Planet ISKCON

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

Srila Prabhupada delivering his Bhagavatam Dharma discourse at Bahulaban in New Vrindaban, 1972.

“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.

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.
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Bhagavatam-daily Podcast

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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

Holy Name Meditation Podcast:

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Lecture Podcast:

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Related article: The Ultimate Dance

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Related article: Music Therapy

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Hare Krishna! From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir: HH Sacinandana Swami
Narada Muni, knowing well that the Lord would not appear again to him, made a conclusion. “Thus, I began chanting the holy name form of the Lord by repeated recitation, ignoring all of the formalities of the material world. Such chanting and remembering of the transcendental pastimes of the Lord are blessing one and all. In doing so, I travel all over the world, fully satisfied, humble, and unenvious.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15701

Hare Krishna! HH Bhakti Charu Swami on HH Tamal Krishna Goswami
Tamal Krishna Maharaj joined Srila Prabhupada in 1968. Srila Prabhupada went to a place where the young Americans were living in the redwood forest near San Francisco. He was so aloof from the materialistic culture that he was living in the forest. But Srila Prabhupada went to that place and it was just love at first sight. He left everything. Even that commune that he was living in.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15698

Hare Krishna! “Plain Living and High Thinking”: An English Lesson with Srila Prabhupada
Ravindra Svarupa Dasa: Any student of Srila Prabhupada will at once recognize the phrase “plain living and high thinking.” It occurred frequently and memorably in his discourse. It functioned as kind of motto or slogan to epitomize Prabhupada’s vision of a natural spiritual culture, an alternative to our modern, “soul-killing” industrial civilization. Prabhupada had made use of the phrase even before he journeyed to America in 1965.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15695

Devotees Brave War-Torn Ukraine to Provide “Food For Life”
A brave group of devotees have mounted a Food For Life effort and are preparing enough sanctified vegetarian food, or prasadam, to distribute to 600 to 800 people every day in the war-ravaged city of Donetsk, South-East Ukraine. When Kishora Gopala Das, Yuthesvari Dasi and others at the ISKCON temple in Donetsk – which, fortunately, is not in a dangerous part of the city – saw the situation escalate last year, they wanted to help citizens in affected areas. The city and especially its suburbs were under attack, buildings ruined, and communications damaged. There was no water and electricity, and food was at a shortage.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/QxRlfQ

Bhaktimarga Swami Hit By A Monk! One swami gave me a slug. Yes, in truth I got hit by a monk in the left brow and cheek. It was not ill-intended. It was an accident but at the time it felt a hard blow. What actually happened is that at the first day of the kirtan mela, the chanting fest, I was making my dance moves during the chant session. Dozens of men were following my lead when Chandramauli Swami comes in to participate. He always gravitates to the place where there’s a beat and a thump and a mantra - I commend him for that. At one point in the kirtan he broke into a wild spin and like a tornado he spun out of control and headed my way. The Maharaja apologetically said, “I stepped out of line, I’m sorry.” And of course, all was done with genuine heart. The incident had all alarmed but the dance persisted and both swamis, he and I, demonstrated a transcendence, if I could say. The hurt subsided and there were no signs of permanent damage. Life goes on, as it should, with the chant in prevalence. I think of the conviction of our guru, Srila Prabhupada, who carried on, despite being knocked over by a horned bull while on the streets in Delhi, and how on his ocean journey on the vessel “The Jaladuta” he encountered two heart attacks, but on the will of persistence, forged ahead with a mission. The apparent blow to my head was minuscule compared to what my guru has done. May the Source be with you!
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/fup4S4

Podcast:

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Lecture Outline:

1. "We have guided missiles and misguided men ..." We need inner mastery to complement the outer control provided by technology.

2. The Gita's setting demonstrates the necessity of inner mastery.

3. The Gita's message takes us beyond material appearance to spiritual substance and brings clarity and strength.

4. Gita is yoga-shastra - it connects us with higher spiritual realities and provides inexhaustible hope. eg. anchored boat

5. Arjuna's Gandiva bow - initially lowered (1.46) and finally upraised (18.76) - signifies our determination and the Gita's capacity to boost our morale. Quotes of Thoreau, Emerson and Gandhiji.

Bhagavad Gita Sloka Recitation 09.25-27 by Krishna Singh (3 min video)
Bg 9.25 yanti deva-vrata devan pitrn yanti pitr-vratah bhutani yanti bhutejya yanti mad-yajino ’pi mam
Translation by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada: Those who worship the demigods will take birth among the demigods; those who worship the ancestors go to the ancestors; those who worship ghosts and spirits will take birth among such beings; and those who worship Me will live with Me.
Bg 9.26 patram puspam phalam toyam yo me bhaktya prayacchati tad aham bhakty-upahrtam asnami prayatatmanah
Translation by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada: If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will accept it.
Bg 9.27 yat karosi yad asnasi yaj juhosi dadasi yat yat tapasyasi kaunteya tat kurusva mad-arpanam
Translation by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada: Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform – do that, O son of Kunti, as an offering to Me.
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/olh9cK

A brave group of devotees have mounted a Food For Life effort and are preparing enough vegetarian food to distribute to 600 to 800 people every day in the war-ravaged city of Donetsk, South-East Ukraine. When Kishora Gopala Das, Yuthesvari Dasi and others at the ISKCON temple in Donetsk saw the situation escalate last year, they wanted to help citizens in affected areas.

Moscow’s first ever Kirtan Mela, which ran from Friday January 30^th to Sunday February 1^st, drew nearly 2,000 devotees from around Russia – and it was a colorfuly uplifting affair on a grand scale. The event was organized by Saraswati Dasi after ISKCON guru Bhakti Bringa Govinda Swami, inspired by a “Mantra Yoga” program he attended in Moscow, expressed the desire to participate in more outreach programs there.

Blissful Kirtan Mela Day 5 in Mayapur (Album 14 photos)
See them here: http://goo.gl/CEkgkz

Gaura Purnima Festival Entertainment
This year the Gaura Purnima Festival, Main Pandal Entertainment will be held on February 28, March 1, 2, 3 & 4. The Main Pandal is located near Vamsi Bhavan. There is a number of great acts already booked to perform this year including a new production by BhaktiMarg Swami. Maharaja’s new drama, “Blue Mystic” will play at 7PM on 1st February. If you would like to perform on the main stage or know of a quality act please contact us as soon as possible.
Y.s. Damodara Pandit das
Ph: 8609 364 066
Email: yakdas@Hotmail.com

More Sannyasis-preachers for Iskcon!
Bhakti Chaitanya Swami will be awarding the order of sannyasa tomorrow(Feb 21st) to two devotees in Sri Dham Mayapur. Dhirashanta dasa from England and Ananda Chaitanya dasa from Lithuania. The ceremony will be broadcast live on Mayapur TV at 10am indian time. Please watch it if are able and offer your blessings to these devotees. In the photo Dhirashanta prabhu.