Planet ISKCON

By Bhakti Caitanya Swami.

  A popular proverb is “Show Me Your Friends and I will Show You Your Future.” The people with whom we associate plays an important role in shaping our thoughts and our life. Take the example of Kaikeyi, she loved Lord Rama more than her own life. But she associated with Manthara, an evil-minded lady. […]

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A popular proverb is “Show Me Your Friends and I will Show You Your Future.” The people with whom we associate plays an important role in shaping our thoughts and our life.

  some say they are stories fables told to help the young safely follow the mold and give the old something to do telling these stories to me and you   so by one of those, it goes there was one brahmana boy who himself was sized more like a toy when he asked the […]

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"the boy asked wryly / 'Where can I put my foot now? / There isn't anywhere left to go somehow?'"

Do we understand the Pandemic that the whole world is in grip of? 

Another example is the injustice to Draupadi when she and the Pandavas reside incognito in the kingdom of Matsya. There, Keechaka, the topmost general, desiring Draupadi’s affection, begins to stalk and harass her. He finally becomes impatient and pulls violently at her hair and kicks her. Does Draupadi simply tolerate this injustice and accepts it as “Krishna arrangement?” Definitely not. That night she approaches Bhima who kills the wicked general. Draupadi is then satisfied that justice has been served. Continue reading "Mahabharata and Justice
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Lecture by HG Narayani Devi Dasi at ISKCON Alachua

Gananoque, Kingston, Belleville

House Hop Jagannatha

The sleep was deep in the Prime Minister Suite and after that morning shower, which has become more or less ritual, my window to the south revealed a flowing, wide Saint Lawrence, shady trees and the balance of the inn’s structures—something out of early 1800s history books. From the veranda I was chanting my gayatri mantras when Nimai Nitai came to my side. It was time to go.

Where did we go?

After a stroll through Gananoque’s downtown and the ferry docks for the Thousand Islands, Nimai took me on board his vehicle for a second day of House Hop Jagannatha. Yes, the community of Gujarati decent got right behind the program’s organization. We ended up visiting 28 different homes. For me, the main feature is the chanting, in addition to gift-giving. Prabhupada’s books were presented to the hosts.

I was hankering, during break-time, for a cooling off in the Saint Lawrence, however, time did not allow. It definitely was another day of roasting in the sun. Most homes we visited are new. Being in the suburbs you don’t have mature trees to offer shade.

All the fun culminated at the residence of Mukesh, who owns and runs “Day’s Inn.” The food was tasty.

Nimai and I drove back to Toronto but stopped in at the city of Belleville for a stroll along the Maria River. It’s always precious to touch nature before you book it in for the day.

May the source be with you!

4 km

Milton/Etobicoke

Being Inn

It was sweet going from home to home with Savyasacin, not by foot, but in his red Jeep, following the caravan headed by Jagannatha deities. It is the Covid version of the Chariot Fest and, because it is relatively small scale, executing this mini party is very doable. All that is required are mantras, rituals, musical instruments, some satvic food—gas in your tank—companions, and a lot of bhakti. Today it took place in the burbs of Milton and tomorrow it’ll be Kingston. With the heat it felt like being barbecued. It said it “feels like 38°C.” The heat goes on.

The day started to cool at early evening. I was invited by Igor, a Ukrainian, if I might use that term. He called in friends to his spacious backyard, which made for a perfect setting for chanting, eating and getting to know one another from the Russian-speaking community. What a fabulous group they are! And what a good time we had, with cabbage rolls and all!

I did manage to fit in a dramatic reading and practice of “Rolling the Dice” with Steven, Balarama and Savy, before heading off to Gananoque Inn, situated on the St. Lawrence River, next to the ferry that takes you sailing through the gorgeous Thousand Islands. The Gananoque Inn is a Patel-motel type of operation (they’re my friends) and they so kindly put me in the suite where Prime Minister, Jean Chretien, stayed. That’s my second time to be in a PM space, the first time being in a B&B at Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, in a room where Pierre Trudeau and his family stayed; some kind of demigods in their time.

May the Source be with you!

0 km

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In the Brihad-Gautamiya Tantra, Radharani is described as follows:

devi krishna-mayi prokta radhika para-devata

sarva-lakshmi-mayi sarva kantih sammohini para

“The transcendental goddess Srimati Radharani is the direct counterpart of Lord Sri Krishna. She is the central figure for all the goddesses of fortune. She possesses all the attractiveness to attract the all-attractive Personality of Godhead. She is the primeval internal potency of the Lord.”

Srimati Radharani is the Supreme Goddess. Radharani is the queen of Vrndavana. She is most always seen with Lord Krishna. It is described that She is the Chief Associate and devotee of Lord Krishna, and topmost of all Goddesses. Her name means the She is the most excellent worshiper of Lord Krishna. However, She is also an expansion of the Lord’s energy. Since She is also an extension of Krishna, She is the feminine aspect of God. Thus, in the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, God is both male and female. They are One, but Krishna expands into two, Himself and Radharani, for the sake of divine loving pastimes.

To explain further, Srimati Radharani is also the source of the other goddesses, who are expansions of Her. Just as Lord Krishna is the source of all other expansions and incarnations of God, Radharani is the source of all other expansions of the energies of God, the shaktis, or other goddesses. Thus, Vishnu, Rama, even Shiva are all expansions of the one Supreme Being, and similarly Lakshmi, Sita, and even Durga are all expansions of this Supreme Feminine form of God, Radharani.

It is explained that the beloved consorts of Lord Krishna are of three kinds, namely the goddesses of fortune or Lakshmis, His queens, and the milkmaids of Vraja called the gopis. All of them proceed from Radharani. The Lakshmis are partial manifestations, or plenary portions, of Srimati Radharani, while the queens in Vaikuntha and in Dvaraka are reflections of Her image. The Vraja-devis or gopis are Her expansions and assist in the increase of rasa, or the divine loving pastimes. Among them there are many groups that have various sentiments and moods, which help Lord Krishna taste the sweetness of the rasa dance and other pastimes. (Cc.Adi-lila. 4. 75-81)

“Among the gopis of Vrindavana, Srimati Radharani and another gopi are considered chief. However, when we compare the gopis, it appears that Srimati Radharani is most important because Her real feature expresses the highest ecstasy of love. The ecstasy of love experienced by the other gopis cannot be compared to that of Srimati Radharani.” (Ujjvala-nilamani 4.3 of Srila Rupa Gosvami)

Gaura Mani Devi, Grammy-nominated kirtaniya, Vrajavadhus Director and personal mentor to thousands of devotees worldwide. She shares specific transcendental qualities of motherhood taught by Srimati Radharani, which we, contemporary mothers and fathers can practically apply today in our raising bhakti children. A video by GBC Strategic Planning Team

The enigmatic Kailasa Temple at the Ellora Caves in Maharashtra, India has fascinated researchers for centuries. As the world’s largest monolithic structure, it is without doubt one of the most breathtaking sites on the planet.

Husband and wife team Prema Rupa Madhava Das and Prema Rupini Madhavi Dasi, who previously organized Bhakti Vriksha programs and “Harinama Party Buses” in their hometown of Buenos Aires, Argentina, launched the retreat when the pandemic halted those activities.

The School of Bhakti at the Bhaktivedanta Manor UK, offers a variety of courses and workshops by qualified, respected teachers, to help "everyone come closer to Krishna".

A prayer to Radharani performed by Vrajavinod Shyam Das and the Vrajas Kirtan Band from Vrindavan.

Srimad Bhagavatam is the highest revelation of spiritual truth and Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the personification of the Srimad Bhagavatam

Every year NICE (Narasimha’s institute for children education), the education wing of ISKCON Miraroad, organizes Spiritual Science Exhibition during the summer vacations, where around 200 children in and around Miraroad, Mumbai participate enthusiastically.

Lecture by HG Daivi Shakti Mataji on Radha Ashtami

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Radhastami Celebration in Auckland NewZealand 2020

On the most auspicious day of Radhastami and the 50th sannyasa anniversary of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami (August 26, 2020) Maharaja speaks about the Grand Installation Ceremony of the New Prabhupada Murti in the TOVP scheduled for February, 2021 to celebrate the 125th Appearance Anniversary Year of His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.

2021 celebrates the 125th Appearance Anniversary Year of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder/Acharya of ISKCON. The TOVP will be recognizing this auspicious appearance year of the Samstapak Acharya (acharya for the next 10,000 years) with a 3-day festival beginning with the Appearance of the adi-guru, Lord Nityananda Himself, on February 25th, along with a worldwide Prabhupada Abhisheka observance. February 26th is dedicated to the opening ceremony of His Holiness Bhakti Charu Maharaja’s samadhi and remembrances by Godbrothers and disciples. On February 27th we will complete the celebration with the installation of a specially designed, one-of-a-kind, life-size murti of Srila Prabhupada created by master sculptor, Locan das (ACBSP). Like no other Prabhupada murti in the world, this murti sits in a ‘worship pose’ personifying his statement, “Mayapur is my place of worship”. He will sit gloriously on his grand Vyasasana for hundreds of years to come, eternally worshiping his Lordships and welcoming all the pilgrims who come to see Them.

February 25 – Nityananda Trayodasi / Worldwide Prabhupada Abhisheka

February 26 – Bhakti Charu Maharaja Samadhi Opening

February 27 – New Prabhupada Murti Installation

Donate today towards our worldwide combined guru dakshina campaign for Srila Prabhupada to help open the TOVP by sponsoring one or more of six kinds of abhishekas.

Go to the link below to sponsor an abhisheka: https://tovp.org/donate/prabhupada-murti-installation/

Lecture by HH Badrinarayan Swami on Radha Ashtamiat ISKCON of San Diego, CA

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Doctors have diagnosed Bhutatma's Condition as Cancer and have given him just a couple of months to live....of course this does not mean that his condition can not be reversed by the blessing and prayers of the Vaishnavas

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Now you can stay in touch and informed about the TOVP through our new and innovative TOVP interactive Smart Card. Simply download the ‘card’ from the link below and click on any of the links to visit our website, Facebook Page, YouTube Channel, Instagram account and much more, all on one convenient online ‘card’.

Keep the TOVP Smart Card on your desktop screen or other computer location and use it whenever you want to find out what’s going on with the TOVP.

DOWNLOAD THE TOVP SMART CARD (PDF)