Websites from the ISKCON Universe
ISKCON Sri Lanka's New Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple Construction project is in progress.
“I have already answered all questions in my books such as Bhagavad-gita, so kindly read them and chant Hare Krishna Mantra”. Srila Prabhupada Letter to Brian Fleming -- Mayapur, 6 March 1974
Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service with President Joe Biden, hosted by the Washington National Cathedral. ISKCON Communications Minister Anuttama Dasa's prayers start at 37' 25. A video by the Biden Inaugural Committee.
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
Just after our Bhaktivedanta Ashram at Govardhan is the enchanting Dan Nivartan Kunda where the gopis got even with Krishna for taxing them. Relish this humorous pastime narrated on location by HG Deena Bandhu das.
A video by the ISKCON Strategic Planning Team.
The post Srila Prabhupada-Our Preeminent Siksha Guru with Radhanath Swami appeared first on ISKCON News.
A video by the ISKCON Strategic Planning Team.
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.
ISKCON devotees have distributed prasadam – sanctified vegetarian food offered to God – with a view to shifting consciousness for the past 46 years in Brazil. Today, there are a number of successful restaurants run by Hare Krishna devotees across Brazil.
The completion and a soft-opening is scheduled for Nrsimha Caturdasi, May 25th, 2021.
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.
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.
The Gita provides empowering spiritual practices that can enable us to control our desires, not be controlled by them.
We ask for your sincere prayers for Maha Punya Devi Dasi of Mexico, a disciple of Srila Prabhupada.
“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.
“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..."
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 […]
The post Poem: Lockdown appeared first on ISKCON News.
"Almost a year gone | All personal life perhaps undone | Challenges on all sides | A time like no other"
A poem written by Mirabai about the glories of Krishna’s birth place Vrindavan, sung and performed by the Madhavas Rock Band.
The post Aali (Sakhi) Ri Mohe Laage Vrindavan Neeko – Qawwali – NEW YEAR 2021 SPECIAL – Madhavas Rock Band appeared first on ISKCON News.
A poem written by Mirabai about the glories of Krishna's birth place Vrindavan, sung and performed by the Madhavas Rock Band.
A German family living in Mayapur, India, visits the holy Jagannath Puri.
The post We Got Maha Prasad! Jagannath Puri 2020 appeared first on ISKCON News.
A German family living in Mayapur, India, visits the holy Jagannath Puri.
Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service with President Joe Biden, hosted by the Washington National Cathedral. ISKCON Communications Minister Anuttama Dasa’s prayers start at 37′ 25. A video by the Biden Inaugural Committee. Read ISKCON News article about the event: https://iskconnews.org/iskcon-leader-to-offer-prayer-at-official-us-presidential-inauguration,7663/
The post ISKCON Leader Participates at US Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service appeared first on ISKCON News.
Presidential Inaugural Prayer Service with President Joe Biden, hosted by the Washington National Cathedral. ISKCON Communications Minister Anuttama Dasa's prayers start at 37' 25. A video by the Biden Inaugural Committee. Read ISKCON News article about the event: https://iskconnews.org/iskcon-leader-to-offer-prayer-at-official-us-presidential-inauguration,7663/
A compilation of performances of Parividha das and friends at the Durban Rathayatra Festival
Videoconference by HG Prabhupada Priya Devi Dasi
We had a lovely interview with Sitala devi today. We asked her everything from what inspired her to write about Narottam das Thakur, to her first experience seeing Srila Prabhupada! It's well worth a listenRead More...
By Syamasundara DasaIn searching for something in the Srimad Bhagavatam that gives some reference to castrating a bull to make an ox I could not find something that said “you castrate a bull” directly however there is some word use information that might be telling. I am not a sanskrit scholar and may be well off the point here (if you are one please help). Continue reading "Bulls or Oxen. What’s in a Name
→ Dandavats"
He who knows in truth this glory and power of Mine engages in unalloyed devotional service; of this there is no doubt.
By Mayapur Sasi dasa For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of December 2020. North American Totals, Monthly Temples, Monthly Weekend Warriors. Monthly Top 100 Individuals, Monthly Top 5, Cumulative Countries, Cumulative Temples, Cumulative Top 100 Individuals, Cumulative Top 5
Continue reading "NASN December 2020 – North American Sankirtan Newsletter
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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.
Today on inauguration day, I thought of Srila Prabhupada’s appreciation of America. Tamal Krishna Goswami came in with Prabhupada’s green card and said, “Prabhupada, America is waiting for you. Customs is ready; immigration is ready. Everything is cleared.” Prabhupada began to cry. “I am so indebted to America,” he said. “America has given me so much. It’s given me men, money. I am so indebted.”
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Hare Krishna.
Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami
Today on inauguration day, I thought of Srila Prabhupada’s appreciation of America. Tamal Krishna Goswami came in with Prabhupada’s green card and said, “Prabhupada, America is waiting for you. Customs is ready; immigration is ready. Everything is cleared.” Prabhupada began to cry. “I am so indebted to America,” he said. “America has given me so much. It’s given me men, money. I am so indebted.”
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Hare Krishna.
Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 22 November 2020, Simhachalam, Germany, Caitanya Caritamrta Adi-Lila 9.36)
It is said that there are six whips in the material energy – birth, disease, death, hunger, thirst and lamentation. We are always beaten by these six whips here in the material world, yet a vaisnava is always happy. Maybe not free from struggle, but certainly happy within, because a vaisnava has received the ultimate gift of perfection in life. Everyone else is trapped and there is no way out of this cycle of birth and death. There is no way to escape karma. People work to relieve the problems of karma, but karma is interesting. If we are destined to suffer, we cannot by work resolve that suffering. That is not possible. Although the world works very hard to get rid of suffering one way or another and to turn this world into paradise, it does not work. It is simply not possible. So karma is like this. It is like an old-fashioned suitcase. A long time ago, suitcases had no wheels and people had to carry them on their heads. They had to carry these suitcases till they could not stretch their fingers any longer. They would then move it to the other hand until they could no longer stretch those fingers, then onto the shoulder and then onto the head. So, karma is like that, like a suitcase without wheels. We carry it in one place and it comes back from the other side.
The article " Karma – An old-fashioned suitcase " was published on KKSBlog.
Rosedale, Toronto
Grids and Curves
The streets in Rosedale are not necessarily running on a grid. There are some curves that make it interesting for a walker, a driver or a cyclist. The fox in the neighbourhood, with their shared companions such as squirrels, skunks and raccoons, have little appreciation for our trails. Laneways, lines of landscaped shrubs are more like their forte. However, at least some of the urban wildlife enjoy upward mobility with vertical trees. You see the occasional curious head pop out of a hedge or a fairy tail sticking out of the foliage. Anyway, they are our neighbours, like anyone else.
People were out walking their dogs, the more domestic of creatures. One woman was bending over, picking up after her pet, as I was walking by. She remarked, “It’s not the most glorious deed but once you have a dog it goes with the territory.” It was her mild way of saying service must be done.
That is foundational. Her words expressed the essential truth about life. We are here to assist others whether it be humans, pets, plants or the elements. They serve us. It is simply a matter of reciprocation. We receive but we must also give. It’s in giving that the heart lightens. Yes, the weight of the world can be lifted. It is understood that karma-free actions turn everything around. It is the joy of service that makes us joyful. Let us get familiar with the practical application of servitude and enjoy the benefit thereof.
I ended my walk at the liquor store where I sat to chant gayatri mantras. No booze for me. That stuff is horrible, if I do say so myself.
May this source be with you!
3 km
243 Avenue Rd., Toronto
The Boom and Gloom of Zoom
Today, during a Zoom call, I was in the illustrious company of our leaders. I offered them my praises. They were mostly younger than me, the next generation who believe in book marathons, and have just completed one in December into early January. The books are of a revolutionary kind, in terms of altering consciousness.
The focus during that period of time was predominantly on the sponsoring and disbursement of Bhagavad-Gita’s. To accomplish this all involved worked very hard. In addition to expressing gratitude people on the call took turns reporting and conveying various techniques and practices for more effective ways of reaching out to a public that is receptive. Overall, it was meaningful sangha, as we say, a gathering, on a virtual level.
My second Zoom for the day was with family. Yes, I have five siblings and we like each other. Our conversation was less spiritual and yet not mundane. We kept it light enough. It was a sharing of our past as well as dreams of the future. Surely, we captured moments of the present; which is always pertinent.
I’m not a passionate lover of modern technical ways but I can appreciate the efficiency and utility of it at times. Technology is what it is — a vehicle or instrument. It should be used to bring about cohesion and enlightenment amongst us.
We do observe that many people exploit the good of it, which is sad.
May the source be with you!
3 km
