Websites from the ISKCON Universe
In front of an ocean we realise how tiny we are! In the same way, as one advances in their relationship with God, their genuine appreciation and admiration of His character and qualities grows exponentially.
An app for Android smartphones, entitled “Krsna – The Sweet Lord,” is now available on the Google Play Store for free and promises to place the best of what ISKCON has to offer in the palm of your hand. The app, developed by ISKCON Juhu of Mumbai, received a soft launch for an internal devotee audience on December 14th, when it was unveiled by Radhanath Swami at Mumbai’s Chowpatty temple.
Devotees, congregation, wellwishers, and the general public filled Mumbai’s Jamnabai Narsee Ground to its 4,000-person capacity for a colorful glorification of Srila Prabhupada’s historic achievements this February 5th to 7th. “Srila Prabhupada famously stated, ‘Bombay is my office,’” says Western India Communications Coordinator Parijata Dasi. “So we were happy to host one of the first major ISKCON 50 celebrations in 2016, our Golden Jubilee year.”
Harinam Sankirtan @ Brickfields, on the streets of Little India, Malaysia (Album with photos)
Shevaanni Pillai: Harinam Sankirtan @ Brickfields on 10/2/16. We had a very blissful time during Hari Nam today on the streets of Little India at Brickfields. We were joined by our special guest from Europe, Gaura Sundar prabhu. People were very charmed and attracted by the ecstatic melodies of the Holy Name. Most of them were very receptive and happily gave donations and accepted Srila Prabhupada’s books. There were some sporting people who also chanted on our microphone. One particular Chinese family loved the sankirtan so much, they even danced with us so spontaneously and enthusiastically! It was truly inspiring to see how Krishna’s mercy affected even the most unexpected people . This made us even more fired up to spread His glories. In total, we managed to distribute about 50 small books. Harinam Sankirtan Ji Jai! Srila Prabhupada Ki Jai!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/mXZIXy
"The Flame of Eternal Love" a documentary about Shrila Prabhupada and the development of the Society for Krishna Consciousness in the USSR. Anchor: Sofia Ignatova. Actors: Alexey Sviridov, Acyuta Priya, Nimai, Vrinda. English Anchor voice: Jaya Madhava Das. English voice: Alisa Tchebotareva. Music: Yury Dimentyev. Sound: Vibhavari das. Written and directed by: Arjuna das. Русская версия фильма: "Зажигающий сердца".
Famous heart stealer Sri Krishna Bhagavan.
Srila Prabhupada: Decorate the Deity as nicely as possible with nice flowers and dress. You will forget all other false beauty. Letter to Kirtanananda, October 22, 1968.
By Mathura Lilesvari Devi Dasi
Thaipusam is a festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community on the full moon day in the Tamil month of Thai (January/February). It is mainly observed in countries where there is a significant presence of Tamil community such as India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore. The festival commemorates the occasion when Mother Parvati gave Lord Skanda a Vel “spear” so he could vanquish the daityasura Soorapadman. Thaipusam is a public holiday in Malaysia.
Thousands of Hindus gather every year at various temples nationwide to celebrate Thaipusam. ISKCON Malaysia has stamped our presence at these temples every year since the late 80s. In Kuala Lumpur the festival is celebrated in a grand manner at Batu Caves which is likened to Palani Malai in Tamil Nadu.
The Skanda Temple committee invite vendors to set up booths selling various things ranging from Indian sweets to Indian attire. Close to 150 business take the opportunity to earn some profit in a place where a large gathering of their target audience is gathered.
ISKCON Malaysia National Headquarters – Sri Jagannath Mandir Kuala Lumpur (SJMKL) too rented a booth selling Srila Prabupada’s books and devotional paraphernalia. We are the only booth which was there to spread the message of love of Godhead.
Temple President, HG Kripa Sindhu Krishna das said, “Malaysia is a great place as we have the opportunity to participate in various festivals like this that enables us to share Krishna Consciousness with the masses in one place. This also provides a platform for members of our temple who are mostly working grhastas to get the taste of distributing Srila Prabhupada’s book. This year we saw a very encouraging turn out by the devotees who were inspired to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of ISKCON. I wish to thank all of them for their sincere efforts” he added.
It is the hope of the devotees that more and more souls are benefited from reading Srila Prabhupada’s book and that their small endeavor brings people closer to self-realization.
The booth successfully distributed more than 1000 books including 3 Srimad Bhagavatam sets and 230 Bhagavad Gitas.
Click below to see the complete gallery
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Yatra to Paparajutotha.
Though the name of the village is totha (garden or orchard in Telugu language), it is presently bustling with concrete jungle which merged into the main Chirala town. Except for a big goshala and small piece of land where fodder for cows is grown and some old temples built with stone and lime, everything else is concrete. We were actually supposed to visit Tothavaripalem village but due to death of some prominent person in that village we changed the venue to Paparajutotha. History reveals that this place was once a very green village especially known for taking care of cows in large numbers. Thus, old Chirala was actually known as Kshirapuri due to abundance of cow milk from such adjoining villages. On January 10, 2016, the program started with Harinam sankirtan to create auspiciousness in Paparajutotha; surprisingly, the Sankirtan team was followed by some group of street cows. The go puja was performed in the goshala housing 36 cows and one breeding bull. The venue was a huge basement of a group of apartments, nicely arranged by the hosts. It did not seem like a cellar, rather it looked like a decorated function hall. Eager residents of the apartments assembled in good numbers which was outnumbered by women and children. Discussions on the glories of the process of congregational chanting was well received as many of them took samskara patras (vow to chant at least one round japa) at the end of the program. In the interactive session discussing about cow care, the participants expressed their inability to directly involve in cow protection. But when they were told about using cow products and the program of adopting a cow in villages, many confirmed their participation in such programs. There was a good quarter hour soul-stirring kirtan and dancing involving one and all. As we were leaving after prasadam distribution we got offers to do such program in other three apartments also.
Sri Govind Gau Gram Prachar Yatra ki Jai!
Srila Prabhupada ki Jai!!
Harinama in Melbourne Australia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: One should never consider the chanting of the holy name of Godhead equal to pious activities like giving in charity to brahmanas or saintly persons, opening charitable educational institutions, distributing free food and so on. The results of pious activities do not equal the results of chanting the holy name of Krishna. (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 3.79 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/a8tGNi
ISKCON Cow Science meeting.
AURANGABAD: To help coordinate cow-protection initiative the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in association with SARA Group has organised a unique Gau-Vigyan Parishad - the Council for Cow Science.
ISKCON has organised the day-long seminar to mark it Golden Jubiliee celebration on Saturday, at Bhanudas Chavan Sabhagraha, Station Road Osmanpura, Aurangabad.
MLA Atul Save will inaugurate the seminar, while chairman Sara Builder Sitaram Agrawal and president ISKCON Aurangabad Rohinipriya Prabhu will attend the programme.
Meanwhile, Uttam Maheshwari from Mumbai will explain the medicinal value of products obtained from panch-gavya and their immense health benefits.
“The conference is arranged without any charges and about 300 participants on first come first basis can be accommodated,” said the organiser Shrikant Jogdand.
Similarly, on Friday from 11 am to 4 pm for 50 participants there will be free training on preparation of cow products and is arranged at SARA Gowshala , Juna Jakat Naka, Chikalthana.
February 11. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: A Combination of Friendliness and Heaviness.
Was Srila Prabhupada friendly? Yes, of course. No one could say he was unfriendly or unconcerned. But Prabhupada was friendly even to those he never met. He was friendly to all living entities because he distributed Krishna consciousness. He gave his life to distribute Krishna consciousness to others. Prabhupada was friendly in the deepest sense. He came to the world a true friend of everyone because he had something which would be of great benefit to whoever accepted it. He didn’t have the kind of friendliness that we associate with “service with a smile,” commercialized cheater – the kind of friendliness you get on the airlines from the stewardesses who help you “fly the friendly skies.” Prabhupada was sometimes very heavy. It is incomprehensible, his friendliness. He worked for everyone’s benefit and that often meant knocking down their illusions and shaking them out of their foolishness. Yes, Prabhupada was friendly.
Yet, Prabhupada was often heavy, and for a good reason. He understood devotion to Krishna and wanted to expose the many nonsense frauds, incarnations, scholars and prakrta-sahajiyas, and any other pretentious people. He was a great devotee of Krishna who wholeheartedly embraced love of God. We should never allow ourselves to be disturbed by his heaviness. Prabhupada had to be that way. He’s entitled to be as soft as a rose or as hard as a thunderbolt. Prabhupada had Krishna in his fist, and he can Him to us. He is teaching us love of God. It is up to us to develop that simple devotion that develops with devotion to guru. We want to be sheltered by Prabhupada, our Nrsimha-guru.
To read the entire article click here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=5
Bhakti Caru Swami S.B.7.1.20 – Feb 5th 2016
A Combination of Friendliness and Heaviness
Gita verse-by-verse study Podcast
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sravanad darsanad dhyanan
mayi bhavo ’nukirtanat
na tatha sannikarsena
pratiyata tato grhan
It is by hearing about Me, seeing My Deity form, meditating upon Me and chanting My names and glories that love for Me develops, not by physical proximity. Therefore please go back to your homes. (SB 10.23.33)
Giriraj Swami: “When devotees are attracted to Krishna, they may feel—and I am sure many of us have felt the same way—that they don’t want to do anything else but serve Krishna. This verse contains an instruction. He is saying go home to your husbands and your duties. He would not give them an instruction to discourage them but was giving them a way to increase their love for Him even at home. In a way He explains—sravanad—by hearing about Him. How did these ladies become so attracted to Krishna? By hearing about Him. They had not met Him before in person but they had heard about him from various women folk in Vrindavan so by hearing about Him they became attracted. In fact, we have also not met Him directly in this lifetime but we have become attracted to Him by hearing.”
Jaya Radha Madhava, Krishna House, Gainesville
Talk at Krishna House, Gainsville
TOVP progress (Album with photos)
Today we visited the different areas of the TOVP site with Ambarisa Das and Bhavananda Prabhu, together with the project managers.
We viewed the art department, Nrshimha Dev area and GRC factory to review the new materials and to see the latest achievements.
At this time, another important event took place, the first Kalash was fixed on one of the Chatris.
The Kalash is made in GRC and was produced here-in-house.
Each Kailash weights 900kg and is 8.2 feet tall (2.5M).
Find them here: https://goo.gl/72BDu4
Written by Nimai
From Sweden, Maharaj travelled to Radhadesh in Belgium where the Radhadesh Mellows Kirtan Festival took place (29-31 January). Devotees travelled from all over Europe and UK to attend the festival. We arrived on Thursday, and even though the official start of the festival was on Friday, Maharaj led an enthusiastic kirtan on Thursday night. The next morning, he gave a Bhagavatam class where he pointed out how we always find ways to justify our sinful activities but by the mercy of Caitanya Mahaprabhu we have gotten the opportunity to escape the network of material entanglement. Maharaj then spoke about “leaving no stone unturned” giving the example of Prabhupada. During the lecture, he further elaborated on this theme.
For three consecutive days, Maharaj led kirtan for one hour as part of the festival. The room was packed with devotees and the atmosphere during the kirtans was just amazing. On Sunday, Maharaj sang his new and mellow tune in public for the first time. In the beginning, people struggled to follow the melody, but after Maharaj gave instructions on how to sing it, eventually it became very sweet!
That day, Maharaj took lunch in Anandini’s house together with Niranjana Swami, Chandramauli Swami, Bhakti Caitanya Swarup Swami, Sacinandana Swami and Yadunandana Swami. They had some funny conversations and told each other a few stories. It was amazing to see all these great souls together at one table.
The next day (01 February), Maharaj left Radhadesh to visit the UK before his trip to India.
We Believe (3 min video)
The Congregational Development Ministry is an ISKCON Ministry dedicated to enhancing and enlarging our communities. The Ministry has been active for twenty years, providing necessary resources for the furthering of Srila Prabhupada’s vision for our society’s communities. Today we request your support so that we may continue to perform this vital service.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/X0FeCa
By Jagat Vira das From the Mission Statement for Devotee Care: “We strive to care for the spiritual, emotional, physical and social well being of the devotees in order to be enthused to expand Srila Prabhupada’s mission.” From this mission statement one of the primary aims – is “we aim to provide care that includes personal attention to both devotees’ spiritual and material lives.” This is one of the important aims, which facilitates every devotee in feeling cared about and inspired by their respective community, and never left being alone without the care of other devotees. Whether you live close to the temple, far away or you just attend the festivals, it is important to feel a part of a loving and welcoming Vaisnava community. Continue reading "New Raman Reti: Devotee-to-Devotee Care
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2016 Parikrama.
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Yatra to Jandrapeta Village.
Jandrapeta is presently merged in Chirala town but still in patches we can find village environment due to people being engaged in farming and weaving activities. This is one the villages where people still continue to use handlooms fighting hard to withstand power looms. Gradually the younger generation is giving up this profession and preferring other jobs as daily-wage earners. We can say that this marks the extinction of the traditional profession. There are around four hundred families still engaged in this profession. Agriculture is mainly maintaining the cashew groves and some farmers do intercropping with peanuts, corn and vegetables. Some also maintain coconut farms. People are pious and attend to festivals organized in the seven-hundred year-old Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu temples.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/pSQvVd
By Chaitanya Charan das
On the afternoon of 4th February, 2016, HH Radhanath Maharaja visited ISKCON desire tree (IDT).
A treasury of memory
He first came to the flat where I do video recordings – I think of it as my digital bhajan kutir. When he saw a picture of Srila Prabhupada in the studio, he immediately said, “This is from New Vrindavan. It was in 1972, Kirtananada Maharaja was near Prabhupada and I was there too, standing where you are.” He pointed to where I was standing. Looking closely at the picture and then at me, he said, “No, I was not that close. I was where Vaishnava Seva Prabhu is.” He pointed to a spot a couple of feet away. Maharaja gazed at the picture for several long moments – it was clear that he was in a different world.
As I was observing Maharaja, another similar incident flashed through my mind. A few months ago when I had met Giriraja Maharaja in America, I had given him my book Prabhupada: The moments that made the movement. On seeing some of the pictures of Srila Prabhupada in that book, He too had become momentarily lost in devotional absorption.
It struck me that Srila Prabhupada’s disciples have a treasury that we his grand-disciples don’t. They have such rich memories of Prabhupada, something that we can relish only as long as they are still with us on this planet. After that, we will be bereaved of that great treasure of personal memories of the person who has changed the course of Vaishnava history.
As Maharaja turned to leave, he again turned back to the picture and said to me, “I helped make that vyasasana which Prabhupada was sitting on. It was 1972, and I was not even initiated – I hadn’t even shaved my hair. But I got to help in making that vyasasana, and Prabhupada sat on it every day when he gave class. After that, it was taken to the bramachari ashram and used there for many years.”
As we left the flat, Maharaja asked me about my realizations from my US visit. As we had just started speaking, we reached the IDT office, and our discussion was cut short.
“Even I am inspired by Vaishnava Seva Prabhu’s dedication”
IDT office is actually the same as Vaishnava Seva Prabhu’s home. He has taken two adjacent flats and merged them into an improvised office. He is a respected surgeon, Dr Bimal Shah, specializing in laproscopic surgery and heading the Department of Laproscopic Surgery at the Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Mira Road, Mumbai. His wife Dr Kshama Shah (Kalindi Mataji) is chief anesthesiologist at the same hospital. Both of them stay in just one room and his father stays in another room. He keeps a guest room for visiting devotees, usually those who want to recuperate after treatment at the Bhaktivedanta Hospital. The rest of the home is used as workspace for over a dozen employees.
From this inconspicuous base has issued a gigantic digital outreach of Krishna’s message. Iskcondesiretree.com has 23.000 members and over 11,000 unique daily visitors. The reach is spread further through over 70 sites and over 100 apps. From audio.iskcondesiretree.com, 7000 audio files are downloaded daily. And IDT’s youtube channel is viewed for 120,000 minutes daily.
Maharaj entered IDT office and sat on a sofa. Vaishnava Seva Prabhu outlined briefly the history of IDT starting with how decades ago he had been doing audio recording of Maharaja’s classes and handling the tape ministry, library and sound system in Radha Gopinath temple. Maharaja nodded and, speaking to everyone, appreciated Vaishnava Seva Prabhu’s commitment and versatility, saying that he is not just a high-class surgeon, but also an architect – he designed and oversaw the building of the Bhaktivedanta Hospital. Maharaja turning to Vaishnava Seva Prabhu said that we discussed what color the building should be and what kind of windows we should have. Maharaja appreciated him, saying that it’s amazing that he is able to do so much in twenty-four hours.
Vaishnava Seva Prabhu, pointing to his wife, said, “Due credit for whatever I have done goes to my better half too.” Maharaja nodded and smilingly said, “I was going to say that, but I was waiting for you to say that. It is more appropriate if you acknowledge that rather than I tell you that.”
As everyone laughed, Kalindi Mataji humbly said, “Maharaja, this is what I can do; I cannot preach like other Matajis, but I can do this small service.” Maharaja replied, “This is not a small service; it is a huge service.”
During his subsequent talk addressed to everyone assembled there, Maharaja said, “All over the world people tell me that they get lectures from ISKCON desire tree. I travel all over the world spending so much time and energy, but I can’t reach as many people with all that traveling as you can reach just by pressing a few buttons.”
After a moment’s thought, he added, “Even what I speak can’t reach as many people by my traveling as it can by your pressing a few buttons – you are all doing a very valuable service.”
Thereafter, Maharaja aptly and insightfully expanded on the name ISKCON desire tree. Sometimes, some names become so integrated into our functional vocabulary that we overlook their transcendental import. That’s what had happened to me with respect to the name ISKCON desire tree, I realized while hearing Maharaja’s talk. Maharaja spoke, “Every tree begins with a tiny seed, and as it is nourished, it grows and finally gives fruits. ISKCON desire tree started as a small seed in the recording space at Radha Gopinath temple, and from that seed now it has grown so big that it is giving thousands of fruits, millions of fruits, unlimited fruits, to people all over the world.”
After speaking for a few minutes, he brought his talk to a beautiful conclusion: “Lord Chaitanya when he was in Varanasi said that he had so many fruits of love of God to distribute, but had only two hands to distribute them, so he needed helping hands. All of you are his helping hands, assisting Lord Chaitanya and Srila Prabhupada in distributing those fruits.”
When his talk ended, I mentioned to Maharaj, “Vaishnava Seva P is not just funding and facilitating IDT – he is also pioneering it. Whenever any new technological initiative comes up, he is in the forefront, learning it himself first, then teaching it to his staff. That’s how he diversified from audios to videos and recently to mobile apps. He works all day as a surgeon and late into the night for IDT. He is so dedicated that although I am a brahmachari, I am inspired by his dedication.” Maharaja smiled and replied, “I am a sannyasi and I too am inspired by his dedication.”
After Maharaja’s talk, when Vaishnava Seva Prabhu was leading Maharaja to a small video studio inside his house, I mentioned to Maharaja that I had recorded 75 lectures on the Mahabharata here. Intrigued, Maharaja said, “75 lectures?” and followed Vaishnava Seva Prabhu inside. On seeing the four tiny rooms, Maharaja turned to me and asked, “Where did you record those 75 classes?” When Vaishnava Seva Prabhu pointed to the place, Maharaja immediately realized that the room was too small for anyone else to be sitting with the camera. So he asked me, “You sit alone in front of a camera and speak?” When I nodded, Maharaja said, half-jokingly, “I can’t speak in front of a camera; I become speechless. You are sitting in one small room and are reaching out to so many people.”
When Maharaja was leaving, he remembered and asked me about my US trip. But his secretary had earlier told me that Maharaj had to go for another meeting. So I told Maharaj that as I didn’t want to delay him, I would work out with his secretary the time for a meeting later. Maharaj nodded, embraced me and said, “You are doing such amazing service. I am proud of you.”
Affection beyond affliction
While Maharaja’s words were certainly memorable for me, the most revealing and edifying part of his visit was his conversation with Vaishnava Seva P’s father (I will refer to him as Mr Shah). He is afflicted with dementia, and has periods of lucidity that alternate with phases of incoherence. Maharaja’s visit was a period of lucidity, though there were a few moments of incoherence in between. Yet Maharaja treated him with respect and attention throughout.
After seeing IDT, when Maharaja was about to leave, Mr Shah suddenly spoke out loud, “I once fought with you.” As several of the devotees gasped at the outburst, Maharaja turned around, peered at Mr Shah and returned to his seat. Mr Shah continued, “I had a verbal fight with you when he (pointing to Vaishnava Seva P) left me to go to you. Do you remember?” Maharaja replied, “Yes, I remember. That was a natural expression of your affection for your son. So I respected it.” After a pause, Maharaja added, “I didn’t agree with it, but I respected it.”
Mr Shah then reminisced several defining incidents in his life, including the time when he had a bypass surgery. At that time, Maharaj, Mr Mafatlal (Krishna Chandra Prabhu) and Mr Desai (Srinathaji Prabhu) had come to see him in the hospital. Vaishnava Seva Prabhu, who was giving us a running commentary to his father’s recollections, elaborated, “Those visits changed his attitude – he started feeling that devotees really cared for him.”
After a brief pause, Mr Shah told Maharaja, “Although I fought with you once, now I like you. You know why?” Maharaja remained silent and shook his head slightly. Pointing towards his son, Mr Shah said, “Because you changed him.”
After mentioning a few other incidents, Mr Shah suddenly said, “My memory is very sharp. Be careful.” Maharaja replied with gravity in his voice and joviality on his face: “Yes, I will be very careful.”
After a few moments of silence, Mr Shah said, “I am a Jain, but I appreciate Vaishnavism.” Maharaja nodded, “Therefore, you are a Vaishnava, and he (pointing to Vaishnava Seva P) is Vaishnava Seva. I am proud of the way he is taking care of you.”
While Mr Shah was speaking, intelligibly but disconnectedly, jumping from one incident to another, Maharaja gave him his full attention, as if he had all the time in the world. Finally, Vaishnava Seva Prabhu mentioned discreetly to his father that Maharaja had to leave. After his father nodded, Vaishnava Seva Prabhu intimated to Maharaja. Maharaja got up, went to Mr Shah, gave him another tight, long embrace and said, “I am honored to spend time with you.”
I had known that Maharaja always values relationship more than projects. It’s not that he undervalues projects – the many projects that he has inspired are testimony to his commitment to offering doing wonderful projects in Srila Prabhupada’s service. But he keeps relationships at an appropriately high priority. This became evident when he said, “I am proud of your son for the way he is taking care of you.” I found it sobering that Maharaja didn’t say, “I am proud of him for pioneering IDT.” IDT might seem to be a far more special and glorious project than taking care of one’s ailing father, and Maharaja is definitely pleased with the IDT service, as was evident from his earlier talk. But Maharaja’s statements underscored that while doing big things in Krishna’s service, we shouldn’t neglect the ordinary things that define us as human beings and as devotees.
Maharaja has won the hearts of thousands, if not millions, all over the world because of his capacity to connect at the level of the heart with people. That is not a skill we get genetically or learn by some self-help training. We can form heart-to-heart connections with others only when we have genuine respect and concern for them. And Maharaja has always had that in abundance, even from his pre-devotional days.
I remembered an incident during his spiritual search. A sadhu had served spicy khichadi to Maharaja (then Richard Slavin). Although the chili in it was burning him from within, he not only finished all of that khichadi but also accepted a second helping when offered – just to not hurt the feelings of that sadhu.
I also remembered how, during a Pune yatra many years ago, HH Devamrita Maharaja had said, “What amazes me about Radhanatha Maharaja is his ability to maintain so many loving relationships.” I gained a deeper understanding of that appreciation when I meditated how Maharaj had so affectionately and respectfully connected with a person whose affliction would have normally made anything beyond basic greeting difficult.
Vaishnavas are desire trees. Advanced Vaishnavas such as Radhanatha Maharaj are like giant desire trees. I felt grateful to have had the opportunity to behold the pastime of a giant desire tree blessing ISKCON desire tree.
Puri Retreat (Album with photos)
Attending the Puri Retreat and visiting Tota Gopinatha, Sweta Ganga, Sarvabhauma’s House, Siddha Bakula, Narendra Sarovar (Chandan Sarovar) and other places in Jagannath Puri!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/RSujhf
Mayapur: Departure of our bull “Jagannath”!
One of the attraction of our Saturday elephant procession is our beautiful big horned black bull Jagannath, majestically pulling the bullock cart of Gaura Nitai. It is a usual sight that the visitors would somehow sneak in to have a snap with him. He is a very gentle, very friendly bull, who has been doing this service for years for the pleasure of Gaura Nitai. Sometimes he also pulls the Goshala bullock cart that used to run from Govinda’s to Goshala. Recently he was ill, became very weak and on 2nd February he left his body. The way he departed was amazing, which shows that he is a very special soul. Though normally the cows deny taking its food prior to its departure, Jagannath voluntarily gave up having food for 14 days and was taking very little water, without showing any sign of tiredness. He was very peaceful and grave and didn’t accept service from anyone. On the early morning Brahma muhurta hours, he left his body facing the north direction. His departure reminds of the great Mahajan Bhishma deva. His body was peacefully laid with garlands of Narasimhadeva, Radha Madhava covered by the dust of the holy Dhama in the midst of Kirtan by devotees. Every soul in the dhama is special and Jagannath is undoubtedly one of those special souls. Now he has gone back to continue his eternal service in Goloka Dhama. We also thank the devotees who served Jagannath by bringing garlands, caranamrita, cleaning his place and playing non-stop Prabhupada chanting box. We pray to him that may we also be blessed with the opulence to leave our body in the dust of the holy Dhama. We will forever miss his association in the elephant processions.
Harinama in Paris (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Our relationship with Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is eternal. Nitya-siddha Krishna-prema. The pure souls are eternally in love with Krishna. Simply by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra one revives his original relationship with God and thus becomes so happy that he does not want anything material. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 7.7.39 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/j3INO3
By Karuna Dharini Devi Dasi Lost Soul was homeless. He rarely spoke, but He listened to Crip. Crip was Lost Soul’s close friend. The nights were long and there was always fear or danger on the streets. “Got your back,” Crip said. He made plans for survival; meanwhile L. Soul grew sullen. The two other companions to Lost Soul were Mind and Senses. Together they crouched in the doorways of abandoned buildings. Mind talked gibberish to distract Soul from his plight. But it was Senses who served as L. Soul’s best distraction. Senses demanded any food, intoxication, or stimuli available. Soul could barely remember from day to day. Didn’t they used to share a condominium? Maybe a high-rise on the north end of town? Together they spent many lifetimes, Lost Soul, Crippled Intelligence, Mind and Senses, but not peacefully. Continue reading "Lost Soul and the GPBs
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One of the attraction of our Saturday elephant procession is our beautiful big horned black bull Jagannath, majestically pulling the bullock cart of Gaura Nitai. It is a usual sight that the visitors would somehow sneak in to have a snap with him. He is a very gentle, very friendly bull, who has been doing […]
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February 10. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Satsvarupa dasa Goswami: Prabhupada’s Preferences.
Srila Prabhupada is a person. Like anyone, he likes his prasadam in a certain way and expressed his preferences about various things. We may wonder, are Prabhupada’s preferences absolute? Does his expression of personal preferences make him a relative person?
The pure devotee gives us so many details about Krishna and the process of devotional service. He tells us what Krishna likes to eat, and what He doesn’t like to eat; he tells us how to behave under all circumstances, and how to think. The pure devotee spiritual master represents Krishna absolutely; therefore, do we have a right to look into the pure devotee’s life and that everything be governed completely by Krishna’s indications? If we can detect in his life any personal preference for doing something just because “I like it,” is that a defect in the pure devotee?
But the pure devotee is a person. Like any person, he will have personal preferences. What we notice if we minutely examine the life of a pure devotee is that all of his preferences are favorable to devotional service. They are each individual expressions of his meditation on, and service to, Krishna. This may not always be comprehensible when we examine the pure devotee without the requisite faith.
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09.02.2016_H.G.Mukunda Datta Prabhu_(acbsp) SB-06.05.16