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Welcome to Mayapur Gaura Purnima Festival 2020. For guest house bookings, please write to mghb108@gmail.com. To take part in festival sponsorships, please write to info@mayapur.com To take part in Navadvipa Mandala Parikrama, please visit navadvipaparikrama.com Gaura Purnima Festival Schedule – 2020 17.02.2020 – Devotees Arrival 18.02.2020 to 21.02.2020 – Sravana Utsav Mela 22.02.2020 – Flag […]
The post Gaura Purnima 2020 Festival Schedule appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Darshan of the original Vrinda devi (Album of photos)
Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: On the 11th we went to Kamyavan and had darshan of the original Vrinda devi. We also slid on Krishna’s slide and went to a number of other places.
Rasa Purnima Darshan and Karttika Vandanam (2019) (Album of photos)
Please take Rasa Purnima darshan of the most astounding Deities of ISKCON Vrindavan, Sri Sri Krishna Balaram Mandir, and also the 15th Annual Karttika Vandanam, where the devotees offered their talents as a garland of prayers at the lotus feet of Their Lordships and Srila Prabhupada
Grammy Nominee, Jahnavi Harrison gives a live concert at an evening of devotional song and divine mantra that will transport the audience to the sacred space within — where beauty resides, where songs of love echo eternal and where every step is a dance. Saturday, November 16, 7:30pm – 9:30pm, the Angel Orensanz Foundation, 172 Norfolk Street. New York, NY 10002.
Tickets: http://bhakticenter.org/jahnavi-harrison-concert/ (Use the code “mantra” with friends to save 10%)
Today I heard a wonderful talk in which Srila Prabhupada—and Srimad-Bhagavatam—glorified the chanting of the holy names. I was present when Srila Prabhupada gave the talk at the Ardha-kumbha-mela in Allahabad on January 31, 1971.
Srila Prabhupada said, “The conclusion is:
na vai sa narakam yati
neksito yama-kinkaraih
yady apy amangalo martyo
visnu-loke mahiyate
[SB 6.2.48]
[‘Because this very confidential historical narration has the potency to vanquish all sinful reactions, one who hears or describes it with faith and devotion is no longer doomed to hellish life, regardless of his having a material body and regardless of how sinful he may have been. Indeed, the Yamadutas, who carry out the orders of Yamaraja, do not approach him even to see him. After giving up his body, he returns home, back to Godhead, where he is very respectfully received and worshiped.’] One who is engaged in chanting the holy name—for him this is the special facility. What is that? It is guaranteed that he’ll never go to the hellish condition of life. That is guaranteed. He will not be degraded to the lowest stages of life, animal life or a life of ignorance in a lowborn of human life, but he will gradually make progress. And it is also guaranteed that the Yamadutas, the servants of Yamaraja, will never come to see him, or he will never see them. They will be out of sight. This is the result. And yajnati ananyalo mattah: although this material existence is always inauspicious, a person engaged in chanting the holy names always lives in the Vishnu-loka. He’s not in this material world. If you chant without offense, yatra ananyalo mad-bhakta tatra tisthami, immediately you create a Vaikuntha-loka, because Krishna comes.”
Here Srila Prabhupada was referring to a verse in the Padma Purana:
naham tisthami vaikunthe
yoginam hrdayesu va
yatra gayanti mad-bhaktah
tatra tisthami narada
“My dear Narada, I do not dwell in Vaikuntha or in the hearts of the yogis; I remain wherever My devotees sing My glories.”
“When Krishna comes, Vishnu comes,” Prabhupada continued. “Wherever Krishna goes, that is Vaikuntha. . . . There is no difference between the holy name and Krishna. And Krishna says, ‘I live there where My pure devotees are chanting.’ So, when Krishna comes, when Krishna is on your tongue, how you can live in this material world? It is already Vaikuntha, provided your chanting is offenseless.
“In the beginning it may not be offenseless; still, the chanting has got so much power. Krsna-karsini. There are several qualifications of devotional service; one of them is krsna-karsini: attracting Krishna. Krishna attracts everyone, but devotional service attracts Krishna.
mriyamano harer nama
grnan putropacaritam
ajamilo ’py agad dhama
kim uta sraddhaya grnan
[SB 6.2.49]
[‘While suffering at the time of death, Ajamila chanted the holy name of the Lord, and although the chanting was directed toward his son, he nevertheless returned home, back to Godhead. Therefore if one faithfully and inoffensively chants the holy name of the Lord, where is the doubt that he will return to Godhead?’] This is the last conclusion, that Ajamila actually did not mean to chant the holy name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but some way or other his son’s name was Narayana, and he called his son. The name is so powerful that even without aiming or intending to address the Supreme Personality of Godhead, because the name was there, therefore ajamilo ’py agad dhamam: he was promoted to the spiritual kingdom. Kim uta sraddhaya grnan: then what to speak of such persons who are actually trying to chant the holy name without any offense.
“Ajamila never meant to chant the name of Narayana actually, but he was calling his son, whose name was Narayana. That means it was almost neglectfully done. So, even when neglectfully chanted, the holy name has got so much power, and what to speak of when those who are very faithfully chanting, observing the rules and regulations without any offense—what to speak of them? That is the thing.
“A similar instance is there in the Nrsimha Purana: a boar attacked a mlechchha, a lowborn meat-eater. They hate the hog. They call it haram. Haram means ‘abominable.’ So, one boar attacked him, and while he was dying he called this abominable, ‘haram, haram’; ha rama means ‘O Rama.’ So although he did not mean it, it became ‘O Rama,’ and he was immediately promoted to the spiritual kingdom. So, that is the power of chanting the Hare Krishna mantra.”
Hare Krishna.
Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami
The Forest Of Playful Pastimes (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The other day we visited Enca Gaon in the forest of Khelanvana in Vrindavan. It was there that Lord Balarama pulled the Yamuna towards Him with His plow. Later He danced with His group of gopis in the scenic beauty of the Khelanvana forest. Khelanvana means the “forest of playful pastimes.“
Find them here: http://bit.ly/2NK0vyd
Passersby Offer Lamps to Lord Damodara in New York City Subway Stations (2 min. video)
The month of Karttika comes to a close, and the last few people offer lamps to Lord Damodara this year, getting heaps of spiritual credits by doing so. Yuga Dharma Ashram devotees encourage passersby to offer lamps to Lord Damodara in New York City subway stations. November 2019.
Katyayani Vrata.
All the unmarried gopīs in Vṛndāvana used to daily worship goddess Kātyāyanī early in the morning after taking a bath in the river Yamunā. Kātyāyanī is another name for goddess Durgā.
Sourdough bread workshop (video)
Madan Gopal Das shares his expertise in baking fresh sourdough bread with the devotees at ISKCON New York
By Rohininandana das This handbook and accompanying curriculum, which are to be used enjointly, have been compiled under the direct order of the Governing Body Commission of the International Society for Krsna Consciousness. Their contents are based wholely on the inspiration, guidance and wisdom of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, the founder acarya of ISKCON. This humble attempt has been made in the service of any aspiring devotee and future disciple of the authorised ISKCON Acaryas. We pray to Srila Prabhupada, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta and Srila Rupa Gosvami that this work may be strictly in the line of the parampara and full of transcendental potency for the eternal benefit of one who makes use of it. Continue reading "Introductory Handbook For Krsna Consciousness
→ Dandavats"
All the unmarried gopīs in Vṛndāvana used to daily worship goddess Kātyāyanī early in the morning after taking a bath in the river Yamunā. Kātyāyanī is another name for goddess Durgā.
The goddess is worshiped by preparing a doll made of sand from the bank of the Yamunā. The gopīs used to prepare the deity of goddess Durgā and worship it with candana pulp, garlands, incense, lamps and all kinds of presentations—fruits, grain and twigs of plants.
The unmarried girls used to pray with great devotion to goddess Kātyāyanī, addressing her as follows: “O supreme external energy of the Personality of Godhead, O supreme mystic power, O supreme controller of this material world, O goddess, please be kind to us and arrange for our marriage with the son of Nanda Mahārāja, Kṛṣṇa.”
From Krsna Book by His Divine grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
Harinama Sankirtan in Vina del Mar, Chile (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Oh, how glorious are they whose tongues are chanting Your holy name! Even if born in the families of dog-eaters, such persons are worshipable. Persons who chant the holy name of Your Lordship must have executed all kinds of austerities and fire sacrifices and achieved all the good manners of the Aryans. To be chanting the holy name of Your Lordship, they must have bathed at holy places of pilgrimage, studied the Vedas and fulfilled everything required. No one in this life can chant the holy name of the Lord unless he has passed all lower stages, such as performing the Vedic ritualistic sacrifices, studying the Vedas and practicing good behavior like that of the Aryans. All this must first have been done. Just as a student in a law class is to be understood to have already graduated from general education, anyone who is engaged in the chanting of the holy name of the Lord must have already passed all lower stages. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.33.7 Purport)
Day 11 welcomes new family members to the growing Kadamba Kanana Swami with initiations at Varsana, a visit to Prem Sarovar and Pili Pokhar.
If you cannot see the videos below visit our youtube channel. Dont forget to subscribe!
Photos by Svasti-Gopinatha, Tamala Krsna, Gauravani, Padmanabha, Zoltan, Gopali, Tamala Krsna, Tattva Darsana and others
The article " Day 11 – Braja Parikrama 2019 " was published on KKSBlog.
Our last day brings us to Bahulavana, Garuda Govinda and Rama tala and unfortunately concludes the Braja Parikrama 2019. Stay tuned for more articles on the Braja Parikrama with some exciting videos in the works!
See you next year @2020 !
If you cannot see the videos below visit our youtube channel. Dont forget to subscribe!
Photos by Svasti-Gopinatha, Tamala Krsna, Gauravani, Padmanabha, Zoltan, Gopali, Tamala Krsna, Tattva Darsana and others
The article " Day 12 – Braja Parikrama 2019 " was published on KKSBlog.
HH Kavicandra Swami is preparing for the book distribution marathon!
Severe cyclonic storm Bulbul accompanied by heavy rain lashed the Ganga Sagar shore, villages and beaches. ISKCON Ganga Sagar buildings were also heavily affected by 130KMPH wind speed. Some of the roofs were destroyed and several trees were completely uprooted. No devotee was harmed.
Visit to Radha Kunda (15 min. video)
Indradyumna Swami: The Most Sacred Place - Radha Kunda!
A few days ago our parikrama party visited Radha Kunda, the most sacred place in the universe. We approached Srimati Radharani’s kunda with all the humility we could muster and bathed in the sacred waters. We also listened to a discourse on Radha Kunda’s glories and relished kirtan and prasadam afterwards.
bhagavan api ta ratrih saradotphulla-mallikah viksy- arantum manas cakre yoga-mayam upasritah Sri Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, full in all opulences, yet upon seeing those autumn nights scented with blossoming jasmine flowers, He turned His mind toward loving affairs. To fulfill His purposes He employed His internal potency. – S.B 10.29.1 On this […]
The post Sri Krishna Rasayatra – Nothing Else but the Pleasure of the Lord appeared first on Mayapur.com.
During Kartik, along with reciting the Damodarastaka, I read about the damodara-lila in Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 10, Chapters 9 and 10, including Nalakuvara and Manigriva’s beautiful submission to Lord Krishna, which I pray will be my own:
vani gunanukathane sravanau kathayam
hastau ca karmasu manas tava padayor nah
smrtyam siras tava nivasa-jagat-praname
drstih satam darsane ’stu bhavat-tanunam
“Henceforward, may all our words describe Your pastimes, may our ears engage in aural reception of Your glories, may our hands, legs, and other senses engage in actions pleasing to You, and may our minds always think of Your lotus feet. May our heads offer our obeisances to everything within this world, because all things are also Your different forms, and may our eyes see the forms of Vaisnavas, who are nondifferent from You.” (10.10.38)
Hare Krishna.
Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami
Day 10 gives us some quiet & private time as we take a day off in the busy parikrama schedule. Then again, Kadamba Kanana Swami still gave the morning Srimad Bhagavatam class.
If you cannot see the videos below visit our youtube channel. Dont forget to subscribe!
Photos by Svasti-Gopinatha, Tamala Krsna, Gauravani, Padmanabha, Zoltan, Gopali, Tamala Krsna, Tattva Darsana and others
The article " Day 10 – Braja Parikrama 2019 " was published on KKSBlog.
“One small step for man, one large leap for mankind”
By Gopi Gita devi dasi - TKG Academy Vice-Principal.
TKG Academy Principal, Nrtya Kisori, and Early Childhood Director Kalindi, and I traveled to Florida this weekend to participate in the Montessori Annual Conference and meet with ISKCON educators and administrators from four schools in North America.
“Accepting Comfort”
The luxurious Sarasota Hyatt Regency was a perfect backdrop for this historic gathering of educators, as the comfort of the facility reminded us of the Vaishnava principles of providing warmth and emotional comfort to each and every child in our care.
“Reinforcing Teen Identities”
Bhaktivedanta Academy’s Middle Years (7th to 10th) students, prophetically began the conference Friday morning with a resounding presentation of the Hare Krishna mantra and other Vedic hymns. 400 participants responded with a standing ovation. The session on the Seven Gateways of Adolescence, and corresponding conversation with Jaya Sri Radhe, an expert in the field, was perfect for us as we support our own growing Middle School and High School program at TKG Academy, and as I mother my own two teenagers.
“Activating Higher Level Thinking”
The large mossy trees of Florida, with gnarly wide branches, whisked me away to the forests of the sages, where they discussed deep philosophical principles to support all of humankind. Similarly, brilliant Vaishnavi teachers collaborated on everything from supporting early readers in their comprehension skills, to delivering meaningful spoken Sanskrit instruction, to analyzing relevant scriptural connections on body image and bullying.
“Analyzing Language”
The tall palm trees reminded me of Sri Mayapur Dham, as I got to participate in a detailed session on grammar and sentence analysis. Subject, Verb, Direct Object. Was not our dear Nimai, Lord Gauranga Mahaprabhu, a grammar teacher? He expertly immersed his students in Krishna’s names with every lesson. I’m excited to share what I learned with my kiddoes.
“Nurturing our Teachers”
The gentle “japa”/connection walks to the ocean and late night talks with teachers filled me with gratitude to be in their company. The round-table session on Recruiting and Retaining Teachers reinforced for the heads of schools the need to protect teachers whose natural tendency is to give, give, give, by creating a practical culture of care and setting healthy boundaries within our school communities.
“Practicing Inclusivity”
The many ethnicities represented, and loving acceptance of our faith-based bhakti schools, urged us to discuss increasing inclusivity in our ISKCON and school communities. We collectively decided to implement this now, by modeling this to our children through lingo (open language) and a non-judgemental attitude.
“Leadership, Self Care & Meditation”
And finally the birds of paradise and breezes, warm and light, really did make me feel like I was on vacation. Dr. Fred Luskins, from Stanford, gave a riveting Keynote Speech, and stressed the absolute necessity of spiritual self care through meditation. In addition, the last session we attended reminded us of one of Steven Covey’s quadrants, “Important/Not Urgent”, so often overlooked.
“Leadership means to completely fill yourself up so you can give to others.”
“Let go of things and let others step in.”
“Your personal happiness is the greatest gift you can give to your schools.”
I feel energized, I feel empowered, I feel so grateful and I felt Sri Sri Radha Kalachandji’s presence more powerful than ever before. Thank you dear Visvambara Prabhu David Aguilera and Vrinda Aguilera for organizing this and pushing us to join you.
If you are an educator and wish to fulfill your purpose with a Krishna connect, join our team of ISKCON educators. Krishna’s young boys and girls are calling us to usher them into a new generation of loving bhakti and Krishna consciousness, set in the contemporary 21st century. Hare Krishna.
More photos: https://is.gd/2Nyjam
In this short update video Sadbhuja prabhu, TOVP Managing Director, describes the colossal pillar top called a ‘Capital’ that will be used on top of numerous key pillars on the external structure of the temple.
In architecture the capital (from the Latin caput, or “head”) or chapiter forms the topmost member of a column (or a pilaster). It mediates between the column and the load thrusting down upon it, broadening the area of the column’s supporting surface.
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The post TOVP Progress Report – November 2019 appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
Leading from the Heart event in London’s Ghelani Studios (Album of photos)
A Krishna conscious presentation organized by members of the Veda London group. Veda London’s purpose is to bring timeless knowledge & practical wisdom for today’s modern world through interactive events.
Day 9 brings us to the home of Lalita Sakhi close to Radharani’s residence in Varsana. Lalita Sakhi is one of Srimati Radharani’s 8 principle girlfriends. And the trip also takes us to Deha Kund; the place where the cowherd boys would have lunch with Krishna.
If you cannot see the videos below visit our youtube channel. Dont forget to subscribe!
Photos by Svasti-Gopinatha, Tamala Krsna, Gauravani, Padmanabha, Zoltan, Gopali, Tamala Krsna, Tattva Darsana and others
The article " Day 9 – Braja Parikrama 2019 " was published on KKSBlog.
Our "Paramahamster" comic strip follows an enthusiastic devotee as he navigates a 9 - 5 work day in the corporate world. Please check back weekly for new episodes!
Sat watching one of the UK leading comedians explain why God doesn’t exist and as always it’s observational. With all comedy the thing that makes it funny is the ability to take what we see and package it in such a way that it hits the funny bone.
So as the act continues the comedian started to back up the observation with what is acceptable science fact to add plausibility to the act. Indeed it would be hard in some ways to argue against the material being presented.
Isn’t this how science works?
We observe then extrapolate from this a conclusion, all observational and can be replicated time and time again to come up with the same observed outcome. This way it becomes true given other scientists can replicate and agree. So great universities are set up and these conclusions are presented and accepted after all I’ve seen it with my own eyes and they don’t lie.
Presentation is key and this way knowledge is gained
Yes we know are senses are imperfect and our eyes can be fooled by optical illusions; indeed animals can be found with better sight, hearing and sense of touch. But knowing this it is still widely acceptable to use these imperfect senses to conclude and come up with fact.
Reading Srimad Bhagavatam we see how Lord Krishna has made the material universe and material nature and how it works in great detail; and also in even greater detail how karma works in this material world.
It’s not understanding of karma that means we can observe and conclude, it’s hard to understand collective karma and also how great evil can exist. Indeed the comedian used these reasons as a basis to dispute the existence of a creator and why the principal of evolution is correct.
It’s easy to accept observational studies but much harder to accept the spiritual study, but understanding what happens not only to ourselves but what happens around us makes greater sense with real knowledge. And with this real knowledge we can apply it universally and get the same results.
However it means we need to first accept that karma means as an individual taking responsibility for our own actions and that what happens to us is a result of both current and past actions. This is the difficulty as no knowledge of past actions are available so I can conclude being a nice person that these nasty actions against me are unjust and thus observational I can conclude there is no god.
Understanding this premise means that I can alter my reactions knowing not only why these things happen but there temporary nature, real knowledge and understanding helps one gain context.
Science is observational without real insight whilst vedic knowledge is observational with real insight, it took a comedy show to help me realise this.
“If one is capable the Bhisma-panchaka vow will be observed for the sake of love of God for the five days from the eleventh day (of the bright lunar fortnight in Kartika) up till the full moon day. The prescriptions for this have been given in the Vrata-Khanda-Kartika Mahatmya of the Padma-purana, in the Skanda Purana and in the Visnu-rahasya.”
HH Giriraj Swami home program, Moorpark, CA. Kartik 2019
Posted by Giriraj Swami on Friday, November 8, 2019
Relishing Tapovan (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday we visited the forest of Tapovan where the young gopi girls of Vrindavan performed austerities to get Krsna as their husband. In that small, but idyllic set of woods, we heard how the girls ate simply for one month, bathed daily in the cold waters of the Yamuna river and prayed continuously to the goddess Katyayani. At the end of the month they went to Chir Ghat, some distance down the river, where Krsna fulfilled their deep spiritual desires. We relished our time at Tapovan!
Giving Thanks to Whom?
Mahesvara Das: At the end of this month the people of America celebrate the event called “Thanksgiving”. As the title implies, the whole purpose of this event is to stop and become consciously grateful for the things we have each been given. Traditionally people take this time to give thanks to God for the gifts of the bountiful harvest and the blessings of family, friends, and good health etc.
Of course, the holiday assumes an acceptance that there is a God to give thanks to. But for all those who reject the Vedic conclusion that the three stages of God realization culminate in the Personality of Godhead referred to there as Lord Sri Krishna, the whole concept of Thanksgiving becomes an absurd event.
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Fifty years ago, in 1969, three couples – Mukunda and Janaki, Gurudas and Yamuna, and Shyamasundara and Malati – were inspired by Srila Prabhupada to start the first ISKCON center in London.At the time, London was the music capital of the world, with bands like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Moody Blues conquering global pop culture.
Speaking on Srimad-Bhagavatam 3.26.47 on January 22, 1975, in Juhu, Bombay, Srila Prabhupada appealed to us not to be preoccupied with the temporary miserable and happy conditions of life but to put a permanent end to the real problems of life and make our lives successful:
“Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, says personally, ‘These are your miseries.’ What? Janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi: [birth, death, old age, and disease (Gita 13.9)] ‘Repetition of birth and death.’ This is your real misery of life. What you are thinking as this misery or that misery are all temporary. They are all under the laws of material nature. You cannot get out of it. . . . So long as you are under this material nature, you have to accept this birth, death, old age, and disease. This is your real misery. We are thinking of temporary miserable conditions. Shastra says, ‘You don’t require to adjust temporary material misery or happiness, because they will come and go. You are destined to a certain type of miserable condition of life, a certain type of so-called happy life. They will automatically come and go, just like seasonal changes.’ Agamapayino ’nityas tams titiksasva bharata (Gita 2.14). We are very much happy when we are in a very good condition of life. But that will also not stay. That will also go away. Then miserable condition. Cakravat parivartante sukhani ca duhkhani ca. Sometimes happy, sometimes miserable. So, if you are actually interested to get out of miserable conditions, then try to get out of these four miserable conditions of life: janma-mrtyu-jara-vyadhi. That is intelligence. Don’t be bothered with the temporary miserable or happy conditions. They will come and go. Tams titiksasva bharata. If you cannot bear, then try to tolerate. That is the qualification of a brahman. Satyam samo damas titiksa, tolerance. We should not be disturbed—‘Now I am in miserable condition.’ Tolerate. The miserable conditions will come in this material world. Don’t be very much happy when you are in happy condition of life; neither become mad in miserable condition of life. Chant Hare Krishna and make your life successful. That is required. This is the propaganda of this Hare Krishna movement, or Krishna consciousness.”
Hare Krishna.
Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami
What makes some people resilient and some people weak? It’s primarily because of the way they look at things, especially when they go wrong.
Badrinath is famous as one of the larger Char Dhamas of India;. They are Ramesvaram, Jagannath Puri, Dwarka and Badrinath. Situated high in the Himalayas on the banks of the Alakananda river Badrinath has been visited by great saintly persons since time immemorial. The deity in the temple is self-manifested from a salagram sila and is two feet high. Nearby is the cave where Srila Vyasadeva wrote down the Vedic scriptures. The border of China is only a few meters away.
A video by Mikey Jay.
A prayer for the blessing of all of humanity released in collaboration with Radha Krishna Records. The prayer is taken from the prayers of Prahlad Maharaj as found in the Srimad Bhagavatam 5:18:9 The song was produced by Shammi Pithia and Jag (a.k.a Jagannatha Suta) and released as part of the Mantra Lounge Vol. 2 release from Radha Krisna Records Music video is by Raj Hirani at Filmwork Studio.