Planet ISKCON

Lecture – Srimad Bhagavatam 1.8.26 The Most Intimate Guru Seva 2014-07-16 #Bulgarian

Today is Lalita-sasti, Srimati Lalita-devi’s appearance day. She is Srimati Radharani’s direct expansion and dearest friend. She is also very merciful and canvasses for devotees to come to serve Sri Sri Radha and Krishna. We can pray to her, following Srila Raghunatha dasa Gosvami:

 sandra-prema-rasaih pluta priyataya pragalbhyam apta tayoh
prana-prestha-vayasyayor anudinam lilabhisaram kramaih
vaidagdhyena tatha sakhim prati sada manasya siksam rasair
  yeyam karayatiha hanta lalita grhnatu sa mam ganaih

 “Floodedwith the nectar of intense love for her two friends (Sri Sri Radha-Krishna), who are more dear to her than her own life, affectionately arrogant in Their presence, and daily arranging for Their rendezvous, Lalita-devi expertly teaches her friend Radha the art of jealous anger. May Srimati Lalita-devi one day accept me as one of her associates in her personal group.” (Sri Vraja-vilasa-stava 29)

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

[Talk at Connecticut, USA]

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[Sunday feast class at Connecticut, USA]

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A visit to Rajani Priya Dasi (Rose Forkash) (Album of photos)
Rose Forkash was initiated by Giriraj Swami and given the name Rajani-priya dasi at 94 years of age.
Giriraj Swami: Yesterday eight of us—Kuntidevi, Lavanga Manjari, Nanda Kishore, Kandarpa Manjari (his wife), Gopal (their son), Srimati (their daughter), Jivan Mukta, and I—visited Rajani Priya Dasi (Rose Forkash) at Mission Terrace Convalescent Hospital, where she is staying temporarily. She was as Krishna conscious as ever and told us how she is getting staff, patients, and visitors to chant Hare Krishna. She explains the philosophy behind it and gives them pieces of paper with the maha-mantra written on it—and she takes great pleasure in seeing them chant.

Yesterday eight of us—Kuntidevi, Lavanga Manjari, Nanda Kishore, Kandarpa Manjari (his wife), Gopal (their son), Srimati (their daughter), Jivan Mukta, and I—visited Rajani Priya Dasi (Rose Forkash) at Mission Terrace Convalescent Hospital, where she is staying temporarily. She was as Krishna conscious as ever and told us how she is getting staff, patients, and visitors to chant Hare Krishna. She explains the philosophy behind it and gives them pieces of paper with the maha-mantra written on it—and she takes great pleasure in seeing them chant.

Before I left, she blessed me, saying, “May you live a long life—as long as or longer than me—in good health, so you can chant Hare Krishna and deliver your important message to many more people.”

On September 15, Rajani Priya will turn 99.

I will be leaving for Texas tomorrow and retuning in two months, and I look forward to meeting her again when I return—back in Carpinteria.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

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“Everyone should be friendly for the service of the Lord. Everyone should praise another’s service to the Lord and not be proud of his own service. This is the way of Vaisnava thinking, Vaikuntha thinking. There may be rivalries and apparent competition between servants in performing service, but in the Vaikuntha planets the service of another servant is appreciated, not condemned. This is Vaikuntha competition. There is no question of enmity between servants. Everyone should be allowed to render service to the Lord to the best of his ability, and everyone should appreciate the service of others. Such are the activities of Vaikuntha. Since everyone is a servant, everyone is on the same platform and is allowed to serve the Lord according to his ability.” SB 7.5.12 purport
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Vyasa-puja Celebration via Skype (Right click to download)

In ancient times, farmers followed the moon cycles across the year to sow or harvest their crops, knowing well that their investments are protected by taking advantage of such opportune moments. Devotees similarly have the opportunity to take advantage of the Bhadra Purnima day every year to gift the Srimad Bhagavatam and increase their devotional credits, as explained in the verse below: “If on the full moon day of the month of Bhādra one places Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam on a golden throne and gives it as a gift, he will attain the supreme transcendental destination.” – Srimad Bhagavatam 12.13.13 Continue reading "Take advantage of the Bhadra Moon!
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We launched our newest campaign to encourage donors to complete their pledges, the TOVP Live Your Pledge Campaign. This awareness campaign is simply a reminder to keep your commitment to Srila Prabhupada to fulfill your pledge by 2022 or sooner. Much of our budget and income expectation is based on previous and new pledges, so it is incumbent that this stream of income remains strong and reliable. Continue reading "Live Your TOVP Pledge Campaign Launch
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Ukraine held the first ISKCON Farm Organization meeting in New Mayapur, from the 16-18th of August. The event targeted on how to accomplish the recent GBC resolution that by Janmastami 2022, all ISKCON centers should have a plan on how to supply the Deities with Dairy from protected cows. New Mayapur, Ukraine, is located on the territory of an ex-pioneer camp in the protected forest and on the bank of the river Oryl, which is one of the cleanest rivers in Ukraine. The nearest village is 4 km and only 108 km from the Dnipro International Airport. Continue reading "Ukranian leadership discusses supplying the Deities with dairy from protected cows
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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 3 October 2018, Camp de Masque, Mauritius, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.1.1)

People have so many, so many practical questions for me. Someone comes and asks, “Shall I get married?” I have one answer to that question. The answer is, “Yes!” 

And then, if you come to me and say, “Shall I not get married?”I have one answer to that question as well and the answer is, “Yes!”

“Shall I go to university?” Yes!

“Shall I not go to university?” Yes!

“Shall I start a business?” Yes!

“Shall I just, you know, live very simple?” Yes!

It is all good and it does not matter. It is all “yes”, whatever you want. Because these things do not matter. These things are secondary. 

Prabhupada was in New York City in ‘Matchless Gifts’ and there were cars driving by. Prabhupada was then imitating the sound, “Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!” and then he said, “Yes, travelling at neck breaking speed, but not making any progress!”

So, like that, whether you live on this side of the street or on that side of the street, it does not matter. I mean, the grass is always greener on the other side anyway, or so they say. So these things do not matter so much. But there are some things we always need, except these things are for Krsna. Need a temple for Krsna, need a dhoti for Krsna, need an offering for Krsna and a few remnants for Krsna’s devotees.

The article " Decisions, decisions! " was published on KKSBlog.

Vrindavan Darshan (1 Sep, 2019) (Album of photos)
After days of sweltering sun, finally the rainy season clouds showed their f...

When I was a new devotee, maybe less than two years in the movement, I approached Srila Prabhupada one day while he was getting his massage on the veranda of the Calcutta temple. “Srila Prabhupada,” I said, “I have been thinking about what pleases you most.” Srila Prabhupada took every word into his heart. He replied, “Yes.” I said, “The two things that seem to please you the most are distributing your books and building the big temple in Mayapur.” Srila Prabhupada smiled with great appreciation and said, “Thank you very much.”

Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 9, in INDONESIAN
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Here is an extract from the North European BBT’s Annual Report, about Lord Rama in Indonesia. Very interesting!

The fortunate town of Navadvipa remains on the earth. The seashore remains. The city of Jagannatha Puri remains. The holy names of Lord Krsna remain. Alas! Alas! I do not see anywhere the same kind of festival of pure love for Lord Hari. O Lord Caitanya, O ocean of mercy, will I ever see Your transcendental glory again? Continue reading "These Golden Days
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As one of the recent acharyas in the Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya from Lord Caitanya, His Divine Grace Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakur made many predictions about the spread of the sankirtana movement throughout the world. He was undoubtedly an empowered Gaudiya Vaishnava visionary authorized by Mahaprabhu to preach and distribute the Holy Names, and was able to see the spread of the Yuga dharma as predicted by the Lord Himself. The prolific writer that he was, he penned these predictions into his writings as tangible historic facts, and they have become inspirations for generations of Vaishnavas since.

Below is a compilation of his most notable visions and predictions that show the depth of his capacity to see the future of the sankirtana movement.

“When our Lord [Caitanya] disappears, by His desire the Ganges will swell. The water will almost cover Mayapur for a hundred years and then recede. For some time, only the land will remain, devoid of houses. Then by the Lord’s desire, Mayapur will again become prominent, and people will live here as before. All the ghats on the bank of the Ganges will again be visible and the devotees will build temples . . . In this way, the devotees will reveal the lost places. Know this for certain: at the end of four hundred years, the task of recovering the lost holy places will begin.”

Jaiva Dharma

“Of the seven holy places giving salvation – Ayodhya, Mathura, Gaya, Kashi, Kanchi, Avanti and Dwaravati – Sri Mayapur is the most important place of pilgrimage. Sriman Mahaprabhu with His advent made His own Svetadvipa descend here, and after four centuries after the disappearance of Sriman Mahaprabhu this place of pilgrimage Svetadvipa will be superior to all other places of pilgrimage of the world. Living in this place removes all sin and offenses and helps pure devotion to grow.”

Jaiva Dharma

“The religion preached by [Chaitanya] Mahaprabhu is universal and not exclusive… The principle of kirtan as the future church of the world invites all classes of men, without distinction of caste or clan, to the highest cultivation of the spirit. This church, it appears, will extend all over the world and take the place of all sectarian churches, which exclude outsiders from the precincts of the mosque, church, or temple. Lord Chaitanya did not advent Himself to liberate only a few men of India. Rather, His main objective was to emancipate all living entities of all countries throughout the entire universe and preach the Eternal Religion. Lord Chaitanya says in the Chaitanya Bhagwat: “In every town, country, and village, My name will be sung.” There is no doubt that this unquestionable order will come to pass… Although there is still no pure society of Vaishnavas to be had, yet Lord Chaitanya’s prophetic words will in a few days come true, I am sure. Why not? Nothing is absolutely pure in the beginning. From imperfection, purity will come about. O, for that day when the fortunate English, French, Russian, German, and American people will take up banners, mridangas, and kartals and raise kirtan through their streets and towns. When will that day come?”

Sajjana-tosani

“Very soon the chanting of ‘Harinama sankirtana will be spread all over the world. Oh, when will that day come when people from America, England, France, Germany, Russia will take up karatals and mrdangas and chant Hare Krishna in their towns? When will that day come when the fair-skinned foreigners will come to Sri Mayapur-dhama and join with the Bengali Vaisnavas to chant, Jaya Sacinandana, Jaya Sacinandana. When will that day be?”

Sajjana-tosani

“Alas! When will that day come when all greatly fortunate souls in countries such as England, France, Russia, Prussia and America will take up banners, kettle drums, mrdangas and karatalas and thus cause the ecstatic waves of Hari Nama Kirtan and the singing of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s holy name to rise in the streets of their towns and cities? O when will that day come, when pure and transcendental Krishna prema (love of God) will be the only religion of all souls and all tiny sectarian religions will meet in the unlimited and universal religion of devotional service to Krishna, as rivers merge into the great ocean? O when will that day come?”

Sajjana-tosani

“A personality will soon appear and he will travel all over the world to spread the teachings of Lord Caitanya.”

Because of Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s being the pioneer of the Krishna consciousness movement and the force behind its progression into the modern world, Srila Prabhupada took it as his great service to him to build the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium in Sridhama Mayapur as the fulfillment of the Thakura’s vision of a golden city in the Holy Dhama. So important was this to Srila Prabhupada that he said to Giriraja Swami, “If you all build this temple, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura will personally come and take you all back to Godhead.”

On this most auspicious occasion we request devotees to consider intensifying their dedication and desire to see the completion of the TOVP by 2022, and make yet another financial commitment according to their ability to help. Please go to Seva Opportunities page to make an offering today.

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

Visit us at: www.tovp.org
Follow us at: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Watch us at: www.youtube.com/user/tovpinfo
View us 360° at: www.tovp360.org
News & Texts at: http://bit.ly/2ZB0xiONewsTexts
RSS News Feed at: https://tovp.org/rss2/
Buy from us at: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/
Support us at: https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/

The post Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Predictions appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

“Sources (of funds) means we get contributions from all over the world. All of our branches will gladly contribute. Practically this institution is the real United Nations. We have the cooperation from all Nations, all religions, all communities, etc. It will be an international institute. To see the planetarium and how things are universally situated has nothing to do with sectarian ideas. It is a scientific presentation of spiritual life.”

Srila Prabhupada

The vision of our acharya, Srila Prabhupada, extends into the future far beyond our capacity to imagine. He could see that the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium at the World Headquarters of ISKCON in the sacred land of Sridhama Mayapur would have a paramount effect on the entire human civilization for generations to come. He predicted that, “All over India they will come to see. From all over the world they will come.” He was fulfilling the words and vision of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur that people from all over the world would come to Mayapur to chant together, “Jai Sacinandana, Jai Sacinandana!”

In lieu of the Grand Opening of the TOVP in 2022 we would like to humbly remind devotees who have made pledges as yet unfinished to complete them as soon as possible. And devotees who have stopped their pledge payments for whatever reason to try and restart and complete them also. All this is to ensure we have the funds necessary for the completion of Sri Sri Radha Madhava’s, Sri Pancha Tattva’s and Sri Nrsimha’s new home and Srila Prabhupada’s historic preaching project. It would be a great embarrassment to Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON if we were unable to fulfill this plan on schedule.

With that idea in mind, during Janmastami and Vyasa Puja 2019 we launched our newest campaign to encourage donors to complete their pledges, the TOVP Live Your Pledge Campaign. This awareness campaign is simply a reminder to keep your commitment to Srila Prabhupada to fulfill your pledge by 2022 or sooner. Much of our budget and income expectation is based on previous and new pledges, so it is incumbent that this stream of income remains strong and reliable.

We hope every TOVP donor with an outstanding balance on their pledge will seriously consider this appeal and do the needful. This is the temple being built by the hands of every devotee and we need your help to succeed and combinedly offer this temple to Srila Prabhupada and our acharyas. Thank you for your support and consideration.

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

Visit us at: www.tovp.org
Follow us at: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Watch us at: www.youtube.com/user/tovpinfo
View us 360° at: www.tovp360.org
News & Texts at: http://bit.ly/2ZB0xiONewsTexts
RSS News Feed at: https://tovp.org/rss2/
Buy from us at: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/
Support us at: https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/

The post Live Your TOVP Pledge Campaign Launch appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

This is a revised and expanded edition of an article that I originally wrote in 1995. It weaves together, through the lens of Vedic Astrology, the history of how the ISKCON Mayapura temple was first victimized by thieves who stole Srila Prabhupada’s childhood Deities. And, the subsequent more serious attack by a gang of dacoits who stole Srimati Radharani thinking she was made of gold resulting in many wounded and at least one death. And, how following a simple instruction from Srila Prabhupada could have prevented it all. Continue reading "From the Astrologer’s Diary: The Night Dacoits Stole Srimati Radharani
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The Jagannatha Rathayatra parade took place on the second day of the festival and devotees came from as far away as Portland and Vancouver to participate. It was a wonderful procession and Their Lordships rode majestically through the streets of the suburb of Bellevue, which is like a second city in Seattle.

I did the puja to Jagannatha, Balarama and Subhadra and led the kirtana in the beginning. The devotees were very enthusiastic chanting and dancing the whole way for about one and half hours. When we got back to park, Their Lordships were taken from the cart to an alter and everyone settled in for the afternoon and evening activities.

•  handkerchiefs
•  jewelry
•  medium size storage containers
•  bindis

• silver polish (cream/liquid)
• brass/copper polish (cream/liquid)
• wood polish
• laundry soap
• soft cleaning cloths
• towels
• eco-friendly cleaning products

[Talk at Connecticut, USA]

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[Seminar at London College of Vedic Studies, ISKCON, Soho Street, UK]

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[Seminar at London College of Vedic Studies, ISKCON, Soho Street, UK]

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A video about Indradyumna Swami's Polish festival tour by Ananta Vrindavan.

Festival in Altai 2019 (Album of photos)
Altai is a region in Russia.
Mataji Mondakini was for the first time at our fest...

• The importance of accepting initiation in a disciplic succession
• Srila Prabhupada's special position
• How to select a spiritual master
• Relationships in a multi-guru environment
• Parallel lines of authority and more

Krishna’s pastimes are most enchanting, but when His pure devotees like the gopīs or Sukadeva Gosvami in the Bhagavatam narrate them, they taste even more nectarean, being mixed with the love of these devotees. Thus, Mother Yasoda experienced a greater pleasure upon hearing about Krishna’s stealing pastimes from the gopīs than the gopis did by witnessing them firsthand. The gopis’ apparent angry complaints were nothing but expressions of their loving affection for Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme butter thief (makhana-cora) who steals everyone’s pure heart. Continue reading "Complaints Of Love
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A video by ISKCON Desire Tree.

One of the greatest problems of materialistic society is the tendency to compare yourself with others. What is envy? It means to feel a slight pleasure when you see others suffering.

Things got off to a great start at the Seattle Rathayatra festival. The celebration was over two days and on the first many people attended. The devotees set up stages and stalls very nicely in a local park and everyone enjoyed the spiritual atmosphere.

Mother cow and her calf were brought over from our farm and even the local police came and had a look at how beautiful they were. There were, of course, dance and drama, book and paraphernalia stalls, but the most popular were the free prasadam stalls that served succulent preparations well into the evening.

My dear Sridhar Swami Maharaja,

Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

One of the most important lessons in Krishna consciousness is service in separation, and I have learned much about that from you since your departure. Three days after you left, while on my daily walk, I suddenly began to feel blissful, and I felt your presence. Then I felt that you gave me two instructions. The first was, “I am still here. Be happy.” And the second was, “Just be yourself. Each one of us has his own contribution to make, so just be yourself and make your contribution.” And then you left.

I considered what had just happened. Clearly, your two instructions were meant not only for me; they were meant for everyone. And your instructions covered all points. Especially your last statement said it all: “Just be yourself and make your contribution.” It was so powerful and true to you that our godbrother Jananivasa Prabhu quoted it in a talk.

Today, on this occasion, I feel simultaneously happy and sad. As Srila Prabhupada said, when a Vaishnava departs we feel both: happy that the Vaishnava has gone to serve Krishna and sad because we will miss his association.

I do feel sad in your separation—we had so many good times and deep experiences together in service to our eternal spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada—but I take solace in serving you in separation. The Mayapur project is so dear to you, I feel that I am serving you when I contribute to it. Your disciples are dear to you, and by supporting and encouraging them in devotional service, I feel that I am serving you. In fact, you wanted everyone to become Krishna conscious—the gentle and the ruffians—and often when I preach, especially to ruffians, I think of you. And you encouraged me to write, telling me, “The pen is mightier than the sword,” and so I write as a service to you.

Maharaja, you were known as the Jolly Swami, and indeed you were jolly, even to the end. This is testimony to your advancement in Krishna consciousness, to your surrender to Krishna. Srila Prabhupada said, “If you become Krishna’s devotee, rest assured you will never be vanquished. Krishna will always protect you. We are loitering in this material world without any protection. Kadaham aikantika-nitya-kinkarah praharsayisyami sanatha-jivitam [Stotra-ratna 43]. There is a verse by Yamunacarya. He’s praying, ‘My dear Lord, I am loitering in this material world without any guardian. So, when will the time come that I shall be jolly always, that “There is my guardian, Krishna”?’ ”

By Srila Prabhupada’s grace, you were always under Krishna’s protection—and jolly. And anyone who comes to your shelter will also be safe and happy, by your—and their—divine grace.

Thank you, Maharaja.

We love you.

Hare Krishna.

Your eternal servant,
Giriraj Swami