Planet ISKCON

What do Akshaya Tritiya (May 7th) and Nrsimha Caturdasi (May 17th) have in common, aside from occurring in the same month of the year? Akshaya Tritiya is commonly understood in the Vedic calendar to be the most auspicious day for beginning any undertaking and for making a donation, especially for a spiritual cause. Any action begun on this day will have everlasting and increasing effects and any service or charity one performs on this day will be rewarded many times over. And, of course, Nrsimha Caturdasi is the most celebrated appearance of our beloved half-lion/half-man incarnation of the Lord who protected His dearmost devotee, Prahlad.

In Vedic history these prominent historical events occurred on Akshaya Tritiya:

• Lord Parasurama appeared
• Mother Ganga descended
• Candana-yatra begins
• Vyasa began writing Mahabharata
• Sudama was blessed by Lord Krishna
• Draupadi received an unlimited sari

However, this year the common line up of these two extremely favorable and popular days present a 10 day window of opportunity to support the #Giving TOVP Worldwide Matching Fundraiser from May 7 – 17. This unique and historic online fundraising event is an opportunity for all ISKCON devotees to unify during these auspicious dates and double their donations, large or small, to the TOVP to help insure that it is completed by 2022, and our world Deities Sri Sri Radha Madhava, Sri Pancha Tattva and Sri Nrsimha are finally moved into Their long-awaited new home on the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON Mayapur. Ambarisa prabhu, TOVP Chairman, will match all donations capping at $125,000 and we have set our sites on raising a total of $250,000+ during this marathon.

We encourage every devotee in ISKCON to participate in this strategically timed fundraiser, and to also inform all their devotee friends and relatives about it also. Help spread the word to give everyone the opportunity for this once-in-many-lifetimes opportunity.

“If the devotee offers something to the Lord, it acts for his own interest because whatever a devotee offers the Lord comes back in a quantity a million times greater than what was offered. One does not become a loser by giving to the Lord; one becomes a gainer by millions of times.”

Srila Prabhupada, Krsna Book Ch. 81, The Brahmana Sudama Blessed by Lord Krishna

“He who has built a temple for Vishnu reaps the great fruit which one gains by celebrating sacrifices every day. By building a temple for the Lord he takes his family, a hundred generations past and a hundred to come, to the region of Acyuta.”

Agni Purana

Go to this TOVP website address during May 7 – 17 and make your offering in the fire of the #Giving TOVP Fundraising yajna: https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/giving-tovp-fundraiser/

TOVP – Together Offer Victory to Prabhupada

 

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
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: www.tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities

The post Akshaya Tritiya, Nrsimha Caturdasi, and the TOVP appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

50th Anniversary of UK’s first Hare Krishna Temple.
The Hare Krishna movement was built on a pioneering spirit. Srila Prabhupada was the original pioneer who then empowered three couples - Mukunda and Janaki, Shyamasundara and Malati (with their baby Sarasvati), and Gurudasa and Yamuna - with a dream to start a center in London and meet the biggest band in the world, the Beatles, to help spread Krishna Consciousness.

Appointments Process Reception at Windsor Castle, UK.
A large delegation from Bhaktivedanta Manor attended the Faith and Public Appointments Process Reception, at Vicar’s Hall in Windsor Castle. It was organized by Krish Raval of the Faith in Leadership Team, and Oliver Dowden MP, the Cabinet Office minister with responsibility for public appointment policy. The purpose of the event was to encourage leading faith members to put themselves forward to become Public Appointees.
Public Appointees sit on the boards that steer and govern vital public bodies including the NHS, OFSTED, Kew Gardens and key museums.
“The government want to make policies with consultation from leading faith group Members,” explained Krish. “The Prime Minister made it clear that she wants to ensure these bodies accurately reflect 21st Century Britain. She felt that faith groups are presently underrepresented in these roles but can bring an important perspective on ethical issues”

[Sunday feast class at ISKCON, Washington DC, USA]

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The post Nonviolence in speech – Be sensitive and sensible appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Sunday feast class at ISKCON, Baltimore, USA]

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The post How to deal with distress through devotion appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

[Bhakti Vaibhav class at ISKCON, Washington DC, USA]

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The post Bhagavatam study – Pruthu Maharaja pastime analysis with HG Braja Bihari P appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

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 Pretoria, South Africa

Lecture – Srimad Bhagavatam 7.15.23 Proud Prison Pen 2013-12-10 #LosAngeles

The Minister of tourism of Western Bengal, Mr. Gautam Deb, visited Mayapur (Album of photos)
He and his friends visited the temple of Sri Sri Radha Madhava, goshala, gurukula, Ganga gate, the Pushpa Samadhi of Srila Prabhupada and bhajan kutir, as well as on the excursions in the Temple of Vedic Planetarium.
He got acquainted with the projects on the development of Mayapura and noted in the guest book: “ I stayed here for two days with my friends. This is the achievement of a lifetime. The upcoming project is amazing and I wish thousands and tens of thousands of fortunate devotees to visit the holy place in the near future. Hospitality, gurukula and the system of maintenance of Mayapur are unique ”.
The Minister appreciated the achievements of ISKCON and promised to expand the support of the Ministry in the development of ISKCON.

Mother Ishvari recently peacefully passed away at the age of 77. Born in Uganda, she and her husband moved to England during the 1972 expulsion of Asians from Uganda. These were difficult times for the Gujarati community because the then Uganda President Idi Amin had adopted a vigorous nationalist policy. Ishvari’s family moved to London and her parents and siblings moved to Leicester. Devotees used to visit her parents’ house, where they were affectionately fed to the brim! It was at that time that she was first attracted to ISKCON.
“She had a quality of cooking wonderful prasadam and feeding everybody,” explained Volunteer Co-ordinator Krishna Purna dasi.
“She was always thinking about what new preparations to make for Lord Krishna and would then serve them to the devotees. She used to cook for the deities on Sundays and at festivals as well. “Her invaluable service in the main kitchen will be missed, as she helped them all the time. Everyone loved her friendly attitude.”

The Denver Radha Krishna Temple: Some images from out kirtan festival this last 420rally in Denver
Kirtan was intended to be shared in every town and village. It’s amazing the type of reception the holy name receives where ever it’s chanted!

UK Community Food Charity wins Hertsmere Award.
Hertsmere’s unsung heroes have been recognized for their efforts and longstanding service at the council’s annual Civic Awards in March.
From community champions and volunteers to youth leaders, the great and the good in the borough were rewarded in this year’s awards ceremony, held at Elstree Studios.
Mayor of Hertsmere, Cllr Brenda Batten, said: “I’d like to say thank you and well done to all of this year’s award winners. In their individual ways, each one has made a difference to the lives of others. I hope their example will inspire other volunteers to come forward and help make the borough an even safer, happier place to live and work.” Civic Award Winners included Shantasya dasi and Japa Yajna das for their work with Gratitude, a charity which takes unsold supermarket food and cooks vegetarian meals for the needy in Borehamwood.

Sadhu Feast offered by Iskcon in Vrindavan (Album of photos)
Deena Bandhu Das: Every year in honor of the anniversary of Sri S...

Extinction Rebellion activist Tristram Stuart speaks out about Prasad Distribution

For the last 11 days and nights a massive eco demonstration has taken place around the planet, here in London 5 main traffic arteries have been blocked by concerned activists , over a thousand people arrested. Hitting the headlines of every newspaper, constantly covered by every form of media, and now supported by many politicians, school children and community leaders.

So what has that got to do with Krishna Consciousness?  We are not environmentalists or eco warriors!But how to deliver Lord Caitanya’s message ? , one of our 3 main activities is Prasad distribution and if we use Polystyrene plates we have almost no chance of being heard. So environmental policies need to be in place.

“For one who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me.”BG 6.30As Vasinava devotees, followers of Srila Prabhupada, understanding the “ first step in God realisation “ SB , and the Universal Form , Visva Rupa , we are duty bound to respect the environment.Simple things like recycling, composting , biodegradable plates are a must or no intelligent person will take us seriously.

How will people believe that the Yamuna river is the most sacred river in the universe, if she is the most polluted river in the world.Photo of our team taken at Noida, Delhi, on our journey to Ganga Sagar. When only 30 years ago the Yamuna river was blue and even drinkable.

What will India look like in another 20 years , will there be anyplace to live and any water to drink?

The Extinction Rebellion, has a policy of no drugs or alcohol at their events and camp sites, non violence action is the policy and many of my friends were involved in the decision making , so when I was approached for support , well count us in . Each day we send out five rickshaws full of delicious Prasad to each of the five locations, plus Kirtan party , and sometimes cooking on site. The Extinction Rebellion is a party with a purpose, and attracts intelligent considerate young people who are prepared to make a sacrifice for a higher cause, we just have to deliver Srila Prabhupada’s Peace Formula and walk the talk.
It is easy to say , we are not an environmental organisation and continue shopping at the supermarket. Srila Prabhupada is a revolutionary and his “simple living , high thinking” philosophy is in urgent need of implementing on a massive scale.

For one who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me.BG 6.30  Purport:

A person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness certainly sees Lord Kṛṣṇa everywhere, and he sees everything in Kṛṣṇa. Such a person may appear to see all separate manifestations of the material nature, but in each and every instance he is conscious of Kṛṣṇa, knowing that everything is a manifestation of Kṛṣṇa’s energy. Nothing can exist without Kṛṣṇa, and Kṛṣṇa is the Lord of everything—this is the basic principle of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the development of love of Kṛṣṇa—a position transcendental even to material liberation. 

Your servants, 

Hare Krishna Food for All Team

Visit our website at foodforalluk.com

Sponsor a day at foodforalluk.com/donate

Follow us on social media| facebook.com/foodforallLDN | twitter.com/foodforallLDN | instagram.com/foodforallLDN

 

Strictly RE (Religious Education)
ISKCON Educations Services were a vital ingredient at the Strictly RE Conference 2019, organized by the National Association of Teachers of Religious Education (NATRE). There were just over 300 delegates in attendance at the Park Inn Hotel, Heathrow, UK. The conference was specifically for Teachers of RE and RE specialists, who had come from as far afield as the Channel Islands. Keli Chanchala dasi performed an Odissi dance within a pop-up temple and many teachers also sampled some prasad sweets.
“We had a good opportunity to network with teachers, exam boards and other RE-related organizations,” explained IES Manager Tulsi Seva dasi.

Lectures on “How to stop worrying and start living “ by His Holiness Bhakti Rasamrita Swami Maharaj

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By Sangita devi dasi

On Sunday, April 21, 2019, Her Grace Savitri devi dasi, a beloved member of our ISKCON Philadelphia Temple peacefully passed away. Surrounded by her closest friends who were chanting the Hare Krishna mantra at her bedside, Savitri departed from this world with a Deity of Lord Nrsimhadeva above her head, a small Deity of Lord Jagannatha and a photo of Srila Prabhupada on her heart, Srila Prabhupada chanting in her ear and a photo of Radha Krsna to her right. Continue reading "Savitri Devi Dasi from ISKCON Philadelphia Passed Away
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By Kalacakra Krsna das

The inauguration ceremony of ISKCON temple in Rajkot, “The Glory of Saurashtra” was celebrated with great enthusiasm on the auspicious day of Sri Rama Navami (14th Apr) in the presence of exalted sannyasis, senior disciples of Prabhupada and senior vaishnavas from across the world, presided over by ISKCON India Chairman and GBC H H Gopal Krishna Goswami Maharaj and ISKCON Gujarat Secretary and senior disciple of Srila Prabhupada, H G Yashomatinandan Prabhu. Thousands of devotees from around the world participated in the 3 days’ festivities and over 50,000 visitors thronged the temple to take darshan of Their Lordships entering into Their most opulent home. Continue reading "A Report on The Glory of Saurashtra – ISKCON Rajkot Temple
→ Dandavats"

By Parasuram das

For the last 11 days and nights a massive eco demonstration has taken place around the planet, here in London 5 main traffic arteries have been blocked by concerned activists and over a thousand people arrested. Hitting the headlines of every newspaper, constantly covered by every form of media, and now supported by many politicians, school children and community leaders. So what has that got to do with Krishna Consciousness? We are not environmentalists or eco-warriors! But how to deliver Lord Caitanya's message? One of our 3 main activities is Prasad distribution and if we use Polystyrene plates we have almost no chance of being heard. So environmental policies need to be in place. Continue reading "Is a devotee also an eco-warrior?
→ Dandavats"

Recently, a movie about the grotesque reality of abortion, named “Unplanned” has become a surprise niche hit. It is the conversion story of Abby Johnson who was the Clinic Director of the Planned Parenthood clinic at Brian, Texas, America. What makes this story especially riveting is that it describes how a person who had facilitated 22,000 abortions becomes an anti-abortion activist and campaigner.

Abortion has been positioned in today’s mainstream media as a right of woman or an issue of female reproductive health. In today’s media, movies which give a message opposite to the dominant leftist narrative centered on feminism are systematically sidelined. This movie, produced by the Christian equivalent of Netflix called “Pureflix”, was denied trailer advertisements on all mainstream networks except Fox News, and it was banned by critics not so much for its cinematic flaws as for its core message.

To deny the ghastly reality of abortion so that people can go about uninhibitedly – and to present it as a right of a woman – is a great wrong. The very name of the global organization that propagates and facilitates abortion –”Planned Parenthood” – points to the deceptive cover-up of the reality. It is a systematic plan to not only prevent unwanted parenthood, but also to deter any deep thought about the choice of abandoning parenthood through abortion.

The women who go for abortion are not allowed to see the sonographic pictures of what is there in their womb. The sonography is done so that the clinic can determine the size of the embryo, and accordingly the charge for the abortion. However, women are given sanitized messages that actually neither they nor the embryo at this stage will feel any pain.

The magnitude of the denial present in the abortion industry is seen through the fact that Abby herself has never encountered the unvarnished reality of abortion, despite working in the industry for nearly a decade, including several years as the clinic director. Due to a staff shortage, one day she is unexpectedly called to assist in a sonography-guided abortion of a thirteen-week-old unborn child. When she sees through the sonography on the computer screen, the child is desperately trying to get away from the suction machine, which inserts a cannula into the womb and dismembers and drags the remains of the child out. The child struggles frantically as its finely formed backbone is crushed with diabolical precision. Then it becomes motionless as the tiny pieces are collected and brought out. And where there was a throbbing life in the uterus just a few minutes earlier, now there is a dark empty space. This experience is so jolting that she soon resigns as the clinic director and decides to become an anti-abortion activist.

Eventually, she wrote a bestselling book about her personal entry into and out of the abortion industry, which has the same name “Unplanned.” This motion picture is an adapted version of that book. In America it has an R rating. Some abortion films try to avoid this “R rating”, so that they can reach a greater audience. So, they don’t show the horrific blood and gore that are intrinsic to the act of abortion. But such sanitization numbs the impact by further continuing the denial of reality that enables people to embrace abortion as a default choice, whenever the pregnancy test shows an unwanted positive.

Of course, condemning those who conduct abortion or those who have done abortion themselves is not the solution. We need a bigger dialogue and deliberation in society, about how we have arrived today at a place, where in America alone, 926,000 documented abortions take place every year. This is not just because the technology to do abortion has become more widespread and accessible. It is also because the responsibility associated with sexuality has been increasingly dwindled, which is because of the ever-increasing glamorization of casual sexuality in the name of sexual freedom.

The sexual revolution started in the 1960’s, and has had many unwanted consequences such as the breakdown of the families and the neglect of the children. One effect is the alarming increase in the number of abortions.

To deal with abortion at the root, we need to stop the denial first. Many to-be-mothers, if they see their baby through sonography scans, change their minds about having it aborted. But unfortunately, they are never given access to that, and they are given misleading anodynes, including the canard – the deliberately fabricated lie that abortion is painless for both them and their fetus. But as the movie graphically shows, it can be horribly painful on occasions for the mother, and it is of course murderously painful for the infant. By confronting the reality of the life in the womb, and speaking for the rights of the embryo, and not just the rights of the mother in whose womb that embryo is, we can rise beyond the casual sexuality, to see sexuality and its product, life, with greater sanctity and spirituality.

And the rectification of this has to begin by acquiring a more spiritual world-view, wherein we see all life as sacred. Bhagavad-gita, the ancient guidebook of spiritual wisdom, indicates that life comes not from the biochemical combination that is the body, but from the spark of spirit, the soul.

Srimad-Bhagavatam (3.31), another time-honored guidebook for spiritual living, describes how the soul enters into the mother’s womb and is conscious while there – it is certainly not a mere tissue to be removed. With such spiritual understanding, we see our sexuality as a sacred gift to be used for bringing new life into the world; and we recognize the dangers of casual sexuality for everyone involved.

“Unplanned” is an important reminder of the darkness and gruesomeness toward which society is increasingly headed because of casual sexuality. No living being aborts its progeny with the systematically designed technological mechanisms and equally systematically designed denial mechanisms as do humans today. Society urgently needs the course correction of a more spiritual world-view and lifestyle.

The post “Unplanned” movie exposes the planned denial of reality surrounding abortion appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

This week as we head to the start of the #Giving TOVP 10 Day Worldwide Matching Fundraiser from May 7th (Akshaya Tritiya) until May 17th (Nrsimha Caturdasi), His Holiness Bhakti Caru Maharaja speaks about the importance of the TOVP and participating in this 10 day window of opportunity to make a donation to the project.

The #Giving TOVP 10 Day Worldwide Matching Fundraiser will be an incredible, never before done online event to raise funds, large or small, from every devotee, whether they have already given to the TOVP or not. Ambarisa prabhu will match all donations up to $125,000, thus doubling the income to the TOVP during this fundraising event to help complete the TOVP by 2022.

For more information, go to the TOVP #Giving TOVP Fundraiser page. You can also become a TOVP Ambassador by downloading the flyer from the website page and posting it on the internet, emailing it to your devotee friends and relatives, and posting at your local temple. We want the participation of every ISKCON devotee and congregation member worldwide.

MISSION 22 MARATHON KI JAYA! THINK 22 -> TOVP NOW!

 

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
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: www.tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities

The post His Holiness Bhakti Caru Maharaja Speaks About the #Giving TOVP Worldwide Matching Fundraiser, May 7 – 17, 2019 appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Om Times Magazine.
HH Sivarama Swami was the main feature of the March 2019 edition of the OMTimes magazine. He appeared on the front cover and was featured within the magazine in an extensive interview entitled “Modern Morality in Ancient Wisdom”. It included his personal spiritual journey, Hindu/Vedic beliefs and culture, ecology and the path to a peaceful life.
The OMTimes Magazine was created to raise awareness of individuals and organizations that are making a difference in the world.

Perth Namahatta (Album of photos)
Ramai Swami: It’s always a pleasure visiting our Perth temple. Although a long way across to the west coast of Australia, the devotees are enthusiastic to receive visitors.
I was able to attend three or four Bhakti Vrksa and Namahatta programs where we had kirtan, Bhagavad-Gita study, more kirtan and prasadam.
Find them here: https://is.gd/gvlaDg

Honorable Minister of Tourism, Govt. of West Bengal, Mr. Gautam Deb visited ISKCON Mayapur. He attended temple arthis, had a tour of ToVP, Goshala, Srila Prabhupada Pushpa Samadhi Mandir, Gurukula, bhajan kutir, Ganga ghat and full dome theatre. He actively participated in developing Mayapur and viewed presentations on various projects of Mayapur. He noted in […]

The post West Bengal Minister of Tourism visits Mayapur ! appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Trinity Church Hall Krishna Festival
The “Hare Krishna Festival” held at Trinity Church Hall in Sutton, UK, was full to the brim as the diverse local audience of over 200 experienced a package of culture, music, wisdom, dance and delicious sanctified food. Local ISKCON group members welcomed guests with a view to serving their spiritual inclinations with ongoing contact for those most interested.
Some of the Church leaders in attendance also appreciated the presentation as applicable to people of all faiths, and one of which expressed an interest in visiting Bhaktivedanta Manor to learn more.

Bhaktivedanta Manor’s Resident Sannyasi.
HH Bhakti Rasamrta Swami will be the official resident sannyasi at Bhaktivedanta Manor until this summer. This means he will be the spiritual head of the community, to provide guidance and inspiration and to attend devotional events. At the recent Manor Updates session attended by Manor residents and staff, Bhakti Rasamrta Swami unveiled the canvas adorned with this year’s theme “Living with Gratitude, Giving with Compassion.”
He preaches all over the world including India, Singapore, UK, USA, Australia and Russia. He is a member of the Vrindavan Executive Board and oversees the management of ISKCON Belgaum, India.
To find out about upcoming classes and seminars to be given by Bhakti Rasamrta Swami:
www.krishnatemple.com

Watford Football Club.
Anand Jatania and Radha Mohan das attended an Equality Advisory Group meeting at Watford Football Club, which included an extensive tour of the grounds. The Club, which is currently within the top 10 of the English Premier League, is seeking to build closer relations with locals, and especially faith group members and ethnic minorities. They even wished Bhaktivedanta Manor a ‘Happy Gaura Purnima’ on their social media pages, which has hundreds of thousands of followers!

Introducing Our Watford Community Cafe - Seva In Watford Be the change!

It’s always a pleasure visiting our Perth temple. Although a long way across to the west coast of Australia, the devotees are enthusiastic to receive visitors.

I was able to attend three or four Bhakti Vrksa and Namahatta programs where we had kirtan, Bhagavad-Gita study, more kirtan and prasadam.

It is our great pleasure to announce ISKCON MAYAPUR’s 7th annual six-day Kartik Navadwip Mandal Parikrama during the most auspicious month of Kartik (organized by the Mayapur Chandra’s). The Parikram begins on 1st of November 2019 and will end on 7th of November 2019. There will be one day break, for Gopasthami (4th of November […]

The post Kartik Navadwip Mandal Parikrama appeared first on Mayapur.com.

It is our great pleasure to announce ISKCON MAYAPUR's 7th annual six-day Kartik Navadwip Mandal Parikrama during the most auspicious month of Kartik

Introverts and Association.
Question: When we associate with devotees, is it enough to chant and hear together or is there a need for personal interaction – especially if it is hard for us because we are introverted by nature?
Answer: Srila Prabhupada writes: “Anyone who is trying to be aloof from this Krsna Consciousness Society and yet engage in Krsna consciousness is living in a great hallucination, for this is not possible.“ (Srimad-Bhagavatam ,4.9.11, purport)

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Close proximity to the Temple creates opportunities to serve within the Community such as giving Classes, inspiring younger devotees and engaging in regular Temple activities. We can also organize younger devotees in the Community to serve their elders. Our Devotee Care team of caregivers and assembled devotees would find it a great honor to serve Srila Prabhupada's disciples in the Vrndavana Retirement Home attentively, professionally, and affectionately.

Srila Prabhupada’s book “The science of Self realization” featured on a recent Skoda India car ad (1 min. video) A new advert by Skoda features a woman reading the Science of Self Realization by HDG Srila Prabhupada