Planet ISKCON

  Every job has its perks. The higher the position, the more perks are available. Most often the perks are simple things, designed to both honor one’s status and facilitate one’s work. Simon Sinek, author and inspirational speaker, tells a story about perks which is not just instructive but imparts an essential truth about honor […]

The post There is a Quid Pro Quo in Honoring Our Leaders appeared first on ISKCON News.

There is a quid pro quo built into every relationship, every institution. Honor and tradition, the results of quid pro quo, are unifying principles which transform a group of individuals into a society of peoples.  Recent events in Washington DC have shown how veering away from quid pro quo by denigrating political institutions can weaken the fabric of a nation, any nation, even the United States of America.

Book Launch: I'll Build You a Temple: The Juhu Story by HH Giriraj Swami

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By Rohini Suta Das

Anyone who is a bona fide preacher of the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu must be respectful to the real devotees of Lord Caitanya; one should not be envious, considering one preacher to be very great and another to be very lowly. This is a material distinction and has no place on the platform of spiritual activities. Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, therefore, offers equal respect to all the preachers of the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who are compared to the branches of the tree. Continue reading "Disappearance day of Jiva Goswami and jagadisa Pandit (video)
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By Giriraj Swami

Another story fabricated to defame Srila Jiva Gosvami states that when Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami showed him the newly-completed manuscript of Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Jiva Gosvami thought that it would hamper his reputation as a big scholar and therefore threw it in a well. Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami was greatly shocked, according to this story, and he died immediately. Fortunately a copy of the manuscript of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta had been kept by a person named Mukunda, and therefore later it was possible to publish the book. This story is another ignominious example of blasphemy against a guru and Vaisnava. Such a story should never be accepted as authoritative. Continue reading "Srila Jiva Gosvami’s Disappearance Day
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Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, Chapter Ten describes the branches of the tree named Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu.

TEXT 1

sri-caitanya-padambhoja-
  madhupebhyo namo namah
kathancid asrayad yesam
  svapi tad-gandha-bhag bhavet

TRANSLATION

Let me repeatedly offer my respectful obeisances unto the beelike devotees who always taste the honey of the lotus feet of Caitanya Mahaprabhu. If even a doggish nondevotee somehow takes shelter of such devotees, he enjoys the aroma of the lotus flower.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

The example of a dog is very significant in this connection. A dog naturally does not become a devotee at any time. But still it is sometimes found that a dog of a devotee gradually becomes a devotee also. We have actually seen that a dog has no respect even for the tulasi plant. Indeed, a dog is especially inclined to pass urine on the tulasi plant. Therefore the dog is the number one nondevotee. But Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s sankirtana movement is so strong that even a doglike nondevotee can gradually become a devotee by the association of a devotee of Lord Caitanya. Srila Sivananda Sena, a great householder devotee of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu, attracted a dog on the street while going to Jagannatha Puri. The dog began to follow him and ultimately went to see Caitanya Mahaprabhu and was liberated. Similarly, cats and dogs in the household of Srivasa Thakura were also liberated. Cats and dogs and other animals are not expected to become devotees, but in the association of a pure devotee they are also delivered.

TEXTS 2–6

jaya jaya sri-krsna-caitanya-nityananda
jaya advaitacandra jaya gaura-bhakta-vrnda

All glories to Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Lord Nityananda! All glories to Advaita Prabhu, and all glories to the devotees of Lord Caitanya, headed by Srivasa!

ei malira-ei vrksera akathya kathana
ebe suna mukhya-sakhara nama-vivarana

The description of Lord Caitanya as the gardener and the tree is inconceivable. Now hear with attention about the branches of this tree.

caitanya-gosanira yata parisada-caya
guru-laghu-bhava tanra na haya niscaya

The associates of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu were many, but none of them should be considered lower or higher. This cannot be ascertained.

yata yata mahanta kaila tan-sabara ganana
keha karibare nare jyestha-laghu-krama

All the great personalities in the line of Lord Caitanya enumerated these devotees, but they could not distinguish between the greater and the lesser.

ataeva tan-sabare kari’ namaskara
nama-matra kari, dosa na labe amara

I offer my obeisances unto them as a token of respect. I request them not to consider my offenses.

TEXT 7

vande sri-krsna-caitanya-
  premamara-taroh priyan
sakha-rupan bhakta-ganan
  krsna-prema-phala-pradan

I offer my respectful obeisances to all the dear devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, the eternal tree of love of Godhead. I offer my respects to all the branches of the tree, the devotees of the Lord who distribute the fruit of love of Krsna.

PURPORT

Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami sets the example of offering obeisances to all the preacher devotees of Lord Caitanya, without distinction as to higher and lower. Unfortunately, at present there are many foolish so-called devotees of Lord Caitanya who make such distinctions. For example, the title “Prabhupada” is offered to a spiritual master, especially to a distinguished spiritual master such as Srila Rupa Gosvami Prabhupada, Srila Jiva Gosvami Prabhupada, or Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Prabhupada. When our disciples similarly wanted to address their spiritual master as Prabhupada, some foolish people became envious. Not considering the propaganda work of the Hare Krsna movement, simply because these disciples addressed their spiritual master as Prabhupada, they became so envious that they formed a faction with other such envious persons just to minimize the value of the Krsna consciousness movement. To chastise such fools, Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami very frankly says, keha karibare nare jyestha-laghu-krama. Anyone who is a bona fide preacher of the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu must be respectful to the real devotees of Lord Caitanya; one should not be envious, considering one preacher to be very great and another to be very lowly. This is a material distinction and has no place on the platform of spiritual activities. Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami therefore offers equal respect to all the preachers of the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, who are compared to the branches of the tree. ISKCON is one of these branches, and it should therefore be respected by all sincere devotees of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.

COMMENT by Giriraj Swami

Even among Gaudiya Vaishnavas, we must be careful to avoid offenses. We must respect and recognize the service of all Vaishnavas. As Srila Prabhupada once said, if we do not give credit where credit is due, we will become envious.

TEXT 85

tanra madhye rupa-sanatana-bada sakha
anupama, jiva, rajendradi upasakha

TRANSLATION

Among these branches, Rupa and Sanatana were principal. Anupama, Jiva Gosvami and others, headed by Rajendra, were their sub-branches.

PURPORT

In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (195) it is said that Srila Jiva Gosvami was formerly Vilasa-manjari gopi. From his very childhood Jiva Gosvami was greatly fond of Srimad-Bhagavatam. He later came to Navadvipa to study Sanskrit, and, following in the footsteps of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, he circumambulated the entire Navadvipa-dhama.

COMMENT

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has described Jiva Gosvami’s Navadvipa parikrama, and this parikrama of Nityananda Prabhu and Jiva Gosvami forms the basis of the Navadvipa parikrama we perform now, under the guidance of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

PURPORT

After visiting Navadvipa-dhama he went to Benares to study Sanskrit under Madhusudana Vacaspati, and after finishing his studies in Benares he went to Vrndavana and took shelter of his uncles, Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana. This is described in Bhakti-ratnakara. As far as our information goes, Srila Jiva Gosvami composed and edited at least twenty-five books. They are all very celebrated, and they are listed as follows: (1) Hari-namamrta-vyakarana, (2) Sutra-malika, (3) Dhatu-sangraha, (4) Krsnarca-dipika, (5) Gopala-virudavali, (6) Rasamrta-sesa, (7) Sri Madhava-mahotsava, (8) Sri Sankalpa-kalpavrksa, (9) Bhavartha-sucaka-campu, (10) Gopala-tapani-tika, (11) a commentary on the Brahma-samhita, (12) a commentary on the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, (13) a commentary on the Ujjvala-nilamani, (14) a commentary on the Yogasara-stava, (15) a commentary on the Gayatri-mantra, as described in the Agni Purana, (16) a description derived from the Padma Purana of the lotus feet of the Lord, (17) a description of the lotus feet of Srimati Radharani, (18) Gopala-campu (in two parts), and (19–25) seven sandharbhas: the Krama-, Tattva-, Bhagavat-, Paramatma-, Krsna-, Bhakti-, and Priti-sandharba. After the disappearance of Srila Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami in Vrndavana, Srila Jiva Gosvami became the acarya of all the Vaisnavas in Bengal, Orissa, and the rest of the world, and it is he who used to guide them in devotional service. In Vrndavana he established the Radha-Damodara temple, where, after retirement, we had the opportunity to live from 1962 until 1965, when we decided to come to the United States of America. When Jiva Gosvami was still present, Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami compiled his famous Caitanya-caritamrta. Later, Srila Jiva Gosvami inspired Srinivasa Acarya, Narottama dasa Thakura, and Duhkhi Krsnadasa to preach Krsna consciousness in Bengal. Jiva Gosvami was informed that all the manuscripts that had been collected from Vrndavana and sent to Bengal for preaching purposes were plundered near Visnupura in Bengal, but later he received the information that the books had been recovered. Sri Jiva Gosvami awarded the designation Kaviraja to Ramacandra Sena, a disciple of Srinivasa Acarya’s, and to Ramacandra’s younger brother Govinda. While Jiva Gosvami was alive, Srimati Jahnavi-devi, the pleasure potency of Sri Nityananda Prabhu, went to Vrndavana with a few devotees. Jiva Gosvami was very kind to the Gaudiya Vaisnavas, the Vaisnavas from Bengal. Whoever went to Vrndavana, he provided with a residence and prasada. His disciple Krsnadasa Adhikari listed all the books of the Gosvamis in his diary.

The sahajiyas level three accusations against Srila Jiva Gosvami. This is certainly not congenial for the execution of devotional service. The first accusation concerns a materialist who was very proud of his reputation as a great Sanskrit scholar and approached Sri Rupa and Sanatana to argue with them about the revealed scriptures. Srila Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami, not wanting to waste their time, gave him a written statement that he had defeated them in a debate on the revealed scriptures. Taking this paper, the scholar approached Jiva Gosvami for a similar certificate of defeat but Jiva Gosvami did not agree to give him one. On the contrary, he argued with him regarding the scriptures and defeated him. Certainly it was right for Jiva Gosvami to stop such a dishonest scholar from advertising that he had defeated Srila Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami, but due to their illiteracy the sahijiya class referred to this incident to accuse Srila Jiva Gosvami of deviating from the principle of humility. They do not know, however, that humility and meekness are appropriate when one’s own honor is insulted but not when Lord Visnu or the acaryas are blasphemed. In such cases one should not be humble and meek but must act. One should follow the example given by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Lord Caitanya says in His Siksastaka (3):

trnad api su-nicena
  taror iva sahisnuna
amanina mana-dena
  kirtaniyah sada hari

“One can chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking himself lower than the straw in the street. One should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige, and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.” Nevertheless, when the Lord was informed that Nityananda Prabhu was injured by Jagai and Madhai, He immediately went to the spot, angry like fire, wanting to kill them. Thus Lord Caitanya has explained His verse by the example of His own behavior. One should tolerate insults against oneself, but when there is blasphemy committed against superiors such as other Vaisnavas, one should be neither humble nor meek: one must take proper steps to counteract such blasphemy. This is the duty of the servant of a guru and Vaisnavas. Anyone who understands the principle of eternal servitude to the guru and Vaisnavas will appreciate the action of Sri Jiva Gosvami in connection with the so-called scholar’s victory over his gurus, Srila Rupa and Srila Sanatana Gosvami.

COMMENT

In the olden days in India, Sanskrit scholars used to try to show their proficiency by traveling and challenging other scholars and learned persons to debate, and if one was successful, he would be the champion. And if the person could actually go throughout India and defeat all of the other scholars, he was digvijaya, the greatest champion in Sanskrit knowledge or in scriptural arguments. Just like today there is competition among the cricket teams: they go all over the world and face rival cricket teams, and there is fierce competition to win the match. So, in the olden days, there used to be competition to win debates about Sanskrit and shastra.

But Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami were pure devotees of the Lord. They had no desire to waste time arguing and debating, to gain name and fame. So when the scholar came to debate, Rupa and Sanatana said, “You want to claim that you have defeated us? All right, you can tell people.” And they each gave him a certificate: “You have defeated me.” But when the same scholar came to Jiva Gosvami, Jiva Gosvami did not like the fact that the scholar was falsely advertising that he had defeated Rupa and Sanatana. Therefore, to uphold their honor, Jiva Gosvami engaged in debate with the scholar and defeated him.

Sahajiyas disrespect genuine acharyas. Generally, sahajiyas lack knowledge of scriptures. They think that study of scripture and discussion of siddhanta are for lower–class Vaishnavas. They want to hear krsna-lila, talks of the pastimes of Radha and Krishna in Vrindavan, not philosophy. Once, when Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura visited Radha-kunda, the babajis became excited because they thought that, as an acharya, he would speak about krsna-lila. But to curb the sahajiyas’ pride, he spoke on the Isopanisad—not even the Bhagavad-gita—to establish the fact that the sahajiyas should first learn the basic knowledge of the revealed scriptures.

Some sahajiyas think that initiating disciples is another form of materialism. And they blaspheme genuine acharyas for having many disciples. They cannot understand that the discussion of shastra and the training of disciples are transcendental, and so they blaspheme bona fide spiritual masters like Srila Jiva Gosvami. When Jiva Gosvami defeated the scholar, the sahajiyas thought that he was being proud and wanted to show that he knew more than others. They could not understand his real motives—to defend the names of Srila Rupa Gosvami and Srila Sanatana Gosvami and to curb the false prestige and false propaganda of the scholar. One of the basic principles of devotional service is that one should not tolerate blasphemy of the Lord or a devotee. Sahajiyas think that being humble means to tolerate all sorts of insults. And personally we should tolerate insult. But when there is insult to the spiritual master or the Vaishnavas or Krishna, we should not tolerate. If we are able, we should defeat the opposing party. The sahajiyas like the verse trnad api su-nicena taror iva sahisnuna/ amanina mana-dena kirtaniyah sada harih. But Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the author of the verse, Himself showed the example that although for one’s own sake one can be meek and humble and tolerate all sorts of insults, in relation to the spiritual master and the devotees one should not tolerate. Therefore, Chaitanya Mahaprabhu came to the place where Jagai and Madhai had insulted Nityananda Prabhu ready to kill Jagai and Madhai. And thus He showed the real meaning of trnad api su-nicena.

PURPORT (continued)

Another story fabricated to defame Srila Jiva Gosvami states that when Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami showed him the newly-completed manuscript of Sri Caitanya-caritamrita, Jiva Gosvami thought that it would hamper his reputation as a big scholar and therefore threw it in a well. Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami was greatly shocked, according to this story, and he died immediately. Fortunately a copy of the manuscript of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta had been kept by a person named Mukunda, and therefore later it was possible to publish the book. This story is another ignominious example of blasphemy against a guru and Vaisnava. Such a story should never be accepted as authoritative.

COMMENT

Mundane people are so envious that they do not hesitate to criticize such a great personality as Srila Jiva Gosvami. They even manufacture stories. Here the story is that Jiva Gosvami was afraid that Sri Caitanya-caritamrta would diminish his reputation as a devotee and scholar and therefore out of envy he threw the manuscript in a well so that the book would be lost. Indirectly, they charge that Jiva Gosvami was responsible for the death of Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami. Such a claim is absurd—and offensive.

PURPORT (continued)

According to another accusation, Srila Jiva Gosvami did not approve of the principles of the parakiya-rasa of Vraja-dhama and therefore supported svakiya-rasa, showing that Radha and Krsna are eternally married.

COMMENT

Svakiya-rasa means relationship with one’s own wife. And parakiya-rasa means relationship with someone who is not one’s wife, who is either not married at all and thus is under the protection of her parents, or who is married to someone else and thus is under the protection of her husband.

PURPORT (continued)

Actually, when Jiva Gosvami was alive, some of his followers disliked the parakiya-rasa of the gopis. Therefore Srila Jiva Gosvami, for their spiritual benefit, supported svakiya-rasa, for he could understand that sahajiyas would otherwise exploit the parakiya-rasa, as they are actually doing at the present time. Unfortunately, in Vrndavana and Navadvipa it has become fashionable among sahajiyas, in their debauchery, to find an unmarried sexual partner to live with to execute so-called devotional service in parakiya-rasa. Foreseeing this, Srila Jiva Gosvami supported svakiya-rasa, and later all the Vaisnava acaryas also approved of it.

COMMENT

Once, a man asked Srila Prabhupada, “Krishna enjoyed with the wives of others, so did He not commit adultery?” Srila Prabhupada replied, “Everyone and everything is the property of Krishna. Your wife is also Krishna’s property. So who is committing adultery?” Because all souls belong to Krishna, Krishna’s relationship with them is svakiya.

PURPORT (concluded)

Srila Jiva Gosvami was never opposed to the transcendental parakiya-rasa, nor has any other Vaisnava disapproved of it. Srila Jiva Gosvami strictly followed his predecessor gurus and Vaisnavas, Srila Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami, and Srila Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami accepted him as one of his instructor gurus.

COMMENT

If Jiva Gosvami had actually deviated from the line of Rupa and Sanatana, how could Krishnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami, who elaborately described radha-krsna-lila in parakiya-rasa, especially in Sri Govinda-lilamrta, have accepted him as siksa-guru? All the acharyas in the line following Rupa Gosvami accept the transcendental parakiya-rasa, and they also accept Srila Jiva Gosvami as siksa-guru. When they accept Srila Jiva Gosvami as siksa-guru, there cannot be any fault or deviation in him. He argued in favor of svakiya-rasa simply to pacify some ignorant disciples who could not appreciate the transcendental parakiya-rasa, and to curb the sahajiyas, who would falsely try to imitate parakiya-rasa and thus go to hell. Jiva Gosvami is faultless, and bona fide followers of Sri Jiva, or of any acharya, will defend the acharya from false accusations. Jiva Gosvami did it for his gurus, Srila Rupa and Sanatana Gosvamis, and here Srila Prabhupada is doing it for Srila Jiva Gosvami.

We too should follow this principle. We should not tolerate blasphemy of the acharyas and pure Vaishnavas; we should defend them to the best of our ability. And if we are not able to defeat the criticism, then at least we should not hear it. We should leave the place.

Hare Krishna.

Are there any questions or comments?

Devotee: [inaudible]

Giriraj Swami: The spiritual master may not protest, because he is following the principle of humility, but the disciples can. When Sisupala blasphemed Krishna, none of the Pandavas could tolerate the insults, and they were ready to kill him. But Krishna said, “No!” He tolerated. Then finally He Himself killed Sisupala and delivered him. But the Pandavas were bound to become upset, and they were bound to take action.

Devotee: [inaudible]

Giriraj Swami: The associates of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu are in the highest grade. Among devotees in the highest grade we shouldn’t distinguish between big and small in a material way, just as we shouldn’t distinguish between the leaves of the tulasi tree—“That one is big, so it is better” or “This one is small, so it is lesser.” All are the same because they are parts of the tulasi plant. We may distinguish between a tulasi leaf and another type of leaf, which is not sacred like tulasi, but among the tulasi leaves we should not distinguish.

Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!
Gaura-premanande hari-haribol!

[A talk by Giriraj Swami on Srila Jiva Gosvami’s disappearance day, January 14, 1994, Mauritius]

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While its doors remain closed to the public due to COVID-19, the brand new Portland Bhakti Center, located in the hip and trendy Hawthorne neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, has launched and is serving COVID-safe Krishna Friday Feasts to-go for all. The new center will work cooperatively with the already existing ISKCON Portland temple, located in […]

The post New Portland Bhakti Center Launches, Serves Friday Feasts To Go appeared first on ISKCON News.

While its doors remain closed to the public due to COVID-19, the brand new Portland Bhakti Center has launched and is serving COVID-safe Krishna Friday Feasts to-go for all.

Giriraj Swami’s new book, “I’ll Build You a Temple: The Juhu Story,” has been published by the BBT and is set to be released on January 14th, 2021, the anniversary of the grand opening of the Juhu temple. In August 1965, a few weeks before Srila Prabhupada left for America, on his way to see […]

The post BBT to Release Giriraj Swami’s New Book, “I’ll Build You a Temple: The Juhu Story” appeared first on ISKCON News.

The new book has been published by the BBT and is set to be released on January 14th, 2021, the anniversary of the grand opening of the Juhu temple.

Video – Bhagavad Gita 4.10 From Ignorance To Ecstacy 12/20/2020 Ljubljana

The post Video – BG 4.10 From Ignorance To Ecstacy 12/20/2020 first appeared on Prahladananda Swami.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 22 November 2020, Simhachalam, Germany, Caitanya Caritamrta Adi-Lila 9.36)

Srila Prabhupada would be found reading his own books. Someone asked, “Srila Prabhupada, you are reading your own books?” Prabhupada said, “I did not write these books, Krsna dictated these books. These books are pure and transcendental, descending from the spiritual world. The knowledge in these books is absolutely perfect.” Where in the world do you find that? We have advertisements everywhere – advertisements in our faces, trying to convince us that we need this and that to make us happy. It is a lie. It will not make us happy. It is just a lie. It is fake. But these books are perfect. They can bring us to perfect happiness. And, as such, what more do we want?

The article " Prabhupada’s Books " was published on KKSBlog.

“I am the servant of Thakura Shri Narahari, who is the master of my life. The desire of all my desires, I place my head at his lotus feet; which is that this vile creature (myself) might describe some-thing about the wonderful qualities of Shri Gaurasundara. In this expectation, he is my only refuge. [Chaitanya-mangala, […]

The post Sri Locana Dasa Thakur – Disappearance 14th Jan 2021 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

By Gour Govinda Swami

“A Vaisnava does not take birth under the jurisdiction of karmic law. His birth and disappearance are transcendental. The wise have declared that the servants of Visnu are eternally engaged in the liberated service of the Lord and hence are free from the laws of material nature.” (Padma Purana, quoted in the Hari-bhakti-vilasa, 10.113) Srila Jiva Gosvami was the youngest but most prolific writer among the Gosvamis. He wrote an astounding half million Sanskrit verses (about 25 books). When Srila Jiva Gosvami left this world many said that no one like him would ever appear on the planet again. Continue reading "Srila Jiva Gosvami’s Disappearance (video)
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O unlimited Supreme Personality of Godhead, whatever a living entity does in this material world is well known to You because You are the Supersoul. In the presence of the sun there is nothing to be revealed by the light of a glowworm. Similarly, because You know everything, in Your presence there is nothing for me to make known.

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Shri Lochana Dasa Thakura was a disciple of Shri Narahari Sarakara Thakura, a dearest associate of Lord Gaura Raya.
 
 “My hope of hopes is to be near the lotus feet of Shri Narottama Dasa Thakura and serve him with my very life. The cherished desire of the fallen Lochana Dasa is to be allowed, by Narahari’s grace, to sing the glories of Lord Gauranga. My Lord is Shri Narahari Thakura, I am His servant. Bowing before him I beg for his service. This is my only aspiration.” (Lochana Dasa, Chaitanya Mangala)

 Lochana Dasa Thakura wrote Chaitanya Mangala which tells many pastimes of Lord Chaitanya not revealed by Vrindavana Dasa Thakura or Krishna Dasa Kaviraja. He mentions an especially touching conversation Shri Gaurasundara had with Vishnupriya Devi the night before He took sannyasa.

Being a talented musician, Lochana Dasa told Mahaprabhu’s pastimes in beautiful poetry filled with fire and rhythm. Common people could easily understand the divine character of Shri Chaitanya and awaken their religious feelings. As Devotees regularly chant the Vedic epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, Gaudiya Vaishnava’s still wander through Bengal reciting the Chaitanya Mangala.

 Lochana Dasa Thakura also wrote many songs praising Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Shri Nityananda Prabhu, and Gauridasa Pandit. Lochana Dasa stresses that raganuga bhaktas must take shelter of Gadadhara Vrindavanishvari to attain Radha-Govinda prema bhakti.

Shrila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura used to print and distribute Lochana Dasa Thakura’s Shri Chaitanya Mangala. Shrila Prabhupada was very fond of his bhajans. While singing Parama Karuna Shrila Prabhupada would plunge into the ocean of Gauranga prema.

Prabhupada wrote an extensive commentary on this bhajana: Bhajo bhajo bhai, Caitanya Nitai, sudrdha visvasa kori … “Lochana Dasa asks everyone, ‘My dear brother, just worship Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda with firm faith and conviction.’ Don’t think that this chanting and dancing will not lead to the desired goal; it will. It is the assurance of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that one will get all perfection by this process. Therefore, one must chant with firm faith and conviction.” 

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Rosedale and Cherry Beach

 

Death and the Body

 

I received a call from a young chap, who is actually a dad with two children, saying that his father passed away. The call was specifically for me as I had known his dad, Brahma Svarup, since the early days when I became a recruit, a novice in Krishna Consciousness back in ‘73.

 

Brahma Svarup was a relatively new immigrant to Canada. He is from Mathura, the birthplace of Lord Krishna. That was an astonishing honor for those of us who were introduced to him. That location is very sacred. He was one of the few persons from India participating with us in our humble abode at 187 Gerrard St. in Toronto during those days.

 

After we move to a larger facility — the former church on Avenue Road — he donated our walk-in cooler at $10,000, which would be at least double the investment at today’s standard. It was around this time that his young son, the one who called me, fell off his bike, which became a serious accident when his head split open and he almost passed away. The doctors were shocked that he survived. Of course, his father, Brahma Svarup, considered it Krishna’s miracle.

 

We are sad to hear of Brahma Svarup’s passing and we are making those last rites arrangements. Bless his soul.

 

Yes, the body will go. I’m reminded of my own situation. Age is creeping in. Today I went for x-ray and ultrasound testing on my knees and ankles. Reporting will get back to me in two days.

 

Also, in regard to bodily concerns, my dear friend Vishal Sharma, whom I consider a free spirit, took me to Cherry Beach for a walk. He just recovered from recent surgery after having a troubled growth in his leg since a child. He’s glowing now.

 

May the source be with you!

7 km

 

 

Rosedale, Toronto

 

Let’s Get Around

 

There is definitely a walking craze going on, with people feeling confined to their living quarters. The weather is so conducive at just around the average freezing mark these days.

 

Graham and I participated in the craze and ended up gazing at front lawns, shrubs and trees. He is particularly interested in it as a hobby at his country home near Picton, Ontario. He identified the cedar globes, spruce, Colorado spruce, Norwegian pine; a host of God-made plant-life that could bring to light a world of scent, texture, beauty and grace.

 

Graham went on to say that “in the summer it’s all about flowers, but in the winter the eyes can be bedazzled by the landscape.” What a fantastic observation. I told him of how George Harrison was quite the gardener. There is also a great book on gardening, “Chaitanya Charitamrta,” which speaks figuratively about the tree of the fruit of prema, ultimate love for the Absolute. In this book we read of how the monk, Chaitanya, reaps the harvest of this fruit of different kinds.

 

Anyway, street after street Graham was naming the diversity of bush. To me it gave a deeper dimensional appreciation of the green that is so well tended to by homeowners in the area. On his own acreage, in the extensive backyard, there is ample red cedar for the homes winter warmth.

 

I do believe that walkers have a better chance at noticing good shrubs and trees than do fast-moving motorist. Please get out and have a hard look at jutting out hairs that spring from the earth.

 

May the source be with you!

4 km

 

 

Ramsden Park, Toronto

Classes not in Masses

Congratulations to two blossoming Bhaktins in Montreal, who accepted diksha (initiation) via Zoom. Both Russian-speaking devotees have been active in the community for some time now and I’m happy to see them step-up to the occasion. Both ladies accepted new names. Zoya’s is now “Yamuna Priya” and Natalia accepted the name “Ganga Priya.” The initiation was executed from afar. Ganga was in Montreal’s temple, while Yamuna was in her apartment. Their friend, Dimitry, was the translator, at his Montreal home, while I was on my seat in Toronto. I joked that I gave names of sacred rivers in India, “They are almost as pure as the St. Lawrence.”

 

This amazing day of sun drew many people to the park across the street from my residence. Ramsden Park was teaming with energy. People want out of their homes. They want sunshine, air and to see each other. They took advantage of every ray of sunshine.

 

The same sun shone over Niagara. From a different seat in the same room in Toronto I gave a class on the theme, “Less Covid, more Govind.” More attention should go to confidence as opposed to fear. The media must offer hope and a positive outlook.

 

A third class for today, also on Zoom, was for an Oakville group. We are studying the nature of whimsy, termed in the Gita as “demoniac.” Directionless living is a common trend. Need I speak again about the sampling of the mob scene in DC this week? It is maddening.

 

My Final meeting for the day was another visit to Ramsden park, this time to meet a homeless devotee who now has an apartment. The only thing is he didn’t show up. Perhaps he had forgotten the appointment he wished to lineup? Another occasion will arise. At this time of year I’m usually in Trinidad or Guyana, engaged in chanting or swimming at the beach.

 

May the source be with you!

3 km

 

243 Avenue Road, Toronto

A Day

I just wasn’t bold at all in terms of walking. I merely went around the block at 4 a.m., before the first rite of the day — mangal arati. The rest of my day of devotion entailed calls and meetings — all very meaningful. It included discussions about our mission in Cuba, where I’ve been involved for 12 years. The pandemic has not been easy on that country, like many. Our devotees are not able to gather together and Zoom is somewhat difficult to utilize due to lack of internet access.

 

I did enjoy the call with two other swamis, Guru Prasad Swami, from Texas, and Yadunandan Swami, from Spain. Spain is aslo having it tough with Covid; multiple deaths occurring each day. And we all know that the US is challenged big time, not only with the virus but also political upheaval in Washington DC. Here, in the province of Ontario, officials are talking about a possible curfew at certain hours.

 

If that be the case then I’ll switch timing and get my slow trotting in during sanctioned hours. Anyway — curfew — never would believe that such an imposition could be possible in a peaceful place like Canada. I’m glad I was able to catch a glimpse of the lake yesterday. I might not be able to get there in a while.

 

It was beautiful — clear, calm, tempting and almost irresistible. A polar bear dip perhaps? I always liked lake water. I grew up with massive lakes in every direction around me. In any event, as a monk one must resist the irresistible and accept the many items that come to me. Resist that which you can’t change but change that which you can. Work on yourself. Time will allow but don’t wait too long.

 

May the source be with you!

0 km

 

Please view our new film, Rolling the Dice:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF3legHdMgI

 

 

Mangal-arti Dasi is well known for her dedication to sankirtan and the care she takes in following through with people she connects to. We will hear inspiring stories from her years of going out as well as some key principles on taking care of the people we meet so they may stay inspired to associate with devotees and serve Krishna.

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By Radha Damodara dasa

From its inception, Avanti’s ethos has been inspired by the Vaisnava teachings of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, creating a 21st century ecosystem that sustains the highest quality of education possible, integrated with unique, holistic and spiritual practices to support the innermost needs of every child. Continue reading "Temple Youth qualify as co-principals at Avanti Schools Trust
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Liam's kind donation of £40,000 will cover the basic costs of 80,000 plates of Prasad going out to homeless and isolated people in London.

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By Ambarisa Das

2021 celebrates the 125th Appearance Anniversary of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, our eternal master and savior. As mentioned above, in October we will be installing the new, worshiping-pose murti of Srila Prabhupada in the TOVP. His presence as our watchful guide will inspire our continued endeavors to open the new home of our beloved Mayapur Deities and the most important preaching project in ISKCON in 2023. We have planned an incredible abhisheka ceremony for this purpose and set a goal for a $1 million Guru Dakshina from sponsors of the abhishekas. Continue reading "TOVP Chairman 2020 Review and 2021 Message
→ Dandavats"

“All of the leaders should study my books very carefully, since now everyone will have to appear for the examination.” Srila Prabhupada letter to Jayatirtha, Mayapur,22nd January, 1976

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Podcast:

Video:

Message from the Honorable Prime minister of India Shri Narendra Modi ji for the Celebration of 43rd anniversary of Sri Sri Radha Rasbihariji Temple, Hare Krishna Land, ISKCON Juhu Mumbai.

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Cherry Beach, Toronto

 

To Hear or Not to Hear

 

I called my sister, Rose Ann, whose husband passed away from cancer. “Jim was a fine man,” I told her, “therefore he is fine,” implying that his destination was a good one according to the laws of karma. I was impressed with the way my sister was listening. Words of comfort and assurance are what she really needed to hear.

 

Another sister, Pauline, had joined in on the call over speakerphone, as she had come to visit and spend some time with Rose Ann to console her. She was keen to listen, as well, to a message from her swami brother, of being aware of the greater dimension in life — God. I said it plainly. “God! Because family and friends will all be gone leaving us only with the Great Overseer. What is there without this great vision in life?”

 

They seemed pacified. I am also calmed to be able to contribute to someone I care for. In that regard I received an email message from a person who questioned my motive in visiting a criminal in prison, who was guilty of murdering his brother. He asked me why I don’t do something for a victim, himself.

 

My response to him is that in the role in society is to display empathy to as many as possible. “I will be glad to be your friend, as a listener, and to the difficulty you go through.” It is not my intention to rule out anyone unless they are just nonsense.

 

Just before taking that gorgeous walk with Billy, on his birthday, I received a call from a prankster who wanted some personal information. To such an individual I give no audience. I am curt. “Shame on you! You coward!” Some folks are simply not aware of karma. They deserve no empathy. I hung up.

 

May the source be with you!

3 km

 

Bloor St., Toronto

 

The World Is Looking

 

The whole world is looking, once again, at US internal strife. This time a group of protesters stormed the capital building in Washington DC. It was a mob scene and it was ugly. It was described to me when I was on the phone with a friend from Vancouver, during the time that I was polishing brass in our temple. My immediate response, as I listened, was that it is shameless behavior on the part of the former US president simply being a poor sport.

 

I later took to seeing some visual coverage of the rioting myself on my phone. The worst of this disaster is what some spokesmen say is “a sad moment in America’s history” while protesters go off saying there was no violence and that they are proud of their aggressive march. Lo and behold, people were hurt.

 

Up here in Canada we are very concerned. We love America but there has been a sick person in charge. Let us pray that things settle down and that the new President, Biden, can rule peacefully and with integrity.

 

As usual I took an evening walk, this time on Bloor Street, ambling along passing by Christmas trees laid out in front lawns for garbage pick up. That’s something I also don’t feel very good about — the killing of thousands of trees for what’s become a major commercial event.

 

Anyway, I made it to Bloor at a time when it’s supremely quiet; where shoppers are usually all around during pre-Covid times. I was walking and the mantra was moving through the street lights. We need more mantras and less insanity.

 

May the source be with you!

4 km

 

Dear TOVP Supporters,

Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada. Hare Krishna!

The year 2020 has been one of the most unusual and difficult years in the history of modern civilization worldwide. No doubt, karma is taking its toll and we are seeing this firsthand. Unfortunately, there have also been setbacks to the sankirtan movement and the spreading of Krishna consciousness. And we also cannot bear the loss of one of our great sankirtan commanders, His Holiness Bhakti Charu Maharaja.

The TOVP also suffered great losses both in income from regular donations, as well as over eight months of a complete construction standstill. As a result, we had to reschedule the Grand Opening to 2023 and postpone the installation of the new Prabhupada murti to October, 2021. We pray there will no further delays, and leave everything in the hands of Lord Sri Krishna.

2021 celebrates the 125th Appearance Anniversary of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, our eternal master and savior. As mentioned above, in October we will be installing the new, worshiping-pose murti of Srila Prabhupada in the TOVP. His presence as our watchful guide will inspire our continued endeavors to open the new home of our beloved Mayapur Deities and the most important preaching project in ISKCON in 2023. We have planned an incredible abhisheka ceremony for this purpose and set a goal for a $1 million Guru Dakshina from sponsors of the abhishekas.

Also of significance will be the offering of the one-of-a-kind TOVP Book of Devotion to Srila Prabhupada at his installation ceremony. This magnificent publication is being produced by the makers of the world’s largest Bhagavad Gita at ISKCON New Delhi, and contains the names of over 6,000 donors who have completed their pledges by Gaura Purnima, March 28. The deadline was officially extended recently.

While construction is not at the same pace as before, we are gradually getting back on track since resuming work in September, 2020. We encourage one and all to try and make your pledge payments this year, or give again according to your means. And I want to thank those of you who have continued to make their pledge payments and give donations through these challenging times. You can’t imagine how much this has helped us. This kind of sacrifice is most pleasing to the Lord.

Once again, I want to thank all our supporters ranging from ISKCON leadership to congregational members who have encouraged and inspired us in so many ways to continue over the last ten years. It’s been an ecstatic journey together as we work to make this combined offering to Srila Prabhupada. And the culmination in 2023 will be a most historic event, for ISKCON as well as humanity in general. The sankirtan movement will expand by leaps and bounds from that point forward and flood the world with Krishna prema. Hare Krishna!

Your humble servant,
Ambarisa das

Hare Krishna,

We are happy to inform you of the first ever visit of the Public Accounts Committee of the Indian Parliament to Sridham Mayapur on January 10.

The Public Accounts Committee is the oldest among all committees and is considered the most influential since they are tasked with auditing the public spending of the Government of India.

The multi-party delegation of nearly 60 people comprising Members of Parliament included Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdary (Leadership of Opposition), Shri Jagadambika Pal (Former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh), Shri Satya Pal Singh (Former Deputy HRD Minister), Shri Ram Kripal Yadav (Former Deputy HRD Minister) along with other MPs, officials from various central government ministries, Lok Sabha officials and Comptroller & Auditor General.

The delegates were received by Dayaram Prabhu, Subheksana Prabhu, Madhava Gauranga Prabhu and the undersigned. They offered flowers to Srila Prabhupada and received the darshan of Their Lordships in the temple hall before proceeding to the TOVP for a tour lead by Vraja Vilas Prabhu. They were very impressed by the concept and sheer size of the project and appreciated the efforts of Ambarish Prabhu and his team.

The delegates also visited the Gurukul which they seemed to like a lot and spent close to an hour there touring the facility and meeting the students.

In the words of one of the delegates “this place is truly out of this world and I can’t believe that I hadn’t come here till now”. Shri Adhir Ranjan Chowdary highly praised Srila Prabhupada and stated, “Now, the organization is going to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of that great personality, Srila Prabhupada, who was born in this world only to propagate love and devotion.”

To appreciate and express their gratitude to Srila Prabhupada they have agreed to give a proposal to the Indian Government to make coins in the name of Prabhupada on the occasion of his 125th Appearance Anniversary falling this year, 2021.

We are grateful to Madhava Guaranga Prabhu and his team for the wonderful arrangements, and to Vraja Vilas Prabhu for all the help with the TOVP.

Your servant,
Yudhistir Govinda Das
India ISKCON Communications Director

 

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Hare Krishna! In this week's temple newsletter, Akuti Devi Dasi writes about progress at the Eco Teaching Farm. We share documents listing the Pfizer vaccine ingredients, how it works, the latest guidelines to keep our families safe, and remind devotees not to linger on temple property outside of arati times, unless they are doing specific service. We thank those who helped paint the temple room ceiling last Saturday, as well as the many devotees who have contributed towards new ceiling fans and light fixtures. Read More...