Planet ISKCON

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Some fifty years ago in Bombay, when I first began to meet people to encourage them to support ISKCON, I was guided by the fourth verse of Srila Rupa Gosvami’s Upadesamrta, kindly explained by Srila Prabhupada. It instructed me to reciprocate with the people whom I met in exchanges of love. The more care and affection we gave them, the more they would reciprocate and want to support our cause. And I knew that if they engaged in devotional service, they would enhance their spiritual lives.

dadati pratigrhnati
guhyam akhyati pricchati
bhunkte bhojayate caiva
sad vidhim prithi laksanam

“Offering gifts in charity, accepting charitable gifts, revealing one’s mind in confidence, inquiring confidentially, accepting prasadam, and offering prasadam are the six symptoms of love shared by one devotee and another.”

The same six principles apply today. I’ll examine them in relation to cultivating donors in Krishna consciousness and conclude with some thoughts on fundraising in today’s ISKCON.

Dadati: Giving Gifts

Our greatest gift is the holy name, but because many people are at first unable to accept it, we also give them other gifts. I used to carry maha-prasada and tulasi leaves in a silver box, and I would always bring a Krishna conscious book, cassette, or picture. Back to Godhead subscriptions also encouraged people. Srila Prabhupada had stated that the whole purpose of BTG was to get people to chant Hare Krishna. In Bombay he also suggested that we send a monthly newsletter to members, informing them of our latest developments, “so they do not think we are dead.” So, we developed a regular local publication with news, announcements, advertisements, and our yearly audited accounts.

Our experience was that everyone should receive a BTG and a newsletter. Special gifts were given personally and thoughtfully, and the entire basis of our relationship with the donors was how to encourage them in Krishna consciousness. If we’d had any other motive, donors would have perceived our duplicity and the sublime quality of our relationship would have been spoiled.

Pratigrhnati: Accepting Gifts

In other words, when we engage in dadati, offering gifts, we should not be unduly anxious to engage in pratigrhnati, receiving charity. Rather, we should be convinced that by helping people advance spiritually, Krishna will be pleased. And when Krishna is pleased, others are also pleased—and our mission is successful. Pratigrhnati will follow naturally after the relationship is sufficiently developed along the other five principles of loving exchanges.

In practice, after giving someone a gift, I would never accept any payment or donation on the spot, even if they offered it. Only later, when we needed substantial help for a major project, would I ask. By then they were already eager and glad to help.

In one temple I saw this policy work in a practical way. A new devotee took over as the temple’s guesthouse manager. Instead of charging for the rooms, he focused on caring for the guests and asking for donations at the end of their stay. And the guesthouse revenues went up fourfold.

Bhojayate: Giving Prasada

Srila Prabhupada instructed us to hold Sunday feasts and to make a special effort to invite our friends and members to these and other feasts. When special guests would come in Bombay, I would often sit and talk with them, direct the serving, and see that they were satisfied in every respect. Srila Prabhupada himself personally organized the first Life Member feast in Bombay, and he strictly forbade the members from carrying away their dirty plates. He insisted that the devotees, acting as hosts, should perform all of the services for the members, while the members should simply enjoy as guests.

Whenever Srila Prabhupada had special guests, he would insist that they take full prasada. Sometimes members protested that they could not take prasada in front of Srila Prabhupada, but he always insisted: “No, I will be happy to see you take prasada.”

Srila Prabhupada once said, “If you give a man full prasada, he will do anything for you.” I witnessed an example of this recently at a temple that was still being constructed. Seeing guests going to the prasada hall at 6:00 one evening, I asked a devotee if there was a special program. “No,” he said. Guests came every night for prasada—without being charged, and the devotees had raised half the money for the temple without even asking.

Guhyam akhyati prcchatti: Inquiring About and Explaining Confidential Topics.

While offering gifts and giving prasada we also must explain the confidential topics of Krishna consciousness and give donors a solid philosophical background for further devotional service. When the time comes to engage a person in some particular service, we should present the rationale for the service on the basis of reason and philosophy and then disclose our request in a perfectly straightforward manner. When speaking we should present our philosophy very intelligently, without compromise, but to the understanding of the individuals whom we are addressing. This ability develops with our realization of Krishna consciousness.

Through our conversations we should learn to perceive our friends’ doubts about Krishna consciousness even without their expressing them. Then we can speak in such a way as to remove their doubts. During my training in Bombay, I went with a senior devotee to visit a wealthy man who had promised to donate but later reneged. I had expected the devotee to say, “You promised to give. How can you change your mind?” Instead, he just talked with the man for twenty minutes. Then, almost mystically (to me), the man opened his desk drawer and wrote out his check for Life Membership.

When I first went out on my own and asked a man to become a member, he said, “First I have to ask my brothers.” When I came and reported this to a senior devotee, he told me, “That’s just an excuse. You have to be intelligent enough to understand the person’s doubts and address them without him even bringing them up.”

We may invite our friends many times for prasada, or we may visit them many times with gifts, and then we may feel that we should try to engage them in some particular service. Srila Prabhupada had such stature and potency that he would often disclose his mind at the first meeting. But according to our own ability and to the receptivity of the audience, we may choose to disclose our minds at a later stage.

If the proper cultivation has been done and the philosophical background has been presented nicely, our audience may volunteer to help without our even asking. Once, Srila Prabhupada was preaching to Mr. Ratansinh Rajda, a member of the Indian parliament, and during the discussion Mr. Rajda kept asking Srila Prabhupada how he could help. After some time, Prabhupada mentioned that his disciples were having problems getting proper visas for India, and when he did, Mr. Rajda assured him that the situation would be corrected.

When disclosing our minds about a particular request, we want to remember Srila Prabhupada’s instructions on how ISKCON supporters can engage in dadati. In one of our first Life Member meetings, in Bombay, Srila Prabhupada quoted this verse:

etavaj janma-saphalyam
dehinam iha dehisu
pranair arthar dhiya vaca
sreya-acaranam sada

“It is the duty of every living being to perform welfare activities for the benefit of others with his life, wealth, intelligence, and words.” (SB 10.22.35)

Srila Prabhupada explained to the members that first of all, as individual living parts and parcels of the Supreme Lord, it is our duty to give pranair, our life. But if we cannot give our life, at least we should give our wealth, because next to our life we value our wealth most. The combined effort of our intelligence, words, and time produces wealth, so by giving our wealth we automatically give our intelligence, words, and time in a concentrated form. Or, we can say that the entire effort that produced the wealth is purified and spiritualized if we give the wealth to Krishna. Now, when we ask people to give their wealth, as Srila Prabhupada said, “Some may challenge, ‘How can you sell God?’ ” In reply, Prabhupada said, we should quote the Bhagavad-gita (9.27):

yat karosi yad asnasi
yaj juhosi dadasi yat
yat tapasyasi kaunteya
tat kurusva mad arpanam

“Whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever you offer or give away, and whatever austerities you perform—do that, O son of Kunti, as an offering to Me.”

“And if you have no wealth?” Prabhupada continued. “Then you can give your intelligence. You can advise the devotees, ‘Approach such-and-such person and he can help.’ In this way you can serve by dhiya, intelligence.

“And if you have no intelligence? Then help by vaca, words. You can request whomever you meet, ‘Please chant Hare Krishna. Please visit the temple.’ ”

In this way Srila Prabhupada explained to the members that they could assist the Krishna consciousness movement by their life, wealth, intelligence, and words.

 

Exchanges of Love

There should be genuine love from the preacher for the member. Love is a big word, I know, but that’s really what it comes down to. There must be genuine care, sympathy, and respect. People in Bombay knew I cared; when there was a death or wedding or other major event, I was always there. One senior devotee taught me that wealthy people are accustomed to people coming to them for their money, so naturally they’re on the defensive. If we do not want them to feel defensive toward us, we must really care for them.

I once approached one of our friends in Bombay for a large donation for Juhu but he was hesitating. Finally I said, “So many people are coming to visit you, but who is thinking of you? They are simply thinking of their own benefit, how they can exploit you, what they can get from you. Perhaps we are the only persons in the world who actually care for your spiritual well-being.” And as soon as he heard these words, he immediately responded, “Yes. I will give.”

Much of Krishna consciousness is based on personal relationships. Thus, it’s generally best if one specific devotee deals with each member. And we must be ready to give ourselves to the members in the way that Srila Prabhupada said: “To make one devotee we have to give seven pints of blood.”

By reciprocating in these exchanges of love with our members, both we and the members will make spiritual advancement. We must simply be concerned for their spiritual well- being, how somehow or other they can be engaged in service to the lotus feet of Krishna. In reply to our sincerity and love, they will certainly respond.

 

Applying the Proper Attitude

Prahlada Maharaja says in Srimad-Bhagavatam (7.9.43, 44):

“My dear Lord Nrsimhadeva, I am not at all afraid of material existence, for wherever I stay I am fully absorbed in thoughts of Your glories and activities. My concern is only for the fools and rascals who are making elaborate plans for material happiness and maintaining their families, societies, and countries. I am simply concerned with love for them.

“I see that there are many saintly persons indeed, but they are interested only in their own deliverance. Not caring for the big cities and towns, they go to the Himalayas or the forest to meditate with vows of silence. They are not interested in delivering others. As for me, however, I do not wish to be liberated alone, leaving aside all these poor fools and rascals. I know that without Krsna consciousness, without taking shelter of Your lotus feet, one cannot be happy. Therefore I wish to bring them back to the shelter of Your lotus feet.”

Srila Prabhupada said, “When you speak to people and by your speaking they are convinced that by giving to Krishna they will gain and they volunteer some service—that is preaching.” Later I considered that in some cases they may be seeking spiritual benefit, and in other cases they might be hoping for material blessings through pious deeds—or both. People come to Krishna for different reasons. Although we don’t encourage the concept of material results for devotional service, people do come with that mentality, and we engage them too.

Once, through some strategy, I met a big man who had been avoiding us. And when, in a rather smug way, he said, “So, what can I do for you?” I replied, “Nothing! Rather, I have come to do something for you.” The man became even more arrogant and challenged, “What can you do for me?” Eventually, though, he did make a contribution.

When Srila Prabhupada heard this account, he said that the gentleman knew that by giving to us he would benefit. “Otherwise, why should he give? Artificially he denied that he would gain from us. But unless he thinks he will profit, why should he spend? Businessmen always calculate their profit and loss, and they never spend unless they think they will gain.”

Then Prabhupada added, “To preach, you have to be humble.” He always emphasized that one who goes to preach or collect must be humble, and he often quoted Sri Prabodhananda Sarasvati:

dante nidhaya trnakam padayor nipatya
krtva ca kaku-satam etad aham bravimi
he sadhavah sakalam eva vihaya durad
caitanya-candra-carane kurutanuragam

“Taking a straw between my teeth and falling at your feet a hundred times, I humbly submit, ‘O great personality, please give up all mundane knowledge that you have learned and just submit yourself at the lotus feet of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu.’ ”

Srila Prabhupada said, “If you approach people and say, ‘Everything belongs to Krishna, and I am Krishna’s representative, so give everything to me. Otherwise, you are a thief, and you will be punished,’ they may become angry: ‘What do you mean? I have worked hard for my money. It belongs to me.’ But if you approach them humbly and say, ‘Dear sir, I have come begging at your doorstep. Kindly give some donation for our temple,’ he will respond: ‘Oh, a beggar has come. Let me give him something.’ ”

Although, as Srila Prabhupada said, preaching means that a gentleman becomes so convinced about the value of Krishna consciousness that he willingly volunteers to contribute, and although “there is no question of force,” still, Prabhupada did allow that we may “trick,” or “induce,” them. He told the story of a young student who stubbornly refused to learn arithmetic. So, instead of asking the boy what was 4 + 4, his teacher drew a picture of two cows and asked how many legs the two cows had. Thus, through pictures and stories, she gradually taught the boy all the arithmetical processes. When one of the boy’s friends pointed out, “Hey, the teacher is teaching you arithmetic!” the boy replied, “Arithmetic? I hate arithmetic. No. I will not learn!”

Some persons are so averse to serving Krishna that we have to be very tactful and allow them to engage in devotional service without them thinking they are serving Krishna. Still, they will benefit. In other words, our real task is, somehow or other, to engage people in Krishna’s service and help them to advance in their spiritual lives (yena tena prakarena manah krsne nivesayet).

Through ISKCON, members and donors become part of a spiritual family and get the association of devotees, which is crucial for spiritual development.

 

Life Membership

Since ISKCON’s inception, many donors have become part of ISKCON’s family through Life Membership. In recent years some professional fundraisers have advised us that Life Membership is a good way to start an organization but a bad way to maintain it. I hesitate to think that Life Membership per se is a bad approach, though I agree that it has been misused.

When Srila Prabhupada first introduced Life Membership, Tamal Krishna Goswami pointed out to him that the value of the books we gave the members would eventually exceed the 1,111 rupees members were committing to pay. Prabhupada replied, “The devotees will keep going back to them, and in their lifetimes they will give five or ten times more than the membership subscription.” He also said that we will continue to make new members, so we will always stay ahead. And he emphasized that he had devised the Life Membership program as a means to distribute his books.

In Indore, Srila Prabhupada went to meet an aristocratic man and showed him all of his books. As these were the early days in India and no one else was there to ask the man to become a member, Prabhupada asked himself. When the man said, “Swamiji, we already have these books in our own language,” Prabhupada sat up straight and replied, “I have not come here to sell you some books. I have come begging at your doorstep.” The man immediately understood and agreed to become a member.

From this I learned not only how we have to be humble but also how book distribution is an integral part of Life Membership, and how people will give more based on a relationship than on external benefits.

Understanding the importance of cultivating relationships with donors, when we enrolled Life Member number 1,000 in Bombay, I thought we should stop making new members and should instead concentrate on maintaining the ones we had. Historically it did not work out that way. In many temples, less qualified devotees were enlisted to go out and sell Life Memberships based on benefits such as staying in ISKCON guesthouses. Because there was insufficient training, these devotees looked only to sell memberships, not to maintain the members they made. Thus Life Membership has often turned out to be something different than what Srila Prabhupada envisioned.

It is significant that temples that recruited qualified devotees and trained them to cultivate donors prospered, while those that simply “sold” memberships often struggled. My conviction is that we do have qualified people in our temples, and we can train them to be good preachers who can develop good relationships. Such preachers, as ISKCON Chowpatty has shown, can also come from our congregation.

In short, the principle of care and cultivation is what is truly important.

 

A Golden Opportunity

Since our success in fundraising is so connected to having meaningful relationships with our donors, an opportunity has developed for preachers in the West that I feel deserves mention here.

Parents, naturally, are concerned about their children. This is an important way we can reciprocate with our congregation. In India we used to point out to people, “Although you are Krishna conscious from childhood, you cannot explain Krishna consciousness in a scientific way to your children, to answer their questions and remove their doubts. We can do that for you.” We would also say, “Because your children are interested in the West, and we are from the West, we can help them to understand the defects and dangers of Western civilization.”

Regarding Indian families that have migrated to the West, some devotees have noted a growing generation gap between immigrant parents and their Western-born children. Not only are the parents concerned about how westernized their children are becoming, but it can work the other way as well: the children are having trouble getting their parents to understand them and what they are going through. We can help the parents by helping their children become Krishna conscious: when the children become inspired in Krishna consciousness, the parents feel better. And we can also help the children by helping their parents understand the pressures Western society puts on them and what adjustments they can reasonably make without compromising their spiritual advancement.

In any case, somehow or other, by helping parents with their children—and children with their parents—they will all feel obliged to us.

 

In Conclusion

Each of us has a particular idea of ourself that we cherish within our heart. As we speak, we disclose various aspects of this personality. So, if we hear and appreciate another person’s special qualities, that person will think, “This devotee is very intelligent and has appreciated my true nature.”

A devotee once exclaimed, “Srila Prabhupada, everybody likes you!” And Prabhupada replied, “Yes, because I like everyone.”

Let us remember the way Prabhupada welcomed and encouraged us, in spite of the fact that we came from wretched conditions and were full of bad habits. He patiently heard our trials and tribulations, sympathized with and appreciated us, and tactfully engaged us in the six exchanges of love.

Now we have the opportunity to help other people with their spiritual lives. They can contribute so much. Let us remember our own fallen condition and try to please Srila Prabhupada by caring for our special guests in the same way that he would have cared for them—the same way he cared for us.

Locana Das Thakur was born in 1523 in Kograma, in the Katwa block of Burdwan district. 

His father’s name was Kamalakara Das, his mother’s Sadanandi. Locana Das studied at his maternal grandfather’s house. He displayed devotion for Mahaprabhu from his childhood.

Locana Das was married at a very young age, according to the customs of that epoque. His in-laws’ household was in the village of Amedpura Kakuöa. However, though he had entered the married station, he was extremely renounced and spent all his time discussing Krishna-katha with other devotees of Gauranga.

Lochana Dasa Thakura wrote Chaitanya Mangala which tells many pastimes of Lord Chaitanya not revealed by Vrindavana Dasa Thakura or Krishna Dasa Kaviraja.

He mentions an especially touching conversation Shri Gaurasundara had with Vishnupriya Devi the night before He took sannyasa. Being a talented musician, Lochana Dasa told Mahaprabhu’s pastimes in beautiful poetry filled with fire and rhythm.

Common people could easily understand the divine character of Shri Chaitanya and awaken their religious feelings. As Devotees regularly chant the Vedic epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, Gaudiya Vaishnava’s still wander through Bengal reciting the Chaitanya Mangala.
 
Lochana Dasa Thakura also wrote many songs praising Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Shri Nityananda Prabhu, and Gauridasa Pandit. Lochana Dasa stresses that raganuga bhaktas must take shelter of Gadadhara Vrindavanishvari to attain Radha-Govinda prema bhakti.

Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakura used to print and distribute Locana Dasa Thakura’s Sri Chaitanya Mangala. He was very fond of his bhajans.

While singing Parama Karuna Srila Prabhupada would plunge into the ocean of Gauranga prema. Prabhupada wrote an extensive commentary on this bhajana: Bhajo bhajo bhai, Caitanya Nitai, sudrdha visvasa kori …

“Locana Dasa asks everyone, ‘My dear brother, just worship Lord Chaitanya and Nityananda with firm faith and conviction.’ Don’t think that this chanting and dancing will not lead to the desired goal; it will. It is the assurance of Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu that one will get all perfection by this process. Therefore, one must chant with firm faith and conviction.” His samadhi is in 64 Samadhis Area. 

Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/06/29/charity-reddit-mistake-bangladesh-gofundme/ The typo, which the man wrote about on Reddit, spurred thousands of people to contribute to a food relief fundraiser for poor communities in Bangladesh. A California man and his wife had recently moved into a new apartment building in San Francisco when they met a neighbor who is a Hindu priest. The
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The Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) management is extremely pleased to announce the most auspicious and historic Sri Nrsimha Vaibhavitsava three-day festival from February 29 – March 2, celebrating the official opening of the Nrsimhadeva Wing in the TOVP.

We are excited to provide to all ISKCON devotees and members our festival announcement below as a six-page online flipbook which includes the complete Schedule of Events. The flipbook can be downloaded, printed and easily shared, and we encourage all ISKCON leaders and devotees to please share the announcement flipbook through social media, websites, texts and emails. The entire festival will be viewable live on Mayapur TV.

As we approach this grand event, we humbly request that all devotees continue to support the completion of the Nrsimhadeva Wing, the largest Nrsimhadeva Temple in the world by visiting our Give To Nrsimha Fundraiser page on the TOVP website.

“O devoted one, one who builds a beautiful temple for Lord Nrsimhadeva will be freed from all sinful reactions and he will enter the Vaikuntha planets.”

Narasimha Purana

VIEW, DOWNLOAD AND SHARE THE FLIPBOOK.

Miracle in the Making ~ Home of Our Divine Protector

 

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“He who was previously a very munificent cowherd boy has now appeared as Mahesa Pandita. In ecstatic love, he dances like a madman as though intoxicated to the beat of a kettle drum. [C.C. Adi 11.32]

According to Gaura-ganoddesa-dipika, Mahesa Pandita was formerly Maha-Bahusakha in Krsna-lila. He was a companion of Nityananda Prabhu, and was present at the Danda Mahotsava held at Paninati.

In Bhakti-Ratnakara, Taranga Nine, it is stated that when Narottama dasa Thakura came to visit Khardaha, he had darsana of the lotus feet of Mahesa Pandita.

Vrindavana dasa Thakura has described him as a ‘param mahanta’ due to the fact that he was very dear to Nityananda Prabhu. [C.B. Antya 5.744]

Mahesa Pandita’s original Sripat at Sukh Sagor merged into the bed of the Ganges, but his worshipful deities of Sri Sri Nitai-Gauranga as well as his samadhi were moved to Palpara. There is a railway station there, between Simrali and Cakdaha stations, on the Sealdah-Krsnanagar line.

His disappearance day is on the thirteenth day of the bright fortnight in the month of Pausa.

Prana Das with his wife Candrakoti Dev Dasi in 2019. Beloved devotee and educator Prana Das departed on January 6th in Sri Vrindavan Dham at the Bhaktivedanta Hospice after spending several months visiting the Holy Dhams with his dedicated wife, Candrakoti Devi Dasi. He was born and raised in Melbourne in a devout Irish-Catholic family […]

The post Remembering Prana Das appeared first on ISKCON News.

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In a recent study of 22 sets of twins published in the Journals of the American Medical Association (JAMA Network), researchers found that “a healthy plant-based diet offers a significant protective cardiometabolic advantage compared with a healthy omnivorous diet.” The results confirm earlier findings from researchers in Norway, which showed a plant-based diet can add […]

The post New Study of Twins Confirms the Benefits of a Meat-Free Diet appeared first on ISKCON News.

By Vijaya Das

The temple in the large category with the highest increase was Mumbai Kharghar. A lot of books need to be distributed in Mumbai to counter the Western influence permeating the city. They did 6,309 book points, a jump of 336%. In medium temples Ahmedabad was #1 with 43,014 book points and had the highest increase at 95%. In the small temple category Chandigarh was #1 and had the highest increase with 48,293 book points. With an increase of 999%! That's huge for a small temple. Continue reading "WSN November 2023 – World Sankirtan Newsletter
→ Dandavats"

Dear devotees, please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Šrila Prabhupada! I’d like to use this opportunity to inform you about a successful book distribution program that started back in 2012 and is still ongoing. I hope many of you will get inspiration from this report and replicate it in your yatras. During Vrisabha
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Question.

What do we hear from?South Africa’s collapse.From Babuita perspective.Answer.I’m not a specialist in South African history and.So South Africa is not collapsed but definitely things are declining.

As the menu sources as also as document devotees who have been there versus there or immigrated away from there that Australia or Canada or other countries.

I like to make three points.First is that.

The aspiration for equality and freedom is a very deep rooted human need and.

Null semen de las protest against.Apartheid and is eventual release and ascent as the head of the new.South African state is probably one of the most moving stories of the recent century.

In the said that in this world when people are the function, they need karma.They need the quality they need qualities going on and karma they need competence.So.

We have a truthful that is good, but it is not about warrior then they are not able to strategist.Then they will be either slaughtered or outwarded by other kshatriyas who may not even be less as truthful as they are.It’s the point is competence matters.In the functioning in this world.

And that’s why.The bakudita is not an idealistic book.It’s a while it does talk about ideas, it also has a hard idea to realism and it’s approach to the world.And therefore it states that.The oxygen resourcefulness is a vital characteristic of the stator.For ruler of a head of state, that means.

One has to be expert enough to know what resources are available to oneself and then we use those resources properly to solve existing problems as well as to.Address future problems.Probably the biggest problem for us. South Africa, which is machine economy slowing it down and pushing it down.

Is the chronic mismatch between the supply of.Fuel and it’s requirement.

So whatever the specific reasons.If somehow that was not anticipated there was not addressed and the result of that is that.People are using solar power the state is collapsing and then people are using their own private security is where they can develop the enough.

So while principals or values are important practical.Competences also vital.In the Mahabharat, which is which wall chapters are spoken.Hmm Abu is very awareness in fighting.But he doesn’t know how to come out of the particular military formation for culture view and once he’s strapped there, he unfortunately attains marshmallow.

Heroism alone is not a substitute for knowledge for competence.So applying the same principle even if he assumed that.The ANC’s leaders after measurement allah had one intentions and that assumption can also be examined evaluated critical but even if he assumed that they had one attention still.Good intentions alone are not enough has to be proper competence.

This is not to say that.

There is no competence in the NC. The point is that.

Competitive people need to be leadership positions and competent people need to be competent enough to get into leadership positions also.

So,The Gita is not just a spiritual guidebook for attaining inner perfection. It is also.Anal spiritual realization, but also a book for.Giving us a vision of life whereby we can make how worthwhile contribution in the outer world.And.

We pray that.Very competent leadership.Okay.

We found to eat South Africa out of its path to a darkness and that it can be led to a light where its immense potential can be tapped.Into the natural sources and other gifts that nature has given that nation.Anything can offer us enough come up as a resource of the guidance for the right balance of values and interests values are of more idealistic interests are little more practical.

So,When actions are are.Realistic balance of values are interests then.There can be.Tangible progress in the real world towards building.

Living in Kuliya during Sri Chaitanya’s pastimes, Sri Devananda Pandit gave professional readings of Srimad Bhagavatam tainted with Mayavada philosophy. One day Shrivasa Pandit heard his Bhagavata-katha, began crying, and fell to the ground.

Becoming disturbed by this display, the foolish disciples of Devananda threw Shrivasa out of the assembly. By silently observing this misbehaviour of his disciples Devananda committed the hati-mata aparadha, the mad elephant offence of blaspheming a pure devotee of Lord Chaitanya.

Later, by the mercy of Vakreshvara Pandit, an intimate devotee of Sri Gaura Raya, Devananda understood the divinity of Sri Krishna Chaitanya and surrendered to Him in the place known today as the aparadha-bhanjanam, or the place of amnesty.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu granted forgiveness to all who gathered there and instructed them in the science of devotion. The Lord pardoned his offence and blessed him with bhakti. He serves in Krishna lila as Bhaguri Muni. 

 

The TOVP Nrsimha Wing opening committee is pleased to announce the following exclusive sponsorships, only available for this historic event. This is truly a once-in-lifetime opportunity to directly sponsor elements of the Nrsimha Wing and altar, and attract the Lord’s attention to your service.

• Maha Nrsimha Yajna Yajamanas (sponsors) – only 21 available
• Vahanas (palanquins) – only 3 available (Garuda, Lion and Elephant)
• Maha Pitha Asana – granite stone on which Lord Nrsimha is placed
• Karala Jvala Cakra – Maha Sudarshana behind Lord Nrsimha
• Prajvala Dipa – altar lamps (2 large / 6 small)
• Nrsimha Wing Dome Chandelier – chandelier hanging above the altar
• Altar Dome – dome on top of Lord Nrsimha’s altar
• Deity Name Plaque – altar plaque displaying the names Sri Sri Prahlad-Nrsimhadeva
• Altar Doors – left and right altar doors

Go to the Nrsimha Vaibhavitsava Sponsorships page today! Temple sponsorships are accepted.

“O devoted one, one who builds a beautiful temple for Lord Nrsimhadeva will be freed from all sinful reactions and he will enter the Vaikuntha planets.”

Narasimha Purana

Miracle in the Making ~ Home of Our Divine Protector

 

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Saphala Ekadashi is one of the most pious and favorable fasting days. It takes place in the ‘Pausha’ month during the Krishna Paksha on the 11th day (waning phase of the Moon). The Saphala Ekadashi is also well known as ‘Pausha Krishna Ekadashi’ which usually falls in the months of January or December as per the Gregorian calendar.

This being the first Ekadasi of the year 2024, we encourage devotees to take advantage of this auspicious day by giving in charity and contribute to the TOVP construction, specifically the completion of the Nrsimhadeva Wing, scheduled to open February 29 – March 2. Please visit the Give To Nrsimha Fundraiser page to see all the sponsorship opportunities.

  NOTE: Saphala Ekadasi is observed on Sunday, January 7 worldwide. Please refer to your local calendar through www.vaisnavacalendar.info.

  View, download and share the Visions of the TOVP 2024 Calendar​.

The Glories of Saphala or Pausha-krishna Ekadasi

From the Bhavishya-uttara Purana

Yudhisthira Maharaj said, “O my Dear Lord Sri Krishna, what is the name of that Ekadasi that occurs during the dark fortnight of the month of Pausha (December-January)? How is it observed, and which Deity is to be worshipped on that sacred day? Please narrate these details to me fully, so that I may understand, Oh Janardana.”

The Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna then replied, “O best of kings, because you desire to hear, I shall fully describe to you the glories of the Pausha-krishna Ekadasi. I do not become as pleased by sacrifice or charity as I do by My devotee’s observance of a full fast on Ekadasi. To the best of one’s ability, therefore, one should fast on Ekadasi, the day of Lord Hari.

“O Yudhisthira, I urge you to hear with undivided intelligence the glories of Pausha-krishna Ekadasi, which falls on a Dwadasi. As I explained previously, one should not differentiate among the many Ekadasis. O king, to benefit humanity at large I shall now describe to you the process of observing Pausha-krishna Ekadasi.

“Pausha-krishna Ekadasi is also known as Saphala Ekadasi. On this sacred day one should worship Lord Narayana, for He is its ruling Deity. One should do so by following the previously described method of fasting. Just as among snakes Shesha-naga is the best, and among birds Garuda is the best, among sacrifices the Ashvamedha-yajna is the best, among rivers Mother Ganges is the best, among gods Lord Vishnu is best, and among two-legged beings the brahmins are the best, so among all fasting days Ekadasi is by far the best. O foremost of kings who took your birth in the Bharata dynasty, whoever strictly observes Ekadasi becomes very dear to Me and indeed worshipable by Me in every way. Now please listen as I describe the process for observing Saphalaa Ekadasi.

“On Saphalaa Ekadasi My devotee should worship Me by offering Me fresh fruits according to time, place and circumstance, and by meditating on Me as the all-auspicious Supreme Personality of Godhead. He should offer Me jambira fruit, pomegranate, betal nuts and leaves, coconut, guava, varieties of nuts, cloves, mangoes, and different kinds of aromatic spices. He should also offer Me incense and bright ghee lamps, for such an offering of lamps on Saphalaa Ekadasi is especially glorious. The devotee should try to stay awake the Ekadasi night.

“Now please hear with undivided attention as I tell you how much merit one gets if he fasts and remains awake throughout the entire night singing and chanting the glories of Narayana. O best of kings, there is no sacrifice or pilgrimage that yields merit that is equal to or better than the merit one gains by fasting on this Saphala Ekadasi. Such fasting – particularly if one can remain awake and alert the entire night long – bestows the same merit upon the faithful devotee as the performance of austerity for five thousand earthly years. O lion among kings, please hear from Me the glorious history that made this Divine Ekadasi famous.

“Once there was a City called Champavati, which was ruled by the saintly King Mahishmata. He had four sons, the eldest of whom, Lumpaka, always engaged in all manner of very sinful activities – illicit sexual encounters with the wives of others, gambling, and continual association with known prostitutes. His evil deeds gradually reduced the wealth of his father, King Mahishmata. Lumpaka also became very critical of the numerous devas, the empowered universal attendants of the Lord, as well as toward the brahmins, and every day he would go out of his way to blaspheme the Vaishnavas.

“At last King Mahishmata, seeing the unrepentant brazen fallen condition of his son, exiled him to the forest. Out of fear of the king, even compassionate relatives didn’t come to Lumpaka’s defense, so angry was the king toward his son, and so sinful was this Lumpaka.

“Bewildered in his exile, the fallen and rejected Lumpaka thought to himself, ‘My father has sent me away, and even my kinsmen do not raise but a finger in objection. What am I to do now?’ He schemed sinfully and thought, ‘I shall sneak back to the city under cover of darkness and plunder its wealth. During the day I shall stay in the forest, and as night returns, so shall I to the city.’

“So thinking, the sinful Lumpaka entered the darkness of the forest. He killed many animals by day, and by night he stole all manner of valuable items from the city.
The city-dwelling folk apprehended him several times, but out of fear of the king they left him alone. They thought to themselves that it must have been the accumulated sins of Lumpaka’s previous births that had forced him to act in such a way that he lost his royal facilities and came to act so sinfully like a common selfish thief.

“Though a meat-eater, Lumpaka would also eat fruits every day. He resided under an old banyan tree that unknown to him happened to be very dear to Lord Vasudeva. Indeed, many worshipped the tree as the demi-god of all the trees in the forest. In due course of time, while Lumpaka was doing so many sinful and condemnable activities, the Saphalaa Ekadasi arrived. On the eve of the Ekadasi (Dasami) Lumpaka had to pass the entire night without sleep because of severe cold that he felt due to his scanty bedclothes. The cold not only robbed him of all peace but almost of his very life.

“By the time the sun rose, near dead, his teeth were chattering and he was near comatose. In fact all that Ekadasi morning he remained in that stupor and could not awaken out of his near comatose condition. When midday of the Saphala Ekadasi arrived, the sinful Lumpaka finally came to and managed to rise up from his place under that banyan tree. But with every step he took, he stumbled and fell to the ground. Like a lame man, he walked slowly and hesitantly, suffering greatly from hunger and thirst in the midst of the jungle.

“So weak was Lumpaka that he could neither concentrate nor muster strength to go and kill even a single animal that whole day. Instead, he was reduced to collecting whatever fruits had fallen to the ground of their own accord.
By the time he returned to his banyan tree home, the sun had set.

“Placing the fruits on the ground next to him (at the base of the sacred banyan tree), Lumpaka began to cry out, ‘O, woe is me! What should I do? Dear father, what is to become of me? O Sri Hari, please be merciful to me and accept these fruits as an offering !’

“Again, he was forced to lie awake the whole night without sleep, but in the meantime the all-merciful Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Madhusudana, had become pleased with Lumpaka’s humble offering of forest fruits, and He accepted them. Lumpaka had unwittingly observed a full Ekadasi fast, and by the merit he reaped on that day he regained his kingdom with no further obstacles.

“Listen, O Yudhisthira, to what happened to the son of King Mahishmata when but a fragment of the merit spouted up within his heart. As the Sun beautifully rose in the sky on the day following Ekadasi, a handsome horse approached Lumpaka as if seeking him out, and stood next to him. At the same time, a voice suddenly boomed out from the clear blue sky saying, ‘This horse is for you, Lumpaka! Mount it and ride swiftly out of this forest to greet your family! O son of King Mahishmata, by the mercy of the Supreme Lord Vasudeva and the strength of the merit you acquired by observing Saphala Ekadasi, your kingdom will be returned to you without any further hindrances. Such is the benefit you have gained by fasting on this most auspicious of days. Go now to your father and enjoy your rightful place in the dynasty.’

“Upon hearing these celestial words resounding from above, Lumpaka mounted the horse and rode back to the city of Champavati. By the merit he had accrued from fasting on Saphala Ekadasi, he had become a handsome prince once more and was able to absorb his mind in the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari. In other words, he had become My pure devotee.

“Lumpaka offered his father, King Mahishmata, his humble obeisances and once more accepted his princely responsibilities. Seeing his son so decorated with Vaishnava ornaments and tilak (udhvara pundra), King Mahishmata gave him the kingdom, and Lumpaka ruled unopposed for many, many years. Whenever the Ekadasi came, he worshipped the Supreme Lord Narayana with great devotion.
And by the mercy of Sri Krishna he obtained a beautiful wife and a fine son.

“In old age Lumpaka handed his kingdom over to his son – just as his own father, King Maahishmata, had handed it over to him. Lumpaka then went to the forest to dedicate and concentrate his attention to gratefully serve the Supreme Lord with controlled mind and senses. Purified of all material desires, he left his old material body and returned back to home, back to Godhead, attaining a place near the lotus feet of his worshipful Lord, Sri Krishna.

“O Yudhisthira, one who approaches Me as Lumpaka did will become completely free of lamentation and anxiety. Indeed, anyone who properly observes this glorious Saphala Ekadasi – even unknowingly, like Lumpaka – will become famous in this world. He will become perfectly liberated at death and return to the spiritual abode of Vaikuntha. Of this there is no doubt. Moreover, one who simply hears the glories of Saphala Ekadasi obtains the same merit derived by one who performs a Rajasuya-yajna, and at the very least he goes to heaven in his next birth, so where is the loss?”

Thus ends the narration of the glories of Pausha-krishna Ekadasi, or Saphala Ekadasi, from the Bhavishya-uttara Purana.

This article has been used courtesy of ISKCON Desire Tree

 

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Photos Link : https://icctemple.in/gallery/vaikunta-ekadasi-2023/ Hare Krishna! Vaikunta Ekadasi stands as a paramount festival deeply rooted in the Vaishnava tradition and passionately embraced by devotees of ISKCON. The term “Vaikunta” elegantly symbolizes the celestial abode of Lord Vishnu, while “Ekadasi” signifies the eleventh day, highlighting its significance as the pivotal eleventh lunar day of each Hindu
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I recently met a person who met Sriman Jayananda Prabhu and worked with him. His name is Lance, an elderly welder/stained-glass artist who was part of the San Francisco hippie scene in 1968. I met Lance early last year in downtown San Juan, Puerto Rico, right in the middle of the tourist district. Though I
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History is about to take place once again at the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium (TOVP) with the three-day celebration of the opening of the Nrsimha Wing from February 29 – March 2.

This is the largest Nrsimhadeva Temple in the world, and the event will invoke the protection of Lord Nrsimha for the Grand Opening of the TOVP in 2025. Promotional flyers are now available to download, print and share on social media so all devotees can be made aware of the event and watch live on Mayapur TV.

HELP PROMOTE THIS HISTORIC EVENT

DOWNLOAD PDF FLYER FOR PRINT   DOWNLOAD FLYER FOR SOCIAL MEDIA  

 
Donate now to help with the completion of Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Wing: GIVE TO NRSIMHA.

Miracle in the Making ~ Home of Our Divine Protector

 

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TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

Visit: www.tovp.org
Support: https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities
Email: tovpinfo@gmail.com
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