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When Nārada told the king that his son was returning, the kind could not believe it. “How can a bad person like me get such good fortune?” He thought it was like hearing that someone was coming back from death.

But how could he not believe Nārada, the sage of gods? So, he became overwhelmed with eager joy. In great delight he gave an extremely valuable pearl necklace to Nārada.

He rushed out to meet his son, on his best gold-decorated chariot, yoked to his finest horses, surrounded by the wise, the elders, the ministers, and family. Conches and drums resounded, along with flutes and mantras, as the procession left the city.

The king had lovingly escorted Dhruva’s mother Sunīti into her own palanquin, and she escorted her co-wife Surci and her son Uttama to sit by her side. The queens were beautifully ornamented in golden jewelry.

Seeing his son coming towards them from a nearby grove, the king quickly got off his chariot and ran towards the boy, overwhelmed with love. He embraced the child in his arms for a long time, sighing with a thrilled heart. He noticed that the boy was very different, for all fetters of impurity had been vanquished when he touched Viṣṇu’s feet. The king kept his nose in Dhruva’s hair, while a shower of cold tears from his eyes bathed his son. The king’s most cherished desire had been fulfilled.

Dhruva respected his father’s feet and received his flood of benedictions and questions.

Then he bowed his head to his two mothers. He retained no hatred for Sunīti, because he was the best of the civilized, spiritual people. Sunīti fainted, while Suruci picked up the little boy at her feet and embraced him. Her voice was choked with tears as she stammered a blessing, “Jīva” (trying to say ciran jīva, “live long”). Although she had embarrassingly lost her hold on the king as a result of this boy, still she couldn’t help express her affectionate respects to Dhruva. Water automatically flows downward, and it is just as natural and automatic to feel respect and friendship towards anyone who is respected and befriended by All-Attractive Hari.

When the brothers, Uttama and Dhruva, saw one another, they became overwhelmed with love, and embraced one another over and over again as they shed downpours of tears with hairs standing on end.

When Sunīti embraced her child, her boy who was far dearer to her than breath, the touch of his body freed her at last from all her worries. The mother of that hero bathed him in the auspicious water of her tears and the milk that flowed from her breasts.

All the people joyfully told the queen, “Thanks to destiny, you have regained the boy you lost for such a long time. He will destroy all our suffering and protect the earthly kingdom! You are certainly a devotee of the All-Attractive, who protects his devotees from all misfortune. By your meditation on him, you prevented your son from dying. This is an amazingly accomplishment.”

As the people expressed their joyful praises, the King placed Dhruva with his brother atop an elephant, and they all returned to the city amidst delightful celebration.

Śrīmad Bhāgavata 4.9.37 ~ 53

Translated by Vraja Kishor dās

see: VrajaKishor.com

Hare Krishna! WSN April 2015 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
Practically every month, we see Los Angeles in the No. 1 position in the USA. But April was a special month. The LA devotees did 18,404 book points and were the No. 1 temple in the world. And Santiago (Chile) also did huge, with 15,312 book points — a 345% increase — and Santiago is a small temple. I don’t know what came over the devotees, maybe some type of book distribution ecstasy. When Krsna was in Mathura, he met with Sudama, a garland maker. Krsna was looking for him, though usually it is described the other way around: a devotee looks for Krsna
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17563

Hare Krishna! Seven stages of purification and transcendental elevation
Radhanath Swami: Sometimes impersonalists chant the holy name of Krishna. Sometimes people who are too much aspiring for material enjoyment approach the holy name. But Krishna doesn’t properly reveal himself to people who don’t have the proper devotion. So we must be very sincere. It is so simple. Lord Nityananda Prabhu and Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu have induced us in this way … Chant the holy name of Krishna … Worship Krishna … Hear about Krishna and give this message to others. Krishna is your mother, Krishna is your father. Krishna is your true wealth and your very life and soul.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=1872

Hare Krishna! The President of India meets the GCL Competition 2015 winner
Gita Champions League (GCL) is a Bhagavad Gita contest organized by ISKCON Chowpatty for the last four years. This year 2015, the winner of the contest was Ms. Maryam Asif Siddiqui, aged 12 from Mira Road, Mumbai, Maharashtra. Included are the pictures of The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee’s meeting with Ms. Maryam Asif Siddiqui along with her parents at Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 22, 2015
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17558

Building a successful marriage
Last year, the percentage of marriages ending in divorce was over 40%. Many are shocked by this statistic, and indeed, the reality can be ugly. But it is definitely avoidable, often with the help of some simple advice and practical adjustments. Married for over 30 years, and with three children, Kripamoya das brings together some ancient and modern wisdom in this interactive and insightful seminar.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/EsQTSJ

Hare Krishna! The Road Ahead
I think of Lord Krishna’s answer to Brahma prayers: “O Brahma, whatever appears to be of any value, if it is without relation to Me, has no reality. Know it as My illusory energy, that reflection which appears to be in darkness.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.9.34) What is the relationship of all these things to the Lord, I wonder? Do these people at all believe in His omnipotence? Everything I see is the illusory energy of the Lord.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17555

Hare Krishna! Radhanath Swami Addresses the MIT India Conference
On May 2, 2015 the graduate students of MIT University in Cambridge, Massachusetts hosted one of the largest India conferences in the US. The MIT India conference, in its 11th year, has established itself as an important forum for leaders in industry, academia, and policy to discuss current issues and future innovations in the context of India, in the region and abroad. Radhanath Swami was invited as a distinguished speaker to participate in MIT India conference.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17551

The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust Far East • Middle East Division
The FAR EAST • MIDDLE EAST division of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust publishes Srila Prabhupada’s books and other BBT titles in fourteen languages of the Pacific Rim and Middle East for distribution in those regions of the world.
As a new Western preaching initiative, BBT FEME is also developing titles specifically for distribution in the Western world to foreign language speakers living within large ethnic communities, as well as to the many foreign students studying in Western colleges and universities.
Read more: http://goo.gl/wvL8cC

Hare Krishna! Kanai Natashala: Where Sri Chaitanya’s Ecstasy Awakened
Sacinandana Swami: This little-known holy place played a major role in the inauguration of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s sankirtana movement.
The devotees suggested to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that He lead them in kirtana, and this is what He did. He started the sankirtana movement, which gave expression to His motto: “Where is Krishna? Where is Krishna?” In Sri Chaitanya-charitamrita (Antya-lila 17.60–61), this mood of Sri Chaitanya is revealed: “Alas! Where is Krishna, the treasure of My life? Where is the lotus-eyed one? Alas! Where is the divine ocean of all transcendental qualities? Alas! Where is the beautiful blackish youth dressed in yellow garments? Alas! Where is the hero of the rasa dance with the milkmaids? Where shall I go? Where can I find You? Please tell me. I shall go there.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17545

The second day of the Sadhu Sanga Retreat in North Carolina (7 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: On the second day of the Sadhu Sanga Retreat in North Carolina an amazing lineup of kirtaneers took us all to new heights of bliss while chanting the holy names. Radhanath Swami’s morning class touched the hearts of everyone and prasadam throughout the day was simply the best.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/iu6yix

(English/Russian)

The post Questions and Answers appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Prabhupada Festival in New Dwatka, Iskcon Los Angeles (Album with photos)
See them here: https://goo.gl/FKkgHE

Harinam in Tel Aviv - Friday 05/2015 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: We have seen many philosophical speculators. They simply talk in the meetings and that’s all. And if we examine their private character it is less than ordinary. A person may be a nice speaker but will that help you in your spiritual realization? On the other hand, if you chant Hare Krishna, it will give you immediate results. (Lecture 1968, Los Angeles)
See them here: https://goo.gl/zonbf3

A nice 19 min. video of the Maha Harinama at Venice Beach, Los Angeles, on Saturday. Biggest Harinama of the year, part of the annual Srila Prabhupada Festival!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/Ohqyqx

New Vrindaban - Festival of Inspiration (2015) (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: When that name enters the holes of the ears, we desire many millions of ears. And when the holy name dances in the courtyard of the heart, it conquers the activities of the mind, and therefore all the senses become inert. (Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 4.71 purport, Vidagdha-Madhava 1.12)
See them here: https://goo.gl/y6LA0O

The post Daily Darshan – May 25th, 2015 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Darshan Of Sri Sri Radha Gopinath;17th May 2015

Padmapani, Anuttama, Hunkara and Prema Rasa at the Great Pyramid of Giza and the Sphinx outside of Cairo, Egypt, 1978
Anuttama Prabhu accomplished a lot in helping to establish our flegling center in Cairo, Egypt. A small group of us had arrived there in the fall of 1978 and were initially holed up together in a small room at the Minerva Hotel in downtown Cairo. I was rather young and green at the time, so I was admittedly having some difficulty finding a place for us to live despite going out and searching regularly. Enter Anuttama Prabhu, who magically located a nice flat in the Zamalek district (on Schagaret El Dor Street) which was the best area in town chosen by ex-patriots and foreign embassies alike. Not only that, but Anuttama arranged a wonderful “India Day” program at the American University in Cairo. The student newspaper proclaimed that “The students were so excited about the food that they were sticking their hands into the pots!” It was a huge success. Anuttama Prabhu was also interviewed by the paper and he made a good impression to one and all. This devotee was obviously intelligent and professional without even trying (unlike me). It was a sad day for us when he decided to return to the West, although I certainly didn’t blame him. He had more important service to do for Srila Prabhupada, I’m sure. Wherever he is now, I hope he knows and remembers that he made a wonderful contribution to Srila Prabhupada’s preaching program in the Middle East. All glories to his service!
Please see the following page for a few pictures of the students enjoying prasadam at the “India Day” program arranged by Anuttama Prabhu: http://goo.gl/clKG3x

HG Padmapani Prabhu Distributes Srila Prabhupada’s Books To The Egyptians

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast:
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Bhagavatam-daily Podcast:
Download by "right-click and save content"

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast:
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After offering his own place, Dhruva’s adored All-Attractive returned to his own abode, riding like a flag atop Garuḍa, as the boy looked on with regrets. Dhruva vows to worship Viṣṇu’s feet had borne fruit and he was now relieved of those difficult strictures, yet he was not very happy as he returned home.

When Vidura heard this from Maitreya he became confused and asked, “In a single lifetime he achieved the extremely rare treasure of affectionately worshipping Hari’s feet in his supreme abode, yet he felt like a person who had not fulfilled his goals. Why was he so dissatisfied with himself? Did he not realize the value of what he had attained?”

Maitreya explained that Dhruva was morose because he thought of the misfortune that awaited his mother’s co-wife. He unhappily felt it was at her expense that the Master of Liberation granted him liberation. He was also morose because Viṣṇu had left, as a result of Dhruva’s ulterior desires. He felt that he would have to endure 36,000 years without Viṣṇu because of his initially revengeful motives towards his co-mother.

“Even the four celibates, Sananda and the others, could not attain in their entire lives what I attained in six months,” the boy thought as he walked towards his father’s palace. “Yet I have left the shade of his feet because my mind wants other things. Oh fie on my selfishness! Just look at my misfortune! I went to the feet of he who can cut down temporary existence, and there I begged for something temporary. I am the greatest fool! Fate would not allow me to accept Nārada’s wise advice to forget my co-mother’s insults. My proud, intolerant thoughts preferred to wallow in their own foulness. Absorbing myself into the dreamlike dooms of the temporary external world, I suffered divisions between my brother and my self, hating him in my heart as if he were my enemy. I begged for useless things, things that are like medicine for dead peole. I underwent extremely difficult austerities and pleased the soul of all souls who cuts people free from temporary existence. Yet I begged for something temporary. I have no good fortune at all! Oh how stupid! I begged for a kingdom. I am like the poor idiot who asks the emperor for a few husks of grain.”

Maitreya concluded by telling Vidura, “My dear, devotees are like you, they only want to taste the pollen from the lotus feet of Mukunda. Outside of this service, they have no personal interest at all. They think of themselves as very wealthy by accepting whatever destiny automatically bestows to them.”

Bhāgavata 4.9.26 ~ 35

Vraja Kishor dās

VrajaKishor.com

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 08 March 2015, Stockholm, Sweden, Srimad Bhagavatam 3.1.4-8)

We have to understand that in the spiritual life, we have to rely on knowledge but more so, we rely on mercy and then try to absorb ourselves in love for Krsna. The world is so distracting; the material energy is very distracting. It is like you are very inspired and then you get a cold. You are sick like a dog, you are sniffing, your head is exploding and there is pain everywhere; and now you have to maintain your sense of inspiration.

So gradually, one has to learn through the modes, as the modes are going up and down. Even when the modes are down, we have to stay internally, deeply attached to pleasing Krsna and not just when riding on waves of inspiration, ‘This is so inspiring! It was just amazing!’ Even when it is not amazing, it is still amazing. So there are so many levels to go through. Krsna still puts us through some purification until the very end!

Wellington has two centres – one in the city called the Bhakti Lounge, which is run by disciples of HH Devamrta Maharaja, and the other at Newlands road Newlands.

Euro RGB meeting, New Vraja Dhama, Hungary, May 23-25 2015

Hare Krishna! My Muslim Brother
Indradyumna Swami: “It was there at the hospital that I met Dr. Nakas,” she continued. “Somehow or other, he had acquired a Bhagavad-gita and would read it to his colleagues before the surgeries. He said it helped him realize the immortality of the soul and gave him strength as he watched people die before his eyes. “I was amazed that a staunch Muslim, who visited his mosque daily, was not only reading Bhagavad-gita but sharing it with others. Most of the Muslim doctors I approached at that time bought Bhagavad-gita because they knew that Dr. Nakas was reading it.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17539

Prabhupada Festival L.A. (Album with photos)
Day 1 of Prabhupada Festival went very well. A lot of devotees showed up as hoped for, and a lot of prasadam was thus distributed. If you couldn’t make it for Saturday, please don’t miss Sunday! For breakfast there will be Kichari, samosas, fruit, tropical drink and more, followed by Srila Prabhupada memories in the temple room, and then so much more throughout the day.
See them here: https://goo.gl/h8sHRA

Sadhu Sanga Retreat in the USA (7 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: The first day of our Sadhu Sanga Retreat in the USA was beyond everyone’s expectations. Over 1,600 devotees chanted and danced in great ecstasy, grateful for each other’s association.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/iV89FT