Planet ISKCON

BY SIMHESWARA DASA

Paintwork on schedule

SEBERANG JAYA -  Some updates for you on the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple of Devotion
& Understanding building project, Seberang Jaya, Penang. August 29 is confirmed date for opening of temple.

Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga Rai

We will also be offering the mezzanine level in honor of ISKCON Founder Acharya HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. This mezzanine level will have exhibits on Srila Prabhupada in Malaysia, when HDG visited in 1971 and some international exhibits. There will also be a room where guests can take personal darshan, sit and meditate on the holy name in the presence of HDG. We are especially giving this service to ISKCON YOUTHS OF MALAYSIA to see how they can put up an exciting gallery on the mezzanine floor. As for naming the gallery we would like to hear from you which of the foĺlowing you like best in relation to Srila Prabhupada and the gallery and if you would likw to propose another name. Thoughts are "Prabhupada In Malaysia", "I want a temple like this" and "He built a house in which the whole world can live in".

Also appended are some pictures on progress update. Your good wishes and support form the success of this wonderful project for the pleasure of Sri Sri Radha Krishna and His devotees. While updating you on this project we also pray to the current presiding deities at the project site, Sri Sri Nitai Gauranga Rai for the safety and shelter of the victims of the Nepal earthquake.

Srila Prabhupada's room

Granite on mezzanie Prabhupada gallery floor

Ornament work on Dasavatar altars

Granite laying

Granite laid on main temple hall

The gods said, “When the previous epoch came to a close, you took within your belly the creation you had created. You are the origin of it all, the personality reclining on Śeṣa – the king of snakes, who floats in cosmic water. Perfected people constantly contemplate you in their hearts, for you can only be perceived directly by the soul itself. Yet now you appear on the pathways of our two eyes, moving among your dependents to disperse our difficulties.”

The divine singers, Garndharvas, said, “The hosts of gods led by Rudra, like Brahmā and Indra, and all the sagacious experts led by Marīci, are fragments of your fragments. This entire universe is just a toy compared to your majesty. Unto you, the Eternal Lord, we offer respect!”

The learned Vidyādhara said, “We attain our desired bodies and then our lame intellect, infatuated with your external energy, claims them as our property and true identity. We wander far afield on ill roads trying to experience pleasure in external objects, because we are bewildered about who and what we really are. Nonetheless, even we can be delivered if we even begin to enjoy the nectar of your kathā.”

The Brāhmaṇas said, “You are our true ceremony. You are our true offering. You are truly the fire consuming the offering. You are our mantra, our wood, our sacred grass, and our sacred vessels. You are the true attendee at the ceremony, the true master of ceremony, the true gods being worshipped, the true ancestors being worshipped, the true soma nectar, the true butter-oil, and the true sacred animal.

“As the great wild-boar your tusks lifted the world from the bottom of the universe, like an elephant playfully lifting a lotus. When the yogis glorified you, you roared with your tail raised, and we realized that you are the very substance of the Veda and the entire purpose of all our ceremonies.

“When this religious ceremony was devastated we eagerly waited for you to magnanimously give us your audience once again. O Lord of Worship, people who sing your name in nāma-kīrtana destroy all the obstacles to their worship. Our respects unto you!”

— Bhāgavata 4.7.42 ~ 47

Vraja Kishor dās

VrajaKishor.com

Lord Narasimha is fourth of Lord Vishnu’s ten incarnations. He is especially worshiped for protection as He appeared to protect his dear devotee Bhakta Prahlada from the asura Hiranyakashipu.

Hare Krishna! Finding Ultimate Meaning
Just as Narada had guided Dhruva, Srila Prabhupada encouraged people to serve God, thus delivering the remedy for their unsatisfied hearts. Whether they were full of material desires, just curious, or seeking genuine spiritual cultivation, the practice of bhakti-yoga – the means to rekindle one’s love for Krishna – gave them lasting happiness and satisfaction. Serious practitioners were able to give up their bad habits and addictions. Having received a valuable jewel, they lost their attraction to broken glass.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17176

BY SIMHESWARA DASA

BUKIT MERTAJAM - His Holiness Bhakti Vigna Vinash Nrsimha Swami and His Holiness Bhanu Swami, Co-Zonal Secretary for ISKCON Malaysia presided during the installation of Sri Sri Laxmi Narasimha beginning with Adivasa (preparing) ceremony at the ISKCON Bukit Mertajam temple.The installation ceremony was done in great pomp and splendour and was enjoined with ecstatic kirtan with about 300 devotees in attendance and the yajna was performed by the Mayapur gurukulis.

BY SIMHESWARA DASA

SEBERANG JAYA - ISKCON Seberang Jaya@ Bhaktivedanta Cultural Centre devotees went on a harinam Hare Krishna Maha Mantra congregational chanting rounds to the Bala Murugan temple and the Ku Ching Tze Buddhist temple and distributed 500 packets of vegetarian Nasi Lemak.

While addressing the Stanford University graduates in 2005 Steve Jobs the apple co-founder and CEO reminisced "...I used to walk the 7 miles across town every week Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I LOVED IT."

Why are devotees distributing prasadam? On the spiritual path those that are most inclined to lead a peaceful existence that respects the value of all life often adopts the vegetarian lifestyle. It is in accordance with the yogic principle of ahimsa, which is to observe nonviolence and abstain from injuring any being in any way. However, in the process of bhakti-yoga, devotion goes beyond simple vegetarianism, and food becomes a method of spiritual progress. In the Krishna temples, food is offered to the Deities in a special sacrament, after which it becomes prasada or prasadam. This means the mercy of the Lord. Thus, the food we eat after it is offered to the Lord becomes a means for our purification and spiritual development. Devotional service or Krishna consciousness is often described as a process of singing, dancing and feasting. But the feasting is done with spiritual food, Krishna prasadam. ...from Steven Knapp

Indradyumna Swami awarded with medal for bravery!
Indradyumna Swami: This is a photo of Vladimir, a highly decorated Russian soldier, who by chance walked into our hall program in Yekaterinburg. He fought for years with Russian special forces in both Afghanistan and Chechnya. After listening to my lecture he approached me and said, “Thank you for coming to our country. Yours is a message of peace by recognizing we are all part of God’s family. War will not bring peace. It will only bring more war. I wish you the best in your mission.” Then he took off one of his medals and pinned it on my kurta. “This is my nations highest award for bravery. I pass it on to you for the courage you display in spreading God’s message in foreign lands.” I felt humbled by his words, as well as his gift. I will wear the medal and try to become the person he saw in me.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/dg9F1l

Harinama in Moscow,Russia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If one hears a person say even once the word “Krishna” that person should be accepted as the best man out of the common group. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 15, 106)
See them here: http://goo.gl/cPWkY9

BY SHEVAANNI PILLAI

KUALA LUMPUR - What a wonderful week it has been! Just before our Bhakti Groove, our monthly gathering of spiritual and fun bliss, we received amazing insights on Srila Prabhupada Lilamrta by Sureshvara prabhu! He was hilarious...especially his impersonations of Prabhupada!

And then we had very nice association with super talented and really friendly kirtaniyas, Tulasi Nadia Sutaria from London and Namarasa Dasa from New Jersey, Amrita Geteldvirse and Madhava from Russia as well. They joined us in our monthly Bhakti Groove session in Pritha's house as well as Mukunda's house, and was also treated with some of our local delicacies. And it was hilarious watching their reaction when they tried our very famous local king of fruit, durian. 

Taking our guests out got us really close. After a lovely dinner at our local restaurant, Radhey's Delights, we went on sight seeing the famous Petronas twin towers and the Kuala Lumpur city. And we also managed to squeeze an adventurous hike along a waterfall in the Forest Reserve Institute of Malaysia, FRIM, enjoying the cool breeze and waterfall there.

Tulasi mataji's kirtan is still ringing in my ears. The magic of the Holy Name and the tumultuous chanting of devotees is simply beautiful! Really felt like I was in the Dham again. It's definitely true how as said in the purport of SB 4.30.37 - 'Because the devotee always carries the Supreme Personality of Godhead within his heart, wherever he goes becomes a place of pilgrimage, a holy place for understanding the Supreme Personality of Godhead." Just the kind of spiritual boost I needed. Harinam sankirtan ki JAI!!

Note: Bhakti means devotion emphasizing the mutual intense emotional attachment and love of a devotee towards the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna. Groove in the urban dictionary is an adjective describing a rhythmic quality of music that is emotionally communicative and soulful.

The combination of both words "Bhakti Groove" formed a mystical formula of invocation, assisting communion with Sri Krishna.

BY SRI SANJEEVI DHRUV RAM

PENANG - A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.The secret to a happy marriage is if you can be at peace with someone within four walls, if you are content because the one you love is near to you, either upstairs or downstairs, or in the same room, and you feel that warmth that you don't find very often, then that is what love is all about. With the warmest wishes to a very special couple.

May the bond of wedding unite your souls and bring out all that is good in both of you.

Heartiest congratulations on your marriage.

May your marriage be like a cloudless night sky filled with sparkling stars of love, joy and care...

May Krishna & Gurudev Srila Prabhupada Always Sprinkle & Guide Both You & Your Wife Throughout In Spiritual Advancement In Life....Hari Hari Bhol....Jai Gauranga Ji Ki Jai.

ISKCON-Delhi: Drama on Narsimha Chaturdashi : 03-05-2015 (Album with photos)
See them here: http://goo.gl/7y8sjv

https://flic.kr/s/aHsk7i6yAZ

The post Nrsimha Caturdasi photos appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Harinama in Prague, Czech Rebuplic (Album with photos)
The Harinam and Wednesday’s program April 29, 2015.
For many years Harinams – the color joyous procession of devotees singing the holy name of Krishna accompanied by harmonium, mridangas and karatalas – are inseparable from Prague. This singing represents the yuga-dharma for this age. We go regularly on Wednesdays and Fridays at 4 PM from Obecni dům on Republic Square. If you would like to join, you are cordially invited. “Sankirtana brings grace of Krishna’s holy names to the spiritually inert mass of people and indeed to all living beings who do not otherwise have the opportunity or inclination to Krishna consciousness. This public chanting purifies the contaminated atmosphere of the Kali Yuga. Everyone who will participate, will be dear to Lord Chaitanya.” (Bhakti Vikas Swami – Beginners Guide to Krishna consciousness).
See them here: http://goo.gl/iZkHWh

Hare Krishna! Major Upgrade in Vanipedia
For eight years, English has been the only language in which Vanipedia presented Srila Prabhupada’s teachings. No longer, for on May 2 (Lord Nrsimhadeva’s appearance day) we launched pages in 76 new languages. A total of 7,000 pages have already been added, and by August another 8,000 pages will appear. Each page features an audio clip, a video clip with subtitles, and links to the original Vaniquotes and Vanisource pages in English.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17173