Planet ISKCON

I found recently whilst chanting that reading the mantra at the same time is very beneficial for concentration. It seems that the mind becomes very focused on the sound because of the awareness of the words that we are chanting and our pronounciation.

Please try this simple technique and see the results for yourself.

Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast

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Bhagavatam-daily Podcast

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Hare Krishna! Sannyas ceremony at ISKCON Mayapur
While others are forced to renounce belongings at death, sannyasis do so voluntarily for Lord Krsna and attain Him. A sannyasi in bhakti cult is characterized by having full absorption in hearing & preaching glories of Lord Krishna. He emphasized that sannyasis in our movement following Srila Prabhupada are parivrajkacarya meaning they constantly travel and preach. Whereas a mayavadi sannyasi tries to give up activities and may engage in study of vedanta/ sankhya philosophy.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15712

Our two new sannyasis. Dhira Shanta Das Goswami to the left of Bhakti Chaitanya Swami and Bhakti Swarup Chaitanya Swami to the right. Srila Prabhupda ki jaya!

Transcendental Kirtan Mela Final Day in Mayapur (Album 13 photos)
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Evening harinam in Bangalore together with the local bhakti vriksha devotees (Album 43 photos)
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First Time Ever Ekadashi Cook Book By BBT Mumbai
Dear Devotees, Hare Krishna This is to announce the release of a first time ever Ekadashi Cook Book by BBT Mumbai. The book is written by Krishna Priya Devi Dasi and features 260 Ekadashi Recipes. It’s a 454 page four color book that is beautifully designed. The book can presently be obtained from temples in India and also from www.indiabbt.com Bhima Das
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15709

The post Sanyas ceremony on 21st Feb appeared first on Mayapur.com.

On whatsapp, photos of Pancha Tattva Deities with some moisture are being circulated. How do we know whether this is an authentic miracle?

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HG Bhaktisiddhanta Das: his involvement with the conceptual designs of the TOVP (10 min video)
Bhaktisiddhanta prabhu (ACBSP) explains his personal journey to becoming a devotee and eventually ending up in India for 37 years as a diorama and murti-maker, manager of Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi, to his involvement with the conceptual designs of the TOVP. He deeply believes that the building of the TOVP is under the direct guidance of Srila Prabhupada. We are just his instruments and he is with us at every moment.
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/Yx9Eu9

Hare Krishna! Huge Mayapur Sankirtan award ceremony for Mayapur book distributers
A Sankirtan award distribution ceremony took place in Temple on 19th February morning. This year Mayapur Temple enjoyed a special success by securing the first position worldwide for annual distribution in 2014. The ceremony took place to honor top book distributors connected to Mayapur.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15705

The post Conversation about Srila Prabhupada as founder, acarya and person (English/Russian) appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

From Nailesh P

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From Pandurang Charan P

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From Anuj A P:
For example, why is the nasal Nrsimha pronounced as Narasimha?

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A Most Sacred Place (Album 99 photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The famous temple of Trimbakeshwar is situated 25 kilometers from the city of Nashik, in the state Maharashtra. Inside the ancient temple is one of the 12 famous Jyotirlingas, self manifested deities of Lord Siva, found in India. It has been a place of pilgrimage since time immemorial. The Pandavas stayed there for sometime during their exile and Lord Caitanya visited the temple during His tour of South India. While there He bathed in Kusa-varta, a small kunda which is formed from the waters of the Godavari, considered one of India’s most sacred rivers. By the causeless mercy of Srila Prabhupada we were also able to visit this holy place. While in the temple I prayed to Lord Siva to be kind and grant me eternal residence in Sri Vrindavan Dhama.
See them here: http://goo.gl/08rw28

Words of wisdom from Mint Garden (3 min video)
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/2ZVgyJ

The post February 21st, 2015 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

ACHARYA, The Life and Legacy of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Directed by Yadubara Das. Due for release September 17th, 2015. For more information, visit www.acharyathemovie.com

Bhakti Chaitanya Swami awarded the order of sannyasa today (Feb 21st) to two Iskcon devotees, Dhirashanta dasa from England and Ananda Chaitanya dasa from Lithuania, in Sri Dham Mayapur.

Envy of Gopal Chapala of Srivas Thakur by Radhanath Swami

“To systematically propagate spiritual knowledge to society at large and to educate all people in the techniques spiritual life in order to check the imbalance of values in life and to achieve real unity and peace in the world.” Srila Prabhupada, Seven Purposes of ISKCON, 1966.

Click here to read the other purposes at the ISKCON.org website.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 26 December 2014, Cape Town, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 9.19.26) 

Prescribed duty does not exactly sounds like following the path of ecstasy. It sounds like, “Oh, I do not know if I can do this, if I want to do this?” But we rely on something else. Definitely, we rely on ecstasy! When devotees come back from harinama and say, “The harinama was so ecstatic!” That is good and encouraging. Or when someone with big round eyes says, “Listen to what I have just read,” and reads a passage of Srimad Bhagavatam. Then it is all operating on taste… on ecstasy… on how inspiring it is… on how wonderful it is… So that is what we require – we require the ecstasy of the sankirtan movement. When it is not there, we struggle, but at least the memory of this ecstasy keeps us going. That is why we sometimes say, “In the beginning, we live from Sunday Feast to Sunday Feast.”

It used to be that Sunday Feasts were really big. When I joined, the Sunday Feast was like fifteen preps and all of them were good; there were lots of offerings. So, during the Sunday Feast, one would eat to a stage of approaching unconsciousness and then, the next thing was stashing as much as possible that could easily go till Thursday.

Thursday would be a miserable day because on Thursday, the last leftovers would run out. Finally, Friday was the day of like absolutely nothing and that was when the thought of leaving Krsna consciousness would reach its peak, “I am not going to make it, I am going to break.” Then Saturday was the day before the Sunday Feast, so that is sort of like, “How could I leave the day before the Sunday Feast?”  That was basically how this movement survived.

Srila Prabhupada, in the Matchless Gift storefront, immediately started a program which has since been abandoned and I think it is not a good thing. In the Matchless Gift storefront, there was a pot in a corner which always had gulab jamuns and anybody could at any time take one. Somehow or other, that pot was kept full. I think that is an element which has sort of disappeared from our Iskcon temples and that was a mistake. I think at the next management meeting, it should be put on the agenda, “Where is the gulab jamun pot?” I am sure that many members will vote to bring back this essential part of our tradition. Taste is the one little thing that saves lives, it saves lives! So this is our process.

 

"I have been chanting with steady attention to the syllables and though I have not realized my direct relationship with the Lord as indicated in the Namamrta, I am striving for that goal. By vaidhi-bhakti the raganuga stage will evolve. I pray for that success in chanting."

From Bhajan Kutir #77
by Satsvarupa das Goswami

Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast

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The final trip for Manorupa Devi Dasi (Album 62 photos)
Dear Manorupa dd thank you so much for all your wonderful service in Srila Prabhupadas ISKCON. We pray that by the mercy of your Gurus amd the vaishnavas you are happy in your eternal service at the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radhamadhav in His internal abode.
See them here: http://goo.gl/0c7kuq

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Giriraj Swami: The palace at Govardhana was owned by the Maharaja of Chatarpura and after discussing with Tamal Krishna Goswami we decided to try and get the property. Tamal Krishna Goswami suggested that I go and see the king with a local lawyer. We didn’t know what to expect but we went to Chatarpura and the king was there at his palace. He was a little older — in his seventies. So, we brought up that we would like to acquire the palace at Govardhana. He was aware of ISKCON — he had been to the Krishna Balarama temple and had been very impressed with the temple and with ISKCON’s management. So, he was quite confident that we would do a good job with the palace.

Keshava Bharati dasa Goswami: He also fell in love with Giriraj Maharaja (laughter).

Giriraj Swami: So, in Srila Prabhupada’s style, I asked him to donate it to us. He said. “You know, if you had approached me a few years ago I would have done it. But, times are not good for kings these days (laughter) and I am just not in a position to give it to you.” I asked how much he wanted and he named a figure that was a fraction of what he could have got for it. It seemed within our budget and I didn’t want to argue so I agreed. The lawyer was maybe more practical or experienced so he whispered to me that I should have the king show me his deity and then when we were in front of the deity have him repeat his offer so he wouldn’t go back on it.

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Keshava Bharati dasa Goswami
Vrindavanbihari dasi
Nanda Kumar dasa
Giriraj Swami

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