Krishna conscious festivals on the Baltic Sea of Poland began (Album with 86 photos)
Indradyumna Swami: This year we began our 28th annual summer festival tour in the town of Dzwirzyno, Poland on the Baltic Sea coast. It began auspiciously with numerous people approaching the harinam party thanking us for bringing the festival to the town again. The festival crowd was big, as always, and they thoroughly enjoyed our new stage dramas. So, one down and 39 more festivals to go!
See them here: https://goo.gl/8NJXSG

The post Has our devotion calcified and become lifeless? appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Kurma Rupa was born to Mexican parents and grew up in New York. At 21, he was drafted for the Vietnam War. “While I was in the army, I prayed for the first time in my life,” he recalls in the recent short film ‘My Part of the Bargain.’ “I prayed very intensely that, ‘My dear God, if you save me from having to go to war, then I will figure out how to serve you.’”

Gita Nagari, another one of Srila Prabhupada’s original farm communities/temples located in Port Royal, Pennsylvania, is home to the beloved Deities of Visnujana Swami, Sri Sri Radha Damodar.

These Deities traveled throughout North America many times in a Greyhound bus converted into a traveling temple, enjoying devotional festivals and the sweet kirtans of Visnujana Swami in cities across the country. They have been in Gita Nagari since the late 1970’s and continue to inspire whoever sees Them with Their mystical gaze.

We arrived in Gita Nagari from New Vrindaban on Friday, May 29th, Pandava Nirjala Ekadasi, only for a few hours to make a presentation at the weekend retreat there with Radhanath Maharaja and Giriraja Swami, attended by 300+ devotees from across the country. There was no time for an abhisheka or puspanjali for the Padukas and Sitari, and after setting up our banners and table, Radhanath Maharaja spoke about the TOVP, glorifying the project and requested devotees to give their financial assistance. Radha Jivan and Jananivas prabhus then spoke, further inspiring everyone. Devotees enthusiastically responded and the total pledges came to an amazing $765,000. All glories to Sri Sri Radha Damodar.

The post TOVP Daily Tour Diary Day 79 – Gita Nagari Retreat Stop appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Parents are the First Teachers - TKG Academy
Next, the study of mothers, leading up to Mother’s Day. Mother Nrtya Kisori spoke about the importance of respecting women in Vedic culture.
Mother Ananda Lila read from “Honor Thy Mother”, delineating the 7 mothers in Vedic culture.
The last parent-teacher for the session was Nityananda Chandra Prabhu. He enlivened the class with his beautiful stories about Go-Mata, the sacred Mother Cow.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/GPb33B

Rathayatra in Florence, Italy, June 27, 2015 (43 min HD video)
Srila Prabhupada: The letters of the holy name have so much spiritual potency that they act even when uttered improperly. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 3.59)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/gwEZuU

Hare Krishna! Krishna as King
Krishna is no ordinary ruler. Kings or presidents represent what is grand and powerful in this world. Yet even the finest and most awesome personality is only a small indication of the opulence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His very body is constituted of eternity, knowledge, and bliss. Though Krishna as Dvarakadhisha enjoys many sporting battles, He has no one to conquer and nothing to achieve, being always complete in Himself. He always knows exactly what to do in His regal duties in relationship to His citizens, ministers, and soldiers. His brows are never furrowed with the anxiety of diplomatic responsibilities. Though Krishna rules as an adult, He is in fact nava yauvanam, eternally youthful. According to Brihad-bhagavatamrita, by Sanatana Goswami, the king of Dvaraka has “all of the beauty of youth made even sweeter by traces of childlike innocence.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18229

The post Daily Darshan – July 3rd, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Hare Krishna! Why Krishna Appears as Jagannatha
I was born in a conservative Orissan Vaishnava family in Puri, on the east coast of India. The Supreme Lord Jagannatha and His devotees were at the center of my life. As a child, I played with dolls of Jagannatha, Baladeva (Balarama), and Subhadra, the deities in the famous Puri temple. I still remember how my mother gave me enormous plates of Jagannatha prasadam and told me to always remember the Lord. I saw how the simple and devoted Orissan people—even doctors, engineers, and scientists—never neglect to honor Lord Jagannatha. I watched how the king of Puri becomes a humble servant and sweeps the street before Jagannatha’s cart during the yearly Rathayatra, or festival of the chariots.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18226

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 21 November 2012, Cape Town, South Africa, Evening Lecture)

Krsnadas Kaviraj Goswami describes how the tongue is desert-like… always dry and in constant need of an endless flow of refreshing water, in the form of the Ganges.

Just like how the Ganges pours refreshing transcendental water on the desert-like tongue, in the same way, the tongue always has to be engaged in chanting the name, fame and glory of Krsna.

Whenever we are not chanting then that desert-like state is experienced… it is described like that. In other words, there will be something lacking, something incomplete, something just not right with the situation.

You know what I’m talking about, that feeling of incompleteness which is there everyday! That will be there when we are not absorbed and then there will be no fulfillment. Everyone experiences that lack of fulfillment in life and we are always looking at a reason… something that is holding us back… some relationships are not working out… some place is not working out… some financial situation is not working out… our health is not working out…but all the obstacles are actually illusory.

Mula-Ramayana: A Vaisnava Samskrita Reader
In order to fill a long felt lacuna for those who wish to start reading Samskritam, a new edition of the Mula-ramayana has just been released by Bhakta Demian Martins, an ISKCON brahmacari who holds a Ph.D. in Samskrita from the Benares Hindu University.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=18223

Purushotama Month Preaching Programme at Sri Jagannatha Mandir, ISKCON Malaysia (Album with 103 photos)
See them here: https://goo.gl/4sBX6Q

The month of Purushottama is a highly sacred month and beneficial to making a donation to the TOVP.
Lord Krishna in Goloka speaking to Lord Vishnu Who has brought the personified extra month (Adhik Maas) to His realm for shelter:

“An unfortunate ignorant man, who does not perform any japa, does not giveany charity, does not pay respect to Lord Sri Krishna and His devotees, does not behave properly to brahmanas, makes enmity with others and who blasphemes the Purushottama month will go to hell for an unlimited period.”

 

Lord Sri Krishna continued, “How can a person make his life successful unless he performs devotional service in this Purushottama month? A person who is fully engaged in sense gratification and does not give any special importance to this sacred month becomes the best candidate for hell.”

“All human beings should perform some devotional service in this Purushottama month by:

1. Worshipping Me, Sri Krishna, by chanting My holy name
2. Study of Srimad Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita, particularly Chapter Fifteen, Purushottama Yoga
3. Giving in charity
4. Offering ghee diya (lamp) daily

The post The Glories of Purushottama Month (Maas) appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

22.06.2015 Moldova. Class “The Cultural Conquest” HH Indradyumna Swami

Some people ask, “Scripture requires us to restrict worldly enjoyment. Why should we restrict our enjoyment like this? Why can’t we enjoy without any restriction?”

Philosophers and scientists, dedicated to spreading the Word of Atheism, find no greater sport than to ponder upon the deficiencies of the universe. Congratulating one another for having transcended the magic spell, they make grand plans to enlighten the gullible ones.

A small team is making a big difference to holy places in India. Renovating holy sites, and feeding widows and children, this film was created to increase awareness of their efforts. A video by Prananath Das.

While it may be turning up a little late, the BBT Africa’s recently released 2014 report shows encouraging growth in outreach – especially for a branch of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust established just five years ago to better deliver Prabhupada’s books to the African Continent. “The continent has recorded amongst its best book distribution scores ever in 2014,” says managing trustee Govardhana Das.

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When we called to invite H.H. Kesava Bharati Das Goswami Maharaja to join us for the Donor Appreciation Dinner, he said it should be “short and sweet” and short and sweet indeed it was. The Sanctuary was beautifully decorated and elegantly arranged. The program began with a lively kirtan, led by all the attending children. Students’ presentations then followed. Children, representing each class, shared their learning and personal experiences at TKG Academy. They beautifully described the highlights of their school-year and their realizations of what gains they have made emotionally, spiritually and academically in the course of their education.

Mother Gopi-gita then emphasized the importance of our Gurukula education and of our donor family. She encouraged each donor to suggest another friend to join our donor base so that we can meet our goals for 2015.

H.G. Nityananda Prabhu stressed the value of the unique opportunity our children are getting in this school and again reiterated the value of our supporters, our donors.

A sumptuous feast was then served by the Upper Elementary students. They also handed each family a flower pot, personally painted and decorated by TKG Academy students, with the inserted sign: “Thank you for helping me grow”.

Answer Podcast

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From Abhiram Gopal Prabhu:
In Kunti’s character in video 2 in the Mahabharata Characters Course, in the same video you mentioned how she said that Bhima has mantras to kill the demon in ekachakra in order to hide revealing their identity and then you mentioned she had never spoken untruth and therefore Draupadi had to marry all 5 sons since it came from her mouth.

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Answer Podcast

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Holy Name Meditation Podcast

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Some time later those sages began to discuss things, sitting on the bank of Sarasvatī River after having performed their daily rituals and baths. They had noticed that social problems were on the rise. “Maybe,” they said, “by killing the king we’ve left the leaderless people as prey for dangerous criminals?”

Clouds of dust billowed here and there, probably raised by bands of thieves galloping everywhere as they plundered the people. The sages moved to destroy the criminals just as they had destroyed the king, but when they approached they realized that the citizens themselves had become criminal and were plundering each other. The whole populate had become like thieves in the absence of a king’s governance. If they killed the criminals, there would be almost no one left!

“Wise philosophers,” they thought, “see everything as being equal, and therefore remain neutral and uninvolved. But if this neutrality causes them to ignore the needy, their spirituality is lost like water leaking from a cracked pot.

“The flawlessly heroic philosopher-kings of Aṅga’s dynasty are devoted to All-Attractive Keśava. They should not be allowed to disappear.”

To restore Aṅga’s dynasty, the sages rapidly catalyzed the material in the thigh of Vena’s preserved corpse, and created a very small human. His body was black as a crow, with short arms and legs, big jaws, blunt nose, red eyes, and copper-red hair.

He humbly bowed to the sages, asking, “What would you have me do?”

“Niṣīda” they replied, indicating that he should sit, wait, and tolerate his difficult fate. Later this person became known as Niṣāda. His descendants formed the forest-dwelling nomadic mountain-tribes known as Niṣādā. Niṣāda absorbed all the ghastly calamities of Vena. Purifying the corpse.

Then the learned sages catalyzed the material in the arms of the lifeless king and created a couple. The sages were very satisfied because they knew that this couple was an expansion of the All-Attractive. “He is an expansion of All-Attractive Viṣṇu, the sustainer of the world,” they said. “And she is the power of Lakṣmī, who is inseparable from that Supreme Person. We name him Pṛthu, expansive, because his fame as the greatest emperor will expand far and wide among kings. We name her Arci, splendid, because her smile is radiant, and her goddess-qualities outshine the beauty of the most beautiful ornaments. She will be like the sunrise and he will be like the earth. He is directly a fragment of Hari, born to protect the world. And she is certainly his dedicated power, Śrī, taking birth because she is inseparable from him.”

– Translated from Śrīmad Bhāgavatam (4.14.36 ~ 4.15.6)
by Vraja Kishor dās
VrajaKishor.com

New Vrindaban is famous throughout ISKCON as being Srila Prabhupada’s first farm project, named after the holy dhama. Like other farm projects and temples, it was given the nomenclature “New” to link it to its origin. Srila Prabhupada even said there was no difference between the two, Vrindaban and New Vrindaban. The presiding Deities of Radha Vrindaban Chandra, Srinathji and Gaur Nitai are stunning. The larger than life Deities of Lord Nrsimha and Prahlad Maharaja are astounding. Lord Jagannatha, Lord Balarama and Lady Subhadra also have a separate altar, as do the Six Goswamis.

We arrived from Pittsburgh on Wednesday, May 27th in time to honor lunch prasadam at the home of Srila Prabhupada’s disciple Nityodita prabhu and his wife Padma, and were pleased to have Malati prabhu in our midst. Gopisa prabhu and other senior Srila Prabhupada disciples were also present. From there we went to the temple to begin making arrangements for the TOVP presentation that evening.

About 75 devotees assembled for the TOVP presentation. During kirtan there was an abhisheka of the Padukas and Puspanjali, after which the program began with Radha Jivan and Jananivas prabhus speaking about the TOVP project. Many devotees came forward to make pledges, despite this being a farm community. By the end of the pledgeing almost $115,000 was raised.

On Thursday, May 28th Jananivas was given a tour of Prabhupada’s Palace and other places in New Vrindaban. He was very pleased to get an opportunity to come to one of the original temples in the Western world established by Srila Prabhupada.

The post TOVP Daily Tour Diary Days 77-78 – Our Visit to New Vrindaban appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Bhakti Raghav Swami

Sunday Love Feast for All

When? Sunday,July 5th,2015 Program starts at 11 am Where? 6 George Street South Brampton, Ontario L6Y 1P3, Canada Park underground(free) @ City Hall Phone:416-648-3312 New! Listen Click here to listen to previous class recordings on our blog Make a Donation

11.00- 11.15      Tulsi Puja                                             11.15 - 11.30     Guru Puja                                      11:30 –11:55     Aarti & Kirtan                                       11.55 - 12.00    Sri Nrsingadeva Prayers            12.00 – 1:00    Vedic discourse   1:00 –  1:30     Closing Kirtan   1.30 _  2.00     Sanctified Free Vegetarian Feast Kirtan with Hladini Kirtan Band at your home Hladini is a local kirtan group consisting of spiritually inclined musical enthusiasts with a vision to encourage the sankirtana movement, congregational chanting of the holy name of God, as revealed in the teachings of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Over the last couple of years, the group has successfully engaged spiritually minded people in mantra meditation and Vedic chants. Hladini would be glad to bring auspicious vibrations to your next home program, yoga studio or traditional ceremonies. Please contact Amogha Lila Das at hladini_kirtan_group@googlegroups.com  ON GOING EVERY SUNDAY Sunday School 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

Every morning, TKG Academy students gather to learn about Krishna during sadhana class.  For three weeks in the last semester of school, parents were invited to teach the class.

Classes were about Lord Nrisimhadeva’s half-man, half-lion incarnation of Krishna.  Archana Mataji was the first to arrive.  With her peaceful demeanor, she read the Sri Prahlada story to the students, and asked questions.

Daru Krishna Prabhu, after encouraging the children to lead the Nrsimha prayers, spoke about the recent massive earthquake in Nepal and the efforts devotees are undergoing to help the thousands of affected families.  Connecting how Lord Nrsimha protects his devotees to the current affairs in the world, and inspiring the children to take action is a powerful way to integrate the philosophy of Krishna consciousness in their lives.

Gopi Vallabhi Mataji arrived ready with a Jeopardy style game, testing the student’s prior knowledge on Lord Nrsimhadeva!  The children had much fun answering questions in their teams and scoring points.    “Prahlad Maharaj says that his only concern is to:  a.  overcome material existence.  b. give liberation to his demoniac friends.   c.  keep himself away from sense gratification.  or d.  bring back the fools and rascals who are making elaborate plans for material happiness.”  Do you know the answer?

Now that students learned so many details about the pastime, it was time to study His form.  Mother Chitra read a beautiful verse from the Srimad Bhagavatam SB 7.8.19, and proceeded to teach students how to draw Sri Nrsimha’s face.   His angry eyes, His razor-sharp teeth, His shining mane, His erect ears and gaping mouth, all perfectly placed in order to instill fear in the hearts of the those who hurt His devotees.  Step by step, children drew each feature and worshipped the Lord through the process of archanam.

Next, the study of mothers, leading up to Mother’s Day.  Mother Nrtya Kisori spoke about the importance of respecting women in Vedic culture.

Mother Ananda Lila read from “Honor Thy Mother”, delineating the 7 mothers in Vedic culture.

The last parent-teacher for the session was Nityananda Chandra Prabhu.  He enlivened the class with his beautiful stories about Go-Mata, the sacred Mother Cow.  He spoke about Working Villages International, non-profit organization dedicated to building self-sufficient, environmentally sustainable villages.  Astotara-Sata, the son of renowned Hare Krishna Dasi, has established an experimental village in the Republic of Congo, where he has shown the importance of Mother Cow for self reliance and sustainable agriculture.   His efforts earned him a prestigious TED Fellowship.

We ended the weeks with exuberant Spiritual Friday programs, worshipping Lord Jagannath, Baladeva & Subhadra.  Thanks to all the parents who taught the class!

Kirtanparty.com Launches Drive to Increase Street Chanting
The Kirtan Party program isn’t just interested in increasing the quantity of kirtan parties going out, however. It’s also interested in upping the quality.
“The first point is that it should be pure,” Vaisesika says. “The devotees who are singing should be very much dedicated to a life of devotional service. And they should be taking shelter of the Holy Names as they’re singing, knowing that they’re simply broadcasting, but that it’s the power of the Holy Name that’s attractive to people.”
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/DSrKwC

Auckland New Zealand: Friday night harinam (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In the material world everyone is envious of his fellow man. Animalistic envy exists in human society as long as there is no performance of sankirtana-yajna, the chanting of the holy names – Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.30.35 Purport)
See them here: https://goo.gl/eAAMBN

The ban stems from a decision by the city’s Department of Sanitation (DSNY) that determined polystyrene foam cannot be recycled.

Lismore Lantern Festival - 20 June 2015 (Album with 103 photos)
ISKCON New Govardhana - Sri Sri Radha Govardhanadhari
See them here: https://goo.gl/lWtdB0

Harinama Sankirtana in Russia (80 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur sings “My dear mind, what kind of Vaisnava are you? Simply for false prestige and a material reputation you are chanting the Hare Krishna mantra in a solitary place.” In this way people who do not reach are criticized. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.29.1b Purport)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/5TmfpU

Harinam Stockholm (10 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: In old age, at the time of death, the throat sometimes becomes choked with mucus or blocked by air. At such a time the sound vibration of Hare Krishna may not come out. Thus one may forget Krishna. Of course, those who are strong in Krishna Consciousness cannot possibly forget Krishna at any stage because they are accustomed to chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, especially when there is a signal from death. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.28.15 Purport)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/byxA6Q

30.06.2015 H.G.Balabhadra Prabhu_SB class in Vrindavan (51 min video)
Cow protection
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/xuxMTg

Preaching program at the Veda Yoga Center (Album with 71 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If Krishna consciousness is covered by material sins, one can eliminate the sins simply by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, but if one pollutes his Krishna Consciousness by offending a brahmama or a Vaisnava, such a vaishnava-aparadha cannot be atoned for by any means other than by begging the pardon of the offended Vaisnava. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.26.24 Purport)
See them here: https://goo.gl/yo4dc4