The African division of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust has published its annual report for 2013, telling about our goals, programs, accomplishments, challenges, finances, and more.

You can view the report online or download it.

The post BBT Africa publishes 2013 annual report appeared first on Jayadvaita Swami.

1968 July 2: "By denying my application injustice has been done to me. Please try to convince him that my presence is essential. I am qualified Religious Minister. I have got sufficient money to maintain myself."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1969 July 2: "During my Guru Maharaja's days, thousands of Rupees were being dispatched from Calcutta to London. While under foreign control, Hindustan had the liberty to preach in foreign countries but now being independent, they are prohibiting to send some Murtis and mrdangas."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 July 2: "If the Beatles are chanting, give them all facilities. We want only that Hare Krishna may be very popular all over the world. But we should not try to make a profit out of Hare Krishna Mantra; then our spiritual enlightenment will be hampered."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 July 2: "We should not try to become a very popular musical party. Music is one of our items for chanting, but we are not musicians. We should always remember this fact. We take advantage of the typewriter but that doesn't mean we are professional typists."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

Last week the devotees gathered together at the biggest music festival in the world, in an attempt to please Srila Prabhupada. Prasad was served free to the public from 10am till 10pm, a stage program went on all day and of course the Harinam track through the mud. Read more ›

1969 July 2: "She cannot live in the temple. We should utilize all of our facilities for our own men. Besides, she has got her ideas of Hindu sentiment and cannot be used for international Krishna Consciousness."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 July 2: "It is all simply high-sounding words. There is no substance or practical program. He has no money and he wants to take from others and others wish to sign papers only. So forget about his hallucinations."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

07-06-2014 SB 3.26.39 Fundemental Principles of Material Nature Part 3, Latvia.mp3

Last class in Timisoara.

The post Brahminical culture, prasadam and getting Krsna’s mercy appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

During the winter of 2012 to 2013, as the pilgrimage season quietened down and a blanket of snow fell across the rural West Virgnia community, professional devotee foremen, carpenters and electricians flung themselves into five months of hard work to transform the guest facilities.

BBT media has just released new audio books and e-books, including The Nectar of Instruction” by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and Sri Brhad-bhagavatamrita, Part One, by Srila Sanatana Goswami.

BY JAI SITA RANI DEVI DASI

PHOTOS BY JOHN FAHY, JAGANNATH KIRTAN DASA AND OTHER MAYAPUR DEVOTEES

KUALA LUMPUR - June marks the arrivals of Ratha Yatras around the world making it very special, but even more dear to my heart was the return of both my children, Shevaanni Pillai and Gauravani Dasa to Kuala Lumpur after spending two years in Mayapur doing Cambridge A levels and IGCSE levels respectively. I get so many devotees asking me about them that I thought I might as well let you know the frequent questions asked. 

In the picturesque Tweed Valley in New South Wales, Australia, ISKCON’s New Govardhana farm began work on the final stage of its five-part self-sufficiency plan in late May of this year. Once the plan is complete, it won’t immediately render the community fully self-sufficient; however it will set the farm on the path towards gradually reaching that goal.

Bhakta Jeff (Jeff Wilson): This is the Ratha Yatra Festival in Mayapur 2014. There are many at ISKCON centers around the world every year. A lot of work and planning go into making a major festival like this happen and this years festival in Sri Mayapur Dham was attended by tens of thousands. This video is narated by His Grace Jananivasa das. He tells the story of how the appearance of these Jaganath deities came about and the eternal link they have to the Holy Dham. Read more ›

Everyone is invited to

Bathe Their Lordships Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra devi

At Their Snana Yatra

Sat. July 5, 2014

10:30 AM in front of RVC temple

If you would like to come early to help do seva, you are welcomed.

This is the Ratha Yatra Festival in Mayapur 2014. This video is narated by Jananivasa das. He tells the story of how the appearance of these Jaganath deities came about and the eternal link they have to the Holy Dham. A video by bh. Jeff Wilson.

Iskcon Kolkata Rathayātrā is the 2nd largest Rathayātrā festival of the world. Lord Jagannāth, Lord Baladeva and Lady Subhadra would enthrone three beautifully decorated huge chariots. Thousands of devotees from different parts of the country and from different parts of the world flock in the city of Kolkata, the birth city of Srila Prabhupada to participate in this wonderful festival and immerse themselves in the ocean of love, joy and devotion. It is a blessing to get the chance to pull ropes of the divine chariots. The Lord’s journey would be from the Iskcon temple to Guṇḍicā Temple where the Lord would stay for 9 days. When the chariots pass through the streets of Kolkata throngs of people make a beeline to receive the divine blessings. The Lord of the Universe, Lord Jagannāth being very merciful bestows his mercy upon each and everyone without any discrimination. The cymbals, the mridangas, the trumpets and other musicals instruments would be played out to welcome the Lord. The ever enchanting melody of ‘Hare Kṛṣṇa Mahamantra’ would inundate the atmosphere and the people would joyfully dance to its tune. The grand procession would culminate at the Guṇḍicā Temple where the Lord would stay for 9 days. Read more ›

by Iskcon Malaysia - Creator Mayapur Memoirs - 2012/14

by Iskcon Malaysia - Creator Mayapur Memoirs - 2012/14

by Iskcon Malaysia - Creator Mayapur Memoirs - 2012/14

by Iskcon Malaysia - Creator Mayapur Memoirs - 2012/14

by Iskcon Malaysia - Creator Mayapur Memoirs - 2012/14

by Iskcon Malaysia - Creator Mayapur Memoirs - 2012/14

by Iskcon Malaysia - Creator Mayapur Memoirs - 2012/14

by Iskcon Malaysia - Creator Mayapur Memoirs - 2012/14

by Iskcon Malaysia - Creator Mayapur Memoirs - 2012/14

by Iskcon Malaysia - Creator Mayapur Memoirs - 2012/14

The devotees from Centro Vaikuntha of Bologna, Italy, created a festive atmosphere and brought Lord Jagannatha, the Holy Name and prasadam to many fortunate souls. Read more ›

30 June ‘14 Sringar Darshan at ISKCON Juhu

Radiation still so intense, the area is highly dangerous. A heavy layer of radioactive ash in Rajasthan, India, covers a three-square mile area, ten miles west of Jodhpur. 

Listen audio...

This talk is a part of the "Fascinating Mahabharata Characters" series. To know more about this course, please visit: bhakticourses.com

BY SRI JAGANNATH MANDIR, KL

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia is popular as the land of Ratha Yatras. And it is remarkable that even being a Muslim country Malaysia has the most number of Ratha Yatras in a year. 

Every year on the same day as Jagannatha Puri Ratha Yatra, Sri Jagannatha Mandir in Kuala Lumpur has its second Ratha Yatra for the year.On 29 June 2014, devotees were eagerly waiting to have the darshan of Their Lordships as they had been serving in separation ever since Snana Yatra which was on 13 June. On the eve of Ratha Yatra devotees came together performing Gundica Marjana, trying to clean the temple as well as their hearts. Ratha Yatra preparations started in the morning itself with many devotees helping in various services. And at 4:00pm Lord Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra and Sudarshan were on the chariot all set to bestow mercy to one and all.

There was a beautiful Odissi dance performance by a group of Jagannatha devotees who did it for the pleasure of Lord Jagannatha. Usually we notice the performance facing the audience but here this group did their performance right in front of the chariot facing Their Lordships. As soon as the chariot started moving Lord Indra’s blessings also came along with. Nevertheless it did not hamper the enthusiasm of the devotees. All were in ecstasy pulling Their Lordships, pulling Them to their hearts. Many houses welcomed Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra and did offering. Devotees distributed books and prasdam to the public. Ratha Yatra ended at MCA hall at around 9:00pm and as soon as the chariot reached the place there was a heavy down pour.

HH BHakti Vrajendra Nandana Swami graced the festival and Kurma Rupa Prabhu ACBSP addressed the audience. This was followed by maha arati and kirtan. Sumptuous prasadam was served to all. Tables were also set up for Janmastami festival, books, prasadam, goseva etc. The festival came to an end around 11 p.m. with ecstatic kirtan. Once again it was a blissful and memorable Ratha Yatra ; a real feast to the eyes and ears.

Obscurity

While we are alive we struggle not to be obscure. Is there a point to banging ones head against a stone wall to knock it down? We will be obscure forever, no matter how much attention however many people pay to us in this milli-nano-second of infinite time. All things end, are forgotten, and recycle. Why not be content with obscurity and put our heart into other efforts?

"My mind didn’t wander much to other things, but I wasn’t chanting with a fervor that’s desirable for japa-yajna. I strive to improve, I strive to improve."

From Bhajan Kutir #38
by Satsvarupa dasa Goswami

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 10 May 2014, Bhaktivedanta Manor, England, Caitanya Caritamrta Adi-Lila 8.31)

Our position is that we cannot see Krsna; we forget him all the time and don’t see him, and then we think, ‘Oh, Krsna, why have you left me alone?!’ Come on! The day you came to the material world, Krsna came with you in the heart as paramatma. He never left us alone, not for a moment; he is always with us, seated on the lotus in the heart.

In the concluding words of the Caitanya Caritamrta –  I like those concluding words – you can read them in the last book of Antya-lila, Srila Prabhupada describes that Krsna is actually personally seated in the heart of his devotee – and he is not alone! Krsna is there in all his various forms and expansions, so it is getting pretty crowded there!

Imagine all the Deities are packed together in the heart. And Prabhupada says, ‘That is not all: Krsna is even present there in the form of the spiritual master and in that way,’ he said, ‘my spiritual master is always present, is always with me.’ Isn’t that nice? I find that so powerful, that final statement in the end.  In that way, we can see that we are never alone as Lord Caitanya is with us every moment.

 

On our last day in Russia we participated in Ratha Yatra in Krasnodar. Bada Haridas prabhu, who led kirtan most of the way, was roaring like a lion as he sang the holy names and while dancing in ecstasy gave delight to all the devotees present.

With Sivarama Swami and Bhakti Vidya Purna Swami Read more ›

1966 July 1 "Today I entered the new house at 26 Second Avenue. For my purpose it is all good. I do not why Krishna is trying to establish me in New York. I am his servant's servant and therefore let His desire be fulfilled through my agency."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1966