The Most Amazing God … Krsna!
→ Dandavats

By Brajanath Dasa The Lord is known as Bhava-grahi Janardana because He accepts service in devotional emotion if we are sincere, humble, and fully surrendered at His lotus feet (Bhagavatam: 8.23.2). The Lord is most pleased by the attitude of service rendered by a devotee, with unalloyed devotion. Devotion is a process that attracts Krsna
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Citraketu, Parikshit and Pastoral Abuse
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King Parīkṣit inquired from Śukadeva Gosvāmī: O learned brāhmaṇa, demons are generally sinful, being obsessed with the modes of passion and ignorance. How, then, could Vṛtrāsura have attained such exalted love for the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa? (6.14.1) Parikshit had heard a number of amazing things from Sukadeva regarding Indra’s cycle of follies that
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Official GBC Statement on Former BVP, Anirdesya Vapu Dasa
→ ISKCON News

ISKCON Governing Body Commission Society Under the Societies Registration Act, West Bengal Registration Number: S/74662 Regd. Office: Sri Mayapur Dist. Nadia, West Bengal, INDIA 741313 EC@pamho.net Official Statement of the Governing Body Commission Regarding Abuse in Mayapur and the CPO Decision Against (the former) Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami, aka Anirdesya Vapu dasa November 24, 2022 […]

The post Official GBC Statement on Former BVP, Anirdesya Vapu Dasa appeared first on ISKCON News.

Give me Hope!
→ Dandavats



Give me Hope!
Today he sits on the sidewalk, in minus degree temperatures, holding a ragged sign which reads “give me hope.” It’s a familiar sight that I’ve become somewhat desensitized to; I don’t think I can truly understand his situation. Seeing him sleeping rough, a few people throw in some coins, someone else gifts him a Costa coffee, while an occasional passer-by stops to offer a few comforting words. All nice gestures. But, my heart says, what he really needs is hope. In that sense we are all beggars – we all need hope. Without the conviction of a brighter future what drives us to continue on in life? Hope, faith, inspiration and enthusiasm, which give us the hunger for life, are perhaps our most precious assets – if we have those, we have everything.


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George Harrison Changed My Life!
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George Harrison Changed My Life. “Well my time in Berlin was just starting, I hadn’t made many friends yet, so I was all by myself. All that I had to my name in possessions was a stereo and my Beatles records. So I played them nonstop. I started to get into the lyrics and not just the beat. I started wondering what was the meaning to the songs that George was singing, because they were much more than just songs. For instance when he sings, "My Sweet Lord,” he mentions Hare Krishna and Rama, I wanted to know what that was. I naturally went to the Krishna Temple in Berlin, talked to the devotees and got it straight in my mind what George meant. the devotees became my friends and when summer came they told me about the “Bhaktivedanta Manor” and their spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, was coming to England July 20, 1976 and would I be interested in going. I said yes.


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A Closer Look at Thanksgiving
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Hare KrishnaBy Mayesvara Dasa

But what was even more disturbing was that according to the Bible accepted by the priests as the “Word Of God”, it was recorded that God had specifically told Moses it was impossible for humans to see his face! How then could Michelangelo have the audacity to splash a Technicolor rendition of what he though God must look like across the front of their new church! Michelangelo convinced the priests to allow the paintings to stay by reasoning that God had also said he made man in his image and therefore if the Universe was very old, then God who created it must a very, very old man. It all seemed to make sense at that time but nobody would disagree that just because Michelangelo painted what he thought God looked like, his spectacular rendition of the Supreme Lord was still his own fanciful guess at what He looked like. Continue reading "A Closer Look at Thanksgiving
→ Dandavats"

Thanksgiving and the TOVP Giving Tuesday Campaign. Give thanks to Srila Prabhupada!
- TOVP.org

Dear U.S. TOVP Donors and Supporters,

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Hare Krishna!

Today is Thanksgiving in the United States, a holiday set aside to give thanks to God. This country has always attempted to have God as an essential part of the lifestyle and culture. Even U.S. currency has “In God We Trust” emblazoned on its front side declaring a National trust in the Creator. Srila Prabhupada appreciated this sentiment, but added that we must also learn to love God, and unless we know who God is neither love or trust are possible to the fullest extent.

What Srila Prabhupada gave us is a God we can both love and trust, Sri Krishna. He showed us who God is, what His name is, who His associates are, where He lives and what He does there, and so much more. And most importantly, Srila Prabhupada delivered to us the mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu who is the most merciful incarnation of the Lord freely distributing the highest achievement of love for God, Krishna prema.

It is quite befitting, therefore, that we also use this time to give thanks to Srila Prabhupada, the emissary and senapati bhakta (commander in chief) of Lord Caitanya. Of course, we try to do that every day, or rather every moment in our hearts. But this time of Thanksgiving is unique in that in a few days the official worldwide day of giving, Giving Tuesday, November 29, will be upon us.

We humbly request all our readers to kindly consider this day as another opportunity to give thanks to Srila Prabhupada by helping to complete his most important and world-changing project, the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium at ISKCON’s World Headquarters in Sridham Mayapur, India. You can sponsor another seva option, make a pledge payment, complete your pledge or just make a general donation. There is even an opportunity to have your donation matched on Facebook. Below are the different means to do this:

GIVING TUESDAY: NOVEMBER 29, 2022

Giving Tuesday Donation Methods

1. Facebook
To make a donation on Facebook that will be matched, you must go to the TOVP Foundation Facebook Page and be ready to enter your donation no later than 8am EST on November 29. There is $8 million in matching funds available, but the competition for that is stiff, so the timing is crucial. A few minutes after 8am EST the matching funds will be gone and your donation won’t be matched. I suggest you visit our Facebook Page in advance to read the full guidelines.

If you would like to sponsor a new seva option, visit the TOVP website Seva Opportunities page first to see the options available: https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/ . You can pay in installments. Facebook donations are also transaction free and they provide the legal donation receipt. Please contact us afterwards about the amount donated towards a new sponsorship or pledge payment: (tovpfoundation@gmail.com).

https://www.facebook.com/tovpfoundation

2. PayPal Giving
If you are unable to donate on Facebook or prefer not to, you can use our PayPal Giving account. If you would like to sponsor a new seva option, visit the TOVP website Seva Opportunities page first to see the options available: https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/ . You can pay in installments. PayPal Giving is also a no transaction fee donation, and provides the legal donation receipt. Please contact us afterwards about the amount donated towards a new sponsorship or pledge payment: (tovpfoundation@gmail.com).

https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2036619

3. TOVP Website
You can also make your donation/pledge payment or new seva option payment right on the TOVP website: https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/ . The TOVP Foundation office will provide the legal donation receipt.

On behalf of Ambarisa and Braja Vilasa prabhus I want to thank you for your continued support and prayers for the successful completion of the TOVP.

Your servant,
Sunanda das
TOVP Communications Director
443-6217940
tovp2016@gmail.com

 

 

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Gratitude for God’s Gifts – Giving Thanks
Giriraj Swami

If we are at all aware of how dependent we are on God—for the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, and our very ability to eat and drink and breathe, to think and feel and will, and to walk, talk, and sense—we will feel grateful and want to reciprocate God’s kindness. We will want to do something for He (or She or They) who has done, and continues to do, so much for us.

We often take things for granted until we lose them. I use my right hand to chant on meditation beads, and one morning I found that I had severe pain in my hand and could no longer use it for chanting. I had taken the use of my hand for granted, but when I lost its use, I resolved to never take it for granted again and to always use it in the best way in God’s service.

How can we attempt to return some of God’s favor, some of God’s care and love for us? My spiritual master, Srila Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, gave one answer:

“Whatever you have got by pious or impious activities, you cannot change. But you can change your position, by Krishna consciousness. That you can change. Other things you cannot change. If you are white, you cannot become black, or if you are black, you cannot become white. That is not possible. But you can become a first-class Krishna conscious person. Whether you are black or white, it doesn’t matter. This is Krishna consciousness. Therefore our endeavor should be how to become Krishna conscious. Other things we cannot change. This is not possible.

tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido
  na labhyate yad bhramatam upary adhah
tal labhyate duhkhavad anyatah sukham
  kalena sarvatra gabhira-ramhasa
      [Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.18]

Kalena, by time, you will get whatever you are destined. Don’t bother about so-called economic development. So far as food is concerned, Krishna is supplying. Eko bahunam yo vidadhati kaman. He is supplying even cats and dogs and ants. Why not you? There is no need of bothering Krishna, ‘God, give us our daily bread.’ He will give you. Don’t bother. Try to become very faithful servant of God. ‘Oh, God has given me so many things. So let me give my energy to serve Krishna.’ This is required. This is Krishna consciousness. ‘I have taken so much, life after life, from Krishna. Now let me dedicate this life to Krishna.’ This is Krishna consciousness. ‘I will not let this life go uselessly like cats and dogs. Let me utilize it for Krishna consciousness.’ ”

I pray that I will dedicate this life and everything I have—everything God has given me—fully in God’s service, following His pure devotees.

manasa, deho, geho, yo kichu mora
arpilun tuya pade, nanda-kisora

“Mind, body, and home, whatever may be mine, I surrender at Your lotus feet, O youthful son of Nanda!” (Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Saranagati)

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

Odana Sashti – Lord Jagannath Accepts A Winter Cloth
→ Mayapur.com

The Lord’s mercy comes in many forms and the story behind Odana Sashti is one amongst many to tell. Once, Sri Gaurasundara accompanied by all His devotees came to see Lord Jagannatha on Odana Sasthi. Musical bands with numerous instruments, mridangas, conch shells, bells, etc. echoed all around and the entire town wore a festive […]

The post Odana Sashti – Lord Jagannath Accepts A Winter Cloth appeared first on Mayapur.com.

CPO NA Restrictions on BVP
→ ISKCON News

The ISKCON North American Council (NAC), headed by five members of the Governing Body Commission (GBC) with geographical responsibility in the United States and Canada, fully endorses and will comply with the 28th October 2022 ISKCON Central Office of Child Protection (ICOCP) restrictions on ISKCON’s relationship with Alan Ross Wexler, also known as Bhaktividya Purna, […]

The post CPO NA Restrictions on BVP appeared first on ISKCON News.

Sri Saranga Thakur Disappearance
→ Ramai Swami

Vraja’s Nāndimukhi became Sāraṅga Ṭhākura in Gaura-lila.

Śrī Saranga Ṭhākura is mentioned in the listing of branches of the Chaitanya trunk of the tree of devotional service along with Rama Das, Kavidatta, Gopal Das and Bhāgavata Acharya (Chaitanya Charitamrita 1.10.113). He is also known as Sarnga Ṭhākura, Sarngadhar and Sarngapani.

He used to live in Modadrumdvīpa, which is the island in Nabadvīpa that represents, of the nine types of devotional service, the service attitude. The name of the town is Mamgachi. He would sit in a secluded place by the banks of the Ganges to perform intense bhajan. Through these practices he obtained many miraculous powers.

At first, Saranga Ṭhākura did not want to make any disciples for fear of disturbances to his bhajan, but Mahāprabhu repeatedly encouraged him to do so. The following account is given in the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Abhidhāna, “When the Lord was returning after criticizing Devananda Pandit for having offended Srivas Pandit, Saranga Ṭhākura met Him on the streets of Nabadvīpa. Mahāprabhu ordered him to give up his determination to never take disciples.”

Śrīla Bhakti Siddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Prabhupad writes in his Anubhāṣya in Chaitanya Charitamrta: “Having been ordered by Mahāprabhu to take disciples, Saranga Ṭhākura decided that he would make a disciple of the first person that he met the following morning. As fate would have it, the next morning, a dead body washed up against him while he was taking bath in the Ganges. He revived the corpse and made him his disciple. This disciple was known as Ṭhākura Murari, or sometimes as Saranga Murari.

In the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava Abhidhāna, it is further said that Murari was a boy who had been killed by snake bite and his parents had set his uncremated body afloat on a raft in the Ganges, as was the custom in that time. Saranga Ṭhākura revived him by giving initiation to him. Thus, his name Saranga Murari, who became an empowered preacher of Mahāprabhu’s dharma by guru’s grace. Descendents of Saranga Murari’s disciples still live in a village named Shav.

Saranga Ṭhākura’s deities were served in the town of Mamgachi. The original temple was built in front of a bakula tree. The deities of Radha Gopinath worshiped by him can be seen in this temple, as can the deity of Mahāprabhu’s other associate, Vasudeva Datta Ṭhākura, Śrī Madana Gopal. The devotees who do parikramā of Nabadvīpa Dham visit this temple for darshan. Śrīla Bhakti Siddhānta Sarasvatī Gosvāmī Ṭhākura established a temple not far from the above-mentioned home of Saranga Murari at the birthplace of Vrindavan Das Ṭhākura.

Saranga Ṭhākura disappeared on the thirteenth day of the waning moon (kṛṣṇā trayodaśī) in the month of Agrahayan. An alternative opinion is that he disappeared on the Asharh kṛṣṇā caturdaśī.