Planet ISKCON

A visit to Iskcon New Delhi Temple (Album 63 photos)
See them here: http://goo.gl/f9w6VQ

Mayapur, India

We Treated and Cheated Ourselves


We had treated ourselves to a PPP (Post Production Party) with Del Ray pizzas and natural ginger soda water.  This was to honour our second consecutive successful performance of "Blue Mystic."  Our cast, acting and technical members, had our own version of "toasts" in the upper deck of Govinda's Restaurant.

The Samadhi Auditorium was in "packed" capacity both nights.  Now we are prepared to film the production. 

As Chandrashekar, one of the actors, and I walked to return to our rooms, we caught a glimpse of the moon as it rested there as if on its back suspended in the heavenly skies.  It very much appeared as if it was actually held up by the massive crane standing by the new temple's construction site.  Of course this was our vision from our particular stance.

The eyesight is indeed a deceptive perception point.  Our second perception was, as put in Chandra's words, "Why not consider the moon holding down the crane?"  That was a bright observation.  In truth though, both visions appeared real but war in fact illusory.  There is a great gulf of difference between our benevolent moon and man's sometimes malevolent machinery - what to speak of the vast distance between the two.

In general our sensory powers delude us.  You can't rely on them.  Our inner evolved perceptions bear much greater ability.

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

Mayapur, India

Best Trail


The best walking trail in the area runs close and parallel to the Jalangi River.  "Best" for me means the quietest, most scenic, most interesting.  To my knowledge it has no name.  Locals may have a term.  Let's call it marg which means path.

It's on the marg that automobiles can't wheel their way through.  It's here that trees get tapped and overnight generously fill clay pots suspended from them.  The contents - the sap, invite birds, bees, and arouse human nostrils.  It's here that the elevation is about 12 feet above the fields on both sides.  You have a view despite the vegetation that is found, apart from the trees, that could in some way obscure the pleasure of the eyes.

I could detect mint.  I pulled off one leaf, pinched it and held it to my nose - what a surprising explosion of green power!

On this day I also met a sadhu.  Within this morning's mist the saffron fused through.  The colour was worn by Janananda Swami, a monk from the UK.  We met at a juncture.  Amiably we spoke and out of it he expressed curiosity about the marg.  He hadn't yet explored this perpendicular trail.

I said, "Maharaj, it's worth every footstep.  Do yourself a favour and chant here!"  He said he would give it a go.  I think being there and meeting the monk midway became a highlight for my morning in addition to hearing a class delivered by friend Anuttama regarding the pride of a progenitor and how we are all victims of their interesting element.  It is to be curbed.

May the Source be with you!

6 KM

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast

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Hare Krishna! Maharashtra bans beef, 5 years jail, Rs 10,000 fine for possession or sale
Beef lovers in Maharashtra will now have to do without the red meat as President Pranab Mukherjee has given his assent to the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Bill, 1995, nearly 19 years after the Maharashtra Assembly passed the Bill during the BJP-Shiv Sena rule in 1995. The slaughter of cows was previously prohibited in the state under the Maharashtra Animal Preservation Act of 1976. However, the passage of the new Act will ban the slaughter of bulls as well as bullocks, which was previously allowed based on a fit-for-slaughter certificate.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15869

Ratha Yatra in Mayapur, 3rd March, 2015 (Album 90 photos)
See them here: http://goo.gl/cMndWW

At the January, 2015, North American GBC/TP Meetings in Dallas, Texas, several GBC's and Temple Presidents spoke about the TOVP project after an enlivening presentation by Radha Jivan Das, the International Fundraising Director, announcing the TOVP Tour starting in North America in mid-March 2015.

Initiation ceremony in Govardhana, Vrindavana (Album 4 photos)
Today our Dear Edwin was initiated at Govardhan Hill. His Holiness Niranjana Swami gave him the name “Ekanath das”. Ekanath Prabhu ki Jai!
See them here: http://goo.gl/b7MZmu

Sri Gauranga Vandana
The golden new moon known as Gauracandra wanders on the streets of Nadia. This moon of Nadia is an ocean of mercy and a bestower of love and affection upon His devotees.
His moonlike face, His red lips, and the waves of love emanating from his moist eyes defeat the loveliness of millions of moons and suns.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15862

No Jagannatha maha-prasadama to be had anywhere in Puri.

The post SHOCKING NEWS, Its the end of the world appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Promotional Video of The Holy Name Festival 2015 in New Vrajamandala, Spain (2 min video)

Watch it here: http://goo.gl/I7tPwO

Harinam in Wellington in New Zeland (Album 56 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “O Lord,” the demigods say, “the impersonalists, who are nondevotees, cannot understand that Your name is identical with Your form.” Since the Lord is absolute, there is no difference between His name and His actual form. In the material world there is a difference between form and name. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 10.2.36 Purport)
See them here: http://goo.gl/eH1144

Hare Krishna! Meeting with the Hon’ble President of India
Mr. President then recollected his visit to Mayapur and staying in the guest house in 1999 during elections. He also recollected inaugurating the Kolkata Rathayatra. His Holiness Radhanath Swami then presented him the booklet about Govardhan Eco Village at Mumbai. His Grace Gauranga Prabhu explained to the Hon’ble President how GEV project is helping the villagers. President was very happy to go through the booklet and with great interest he noted the work done by ISKCON in reviving the economic prosperity of farmers, preserving the eco system, organic farming etc.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15857

Hare Krishna! Grand events tracing Prabhupada’s journey on Jaladuta will flag-off ISKCON’s 50th anniversary
The global celebrations for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary will be flagged off by mega-events in India and America that will track Srila Prabhupada’s epic journey on the Jaladuta from Kolkata to Boston in 1965. On August 13th, the day that Prabhupada boarded the Jalduta, devotees have planned a VIP event at Khidirpur Dock, where several Government ministers, politicians, businessmen, civil servants and celebrities are expected to attend. “A programme on August 14th at the Ravindra Sarovar auditorium is being planned for several key supporters, senior disciples of Prabhupada and thousands of congregation members,” explained Sankarshan Nita Das, one of the main organisers of the Kolkata festival. “This will be followed by a national youth festival with delegates travelling from all over India on August 15th at the prestigious Science City Auditorium. The culmination of the grand celebrations will see 25000 people attending a satsang and kirtan programme at the Netaji Indoor Stadium.” The Kolkata events will be followed by a programme organized by Bhaktivinode Swami in Cochin, South India. Prabhupada’s ship, the Jaladuta stopped at Cochin to load Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavatam set before leaving for America.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15845

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

Panca Ratna Prabhu at ISKCON Mayapur on Jan 19th 2015,SB 06.03.17

If we understand how wonderful it is to chant one mantra attentively, then instead of thinking about all the mantras we haven't heard we will free the mind to focus on a fresh attempt to hear Krishna’s name.
Be detached. If the mind wanders toward other thoughts, bring it back and try again. We have this freedom, by Krishna's mercy.

From Nine Keys from the Siksastaka to Improve Your Japa
by Bhurijana dasa

Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Antya-lila 8

ayi dina-dayardra natha he
mathura-natha kadavalokyase
hrdayam tvad-aloka-kataram
dayita bhramyati kim karomy aham

Translation: “O My Lord! O most merciful master! O master of Mathura! When shall I see You again? Because of My not seeing You, My agitated heart has become unsteady. O most beloved one, what shall I do now?”

ei sloke krsna-prema kare upadesa
krsnera virahe bhaktera bhava-visesa

Translation: In this verse Madhavendra Puri teaches how to achieve ecstatic love for Krsna. By feeling separation from Krsna, one becomes spiritually situated.

— Cc Antya 8.34-35

Giriraj Swami: This is a very important principle. Srila Krishnadas Kaviraj Goswami says it here and Srila Prabhupada has said it on numerous occasions that to develop love for Krishna one should develop feelings of separation from Krishna.

Disappearance of Madhavendra Puri, Vrindavan

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, November 2011, Mayapur, India, Caitanya Caritamrta Seminar – Part 4)

The divinity of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has been established. It comes up many times that he is clearly the Supreme Lord. There were many miracles which are related to this. This is expected since whenever you deal with the Supreme Lord, there will be miracles.

Before his birth, mother Śacīdevī saw celestial beings. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was very small, they could hear a child, with ankle bells on, running around in the house but no one was running around. There were footprints in the house which they thought were from the śālagrāma-śilā but then, they saw that the marks of the footprints of Visnu were the same marks on Nimai’s feet, but he was too small to run! So how was all this possible?

On Ekadasi, there was a great offering being made in the house of Hiraṇya and Jagadīśa, and a huge feast was being cooked. Nimai was feeling very sick that day and he said that the only thing that could cure him was some of that prasadam. But how did he know that they were having such an offering in that house? Nobody else knew but somehow or other, Nimai knew and that was mystical!

He was extremely learned! Later, as a preacher, he went into the Jhārikhaṇḍa forest where he made the tigers and deers chant Hare Krsna, and embrace each other. The tigers and deers were kissing each other, which was quite a miracle! He cured Vasudeva, the leper, from the disease. He also cured Sanatana Goswami’s sores.

About one million years ago, Lord Ramachandra was showing Sugriva how very powerful he was and that he was able to defeat Bali. Therefore, Lord Ramachandra took an arrow and shot it through seven tall trees. Those trees were there when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to South India. He embraced those trees and as he embraced those trees, they disappeared, one after another. It has been said that they went to the spiritual world!

When Lord Jagannatha’s chariot did not want to move, he pushed it with his head. The king called in big wrestlers but they could not move the chariot. Then he got elephants to pull the chariot but still the chariot would not move! But, when Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu went to the back of the chariot and pushed it lightly with his head, then it started to roll down the road – the ropes were lying in the hands of people but they were not pulling at all, the chariot was just moving on its own.

So these are just some of the miracles but the main miracle that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu shows us is his outstanding symptoms of love of God and that is the real topic of the Caitanya Caritamrta!

 

Hare Krishna! Joyful Prison Program
We led kirtan–the inmates all knew how to chant Hare Krishna and they chanted enthusiastically–then my husband spoke about how we are all prisoners in this material world and that the best use of human life is to extricate ourselves from this prison and go back home to Krishna. Sarva-drik Prabhu commented, “You men are all lucky because you’ve had everything taken away–wives, homes, jobs, bank balances–so now you are in a perfect position to surrender fully to Krishna.” They’ve all heard this type of preaching before, but somehow they all expressed appreciation for my husband’s and Sarva-drik’s words.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15848

Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast

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Here in North Carolina we don’t get anywhere near the amount of snow of northern states. Mostly the big storms pass us by or don’t leave much snow. Occasionally we get a little dusting, or a few inches of that white fluffy stuff. If there is accumulation we have our Mitra (friend) who uses his tractor to plow our road and driveway. Unfortunately for us, he is out of town, and so we really appreciate his kind service, being unable to move out of our driveway, and with temperatures remaining below freezing, there is no end in sight.

We are stuck, and naturally, this is fodder for writing. Today I thought of the idea of being imprisoned by the life we create to be happy—house, car, possessions, family—which at some point may seem a great burden if we aren’t using our life for spiritual progress, or to fulfill our life’s mission. We may also be psychologically stuck. In these cases we often need outside help to get out of our predicament. For example, we come in contact with a devotee who introduces us to spiritual life and is able to give us a way out of our self-created prison by the holy name and service of the Lord, or as appropriate, tools to change our negative conditioning. We need our Mitra, or well-wishing friend, who can removed the snow of our misconceptions, and give us the true freedom our soul hankers for.

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As I was getting into my taxi to leave Vrindavan today literally hundreds of thousands of people were on the parikrama marg, circumambulating the holy town. The crowds were so big that my taxi couldn’t move an inch. So I got out of the car and began taking photographs of all the beautiful people passing [...]

Tomorrow I am leaving Vrindavan. I have been fortunate to have spent much of the past 5 months in this transcendental abode. Today I went out to Radha Kunda to offer prayers of gratitude and ask blessings for my forthcoming preaching in the west. I also requested mercy to be able to return to Vrindavan [...]

A general criticism you will hear among people of all religions Christian, Jews, Muslims (including Hindus) etc is that if Krishna is indeed Supreme God, why He or His name is not specifically mentioned in the Bible or Torah or Quran or the four Vedas (Rg Sama Yajur and Atharva). Even in the four primary Vedas, the name Krishna is not explicitly mentioned as Swayam Bhagavan. Only I think in one place the name "Devaki nandan" is mentioned in the Upanishads. Otherwise, in the vast body of the four Vedas or Sruti, Krishna is not mentioned at all as Swayam Bhagavan, why?

For us to understand this contradiction requires one to understand the nature of God. Below are some points to consider;

1. God is so great that He chooses not to reveal Himself to anyone BUT only to His pure devotees who love Him without any conditions.
2. The scriptures such as Bible, Quran Vedas etc DO NOT teach pure devotional service. They only teach religious and moral values, elevation to heaven and moksha (this is not pure devotion) 
3. Pure devotion is accepted by only highly elevated souls and not the common man.
4. So because the above popular scriptures are mainly targeted to a larger audience who have all sorts of material desires, God chooses NOT TO reveal His name or form in these scriptures.
5. Therefore continuing that line of thought, Srimad Bhagavatam is considered Supreme Scripture as it was spoken and heard ONLY for the sake of PURE DEVOTION to BHAGAVAN - hence the title of the book Bhagavatam - that which is related to Bhagavan.
6. Bhagavad Gita is the prerequisite study to understand Bhagavatam.

There are many types of services to God - only the one with an "x" in the table below will give us understanding into the "true' nature of God. if you tick yourself in other boxes, we cannot understand God (what to speak of scientists and atheists). The grey box indicates null&void.

Festival Pandal Shows in Mayapur, Day 2, 1st March 2015 (Album 61 photos)
See them here: http://goo.gl/HWZFZ0

Mayapur Academy: The training of students continues (Album 12 photos)
Cooking and turban making units were showed briefly during Gaura Purnima festival time by H.G. Kurma Chaitanya Prabhu and H.G. Raseswari Mataji.
See them here: http://goo.gl/KHMMEo

Minutes from the Euro RGB meeting in Mayapur, February 17 2015
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Harinama in Israel (Album 42 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If one somehow or other comes in contact with the Hare Krishna movement, without consideration of his being a sudra, vaisya, Jagai, Madhai or even lower, he becomes advanced in spiritual consciousness and immediately develops love of Godhead. (Sri-Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.21 Purport)
See them here: http://goo.gl/IfwYpv

Gurukula Puri Parikrama.

The post Bedi Hanuman and Sonar Gauranga appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Hare Krishna! International Coordinator for 50th anniversary announced at GBC presentation in Mayapur
“We want to celebrate events, appreciate our ISKCON family, educate the world about ISKCON, accelerate our outreach, and motivate special achievements,” explained Pancharatna Das at the GBC meeting. Members of the GBC appreciated the efforts of the Global Team in planning the celebrations and pledged their support. “One main purpose of the celebrations is to ensure that temples engage local devotees and congregation members in organising and participating in their events. Hence, we encourage anybody who wants to volunteer their services to contact the Global Office at once.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15843

Bir Krishna Goswami: Importance of Harinama Sankirtana (9 min video)
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/iikyn8