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The post When the mind troubles us, how can we practically control it? appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.

The post Daily Darshan: October17,2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

The post A GBC agenda topic: 3 phases of organisational growth – pioneer, rational, integration appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Kartik 2016 celebrations at Bhaktivedanta Manor (Album with HR photos and slide show with musical background)
Srila Prabhupada: To the sincere devotee, this ocean of maya is easily crossed by the cool breeze of Krishna’s Grace. This is our business, to submit to Krishna’s desire to have us back with Him in the eternal sky of Krishna Loka. Letter to Syamasundara, November 24, 1968.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/e8RaHf

ISKCON Hungary Organizes Interfaith FFL on UN World Food Day.
With its organic farm Krishna-valley, ISKCON Hungary has been one of the most well-known champions of sustainability in Europe. To respond to the appeal of the UN FAO about the balanced distribution of food, on Sunday, October 16th, ISKCON Hungary organized a major free food distribution event to the needy in Budapest.
On October 16th the United Nations and the world celebrate World Food Day. In their communications the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) emphasizes: “Climate is changing. Food and agriculture must too.” And they urge everyone: “Let’s adapt agriculture to climate change to build the Zero Hunger Generation.”
According to Vladimir Rakhmanin, the European regional director of FAO, “while we have enough food to feed the entire human population, there are still millions out there starving. The problem is, he says, is not the quantity of the food we produce, it is the unbalance in distribution.”
To read the entire article click here: https://goo.gl/iJ2waL

By Madhava Smullen

Overall tourism at Prabhupada’s Palace has increased from 20,000 annually to approximately 30,000. One woman took the tour this summer after she saw the Palace in a commercial. During the tour, she was listening very intently, really absorbing all the information. Then, when we turned the corner, entered Srila Prabhupada’s study, and saw him behind his desk writing in his murti form, she began to cry. Tears were running down her face, and she was overwhelmed with emotion. The others on the tour felt it too. And at that moment I knew that Srila Prabhupada is here – and that although he might physically appear to be absent, he will always be in his Palace. Continue reading "New Vrindaban Devotees Serve Prabhupada at His Palace With Renewed Enthusiasm
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By Praghosa Das

From the four corners of the globe the GBC convenes in Mumbai for its annual mid-term meeting. After acting locally for the last 6 months or so the GBC members are now, as a body, thinking globally as directed by Srila Prabhupada. Bhakti Caru Swami: Yesterday in the GBC meeting we were discussing about the importance of reading Srila Prabhupada's books and we became quite painfully aware that nowadays that inclination to read Srila Prabhupada's books is decreasing noticeably. So on behalf of the GBCs I would request all of you to make it a point to read our Founder Acarya's books regularly, every day, and at that time we also became aware how some leading devotees of our movement are so committed to reading Srila Prabhupada's books and then we became aware, extremely joyfully, that Prahladananda Swami is so committed to reading Srila Prabhupada's books that he read Bhagavad-gita 150 times! Actually we know how committed Prahladananda Maharaja is to read Srila Prabhupada's books and sticking to Srila Prabhupada's instructions and even quoting with such scholarship from his books. Thank you so much Prahladananda Maharaja for leading us in this direction so nicely! Thank you! Continue reading "Second day of the GBC meetings in Mumbai
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Lalita Sakhi’s Village (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: Yesterday on the 1st day of Kartika, our parikrama group visited Unchagaon, the home of Lalita Sakhi. We discussed her glories, had kirtan and walked around the Vrindavan countryside. We also took darshan of the samadhi of Narayana Bhatta Goswami, a great devotee of the Lord accredited with finding many of the holy places of Krsna’s pastimes in Vrindavan.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/9brupT

I Want to Say

Q: Is māyā a “temporary fix” for the jīva who is disinclined to Krishna?

It need not be a temporary fix. If a jīva is happy with māyā, so be it; Mission accomplished. Krishna’s mission is to expand happiness, so if a jīva is happy with māyā, his mission is accomplished. Therefore not all jīva end their relationship with māyā. Only some do. 

To us it may seem odd to hear that a jīva can be happy with māyā, because we currently live in a very stressful yuga with fairly unhealthy bodies and minds. But there are many, many other ways to exist in māyā besides being a human being on the Internet in 2016. If some of these living conditions satisfy the jīva, great; Mission accomplished.

Those who do not find satisfaction in māyā, however, are more fortunate – for they have a chance to be attracted to something even greater. 

Q: I understand that time is continuous; and I also understand that māyā is one of Krishna’s shaktis so she has always existed. Still I am wondering if there was any point in time where māyā was not available to individual consciousness which lead them to become ‘lost souls’ in the darkness?

No. Śāstra describes the relationship of jīva and māyā as anadi. (“Without a previous condition”). For example Krishnadas Kaviraja (in Cc) uses the phrase anādi-bahirmukha (“oriented away [from Krishna] without a previous condition”). Śrī Jīva (in Ts) uses the phrase anādi-bhagavad-ajñāna (“unaware of Bhagavān, without a previous condition”). Krishna himself (Gītā 7.27) says that the māyā (moha) of jīva is inherent in their sarga (“their initial condition”).

Krishna and his śaktis are eternal. He has three categories of śakti: jīva, māyā, and bhakti. All three are eternal. Krishna is the enjoyer. Jīva is the contributor to the enjoyment. Bhakti is the means by which a jīva experiences pleasure by contributing to Krishna’s pleasure. Māyā is the means by which a jīva seeks pleasure independently.

Vraja Kishor (www.vrajakishor.com)

Tagged: origin of jiva, origin of soul, origin of the jiva

By Madhava Smullen

Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold

Since its construction, Srila Prabhupada’s Palace has been the heart and soul of the New Vrindaban community in West Virginia. A sacred Smriti Samadhi, it is the greatest memorial to ISKCON’s Founder-Acharya in the Western World.

What’s more, it was beloved by Prabhupada himself, who wanted to retire to it to translate his books, and repeatedly asked when it would be completed.

“When my palace will be ready I shall go there and stay,” he wrote in 1974. “I like very much that place, very calm and quiet.”

So it is inspirational for many that this year has seen renewed energy and attention at Prabhupada’s Palace, as devotees work to again increase the international recognition it receives.

An important step was enlisting a qualified person to facilitate the effort. Enter new Palace Manager Vrajadhama Das from Toronto, who has been a devotee for twenty years and worked as an office manager and sales trainer before joining Prabhupada’s Palace this March.

“Serving Srila Prabhupada nicely is our priority,” he says. “If we’re not doing that, it doesn’t really matter what other improvements we’re making.”

Prabhupada’s Palace Staff Members

To that end, a priority for Vrajadhama was to renovate a room in the Palace for a pujari, Srinama Das, to live in so that he can attend to Srila Prabhupada’s care full-time.

Devotees are also renovating the Palace kitchen, so that Srinama can prepare Prabhupada’s meal offerings onsite rather than transporting them up the hill from the temple.

The next priority is, of course, making sure that the devotees serving Prabhupada are happy.

“One way I try to do that is by recognizing and appreciating the devotees for the hard work that they’ve been doing here for so many years,” Vrajadhama says. “I walk the grounds of the Palace every morning, and stop and talk to everyone to see if they need anything and if they’re satisfied in their service. I also try to make sure that people are engaged in activities that suit their personal abilities, which was Srila Prabhupada’s philosophy of management.”

These efforts have resulted in increased staff enthusiasm and numbers, with four local people and twenty-one devotees engaged in various capacities, up considerably from previous years.

With the staff numerous and active, Prabhupada’s Palace is also seeing increased attendance at several unique programs that utilize its atmosphere of personal association with Srila Prabhupada.

First Friday Kirtan Event October 7^th, 2016

One of these is the monthly Prabhupada Sangam, started in Spring 2013 by husband and wife Kripamaya Das and Krsna Bhavi Dasi, both Prabhupada disciples, and maintained today by Vrajadhama and his wife Nityananda Dasi.

“The evening starts off with grand disciples or second generation devotees talking about what Prabhupada means to them,” says Vrajadhama. “We then have Prabhupada disciples speak about their personal experiences with him – both local disciples as well as visiting devotees like Nanda Kumar Prabhu or Srutakirti Prabhu, who had lots of one-on-one time with him. It’s very sweet.”

The Sangams are an attempt to bring Prabhupada’s Palace to life. “I really wanted to bring the New Vrindaban community members back to the Palace,” says Vrajadhama. “To let them know, this is not just a place for tourists, but this is Prabhupada’s home – he’s here, and he wants you to come and visit.”

Each event is filmed and archived on the New Vrindaban YouTube page, and the last one was livestreamed on Facebook, an exciting new step in utilizing modern technology.

Meanwhile, as a way of reaching out to the public Kirtan Experience events are held on the First Friday of every month. Introduced in April this year, they are advertised locally in Wheeling and surrounding areas as a way to “enliven, unite and inspire through transcendental music.”

Between 30 and 50 people usually attend these programs, many of them general public who appreciate the sweet and informal vibe. Devotees from different ISKCON New Vrindaban departments take turns leading each time, starting off with slow bhajans and building until everyone is jumping up and down, spinning in circles, and having an all round great time.

Festival of Colors Festival September 17^th, 2016

Sharing that joy of Krishna consciousness with a much larger public audience was this year’s fifth annual Festival of Colors on September 17^th, held on the Palace grounds. Drawing nearly three thousand local people despite rainy weather, it saw families and students chanting the Hare Krishna mantra, dancing, throwing colors and taking tours of Prabhupada’s Palace.

Feedback has been very positive, and weather providing in future years Vrajadhama feels the Festival can again hit previous heights of 4,500 and beyond.

It’s a reasonable expectation: this year, overall tourism at Prabhupada’s Palace already increased from 20,000 annually to approximately 30,000. Vrajadhama attributes this to stronger social media presence, as well as an increasing interest from TV, radio and print media.

“It’s really about getting ourselves out there,” says Vrajadhama. “Because we have so much to offer. People are becoming aware that we’re doing a lot of work here, and that we’re ready to reintroduce ourselves to the world. They’re excited about that, and they want to come and see what we’re up to.”

Besides Srila Prabhupada, the regular events and Palace tours, there’s a lot to see these days, with many physical improvements being made too.

A new Smoothie Shack opened at the Palace on Memorial Day in May, with devotees repurposing and renovating an unused gazebo. Painting it the Palace Wall’s signature salmon pink, they added four matching bistro-style tables with umbrellas, and began serving fresh fruit smoothies, freshly squeezed organic lemonade, and ice cream.

Smoothie Shack at Prabhupada’s Palace of Gold.

In the future, there are plans to add a grill to offer sandwiches and other hot snacks. More benches will also be added in shaded areas to make the Palace grounds more welcoming.

“It’s an added service for guests who’ve come a long way,” Vrajadhama says. “Now they can sit down and look out over our lotus pond with a refreshing Strawberry Bananarama or Mango smoothie, and just take time to absorb the serene atmosphere. This is a place of pilgrimage, so we really want people to slow down, and see Krishna everywhere in the natural beauty of New Vrindaban.”

Meanwhile, Prabhupada’s Palace itself is undergoing a major restoration project, with beautiful new rose and black granite steps, and a new drainage system to protect against water damage. The outer wall is being stabilized with rebar and concrete, and given a new durable stucco finish, a saffron topping with lotus designs, and ornate black window frames in Jaipur-style arches.

As the construction team does this work, Vrajadhama is overseeing painters who have repainted the Palace’s ornate black and gold exterior, its railings, and its chattras, or lookout towers, giving a fresh new appearance.

Next, the Palace roof, which has been leaking and causing internal damage for years, will be stripped and rebuilt, along with a new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.

Restoration of Prabhupada’s Palace Wall 

Whatever work devotees do, Vrajadhama feels, it will be successful as long as they keep Srila Prabhupada in the center and remember that he is always present at his Palace. As he told devotees in 1974, “I am already living here and always will be.”

“And that’s evident to both devotees and guests,” says Vrajadhama. “One woman took the tour this summer after she saw the Palace in a commercial. During the tour, she was listening very intently, really absorbing all the information. Then, when we turned the corner, entered Srila Prabhupada’s study, and saw him behind his desk writing in his murti form, she began to cry. Tears were running down her face, and she was overwhelmed with emotion. The others on the tour felt it too. And at that moment I knew that Srila Prabhupada is here – and that although he might physically appear to be absent, he will always be in his Palace.”

“This,” concludes Vrajadhama, “Is what makes Prabhupada’s Palace such an important place, and why it’s so important for us to continue improving and caring for it. Not only for us, but also for our children, and their children, and for the people of America – to be able to come and experience its gifts far into the future.”

On October 16^th the United Nations and the world celebrates World Food Day. ISKCON Hungary organized a major free food distribution event to the needy in Budapest. Volunteers of different faith groups worked together and distributed 1,600 plates of hot lunch, and gave out tons of dry food, including pasta, flour, vegetable oil, rice and other items from which families can cook from for weeks.

Srila Prabhupada’s kind and affectionate dealings.
Yashomatinandana das: Sometimes Prabhupada was very tolerant of his devotees.
After he read some letters from New York about Bali Mardan and his wife, Prabhupada said,
“The whole problem is sex life. Yan maithunadi-grhamedhi-sukham hi tuccham. Tuccham means insignificant. One may think that sex is the greatest platform of happiness, but actually that happiness is insignificant. In fact, sex life is a source of distress. We have so many problems because of sex life.”
Although the situation in the New York temple was a big problem, Prabhupada spoke in this way for five minutes and then dropped it.
He reduced every problem to a philosophical understanding because he saw everything from a philosophical viewpoint.
I saw that in his every action Prabhupada never thought of himself as the doer but fully dependent on Krishna.
He would pursue a certain line and leave success or failure up to Krishna.
Some devotees wanted to go from Juhu to Bombay by taxi, and being a miserly man, I agitated them by saying, “Why should you go by taxi?”
I told Prabhupada, “When I tell the devotees that it’s too expensive to go to Bombay by taxi, they get agitated.”
Prabhupada said, “Just consider that before becoming devotees they were eating flesh and blood like tigers. Now they are chanting Hare Krishna, they are dancing and they are enjoying spiritually. Haven’t they accomplished something great? So if they want some extra money, give it to them. Don’t worry about their faults.”
Then in a lecture the next day he said, “Money is very hard to earn. Money is like Krishna’s blood and we should not waste it. Every rupee should be considered as a brick in the temple.”
So to me he said, “You tolerate,” while to them he said “Don’t waste money.”
In other words, he helped me increase my tolerance in the service of Krishna, and he helped them increase their frugality in the service of the Lord.
He approached the difficulty from different angles and instead of feeling discouraged, everyone saw a way to increase the quality of their service.
This was a key principle in Prabhupada’s dealings with every devotee, and that’s why he was able to produce so many managers.
In spite of our many mistakes, the movement grew because of Prabhupada’s kind and affectionate dealings.
The last verses of the Nectar of Instruction say, vaikunthaj janito vara madhu-puri tatrapi rasotsavad,
“Greater than Vaikuntha is Mathura mandala, and greater than that is Vrindavan where the rasa dance takes place. And greater than Vrindavan is Govardhan. And in Govardhan, Radha-kunda is the best place. Where is a knowledgeable person who will not serve the holy place called Radha-kunda?”
When that book came out, Prabhupada’s secretaries complained that devotees wanted to give up distributing books to stay in Radha-kunda.
Prabhupada said, “Just see the rascals. They have not followed the first verse of Upadesamrta and they are jumping to the eleventh verse.”
The first verse is vaco vegam manasah krodha-vegam jihva-vegam udaropastha-vegam,
“One who controls the pushes of the senses is fit to be guru and make disciples everywhere.”
Sarvam apimam prthivim sa sisyat. Prabhupada said,
“Let them control their senses first, then they can think of Radha-kunda. Their mentality is called markata-vairagya, the renunciation of the monkeys. Monkeys also live in the forests, eating only fruits and leaves, but they are thinking, ‘Where is the she-monkey?’ The desire to give up one’s service and go to Radha-kunda is simply monkey business.”
—Jashomatinandana
.Excerpt from “Memories-Anecdotes of a Modern-Day Saint”
by Siddhanta das

By Narada dasa

We started 13 May 2016 from Samara Finished 9 September (Radhashtami) in Ershov village 69 devotees participated (39 men and 30 women) Lasted for 120 days 76 harinam-sankirtan on the streets 3080 Srila Prabhupad books distributed 342 audio disks with kirtans and lectures 350 «Golden Age» magazines 29 cities 16000 km the total distance covered Continue reading "Amazing Russian Padayatra Report
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A monk who bought a Ferrari! (3 min video)
By Gaur Gopal Das. A personal coach, monk, lifestyle & motivational strategist, sharing deeper spiritual insights with the world.
Srila Prabhupada:
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/HMeinu

The post Varsana d.d. asks how the three deities Madan-mohana, Govindaji and Gopinatha are meant to be worshipped by Gaurdiya-vaisnavas? appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

By Giriraj Swami

Srila Rupa Gosvami compiled the law book of Krsna consciousness, the science of devotion, in the Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu, translated by Srila Prabhupada in a summary study as The Nectar of Devotion. There the observance of Kartika is mentioned as one of the sixty-four items of devotional service. Rupa Gosvami quotes from the Padma Purana that just as Lord Damodara is favorably inclined toward His devotees, so the month of Kartika, which is also dear to Him, bestows great favor upon His devotees, even for a little service or a little practice. It is even said that the benefit gained for service performed in the last five days of Kartika is equal to that gained from service performed for the entire month. In other words, for a very small performance of devotional service in the month of Damodara, one gets a very big result--especially in Vrndavana. Also, Srila Prabhupada has explained that wherever the deities of Radha and Krsna are installed, that is also Vrndavana. So even here our devotional service will be magnified "one thousand times." Continue reading "Kartika and Sarat-purnima: Special Mercy and the Dance of Divine Love
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Hare Krishna Times (4 min video)
Wellcome to the Hare Krishna TV! And news for today is…
The team from the Iskcondesiretree website is producing videos with the latest news from the Iskcon world.
To watch today’s news: https://goo.gl/adzVTo

The post Daily Darshan: October 16,2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

First day of the GBC meetings in Mumbai. Wonderful gathering of amazing sadhus. Jaya Srila Prabhupada!

Memories of Tribhuvanatha Prabhu (6 min video)
Today marks 15 years since His Grace Tribhuvanatha Prabhu left his body.
A ...

Parikrama in Javat and Ter Kadamba 15.10.2016 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: When loud chanting of the Hare Krishna mant...

Good morning Vrindavan! (Album with photos)
How did lovely Vrindavan look this morning, the first day of Kartika?
Srila Pr...

By Braja Sevaki Dasi

An article about the early days of the Deities in Mayapur, from a 2006 edition of Mayapur Magazine. Thirty-two years elapsed between the time Srila Prabhupada first mentioned life-sized Panca-tattva Deities and Their arrival in 2004. But you could hardly call the devotees at Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir “idle” during those intervening years. Two of the Deities’ oldest servants guide us through a brief history of Mayapur Deity worship Continue reading "Full of Abundant Grace
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Inquiring from the Learned Spiritual Master

(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 11 October 2011, Melbourne, Australia, Home Program)

During this month of Damodar, there is the chance of making special advancement. Those who go to Vrindavan during the month of Kartik are very fortunate. It is said that in Vrindavan during Kartik, one can make many times more advancement than under normal conditions – a thousand times more. Therefore, being in Vrindavan for Kartik is very, very special. But not all of us have the opportunity and the time to leave everything and just go to Vrindavan but at least one can go there in consciousness!

Sometimes the acaryas, like Jiva Gosvami in the Sandarbhas, are pointing out that Vrindavan, or rather Mathura, is not a place; it is a state of consciousness. So, the consciousness of Mathura or Vrindavan is what really transports us there. Therefore, we can also invoke that atmosphere wherever we are and in that way one can reside in Vrindavan, by remembering Vrindavan. Because remembrance on the spiritual platform is as good as being there – we simply remember the spiritual world. So, it is a month to meditate on Krsna.

By Sanatana Gosvami

Karttika is the best and most glorious month, purest of pure. It is particularly dear to Lord Krishna, because it is the month of Srimati Radharani. This month is full of love of the Lord towards His devotees. Any vow followed in this month, even a small one, brings tremendous results. The essence of Karttika-vrata is to satisfy Sri Sri Radha-Damodara with our more and better devotional service to Them. Kirttika is the name of the third daughter of Prajapati Daksa. It was a custom in Vraja to name girls after Daksa’s daughters. So the name of Radharani’s mother was Kirttika (or Kirtida) and Radharani became known as Karttiki, which means “born of Kirttika”. Sri Sanatana Goswami gave us the key to understanding the significance of the Holy month of Karttika. Krishna says: masanam marga-sirso ‘ham – “Of months I am Margasirsa (November-December)”. Karttika precedes Margasirsa. Therefore, Karttika represents Srimati Radharani. Continue reading "Best activity and best vrata for Kartik
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The well known Shetty family gets blessings (Album with photos)
On the evening of Saturday, October 15th, HH Jayapataka Swami w...

Performing vrata in the month of Kartika (Damodara) is glorified profusely in the Puranas. Since this month is very dear to Lord Krishna, by performing austerities or restraining one’s sense gratification and performing activities to please the senses of the Lord, one becomes very dear to the Lord. As Satya yuga is the best of yugas, as the Vedas are the best of scriptures, as Ganga is the best of rivers, so Kartika is the best of months, the most dear to Lord Krishna. The vrata may begin on the ekadasi of the waxing moon of Asvina, on the Purnima, or (samkranti) when the sun enters the house of Libra.

Five activities are glorified: staying awake, early morning bath, worship of Tulasi, offering lamps and performing austerities. One should practice brahmacarya, give charity, and perform homa and japa.

One should increase one’s devotional service by performing more deity worship, hearing and speaking about the Lord, by extra japa of the Lord’s name, worshiping Tulasi, staying awake at night chanting, visiting holy tirthas and offering lamps to the Lord.

One should worship Radha Damodara and recite the Damodarastaka daily.

Above are some of the recommended activities to enhance one’s devotional service during the auspicious month of Kartika. Most ISKCON devotees are familiar with these activities and are already serving in these ways. However, it is an opportunity to increase these services and the spiritual benefits are multiplied a thousand-fold (read the section below from Sanatana Goswami’s Hari Bhakti Vilas). We at the TOVP wish you all a very inspiring and spiritually enhancing month ahead.

As you may know, the construction progress at the TOVP is moving forward steadily and rapidly. Our goal of completing and capping the domes by the end of the year is well within reach and the kalashes are in production at our contractor in Russia. The interior finishing work is scheduled to start in 2017. We could not have reached this stage without the financial help of thousands of devotees and well-wishers throughout the world, and for that we are forever grateful.

However, we would like to make a special Kartika appeal to everyone whether you have already donated, are in the process of making payments towards a pledge, or have not given yet. We ask that during this most auspicious month you kindly give again, or make a larger payment towards your pledged amount, or make a donation/pledge for the first time.

The monthly construction budget is quite substantial, and in order to maintain our current pace we need a steady flow of income at all times. Please consider making an offering during this auspicious Kartika time. We have no doubt the Lord will bless you immensely for the seva.

To make a donation or pledge go to: https://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/

Please watch this very inspiring Youtube video of Agnideva chanting the Damodarastakam to a fabulous slide show.

The TOVP Team

The Glories of Kartika Vrata from Hari Bhakti Vilasa

The following are selected scriptural quotes from the Kartika Mahatmya by Srila Sanatana Goswami

“Especially in the month of Kartika a Vaisnava should regularly bathe in the morning, worship Lord Damodara, give charity, follow vows, and perform other spiritual activities.”

“The pious result obtained by bathing in all holy places and giving all charities is not equal to one ten-millionth part of the result obtained by following the vow of Kartika.”

“Other vows bring the results of a lifetime of pious deeds. The vow of Kartika brings the result of a hundred lifetimes of pious deeds.”

“A person who never performs yajnas or offers sraddha to the ancestors, but who does follow the vow of Kartika, will go to the abode of Lord Visnu.”

“He attains a great result who even very slightly follows the very sacred Kartika vow, which is served by the demigods, sages, and pitas.”

“Charity, yajna, japa, and austerity performed in the month of Kartika bring a result, O best of brahmanas, that will never be destroyed.”

“O tiger of sages, a person who during the month of Kartika eagerly hears the topics of Lord Krsna delivers a hundred generations of his family.”

“Please hear the glories of offering a lamp during the month of Kartika, an offering that is very pleasing to Lord Kesava. O king of brahmanas, a person who offers a lamp in this way will not take birth again in this world.”

“By offering a lamp during the month of Kartika one attains a pious result ten million times greater than the result obtained by bathing at Kuruksetra during a solar eclipse or by bathing in the river Narmada during a lunar eclipse.”

“Even if there are no mantras, no pious deeds, and no purity, everything becomes perfect when a person offers a lamp during the month of Kartika.”

“By offering a lamp during the month of Kartika one burns away a collection of sins as big as Mount Meru or Mount Mandara. Of this there is no doubt.”

“O Narada, no sin exists anywhere in the three worlds that will not be purified by offering a lamp to Lord Kesava during Kartika.”

“A person who offers a lamp to Lord Krsna during Kartika attains the eternal spiritual world where there is no suffering.”

“All holy places, yajnas, daksinas, residence in Puskar, Kuruksetra, and the Himalayas, and all giving in charity a pile of gold like Mount Meru, reside in Kartika, Lord Krsna’s favorite month.”

“The service one does to Lord Visnu in the month of Kartika is all eternal. O Narada, I tell you the truth.”

“Kartika is the best of months, the most pious of pious deeds, the most purifying of all that purify.”

“No month is like Kartika. No yuga is like Satya-yuga. No scripture is like the Vedas. No holy river is like the Ganga.”

“Kartika is the best of months. Kartika is always dear to the Vaisnavas. O great sage, a Vaisnava who with devotion serves Kartika delivers his ancestors from hell.”

“Of the twelve months, Kartika is the most dear to Lord Krsna. To anyone who even slightly worships Lord Visnu during this time, the month of Kartika gives residence in Lord Visnu’s transcendental abode.”

“Even though it lasts for only a brief moment, the human form of life is very rare and valuable. In the same way the brief month of Kartika is also very rare and valuable.”

“Lord Krsna is pleased by the offering of a single lamp during the month of Kartika. Lord Krsna glorifies anyone who lights a lamp for someone else to offer.”

The post TOVP Kartika Announcement and Appeal appeared first on Temple of the Vedic Planetarium.

The Midterm Meetings of the ISKCON GBC Society are taking place at ISKCON Juhu, Mumbai, India.
They will last from October 15-...

The post Daily Darshan: October 15,2016 appeared first on Mayapur.com.

By Tulasi-Priya dasi

At the risk of losing more Kartik Kredits, I’ll tell you that my main vrata this year is to keep my hand in the beadbag whenever it’s not required elsewhere. In spite of having a lot to do, I managed to fulfill my quota today. But if I happen to remember at 11pm that there’s a load in the washer that is on the verge of mildewing (not that that happened tonight, for example), I’m not going to resent the boring necessity of hanging them up for taking me away from my chanting. It’s Kartika, damn it! This is my opportunity to surrender to what ever life-fate-Krishna dishes out, and get the big bhakti bucks back for doing so. Continue reading "It’s Kartika, Damn It!
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By Mahadevi dasi

It was formerly a custom that if one wanted to remember something constantly, he would transform it into poetry or have this done by a professional poet. It appears that Mother Yasoda did not want to forget Krsna's activities at any time. Therefore, she poeticized all of Krsna's childhood activities, such as the killing of Putana, Aghasura, Sakatasura and Trnavarta. While churning the butter, she sang about these activities in poetical form. This should be the practice of persons eager to remain Krsna conscious twenty-four hours a day. This incident shows how Krsna conscious Mother Yasoda was. To stay in Krsna consciousness, we should follow such persons. Continue reading "1st day of Kartik in Vrndavana, May I be of any service?
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Rupeshgauranga Dasa: Just like computer gets attacked with viruses, our human mind also get succumbed to the viruses in the form of depression, stress, anxiety, anger, frustration, lust, greed, lethargy etc.

The post Prana-vallabha asks about asking questions appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami Maharaj left from Ujjain on 14th October for attending the mid-term GBC meetings to be held at ISKCON Juhu, Mumbai. Maharaj will stay in Mumbai till 24th October 2016 for the meetings. Then after he will go to United Kingdom for his further preaching programs.

The post Bhakti Charu Swami In GBC Mid-Term Meetings At ISKCON Juhu appeared first on Bhakti Charu Swami.

Today’s initiations ceremony in Villa Vrindavana, Italy (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: By following the principles of devotional service strictly, chanting twenty-four hours a day the Hare Krishna maha-mantra, one makes positive progress in spiritual life and ultimately becomes completely fit to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 4.21.42 Purport)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/WCAIWE

Lively preaching program in a school (2 min video)
Srila Prabhupada: Instead of actively taking part in politics, saintly perso...

Kartika time! (Album with photos)
Indradyumna Swami: The auspicious month of Kartika here in Vrindavan is just around the corne...