Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s Disappearance Day
Giriraj Swami

For Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s disappearance day, I thought to read one verse and purport about him from Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, Chapter Ten, “The Branches of the Caitanya Tree”:

TEXT 105

sri gopala bhatta eka sakha sarvottama
rupa-sanatana-sange yanra prema-alapana

TRANSLATION

Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, the forty-seventh branch, was one of the great and exalted branches of the tree. He always engaged in discourses about love of Godhead in the company of Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami.

PURPORT by Srila Prabhupada

Sri Gopala Gosvami was the son of Venkata Bhatta, a resident of Sri Rangam. Gopala Bhatta formerly belonged to the disciplic succession of the Ramanuja-sampradaya but later became part of the Gaudiya-sampradaya.

COMMENT by Giriraj Swami

The word sampradaya means “party.”

PURPORT (continued)

In the year 1433 Sakabda (A.D. 1511), when Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was touring South India, He stayed for four months during the period of Caturmasya at the house of Venkata Bhatta, who then got the opportunity to serve the Lord to his heart’s content. Gopala Bhatta also got the opportunity to serve the Lord at this time. Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami was later initiated by his uncle, the great sannyasi Prabodhananda Sarasvati. Both the father and the mother of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami were extremely fortunate, for they dedicated their entire lives to the service of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu. They allowed Gopala Bhatta Gosvami to go to Vrndavana, and they gave up their lives thinking of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. When Lord Caitanya was later informed that Gopala Bhatta Gosvami had gone to Vrndavana and met Sri Rupa and Sanatana Gosvami, He was very pleased, and He advised Sri Rupa and Sanatana to accept Gopala Bhatta Gosvami as their younger brother and take care of him. Sri Sanatana Gosvami, out of his great affection for Gopala Bhatta Gosvami, compiled the Vaisnava smrti named Hari-bhakti-vilasa and published it under his name. Under the instruction of Srila Rupa and Sanatana, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami installed one of the seven principal deities of Vrndavana, the Radha-ramana deity. The sevaits (priests) of the Radha-ramana temple belong to the Gaudiya-sampradaya.

COMMENT

Actually, one of the families entrusted with the Deity service at the Radha-ramana temple has a history of relations with the line of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati. Visvambhara Gosvami’s father or grandfather had relations with Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, the family maintained relations with Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, and then Visvambhara Gosvami had very friendly relations with Srila Prabhupada. And he spoke very nicely about Srila Prabhupada. Now Visvambhara Gosvami’s son Padmanabha Gosvami is also very favorable to ISKCON. In fact, ISKCON devotees often honor prasada at his home at the Radha-ramana temple. I also took prasada there with His Holiness Tamal Krishna Goswami, and Padmanabha Gosvami showed us a letter that Srila Prabhupada had written to his father, Visvambhara Gosvami, about how all Vaishnavas should cooperate. So, not only does the Radha-ramana temple belong to the Gaudiya-sampradaya, but at least some of the sevaits have had close relations with the line of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.

PURPORT (continued)

When Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami took permission from all the Vaisnavas before writing Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami also gave him his blessings, but he requested him not to mention his name in the book. Therefore Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami has mentioned Gopala Bhatta Gosvami only very cautiously in one or two passages of the Caitanya-caritamrta. Srila Jiva Gosvami has written in the beginning of his Tattva-sandarbha, “A devotee from southern India who was born of a brahmana family and was a very intimate friend of Rupa Gosvami and Sanatana Gosvami has written a book that he has not compiled chronologically. Therefore I, a tiny living entity known as jiva, am trying to assort the events of the book chronologically, consulting the direction of great personalities like Madhvacarya, Sridhara Svami, Ramanujacarya, and other senior Vaisnavas in the disciplic succession.” In the beginning of the Bhagavat-sandarbha there are similar statements by Srila Jiva Gosvami. Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami compiled a book called Sat-kriya-sara-dipika, edited the Hari-bhakti-vilasa, wrote a foreword to the Sat-sandarbha and a commentary on the Krsna-karnamrta, and installed the Radharamana Deity in Vrndavana. In the Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika (184) it is mentioned that his previous name in the pastimes of Lord Krsna was Ananga-manjari. Sometimes he is also said to have been an incarnation of Guna-manjari. Srinivasa Acarya and Gopinatha Pujari were two of his disciples.

COMMENT

Srila Gopala Bhatta Gosvami ki jaya!

One story about Gopala Bhatta Gosvami is that on the eve of Nrsimha-caturdasi all the other Gosvamis and Vaishnavas in Vrindavan were preparing to worship their deities and hold festivals. Gopala Bhatta Gosvami had only a salagrama-sila; he didn’t have a deity with form, with arms and legs, a body he could dress and decorate. So he was feeling deprived of the opportunity to serve his deity like the other devotees who had deities with forms. Out of his strong desire, a salagrama-sila manifest in the form of Radha-ramana. Radha-ramana is considered the most beautiful deity of Krishna. It is the one original deity of the Gosvamis that has remained in Vrindavan, while the others had to be taken elsewhere for fear of the Muslim invaders. And near the temple of Radha-ramana in Vrindavan is the samadhi of Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami.

Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s uncle and siksa-guru was Prabodhananda Sarasvati. His samadhi is also located in Vrindavan, just off the parikrama path near Kaliya-ghata, which is quite near our Krishna-Balaram temple. Often when we go on parikrama down the path near the Yamuna, we visit Prabodhananda Sarasvati’s samadhi and bhajana-kutira. Then we proceed to Srila Sanatana Gosvami’s samadhi. Sanatana Gosvami was the most senior of the Gosvamis and was also a close associate and instructor of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. In fact, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami worked with Sanatana Gosvami to produce the great treatise Hari-bhakti-vilasa.

I feel that Gopala Bhatta Gosvami has been especially merciful to me on two occasions. On one, I visited his bhajana-kutira at Sanketa, a place between Nandagrama and Varsana where Radha and Krishna used to meet and sometimes perform rasa-lila. Gopala Bhatta would sit and chant underground in a deep cavern accessible only through a long, narrow passage. At the end of the passage was a somewhat roomier place where Gopala Bhatta used to chant, now marked as his bhajana-sthala. I remember going there with Tamal Krishna Goswami and others on a very hot day and struggling to crawl through the passage to the bhajana-sthala. It was difficult, but when I finally reached there, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami was very merciful. He allowed me to chant with a glimpse of taste. And after all the devotees emerged from the cavern, I stole back in. I crawled back to Gopala Bhatta’s lotus feet and sat there chanting. I will never forget his mercy to me there, and I pray that he will enable me to chant with relish and love.

On the other occasion, during Kartik of 1999, shortly before my surgery, I visited Gopala Bhatta’s samadhi near the Radha-ramana temple in Vrindavan. We arrived just after raja-bhoga-arati, and the pujari was closing the doors to the samadhi-mandir. But he was kind enough to open the doors for us, to allow us darshan of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. He gave us some flowers and caranamrta and invited us to stay for prasada. Thus our small party, along with some local sadhus, honored Gopala Bhatta Prabhu’s maha-maha-prasada with great relish, and we even stayed to take a little rest before, filled with bliss, we continued on our way. So, Gopala Bhatta Gosvami is very kind.

 Years later, when some of my disciples from Bombay went to Vrindavan on pilgrimage, they visited the samadhi of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami. They told the pujaris about me, how my health no longer allowed me to visit Vraja, and asked for some prasada for me. And the priest kindly gave them a piece of cloth from Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s samadhi. It is very special. Now, twice a year, on his appearance day and on his disappearance day, we bring it out and touch it. So now we shall pass it around and touch it to our heads and to our hearts—and pray to Gopala Bhatta Gosvami for his sublime mercy.

Thank you.

Hare Krishna.

[A talk by Giriraj Swami Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s disappearance day, July 31, 2002, Carpinteria, California]

Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s Disappearance Day
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By Giriraj Swami

In the year 1433 Sakabda (A.D. 1511), when Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was touring South India, He stayed for four months during the period of Caturmasya at the house of Venkata Bhatta, who then got the opportunity to serve the Lord to his heart’s content. Gopala Bhatta also got the opportunity to serve the Lord at this time. Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami was later initiated by his uncle, the great sannyasi Prabodhananda Sarasvati. Both the father and the mother of Gopala Bhatta Gosvami were extremely fortunate, Continue reading "Sri Gopala Bhatta Gosvami’s Disappearance Day
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Wednesday, July 17th, 2019
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Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

How it's Going

Our coordinator for this Vedic Mace traveling tour, is a competent person, a doctor from Thunder Bay by the name of Prem Kishor.  ‘Prem’ means love for the Divine.  It is Prem who demonstrates an actual caring for people, by organizing these events in venues throughout the towns in northern Ontario, where few folks get to the heart of the culture of India, and the heart of the soul.

Last year, we were here when a modest turnout of local people came. "This year you doubled!” said one woman who oversaw the ticket sales.  That only brings us to one hundred and fifty to date. However, if every year we double that, it means in time we can get to achieve full, large audiences.  It may be wishful thinking, but it is a target to reach for the sake of exposure.  Sudbury was three hundred.  Double that for a projected next year, and we'll be good.

Catering of Indian food is an attraction.  Unfortunately, the caterers arrived late, which threw all the performers off schedule.  Still, there was very little there to deter anyone, and in the end, the show sailed rather smoothly.

My walking for the day constituted a stroll near and about Lake Ramsey in Sudbury, which has this amazing boardwalk.  It was in the city of Sudbury while being an art student, that I came upon five Krishna monks who influenced me to the point of joining them.  What a turning point that was!

May the Source be with you!
5 km

Tuesday, July 16th, 2019
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Sudbury, Ontario

Only Swam

We did go and jump in the lake.  Enroute to Sudbury for another Festival of India show, the boys and I stopped in Parry Sound to get wet—get refreshed.  Gaura and I found the dip to be perfectly normal, being born and raised in Canada, but Gopal, Ananda and Dwarkanatha looked on it as purely experiential.  What fresh, clean water to swim in—no fast currents, no dangerous aquatics.

Once we arrived at Grace Hartman's Auditorium in Bell Park, set at the edge of Ramsey Lake, we met the van-load of girls from Florida and Chicago—all Krishna devotees—and it became time for sound testing on the stage, as well as a full run through our drama, "Gita: Concise."

This is our second year of performing in the city of Sudbury, the place where I have my own history of first meeting, meaningfully, a group of monks, who enticed and hooked me to monastic life back in late 1972.  I told the audience, once we opened the show: "I met these monks who were chanting at the corner of Elm and Notre Dame, in downtown Sudbury, when I was going through some Christmas blues (I explained that) and I acquired a copy of the 'Bhagavad-gita.'  Receiving that book changed my life... so now, we are going to present to you the major principles of that text, an actual philosophical conversation.  It is called, 'Gita: Concise,' and the girls of our traveling tour are presenting it.  With hands together, let's be entertained and enlightened..."

May the Source be with you!
0 km - Only swam


12th Annual Summer Kids Camp
→ The Toronto Hare Krishna Temple!

Krishna's Funskool at Toronto's Hare Krishna Temple is very happy to announce the 12th annual Summer Kids Camp-2019 for kids aged 4-12!

Join us for 5 fun-filled days for a memorable experience of interactive spiritual learning. Each of the five days will have a unique theme from our rich Vedic Heritage. Activities will include arts, crafts, drama, yoga, music, cooking classes, outdoor activities and much more.

Sumptuous breakfast, lunch and snack prasadam will be provided.

Here are more details:-The camp will run for five days Monday, August 26th to Friday, August 30th from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. You can register your child for one, more or all the 5 days.
Please register your child by filling up the form here.

Registration Fee:  $30 per day or $125 for all five days

You can complete the payment for registration in the following ways:-

1. In Person - On Sundays at the Front desk at ISKCON Toronto Hare Krishna temple between 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. Please mention the name of your child, age and Krishna Funskool Summer Kids Camp 2019 while making the donation.
2. Online using PayPal/Interac/EMT via donate@torontokrishna.com - Please add the name of your child, age and Krishna Funskool Summer Kids Camp 2019 in the description line.
3. By Cheque payable to ISKCON Toronto. Please mention the name of your child, age and Krishna Funskool Summer Kids Camp 2019

For more information please contact kids@torontokrishna.com

Monday, July 15th, 2019
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Toronto, Ontario

Pieces and Patches of History

I had before me two waves of people. First, there was the group of boys on tour for the summer, having the time of their lives, and second, Brian Carivana's group of mature folks who are here from all over the U.S. and Canada.  One woman is from Lincoln, Nebraska, which brings back walking memories from my U.S. adventures.  They, the second group, are spiritually inquisitive.  "How does Hare Krishna compare to other paths and how does it compare to my own?" was the thinking?

The two groups were pleased with my presentations.  Even the young boys were keen to hear of how a few poor monks and nuns from the ’70s crop—I'm in there—collected the funds to get the down payment on the building we're in.

Some hours passed, and it was time for me to get over to see a ninety-two-year-old Bengali gentleman, and someone who personally used to visit our guru, Prabhupada, in 1968, in Montreal, as a fairly new immigrant to Canada.  His name is Mahadev Chakravarty.  He has history to tell, not only of those fine first days with our guru, but also of the Gandhi episodes of India's efforts to be free of British rule, covering the details of the tragic massacre at Amritsar, the love affair of Lady Mount Baton with Nehru and how that influenced Nehru to divide India, what to speak of the heroism of Subhas Chandra Bose, who was the only major instrumental person for India to gain her independence.

I walked a good ten kilometres to get back home.

May the Source be with you!
10 km


Sunday, July 14th, 2019
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Toronto, Ontario

Brave The Street

Jai and I decided to brave the street and walk to the dock from the ashram.  I say ‘brave’ because we were both fatigued from the previous day's hectic but sweet activities.  There were options for reaching that destination by subway, car, uber, taxi and more, but it is always my experience that energy is produced from output.  Jai and I put it out.

We made it in time to meet with Ananda Gauranga and crew, who were poised for a fire ceremony.  In this fire ceremony, four candidates were already set for their initiations.  In this beautiful atmosphere of Centre Island, of shady trees and soft grasses, Ghanasham accepted the name of Ganapati.  Mark from Utah received the name of Mukunda.  Kalanath from Sri Lanka accepted the name Karana Karuna.  Finally, Vinod, whom I'm sure doesn't mind me mentioning he was a former addict, took on the name Bhaktivinode.  Two more devotees received their second initiation—Satya and Om Purnam. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz61rLUAkbm/?igshid=pd11hoiphihd

The island saw a second day of happy goers to the festival hosted by members of ISKCON.  Radha Priya worked hard at the stage.  Billy was the main force behind the Yoga Meltdown.  Hanuman was the main server of the vegan feast of which Dwarka was the cook.  Satyabhama and Keshava were the fundraisers.  Yura and Rukmini took the lead in overall organization.  There are honourable mentions but ‘Wow’ what an event.  Also I was proud to see our ladies receive another standing ovation for their "Gita: Concise" performance. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz61UOUg4qx/?igshid=4stnxiirzagc

May the Source be with you!
5 km


Saturday, July 13th, 2019
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Toronto, Ontario

Sticks, Costumes, a Drum and a Dream

Several practices led to an excellent presentation made by the young women of this community.  It was back at New Year's, January 1st, when at the tail end of a Prabhupada Festival, I mentioned to one of our Ukrainian girls: "It would be nice if we could develop a garbha dance team—a type of folk dance: Gujarati, spiritual."  From that remark, voiced before Sasha and her husband, Yura, a seed was planted.

Sasha had some experience already, in her home country, dancing in kirtan with a group of other women.  In stylish and tasteful looking attire, she danced and the public adored it.  So Sasha and Yura went to India.  They bought some colourful clothes.  Regular classes were held back in Toronto and thanks to Anand from Regina, an expert djembeplayer, he worked with the girls, providing the music.

This morning at 11:00 a.m., when the chariot procession was to begin, Anand was poised to play on his djembe, affixed to a wagon of sorts.  The dancers began with decorative striking-sticks in their hands.  I took the lead in chanting.  Our starting point was at a fallen white feather on the pavement: a clear, although accidental, marker.

I can't say that our team upstaged the deity Jagannatha, but it sure was darned attractive.  We couldn't keep the cameras away.

Now this was my walk, a tough one.  It was austere for the bunch of us going down Yonge Street at 11:00a.m., into the noon hour, and complete with the dance, song and drum at 2:00 p.m.  It was an exercise in stamina and love for the Lord.  https://www.instagram.com/p/Bz4Wh7SA0DN/?igshid=hw83gl3bak6

May the Source be with you!
5 km




Bathing Festival Special – Sun Love Feast – Jul 21st 2019 – Vedic discourse by His Grace Bhagavat Prabhu
→ ISKCON Brampton


Snana Yatra/Bathing Festival of Lord Jagannath:

Snana-Yatra is an important pastime of Lord Jagannatha at our temple. On this day, Jagannatha, Baladeva, and Subhadra allow Themselves to be bathed by all following the original tradition of worship at Jagannatha Puri. Our devotees, as well as many local people, enthusiastically assemble at the temple to perform abhisheka with Ganges water, milk, etc. This bathing goes on in the midst of kirtans glorifying Their Lordships and the chanting of the maha-mantra. Lord Jagannatha’s Prasada is also offered to all visitors.



                               



Chant: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare 

Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare 

And Be Happy!!

ayur harati vai pumsam
udyann astam ca yann asau
tasyarte yat-ksano nita
uttama-sloka-vartaya

Both by rising and by setting, the sun decreases the duration of life of everyone, except one
who utilizes the time by discussing topics of the all-good Personality of Godhead.
 ~ Srimad Bhagavatam 2.3.17




11.00 - 11.15      Tulsi Puja
11.15  - 11.30     Guru Puja
11:30 - 11:55     Aarti & Kirtan
11.55  - 12.00    Sri Nrsingadeva Prayers
12.00 - 12:45    Bathing Ceremony of Lord Jagannatha
12.45 -   1:30    Vedic discourse
  1.30 -   2.00    Sanctified Free Vegetarian Feast




COMING UP AHEAD

 Kamika Ekadasi
Fasting.....................on Sun Jul 28th,2019
Breakfast................  on Mon Jul 29th, 2019 b/w 6:04am – 07:41am

Every fortnight, we observe Ekadasi, a day of prayer and meditation. On this day we follow a complete fast from eating and drinking. We spend extra time reading the scriptures and chanting the auspicious Hare Krishna mantra. By constantly ‘exercising’ our minds through regular japa we can train our senses to push the threshold of contentment.

ONGOING PROGRAMS


Vedic Education & Learning For Grownups
Next Seminar will be announced shortly.

ISKCON Brampton offers various courses and Seminars for adults. The courses take a personal approach to learning. It encourages the student not only to study thoroughly the contents of Srila Prabhupada’s books but also to clearly understand the philosophy and practically apply it. The course focuses on behaviour and character, nurturing students in appropriate Vaishnava values. Professionally designed and presented, it draws on the principles of Krishna consciousness and the best of progressive education. In this way, it is true to ISKCON’s heritage and at the same time relevant to its mission in contemporary society.

For further information, please contact HG Prema Gaurangi Devi Dasi @ premagaurangi.jps@hotmail.com

Adult Education At The Temple
ISKCON Brampton offers various courses and Seminars for adults. The courses take a personal approach to learning. It encourages the student not only to study thoroughly the contents of Srila Prabhupada’s books but also to clearly understand the philosophy and practically apply it. The course focuses on behaviour and character, nurturing students in appropriate Vaishnava values.
Professionally designed and presented, it draws on the principles of Krishna consciousness
and the best of progressive education. In this way, it is true to ISKCON’s heritage and at the
same time relevant to its mission in contemporary society.

For further information, please contact HG Prema Gaurangi Devi Dasi @ premagaurangi.jps@hotmail.com


Sunday School

To register,contact us
Email:sundayschool108@gmail.com
Call:647.893.9363

The Sunday School provides fun filled strategies through the medium of music, drama, debates,
quizzes and games that present Vedic Culture to children. However the syllabus is also designed
to simultaneously teach them to always remember Krishna and never forget Him.
The Sunday School follows the curriculum provided by the Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture (BCEC).


Monthly sankirtan Festival(MSF)
“One who has life can preach, and one who preaches gets life.”(Previous Acaryas)
Every member of ISKCON should have the opportunity to make advancement in Krishna
consciousness by preaching.We encourage everyone to come out and participate and make
Srila Prabhupada happy.

Please contact:
Dharma Dasa- dharandev58@gmail.com-647.892.0739(Mississauga and Brampton regions)


The Mentorship Program

Please note that registration in the Mentorship System is now a mandatory requirement for all initiation requests at ISKCON Brampton.It

1.Facilitates  and nurtures devotees aspiring for first and second Initiation.
2.One-on-One personal follow up on a regular basis.
3.Systematic training to devotees in matters of Philosophy, Sadhna, Vaishnava behavior, etiquette, Lifestyle and attitudes.

To find details please click here


Gift Shop

Are you looking for some amazing gift items which are less expensive and more beautiful for your
loved ones for festivals or many other occasions??
Our boutique is stocked with an excellent range of products, perfect for gifts or as souvenirs of your
visit. It offers textiles, jewelry, incense, devotional articles, musical instruments, books, and CDs
inspired by Indian culture.We're open on all Sundays and celebrations marked in our annual calendar.

Living the Dream, Scandinavia Rathayatra Tour 2019
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In 1902 Srila Prabhupada personally organised the first Iskcon Rathayatra Festival, in Calcutta, he was eight years old .

“Like the festival at Puri, Abhay’s Ratha-yatra ran for eight consecutive days. His family members gathered, and the neighborhood children joined in a procession, pulling the cart, playing drums and hand cymbals, and chanting. Wearing a dhoti and no shirt in the heat of summer, Abhay led the children in chanting Hare Krsna and in singing the appropriate Bengali bhajana, Ki kara rai kamalini.

What are you doing, Srimati Radharani?
Please come out and see.
They are stealing Your dearmost treasure—
Krsna, the black gem.
If the young girl only knew!
The young boy Krsna,
Treasure of Her heart,
Is now forsaking Her.”

We started the first Scandinavian Rathayatra in Stockholm in 1996 , as part of Srila Prabhupada’s Centennial celebration. And this year we see how it has expanded over the years attracting more and more devotees to joyfully come to celebrate this glorious event.

Rathayatra is the festival that brings us devotees together, we see our old friends. Lord Jagannath is very very merciful.

And this year Manorama prabhu brought the biggest international gurukuli  group ever, about 50 wonderful young talanted vaisnavas.

Enjoy the video, complied by Rukmini Ramana prabhu, and see you next year, get your tent out and live the dream!

RATHA YATRA LECTURE (SAN FRANCISCO 1971)

Jagannātha svāmī nayana-pathagāmī bhavatu me.

So if we want to have eternal life, full of knowledge and blissfulness, then we must take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Our, this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement is the greatest welfare activities in the human society

Your servant Parasuram das 

https://foodforalluk.com/

https://foodforalluk.com/rich-kids-go-homeless

If someone is managerially incompetent or immoral, can their continuance in power be justified by saying that it is Krishna’s plan?
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The post If someone is managerially incompetent or immoral, can their continuance in power be justified by saying that it is Krishna’s plan? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

12th annual Kuching Ratha Yatra (4 min. video)
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12th annual Kuching Ratha Yatra (4 min. video)
Hare Krishna. Jai Jagannatha. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
At 5.20pm we started our Ratha Yatra procession from the Kuching Riverside Waterfront. HH Bhanu Swami inaugurated the 12th annual festival in the presence of about 200 devotees and the procession for the first time is parading through the main streets of Kuching. The procession ends at the waterfront with a speech by our guest of honor YB Datuk Professor Dr. sim Kui Han (minister of local government & housing) and a spiritual address by HH Bhanu Swami Maharaja. A cultural event, Kirtan and Sarawak traditional dances,

Living the Dream , Scandinavia Rathayatra Tour 2019
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By Parasuram dasa

We started the first Scandinavian Rathayatra in Stockholm in 1996, as part of Srila Prabhupada's Centennial celebration. And this year we see how it has expanded over the years attracting more and more devotees to joyfully come to celebrate this glorious event. And this year Manorama prabhu brought the biggest international gurukuli group ever, about 50 wonderful young talented vaishnavas. Continue reading "Living the Dream , Scandinavia Rathayatra Tour 2019
→ Dandavats"

Iskcon Food For Life London: We will be getting a brand new…
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Iskcon Food For Life London: We will be getting a brand new customized electric food van! This will be the first electric van food van in the UK!
Thank you so much for your support in raising the £60,000! Without you, this would have not been possible!
Iskcon Food For Life London Mission is providing nourishing, vegetarian food for people in need, from Monday to Saturday in the UK’s capital city, London.

Фотоотчет о продвижении работ – июль 2019
- TOVP.org

Ниже расположена небольшая подборка фотографий различных аспектов строительства, которые наглядно иллюстрируют продвижение отделочных работ в Храме ведического планетария.

[See image gallery at tovp.org]

 

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Смотрите о ХВП в 360°: www.tovp360.org
Загрузите приложение ХВП для мобильного телефона: www.tovp.org/ru/announcements-ru/new-tovp-phone-app-goes-live/
Подпишитесь на новости ХВП: https://goo.gl/forms/ojJ2WcUUuqWh8bXt1
Новостная Подписка через RSS: https://tovp.org/rss2/
Купите наши сувениры: https://tovp.org/tovp-gift-store/
Поддержите ХВП: https://tovp.org/ru/donate/seva-opportunities/

The post Фотоотчет о продвижении работ – июль 2019 appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

TOVP Progress Photo Update, July 2019
- TOVP.org

Below is a small collection of photos from different sections of the temple illustrating the progress of our finishing work on the TOVP.

[See image gallery at tovp.org]

 

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
Phone App at: http://tovp.org/news/announcements/new-tovp-phone-app-goes-live/
Mailing List at: https://goo.gl/forms/ojJ2WcUUuqWh8bXt1
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 TOVP Progress Photo Update, July 2019 appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Indonesia AGM
→ Ramai Swami

The leaders from ISKCON Indonesia assembled in Denpasar for the annual general meeting of the society. They came from Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Lombok, and Bali where we have centres.

There were about 45 or so who attended and reports were given of the preaching activities around the country. The Rathayatra committee said there were 30 Jagannatha Rathayatra parades last year and everyone applauded in appreciation.

The event went for two days and the devotees enjoyed associating with one another and planning for the future of ISKCON in Indonesia.

Visualisation: A Guided Meditation Experience
→ Bhakti Lounge

Invest in rest and let yourself completely relax! Our popular Visualisation Guided Meditation Class is happening end of July. Lie down, melt in to the mat and let your thoughts and problems drift away as our meditation guide Madhupana takes you on a journey through yoga nidra consciousness.

Visualise it for yourself!
Monday 29th July 6.15pm

Enjoy delicious dinner and dessert afterwards too!

$10 at the door or book online through our website

The post Visualisation: A Guided Meditation Experience appeared first on Bhakti Lounge.

Visualisation: A Guided Meditation Experience
→ Bhakti Lounge

Invest in rest and let yourself completely relax! Our popular Visualisation Guided Meditation Class is happening end of July. Lie down, melt in to the mat and let your thoughts and problems drift away as our meditation guide Madhupana takes you on a journey through yoga nidra consciousness.

Visualise it for yourself!
Monday 29th July 6.15pm

Enjoy delicious dinner and dessert afterwards too!

$10 at the door or book online through our website

Visualisation: A Guided Meditation Experience
→ Bhakti Lounge

Invest in rest and let yourself completely relax! Our popular Visualisation Guided Meditation Class is happening end of July. Lie down, melt in to the mat and let your thoughts and problems drift away as our meditation guide Madhupana takes you on a journey through yoga nidra consciousness.

Visualise it for yourself!
Monday 29th July 6.15pm

Enjoy delicious dinner and dessert afterwards too!

$10 at the door or book online through our website

Visualisation: A Guided Meditation Experience
→ Bhakti Lounge

Invest in rest and let yourself completely relax! Our popular Visualisation Guided Meditation Class is happening end of July. Lie down, melt in to the mat and let your thoughts and problems drift away as our meditation guide Madhupana takes you on a journey through yoga nidra consciousness.

Visualise it for yourself!
Monday 29th July 6.15pm

Enjoy delicious dinner and dessert afterwards too!

$10 at the door or book online through our website

Purchased by love
→ KKSBlog

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 25 June 2019, New York, United States of America, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.9.20)

Duryodhana was working very hard to win people over to his side and he was successful in some cases. Some karmi leaders were coming along with their armies and they were being received very nicely. They thought that they were going to fight for Yudhisthira and Yudhisthira made all such arrangements for them, but it turned out that it was Duryodhana. So then they felt so indebted, that they instead fought on Duryodhana’s side.

He tried to do the same with Krsna. When Krsna was coming as the messenger of the Pandavas, Duryodhana arranged a wonderful palace for Him to stay. And when Krsna came, He was offered an extraordinary treatment, a wonderful palace and a great reception. Then Krsna simply said, “No, I will never stay in the house of one who is envious of the Pandavas.” He refused whatever was offered by Duryodhana. Instead, He went to stay with Vidhura, which was something that even Vidhura did not expect. Vidhura was a dasi putra – he was not really a prince in that sense. He was certainly a son of the king, but with a maidservant. And therefore, although he was treated respectfully within the kingdom, he was not in a royal position and was also considered as a sudra.

So first of all, to stay with Vidhura was considered a bit awkward and second of all, Vidhura was not prepared whatsoever. At this time, all that Vidhura could arrange to offer Krsna were bananas. Then as his wife got the bananas ready, Vidhura offered the peels instead of the bananas. He was so overwhelmed by love of God, that he was so ecstatic, “Krsna is in my house!“, that he was grabbing the peels instead of the bananas. This of course shows why Krsna chose to stay in the house of Vidhura. So in this way, we appreciate that Krsna is purchased by love.

The article " Purchased by love " was published on KKSBlog.

Hungary Traveling with Krishna Monk – Krishna Valley Farm Hungary
→ ISKCON News

New Vraja Dhama, ISKCON’s 300 acre farm in Hungary, is the largest eco village in Europe. It is situated in a small village in the southernmost part of the country, 2 hours drive from Budapest. It was established in 1993 with the purpose of educating people about the values of self sufficiency, cow protection and a natural, God centered lifestyle. It's aim is to put Srila Prabhupada's motto, "Simple living and high thinking" into practice. The entire project has manifest from the heart of Sivarama Swami as an offering of love to Srila Prabhupada and the presiding deities of Sri Sri Radha Syamasundara. A video by Ananta Vrindavan.

What Is Empathy?
→ ISKCON News

What is the best way to ease someone's pain and suffering? In this beautifully animated RSA Short, Dr Brené Brown reminds us that we can only create a genuine empathic connection if we are brave enough to really get in touch with our own fragilities.

Everything for Krishna!
→ Dandavats



In Calcutta, 1971, the temple was in quite a bad state because the temple president had become preoccupied in an incense business he had started to raise funds. In the course of his absorption in the business, the devotees in the temple were being neglected. He hardly spent any time with them, and they really had no one to look after them. They were barely surviving. A strong-bodied devotee named Sudama Vipra, who had belonged to the Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang, was so famished that he would take the remnants of the ghee wicks that had been burned in the arati and squeeze out whatever little ghee was left, just to get a little nutrition.


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“Everything for Krishna . . .”
Giriraj Swami

In Calcutta, 1971, the temple was in quite a bad state because the temple president had become preoccupied in an incense business he had started to raise funds. In the course of his absorption in the business, the devotees in the temple were being neglected. He hardly spent any time with them, and they really had no one to look after them. They were barely surviving. A strong-bodied devotee named Sudama Vipra, who had belonged to the Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang, was so famished that he would take the remnants of the ghee wicks that had been burned in the arati and squeeze out whatever little ghee was left, just to get a little nutrition.

The devotees were just waiting for Srila Prabhupada to come so they could explain the situation to him and get some help. There were not very many in India then, and Prabhupada allowed them to meet him quite freely. When he came, the devotees told him about the situation, and eventually he called a meeting to give them all a chance to express themselves. One by one, they spoke about their difficulties. At one stage Tamal Krishna Goswami, the GBC for India, protested: “Srila Prabhupada, my only intention was to execute Your Divine Grace’s will.” And Prabhupada replied a little sarcastically, “Is it My Divine Grace’s will that the devotees should be disturbed?”

Srila Prabhupada listened patiently and sympathetically to what all the devotees had to say, and he formed a committee to manage the temple. He said that they should meet every week and discuss all the programs and problems—how to do things in the best way—write their resolutions in a book, sign it, and then follow what they had decided together.

But at a certain point Srila Prabhupada’s mood seemed to change. He told the devotees, “As long as we are in the material world, there will always be problems, but if we focus too much on the problems, we will forget our real business, which is to become Krishna conscious. Instead of thinking and talking about Krishna, we will think and talk about problems.” Then he spoke about himself, how much he had endured to spread Krishna consciousness. He had suffered two heart attacks at sea on the way to America, and in America he had a buzzing in his ears and terrible headaches. “I do not wish even to tell you how much I suffered,” he said. “But I never complained. My principle was always, ‘Everything for Krishna, nothing for me,” and because that was my principle—everything for Krishna, nothing for me—I never complained.”