Planet ISKCON

The world’s largest statue of Lord Vishnu on Garuda in Bali (2 min amazing video and photos)
The world’s biggest statue is finally taking shape on a hill overlooking Bali’s international airport.
Twenty-five years and around $100 million in the making, the enormous copper and brass sculpture is of the Hindu god Visnu astride the mythical bird Garuda.
Garuda’s concrete and steel skeleton, with the first pieces of copper and brass skin visible on the statue.
After years of planning, re-designs, cash shortages and stop-start construction, sculptor Nyoman Nuarta says the project should be finished next September.

And the final phase — the fitting of the sculpture’s skin to the concrete and steel skeleton — is well underway.

The copper and brass claws of Garuda are finally gripping an enormous, purpose-built, concrete pedestal.

It should be relatively straightforward, compared to the complex engineering and fundraising for the private project.

“I no longer think about making profit from this project but I just want to work and finish this project because this is my dignity — my family’s and mine — that’s at stake. So it has to be completed,” said Mr Nyoman, speaking to the ABC at his workshop in Bandung, on the island of Java.

“Garuda Wisnu Kencana” is about 75 metres high — 120m if you count the pedestal.

That is about 30m higher than the Statue of Liberty, off New York. But Liberty is tall and thin, while Garuda is almost as wide as it is high — its wingspan is 64m.

That has made life complicated for the project’s engineers. They do not want this Garuda to actually take flight.

“We’ve designed this statue to last for the next 100 years,” construction chief Apul Sihotang said.

“We did wind tunnel tests in Canada, where we calculated the maximum velocity of the wind which will happen in 100 years.

"We have anticipated the wind velocity.”

Strong winds are slowing the installation of the copper and bronze panels — the crane cannot operate if the wind blows more than 10 knots.

Garuda’s shape is so complex that engineers have designed special joints in the supporting structure, with up to 11 enormous steel girders coming together at the same point. Normal construction joints have four or six girders.

The sculpture’s unusual shape also means that maintenance workers will not be able to reach the outside of statue.

“Repairs will be done from inside the statue. We will build a catwalk to fix the statue from the inside so when there is a damage, the statue will be cut out to be fixed from the inside,” the construction chief said.

The statue is being built by Mr Nyoman’s team in Bandung, on the island of Java. It was made in wax, then fibreglass, then copper, then brass, then cut up and driven by truck to Bali for final installation.

Mr Nyoman, who is Balinese, says the project is important for the island.

“We know that Bali thrives from tourism and culture. If we don’t develop the culture it will disappear one day,” he said.

“So we have three responsibilities: to preserve the culture, develop it, and find new alternative cultures.”

The project is important for Indonesia, says one of the people behind the project, Ida Bagus Gede Budi Hartawan.

“Culture is a big thing for our country, our civilisation. When we talk of technology, we may not be there yet. When we talk of economy, we may not be there yet either. But when we speak of culture, we can be equal,” Mr Gede said.

“The latest and greatest masterpiece that this nation has is Borobudur. After that old generation, this nation never produced such creativity again.

"In the global community they underestimate us because of the violence here.

"Thus it is our goal to build something grand for our children and grand-children, for our generation and for the world.”

Watch it here: https://goo.gl/cIHepu

One concrete step for religious leaders to save the environment.

George Harrison and Hare Krishna.
Despite The Beatles incredible fame and fortune, due to the pressures of touring and the constant attention from public and media, peace of mind and happiness had escaped them. So, in 1967 they travelled to Rishikesh. This trip to India was part of a sudden fascination of everything Indian by the vibrant and searching youth of the late 1960s.

This beautiful cake was offered to the Lord by the devotees of Iskcon Los Angeles.
Srila Prabhupada: The Hare Krishna mantra says, “My dear Lord Krishna, my dear Lord Rama, O energy of the Lord, Hare, kindly engage me in your service.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.24.69 Purport)

We are all here because of Srila Prabhupada! (Video)
Srimad Bhagavatam class of Garuda prabhu in Radhadesh, Belgium.
The whole purpose of the Bhagavata Purana is to cultivate, through service, pure love of God.
Devotional service does not depend on material assessment. It is said in Srimad-Bhagavatam, “ahaituki apratihata”. Devotional service must be without any material ambition and there is no material impediment which can check advancement in devotional service.
This is the sum and substance of this Purana: to enculture affection for the Lord.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/ZxjwcG

ISKCON Plainfield temple celebrates Sri-Jagannath Snana Yatra on 09th June 2017 (Album with 49 photos)
Plainfield, NJ. Radha Krishna Temple and Cultural Center (ISKCON), Plainfield, NJ celebrated Sri-Jagannath Snana Yatra with devotion and active participation by hundreds of devotees. Annual bathing festival popularly known as “Snana Yatra” of Lord Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra was held at the ISKCON, Plainfield temple on June 9. The festivities started by bringing the Deities to “Snana vedi”, or bathing altar. The bathing ceremony commenced with chanting of Vedic mantras and Jagannathastakam. The temple priests performed the mirror Abhishek. The priests and assembled devotees bathed the Lordships with herbs and water. Hundreds of devotees gathered in long queues to get a chance to bathe the Lord of the universe. Thereafter, the Deities appeared in Gaja or Hati (elephant) Vesha. Chappan bhoga (56 items) was offered to the Lordships. As a part of His pastime (leela), Lord Jagannath falls sick after the bathing festival and hence the Deities do not give darshan till Rath Yatra day which falls on June 25th 2017. Devotees participated in ecstatic kirtan during Maha-arati and honored sumptuous Jagannath-Prasad. Temple President Madhupati Dasa welcomed the devotees who had gathered in large numbers to celebrate the appearance day of Lord Jagannath.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/59o8K0

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 20 March 2013, Cape Town, South Africa, Srimad Bhagavatam 8.12.6)

Pure devotees of the Lord are only interested in satisfying the senses of the Supreme Lord, hṛṣīkeṇa hṛṣīkeśa-sevanaṁ bhaktir ucyate (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.1.2). They are not concerned with the material world because they appreciate that in the material world, everything is only temporary and therefore any relationship that we have with the material energy, will not endure and therefore it will be painful.

Whatever we have, we become attached to and then it will disintegrate in the course of time. That’s the nature of anything material, so what is the point? “I love my beautiful sandcastle; it is so wonderful. But it will not last; it will be destroyed; so many dreams.”

But the love for these dreams comes from the heart because there is a natural need within the living being for happiness and fulfillment. In this material world, we are always experiencing some emptiness within the heart, always experiencing some yearning, some longing for something, some hope that maybe it will happen. Whatever it is, whatever we want, “Maybe I’ll become rich… maybe I’ll become famous… or rich and famous! Maybe one day I’ll wake up and I’ll be beautiful… it’s doubtful but maybe somehow or other, a miracle will happen, you never know! It could happen, therefore, just wait, just in case. Hold onto to that little straw because maybe it will happen and I so much want it to happen. Oh yes, maybe my love will appear. Yes, the one that is my perfect match, the one that is designed for me, that one!’

Of course, that one doesn’t exist; there is no perfect match, it doesn’t exist! It becomes a boxing match sooner or later. It’s not a perfect match, it is not like that. It’s hard work to make relationships work. You cannot say that there is a marriage that just works. No, you have to work for it. It’s hard for relationships to work and then still you don’t really get what you were dreaming of. That’s the material world!

Anyway some say, “Yes, but better a blind uncle than none. Better something than nothing at all!” Okay yes, we want something after all. Alright have it, if you want to settle for something but let that something that you want out of the material world not interfere with your eternal progress! So it cannot be sinful because when we fulfill our desires in a sinful way, then we become bound up by the laws of material nature.

na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇuṁ
durāśayā ye bahir-artha-māninaḥ
andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānās
te ’pīśa-tantryām uru-dāmni baddhāḥ, (SB 7.5.31)

“Come one, don’t be a square! Yeah, it’s okay, everybody’s doing it, everybody.”

Andhā yathāndhair upanīyamānās, and the blind are leading the blind. Te ’pīśa-tantryām uru-dāmni baddhāḥ, and the result is that we remain bound up in chains. The whole world is doing it and they all just remain bound up in chains, in this material world. The three gunas, sometimes known as the three qualities of material nature, other times known as the three ropes that bind us; that is what will happen.

So the pure devotee doesn’t even bother with such things. The pure devotee is thinking about Krsna. Krsna is important, Krsna’s desires are important, Krsna’s glory is important, Krsna’s service is important, Krsna’s name is important, tadīyānāṁ samarcanam (CC Madhya-lila 11.31); anything related to Krsna is important. Tadīyā, anything related to Krsna. The Ganga because of the dust of Krsna’s lotus feet. Tulasi Devi is related to Krsna, ‘tulasī kṛṣṇa-preyasi,’ anything related to Krsna.

‘ārādhanānāṁ sarveṣāṁ
viṣṇor ārādhanaṁ param
tasmāt parataraṁ devi
tadīyānāṁ samarcanam,’ (Padma Purana, quoted in CC Madhya-lila 11.31).

Lord Siva said to Parvarti in the Padma Purana, “Of all that are worshipable, the Supreme Lord Visnu is the ultimate worshipable entity. But greater still are those personalities and things that are related to him in service.’ That is wonderful!

Understanding Karma (video)
Questions about Karma answered by Chaitanya Charan Das analyzing the Mahabharata.
Questions answered in this special episode: 1. Why do we accuse Kaurava and Karna for doing wrong and always support the Pandavas. Now the main question is if Krishna has planed everything so that no one can use their free will and even its not going to work because he has already planned. So where is Karna has free will and moreover I think what Vyasdeva is a best script writer, the best multi manager in four yuga has ever seen because he has written which is we can’t even think in this yuga because he has written Mahabharata which we can assume things but we can not verify it not even a one fact because there is no one alive to verify and even if he has written with this more understandings and own assumption then now we understand that Mahabharata is based on our own assumption and based on circumstances. do you think we can ever relate what are written at the current world moreover Mahabharata has happened some of the different yugas and how can we even compare those characters and examples to the current world which I think is completely irrelevant. (Asked by Rakesh Kumar Gudla from Hyderabad, Telangana, India)
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/f8zT9d

Gita verse-by-verse Podcast

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A new Narasimha book is now available
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)
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[Talk at Prabhupada Samadhi Mandir to Defense Forces Devotees Yatra]

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[Vyasa-puja offering to HH Tamal Krishna Maharaj, Mayapur, India]

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Answer Podcast

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Gaur Gopal Das in Mauritius (2 min video)
TV coverage of Gaur Gopal Das’ visit and preaching in Mauritius 1 - 4 June 2017.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/TvPjbS

Why this Utah priest wants to host a spring Hindu festival all year long?
SALT LAKE CITY — Caru Das considers himself a guru of color festivals. So why limit his handiwork to one season?
He has spread his passion for Holi — the Hindu festival during which people welcome the arrival of spring by tossing colored powder — throughout the calendar year, only avoiding days when weather could stand in the way of the celebration.
“I try to avoid the summer. It’s too hot for a lot of dancing,” said Das, a temple priest for Utah’s Hare Krishna community.
Revelers throw colored corn starch into the air as they celebrate the 2015 Holi (Festival of Colors) at the Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork, Utah on Saturday, March 28, 2015. | Rick Bowmer, Associated Press

Das has captured national attention for hosting an annual, record-setting Holi festival in Spanish Fork, Utah, which takes place around the time when the holiday is being commemorated in Hindu temples across the globe. This year, more than 30,000 people gathered on the lawn of the Sri Sri Radha Krishna Temple to chant along with an eclectic mix of musicians, dine on vegetarian foods and rub colored powder on friends and strangers.

As the event attracted more and more fans, so did Das and his team, who now lead or consult on dozens of color festivals each year. This weekend, they’ll hold their sixth annual Holi event in Salt Lake City. In August, they’ll be in Reno, Nevada, and then head to Sacramento in September.

Das believes the festivals have caught on because they speak to participants’ souls — awakening people’s spirits with chanting and empowering them to go out and make a difference in the world. He rejects the notion that he’s diluting ancient religious traditions by removing Holi from the spring, arguing that bringing more spirituality into the world is always a good thing.

“Some people come to party, but they are going to be hearing the name of God the entire time they’ll be here. That has a transformative effect,” he said.

Events like Das’ festivals can be a valuable way to raise the profile of the American Hindus, who represent less than 1 percent of the U.S. population. When hosted with education in mind, they can clear up confusion about a little-known faith, said Suhag Shukla, executive director of the Hindu American Foundation.

However, it’s common for event hosts to avoid explaining Hindu practices such as Holi and just have a good time.

Indian girls take selfie as they celebrate Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, in Mumbai, India, Monday, March 13, 2017. The festival also heralds the arrival of spring. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool) | Rafiq Maqbool, Associated Press

“Hundreds of thousands of people are participating in Holi or yoga” and other aspects of Hinduism, she said. “Oftentimes, organizers are very quick and willing to undermine the religious and spiritual premise or foundation of these things in order to welcome everyone.”

Whether they take place in March or June or August, Holi celebrations should help participants understand Hinduism and the reasons for the festivities, Shukla added.

“I’m not going to be a party pooper. That’s not the point,” she said. “But if you’re going to do color play, why not be an ambassador for the tradition and educate people?”

Color play’s popularity

Holi is rooted in India, where it is both a religious and cultural celebration. It commemorates the triumph of good over evil, as well as the freshness and promise of spring, Shukla said.

“It’s not a set day, because the Hindu calendar is a lunar calendar. Generally speaking, Holi occurs in February or March,” she said.

Festival goers prepare for the final throwing of the colors on Saturday during the Holi Festival of Colors at the Krishna Temple in Spanish Fork on March 24, 2012. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

In India, neighbors mark the holiday by lighting bonfires, a tradition that comes from the story of Prahlad, a follower of Lord Vishnu who was saved from being burned because of his great devotion. On the second day of Holi, revelers throw colored powder at one another, replicating the behavior of followers of Krishna, an incarnation of Vishnu.

Outside of India, Hindus celebrate Holi in different ways, participating in temple rituals on the actual holiday, but waiting for the weekend or better weather to have a public event with color play, Shukla said.

“When it’s 20 degrees below zero, it’s a little hard to play with colors,” she said.

As Das has learned, Holi events are popular among non-Hindus because they’re unique and make for great photos.

“Rarely do I get invited to a celebration at which I get to throw chalk at someone and not get in trouble for it,” said Habid Madrid, a 21-year-old business marketing major at Utah Valley University. He’s attended the Spanish Fork Holi festival three times.

Color play has mass appeal, especially in the age of Instagram and other photo-focused social media sites. It’s increasingly featured at nonreligious events, Shukla said.

FILE - Visitors of the Holi Festival of Colours throw special colored powders in the air in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, April 6, 2014. The festival is fashioned after the Hindu spring festival Holi, which is mainly celebrated in the north and east of India. | AP Photo/Manu Fernandez, File

“The Color Run is a perfect example of focusing just on the fun aspect and losing the spiritual aspect,” she said. The Color Run hosts races across the country.

Hinduism isn’t the only religion where spiritual meaning has been obscured by commercialization. Businesses sell Catholic rosaries as fashion jewelry and promote mindfulness meditation without mentioning Buddhism.

But such mixing of religious symbols with secular products can create confusion and miss an opportunity to improve religious literacy. U.S. adults got an average of 16 questions correct out of 32 on Pew Research Center’s 2010 religious knowledge survey.

Religious misunderstanding leads to bullying and discrimination, and members of minority faith groups are more likely to be targeted than people who belong to better-known religions.

Visitors of the Holi Festival of Colors throw colored powders in the air in Santa Coloma de Gramenet, Spain, Sunday, May 28, 2017. The festival is fashioned after the Hindu spring festival Holi, which is mainly celebrated in the north and east of India. | Manu Fernandez, Associated Press

Holi hosts can improve community relations by explaining the origins of color play and other Hindu traditions, Shukla said.

“That’s not to say that you have to convert in order to benefit (from these traditions.) It’s a matter of appreciating the contribution,” she added.

Educating others

Das acknowledges the value of educating others, but also worries about limiting the reach of his events by making them about religious differences, rather than shared spirituality.

He tries to strike a balance between increasing understanding and meeting people where they are by focusing on the themes of Holi, instead of particular religious practices. This approach also explains how he justifies hosting color festivals in the summer and fall.

Hindu devotees throw colored powder on each other inside Banke Bihari temple during Holi festival celebrations in Vrindavan, India, Wednesday, March 8, 2017. Holi, the festival of colors celebrates the arrival of spring among other things. | Manish Swarup, Associated Press

“Spring is a metaphor for renewal and change,” he said. “Putting aside feelings that are keeping you from moving forward in your life can and should be done at all times of the year.”

Das wants to honor Indian and Hindu tradition with his festivals, but he also explores ways to attract Western audiences. Rather than play traditional Indian music, he invites DJs and other performers to get people moving with hip hop, ska and reggae music.

The only requirement is that the DJs use a style called kirtan, which incorporates call-and-response into the performance, he said. In this way, Das integrates chanting into his events, a key form of worship for Hare Krishnas.

“My purpose above and beyond getting people to experience a different culture is to expose them to chanting the holy names of the Lord,” Das said.
Source: https://goo.gl/HTiq4s

Our Good News Increases!
Vijaya Dasa: Recently, I spoke on the Bhagavad-gita in Oslo, Norway, at the Sunday program. One point I made is that there is so much bad news. But people like to hear it, and thus worldwide they read the latest news in the morning before or while going to work and in the evening when they return.

I served on Radha-Damodar Traveling Sankirtan Party for the next three years as a bus leader. Tamal Krishna Goswami was a hard taskmaster, but he was able to motivate me like no one had done before, and in turn, I was able to motivate others. He saw something of my potential for service, and I had faith and appreciation for him. As bus leader I had to call him from the field once a week, and those calls either left me tearful because I had let him down or elated because he was pleased. He had a powerful effect on my life that has been with me ever since. By 1979, the Radha-Damodar Traveling Sankirtan Party buses were all broken down or dry-docked, and I was serving on the Indian library party out of Bombay. Tamal Krishna Goswami called me in Bombay and asked me to return to the United States to take a bus on the road again. I loved the bus party and was reunited again with many from my old party. Continue reading "Memories of Tamal Krishna Maharaja
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When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu began His pastimes of congregational chanting of the Holy Name of Sri Hari in Navadwip, Sri Vakreshwar Pandit was an important singer and dancer in that assembly. It was by His mercy that Devananda Pandit was delivered from the wrath of Mahaprabhu. He was also present during the Lord's journey to Ramakeli. Devananda Pandit was, at one time, known as the foremost lecturer on the Bhagavat. One day Srivas Pandit went to hear his discourse, and being moved in ecstatic love by hearing the Bhagavatam, he began to cry. A few of the ignorant students of Devananda Pandit, thinking that this was creating a disturbance,removed Srivas Pandit from the assembly and left him outside.Though this was done in front of Devananda he didn't restrain his students from this act of disregard to the devotee -Bhagavat. Continue reading "Disappearance Day of Sri Vakresvara Pandita
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Lecture of Garuda Prabhu in Los Angeles. His Grace Garuda Prabhu is a disciple of A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada and known as Dr. Graham M. Schweig, at the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies of Christopher Newport University in Virginia. Garuda was one of the first ISKCON devotees to pursue a formal education. He saw a great opportunity to reach educated circles by inaugurating the field of Vaishnava studies. He earned his doctorate in Comparative Religion from Harvard University. Princeton University Press has published his thesis under the title "Dance of Divine Love- India's Classic Sacred Love Story: The Rasa Lila of Krishna." Continue reading "God is Love and Love is God
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“O Kesava! O Lord of the Universe! O Lord Hari, who have assumed the form of Lord Balarama, the wielder of the plow! All glories to You! On Your brilliant white body, You wear garments the color of a fresh blue rain cloud. These garments are the color of the River Yamuna, who feels great fear due to the striking of Your plowshare.”

Gita verse-by-verse Podcast

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Sri Vakresvara Pandit was present with Sriman Mahaprabhu during His pastimes in Navadvipa and after his acceptance of Sannyasa.  He also accompanied Him to Jagannatha Puri.

During the time of the Lord’s residence in Puri he continued to live with Him there as well. Sri Vakresvara Pandit took birth in the village of Guptipara near Triveni. He was an especially proficient dancer and kirtaniya and could dance continuously for 72 hours.

Vakresvara Pandit’s worshippable deity is Sri Sri Radha-kanta, whom he worshipped in Kasi Misra’s house, which was also the residence of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu (Gambhira). These Deities are still being worshipped there to this day.