Planet ISKCON

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ISKCON Namahtta Aruppukottai celebrated 3rd annual Rath yatra (Album with photos)
ISKCON Namahtta Aruppukottai celebrated 3rd annual Rath yatra on 9th July 2017 on auspicious Occasion of ISKCON 50th Ratha yatra.
“ISKCON’s first ever Ratha-yatra was held in Los Angeles, San Francisco on 9th July 1967”
By Blessing of HH Jayapataka swamy & HH Bhanu swami and with the presences of HH Sukhadeva swami - Nellor, HH Bakthi Asharya vaisnava swami – Vrindavan, HG Sumitra Krishna das Prabhu TP Iskcon chennai , HG Srinivas shyam das Prabhu TP Iskcon Hosur , HG Vikram govind das Prabhu TP Iskcon NagerCovil, HG Jaigopinath das Prabhu TP iskcon prembur and as Chief Gust “ Asia’s largest spinning industries- Ramalings mills chairman Thiru TR. Dhanakaran and devotees from various part of tamil nadu took part in the festival .

Rath start at Aiyaram kaan Mariyaman kovil Puliyampati Aruppukottai and Rath moved slowly towards main bazaar big streets and to residents area then on the south, west & east car street.

Once Jagannatha reaches program avenue He is given another wonderful reception, and is welcomed He, along with His brother Baladeva and sister Subhadra are carefully taken down from Their chariots, and are escorted to the wonderfully decorated stage for worship.

Thousands of people gather in the program avenue, cultural program Brathanatiyam , Drama “Bilva mangal thakura “ proformed by Srila Prabhupad theaters Arathi to Lordship and every one relish Jaganatha feast prasadham more than 2500 plates of prasadam distributed.

ISKCON Namahatta Aruppukottai
Find them here: https://goo.gl/pGWvAL

Summer Cooking Retreat With Satya in the Manor! (Album with photos)
What we learnt: The following preparations with some special cooking tips! - Bread - Green Beans and Pumpkin Curry - Rice - Paneer Kofta - Roti (Flat Bread) - Vanilla and Mango Ice-cream! Who’s the cook: Satya has been cooking a wide range of cuisines for over 30 years and has on numerous occasions also cooked for George Harrison of the Beatles. She was also in charge of the manor kitchen for over 8 years cooking amazing meals every day for over 200 people. And hey, she’s even cooked for the Queen!
Find them here: https://goo.gl/FZk7Jx

By Sunanda Das

Most significantly was the presence of Lord Nityananda’s Padukas and Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Sitari from Mayapur along with His Grace Sriman Jananivas and Vraja Vilas prabhus representing the TOVP. Maharaja dedicated over three hours of prime-time to the TOVP presentation and fundraising showing by his own example the importance of the project. Due to his inspiration over $1 million U.S. was raised in pledges. Continue reading "His Holiness Lokanath Swami Dedicates Vyasa Puja to TOVP
→ Dandavats"

By Mayapur Sasi dasa

For the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of June 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 June 2017 – North American Sankirtan Newsletter
→ Dandavats"

ANNOUNCEMENT!

This Sunday(July 16) we won't be carrying on regular Sunday Love Feast For all on account of
45th Annual Ratha-Yatra and Festival of India.We're moving to Sherbourne Common.We would like to invite you, your family and friends for 45th Annual Ratha-yatra and Festival of India on July 15-16, 2017. We will resume Sunday Feast program starting from July 23rd,2017.
 
As you may be aware of relocation of  the Festival due to flooding and closure of the Centre Island.

However a beautiful location just by the water has been found out and the festival will go on as usual on it's new location Sherbourne Common which is as *beautiful* as the island, being adjacent to the Sugar beach, lake Ontario and boardwalks with lush green grass and more!
(See the map down for your convenience)

PLEASE NOTE THE PARADE ROUTE REMAINS UNCHANGED!!
As always the parade will go down the Yonge Street from its usual location on Yonge & Asquith.

Lord Jagannath, Baladev and Lady Subhadra will have their beautiful temple overlooking the lake at the most unique location within the park area.

MAPS:


   

 

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 2011, Govinda Valley, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 3.25.27)

As the years go by in the Hare Krsna Movement, sometimes we are surprised at how some devotees become entangled again in material things. We could never have imagined that it would happen to them.

If you are involved in management, it’s like being the cops – you are always with the dead body; that’s the job of the police. Being in management is the same – do the post mortem, “Alright, here we are again. Let’s look at all the horrible details of what went wrong.”

This is also part of the Movement! Let us face reality… it is not just a beautiful story – we joined the Movement and we all became saints! Sometimes we struggle since we do not have much desire to chant the Holy Name or sometimes we made an offense by speaking harshly to another vaisnava… It can also become a little more raw than that!

The lower nature can really come out. What can we say!? Psychologists speak about the ‘inner child’. I am often in Germany and in a bookstore; I saw a book speaking about the “Innerer Schweinehund.” The best way to translate it is: the ‘inner hog dog’. Literally, it means the pig within. We know him well and he is there pushing and ready for action at anytime. The moment we think that we are beyond it, then DANGER ZONE… DANGER ZONE! One must remain on guard always and remember, “I have this weakness inside of me; it will not benefit me in any way if I follow it!”

Our handle, our control on that weak side of us is first of all REGULATION – to follow a regulated program. Secondly, we need PHILOSOPHICAL UNDERSTANDING so that we can look beyond the here and now and see what the consequences are in the long term. If we learn to think about the consequences of our actions in the long term, then we are more protected.

Therefore, we do not want a Movement where everyone is on automatic pilot. If we don’t think then we are an endangered species. We have to think of the consequences of our actions; this is what the Bhagavatam is calling for.

The Bhagavatam is not just a sweet book, describing the sweetness of Krsna’s glories and pastimes. If we think that the Bhagavatam is just a sweet inspirational book, then we are certainly missing the point because it is a heavy book as well. The Bhagavatam shows us the heaviness of the material nature and how it entangles us. The Bhagavatam asks us to think about the consequences of things. Therefore the Bhagavatam is there to awaken us and kick start a process of where we begin to practice questioning, “What is going to be the result of the actions of what I am doing now?”

The post Daily Darshan: July 13th, 2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Sharing the Bliss (10 min video) Indradyumna Swami: On our festival tour along the Baltic Sea coast in Poland each summer we try to give people a...

A ‘Tornado’ named-“MIP” (Album with photos)
A few Days Back- A 'Tornado’ named-“MIP (Mayapur International Preaching)”-Just Flooded and Blew the Hearts away of Bangladeshi️ People. Thousands of People were the Victims (Many of them were Lost, Most of Them are Still Floating into the Water and Rest of them don’t want to Come out from the Water!!!). But the Good News is that-“All Victims Were Liberated” (param-vijayate-sri-krsna-sankirtanam)…Here are the Glimpses: https://goo.gl/8nyeXe

Ratha Yatra 2017 in the city of Novi Sad a city in northern Serbia on the banks of the Danube River (Album with photos)
“For one who sees Me everywhere and sees everything in Me, I am never lost, nor is he ever lost to Me.” (Bhagavad-gita, 6.30)
Ratha Yatra, 05 July 2017 in the city of Novi Sad.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/cgS4iR

MotelGita: A comment from one of the guests who found the BHAGAVAD GITA AS IT IS - in SUPER 8 - CA
Isa (in the photo) says she read a few pages of Bhagavad Gita for the first time more than 35 years ago, but came across the BHAGAVAD Gita As it is - in SUPER 8 Motel & was stunned by this profound edition

A young boy with a spiritual appetite!
Shastrakrit Das: Recently, to my surprise, I received a text from this south India gentleman Suresh saying that his 12-year-old son Shreyas is on a school break for the summer and has read the ( Krishna Dharma’s) Mahabharata three times cover to cover (which they bought from me a couple of months ago).Sreyas kept asking Suresh for more books about Krishna.
I suggested that Suresh buy his intelligent and pious son the entire Bhagavatam set, which includes Ram lila and lilas of all other incarnations.
A few minutes later, Suresh texted, saying that his son is eager to read Bhagavatam’s right away.
We met an hour later in a parking lot of a mall where I usually distribute, and they immediately put the set in the trunk of their car. The boy was so happy.
My Gurudeva, Devamrita Swami, often says that we should pray that people are fortunate to run into book distributors again and again and that they become more and more fortunate by receiving more and more and more of Srila Prabhupada’s books.

Bringing Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s Pastimes to Life in Our Hearts
“A full twelve hours of pure unalloyed Krsna Consciousness.” – (Shatadhanya Prabhu)
“How can I ever have a favourite part? The kirtans are fantastic, there is so much senior association, all the devotees want to serve, the management is par excellent, the prasad is delicious, and the Dham is so beautiful! Still, hearing from the disciples of Srila Prabhupada is my favourite part.” – (Nimai Sundar Prabhu)
“The parikram brings the pastimes of Lord Chaitanya to life in our hearts.” – (Laxmimoni Mataji)

“Recommend it!? It’s a must! If you haven’t been on the Mayapur Chandra’s Parikrama, 50% of your life is wasted.” – (Pankajanghri Prabhu)

Dear Devotees, welcome to the Mayapur Chandra’s Parikrama. These were some of the realizations from our attending Vaisnavas and their experience, observations, interactions and discussions have joyously revealed that, though the praise was lavish it was far from exaggerated.

Sunrise to sunset there is one goal on this Parikrama - to hear and chant about Krsna, in His Dham, with His dear most devotees. Members of ISKCON from all over the world and all ages flock in annual attendance to this Prema-filled Parikrama. It is just the perfect package!

There are so many devotees, but not too many; the mood stays intimate. The management is perfect, but flexible; any devotee so inspired always has an opportunity for some service. And best of all, no matter how much your mind tries to wander; there is Krsna Consciousness at every step. No one can escape into the shadows of Maya and the result is brilliant, darkness dispersed, everyone happily accepts their fate and absorbs themselves in the names, abodes, and pastimes of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. In six short days, you will get the experience of a lifetime. And though admittedly exhausting, it is equally ecstatic.

Ladies and gentleman, this is not some unreachable utopia, nor a lavish lie. This is Navadwip Dham. It is the spiritual world. Respected Vaishnavas, this is Mayapur Chandra’s Kartik Parikrama.

For those devotees who couldn’t attend this year’s Parikrama, can grab the opportunity for next year’s Parikrama. The dates are 18th, 19th, 21st, 22nd, 24th and 25th October 2017 with a two day break on the 20th and 23rd for Govardhana Puja and Srila Prabhupada’s Vyasa Puja respectively.

Special participants for Kartik Navadvip Mandal Parikrama 2017 are H.H Jayapathaka Swami, H.H Kavichandra Swami, H.H Bhakti Purushottam Swami, H.H Bhakti Brihad Bhagavat Swami, H.G Pankajangrhi Prabhu, H.G Jananivas Prabhu and many more Srila Prabhupada’s disciple and senior devotees.

By Adidev Das

New Music Album (1 min video) Chanting of Maha-mantra by Niranjana Swami and friends to support Iskcon Youth Ministry. Watch it here: https://goo...

For ISKCON devotees, nothing is more inspiring than the idea of completing Srila Prabhupada’s most dear temple project, the TOVP. This inspiring short video by Thakur Saranga prabhu will bring you up to speed on the current progress of the temple construction as of July, 2017.

To donate to this historic project go to: https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/

The post New TOVP Aerial Video Inspires Awe appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

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(Radio show at Toronto, Canada)

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On the auspicious Sayana Ekadasi day of July 4th, over two thousand of His Holiness Lokanath Maharaja’s disciples and well-wishers celebrated his Vyasa Puja in Pandharpur, India, home of Sri Vithalnath Who on that same day observed His Darshan Day.

Most significantly was the presence of Lord Nityananda’s Padukas and Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Sitari from Mayapur along with His Grace Sriman Jananivas and Vraja Vilas prabhus representing the TOVP. Maharaja dedicated over three hours of prime-time to the TOVP presentation and fundraising showing by his own example the importance of the project. Due to his inspiration over $1 million U.S. was raised in pledges.

In a moving speech about the historic and spiritual significance of the TOVP Maharaja explained that, as it was the desire of our acharyas, especially Srila Prabhupada, to build this magnificent temple and monument of Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu’s glory, so it was also his desire. And similarly it should be the deepest desire of his disciples to also see it built. He encouraged one and all to give their might to help fund the construction so that the completion date of 2022 could be realized.

The TOVP presentation consisted of an abhishek for the Padukas and Sitari accompanied by kirtan, speeches from Jananivas, Vraja Vilas and temple leaders, the fundraising event and finally prasadam. Everyone participated in the fundraiser and received gifts from the TOVP in loving reciprocation for their pledge.

The entire TOVP Team is grateful to His Holiness Lokanath Maharaja and all his disciples and followers for their inspiring example and service attitude towards this most important ISKCON project and especially to Istadeva prabhu who organized the entire event.

The post His Holiness Lokanath Swami Dedicates Vyasa Puja to TOVP appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 28 May 2017, Holy Name Festival, Slovenia, Srimad Bhagavatam 6.2.7)

I like one of the plays done by the Germans. In the play, there is a wife who is ironing endless dhotis, piles of them. She has got a cloth around her hair. She looks totally un-charming (laughter). I mean, that is how it is after marriage. Before marriage, they never look like that but after, they do. She is ironing endless piles of laundry. He is sitting in front of the TV watching football.

She is lamenting, “And I thought that he was going to deliver me!”
And he goes, “Shut up, shut up. I cannot hear, the commentator.”
He says, “Where is my coffee?”
She brings him his coffee with an expression on her face that says, “You fallen wretch! Here is your intoxication.”
So he sees that face and he says, “Look. I am not any less Krsna conscious, you know. I mean, I’ll prove it to you. You know, the coffee – black – Krsna. The milk – white – Radharani. And when you stir it – Gauranga!”

Okay, it is just a play but it has a realistic element to it. I mean, what can we say, such things do happen in life. Ultimately, these relationships will only work when partners become friends and engage in Krsna consciousness together. When everything is over, that is all you really get out of it – friendship.

Real friendship means to give someone else something that is really beneficial. You know, I used to have bad friends before and they sort of clunk glasses and said, “Here you go!” You know, where do you go? To hell you go! (laughing) No one likes to go to hell alone so let us go together – this is not friendship. Friendship means we give something beneficial to others and therefore, let us just help each other to be devotees. That is what it is all about. Help each other to be devotees. No one can be a devotee all by himself or herself.

Nanda Kumar Prabhu, who on occasion was Srila Prabhupada’s personal servant, shared the following remembrance:

 Srila Prabhupada regularly took hot milk at night, just before taking rest. Occasionally he would have puffed rice along with it, but usually just hot milk without anything in it. One night when I took his milk in, there was a special energy in his room that I could feel right away. Srila Prabhupada was sitting at his desk reading Krsna book with His wire-rimmed glasses on.

When I set the milk down in front of him, he looked up with the most beautiful childlike innocent look on his face and said, “You know, when I read these books it’s hard to believe I wrote them. I learn something every time I read them. Actually, I didn’t write them—Krishna wrote them.” It was almost like he was a young boy, the way the energy felt—so pure and so innocent.

When I went back fifteen minutes later to take his glass and cleanse his desk, he was already getting up to go to bed. I was rarely if ever there when he finally took rest. My normal routine was to take his glass, cleanse his desk where the glass had been, then go into his bedroom and turn back the covers on his bed for whenever he was ready to take rest. Because he was already heading for bed, I postponed the glass-and-desk part and went right in to turn the covers back for him. The timing was perfect, and as I did it, he got right into bed, and I had the blessed opportunity to pull the covers up and actually tuck him in.

The innocent vibration was still permeating his whole quarters, and as I tucked him into bed, he looked up with pure unconditional love and said, “Oh, thank you very much!” It was all I could do to keep my composure as I paid my obeisances before going back to his desk to get his glass and clean his desk. It was such an amazing experience and a blessing that I’m so grateful for.

All glories to His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada.

Letters combine to form words. Words combine to form sentences. Combination of sentences express an idea. It is like music. Music is actually made up of fundamental notes (basic notes), combined we get myriad musical notes which invoke in us the emotion of happiness, sadness, anger, patriotism, love etc. The same is true when a speaker has a knack to combine words and sentences in such a way to invoke a certain emotion within our hearts.

Adolf Hitler had such sinister motives that merely through his speeches; he could sway his troops to follow his ideology. To this day, in America, if a layman utters the phrase “I have a dream…” immediately people will recall the famed speech delivered by Martin Luther King Jr. This is almost ubiquitous. His speech stirred the emotions of people so much that to this day, people remember him with those four initial words. When Neil Armstrong put his first step on the moon, his famous line “That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” is a memory etched in the follower of modern science. “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country” rocketed Kennedy to the White House. Words and combination of it, history has shown, can invoke such action that it can change a person or community or nation for the good or for the bad. Hence, the scriptures stress the importance of hearing followed by chanting.

When spiritual sound is combined in an artistic way to express an idea that will lead us to act spiritually, then such sound is powerful. Self-realized souls who are constantly in touch with the supersoul have the ability to speak and inspire just about anyone. It is important to hear from them. Srila Prabhupada although not a trained scientist, still engaged many scientists’ in a meaningful way because he spoke in an artistic way to capture the minds of the scientists at the same time delivering his spiritual message despite their unwillingness to do so. By hearing sincerely, one’s intelligence about the non-physical becomes more of a reality. If mundane words can invoke deep emotions of the past, present and future, certainly words glorifying Swayam Bhagavan Sri Krishna is supremely powerful that it can burn away all misgivings of the individual and set the individual on a journey with an emotion full of unending magic and joy!

Hear Krishna! Chant Krishna! See Krishna! Serve Krishna!
Hare Krishna

Book Distribution weekend of July 6-9. 2017 (Album with photos)
Mohanasini Devi Dasi: Although this couple didn’t take a book or get into the album, they sent me a friend request. Scot, “Nice meeting you today in New Orleans. Hare Krishna.” And his wife, Beth, “ We are the couple who has "read the book”! I am an Interfaith Minister in Jackson, MS. Always enjoy connecting with other light sharers. Blessings!“
Book totals for this weekend: 15 Perfection of Yoga, 23 Chant and Be Happy, 65 Higher Taste Cookbooks, 3 Science of Self Realization, 153 Bhagavad Gitas, and 9 Srimad Bhagavatams Total: 268 books
Find them here: https://goo.gl/oto9Qa