Websites from the ISKCON Universe
Sadbhuja Das answers important questions about the metals being used for the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, Mayapur, India, such as gold, titanium nitrate, stainless steel, bronze, etc.
Testimonials of world-wide Bhakti-vriksha (ISKCON congregation) leaders. A docuemnatry by BhakTV, derected by Vasuedav Das.
School Preaching in ISKCON Dwarka New Delhi (Album with photos)
Janmashtami 2017 Theatre participation certificates distribution program on 3rd ... 
When a budding sculptor approached his master for guidance, he received some cryptic advice. After quizzing him on his purpose, the young craftsman replied: “More than anything else, I would like to sculpt a beautiful elephant.” Without the blink of an eyelid, the master set a block of stone and some tools in front of the young boy. “Here is some marble, a mallet, and a chisel” the master said, “all you have to do now is carve away everything that does not look like a beautiful elephant!” Simple as that.
“Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations!”
We were going to Kumbha Mela on rikshas and trying to reach ISKCON’s tents. Our riksha driver thought that many of the tents were the ISKCON tents, so he was driving us all around. It was already after midnight but we could not find the ISKCON tents. Since we were tired and sleepy, we stopped by some tent in which the people there allowed us to stay overnight.
The party was about to begin. A few hours later, I was awakened by a strange smell. These people didn’t follow the principles. They were smoking some intoxicant. Although influenced by the drug and fatigue, I somehow managed to wake up the devotees, and very soon we left the tent. It was only due to Krsna’s mercy that we managed to find the ISKCON devotees amongst millions of “sadhus.” Actually, when we got there in the morning, they were all gone on harinam and sankirtan.
The thought of distributing books on that day caused an eruption of protests like: “You slept only few hours. You did not even have a bath or chant, while the power of the drug is still working.” Still, the distribution of books is free from the influence of the material world, and when Krsna wants to give His mercy, He gives it.
I asked the devotees to give me the books, and after a long discussion, they agreed. I somehow managed to talk my mind into taking one hundred small books. The distribution of them went on easily by the mercy of Krsna. I was walking from sadhu to sadhu and saying “Hare Krsna” while they were taking books and giving donations. That day was also special owing to the fact that I wanted to have a bath in Ganga before the sunset. It is an offense to bath in Ganga after the sunset. During sankirtana I met a very interesting sadhu who looked like Jesus Christ. He was mute, but still he knew all the Bhagavad-gita by heart! I realized this by observing the movement of his lips: I would start citing a verse and he would simply continue. He also helped me with the distribution. He would contact people by mime, and they were coming and taking the books!
The day was coming to end, but I still had ten books in my hand. I decided to walk toward Ganga and try to distribute. Every so often I observed the sun, then the books. I still had ten minutes, so I prayed more intensely: Krsna help me, Krsna help me – there are just a few minutes left, and I still have books in my hands.“ I hurried towards the Ganga. I had three books left, then two. In one moment more, I was five meters from the Ganga, and the sun was about to set, but I still had one book in my hand! The situation became very tense since I wanted so much to bathe in the sacred Ganges at the right time. At once, two Indian sadhus appeared, and I gave them the last book. They were excited. They gave me a donation, and one of them unexpectedly held out his hand. I was confused. People don’t shake hands in India. I had just one minute left, but I held out my hand too, and to my surprise he said in Croatian (my language): "Congratulations!”
Completely confused and ecstatic, I ran into the Ganga and immediately came out. The sun was setting, and the mercy of Krsna was falling on my head. The sadhu’s words resounded in my head: “Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations!” There was no way he knew where I was from or what I was doing, but surely there is ONE WHO KNOWS!
Sankirtana, ki jaya!
Srila Prabhupada, ki jay!
Mother Ganga, ki jay!
Your servant,
Nitaidaya Dasa
Today is the divine appearance day of the transcendental twins: Rangadevi and Sudevi Sakhi. In the year 1992, the last of the four Asta-sakhis, or principle associates of Srimati Radharani, appeared in Mayapur and took their places on the altar. Rangadevi and Sudevi, were two of these four and they stand third and fourth on […]
The post Ranga Devi and Sudevi- The Transcendental Twins appeared first on Mayapur.com.
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By Chandan Yatra Das Thakura Haridasa was present during most of the Lord Caitanya's pastimes in Nadia, and when the Lord went to Jagannatha Puri, Haridasa also went and took up residence there. Every day, after attending Lord Jagannatha's mangala arati, Lord Caitanya would come to see Haridasa Thakura and bring him some of Lord Jagannatha's prasadam. When Sri Sanatana Goswami and Sri Rupa Goswami would come from Vrindavana to Puri they used to stay with Haridasa Thakura. Haridasa, in order to maintain the etiquette, would not go near Lord Jagannatha's temple but would offer his obeisances to the Cakra on top of the temple, from a distance. As he was considered to be a Mohammedan by birth, his presence in the temple would be objectionable to those who were caste conscious. He passed away in presence of Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. Continue reading "Srila Haridasa Thakura Samadhi
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By Giriraj Swami Although Namacarya Haridasa Thakura chanted the holy name day and night, he also found time to read and hear scripture, and he discoursed on the glories of the holy name with reference to scripture. And although he was fully absorbed in chanting the holy name, he was affectionate to the devotees and always tried to help them Continue reading "Haridasa Thakura’s Disappearance Day
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[Talk Show at Salt Lake City, USA]
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By Visakha Dasi My mission of life is to propagate the idea of cultivating spiritual vision, which alone can bring about peace and prosperity of the human society.” - Srila Prabhupada. Celebrate International Peace Day with Prabhupada! Hare Krishna! will show in over 80 Regal Cinemas nationwide. Bring along your family, friends, colleagues, yoga buddies or student groups to see the film! Continue reading "Hare Krishna! The Film: National Event Screening in Over 80 Cities!
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By Mahakarta Das On the occasion of the 66th birthday on 03rd of September 2017, the President of Sri Lanka had special offerings at the Dehiwala Vishnu Temple in Sri Lanka and released a cow from the slaughter house and handed it over to Mahakarta Das – the temple president of ISKCON Sri Lanka. The pictures attached show the details of the ceremony. ISKCON Sri Lanka conducts cow protection program in the name of ISKCON Goshala. There are more than 50 cows including calves and bulls protected and maintained in the Goshala. Continue reading "President of Sri Lanka H.E. Maithripala Sirisena released a cow from the slaughter house and gifted it to ISKCON Goshala on his birthday
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Rathayatra in Saratov in Russia (Album with photos)
Bhakti Caitanya Swami: We had a wonderful Rathayatra in Saratov in Russia on Sunday. Maybe 2... 
8,000 And Counting! (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Acyuta Priya das, the regional secretary for our movement in Ukraine, told me that this year’s attendance at the Bhakti Sangam festival could top 8,000 devotees. What bliss! The festival is being held for the next 6 days near Odessa.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/FcD8YL
Bhakti Gaurav Narayana Swami’s class about Bhaktivinoda Thakur’s Glorious Appearance Day in ISKCON Vrindavan (video)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/L4oGa5
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 13 January 2014, Mayapur, India, Lecture: Kirtan Academy 1)
I would like to say something about kirtan since I like kirtan. There are different sides to it. There is the essential side which is the service that we render by chanting the holy name; engaging our mind and senses in chanting; and then our heart eventually which of course takes some time because the heart is like stone and for stone-hearted persons, the heart doesn’t get so much involved.
Then, there is the musical side which is meant to enhance the transcendental side. It is secondary to the transcendental aspect of the name. In Bengal, there is a culture of singing that we have noticed; especially these long drawn out notes, “Haaaaaa…” that go on for a long time. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta didn’t have much enthusiasm about that and if someone was chanting like that for a long time, Bhaktisiddhanta would ask people who “couldn’t sing” to lead the kirtans just to get away from this mood of being professional singers.
It is just like decorating the deities. When you decorate the deities, you should bring out the deity with the decoration. You should not cover the deity with the decoration. If you put so much decoration and just cover the deity; it’s all far out but it doesn’t bring out Krsna then that kind of decoration or alankar, is not desired. One should decorate in such a way that the natural qualities of the deity are being emphasized and magnified!
In the same way, melodies and the voice are meant to support the holy name. Our focus remains on the holy name. So, although some long notes are very nice for musical embellishment but if everything just becomes like, “Haaaa reeee…” and it takes twenty minutes to get through one mantra then it’s a little over the top!
By Madhava Smullen for ISKCON New Vrindaban Communications
ECO-Vrindaban and ISKCON New Vrindaban are extending an invitation to every Hare Krishna temple and farm in North America to attend the 2017 Annual North American ISKCON Farm Conference from October 13th to 15th.
The Conference will be hosted at INV in West Virginia, and is organized Kalakantha Das, the GBC Minister for Agriculture and Cow Protection, along with volunteers from several farm communities.
“We also want to invite not just devotees, but anyone from the regional area who is interested in small farming, gardening or sustainability,” says conference co-organizer Jamuna Jivani Dasi.
Themed “Back to the Basics,” the aim of the conference is not only to discuss the big picture end result; but also to provide practical first steps and a support network for those who feel inspired to carry out Prabhupada’s instructions on simple living, yet lack the experience or knowledge.
ECO-V General Manager Ranaka Das, who has served at New Vrindaban for over forty years, will give participants a tour of the cow protection facilities along with a history of New Vrindaban’s cow protection program – the first in the Western World.
In his presentation “Holistic Cow Care & Ox Training,” Balabhadra Das will give everyone an hour of hands-on time with the oxen, plus an hour of cow protection philosophy according to Srila Prabhupada’s teachings. Balabhadra, now based in Alachua, Florida, has run his “International Society for Cow Protection” (ISCOWP) for decades in New Vrindaban, Gita Nagari and beyond.
The Farm Conference will also benefit from professionals outside the ISKCON community. James Kotcon, Associate Professor of Plant and Soil Sciences at West Virginia University, will lead a workshop on how to build soils using organic practices. His techniques avoid synthetic chemicals and instead use organic matter, tillage, composts, cover crops and crop rotations.
Ken Peralta from Grow Ohio Valley will speak about Community Supported Agriculture (CSAs) and how to set them up. His vision is to see family farms and backyard and community gardens thrive, and have grocery stores and school cafeterias use healthy local produce.
Meanwhile in “The Ahimsa Dairy Equation,” Kalakantha Das will discuss how to plan a sustainable milking herd for an Ahimsa Dairy.
Dhruva Das and his wife Parijata Dasi from Gita Nagari farm in Pennsyvlania will add to this with a presentation on the practice, challenges and price for milk from protected cows.
And there will be a panel discussion on the Ahimsa Dairy Equation with Shyamasundara Das from Bhaktivedanta Manor’s New Gokul farm, along with many of the other presenters.
Elsewhere Vidya Dasi, who has volunteered in the gardens at New Vrindaban for more than forty years, and her colleague Suchandra Dasi will share their expertise in “Flower Production and Propagation.” This will be especially practical and helpful to devotees because local flower production is important for Deity worship in all ISKCON temples.
ECO-V board advisor Makara Dasi, who grew up in New Vrindaban and runs her own small farm in Michigan, will lead a practical canning workshop.
Russian devotee Vrajarenu Das will share insight and inspiration from the many successful farming initiatives currently going on in ISKCON Russia.
And in “The Vrindavan Village Vision of Srila Prabhupda,” Gadi Das of Murari-sevaka Farm in Tennessee will share Srila ??Prabhupada’s teachings on ideal village life? and self-sufficiency as well as lay out practical steps to achieving Srila Prabhupada’s vision.”
On the Friday evening, there will also be a Kartik kirtan at Prabhupada’s Palace and a slideshow presentation by Sankirtan Das on Srila Prabhupada’s instructions for New Vrindaban.
The Farm Conference will be an opportunity for both current and aspiring farmers, gardeners and cowherds to learn about projects underway at New Vrindaban and other small farms around the world. And it will be a chance for them to gain skills, techniques and inspiration for their own private or community farm or garden.
“We also want to help participants network and realize that they’re not alone – that there is a whole community of people committed to similar seva all over North America, who can provide them with resources, support and inspiration,” Jamuna Jivani says.
“And finally, we hope people will get a strong sense of how important farming and cow protection is to Srila Prabhupada, and how they’re all really working towards fulfilling his desire.”
Participation in the Farm Conference costs $151 per person (on-site, 3 nights accommodations) or $108 (on-site, 2 nights accommodations).
Registration is now open at: http://farmconferences.iskcon.co/registration
Or, call 1-304-843-1600, ext.111. Participation is open to all, so organizers ask everyone to extend an invitation to congregational devotees, as well as your small farm neighbors!
The post Daily Darshan:September 04,2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.
Seattle Rathayatra Festival (Album with photos)
Ramai Swami: The devotees at Seattle temple organized a two-day festival at Bellevue Crossroads Park to celebrate Lord Jagannatha’s Rathayatra.
On the first day, activities were going on in various tents and performers in the main tent entertained with dance, kirtan and drama. Of course, the devotees at the free prasadam tent were busy serving a delicious feast all day.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/HC1wqf
By ISKCON Communicatios INDIA This year, Sri Krishna Janmastami 2017 will be remembered for various reasons all across India & its capital, though Krishna Janmastami is a mega event of this country. The day of Janmastami is one of a pious occasion for Vaishnavas community that coincided with Indian Independence Day (15th August 1947) on this year. The occasion is well estimated for gathering of thousands of Krishna Devotees all across the ISKCON temples of India. ISKCON Communications India coordinates the Indian Government officials included Ministers, Judicial, bureaucrats and Dignitaries that representing Indian Government to help in catering the need for strengthening Krishna conscious movement within the government network. The presence of dignitaries from various leading organizations included as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), Prime Minister Office (PMO), Delhi Police, Central Bureau of India (CBI), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Border Security Force (BSF) and Indian Judiciary. Continue reading "A Report: ‘Indian Government conveys their Best wishes on Sri Krishna Janmastami 2017’
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Harinam Sankirtan in Union Square park with HH Radhanath Swami (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: A devotee, either in danger or in happiness,... 
Kulim Ratha Yatra 2017 by ISKCON Malaysia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has given us a nice weapon for this age. ... 
Iskcon devotees from Brno, Czech Republic, harvest their home grown grains and they turn them into chapatis prasadam (Album with photos)
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[Retreat at Fort Clinch State Park, Amelia Islands, USA]
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[Retreat at Fort Clinch State Park, Amelia Islands, USA]
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By His Divine Grace A.C.B. Swami Prabhupada If one hears about the uncommon activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His various incarnations, he is certainly elevated to the higher planetary system or even brought back home, back to Godhead. These narrations are transmitted by exalted personalities, and they eradicate all sinful reactions. Whoever hears these narrations attains all good fortune. The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the dearmost objective of all auspicious benedictions. A human being who sings this song sung by me can please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Such a devotee, being fixed in the Lord's devotional service, can acquire whatever he wants from the Supreme Lord. Continue reading "Benefits one gets when reading and hearing Srimad Bhagavatam
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Book distribution by a dedicated Prabhupada disciple on her 70th Birthday (2 min video)
Gauragopala Dasa: This is a wonderful video on Srimati Mohanasini’s Facebook page of her on her 70th Birthday on the streets distributing Srila Prabhupada’s Books.
It is so inspiring, reminds me of how Srila Prabhupada never even began his preaching in the West until he was 70 years of age and look what he achieved!
This amazing preaching by his dedicated disciple, one of the first in the early years, now 70 years old, is telling us all that our preaching can increase many-fold in our older years and give us eternal life!
In here, along with book distribution, she is also sharing news of the Hare Krishna! Film with visitors in New Orleans.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/oHYNEK