Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Today’s Nairobi Deities Darshan (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Krishna is not poor. Krishna has not come here, He is very hungry, He has come here to eat your puri and rasagulla. No. But Krishna is so kind that He has come before you to accept whatever you can offer with devotion. Bombay, October 4, 1972
The two Brown Swiss oxen you see running about, Dhruva Laddhu and Kalyan Tamal, were rescued from a dairy where they were living in tiny hutches and fed by a milk drip. Balaji, who is in many ISCOWP cow sanctuary videos, vlogged them moving from the back pasture to the front pasture where he found a surprise in the cow pasture! 
Calm Before the Storm (18 min. video)
Indradyumna Swami: Preparations are in full swing for this year’s Polish Woodstock festival - renamed the Pol’and’Rock festival. Two and half million young people are expected. Our devotees are busy setting up our famous “Krsna’s Village Of Peace.” Devotees are arriving from Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Croatia, Macedonia, France, Germany and a number of other countries. It’s the 25th year of the Pol’and’Rock festival and the whole area is buzzing with activity. Many people are arriving early and all of them are asking when we’ll start our food ( prasadam ) distribution. We’re almost ready - most of the 48 tons of foodstuffs we’ll use to distribute approximately 160,000 plates of prasadam has arrived. And our kirtan tent is ready to resound with the holy names day and night. A massive maha yajna is about to begin. I have no doubt the demigods are also arriving in their flower airplanes!
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!
Daily Quotes by His Grace Mahatma Prabhu. Mahatma Das joined ISKCON in 1969 and has served as temple president, book distributor, sankirtana leader, college preacher, membership director, and VIHE teacher and co-director. He is well known in Iskcon for his recorded music and his seminars. He is the co-director of Bhakti Life, a non-profit organization that teaches the practices of devotional service through interactive workshops, retreats, online courses and counseling.
Reading Rathayatra, UK, 27th July 2019 (Album of photos)
Parasuram dasa: Temperatures in the UK reached an all-time recorded high - 39C - it was unbearably hot but the next day Reading Rathayatra was hit with monsoon-like rain. While cooking in the morning I was thinking that nobody is going to attend this festival, but we cooked anyway as if all was good. Then by Lord Jagannath’s mercy, the blue skies came and the Lord’s devotees came out in the masses. Vishal Gauranga and his wife Amala Manjari Prabhus are the main preachers out here. Running the Nama Hattas, Prasad Distribution, Festivals, and Rathayatras in 3 cities, Reading, Newbury and Basingstoke. A great example of what can be done when the congregation get together and focus on the mission of Srila Prabhupada. Reading is a historical city, in 870ad Wessex was invaded by the Vikings, and Reading became their HQ, King Ethelred and Alfred the Great (not so great) were defeated by the Vikings here. Then in 1121 King Henry built Reading Abbey and in 1361 the Black Death wiped out 60% of the population, bad time to be around then, but in the last 12 years the town is being blessed by the Lord of the Universe who rides His chariot surrounded by the chanting of the Mahamantra. These days the residents of Reading can easily access the Lord’s mercy simply by being on the High Street as the Lord rides past. Jai Jagannath Jai Srila Prabhupada.
Gita Nagari Rathayatra 2019 and oxen ride (Album of photos)
Gita Nagari Eco Farm and Sanctuary in Pennsylvania, USA.
Set ...
Padayatra in the Czech Republic (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “As a result of chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one makes such great advancement in spiritual life that simultaneously his material existence terminates and he receives love of Godhead. The holy name of Krishna is so powerful that by chanting even one name, one very easily achieves these transcendental riches.” (Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 8.28)
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 25 June 2019, New York, United States of America, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.9.20)
There is a culture within this movement. Srila Prabhupada brought the transcendental knowledge from India and brought the culture from India as well. Seated on the floor, eating with the right hand, chapattis, puris, sabzis and so on. In the philosophy that we get through the scriptures, the knowledge is preserved. In the culture we get from the devotees, the knowledge is also preserved.
What Srila Prabhupada brought from India was the establishment of this ISKCON culture and many such things coming from the parampara. It is not only that the parampara is listed in the front of the Bhagavad-gita as the thirty two names before Srila Prabhupada. No, the parampara is everywhere. There is a way that Prabhupada wanted things done. He found certain people, he trained them and then he instructed them to pass it on. So this parampara, it lives through our ISKCON culture.
The article " The culture of ISKCON " was published on KKSBlog.
The theme of this week’s Architecture Department Report is ‘Ornamental Embellishment Research’. Recently the TOVP AD Research Team visited Gujarat and Jaipur to analyze complex ornamentation work undertaken by the country’s leading temple designers and makers – the Swaminarayan Group. It was interesting to see the various parallels drawn between ISKCON and Swaminarayan in terms of their design and construction processes.
One of the striking outcomes of this study is that the TOVP GRC (Glass Reinforced Concrete) factory is manufacturing master designs of world standard quality, but at a minimal cost. Please read on to see their research.
Click here to see it in your browser or download a copy to your desktop for offline reading.
The post TOVP Architecture Department Weekly In-house Report, June 2019 – Edition #3 appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
The managers of the TOVP construction team regularly visit the site to make sure that steady progress is being made, as well as to ensure that the quality of the placement of the numerous embellishments is being maintained, and to make plans for upcoming work.
From the photos you can see that a good deal of the marble and GRC (Glass Reinforced Concrete) pieces have been placed onto the temple interior and exterior walls. You can also see the progress of the art department which is moving forward quickly and in fine quality.
[See image gallery at tovp.org]
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The post TOVP Construction Team Manager’s Inspection appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.
Ratha Yatra in Russia (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: In this age of Kali, intelligent persons perform congregational chan...
While I was chanting japa this morning, my mind was flooded with a verse from Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s song Gurudeva!:
jogyata-vicare, kichu nahi pai, tomara karuna sara
karuna na hoile, kandiya kandiya, prana na rakhibo ara
“Upon examining my value, I find that I have none; your mercy is essential to me. Therefore, if you are not merciful I will constantly weep and I will not maintain my life any longer.”
Later, I saw just how appropriate and relevant the rest of the song was to my effort to chant.
gurudeva!
krpa-bindu diya, koro’ ei dase, trnapekha ati hina
sakala-sahane, bolo diya koro’ nija mane sprha-hina
“Gurudeva! By a drop of your mercy, make this servant of yours humbler than a blade of grass. Giving me strength to bear all trials and troubles, make me devoid of all desires for personal honor.”
sakale samman, korite sakati, deho’ natha! jathajatha
tabe to’ gaibo, harinama-sukhe, aparadha ha ’be hata
“O lord and master! Please give me the power to properly honor all living beings. Only then will I sing the holy name in great ecstasy and all my offenses cease.”
kabe heno krpa, lobhiya e jana, krtartha hoibe, natha!
sakti-buddhi-hin, ami ati din, koro’ more atma-satha
“O lord and master! When will this devotee, obtaining your mercy, become blessed? Devoid of all strength and intelligence, I am very low and fallen. Please make me your own servant.”
Srila Prabhupada, please bless me with a drop of your mercy.
Hare Krishna.
Your eternal servant,
Giriraj Swami
Dublin Rathayatra 2019 was the Biggest and Best Ever! (14 min. video)
Dublin City was again blessed with a glorious Rathayatra...
Maha Harinam - Stockholm Sweden - 27 July 2019 (video)
Srila Prabhupada: The holy name of the Lord and the Lord are nondiffere...
Bhaktivedanta Manor (UK) Shree Krishna Haveli construction update.
Haveli Pathway Underway: The Haveli is nearing completion in the coming months, now work has begun to pave the pathways to and around the building. Were so excited for the building a facility for our generations to come…
‘One has to ascertain the right path for his activities by following in the footsteps of great saintly persons and books of knowledge under the guidance of a spiritual master’ - A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
The Shree Krishna Haveli will provide facilities to bring our community together for cultural activities, education and spiritual rejuvenation and no matter who we are, each of us can contribute to building this spiritual oasis. Support the Gita Walk and invest in the cultural and spiritual upliftment of society and future generations
The Haveli project is the culmination of decades of struggle and sacrifices made by the community to secure their right to worship Sri Sri Radha Gokulananda.
Calm Before the Storm (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Polish Woodstock ( Pol’and ‘Rock ) is less than a week away. A big storm is gathering on the horizon: both materially and spiritually. The weatherman is predicting 3 days of rain and hail. Better now than later. But we’re predicting a tsunami of mercy in the form of Krsna’s Village Of Peace and all that it entails. In the meantime, we’re busy with last-minute preparations. My heart is pounding and I can’t sleep at night!
Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: Some photos of the prana pratishtha ceremony, abhishek and first arati to the Panca Tattva yesterday in Oms...
By Indradyumna Swami “Let’s talk later about making a Hare Krsna base here in our Romani community,” Shaban said when we reached the car. “Let’s not just talk words; let’s do something tangible. It can be connected to the culture we share. It can remind gypsies of their origins and can facilitate the deeds of your community as well. Let’s construct a building or monument that will stand for a hundred or two hundred years. Something glorious to represent our combined cultures. This day of our meeting should go down in history in the collective memories of our people.” He took both my hands and said warmly, “You are so wonderfully dressed! Before you go, let’s walk through the streets of our community so you can meet my people. We can take a few photos as well to remember this momentous day.” Continue reading "Bonds of Brotherhood
→ Dandavats"
While singing the Nrsimha prayers today, I was struck by the juxtaposition of two very different moods of the Lord—prahladahlada-dayine: He gave bliss to Prahlada, and hiranyakasipor vaksah-sila-tanka-nakhalaye: He cracked the stonelike chest of Hiranyakasipu with His sharp chisel-like nails.
namas te narasimhaya
prahladahlada-dayine
hiranyakasipor vaksah-
sila-tanka-nakhalaye
“I offer my obeisances to Lord Narasimha who gives joy to Prahlada Maharaja and whose nails are like chisels on the stonelike chest of the demon Hiranyakasipu.”
And I thought of the great Bhagavatam commentator Sridhara Svami’s beautiful verse in which he juxtaposes the Lord’s kind and ferocious dealings:
ugro ’py anugra evayam
sva-bhaktanam nr-kesari
kesariva sva-potanam
anyesam ugra-vikramah
“Although very ferocious, the lioness is very kind to her cubs. Similarly, although ferocious to nondevotees like Hiranyakasipu, Lord Nrsimhadeva is very, very soft and kind to devotees like Prahlada.” (Sridhara Svami, commentary on SB 7.9.1).
All glories to Lord Nrsimhadeva and His devotees, among whom I pray to be counted.
Hare Krishna.
Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami
Radha Selvester: We have had quite a few devotees experience the passing of loved ones – parent, spouse, sibling, or child. In spite of knowing that we are not these bodies and that the soul is eternal, it is still an emotional struggle to cope with the loss. It is also a logistical challenge to make funeral arrangements, deal with insurance, disperse the loved one’s properties, and so much more. 
Vraja Kishor Schomaker has been awarded a Comet transfer scholarship, and is entering his third year of college with over seventy-five credits. All this despite a terrifying battle with a brain tumor in 2017 that left him temporarily unable to read.
At a recent meditation retreat, I learned two very helpful concepts - “it’s about connection, not concentration” and “be a receiver, not an achiever”.
Establishing and maintaining heart-connecting relationships with devotees of Krishna is fundamental for our spiritual growth and self-realization.
Forty four adults and nineteen children came together in the home of Sri Sri Kishore Kishori in Chicago during the weekend of July 13 and 14 to participate in the first-ever Krishna Homeschool Convention.
Insired by the Ramayana. Music and performance: Dhanya, directed by Rasa Partin, produced by Annick Jaegy, stylist: Ganga (Wild Mudra).
This project has been inspired by Gopiparandhana Das. Watch a video on the daily activities of the students at ISKCON Bhagavata
Mahavidyalaya.
Kirtan Oasis, ISKCON of Silicon Valley (video)
Srila Prabhupada: In the Adi Purana Krishna tells Arjuna: “Anyone who is engaged in chanting My transcendental name must be considered to be always associating with Me. And I may tell you frankly that for such a devotee I become easily purchased.” (Nectar of Devotion, 12)
Festival of the Holy Name in Spain (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “Haraye namah krsna yadavaya namah, gopala govinda rama sri-mudhusudana. This is another way of chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra. The meaning is as follows: “I offer my respectful obeisances unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Krishna. He is the descendant of the Yadu family. Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto Gopala, Govinda, Rama and Sri Madhusudana.” (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 25.64 Purport)
Kirtan with 6 harmoniums in Iskcon Tokyo! (1 min. video)
Srila Prabhupada: Because we live in the temples of Radha-Krishna and continuously hold hari-nama-sankirtana – the chanting of Hare Krishna – we consequently live in Vrndavana and nowhere else. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Madhya-lila, 16.281 Purport)
by Mocomy Educational Videos.
This four-day music and arts festival attracts 40,000+ people, and as usual the prasadam distribution was a great success.
Visnu and Garuda Monument (Album of photos)
Ramai Swami: While in Bali I was able to go out and visit the newly completed Visnu Garuda monument in the Nusa Dua area. This is the fourth highest of its kind in the world standing at 120 meters tall. An amazing architecture and sculptural achievement, although actual worship of the Lord would have been even better.
I also had the opportunity to be with my god brother and co-GBC for Indonesia, HH Kavicandra Maharaja. We attended the Rathayatra and other preaching programs together and it’s always nice to have his transcendental association.
Find them here: https://is.gd/DUFTWS
Largest attendance ever for Saranagati Rathayatra 2019 (Album of photos)
Saranagati Village is located in the historical Venab...
“One year when Lord Caitanya was at Allalanatha the devotees from Bengal arrived in Jagannatha Puri and word was sent to Lord Caitanya that they were there waiting for Him and He should go there. But, He was so much in the mood of separation that He did not want to go back to Jagannatha Puri without getting the darshan of Lord Jagannatha. The devotees very intelligently began kirtan and in that kirtan Lord Caitanya’s feelings of separation were pacified. Srila Prabhupada explains in his purport that the Holy Names of Krishna are Krishna Himself—and in this case Lord Jagannatha. So by immersing Himself in the Holy Names—Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare, Lord Caitanya felt the association of Lord Jagannatha. Srila Prabhupada comments further that whenever devotees feel separation from Lord Krishna or Lord Jagannatha, they can immerse themselves in the chanting of the Holy Names and thereby feel His presence and experience his association.”
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Snana-yatra talk (Right click to download)
While in Bali I was able to go out and visit the newly completed Visnu Garuda monument in the Nusa Dua area. This is the fourth highest of its kind in the world standing at 120 metres tall. An amazing architecture and sculptural achievement, although actual worship of the Lord would have been even better.
I also had the opportunity to be with my god brother and co-GBC for Indonesia, HH Kavicandra Maharaja. We attended the Rathayatra and other preaching programs together and it’s always nice to have his transcendental association.
Dubbed “Mantra Fest,” the outreach portion of Laguna Beach Rathayatra will be held on Sunday July 28th in downtown Laguna Beach, and will be a uniquely interactive experience for the public.
Dinanukampa dasi: ISKCON PandharApur, under the leadership of Lokanath Swami Maharaja, took the initiative of constructing a ghata on the eastern bank of the Candrabhaga adjacent to the temple property. On July 11, 2011, the day of Sayani Ekadasi, the Bhumi puja of the Prabhupada ghata was performed in the presence of the Chief Minister. This was done as an offering to Srila Prabhupada on the occasion of ISKCON jubilee celebrations. 
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 24 February 2019, New York, United States of America, Bhagavad-gita 7.7)
In the tenth chapter of Bhagavad-gita, ahaà sarvasya prabhavo mattaù sarvaà pravartate (Bhagavad-gita 10.8), we can see that Krsna is the origin of all that is spiritual and all that is material, and the wise who notice this, they perfectly worship Him with love. That is ultimately where we want to come. Because we are seeing how kind Krsna is… how unlimitedly kind He truly is! He is the Supreme, the topmost personality, all powerful, all beautiful, all perfect, yet He takes interest in insignificant creatures like us. He specifically notices our individual existence and that is something special. Every living being means something to Krsna and thus Krsna takes a personal interest in every single living being. That is something extraordinary! Suhrdam sarva dehinam (bhutanam) (Bhagavad-gita 5.29) – heartfelt suhrdam, heartfelt friend and well-wisher of every living being. So to think about that, that is the most amazing thing! And I meditate on things like this and can only imagine how kind Krsna really is. In this way, we can appreciate Krsna consciousness and when we leave this temple, we can look everything we see with a fresh perspective because we can see how Krsna is actually manifesting all these things for us and how He is behind everything. Everything is simply an arrangement of His kindness; sometimes aimed to frustrate us and sometimes aimed to encourage us. But nevertheless, it is all by His loving mercy. That is Krsna!
The article " His loving mercy " was published on KKSBlog.