Planet ISKCON

Jacksonville Beach Ratha Yatra
Skies darkened, thunder rolled, and lightning flashed. As devotees made their way to Jacksonville Beach for the annual Ratha Yatra parade they worried the procession would be hampered by bad weather. As they drove closer to their destination, however, the ominous clouds miraculously scattered, and little by little the sun appeared shining brilliantly in honor of the special day.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19965

Radhastami-2015 Mangal Aarti Darshans @Punjabi Bagh (Album with photos)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/mxiklZ

Vyasa Puja of SP Mangala Aratik 20150906043158

Hare Krishna! Sri Radha – The Giver Of Never Enough
“You (Sri Krishna) are the playful king of Goloka and She is Your playful companion. When You are the king of Vaikuntha, She, the daughter of Vrsabhanu, is Goddess Lakshmi. When in this world You are Ramachandra, She is Janaka’s daughter Sita. When You are Lord Hari, She is Kamala. When You are Yajna-avatar, She is Sri Dakshina, the best of wives. When You are Nrsimha, She is Rama. When You are Nara’s friend Narayana Rsi, She becomes Goddess Santi and follows You like a shadow. When You are Brahman, She is Prakrti. When You are Time, the wise know She is Pradhana. When You are the Mahat-tattva, from which the universes have sprouted, Radha is the potency Maya, filled with the three modes. When You become the four things in the heart [heart, mind, intelligence, and false ego], She becomes the power of understanding something from a hint. When You become the universal form, which includes everything, She becomes the earth”.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19959

Is it ok to want a relationship with Krishna that isn’t centered on Rādhārānī and madhurya rasa / gopi bhava?

Is it ok to want a relationship with Krishna that isn’t centered on Rādhārānī and madhurya rasa / gopi bhava?

On the second day the Auckland temple celebrated Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in America with the devotees going on a boat in the harbour.

Hare Krishna! The Cowgirls’ Song of Separation (9 min video)
On the auspicious occasion of Radhastami, we are pleased to release a video rendition of Gopi Gita from Srimad Bhagavatam. These verses are found in the 31st Chapter of the 10th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam. These famous prayers were sung by the Gopis when Krishna suddenly disappeared from their company and they were searching for Him everywhere. This is one of the finest poetry ever composed. Srimad Bhagavatam is ‘Grantharaja’, the king of all the scriptures and this poetry is one of its crest jewels.
Watch it here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19954

Hare Krishna! A wonderful story by His Holiness Radhanatha Swami
In 1971 I was a devotee of Lord Siva, I was traveling from the area Pashupatinatha to Amarnatha for a pilgrimage in month of August. Very crowded third class train, didn’t sit down for about 40 hours. Finally the train stopped and I wanted to somehow or other to move, so I crawled over people’s heads, somehow I pulled myself out of the window, because I had these attachments. The train started moving and I tried to get back in and it was so very crowded, no window to fit a human being inside. So the train left and I was in this unknown place. I asked a sadhu on the railway platform – where is this. He said this is Mathura, today is Janmastami! So he took me to Janmasthaana where I spent the whole day.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=2388

Hare Krishna! NASN August 2015 – North American Sankirtan Newsletter
For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of August. North American Totals, Monthly Temples, Monthly Weekend Warriors. Monthly Top 100 Individuals, Monthly Top 5, Cumulative Countries, Cumulative Temples, Cumulative Top 100 Individuals, Cumulative Top 5
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19949

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Major New Iskcon Temple at Mira Road is almost ready for the inauguration, Sept. 23, 24, and 25 (2 min video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/B5SMFj

Celebrating Srila Prabhupada Boston 50Th Anniversary Arrival Festival In Boston, Massachusetts. (Album with photos)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/Eo4Rn1

Beautiful video of Jayadev das about Radha Krishna prana mora by Narottama Dasa Thakur.
Translation: (1) The divine couple, Sri Sri Radha and Krishna, are my life and soul. In life or death I have no other refuge but Them. (2) In a forest of small kadamba trees on the bank of the Yamuna, I will seat the divine couple on a throne made of brilliant jewels. (3) I will anoint Their dark and fair forms with sandalwood paste scented with cuya, and I will fan Them with a camara whisk. Oh, when will I behold Their moonlike faces? (4) After stringing together garlands of malati flowers I will place them around Their necks, and I will offer tambula scented with camphor to Their lotus mouths. (5) With the permission of all the sakhis, headed by Lalita and Visakha, I will serve the lotus feet of Radha and Krishna. (6) Narottama dasa, the servant of the servant of Sri Krishna Caitanya Prabhu, longs for this service to the divine couple.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/EbAb0p

Short play about Srila Prabhupada’s journey to America. (16 min video)
Drama by the Bhaktivedanta Players, at Bhaktivedanta Manor, on the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in New York.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/NueheA

Preaching in Mongolia (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Two days ago we ventured 500 kilometers from the capital of Mongolia to Erdenet. The 9-hour drive on rough roads took us through some of the most breath taking scenery in the country. We are visiting all these towns and villages for the first time. Previously our movement didn’t have permission to do harinam and public programs. Now that we do, we find people spontaneously chant Hare Krsna and dance with little or no encouragement. For those who can tolerate austerity, Mongolia is a great adventure on behalf of the Lord.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/nhxMy7

Harinama at Broadbeach, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.- 20 September 2015 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: By chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, we gradually develop our eternal relationship with the Supreme Person and thus attain the perfection called svarupa-siddhi. We should take advantage of this benediction and go back home, back to Godhead. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 10.3.37 Purport )
Find them here: https://goo.gl/JQNSEI

Preaching in Mongolia (Album with photos) Indradyumna Swami: Two days ago we ventured 500 kilometers from the capital of Mongolia to Erdenet. The 9 hour drive on rough roads took us through some of the most breath taking scenery in the country. We are visiting all these towns and villages for the first time. Previously our movement didn’t have permission to do harinam and public programs. Now that we do, we find people spontaneously chant Hare Krsna and dance with little or no encouragement. For those who can tolerate austerity, Mongolia is a great adventure on behalf of the Lord. Find them here: https://goo.gl/nhxMy7

Harinama at Broadbeach, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia - 20 September 2015 (Album with photos) Srila Prabhupada: By chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, we gradually develop our eternal relationship with the Supreme Person and thus attain the perfection called svarupa-siddhi. We should take advantage of this benediction and go back home, back to Godhead. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 10.3.37 Purport ) Find them here: https://goo.gl/JQNSEI

5 lakh Radha bhakts to visit Barsana on Sept 21
Barsana (Mathura district): On September 21, Radha, lord Krishna’s divine consort, devotees from across the world will celebrate her birthday as Radhastmi.
Over five lakh pilgrims, both Indian and foreign national, are expected to visit to Barsana, famous for its Lathmar Holi.
Even though people flock to the temple in Barsana, Radha was born 30km away in Raval, the village which has been adopted by Mathura MP Hema Malini for development under the MPs adopt-a-village scheme.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/DPfePZ

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Addressing The Nation (6 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: When Mongolia’s main television channel, Mongolian National Broadcaster, learned about our historic tour through the country, they invited me to speak on their news program. They said, “You will have the opportunity to address the entire nation.” I eagerly accepted their invitation and yesterday spoke on the evening news at prime time about our philosophy, way of life and how Krsna consciousness can contribute to Mongolian culture. After the program the lady who interviewed me smiled and said, “Don’t be surprised now if everywhere you go in Mongolia people recognise you.“
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/JQgj25

Hare Krishna! Forever Grateful to Srila Prabhupada
Padmapani das: Thus we can understand that the essence of Krishna consciousness is love — love for the Supreme Lord and all His parts and parcels. So Prabhupada arrived on the shores of America with a most appealing message at a remarkably appropriate time in the history of the world. Young people everywhere were screaming and clamoring for love, and Prabhupada distributed the highest form of love without charge. “Please chant Hare Krishna and be happy” he would tell us again and again. It’s no wonder that Lord Siva proclaims the following: “My dear Parvati, there are different methods of worship, and out of all such methods the worship of the Supreme Person is considered to be the highest. But even higher than the worship of the Lord is the worship of the Lord’s devotees.” (Lord Siva, Padma Purana)
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19943

Lecture on Balaram Jayanti by HG Rama Rupa Prabhu at ISKCON Juhu on 29 Aug 2015

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Vraja reads from and briefly explains his overview of Tattva Sandarbha, just recently published as the introduction to Basic Truths of Gaudiya Philosophy – available at http://vrajakishor.com

This installment talks about the goal of life, and the means and result of attaining it. Then it focuses on how to evaluate truth or falsity, reality or fantasy – explaining how observation, logic and revelation WORK TOGETHER, and establishing the importance of the Veda and, especially, the Purāṇa.

Vraja reads from and briefly explains his overview of Tattva Sandarbha, just recently published as the introduction to Basic Truths of Gaudiya Philosophy – available at http://vrajakishor.com

This installment talks about the goal of life, and the means and result of attaining it. Then it focuses on how to evaluate truth or falsity, reality or fantasy – explaining how observation, logic and revelation WORK TOGETHER, and establishing the importance of the Veda and, especially, the Purāṇa.

Many senior devotees including: Trivikrama Swami, Jagat Purusa Dasa, Jayadvaita Swami, Romapada Swami, Radhanatha Swami, Guru Gauranga Dasa, Niranjana Swami, Anuttama Dasa, Visaka Dasi, Nava Yogendra Dasa, Cintamani Dasi, Maha Visnu Swami, Anuttama Dasa, Ambarisha Dasa, Gopasvami Dasa, Sumati Dasi, Rukmini Devi Dasi, Rangavati Dasi, Sarva Siddhi Dasa, Svayam Prabha Devi Dasi and Giriraj Swami shared their accounts of how they were personally effected by Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in the USA.

“I was standing out front on the steps of the church when Srila Prabhupada walked out and started talking to me. He told me important it was to understand that we are not the body. I had so many conceptions and misconceptions that I thought, ‘The guru is not supposed to go to the disciple —  the disciple is supposed to go to the guru.’ But that is what Srila Prabhupada has been doing at every stage, with all of us: He has been coming to us. He came to Boston, he came to Brandeis, and he came into our hearts.”

— Giriraj Swami

50th Anniversary Introductions, Boston

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 23 September 2012, Durban, South Africa, Radhastami Lecture)

If we want some deeper understanding of the aim of life, it is possible by the mercy of Srimati Radharani, who is most compassionate. She is more compassionate than Krsna. We can easily attract her mercy by doing some service. That is the key and we should think of how she did so much service; she did everything for Krsna’s pleasure and what are we going to do today for Krsna’s pleasure? Maybe someone will put a lakh in the box… or ten or more! Maybe someone will really try and really do something extraordinary today. Maybe one fortunate soul… ‘Out of so many, hardly one endeavours for perfection! And out of those who endeavour for perfection, hardly one knows Me in truth.’ (Bhagavad-gita 7.3)

Radhastami is for us a day of soul searching, a day that we ourselves are realizing, ‘I have to come up. It’s time that I make a real sacrifice for Krsna’s pleasure.’ That is the inner meaning of Radhastami.

Hare Krishna! Rupees 10 Crore ($1.5 million) was gifted during Vyasapuja of HH Bhakti Charu Swami
The devotees in Surat, India celebrated 50th Anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in USA, along with the Vyasapuja of HH Bhakti Charu Maharaj. However the main theme of this convention was to encourage devotees to participate in construction of the TOVP. With folded hands HH Bhakti Charu Maharaj gave a presentation on the TOVP project in front of thousands of his disciples whom had come from all over India and different parts of the world. He explained that the desire of Srila Prabhupada was to build a wonderful temple for Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and for the satisfaction of our Vaishnava acharyas. Radha Jivan Prabhu also made presentations for two consecutive days to more than one thousand assembled devotees. The TOVP fundraising team received more than four hundred pledges for contributions, reaching a total of 1.5 million dollars or ten crore in Rupees.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19938