Sydney Sunday Program
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It’s been a few months since I visited Sydney temple and this time I was able give the Sunday feast class and lead the 12.30pm arati. The Sydney Management changed the timing of the program from late afternoon to midday … Continue reading

Srila Prabhupada’s Arrival in Boston
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Srila Prabhupada first set foot in the West more than fifty years ago, after a 35 day journey from Calcutta. The steamship, Jaladuta, arrived at Boston’s Commonwealth Pier at 5:30 am on September 17, 1965. He reached Boston’s Commonwealth Pier … Continue reading

Srila Haridas Thakur Disappearance
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Thakura Haridasa was present during most of the Lord’s pastimes in Nadia, and when the Lord went to Jagannatha Puri, Haridasa also went and took up residence there. Everyday, after attending Lord Jagannath’s mangal arati, Lord Caitanya would come to … Continue reading

Toowoomba Rathayatra
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Toowoomba is a small city west of Brisbane, Australia. Every year the town celebrates the spring flower festival with a carnival and parade. For the last 5 or 6 years the Bhakti Centre on the Gold Coast has entered Lord … Continue reading

Radhastami
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In the Brihad-Gautamiya Tantra, Radharani is described as follows: devi krishna-mayi prokta radhika para-devata  sarva-lakshmi-mayi sarva kantih sammohini para “The transcendental goddess Srimati Radharani is the direct counterpart of Lord Sri Krishna. She is the central figure for all the … Continue reading

Seattle Rathayatra 2
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The Seattle Rathayatra parade was on the second day of the festival. Lord Jagannatha, Balarama, Subhadra Devi rode majestically on Their cart, which was brought up by devotees from Los Angeles. I was privileged to start the kirtan and was … Continue reading

Seattle Rathayatra
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I was able to attend the Rathayatra festival in Seattle, which went over two days. Tents, stalls and stages were set up in a park in the suburb of Bellevue and many people from devotees to casual visitors participated. On … Continue reading

New Goloka Farm
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ISKCON Seattle recently purchased an acreage about an hour’s drive from the temple. This facility is mainly for our beautiful cows and bullocks and also for a Krsna Conscious retreat centre. The devotees named it New Goloka after the Lord’s … Continue reading

Srila Prabhupada Vyasapuja
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Srila Prabhupada is the Founder Acarya of the International Society for Krsna Consciousness. As such, he will always hold the most prominent position in ISKCON, for grand disciples and especially for his direct disciples. I was privileged to attend his … Continue reading

Krsna Janmastami New Govardhana
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Although it was a rainy night at New Govardhana and a Monday, there were still many devotees who attended Sri Krsna Janmastami. The deities were gorgeously dressed and little Radha Krsna came out to be swung on Their swing. There … Continue reading

Krsna Janmastami Southport
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Krsna Janmastami is the most important day in the vaisnava calendar. Every year devotees from all over the world come together at temples and centres to celebrate the anniversary of Lord Krsna’s appearance. This year I was fortunate to attend … Continue reading

Cairns preaching
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Adi Kesava, Syamarupa and their daughters live in Cairns and have regularly programs at their house, as well as other devotee’s houses.  They daily worship their deities, Sri Radha Syamasundara, Sita Rama Laksman, Hanuman and Gaura Nitai. I visit every … Continue reading

Lord Balarama Appearance Day
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The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is the fountainhead of all incarnations. Lord Balarama is His second body. They are both one and the same identity. They differ only in form.  Balarama is the first bodily expansion of Krishna, and … Continue reading

Jhulan Yatra
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Of all the festivals in Vrindavan, Lord Krishna’s favourite is the Jhulan Yatra. During this season, Srimati Radharani and Krishna meet in the sylvan woods of Vrindavan, where the sakhis have prepared a gorgeous flower-bedecked jhula hanging from the high … Continue reading

Bhakti Tree
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The kirtan programs at the Bhakti tree in Newcastle are going nicely.  Things kick off at 6.00pm and the crowd builds up right through till just after 7.00pm when prasadam is served. I always enjoy leading these kirtans because of … Continue reading

Vamsidas Babaji Disappearance
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Vamsidas Babaji was a Gaudiya Vaishnava sadhu who lived at Swarupa Gunj, Nabadwip during the time of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur. He was respected by Srila Bhaktisiddhanta, and he used to see to it that Vamsidas Babaji was provided with … Continue reading

Raghunandan Thakur Disappearance
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Raghunandan Thakur was born in Sri Khanda, West Bengal, but he was a Vrajavasi in his previous life. In fact, he was the incarnation of one of Sri Krishna’s sakhas. His father, Mukunda Das, was the incarnation of Vrnda Devi, the … Continue reading

Lokanatha Goswami Disappearance
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Lokanatha Goswami was the eldest of the Goswamis living in Vraja-bhumi. He shunned name and fame so much that he asked Krishna Dasa Kaviraja to keep his name out of Caitanya-Caritamrita. “Anyone who reads the Srimad Bhagavatam,” said Lokanatha Goswami, … Continue reading

Gopal Bhatta Goswami Disappearance
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Gopala Bhatta Goswami (the son of Vyenkata Bhatta, a Sri Vaisnava brahmana) appeared in Sri Rangam, South India. Lord Caitanya once stayed for four months in his home and converted the family to Gaudiya Vaisnavism. A boy at this time, … Continue reading

Bali Rathayatra Parade
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The Bali Rathayatra was celebrated by at least 4,000 devotees who came from all over Indonesia to participate.  The parade itself was on the second day and everyone assembled in front of one of three chariots –  Lord Jagannatha, Lord … Continue reading

Bali Rathayatra festival
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The Rathayatra Festival in Denpasar was held over two days at one of the city’s main parks in the centre of town. The park was also full with people picnicking and exercising etc. The devotees organised everything wonderfully and on … Continue reading

Indonesia Meeting
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The ISKCON Indonesia National Council had it’s annual general meeting (AGM) in July just before the Rathayatra parade in Denpasar. This took place over a couple of days and representatives from Java, Sumatra, Lombok, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Bali and Iranian Jaya … Continue reading

Nrsimhadeva Deity
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It was nice to be in Bali again. As usual, I visited the temples, gave class, led kirtan and met with the devotees. The last time I was at Jagannatha Gauranga temple, the leaders told me that the Lord Nrsimha … Continue reading

Srivasa Thakur Disappearance
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It was in Srivasa Pandita’s house that Sri Caitanya enacted His pastimes of sankirtana. Those four brothers (Srivasa, Sri Rama, Sripati and Srinidhi) were continuously engaged in singing the names of Sri Krsna. They worshipped Sri Krsna and bathed in … Continue reading

Vakresvara Pandita Disappearance
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Sri Vakresvara Pandit was present with Sriman Mahaprabhu during His pastimes in Navadwipa and after his acceptance of Sannyasa he also accompanied Him to Jagannath Puri. During the time of the Lord’s residence in Puri he continued to live with … Continue reading

Snana Yatra
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On the full-moon day, sixteen days before Rathayatra, Lord Jagannatha is bathed. He becomes sick and is confined to rest for fourteen days. He is then offered special care until He comes out for Rathayatra. A special bath of Jagannatha takes place … Continue reading

Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi
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Bhimasena said to Srila Vyasadeva, “Only when I eat to my full satisfaction does the fire in my stomach become satisfied. Oh great sage, I might possibly be able to fast only once, so I beg that you tell me … Continue reading

Transcendental Cruise
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Disciples of Vedavyasapriya Maharaja organised a boat cruise for the devotees. I was also invited and more the 170 devotees booked on the boat named “The Lady” which left from Southport Marina on the Gold Coast. The cruise, which lasted … Continue reading

Baladeva Vidyabhusana Disappearance
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Sri Baladeva Vidyabhusana appeared in the 1600’s near Remuna, Orissa. In his youth, he mastered Sanskrit grammar, poetry, and logic. After carefully studying the commentaries of Sankara and Madhva he took initiation in the Tattva-vadi disciplic succession of Sripad Madhvacarya. … Continue reading

Adelaide temple worship of Purusottama Month
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On the last day of Purusottama month, many devotees in Adelaide assembled at the temple to worship and offer candles to the Lord. A deity of Lord Purusottama was placed on the altar and devotees came forward to worship Him, … Continue reading

Severe Drought
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On a recent visit to New Gokula farm the devotees told me that the area was experiencing the worst drought in the last one hundred years. There had been some light rain but not enough to change the situation much. … Continue reading

House Warming program
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Shyamananda Krsna and family have been living in Newcastle for the last couple of years. Previously they were in Adelaide but moved when he got a new job as a lecturer at Newcastle University. The family started off in a … Continue reading

Purushottama Month
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The ancient Vedic calendar is calculated by the movement of the moon. Lunar months are shorter than solar months so every three years a month is added called Purushottama month.  Once, long ago, Sri Narada Muni reached Badrika Ashram, the … Continue reading

ISKCON Australia AGM
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The meeting of ISKCON Australia leaders takes place every year at one our temples or rural communities. This time it was held at ISKCON Mahaprabhu Mandira in Melbourne and went for three days. As usual, there was robust discussion about … Continue reading

New Zealand AGM
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Every year, devotee leaders from around New Zealand meet at New Varshana, Auckland, for the AGM. This is held near the library at the school. Many devotees who live in the area, taking advantage of the leaders presence, come to … Continue reading

Wedding at New Varshana
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On Friday before our AGM in Auckland, two devotees, Krishna das and Sangita Priya dasi had their wedding ceremony in the temple room. Both are from devotee families. Their Lordships, Sri Sri Radha Giridhari, Jagannatha, Baladeva, Subhadra and Gaura Nitai … Continue reading

Higher Taste
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ISKCON Wellington’s Higher Taste restaurant has been operating for many years and is still going strong. There are lots of people who come throughout the day, right up until 8.00pm, Monday to Saturday. TP Jagjivan took me in one evening … Continue reading

Ramananda Raya Disappearance
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Five hundred years ago in the district of Puri, in the village of Bentapur, there lived a great devotee named Bhavananda Raya. Bhavananda had five sons, the eldest of which was Ramananda. It is said that Lord Caitanya visited the birth-place of … Continue reading

Lord Nrsimha Appearance at New Govardhana
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I was fortunate to be able to attend Lord Nrsimha’s appearance day festival at New Govardhan, which was a wonderful experience. Around five hundred devotees and guests participated in watching a play by the children, beautiful dance and sumptuous prasadam. … Continue reading

Lord Nrsimha appearance at Southport Centre
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Lord Nrsimhadeva’s appearance festival was celebrated with great enthusiasm at the Southport Centre on the Gold Coast. Over 100 devotees and guests came for the arati, lecture, drama, puspanjali, feast and prasadam. The drama was especially nice with some of … Continue reading