Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Massive Prasad distribution in Hungary by Iskcon devotees (Album 23 photos)
December 24th and 25th, hot meals and about 10 tons of solid food were distributed. Thanks to all the contributors and enthusiastic volunteers who care about people so much.
See them here: http://goo.gl/bzWa4N
24.12.2014 H.G.B.A.Janardhan Swami_BG-9.6
Holy Name Meditation Podcast:
Vaikuṇṭha is the most desirable abode. Everything there is absolute unity in tangible form. The All-Attractive Original Person, whom words yearn to describe, personally resides there, exhibiting radiantly pure existence and showering his companions with ever-increasing joy.
Everyone there has a body free from limitation or trouble. They have no duty except to follow their constant inspiration to adore Hari.
The trees of that wonderful realm fulfill all wishes in response to the sound of Hari’s all-auspicious name…
I was not aware of this detail before, “in response to the sound of Hari’s all-auspicious name.” I always knew that Vṛndāvana trees are kalpa-vṛkṣa (wishing-trees), but I didn’t know how to “rub the genie-bottle.” The gist of this detail is that we have to chant Krishna’s name to have our wishes fulfilled. One who chants for a devotee attains every blessing.
…In the forests of that realm, all of nature’s seasons are resplendently beautiful and opulent.
This is pramāṇa for the Goswāmī’s description of Vṛndāvana having six seasonal forests.
The place abounds with delightful fragrances of so many exotic flowers, but all of them respectfully worship Tulasī, because, after great effort, she gained the honor of always being worn as Hari’s necklace.
Their fragrance of the residents of that realm makes even the honey of blossoming lotus flowers feel envious. They wander in splendid vehicles, constantly singing amongst friends about Hari’s deeds, glorifying him as their faultless husband.
Aindra prabhu’s activities in New York city prior to coming to Vṛndāvana mirror these. He created a splendid vehicle and traveled about glorifying Krishna in madhurya-kīrtan amongst his friends.
Everyone in that abode sings together in kīrtan ~ even the turtle-doves, cuckoos, swans, cakravāka, cranes, partridges, and peacocks. But they all stop to listen when the foremost of all bumblebees begins very loudly singing Hari Kathā!
Perhaps the “foremost of bumblebees” is the supreme bhakti-rasa-āśrayī, Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī?
Everyone there is exclusively devoted to Hari’s feet. They cannot be stimulated by any selfish lust because their entire existence is enrapt in Krishna.
This is pramāṇa that we who are currently enrapt in selfish lust did not literally have a former position directly active in Vaikuṇṭha.
Thus, with voluptuous hips in delightful postures and coy smiles decorating their beautiful faces, they laugh intimately with Hari as they travel together in vehicles made of gold, emerald, and opal.
This is very special. First Brahmā stipulates that there is no scope for lust, then he describes how the Lakṣmīs/gopīs therefore can fully utilize sensual, romantic beauty for the delight of Śrī Hari. It is fundamentally different in character from the sensuality we are familiar with, which is fully scoped within lust. The primary trait evidencing this distinction is that it is very carefree.
The Goddess of Personified Beauty, whose blessing everyone works hard to attain, wanders amidst the crystal golden hallways of Hari’s house, creating beautiful music with the bells on her lotus feet, and holding a lotus in her hand.
Everyone is looking for beauty and love, but beauty and love (personified as Śrī Rādhā) is looking for (and eternally finding) All-Attractive Hari. Therefore if we look for All-Attractive Hari, we will automatically find beauty and love.
We have to endeavor with concentration to create musical beauty, but musical beauty which surpasses the compositions of history’s greatest virtuosos effortlessly emanates from Śrī Rādhā’s ankle bells.
When she sees herself reflected in the sparkling walls, she sees a maidservant sweeping the halls, because her humble heart is so faultless and pure.
Isn’t this so nice? Rādhārāṇī is the origin of all virtues. The essence of beauty is the service of the all attractive. Śrī Rādhā sees her most beautiful quality as her desire to serve him in any way. Thus she sees a broom in her hand, rather than a lotus.
The friends who surround her worship Hari with Tulasī garlands in their own forest gardens.
This is pramāṇa against the notion that Śrī Rādhā’s friends and servants never have any personal association with Hari directly.
On coral sands bordering ponds of pristine, nectarean water, they glance at the reflection of their faces. When they see their incredibly beautiful hair and faultlessly refined nose, they think, “Hari’s kisses are the elixir of our beauty!”
The ultimate cosmetic is kṛṣṇādharāmṛta – the nectar from Krishna’s kisses.
This is from Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, Canto Three, Chapter 15, Texts 13 ~ 22
Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Madhya-lila 15 text 158.
“Srila Vasudeva Datta knew very well that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was the original Personality of Godhead, Transcendence itself, above the material conception of illusion and maya. Lord Jesus Christ certainly finished the sinful reactions of his followers by his mercy, but that does not mean he completely delivered them from the pangs of material existence. A person may be relieved from sins once, but it is a practice among Christians to confess sins and yet commit them again. By getting freed from sins and again engaging in them, one cannot attain freedom from the pangs of material existence. A diseased person may go to a physician for relief, but after he leaves the hospital he may again be infected due to his unclean habits. Thus material existence continues.” — CC Madhya 15.163 purport.
“Giriraj Swami: We have the same tendency: to abuse the provisions of the scripture — and that is offensive — to commit sin on the strength of the chanting of the Holy Name. We make a transgression on either the subtle or gross level and think that because we are devotees and are chanting the Holy Names we won’t have to suffer the reaction. We take to the process of Krishna consciousness, we surrender to the spiritual master, we become free from sinful reactions but we have to be very careful not to engage again. The best protection is to keep association with devotees. Otherwise if we start straying from the association and get influenced by other people — man is a social animal, they will have different ideas and we can fall away. We have to cling very closely to the association of devotees. And from that position of strength we can go out and help others.”
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 10 October 2014, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 3.3.18)
There was a pujari in Mayapur, in the early days, worshipping Radha Madhava. He was a grhasta; he had a family and a few children.
One day, he went to an astrologer and an astrologer who looked at his chart and his palm and he said, “Oh, within three months from now, you will leave your family and you will start a new family.”
He said, “Ah, come on, you know. Nah, that is too much!” Time went by. Six months went by. Nothing happened. “He is a useless astrologer.”
One day, he was again in Calcutta and he walked passed the astrologer and he thought, “Let me drop in and let me tell him that his prediction did not come true.”
So he said, “You know, you made that prediction within three months, I shall leave my family etc. etc. Nothing happened. Six months passed. Nothing happened.”
The astrologer said, “Okay. Let me do a calculation and see why.”
So, he did a calculation and he said, “According the calculation, it shows that the deity that you are worshipping has protected you.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I could have said that also.” So he did not immediately believe it.
But then, then shortly after that he got a business offer and the business offer meant that he had to move to Calcutta. He gave up his service to the deity that he had been worshipping for many years, Radha Madhava in Mayapur. He went to do business and then it happened! Within two months, this lady appeared and somehow or other, it was Kamadeva, Cupid and this and that and you know, and he left his family and he left everything and started a new life, somewhere else. Okay, that may happen and I mean, I hope that everything is going well for him and for everyone else. The reason why I am telling this story is to show that the deity actually did protect. The deity did protect all along.
So Radha Vallabha is protecting us here (in Melbourne). Radha-Vallabha knows very well who comes for mangal-arati. Oh yes, they come every day for mangal-arati and that one never comes. The one who comes every day, I will give some special protection. Yes, the other one, a little less.
ye yatha mam prapadyante
tams tathaiva bhajamy aham (Bhagavad-gita 4.11)
As you surrender unto me, I reward you accordingly. That is Radha Vallabha, very personal…yes. Hmmm (laughing). Anyway Gaura-Nitai are very merciful… very merciful and because Gaura-Nitai are the presiding deities of the yuga, their influence touches all the others also. Radha-Krsna are especially merciful now. Radha Vallabha especially merciful at the moment and Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra also. So there is a lot of mercy to get and that protects us. That protects us. It is like that.
Daily-Bhagavatam Podcast:
Sastra Dana of Bhagavad-gita As It Is at Iskcon Maraimalai Nagar Admin (Album 11 photos)
225 gitas donated to orphans and elderly. Cheif guest: Shri KT Raghavan, Tamil Nadu State Secretary, BJP. Function as also graced by HG Sumithra Krishna Das, President, ISKCON Chennai Event was covered by the media.
See them here: http://goo.gl/VfljEf
About this time here on my blog I write a small summery of the year and my thoughts, this year I was going to give it a miss however whilst reflecting the highs and lows the one thing that has sustained me in devotional life is very caring friendship’s.
Reflecting on how if I want to understand were I’m at in devotional life it is simply a deep look at whom I associate with the most; and I have many truly amazing devotee friends for if I didn’t have their association no spiritual progress could be made.
Those who’s vision simply sees good even if their is non, and who lovingly smile when mistakes are made, who by their simple smile brings more encouragement than words to those whose words of correction is timed and given with great compassion.
Were would I be without each and everyone of them?
Staring into an empty glass lamenting what was and what could have been, opportunities lost and a love that never was?
But somehow or other in this lifetime I had a gift given to me directly from Sri Krishna that of association with the devotees of the lord a fact many many times I have neglected; ow what fool I am.
So as I simply reflect on a year that has had more downs than up, great disappointments and the false ego kicked rather than massaged; the greatest friends one could every wish for were their picking me up, brushing me down and keeping me focused on my own spiritual progress.
My pray them is simply this may I never loose the association and friendships of the devotees for without them my heart and mind will be more of a plaything for maya.
Hare Krishna
Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Dome is Rising (Album 8 photos)
The design of the TOVP is such that it will have three domes; one main dome in the center, flanked by two smaller domes on either side. The main dome is 58 meters (198 feet) in height and the two side domes are 30 meters (98 feet) and will be taller than Srila Prabhupada’s samadhi. Under the main dome will reside the Deities on Their altar along with the Vedic chandelier/planetarium. Under the left smaller dome will be the Exhibits Wing. And under the right dome, Lord Nrsimhadeva on His beautiful marble and gold altar will reside.
Each small dome will be composed of four stainless steel rings, and each ring will consist of eight segments. We are planning to build both of the small domes at the same time. When the first two segments of Lord Nrsimhadeva’s dome will be in place we will start work on the left dome over the Exhibits Wing.
Work has now begun on the dome above Lord Nrsinghadeva’s altar and the first segment has just been lifted into place. Two cranes are involved in this procedure, one outside and one inside the TOVP structure.
It’s so exciting to see how the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium is coming up! We are blessed to be able to witness the daily progress of this historic project taking place.
See them here: http://goo.gl/nN7fA7
Mantra Choir event in London on December 15th. (video)
Jayadeva prabhu engages everybody to chant Hare Krishna and brings joy to all!
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/7zIrRU
Book Distribution @ BJP Meeting at Maraimalai Nagar (Album 12 photos)
Amit Shah’s meeting meant that thousands of people gathered. And that was when we jumped on the chance to give out Srila Prabhupada’s mercy in the form of his books. In one evening: 266 Bhagavad-gitas, 56 Ramayanas & 102 small books. Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!
See them here: http://goo.gl/Zg1TEC
The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple would like to wish you and your family a very Happy Holidays! During this time of gift-giving and warmth, we hope everyone is having a Krsna conscious holiday season!
Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast:
The post December 25th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Special Day Meditation Podcast
Best way to spend the night before Christmas (Album 136 photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Last night, accompanied by a police escort, we took a small Ratha Yatra cart on harinam through old Hong Kong, distributing the gift of the holy names to everyone. Being Christmas Eve the people were in good spirits and many smiled, waved and even danced with us as we made our way through the crowded streets. A most perfect way to spend the night before Christmas!
See them here: http://goo.gl/3lv3za
Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama 2015 (6 min beautiful video)
ISKCON Mayapur invites all of you to join our Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama 2015 from 22nd to 28th February 2015. This year we are celebrating the 500th anniversary of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s visit to Sri Vrndavana Dham. Special evening classes by different sannyasis and senior devotees will be the highlight of this Parikrama. Our Adhivas will take place on 21st at Yoga Pita. See you there! Hare Krsna!
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/Gljsry
The post And here is the renovation team and what they have to say appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
ISKCON Mayapur invites everyone to join our Sri Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama 2015 from 22nd to 28th February 2015.
Krishna Balarama Mandir to Celebrate 40th Anniversary
At least one hundred Prabhupada disciples, including several who helped build Krishna Balarama Mandir, are expected to attend the epic five-day celebration of the Vrindavan temple’s 40th anniversary from March 24th to 28th 2015. They’ll be recalling the even grander original opening festival from April 16th to 27th, 1975. Attended by 1,000 devotees, it was the culmination of a ten-year struggle by ISKCON founder Srila Prabhupada to get a temple established in the sacred village Lord Krishna grew up in – something he saw as an important need especially for foreign devotees. The first three days of the 1975 festival were filled with elaborate yajnas performed by professional brahmanas. On the day before the installation of Sri Sri Krishna Balarama, Their utsav vigraha (small festival Deities) were taken on a grand procession with elephants, cows, bands, drums, hundreds of devotees and Srila Prabhupada through Vrindavan town.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/5b8L2x
Invitation from H.H.Gopal Krishna Goswami for Iskcon Vrindavan’s 40th Anniversary (2 min video)
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/g1yvxo
ISKCON’s Tribal Care Initiative Reaches Out to Tribal People of India
The recently formed ISKCON Tribal Care Initiative, headed by GBC Bhakti Purusottama Swami and chief coordinator Sridham Govinda Das, is reaching out to the numerous tribal communities located in forests and remote areas of East and Northeast India. The Initiative is currently focusing on the Munda and Sauntala tribes of the state of Orissa, the Karbi and Dimasar tribes of Assam, the Riang and Tripuri tribes of Tripura, the Mizo tribes of Mizoram, and the Naga tribes of Nagaland.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/doxOTh
Gita has principles for leaders, says US Congresswoman
Speaking to the audience here, Gabbard narrated the turning points in her life which led her to believe strongly in the Gita. In fact, after elections, she even took her oath by the Gita, she said. But what it means to her is more than the symbols of religion. For her, the teachings in the Gita are life principles that all leaders must follow. There is a dearth of leaders who are not selfish and who truly care for the society, she said.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/P0fZes
Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast:
Gita Verse-by-verse Study Podcast:
Iskcon London Greeting Deities & Guru Puja – 24.12.2014
This week’s challenge: Who is this?
Bonus challenge: What is 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.
Today is the disappearance day of Srila Jiva Gosvami, one of the Six Gosvamis of Vrndavana, direct disciples of Lord Chaitanya. Srila Prabhupada writes, “Srila Jiva Gosvami composed and edited at least twenty-five books. They are all very much celebrated . . . After the disappearance of Srila Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami in Vrndavana, Srila Jiva Gosvami became the acarya of all the Vaisnavas in Bengal, Orissa, and the rest of the world, and it is he who used to guide them in their devotional service. In Vrndavana he established the Radha-Damodara temple, where, after retirement, we had the opportunity to live from 1962 until 1965, when we decided to come to the United States of America.” (Cc Adi 10.85 purport)
In London I am staying in the home of Ramanuja dasa and Shyama Sakhi dasi, and their son Varun. In Vrindavan Varun did some service to restore and preserve Srila Jiva Gosvami’s chanting beads (japa-mala), and in reciprocation, the Goswami in possession of the beads gave one to Varun. Today I chanted japa on that bead, remembering Srila Jiva Goswami’s exalted qualities and activities—and love. And in response to a prayer to him, I felt that he instructed me, “Just serve your gurudeva. By the service of your gurudeva you will get everything.”
In his purport to Sri Caitanya-caritamrta (Antya 4.71), Srila Prabhupada writes, “Srila Jiva Gosvami Prabhu gives the following directions in his Bhakti-sandarbha (270): ‘Chanting the holy name is the chief means of attaining love of Godhead. This chanting or devotional service does not depend on any paraphernalia, nor on one’s having taken birth in a good family. By humility and meekness one attracts the attention of Krsna. That is the verdict of all the Vedas. Therefore if one becomes very humble and meek, he can easily attain the lotus feet of Krsna in this Age of Kali. That is the fulfillment of all great sacrifices, penances, and austerities, because when one achieves ecstatic love of Godhead, he attains the complete perfection of life. Therefore whatever one does in executing devotional service must be accompanied by the chanting of the holy name of the Lord.’ ”
Hare Krishna.
The design of the TOVP is such that it will have three domes; one main dome in the center, flanked by two smaller domes on either side. The main dome is 58 meters (198 feet) in height and the two side domes are 30 meters (98 feet) and will be taller than Srila Prabhupada’s samadhi.
Under the main dome will reside the Deities on Their altar along with the Vedic chandelier/planetarium. Under the left smaller dome will be the Exhibits Wing. And under the right dome, Lord Nrsimhadeva on His beautiful marble and gold altar will reside.
Each small dome will be composed of four stainless steel rings, and each ring will consist of eight segments. We are planning to build both of the small domes at the same time. When the first two segments of Lord Nrsimhadeva’s dome will be in place we will start work on the left dome over the Exhibits Wing.
Work has now begun on the dome above Lord Nrsinghadeva’s altar and the first segment has just been lifted into place. Two cranes are involved in this procedure, one outside and one inside the TOVP structure. Due to the complicated nature of the work involved, one of the cranes requires to be re-situated, a procedure that itself will take several months. An estimate for the completion of the smaller domes is as yet not available.
It’s so exciting to see how the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium is coming up! We are blessed to be able to witness the daily progress of this historic project taking place.
The post Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Dome is Rising appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.