Author Archives: Dandavats

Gaura Purnima Festival 2016 in Mayapur
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Hare KrishnaBy Iskcon Mayapur

It all started with the festival inauguration March 5th and blissfully went on until Gaura Purnima day. Let’s not forget Jaganath Misra’s feast on 24th and 25th of March which provided a sumptuous feast for thousands of devotees and pilgrims who left completely satisfied. For almost one month, Sri Mayapur Dham was flooded, but this time not by Mother Ganga but by Thousands and Thousands of spirit souls hoping to get some Mercy from the Lord. Ratha Yatra, Boat festival, Kirtan Mela, Mini Market, Huge International presentation displaying devotional activities done by devotees in their own country around the world, stage performances, daily feasts, and of course Parikrama and Lord Gauranga’s Abhishek. There was so much to do, it was a daily dilemma to choose which activities to attend every day. We also had most ecstatic Siva Ratri celebrated at in our ISKCON Rajapur Jaganath temple, elephant procession, Daily evening Kirtan , amazing inspiring lectures by our beloved gurus and so much more. It seemed like a year of spiritual activities were compressed in one month! Mayapur is most definitely the most beautiful and inspiring place in the world.

When Mayor Rob Ford Chanted “Hare Krishna”
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Hare KrishnaBy Kevala Bhakti das

With recent news of the tragic passing of former Mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford, many devotees of Toronto’s Hare Krishna Community have been fondly recalling how the then-Mayor visited our annual Festival of India (Ratha-Yatra) in 2014. It was the second day of our grand two-day annual event on Centre Island and word quickly got around that the Mayor had arrived at the festival site. He first visited the Deity booth, diligently removed his shoes and then took darshan (audience) of Lord Jagannatha (Lord Krishna). He was then garlanded by one of our pujaris (priests). Mayor Ford was then brought to the main stage where he shared a proclamation from the City of Toronto, honouring our annual Festival of India (Ratha-Yatra). The highlight was the Mayor enthusiastically yelling out to the crowd, “Hare Krishna!” and receiving a jubilant “Hare Krishna” back as seen at the end of the video below! Mayor Ford then toured the rest of the festival site, indulged in some prasadam (sanctified vegetarian food) and shook hands with what seemed to be an endless throng of people! Toronto’s Hare Krishna community extends our prayers and condolences to the members of the Ford family during this difficult time. We hope that those who are mourning the loss of Rob Ford can take solace in knowing that he most certainly received great spiritual benefit by chanting the words “Hare Krishna” with all of his heart.

Festival of Inspiration ISKCON 50 Special Packed With Variety
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Hare KrishnaBy Madhava Smullen

It’s hard to beat Festival of Inspiration for sheer variety. This year’s ISKCON 50 special edition of the Appalachian spiritual retreat in New Vrindaban, West Virginia will overflow with the best Krishna consciousness has to offer: seminars, kirtans, entertainment, and the tastiest prasadam this side of the spiritual world. Hundreds of devotees from all over the East Coast of the United States and Canada are expected to pour in for the May 6th to 8th weekend. Each day of the festival will begin with an extended themed Srimad Bhagavatam class. Author Yogesvara Das will speak about his new biography of Srila Prabhupada for a mainstream audience, entitled “Swami in a Strange Land.” And the class on Sunday – Mother’s Day – will focus on the importance of honoring mothers in the Vaishnava tradition.

WSN February 2016 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
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Hare KrishnaBy Vijaya das

After the departure of Aindra Prabhu, a good friend of his, Rama Raya Prabhu, had the strong feeling that his friend Aindra wanted him to chant the holy name in New York City. So this is what he and many others do, 365 days a year. There are no days off. Aindra Prabhu was originally doing harinama preaching in NYC, but Krsna has His plans, so Aindra went to Vrindavana and restarted the 24-hour kirtan that Srila Prabhupada had once instituted. Now Rama Raya and his team of chanters in NYC not only distribute the holy names but also books. Last month they distributed 2,293 books and magazines in the Big Apple. When there’s harinama and book distribution, how can Aindra Prabhu and the whole parampara not be pleased?

The Flower Festival 2016
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Hare KrishnaBy radhanathswami.com

The Radha Gopinath Temple in Mumbai, India celebrated their annual Flower Festival on January 30th, 2016. Over two hundred western yoga teachers and students joined thousands of members of the Radha Gopinath Temple congregation for the event. Participants of the Bhakti Immersion Retreat held at Govardhan Eco Village rushed to Mumbai for the celebrations. Gaur Vani, of the music band The Hanumen, posted on the internet, “After seeing the new developments at Radhanath Swami’s Govardhan Eco Village (including life-size replicas of the holy sites of Vrindavan), tons of hugging cows, serving with villagers, and loads of kirtans and music and yoga classes we’ve come back to Mumbai for the world-famous Flower Festival….” Sixty students of Jiva Mukti Yoga’s Yoga Teachers Training also joined in.

Srila Prabhupada’s Middle East Preaching Program
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Hare KrishnaBy Padmapani Das

In early 1978, Tribhuvanatha Prabhu gathered together a small group of devotees with the aim of spreading Krishna consciousness in the Middle East for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada. The group traveled overland from London to Beirut where 5,000 Arabic Bhagavad-gitas and thousands of Arabic Sri Isopanisads were distributed in the midst of civil war. Some devotees were imprisoned — risking life and limb — but were eventually released unharmed.

ISKCON Belgium Deplores Brussels Attack
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Hare KrishnaBy Mahaprabhu das

On Tuesday, March 22nd, 2016, a terrorist attack with multiply blasts has shaken Belgium’s capital Brussels killing and injuring dozens at Zaventem Airport and in the subway. On March 23rd, ISKCON Belgium has issued the following statement: “ISKCON Belgium deplores the atrocious acts of violence committed by monsters that do not represent or practice any spiritual tradition but on the contrary, only represent and practice hatred, madness, envy, violence and terror. Our prayers and thoughts are for the victims and their families. May all faiths stand together to condemn all acts of terror and promote peace, dialogue and respect.”

Mahaprabhu: ISKCON 50th Anniversary offering by Jayadeva das
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Hare KrishnaBy Mahaprabhu das

Mantra Choir performance of Mahaprabhu. Involving over 400 musicians, singers and dancers from all around the World. Early 70’s pop star John Richardson aka Jayadeva Prabhu released today on Gaura Purnima day (23 March), his ISKCON 50th Anniversary offering–the virtual mantra choir. Having gathered the voices of devotees from more than 25 countries, Jayadeva conducts the Mantra Choir in singing the name of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

2016 TOVP update video
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Hare KrishnaBy Prananatha Das

After months of intense work, for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada, we present the 2016 TOVP update video. Please watch in HD. The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP), being built at ISKCON’s World Headquarters in Mayapur, West Bengal, India, is ISKCON’s flagship project and most ambitious undertaking to spread the teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the Golden Avatar. Mission The fulfillment of the desire of visionary spiritual leaders, saints and incarnations, the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium is a unique and ambitious project to make the vast culture and philosophy of the timeless Vedic tradition accessible to everyone, under the direction of ISKCON Founder-Acharya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Rising from the plains of the holy land of Sri Mayapur, on the banks of the sacred Ganges River, the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium will be a shining beacon to all aspiring spiritualists who are searching for answers to the questions of life. The temple is being designed according to the sacred architecture that has facilitated union with the divine for millions of people throughout the ages. Simply seeing the outside of the temple will evoke an appreciation for the divine, and awaken the dormant devotion for God in every sincere seeker.

The Hidden Incarnation
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Hare KrishnaBy His Divine Grace A.C.B. Swami Prabhupada

Caitanya Mahaprabhu is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but He’s channa. Channa means “covered.” Lord Caitanya is a covered avatara, or incarnation, of the Supreme Lord because He appeared as a devotee. In the Kali-yuga He does not appear directly like other incarnations, such as Narsimhadeva, Vamanadeva, or Lord Ramachandra. He appears as a devotee. Why? Because He is the most magnanimous avatara. People are so foolish that they could not understand Krishna. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared to give mercy to the fallen souls, who are so foolish that they cannot take to Krishna consciousness. He is personally teaching how to take to Krishna consciousness. And that process is this kirtana, chanting Krishna’s holy names. – Lecture in Mayapur on the appearance day of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu: March 16, 1976

Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir – SB Class, 17 March 2016: HH Bhakti Carudesna Swami
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Hare KrishnaBy Bhakti Carudesna Swami

The spirit soul, the living entity, has no death, for he is eternal and inexhaustible. Being free from material contamination, he can go anywhere in the material or spiritual worlds. He is fully aware and completely different from the material body, but because of being misled by misuse of his slight independence, he is obliged to accept subtle and gross bodies created by the material energy and thus be subjected to so-called material happiness and distress. Therefore, no one should lament for the passing of the spirit soul from the body.

New Film release: For Tomorrow
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Hare KrishnaBy Jagannath Kirtan Das

Dear devotees, today, on the disappearance of Srila Madhavendra Puri, the celebration of Sri Advaitacarya’s Shantipur festival, just three days shy of Gaura Purnima, after months of work, it is with deep gratitude and joy that we present to the devotee community our latest film entitled For Tomorrow. Our politicians pay lip service to it. Our technology is indifferent to it. Our commerce despises it. Nonetheless, it is the weightiest and most important thing to think about. Spirit. The living force. The soul. Srila Prabhupada wrote that society’s most vexing and painful problems could be redressed by simply realizing who we are: individual, eternal loving beings. Today, this type of knowledge is rarely found; those who practice this knowledge, rarer still. Can a coherent, stable, unified culture be created out of people of diverse traditions, languages, and religions? Can human beings go beyond their superficial differences and work together in a spirit of cooperation?

The value and benefits of Prasadam Distribution
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Hare KrishnaBy Aniruddha Dasa

The positive reputation of ISKCON in Australia is built in good part on the good will created by the prasadam distribution of our restaurants and the vegetarian or bhakti yoga clubs in our universities. It is an essential element of connecting with the man on the street, especially in countries with small populations where you can’t sell a book to an individual every day of the week. They will however, be hungry every day, and happy to pay for a good, healthy, scrumptious meal of delicious Krsna prasadam. Sometimes eating more than one meal a day!
We should take advantage of this global opportunity!

Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir – SB Class, 15 March 2016: HH Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Swami
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Hare KrishnaBy HH Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Swami

I asked Srila Prabhupada personally, Srila Prabhupada, I said, United States is like a heavenly planet, if you go to super market then everything is there. In US you could buy imported jams and jellies real fruits you know & packets good, packet, cereals, canned goods and very fresh produce from various place around the world. It’s like a paradise except the meat department. So I asked Prabhpada, it’s so much like a heavenly planet and so much opulence and all that but no yajña to support it. Of course I was thinking of the BG “yajno vai visnuh”, that you know, “annad bhavanti bhutani”, I was thinking of that sloka I dint spell it out to Srila Prabhupada, I didn’t have to say the verse he knew what l was talking about. There is always prosperity, but there is nothing to sustain it because this prosperity is sustained by yajña and there is no yajña. He said very ominously, it will not last very soon it will be finished.

Historic meeting with the Prime Minister of India- Shri Narendra Modi
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Hare KrishnaBy Vrajendranandan Das

HH Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaja apprised the Prime Minister about the global preaching efforts of ISKCON, particularly the propagation of the priceless message of the Bhagavad Gita in most of the significant languages of the world. The Prime Minister was pleased to hear that the Bhagavad Gita is available in 81 languages of the world. The Prime Minister was also presented with a copy of the Bhagavad Gita As It Is in Russian, Chinese, Gujarati, Hindi and English. Maharaja also offered to have a copy of the Bhagavad Gita As It Is in all languages, kept in the Prime Minister’s Library; something which Srila Prabhupada would have been pleased to hear.

Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama (day 7)
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Hare KrishnaBy Nitya Kishor Dasi

On the 8th day (18th of March), we are going to see the sacred places in Antardvipa, the island of full surrender. It is interesting that a big part of ISKCON Mayapur complex is situated in Antardvipa. We are just 1km from Yoga Pitha. Those who come to Mayapur or live here are invited to practice the process of surrender; these are the blessings of this island. We are scheduled to reach ISKCON Mayapur campus tomorrow 9:00am where a Maha Milan (great meeting) will take place with all the parties meeting at the same time, which demands a lot of communication and organization from the leaders, securities, Parade commanders and Coordinators.

NASN February 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 February. 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

Gaura Purnima message from TOVP
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Hare KrishnaBy Vraja Vilasa das

On this most auspicious occasion, 530 years ago, Lord Krsna Himself descended here as the Golden Avatar to deliver a spiritual treasure to each and every one of us. Even as the branches of the sankirtan movement continuously spread from Mayapur all over the globe, every Gaura Purnima thousands of joyful devotees return to where it all began to celebrate, worship, and pay homage to our Lord. Together, through our collective prayers and determined efforts, Lord Caitanya’s new temple is being raised by your generous contributions.