Planet ISKCON

1969 March 23: "My only request is that you kindly publish one issue every month of this French BTG. That will make you very much happy and will make me always very much happy. And Krishna will bestow all blessings to you in this endeavor. Now this work is specially entrusted to you so please execute it."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1971 March 23: "There is some harassment but the preaching never stops. That should be followed. We are delivering the genuine goods on behalf of Krishna. No one can check us because no material circumstance can permanently hamper devotional service."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1972 March 23: "Today we have laid the cornerstone for our Bombay Center in Juhu and a few days back laid the cornerstone for our Vrindaban Temple. So the program now in India is immense task and I am very much encouraged that you feel yourself enthusiastic to help me for pushing on this Movement here."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1973 March 23: "Simply read one sloka daily and I have given you enough slokas for over 50 years. We are offering to make Brahmanas from anywhere in the world, to become trained up in the highest spiritual knowledge and to become preachers. So now go and recruit some solid devotees for pushing on this movement."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1973

1974 March 23: "We are simply presenting the truth - outside of Krsna Consciousness there is no hope for the betterment of modern affairs rather they are all going to hell without check."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 March 23: "Second initiation should be given only when you are certain the devotee is really following. So now instruct further on the seriousness of the regulative principles of Krishna Consciousness. All the devotees there are in your charge so by your example they will best be encouraged to enthusiastic advancement."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

On Friday, March 21, 2014, a group of 30 "spiritual tourists" from France visited ISKCON Baroda. They took lunch prasad at Govinda's, then visited the temple room at took pictures of the relief art there. The entire group were headed to the banks of the holy Narmada river for 3 days of meditation. Read more ›

Thousands of visitors came to Iskcon Baroda tonight, 2nd day of holi, and all were served with a full plate of five types of prasad - puri, subji, rice, dal and dalia/lapsi/cracked wheat sweet. Read more ›

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Indradyumna Swami: Kagbeni is one of the furthest places foreigners can journey in Nepal, as Tibet and China are not far away. Before leaving we took a walk around to see the ancient sites and meet the inhabitants of the village. We also took one last darshan of the Kali Gandhaki river, which now flows with the ashes of my dear godbrother Bimal Prasad das in her sacred waters. Read more ›

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Vani Devi Dasi at Kirtan Mela Mayapur 2014 Day 2

Srila Prabhupada Encourages Investment in Devotee Housing in New Vrindaban – February 1969.

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

Thanks to Vanipedia for the source material.

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February 8th, 1969.

My Dear Hrsikesa,

Please accept my blessings. I was very much pleased to receive your letter of 3 February, 1969, and I have carefully noted all of the contents. Regarding the insurance money, if you are able to use it immediately, without waiting for two years, it will be a great boon. The best use of this money is for the constructing of so many living quarters in New Vrindaban. There are so many schemes pending in New Vrindaban, such as press, school, etc., and as soon as there is adequate accommodation facilities, we can at once begin work very fruitfully. So if you can immediately engage this $2600 in these plans it will be very much helpful. I have received one letter from Nara Narayana, and he has already drawn up the plans for the various buildings which are required to be constructed in New Vrindaban. Now as soon as the proper manpower and finances can be arranged, we can immediately start on this important task.

So far as your occasional agitation from the maya, the answer is very simple that one must either strictly control his senses, or else he must get himself married. If one is strong enough in Krishna Consciousness, then there is no reason to become grhastha, but if one is still disturbed by sex-desire, then marriage is the only other possibility. But if one is still brahmacari, then he must be sure to follow all of the rules and regulations very strictly. There is no place in spiritual life for cheating in this matter. Caitanya Mahaprabhu has never criticized a householder for having sex life for the purpose of bearing children. But when it came to Junior Hari das, who was posing as sannyasa but was still engaging in lustful thoughts, Lord Caitanya would not tolerate, and Junior Haridasa was banished from the association of the Lord. So this is very important that we remain very firm in our vow of brahmacari, or if this is very difficult, then householder life is the next satisfactory solution.

Regarding your idea of a Krishna Conscious book of many of our prayers, this is a nice idea, and very soon Dinesh will have many prayers which he has been tape recording written out in English transliterations. I am advising him to send these to you when it is available.

I have seen the plan for the cottage which was sent along with your letter. It is very nice, but so far as I can understand, it will only accommodate for one person. If you like, this house may be constructed, but I think the immediate necessity is to construct buildings to accommodate the many people who may soon come to New Vrindaban to work there.

So I thank you again for your nice letter. Please convey my blessings to the others there with you. I hope this will meet you in very good health and cheerful mood.

Your ever well-wisher,

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami

Sri Krsna went to Mathurapuri in order to destroy the demons. However, due to being captivated by the love of Radha, He later returned. Therefore She is known as Hara.

Lord Sri Krishna just manifested a very intimate and joyful pastime for the pleasure of His devotees... Read more ›

1966 March 22:
"Dwitiya. Two letters received: one from the New York Mayor's office, one from the United States Navigation regarding Jaladuta. In the evening two gentlemen and one lady came. Discussed for some time. No income and no expenditure."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1968 March 22: "I am so pleased to hear of your Sankirtana meetings. We want hundreds of centers - that is our mission. This is the most valuable spiritual attempt and I thank you from the core of my heart."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 March 22: "You may say the prayers to the Spiritual Master at noon Prasadam if possible and again in the evening. There is no limitation on how many times it is sung. But it should be done three times daily, and morning it is required."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1969 March 22: "Regarding her kirtana; it is also nice. But it does not behoove that I shall sing with her. Let us see how much she is advanced in Krishna Consciousness. And then we shall think of full cooperation."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1972 March 22: "I am so pleased to hear about your traveling party. Kindly send me one photo of these painted buses, how they look, so I may be inspired by seeing them. When I come to America then we shall see when I can also come to stay at your new temple."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 March 22: "In New York I have seen many rich publishing houses but I do not see many rich book writers. Are we simply handing them everything while they take all the profits and we get nothing? Even Jawaharlal Nehru once remarked that his books are selling like anything but he's not getting anything."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1972 March 22: "I am always glad when my disciples exhibit good sense. Now you simply stick very closely to the regulative principles and always keep yourself so much engaged that you will be too much busy serving Krishna to think about other things. Your husband shall remain with me to learn Sanskrit. I do not think it will be practical for you to join your husband just now, but perhaps later we shall see."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1972

1974 March 22: "Our Vrindaban temple is perhaps our nicest building in the whole movement and I want at least 25 good men here at all times. Those who come here must be exemplary and whether grhasthas or sannyasis, must behave like real Goswamis so that all the people of Vrindaban will see that we are actually followers of the six Goswamis headed by Rupa Goswami."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

The real goal of my life is to attain the nectar of confidential devotional service to Sri Sri Radhika-Krsna. I shall some day renounce everything and live in Vrndavana. These are the words of feigned renunciation spoken by one addicted to the affairs of household life. The holy abode of Vrndavana will not give shelter to such a person.

[Source : Nectarean Glories of Sri Vrindavana-dhama by Srila Prabodhananda Sarasvati Thakura, 1-94 Translation.]

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[Kindly transcribed by Sheela Ravishankar Mataji) Audio for this lecture may be downloaded here: Download From: Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir! Date: 15 March, 2014 Verse: CC Adi 13.91-92 Speaker: HH Bhakti Caitanya Swami a-kalanka gauracandra dila darasana sa-kalanka candre ara kon prayojana Translation: When the spotless moon of Caitanya Mahaprabhu became visible, what would be […]

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[Kindly transcribed by Swetha Ganeshan Mataji] Download the audio for this lecture here: Download From: Sri Mayapur Chandrodaya Mandir! Date: March 14, 2014 Speaker: HH Prahaladananda Swami Maharaja Subject: C.C Adi Lila 1.4 HH Prahladananda Swami: I am going to read from Sri Caitanya Caritamrita, Adi Lila, Chapter 1, Text number 4. I am just […]

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[Kindly transcribed by Sheela Ravishankar Mataji) Audio for this lecture should soon be downloadable from here: Download From: Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir! Date: 13 March, 2014 Verse: Srimad Bhagavatam 5.13.24 Speaker: HH Bhaktivaibhava Swami sri-suka uvaca ity evam uttara-matah sa vai brahmarsi-sutah sindhu-pataya atma-satattvam viganayatah paranubhavah parama-karunikatayopadisya rahuganena sakarunam abhivandita-carana apurnarnava iva nibhrta-karanormy-asayo dharanim imam […]

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Kerry about Haridas Thakura as Lord Brahma, Adhoksaja Krsna about chanting Gauranga and Jennifer about appreciating dutiful work.

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Bhakti Gauravani Goswami (previously known as Vedavyasa Prabhu ACBSP), born in Germany, in 1951, met devotees in Hamburg in the summer of 1971, while doing mandatory military service. After reading "Sri Isopanisad" and receiving guidance from Srila Prabhupada's disciples there, he became a vegetarian, shaved his head, and lived (as far as circumstances allowed) a devotional life while still in the army. To help him focus, devotees asked him to translate the Second Canto of Srimad‐Bhagavatam into German. Shortly after his discharge, he traveled to Paris in June of 1972 to meet Srila Prabhupada and receive initiation. For the next eight years, he translated books and managed the German BBT. After marrying a Spanish devotee and arriving in Spain, in 1981, he oversaw printing for the Spanish BBT and assisted in the administration of the Spanish temples. In 1985, he established the European office of the Spanish BBT (previously, he worked through the Spanish BBT office in Los Angeles). During the next ten years, the "Srimad‐Bhagavatam" and several other books were published, and the "Sri Caitanya‐caritamrita" was translated and prepared for publication. For the occasion of Srila Prabhupada's centennial celebration, Vedavyasa wrote and published a book called "Srila Prabhupada and His Disciples in Germany," which narrates the history from 1969 to 1977 and features the memories of Prabhupada's disciples. Vedavyasa is the president of both the Malaga temple and the New Vrajamandala farm community, and the Euro RGB Commissioner for ISKCON's activities in Spain. He is also serving as an initiating guru in ISKCON. Read more ›

A Day in SMIS is a short video which shows how the school gives a unique opportunity for young devotees to progress in their academic education, while at the same time having the unique experience of living in Sri Mayapur Dhama. If you are interested in admitting your child in Sri Mayapur International School we have a few places left in Grade 4 and waiting lists for other primary classes. Places are available in Grades 7, ( 11 and 12 year olds) 8,9,10 and 12. From Grade 7 upwards classes are separate for boys and girls. Read more ›

Kirtan Academy at Kirtan Mela Mayapur 2014 Day 2