ISKCON’S first Rathayatra in Anchorage, Alaska
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The small town of Anchorage, Alaska, was filled with excitement on April 27, 2023, as the International Society for Krishna Consciousness devotees organized the first ever Rath Yatra festival in the area. The event was the culmination of preparation by the devoted volunteers who worked tirelessly to bring the ancient festival to the modern world.
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Lord Narasimhadeva’s Mercy Shines Upon All in ISKCON Simhachalam, Germany
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“Narasimhadeva is the eternal protector, still this year, we were able to offer him a golden Kavacha armor,” said Govindadeva Dasa, who worked endlessly for weeks in South India alongside the experts to ensure the Golden Kavacha was made to perfection and on time for this year’s Narasimha Caturdasi. Narasimha Caturdasi Festival, in ISKCON Simhachalam, […]

The post Lord Narasimhadeva’s Mercy Shines Upon All in ISKCON Simhachalam, Germany appeared first on ISKCON News.

Mother Ganga (FULL MOVIE)
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Mother Ganga (FULL MOVIE)
Synopsis: ‘‘Mother Ganga‘‘ is a unique documentary about the Ganges river based on ‘‘Our merciful Mother Ganga,‘‘ a book by Jay Vijay Das. The film portrays a pilgrimage, starting at the Bay of Bengal where the Ganges enters the sea (Ganga Sagar), to Gangotri and Gomukh in the Himalayan Mountains where the Ganges appears. Along the journey, one can see images from significant places of pilgrimage such as Mayapur, Jaipur, Varanasi, Bodgaya, Haridwar, Rishikesh, Gangotri, and others. The film depicts the love and devotion the people of India have been exhibiting for thousands of years in the worship of Gangamayi. The commentary consists of narratives and related stories found in the Vedas describing the Ganges‘ spiritual origin, purifying power, descent to the material world, personal feature, etc. This film also contains footage capturing the atmosphere of ancient worship ceremonies, magnificent temples, impressive mystic yoga practice, etc.


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Hare Krishna Cairns
→ Ramai Swami

Adi Kesava das and Syamarupa dd have been living in Cairns for over 20 years and hold weekly preaching programs in a city hall. They are from Fiji, both doctors and disciples of HH Tamal Krsna Goswami. Big festivals like Janmastami are held in their home, which is a large house on an acre of land near Gordonvale, just south of Cairns.

I haven’t visited them for almost four years because of Covid and other reasons but finally took the opportunity to go there. They also have devotees like Bhanu Maharaja, Veda Vyasapriya Maharaja and Prahladananda Maharaja come through. It’s always a privilege to be with them and take darshana of their beautiful deities, Radha Shyamasundara and Sita Rama Laksman.

ISKCON Dallas Temple Restaurant Featured on Texas Today
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NBC’s Channel 5 Texas Today recently featured Kalachandji’s Restaurant at the ISKCON Temple in East Dallas. Host Kristin Dickerson noted that the restaurant is the area’s longest-serving and highest-rated vegetarian restaurant. She remarked, “Kalachandji’s has been feeding the mouths and souls of north Texans for over forty years.” The first devotees came to Dallas in […]

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Sri Jagannatha Snana Yatra June 4th, 2023
→ Mayapur.com

Devasnana Purnima or Snana Yatra is a festival of Lord Jagannath and is said to be one of the oldest. According to Skanda Purana when Raja Indradyumna installed the deities, he arranged this bathing ceremony. This day is said to be the birthday of Lord Jagannath. Held on the full-moon day of the month of […]

Srila Vrindavan Dasa Thakura’s Appearance Day
Giriraj Swami

Today is Srila Vrindavan dasa Thakura’s appearance day. Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 11.55) states, “Srila Vyasadeva described the pastimes of Krsna in Srimad-Bhagavatam. The Vyasa of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was Vrndavana dasa.” In his purport Srila Prabhupada elaborates: “Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura was an incarnation of Vedavyasa and also a friendly cowherd boy named Kusumapida in krsna-lila. In other words, the author of Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura, the son of Srivasa Thakura’s niece Narayani, was a combined incarnation of Vedavyasa and the cowherd boy Kusumapida.” Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura was the last initiated disciple of Sri Nityananda Prabhu.

In Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Adi 8.33–40, 42, 44) Srila Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami glorifies Srila Vrindavan dasa Thakura and his book Sri Caitanya-bhagavata (then called Sri Caitanya-mangala): “O fools, just read Sri Caitanya-mangala! By reading this book you can understand all the glories of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Thakura Vrndavana dasa has composed Sri Caitanya-mangala. Hearing this book annihilates all misfortune. By reading Sri Caitanya-mangala one can understand all the glories and truths of Lord Caitanya and Nityananda and come to the ultimate conclusion of devotional service to Lord Krsna. In Sri Caitanya-mangala [later known as Sri Caitanya-bhagavata] Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura has given the conclusion and essence of devotional service by quoting the authoritative statements of Srimad-Bhagavatam. If even a great atheist hears Sri Caitanya-mangala, he immediately becomes a great devotee. The subject matter of this book is so sublime that it appears that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has personally spoken through the writings of Sri Vrndavana dasa Thakura. I offer millions of obeisances unto the lotus feet of Vrndavana dasa Thakura. No one else could write such a wonderful book for the deliverance of all fallen souls. What a wonderful description he has given of the pastimes of Lord Caitanya! Anyone in the three worlds who hears it is purified. Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura has written Sri Caitanya-mangala and therein described in all respects the pastimes of Lord Caitanya.”

In his purport to text 45 Srila Prabhupada writes, “Sri Vrndavana dasa Thakura’s Sri Caitanya-bhagavata was originally entitled Sri Caitanya-mangala, but when Srila Locana dasa Thakura later wrote another book named Sri Caitanya-mangala, Srila Vrndavana dasa Thakura changed the name of his own book, which is now therefore known as Sri Caitanya-bhagavata. The life of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is very elaborately described in the Caitanya-bhagavata, and Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami has already informed us that in his Sri Caitanya-caritamrta he has described whatever Vrndavana dasa Thakura has not mentioned. This acceptance of Sri Caitanya-bhagavata by Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami indicates his acceptance of the disciplic succession. A writer of transcendental literature never tries to surpass the previous acaryas.”

And he writes in his purport to text 48, “The subject matter of this book is so sublime that it appears that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has personally spoken through the writings of Sri Vrndavana dasa Thakura.” He explains, “The secret in a devotee’s writing is that when he writes about the pastimes of the Lord, the Lord helps him; he does not write himself. As stated in the Bhagavad-gita (10.10), dadami buddhi-yogam tam yena mam upayanti te. Since a devotee writes in service to the Lord, the Lord from within gives him so much intelligence that he sits down near the Lord and goes on writing books. Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami confirms that what Vrndavana dasa Thakura wrote was actually spoken by Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and that Vrndavana dasa simply repeated it.”

How blessed we are to receive knowledge of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu through our glorious parampara—and to be engaged in their service.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

Reparenting the inner child
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Reparenting the inner child.
Gauri Das: A young person called on the phone: ‘I feel awful because I haven’t read many Hare Krishna books, and others have read so many. It makes me feel really bad. What should I do?’ There are many ways I could have answered this question theologically, and have in the past. It is a question that I had to answer for myself, many times. However, consider for a moment what type of relationship this young lady had with herself. Take a moment with that.


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