Planet ISKCON

Chant and dance in ecstasy! Experience the bliss! Just let go! Many a time we may have felt heightened exhilaration during kirtan or other devotional activities and wondered if it was some form of ecstatic symptom like bhava! If it was bhava, does that make one a maha-bhagavat? If it wasn’t, what was it? An uninformed student may think he has reached the acme of his devotional career with such a feeling and wondered if there is still more bliss ahead. The whole range of emotions we feel here on earth have their original and full expression in Goloka-Vrndavana, and while we experience bursts of elation while performing sadhana-bhakti, it is worthwhile noting how materialistic people also obtain occasional joyfulness bordering on ecstatic, though it would be improper to compare with devotional happiness. Continue reading "Goosebumps and bliss!
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July 4th Parade Grand Success in Ojai, California!
Our entry in the parade is unlike any other float. We are colorful, large, innovative, captivating, transcendental, and very auspicious. This year we introduced Vayu Hasti (the huge inflatable elephant) to the public which includes the sound of an arriving elephant that allows him to declare the grand arrival of Lord Jagannatha’s chariot! This was greeted with big smiles and a robust applause of appreciation!

It is an arduous journey for a seed to grow into a plant and ultimately into a fruit yielding tree. Left alone in the wild, a seed may not grow as it falls on a rocky ground instead of soil. There may be too little water or too much, not enough sun light, temperatures may […]

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Today the Supreme Court of India ruled that no one should be barred from the Jagannatha temple in Puri because of his faith or nationality, providing legal support to Srila Prabhupada’s long-standing desire that his disciples be allowed to enter, as described in the following excerpt from my forthcoming book about Srila Prabhupada and Juhu:

Srila Prabhupada was concerned that his foreign disciples were not allowed entry into some Hindu temples, notably the Jagannatha temple in Puri. In April 1974, Syamasundara Brahmachari invited Prabhupada to visit the Jagannatha temple, but Prabhupada replied, “I have not visited Jagannatha Puri because my men are not allowed to see the deity. When you arrange that we can visit the temple with my disciples then I can come immediately. . . .

“It is very regrettable that these European and American boys who are purely Vaishnava and who follow all principles are not allowed by the rascals to enter the temple. As stated in the Padma Purana, arcye visnau siladhir gurusu naramatir vaisnave jati buddhir.

“I do not know what makes the management take this attitude. If you can remove this restriction you will do a great service to the Gaudiya Vaishnava community. According to shastra, anyone who wears tilak and sikha and kunti over and above the Vaishnava dress or Vaishnava sannyasi must be accepted, especially while chanting Hare Krishna mantra with bead bags. Kindly convince them and induce them to allow these Vaishnavas to enter the Jagannatha Temple.”

Jaya Jagannatha!

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

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Excitement is ramping up for “MAN-tra,” ISKCON’s first ever Men’s Retreat, to be held in New Vrindaban and headlined by Bhaktimarga Swami, Gaura Vani, and comedian Yadunath Das. The event is subtitled “Being a KC Guy in the 21^st Century,” and is gathering hype as the place to be this fall.

Harinama in Bondi, New South Wales, Australia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Others, who are not devotees, may think, “How can people devote so much time simply to talks of God?” The chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra is simply the repetition of three words, Hare, Krishna, Rama, but still devotees can go on chanting this Hare Krishna mantra twenty-four hours a day without feeling fatigued. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.13.1Purport)

Distribution of books, prasadam, and the Holy Name (Album with photos)
Auckland, New Zealand: Friday nights festival, giving ...

A visit to the beautiful ISKCON Trivandrum, Kerela (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: No one can be more pure than devotees...

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The Supreme Court asks Puri Jagannath temple to allow visitors irrespective of religion.
DECCAN CHRONICLE, Jul 5, 2018, New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Puri Jagannath temple to consider permitting every visitor irrespective of his religious faith to offer respects and make offerings to the deity subject to regulatory measures. The court will extend this to other temples also in due course.

Press man: Do you know how many followers [of your movement] there are in the United States now?

Glorification of Shabari - A lecture by HH Bhakti Rasamrita Swami, May 2018 at Hampi Yatra (video)

Looking for the Bliss by Mangalananda prabhu (4 min video)
We were kids back then
Just looking for the bliss
A ragtag band of transcendentalists
It was Vishnu Johnny
And the white-trash yogi

In the lives of great persons there is always opposition and apparent road blocks in accomplishing their goals or mission in life. Whether through another person, an accident, their own body or mind, or some natural disturbance, what appears on the surface to be an impediment is passed through and the glory of the person is revealed. Practically we can see that great success in any undertaking or field is not accomplished without passing through many setbacks and even failure. In the personal growth or success literature such perseverance and determination in the face of what seem insurmountable odds are part of any great person’s story. In Christianity we have Judas who betrayed Christ but was actually a facilitator of his mission to sacrifice his life to benefit others. Haridas Thakur being whipped in 21 market places, or being tempted by a prostitute sent by a envious person, only added to his glory as the great teacher of the holy name. Continue reading "The Importance Of Opposition And Life Reverses
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In-Dependence Event. The Darshan Room (Right click to download)

While I was leaving the Dallas Fort Worth airport on July 4, a large American flag flying in the wind caught my eye, and I was surprised by how happy I felt. I reflected on how fortunate we were to live in a country where we have freedom of religion, and how Srila Prabhupada said, “America has been so good to me to give me money, men—everything. I have no designation that ‘this is my country,’ but because they have given me so much facility, I cannot forget my obligation to them. I want to make them happy and through them the whole world.”

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

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[Bhagavatam class at ISKCON, Belgaum, India]

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Hari Bol
Jai Srila Prabhupada,

Have you ever wondered what it takes to feed all the visitors who attend London Rathayatra; enjoy the video and find out all amazing organization and volunteers that make the prasadam everyone enjoys.

We start our Scandinavia Tour today , we are looking for everyone’s blessings
Your servants
Food for All team

Vaishnava Summer Festival “Baltic 2018”!
We are pleased to announce the dates of the Vaishnava Summer Festival “Baltic 2018”!
The Festival will take place in Dubingiai, Lithuania on July 24 – 30, 2018.
Make a celebration for your soul – join this amazing, full of fun and awesome Festival!
Baltic Summer Vaishnava Festival and Kirtan Mela 2018 invites all to get to know the Vaishnava culture, the ancient Vedic tradition. Lectures by disciples of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, lectures for beginners, vegetarian food, enchanting kirtans (musical meditation), devotee association, colorful environment, beautiful nature, morning meditations (from 4.30 am!) and many other spiritual entertainments!

We invite to participate both advanced bhakti yogis and the curious ones who want to explore this amazing culture!!
For more information: https://goo.gl/ZR9fTj
Photos from Vaishnava Summer Festival “Baltic 2017”: https://goo.gl/j6ro91

Scenes from the inauguration of the 25th anniversary of New Vraja Dham, Krsna-völgy, Hungary (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Spiritual enlightenment is possible by the mercy of the spiritual energy of the Lord. The chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra is first addressed to the spiritual energy of the Lord, Hare. This spiritual energy acts when a living entity fully surrenders and accepts his position as an eternal servitor. (Srimad-Bhagavatam 4.9.6 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/sqkPAa

Cooking for Ratha Yatra (11 min video)
Parasuram das: Cooking is one of the devotional arts and it becomes a major operation when cooking for many thousands, as was the case with the London Ratha Yatra on the 24th of June. Please see how it all unfolded - from Krishna’s castle kitchen to Trafalgar square.

Nature, the Enjoyer and Consciousness (video)
Practical Gita Wisdom by HG Vaisesika Dasa - ISKCON of Silicon Valley, USA.

Preaching program at San Mateo, California (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: When the chanting is performed offenselessly ...

Up And Running! (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Our 29th annual Festival of India is in full swing here on the beaches of the warm Baltic Sea coast in Poland. 250 devotees from numerous countries around the world have assembled for 2 months of harinam and festivals introducing people to our Krsna conscious movement. If the weeks and months ahead are anything like the first few days of our programs, we’re in for some real nectar.

Mayor of San Antonio, Texas, Cordially Invites Locals to Ratha Yatra Festival (video)
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg with an official invitation to our inaugural “Festival of Chariot” at Woodlawn Lake this Saturday from 4pm to 9pm! Don’t miss the free food and fun for the entire family at no cost! Thank you Mr.Nirenberg and the city of San Antonio for your support!

Envy is a very subtle and deep-rooted anartha within our hearts. It comes about because we want to be the supreme enjoyer, proprietor and controller. Therefore we tend to use any relationship for the purpose of establishing our superiority-no matter whether it is in relation to a superior, equal or junior. It is a certain state of heart and consciousness which externally manifests in any relationship. We have been carrying these tendencies with us in the subtle material body for many life times. After all, this is why we are still here in this material world: because we want to be supreme. In Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.9 in the word-for-word translation Srila Prabhupada gives the meaning to khalah as being 'the envious', and he adds in brackets "almost everyone". We all have the experience how envy is such an ugly quality. And Srila Prabhupada in a humorous way reminds us that it also includes us, even though we might rather like to keep ourselves in the illusion that it doesn't concern us, but only others. However, it is almost everyone who is affected by envy. To admit that we are envious is not easy, yet the first step to become free of it. Continue reading "A Society Free From Envy
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It needed great effort to organize such great festival to make it successful. The committee of the festival had made preparations since three months back. The committee felt confidence to do the festival because devotees from around Indonesia gave their support to the festival. it was completely because of the causeless mercy of the Lord. Continue reading "Panihati Cida Dahi Festival, Bali 2018
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Australians or colloquially known as Aussies, are known for their laid back, easy going and predisposed to be friendly attitude even in the grim circumstances. According to the most recent census conducted by Australian Bureau of Statistics 33% or one third of Aussies do not affiliate to any religion or God. But none of the above wide spread and pre conceived generalizations seem to effect the audience in connecting with Krishna conscious philosophy. The group of attendees was comprised of wide spectrum of people from mid 20s to early 50s with different ethnic backgrounds. Continue reading "Outreach Initiative in Perth Western Australia
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