Planet ISKCON

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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TOVP NEWS AND UPDATES – STAY IN TOUCH

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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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Globally, the world is celebrating the end of a calendar year. Though different religious traditions may follow other calendars, we can still take spiritual advantage of these moments of transition. In this New Year’s presentation, Chaitanya Charan Das, the Spiritual Scientist, offers devotees four principles for greater self-transformation, using the powerful perspective given by the […]

The post New Year’s Resolutions: Four Principles for Greater Self-Transformation appeared first on ISKCON News.

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In the ISKCON family within the Gaudiya Vaishnava tradition, when we speak about the material illusory energy or maya, we generally frame it negatively. Yet, since the Supreme is all good, how can “maya” be bad?  After all, this earthly realm is a gift from God to guide and encourage all his beloved individual souls […]

The post Coming of Age #11 – The Magic Show Called Life appeared first on ISKCON News.

The Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks are world famous and they were let off at 9.00pm (for children) and 12.00am to usher in 2024. There were 58 different locations around the harbour, including the bridge, where they were sent off from.

The estimate is that is over one million people around the bay watched these. For decades the devotees have gone down for harinama, dancing and chanting in ecstasy, spreading spiritual goodwill and Lord Caitanya’s mercy to people who came just for a material good time.