Usually when someone mentions the downtown area of a city it conjures up images of big buildings, traffic jams, bars and discos. But downtown Vrindavan is a different story. The center of Vrindavan is full of ancient temples, deities, sadhus, stores selling devotional paraphernalia and cows and monkeys meandering through the streets. The other day [...]

Vrinda kunda is situated in a beautiful rural area of Vrndavan Dhama. It is the place of Vrinda devi, who, as the helper of Purnamasi plays an important role in planning the daily pastimes of Radha and Krsna in Vraja. In that most sacred spot we had bhajan and Daivi Sakti dasi enlightened us about [...]

Yesterday we visited Premavan, the forest of love. Within Premavan is Prema-sarovara, a lake of love made from the combined tears of Radha and Krsna when they experienced intense separation from each other. The scenery there is reminiscent of what Vrindavan must have been like when Krsna was present thousands of years ago. We spent [...]

Here is today’s ecstatic schedule for the Govardhan Puja Festivities.

Special request: If you are familiar with the English song “Vrindavan’s Such a Nice Place” please come to the singalong this evening at the 7:00 PM arotik.

Schedule:

12:00 noon         Govardhan Parikrama- Meet in temple lobby

2:30 pm               Decorating Cows at Goshalla (behind garden)

5:00 pm               Abhishek

6:00 pm               Class by H. H. Varsana Maharaj

7:00 pm               Artika

7:30 pm               Group Singing of Govardhana Puja song

7:45 pm               Feast
ALSO:  If you have a small mountainous offering for the hill, please bring it to the temple room by 2:00 pm. Offerings for the altar please bring to the Pujari Room by 5:00 pm.

Golokera Prema Dhana Harinama Sankirtana-Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu five hundred years ago unlocked the storehouse with the fruits of love of God and asked everyone to help him distribute these fruits, and recently our dearest Srila Prabhupada brought this incredible gift to the West and now the responsibility is on each and every one of us to distribute this gift to all the people wherever we go. The spirit soul cannot become satisfied with temporary material objects as we are always hankering for a higher taste. The higher taste can be easily obtained by performing the Yuga Dharma: Harinama Sankirtana. To please Srila Prabhupada we should cooperate together and perform Harinama Sankirtana as much as possible for the pleasure of Sri Krishna and benefit of all the conditioned souls. Read more ›

Krsna and the sound vibration "Krsna" are nondifferent, so if one loudly vibrates Hare Krsna, he will be able to think of Krishna immediately. This process of chanting is the best process of self-realization in this age; therefore Lord Caitanya preached it so nicely for benefit of all humanity. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.24.35 Purport) Read more ›

The Governing Body Commission (GBC) of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) recently completed a special three-day session during which the GBC Body considered whether or not this worldwide Vaishnava community should endorse and implement the policy of having women serve as diksa-gurus, or initiating spiritual masters, within the ISKCON society. 

A new two-volume work will give readers an in-depth, personal look at the journey of one of the most beloved devotees in ISKCON – Yamuna Devi, an ISKCON pioneer and one of the first disciples of Srila Prabhupada. Yamuna passed away on December 20^th 2011 at 69, and “Yamuna Devi: A Life of Unalloyed Devotion” is itself a loving offering of devotion from some of the many devotees who were deeply impacted by her.

There is a new multi-faith campaign to raise awareness about climate change. This Diwali, believers from all faiths and geographies across India, will unite their voices in a single unified prayer for the fight against climate change, led by Radhanath Swami, Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Sister Jayanti Kirpalani. For more information visit: http://www.ourvoices.net/india

This year was the third Bridgend Peoples first communities Diwali and as in previous years it was wonderful to be invited to put the whole event on.

I remembered how Srila Prabhupada spoke of how we should present Krishna Consciousness so nicely that people will be attracted and before the date was even enounced enquiries were being made.

Mena Mataji again amazed the crowds with her humble offering in the form of a cake

Garlands were given out to those who help put this small Diwali on and this year a small number of the local South Wales Community Police also came and entered into the true spirit of Diwali

This year Vijay Prabhu did a presentation which gave all of Krishnas childhood Lila’s it was like listening to a summery of Krishna Book

Everyone got up and danced yes kirtan is the sweetest thing

Even lights were offered to Sri Domadara everyone joined who were able, those wheelchair bound and couldn’t make it to the front or had difficulties made their own small contribution

And at the end time for pictures to send to friends and Police headquarters

Tiring but always a pleasure to see so many enjoy dancing, singing, listening to Krishna’s pastimes and offering candles.

It’s something we all can do, so next year hire your local community hall, invite all the local community groups and show why Krishna Consciousness is the place to be if you really want to celebrate and have a good time.
Hare Krishna

When we see success in someone else, it’s easy to forget the years of sacrifice, austerity and perseverance that got them to that stage. This lapse of memory can often lead us believe that there is a ‘quick-fix’ solution to reach such a level.

ISKCON’s Bhakti Yoga Society operates on campuses at some of the most prestigious universities in South Africa and is program dovetailed for university students. This year the society was awarded the accolade for the Most Outstanding Student Society for 2014 at the University of Witwatersrand, one of Africa’s leading universities at a sepcial event earlier this month.

Archaeological finds have long demonstrated that the swastika is a very old symbol, but ancient examples are by no means limited to India.

"We, Christians and Hindus, may we join together with followers of other religions to foster a culture of inclusion for a just and peaceful society."

Skype Conference (English/Russian).

The post Which Krsna you can eat and which Krsna you cannot eat appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

The post Niranjana Maharaja sings Damodarastaka in Coimbatore appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

https://flic.kr/s/aHsk5DdVsH

The post Pictures – iphone, excuse the quality – of Radha Damodara in Tirupati and Govardhana-puja Coimbatore and of Radha Syama and Gaura Nitai in Krsna Valley appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

In glorification of Govardhana Hill as sung some years ago in Krsna Valley.

The post Govardhana Vasa Prarthana appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu recommended five items of devotional service, namely to serve the devotees of the Lord, to chant Hare Krishna, to hear Srimad-Bhagavatam, to worship the Deity of the Lord and to live in a place of pilgramage. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.19.38 Purport) Read more ›

Indradyumna Swami: Vrinda kunda is situated in a beautiful rural area of Vrndavan Dhama. It is the place of Vrinda devi, who, as the helper of Purnamasi plays an important role in planning the daily pastimes of Radha and Krsna in Vraja. In that most sacred spot we had bhajan and Daivi Sakti dasi enlightened us about the glories of Vrinda devi and her kunda. Read more ›

The devotee can constantly think of the object of worship, the Supreme Lord, in any of His features-Narayana, Krishna, Rama, etc. - by chanting Hare Krishna. This practice will purify him, and at the end of his life, due to his constant chanting, he will be transferred to the kingdom of God. Bhagavad-Gita 8.8 Purport. Read more ›

1972 October 24: "Continue increasing this political activity, it is very pleasing to me. It is a new chapter for the Krishna Consciousness movement. Now we shall begin to educate the politicians. Let it be known that our philosophy of political leadership is of the highest standard and morality."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 October 24: "We are trying to get the Palace of the Maharaja of Bharatapur, just on the Kesighat in Vrindaban, and our devotees are living there now. He has promised to donate, so we shall know very soon if he is sincere."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 October 24: "You boys cannot deal in these matters because you are too timid. He is bluffing. He says big words and makes threat and foolishly you believe him and do like he says. That I shall not do."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 October 24: "Do not think think weak and timid, he is bluffing. He has delayed the conveyance on tricks, and has threatened to drive us away by violence, what is this? You could not find out a good lawyer even?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1974 October 24: "My Guru Maharaj personally instructed me that books are more important than big, big temples. So I am always emphasizing book distribution. It is the best kirtana."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 October 24: "Here at Mayapur my Guru Maharaj was printing one paper. It was selling for only a few paise. Sometimes whenever one brahmacari would go to Navadvipa and sell even a few copies, I would see my Guru Maharaj become very, very much pleased."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

One more extra class of HG Chaturatma prabhu about Srila Narottam Das Thakur

1975 October 24: "From Bhagavatam we understand the moon is 1,600,000 miles above the sun. If we say they have never gone to the moon planet, is it exaggeration? You are a scientist, I hope you will reply."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

1975 October 24: "Why not put artificial egg made by scientists in an incubator and get more and more chickens? If they cannot produce chicken or even an egg of chicken, how can we believe their very big, big talks."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

Nitya-Siddha of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa Gaṇodeśa Dīpika

In Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa-gaṇodeśa-dīpika, Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī introduces us to the nitya-siddha Vrajavāsīs, the eternal resides of Śrī Vṛndāvana. Among all perfected souls, the Vrajabāsīs are the most important. Śrī Rūpa says (in BRS 1.2.270): virajantim abhivyaktam vrajavāsī janadiṣu, rāgātmikā “Love for Godhead is manifest most powerfully and brilliantly in the Vrajavāsīs.” And anuśrtā ya sa rāgānugocyate — “to aspire for their love of Godhead is described as the main affair of devotional practices.”

First, Śrī Rūpa categorizes the Vrajavāsīs according to their varṇa. Most of them are vaiṣya, but there are also some brāhmaṇa, and there are also śudra.

In Vraja, there are three communities of vaiṣya. The higher class (vaiṣya) for cows. The middle class (ābhīra) cares for buffalo. The lower class (garjara) care for goats, sheep, etc. They don’t live much in Vraja, but a bit on the outskirts.

But Śrī Rūpa gives a more pertinent way to categorize the Vrajavāsī into eight groups.

(1) Superiors
(2) Siblings
(3) Messengers
(4) Servants
(5) Crafters
(6) Maids
(7) Friends
(8) Lovers

The Rādhā Kṛṣṇa Gaṇodeśa Dīpika is organized around this 8-fold classification.

Texts 14–69 describe the Superiors — They include all the parental figures in Vṛndāvana, as well as the brāhmaṇas (especially the main Guru of Vṛndāvana, Paurṇamāsī-devī).

From there the book divides into two halves, the first being titled Bṛhat (“bigger”) and the second Laghu (“smaller”). The first part deals with most of the remaining seven categories of Vrajavāsīs as they pertain to Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī, while the second part deals with them as they pertain to Śrīman Krishna-candra.

Almost the entirety of the rest of Part I (Texts 70₂₂₉) describe the Gopīs in the role of friends, maids, messengers, and crafters. Those who are Krishna’s age are “friends”, those who are a little younger are their “maids” and those who are still younger or otherwise less intimate are “messengers.” The maids are also “crafters.”

Among the “friends” (Gopīs the same age as Krishna) there are exalted and more exalted groups. Texts 76₉₇ describe the 8 more-exalted friends (Rādhārāṇī’s “aṣṭha-sakhī”). Texts 98–120 describe the 8 exalted friends. Texts 121–136 describe the activities of Rādhārāṇī’s friends.

Texts 137–163 describe the amazing, beautiful flower-items crafted by the “crafters.”

Text 164_c.173 describes the “messengers” and their chief activities. Here, the organization become less clear because many gopīs from many groups play the role of messengers. Viśākhā and Raṅgā, for example, from Rādhārāṇī’s eight more-exalted friends, carry messages, and they are again described in texts 165 & 66. “Maids” also often act as messengers. Text 167 describes maids who dress Rādhikā. Some gopīs tend the forest groves under Vṛndā’s direction, Viśākhā and Campakalatā (from the most-exalted 8 friends) also tend the forests (and act as messengers) Texts 169₁₇₂ describe Campakalatā. And since she is a super excellent cook, text 173 refers to other excellent cooks among the gopīs.

Texts 174₂₀₃ give further descriptions of the eight most-exalted friends, focusing on Citrā, Tuṅgavidyā, Indulekhā, Raṅgā, and Sudevī.

Texts 204₂₂₄ describe miscellaneous gopīs who are very important Vrajavāsīs.

Texts 225₂₂₉ describe the most important duties of the “messengers” — to arrange for the secret meeting of Rādhā and Krishna.

Texts 230₂₅₁ describe alternate ways of categorizing and counting the Gopīs. The first part of Rādhā-Kṛṣṇa Gaṇodeśa Dīpikā ends here.

PART II (Laghu) Begins by describing what could be considered the 8th category from the original list: the beloved — Krishna. It elaborately describes him in 19 verses.

Texts 20~ 72 Describe Krishna’s friends. There are four types: 1) Those who are older and thus more protective (this includes the “Siblings” category from the original list of 8). 2) Those who are the same age. 3) Especially beloved among them. 4) Especially beloved and confidential.

Texts 22 ~ 27 describe Krishna’s protective, older friends.

Texts 28₂₉ describe Krishna’s friends, (“ordinary” or “same-age”).

Texts 30₃₄ describe Krishna’s especially beloved friends.

Texts 35₇₂ describe Krishna’s especially beloved and confidential friends. Balarāma (although older and also a protector) is also among this group, and several verses describe him.

Text 73 describes “crafters” in relation to Krishna.

Texts 74₁₀₀ describe various types of “servants”, “messengers” and “maids.”

Texts 74₈₂ describe the various “servants.”

Texts 83₈₅ describe various “maids.” These maids are female servant’s of Krishna. Since they are female they can easily mix with Rādhārāṇī’s friends, thus one of their special tasks is to act as “spies.”

Texts 86₁₀₀ describe those who carry messages on behalf of Krishna.

Texts 101₁₀₈ describe Krishna’s “crafters” and the amazing things they craft for him.

From here, things related to Krishna will be described. Texts 109₁₁₁ describe Krishna’s pets! Texts 112₁₁₈ describe special places in Vṛndāvana. Texts 119₁₂₄ describe Krishna’s toys and accessories (including his flutes!). Texts 125₁₃₂ describe Krishna’s jewelry. Text 133 defines his birthday.

The entire rest of the book is focused on Śrīmatī Rādhārāṇī directly. Texts 134₁₆₇ describe her in detail. Texts 168₁₇₄ describe her family. Texts 175₁₇₈ describe her friends. Texts 179₁₈₁ describe her Mañjarī friends.

Text 182 describes her religion! (She worships the Sun, her mantra is Krishna’s name, and her Guru is Bhagavatī Paurṇamāsī).

Texts 183₁₉₀ describe the gopīs in miscellaneous ways.

Texts 191–196 describe Rādhārāṇī’s servants (parallel to the types of servants of Krishna described in 109₁₁₁). Texts 197₁₉₉ describe her pets! Texts 200₂₀₆ describe her Jewelery, clothing, and cosmetics. Text 207 describes special places of hers. Text 208 describes her favorite singing rāgas (Mallāra and Dhanāśrī), and her favorite dancers. Text 209 defines her birthday. Text 210 ends the book.

The Toronto Hare Krishna Centre would like to wish everyone a very happy Diwali!

As promised, this weekend is full of many activities to keep you spiritually charged throughout this
month of Kartik. Festivities will continue on Sunday, October 26th with 6 hour of non-stop kirtan!

The kirtan will kick off right at 12:00pm and end with a grand finale at 6:00pm right before our Special Diwali Sunday Feast!


Please come and join us as we celebrate this joyous weekend!

Please share your realisations with other devotees from around the world...simply send me an introduction message and I will be happy to make you a member:

rasa108 ::_::{.at.}::_:: gmail dot com

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Rasa Rasika dasa

"We are speaking of a graceful exchange of lamps--one lit by us in welcoming the Divine, and the other lit by the Divine lovingly revealing himself to us." 

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