Iskcon Laguna Beach Kirtan Mela 2023 (Playlist of all videos)
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Here is a link to some ecstatic and melodious Hare Krishna Kirtan that was captured during the ISKCON Laguna Beach Kirtan Mela from Friday , March 10 to Sunday March 12, 2023. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKKaC0m0HIfO8uFDfZHkzIvPVwaoXuBex It features HG Vaisesika Dasa, Amala Harinam Prabhu, Kishor Gopal Prabhu, Madhuri Pura Dasa, Rakta Prabhu with other local talent. Your Servant
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Devotees perform Harinam Sankirtan as thousands arrive at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall
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By Giridhari das As people streamed in for the “Killing Joke” concert, the band’s bass guitarist Martin Youth Glover – who is also noted for his production skills on recent Paul McCartney albums – joined “The Krishnas” in bringing positive spiritual vibes to the event, we thank Youth for giving us this opportunity and for
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Srivasa Thakur Appearance
→ Ramai Swami

Śrīvāsa Thakura was a close associate of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and a member of the Pancha Tattva.

Srivasa Thakura is understood as tatastha-shakti, a marginal energy of Bhagavan, Krishna in person. Devotees who are headed by Srivasa Thakura are described as ‘parts’ of transcendental body of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. They all participated in His transcendental pastimes. They all helped to spread Krishna consciousness, sankirtana-yajna.

On the other hand, Srivasa is also Narada – an eternal transcendental associate of Lord Krishna. Srivasa was studying Srimad-Bhagavatam with Advaita Acarya, who was at that time in Navadvipa. They worshiped Krishna, who as an answer to their prayers, appeared as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

The home of Srivasa, Srivasangam, was a place where Sri Chaitanya perform sankirtana-yajna, congregational chanting of Krishna’s holy names, and it was a place where the Kazi, a noted Muslim leader, ruled. However, the Kazi had a dream where Sri Chaitanya said that he should allow devotional service, so since that time the Kazi promised that he would never oppose sankirtana-yajna, and also that no one from his family would ever be against Krishna.

In the house of Srivasa, Chaitanya showed His transcendental form to all His eternal associates. So Srivasa is also a place from which the Krishna Consciousness movement around five hundred years ago was started.

Srivasa Thakura had previously lived in Sri Hatta, but because he wanted the association of devotees he went to live on the banks of the Ganges in Navadvipa. Srivasa Thakura had three brothers: Sripati, Srirama and Srinidhi. 

Vasis Studio Music Concepts Presents The Definitive Harmonium
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Vasis Studio Music Concepts was born in Sri Mayapur Dham around 2 years ago with the proposal of offering a comprehensive, straightforward method for anyone to learn kirtan music with instruments from scratch. Initially, they were a kirtan band traveling the whole India and other countries (more than 20) doing Stage programs which were forbidden […]

The post Vasis Studio Music Concepts Presents The Definitive Harmonium appeared first on ISKCON News.

Bhaktivedanta Research Center Gives An Endowment To Scottish Church College
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On February 28th, 2023 Bhaktivedanta Research Center (BRC) and Scottish Church College entered into a collaborative agreement to serve society through their mutual interest in service learning and whole-person education. BRC instituted an endowment in the name of “A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada Memorial Award” to be given to the most meritorious student for a university […]

The post Bhaktivedanta Research Center Gives An Endowment To Scottish Church College appeared first on ISKCON News.

Her Grace Madana-mohana-mohini Dasi Departs
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Our dear Madana-mohana-mohini dasi has left this world at 5:11 pm today evening, 12 March 2023. She left very peacefully while listening to her favorite kirtan in her room, and surrounded by devotees and her favorite maha paraphernalia. Please pray for her onward journey. Thank you so much. Hare Krishna. Your aspiring servants, Parasurama das, […]

The post Her Grace Madana-mohana-mohini Dasi Departs appeared first on ISKCON News.

Amazing 360° Panorama of the Completed TOVP Nrsimhadeva Wing
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The TOVP 3D Department has recently finished a 360° panorama view of the completed Nrsimhadeva Wing. Srisha das and Pavan Gopa das have rendered their collection of cgi images into an all-encompassing and awe-inspiring picture of the entire hall and altar, viewable from left to right, up and down, and zoomable in or out. In […]

The post Amazing 360° Panorama of the Completed TOVP Nrsimhadeva Wing appeared first on ISKCON News.

All good fortune for the living entity
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My Lord, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, in Your holy name there is all good fortune for the living entity, and therefore You have many names, such as “Krishna” and “Govinda,” by which You expand Yourself. You have invested all Your potencies in those names, and there are no hard and fast rules for remembering
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Film Restoration Project- Preserve Srila Prabhupada’s Legacy Today!
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Srila Prabhupada’s Film Restoration Project is an initiative from the team who brought us the film, ‘Hare Krishna- The Mantra, The Movement, and the Swami Who Started It All’. The mission of the project is to re-transfer the original ISKCON 16mm films to 4K quality and S-8/8mm films to 2K quality thereby removing scratches and […]

The post Film Restoration Project- Preserve Srila Prabhupada’s Legacy Today! appeared first on ISKCON News.

At every step there is danger
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At every step there is danger. Therefore, because the Krishna consciousness movement provides the opportunity for the human being to get out of this material world simply by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, this movement is the greatest benediction in human society. (Srimad Bhagavatam, 9.7.7 Purport).
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The Wonderful Papamocani Ekadasi and the TOVP, 2023
- TOVP.org

Papamocani Ekadasi falls on the 11th day of the Krishna Paksha (the waning phase of moon) in the month of Chaitra as per the North Indian calendar. However, in the South Indian calendar this Ekadasi is observed in the Vedic month of Phalgun. In the English calendar this corresponds to the months of March to April. Papamocani Ekadasi is the last Ekadasi observance of the 24 Ekadasis in the Vedic calendar. It falls between the celebrations of Holika Dahan and Chaitra Navratri.

This is an auspicious time to contribute financially towards the completion of the Nrsimhadeva Temple in the TOVP, scheduled to open this October. There are many different types of sponsorships available and most are pledges which can be paid over several months or years. Visit the Give To Nrsimha 2023 Fundraiser page for more information.

  NOTE: Papamocani Ekadasi is observed on March 17 in the U.S and March 18 in India. Please refer to your local calendar through www.gopal.home.sk/gcal.

  View, download and share the TOVP 2023 Calendar​.

 

The Glories of Papamocani Ekadasi

From the Bhavisyottara Purana

The venerable glories of Papamocani Ekadasi are given in the Bhavisyottara Purana, during a conversation between Sri Krsna and Maharaja Yudhisthira.

The eldest of the Pandavas, Yudhisthira, asked Lord Krsna. “O Lord, You have kindly narrated the glories of Amalaki Ekadasi. Now please describe unto me the details of the Ekadasi which occurs during the waning Moon in the Chaitra month (March/April) What is this Ekadasi called, and what is the procedure for observing it?”

Lord Krsna replied: “O unrivalled King, this Ekadasi is known as Papamocani, please listen carefully as I describe its glories unto you. In the dim recesses of the misty past this Ekadasi was discussed between the Sage Lomasa and King Mandata. This Papamocani Ekadasi falls during the waning Moon in the month of Chaitra. By carefully observing this Ekadasi day all one’s sinful reactions will be nullified, one need never fear taking birth as a ghost; it can also award eight kinds of mystic perfection.

“The great sage known as Lomasa said to King Mandata: ‘In an ancient time, Kuvera, the treasurer of the demigods, boasted a heavenly forest known as Caitraratha. The weather was always pleasant there, and exhibited an eternal springtime atmosphere. Many heavenly society girls such as the Gandharva’s and Kinnaras would come to that celestial forest to enjoy sporting in its blissful surroundings. King Indra and many other demigods would also come there to enjoy many varieties of exchanges.

‘There was also a sage known as Medhavi residing in the forest. He was a staunch devotee of Shiva and was engaged in performing great austerities. The Apsaras, or heavenly dancing girls tried to disturb the sage in various ways. Of all the Apsaras one was most celebrated and famous. Her name was Manju Ghosh and she devised a cunning plan to captivate the mind of the sagacious saint. She built a house situated just near to the sage’s ashrama and began to sing sweetly whilst playing enchanting melodies on a Vina. Upon witnessing Manju Ghosh’s salubrious beauty, adorned as she was with sandalwood pulp, fragrant garlands and divine ornaments, Cupid, who is the forsworn enemy of Lord Shiva, tried to conquer the sage by way of revenge against Lord Shiva. Cupid had once been burnt to ashes by Lord Shiva and thus remembering this previous insult conspired to humiliate Shiva’s devotee.

‘He entered the body of the sage Medhavi just as Manju Ghosh approached him playing on her vina, singing sweetly and casting seductively arrowed glances from the quiver of her eyes. The sage Medhavi became intoxicated with desire and enjoyed with the beautiful Apsara for many years. So absorbed he was in enjoying in this way he lost all sense of time, even the ability to discriminate between day and night.

‘Henceforth, when Manju Ghosh grew tired of the sage Medhavi, she decided to return to her own abode. She said to Medhavi, “O great sage, please allow me to return to my home in the heavenly planets.”

‘The sage replied: “O beauty incarnate, you have only arrived here in the evening, at least stay until morning and then depart.” Upon hearing these words Manju Ghosh became frightened and stayed with Medhavi for a few more years. In this way although she stayed with the sage for fifty-seven years, nine months and three days, it still only appeared to the sage to be half a night. Manju Ghosh asked again for permission to leave but the sage replied, “O attractive one, this is only morning, please wait until I have completed my morning rituals.” The beautiful Apsara then smiled and said, “O great sage, how long will your rituals take? Have you still not finished yet? You have been enjoying with me for many years, please consider the actual value of time.”

On hearing these words, the sage came to his senses and realized the length of time that had passed. “Alas, O beautiful lady, I have simply wasted fifty-seven years of my valuable time. You have ruined my life, spoiled all of my austerities and condemned me to madness!” The eyes of the sage Medhavi filled with tears and his body convulsed as he cried. Raising his head, his eyes turned red with anger, and in a fearsome voice he cursed Manju Ghosh with the following words, “O evil one, you have behaved with me exactly like a witch. Therefore you will immediately become a witch, O sinful unchaste Lady! Shame on you.”

‘After being cursed by the sage, Manju Ghosh humbly replied, “O best of the brahmanas! Please withdraw your heavy curse, I have spent many years in your company, bringing you pleasure beyond your wildest dreams! Surely for this reason you can forgive me. Please be kind to me.”

‘The sage replied, “O gentle one, what will I do now? You have destroyed my wealth of austerity. Still, I will give you a chance to free yourself from this curse. The Ekadasi that falls during the waning Moon of the Chaitra month is called Papamocani. If you observe this Ekadasi very strictly, all your sinful reactions will be destroyed and you will be free of this crippling curse.”

‘After speaking these words, Medhavi returned to the ashrama of his father, Cyavana Rsi. As soon as Cyavana Rsi saw his pathetic son he became extremely disappointed. He said, “Alas, alas my son, O what have you done? You are ruined and should not have spoiled yourself in this way.”

‘The young sage Medhavi replied, “O father, I have committed great sins in the company of a beautiful Apsara, please instruct me how I can be freed from the sinful reactions.”

‘Cyavana Rsi replied, “O my son, there is an Ekadasi that falls on the waning Moon of the month of Chaitra. This Ekadasi will destroy all your sinful reactions. Therefore, you should follow this Ekadasi, but you should know that I am most disappointed in you!”

‘Thereafter, the sage Medhavi observed Papamocani Ekadasi and regained his elevated status as a sage of great repute. At the same time Manju Ghosh carefully observed Papamocani Ekadasi and got liberated from her accursed form, regained her bodily attractiveness and returned to the heavenly strata.’

“After narrating this story to King Mandata, sage Lomasa concluded as follows: ‘My dear King, anyone who observes this Ekadasi will have all his sinful reactions annihilated.’

Sri Krsna concluded, “O King Yudhisthira, whoever reads or hears about Papamocani ekadasi obtains the very same merit he would get if he donated a thousand cows in charity, and he also nullifies the sinful reactions he may have incurred by killing a brahmana, killing an embryo through abortion, drinking liquor, or having sex with his guru’s wife. Such is the incalculable benefit of properly observing this holy day of Papamocani Ekadasi, which is so dear to Me and so meritorious.”

Thus ends the narration of the glories of Papamocani Ekadasi from the Bhavisyottara Purana.

This article has been used courtesy of ISKCON Desire Tree

 

 

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TOVP Nrsimhadeva Wing Opening October, 2023: Get Ready! Get Excited! Get Involved!
- TOVP.org

The historic Grand Opening of Lord Nrsimhadeva Wing in October, 2023 (date to be announced) is part of the greater TOVP 2024 Marathon to open the temple in 2024. This is a crucial stage towards that goal, and we request all devotees to come together and give their might to complete Lord Nrsimhadeva Wing for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada.

Go to the Give To Nrsimha 2023 Fundraiser page on the TOVP website WWW.TOVP.ORG, or use one of the quick links below and help finish Lord Nrsimhadeva’s temple today!


 

 

GENERAL DONATIONS

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UK: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/TOVPUK
All other: https://m.tovp.org/generaldonation

NRSIMHA BRICK AND PRABHUPADA MEDALLIONS, AWARDS AND TROPHIES

All: https://m.tovp.org/nrsimha
Canada: https://tovpcanada.org/index.html

ALL INQUIRIES:

India: tovpinfo@gmail.com
U.S.: tovpfoundation@gmail.com
Canada: tovpcanada@gmail.com
UK/Europe: tovpuk@gmail.com
All other: tovpinfo@gmail.com

 

 

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

Visit: www.tovp.org
Support: https://tovp.org/donate/
Email: tovpinfo@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOVP2022
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