Planet ISKCON

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The first leg of our journey in Nepal took us from ISKCON’s temple in Kathmandu, to Pokhara in the foothills of the Himalayas.

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Conversation.

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Gaurapurnima is the celebration of the advent in 1486 of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the incarnation of Krishna, who spread the chanting of Hare Krishna throughout India. In more recent times, by disciplic succession, the chanting was brought to the west by AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in the early 60's! Today its being chanted and will be chanted in every town and village throughout the entire world to give relief to the jaundice like condition of limted sense inebriation. Chant Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare and your life will be sublime! 17th March 2014 Read more ›

Krishna Kshetra Prabhu at Kirtan Mela Mayapur 2014 Day 2

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 03-09-2014

Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes a simple, sustainable lifestyle centered on the care and protection of cows, local food production and the loving service of Lord Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON New Vrindaban.

Participating Members of the ECOV Board of Directors: Bhima, Chaitanya Mangala, Madhava Gosh, Krpamaya (partial attendance), Navin Shyam, and Ranaka.

Advisors present: Jaya Krsna

1. $15,000 for Prabhupada’s Palace Rose Garden conversion

WHEREAS:  The ECOV Board wishes to promote organic gardening throughout New Vrindaban.

RESOLVED: The Board authorizes a grant of up to $15,000 to INV for materials, labor and consulting services toward making the Palace Rose Garden organic and free of synthetic toxic pesticides and fungicides.

2. $1,500 for temple/lodge foundation plantings 

WHEREAS:  The ECOV Board wishes to see its projects brought to successful completion.

RESOLVED: The Board authorizes an increase in the funding of the foundation planting project by $1,500.

3. $2,000 for Garden of Seven Gates prototype housing 

WHEREAS:  The ECOV Board wishes to see its projects brought to successful completion.

RESOLVED: The Board authorizes an increase in the funding of the prototype G7G cabin project by $2,000.

4. $3,000 for garden implements

WHEREAS:  The ECOV Board wishes to maximize the productivity of its agricultural projects.

RESOLVED: The Board authorizes up to $3,000 for the purchase of a rotavator and tiller

5. Gopal’s Garden school newsletter

An article by Madhava Smullen about Gopal’s Garden school is forthcoming. The next newsletter will be in June, to promote the beginning of the next school year.  At least one family has expressed interest in moving to NV based on the last newsletter.

The same personalities who appeared 5000 years ago in their original female forms as gopis, sakhis, and manjaris in Lord Krsna’s pastimes appeared 500 years ago in Lord Caitanya’s pastimes in male forms.

Giriraj Swami and Vaisesika das read and spoke from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila.

“When we take up the process and make the effort to chant without offense—which means without distraction, with attention—we will see how many different thoughts pass through our mind. Those thoughts have underlying conceptions, mainly related to the body, that ‘I am the body’. Some are gross, like ‘I’m hungry; when can I take prasada?’ And some are subtle, like ‘How are people regarding me? Are they appreciating me?’ But if we stay steadfast in our practice, these things will vanish. Srila Prabhupada gave the example of making ghee from butter. When you put the butter on the fire, the impurities come up, and you wipe them off. Then more come up, and you wipe them off. And then, eventually, none come up, and it is pure ghee. So the fact that these things come up need not discourage us as long as we remain steadfast in our practice. They come, and they go—the holy name takes care of them. It may be that some are a little persistent, and in such cases we may want to consult some senior devotee or go deep into the scriptures to find an answer. Then gradually the chanting becomes more relishable.”—Giriraj Swami

Prelude to Gaura Purnima, ISV, Part 1

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 01 October 2013, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.3.1)

Many things are considered justified in the name of sankirtan. You know, in the name of sankirtan, you can do any damn thing! I wouldn’t think so.

I think that even in the name of sankirtan, sankirtan devotees should be careful and should avoid unnecessary suffering to other living beings. We should be strict about what we eat, we should read the E-numbers and if they’re the wrong ones, we should not eat it.

(Australian accent) “Anyway, who cares about these things! Can’t be fanatic. You know, it’s the sankirtan movement, Lord Caitanya is very merciful. It’s alright! No worries. She’ll be right”. (This is a reference to an Australian slang/idiom which basically means “everything will be okay”)

I’m not so sure if “she’ll be right”. Yes, I have my doubts about it.

That most merciful Radha destroys the miseries of Her devotees and gives them great happiness every day. Therefore that goddess is known as Hara.

Srila Jiva Goswami

Sri Gaura Purnima festival, an appearance day of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was celebrated by ISKCON, Ludhiana. A large number of people including political, religious enthusiastically participated in the festival. Deities Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baldeva and Subhadra and Sri Sri Gaur Nitai look very beautiful in their colorful dress. Read more ›

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Mayapur has descended in Bangalore after the auspicious appearance of Sri Sri Gandharvika Giridhari! We had a wonderful Sri Gaura Purnima celebration this year. We had festivities for whole day, Devotees were engaged in cooking, dressing, chanting, hearing the glories of the Lord, reading, making garlands, the entire atmosphere was filled with the sweet name of Gaura. Read more ›

Maha Abhishek, Theatrical performance, Prasad distribution and more blissful events! Read more ›

There is a very special holy place located in central Spain about 100 kilometers east of Madrid, Spain's capital city. It is geographically right outside the little town of Brihuega, near Guadalajara. It is a small farm community, with flower and vegetable gardens, a couple of small greenhouses, a beautiful goshala right across the road from the temple, and then a larger goshalla down the road. They have approximately 12 cows and 2 bulls that are definitely pampered and adored. They provide the milk for the milksweets and curd used in the daily Deity offerings. Read more ›

One source of security is another person who loves us and believes in us even when we don’t believe in ourselves. In a sense, this source is external to oneself and imperfect. But I mention it because there are those people who are true and faithful and so inwardly anchored and rooted that we can depend upon them — not in the ultimate sense, but in the more proximate sense. They know us; they

Broadbeach is a suburb on the Gold Coast, in Queensland, Australia. Read more ›

The mercy of Lord Chaitanya distributed everywhere! Read more ›

Scenes from yesterday's Gaur Purnima celebrations here @ ISKCON Baroda. Mayor of Baroda, Sri Bharat Shah, graced the occasion, Provident fund Commissioner Sri M.P. Sinha (father of Nisha Sinha) with family was also present, with hundreds/thousands of devotees, residents of Baroda who came for the festival. Read more ›

During the 1970s, Srila Prabhupada regularly visited ISKCON Melbourne to give lectures and inspire his many followers who would eagerly await his arrival. On very special occasions he came to install the Deity forms of Lord Krishna so that his devoted students could learn to worship the Lord in His archa-vigraha (Deity form). In 1973, when the temple was still located in Burnett Street, St Kilda (our first location), Srila Prabhupada installed Melbourne’s presiding Deities, Sri Sri Radha Ballabha. Much to everyone’s delight, in May 1975 Srila Prabhupada attended the opening of our current temple at 197 Danks Street, Albert Park, simultaneously installing Deities of Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda, Sri-Sri Gaura Nitai. Read more ›

Spring is almost here, and therefore we have the Holi- The Festival of Colors, this is also the appearance day of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. In Kali yuga, Lord Krishna appears as Chaitanya Mahaprabhu to propagate the Congregational chanting of the holy names. Therefore, what better way to celebrate Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's divine appearance day than to chant the holy names with our heart and soul. This year Holi was on March 16, Radha Madhava temple had arranged for 12 Hr Kirtan from 6am - 6pm. Our founder Acharya Shrila Prabhupada says, “Whenever there is congregational chanting of the holy names of the Lord, Gaura Narayana, the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His incarnation as Lord Chaitanya, immediately appears and is worshiped by sankirtana-yajna.” Read more ›

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Srimad-Bhagavatam class in Krsna Balaram mandir.

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Srila Prabhupada's visit to Atlanta was a most memorable one for all of the devotees who had gathered to be with him. He became visibly overwhelmed by the magnanimous presence of Sri Sri Gaura-Nitai, the presiding Deities of Atlanta, and by the fervent, unconditional devotion pouring forth from the more than three hundred disciples surrounding him. Read more ›

Have a look in the "battlefield"! Read more ›

Short Answer: It signifies the burning of the impurities of our heart and the subsequent realization of our spiritual glory.

Answer: Let’s first understand the significance of festivals themselves.

In traditional Vedic culture, festivals served a purpose that has been almost forgotten nowadays. They were primarily meant to bring humanity closer to divinity; they served as occasions for people to put aside their worldly preoccupations and focus on the Lord and His glorious deeds, as connected with the specific days of the festivals. Without knowing this spiritual purpose, people nowadays seek only material fun through festivals and miss the internal enrichment.

The festival of Holi, celebrated on the last day of the bright fortnight of the month of Phalgun, offers an excellent opportunity to regain what we have missed for long.

Let’s now come to the bonfire.

  The history of the bonfire dates back to millennia, when the demon king Hiranyakashipu ruled and terrorized the universe and considered God, Vishnu, and His devotees to be his arch enemy. When the demon saw that his own son, Prahlada, had become a devotee of Vishnu, he became enraged and decided to kill Prahlada. But Lord Vishnu protected Prahlada during all the assassination attempts. In despair,

Hiranyakashipu ordered his sister, Holika, who had been blessed with immunity from fire, to take Prahlada into fire and burn him to death. She complied, but to the dismay of the demon, Prahlada came out of the fire, unscathed, being protected by Lord Vishnu, whereas Holika was reduced to ashes. Why? Because she had been given that blessing by Brahma with the condition that it shouldn’t be used to cause harm to others. This burning of Holika is commemorated by the bonfire and by the name ‘Holi’.

The significance of this historical narrative is immense. Prahlada signifies our godly, serving, selfless nature; Holika, the ungodly, exploitative, selfish tendency that covers our original nature. When gold is placed in fire, the impurities melt away and the purified gold emerges, shining brighter. Similarly, the purifying Holi bonfire signifies the burning away of our superficial, lower tendency and the re-emergence of our essential, higher nature.  When our pure nature re-emerges, we realize our identity as spiritual beings, as souls, who are sac-cid-ananda, eternal, enlightened and ecstatic. Realizing our identity as the beloved children of the infallible Lord, we become free from fear and full of joy.

Prahlada emerged triumphant from the fire by dint of his unflinching devotion to the Lord. Similarly, we will emerge successful through all the fire-like trials and tribulations of life by developing unflinching devotion. Just as Prahlada developed devotion from his devotee-guru Narada Muni, we too can develop devotion by learning chanting of God’s holy names from a contemporary devotee-guru.

With this devotional training, when we light the Holi bonfire, then the sacred fire will illuminate us not just externally, but also internally.

1966 March 17:
"Ekadasi. Received letter from Salvation Army Finance Secretary. At once went to see him. The result is favourable by the Grace of the Lord. In the evening two ladies and one gentleman came to see me. There was some discussions."
Prabhupada Journal :: 1966

1968 March 17: "In San Francisco State College I delivered a lecture and the students enjoyed the atmosphere very much. They stood around me after the meeting was over. One girl questioned why I am against meat eating, and she was very satisfactorily replied."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1968 March 17: "Today I lectured and held Sankirtana in the local YMCA and they all danced and sang with us and the scene was very pleasing. So I am very much hopeful that this movement can be spread all over the whole world simply by the performance of Kirtana and a little lecture on the principles of Krishna Consciousness."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1970 March 17: "Roy Ramananda has given open instruction that it does not matter what is the social or ecclesiastical order, if one is fully Krishna Conscious, he can act as Acarya. So follow this instruction and show the world how man and woman can be united for the service of the Lord."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1970 March 17: "All of you just make a very rigid plan for opening hundreds of centers in every nook and corner of the European countries. Surely the people will feel very happy as soon as they come in touch with our movement. Execute this responsibility and Krishna will be very happy upon you."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1970

1971 March 17: "My Dear Jayadvaita, so far changing the wording of verse or purport of 12:12 discussed before, it may remain as it is."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1974 March 17: "That Narayana comes in the form of daridra to receive our service is against our philosophy. Daridra is daridra and Narayana is Narayana. Narayana demands service directly not through daridra. There is no need of rendering service to the daridras in order to reach Krsna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974

1974 March 17: "It will be a great pleasure for me if you can come and live with me for some time. You are 79 years old and I am also 78. I wish that in the fag end of life if you and I together can preach Krsna Consciousness all over the world, people will be benefited and all problems of the world will be solved. That is my conviction."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1974