Gundica Marjana
→ ISKCON Malaysia

BY SRILA PRABHUPADA
 
Lord Caitanya's Pastimes in Jagannatha Puri
"Now please hear about Lord Jagannatha's going to the Gundica temple while Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu danced before the Ratha car. The Lord performed kirtana for some time and, through His own endeavor, inspired all the devotees to dance. When the Lord Himself wanted to dance, all seven groups combined together.
The Lord's devotees--including Srivasa, Ramai, Raghu, Govinda, Mukunda, Haridasa, Govindananda, Madhava and Govinda--all combined together. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu desired to jump high while dancing, He placed these nine people in the charge of Svarupa Damodara. These devotees [Svarupa Damodara and the devotees in his charge] sang along with the Lord, and they also ran beside Him. All the other groups of men also sang.
"Now please hear about Lord Jagannatha's going to the Gundica temple while Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu danced before the Ratha car. The Lord performed kirtana for some time and, through His own endeavor, inspired all the devotees to dance. When the Lord Himself wanted to dance, all seven groups combined together. The Lord's devotees--including Srivasa, Ramai, Raghu, Govinda, Mukunda, Haridasa, Govindananda, Madhava and Govinda--all combined together. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu desired to jump high while dancing, He placed these nine people in the charge of Svarupa Damodara. These devotees [Svarupa Damodara and the devotees in his charge] sang along with the Lord, and they also ran beside Him. All the other groups of men also sang.
Offering obeisances to the Lord with folded hands, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu raised His face toward Jagannatha and prayed as follows. 'Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Krsna, who is the worshipable Deity for all brahminical men, who is the well-wisher of cows and brahmanas, and who is always benefiting the whole world. I offer my repeated obeisances to the Personality of Godhead, known as Krsna and Govinda.'
'All glories unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is known as the son of Devaki. All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is known as the light of the dynasty of Vrsni. All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead whose bodily luster is like that of a new cloud and whose body is as soft as a lotus flower. All glories to the Supreme Personality of Godhead who appeared on this planet to deliver the world from the burden of demons and who can offer liberation to everyone.'
'Lord Sri Krsna is He who is known as jana-nivasa, the ultimate resort of all living entities, and who is also known as Devaki-nandana or Yasoda-nandana, the son of Devaki and Yasoda. He is the guide of the Yadu dynasty, and with His mighty arms He kills everything inauspicious as well as every man who is impious. By His presence He destroys all things inauspicious for all living entities, moving and inert. His blissful smiling face always increases the lusty desires of the gopis of Vrndavana. May He be all glorious and happy!'
'I am not a brahmana, I am not a ksatriya, I am not a vaisya or a sudra. Nor am I a brahmacari, a householder, a vanaprastha or a sannyasi. I identify Myself only as the servant of the servant of the servant of the lotus feet of Lord Sri Krsna, the maintainer of the gopis. He is like an ocean of nectar, and He is the cause of universal transcendental bliss. He is always existing with brilliance.' "
Having recited all these verses from scripture, the Lord again offered His obeisances, and all the devotees, with folded hands, also offered prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu danced and jumped high, roaring like thunder and moving in a circle like a wheel, He appeared like a circling firebrand. Wherever Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stepped while dancing, the whole earth, with its hills and seas, appeared to tilt.
When Caitanya Mahaprabhu danced, He displayed various blissful transcendental changes in His body. Sometimes He appeared as though stunned. Sometimes the hairs of His body stood on end. Sometimes He perspired, cried, trembled and changed color, and sometimes He exhibited symptoms of helplessness, pride, exuberance and humility.
When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu fell down with a crash while dancing, He would roll on the ground. At such times it appeared that a golden mountain was rolling on the ground. Nityananda Prabhu would stretch out His two hands and try to catch the Lord when He was running here and there. Advaita Acarya would walk behind the Lord and loudly chant "Hari bol! Hari bol!" again and again.
Just to check the crowds from coming too near the Lord, they formed three circles. The first circle was guided by Nityananda Prabhu, who is Balarama Himself, the possessor of great strength. All the devotees headed by Kasisvara and Govinda linked hands and formed a second circle around the Lord. Maharaja Prataparudra and his personal assistants formed a third circle around the two inner circles just to check the crowd from coming too near. With his hands on the shoulders of Haricandana, King Prataparudra could see Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu dancing, and the King felt great ecstasy. While the King beheld the dancing, Srivasa Thakura, standing in front of him, became ecstatic as he saw the dancing of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
Seeing Srivasa Thakura standing before the King, Haricandana touched Srivasa with his hand and requested him to step aside. Absorbed in watching Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu dance, Srivasa Thakura could not understand why he was being touched and pushed. After he was pushed again and again, he became angry. Srivasa Thakura slapped Haricandana to stop him from pushing him. In turn, this made Haricandana angry. As the angered Haricandana was about to speak to Srivasa Thakura, Prataparudra Maharaja personally stopped him. King Prataparudra said, "You are very fortunate, for you have been graced by the touch of Srivasa Thakura. I am not so fortunate. You should feel obliged to him."
Everyone was astonished by the dancing of Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and even Lord Jagannatha became extremely happy to see Him. The car came to a complete standstill and remained immobile while Lord Jagannatha, with unblinking eyes, watched the dancing of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. The goddess of fortune, Subhadra, and Lord Balarama both felt great happiness and ecstasy within Their hearts. Indeed, They were seen smiling at the dancing.
When Caitanya Mahaprabhu danced and jumped high, eight wonderful transformations indicative of divine ecstasy were seen in His body. All these symptoms were visible simultaneously. His skin erupted with goose pimples, and the hairs of His body stood on end. His body resembled the simuli [silk cotton tree], all covered with thorns. Indeed, the people became afraid just to see His teeth chatter, and they even thought that His teeth would fall out.
Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's whole body flowed with perspiration and at the same time oozed blood. He made the sounds "jaja gaga, jaja gaga" in a voice choked with ecstasy. Tears came forcefully from the eyes of the Lord, as if from a syringe, and all the people surrounding Him became wet. Everyone saw the complexion of His body change from white to pink, so that His luster resembled that of the mallika flower.
Sometimes He appeared stunned, and sometimes He rolled on the ground. Indeed, sometimes His legs and hands became as hard as dry wood, and He did not move. When the Lord fell on the ground, sometimes His breathing almost stopped. When the devotees saw this, their lives also became very feeble. Water flowed from His eyes and sometimes through His nostrils, and foam fell from His mouth. These flowings appeared to be torrents of nectar descending from the moon.
The foam which fell from the mouth of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was taken and drunk by Subhananda because he was very fortunate and expert in relishing the mellow of ecstatic love of Krsna. After performing His devastating dance for some time, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's mind entered into a mood of ecstatic love.
After abandoning the dancing, the Lord ordered Svarupa Damodara to sing. Understanding His mind, Svarupa Damodara began to sing as follows. "Now I have gained the Lord of My life, in the absence of whom I was being burned by Cupid and was withering away." When this refrain was loudly sung by Svarupa Damodara, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu again began rhythmically dancing in transcendental bliss.
The car of Lord Jagannatha began to move slowly while the son of mother Saci went ahead and danced in front. While dancing and singing, all the devotees in front of Lord Jagannatha kept their eyes on Him. Caitanya Mahaprabhu then went to the end of the procession with the sankirtana performers.
His eyes and mind fully absorbed in Lord Jagannatha, Caitanya Mahaprabhu began to play the drama of the song with His two arms. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu was dramatically enacting the song, He would sometimes fall behind in the procession. At such times, Lord Jagannatha would come to a standstill. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu again went forward, Lord Jagannatha's car would slowly start again.
Thus there was a sort of competition between Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Jagannatha in seeing who would lead, but Caitanya Mahaprabhu was so strong that He made Lord Jagannatha wait in His car.
 
Gundica Temple, Puri
Purport
After giving up the company of the gopis in Vrndavana, Sri Krsna, the son of Maharaja Nanda, engaged in His pastimes at Dvaraka. When Krsna went to Kuruksetra with His brother and sister and others from Dvaraka, He again met the inhabitants of Vrndavana. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu is radha-bhava-dyuti-suvalita, that is, Krsna Himself assuming the part of Srimati Radharani in order to understand Krsna. Lord Jagannatha-deva is Krsna, and Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu is Srimati Radharani.
Caitanya Mahaprabhu's leading Lord Jagannatha toward Gundica temple corresponded to Srimati Radharani's leading Krsna toward Vrndavana. Sri Ksetra, Jagannatha Puri, was taken as the kingdom of Dvaraka, the place where Krsna enjoys supreme opulence. However, He was being led by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to Vrndavana, the simple village where all the inhabitants are filled with ecstatic love for Krsna.
Sri Ksetra is a place of aisvarya-lila, just as Vrndavana is the place of madhurya-lila. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's following at the rear of the ratha indicated that Lord Jagannatha, Krsna, was forgetting the inhabitants of Vrndavana. Although Krsna neglected the inhabitants of Vrndavana, He could not forget them. Thus in His opulent Ratha-yatra, He was returning to Vrndavana.
In the role of Srimati Radharani, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was examining whether the Lord still remembered the inhabitants of Vrndavana. When Caitanya Mahaprabhu fell behind the Ratha car, Jagannatha-deva, Krsna Himself, understood the mind of Srimati Radharani. Therefore, Jagannatha sometimes fell behind the dancing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to indicate to Srimati Radharani that He had not forgotten. Thus Lord Jagannatha would wait on the ratha for their forward march. In this way Lord Jagannatha agreed that without the ecstasy of Srimati Radharani He could not feel satisfied. While Jagannatha was thus waiting, Gaurasundara, Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in His ecstasy of Srimati Radharani, immediately came forward to Krsna. At such times, Lord Jagannatha would proceed ahead very slowly. These competitive exchanges were all part of the love affair between Krsna and Srimati Radharani. In that competition between Lord Caitanya's ecstasy for Jagannatha and Jagannatha's ecstasy for Srimati Radharani, Caitanya Mahaprabhu emerged successful.
Caitanya-caritamrta, Madyam lila 13:70-119 
Top picture and text, Bhaktivedanta Book Trust, HDG A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada.

 

Celebrating 100 Years Disappearance of Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakura
→ ISKCON Malaysia

BY SRI JAGANNATH MANDIR, KL

KUALA LUMPUR - Sri Jagannatha Mandir ,Kuala Lumpur held a programme in honour of Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakura’s disappearance anniversary. Programme started with singing of  "Je anilo Premadhana" followed by reading from “The seventh Goswami”.

Soon after that Bhoga offering, pushpanjali and Maha arati was performed. A delicious feast was served to all at the end. It was a day to meditate on the development of congregational preaching since it was Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakura who revived Lord Nityananda’s Nama Hatta preaching programme and later on developed Lord Chaitanya’s tree of devotion. It is mentioned that Bhakti Vinode Thakura established at least five hundred namahattas and was actively preaching amongst grihasta devotees.

It is amazing to see that the preaching techniques that Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakura used 100 years ago are relevant even till today. On this day ISKCON Malaysia Regional Secretary, Simhesvara Prabhu wrote a wonderful message with regards to congregational preaching by developing Shraddha kutirs . He is presently engaged in developing a first ever farm community in Malaysia. “Here at the New Godruma Dhama farm I take care of about 150 trees in my free time. Means I water them, fertilize them with cow dung and also at times dig into the earth around the plants and build up the soil. All this I do in my free time other than having to manage other things. It is a daily affair of my free time. So a Sraddha Kutir is something like that, in your free time, off your office hours you need to just invite some people to your homes. Make friends. In Kali Yuga it is very easy to make enemies or opponents. Even as devotees sometimes we find it difficult with each other. But this Sraddha Kutir will bring in so many friends. And friends are what we need. And more the friends more the merrier and happy you can be in your Krishna consciousness. I cannot imagine me staying around as a devotee without my friends. So please expand as much this Sraddha Kutir and cultivate friendship amongst all people and bring as many to your homes. Talk to them, hear them, cook for them, feed them and chant with them. And then, they will not want to go back to where they were. They will be dreaming whole week for the Sraddha Kutir programme.So the programme may be a once in a month or weekly but in the other days both the host and the guests will be meditating when they will meet again for the programme. A perfect way to manage our time and energy.”














Join us for Sunday Feast from 11.00am-2.00pm and experience happiness & bliss
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Sunday Love Feast

When?
Sunday,June 29th
Program starts at 11 am

Where?
6 George Street South
Brampton, Ontario
L6Y 1P3, Canada
Park underground(free) @ City Hall
Phone:416-648-3312

New! Listen
Click here to listen to previous class recordings on our blog
Make a Donation

Srimad-Bhagavatam 1.5.38
iti mūrty-abhidhānena
mantra-mūrtim amūrtikam
yajate yajña-puruṣaṁ
sa samyag darśanaḥ pumān
TRANSLATION
Thus he is the actual seer who worships, in the form of transcendental sound representation, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, who has no material form.
Program Schedule
11.00- 11.15      Tulsi Puja                                          
11.15 - 11.30     Guru Puja                                           
11:30 –11:55     Aarti & Kirtan                                      
11.55 - 12.00    Sri Nrsingadeva Prayers                 
12.00 – 1:00     Vedic Discourse 
  1:00 –  1:30      Closing Kirtan

COMING UP AHEAD
Sayana Ekadasi
Fasting..................... on July 8th
                              Breakfast................. on July 9th b/w 5.44am-10.50am
Every fortnight, we observe Ekadasi, a day of prayer and meditation. On this day we fast (or simplify our meals and abstain from grains and beans), and spend extra time reading the scriptures and chanting the auspicious Hare Krishna mantra.

Temple Closure Notice

Temple will be kept closed on Sun,July 13th on account of  the Festival of India-Toronto so that our congregation may attend and participate in the festivities at Centre Island.Tickets will be available for purchase at ISKCON Brampton on Sun,July 6th.If you'd like to do some service on the Centre Island,contact Bhagavat Dasa or Krsna smaran Devi Dasi for details.

Kirtan Etiquette Workshop

will be conducted at ISKCON Brampton on Saturday August 16th by His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami. This workshop is open to everyone. We encourage all of those who are engaged in kirtan seva at ISKCON Brampton -Kirtanyas, kartal players, Mrdanga players and othermusical instruments to attend this workshop. This is one of the GBC's resolutions to follow proper kirtan etiquette in all ISKCON centres. Please contact Aindra Dasa for more details.

IB's 2ND Festival of Chariots

will be held on Sat,Aug 23rd,2014.....We are pleased to announce that His Holiness Bhaktimarga Swami will be present at IB Ratha Yatra.For Festival updates,please check out click here.For more details and service opportunity contact Aindra Dasa,Nimai Nitai Dasa or Prema Gaurangi Devi Dasi.

ON GOING EVERY SUNDAY
ISKCON Brampton Yoga and Wellness

Empower your mind and strengthen your body as you move through a series of meaningful poses.Mother Rashmi Ahuja will be conducting Yoga Classes every Sunday from 10am-11am before our Sunday Feast Program at ISKCON Brampton.These classes will be focussed on promoting our physical and mental well being.(Please bring your yoga mat)
To Register
Email:rashmis.yoga@facebook.com 
Facebook page:Yoga and Satvic Nutrition with Rashmi
Contacts:416.569.6373 or 905.488.7272
Nutrition Help & Diet Tips

Mother Rashmi Ahuja is offering free one to one consultations and development of Individualized Nutrition Plans on Sundays between 1:30 - 3pm. Please contact (416)569-6373 or (905)488-7272 to book an appointment.
Sunday School

New Curriculum has started on June 8th,2014.
To register,contact us
Email:sundayschool108@gmail.com
Call:647.893.9363

The Sunday School provides fun filled strategies through the medium of music, drama, debates, quizzes and games that present Vedic Culture to children. However the syllabus is also designed to simultaneously teach them to always remember Krishna and never forget Him.
The Sunday School follows the curriculum provided by the Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture (BCEC).
 
Please note that ISKCON Brampton is a nut free environment in order to support those with allergies. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Chant and Be happy!

Srila Bhaktivinode Thakura’s 100th disappearance day anniversary programme at Kuala Lumpur (Album 15 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Sri Jagannatha Mandir ,Kuala Lumpur held a programme in honour of Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakura’s disappearance anniversary. Programme started with singing of Je anilo Premadhana followed by reading from “The seventh Goswami”. Soon after that Bhoga offering , pushpanjali and Maha arati was performed. A delicious feast was served to all at the end. It was a day to meditate on the development of congregational preaching since it was Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakura who revived Lord Nityananda’s Nama Hatta preaching programme and later on developed Lord Chaitanya’s tree of devotion. It is mentioned that Bhakti Vinode Thakura established at least five hundred namahattas and was actively preaching amongst grihasta devotees. It is amazing to see that the preaching techniques that Srila Bhakti Vinode Thakura used 100 years ago are relevant even till today. On this day ISKCON Malaysia Regional Secretary, His Grace Simhesvara Prabhu wrote a wonderful message with regards to congregational preaching by developing Shraddha kutirs . His Grace is presently engaged in developing a first ever farm community in Malaysia. Read more ›

Wednesday, June 25th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Harrison Mills, British Columbia

Start of the Valley


It was breakfast time.  We were breakfast.  Mosquitoes were out in full force and Karuna and I were the natural target.  There were no other humans visible to take on in the out of doors along the highway.  We survived, even though deprived of our Burt’s Bees herbal insect repellant. 

In the Fraser Valley, temperatures were in the low 30 Celcius, quite hot for continued walking.  At break time, one god brother (classmate of the same guru) had invited us for lunch.  He goes by the name of Tota Gopinatha; he resides in Chilliwack and has a heroic history.  He became a Krishna monk at age 15.  Eventually he got married and ended up working in the Ministry of Children and Family.  He managed to reach success, even on a grade 6 education, in helping orphans and abused children.  Even though he left monastic life years ago, he maintains a strict level of sadhana (internal exercise) which includes mantra meditation.  He cooks up a great veggie meal for our small Canwalk team.  We were grateful for his blissful company along with his wife, Paulette.

From Tota’s home, we ventured by car to West Star Auto, managed by Tulsi, origins, Mauritius.  He called the local media, Greg from the local paper.  He also called in all of his staff.

“Meet the Walking Monk who can tell you the purpose of life,” he said as I walked in.  Tulsi’s style is curt and cute at the same time, “Take this Gita, read chapter 2.  We are not these bodies.  Learn how to get out of the cycle of birth and death.  The monk will tell you.”

It was instant friendship with his open-minded staff.  The final piece of glory that crowned this day when a couple of Krishna devotees from Vancouver tracked me down to walk some kilometres for the evening shift.  In fact, I was greeted by one of them playing Highlander bagpipes.

May the Source be with you!

36 KM

Tuesday, June 24th, 2014
→ The Walking Monk

Hope, British Columbia

Metaphor on Life


So many artists and poet have sung and written about the travel on the road as a metaphor on life.  You hit low points and valleys and high points and elevation.  You also see the road as a link to destinations where experiences take place.  In many of these places, there’s so little distinction, however, the only difference is in the name.

On the road or the trail there are so many enlightening moments, and sometimes sad ones, as in collision.  God forbid, but it does happen.  Lots of thought processing goes on in the mind of travellers as they are in motion.  For a walker, there’s no exception.  And also in the case of Karuna Sindhu and I who endeavour to keep a spiritual focus.

For the first four hours, he and I met with our first rain in a long time, until we reached the town of Hope.  From there I took solo to Highway 7 and to a distinctive natured culture, the Fraser River Valley.  Motorists along the way were super and friendly.  One trucker saw me earlier on and knowing he would see me further down the road on his return, pulled over, came out of his cab, presented some cold water and a bag of almonds.  He wasn’t much interested in my story or mission, he just wanted to give, to serve someone.  What a big heart.  And special thanks goes to Jiva and Jaya Sri for their gracious company and accommodation in Chilliwack.

May the Source be with you!

36 KM

Preaching program at the Kirtan Yoga Club in Hungary (Album 10 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Oh, how glorious are they whose tongues are chanting Your holy name! Even if born in the families of dog-eaters, such persons are worshipable. Persons who chant the holy name of Your Lordship must have executed all kinds of austerities and fire sacrifices and achieved all the good manners of the Aryans. To be chanting the holy name of Your Lordship, they must have bathed at holy places of pilgrimage, studied the Vedas and fulfilled everything required. SB 3.33.7 Read more ›

Visitor to New Vrindaban’s Palace of Gold takes inspiration.
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

Have you read the Science of Self Realization?

By Krishna Bhava dasi

Sometimes with his mother and sometimes with his son, Herbie has been visiting NV for a decade, “Under the radar” as he likes to say.  Originally from Kent, Ohio, he moved to West Alexander, WV.

Ten summers ago he decided to take a camping vacation near the Palace of Gold.  One day while driving to his campsite, he discovered the Palace. He had always been interested in different religions and was very attracted.

He went into the Palace gift shop, Krpamaya das shared with Him some passages from the Bhagavad Gita and he bought a Science of Self Realization. After reading the Science of Self Realization he became inspired.  He works for a large corporation and teaches customer relations to thousands of people.  While teaching them customer relations he now tries to incorporate principles from Srila Prabhupada’s  Science of Self Realization.  In his work place he has inspired over 40 workers to download the Science of Self Realization and they have discussions on it.

Last summer I was very enlivened when he shared his story with me and the last thing he said to me was “Have you read the Science of Self Realization?”

Srila Prabhupada's book, "The Science of Self Realization"

Srila Prabhupada’s book, “The Science of Self Realization”

The author of this article, Krishna Bhava das,i has lived in New Vrindaban for over 30 years, having done lots of different services, while raising two children as well. She now runs the Palace Gift Shop at Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold.

kb                                                                                             Krishna Bhava with her daughter, Krishna Priya.

Harinama and prasadam distribution in Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England (Album 20 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England, about 2 miles west of Amesbury and 8 miles north of Salisbury. One of the most famous sites in the world, Around 37 000 people attended this year's Stonehenge Summer Solstice, Parasurama Prabhu and his team arrange a Midnight Ratha Yatra and the distribution of thousands plates of Prasadam. Afterwards MahaVishnu Swami with the Harinam Party was rocking the stones till sun rise Read more ›

We invite you to chant 64 rounds of Hare Krsna Maha Mantra with us this Saturday at ISKCON Scarborough
→ ISKCON Scarborough

Hare Krishna!
Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

We are pleased to announce that our 4th annual 64 round chanting day will take place coming Saturday - June 28th 2014 from 8 am to 6 pm. Sumptuous free breakfast, lunch & dinner prasadam will be served on this day.

The program for Saturday- June 28th 2014:
8 am to 8.30 am- Arti
8.30 am to 9 am - Breakfast prasadam
9 am to 6 pm- chant 64 rounds of Hare Krsna Maha Mantra
7 pm to 8 pm - Tamil Bhagavad Gita class

Every year over 50 devotees take part in chanting 64 rounds at ISKCON Scarborough- the weekend before Canada day.
We invite you, your family and friends to ISKCON Scarborough coming Saturday to take part in this auspicious event.

Importance of Chanting the Holy names of the Lord:

Srimad Bhagavatam: 6.3.31:

Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: My dear King, the chanting of the holy name of the Lord is able to uproot even the reactions of the greatest sins. Therefore the chanting of the saṅkīrtana movement is the most auspicious activity in the entire universe. Please try to understand this so that others will take it seriously.


Caitanya Bhagavat Adi Khanda 16.94 – Namacarya Srila Haridas Thakur

“Even if my body is cut into pieces and I give up my life, I will never give up chanting the Lord’s holy name.”

Srimad Bhagavatam 11.5.32/Caitanya Caritamrta Adi Lila 3.52/ Caitanya Caritamrta Madya Lila 6.103/ Caitanya Caritamrta Madya Lila 11.100/ Caitanya Caritamrta Madya Lila 20.342/ Caitanya Caritamrta Antya Lila 20.10

In the age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chanting to worship the incarnation of Godhead who constantly sings the names of Krishna. Although His complexion is not blackish, He is Krishna Himself. He is accompanied by His associates, servants, weapons and confidential companions.

Padyavali- Srila Rupa Goswami:

O Supreme Personality of Godhead, when someone desires to chant Your holy name, sins tremble in fear, the glory of material illusion faints unconscious, Yamaraja’s scribe Citragupta becomes happy and gazes at the chanter’s toenails with awe and reverence, and Lord Brahma prepares madhu-parka to worship him. O Lord, what more can we say than this?

Srimad Bhagavatam 12.3.51:

My dear King, although Kali-yuga is an ocean of faults, there is still one good quality about this age: Simply by chanting the Hare Krsna Hama-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom

Padyavali- Srila Rupa Goswami:

May Krsna's holy name, which is a reservoir of all transcendental happiness, the destruction of Kali-yuga’s sins, the most purifying of all purifying things, the saintly person’s food as he quickly traverses the path to the spiritual world, the pleasure-garden where the voices of the greatest saints, philosophers, and poets play, the life of the righteous, and the seed of the tree of religion, bring transcendental auspiciousness to you all.



When we chant 64 rounds, we chant over 100,000 names of the Lord!

1 Hare Krsna Maha Mantra(HKMM)= 16 names of the Lord - consisting of 3 transcendental words of Hare, Rama and Krsna (“Hare” is internal energy of the Lord which is non-different from the Lord, “Krsna” means all attractive and “Rama” means reservoir of all pleasure)

1 round in a japa mala =108 Hare Krsna Maha Mantra= 1728 names of the Lord (16 names of the Lord in 1 HKMM X 108 times in a japa mala)

16 rounds = 27,648 names of the Lord(16 names of the Lord in 1 HKMM X 108 times in a japa mala X 16 rounds)

64 rounds = 110,592 names of the Lord(16 names of the Lord in 1 HKMM X 108 times in a japa mala X 64 rounds)

Why chant 64 rounds of Hare Krsna Maha Mantra?


Caitanya Bhagavat(by Sri Vrindavan das Thakur)- Antya Khanda- chapter 9 verses 116 to 125:

“As the devotees invited the Lord (Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu)to take His meal in their houses, the Lord took the opportunity to teach them all this topic.

When invited to take a meal, the Lord smiled and said, “First you should become a laksesvara [The word laksesvara is a combination of laksha (“hundred thousand”) and isvara (“master”). In common usage it would refer to someone who possessed a hundred thousand rupees.].

“I take meals only in the house of a laksesvara.” Hearing this, the brahmanas became worried.

The brahmanas offered prayers to the Lord, “O Gosaani, what to speak of a hundred thousand, none of us possess even a thousand.

“If You don’t accept meals from us, then let our entire household be burnt to ashes.”

The Lord replied, “Do you know who is a laksesvara? He is someone who daily chants a hundred thousand holy names.

“I call that a person a laksesvara. I take meals in only such a person’s house, not in the houses of others.”

Hearing this merciful statement of the Lord, the brahmanas gave up their anxiety and became joyful.

“O Lord, we will chant a hundred thousand names. Please therefore take Your meals in our houses. It is our good fortune that You are teaching us in this way.”
All the brahmanas then began to chant a hundred thousand names everyday so that they could offer food to Lord Caitanyacandra.


With best wishes from,

ISKCON Scarborough
3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,
Scarborough,Ontario,
Canada,M1V4C7

Email Address: iskconscarborough@hotmail.com
website: www.iskconscarborough.com

The value of a vaisnava
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, November 2011, Mayapur, India, Lecture: Caitanya Caritamrta Part 3)

Bhaktivinoda-Thakur-Jaiva-DharmaA puzzling topic is that vaisnavas consider themselves as most fallen. They spend time in presenting themselves as having no qualifications and so on. But Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s song Bhakti-kalpataru basically clarifies the matter,

‘I have received this wish-fulfilling desire tree from my spiritual master but by my harsh behaviour, I’ve covered it’s potency and therefore, the full power is not manifested now from the tree. But the tree itself can be restored in the association of the devotees.’

This is a very important concept of seeing how on the one hand, we have received the mercy, how we have something to give, how a vaisnava has a valuable contribution to make to the world; and at the same time can see himself as being totally unqualified, as the most fallen, as a fool, as an ignorant child, as having no intelligence and all these things…

It all makes sense if you think, ‘Yes, I am absolutely not qualified but it is from the mercy of the Lord and my guru that gives me the most valuable jewel!’

This is a very important point about humility, about how vaisnava humility works. How one can see himself as the most fallen but still living in great happiness because of the great and unlimited mercy!

Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s contributions 4 – The Eastern Savior offers the zenith of religious experience among all the world’s religions
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Special Day Meditation Podcast

"People from Europe and the Americas have not been satisfied with beauty of the rasa of parental affection (vātsalya) that Jesus propagated. By God’s grace, the hope is that they get addicted to the mature wine of the rasa of sweetness in the near future. It is observed that the rasas that appear in India first gradually spread to the West . . . just as the sun first rises in India and then gradually lights up the countries of the West. Similarly the incomparable rays of spiritual principles spread across in Western lands, after first manifesting in India."

- Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Krishna Samhita