Planet ISKCON

Light of the Bhagavata, a new 25-minute film by ISKCON guru and GBC Bhaktivaibhava Swami, brings to life the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad-gita.

As everyone knows, the Nrsimhadeva Deity will be installed on a separate altar in the East Wing of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. The temple room of Nrsimhadeva will be smaller than the central hall, but nevertheless, it will be beautifully decorated and very majestic. The Grand Opening of this wing is scheduled for 2023.

In response to the success of its summertime Sunday Brunches at Prabhupada’s Palace Rose Garden, ISKCON New Vrindaban is set to offer a series of winter retreats that will give newcomers as well as devotees a chance to refresh and recharge in a spiritual setting.

Most of us discover at a fairly young age that the world is not a bed of roses. The carefree joys of childhood were brutally interrupted for me when I was just seven and I lost my mother. Navigating my way through an uncertain world after that, I encountered much more pain in the shape of a less than loving stepmother. It was enough to make me rather circumspect about the prospects of a trouble-free life. I tried to make the best of it, of course, but it was only when I came across the messages of the Bhagavad-gita that things began to make sense. Learning that the material world is intrinsically a place of suffering and that we belong somewhere else came as a great relief. It wasn’t that I was exceptionally unfortunate; all of us are in the same rocking boat, according to the Gita.

The pandemic has brought that message home all too starkly for many of us. It has been a particularly difficult time, and for some it has brought terrible grief. A workmate lost four members of his family to Covid, at a time when it was not possible to be with them at the last or even perform their funeral rites. Such pain is hard to imagine, although as a practising Muslim he found comfort in his faith, accepting it as the Lord’s supreme and inscrutable will. Thankfully, I have not had to endure such loss during the pandemic; although recalling my own trauma of losing my mother, I could at least relate to the pain a little. Grief is the hardest of all sufferings, according to the Mahabharat. It robs us of our senses and very ability to function. When a loved one dies, it leaves a gaping hole in your life. Going back to normal is near impossible, and you have to learn how to somehow cope with a new reality.

Like my work friend though, we can find solace in the words of scripture. The Gita tells us we are all eternal souls, temporarily dwelling in mortal frames. It therefore shocks us when suddenly something we took for granted as a part of our lives is cruelly taken from us. We can’t easily process it, as we are meant for eternal existence where nothing and no one ever passes away. Again, the Gita’s message is that we belong to the spiritual world, the abode of God, our ever-loving father and friend. Somehow we have fallen from there to this world of ever-shifting sands where nothing stays the same and everything we hold dear is lost in time.

This is ultimately the cause of all anxiety. Many of us have also had to deal with this and even bouts of depression during these difficult times. Anxiety is really just uncertainty—‘what will happen?’—and this stems from us knowing that we really don’t have any control. The world is rapidly changing even as we watch; we can’t hold onto anything and so often we have to accept things we never bargained for or wanted. This can be depressing at times; we want life to be predictable and certain, to bring happy things and joy, but sadly that is not always the way it happens.

There are some powerful instructions in this regard in the Ramayana. Some time after Lord Rama was banished to the forest, his brother Bharata brought him the news of his father’s passing. Rama was distraught to hear this, a grief that was compounded by his feelings of guilt at not having been there when he died, and not being able to conduct his funeral ceremony. He censured himself and lamented loudly, but seeing that the many others present were also giving way to sorrow to see him grieve, he gradually calmed his mind and began to speak profound words of consolation. “In this world the embodied soul is moved by the all-powerful force of Providence,” said Rama. “No one can control that power. All gains must end in loss, every meeting ends in separation and all life has its end in death.”

It is perhaps a hard message, but its truth is undeniable. Rama also pointed out that the power to prevent one’s own death does not exist in one grieving for another. C.S.Lewis said, “No one ever told me that grief felt so much like fear.” We know that the fate that befell those we have lost awaits us all. The Gita therefore tells us to strive for the eternal, get free of this world of suffering where we do not belong.

But even while we are in this world we can find tranquility by following the guidance of the Gita. It tells us that complete peace comes when we realise three things. The first is that our real happiness lies in serving the Supreme, not in our own attempts to enjoy. The more we try to exploit this world for our happiness, the more we suffer. This is becoming all too apparent as we witness global events like climate change and of course the pandemic unfolding around us. But the Gita assures us that when we give ourselves to divine service these problems will vanish, and a deep sense of joy and satisfaction begins to envelop us.

The second key point is that we are not the controllers. As they say, ‘your anxiety will end when you accept that you are not the general manager of the universe’. As Rama pointed out, the all-powerful force of Providence or God controls this world and indeed us. Everyone is trying to be happy, but still we see so much suffering. Why? The Gita says it is because we do not recognise God’s control and follow his guidance, which is meant for our greatest good. Which leads to the last point, the Lord is our truest friend. This one can sometimes be hard to understand. When things go wrong in life and we face difficulties, it tests our faith. “Why has God done this to me?” Or to our loved ones, especially when we are trying our best to be good people. But we must know that Krishna is preparing us for far greater things than we can even imagine. There will surely be some tests, but when see God’s hand working they become uplifting and transformational. Pressure turns coal into diamonds, and we are all diamonds in the rough, waiting to shine again in our original brilliance.

The strength we need will come from Krishna if we constantly connect with him through our practises. This can also greatly help in alleviating the strain on our relationships that the lockdown has so often brought on us. My spiritual teacher Srila Prabhupada said that the brotherhood of man will come when accept the common fatherhood of God. When we pray together, we stay together. But even if our family members do not join us and it is just us alone practising, we will still see wondrous changes around us as we begin to change. By realising the three points above our aching hearts will become assuaged, all anxieties will be dispelled, and we will find true and lasting peace.

 

 

Godhead is a new Los Angeles-based Krishnacore band. Krishnacore is a subgenre of hardcore punk that draws inspiration from the Bhakta Yoga traditions. Although some hardcore punk bands had already made references to Krishna Consciousness in the 1980s punk scene, this subgenre was established in the early 1990s by bands like Shelter and 108. Godhead […]

The post Godhead: New Krishnacore Band Debuts First Record appeared first on ISKCON News.

Most of us discover at a fairly young age that the world is not a bed of roses. The carefree joys of childhood were brutally interrupted for me when I was just seven and I lost my mother. Navigating my way through an uncertain world after that, I encountered much more pain in the shape […]

The post Growing Through Grief appeared first on ISKCON News.

As everyone knows, the Nrsimhadeva Deity will be installed on a separate altar in the East Wing of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. The temple room of Nrsimhadeva will be smaller than the central hall, but nevertheless, it will be beautifully decorated and very majestic. The Grand Opening of this wing is scheduled for […]

The post Manu Murti Now Completed at TOVP appeared first on ISKCON News.

Light of the Bhagavata, a new 25-minute film by ISKCON guru and GBC Bhaktivaibhava Swami, brings to life the timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad-gita, teaching the viewer about the nature of the soul and taking them on a meditative and enlightening journey from planet earth, through galaxies, to the eternal, blissful world of freedom from […]

The post New Film Is A Window Into Bhagavad-gita’s Timeless Wisdom appeared first on ISKCON News.

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Srila Kaviraja Goswami writes (Chaitanya Charitamrta-lila Adi 11:37.) that Kaliya Krishna Dasa Thakura was one of the principle devotees of Nityananda Prabhu. He knew nothing other than the lotus feet of Sri Nityananda Prabhu.

According to Srila Kavi Karnapura’s Gaura-Ganodesha-Dipika (text 132.), he was one of the 12 gopals in Vrindavana, and in the pastimes of Krishna in Vrindavana was known as Labhanga, one of Krishna’s cowherd boy friends. Here he is refered to as Kalah Krsnadasa or Kalakrsnadasa.

On the twelfth day of the dark moon in the month of Caitra, Sri Kaliya Krishna Dasa Thakura disappeared from this world. This is not the same Kaliya Krishna dasa who accompanied Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to South India. At present, Kaliya Krishnadas’s descendents live in different holy places in Bengal.

His birthplace is in the Bardhaman (Burdwan) district of West Bengal within a short distance from the Railway station at Katwa, at the village called Akai Hatta. This village is situated on the old king’s road between Nabadwipa and Katwa. Akai Hatta is a very small village.

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Video:

By Badrinarayan Swami, Arcita and Dravida Prabhus

Yesterday, December 2nd, at about 5:30 am California time, during the auspicious Brahma Muhurta period, His Grace Sura Prabhu, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada and long-time servant of the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust (BBT), left his body in Los Angeles. He had been hospitalized since November 26th, after being diagnosed with Covid-19. His son, Ram Nomi, and his daughter, Sitapriya, were in the room chanting when he departed. Srila Prabhupada's chanting was also playing softly in the background. Sura Prabhu had his japa beads and was wearing a Nrsimha-pavitra from Mayapur. Continue reading "Sura Prabhu Departs
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We would like to announce the passing of one of ISKCON Mayapura’s most loyal and devoted supporters, Srimati Madhavi Bhattacharya, wife of Dr. Sri Bhattacharya. She left her body on the auspicious day of Krishna Rasa Purnima, November 18, in her home in Kolkata.

She and her husband were the biggest supporters of the ISKCON Mayapur project, having sponsored the Pancha Tattva Deities, and second only to Ambarisa prabhu (who they supported wholeheartedly) in donating to the TOVP. She resided at the ISKCON Mayapur complex for many years, until health issues forced her to relocate.

She is fondly remembered at this program held at ISKCON Mayapur.

 

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Close to 5:30 a.m. this morning, December 2nd, 2021,  my dear Godbrother and
neighbor for the last 26 years left his body in a room at Southern
California Hospital (near the New Dvaraka temple). 

Shri Saranga Murari Thakura used to reside at Modadrumadwipa Mam-gachi, where his Deities of Shri Shri Radha-Gopinath are still present. There is also a Bakul tree there which is perhaps existing since the time of Sharanga Thakura. There is a local legend concerning this tree. One day when Mahaprabhu came there, he noticed that the […]

The post Srila Saranga Thakur Disappearance Day appeared first on Mayapur.com.

  The Passing Away of Sura Dasa Today, December 2nd, at about 5:30 am California time, during the auspicious Brahma Muhurta time, His Grace Sura Prabhu (disciple of Srila Prabhupada and a long-time servant of the BBT) left his body in Los Angeles. He had been hospitalized since November 26th, after being diagnosed with Covid-19. […]

The post Srila Prabhupada Disciple and Stalwart Preacher, Sura Dasa, Passes appeared first on ISKCON News.

Dear Friends,

Yesterday, after more than four months of absence, I finally returned to Sridham Mayapur. Burning with impatience this morning I went to the construction site of the TOVP, accompanied by our Construction Manager, His Grace Premavatar Gauranga prabhu, who showed me the various directions in which work is now underway.

We bowed to Srila Prabhupada, who is majestically seated in a specially designated room on the Pujari floor and awaits the opening of the Temple to move to His permanent place in the Temple Room. He is being worshiped nicely and we received His prasadam.

I saw significant progress in the marble cladding of the upper floors of the TOVP, a huge number of ready-made GRC coffered ceiling elements for the Nrisimhadev Dome (which are ready for painting and installation on the Dome), we enjoyed examining the exquisite pink sandstone Jaipur balusters on the top of the temple, received darshan of Jaya and Vijaya at the entrance to Temple Room, and discussed the details of the processing and painting of wall bas-reliefs in the Temple Room with the artist Ambhoda devi dasi.

Much has been accomplished in these few months and we hope that His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada and Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu will accept our sincere efforts to bring closer the auspicious day of the opening of Their Temple.

 

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

Visit: www.tovp.org
Support: https://tovp.org/donate/
Email: tovpinfo@gmail.com
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My dear devotees,

Please accept my best wishes. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

In a letter to me dated December 1971, Srila Prabhupada wrote, “Go on increasing books, and go on increasing my pleasure.” December is a special opportunity to focus on Srila Prabhupada’s desire that we distribute books—and thus increase his pleasure. As he wrote in the same letter, “I am most pleased especially to hear that you are distributing many books.”

tad-vag-visargo janatagha-viplavo
  yasmin prati-slokam abaddhavaty api
namany anantasya yaso ’nkitani yat
  srnvanti gayanti grnanti sadhavah 

“That literature which is full of descriptions of the transcendental glories of the name, fame, forms, pastimes, etc., of the unlimited Supreme Lord is a different creation, full of transcendental words directed toward bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world’s misdirected civilization. Such transcendental literatures, even though imperfectly composed, are heard, sung, and accepted by purified men who are thoroughly honest.” (SB 1.5.11)

Now let us cooperate fully to fulfill Srila Prabhupada’s desire, which is the desire of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and the parampara, and distribute such transcendental literature for the benefit of all—and be blessed by their sublime mercy.

Thank you very much.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

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Shri Sharanga Thakura (Sharanga Murari) lived in Mamagacchi, Modadrumadwipa (Navadwipa). Staying under a Bakula tree, Sharanga Thakura worked hard every day to please his worshipable Deity. Single handily, he would collect fruits, vegetables and firewood. He would also beg rice, cook, bathe, dress, and feed his Lord. After a full day of Deity service Sharanga would cross the Ganges River to join Mahaprabhu’s Hari-Nama sankirtana party in Mayapur.

vraje nandimukhi yasit sadya saranga-thakkurah

prahlado manyate kaishcin matpitra sa na manyate

 Vraja’s Nandimukhi became Sharanga Thakur in Gaura-lila. Some people say that he is Prahlad, but that is not the opinion held by my father. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 172) 

Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Goswami Thakur writes in his Anubhashya:

Having been ordered by Mahaprabhu to take disciples, Sharanga Thakur decided that he would make a disciple of the first person that he met the following morning. As fate would have it, the next morning, a dead body washed up against him while he was taking bath in the Ganges. He revived the corpse and made him his disciple. This disciple was known as Thakur Murari, or sometimes as Sharanga Murari. 

In the Gaudiya Vaishnava Abhidhana, it is further said that Murari was a boy who had been killed by snakebite and his parents had set his uncremated body afloat on a raft in the Ganges, as was the custom in that time.

Sharanga Thakur himself become an empowered preacher of Mahaprabhu’s dharma. Descendants of his disciples still live in a village named Shava. Sharanga Thakur’s Deities were served in the town of Mamagachi. The original Temple was built in front of a bakula tree.

The Deities of Radha Gopinath can be seen in this Temple, as can the Deity of Mahaprabhu’s other parshad, Vasudeva Datta Thakur, Shri Madana Gopal. The devotees who do parikrama of Navadwip Dhama visit this Temple for darshana. 

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Sudbury, Ontario

Today

While my host Damodara, and his student occupants, took that extra Sunday morning rest, I snuck out for a quiet stroll. The sun hadn’t yet risen so “all is calm and all is (not yet) bright.” It was really soothing to know that I can walk for two minutes and I’m on a stretch of the longest recreational, multi-use trail in the world. The signage, which I’m so familiar with since seeing it from my first marathon pilgrimage in 1996, was like meeting an old friend. The trail is 24, 000 kilometers long and is referred to as the Great Trail. This morning the signage took me along not only Lake Ramsey, but also a zig-zag of a walk through the older part of the downtown.

At one point I thought I was the only pedestrian but then, near the old train station, an oncoming walker, much bigger than myself, came right towards me and momentarily put a few shivers up my spine, especially when he extended his arm. It actually is the crazy part of town. He ended up just placing his right hand for a quick stroke along my left arm, giving a warm “How’s it going?” According to the boys back at the house, the gesture is common enough in this town. “Neighbourliness” is what you might call it.

One family that moved-in to the area from Saskatoon, whom I once visited there, are here now and they came to the house to get reacquainted. They were somewhat keen to have their young, shy son and daughter meet a monk in living flesh. Usually, a high five is the technique that breaks the ice with them. Also, I engaged in some Zoom-ing, which included a sibling reunion on the occasion of my sister Rose Ann’s birthday. As usual, we talk silly on such a calls. We’re human right?

May the Source be with you!

5 km

 

 

Sudbury, Ontario

Walking a Bit of the Past

There are places in Sudbury I just had to revisit as part of my personal “memory lane.” First of all Ramsey Lake, a sixty-five feet deep and eight kilometre-long body of water within the city limits; a place I would gravitate to fourty-nine years ago.

Damodara, my host in the city, drove a few of us to Cambrian College, where I attended as a fine arts student. Two boys accompanying us are current students in the computer science field. The campus has expanded since my time.

Finally, I just had to set my feet at the downtown corner where Bonimart used to stand. It was here that I met five Krishna monks. Ayodya Pati (now with the name B.B. Govinda Swami), Visvakarma, Drupada, Dustadura, and Satyahit were those fine, young devotees who first treated me to Krishna. They were chanting at that corner on a wintry night near Christmas. I could see they were very determined, swaying in the cold playing drums and hand cymbals. I received a hardbound Bhagavad-gita for five dollars. I invited them to stay in my apartment overnight. Those few hours with them changed my life forever.

Now, our evening was spent at Damodara’s home with a dozen students from India, all of whom want to start a new life here. They wanted to hear about my “Tales from Trails,” so that is what I delivered.

My message to them was “study hard, work with attention to detail, settle down and keep Krishna in the centre.”

May the Source be with you!

 

5 km

Sudbury, Ontario

Back Where It Started

This is where it all began for me. My seed for bhakti was planted on Yonge St., in Toronto, and Victoria, B.C., where I had brief encounters with Krishna monks. However, it was here in this town, Sudbury, the nickel capital of the world, where my actual practice of devotion began. That’s why I’m excited to be back. To arrive here hits some sentimental nerves. It pushes emotional buttons. I met devotees during Christmas in 1972.

First of all, I really like the airport. If I say, it’s an incredible edifice. I’m being facetious, if not sarcastic. It’s the size of a chicken-coop, a shack. You’re in. you’re out. I like that.

When I came out, I was greeted by northern enthusiasts. “Northern” because they were standing in snow, but the term couldbe misleading. The eight or so young, bright men all migrated here or are on visas, having come from steamy India. Trained by one of our boys from Toronto, initially, Dharshan, the sweet souls raised their arms and gave out a boisterous “Haribol!” which means “chant the name of God.”

Locals who were also standing about waiting for their arrivals were entertained by the boys’ reaction. I feel I’ll have a good time here.

On a grave note, I wanted to mention that during the earlier part of the day I attended the cremation event for our dear Madhurya Lila, who gloriously left this world with loving family and friends around her. The Brampton community will miss her very much; an example of a fine devotee and human being.

May the Source be with you!

 

 

Toronto General, Toronto

Take Care Vaishnava

I trekked in the rain to see our beloved Vaishnava Prabhu at the Toronto General Hospital. His heart is not in the best condition and so he deserved a visit. Being in the CIUC is a very protected and secure division of the hospital, which is number one in the country and one of the best in the world for cardio challenges. Visitation is quite restricted so I was lucky, as the priest, to come in. Vaishnava’s family comes daily. His wife, Janaki, brings tasty prasadam from home, blessed by Krishna. Hospital food is rather bland.

Our man, Vaishnava, is one of our heroes. Born in South Africa, he migrated to Canada in the late ‘80s and, along with his family of five, they took up Krishna Consciousness so well. They got serious about running the Sunday School, and then opened an Iskcon branch in nearby Brampton, starting a school there.

He is in a stable condition and is in good spirits. It is an obligation and natural motivation to come and give some moral support to persons like Vaishnava, who is a great family and community person.

We know from the Bhagavat philosophy that we are not these bodies, yet, at the same time, we must take care for what God has given to us in the way of a physical body, which serves the Supreme and fellow human beings. To the best of our ability, we should demonstrate conscious care of both body and soul together. Take care, Vaishnava.

May the Source be with you!

6 km

 

 

Srila Kaviraja Goswami writes (Chaitanya Charitamrta-lila Adi 11:37.) that Kaliya Krishna Dasa Thakura was one of the principal devotees of Nityananda Prabhu. He knew nothing other than the lotus feet of Sri Nityananda Prabhu. According to Srila Kavi Karnapura’s Gaura-Ganodesha-Dipika (text 132.), he was one of the 12 gopals in Vrindavana, and in the pastimes […]

The post 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 Day 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐫𝐢 𝐊𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐲𝐚 𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐬 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

The Study and Teach Program makes getting a sastric degree on Srila Prabhupada’s books easier and more accessible. Up till now, one of the main methods of getting your Bhakti Sastri Degree in ISKCON involved taking six months off from your job or service to study in person in Mayapur or Vrindavan. This made it […]

The post New Study and Teach Program Makes Getting Your Sastric Degree Easier appeared first on ISKCON News.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 12 November 2018, Madhuvana, Vrndavana, India, Parikrama 2018 Lecture)

All the wealth we can accrue from a whole lifetime of service is insignificant compared to the blessings of our spiritual master. It is blessings that are the principal factor and not only of our spiritual master but of the entire sampradaya, of the previous spiritual masters. One should however not jump over though. One should approach through the lineage and through the Vaisnavas and therefore, one has to become soft.

In the beginning, we make distinctions between Vaisnavas, thinking, “This Vaisnava is a neophyte” or “that one is not bona fide” and “that Vaisnava is weak and the other one is too stubborn.” Every Vaisnava is not good enough for us. At one point, however, all the Vaisnavas become good enough except one – ourselves. All the others are worshippable. So one has to arrive at this point. This is difficult when one identifies with varnasrama and is in a ksatriya spirit, brahmana spirit or a sudra spirit. Only in the pure transcendental spirit can we really worship all the Vaisnavas because all faults become insignificant in comparison to their spiritual credit. If we see that someone has spiritual credit, who cares about the faults? The faults are meaningless. In this way, one can appreciate and worship all the Vaisnavas.

The article " Worshipping the Vaisnavas " was published on KKSBlog.

By Mayapur Sasi dasa

Whoa, this is huge! ISKCON Silicon Valley did 130,018 book points in October, way ahead of any other temple. What's going on there? Vaisesika Prabhu is spreading the word that Srila Prabhupada likes it when his books are distributed, and the temple's marathon began two months before the annual Prabhupada Marathon. Dhaka, in Bangladesh, achieved a 999% increase, with 24,392 book points. This Muslim country's population is only about 10% Hindu, but still, the devotees are determined to spread Lord Krsna's glories, no matter what the circumstance are. Recent, tragic violence against Hindus and devotees in Bangladesh prompted worldwide ISKCON protests. Continue reading "WSN October 2021 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
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MADHUMATI GOPI AS SRILA NARAHARI SARKAR THAKUR   pura madhumati prana-sakhi vrindavane sthita adhuna narahary-akhyah sarakarah prabhoh priyah   She who was previously Radha’s intimate girlfriend named Madhumati is today Narahari Sarkar, the Lord’s dear associate. (Gaura-ganoddesha-dipika 117)   Sri Narahari Sarkar Thakura participated in all of Sri Gaurasundora’s pastimes. He was Lord Gauranga’s chief […]

The post DISAPPEARANCE OF NARAHARI SARKAR THAKUR appeared first on Mayapur.com.

 

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Shri Narahari Sarkar Thakura was born at Shri Khanda. Shri Krishnadasa Kaviraja Goswami describes that the residents of Shri Khanda formed a branch of the desire tree of love of God.

“Shri Khan davasi (the residents of Shri Khanda) Mukunda and his son Raghu nandan were the thirty ninth branch of the tree, Narahari was the fortieth, Chiran Jiva the forty first and Sulochana the forty second. They were all big branches of the all merciful tree of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. They distributed the fruits and flowers of love of Godhead anywhere and everywhere.”

Shri Narahari Sarkar Thakura participated in all of Shri Gaurasundara’s pastimes. Bhakti Ratnakara states: “Shri Sarkar Thakura’s glories are most uncommon. In Braja he is known as Madhumati, whose good qualities are unlimited.” 

One day, Nityananda Prabhu arrived at Shri Khanda and said to Narahari, “All right, we know who you are. So where’s the honey, Madhu’ ?” In Krishna-lila, Narahari is the sakhi Madhumati, whose service is to supply honey for Shri Shri Radha-Govinda and Their associates. So he immediately went to a nearby pond and filled a pot which immediately turned into honey of the most nectarean kind. Nityananda Prabhu and His associates drank from this pot to their full and unlimited satisfaction.

Narahari dasa Sarakara was a very famous Devotee. Lochana dasa Thakura, the celebrated author of Shri Chaitanya-mangala, was his disciple. In the Chaitanya-mangala it is stated that Shri Gadadhara dasa and Narahari Sarakara were extremely dear to Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

Shri Lochana dasa Thakura was the dear disciple of Shri Narahari Sarkar. In his book Chaitanya mangala he introduces his guru in this way:

“My Thakur (spiritual master) is Shri Narahari das Thakura, who is very influential amongst the medical caste. He is continuously absorbed in Krishna-prema, and in fact his body knows nothing but Krishna. To his followers he speaks about nothing other than love of Krishna. He was previously known in Vrindavana-lila as Madhumati and was a storehouse of sweetness (honey), and very dear to Radharani. Now he is now present in Kali-yuga with Shri Gaurasundara as Shri Narahari. He is the keeper of the storehouse of love of Radha and Krishna.” [Shri Chaitanya Mangal, Sutrakhanda]

Shri Narahari Sarkar Thakura was a very expert singer as well as poet. He has composed many songs about the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya and Lord Nityananda. He composed a Sanskrit work entitled Shri Bhajanamrta.

 His disappearance is on the Ekadasi tithi day, of the dark fortnight, in the month of Agrahayon (Mrigashir – Nov-Dec). 

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Montreal, Quebec

Sweet Etiquette

We had such a sweet time with sadhanain the morning. Thanks to our guru, Prabhupada, who brought a morning program into our lives. It starts at 4:30 AM with singing. We are swaying. We are playing our instruments. Three hours later, we sit for a grave discussion on the book Bhagavatam.

This morning we dwelt on the beautiful story of the Dwarf Avatar and his encounter with King Bali. Bali was a generous type. He had all the protocol down, just right, when the very tiny Vamana came to his presence. It started off with the phrase “svagatam,” which means welcome, or in this province you say “bien venue.” Bali then offered kind words, some praise and a seat that was comfortable. His etiquette was perfect.

Anyway, we were a happy batch of devotees relishing the warm and yet reverential exchanges of these two souls together. Breakfast followed with fruit and kichari. Yummy!

When I arrived at the Montreal train station, I was greeted by a VIA Rail attendant. She could have been trained in the school of Bali. I could see her smile beyond her covid mask as she spoke, “Comment allez-vous?” which means, “How are you?”

Knowing I’m an Anglophone with language she continued, “You are Hare Krishna?”

“Oui!”

“The world needs more people like you; to enlighten.”

She continued with her sweetness and made sure I was in the proper queue, destined for my home. I witnessed the perfect behaviour. It was great.

 

May the Source be with you!

4 km

 

 

Montreal, Quebec

Some Warmth in the Cold

 

Dark, ominous clouds set in and at the corner of Guy and Maissoneuve Streets in downtown Montreal, thousands of Concordia University students were making their way to destinations – classrooms, apartments, or coffee shops. Snowflakes hit our faces, but just momentarily, at this busy student hour as we chanted away letting the nippy nature of the night not bother us too much.

Students were curious. With a big percentage being from India they are indeed familiar with the sound. We received smiles from many. I believe that some appreciated our presence in braving the cold. One person did not. She undid her covid mask and shouted repeatedly, “Repent! Repent!”

I guess we sinners, who were chanting, will try to do that – repent.

Our group needs to be vigilant about some guys on the streets who ask our girls (chanters) for their phone numbers. Nandini Radha played harmonium. Then did Tulasi, who also is adept at leading the chant.

Indoor mantras continued back at the temple on Pie IX Boulevard. In honour of Chaitayna, the monk from Bengal, we sang again, followed by a second lesson of the day from Bhagavad-gita2.21. Through Zoom, devotees from Ontario also listened in.

To remind all the verse goes as follows, “O Partha, how can a person who knows that the soul is indestructible, eternal, unborn, and immutable kill anyone or cause anyone to be killed?”

 

May the Source be with you!

 

 

Montreal, Quebec

In Separation

I wanted to offer my congratulations to the four new initiates from Mauritius. This last Sunday, we got plugged into the Zoom system with the community in Bon Accueil, in that country which apparently holds the post of having the most covid deaths per capita in the world at present. There is no way that I would be physically present in this otherwise lovely nation with the virus being too infectiously in the atmosphere. Things are done in separation these days.

Kudos go to Akilesh who received the name Akilananda, Arvind as Achyuta, Yasna as Yasoda Mayi, and Sweety as Sarsti. May Sri Krishna bless them with the good life of honesty and sensibility, straightforwardness and purity. Three devotees at the event took their second initiation – Danapati, Maha Laksmi, and Divya Jnan. May you all prosper spirituality.

While I was physical apart from this devotional group in Mauritius, I committed myself to visit another French-speaking community – Quebec. It was time to visit Montreal. That I did via the railway line that goes by the name Via Rail. I was happy to see renovations completed at Toronto’s Union Station. It looks really good.

Travelling by train is always a pleasure. The only thing is I was lusting over being in the outdoors. From the window there is more forest, rivers, lakes, swamps and farmland than concrete and glass condos. With the sun shining and all the rural niceness I really did wish to exercise my limbs in the shape of walking. Walking only transpired after I de-trained. I put in a humble 2 kilometres.

 

May the Source be with you!

2 km.

 

Hamilton, Ontario

For Kali It’s Kirtan

 

One very hip street in Hamilton is called Hess Village. It’s trendy and it is natural to have a few yoga studios in the area. One such place is in a loft. “Church 444,” for some reason or another, is the name of the place. Monica runs the place. Shawn is the handy man around. Chris, a local barber, co-ordinated the event this afternoon for kirtan, chanting and dancing.

 

Chris has a bad cough and declined from coming, but Monica, Shawn, Ben, Kartik, Rahul, Zak, Henry, Jyoti, Aindra, Dhruva, Roman, Katie, Karuna Sindhu and Allison all rose to the occasion for mantrapower and dance. The dance isn’t always part of the repertoire, but it evolved anyway.

 

Ben expressed, “This is the kali yuga(dark age)” and indicated that the chant was necessary to challenge the ills of the world. Allison is a bit shy to sing when it came to her turn, but she really got into the dance at Dhruva’s drum beat and Karuna Sindhu’s harmonium playing.

 

I took the liberty to announce dedicating the kirtan to Madurya Lila, most beloved by our Brampton community. She passed away this morning at 12:55 from cancer. Devotees in the area have come forward to morally support the surviving family members – Abhijit, her husband, and their two children. Her pain is over now. It was hard.

 

Thank you for reading, please pray and chant.

May the Source be with you!

 

Ramsden Park, Toronto

 

Marvelous Moments

Two young students from the Toronto Film School lined me up for a documentary assignment interview. The questions included, “What is Hare Krishna?”, “Do you believe in an after-life?”, etc. The filming went well.

Many marvelous moments filled my day. Then I came up with a poem inspired by phrases spoken by Prabhupada. In bold, Ill relay those messages. In lower case is my contribution.

BOOKS ARE THE BASIS

 

BOOKS ARE THE BASIS

They come in many cases

And go to different places

Contents evoke happy faces

Leaving many holy traces

 

PURITY IS THE FORCE

Taking us to the Great Source

It is something to endorse

Can't learn it from any course

Lose it, and you will remorse

 

PREACHING IS THE ESSENCE

Reaching young, old, adolescence

A service of super-excellence

Gaining Krishna's acceptance

In giving we feel His presence

 

UTILITY IS THE PRINCIPLE

The state of being useful, sensible

Practical and comprehensible

Balancing maximum, minimal

The key to reaching the pinnacle

 

-Composed by Bhaktimarga Swami, The Walking Monk

 

May the Source be with you!

3 km

 

PM Modi said Jagattarini Dasi, who joined ISKCON  in 1970, spent more than 13 years in Vrindavan before returning to Australia.