“Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura retired to Godrumadvipa, Mayapur, and standing on his veranda there he had a vision of a spiritual city where devotees from all over the world would come together and chant the holy names and worship Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. When I visited there I stood on that veranda and looked across the river and saw Srila Prabhupada’s samadhi dome very prominently. Some devotees were a little critical of the architecture of the samadhi, saying it was not in the traditional Bengali style. But looking across from the balcony, imagining Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura standing there, I thought that he would be very pleased, because his mood and desire was that devotees from all over the world should come to chant Hare Krishna and worship the Supreme Lord Krishna Chaitanya. And that unique style of architecture was the result of devotees coming from all over the world in pursuance of the vision of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura.”
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s Appearance Day (Right click to download)

Toowoomba is a small city west of Brisbane, Australia. Every year the town celebrates the spring flower festival with a carnival and parade. For the last 5 or 6 years the Bhakti Centre on the Gold Coast has entered Lord Jagannatha’s chariot as one of the floats in the parade.

This year I was able to go along and it was very ecstatic. Generally, festivals in the smaller towns attract bigger crowds than the cities and there was a huge crowd at Toowoomba. Needless to say, everyone appreciated the devotees chanting and dancing in front of Lord Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra devi.

Today marks the anniversary of the birth—the appearance—of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, “the pioneer of the program for benedicting the entire world with Krishna consciousness.” To honor the occasion, I would like to share a short piece I wrote about Srila Bhaktivinoda and Srila Prabhupada. We pray for their continued guidance and mercy.

“Dedicated to the sacred service of Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura, who initiated the teachings of Lord Chaitanya in the Western world (McGill University, Canada) in 1896, the year of my birth.” These words are Srila Prabhupada’s dedication to Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, the first book he published after coming to America. They also apply to Prabhupada’s life, which was dedicated to the sacred service of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Sri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, and his own spiritual master—Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s son—Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati.

Srila Prabhupada furthered many of Thakura Bhaktivinoda’s projects: engaging householders in local preaching initiatives (nama-hatta); establishing the principle that Vaishnavas, even those not born brahmans, are greater than brahmans (and are brahmans too); translating, explaining, and publishing important Vaishnava scriptures for the understanding of the contemporary audience; implementing the vision of a wonderful temple and spiritual city in Mayapur; and, perhaps most significant, fulfilling the desire and prediction that the holy names and teachings of Sri Krishna Chaitanya—Krishna consciousness—be propagated all over the world.

In 1885, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura wrote, “Lord Chaitanya did not advent Himself to liberate only a few men in India. Rather, His main objective was to emancipate all living entities of all countries throughout the entire universe and preach the eternal dharma. Lord Chaitanya states in Sri Caitanya-bhagavata, ‘In every town, country, and village My name will be sung.’ There is no doubt that this unquestionable order will come to pass. . . . Although there is still no pure society of Vaishnavas, Lord Chaitanya’s prophetic words will in a few days come true . . .

“Very soon the unparalleled path of hari-nama-sankirtana will be propagated all over the world. . . . Oh, for that day when the fortunate English, French, Russian, German, and American people will take up banners, mridangas, and karatlas and raise kirtan through their streets and towns. When will that day come? Oh, for the day when the Western fair-skinned men, from one side, while chanting ‘Jaya Sacinandana ki jaya!’ will extend their arms and, embracing the devotees of our country coming from another side, treat us with brotherly feelings. When will that day be?”

In the caption to Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s photo in Teachings of Lord Chaitanya, Srila Prabhupada described him as “the pioneer of the program for benedicting the entire world with Krishna consciousness,” and he saw himself as the Thakura’s humble servant in that effort, fully dependent on his mercy.

In a conversation in Mayapur in March 1974, Srila Prabhupada, hearing a kirtan party in the background, commented that Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura had desired that “Europeans and Americans will come, and they will dance here with the chanting, ‘Jaya Sacinandana, Jaya Sacinandana!’ So, that is being done. . . . When they chant and dance, I simply remember Bhaktivinoda Thakura. That’s all. I pray to Bhaktivinoda Thakura, ‘Now they have come to your shelter. Give them protection.’ That’s all. What can I do more? I cannot do anything more.”

So, it is by the mercy of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, coming through parampara, through Srila Prabhupada, that we have been engaged in devotional service to Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, His devotees, His holy names, His teachings, and His divine dhama—Mayapur.

In 1971, as a young devotee in Calcutta, I approached Srila Prabhupada and offered, “I have been trying to understand what your desire is. And two things seem to please you most: distributing your books and building the big temple in Mayapur.”

Prabhupada’s face lit up, his eyes opened wide, and he smiled. “Yes, you have understood.”

I did not know it then, but that desire for a big temple in Mayapur (and even for profuse book distribution) came from Thakura Bhaktivinoda. He had a vision of an effulgent city with a wonderful temple at its center, in Mayapur. And he wrote,

eka adbhuta mandira ei haibe prakasa
gaurangera nitya-seva haibe vikasa

“An astounding temple will appear and will engage the entire world in the eternal service of Lord Chaitanya.” (Sri Navadvipa-Mahatmya, Parikrama Khanda, Chapter 4)

After my exchange with Srila Prabhupada, he spent several months in Europe and America and then returned to Calcutta with a design for the big temple. And in the meantime, Tamal Krishna Goswami had fulfilled Prabhupada’s longstanding, ardent desire to acquire some land in Mayapur. But there had been flooding in Mayapur, and the flooding there can be very severe. Therefore—although Prabhupada was so enthusiastic about the project and had struggled so hard to get the land in Mayapur and had personally brought the plans for the first building there—still, right when we were at the peak of our enthusiasm, he raised the question “What will happen if the Ganges floods? What will happen to the temple, to the project?”

He suggested that we not build the temple in Mayapur but at Birnagar, Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s birthplace—another indication of Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s importance to Prabhupada and for the world. And eventually he brought us back to the conclusion that we should proceed with the project in Mayapur. “If you all build this temple,” he declared, “Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura will personally come and take you all back to Godhead.”

Through his empowered service, Srila Prabhupada has made Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s shelter available to all of us, and now we too are “dedicated to the sacred service of Srila Saccidananda Bhaktivinoda Thakura.” We beg and pray for pure devotional service under their lotus feet and depend fully on their mercy.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

Firefighters were called to a blaze at the Hare Krishna Temple site near Aldenham. Several bales of hay were well alight at the Goshala barn. The fire is believed to have begun at around 1pm and firefighters arrived within ten minutes.

About thirty high school students and college freshmen, along with their parents, attended a College and Career Conference at the ISKCON Towaco temple in New Jersey on September 8^th.

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!

“Bali Maharaja has become the most famous among the demons and nonbelievers, for in spite of being bereft of all material opulences, he is fixed in his devotional service.” (SB 8.22.28)

Purport: In this verse, the words sidann api na muhyati are very important. A devotee is sometimes put into adversity while executing devotional service. In adversity, everyone laments and becomes aggrieved, but by the grace of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, a devotee, even in the worst condition, can understand that he is going through a severe examination by the Personality of Godhead. Bali Maharaja passed all such examinations, as explained in the following verses.

“Although bereft of his riches, fallen from his original position, defeated and arrested by his enemies, rebuked and deserted by his relatives and friends, although suffering the pain of being bound and although rebuked and cursed by his spiritual master, Bali Maharaja, being fixed in his vow, did not give up his truthfulness. It was certainly with pretention that I spoke about religious principles, but he did not give up religious principles, for he is true to his word.” (SB 8.22.29–30)

Purport: Bali Maharaja passed the severe test put before him by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is further proof of the Lord’s mercy toward His devotee. The Supreme Personality of Godhead sometimes puts a devotee to severe tests that are almost unbearable. One could hardly even live under the conditions forced upon Bali Maharaja. That Bali Maharaja endured all these severe tests and austerities is the mercy of the Supreme Lord. The Lord certainly appreciates the devotee’s forbearance, and it is recorded for the future glorification of the devotee. This was not an ordinary test. As described in this verse, hardly anyone could survive such a test, but for the future glorification of Bali Maharaja, one of the mahajanas, the Supreme Personality of Godhead not only tested him but also gave him the strength to tolerate such adversity. The Lord is so kind to His devotee that when severely testing him the Lord gives him the necessary strength to be tolerant and continue to remain a glorious devotee.

LECTURE

The present verses are spoken by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Originally the Lord appeared as Vamanadeva before Bali Maharaja and asked three steps of land in charity. Bali Maharaja agreed. Vamanadeva expanded himself in size and with one step covered the planet Earth and all of space. With his second step He covered the rest of the universe. Then He arrested Bali Maharaja and said, “You have promised three steps, but you have given only two. You have broken your promise. Now I will arrest you and punish you.” Bali Maharaja accepted the Lord’s action. He did not protest. And ultimately he told the Lord, “Yes, with two steps You have covered the entire universe. Now kindly keep Your third step on my head. Thus I will fulfill my promise to You.” And so Bali Maharaja surrendered his life to Lord Krishna.

Vamanadeva was satisfied with Bali’s surrender, and after various devotees intervened on Bali’s behalf, the Lord had Bali Maharaja released from the ropes of Varuna and told him, “I am going to give you your own planet, Sutala-loka, and I will personally accompany you there and serve as your doorman.” Actually, the Lord never lives anywhere in the material world; He lives only in the spiritual world, Vaikuntha. By accompanying Bali Maharaja to Sutala-loka, the Lord was actually converting the place into Vaikuntha-loka, which is far more opulent, more beautiful, and more desirable than any planet of the material world or all the material worlds combined.

So, by surrendering to Vamanadeva, Bali Maharaja was not the loser; he was the gainer. One who surrenders unto the Lord never loses.

There is a story in the Krsna book about a fruit vendor who came to the house of Nanda Maharaja. As no one was tending to the vendor, baby Krishna thought He would take some grains of rice and exchange them for some fruit. (Previously the system of exchange was barter, not money.) But because baby Krishna’s hands were small and He was not used to holding things, what few grains of rice He kept in them had fallen out by the time he reached the vendor. But the vendor was so enchanted by Krishna’s beauty that she gave Him whatever fruits He could hold. And then, when she turned around, she saw in place of all the fruits she had given to Krishna, her basket was filled with the most valuable gold and jewels and gems. So, the purport is that one who gives to Krishna is not the loser, but the gainer by millions of times.

Srila Prabhupada made the same point about himself. When he was in India, he had five children. But when he surrendered to Krishna—left India and went to America to preach—Krishna gave him five hundred children. With his family in India, there were always so many problems, but in America, in Krishna’s service, there were five hundred children but no problems. As Srila Prabhupada said, “I love them and they love me. And there are no problems.”

Sometimes, because of material attachment, devotees are afraid to surrender something to Krishna, and Krishna, to show special favor to the devotee, will take away the thing to which the devotee is attached. So the devotee ultimately comes to the point of full surrender to the Lord. And here Bali Maharaja is an example. He had conquered the entire universe and was occupying the throne of Indra, the king of heaven. He certainly was not in the mood to give up what he had worked so hard to get, but Lord Vishnu, in the form of Vamanadeva, cheated him. He cheated Bali Maharaja in the sense that when He asked for the three steps, He was very small. Thus Bali Maharaja was surprised: “I could give You a whole planet. Why are You asking only three steps?” But Vamanadeva replied that if He could not be satisfied with three steps, He would not be satisfied with a whole planet, with the three worlds. (Srila Prabhupada said the same thing, especially for brahmacharis—that a brahmachari is satisfied just with three steps of land: a place to lie down at night, a little prasada, and some service.) On the other hand, if someone is greedy and wants more and more, he can never be satisfied, however much he gets. So Vamanadeva’s instruction is very appropriate.

Then, after Bali Maharaja agreed to give the three steps, Vamanadeva expanded Himself and became so huge that with just two steps he encompassed the whole universe. Thus He took everything from Bali Maharaja.

Bali Maharaja’s spiritual master had advised him, “Don’t agree. The little boy is actually Vishnu and He has come to cheat you. He will take everything from you. Don’t do it.” But Bali Maharaja remained true to his word, fixed in his religious principles.

Here Vamanadeva says that when He was giving speeches about religious principles, as if He were instructing Bali Maharaja to be charitable and truthful, He was speaking duplicitously. He knew that Bali Maharaja was completely truthful, but He was pretending that Bali was a criminal, an offender who broke his promise, and therefore He was lecturing to him about the value of religious principles. But now Lord Vishnu discloses His heart: He knew that Bali Maharaja was fully surrendered and completely truthful. He was speaking for some other purpose, not for Bali Maharaja.

So, the Lord is very merciful. We are weak. Every living entity, by nature, by constitution, is weak and does not have the strength to pass the tests that the Lord may place before us. We can pass the test only by the Lord’s mercy. And the Lord gave so much mercy to Bali Maharaja that Bali Maharaja was able to pass the most severe test described in the verse.

We too may face various tests. The Lord may take something from us, but we are not alone in our test. The Lord is there to give us sufficient strength and intelligence. But He wants to see our surrender, and when we surrender, the Lord reciprocates and gives us strength. He gives us sufficient strength to bear all trials and tribulations. So the test is for our benefit, to encourage us to surrender.

And the Lord will never give us a test we are not able to pass. He gives us a test He knows we can pass—provided that we surrender. And when we surrender, He gives us the necessary strength and intelligence.

Once we’ve passed the test, the Lord accepts us as His very own, just as Lord Vishnu accepted Bali Maharaja. He actually gave Himself to Bali Maharaja. When Bali Maharaja gave himself and everything he possessed to the Lord, the Lord reciprocated and gave Himself, along with all sorts of material opulence, to Bali Maharaja. And He undertook to reinstate Bali Maharaja as the king of heaven in the future. So although the Lord’s dealings may appear difficult or hard, actually He is merciful and He Himself helps us pass the test He places before us to help us surrender.

As Srila Prabhupada mentions, ordinary persons lament and become aggrieved when they lose something. And as conditioned souls, we all have the tendency to lament and grieve over losses. But Bali Maharaja set the example for all time of how to accept the test of the Lord, how to accept being bereft of position and opulence and all the other things he lost. He set the example for us so we can learn to tolerate externally and internally remain cheerful, fixed in our service to Lord Krishna.

Srimad-Bhagavatam tells us that when Bali Maharaja was arrested and humiliated, he was smiling, cheerful, because he was fixed in his devotional service. Devotees, in the course of serving, preaching, may face many difficulties, and even though externally they may appear to be suffering, internally they are feeling pleasure. Why are they feeling pleasure? Because they know that the Lord is pleased. Their struggle and effort and surrender please the Lord.

The Bhagavatam gives the example that sometimes a man may go far from home to search for wealth for his family and while traveling encounter many difficulties. Sometimes he will travel through the jungle, sometimes through the mountains, but he does not mind. In the end, he knows he will return to his family with some treasure, and thinking of the happiness he will bring to his family, he feels happy. This is priti, affection. One takes pleasure in the happiness of the beloved. And even though one may undergo great difficulties in making the beloved happy, just the knowledge that the beloved is happy or will be happy is enough to make one feel happy oneself.

Srila Jiva Gosvami gives the example that even an ordinary person may undergo great personal difficulties for the sake of his family. He may be in the bodily concept of life, but for the sake of his family he will accept many austerities. For example, a man may leave his wife and children in the village and go to the city to earn for the family. In the big city he has nothing—no money, no place to stay, no food. He will search for some menial job, and from whatever little pay he gets he will take just enough to get some dry bread and chickpeas, some simple food. The rest of his earnings—95 percent—he will send home to his family. He will eat only dry chapatis, but he’s thinking, “Oh, my little boy is drinking milk and growing strong and healthy.” And just thinking of how nicely his son will be growing, he feels happy, although externally he is undergoing austere conditions.

Devotees have the same type of relationship with the Lord. They are ready to undergo any austerity for the sake of giving pleasure to the Lord. And the knowledge that the Lord is pleased is sufficient. They are happy just to know that He is pleased. Just as the traveler takes solace in knowing that he will soon be back with his family, the devotee knows that at the end of this life, after taking so much trouble to serve the mission of the Lord, he will be back with the Lord in the spiritual world. Thus he considers the troubles he endured on the way to be insignificant.

So devotees have no fear because whatever situation they are in, they know they can serve and please the Lord. And they know the situation is temporary. They know that in the end, simply by remaining fixed in devotional service and passing all tests, they will go back home, back to Godhead, and associate with Lord Krishna directly. So the Lord is very kind and merciful. Although He may appear hard and cruel because He is putting the devotee into some difficulty, actually He is kind and merciful. He will help the devotee pass the test. And when the devotee does, when he remains fixed in devotional service despite all difficulties, the Lord will call the devotee, “All right, now you have done enough. Come back home, back to Godhead.”

Srila Prabhupada is the perfect example. He sacrificed everything for the service of the Lord. Sometimes he faced strong opposition, but he fought to the end. He fought and always remained fixed in his service to Krishna and therefore, although externally he underwent great difficulties, he was always relishing loving exchanges with the Lord and his spiritual master.

We should accept whatever situation the Lord ordains for us, tolerate, and continue to serve the Lord with heart and soul. After all, we are in the material world, so what can we do? Tolerate, and go on with our service. The Lord will be pleased with us, and very soon He will take away our miseries and welcome us into His personal association.

As Srimad-Bhagavatam (11.3.22) states,

tatra bhagavatan dharman
  siksed gurv-atma-daivatah
amayayanuvrttya yais
  tusyed atmatma-do harih

“Accepting the bona fide spiritual master as one’s life and soul and worshipable deity, the disciple should learn from him the process of pure devotional service. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, the soul of all souls, is inclined to give Himself to His pure devotees. Therefore, the disciple should learn from the spiritual master to serve the Lord without duplicity and in such a faithful and favorable way that the Supreme Lord, being satisfied, will offer Himself to the faithful disciple.”

Purport: “According to Srila Sridhara Svami the Lord’s tendency to give Himself to His pure devotee is demonstrated in the case of Bali Maharaja, who sacrificed his universal kingdom for the pleasure of Lord Vamanadeva. Lord Vamana was so pleased by the selfless surrender of Bali Maharaja that the Lord became the doorman in the palace of Bali, who was reinstalled as a great leader in the universe. . . .

“Srila Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura has further pointed out that when the Lord bestows His own self upon a pure devotee such a fortunate devotee can actually see the Lord, touch Him, and directly engage in His service.

“According to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura, one should never consider one’s spiritual master to be mundane or on an equal level with one’s self. One should see the spiritual master as being always under the shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Lord. One should never try to engage the spiritual master in one’s personal service with the mentality of lording it over the spiritual master and attaining through him some material gain. One who is actually advancing will become more and more eager to serve the spiritual master, and thus such a disciple experiences the pleasure of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

Hare Krishna.

[A talk by Giriraj Swami on Srimad-Bhagavatam 8.22.28–30, Hare Krishna Land, Juhu, April 27, 1997]

Visakha Devi is very learned in many branches of knowledge, just like her scholarly father. She is a wise counselor and a diplomat in loving affairs, and is very expert at joking.

Radha Krishna Records – quite possibly the only record label owned by a temple – is nearing its tenth anniversary, which will be celebrated in July 2019 during the 50^thanniversary of Sri Sri Radha Londonisvara at the Radha Krishna Temple in London.

Have you heard kirtan leaders say“Chant from the heart!”? What do they mean by this?

Близится день явления Его Божественной Милости Шрилы Бхактивиноды Тхакура, пионера в деле распространения сознания Кришны по всему миру, время великой радости и великого празднования, поскольку без его усилий у нас не было бы движения Харе Кришна и самой благоприятной возможности вернуться обратно к Богу.

Шрила Бхактивинода Тхакур сделал три главных предсказания, все из которых свершились. «Скоро придет человек, – писал он, – и он будет путешествовать по всему миру, чтобы распространить учение Господа Чайтаньи». Его второе предсказание: «Очень скоро воспевание Харинама санкиртаны распространится по всему миру. О, когда же придет тот день, когда люди из Америки, Англии, Франции, Германии и России возьмут караталы и мриданги и начнут воспевать в своих городах Харе Кришна?» Третье предсказание: «Когда придет тот день, когда светлокожие иностранцы придут в Шри Майяпур-дхаму и присоединятся к бенгальским вайшнавам в воспевании “Джайа Шачинандана, Джайа Шачинандана”. Когда наступит этот день?»

Однажды вечером Шрила Бхактивинода мирно сидел в своем доме в Годрумадвипе, Сурабхи-кундже, и смотрел поверх чистых вод реки Джаланги на Шри Майяпур. Прервавшись от написания произведений о преданном служении, он увидел яркое сияние, которое разливалось во всех направлениях из святой земли Шри Майяпура. Он увидел прекрасный золотой город, духовный город – исполнение мечты всех ачарьев гаудия-вайшнавской традиции – откуда однажды разольется чистая любовь к Богу и наводнит собой весь мир.

Этот «прекрасный золотой город» сейчас проявляется в Шридхаме Майяпуре, самом священном из всех святых мест вселенной. Шрила Бхактивинода сказал:

«Семь священных городов Навадвипы славятся тем, что способны даровать живому существу освобождение. Вот эти города – Айодхья, Матхура, Майяпур, Варанаси, Канчи, Авантипур и Дварака. Но самым возвышенным из них является Майяпур. Шри Махапрабху принес духовный мир Шветадвипы в Майяпур. Когда пройдет четыреста лет со дня явления Шри Чайтаньи Махапрабху, земля Майяпура-Шветадвипы станет важнейшей из всех священных мест. Человек, который живет здесь, автоматически избавляется от всех оскорблений и достигает высот чистого преданного служения».

«Джайва-дхарма», Бхактивинода Тхакур

Давайте же все прервемся от наших дел и подумаем над этими словами Шрилы Бхактивиноды и над важностью строительства предвиденного им «прекрасного золотого города». ХВП является неотъемлемой частью этого исторического пророчества, вместе мы сможем осуществить его и получим огромное благо от такого наивысшего служения. Этот проект так важен, что Шрила Прабхупада решительно заявил:

«Если вы построите этот храм, Шрила Бхактивинода Тхакур лично придет и заберет вас всех обратно к Богу».

Призываем вас в этот особенный день поддержать строительство ХВП, воспользовавшись новой возможностью для служения – спонсированием кирпича Гуру-парампары. Чтобы пожертвовать кирпич Гуру-парампары, на котором будет написано как ваше имя, так и имя вашего гуру, перейдите по ссылке: https://tovp.org/ru/donate/seva-opportunities/

НОВОСТИ ХВП – БУДЬТЕ В КУРСЕ

Посетите ХВП: www.tovp.org
Читайте о ХВП: www.facebook.com/tovp.mayapur
Смотрите о ХВП: www.youtube.com/user/tovpinfo
Загрузите приложение ХВП для мобильного телефона: www.tovp.org/ru/announcements-ru/new-tovp-phone-app-goes-live/
Подпишитесь на новости ХВП: https://goo.gl/forms/ojJ2WcUUuqWh8bXt1
Поддержите ХВП: www.tovp.org/ru/donate/seva-opportunities/

The post Шрила Бхактивинода Тхакур и ХВП appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

The appearance day of His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur, the pioneer of spreading Krishna consciousness throughout the world, is upon us, and it is a time of great celebration and rejoicing, for without his efforts, we would not have the Hare Krishna Movement and the most auspicious opportunity to go back to Godhead.

Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura made three major predictions which have all come to pass: “A personality will soon appear,” he wrote, “and he will travel all over the world to spread the teachings of Lord Caitanya.” His second prediction: “Very soon the chanting of ‘Harinama sankirtana will be spread all over the world. Oh, when will that day come when people from America, England, France, Germany, Russia will take up karatals and mrdangas and chant Hare Krishna in their towns?” The third prediction: “When will that day come when the fair-skinned foreigners will come to Sri Mayapur-dhama and join with the Bengali Vaisnavas to chant, Jaya Sacinandana, Jaya Sacinandana. When will that day come?“

One evening, Srila Bhaktivinoda was sitting peacefully in his house in Godrumadvipa, Surabhi Kunja, looking toward Sri Mayapur over the clear waters of the Jalangi river. Pausing briefly from his devotional writings, he saw a brilliant effulgence shining out in all directions from the holy land of Sri Mayapur. It was a vision of a wonderful golden city, a spiritual city – the final fulfillment of the dreams of the Vaishnava acaryas – from where the entire world would one day become inundated with pure love of Godhead.

This “wonderful golden city” is now manifesting in Sridhama Mayapur, the most sacred of holy places in the universe. Srila Bhaktivinoda said:

“Of the seven holy places giving salvation – Ayodhya, Mathura, Gaya, Kashi, Kanchi, Avanti and Dwaravati – Sri Mayapur is the most important place of pilgrimage. Sriman Mahaprabhu with His advent made His own Svetadvipa descend here, and after four centuries after the disappearance of Sriman Mahaprabhu this place of pilgrimage Svetadvipa will be superior to all other places of pilgrimage of the world. Living in this place removes all sin and offenses and helps pure devotion to grow.”

Jaiva Dharma – Bhaktivinoda Thakur

Let us all pause to consider the above words of Srila Bhaktivinoda and the importance of building the “wonderful golden city” which he envisioned. The TOVP is an essential part of that prediction and together we can all help fulfill its historic manifestation and benefit immensely from this highest seva. It is such an important project that Srila Prabhupada said emphatically:

“If you all build this temple, Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur will personally come and take you all back to Godhead”.

Consider this special occasion to support the TOVP construction by taking advantage of the newest sponsoring option, the Guru Parampara Brick. Click on the link below to sponsor a Guru Parampara Brick today with both your name and your Guru’s name inscribed on it: https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/

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Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.7.17 on the occasion of Vamana-dvadasi.

“In the beginning stage we sort of surrender but then we go back on our surrender. As Bhurijana Prabhu said, ‘They surrender, but then they take it back.’ This is common in Kali-yuga, because the atmosphere is so polluted and so surcharged with nescience that it is easy to be affected. The illusory energy will wear away one’s determination to surrender to Krishna. It is hard to withstand the assaults of Maya. Devotees who work in the material world, especially if they have to work in the association of nondevotees, face a constant barrage from the material nature. It is hard to maintain one’s determination. We can do so only if we have very strong spiritual association, with pure devotees, and strong spiritual practices to counteract the pernicious influence of materialistic people within a materialistic culture that is constantly bombarding us with messages that we should act independently, enjoy our senses to the hilt, and progress materially at all costs.

“We know that there are different stages in devotional service, and we should assess where we are. We should evaluate ourselves at every moment: Are we surrendering more to Krishna or to Maya—to the unsteady mind?”

Appearance Day of  Vamanadeva and Jiva Goswami (Right click to download)

1) My Lord: I submit the following prayer at Your holy feet: I do not pray to You for physical leisure, for learning, wealth, or followers.

2) I do not pray for heaven or salvation. I do not pray for any of these opulences.

3) In whatever birth I take, wherever my karma leads me, let me sing the glories of Your Holy Name birth after birth.

In 1986, just before the annual Gaura Purnima Festival, Sri Inulekha devi and three other sakhis were installed in Sri Dham Mayapur and joined Sri Sri Radha Madhava on the altar.  Indulekha Devi stands next to Visakha Devi, second gopi on Srimati Radharani’s right. Sri Indulekha Devi is one of the eight principle gopis, or […]

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Campakalata Devi– The Expert Debater Campakalata Sakhi is one dayyounger to Srimati Radharani. Her appearance is celebrated a day after Radhastami. Just before the annual Gaura Purnima festival in Mayapur in 1986.Campakalata Devi, along with three other sakhis, was installed and joined Sri Sri Radha Madhava on the altar. She stands next to Lalita Devi, […]

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I fear that not being anchored to you
I will so easily be swept away
Like each tiny flower.

When we function in the world, our desires direct our vision, consciously or subconsciously.

A video by radha Mohan Das.

English subtitles are availble by clicking on the CC button at the right bottom of the video. 

We are delighted to inform you all that the grand Asta Krosa Parikrama (November 16-19th, 2018) is being organized by ISKCON Mayapur to fulfil the desire of Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura. Devotees of Lord Sacinandana Gaurahari will reap the tremendous benefits of participating in the Parikrama of Sri Navadvipa during the most auspicious month of Karthika  […]

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Radhastami is also the appearance day of Sri Visakha Devi -Srimati Radhika’s dearmost friend.Just prior to the annual Gaura Purnima festival of 1986, Srimati Visakha Devi, along with three other principle sakhis, was installed in the Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir and joined Sri Sri Radha Madhava on the altar. She stands directly next to Srimati […]

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