders and congregation to spread the Holy Names around. Of course, the lure of honoring more Krishna prasadam probably was also a big factor in the PM’s decision to return to the Manor.

ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary Celebration ki jaya!
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Hare KrishnaBy the GBC Executive Committee Chairman

In order to increase our collective awareness of the historic event of ISKCON’s founding in 1966, and to help our world wide society better remember the wonderful achievements of our Founder-Acarya, Srila Prabhupada, and his society, and upon the request of the ISKCON 50th Anniversary Committee… The GBC Executive Committee hereby recommends that at all ISKCON temples, festivals, pujas, home programs, and other community events and functions throughout the world shall include the following glorification whenever the Prema-dvani prayers are chanted throughout each day: ‘ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary Celebration ki jaya!’ This phrase should be included either in English, or the local languages, as appropriate, and should begin immediately and continue through December 31, 2016.

The Conch – Newsletter of New Govardhana Community, June Issue
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Hare KrishnaBy New Govardhana Community

The Sikh Brothers Surrender. When brothers Naginder and Maninder Singh came to Australia from the Punjab eight years ago to study and work, they had not counted on pursuing a spiritually surcharged lifestyle. First settling in Melbourne, with older brother Naginder employed as a milkman and Maninder as a trainee chef, the self-proclaimed ‘naughty boys’ embraced a frivolous existence of material enjoyment. Their escapades took them to all major cities on the continent, but it was in Adelaide that they were captured by Krishna. Meeting a fellow countryman devotee, they listened with rapt attention as he propounded the ‘Dharma of the Age’. Japa beads were gladly received and their spiritual journey took a serious turn. Reaching the Gold Coast, they soon became enthusiastically involved in the local harinamas. Some months ago, the brothers visited New Govardhana and began to render service, which included assisting George in the kitchen. On a visit to the farm on Gaura Purnima this year, Maninder prayed before Their Lordships: “Krishna, I am here. Please give me a place in Your house and do not send me back to the place of Kali.” Before too long, Naginder and Maninder moved on to the farm, where their bhakti continues to increase, as they perform harinama seven days a week. Garlands, paraphernalia duties, kitchen work and more are now part of their daily lives. Maninder will also be undertaking the ISKCON Disciple Course facilitated by Krsnarupa devi dasi (ACBSP) over the next few months. Maninder, who is passionate about dancing, comments that he would like to be the “best ever harinama artiste”. Naginder is praying that his wife will soon join him on the farm and take up the life of a devotee. New Govardhana welcomes the brothers and their spirited enthusiasm.

British Prime Minister visits Manor for Bhumi Puja
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Hare KrishnaBy David Crick

British Prime Minister David Cameron returned to Bhaktivedanta Manor ten years after his first visit to take part in the Bhumi Puja for the Manor’s new Shree Krishna Haveli. After seeing the George Harrison garden he proceeded to the temple room where he took darshan of Sri Sri Radha-Gokulananda, Sri Sri Sita Rama Laxman and Hanuman and Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. He also garlanded Srila Prabhupada and met some of the residents. The Prime Minster then joined some 300 guests in the main marquee. Present were local politicians, MPs, spiritual leaders, business leaders and a cross section of the devotee community. Also speaking and taking part in the puja were Their Holinesses Bhakti Charu, Sivarama and Radhanath Swamis and His Grace Praghosa Dasa GBC. On arrival Mr Cameron was treated to a charming performance of “You Raise Me Up” by the children of the Bhaktivedanta Manor and Krishna Avanti Trust schools. After being introduced by MP Sailesh Vara he took to the stage, where his first words were “Hare Krishna!” – much to the delight of those present. The Prime Minister commented on the positive atmosphere he felt, and after recounting Srila Prabhupada’s journey to the West remarked that not only was ISKCON celebrating it’s 50th anniversary, but that he would also be celebrating his own 50th birthday this year. He also said that the UK benefited from its strong religious tradition and reflected that he had been at church this morning, was at a temple now and would be observing a Jewish rite with a friend in the evening.

Krishna give us Guidance, Oh Lord we need that now
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Hare KrishnaBy Praghosa dasa

Pusta Krsna Maharaja spent a long time on the phone in the evening, informing all the temples in Madhudvisa’s zone on the East Coast that he has fallen and he is no longer the GBC. However, when he came in to report his actions to Srila Prabhupada, Prabhupada was angry. Prabhupada was made aware of the initial suspicions in Australia, but his idea had been to keep the affair quiet until he reached New York, where he could see Madhudvisa personally and attempt to clear everything up without a scandal. He wanted to save him, and he was upset that news of Madhudvisa’s falldown was now widespread. He rebuked Pusta Krsna. “Now you have made it impossible for him to return.