Planet ISKCON

By Giriraja at Candan-acarya’s house – Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati’s samadhi.

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Becoming a disciple of His Divine Grace.
Krishna Kirtan Devi dasi, at 15, an active Christian, first met the devotees in a public park in Paris called Jardin du Luxembourg in July 1972. She thought they were Buddhist monks and was impressed by them, although she didn’t know anything about them. The devotees told her things like, “Disciple means discipline” and “If you want fraternity and equality, join this movement!” Then it started to rain, so she cut short the conversation and left.

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Diwali Celebrations at the Victorian Parliament House of Melbourne (Album with photos)
ISKCON Melbourne, as well as other Hind...

Govardhan Puja 2016 at ISKCON Ujjain (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: The Supreme Lord, Krsna, He’s maintaining everyone: yoga-ksemam vahamy aham [Bg. 9.22]. And He’ll not maintain a person who has fully surrendered to Him? No. How it can be. Suppose a gentleman is maintaining so many other children. And he does not maintain his own children? Surely he does. Therefore our principle should be we should not think about our personal maintenance. We should dedicate our life for Krsna, and Krsna will take care. That should be the principle. Don’t be harassed, thinking always “How I shall be maintained?” That is not the problem. Maintenance is no problem. Real problem is “How we shall be fully surrendered to Krsna?” That is wanted. >>> Ref. VedaBase => Srimad-Bhagavatam 2.2.5 – New York, March 5, 1975
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Krishna Lifts the Govardhan Hill.
Once in the beautiful land of Vraja, For Lord Indra they wanted to do a puja Begging to Indra to supply them rain So that in time they can harvest their grain Seeing this Krishna was not happy,

A Unique Experience in Sri Dham Mayapur!
I am Kruti Beesam. I work as a proofreader for a reputed software firm company in Hyderabad. I have Cerebral Palsy, which confines me to a wheelchair and makes me dependent on physical assistance even for my basic day-to-day needs. At the age of 13 years my disability gave me an opportunity to meet Dr. Laxma Reddy, a physio at a clinic in Hyderabad. Later, due to my condition, he agreed to pay home visits.
Dr Laxma was a simple person who knew his job well and was very friendly with his patients. With his help, my condition improved to an extent. With time, I started observing some changes in Dr Reddy. He started speaking more and more about God. To him, Krishna is the only God. One day, he came in saffron robes and told us that he had joined the Hare Krishna movement and left physiotherapy for good.
I could not understand how a person could leave everything behind and simply live to serve God. I had only seen that in movies. Dr Laxma was now Rama Lakshman das.
He shifted to a place called Mayapur in West Bengal, a holy place greatly revered by the followers of the Chaitanya tradition from which the modern Hare Krishna movement originated.
Rama Lakshman Prabhu now visited us whenever he came to our city and helped us to understand a little bit about the Bhagavad-Gita. My confusion about his decision slowly turned to admiration, and I found myself wanting to lead a life similar to that which he had opted for.
My limitations don’t allow me to do everything that I’d like to but I hope I will be able to do so someday.
In school, I dreaded maths. My mom tried various methods to improve my performance in the subject. Rama Lakshman Prabhu promised that he would take me to Mayapur if I passed the exam with a good score.
The promise of such an incentive motivated me to put all my efforts into the upcoming exam.
To my great delight, I passed! My family and I consider it nothing less than a miracle that I got through the exam. He saved me from failing into arrears that could have brought my confidence down.
But due to the difficulties associated with travelling and various other reasons, we didn’t get a chance to visit any place for years.
Eight years later, when we finally got an opportunity to go to Mayapur, I had an overwhelming experience. It is a beautiful place where the purity of nature is well-preserved. It was as if I was reading a beautiful description in a book or watching a good movie –the greenery, the cows, and the simplicity of the place are things that we cannot find in the din and bustle of cities like Hyderabad.
In Mayapur, I witnessed the perfect implementation of the concept of simple living and high thinking. We stayed there only for three days but had the opportunity to participate in the karthika festival, which was so wonderful that it was nothing like anything I had ever seen.When I saw the Deities in the temple for the first time, I had tears in my eyes. I wondered if I was the only one in that state of mind. Later, I was told that a friend who had accompanied us also had the same experience. She said that it was as if the Lord had appeared there just to allow us to have a glimpse of Him. I used to think that this is an experience of people who completely dedicate their lives to Krishna; but I after the tear-inducing profound experience my friend and I have had, I think that any devotee who sees the Lord with a pure heart also experiences similar feelings.
I had already started feeling the magic of Mayapur. I saw that people from different faiths had come together to celebrate Krishna. It is amazing to see how Sri Sri Radha Madhava attracts and inspires people from every part of the world to come to Mayapur and take shelter at Their lotus feet. Two pious souls who have been so attracted are Indulekha mataji and Vishnurata prabhu. They are from Russia and Indonesia respectively and are now living in Sridham Mayapur. Along with Rama Lakshman prabhu, they took us around to many places and narrated pastimes of the Lord associated with each place. Among other places, I also had the opportunity to visit and offer my prayers to the holy Ganges. It is said that the river washes away all our sins. I felt the purity of the river when I went there. I had only seen the Ganges on TV. I never thought that I would be touching the holy water. This has been possible because of all the people who came with me. I thank all of them from the bottom of my heart. As a part of preserving and promoting Indian culture, both Vishnurata prabhu and Indulekha mataji were dressed traditionally. And they willingly performed the rituals of the traditional Hindu society. For instance, Indulekha mataji insisted on serving us all lunch before sitting down herself to eat. None of them would eat without making an offering to the Lord first. It was strange to see people from different corners of the world reminding us of the customs and traditions that we have forgotten.
I also met Chaitanya, who was also a devotee of the Lord like so many others in Mayapur. But there’s something special about him. What makes him special is his enthusiasm to celebrate life despite his disability. His unshakable faith in Krishna surprised me. As we spoke, he motivated me to chant more rounds of the Hare Krishna maha mantra and gave me a couple of books that can further inspire me. It was amazing to realize the fact that God has blessed these people by allowing them to live in Mayapur and offer their services to Him. It felt like I was in a different world altogether. Neither the travel fatigue nor the humid weather could affect me while I meditated on the Lord in that beautiful heaven called Sri Dham Mayapur. I hope I get another chance to have that experience of beauty.
Hare Krishna!

New Vrindaban 24 Hour Kirtan (Kartik 2016) (Album with 113 photos)
Srila Prabhupada: …transcendental pleasure means feeling of pleasure through Krsna. Just like the gopis and Krsna. Gopis, when they saw Krsna is pleased, they became happy, and Krsna, when He saw that the gopis are happy, He become happier. Again the gopis sees that Krsna is happier, they, again they become more happy. In this way, there is competition of happiness. The gopis sees Krsna happier; they feel happiness, and Krsna sees gopis happier; Krsna feels happiness. This word is described in the Caitanya-caritamrta: dui lagi hura huri. This is spiritual competition. >>> Ref. VedaBase => The Nectar of Devotion – Vrndavana, November 3, 1972
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By Giriraj Swami

In the western coast of India, in the island of Salmali, lived Dronachala, the king of the mountains. Once a sage by the name of Pulastya Muni, came to him to take his son Giriraja with him to Kashi (Varanasi). After offering some initial resistance, Giriraja, somehow agreed to go with him only on condition that he should not put him down on the earth in between. If he does so, he would stay there forever. When they were flying over the Vraja bhumi, Giriraja increased his weight to the extent that Pulastya had no option but to put him down. Pulastya understood the mischief of Giriraja. He became furious and cursed him that he would decrease by a grain everyday. But then repenting on the curse he gave to Giriraja, he assured him that he would be blessed in the Dvapara Yuga and everybody would start worshipping him since then. This happened in the Satya yuga. Brahmaji wished to create the Dvapara Yuga but because of the portentous phenomenon of Ravana, he had to create the Treta Yuga. In this yuga, Hanumanaji on the instructions of Lord Rama, came to take Giriraja for the cause of constructing a pull on the ocean. Continue reading "Sri Giriraj Govardhan Puja
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By Garga Samhita

The hill named Govardhan is the king of the kings of mountains. It was born from Lord Hari’s own chest. It has come here by the power of Pulastya Muni. By seeing it one becomes free from having to take birth again in this world. Sri Indra said: You are the master of the demigods, the supreme controller, the Lord who is perfect and complete, the oldest, the supreme person greater than the greatest and above the material energy, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Hari. O master of the spiritual sky, O master of the universes, please save me! Please save me! Continue reading "The glories of Sri Giriraja
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By Shatakshi Goyal

As we drove back to Keshi Ghat, I recalled a conversation with Shivarama Swami. Yamuna Devi is always flowing in Vraja in aprakata, or unmanifested, form, he said, but her disappearance in drishtva form, or that which we can see, shows that she is offended by how Vrindavan is being exploited – dirt and filth everywhere, rampant corruption, lack of building codes. Shivarama Swami reminded us that our Save Yamuna Campaign is not just about moving politicians, courts, and policy makers; it's also meant to create a bed of desire and welcome to show Yamuna Devi that we want her to return to Vrindavan. If she wants to come, she can just burst that dam in Delhi and come straight through. So it's not the dam that's going to keep her there. Continue reading "A Riverbed of Desire
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The Glories of Lunchtime at 26 Second Avenue

To fall in love with Krishna, we have to know what he is like. But we can’t directly know what he is like, because he is initially beyond the perception of our mind and senses. So on the Vedāntic principle of “anyārtha parāmārṣa” we have to infer what he is like by our experience of things that are somehow similar to him. 

Texts 19-42 of Gita’s Chapter 10 give many, many different examples of things that are somehow similar to Krishna, and therefore can give us a hint of what he is like. These are things that we can readily experience in our everyday life – but the experience can give us a hint of what is currently beyond our ability to experience. For example, we can get an idea of what it is like to experience Krishna, by more mindfully experiencing the Sunlight, Ocean, Spring, etc.

At one point (10.28) he says “Procreation, in which I am the Eros” (prajanaś cāsmi kandarpaḥ).” 

Procreation reveals a very important part of what Krishna (or any concept of “God”) is really like: very very creative. The original generator of everything.

Eros is even more specific. Here (10.28) Krishna is sharing the hint that he is not a boring fellow, nor is he celibate, prude, victorian, repressed or even reserved in the slightest. He gives us a clue that he is an erotic, exciting, incredibly PLEASURABLE person. Indeed all of his most important names (Krishna, Rāma, Govinda, etc) hint loudly at the same thing.

Krishna suggests in 10.28 that the experience of eroticism in our everyday life gives us a hint of what Krishna’s personality is like, and what it is like to actually interact with Krishna. This statement might seem problematic to celibates, but it doesn’t at all mean that every bhakta has to be sexually active. These statements at the end of Chapter 10 are meant for a wide range of people, who relate to a wide range of things. But for those who are, or have been sexually active in a positive manner – Krishna suggests that the riveting and liberating joy of sexual pleasure reveals an important hint (which we can immediately access even in our current state of existence) of the profoundly riveting, liberating, and yes, “orgasmic” joy of experiencing him.

Vraja Kishor (www.vrajakishor.com)

Tagged: Eros, erotic principle, Sexuality, spiritual sexuality

The post Community Govardhan Puja appeared first on Mayapur.com.

“We may approach the Lord for something material and he may fulfill our desire, but in such a way that we don’t approach him again for that desire. So, it is better if we approach the Lord and great souls like Giri Govardhan with spiritual desires like the gopi’s—just to serve and please Krishna—without any desire for themselves. By serving and pleasing Krishna we become pramodah—we become exceedingly happy. That is how we become happy. Not by trying in our own independent way to enjoy but by serving and pleasing Krishna and His devotees. That was the benediction the gopis wanted from Govardhan Hill and he fulfilled their desires.”
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Govardhan-puja Talk

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ECO-Vrindaban Offers Opportunity for New Maintenance Person.
ECO-Vrindaban (ECO-V) which strives to fulfill Srila Prabhupadas mandates for simple living and cow-protection at New Vrindaban in West Virginia, USA is on the lookout for a new construction and maintenance person for its ongoing operations. The ideal candidate would be a journeyman level carpenter with construction or general contracting experience. Basic plumbing and electrical skills would be a major plus. The candidates duties would include painting, restoration and maintenance of farm buildings, as well as new construction projects such as greenhouses and various fencing projects. They would also help with other ECO-V activities when needed. Thus ECO-V is looking for someone with an experience of and desire for simple country living, and a well-rounded familiarity with farm life the sort of person who would be comfortable working with animals, lending a hand in the garden, or driving a tractor. The ideal candidate would also be a self-starter with the ability to think on their feet, work unsupervised, and, at times, manage a small crew. To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/2dSGFY

Harinama in Jax today. (Album with photos)
Jacksonville, FL, United States - Thousands of people heard the Holy Name and many...

By B.V.V. Narasimha Swami

Despite many challenges, the intrepid devotees in this remote city 5,700 land miles from Moscow built a suitable temple to worship the Lord. The city of Vladivostok (“Ruler of the East”) is situated in the far east of Russia, a few hundred kilometers north of China. The region was long under Chinese rule, but Russia acquired it through the Treaty of Beijing in 1860. In time Russians migrated from the western part of the country, and it is now an important port serving the eastern region of Russia. In the late 1980s, when the USSR gave up its communist regime and opened its doors to other ideals, the Krishna consciousness movement established centers across Russia, Vladivostok being one city where the people were immediately interested. Continue reading "ISKCON Vladivostok: Where Krishna Reigns in Russia’s Far East
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By Krishna-kripa das

I share many powerful insights from Srila Prabhupada’s lectures and his books. I include excerpts from Satsvarupa dasa Goswami’s Begging for the Nectar of the Holy Name. I transmit some nice realizations from Janananda Goswami, speaking at 26 Second Avenue in New York City on the fiftieth anniversary of the first Tompkins Square Park harinama, October 9, 2016, and also some cool insights from his godbrother, Mahavirya Prabhu, also speaking at that occasion. I share a nice point from a lecture by Candrasekhara Swami. I share several profound quotes from Sadaputa Prabhu’s collection of articles, published as God and Science. I share notes on a lecture by Shyamananda Prabhu, a senior Radhanath Swami brahmacari from Pune and Chowpatty. I share notes on lectures by young devotees who attend The Bhakti Center morning program, Virabhadra Rama Prabhu and Bhakta Cesar Prabhu, along with many comments on their lectures by Adi Purusha Prabhu, who has been a devotee since the 70s. Continue reading "Interesting insights of classes by Iskcon devotees
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Sri Krishna Kathamrita Bindu’s latest issue.
* DAMODARA VRATA – His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada speaks about some devotional activities for the month of kartika.
* DIVINE DEEDS OF DAMODARA – Some comments from Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja about the pastime of Krishna being tied to the wooden grinding mortar.
* BINDING THE BOUNDLESS – A fresh translation done for this issue of of an excerpt from Srila Jiva Goswami’s Bhakti-sandarbha.
* BLIND, DEAF, AND DUMB IN VRINDAVAN – Another fresh translation from Srila Prabodhananda Saraswati’s Vrindavan-mahimamrtam.
This issue can be downloaded here: https://archive.org/details/bindu386

Not So Vegetarian! Vegetarians Beware!
Madhavananda das: Processed fast food is very popular in the world today, and even devotees often take bread, chips and other items. You may be aware that many of those products are not healthy, but what some people don’t know is that many of them are also not vegetarian.
Even if you read the label, it can be misleading. For example, “natural flavors” can often refer to non-veg items. Such ingredients are very common in processed food today. An article last year on CNN reported:
“In the Environmental Working Group’s Food Scores database of over 80,000 foods, "natural flavor” is the fourth most common ingredient listed on labels. The only ingredients that outrank it: salt, water and sugar.“
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/IMG96W

By Sri Nandanandana dasa

As the age of Kali-yuga moves forward, many people are wondering how bad social conditions will get before they improve, and what can we do about it now. Yet the Vedic texts contain a specific prescription for staying free from the heavy influence that this age of Kali-yuga brings. In spite of all the changes predicted to happen in society and on the planet, there are still many ways, both material and spiritual, to stifle or even get free of Kali-yuga’s influence. If we are going to change anything for the better, now is the time to work at it--while the Golden Age within Kali-yuga lasts. One of the first things we must understand is that a perfect civilization is based on working with valor while depending on the Supreme. The more godless we become, the more deteriorated and degraded society and this world will be due to allowing the influence of Kali-yuga to come in without any interference. Therefore, we all need to work for our existence, but we need to recognize that we also are dependent on nature, or the gifts of God. For example, a farmer may have planned and worked so hard to acquire full facility to grow food, such as getting land, seeds, and equipment. But he is not in control of the rain. Without proper rainfall all of his endeavors are fruitless. Therefore, he is dependent on the higher powers who can provide such necessities. So although wanting to be independent of everything is natural for numerous people, this is not possible while living in this material world. We are all dependent on so many other beings and things to survive, including the laws of material nature. And, ultimately, it is the Supreme Being who is in charge of those laws. Therefore, the perfection of society is to work to contribute to family and society while depending on and working in harmony with the Supreme Will. Continue reading "Staying Free Of Kali-yuga’s Dark Influence
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Kartik 2016: Visiting Sri Sri Radha-Raman (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Krsna consciousness, or bhakti, devotional service, means to develop attachment for Krsna and in the same proportion develop detachment for material sense gratification. Two things cannot go on. Just like here is a glass containing water. If you want to put milk in this glass, then you have to throw away the water. If you think that “I shall keep half water, half milk,” that can be done, but both of them becomes diluted or polluted. If you want to keep milk, then you have to throw out the water, and if you want to keep water, then you cannot keep milk. Similarly, bhakti paresanubhavah. This is the test. If you become Krsna conscious, if you are improving in spiritual life, proportionately you’ll be detached from materialistic way of life. That is the test. Simply thinking that “I am meditating so much, I am making very good advance,” is not. You have to test. The test is that your… Improvement of spiritual life means that you become detached to the materialistic way of life. Bhaktih paresanubhavo viraktir anyatra syat [SB 11.2.42]. From Srila Prabhupada’s lecture on Bhagavad-gita 2.40-45 – Los Angeles, December 13, 1968
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TOVP Booth in Vrindavana (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada visited the TOVP Booth at Shree Shree Krishna Balarama Temple - I...

The City Of Victory (Album with 222 photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Jaipur translates as the “City of Victory.” The planned city was built for the protection of Sri Sri Radha Govinda, the beloved deities of Srila Rupa Goswami. Each day thousands upon thousands of people take darshan of Radha Govinda. It is an overwhelming experience to see their devotion for the deities. Our parikrama party visited Radha Govinda twice a day during our stay in Jaipur. We also visited the temples of Radha Damodar, Radha Vinod and Radha Gopinath. For us Jaipur was a like a hidden Vrindavan.
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