Websites from the ISKCON Universe
50th Anniversary Transcendental Journey, Australia (Album with photos)
Aniruddha Dasa: I took my little camera with me to the Opera House last night not knowing if I’d actually use it. I got a front row seat so I thought I’d see what happens. Given the lighting challenges we managed to capture some reasonable shots.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/FKo8tN
ISKCON 50th years anniversary cultural program with the Mayoress of Santiago-Chile (3 min video)
Krishna Sambandha: We would like to share with you a nice video of an ISKCON 50th years anniversary cultural and preaching program at Santiago-Chile City hall with the presence of the Mayoress and officials. There was music by “Krishna Sambandha”; Srila Prabhupada´s books and prasad distribution for all attendees.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/N8hxMU
Los Angeles temple receives top awards!
Jaya Chaitanya Das and Svavasa Das share 2015 awards for #1 book distributor and temple...
After the Swiss Retreat, Kadamba Kanana Swami spent a few days in London and then travelled to Goloka Dhama, Germany for the Pandava Sena Retreat. Pandava Sena is the congregational youth-group of Bhaktivedanta Manor.
Within minutes of Kadamba Kanana Swami’s arrival at Goloka Dhama on a rainy Wednesday afternoon (03 August), he had attracted a crowd of eager young men, excited to hear about his travels. He sat on the sofa opposite the temple room of Radha Madana Mohana and one by one, boys were pouring in. They each paid their obeisances, sat down in front of the sofa and listened intently. Laughter naturally ensued and we blocked the entrance to the temple room. Whoops! It was the start of a transcendental adventure…
Maharaj gave an awesome evening class and it was amazing to hear him sing Jaya Radha Madhava after so many devotees had been saying how much they love it. Everyone was on their feet and we danced and danced for the pleasure of Pandava Sena’s deities, Dayal Nitai Vijaya Gauranga, who were beautifully dressed as always. Maharaj leading kirtan was the perfect end to a perfect day!
Maharaj ’s second class of the retreat followed the morning after. “Even Radharani can’t take Krsna for granted,” said Maharaj. I guess that woke us all up and shook us hard, or at least it should have!
The Journey Home was a fitting name for the 10-day retreat – as each day progressed, we ventured deeper and deeper into what it means to be in Vrindavan consciousness. Maharaj started off by singing the Sad-Goswamyastakam before his Friday morning class and shared how the Goswamis are the ones that are bringing us to Vrindavan. Maharaj mentioned that the Bhagavatam “will reveal the spiritual world to us” and the price we have to pay is eagerness. It seems like we have to BEG (Bhagavatam, Eagerness, Goswamis) and rightly so!
Maharaj’s kirtans were out of this world and despite telling us that he has to take it easy and can’t take it to sixth gear, he would continue to pump the kirtan faster and faster each night. The next morning, he would say that he has to go mellow yet each night when he would see Pandava Sena dancing with huge smiles on their faces, out of his compassion, he would continue to keep them on their feet. And just when you thought it was over for the night, the mrdanga would sound again and the holy name would take over for another round of dancing. Unforgettable!
Everyone loved the boat festival. Throughout the week, we all helped Vaijayanti Mataji build the most beautiful swan: a “raja-hamsa”. Ornamented with a crown and decorated in a way appropriate only for the king and queen of Vraja, the swan served as a boat for Radha Madana Mohana. It was magical. Sitting on what felt like the banks of the Yamuna, we were all captivated by the wonderfully narrated boat pastimes of Radha and Krsna. After singing Jaya Radhe Jaya Krsna, Sacinandana Swami described how Radha and the gopis found a sleeping boatman (who turned out to be Krsna of course) to take them across the river so that they could sell their milk products in Mathura. Then, Kadamba Kanana Swami continued:
This is Krsna’s greatest pleasure: to somehow or other conquer his devotee. And it is the devotee’s greatest pleasure to somehow or other conquer Krsna. Just as it is described that Srimati Radharani, before going out, her assistants are helping her to bathe and to dress and just something like the tilak can take a long time. Just to make that tilak dot that she wears, there are little designs in it at the edges and so on. It is tilak made to kill so to say. It has only one purpose: to drive the mind of Krsna mad. And so this boat pastime is simply an exchange of the love between Radha and Krsna, where that love is being churned and where one is trying to conquer the other.
Kishan, who led the organizing team, said, “It was incredible to have Maharaj join us! His kirtans were most people’s highlight of the trip. Even with so many health difficulties, the fact that he still committed to coming is something we’re extremely grateful for.”
Throughout the trip, Maharaj was very encouraging to all the devotees, giving us so much of his time, answering our questions and clearing our doubts. He made everyone feel at home and continued to give and give. Maharaj said that when the opportunity is there, don’t miss the boat – a key takeaway for Pandava Sena!
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Ratha-yatra during the Carnival of the World festival in Reading, UK - 20th Aug ‘16 (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Kirtan means sometimes chanting with music, and sometimes speaking. Both of them are kirtan. Kirtayati iti kirtanam. Whenever we glorify the Lord, that is called kirtan. The Srimad-Bhagavatam reading is also kirtan. (Janmashtami, Montreal, August 16, 1968)
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Bhakti Vijnana Goswami: Prayers requested for ailing Krishna devotee, Radha Damodara prabhu.
Kirtiraja das: For those of you who followed the Campaign of The Committee to Free Soviet Hare Krishnas many years ago, Radha Damodara prabhu was then known as Sucharu dasa (Sergei Zuev). Much emphasis was given to his case because he was imprisoned in a Soviet labor camp and endured very harsh treatment there.
Radha Damodara prabhu has given almost forty years of his life in serving Srila Prabhupada’s mission in the Soviet Union and Russia as he was one of the original Moscow devotees.
Radha Damodara prabhu is one of the most sober and serious devotees I’ve ever met AND at the same time he has a jolly streak. Whenever I would experience Radha Damodara prabhu making a joke or a funny comment, he would break into a smile and it made me smile.
He is a wonderful devotee and has done so much extremely valuable service for ISKCON in Russia especially in the area of governmental affairs. Radha Damodara prabhu’s service laid the foundation so Krishna Consciousness in the former Soviet Union could be what it is today.
The world, yes the world, owes a debt of gratitude to Radha Damodara prabhu for the service he’s done.
I specifically say the world because Srila Prabhupada said that the inevitable war between the Soviet Union and America could be avoided if we distributed his books in the Soviet Union. Radha Damodara prabhu was instrumental in making that book distribution possible
Please pray to the Lord and Srila Prabhupada for his safe journey home. Radha Damodara prabhu ki jaya!
By Victoria Arnold, Forum 18 Less than four weeks after Russia's legal amendments restricting sharing beliefs came into force, a Judge acquitted Vadim Sibiryev on 15 August in the first attempted prosecution. Anti-extremism police had charged Hare Krishna devotee Sibiryev for offering religious books on the streets of Cherkessk. A Hare Krishna adherent has become the first person to be charged under Russia's new law restricting sharing beliefs. Anti-extremism police in the North Caucasus republic of Karachai-Cherkessiya arrested 19-year-old Vadim Sibiryev on 28 July on suspicion of violating the Religion Law by handing out religious literature in the street. But a judge acquitted Sibiryev on 15 August, when his lawyer successfully argued that his actions did not fit the law's definition of "missionary" activity. Continue reading "A Hare Krishna adherent has become the first person to be charged under Russia’s new law
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Incredible Prabhupada
The post August 21st, 2016 – Daily Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.
On the Friday night before the Sydney Opera House event, Pratapana and Jayasri hosted a “patrons” dinner for all the devotees who donated generously to help sponsor the function.
Special guests were HH Mukunda Maharaja, HH Bhakti Caru Maharaja, Syamasundara Prabhu and Malati Prabhu. Everyone enjoyed the delicious prasadam prepared by Naresvara Prabhu and his team.
Gita verse-by-verse podcast
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The post Gita 11.12 – Human perception and description are inadequate before divine self-revelation appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Balarama Purnima in Moscow, Russia (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: “For one who wants liberation from the fruitive reactions of material activities, the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra, or glorification of the name, fame and pastimes of the Lord, is recommended as the most perfect process of atonement because such chanting eradicates the dirt from one’s heart completely.” (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.2.12).
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By Nkosinathi Ntuli The International Society of Krishna Consciousness, better known as the Hare Krishna Movement, turned 50, last month. The Rising Sun has therefore decided to take a closer look at its achievements and the impact they have on society. Residents have all seen devotees along the streets wearing a doti, sari, tilaka and chanting Hare Krishna with an assortment of instruments including the mrdanga and kartalas. ISCKON has a sister organisation called Food For Life Global, which over a period of 50 years has distributed over three billion plates of vegetarian food. The food is said to be spiritual or karma-free, nourishing both the body and soul because it is first offered to Krishna (God). This is how the movement makes its contribution to curbing the poverty of the stomach, mind and the soul globally. In Durban alone, more than 10, 000 plates of food are distributed a day in schools, rural communities and to the homeless. Continue reading "ISKCON celebrates 50 years of community service
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Just as the cakora has no sustenance other than moonlight, I have no goal in life other than You.
The post O Radhika! You may be cruel, or You may be kind, still You remain my life and soul. appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.
New shrine to be unveiled at Hare Krishna temple in Leicester, UK.
A community of Hare Krishna monks will be celebrating with civic dignitaries as two new sacred statues arrive at their temple on Sunday.
Last month the monks finally moved into the bank, six years after an accidental gas explosion led to their former base in North Evington burning to the ground.
On Sunday the murtis of Radha and Krishna will be unveiled at the centre to create a new shrine that will be the focal point of worship.
City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby, along with two of his assistant mayors, are due to visit the ISKCON centre in Leicester’s former main HSBC branch in Granby Street for the ceremony.
The welcome ceremony will begin at 8am and preparations have been going no all week at the centre.
Spokeswoman Nima Suchak said: “The event is for the shrine to be established at the centre. It’s an important thing for our community as it’s the first time we’ve had a shrine in six years.
"We will be hosting a few VIPs and hundreds of people.
"The shrine will be in a purpose-built room upstairs at the former bank and it’s a lovely space with a fresh feel.
"It feels new but it retains lots of the period features that come with a building of that calibre.
"We’re super excited about Sunday.”
The shrine will be set up just in time for the most important event in the religious calendar - the celebration of the birth of Lord Krishna, which takes place on Thursday.
On that day there will be an estimated 3,000 people passing through the centre between noon and midnight.
Nima said: “While Sunday will be the official ceremony, Thursday is going to be a massive public event and we expect thousands of people throughout the day.
"That will be taking place in the Grand Banking Hall downstairs, which can accommodate hundreds of people at a time.
"It’s going to be a chance for many people from around the country to come and see the changes we’ve made at the centre for the first time.”
Nima said the purchase of the former bank and the recent work that has been going on inside had “fast-forwarded” things for the community, which had been left homeless and living and worshipping in temporary locations after the explosion.
The 1870s bank, which is a grade II-listed building, had been standing empty for about three years when it was bought using a donation from two Leicester members of ISKCON, which stands for the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.
The group received permission from Leicester City Council to change the use of the building from a bank to a place of worship, with a vegetarian restaurant, creche, offices and accommodation for the group’s monks.
Source: http://goo.gl/e7K1YX
ISKCON Auckland, New Zealand: Harinama (Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: Svalpam apy asya dharmasya trayate mahato bhayat: even a little devotional service can save one from the greatest danger. Devotional service, which begins with chanting of the holy name of the Lord, is so powerful that even if one falls down, he can be saved from all calamities if he somehow or other chants the holy name of the Lord. This is the extraordinary power of the Lord’s holy name. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 6.1.63 Purport).
Find them here: https://goo.gl/V5LrjT
24hours kirtan in Iskcon Ahmedabad (Album with photos)
ISKCON AHMEDABAD organised 24hours kirtan on 13th august Saturday 7:00...
An unsung hero!
Vijaya Das: On my way to Denver I went to see my old friend Ganapati Swami at the Grand Canyon. He’s an unsung hero in our society, and also my siksa-guru for book distribution. He’s been distributing books for the past 45 years. Not many devotees know about him because he stays mostly in the USA, going from college to college year after year for decades, often by himself. He’s a diksa-guru but has stopped initiating; his interest is in reading Srila Prabhupada’s books and in distributing them, which he does very well.
Maharaja has a little competition at his distribution spot in the Grand Canyon — a Christian named Mel. Mel is 88 years old. Maharaja told me, “If I’m still distributing at 88, I’ll be doing real good.” Mel is very friendly with the devotees.
Mel is getting purified just by being around such a great soul as Ganapati Maharaj, what to speak of being friends with him. Mel shows us that if he can distribute books into his late 80s, so can we.
While distributing books at the Welcome Center at the Grand Canyon, two devotees who’d stopped there on their way back to the Chicago temple after attending the LA Ratha-yatra were pleasantly surprised to see Maharaja and myself distributing books.
What’s amazing about these devotees is that they’d both emigrated from the formerUSSR to the USA to enjoy life. They found out that even in the USA there is suffering, so they went on a search for something higher. They didn’t know each other before coming to Krishna, but they both went on the internet to see if they could find some guidance. Many of you may remember a recent post of mine about a devotee in Russia who may be making more devotees than anyone else – Audarya Dham Prabhu. When I asked these devotees how they joined, they both said, “Audarya Dham Prabhu.” I was shocked. Even in the USA he’s making Russian devotees!
They wanted to hike down into the canyon and asked if I’d like to join them. I’d never gone before, so I distributed a few more books and then went with them. It was a beautiful trek. We descended two miles and then returned, exhausted.
Your servant, Vijaya das,
By Giriraj Swami Personally, He has nothing to gain. But He comes out of His mercy, to deliver us. The material world is compared to a prison house, and we, conditioned souls, are the prisoners. We are restricted, like prisoners. We can't just go anywhere and everywhere, wherever we want. Liberated souls can travel anywhere in the universe. They don't need spaceships or any other such contraptions. They can move about freely. But we, conditioned souls, are bound. We are not allowed to leave this planet very easily, and even if we do, we don't really have any other place to stay. So we are bound, and at the same time we have to suffer. Continue reading "The Appearance of Lord Krishna
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How Krishna Makes His Entrance.
When contemplating the idea of the appearance of God Himself, those of us steeped in the contemporary culture of hype might naturally expect a grandiose production, reminiscent of the best that Hollywood has to offer, calculated to inspire awe and fear.
Considering Krishna’s extremely high-profile position—the omnipotent, omnipresent, ultimate source of all energies—His appearance in this world is remarkably low-key. He doesn’t draw attention to himself. He has nothing to prove. His “publicist"—yogamaya, His energy for engaging in transcendental pastimes—arranged His entrance to be subtle, classy, and mysterious. Here’s how the moment of His appearance on earth is described in Srimad-Bhagavatam.
To read the entire article click here: http://goo.gl/quYGAa
Bhakti Vaibhav class at Govardhan Ecovillage, Wada, Mumbai
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Gita verse-by-verse podcast
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Janmashtami: Krishna’s “birthday”?
For convenience and to suggest a celebration, we sometimes say that Janmashtami is Krishna’s birthday, since anyone we know of on Earth, either past or present, is apparently “born” into this world. However, this is not an accurate description for Krishna (who we understand as the original feature of God), or for any of God’s other incarnations.
Youth meeting at ISKCON Seshadripuram, Bangalore
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The post Aversion to commitment is not detachment appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
SBS.COM.AU: One of the world’s newest religions Hare Krishna is celebrating its golden jubilee (1 min video)
Sbs.com journalist: The Hare Krishna movement attracts a wide range of followers in Australia - with many converting from traditional Hinduism.
Watch it here: http://goo.gl/C4Jb0M
By Romapada Das ISKCON Baroda organised three major Harinama processions to celebrate the World Holy Name Week for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary, which drew thousands of devotees and passers-by into the chanting of the Hare Krishna mantra. The first Harinama procession was held on 6th August at Padra Village, the second one on 7th August in Baroda, and the third one was at the holy pilgrimage town of Dakor near Baroda, which has the renowned temple of Ranchhodraiji, a form of Lord Krishna. The final celebrations included a 24-hour kirtan programme on 14th August that coincided with the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s first Harinama procession in 1966 on the same day from 26 Second Avenue to Washington Square Park in New York. Continue reading "Baroda’s triple celebrations for the ISKCON 50 World Holy Name Week
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By Ram Murari Das In Commemoration of ISKCON Golden Jubilee Celebrations, Department of Postal Services of India has released a special cover. This limited edition cover will be available in post offices for purchase at Rs 10 each. In a grand function at the premises of Buckingham Post Office in the heart of Vijayawada, this special cover was released. The meeting was presided over by the Vijayawada SSPS Head Sriman S V Prasad. Postal Services Director Sriman K Somasundaram was the Chief guest. Sriman K S V Venkateswara Rao, Superintendent of Postal Storage also participated. Sriman Revati Ramana Dasa, ISKCON GBC Member & Andhra Pradesh Zonal Secretary as well as Sriman Ram Murari Dasa, Vijayawada Temple President and In-Charge of Krishna & Guntur Districts graced the occassion. All the speakers praised the spiritual and social services that ISKCON has been rendering. His Grace Sriman Revati Ramana Dasa shared with the gathering how Srila Prabhupada had changed the lives of many across the globe through his teachings for practical application of Srimad Bhagavad Gita. Srila Prabhupada ki jaya!!! Continue reading "Special Honour to Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON
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It’s 8:30 pm. I am back at the temple in Tirupati. A few days back we went to the hospital and had a variety of checkups on my leg and one on my neck. As a result the head surgeon suggested we visit today to see what condition my leg inflammation was in and the radiologist wanted us to do an MRI because of what he saw as a serious problem with my neck including a trapped nerve.
We did the MRI first and I will show it to the local neurologist and my neurologist in Hungary. Then I went to the hospital and saw the surgeon who said this is a serious abscess that must be operated on immediately. So after a series of tests I went to the theatre and had the operation under full anaesthetic. 3 hours later I was in the car back to the temple. Now I have to stay in Tirupati 10 days for treatment and will go to Delhi the 29th and return to Budapest September 1st.
I could write a lot about how I feel about missing Radha Syama’s 20th anniversary, but I assume the readers will have a good idea of that anyway. Hare Krsna.
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Giving Money for Krishna’s Mission
The post August 20th, 2016 – Daily Darshan appeared first on Mayapur.com.
By Romapada das “Temple managers should make sure that for this Janmashtami season, they have splashed the ISKCON 50 posters, banners and the exhibition panels from the ISKCON 50 Expo prominently in your premises,” said Anuttama Dasa, GBC Minister for Communications, and a member of the International Executive Committee for ISKCON 50. “The Inspiration Series videos will hopefully bring home the importance of why we should all lead the way in educating the world about Srila Prabhupada, his achievements, how ISKCON has grown in the last 50 years and highlight our achievements.” Continue reading "Inspiration Series: three more videos released by ISKCON 50
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Gita verse-by-verse podcast
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The post Gita 11.11 – The visual demonstration reinforces the philosophical exposition appeared first on The Spiritual Scientist.
Lord Balarama Jayanti Festival in Mayapur, 18th August, 2016 (Album with photos)
I worship Him who has a shining pure crown, with bangles, with moving curles of hair on His cheeks, with His lotus face decorated with earings, etc, wearing rich blue clothes and carrying His huge plough and club.”
Find them here: https://goo.gl/oIVfM8
TOVP’s Garuda (Album with photos)
Sadbhuja Das: The TOVP Art Team has completed the Sculptor of Garuda. It will go in Lord Nrsimhadeva’s Dome.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/gZsNyh
**Janmashtami Special Edition** NBS#43: Deliverance of Putana.
NBS # 43 Features:-
1) Deliverance Of Putana
Srila Su...
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 18 August 2016, Zadar, Croatia, Balarama’s Appearance Day Lecture)
Kirtan is our meditation. We can meditate on so many things – freedom, sex, money, etc. but meditation on kirtan is the ultimate goal of life. It is deeper as it stays with us always. This connection never changes. If the connection with kirtan is strong then there is nothing in this world that we cannot face – even death, death is just temporary. The mahamantra is known as the great mantra. Mantra means to deliver the mind, man refers to the mind and tra is to deliver. The mind goes into many things and things go into the mind… We still think about the past, it is still in the mind but actually, it is unnecessary. Kirtan lifts us above the mental platform and above the physical platform to the platform of the soul.
Philosophers around the world have tried to understand who God is. There are so many different religions and why is that!? Because we cannot see God with our eyes. Christians used to believe that God is a person and heaven is above the clouds. Now this is seen as mythology. Believing that God is all pervading love is how they got rid of the personality aspect. In the world there are so many personalities. The argument is: If there is a God and this material world is his creation then how can the creation can have qualities that are not in the creator! The creation tells us something about the creator. For example, a car has “eyes” and a “nose” and exhaust pipe. So then, if God is a personality what would he look like? Since he can choose, of course he will be young and attractive, etc.
In the spiritual world, people have bodies made of spirit. There is no war and no problems. Everyone is interested only in the Supreme Lord, and there is a constant festival. Sometimes the Lord comes to this world. Krsna came 5000 years ago and he brought the spiritual world with him and he performed pastimes in Vrindavan together with many cows and with Balarama. Today is Balarama’s appearance day!
He appears first. He is said to be an expansion of Krsna. Krsna is svayam rupa and Balarama is svayam prakash. Balarama is non-different from Krsna but Balarama’s mood is that of a servant. It is in our nature to be servants! The husband has to serve the wife, the wife and the husband serve the kids, etc. If we think we are masters, then we are in illusion. Masters are in control and we are definitely not in control.
By following Balarama’s example, we can become perfect servants of Krsna and become qualified to enter into the spiritual world. There are many pastimes about Lord Balarama. Krsna went with the cows and the cowherd boys into the forest and there were these special fruit trees. Balarama went ahead and collected the fruit. However, a powerful demon, Dhenukasura, lived there and attacked Balarama. He kicked Balarama with his hind legs but Balarama caught him, spun him around and threw him; and the demon died. This demon, in the form of an ass, represents being loaded up with material things! Therefore he could not think of higher things. If one wants to achieve higher things in life then we have to give up material things first!
Another demon, Pralambasura, who represents lust for women, greed, desire for worship and position, was killed by Balarama too. If we want to experience a higher reality then we have to give up illicit sex – not having one woman today and another one tomorrow. If we don’t care about the heart and only about sex, we become cruel.
We have to become pure; we have to give up greed because it will possess us. We should not focus on ourselves. It is not about what we can get but what we can give. This is the lesson of Balarama: GIVING! Then we can become a servant
*Notes taken by Nimai
By Daamodara Dhananjaya Das On account of the 50th Anniversary of ISKCON, we, at ISKCON Ahmedabad, have been working together as team, for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada. Under the kind guidance of HG Jashomatinandan Prabhu (ACBSP) and by Krishna’s mercy, our core committee, while churning for the nectar, derived at an amazing and innovative idea of conducting an outreach program for the top-notch corporate tycoons, based in and around Ahmedabad. We had two prime factors to validate this event. 1. ISKCON’s 50th Anniversary and 2. A new temple project at our Gaushala. Continue reading "Innovative Outreach Event for celebrating ISKCON 50th Anniversary
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Balarama Purmima 2016 in New Vaja Dhama in Hungary (Album with HR photos)
Srila Prabhupada: If one wants success in practical y...