Planet ISKCON

Many faiths share a common belief in treating others the way you would like to be treated. The Golden Rule is something we can all agree on. A video by FaithCounts.

Her Grace Gandharvika Dasi has left this world. Gandharvika Dasi, previous Iskcon San Diego Temple president has left her body. She left quickly, with family and friends, while listening to Srila Prabhupada chant, with Lord Nrsimhadeva’s dhoti (from Mayapura) touching her head, and with Ganga jal and Tulasi in her mouth… on her way back to Sri Sri Radha Giridhari’s Lotus Feet.
Please send prayers for Gandharvika, her husband, her young son, mother, father, siblings, other family members, and friends. Gandharvika is loved by so many and has deeply touched so many hearts. Her ability to selflessly give is not of this world. She will be missed, but her transcendental legend will live on.
Radha Dasi just shared her realization with me, “Gandharvika did three lifetimes of service in one lifetime.”
Thank you, Gandharvika, for your beautiful life, an example for us to treasure and remember. She is free now from this condition and in the hands of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Krishna.
All glories to Gandharvika devi dasi!“

The post Daily Darshan: May 26,2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Radhanatha Swami’s book shown on the Nasdaq Tower which is an icon of New York City’s Times Square and the largest stationary video screen in the world, standing seven stories tall.
It is approximately 10,000 square feet and consists of nearly 19 million light emitting diodes. An estimated 1.5 million consumers view the site on a daily basis. Generally, it’s space is rented by Nasdaq-listed companies as a unique and unprecedented platform for promotion. On May 8th, 2017 The Nasdaq Tower featured Radhanath Swami’s New York Times Bestselling book, The Journey Within.
The promotion accompanied by Radhanath Swami’s appearance on Nasdaq Reads an ongoing book series featuring talks with the authors of books about innovation, entrepreneurialism. The Interview was conducted by motivational and lifestyle vlogger Jay Shetty. The live feed of the interview was viewed by 184,00 people on Facebook. You can see the interview here: https://goo.gl/z7Nsnm

oṁ ajñāna-timirāndhasya

jñānāñjana-śalākayā

cakṣur unmīlitaṁ yena

tasmai śrī-gurave namaḥ

My spiritual master always chastised me or he used to chastise me that when I did not start with some prayer like that, then he would not even listen to my offering. That is why I said it.

Last year put my life a little bit on the slippery slope so to speak. Normally you sort of have a life expectancy. Every one of you in the room has a life expectancy. You sort of think, “Well, you know, probably I will live so many more years,” but then when you get some disease like that you are just not so sure anymore. Now it is gone, it is all good, it is all clear but still I am not sure how long it can take. So I have a new sense of wanting to use my time nicely and also wanting to use our relationship nicely. I may live to 99. Who knows? Although I hope not. 99? But whatever…

Without trying to put a gloom over this whole festival obviously, it spun my mind around a little bit over the last period. So I had to start to think, “What if I have very little time, what would I do.” So I am thinking like that – I want to write more books and I am going to work on that. I have made a little book for you which is just quotes. We have made books before for the Vyasa-puja and they were excerpts from my lectures and the blog and they were nice but this time I am giving you something else. I am giving you a selection of all the quotes that I have collected over a long period of time. So actually I have tried to pack up interesting things in one book because I thought I want to give this. Something that is the result of my work – my digging in the minds of the scriptures and taking out some things that I thought are nice, valuable, important or interesting and give those to you. That is the idea.

I have already spoken this morning, I will speak again, I will get plenty of opportunities to say many things. One thing that I want to say is that it is up to you. It is up to you to take it, to make something of it. Yes, I would like now that our relationship becomes more serious. This is the phase in my life where I am getting older. A Vyasa-puja is also a birthday. I am getting older here. 64! So let us try and really do something more than just being around in the Hare Krsna movement, let us just try and take advantage of this Krsna consciousness movement. This is what I desire!

250 devotees, yogis, seekers and kirtan enthusiasts in New York’s Bhakti Center (video)
On May 4th, 2017 Radhanath Swami joined a group of over 250 devotees, yogis, seekers and kirtan enthusiasts for an evening of devotional song, leading the group as part of The Bhakti Center’s regular Thursday Night Kirtan in New York City. Word’s fail to capture the essence of the evenings joy, but you can watch the video below to get a better idea.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/n8Zg6i

New Vrindaban Celebrates 10th Anniversary of 24 Hour Kirtan!
Vrindavan das: The 10th annual 24-Hour Kirtan at New Vrindaban, West Virginia, USA, will be held on June 17thand 18th, 2017, featuring an amazing group of kirtaneers from all over the world. The organizers cordially invite all devotees to join in the continuous congregational chanting of Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra, which is a unique opportunity to become absorbed in the holy name.
Every year, several hundred devotees from all over North America come together to chant the holy names of the Lord in the divine serenity of New Vrindaban Dham, which is “non-different from Vrindavan”. The presence of Their Lordships Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra inspires an atmosphere of pure devotion instilling contentment and spiritual awakening in the hearts of all. This Harinama sankirtan, chanting and dancing in the association of devotees, joyfully brings us closer to Krishna and each other.
The festival will begin on Friday evening (June 16th) with kirtan for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada at his Palace from 7pm to 9pm. On Saturday morning, there will be a special Bhagavatam class on the glories of chanting the holy names. The official 24 hour kirtan will start on Saturday at 11am and continue until Sunday 11am.
Some of ISKCON’s most renowned kirtaneers will be leading Kirtan throughout the weekend. Varsana Swami’s heart-touching meditative kirtan will certainly help participants to delve deep into the eternal yearning of the heart for loving connection. Agnidev’s mesmerizing, sweet Bengali melodies will immediately connect people with Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Ajamil’s traditional “folk style” kirtan has always energized the crowd into a dancing frenzy. Amala Kirtan’s devotional melodies create an aura of transcendental bliss. Other kirtaneers — Gaur Mani, Srivani, along with the youth from New Vrindaban and Gita Nagari will also be singing their hearts out.
This year, a special addition to the festival incorporates free adult yoga sessions on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 6am to 7:15am at the new Yoga Shala, on the banks of the beautiful Swan Lake. Festival attendees will have opportunity to learn and practice yoga asanas and mudras from New Vrindaban’s expert yoga teacher to refresh their mind, body and soul. Three yoga sessions for kids will be held at 9am, 11am and 1pm on Saturday.
Sumptuous prasadam will be served on Saturday for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with surprise snacks throughout the night as well as Sunday breakfast, and an early Sunday Feast at 12:30 pm.
“We look forward to offering you an amazing weekend filled with uplifting association in a transcendental atmosphere. Our children’s program is designed to keep your kids safe and happily engaged. Please take full advantage of this wonderful opportunity to chant Hare Krishna in the Holy Dham in the association of devotees” — says Jaya Krsna das, Temple President of ISKCON New Vrindaban.

To book accommodation, please visit at www.palacelodge.com, or you call at 304-843-1600 ext. 111. For more information, please visit at www.24hourkirtan.net.

Invitation for Festival of Fiji 2017.
We would like to invite everyone for the upcoming Festival of Fiji 2017 from 30/09 to 08/10.
HH Tamal Krishna Goswami Maharaja started this back in the 80’s and 90’s when he brought international devotees from various temples around the world to Fiji and did a wonderful Harinam Sankirtan Festival inspiring locals and international devotees. Later on, his disciples decided to continue this service, of preaching in Fiji for the pleasure of Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga. It will be an enjoyable experience if you are able to attend this festival and be a part of this Harinam Sankirtan preaching event. Since 2008 this festival has been carried out on an immensely large scale and has continued to do so every two years. Many devotees have been very supportive of this event and have made sure to attend every time it occurs.

The highlights for the festival this year include, two Sannyasi’s coming, international kirtan teams from Aus and NZ, Harinam in every town and village, bus tours with devotees around the Fiji Island, camping, wonderful prasadam and an extra special event for this year includes a hired day in a Island, only for our devotees for kirtan and Fiji style picnic and prasadam.

We request devotees to please register through our website www.festivaloffiji.com.

So far confirmed numbers are as follows:
20+ from New Zealand
20+ from Australia
Still awaiting numbers from USA.
Usually we have 60-80 international devotees and 300-600 local devotees attending.

This is ISKCON’s biggest international Harinam festival happening in South Pacific so please don’t miss it !!!!

Bhaja Govinda dasa
on behalf of Festival of Fiji 2017 team

Sragen is regency in the eastern part of Central Java province in Indonesia. Its capital is Sragen, located about 30 km to the northeast of Surakarta. Sragen is bordered with East Java Province to the east. Presently there are no devotees that are staying in Sragen. The first time devotees held the Ratha Yatra festival in Solo, Indonesia, a few months prior, they met the Tourism leader of Sragen. The Tourism leader of Sragen requested the devotees to join in their annual city parade and hold a Ratha Yatra festival as well. This was in mid February. When HH Subhag Swami was present earlier in the year in Indonesia, after being informed about the invitation from the Sragen Tourism Department, he encouraged the devotees to hold a Ratha Yatra festival there. And by the Lord’s arrangement on the 4th of April, an official invitation was sent to the devotees by the Sragen Government. Continue reading "1st Ratha Yatra in Sragen, Indonesia
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Hare Krishna

Rathayatra is one of the greatest opportunities to share the holy name’s of Sri Krishna, to see Sri Jagannath the lord of the universe and take amazing prasadam

Sadly Sheffield is not happening there a possibility of Leeds

Then we start the first Rathayatra in York, Friday 18th August (4 hour drive from the Manor, 192 miles)

After the Rathayatra we drive 2 hours, 85 miles to a camp site just outside of Newcastle; Saturday 19th August Rathayatra in Newcastle.

Then we drive to Lesmahagow Temple 3 hours, 128 miles; Sunday 20th August Glasgow Rathayatra, then onto Lesmahagow, Monday 21st August Edinburgh Rathayatra.

Tuesday 22nd August Food for All van returns to the Manor were devotees can return for Harinams at the fringe festival; Food for All will join devotees at the Fringe Festival on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

The fun if sharing the holy name’s doesn’t stop their, Yes there more

Saturday 26th August Manchester Rathayatra

Sunday 27th August Liverpool Rathayatra

Monday 28th August Pershore Rathayatra

We are in need of a camp site out side Newcastle such as Bobby Shsfto, Derwent caravan park, Newcastle for Friday 18th August

Then a camp site in between Liverpool and Manchester for the 26th and 27th August dates

If you can assist talk to HG Parsharama Das who can as always be found diligently preparing prasadam and distributing it throughout London

And if you can make it to any of the rathayatra’s come join us singing and dancing for Sri Jagannath and help engage everyone, you never know you could be the one who helps another start their own journey to self realisation

Hare Krishna

A new book is being released this summer featuring the individual voices of 108 women in the Bhakti tradition. Over the last three years, Krishna Kanta Dasi—founder of the Vaishnavi Voices Poetry Project—has been collecting the poetry of vaishnavis, or female practitioners of bhakti, from all over the world to produce Bhakti Blossoms: A Collection of Contemporary Vaishnavi Poetry.

Harinam in Vienna, Austria (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: When the transcendental vibration of Hare Krishna is sounded,...

The 10th annual 24-Hour Kirtan at New Vrindaban, West Virginia, USA, will be held on June 17^th and 18^th, 2017, featuring an amazing group of kirtaneers from all over the world! The organizers cordially invite all devotees to join in the continuous congregational chanting of Hare Krishna Maha-Mantra, which is a unique opportunity to become absorbed in the holy name. 

The pending sale of ISKCON’s Radha Govinda Temple in Brooklyn has generated interest, concern and even controversy not only among members of the Hare Krishna Movement in the New York metropolitan area but also among members and well-wishers of the Hare Krishna Movement worldwide.

In order to foster openness, inclusivity and awareness of the issues arising from the pending sale, ISKCON’s Governing Body Commission hosted an informational town hall meeting in the Dweck Auditorium of the Brooklyn Public Library on May 15, 2017. This video of the meeting has been released for Movement-wide educational and informational purposes. 

Character versus reputation (5 min video)
Mahatma Das: Your character is who you really are. Your reputation is who people think you are.
You may go somewhere with your reputation, but only character will keep you there.

The post Daily Darshan: May 25,2017 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

The sale has been a matter of interest, concern and controversy amongst the New York temple’s board members and congregation as well as devotees around the U.S. So the meeting, held at the Dweck Auditorium of the Brooklyn Public Library, was well-attended by over 120 people. The event was hosted by the GBC’s Brooklyn Temple Sale Committee – Bhakti Charu Swami, Sesa Das and Praghosa Das. They were joined by co-counsel Guru-Gauranga Das, a Prabhupada disciple and corporate finance attorney. Proceedings began at 7pm with a spiritual invocation by Bhakti Charu Swami, who emphasized the need for trying to understand Prabhupada’s desires and working cooperatively together. Continue reading "Brooklyn’s Radha Govinda Mandir
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Iskcon of Silicon Valley devotees perform Harinam and distribute books in Paloalto - May 19th, 2017 (Album with photos)
Srila P...

An ambitious multi-year and multi-million dollar renewal effort is in the works, with an enthusiasm that rivals the Palace’s initial construction. The Palace Restoration Committee, established in 2010, is focusing first on the outside Palace wall, and then will move on to the Palace and the grounds. Gopisha Dasa, project manager for Palace restoration, says, “I was absolutely overwhelmed when I first saw the Palace. It was so beautiful. But what was most exciting to me was the spirit of cooperation, to see so many devotees working together for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada. That same spirit is alive again, and it will facilitate, even mandate, the Palace’s new incarnation. In fact, it is now a priority to improve the entrance way and front steps by 2016 as an offering to Srila Prabhupada for the fiftieth anniversary of ISKCON.” Continue reading "A Facelift for Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold
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H.H. Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj recently visited Seattle on 4th may 2017 & San Jose on 7th may 2017. At both places he gave special classes on “Ocean of Mercy”, the book which he recently wrote on the pastimes of Srila Prabhupada. Please hear these nectarine...

The post Lectures On “Ocean Of Mercy” appeared first on Bhakti Charu Swami.

Harinama in Tokyo (Album with photos)
Vraja Krsna Das: Bliss from the 5-hour Harinama in Tokyo :) Maybe 1 million people heard Krsna’s name. Most busy downtown :)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/f2G3ED

Australian leaders Meeting (Album with photos)
Ramai Swami: Devotees came from all over Australia to attend the ISKCON three-d...

 An Incredible 5 day retreat packed full of kirtan, interactive seminars and amazing prashadam! HH Bhakti Charu Swami and HH Devamrita Swami will be taking us on a journey through Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s transcendental pastimes from Wednesday 19th – Sunday 23rd July, in Gita Nagari. The retreat will start on the...

The post Gita Nagari Retreat with Bhakti Charu Swami & Devamrita Swami appeared first on Bhakti Charu Swami.