Lord Ramacandra With The Chiefs Of His Army
→ Traveling Monk



https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10213821428112849&set=a.3707173840886&type=3&theater

Lord Ramacandra stands holding a bow and arrow in the center of the painting surrounded by a rocky landscape. Laksmaṇ stands behind Him and also holds a bow and arrow. Like Lord Ramacandra, He is effulgent. Both Lord Ramacandra and Laksman wear wooden sandals.

Also standing behind Lord Ramacandra are Hanuman, Angada, Arunda, Nila and Samrambha. They all hold maces in their hands and wear golden crowns.

In front of Lord Ramacandra stands King Sugriva holding an umbrella in his left hand and a mace in his right hand. He is followed by Nala, Vanara, Durvinda and Rambha who all hold maces.

[ Watercolor on paper. Early 1800’s ]

AIP Joins Nagpur Devotees In Ratha-yatra Celebration
→ Dandavats

After preaching in Maharashtra’s Bhandara district the All-India Padayatra entered Nagpur city at Suryanagar on February 7. Walking for a further 7km, we reached the ISKCON Radha-Gopinath temple in Empress City, where the devotees welcomed Sri Sri Nitai-Gaurasundar with garlands and a grand sankirtan. The matajis then washed the hooves of our oxen, showered flowers on them and performed arati of Their Lordships.

Monday, March 4th, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Mayapura, India

A Hundred of Us

There were a hundred of us, mostly monks, men and women.  We stood in a circle, and the exercise was to take some steps forward or backward, depending on the answer to the question given.

The facilitator, Vraj Bihari, asked, "How many of you are in the category of seventy years of age and above?" About a dozen took three steps forward. 

"How many of you are between sixty and seventy?"  That included a much larger percentage.  

"How many of you came to Krishna Consciousness before 1970?"  The majority stepped forward.  

"How many joined in the ’80s?  The ’90s?"  The forward and backwards continued.

It was a great exercise.  It was very revealing, and drew the group's attention to a need to look gravely at our history and our succession.

Next, we sat in groups of four, and we were asked one by one to share how we came to Krishna Consciousness.  "What was it like then?  What was your perception of the way ashramswere then?  Is it better than the situation of today?"

Interesting and introspective thinking went into the questions.

We then went for lunch prasadam and bonded further, after which we had a break until Session #2.

Monks don't just walk, or sit down all day, or eat. We take time—although not enough—to see into ourselves and into the needs of the world.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bul9KE5g3WO/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=cmsucwhx0vha
A little film of the Hanuman monkeys we met yesterday. 

May the Source be with you!
5 km



Sunday, March 3rd, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Mayapura, India

New Friends

I try to make a point of making new friends every day. In fact, I consider it rather a sin to just ‘hang out’ with known people. Although that is important, the day evolves with deeper dimension when new encounters are made.  There's so much to learn while broadening the scope of new relations.


When you are stranded alone on an island, you might have an excuse, but even then, you have the opportunity to make good with the moon, the stars, the sun, the elements, animals and plants. With so many pilgrims coming in by the thousands, it becomes easy—friendship—even if it proves only momentary.

While walking with monks, Marshall and Samuel, from Montreal, we made friends with the local breed of monkeys. Oh it was a trifle painful going barefoot near the elephant sanctuary. Sharp stones pressed hard against my soles, but it was all compensation for meeting those Hanuman monkeys—or that's what people call them.  They made the trail their relax space.  With pitch black face and endless tail that curls when in motion, they are a sight to behold.

Although I consider them newly-made comrades, I wouldn't go so far as to hug or embrace these guys.  They just wouldn't even allow the approaches. Besides, I'm a little intimidated by the fleas they carry. It's true those little bugs go for a free ride.

Anyway, today is business as usual. It is the first day available to meet old friends in the Conch Building during meetings.  We were handed a card that read, "One should be confident that in all circumstances Krishna will protect him from all difficulties." Srila Prabhupada.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuirkUMF5Yo/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=2941w7k0em25

May the Source be with you!
8 km






Saturday, March 2nd, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Mayapura, India

Gone With Ganga

Today I saw my dear friend, Rsi, drift away forever in the Ganges waters.  It was his ashes that I released.  Rsi was about two years my junior.  He was born Rick Habson, in Canada.  He passed away one year ago.  It was the first opportunity I had to carry his ashes and have them merge into the holy waters.

I felt strong emotions when my last rites guide, Jananivas, gave the word, "Let it go!"  I placed the ashes  in a flat circular basket with Ganges mud underneath and over-top, with honey mixed in.  Of course, they were his ashes and it wasn't him, nevertheless, it was part of Rsi.

"Hare Krishna, Rsi!  Goodbye!"

I reflected on him, his soft side, his step-son, Kailash, and Karen, his partner. He struggled with alcohol for some time and had it rough, but he loved his guru, Prabhupada, his friends, sankirtan, his family, and the distribution of Vedic literatures.

Memories!

I was grateful to have Jananivas with me for the closure.  We, along with two other monks, walked to the banks of the Ganges.  After the rites were completed, we did some ‘dham seva’—service to the pilgrimage site.  There exists a culture of neglect in India. Paper and plastic bags are strewn about after the contents are used.  We picked up some of that refuse and cleaned the space we used.

Prime Minister Modi's policy of "clean up India" included a small contribution from our side.  Yes, clean up, get clean and go, then back to home.

May the Source be with you!
8 km




Friday, March 1st, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Mayapura, India

Laps With No Naps

While doing laps around the central altar of the samadhi building, as a way to revere the deity of our guru, Prabhupada, I was unaware that someone was timing me.  That someone was a monk, a few years my senior, from the U.S., who spends considerable time in South America.  Hanumat Prasak Swami clocked me after I did those laps and said, "It's amazing.  I timed you as I was sitting down, and you were taking  forty-eight seconds for every complete circle, except when you were talking to someone, which was occasional."

I was surprised that, first of all, the swami bothered to register my speed, and secondly, he was so precise with it. Over one hour plus becomes many laps. You do the math.

Chanting while walking in the samadhi's interior is a favourite place for japa meditation.  Today with so many pilgrims in town, due to the abhishek ceremony, the room was more occupied than on most days. It was quite wonderful, and quite powerful, being in the presence of so many bhakti-yogis, although most of them remained seated as I and a few others spun around.

The maha(great) abhishek(bath) was a grand success.  The ganges water collected, and other pure liquids and substances were poured onto the deities of Panca Tattva, created quite a spectacle in addition to the showers of flowers thrown in the air.  Kirtan chanting resounded.  The sunshine even broke through after two days of overcast conditions.  https://www.instagram.com/p/BugMBtoF8se/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=11vuvp75xtd14

Our drama, in fact, is based on the story of Surya, the sun god, and how he begot a divine boy, Karna, after union with a mortal woman, an illustrious queen.

May the Source be with you!
10 km




Thursday, February 28th, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Mayapura, India

Zones

I met pilgrims, carrying terra cotta pots, enroute to the nearby Ganges’ access.  They were from Delhi, men and women, all enthusiastic for collecting jal, holy water, for the coming ceremony.  The ceremony is called abhishek and it involves a bathing of the deities with this water.

It was interesting to stumble upon the group on their return journey, from a mere ten minutes away.  Their pots were full.  Hundreds more of these pots, carried by other pilgrims, were filled to the brim to add to tomorrow's grandeur.  https://www.instagram.com/p/Buc_5L9g4hs/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=1cwtkobj0qecj

In this sacred space of Mayapura, you will find many zones of activities.  The gathering of Ganges water is just one of those zones.  There is such diversity.  I have placed myself in the zone of drama.  Any opportunity for rehearsing is what I hanker for.  And it's happening.  We have a good crew, and we are all learning from each other the various components of theatre, whether it's the technique or physical insertions of props and costumes.

Our own little universe in the samadhi auditorium is a place of devotion like all other zones of activities, whether it be rituals of pujas or chanting sessions, seminars, or regular maintenance of the grounds and buildings.

Daru Brahman is an English teacher from the U.K. who is also a great cook.  He just loves to serve our drama troupe with pierogis and custard, which are somewhat hard to come by here.  Underlying all activities is the sublime sound of the kirtan.

May the Source be with you!
6 km

Wednesday, February 27th, 2019
→ The Walking Monk

Mayapura, India

Dark Heart

Rains persist, but there are plentiful dry hours in between wet sessions.  A major shower hit us in the late afternoon once again.  This forces pilgrims to execute their devotions behind shut doors. That's called ‘adjusting’.  When rain comes down as it has, with a force, it leaves the soil surface porous.  The dust is pounded down exposing tiny and large stones.  The soles of the feet can feel it.  https://www.instagram.com/p/BuanAKiAjVt/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=13skwb4uztls6

Pilgrims are also pouring in, many in anticipation of the coming rite called Maha-abishek, a ceremonious bathing of the five deities known as the Panca-tattva, five truths.  I'm habituated to attending the first devotion of the day in the samadhi, where it is more solemn and airy.  I'm referring to the larger temple of Radha Madhava, when I say the sweat lodge.  Here in Mayapura, we have our own little world.

I'm sorry to hear about the unrest between India and Pakistan.  Are radicalized religionists at it again?  Contemptuous feelings and behaviour is to the detriment of all. May peace prevail.  However, for now, let there be damage control.

Yes, there is always a disturbance in the world. This is the main feature, uninvited.

At announcement time, the devotee delivering the morning messages expressed over the mic, "Pick-pockets are available."  He implied that they do come around, and they do like pilgrims' goods.  We can easily say that opportunists like these are also another feature of Kali-yuga.  One of our songs in the drama, "The Queen’s Secret," opens with a vocalization of, "Dark Heart," during the victimization of Princess Draupadi.  The music is appropriate.

May the Source be with you!
5 km

TOVP Monthly Flag Festival Launched
→ Dandavats

Every Purnima, sixty flags will be offered to the Deities and two raised every day in the names of their sponsors. The flags will then be shipped to the sponsors as prasadam for their seva. This transcendental monthly festival will continue into the future for as long as the TOVP stands and will become a tradition for future generations of devotees.

Jaladuta
→ Dandavats

By Yugala Kishor Gour dasa

On the 10th of March it will be exactly 60 years ago, 10th of March 1959, that the MS Jaladuta was launched at its shipbuilding yard in Lubeck Germany. It is this vessel that brought Srila Prabhupada from Calcutta, via Boston, to New York on a journey that started on the 13th August 1965, in what became an astonishing journey and also the beginning of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. This launch was organised by the Lubecker-Flenderwerke AG yard in Northern Germany at the completion of the ship. This event is standard in the shipbuilding industry and is likened to a christening name giving ceremony. The vessel receives its name and blessings from all present guests for its future journeys. An interesting fact is that Scindia named the majority of their vessels starting with Jala, Jalakrishna, Jalagopal, Jalakanta etc. The procedure is that the yard invites a prominent figure to speak the name of the vessel while simultaneously breaking a bottle of champagne over the bow. In this case the shipbuilders invited members of the board of Scindia, and instead of a bottle of alcohol, a blessed coconut was used to inaugurate the name giving ceremony. Continue reading "Jaladuta
→ Dandavats"

When time becomes unfavorable, don’t become unfavorable to Krishna
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, New Govardhan, Murwillumbah, Australia]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary


 

The post When time becomes unfavorable, don’t become unfavorable to Krishna appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

: Para-upakāra, and The Bankers
→ simple thoughts

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Official Opening of Krishna’s Castle, in the City of London Representatives from 10 banks and businesses attended the official opening of Krishna’s Castle on the 1st March 2019.Since 14 months Krishna’s Castle, situated in the heart of the banking world, has been a hive of devotional service. We need about 10 volunteers daily and half of them are bankers, come to do their Corporate Social Responsibly.One definition :The emerging concept of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goes beyond charity and requires the company to act beyond its legal obligations and to integrated social, environmental and ethical concerns into company’s business process.
All this comes under Agnatha Sukrti. Srila Prabhupada: “The beginning of contact with Krishna Consciousness is the beginning of good fortune. That some people may come and others may not, this is also due to association. Suppose a man accidentally comes in contact with our society and gives some service willingly or unwillingly, that is the beginning of his fortunate life.”
Daily there are over 2,000 healthy plates of Prasad to be cooked, pots need to be washed , including the biggest pot in the western world, veg chopped , pakoras and popadoms cooked, and Prasad distributed. 
Second Group of Volunteers:Work Away is a scheme where employers offer accommodation and food to young people in return for work. We have facilities for 10 young people in the Castle.Young people are queuing up from around the world for a chance to live in the City of London for a week or so ,and engage in meaningful activities. 

Your servantParasuram Das 

Srila Prabhupada jokes about bankers.Indian (1): So if about the bankers, if you permit me, I’ll give you another interesting story. There was a man who was very ill in America, and he had a heart trouble. In fact he had no heart, I would say. So, you know, they can replace the hearts nowadays. He went to a hospital, and the doctor offered him, “Here are three hearts. Which one would you like? One is of the general, the other is of a big businessman, and the third is of a banker. What would you like?” So he thought, “Let me have the heart of a…”Prabhupāda: Banker.Indian (1): “…banker.” [laughter] So the doctor said, “Why do you want to have the heart of a banker?” He thought, “Because I’m sure it has never been used.” [laughter]Prabhupāda: [laughing] I’ll recite another very nice story… [break]Indian (2): [Hindi—about opening a branch of the bank]Indian (3): [Hindi]Indian (1): There seem to be little misunderstanding, not that we are short of any space or any accommodation or anything for which we can’t open, but there’s a little technical thing that bank license does not permit, and we are immediately taking or for amending the license, and as soon as it is, we’ll start. We have no problem of this.Gurudāsa: Prabhupāda, did you want to tell another story?Prabhupāda: Yes. [laughter]Indian (1): But I had only two. I won’t be able to add.Prabhupāda: [laughter] The story is that one poor man was informed by his friend that “Money draws money.” That’s a fact. If you have got money, you can draw money. So he went to the bank, and the cashier was counting huge amount of money, and he threw his coin on the cash…, [laughs] and he was waiting = “When the whole money will come to me?” Then the cashier saw this man is standing = “What is it? Why you are standing?” “Sir, I heard that money draws money, so I had one coin. I have dropped with your money. I am waiting when it will come to me.” So he said, “No, no. The fact is that = money draws. Now my money has drawn your money.” [laughter] So… [Hindi]Indian (1): Perhaps it is in the Bible that “Those who have shall be given more. Those who have not shall be taken of what they have already.” I don’t whether it’s right or not, but more money draws the lesser money.Prabhupāda: Yes. [Hindi]April 6, 1976 Vrindavan.

Honoring the Foremost Vaishnava-Siva-Ratri!
→ Mayapur.com

Shiva-ratri occurs every lunar month on the 13th or 14th day of the dark half of the moon phase. Once every year during the month of Phalgun, a Maha Shiva-ratri occurs. This Maha Shiva-ratri day is considered to be the day when Lord Shiva married Parvati and it is celebrated elaborately by devotees of Lord […]

The post Honoring the Foremost Vaishnava-Siva-Ratri! appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Para-upakara and The Bankers
→ Dandavats

By Parasuram dasa

At the official opening of Krishna's Castle in the City of London on March 1st 2019, representatives from 10 banks and businesses were in attendance. Since 14 months Krishna's Castle, situated in the heart of the banking world, has been a hive of devotional service. We need about 10 volunteers daily and half of them are bankers who come to do their Corporate Social Responsibly. Continue reading "Para-upakara and The Bankers
→ Dandavats"

How I Came To Krishna Consciousness – Bhakta Rex (China)
→ Dandavats



How I Came To Krishna Consciousness - Bhakta Rex (China) (6 min. video)
Srila Prabhupada: Fate can be changed by Krishna consciousness. Krishna says, “I shall give you protection from all the resultant action of your sinful life.” That is fate changed. When you surrender to Krishna, He takes charge of squaring up all your sinful activities and their reaction. Surrender to Krishna; then your fate is changed. Delhi, November 28, 1975.

(This post has been viewed 393 times so far)

Honoring the Foremost Vaishnava
→ Dandavats

Iskcon Mayapur: Shiva-ratri occurs every lunar month on the 13th or 14th day of the dark half of the moon phase. Once every year during the month of Phalgun, a Maha Shiva-ratri occurs. This Maha Shiva-ratri day is considered to be the day when Lord Shiva married Parvati and it is celebrated elaborately by devotees of Lord Shiva.

Kirtan Mela begins today!
→ Mayapur.com

Kirtan Mela – festival of chanting the holy names of the Lord begins today. In a colorful Adhivas ceremony, worship was offered to the musical instruments and prayers offered for success of festival. HH Loknath Swami Maharaj led the first kirtan after Adhivas. Kirtan Mela : Day-1 Schedule: “I firmly believe that simply chanting the […]

The post Kirtan Mela begins today! appeared first on Mayapur.com.

TOVP Monthly Flag Festival Launched
- TOVP.org

Back in October, 2018 we announced the launch of the TOVP Victory Flag Campaign wherein devotees can sponsor the raising of the daily TOVP Victory Flags onto the temple domes. The response has been very good and the TOVP management has now decided to start a monthly Flag Festival to continue into perpetuity as long as the temple stands.

On February 2nd the first Flag Festival was officially launched during the grand inauguration ceremony of the 2019 Gaura Purnima Festival, with sixty flags being offered to the Deities for Their blessings and auspiciousness. Two flags were taken in procession around the Deities and to the TOVP office carried by Ambarisa and Braja Vilasa prabhus, and then hoisted onto the Main and Nrsimha domes of the temple.

Every Purnima, sixty flags will be offered to the Deities and two raised every day in the names of their sponsors. The flags will then be shipped to the sponsors as prasadam for their seva. This transcendental monthly festival will continue into the future for as long as the TOVP stands and will become a tradition for future generations of devotees.

To find out more about how to sponsor a daily Victory Flag, please visit the TOVP website at this address:

https://tovp.org/fundraising/tovp-daily-victory-flag-sponsorship-an-ideal-kartik-seva/
 

[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
Phone App at: http://tovp.org/news/announcements/new-tovp-phone-app-goes-live/
Mailing List at: https://goo.gl/forms/ojJ2WcUUuqWh8bXt1
Support us at: www.tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities

The post TOVP Monthly Flag Festival Launched appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Siva-ratri in Carpinteria
Giriraj Swami

Our deity of Sri Gopisvara Mahadeva at our ashram today, Siva-ratri.

In his Sankalpa-kalpadruma (103) Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura prays:

vrndavanavani-pate jaya soma soma-
  maule sanandana-sanatana-naradedya
gopisvara vraja-vilasi-yuganghri-padme
  prema prayaccha nirupadhi namo namaste

“O gatekeeper of Vrindavan! O Soma, all glories to you! O you whose forehead is decorated with the moon (soma), and who is worshiped by the sages headed by Sanandana, Sanatana, and Narada! O Gopisvara! Desiring that you bestow upon me limitless love for the lotus feet of Sri Sri Radha-Madhava, who perform joyous pastimes in Vraja-dhama, I offer my obeisances unto you again and again.”

Sri Gopisvara Mahadeva ki jaya!

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

Mayapur Institute Awards Evening (video)
→ Dandavats

By Mayapur Institute

The Mayapur institute (MI) provides an environment favorable to aid spiritual growth. It started in the year 2000 with just 3 Bhakti Sastri students and today after 19 years of operation, more than 200 students from 30 different countries are receiving graduation certificates. To date, 3000 students have graduated from Mayapur Institute. Definitely, this must be a great joy to Srila Prabhupada. Mayapur Institute is fulfilling Srila Prabhupada’s vision sincerely over the last 19 years. Continue reading "Mayapur Institute Awards Evening (video)
→ Dandavats"

From insecurity to inner security
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Talk at Brisbane, Australia]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary


 

Video:

The post From insecurity to inner security appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Mayapur SGGS
→ Ramai Swami

Every two years at Mayapur there is a SGGS ( Sannyasi, Guru, GBC, Sanga) where devotees come from all of the world to associate with each other and discuss philosophy and exchange ideas on spreading Krsna Consciousness.

The three day event was coordinated by Vraja Vihari Prabhu, who is a professional facilitator. There was lots of kirtan and presentations, with whole group and smaller group conversations. The atmosphere was relaxed, but serious issues challenging our movement were also discussed.

Ox Training Seminar in New Vraja Dhama, Hungary
→ ISKCON News

While recognizing cow protection as an important branch of our Krishna Conscious society, training and working with the oxen remains to many an ideal yet to be achieved. The upcoming Ox Training Seminar to be held in New Vraja Dhama, Hungary between April 17thand 24th, will shed more light on this important, yet less practiced side of cow protection. 

Jayadev’s Mantra Crew Introduces Ganesh to the Dance Music World
→ ISKCON News

John Richardson (Jayadev Das) is the 72-year-old founder and drummer of the ’70s pop group The Rubettes. The band had several top ten hits including the No. 1 chart-topper “Sugar Baby Love.” “Ganesh” came about after Jayadev asked his soon to be 13- year-old granddaughter Shyama what gift she would like for her birthday.  She replied that she would like him to write her a song and record her singing it.

Giriraj Swami Japa Sanga—Connecting Through Spiritual Sound in Cyberspace
Giriraj Swami

By Nikunja Vilasini Dasi

Whether it is 3 a.m. in New York, 6 a.m. in California, 4 p.m. in South Africa, or 7:30 p.m. in India, devotees all over the globe can connect with Giriraj Swami at the same time every day to chant the holy names together.

Gone are the days when disciples could see their spiritual master only rarely, what to speak of chanting together. Now by the mere click of a mouse, you can see Giriraj Swami every day and chant the maha-mantra along with him.

Before every round of japa, Maharaja recites a verse from the Brhan-naradiya Purana:

 harer nama harer nama harer namaiva kevalam
kalau nasty eva nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha

“For spiritual progress in this Age of Kali, there is no alternative, there is no alternative, there is no alternative to the holy name, the holy name, the holy name of the Lord.” (Translation: Sri Caitanya-caritamrta Adi 7.76)

Hearing Giriraj Swami chant the maha-mantra attentively and with conviction helps open the hearts of the group members to the bliss of the holy names. Twenty to 40 devotees chant together daily, with 200 to 400 viewing each session live and many others accessing the streams after they are posted. People are joining the sanga every day—more than 550 in just the first month. Sometimes family members join in—including children, who might otherwise not be so eager to chant. Some participants have reported that chanting with Giriraj Swami has become the favorite part of their day, others that chanting with him every day has been life changing.

The idea for the Giriraj Swami Japa Sanga came from a disciple, Anuradha Dasi, who had relished chanting with her guru maharaja in person. She was often stressed about completing her daily japa, but whenever she visited Giriraj Swami in Dallas or Houston, she would be peaceful, knowing that she could chant with him. She would come with a list of different issues she wanted to discuss with him, but after chanting with him, all her troubles and issues seemed to vanish, and they were able to focus their discussions on more enlightening subjects.

Anuradha imagined how great it would be if she could chant with her guru maharaja every day. So, recently, when she visited Giriraj Swami in Houston and chanted with him one morning, she asked if he would consider live streaming his japa every morning. If he did, she said, she would drop everything and chant with him.

Maharaja kindly agreed, but Anuradha also wanted other devotees to be able to access the stream. Many of Giriraj Swami’s disciples live far from him, on other continents, and haven’t seen him in years, so she set up the group on Facebook and used her phone to do a simple live stream. Since then, Maharaja has taken over the recording, and the Japa Sanga group has become a regular addition to his schedule, as it has for many of his disciples and well-wishers.

Sanga participants also watch Maharaja perform tulasi-puja, offer Vaishnava pranamas, and introduce his many beautiful Deities. And when Maharaja wishes everyone “a wonderful Krishna conscious rest of the day and night,” it is easy for each individual to feel him speaking to him or her personally, sending warm regards and bestowing blessings to inspire them over the next twenty-one hours.

As devotees, we understand that the vani—words, or instructions—of the spiritual master is more important than his vapuh, or physical presence. But we should not minimize the importance of his vapuh, which inspires many souls to follow in his footsteps. Even a moment’s association with a pure devotee can open the doors to the spiritual world.

Giriraj Swami Japa Sanga gives devotees the great fortune of not just a moment, but hours of personal association with a leading ambassador of the holy name. Still, in his humility, Srila Giriraj Swami feels that he is the fortunate one, and at the end of each japa session, he says, “Thank you for joining me, for encouraging and supporting me in my japa. I look forward to chanting with you again tomorrow.”

Giriraj Swami Japa Sanga is an open group. If you would like to join, go to the Giriraj Swami Japa Sanga Facebook page, send a request, and answer three basic questions. To get an automatic message when the sanga is live, turn your notifications to ON. Please observe the rules of the group. Now you are ready to start chanting!