New shrine to be unveiled at Hare Krishna temple in Leicester,…
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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)…
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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

An unsung hero! Vijaya Das: On my way to Denver I went to see my…
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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,

The Appearance of Lord Krishna
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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…
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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

Bhagavatam canto 6 study 6 6.4.1-34 The pure heart is the secret to know the pure Lord
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Bhakti Vaibhav class at Govardhan Ecovillage, Wada, Mumbai

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​Do we need to combat social threats to dharma to preserve an environment conducive for practicing dharma in future?
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Gita verse-by-verse podcast


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Janmashtami: Krishna’s “birthday”?
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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.


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Baroda’s triple celebrations for the ISKCON 50 World Holy Name Week
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Hare KrishnaBy 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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Special Honour to Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON
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Hare KrishnaBy 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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A short health update as of night of 19th
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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.

The post A short health update as of night of 19th appeared first on SivaramaSwami.com.

Inspiration Series: three more videos released by ISKCON 50
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Hare KrishnaBy 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 11.11 – The visual demonstration reinforces the philosophical exposition
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Gita verse-by-verse podcast


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Lord Balarama’s Appearance Day Lecture 2016
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(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 

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Innovative Outreach Event for celebrating ISKCON 50th Anniversary
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Hare KrishnaBy 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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Blissful ceremonies in Auckland, New Zealand for Sri…
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Blissful ceremonies in Auckland, New Zealand for Sri Baladeva!(Album with photos)
Srila Prabhupada: When one is free from offenses in chanting Hare Krishna, he develops the ecstatic bodily features called pulakasru. Pulaka means “symptoms of happiness,” and asru means “tears in the eyes.” The symptoms of happiness and tears in the eyes must appear in a person who has chanted the holy name offenselessly. (Srimad-Bhagavatam, 3.15.25 Purport)
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Balaram Jayanti class – Balaram acts as the via media between Krishna and the Vrajavasis as well as the conditioned souls
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Ambitious renovation project for the LA temple completed
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Hare KrishnaBy Madhava Smullen

It was a truly uplifting and festive time for ISKCON of Los Angeles from August 4th to 7th recently, with celebrations for both the 40th anniversary of the city’s Rathayatra festival, and the 50th anniversary of ISKCON in full swing. The ISKCON of LA property looked fresh and beautiful for the festival, with temple president Svavasa Das and his brother Naikatma Das completing an ambitious renovation project just in time. All the windows were replaced and the temple, Govinda’s buffet and kitchen buildings sandblasted and re-stuccoed. The temple entrance received a face lift, with new ornate wood decor, a beautiful stone tile entryway and a grand maroon canopy. The area in front was also re-designed with drought resistant landscaping and stone tile work to handle the increased flow of foot traffic for festivals and general increase in daily visitors. Continue reading "Ambitious renovation project for the LA temple completed
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Balarama-purnima, August 17, Carpinteria
Giriraj Swami

08.17.16_04_Balarama_Carp“Balarama is considered the original spiritual master because he performs two functions that are performed by the spiritual master. One is that He serves Krishna, and the other is that He gives knowledge of Krishna. In His desire to serve Krishna he wants to serve Krishna in every possible way. In terms of Rasa, or Transcendental mellows, sometimes Lord Balarama is in the mood of servitude. He also servers Krishna in sakhya rasa in the mood of an equal or His brother. Because he is older he also serves Krishna in the mood of vatsalya rasa or parental affection. One can only enter madhurya rasa with Krishna in a spiritual feminine form so lord Balarama manifests Himself as Ananga Manjari, the younger sister of Srimati Radharani, and serves Krishna in madhurya rasa. He wants to serve Krishna in every way”

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Balaram-purnima, Carpinteria

Come and Celebrate Lord Balaram appearnace day – August 21st,2016 – 11:00am to 2:00pm
→ ISKCON Brampton



A Very Happy Balaram Jayanti To All

 

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare
Chant and Be happy!
 
 ISKCON BRAMPTON is cordially inviting you to celebrate one of the very auspicious day of the year.

Program Schedule
11:00 - Tulasi Arati     & Kirtan                                              
11:15 - Guru Arati & Kirtan                                                
11:30 - Aarti & Kirtan                                                                      
11:55 - Sri Nrsingadev Pranama                                          
12:00 -Special Discourse
12:45 -Pushpabhisheka Ceremony
  1:00 - Cloing Kirtan  
  1.30 -  Sanctified Free Vegetarian Feast
Sponsorships:
"If anything is donated to a devotee of lord Visnu in the name of lord Visnu,the charity is said to be pure and the only solution for liberation."
[Hari Bhakti Vilasa,11.64,Skanda Purana]

Sri Balaram Grand Feast.......$351
Sri Balaram Maha Arati..........$151
Pushpabhiseka Ceremony....$251

Please contact Information Desk at the temple.

Volunteering For Festivals:
For service opportunity,please contact Kiran Prabhu.

About Lord Balarama(Fasting till noon)

"If one has no connection with Balarama,even though one is very learned scholar or has taken birth in a very respectable family,these assets will no help him."
[Srila Prabhupada]

Of the three names repeated in the Maha[Great] mantra 'Hare,Krsna and Rama, Rama refers to lord Balarama.So the maha mantra repeated and chanted over two thousand times daily by ISKCON devotees illustrates how important He is in Guadiya tradition.

He is the Original Guru.So the guidance of lord Balarama is not only helpful but essential to reach Krsna.

Following a spiritual life style requires strength to hold off the advances of a world intent on selling you products and life choices you don't need.Strength to aspire the goals of spirit,outside this body of blood n flesh,that we inhabit.Strength to aim for a spiritual destination despite the seeming pleasures of this world.

 Lord Balarama  is central to Srila Prabhupada's advice on making spiritual advancement,as he outlines in  Srimad Bhagavatam:" Jnanasim' the sword of knowledge,is given by Krsna,and one who serves the Guru and Krsna in order to hold the sword of Krsna's instructions ,Balarama  gives one strength.Thus one should accept the sword of knowledge from Krsna and be strong with the mercy of Balarama.We are therefore worshipping Krsna Balarama in Vrndavana."

But don't worry you need not to travel as far as India.If the pressures of this material world are feeling heavy on your shoulders these days,come to ISKCON Brampton to worship and glorify the most glorious Lord Sri Balarama and experience eternal joy and bliss.
 
Maha Clean-up in preparation for Janamastami
On Aug 21st,2016,after the program

We humbly request everyone to stay behind for the pre-Janamastami festivities and help with the cleaning of the temple.

COMING UP AHEAD



Sri Krsna Janamashtami(Fasting till midnight)

Celebration on Thu Aug 25 ,2016 -Open all day!!
(Mangala Arati program @ 5.00am)
Evening Program @ 6.30 pm till Midnight

Sponsor a Kalash
If you and your family would like to participate in the bathing ceremony(Mahabhiseka Ceremony) of lord Krishna,please don't forget to sign-up for a kalash-$108/family.
**We've limited no of Kalash**

 Offerings for Sri Krsna
You are invited to bring vegetarian offerings (no onion, garlic, eggs, vinegar) of food for Krishna.[In brand new aluminium one or two serving sized container]
*Nothing store-bought. Must be fresh and homemade.
*No tasting or sampling. Krishna must be the first to taste your offering.

**Detailed  program will follow shortly**

Appearance of Srila Prabhupada(Fasting till noon)
celebration on Aug 26,2016 (7.30pm-9.30pm)

**Detailed program will follow shortly**

 

 

​Gita 11.10 The first impression of the universal form is astonishing
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Gita verse-by-verse podcast


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The verse that opened the flood gates of ecstatic love!
→ Servant of the Servant

The Gaudiya Vaishnava siddhanta is unique like no other in the sense it highlights the aspect of divine love that is experienced in separation from the beloved. Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu who is Krishna in the mood of Radha exhibited this specific aspect of prema or love. In India worship of Krishna or Vishnu is a universal concept. In fact, it is said that once the entire planet earth worshipped Krishna or Vishnu. So worship of Vishnu or Krishna is not anything new. However, Mahaprabhu introduced this confidential aspect of prema or divine love in separation through His own mood when He was present on earth 500 years ago. Ever since, Mahaprabhu’s followers consider this specific aspect of love as summum bonum of religion or dharma.

Mahaprabhu externally speaking, took up this mood at a specific time in His earthly pastimes in line with Madhavendra Puri. In other words, it was Madhavendra Puri who first displayed this aspect of love in separation. Madhavendra Puri took initiation from Lakshmipati Tirta in the line of Madhvacharya who preached dualism. Prema in madurya rasa was a foreign idea or one can say suppressed idea for Madhva followers or tattvadis. This can be proven by the fact that Mahaprabhu Himself introduced prema in this unique way to tattvadis when He went to Udipi.

So although Gaudiyas follow Madhvacharya line, the traditional tattvadis do not fully acknowledge or recognize this spontaneous love in separation as summum bonum. Strict Madhva followers still adhere to the aishwarya aspect of Godhead.

The verse that Madhavedra Puri prayed to externally show his mood of separation is this ;

ayi dīna-dayārdra nātha he 
mathurā-nātha kadāvalokyase 
hṛdayaṁ tvad-aloka-kātaraṁ 
dayita bhrāmyati kiṁ karomy aham 

O My Lord! O most merciful master! O master of Mathurā! When shall I see You again? Because of My not seeing You, My agitated heart has become unsteady. O most beloved one, what shall I do now? – CC Madhya Lila 4.197

One can say this verse is the foundational verse that the entire mood of Gaudiya Vaishnava siddhanta is set on. Mahaprabhu just by reciting this verse would fall to the ground in ecstasy and thus began His display of fantastic emotions of love of Krishna in separation from Krishna.

This verse unlocks one’s own feelings of separation from Krishna. While one must follow in the footsteps of great souls, meditating on this verse will give insights into the mood of Vraja. Sripad Madhvendra puri was the first person to express this pure feeling of love and Lord Chaitanya who is Krishna Himself by getting initiated in Madhvendra Puri’s line sanctions this prayer for all time to come.

Hare Krishna

Los Angeles Celebrates 40th Rathayatra and 50th of ISKCON
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It was a truly uplifting and festive time for ISKCON of Los Angeles from August 4th to 7th recently, with celebrations for both the 40th anniversary of the city’s Rathayatra festival, and the 50th anniversary of ISKCON in full swing. There was a kirtan mela with international kirtaniyas, a series of seminars and video presentations, a tour of places where Prabhupada frequented in LA,  and the biggest Rathayatra festival yet.