Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast

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**Please take note. On Day 4, 19 February, Kadamba Kanana Swami will lead kirtan at 21:00 IST**

Kirtan Mela in Mayapur takes place from 16-20 February. Below is the schedule for Days 1-5 according to Indian standard time (i.e. GMT +5.5). A live stream will be available on www.mayapur.tv

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast

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During this morning’s lecture I shared with the audience a few verses from the Paduka Sahasram of Sri Vedanta Deshika. Its a mammoth poem of 1,000 verses glorifying the footwear of God.

The work is not something the Gaudiya Vaishnavas recite regularly; Vedanta Deshika is in the line of teachers coming from Sri Ramanujacarya, but his poetry is so inspired and imbued with devotion, the listener cannot help but rise up in consciousness of God by hearing it.

That morning’s Srimad Bhagavatam class described how the devotees of Ramachandra were concerned that His soft feet might be hurt by the thorns of the forest, and our discussion covered the reason why the feet of God are even more important than His face. So I thought some verses would add to our meditation. Deshika was also a great devotee of Ramachandra, so here are a few thoughts of Deshika – in English – from the verses I read.

He says: “I salute my guru and the sandals, both of which are attached to the feet of the Lord.”

“Bharata, the brother of the Lord, was the first to take the Lord’s sandals upon his head. In this way he is the leader of all those who worship the sandals of the Lord.”

Above: Bharata takes the sandals of Rama before his brother leaves for a 14-year forest exile

“When you place the sandals of the Lord upon your head, you also have the foot-dust of the Lord on your head. This means you can distribute this dust to all your disciples.”

“Without any partiality, the sandals are on my head, as well as the Upanishads. There is discrimination.”

“One who remains standing after seeing the Lord’s sandals (one who does not bow down) will be lowered anyway (by misfortune or death), and one who lowers himself to bow down will be raised up. Why, even the Lord Himself is raised up by His sandals!”

“If the entire sky became writing paper, and the seven oceans became ink, and even if Adisesha with his thousands of heads was the reciter of the poetry, only then would the glories of the Lord’s sandals be recounted.”

“The sandals smell of the Komai flowers adorning the head of Lord Shiva. Why is this? Because Shiva always has his head at your feet.”

“My dear Lord, your feet:
– removed the curse of Ahalya, turning a stone into a beautiful woman;
– destroyed chakatasura;
– measured the universe as you took three steps in your Vamana incarnation;
– brought forth the Ganga river.

“My dear friends, if you wear the sandals of the Lord on your head, you too can wear the crescent moon on your head (like Lord Shiva) and you too can sit on a lotus flower seat (like Lord Brahma) for you will be numbered among the gods.”

“If you have taken the Lord’s shoes just once upon your head, Yamaraja’s servants will have nothing to do with you, for the Lord of Death will keep them under restraint. The lines on your hands will become rearranged so that you have a golden future.”

“When you devotees bow their heads with you upon them, they merely have to reach out their fingers and they’ll be able to touch Vaikuntha.”

“The mercy of the Lord takes the form of these sandals!”

“These sandals serve as the chains to bind the ten maddened elephants of the senses; they are the bolt-rod of the door of Hell itself, keeping it firmly closed; they are the champion of all the surrendered souls.”

Above: Lord Rama’s shoes are placed upon a shatari which the devotees place upon their heads.

Harinama in the city of Bath, UK (Album 39 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Kirtanad eva krsnasya mukta-sangah param vrajet [SB 12.3.51] Simply by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, one becomes free from the bondage of material existence and thus becomes eligible to return home, back to Godhead. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 9.14.48 Purport)
See them here: http://goo.gl/yKRlSi

His Holiness Giriraj Swami recalls the TOVP project during Srila Prabhupda’s time and relates many pastimes with him in this regard. He believes that ISKCON is now ready for this project and encourages all devotees to take it seriously. It will be one of the great wonders of the world and people from all over the world will come to see it.

The post His Holiness Giriraj Swami Speaks About the TOVP appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Bhakti Anugraha Janardana Swami urges devotees all over the world to help the TOVP project, ISKCON’s most important project which will help validate to the world in general the significance of the Hare Krishna Movement.

The post His Holiness Bhakti Anugraha Janardana Swami Speaks About the TOVP appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Bhakti Purushottama Maharaja implores us, just as Ambarisa prabhu has taken so seriously his instruction from Srila Prabhupada to build the TOVP, so all devotees in ISKCON should come together and take this instruction to heart. And if you want your own temple to flourish, give to the TOVP and your temple will benefit also.

The post His Holiness Bhakti Purushottama Swami Speaks About the TOVP appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Atmanivedana Maharaja stresses that the TOVP is not just another ISKCON temple or Hindu temple, but is meant to establish the actual fact of the entire creation as expressed in the Srimad Bhagavatam. This will give the world the true understanding of what the creation is all about. The TOVP is a prophecy in the making and we have the unique opportunity to be a part of that.

The post His Holiness Atmanivedana Swami Speaks About the TOVP appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

His Holiness Jayapataka Swami talks about a time when Srila Prabhupada mentions how each acharya had done something for Mayapur Dhama, and that he also was trying to do something for the Dhama. It was Srila Prabhupada’s desire to manifest this adbhuta mandir as predicted by the acharyas and Lord Nityananda.

The post His Holiness Jayapataka Maharaja Speaks About the TOVP appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

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, the International Fundraising Director, announcing the TOVP Tour starting in North America in mid-March 2015.

The post North American GBC and Temple Presidents Speak About the TOVP appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Sivarama Swami magnifies the point that the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium is the emblem of the instrument by which we are to dismantle the misleading philosophy of the materialistic scientists which has come to bewilder the whole world. We must be able to show the scientific basis of Krishna consciousness in order to substantiate the version of reality presented in all the Vedic literature. Aside from our personal worship of the Lord, that is the purpose of the TOVP.

The post His Holiness Sivarama Swami Speaks About the TOVP appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Invitation for lunch with Jayapataka Swami at the Lotus Building Roof Top in Mayapur (Album 27 photos)
His Holiness Jayapataka Swami invited His Holiness Radhanath Swami, His Holiness Niranjana Swami and His Holiness Sivarama Swami for lunch @ His residence — Lotus Building Roof Top
See them here: http://goo.gl/DBWsg5

Hare Krishna! What a saint learned from a prostitute
While prostitutes are often depicted negatively in traditional literature, some religious texts depict them positively as testimonies to the transformational potency of divine grace. Thus, in the Gospel is found a story of a prostitute (considered by some to be Mary Magdalene) who was redeemed by Jesus. In Gaudiya Vaishnava literature such as the Chaitanya Charitamrita comes the story of the saint Haridasa Thakura, who delivered a prostitute who had been commissioned to orchestrate his fall.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15577

Hare Krishna! Krishna Consciousness: The Golden Opportunity
The Golden Avatar delivered the gold standard of spiritual practices for this age. In general, people like gold. It represents wealth and success. A golden age refers to an era of goodness and plenty, acknowledged in Greek, Roman, and Indian cultures. If you have everything, you were born with a golden spoon in your mouth. The Golden Rule is the epitome of cosmic justice or fairness: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. As the saying goes, “As good as gold.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15574

Huge donation received for the Temple of Vedic Planetarium!
Below is a letter from a sincere donor.
Dear Vaishnavas,
During book distribution in railway station; two small boys and a girl … all were about 8 - 6 years. I asked them to please donate some money for TOVP temple. In one line of explanation they got convinced. Three of them had handed over 1 rupee each from there begging pot ( all were beggar ). They gave me these three rupee … for us it is like a drop [in the] ocean, but for these big hearted … it was life and soul.
Another two rupee coin … I collected from [a] person … who was collecting money for Shanidev.
I am adding 500 rupees from my side as a drop to the ocean of donation given by these big hearted souls.
My only request [to] you … is to please utilize it in exclusive manner … considering as it … as golden bricks..
Please bless me so that, … I may go back home back to Godhead and engage in serving the devotees of devotees of devotees … of devotees assisting Srimati Radharani.
Your servant,
Piyush
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/u5P2MK

Srila Prabhupada and Prasadam (Kitchen religion?) (Album 107 photos)
A beautiful compilation of Srila Prabhupada preparing, distributing or honoring prasadam.
See them here: http://goo.gl/kzvceG

Hare Krishna! From Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir: HH Badrinarayan Goswami
I was at one of our temples. The archetype hippies showed up with bells and long hair in a pony tail. It was a husband and wife, couple. The wife’s name was Wish. His name was Comet. So naturally I asked, “Where did you get those names?” They said that they gave them to themselves. So naturally I asked why. The wife said, “Because I’m always saying that I wish I had this, I wish I was there, I wish, I wish, I wish.” So naturally I asked the husband, “Where’d you get the name Comet?” He said, “I’m flying around the world this way and that way, trying to fulfill her wishes.”
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15572

Discussion and questions.

The post Prabhupada’s authority appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Preaching in Sweden.
Monday, February 9, we held three lectures on the Brinell in Fagersta.
Anneli, who are teachers of religion, will retire in the spring.
We have known each other since 1980 and I have visited her classes almost every year.
Stone, who is a faithful parishioner of Fagersta, drove me to the train. He’ll visit Almvik yard on 14 March and talk about their successful vegetable crops in Fagersta.
It was distributed 44 “Nectar Equal instructions” and the Srimad Bhagavatam set in Fagersta.
Mukunda das

The devotees of Bangkok preaching in a kids orphanage (9 min video)
The kids chanted along with us and the caretaker also accepted Bhagavat Gita books to read and teach the kids.
Some of the kids were blind too. This is a great opportunity for the kids to serve the Lord by chanting.
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/Qrj6Sw

The post February 15th, 2015 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Festival of the Chariots - Melbourne 2015 (Album 363 photos)
See them here: http://goo.gl/T7VyGn

Hare Krishna! Visiting Trinidad with H.G. Deena Bandhu Prabhu
The people originating from India who have been residing in Trinidad for generations have been cut off from India due to circumstances. However, it was enlivening to see that they kept their original Vedic culture intact in so many ways. Through time they forgot their native Indian languages and English has become their only language of communication. The devotees at Trinidad were extremely loving and caring and they made Deena Bandhu Prabhu’s stay very homely due to their hospitality and caring nature.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15567

HG Hari Kirtan Dasa – CCM 19.160 – 07.02.2015

“I am sure this Prasadam attraction will make our neighbors friendly and surely they will come in number in future so that New Vrindaban will be ideal place for visiting from the neighboring provinces [&] counties.” – Srila Prabhupada, 1968.

Click here to read the rest of the letter at the Vanipedia website.

Holy Name Meditation Podcast:

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ftp://spiritualscientist@thespiritualscientist.com/thespiritualscientist.com/2.0/audio/Japa%20Prayers/2015%20meditations/02-15%20meditations/Gauranga%20Shata%20Nama%204%20-%20Those%20who%20delude%20the%20Lord%20get%20deluded%20by%20him.mp3

Palace Renovation

By Nityodita das

Recently there was a flurry of pictures online of the Grand Opening of Srila Prabhupada’s Palace, 1979.  The memories evoked from those photos reminded me of the wonderful years spent rendering concrete (pun intended) service there and the community momentum that was built alongside its construction. 

In 1980,  I, along with several devotees were interviewed by BTG magazine and they quoted me as saying that my experience was that building the Palace actually built us into devotees! It was way more than a construction project, it was devotional training in the art of offering love to guru and Krsna! 

Now that the Palace is undergoing major renovation work by hired professionals , I was contemplating how to generate, at least in my own heart, a revival of the original enthusiasm of those special days leading up to and immediately following the several years of grand festivals at the Palace. 

As I was praying, a tiny group of devotees, Trevor, Kalpa, Daivata were pulling me with their invitations to the Palace to attend Prabhupada’s Mangal arotik at 6am. I was torn, as that was my japa time. But after a few days, I agreed to go…just one day….just to “encourage” them. Lol 

But what happened though was truly amazing! Although, there was only a handful of us, the transcendental acoustics generated by the enthusiastic singing of Samsara Davanala Lidha Loka……in the temple room somehow super amplified our voices and I had to look up towards the dome to make sure I wasn’t missing the presence of any demigods singing!  The intimacy I felt between us kirtaneers, who were chanting and dancing with abandon, seemed like something out of Chaitanya lila. This heart to heart feeling was enhanced by Prabhupada’s powerful presence magnified by the compactness of the sacred space of his gold and marbled temple room. 

Prabhupada’s Palace main temple room.

This Kirtan transported me back to a place of intense joy and service, the Grand Opening………..of the heart. This renovation is universal! It is available for all! No previous experience necessary, no resumés required! The only tools needed are your hands for clapping or making music, legs for dancing and voice for singing! No professional chanters needed! 

Now,  I regularly attend Prabhupada’s Mangala arotik every day that I am at New Vrindavan, have made it a regular part of my sadhana and am humbly inviting everyone to help renovate Prabhupada’s Palace! 

Hare Krishna! http://www.dandavats.com/?p=15564

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Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast

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Bhagavatam-daily Podcast

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Mayapur’s devotee elefants (Album 35 photos)
See them here: http://goo.gl/4PO6Aw