Planet ISKCON

ISKCON Mayapur will be conducting a Virtual Puri Parikrama for three days, from 14th to 16th November.  This is a zoom-based program of one hour every day from 8 pm to 9 pm. IST. Bhakti Purusottama Swami and many more senior devotees will be our guides to various holy places in Puri dhama. 

Yorkville, Toronto

That’s It

War is an ugly thing, an explosion of emotions. It is a clash of feelings, triggered by a major misunderstanding. The warring of the mind is enough; the subtle but destructive conflict within that everyone goes through. It’s a tug-of-war between mind and reason.

Today, people are honouring Remembrance Day, at least in Canada, when men and women from all over the world are revered for rendering an incredible sacrifice through war. Can war and combat ever be averted? In the Mahabharat, India’s best of two epics, details of combat are outlined in a rich display of emotions. It was Krishna who personally attempted to stave off a brewing madness between the Pandava and the Kauravadynasties. The attempt failed and in the crazed tug-of-war between greed and goodness, greed insisted on a fight, which it lost. In this scenario, like most clashes of interest, a time of calm, or a down time sets in, but for a brief space until the next flare-up.

As far as possible we try to keep at bay the madness of the world. We forget we are spirits and are not these bodies. It’s a case of false proprietorship. The body is not mine and all connected to it is not mine. Anything outside of my so-called acquisition is also not mine. We may have a quota in which to use but that’s it. No more. This point is made clear in the first verse of Sri Isopanisad. Stewards of a small portion we may require but that’s it. That’s it!

I would propose we battle the senses and mind, first, before tackling anything else. All praises to those who sacrifice for freedom.

May the Source be with you!

3 km

Oakville, Ontario

Walking and a Passing

I am not a happy shopper, but when it comes to going to that drug store that sells the unique ky boots, right there on the main street of Oakville, I have no qualms. The selection for shoes styles is not huge when it comes to ky boots, but they have a great fit and bottom. It was time to get a new pair for winter and a kind donor from Toronto made it possible to get this awesome black, comfy footwear.

I just had to show them off so my kind driving friend, Nanda, dropped me off after the purchase at Yonge and King. Those shoes had me flying. I was going at 5 km per hour. Mind you, Yonge St. walkers have always been fairly speedy. “Going with the flow” is what it was. Both knees were in sync.

When I did arrive home at the ashram, I learned about the passing of another GO BRO, Rajendranandana. Here is my offering to him. I call it Man of Bhakti Contagion.

It didn’t matter what was the occasion

He was always a man of bhakticontagion

An anti-Kali personality

In touch with the ultimate reality

A guy with an incredible smile

To see that you’d walk a long mile

For him cynicism was a sin

Positivity is what he indulged in

A Prabhupada person all the way

Humble steps, gentle breaths, made up his day

He was a detailed lila story-teller

Considering all his services – a remarkable fellow

(All you men, sign up for MANtra this weekend)

May the Source be with you!

5 km

243 Avenue Rd., Toronto

Come Around

I was pleasantly surprised to see a group of ladies suddenly appear. I guess I’ve not been around much when a slew of people come, but there they were, about nine of them, somewhat mournful. Something’s happened. And then one of them, a sister or a daughter of a gentleman, Oberoi by name (who’s not doing well at the hospital), revealed the reason for their visit.

Well, these ladies came at the right time. It was 7 a.m. and the group of us residents were poised to present dhiyas, or ghee lamps, to the beautiful image of Radha-Gopinatha, that is Krishna and Hiss servant Radha. We sang the song which honours Krishna as a baby.

The women then delighted in offering flower petals to Prabhupada, the guru, which is also part of the morning sadhana. They were so relieved when I announced it to the deities that these simple rituals were being dedicated to their relative. I offered them prasadam, a simple sweet. And as one of the women asked for an appropriate book to put under his pillow, I acted swiftly to hand her a book, “Dharma” by author, Srila Prabhupada.

At 8:45 a.m. Ryan came to visit. He’s going through “stuff,” but he’s advancing in Krishna Consciousness. “I’m trying to put in a good effort.”

At 11:30 a.m. two monks and an assistant from the Swami Narayana group arrived with sweets for our residents, which was very nice of them. We chatted and became acquainted with each other. We all agreed that extremism or fanaticism is very harmful.

All in all, I love it when people come around for strengthening their spirituality and engaging in devotional service.

May the Source be with you!

This Ekadasi has four names: Utthana – Haribodhini – Prabodhini – Devotthani, and it is the second Ekadasi (Kartik Shukla, light fortnight) in the month of Kartik. It is said that Lord Vishnu goes to rest for four months during the period known as Chaturmasya. Starting from Sayana Ekadasi, which is the first Ekadasi that […]

The post Utthana Ekadasi and the TOVP appeared first on ISKCON News.

This Ekadasi has four names: Utthana – Haribodhini – Prabodhini – Devotthani, and it is the second Ekadasi (Kartik Shukla, light fortnight) in the month of Kartik. It is said that Lord Vishnu goes to rest for four months during the period known as Chaturmasya. Starting from Sayana Ekadasi, which is the first Ekadasi that falls in the month of Ashada Lord Vishnu rests and awakens on the day of Kartika Shukla Ekadasi, which is why it is known as Utthana Ekadasi.

Ramsden Park, Toronto

Reflect, Reflect

A poem in honour of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada:

Reflect Reflect

Reflect, reflect on His Divine Grace

Mirror the values he’s put into place

Set into practice what he’s left us

Deliberate on his love, then discuss

Evermore is this our obligation

Of commitment and unbroken dedication

May we shine in his powerful glow

Like the formation of crystal, soft snow

Clean and clear directions he’s given

Moving us until we’re self-driven

Let us act with the same heart

With the same vision and make it our art

-Composed by Bhaktimarga Swami, The Walking Monk©

May the Source be with you!

3 km

Fredericton, New Brunswick

Prabhupada Remembered Through Speaking

As a speaker of Krishna Consciousness, I feel fulfilled. At the home of Kadamba Priya a group of students and families came to partake in a Sunday sanga and it was the occasion of an event not everyone understands. The date is, by lunar calendar, the passing anniversary of Prabhupada, our guru, and founder/acharya.

Few people know Srila Prabhupada and our gathering was no exception. He departed 44 years ago, so it’s no wonder that the young students in the room know so little. So, I delivered my message about his super but under-rated qualities and contributions, and the listeners were so attentive. Even the boisterous babies in the house (Kadamba Priya’s kids) were peaceful, for a time. So, it was magical. I felt like I was an instrument in doing Krishna’s will.

It was just prior to the talk that I was on the phone with friend, Radhanatha Swami (we do communicate despite the lock-downs) and we were exchanging what each of us was doing when we heard that Prabhupada left his body. It was chilling to go over. Then he said that we have the obligation to gravely share with the next and new generations the power this personality had. Prabhupada was and is powerful.

So, I felt the listeners in the home were really listening. It got through to their hearts. It’s not always the case. I did feel happy, especially with the questions that followed, not all to do with him, necessarily, but to do with their lives and how all questions can lead to relevant answers. Sri Krishna has the answers and it is Prabhupada who can be credited for making known the great voice of Krishna, through his books.

With the talk and feast completed, Kadamba and I hit the trail to the walking bridge. My last walk in New Brunswick. Moving forward.

May the Source be with you!

4 km

Speakers from Kenya, Ghana, South Africa and Mauritius participated in the three-hour conference, which is a platform for an exchange of ideas and strategies on all matters of book distribution, publication, and innovation.

The new Devotee Care Team started in New Vrindaban, West Virginia in April 2021, is providing resources, assistance and association for residents of the large rural community. The team is run by Lilasuka Dasi, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada who first moved to New Vrindaban in 1980 and has served there as a day school […]

The post New Vrindaban’s Devotee Care Team Provides Assistance and Association appeared first on ISKCON News.

The new Devotee Care Team started in New Vrindaban, West Virginia in April 2021, is providing resources, assistance and association for residents of the large rural community.

Sanka Das, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada known for his compassionate and giving nature, his cooking and gardening, his smile, and his “huge heart,” passed away peacefully on the auspicious day of Govardhana Puja, November 5th, in Alachua, Florida. He was 73. Sanka left during the Brahmamuhurta hour of 2:50am while looking at a picture […]

The post Srila Prabhupada’s Flower Boy Sanka Das Passes Away: “He Had a Huge Heart” appeared first on ISKCON News.

Sanka Das, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada known for his compassionate and giving nature, his cooking and gardening, his smile, and his “huge heart,” passed away peacefully on the auspicious day of Govardhana Puja, November 5^th, in Alachua, Florida. He was 73.

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It is a small farm community, complete with flower and vegetable gardens, a couple of small greenhouses, a beautiful goshala right across the road from the temple, and then a larger goshalla down the road Continue reading "The Story of Nueva Vraja Mandala
→ Dandavats"

Below is a narration of a conversation between His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada and Bhavananda prabhu in Mayapur, 1977:

In 1977 I was on the roof of the Lotus Building with Srila Prabhupada. He was walking the perimeter and chanting japa. At one point he stopped on the North side and was looking across the rice fields towards the Yoga Pitha temple. In 1977 it was open fields all the way to the Yoga Pitha. Imagine there were no other buildings of any sort. Prabhupada turned to me and said, “What is more important about a man? Where he was born or the activities he performed?” I replied that I thought the activities were more important. Prabhupada replied, “Exactly. So that is the birthplace temple of Lord Chaitanya and this ISKCON campus is the preaching activities of Lord Chaitanya. I want you to build a temple that is so wonderful that no one will go to the birthplace temple but everyone will come here to ISKCON”.

This story is a wonderful example of Srila Prabhupada’s preaching mood and dedication to the spreading of Krishna consciousness, specifically in this case through the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. And that mood permeated everything he said and did during his lifetime of serving the order of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati.

It also represents Prabhupada’s keen philosophical perspective of all aspects of life in relation to Krishna consciousness. He wasn’t a dreamer or a mere sentimentalist, but a thinker and visionary on the most practical and down-to-earth level, what to speak of the most sublime spiritual level. Everything had its place in proper Krishna conscious perspective and could also be explained in a practical and implementable way.

He said in simple and clear words, “I want you to build a temple that is so wonderful that no one will go to the birthplace temple but everyone will come here to ISKCON”. This is the order and command from Lord Caitanya’s Senapati Bhakta, our Commander in Chief. It must be fulfilled by all of us, his dedicated followers and servants.

We humbly beg all the worldwide ISKCON community to continue to offer your support to this project, now scheduled for its Grand Opening in 2024. Make a donation if you haven’t yet, make another donation if you have given already or fulfill your pledge as soon as possible. There are over twenty available donation options to choose from according to your means. And the Prabhupada Seva 125 India Govt. minted commemorative coin is now available.

Please visit the Seva Opportunities Page today and show your support and gratitude to Srila Prabhupada by building that temple to which the whole world will come.

“Now you all together make this Vedic Planetarium very nice, so that people will come and see. From the description in the Srimad Bhagavatam you prepare this Vedic Planetarium. My idea is to attract people of the whole world to Mayapur.”

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Gopastami puja is observed on the eighth day of the bright half of Kartika month (Kartika Shukla Astami). Sri Krishna Puja and Go Puja are the main ceremonies of the day.

According to the Srimad Bhagavatam, on Gopastami day, Lord Sri Krishna and his elder brother Lord Balarama became qualified cowherds. Before this day, both looked after the calves.

The cows are given a bath and decorated with colourful clothes and jewellery. Devotees paint the horns of the cows with turmeric and put Sindhura on their foreheads. They also put hand marks on their bodies. Special food recipes and fresh grass are offered to the cows on Gopastami. Pradakshina around the cows (circumambulation) is a most beneficial ritual of the Gopastami festival.

Gopastami and Go Puja are celebrated with the utmost fervour in all ISKCON temples in India and abroad.

Source: Global Commons Alliance

Interview with Gopal Patel, Hindou Ibrahim, and Janine Benyus from the Nature’s Newsroom at COP26, Glasgow.

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, such as through variations in the solar cycle. But since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change, primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas.

Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures.

Examples of greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change include carbon dioxide and methane. These come from using gasoline for driving a car or coal for heating a building, for example. Clearing land and forests can also release carbon dioxide. Landfills for garbage are a major source of methane emissions. Energy, industry, transport, buildings, agriculture, and land use are among the main emitters.

Source: Devotion Yoga 

I'm Cyril Wohrer, also known as Chandra. I'm from Los Angeles and Paris. I have a Masters's in the Study of Religion from the University of Oxford. I have an accumulated fifty thousand hours of mantra meditation, and I teach and am the Director of Studies at the Krishna West Theological Seminary. This channel is for those who are interested in yoga/Indian philosophy, meditation, God, inner peace, and a plant-based lifestyle.

Today is the disappearance day of Sri Dhananjaya Pandit, who is described in Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, Chapter 11, text 31:

nityananda-priyabhrtya pandita dhananjaya
atyanta virakta, sada krsna-premamaya

 “The sixteenth dear servant of Nityananda Prabhu was Dhananjaya Pandita. He was very much renounced and always merged in love of Krsna.”

Purport: Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura writes in his Anubhasya, “Pandita Dhananjaya was a resident of the village in Katwa named Sitala. He was one of the twelve gopalas. His former name, according to the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (127), was Vasudama. Sitala-grama is situated near the Mangalakota police station and Kaicara post office in the district of Burdwan. On the narrow railway from Burdwan to Katwa is a railway station about nine miles from Katwa known as Kaicara. One has to go about a mile northeast of this station to reach Sitala. The temple was a thatched house with walls made of dirt. Some time ago, the zamindars of Bajaravana Kabasi, the Mulliks, constructed a big house for the purpose of a temple, but for the last sixty-five years the temple has been broken down and abandoned. The foundation of the old temple is still visible. There is a tulasi pillar near the temple, and every year during the month of Kartika (October-November) the disappearance day of Dhananjaya is observed. It is said that for some time Pandita Dhananjaya was in a sankirtana party under the direction of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, and then he went to Vrndavana. Before going to Vrndavana, he lived for some time in a village named Sancadapancada, which is six miles south of the Memari railway station. Sometimes this village is also known as ‘the place of Dhananjaya’ (Dhananjayera Pata). After some time, he left the responsibility for worship with a disciple and went back to Vrndavana. After returning from Vrndavana to Sitala-grama, he established a Deity of Gaurasundara in the temple. The descendants of Pandita Dhananjaya still live in Sitala-grama and look after the temple worship.”

May Sri Dhananjaya Pandit bless us all.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

Today Special Gopastami Darshan of Radharani’s Lotus Feet! WHY DOES SRIMATI RADHARANI GIVE US DARSAN OF HER DIVINE LOTUS FEET ON GOPASTAMI? image source: Urban Devi    On this day, many temples in Vrindavana, and now throughout the world, show the Deity form of Srimati Radharani with her lotus feet visible. On all other days […]

The post Why Does Srimati Radharani Give Us Darshan Of Her Divine Lotus Feet On Gopastami? appeared first on ISKCON News.

The eighth day of Kartika’s bright fortnight marks an important day in Krishna’s Vrindavan pastimes, his initiation as a full-fledged cow-herder. This day, known as Gopastami, is the day Krishna graduated from spending his days herding calves to herding the cows. Srila Jiva Goswami’s Gopala Campu describes the occasion of Krishna’s initiation as a cow-herder, marking his passage from boyhood to youth.

"The eighth lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month of Kārttika is known by authorities as Gopāṣṭamī. From that day, Lord Vāsudeva served as a cowherd, whereas previously He had tended the calves."

Hare Krishna. Rajendranandana prabhu (Sam Rogers) a disciple of SrilaPrabhupada and beloved by many devotees around the world, left his bodyyesterday (Tuesday, November 10th) at approximately 1:15pm local time in SanDiego, California. He was at home and being lovingly cared for by his wife,son, and fellow devotees. Rajendranandana prabhu’s health had been failing for some […]

The post Rajendranandana Das (ACBSP) Leaves this World appeared first on ISKCON News.

Hare Krishna. Rajendranandana prabhu (Sam Rogers) a disciple of Srila Prabhupada and beloved by many devotees around the world, left his body yesterday (Tuesday, November 10th) at approximately 1:15pm local time in San Diego, California. He was at home and being lovingly cared for by his wife, son, and fellow devotees.

Today is Gopastami, the day on which Krishna and Balarama and other boys Their age, who previously had tended the calves, were given charge of the cows. This event is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam (10.15.1):

tatas ca pauganda-vayah-sritau vraje
  babhuvatus tau pasu-pala-sammatau
gas carayantau sakhibhih samam padair
  vrndavanam punyam ativa cakratuh

“When Lord Rama and Lord Krsna attained the age of pauganda [six to ten] while living in Vrndavana, the cowherd men allowed Them to take up the task of tending the cows. Engaging thus in the company of Their friends, the two boys rendered the land of Vrndavana most auspicious by imprinting upon it the marks of Their lotus feet.”

As stated in the purport, “Since Lord Krsna’s spiritual body had apparently grown slightly in age and strength, the senior men of Vrndavana, headed by Nanda Maharaja, decided to promote Krsna from the task of herding calves to the status of a regular cowherd boy. He would now take care of the full-grown cows, bulls, and oxen. Out of great affection, Nanda Maharaja had previously considered Krsna too small and immature to take care of full-grown cows and bulls. It is stated in the Karttika-mahatmya section of the Padma Purana:

suklastami karttike tu
  smrta gopastami budhaih
tad-dinad vasudevo ’bhud
  gopah purvam tu vatsapah

‘The eighth lunar day of the bright fortnight of the month of Karttika is known by authorities as Gopastami. From that day, Lord Vasudeva served as a cowherd, whereas previously He had tended the calves.’

“The word padaih indicates that Lord Krsna blessed the earth by walking on her surface with His lotus feet. The Lord wore no shoes or other footgear but walked barefoot in the forest, giving great anxiety to the girls of Vrndavana, who feared that His soft lotus feet would be injured.”

The celebration was meant for only the cowherd men and boys, but Srimati Radharani also wanted to enjoy the fun, and so, because of Her resemblance to Subala-sakha, She donned his dhoti and other garments and joined Krishna. Thus, on this occasion, in temples in Vrindavan and elsewhere, Srimati Radharani is dressed as a cowherd boy.

The Lord is very kindly disposed toward the cows and the brahmans (go-brahmana-hitaya), and whoever serves them becomes dear to Him, too. Knowing this, devotees observe a special festival on the Gopastami day, dedicated to the worship of cows. In Vrindavan especially, but also the world over, devotees begin the festival by brushing the cows, painting their horns and bodies with artistic designs, and hanging flower garlands around their necks. Then a cow and her calf are selected and an arati is offered to them. During the arati, devotees sing the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and then they feed the cow, her calf, and indeed the entire herd, bananas, balls of gur (jaggery), and fresh grasses. Some devotees also recite the following mantra (Hari-bhakti-vilasa 16.252):

agratah santu me gavo
  gavo me santu prsthatah
gavo me parsvatah santu
  gavam madhye vasamyaham

“May cows stay in front of me. May cows stay behind me. May cows stay on both sides of me. May I always reside in the midst of cows.”

At the ISKCON goshala in Vrindavan, the program ends with a breakfast feast served to participants in the cowsheds.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

𝗙𝗲𝘄 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝗽𝗮𝘀𝗵𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗶! It is on this day Nanda Maharaja performed a ceremony for the cows and Krishna (and His friends) in Vrindavan, as He reached the pauganda age. Also, on this day Nanda Maharaja sent his children Krishna and Balarama to herd the cows for the first time. It was a celebration […]

The post Gopashtami Celebration 12 November 2021 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

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While giving in charity for hospitals and schools, feeding the poor and other philanthropic activities has its place, as devotees our main ‘charity’ is to give to Krishna, specifically for the purpose of helping the sankirtana movement spread through the distribution of Srila Prabhupada’s books, building of temples, prasadam distribution, etc.. This is especially the duty of the householders who earn money, and such an act of charity guarantees them advancement in spiritual life.

“This service of spiritual value with your hard-earned money on behalf of Godhead, will be recognized by the Lord and you will be blessed with spiritual enlightenment in your life without fail.”

Srila Prabhupada

Of course, there are many ISKCON projects to donate to during this one-day event. But if you are so inclined, please consider giving to the TOVP by offering a one-time donation or making a pledge towards a specific campaign option such as the Prabhupada Seva 125 India Govt. minted Prabhupada Coin. Or consider making a pledge payment or even completing your pledge. All these options are available on the Seva Opportunities Page of the TOVP website.

And if you live in the US, Facebook will match donations through the TOVP Foundation Facebook Page. Please visit the page for specific instructions.

As you, the readers may know, the TOVP is Srila Prabhupada last tangible temple project requested by him. It is the crest jewel of all his temples and is located at ISKCON’s World Headquarters in the most sacred land in the universe at Sridhama Mayapur, the birthplace of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. It is the “rising tide that lifts all boats”, meaning all ISKCON temples, centers and projects will benefit from establishing this temple, and from here Krishna consciousness will spread like it’s never done before.

“The more you help develop Mayapur, the more Lord Chaitanya will bless your area of the world and it will flourish”

Srila Prabhupada letter to Hari-sauri

Please give to the TOVP on GIVING TUESDAY this year and help complete this temple ‘built by the hands of every devotee’ so we can open the floodgates of Krishna prema to the world in 2024.

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𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐔𝐩! 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟑 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐭! 𝐆𝗼 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻’𝘁!!! Greetings from Sri Mayapur Dham! Happy Kartik Month! We convey our warmest of wishes to you and the family on these auspicious days of Kartika and we pray that the blessings gotten from offering lamps to the lotus feet of Sri Radha […]

The post First Ever Sriksetra Parikrama 14th – 16th 2021 appeared first on Mayapur.com.