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By Nrisimhadeva das

Darshan, classes, videos and many other festivities for the pleasure of Lord Narasimhadeva from the followers of Srila Prabhupada. "I offer my respectful obeisances unto Lord Nrisimhadeva, the source of all power. O my Lord who possesses nails and teeth just like thunderbolts, kindly vanquish our demon-like desires for fruitive activity in this material world. Please appear in our hearts and drive away our ignorance so that by Your mercy we may become fearless in the struggle for existence in this material world." (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 5.18.8) Continue reading "Iskcon celebrates Lord Nrsimhadeva Caturdasi worldwide
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Shri Narasimhadeva photo gallery with 137 illustrations.
Srila Prabhupada: Krsna-katha means narrations about Lord Krsna. There...

Tamal Krishna Goswami’s younger brother, Carl Herzig: Last day of university Gita class (shawls from Vrindavan). They were amazing, and I’ll miss them!

Scenes from NVD.

ISKCON Ujjain celebrates Narasimha Chaturdasi (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: It is essential for persons who are actual...

Srila Prabhupada liked trusts. He set up at least 3 trusts

By the TOVP Staff

We are extremely happy to announce the launch of a new website, tovp360.org, which offers a virtual tour through the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium, one of the largest temples in the world. The virtual-reality panoramas in this site will show you every nook and corner of the magnificent temple. From 24 different places, you can see all around you and look both above and below to get a feel of this sacred space. Walk in and around the temple, from the temple rooms up to the roofs and domes. There are even 360 degree bird’s-eye views from above the temple that show the whole Mayapur Project. Continue reading "New TOVP website
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Iskcon of Silicon Valley - Sankirtan Orientation Seminar (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Modern civilization, not referring to the verdicts of Vedic literature, is so cruel to the members of human society that instead of teaching children to become brahmacaris, it teaches mothers to kill their children even in the womb, on the plea of curbing the increase of population. And if by chance a child is saved, he is educated only for sense gratification. Gradually, throughout the entire world, human society is losing interest in the perfection of life. Indeed, men are living like cats and dogs, spoiling the duration of their human lives by actually preparing to transmigrate again to the degraded species among the 8,400,000 forms of life. The Krsna consciousness movement is anxious to serve human society by teaching people to perform devotional service, which can save a human being from being degraded again to animal life. As already stated by Prahlada Maharaja, bhagavata-dharma consists of sravanam kirtanam visnoh smaranam pada-sevanam/ arcanam vandanam dasyam sakhyam atma-nivedanam [SB 7.5.23]. In all the schools, colleges and universities, and at home, all children and youths should be taught to hear about the Supreme Personality of Godhead. In other words, they should be taught to hear the instructions of Bhagavad-gita, to put them into practice in their lives, and thus to become strong in devotional service, free from fear of being degraded to animal life. From Srila Prabhupada’s purport to SB 7.6.1
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By Braja Vilas das

As you all know, Mayapur Nrsimha is a very special Deity. Although He is in His manifestation as Ugra-Nrsimha, the most fierce and angry form, because Lord Nrsimha is especially favorable to the devotees of Sri Caitanya Mahapabhu, He relaxes His angry mood to only offer blessings and mercy. As Srila Prabhupada said, Unless one is completely freed of all material desires, which are caused by the dense darkness of ignorance, one cannot fully engage in the devotional service of the Lord. Therefore we should always offer our prayers to Lord Nr.sim.ha-deva, who killed Hiran.yakas'ipu, the personification of material desire. (SB 5.18.8, purport) Continue reading "Narasimha Caturdasi 2017
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Giriraj Swami read and spoke from Srimad-Bhagavatam 5.18.9 during the morning program.

“The mercy of Lord Nrsimhadeva is manifest in different ways: There are internal demons and external demons, and He is fully competent and inclined to vanquish both. As preachers we face both internal and external demons, and being sincere in our service we are quite distressed by the internal demons—not just because they disturb our consciousness in our own bhajana, or worship, but because they also interfere with our ability to help others. So we take shelter of Krishna consciousness. Prahlada is actually praying that people think of Krishna, for the power of thinking of Krishna is immeasurable. As stated in the last paragraph of the purport, ‘If the Krishna consciousness movement spreads all over the world, and if by the grace of Krishna everyone accepts it, the thinking of envious people will change. Everyone will think of the welfare of others. Therefore Prahlada Maharaja prays, sivam mitho dhiya. In material activities, everyone is envious of others, but in Krishna consciousness, no one is envious of anyone else; everyone thinks of the welfare of others.’ (SB 5.18.9 purport)”

Nrsimha-caturdasi Kirtan
Nrsimha-caturdasi Talk

The Radha Krsna Cultural Centre in Southport is run under the auspices of Rupa Vilasa das (a disciple of Tamal Krsna Maharaja and doctor from Fiji) and his family. It has been operating for about three years with regular weekly programs.

On a Saturday evening they took the opportunity to celebrate Nrsimha Caturdasi (the holy appearance of Lord Nrsimhadeva) although the actual day was a few days later.

The program was well attended. I gave a lecture and led kirtan and the children put on a drama about Lord Nrsimha and Prahlada Maharaja.

Today is Jayananda Prabhu’s disappearance day. I wrote this haiku for his disappearance anniversary twenty-five years ago:

Prabhupada’s full moon
Beams upon my heart’s lotus—
Guru’s service blooms

 

Hare Krishna.

Yours in service,
Giriraj Swami

Festival Of The Divine Protector in NY (Album with photos)
“As for increasing service to Krishna, Swami has asked me to say that this process of chanting, discussing the glories of the Lord, and the distribution of Prasadam is standard, and that this threefold method is the best means for spiritual progress, and the best service that you can offer to Krishna. The basic principle of our movement is to have people come, and chant, and eat, and discuss Krishna consciousness. Letter from Rayarama, 8 June 1967
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Jayananda didn't like being praised over others, he felt others to be doing more service than he, and he was always a team player, giving all credit to Srila Prabhupada and all the devotees, never thinking any one devotee to be less significant than himself. Whether they were a temple president, or a new bhakta washing the pots, Jayananda glorified all other devotees over himself. This is the mood that Jayananda wants us to continue, to always honor all devotees equally.

Wish all the viewers a very happy Narasimha Caturdasi festival. Offering prayers at the lotus feet of Lord Narasimhadeva for the spiritual prosperity of all. Prahlad Maharaj, the great devotee of Lord Narasimha prays that , “”May there be good fortune throughout the universe, and may all envious persons be pacified. May all living entities become calm […]

The post Happy Narasimha Caturdasi! appeared first on Mayapur.com.

Rukmini Writes A Letter Asking Krishna To Rescue Her.
Rukmi, brother of Rukmini arranged for Rukmini’s marriage with Sisubalan, the prince of Chedi. Rukmini, who was in love with Krishna by listening to his stories, was resolute that she will marry only Krishna. Unable to bear the decision of her brother, Rukmini thought only Krishna can rescue her from this tragedy. So, she sent a letter to Krishna carried by a Brahmin, asking Krishna to abduct her the day before marriage by defeating Sisubalan and Jarasandhan’s army. She asks him to meet her while she visits the temple of Girija before marriage as a tradition. She also states that if Krishna doesn’t come to rescue her, she will end her life, for there’s no place for anyone else in her life and in her heart other than Krishna.
O the infallible and the most handsome one! Having heard Your qualities, which enter through the path of ears and absolve away the pains of life, and having heard about Your handsome appearance, which is the only asset of the eyes of living beings with eyes, my heart is accepting You as a consort leaving behind shyness.
O Mukunda, the lion among men! Given a chance, which composed girl from a good lineage will not wish for You as a consort; You, Who is the happiness of the minds of people, Who is the happiness of the world, and Who is incomparable from any view point-be it lineage, nature beauty, knowledge, energy, wealth or abode.
Therefore, O Lord! I have indeed accepted You as a consort and I have submitted myself to You. O lotus-eyed Krishna! Please arrive here; so that the Prince of Chedi does not take away the property of brave You-just like a jackal should not take away the prey of a lion.
If I have revered all the pervading Paramathman by social welfares (digging wells), oblations, obeying rules, penance, and serving demi-gods, saints and preceptor, then O Gadaraja! You accept me after holding my hand-instead of anyone else like the son of Damagosha.
Oh Lord, who is unconquered! Arrive secretly in Vidarbha one day before my marriage. Then after defeating all the army commanders from the regions of Chedi and Magadha, marry me with the ways of demons by showing Your valor and conquering power.
If You are wondering that how will you conquer me without killing the women and relatives inside my palace, then I am telling You a way out. As per an old tradition, there is a grand fair before the marriage, during which the bride goes out to the temple of Girija for prayers.
O lotus-eyes Krishna! If I don’t achieve the dust of Your feet, which is sought after by incomparable Ones like Umapathi (Lord Shiva), then I will destroy my life. If the service of Your feet is not achieved in this life, then I will take hundreds of birth and do penance; I am sure I will achieve Your feet someday.
Krishna’s heart was captured with Rukmini, listening about her virtues and beauty gets to recognize about Rukmini’s divine love for him through her letter. He leaves to Vidarbha immediately, to take his love’s hand for marriage.

By Michael Scherer

I met Madhuha dasa as we prepared for the Holi festival at the Hare Krishna temple in Potomac, Maryland. I was working on the stage sound, and he was setting up the stage, tents, sound system, and much of the equipment needed for such a large festival. He agreed to take a break from the work to sit for an interview. He has been working with Festival of India since 1979. Continue reading "Madhuha das – Interview
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Inspire Sundays at the Manor (Album with photos)
Bhaktivedanta Manor: Pictures taken from the first event of the Inspire Sunday...

By Nandini Radha devi dasi

Krishna remains a mute witness to all this drama and rubs salt into the open wounds of Satyabhama’s ego that he has now to become a slave to some cowherd and will have to suffer the separation from his dear wife. Narada suggests to Satyabhama that Rukmini may be able to get her out of the predicament. She finally swallows her pride and appeals to the devoted first wife of Krishna. Rukmini comes and with a prayer to her husband puts a single leaf of the sacred Tulasi on the scale (Tula). The scales then become all at once so heavy that even after removing all the jewels, the scales are weighed down on the side of the Tulasi leaf. Satyabhama and Rukmini are called Tulabhrami. Continue reading "The Tulabharam Pastime of Rukmini devi
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By Nandini Radha devi dasi

Murari Gupta continued narrating the story to Damodara Pandita. Murari said, "After hearing Rukmini Devi's wonderful words, Krishna's heart danced in ecstasy. His lotus eyes, reddish like the rising sun, filled with tears of compassion. Sitting on His throne, Lord Krishna gently placed Rukmini on His lap and consoled her. He held Rukmini's chin with His right hand and lovingly looked at her. Waves of nectar overflowed from the ocean of prema within their hearts. Continue reading "Queen Rukmini’s Pure Devotion to Lord Krishna
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[Talk at Hotel El Panama, Panama City, Panama]

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Fortunat souls receive Srila Prabhupada's books which are their tickets back Home, back to Godhead! The son of the famous artist Bob Marley was one of them.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 02 May 2015, Simhachalam, Germany, Srimad Bhagavatam 5.18.8)

Lord Nrsimhadev is vigna vinasa – the destroyer of all the obstacles on the devotional path. Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura has written these two books – the Navadvipa-Dhama-Mahatmya, which describes to us the parikrama of Sri Dham Mayapur and then he wrote the Navadvipa-Bhava-Taranga which is a book that visits the same places as in the Navadvipa-Dhama-Mahatmya but this time, Srila Bhaktivinoda is not describing the place and what the place is dedicated to, this time he describes the inner experience that he has at the place. Therefore, it is called Navadvipa-Bhava-Taranga. Taranga means waves or the waves of bhava that is experienced in Navadvipa, the different emotional states!

So then he describes going to Nrsimha Pali also known as Nrsimha Tirtha, the place dedicated to Lord Nrsimhadev. Then Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura prays to Lord Nrsimhadev that he may take away all the obstacles on the devotional path so that he can become fully engaged in unalloyed devotional service to Radha and Krsna.

So in that way, our primary reason for worshipping Lord Nrsimhadev is not protection. Or at least not protection from outside dangers, not protection from all kinds of Hiranyakasipu’s who are living next door or wherever they are. Okay, maybe to an extent but this is secondary.

Primarily, we are trying to overcome the demoniac tendencies in ourselves and Lord Nrsimhadev as vigna vinasa, purifies us from this contamination and takes away all the obstacles. Sarva vigna vinasa, all the obstacles on the devotional path are being removed and that is our prayer, that is Prahlad’s prayer also which is very nice.

Please hear the message on Sri Narsimha Caturdasi from His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Mahraj :  

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