(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 14 September 2012, Pretoria, South Africa, Caitanya Caritamrta Madhya-Lila 13.1-8)

Ratha Yatra is a festival of ecstasy because Lord Caitanya knew very well that Krsna cannot be happy outside of Vrndavana. Vrndavana is the place where He belongs! Vrndavana is the place where everything is designed for Krsna, and therefore Krsna can only be happy in Vrndavana. So Krsna had to be brought back to Vrndavana.

How could Krsna be in Dwarka? That is not the place where Krsna is at home. In Dwarka, Krsna is in separation. In Dwarka, Krsna can never be satisfied. Dwarka is so opulent that there are 16,108 palaces there and every queen has her own palace. These palaces are beautifully lit up on the inside with jewels and not by electric bulbs; jewels that shine brightly! Jewels in the walls, jewels in the ceilings with intricate decorations, so much so that the whole palace is lit up with these jewels! There are blue lapis lazuli stone columns that also shine, and onyx green marble benches with silken cushions inlaid with gold and various decorations.

The opulence of Dwarka is totally inconceivable; beautiful gardens, beautiful waterfalls and so many arrangements and yet, Krsna can never be happy there, never!  Even in that celestial atmosphere of Dwarka, where there are beautiful animals, beautiful birds and so on, even in that beauty of Dwarka, Krsna is still not satisfied because the way Krsna is served in Vrndavana, Dwarka simply cannot compare!

The article " No happiness outside Vrndavana " was published on KKSBlog.

See, in this chapter also, Bhagavatam is telling the same thing. If we do all our activities for Krsna's pleasure and thus remember Him through all our activities, we can cut this tree of work (karma)

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Shastrakrit Das (book distributor): You can tell when someone is reading Srila Prabhupada’s books:
So this actress looking middle eastern lady and her young son parked their Porsche, walked past my book table and went inside the grocery store. I actually remembered meeting them in the past and how she was kind of puffed up, so I didn’t expect much.

The beautiful Deities and devotees of the New Dwarka community, Los Angeles (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “Aryan” refers to those who are civilized, whose manners are regulated according to the Vedic rituals. Any devotee who is chanting the holy name of the Lord is the best kind of Aryan. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.33.7 Purport)
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Padayatra in New Mayapur, France with devotees from the Pandava Sena group and kirtan leader Agnidev prabhu (Album of photos)
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I first see him just after crossing the Bowery at Houston Street. As he passes before the iron-mesh fence of a playground, I distinctly glimpse the aura of saintliness. I watch him through the rushing traffic and stumbling derelicts. He strolls almost jauntily down the sidewalk. He is an old man whom age has never touched. Aloof from the people and bustle about him, he walks proudly, independently, his hand in a cloth beadbag. He wears the saffron robes of a sannyasi, and on his feet are quaint, pointed white shoes. Only seven months ago, I had seen many saffron-robed monks and holymen walking the dirt roads of Hardwar and Rishikesh, and stopping beside the Ganges to bathe. For me, that had been a futile journey to the mystic East in search of the all-knowing guru. But now—what's this? Continue reading "Visitor From Calcutta
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“So, you must practice how to love Krishna. First you have to rise early in the morning. You don’t like to, but you think, ‘I will rise early to satisfy Krishna.’ This is the beginning.” If we do not think we need to do it, or think we are advanced, then we will fall down… “We must rise early in the morning, bathe, attend mangala-arati, worship the Deities, chant the Hare Krishna mantra, study the Vedic literatures and follow all the rules prescribed by the acaryas and the spiritual master. If we deviate from this process, we may fall down, even though we may be very highly advanced.… Even if one is in the renounced order, he should never give up the regulative principles.” Continue reading "On Rising Early
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As the saying goes: “history is but a set of lies commonly agreed on by historians” In relation to religious historians this issue is even more acute, primarily because of the almost blanket ban on accepting any religious history that is not based on sense perception. The so-called 'enlightenment consensus' strictly adhere to their rule that nothing beyond gross matter and three dimensional space can be recorded. In reality this means that the enlightenment consensus lobby generally dismiss every other source of information and in the case of the vedic version it is dismissed as mythology. Sir William Jones the renowned lawyer, linguist and philologist while having some appreciation for India was unfortunately scathing about the beliefs and pramana system of the vedas. He referred to them as charming but fictitious embellishments and mockingly wrote about Bhisma being born of Mother Ganga and Bhima being born of the wind etc. Continue reading "If There Is Only One God Why Are There So Many Religions?
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Prasadam Distribution for flood-affected people at Belgaum (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: All persons in this material wo...

Former Minister of foreign affairs Sri Sushma Swaraj ji is no more among us.
May Lord Krishna grant His mercy to this soul. In 1998, Sushma Swaraj ji inaugurated our ISKCON Delhi Temple with the then Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji.
Iskcon will always remember the work she did. He helped Moscow temple and Geeta as well. She behaved with great humility and she used to be interested in learning about the spreading of ISKCON.

“Swiss Italian partnership” (13 min. video)
Family on the shore of Verbano lake share their story.
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Krishna's mirror is named Saradindu and His fan is named Marumaruta. His toy lotus flower is named Sadasmera and His toy ball is named Citrakoraka. Krishna's golden bow is named Vilasakarmana. The two ends of this bow are studded with jewels and it has a bowstring named Manjulasara. His glistening jewel-handled scissors are named Tustida. His buffalo-horn bugle is named Mandraghosa and His flute is named Bhuvanamohini. Krishna has another flute named Mahananda, which is like a fishhook that captures the fish of Srimati Radharani's heart and mind. Another flute, which has six holes is known as Madanajhankrti. Continue reading "The names of Krishna’s Personal Paraphernalia
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[Prerana youth festival talk at ISKCON, Nigdi, India]

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Srila Vamsi Das babaji, previously known as Bhairab Chandra, had appeared in the year 1859, in the village of Majeedpur, which was formerly part of Bangladesh. He was the eldest of seven siblings, and being the son of a poor fisherman, he had suffered a hard and an austere upbringing.

From his very childhood, he was deeply attracted to Lord Gauranga and Sri Nityananda Prabhu. He would keep staring at the deities of Gaura-Nitai at a nearby temple, for hours altogether.

Seeing this, his parents became very anxious, and got him married. But he eventually left his home, leaving behind his wife and little son, and became a renunciant. He soon received initiation in the line of the great vaishnava acharya, Sri Narottama Das Thakura.

After staying at Majeedpur for a few years, he left for an extensive pilgrimage all over India. Travelling all over the country, he finally settled at Navadvipa, where he spent the most of his life.

Babaji was a paramahamsa avadhuta, who would speak, dance, cry and move on the directions of the Supersoul. Being totally oblivious to his surroundings, Vamsi das babaji, would act in ways that were impossible for ordinary people to comprehend.

He led an exceedingly austere life, always wearing a simple loincloth. He took little care of his health, bathing in freezing water, even while sick. He carried with him two bags, one containing his Nitai-Gaura deities and the other one carrying Sri Radha Govinda.

Sometimes he would take the deities out of his bags, worship them mentally with mantras, and again keep them back inside.The worship of his deities was very spontaneous and not according to strict rules and regulations. Nevertheless, the Supreme Lord accepted his offering of love and devotion.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, Bhaktivedanta Manor, United Kingdom, 17 July 2019, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.9.45)

Bhismadeva was lying on a bed of arrows. I do not know if you ever had any injuries, but if you did, then usually you call the ambulance and that is it; off you go to the hospital. One arrow is enough. You can tell that one arrow or one bullet will do. But hundreds of them is far too intense! But somehow, Bhismadeva was lying on this bed of arrows, and he was totally self-contained. He was not overwhelmed whatsoever. He was able to do this not just by sheer willpower, but by not identifying with that excruciating pain and instead remaining completely calm and detached.

The article " Bed of arrows " was published on KKSBlog.

Get your hands crafty making a DIY toiletry kit –toothpaste, body butter, deodorant and body scrub! Perfect for the home or for travelling, low on waste and low on cost become the Zero Waste champion of your home, flat or student residence. Our DIY queen Madhupan will teach you the skills and tips needed to stay healthy, natural and clean green in the bathroom. BYO glass jars for taking your products home!

Monday 26th 6:15pm

Booking essential as limited space.

Followed by a delicious vegan dinner and dessert

The post DIY Toiletry Kit appeared first on Bhakti Lounge.

Get your hands crafty making a DIY toiletry kit –toothpaste, body butter, deodorant and body scrub! Perfect for the home or for travelling, low on waste and low on cost become the Zero Waste champion of your home, flat or student residence. Our DIY queen Madhupan will teach you the skills and tips needed to stay healthy, natural and clean green in the bathroom. BYO glass jars for taking your products home!

Monday 26th 6:15pm

Booking essential as limited space.

Followed by a delicious vegan dinner and dessert

Get your hands crafty making a DIY toiletry kit –toothpaste, body butter, deodorant and body scrub! Perfect for the home or for travelling, low on waste and low on cost become the Zero Waste champion of your home, flat or student residence. Our DIY queen Madhupan will teach you the skills and tips needed to stay healthy, natural and clean green in the bathroom. BYO glass jars for taking your products home!

Monday 26th 6:15pm

Booking essential as limited space.

Followed by a delicious vegan dinner and dessert

Get your hands crafty making a DIY toiletry kit –toothpaste, body butter, deodorant and body scrub! Perfect for the home or for travelling, low on waste and low on cost become the Zero Waste champion of your home, flat or student residence. Our DIY queen Madhupan will teach you the skills and tips needed to stay healthy, natural and clean green in the bathroom. BYO glass jars for taking your products home!

Monday 26th 6:15pm

Booking essential as limited space.

Followed by a delicious vegan dinner and dessert

The 700 acres of Sridham Mayapura land, in titles of individuals, is soon to be amalgamated so that ISKCON can official own all of it.

We are most pleased to report the great success of the recently completed Phase 1 of the TOVP South India Tour from July 13 – 21. Over $3 million in pledges was raised from hundreds of enthusiastic devotees as well as from commitments by the temples themselves, many of which sponsored Kirtanam Pillars of Devotion. We give all the credit to His Holiness Jayapataka Maharaja who is the inspiration and driving force behind these temples which he helped to establish. Continue reading "TOVP South India Tour an Incredible Success
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Для преданных ИСККОН, этот месяц является, пожалуй, самым важным и прославленным временем наряду с Гаура-пурнимой. Его уникальность заключается в том, что фактически всего в 30-ти дневный период мы празднуем явление четырех божественных личностей, наиболее достойных нашего поклонения: Шри Баладевы, Шри Кришны, Шримати Радхарани и Шрилы Прабхупады. Только подумайте, насколько удивительно все было устроено, что дни их явлений расположены так близко друг к другу.

Оставляя в стороне все философские моменты, связанные с этой темой, для того чтобы их смогли раскрыть другие авторы вайшнавских статей, мы сосредоточим свое внимание на возможности оказать практическое служение этим четырем дорогим нашему сердцу личностям в данный период. Мы объявляем начало марафона по сбору средств, приуроченному к Джанмаштами/Вьяса-пудже/Радхаштами, который пройдет с 23 августа по 6 сентября.

В течение этих двух недель мы призываем преданных ИСККОН по всему миру поместить лотосные стопы Шри Шри Радха-Мадхавы в свое сердце и помочь нам завершить строительство Их нового дома, столь желанного Шрилой Прабхупадой. Пожалуйста, станьте спонсором кирпича Радха-Мадхавы, который вместе с вашим именем будет помещен прямо под Их божественные лотосные стопы на алтаре.

Вы также можете профинансировать кирпич Гуру-Парампары в честь Вьяса-пуджи Шрилы Прабхупады, который вместе с вашим именем и именем вашего духовного учителя будет помещен по алтарь Гуру-парампары. Мы, несомненно, будем очень рады и Общим пожертвованиям.

Мы просим тех, кто еще никогда не жертвовал проекту, а также тех, кто уже выплатил свое пожертвование, поддержать строительство Храма ведического планетария. Как и прежде, вы можете оплатить свое пожертвование в рассрочку или сразу целиком. Спонсоры, которые уже пообещали перевести определенную сумму, могут воспользоваться этим временем для того, чтобы совершить дополнительный платеж в счет уплаты своего пожертвования.

Кроме того, в этот особый праздничный период мы хотим обратиться к нашим спонсорам, кто пообещал пожертвовать храму, но по какой-либо причине еще не приступил к выплатам или опоздал с уплатой взносов, и объявить о запуске кампании «Сдержи свое обещание Храму ведического планетария». Это дружеское напоминание о том, что без вашей помощи мы не сможем завершить храм. Наш ежемесячный бюджет покрывается благодаря доходам, полученным, главным образом, от взносов старых и новых спонсоров, и мы припадаем к вашим лотосным стопам с мольбами о том, чтобы вы начали или возобновили свои ежемесячные платежи в этот наиболее благоприятный период.

Шри Баларама Джаянти ки джай!
Шри Кришна Джанмаштами ки джай!
Радхаштами Махотсава ки джай!
Вьяса-пуджа Шрилы Прабхупады ки джай!

НОВОСТИ ХВП – БУДЬТЕ В КУРСЕ

Посетите ХВП: www.tovp.org
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The post Марафон по сбору средств в честь Джанмаштами/Вьяса-пуджи/Радхаштами и запуск кампании «Сдержи свое обещание ХВП»: 23 авг. – 6 сент. appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

This is perhaps the most important and celebrated time of the year for ISKCON devotees, apart from Gaur Purnima. The specialty of this time is that practically in the space of one thirty-day period alone we rejoice at the appearance of our four most worshipable divinities, Sri Baladeva, Sri Krishna, Srimate Radharani and Srila Prabhupada. If you think about it, it’s really a very unique arrangement that the appearance days of these four are so closely aligned.

Leaving aside all the philosophical points that could be made about this for other authors of Vaisnava articles to write about, we will focus on the practical seva opportunity to these cherished personalities during this time. Announcing, the Janmastami/Vyasa Puja/Radhastami TOVP Fundraising Marathon from August 23 until Sept. 6.

During these two weeks we are encouraging ISKCON devotees worldwide to place in their hearts the lotus feet of Sri Sri Sri Radha Madhava and help complete the construction of Their new home, so much desired by Srila Prabhupada. Please consider sponsoring a Radha Madhava Brick to be inscribed with your name and placed directly underneath Their divine lotus feet on the altar.

You may also consider sponsoring a Guru Parampara Brick for Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja with both your guru and your name inscribed on it, and placed under the Guru Parampara altar. General donations are also certainly welcome.

Whether you’ve never donated before or have already made and completed a pledge, please consider donating to support the TOVP construction. You can pay in installments or all at one time, as has always been our payment system. Donors with pledges can also use this time to make an additional payment towards their pledge.

Additionally, we are also using this special festival season to address our donors who have made pledges but have not begun their payments or have fallen behind on their payments for whatever reason with our Live Your TOVP Pledge campaign launch. This is a friendly reminder that without your help we cannot complete the TOVP. Our monthly budget has been based on income primarily from new and ongoing pledges, and we pray and beg at your lotus feet that you please somehow resume or begin your pledge payments during this most auspicious time.

Sri Balarama Jayanti ki jaya!
Sri Krishna Janmastami ki jaya!
Radhastami Mahotsava ki jaya!
Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja ki jaya!

TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

Visit us at: www.tovp.org
Follow us at: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
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View us 360° at: www.tovp360.org
Mailing List at: http://bit.ly/2SVti3PSignup
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Buy from us at: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/
Support us at: https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/

The post Janmastami/Vyasa Puja/Radhastami TOVP Fundraising Marathon and Live Your TOVP Pledge Campaign Launch: Aug. 23 – Sept. 6 appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

US congresswoman and presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard spoke at the Los Angeles Ratha-yatra yesterday. She is a sincere devotee of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna—and a very nice person.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami