Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Around 1,500 devotees from all over the U.S., Canada, and South America attended the fifth annual Festival of the Holy Name in Alachua, Florida this Thanksgiving Weekend from November 28th to 30th. The increase in popularity of the homegrown, gurukuli-organized festival each year despite a total absence of advertising shows the power of word-of-mouth from attendees who’ve had a truly lifechanging experience.
BY NITAI PRIYA DASA
KUALA LUMPUR - Had a very wonderful in Kirtan Mela Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Having the opportunity to sit in Kirtan for many hours with the Mayapur-Candras, Ojasvi Dasa, BB Govinda Swami, Surya Bimal Dasi and other other wonderful devotees was very uplifting.
Sitting up close to BB Govinda Swami when he led Kirtan was a dream come true. Having the super talented Surya Nandini Mataji sing and play her Clarinet/Saxophone when I was **leading the Kirtan was a DREAM COME TRUE.
Best part of the whole experience was BB Govinda Swami's personal instructions to me after dancing like a madman in Maharaj's and Ojasvi Prabhu's last Kirtans.
"You should CHANT when you dance. Dancing without singing the Holy Names is more or less like a disco or some hard-core physical exercise. Whether playing instruments, dancing or sitting during Kirtans, one MUST CHANT otherwise, our so-called expertise in dancing or playing instruments is irrelevant and unattractive in Krsna's eyes."
Padayatra and Harinama in the rain (Album 39 photos)
In any condition, a man can live in a small cottage, plant a tulasi tree, water it in the morning, offer it prayers, and continuously chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. Thus one can make vigorous spiritual advancement. This is not at all difficult. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 24.261)
See them here: http://goo.gl/r671vQ
Dear Kirtan Londoners, We wish you a very merry December! We come bearing gifts of upcoming kirtan gatherings!
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/FQbc7t
Gita verse-by-verse study podcast:
BY SIMHESWARA DASA
KUALA LUMPUR - The Bhaktivedanta Books Trading Malaysia Sdn Bhd [BBT (M) Sdn Bhd] is an arm for the managing of book distribution of the ISKCON Malaysia society. Programme starts with arrival of books in 40 feet containers.
Books are stored and organised in categories.
All ISKCON centres in Malaysia are clients of the BBT (M) Sdn Bhd and purchase books from the BBT (M) Sdn Bhd and distribute in their local zones.
Other forms of distibution include:-
So please be part of the ISKCON Malaysia Book Distribution programme and earn your spiritual credits.
As the Lord Sri Krishna Himself speak to Arjuna in the 18th Chapter.
BG 18.68: For one who explains this supreme secret to the devotees, pure devotional service is guaranteed, and at the end he will come back to Me.
BG 18.69: There is no servant in this world more dear to Me than he, nor will there ever be one more dear.
BG 18.70: And I declare that he who studies this sacred conversation of ours worships Me by his intelligence.
BG 18.71: And one who listens with faith and without envy becomes free from sinful reactions and attains to the auspicious planets where the pious dwell.
Please help us in whatever small or big way to distribute this most sacred Bhagavad-gita and similar Vedic literatures.
To be a part of this most sacred and wonderful service please contact
India now has a minister of yoga — and he and his government want their cultural bliss back.
Power point presentation at yesterday’s Divali-gala dinner.
The post Is the Bhagavad-gita relevant today? appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
Gita verse-by-verse study podcast:
The post December 5th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Gita Jayanti in Mayapur (Album 42 photos)
In Mayapur, over 1000 students of Gita Study Course, a distance education course conducted by Mayapur preaching department convened for three day seminar culminating on Gita Jayanthi. Bhagavad Gitas adorned the altars of Sri Radha-Madhava, Sri Panca tattva, Sri Narasimhadeva and Srila Prabhupada. Gita chanting or reciting of 700 verses of Bhagavad Gita started at 8.30 a.m. Each chapter was recited in various meters. Gita Yajna was also performed by offering oblations after each sloka of 18th chapter. Devotees did harinama circumambulating the temple. It was an out of world experience to hear devotees worldwide with different background with such an intense prayerful mood absorbed in chanting the Slokas. I offer my millions of obeisances to Srila Prabhupada who delivered this message as it is.
See them here in a beautiful arrangement of orizontal navigation, like a story layout: http://goo.gl/kVfkN9
Gita Jayanti celebrated in Sri Mayapur International School (Album 102 photos)
At Sri Mayapur International School we had a celebration. The whole school gathered with parents and teachers and recited the 9th Chapter of Bhagavad Gita together and had a yajna afterwards.
See them here: http://goo.gl/F21EHH
ISKCON Prison Ministry Turns Lives Around!
Prison inmates, who have hit rock bottom in their pursuit of material happiness and have plenty of time to think about their choices and the real purpose of life, are one of the most receptive and enthusiastic audiences to Krishna consciousness. Since relaunching in 2009 under director and full-time volunteer Bhakti-lata Dasi, the U.S. branch of ISKCON Prison Ministry has been reaching more and more of this audience throughout the country’s correctional system. And with another year reaching its end, the results are purely inspirational. With December still to go, Bhakti-lata’s office in Alachua, Florida alone has sent out 3,020 pieces of devotional literature to inmates, consisting mostly of Srila Prabhupada’s books as well as Back to Godhead magazines and books by other devotee authors.
Read the entire article here: http://goo.gl/RreKAy
Prison inmates, who have hit rock bottom in their pursuit of material happiness and have plenty of time to think about their choices and the real purpose of life, are one of the most receptive and enthusiastic audiences to Krishna consciousness. Since relaunching in 2009 under director and full-time volunteer Bhakti-lata Dasi, the U.S. branch of ISKCON Prison Ministry has been reaching more and more of this audience throughout the country’s correctional system.
Madhava Gosh and Vidya accepting an appreciation plaque.
New Vrindaban Fall Board Meetings 2014:
Madhava Gosh Das and Vidya Dasi Receive Appreciation Plaques for 40 Years of Service
By Madhava Smullen
During the ISKCON New Vrindaban and Eco-Vrindaban Fall Board Meetings on the first weekend of November this year, long-time residents Madhava Gosh Das and his wife Vidya Dasi were officially honored for their more than forty years of service to the community’s cows and gardens.
The event took place in the community hall on November 1st after the department head reports. Madhava Gosh, who has been suffering in recent times from a serious decline in health, sat on a sofa at one end with Vidya. Board and community members alike arranged their chairs in a circle facing them to create a more intimate atmosphere.
ECO-V chairman Navin Shyam Das introduced the guests of honor, but acknowledged that there was someone who took care of the cows and gardens way back, “before Madhava Gosh was around.” He then read a detailed and glowing report of food production in the New Vrindaban gardens published in the second ever issue of Brijabasi Spirit magazine in 1974.
“When I read this, I thought, ‘We’re honoring Madhava Gosh, but maybe we should find this Bhakta Mark fellow and honor him!” Navin joked, revealing them to be one and the same. He added, “Then I realized behind both of them was another even greater personality – Vidya Dasi!”
Navin spoke a little about their history. Hailing from a family that has farmed for generations, Madhava Gosh moved to New Vrindaban in 1974 soon after joining ISKCON. He was initiated during Srila Prabhupada’s visit that same year, and went on to serve in New Vrindaban’s garden and plough departments throughout the 1970s.
He continued to put energy into cow protection and food production even in the ‘80s and ‘90s when the community’s emphasis on them decreased. In the early 2000s, he started his own blog, “View From a New Vrindaban Ridge,” providing positive reports on the community’s efforts amidst a negative worldwide perception, and in 2006, he revived the Brijabasi Spirit online.
He has been an ECO-V board member since its launch and has been a major instigator behind recent efforts such as increasing use of New Vrindaban’s own protected dairy, planting fruit and nut trees, increasing ox engagement, establishing a trust for the future care of cows, and planning an eco-village. He also personally enlisted Kacey Orr, ECO-V’s dynamic new garden manager.
Meanwhile Vidya Dasi came to New Vrindaban a year earlier than her husband, in 1973, and has steadily played a key role in the community’s gardens ever since, and in particular its flower gardens — she was one of the early organizers of the Rose Gardens at Prabhupada’s Palace.
Flowers organized by Vidya dasi in New Vrindaban’s gardens.
In the early days, as one of the first women in the community to have children, she was active in running a nursery program, and now proudly cherishes five grown-up children and three grandchildren. Today, she continues to be a major force behind the flower gardens and festivals like the new Pushpa Abhisheka. She and Madhava Gosh have been married for an exemplary forty years.
After citing their achievements, Navin Shyam presented Madhava Gosh and Vidya with an engraved wooden plaque commemorating their service, to uproarious applause.
Inscribed with the new ECO-V logo, the plaque reads, “The Board of Directors of Eco-Vrindaban hereby presents this plaque to Madhava Gosh Das and Vidya Dasi in recognition of their more than four decades of service to the cows and gardens of New Vrindaban.”
Speaking to the crowd, Vidya said, “I feel really honored and humbled to get this, and I’m going to really appreciate it. I wish my children could have been here, but they’re spread out all over the country. They do know about it though.”
hari chand and amani brothers from another mother
With heartfelt sincerity, Madhava Gosh said, “There’s so many that really deserve a plaque. I almost feel that this is unwarranted. I don’t know if I was such a great devotee over all those years… But we tried. We were just trying to do the best we could. Looking back, there’s a bit of lamentation, ‘You could have tried harder. You could have done more.’ I’ll accept this, but I don’t know if I really deserve it.”
“This is not so important for me — I could care less about this kind of stuff,” Gosh concluded, holding up the plaque. “So this is for my grandchildren. It’s something that they can remember me by.”
1 December ’14 Mangal Darshan at ISKCON Juhu, Sri Sri Radha Rasabihari Temple
Are you frustrated and feeling stuck? Are you ready to be free?
Are you tired of feeling broken and ready to go beyond?
Come join us for:
The Hero’s Journey April 3, 4 and 5, 2015 (Easter Weekend)
New Vrindaban Dhama Moundsville, WV 26041
What would it take to reveal your hero within?
This Easter weekend workshop is for you if you:
What would it take to reveal your diamond inside?
Bring your curiosity and joy and join us on the adventure of a lifetime.
Gurukulis and 2nd Gens: please contact Sukhavaha dasi at eternallove108@yahoo.com to receive a discount code, then use the following button to reserve your 90% off seat ($25 total cost).
All others use the next button to register for the Early Bird discount of $175 (until February 20th).
After that the price is $225. All prices include the weekend package of fun and exploration, lodging and prasadam. For any questions, please contact Sukhavaha dasi at eternallove108@yahoo.com.
Facilitated by Krsna Lila devi who has M.A. Ed in Counseling Psych. from Columbia U. She is the Central Coord. for Professional Staff Development at the NYC Board of Education. She also serves as Senior Trainer and the Crisis Intervention Specialist for counseling professionals. She has been working as a school counselor since 1971.
During the past 10 years, Krsna Lila d has been training school counselors in NYC Public Schools in mediation, crisis response, character education, group counseling, grief counseling and conflict resolution. In addition, she is presently an adjunct professor at NYU and East Stroudsburg U and is often called to speak and conduct workshops by various schools and colleges. She also maintains a private practice with an emphasis on integrative therapy and trauma healing. For more info: www.cristinacasanova.net.
Bhakti Lounge will be closed from Wednesday 24 December, sad face, but re-open again on Monday 12 January 2015, happy face!
The last evening open for 2014 is on Tuesday 23 December with Yoga classes running at 5pm & 6pm… or come for a big finale Kirtan at 6pm in the lounge room with special guest Kalakantha Prabhu who is coming all the way from America! He has been practising Bhakti for over forty years and is part of the amazing Krishna Lunch in Gainesville, Florida. He will be sharing his realisations and wisdom on the ancient and wonderous practise of Kirtan.
This follows the previous post, and represents the end of chapter 31 of canto 3
“This is so negative!” Devahūti would think. “Is the world really so negative?”
Kapila explained that the world is a mixture of positive and negative relativities. Here he had simply focused on how sleepless time punishes those who “sleep” by ignoring the need to fulfill their responsibilities, but as he had previously mentioned time also brings about relatively positive results for those who are “awake” to their duty, bringing them to heavenly paradisal realms of pleasure.
Kapila could see that his mother was still shaken by his previous vividly negative descriptions. “You need not be horrified by death,” he explained. “After all, it is only an uncoupling with one sensory network immediately prior to coupling with another. You need not be grieve over hellish punishments. After all, they purify living beings of selfishness. And you need be exhilarated for heavenly rewards. After all, they are fleeting.”
Almost exasperated, Devahūti would exclaim, “What am I supposed to do? Men and children and homes are ‘death traps’, hell awaits, heaven is fleeting, and the very body I exist within is nothing but a sensorial network I am temporarily coupled with! It seems that the best option is to do absolutely nothing and feel absolutely nothing for anyone or anything — but that is completely impossible!”
Kapila smiled empathetically and leaned affectionately towards his mother. “Direct your doing, feeling, and thinking towards understanding yourself as a pure living being!” He said.
“How can I do that,” she would cry, “when I exist in a world of hunter’s songs and death traps, with whom I must interact?”
Warmly, Kapila explained, “Mother, if you keep your inner thought focused on your true destination as a living being, then you will be able to move about this world of hunter’s songs and death traps without becoming allured and ensnared by the negativity of it all.”
Taking hope, she would ask, “How should I do that? How should I keep my inner thought focused on my true destination as a spirit soul?”
“By seeing the world in the right way!” Kapila said. “Not by running away from the world, but by seeing it correctly. Not by running away from a beautiful wife, handsome husband or loving child, but by seeing them all correctly.”
“What is the ‘correct’ way to see them?” She would ask.
“Look upon the world, but look upon it through the eyes of wisdom,” he explained. “Put your wisdom into practice! That is the proper way to deal with this potentially horrible world, and transform it into a truly positive experience. If you put your wisdom into practice you will become empowered with natural and effortless detachment from the world. This will enable you to interact with the physical, sensual realm in a disciplined, controlled way.”
The more the eternal associates of Krsna develop their love for Krsna, the more they also develop their love for all those who are serving Krsna in love. Therefore, it is not that anyone looks with an envious eye at his neighbour. No, there is a very deep and genuine appreciation which is based on service, because everyone can see how everyone else in the spiritual world is trying to serve Krsna, and how eager everyone is to satisfy Krsna.
New Vrindaban Preschool Reopens
By Lilasuka dasi
The academic school in New Vrindaban has gone through many changes throughout the years. From “Nandagram School” back in the 80’s, to the “New Vrindavan School” in the 90’s, to the current “Gopal’s Garden Home School Co-op”, all ages of kids and teachers have come and gone. Many of the graduates have expressed fond memories of their time spent in those Nandagram classrooms.
These days, a new wave of enthusiasm is hitting New Vrindaban in the form of a preschool! It is a welcome phenomenon that truly happened by surprise. Recently, one of the newest mothers in New Vrindaban was searching for a babysitter for a few days a week. The search didn’t exactly bear fruit, but something even better took place. In talking to several other mothers with young children, the possibility of a preschool came up. The idea was an immediate hit.
That same weekend, on Nov. 9, 2014, Mother Ruci held a meeting with the four interested mothers. Mother Ruci said, “I was totally surprised at the enthusiasm, energy and commitment coming from these mothers for a preschool. It must be that the time is right for this to happen. I think it’s a great idea and I’m enlivened. We’re ready for the New Vrindaban Home School Co-op to expand.”
The very next morning, all four mothers were down at the school building, working together to clean out the preschool classroom and bring in the paraphernalia provided by Mother Ruci. Lalita Gopi dasi, who cares for another mother’s toddler, Nadia, and who was instrumential in getting the project off the ground, was found enthusiastically sweeping the new classroom and arranging the tables. Sundari dasi said, “I’m very excited about this class for my two year old daughter, Bhumi. Just having this class here will attract more families with young children to New Vrindaban, I’m sure of it.”
Vilasini dasi won’t be able to personally assist in the classroom, as she is going to school for nursing and also working, but she and her husband are very excited for their three year old, Malini, to attend. She confirms, “If they need us to shop for the class, I’d love to do that!”
One young mother, Priti dasi, was born in New Vrindaban back in the early ‘80’s and is a graduate of the school herself. She now has two little children of her own, one of whom will be attending the preschool. Priti said, “When I heard about the possibility of this preschool, I was very excited. My three year old, Rama, is ready for this. I’m really enthusiastic about helping to provide him a situation where he can learn to socialize with other kids his age in a Krsna conscious setting.”
His Holiness Bhakti Raghava Maharaj was invited to come and help make the inauguration of the preschool an auspicious event. Most important of all, Maharaj gained instant popularity when he invited the children up for seconds on cookies.
New Vrindaban Fall Board Meetings 2014:
Community Parikrama Showcases Exciting Developments
By Madhava Smullen
On November 2nd, after spending the previous day hearing presentations on New Vrindaban’s many departments, board and community members wrapped up this fall’s meetings by seeing some of the latest developments for themselves in an enlivening community parikrama.
At 10:00am, around twenty-five people stepped out into a crisp but brilliantly blue and sunny morning and made their way first to the old barn at Bahulaban, which had fallen into a severely dilapidated condition over thirty years but is now being rebuilt as a new ox training center.
Renovation project manager Vyasasana Das spoke about his work on the barn, which has been given a brand new wood frame over its original core structure. He indicated the spaces on the first floor where there will be hay storage and corrals for oxen, and on the second floor where there will be living quarters for people working with the ox program.
Daivata Das, who worked with oxen when Prabhupada was physically present and is back to carry out the same service, showed everyone the training area at the back of the barn, and spoke about how he hopes to have the young oxen pulling a cart next year. He was clearly brimming with enthusiasm at getting to serve the community in this way again.
Meanwhile New Vrindaban pioneers Madhava Gosh and Advaita Das told stories about how devotees lived in the barn with their families in the early days, and how Advaita’s son was born there.
Madhava Gosh and his wife Vidya, who received an appreciation plaque to take home the previous day, were then presented with another public plaque which will remain permanently affixed to the new ox barn. “In recognition of more than four decades of service rendered to the cows and gardens of New Vrindaban by Madhava Gosh Dasa and Vidya Dasi,” it reads, “The Board of Directors of Eco-Vrindaban hereby renames this building the Madhava Gosh-alla.”
After everyone had a good chuckle at its pun-tastic new name, the ox program’s spiritual advisor Varshana Swami reminded them that the barn also had great spiritual significance. “It’s the last place built by devotees that Srila Prabhupada visited in Bahulaban,” he said. “And now, it’s getting a second life.”
Next, the tour moved on to the hilltop Radha Gopinath Mandir. Still under construction, it’s set to be a small replica of the original temple in Vrindavan, India. Varshana Swami, who is overseeing the project, pointed out the Radha Gopinath Deities residing in an elegant gazebo nearby, and said that They would move into Their temple once it is completed.
He then explained the history of the project, outlining Srila Prabhupada’s instructions to build not only seven replicas of Vrindavan’s seven main temples, but also replicas of its sacred lakes. He showed the group two of these replica lakes, Radha Kunda and Lalita Kunda, and spoke about the pastimes Krishna performed at them, while community president Jaya Krishna Das cheerfully sprinkled everyone with their sacred waters.
The tour also inspected a computer-generated image of the Radha-Gopinath Mandir, with Raghunath Das Goswami’s bhajan kutir and Radha-Kunda next to it.
“Please offer your blessings and prayers that Srila Prabhupada’s vision will unfold more and more,” Varshana Swami requested the assembled devotees.
From Radha-Gopinath Mandir, the parikrama went on to the Garden of Seven Gates. Garden manager Kacey Orr showed everyone the new greenhouse for in-ground planting, where greens will continue to be harvested until February and will last the Temple through much of winter.
She also took the tour through the recently renovated flower greenhouse, which was dormant but will see an astonishing twenty to thirty thousand flowers grown there throughout the 2015 growing season.
Walking through the open fields in the Garden of Seven Gates, Kacey talked about the crops grown there, including tomatoes, peppers, Chinese cabbage, green beans, pumpkins, watermelon, squash, ten-foot-high sunflowers, and marigolds, which were still growing in a golden carpet across the ground.
“Every time we pick, there are fifty gallons of marigolds,” Kacey said, before pointing out the area where a brand new rose garden, exclusively for the Deities, will be grown next year.
Kacey’s last stop was the smaller Teaching Garden, a cosy haven for herbs and flowers encircled by a newly-built honey-colored fence and gates. A regular site for guest tours, its centerpiece is an attractive wooden pergola where devotees can chant or make garlands, and guests can relax and soak up the peaceful environment.
“Next spring we will be taking it up to show-level, and putting signs in every bed so that guests know what they’re looking at,” said Kacey.
Finally, the tour visited the community’s milking barn where nine Brown Swiss cows are milked, passing through the new swing and large decorative flower planters at the entrance. Inside, cowherds Ananda Vidya and his wife Lalita Gopi pointed out the new extension to the feeding aisle, and the new enclosed loafing area for the cows to relax in a dry, hay-covered space.
The weekend ended with a beautiful pushpanjali ceremony honoring Vaishnava acharya Gaura Kishora Das Babaji on his disappearance day. Afterwards, as they tucked into an Ekadasi Sunday Feast, all the devotees excitedly discussed everything they had seen and heard, inspired to continue their service with renewed energy and support New Vrindaban in its ongoing growth.
Please view the following gallery: Gita Jayanti Yajna Gita Jayanti is the day when Lord Sri Krishna delivered the Supreme message of Gita to Arjuna. Traditionally on this day, many pilgrims visit holy places all over India, especially Kuruksetra and take part in reading Srimad Bhagavad Gita and perform worship of Gita. In Mayapur, over […]
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Please view the following galleries: Daily Darshan Odana Sashti Festivites Odana Sashti is a festival that marks the beginning of winter. During the Odana-sasthi festival the devotees dress Lord Jagannatha and Balarama with starched cloth. This ceremony indicates that from that day forward, a winter covering should be given to the Lord. That covering is directly […]
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The post Gita Jayanti Gallery appeared first on Mayapur.com.
The post Odana Sashti Gallery appeared first on Mayapur.com.
