The tortoise incarnation (video)
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The primeval Lord then assumed the tortoise incarnation in order to serve as a resting place [pivot] for the Mandara Mountain, which was acting as a churning rod. The demigods and demons were churning the Ocean of Milk with the Mandara Mountain in order to extract nectar. The mountain moved back and forth, scratching the back of Lord Tortoise, who, while partially sleeping, was experiencing an itching sensation

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Is ISKCON Ready for the Big Stage?? (video)
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By Anuttama Das

"If you make some of the big Government officials interested in our movement then our strength will increase. Because we are in the material world sometimes we require that help. Another point is that if a government officer becomes our admirer or member then many others will follow, so try to make them sympathizers." Srila Prabhupada Letter to Tejiyas, 15 August 1973 Continue reading "Is ISKCON Ready for the Big Stage?? (video)
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The Seven Keys to a Successful Future for ISKCON (video)
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By Vraja Vihari Das

ISKCON Leadership Sanga, Sri Dham Mayapur. Gaura Purnima 2020, Day 1. Respectful Dialogue not defeatism debate - Vada, not vitanda or jalpa. In cooperation, Krsna appears. Assuming that there is a right answer (and that you have it). Assuming that others have pieces of the answer and that together you can craft a solution Continue reading "The Seven Keys to a Successful Future for ISKCON (video)
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TOVP Book of Devotion Pledge Completion Deadline Extended
- TOVP.org

The TOVP Book of Devotion, a special and magnificent 500 page, gold leafed offering to Srila Prabhupada of the names of 6000+ donors who have completed their pledges by the end of 2020, is scheduled to be presented to him at the installation of his new murti in the TOVP in October, 2021. This message is to announce that the deadline for inclusion in the publication has now been extended to Gaura Purnima, March 28.

Due to the requests of many devotees to extend the date, and after consulting with the producers of the book whose work has been delayed due to the corona virus, Ambarisa and Braja Vilasa prabhus have decided to officially extend the deadline to Gaura Purnima, March 28. This will give many eager devotees another few month’s opportunity to finish their pledges and have their names included in the book.

For more information, please visit the TOVP website at www.tovp.org. You can complete your pledge on the website or through your regular donation methods.

General Donors: www.tovp.org
Canada Donors: www.tovpcanada.org
UK and Europe Donors: Sukanti Radha dasi tovpuk@gmail.com or www.tovp.org
Russia Donors: www.tovp.org/ru/ or narayaniradha.jps@gmail.com
Ukraine Donors: Gopi Nandini dasi hornetf18@mail.ru

Don’t wait, sponsor an abhisheka TODAY!

 

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End of life care and bhakti wisdom (video)
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HH Giriraj Swami was born Glenn Phillip Teton, the only son of a respected Chicago lawyer who was later appointed judge. In March of 1969, while studying at Brandeis University in Boston, he met His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, the founder-acarya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), from whom, he felt, he learned more in one brief exchange than he had learned in his many years of academic education. After graduating from Brandeis cum laude, he accepted formal initiation from Srila Prabhupada and received the spiritual name Giriraj das. Giriraj quickly became a leading member of the Boston center and was soon given the opportunity to go to India with Srila Prabhupada and helped establish his mission there.


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On Friendship
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By Sesa Das

Friendship is a necessary part of our personhood, in both our material and spiritual being. The ancient Sanskrit text Hitopadesa ("Beneficial Advice") speaks extensively on friendship in simple story form which incorporates maxims, worldly wisdom, and practical advice. In the first book of the Hitopadesa, Mitralabha (“Gaining Friends”), the qualities of a true friend are listed as purity, generosity, chivalry, being composed in happiness and distress, politeness, affection, and truthfulness. Continue reading "On Friendship
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The Big Bang and the Sages – A New Book on the Puranas and Science
→ ISKCON News

Bibek Debroy, Chairman of India’s Prime Minister’s Economic Council has launched Sidharth Chhabra (Siddha Hari Das) and Madhavendra Puri Das’ upcoming book on the Bhagavata Purana.  Srila Prabhupada frequently asserted that the Puranic accounts are historical facts, although labeled mythology by modern man. In their book, the authors use rigorous scientific evidence to support Srila Prabhupada’s […]

The post The Big Bang and the Sages – A New Book on the Puranas and Science appeared first on ISKCON News.

Sanskrit Epics Animated in Stone – A New Exhibit in the Philadelphia Museum of Art
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   The South Asian galleries of the Philadelphia Museum of Art (which reopened on Jan. 8 after being closed due to Covid-19), has opened a special exhibit of South Indian devotional art. There are scenes from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana carved in stone, and a pillared temple hall—or mandapa—that fills up an entire gallery. Rows […]

The post Sanskrit Epics Animated in Stone – A New Exhibit in the Philadelphia Museum of Art appeared first on ISKCON News.

Aversion to fault finding, especially in public forums, or the artful practice of becoming ladies and gentlemen
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The social, emotional environment is generally nasty. Children are bullied at an early age, and many of them are also physically, sexually, and emotionally abused. It’s hard to find a safe-place and even more difficult to find a safe-person whom we can be open with and in whom we can place our trust. For beginners in devotional service, like me, the devotional creeper is tender and easily damaged or even killed


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ISKCON Contributes to Rise of Vegetarianism in Brazil, The World’s Largest Exporter of Beef
→ ISKCON News

A December 26th New York Times article, entitled “Brazil Is Famous for Its Meat. But Vegetarianism Is Soaring.” details how Brazil, the world’s largest exporter of beef, has seen a major move toward vegan or vegetarian diets in recent years. There has also been a boom in business for plant-based alternatives to meat. A survey […]

The post ISKCON Contributes to Rise of Vegetarianism in Brazil, The World’s Largest Exporter of Beef appeared first on ISKCON News.

Ganga Sagara Mela
→ Ramai Swami

The second most popular mela after Kumbha Mela is the Ganga Sagar Mela. It is India’s biggest fair held in Sagardwip, West Bengal and witnesses a large number of people pouring in.

Celebrated with great vigour and enthusiasm, the festival has a cultural and spiritual significance where pilgrims dip themselves in the holy waters of Ganga to purify their souls. Held during the winter, the Mela is an annual gathering of pilgrims which see a number of rituals, lit lamps and chanting in and around Sagardwip.

Ganga is regarded as the holiest river, which originates in Gangotri and marks the end of her journey in Sagardwip where it merges with the Bay of Bengal. If one bathes in the Ganga here, he/she would be cleansed of all his/her sins. 

The story of Ganga-sagar can be found in the epic Mahabharaat. Unwilling to let King Sagar reap the benefits of an Ashvamedha Yajna, Indra stole the sacrificial horse and hid it near the ashrama of sage Kapila. The king sent his 60,000 sons in search of the horse.

They found the horse but mistook the holy man for the thief and hurled abuse and attacked him. The sage’s wrath turned them into ashes. Many years later, Prince Bhagiratha wanted to atone the sins of his forefathers and underwent penance at Gokarna (Karnataka).

Then he persuaded Ganga to flow to earth from heaven. After many trials, the river goddess flowed across the ashes and the souls of the dead princes were liberated. It is said that the goddess returned to her heavenly abode but left behind her river avatar.

Apparently, it is on the day of Makar Sankranti that the river flowed into the sea at the ashram of sage Kapila. Hence a dip in the river on that day absolves one of all sins and prevents re-birth.

How Depressed Desire Leads to Depression
→ ISKCON News

Suppose someone riding a cycle pedals too fast and falls into a ditch. On getting up, they decide that pedaling caused their accident and refuse to pedal anymore. If cycling was their only means of locomotion, their misdiagnosis would leave them immobilized.   If we liken our life-journey to a cycle ride, then our desires are […]

The post How Depressed Desire Leads to Depression appeared first on ISKCON News.

Radha Mohan Das: Synthesizing Science and Spirituality – My Personal Journey
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“Like most youth of my generation and many previous on the whole I was brought up to believe in the existence of God. But also like many others, by the time I reached about 14 I had delved into science text books and the secular narrative influenced my world- view. But after a few years  […]

The post Radha Mohan Das: Synthesizing Science and Spirituality – My Personal Journey appeared first on ISKCON News.

Radha Mohan Das: Synthesizing Science and Spirituality – My Personal Journey
→ ISKCON News: Latest Stories

“Like most youth of my generation and many previous on the whole I was brought up to believe in the existence of God. But also like many others, by the time I reached about 14 I had delved into science text books and the secular narrative influenced my world- view. But after a few years  I realised there was something important missing. A cold, dark, largely empty universe with no apparent meaning did not at all satisfy me internally. 

I needed something outside of the box..."

Poem: Lockdown
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  Almost a year gone All personal life perhaps undone  Challenges on all sides  A time like no other  No longer in arms with our brothers  Many soldiers have left us  Now we stand bereft of their light  Much has changed on the external plane  But have we changed our internal frame Where has our […]

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