Hare Krishna! Affcap Meeting With Rajasthan’s Minister Of Cow…
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Hare Krishna! Affcap Meeting With Rajasthan’s Minister Of Cow Protection
Presently, AFFCAP is formulating a proposal for a Pilot Project with the goal of identifying this region’s registered cows. According to Ministry records, there is presently over one and a half million cows officially registered in government programs throughout the State. Of course, the devil is in the detail, but we will report back regarding our success or failure in designing and implementing the Ahimsa Verification Program throughout these first 284 gaushalas.
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Hare Krishna! Farewell to uncle Jnanagamya prabhu A writer,…
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Hare Krishna! Farewell to uncle Jnanagamya prabhu
A writer, speaker, movie maker and fighter of Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON is no more with us. The cremation took place in the all auspicious holy dham Mayapur yesterday the 17th of Feb at the Ganga, while some 150 devotees sang the holy name. His desire to leave his body in Sridham Mayapur was fulfilled and his inspiring association will be greatly missed. A few months ago on the Mayapur Forum there was discussion on devotees getting sick, their health care and death; Jnanagamya prabhu, in his usual combination of utmost sincerity and witty mood, wrote “Do Not Remove from the Dham!
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Difficult To Keep One’s Attention
→ Japa Group

It is often very difficult to keep one's attention on the holy name while chanting japa. This is because the mind is not trained to bear prolonged attention. It gets bored with the monotony of japa and runs to more pleasing things. By increasing one's interest or taste in japa, one will be able to chant attentively.

From Art Of Chanting Hare Krsna
by Mahanidhi Swami

Sivaratri, February 18, Vrindavan
Giriraj Swami

02.18.15_VdvnGiriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.30 on Sivaratri day in Vrindavan.

“Why did Lord Rama worship Lord Siva? Srila Prabhupada gives the answer that Krishna likes to worship and serve His devotees. Krishna drove the chariot of Arjuna — it doesn’t mean that Arjuna is supreme but, it means that Krishna likes to serve His devotees. Krishna worshiped the feet of Sudama Brahmana — it doesn’t mean that Sudama Brhamana is supreme but, it means that Krishna likes to serve His devotees. So, if even the Supreme Lord Himself is eager to serve and worship His devotees, then why should not one devotee be eager to serve and worship another? This is really the mood of gaudiya vaisnavism and Caitanya Mahaprabhu — Gopi-bhartur pada-kamalayor dasa-dasa-dasanudasah: I am not a brahmana, I am not a kshatriya, I am not a vaisya or a sudra. Nor am I a brahmacari, a householder, a vanaprastha or a sannyasi. I identify myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krishna, the maintainer of the gopis of Vrindavan. That is our actual identity.”

Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.24.30, Vrindavan

Hare Krishna! The Book Under My Pillow One morning in the…
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Hare Krishna! The Book Under My Pillow
One morning in the glittering city of Mumbai, India, a small girl, barely seven years old, woke up without knowing that on that day she would make a journey she had been awaiting for many millions of lifetimes. That afternoon, in 1984, she held her grandfather’s hand and walked into the complex of a gorgeous temple. Under a beautiful clear sky, she beheld sprawling gardens and heard strange yet sweet-sounding chants. She walked around the gardens, holding her grandfather’s hand and looking curiously at every passerby.
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Krishna, The Gita, and Dharma
→ NY Times & Bhagavad Gita Sanga/ Sankirtana Das



The Bhagavad-gita is considered by many sages and scholars to be the essence of all Vedic knowledge. It was spoken five thousand years ago by Lord Krishna to the warrior, prince Arjuna.  This  discourse is one of the most profound philosophical literatures in the canon of the world’s religious texts. It takes place  right before a monumental battle.  The whole story is very dramatic and is contained in the epic Mahabharata,  the classic of ancient India. The Mahabharata is eight times longer than the Iliad and Odyssey combined.  It tells about the rulers of those times and, in doing so, describes the qualities of genuine leadership and the importance of understanding Dharma.

Krishna had appeared  on the earth at the request of  Bhumi – Mother Earth – as well as the demi-gods,  in order to save the earth from the demoniac kings who sought to plunder this world.  Krishna had originality taught the principles of Dharma to the sun-god Vivasvan, millions upon millions of years earlier.  Now he had descended to the earth to re-establish those principles in the midst of turmoil.

Bhagavad gita means “The Song of God.”  Therein, Krishna describes to Arjuna  the various paths of yoga, and also the very goal of yoga. He describes karma yoga, jnana yoga, astanga yoga, and bhakti yoga. He describes the three modes of material nature (goodness, passion, ignorance) and their effect upon the living entities. He describes the divine and demoniac natures. Krishna describes the process of renunciation and transcendence. In the Gita, Krishna reveals that He is none other than the Supreme Godhead Himself.     

In one sense Arjuna is the proverbial everyman.  Krishna is offering this teaching to him as well as to all of us.  But why does Krishna specifically offer the teaching to Arjuna?  Because Arjuna is “not envious” and “seeks to be a friend to all living beings.”  In our lives, we also have to strive for this. In that way, we can turn jnana (knowledge)  into vijnana (realized knowledge).

In the end, Krishna tells  Arjuna – “I have given you this confidential knowledge, now reflect on it, and do what you think is best.”   Krishna goes on to expllain that anyone who studies and reflects upon this sacred text of Bhagavad Gita  worships God by the use of their intelligence.

Sankirtana Das (ACBSP) is a sacred storyteller, workshop leader and author of the  award-winning  Mahabharata: The Eternal Quest.  See  - www.Mahabharata-project.com

Hare Krishna! Wrestling for Krishna: A Meditation Teacher’s…
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Hare Krishna! Wrestling for Krishna: A Meditation Teacher’s Journey
How inspiration to become a devotee of Krishna came from two unlikely sources: an interest in wrestling, and words from the founder of Transcendental Meditation. As a student, I competed in the sport of wrestling for eight years, from 1963 to 1971, but happiness eluded me. In high school, even when I won the California Interscholastic Federation championship at 123 pounds, I felt strangely empty inside. At the University of California at Berkeley, wrestling was a diversion, but I couldn’t forget the Vietnam War and the countless problems that hung over my generation.
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A New Calf Born on Shiva Ratri at New Godruma Dhama Farm
→ ISKCON Malaysia

BY SIMHESWARA DASA

LANCANG, PAHANG, MALAYSIA - It was sheer delight when a new calf was born to Satyavati at our New Godruma Dhama farm this morning which coincided with Shiva Ratri. He has been aptly named "Nandi" by Gopesa Dasa a brahmacari who works at the farm. Perhaps we can have bullock cart rides at our farm once he grows and trained to pull carts. 

 

Lord Shiva becomes Gopi - Gopisvara Mahadev

Once while in deep meditation on Mount Kailash, Lord Shiva heard the sweet vibration of Krishna playing His divine flute. Mesmerized, He entered samadhi.

He followed that transcendental sound until He came to Vrindavan, where Lord Gopinath was getting ready to start the Maha Rasa-Lila with His gopis.

Desiring intensely to join the maha-rasa, when He came to the entrance of the rasa-sthali, He was stopped by Yogamaya, who told him, "No males except Krishna are allowed entry. First you must have gopi-rupa, the form of a Vraja milkmaid, a gopi, only then can you enter."

Lord Bholanath asked "How can I get gopi-rupa?" Yogamaya replied, "Seek the shelter of Vrinda Devi. She will grant you the form of a gopi."

Vrinda devi asked Lord Shiva to take a dip in the waters of Manasarovara in Vrindavana. After bathing there, Lord Shiva emerged from the lake with the form of a beautiful gopi.

Vrinda devi then took Lord Shiva in her gopi form to one corner of the rasa sthali. Lord Shiva stood there and prayed to Sri Sri Radha Krishna for getting prema-bhakti.

Then the rasa started. Lord Krishna danced with all the gopis. He also danced very elegantly with Lord Shiva disguised as a gopi.

Then after some time, when they rested, the Lord said ‘I’m not getting the usual pleasure from our rasa. Something is not right. I think there is another man in our midst." Then He asked Lalita devi to check all the gopis and make sure no man was lurking amongst them dressed as one of them.

Lalita devi went around and lifted the veils of all the hundreds of gopis but couldn’t find any man disguised as a woman. She came and reported to Krishna, "I have not found any man, but there is one gopi with three eyes." she said puzzled.

Lord Krishna asked her to bring her to Him. When the Lord saw the Shiva gopi, He laughed heartily and addressed him, "O Gopisvara, I am very pleased to see you in the form of a gopi. But you know that this rasa is not for grhastas (householders). Therefore, since you have already participated and fulfilled your desire, now I offer you the post of rasa dwara pala (gatekeeper of the rasa). I also give you the blessing that henceforth, all the gopis will offer respect to you and seek your blessing to get gopi bhava."


( This pastime is described in the Garga Samhita )

Moral of the story:

Gopisvara means Lord Shiva as the controller (isvara) of the gopis. Krishna told him to guard the entrance of the rasa dance and that no one would be allowed to enter the rasa-mandala (place of the rasa dance) without his permission.

“The gopis worshiped Lord Shiva in Vrindavan, and the lord is still staying there as Gopisvara. The gopis, however, prayed that Lord Siva bless them by giving them Lord Krsna as their husband. There is no harm in worshipping demigods, provided one’s aim is to return home, back to Godhead.” (Srimad Bhagavatam 4.30.38 purport)

“A Vaishnava’s visit to the temple of Lord Shiva is different from a non devotee’s visit. A Vaishnava sees Lord Shiva as being simultaneously one with and different from the Supreme Lord, like yogurt and milk. The Absolute Truth, God, is everything, but this does not mean that everything is God. It is said, "Vaishnavanam yatha shambhu", or that “Lord Shiva is the highest Vaishnava.”

vrindavanvani pate jaya soma soma

maule sanandana sanatana naradeya

gopishvara vraja vilasi yuganghri padme

prema prayaccha nirupadhi namo namas te

“O Shiva, O gatekeeper of Vrindavan! O you who are accompanied by Uma! O you who carry the moon in your hair! O lord worshiped by Sananda-kumar, Sanat-Kumar and Narada Muni! Ov, the worshipable deity of the gopis! Desiring that you bestow upon me love for the divine couple, Sri Sri Radha Madhava, who perform joyous pastimes in Vraja, I offer my obeisances unto you again and again.”

 

Hare Krishna! Kirtan mela in Mayapur attracts devotees…
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Hare Krishna! Kirtan mela in Mayapur attracts devotees globally
After sravan utsav, kirtan mela is the next big event happening in Mayapur. Kirtan mela adivas took place on 15th evening. HH Loknath Swami led kirtan. Devotees danced along with kirtan. HH Sacinandana Swami and HH Kadamba Kanana Swami were also present on the occasion. The venue for the kirtan mela (Panca tattva hall) has been specially decorated with a blue tent covering the ceiling. Also, Deities of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati and Srila Prabhupada are placed with flower decorations.
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The “source of all strength” revealed! Bhaktimarga…
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The “source of all strength” revealed!
Bhaktimarga Swami: The best of lunch are the chapatis that are pulled up by way of a device from one floor below. Perhaps these flat-bread circular wonders are offered optimally with and without ghee (clarified butter). We usually lunch in the Lotus Building. Wheat, a chappati’s main ingredient, is not indigenous to the area of Bengal like its’ popular rice - but it is loved. With it, you tear off with right hand a portion of it, and with that, you scoop up almost any or all of the delectables on your plate. It might be the air that touches these chapatis as they ascend from one veranda to the other that enhances the flavour. They come out as soft and tasty fibrous edibles. I know that I couldn’t live without tortillas (similar to the chappati but larger) that hold in place my raw slices of veggies to form a wrap. It’s my morning mainstay. When I see a chapati, whether on a temple kitchen grill, or on a shelf wrapped in a plastic zip-loc bag from an Indian shop, or one that’s handed to me lovingly from my support person on one of my walks - I relish those guys. It can be a labour-intensive ordeal rolling out the dough, transferring it to a grill, and then properly exposing it to a flame. Such is the methodology as executed by an incredible devotional crew, consisting of men and women, who put devotion to the task. I’ve been walking trails in the area with rice paddy field on both sides of me but I have special preference to the wheat fields that produce those delicious chapatis or rotis worthy of being offered to the deity of Krishna with love and devotion. May the Source be with you!
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A New Book: ‘Vanity Karma.’ One of my monk friends,…
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A New Book: ‘Vanity Karma.’
One of my monk friends, my senior actually, showed up the other day. He came down the trail near the brahmacari kitchen. He has that distinct build, rather thin, and walks with a grave smoothness. Jayadwaita Swami by name, is an American-born early pioneer to Krishna Consciousness in New York. He was glowing in presence when we met after a reasonably long time not having seen each other. Offering a warm smile he stretched his arm to hand me his book, an advanced copy called ‘Vanity Karma.’ “Thank you, Maharaja!” I said with genuine gratitude. I dashed off to my room in order to take that sneak peek. In the forward by Graham M. Schweig, he writes, “‘Vanity Karma’ invites us into an exploration of the meaning of life through deep philosophical reflections and a richly layered dialogue. To do this it places the book of Ecclesiastes (from the Hebrew Bible) in dialogue with the Bhagavad-gita (from the Hindu epic poem the Mahabharata) and we quickly find that this is not only an external dialogue but an inner one as well.” The author, Jayadwaita Swami, talks of his early years at Temple Sinai in New Jersey for Jewish instructions. He relays how the term ‘vanity’ was discussed based on Ecclesiastes and is generally understood as a sort of pride. Upon further deliberation of this word one teacher expressed that it refers more to the meaningless or pointlessness of the world. As Jayadwaita put it, “a man works his whole life, and what does he get for it?” Somehow Jayadwaita gingerly brings the message of the Bhagavad-gita to the fold as a person’s stepping incremental growth to finding life’s rich purpose. I’ve begun reading it. I love it.
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Kirtan mela attracts devotees globally
→ Mayapur.com

After sravan utsav, kirtan mela is the next big event happening in Mayapur. Kirtan mela adivas took place on 15th evening.  HH Loknath Swami led kirtan. Devotees danced along with kirtan.  HH Sacinandana Swami and HH Kadamba Kanana Swami were also present on the occasion. The venue for the kirtan mela (Panca tattva hall) has […]

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