Planet ISKCON

Launch of Lokanath Swami’s Vraja-mandala Darsana at Govardhan Eco-village.
During the recently held midterm GBC meetings and on the inauguration of the Twelve forests of Vrindavan, HH Radhanath Swami also Lokanath Swami’s Vraja-mandala book with the following: Lokanath Maharaja, Haribol!! Lokanath Swami Maharaja has been going for decades taking hundreds and hundreds and thousands of devotees on Vraja mandala Parikrama and he has compiled this book with all the information that he has researched and all the realisations that he has and all the enthusiasm is incredible and all the devotees had been with him. And now here I, we, have Vraja-mandala Darsana, a thirty days Parikrama series. Haribol!! I don’t have to ask you to purchase a book. I don’t think you could resist. We all thank you Lokanath Swami Maharaja . Thank you for your wonderful encouragement here at Govardhan Eco-village. Then Maharaja gave a tour of the Vrindavan project to the assembled devotees.

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The Most Sacred Path! (10 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: The parikrama marg, the path around Vrindavan, has been traversed by pilgrims daily for thousands of years. The 10 kilometer walk takes 3 hours. Unlimited spiritual benefit is incurred by walking around Vrindavan’s thousands of temples, samadhis, sacred cows and people. This is especially true during the month of Kartika, when one’s devotional practices are enhanced a thousand times over.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/ANg533

The post Govardhan Puja Gallery appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Biggest Ratha Yatra In Mathura!
In keeping with Srila Prabhupada’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations, ISKCON Vrindavan’s namahatta department is organizing the biggest RathaYyatra in 20 years in Lord Krishna’s birthplace, Mathura.
A host of dignitaries, sadus and international devotees are expected to be pulling the Lord of the universe with His Brother Lord Balarama and Sister Lady Subhadra in to His birthplace.
His Grace Radha Shyamsundar, head of ISKCON Vrindavan Namahatta Department said: “ This is truly a momentous occasion for ISKCON in Vrindavan. We are delighted to say that we had the full cooperation of the authorities concerned. Top class arrangements have been made to welcome Their Lordships to Mathura. The cultural programs will certainly melt the hearts of our guests. Best prasadam arrangements have been made. We invite everyone to come and participate in glorification of our founder-acharya, Srila Prabhupada.
DATE: 16 NOVEMBER 2015
TIME: 09:00AM
ROUTE: KEDARNATH DHAM, MASANI CHAURAHA
Read more: https://goo.gl/y0NTSJ

It is often difficult to keep secrets, especially about one’s health, so after due consideration (so you don’t hear this second or third hand) I am publically sharing that after preliminary tests, secondary cancer has been discovered in a swollen lymph node in my neck. There is at least one more test in conventional medicine that could be performed—a PET or full body scan—to try to find the primary cancer. Unfortunately, I have found that just mentioning the word cancer freaks everyone out, as if this is a death sentence. However, this is not necessarily so. There are many alternative treatments with a high success rate—much better than the conventional radiation and Chemo. Although many who are reading this don’t know me personally, this could be your story just as easily, or it may already be, since in the USA, cancer strikes 1 in 2 men, and 1 in 3 women in their lifetime. In 2015, there will be an estimated 1,658,370 new cancer cases diagnosed and 589,430 cancer deaths in the US.

I don’t like to give anyone any pain or discomfort by telling them this news, but I bring it up as an educational experience for all of us and to document my travels through what may be a long journey of recovery. There is much to learn about what cancer is, what it means when it grows in the body, and what the best way to treat it is. We have found this the following site very helpful in our both our education about cancer and quest for the best treatment. http://thetruthaboutcancer.com/

At the same time, I do appreciate all the loving I am getting from my friends and families! I get the most amazing hugs and those looks of disbelief like I might disappear at any moment. If only we could all appreciate one another like this all the time!

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The post Daily Darshan – November 13th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

November 13. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
In 1965, Srila Prabhupada had no Movement to manage. He was relatively free to work on the Srimad-Bhagavatam, but he had other things that took up his time. Every morning he had to take a long walk from the yoga studio room on 72nd Street to Dr. Mishra’s apartment on Riverside Drive where he cooked his lunch. He also was involved in trying to buy a building as a temple and writing many thoughtful letters to India seeking support. He also washed his own clothes daily and sometimes spoke to a few young men who would come to his room and had to instruct them in Krishna consciousness. Today’s meditation describes how throughout his career Prabhupada had to sacrifice time in writing his books to execute other activities in his mission.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490

Parikrama in Vrindavana (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: A walk around Vrindavan during Kartika reveals the beauty and sanctity of it’s ancient culture.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/8fD13c

Govindaji!

My Mother Made Us Feel Valued and Included (6 min video)
Gopisvari Dasi shares how her mother raised her and her siblings in the most beautiful way. She made each one of them feel included and valued. Because she was always happy even with very little ...

WE CROSS Oxford Street with five mrdanga drums, two loud and deep African drums, karatala cymbals, an accordion, and an electric guitar. Back To Godhead - The Hare Krsna MantraOur chanting party consists of over a hundred members, from so many countries and ethnic backgrounds that the diversity is startling. There are men in dhotis, in suits, and in jeans, women in saris, colorful dresses, and subdued business clothes. We race or dance down the street, singing as fast as we run, churning up waves of spiritual joy. The lead singer wears a wireless microphone on his head, and one member of the group carries a loudspeaker in a backpack. The electric-guitar player has his own speaker. So many devotees respond to the lead singer's chanting that all the words of the great mantra for deliverance Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare distinctly echo through the London streets.

In 1965, Srila Prabhupada had no Movement to manage.  He was relatively free to work on the Srimad-Bhagavatam, but he had other things that took up his time. 

Goverdhan Puja in the temple Courtyard, Shree Shree Krishna Balarama Temple - ISKCON Vrindavan (Album with photos)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/EyNh0D

Here are some pictures of the wonderful Govardhana Puja celebrations taking place right now!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 17 August 2014, Goloka-dhama, Germany, Janmastami Class, Srimad Bhagavatam 10.41.6-10)

There are ten effects of Cupid mentioned by Srila Visvanath Cakravarti Thakur: first comes attraction expressed through the eyes, then the intense attachment in the mind and heart, followed by determination and loss of sleep! Next, one becomes emaciated, then disinterested in external things – one cannot do anything else anymore as one is becoming totally obsessed. Then comes shamelessness and finally when Cupid really hits, one becomes stunned and then totally mad. And when Cupid hits very, very hard then even death is possible.

However, in relationship with Krsna, it is said, that death does not happen but all these other symptoms do. Krsnadas Kaviraj Gosvami says that among the ten states of Cupid, death is inauspicious in relation with Krsna and it does not usually manifest in Krsna’s premi bhaktas, however they do manifest the other nine symptoms, culminating in becoming stunned in ecstasy.  It is said when Kubja saw Krsna in the city of Mathura, she became totally overwhelmed by Cupid – for her it was love at first sight!

In the description of the appearance of Cupid it is explained that suddenly Brahma found that a form had expanded from himself. Brahma looked at the form and he had no idea who the form was, so he asked the form, ‘Who are you?’ and the form replied, ‘I am Kamadev, Cupid, and I am shooting arrows in the hearts of all living beings!’  Brahma said, ‘Really?!’  Then Cupid began to shoot his arrows in all directions and all the demigods became totally overwhelmed and started developing all the various symptoms we just mentioned – they began to perspire and they became beyond themselves. Brahma also became affected and in this way once Cupid manifested in the universe, he turned out to be the most powerful in the entire creation. Brahma could not resist him and even Siva was getting agitated by the effect of Cupid. There was no living entity who was not affected by the arrows of Cupid and who did show symptoms in the body and in the mind. Therefore it is said that the Cupid is the most powerful of all.

But of course, we know that Krsna is Madan-Mohan, the one who can bewilder even Cupid and still greater than Krsna is that devotee of Krsna who can capture Krsna and that is Srimati Radharani, known as Madan-Mohan-Mohini. Madan-Mohan can steal away our mind from the affliction of Cupid which is very strong and we know that even devotees can be affected by his arrows to go astray. But it is Madan-Mohan that can take away the influence of Cupid which the demigods and even Lord Brahma, have not escaped. No living entity has ever escaped it, definitely not us! We know it, we know what it is like to be hit by the Cupid, we know the symptoms that are described but Madan-Mohan can save us!

We celebrate Govardhana-puja. “When the cowherd men of Vrndavana, under instruction of Krsna, stopped offering sacrifice to the heavenly king, Indra, the whole tract of land known as Vraja was threatened with being washed away by constant heavy rains for seven days. Lord Krsna, out of His
causeless mercy upon the inhabitants of Vraja, held up the hill known as Govardhana with one hand only, although He was only seven years old. He did this to protect the animals from the onslaught of water.” (SB 2.7.32)

And Srila Rupa Gosvami kindly blesses us: “May the left arm of Sri Krsna, whose eyes are like the petals of a lotus flower, always protect you. With His left arm He raised Govardhana Hill as if it were a toy.” (Brs 2.1.62, Cc M 18.38)

Hare Krsna.

The following is an archival recording from a Govardhana Retreat in 2013 entitled ‘Learning form Govardhana Hill’

12.03.13 Learning from Govardhana Hill

On the eleventh of July, 1966, in New York, Srila Prabhupada incorporated the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. By then, Prabhupada had already discovered an audience for his exposition of Srimad Bhagavatam, an expositon he characterised as 'a cultural presentation for the respiritualisation of the entire human society' (Bhag. Canto 1, Preface). In a further step toward the culture of 'respiritualisation', he established ISKCON. ISKCON was to be an exemplary society, within which the culture of Srimad-Bhagavatam would be realised and by which it would be spread to the rest of the world. One needs to become acquainted with two contrasting social ideals, or models, transmitted to us by Srila Prabhupada. The first is that of a society of Vaisnavas, of transcendental, liberated devotees who conduct themselves spontaneously in accord with the principles called sanatana-dharma. The second is that of a society of materially conditioned human beings who strictly conduct themselves in obedience to the injunctions of the Vedas under the system called varnasrama-dharma.

Management is a headache. It can be a very big headache. But I’ll tell you why I’ve taken up such a responsibility for so many years. It’s because I see it in relationship to serving Srila Prabhupada’s mission; because, I’m one hundred percent convinced that Srila Prabhupada wanted an institution. Institution means headaches. There’s just no way around it. I saw Prabhupada take those headaches. And I saw many other leaders, under Srila Prabhupada, taking those headaches. And, although it’s more than twenty-five years after Srila Prabhupada’s departure, I still see many of my godbrothers who take those headaches for one reason only—it’s a burden of love. That’s the only thing. It’s a burden of love for the spiritual master. Managers have to deal with some unpleasant things like problems and financial crisis or whatever, and then if they get more in to spiritual life, they are generally losing inspiration for dealing with these things. Why is it happening? Continue reading "Why is it so difficult to find people who will take responsibility?
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Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard’s Diwali Message 2015 (2 min video)
As we light our lamps on Diwali, may we meditate upon its deeper meaning, and choose light over darkness every day!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/f7kO12

The land in Sammamish, Seattle was bought many years ago but in the last 8 years a beautiful new temple has been constructed.

The are deities of Radha Nila Madhava, Sita Rama Laksman Hanuman, Gaura Nitai and Jagannatha, Balarama, Subhadra.

The Jagannatha deities were installed by Srila Prabhupada himself in 1968.

Vatican Emissary Sends Divali Message of Goodwill.
Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, drafted a message to Hindu communities world-wide on the occasion of Diwali, or Deepavali, the Hindu or Vedic New Year. Cardinal Tauran led the Catholic delegation to the first Hindu-Catholic Dialogue in the United States. Anuttama Dasa, ISKCON’s Minister of Communications represented ISKCON at that historic event.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/7o42Dh

Govardhana Puja to Uplift Devotees with a Mountain of Sweetness.
It’s not something you see every day. A group of young girls and boys are huddled in the middle of the temple hall, some shocked and some cheering. They’re looking unbelievingly at the particularly effulgent boy at their center as he lifts an impossibly heavy burden. The young boys and girls might be made of cardboard, but their emotion and the divine pastime they’re portraying shines through as if it’s really there. The hill Lord Krishna’s lifting, fashioned out of cloth by artist Laksmana Dasi, looks like it weighs a ton. And above it, hanging high above the the temple hall, the demigod Indra grips a dark cloud and peers over the edge as shimmering icicle lights make it look as if it’s really raining through flashes of lightning.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/OjwNOK

The GBC is pleased to invite you to the ISKCON Leadership Sanga (ILS) 2016 in Sridham Mayapur, India, on February 24 – March 2. If you already attended a previous ILS you already know what an amazing event it was, with over five hundred ISKCON leaders in 2102 and more than a thousand in 2014; Consider some of the past successes of the ISKCON Leadership Sanga: We spent 8 days participating in over 85 seminars and workshops presenting valuable ideas on how to spread Krsna Consciousness and care for devotees. We learned about the GBC’s strategic plan and the work being done to implement it. We listened to Srimad-Bhagavatam classes given by our most senior leaders. We took part in unforgettable parikramas and kirtanas. We relished the association of so many devotees that are performing similar services.

Lecture Podcast

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The post Govardhan Dashakam Meditation – Ten appeals for residence at Govardhan appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

November 12. ISKCON 50 – S.Prabhupada Daily Meditations.
Today’s meditation is a general reflection on Prabhupada’s books. Prabhupada always did the needful – whatever was best for spreading Krishna consciousness. His own Krishna consciousness was mature; therefore, he wanted to give Krishna consciousness to others. As he preached, his own enthusiasm and attachment to Krishna increased more and more. Although he was perfect, the ocean of Krishna consciousness is always increasing. The BBT publishers list many of Prabhupada’s accomplishments in the “About the Author” section at the end of Prabhupada’s books. Finally they state, “Srila Prabhupada’s most significant contribution, however, is his books.” Thus we think of Prabhupada as a writer of transcendental literature. He was a translator and a commentator on sastra. He was a philosophical writer who carefully represented the parampara in modern English. His writing contained his personal experiences and realizations.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20490

The seminars will cover a wide variety of topics such as book distribution, devotee care, communications, team-building, fundraising, temple administration, using social media and the internet in our outreach, inspiring talks on how to be a better leader, the importance of ISKCON, education, strategic planning, rural development and sustainable communities, Srila Prabhupada’s position as the Founder-Acarya, and much more. 

The post Govardhana-puja means cow protection appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

The First Virtual Mantra Choir remixed ~ Happy Govardhan Puja 2015!

The post Daily Darshan – November 12th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Harinama in Podolsk (Album with photos)
Podolsk is an industrial city of Moscow Oblast, Russia, located on the Pakhra River. Srila Prabhupada: Kirtan means sometimes chanting with music, and sometimes speaking. Both of them are kirtan. Kirtayati iti ...