Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Krishna's devotees are celebrating new year 2014 in London city center. -- Read more › 
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday we traveled north through the jungle to the famous Adi-kesava temple which Lord Caitanya visited 500 years ago during His journey through South India. It was in the Adi-kesava temple that Mahaprabhu found a copy of the 5th chapter of the Brahma-samhita. The inner sanctum of the temple was constructed over 4,000 years ago. The deity of Lord Visnu is lying down and is 22 meters long. -- Read more › The post January 8th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Devotees rush to help clean up the water.
Guest rooms are flooded.
The sprinkler system froze and burst.
More devotees make sure the water didn’t spread to the temple room.
14 01 06 SB 06 02 44 By H G Lal Govinda Prabhu ISKCON Juhu
I’ll share a few more of my experiences on the subject of femininity.
Essentially female means “open” and it means “amplification of input.” The female opens herself up to “input” and then amplifies and expands that input.
One word for female in Sanskrit is strī - literally “expand” – which illustrates what I am talking about: receiving input and expanding upon it. Another word associated with “female” is prakṛti which also literally means something very close to “expand.” Prakṛti means expansion “pra-“ of deeds “krti” – or the entity that is able to expand and develop an effort.
So femininity also means openness, because she cannot receive input to amplify when she is closed. Procreation is a very concrete example of femininity. The female must open herself, receive input, and then she can amplify and expand that input into something amazing, a child. So the feminine nature is open to input and expansive upon the input.
I personally feel that chanting the Hare Krishna mahamantra deeply is an extremely profound feminine experience.
My experience is that I must completely open my mind to receive the mantra. I must not close my mind off from the mantra by clinging tightly to other thoughts. As a female opens herself to her mate, the mind must be feminine and open herself to the mantra. “Hare Krishna, here is my mind, my self, my whole being. I reserve none of it from you. Take all of it. Fill all of it with you. Place your potency within it.”
When the mind becomes womanly open to being filled by the mantra, that mantra immediately responds (being so masculine) and becomes a very ecstatic and blissful entity due to being attracted to the availability of our mind. It then becomes extremely easy and enjoyable to chant and meditate upon the mantra without distraction.
Dallas Morning News,Each week we will post a question to a panel of about two dozen clergy, laity and theologians, all of whom are based in Texas or are from Texas. They will chime in with their responses to the question of the week. And you, readers, will be able to respond to their answers through the comment box.
At the end of this week, Americans will pause to observe the 50th anniversary of John F. Kennedy’s death. We in Dallas particularly will be in the middle of the observation. The assassination, of course, happened here. And Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings has put together a gathering at Dealey Plaza to commemorate the anniversary of Kennedy’s assassination.
Earlier, this panel discussed the impact John Kennedy had on Catholicism. Let’s now look at the Kennedy impact in another way.
Why is it that the nation still pauses 50 years after his death?
The country has never really looked back on the assassination of any our other leaders, except perhaps that of Abraham Lincoln. So, is this just part of the Kennedy mystique?
Or does this national moment of reflection say something about an innate human need to have princes we look up to, even if the scriptures warn against putting one’s faith in princes?
Or are we pausing because we still wonder what might have happened if an assassin’s bullet had not put the country on a different course?
Or was it only one assassin? I think so, but the open question for some creates a giant sense of mystery around his death. Is that why we keep focusing on November 22? Does the mystery draw us in?
Or do we stop to reflect because he was having an impact on the country that was suddenly aborted?
Or here’s one more thought: Is November 22 now mostly a media creation?
Obviously, there are many different angles here. And there are many more. But from your perspective:Why does the nation still pause 50 years after John Kennedy’s assassination?
NITYANANDA CHANDRA DAS, minister of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness), Dallas
We are surprised that the thief known as Death does not discriminate. One may have the best medicine and doctor but that does not guarantee safety. Nor is there such a guarantee for a child of loving, protective parents. Nor can the man on the sturdiest boat be assured of his safety.
When death comes, the Secret Service will not be able to shoot him, nor will one's guard dogs bark him away. It doesn't matter how much organic food or vitamins you take. Nor does it matter how much you jog. Whether you are the president or the Pope, Death is still an equal opportunity employer. Those with spiritual wisdom do not fear death. They understand it as simply a change of dress.
This weekend I performed the funeral of a 19 year-old girl. This was a strong reminder of the most surprising thing in this world. We have seen others before us pass away but none of us really think death will happen to us.
Rejection of death actually hints to the nature of the self. We do not want to die because the very notion of it is unnatural. Why? Because the self is eternal, so the notion of death goes against our very nature.
As we usher in 2014, ISKCON News takes a look back at 15 stories that helped to shape the last 12 months. In 2013, ISKCON made important steps in child protection; cared for victims of natural disasters; re-focused on preserving Srila Prabhupada’s pre-eminent position; continued construction work on its monumental Temple of the Vedic Planetarium; opened a brand new art gallery; and began plans for its fiftieth anniversary.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 02 January 2013, Durban, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 12.8.46)
It is an art to have to deal with others. For me too! I could be very peacefully chanting Hare Krsna, doing a little worship, lots of nice kirtans and leave it at that. But then, there are these people that have marriage problems or devotees that fall down or devotees that want to have a sex change, and you think, ‘But wasn’t the philosophy that we are not the body!?’
So, the amount of complications that we to get into by social involvement is overwhelming. It is an art that one has to learn to use anger in a very controlled way; a cool anger not hot anger. When you are a teacher, there is always the issue that the students don’t want to be controlled; I was one of those rebellious students. But the fact of the matter is that you have the control but you don’t have to assert your authority and if people don’t co-operate, then okay. So if anyone doesn’t co-operate then it is very simple, ‘I’ll give you a few chances and then you’re out. Go speak to the director and good luck!’
Simple as that. There is no discussion about it. Just a few chances and then out. I’m not going to get upset with you… I just lay down the line… very simple… this is it!
I see it with temple presidents who are trying to assert their authority. There’s no need, you already got it. You’re the temple president, you’re the boss, you have the authority! The problem is that people, out of fear, get out of control and start to try to assert their authority. That is when they get under the modes - dealing with such aggression. So, with the mode of goodness you just realize, ‘No, I have the authority, I will just stay calm and I’ll establish clearly how it is and if they are not co-operating then they are out, after a few warnings.’
So, in the mode of goodness, one is the tortoise who stays in his own goodness and then puts out the legs but not too much, not where you completely and emotionally throw yourself in a material situation!
Doing your daily chanting, you hit a wall. You know what that feels like. Suddenly you are aware that whatever resolve you had to heart-fully, attentively chant has gradually vanished. Check out the tongue—it's sluggish, obstinate, even defiant: "No more holy name for now! Down with your beads, finger them later."
The mind then monstrously expands, swallowing you up, as it dictates your immediate priorities and goals. Of course, the mind is also working its mayhem on the long-term, but that we pretend not to see or acknowledge.
Remember Rupa Goswami's explanation in Nectar of Instruction, Sri Upadeshamrita (7). The tongue is afflicted by avidya, the nescience potency of the Supreme Absolute Truth. Therefore, although the Hare Krishna mantra is inherently, wholly, and eternally sweet, like sugar candy, our tongue, mired in the swamps of illusion, tastes the mahamantra as bitter medicine. "Honestly, most of the time it's not so juicy, but I'll try to force a few rounds out now--do the rest later."
Consider the resistance-battle the rebelling tongue, teamed with the feverish mind, throws at you, the spirit soul, as a chance to cry out more for Krishna's mercy. The fading of your will to chant is an opportunity to realize more your utter helplessness and dependency, as a spiritual infant.
Beg for the attention of the Panca-tattva to get the locomotion of your ailing tongue vibrating the mahamantra again—the spiritually healthy tongue's natural constitutional position.
Blast through that mentally concocted wall, fabricated by lifetimes of material desires, leading to futile karmic striving.
Remember this, too: The Panca-tattva, by their dancing, made it easier for us to drink the nectar of the Love Supreme. They make it possible that the more we taste, the more our thirst increases.
Greed for Krishna: life's greatest luxury.
Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.17.
“So if you spend your life in chanting and hearing the glories of the Lord in the association of devotees, your eternal life in the spiritual world is guaranteed—just like if you give money in charity, its return is guaranteed in the next life. As a legitimate son has simply to remain alive to gain an inheritance from his father, so one who simply remains alive alive in Krishna consciousness, following this process of bhakti-yoga, becomes eligible to receive the mercy of the Lord: the devotee will ‘inherit’ the kingdom of God—enter the Lord’s divine abode. So, everything is explained very clearly; all we have to do is do it. What we are being asked to do is very easy—we are all doing it right now. It is very easy and enjoyable. We just have to continue doing it. We shouldn’t waste time.”
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Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.3.17, Noida
Mayapur Dhama ki Jaya! -- Read more › 
New Year Vaishnava "party". Many guests, musicians from other countries, mainly - the founder of the festival "Golok Fest" from Moscow, theatrical performance, various master classes, etc. -- Read more › 
Let me take the opportunity of the upcoming calendar year to first thank you for reading this New Year’s message. You and I are together here connecting through these words, and it’s my great honor to meet such sincere spiritual aspirants. I hope in the future we will have many more opportunities to meet and share realizations – and not only in cyberspace. -- Read more › 
Pictures taken during recent visit of Bhakti Charu Swami to Iskcon Baroda
Pictures taken by Vaman Das -- Read more › 
By Giriraja Swami -- Read more › 
Goloka Dhama- Germany -- Read more › Bhagavatam class.
The post How the controlled sense gratification of grhasta life leads to liberation (Part 1) appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
From Scotland.
The post Puranic and modern history – a comparison appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
VICARU DAS
ISKCON UK
Upon Kamsa’s death, his two wives became widows. According to Vedic civilisation a women is never independent she has three stages of life: In childhood a women should live under the protection of her father, a youthful women should live under the protection of her young husband and in the event of the death of her husband she should live under the protection of her grown up sons or she must go back to her father and live as a widow under his protection.
Kamsa has no grown up sons therefore after his wives became widows they return to the shelter of their father, Kamsa had two queens, Asti and Prapti, and both happened to be the daughters of king Jarasandha,the Lord of the bihar province called Magadha,after reaching home he two queens explained their awkward position following Kamsa’s death
The King of Magadha, Jarasandha was motified on hearing the pitiable condition of their daughters. When informed of the death of Kamsa, Jarasandha decided on the spot that he would rid the world of all the members of the Yadu dynasty he decided that since Krsna had killed Kamsa the whole dynasty should be killed.
He began to make extensive arrangements to attack the kingdom of Mathura with his innumerable military phalanxes, consisting of many thousands of chariots, horses, elephants and infantry soldiers. Jarasandha prepared thirteen such military phalanxes to retaliate the death of Kamsa taking with him all his military strength he attacked the capital of the Yadu kings Mathura surrounding it from all directions, Sri Krsna who appeared like an ordinary human being saw the immense strength of Jarasandha which appeared like an ocean about to cover a beach at any moment.
He also perceived that the inhabitants of Mathura were overwhelmed with fear he began to think within Himself about his mission as an incarnation and how to tackle the present situation before him. He thought that since he was not going to conquer the kingdom of Magadha to kill the king of Magadha namely Jarasandha was useless his mission was to diminish the overburdening population of the whole world; Therefore He took the opportunity to face so many men, chariots, elephants and horses. The military strength of Jarasandha had appeared before Him and He decided to kill the entire force of Jarasandha so that he would go back and reorganise His military strength.
While Lord Krsna was thinking in that way two beautiful chariots, fully equipped with drivers, weapons, flags and other paraphernalia, arrived for Him from outer space. Krsna saw the two chariots present before Him and immediately addressed His elder brother Balarama who is also known as sankarsan: “My dear elder brother, best among the Aryans, you are the Lord of the universe and specifically you are the protector of the Yadu dynasty. The members of the yadu dynasty sense great danger before the soldiers of Jarasandha and they are very much aggrieved just to give them protection your chariot is also here, filled with weapons, I request you to sit on your chariot and kill all these soldiers the entire military strength of the enemy. Two of us have descended to this earth just to annihilate such unnecessary bellicose forces and give protection to the pious devotees so we have the opportunity to fulfilled our mission. Please let us execute it”; Thus Krsna and Balarama,the descendants of Dasarha,decided to annihilate the thirteen military companies of Jarasandha.
After equipping themselves with military dress, Krsna and Balarama mounted Their chariots, Krsna rode the chariots of which Daruka was the driver with the small army they came out of the city of Mathura, blowing Their respective conchshells. Curiously enough although the other party was equipped with greater military strength, when they heard the vibration of krsna’s conchshell their hearts were shaken. When Jarasandha saw Balarama and Krsna he was a little bit compassionate because They happened to be related to him as grandsons he specifically addressed as Purusadhama meaning the lowest among men (Actually Krsna is known in all vedic scriptures as Purusottama, the highest among men); Jarasandha had no intention of addressing krsna as purusottama but great scholars have determined the true meaning of the word purusadhama to be one who makes all other personalities go down. Actually no one can be equal to or greater than the supreme personality of godhead.
Jarasandha said it will be a great dishonour for me to fight with boys like Krsna and Balarama because Krsna had killed Kamsa, Jarasandha specifically addressed him as the killer of his own relatives. Kamsa had killed many of his own nephews yet Jarasandha did not take notice but because Krsna had killed his maternal uncle Kamsa, Jarasandha tried to criticise him that is the way of demoniac dealings. Demons do not try to find their own faults or those of their friends but try to find the faults of their enemies, Jarasandha also criticized Krsna for not even being a ksatriya because he was raised by Maharaja Nanda. Krsna was not a ksatriya but vaisya, Vaisyas are generally called guptas and the word gupta can also be used to mean ‘hidden’ So Krsna was both hidden and raised by Nanda Maharaj. Jarasandha accused Krsna of three faults:
1) That he killed his own maternal uncle
2) That he was not even a ksatriya
3) That He was hidden in His childhood
And therefore Jarasandha felt ashamed to fight with him,
Next he turn toward Balarama and addressed him: “You Balarama, if you like you can fight along with Him and if you have patience, then you can wait to be kill by my arrows. Thus you can be promoted to the heavens”.
After hearing Jarasandha speak in this way Krishna answered: “My dear, king Jarasandha; heroes do not talk much rather they show their prowess because you are talking a great deal it appears that you are assured of your death in this battle. We do not care to hear you any longer for it is useless to hear the words of a person who is going to die or of one who is very distressed”,to fight with Krsna.
Jarasandha surrounded him from all sides with great military strength as the sun appears covered by cloudy air and dust, krishna the supreme sun was covered by the military strength of Jarasandha. Krsna and Balarama’s chariot were marked with pictures of garuda and palm trees respectively, the women of Mathura all stood on the tops of the house, palaces and gates to see the wonderful fight but when Krsna’s chariot was surrounded by Jarasandha’s military force and was no longer visible to them, they were so frightened that some of them fainted. Krsna saw Himself overwhelmed by military strength of Jarasandha his small army soldiers was being harassed so He immediately took up his bow, named Sarnga.
He took his arrows from their quiver and one after another he sat them on the bowstring and shot them toward the enemy, they were so accurate that the elephants, horses and infantry soldiers of Jarasandha were quickly killed. The incessant arrows shot by Krsna appeared like a while wind of blazing fire killing all the military strength of Jarasandha. As Krsna release His arrows all the elephants gradually began to fall heads severed by the arrows; Similarly all the horses fell their necks severed and the chariots fell also along with their flags and the fighters and drivers on the chariot.
Almost all the infantry soldiers fell on the field of battle, their heads, hands and legs cut off. In this way many thousands of elephants, horses and men were killed and the blood flowed just like the waves of a river. In that river the severed arms of men appeared like snakes and their heads like tortoises the dead bodies of the elephant appeared like small Islands and the dead horses appeared like sharks.
By the arrangements of the supreme will there was a great river of blood filled with paraphernalia.
The hands and legs of the infantry soldiers floated just like different kinds of fish the hair of the soldiers floated like sea weeds and moss and the floating bows of the soldiers resembled waves of the river and all the jewellery from the bodies of the soldiers and commanders seemed like many pebbles flowing down the river of blood.
Krishnas pastimes are unlimited and cannot possibly described by human brain.
Hare krishna Hare Krishna…………………..
Through the cold and quiet winter months, the cleaning continues. Please browse our latest photos and join our efforts by visiting www.radharani.com. Thank you for your support! Your servants, Mayapurcandra dasa and Campakalata Devi dasi. -- Read more › The post January 7th, 2014 – Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Snana Yatra 2013 Part 2 Melbourne
Most of us have to study, work, care for our families, commute, earn money, figure out how to save money, 
To learn how to remain sane in a crazy world, join us for a seminar by His Grace Sriman Sankarshan Das Adhikari, a travelling teacher and mentor to thousands of busy professionals and active families in over 100 countries around the world. Also an initiating spiritual master within the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, he is a direct disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada and has been practicing and sharing Krishna consciousness in a crazy world for more than 43 years.From Sushant Kulkarni
