Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 8.28
As A Result Of Chanting
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Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 8.28
As A Result Of Chanting
Caitanya-caritamrta Adi-lila 8.28
Beautiful Iskcon temple at Tirupati, India (Album 20 photos)
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May the glorification of the transcendental name, form, qualities and paraphernalia of the Supreme Personality of Godhead protect us from the influence of bad planets, meteors, envious human beings, serpents, scorpions, and animals, like tigers and wolves. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.8.27) Read more › Visiting Pavana-sarovara, a sacred lake near Nandagram in Vrindavana (Album 135 photos)
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Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday we visited Pavana-sarovara, a sacred lake near Nandagram. Our program was the same as everyday; hearing and chanting the glories of Lord. Such sravanam and kirtanam seems to be especially potent in the holy dhama. Local tradition says that the results of any spiritual practice done in Vrindavan dhama is magnified a thousand times. Perhaps that's why Srila Prabhupada often encouraged his disciples to come visit these sacred places and return to their country's of birth purified and ready to share their good fortune with others. Read more › Friday, October 17th, 2014
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Tirupati, India
Under the Rooftops
A light rain hit all the rooftops before the sun rose. I was on that veranda unaffected by wetness. Above me is the next floor creating a natural awning. I could chant in peace and in dryness at an hour when temperatures are coolest.
My friend, Akrura, from Canada, had previously walked the streets and made an interesting observation about trekking in the sun, “You end up sweating in places on your body you never knew were possible.” We both concluded it is just downright muggy here in Tiruapti.
Another peer, Madhusevata, told another dynamic which took place when he was a young brahmachari monk in Kolkata in the 70’s, “At night the cockroaches would come out, but what’s worse were the rats chewing on the back of our feet as we were asleep. The rats had this habit to blow on the wound in order that you wouldn’t feel the pain quite so severely. You couldn’t detect what they were doing until you woke up. They would bite then blow.”
Madhusevata hails from Italy. When he joined he wasn’t yet married. He pioneered Krishna Consciousness with his Indian friends in this very congested city. I guess you could say he’s a real success story. He went on to become a major leader with a mission in his homeland Italy and built up Hare Krishna Villagio, in a village not but a few miles from Milano.
It was Madhu, Akrura, and others who enjoyed kirtan in the morning as I did in the exotic temple right next to where I did my pacing on the veranda. The murtis (sacred images) are named Radha Govinda. They are decorated stunningly each day. When the pujari priest brought his jasmine flowers towards the deities, and strikes the clothing, suddenly there’s a shimmer from the cloth which adds to the divine glamour which each morning displays the quality of otherworldliness.
Far beyond being drenched in sweat or rain, harassed by roaches or rats, is the spiritual world.
May the Source be with you!
5 KM
Under the Rooftops
A light rain hit all the rooftops before the sun rose. I was on that veranda unaffected by wetness. Above me is the next floor creating a natural awning. I could chant in peace and in dryness at an hour when temperatures are coolest.
My friend, Akrura, from Canada, had previously walked the streets and made an interesting observation about trekking in the sun, “You end up sweating in places on your body you never knew were possible.” We both concluded it is just downright muggy here in Tiruapti.
Another peer, Madhusevata, told another dynamic which took place when he was a young brahmachari monk in Kolkata in the 70’s, “At night the cockroaches would come out, but what’s worse were the rats chewing on the back of our feet as we were asleep. The rats had this habit to blow on the wound in order that you wouldn’t feel the pain quite so severely. You couldn’t detect what they were doing until you woke up. They would bite then blow.”
Madhusevata hails from Italy. When he joined he wasn’t yet married. He pioneered Krishna Consciousness with his Indian friends in this very congested city. I guess you could say he’s a real success story. He went on to become a major leader with a mission in his homeland Italy and built up Hare Krishna Villagio, in a village not but a few miles from Milano.
It was Madhu, Akrura, and others who enjoyed kirtan in the morning as I did in the exotic temple right next to where I did my pacing on the veranda. The murtis (sacred images) are named Radha Govinda. They are decorated stunningly each day. When the pujari priest brought his jasmine flowers towards the deities, and strikes the clothing, suddenly there’s a shimmer from the cloth which adds to the divine glamour which each morning displays the quality of otherworldliness.
Far beyond being drenched in sweat or rain, harassed by roaches or rats, is the spiritual world.
May the Source be with you!
5 KM
Thursday, October 16th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk
Tirupati, India
Day of Thought
It was quite the day. I do enjoy the company of my swami friends, godbrothers. There are good talks amongst us, with godsisters as well. We talked philosophically which means we as a group are going deeper into the field of life.
Physically though, anyone amongst us would admit that humidity and heat is intense, and would resort to the use of AC with or without the addition of ceieling fans. In coolness, there is an eeasier chance of processing information.
It was quite the day and after talks, I did my walk up and down the veranda. Then I submitted to my room and plopped my body on one of those fancy Rajasthani chairs. I reached up for the Bhagavad Gita while acknowledging the wording on the rear side of the book’s cover, “The most widely read edition of Gita in the world.” I flipped over to verse 13.35. This resonates. “Those who see with eyes of knowledge the difference between the body and the knower of the body and can understand the process of liberation from bondage in material nature attain to the supreme goal.”
Further enlightening words arise from the purport:
“One can understand that the body is matter. It can be analyzed with its 24 elements. The body is a gross manifestation, and a subtle manifestation is the mind and psychological effects, and the symptoms of life are the interaction of these features. Yet over and above this, there is a soul.”
Food for thought!
May the Source be with you!
5 KM
Day of Thought
It was quite the day. I do enjoy the company of my swami friends, godbrothers. There are good talks amongst us, with godsisters as well. We talked philosophically which means we as a group are going deeper into the field of life.
Physically though, anyone amongst us would admit that humidity and heat is intense, and would resort to the use of AC with or without the addition of ceieling fans. In coolness, there is an eeasier chance of processing information.
It was quite the day and after talks, I did my walk up and down the veranda. Then I submitted to my room and plopped my body on one of those fancy Rajasthani chairs. I reached up for the Bhagavad Gita while acknowledging the wording on the rear side of the book’s cover, “The most widely read edition of Gita in the world.” I flipped over to verse 13.35. This resonates. “Those who see with eyes of knowledge the difference between the body and the knower of the body and can understand the process of liberation from bondage in material nature attain to the supreme goal.”
Further enlightening words arise from the purport:
“One can understand that the body is matter. It can be analyzed with its 24 elements. The body is a gross manifestation, and a subtle manifestation is the mind and psychological effects, and the symptoms of life are the interaction of these features. Yet over and above this, there is a soul.”
Food for thought!
May the Source be with you!
5 KM
Wednesday, October 14th/15th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk
Tirupati, India
The Bat and Me
I doubt very much that he was the same bat I met two years ago in the same spot. He was fluttering about in the space that wasn’t really mine. I can’t reach that high, but almost. He can carefully manoeuvre himself just above arms-length, stretched up. These bats normally do.
I was chanting my japa, (mantras on beads) along the lengthy veranda at the Tirupati ISKCON Guest House when I met this fellow. It was his eating time, night-time. Like you see a lot of western youth with their invincible tummies having pizzas at night, this nocturnal winged wonder my bat friend got his munching in at what folklore calls the witches hour.
I think he was doing well due to the bugs galore. I can’t fault him for not eating veggies and not devouring with honour that which we call prasadam, food blessed by brahmins. My little bat friend was preying on what’s natural for him.
As humans we have so many choices for food. I had a brief four-hours-stay in the guest house at Hyderabad. During that time I was asked to speak to the brahmachari monks from a Bhagavatam verse, Canto One. The interesting topic was about looking at emergency situations where meat consumption may be permitted. In general, under normal circumstances, we humans commit to satvic food, food in goodness. Ultimately the choice is yours.
Again, my friend, was following his natural aptitude, his dharma. And that’s why I call him my amigo. I was glad not to be alone, in fact, at that quiet hour on the veranda. I still wondered if he was the same fella of two years past.
The answer hangs in the air like a bat at night time. If it’s a new guy, then I have two friends now. The more the merrier. I hope to meet him tomorrow.
May the Source be with you!
5 KM
The Bat and Me
I doubt very much that he was the same bat I met two years ago in the same spot. He was fluttering about in the space that wasn’t really mine. I can’t reach that high, but almost. He can carefully manoeuvre himself just above arms-length, stretched up. These bats normally do.
I was chanting my japa, (mantras on beads) along the lengthy veranda at the Tirupati ISKCON Guest House when I met this fellow. It was his eating time, night-time. Like you see a lot of western youth with their invincible tummies having pizzas at night, this nocturnal winged wonder my bat friend got his munching in at what folklore calls the witches hour.
I think he was doing well due to the bugs galore. I can’t fault him for not eating veggies and not devouring with honour that which we call prasadam, food blessed by brahmins. My little bat friend was preying on what’s natural for him.
As humans we have so many choices for food. I had a brief four-hours-stay in the guest house at Hyderabad. During that time I was asked to speak to the brahmachari monks from a Bhagavatam verse, Canto One. The interesting topic was about looking at emergency situations where meat consumption may be permitted. In general, under normal circumstances, we humans commit to satvic food, food in goodness. Ultimately the choice is yours.
Again, my friend, was following his natural aptitude, his dharma. And that’s why I call him my amigo. I was glad not to be alone, in fact, at that quiet hour on the veranda. I still wondered if he was the same fella of two years past.
The answer hangs in the air like a bat at night time. If it’s a new guy, then I have two friends now. The more the merrier. I hope to meet him tomorrow.
May the Source be with you!
5 KM
HH Jayapataka Swami heath update
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New Delhi, October 18, 2014 – His Holiness Jayapataka Swami was discharged yesterday for a few days from the hospital where he stayed for 11 days. He is still under medical supervision as an Outpatient, and is meant to return to hospital to continue further treatment. The Doctors have agreed to discharge him under the […]
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A request for prayer
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Our Dear Godsister and long time Mayapur Resident Ramadevi Dasi, needs all our prayers. Ramadevi Mataji has been serving in Mayapur for many years as Sri Sri Radha Madhava’s seamstress. She is very well known as being the midwife of many many Babies born here in the Dham. Ramadevi also has been the councilor and […]
The post A request for prayer appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Kartik festivities in Mayapur
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View the full gallery here: Kartik in Mayapur “In the month of Kartik, which is very dear to Sri Hari, one who bathes early in the morning attains the merit of bathing in all places of pilgrimage. Anybody who offers the Lord a ghee lamp in the month of Kartik, O brahmana, becomes free […]
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Sounds and stories of Padmavati temple and surrounding temples, like Krsna Balarama’s
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The post Sounds and stories of Padmavati temple and surrounding temples, like Krsna Balarama’s appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
Hare Krishna Kirtan at ISKCON of New Jersey, Towaco (15 min video)
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I do not accept many different meanings for the holy name of Krishna. I know only that Lord Krishna is Syamasundar and Yasodanandana. That's all I know. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 7.85) Read more › Second series of pictures from Tirupati
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The following is the message and picture I received from Prithvi-pati, father of Venu-gopala age 7
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Its the kind of news that gives on real life.
“Dear Guru Maharaja, Venugopal went for book distribution yesterday. He distributed 2 krishnabook, 1 Gita, 2 prabhupada, 1 josd and 7 Q&A. He collected 20.000,-ft. Ys,ppd”
The post The following is the message and picture I received from Prithvi-pati, father of Venu-gopala age 7 appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
Devamrta Swami’s Bhagavatam class in Tirupati
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The post Devamrta Swami’s Bhagavatam class in Tirupati appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
Conversation and song recital at the home of Revati Ramana, Tirupati temple president
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The post Conversation and song recital at the home of Revati Ramana, Tirupati temple president appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
Preaching in Australia, October 2014 (Album 76 photos)
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The true acarya presents Krishna to everyone by preaching the holy name of the Lord throughout the world. Thus the conditioned souls, purified by chanting the holy name, are liberated from the blazing fire of material existence. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 7.12) Read more › Blissful Ratha Yatra Mexico City (Album 15 photos)
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When loud chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra is performed all over the world by those who follow in Your footsteps, all living entities, moving and nonmoving, dance in ecstatic devotional love. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 3.72) Read more › Edinburgh, Scotland, Hare Krishna Harinam (3 min video)
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My Lord, the moving entities who have heard Your loud sankirtana have already been delivered from bondage to the material world, and after the nonmoving living entities like trees hear it, there is echo. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 3.70) Read more › Hare Krishna devotees at the University of Florida, USA (2 min video)
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I'll be the first to tell you I don't know much about these guys. But I did know the feeling I got when I was in their presence. All I could feel was absolute joy. This is a quick edit but plan on going back at the next UF Game to get a whole but of different shots and angles to do another edit. Read more › Deity Greetings Iskcon London
→ Gouranga TV - The Hare Krishna video collection
Deity Greetings Iskcon London
New Devotee Relations Dept. at New Vrindaban Aims for Happy, Healthy Devotees
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit
By Madhava Smullen
A brand new Devotee Relations Department was officially established in March 2014 at the ISKCON New Vrindaban community. The new department is headed up by Sukhavaha Dasi, who joined ISKCON in New Vrindaban back in 1974 and has lived and served there for many years.
Sukhavaha holds a degree in social welfare from Penn State University, and has taken courses on leadership, leadership training, and compassionate communication. She’s also the author of the book, Revealing the Heart: The Practice of Compassion.
Sukhavaha dasi
Her vision for the new department includes supporting devotees to grow and mature in the ways they relate to one another (hence the name “Devotee Relations”), as well as providing care and support to the community by empowering devotees to care for themselves.
“To me, it’s the difference between feeding somebody, and teaching someone to grow a garden so they can feed themselves and others,” she says.
The department’s new home, a house with four rooms and a kitchen located just across the road from Sri Sri Radha Vrindabanchandra’s temple, will undergo renovations this winter.
Sukhavaha hopes to turn it into a “holistic center for mind, body, spirit and emotions” by spring 2015, complete with sauna, exercise equipment and spaces for life coaching, energy healing, cooking classes, as well as medical care by visiting and local devotees in the health field.
As well as these ongoing services, the Devotee Relations Department will hold one-off courses. Sukhavaha is currently completing her pilot course, “Empowered Empathy,” to a small group, with a second run open to the whole community to begin Tuesday, October 14th.
She is also planning two weekend workshops in spring and fall 2015, entitled “Healing the Pain of Childhood Wounds,” which will be facilitated by professional psychologists. The workshops will be offered to second generation devotees free of charge, including dormitory accommodation and meals.
For the more long term, Sukhavaha aims to train devotees as mentors for those living in the temple. This mentoring system will provide care for physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs of devotees.
She also wants to inspire devotees to create and lead a network of small groups that will provide support for different areas of life, such as men’s, women’s, parent’s, and health groups, as well as a book club.
“In small groups, you can feel safe and comfortable enough to be yourself and express yourself,” she says. “And the power of them is that you can get nourishment and support from the other devotees, and learn from one another.”
Although the Devotee Relations Department is new and yet to develop a team, other individual devotees, like Lilasuka Dasi, have been doing their part to assist devotees in various ways. Sukhavaha hopes to train other staff in the future. But it’s something she expects to be a gradual process.
“I’m not in a rush just to throw something together, if it would be counterproductive or fall apart,” she says. “I want to very organically and methodically create structured systems that are sustainable over time.”
In the meantime, devotees who have already taken her coaching or Empowered Empathy workshop are encouraged by the results and returning for more.
Sukhavaha is delighted. “I love to see happy, healthy devotees,” she says. “Not just on the surface, but on a deep level, from the inside out.”
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-10-20 03:14:00 →
1966 October 20: "Today first hearing was done in the matter of my visa extension It will be heard again on 10/28/66 at 9 a.m."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1966
Prabhupada Letters :: 1966
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-10-20 03:14:00 →
1972 October 20: "REMAIN BOMBAY. FINISH NAIR BUSINESS. IF SETTLED PEACEFULLY IMMEDIATELY BALANCE SOON. IF NO POSSIBILITY OF SETTLEMENT GO TO COURT. LETTER FOLLOWS. --BHAKTIVEDANTA SWAMI"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-10-20 03:13:00 →
1972 October 20: "He is bluffing. Our position is very strong. He is simply planning tricks. Possession is nine-tenths of the law. Why you should be afraid of him? We can satisfy any court of law."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-10-20 03:13:00 →
1972 October 20: "He has dominated you and you are afraid of him and he has fooled you to think he is in superior legal position. But this is cheating. Do not pay him any more money. Bring a criminal case against him."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-10-20 03:13:00 →
1973 October 20: "Regarding your opening another school, if you can do it, I have no objection. But, it is a great responsibility. To open for a few days, and then close it is not good."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-10-20 03:12:00 →
1973 October 20: "The more our books are distributed, the more people will become convinced about this movement. This is very important work and I wish that you continue. I start within the next few days for Delhi. We are having a big festival there. I look forward to seeing you at that time."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973
Ineffective Chanting
→ The Enquirer
Ineffective Chanting
You’re chanting and chanting, but are you learning any philosophy? Really learning it so it makes sense? Chanting without knowledge of what the chanting means is not very effective.
bahu janma kare yadi śravaṇa, kīrtana
tabu ta’ nā pāya kṛṣṇa-pade prema-dhana
— Caitanya Caritāmṛta (adi.8.16)
Chanting can go on ineffectively for many, many births (bahu janma). Something is required before it becomes effective. That requirement is Śrī Caitanya’s “mercy” – what is that “mercy” it is the instructions about the meaning of Śrīmad Bhāgavatam left behind by his followers, particularly the Six Goswami’s of Vrindavan. So we have to study their books (particularly bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, ṣaḍ-sandarbha, and bṛhat-bhāgavatāmṛta) until we really understand what they are saying. Then our chanting has effect very quickly, because we chant properly, without mistake, without “offense” without misconception.
Śrīla Prabhupāda therefore instructed us to study these books. We have to study Śrīmad Bhāgavatam through understanding the way Bhāgavatam is explained in these books. Śrīla Prabhupāda’s writings lay the foundation for this study, but one cannot really say he follows Śrīla Prabhupāda’s instructions unless he also takes the trouble to follow his instructions to directly study the works of the Six Goswāmīs.
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-10-20 02:59:00 →
1973 October 20: "Regarding my seeing the Pope, I shall let you know. Now I am India, then I shall go to Africa, Australia, Hong Kong, and America. It must be postponed."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973
Prabhupada Letters :: Anthology 2014-10-20 02:58:00 →
1973 October 20: "You should keep everything very clean. That is the first business. The prasadam room should be immediately cleaned after taking prasadam. Every room should be as clean as a mirror otherwise you are inviting rats."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973
Bhagavatam-daily 3 – 11.06.42 – Trust not just Krishna’s power, but also his intelligence
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Bhagavtam-daily podcast
Don’t reduce all thinking to logical thinking
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“No, no, you are not thinking; you’re just being logical.” This was Noble Laureate physicist Neil Bohr’s startling admonition to a student. Bohr was a pioneer of quantum physics, a field of science whose insights have stretched the limits of logic well beyond breaking point. To defend his field, he often had to challenge the widely held presumption that only logical things are intellectually acceptable. In this quote, he exhorts his student to open his thinking to channels that transcend logic.
It’s immensely significant that a field of science, which is celebrated for being logical, needs to go beyond logic for progressing. No doubt, logical thinking is a desirable and essential feature of human thinking. But what is unessential and undesirable is to reduce all thinking to logical thinking – and by extension to reject as nonsense whatever doesn’t make logical sense.
Bohr challenged the widely held presumption that only logical things are intellectually acceptable.
Just as uni-dimensional devotion to logical thinking can shackle our understanding of complex subjects such as quantum physics, so too can it shackle our understanding of the most complex subject – the Absolute Truth.
One question that perplexes logicians is the nature of God’s relationship with the world – is he immanent, existing in nature, or transcendent, existing beyond it? The Bhagavad-gita (09.04) points to his immanence, stating that he pervades and sustains the world. Yet the next verse (09.05) states that he doesn’t sustain the world, thereby underscoring his transcendence.
How do we understand these apparently contradictory assertions?
By freeing our thinking from the straitjacket of logic, as Bohr exhorts, and studying the Gita open-mindedly.
How a being can be both immanent and transcendent is difficult for us to understand logically. But such difficulty is to be expected because God being supreme is superior to logic – he is not illogical, but trans-logical. This, of course, doesn’t mean that we need to accept anything in the name of trans-logicality. It just means that we don’t let adherence to logic stonewall our quest for understanding.
Gita wisdom explains that God being unlimited can exist at multiple levels simultaneously. It reveals a magnificent conception of God who exists in multiple manifestations, including an immanent manifestation, Paramatma, and a transcendent one, Bhagavan. And the Gita (09.02) also declares that its revelation can be experientially verified by the practice of bhakti-yoga.
By the purification resulting from bhakti, our trans-logical spiritual perception awakens. Gradually, we realize experientially that God though being far away in his abode is right next to us in our own heart, closer than our closest loved one can ever be. We will rejoice in his inconceivable glory, seeing it not as a failure of human logic, but as a triumph of divine love.
Can we take charanamrita when curd is forbidden during Chaturmasya?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
From Dinabandhu P
hari-bhakti-vilAsa 12.100aṣṭaitāny avrata-ghnāni āpo mūlaṁ phalaṁ payaḥ
havir brāhmaṇa-kāmyā ca guror vacanam auṣadham
havir brāhmaṇa-kāmyā ca guror vacanam auṣadham
"These eight do not break a fast — (1) water (2) roots (3) fruits (4) milk (5) haviḥ (anything offered to the Lord viz. charanamrita) (6) brāhmaṇa-kāmyā (offerings usually dear to a brahmana viz. ghee, curd etc.) (7) guror vacanam — (anything ordered by a guru) (8) auṣadham (medicine)
(My thanks to Hari Parshad Prabhu for providing this reference)
What is the basis for the classification of scripture as shruti smriti and nyaya?
→ The Spiritual Scientist
Did Krishna not have his conchshell before he killed Panchajanya?
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From Vijay Gopi K P
ISKCON Scarborough – Govardhana Puja celebrations coming Friday- 56 different varieties of Bhoga will be offered
→ ISKCON Scarborough
The devotees of ISKCON Scarborough will be celebrating Govardhana Puja on Friday- 24th Oct 2014.
On this auspicious day, 56 different varieties of Bhoga will be offered to Supreme Personality of Godhead Lord Krishna in the form of Govardhana Hill.
On the same day, it is also the auspicious birth star Swati Natchatra of Lord Narasimhadev
There will be grand Abhishek performed on Lord Narasimhadev
The events on this auspicious day are:
Tulasi Arti, Grand Abhishek on Lord Narasimhadev, 56 offerings to Govardhana Hill, Class on Govardhana Lila by HG Rupanuga das prabhu, Damodarastakam prayers followed by a Grand feast
The story behind Govardhana Puja
Govardhana Puja, Go-Puja and Annakuta are all connected with the story of Lord Krishna lifting Govardhana Hill to protect the inhabitants of Vrindavan.
The day after Diwali is referred to as Annakuta, or Govardhana Puja. On this day the inhabitants of Vrindavan (Lord Krishna’s abode on Earth) would hold a harvest festival in honour of King Indra, the demigod who provided the rains essential for the harvest.
One day, however, Lord Krishna wanted to teach Indra a lesson. He convinced the inhabitants of Vrindavan to honour Govardhana Hill instead, whose fertile soil provided the grass upon which the cows and bulls grazed, and to honour the cows and bulls who provided milk and ploughed the lands. Outraged, Indra retaliated with terrifying thunderstorms. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna, calmly lifted Govardhana Hill with the little finger of his left hand. For seven days and seven nights the Lord held up Govardhana Hill, providing a giant umbrella to shelter the inhabitants of Vrindavan from the torrential rain. Realizing the futility of his actions, King Indra bowed down before the Lord with folded hands and offered prayers of supplication. In this way, Lord Krishna demonstrated that He is Deva Deva, the lord of the demigods, and that any purpose for which demigods might be worshipped could easily be served by worshipping Him, the cause of all causes.
We warmly welcome you and your family to ISKCON Scarborough coming Friday to take part in the Govardhana puja.
From The Core Of His Heart
→ Japa Group
Srimad Bhagavatam 7.6.1 purport
Swamiji
→ travelingmonk.com
Last night Brahmananda Dasa launched a new book “Swamiji” wherein Steven J. Rosen ( Satyaraja dasa ) recounts Brahmananda prabhu’s service and association with Srila Prabhupada in the early years of the Hare Krishna Movement. While reading and commenting on the book, published by Torchlight Publishing, Inc. Brahmananda prabhu gave rare and valuable insights into [...]
What’s To Come
→ Mayapuris.com
We are excited because we have a handful of events that are nearby.
There is the famous ‘Sacred Sounds’ event in Rutgers University that inspires 500 students to chant and dance the entire night.
Then we catch our flight from New Jersey straight into the Birthplace of Jazz. Pick up our Rental and head across the border. Not to Mexico of course, but to the state that is the funnest to spell out loud,
There is a Krishna community 45 minutes from New Orleans known as New Talavan.
It is known for its natural and organic way of living: they make organic Blueberry jam, collect fresh honey, pick organic fruits and vegetables from their garden and orchid, and of course make all sorts of milk products. 60 cows roam in their open fields and with their help the community gets Milk, yogurt, cheese and a variety of milk sweets for the deities that reside in the temple,
Sri Sri Radha-Radha Kantha. Yup, two Radha’s in that name.
Another fun fact is that it’s the birthplace of one of the Mayapuris! that would be me, Kish.
We are also super excited that all the Mayapuris will reunite for this awesome festival!
After the weekend festival in Mississippi we get in our tour van and head towards Alabama for our first “JUGGERNAUT TOUR”.
Gauravani will be meeting us and we will do 4 events back to back.
Starting the 28th of October and ending the 31st.
One more thing to add!
We are very fortunate that we are able to do so many events in this special month of Kartik. This is a month where any spiritual activity is magnified and multiplied 1000 times. One easy way is to offer a candle to God.
To know more about each event just click on “Events” or I’ll make it easy for you and you can just click right here
Keep in touch
There is the famous ‘Sacred Sounds’ event in Rutgers University that inspires 500 students to chant and dance the entire night.
Then we catch our flight from New Jersey straight into the Birthplace of Jazz. Pick up our Rental and head across the border. Not to Mexico of course, but to the state that is the funnest to spell out loud,
There is a Krishna community 45 minutes from New Orleans known as New Talavan.
It is known for its natural and organic way of living: they make organic Blueberry jam, collect fresh honey, pick organic fruits and vegetables from their garden and orchid, and of course make all sorts of milk products. 60 cows roam in their open fields and with their help the community gets Milk, yogurt, cheese and a variety of milk sweets for the deities that reside in the temple,
Sri Sri Radha-Radha Kantha. Yup, two Radha’s in that name.
Another fun fact is that it’s the birthplace of one of the Mayapuris! that would be me, Kish.
We are also super excited that all the Mayapuris will reunite for this awesome festival!
After the weekend festival in Mississippi we get in our tour van and head towards Alabama for our first “JUGGERNAUT TOUR”.
Gauravani will be meeting us and we will do 4 events back to back.
Starting the 28th of October and ending the 31st.
One more thing to add!
We are very fortunate that we are able to do so many events in this special month of Kartik. This is a month where any spiritual activity is magnified and multiplied 1000 times. One easy way is to offer a candle to God.
To know more about each event just click on “Events” or I’ll make it easy for you and you can just click right here
Keep in touch
Australia, October 2014
→ KKSBlog
Report by Kadamba Kanana Swami
This afternoon (19 October), I left Australia. It was a good tour with so many different programs. First up, we headed north for a home program in Burleigh Heads. There is a cafe there and most devotees who are involved with the cafe came to the program. It was nice; everybody was young and enthusiastic. Then we had a kirtan program in New Govardhana. My stay at New Govardhana was too short – just two days but it was nice and peaceful, in a pleasant room. Devotees were enthusiastic about the programs; there was a lot of kirtan. We had a good time. There is a WWOOFer (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) village, where about 40 volunteer workers from all over the world are staying for a while. I did a program with them and that was fun.
Then next morning, we had to return to Sydney for a boat program. I like boats and water and kirtan, so it was a winning combination! We are going to do it again.
I did a great variety of programs all over Australia – Sydney, Gold Coast, Murwillumbah , Melbourne, Canberra – university programs, home programs, hall programs, Indian programs, Western programs, meditation programs and yoga programs. My stay in Melbourne was very dynamic.
This morning, we had a program in Govinda Valley for an audience of Australia’s leading yoga teachers – very nice, quality people who are serious about the mode of goodness. It was nice to meet them and share something about Bhakti Yoga. Emmanual, the flute player, had brought all these little percussion instruments, chimes and created amazing musical effects. It created a nice atmosphere.
Now, I am on the way to Tirupati for a few days of meetings about Mayapur. Then Govardhana Puja in Vrndavana as well as some small parikrama and singing for the Deities.
Okay, time to board the next plane!
Photos
To see more pictures, kindly visit flickr.
