Planet ISKCON

I am considering whether to abandon this blog, perhaps to start another.  I started this blog with the intention of documenting my happy advancement in Krishna consciousness, but instead it quickly turned into a chronology of outrage, grief, and disappointment in the Hare Krishna movement.  I’ve had little good to say about it for the past six years. 

I’ve never thought of the Hare Krishna movement as separate from Krishna, as if it was out of His control.  If He isn’t even the Lord of the devotees, then who?  I spent fifteen years directing my love and worship up the parampara, and now the blame gas to go up too.  Prabhupada created a monster with ISKCON that hurt many lives very deeply.  Where is Krishna?  Who can fix this?  I asked if Krishna could be nice, if He would help, but He continues only remain as if He did not exist.  What is this??  What kind of God arranges the torture and rape of His devotees’ children when He should be protecting them, and who otherwise does not seem to care?  One who should be disregarded. 

So my search has ended, but not in the way I hoped or expected. 

While we have all become accustomed to seeing the typical images that are conjured up when we think of yoga, it can be an heart-opening experience to learn of bhakti-yoga - the yoga of love. 


We invite you to come and dive into an evening full of divine chants as you learn more about the ancient teachings of the yoga of the heart. The premise of the "Evening of Bhakti" is to hold a spiritually-soaked event for you. Whether you are completely new to the concept of bhakti-yoga or a seasoned veteran, you can expect an incredible evening of chanting, wisdom, dancing and more, followed by a vegan dinner. 


With special guest speaker B.B. Bhagavat Swami and hosted at beautiful Govinda's Dining Hall in Toronto's historic Hare Krishna Centre, we warmly invite your for an evening that will feed the mind, body and soul! Visit www.govindas.ca for more information and http://tinyurl.com/evening​-of-bhakti to RSVP!


Entrance: $ 15

While we have all become accustomed to seeing the typical images that are conjured up when we think of yoga, it can be an heart-opening experience to learn of bhakti-yoga - the yoga of love. 


We invite you to come and dive into an evening full of divine chants as you learn more about the ancient teachings of the yoga of the heart. The premise of the "Evening of Bhakti" is to hold a spiritually-soaked event for you. Whether you are completely new to the concept of bhakti-yoga or a seasoned veteran, you can expect an incredible evening of chanting, wisdom, dancing and more, followed by a vegan dinner. 


With special guest speaker B.B. Bhagavat Swami and hosted at beautiful Govinda's Dining Hall in Toronto's historic Hare Krishna Centre, we warmly invite your for an evening that will feed the mind, body and soul! Visit www.govindas.ca for more information and http://tinyurl.com/evening​-of-bhakti to RSVP!


Entrance: $ 15

In every religious tradition, the commandment “Do not kill” represents the main teaching. In the Veda such principle is spread out with the concept of ahimsa, “do not damage the others”, which is the core of the sadhaka, the scholar who attains a spiritual discipline, religious life. “No Violence” is a law carved in the heart of every human being, even before one starts studying the Sacred Scriptures. The act of killing repels everyone and hurts one’s sensitivity, therefore it is clear that this principle, as stated in the Sacred Scriptures, is referred not only to the killing of human beings.

“Glories to You My Lord with all Your living creatures!". St Francis of Assisi

“The world of living beings is a whole organism. The general life of this organism is not God, but it is only a partial aspect of His manifestations, the same as our planet is a part of the solar system which itself is a part of another greater system and so on”. Lev Tolstoj

“There will be a time when man will not have to kill for food and even the killing of one single animal will be considered as harmful and immoral”. Leonardo da Vinci

Along the long path of evolution with the purpose of perfection, humanity has not yet become aware of the need for compassion, towards animals too.

The list below outlines the lack of sensitivity that still affects the majority of human species, according to the statistics of 2009 regarding butchering of animals in the world reported by the National Geographic in the issue of May 2011.

 1.7 million camels

 24 million Indian buffalos

 293 million cows

 398 million goats

 518 million sheep

 633 million turkeys

 1.1 billion rabbits

 1.3 billion pigs

 2.3 billion ducks

 52 billion chickens

The magazine editors point out that the above statistics do not include fish!

In Bhagavad-gita, Krishna offers a perspective that can help each sensitive person to avoid becoming an accomplice, neither in active or passive way, of the horror of slaughtering the great number of poor animals. The fundamental ethical principle is to act for the good of every being and it is stated by Krishna in a straight forward way, by explaining how this principle can be fulfilled on earth, in this world, by showing benevolence and compassion towards all creatures.

“The devotee of Mine who is non-envious, who bears benevolence towards all living entities, free from false ego, equal in distress and happiness, forgiving, always content by performing devotional service with unflinching determination, who relies his mind and spiritual intelligence upon Me is very dear to Me.

One who do not cause disturbance to others, who is never disturbed by anybody and who is freed from mundane pleasures, anger, fear and anxiety such a person is very dear to Me.

The devotee of Mine who is pure, detached, expert, free from worry, or agitation and unconcerned with any mundane endeavor, such a person is very dear to Me”.

Bhagavad-gita XII.13-16.

In every religious tradition, the commandment “Do not kill” represents the main teaching. In the Veda such principle is spread out with the concept of ahimsa, “do not damage the others”, which is the core of the sadhaka, the scholar who attains a spiritual discipline, religious life. “No Violence” is a law carved in the heart of every human being, even before one starts studying the Sacred Scriptures. The act of killing repels everyone and hurts one’s sensitivity, therefore it is clear that this principle, as stated in the Sacred Scriptures, is referred not only to the killing of human beings.

“Glories to You My Lord with all Your living creatures!". St Francis of Assisi

“The world of living beings is a whole organism. The general life of this organism is not God, but it is only a partial aspect of His manifestations, the same as our planet is a part of the solar system which itself is a part of another greater system and so on”. Lev Tolstoj

“There will be a time when man will not have to kill for food and even the killing of one single animal will be considered as harmful and immoral”. Leonardo da Vinci

Along the long path of evolution with the purpose of perfection, humanity has not yet become aware of the need for compassion, towards animals too.

The list below outlines the lack of sensitivity that still affects the majority of human species, according to the statistics of 2009 regarding butchering of animals in the world reported by the National Geographic in the issue of May 2011.

 1.7 million camels

 24 million Indian buffalos

 293 million cows

 398 million goats

 518 million sheep

 633 million turkeys

 1.1 billion rabbits

 1.3 billion pigs

 2.3 billion ducks

 52 billion chickens

The magazine editors point out that the above statistics do not include fish!

In Bhagavad-gita, Krishna offers a perspective that can help each sensitive person to avoid becoming an accomplice, neither in active or passive way, of the horror of slaughtering the great number of poor animals. The fundamental ethical principle is to act for the good of every being and it is stated by Krishna in a straight forward way, by explaining how this principle can be fulfilled on earth, in this world, by showing benevolence and compassion towards all creatures.

“The devotee of Mine who is non-envious, who bears benevolence towards all living entities, free from false ego, equal in distress and happiness, forgiving, always content by performing devotional service with unflinching determination, who relies his mind and spiritual intelligence upon Me is very dear to Me.

One who do not cause disturbance to others, who is never disturbed by anybody and who is freed from mundane pleasures, anger, fear and anxiety such a person is very dear to Me.

The devotee of Mine who is pure, detached, expert, free from worry, or agitation and unconcerned with any mundane endeavor, such a person is very dear to Me”.

Bhagavad-gita XII.13-16.

BY JANANANDA GOSVAMI Saturday the 16th of July marks one year since His Grace Aindra Prabhu departed the world in Sri Vrndavana dhama. One of the greatest inspirations and influences on the ISKCON kirtan world. Saturday the 16th of July … Continue reading →

As an aspiring bhakti practitioner, I'm well aware of how easy it is to start seeing everything I do in my day to day life as routine. Chanting, deity worship, reading, associating with devotees- all of it can become mundane if we don't go deeper than the superficial coverings. Sometimes we may feel that Krsna consciousness has lost the "freshness" and have to seek ways to rediscover that feeling.

Recently, I was fortunate to go on a retreat facilitated by HH Devamrta Swami and HG Bada Hari prabhu. The retreat was for newcomers offering an escape from the rigamaroles of everyday material life and an opportunity to discover the great jewels bhakti has to offer in the forms of kirtan, prasadam and deep devotion-centric discussions.

Upon hearing about the retreat, I immediately wanted to invite three people. Two of them were ladies I had distributed books to and had developed friendships with. The other was a student who regularly attends the Bhakti Yoga Club at the University of Ottawa.

Upon inviting Marcelle and Geoff, both immediately said yes. Unfortunately, Nadia, whom I have the great honour of regularly reading the Gita with, was unable to make it.

The weekend of the retreat came upon us and I was both trepedatious and excited. The potential for this trip being a life transforming journey for both these individuals was unbelievable. How many relative newcomers to Krsna consciousness get an opportunity to get one-one time with devotees of the highest caliber such as HH Devamrta Swami and HG Bada Hari prabhu for two and a half days? Not only that, but to have the association of like-minded individuals with a genuine thirst to dive deeper in bhakti can be rare.

Although I was happily engaged either in kirtan or cooking for most of the retreat, two moments stand out for me during those two and a half days. Those moments allowed me to fall in love with Krsna consciousness all over again. One morning, over half the participants got up early out of their own volition and chanted japa. The main room where the programs were being held became completely surcharged with the vibration of the holy name. In that space, I'll never forget looking over the participants, and in particular Geoff and seeing him with eyes closed, a look of determination on his face chanting the holy names of Krsna.

The second moment was during the final kirtan. HH Devamrta Swami simply took us out of the material world with his kirtan. Every single participant, was dancing. It was as though no one had a say in the matter! Everyone had to dance. After dancing and dancing and dancing, finally the kirtan came to conclusion and sitting down everyone sang in unison, hands outstretched and a look of complete bliss on their faces.

That is what Krsna consciousness is all about. Feeling a sense of connection to the holy names and the devotees. Although I may have passed along the message and invited both Geoff and Marcelle to come, they gave me the greatest gift during this retreat. Watching their experiences allowed me to rediscover the magic of Krsna consciousness all over again.

As an aspiring bhakti practitioner, I'm well aware of how easy it is to start seeing everything I do in my day to day life as routine. Chanting, deity worship, reading, associating with devotees- all of it can become mundane if we don't go deeper than the superficial coverings. Sometimes we may feel that Krsna consciousness has lost the "freshness" and have to seek ways to rediscover that feeling.

Recently, I was fortunate to go on a retreat facilitated by HH Devamrta Swami and HG Bada Hari prabhu. The retreat was for newcomers offering an escape from the rigamaroles of everyday material life and an opportunity to discover the great jewels bhakti has to offer in the forms of kirtan, prasadam and deep devotion-centric discussions.

Upon hearing about the retreat, I immediately wanted to invite three people. Two of them were ladies I had distributed books to and had developed friendships with. The other was a student who regularly attends the Bhakti Yoga Club at the University of Ottawa.

Upon inviting Marcelle and Geoff, both immediately said yes. Unfortunately, Nadia, whom I have the great honour of regularly reading the Gita with, was unable to make it.

The weekend of the retreat came upon us and I was both trepedatious and excited. The potential for this trip being a life transforming journey for both these individuals was unbelievable. How many relative newcomers to Krsna consciousness get an opportunity to get one-one time with devotees of the highest caliber such as HH Devamrta Swami and HG Bada Hari prabhu for two and a half days? Not only that, but to have the association of like-minded individuals with a genuine thirst to dive deeper in bhakti can be rare.

Although I was happily engaged either in kirtan or cooking for most of the retreat, two moments stand out for me during those two and a half days. Those moments allowed me to fall in love with Krsna consciousness all over again. One morning, over half the participants got up early out of their own volition and chanted japa. The main room where the programs were being held became completely surcharged with the vibration of the holy name. In that space, I'll never forget looking over the participants, and in particular Geoff and seeing him with eyes closed, a look of determination on his face chanting the holy names of Krsna.

The second moment was during the final kirtan. HH Devamrta Swami simply took us out of the material world with his kirtan. Every single participant, was dancing. It was as though no one had a say in the matter! Everyone had to dance. After dancing and dancing and dancing, finally the kirtan came to conclusion and sitting down everyone sang in unison, hands outstretched and a look of complete bliss on their faces.

That is what Krsna consciousness is all about. Feeling a sense of connection to the holy names and the devotees. Although I may have passed along the message and invited both Geoff and Marcelle to come, they gave me the greatest gift during this retreat. Watching their experiences allowed me to rediscover the magic of Krsna consciousness all over again.

Finally, Gaura-Shakti's first CD will be available on Festival of India, that will take place on July 16 and 17!!!

Finally, Gaura-Shakti's first CD will be available on Festival of India, that will take place on July 16 and 17!!!

Testing 1...2...3.  Is this thing on?   Stay tuned for a possible blog revival.  In the meantime, enjoy my updated playlist. 

Testing 1...2...3.  Is this thing on?   Stay tuned for a possible blog revival.  In the meantime, enjoy my updated playlist. 

Have you ever had someone's full attention? I'm not talking about the few flashes of eye contact you get while the person you're talking to you is simultaneously trying to have a bbm conversation with someone else. No. I'm talking about full on 100% attention.

It's so rare. The natural tendency of a living entity is to to love and be loved. In the process of trying to be loved and not attaining success, oftentimes the living entity tries to find some way to seek attention. Whether it's through laughter, dramatic story telling, looking beautiful etc etc, my realization is that all of these things we pursue are really for one thing alone- to be loved. We feel as though by doing something extraordinary then somehow the world we live in will wake up and finally pay us the attention that we're due.

But what happens when despite doing nothing at all, someone gives you that attention so freely and without any expectation in return? It becomes overwhelming. I had such an experience this weekend. HG Vaisesika prabhu and his wonderful wife Nirakula prabhu are two examples of individuals who give you their undivided attention.

When they speak to you, it's as though no one else exists. They fan any small spark or dying ember of any good quality that may be buried inside you and magnify it a million fold. It's actually unbelievable until you experience it for yourself.

What a gift! Persons who have been so fortunate to experience this type of undivided attention are often at a loss to describe what it feels like. It's so deep, so profound and gives a glimpse of how things must be in the spiritual world.

It also serves as a great inspiration as to what we should aspire for. We all should strive to ensure every interaction we have with every living entity leaves an indelible impression upon them.

All we need to do is remember Srila Prabhupada. Whether it was months of association, a one sentence instruction or even just a smile, those who came in contact with Srila Prabhupada have described how they'll never forget how they felt a deep sense of love and connection with him. It is our duty to not imitate but follow in his footsteps. After all, it's part of our family business to be fully present and conscious. :)

Have you ever had someone's full attention? I'm not talking about the few flashes of eye contact you get while the person you're talking to you is simultaneously trying to have a bbm conversation with someone else. No. I'm talking about full on 100% attention.

It's so rare. The natural tendency of a living entity is to to love and be loved. In the process of trying to be loved and not attaining success, oftentimes the living entity tries to find some way to seek attention. Whether it's through laughter, dramatic story telling, looking beautiful etc etc, my realization is that all of these things we pursue are really for one thing alone- to be loved. We feel as though by doing something extraordinary then somehow the world we live in will wake up and finally pay us the attention that we're due.

But what happens when despite doing nothing at all, someone gives you that attention so freely and without any expectation in return? It becomes overwhelming. I had such an experience this weekend. HG Vaisesika prabhu and his wonderful wife Nirakula prabhu are two examples of individuals who give you their undivided attention.

When they speak to you, it's as though no one else exists. They fan any small spark or dying ember of any good quality that may be buried inside you and magnify it a million fold. It's actually unbelievable until you experience it for yourself.

What a gift! Persons who have been so fortunate to experience this type of undivided attention are often at a loss to describe what it feels like. It's so deep, so profound and gives a glimpse of how things must be in the spiritual world.

It also serves as a great inspiration as to what we should aspire for. We all should strive to ensure every interaction we have with every living entity leaves an indelible impression upon them.

All we need to do is remember Srila Prabhupada. Whether it was months of association, a one sentence instruction or even just a smile, those who came in contact with Srila Prabhupada have described how they'll never forget how they felt a deep sense of love and connection with him. It is our duty to not imitate but follow in his footsteps. After all, it's part of our family business to be fully present and conscious. :)

On Saturday, April 16th, 2011 Gaura-Shakti was invited to be part take in three different kirtans on the same day... that's right three different kirtans! As if this wasn't crazy enough, the three programs would have us criss-crossing the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)! How could we say no the three programs: some close friends who invited us to lead kirtan at a private function at a west-end banquet hall, we were scheduled to lead kirtan at the Annual Yoga Show & Conference at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and, finally, we were invited to lead kirtan at drama evening back in Mississauga.

Wow... it was definitely a wild experience when you put everything together!

The day began as we headed out to a banquet hall in Mississauga in the morning. One of our dear friend's father had a gathering and he decided to celebrate it in a spiritual way. At first, we thought that we were being invited to a formal event and didn't really expect people to respond to our kirtan! But we were mistaken! Guests of the function were really enjoying themselves. They were clapping and chanting with all of their hearts! :) Thanks to our dear friends, Shashank and Satyabama, who invited us to chant! After honouring a mouth-watering lunch, we decided to split up in order to be on time for the other kirtan events. Keshava, Radha, myself and Arusha drove to the Yoga Show right away and Milind and Dhira went to the drama hall to set up the sound system for us for the night time event.

A little tired, but still enthusiastic, we left for the Convention Centre. There, we were surprised to see so many people attending the Yoga Show! There were so many different booths with the most interesting "yoga" things! We also met our friends, like mother Demi at the Govinda's booth, Andrea Olivera, Pat, Maie and more! Keshava started working out the sound requirements right away as we waited for the incredible moment to unite in kirtan with all the participants!

After some time, Dhira and Milind arrived and soon we all went on the main stage. The experience of sharing kirtan with others cannot be described in simple words! When I saw hundreds of people chanting, clapping and dancing my breath stopped for a moment. I felt like ALL of us were part of a spiritual sphere where the Divine was the only source in the centre and we were all connected, like parts and parcels of the Divine! Kirtan can give everyone an eternal spiritual high that cannot be experienced by anything else! Alas, our Yoga Show experience was soon over and I woke up from the dream and we were suddenly off to our last kirtan of the day!

It was a little bit more relaxing when we got to the hall where drama evening was taking place. Our friends greeted us as we got ready and started off the evening with a mellow kirtan! The experience was different than the Yoga Show, though. It was similar to a concert, where lights blind your eyes and a big stage physically separates you from the audience. But still, it was very sweet! Finally, after going on the stage for the second time and concluding the evening with a rocking kirtan at around 10pm, we were out of energy! We all got samosas packed for home and, with satisfied souls that got reconnected to the Divine through the chanting, we drove back home.

On Saturday, April 16th, 2011 Gaura-Shakti was invited to be part take in three different kirtans on the same day... that's right three different kirtans! As if this wasn't crazy enough, the three programs would have us criss-crossing the Greater Toronto Area (GTA)! How could we say no the three programs: some close friends who invited us to lead kirtan at a private function at a west-end banquet hall, we were scheduled to lead kirtan at the Annual Yoga Show & Conference at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre and, finally, we were invited to lead kirtan at drama evening back in Mississauga.

Wow... it was definitely a wild experience when you put everything together!

The day began as we headed out to a banquet hall in Mississauga in the morning. One of our dear friend's father had a gathering and he decided to celebrate it in a spiritual way. At first, we thought that we were being invited to a formal event and didn't really expect people to respond to our kirtan! But we were mistaken! Guests of the function were really enjoying themselves. They were clapping and chanting with all of their hearts! :) Thanks to our dear friends, Shashank and Satyabama, who invited us to chant! After honouring a mouth-watering lunch, we decided to split up in order to be on time for the other kirtan events. Keshava, Radha, myself and Arusha drove to the Yoga Show right away and Milind and Dhira went to the drama hall to set up the sound system for us for the night time event.

A little tired, but still enthusiastic, we left for the Convention Centre. There, we were surprised to see so many people attending the Yoga Show! There were so many different booths with the most interesting "yoga" things! We also met our friends, like mother Demi at the Govinda's booth, Andrea Olivera, Pat, Maie and more! Keshava started working out the sound requirements right away as we waited for the incredible moment to unite in kirtan with all the participants!

After some time, Dhira and Milind arrived and soon we all went on the main stage. The experience of sharing kirtan with others cannot be described in simple words! When I saw hundreds of people chanting, clapping and dancing my breath stopped for a moment. I felt like ALL of us were part of a spiritual sphere where the Divine was the only source in the centre and we were all connected, like parts and parcels of the Divine! Kirtan can give everyone an eternal spiritual high that cannot be experienced by anything else! Alas, our Yoga Show experience was soon over and I woke up from the dream and we were suddenly off to our last kirtan of the day!

It was a little bit more relaxing when we got to the hall where drama evening was taking place. Our friends greeted us as we got ready and started off the evening with a mellow kirtan! The experience was different than the Yoga Show, though. It was similar to a concert, where lights blind your eyes and a big stage physically separates you from the audience. But still, it was very sweet! Finally, after going on the stage for the second time and concluding the evening with a rocking kirtan at around 10pm, we were out of energy! We all got samosas packed for home and, with satisfied souls that got reconnected to the Divine through the chanting, we drove back home.

Ever get the feeling that you just don't belong? Maybe the last time was during your teenage years where you walked into a social gathering knowing no one at all. We all long for a sense of belonging, a sense that "we fit in".

For some time now I feel that I just don't belong. I have wonderful friends, a loving family and so many well-wishers that one might suggest that my problem is due to the fact that I'm not grateful for the gifts that have been given to me. That's very true. I'll admit I'm not a grateful person and it's something I need to work on, but lately I feel as though it's something more.

Deep down I believe this sense of "not belonging" is due to a lack of permanency. Not only the lack of permanency in my own life but the constant change that is constantly surrounding everyone and everything I am associated to and with. I know many others I have spoken to have also shared that they experience this. The material world is said to be real yet impermanent. My realization is that it is hard "to belong" to anyone or anything when an expiration date is part of the package deal.

Relationships, situations, perspectives....they all change. I guess that's the lesson that Krsna is trying to teach me and that I don't want to accept. That despite whatever I am experiencing, He is the one permanent person that will never change, never leave and will always be there. Theoretically the concept is locked into my brain but on the basis of faith, I think I have a long way to go. Ultimately that is the lesson, isn't it?

So despite feeling as though I don't belong and I'm not connected, I aspire to embrace these feelings so that I can depend on Krsna more. On the most Krsna conscious perspective (which unfortunately is not the one I'm operating on :P) this is the greatest blessing. Most of the time our problem lies in the fact that we feel that the material world is our home and that all our pastimes here is what can sustain us. Although I feel like a small ship that is being tossed about in the rough seas and winds of change and upheaval, I pray that the steady anchor of Krsna's mercy will provide a safe haven keeping me safely enveloped in His merciful glance.

Ever get the feeling that you just don't belong? Maybe the last time was during your teenage years where you walked into a social gathering knowing no one at all. We all long for a sense of belonging, a sense that "we fit in".

For some time now I feel that I just don't belong. I have wonderful friends, a loving family and so many well-wishers that one might suggest that my problem is due to the fact that I'm not grateful for the gifts that have been given to me. That's very true. I'll admit I'm not a grateful person and it's something I need to work on, but lately I feel as though it's something more.

Deep down I believe this sense of "not belonging" is due to a lack of permanency. Not only the lack of permanency in my own life but the constant change that is constantly surrounding everyone and everything I am associated to and with. I know many others I have spoken to have also shared that they experience this. The material world is said to be real yet impermanent. My realization is that it is hard "to belong" to anyone or anything when an expiration date is part of the package deal.

Relationships, situations, perspectives....they all change. I guess that's the lesson that Krsna is trying to teach me and that I don't want to accept. That despite whatever I am experiencing, He is the one permanent person that will never change, never leave and will always be there. Theoretically the concept is locked into my brain but on the basis of faith, I think I have a long way to go. Ultimately that is the lesson, isn't it?

So despite feeling as though I don't belong and I'm not connected, I aspire to embrace these feelings so that I can depend on Krsna more. On the most Krsna conscious perspective (which unfortunately is not the one I'm operating on :P) this is the greatest blessing. Most of the time our problem lies in the fact that we feel that the material world is our home and that all our pastimes here is what can sustain us. Although I feel like a small ship that is being tossed about in the rough seas and winds of change and upheaval, I pray that the steady anchor of Krsna's mercy will provide a safe haven keeping me safely enveloped in His merciful glance.

It’s always a great pleasure to welcome guests. However, it is much rarer and therefore, a lot more special when guests come from my wife’s homeland, Turkey. We were quite delighted when this year on the occasion of Nrisimha Caturdasi a few friends could visit us and stayed for almost a week.

Mridanga Music video featuring The Temple Dancers. Spread the word!

The Mayapuris Official Music Video

Sivarama Maharaja advised me to read the likewise entitled article in the The New York Times. It speaks of the tendency that nowadays in a couple of hundred minor farming projects people return to ox-power. In several various kinds of works, which beforehand they conducted by tractors, now they work with oxen. However, not only the continuously rising petrol prices have a beneficial effect on the advancement of this trend. A few decades ago, farmers who worked with animals have been considered old-fashioned, obstinate, blockhead people. Children born in these families were ashamed of their kin, when they met with fellow kids whose parents ran their farm with modernized equipment. The joint spread of industrial revolution and consumerist society has led the world to an ecologic disaster. As a consequence of the recognition of the above-mentioned phenomena and the positive social feedback to it, traditional agricultural methods are not considered old-fashioned anymore, but on the contrary, are reflected on as progressional. As a matter of fact, this attitude gives inspiration, strength and self-esteem to all those farmers, who willingly turn back to the farming tradition of their great parents and elders.

This positive process is going to strengthen, if we, consumers are willing to look for produces grown in such farms. As, eventually, organic farms need not only an emotional support, but a financial one as well that can be realized by buying off their products, which comprise a lot of hours of hard work. The success of organic revolution depends on the mutual cooperation of the economic sector and consumers.

The volunteers and supporters of the village of Krisna Valley as well as the Eco Valley Foundation all work on the success of this process.

Many come up with the question how is the new ecclesiastical law, which is in preparation, going to make freedom of religion more difficult especially in relation to preaching activities. A fundamental element of this is the freedom of book distribution. If you would like to experience some travel in time and try what it is like when one cannot distribute books on streets at all, then you should visit Istanbul for a couple of days. When I preach there, this phenomenon is not something we have to be afraid of, but it is true reality. However, it was not clear to me either that one cannot distribute even leaflets on the street, but after the first fine of approximately HUF 50,000, we learned the lesson quickly.

Therefore, we distribute Srila Prabhupada’s books to our guests in the restaurant. In the photo you can see a guest getting acquainted with the Vedic literature in the Govinda Istanbul Café after the Rama Navami festival program.

We are excited to announce that the Walking Monk, Bhaktimarga Swami along with Gaura-Shakti will be taking part in a special kirtan on a boat that will take us on the cruise on Lake Ontario! An amazing vegetarian feast will be served on the boat as well!

If you would like to be part of this fun-filled event, please let us know by contacting us and we will book a ticket for you!  Tickets are selling fast and are expected to sell out, so please contact us within the next two weeks!

Tickets are $40 and the cruise begins at 11:45am and will go until 4:30pm.
More details regarding the event are coming soon.

After the boat cruise, Gaura-Shakti will then hit the highway and head west as we will be taking part in the 25th Annual Guelph & District Multicultural Festival!  We'll be chanting on the main stage from 7:45pm to 8:15pm (and we hear that there will be fireworks afterwards).  Everyone is welcome to join us in Guelph for this special kirtan as well!

We are excited to announce that the Walking Monk, Bhaktimarga Swami along with Gaura-Shakti will be taking part in a special kirtan on a boat that will take us on the cruise on Lake Ontario! An amazing vegetarian feast will be served on the boat as well!

If you would like to be part of this fun-filled event, please let us know by contacting us and we will book a ticket for you!  Tickets are selling fast and are expected to sell out, so please contact us within the next two weeks!

Tickets are $40 and the cruise begins at 11:45am and will go until 4:30pm.
More details regarding the event are coming soon.

After the boat cruise, Gaura-Shakti will then hit the highway and head west as we will be taking part in the 25th Annual Guelph & District Multicultural Festival!  We'll be chanting on the main stage from 7:45pm to 8:15pm (and we hear that there will be fireworks afterwards).  Everyone is welcome to join us in Guelph for this special kirtan as well!

 

MRIDANGA MUSIC VIDEO TO PREMIERE ON YOGAJOURNAL.COM MAY 19TH

Cross-over world music sensation and performance art troupe, The Mayapuris are to release a music video to showcase the title track of their hit album Mridanga (2010) which reached #7 on the iTunes world music chart the first week of its release. The video imbibes the dual nature that makes the Mayapuris unique: spunky and youthful with a new spin on the centuries-old chant culture of ancient India, kirtan. Their instrument of choice: the mridanga drum, a hand instrument invented over five hundred years ago as a portable and powerful alternative to the inner sanctum temple drums .

“Why the obsession with the mridanga?” asks Krishna Kishor (vocalist, flutist, drummer), “It was invented by Chaitanya, who revolutionized kirtan by bringing it out from the temples and into the streets for everyone to take part in. Through him we want to keep the revolution going. So…got to keep drumming.” In the video The Mayapuris are joined by The Temple Dancers consisting of Visvambhar’s wife Vrinda and his sister Ganga both of whom studied the ancient art of Bharatnatyam in South India.

The band’s ties to mridanga and kirtan run deep. All three of them attended boarding school in India where they learned the fundamentals of mantra music. Naming their group after the holy village of Mayapur, where the kirtan movement started, the Mayapuris returned home to Florida before signing to Mantralogy, a division of Equal Vision Records, in 2009. The title track of their first release, “Mridanga,” is the rhythmic instrumental composition that, when performed live, is a dance as well as a drum ensemble. It was an aspect that the band wanted reflected in their video.“We wanted it to have the energy and impact of our live performances,” says Kishor, “But with a twist.”

Gaura Vani and Rasa Acharya, who are both longtime friends of the band members and co-owners of their record label, Mantralogy, had ties to the movie industry and were eager to bring a fresh visual representation of the artform to the Mantra Music scene.“The Mayapuris are vibrant and fun people,” says Acharya who, alongside Vani, produced and directed the video, “It would be hard to not capture their spirit on camera.”

Visvambhar, lead-vocalist and drummer says, “I believe in kirtan. I believe people naturally want to give something–to sing and partake in mantra chanting. I see the Mantra Music scene growing every day in a big way. The video will add a new dimension to all of it as we begin to recognize chant culture as something much bigger than music.”

The video will premiere May 19th on YogaJournal.com and will later be viewable on YouTube, Facebook, Mayapuris.com and Mantralogy.com.

It's so simple to purify your own heart and become more kind by considering the six loving exchanges mentioned by the great 15th-century scholar and devotee of Lord Krishna, Rupa Goswami:
(1) Sharing gifts with others
(2) Accepting gifts        
(3) Revealing your mind to others in confidence
(4) Inquiring confidentially
(5) Accepting spiritual food
(6) Offering spiritual food to others

Gaura-Shakti will be presenting some of these beautiful aspects of bhakti this weekend at Moksha Yoga Downtown. We will be sharing some of these aspects with others in the forms of mantra meditation, kirtan, and the association of like-minded people. This is what our "Evenings of Bhakti" are all about!  We're looking forward to the amazing evening that hopefully will give us a sweet taste of bhakti. Stay tuned for a report on the event! :)