Planet ISKCON

ISKCON50 Academic Conference at Harvard (15 min video)
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Top Academic Scholars Appreciate ISKCON in New Short Film.

Today is Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Maharaja’s disapperance day and also HH Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaja’s disappearance day. Disciples and godbrothers and well wishers of HH Tamal Krishna Goswami celebrated Tirobhava Mahotsava with glorification and pushpanjali at Maharaja’s samadhi mandir. His Holiness Jayapataka Swami Maharaja – 10th March 2016, Sri Mayapur Dham.- “I just wanted to say […]

The post Srila Tamal Krishna Goswami Disappearance day appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Sadhu Feast (Album of photos) For 15th Anniversary of Vrinda Kunda, We gave a feast for all Nandgaon Sadhus!

The 16th Disappearance-Day of our beloved Tamal Krishna Goswami.
H.H. Niranjana Swami was saying that during the kirtans in Mayapur in 2002 Tamal Krishna Maharaja was so affectionate towards him, that it was very very moving for him. Tamal Krishna Maharaja always wanted him to come to his room for the kirtans, he would always ask him to lead kirtan, he would always ask him to chant particular melodies. Niranjana Swami said it was that particular year that Maharaja was showing uncanny affection towards a particular group of his godbrothers and that he felt somehow that he was on the mercy end, that he was getting some special mercy of a senior godbrother. They became very close during those days in 2002 at the Mayapur Festival.
H.G. Rati Manjari Devi Dasi asked His Holiness Niranjana Swami if he remembered anything in particular that Tamal Krishna Goswami said to him in these final weeks when he was still physically present? In this video we see H.H. Niranjana Swami’s reply about the very last time he saw Maharaja:
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/2HgAtH

A lot of Bengali devotees lament that even though A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada instructed a number of his senior disciples to preach in Bangladesh, he personally never visited Bangladesh. However, devotees would be happy to know that Prabhupada’s Guru, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur visited Bangladesh/East Bengal several times. His preaching pastimes in Bangladesh will be described herein. Born on February 6, 1874, in the holy Jagannath Puri as the son of Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur was a brilliant personality since his childhood. He took Sannyasa in 1918 and revived a lot of forgotten holy Tirthas in Bangladesh thus reinvigorating the Bhakti movement there. Continue reading "Saraswati Thakur’s Preaching Mission in Bangladesh
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It was through the youth that Srila Prabhupada established this International Society and it was the youth that he engaged in fulfilling the desire of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu! In order to help build and further develop youth groups across the globe, we have put together a group of resources, which we hope can give anyone, anywhere the tools they need. Continue reading "The Future Hope – Srila Prabhupada’s Younger Generation
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From Carey Island to Krishna Caring Island

 Japa Sessions at a home in the Island

Hare Krishna. Carey Island to the south of Port Klang was developed about a hundred years ago by an Englishman planter who cultivated Rubber trees. Now the island is full with Oil Palm estates. It is a tourist attraction for it has a Golf Course resort, five Mah Meri aboriginal tribe villages, etc.

 Dr Shanti Rupa Mataji giving a class on introduction to spiritual life

Many of the residents there, mostly Indians and foreigners work in the estates with income enough to keep them going. There are some very nice temples there but spiritual teachings are lacking especially lack of personal attention towards their spiritual needs? Since 2015 Krishna Chandra prabhu inspired many devotees from the Sri Jagannatha Mandir, ISKCON Kuala Lumpur to join him on monthly visits to the island, meet the resident’s person to person, talk to them about the science of the Bhagavad-gita and introduce them to Bhakti Yoga. During these visits sanctified vegetarian prasadam meals are distributed to all and practical aspects of devotional service such as chanting, Tulasi puja, etc are taught. At other visits Harinam sankirtan parties and Palanquin festival parties parade the estate divisions which culminates with big programs of arati, kirtan, class and prasadam distribution at the local temples. Through our Sastra Dana programe we also make gifts of Bhagavad-gita books and other smaller literatures.

The smaller the number the more effective it can be to assimilate spiritual lessons

...and bigger programs are also equally effective in creating festival moods

Palanquin processions from home to home for residents to get the mercy of Lord Caitanya

Person to person cultivation and practical training on Japa

Lord Caitanya's maha garland as beginners mercy

Harinam during palanquin processions are sweet and so relishable in such a peacful environment. Nice for devotees to sometimes take a break from the city and join village harinam chanting.

The island has become a Krishna Caring Island. Thanks to the devotees and their commitment many of the residents are gradually transforming their lives, chanting Hare Krishna Maha Mantra and by the mercy of the devotees and Lord Caitanya will be blessed to continue progressing in their spiritual lives.

The island is definitely a nice place to practise Krishna consciousness, out of the city and in a peaceful and natural atmosphere.

Prasadam served on banana leaves. Thanks to our food for life team for providing free meals.

Children get to select branded clothing. Thanks to Karen Khoo for the thoughts and to Japonika for the gift of clothings.

This kid looks happy with her new gift of clothes!

Apart from the regular house to house visits, temple program, giving of free vegetarian meals the visit last week was also with giving away of gifts of first class new branded clothing’s. Our sincere thanks to both Ms. Karen Khoo, (a selfless welfare worker for making arrangements) and Japonika store to give away hundreds of children and adult garments to ISKCON for distributing to the needy.

15 February, Chinese New Year Eve

Hare Krishna.

All glories to the Sri Krishna Balarama temple in Melaka for organising for the first time in Malaysia, 4 chariots with Lord Jagannatha, Lord Baladeva and Subadra Devi and another chariot with Lord Caitanya and Lord Nityananda leading the procession. Procession begat at 5.30pm from Jalan Sri Rama, Sri Krishna Balarama temple. HH Bhakti Mukunda Swami, the Vice President of ISKCON Malaysia graced and officiated the festival.

Four mini chariots were especially dedicated to children who offered worship, chanted and danced all through the route. I am not sure if children can do any bigger festival or event that a Ratha Yatra. So, it is not true children cannot do big. They can and Lord Jagannatha reciprocates.

It was a double celebration for many Chinese residents on New Year Eve reunion who also came out of their houses to greet the chariots, offer oranges and flowers to Lord Jagannatha. Many devotees from mainland China also joined the festival and were actively engages especially distributing Jagannatha prasadam.

This festival is in remembrance of Srila Prabhupada who organised his own chariot festival In his birthplace at Calcutta whe he was just a few years old. We are expecting more of ISKCON Malaysia centres to also engage their children from young to organise and manage such a big event as Lord Jagannatha Ratha Yatra, of course with a little help from their parents!

Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 7 Chapter 6 Text 1

śrī-prahrāda uvāca

kaumāra ācaret prājño

dharmān bhāgavatān iha

durlabhaṁ mānuṣaṁ janma

tad apy adhruvam arthadam

SYNONYMS

śrī-prahrādaḥ uvāca—Prahlāda Mahārāja said; kaumāraḥ—in the tender age of childhood; ācaret—should practice; prājñaḥ—one who is intelligent; dharmān—occupational duties; bhāgavatān—which are devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; iha—in this life; durlabham—very rarely obtained; mānuṣam—human; janma—birth; tat—that; api—even; adhruvam—impermanent, temporary; artha-dam—full of meaning.

TRANSLATION

Prahlāda Mahārāja said: One who is sufficiently intelligent should use the human form of body from the very beginning of life—in other words, from the tender age of childhood—to practice the activities of devotional service, giving up all other engagements. The human body is most rarely achieved, and although temporary like other bodies, it is meaningful because in human life one can perform devotional service. Even a slight amount of sincere devotional service can give one complete perfection.

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As always, the Mayapur Kirtan Mela is immensely popular and devotees come for all over to attend the 5 day festival.

There are a variety of leading devotees who inspire everyone to follow their ecstatic kirtans, which are interspersed with shouts of Gauranga and Haribol.

The evenings were so packed that I had great difficulty getting through the crowds to be nearer the lead chanters.

Did you already have a chance to visit our (not so new anymore) KKSBlog page on Facebook? Well here is your chance… Click here! No Facebook? Join our newsletter and stay updated or keep on visiting KKSBlog.

We thought it would never happen but modern times are pushing forward even for the good’ol KKSwami CD’s. Who needs shiny, plastic discs when you can stream your tunes to your fancy new smart speaker?! Move over antiquated cd player and welcome iTunes, Spotify or one of many other services out in the wild. So KKSBlog is taking a bold step into the future by publishing audio albums from Kadamba Kanana Swami on those very modern platforms for your pleasure and convenience.

Enough with the words. Let’s get those tunes!!!

Metamorphosis (2016)

Still available on CD. Click here…

Pure Enjoyment (2015)

Also still available on CD. Click here…

Heart & Soul (2014)

And again still available on CD (spotting a trend?). Click here…

Vaisnava Seva (2000)

Aaah. not available on CD anymore…

The Land Of Kirtan (Album of photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday we took a large harinam party of international devotees thro...

ISKCON Dwarka New Delhi: Examination stress buster session in Happy Model School today from class 7th to class 11th by HG Amogh Lila...

Speaker: HG Radha Krishna Das Srimad Bhagavatam  8.7 44 Tapyante loka-tāpena sādhavaḥ prāyaśo janāḥ paramārādhanaṁ tad dhi puruṣasyākhilātmanaḥ TRANSLATION: It is said that great personalities almost always accept voluntary suffering because of the suffering of people in general. This is considered the highest method of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present in […]

The post Srimad Bhagavatam class by HG Radha Krishna Das appeared first on Mayapur.com.

The Baked Potato Lila by Govinda Dasi.
At New Jersey, my chores consisted of various household duties aside from my artwork for “Back to Godhead”. I cleaned the kitchen, washed Swamiji’s clothes - he was still called Swamiji at that time -, made the beds, mopped the floors, and cleaned everything. I enjoyed serving him any way I could and of course, I picked him roses every day. It was with great joy that I did everything. Kirtanananda however, did the cooking, as I was not trained in cooking. I had been a college student, just prior to meeting Srila Prabhupada and had always eaten out and had never cooked at all.

Speaker Bhakti Vinode Swami Verse gurur na sa syāt sva-jano na sa syāt pitā na sa syāj jananī na sā syāt daivaṁ na tat syān na patiś ca sa syān na mocayed yaḥ samupeta-mṛtyum Translation:  One who cannot deliver his dependents from the path of repeated birth and death should never become a spiritual master, a […]

The post Srimad Bhagavatam class- HH Bhakti Vinode Swami appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Hare Krishna Temple’s Food Festival A Massive Success!
ISKCON Auckland (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) celebrated its annual food festival on Saturday, January 27 at Sri Sri Radha Giridhari Temple in Kumeu.
The festival started around about 4 p.m. with over 2000 people participating in the event. This event witnessed the crowd not just from the Indian community but from people all other ethnic backgrounds who came forward and supported the annual celebration at ISKCON temple.
“The people not only enjoyed the Hare Krishna style food with many other varieties but also enjoyed the positive vibes of the temple atmosphere which was accompanied by soul soothing music and dance,” the spokesperson of ISKCON temple Krishnacandra Das told The Indian Weekender.

Volunteers at the temple, called ‘Hare Krishnas’, welcomed their guests by distributing free bliss balls (sweet) on their entry and temple tours were also part of the festival organized for the visitors.

Bouncing castles, face painting, and rides were arranged for the children to participate and enjoy at the food festival.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/vGGfYJ

Kirtan Mela Mayapur 2018 (Album of photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If we simply place ourselves at the lotus feet of Krishna by taki...

Major renovation of the very place that Srila Prabhupada stayed in Delhi (Album with photos)
Krishna Kshetra Swami: My last day in India, after 3.5 months, Delhi devotees kindly brought me to visit ISKCON Chippiwada. At the end of a tiny back alley in Old Delhi, near Jama Masjid and Red Fort–this is the very place that Srila Prabhupada stayed, 1959-1965, when in Delhi, between times he stayed in Vrindavan. Here, living alone in a room with no windows, in perhaps one of the most densely populated areas in the world, he worked on his Bhagavatam and BTG, and from here he would meet the printer and sell BTGs around the city. In recent years ISKCON devotees spent seven years finding the trustees of this property, negotiating with them, buying the property, and coaxing the pujari and his brother to move out with a handsome sum of money. A group of 7-8 devotees is now enthusiastically doing a major renovation from top to bottom (4 floors, including basement, main floor with temple [Sri Sri Radha-Vallabha, said to have been installed in the late 19th c.], the next floor up with the side room where Prabhupada stayed and a nice space that is becoming an SP museum; prasadam and kitchen floor, and top floor brahmacari ashram…and a rooftop that will be a nice place for programs). This center is one of the nine-becoming-fifteen temples in the greater Delhi area. Two huge projects presently under construction, one in the Rohini district and one in the Dwarka district, are massive projects. ISKCON Delhi distributed 5 lakh (500,000) Bhagavad-gitas during this last book marathon….
Find them here: https://goo.gl/tgw1UV

Seize the Rarest of the Rare Opportunity - Bhagavad-Gita CHAD Inspiration from HG. Vaisesika Prabhu (3 min video)
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What are the good results of preserving semen?



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It is often said that chanting is the most important limb, but Prabhupada interestingly makes the following comment, “When we speak of hearing and chanting, it means that not only should one chant and hear of the holy name of the Lord as Rama, Krishna (or systematically the sixteen names Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare), but one should also read and hear the Bhagavad-gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam in the association of devotees.” Continue reading "Improving Classes
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As leaders we get to do so many different things but we should be knowing that we are under the radar of Maya and Kali. "You are the leader who is going to take people out of the world and send them to Godhead, you are working for Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada’s organisation! You are a dangerous guy for me. I am going to attack you!" And definitely iskcon leaders who are proponents of pure bhakti are going to be attacked more and more in their leadership positions. Continue reading "Srimad Bhagavatam class from Mayapur, 11 February 2018
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Who remembers the motto of the Strategic Planning team? “More devotees, happier devotees.” Why is it we are focusing on more devotees and happier devotees? Because Krishna will be pleased. If they are not happier there won’t be more. More devotees means external growth. Happier devotees means internal growth. Which one is more important? It’s just so interesting we are focussing really a lot on spreading Krsna consciousness. And that’s a really good goal and we should focus on that, but at the same time we should really focus on developing ourselves. Growth starts with you first. Continue reading "Srimad Bhagavatam class from Mayapur, 8 February 2018
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Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 8, Chapter 7 (texts 36-42) describes the benevolent activities of Lord Siva when the living entities were threatened by the deadliest poison (halahala).

“Srila Sukadeva Gosvami said: ‘Lord Siva is always benevolent toward all living entities. When he saw that the living entities were very much disturbed by the poison, which was spreading everywhere, he was very compassionate. Thus he spoke to his eternal consort, Sati, as follows.“ ‘Lord Siva said: “My dear Bhavani, just see how all these living entities have been placed in danger because of the poison produced from the churning of the ocean of milk. It is my duty to give protection and safety to all living entities struggling for existence. Certainly it is the duty of the master to protect his suffering dependents. People in general, being bewildered by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, are always engaged in animosity toward one another. But devotees, even at the risk of their own temporary lives, try to save them. My dear gentle wife Bhavani, when one performs benevolent activities for others, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, is very pleased. And when the Lord is pleased, I am also pleased, along with all other living creatures. Therefore, let me drink this poison, for all the living entities may thus become happy because of me.” ’

“Srila Sukadeva Gosvami continued: ‘After informing Bhavani in this way, Lord Siva began to drink the poison, and Bhavani, who knew perfectly well the capabilities of Lord Siva, gave him her permission to do so. Thereafter, Lord Siva, who is dedicated to auspicious, benevolent work for humanity, compassionately took the whole quantity of poison in his palm and drank it.’  ”

At the chapter’s end, Srila Sukadeva Gosvami concluded,

tapyante loka-tapena
sadhavah prayaso janah
paramaradhanam tad dhi
purusasyakhilatmanah

“It is said that great personalities almost always accept voluntary suffering because of the suffering of people in general. This is considered the highest method of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present in everyone’s heart.” (SB 8.7.44)

And Srila Prabhupada elaborates, “Here is an explanation of how those engaged in activities for the welfare of others are very quickly recognized by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The Lord says in Bhagavad-gita (18.68-69), ya idam paramam guhyam mad-bhaktesv abhidhasyati . . . na ca tasman manusyesu kascin me priya-krttamah: ‘One who preaches the message of Bhagavad-gita to My devotees is most dear to Me. No one can excel him in satisfying Me by worship.’ There are different kinds of welfare activities in this material world, but the supreme welfare activity is the spreading of Krsna consciousness. Other welfare activities cannot be effective, for the laws of nature and the results of karma cannot be checked. . . .

“If one tries to spread Krsna consciousness all over the world, he should be understood to be performing the best welfare activity. The Lord is automatically very pleased with him. If the Lord is pleased with him, what is left for him to achieve? If one has been recognized by the Lord, even if he does not ask the Lord for anything, the Lord, who is within everyone, supplies him whatever he wants. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (tesam nityabhiyuktanam yoga-ksemam vahamy aham [Bg 9.22]). Again, as stated here, tapyante loka-tapena sadhavah prayaso janah. The best welfare activity is raising people to the platform of Krsna consciousness, since the conditioned souls are suffering only for want of Krsna consciousness. The Lord Himself also comes to mitigate the suffering of humanity.

yada yada hi dharmasya
glanir bhavati bharata
abhyutthanam adharmasya
tadatmanam srjamy aham

paritranaya sadhunam
vinasaya ca duskrtam
dharma-samsthapanarthaya
sambhavami yuge yuge

‘Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion—at that time I descend Myself. To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I advent Myself millennium after millennium.’ (Bg 4.7-8) All the sastras conclude, therefore, that spreading the Krsna consciousness movement is the best welfare activity in the world. Because of the ultimate benefit this bestows upon people in general, the Lord very quickly recognizes such service performed by a devotee.”

Reflecting on this last verse and purport, I considered how Srila Prabhupada exemplified the statement that “great personalities almost always accept voluntary suffering because of the suffering of people in general.” He certainly did that to establish Hare Krishna Land in Juhu, Bombay—and to establish so many other vehicles for Krishna consciousness in so many other places throughout the world.

I pray that we can continue in the same spirit.

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

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(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 20 September 2017, Flacq, Mauritius, Lecture)

Before the Ratha Yatra of Lord Jagannatha, his temple is cleaned – Gundica Marjana. Caitanya Mahaprabhu would clean Lord Jagannatha’s temple and would count how much dust was accumulated. He alone would collect more dust than anyone else. Cleaning the temple takes out dust and dirt from the heart. We should give up all illicit activities while gradually developing qualities of the mode of goodness. In Hindu tradition, if one is not born a Brahmana, he becomes a Brahmana after many births but in Krsna Consciousness, just by chanting the Holy Name our karma is erased. Everything can be conquered by devotional service. What cannot be overcome by donation and charity, can be overcome by devotional service – greed, lust and want for money.

Excerpt from the original manuscript, entitled “Who Is Crazy.“ By A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
"All Vedic literature is imploring us, “Don’t sleep! Don’t sleep! Be awake! Be awake! Get up! Get up from this sleep! Utilize the boon which you now have. Don’t be foolish.”
People are working hard, and earning enough to eat. Especially in your country, there are sufficient means for eating, and nobody is starving. That’s all right, but they are still not satisfied. I have studied this very carefully. The younger people all appear to be frustrated. It is not a very good condition, when the young generation, which is the future hope of the country, feels that there is no hope. Their future is dark. Why? Because they have no direction. What is the aim of life? What will they become? The philosophy is, work hard, get dollars, and enjoy as you like. This is misguidance. Therefore, the young are not happy. So, they take center of something which is objectionable for satisfaction. But that cannot give total satisfaction.

Harinama in Germany (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If your consciousness is absorbed in Krishna you are always a sannyas...

Srimad Bhagavatam Class 08 17 07 By H.G. Rameswara Prabhu At ISKCON Juhu On 10th Feb 2018 (video)
The miracles of Srila Prabhup...

Mentorship Retreat 2018 at Buckland Hall, UK (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Krishna takes special care of the devotee, g...