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Prayer in Practice
Gita verse-by-verse study Podcast
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 12 September 2015, Durban, South Africa, BYS Retreat, Lecture at the Goshala)
Who is free? You are free when you love what you do. You are not free when you hate. When you hate, you are locked into whatever you hate. Only when you love something are you free because then you are doing what you want to do. Freedom means doing what you want to do. Only love can set you free.
But where is pure love to be found!? With people, it is always mixed. Mother loves daughter and then wants daughter to become a doctor so that it will bring glory to the family and lots of money as well!
Yes, it is like, “We love you so much and that is why we make this sacrifice for you, my little darling, so that you can study. We will pay for it so that you can become rich and pay for us!”
Where is pure, selfless love found? It is only found with Krsna. That is why kirtan is so special, because we love doing it! And when you do it once, you just have to do it again! It becomes an addiction! It gets the better of you until it is no longer reasonable. It borders madness – but ecstatic madness, fun madness, the kind of madness which we are looking for! The madness that turns every drab, grey day into something colorful and alive!
That is where love begins – when you feel alive! When you feel that everything is meaningful – not when you are wondering, “Why are we doing this? Why? Why am I doing all these things?” But when you love, every moment is magic! Every moment electrifies! That happens when Krsna is in the innermost chamber of the heart.
How do we get him there? By chanting and by devotional service, it is going to happen.
ISKCON DAIVA VARNASRAMA MINISTRY of India
(IDVM-India)
Date : December 19, 2015
Subject : ISKCON’s Golden Jubilee, Global Go Puja – January 1, 2016
To : ISKCON Leaders and ISKCON Centers
OM SRI SURABHYAI NAMAH! OM SRI GURAVE NAMAH!
Dear GBC Members, Deputy GBCs, Sannyasis, Temple Presidents, ISKCON Leaders and devotees,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
As we all know, we are about to embark in a most commemorative period in the history of our Society, the Golden Jubilee (1966 to 2016) Year Celebration of ISKCON, beginning January 1, 2016.
The ISKCON Daiva Varnasrama Ministry for India (IDVM-India) wishes to contribute its might, as all of you, in promoting this unprecedented and most glorious historical event.
One of the Ministry’s main offerings to Srila Prabhupada, in addition to the Sri Govinda Gau Gram Prachar Yatra covering 108 villages, is the 12-year OM Sri Surabhi Campaign inaugurated on January 1, 2015.
To invoke global auspiciousness and increased awareness about the need to protect Mother Cow and to gradually introduce the culture of Cow Care in our daily lives, we would like to invite all ISKCON Temples and ISKCON Centers to perform a special Go-Puja to Mother Surabhi on January 1, 2016, in addition to perform Harinam.
In order to carry this mood during the Golden Jubilee year of 2016, I would like to further submit the following 3 proposals to ISKCON Leaders and ISKCON Temples within our Society:
1. That on January first of every year we all perform a Go-Puja.
2. That all temples perform a Monthly Go-Puja on every Purnima day.
3. That all ISKCON centers offer only pure milk (ahimsa) from protected cows to the presiding Deities in our respective temples/centers.
For your information and pleasure, I herein enclose a report of the IDVM-India Annual Meeting held a few days ago on December 12-13 in Hyderabad, India.
I invite you to visit our two websites dedicated in promoting both the Mandate of IDVM-India and the OM Sri Surabhi Campaign.
I thank you for your kind attention and support,
Trusting this finds you well. Krsne matir astu.
PS: Kindly share with and forward to appropriate and interested contacts, especially devotees/temples having Goshalas and caring for cows.
Yours in service to Srila Prabhupada
RP Bhakti Raghava Swami Minister, IDVM-India
Ram Ghat - Chir Ghat Karttika (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Some more pics from Karttika Parikrama. Come along with us to places we don’t often go. Ram Ghat, where Dauji did Rasa Lila with His gopis, and Chir Ghat, where Krishna stole the garments of the gopis. A few other places along the way! And the most astounding Deity of Dauji in Braja at Khelan Van (Shergarh)! Pics thanks to Vittalrukmini Das!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/pFvyDU
The post Going from the pilgrimage place of crows to that of swans appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
The chilean music band Krishna Sambandha performed in massive Indian Festival in Centro Cultural Chimkowe. This vaisnava song is named Nacare Nacare Mora related to the pure love that Yasoda Mah feel for Krishna and Balaram. (6 min video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/tJYghA
When I say I’m vegetarian, a common reaction from some religious people is, “But didn’t God put animals on Earth for us to eat?” As they have grown up believing that animals are food and not friends, they seem genuinely confused as to why anyone would refuse to eat something granted to them by God. I was equally confused by their reaction: why would God want humans to harm any of his other creations?
To better understand this sentiment, I decided to research a couple of key scriptures: the Christian Bible and the Hindu Gita. Here are a few choice quotations.
The Bible
Here is a quote from Genesis 1:29: “And God said, ‘Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.'”
Romans 14:21 purports vegetarianism even more clearly: “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”
There is also the Commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.” It doesn’t say “Thou shalt not murder.”
Many people claim that the Bible frequently mentions that humans have “dominion” over the animals, but this means that we should protect and care for them. They are not to be killed or eaten.
The Bhagavad Gita
The Bhagavad Gita (17:8, 17:10) describes the types of foods preferred according to one’s qualities: “Foods dear to those in the mode of goodness increase the duration of life, purify one’s existence and give strength, health, happiness and satisfaction. Such foods are juicy, fatty, wholesome, and pleasing to the heart,” and, “Food that is tasteless, decomposed and putrid, and food consisting of remnants and untouchable things is dear to those in the mode of darkness.”
The Gita is aligned with the Bible’s assertion that flesh is unhealthy and “weakens” the human body, while juicy, fatty, wholesome foods (fruits, nuts, grains, etc.) promote vitality because they are full of life; meat is dead matter that elicits darkness as it contains no life force (“praan” in Sanskrit).
What kind of food does God himself prefer? In 9:26 He tells us, “If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it.”
Note that the Sanskrit word for “accept” is “asnami,” which also means “eat.”
Moreover, Chapter 5 of the Gita acknowledges animal (and human) rights, with the statement: “The humble sages, by virtue of true knowledge, see with equal vision a learned and gentle brahmana, a cow, an elephant, a dog and a dog-eater [outcaste].”
According to the spiritual texts of two of the world’s major religions, God did not put animals on Earth for human consumption, but to live in harmony with us as we are both a part of nature.
To kill is the ultimate act of disrespect, and we should therefore do no harm to any of God’s creations. He loves us all.
Note: This post also appears on The Huffington Post and my personal blogs, www.cowsofcanada.com
The post Daily Darshan : December 19th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
(English/Russian) https://youtu.be/-kqLUQ-031A
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Mayapur: Sri Radha-Madhava Elephant Procession!
Saturdays around 5:00 pm in Mayapur… Magical moments of Sri Radha-Madhava Elephant Procession. Mystical sounds could be heard by every single living entity anywhere near ISKCON Mayapur campus. Very intense thundering of large drums beating to the rhythm of two elephant’s hearts, was the best way to bring back to mind some very sweet pastimes of our dear Lord Krsna in Dwarka.
Every Saturday evening, Sri Radha Madhava leave their altar carried by one of our leading Pujari, HG Jananivas prabhu and are reverently placed on the head of a magnificent elephant.
Two devotees beautifully decorated, have the service of carrying their Lordship on elephants along with some devotees around the Mayapur campus. The fire lanterns being the only source of light during the procession, create a fascinating and kind of mysterious atmosphere which bring everyone to an enchanted mood. The roads are so colorful and beautifully decorated with breath taking Rangoli designs, it is hard to walk without stopping to take a longer look, but we have to follow the procession with hundreds, if not thousands of devotees and pilgrims chanting and dancing with raised arms.
Kirtan lead this week by the Pandav Sena, was amazing and made everyone’s heart melt and voices merged into a one unison sound. All of us present could feel how once again, these pastimes performed by the Mayapur devotees are incredibly powerful and help so much to bring everyone into a good spiritual mood. Krsna consciousness is serious business but, Oh my God… How fun and heart cleansing it can be. So every Saturday evening, we can all really do what Srila Prabhupada said “ Just chant and be happy!”
Pujari Course in Mayapur.
For the pleasure of their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Pancatattva, Prahlad Nrisimha Dev, Srila Prabhupada and for all the readers Mayapur Bhakti Vriksha happily informs that, for the first time there was a Training class arranged by Mayapur Bhakti Vriksha on ‘Bhoga offering and Aroti performance’ for one day (2 times class) on 6th December, 2015 to facilate those upcoming Bhakti Vriksha members in order to help them regarding daily Bhoga offering and Aroti performance in their home.
It took place in Mayapur Pancatattva extension hall and 130 bhakti Vriksha members participated with great enthusiasm. The class divided into two sessions. The first session from 10:00am-12:00pm (theoretical) and second session 3pm-5pm (Practical). After first session a delicious lunch Prasadam were served to all. The class ended with auspicious Harinam Sankirtan and they returned home with joy. Haribol!
Thank you very much.
If you had served as a resident devotee at an ISKCON temple for five years during any period of time in your life, even if you are not a residential devotee now, still you can avail this facility.
ISKCON Mayapur appreciates your dedicated service to Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON by bestowing you the honor of residing at Mayapur for 15 days free stay in a year at Vamsi Bhavan guest house and providing you 7 days free prasadam (see note below).
Guided tour service to holy places around Navadvipa is also available.
This facility is not available during Gaura Purnima festival period for a month. These facilities are available to all the visiting foreign devotees
(except from India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka).
What should I do to avail this facility?
Furnish an authorization letter from your temple authority as a proof of your service. Book your room well in advance. Contact Padmanayan Prabhu of our hospitality department: Email: padmanayana@gmail.com Telephone: +91-3472-245-055 Mobile: +91-947-473-9402 Office: Gada Building
International Devotee & Guest Care department was started in the year 2007 June to recognize ISKCON devotees service to Srila Prabhupada. Since then, we have been facilitating 15 days free stay and prasadam to all our International devotees (except from India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka).
Owing to insufficient fund, we have reduced the free prasadam from 15 days to 7 days. In order to provide full 15 days free prasadam, we humbly request for donation to support in this worldwide Vaishnava Seva ( Click here to donate online ).
By Deva Madhava das
‘You were on Mayapur TV…!’ ‘What’s that Mata?’ I was calling one of our congregation members to coordinate her contribution to our first major infrastructure purchase, a restaurant fridge… which was being gotten rid of cheap by a local Indian store that was closing down. ‘Yes, yes, Mayapur TV. I watch the LA Temple Bhagavatam class every morning and today the devotee speaking mentioned your center!’ ‘Oh, well that’s exciting. Do you happen to know the reason?’ I wondered out loud. ‘Oh Yes, he was making the wonderful point that Mahaprabhu has said His Holy Name will be spread to every town and village… so he asked all the devotees if they’d heard of an ‘Ypsilanti’ Michigan. Of course no one had, and then he happily declared that Srila Prabhupada now has a temple in Ypsilanti Michigan… That’s you!’
For a moment I wasn’t sure whether to be inspired or insulted, but given the circumstances I took it as an auspicious sign that settlement of the yatra into our new home was pleasing news to Vaisnavas near and far, however humble a space and place it might be situated in.
The devotees still won’t call our center at 106, or rather 108 N Adams St in Ypsilanti Michigan ‘The Harmony Collective’. They prefer the tried and true ‘Krishna House’. To be sure, as you walk out of the house, you will read the back or our sign which still says ‘Krishna House- All Welcome’ in quaint hand painted lettering. An original from our first rented property three years ago, the front of the sign now reads ‘The Harmony Collective.’
The name change came after much deliberation on more than a few signs from Krishna.
For two years, with rented properties, we’d operated under the name Krishna House. We signed the mortgage for our current location on October 31st, 2014… which happened to not only be a day to play pretend for the average Joe and Jane, it was also dress up day for the divine couple… as Gopastami fell on Halloween a year ago.
A few weeks after purchase, while enjoying one of the simple pleasures of modern home ownership (Google Mapping our property and neighbors in street view) I noticed that Sri Google had listed our driveway and ‘historic’ horse barn adjacent to the house as ‘108’ N Adams st. The numbers on our house said ‘106’ N. Adams; I was obviously intrigued. I made an inquiry with the city during a call about our zoning and found out two wonderful things during the exchange. The first was that the city was rezoning their whole business district, and that in 3 months our center would be automatically rezoned in a suitable way as an ‘educational facility’ allowing for both live in residents and public/commercial use. As if saving thousands of dollars and potentially months of energy in litigating wasn’t good enough news, the kind women on the phone also, with the click of a button… made our official working address ‘108 N. Adams St Ypsilanti, Mi.’
Even our house had been hiding… pretending to be a less auspicious, less exciting, less totally obvious choice for where to put our center!
The final straw for me was when our stalwart sankirtan soldier Siddha Hari Prabu, the type of classic ‘Haribol bhakta’ who twinges a bit if I happen to refer to ‘the Divine’ in one of my talks, came to me saying the name ‘Krishna House’ was putting people off.
During the summer we spend 5 or 6 days a week on the streets chanting, dancing and distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books along with Krishna Prasada. Siddha Hari prabhu is our primary point man, speaking to folks as they walk by, and often inducing them to chant or dance themselves with his genuine and jovial nature. We are in dhotis, saris and tilak, playing mridunga and kartal doing the swami step… and people are excited and into what we’re doing… until they see the invitation card says ‘Krishna House’. Somehow it sets off the ‘religion’ alarm and, as Siddha Hari described, they suddenly become stand offish or distant.
The name ‘Harmony Collective’ came ultimately from thinking about an expression of Srila Prabhupada’s which is dear to our community ‘Your love for me will be shown by how you cooperate after I’m gone’. We also took a page from our param Guru Deva Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati, who renamed his publication ‘Sajana Tosani’ ‘the Harmonist’.
So now the card reads ‘The Harmony Collective- Learning Love Through Cooperation’ at the top, while the bottom makes clear we are operating by HDG. The effect seems to be something like putting the label ‘Gluten Free’ on ice cream…. somehow; it’s good for you now! The name intrigues people and reaffirms what they hope our sankirtan party is all about, love and cooperation amongst people with a mutual desire to respect and enjoy life in all its expressions. Of course those words find their true meaning in service to Krishna, but we tell them more about that after they come to a program and get some halava in their bellies.
5,000+ plates of prasadam, 1,000+ books, 650+ hours of harinama, 120+ new guests, 1 Rainbow Gathering, 1 YogaFest, 1 Art Fair, 2 Weddings and a University of Michigan Football season later ‘The Harmony Collective Ypsilanti’ begs the devotees to please like them on Facebook, send whatever money and man power you can offer… and bless us that we may be allowed to live at least one more year as aspiring servants of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya at 108 N. Adams st ‘Ypsilantay’ Michigan.
Finally I’d like to thank some of the exceptional Vaisnava’s that Krishna has kindly sent to give us their association. The presence of HH Romapada Swami, HH Bhakti Sundar Swami, HH Bhakti Marga Swami, HH Bhakti Ragava Swami, HH Chandra Mauli Swami, HH B.A. Ashrama Swami, HG Deena Bandhu Prabhu, HG Kalakantha Prabhu, HG Abhirama Prabhu, HG Sri Nandanandana Prabhu, HG Prthu Sravana Prabhu, HG Malati Devi, HG Cintamani Devi, HG Vishaka Devi only to name a few… affirms for us that Srila Prabhupada is in support of our effort. We hope that those devotees and many more will continue to come and enliven our community and guests with their realizations on the Supreme Personality and the joy of His service.
For you,
Deva Madhava das
Temple President
The Harmony Collective Ypsilanti
(ISKCON Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA)
By Abhaya Mudra Dasi
In popular historical accounts the word democracy was first used in ancient Greece denoting a contemporary system of governing. In ancient Athens the word democracy was a compound term which could be broken into two parts: demos meaning people and kratein to rule. This ideal of governing inspires us even today. Democracy echoes the ancient ideals of equality and freedom into the modern governing systems.
Some authors like John Keane (author of Life and Death of Democracy) think that democracy has much older origins. He traces the meaning of the word democracy back to the Mycenaean period which preceded the rule of Greece in the Mediterranean region. There the word demos (a person) is slightly changed to be pronounced damos. John Keane discovered the word demos in the Sumerian language as well where it is pronounced dunu meaning ‘inhabitants of a designated region.’ In the ancient world the many of the different languages enjoyed a greater connection to one another than they do today. That is due to the fact that they all kept close phonetic link to their unifying origin, the prototypic Sanskrit. In Sanskrit or devanagari (lit. “language spoken in the cities of the demigods”) dham means “place.” Dhamu means “one who hails from a particular region.” Kratu implies intellectual ability. It becomes apparent that in ancient time dhemokrat meant to employ the thinking ability of every man and utilize it for the welfare of the total society.
How democracy was applied is evident by one such example taken from Shri Ramayana, the epic about Shri Ramachandara’s life. After defeating Ravana and returning to the throne of Ayodhya, Lord Ramachandra overheard that some low-class person, dissatisfied with his wife, calling her behavior “like Sita’s” (because She was forced to stay in the home of another). Shri Ramachandra immediately took the opinion of the shudra seriously. As consequence He ordered his wife, Shrimati Sita Devi, to be taken to the forest ashram of Sage Valmiki. The Personality of Godhead Shri Ramachandra could not allow the citizens of Ayodhya even to think or discuss Mother Sita in an unfavorable way. By sending Her to Valmiki’s ashram, He protected both Her and the citizens alike. Of course, we may think that the opinions of women were never taken into account in ancient times even when democratic verdict was applied. But women had much to say in their families and had the power to control the opinions of their own men. Kings were only considered true kshatriyas when they offered equal justice to all citizens.
The queen was equal to the king in making decisions. One such example is illustrated by the story of punishment applied to Ashvatthama, the son of Dronacharya. When Ashvatthama killed the five sleeping and helpless sons of Draupadi, he was captured by Shri Krishna and Arjuna. When the Lord and his friend were determined to kill Ashvatthama, Draupati was also consulted for a verdict. Her punishment was much milder and considerate of the mother of Ashvatthama. Consequently, Shri Krishna only disgraced Ashvatthama. For this reason the son of Dronacharya is alive even today. And if someone is fortunate to meet him he could be able to hear the stories of the Mahabharata war from a contemporary of Shri Krishna.
As long as there were true kshatriyas the citizens were protected. But the moment the kings became corrupt the people decided to take the reigns of power into their own hands. In ancient Athens democratic votes were given every day. Whenever there was a predicament all the people discussed the situation. For this reason the governments constructed large places for congregation. Every citizen had the turn to rule the city at some point of his life. Of course a big city was considered even a village of 10,000 people. But that made the application of democracy easier. Even in Manu Samhita and Shukra Niti it is noted that if a city is to be under the control of its ruler it should not exceed the population of 56,000. What is the situation today? We live in gigantic conglomerates. The idea of democracy is stronger than ever in our modern world. But although it may be one of the most used words in political accounts and discussions democracy remains an elusive dream when it comes to practical application.
Words have vast power in today’s world of the variegated media. Words in the form of information rule the world today; they change and shape the global perception of each generation. When we hear “democracy” we think equality and freedom. But there are many different forms of democracy and all of them are meant to discourage the straightforward practice of control by the people.
In Representative democracy the people elect a few candidates amongst themselves and those representatives run in an election. The pitfall of representation is that not all people in the population of a country are politically active and only the political parties elect representatives. Most people end up voting for candidates they do not like or they do not identify with. In this form of democracy the president will never be able to stand for all the views and wants of all the citizens at large. The main reason is because in this form of democracy the rule is wielded by the majority. This situation creates an oppressed minority. The oppressed minority acts in opposition to the elected representative. Because the opposition wants a share in the decision making process, this desire is used as an excuse to create a situation where a consecutive election is inevitable. Thus nobody remains on top of the political game for too long. No president has enough time to solve the major problems concerning his country and the world. Most presidents come to power, enrich themselves for their term of four or five years and then go away to make place for the next elected “leader” to come along and repeat the performance.
Because the Representative democracy, depending on the winner amongst the two leading parties, is either black or white, the more open-minded societies employ another type of democracy called Parliamentary. In this form of democracy there is an extended representation of the citizens in the form of a parliament. In the parliament all major political parties in a country have their representatives. The parliament has the right to vote against the decisions of the prime minister and the president. Although this is a better version of democracy than the Representative democracy, it is noteworthy to mention that an ordinary person has a little or no access to the parliamentary decisions. The high officials who supposedly represent the citizens are sitting in big chairs behind many closed doors. Their cabinets have high security alarms and the so-called “representatives” are virtually inaccessible to the ordinary citizens. The man on the street has a tough time influencing the decisions of the parliament.
Although the deputies are supposed to represent the opinions of the people they have their own political agenda. Often politics and corruption go hand in hand. On the surface Parliamentary democracy may seem fairer than other forms of democracy but in practice it does not provide better results. This form of democracy is confusing to the general public. The ordinary citizens are deceived that they personally take part in the government via their representatives. In fact, the chosen few in the parliament are only looking after the citizen’s interests in theory. In this unfair form of democracy only a chosen few can truly represent themselves and those few are the deputies in the parliament. When the citizens realize that nobody is truly looking after them they do not know how to overcome this social imbalance. In general society reacts by publicizing against the culprits. After the decision for exposing the guilty deputies is taken, the ones who want to fight for their rights loose track of priorities. They start by looking into the lives of the alleged high personas, and end up just popularizing their mistakes. Thus the freedom fighters inspire society to follow the corruption of the ones in charge. When you deal with many people things becomes very complicated.
Some countries prefer another form of democracy called Presidential. In this form of democracy the president has the right to oversee the work of the government. His power is close to that of a king because he can interfere with all decisions made by the administration. The pitfall of this democracy is that the president is elected through one political party. He is supposed to be without bias and represents all political parties equally. In practice this is impossible because the president is always loyal to the party that promoted him. But a perfect ruler is not created in one or two days and he does not rule a country for one or two terms for limited number of years. A real well-wisher of all citizens is born as a king and trained since birth to follow dharma. Thus the pitfall of the Presidential democracy is that the imposed leader ends up being a mere panderer in the hands of certain powerful political parties or corporations. In some counties there is Semi-presidential democracy where the prime minister and the president have equal powers and are supposedly checking and correcting each others’ errors. The pitfall of this democracy is that the president and the prime-minister go into endless error fining. Instead of working constructively and solving real problems like tax, poverty line, employment and medical care they only add new meanings to political correctness.
Since all democracies in the above list have failed to properly represent all citizens, some political masterminds have made one last attempt to make democracy work using the power of law. Supposedly, in the face of law, the political parties, the president, the prime minister and the ordinary citizens are equal. The chains of law, ideally, stop all unfair and underhanded techniques and secure true representation of all citizens. But the pitfall of Liberal democracy does not make the democratic system more workable. In practice, it makes the drawbacks of the system legalized. And to cast the historical mistakes of modern classlessness as iron clad the last and supposedly perfect form of democracy is created, the Constitutional democracy. This democratic system is based on a constitution and it is a derivative of the Liberal democracy. The difference is that the constitution is supposed to be permanent while the law can be changed when, ideally, everybody agrees on that. The pitfall of the Constitutional democracy lies in the truth that the constitution is not a perfect document. It is written in a fixed time, which has its own trends, by a handful of people with limited experience. The constitution is a weak call to rewrite the laws of the Universe which only Manu, a true representative of Shri Krishna can inscribe and reinforce.
The devotees of Shri Krishna know that democracy cannot possibly represent spiritual equality. Devotees know the futility of voting for any listed political party because there is no representation for followers of Krishna consciousness. The truth is that if we wait for the world of samsara to represent us, we will never be heard or noticed. A devotee cannot be part of a world wherein the rule of selfishness dictates to the majority of representatives from whichever party they originate.
Today in the name of democracy gigantic corporations threaten to swallow even the little remaining freedoms of the ordinary citizens. People have been tricked in the name of democracy into voting away their autonomy. They have sacrificed their free time, the right to drink pure water, the need to breathe fresh air and to work at home producing their own God-given food. Big business assures the people that they do not have to do hard labor because all their needs will be taken care of. The corporations will bottle the water and sell it to the people in pretty containers. They will sell them air purifiers; they will open big supermarkets with all imaginable fruits and vegetables in every season, and they will vend them to the obedient citizens. The human beings do not need to do anything but surrender their freedom and in return they will receive plenty of money to spend it back into the system. Though such big corporations create a motherly image, they are true agents of Kali. They are the witches and the conditioned human beings are sleeping on their laps. Undetected, like beautiful Putanas, they enter our lives and lock us from our ability to think properly. They induce everyone to model their life after their unscrupulous principles. The big corporations console the sleeping souls with the promise that in the next election each citizen can vote for whoever he chooses.
But every civilian has but one time to vote every four or five years. And even then, many are watching how he exercises his vote. Family members who are politically oriented will also try to sway him into voting for their representative. The company he works for will also try to buy his vote. Around the time of the election campaign certain faces become famous for a short period of time. They are supposed to be the candidates of the ordinary citizen who has usually never met them in person. There is nothing personal about the aggressive way the candidates approach him from their posters, television, radio, and internet. They talk about themselves and how they are going to solve his problems but they do not care to personally know the voter. Because the candidates are also ordinary people it is impossible for them to know every single person who is going to vote for them on the elections. In the aftermath a person is not counted as an individual but as a vote.
Personalism is possible only in Krishna Consciousness. Lord Shri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, knows every single soul in the universe regardless the size of his body, from an insect to a demigod. It does not matter what form of democracy, monarchy or patriarchy society adopts. If Shri Krishna is not put in the center, there will always be a failure in the establishment. The system’s principles would stay elusively in the realm of idealism. Democracy is theoretically a very good system but in practice its ideals have been unreachable. On the contrary, Vaishnava philosophy does not claim that everyone is born equal. Every single entity has different karma and has to suffer different consequences in life. Though advocates of democracy claim that vox populi can provide equality but sameness does not exist. A man and a woman have different bodies with different requirements. A person with godly inclinations is also not equal to a person with demonic propensities. People have to be treated according to their individual karma, their respective characters and their goals in life.
Real equality means to treat every single person according to his or her situation while at the same time providing him or her with equal possibility for self-realization. This is the goal of varnashrama system established by Shri Krishna. The Lord explains this in Bhagavad Gita (4.13) to Arjuna:
catur-varnyam maya srishtam guna-karma-vibhagashah
tasya kartaram api mam viddhy akartaram avyayam
According to the three modes of material nature and the work ascribed to them, the four divisions of human society were created by Me. And, although I am the creator of this system, you should know that I am yet the non-doer, being unchangeable.
Varnashrama principle is “simple living and high thinking” because it relies on the resources of nature. Self-sufficiency, which is a normal consequence of agrarian living, is the key to freedom. Freedom is not possible if a single person is dependent on countless individuals; as it is the situation in the modern world. For example, we would be surprised to learn how many people handle the distribution of electricity before it reaches the consumer. How many individuals have been engaged in producing the devices which allocate the electricity, and how many devices are there that receive the electricity? How many people handle the bureaucratic side of electric distribution? How many people handle the electric invoices? Before someone receives a single kilowatt-hour of electricity, countless people have participated in its production. On the contrary, agrarian community makes the individual depended mainly on his family. In this way the family becomes the basic unit of society.
Today families are being destroyed by the artificial dependency on technology. Technology dooms human relations and destroys the feelings associated with human interaction. In modern society new psychological diseases are on the rise. We cannot disregard the fact that human beings are mainly emotional creatures. And despite the fact that in modern society all material needs may be met, the need for emotional security is not. The living entity does not have the facility to be close to many different individuals at the same time. For the living entity being close to only one person is natural. The original position of the living entity is to find his close relationship with the Supreme Lord Shri Krishna. All other relationships are based on this fact. Reviving our lost relationship with Shri Krishna is the only way to solve emotional disorientation.
Democracy is just another form of confusion regarding our innate need to be close to another, to be close to the Supreme Lord Shri Krishna. Democracy promises personalism although it can never reciprocate. It is a system which encourages lies and deceit on all levels. In the name of democracy we see all kinds of atrocities being conducted by the big powers of the day. The large and powerful establishments force others into becoming democratic in the name of consumerism which they control. But no market is unlimited when the resources are in the hand of the greedy. The need of the hour is that we, as devotees, should try to entrench ourselves in secure situations. We need to own land and construct temples and other buildings. We need to develop communities which will grow to enact the vision for self-sufficient society which gives freedom and equality to all individuals to love Shri Krishna. Only then the utopia of direct democracy (when everyone’s desires, opinions and rights are fully counted) can be accomplished.
The futility of democracy at work: American elected officials check sports scores, visit Facebook or play video card games while the Speaker of the House addresses the “dignitaries.”
Srila Prabhupada on democracy: “This democracy is a demon-crazy. It has no value. It is simply waste of time and effort and no feeling, demon-crazy. I do not know who introduced this… Everyone is taking part in politics. What is this nonsense? It is meant for the kshatriyas. They can fight and defend. The rascals, bhangis, chamars, and they are also in politics. Harijanas… Every one of them vote, and everyone has got the right to become king, minister.”
www.vedicastrologers.org
By Sita Rama das
Democratization is an attempt to counteract the tyranny of powerful men by transferring power to the people. It tries to make all people equal but it leads to the degradation of all the people, by all the people. Vedic Society does not try to equalize material power; it is designed to facilitate, in all people, the realization that we are equal on the spiritual level. ISKCON wants to be a society which counteracts the degradation of people in modern democracy in order to facilitate spiritual realization. But there are possible pitfalls when trying to reestablish the Vedic model.
We analyze this with the help of the scholar, Alexis DeTocqueville, who came to America, from France, in the early 1800’s. In his book, Democracy in America, he contrasted American Democracy with French Aristocracy. He gives a brilliant description of how democracy narrows our consciousness to the small world of our own sense pleasure.
We anticipate an audience familiar with the structure and ideals of Vedic Society; who can see the resemblance between it and aristocracy; as described by Tocqueville. We can thus do an interesting analysis of the route of degradation. First there was Vedic Society, this was degraded to European Aristocracy, and then Democracy. We can thus get some insights on what is required for the route back to Vedic Culture in ISKCON.
Regarding aristocratic society, Tocqueville described the societal relationship between the eldest son and his younger brothers, the relationship between master and servant, and the relationship between highly learned men and the masses of people. The similarity to these relationships and the corresponding ones in Vedic Society is clear. He described how these are transformed in democracy, in a way that results in relationships based solely on human passion.
In aristocratic governments the top hierarchy ruled a few individuals; then these individuals, essentially, ruled those lower in the hierarchy. In democracy these intermediary rulers are practically eliminated and majority opinion becomes the new authority. Majority opinion rules people directly and also dominates the government. Human passions naturally dominate majority opinion; therefore, such passions are the new controlling force. As devotees, we will agree that this force narrows our consciousness by pulling it toward the immediate objects of sense gratification. (Tocqueville asserted that, in a democracy, majority opinion has more power over people than any King could ever imagine).
Although there are examples of people not being controlled by majority opinion, and examples of beneficial results of majority opinion, this does not negate the fact that it is a principal, dominating, and problematic force in the world today. Of course sometimes people are dominated by an opinion which is considered a majority opinion although it is only shared by the majority within a person’s clique which they have come to see as the only world with any relevance.
We will give a few examples that show how majority opinion has more control than a King. Although they may know practically nothing about it, few question the assertion that global warming is a result of human activities. It is blindly accepted because people feel questioning it would be a lack of humanity on their part. Due to the power of public opinion, questions which could lead to greater understanding are stifled from within.
Lawrence Summers, the former President of Harvard, never denied that women are top leaders in the fields of physics and engineering; yet he dared to suggest that the underrepresentation of women in these fields (in terms of quantity) might be caused by something other than sexism. Although he retracted this statement, with groveling apologies, he was forced to resign from his position for suggesting something which was not politically correct, even though the question he posed is a valid research topic.
Harvard Law School Professor, Alan Dershowitz, in his book, Shouting Fire, says he agrees with the liberal views of most of his students but is gravely concerned about their intolerance. His sees a palpable fear of moderate students to question the more numerous liberals. Rather than debating with moderates, in what is supposed to be the, “marketplace of ideas”, the liberal students appeal to the provost to prohibit expression of certain views. They want to prohibit, not only the expression of moderate views, but the type of thinking that leads to it.
Volumes could be written about the tyranny of majority opinion, we will end with a few paragraphs. At the end of the paper we discuss why the power of public opinion is a particular concern for devotees. Before that we analyze how it has risen to an, essentially, indomitable force.
In aristocratic society children were unequal according to age. The eldest son inherited the bulk of the father’s property and at some point became the master of his younger brothers, “Greatness and power are his; mediocrity and dependence are theirs”. Of course this was the policy in Vedic Culture also.
When I first heard about this policy I was struck by the feeling that it was somehow unfair. However Tocqueville explains that the privileges did not benefit the eldest son only.
Tocqueville claims:
The eldest usually tries hard to obtain wealth and power for his brothers, because the general splendor of the house is reflected on the one who represents it; and the younger brothers try to facilitate all the enterprises of the eldest, because the grandeur and strength of the head of the family make him more and more able to elevate all the branches.
So although they were unequal in power, aristocratic siblings were tied together by the laws of society and shared interests. In democracy the only thing which ties siblings together is sharing experiences in the, “sweet innocence of childhood”. Tocqueville calls this a natural bond, we might call it sense gratification. Democracy loosens social bonds but tightens natural bonds. Natural bonds are our bondage to sense gratification and the bodily concept of life.
Tocqueville observed Americans intermingling in political assemblies and then separating into small, very distinct associations. They have a very small number of friends. This is because the ideal of equality is at odds with the universal desire to be distinct, so people find a, “multitude of artificial and arbitrary classifications”, and form very small, cliques. Again, the consciousness of individuals is pulled into a small sphere by bonds of sense gratification.
According to Tocqueville, in an aristocratic society, servants and masters are two distinct and fixed classes. The virtue and honor of the masters is not experienced by the servants but the servants have virtue and honor of their own.
“Among aristocratic peoples, it was not rare to find, in the service of the great, noble and vigorous souls who bore servitude without feeling it, and who submitted to the will of their master without fearing his anger”.
Sometimes this reaches the point where a servant is more particular about what is owed to the master than the master is. In short, the servant develops affection for the master. Tocqueville said he saw no such man in America, and it was difficult for an American to understand such a person exists.
I must admit, growing up in a working class family, I never conceived of a person having affection for his employer or master. Reading Tocqueville’s explanation helped me to see how this was possible.
In America our social position is not fixed. We believe, down to the innermost core of our being, that all men have an equal right to capitalizes. The employee feels he is equal but he must temporarily accept the inferior position as a, “degrading and useful fact. The employer has little reason to feel protective and benevolent toward a person who is in the same race, and equally capable of running it.
In Aristocratic societies, the servant identified the betterment of his master with the betterment of himself, his descendants, and his class. Equality was not shared, but there was a shared interest. In democracy the opposite is true, equality is imagined and interests are all individual.
In an aristocracy the servant cannot imagine himself rising to a different position, he is therefore compelled to believe that the inequality of positions is a, “result of some hidden law of Providence”. It is not his master alone who controls him, but a whole class of masters, as well as the design of universe. It is a societal relationship which is connected to a universal reality. According to the Vedic idea, such a foundation allows us to connect with the Source of All Existence, The Supreme Personality of Godhead, by performing our societal obligations. Servant and master share this same goal while working together, and affection develops. In democracy, servant and master work exclusively for their own sense gratification. However close they are, physically, their affection is only for themselves.
Tocqueville says, aristocratic societies are comprised of a small group of men who are powerful due to their learning and intelligence, and, “a multitude of very ignorant people”. So men are inclined to allow the learned class to guide their opinions. They are not so inclined to believe in the infallibility of the masses. In contrast, when men are equal they do not believe one above another, but they believe the truth is found in the opinion of the greatest number.
I am glad that, unlike in former times, I was taught how to read in spite of the fact that I was not born in a noble or learned family. But in ways, it may be better for people to follow the advice of (certain) learned and religious men as opposed to accepting the opinion of the majority as sacrosanct. I am sure, in past ages, a person changed from being a follower of one philosopher to another with less trepidation than one experiences today when asked to accept tenets of Vedic Scriptures which are not politically correct.
I am compelled to ask, can ISKCON develop a society similar to the Vedic ideal, with similar levels of power in leaders, without the leaders abusing these powers? That is a big question. But in our attempts to answer it we must consider certain obstacles.
Before becoming devotees our idea of power was the power of majority opinion, but an ISKCON authority should not subsume this power. To do so is to dictate beyond the level in which authorities lead Vedic society.
Tocqueville considered democracy a good thing, in many ways yet he observed
I know of no country where, in general, there reigns less independence of mind and true freedom of discussion than in America… In America, the majority draws a formidable circle around thought. it (majority opinion) covers the surface of society with a network of small, complicated, minute, and uniform rules, which the most original minds and the most vigorous souls cannot break through to go beyond the crowd.
This is not the nature of authorities in Vedic Society, they encouraged free discussion so the truth could be understand through personal conviction. There are innumerable examples in the Vedic Scriptures where a subordinate questions the statements of a superior, and it is clear that the duty of the superior is to gain compliance through discussion and education on the topic in question. There are numerous examples where a subordinate first suggests a course of action, which the authority then approves. There are also examples of a subordinate countering a superior’s perspective, and then the superior, rightfully, changes.
In contrast, democratization instills in people a fear of questioning the sanctity of majority opinion. A would be questions, is stifled from within before it can even become a conscious thought. This prohibits discussion which could lead to a genuine understanding. If a person dares, or accidentally, says something which defies public opinion, the multitudes who oppose him feel no need to justify the majority opinion with facts or rational arguments. As we noted above, people have ruined their career because they made a statement which was not politically correct, although what they said could be supported by logic. But logic falls on deaf ears if it defies majority opinion.
So we, who originally know only the authority of majority opinion, must realize the need to change our style if we become authorities in ISKCON. If the leaders simple try to grant greater power to various individuals in a restored Vedic hierarchy, without acknowledging that the style of control must also change, the result will be a travesty of Vedic culture.
December 19. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Even if Srila Prabhupada and Vyasadeva and other acaryas do sometimes teach us in preliminary ways, as one deals with less intelligent people, the learner will not be harmed if he follows their exact instructions. If there is more esoteric information that is beyond him, and which he does not know because his teachers do not teach him – still he will not be harmed if he trusts them. They know the best way to bring him through all the obstacles, back home, back to Godhead. The literal presentation of Krishna consciousness in the Scriptures that Prabhupada insists on is not itself simplistic or dogmatic. Prabhupada states that Krishna certainly walked the Earth in His divine form and He is also present now in His holy name. He is fully present in stone or brass deities, but these truths are themselves very esoteric and can only be fully understood by the pure devotee. As stated in the scriptures, atah sri-krsna-namadi … “One cannot understand Krishna with blunt senses. When his senses are purified through service, then one can understand Him.” Prabhupada taught esoteric knowledge, but he has kindly given it to us in such a way that even beginners can accept Krishna literally – but they should know that the full Krishna will be revealed to us only when we are purified.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=3
Raval Sri Prahlad lecture
Prabhupada’s “Preliminary” Lessons
Gita verse-by-verse study Podcast
Download by “right-click and save content”
The post Gita 7.25 – Yoga Maya is a profound oxymoron appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Gita Jayanti is the anniversary of Lord Krsna speaking Bhagavad-Gita to Arjuna. It is celebrated all over the world, especially in ISKCON temples.
The first ISKCON Kurukshetra temple was built in the main part of town. The second ISKCON Kurukshetra temple is at the Jyotisar, where Krsna spoke Bhagavad-Gita to Arjuna 5,000 years ago.
His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada wanted to build a temple at this spot many years ago. The Haryana State Government kindly gave ISKCON 6 acres of land to develop a temple here.
Podcast
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The post Bhagavatam study 12 – 1.3.17-25 – The avataras deliver in diverse ways appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Seminar on Mentorship System(Today!!)On Dec 18,7pm-9.30pm by His Grace Rupanuga Dasa
A Spiritual Extravaganza for your entire family Coming to Town on Dec 28.
Sunday School
Gift Shop
Interviewing devotees about the relevance of the Vedic Planetarium Temple in Mayapur. (brief videos)
Srila Prabhupada: Now here in India we are constructing a very large Vedic Planetarium…within the planetarium we will construct a huge, detailed model of the universe as described in the text of the fifth canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. Within the planetarium, the model will be studied by onlookers from different levels by use of escalators. Detailed information will be given on open verandahs at the different levels by means of dioramas, charts, films etc.
Mahabharata Controversies - Karna’s Tragic Choice (video)
A tragic figure of the Mahabharata had to decide between Krsna’s pleasure and his own prestige.
By HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/Hbr1NL
Cows of Braj (Album with photos)
Vishnu Purana: My Lord, you are the well-wisher of the cows and the brahmanas, and You are the well-wisher of the entire human society and the of the entire world.
Purport: In this prayer we see that special mention is made of the cows, indicating that special protection must always be given to the cows who are very dear to the Supreme Lord. The Lord is very fond of cows and we are encouraged to give reverence and love to the cow. For the cowherd men and the cows, Krsna is the supreme friend. Therefore, He is worshiped by the prayer “ namo brahmanya-devaya go brahmana –hitaya ca”. His pastimes in Gokula, are always favorable to the brahmanas and the cows, His first business is to give all protection to the cows and the brahmanas. In fact, comfort for the brahmanas are secondary, and comfort for the cows are His first concern ( Srimad Bhagavatam 10.8.16 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/NNXNWI
In this verse the words kṛtavān yāni indicate that all the different activities Kṛṣṇa performed while present on earth are beneficial to human society. If religionists, philosophers and people in general simply hear the activities of Kṛṣṇa, they will be liberated.
Srimad Bhagavatam 10.1.3
avatīrya yador vaṁśe bhagavān bhūta-bhāvanaḥ
kṛtavān yāni viśvātmā tāni no vada vistarā
The Supersoul, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the cause of the cosmic manifestation, appeared in the dynasty of Yadu. Please tell me elaborately about His glorious activities and character, from the beginning to the end of His life enter link description here
Hare Krishna dear vaisnavas, please accept my humble obeisances!!!
This program was held at the juvenile prison (3 Alamos) in Santiago- Chile.
It consists of 4 sessions in 4 different days with yoga, vegetarian cooking, music, philosophy.
Children cooked, offer and took prasad. They received books of Srila Prabhupada, sang and danced the Maha Mantra. They also saw a video of Vrindavan Parikrama.
They were sincerely happy and were very receptive.
Sri Bhakti Das (Chile, South America).
The post Daily Darshan : December 18th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
The post Counteracting the poison appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
TOVP: Choosing the best decorations for the Temple of Vedic Planetarium. (Album with photos)
As research goes on, we always try to find the best materials for the TOVP.
Some times they come from Europe, South America and other far away places, but other times we can find them locally, here in West Bengal.
Sadbhuja Prabhu has recently visited an iron factory in Kolkata.
The factory has been operating for over 100 years and they have more then 600 workers!
They also export to many countries.
In this images we can see samples of cast iron that the factory can produce.
It is very versatile to use this technique, as one can create any design at any size and thickness.
We plan to make the railings for the Tovp in cast iron.
This peacock design will be the first sample of iron casting, and will be used on the Prabhupada Bridge.
This as well, is part of the finishing work for the TOVP.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/75E0et
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November 2015 12/15/2015
For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this file contains
the following North American results for the month of November:
North American Totals
Monthly Temples
Monthly Weekend Warriors etc.
Monthly Top 100 Individuals
Monthly Top 5
Cumulative Countries
Cumulative Temples
Cumulative Top 100 Individuals
Cumulative Top 5
This file is best viewed and printed using a fixed pitch font. In WinCOM
select Options, General, and change to Fixed pitch. In a word processor
chose Edit, Select All, and select a fixed pitch font such as Courier.
All glories to your service,
Your servant, Mayapur Sasi dasa
Scores received thru 12/15/2015
North American offering to Srila Prabhupada
MahaBig Big Medium Small BTGs Total Total % Templ/
Books Books Books Books Mags Books Points Change Devote
--------------------------------------------------------------------
January 13060 4067 5388 16623 5783 44921 37742.65 +24% 32/ 99
February 12342 2951 6011 16459 3501 41264 35153.75 +31% 29/ 81
March 12834 4145 6405 19762 8866 52012 38869.00 +34% 30/ 95
April 22218 6766 13004 23085 8893 73966 64364.55 +17% 28/ 94
May 16064 9503 11674 24490 8588 70319 54475.70 +4% 27/ 82
June 21186 10180 12344 22839 10569 77118 65508.25 -7% 29/ 92
July 25201 19143 8502 24163 12052 89061 81200.35 +16% 27/ 89
August 20981 9616 26571 28387 8822 94377 72855.65 +6% 25/ 94
September21446 9889 9093 29160 14358 83946 66066.50 +27% 21/ 88
October 19370 11008 9841 25234 9266 74719 61908.00 -2% 24/ 89
November 21186 10938 7725 17676 5301 62826 62121.60 -32% 21/ 85
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Totals 205888 98206 116558 247878 95999 764529 640266.00 +5% 39/212
(%)Change compared
to last year
North American Sankirtan Newsletter
ALL TEMPLES
November 2015
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Temples (size) Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 Silicon Valley(ISV US 15713.00*+251% 7819* 3 0 288 0
2 Los Angeles (L) US 11390.40 -29% 2752 2980 2992 5620 54
3 RupanugaVedicColle US 10338.90 -22% 3573 2325 498 1058 3544
4 Toronto (S) Can 6144.60*+492% 1008* 3035* 1254* 1864* 6
5 Gainesville (M) US 2986.75* +50% 855* 806 700 483 0
6 Denver (M) US 2476.70 -28% 949 268 238 720 117
7 TBB TSKP (MS) US 2357.00 +3% 317 790 857 2018 0
8 Laguna Beach (S) US 2195.25 +94% 944 74 122* 377 780*
9 Dallas (M) US 1919.75 -1% 817 171 69 307 35
10 Chicago (S) US 1354.90 -27% 418 238 270 558 64
11 Baltimore (MS) US 1232.00 -67% 612 2 12 0 0
12 Bhakti Lounge (Phi US 942.75*+161% 414* 5 60 319 0
13 Hillsborough, NC ( US 914.50 +35% 133 157* 208* 1286 660
14 New Talavan (S) US 597.75 -64% 233 7 235 29 0
15 Hartford (MS) US 429.25*+108% 177* 24 4 197 0
16 Vancouver (S) Can 372.50*+116% 32 20 57 1040* 0
17 New Orleans (S) US 339.25 -39% 14 0 105 1035 0
18 Miami (S) US 153.00 -66% 26 11 1 358 0
19 Sacramento/TYM (S) US 148.50 -50% 70 4 4 10 0
20 Berkeley (S) US 108.90 -39% 21 17 38 108 39
21 Arkadelphia (S) US 5.95 -61% 2 1 1 1 2*
(%)Change compared (*)New record
to monthly average for this year
North American Sankirtan Newsletter
WEEKEND WARRIORS ETC
November 2015
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Individuals or Group Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 WW Team ISV Week Sil US 15713.00*+251% 7819* 3 0 288 0
2 WW Toronto WW Tor Can 578.00 +16% 227 63 85 74 0
3 WW Dallas Dal US 123.75 -69% 39 36 11 17 0
4 WW Los Angeles LA US 7.50 -61% 0 0 5 20 0
5 WW Arkadelphia W Ark US 5.95 -65% 2 1 1 1 2*
(%)Change compared (*)New record
to monthly average for this year
North American Sankirtan Newsletter
TOP 100 INDIVIDUALS
November 2015
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Individuals Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 Bk Jay Khush LA US 2696.40 -11% 454 704 1629 1078* 4
2 Krishna Bhagavan RVC US 2151.05 +6% 759 433 111 153 1063
3 Paramesvara d RVC US 2055.95 -38% 702 465 20 61 1617
4 Ananda Kirtan d LA US 1909.95 -23% 509 530 273 901* 2
5 Bk Carlos Gai US 1553.75*+106% 457* 439* 279 245 0
6 Deva Krsna d RVC US 1521.25 -37% 672 141 0 145 0
7 Brajananda d RVC US 1506.15 -29% 524 397 23 179 49
8 Dasya Prema d RVC US 1234.25 -14% 455 238 110 19 265
9 Nidra dd Den US 1166.00 +16% 449 151 144 180 0
10 Dharmaraja d RVC US 1162.25 +15% 330 446 0 225 0
11 Kalki d(2 Kimani Gai US 1083.00 +1% 339 339 123 18 0
12 Prema Sankirtan LA US 1035.75 +16% 294 344 45 325 0
13 Nityananda d Dal US 1008.00 -28% 504 0 0 0 0
14 Shastra-krt d LA US 972.00 -5% 486 0 0 0 0
15 Sacitanoy d LA US 863.75 +24% 212 384 0 223 0
16 Gauranga Prema d LA US 779.75 +26% 141 117 601* 321* 0
17 Bk Carlos TBB US 737.50 -24% 34 207 514 822 0
18 Parama Karuna d Chi US 692.50 -43% 230 124 110 214 0
19 Madhava Puri d TBB US 646.50 +20% 89 353 14 434 0
20 Bk Ivan LA US 603.75*+633% 59* 327* 178* 273* 15*
21 Maharaja d LA US 597.60 -3% 269 32 16 72 16
22 Bhrgupati d LA US 582.25 -58% 79 253 165 355 0
23 Bk Storm LA US 582.00 -30% 151 96 246 244 0
24 Mohanasini dd Tal US 557.75 -65% 233 7 155 29 0
25 Sri Arjuna d Rup US 537.00 +3% 119 169 57 186 550
26 Vijaya d LA US 518.00 -11% 240 24 28 0 0
27 Raya Nitai d TBB US 433.75 -52% 108 77 110 343 0
28 Bhismadeva d Dal US 318.25* +37% 109* 89* 9* 27 0
29 Krsna Kumar d TBB US 313.25 -32% 86 47 109 159 0
30 Caitanya dd Gai US 260.25*+129% 44* 15 252* 125 0
31 Drumila d NO US 259.25 -36% 4 0 105 795 0
32 Prana Hari d Den US 240.00 -39% 73 50 17 142 0
33 Bk Joey TBB US 226.00 -7% 0 106 110* 260 0
34 Cakri d Dallas Dal US 225.50 +35% 90 0 0 168 35
35 Bk Jordan Chi US 222.25*+657% 62* 85* 0 53* 0
36 Gaur Sundar d LA US 207.95 -74% 89 19 15 13 2
37 Nanda Suno dasa Den US 201.75 +56% 70* 32 26 67 0
38 Tusta Krsna d Den US 192.00 na 96 0 0 0 0
39 Amala Purana d Den US 155.25 -51% 59 10 19 71 0
40 Ananda Murari d Den US 154.75 +55% 65 11 16 23 0
41 Shilpa Patel Chi US 144.00 na 72 0 0 0 0
42 Caitanya Hari d Van Can 108.00*+999% 54 0 0 0 0
43 Vinoda Kovida d Den US 105.00 -40% 37 14 16 36 0
44 Visala d Mia US 92.25 -36% 6 4 0 305 0
45 Dinabandhu Guru Ber US 90.75 -19% 18 14 29 91 35
46 Sarvatarak d NO US 80.00 -12% 10* 0 0 240 0
47 Nila Madhava d LA US 78.50 -15% 24 24 0 26 0
48 Bn Demi Tor Can 77.80 +47% 34 3 3 20 3
49 Brhat Mrdanga d Rup US 77.25 na 0 35 44 81 0
50 Bk Sebastian LA US 75.75 -8% 3 1 15 245 0
51 Radha Krishna d LA US 74.50 -49% 20 13 10 60 15
52 Visnu Gada d Van Can 70.75*+156% 23* 14* 7 29* 0
53 Bk Eric LA US 70.50 -93% 4 0 125 0 0
54 Banke Bihari dd Van Can 69.75 +46% 32 4 1 5 0
55 Karuna Dharini LA US 59.00 -16% 23 2 12 20 0
56 Narottamananda d Dal US 56.50 -55% 22 0 25 0 0
57 Cakri d Chi US 56.00 -71% 0 0 112 0 0
58 Lilakara d Mia US 54.50 -48% 20 5 0 38 0
59 Bk Gus LA US 54.25 -81% 12 15 17 27 0
60 Bk Mitch Rampp Chi US 44.65 -70% 13 9 4 25 14*
61 Dvijamani Gaura RVC US 40.25 -55% 11 0 32 9 0
62 Krsnadas Kaviraj Tor Can 40.00 na 0 40 0 0 0
63 Kaivalya dd Tal US 40.00 -20% 0 0 80 0 0
64 Bn Tessa Gai US 39.75 -20% 1 2 34 75* 0
65 Premabhakti dd Van Can 36.00*+157% 18* 0 0 0 0
66 Dhamesvara Mahap Gai US 33.00 -37% 14* 4 2 0 0
67 Acarya Nistha d Chi US 32.25 -86% 13 0 0 25 0
68 Uttama Sloka d Chi US 25.00 +127% 0 0 0 100* 0
69 Radharani dd LA US 21.50 na 3 0 15 32 0
70 Jagatpati d Van Can 19.75* +43% 0 0 28 23 0
71 Lalita dd Ber US 18.15 -70% 3 3 9 17 4
72 Shankar Pandit d Chi US 14.25 -55% 5 0 2 13 0
73 Arya Siddhanta d RVC US 13.50 -84% 0 0 27 0 0
74 Hari Nama dd LA US 12.50 -46% 0 0 0 50 0
75 Gopi Gita dd LA US 10.25 -73% 0 0 17 7 0
76 Prajapati d Mia US 5.75 -47% 0 2 0 15 0
77 Bk Sergey Chi US 5.00 -90% 0 0 0 20 0
78 Kamalini dd Hil US 4.25 -93% 0 0 2 5 20*
79 Bk Sonny Chi US 2.50 -90% 0 0 0 10 0
80 Nartaka Gopal dd Mia US 0.50 -95% 0 0 1* 0 0
(%)Change compared (*)New record
to monthly average for this year
North American Sankirtan Newsletter
MONTHLY TOP 5 TEMPLES AND INDIVIDUALS
November 2015
-------- Points -------- ----------- Points -----------
1 Silicon Valley(ISV) 15713.00 1 Bk Jay Khush LA 2696.40
2 Los Angeles 11390.40 2 Krishna Bhagavan d RVC 2151.05
3 RupanugaVedicCollege 10338.90 3 Paramesvara d RVC 2055.95
4 Toronto 6144.60 4 Ananda Kirtan d LA 1909.95
5 Gainesville 2986.75 5 Bk Carlos Gainesvil1553.75
----- (%)Increase ------ -------- (%)Increase ---------
1 Toronto +492% 1 Caitanya Hari d Vancouver +999%
2 Silicon Valley(ISV) +251% 2 Bk Jordan Chicago +657%
3 Bhakti Lounge (Phili +161% 3 Bk Ivan LA +633%
4 Vancouver +116% 4 Premabhakti dd Vancouver +157%
5 Hartford +108% 5 Visnu Gada d Vancouver +156%
---- Maha-Big Books ---- ------- Maha-Big Books -------
1 Silicon Valley(ISV) 7819 1 Krishna Bhagavan d RVC 759
2 RupanugaVedicCollege 3573 2 Paramesvara d RVC 702
3 Los Angeles 2752 3 Deva Krsna d RVC 672
4 Toronto 1008 4 Brajananda d RVC 524
5 Denver 949 5 Ananda Kirtan d LA 509
------ Big Books ------- ---------- Big Books ---------
1 Toronto 3035 1 Bk Jay Khush LA 704
2 Los Angeles 2980 2 Ananda Kirtan d LA 530
3 RupanugaVedicCollege 2325 3 Paramesvara d RVC 465
4 Gainesville 806 4 Dharmaraja d RVC 446
5 TBB TSKP 790 5 Bk Carlos Gainesvil 439
----- Medium Books ----- -------- Medium Books --------
1 Los Angeles 2992 1 Bk Jay Khush LA 1629
2 Toronto 1254 2 Gauranga Prema dChinLA 601
3 TBB TSKP 857 3 Bk Carlos TBB TSKP 514
4 Gainesville 700 4 Bk Carlos Gainesvil 279
5 RupanugaVedicCollege 498 5 Ananda Kirtan d LA 273
----- Small Books ------ -------- Small Books ---------
1 Los Angeles 5620 1 Bk Jay Khush LA 1078
2 TBB TSKP 2018 2 Ananda Kirtan d LA 901
3 Toronto 1864 3 Bk Carlos TBB TSKP 822
4 Hillsborough, NC 1286 4 Drumila d New Orlea 795
5 RupanugaVedicCollege 1058 5 Madhava Puri d TBB TSKP 434
------ Magazines ------- --------- Magazines ----------
1 RupanugaVedicCollege 3544 1 Paramesvara d RVC 1617
2 Laguna Beach 780 2 Krishna Bhagavan d RVC 1063
3 Hillsborough, NC 660 3 Sri Arjuna d RupanugaV 550
4 Denver 117 4 Dasya Prema d RVC 265
5 Chicago 64 5 Brajananda d RVC 49
------ Full Sets ------- --------- Full Sets ----------
1 Hartford 32 1 Nidra dd Denver 13
2 Silicon Valley(ISV) 14 2 Gaur Sundar d LA 4
3 Denver 13 3 Caitanya Hari d Vancouver 3
4 Toronto 8 4 Bk Jay Khush LA 2
5 Baltimore 8 5 Shastra-krt d LA 1
----- BBT Payments ----- ------ Matajis - Points ------
1 Silicon Valley(ISV) 48000 1 Nidra dd Denver 1166.00
2 Los Angeles 26900 2 Mohanasini dd New Talav 557.75
3 RupanugaVedicCollege 11334 3 Caitanya dd Gainsvill 260.25
4 Toronto 10942 4 Banke Bihari dd Vancouver 69.75
5 Laguna Beach 7000 5 Karuna Dharini dd LA 59.00
--- Bhaktas - Points --- ----- Bhaktins - Points ------
1 Bk Jay Khush LA 2696.40 1 Bn Demi Toronto 77.80
2 Bk Carlos Gainesvil1553.75 2 Bn Tessa Gainesvil 39.75
3 Bk Carlos TBB TSKP 737.50 3 0.00
4 Bk Ivan LA 603.75 4 0.00
5 Bk Storm LA 582.00 5 0.00
Veteran Men(20+yrs) Points -Veteran Women(20+yrs) Points-
1 Prema Sankirt LA 1035.75 1 Nidra dd Denver 1166.00
2 Sacitanoy d LA 863.75 2 Mohanasini dd New Talav 557.75
3 Bhrgupati d LA 582.25 3 Karuna Dharini dd LA 59.00
4 Vijaya d LA 518.00 4 Radharani dd LA 21.50
5 Drumila d New Orlea 259.25 5 Lalita dd Berkeley 18.15
North American Sankirtan Newsletter
COUNTRIES (CUMULATIVE)
January thru November, 2015
Country % Total M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
(Temples) Points Change Books Books Books Books Books Mags
_________________________________________________________________________
1 USA (35) 615992.80 +6% 735570 199137 93253 111203 236428 95549
2 Canada (4) 24273.20 -2% 28959 6751 4953 5355 11450 450
(%)Change compared to Jan-Nov 2014
North American Sankirtan Newsletter
TEMPLES (CUMULATIVE)
January thru November, 2015
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Temples (size) Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 Los Angeles (L) US 172812.50 +1% 49488 29222 56301* 61864* 9980
2 RupanugaVedicColle US 130364.05* +57% 43994* 32327* 4889* 15191*38068*
3 Silicon Valley(ISV US 60521.35 -11% 29021 119 14* 9413* 1*
4 Denver (M) US 36715.10 -4% 10759 7139* 7061* 16688* 3556*
5 Baltimore (MS) US 35149.90* +95% 10656* 610* 1435* 38960*27704*
6 TBB TSKP (MS) US 25242.40*+167% 6113* 4070* 9319* 16978* 424*
7 Gainesville (M) US 22946.50 -20% 5885 5979 7115 6560 0
8 Dallas (M) US 21339.55* +69% 9474* 1137* 881 3093 408
9 Chicago (S) US 20027.75 -25% 5676 4473 3511* 9259 1325*
10 Toronto (S) Can 16517.00 -19% 3781 4746 3762 8202 443
11 New Talavan (S) US 15496.50 +2% 6015 810* 4736* 1154 0
12 Laguna Beach (S) US 13497.30 +5% 5764 502* 662* 3458 2718
13 Hillsborough, NC ( US 7709.70 +4% 1915 651* 828 10218* 2470*
14 Alachua (S) US 7150.55 -18% 1212 1060* 3446 6161 4033
15 Washington D.C. (M US 6388.35 -42% 1904 408 3489* 1671 101
16 New York Harinam ( US 5697.50 -12% 1403 1102 775 5608 0
17 Atlanta (S) US 5397.80 -55% 1815 1009 786 788 1688*
18 New Orleans (S) US 5352.25 +4% 213* 0 2637 14431* 0
19 Miami (S) US 4151.40 -38% 1020 563* 38 5702 995
20 Bhakti Lounge (Phi US 3833.70* na 1448* 130* 602* 2026* 2*
21 Bhakti Lounge (Tor Can 3660.55* na 1506* 28* 638* 1205* 3*
22 Sacramento/TYM (S) US 3138.50* na 1373* 211* 180* 366* 0
23 Hartford (MS) US 2493.25* na 768* 390* 239* 1791* 0
24 Vancouver (S) Can 2100.15 +87% 538 179 668 2043* 4
25 Saranagati Farm (M Can 1995.50* na 926* 0 287* 0 0
26 Tucson (S) US 1984.90* na 811* 74* 248* 306* 884*
27 Berkeley (S) US 1882.20 -71% 427 258 719 1436 517*
28 San Diego (M) US 1867.40 -89% 494 560 251 774 4*
29 Seattle (S) US 1528.75 na 496 92 218* 503* 252
30 Philadelphia (M) US 924.75 -76% 343 33 192 373 165
31 St. Louis (S) US 897.00 -33% 275 207 106 348 0
32 Krishna Culture (S US 463.50 -60% 126 53 218 186* 30
33 Orlando (MS) US 290.00* na 0 0 241* 678* 0
34 Minneapolis (S) US 234.00 -70% 108 0 11 50 0
35 Hale Krishna Hawai US 140.50 -65% 12 42 37 180 110
36 Arkadelphia (S) US 113.30*+100% 28* 22* 13* 114* 3
37 Texarkana (S) US 109.10* +19% 46* 0 0 24 111*
38 Las Vegas (S) US 98.25 -72% 39 0 5 71 0
39 Columbus (S) US 33.25 -98% 16 0 0 5 0
40 Boston (S) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
41 New York City (M) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
42 New Vrindavan (L) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
43 Honolulu (S) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
44 Detroit (S) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
45 BTG/Krishna.com (S US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
46 Portland (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
47 New Jersey-Edison US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
48 Montreal TSKP (S) Can 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
49 New York 26 2nd Av US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
50 Murari Sevak (S) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
51 Ottawa (MS) Can 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
52 New Jersey-Towaco US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
53 Houston (S) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
54 New York Queens (S US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
55 Tampa Bay (S) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
56 San Francisco (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
57 Cintamani Dhama KY US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
58 Halifax (MS) Can 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
59 Naperville (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
60 San Antonio (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
61 Austin (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
62 World Harinama Par US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
63 Calgary (MS) Can 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
64 Boise (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
65 Tallahassee (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
66 Winnipeg (MS) Can 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
67 Gita-nagari (S) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
68 Ann Harbor (S) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
69 Santa Cruz (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
70 Santa Barbara (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
71 Spanish Fork KHQN US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
72 Palm Beach (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
73 Carpinteria (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
74 Birmingham(USA) (M US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
75 Albuquerque (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
76 Louisville (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
77 Naples (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
78 Harrisburg (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
79 Oklahoma City (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
80 Boulder (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
81 Phoenix(AZ) (MS) US 0.00 na 0 0 0 0 0
(%)Change compared (*)Better than
to Jan-Nov 2014 last year
North American Sankirtan Newsletter
TOP 100 INDIVIDUALS (CUMULATIVE)
January thru November, 2015
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Individuals Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 Bk Jay Khush LA US 32891.00*+412% 11417* 3038* 13036* 1794* 525*
2 Paramesvara d RVC US 31767.45 -17% 9043 10993* 1277 1543*16642
3 Ananda Kirtan d LA US 26699.95*+116% 10375* 2329 5535* 3409 12*
4 Deva Krsna d RVC US 23173.50* +12% 10744* 1124 0 2246* 0
5 Brajananda d RVC US 20705.70* +16% 7201 5521* 52* 1572 3637*
6 Krishna Bhagavan RVC US 20467.70* na 6897* 4544* 915* 3056* 9082*
7 Bhrgupati d LA US 14481.30 -74% 5276 1761 1810* 4956* 243*
8 Dasya Prema d RVC US 14152.85* +35% 4833* 2960 1314* 1801 4196*
9 Nityananda d Dal US 13668.00* na 6834* 0 0 0 0
10 Mohanasini dd New US 13430.75 -8% 5268 723* 3890* 907* 0
11 Kalki d(2 Kimani Gai US 11764.75* +87% 3204* 3469* 2720* 2111* 0
12 Dharmaraja d RVC US 11249.60* na 3075* 4483* 239* 1802* 466*
13 Nidra dd Den US 11205.50 -2% 4184 1496* 1355* 2656* 0
14 Shastra-krt d LA US 11187.50 -18% 5437 226 0 350 0
15 Bk Eric LA US 10179.75* +38% 2715* 2501* 3973* 591 1145*
16 Raya Nitai d TBB US 9417.50 +2% 2797* 1130* 2887 5000 0
17 Harinama d RVC US 9251.55* na 2734* 2508* 1000* 1563* 3848*
18 Parama Karuna d Chi US 9129.95 -13% 2839 1950* 1604* 2799 2*
19 Prema Sankirtan LA US 9071.25 -29% 1666 4366 1455* 2577 15
20 Bk Storm LA US 8945.80*+999% 2545* 1646* 3177* 2298* 468*
21 Bk Carlos Gai US 8332.00* na 2263* 2140* 2198* 2268* 0
22 Bk Carlos TBB US 7523.00* +69% 1531* 902 3670* 6896* 0
23 Sacitanoy d LA US 7114.40 -24% 1755 3015 419* 1518 4*
24 Gaur Sundar d LA US 6641.40* na 2824* 623* 517* 406* 104*
25 Maharaja d LA US 5546.85* +90% 2405* 489* 193 599* 16
26 Prana Hari d Den US 4149.50 +1% 1403 631* 445* 1960* 0
27 Vijaya d LA US 4003.00* +56% 1423 962* 389* 2* 0
28 Bk Tyler Den US 3934.00* na 925* 1627* 851* 126* 0
29 Krsna Kumar d TBB US 3534.40 -31% 984* 318 1742 1340 424*
30 Drumila d New US 3501.75 -15% 4 0 2110 9755* 0
31 Madhava Puri d TBB US 3341.00*+999% 535* 1258* 601* 2850* 0
32 Gauranga Prema d LA US 3256.25* na 684* 921* 1516* 837* 0
33 Bk Gus LA US 2858.75* na 723* 719* 1136* 503* 0
34 Bk Karim Den US 2215.75 -23% 3 1101 785* 2865* 0
35 Bn Karly Den US 2151.50* na 538* 460* 577* 1308* 0
36 Sri Arjuna d Rup US 2097.75* na 511* 643* 214* 425* 2195*
37 Bk Josh Ala US 2060.75* na 375* 778* 473* 1185* 0
38 Navadwipa d Tuc US 1923.90* na 786* 70* 238* 306* 864*
39 Ghosh Thakhur d Sar Can 1914.00* na 888* 0 276* 0 0
40 Cakri d Dallas Dal US 1891.55* +86% 708* 0 10 1721* 403
41 Acarya Nistha d Chi US 1874.35 -61% 529 478 287* 767 31*
42 Vinoda Kovida d Den US 1855.00* +62% 572* 358* 386* 640* 0
43 Samyaprasa d Den US 1833.25* +64% 405 226* 916* 1357* 0
44 Amala Purana d Den US 1425.50 na 424 159 491* 692 0
45 Caitanya dd Gai US 1395.75 -13% 193 139* 1206* 1071 0
46 Visala d Mia US 1390.65 -8% 230 83* 0 3149 604
47 Aditya Narayan d Hil US 1358.25* na 559* 50* 18* 665* 18*
48 Madhukari d Mia US 1266.75 -91% 560 95 0 207* 0
49 Dinabandhu Guru Ber US 1214.50 +2% 269* 184 396 1026* 380*
50 Divyanga d Ala US 1212.50 -20% 275* 0 700* 1230 50
51 Lalita Gopika dd Den US 1145.75* na 280* 242* 63* 1249* 0
52 Lilakara d Mia US 996.10* +73% 268* 124* 0 1288* 97
53 Bk Joey TBB US 958.75* na 41 586* 132 899* 0
54 Ananda Murari d Den US 951.00* +24% 335 114* 255* 158* 0
55 Babhru d TBB US 915.00 -92% 330 0 315 390 0
56 Bk Sebastian LA US 901.25* na 64* 14* 234* 2569* 0
57 Sarvatarak d New US 895.25* +77% 36* 0 116* 3061* 0
58 Bk Michael Chi US 875.65 -7% 136 297* 192* 833* 24
59 Nanda Suno dasa Den US 847.50* na 216* 188* 256* 398* 0
60 Bk Himanshu Chi US 738.75 -68% 219 174 111 285 0
61 Bk David SD US 728.30* na 147* 294* 150* 260* 3*
62 Syama dd Ala US 711.55 -61% 173 0 72 449 2173
63 Bk Ivan LA US 686.10* na 69* 372* 191* 314* 21*
64 Visva dd Chi US 665.00*+226% 213* 83* 60* 504* 0
65 Dvijamani Gaura RVC US 661.50 -29% 185 178 208* 32 15
66 Valmiki d RVC US 658.20* na 281* 41* 19* 182* 2*
67 Nila Madhava d LA US 633.30* na 204* 80* 0 210* 928*
68 Bk Chang SD US 621.50* na 203* 137* 0 314* 0
69 Bk Jeremy Den US 613.25 +17% 218 105 13 263* 0
70 Bn Demi Tor Can 607.30 -17% 170* 42* 172* 538 48
71 Bk Angelo Mia US 583.75*+646% 209* 89* 1 277* 70*
72 Lalita dd Ber US 559.45* +42% 146* 50* 263* 301* 107*
73 Karuna Dharini LA US 553.00 +1% 202 36* 110 232 0
74 Bhismadeva d Dal US 550.00* na 188* 144* 18* 84* 0
75 Gargamuni d St. US 548.00* na 179* 94* 68 248* 0
76 Rohini Nandan d New US 510.00* +17% 0 0 20* 2000* 0
77 Banke Bihari dd Van Can 500.50 +114% 198 53 64* 78* 0
78 Ananta Gopal d New US 480.75* na 171* 0 170* 215* 0
79 Bk Nihal NY US 471.25* na 143* 172* 0 53* 0
80 Cakri d Chi US 444.00* na 88* 76* 384* 0 0
81 Bk Steve LA US 425.00* na 0 0 0 1460* 600*
82 Bn Nickole Den US 424.25* na 161* 39* 90* 73* 0
83 Gopi Gita dd LA US 391.75* +28% 22 15* 351* 619 25*
84 Bn Tessa Gai US 388.75* na 12* 15* 528* 343* 0
85 Sura d LA US 374.00 na 31 1 160* 924* 0
86 Kamalini dd Hil US 359.90 +16% 109* 61 70 156 69
87 Cakri d StL St. US 349.00 -6% 96* 113 38 100* 0
88 Visnu Gada d Van Can 347.30* na 110* 40* 80 188* 3
89 Bk Mitch Rampp Chi US 346.40* na 68* 150* 48* 136* 24*
90 Arya Siddhanta d RVC US 341.50* na 65* 93* 189* 96* 0
91 Mantra Murti dd Mia US 340.75 -31% 90 85* 35 153 200
92 Bk Mikey Gai US 326.00* na 67* 40* 204* 200* 0
93 Gadagraja d Ala US 320.00 -52% 0 0 640 0 0
94 Bk John Rup US 289.50* na 77* 35* 0 402* 0
95 Bk Jordan Chi US 281.00* na 76* 98* 4* 106* 25*
96 Bk Jordan Rup US 279.70* na 43* 27* 61* 464* 202*
97 Bk Harish Kumar Chi US 260.50* na 124* 0 25* 0 0
98 Ekatvam d Gur US 256.50* na 0 0 278* 470* 0
99 Bk Rohit Chi US 255.50* na 56* 0 237* 100* 0
100 Bk Zan LA US 255.50* na 17* 15* 349* 64* 160*
(%)Change compared (*)Better than
to Jan-Nov 2014 last year
North American Sankirtan Newsletter
CUMULATIVE TOP 5 TEMPLES AND INDIVIDUALS
January thru November 2015
----- Points(Cum) ------ -------- Points(Cum) ---------
1 Los Angeles 172812.50 1 Bk Jay Khush LA 32891.00
2 RupanugaVedicCollege 130364.05 2 Paramesvara d RVC 31767.45
3 Silicon Valley(ISV) 60521.35 3 Ananda Kirtan d LA 26699.95
4 Denver 36715.10 4 Deva Krsna d RVC 23173.50
5 Baltimore 35149.90 5 Brajananda d RVC 20705.70
--- (%)Increase(Cum) --- ------ (%)Increase(Cum) ------
1 TBB TSKP +167% 1 Bk Storm LA +999%
2 Arkadelphia +100% 2 Madhava Puri d TBB TSKP +999%
3 Baltimore +95% 3 Bk Jay Khush LA +412%
4 Vancouver +87% 4 Visva dd Chicago +226%
5 Dallas +69% 5 Ananda Kirtan d LA +116%
-- Maha-Big Books(Cum) -- ----- Maha-Big Books(Cum) -----
1 Los Angeles 49488 1 Bk Jay Khush LA 11417
2 RupanugaVedicCollege 43994 2 Deva Krsna d RVC 10744
3 Silicon Valley(ISV) 29021 3 Ananda Kirtan d LA 10375
4 Denver 10759 4 Paramesvara d RVC 9043
5 Baltimore 10656 5 Brajananda d RVC 7201
---- Big Books(Cum) ---- ------- Big Books(Cum) -------
1 RupanugaVedicCollege 32327 1 Paramesvara d RVC 10993
2 Los Angeles 29222 2 Brajananda d RVC 5521
3 Denver 7139 3 Krishna Bhagavan d RVC 4544
4 Gainesville 5979 4 Dharmaraja d RVC 4483
5 Toronto 4746 5 Prema Sankirtan d LA 4366
--- Medium Books(Cum) --- ------ Medium Books(Cum) ------
1 Los Angeles 56301 1 Bk Jay Khush LA 13036
2 TBB TSKP 9319 2 Ananda Kirtan d LA 5535
3 Gainesville 7115 3 Bk Eric LA 3973
4 Denver 7061 4 Mohanasini dd New Talav 3890
5 RupanugaVedicCollege 4889 5 Bk Carlos TBB TSKP 3670
--- Small Books(Cum) --- ------ Small Books(Cum) ------
1 Los Angeles 61864 1 Drumila d New Orlea 9755
2 Baltimore 38960 2 Bk Carlos TBB TSKP 6896
3 TBB TSKP 16978 3 Raya Nitai d TBB TSKP 5000
4 Denver 16688 4 Bhrgupati d LA 4956
5 RupanugaVedicCollege 15191 5 Ananda Kirtan d LA 3409
---- Magazines(Cum) ---- ------- Magazines(Cum) -------
1 RupanugaVedicCollege 38068 1 Paramesvara d RVC 16642
2 Baltimore 27704 2 Krishna Bhagavan d RVC 9082
3 Los Angeles 9980 3 Dasya Prema d RVC 4196
4 Alachua 4033 4 Harinama d RVC 3848
5 Denver 3556 5 Brajananda d RVC 3637
---- Full Sets(Cum) ---- ------- Full Sets(Cum) -------
1 Silicon Valley(ISV) 316 1 Nidra dd Denver 99
2 Los Angeles 124 2 Gaur Sundar d LA 96
3 Denver 102 3 Aditya Narayan d Hillsboro 36
4 Hillsborough, NC 57 4 Shastra-krt d LA 14
5 Toronto 51 5 Bk Jay Khush LA 6
--- BBT Payments(Cum) --- ---- Matajis - Points(Cum) ----
1 Los Angeles 295476 1 Mohanasini dd New Tala13430.75
2 RupanugaVedicCollege 132783 2 Nidra dd Denver 11205.50
3 Silicon Valley(ISV) 128500 3 Caitanya dd Gainsvil 1395.75
4 Denver 54721 4 Lalita Gopika dd Denver 1145.75
5 TBB TSKP 52214 5 Syama dd Alachua 711.55
Bhaktas - Points(Cum) --- Bhaktins - Points(Cum) ---
1 Bk Jay Khush LA 32891.0 1 Bn Karly Denver 2151.50
2 Bk Eric LA 10179.8 2 Bn Demi Toronto 607.30
3 Bk Storm LA 8945.80 3 Bn Nickole Denver 424.25
4 Bk Carlos Gainesvil8332.00 4 Bn Tessa Gainesvil 388.75
5 Bk Carlos TBB TSKP 7523.00 5 Bn Magda Denver 108.00
Veteran Men(20+yrs) Points Veteran Women(20+yrs) Points
1 Bhrgupati d LA 14481.3 1 Mohanasini dd New Talav13430.8
2 Prema Sankirt LA 9071.25 2 Nidra dd Denver 11205.5
3 Sacitanoy d LA 7114.40 3 Syama dd Alachua 711.55
4 Gaur Sundar d LA 6641.40 4 Lalita dd Berkeley 559.45
5 Vijaya d LA 4003.00 5 Karuna Dharini dd LA 553.00
HOW TO SEND IN SCORES
Monthly scores can still be sent the usual ways: fax, phone,
snail mail and e-mail. Please send them before the 7th of the
next month.
When sending scores by e-mail, please use the same basic format
as the printed scoresheet:
Temple: (Important!) Month: (Important!)
(Enter BOOKS below--NOT points)
SUB M1 S1 H1 S2 H2 S3 H3 S4 H4 SETS
Temple totals x x xx x x xx x xx x xx x
Top devotees:
Bk Mike x x x x x x x x x x x
Krsna d x x x x x x x x xx xx x
Radha dd xx xx x x x xx xxx x x
etc.
Please...
Try to limit each line to 80 characters maximum.
You can omit the codes you don't use. You can start with H4 if you wish.
Make sure the columns line up properly when viewed with a
fixed pitch font.
Use spaces (not tabs) between columns.
Include your temple's name!
Include the month the scores are for!
Include temple totals for the month.
List each month separately. Don't combine two or more months together.
Don't just report Small, Big, Mahabig, etc.--->Use the codes S1,S2 etc.
or make sure you specify hard or soft cover books
Don't send every devotee's score. Just the top devotees who will
have a chance to appear in the newsletter.
Send scores to Mayapur@aol.com
--- Please observe the Fair Play rules ---
DEADLINE for scores is the 7th of the following month!
Being in Mayapur and very close to Rajapur, home of Lord Jaganath, Baladeva and Subadhra, we all jumped in a car and went to take part of the festivities that were organized for the very sweet pastime of Odana sashti. This yearly Rajapur festival is a rare opportunity for the devotees to all sit in […]
The post Odana Sashti Festival In Rajapur appeared first on Mayapur.com.
ISKCON Auckland New Zealand: Harinama in the streets of the city (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If one uses the vibration of the holy name for the benefit of the material body, for material wealth and followers, or under the influence of greed or atheism – in other words, if one utters the holy name with offenses – such chanting will not produce the desired result very soon. Therefore one should diligently avoid offenses in chanting the holy name of the Lord. (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 3.60)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/0HrXkU
Harinama in Moscow Russia, the Reading Project.
You’ve certainly met dancing and singing Hare Krishna devotees in the streets of your cities and you have a question: who are they and what are different from others? How dangerous are they to me? Or maybe I should not worry? Our magazine provides answers not only on these issues, but also talks about the fact that we are all united, like opening for everyone new horizons in a modern, it seemed to have the length and breadth investigated the world. If you are just getting started with our movement, the magazine Harinam - your best friend and guide. Do not wait for happiness! Take it at once! Try harinama taste this minute! Do not wait until the ripe! You deserve to be happy without delay.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/2h6yM5