Planet ISKCON

A video by World of Vegan.

Video – Bhagavad Gita 11.9-15 Appreciating the Lord’s Ugra Rupam, Horrible Form – #Vrindavan 2015-03-04

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 23 September 2012, Durban, South Africa, Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya Lila 13.150)

It is explained that all the residents of Vrndavana are like the life force of Krsna. Without them, what reason is there to exist? Krsna makes this very clear. But then, He points out that when it comes to Srimati Radharani, She is His very life force itself. Without Her, there is no life. She is therefore the centre of all of Vrndavana’s activities. It is said that Krsna is simply the instrument of Radharani. So Krsna is completely controlled by Srimati Radharani. This is our Krsna, who is purchased by the love of His devotees.

Krsna is atmarama; He is satisfied within Himself. But then it is said in the tenth canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam that like a boy who is playing with His reflection, prati bimba, Krsna is playing with His own energies. Krsna is manifesting so many different energies and the most amazing of all energies is His pleasure potency. Srimati Radharani is that hladini shakti, the pleasure potency of Krsna. Krsna says that, ‘so many are praying to Me and I give them pleasure. But who gives pleasure to Me? Who can really give pleasure to Me; only one who is a hundred times more qualified than I am!’ So like this, Krsna is looking upon Srimati Radharani as unlimitedly qualified, unlimitedly pure, unlimitedly dedicated and of course today, we are looking at Srimati Radharani as the emblem of pure devotion.

The article " The life of Krsna’s life – Srimati Radharani " was published on KKSBlog.

ISKCON Sydney receives a grant of $200,000 by the Government!
Hare Krsna Dear Devotees,
We have a very wonderful piece of news to share with you all!
ISKCON Sydney has been successful in its application for the ‘My Community Project’ grant of $200,000. My Community Project is a new initiative by the NSW Government to improve the wellbeing of people and communities in NSW. In our case, the funds will go to the construction of new facilities and renovation of our existing kitchen to facilitate our FOOD FOR LIFE program and be more accessible to our local community, especially in North Shore area. In addition to providing yoga, meditation and counseling services, this project will also help us expand our food distribution program to many many more people especially in North Sydney and all the surrounding suburbs in this electorate.

Sri Radha Gopinath Travelling Sankirtan Party (TSKP) (Album of photos)
Last week our sankirtan team distributed Srila Prabhupad’s books in Mullumbimby, Tweed Heads, Helensvale, Cleveland and Sunnybank!!
For the pleasure of Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Gopinath, Sri Jagannath Baladev Subhadra, Sri Gaura Nitai and Jagad Guru Srila Prabhupada, the book distribution scores for the third week are…
368 Maha Big Books(Gita, Krsna Book, SB 1.1 and NOD)
47 Medium Books(CABH, NOI)
89 Small Books(POY)
Check out the photos of all fortunate souls taking Srila Prabhupad’s books, many in BOXES and SETS:)!

This Saturday, the Hare Krishnas will share the popular Hare Krishna mantra and distribute hundreds of cakes to shoppers and visitors to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in the UK.

A Glimpse of Barsana today (Album of photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: The most enchanting time of year in Barsana is the rainy season...

Prananatha das: I had spent two weeks at Govardhan last October working on the film "Govardhan Seva" but during that time I didn't get the opportunity to visit Varshana. So, on the morning I was leaving, my taxi was heading towards Delhi and I asked the driver to quickly stop at Varshana. The sun was just rising. It was so stunning. I put the drone in the air for a few minutes and, what you see in the video is the unedited footage. I used only a few seconds of footage in Govardhan Seva. Last night I suddenly remembered the rest of the footage was sitting there.

Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: The Sadhu Sanga Festival in Russia opened last night. Many thousands of devotees have gathered right next to the Black Sea for a week of intense hearing and chanting in the association of some of the most advanced devotees in the world.

From today, Sri Radha Prem-dhan Kirtan festival is going on from 10 am to 10 pm. Adhivas ceremony will be performed today evening at 7 pm. For the past three days, morning Srimad Bhagavatam classes are Radhastami special classes on Radharani’s pastimes. HH Bhakti Purusottama Swami spoke on Radha tattva on 4th sep, followed today […]

The post Radhastami Festival begins today! appeared first on Mayapur.com.

[Bhagavatam class on 7.9.48 at The Bhakti Center, New York, USA]

Podcast

 

Podcast Summary

 

Video:

The post How to see God’s presence in the world – in things, in events and in our actions appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Visakha Priya dasi: So each, everyone shall treat others as "My master." This is the Vaisnava system.

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Manjari Gauthie: Sweet, heavy smoke is pouring off the altar - the curtains are opening! Oh, so painfully slow they are opening. On my left, Tulsi Priya is sobbing. All the frankincense is now escaping, huge billows rolling over the crowd, so thick that even though the altar is now completely opened, it is still a few moments before I can see anything.

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Sastric Quotes: In fact, Radharani is the internal potency of Sri Krishna, and She eternally intensifies the pleasure of Sri Krishna. Impersonalists cannot understand this without the help of a maha-bhagavata devotee. The very name Radha suggests that She is eternally the topmost mistress for the comforts of Sri Krishna. Devotees in Vrindavana therefore seek the mercy of Srimati Radharani in order to be recognized as loving servitors of Sri Krishna.
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By Anantacarya dasa

Srimati Radharani, the tenderhearted, feminine counterpart of Godhead, is that one person in all of existence who knows best how to express love for Krsna. She is the supreme container of love for Him, and, as such, She is known as the asraya category. Moreover, it is She who, like a mother, nurtures us in our devotional service. Krsna, the object of Her love, comes once in a day of Brahma to display and enjoy His pastime mellows. Afterward, however, Krsna was left with three unfulfilled desires, and to fulfill those inner longings is the paramount reason for His return as Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Srimati Radhika is the unique, munificent cause of those unfulfilled desires of Krsna. In this way Vrishabhanu-nandini is establishing the greatest welfare for Him……..and for all His uncountable jivas. Continue reading "Srimati Radharani’s Beautiful Mood
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Answer Podcast

The post How should we approach texts like Gopal Champu and Anand Vrindavan Champu – are authentic translations available? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Talk at ISKCON, Brooklyn, New York, USA]

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The post How to see old truths with new eyes appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

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

His Grace Yama Niyama Dasa Brahmachari speaks on the importance of, and his involvement in, the 2019 MANtra Retreat at New Vrindavan.

[Talk at Connecticut, USA]

Podcast

 

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The post How to free our free will appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Sunday feast class at Connecticut, USA]

Podcast

 

Podcast Summary

 

Video:

The post Flavors of divine friendship – Krishna’s relationship with Madhumangala, Sudama and Arjuna appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

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.

Jaipur is known as gupta-Vrindavana, as the Lord Shri Govinda-devji, Shri Gopinath Ji and Shri Madan Mohan Ji (later went to Karoli) came from Shri Vrindavana Dham. Since then, Jaipur became the place of pilgrimage for Vaishnavas. In 1972, Srila Prabhupada came to Jaipur and visited many temples.

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

Answer Podcast

The post If some other temple has better association, should we leave our temple and go there? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

“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)

By Vamsuli Dasa

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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By TOVP team

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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By Ukranian IMCPA

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.”

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The appearance day of Lord Balaram symbolizes to resemble the devotees to be prepared for greeting Lord Krishna. Lord Balaram is firstly and in conclusion defined as THE SERVITOR GOD TO LORD KRISHNA.

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!

By Indradyumna Swami

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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Bhakta dasa: Once again, we celebrated another Sri Krishna Janmastami festival here in ISKCON Melbourne, we had over 10,000 guests over the three-day festival. Everyone was fed sumptuous feast throughout the day and night.

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.