Websites from the ISKCON Universe
By Virabahu Dasa As an institution representative of Krsna and the parampara, we have the duty and obligation to be an example of responsibility and caring concern for everyone. Thus, in the present context of the coronavirus pandemic, we must strictly take all recommended precautions and strictly follow all official indications. Continue reading "God Helps Those Who Help Themselves
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Sitala dasi moved into the ISKCON temple in Detroit, Michigan in 1970, and was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1971. The first years of her devotional life, were spent in daily Harinams, book distribution, preaching programs, cooking, sewing and transcribing of Srila Prabhupada tapes. She also assisted in opening temples in Cleveland, Ohio and Bloomington Indiana.
If you have not yet sponsored a Brick or other higher level TOVP seva option, there is still time to do so and get your name included in the magnificent TOVP Book of Devotion offering to Srila Prabhupada at his grand murti installation ceremony in October. Fully sponsor a Nrsimha ($1,000 / ₹51,000) or Mahaprabhu ($1,600 / ₹1 Lakh) brick by Gaura Purnima, March 28 and your name will be included in the Book of Devotion, and also inscribed on the brick and placed under the respective altar.
Sponsor a Nrsimha or Mahaprabhu Brick TODAY! Click on the link below:
Book of Devotion Gaura Purnima Campaign
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Suppose someone is starving. We may help them by giving some money. If they are starving because a recession has left them jobless, they will gratefully use that money to feed themselves. But if they are starving because they are alcoholics who waste all their money on drinks, they will probably do the same with […]
The post When Helping Others Is Compassion and When It Isn’t … appeared first on ISKCON News.
While helping the deprived, we need to consider why they are deprived.
From the 2020 Bhakta Program at Hare Krishna Kansas City. The world’s favorite spiritual advancement program Make gradual advancement toward the perfection of life through the blissful practice of Bhakti Yoga.
Narottama Dasa Thakura was a leading acharya in the Gaudiya Vaisnava line. He was the only disciple of Srila Lokanatha Gosvami. Srila Narottama Dasa Thakura helped bring the books of the Goswami’s from Vrndavana to Bengal and Orissa. Appearing as the son of a king, Shri Narottama Dasa Thakura (Shri Thakura Mahasaya) showed all the […]
The post Srila Narottama Das Thakur Appearance appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Today is the appearance day Srila Narottama dasa Thakura, of whom Srila Prabhupada said, he was “a great acharya of the Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya. He has written many songs about the Vaishnava philosophy, and they are approved as completely corresponding with Vedic instructions. . . . So, we should relish the instruction of Narottama dasa Thakura.”
At the original Gaura-purnima festival held in Kheturi, in the presence of Srimati Jahnava-devi, Srila Narottama dasa Thakura, and Srila Srinivasa Acharya, six pairs of Radha-Krishna Deities were installed, and one pair, Radha-Braja-mohana, was sent to Vrindavan.
A few years ago, after Indradyumna Swami told me about the poor condition of the temple, I gave a donation to support the Deity worship, and in reciprocation, Maharaja presented me the conch shell that Narottama sent to Vrindavan for the worship of Braja-mohana. Maharaja said that it may have been blown by Jahnava-devi, Narottama, or Srinivasa, but in any case, it was part of the paraphernalia that Narottama sent to his disciple in Vrindavan.
In the photo here, you can see the conch.
Hare Krishna.
Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami
Nityananda Trayodasi in Sridhama Mayapur this year commences the official launch of the PRABHUPADA IS COMING! Installation Abhisheka Campaign, to honor Srila Prabhupada’s 125th Appearance Anniversary Year. In October, a unique, one-of-a-kind, ‘worship-pose’ murti of Srila Prabhupada, made by ISKCON’s foremost Prabhupada murti maker, Locan das, will be installed in the TOVP.
This historic and auspicious celebration brings Prabhupada into the TOVP where he will observe and oversee the completion of his dearmost project, heralding the relocation of his worshipable Deities Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Sri Pancha Tattva and Sri Nrsimha in 2023. Thus, the slogan PRABHUPADA IS COMING!, coined by His Holiness Lokanath Swami in remembrance of his physical presence when he would visit temples throughout the world, is most appropriate.
Five kinds of abhishekas and a grand Samstapak Acharya sponsorship are available for devotees of all means starting at $25/₹1600 for the Sacred Water Abhisheka consisting of water from 125 sacred rivers. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all ISKCON devotees and well-wishers to welcome His Divine Grace and offer him a suitable Guru Dakshina in grateful appreciation for his having brought to us the topmost spiritual perfection of Krishna consciousness. We hope to present him a $1 million offering.
Visit: www.tovp.org
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How he transformed the rich and the poor, the young and the old, the downtrodden and the elite all into beautiful Vaisnava devotees of the Lord. We’ll also hear how he empowered his disciples to fearlessly preach the message of Sri Krsna Caitanya Mahaprabhu.
By the ISKCON GBC Strategic Planning Team GBC Strategic Planning Team (SPT) brings to you an enlightening session by HG Sitala Devi Dasi to honor the Disappearance day of the great Vaisnava saint of Gaudiya tradition, Srila Narottam Das Thakur. Continue reading "Life and Teachings of Narottam Das Thakur by Sitala Devi Dasi (video)
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In mid-March, the ISKCON Communications Journal (ICJ) is set to publish its first issue after a fifteen-year hiatus, under the guidance of Mahaprabhu Dasa, Director of ISKCON Communications Europe. The Journal is edited by Tattvavit Dasa and Rupa Sanatana Dasa. ICJ was known for addressing many important topics and issues, including challenges and crises that […]
The post ISKCON Communications Journal Returns to Cover Important Issues After 15-Year Hiatus appeared first on ISKCON News.
In mid-March, the ISKCON Communications Journal (ICJ) is set to publish its first issue after a fifteen-year hiatus, under the guidance of Mahaprabhu Dasa, Director of ISKCON Communications Europe.
Appearing as the son of a king, Sri Narottama Dasa Thakura (Sri Thakura Mahasaya) showed all the bodily symptoms of a mahapurusa (an exalted divine person). He had long arms, a deep navel, golden-complexion, beautiful eyes shaped like the lotus petals. In school, he was a sruti dhara (able to memorize whatever he hears) Although he quickly mastered Sanskrit and the Vedas, he hankered to serve Krishna. He was a lifelong brahmacari.
By the mercy of the holy name Gaura-Nitai, Narottama became detached, left his opulent family, and ran to Vrndavana. He took diksa from Sri Lokanatha Gosvami and siksa in Gaudiya philosophy from Sri Jiva Gosvami.
When he arrived in Navadvipa-dhama all the devotees asked him about the health and activities of the Gosvamis in Vrndavana. They were eager to hear the news from Vrndavana. After visiting all of Gauranga’s pastime places in Gaura Mandala, Narottama Dasa did the same in Sri Ksetra Dhama (Jagannatha Puri). Then he went to see the devotees and Sri Caitanya’s pastime spots in Santipura, Sri Khanda, Kanthak Nagar, Ekacakra, and Kheturi Gram.
In Kheturi, Sri Narottama Dasa Thakura arranged the famous Kheturi Mahotsava. This was the first “Gaura-Purnima” festival to honor the divine appearance day of Sri Krishna Caitanya Mahaprabhu. During the festival six Deities were installed: Sri Gauranga Deva, Sri Vallabhi Kanta, Sri Vraja Mohana, Sri Krishna, Sri Radha Kanta, Sri Radha Ramana.
With his sweet voice Narottama Dasa began a wonderful Idr-tana. His chanting filled the heavens, and brought down tears of prema from the eyes of the devotees, who were all sporting in the ocean of ecstasy. “In the midst of their kirtana, the munificent Sri Caitanya Himself and all His personal associates appeared and joined in the sankirtana. Like a flash of lightning in the midst of a mass of beautiful blue clouds, Sri Caitanya Himself appeared in the crowd of devotees through a divine manifestation.” (Bhakti-ratnakar)
“At that time, although Mahaprabhu had left this world years before, many different devotees saw Mahaprabhu in different ways. Those of Sri Navadvipa dhama saw Him more intimately as Nimaicandra or Visvambhara, as they knew Him during His youth. Those devotees were attracted to Mahaprabhu in sakhya and vat-salya rasa. The followers of the six Gosvamis, who only knew Mahaprabhu as a sannyasi, related to Him in the mood of dasya rasa. And hundreds of devotees also worshiped Lord Caitanya in an aisvarya mood of awe and reverence.
“This festival is considered a major achievment in Gaudiya Vaisnavism. Hundreds and hundreds of devotees were invited, including direct disciples of Mahaprabhu, Nityananda Prabhu, and Advaita Acarya. At this time, many differences existed in the interpretation of Gaudiya Vaisnavism. Acaryarani Jahnava Devi came from Kardaha with her entourage. Presiding over all the Vaisnavas, she resolved their diverse conclusions into one consistent Gaudiya Vaisnava philosophy.
“For the first time, the festival featured many kirtana styles which integrated the glorification of Lord Caitanya with the glorification of Lord Krishna and His pastimes. And because so many Vaisnavas were present at one place, it automatically made the Kheturi festival extraordinary. It also acted as an important step toward unifying all the Gaudiya Vaisnavas.” (Sri Navadvipa-dhama parikrama)
Narottama Dasa Thakura wrote many devotional songs about the spiritual master, the devotees, devotional service, the six Gosvamis, Gaura-Nityananda and Radha-Krishna. Although composed with sweet melodies in simple Bengali language, Narottama Dasa’s songs give sastric siddhanta and devotional inspiration. Srila Prabhupada often sang these bhajanas. Considering them non-different from Vedic sastra. He quoted them in his Bhagavatam lectures. Prarthana and Prema-bhakti-candrika are Narottama’s most famous works.
The following excerpt comes from Prema-bhakti-candrika: “Radha and Krishna are my goal in life and death, and They are the masters of my breath. Performing my bhajana only for Them, I rise and fall in the ocean of prema. I pray that I can always maintain this conception within my heart as my highest ideal.
“Let me serve the lotus feet of Radha-Govinda. Let my mind be filled with dedication to Their divine forms that defeat the beauty of Cupid and Rati. With a straw between my teeth I fall at Their divine feet and present my humble appeal: ‘0 Kishora-Kishori! 0 son of Nanda Maharaja—Syamasundara! And 0 daughter of King Vrsabhanu, Sri Radha. You enchant even Hari, and Your bodily complexion is the color of a golden lotus. 0 Krishna, with a bodily color like an indranila gem (blue jewel), Your beauty mocks Cupid.
“’O topmost dancers—Sri Radha and Sri Krishna—please dance within my mind. 0 You whose beauty increases the charm of Your dazzling ornaments, day and night I only wish that I shall go on singing Your glories in great ecstasy.'”
Narottama Dasa serves Srimati Radhika as Camaka-manjari. His samadhi is in Radha Gokulananda’s temple courtyard.
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) granted special consultative status to the ISKCON Govardhan Ecovillage. Consultative status is an accreditation framework that benefits both the United Nations and the NGOs. Consultative arrangements with UNCCD will enable the UNCCD to secure expert information or advice from organizations having special competence in the subjects for […]
The post Accreditation of ISKCON Govardhan Ecovillage to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification appeared first on ISKCON News.
Consultative status is an accreditation framework that benefits both the United Nations and the NGOs.
Started in 2002 on Nityananda Trayodashi, ISKCON Desire Tree has been serving the Vaishnava community with various offerings: launching and maintaining 50+ websites, creating 100+ mobile applications hosting an audio website with 250,000+ audio files attracting 10,000+ visitors every day Hare Krsna TV’s YouTube Channel has more than 28,000 videos and around 1.4 million subscribers, […]
The post ISKCON Desire Tree Launches New Satellite TV Channel appeared first on ISKCON News.
Hare Krsna TV telecasts live Aratis, lectures, kirtans, recipes, inspirational and motivational talks by eminent ISKCON-teachers and much more.
Created by the Vaishnavas of the Moscow traveling Harinama group.
The post The Source of Happiness – A Short Film by Russian Harinama Devotees appeared first on ISKCON News.
Created by the Vaishnavas of the Moscow traveling Harinama group.
Parama Karuna is a beautiful traditional Gaudiya Vaishnav bhajan, written by Locana Das Thakur. A video by Veena Mayuri.
The post Parama Karuna — Feat. Agnidev Das and Mayuri Dasi appeared first on ISKCON News.
Parama Karuna is a beautiful traditional Gaudiya Vaishnav bhajan, written by Locana Das Thakur. A video by Veena Mayuri.
One who takes shelter of Krishna’s true devotees, and sincerely worships Krishna, is never forsaken. We do not find any source of happiness from getting entangled in the ropes of karma in this world. A video by ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor – Hare Krishna Temple Watford.
The post The Greatest Wealth of This World – True Devotee Association appeared first on ISKCON News.
One who takes shelter of Krishna's true devotees, and sincerely worships Krishna, is never forsaken. We do not find any source of happiness from getting entangled in the ropes of karma in this world. A video by ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor - Hare Krishna Temple Watford.
A statement by the Executive Committee of ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission on February 26, 2021. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and caused the deaths of millions of people globally. As of February 2021 it shows no signs of slowing down. Many members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, including sannyasis, gurus, and other senior […]
The post GBC EC Issues Official Statement on the COVID Vaccine appeared first on ISKCON News.
The GBC has encouraged devotees for many months to take all precautions necessary to protect their health. This includes wearing masks, social distancing, limiting visitors to temples, providing hand sanitizers, and following government guidelines and mandates.
The Live to Give Campaign, run by the BBT Marketing, Communications and Innovations team, has smashed its 2 million Gita goal, distributing 2,172,456 copies of Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is around the world. Over 250 ISKCON communities in more than 55 countries participated, between September 17th 2020 and January 7th 2021. The campaign also […]
The post Live to Give Campaign Smashes Goal, Distributes Over 2 Million Gitas appeared first on ISKCON News.
The Live to Give Campaign, run by the BBT Marketing, Communications and Innovations team, distributed 2,172,456 copies of Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad-gita As It Is around the world.
The post Sri Nityananda’s Appearance day appeared first on ISKCON News.
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Kirtaniyah Sada Harih)
My life is hectic, going from one program to another and one place to another. It never stops! But one thing that is sacred and is untouchable are my rounds. “Don’t toucha my rounds!” You know how they say, “If you smasha my car, I smasha your face!” Well, in my case, “If you toucha my rounds … ” So the rounds become sacred and gets close to the heart!
If you wish to purchase this book, please go to the KKSBlog Shop here: https://www.kksblog.com/shop/kirtaniyah-sada-harih/
The article " Don’t toucha my rounds! " was published on KKSBlog.
What Srila Prabhupada said about the health issue
A visionary and natural born leader with razor-sharp intelligence and cast-iron principles. These are some of the qualities that mark out Sutapa as truly a ‘chip off the old block’ and the mastermind behind the School of Bhakti.
By the GBC EC The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted and caused the deaths of millions of people globally. As of February 2021 it shows no signs of slowing down. Many members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, including sannyasis, gurus, and other senior devotees -- as well as some younger devotees -- have passed away as a result of COVID-19 infections and related complications. Numerous other devotees who contracted and have recovered from COVID-19 continue to suffer from its weakening effects. Continue reading "Covid Vaccine Statement
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By Prahladananda Swami In this unprecedented period in the world’s history where health has become a constant source of concern, a pure devotee can give us some secrets of health. What is the most important secret of health? Srila Prabhupada reveals it in his purport to Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.10: “In Kali-yuga, the duration of life is shortened not so much because of insufficient food but because of irregular habits. By keeping regular habits and eating simple food, any man can maintain his health. Overeating, over-sense gratification, over-dependence on another’s mercy, and artificial standards of living sap the very vitality of human energy. Therefore the duration of life is shortened.” Continue reading "In a Pandemic is there a Secret of Health?
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By Radha Mohan das The videos are a collaboration between devotee health professionals, mainly alumni of the Pandava Sena youth group and the management of Bhaktivedanta Manor. The human connection has been a huge part of the yatra and its community are missing the opportunity to connect. Bearing this and the multiple physical challenges posed to devotees in the UK and beyond, they decided to try and reach out in an alternative way by each sharing some advice. Continue reading "Health and well-being advise for these challenging times, made by devotees
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The Balcony at 243
Go Slow
“Slowing Down in a Fast-Paced World” was the theme chosen for the Mauritian Zoom crowd. I started off with everyone doing a boogie snap of the finger and singing Simon and Garfunkel’s first stanza to 59th Street Bridge song, “Slow down you move too fast/you’ve gotta make the morning last…”
Arjuna slowed down. To process. To listen. Only then to pick up due to the empowering words of Krishna. Further still, to go in high gear; into the battle of Kuruksetra. For us ordinary folks it appears that a day’s balance is situated in high and low tides. “Low” as in downtime. Then to run when the rush of high tide comes in. Have you ever been at the Bay of Fundy? That is an exciting place for strolling on the ocean floor that’s all dry. Within minutes it fills up. Quite the experience! An actual rush!
The overall message is SLOW DOWN. Pause. Take a moment or two or three, a hundred even, and simply reflect. Remind yourself that you are a spirit, a servant of Him and that it is ok to stop, to pause, to inhale. Let that stretch and also stretch it out on the exhale. It is fine to just pause and be calm; as a service to family, friends and faith.
Let’s not forget that when Krishna Himself arises from slumber He meditates. He has His calm before being very active for the day. He sits down and pauses.
For today’s motorists we would like to say “Slow down!” Hasty drivers often topple.
May the source be with you!
2 km
Please view our new film, Rolling the Dice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF3legHdMgI
The Balcony at 243
Go Slow
“Slowing Down in a Fast-Paced World” was the theme chosen for the Mauritian Zoom crowd. I started off with everyone doing a boogie snap of the finger and singing Simon and Garfunkel’s first stanza to 59th Street Bridge song, “Slow down you move too fast/you’ve gotta make the morning last…”
Arjuna slowed down. To process. To listen. Only then to pick up due to the empowering words of Krishna. Further still, to go in high gear; into the battle of Kuruksetra. For us ordinary folks it appears that a day’s balance is situated in high and low tides. “Low” as in downtime. Then to run when the rush of high tide comes in. Have you ever been at the Bay of Fundy? That is an exciting place for strolling on the ocean floor that’s all dry. Within minutes it fills up. Quite the experience! An actual rush!
The overall message is SLOW DOWN. Pause. Take a moment or two or three, a hundred even, and simply reflect. Remind yourself that you are a spirit, a servant of Him and that it is ok to stop, to pause, to inhale. Let that stretch and also stretch it out on the exhale. It is fine to just pause and be calm; as a service to family, friends and faith.
Let’s not forget that when Krishna Himself arises from slumber He meditates. He has His calm before being very active for the day. He sits down and pauses.
For today’s motorists we would like to say “Slow down!” Hasty drivers often topple.
May the source be with you!
2 km
Please view our new film, Rolling the Dice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF3legHdMgI
243 Avenue Rd., Toronto
Getting Messages Out There
At noon we had a Zoom. “Mindful Trinity” is a regular broadcast/podcast from South Africa and I had the pleasure to be interviewed on one of those “Tales from Trails” by an elegant host, Vaishnavi Carana.
It certainly puts me back on the road when recalling and conveying the stories from the trails of past walks. It will be 25 years ago that I began my first marathon walk across Canada. In April 1996 I took that journey, which lasted seven and a half months, starting in British Columbia and finishing in Newfoundland in December.
Vaishnavi was multitasking with the interview in the sense that she was Zoom-ing, YouTube-ing and, to my knowledge, utilizing Instagram all at the same time. I don’t know how she got the technical side to behave in her favour. Anyway, the interview went well according to her.
A second Zoom for the day occurred with our Oakville group as we completed our reading and discussion of chapter 16 from The Gita. We determined once again that a good substitute word for “demonic” (as in a person’s character) is “whimsical.” Several times the purports of Prabhupada make use of this word. Whimsy implies a sense of being confused, casual, directionless and scattered. They are traits that you are not necessarily to be proud of.
In two weeks, this group will dwell on chapter 17, which is most interesting.
May the source be with you!
1 km
Please view our new film, Rolling the Dice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF3legHdMgI
