Planet ISKCON

The value of wearing saris and dhotis in the execution of our devotional activities
Hari Sauri: Its a fact that devotional life, in its essence, is not dependent on anything external. Surely our aim is to simply purify our existence by chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra and thus go back to Godhead. Chanting can be done in any place, time or circumstance-there are no hard and fast rules. I agree with this, if this is the argument.
However since we are not situated on the platform of pure devotional service and we are not absorbed in the holy name to the exclusion of all things external, we have to be careful how we apply this in practice.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=4817

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ORIGINAL ARTICLE: THESTAR

A TOTAL of 3,000 copies of the Hindu holy scripture — Bhagavad Gita were handed over to all 28 Tamil vernacular schools in Penang.

Copies of the holy book were given to the primary schools in an effort to educate the young about the values in life to achieve unity and peace in the world.

The event was organised by Global Integrated Transcendental Association (GITA) of Penang.

Its president Madhusudan Das said through this event, the pupils would have the opportunity to learn anddiscover more about the Bhagavad Gita.

“Besides these Tamil schools, we will also hand out copies of the Bhagavad Gita to other educational institutions, libraries and participants of ongoing programmes by GITA.

“We aim to distribute 5,000 copies by the end of the year,” he said at the opening of the Penang Tamil schools’ GITA Programme at Komtar in George Town on Saturday.

He added that the copies, which were given out were in English and Tamil.

Madhusudan said GITA would hold a Gita Champion League, which would be a statewide competition on the reciting of the Bhagavad Gita.

“This competition, which will be held both in English and Tamil, is to encourage students to read the holy book and to understand it,” he added.

Details of the competition will be announced at a later date.

State Youth and Sports, Women, Family and Community Development Committee chairman Chong Eng, who was present at the ceremony, said good values were important for a community.

“Everyone can own the holy book, but it is more important to put in the effort to learn what is in the book and to follow it,” she said.

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BY DERRICK VINESH

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: THESTAR

SEBERANG JAYA - When His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada visited Malaysia in 1971, he had a vision for a Krishna temple to be built in Penang.

The founder of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) had then drawn a rough sketch of the temple and left instructions for the devotees here to follow.

It was quite a tall order but the devotees will soon see the fruits of their labour when the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple of Devotion and Understanding in Bandar Seberang Jaya officially opens on Aug 29.

The grand three-storey octagonal-shaped temple will 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.

ISKCON national general secretary Simheswara Dasa said although the devotees here were 44 years late, they were happy to finally fulfil the wishes of the late Swami Prabhupada who died in 1977.

“The main temple building is now 95% complete, leaving only work on the installation of sound systems, air-conditioning units, lightings, fittings, paintwork, landscaping and roadwork yet to be done,” he added.

He said the RM7mil temple, which saw its groundbreaking in 2009, was designed after India’s Jagannath temple in Puri and Krishna Balaram temple in Vrindavan.

“The 100ft-tall temple’s sculpture and ornamental decorations by 14 artisans from India is one of its kind in the world with 12 lions sitting on top of the shikara domes rising up to 80ft,” he said in an interview.

Simheswara, who is also the building committee chairman, said the vedic-friendly temple’s main prayer hall on the first floor would have deities Lord Krishna and Radha placed on a grand Balinese teakwood altar and placed under the main domes.

He said the prayer hall could accommodate up to 1,000 devotees at any one time, adding that 10 statues depicting the incarnations of Lord Krishna would also be placed within the temple.

He said there would be a separate kitchen to cook food offerings for the deities as well as a room to keep a wardrobe of attires for the deities.

The statues of deities Jegannath, Baladeva and Subadhra would be put up in the prayer hall later on.

“The temple’s mezzanine floor would feature a Srila Prabhupada Gallery while the ground floor would have an auditorium to run audio visual presentations and an exhibition of Lord Krishna’s incarnations,” Simheswara said.

He said the committee had so far raised RM5mil for the temple construction and hoped to raise the remaining RM2mil through various fundraising events and sponsorship.

Building project vice-chairman Kalesha Dasa said a RM3mil multipurpose hall was being jointly developed with the main temple building while a RM1.5mil education and cultural centre was completed in 2004.

He said the four-storey multipurpose hall would have an open dining hall to run the movement’s food-for-life free vegetarian food programme, 10 guest rooms, a viewing gallery and a performance stage.

The three-storey cultural centre will house a restaurant, gift and bookshop, childcare centre, meeting rooms and education centre.

“We are expecting over 10,000 people during the temple’s opening-cum-installation of deities ceremony at 10am on Aug 29.

“They include devotees from India, China, US, Australia, England, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines and Africa.

“The temple’s opening will also coincide with the 50th anniversary of ISKCON’s founding in the US,” Kalesha said, adding that 20 priests from the International School of Vedic in Mayapur, India, would lead the ceremonies.

For details, call Simheswara (012-3798743), the temple office (04-3808897) or visit the movement’s website at www.iskconmalaysia.com or e-mail srktdu@gmailcom.

BY HARRIENA BHARDWAJ

SEBERANG JAYA - Best wishes from the Prime Minister of India in regards to ‪ISKCON's 50th Anniversary. Jai Srila Prabhupada!

BY HARRIENA BHARDWAJ

SEBERANG JAYA - The Mandala-Abhisegam Ubhayam is a prayer held daily for the next 48 days after the opening, whereby individuals or groups can sponsor for a day to benefit the deities of the temple, and also have prayers and a feast conducted for their well-being. 

If anyone wishes to make a sponsorship for any particular day, please do not hesitate to contact us, and we will make arrangements accordingly.

Dates start on the 30th August, and runs till the 16th October.

BY HARRIENA BHARDWAJ

SEBERANG JAYA - The BCC Youths will be in Little India, this Saturday! Come and meet them at Penang as they promote the GRAND OPENING of Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple of Devotion and Understanding:

Guru puja ceremony in Mayapur (2 min video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/zD8zb7

BY GOLOKA CANDRA DASA

KUALA LUMPUR - Ksirosuka Prabhu, a disciple of HH Jayapataka Swami and who served at Sri Jagannatha Mandir in Kuala Lumpur for many years as a resident devotee, quit his body on 08AUG2015 at about 01:50am in Temerloh GH while surrounded by his family members who chanted the Hare Krishna mahamantra and recited the Bhagavad-gita.

Earlier in the afternoon ISKCON Malaysia secretary Simheswara Prabhu visited him, accompanied by Janagan Prabhu, I and my son Rama. We chanted the mahamantra. Simheswara Prabhu delivered a short voice message conveying blessings from  HH Jayapataka Swami which Ksirosuka Prabhu's son-in-law Balabhadra Krsna Prabhu played close to his ear. Simheswara Prabhu informed Balabhadra Prabhu and the family members that it is very auspicious for a person who is about to leave the body if GoSeva (feeding, caring and serving the cows) is performed on his behalf.

After chanting for an hour or so, we took leave of Ksirosuka Prabhu and his family and had to return to KL because of a scheduled meeting  on the various services and booths to be manned by out-station devotees  during the new temple opening in Seberang Jaya on 29AUG2015.  Aelinda Hoh mataji, who has been visiting Ksirosuka Prabhu almost daily, then arrived at the hospital. She drove Balabhadra Prabhu to the nearest ISKCON farm in Lanchang where they fed the cows with papayas, bananas, gur (cane sugar) and grass.

The rest of the family -- wife, son Suresh, daughters Subha Janani and Anita matajis and grand-daughter Tulasi -- kept vigil at Ksirosuka Prabhu's bedside through the night. When his heavy breathing off the respirator gradually slowed down, Subha Janani mataji served him a few more drops of caranamrita and chanted the mahamantra softly into his ear. Finally the breathing stopped and Ksirosuka Prabhu, 71, quit the body serenely. 

Since most of the relatives are in the north, the family decided to perform the last rites at the home of Balabhadra and Subha Janani at 23 Jalan Kalui, Seberang Jaya, 13700 Prai. Balabhadra Prabhu accompanied the body in the hospital ambulance to Penang today. The funeral is scheduled tomorrow Sunday 09AUG2015 in the afternoon.

Ksirosuka Prabhu, an ex-Telekom technician, joined Sri Jagannatha Mandir in KL as a resident devotee during the time when the late Uttama Caitanya Prabhu was the temple president. A man of many skills, Ksirosuka Prabhu served the temple in many capacities: as pujari, preacher (he used to conduct home programs in Ampang), cook, book distributor, gardener, wireman, plumber, carpenter etc -- all as unpaid volunteer.  His van was also utilised in temple service.

When Uttama Prabhu passed away in 2009, Ksirosuka Prabhu was devastated but he continued to stay on in the temple ashrama and continued to perform his services voluntarily. However the new management (who succeeded Uttama Prabhu) asked him to move out from the ashrama and Ksirosuka Prabhu returned to his Ampang home. There he met with an unfortunate accident. While doing some repair on the rooftop of his house, he fell through and broke his spine. The one-time temple pujari-cum-handyman who was always active in service, became  confined to a wheelchair in his home.  

After ISKCON acquired the 400-acre farm in Lanchang, Ksirosuka Prabhu expressed his desire to move to the farm and render some menial service with his hands. Simheswara Prabhu kindly accepted his request and accomodated him in the farm's guest bungalow and later built a separate home for him on the farm. Ksirosuka Prabhu spent the last years of his life in this farmhouse where he had the opportunity to chant the mahamantra peacefully.

Ksirosuka Prabhu had requested that his ashes be sprinkled in Mother Ganga flowing nearby ISKCON headquarters in Sridhama Mayapur, India, where he has made many pilgrimages to in the past. HG Ksirosuka Prabhu ki jai!

Ireland Tour in Belfast (Album with photos)
The final week of the Ireland tour was spent at Belfast Temple, advertising as usual through postering, flyering and Harinam and on the Sunday we had the privilege to cook the Sunday feast for the devotees. After a very blissful week, the festival day was a fantastic finale to the tour. The hall was full and the final Kirtan had everybody up on their feet. A huge thank you to all the devotees at Belfast temple and to everybody involved. Jai Radha Madhava! Jai Srila Prabhupada!
See them here: https://goo.gl/eMLATO

BY HARRIENA BHARDWAJ

SEBERANG JAYA - Look up now and this is what you see. Look up again the next time, and be blown away. Only 3 weeks to go! Are you ready??

BY SIMHESWARA DASA

KUALA LUMPUR -  I am happy to announce that we will.be launching the ISKCON 50th anniversary 60 sen stamps by the Malaysian postal office, Pos Malaysia on the 29th August at the Sri Sri Radha Krishna temple opening in Seberang Prai, Penang.

Preparations for Sri Sri Radha Govardhanadhari 36th Installation Festival (Album with photos)
ISKCON New Govardhana - Sri Sri Radha Govardhanadhari
See them here: https://goo.gl/gtO0OX

At the end of chapter 66 in Krsna Book, Prabhupada says that anyone who hears this pastime with faith and attention will be released from all reactions to sinful activities. What does this mean? Am I really released from all of my past sinful reactions?

The post Visakha asks from Krsna-book appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Never Ending Preaching! (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: After a two-day break we’re back on the Baltic Sea coast for one more month of harinam and festival programs. It seems like it never ends … and I pray it never will.
See them here: https://goo.gl/VVrJcm

Hare Krishna! HH Niranjana Swami in Istanbul
In 3 programs we had total of 90 guests. Maharaja was first day talking about Sannyasa Yoga and he was reading from Bhagavad Gita 6th chapter. Maharaja was explaining how yoga is done as tapasya and the relationship between eightfold yoga system and bhakti yoga in a very simple way that even first time comers could understand it perfectly. I don’t need to mention about kirtans since we all know how Maharaja’s kirtans. We were chanting as if we were above clouds, not touching to the ground. Second day program Maharaja introduced Sri Hari Namastakam prayers to the Turkish audience. He was explaining prayers with full of emotions by remembering passing of HH Sridhara Swami in Mayapur in 2004.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18870

Malaysia releases a stamp to honor Srila Prabhupada on the 50th anniversary of visiting USA. Srila Prabhupada traveled to the western countries on the mission of the Lord and preached Krishna consciousness all over the world! Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

Iskcon Kanyakumari: 1360 Bhagavad Gita distributed at SMRV School (Album with photos)
In SMRV school today we distributed 1360 Bhagavad Gitas to all the students in the auspicious presence of Their Lordships Sri Sri Gaura Nitai. It was wonderful occassion. There was little kirtan and ten mins speech followed by giving Bhagavad Gita to the students.
See them here: https://goo.gl/yKc5Lc

Hare Krishna! TOVP: Sandstone Arches for Temple Windows
Sandstone is a material that will meet the required standards of strength and aesthetics for some of the TOVP construction. Decorative sandstone units will enclose the two base floors of the Temple. Each unit in pink sandstone will be comprised of a framework, a jali, and an arch at the top flanked by two columns housing the windows on the Pujari floor. The surface of the arch which you see in the pictures are embellished with carvings in the Art Nouveau style. There will be 32 such units running on all three sides of the Planetarium and Narasimhadev wing. These units are currently being manufactured at Buddharam Stone Industries in Jaipur, India, with meticulous attention to detail and periodic review by the TOVP architects.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18867

Hare Krishna! Ratha yatra festival at Bantul, Indonesia.
A cultural carnival was held at Bantul city, Jogyakarta, Indonesia, on July 25 this year commemorating its 284 anniversary. Traditional cultural performances starting from dances exhibiting attractive costumes and social life were performed in the carnival. Groups of traditional artists from 17 districts in Bantul participated and presented their performances in front of the crowd at the parade starting from Trirenggo field to Masjid Agung (Great mosque). The committee of the anniversary also invited the Nrayana smirti Asram, the local ISKCON preaching centre, to participate in the carnival.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18864

Ray Cappo / Raghunatha Dasa is one of the best frontmen ever. There is no doubt about it. I say so enthusiastically in my book, while describing the first time I ever saw Youth of Today.

What made Ray a great frontman was his exceptionally outgoing charisma and unparalleled ability to control and rally the crowd like a real leader. This has nothing to do with skill as a musician. In fact, being a great frontman for a hardcore punk band has little do to with being a great musician.

No one is the best at everything – even uncommonly great people like Ray / Raghunatha. Everyone has shortcomings, but I love many people anyway – including Ray, certainly – sometimes even because of their flaws, which are somehow endearing or inspiring in the overall picture. The moon has spots on it, but its still the most beautiful thing in the sky – in some ways even because of the spots.

God knows I’m a walking bucket overflowing with flaws and fuckups. God knows I’m not the best at everything, perhaps not even at anything. But it seems there are some things I am relatively good at, and good for. And I’m pretty sure that’s the way it is for everyone.

A lot of people flipped when I “insulted” Ray’s musicianship in this part of the story. If it is truly “envious” or an “insult” to say that Zack was a much better musician than Ray – then you all might as well just cross me off your Christmas card lists, with heavy black ink, because I’m sure I will sooner or later “insult” all of you, since no one is perfect. You might as well lock me up in the “envious insulter’s prison” without need for further trial. I plead guilty, since I don’t see how its even possible, short of sheer willful illusion, to like EVERYTHING about a person and ignore any and all shortcomings.

Why even write about this topic in the first place, many have asked. Why is it even important if Ray is as good a musician as Zack?

First of all, I have to write about it because it’s one of the more significant issues a musician considers when deciding whether or not to leave a band with Zack and join a band with Ray (which is actually what the main topic of this part of my story, if anyone noticed). Second, I didn’t make a big deal out of it (it’s a sentence or two), you guys did by flipping out.

Everyone is certainly most entitled to their own opinion about which musicians are awesome and which musicians are mediocre. Objectively speaking, however, I think my opinion on this particular case is significantly more well informed than the rest of you, since (a) I’m a musician myself and (b) I think I may very well be the only musician on Earth who was actually in bands with both Ray and Zack. Therefore odds are that no one knows their relative musicianship better than I do.

Honestly, when I heard all the attempts to correct me for writing that Zack was a better musician than Ray, I couldn’t help thinking most of you are getting a bit old and losing that punk spirit that wasn’t afraid to say something halfway slightly controversial or confrontational. Maybe that’s something to be proud of? I’m not really sure. As for me, maybe writing this memoir has refreshed my punk spirit… or maybe I’m just a “Toys’R’Us Kid.”

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 June 2015, Gita Nagari, USA, Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.8)

This movement is not meant to be a comfort zone. It is not about having a nice-nice spiritual life.

“I have such a nice-nice spiritual life. I have such a nice-nice spiritual home with a nice-nice spiritual cat and nice-nice spiritual canary and a nice-nice spiritual geranium in front of the window which I water with maha-water every day.”

That is like, very nice! It is indeed a nice spiritual life and we are ready to appreciate that it is nice. But there could be more! There could be more. We could be revolutionary, like on the cutting edge of making a difference, making a change and providing answers to the world. The world has issues. The world has questions. The world is confused. They do not know what to do… It is up to us to step forward and speak out in so many ways!

Hare Krishna! Finding the Essence.
Anticipation and nervous excitement filled the atmosphere. It was the first day in the dissection room for the three hundred new medical students in my year. Entering the foyer area, we slipped into our white coats and prepared our surgical kits. The doors to the interior theatre swung open, and we were hit by an overwhelming smell of formaldehyde, the chief embalming agent. Inside lay fifty veiled cadavers, evenly spaced around a large white hall. Many of us, having not even attended a funeral before, were confronting a dead body for the first time in our lives.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18861

Mayapur; Food For Life Prasadam Distribution For 10000 Local People (Album with photos)
See them here: https://goo.gl/sGAQiu

Harinama Sankirtana in ISKCON Auckland, New Zealand (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: May the glorification of the transcendental name, form, qualities and paraphernalia of the Supreme Personality of Godhead protect us from the influence of bad planets, meteors, envious human beings, serpents, scorpions, and animals, like tigers and wolves. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.8.27)
See them here: https://goo.gl/yREyOp

Janmashtami 2015 preparation in ISKCON-Delhi (Album with photos)
See them here: https://goo.gl/iAQkQK

Bhakta John wants to know. Hmmm!

The post What is the difference between a brahmacari and a vyabhicari? appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

FOOD RELIEF FOR MAYAPUR NADIA FLOODING. 6:8:15 (Album with photos)
See them here: https://goo.gl/BYckX0