Planet ISKCON

For Lord Chaitanya's appearance day. Read more ›

Arbat Street, mainly referred to as the Arbat, is a pedestrian street about one kilometer long in the historical centre of Moscow. Read more ›

Giriraj Swami and Vaisesika Dasa continued reading and discussing Sri Caitanya-caritamrta.

“One thought about rapturous hearing. I have had the experience that when someone is talking to me in a room where many conversations are going on and somebody nearby is having a conversation that I really want or need to hear, and the person talking to me is saying something that is not so important and is going on and on, there is a way that my ear and brain can filter out not only what the person is saying directly to me, but also the kids running around the room and screaming and all the other conversations. My ear can pick up that one conversation. Why? Because I really want to hear it. It is a state of heart, a state of consciousness. Rapturousness means there is a hunger. When you are hungry, anything seems good. Even a simple meal. Like, ‘I am sorry it it so simple,’ and you are thinking, ‘Are you kidding? This is fantastic!’ So, in that verse Srila Prabhupada is talking about living in such a way that you have that hunger. And once you have that hunger, the circumstances don’t matter that much, you will be able to absorb it wherever you are—’rapturous.’ “—Vaisesika Dasa

Prelude to Gaura Purnima, ISV, Part 2

Parasuram das: Harinam in Chinatown London, March 2014. HG Giridhari Prabhu leads the chanting. On this particular day there was a choice of 5 Harinam parties in and around London. Please enjoy the movie Read more ›

Fourth graders used different materials to create dioramas of the ocean. They labelled different parts of the ocean, including the continental shelf, continental slope, and ocean floor. They also included various sea creatures which they read about in their books.

1966 March 18: "I have rented a room and I am delivering lectures accompanied by Sankirtana. The American ladies and gentlemen come to hear me. I was so much encouraged when you wrote, 'Stay there and return only after you have completed your mission'. I think these lines are the words of Lord Bala Krishna."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1966

1967 March 18: "This temple is my heart and soul. With your cooperation I shall be able to render some genuine service to the Gosvamis Who are staying there. In the very near future many people from all parts of the world will come to see the Temple and Samadhi of Jiva and Rupa Goswami. Please try and save it."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1967

1968 March 18: "We all prayed to Krishna that your inconveniences may be removed, and by the Grace of Krishna, they have all been removed, so we feel very much thankful to the Lord. We should have faith in His Power, His Grace, and His Causeless Mercy,"
Prabhupada Letters :: 1968

1969 March 18: "Perfection in Deity worship is called Arcana Siddhi - that simply by Deity worship one goes back to Godhead, immediately after this life."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 March 18: "I am so glad to learn that everyone is working very hard and that Krishna Consciousness is so nice that you are aspiring for still more work. Although we are in the midst of ignorance, still if we keep ourselves alert there is no place of ignorance."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1969 March 18: "In the material world we want to minimize work and take rest more but in the spiritual world, there is no rest and there is no limit of activities. Krishna is unlimited, His service is unlimited, and the energy of His servants is unlimited."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1969

1971 March 18: "We have to push these literatures, through schools, colleges, libraries, membership. Anyone reading our Krsna Book, Nectar of Devotion, Teachings of Lord Caitanya and Bhagavad-gita As It Is will certainly become a Krsna conscious person."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1971

1975 March 18: "If you want to preach there, that is alright, but you cannot interfere. I never said you were GBC. You cannot say that. If you are unable to work under his direction then you must work under my direction, but you are not independent."
Prabhupada Letters :: 1975

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.

http://flic.kr/s/aHsjUT7Xur

The post Feeding 2500 Vrndavana sadhus in the name of Govinda Swami’s departed mother appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

The post Kirtana in the courtyard in honour of Govinda Swami’s departed mother appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

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

The post Sivarama Swami reading Act Three of Caitanya Candradoya Nataka – The Dana-keli Pastime appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Conversation.

The post If you hear regularly then you will have questions to devotees and topics on Krsna to share with them appeared first on SivaramaSwami.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 ›

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 ›

https://flic.kr/s/aHsjUHR71D

The post Gaura Purnima Abhiseka appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

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 ›