Planet ISKCON

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

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KKS_SWE_HKC_25August2015_Evening_Bhajan

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KKS_SWE_HKC_26August2015_Jhulan_Yatra_Lecture

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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)
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Balarama Jayanti celebration at Iskcon temple Prabhupad-Bhavan of Czech Republic (Album with photos)
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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)
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Answer Podcast:

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The post Did the presentation of bhakti evolve or even its definition evolve over time? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

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Bhagavatam class at Radha Kunjabihari temple, Pune
Lecture Podcast:

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Balaram Jayanti 2015 in Mayapur (Album with photos)
The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, is the fountainhead of all incarnations. Lord Balarama is his second body. They are both one and the same identity. They differ only in form. Balarama is the first bodily Balaramexpansion of Krishna, and He assists in Lord Krishna’s transcendental pastimes. He is the source of the entire spiritual world and is the adi-guru, the original spiritual master.
See them here: https://goo.gl/OBf4v8

Ratha Yatra at the Murwillumbah Banana Festival - 29 August 2015 (Album with photos)
See them here: https://goo.gl/oOrjBo

Krishna Janmashtami festival @ ISKCON New Delhi (Album with photos)
Ongoing daily “pandal” (tent) program attended by hundreds, followed by prasad distribution. Krishna-Lila drama by ISKCON New Delhi congregational devotees. Bhajan program as well. DCP - deputy commissioner of police - attended.
See them here: https://goo.gl/B7PCzT

Kumbh Mela Nasik 2015 (Album with photos)
HH Radhanath Swami & HH Lokanath Swami and HG Panchangrhri Prabhu Bathing at Ram Kund at Nasik on First Sahi Snan on 29th August 2015 Balaram Purnima.
See them here: https://goo.gl/aUOAP2

Bhaktivedanta Manor Veda Course October 2015
The residential Veda Course is designed for those wishing to gain a foundational understanding of bhakti-yoga. Over a period of three months, the following modules are covered: Theology and Philosophy, Devotional Practice and Vaishnava Culture.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19450

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

On the eastern course of River Sarasvatī is Manu’s sacred field, Brahmāvarta. There, King Pṛthu began performing one hundred horse-sacrifice rituals. Indra was the only other person who had successfully done this before. When he heard what Pṛthu was doing, he could not tolerate the possibility that someone else might excel his ritualistic accomplishments.

Indeed, he saw many signs that the king was already surpassing his glory. Most importantly, the ultimate aim of all rituals – Hari, the All-Attractive supreme master, soul of everyone, source of all power, and ultimate leader of all communities – literally and personally attended Pṛthu’s ceremonies. And he had not come alone! Brahmā and fearless Śiva accompanied him, as did the protectors of the world and all their followers. All of them created a grand kīrtan led by scholars, in which the singers and dancers of heaven performed. This company included all the celestial masters and scientists following Brahmā, the demons, anti-gods, and many other mysterious creatures following Śiva, and the most exalted associates of Hari, like Sunanda and Nanda. Among the scholars were Kapila, Nārada, and Dattātreya, powerful yogis like Sanaka, and many blessed beings enwrapped in the joy of Hari’s service.

Indra saw that Pṛthu would easily get all the opulence he needed to perform these hundred rituals more extravagantly than they had ever been performed before. The Earth Goddess, with her famous milk that grants all wishes, attended Pṛthu, producing everything the rituals required. Her abundant milk seeped into the ground, making the trees blossom with huge fruits, and drip with honey-sweet saps. It overflowed into the river, which seemed to flow with milks, creams, and yogurts. The milk-river brought extreme opulence to the lands it irrigated as it flowed to the ocean. The kings and citizens who lived along this flow came to the ceremonies bearing incredible gifts: heaps of jewels, and mountains of all sorts of food.

Jealous of the King’s unsurpassed wealth and devotion to Hari, which had caused He Who is Beyond Perception to personally appear before him, powerful and blessed Indra decided to interfere.

Hare Krishna! Inauguration of ISKCON 50 celebrations at ISKCON Punjabi Bagh
On 13th Aug’15, , the entire community of devotees at ISKCON Punjabi Bagh came together to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s Historic Jalduta Yatra. It officially marked the launch of ISKCON 50th Anniversary Celebration as well. It was an evening of expression of gratitude to Srila Prabhupada and about the opportunity we have for celebrating 50th Anniversary
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19447

Dublin Rath Yatra 2015 (Album with photos)
Celebrating Jagannath Rath Yatra – 29th August 2015
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Hare Krishna! WSN July 2015 - World Sankirtan Newsletter
In July, the biggest increase percentage-wise in the Large Temple category was Bhaktivedanta Manor’s score, an increase of 222%. It’s nice to note the Manor’s steady increase. I’m sure that Srila Prabhupada is pleased with the Manor devotees. The Manor was the last place he visited in the West, and many European devotees went there at that time to get his association and give him their good results in book distribution. Another surprise is that the No. 1 temple in the world is in the Small Temple category, which may be a first. Rupanuga Vedic College in Kansas is No. 1, with 31,046 book points: a 242% increase. This demonstrates that where there is teamwork, amazing things are accomplished. The RVC has seven books distributors traveling all over the USA. During the summers they do the WARP concert tours together, driving and distributing long hours. Very focused book distributors.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=19443

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