Planet ISKCON

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:

Download by "right-click and save content"

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 29 April 2013, Radhadesh, Belgium, Caitanya Caritamrta, Adi Lila 9.46)

by Lilasuka dasi

New Vrindaban’s 1^st New Year’s Bhakti Retreat from Wed. evening Dec. 31, 2014 to Sun. Jan. 4, 2015 was lively and family friendly. Devotees came in from many places outside West Virginia. His Grace Gopal Hari Prabhu came from Boise, ID. Several families from Detroit, MI mandir also came to participate. His Grace Jambavan das and his wife, Samvit dasi, and their 8 children came along with some others from the Detroit crew. There were also 12 devotees from Columbus, OH.

Young and older children keeping busy.

Both resident Brijabasis and the guests eagerly participated in all aspects of the weekend, from leading kirtans to making garlands. Attendance for this 1^st Bhakti Retreat was low, but there were many high points. The children enthusiastically and expertly (sometimes spontaneously) lead kirtans throughout the weekend. New Vrindaban’s own Gauranatraj Prabhu gave an uplifting Srimad Bhagavatam class early on Friday morning. His Holiness Varsana Maharaj mesmerized and enlivened everyone with his Gaura katha late on Saturday morning. Gopal Hari Prabhu (Boise) led a soothing bhajan on New Year’s Eve and at other times, and gave a very nice Srimad Bhagavatam class on Saturday morning. He also led a couple of workshops on “Ethics in the Mahbharata”. Jambavan Prabhu gave a nice Srimad Bhagavatam class on Sunday morning. New Vrindaban’s Sankirtan Prabhu also presented his special “Voyage to the West: Why & How the Hare Krishna Movement Came to America” in preparation for 2015, commemorating the 50^th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s Journey to America.

Gopal Hari Prabhu (Boise) gives class Saturday.

Jagannatha Kirtan Prabhu led a wonderful kirtan and Malati Prabhu’s Prabhupada Katha session was very popular. Radha devi (NV) and Sundari (Pgh) prepared sumptuous prasadam for everyone throughout the retreat.

Sumptuous Prasad

Many who participated in the New Vrindaban Bhakti Retreat assured us that they will come back to next year’s Retreat and bring their friends. They commented that this was the best way imaginable to bring in a new year – by associating intimately with the Lord’s devotees in the beautiful Radha Vrindaban Chandra Mandir, and by hearing Krsna katha to their heart’s content.

Making flower garlands during Varsana M’s class

Varsana M giving class

A few days ago, the first Hindu was sworn in as a Member of Congress for the second time. An American national from Hawaai with a military history, she took her oath by laying her hand on the Bhagavad Gita, the ‘As It Is’ version with extensive commentary by Srila A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

Tulsi Gabbard, the first ever Hindu lawmaker, took her oath on the Bhagavad-gita as the 114th session of the US Congress began. She was administered the oath of office by the Speaker of the House of Representatives John Boehner.

A new Pew Research Centre study said there is relatively little change in the overall religious makeup of Congress.

More than nine-in-ten members of the House and Senate (92 per cent) are Christian, and about 57 per cent are Protestant, roughly the same as in the 113th Congress (90 per cent and 56 per cent, respectively). About three-in-ten members (31 per cent) are Catholic, the same as in the previous Congress.

Buddhists, Muslims and Hindus combined represent roughly two per cent of American adults and one per cent of Congress.

Bhagavatam-daily podcast:

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Holy Name Meditation Podcast:

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Penang Ratha Yatra (Album 38 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Nowadays people are very much inclined to the meditational process, which is not practical in this age, but if anyone practices meditating on Krishna twenty-four hours a day by chanting the Hare Krishna mantra round his beads, he is surely the greatest meditator and the greatest yogi.
(Bhagavad-Gita, 9.27 Purport)
See them here: http://goo.gl/Qem0dG

Mayapur Local Preaching Picnic
For the pleasure of their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Madhav, Pancatattva, Prahlad-Nrisimhadev and Srila Prabhupada, Mayapur Local Preaching held its annual picnic festival on 28th December, 2014. We had 350 participants, namely, Bhakti Vriksha members, and well wishers. The program was held at Sri Rajapur Jagannath Temple (ISKCON). This years picnic program was focused on the Bhakti Vriksha members reciprocating between themselves with spiritually enthusiastic entertainment. Srila Prabhupada personally desired this type of reciprocation, as is mentioned in his credence of the seven purposes of ISKCON, one of the seven being “to bring the members of the society more closer….” Regarding that purpose, the program had been designed with various events as follows: Starting at 10:45 AM with Mangalacaran, Harinam and Gaudiya bhajan giti, followed by a short lecture and certificate distribution by the director of MLP department His Grace Sankarsan Nitai Prabhu. Then under the guidance of His Grace Ananda Bardhan Prabhu, we had a ‘quiz contest’. This was an interesting, encouraging and spiritually brain warming program for all the Bhakti Vriksha members. The quiz lasted around 1 hour and in between there was short dance program by a young girl from Caitanya Bhakti Vriksha Gosthi.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/EW9bjE

The Name On A Full Stomach (10 min video)
Today the Mayapur harinam party goes out chanting. It’s been doing so for 3 to 4 hours everyday since March 2006; every week, and every month of every year.
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/d6O2fK

May 20^th, 1969 – A small cluster of devotees waited at the entrance to the rural West Virginia property, hearts beating with anticipation. As the Lincoln town car turned the corner, they hit the gravel driveway in obeisance. Srila Prabhupada stepped out of the car. “Oh, there are many waiting here,” he said, looking around with a smile that lit up his entire face. “Jai Sri Krishna!”

Programme organised by Manthana and Mythic Society, Bengaluru.

Srila Prabhupada Murti Worship (14 min video)
This fourteen-minute video shows the daily puja of a small brass deity of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The performer of the puja is Hari Sauri Das, well known in ISKCON for acting as Srila Prabhupada’s personal servant for a period of sixteen months, from November 1975 to March 1977. The running commentary is provided by Hari Sauri Prabhu himself, clarifying details of the proceedings as they unfold in the video. The full-length daily puja and arati, lasting around 25 minutes, was edited down to fifteen minutes for best viewing results. Produced by BhakTV, at the request of Srila Prabhupada Position Committee (SPPC), in service to The GBC Strategic Planning Team (SPT).
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/mxSV4N

It was Star Wars, with its theme of a transcendental “force”, which opened up mainstream American culture to Indian esotericism more than anything else.

Krishna Mountain (Trailer, 7min video)
Finally the awaited trailer has come. The final draft will be premiered in February 2015 at Sri Mayapur in India.
It’s a feature-length documentary on the spectacular upsurge of visitors to the Govardhan Hill, in Braj. Why do millions of people go around this sacred hill? Why only now?
Attention!! Finding this out could lead you to join a crowd of high-spirited pilgrims on the 21km trail around the hill :-)
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/LP6t6D

In Mattur ordinary shopkeepers and agricultural labourers speak in Sanskrit - or at least understand it. Most children too speak the language fluently.

Music: S.K.M BEATS - Yuga Dharma (featuring Aindra Dasa). Filmed, edited: Sim

Swansea istagosti.

The post The nectar and the challenges of book distribution (Part 1) appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

The Dhal, Batti And Churma - Winter Festival In Braj! (Album 11 photos)
All over Braja, locals are celebrating winter with the famous winter feast…..dhal, batti and churma feast. According to tradition this feast heats up the body and keeps the locals warm for the rest of winter. The excess use of ghee is the secret. Everything tasted divine except for the hot chillies in the chutney!! But the brajabasi’s loved it!!
See them here: http://goo.gl/Ajr2aW

Devotees perform Harinama distribute books and prasadam at Metro Centrum Warszawa, Poland (Album 49 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: These are the symptoms of one who chants the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Although he is very exalted, he thinks himself lower than the grass on the ground, and like a tree, he tolerates everything in two ways. When a tree is cut down, it does not protest, and even when drying up, it does not ask anyone for water. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 20.22-23)
See them here: http://goo.gl/Dw2GG2

Marco Zaror, Actor and best martial artist of Chile receives transcendental literature!
Srila Prabhupada: One who thinks himself lower than the grass, who is more tolerant than a tree, and who does not expect personal honor but is always prepared to give all respect to others can very easily always chant the holy name of the Lord. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 20.21)

ISKCON Ipoh, Malaysia - Sri Vaikuntha Ekadasi 2015 (Album 30 photos)
Hare Krishna Food for Life Centre, Buntong, Ipoh where Sri Srinivasa Govinda deity has been installed.
See them here: http://goo.gl/GIDBAb

This week’s challenge: Who is this?

Bonus challenge: What’s he doing and when was the photo taken?

What to do: Post your guesses on the “who, what, when, where & why” in the comment section at the New Vrindaban Facebook page.

A short video to give a people a taste of kirtan. For more videos please visit www.enoughmagazine.org. This video was produced by Bhakti Lounge - www.bhaktilounge.org.nz.

Though we act as spiritual doctors, we are undoubtedly patients as well.  After a month of sharing spirituality with others, now comes an opportunity to do some soul-searching and reflect on whether I’m walking the talk.