Author Archives: Dandavats

By Sita Rama das

Why are people more attracted to churches that demand more, when they could choose one that demands less? Answers to this are found in an academic paper published in the, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion (Sacrifice and Stigma: Managing Religious Risk, by Prosper Raynold). It is because people have the propensity to develop faith and hope in God; but people tend to rely on “faith intermediaries” to deepen their understanding of the will of God. They need to believe they have found intermediaries who have access to God (through sacred texts) and can transmit the will of God, and not exploit them. People then act in accordance with God’s will in order to obtain eternal life. But there is a, “mediation risk”, involved regarding whether the prescribed path will lead to the desired outcome. This intermediary risk is mitigated by “strictness.”

Patita Pavana dasa: Dylan must have seen or heard Prabhupada in all likelihood but I doubt he’d admit it.

By Mahasundari Madhavi Devi Dasi

Since the last five years, book distribution in North America has been on a steady increase. In 2012, under the encouragement and guidance of H.G. Vaisesika Prabhu, temple presidents and leaders assembled Team North America (continent wide team with one goal). In 2012, Team North America set a goal of 20% increase in the dollars remitted to BBT versus prior year; in 2013 another 20% increase on top of that, and in 2014 and 2015 each, additional 10% increase. The results were astounding – remittances more than doubled, implying an average annual growth of 18% over the last 5 years! This unprecedented and steady increase in book distribution has created new waves of enthusiasm in several centres across North America.

By Anuttama Das

I have a friend, he is a professor who is a Muslim man and he is older. He may be in his seventies. He went and heard Prabhupada speak at Harvard University, whenever Prabhupada was there in early 69 or 70’s something like that in the early days, he just happened to walking through the hall of the divinity college and he saw someone in saffron. Being from India he knew saffron was not something you ordinarily see in the Harvard campus. So, he went to hear Prabhupada and two things he said came out which convinced is that there is great spiritual truth in every tradition. Because he was Muslim and he came and heard this Vaishnava saint speak, he was so impressed. So I knew this story for years and recently I was with him again. I asked I said, tell me that story again about your time with Prabhupada. So he told me the story again. At the end he said, you know something funny?, he said I’m a muslim he said whenever I’m in trouble and whenever there is a problem I think of him. He said I’m a muslim and you think I would think of something in Islam, but I don’t, I think of him. He started to cry and then it went like that, I can’t talk about any more.

By Nitya Kishor Dasi

Early in the morning we left the beautiful Pratapnagar towards the Ganges shore (only 2 km walk). We boarded the boats and ship to Sankarpur. You can’t imagine how it is to get all these boats on the right time and cross the Ganga with more than one thousand people. How much managerial work is necessary to get these things done? To be honest with you there is no such thing as Boat Company here and the boats need to be hired individually, what takes a lot of time, patient and work. Before leaving we offered respects with folded hands to the dhamvasis who were bathing in the Ganges and all the women started the auspicious uludhuani (the loudly sound like a conch shell that we only hear in Bengal), and we felt blessed by them.

By Madhava Smullen

The words “Kuli Mela” literally mean “celebrate community!” in Sanskrit. And the tenth anniversary of the very first Kuli Mela – coming back to New Vrindaban from June 15th to 19th –will do exactly that. With its main themes of “celebrating family” and “building community,” the festival will bring around 1,000 people from the first, second, and third generations of ISKCON together: the original pioneers of Prabhupada’s society, their now grown-up children, and their children. The days will feature a variety of seminars, with a special focus on family and community. For instance, there’s one seminar on parenting, and another on how to start and maintain intentional communities, with successful examples from around the U.S.

By Abhaya Mudra Dasi

A single event of the ancient world has been covered by a number of scriptures—even though some of these old historical texts are not generally considered as Vedic. Elements of the history of Vaivasvata Manu, our current Manu, can be found as the story of “Noah and the Flood” both in the Bible and in the Koran. The great flood is also described in some other scriptures including the Book of Enoch and the Book of Jasher.

By Patita Pavana dasa

Basu Ghosh dasa recalls: “I was at ISKCON Chicago, during July 1973 when the van with Pavanadeva, Sheena and Dylan pulled up and they got out. I was sending out parcels of Spiritual Sky incense via UPS, which was my service in those days, and I immediately recognized Dylan. Dylan was ushered into a meeting with the late Sudama Maharaja, who was visiting ISKCON Chicago. At the time the temple was located in Evanston, in the old African-American YMCA building that was the Chicago temple back then. Dylan spent 3 hours or so conversing with him. It was a thrill at the time to see Dylan in person and up close. I was just eighteen years old at the time.”

By Chandan Yatra Das

Sri Gauranga Bari Temple at Katwa is the actual site where Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu took sannyasa from Sri Keshava Bharati in year 1510 AD at the end of His twenty-fourth year. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu left Navadvipa and crossed the river Ganges at a place known as Nidayara-ghata. Then He reached Kantaka-nagara, or Katoya (Katwa), where He accepted sannyasa. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu accepted sannyasa, three personalities were with Him to perform all the necessary activities. They were Nityananda Prabhu, Candrasekhara Acarya and Mukunda Datta. By the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, kirtana was performed for the entire day, and at the end of the day the Lord shaved off His hair. On the next day He became a regular sannyasi, with one rod (eka danda). From that day on, His name was Sri Krishna Caitanya. Before that, He was known as Nimai Pandita.

By Sri Nandanandana dasa Sometimes people say that they want to see God, or that God is not perceivable. And this is confirmed in the Vedic scripture, but with additional points of instruction on how we can perceive the Supreme Being. The Svetasvatara …

By Nitya Kishor Dasi

Lord Caitanya gives his mercy to the most fallen. He said: “When Krishna manifested His pastimes only very few people, His eternal associates recognized Him as the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He wasn’t sharing love of Himself. As Srila Prabhupada says Lord Krishna demanded that we surrender unto Him. Lord Caitanya is different. He is in the mood of the highest devotee Srimati Radharani. His mercy is a bottomless ocean; even a drop of it can drown the entire world. But are we experiencing it? Why not? If we sleep through our devotional life, how do we expect to make considerable progress? We must realize how we are suffering, how we are helpless. And sincerely pray. Lord Caitanya has given us the most powerful prayer the maha mantra. This is what we should pray for here in Jahnudvipa…

Damodarashtak das: The 2016 Bhakti Shastri Course at the VIHE this year is scheduled from 2nd July- 3rd November.

By Patita Pavana das It was soon after Shrila Prabhupada departed for Vaikuntha—just about the time Hare Krishna Land was opened in early 1978—that a terrible riot erupted outside the front gate of the Juhu property. India is a volatile country and su…

By Giriraj Swami His Holiness Sridhar Swami has given me a lifetime of work in service to Srila Prabhupada. Although jivo va maro va, to live or die is the same for a devotee—and certainly that was true of Maharaja—my own feelings are mixed. I think, “…

By Chandramouli Swami

Our ISKCON society is one of the most, we might say popular spiritual movements that worship Radha and Krishna all around the world. Practically in every country of the world there is very nice deity worship this is the glory of ISKCON and Prabhupada wanted that. Then he wanted to train and first bring in through preaching many many persons and give them a chance to engage in devotional service and teach them, may be engage them in developing those qualities. So he established the whole system of initiation.

Visvambhar Dasa: That is the reason Vedic scripture glorifies the Lord as most munificent incarnation

By Nitya Kishor Dasi

From Mahisura, the muslim village, the devotees walk to the beautiful Campahatti, literally means the ‘market of champa (jasmine) flower’. Many pastimes are related to this place so we had HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami, Rajendranandana prabhu, Bhakti Vijna Vinas Narasimha Swami speaking about the glories of Campahatti. That includes the pastimes of Jayadeva Goswami (he was living there!). Jayadeva Goswami, the author of Gita Govinda saw the Supreme Personality of Godhead in Campahatti, nobody can image how auspicious is this place! The brother of Gadadhara pandita, Dwija Vaninath installed the beautiful deities of Gaura Gadadhara in Campahatti. A beautiful temple of Gaudiya mata is there. The students of the Bhaktivedanta National School performed two dances. We had 3 plays put on the stage by our drama director in Parikrama HG Pancharatna prabhu.

By Kesava Krsna Dasa

Many devotees, who were previously active in preaching when living full time in the temples, feel that now – living outside and earning a living – those “good old days” remain just distant topics of nostalgia. Will those days ever return, they wonder? This whole material world is a preaching tool to remind us constantly about the miseries and sufferings it causes, therefore the demigods in charge of universal affairs are preaching there part too. There is an absolute preaching quality in Lord Krishna’s description of birth, death, disease and old age, and His Time factor preaches that all good things must come to an end, including our comfort zones. By becoming mentors or advisors, or organisers, or any background service within Iskcon, it is all preaching nonetheless. To think again about our recommitment and voluntarily coming forward to assist, will, in the higher sense mean that we will be helping to reunite all lost souls back into the divine company of Sri Sri Radha and Krishna.

By Nitya Kishora devi dasi

Before sunrise the International Party moved slowly from Svarupa Ganj (Godrumadvipa) to Hamsa Vahana (Madhyadvipa) . Lord Shiva appeared in this place just to hear Gauranga Lila, so this is very auspicious island. From there we went to the manifestation of Kuruksetra in Navadvipa dhama where the devotees heard about the glorious of the Bhagavad Gita and Srimad Bhagavatam from HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj. Delicious breakfast was serving in Pancaveni, under Gauranga setu as we go every year. Panchaveni means the confluence of the five sacred rivers: Ganga, Sarasvati, Yamuna, Alakananda and Godavari rivers. The current in this part of the island is very strong, so the devotees just pour water in their heads and pay obeisances.

By Caitanya Caran das These mental viruses infect us when we let ourselves become overwhelmed by excessive material desires for either the gross pleasures like smoking and drinking or the subtle gratifications of the ego. When we forget our spiritual i…

By Nitya Kishora devi dasi

HH Bhakti Dhira Damodara Maharaja was explaining how it is important to chant japa without any distraction, he said “Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura affirmed that those who chant japa without full attention like talking, checking emails, having meetings, managing etc are influenced by pramada, or madness”. Maharaj said “We are known as the Hare Krsnas, because we chant Hare Krsna, but the day has 24 hours and how many hours are we supposed to chant? Only 2 hours and the rest of the time what do we do?”. The devotees were listening to him with full attention. We are very fortunate to have HH Bhakti Dhira Damodar Maharaj on Parikram because he always sets a very serious and deep mood for chanting in the devotees minds, and everybody becomes happy when he is present, everybody becomes powerful, with the mind under control.

By Jagannath Das

Rathayatra is a festival for Lord Krishna and His devotees. Its an extraordinary spiritual event that originates in Jagannath Puri on the east coast of India and dates back over 2,000 years. Everyone chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra and dances in ecstasy as Krishna in His most merciful form of Jagannath is pulled along on a huge wooden cart. Main Attractions of Chariot of Festival at Shivaji Park: Cow Protection (Go Raksha), Pahandi Dance of Lord, Cultural Stall, Drama, Kirtan, Prasadam, 2 Day Mega Event. Guests: H.H. Radhanath Swami H.G. Radheshyam Das

By Visakha Dasi In each of its twelve cantos, Srimad-Bhagavatam, the “flawless ripened fruit of all Vedic scriptures,” tells of miracles and mysticism, of the esoteric and extraterrestrial. We hear a cow, bull, elephant, monkey, and bird speaking deep …

By Sureswara Dasa Bir Krishna the calf loves coconut fudge, and Sita the teamstress knows it. Her pockets bulge with the sweet as she and Bir walk to the training ring. Today the calf will learn his first call: “Get up!” The earth is soft from the rec…

By Niranjana Swami

Therefore he makes distinction between chanting of the names which is executed or performed by those who are materially satisfied or trying to improve themselves materially, and those who have the quality, which is described by Queen Kunti in this verse, those who are materially exhausted, who no longer see any need to pursue such mundane pursuits. Therefore because they have no interest in this world they are feelingly calling out the name, Krishna, and that quality of feelingly chanting Krishna’s name of course is that which attracts the Supreme Lord by the qualities the devotees has in chanting. First point of course which is important to take note of is, Prabhupada says that those who are intoxicated by wealth janma, aisvarya, suta, shri, intoxicated by these, are generally proud of their wealth. Therefore such proud persons also cannot call out the name feelingly.

By Madhava Smullen

Some of his main purposes for the Society included “to systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large,” and “to bring the members of the Society together with each other and nearer to Krishna.” Fifty years later, residents of his first rural community, New Vrindaban, are celebrating his Society’s Golden Jubilee with a packed year of events that intend to spread spiritual knowledge and deepen connections with devotees, the general public, and local municipal leaders. The first event will be a two-day festival on May 20th and 21st celebrating the 30th anniversary of the installation of New Vrindaban’s Nrismha-Prahlad Deities, the only full-sized such Deities in North America.

By Radhanath Swami In Srimad Bhagavatam in ninth canto, there is a story of Shaubhari muni. He was a very powerful yogi. Millions of time more powerful than any materialist today in his ability to fulfill his material desires. He had attained very grea…

By Kaviraja Shanti Prakash Dasa In all relationships we find some element of dependence. However the dependence is voluntary. The desire for freedom or independence remains ingrained within us. It may not be a physical struggle against slavery. It may…

By Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur We are opposed to the atheists alone who live and enjoy for themselves. Those who are anxious for the blessing of God are our brothers in faith, whatever error there may be in their ideas and forms of worship. Love of God, …

Aradhana Devi Dasi: It took a major turn in San Francisco in 1967, when Mr. Siegel became Gurudas, a disciple in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, or Iskcon

Krishnabhakta Das: A senior disciple of HH Lokanath Maharaja and one of the most profound Vaishnava Purohit of ISKCON has left his body.

By Ambika devi dasi

Bhaktivedanta Gurukula has welcomed students at the beginning of the new school year. Gurukulas are very important in our society because while the students are being trained in academic knowledge, they are also being guided to remember the cause of all causes, Lord Krishna. This early guidance will remain with them throughout their lives and will assist them to see the Lord’s presence in everything. In the sixth chapter of Bhagavadgita, Krishna explains how a spiritual seeker who does not attain perfection returns to this world, taking birth in a pious, prosperous or transcendentalist family. That soul then revives the divine consciousness of his previous life and makes further progress in order to achieve complete success.

By Padmapani das

As the latest headlines and news reports from around the world become more disturbing for us all, it’s quite natural to wonder just where the joy of life has gone for so many people. The pressing threats of world war, terrorist attacks and a host of other menacing perils hang ominously above our heads as we go about our daily activities, hoping against hope that somehow everything will work out all right. Yet deep in our hearts we know that something might happen at a moment’s notice which can potentially destroy everything. Our precious lives — and the lives of our loved ones — hang in the balance. In reality, most of us don’t have much of a safety net except for a vague sense of faith that life will go on. If truth be told, we live on a wing and a prayer.

By Piyush We all know that Krsna’s birthplace was a prison cell. Not many of us, however, know that before Srila Prabhupada left for the West, Srila Prabhupada brought Krishna’s message to the Tihar prison, Asia’s largest prison based out of Delhi, in …

By Badrinarayana Swami

Suppose that I open Badrinarayan Swami’s Convenience Store, Best and Cheapest. You come on in and buy something. Suppose that you give me a hundred dollars to buy a ten dollar item. I say thank you very much, jaya, and close the cash register. You will say hey, where is my change? I’ll say no, no, it’s there. They are just dark dollars. It’s laughable, but that is the cornerstone of astrophysics, dark matter. One devotee told me a joke: dark matter, anti-matter, it doesn’t matter. They are completely in a fog.

By Kesava Krsna Dasa Some devotees think, that because they are devotees, they must preach instantly to whomever they meet. Perhaps if we had the required force of purity, we could effect changes in people’s hearts on first contact. The reality is ho…

By Karnamrita dasa The idea that it is better to give than to just receive (to just be “on the take”), is a universal truth understood by people of all religions. In addition people understand that giving is actually getting, or by giving you are nouri…

By Mahatma das

Let’s start with the good news: we can be Krsna conscious anywhere. And here’s the bad news: there really isn’t an ideal environment for being Krsna consciousness. I hear you saying, “How can you say that?” What about the temple, what about Vrndavana and Mayapura, what about a Rathayatra Festival?” Yes, those would seem to be ideal environments for developing Krsna consciousness. But let me ask you a question: Does everyone who goes to Vrndavana, or a temple, or to a Rathayatra become Krsna conscious? Most people do, but one can even fall into maya in the Lord’s personal presence. The panacea of the age is the maha-mantra. It is the yuga dharma, it is the best way to be Krsna conscious. Does everyone who chants Hare Krsna become Krsna conscious? The impersonalists don’t. They chant to become one with Krsna. And I would be embarrassed to tell you how many rounds I have chanted in my life and not even thought of Krsna while His name was continually coming from my lips.

Ananda Tirtha Das: Various devotees have helped transcribe over the years, but at the moment we are looking for volunteers to help for the next two weeks.

By Giriraj Swami “If one tries to spread Krsna consciousness all over the world, he should be understood to be performing the best welfare activity. The Lord is automatically very pleased with him. If the Lord is pleased with him, what is left for him …