Planet ISKCON

“The mlecchas who are born from mixed countries ruled by descendants of Kasyapa (demons) and the sudras will become brahmanas by initiation. They will wear sikhas and brahmana threads and will be well versed in the uncontaminated fruit of the Vedas ( Srimad Bhagavatam ). They will worship Me by the yajna prescribed by the [...]

Yesterday Russia celebrated, Russia Day, a national holiday. Taking advantage of the occasion devotees in Moscow held a festival to celebrate their goal of creating 100 Nama Hatta centers throughout the greater city. There are 7,000 devotees in and around Moscow. May Srila Prabhupada be ever glorified!

Giriraj Swami and Bhakti Caru Swami spoke during the festival in Laguna Beach.

“Jagat Purusa Prabhu would cook in Bombay in extremely austere conditions. One day it was so hot he could hardly stay on his feet; he felt like he was going to collapse. He was so hot and sweaty—and you are not supposed to sweat when you are serving the deities—his mind was reeling. Afterwards he left the cooking area and went to the part of the shack where the devotees lived. He was condemning himself: ‘What kind of a person am I? I am just thinking of my body—my mind and my senses. I am not thinking about Krishna.’ Then he saw a small picture of Krishna in the room. And he saw a peacock feather stuck in the chatai. He took that peacock feather and started to fan the picture of Krishna. And he immediately felt complete relief. All his fatigue and heat just went away. Then he realized, ‘This is Krishna consciousness: thinking of Krishna and how to please the senses of Krishna—not thinking about my own mind and senses.’ ”

— Giriraj Swami

Bhakti Caru Swami
Giriraj Swami

Murari Band originally formed in 1977. Balabhadra dasa and Naradi devi dasi were two of the founding members of the Murari Band Read more ›

For over 5000 years the Rathayatra festival has been celebrated in India by millions of pilgrims. This transcendental festival was brought from India to the west in 1967 by the founder of the Hare Krishna movement: His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The Rathayatra festival is now celebrated every summer in over 200 cities around the world. Read more ›

The Chida-dadhi Mahotsav, also known as the Chipped Rice Festival of Panihati, is a yearly celebration of the pastimes of Srila Raghunatha dasa Goswami and Lord Nityananda Prabhu. This astonishing pastime took place on the banks of the Ganges at Panihati, which is just north of Calcutta. Lord Caitanya and his associates enjoyed many transcendental pastimes here. Chida-dadhi Mahotsav remembers how the Lord mercifully reciprocated with His devotees by arranging, through Nityananda Prabhu and Raghunatha dasa, to provide an ecstatic feast of yoghurt and chipped rice, along with various other nectar foodstuffs. Read more ›

Please view the full gallery: Panihati @ SMIS Gallery The wonderful children at our Sri Mayapur International School recently hosted a beautiful Panihati Festival. The children had taken a lot of time and effort in painting clay pots with amazing art work. They then filled the pots with delicious chipped rice, kheer, yoghurt, fruits, and […]

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Along with initiation lecture and name giving ceremony for Bn. Gizem in Istanbul’s first initiation.

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HG Pankajanghri Dasa – SB 10.68.2-10 – 26.05.2014

Holy Name Meditation Podcast

ISKCON Governing Body Commissioner and Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT) trustee Gopal Krishna Goswami met the honorable President of India, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee on 12^th June, 2014 at the President’s official residence in New Delhi and presented him the BBT’s deluxe edition of the Bhagavad Gita As It Is along with the maha-prasad of Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Parthasarathi.

Srila Prabhupada Offers Guidance on Acceptable Foods, Yogurt  Making and Sees New Vrindaban Devotees as Experts – February 1970.

From a series of letters written by Srila Prabhupada outlining his vision for New Vrindaban.

Thanks to Vanipedia for the source material.

——————————————————————

February 11, 1970

Boulder, Colorado

My Dear Harer Nama,

Please accept my blessings. I beg to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 2 February, 1970, and thank you very much.

Actually, Sankirtana is our life and soul, and if we execute this transcendental business in all earnestness, then there will be no difficulty in any way. We should not pray to Krishna anything except to ask to engage in His service. If we are engaged in His service then automatically everything will be revealed.

Any foodstuff suspected to contain untouchable ingredients should never be used in the temple. Yogurt can be prepared in the temple, it is not very difficult. Boil the milk at night, put a little yogurt in it, and next morning you will find it full of yogurt. You can ask New Vrindaban, they are practically preparing all these things.

Please let me know how many members are there, what is your source of income, and what is your program of expenditure. I shall be glad to know these things. I would also like to know if the initiated devotees are chanting regularly sixteen rounds and following the regulative principles rigidly. This is very essential.

Hope this will meet you in good health.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

ACBS:db

Special Day Meditation Podcast

Special Day Meditation Podcast

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

Asked in relationship with this Gita-daily article:

Be not alarmed by the presence of impurities; be heartened by the presence of the alarm

Prabhuji, this beautiful explanation of text 18.38 removes some of the misgivings but how to connect it with the words of Srila Bhakti Sidhanta Goswami Prabhupada that one must thrash the mind in the morning with a shoe  and at night thrash the heart with broomstick 100 times each for purification?

Answer Podcast

Christina Lake, British Columbia

It Was Decided


It was decided that we would take a bold step before he left our party for home, Michael eluded to a secret trail.  Now called the Santa Rosa Route, it was formerly the bus route through this stretch of southern British Columbia.  It is a 65 km section of dirt road and a serious switch-backing trail.  There are only a few families who live in the valley on this trail.  Instead of the regular highway, we vie for this quiet trail, now impassable, unless you have a four wheel drive.  No problem for hikers, though.

We met James at his rustic home at the base of the valley.  He treated Karuna, Daruka and I some refreshments.  Ice cold peach juice!  He also treated us to his personality.  He told us that he never leaves his place.  We believed him.  He lives like a hermit.  When he first saw me, he said he met me before through television.  He’s seen The Longest Road documentary where I’m featured.  “That was you, wasn’t it?”

We really liked James.  He’s a firm believer in Sasquatch.  He also refers to himself as a natural body builder, no steroids.  He’s been married to the same gal for many years and they raised three kids and home schooled them.  He attributes some of his physical strength to bear meat consumption.  During our short visit, he took to smoking pot.  Before he lit up, he asked, “You don’t mind?  I do it for medical reasons due to a serious accident I was in.”  He also showed us some bear scars on his chest.  

“Think nothing of it,” we said in regards to the marijuana.  I consider we made a good friend in him.  It turns out, he has a cousin who’s a Hare Krishna monk.

From James’s dwelling, Karuna and I continued on this practically abandoned peopleless trail, climbing gradually to a 16,060 metre summit, sipping water from natural springs along the way and hearing discourses from our guru, Srila Prabhupada, on Karuna’s small speaker box.  What an atmosphere.  Here in the most beautiful part of the world with mountains all around you, and you’re hearing transcendental messages, the most significant of which was the statement, “Death is artificial.”  There is some strong implication here.  Perhaps you would like to think about that statement. 

May the Source be with you!

46 KM

1969 June 15: "With this taste we become more and more attracted, and more and more Krishna gives encouragement, and more and more we increase in our desire to serve Krishna in pure Krishna Consciousness."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 June 15: "I am so much encouraged that one very nice boy has come to live in your temple. You are all working sincerely to serve Krishna, and now one sincere soul has been so attracted by this, that he is also coming to join you."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1970 June 15 : "Since you met with the motor accident, although I am getting your news time to time, still I was very much anxious to write you directly. Do not be worried, Krsna has saved you, and very soon you will regain strength."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1971 June 15 : "Whatever GBC members decide, I have nothing to disagree with. But economically the existing proposal is not very sound. If the printing takes two years, then what becomes the total cost of Bhagavad-gita As It Is?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1972 June 15 : "Are you again acting upon your old principles in the guise of a Sannyasi from our disciplic succession? This cannot be allowed. If you are sincere to our line of action, please come here and live with me for some time."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 June 15: "Always pray to Krishna to give you strength for accomplishing this mission by doing what I am doing. I act like a king because no one can defeat me so take your responsibilities very, very seriously."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 June 15 : "I have worked alone, now you are so many. Our scope is unlimited, our resources unlimited. Now we have got 100 branches, so when I finish Srimad Bhagavatam there must be at least 1000 branches."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 june 15: "Fix-up what devotees we have got. Make sure everyone is reading regularly my literatures and discussing seriously from different angles of sseeing. What good are many, many devotees if no one is knowledgeable?"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

Hrdayananda: [translating] He wants to know how we can increase our desire for sankirtana process.
Prabhupada: By performing sankirtana. Just like if a man drinks, and if he drinks, drinks, then he become a drunkard. [laughter] Drink more and you become drunkard. Similarly, chant more and you become perfect chanter.

Bhagavad Gita Lecture 2.11
February 11 1975

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 15 December 2012, Phoenix, South Africa, Ratha Yatra Lecture)

Vaisnava gives everything he has and a vaisnava gives his life.  He is ready to put his life on the line…YES! A vaisnava is ready to trust in Krsna when it comes to his generosity.

“Can you give?”

Vaisnava, “Yes!”

“But how will you do it?”

Vaisnava, “I don’t know, but I hope that Krsna will help.”

So with that faith in Krsna (that Krsna will help), Krsna WILL make it possible. In this way, vaisnavas can do miracles. In this way, vaisnavas can overcome all limitations. We see, in this way, that Prabhupada single-handedly went to the West with the idea of making the whole world Krsna conscious – at an age suitable for retirement and so on.  Logically, it didn’t add up but he went anyway and he did it. He did so much. So in this way, we can see the power of vaisnava generosity which is the result of devotional service. And, it is in this way, the more we give, the more we will overcome all desires for personal prestige. So in this age, generosity is our saving grace, somehow or other. Therefore it is said, “One must preach Krsna consciousness otherwise it becomes dry!” We must give otherwise it doesn’t absorb us. There are many ways to do that and one must be creative.  Some people are right now out on the street distributing books. Others are preaching on the internet. I met one devotee who made a Facebook page and had 140 000 hits; so many ways to preach.

Unless we try to develop this mood of giving Krsna consciousness to others, we will remain self-centred, even in spiritual life. So generosity must really be developed in us – the mood of service and the mood of giving must be developed as much as possible and then we become spiritually advanced and spiritually strong. That is the way!

(this blog is recorded on the full page: quick time player is needed; works best with Firefox or Explorer; if you are using Google Chrome it will automatically play, so if you don't want to listen, mute your speakers.)There are many ways and varieties of motivations by which people take up the practice of Krishna bhakti, or any path. Whatever way, and for whatever reason, one turns toward God are all good since we all have to begin somewhere on our spiritual journey. Well, we don’t have to begin anything. However, the premise of the Vedas and many religious texts is that the ultimate purpose of life is not only understanding our true nature as part of God (and our relationship with Him), but includes putting that knowledge into practice by serving God in pure love with our heart and soul.

In regards to the type of people who come to Krishna, there is no specific type, or class, from the worldly point of view. Anyone can take up the path of bhakti, provided they have the “qualification” of having faith in it. There are many gradations of this faith as we’ll discuss. To have faith in bhakti, there has to be some background, or blessings from a saint, or some act of devotional service from this or a previous lifetime, often unconscious (ajnata-sukriti). Observably, externally, we may be born in a devotee family, be attracted to the qualities or looks of the devotees or those in the congregation, or be searching for relief from our suffering; we may love kirtan, the food (prasadam, or mercy), the philosophy, the general spiritual atmosphere, how we feel when we visit, or some combination of reasons with varying mixed motivations. Perhaps we like belonging to a group, being around people from our ethnic background, or are looking for customers for our product or service; or we may be hoping to find a girlfriend, boyfriend, or spouse, etc. Regardless of one’s intent, Krishna bhakti is like fire, and it will eventually act.

However, though there are many indirect reasons that bring us to Krishna, at some point one has to consciously choose to embark on it for its own sake, beyond circumstance, convenience, or to fulfill some material purpose. If we are actually a spiritual seeker—or aspire to be—it behooves us to understand what the ultimate goal of the bhakti path is. This will help us get the most out of our time and endeavor by inspiring us to put our heart into the spiritual practices while praying to have the best motivation. This, in turn, will give us a spiritual vision enthusing us for the long term, beyond any fleeting material reasons that initially brought us.

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Even if in the beginning one chants the Hare Krishna mantra with offenses, one will become free from such offenses by chanting again and again. Papa-kshayas ca bhavati smaratam tam ahar-nisam: one becomes free from all sinful reactions if one chants day and night, following the recommendation of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It was Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu who quoted the following verse: harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha quoted Cc. Adi 17.21 “The chanting of Hare Krishna is recommended for persons who commit offenses, because if they continue chanting they will gradually chant offenselessly. Even if in the beginning one chants the Hare Krishna mantra with offenses, one will become free from such offenses by chanting again and again.” Read more ›

1967 June 14 : "After six months if I am fit I may come back again to work with you with renovated energy. So I shall like that. Even in my absence there will be no stoppage of activities, everything will go on nicely by regular exchange of correspondence and there will be no difficulty."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1968 June 14: "Whatever I am trying to bestow upon you all is the gift of Sri Krishna directly - I am just doing the work of a bearer. There is nothing of my personal contribution and I ask your mercy that I may do it without deviation."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968