Planet ISKCON

41st Anniversary Celebration at ISKCON Juhu 15th Jan 2019 (video)
Srila Prabhupada: The only sacrifice recommended in this age...

Mantra meditation in the Welsh Parliament by Sivarama Swami (4 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: The first result of chanting the m...

Radha Govinda New York City News (4 min video)
Kadamba Kanana Swami presenting some new ideas for developing the Lunch club at...

Answer Podcast

The post Can near-death experiences be induced in everyone so they can be become repeatable experimental evidence? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Giriraj Swami and Rtadvhaja Maharaja led a Bhagavad-gita As It Is questions and answers session during the Sunday program.

Life expectancy in the human body (video)
“Don’t Waste Time” by HG Vaisesika Prabhu.
“The occupational activities a man performs according to his own position are only so much useless labor if they do not provoke attraction for the message of the Personality of Godhead.” (SB 1.2.13)

Iskcon devotees in kumbhamela 2019 (Album of 90 photos)
On 15th January 1st Shahi Snan ( on makara Sankranti ) in Prayagraj Kumbhamela 2019!
Srila Prabhupada: I don’t say, “Follow me.” I say “Follow Krishna.” Krishna says, “Surrender unto Me.” I say “Surrender unto Krishna.” Is there any difference? My position is simply repeating because Krishna says, “Anyone who preaches this confidential subject matter, he is dear to Me.” Allahabad, January 18, 1971
Find them here: https://goo.gl/bEUxLZ

Losing our Chanting Beads
Since last few months I have come across devotees who have lost their chanting beads. If this in itself was not bad enough, then what was even more painful for them was that in all the cases, save one, their spiritual master declined to chant again on new chanting beads.

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Disagreement over issues is not as disruptive as disagreement over the importance of the disagreements (Based on Gita 18.22)
When we see disruptive disagreements among friends who share our faith, we feel distressed. Why? Because we practice our faith to experience peace, not strife. Indeed, the specter of religious conflicts drives fence-sitters towards agnosticism, atheism or even anti-theism.

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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, November 2015, Vrindavan, India, Video Interview)

Good and bad things happen to everyone in this world – no one is exempt. This is the nature of a world where everything has two sides – everything can be used for pleasure and everything can be used for pain. We should see this dual nature of the world and understand that we are not in the right place. And for this reason, we should get out of here and go back to the spiritual world where there is no pain but only pleasure! The best way to go back to the spiritual world is by the process of serving the vaisnavas. Because through devotional service we will engage in the chanting of the holy name of Krsna. Then we can go back to Godhead. Then, no more bad things will happen to good people there!

The article " Why do bad things happen to good people? " was published on KKSBlog.

Kirtan Night at Mayapur (Album of photos)
The fourth Kirtan Night of the season with HH Krishna Kshetra Swami ….. leading up to Kirtan Mela 2019.
Srila Prabhupada: The holy name of the Lord and the Lord are nondifferent; therefore when a devotee chants Hare Krishna, Krishna and His internal potency are dancing on the tongue of the devotee. Bhagavad-Gita 12.8 Purport.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/EcgdJt

Sudama das: It was a very hot day in Oregon, in August of 1968. I awoke rather early, which for me and the people I was around at that time was somewhat unusual. Usually, coming down from last night’s drugs, everyone would rise sometime afternoon. On that day, as on every day, I awoke with a feeling of separation, a searching for, a longing for…

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Kumbh Mela Update - ISKCON at Prayagraj 2019 (8 min video)
Acharya prabhu, temple president of ISKCON Prayagraj (previously Al...

By Mani Manjari Devi Dasi

Devotee parents need to be aware of the big impact that secular teachers have in the religious education and spiritual development of their children. Neither a course of moral values or positive education can bring a permanent feeling of happiness or prepare children and teens for lost and grief that they might face at certain time in their lives. It is only through a loving personal relationship with Lord Krishna that a persona can face the hardest moment of life with integrity. Continue reading "Vaishnava Teacher: the relevance of his/her role in the education of devotee children and teens
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Answer Podcast

The post Can ghosts be seen with gross eyes, as is sometimes reported after tsunamis? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

“Make Things Better” (3 min video)
If you can point out what’s wrong, that’s okay, but there are plenty of ordinary people who are good at pointing out what’s wrong. But if you can make things better, then you are better than ordinary.

Preaching program in ISKCON Chita, Siberia (Album of photos)
Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: We had a couple of programs in our ISKCO...

This is the Prabhupada I remember! (video)
Prabhupada katha by Yogesvara Prabhu in New York, Dec 15, 2018.
Srila Prabhupa...

Krishna is the center (video)
We are all in this material world trying to be in the center but is not possible, Krishna is the...

In October 1970, A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami arrived in India with twenty of his Western disciples to re-ignite the dying flames of Krishna consciousness in the land of its ancient origin. Srila Prabhupada and his Dancing White Elephants were an immediate national sensation. In very short time, Prabhupada established ISKCON as a major spiritual force in India, laying the foundations for three huge temples and a dozen centers across the land. In June 1971, Shyamasundar das became Prabhupada’s personal secretary and for the next two years traveled with him around the globe—all over India, to cold-war Russia, to Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Japan, and across Europe and America—the eye-witness to Prabhupada’s incredible achievements. As they traveled, Prabhupada and Shyamasundar debated Western philosophers, from Plato to Heidegger. Now at last, here are Shyamasundar’s stories in nearly 500 pages, with 180 photos, describing in well-researched and intimate details this most exciting episode in Prabhupada’s amazing journey.

Govindananda das: After several years of yatra consolidation what resulted in expansion of preaching activities, new devotees joining and inspiring energy in the temple and congregation, 1st of January 2019 the temple of Zagreb was named "NOVA JALADUTA" to remind us on our connection with Srila Prabhupada.

ECO-Vrindaban Board Meeting Minutes 12/09/2018

Mission Statement: ECO-Vrindaban promotes cow protection, local agriculture, and above all, loving Krishna, as envisioned by Srila Prabhupada, ISKCON New Vrindaban’s Founder-Acharya.

Participating Directors: Anuttama, Chaitanya Mangala (chair), Jamuna Jivani (board secretary), Makara, Olivia, Ranaka, and Vraja.

Participating Advisors: Kripamaya.

1. Ranaka’s Monthly Report

Lalita Gopi (Temple Barn)

• Milking eight cows at the Temple Barn: Lakshmi, Subhadra, Sriya, Jamuna, Malati, Surabhi, Anjali, and Usha. They are producing approximately 20 gallons of milk per day.
• Anandavidya is making approximately 30-40 lb of butter each week, although it is hard to measure because he has not been putting it in molds since the Deity cooks are using it in large quantities for ghee.
• The vet visited to trim Malati’s hooves and checked on Vamsika at Nandagram. He confirmed she is approximately 2.5 months pregnant.
• Ray installed the new hundi at the Temple Barn to securely collect donations.
• Sriya is being dried off for rebreeding and will soon go to visit Madhu the bull at Nandagram.
• The new ECO-V bags have been very useful. Lalila Gopi is keeping a supply at the barn and offering them for $10 each when a bag is needed.
• We are providing bedding for the cows and leaving open the barn door for the cows to come in for shelter from the winter elements.
• We are temporarily not feeding hay on the hill above the barn due to wet and muddy weather conditions.
• The new “Do not feed the cows during milking” signs are proving effective.

Ray (General Farm Hand)

• Mounted two new tractor tires on the front of the 5095M John Deere tractor.
• Moved the last three cows from the Bahulaban pasture to their winter quarters at the Valley Barn.
• Repaired pasture fence at Valley Barn.
• Continues moving hay as needed from the Valley Barn to the Nandagram and Temple barns.

Caitanya Bhagavat (Nandagram & Bahulaban)

• Daily barn maintenance and general cow care: feeding hay, filling the stock tanks with water two to three times per day, bed packing, counting the cows and checking on the cows’ health and well-being at Nandagram and Bahulaban. Also, he is performing similar duties at the Valley Barn on the weekends.
• Caring for Tulasi’s medical needs, as she is geriatric.
• Caring for Madusudhana the sire bull and Vamsika the cow, who are at Nandagram for breeding.

Suchandra (Community & Teaching Gardens)

• Her part-time winter crew consists of Monique and Sara
• The crew has been preparing gardens for spring and shutting down operations for the winter:
• Planted fall lily and gladiola bulbs at the Teaching Garden.
• Have covered most of the lily/gladiola beds with hay.
• Dug up cannas at the Teaching Garden.
• Stored all ground cover to save for next year.
• Re-planted mums where they can re-grow next year.
• Pulled down the bitter melon and loki vines at the Teaching Garden and Vidya’s Garden.
• Started making cages for next year’s tomatoes and vines.
• Began measuring and mapping of the gardens for next year.
• Planned the seed order for the coming year

Lila (Nandagram Garden)

• She shut down the Nandagram Garden for the season and will resume in late February.

Radhanath das (Vidya’s Garden)

• He and Dharma Raj cleaned out the garden from dead plants, removed ground cover, and added the cow manure. There are only a few beds left, which will be finished by spring.
• Prepared pots with soil for planting the next batch of flowering bulbs (narcissus, amaryllis, and hyacinths).
• Continued preparations for next year by finalizing the seed and supplies orders and devised strategies and goals for next season.

Ranaka

• Vidya, Suchandra, Radhanath das, Monique, Lalita, Caitanya Bhagavat, Ray, and Ranaka met with Kacey Gantzer to hear about greenhouses and high tunnels. These structures would allow us to extended the growing season for some crops and flowers, and would yield a more even flow of harvesting throughout the growing season while reducing the labor input. Kacey is committed to working with us throughout the implementation process.

2. External Grant Request: $15K for Gopal’s Garden School 2018-19 Academic Year

WHEREAS: The ECO-V Board wishes to continue its support of a school in the New Vrindaban community.

RESOLVED: The Board approves a grant of $15K for Gopal’s Garden 2018-19 school year.

Here’s a link to the ECO-Vrindaban website.

For regular updates, please visit, like and follow the ECO-V Facebook page.

Makara Sankranti Seva opportunity! Today is the auspicious day of giving Charity- Makara Sankranti , when the sun enters Makara ( scorpio), is a special muhurta especially glorified for offering charity( annadana) by Vishnu Smrti. Hence, this day is known as Punya Kala- that yields unlimited spiritual credits.Contribute generously to feed Vaishnavas for Gaura Purnima […]

The post Makara Sankranti Seva opportunity! appeared first on Mayapur.com.

By Mina Sharma

The Sun, a popular British Newspaper with sales of around 1.5 million copies daily has featured Prince Harry and his wife Meghan on the front cover with the headline “Harry Krishna” after the Prince revealed that he meditates daily. Whilst he is not chanting the mahamantra, for the British press to make the connection between meditation and our movement is very powerful. Prince Harry practices a form of Buddhist meditation. On a visit to a cafe and supermarket that sells discounted food to people on low incomes, they met a 69-year-old Buddhist monk who gave Harry a copy of a book entitled 8 Steps to Happiness after the Prince told him that he meditates every day. This revelation came as the couple visited Birkenhead on the Wirral peninsula for engagements, including a walkabout in the town centre. Continue reading "Harry Krishna
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Lord Krishna never allows His devotee to become proud (video)
Srimad Bhagavatam Class by HH Subhag Swami at Iskcon Kolkata, J...

Giriraj Swami, Vishvambara das, Nityananda das and Rtadvaja Swami spoke on Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.5.18 at the housewrming celebration of Balaram Prasad das and Siddhesvari dasi

Giriraj Swami singing Mangalacarana and Kirtan
Talks by Giriraj Swami, Vishvambara das, Nityananda das and Rtadvaja Swami

Answer Podcast

The post Is Krishna present in the book Bhagavatam – is he also present in a digital book? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Once, when King Sagara wanted to perform an ashvamedha yajna, Indra stole his sacrificial horse. 

The king sent his 60,000 sons to find it, and they found it next to Kapila Muni’s ashram, where Indra had hidden it. Mistaking Kapila Muni for the thief, the sons accused Kapila Muni, who in his wrath at the false accusation burned the sons to ashes. 

Later, having compassion for King Sagara’s sons, Kapila Muni agreed to the restoration of the sons if Ganga would descend to earth to perform the last ritual of mixing the ashes with her holy water.

King Bhagiratha, who was a descendent of King Sagara, performed severe austerities to induce Ganga, who at that time only flowed in heaven, to come to earth and free the 60,000 sons. 

The Ganga Sagara festival is held annually on Sagara Island’s southern tip, where the Ganges enters the Bay of Bengal. Nearby is a temple of Kapila Muni.

Satyaraja Dasa: Most systems of Indian philosophy endorse the notion that, in some sense, all living beings are one with God. Some would say that spiritual philosophy in general – East and West – is based on the premise of oneness, suggesting an ontological unity for all that is. The reasoning is straightforward: Since everything emanates from God, and since God is absolute, then His emanations partake of His essential nature, even if they exist in temporary forgetfulness.* Thus, ultimate spiritual vision, according to this line of thought, breaks down all barriers and allows us to see the truth of our essential oneness with God.

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By Giriraj Swami

Today, January 14, Makara-sankranti, marks the anniversary of the grand opening of Sri Sri Radha-Rasabihari’s temple and cultural complex in Juhu, Bombay. Two days after the opening, The New York Times ran an article on the front page of its second section, with the headline “Hare Krishna Sect Displays Vitality At Its New $2 Million Temple in India”: “JUHU, India, Jan. 15—Several hundred members of the Hare Krishna sect, chanting and singing and clapping, opened a $2 million temple and cultural center here this weekend in a colorful festival of devotion. “To the young American monks of the movement the dedication of their sumptuous carved marble temple on the Arabian seacoast here, 10 miles north of Bombay, symbolized a kind of coming of age of the sect, which they hope is becoming less controversial. Continue reading "Celebrating the Juhu Temple Opening
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Today, January 14, Makara-sankranti, marks the anniversary of the grand opening of Sri Sri Radha-Rasabihari’s temple and cultural complex in Juhu, Bombay.

Two days after the opening, The New York Times ran an article on the front page of its second section, with the headline “Hare Krishna Sect Displays Vitality At Its New $2 Million Temple in India”:

“JUHU, India, Jan. 15—Several hundred members of the Hare Krishna sect, chanting and singing and clapping, opened a $2 million temple and cultural center here this weekend in a colorful festival of devotion.

“To the young American monks of the movement the dedication of their sumptuous carved marble temple on the Arabian seacoast here, 10 miles north of Bombay, symbolized a kind of coming of age of the sect, which they hope is becoming less controversial.

“ ‘We are gaining a broader base among the general public, in both India and America,’ explained Tamal Krishna, a 32-year-old New Yorker who is a member of the organization’s 23-member governing board. ‘We’re learning that there’s no way we’re going to give Krishna consciousness a general appeal if we make everyone shave their heads and chant “Hare Krishna” all day long.’

“But like most leaders of the movement, Tamal Krishna, who was named Thomas Herzig when he was growing up on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, does have a shaved head, a saffron?colored flowing garment called a dhoti and streaks of Ganges River mud on his forehead. Like all of them, he chants this mantra at least 1,728 times a day: “Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare, Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.”

“The chant, which has been sung with stomping feet on hundreds of American street corners in the 12 years since the International Society for Krishna Consciousness was started in New York, was the motif of the weekend here. Crowds shouted it to the beat of drums and cymbals as each statue of Krishna was anointed, as each of the huge teak and brass temple doors was opened and as marigolds and bananas were laid in offering beside the silver?plated altars.

“But one difference between this celebration and the performances in the United States was reflected in the fact that India’s Health Minister and other high Government officials were among the speakers at the dedication ceremony, lending respectability. As a saffron-clad monk from Miami Beach put it, ‘When we come to India, we are coming home.’

“Spiritualism is common to Indians, and several thousand of them visited the new temple here during the opening ceremony, joining enthusiastically in the chant of homage to Krishna, a Hindu god, and responding with alacrity when the American monks greeted them in the Hindu fashion, palms pressed together under their chins, as if in prayer.

“But the International Society for Krishna Consciousness is still essentially American, as it has been ever since it was founded by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, an Indian?born ascetic who went to New York in 1965 with the idea of combining Indian spiritual wisdom and American resourcefulness—a lame man and a blind man helping each other to walk, in the analogy he used to make.

“By the time of his death two months ago at the age of 81, Swami Prabhupada had built up a movement that has 10,000 full?time monks and an annual income, its present leaders say, of $16 million from the sale of its books—mostly the swami’s translations and interpretations of the ancient Vedic scriptures.

“The Hare Krishna people (a term they use themselves) are reluctant to disclose the details of their finances. But it is known that they have at least a few very substantial donors, including George Harrison, the former Beatle, and Alfred Ford, a great grandson of the founder of the Ford Motor Company and a nephew of Henry Ford 2d. In the last few years the society has acquired working farms in several American states, as well as two dozen big urban properties, including a 14-story temple and hotel at 340 West 55th Street in New York, which it bought for $1 million.

“Another sign of what its leaders like to think of as its move into the Establishment was a ruling in Queens last year by Justice John J. Leahy of the State Supreme Court. He turned aside allegations of brainwashing and ruled that the members of the movement should be allowed to ‘practice the religion of their choice.’

“To the Hare Krishna people, that ruling drew the line between their sect and what they disdain as ‘the modernistic cults,’ such as the Children of God. They also see a great distinction between themselves and the thousands of other young Americans attracted by Indian mysticism in the fact that instead of the self?indulgence offered by some swamis, Krishna consciousness demands an extraordinarily rigorous routine in which gambling, smoking, drinking, taking drugs, and eating meat, eggs and fish are all forbidden, as is any sexual activity that does not have conception as its immediate goal.

“But beyond the extremely religious vanguard, there is a growing body of other members of the faith who believe to one extent or another in the society’s interpretation of the ancient texts of Lord Krishna. The society, which regards itself as the most orthodox exponent of Hinduism, decrees that spiritual purification, through the omnipresent Lord Krishna, can lead to a life free of anxiety and to ‘pure, unending, blissful consciousness.’

“Its leaders say there are tens of thousands of sympathizers in America and perhaps more than that attending its temples in India. Tamal Krishna, who is called His Holiness and carries a six?foot orange staff as a symbol of complete control over his senses, looks toward a day when Krishna consciousness will be unexceptional in American society.

“ ‘When you go to the factory or the office and the guy at the next bench or the next desk is a Krishna follower, then we won’t be regarded as weird anymore,’ he said. ‘And believe me, that day is coming.’ ”

The article carried two photos, one with the caption “A young American Krishna follower gives Sanskrit discourse to Indian counterparts at festivities,” and the other with “Hare Krishna devotees chanting at dedication of their new temple in Juhu, India, on Saturday.”

The January 30 edition of Newsweek carried nearly a full page about the opening in color, a rare feature for the time, with the heading “KRISHNA-BY-THE-SEA.” At the top of the page was a photo of the diorama of Srila Prabhupada standing in Tompkins Square Park, next to one of the new temple and guesthouse, with the caption “Rags to riches: Diorama of swami teaching, $2 million complex.”

“The rituals performed,” the article stated, “were as old as India itself—the Sanskrit chants, the sacrificial ?re, the bathing of the marble deities in sacred Ganges water—but the celebration was essentially American. For three days last week, several hundred saffron-robed U.S members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness descended on a fashionable beach resort in suburban Bombay to dedicate their new $2 million temple complex, complete with hotel, library, theater and neon signs that flash such blessings as YOUR LIFE WILL BE SUBLIME. The affair was aimed at establishing a legitimacy for the Krishna-consciousness movement, founded in a Greenwich Village storefront twelve years ago by Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, who died last November. Today, the movement numbers only 10,000 devotees, half of them in the U.S. Still, the sect—which forbids meat, alcohol, tobacco and illicit sex—claims to earn close to $20 million a year, largely from sales of the prolific swami’s writings.

“The dedication ceremonies attracted 15,000 spectators, including Indian Health Minister Raj Narain. ‘It is amazing to me,’ he said, ‘that now Westerners have taken to the ancient Indian culture just when we are losing it.’ ”

At the bottom was a photo of the procession on Juhu Beach and one of a devotee speaking at the foot of Prabhupada’s vyasasana. The caption read, “Spreading the swami’s word: A joyous procession on the beach, a devotee lecturing inside the temple.” At the front of the procession was a portable seat with a photo and a small brass deity of Srila Prabhupada, and standing near the deity, I was fanning him with a camara. The devotee preaching in the temple was Tamal Krishna. At the front of the magazine was a small photo with the caption “Barry Came with a Krishna follower” (Gopal Krishna) and a preview of the main article.

“The rituals were as old as India itself,” the preview began, “but the celebration was essentially American. Hundreds of U.S. members of the movement for Krishna consciousness dedicated their flashy new temple last week in a beach resort near Bombay—and Barry Came joined 15,000 Indians during the devotions.”

I thought of how perfectly Krishna—or Srila Prabhupada—had arranged everything. There I was fanning Prabhupada, happy in my position as his simple servant. And there was Tamal Krishna sitting behind one of Prabhupada’s books, his right arm extended, preaching forcefully on Prabhupada’s behalf—his natural position. And Gopal Krishna, who always worked with the media, was shown with the reporter.

It all seemed perfect. Mukunda, who was responsible for the coverage, had done a great job. I thought how happy Prabhupada would have been to see it—how major news media were recognizing and appreciating his and ISKCON’s progress “from rags to riches.” I could just picture him smiling broadly, his eyes wide open—beaming with pleasure.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

Distributing 1,11000 Plates of Prasadam all over Mumbai (Album of photos)
Prasadam Distribution festival at ISKCON JUHU 14th ...

New York Bhakti Center’s Year in Review.
A YEAR OF GROWTH, STRENGTHENING, AND TRANSFORMATION!
The Bhakti Center exists to provide a spiritual home for an ever-growing number of New Yorkers. Over this past year, our management, staff, and wider family applied themselves with increased determination to their spiritual practices (sadhana); invested in relationships with one another (sanga), and offered countless hours in heartfelt service (seva). The results are evident in the smiles that decorate the hundreds of faces that move up and down our staircases each day.
2018 has seen unprecedented growth in attendance for all of our programs—most notably for kirtan, yoga and wisdom classes. Our community groups continue to be a bedrock of nourishment and have even sprouted up beyond Manhattan to homes in Brooklyn and New Jersey.
With funds raised last year, we have upgraded long-neglected areas of the building like the reception and the back of the temple room. With the help of our community of friends and supporters, this year’s fundraising efforts have brought us closer than ever to paying off our mortgage—assuring the offering of the building in service for generations to come.
We offer our heartfelt gratitude to you and request that you continue to join hands with us to help the Bhakti Center fulfill its highest potential. It’s our firm belief that the path of progress shown by our teachers holds the key to true inner transformation, and our intention is that together we may continue to experience it and share it with New York City and the entire world.
Gratefully in service,
Virabhadra Rama das Executive Director
To read the entire 44-pages pdf online please click here: https://goo.gl/AMqPCv

Teaching visitors at Balinese Vishnu temple on the mountain to chant the maha-mantra (Album of photos and videos
Srila Prabhupada: “Although Kali-yuga is full of faults, there is still one good quality about this age. It is that simply by chanting the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one can become free from material bondage and be promoted to the transcendental kingdom.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 12.3.51 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/MVh85p)

Kripamoya Das: Krishna is the Original Soul. If they were able, all souls could trace their ultimate origin to Krishna, the origin of everyone and everything. Just as the body has a soul within, so the soul also has a soul. The Soul of the soul is known as Atma-atma. But this Soul is never trapped or compromised as the individual soul is. This Soul remains ever free and above all. He is therefore known as the Over Soul or Superior Soul, or Supersoul, the Param-atma.

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