Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur Appearance day celebration in Mayapur…
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Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur Appearance day celebration in Mayapur (Album with photos)
Appearance day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur was celebrated in Mayapur on the 26th September. A large murti of him was placed next to the Panchatattva altar. It was beautifully decorated with many flower garlands. Around 11:30 am, hundreds of bhogas were offered to him. Next, devotees chanted the pranama mantras of Guru parampara and offered him flowers three times (pushpanjali). HH Bhakti Nityananda Swami then performed an arati in his honor. Many Gurukul students attended this event. They participated actively in kirtana and bhajans which went on throughout the program. Devotees were extremely eager to have his mahaprasad. They finally received it although they had to stands in a queue for a short while.
Find them here: http://goo.gl/DWTh9d

The last instructions of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura “12 Verses…
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The last instructions of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura
“12 Verses of My Own Self-imposed Regulative Principles”
by Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura
The 1st Verse
(The Objects of Devotion Birth After Birth)
No matter whenever and wherever I happen to take birth, let my loving affection and attachment remain unshaken throughout each and every lifetime for the following things: for my divine spiritual master, for Sri Gauranga, for the detailed topics of pure devotional service (and the methods of its execution) as personally instructed by Him, for the holy places of pilgrimage such as Sri Navadvipa, Sri Kshetra, Sri Vrndavana, etc. , which are all blooming with divine sanctity due to His performance of wonderful pastimes therein, for the diksa mantra bestowed upon me by the divine grace of my spiritual master, for the holy name of Sri Hari, for the most beloved eternal associates of the Lord, for the sacred days of celebration throughout the year such as Sri Ekadasi, Sri Janmastami, Sri Radhastami, and the appearance/disappearance days of the great Vaisnava acaryas, for the Lord’s dear most devotees who strictly follow in the sacred footsteps of Srila Rupa Gosvami, and for the holy scriptures narrated by Srila Sukadeva Gosvami such as the Srimad Bhagavatam.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=13078

GaurangaGifts.com launched
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Gaurangagifts.com is happy to announce the launch of its online shopping portal. Some of the website features include: More than 300 devotional products to choose from. The number of products is only expected to grow in future. Products are arranged in categories (books, digital media etc.) and sub-categories (children’s books, neck beads etc.) which makes […]

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Hare Krishna! Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila…
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Hare Krishna! Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Prabhupada
Giriraj Swami: Srila Prabhupada furthered many of Thakura Bhaktivinoda’s projects: engaging householders in local preaching initiatives (nama-hatta); establishing the principle that Vaishnavas, even not born brahmans, are greater than brahmans (and are brahmans too); translating, explaining, and publishing important Vaishnava scriptures for the understanding of the contemporary audience; implementing the vision of a wonderful temple and spiritual city in Mayapur; and, perhaps most significant, fulfilling the desire and prediction that the holy names and teachings of Sri Krishna Chaitanya—Krishna consciousness—be propagated all over the world. “Lord Chaitanya did not advent Himself to liberate only a few men in India. Rather, His main objective was to emancipate all living entities of all countries throughout the entire universe and preach the eternal dharma.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=11916

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur Appearance
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Appearance day of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur was celebrated in Mayapur on the 26th September. A large murti of him was placed next to the Panchatattva altar. It was beautifully decorated with many flower garlands. Around 11:30 am, hundreds of bhogas were offered to him. Next, devotees chanted the pranama mantras of Guru parampara and offered […]

The post Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur Appearance appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Hare Krishna! Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s Influence On The…
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Hare Krishna! Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s Influence On The Establishment And Development Of Iskcon
This paper aims to present the contribution of Bhaktivinoda Thakur to the establishment and development of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). It regards his personal life as the role model for the practitioners of Vaisnavism, and it considers his input in expanding preaching techniques, both innovative and traditional ones. Being born in a non-Vaisnava family, educated in Christian and Westernized Hindu schools and colleges, Bhaktivinoda Thakur, more than many other spiritual teacher in Gaudiya tradition, is the reference point for ISKCON, many of whose members have been born in and molded by the Western civilization. The historical context in which Bhaktivinoda Thakur commenced his spiritual quest can be portrayed as a time of serious encounter and conflict between Hindu traditionalists and a Westernized and secularized Bengalis intelligentsia.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=9318

Hare Krishna! The Life of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur He was…
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Hare Krishna! The Life of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur
He was always charitable to brahmanas and equally befriended other castes. He never showed pride, and his amiable disposition was a characteristic feature of his life. He never accepted gifts from anyone; he even declined all honors and titles offered by the government to him on the grounds that they might stand against his holy mission of life. He was very strict in moral principles, and avoided the luxurious life; he would not even chew betel. He disliked theaters because they were frequented by “public women.” He spoke Bengali, Sanskrit, English, Latin, Urdu, Persian, and Oriya. He started writing books at age 12, and continued turning out a profuse number of volumes up until his departure from this world.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17917

Am I This Body?
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Middle Elementary students have been working on their Science: Body Unit.   They start the class by singing Mother Mrgakshi’s famous song:  I know I’m Not This Body, and studied important verses from the Srimad Bhagavad Gita reminding them of the same.  2.13 – The body changes every day.  2.22 – we change bodies as we change old clothes.

Detailed analysis of the digestive, respiratory, nervous, circulatory, muscular & skeletal systems are in progress! Students brought TWENTY TWO library books to do their research from!  They are completing experiments to visualize how the different organs work, made skeleton and muscular crafts, practiced transfering blood types with colored water, and will be cooking healthy body-friendly foods in order to end the session.    Take a look at the pictures to see some of their work.

Next Stop:  Perot Museum Body Exhibit next week.

Holy Name Week
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imageimage

The devotees at Radhava Madhava Temple started holy name week by inviting the other temple devotees in Bali to attend all day kirtan.

Each centre was represented by their best kirtan leaders and the devotees chanted and danced to each group.

Special attendees were HH Kavicandra Maharaja and HH Bhakti Raghava Maharaja who  led kirtan to the delight of the assembled vaisnavas. imageimage

Inauguration MOSA – Museo Arte Sacra – Villa Vrindavana,…
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Inauguration MOSA - Museo Arte Sacra - Villa Vrindavana, Florence, Italy (Album with photos) Villa Vrindavana’s Renaissance salons host MOSA, the Museum of Sacred Art, an artistic space that is quite unique in Italy. The gallery displays impressive artistic works portraying religious and devotional subjects from ancient India lore and its epics. Here are displayed imposing works by the Italian contemporary artist Giampaolo Tomassetti, together with other beautiful pieces of art by other international painters. The varied styles reflect different artistic traditions from the great regions of India (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Orissan, Kerala and Tanjore). The collection includes original sculptures from different areas of the Far East. With its permanent exhibition and its periodic initiatives, MOSA also encourages interfaith dialogue, where art is man’s universal language. MOSA also has a gallery in Belgium at Radhadesh, a Durbury, in the Ardennes region. The MOSA Villa Vrindavan is open to the public at the following times: Saturday and Sunday: guided tours at 10:00 and 16:00 Find them here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20066

Hare Krishna! Mayapur Gears Up for Marathon 2015 As 2015 is the…
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Hare Krishna! Mayapur Gears Up for Marathon 2015
As 2015 is the 50th year of HDG Srila Prabhupada’s entry into western land, ISKCON Mayapur is making all the arrangements to make 2015 book distribution marathon a mega event. So, it was announced that this year marathon will be celebrated from 1st October, 2015 to 31st December, 2015 for a period of three months. ISKCON Mayapur conducted an event on 23rd September to encourage devotees to engage in book distribution. The event was inaugurated by HH Jayapataka Swami Maharaj, HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami Maharaj and HG Pankajanghri Prabhu. HG Pankajanghri Prabhu highlighted the importance of book distribution as major service to Lord Krsna. He went on to say that if a devotee fails to engage him/herself in the service of book distribution, their service is not considered beneficial.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20063

Enthusiastic 8-year-old students visiting the temple of…
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Enthusiastic 8-year-old students visiting the temple of Copenhagen :) (Album with photos)
This week 22 extremely well behaved 8-year-old students came to visit the temple of the International School in Copenhagen. Many of them knew 3-4 languages and believed in God already. They were so enthusiastic that they asked me if I could become their new school teacher next year :) They all loved the prasadam meal and asked if I could please cook for them every day! When I told them that we love Srila Prabhupada because he gave us Krishna consciousness they all ran up to Srila Prabhupada and took the dust from his lotus feet on their head! I wish I had the same eagerness for Srila Prabhupada’s lotus feet as they showed :)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/tlHcHZ

Why is the soul’s connection with the Supreme established only through sound – and a specific mantra at that?
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Answer Podcast:


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What to do when our vertical and horizontal relationships are not symbiotic?
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Answer Podcast:


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Sadbhuja Das: The festival of Jagaddhatri Puja is very famous…
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Sadbhuja Das: The festival of Jagaddhatri Puja is very famous and has been celebrated for the last 300 years in Bengal. It is another kind of Durga Puja festival.
Every year the festival organizers choose a different famous architectural monument from which to model the temple for Jagaddhatri, and build it from bamboo, cloth and flowers. This year the organizers of the festival in Krishnanagar chose the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium as a significant monument of art and recreated its shape, making a beautiful temple for Jagaddhatri.
The TOVP is having a great impact on the local Bengalis. Soon it will have an impact on the whole world.

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2015
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Wednesday, September 23rd, 2015
Stafford, Connecticut

We Keep Going

Walking continued with an anticipated 'better day' distance-wise. Our trek began in the centre of Oxfordat the 'Dunkin' Doughnuts' and from there moved through the dark on windy roads until twilight. Then, after obscure visibility, the sun came strong, blinding motorists who were headed east.
 
Karuna and I were constantly switching to either side of the road in order to not give a scare to motorists. One consideration is absence of light or too much. Another is the sudden bends and twists the roads themselves make. We have barely a road's shoulder to walk on. There are instances where we step into wet grass and patches of poison ivy in order to avoid oncoming traffic.

All is well with attentiveness.

Tom Nappi, news director of HCAM-TV in Hopkinton, was great. Vivasvan, our support-person, drove us back to Hopkinton for a TV interview. The questions he posed surrounded the curiosity of why the walk, its dynamics, when did I begin such pilgrimages, and so on.

What was initially supposed to be a five minute interview went way beyond. Tom also asked about my involvement in community theatre and so I explained that in my 'time-off' (from walking) I travel the globe working with newcomer actors in morality drama based on Vedic themes.

As we were about to leave after the successful session, I noticed an old poster of 'Citizen Kane' on the studio's reception room wall. I remarked, "That is one of the best films of all time by Orson Wells." Everyone was in agreement of course. Vedic theme? It could easily be a story from the Bhagavatam, the likes of Ajamil, in a modern-day context.

In the interview I referred to the Beatles and George Harrison as experimenters of chanting. As we left we handed Tom a copy of 'Chant and Be Happy', a publication on the topic.

We went back on the road where we met some runners and a farmer, Barry Smith, who owns several hundred acres of land on both sides of the Massachusettsand Connecticutborder. Nice guy! At 73, he looks robust and happily prides himself in a full head of curly hair. Like many buildings in the area, the homes date back to the 1700's.

 

May the Source be with you!

24 miles/38 km

 

 

Hare Krishna! The many lessons for Vaishnavas to learn from Lord…
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Hare Krishna! The many lessons for Vaishnavas to learn from Lord Vamanadeva
Kripamoya Das: Vamanadeva teaches Bali that enlightened human beings are meant to be satisfied with what comes to them. Those who are not satisfied with what they actually need will never be satisfied, even if they gain the whole Earth. And a man or a woman practising the spiritual life must never be dissatisfied, for by such dissatisfaction they sprinkle water on the inner fire of their spiritual potency.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20056

Boston Celebrates 50 Years Since Prabhupada’s Arrival
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That weekend, on Saturday September 19th, nearly 500 of his disciples and grand-disciples from all over the U.S. and Canada as well as from Russia, Ukraine, England and India gathered at Commonwealth Pier – the same place he had arrived alone – to celebrate his priceless gift to them and to the world. Chartering a two-storey touring boat, they took a three-hour ride into Boston Harbor, as Niranjana Swami led a beautiful kirtan.

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2015
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Tuesday, September 22nd, 2015
Oxford, Massachusetts

Number of Highs

There were a number of high points today such as stepping on millions of acorns fallen from the trees. It's a sign of prosperity, I guess. Surely you hear those squirrels uttering their satisfaction.

You've also got walnuts a bit larger in size. It's good for acupressure and reflexology on the feet. Karuna and I continued to find an abundance of wild grapes. We can't get enough of them as we coast along, on foot, through the typical New England terrain on shady up-and-down roads.

An accountant took notice of the pilgrimage.

I was walking on Central Turnpike when a semi-retired 'man of numbers,' Peter J. Reilly, pulled over.

"Can I give you a ride?" he asked. I then explained my mission and about our guru, Srila Prabhupada, coming to America 50 years ago. "Can my wife and I offer you lunch?" My response was quick, "Yes but we're vegetarian, no onions and garlic."

"No problem," he explained and also mentioned that his wife, Evy, follows a similar diet. So, it was a date. We ate. We spoke. We made friends.

From there we rushed to Rhode Island, to Brown's University in the city of Providence. A meditation group, headed by Jeremy, had us present meditation on sacred sound. It was more of an interactive and inclusive experience. Sound is powerful - everyone agrees - but sacred sound is beyond powerful. We chanted various mantras which are well established in the yoga tradition of bhakti.

A nice group of students! It appears that they are looking to reap the benefits of meditation just as much as they wish to excel in their studies.

I would like to refer to something Srila Prabhupada said in regards to achieving higher consciousness. "It all depends on attitude," he said.

 
May the Source be with you!

12 miles/ 19km