Hare Krishna Lunch: Govinda is Feeding the Soul of Brooklyn (6 min video)

[Evening program at Grand Rapids, USA]

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Last program in Dubai, April 16th.

[QA session at Charlotte, USA]

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ISKCON Auckland NZ: Transcendental boat festival (Album with photos)
For the pleasure of their Lordships Šrí Šrí Radha-Giridhari on their 45th anniversary.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/htKT1z

The devotees in Jogjakarta jubilee received the invitation and it was announced through the social media. Blue print for the participation in the festival was brought upon the discussion table. When the all preparations were ready, the chariot was carried to Jogjakarta tourism department. Flowers for decoration arrived from Bali and devotees who help in the preparation came from all over Indonesia. Srila Prabhupada’s mercy is certainly amazing; just imagining how devotees coming from different backgrounds, from different places, who hardly knew one another some time back are coming together to participate in the Ratha Yatra festival and assist Srila Prabhupada in his preaching movement, is simply wonderful and awe inspiring. Thank you Srila Prabhupada. Continue reading "Ratha Yatra festival all over Indonesia
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As is our annual custom, Nrsimha Caturdasi will be observed in Sridhama Mayapur as a three day festival from May 7th – 9th. The first day will be celebrated with a huge procession throughout the ISKCON Mayapur property and on the second day we will be performing a three hour long Maha Sudarshana Homa before the Deity of Lord Nrsimhadeva. The third day is observed as Nrsimha Caturdasi. We would like to offer you an opportunity to personally benefit from the Sudarshana Yajna by participating in the offering as explained below. Continue reading "Nrsimha Caturdasi, Maha Sudarshana Yajna and Harinama Yajna
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Vaishnava marriage in Alachua of Vani and Varun (video)
Srila Prabhupada: Krsna consciousness is so nice. Anyone who comes to Krsna consciousness immediately becomes beautiful in every respect. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Room Conversation – April 27, 1969, Boston
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/5LQtbN

Exterior finishing work on the TOVP continues without interruption. In the last few weeks the following has been going on:

• Blue tile laying has begun on the small dome of the planetarium wing. Work is progressing rapidly and the tiles are now significantly prominent and can be seen from the main gate of the ISKCON property.
• Waterproofing of the planetarium dome can also be seen on two grey layers above the blue tiling.
• Marble cladding of the temple exterior walls with white marble from Vietnam is ongoing.

Sadbhuja and Prem Avatar Gauranga prabhus paid a visit to the GRC (Glass Reinforced Concrete) factory. Production of numerous items for the interior and exterior finishing work of the temple is coming along nicely. The huge brackets for the main dome are also now in production.

The post A Work In Progress appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Srila Prabhupada and His Lady Disciples.
Sydney, April 1, 1972. Srila Prabhupada returned to the temple that evening to attend the 7 o'clock arati and kirtana, and to give a class on Bhagavad Gita. As he entered the small temple room, he was pleased to see it packed with guests and devotees. The vyasasana had been moved, so he could now sit with his left side to the altar. He nodded approvingly.
The pujari blew a big pink and white conchshell. The red velvet curtain swished open, revealing the Deities. After offering prostrated obeisances, Srila Prabhupada stood. Powerfully built Nanda Kumara picked up a clay mrdanga and began to sing the evening arati prayer. Srila Prabhupada remained standing and glanced at Syamasundara, who opened a small velvet bag and passed Srila Prabhupada a highly-polished pair of karatals. Prabhupada played deftly, head slightly to one side, as he stood, looking lovingly and attentively at Sri Sri Radha Gopinatha on Their beautiful new altar. After continuing like that for a few minutes, Srila Prabhupada sat down on his vyasasana and chanted with the kirtana.

After forty minutes, the jubilant kirtana drew to a close. Srila Prabhupada opened up his Bhagavad Gita set on a simple wooden bookstand balanced atop two red velvet covered steps in front of him. Wally, sitting on his right, set up the heavy reel-to-reel tape equipment, ready to record the class. Prabhupada again picked up his shiny karatals, wrapping the red straps deftly around his fingers, closing his eyes and striking the shiny brass cymbals in the familiar one-two-three, one-two-three fashion. Seated amongst the crowd of devotees, Jagattarini was feeling completely satisfied after the joyous kirtana. She had almost forgotten a secret desire that she had been maintaining for a long time: considering herself a good singer, she had hoped one day to sing for Srila Prabhupada.

Nanda Kumara, seated next to Prabhupada on the floor, had scarcely placed the heavy clay mrdanga on his lap when Srila Prabhupada suddenly stopped playing his karatals and opened his eyes. Scanning the silent crowd for a brief few seconds, his eyes fell on Jagattarini seated close by.

“You lead,” Srila Prabhupada said. Mohanananda looked at Syamasundara in amazement. Jagattarini could hardly believe it; she swallowed and sang ‘Jaya Radha Madhava Kunja Vihari’ as loudly and nicely as she could. Srila Prabhupada and the devotees sang the response. Srila Prabhupada’s karatals chimed sweetly as Nanda Kumara increased the tempo with his rhythmic mrdanga beats. The song reached its climax and stopped. Jagattarini, her desire fulfilled, opened her eyes to see Srila Prabhupada staring at her intently. “Krsna has been so merciful to you,” Srila Prabhupada said, and began his evening class.

After the discourse, Srila Prabhupada again glanced lovingly at the altar. Radha and Krsna were wearing impressive handcrafted crowns of soft blue and pink stones, the whole effect reminiscent of mother-of-pearl. He looked around the room, “Who has made these crowns?”

Rasarani flushed and slightly raised her hand. Srila Prabhupada smiled and Srila Prabhupada said, “Very nice”.

(from The Great Transcendental Adventure, by Kurma dasa)

Sacred Sound Kirtan Retreat at Iskcon New Govardhana - 15 April 2017 (Album with photos)
Prabhupada gave his disciples credit for chanting kirtanas with heart and soul as he did. One evening we had a small, informal kirtana in Prabhupada’s hotel room in Hawaii. Since there was no official program at the temple, Prabhupada was spending a quiet evening working, and his servants were also busy with their tasks. However, Prabhupada called us together and asked us to chant. I came from my editorial desk, Pradyumna came from his Sanskrit work, and Bali Mardana and Sudama also came. Prabhupada asked Sudama to lead the singing. As Sudama began to sing a particular tune, he became self-conscious and stopped. He said, “That’s not the right tune.” He meant that it was not the tune that Prabhupada usually sang. Prabhupada encouraged him, “That is all right. That is your ecstasy.” It enlivened us to think that Prabhupada said we had ecstasy within us, and that even a neophyte devotee’s choosing of a particular tune could be called “his ecstasy.”
Find them here: https://goo.gl/vkYyRZ

ISKCON Auckland NZ: 45th anniversary of Sri Sri Radha-Giridhari (Album with photos)
One time, during the annual Gaura-Purnima festival in Mayapura, Prabhupada called his GBC men to his room to tell them that he was hearing and take pleasure in the kirtana. With his leaders gathered before him in the room, Prabhupada stated that all the devotees in the world should come to Mayapura and constantly have kirtana. He was very blissful as he told them of Bhaktivinoda Thakura’s statement that he had searched the fourteen worlds but found nothing of value except the chanting of the holy names.
(From “Prabhupada Meditations” by SDG)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/B20JqT

Evening program in Abu Dhabi.

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 04 June 2012, Leicester, England, Srimad Bhagavatam 1.2.7)

I got one of those sweatshirts with a hoodie and it said BBT. It was not from the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust as it was bought from some karmi shop. But I thought to myself, “Just see, Krsna sent me this because I am a sankirtan devotee.” Then I got a hat and the label inside it read BIG BIG UNIVERSE, “Yes, I’m preaching all over, a big preacher!” Within no time I put the hat within the pocket of my sweatshirt but I forgot it somewhere and never saw it again.

Then I got a new hat and on the label, it read INQ and I knew what that meant, “Is not qualified.” And that one, I just couldn’t get rid of, it stayed with me for years and years because Krsna puffed me up with BBT and BIG BIG UNIVERSE but after that, I had INQ forever and I will always remember, “Is not qualified.” So one can see Krsna in such things. One can see that Krsna is with us, playfully teaching us. He is with us and we are not left alone!

Next January there will be an examination on this Bhagavad-gita. Papers will be sent by me to all centers, and those securing the minimum passing grade will be given the title as Bhakti-sastri. Similarly, another examination will be held on Lord Caitanya's Appearance Day in February, 1970 and it will be upon Srimad-Bhagavatam and Bhagavad-gita. Those passing will get the title of Bhakti-vaibhava. Another examination will be held sometimes in 1971 on the four books, Bhagavad-gita, Srimad-Bhagavatam, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, and Nectar of Devotion. One who will pass this examination will be awarded with the title of Bhaktivedanta. I want that all of my spiritual sons and daughters will inherit this title of Bhaktivedanta, so that the family transcendental diploma will continue through the generations. Those possessing the title of Bhaktivedanta will be allowed to initiate disciples. Maybe by 1975, all of my disciples will be allowed to initiate and increase the numbers of the generations. That is my program. So we should not simply publish these books for reading by outsiders, but our students must be well versed in all of our books so that we can be prepared to defeat all opposing parties in the matter of self-realization. Continue reading "Principles for Creating a Diksa-guru System for ISKCON
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[Evening program at Charlotte, USA]

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[Bhagavatam class at Charlotte, USA]

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We are pleased to announce that within a few weeks we will be kicking off the next TOVP Team Tour to Malaysia. For twelve days (April 21 – May 2) the all-merciful Lord Nityananda in the form of His Padukas (shoes) and Lord Nrsimha in the form of His Sitari (helmet), along with Their Graces Jananivas, Ambarisa, Svaha and Vraja Vilas prabhus, will travel throughout Malaysia visiting temples and homes of devotees.

This will be the second fundraising visit to Malaysia organized by Simhesvara prabhu. The first visit in 2013 actually spearheaded our TOVP worldwide fundraising efforts, but we didn’t have the variety of pledge offerings that are now available. This visit will give an opportunity to the devotees and congregation to take advantage of these offerings and make significant pledges. We are grateful to Simhesvara prabhu and all the Malaysia Yatra leaders for their cooperation and enthusiasm in supporting the TOVP project.

Below is the Tour Itinerary:

April 21st – Arrival in Kuala Limpur
April 22nd – Program at Ipoh Temple
April 23rd – Program at Penang Temple
April 25th & 26th – Devotee home programs in Perak
April 28th & 29th – Devotee home programs in Johor Bahru
April 30th, May 1st & May 2nd – Programs in the Kuala Limpur area

Prabhupāda: No “Understanding”, simply Vedic “Temple of Vedic Planetarium,” That’s all. We shall show the Vedic conception of planetary system within this material world and above the material world… We are going to exhibit the Vedic culture throughout the whole world, and they’ll come here.

Just like they come to see the Taj Mahal, the architectural culture, they’ll come to see the civilization culture, the philosophical culture, the religious culture by practical demonstration with dolls and other things… Actually it will be a unique thing in the world. There is no such thing all over the world. That we shall do. And not only simply showing museum, but educating people to that idea. With factual knowledge, books, not fictitious.

Morning Walk — February 27, 1976, Mayapur

The post Second Malaysia Tour To Begin appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

Sudarshana Gayatri

Om sudarshanaya vidmahe mahajvalaya dhimahi
tano chakrah prachodayat

As is our annual custom, Nrsimha Caturdasi will be observed in Sridhama Mayapur as a three day festival from May 7th – 9th. The first day will be celebrated with a huge procession throughout the ISKCON Mayapur property and on the second day we will be performing a three hour long Maha Sudarshana Homa before the Deity of Lord Nrsimhadeva. The third day is observed as Nrsimha Caturdasi. We would like to offer you an opportunity to personally benefit from the Sudarshana Yajna by participating in the offering as explained below.

The Sudarshana Yajna is a very special one. Sudarshana, the divine discus of Lord Vishnu, is invoked along with Lord Nrsimha for the attainment of success in a particular undertaking and for protection from negative forces. It is a type of exorcism which removes evil elements and other troublesome astral entities as well as counteracts curses and spells.

The homa is accomplished with a fire yajna, offerings of Tulasi leaves to the Lord, and recitation of the Purusha Sukta, and the Sudarshana yantra, a copper disc with special sacred symbols is bathed 108 times with the Sudarshana mantras for empowerment and then offered darpan (bath water) from the purified water of kalashes. As usual, this year’s yajna consisting of over 10,000 various offerings will be performed by 9 saintly Mayapur gurukula Brahmin boys.

The TOVP Team is coordinating again this year’s Sudarshana Yajna and we invite all our donors to participate as part of a worldwide yajna for the protection and success of the TOVP project and for their personal protection also. To participate we request that you make a vrata (vow) to chant a specific number of extra daily rounds of the Hare Krishna mantra between now and May 7th (India time) for this purpose. Email us at *protected email* either before you start the vrata or when you complete it on May 7th (India time) with your name, gotra (if any), and the number of rounds you intend to chant per day or have completed by May 7th. Your name will be chanted as part of the offering infused into the water of the bathing kalashes, and then recited again during the darpan (yantra bathing) by the Brahmins performing the yajna.

The ashes remaining after the yajna are considered extremely potent. We will be keeping these ashes and, where postal law permits, will mail them to donors who have participated as explained above. Donors who do not receive the ashes by mail can receive them at the TOVP office.

As you all know, Mayapur Nrsimha is a very special Nrsimha 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. There are many stories in Mayapur of miracles in this regard.

One of our goals in building the TOVP is to offer Lord Nrsimhadeva a new home, along with Sri Sri Radha Madhava and Sri Pancha Tattva. Lord Nrsimha will have his own separate wing and altar in the temple and His presence is a major element of the entire project. He is our protector and well-wisher and deserves the most opulent circumstances and worship. Nrsimha Caturdasi this year will be very special in Mayapur because it will celebrate the commencement of the installation of the Kalashes atop the TOVP domes.

With this in mind we would like to encourage our donors to continue enthusiastically with your pledge payments because now all funds received will be directed towards the production of the Chakras in Russia. If you are able, please give a larger portion of your pledge for Nrsimha Caturdasi to help finance this work. If you have not yet started making payments towards your pledge or had to stop for some reason, please see this as an opportunity to start or restart your pledge payments. If you have not yet given a donation to the TOVP or would like to give another, please take advantage of this auspicious occasion and make a pledge by going to: https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/

All Glories to Lord Sri Nrsimhadeva!

Prayers to Lord Nrsimhadeva by Shani (Saturn)

Shani said:

By the mercy of the dust of Your lotus feet which destroy a multitude of sins, grant infinite auspiciousness to Your devotee who always worships Your lotus feet with devotion. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

Your lotus feet are worshipped by Goddess Lakṣmī, even though She is fickle by nature (cancala) and by Lord Brahmā and Lord Śiva whose feet are worthy of worship with devotion. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

By contemplating or meditating upon Your appearance, which is expounded in the Vedas extensively, the best of the saints are liberated from the three-fold miseries and from all misfortunes. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

By the word of His devotee named Prahlāda, Lord Hari, who is generous and kind, appeared from a pillar and by placing Hiraṇyakaśipu on His thighs split open his stomach with His nails. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

You protected your own devotee Prahlāda from a raging fire, the deep ocean, from falling from a tall mountain peak, poison, a mad elephant and the fangs of poisonous serpents. You are omnipresent and supremely generous. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

By meditating upon He whose great form is devoid of imperfections, the best of the saints attained liberation from the ocean of materialistic attachments and obtained unmitigated salvation. O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

By meditating upon He whose form is fearsome, all peace, happiness and prosperity can be obtained, all sins can be obliterated, the fear arising from evil spirits, fevers and unfavorable planetary positions can be removed, O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

Your transcendental fame is sung gloriously in all the divine assemblies of Śiva, Brahmā and Indra etc. and whose power is steadfast in wiping out all impurities, O Lord Nṛsiṁha, please bestow upon me Your merciful side-long glance.

On listening to the heartfelt prayer composed by Śanideva in the assembly of Lord Brahmā, Lord Hari who is ever compassionate to His devotees, spoke to Śanideva as follows.

Śrī Nṛsiṁha said:

O Śani, I am pleased with your devotion. Whatever you desire that will benefit the world, ask for that kind of boon and I will grant it.

Śrī Śanideva replied:

O Lord Nṛsiṁha, O reservoir of compassion, please be kind to me. O Lord of all gods, let my week-day (Saturday) be Your favorite day. O Purifier of all the worlds, may You fulfill the desires of all those who listen to or read this great prayer to You composed by me.”

Śrī Nṛsiṁha said:

O Śani, let it be so! By virtue of My being the universal protector (Rakṣobhuvana), I fulfill the desires of all My devotees. Please listen to My words let there be no fear of the twelfth and eighth birth positions (and implicitly any unfavorable birth positions) and consequent troubles from you for anyone who reads or listens to this prayer to Me composed by you.

Then Śanideva replied to Lord Narahari that he would follow the Lord’s instructions. Then the joyful saints and sages present there (in Brahma’s assembly) responded with cries of, ‘jaya, jaya!’”.

Śrī Kṛṣṇa told Dharmarāja, “Whoever listens to or recites this conversation between Śanideva and Lord Nṛsiṁha in the form of this prayer of devotion will definitely have all desires fulfilled and will always rejoice.”

Thus ends the prayers offered to the universal protector Śrī Nṛsiṁha by the great soul Śani.

The post Nrsimha Caturdasi, Maha Sudarshana Yajna and Harinama Yajna appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

New Gokul (Bhaktivedanta Manor cow protection and working oxen) (Album with photos)
Our Goshala team are very active and hardw...