Homage to Ganda
→ Life With the Cows and Land
























Ganda, in his prime, living the life of a protected ox on the ISCOWP Farm, 2007.
























Ganda in his last days n a bed of hay.


3/15/14
Our oldest ox named Ganda is down after 19 years of wonderful association and friendship here at ISCOWP Farm. For several years his back legs have been riddled with arthritis which has made it hard for him to rise from a sitting position. Last summer on pasture he did really well and made it through this last winter with not much difficulty. Two weeks ago he went down and could not get up. We were able to get him up with a "come-along" and a tool called "Hip Huggers". He did alright until 3 days ago when he could not get up again. This time he was very weak and we were not able to get him up. He has been taking food and water up until this afternoon when he was too weak to even sit up. He has had Govardan dust sprinkled on his head. He is wearing a Pravitra garland from Lord Narashimhadeva in Mayapur. Today he had Radha Kund water. He has been listening to Srila Prabhupada chanting japa and bhajans 24/7.

My feeling is that he will depart tomorrow which is Gaura Purnima here in West Virginia,USA - a very auspicious time for departure from this material world. I was lying down with him for over an hour this afternoon and I would be very surprised if he would make it through tomorrow due to his weaken condition.

3/16/14
We looked to the barn and saw Madhava looking over the fence towards our house. He had been standing guard over Ganda for days. He would also occasionally lick him. We had a sense that Ganda may no longer be alive. Balabhadra went to the barn and found Ganda had passed away on the auspicious day of Gaura Purnima.

Like all great sadhus, he left a lasting impression of enlightened goodness to those who met him and especially those who knew him well. It may be difficult to understand how a soul in a bovine body could have such an affect but he did and because of who he was we are now empty hearted. Please pray for Ganda's spiritual journey while viewing the following photos and videos.


































Ganda at 6 months old in 1996.























In 1996 ISCOWP was training ox teams and teamsters. 
Ganda (on left) was part of a team with Padma.



 Madhava watched over Ganda in his final days by standing over him. Sometimes he would lick Ganda. In this picture Ganda has passed but Madhava is not leaving.

You can view Videos of Ganda's life since 2012 to learn more about him. Thank you so much for your prayers.


Huge Harinama, parade in London for the advent of Lord Chaitanya and our new year (5 min video)
→ Dandavats.com

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 ›

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 03-09-2014
→ New Vrindaban Brijabasi Spirit

ECOV Logo

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.

Prelude to Gaura Purnima, Part 1, March 15, ISKCON Silicon Valley, Mountain View, California
Giriraj Swami

03.16.14_02.GauraPurnima_ISVGiriraj 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

No worries, mate!
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 01 October 2013, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 2.3.1)

aditiviMany 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.

Sri Gaura Purnima celebration at Sri Narasimha Giridhari Mandir, ISKCON Bangalore (Album 27 photos)
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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 ›

A “muy feliz” Gaura Purnima at the Hare Krishna Temple of Guadalajara, Spain (Album 52 photos)
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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 ›

THAT OTHER PERSON
→ Gita Coaching

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

Gaura Purnima Festival 2014 in the Hare Krishna Temple of Melbourne (Album 94 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

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 ›

Gaura Purnima Festival in San Antonio Village, Makati City, Philippines (Album 75 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

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 ›

40th Anniversary of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai installation in Atlanta! (Album 54 photos)
→ Dandavats.com

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 ›

What is the significance of lighting a bonfire on the festival of Holi?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

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.

1  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,

2Hiranyakashipu 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’.

3The 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.