BY NANDA PRIYA NIVEDITA DEVI DASI

SEBERANG JAYA - The ceremonies for the deity installation started early from about 6 a.m. The deities were then elaborately bathed with honey, milk, yogurt, ghee, fragrant liquids, juices, etc. The atmosphere was intense and everyone was absorbed in the beauty of the new deities. As senior sannyasis like HH Bhanu Swami, HH Janananda Goswami, HH BVV Narasimha Swami and others bathed the deities, HH Jayapataka Swami keenly observed. For over an hour and a half he gazed at the deities. It seemed like an intense prayer. At the end of pushpa abhishek, he announced the deities’ names, “Their names will be Sri Sri Radha Krishna Kanaiya!” Everybody was so happy with this beautiful name. Following this was the inauguration of the plaque for the temple, which was graced by both HH Jayapataka Swami and HH Bhakti Vrajendranandana Swami. Afterwards, the auscipicious kumbha abhishekam of the main kalash of the temple was performed. There was ecstatic kirtan, chanting of vedic mantras, and super excitement.

The Malaysian yatra devotees had arranged for a crane to lift HH Jayapataka Swami to reach the main kalash. Maha Varaha prabhu, Ekanatha Gaura prabhu and Devo Gauranga prabhu went with him in the crane. As he was lifted in the air, it was such a sensation. Devotees were behaving like children as they watched. He was up in the air – 100 feet high. Such a sensation! Then with the help of his assistants, he performed the kalash abhishek. So much love his disciples have for him and so determined he was to do the abhishek. Later in the evening Guru Maharaja watched a drama put on by the youth. He appreciated their efforts and later gave them some suggestions on how they could improve their performance as well. Guru Maharaja never fails to appreciate ones efforts in Krishna’s service and always gives practical ways to further improve. 

It is amazing to see how he, with the help of other leaders, have been constantly cultivating and nourishing devotees here in Malaysia. Back in the 80’s, he would stay for a few months and preach intensely in Malaysia.

The next morning, 30th August 2015, HH Jayapataka Swami met Gaura Mandal prabhu, a Srila Prabhupada disciple over breakfast. They were meeting for the first time after 17 years. Gaura Mandal prabhu was in tears as he was speaking to Guru Maharaja. Guru Maharaja asked him, “How can I serve you?”, for which Gaura Mandal prabhu, with a choked voice said, “You are already preaching so much, Maharaja and serving Srila Prabhupada”. Later around noon, the youth of ISKCON BCC performed a performance on the song "Yadi Prabhupada Na Hoite", which HH Jayapataka Swami, HH Bhakti Vrajendranandana Swami, HH Bhanu Swami, HH Bhakti Vinod Swami, and the Ambassador of Venezuela attended. The performance was fantastic and moved every one to tears. It was a dance to which was portrayed with shadows. Following this, HH Jayapataka Swami inaugurated the Prabhupada Art Gallery which was also put on entirely by the youth of ISKCON BCC.

In the evening, HH Jayapataka Swami gave initiations. In the lecture, he said, “Yesterday the Lord was offered various items. One other type of offering is offering one’s own self. By pleasing the Lord, you will feel satisfied.” he insisted that Krishna Consciousness has to be taken seriously. “It is easy to go to heavenly planets when we do a little devotional service, but we may miss the golden period, the period of 10,000 years if we go to any heavenly planet. So now you have to take the mercy of Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda and make use of the opportunity”. He then narrated a past time of Lord Gauranga and His naughtiness as a child and how He thus convinced his parents to send him to school soon after which Gauranga Mahaprabhu became a very great scholar. The second initiations went on till 11.30 p.m. after which he took dinner and then rest.

BY LO TERN CHERN

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: THESTAR

BUTTERWORTH - Thousands of Hindu devotees came for the opening of the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple of Devotion and Under­standing in Seberang Jaya, which is billed as the country’s grandest Krishna temple.

The pinnacle of the day-long ceremony yesterday was the Kumbha Abhiseka, which saw holy water sprinkled from the top of the temple onto devotees after a series of prayers.

Temple co-president Kalesha Dasa Lim said the opening ceremony coincided with the 50th anniversary of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness’ (ISKCON) founding in the United States.

Among the devotees present was Universiti Malaya’s senior lecturer of linguistics Dr Sridevi Srinivass who came by bus with her three children and members of Iskcon Teluk Pulai in Klang, Selangor.

“The opening ceremony was so grand. It’s a temple like no other,” she said, claiming that the temple focused more on original Hinduism that dated back to more than 5,000 years ago.

The ceremony began at 6 a.m. with teachers and students from the Iskcon’s international school at its headquarters in Mayapur, West Bengal in India, performing rituals at the three-storey octagonal-shaped temple.

There were also fire rites and prayers followed by the bathing ceremony of Lord Krishna and the sanctifying of the three chakras.

The RM7mil temple, which took six years to build, features 16 ornate pavilions with three main Puti style towers and two glass skylight pyramidal domes.

Buildings located within its grounds are the Bhaktivedanta Cultural Centre that organises Food-For-Life distribution programmes and a variety of community, welfare and religious services.

There is also the Bhaktivedanta Multi-Purpose and Cultural Hall, which is a four-storey building with a 464.5 sq m hall and performance stage.

The temple is touted to be the first Hindu temple in the country to have 16 chatris (ornate dome-shaped pavilions), two octagon skylight domes and three main shikara domes.

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My dad used to be a monk. Actually, he used to be a religious leader of the Hare Krishnas. Then one day he decided to get married to my mom and we’ve been living in a Philadelphia suburb for the past sixteen years. I knew my dad held some fondness for his experience as a Hare Krishna, but I could also see there was some unspoken pain. He rarely spoke about his past. Then one day he and my mom sat me down in the living room. “Elizabeth - ” my mom began. I cocked an eyebrow. She only used that name when I broke curfew or had left dirty dishes in the sink. A long silence stretched out and I saw her eyes shine with tears. “Mom?” I said in disbelief. Mom never cried. Then fear began to creep in. “What happened?” “Your father has bone cancer.” My face drained of blood. “Stage four. Your father has requested that we all go to India to a holy land near Calcutta.” “What? What about treatment?” I turned to my dad, who was pale, his face tight. “How can you give up?” “It’s bad, honey,” was all my dad said. I just sat there, staring…

Sadbhuja Das: The main dome stainless steel superstructure is now completed ! This was a major undertaking for the ToVP. (Album with photos)
We can admire it’s perfect roundness, every segments fits like a glove. This is a task that hasn’t been accomplished anywhere else in the world.
We would like to thank Mr Chaudhuri, our senior engineer, in making every single section perfect.
Now the next phase is to add the Kalash and the Chakra , another major feature that must be done perfectly. Let’s pray that we succeed in this also.
See them here: https://goo.gl/nNvYWh

Hare Krishna! 10 Million Watched Mayapur Devotees
An International party from ISKCON Mayapur went on TV two times in less than 1 month. Their presentation shacked the whole West Bengal and the other states of India as well as the outside countries. The Zee Bangla TV, is part of the Zee Entertainment Enterprises that owns 46 different channels in 169 countries. The devotees’ Show was broadcasted at least two times. One time it was broadcast on the day before the Jaladuta Yatra in Kolkata and the second time was on the independence day of India, 12th and 15th August respectively. “We are not artists, even though some of our group members are talented musicians our intention was never to become famous. We consider ourselves humble servants in Srila Prabhupada’s mission, but the Art Director of the “ SA RE GA MA PA” music show liked our kirtan and created a spectacle with us.” Says Nitya Kishor dasi, one of the core members of the group.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19489

Completely Satisfied (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The Bhakti Sangam Festival in Ukraine concluded as it began; with endless kirtan, Krsna katha and prasadam.The hearts of the Vaisnavas were completed satisfied.
See them here: https://goo.gl/Dgp2op

Mother Kaulini, dear disciple of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada, is currently spending her final days on this earth in the loving association of the Gita Nagari devotees and even her beloved cows.
First Radha-Damodara showed up at Mother Kaulini’s cabin and then next the ox. She said she would like to see him, so the ox came right into the house! Most incredible moment. Mother Kaulini was beaming. Most grateful for that special moment with her, such a great soul, mother, surrendered Vaisnava.
Please offer your prayers and blessings for her smooth onward journey!

Hare Krishna! Sannyasa The Final Vow
Here is the new documentary about the significance of taking Sannyas Vow in Vaishnava Tradition explained by the prominent spiritual leaders of ISKCON. The documentary focuses on the inner journey of HH Krishna Kshetra Swami when he decides to take Sannyasa Initiation which will be his final vow. Made by Gour Govinda das and Suravarya das with the guidance of HH Sacinandana Swami and HH Krishna Kshetra Swami. The movie is dedicated to His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada the Founder-Acarya of ISKCON.
Watch it here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19486

Srimad Bhagavatam Class 07 01 43 by HG Karbhajan Prabhu at ISKCON Juhu on 16 May 2015

Hare Krishna! The Double Chackra
Chackra is a strategic weapon which allows the military phalanx to break into the inner section of the enemy’s army where the King or prince of the opposing army would be located. These wheels or chackras were protecting the marks men (precision archers) from the arrows of opposing army. When the marks-man got in the range of 100 meters from the King or prince, he was in the proper distance to shoot. The chackras were all around the marks-man to deflect the arrows aimed at marks-man while he was approaching the King or the main general. Thousands of years ago in Vedic India the Kings and princes were powerful warriors called maha-rathis and if during the war they got killed by the opposing army, the war was over.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19482

Seattle Ratha Yatra & Flavors of India Festival (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Even if one is sinful and cannot give up sinful life immediately, if he chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra with devotion and faith he will certainly be freed from all sinful activities, and his life will be successful. Param vijayate sri-krsna-sankirtanam. This is the blessing of Lord Ramachandra, who has appeared in this age of Kali as Lord Gaurasundara. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 9.10.51 Purport)
See them here: https://goo.gl/jFQEqV

Bhakti Sangam Festival in Ukraine (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “Although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age. It is that simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 12.3.51 Purport)
See them here: https://goo.gl/XpFrGn

“In whatever way we want to serve, we can pray to Lord Balarama to facilitate that service, because He serves in every possible way. And apart from the external features of the service, there is the mood of the service, which is most important. We should pray to serve without any false ego or ulterior motive, but with a pure heart, simply to please Lord Krishna and His devotees.” —Giriraj Swami——————————————————————————————————

Balarama Jayanti, Abhay
Balarama Jayanti, Radhika
Balarama Jayanti, Various Devotees
Balarama Jayanti, Giriraj Swami

Question: I’ve asked many devotees why they have sikhas and they all don’t seem to know exactly why… is there any scripture behind why? I couldn’t find any. All I found was a bunch of statements as to why without scriptural support.

The shikha is a symbol of Vedic culture, a.k.a “Varṇāśrama Dharma.” These days it is a custom mainly observed only by brahmaṇas (perhaps because they seem to have the most to gain by reminding people about what they consider Varṇāśrama Dharma?). [A Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Klaus K. Klostermaier, ISBN 1-85168-175-2]

In most ancient cultures, children have a pre-pubescent hairstyle shaving most, but not all of the hair from the head. In Vedic culture this occurred at a special ceremony (cudakarma saṁskāra) at the age of three. Cutting hair at this age symbolizes encouraging the child to establish a firm identity distinct from its mother. The hair which was left since birth (and was therefore connected with being in the mother’s womb) is shaved off, and new hair grows, symbolizing the emergence of the new individual.

As an extrapolation, shaving the head at some other time in life also symbolizes making a break from a former situation and developing new roots in a new situation. Hare Krishna’s use it in this manner – shaving the head disconnects the disciple from the former sense of identity, and allows them to establish a new identity as a member of the Krishna society, or, better, as a spiritual entity.

Why not Shave the Whole Thing?

Not all the hair is shaved. The reason is that it was considered dangerous to shave the crown of the head, since an important nadi (energy channel) flowed there, and shaving the hair at this point would disturb that channel.

Different clans had different styles. Atri and Kasyap clans keep two tufts, for example. Vasishta clans keep one.

Why KEEP Shaving it?

If this hairstyle is kept throughout life it shows extreme dedication to religious principles. This may be another reason why brahmaṇas (priests) adopted it far more than any others.

Should it be Tied in a Knot?

Disheveled hair is rude because it symbolizes neglect and therefore misfortune and “inauspiciousness,” so the shikha is kept tied except in times of mourning (during which it is appropriate to neglect ones appearance).

Is it Only for Men?

The ritual is not reserved for males, but over time it has become more popular among males and today definitely carries the conventional connotation of being a “male thing.” In ISKCON, for example, it would be very, very unconventional to see a woman with a śikha.

What Does the Word Literally Mean?

The word śikha simply means “summit.” The crown of the head is the summit of the body, the highest point. That’s why it is called a śikha. Some claim that Bhāgavatam 6.8.8 refers to the necessity of having a śikha but this is a context-abusive interpretation. In context, the śikha mentioned in this verse is simply the top of the head.

Does it allow God to pull you to heaven?

No. When you die your body rots or is burned or eaten. Your body doesn’t go to “heaven” – so it doesn’t matter if it has a convenient “handle” or not. Nor does God really need to “reach down” to grab you. He is, after all, in your core as paramātmā, not over your head as Zeus on a mountaintop.

This is really a ridiculous idea.

Is it a Vaiṣṇava Symbol?

It’s a symbol of Vedic culture, which includes Vaiṣṇava culture among its many branches.

Among Śrī Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s followers, some had śikha, some did not. Mahāprabhu himself did not keep a śikha. While married, he kept long hair. When he accepted sanyassa he shaved his head entirely, because that was the tradition in the sect from which he received sannyasa (a monistic sect, with the complete shaving symbolizing rejection of everything including traditions).

Then why do Hare Krishna / ISKCON Devotees Make a Big Deal of It?

Much of ISKCON culture is rooted in practices established by Śrī Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī, the guru of ISKCON’s founder. In his religious organization, the Gauḍīya Maṭh, He established several practices which loudly proclaimed Vaiṣṇava’s to be equivalent to brahmāṇas, regardless of their birth caste. One of these practices was giving the “sacred thread” (a thread worn over the left shoulder) to his disciples. Another was shaving their heads with śikha. Both of these, thread and śikha, had over time come to be considered symbols of only the brahmana caste (when in truth they are appropriate for any member of a Vedic Varṇāśrama culture). Indeed, in ISKCON the thread is usually referred to as a “brahmaṇa’s thread” – though the correct term for it is upavīta (meaning a pseudo-clothing, an abbreviated form of clothing), or  yajña-upavīta (something to wear to a religious ceremony so that you are not entirely barechested).

In any case, by giving thread and śikha to his disciples of various castes, Bhaktisiddhānta made a huge, controversial social and spiritual statement: “Vaiṣṇavas are automatically as good as brahmaṇas.”

Śrīla Prabhupāda carried over those practices into ISKCON.

As an aside: ISKCON’s use of saffron cloth and the prominence of varṇa and especially āśramas (particularly brahmacārī and sannyāsa) in the context of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Sādhana-Bhakti is also a result of Bhaktisiddhānta’s socio-spiritual statements.

As Vena’s son began the final horse-sacrifice for the Master of Sacrifice, envious Indra stole the sacrificial animal, unseen by anyone. Only powerful Atri could see Indra fleeing into the sky, armored in the disguise of being a spiritualist, thus marring a religious image with an immoral deed. Atri showed Pṛthu’s son what was going on, and said, “Kill him!” The heroic son became furious and chased Indra, commanding, “Halt! Stand and fight!”

But when he got close, he was baffled by Indra’s religious disguise: his hair was knotted in dreadlocks, and ash was all over his skin. Out of sentiment towards the appearance of religiosity, Pṛthu’s son could not loose his arrows.

Atri shouted, “Kill him, my dear! He may be the great king of heaven, but he is the most debased of all the wise gods for he has disrupted a sacrificial ceremony!”

Indra again fled, and Pṛthu’s son again furiously chased him – like Jatāyu chasing Rāvaṇa. To escape, the king of heaven had to disappear, giving up his disguised form and thus losing the horse.

Seeing Pṛthu’s heroic son return to his father with the animal, Atri and the foremost sages granted him the name Vijitāśva – “Horse-winner.”

With a powerful golden chain, the priests tied the horse to a post near the pile of firewood, but Indra cast the entire arena into pitch darkness and somehow stole the horse again. Again Atri alone could see what was happening, and showed Vijitāśva that Indra was fleeing into the sky with the horse. Again Vijitāśva chased Indra, and again, when he got close he was baffled by Indra’s disguise and could not kill the thief. This time Indra had assumed the form of a mystic carrying a skull and staff.

Again Atri encouraged Vijitāśva to kill the theif, and again, when Vijitāśva set his arrow upon the bowstring, Indra disappeared – forced to give up his disguise and abandon the horse. Once again the hero returned to his father with the recovered horse.

Humans thought Indra very clever and were impressed by the efficacy of his strategy to use religious symbols as a shield for selfish deeds. Since then, many fools also disguise themselves with spiritual trappings to trick the masses into forgiving or permitting their shameful deeds. The forms Indra adopted in his scheme to steal the horse are therefore considered symbols (khaṇḍa) of evil, and people who adopt these forms for shameful reasons are considered “exploiters of symbols” (pākhaṇḍa or pāṣaṇḍa).

This is the origin of religious hypocrisy, and the beginning of religion’s decline into pseudo-religion.

Indra assumed and cast off several forms in his attempt to spoil Pṛthu’s ceremony by stealing the final horse. Humans tend to exploit these same religious symbols: they pretend to be spiritualists just by walking around naked, or wearing saffron cloth, or carrying staves and skulls, or not caring about their appearance, or by using lots of fancy, philosophical words.

Realizing this, the blessed and renowned Pṛthu became very angry at Indra, and took up his bow and arrows.

After the Kirtan Festival in Spain, Kadamba Kanana Swami travelled to Sweden (25-28 August). During his short visit, Maharaj did programs everyday. On 27 August, two devotees received initiation and their names are now Anuradha Sevanandi dd and Gunacuda dd. Photos and recordings are presented below.

Photos 

Courtesy of Uffe Oberg 

Visit Flickr to see more photos

Audio 

Courtesy of Nama-rupa dd

KKS_SWE_HKC_25August2015_BG_6.26

KKS_SWE_HKC_25August2015_Evening_Bhajan

KKS_SWE_NRK_26August2015_SB_3.6.5

KKS_SWE_HKC_26August2015_Evening_Bhajan

KKS_SWE_HKC_26August2015_Jhulan_Yatra_Lecture

KKS_SWE_NRK_27August2015_SB_3.6.6

KKS_SWE_HKC_27August2015_Evening_Bhajan

KKS_SWE_HKC_27August2015_Initiation_Lecture

KKS_SWE_HKC_August2015_Bhajan_Jaya_Radha_Madhava

Recordings from Slovakia

KKS_Slovakia_14July2015_Kirtan

KKS_Slovakia_14July2015_Lecture

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Iskcon Osaka Harinama (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The mango fruit is different from the name of the mango. One cannot taste the mango fruit simply by chanting, “Mango, mango, mango.” But the devotee who knows that there is no difference between the name and form of the Lord chants Hare Krishna, and realizes that he is always in Krishna’s company. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 10.2.36 Purport)
See them here: https://goo.gl/Ybr4YE

Hare Krishna! Grand opening for RM7mil temple
The pinnacle of the day-long ceremony yesterday was the Kumbha Abhiseka, which saw holy water sprinkled from the top of the temple onto devotees after a series of prayers. Temple co-president Kalesha Dasa Lim said the opening ceremony coincided with the 50th anniversary of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness’ (Iskcon) founding in the United States. Among the devotees present was Universiti Malaya’s senior lecturer of linguistics Dr Sridevi Srinivass who came by bus with her three children and members of Iskcon Teluk Pulai in Klang, Selangor. “The opening ceremony was so grand. “It’s a temple like no other,” she said, claiming that the temple focused more on original Hinduism that dated back to more than 5,000 years ago.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19477

Our eternal father (7 min video)
As a lost son of a rich man gets all his problems solved by meeting his father, all our desires are fulfilled when we re-unite with our eternal father - Lord Sri Krsna. Let us see a deep discussion on this topic with our kids.
Watch it here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19474

Balarama Jayanti festivities in Iskcon New Zealand (Album with photos)
See them here: http://goo.gl/0eZ3Hb

Balarama Jayanti celebration at Iskcon temple Prabhupad-Bhavan of Czech Republic (Album with photos)
See them here: https://goo.gl/5F3cjv

Hare Krishna! ISKCON a beacon of peace across the globe: Har Governor
Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki today hailed the role played by International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) for being a “beacon of peace across the globe”, even when governments and big organisations fail to put an end to global terrorism. Speaking on the occasion of the foundation stone laying ceremony of Shri Krishna-Arjuna temple being built by ISKCON at Jyotisar in the district, Solanki said that this was the first time that a temple dedicated to both Lord Krishna and Arjuna was being built, an official release said. It was on this holy land of Kurukshetra that Lord Krishna had delivered the celestial message of Bhagvad Gita to Arjuna, he said. To get inner peace in life, a person would have to pursue the message of the Bhagvad Gita, he said, adding, “This temple will teach us that all devotees should be like Arjuna.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19470

Yesterday’s grand opening, made the national papers here!

Ratha Yatra Festival in Leipzig, Germany (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “O Lord,” the demigods say, “the impersonalists, who are nondevotees, cannot understand that Your name is identical with Your form.” Since the Lord is absolute, there is no difference between His name and His actual form. In the material world there is a difference between form and name. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 10.2.36 Purport).
See them here: https://goo.gl/ZAnpBZ

Balarama Purnima at New Govardhana, San Diego. August 29, 2015 (Album with 57 HR photos)
See them here: https://goo.gl/6BlMRt

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