Planet ISKCON

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“It was the philosophy that kept me”
Ananga Manjari: We were in Los Angeles and somehow I got myself right behind Prabhupada while he was paying his obeisances to the deities.
When I went to pay my obeisances, his lotus feet were right in front of my face and I thought,
“What an opportunity. This is the opportunity of many life times. What can I do? I don’t want to touch him and disturb him at all, because he is in meditation praying to his Lord.”
But there was a carnation petal stuck to the bottom of his foot.
It was very invitingly sticking out, so I thought maybe I could take this petal and get his mercy without disturbing him.
Very carefully I plucked that little carnation petal off his foot and then I got very frightened thinking that someone might see me and they’re going to think that I am disturbing him.
I could just imagine some sannyasi booming, “What did you just do?”
I got so scared that I popped it in my mouth, like I was eating the evidence.
As I swallowed the petal, I thought,
“This is the holiest communion I have ever had in my life. This petal is going to keep me here forever.”
And it did.
Srila Prabhupada arrived at the New York airport, and like many devotees have described, Prabhupada seemed to float through the airport as if he was on an escalator, and we would all be running to keep up.
They sat him down and he gave a little talk in the airport.
There were some policemen watching our crowd from a distance and a reporter asked Prabhupada,
“Why do you wear these clothes and this mark on your forehead?”
Prabhupada said, “It is just like a policeman. A policeman wears a uniform to show that he is an authority of the government. He represents the government, so if anyone needs help in that way, they can go to the policeman.”
The policemen in the back started nudging each other and feeling very proud and happy that Prabhupada had noticed them.
I thought that he was doing a few things at once.
He was instructing us and winning their hearts.
He wasn’t just satisfying the reporter and of course he was preaching to all of us, but he noticed the policemen specifically.
I thought that significant in that he wanted to say, “Thank you” for their service.
Prabhupada was a grateful person, even for anyone who did the least little thing.
I think that the gratitude that Prabhupada showed us is something we all can imbibe.
Sometimes as devotees we see another devotee doing their service quietly and we think,
“They are just an ordinary devotee and that my service is more important.”
But if we can show gratitude and appreciation, then everyone can feel uplifted.
Prabhupada saw everyone equally and saw only the good in everyone.
That is one of the main qualities of a devotee.
Then someone asked Prabhupada something about why he was chanting and he said,
“We are chanting, but we also have many books.”
He always wanted people to understand that there was knowledge behind this philosophy.
Then he said, “But for those who can’t read, just chant. It doesn’t matter but otherwise we have many books on philosophy.”
I thought that was very significant and important for me because I was into the philosophy.
That is what kept me going as well.
The mantra caught me whereby I could not stop chanting Hare Krishna, even as a hippie.
But it was the philosophy that kept me.
—Ananga Manjari

Giriraj Swami: Today is Rama-ekadasi, the date on which Srila Prabhupada completed his translation of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. The event is described in the following excerpt from my forthcoming book I’ll Build You a Temple, about Srila Prabhupada and Juhu.
——
Every morning just before six I would walk up the stairs to Prabhupada’s room to accompany him on his morning walk. But when another devotee and I went on the day after Rama-ekadasi, on November 11, we were surprised to find the doors—both to his quarters, on one side, and to his staff’s quarters, on the other—locked. I wasn’t sure what to do, but I gently knocked on both doors. After a minute or two, Prabhupada’s secretary, Harikesa, opened the assistants’ door just a little and said that Prabhupada had stayed up all night and completed his translation of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, that at the end he had written the most beautiful glorification of his guru maharaja, and that he was in an ecstatic mood and had said that we should celebrate by having a feast.
In his Concluding Words, Prabhupada had written, “Today, Sunday, November 10, 1974—corresponding to the 10th of Kartika, Caitanya Era 488, the eleventh day of the dark fortnight, the Rama-ekadasi—we have now finished the English translation of Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami’s Sri Caitanya-caritamrta in accordance with the authorized order of His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Gosvami Maharaja, my beloved eternal spiritual master, guide and friend.”
Prabhupada recounted his first meeting with his guru maharaja and receiving his instruction “to preach the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in English in the Western countries.” At first he had resisted the order. “Because at that time I was a complete nationalist, a follower of Mahatma Gandhi’s, I submitted to His Divine Grace that unless our country were freed from foreign subjugation, no one would hear the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu seriously… . but at last I was defeated and convinced that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s message is the only panacea for suffering humanity. I was also convinced that the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was then in the hands of a very expert devotee and that surely the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would spread all over the world. I could not, however, immediately take up his instructions to preach, but I took his words very seriously and was always thinking of how to execute his order, although I was quite unfit to do so.”
When in 1950 Prabhupada had retired from family life and then taken sannyasa, he had finally been “completely ready to discharge the order of my spiritual master… . By the mercy of His Divine Grace, I was able to come to New York on September 17, 1965. Since then, I have translated many books, including Srimad-Bhagavatam, the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Teachings of Lord Caitanya (a summary), and many others.
“In the meantime, I was induced to translate Sri Caitanya-caritamrta,” Srila Bhaktisiddhanta’s favorite book. “I think that [he] is always seeing my activities and guiding me within my heart by his words. As it is said in Srimad-Bhagavatam, tene brahma hrda ya adi-kavaye [SB 1.1.1]. Spiritual inspiration comes from within the heart, wherein the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His Paramatma feature, is always sitting with all His devotees and associates… .
“It is my wish that devotees of Lord Caitanya all over the world enjoy this translation, and I am glad to express my gratitude to the learned men in the Western countries who are so pleased with my work that they are ordering in advance all my books that will be published in the future. On this occasion, therefore, I request my disciples who are determined to help me in this work to continue their cooperation fully, so that philosophers, scholars, religionists and people in general all over the world will benefit by reading our transcendental literatures.”
Hare Krishna.

[Interview at Bhakti Radio Network Station, Dallas, USA]
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Today is Rama-ekadasi, the date on which Srila Prabhupada completed his translation of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta. The event is described in the following excerpt from my forthcoming book I’ll Build You a Temple, about Srila Prabhupada and Juhu.

Every morning just before six I would walk up the stairs to Prabhupada’s room to accompany him on his morning walk. But when another devotee and I went on the day after Rama-ekadasi, on November 11, we were surprised to find the doors—both to his quarters, on one side, and to his staff’s quarters, on the other—locked. I wasn’t sure what to do, but I gently knocked on both doors. After a minute or two, Prabhupada’s secretary, Harikesa, opened the assistants’ door just a little and said that Prabhupada had stayed up all night and completed his translation of Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, that at the end he had written the most beautiful glorification of his guru maharaja, and that he was in an ecstatic mood and had said that we should celebrate by having a feast.

In his Concluding Words, Prabhupada had written, “Today, Sunday, November 10, 1974—corresponding to the 10th of Kartika, Caitanya Era 488, the eleventh day of the dark fortnight, the Rama-ekadasi—we have now finished the English translation of Sri Krsnadasa Kaviraja Gosvami’s Sri Caitanya-caritamrta in accordance with the authorized order of His Divine Grace Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura Gosvami Maharaja, my beloved eternal spiritual master, guide and friend.”

Prabhupada recounted his first meeting with his guru maharaja and receiving his instruction “to preach the cult of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu in English in the Western countries.” At first he had resisted the order. “Because at that time I was a complete nationalist, a follower of Mahatma Gandhi’s, I submitted to His Divine Grace that unless our country were freed from foreign subjugation, no one would hear the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu seriously. . . . but at last I was defeated and convinced that Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s message is the only panacea for suffering humanity. I was also convinced that the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu was then in the hands of a very expert devotee and that surely the message of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu would spread all over the world. I could not, however, immediately take up his instructions to preach, but I took his words very seriously and was always thinking of how to execute his order, although I was quite unfit to do so.”

When in 1950 Prabhupada had retired from family life and then taken sannyasa, he had finally been “completely ready to discharge the order of my spiritual master. . . . By the mercy of His Divine Grace, I was able to come to New York on September 17, 1965. Since then, I have translated many books, including Srimad-Bhagavatam, the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, Teachings of Lord Caitanya (a summary), and many others.

“In the meantime, I was induced to translate Sri Caitanya-caritamrta,” Srila Bhaktisiddhanta’s favorite book. “I think that [he] is always seeing my activities and guiding me within my heart by his words. As it is said in Srimad-Bhagavatam, tene brahma hrda ya adi-kavaye [SB 1.1.1]. Spiritual inspiration comes from within the heart, wherein the Supreme Personality of Godhead, in His Paramatma feature, is always sitting with all His devotees and associates. . . .

“It is my wish that devotees of Lord Caitanya all over the world enjoy this translation, and I am glad to express my gratitude to the learned men in the Western countries who are so pleased with my work that they are ordering in advance all my books that will be published in the future. On this occasion, therefore, I request my disciples who are determined to help me in this work to continue their cooperation fully, so that philosophers, scholars, religionists and people in general all over the world will benefit by reading our transcendental literatures.”

Hare Krishna.

https://youtu.be/D2U8nwYlUT4

Prasadam distribution by Iskcon Botswana devotees (Southern Africa) during a local Food Festival (Album with photos)
Srila Prab...

Blissful initiation ceremony in Govardhan, India (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s transcendental mission is to distribute love of Godhead to everyone. Anyone who accepts God as the Supreme can take to the process of chanting Hare Krishna and become a lover of God. (Sri Caitanya-caritamrta, Adi-lila, 4.41 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/5HHEpN

The Older Brother (7 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: The village of Dauji, not far from the town of Vrindavan, is steeped in devotion to the deity who resides there. The deity is also called Dauji, a name for Lord Balarama meaning ‘elder brother.’ The mood of the small village is reminiscent of Vrindavan several decades ago; small, quiet, quaint, and bursting with devotion. A must see for any devotee desiring to dive deep into the spiritual atmosphere of Sri Vrindavan Dhama.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/Me6vkv

"O expert and thoughtful men, relish Srimad-Bhagavatam, the mature fruit of the desire tree of Vedic literatures. It emanated from the lips of Sri Shuka Muni. Therefore this fruit has become even more tasteful, although its nectarean juice was already relishable for all, including liberated souls." Srimad-Bhagavatam is the galitam phalam, or ripened fruit, of all Vedic knowledge. It is exactly like amrita, for by hearing its recitation we can cross beyond birth and death. The Srimad-Bhagavatam describes the various incarnations of Lord Hari, and in the process of these descriptions ten important subject matters are explained, namely sarga (the elemental creation), visarga (the secondary creation), sthanam (the planetary systems), poshanam (protection by the Lord), utayah (the creative impetus), manvantara (the periods of Manu), isha-anukatha (the science of God), nirodha (dissolution), mukti (liberation), and ashraya (the supreme shelter). Continue reading "Ten Subjects of Srimad-Bhagavatam
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SB Class in Melbourne, 13 October 2017 by HH Hanumat Presaka Swami (video)
Srimad Bhagavatam Purana excels for:
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[Talk at Southern Methodist University, Dallas, USA]

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TOVP: The final stage of one of the domes (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: Dear Devotees,
We are now decorating the ribs ...

For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of September 2017. North American Totals, Monthly Temples, Monthly Weekend Warriors. Monthly Top 100 Individuals, Monthly Top 5, Cumulative Countries, Cumulative Temples, Cumulative Top 100 Individuals, Cumulative Top 5 Continue reading "NASN September 2017 – North American Sankirtan Newsletter
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Varnasrama series.

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Those who joined the parikrama party in 2016, don’t need an introduction but in case you missed the opportunity, you can get on board this year for the Vrindavan Braj Parikrama 2017 with Kadamba Kanana Swami. Once again, we will travel to holy places in the larger Vrindavan area, where we will engage in melodious bhajan and read from scriptures on the glories of each place!

Please find the parikrama schedule below but as always, dates are subject to change.

Kindly register using the form below as seats on the bus are limited.

• 25 Oct Raval and Brahmanda Ghata
• 26 Oct Surabhi Kund
• 27 Oct Santanukunda and Madhuvan
• 28 Oct Day of rest – Initiations at Bhaktivedanta Swami Goshala
• 29 Oct Sanketa and Anjanoka
• 30 Oct Sudevi Mandir and Unchagaon
• 31 Oct Prema Sarovara
  (Ekadasi, Srila Gaura Kisordasa Babaji disappearance day)
• 1 Nov Rama Ghat and Chir Ghat
• 2 Nov Harinama in Vrindavan
• 3 Nov Boat trip to Mathura, Visrama Ghata. Return by bus

The 2016 Parikrama

Last year, was loads of fun and you can read a summary or watch a short video of the experience.

Braj Parikrama Registration Form

If you cannot view the form below please click here.

Ecstatic Harinam Sankirtan at 34th street Pen station Thursday, October 12th (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If one some...

By Your causeless mercy only, we are now able to think of Your lotus feet. This is our greatest gain. Dear Lord, everyone knows that the body is a breeding ground of diseases. Now we are aged, and instead of being proud of our bodily strength, we are getting weaker day by day. We are no longer interested in sense gratification or the false happiness derived through the material body. By Your grace, we have now come to the conclusion that hankering after such material happiness is just like searching for water in a desert mirage. We are no longer interested in the results of our pious activities, such as performing great sacrifices to be elevated to the heavenly planets.

Ujjain darshan by GBC MEMBERS (Album with photos)
Al the devotees who came for the GBC midterm meetings visited Ujjain’s famous temple.
Ujjain is the place where the Supreme Personality Of Godhead came to “Sandipani Muni Ashrama” with his elder brother Lord Balaram and His friend Sudama for studying, He became master in 64 arts in just 64 days. also in Ujjain, there is one of the Jyotirlinga called “Mahakaleshvara” and river “Shipra” where Kumbh Mela taking place in every 12 years. Some of the highlights of today.
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Govardhan Retreat 2017 (Album with photos)
Giridhari Swami: We held our annual retreat/parikram at Govardhana from September 23-Oct. 5. 100 devotees from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines were blessed by the association of Rtadhvaja Swami Maharaja, Asita Krishna Maharaja and Krishna Baladeva Prabhu. The first week was spent in a retreat-style setting with increased focus on improving japa, as well as hearing relevant topical seminars and classes from these very qualified speakers. As it is said, “a picture is worth a thousand words” and these photos speak volumes.
The well-known kirtaniya, Govinda Prabhu and his kirtan team led the devotees in two enlivening, “Aindra Prabhu style” afternoon kirtan sessions, which had everyone on their feet and dancing with abandon by the end.
Sri Giriraja Govardhana ki-jaya!
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1970s Hare Krishnas perform in downtown Toronto.
Cynthia Reason (insidetoronto.com): This week’s “ThrowbackThursday” documents an early 1970s performance by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) – more commonly known as the Hare Krishnas – in downtown Toronto.
Taken sometime between 1970 and 1972, the photo was captured in front of the Bank of Montreal on the north-east corner of Yonge and Queen streets.
In 1976, ISKCON Toronto opened its own Hare Krishna Temple in a circa-1896 church at 243 Avenue Rd. Still in operation today, the temple opens its doors every Sunday evening to the “spiritually seasoned and the somewhat curious” for a weekly Love Feast, featuring kirtan musical mantra meditation, chanting, drumming, spiritual discourse and a free vegetarian feast served to all.
“ThrowbackThursday” is a weekly feature from Metroland Media Toronto showcasing fascinating photos from this city’s olden days, courtesy of the Toronto Archives.

Our "Paramahamster" comic strip follows an enthusiastic devotee as he navigates a 9 - 5 work day in the corporate world. Please check back weekly for new episodes!

On a recent sunny morning, Dr. Piyush Gupta was gazing across a broad expanse of land just west of Hilliard. Many might just see a dew-covered field dotted with groups of trees, but Gupta can imagine a large, white stone temple rising up from the ground. The site, just off Walker Road, is the future home of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness Columbus, of which Gupta is a council member. ISKCON is a society for Hare Krishnas, who believe meditation can purify one’s consciousness. The society, located in a small house near Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center since the 1980s, purchased the more than 50 acres of land in March 2016, and plans to start building on it soon. The land is just one sign of the vibrant, growing Krishna community in Columbus. Continue reading "Hare Krishnas’ new temple takes environment into account
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This goal of life, to see the Lord everywhere and in this way be absorbed in Him, was also specifically described by Prahlada Maharaja when he was trying to convince his materialistic and demoniac friends about what is the purpose of life when he said, "O sons of demons, in the same favorable way that one sees himself and takes care of himself, take to devotional service to satisfy Bhagavan Sri Krishna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is present everywhere as the Supersoul of all living beings. Everyone... can revive his original, eternal spiritual life and exist forever simply by accepting the principles of bhakti-yoga. In this material world, to render service to the lotus feet of Govinda, the cause of all causes, and to see Him everywhere, is the only goal of life. This much alone is the ultimate goal of human life, as explained by all the revealed scriptures." (Bhag.7.7.53-55) Continue reading "Being Absorbed in God
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“As invisible as an insect that has fallen into a fire, the Asura (Hiranyakasipu) disappeared into the effulgence of Nrisimha” (video)
SB Class by H.G.Bhurijan Prabhu, 12.10.2017 in ISKCON Vrindavan.
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