“SIMPLY MAGNIFICENT” London Rathayatra 2015 (Album…
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“SIMPLY MAGNIFICENT” London Rathayatra 2015 (Album with photos)
After 43 years finally blessed to be in attendance at this amazing event. London Rathayatra meant so much to Srila Prabhupada and is still being carried on in such a wonderful manner. This year over 10,700 On Chanting brochures were distributed thanks to Bhajahari prabhu and his team and all the devotees who helped.
Cooking for 16,000 began two days before by a dedicated team headed by Parasuram, Arjuna, Achintya, Krishna Mayi dasi, Patanjali, Taruna, Nayan and many others, and continued all Saturday night. The procession and festival were organized perfectly in a joint effort by Soho and Bhaktivedanta Manor Temples. Kirtans led by Kadamba Kanana maharaja, Govinda, Kripamoya, Harinamananda and Parividha prabhus and more Kirtaneers, were exceptionaly ecstatic. Prasadam was delicious and everyone experienced transcendental bliss. Thank you Lord Krishna and Srila Prabhupada for your mercy. And thanks to my good wife Dvija Priya dasi for the photos…..
See them here: https://goo.gl/pLAF0b

Panihatti Cida Dahi Festival at Sri Jagannatha Mandir
→ ISKCON Malaysia

BY MATHURALILESVARI DEVI DASI 

KUALA LUMPUR - The Panihatti Cidadahi festival is a yearly celebration of the pastimes of Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswami and Lord Nityananda Prabhu. This astonishing pastime took place on the banks of the Ganges at Panihatti Dham, which is just north of Calcutta. The festival remembers how the Lord mercifully reciprocated with His devotees by arranging, through Nityananda Prabhu and Raghunatha dasa, to provide an ecstatic feast of yoghurt and chipped rice, along with various other nectar foodstuffs. His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada instructed his disciples to organize this cida dahi festival at Panihatti and other places in the world. Sri Jagannatha Mandir, ISKCON Malaysia Head Quarters celebrated the most auspicious Panihatti Cida Dahi festival on 31 May 2015. More than 200 devotees graced the festival.


Devotees were put into various teams and they were supposed to prepare their version of the cida dahi that would later be put into decorated pots and then auctioned. All funds raised for the action was offered to the medical service of His Holiness Srila Jayapataka Swami, ISKCON Malaysia Co Zonal Secretary.


As early as 8 a.m., the tables were setup at the foyer of the temple and participating team diligently spread their raw ingredients to begin the ‘ transcendental competition’. Recipes were given to all teams by the organizers. Team work was evident as we saw devotees divide the chores to finally come up with a delicious and beautiful offering to Their Lordships. It was informed to the participants well in advance to paint the pots with different pastimes of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. So various pastimes were displayed as drawings on the pots.

 

At sharp 9 am, all team of devotees were requested to stop decorating their pots of cida dahi. Some exquisite work was on display and the pots of cida dahi was transferred to the temple altar for offering. It was indeed a feast for the eyes to see the beautifully decorated pot in the altar for the pleasure of Their Lordships. The congregation gathered inside the temple hall to hear the sweet pastime of Raghunath Das Goswami and Sri Nityananda Prabhu in Panihatti Dham. The descriptive lecture was given by HG Tyaga Caitanya Prabhu. Details of the pastimes were very well articulated and explained to the congregation. To further enhance the understanding of the pastime and to absorb in the mood of Raghunatha Dasa Goswami, a drama was performed depicting the pastime. 

Soon after, the pots on cida dahi was removed from the altar and placed at the table in the foyer of the temple for judges to taste and evaluate. HG Tyaga Caitanya prabhu, HG Shanti Rupa mataji and HG Siddhi Sadhana Prabhu were aptly chosen as the judges. It was a wonderful experience to hear devotees explain the rationale behind the decoration of the pot. It must have been difficult to judge as all the preparations tasted heavenly and the pots were beautifully decorated.

But, in every competition there must be a winner. Everyone who participated has already won but just to increase the sweet interaction amongst devotees, three teams were chosen as the winner. The third place went to the Bhakti Vriksa team. They prepared two beautiful pots which had the pastimes of Panihatti festival and preaching. Second price went to the over enthusiastic, SJMKL Youth team, headed by HG Gadadhara Pandit Prabhu. They prepared two pots that was exceptionally decorated .The first price went to the Brahmacharis team who was headed by HG Siva Caitanya prabhu. Siva Caitanya prabhu has been single handedly preparing cida dahi for Their Lordships every Panihatti festival all these years. It was a sweet victory and even sweeter was the exchanges between the devotees. it was a very light moment and to see devotees encourage and cheer for each other, was soothing for the heart. It was truly a family like atmosphere.

First placing went to the brahmacari team

The Youth team grabbed the second placing

Third placing went to the Bhakti Vriksa team

The pots were then auctioned to the congregation. Many devotees expressed that it was a very blissful festival and they were meditating on Lord Nityananda prabhu as they were preparing the pots and hence it has helped them to increase their attachment to Lord Nityananda.

We pray to Lord Nityananda Prabhu to place His lotus feet upon our heads just as he did upon Raghunatha dasa’s head. We pray that all our impediments are removed and we can blissfully serve Sri Nityananda Ram always.

tomāra kṛpā vinā keha ‘caitanya’ nā pāya
tumi kṛpā kaile tāṅre adhameha pāya

“No one can attain the shelter of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu without Your mercy, but if You are merciful, even the lowest of men can attain shelter at His lotus feet.

ayogya mui nivedana karite kari bhaya
more ‘caitanya’ deha’ gosāñi hañā sadaya

“Although I am unfit and greatly afraid to submit this plea, I nevertheless request You, Sir, to be especially merciful toward me by granting me shelter at the lotus feet of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

CC Antya 6.131/132

Inspection of Sandstone Work in Jaipur
- TOVP.org

Muted tones of sandstone will be used at the foot of the temple as a symbol of strength, shouldering the weight of the temple. The subtle beauty of the Sandstone will wrap the base of the temple all around, inspiring a contemplative mood in the pilgrims as they view the beautiful carvings along the parikrama. The intricate jali will serve as lungs breathing air for the ground floor.

Currently, work is ongoing at a manufacturing unit in Jaipur, aiming to begin installation on site by August. Buddharam Stone Industries in Jaipur, Rajasthan is one of the foremost carvers available in India, following traditional methodologies, and very meticulous work practices. Vilasini devi dasi (Head Architect) and Anupama Shah (Team Lead – Architects) visited their factory to review the work in progress on Sunday, 14 June 2015 and were very much satisfied with their remarkable work.

The post Inspection of Sandstone Work in Jaipur appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Kalash – Preparation Works has Begun!
- TOVP.org

We are now at the final stage of the main dome construction. Preparation works has began for the Kalash and the Chakra!

Looking at this image, you can really see how big is the Kalash by comparing the proportions of the people and the Kalash. Standing at 277 feet (84.4 meters) from the ground, it gazes upon us in great splendor.

 

kalash-compare

The post Kalash – Preparation Works has Begun! appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Hare Krishna! Distributing Srila Prabhupada’s Mercy in…
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Hare Krishna! Distributing Srila Prabhupada’s Mercy in Malaysia
The 13th Global Indian Festival was held from 3rd - 7th June at one of Malaysia’s biggest malls, the Mid Valley Megamall. The Indian population in Malaysia is a small fraction of 7% and during this festival it seems like the entire Indian population has descended here. The atmosphere is completely chaotic and the only intention in people’s minds is to either sell something for a profit or buy something with a good deal. Dare I say though, the only good deal in the festival is the presence of sincere followers of Srila Prabhupada.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17930

Harinama in Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure (a central…
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Harinama in Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure (a central park in Moscow, named after Maxim Gorky)
Srila Prabhupada: Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended five items of devotional service, namely to serve the devotees of the Lord, to chant Hare Krishna, to hear Srimad-Bhagavatam, to worship the Deity of the Lord and to live in a place of pilgramage. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.19.38 Purport)
See them here: https://goo.gl/Nl33Hu

Avanti Schools Trust are recruiting for very exciting…
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Avanti Schools Trust are recruiting for very exciting role
Avanti Schools Trust are recruiting for very exciting role. This person will become the head of Philosophy, Religion and Ethics at our secondary school. This is a newly developed curriculum which incorporates the teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. This individual will also have a key role in contributing to developing religious studies across the Avanti Schools Trust and associated GCSE and A-level examinations.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17926

Pensioner with a Big Heart
→ ISKCON Malaysia

BY BCC

SEBERANG JAYA - The recent Sunday Feast, Simheswara Dasa received a cheque for RM10,000 from Cakreswari Dasi as 50% sponsorship of her RM22,000 pledge towards Srila Prabhupada Gallery. She's a pensioner with a big heart to serve Sri Guru & Sri Gauranga!

Every Sunday without fail she would go for book sankirtan. She is also very active in Food For Life in Bhaktivedanta Cultural Center (BCC) & outside (markets, orphanages, etc) too, helps out in the deity kitchen services almost everyday and heaps more of services done by mataji.

Beside her, there are also so many other such jewels who are serving with their pure hearts from this humble place we all call BCC, which will be revealed from time to time.

For your kind information, this gallery is being created in the honour of Srila Prabhupada is first of its kind in South East Asia and East Asia. It will consist of a variety of art styles done by skillful artists. This gallery of Srila Prabhupada will be located at the 2nd floor of Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple & will be officially opened on the 30th of August 2015. If you would like to assist us to honor this great personality, feel free to contact us. Any kind donation will be of great help.

Thank you all for being a gem! ‪

If Gods will is the universal cause for everything why do some events such as quakes that happen only at specific places?
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Answer Podcast:

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The Meaning of “Rāma” in the Hare Krishna Mahāmantra
→ The Enquirer

The word rama literally means “pleasure.” With a long initial “a,” rāma, it means “pleaser and enjoyer” – a “lover” in the romantic and erotic sense. It is a name for the god of eros, kāma-deva, and is used amongst commoners to denote any extremely seductive and attractive man or woman.

The words rāma and krishna form a natural pair, because krishna indicates the attraction of consciousness, and rāma indicates the thing consciousness is attracted to: pleasure! It also indicates the result of being attracted to krishna: pleasure.

If krishna refers to Brahman – the self-sustaining, effortlessly manifest effortless consciousness – then rāma refers to the bliss of that carefree existence: brahmānanda – nirvāṇa.

If krishna refers to Paramātmā – the effortless manifestor of all consciousness – then rāma refers to śānta-rasa the joyful experience of seeing all things as equally divine and thus feeling effortlessly peaceful and satisfied.

If krishna refers to Bhagavān – the epitome of effortlessly joyful personal consciousness –  then rāma refers to devotional sentiment, bhakti-rasa, the feeling of affection and admiration for that Supreme Person.

Some say that the entire mahāmantra is about Bhagavān and the word krishna refers to one manifestation of Bhagavān, the Gopa of Vṛndāvana, but Rāma refers to a different manifestation, either Paraśū-rāma, Rāma-chandra, or Bala-rāma. There is nothing incorrect in this view, but it does not allow the deepest understanding of the mahāmantra to unfold. It is not wrong, but it is not the best understanding either.

The best understanding is that the three nouns of the mantra name and describe the same entity – the being who is the origin of all manifestations of Bhagavān, Paramātmā, and Brahman. That entity is the primeval erotic principle in person – the transcendent, self-manifest kāma-deva at the root of all existence. 

By the name krishna he “pulls” and “attracts” us. Then, by the name rāma he enjoys us… and thus delights us.


Tagged: Hare Krishna, Hare Krsna, Mahamantra, Mantra, Rama