Planet ISKCON

From her childhood Princess Sachi devi, the daughter of King Naresh Narayana of Bengal, showed unalloyed devotion to Lord Sri Krishna. She even refused to marry on account of her genuine attachment to Krishna. After her father’s demise she ruled the kingdom. But she soon renounced it to find a bona fide spiritual master.

Princess Sachi devi met Sri Haridasa Pandit, a leading guru in Vrndavana, and began performing devout bhajana to Govindaji. Although she became frail from undereating, she would always sleep on the Yamuna’s sandy bank, and rise before sunrise to clean Govindaji’s temple. Daily she would hear Bhagavata-katha, see Govindaji’s arotika, circumambulate Radha-Syamasundara’s lila sthanas (pastime places) such as Vamisivata, Seva Kunja, Nidhu vana, Rasa Sthali.

On her guru’s order, Sachi devi went to the home of Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya in Jagannatha Puri. Sarvabhauma Bhattacarya and most of Lord Gauranga-sundara’s eternal associates had al­ready returned to Goloka Vrndavana. Sachi devi restored Sarvabhauma’s house, and established first-class worship of Sri Shyama Raya, a Deity given to her by a Jaipur brahmana. Everyday she lectured on Srimad Bhagavatam. Her classes became popular attracting eager listeners from miles around. Many people, including brahmanas and King Mukunda Deva, took in­itiation from Sachi devi.

“On the day of Ganga Sagara Mela, Sachi devi, who was resid­ing in Jagannatha Puri, desired to bathe in the Ganges. That night the Ganges flowed from the lotus feet of Lord Jagannatha and came to Sachi’s ashrama. Entering Ganga Devi’s waters, Sachi floated to the lotus feet of Jagannatha Swami inside the temple.

”After unlocking the doors the next morning the pujaris were surprised to find her inside the temple. Thinking she was a thief, they immeditately put Sachi devi in jail. Seeing this mistake, Lord Jagannatha appeared simultaneously in a dream to both the Puri King and the head pujari. The Lord ordered them to release Sachi devi dasi and take initiation from her. From then on she became famous as Gangamata Gosvamini.”

  Those of us who live on the east coast of the US are nearing the end of the cicada season. They are curious creatures who teach us a few helpful things for our spiritual  1. Life is Short: although cicadas keep themselves underground for 17 years, when they emerge it’s just a month or […]

The post 3 Lessons from Cicadas appeared first on ISKCON News.

Those of us who live on the east coast of the US are nearing the end of the cicada season. They are curious creatures who teach us a few helpful things for our spiritual practice

ISKCON Gurugram was awarded a Certificate of Commitment by the World Book of Records (WBR) to recognize the exceptional services offered by the devotees at ISKCON Gurugram in serving the needy during the Covid pandemic. The award was received by Rambhadra Das, President – ISKCON Gurugram. Rambhadra Das stated that “I dedicate this award to […]

The post World Book of Record honours ISKCON Gurugram with Certificate of Commitment appeared first on ISKCON News.

ISKCON Gurugram was awarded a Certificate of Commitment by the World Book of Records (WBR) to recognize the exceptional services offered by the devotees at ISKCON Gurugram in serving the needy during the Covid pandemic. The award was received by Rambhadra Das, President – ISKCON Gurugram. Rambhadra Das stated that “I dedicate this award to the global ISKCON family, my mentor HH Gopal Krishna Goswami, and Vivo India, Rapido, IOCL, GAIL, PTC and Sudhir Generators and all others who supported and volunteered with us”.

This year, as we celebrate the 125th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s appearance in 1896, an excellent way to become absorbed in the pastimes and teachings of the ISKCON Founder-Acharya is the latest, fifth volume of Memories: Anecdotes of a Modern Day Saint. The series all began back in 1991 when Siddhanta Das, the devotee behind the […]

The post Fifth Prabhupada Memories Book Packed With Inspirational and Educational Anecdotes appeared first on ISKCON News.

Covering twenty videos in the Memories series, the fifth book runs 520 pages, and contains over 700 anecdotes from 109 disciples.

A new 37-minute documentary entitled “Seeking Shelter: The Life & Legacy of Bhakti Charu Swami” is set to premiere on ISKCON News and Youtube on July 24th, as part of the global celebration on the beloved ISKCON guru’s disappearance day. “The pandemic has claimed millions of lives — ordinary humans, celebrities and saintly people alike […]

The post Award-Winning Bhakti Charu Swami Documentary to Premiere on July 24th appeared first on ISKCON News.

A new 37-minute documentary entitled “Seeking Shelter: The Life & Legacy of Bhakti Charu Swami” is set to premiere on ISKCON News and Youtube on July 24^th, as part of the global celebration on the beloved ISKCON guru’s disappearance day.

Healthy snack company Pure Bliss Organics, run by owners and co-founders Jaya Govardhana Das and Haridas Thakur Das since 2005, had been selling its granola, energy bars and gourmet nut mixes to hundreds of stores all over the U.S., both as packaged products and as bulk foods. When Covid hit in early 2020, however, many […]

The post Pure Bliss Organics Expands, Looks to Hire More Devotee Staff appeared first on ISKCON News.

Healthy snack company Pure Bliss Organics has had a 75% increase in sales, and plans to expand as well as to hire eight new devotee staff. The company creates its own grain free and sugar free granolas, bars and snack bites, and makes products for other companies.

The prasadam distribution team, Food For All (with bases around the UK) just received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. This is the greatest award possible for a charity in the U.K.  For the next 5 years, the Queen’s Logo will appear on their websites, letterheads, vans, and centres. They will receive trophies from the Queen’s Lord […]

The post Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Given to Food For All Charity in the UK appeared first on ISKCON News.

Food For All has been awarded the Queen's Award for voluntary service, the highest award in charity service. 

Dear Patrons / Bhaktas, Jaya Jagannath! All glories to Srila Prabhupada.  The Lord of Universe, Lord Jagannath, the most Merciful Lord, once again bestows His Unlimited Mercy – A Rare Opportunity to bathe the Lordships personally and celebrate  a grand Snana Yatra! At Simantadvipa, in the holy abode of Rajapur dhama, abhinna Sri Ksetra dhama […]

The post Lord Jagannatha Snana Yatra Festival Sevas-June 24th appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Обитель красоты.

Оно уносит непристойность Кали и очищает чистое.

Пища странника, желающего освобождения, 

что сразу же ведет в высшую обитель.

Источник речи лучших из поэтов.

И жизнь святых, и семя древа Дхармы.

Пусть это имя Кришны дарует благо.

(Падьявали, 19)

It is the abode of all that is beautiful.
It erodes the dirt of Kali
and purifies the pure.
For the wayfarer desiring liberation
it is his food, which, so it is said,
will lead him promptly to the supreme abode.
It is the only place where the speech
of the best poets rests.
It is the life of the saints,
and the seed of the Dharma tree.
May Krsna’s name grant you prosperity.

(Padyavali, 19)

The Brahma-vaivarta Purana describes a beautiful story of a brahmana in South India who wanted to offer sweet rice (khir) to his Deities but couldn’t afford the ingredients. So he decided to offer the sweet mentally. In deep meditation, he collected all the ingredients and cooked it. After the preparation was ready, he wanted to cool it down before he offered it to Krishna. After a while he touched his finger to see if the sweet rice had cooled down. It was still hot, and to his surprise his finger was burnt by the sweet rice! Because of his devotion in preparing and testing the khir, even though only in his mind, the Lord happily accepted the offering and soon brought him to Vaikuntha, His eternal abode. Continue reading "Failing to Succeed
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Srila Baladeva Vidyabhushana was born in the early part of the 18th century (1720-1790) in a village near Remuna, Balasore District of Orissa. Even though he was the son of a ‘vaishya’ (farmer), in his youth he received a very thorough education in ‘Sanskrit’, rhetoric, logic and Vaishnava scripture. He accepted ‘sannyasa’ into the ‘Madhwa-sampradaya’ at a very young age, and stayed at Jagannatha Puri. He became a renowned scholar and travelled around India to all the holy places.

It was to the surprise of everyone that Baladeva was converted to be a Gaudiya Vaisnava by Radha Damodara Deva Goswami, who first explained the philosophy of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, in accordance with the tenants of Vedanta Sutra and Srimad Bhagavatam, then initiated him as his formal disciple. Under his direction he studied Jiva Goswami’s Sat-Sandarbha, and he quickly became prominent in all intellectual circles.

After Sri Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakura finished his pastimes in this world, Sri Baladeva Vidyabhushana became the next ‘acarya’ of the ‘Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya’. At the end of Radha Damodar Deva’s Vedanta Shyamantaka Sri Baladeva Vidyabhushana acknowledges his spiritual master thusly: “I have been sent here to Vrindavan by one ‘brahmana guru’, Sri Radha-Damodara Deva, to present a composition named Vedanta Shyamantaka, composed by his mercy for the pleasure of Srimati Radharani.”

Hare Krishna!

Please accept our humble obeisances!

All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

All glories to Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga!

Date: 18th July 2021

Day: Sunday

Time: 11 am to 12 noon

Speaker: HH Bhakti Rasayana Sagara Swami

Link to join the class:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9150790510?pwd=Wk5GYXVRMkJmdk84MzZJRXBKYUgwUT09

HH Bhakti Rasayana Sagara Swami

HH Bhakti Rasayana Sagar Swami is a Gaudiya Vaishnava sannyasi in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. He is a disciple of His Holiness Indradyumna Swami, who is a disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the Founder-Acharya of ISKCON. Bhakti Rasayana Sagara Swami joined ISKCON in Moscow, Russia. Maharaj speaks English and Russian.

https://brsswami.com/en

ISKCON Scarborough

3500 McNicoll Avenue, Unit #3,

Scarborough, Ontario,

Canada, M1V4C7

Website: www.iskconscarborough.org

Email:

iskconscarborough@hotmail.com

scarboroughiskcon@gmail.com

On the full-moon day, sixteen days before Ratha-yatra, Lord Jagannath is bathed. He becomes sick and is confined to rest for fourteen days. He is then offered special care until He comes out for Ratha-yatra. A special bath of Jagannath takes place on the Purnima of Jyestha month, to commemorate the appearance day of Lord […]

The post A Peak of Snana Yatra Festival of Lord Jagannatha appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Human Devolution: A Vedic Alternative to Darwin’s Theory

By Michael A. Cremo (Drutakarma das)

In their controversial bestseller Forbidden Archeology, Michael A. Cremo and Richard L. Thompson documented evidence showing that humans have existed on earth for hundreds of millions of years and catalyzed a global inquiry.

Such anomalous evidence, contradicting Darwinian evolution, catalyzed a global inquiry: “If we did not evolve from apes then where did we come from?” Human Devolution is Michael A. Cremo’s definitive answer to that question: “We did not evolve up from matter; instead we devolved, or came down, from the realm of pure consciousness, spirit.”

 
Author: By Michael A. Cremo
Published: October 11, 2018
Book/File size: 1004 KB / 705 pages
Formats: Kindle, Hardcover

 
BUY ON AMAZON  

  Residents of India will have to search for this book on www.amazon.in

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St. Lawrence Market, Toronto

Seeing a Friend

Right next to St. Lawrence Market is 110 Esplanade, a building where an aging friend of mine lives. He is a member of ACTRA and is a retired actor. He recently came from the hospital due to a lung infection, dehydration, and lacking food really. A brahmacarya (monk) assistant dropped me off at this location so I could deliver prasadam, which would last my friend a few days.

I went up to his apartment, a bachelor’s, and it was great to see him after so long. He’s lost a lot of weight.

“I want to show you something,” he said and so he opened a door to his altar of Jagannatha; Krishna manifest as wood. My friend always speaks in favor of our guru, Prabhupada, whom he met in Montreal back in ’68. He is so indebted to him for introducing him to Jagannatha, which translates as “Lord of the Universe” – an appropriate name for God.

It was getting late, and I had 5 kilometers to go to reach the temple ashram. It took a while being on fairly weak knees. I stopped at places just to relax, to chant gayatri and the maha-mantra. I was also reflecting. I’ve known my friend for 48 years. He’s done some valuable service by staging plays at our temple; dramas with spiritual content. No doubt he is being recognized for engaging so many young people in the past. 

Thinking of the past; the past is past, and the present is host to tomorrow.

May the source be with you!

5 km

Don't miss the opportunity to hear Srila Prabhupada's lecture and interview which he gave on the first day in Paris

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Ramsden Park, Toronto

On My Way

On my way to the park on Roxborough and neighbours were setting out their weekly garbage for the pickup tomorrow morning. While two routine individuals gave a smile, the second person, whom I’ve never seen before asked, “Is your temple open yet?”

“This Sunday we start for set hours!”

“That’s good,” said the friendly woman.

In general, the public would like to see movement and activity again. The spirit is “Let’s get back to living; something like before.”

Now I found myself at the Paul Hahn Piano place, again, at a comfortable bench.

One couple came up to me, “Do you have a minute?”

“Yes, of course.”

“How can I be more calm?” asked the woman. “Like, I get angry. How can I deal with it?”

I began to explain, “Usually, anger arises from deep attachment to an object, a person, or a concept and because we stubbornly clutch onto this something and are unwilling to let go or detach ourselves from this object, then emotions arise. It’s best to accept that things are as they are. We don’t need a battle for everything that comes along. We just cannot change everything. Be content with what you have, then anger will subside, and you become more peaceful.”

The couple was grateful. They continued walking with more to think about.

May the Source be with you!

2 km

Ramsden Park, Toronto

Mindfulness

A message about mindfulness:

“This very moment is the best moment which was borne of the past

and which will shape the future, therefore this very moment deserves our full attention.”

-Bhaktimarga Swami, The Walking Monk©

May the Source be with you!

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 3 May 2021, Simachalam, Germany, Srimad Bhagavatam 3.19.27)

Somehow, we are struggling to surrender in this movement. And in the end, for our half-baked surrender which was there anyway, we get glorified for it. Who can say that they have surrendered out of pure love for Krsna? I was a pujari for three months and I fell asleep during the pujas. I kept nodding off. I was not a very good pujari at all. I was doing it mechanically, it was completely clear to me. I had no feeling there. I was just waving the lamp and falling asleep during an aarti.

However, the power of all these activities is so great that not only are we getting purified from all the karmic contamination by devotional service, anarthopaśamaṁ sākṣād bhakti-yogam adhokṣaje (Srimad Bhagavatam,1.7.6), but more than that we are attracting Krsna because devotional service is sri Krsna akarsini. Right now, Krsna is in the most merciful form and therefore it now attracts special mercy of Lord Caitanya.

So let us ensure that we never leave ISKCON. That is what Srila Prabhupada said because we have here the most concentrated mercy of Lord Caitanya. Some went to other institutions, yes mercy is also there. They can also go back to Godhead, but here it is directly Prabhupada’s mercy that is a special benefit. So let us stay close to Srila Prabhupada because then we can also meet with a blessed death at the end of our life. Krsna will be there in the form of His Holy Name and when we have some material desire, then there is still Prabhupada’s mercy along with us. So in this way, we are most fortunate in this movement. Tamal Krsna Maharaj used to say this to me, “You are so fortunate, you don’t realise how fortunate you are.” I used to think, “Yes, well I know I got the mercy of staying in Vrndavana!” But okay, now I have to admit that Tamal Krsna Maharaj was right.

The article " Half-baked surrender " was published on KKSBlog.

Bob Cohen (Brahmatirtha Dasa) Welcome to our second newsletter from the Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies. For us this year has been challenging yet productive. The recent lockdowns proved a blessing in that our scholars have been able to work together more closely using Zoom. We have replaced jet lag with Zoom lag - with intercontinental meetings through multiple time zones!

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Answer Podcast

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In this short video Sadbhuja Das, TOVP Managing Director shows the current progress of the Chatri floors with their beautiful and ornate marble inlays.

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High Park, Toronto

Getting High on Chanting

Some restrictions becoming relaxed on Covid discipline has made it more possible for a flow of freedom in places like High Park. From noon until 4 pm, a small group of us bhakti yoga followers gathered at what Nick called “the Hill” for kirtanperformance. It’s a great spot in a great park where people come to chill.

I managed to catch the last few minutes of the blissful chant before embarking on a trip (by car) north to Caledon and to a farm. Visiting this sixty-four-acre land in the rolling hills north of Toronto was a real treat, not only because of the breath of fresh air myself and three companions were experiencing, but unique to this farm are the special features it offers. For instance, this new facility has this high-tech self-cleaning automated operation all to accommodate the bulls and cows in the winter season. It is their feeding space, living space, and pooping place.

These beautiful mammals also receive a lot of love from owners Vishal (who boldly gets on the back of this feisty bull for a ride), his wife Yashomati and their three children. Both animals and humans are in love with each other. 

The four of us visiting took to chanting, as we had done in High Park, in the barn which actually has living quarters affixed to it. We enjoyed prasadamin the living room which has four large windows that allow you to view the animals in the barn. Cows, bulls, and horses could hear our kirtan and, like a happy family, grouped together to listen in through those windows. It was precious.

May the source be with you!