Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Founded in 1982, our Hare Krishna School is New Zealand’s only Primary and Intermediate school based on Krishna Consciousness. We are a state-integrated special character school catering for students in years 1-10.
Gaura Purnima is now just around the corner with 10 days to go! we humbly urge you all to come forward and make the Abhishek ceremony a success with your generous donations. It is once in a year opportunity to directly bath the Lord with your items, so why not seize it and get all […]
The post Abhishek Seva Opportunity – Gaura Purnima 2022 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
This final video of Day 4 (March 5) of the Radha Madhava Golden Jubilee Festival (March 2-5) documents the appreciation of Vaisnavas who have served in Mayapur for many years, the Maha Yajna, as well as the Grand Finale procession of Radha Madhava through the ISKCON Mayapur complex with a million lamps lighted.
Visit: www.tovp.org
Support: https://tovp.org/donate/
Email: tovpinfo@gmail.com
Follow: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Watch: www.youtube.com/c/TOVPinfoTube
View at 360°: www.tovp360.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOVP2022
Telegram: https://t.me/TOVP_GRAM
WhatsApp: https://m.tovp.org/whatsapp2
Instagram: https://m.tovp.org/tovpinstagram
App: https://m.tovp.org/app
News & Texts: https://m.tovp.org/newstexts
RSS News Feed: https://tovp.org/rss2/
Store: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/
Please take a look at the wonderful Jali panel on the Nrisimhadev Staircase Tower! Carved from famous Jaipur sandstone, with its natural pink color and graceful design, it wonderfully complements the architectural beauty of the Temple.
The same Jali will be installed on the rest of the TOVP staircase towers. Each panel is about 14 meters high (46 feet) and 7 meters (23 feet) wide.
Step by step we are approaching the completion of the major temple work so Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Sri Pancha Tattva and Sri Nrsimhadeva can be relocated to Their new home in 2024!
Visit: www.tovp.org
Support: https://tovp.org/donate/
Email: tovpinfo@gmail.com
Follow: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Watch: www.youtube.com/c/TOVPinfoTube
View at 360°: www.tovp360.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOVP2022
Telegram: https://t.me/TOVP_GRAM
WhatsApp: https://m.tovp.org/whatsapp2
Instagram: https://m.tovp.org/tovpinstagram
App: https://m.tovp.org/app
News & Texts: https://m.tovp.org/newstexts
RSS News Feed: https://tovp.org/rss2/
Store: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/
ISKCON Mariupol, 2019 ISKCON News Report Anuttama dasa 6 PM EST March 7, 2022 Events in Ukraine are changing daily, if not by the hour. Here are updates that ISKCON News has confirmed. Devotees Among Those Cut Off in Mariupol The direst situation faced by Ukrainian Krishna devotees may be in the city of Mariupol […]
The post Devotees Among Those Cut Off in Mariupol appeared first on ISKCON News.
Tod
ay, March 4, in Kharkiv, by the grace of Krishna, we came to distribute Krishna prasadam in the subway. Guys, it’s just like in a movie of post-apocalypse. People live right on the floor, with dogs, cats, and things. On different types of bedding. Crowds of people. They sleep, chat, read books. They said there were 2,000 people in the subway station. There was a huge queue. We fed at least 500 people.
Today there was soup, 110 liters; drinks of two types, 80 liters; a lot of bread, two types; and three types of sweets. Oh, what an amazing bread we made—fragrant, nice smell. We also handed out Srila Prabhupada’s books. Filming inside was prohibited. There are entire communities living inside the trains. This war brought these people together. They became like one family. As we left, and they simply clapped and thanked us very much.
One guy is reading Bhagavad-gita right now. Another guy came up to us and asked for a book. A lot of children. Everyone took sweets. I deliberately walked around the entire station and went into each train car to give food.
These are the situations that make many of us think about the meaning of life. If we ask the Lord to save our lives, then we must ask why. Who am I that He should save my life? Am I special? What have I done for the good of mankind? What have I done for the good of society? How do I live? Why do I live, and for whom? This question hangs right in the air above each of us. I am asking the Lord to save my life not so that I can just eat, sleep, go to the toilet, and spread hate and gossip on the Internet.
My life must be preserved in order for me to bring values ??to society. I must bring value to God and to people. We have to strive to bring to others the light of knowledge and the values ??of life. Many are offended by war, but war is just one aspect of this world. It teaches us to value our human life and not to waste it simply on animal needs. Man is not an animal. When a person begins to live like a beast, he is deeply dissatisfied and tries to settle down somewhere. War reminds us of the frailty of material existence. War teaches us to appreciate those we love, to see the needs of others. And so we live in a cocoon of marginal consumer relations, where a person’s life is needed only in order to satisfy their needs in a sophisticated way. And it loses its value.
Under normal circumstances, these 2,000 people would never have become a family. War teaches us to appreciate life and enjoy the simple things. Yes, this is a tough training. Mother nature already tried to inspire us naughty children with a whisper of love, then with the voice of conscience. It didn’t work out. And now we need a mouthful of suffering. May it sparkle with fresh colors of love, kindness, joy, abundance, and prosperity that we will share with the world. Appreciate your life and help others understand its value. Then there will be no wars in the world. Material nature will not need to resort to such harsh methods of teaching. And this will be only when the Supreme Lord is pleased with us.
We are pleased to announce the launch of the new TOVP Archival Videos page on the TOVP website, featuring videos of Srila Prabhupada in Sridham Mayapur and other important footage and documentaries.
In an effort to maintain the historical perspective of the development of ISKCON Mayapur and the TOVP for future generations of devotees, our website team has created this important archival page, along with others such as the Archival Photo Page and Flipbook Page. We hope devotees will visit these pages often for inspiration and are pleased with this endeavor. View the Archival Videos Page today!
Visit: www.tovp.org
Support: https://tovp.org/donate/
Email: tovpinfo@gmail.com
Follow: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Watch: www.youtube.com/c/TOVPinfoTube
View at 360°: www.tovp360.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOVP2022
Telegram: https://t.me/TOVP_GRAM
WhatsApp: https://m.tovp.org/whatsapp2
Instagram: https://m.tovp.org/tovpinstagram
App: https://m.tovp.org/app
News & Texts: https://m.tovp.org/newstexts
RSS News Feed: https://tovp.org/rss2/
Store: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/
Visions of the TOVP is a special photo page on the TOVP website highlighting artistic, beautiful and inspiring views of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium by various devotees from Mayapur and around the world.
The aesthetic sense of these photos reveals the visual essence of the TOVP as well as its grandness and sheer size amidst the rice paddy fields of West Bengal. As the project reaches completion with its many acres of garden frontage, and becomes one of the Wonders of the World, we anticipate many more images of this kind will find their way to a worldwide audience.
Visit the Visions of the TOVP website page today and feel the presence of the TOVP impress your heart and soul. Hare Krishna!
Visit: www.tovp.org
Support: https://tovp.org/donate/
Email: tovpinfo@gmail.com
Follow: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Watch: www.youtube.com/c/TOVPinfoTube
View at 360°: www.tovp360.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOVP2022
Telegram: https://t.me/TOVP_GRAM
WhatsApp: https://m.tovp.org/whatsapp2
Instagram: https://m.tovp.org/tovpinstagram
App: https://m.tovp.org/app
News & Texts: https://m.tovp.org/newstexts
RSS News Feed: https://tovp.org/rss2/
Store: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/
The life of Srila Prabhupada, an embodiment of devotion and wisdom, is a beacon that continues to inspire hearts across the globe. Born in 1896 in Calcutta, India, under the name Abhay Charan, he embarked on a journey that would transform the lives of countless souls.
As a family man, he managed a pharmaceutical business in the bustling city of Calcutta. Yet, his calling extended beyond material pursuits. In 1950, at the age of fifty-four, Srila Prabhupada stepped into a new chapter of his life. He retired from married life, dedicating himself to intensive studies and writing. His pilgrimage led him to the sacred city of Vrindavana, where he resided humbly within the Radha-Damodara Mandir, delving into the spiritual treasures of the Srimad-Bhagavatam.
In 1959, he embraced the renounced order of life (sannyasa) and adopted the name Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Amidst the austere surroundings of Radha-Damodara, he crafted his magnum opus, a multivolume translation and commentary on the profound Srimad-Bhagavatam.
In 1965, Srila Prabhupada's unwavering spirit led him on an extraordinary voyage. At the age of 69, he embarked on a cargo ship to the United States, carrying with him the timeless message of Krishna Consciousness. Arriving in New York City, his pockets were nearly empty, but his heart was brimming with devotion.
With perseverance, Srila Prabhupada established the International Society for Krishna Consciousness in 1966. Under his compassionate guidance, the society flourished, spreading across continents and cultures, blossoming into a worldwide network of temples, schools, institutes, and farm communities.
His tireless dedication was evident as he journeyed across the globe, circling it twelve times in the last decade of his life, touching hearts and souls with his teachings. Over 5000 disciples, from diverse backgrounds, found solace in his wisdom, and the Ratha Yatra festival adorned major cities worldwide.
Srila Prabhupada's written legacy is profound, comprising over sixty volumes of translations, commentaries, and summaries of India's philosophical and religious classics. Highly esteemed by academia, his writings are standard textbooks in numerous college courses, transcending linguistic and cultural boundaries.
Establishing the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust in 1972, Srila Prabhupada created a platform for his works to reach the world. Today, the Trust is the world's largest publisher of Indian religious and philosophical literature, a testament to his enduring impact.
In recognition of his contributions, Srila Prabhupada is celebrated as one of India's greatest spiritual emissaries of the 20th century. His life, a luminous tapestry of devotion, knowledge, and service, continues to illuminate hearts, guiding seekers on a transformative journey towards spiritual awakening.
The Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies Sponsors its Third Cosmology Workshop In 2019, the Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies (BIHS) sponsored its initial cosmology workshop, “Taking the 5th… Canto!” This gathering explored the study of Puranic cosmography within ISKCON as an outgrowth of interest raised by the development of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium […]
The post BIHS Third Cosmology Workshop appeared first on ISKCON News.
“Give Peace A Chance” and “Hare Krishna” go viral on European radio once again. John Lennon’s pacifist anthem again this Friday sounded throughout Europe on the airways. At the request of Berlin Public Radio, around 160 public radio stations from 28 European countries simultaneously played “Give Peace a Chance”, the song Lennon composed in 1969 […]
The post “Give Peace A Chance” & “Hare Krishna” appeared first on ISKCON News.
As we come closer to Gaura Purnima, the most auspicious appearance day of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, we celebrate the ‘Be a Gardener Campaign’, as we sow and water the seeds of Bhakti. Now, we have an opportunity to do good for others, to nurture them as Lord Chaitanya tells us in Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita—by becoming […]
The post Be a Gardener Campaign appeared first on ISKCON News.
In his stunning paintings, Haridas Thakur das is able to capture life in his subjects in such a vivid way, they almost come across as photography. He captures realism in his paintings so true to life, one feels that they are in the presence of Srila Prabhupada himself. Haridas Thakur das is a monk, artist, […]
The post The Art of Haridas Thakur Das appeared first on ISKCON News.
This video documents Day 3 of the Radha Madhava Golden Jubilee Festival, March 4, 2022 celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Srila Prabhupada receiving the order to preach from Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati (1922-2022). On this day Sri Sri Radha Madhava also received 10 kinds of unique abhishekas.
Visit: www.tovp.org
Support: https://tovp.org/donate/
Email: tovpinfo@gmail.com
Follow: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Watch: www.youtube.com/c/TOVPinfoTube
View at 360°: www.tovp360.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOVP2022
Telegram: https://t.me/TOVP_GRAM
WhatsApp: https://m.tovp.org/whatsapp2
Instagram: https://m.tovp.org/tovpinstagram
App: https://m.tovp.org/app
News & Texts: https://m.tovp.org/newstexts
RSS News Feed: https://tovp.org/rss2/
Store: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 24 November 2021, Goloka Dhama, Germany, Srimad Bhagavatam 6.2.40)
I like to offer a little analogy of a group of people who were living in an oasis in the middle of a desert. One day, a stranger appeared there. This stranger brought very exotic fruits, very nice and tasty, something they had never tasted in the desert, something extraordinary. So everyone was impressed because desert life is limited to some dates, dried fruits and some camel milk. What else do they eat in the desert? Maybe some stewed cactus! But all in all, it gets a little bit limited after a while. So anyhow, the stranger was saying that actually these foods were coming from a wonderful land where everything was green. Most people said, “Come on, you know he is trying to be interesting, he just found it in another oasis. There are no such things there.” Others said, “There must be!” They had some faith and on the strength of their faith, they decided that they were ready to travel with the stranger and go into the desert to find this wonderful land.
Now, the oasis in our analogy is the oasis of sense gratification. Because they got a higher taste, they got some faith and were ready to leave the oasis of sense gratification. But immediately as they went into the desert, they were confronted with the burning sun of lust on their head, now unsheltered. Whereas in the oasis, they had some shelter for the lust in the form of sense gratification. So this is a very difficult phase and some people could not make it, some turned back whereas some just lost it and went off into the desert. A few persevered and those who persevered eventually came to a new oasis, the oasis of the mode of goodness. In the oasis of sense gratification, one is enjoying material life. In the oasis of goodness, one is enjoying spiritual life. But the enjoying propensity, the self-centeredness is still there. Therefore, the oasis of goodness is not good enough. One still has to go further. What really makes the breakthrough is if one lives a life of sacrifice – if one exits the oasis of goodness and voluntarily goes back into the desert for the welfare of others.
It is there that one can overcome this ātmendriya – this self-centeredness in trying to satisfy one’s own senses. In the oasis of uncontrolled sense gratification, the senses are ruling – the senses and the mind. In the oasis of goodness, the senses are controlled by regulated principles but are still pushing very strongly. It is therefore still a struggle. Like I said, particularly in this age, it is the sankirtana yajna – the congregational sharing of the transcendental glorification of Krsna and His Holy Name – that can make the difference. It is there where we can really rise above. It is said that balavān indriya-grāmo vidvāṁsam api karṣati (Srimad Bhagavatam 9.19.17) – the senses are so strong that even a man of learning is struggling, even one who knows is still in trouble because the knowledge is a symptom of the mode of goodness – knowledge is not enough. One cannot be Krsna conscious just on the strength of higher knowledge. Then one is weak and one will be prone to fall down. It is only when we are getting a taste in devotional service that one breaks through!
The article " The oasis of sense gratification " was published on KKSBlog.
“War! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing.” So sang Edwin Starr in his famous 70’s anthem, ‘War’. Few would argue with that stark assessment as we watch the scenes of yet another conflict with horror. Heartbreaking images of anguished people and their shattered lives in Ukraine flash across our screens, and we pray to […]
The post War and Peace appeared first on ISKCON News.
Hungarian devotees interviewed Saurabh-priya dasa and Ananga Manjari devi dasi on their journey out of Ukraine. Here they share with us their harrowing story.
The post Exclusive: Interview with Devotee Refugees appeared first on ISKCON News.
About this Episode: It may be news to many, but there is a large-scale, vibrant community of Krishna Bhakti in Ukraine. Niranjana Swami is ISKCON’s Governing Body Commissioner for Ukraine, and in this interview, Raghunath and Kaustubha ask him about the history of Bhakti in the former Soviet Union, and what it was like serving […]
The post Wisdom of the Sages: Bhakti in Ukraine – An Interview with Niranjana Swami appeared first on ISKCON News.
MELBOURNE, Australia –Approximately a dozen people have been reported dead from the flash flooding that battered northeastern Australia this week, with the wild weather forcing residents to evacuate and schools to close, while thousands of homes have been left immersed in water. Thousands have been ordered to evacuate as the southeast coast of Australia experienced […]
The post Australian Flooding & Relief Efforts appeared first on ISKCON News.
– Sample ‘Art for Peace’ collage Over the past week, more than a million Ukrainian refugees crossed the borders to the neighboring countries, fleeing war. Most of them are women and children, like their husbands, fathers, and sons, —all men between the ages of 18-60 — had to stay back to defend their country, not […]
The post Art For Peace Initiative to Help Ukrainian Refugee Children Cope appeared first on ISKCON News.
– Sample ‘Art for Peace’ collage Over the past week, more than a million Ukrainian refugees crossed the borders to the neighboring countries, fleeing war. Most of them are women and children, like their husbands, fathers, and sons, —all men between the ages of 18-60 — had to stay back to defend their country, not […]
The post Art For Peace Initiative to Help Ukrainian Refugee Children Cope appeared first on ISKCON News.
Hare Krishna!
Please accept our humble obeisances!
All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!
Date: 6th Mar 2022
Day: Sunday
Time: 11 am to 12 noon
Topic: Introduction to the Nectar of Instruction - Upadesamrta
Link to join:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9150790510?pwd=Wk5GYXVRMkJmdk84MzZJRXBKYUgwUT09
ISKCON Scarborough
3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,
Scarborough, Ontario,
Canada, M1V4C7
Website: www.iskconscarborough.org
Email:
iskconscarborough@hotmail.com
scarboroughiskcon@gmail.com
Dear Godbrothers and Godsisters please accept my humble obeisance all glories to Gurumaharaj, all glories to Shantipur festival. This to inform all of you of the coming Shantipur festival 15th March 2022. We humble request you to donate any amount for the organization of the biggest prasadam distribution program ever at Shantipur, the house of […]
The post Shantipur Festival -15th March 2022 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
This video documents Day 2 (March 3, 2022) of the Radha Madhava Golden Jubilee Festival, dedicated to the worship and glorification of the original Mayapur chota Radha Madhava Deities on Their 50th Anniversary year in Sridham Mayapur (1972-2022).
Visit: www.tovp.org
Support: https://tovp.org/donate/
Email: tovpinfo@gmail.com
Follow: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Watch: www.youtube.com/c/TOVPinfoTube
View at 360°: www.tovp360.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOVP2022
Telegram: https://t.me/TOVP_GRAM
WhatsApp: https://m.tovp.org/whatsapp2
Instagram: https://m.tovp.org/tovpinstagram
App: https://m.tovp.org/app
News & Texts: https://m.tovp.org/newstexts
RSS News Feed: https://tovp.org/rss2/
Store: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/
By Badrinarayan Swami Hare Krishna. Many devotees and friends are asking how they can help the devotees caught in the middle of the deadly and devastating fighting in Ukraine.
ISKCON has over 3,000 initiated devotees in the country, over a dozen temples, and three beautiful farms. I have attached a few photos of the main temple in Kiev.
ISKCON’s international governing body is in regular, daily contact with the Ukrainian devotees. Because of the very delicate and dangerous nature of the situation, we cannot say more than this. Continue reading "HELP for the UKRAINIAN DEVOTEES (04 March 2022)
→ Dandavats"
By Vijaya Dasa In Ukraine, there is usually nice book distribution. There are fifty-four centers and thousands of devotees, many of whom came because of getting books. Maybe some determined devotees are distributing in places where there's no invasion. Let's pray to Krsna that this unfortunate circumstance soon ends, so that devotees may continue distributing Srila Prabhupada's books and living happily in Krsna consciousness. Continue reading "WSN January 2022 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
→ Dandavats"
This short video documents Day 1 of the Radha Madhava Golden Jubilee Festival on March 2, 2022. The celebration was dedicated to the Bhajan Kutir, the original ‘temple’ of ISKCON Mayapur for chota Radha Madhava in 1972, as well as Srila Prabhupada’s first residential facility.
Also commemorated was the 50th Anniversary of the iconic perfect questions, perfect answers conversation between Prabhupada and Bob Cohen (Brahmatirtha das), a Peace Corps worker in India at the time, which led to the eventual publication of the book by the same name. A special plaque was unveiled and dedicated during the ceremonies.
Visit: www.tovp.org
Support: https://tovp.org/donate/
Email: tovpinfo@gmail.com
Follow: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Watch: www.youtube.com/c/TOVPinfoTube
View at 360°: www.tovp360.org
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TOVP2022
Telegram: https://t.me/TOVP_GRAM
WhatsApp: https://m.tovp.org/whatsapp2
Instagram: https://m.tovp.org/tovpinstagram
App: https://m.tovp.org/app
News & Texts: https://m.tovp.org/newstexts
RSS News Feed: https://tovp.org/rss2/
Store: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/
Srila Ja
gannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja comes in the Gaudiya Vaisnava disciplic succession after Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura and Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana. He was a renounced ascetic, fully engaged in chanting the holy names of Krishna and meditating on the pastimes of Krishna. For some time, he made his residence at Surya-kunda in Vraja-dhama, near the temple of Suryadeva, where Srimati Radharani used to come and worship the sun-god—or, I should say, where She used to come to meet Krishna on the pretext of coming to worship the sun-god.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, who comes in the disciplic succession after Jagannatha dasa Babaji, accepted Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja as his main guru, his siksa-guru. Once, some of Jagannatha dasa Babaji’s disciples in Vraja approached the Thakura and complained that although they had come to Vraja to live like Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja, fully absorbed in chanting the holy names and meditating on Sri Sri Radha-Krishna’s astakaliya-lila, Babaji Maharaja had refused to instruct them in such topics and had instead engaged them in cultivating tulasi plants, flowers, and vegetables to offer to the Lord. And they requested Bhaktivinoda Thakura to appeal to their guru maharaja to instruct them in the esoteric practices of Krishna consciousness.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura told the disciples, “Actually, your Gurudeva’s instructions are right for you. Because you still have anarthas, for you to sit and try to do nirjana-bhajana [solitary worship] and practice asta-kaliya-lila-smarana [meditation on the Lord’s eightfold daily pastimes] would be artificial, and you would just become degraded. So you should follow his instructions with full faith and work hard in Krishna’s service. Then, in time, you may be able to chant the holy names purely.”
Eventually, Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja moved to Mayapur, where he lived by the banks of the Ganges, fully absorbed in chanting the holy names. He had the greatest reverence for the holy land of Navadvipa. Although he was so renounced and so absorbed in Krishna consciousness, as his reputation spread, gentlemen would come to him and give him donations. Once, Babaji Maharaja asked one of his servants to take the donations he had received, which he kept in an old burlap bag, and purchase a large pot of rasagullas. All the devotees were surprised, because Jagannatha dasa Babaji was so renounced and lived so simply; he would eat only the simplest rice and dal. Anyway, the servant brought the sweets, and Jagannatha dasa Babaji offered them to his Deities and then distributed them to the cows and dogs in the dhama. He said that the creatures of the dhama were elevated souls and worthy of service.
Later, Babaji Maharaja would not honor prasada until he had shared it with ten newborn puppies. He would wait until they came, and because in his old age his eyelids drooped over his eyes and prevented him from seeing, he would count them with his hands. And only after they had begun to eat would he also partake. He would say, “They are puppies of the dhama. They are not ordinary living entities.” He had so much faith in and affection for the dhama.
He had less affection for Mayavadi impersonalists. He used to say, “Let the dogs come in for darshan, but the impersonalists—kick them out!”
Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji lived to a very old age. Some Vaishnavas say he was just waiting for Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura to come—someone to whom he could impart his special knowledge and realization, for the benefit of humanity. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura requested to be transferred from his post in Orissa to Bengal so he could be near Navadvipa-dhama. And eventually he was posted at Krishnanagar, near Navadvipa.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura did extensive research to determine the actual birthplace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He studied old maps, consulted the local people, and visited the different places. Eventually he found a mound where many tulasi trees were growing. He got the intuition that this was the actual birthplace of Lord Chaitanya, but he wanted his intuition to be confirmed. At the time, Jagannatha dasa Babaji was the most renowned Vaishnava, and he was Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s siksa-guru. So, Jagannatha dasa Babaji’s disciples brought him to the place with the mound and tulasi plants. He was so old—over a hundred and forty years old, some say—that his disciples had to carry him in a basket. The disciples brought him, but when they came to the site, they didn’t tell him that Bhaktivinoda Thakura had determined it was the birthplace. Still, when Babaji Maharaja arrived there, he spontaneously jumped out of his basket and began to dance in ecstasy, singing the holy names. Thus he confirmed the location of Mahaprabhu’s birthplace.
Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji’s bhajana-kutira and samadhi are there in Navadvipa-dhama, in Koladvipa. Devotees who perform Navadvipa-parikrama visit there and get his mercy. We also pray to him for his mercy, that we may be instrumental in fulfilling the desires of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Srila Gaurakisora dasa Babaji Maharaja, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and the other acharyas in the line of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu coming to us through Srila Prabhupada and his disciples.
Srila Jagannatha dasa Babaji Maharaja ki jaya!
Srila Prabhpada ki jaya!
Hare Krishna.
[A talk by Giriraj Swami on Jagannatha dasa Babaji’s disappearance day, February 20, 2004, Carpinteria, California]
As of this morning, March 3rd, 2022, 8:30 AM EST it has been reported that some of the Kyiv devotees are traveling to ISKCON Farm(s), other cities, and other areas of the country for their safety. Some devotees are still staying at the temple, others are remaining in their homes near the temple in Kyiv. […]
The post Some Devotees Leaving Kyiv: Funds Still Requested appeared first on ISKCON News.
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Halifax, Here I Am
Sanjay is from Nepal but he has the look of an indigenous person from North America. It is simply an observation. He has a humble disposition and he was willing to walk with me for a short stretch in the Timberlea district where I’m staying, at the residence of Angiras and Anchal. It is gorgeous with nature all around. This walk constituted a second stroll for the day; the first one being along the harbour at Dewolf Park, which is also appealing.
One of the main reasons for the trip here was to visit Savyasacin whose wife, Shyamesvari is stricken with a rare cancer. I’ve known her for 22 years. She hails from South Africa, and, since I’ve been going to Durban to participate in their big Chariot Fest, I’ve had the great opportunity to work with her and others from S.A. in the dramas. She is indeed talented while also being a good devotee of Krishna.
My day was full with folks and phone (Zoom Gita Chats). What was important was the chance to visit Shyamesvari and her husband in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. A call came in at 2 am that she had only a few hours, and so we rushed off to the emergency to meet her and then her family, three young daughters and her mom. It was touching. Savyasacin has been the most supportive hubby. So much love between all of them. I left the hospital room after a meaningful kirtan hoping all would be well.
May the Source be with you!
3 km
Halifax, Nova Scotia
No Dull Place
It was a long walk in Terminal 3 to get to Gate B2, destined for Halifax. I was nice and early. I seated myself at the passenger’s lounge when I met Tracy. She was looking for a nibble to eat or a coffee, but no shops were open; that’s how early it was. Before she went on the search, she said something that was beyond the call of duty. It was a question. “Can I get you something?” I was touched and appreciatively declined. I’m just a stranger but she overlooked that.
“Thank you but no, I honestly have no fire in my stomach in the morning.”
Tracy came back with a coffee. It took a while. She was curious about my affiliation.
“Hare Krishna.”
“Oh yes, I’ve met them before.” And then she expressed a few things about us. “Peaceful, vegetarian…”
She went on. “Yah know, I’ve been dealing with family and there has been a lot of grieving. I recently discovered, through the channel of ‘Ancestry,’ that one of my siblings was switched for another baby at birth. That was in the ’60s, and the hospital where it happened had the records missing.
I imagined this was traumatic for her and her family. She concurred that it was. Zone 1 passengers were being called for boarding. I was in Zone 3. Tracy was before me. I was thinking that the world presents such interesting twists and turns; from meeting friendly folks to the reality of someone having ill intentions as a nurse or doctor in a hospital. This world is no dull place. It’s a circus that makes you laugh and cry.
May the Source be with you!
3 km
243 Ave. Rd., Toronto
Letters on Cooperation
I just wanted to share a letter that Prabhupada, our guru, wrote 50 years ago about the right attitude and the right action. So much of our spiritual advancement depends on attitude. Written to his disciple, Jayapataka Swami, but applicable to all.
“Yes, the co-operative spirit of working together without any argument is especially prominent in Mayapura, more than other places in India. Therefore, you are successful, and the work is going on quickly to completion. That is because all of you working there have become very much attached to the dust from Lord Chaitanya’s lotus feet, and because you have got such deep personal interest with that engagement of work, you want to see that it is done nicely without any hindrance of selfish motivation, never mind all kinds of conditions of the material nature. That idea has become prominent for all of you, it is bigger than maya’s idea, therefore maya cannot interfere to make you quarrel or other things. But you especially are to take the credit. From the very beginning you wanted that place, and you got the land, got money from me, and now you have built the place by your concentration of energy. That is wanted. If there is some discrepancy anywhere, some non-cooperation, fighting, or if the work is slow or not to the standard, it is to be supposed that the person or persons in charge are not very much attached to Krishna. That means they will discriminate: my engagement is not good, other’s engagement is good, like that. They do not know the secret of surrendering to Krishna.”
(May we pray for the Ukraine).
May the Source be with you!
3 km
Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj appeared in this world at a village in a part of India which is now Bangladesh. He was born in a wealthy family.
Later in his life he was initiated by Jagadananda Goswami. His guru was in the line of Srila Baladeva Vidyabhusana. One of our very great Acharyas.
Srila Jagannath Das Babaji was a perfect devotee. In the holy place, Vrindavan, he had a little hut, a bhajan kutir. He would sometimes chant there for three days and nights, without stopping. He wouldn’t even eat or sleep either.
In 1880, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur came to Vrindavan and met him for the first time. Srila Jagannath Das Babaji taught Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur many things. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur arranged to work close by where Srila Jagannath Das Babaji lived, so he could visit him often. Srila Jagannath Das Babaji was very pleased to see Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s enthusiasm for preaching the Holy Name of Krishna.
Later, Srila Jagannath Das Babaji went to Koladwip.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur had been looking for the exact birthplace of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu for quite some time.
Then Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur asked his spiritual master, Srila Jagannath Das Babaji Maharaj to come to that spot.
He was already very old at that time and his personal servant, Bihari Das, would carry him in a basket on his back, because he couldn’t walk anymore. But when he arrived at the spot, Srila Jagannath Das Babaji jumped up in the air and began to dance ecstatically while calling the names of the Lord loudly.
Srila Jagannath Das Babaji stayed in this world for about 125 years. He was always talking, singing and chanting the Holy Name and telling everyone about his Lord, Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.
February was a special month as we celebrated the appearance day of Lord Nityananda. Lord Nityananda appeared as the principal associate of Lord Caitanya, who is the incarnation of Lord Krsna, for spreading the congregational chanting of the Holy Name of the Lord. He appeared in 1474 in the village of Ekachakra, now in West Bengal. He especially spread the Holy Name of Krsna throughout West Bengal. He is considered as an incarnation of Krsna’s principal expansion, Balarama.
In this month, Kadamba Kanana Swami kept travelling in Europe to spread Krsna consciousness to inspire us all. After Malaga in Spain, he spent time in Radhadesh in Belgium. Please see the links to his lectures below.
5th February – Lecture on SB 10.25.3-2-5
https://youtu.be/MGwyVV1ApeI
6th February – Lecture on CC Anti-Lila 15.69
https://youtu.be/ePn4Lftn8RU
7th February – Lecture on CC Adi-Lila 6.4
https://youtu.be/ifjRfWnolCQ
10th February – Lecture (not mentioned which book)
https://youtu.be/AYnJ0hg8Cmk
12th February – Lecture (not mentioned which book)
https://youtu.be/sc5JGCxcF-E
His next destination was Simhachalam in Germany, where he celebrated Nityananda Trayodasi and the appearance day of Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami, who was a preacher of Gaudiya Vaishnavism throughout India in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and also, he was the spiritual master of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Please see the links to his lectures below.
14th February – Lecture on CC Adi-Lila 5.1
https://youtu.be/9UiWX1snouk
14th February – Lecture on Nityananda Trayodasi
https://youtu.be/hJXL1UI1miI
18th February – Lecture on SB 3.25.4
https://youtu.be/ZXXATe9wq-0
20th February – Lecture on SB 3.25.5
https://youtu.be/XQWoqNJ3yK8
21st February – Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Maharaja Appearance Day
https://youtu.be/Hptp5ywphX8
21st February – Zoom lecture on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/centrovaikuntha/videos/1573305139723079/?extid=WA-UNK-UNK-UNK-AN_GK0T-GK1C
Kadamba Kanana Swami then visited Farma Krishna dvur and Sri Sri Nitai Navadvipacandra Mandir in Czech Republic. Please see the links below to his lectures.
22nd February – Lecture on SB 1.2.28-29
https://www.facebook.com/krisnuvdvur/videos/2122655461236677
23rd February – Kirtan at Sri Sri Nitai Navadvipacandra Mandir
https://www.facebook.com/NitaiNavadvipacandra/videos/531860808139312
24th February – Lecture on SB 7.2.29 at Farma Krishna dvur
https://www.facebook.com/krisnuvdvur/videos/326838049398510/?extid=CL-UNK-UNK-UNK-AN_GK0T-GK1C
25th February – Lecture on SB 10.13.20 at Sri Sri Nitai Navadvipacandra Mandir
https://www.facebook.com/NitaiNavadvipacandra/videos/321880419959767/
And ending the month of February in Simhachalam, Germany.
26th February – Lecture on SB 3.25.9
https://youtu.be/vm8fF5lR6LY
Weekly Zoom Meetings
Kadamba Kanana Swami will start travelling a bit further away from Europe in March. He will visit South Africa and will return to Europe at the beginning of April. See you next month!
The article " Monthly Media – Feb 2022 " was published on KKSBlog.
Saturday, March 5 to Sunday, March 6 2022 The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), a worldwide religious community and confederation of over 500 temples and cultural centers, will conduct Chant for Peace events during the weekend of Saturday, March 5th, 2022 around the globe to pray for all people affected by the ongoing […]
The post Global Chant for Peace appeared first on ISKCON News.
Srila Sukadeva Gosvami continued: Lord Siva is always benevolent toward all living entities. When he saw that the living entities were very much disturbed by the poison, which was spreading everywhere, he was very compassionate. Thus he spoke to his eternal consort, Sati, as follows.
Lord Siva said: My dear Bhavani, just see how all these living entities have been placed in danger because of the poison produced from the churning of the ocean of milk. It is my duty to give protection and safety to all living entities struggling for existence. Certainly it is the duty of the master to protect his suffering dependents. People in general, being bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, are always engaged in animosity toward one another. But devotees, even at the risk of their own temporary lives, try to save them. My dear gentle wife Bhavani, when one performs benevolent activities for others, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is very pleased. And when the Lord is pleased, I am also pleased, along with all other living creatures. Therefore, let me drink this poison, for all the living entities may thus become happy because of me. m’m
Srila Sukadeva Gosvami continued: After informing Bhavani in this way, Lord Siva began to drink the poison, and Bhavani, who knew perfectly well the capabilities of Lord Siva, gave him her permission to do so. Thereafter, Lord Siva, who is dedicated to auspicious, benevolent work for humanity, compassionately took the whole quantity of poison in his palm and drank it. As if in defamation, the poison born from the ocean of milk manifested its potency by marking Lord Siva’s neck with a bluish line. That line, however, is now accepted as an ornament of the Lord. It is said that great personalities almost always accept voluntary suffering because of the suffering of people in general. This is considered the highest method of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present in everyone’s heart.
Purport: Here is an explanation of how those engaged in activities for the welfare of others are very quickly recognized by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord says in Bhagavad-gita (18.68–69), ya idam paramam guhyam mad-bhaktesv abhidhasyati . . . na ca tasman manusyesu kascin me priya-krttamah: “One who preaches the message of Bhagavad-gita to My devotees is most dear to Me. No one can excel him in satisfying Me by worship.” There are different kinds of welfare activities in this material world, but the supreme welfare activity is the spreading of Krsna consciousness. Other welfare activities cannot be effective, for the laws of nature and the results of karma cannot be checked. It is by destiny, or the laws of karma, that one must suffer or enjoy. For instance, if one is given a court order, he must accept it, whether it brings suffering or profit. Similarly, everyone is under obligations to karma and it reactions. No one can change this. Therefore the sastra says:
tasyaiva hetoh prayateta kovido
na labhyate yad bhramatam upary adhah
(SB 1.5.18)
One should endeavor for that which is never obtained by wandering up and down the universe as a result of the reactions of karma. What is that? One should endeavor to become Krsna conscious. If one tries to spread Krsna consciousness all over the world, he should be understood to be performing the best welfare activity. The Lord is automatically very pleased with him. If the Lord is pleased with him, what is left for him to achieve? If one has been recognized by the Lord, even if he does not ask the Lord for anything, the Lord, who is within everyone, supplies him whatever he wants. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (tesam nityabhiyuktanam yoga-ksemam vahamy aham [Gita 9.22]). Again, as stated here, tapyante loka-tapena sadhavah prayaso janah. The best welfare activity is raising people to the platform of Krsna consciousness, since the conditioned souls are suffering only for want of Krsna consciousness. The Lord Himself also comes to mitigate the suffering of humanity.
yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham
paritranaya sadhunam
vinasaya ca duskrtam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya
sambhavami yuge yuge
“Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend Myself. To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I advent Myself millennium after millennium.” (Gita 4.7–8) All the sastras conclude, therefore, that spreading the Krsna consciousness movement is the best welfare activity in the world. Because of the ultimate benefit this bestows upon people in general, the Lord very quickly recognizes such service performed by a devotee.
—Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.7.36–44
Photo c/o:Abel Marquez A poem for the people of Ukraine by Bhaktimarga Swami To the staunch devotees in Ukraine Great bearers of surprise and pain We offer humble prayers to you May the hardship you now go through Be short-lived and strengthen Your conviction while serving to lengthen The need to bond in Krishna’s […]
The post PRAYERS FOR UKRAINE (Poem) appeared first on ISKCON News.