Govinda Ghosh Disappearance
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Krsna dasa Kaviraja Goswami writes (CC Adi 10.115): “The three brothers, Govinda, Madhava, and Vasudeva were the eighty-second, eighty-third, and eighty-fourth branches of the Caitanya tree. Lord Caitanya and Nityananda used to dance in their kirtana performances. 

In his Caitanya-Caritamrta commentary, Srila Prabhupada writes: ”The three brothers, Govinda, Madhava and Vasudeva Ghosh all belonged to a kayastha family. Govinda established the Gopinatha temple in Agradvipa, where he resided. 

Madhava Ghosh was expert in performing kirtana. No one within this world could compete with him. He was known as the singer of Vrndavana and was very dear to Nityananda Prabhu. It is said that when the three brothers performed sankirtana immediately Lord Caitanya and Nityananda Prabhu would dance in ecstasy. 

According to the gaura-ganoddessa-dipika (188), the three brothers were formerly Kalavati, Rasollasa and Gunatunga, who recited the songs composed by Sri Visakha-gopi. 

The three brothers were among one of the seven parties that performed kirtana when Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu attended the Rathayatra festival at Jagannatha Puri. Vakresvara Pandita was the chief dancer in their party. 

This is vividly described in the Madhya-lila, Chapter Thirteen, verses 42 and 43 [of Caitanya-Caritamrta]”

Kaviraja Goswami further records (CC adi 10.117—118): “By the order of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, three devotees accompanied Lord Nityananda Prabhu when He returned to Bengal to preach. These three were Ramadasa, Madhava, and Vasudeva Ghosh. 

Govinda Ghosh, however, remained with Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and thus felt great satisfaction.”

It is said that Govinda Ghosh Thakura had no children. As he grew old, he was in some anxiety, worrying about who would perform his funeral ceremony and offer a sacrifice in his honour after his passing away.  

One night in a dream Gopinatha, his Krsna Deity, came to him and said, “Do not worry, I shall perform the sacrificial offerings myself. Have no fear.” 

Even to this day, every year on the anniversary of the passing away of Sri Govinda Ghosh Thakura, the Gopinatha Deity performs the sacrificial ceremonies in his honour. Sri Vasudeva Ghosh Thakura passed away on the second day of the full moon in the month of Kartika.

Giving disciples a vision
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 12 April 2020, Durban, South Africa, Vyasa-Puja Lecture)

In my youth, I came to Krsna consciousness and I had lots of energy and I used it all with a lot of enthusiasm to do many things. The focus was on doing things for Krsna – doing service. I tried to do a lot of service. In the cause of doing service, I did step on a few toes here and there. I did elbow a few people out of the way or knock them over. What shall I say? But these things were secondary to me because the things that needed to be done in devotional service were the most important. But as time progressed, I was not only responsible for doing things in devotional service but I became responsible for people doing things in devotional service. And I looked after them and together with them, I tried to get things done. As time moved along the focus shifted more and more to people and it became my service to look after people. Not even so much about them having to do this service or that service and getting some service done through them. No, now my service was just to look after people in general and how I could help them to realise their full potential.

Tamal Krsna Maharaja in that regards once said, “It is a duty of a spiritual master to give his disciples a vision about their own life which is greater than what they would have come up with on their own. And then to help the disciples to realise that potential.” So that was something I remembered instantly. As soon as he said it, I memorised it. It was that potent and impertinent. It summed up what I was supposed to be doing. Anyhow from doing things for Krsna, to looking after people who were doing things for Krsna and to looking after people for Krsna. All these things come up in devotional service and yes that mercy of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu offers us a golden opportunity. We can take advantage in the service we do for this mission and in our personal behaviour and in our dealings with the vaisnavas, then surely we can go back to Godhead!

The article " Giving disciples a vision " was published on KKSBlog.

Dreaming of …Queen Kunti
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“I was distributing on a sidewalk at an intersection in Barcelona, Spain. Every day I would try to stop the same young lady, but she would ignore me. One day I walked with her a few meters, pleading with her in a friendly way: “Come on! Just take one book!” Pointing to the Teachings of Queen Kunti I was holding, I said, “Here, please take the teachings of the queen!”

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NEWS from ISKCON Durban
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2020 was a year that promised to fulfil the dreams and desires for many around the world, instead the year turned out one of struggle and survival. The world was locked, travel was restricted, institutions were locked down, and most importantly, Srila Prabhupada's temples across the globe were temporarily closed and we were forced to go within.

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Sri Govinda Ghosh — Disappearance 8th April 2021
→ Mayapur.com

Sri Govinda Ghosh, an intimate associate of Lord Caitanya, was known for his sweet kirtans at the annual Jagannatha Puri Ratha- yatra festival. Lord Caitanya would at once begin to dance whenever Govinda Ghosh would sing. Govinda Ghosh and his brothers Vasudeva and Madhava are eternal associates of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda Prabhu. He […]

The post Sri Govinda Ghosh — Disappearance 8th April 2021 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

The #GivingToPrabhupada 11 Day Matching Fundraiser
- TOVP.org

Over the last three years the TOVP Fundraising Department headed by Braja Vilasa prabhu has successfully organized the #GivingTOVP 11 Day Matching Fundraiser online campaign. This has been our largest fundraising event to date which includes the auspicious days of Akshaya Tritiya and Nrsimha Caturdasi.

This year, the 125th Appearance Anniversary Year of Srila Prabhupada, we have decided to switch gears and focus this 11-day event on welcoming His Divine Grace to the TOVP at his October murti installation and giving him a Guru dakshina of $1 million for the ongoing construction of the project, which he will now personally oversee. To do this we will be providing devotees with the most unique, once-in-a-lifetime seva opportunity to give back to our eternal master and ISKCON Founder/Acharya by offering him one of five kinds of abhishekas. Ambarisa prabhu will be matching $150,000 of the donations received.

From May 14 (Akshaya Tritiya) – May 25 (Nrsimha Caturdasi) our online donation portals will be humming with transcendental activity as devotees worldwide sponsor abhishekas to participate in this most historic milestone event. Srila Prabhupada’s presence in the TOVP will most certainly empower us all to fulfill his order and complete this magnificent temple for his and our purva acharyas’ pleasure, and the glory of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabu.

“I have named this temple Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir, the Rising Moon of Mayapur. Now make it rise, bigger and bigger until it becomes the full moon. And this moonshine will be spread all over the world. All over India they will come to see. From all over the world they will come.”

Srila Prabhupada

This is the first of several promotional articles to remind all ISKCON devotees, whether man, woman or child, to take advantage of this wonderful seva opportunity, even if they have already given to the TOVP.

Find out the details about the abhisheka opportunities.

 

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

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Store: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/

Remembering Pishima: An Exalted Vaishnavi (video)
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By Iskcon Vaishnavi Ministry

Honouring Srila Prabhupada's beloved sister. Commemoration of the anniversary of Pishima's disappearance. Srila Prabhupada’s daughters ANANGA MANJARI Devi Dasi & SRUTIRUPA Devi Dasi, who both had personal association of Pishima, share never before heard pastimes. “Pishima embodied true devotion and deep wisdom. Our blessed time together transformed me into a more authentic person and Vaishnavi. I am forever grateful.” ~ Ananga Manjari Devi Dasi (ACBSP) Continue reading "Remembering Pishima: An Exalted Vaishnavi (video)
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Sannyasa Ministry Newsletter – January-March 2021
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By ISKCON Sannyasa Ministry

Anyone who has no other interest but to dedicate his life to the service of the Lord is actually a sannyasi. Such a person always thinks of himself as an eternal servant, dependent on the supreme will of the Lord. As such, whatever he does, he does it for the benefit of the Lord. Whatever action he performs, he performs it as a service to the Lord. (Bhagavad-gita 9.28 Purport) Continue reading "Sannyasa Ministry Newsletter – January-March 2021
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We need each other (video)
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By ISKCON of DC

In this time of social upheaval, how do we build bridges across differences? How do we inspire a shift in mindset on an individual, organizational, and global level? A dialogue facilitated by Gauravani Das with Sastivar Das (ACBSP) and devotees from the Urban Center in Washington D.C. (IFAST) - Madhavacharya Das, Ekavira Das, and Jagannatha Pandit Das. Continue reading "We need each other (video)
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Saturday, April 3, 2021
→ The Walking Monk

Room at 243, Toronto

 

Another Positive

 

One other member of our ashram tested Covid positive. Dakshin is in his early 70’s. Generally, he’s strong as a bull in some respects. I don’t have a way to really communicate with him, with both of us separated in different locations of the building. Furthermore, neither does he have a phone nor does he wish to have one. I guess we’ll be praying for each other.

 

To be very frank I’m feeling quite alright. Staying positive in attitude goes a long way toward overcoming this problem. A godsister of mine, Yasomati, originally from Canada and now in Mayapura, India, also taken by the virus, wrote yesterday, “Sorry to hear you also joined the positive family. This virus responds well to positive attitude, lots of rest, proper hydration and nourishment.”

 

Thank you, Yasomati.

 

What further lifted my spirits today was getting on board with a group to discuss a future senior’s home. There is a great need to address the aging population among us. Secondly, I Zoomed with our Vancouver chapter to converse over the new temple project. It’s progressive!

 

Finally, the evening saw to another Zoom call with an Oakville team — discussions on food from chapter 17 of the Bhagavad Gita. It was an appetizer of a conversation. The way to go is eating food that’s blessed, food that’s organic, local, sourced from heirloom seeds etc.

 

May the Source be with you!

0 km


 

Friday, April 2, 2021
→ The Walking Monk

Room at 243, Toronto

 

I’m Covid+ But Positive

 

The results came back from the University Health Network (UHN), a collaboration of one’s health records, and I’ve tested COVID-19 positive. Therefore, another 10-day quarantine is required for me. This is a minor austerity. I’m confined to quarters consisting of three rooms, including a bathroom, bedroom and a meeting/living room facility. I look outside a fair size arched window and can see the neighborhood as I slightly envy those who can walk about, literally. The whole province is on a lockdown anyway, so I’m not the only one. A real plus is that I’m in the place of our guru.

 

I have my various medicines, including ayurvedic pills. I’m doing whatever I can to build immunity. My regimen also involves some yoga stretches.

 

The one thing that really lifted my spirits today was to read from the Chaitanya Bhagavat on the glories of Haridas; a former Muslim who converted to Vaishnava mantra meditation.

 

To top that reading was a virtual class with a Peruvian group on the topic of “Spiritual Activism on the Trails.” Indeed, this presentation, which was translated, enthused my day as I went down memory lane on the road and I felt, in the delivery of my words, that I was actually there. It was a perceptible experience, recalling the encounters on the road with shared travelers in the wildlife. Such encounters were there as non-accidental incidents.

 

May the source be with you!

0 km


 

Thursday, April 1, 2021
→ The Walking Monk

Room at 243, Toronto

 

My Turn

 

This was my turn — a test for COVID-19 at an assessment center. Bathurst and Bloor was the location. The queue was there but it moved fast. Once you get into a cubicle you are swabbed in each nostril and then you’re good to go.

 

That “going” was like ecstasy because it meant that after eight days, I actually had a chance to be outdoors. I arrived by taxi, however, I had the pleasure to walk back to the ashram. It’s only a 4 km walk and it’s a route through Kensington Village. Hey, I’m glad to see graffiti being stripped off the public washroom.

 

Before the end of the summer, I am cynically sure that paint spray strips will manifest again on the washroom facility. You can see I’m not a fan of defacing buildings; unless done with finesse.

 

It was chilly, a bit, but literally being on my feet, I chose the sunny side of the street when applicable. The university was quiet and so was Chinatown. I kept my mask firmly on. The mask does shield from the occasional biting breeze that whips around the corner.

 

In one hour, I made it back. Out of habit I compare time and my pace. It’s not a race, just observation of movement in time and space.

 

The results of Covid testing will be back within a day, so they say.

 

May the Source be with you!

4 km


 

Wednesday, March 31, 2021
→ The Walking Monk

Room at 243, Toronto

 

To Get a Call

 

It’s nice to get a call, like the following, once in a while (it’s paraphrased).

 

“Hi! I just wanted to introduce myself. I am Jorge. I live up north, have a family, work at a factory. Right now, as we’re talking, I am walking my two dogs on a forest trail that I frequent almost every day. I have a mother who is a devout Christian and, as I grew up, I would accompany her to services; so I appreciate the tradition very much.

 

“It was a friend of mine who introduced me to the Bhagavad-Gita. I’m reading it and I love it. I’m also doing some chanting, which gives me peace.

 

“I’m calling because I realize I need direction and explanation. I’d like to move forward in my spiritual life. My wife is agnostic and my kids are addicted to video games, so I’m a bit on my own with the spiritual journey.”

 

From that detailed introduction a friend was made and we agreed to set up a time for regular weekly Gita study sessions. From my perspective that is what I am set up for in my life — to give encouragement to people based on the ethics of the Gita; the Song of God.

 

Today is a day where, just around the corner, Easter weekend takes place. It is a time when 2.5 billion people on the planet may reflect on the teachings of spirituality in the form of Christianity. However, it’s really a time when all people of the earth can dig deep into their spiritual life, regardless of who they call their savior.

 

May the Source be with you!

0 km


 

Happy Rama Navami From the TOVP
- TOVP.org

In a few days Vaishnavas worldwide will be celebrating the appearance of Lord Rama (Rama Navami), celebrated as the Lord’s avatar Who exemplified the life of a perfect King and human being. His glorious pastimes are a variety of transcendental pleasure and pain, and everything in-between, all meant to absorb us in His thought, and the lessons they teach. Ultimately, those who are His devotees will reach His abode in the spiritual sky where they can engage in these pastimes eternally in full bliss and knowledge.

Lord Krishna comes specifically to exhibit multifarious pleasure pastimes as the cowherd of Vraja, lover of the gopis, protector of His devotees, and many other varieties of lila. By doing so He attracts our hearts to Him by His sweetness and brings a vision of His divine abode into this material world to enhance our remembrance of Him.

The avatar of Lord Caitanya has some significant differences. In this form the Lord appears with three main purposes and hides His true identity, thus being called the chana (hidden) avatar. Through teaching by His own example how to be a devotee He spreads the yuga dharma of Harinama sankirtana, distributes love of God (prema) freely to all, and also fulfills His deepest longing as the Supreme Enjoyer to experience the ultimate bliss, maha bhava, that Sri Radha tastes in her love for Him.

These three most important avatars amazingly appear simultaneously in the unique form of Sadbhuja, the six-armed form of the Lord Who holds in His hands the bow and arrow, flute and stick, and danda and water pot respectively. This clearly emphasizes the transcendental superiority of these three forms of the Lord Who, while unique in Their own ways, are one in this divine Sadbhuja form.

Satyaraja Dasa, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada, author and BTG Associate Editor has quoted the following from Radhe Govinda Dasa in a BTG article about the Sadbhuja form:

“Rama is the supreme in terms of formality, or rules and regulations, allowing us to reach the concept of God Almighty. Now, Krishna is the Lord of play (lila), or the Supreme Who manifests beautiful pastimes for the pleasure of His devotees. And Mahaprabhu gives us divine love (prema) in an unprecedented way. Together, these three aspects of Godhead are seen in sad-bhuja-murti, a very special manifestation of the Supreme.”

Read the complete article.

The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, being a manifestation of Lord Caitanya’s mission, is spreading the glories of this Sadbhuja murti, and therefore the glories of Lord Rama as well. Thus, on the auspicious appearance day of Lord Rama if you feel inclined to support the TOVP, please visit the TOVP website at www.tovp.org.
Hare Krishna.

The First National Child Protection Team Member Conference Online
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By Lilasuka dasi

Every temple, project and school in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is required to have a trained and active Child Protection Team (CPT). CPT's have two main functions - to help prevent and to respond to child abuse concerns in local ISKCON communities. CPT’s have the special focus of helping local management implement policies that enhance safety, including screening those in positions of trust; awareness training for adults and children; and responding to concerns of child maltreatment. CPT members receive basic training from and work in tandem with the Child Protection Office (CPO). Continue reading "The First National Child Protection Team Member Conference Online
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The illusion of reality
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By Krishna Ragini Devi dasi

The ancient Greek philosopher Plato described in his myth of the cave (also known as "The allegory of the cave") the human condition by picturing human beings in a dark cave with one single light coming through the entrance to the cave. Just that the people inside don't look at that light: they are chained to the walls of the cave, face to the walls. All they see are the shadows reflected on those walls. They can not even see themselves but as their own shadow on the wall. This goes on up to a moment in time when their natural intelligence makes them question if this is all? Is this shadow all that is? Continue reading "The illusion of reality
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When our van got surrounded by twelve police cars and about thirty officers with their guns drawn!
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“It was the fall of 1984, and our party had been distributing books at the State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida, all day. We parked our van in a Days Inn parking lot for the night. Our party of five brahmacaris was fast asleep in the van when we heard aloud voice over a megaphone: ‘All right in there! Come out slowly with your hands raised!’ I looked out the window and was shocked to see the van surrounded by twelve police cars and about thirty officers with their guns drawn!

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Shabari – A great devotee of Lord Rama
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By Chandan Yatra Das

Shabari was a tribal lady and had unflinching devotion for Lord Rama. She took the shelter of great sage Matanga Rsi as her spiritual master. During the last days of sage Matanga, Shabari served him with great attention and care. Pleased by her service, Matanga Rsi blessed her that one day certainly Lord Rama along with His bother Laxmana will come to meet her. Having undeterred faith in the words of her spiritual master, every day, Shabari collected Ber (berries) from nearby forest in great anticipation that Lord Rama will come to meet her Continue reading "Shabari – A great devotee of Lord Rama
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An Eventful Jump
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Who is qualified for spiritual life? Only brāhmaṇas? Or sannyāsīs, or human beings, scholars, or Indians!? – Whether one is a man or a woman, householder or a renunciant, Indian or an American, aristocratic or underprivileged, rich or poor, educated or illiterate, child or an elder, human being or an animal, everyone is a child of God and is spiritual. Therefore, to love God and serve God is the innate characteristic (dharma) of every living being

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Hope Against Hope
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Hare KrishnaBy His Divine Grace A.C.B. Swami Prabhupada

The different groups of atheist thinkers have different kinds of plans in the brain and they are exhibited in different patterns of godlessness. One set of atheistic nation thinks on it in a different way and all of them clash at a point of overlapping circles caused by the 'Daiva' way. This is so because none of these thoughts of different groups is beyond the range of direct perception of the material sense without any spiritual knowledge. Therefore the quality of such different thought is always the same but the varieties are presented in multi-colourful attraction for the foolish mass of people. We have already discussed this point at length in our article 'All Compact in Thought'. The mass of people are themselves blind to see everything in their true perspective and they are now made to follow similar blind leaders under various political arrangement. They are made to follow either of the above multi-colourful ideals sure to be failure in the long run and therefore they are made to hope against hope in a practical way. Continue reading "Hope Against Hope
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Appearance of Sri Srivasa Pandita 4th April 2021!
→ Mayapur.com

asyaartho vivrtas tair yah sa sankshipyaa vilikhyate bhakta-rupo gaurachandro yato ‘sau nandanandanah bhakta-swarupo nityanando vraje yah sri-halayudhah bhaktaavatara acaryo ‘dvaito yah sri-sadaasivah bhaktaakhyaah srinivaasaadyaa yatas te bhakta-rupinah bhakta-shaktir dvi jaagranyah sri-gadaadhara-panditah “I shall now summarily explain the meaning of these words. In this Pancha-tattwa, the bhakta-rupa (form of a devotee) is Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who […]

The post Appearance of Sri Srivasa Pandita 4th April 2021! appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Holi and Gaura Purnima – The Greatest Festival in Mayapur!! (10 min. video)
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The annual Gaura Purnima Festival is the most exciting event of the year at Mayapur. Sri Mayapur is the transcendental appearance place of the Supreme Lord Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Srila Prabhupada desired all devotees to come to Mayapur at least once in a year as far as possible, to get charged with the unlimited mercy of Mahaprabhu, and Gaura Purnima is the best time to do this.

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