BY JAI SITA RANI DEVI DASI

SUBANG JAYA - Inspired by the success of Kirtan Mela in Malaysia, the youths from Klang and Kuala Lumpur gathered at one of the youth's home in Subang Jaya to start a monthly gathering of spiritual and fun bliss called "Bhakti Groove."

Bhakti means devotion emphasizing the mutual intense emotional attachment and love of a devotee towards the Supreme Lord, Sri Krishna. Groove in the urban dictionary is an adjective describing a rhythmic quality of music that is emotionally communicative and soulful.

The combination of both words "Bhakti Groove" formed a mystical formula of invocation, assisting communion with Sri Krishna.

The enthusiastic youths began the session with kirtan from Rasika, a devotee from France who was visiting Kuala Lumpur, and was followed by Gauravani Dasa who kept the youth singing out loudly the names of the Lord with all their hearts to the music tempo.

Gadadhara Pandit Dasa then shared the sweet pastimes he had with HH BB Govinda Swami during the Kirtan Mela that was organized, his experience preaching in the prison, encouraging words and anecdotes he received from HH Jayapataka Swami and HH Radhanath Swami, all which emphasized the urgent need for the youth to take up the mission of Caitanya's seriously and to inundate the world with the message of Godhead. And he said it should all begin with preaching to as many people they meet about Krishna Consciousness.

After a good meal with spagetti with tomato sauce, pasta with creamy white sauce plus spinach, potato gnocchi, quesadilla, chocolate cake, blueberry cupcakes, peanut cookies and local delicacies, the very vibrant youth then played an interactive game called "George", which was Krishna-ized and called, "Krishna", which brought about peals of laughter and formed an even stronger bond among them.

Horse driven cart preparing hay, New Vrindaban – 1974.

“It may be an ideal village where the residents will have plain living and high thinking.” – Srila Prabhupada, June 1968

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

The post January 24th, 2015 – Vasant Panchami Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast

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Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast

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Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast:

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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 28 September 2014, Durban, South Africa, Sunday Feast Lecture) 

Srila Prabhupada was working and still he was very conscious of Krsna. As a householder, in 1944, in the middle of the war, he produced ‘The Back to Godhead’ magazine’. That was not easy, in fact it was very difficult because it was hard to get the money and it was even harder to get the paper because paper was controlled by the army.

Prabhupada went to an army officer and he said, “Sir, I need paper to print my magazine.” The officer said, “We are very sorry Mr De. It is very nice that you are doing such a thing, but at the moment there is a war and all the paper is reserved for the purpose of the war. Because at the moment, our paper mills are not running and we may run out of paper and we just really need to keep this paper for military purposes – for the war.”

Prabhupada said, “Exactly, therefore you must give me paper because my newspaper will bring peace. It will bring an end to the war.” In 1944, Srila Prabhupada produced ‘The Back to Godhead’ magazine and he got the paper from that officer.

———————–
Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Sri Caitanya caritamrta madhya-lila 1.55 during the Ratha-yatra morning program.

TRANSLATION
Having shown the verse to Svarupa Damodara with great wonder, Caitanya Mahaprabhu asked him how Rupa Gosvami could understand the intentions of His mind.

PURPORT
We had the opportunity to receive a similar blessing from Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami when we presented an essay at his birthday ceremony. He was so pleased with that essay that he used to call some of his confidential devotees and show it to them. How could we have understood the intentions of Srila Prabhupada?
—Cc Madhya-lila 1. 171 purport

GIRIRAJ SWAMI: “So, this is a very good question Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu asks Swarup Damodar Goswami. ‘How could Rupa Goswami have understood my mind?’ And, Srila Prabhupada asks the same question; ‘How could I have understood the mind of Srila Prabhupada?’ (His spiritual master Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur). The basic answer comes in a verse quoted in Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu.

atah sri-krishna-namadi
na bhaved grahyam indriyaih
sevonmukhe hi jihvadau
svayam eva sphuraty adah
—Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.234

“Everything about Krishna — His name, forms, qualities and pastimes — is transcendental. So, how can we understand Him? By engaging in service beginning with the tongue Krishna reveals Himself. By selfless service Krishna reveals Himself.”

Ratha yatra morning class, Juhu

Bhagavatam-daily Podcast:
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Dramatic increase for the third year in a row for book distribution in USA!!
Distribution of ISKCON Founder Srila Prabhupada’s books in North America has made another dramatic increase for the third year in a row!
And there’s no sign of stopping. At the North American GBC and Temple Presidents’ meetings in Dallas, Texas this past weekend, leaders again set a goal of another 10%.
With Vaisesika’s encouragement, temple presidents and leaders have assembled ISKCON North America’s centers together as one team with one common goal over the past three years. In 2012 they set a goal of a 20% increase, in 2013 a goal of another 20% increase on top of that, and in 2014 another 10% increase. Despite the challenge of reaching percentage increases from higher and higher base numbers, North American devotees have smashed their goals each year. In 2012 they reached 26.5%, in 2013, 28%, and in 2014, 11.5%.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/zilDPR

India’s next gift to the world could be Vedic mathematics!
Vedic mathematics, a set of supposedly ancient techniques that help even the most numerically challenged to conquer difficult sums, is surging in popularity as government ministers claim that they could hold the key to better education. From next month, three Indian universities will begin to offer courses in Vedic calculations while home-learners can watch an entire television channel devoted to the subject on one of India’s digital networks. Several thousand teachers have been recruited for private college courses. Its supporters believe Vedic maths could become a major export like yoga and curry. The rising popularity of Vedic maths is partly because of a renewed campaign by the nationalist prime minister, Narendra Modi, to lay India’s claim to the cornerstones of human knowledge. He marked India’s successful mission to Mars last year by claiming its ancient Vedic scientists had conceived of air travel thousands of years before the Wright Brothers made their first flight. It was a reference to a disputed ’veda’ which described ancient air travel between Indian cities and to other planets.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/JwlS1M

Brief Memorial Service in Honor of the 30thAnniversary of the passing of Her Grace Sankara dasi

Sankara dasi-January 5th, 1946 – January 25th, 1985

When:                 Sunday Jan. 25, 2015

Time:                   1:30 PM, Before the Sunday Feast

Where:               RVC Temple Room

If you had the honor of knowing this very sweet Brijabasi, Sankara dasi, or just want to get inspired by hearing a bit about her, please attend this short talk in her memory.

Memorial bench at the feet of Gaur Nitai statues (bottom left corner)

Close-up of memorial bench dedicated in 2005 by her five children.

Holy Name Meditation Podcast:

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Sri Mayapur International School students speak about what makes a good teacher (6 min video)
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/lHQpxm

A 90-minute dance drama from Srimad Bhagavatam in Mumbai (Album 40 photos)
Indradyumna Swami:By popular demand we held two showings of ‘Usha and Aniruddha’ on the 1st day of our program in Mumbai; one in the morning for high school students and the other in the evening for a number of Mumbai’s elite personalities. A total of 1,200 guests. I only had time for a few photos, as I was busy overseeing the production.
See them here: http://goo.gl/Usmnvg

Vedic mathematics, a set of supposedly ancient techniques that help even the most numerically challenged to conquer difficult sums, is surging in popularity.

6 Hour Kirtan in London - Feel Your Heart Smile!
Russell Brand does it. So does Jennifer Aniston. Oprah can’t get enough. - Have you tried mantra meditation?
On the 14th February we’ll celebrate our first 6 Hour Kirtan of 2015!! Join us from 1pm-7pm for another unforgettable experience.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/w6ZG9P

Distribution of ISKCON Founder Srila Prabhupada’s books in North America has made another dramatic increase for the third year in a row. At this point, says Sankirtan Strageist Vaisesika Das, “It’s no fluke.” According to Vaisesika, the increase in book distribution has resulted not only in new people becoming devotees, but also in a renaissance of programs to care for these new devotees.

“Burritos are perhaps the most 'addictive' thing that we are distributing. People become ecstatic, overwhelmed and attracted to Krishna. They are made so well that it is hard to give them out because our devotees might eat them even before we distribute them. So we need to lock our burrito box until we get to the site,” Hari Vilas Das said.

Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast:

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Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast:

Download by "right-click and save content"

Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast:

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"After a lifetime of jobs, family, responsibilities and social interaction, they live as lone mendicants in this holy land, probably with a vow to never leave."

Empathy, respect, trust, courage and gratitude are the five values representing the heart of the University of Cambridge primary school.

The post January 23rd, 2015 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Students will be awarded with a certificate by successfully completing the course. Attendees can experience devotional lifestyle at Bhaktivedanta Manor amongst devotees and likeminded students. They learn to build up a regular sadhana (devotional practice), attending daily morning and evening program at the temple.

Kirtan band Krishna Sambandha were invited to hold a Krishna conscious outreach program for inmates at the San Miguel women’s prison in Santiago, Chile on January 19^th. The band plays concerts regularly all over Chile at prestigious theaters, cultural events and massive yoga retreats with audiences of 5,000 to 7,000 people. They also hold programs in hospitals, nursing homes, children’s homes, and of course prisons.

Iskcon Temple Presidents and members of the Governing Body Comission meet at the Old Sanctuary, Radha-Kalachandji Temple, Dallas, Texas, 22 January 2015 to plan how to spread Lord Chaitanya’s movement.

The North European BBT is happy to announce that "Prabhupada: Your Ever Well-Wisher" by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami is now available at bbtmedia.com. The narrator is Michael Scherer.

Bhakta Josh Joins Our New Raman Reti Iskcon Temple in Alachua, USA.
Bhakta Josh has been with us for some months now, after reading Srila Prabhupada’s books for three years prior. Inspired by the philosophy and a transcendental lifestyle, he came to us eager to participate more deeply in devotional life. He appreciates and is always deepening his understanding of the philosophy, and is particularly enlivened by book distribution and preaching - sharing with others the treasure he has received.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/OQsNeZ

Festivities at ISKCON Sydney (Album 22 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Once can be free from all sinful reactions after reaching a place of pilgrimage, but one can have the same benefit at home or at any other place simply by chanting the holy name of the Lord. (Srimad Bhagavatam 2.7.15)
See them here: http://goo.gl/Ce0Xmb