Planet ISKCON

Hare Krishna! Sumati Morarjee and Prabhupada’s Journey West
Satyaraja Dasa: Sumati Morarjee first saw Srila Prabhupada in the 1950s at Kurukshetra, where Lord Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gita. She later told an audience of his followers that he was sitting under a tree, chanting on beads. Sensing that he was a distinguished sadhu, she approached him, hoping to receive his blessings. At the time he hadn’t yet taken sannyasa, the renounced order of life, and was thus still a married man. Nonetheless, she was impressed with his humility and devotion, and she mentioned this to him when they met again in Bombay. By that time Prabhupada was a swami asking her for help in getting to America. He had met a gentleman named Mr. Agarwal, a Mathura businessman, and had mentioned that he wanted to go to the West to fulfill the order of his spiritual master to preach the message of Lord Chaitanya in English.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18632

Hare Krishna! Rameswaram Yatra
Rameswaram is situated at the extreme south end of India on the Gulf of Mannar. The island is in the shape of a conch shell, 55 km by 12 km. It is one of the most prominent holiest pilgrimage places in India. Srimad-Bhagavatam (canto 10 chapter 79 verses 16-17) states that Lord Balarama visited “Setubandha [Rameswaram]” in the course of His pilgrimage. Lord Caitanya also visited Rameswaram during His South India tour as mentioned in Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila Chapter 9 verses 199-209. Rameswaram is tropical island surrounded by coral reefs and sandy beaches with coconut palms and tamarind trees. It is a major centre of pilgrimage. The Sri Ramanathaswamy temple is one of the most important in India. It is a massive complex with a number of shrines, holy wells, gopurams, and several long hallways, one reaching 4000 feet in length, the longest in the world.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18620

Hare Krishna! Time and Again
Creation, maintenance, and destruction in the course of time are not features of the spiritual nature. The Upanishads say that before the creation there was no Brahma and no Siva, no sun, stars, or sky. There was only Vishnu, His expansions, and the pure souls who have no desire for a life separate from Him. With only Vishnu, and no Siva or Brahma, there is only maintenance, with no creation or destruction. Time exists in the spiritual nature without its destructive side, and without the type of creative side that is merely destruction’s necessary counterpart. And yet the spiritual nature is said to be full of activity, more so than its material reflection. Lord Vishnu and His devotee servants expand spiritually there to enrich, vary, and perpetually increase the pastimes of blissful loving devotion.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18617

Conversation with Manjari dd.

The post On some current thoughts questioning ISKCON’s cultural norms and dress appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

TOVP - Sadbhuja Das: The inside of the inner domes, main dome and Lord Nrsimhadeva’s, will have a coffered ceiling. Here we can see a full size prototype of the ceiling segment.
See the photos here: https://goo.gl/dc65Nm

TOVP: New Materials – Burmese Teak Wood for Windows and Doors
(Album with photos)
Teak wood is a naturally grown wood from Myanmar (previously Burma). This wood is known for its superb stability, good strength, easy workability, bug proof- and most of all, its outstanding resistance to decay. It basically last for ever.
Burmese teak wood is exported all over the world for its quality.
Sadbhuja Prabhu personally travelled to Myanmar to negotiate the best price and pick the best quality of wood.
This wood will be used for all windows and doors in the Temple.
This is the 2,600 years old Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon (Myanmar capital) where it is believed to hold eight hairs of Bhudda.
See them here: https://goo.gl/GlZ0aT

Berkeley’s 49th Ratha Yatra Festival 2015
The “Festival of the Chariots,” known throughout India as the “Ratha Yatra” festival, has been performed for thousands of years in Puri, India, and today it is celebrated in all major cities through out the world. More than 3,000 people attend each year in San Francisco alone.
Typically at this annual interactive parade, people pull three large chariots by ropes throughout Golden Gate Park, ending at Sharon Meadow on the corner of JFK Dr. and Stanyan Street around 1 pm for the Festival of India.
Look forward to a free vegetarian meal, live music, ancient Indian dances, exhibits, books, and more.
49th Annual Festival of the Chariots
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
– Parade Begins: 11 am (JFK & Transverse, GG Park)
– Festival: 1 pm (Sharon Meadow)
Read the entire article here: https://goo.gl/APzsA9

Hare Krishna! Iskcon 50th year anniversary – kindly help!
The Hon”ble Chief Minister of West Bengal (Ms. Mamata Banerjee) & UP (Mr. Akhilesh yadav), Governor of West Bengal, Ms. Kiran Bedi , the Secretary General of the United Nations Mr. Ban Ki Moon and host of other VVIP’s will be present for the occasion. We have ordered to make a sculptor of Srila Prabhupada boarding Jaladuta and alighting from Jaladuta for Kolkata and Boston by famous sculptor from Kiev, Ukrain. We are expecting that the Mayor of Boston to be present, and Mayor of Kolkata has confirmed his presence at the program. So the plan is that Mayor of Kiev will hand over the sculpture to Mayor of Boston (Hopefully he will confirm his participation) and Kolkata respectively. We are also working on to ship the Boston sculpture to be shipped to boston taking same route Srila Prabhupada took 50 years ago.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18612

The post Daily Darshan – July 24th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

6 Hours Kirtan by HG Agnidev Das on 12th July 2015 on Param Ekadasi at ISKCON Durban

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The post CC daily 173 – 6.257 – To appreciate a devotional rags-to-riches story, understand what the rags and riches are appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

The sleepy town of Kostrzyn is waking up with Woodstock just around the corner. So far only workers and artisans have arrived to set up the massive festival – still one week away – but colorful posters announcing the event decorate the town on every street corner. Krsna’s Village of Peace is also slowly taking [...]

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The post Bhagavatam-daily 277 – 11.13.10 – The mind’s oscillation keeps us in illusion appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

If public opinion were to gage the popularity of our festivals I’d like to think we’d get, “ten out ten.” Both on the streets when we do harinama and at the festivals, people show their appreciation with great enthusiasm. What more could a devotee ask for? “Incessantly they discuss the narrations of Sri Krsna ‘s [...]

“You mentioned that Pṛthu would ‘milk the earth,’” Vidura asked Maitreya. “The earth has so many forms, why would she chose to appear to Pṛthu as a cow? What sort of ‘milk’ did she give? Who was her calf? What did Pṛthu use as a milking pot?”

“You mentioned that Pṛthu would level the mountains to create smooth roads,” Vidura continued. “The very nature of the earth is to become mountainous, so how did Pṛthu manage to level her?

“You said that Indra stole the horse meant for Pṛthu’s hundredth and final horse-sacrifice. Why did Indra do this?

“You mentioned that Pṛthu gained transcendental knowledge from the blessed Sanat Kumāra, the greatest knower of spirituality. What knowledge did the philosopher-king gain? How did he realize it? What result did he achieve?”

In case Maitreya might wonder why he was so curious to learn more about Pṛthu, Vidura concluded by saying, “I am very eager to hear all these wonderful things, and more, because Pṛthu is a previous birth of my Prabhu, All-Attractive Krishna. So please tell me all about Transcendent Krishna who took the form of Vena’s son and milked the earth. I will listen attentively and with devotion.”

– Translated from
Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.17.3-7
An initial draft for part 4 of Beautiful Tales of the All-Attractive
by Vraja Kishor
VrajaKishor.com

Tagged: avataras, incarnations of krishna, prithu, prthu

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The post CC daily 173 – 6.259 – Diving deep into scripture is the life of transcendentalists appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Guest Speaker : His Grace Subhavilasa Prabhu
It has been over 40 years since he joined ISKCON. He saw devotees chanting on the streets in Toronto and was immediately attracted. He started going to the temple, which at that time in the late 60's was in a small house.He met Srila Prabhupada first time in Chicago.

Srila Prabhupada instructed him and Visvakarma Dasa to secure the current ISKCON Toronto temple and had the great fortune to assist Srila Prabhupada's mission in this manner.He used him as his instrument again to help secure the ISKCON Chicago temple where Sri Kishor Kishori reside today. There were many temple openings and festivals that he has been blessed to coordinate and be a part of in the early days of ISKCON.

After his brahminical initiation by Srila Prabhupada, he had the privilege to serve ISKCON in many ways including:

• Vice President of ISKCON Toronto in the 70's;
•  President of ISKCON Chicago in the early 80's;
•  Zonal Secretary for USA mid-west in the 80's; and 
•  GBC(Governing Body Commission) appointed him as Global  Coordinator for Community Relations in the 90's 

Snana Yatra schedule:
11:00 – 11:15   Tulsi Aarti
11:15 – 11:30   Guru Aarti
11:30 – 11:55   Aarti
11:55 – 12:00   Nrsingadev Prayer
12:00 – 12:10  Announcements and Kirtan
12:10 – 12:40  Abhishekam 
 1:00 –  1:30     Closing Kirtan
 1:30 _  2.00     Sanctified Free Vegetarian Feast 



ON GOING EVERY SUNDAY

To register,contact us
Email:sundayschool108@gmail.com
Call:647.893.9363

The Sunday School provides fun filled strategies through the medium of music, drama, debates, quizzes and games that present Vedic Culture to children. However the syllabus is also designed to simultaneously teach them to always remember Krishna and never forget Him.
The Sunday School follows the curriculum provided by the Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture (BCEC).

Gift Shop

Our boutique is stocked with an excellent range of products, perfect for gifts or as souvenirs of your visit. It offers textiles, jewellery, incense, devotional articles, musical instruments, books, and CDs inspired by Indian culture.We're open on all Sundays and celebrations marked in our annual calendar.

Please note that ISKCON Brampton is a peanut free environment in order to support those with allergies. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Chant and Be happy

Rupa Vilasa das, a doctor and Priya devi dasi, a pharmacist, are both from Fiji and have been living with their children in Australia for over ten years.

Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction email and I will be happy to make you a member:

rasa108 ::_::{.at.}::_:: gmail dot com

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Rasa Rasika dasa

In his new book Vanity Karma: Ecclesiastes, the Bhagavad-gita, and the Search for the Meaning of Life, ISKCON guru and BBT trustee Jayadvaita Swami explores the works that set him on his spiritual path in the hopes that they may help others on theirs. “Both books deal with questions crucial to the life of an intelligent human being,” he says.

The Lake shore city of Kenya – Kisumu, celebrated its annual Rath Yatra on the 18^th of July, coinciding with the Puri Rath Yatra, and "Idd-Ul-Ftr" (a local holiday). Taking advantage of the auspicious date, the Kisumu devotees organized the festival in less than a week.

North Sentinel Island, located in the Bay of Bengal, is home to an isolated tribe that has never been colonized or even made contact with.

Having found ourselves in the abyss of an ecological tragedy, the current inheritors of the earth are entitled to a moment of solemn reflection in which we wonder, “Am I really responsible?”

The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium is named as such because within its main dome it will house a 3-dimensional, moving model of the universe according to the Vedic scriptures. This explanation describes the planetary systems and all the universal contents to be in the shape of an incredible chandelier.

The walls of the temple in Durban, South Africa vibrated to the sounds of the holy name through a six-hour Kirtan Festival.

A permanent art gallery entitled “Walking with Srila Prabhupada – The Path of Perfection” is set to open on August 30^th in Malaysia in honor of the 50^th anniversary of the ISKCON Founder’s  arrival in the U.S. The gallery will open the day after the long-awaited second and third phases of Penang State’s Temple of Devotion and Understanding, which was first envisioned by Srila Prabhupada himself during a 1971 visit.

Hare Krishna! Rathayatra: When the Lord Comes Out, Let’s Invite Him In
While in Dwarka, Krishna heard about their love-afflicted plight. In amazement, His mouth fell open, His eyes became large, and His limbs became motionless and withdrew into themselves just as His consciousness withdrew from everything else to focus on His devotees. And Krishna became Jagannatha. The celestial sage Narada blissfully beheld this extraordinary form and begged the Lord to bless everyone with its divine darshana. His desire was fulfilled through a later king, named Indradyumna, whose haste-induced error turned out to be part of a divine plan, as narrated in the Skanda Purana and the Brahma Purana.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18609

Hare Krishna! Sri Jagannath Rath Yatra – A manifestation of the spirit of Vasudhaivam Kutumbakam
Jagannath Puri is one of the most important holy places of this planet. It was here where this Rath yatra originated and the date of origin goes back to Satya-yuga (beginning of cosmological era) as the temple was inaugurated around that time as per the scripture Skanda Purana. There is also information in other scriptures that mentions about Rath yatra being celebrated in 3rd century BC and credits it to King Pandyavijaya, a devotee of Lord from south India. But with reference to present age, one can say the Rath yatra of Lord Jagannath is going on since time immemorial and there is not much information available regarding the nature of celebrations during yore days.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18606

Hare Krishna! My Sources of Inspiration
I came to the United States in September of 2000 to pursue the great American dream. I was twenty-three, had just finished medical school in India, and had secured a residency spot with The Ohio State University Medical Center, one of the top internal medicine residency programs in the country. My apartment was but a few blocks away from the medical center, which I soon discovered was just across the street from an ISKCON temple. During my residency, I started visiting the temple regularly for pious association, prasada, and some peace from a hectic life of training. The devotees were nice; they never “preached” to me but always gave me prasada and encouraged me to join the kirtanas. Over time, I made friends with lots of devotees and slowly started relishing going to the temple. Then, in May 2003, something special happened. I overheard devotees talking about an upcoming festival at New Vrindavan, the ISKCON farm community in West Virginia.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18603

Hare Krishna! Miracle Day in Stockholm - Book Distribution with Maha-Harinam
A few amazing things happened during the book distribution, things which only happen when one is out of the mental platform, when the mind is not in between you and the person you meet. For example, there were two boys who bought books, they said they were from Dalarna County, and without any thinking I just exclaimed, “From Avesta?” “Yes”, they said, completely astonished. There was a living statue standing in Gamla Stan, with outstretched arms with slighly bent fingers in a graspable position. It looked so inviting, as if something was missing there, so I got inspired, couldn´t resist to place a Srimad Bhagavatam in the hands of her. Paramesvari devi dasi helped me with this delicate task.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18597

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 01 June 2015, New Govardhana, Australia, Caitanya Caritamrta Antya Lila 20.12)

Success on spiritual life does not depend only on our service. I would like to mention Srila Prabhupada’s Godbrother, Bhakti Vaibhav Maharaj, who used to visit us regularly every year for Srila Prabhupada’s Appearance Day. He spoke every year, commemorating Srila Prabhupada’s pastimes.

But the last time he came, he was very old, very weak and deeply absorbed in his own meditation. When he spoke, it was very short. He said, “Swamiji made you all vaisnavas. Vaisnavas are able to give blessings. Therefore, my request to all of you is to please bless me.”

And that was it! It was big credit to Prabhupada who made so many vaisnavas and vaisnavas are treasure houses who give blessings. At age ninety-three, a vaisnava in humility is realizing, “What service have I done? Actually, I need the blessings of all the vaisnavas.”

That is a fact. In the end, our service will not be enough. We need blessings of the vaisnavas. May we follow in the footsteps of the great personalities and also have the humility to look for the blessings of the vaisnavas.

Even bears and monkeys join the Sankirtana movement! (7 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: One is understood to be an eternal servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead if he considers himself a servant of the holy name and in this spirit distributes the holy name to the world. (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.16 Purport)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/i7gkL7

Teak wood is a naturally grown wood from Myanmar (previously Burma). This wood is known for its superb stability, good strength, easy workability, bug proof- and most of all, its outstanding resistance to decay. It basically last for ever.

Burmese teak wood is exported all over the world for its quality.

[See image gallery at tovp.org]

Sadbhuja Prabhu personally travelled to Myanmar to negotiate the best price and pick the best quality of wood.

This wood will be used for all windows and doors in the Temple.

[See image gallery at tovp.org]

This is the 2,600 years old Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon (Myanmar capital) where it is believed to hold eight hairs of Bhudda.

The post New Materials – Burmese Teak Wood appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Prabhupada’s 50th series.

The post Srila Prabhupada’s unswerving determination appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Simply Wonderful Harinam in Prague, Czech Republic (Album with photos)
Harinama sankirtana and book distribution are 2 sides of one arrow to hit the target of making people Krishna conscious. Srila Prabhupada had such an ambitious plan to change the world, because harer nam harer nama harer nama eva kevalam: “Harinama is the only way for spiritual perfection in this age.” But Prabhupada saw that people don’t have time, nor the inclination. This modern society makes the people into demons. So this simple life is very conducive for spiritual advancement.
See them here: https://goo.gl/g2QLoH