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My Spiritual Journey towards Krishna - Rasapriya Devi Dasi (9 min video)
The beginning of our spiritual journey is often characterized by idealism. Everything is fresh and fascinating, a whole new world to explore
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Sri Giriraj stretches out before us as if in an early morning yawn, so close we could reach out and touch Him. Kadambavan, a path of the softest sands cushions our feet. Oh feet, sink deep in the holy dust of Govardhan and let it rise up and purify your existence. We walk against the flow of the pilgrims, a quirk of the buses that spew us out somewhere in Vraj and leave us scrambling to find our location. But all is auspicious with the ample darshan of Giriraj adorning our eyes. A large troupe of monkeys out number us as we enter Surabhi Kund. On the left bank we settle down and Maharaj begins the mangala caran. The prayers to the previous acaryas resound as monkeys and humans, bow to drink the sacred waters.
At Surabhi Kund
Indra had an anger management issue. After his attempt of mass assignation during the Govardhan lila failed he approaches Krsna at Surabhi Kund, knowing that he blew it big time.
‘I thought you were a devotee. How could you attempt to murder the residents of Vraja?’ Krsna says.
‘I was proud,’ Indra admits.
‘Why didn’t you check your pride with intelligence?’
‘I was angry, so I lost all intelligence.’
‘Pride sets us up,’ Maharaj explains. Consumed by the need to be worshipped, Indra forgot that he was simply a representative of Krsna. If we hang around long enough we automatically become ‘senior’ and be tempted by the side benefits of devotional service. ‘We will always find something to be proud about, if we claim ownership instead of offering it to Krsna.’ This is our first meditation.
Maharaj shifts gear and zooms in on our weakness as residents of kali yuga. After many days of meditations drawn from Krsna’s pastimes he does a reality check as to who and where we are in spiritual life. We fall short. Even after taking vows it is common to break them. On some level, either gross (breaking principles or neglecting to chant) or subtle (becoming disrespectful and loosing taste) we may fall down.
‘Surabhi Kund is a place significant for forgiveness of our mistakes,’ he establishes the meditation for today. But forgiveness is not cheap. We come to Surabhi Kund remembering all our mistakes but then we must learn what not to do. We will be slapped down if we flirt with the material energy. ‘I didn’t tell any sweet stories of Krsna, but life is not always so sweet, mistakes are not sweet, Indra was not sweet. He messed up. But he took shelter of a devotee (Surabhi cow). If you make mistakes, be humble and take shelter of a devotee.’ He sets the second meditation.
The Nrsimhadev Temple (Pauncari)
After a hide and seek breakfast with the monkeys we continue to the tail end of the peacock shaped Govardhan. The villagers, in a jovial spirit have gathered together to encircle the entire Govardhan with clay lamps! The kids are serious about their service, inspecting each lamp for defects before lining them up.
At the very tip of Govardhan is a high temple of a black stone
Lord Nrsimhadeva. On the roof top, to the side of Nrsimhadeva we gather.
Yasoda is putting Krsna to sleep. He won’t sleep without a bed time story. She tells him of little Prahlad and the giant Lion Lord. Lord Nrsimhadeva appears out of the pillar with nails and teeth like thunderbolts. He rips out the intestines of Hiranyakasipu, spraying blood on His golden mane, and wraps them around his neck as a garland. At this point baby Krsna sleeps peacefully.
‘Therefore, I look at Lord Nrsimhadeva as the personification of softheartedness.’ He appears in a full ‘sad aswariya purna’ form to protect a single devotee. Why worship Lord Nrsimhadeva for spiritual protection? Can’t Krsna, the Supreme Lord bestow protection? Did He not protect all the residents of Vraja from Indra’s devastating downpour? Krsna fulfils many purposes at once but Lord Nrsimhadeva has a single focus; to remove the demons from within the heart. As kali yuga residents we are in the remedial class of human beings; human beings with animal tendencies. We come with these animalistic tendencies, special weaknesses, and we pray to Lord Nrsimhadeva for His special Mercy. Maharaj sets the Nrsimha meditation.
The view of Govardhan is breath-taking from above with every path way and kund lined with double rows of clay lamps. The vrajbasi s put wicks and oil jugs in our hands eager for us to do a little seva.
In the holy land of Vraja, between the pigs and sewage and plastic, exists such devotion that it tugs the heart and reveals a peephole of the spiritual reality.
Lota Baba
Passing Apsara kund, we turn towards a bustling section of Govardhan at a small temple with large orange gopa standing with an outstretched hand and hopeful eyes. Lota Baba is a cowherd boy who caught Krsna just before He left Vrindavan with a palmful offering. ‘I ‘m just now comming ,’ Krsna said. And 5000 years later Lota Baba is still rooted to that spot, waiting for Krsna.
‘And Krsna will come!’ Maharaj says emphatically.
5000 years and He is still coming?
‘You may not believe it but He will come.’
Lota Baba does not just manifest the quality of patience, but strong faith that makes patience possible.
And where do we place our faith? Only where we believe happiness resides. Maharaj’s simple equation reveals our knots of distrust and faith in fake happiness. We pray for patience grounded in faith. ‘And then success is guaranteed because Krsna is kind.’
Raghava Pundit’s Cave
We walk now in the flow of the pilgrims to a not-so-well- known cave of Campakalata Saki which hosted pastimes of Radha and Krsna. She appears in Caitanya Lila as Raghava Pundit who returns to this cave, as confirmed in the 5th chapter of the Bhakti Ratnakara. The remnants of the cave are tiny as the heads of some tall devotees discover.
We offer quick obeisances and proceed long the side of Sri Giriraj. We spot some ‘brown Nila Gai’ (blue deer) on the hilltops. Maharaj says that they are free spirited. As so is he. But where are the buses? After 4km one way and then 3km another way, we do an almost half Govardhan parikrama in unorthodox fashion before sinking back into our seats. One more glimpse of Giriraj and away we go.
The article " Vrindavan Braj Parikrama – Day 9 " was published on KKSBlog.
After comments - Global Party People Kirtan and HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami Talk (11 min video)
SRI & JOAKIN of Global Party People! and Redefining Success talk by HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami at Urban Yoga, Melbourne, 29 November 2018.
Saturdays around 5:00 pm in Mayapur… Magical moments of Sri Radha-Madhava Elephant Procession. Mystical sounds could be heard by every single living entity anywhere near ISKCON Mayapur campus. Very intense thundering of large drums beating to the rhythm of two elephant’s hearts, was the best way to bring back to mind some very sweet pastimes […]
The post Sri Radha-Madhava Elephant Procession appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Verse number:SB:9.8.24-30 Date: 2 Dec 2018 Speaker: HH Bhakti Vidya Poorna Swami praśānta māyā-guṇa-karma-liṅgam anāma-rūpaṁ sad-asad-vimuktam jñānopadeśāya gṛhīta-dehaṁ namāmahe tvāṁ puruṣaṁ purāṇam Translation: O completely peaceful Lord, although material nature, fruitive activities and their consequent material names and forms are Your creation, You are unaffected by them. Therefore, Your transcendental name is different from material […]
The post Srimad Bhagavatam class: HH Bhakti Vidya Poorna Swami appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Our first KIRTAN NIGHT MAYAPUR of this winter season held at the Mayapur Community Hall (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: F...
Practical demonstration of book distribution (8 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: All persons in this material world are suffering ...
[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Chowpatty, India]
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The post How to present spiritual principles amidst changing times appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
[Prerana festival at ISKCON, Chowpatty, India]
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The post Destiny – Do we make it or does it make us? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Answer Podcast
The post If Krishna takes hundred steps towards us when we take one step towards him, is he partial or impartial? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Indonesia has so far around twenty temples, some big and others smaller in size. In Bali there are six main temples and one is the Jagannatha Gauranga temple, which has a very sweet atmosphere.
I visit regularly and it’s always a pleasure to attend festivals, lead kirtans and give lectures there. The devotees in Bali love kirtan and sometimes the chanting goes on for hours and hours and at the end there is, of course, wonderful prasadam.
Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.8.6.
“Dhruva Maharaja was pleasing to everyone. He was pleasing to his brother who was the threat to his kingdom, to his father, even to hos step-mother who was so mean to him. Srila Prabhupada was like that to. He spoke about the art of criticizing. He quoted a Sanskrit sloka; Instead of saying the tree is dead and dry one should say. ‘The beautiful tree that is full of luxuriant foliage and producing so many fruits and flowers and that provides people shade, has lost its juice. Its the same as saying that it has dried up but that is an example of how one can criticize in a palatable way.
On one morning walk in Varda Srila Prabhupada said. ‘It is a great art how to criticize and unfortunately you do not know that art’. In a way he was criticizing us but the way he led into it by saying that it is a great art and not that it is a simple thing, made it palatable.”
Srila Prabhupada’s Winter Book Marathon 2018 - Chant & dance your way - Vayu dasa (2 min video)
Every December the entire ISKCON world focuses all attention on the distribution of transcendental literature, something we all know was so close to Srila Prabhupada’s heart. He was incredibly eager to hear the figures of how many books were being distributed. Indeed, he said it gave him life. When a new book was printed, Prabhupada felt as though he had conquered an empire. He told one disciple – “the best of me is in my books.”
Join us this marathon and let’s try to give pleasure to Krishna by giving this mercy in the form of Srila Prabhupada’s books to as many souls as possible.
Our "Paramahamster" comic strip follows an enthusiastic devotee as he navigates a 9 - 5 work day in the corporate world. Please check back weekly for new episodes!
Rathayatra in Lenasia in Johannesburg, South Africa (Album of photos)
Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: Photos from our Rathayatra in Le...
Sri Radha-Madhava Elephant Procession (Album of photos)
Saturdays around 5:00 pm in Mayapur… Magical moments of Sri Radha-Madhava Elephant Procession.
Mystical sounds could be heard by every single living entity anywhere near ISKCON Mayapur campus. Very intense thundering of large drums beating to the rhythm of two elephant’s hearts, was the best way to bring back to mind some very sweet pastimes of our dear Lord Krsna in Dwarka.
Every Saturday evening, Sri Radha Madhava leave their altar carried by one of our leading Pujari, HG Jananivas prabhu and are reverently placed on our dear elephants Vishnupriya. Her associate the little elephant Laxmipriya also joins the procession.
Two devotees beautifully decorated, have the service of carrying their Lordship on elephants along with some devotees around the Mayapur campus. The fire lanterns being the only source of light during the procession, create a fascinating and kind of mysterious atmosphere which bring everyone to an enchanted mood. The roads are so colorful and beautifully decorated with breath taking Rangoli designs, it is hard to walk without stopping to take a longer look, but we have to follow the procession with hundreds, if not thousands of devotees and pilgrims chanting and dancing with raised arms.
In front of the procession, there is a procession of Sri Gaura –Nitai deities from Bhajan kutir in bullock cart.
The amazing kirtan & mantra chants by Gurukul boys made everyone’s heart melt and voices merged into a one unison sound. All of us present could feel how once again, these pastimes performed by the Mayapur devotees are incredibly powerful and help so much to bring everyone into a good spiritual mood. Krsna consciousness is serious business but, Oh my God… How fun and heart cleansing it can be. So every Saturday evening, we can all really do what Srila Prabhupada said “ Just chant and be happy!”
Hari Haribol !
Find them here: https://goo.gl/BZ5ce6
Most of us on the parikrama are from the West and accustomed to different comforts. Whilst Vrindavan offers its inconveniences, we must remember that Vrindavan is home and that home is nowhere else. We carry this important meditation by Kadamba Kanana Swami from Day 7 into Day 8.
We begin Day 8 with an hour-long drive from bustling Vrindavan to the clear sky-ed Brahmanda ghat. Being more rural, Brahmanda ghat is serene, peaceful and calming to the soul. We sit beside the auspicious ghat shaded by a large kadamba tree eagerly awaiting Kadamba Kanana Swami’s nectarian meditations. The parikrama thus far has been filled with special meditations. Following in the footsteps of Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityandanda, we will distribute these precious meditations to the different corners of the earth when we leave sacred Vrindavan. Brahmanda ghat is celebrated as the place where baby Krsna ate clay and displayed all the universes in his mouth when the concerned Mother Yasoda looked inside. Isn’t Krsna bewildering?
As followers of Srila Prabhupada, Brahmanda ghat is also significant as the place where Srila Prabhupada’s dear disciples gave him an abhishek in 1972 when he bathed in the ghat. Kadamba Kanana Swami made the important point that although the holy dham is filled with mercy, even more mercy is attracted to places where great vaisnavas have been, therefore making Brahmanda ghat especially potent.
Our second stop for the day was the River Yamuna, a few hundred metres from Brahmanda ghat. In that area, the famous Damodara lila took place. HH Bhakti Ashraya Vaisnava Swami captivated the minds of everyone as he sweetly described Krsna’s humorous butter-stealing pastimes.
Our final stop for the day was Raval – the birthplace of Srimati Radharani. Due to its sanctity, Kadamba Kanana Swami decided that we spend a larger portion of our day at Raval. We sat under a mysterious tree formation which were actually two trees (one blackish and one white) that have intimately intertwined into one tree known as the Radha-Krsna tree. This is just one of many such trees in Vrindavan. Kadamba Kanana Swami, Ramanaji and Gour Krsna each led ecstatic kirtans that had us all screaming Krsna’s holy names in surcharged Raval. How nice it is to scream out Krsna’s names in all corners of Vrindavan! Although Krsna can be accessed wherever we reside in the world, he is especially accessible in holy Vrindavan. Kadamba Kanana Swami concluded the day by reminding us that it is only due to Lord Caitanya’s special mercy that we have all come to Vrindavan. By Lord Caitanya’s mercy, difficult things become easy to achieve and without his mercy, easy things become extremely difficult to achieve. We carry this meditation into the night as we excitedly await Day 9 of our exhilarating parikrama.
The article " Vrindavan Braj Parikrama – Day 8 " was published on KKSBlog.
When 300 voices come together in heartfelt chanting (2 min video)
We are on retreat in Vrindavan with 300 participants from al...
“The Trees Want To Tell Their Story” (4 min video)
The latest project from The Sacred India Gallery- “The Trees Want To Tell Their Story”. Our Artistic Director Jagattarini Dasi is in Vrindavan sharing insights into the importance of the mystical trees of this timeless land.
Verse number: Srimad Bhagavatam 9.8.23 Date: 01 Dec 2018 Speaker: HH Chandramouli Swami taṁ tvāṁ ahaṁ jñāna-ghanaṁ svabhāva- pradhvasta-māyā-guṇa-bheda-mohaiḥ sanandanādyair munibhir vibhāvyaṁ kathaṁ vimūḍhaḥ paribhāvayāmi Translation: O my Lord, sages freed from the influence of the three modes of material nature — sages such as the four Kumāras [Sanat, Sanaka, Sanandana and Sanātana] — are […]
The post Srimad Bhagavatam Class: HH Chandramouli Swami appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Kirtan Rasa 2018 - Live Kirtan Festival From Dubai (Damodardesh) (video)
Srila Prabhupada: Instead of actively taking part in ...
By Gauranga Darshan Das Beautiful forms inspire attraction, but attachment and affection are developed more because of beautiful characteristics. Although physically attractive, if someone doesn’t have good qualities and attitude, people are not inclined to maintain a relationship with him. But if someone is beautiful both in his form and character, relationship with him is most enlivening. Krsna’s form is exquisitely beautiful, and so is His divine character. Continue reading "SARVA SAUNDARYA SANGRAHAM: Reservoir of All Beauties
→ Dandavats"
Answer Podcast
The post If genetically modified bacteria could clean the polluted Yamuna river, is that technology still bad? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
A video by ISKCON Desire Tree.
The word “soul” sometimes refers non-literally to the things that matter the most to us. Such a non-literal usage features in the phrase “to sell one’s soul.”
Argentina saw a unique moment in ISKCON’s history on Thursday November 22nd. Two major Ratha Yatra festivals took place at the same time on both sides of the country – one in its capital city Buenos Aires, on the East Coast, and one in Mendoza, on the Western border of the country, at the foot of the Andes mountain range.
Have you heard it said these days that the secret to happiness is to lower your expectations? It makes sense, doesn’t it? We often put so much pressure on ourselves or each other, due to our unnecessary or overblown expectations.
A video by ISKCON Desire Tree.
An invitations for scholars and scientists for the "Consciousness in Science" Conference organized by the Bhaktivedanta Institute for Higher Studies, to be held in Gainesville, Florida, USA in January 2019.
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Kalyana Venkateswara, the beautiful Deity of Balaji (3 min video)
Bhakti Chaitanya Swami: Kalyana Venkatesvara is a beautiful ...
Srila Prabhupada Marathon 2018 by HH Smita Krishna Swami (2 min video)
Inspirational thoughts and realizations about distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books during the month of December.
Marathon Message by Janananda Goswami.
It’s never too late. Srila Prabhupada arrived in US at 70 years of age and preached alone in the snow of New York, distributing his Srimad Bhagavatams. We sure can’t imitate Srila Prabhupada, but at least we can try to follow. Last year I had the fortunate experience of trying to distribute books in France, and I do not speak the language. You may know what France is like if you don’t speak French. Still, by the mercy of Lord Nityananda, many books were distributed, and I am no book distributor at the best of times. To be honest I had not been on a full marathon since 1985. Done a few partial ones here and there, in the snow of Newcastle and the sun of the Gold Coast. But Paris was something special - a real dose of mercy and a close feeling of Srila Prabhupada’s presence.
Srila Prabhupada Marathon 2018 by HH Sacinandana Swami (4 min video)
Inspirational thoughts and realizations about distributing Srila Prabhupada’s books during the month of December.
Adult Education At The Temple
