The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple would like to wish you and your family a very Happy Holidays! During this time of gift-giving and warmth, we hope everyone is having a Krsna conscious holiday season!
Author Archives: Keshav
Happy Holidays from Your Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!
An Unforgettable Night – Candlelit Sunday Feast
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!
With the City of Toronto in the throes of city-wide power outages due to a massive ice storm which had hit the city overnight on Saturday, there were more than a few pensive moments as the temple scrambled to keep things going with no power. The …
WE HAVE POWER BACK IN THE TEMPLE!!!
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It was an eventful 57 hours, but the temple finally has power back in the building! A collective cheer rang through the temple as the lights flicked on just before 12pm today! Actually, the temple was just preparing to shut off the water in the building to help avoid the pipes from freezing and then bursting! Luckily though, the power came on mere minutes before we were about to shut off the water !
Even though at times it was brutally cold in the temple and there was no hot water, lights or heat, spirits remained very high and all the devotees worked together to make the best of the situation.
From morning programs using flashlights to the unforgettable Candlelit Sunday Feast (pictures coming soon), it was a crazy 57 hours! A HUGE thank you to all the devotees in our community who helped out during this difficult time.
If anyone in our devotee community still does not have power, heat and/or hot water at home, please feel free to contact the temple and we would be happy to help in any way possible.
We will still try to post updates on our Twitter feed (below); or you can check it out to relive some the moments during the power outage!
Preview of Candlelight Sunday Feast Pics!
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!
It was an incredibly beautiful Sunday Feast program tonight, with soft candlelight providing a beautiful backdrop for an evening that was highlighted by the presence of HG Vaiesesika prabhu! We had some special cameras, which had been adjusted to…
CBC Radio Interviews Bhaktimarga Swami!
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!
We stumbled upon a neat little recording of an interview done by our very own Bhaktimarga Swami from a few months ago (September, 2013), conducted by CBC Radio Saskatchewan! The public broadcaster caught up with our walking Swami as he made his way thr…
Enchanting Kirtan with Madhava Prabhu in Vrndavan
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Check out this beautiful kirtan from the holy place of Vrndavan, India! After a powerful rain storm, devotees took shelter in a temple and then immersed themselves in an ecstatic kirtan!
Announcement – Niranjana Swami’s Visit to Toronto Indefinitely Postponed
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We don’t like being the bearer of bad news, however the Toronto Hare Krishna Temple would like to let all of our devotees know that, unfortunately, HH Niranjana Swami’s visit to Toronto, which was scheduled for Dec 16-17, 2014 has been indefinitely pos…
Our Govinda’s Restaurant Featured on Some Toronto Websites! Yippee!!!
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!
As many devotees in our Toronto Hare Krishna community know, our temple restaurant, Govinda’s, has been going through a dynamic overhaul over the last few years. The ambiance and atmosphere in the hall has been transformed, careful thought is now being put into our menus, and the public is responding by coming in great numbers!
We recently came upon two websites which featured Govinda’s in their reviews of vegetarian restaurants in the city! Check it out!
Blog – Toronto On A Shoestring – Occasionally, I will be sharing some group-buying deals with you which I think are really worth the money. I am particularly busy this week which is the reason I have already posted two for you already. 🙂 I purchased this one a few weeks ago because I am a foodie and am always seeking out inexpensive quality food deals. Govinda’s is already inexpensive without this deal and I planned on going anyway but glad I waited. Now I can eat there for even cheaper! [Click Here to Read More]
Huffington Post – Best Vegetarian Restaurants Toronto – If you’re someone who often orders salads in restaurants, you’re also probably someone who gets frustrated about the fact that they cost more than many entrees. And if you’re a vegetarian, that only ups the anger factor — after all, shouldn’t you be reaping some financial benefits for sticking to plant-based foods? [Click Here to Read More]
A Neat Video Depicting Reincarnation
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!
We stumbled upon a unique video online that uses stop motion animation to dramatically depict reincarnation. The ancient teachings of Krsna consciousness (bhakti-yoga) provide insights about reincarnation and they offer us an opportunity to under…
An Incredibly Inspiring Video, Showcasing Indradyumna Swami’s Polish Festivals
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!
Headed by HH Indradyumna Swami, the “Festival of India” has a long standing tradition of being a dynamic, travelling tour that visits cities across the Baltic Sea Coast for the last ten years. With incredible stage programs, yoga classes, philoso…
Hospice Seminar – Movie Night & Discussion – November 30th, 2013
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“For one who has taken birth, death is certain…” (BG – 2.27)Who among us will not be in need of compassionate, spiritually-centred care at the end of our lives?In 2010, a Hospice Seminar was facilitated by Sangita devi dasi (Susan Pattinson), a Srila…
Looking at Our Sunday Feast Through a Photography Student’s Lens
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!
A few weeks ago, Annie Sakab, a student who is studying photojournalism at Loyalist College in Belleville, paid a visit to our temple during one of our Sunday Feasts. The pictures she took were for a project in one of her classes. Annie has…
Roxborough Street is Finally Paved!
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!
It’s been over a week since the work started, but the repaving of Roxborough Street has been completed!During this construction period, parking has been difficult for many devotees in our community. Check out this picture of steam still rising off the …
Evening of Bhakti – Saturday, December 14,13 – 6:30 PM.
→ Gaura-Shakti Kirtan Yoga
While we have all become accustomed to seeing the typical images that are conjured up when we think of yoga, it can be an heart-opening experience to learn of bhakti-yoga – the yoga of love.
We warmly invite you to come and dive into an evening full of divine chants as you learn more about the ancient teachings of the yoga of the heart. The premise of the “Evening of Bhakti” is to hold a spiritually-soaked event for you. Whether you are completely new to the concept of bhakti-yoga or a seasoned veteran, you can expect an incredible evening of chanting, wisdom, dancing and more, followed by a vegan dinner.
Please feel free to bring your family and friends, it is open for everyone!
Our next “Evening of Bhakti” will be taking place on Saturday, December 14, 2013 at the historic Hare Krishna Centre from 6:30pm to 9:00pm! Please note that the timings have changed to 6:30pm! Our “Evenings of Bhakti” have been getting bigger and bigger.**NEW** Now our Evenings of Bhakti will feature an exciting new change! Last Evening of Bhakti we officially moved to the grant temple hall, a much bigger and unique sacred space. Participants of our Evening of Bhakti had an opportunity to witness the sacred form of the Divine, as the temple hall features three incredibly beautiful altars.
To help us plan properly for the number of guests attending, registration for the program is mandatory. Please confirm your attendance at: www.tinyurl.com/eveningofbhakti if you haven’t confirmed yet.
Admission is free but donations are encouraged to help support the program.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Welcoming Jambavan das and Gadhadhara Pandit das to Toronto this Week
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The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple is excited to share that we will be welcoming two special guests to our community this week. HG Jambavan das and HG Gadhadara Pandit das will be visiting Toronto and conducting various programs throughout the city.
Jambavan Das is a Sanskrit translator and expert in Gaudiya Vaishnava theology. He is an expert public speaker and has been a missionary and active member with ISKCON for many years. He is also a professional financial advisor. He is an expert teacher and has been trained to conduct formal Vedic fire yajnas (fire sacrifices where grains and various other items are offered into fire, accompanied by the chanting of mantras).
Gadadhara Pandit Dasa (also known as Pandit) is a monk, lecturer and the first-ever Hindu chaplain for Columbia University and New York University. He speaks at the nation’s leading universities, yoga studios, and retreat centers, inspiring audiences with India’s spiritual wisdom. His unique approach combines teachings of the ancient classic, Bhagavad-Gita, with popular Hollywood movies such as “The Matrix.”
Roxborough Street is Under Heavy Construction!
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!
Over the last week, the city has been doing work on Roxborough Street. The work done in recent days has left Roxborough in pretty bad shape for this Sunday.As work on the street continues, please plan your time accordingly when coming to the temple ton…
Construction Notice for Roxborough Street!
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!
A heads up to everyone! Roxborough will be closed for certain times over the next two days! Please plan accordingly!
Volunteer Opportunities this Weekend
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!
Volunteering at Toronto’s Hare Krishna Temple is always a most rewarding experience! As you may know, the Hare Krishna Temple is famous for providing several thousands of plates of prasadam (spiritualized food) at many Yoga Conferences and Food Shows in Toronto each year.
This coming weekend Nov 22-24th is one such Food Fair, and we need YOUR help to make it successful!
If you are available to help out, please fill out this form and indicate your availability! We will get in touch with you shortly.
ISKCON Toronto’s Next Town Hall – Sunday, September 22nd, 2013
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Blog!
*** UPDATE – Our Town Hall is scheduled to be broadcast live online. The broadcast will include a chat window where viewers can share their feedback, thoughts and questions! ***
We are very excited to announce that ISKCON Toronto will be hosting our second Town Hall on Sunday, September 22nd, 2013 from 4pm to 6pm in Govinda’s Dining Hall. This Town Hall will present an opportunity for our vibrant Hare Krishna community to come forward and engage in a productive, two-way dialogue about our Hare Krishna temple and community at large.
The Town Hall will begin with a small presentation from the ISKCON Toronto Temple Council, highlighting the successes, challenges and financial developments over the last several months. After this, we will open up the dialogue to our entire community to share their thoughts, dreams, concerns and suggestions about how we can continue to grow our temple and community.
Please accept this as a warm invitation for you to come and attend our Town Hall. Our hope is that we will be able to host these Town Halls every three months and thus increase the communication between the temple management and our dear congregation. We hope to see you this Sunday – please feel free to pass along this warm invitation to your devotee friends! Hare Krishna!
Sincerely,
The ISKCON Toronto Temple Council
templecouncil@torontokrishna.com
www.torontokrishna.com
Announcement – Double Decker Bus Kirtan Postponed Due to Rain!
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Blog!
Due to rain today, we are postponing the double Decker haeinam event to a later date. However, the event in the evening, “Srila Prabhupada Memories” is still on!! So please come out for a sweet evening as the local disciples of our dearmost Prabhupada …
Vyasa Puja Celebrations – August 29, 2013
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Blog!
In the wake of having celebrated on of our biggest festivals of the year last night, Krsna Janmastami, we will be celebrating one of the most important festivals for us as Hare Krishnas – Vyasa Puja starting at 11am on Thursday, August 29, 2013. &…
Krishna, Krishna, Krishna He! – Audio Recording from Our Recent Evening of Bhakti.
→ Gaura-Shakti Kirtan Yoga
This beautiful and powerful bhajan was sung by Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Himself as a call for protection when He traveled across India.
Evening of Bhakti – Saturday, July 27 – Starting at 7:30 P.M.
→ Gaura-Shakti Kirtan Yoga
While we have all become accustomed to seeing the typical images that are conjured up when we think of yoga, it can be an heart-opening experience to learn of bhakti-yoga – the yoga of love. We invite you to come and dive into an evening full of d…
Special "Kirtan Sunday Feast" with Madhava and Dravida Prabhus
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Blog!
This upcoming Sunday, we will be surely be recovering from an amazing pre-festival launch at Yonge-Sundas Square. However, there won’t be much time to catch our breath! This upcoming Sunday Feast will be a special “Kirtan Sunday Feast” with…
Special "Kirtan Sunday Feast" with Madhava and Dravida Prabhus
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Blog!
This upcoming Sunday, we will be surely be recovering from an amazing pre-festival launch at Yonge-Sundas Square. However, there won’t be much time to catch our breath! This upcoming Sunday Feast will be a special “Kirtan Sunday Feast” with…
Check Out the Exciting Upcoming Events – Attention All Kirtan and Yoga Enthusiasts!
→ Gaura-Shakti Kirtan Yoga
-Yonge-Dundas Square – Saturday, July 6th
-12 pm -10 pm-
Can’t wait for Yoga Meltdown on July 14th? No problem! Come and join us for the Festival of India launch party on Yonge-Dundas Square. The pre-festival is held on July 6th 2013, one week before the Festival of India itself.
Kirtan with Madhava and many more renowned kirtaneers at 6 pm promises to transform the heart of downtown Toronto into a sublime experience! In addition to the yoga classes and kirtan, the pre-festival will also feature a South Asian bazaar, vegetarian cooking demos, henna tattoos, face-painting, and dress-in-a-sari booths, and more. To register – http://www.festivalofindia.ca/Festivities/prefestival
-12-hour Kirtan – Friday, July 12th
– 10 am-10 pm-
12 hour kirtan with renowned singers from around the world, it can only be described as a ‘kirtan explosion’ that will certainly shake Toronto! Join us for the blissful kirtan day on Friday, July 12th from 10 am to 10 pm at the famous Hare Krishna Centre on 243 Avenue Road! We promise it will be an unforgettable experience!
-Yoga Meltdown – Sunday, July 14th-
Come join us on Sunday July 14th, 2013 on Centre Island for the 6th Annual Yoga Meltdown, Toronto’s largest, free outdoor spiritual yoga and kirtan exhibition. With free outdoor yoga classes, kirtan, mantra meditation sessions, yoga-inspired performances, vegan cooking demonstrations, a free vegetarian feast, and much more, the Sixth Annual Yoga Meltdown celebrates yoga in a dynamic and uniquely holistic way.
We would love to see you all there to enjoy a FREE yoga class and partake in the festival festivities! Please register in advance: http://www.yogameltdown.com/
Check Out the Exciting Upcoming Events – Attention All Kirtan and Yoga Enthusiasts!
→ Gaura-Shakti Kirtan Yoga
-Yonge-Dundas Square – Saturday, July 6th
-12 pm -10 pm-
Can’t wait for Yoga Meltdown on July 14th? No problem! Come and join us for the Festival of India launch party on Yonge-Dundas Square. The pre-festival is held on July 6th 2013, one week before the Festival of India itself.
Kirtan with Madhava and many more renowned kirtaneers at 6 pm promises to transform the heart of downtown Toronto into a sublime experience! In addition to the yoga classes and kirtan, the pre-festival will also feature a South Asian bazaar, vegetarian cooking demos, henna tattoos, face-painting, and dress-in-a-sari booths, and more. To register – http://www.festivalofindia.ca/Festivities/prefestival
-12-hour Kirtan – Friday, July 12th
– 10 am-10 pm-
12 hour kirtan with renowned singers from around the world, it can only be described as a ‘kirtan explosion’ that will certainly shake Toronto! Join us for the blissful kirtan day on Friday, July 12th from 10 am to 10 pm at the famous Hare Krishna Centre on 243 Avenue Road! We promise it will be an unforgettable experience!
-Yoga Meltdown – Sunday, July 14th-Come join us on Sunday July 14th, 2013 on Centre Island for the 6th Annual Yoga Meltdown, Toronto’s largest, free outdoor spiritual yoga and kirtan exhibition. With free outdoor yoga classes, kirtan, mantra meditation sessions, yoga-inspired performances, vegan cooking demonstrations, a free vegetarian feast, and much more, the Sixth Annual Yoga Meltdown celebrates yoga in a dynamic and uniquely holistic way.
We would love to see you all there to enjoy a FREE yoga class and partake in the festival festivities! Please register in advance: http://www.yogameltdown.com/
ISKCON Toronto’s Very First Town Hall – Sunday, June 23rd, 2013
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Blog!
*** UPDATE – OUR TOWN HALL WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE ONLINE RIGHT HERE AT TORONTOKRISHNA.COM – LOG ON AT 4PM! ***
We are very excited to announce that ISKCON Toronto will be hosting our very first Town Hall this Sunday, June 23rd, 2013 from 4pm to 6pm in Govinda’s Dining Hall. This Town Hall will present an opportunity for our vibrant Hare Krishna community to come forward and engage in a productive, two-way dialogue about our Hare Krishna temple and community at large.
The Town Hall will begin with a small presentation from the ISKCON Toronto Temple Council, highlighting the successes, challenges and financial developments over the last several months. After this, we will open up the dialogue to our entire community to share their thoughts, dreams, concerns and suggestions about how we can continue to grow our temple and community.
Please accept this as a warm invitation for you to come and attend our very first Town Hall. Our hope is that we will be able to host these Town Halls every three months and thus increase the communication between the temple management and our dear congregation. We hope to see you this Sunday – please feel free to pass along this warm invitation to your devotee friends! Hare Krishna!
Sincerely,
The ISKCON Toronto Temple Council
templecouncil@torontokrishna.com
www.torontokrishna.com
ISKCON Toronto’s Very First Town Hall – Sunday, June 23rd, 2013
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Blog!
*** UPDATE – OUR TOWN HALL WILL BE BROADCAST LIVE ONLINE RIGHT HERE AT TORONTOKRISHNA.COM – LOG ON AT 4PM! ***
We are very excited to announce that ISKCON Toronto will be hosting our very first Town Hall this Sunday, June 23rd, 2013 from 4pm to 6pm in Govinda’s Dining Hall. This Town Hall will present an opportunity for our vibrant Hare Krishna community to come forward and engage in a productive, two-way dialogue about our Hare Krishna temple and community at large.
The Town Hall will begin with a small presentation from the ISKCON Toronto Temple Council, highlighting the successes, challenges and financial developments over the last several months. After this, we will open up the dialogue to our entire community to share their thoughts, dreams, concerns and suggestions about how we can continue to grow our temple and community.
Please accept this as a warm invitation for you to come and attend our very first Town Hall. Our hope is that we will be able to host these Town Halls every three months and thus increase the communication between the temple management and our dear congregation. We hope to see you this Sunday – please feel free to pass along this warm invitation to your devotee friends! Hare Krishna!
Sincerely,
The ISKCON Toronto Temple Council
templecouncil@torontokrishna.com
www.torontokrishna.com
Classes with HG Vaisesika Prabhu – LIVE!
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Blog!
*** UPDATE – MAY 16TH – Daily Readings are cancelled for Thursday, May 16th and Friday, May 17***Schedule (May 14th – 19th):**Theme: Practical Applications of Srimad Bhagavatam**Tuesday, May 14th – Sunday, May 19th: Srimad Bhagavatam Classes…
Classes with HG Vaisesika Prabhu – LIVE!
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Blog!
*** UPDATE – MAY 16TH – Daily Readings are cancelled for Thursday, May 16th and Friday, May 17***Schedule (May 14th – 19th):**Theme: Practical Applications of Srimad Bhagavatam**Tuesday, May 14th – Sunday, May 19th: Srimad Bhagavatam Classes…
Live Concert – New Audio Recordings!
→ Gaura-Shakti Kirtan Yoga
Check out our new audio tracks from live concert of last “Evening of Bhakti” (February 2013). The tracks are also available for download! Enjoy! 🙂 See you next “Evening of Bhakti” on March 30th!
Live Concert – New Audio Recordings!
→ Gaura-Shakti Kirtan Yoga
Check out our new audio tracks from live concert of last “Evening of Bhakti” (February 2013). The tracks are also available for download! Enjoy! 🙂 See you next “Evening of Bhakti” on March 30th!
Special "An Evening of Bhakti" – Saturday, February 16, 2013!
→ Gaura-Shakti Kirtan Yoga
While we have all become accustomed to seeing the typical images that are conjured up when we think of yoga, it can be an heart-opening experience to learn of bhakti-yoga – the yoga of love. We invite you to come and dive into an evening full of d…
Special "An Evening of Bhakti" – Saturday, February 16, 2013!
→ Gaura-Shakti Kirtan Yoga
While we have all become accustomed to seeing the typical images that are conjured up when we think of yoga, it can be an heart-opening experience to learn of bhakti-yoga – the yoga of love. We invite you to come and dive into an evening full of d…
Our Recent "Evening of Bhakti" – April 13, 12
→ Gaura-Shakti Kirtan Yoga
Our most recent “Evening of Bhakti” was an amazing experience for both our Gaura-Shakti team and the attendees! We started off with some nice chanting, spiritual discussions with our special guest of honor Laxmimoni Dasi who has been teaching and pract…
Our Recent "Evening of Bhakti" – April 13, 12
→ Gaura-Shakti Kirtan Yoga
Our most recent “Evening of Bhakti” was an amazing experience for both our Gaura-Shakti team and the attendees! We started off with some nice chanting, spiritual discussions with our special guest of honor Laxmimoni Dasi who has been teaching and pract…
"An Evening of Bhakti" takes place on Saturday, October 22, 11!
→ Gaura-Shakti Kirtan Yoga
While we have all become accustomed to seeing the typical images that are conjured up when we think of yoga, it can be an heart-opening experience to learn of bhakti-yoga – the yoga of love. We invite you to come and dive into an evening full…
"An Evening of Bhakti" takes place on Saturday, October 22, 11!
→ Gaura-Shakti Kirtan Yoga
While we have all become accustomed to seeing the typical images that are conjured up when we think of yoga, it can be an heart-opening experience to learn of bhakti-yoga – the yoga of love. We invite you to come and dive into an evening full…
Our First CD Will be Available at Festival Of India!
→ Gaura-Shakti Kirtan Yoga
Finally, Gaura-Shakti’s first CD will be available on Festival of India, that will take place on July 16 and 17!!!Look for our CD on Centre Island!Please also join us for kirtan on July 17th on the main stage from 1:30pm to 2:30pm!Check out: www.festiv…