Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Govinda’s Philadelphia is looking for devotees with a passion for prasadam distribution. Available positions include server and line cook. Server duties include register, light food prep, stocking goods, and maintaining cleanliness. Line cook should have experience working in a kitchen or with an industrial grill in a fast paced environment. Full or part time. Please send inquiries to Haryasva dasa at 1-267-242-4805 or govindasvegetarian@gmail.com. Hare Krishna.
ISKCON SCOTLAND @ KARUNA BHAVAN are currently looking for volunteers to reside and be trained as brahmacaris (celibate monks). We will provide good brahmacari training, association and a variety of service opportunities. We will also provide accommodation, Prasad and any necessary items such as toiletries, clothing and reasonable travel expenses.
We do not offer financial remuneration or stipend.
All interested applicants should contact Raghunatha Bhatta Das
By Email: gouranga108@googlemail.com
Thank You,
Your Servant
Prabhupada Prana Das
(Karuna Bhavan Temple President)
By Sri Nandanandana dasa These days fewer people are interested in taking up anything that they cannot immediately apply to their lives. The common question is: “What is this going to do for me?” Or “What am I going to get out of this?” So if we cannot relate the purpose of Vedic culture or its spirituality to people today, especially to the youth, then it is not likely they will take an interest. Yet, everyone is interested in gaining more out of life, or reaching their higher potential, which, actually, has been the purpose of the Vedic system from time immemorial. Yet we have either forgotten that, or have failed to present that purpose properly. So this is one angle we can use to impress the importance of Vedic culture or Krishna consciousness and its spiritual philosophy to people today. Everyone should want to reach their highest potential. But to do this we also need to focus on our spiritual potential, which is actually a way to become much more refined, developed and useful than merely focusing on our material possibilities, or only developing marketable skills for earning a big paycheck. Continue reading "Reaching Our Fullest Potential with Krishna Consciousness
→ Dandavats"
Hare Krsna,
Two countries increased the most in October: Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan.
Sri Lanka increased by 999%, with 4,111 book points. We haven’t seen a lot of book distribution there, but from now on we’ll probably see more. Just as in Sri Lanka, Ravana was defeated by Lord Ramacandra, similarly, maya will be overcome by Krsna in the form of books whenever people receive and read them.
Kazakhstan also increased by 999%, with 3,964 book points. Despite all the difficulties these devotees have faced, they continued distributing books, and Krsna has rewarded them. All glories to their determination!
Srila Prabhupada said, “If our books are distributed nationwide, that is the success of our movement.” (Letter dated 14 September 1974)
Some temples have already started the Prabhupada Marathon, but most will start at the beginning of December. For people all over the world this is a very fortunate time, for this is when devotees increase the distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s books. This gives more people than usual an opportunity to awaken from the illusory dream they are living. Through book distribution we introduce them to Krsna, their supreme father and friend. This gives them the chance to engage in devotional service and experience the nectar they’re all looking for.
Your servant, Vijaya Dasa
For complete results
go to www.SankirtanNewsletter.com (password: wsnhome)
Deadline for scores is the 15th of the next month
WORLD WORLD SANKIR NEWS LETTER
WWW WWW SSS TAN NEWS NEW
WWW WWW SSS SSS NEWSLE NEW
WWW WWW WWW SSSSS NEW NEWS NEW
WWW WORLD WWW SANKIR NEW NEWS NEW
WORLD WORLD SSS TAN NEW LETTER
WWW WWW SAN SSS NEW NEWSL
WW WW KIRTAN NEWSL ETTER
*********************************************************
W O R L D S A N K I R T A N N E W S L E T T E R
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October 2015 11/24/2015
For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this page
contains the following results for the month of October 2015.
World Totals Page 2
Monthly Congregation and Weekend Warriors Page 2
Monthly Continents Page 3
Monthly Top Ten Temples by Size Page 3
Monthly Top Ten Temples by Continent Page 4
Monthly Top Teams and Individuals Page 5
Monthly All Countries Page 6
Monthly All Temples Page 7
Monthly All Prabhupada Disciples Page 8
Cumulative Top Ten Countries Page 9
Cumulative Top Ten Temples Page 9
Cumulative Top 50 Individuals Worldwide Page 9
**** Page 2 ****
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* -- OFFERING TO SRILA PRABHUPADA -- *
* *
* During the month of October 2015, 139 temples reported *
* distributing the following number of books: *
* *
* 172,647 Maha-big books *
* 84,823 Big books *
* 102,277 Medium books *
* 320,481 Small books *
* 53,848 Magazines *
* 4,087 BTG subscriptions *
* 2,554 Full sets *
* *
* 758,598 literatures for the month *
* 4,876,402 literatures year-to-date *
* 517,453,347 literatures worldwide since 1965 *
* *
* All glories to Srila Prabhupada! *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
WORLDWIDE BOOK DISTRIBUTION
Total Literatures Distributed
Books (Millions)
16.........................................................................
14X........................................................................
X x
12X.......X................................................................
X X
10X.......X.x.x.................x..........................................
X x X X X x X X _ x _
8XX.....X.X.X.X...........X.X.X.X.X.X..................................._.X
XX X x X X X X x X X X X X X x X X X
6XX.X...X.X.X.X.X.X.......X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.......................x.X.X.X.X.X
XX X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X x x X X X X X X
4XX.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.....X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X...........x.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X
XX X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X _ x X X X X X X X X X X X
2XX.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.x.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X.X
XX X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X
0XX_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X_X
78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 10 12 14
World Sankirtan Newsletter
CONGREGATIONAL PREACHING
October 2015
Congregation and % M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Weekend Warriors Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 Nama Hatta Dept May Ind 8122.75 +113% 2606 1055 884 5655* 0
2 WW Team ISV Week Sil USA 4416.25 -2% 2056 27 0 1109 0
3 WW Dallas Dal USA 2527.75*+999% 1093* 214 152* 207* 0
4 Bhakti Lounge Ph Phi USA 710.75*+128% 288* 16 91 293 0
5 WW Toronto WW Tor Can 367.75 -29% 119 18 86 255 6
6 LA Sastra Dana LA USA 260.00 -31% 0 0 200 640 0
7 WW Texarkana WW Tex USA 27.40 +68% 12 0 0 12* 4
8 WW Bhakti Lounge Bha Can 20.00 -96% 8 1 5 2 0
9 WW Arkadelphia W Ark USA 10.25 -44% 4 2 0 1 0
10 WW Kostroma Kos Rus 8.75 +1% 0 4 2 15 0
11 WW Vologda WW Vol Rus 6.75 -55% 0 0 2 23 0
(%)Change compared (*)New record
to monthly average for this year
**** Page 3 ****
World Sankirtan Newsletter
MONTHLY CONTINENTS
October 2015
% of M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs Full
Continent (temples) Points World Books Books Books Books Mags Sets
_________________________________________________________________________
1 Asia (24) 312431.50 54% 106359 27862 29713 172112 61961 2478
2 CIS (25) 141507.25 25% 36545 27097 39529 85939 710 0
3 North America (24) 61908.00 11% 19370 11008 9841 25234 9266 63
4 Europe (28) 27392.70 5% 6730 5039 14579 4472 4862 5
5 Latin America (16) 22949.65 4% 770 12083 7302 22457 614 0
6 Australasia (5) 7047.55 1% 2529 1204 735 1535 343 4
7 Africa (17) 3751.40 1% 344 530 578 8732 614 4
World Sankirtan Newsletter
TOP TEN TEMPLES BY SIZE
October 2015
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
TOP TEN LARGE TEMPLES (41+ devotees)
1 Mayapur Ind146807.75 +145% 55599 14914* 18751* 45281* 0
2 Mumbai-Juhu Ind 31706.00* +37% 12415 1429 3945* 13898* 0
3 Moscow Rus 27255.25* +99% 9520* 4600* 3772 6917 0
4 Vrindavan Ind 24770.25* +38% 2139 6348 0 56577* 0
5 New Delhi Ind 17482.60 -19% 5526 264 2551 13728 14591
6 Los Angeles USA 15935.05 -1% 3792 3397 4978 9845* 38
7 Tirupati Ind 15548.35 +8% 5156 708 598 11023 9055
8 Pune Ind 6887.35 -24% 2637 322 330 3131 2873
9 Mumbai-Chowpatty Ind 6466.00 +67% 1952 544 749 6298 690*
10 Mumbai-Kharghar Ind 5731.75* +77% 2574* 372* 54 739* 0
TOP TEN MEDIUM TEMPLES (21-40 devotees)
1 New Delhi(Punj.Bag Ind 12665.45 +3% 5488 196 68 913 7676*
2 VV Nagar Ind 8790.00*+382% 493 418 30 4034*15270*
3 Novosibirsk Rus 7296.00 na 894 2379 3765 4986 0
4 Moscow-Jagannath Rus 7044.25 -6% 2595 624 689 3543* 0
5 Ujjain Ind 5584.25 -15% 1143 1543 1850 3321 0
6 Samara Rus 5382.25 na 1723 612 1276 2745 0
7 Sydney-North Aus 4435.35 +20% 1981 107 489 485 6
8 Dallas USA 4418.15*+165% 1913* 328* 248* 535* 64
9 London-Soho Eng 4274.75 +4% 1191 518* 2538 423 0
10 Vladivostok Rus 4208.25 na 1267 88 737 4871 0
TOP TEN SMALL TEMPLES (6-20 devotees)
1 RupanugaVedicColle USA 15896.40 +22% 5688 3522 410 1398 4439
2 Irkutsk Rus 11731.75*+325% 2987* 2643* 2569* 7321* 0
3 Barnaul Rus 10761.75*+151% 3217* 1165* 3832* 4987* 0
4 Sochi Rus 10325.00 na 1876 3218 3994 5432 0
5 Krasnoyarsk Rus 10276.50*+512% 2189* 2695* 2236* 8342* 0
6 Kazan Rus 8333.00*+250% 876* 914* 6897* 8874* 0
7 Kursk Rus 8257.25 na 2431 2379 1127 1811 0
8 Omsk Rus 7835.00 -21% 2448* 1887 530 2864 710
9 Surat Ind 7804.25* +48% 2658* 244 185 4837* 2262
10 Cueramaro Mex 4944.25 +74% 111 2637* 2068 4205 0
TOP TEN MAHA-SMALL TEMPLES (1-5 devotees)
1 Nitai Gauranga TSK Bra 6693.50 +5% 8 6470 415 0 0
2 TBB TSKP USA 4532.00*+122% 843 1399* 1291* 3206* 0
3 Batticaloa Sri 4111.50* +76% 1874* 138 0 502 1000*
4 Baltimore USA 2580.95 -34% 768 13 50 3209 2047
5 Prabhupada Bhavan- Cze 1910.00 +43% 102 1706 0 0 0
6 Bhakti Lounge (Phi USA 710.75*+128% 288* 16 91 293 0
7 Spain BBT Spa 703.00 +30% 185 145 100 552* 0
8 Recife Bra 614.85 -16% 0 71 53 1847 556*
9 Sofia Bul 518.25 -65% 190 25 194 65 0
10 Heidelberg Ger 324.00 -11% 13 106 384 0 0
**** Page 4 ****
World Sankirtan Newsletter
TOP TEN TEMPLES BY CONTINENT
October 2015
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________
TOP TEN TEMPLES - ASIA
1 Mayapur Ind146807.75 +172% 55599 14914 18751 45281 0
2 Mumbai-Juhu Ind 31706.00 +52% 12415 1429 3945 13898 0
3 Vrindavan Ind 24770.25 +56% 2139 6348 0 56577 0
4 New Delhi Ind 17482.60 -11% 5526 264 2551 13728 14591
5 Tirupati Ind 15548.35 +21% 5156 708 598 11023 9055
6 New Delhi(Punj.Bag Ind 12665.45 +15% 5488 196 68 913 7676
7 VV Nagar Ind 8790.00 +442% 493 418 30 4034 15270
8 Surat Ind 7804.25 +66% 2658 244 185 4837 2262
9 Pune Ind 6887.35 -14% 2637 322 330 3131 2873
10 Mumbai-Chowpatty Ind 6466.00 +91% 1952 544 749 6298 690
TOP TEN TEMPLES - CIS
1 Moscow Rus 27255.25 +127% 9520 4600 3772 6917 0
2 Irkutsk Rus 11731.75 +750% 2987 2643 2569 7321 0
3 Barnaul Rus 10761.75 +402% 3217 1165 3832 4987 0
4 Sochi Rus 10325.00 na 1876 3218 3994 5432 0
5 Krasnoyarsk Rus 10276.50 +716% 2189 2695 2236 8342 0
6 Kazan Rus 8333.00 +425% 876 914 6897 8874 0
7 Kursk Rus 8257.25 na 2431 2379 1127 1811 0
8 Omsk Rus 7835.00 +58% 2448 1887 530 2864 710
9 Novosibirsk Rus 7296.00 na 894 2379 3765 4986 0
10 Moscow-Jagannath Rus 7044.25 +17% 2595 624 689 3543 0
TOP TEN TEMPLES - NORTH AMERICA
1 Los Angeles USA 15935.05 +10% 3792 3397 4978 9845 38
2 RupanugaVedicColle USA 15896.40 +37% 5688 3522 410 1398 4439
3 TBB TSKP USA 4532.00 +147% 843 1399 1291 3206 0
4 Dallas USA 4418.15 +195% 1913 328 248 535 64
5 Silicon Valley(ISV USA 4416.25 +9% 2056 27 0 1109 0
6 Gainesville USA 2986.75 +76% 855 806 700 483 0
7 Baltimore USA 2580.95 -26% 768 13 50 3209 2047
8 Denver USA 2352.25 -26% 597 525 433 1587 200
9 Chicago USA 1790.75 +6% 534 388 377 531 135
10 New Talavan USA 1538.50 +4% 620 26 517 56 0
TOP TEN TEMPLES - EUROPE
1 Sankirtan Dham TST Ita 4867.00 -1% 1465 0 3874 0 0
2 London-Soho Eng 4274.75 +16% 1191 518 2538 423 0
3 Bhaktivedanta Mano Eng 2665.50 -34% 709 124 2228 38 0
4 Simhachalam (NJNK) Ger 2496.00 -24% 849 119 1358 0 0
5 Budapest Hun 2313.40 +76% 680 509 13 728 2559
6 Prabhupada Bhavan- Cze 1910.00 +58% 102 1706 0 0 0
7 New Vrajadham-Hung Hun 1691.55 +66% 411 301 230 893 2303
8 Berlin Ger 962.50 +26% 309 123 443 0 0
9 Prague Cze 775.75 +56% 122 430 7 393 0
10 Spain BBT Spa 703.00 +49% 185 145 100 552 0
TOP TEN TEMPLES - LATIN AMERICA
1 Nitai Gauranga TSK Bra 6693.50 +22% 8 6470 415 0 0
2 Cueramaro Mex 4944.25 +95% 111 2637 2068 4205 0
3 Mexico City Mex 3750.00 +105% 296 500 2022 6588 0
4 Curitiba Bra 2702.50 +8% 215 1679 673 1016 30
5 Guadalajara Mex 1353.00 +375% 20 100 1440 1972 0
6 Buenos Aires Arg 1175.00 -18% 24 39 0 4352 0
7 Sao Paulo Bra 742.00 +74% 65 363 125 746 0
8 Recife Bra 614.85 -6% 0 71 53 1847 556
9 Queretaro Mex 340.00 +63% 20 52 320 352 0
10 Natal Bra 285.00 +22% 2 91 15 722 20
TOP TEN TEMPLES - AUSTRALASIA
1 Sydney-North Aus 4435.35 +33% 1981 107 489 485 6
2 Auckland Br. Ashra New 1752.20 -2% 332 865 59 772 7
3 Wellington New 398.90 -2% 65 214 15 140 124
4 Melbourne Aus 339.50 -27% 139 10 39 128 0
5 Brisbane Aus 121.60 +42% 12 8 133 10 206
TOP TEN TEMPLES - AFRICA
1 Bon Accueil Mau 945.00 +139% 0 280 165 2330 0
2 Durban Sou 926.65 +67% 63 79 173 2537 9
3 Kinshasa Con 437.00 -13% 145 30 0 468 0
4 Nairobi Ken 431.60 -12% 49 54 33 1052 1
5 Lenasia Sou 225.60 +37% 38 22 100 96 536
6 Mpumalanga Sou 197.75 +152% 0 2 14 755 0
7 Benin Nig 165.75 na 0 2 10 635 0
8 Blantyre Mal 121.00 +45% 13 21 0 296 0
9 Phoenix(MA) Mau 71.35 -93% 11 11 18 111 16
10 Lusaka Zam 41.85 +152% 6 17 2 43 11
**** Page 5 ****
World Sankirtan Newsletter
TEAM BOOK DISTRIBUTION
October 2015
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Individuals Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 Sri Caitanya Can Pun Ind 1654.50 +60% 822 0 1 40 0
2 Sunder Madhav d New Ind 1520.00 -33% 500 0 0 2080 0
3 Prakash d Pun Ind 1116.00 na 530 14 19 130 0
4 Vallabh Caitanya Pun Ind 850.65 -44% 183 176 126 979 9
5 Krishna Katha d Pun Ind 535.75 +62% 179 30 50 491 0
(%)Change compared (*)New record
to monthly average for this year
World Sankirtan Newsletter
TOP 50 INDIVIDUALS
October 2015
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Individuals Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 HH Jayapataka Sw May Ind12000.00*+185% 6000* 0 0 0 0
2 Radha Krsna d Mum Ind10820.75* +83% 4595* 526 1116 2187* 0
3 Keshav Murari d New Ind 9000.00*+246% 4500* 0 0 0 0
4 Bhagavat Ashraya Mum Ind 7326.00*+271% 2422* 240 1480* 6008* 0
5 Bipin Bihari d May Ind 6859.25*+393% 2208* 1830* 260 1933* 0
6 Caitanya Candra Cen Bra 6693.50 +8% 8 6470 415 0 0
7 Madhusundar d New Ind 5562.00 -16% 2000 0 1871 2506 0
8 Bk Nirmal May Ind 4521.25*+348% 2094* 72 174* 697* 0
9 Bk Gopal May Ind 4258.00*+196% 1882* 17* 3* 1902* 0
10 Bk Jay Khush LA USA 4214.65 +46% 1532 558 1001 365* 9
11 Dasavatara d Oms Rus 4149.45 na 1012 1293 421 2339 372
12 Nava Gauravara d Tir Ind 4129.00 +21% 1670* 198 124 2116 0
13 Srutakirti d Bat Sri 4111.50* +88% 1874* 138* 0 502* 1000*
14 Uddhava Madhava Mum Ind 4034.00*+999% 2017* 0 0 0 0
15 Mahapuran d May Ind 3815.00* +76% 1020* 500* 1200* 2700* 0
16 Padapadma d May Ind 3688.75*+494% 1208* 559* 886* 1083* 0
17 Paramesvara d RVC USA 3103.25 -7% 1072 690 86 145 1900
18 Banamali Mukunda May Ind 3052.25*+207% 1432* 112* 113* 79 0
19 Ananda Kirtan d LA USA 3023.05 +25% 1053 255 1058 531 3
20 Bahurup Jagannat May Ind 2939.00*+494% 1164* 305* 349* 526* 0
21 Arun Govinda d May Ind 2833.75*+280% 1313* 101* 84* 259* 0
22 Krishna Bhagavan RVC USA 2814.05 +45% 1019 526 29 447 1238*
23 Brajananda d RVC USA 2748.20 +34% 1001 703 27* 4 287
24 Nandanandana Gov Tir Ind 2561.45 -9% 1017 119 102 1275 216
25 Keshava Balaram New Ind 2484.70 -27% 788 137 207 278 5531*
26 Deva Krsna d RVC USA 2460.25 +3% 1069 279* 0 173 0
27 Dharmaraja d RVC USA 2389.25 +179% 692* 907 0 393* 0
28 Hemagiri d Mum Ind 2372.75 -21% 703 189 441 2229 0
29 Govind Murari d Mum Ind 2321.00 -11% 1128 65 0 0 0
30 Bk Binay Krishna May Ind 2303.25*+303% 1029* 14* 411* 103* 0
31 Tirtha Krishna d Tir Ind 2302.75 -24% 821 153 102 1761 146
32 Ghanashyam Govin Syd Aus 1867.75 +41% 841 84 157 93 0
33 Bhrgupati d LA USA 1850.50 +38% 562 436 284 594 0
34 Tribhanga Shyam May Ind 1755.25*+309% 778* 70* 134* 249* 0
35 Tirtha Govinda d May Ind 1694.25*+113% 570* 192* 319* 811* 0
36 Premdata d May Ind 1659.00 +264% 626 164 207 558 0
37 Harinam Kripa Si May Ind 1652.25*+168% 624* 60* 337* 703* 0
38 Bk Ranjit May Ind 1651.75*+472% 481* 113* 345* 1617* 0
39 Anupam Krishna d Mos Rus 1604.00 +24% 802 0 0 0 0
40 Bala Gopal d May Ind 1598.25*+297% 730* 47* 77* 211* 0
41 Bk Carlos Gai USA 1553.75*+138% 457* 439* 279 245 0
42 Advaita Simha d Ujj Ind 1551.50 +11% 544 332 234 58 0
43 Krishna Caran d Mum Ind 1517.50 +24% 488 157 655 228 0
44 Mohanasini dd New USA 1498.50 -8% 620 26 437 56 0
45 Gour Nataraj d May Ind 1413.75*+343% 544* 143* 180* 371* 0
46 Nitya Mukta d Tir Ind 1380.75*+534% 512* 49* 53* 639* 740
47 Dasya Prema d RVC USA 1319.50 -9% 501 243 89 0 300
48 Parama Karuna d Chi USA 1299.00 +9% 416 244 313 266 0
49 Sura d Mum Ind 1283.25*+123% 580* 87* 0 145* 0
50 Samaveda d Mum Ind 1283.25* +39% 580* 87* 0 145* 0
(%)Change compared (*)New record
to monthly average for this year
**** Page 6 ****
World Sankirtan Newsletter
ALL COUNTRIES
October 2015
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Country (Temples) Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
________________________________________________________________________
1 India (21) 306852.60 +154% 103915 27657 29645 170786 60757
2 Russia, CIS (23) 135988.75 +215% 35252 26449 38527 78805 710
3 United States (20) 60390.75 -2% 18930 10772 9370 24605 9225
4 Brazil (9) 11213.85 +13% 290 8749 1328 4641 606
5 Mexico (4) 10387.25 +175% 447 3289 5850 13117 0
6 United Kingdom (2) 6940.25 -6% 1900 642 4766 461 0
7 Italy (5) 6346.50 +107% 1660 0 6053 0 0
8 Australia (3) 4896.45 -68% 2132 125 661 623 212
9 GermanyAustria (6) 4116.00 -34% 1219 400 2556 0 0
10 Sri Lanka 4111.50 +999% 1874 138 0 502 1000
11 Hungary (2) 4004.95 +94% 1091 810 243 1621 4862
12 Kazakhstan, CIS 3964.75 +999% 865 548 714 5319 0
13 Czech Republic (2) 2685.75 -40% 224 2136 7 393 0
14 New Zealand (2) 2151.10 +48% 397 1079 74 912 131
15 Belarus, CIS 1553.75 na 428 100 288 1815 0
16 South Africa (8) 1506.85 -23% 119 113 345 3699 586
17 Argentina 1175.00 +32% 24 39 0 4352 0
18 Canada (3) 1098.20 -27% 322 192 276 474 13
19 Mauritius (2) 1016.35 +92% 11 291 183 2441 16
20 Indonesia 903.85 -70% 367 51 67 261 201
21 Spain (2) 902.00 +888% 234 246 100 552 0
22 Sing 563.55 na 203 16 1 563 3
23 Bulgaria 518.25 +2% 190 25 194 65 0
24 Lithuania (2) 493.50 -23% 144 52 4 606 0
25 Switzerland 446.75 +153% 44 227 262 3 0
26 Portugal 437.50 na 12 411 4 2 0
27 Congo(D.R.) 437.00 -33% 145 30 0 468 0
28 Kenya 431.60 -76% 49 54 33 1052 1
29 Croatia 283.25 na 3 47 349 223 0
30 Nigeria (2) 174.00 -67% 0 4 15 650 0
31 Puerto Rico 150.75 na 2 6 115 333 0
32 Slovenia 143.75 na 2 13 16 475 0
33 Malawi 121.00 +21% 13 21 0 296 0
34 Zambia 41.85 +186% 6 17 2 43 11
35 Bosnia 40.00 -84% 0 20 25 30 0
36 Romania 34.25 na 7 10 0 41 0
37 Dominican Republic 22.80 na 7 0 9 14 8
38 Ivory Coast 22.75 -55% 1 0 0 83 0
(%)Change compared
to Oct last year
**** Page 7 ****
World Sankirtan Newsletter
ALL TEMPLES
October 2015
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Temples (size) Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 Mayapur (L) Ind146807.75 +145% 55599 14914* 18751* 45281* 0
2 Mumbai-Juhu (L) Ind 31706.00* +37% 12415 1429 3945* 13898* 0
3 Moscow (L) Rus 27255.25* +99% 9520* 4600* 3772 6917 0
4 Vrindavan (L) Ind 24770.25* +38% 2139 6348 0 56577* 0
5 New Delhi (L) Ind 17482.60 -19% 5526 264 2551 13728 14591
6 Los Angeles (L) USA 15935.05 -1% 3792 3397 4978 9845* 38
7 RupanugaVedicColle USA 15896.40 +22% 5688 3522 410 1398 4439
8 Tirupati (L) Ind 15548.35 +8% 5156 708 598 11023 9055
9 New Delhi(Punj.Bag Ind 12665.45 +3% 5488 196 68 913 7676*
10 Irkutsk (S) Rus 11731.75*+325% 2987* 2643* 2569* 7321* 0
11 Barnaul (S) Rus 10761.75*+151% 3217* 1165* 3832* 4987* 0
12 Sochi (S) Rus 10325.00 na 1876 3218 3994 5432 0
13 Krasnoyarsk (S) Rus 10276.50*+512% 2189* 2695* 2236* 8342* 0
14 VV Nagar (M) Ind 8790.00*+382% 493 418 30 4034*15270*
15 Kazan (S) Rus 8333.00*+250% 876* 914* 6897* 8874* 0
16 Kursk (S) Rus 8257.25 na 2431 2379 1127 1811 0
17 Omsk (S) Rus 7835.00 -21% 2448* 1887 530 2864 710
18 Surat (S) Ind 7804.25* +48% 2658* 244 185 4837* 2262
19 Novosibirsk (M) Rus 7296.00 na 894 2379 3765 4986 0
20 Moscow-Jagannath ( Rus 7044.25 -6% 2595 624 689 3543* 0
21 Pune (L) Ind 6887.35 -24% 2637 322 330 3131 2873
22 Nitai Gauranga TSK Bra 6693.50 +5% 8 6470 415 0 0
23 Mumbai-Chowpatty ( Ind 6466.00 +67% 1952 544 749 6298 690*
24 Mumbai-Kharghar (L Ind 5731.75* +77% 2574* 372* 54 739* 0
25 Ujjain (M) Ind 5584.25 -15% 1143 1543 1850 3321 0
26 Samara (M) Rus 5382.25 na 1723 612 1276 2745 0
27 Cueramaro (S) Mex 4944.25 +74% 111 2637* 2068 4205 0
28 Sankirtan Dham TST Ita 4867.00 -15% 1465 0 3874 0 0
29 Krasnodar (S) Rus 4731.00*+107% 653 789 2876* 4792* 0
30 TBB TSKP (MS) USA 4532.00*+122% 843 1399* 1291* 3206* 0
31 Sydney-North (M) Aus 4435.35 +20% 1981 107 489 485 6
32 Dallas (M) USA 4418.15*+165% 1913* 328* 248* 535* 64
33 Silicon Valley(ISV USA 4416.25 -2% 2056 27 0 1109 0
34 London-Soho (M) Eng 4274.75 +4% 1191 518* 2538 423 0
35 Vladivostok (M) Rus 4208.25 na 1267 88 737 4871 0
36 Ahmedabad (M) Ind 4169.50 -32% 1585 0 337 1974 810
37 Batticaloa (MS) Sri 4111.50* +76% 1874* 138 0 502 1000*
38 Salem (M) Ind 4018.00 -31% 1951 35 0 324 0
39 Almaty (L) Kaz 3964.75*+348% 865* 548* 714* 5319* 0
40 Rostov-na-Donu (M) Rus 3783.00 na 598 986 1764 2876 0
41 Mexico City (M) Mex 3750.00* +82% 296 500* 2022* 6588 0
42 Volgograd (S) Rus 3508.25 na 654 876 1267 2763 0
43 Gainesville (M) USA 2986.75* +58% 855* 806 700 483 0
44 Curitiba (S) Bra 2702.50 -4% 215 1679 673* 1016 30
45 Bhaktivedanta Mano Eng 2665.50 -41% 709 124 2228 38 0
46 Baltimore (MS) USA 2580.95 -34% 768 13 50 3209 2047
47 Simhachalam (NJNK) Ger 2496.00 -32% 849 119 1358* 0 0
48 Denver (M) USA 2352.25 -34% 597 525 433 1587 200
49 Budapest (L) Hun 2313.40 +57% 680* 509 13 728 2559
50 Vellore (S) Ind 2157.50*+188% 504 0 0 108 2770*
51 Prabhupada Bhavan- Cze 1910.00 +43% 102 1706 0 0 0
52 Novorosiysk (S) Rus 1871.25*+151% 198* 289* 378 3989* 0
53 Chicago (S) USA 1790.75 -5% 534 388 377 531 135
54 Auckland Br. Ashra New 1752.20 -27% 332 865 59* 772 7
55 New Vrajadham-Hung Hun 1691.55* +50% 411 301* 230 893 2303*
56 Minsk (M) Bel 1553.75 -23% 428 100 288 1815* 0
57 New Talavan (S) USA 1538.50 -8% 620 26 517 56 0
58 Bhopal (S) Ind 1478.50 -3% 569 255* 79 184 0
59 Tirunelveli (S) Ind 1430.90 -13% 536 8 4 536 2149
60 Laguna Beach (S) USA 1354.25 +23% 512 147* 71 355 590*
61 Guadalajara (S) Mex 1353.00*+296% 20 100* 1440* 1972* 0
62 Buenos Aires (M) Arg 1175.00 -30% 24 39 0 4352 0
63 Perm (M) Rus 1158.50 -42% 446 15 397 212 0
64 Mayapur World SKP Ind 1115.00 na 210 0 0 2780 0
65 Madurai (S) Ind 1041.20 -37% 382 15 1 42 2512*
66 Berlin (S) Ger 962.50 +12% 309 123 443 0 0
67 Toronto (S) Can 955.60 -9% 289 169 214 384 12
68 Bon Accueil (M) Mau 945.00* +79% 0 280* 165* 2330* 0
69 Ekaterinburg (M) Rus 932.25 +3% 285 143 10 857 0
70 Durban (L) Sou 926.65 +50% 63 79 173 2537 9
71 Bali (S) Ind 903.85 -39% 367 51 67 261 201
72 Hillsborough, NC ( USA 855.05 +30% 245 49 14 569 1668*
73 Prague (M) Cze 775.75* +39% 122 430 7 393 0
74 Sao Paulo (S) Bra 742.00 +16% 65 363 125* 746* 0
75 Bhakti Lounge (Phi USA 710.75*+128% 288* 16 91 293 0
76 Chandigarh (S) Ind 705.25 -52% 202 34 82 905 0
77 Spain BBT (MS) Spa 703.00 +30% 185 145 100 552* 0
78 Recife (MS) Bra 614.85 -16% 0 71 53 1847 556*
79 Tyumen (S) Rus 590.75 -1% 201 38 180 243 0
80 Sing (S) Sin 563.55 +33% 203 16 1 563 3
81 Rome (S) Ita 527.00 +1% 38 0 902 0 0
82 Sofia (MS) Bul 518.25 -65% 190 25 194 65 0
83 Amravati (S) Ind 492.75 +7% 196 8 31 153 99*
84 Ivanovo (S) Rus 481.75 -14% 158 56 174 91 0
85 Zurich (S) Swi 446.75*+158% 44 227* 262* 3 0
86 Milan (M) Ita 440.50 -54% 62 0 633 0 0
87 Lisbon (S) Por 437.50 -2% 12 411 4 2 0
88 Kinshasa (S) Con 437.00 -31% 145 30* 0 468 0
89 Nairobi (S) Ken 431.60 -21% 49 54 33 1052 1
90 Wellington (S) New 398.90 -12% 65 214 15 140 124
91 Kaunas (S) Lit 367.00 -42% 113 16 1 498 0
92 Queretaro (S) Mex 340.00 -18% 20 52 320* 352 0
93 Melbourne (L) Aus 339.50 -34% 139 10 39 128 0
94 Heidelberg (MS) Ger 324.00 -11% 13 106 384 0 0
95 Prabhupada Desh (M Ita 302.50 -57% 61 0 361* 0 0
96 Natal (S) Bra 285.00 +5% 2 91* 15 722 20
97 Zagreb (MS) Cro 283.25 -20% 3 47 349 223 0
98 Leipzig (S) Ger 281.50*+138% 33 39* 353* 0 0
99 Miami (S) USA 251.20 -46% 58 33 1 406 2
100 New Orleans (S) USA 238.00 -60% 10 0 81 710 0
101 Lenasia (S) Sou 225.60 +22% 38* 22* 100* 96 536
102 Villa Vrndavana (L Ita 209.50 -70% 34 0 283 0 0
103 Hartford (MS) USA 206.50 0% 50 42 58 142 0
104 Naval Kunda (S) Spa 199.00 +23% 49 101 0 0 0
105 Mpumalanga (S) Sou 197.75 +89% 0 2 14* 755* 0
106 Kirov (S) Rus 168.75 -63% 28 41 27 233 0
107 Benin (M) Nig 165.75 na 0 2 10 635 0
108 Sacramento/TYM (S) USA 161.00 -49% 59 32 11 22 0
109 Gurabo (PR) (MS) Pue 150.75 -23% 2 6 115 333 0
110 Ljubljana (S) Slo 143.75 -45% 2 13 16 475 0
111 Berkeley (S) USA 129.30 -29% 26 20 39 136 38
112 Vilnius (S) Lit 126.50 -73% 31 36 3 108 0
113 Vancouver (S) Can 122.60 -31% 25 22 57 88 1
114 Brisbane (S) Aus 121.60 -5% 12* 8* 133 10 206
115 Blantyre (MS) Mal 121.00 +25% 13 21 0 296* 0
116 Phoenix(MA) (S) Mau 71.35 -93% 11 11 18 111 16
117 Ubatuba (S) Bra 61.00 +56% 0 0 0 244* 0
118 Campina Grande (S) Bra 57.50 -16% 0 30* 35* 40 0
119 New Vrajadham-Braz Bra 54.25 -88% 0 43 11 23 0
120 Lusaka (MS) Zam 41.85*+127% 6 17* 2 43 11
121 Wiesbaden (S) Ger 40.50 -45% 12 12 9 0 0
122 Sarajevo (S) Bos 40.00 -74% 0 20 25 30 0
123 Vologda (MS) Rus 39.00 -51% 8 4 20 36 0
124 Pretoria (MS) Sou 36.50 -46% 11 0 3 52 0
125 Pietermaritzburg ( Sou 34.75 -39% 5 2 4 83 0
126 Timisoara (S) Rom 34.25 -64% 7 10 0 41 0
127 Cape Town (S) Sou 30.25 -57% 0 3 1 95 30*
128 Mafikeng (S) Sou 29.25 +111% 1* 0 25 59 0
129 Texarkana (S) USA 27.40 +68% 12 0 0 12* 4
130 Sandton (S) Sou 26.10 -86% 1 5* 25 22 11*
131 Santo Domingo (S) Dom 22.80 -70% 7 0 9 14 8
132 Abidjan (S) Ivo 22.75*+282% 1 0 0 83* 0
133 Bhakti Lounge (Tor Can 20.00 -95% 8 1 5 2 0
134 Kostroma (S) Rus 18.00 +36% 0 8 10 20 0
135 Goloka Dhama (S) Ger 11.50 -86% 3 1 9 0 0
136 Arkadelphia (S) USA 10.25 -37% 4 2 0 1 0
137 Port Harcourt (S) Nig 8.25 -57% 0 2 5 15 0
138 Fortaleza (MS) Bra 3.25 -65% 0 2 1 3 0
(%)Change compared (*)New high
to monthly average this year
**** Page 8 ****
World Sankirtan Newsletter
PRABHUPADA DISCIPLES
October 2015
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Prabhupada Disciples Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 HH Jayapataka Sw May Ind12000.00*+185% 6000* 0 0 0 0
2 Bhrgupati d LA USA 1850.50 +38% 562 436 284 594 0
3 Mohanasini dd New USA 1498.50 -8% 620 26 437 56 0
4 Gaur Sundar d LA USA 868.75 +9% 378 72 57 45 10
5 Nidra dd Den USA 716.00 -31% 254 114 120 136 0
6 Cakri d Dallas Dal USA 326.65*+119% 127* 0 10 247* 59
7 Drumila d New USA 167.50 -62% 0 0 80 510 0
8 Visala d Mia USA 145.00 +1% 27 24* 0 268 0
9 Caitanya Candra Dal USA 110.50 na 14 55 55 0 0
10 Yadavendra d Bri Aus 83.60 -34% 2 2 114 0 206
11 Lalita dd Ber USA 22.30 -66% 4 2 14 18 8
12 Prajapati d Mia USA 4.50 -64% 0 0 0 18 0
13 Nartaka Gopal dd Mia USA 0.70 -95% 0 0 1 0 2
(%)Change compared (*)New record
to monthly average for this year
**** Page 9 ****
World Sankirtan Newsletter
TOP TEN COUNTRIES (CUMULATIVE)
January thru October, 2015
% M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Country (Temples) Points Change Books Books Books Books Mags
________________________________________________________________________
1 India (32) 2042868.40 -6% 719685 176584 167269 1040506 490954
2 United States (35) 560388.30 +13% 178991 85370 104789 221656 90254
3 Russia, CIS (42) 417240.55 +15% 125272 62765 102445 210297 1348
4 Brazil (19) 95066.25 +19% 3520 70490 7423 54863 1090
5 United Kingdom (3) 85508.00 +44% 24546 6125 53354 14456 0
6 Italy (7) 60306.00 -32% 18699 0 45715 0 486
7 Mexico (7) 56716.75 +33% 6004 8912 28832 85523 0
8 GermanyAustria (9) 45855.40 -18% 16502 5123 15453 4 9
9 Australia (5) 45643.55 +5% 19317 1182 6990 8571 1898
10 Ukraine, CIS (16) 40770.25 +41% 13090 2146 11597 26583 0
(%)Change compared to Jan-Oct 2014
World Sankirtan Newsletter
TOP TEN TEMPLES (CUMULATIVE)
January thru October, 2015
Points % M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Temples (size) (Months) Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 Mayapur (L) Ind 686876.75(10) -4%277096 53030 63952 183215 4500
2 Mumbai-Juhu ( Ind 240257.00(10) +22% 99296 11644* 24093 71898 0
3 New Delhi (L) Ind 212834.30(10) -44% 64962 6507 31196 171242 179948
4 Vrindavan (L) Ind 168096.50( 9)* +21% 26631* 59509* 0 221302* 0
5 Los Angeles ( USA 161422.10(10) +14% 46736 26242 53309* 56244 9926
6 Tirupati (L) Ind 144523.75(10) -5% 47083 7100 6832 98895 102920
7 Moscow (L) Rus 123243.00( 8) +85% 44534 15187 19081 37790 0
8 RupanugaVedic USA 120025.15( 9)* +57% 40421* 30002* 4391* 14133* 34524*
9 New Delhi(Pun Ind 111439.05( 9) +17% 37424 1649 3276 91653 62184
10 Pune (L) Ind 70731.55( 8) -33% 28673 1965 2497 29151 21212
(%)Change compared (*)Better than
to Jan-Oct 2014 last year
World Sankirtan Newsletter
TEAM BOOK DISTRIBUTION (CUMULATIVE)
January thru October, 2015
Points % M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Individuals (Months) Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 Madhusunda Del Ind 41935.75( 2) na 13224 822 5590 35483 30000
2 Kesava Bal New Ind 18368.70( 1) na 4000 0 0 40000 3231
3 Sunder Mad New Ind 17456.25( 8) na 3426 1500 6230 23457 1250
4 Sri Caitan Pun Ind 4758.25( 4) na 2218 0 1 1287 0
5 Vallabh Ca Pun Ind 3872.50( 3)* +16% 1448* 345* 281* 1900* 65*
6 Gopisvar d New Ind 3840.75( 1) -77% 932 288 510 5635 250
7 Vichitra K New Ind 3050.25( 2) -2% 837 200 1090 2525 0
8 Dauji Nita Pun Ind 1960.00( 3) na 980 0 0 0 0
9 Brajvilas Pun Ind 1738.45( 3) +39% 865 1 0 1 34
10 Radheshyam Pun Ind 1241.75( 2) na 473 79 149 569 0
11 Ganesh d Pun Ind 1144.55( 1) na 452 45 89 433 162
12 Prakash d Pun Ind 1116.00( 1) na 530 14 19 130 0
13 Lalit Madh Pun Ind 953.00( 2) na 358 90 78 432 0
14 Krishna Ka Pun Ind 865.50( 2) na 293 54 75 752 0
15 Kanai Thak Pun Ind 800.00( 1) na 400 0 0 0 0
16 Jugalkisho Pun Ind 728.00( 1) na 364 0 0 0 0
17 Deena Naya New Ind 555.50( 1) na 24 6 97 1792 50
18 Sundarvar Pun Ind 514.00( 1) -15% 257 0 0 0 0
(%)Change compared (*)Better than
to Jan-Oct 2014 last year
World Sankirtan Newsletter
TOP 50 INDIVIDUALS (CUMULATIVE)
January thru October, 2015
Points % M-Big Big Medium Small BTGs
Individuals (Months) Change Books Books Books Books Mags
_______________________________________________________________________
1 Radha Krsn Mum Ind 64030.25(10)*+132% 26570* 4079* 6922* 13401* 0
2 Madhusunda New Ind 52078.50( 8) -46% 17106 1924 11605 40560 0
3 HH Jayapat May Ind 45702.00( 9) -19% 22851 0 0 0 0
4 Caitanya C Cen Bra 43952.00( 7)* +65% 115 42311* 2392 860 0
5 Bk Jay Khu LA USA 30194.60(10)*+560% 10963* 2334* 11407* 716* 521*
6 Paramesvar RVC USA 29711.50( 9) -17% 8341 10528* 1257 1482* 15025
7 Tirtha Kri Tir Ind 29398.80(10) +16% 10634 1761* 1780 20468 2507
8 Hemagiri d Mum Ind 29279.50(10) +8% 8813 2785* 6102 23270 0
9 Nandananda Tir Ind 27986.55(10) -9% 10372 1457 1453 19055 1984
10 Keshava Ba New Ind 26464.10( 8) -43% 7170 426 1854 25766 39648*
11 Bhagavat A Mum Ind 25104.75(10) -14% 10101 985* 2137* 11397 0
12 Ananda Kir LA USA 24790.00(10)*+150% 9866* 1799 5262* 2508 10*
13 Keshav Mur New Ind 24622.25( 7) +52% 11180 550 400 6049 0
14 Deva Krsna RVC USA 21652.25( 9)* +12% 10072* 983 0 2101 0
15 Saciputra Mum Ind 20403.50( 6) na 9864 483 221 328 0
16 Bharadwaj May Ind 19597.75( 4) +1% 7573 10 5007 7753 0
17 Brajananda RVC USA 19199.55( 9)* +11% 6677 5124* 29* 1393 3588*
18 Krishna Bh RVC USA 18316.65( 9)* na 6138* 4111* 804* 2903* 8019*
19 Bipin Biha May Ind 17999.50( 9) +140% 6148 4382* 490* 4306* 0
20 Nava Gaura Tir Ind 17801.25( 5) na 6371 1047 875 14109 114
21 Bk Rakesh New Ind 16562.50( 6) -88% 8265 0 15 100 0
22 Bhrgupati LA USA 13899.05(10) -68% 5197 1508 1645* 4601* 243
23 Dasya Prem RVC USA 12918.60( 9)* +37% 4378* 2722 1204 1782 3931*
24 Bk Gopal May Ind 12894.25( 7)*+264% 6175 62* 6 1917* 0
25 Mohanasini New USA 12873.00( 8) 0% 5035 716* 3735* 878* 0
26 Govind Mur Mum Ind 12786.25( 5) +2% 6216 338 10 45 0
27 Advaita Si Ujj Ind 12746.75( 9)* na 4253* 2748* 2326* 1319 0
28 Nityananda Dal USA 12660.00( 9)* na 6330* 0 0 0 0
29 Mahapuran May Ind 12485.00( 5) +184% 4138 1179* 1962 8196 0
30 Bk Nirmal May Ind 11580.25( 8)* na 5418* 72* 465* 1759* 0
31 Udar Gour May Ind 11420.50( 8) +123% 5388 494* 118* 366* 0
32 Kalki d(2 Gai USA 10681.75(10)* +92% 2865* 3130* 2597* 2093* 0
33 Anupam Kri Mos Rus 10644.00( 8) -9% 5098 8 96 1568 0
34 Satyapriya Mum Ind 10413.00( 9)* na 5204* 5 0 0 0
35 Shastra-kr LA USA 10215.50(10) -6% 4951 226 0 350 0
36 Nitai Lila Cat Ita 10132.10( 7) -29% 3726 0 5351 0 46
37 Bk Eric LA USA 10109.25(10)* +42% 2711* 2501* 3848* 591 1145
38 Dharmaraja RVC USA 10087.35(10) na 2745 4037 239 1577 466
39 Nidra dd Den USA 10039.50(10) +1% 3735 1345 1211* 2476* 0
40 Surottam d Ahm Ind 10000.00( 1) na 5000 0 0 0 0
41 Vrajasunda Cat Ita 9985.50( 7) -35% 3723 0 5068 0 55
42 Ghanashyam Syd Aus 9820.00( 7)* na 4291* 306* 1377* 970* 10
43 Gadadhara Cat Ita 9796.90( 7) -20% 3731 0 4659 0 54
44 Neel Kanth New Ind 9640.00(10) +4% 0 0 0 0 96400
45 Visnu d Kie Ukr 9405.75( 5) na 4601 14 48 663 0
46 Bk Siddhar Tir Ind 9257.60(10) -10% 1819 197* 516* 7728 27709
47 Harinama d RVC USA 9251.55( 9)* na 2734* 2508 1000* 1563 3848*
48 Krpa Sindh Sim Ger 9079.00( 9)* +68% 4424* 81 300 0 0
49 Raya Nitai TBB USA 8983.75(10) +6% 2689* 1053* 2777 4657 0
50 Krishna Ca Mum Ind 8862.00( 7)* na 3051* 799* 3404* 1036* 0
(%)Change compared (*)Better than
to Jan-Oct 2014 last year
November 25. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
It was unusual for Prabhupada to be anywhere but at Dr. Mishra’s studio. Prabhupada did a little shopping, but he rarely went out on any other kind of outings. Mostly he went out for walks. Occasionally, he went to the bookstores to see how his books were selling. He did not have a car in the early days, so he took the subway or the bus. When he went out, he didn’t take on the appearance of an ordinary person in his old, checkered suburban coat. For one thing, he always wore his dhoti. He was elderly and Indian, but these were all external. He burned with an inner flame that was visible, even as he sat in the subway. He was always intensely focused on Krishna. His eyes were different than other people’s eyes; they shone with inner vision. He was always a pure devotee of Krishna.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=2
One More Time Around
When Swamiji Went Out
“All of you should certainly make his devotional service your true career; devote your actions to him, using all the talents of your thoughts, words and body. If you do this without pretense and as best you can, then his desire-fulfilling lotus-feet will become the source of perfecting your every want and need.”
Spoken by Emperor Pṛthu
to his citizens.
Per Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.21.33
Translated by Vraja Kishor
for Part 4 of
Beautiful Tales of the All-Attractive
Parts 1, 2, and 3 of Beautiful Tales of the All Attractive
are available at VrajaKishor.com
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 09 September 2015, Randburg, South Africa, Youth Group Bhajans)
Srila Prabhupada said that five plus five is ten, two plus two is four, and everything plus Krsna is Vrindavan. So this formula is very brilliant and very simple and if we can just apply this formula by adding Krsna, everything will change. That is all that needs to be done – just add Krsna in any situation.
The holy name is one way to add Krsna but prasadam is another way. Some lectures on your phone and some pictures on the wall are also ways to add Krsna. There are many varieties of things which we can do to add Krsna but if we add Krsna then everything automatically starts to work because it becomes the spiritual world and then all maya will disappear.
Actually, Srila Prabhupada described how one corner of the spiritual world becomes covered like how a corner of the sky becomes covered by a cloud. So there is this corner of the spiritual sky which is covered and known as the material world. In the material world, people think that they have fallen to material life whereas the truth of the matter is they are still in the spiritual world therefore it does not take much. One simply has to come to the point of really getting rid of the cloud and to the point that you really believe it. I know you have all heard it before. “We are really in spiritual world.” Everyone goes, “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” This is right but we do not believe it but hopefully, one day we may believe it!
“Any person who performs bathing in the month of Kartika, remaining awake, offering lamps, giving charity or planting and transplanting Tulasi, he achieves the same form as Lord Sri Visnu.”
In Melbourne temple, both morning and night, many devotees and guests come to attend arati , offer lamps and sing Damodarastakam prayers during the month of Kartika.
Dharmakala Cooking Biscuits in RVC Temple devotee kitchen – 1984.
By Madhava Smullen
Dharmakala Dasi’s destiny seemed set from the start – she grew up with the smell of fresh baked bread and cookies lingering throughout her home.
“My parents had eight kids, so we didn’t really go out to eat – my mother just cooked constantly to feed us all,” she says. “So being around it all the time, I started cooking myself when I was a little kid. I baked my first brownies at the age of seven.”
But with all that good old-fashioned home cooking, Dharmakala never tasted anything quite like the Sunday Feast at the Hare Krishna temple in Ocean City, Maryland, in 1972 – “It was totally out of this world,” she says. And it was this that would lead to her cooking for Lord Krishna, and becoming synonymous with New Vrindaban’s celebrated history of prasadam baking.
First, though, she joined ISKCON in Ocean City, then moved to New York, where she was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1973. There, she began baking “Prabhupada cookies” and offered her first cake to the Lord, a huge multi-layered whipped mango affair for Radhastami.
Srila Prabhupada outside the Henry Street Temple 1973 – Dharmakala offering obeisances on left.
In July 1974, Dharmakala decided to move to New Vrindaban, West Virginia, where she received second initiation the following year, and thereafter began cooking daily for the Deities for approximately the next fifteen years.
New Vrindaban, a remote, austere rural community, couldn’t have been more different from New York City. Dharmakala prepared the legendary 4pm offering of fried curd, milk sweets, cookies, cheesecake, and more using a wood oven and wood stove that had to be constantly stoked.
“There wasn’t anything electric at all at the Bahulaban kitchen – everything had to be done by hand,” she says. “The curd used in the cheesecake had to be kneaded out by hand to smooth it, as there were no blenders.”
The upside to the simple life was that all the dairy products were made from the milk of the sacred village’s protected cows, which was thick with cream. It was this cream that was separated from the milk and used in Dharmakala’s much coveted maha-prasadam condensed milk, or kheer, which was often served with peaches, strawberries and bananas.
“The feasts and Deity offerings in Bahulaban back then were so outrageously opulent you wouldn’t believe it,” Dharmakala says.
Until 1989 – during which the kitchen moved from Bahulaban to Radha Vrindabanchandra’s current temple – Dharmakala cooked full-time for the Deities and devotees.
As well as the 4pm offering, she also made popcorn, cereal, breadsticks and other snacks for the devotees in the afternoon, and cooked chapatis over gas flames on a large griddle for lunch.
New Vrindaban’s 6th Annual Janmastami celebration. Group photo taken at the Bahulaban Barn in 1975 (Dharmakala pictured).
“Together our team would do a thousand chapatis a day,” she says.
But over the years, Dharmakala became most famous for her baking.
In the mornings, she often baked bread for the devotees. On Sunday feasts and festivals, she would make orange cake, date nut bars, or apple and rhubarb strawberry crisp for 800 people, sending huge trays to locations all over the community.
And nothing was ever half-baked – if you’ll pardon the pun – with Dharmakala.
“Whatever I did, I would do to the best of my ability,” she says. “For instance, instead of just making normal sugar cookies for the 4pm offering, I’d make coconut walnut squares or sandwich cookies. That would be two Prabhupada cookies with a filling of fresh strawberry jam and an icing glaze on top.”
Dharmakala worked very hard, often spending eleven-hour days from 10am to nearly 9pm in the kitchen, with no days off.
“I remember being eight-and-a-half months pregnant with my daughter Dinataruni one Thanksgiving, and baking as many pumpkins as I could for pumpkin pie well into the night, because we didn’t have any canned pumpkin,” she says. “The next morning, I went in, made the crusts, and finished up ten trays of pie with fresh whipped cream on top. All while I was about to pop!”
But for Dharmakala, the memories are good, full of the kind of loving exchanges between godbrothers and godsisters that Srila Pabhupada formed ISKCON to facilitate.
Prabhupada 1973 NY Henry Street Temple – Dharmakala lower right corner.
“Kuladri’s wife Kutila taught me how to make milk sweets; Prabhupada’s servant Nanda Kumar oversaw the kitchen; and Hari-Kirtana, Vraja Kumari and Gita from Canada were my chapati crew,” she says. “Everybody was working together, and it was such good teamwork and camaraderie. It was devotional service for us, and we just wanted to make a nice lunch for Krishna. You just had that intention that it was going to turn out great, and it always did.”
After 1989, Dharmakala stopped serving full-time at the temple kitchen, but continued to make cakes for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and other celebrations held in New Vrindaban, a service she offers to this day.
“I make chocolate, carob, and vanilla cakes, carrot cakes, and more,” she says. “Whatever people want. I always use organic, non-GMO ingredients. I use organic flour, demerrara sugar or Sucanat, and for vegan cakes, I make my own soymilk from organic soybeans.”
In 1995, Dharmakala started her own company, “World’s Best Cookie,” selling to health food stores and coffee shops along the East Coast. Her products include raisin, chocolate-chip, carob-chip, and pumpkin-spice oatmeal cookies, along with wheat-free raisin and chocholate-chip options, and an energy cookie.
Dharmakala Baking Worlds Best Cookies.
So far, she has made 500,000 of these, all by hand, in pink ovens decorated with hearts and the inscription “Baked with the intention of love,” at her bakery on the ECO-V farm. What’s more, each and every cookie is offered to Srila Prabhupada, whose murti oversees the bakery from his vyasasana. He reminds Dharmakala of a special loving moment.
“I remember that when Prabhupada visited New Vrindaban in 1976, he was giving out cookies in the tiny Bahulaban temple room,” she says. “It was absolutely packed with devotees, and I was eight months pregnant with my son Suddha Sattva and afraid that I’d get pushed or shoved. So I hid in a corner to the side of his vyasasana, and just held out my hand, and he gave me a cookie. I put it in my beadbag, then held out my hand again, and he gave me another cookie. And again, and again. I left with six cookies!”
Today, after decades of service cooking for the Lord and his devotees and raising her five children, Dharmakala is still living in New Vrindaban. And just as it did back in the ‘70s, it’s the camaraderie and devotee association that keeps her there.
“My friends are the reason,” she says. “We all built this place together. So we’re like family.”
And when asked what advice she has for the next wave of New Vrindaban residents, Dharmakala suggests trying out the simplicity that made those early days special.
“Turn off the electric, get away from your computer, and see what you can manifest,” she says. “And, in the kitchen as well as in life, work from your heart!”
Dharmakala’s Coconut Walnut Squares
“I love this recipe because it’s super rich and opulent. It has been a favorite at New Vrindaban for years, since I used to make it in the Deity kitchen for the pleasure of Sri Sri Radha Vrindabanchandra.”
Makes 18 squares.
Ingredients:
1st layer:
1 cup of butter (melted)
½ cup of brown sugar
2 ½ cups of flour
2nd layer:
1/3 cup of yogurt
2 cups of brown sugar
¼ cup of flour
1 cup of shredded coconut
1 ½ teaspoons of baking powder
½ cup of chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
1 teaspoon of grated lemon rind
½ teaspoon of salt
Glaze (optional):
1 ½ cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons of butter (melted)
3 tablespoons of lemon juice.
Directions:
To make the first layer, mix the ingredients together and press firmly into a 9 x 12 inch baking tray.
Before putting the first layer into the pan, make sure the inside of the tray is lightly greased with butter (or vegetable oil). Next, sprinkle a small amount of flour over the butter (or use parchment paper). This will help minimize sticking.
Bake the first layer for approximately 10 minutes at 400 F. Remove from the oven and and cool slightly.
To make the second layer, mix all ingredients and spread over top of the first layer.
Bake at 350 F for around 20-25 minutes, until golden brown. Remove tray from oven and allow to cool.
For the glaze, combine ingredients together, stir until smooth and drizzle over the entire tray.
Finally, cut into 18 good-sized squares, offer and serve.
Tribute to Srila Prabhupada performed by the students of the Bhaktivedanta Academy, Alachua, Florida, on November 14th, 2015.
Prema-sarovara is a lake formed from the tears of Radha and Krsna when They felt intense separation from each other. A video of Indradyumna Swami's parikrama party visiting Prema Sarovara, accompanied by Jahnavi Harrison's music.
Three amazing sales, by Vijaya Prabhu: “At the wonderful Vyasa-puja celebration for His Grace Vaisesika Prabhu, many of his disciples gave him gifts. Sankirtana Dasa, Kumari Lila Dasi, and Iwere thinking about what we could offer him on his birthday.
It was late by the time we left, and we were intoxicated by the feast of delicious prasada. We wanted to offer him something substantial, so we set out door-to-door. (We were later joined by Haladhara Rupa Dasa.) We were driving in the neighborhood of Silicon Valley to find the best place to start. We saw a door that was open, so we decided to start from there.
We met a nice gentleman who worships mother Gayatri. He was full of devotion to the goddess, and he even mentioned that we were sent by her. He accepted a Srimad-Bhagavatam set, in Telegu, even though he and his family were running late for a movie. While we were talking to that family, the neighbors came and invited us to their home.
They were also a very pious family and accepted a set of Bhagavatams. We did a small installation and a kirtan.
While we were all talking, their neighbors (who happen to be old friends of the devotee Srivas) invited us to their home. They were also curious about Srimad Bhagavatam and accepted a set. Sree and Madhu are both pious and learned in some scriptures. They greeted us kindly and offered us fruits when we left, which is traditional for many South Indian families. They wanted us to install their set with an artik and kirtan, as we did in the previous house.
Kumari Lila said that it was amazing that we had distributed three sets without knocking on any door. It was all the mercy of Lord Caitanya. It was our humble offering to Vaisesika Prabhu.
Glimpses of reality (Winter Marathon 2015) (18 min video)
Dear ISKCON devotees, dear friends!
Please watch this short film! Heart-touching, inspirational and leaving no chance to miss the upcoming transcendental fun!
As you know it’s only a few days left before the long-awaited Srila Prabhupada December Marathon kicks off! If you’re still hesitant whether to go out or not or somehow missing the most uplifting vibe which is already up in the air, then please watch this video made by ISKCON London Sankirtan leader Naam Sankirtan Prabhu with following devotees sharing their realizations:
HH Sacinandana, Kadamba Kanana, Kesava Bharati, Janananda, Dhirashanta Maharajas, HG Kripamoya Prabhu and Guru Carana Padma Mataji, HG Dhananjaya, Jai Nitai, Radha Raman Prabhu and more Srila Prabhupada disciples and leaders of Sankirtan initiatives.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/kb1twb
Tulasi Shalagram Vivah 2015 (Album with photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: As every year, on Ekadasi night we had all night kirtan. Then on Dwadasi, we celebrated the marriage of Tulasi and Shalagram! Many people celebrate this, but according to tradition, the marriage always takes place at the bride’s house. So this marriage was super auspicious being performed at Vrinda Kunda, Vrindarani’s home! Relish the pics of Vittalrukmini Prabhu!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/CBJ8UT
The first phase of the electrical work has started.
This phase consists in applying the conduits ( a tube for protecting electric wires) in the 8 stair cases. This step must be done before cladding the walls with marble.
[See image gallery at tovp.org]
The post Electrical Work appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
The TOVP Facebook Page recently achieved a landmark 250,000 Likes! All glories to Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and all glories to His devotees.
The post TOVP Facebook Page Reaches 250,000 Likes appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
Global Participation for Radhanath Swami’s Annual Pilgrimage to Vrindavan
This year 5600 people from 30 countries participated in the annual pilgrimage to Vrindavan, India lead by Radhanath Swami. It was held from November 7th to 17th.
Every morning participants went out in groups to visit holy spots of Vrindavan where Sri Krishna had enacted his pastimes 5000 years ago. And every evening they converged at the festival site where Radhanath Swami spoke on the pastimes of Sri Krishna and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. This year being the 500th anniversary of Sri Chaitanya’s visit to Vrindavan, Radhanath Swami extensively spoke on the life and teachings of Sri Chaitanya from His biographies, Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita and Sri Chaitanya Bhagavat. The talk was translated into eight languages.
Following in the tradition of Sri Chaitanya, who emphasized sankirtan – the congregational chanting of the holy names of Sri Krishna, every evening after the talk devotees from many nations held hands and danced in kirtan. Devotees from United States and China, from Russia and Ukraine, from Iran and Saudia Arabia called out the holy names in one voice, for the wellbeing of the entire world. The devotional celebrations ended every night with each devotee offering a lamp to Sri Krishna, with heart-felt devotion.
Founder of Bhakti Fest, Sridhar Silberfien, who has been a special guest during the annual pilgrimage for several years, shared his experience: “Whenever I am here, I am left with tears of joy in my eyes. I yearn to be here in Vrindavan with Radhanath Swami.”
Tears Of Love. (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The waters of the famous lake, Prema-sarovara, in Vrindavan are the combined tears of Radha and Krsna. Situated in Prema-van, the Forest of Love, the entire area is saturated with an intense spiritual atmosphere that even neophyte devotees can begin to perceive. Without doubt it was one of the favorite places our parikrama party visited this Kartika.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/RquxDc
Bhakti Caitanya Swami: This is the Deity of Lord Gauranga which Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura chanted in front of when he took his great 9 year vow to chant a billion names of the Lord.
Short-term Sanskrit Course Jan 10 to Mar 31, 2016 (For a clearer understanding of the Sankrit used in scriptural verses and their commentaries) Just in a span of 80 days learn the basics of reading and understanding Sanskrit verses and their commentaries. Learn : 1. Sanskrit Pronunciation and Meter. 2. Sandhi (Euphony). 3. to get a clearer understanding of the structure of Sanskrit verses by rearranging them in prose order ( i.e. doing their anvaya ). 4. some frequently used terms in Sanskrit commentaries. 5. the most common senses in which the different cases of a noun are used. 6. the most important indeclinables (avyayas), pronouns and compounds. 7. some commonly used suffixes. 8. basic usage of verbs in all the tenses.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/qzdiQO
Not only Milk, Cows Give Water.
The occupational duties of the vaiśya are conceived in four divisions: farming, commerce, cow protection and moneylending. Out of these, we as a community are always engaged in cow protection.
Now some recognized researchers like Alan Savory speak on desertification, climate change and environmental degradation are just beginning to recognize what has always existed in our Vedic texts, that cows are required for our own planets survival and as a species. Is this is one of the reasons that Mother Earth (Bhumi Mata) takes the form of a cow? Ultimately this also indicates that we should approach Srimad Bhagavatam and Srimad Bhagavad-GIta and extract it’s vital message as a panacea for all ills.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/9txDbL
By Padmapani das
On November 2nd, 1974, ex-Beatle George Harrison launched his North American tour in Vancouver, Canada. Since George was a follower of Krishna consciousness, the Vancouver devotees were eager to distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books and magazines to local fans attending his concert. George was expected to play a number of hits from his latest record (“Living in the Material World”), which contained many songs of devotion to the Lord:
“I’m living in the material world
Living in the material world
I hope to get out of this place
By the Lord Sri Krishna’s grace
My salvation from the material world.”
As we entered the Pacific Coliseum, Mahesh Prabhu and I headed for the floor, our saffron bags filled with books, magazines and incense. The crowd was obviously excited as we gradually walked to the front of the stage distributing our spiritual goods along the way. “Hare Krishna” people shouted. Many of George’s fans knew that he had an affinity towards our movement, so they were very friendly and supportive. When the concert began, George appeared on stage wearing a number of badges with spiritual pictures and “om” signs. His neck was adorned with tulasi beads.
Mahesh Prabhu pulled out a large hardbound edition of Srila Prabhupada’s Krishna Book, which had been published with the help of a kind donation by George Harrison himself. When Mahesh got to the front row, he held the Krishna Book high in the air so that George could possibly see it from the stage. As he made his way towards Mahesh, George in fact noticed Srila Prabhupada’s book. His eyes lit up and a large smile beamed across his face as he bowed his head in respect. Since Mahesh was a big fan of the Beatles before joining ISKCON, he was thrilled to have this simple transcendental exchange with one of his old heroes. What an auspicious start to George Harrison’s 1974 tour.
However, not all efforts to preach to rock stars were successful. In 1975, the devotees at the Montreal temple learned that Frank Zappa — the avante-garde maestro of rock music — would be appearing at the Montreal Forum along with his band “The Mothers of Invention.” Devotees made plans for a large hari-nama party outside the building. Despite the anticipated security, I was hoping to give Mr. Zappa one of Srila Prabhupada’s books. Thinking that he might find it intriguing, I chose a copy of the Seventh Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam with a picture of Lord Nrsimhadeva on the front cover. Also included was an invitation to the temple, a Hare Krishna mantra card and a copy of Back to Godhead magazine.
On the day of the concert the devotees turned up in full force outside the Montreal Forum. Since the chanting of Hare Krishna is intensified when there are more participants, the kirtan was especially sweet and powerful. Midway through the hari-nama I made a move towards the back of the building. There I discovered a doorway crowded with fans and security guards. I tried to get permission to enter the door, but was refused. After a few attempts I finally decided to return to the hari-nama party out front. Just then a man dressed in a business suit walked by. He seemed important, so I inquired about his identity from one of the security guards. “That’s Zappa’s manager,” he replied. Here was my chance. “Excuse me sir,” I shouted in his direction as he walked briskly towards what I assumed was the rock star’s dressing room. “I’d like to give this book and invitation to Frank Zappa.” He paused for a second and then replied, “Well, I can’t take you in, but I can give him the book.” That was good enough for me. As he left with a copy of Prabhupada’s Bhagavatam in hand, I assumed that the matter was over and done with. So I was quite surprised when a few minutes later the man reappeared and called out, “Frank wants to see you.” The crowd parted and I was ushered backstage like a V.I.P.
When I reached the dressing room, Frank Zappa was sitting on a chair strumming his guitar. His hair was tied in a ponytail and he wore purple leotards. The room was small and messy with plates of food scattered here and there. “Hare Krishna,” I said with folded palms and smiling face. I assumed that he must have been interested in Prabhupada’s book since he had made the effort to call me backstage only fifteen minutes before his concert was about to begin.
“I just wanted to tell you that I don’t want this book,” he announced. Taken aback, I realized that I’d have to try hard to convince him that it might provide some value or interest for him. “This book was originally compiled in Sanskrit over 5,000 years ago,” I began. “No it wasn’t,” he shot back. “It was actually 4,999 and a half years ago.” I could see that this wasn’t going to be easy. We conversed for over half an hour, but he challenged and refuted everything I said. I tried to be extra polite and not argue with his sharp comebacks, but after some time, it was obvious that he had already made up his mind. He wasn’t interested in Krishna. He wouldn’t even budge when I requested that he please consider the book as a humble gift from me to him. He picked up the invitation and said, “But I’ll keep this.” Although Frank Zappa didn’t accept Srila Prabhupada’s book or visit the temple, the kirtan outside his concert that night was especially ecstatic, despite the cold winter weather. At least the fans really enjoyed the chanting and many joined in.
The next popular musician to visit Montreal was Bob Dylan on December 12th, 1975. He was traveling with a large entourage of musicians, artists and poets (including Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Roger McGuinn, Allen Ginsberg and others) in what was billed as the “Rolling Thunder Revue.” Again I somehow managed to get backstage. Many of the performers were already hurrying to climb the stairs for their performance, so I had to act fast. Luckily, I spotted Canadian folk singer, Joni Mitchell. “Joni,” I called. She turned in my direction and I said, “Hare Krishna,” handing her a Back to Godhead magazine and a large bunch of red carnations offered to the Deities. She accepted them graciously and then bounded for the stage. As the curtains opened and the music began, I was delighted to see a number of famous artists holding red carnations in their hands. A roar of approval swept through the front rows of the audience as the performers onstage began throwing Krishna’s flowers to their adoring fans.
The next day, Satyahit Prabhu and I decided to try and meet Bob Dylan in his hotel room downtown. Somehow or other we managed to convince the hotel receptionist that Dylan would like to meet a couple of Hare Krishna devotees. So he rang upstairs and spoke to Dylan’s manager who told him to send us right up. When we arrived at his room, he greeted us warmly. “Bob’s out shooting a movie right now,” he said, “but I’m sure that he’d like to meet you when he returns.” Meanwhile he was interested in Krishna consciousness, so we spoke in length with this friendly and receptive man.
After a few hours it was getting late and Dylan still hadn’t returned. So we finally begged permission to go, but not without leaving behind a basket of fruits and sweets, along with an invitation for Dylan and his friends to attend the Sunday Love Feast, plus a few small books and Back to Godhead magazines. Although they never visited the Montreal temple, Bob Dylan and his friends had contacted Krishna in the form of His transcendental prasadam, flowers and literature. By Prabhupada’s grace, there is no limit as to who can receive — or distribute — the mercy of Krishna consciousness.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
November 24. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Usually when we think of Prabhupada, we conjure up images of Prabhupada in America, either as a lone preacher struggling alone in New York, or as the grand founder-acarya of ISKCON. But when we read the first volume of the biography, we glimpse Prabhupada’s life in India, before we met him, before he came to preach.
There is a special taste in hearing about the life of a famous person, an artist or writer, when they were still preparing themselves for the greatness that would follow. We can empathize with his or her struggle as they move in the world, unappreciated. The years when Prabhupada was travelling around India in the third-class compartments of trains, maintaining his household, faithfully keeping the Vaisnava principles which his father had taught him, thinking about his spiritual master as “such a nice saintly person” – these are precious meditations for us. Prabhupada was so patient and dutiful. Our spiritual master was such a nice saintly person.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490&page=2
The post Daily Darshan – November 24th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Answer Podcast
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The post When Yashoda’s rasa is vatsalya, how is her bhakti coming from Radharani whose rasa is madhurya? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
A simple śāstric presentation demystifying this big mystery. The basic notes for the presentation are:
1. “Guru”
“guru” simply means “significant” or “heavy” – its the important person. Its the person with a lot of weight.
Dance-guru, music-guru, archery-guru, cooking-guru, grammar-guru, sanskrit-guru…
2. Bhakti-guru
The person from whom we can learn/get bhakti.
The tattva of guru: Guru is Krishna’s merciful effort to rescue jīvas who want to turn towards him.
[See CC 1.1.45, ŚB 11.29.6, Gītā 10.10]
Guru is Krishna, or more exactly Krishna’s energy, working though channels that can reach us in our conditioned state.
Guru is Krishna’s energy working though other people and other things.
[See CC 1.1.44, Guruvaṣṭaka 7]
The energy is Krishna-bhakti.
The channel it comes throguh is is primarily people who carry some significant quantity of krishna-bhakti.
The bigger the quantity the more powerful the guru can be.
This energy flows to us through many channels, not just one.
[See, “vande-ham…,” CC 1.1.1]
3. Guru-disciple relationship
[See Gita 4.34]
Disciple’s part:
(1) Seva = by “service” – what service? cutting wood giving donations? Yes, but mainly…
(2) pranipat = be willing to sit near guru and learn
(3) pariprasna = by asking thorough questions
[See Bhag 11.3.21]
Describes the disciple’s role in the same way as Gita 4.34..
prapadye = pranipat
jijnasu = pariprasna
Misconception: Guru is top-level management
Misconception: Guru gives and we just receive. Guru is active, we are passive.
Misconception: Don’t ask difficult questions
The disciple’s effort to understand the Guru’s teaching and example is the most important part of the guru-disciple relationship. This is why exalted Gurus can have unsuccessful disciples.
Trying to learn without asking questions is like trying to eat without chewing.
4. Types of Guru
Inspirations (pradarśak)
Lineage (dīkṣa)
Instruction (śikṣa)
As is obvious from the Gita and Bhagavata’s definition of Guru, the instructor is the most important type of Guru.
5. Qualification of Guru
Qualification of Guru is important, because the main activity of the disciple is to ask questions, so the guru has to be qualified to answer the questions, (a) accurately, and (b) in a way that the individual disciple can actually understand and connect with.
Gita: tad-vidhi… tattva-darśana
Bhāg: sabde pare ca nisnatam, brahmany upasamasrayam
“Uttama-adhikari”
BRS 1.2.17~19:
śāstre yuktau ca nipuṇaḥ
sarvathā dṛḍha-niścayaḥ
prauḍha-śraddho ‘dhikārī yaḥ
sa bhaktāv uttamo mataḥ
yaH shAstrAhi Svani puNaH shraddhAvan sa tu madhyamaH
yo bhavet komala shraddhaH sa kaniSTho nigadyate
All three are adhikārī (qualified) but for śikṣa-guru, uttama-adhikārī is the best, obviously.
[Not confused with “Uttama Bhagavata”]
Q: What do you think about extreme human antiquity, anti-evolution campaign, ideas like “we didn’t go to the Moon”, “Sun travels around the Earth”, “humans were ten times taller before Kali-Yuga” etc.? Should people see these ideas as a part of Vaisnavism?
These are ideas of people who are trying to be Vaiṣṇavas and trying to fit the Vaiṣṇava world-concept within the modern world-concept – but I don’t think they have really read the śāstra carefully from all angles.
In my study of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam cantos 2 and 3 it became very clear to me that the Bhāgavatam is quite compatible with most aspects of modern theories. For example, Bhāgavatam describes an enormous period of time when the universe is void of manifest living beings, and the primordial atomic building blocks are simply evolving on their own. Consciousness does not develop tangibly in the universe until all these elements have evolved fully, and even then it manifests in a very abstract form. Bhāgavatam also describes a sequence of design by Brahmā which is similar to evolutionary stages (plants first, then various types of animals, then humans, then superhumans)
As far as history goes, the calculation of the actual duration of yugas is uncertain. The Bhāgavatam describes an astronomical yuga as well as a historical yuga. The astronomical yuga is 360 times longer than the historical yuga. This may be another cause of confusion when trying to bring the Bhagavatam’s version of history into some basic parallel with our modern theories.
The “we didn’t go to the moon” campaign is based on something Śrīla Prabhupāda said – and he said a few different things at different times on the topic. It’s not a topic I would waste my time with. It easily and quickly becomes “prajalpa.” For me it boils down to this: we went to “the moon” but we obviously didn’t go to candra-loka (the abode of the Moon god) – so my conclusion is that “the moon” is not identical in every way to candra-loka. In other words the lokas are not literally “planets” in our 3-dimensional universe. They are locations and exist on various planes of reality, not at various spatial coordinates in this 3-dimensional reality.
The idea that “the sun travels around the earth” is perfectly true, because such statements are made in the context of how to calculate time, and are made from the viewpoint of an observer on earth. Because motion is always relative, it can be described differently depending on the viewpoint of the observer. We stand on the earth. From that viewpoint everything appears to move around us. If we abstract our viewpoint to the Sun, everything appears to travel around it. If we abstract our viewpoint to the center of the galaxy, everything appears to travel around it. Etc. etc.
“Human’s were ten times taller previous to kali-yuga” – Maybe so. They were supposed to be much taller, healthier, live much longer, etc. The entire environment was different. We are currently in an unusual kali-yuga, however, 1 out of 1,000 – because of the advent of Śrī Caitanya Mahaprabhu – so not all the effects of a normal kali yuga are already felt. Also, if we take the astronomical length of the yuga, we have not even really begun the yuga itself, but are still transitioning into it (it has a 43,200 year intro and outro transition).
All these ideas are not exactly part of Vaiṣṇavism, but they are part of the Vedic Culture that supports Vaiṣṇavism.
Q: What is the real Vedic view on the Earth? Everybody is saying different things about it. Is it flat or round?
As above, movement and everything observational is always relative. If you stand on the ground, the Earth, it appears flat. But if you abstract yourself from the ground and go up some distance into the sky (or look very far off at a distant horizon) you can see that it has curvature and is round. Every observation is relative, subjective – and the truth of the observation is only relative to the observers point of view.
Q: In Srimad Bhagavatam, Vyasadeva says that he wrote Mahabharata for women and sudras, because they were unable to understand the Vedas. What does that mean? I remember, you had said that there’s no sexism in the Vedic scriptures themselves, and because of it, even it looks like sexism to me, I thought maybe there’s another reason for Vyasadeva to talk like this which I can’t see. Maybe the women of that era were not so good at academic (or “high”, I don’t know) Sanskrit or something like that. I want to know the exact reason of this.
In this age, a high level of Vedic scholarship is practically impossible. So Vyāsa wanted to write books that would help people who were not scholars – like housewives, businessmen, and laborers… people who have little practical time for extended studies.
It is not demeaning of women as a group (nor towards businessmen or laborers). It is simply that modern people have no time to devotee to the kind of study required to be a Vedic scholar.
There were, and perhaps are, some exceptional men and women who could accomplish a Vedic level of scholarship but by and large in the current epoch, it’s impossible – so Vyāsa wanted to write some books specifically designed for us.
Q: Again, in Srimad Bhagavatam, there are some verses about animal sacrifice (especially horse). In Caitanya Caritamrita, Lord Caitanya says that before Kali-Yuga, Vedic animal sacrifices were not for killing animals, but for giving new bodies to the souls of sick and old ones. If that’s the case, then why in Srimad Bhagavatam Yuddhistira Maharaja becomes so sad after horse sacrifice? He says “We killed these animals for nothing.” or something like that and feels very sorry.
It’s not exactly as you depict it. You are saying (a) the sacrifice doesn’t harm the animal, and (b) Yudhiṣṭhira felt sorry for doing them. But the truth is closer to this (a) the sacrifice brings the animal back to life after killing it, and (b) Yudhiṣṭhira didn’t want to do more such sacrifices. Yuddhiṣṭhira feels sorry for killing so many people in the Kurukṣetra War – and says, “Don’t tell me to do another horse-sacrifice, how can more killing atone for the killing I’ve already done?”
Vraja Kishor
Krishna Katha by HH Indradyumna Swami at Kurukshetra
November 15th celebrated the one year anniversary of the Sadaputa Digital Channel on Youtube featuring over 100 lectures and videos about Vedic perspectives on modern science by Sadaputa Dasa, Dr. Richard L. Thompson, one of Srila Prabhupadas original founding members of the Bhaktivedanta Institute. He is responsible for much of the design of the planetarium in the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) in Mayapur and for other exhibits planned for the project. He passed away in 2008, leaving behind a valuable legacy of lectures, videos, books and other writings which are now in the process of being made available for serious study and research.
During this first year online, the Youtube Channel has reached almost 1,000 subscribers, over 82,000 views, and almost 2 million minutes of watching time. We hope to double this by the same time next year.
The Sadaputa Digital Channel Facebook Page is an extension of the Youtube Channel to help further promote his work to the Vaishnava community and serious spiritual seekers. It features a weekly lecture post, videos and many of Sadaputa’s written articles, Monograms and other writings. There is also a FundRazr Tab to contribute to the cause of promoting his works.
The lectures of Sadaputa Dasa are currently being transcribed by a team of eight devotees with the aim of publishing these in several volumes along with matching CDs. A website is also underway which will give further opportunity to serious researchers to examine and learn from his works.
Those interested in assisting in some way can contact Sunanda das at: *protected email*
The Sadaputa Digital Channel Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/sadaputadigitalchannel
The Sadaputa Digital Channel Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/SadaputaChannel
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HG Jai Nitai Das and the ISKCON London team welcomed the Padukas, Sitari and International team in true Vaishnava style with a thundering kirtan outside the temple. Flower petals showered Lord Nityananda and Lord Nrsingadev in their form of Padukas and Sitari respectively from the temple rooftop. This gave great excitement to the onlooking devotees and visitors. This also opened up the book distribution service along the road with curious visitors.
HG Jananivas Prabhu placed the Padukas and Sitari on Srila Prabhupada’s head. The devotees generously donated £140,000 and still collecting. When HG Jai Nitai Prabhu was asked by a devotee as to why they were collecting donations for TOVP when the London temple is finding it challenging to collect donations for themselves. HG Jai Nitai Das, a humble supporter of the TOVP project and understand the philosophies so well replied: This was Srila Prabhupada’s dream project. We will first build TOVP then we will build ISKCON London. All the devotees reciprocated with a loud clap. HG Jai Nitai Prabhu said he always dreamed of HG Ambarish Prabhu visiting ISKCON London and today that wish was fulfilled. Such is the mercy of Lord Nityananda. Today we were joined by Ambarish Prabhu and his wife Swaha mataji who spoke wonderful glories and inspired all to donate.
HG Praghosa Das gave a detailed explanation of the actual building and its meaning and essence of the TOVP project which captured the curiosity of those interested in the actual structure and its contents. As usual everyone batedly waited for HG Jananivas Prabhu to speak. HG Radha Jivan Prabhu dug deep into the devotees hearts with his inspiring talks and inspired so many devotees to donate. Many devotees received gifts in return for their pledges and donations. If you still wish to donate please contact HG Jai Nitai Das and make your pledge! Or contact the Tovp team on: 0744860 6646
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