What the Bhagavatam conveys by narrating Krishna’s agonizing departure
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Talk at Krishna House, Gainesville, USA]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary

Video:

The post What the Bhagavatam conveys by narrating Krishna’s agonizing departure appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Gaur Purnima class – How Lord Chaitanya defeated the attacks of Kali and how he empowers us to defeat those attacks
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Festival class at ISKCON, Tampa, USA]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary

Video:

The post Gaur Purnima class – How Lord Chaitanya defeated the attacks of Kali and how he empowers us to defeat those attacks appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Gaur Purnima class – How Ratha Yatra fulfilled external and internal reasons for Lord Chaitanya’s appearance
→ The Spiritual Scientist

[Festival class at ISKCON, Alachua, USA]

Podcast


 

Podcast Summary

Video:

The post Gaur Purnima class – How Ratha Yatra fulfilled external and internal reasons for Lord Chaitanya’s appearance appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

Final Words of a Dying Father
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Janakinatha Dasa

I started chanting the holy names of Krishna, the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, and began to follow the four regulative principles. It was amazing to see how I could easily give up my nasty habits. My family members were initially skeptical, unable to understand the change in me. Earlier all my actions were under the influence of alcohol, but seeing this miraculous transformation in my life, they were wondering if I was acting under the influence of something more dangerous. Every morning I started reading the Bhagavad-gita, and I introduced everyone in my home to the devotional way of life. After a few years, Lokanatha Swami Maharaja offered me spiritual initiation, giving me the name Caitanya Carana Dasa. Continue reading "Final Words of a Dying Father
→ Dandavats"

20 Years On, Bhaktivedanta Hospital is Still Changing Lives With…
→ Dandavats



20 Years On, Bhaktivedanta Hospital is Still Changing Lives With Spiritual Care.
“It is truly an honor to be here this evening,” says spiritual leader Radhanath Swami, his voice echoing out over the Mumbai crowd. “Twenty years ago today, we came together to inaugurate Bhaktivedanta Hospital, not knowing where this journey would lead us.”
That answer is self-evident now, during the 20th-anniversary celebrations of the unique hospital inspired by Srila Prabhupada’s teachings. Held on January 11th, the celebrations have drawn a massive attendance of three thousand hospital staff, doctors, managers and their families. And they are being held on land where a major extension is set to be built.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/3A8sVB

Sannyasa Candidates 2018
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy the Secretary of Sannyasa Ministry

Although in Kali-yuga the injunction is that no one should accept sannyasa. Of course, those who actually follow the rules and regulations must take sannyasa. Generally, however, people are unable to accept sannyasa life, and therefore Caitanya Mahaprabhu stressed, kalau nasty eva nasty eva na-sty eva gatir anyatha. In this age there is no other alternative, no other alternative, no other alternative than to chant the holy name of the Lord: Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna, Hare Hare. The main purpose of sannyasa life is to be in constant companionship with the Supreme Lord, either by thinking of Him within the heart or hearing of Him through aural reception. In this age, hearing is more important than thinking because one's thinking may be disturbed by mental agitation, but if one concentrates on hearing, he will be forced to associate with the sound vibration of Krsna. Krsna and the sound vibration "Krsna" are nondifferent, so if one loudly vibrates Hare Krsna, he will be able to think of Krsna immediately. This process of chanting is the best process of self-realization in this age; therefore Lord Caitanya preached it so nicely for the benefit of all humanity. Continue reading "Sannyasa Candidates 2018
→ Dandavats"

The Go Matsya Project to Preserve Vedic Culture Takes Off in the UK
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Madhava Smullen

The Go Matsya project aims to save and preserve Vedic culture through distribution of full Srimad-Bhagavatam sets, as the Bhagavatam is the essence of all Vedic literature. Now the project has spread from the US to the UK, where it is taking off in new and exciting ways. Launched in ISKCON Silicon Valley, California in January 2017 by BBT Trustee Vaisesika Das, Go Matsya is a kind of spiritual multi-level marketing effort. Continue reading "The Go Matsya Project to Preserve Vedic Culture Takes Off in the UK
→ Dandavats"

Extraordinary Devotee (Album of photos) Giridhari Swami: Feb….
→ Dandavats



Extraordinary Devotee (Album of photos)
Giridhari Swami: Feb. 16 marked the 16th disappearance day anniversary of His Holiness Srila Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaja. Many of Goswami Maharaja’s godbrothers, friends and disciples gathered for this event, held just beside his samadhi mandir. Radhacaran Prabhu served as the MC and called devotees to speak one after another. If there was one cohesive theme of the heartfelt talks, it was that Goswami Maharaja, perhaps more than any other devotee in the history of ISKCON, touched the devotional lives of a countless number of devotees. Some speakers described how he had made them devotees, others spoke of him being their sankirtan leader, temple commander or GBC. And in many cases, Goswami Maharaja had managed to stay in touch with these devotees through the years and continued to guide and inspire them. After the talks I was speaking with Jayadvaita Maharaja and we both concurred that Goswami Maharaja was a very extraordinary devotee and selfless servant of Srila Prabhupada. We just kept repeating the word “extraordinary” again and again and again. For me personally, Goswami Maharaja’s disappearance day anniversary is a painful reminder of that shocking event that took place in 2002. It was the longest, incredibly intense and most heart-wrenching day of my life. I can only take solace from the notion that Srila Prabhupada called his dear servant back to him and together with the Lord arranged that he should depart on the disappearance of Srila Jagannatha Dasa Babaji Maharaja, during the auspicious brahma-muhurta and at the sacred pilgrimage site of Phuliya, where Srila Haridas Thakur chanted 300,000 names of the Lord daily. Srila Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaja ki-jaya! Srila Prabhupada ki-jaya! Sama-veda-bhakta-vrinda ki-jaya!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/EvDiHp

In difficult relationships, are tolerating, mitigating and emigrating to be tried sequentially?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

The post In difficult relationships, are tolerating, mitigating and emigrating to be tried sequentially? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

When we chant, why does our mind get distracted – Hindi?
→ The Spiritual Scientist

Answer Podcast

 

Transcribed by: Rakesh Garg Prabhu

प्रश्न: जब हम जप करते हैं, तो हमारा मन क्यों भटकता है? इसे भटकने से रोकने के लिए हमें क्या करना चाहिए?

उत्तर: सामान्यतया देखने में आता है कि जब हम जप करने के लिए बैठते हैं तो हमारा मन सांसारिक विषयों में विचरण करने लगता है। यह सही मायने में जप नहीं कहलाएगा। इस अवस्था में हम नहीं, मात्र हमारी जिह्वा जप कर रही होती है।

वास्तव में मन को जप में लगाना बहुत कठिन है। किसी भी कार्य को सुचारू रूप से करने के लिए आत्मा,मन और इन्द्रियों का एक साथ होना आवश्यक है। उदाहरणार्थ, यदि हम किसी प्रवचन में बैठे हैं, पर हमारा मन कहीं और है तो हम प्रवचन न ठीक प्रकार सुन पायेंगे और न ही समझ पायेंगे। इसी तरह, जप करने का लाभ भी हमें तभी होता है, जब ये तीनों – हम, हमारा मन और जिह्वा – साथ-साथ हों। जपते समय, हमारा मन हमें तरह-तरह से भटकाता है। कई बार मन कहता है – “जप बहुत उबाऊ है, इसे मत करो”। पर यदि कभी हम दृढ़संकल्प कर लेते हैं कि हम एक निश्चित संख्या में माला अवश्य करेंगे, तो मन दूसरा पैंतरा अपनाता है। वह कहता है “अच्छा, यह जिह्वा जप करती रहेगी किन्तु मैं विचरण करता रहूँगा!” अतः मन को वश में रखने और जप में लगाने के लिए हमें तीन बातों पर विचार करना है: (i) मन को क्या विचलित करता है (ii) इसे क्या आकर्षित करता है और (iii) हम ऐसा क्या करें जो हमारे विचलित मन को वापस साथ ला सके।

मन को विचलित करने के हज़ारों कारण हो सकते हैं, पर यदि हम जप के बाद कुछ देर बैठ कर ध्यानपूर्वक सोचें तो पायेंगे कि कुछ विचार हमारे मन में रोज़ आते हैं। जैसे- अमुक व्यक्ति ने मेरे साथ ऐसा व्यवहार किया, या मेरी नौकरी या व्यापार का क्या होगा, या मेरे पास धन नहीं है इत्यादि। यदि जप के समय हमारे मन में इस प्रकार के विचार आते हों तो हमें बुद्धिमानी से इन सब बातों का विश्लेषण करना चाहिए और इन सब विचारों को लिख लेना चाहिए। इसके बाद हमें इन सब विचारों के निवारण के विषय में सोचना चाहिए और उन्हें भी कागज पर लिख लेना चाहिए। अगले दिन जप करने से पहले हमें एक बार कागज पर लिखे अपने विचारों और उनके निवारणों को पढ़ लेना चाहिए। अब यदि जप करते समय हमारा मन फिर से उन विचारों के कारण भटकने लगे, तो हमें सोचना चाहिए कि इन सब बातों का निवारण मैंने ढूँढ लिया है और मन को इन बातों के कारण विचलित होने की आवश्यकता नहीं है। इस प्रकार मन के विचलित होने के कारणों को ढूंढ कर और उनका विश्लेषण करने से मन का भटकना कम हो सकता है।

दूसरा, हमें यह सोचना चाहिए कि जप करते समय हम मन को कृष्ण की ओर कैसे आकर्षित कर सकते हैं। इसके लिए हम भगवान का कोई चित्र या हरे कृष्ण महामन्त्र का पोस्टर अपने सामने रख सकते हैं। यदि हम किसी गुरु से दीक्षा प्राप्त हैं, तो हम अपने गुरुदेव का चित्र अपने सामने रख सकते हैं। इसके अलावा भगवान की किसी प्रिय लीला का चित्र अपने सामने रख सकते हैं। इस तरह, जैसे भी हो, जिस प्रकार भी हो, मन को भगवान की ओर आकर्षित करने का प्रयास करना चाहिए। मन में यह भाव रखना चाहिए कि इन्हीं भगवान को तो मैं पुकार रहा हूँ, इन्हीं के नामों का तो जप मैं कर रहा हूँ।

और तीसरा यह कि हम अपने मन को वापस कैसे ला सकते हैं। कई बार जब मन विचरण करता है, हम भी उसके साथ-साथ विचरण करने लगते हैं। इसलिये जप करते समय हम कुछ ऐसा कर सकते हैं, जिससे हमारा मन एक बार फिर हमारे साथ आ जाए। उदाहरणार्थ – कुछ माला करने के बाद थोड़ा रुक कर गहरी सांस लें। सोचें कि मेरा मन भटक रहा है, नहीं भटकना चाहिये। या फिर हम शिक्षाष्टकम प्रार्थनाओं के कुछ श्लोक बोल सकते हैं। कभी-कभी लगातार एक स्थान पर बैठ कर जप करते रहने से मन भटकने लगता है। इसके लिए हम उठ कर थोड़ा चल सकते हैं। हालाँकि चलने में भी ध्यान पूरी तरह नहीं लगता है, पर शारीरिक स्तर पर कुछ कार्य करने से मन का भटकना कुछ कम हो जाता है। इसके विपरीत, कभी-कभी यदि चलते रहने के कारण मन इधर-उधर भटकता हो, तो फिर हमें शांति से बैठ कर जप करना चाहिये।

End of transcription.

Answer by: His Grace Chaitanya Charan Prabhu
(www.thespiritualscientist.com)

Gaura Purnima at Sydney Temple
→ Ramai Swami

This year, I was fortunate to be at our Sydney Temple for Gaura Purnima.

Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu was born in Mayapur in the town of Nadia just after sunset on the evening of the 18th of February 1486.

The moon was eclipsed at the time of His birth, and the people of Nadia were then engaged, as was usual on such occasions, in bathing in the Bhagirathi with loud cheers of Haribol.

His father, Jagannatha Misra, a poor brahmana of the Vedic order, and His mother, Saci-devi, a model good woman, both descended from ‘brahmana’ stock originally residing in Sylhet.

Mahaprabhu was a beautiful child, and the ladies of the town came to see Him with presents. His mother’s father, Pandit Nilambara Cakravarti, a renowned astrologer, foretold that the child would be a great personage in time; and he, therefore, gave him the name Visvambhara.

The ladies of the neighbourhood styled him Gaurahari on account of His golden complexion, and His mother called Him Nimai on account of the ‘nimba’ tree near which He was born.

One of the reasons for the Lord’s descent was to personally inaugurate the religion of the age; nama-sankirtana, the congregational chanting of the holy name of the Lord.

By accepting the role of a devotee, He made the whole world dance in ecstasy and thus realise the four mellows of loving devotional service. In this way, He taught devotional service to others by personally practicing it, for whatever a great personality does, common people will follow.

 

Iskcon devotee visits Indian Prime Minister Modi. On Friday…
→ Dandavats



Iskcon devotee visits Indian Prime Minister Modi.
On Friday February16th Mahaprabhu Das, Director of Belgium’s Museum of Sacred Art (MOSA), met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Residence in New Delhi.
Mahaprabhu spoke with Prime Minister Modi about the possibility of presenting the Exhibit in a European City to coincide with one of his future visits to the continent. The meeting lasted about eight minutes.
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/XSoV1F

Times of India: Gour Purnima celebrations – The world comes together at ISKCON Mayapur
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Jhimli Mukherjee Pandey

The biggest festival in the Gaudiya Vaishnav Sampradaya- Gaur Purnima, the appearance day of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu was celebrated with fervour and gaiety at the global spiritual headquarters of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in Mayapur, birth place of Mahaprabhu. The month long celebrations that began on 8th February included Sravan Utsav, Kirtan Mela, a weeklong Nabadwip Mandal Parikrama and many cultural programmes by western devotees touched its zenith on Friday evening at the ISKCON Chandradaya Temple , which witnessed a confluence of more than a lakh and half devotees and pilgrims across the world dressed in traditional colourful dhoti- kurta and ghagra - choli singing , dancing, chanting ecstatically to celebrate the 532st birth Anniversary of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Continue reading "Times of India: Gour Purnima celebrations – The world comes together at ISKCON Mayapur
→ Dandavats"

Every Town and Village, Gaura Purnima Harinam in Snowy London March 1st 2018
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Parasuram das

Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu wanted His followers to move all over the world to preach in every town and village. In the Caitanya-sampradaya those who strictly follow the principles of Lord Caitanya must travel all over the world to preach the message of Lord Caitanya, which is the same as preaching the words of Krsna--Bhagavad-gita--and Srimad-Bhagavatam. The more the devotees preach the principles of krsna-katha, the more people throughout the world will benefit. Devotees like the great sage Narada, who travel all over to preach, are called gosthanandi. Narada Muni is always wandering throughout the universe just to create different types of devotees. Continue reading "Every Town and Village, Gaura Purnima Harinam in Snowy London March 1st 2018
→ Dandavats"

Sun Love Feast – March 4th, 2018 – Vedic discourse by Her Grace Prema Gaurangi Mataji
→ ISKCON Brampton



Chant: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare And Be Happy!!

When?

Sunday,March 4th,2018
11am-2pm

Where?

173 Advance Boulevard
Unit # 41
Brampton,ON,L6T 4Z7
(Free Parking)
Phone:416-648-3312

New! Listen

Click here to listen to previous class recordings on our blog
Make a Donation
ayur harati vai pumsam
udyann astam ca yann asau
tasyarte yat-ksano nita
uttama-sloka-vartaya

Both by rising and by setting, the sun decreases the duration of life of everyone, except one who utilizes the time by discussing topics of the all-good Personality of Godhead.
 ~ Srimad Bhagavatam 2.3.17




11.00 - 11.15      Tulsi Puja
11.15  - 11.30     Guru Puja                          
11:30 - 11:55     Aarti & Kirtan                        
11.55  - 12.00    Sri Nrsingadeva Prayers 
12.00 - 1:00     Vedic discourse
  1.00 - 1.30      Closing Kirtan
  1.30 - 2.00     Sanctified Free Vegetarian Feast


COMING UP AHEAD

Papamocani Ekadasi
Fasting.....................on Mon Mar 12th,2018
Breakfast................  on Tue  Mar 13th ,2018 b/w 10.44am – 11.29am

Every fortnight, we observe Ekadasi, a day of prayer and meditation. On this day we fast (or simplify our meals and abstain from grains and beans), and spend extra time reading the scriptures and chanting the auspicious Hare Krishna mantra.By constantly ‘exercising’ our minds through regular japa we can train our senses to push the threshold of contentment.
English audio glorification of all Ekadasis is available here 






ONGOING PROGRAMS



Sunday School

To register,contact us
Email:sundayschool108@gmail.com
Call:647.893.9363

The Sunday School provides fun filled strategies through the medium of music, drama, debates, quizzes and games that present Vedic Culture to children. However the syllabus is also designed to simultaneously teach them to always remember Krishna and never forget Him. School
The Sunday School follows the curriculum provided by the Bhaktivedanta College of Education and Culture (BCEC).

Monthly sankirtan Festival(MSF)
“One who has life can preach, and one who preaches gets life.”(Previous Acaryas)
Every member of ISKCON should have the opportunity to make advancement in Krishna consciousness by preaching.We encourage everyone to come out and participate and make Srila Prabhupada happy.

Please contact:
Dharma Dasa- dharandev58@gmail.com-647.892.0739(Mississauga and Brampton regions)
The Mentorship Program

Please note that registration in the Mentorship System is now a mandatory requirement for all initiation requests at ISKCON Brampton.It

1.Facilitates  and nurtures devotees aspiring for first and second Initiation.
2.One-on-One personal follow up on a regular basis.
3.Systematic training to devotees in matters of Philosophy, Sadhna, Vaishnava behavior, etiquette, Lifestyle and attitudes.

To find details please click here

Gift Shop

Are you looking for some amazing gift items which are less expensive and more beautiful for your loved ones for festivals or many other occasions??
Our boutique is stocked with an excellent range of products, perfect for gifts or as souvenirs of your visit. It offers textiles, jewelry, incense, devotional articles, musical instruments, books, and CDs inspired by Indian culture.We're open on all Sundays and celebrations marked in our annual calendar.

Wednesday, February 28th, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Toronto, Ontario

The Eve Before the Gaura Morn

Globally, members of the bhakti yoga tradition are warming up for the following day’s full moon, when the birthday of a great personality will be honoured.  His name is Sri Chaitanya and He has popularized the kirtanmovement which entails drumming, dancing and, most of all, chanting.  It also may include walking because the practice of kirtan is not static but ecstatic.

The mrdungadrums of the Bengals—east and west—were custom-made of earth or terra cotta.  Being that they are light-weight, one can move with them, even dance with them strapped about the torso.  Jajas, often referred to as whompers, are cap-shaped, brass-based cymbals that accompany the mrdunga.  There were no harmoniums at the time of kirtan’s heyday.  The harmonium was born in Germany in the 1800s, two hundred years after Chaitanya’s initiation of sharing kirtan.  Harmoniums would also be too awkward and heavy to carry around during a kirtan’s dance/chant sessions.

After a good day of careful travel planning, but no walking—unfortunately—and spending time with journalist Kevin Connors of the Toronto Sun newspaper, I took a glance, as I had the chance, to see from above, via the balcony, the Wednesday crew chanting below.  They did not dance and a harmonium was used, but they did chant and that is the most important component of kirtan.   https://instagram.com/p/BfyFRw4F6Ru/

Let us refer to the term sankirtan which means group participation in chanting.  It is awesome.

May the Source be with you!

0 km


Tuesday, February 27th, 2018
→ The Walking Monk

Brampton, Ontario

Teeth and Legs

Whenever I go to the dental clinic, I bring with me a bag of goodies.  Today, it was just apples and oranges meant for the dental staff.  The large produce market wasn’t yet open, so I settled for what the local convenience store had to offer.  The lady in front of me, by the purchase counter, took forever.  Her legs were shaking from some condition.  I felt for her, and even more so when I saw her pulling out card after card to check for a lottery win.  It went on.

Anyway, I got my apples and oranges.  The staff were pleased, including Naomi.  She was my dental cleaner for the day.  She asked, “Are you a Hindu…?”  She didn’t know what to say.  I spared her with, “I’m a monk, a Hare Krishna monk.”

“Oh, I’ve been to your festival on the Island (referring to the Toronto Island, and Ratha Yatra).  I love it.  All that singing and dancing.”

“Did you just happen to be there and bump into us?” I asked.

“No, I went specifically to experience it.”

Naomi also told me she’s done three walks involving traveling the entire length of Queen Street, Bloor Street and Yonge Street, from Newmarket to the Lake (Ontario).  These are, of course, actual marathon-length walks.  She did admit to fear of dogs in more remote countryside places.

“Do dogs bother you?” she asked.

“Not much, but mosquitoes, they are something else.”

She also shared her love for George Harrison’s “My Sweet Lord,” and how it just raises your spirit.

May the Source be with you!

5 km

Free Hare Krishna Picnic draws 40,000 In Bengal! (20 min…
→ Dandavats



Free Hare Krishna Picnic draws 40,000 In Bengal! (20 min video)
There is a very good reason why ISKCON is known as the Kitchen Religion. Every week our temples invite the public to come take Krishna prasadam, sanctified vegetarian food, with us for free! At thousands of centers around the world, we give sumptuous food out on a regular basis because the sharing of prasadam between devotees is glorified by Rupa Goswami as one of the six type of loving affections one can express to another human being.

A visit to Kolkata the place where our beloved Srila Prabhupada…
→ Dandavats



A visit to Kolkata the place where our beloved Srila Prabhupada appeared (2018) (Album with photos)
Kolkata, known as the City of Joy, is the capital city of West Bengal. Standing on the eastern bank of mother Ganga (Hoogly river), the city also prides in being the second largest city of India. This also happens to be the place where our beloved Srila Prabhupada appeared. Long known as the Cultural Capital of India, the city continues to spawn generations of poets, writers and Nobel Prize winners. Kolkata (former Calcutta) served as the capital of British-held territories in India until 1911. It was also one of the major centers of the Indian independence movement. The City is filled with colonial gems: Victorian buildings, sprawling gardens and historical institutions. Mostly known for it’s sweets, especially Roshogolla, the city is also famous for it’s own Bengali cuisine.

Our beloved Srila Prabhupada met his spiritual master, Srila Bhakti Siddhanta Saraswati Thakur in Ultadanga (northern part of the city) and received the instruction to spread Gaudiya Vaishnavism throughout the world on his first meeting. At the age of 69 he left India from here at Khidirpore dock and set out for the West to spread the Holy name of Krishna.

Following the establishment of temples and centers in the United States and Europe, Srila Prabhupada returned to India in 1971 and the following year he opened the first ISKCON temple of India in Kolkata and established the worship of Sri Sri Radha Govinda dev, Sriman Mahaprabhu and Sri Jagannath Baladev Subhadra Maharani. We spent a wonderful time having Bhagavat katha in the temple. Then we set out to explore the city, see the places related to Srila Prabhupada which included his divine birthplace and nearly 200-year-old Deity of Sri Radha Govindjiu in Mullick Bari, where Srila Prabhupada did Rathyatra as a child. We also crossed Hoogly River and went to Howrah to see the 250-year-old Great Banyan Tree in the AJC Bose Indian Botanical Garden, which homes extremely rare plants and trees. Love it or hate it, you definitely won’t forget the City of Joy.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/mjM6av

Gaura-purnima and Jagannatha Misra’s Festival
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy Giriraj Swami

Here in caitanya-lila we find that Sacidevi gave birth to eight daughters and that all of them died. Then finally she gave birth to a son, Visvarupa. At an early age Visvarupa left home and took sannyasa, and so for all material purposes he was dead. Srila Prabhupada said that sannyasa means civil death. The day on which Visvarupa took sannyasa is called Visvarupa-mahotsavathe same day on which Srila Prabhupada took sannyasa some four hundred years later. In any case, it was a great occasion that Sacidevi and Jagannatha Misra had given birth to a boy, and all the devotees from the area, such as Advaita Acarya and his wife Sita and Srivasa Thakura and his wife Malini, came and brought gifts and offered blessings to the new child. Continue reading "Gaura-purnima and Jagannatha Misra’s Festival
→ Dandavats"

How to Identify an Avatar
→ Dandavats

Hare KrishnaBy His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu said, "The Vedic literatures composed by the omniscient Mahamuni Vyasadeva are evidence of all spiritual existence. Only through these revealed scriptures can all conditioned souls attain knowledge." We should always think that we are in the mode of ignorance. We are just trying to make progress from ignorance to goodness and then transcend. This is the process of spiritual realization. We should not think that we are perfect. We cannot be. God is. Only God is perfect, and we are all imperfect. Even in our so-called liberated stage we are still imperfect. Therefore one has to take shelter of authority, because constitutionally we are imperfect. Continue reading "How to Identify an Avatar
→ Dandavats"