Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Saraswati Vidya Niketan in Assam was founded in 2011 as an adult educational program where ISKCON devotees educated, local village youth who were previously working in nearby towns and cities as a labourers. Most of them were suffering from alcohol abuse, addiction to gambling, which severely affected their economy, ecology and cultural roots.
The Sacred Arts Festival in New Delhi brings together different styles of spiritual art and explores the confluence of art forms and spirituality. Forbes India interviews Martin Gurvich (Mahaprabhu Das) the founder of the Museum of Sacred Art in Radhadesh, Belgium, who says, "this is what the project is about: a dialogue between different faiths, styles of art, taking out judgements that we have about different art forms."
TOVP update (Album with photos)
Concreting for the Main and Nrshimha Dev domes has begun.
Layers of cement will be added to the now present stainless steel structure to reinforce the grand cupola.
With a total of 34 layers, each of 1.2 M tall, the concrete work should be completed by December 2015.
See them here: http://goo.gl/WaoghA
Harinama in Estonia 2015 (Album with photos)
Sri Harinam Mandir Traveling Temple: Our 2015 Euro Tour started from Estonia, we visited with Harinama Sankirtana Tallinn, Rakvere, Kohtla-Jarve, Narva, Tartu, Ahtme, Sillamae. Hare Krishna!
See them here: https://goo.gl/lndY4d
Rasikanam Das, a young Russian kirtaniya who was well known for his dedication to chanting Krishna’s Holy Names, passed away at the age of 32 due to heart trouble after he felt weak while leading a Harinam in the town of Sarapul, Russia. The details of his extraordinary life and passing have just come into ISKCON News through an interview with his widow Narasimhi Dasi.
Hare Krishna! ISKCON Nepal Update
By Jayapataka Swami I, along with other TOVP Exhibit members were in the Lotus Building attending TOVP exhibits conference on April 25th at 1.00 pm in Sridham Mayapur when the ?building began to shake. We quickly left our conference room and moved to Prabhupada’s park. While we were there, I was informed that a massive earth quake had struck Nepal. My heart immediately went out to the devotees in Nepal. I was anxious to know about their well being. I know you all must be feeling the same. Later I was informed that although our temple was saved and although the devotees were mostly safe, some of them suffered loss of property, some lost their near and dear ones, some suffered other damages.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17132
Kanai Thakur Departs
Bhakti Raghava Swami: Many will remember Kanai Thakura prabhu from his many years of service at ISKCON Juhu in Mumbai. He was involved in Fund Raising both in India and in America in those earlier days. I only came to know him when he relocated in the district of Udupi and decided to get some piece of land in Hanja not far from our ashram at Sahyadri Sri Krishna Balarama Ksetra (SSKBK) near the small town of Hebri. There he build himself a small kutir and began serving Mother Surabhi by keeping cows in a small Goshala next to his kutir. He passed away this morning at 9:30 am at his residence in Hanja. Some of his family members are on their way to help complete the final rights for him.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17129
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The post Krsna-dharma das and Cintamani-dhama dd on studying Srila Prabhupada’s books appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
Harinama at Burleigh Heads - 26 April 2015 ISKCON New Govardhana - Sri Sri Radha Govardhanadhari (Album with photos)
See them here: https://goo.gl/TAmnL0
Hare Krishna! The Life of Jayananda Prabhu
After the disappearance of Jayananda Das on May 1, 1977, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada instructed devotees all over the world to commemorate the event every year as they would any great Vaishnava’s disappearance day. Therefore we respectfully submit these pages to all devotees and friends of ISKCON as a means to remember and understand more about Jayananda’s devotional service. Of course, we will see how he joined ISKCON and how he left this mortal world. More importantly, we shall see the astounding qualities possessed by a true devotee, a sincere disciple and genuine servant of Srila Prabhupada.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17125
2015 VIHE Bhakti Vaibhav (cantos 1&2)
With great pleasure the VIHE wishes to invite you to the in-depth, step-by-step, systematic Bhakti-vaibhava course, cantos 1&2, in Vrindavan, running from July 24, 2015 to November 4, 2015.
Srimad-Bhagavatam is “Sri Krsna who has returned among us” and is the “life-breath of the Vaisnava devotees”. Srila Prabhupada wanted that the “family transcendental diploma will continue through the generations” and that all his “spiritual sons and daughters will inherit this title of Bhaktivedanta”. For hundreds of years Vrindavan has been a dedicated place of study, worship and transformation, especially for the Gaudiya Vaisnavas.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17116
Hare Krishna! A glimpse of life at the temple of Nepal and updates with photos
His Holiness Mahavishnu Swami is also with us in Medical Camp and FOOD FOR LIFE doing Harinaam. By Srila Prabhupada and HH Mahavishnu Swami’s blessings we are able to still conduct this Project for Earthquake victims. Many Places we receive Thanks and Blessings. People Really Appreciate and are happy with ISKCON FOOD FOR LIFE NEPAL. Overl all we fed about 5,000 Hungry Stomach for days From Bhaktapur.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17113
Concreting for the Main and Nrshimha Dev domes has begun.
Layers of cement will be added to the now present stainless steel structure to reinforce the grand cupola.
With a total of 34 layers, each of 1.2 M tall, the concrete work should be completed by December 2015.
The post Reinforcing the Domes appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
Hare Krishna! Iskcon Nepal increases its efforts and extends more Krishna conscious help
FOOD FOR LIFE NEPAL is a Project conducted by ISKCON NEPAL and Volunters on Day 5, 30th April 2015 for the earthquake victims who didnt get food to eat for servals days. We are Conducting Heath Services and check ups with abt 20 Doctors and health assistants. We had health camp and Free medicine Distribution at -Shree Padhma Higher Secondary School (Surbar Square) -Bhaktapur Bus Park (Dudh Paati) -Changu Narayan Temple area. -Mobile Health Services.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17110
Hare Krishna! Thoughts From Jayananda Thakur’s Family
From Jayananda’s mother, taken from Radha-Damodara Vilasa by Vaiyasaki Dasa – Mrs. Kohr: At the age of four he was taken to a service in what we call the big church in Dayton, Ohio. He was very restless, standing up in the sanctuary and looking around. His grandmother inquired, “Jimmy, what’s wrong? What are you doing? What are you looking for?” “Where is God?” he replied. Gaynelle Kohr Pietrangelo (Jayananda’s sister) Jim was kind to animals, too. I know he was on a beach in California and he sat there for like three hours and picked these ticks off this poor dog, this old mutt, I mean that’s the kind of person he was.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17105
Hare Krishna! Thoughts From Jayananda Thakur’s Family
From Jayananda’s mother, taken from Radha-Damodara Vilasa by Vaiyasaki Dasa – Mrs. Kohr: At the age of four he was taken to a service in what we call the big church in Dayton, Ohio. He was very restless, standing up in the sanctuary and looking around. His grandmother inquired, “Jimmy, what’s wrong? What are you doing? What are you looking for?” “Where is God?” he replied. Gaynelle Kohr Pietrangelo (Jayananda’s sister) Jim was kind to animals, too. I know he was on a beach in California and he sat there for like three hours and picked these ticks off this poor dog, this old mutt, I mean that’s the kind of person he was.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17105
Hare Krishna! ISKCON Tribal Care Initiative latest news
On December 2014 the branch of Bhaktivedanta National School was inaugurated in Ananda Bazar, a very remote village in Assam. In the 40’s Missionaries introduced Christianity to the villages and converted most of the people in the area. Along with churches and chapels they opened Christian schools, so the children of devotees have been attending them due to lack of any other alternative. Later it was discovered that there was a need for a Vedic school not only by the devotees, but also by the general Hindu families.
Not to mention the complete lack of philosophy, different method of worship and culture, the children were educated in a tamasic environment which included a complete lack of purity and cleanliness, a non-adherence to the regulative principals by the teachers and families of the other children, and non-vegetarian meals being served at the school. Such an environment made it extremely difficult for them to practice Krsna consciousness, especially being young children.
So far, the school has 63 enrolled students from surrounding villages and other areas. The children are being taught academic subjects, Krsna conscious philosophy, Vedic culture and lifestyle and other aspects of worship such as mantras. One parent said, “I like this school because they teach the children how to be disciplined. My son is learning English and he is happy here.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=17099
Hare Krishna Tune by HG Bada Hari Prabhu at ISKCON Juhu Rathyatra Festival
The post May 1st, 2015 – Chandan yatra Darshan- Day 11 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
In honor of Jayananda Prabhu’s disappearance day on May 1, we submit the following account, derived from a letter by Kalindi Dasi to her spiritual master, Candramauli Swami. — Giriraj Swami
A Hospice Miracle—Serving Jayananda’s Mother
In mid-July I started wearing tilak to my work at the hospice. I thought that since many other spiritual practitioners were expressing their faith by wearing crosses, doves, silk threads, pentacles, and other items, I would wear my tilak, which tells the world that I am a devotee of the Lord. And I have found that wearing tilak at work has opened the door for spiritual questions and conversations.
On the morning of Monday, August 6, 2007, after our daily report and medical-staff checks, we began doing our usual tasks of caring for the patients. As ours is only a ten-bed facility, we are able to give loving care to each patient individually. Often, while I care for or bathe patients who are unable to do such tasks for themselves, I chant or sing the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. On this particular morning I was caring for a woman named Jane Kohr, who had been with us for almost a week. She was a kind and polite person, and I enjoyed the time I spent with her. Around 8 a.m. on August 6, I entered her room and found that she was getting closer to leaving her body. She was unresponsive to verbal cues, and her body was limp. I sang the maha-mantra one last time, while she received her final bath. Hospice staff called her family, who were always friendly and appreciative for her care. When I was finished, I spoke with some of the family members in the hall. Jane’s grandson approached me to thank me and then pointed to his forehead and to my tilak and asked if I was a Hare Krishna. I smiled and said that yes, I was a devotee of Krishna. “Well,” he said, “then maybe you know of my uncle Jayananda.”
“The Jayananda?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said. And he told me how his uncle had built the Ratha-yatra carts. He then went in to inform his mother that I was a Hare Krishna.
Gaynelle, Jayananda Prabhu’s sister, came out of the room and said that she was so happy that a Krishna devotee had cared for her mother. The whole family expressed that it meant so much to them. Gaynelle kept saying that she couldn’t believe that I was a Hare Krishna. She said that she told her mother but wasn’t sure that her mom could hear her. I said that I had a feeling she already knew, and I laughed.
Jane, a granddaughter, mentioned that she remembered her uncle making really great Indian food and offering it to God and then the family sitting on the floor and eating it. She remembered his robes and how happy he was. Jane said that he had been pretty depressed before meeting devotees.
I let Jayananda Prabhu’s family know that during the Ratha-yatra festival we hang a nice photo of him next to Srila Prabhupada’s photo. They told me that an old friend of Jayananda’s (who is not a devotee) happened to be in Durban, South Africa, several years ago and saw his first Ratha-yatra festival there, and to his astonishment there was a huge photo of Jayananda Prabhu on the front of the cart. He had called Gaynelle to share the news.
They told me that Jayananda was always very kind, even as a child, and never spoke badly of others. From the many stories they told me, his saintly qualities shone through even in his childhood. Gaynelle told me that her brother once spent hours on a family vacation at the beach picking ticks and fleas off a homeless dog. He couldn’t stand to watch it suffering. Jayananda’s nephew told me about running around the kitchen table as a small child with his uncle, who was laughing and chanting Hare Krishna.
When I went back into Jane’s room, the family was gathered around her bed holding her hand. Her breaths were faint, and she was about to leave her body. I stepped out to give the family some space, and about five minutes later they came to the front desk and asked for me to look at her. When I opened the door, I saw that her body had turned yellow and waxy. It was apparent that the soul had left and that the physical body was all that remained. The nurse reported that she had passed, and the family, though sad, also felt relief.
Gaynelle told me that she had asked her brother for support. Since he couldn’t physically be at their mother’s passing, she had been looking for a sign that he was supporting her. She felt that a devotee’s being present and caring for her mother was not a mere coincidence. It was, I believe, Krishna’s endless mercy!
I thanked the relatives for allowing me to serve their family, offered my pranamas, and said, “Hare Krishna.”
śrī-rādhā-muralī-manohara-padāmbhojaṁ sadābhāvayan
Always enrapt in thoughts of Śrī Rādhā Muralī-manohara’s lotus-feet…
śrī-caitanya-mahāprabhoḥ pada-rajaḥ svātmānaṁ evārpayan
Completely giving my very self to the dust of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s feet…
śrīmad-bhāgavatottamān guṇa-nidhīṇ aty-ādarād ānaman
With utmost adoration for the topmost Veda, Śrīmad Bhāgavatam
and the topmost devotees
Both of which are oceans of goodness…
śrī-vṛṇdāvana-divya-vaibhavam ahaṁ stotuṁ mudā prārabhe
I delightfully prepare to praise the transcendent opulences of Śrī Vṛndāvana.
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:Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.7.34:
The sages said, “O All-Attractive, you alone know how to truly perform sacrifice, for you perform your endeavors without the least bit of interest in the happiness or distress they may cause you.” Gesturing towards Lakṣmī as an example, they continued, “We all worship this Goddess to get her powerful blessings, but you have no interest in such blessings, you simply love her selflessly.”
This is the truth about Krishna’s love for Rādhā, reflected as Hari’s love for Lakṣmī.
Everyone wants selfish results from whatever they do. “Why should I?” and “What’s in it for me?” These are fundamental attitudes rooted in everyone’s ego. On the basis of these attitudes, we decide what we will and will not do. Hari is absolutely void of this egoism. On the contrary he is the abode of prema, which is selfless love. So, none of his actions are done with the least bit of motivation for his own happiness. If you don’t believe me, that’s your problem (or perhaps your bhāva).
The sages point to his love of Lakṣmī as the prime example of this selfless attitude. Everyone loves Lakṣmī in some form or another. But all of us love her because of what we can get from her. Hari has no interest at all in what he can get from Lakṣmī or anyone else. He does not manifest himself in multitudes of expansions (such as Lakṣmī) just so he can get something from them. What sense would there be in that? Why would he take his energy from within, place it outside, just so he could suck it back in? It would be a waste of energy. Useless work. The actual reason for Hari manifesting in multitudes of personalities is so he has someone to love! He needs people, not for what they give him, but for what he can give them. The actual bliss of existence is in love, and he needs someone to love. So he manifests as infinite people, Lakṣmī / Rādhā being the primary (pūrṇa/ādi-śakti).
Everyone loves their own conception of Lakṣmī for selfish reasons, but Hari is her selfless devotee.
May this explanation bring joy to the reader.
The next verse:
Hearing the glorification of Hari’s love for Lakṣmī, the Siddhas became joyful and exclaimed, “This discussion about you is like a river of purified nectar! Our parched elephant-minds, charred by forest fires of misery, dive into this river and forget all pains. As if they have merged into Brahman, our minds cannot remove themselves again from this nectar river!”
— Vraja Kishor dās
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 19 March 2015, Pretoria, South Africa, Evening Lecture, Bhagavad-gita 1.1)
In the thirteenth chapter of Bhagavad-gita, there is an amazing list of pure qualities: amānitvam adambhitvam… (Bhagavad-gita 13.8). One must be free of pride, adambhitvam. One must be very tolerant, amānitvam. Like that, there are many qualities, verses eight to twelve, you can paste them on the wall and look at them every day as a meditation.
Then in the fifteenth chapter, in the final verse, we get a description of hṛdaya-daurbalyaḿ, of the weakness of heart. That weakness of heart, that is our obstacle. Pride, the desire to be somebody, the desire to be glorified, the desire to be worshipped. Therefore, there is the tendency to pretend, to present oneself greater and better than one is. This is due to weakness of heart. So, one has to let pride go as petty and small.
Anyway, but meanwhile we have all this knowledge. We know, we should be transcendental, we know we should just serve Krsna, but we cannot. Then what can we do? We can meditate more on what it means to be a devotee. Sixteenth chapter is really interesting because the sixteenth chapter, in the first six verses, it describes the divine qualities – our qualities – and in the rest of the chapter it describes the demoniac qualities – the qualities of the neighbours. So that is a great chapter, you know. So if you need some entertainment, that is a chapter to read. You know, especially that part about the neighbours, you know, “Yeah, right. Spot on! Perfect fit. Well done. Yes, fully, I am in full agreement!”
Of course, there is another way to read the sixteenth chapter which is to consider… Satsvarupa Maharaj summed it up in a book that he wrote. He wrote so many books but there is one book, it is called, “Am I a demon or a vaisnava?” That is a very interesting question. What am I? Because, yes, that is how it is in this time. There are some demoniac tendencies in everyone. One can see in the sixteenth chapter, that some of these qualities are in us. This chapter is like a mirror actually. It makes you more aware of who you are and what you should be. Anyway, after that you just feel like, “Oh gosh.” What if you come to the conclusion after reading the chapter that, “Actually, I am a demon. I have always known it. Deep down, I have tried to ignore it. And for all this time, I have been chanting Hare Krsna. I have been trying to be a devotee, but after studying the Gita, I have finally realized it. I am a demon! What do I do now?”
Alright, so you know, you kind of feel hopeless after that. Fortunately then, there is the seventeenth chapter which saves us. Right there and then. Because the seventeenth chapter is describing the three modes of material nature. It describes is the mode of goodness, the mode of passion and the mode of ignorance. “Yeah, I have heard enough about that before and I heard that you are supposed to be in the mode of goodness. Well, my goodness, have I tried to be in the mode of goodness until steam came out of my ears!” No, that was the mode of passion. Not easy. So how to be in the mode of goodness?
Srila Prabhupada has an interesting reference in a purport which I thought was really revealing. Prabhupada did not say you have to be in the mode of goodness, he said you have to associate with the mode of goodness. Well, that we can do. We cannot be in goodness but we can associate with goodness – cleanliness, purity, honesty, wisdom, knowledge, religiousness, equipoised, you know, not so quickly disturbed by things that are going on. We can try and create that atmosphere and then stay in such an atmosphere. That will help. That will help! When you realize at the end of the sixteenth chapter that actually, we are demons and we have tried all this time to be a devotee but we do not really make it. What to do now? Then associate with the mode of goodness.
Performed by Vaiyasaki Das.
Krishna Lounge kirtan by Jaya Tulasi Devi Dasi
Posted by Mate Radovcic on Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Where is your God? Ask him to come before me now or else I won’t believe that he exists? Many agnostics frequently put forth such logic to deny God’s existence. This phenomenon isn’t new, God’s authority has been challenged since the dawn of creation.