By Rasikananda DasThere has also been extensive renovation in the front of the temple placing nice strong tiles over the entire area so that it will remain very clean and there is now virtually no chance of flooding. That has now been completed. Please see the pictures. The water now runs off the area and away from the temple onto the highway and drains away. The Bhubaneswar guest house is also gradually being renovated room by room and is coming to an international standard. So far 6 rooms have been completed an...
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- 18 Apr 2015
By Madhava SmullenFrom July 18th to 23rd 1974, Srila Prabhupada visited New Vrindaban for the third time, to further establish his vision for it as a sacred place known worldwide for five primary things: cow protection, simple-living, holy pilgrimage, spiritual education, and above all, loving Krishna. In a letter one year earlier, the ISKCON Founder-Acharya had written to encourage the expanding farm community: “Yes! Go on acquiring the surrounding lands, and in this way we will establish a local self-governin...
- 18 Apr 2015
By Sunanda DasOn Wednesday, March 8th Jananivas and Sunanda prabhus visited the home of Shyamakund and Ananda Rupa prabhus for prasadam and darshan of their Deities, after which they departed from New Jersey with the Lord’s Padukas for the first stop in Canada, Ottawa, the Nation’s capital. On Thursday, April 9th Jananivas, Vraja Vilas and Sunanda prabhus brought the Padukas to the home of Vanamali prabhu and his family where they also had prasadam. In the evening the Temple President, Shankar prabhu, arrange...
- 17 Apr 2015
By Urmila Devi DasiWater is one of the categories of Krishna’s energy, as described in scripture such as Bhagavad-gita and Brahma-samhita. Krishna always exists as a transcendent person apart from His energy, while at the same time He is present in that energy. Therefore, while water is not Krishna, Krishna is water. In what ways can we appreciate Krishna in water? He is the taste or the essence of water, the quality that quenches our thirst and brings satisfaction
...- 17 Apr 2015
By Sunanda DasFrom there we drove back to Towaco, New Jersey for a special blessing by the Padukas of the property where the new temple will be constructed. We then made our way to the Towaco temple for the evening TOVP presentation. Madhupati prabhu introduced the TOVP Team which again included Ambarisa prabhu, and Radha Jivan took over. He and Ambarisa, besides speaking about the TOVP, encouraged the devotees in their new temple project and promised to come back to help fundraise. Jananivas prabhu spoke about Ma...
- 15 Apr 2015
By Nityam Bhagavata Sevaya1) Life Of Kunti devi His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada 2) Akrura’s Meeting With Kunti Devi Sri Krishna-dvaipayana 3) Conversation between Kunti Devi and Lord Krishna Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakur 4) The prayer for calamities Satyanarayan Das We pray at the lotus feet of Lord Chaitanya that this edition brings some pleasure to the devotees.
...- 15 Apr 2015
By Jayapataka SwamiThis was the situation then. The devotees were going to Advaita saying, "What to do?" "My name is Advaita. It means non different. So if there is any meaning to my name, I will bring down the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krishna. He is the only one who can save the infidels. If I cannot bring Him down, I will manifest four arms and I'll chop these people down. I will chop them down! Finished!" He began to fast and worship the Salagram Sila with Ganges water and Tulasi manjaris. He would loudl...
- 15 Apr 2015
By Suresvara dasI'm so glad that Jayapataka Maharaj mentioned that Senapati bhakta verse. He made an allusion, a reference to the prediction that he would send his military field commander to go and capture us and bring us here to chant Jaya Sacinandana Gaura Hari. A lot of us know that verse. Here's the verse. "With a powerful chopper of Nama Sankirtana, I will cut the hard knots of demoniac desires from the hearts of everyone." "Even if the sinners reject religion or flee to foreign countries, I will send mora...
- 15 Apr 2015
By Bhakti devi dasiAs part of our ongoing efforts to establish good relations with the wider Hindu Community, ISKCON’s Melbourne Mahaprabhu Mandir Temple was honoured to welcome Swami Baba Ramdev, the famous yoga teacher from India, on Friday 10th April. It was just a short visit (part of an official welcome to Melbourne) as Swami Ramdev gave his yoga programs elsewhere.
...- 14 Apr 2015
By Harikatha DasSuddenly, a loud strong feminine voice screeched our conversation, “Who is Muslim among you”? All three of us (including Smita Krishna Prabhu) turned towards that voice and found a fat middle aged lady, veiled from head to toe by burqa with only eyes uncovered sitting little far on a bench with a big purse on her shoulder. I tried to ignore her question and started preaching that man again but the lady did not stop and shouted again boldly, “I am asking who is muslim among you?” The man t...
- 13 Apr 2015
By Jaganmohini Devi DasiYou represent women community who normally grab attention of people in general only for wrong reasons while their finest contributions are rarely appreciated and encouraged. Most importantly you represent women in Krishna Consciousness who are seen more from a perspective of theoretical varnashrama dharma and accordingly guided but with no practical concrete direction given to them with regard to excellence in service especially in a noble working atmosphere like yours.
...- 13 Apr 2015
By Abhaya Mudra DasiAstrological portents are described in the Bible (Luke 21.25) “And there shall be signs in the Sun, the Moon and the stars.” All over the world people are waking up to such signs of the times, including followers of Christianity. Many have tried to decipher the Bible’s Book of Revelation and its prophecies of “end times” to come. And naturally many wonder when these final days of will arrive. By examining the Book of Revelation through the looking glass of Vedic knowledge many of its...
- 13 Apr 2015
By Nanda Kishor dasIt is a great pleasure to present to you the ISKCON South Africa Annual report for 2014. The theme for the report is #ISKCONinAction. We pray it reflects the love, dedication, inspiration and compassion that the many members of ISKCON represent in their every day actions along with ISKCON’s many great friends and well-wishers. In this report you will hear from His Holiness Bhakti Caitanya Swami, the Co-GBC for South Africa who along with the National Secretaries reflects on the great strides I...
- 13 Apr 2015
50th year anniversary/golden jubilee of the Jaladuta DiaryApril 1965: While approaching the Scindia Steam Navigation Company in Bombay to sponsor his passage to America, Srila Prabhupada received one of their complimentary diaries. He used it at first as an appointment book. Once his voyage to America on the Jaladuta began in August of that year, he made regular entries in the diary to record the events of the journey. Subsequently, the diary was kept in the safe of the New York temple until 1972, when Srila Prabh...
- 12 Apr 2015
By Sunanda dasAfter kirtan and abhisheka of the Padukas, a few local leaders, including Madhupati prabhu, Temple President of both New Jersey temples, and Devakinandana prabhu, spoke and began the program. Radha Jivan then introduced Ambarisa prabhu who had come for both the New Jersey programs, and together with Jananivas prabhu they urged the 150+ devotees to make a sacrifice for the TOVP despite the large financial burden of the new facilities. Devotees responded enthusiastically and the pledges amounted to ove...
- 12 Apr 2015
By Ravindra Svarupa dasa1. We all have a relationship with Krishna. A. We are fully and eternally related with Krishna on the spiritual platform. B. The relationship is there whether we are theists or atheists, practitioners or non-practitioners. C. We may be conscious of the relationship or not, and our consciousness may also be in various manners strong, weak or distorted. 2. If we are not pure devotees, that relationship is to some degree or another broken. A. The full relationship is prema. B. Brokenness in...
- 12 Apr 2015
By Chandrashekhara acharya dasaThis paper is about what I call “double voice amplification kirtans.” These are kirtans in which the lead-singer sings into the microphone, after which, on the response, another devotee also sings into a microphone. The result is an uninterrupted amplification of two lead-voices throughout the entire kirtan. I think this type of kirtan is problematic for several reasons, which I explain as follows.
...- 12 Apr 2015
By Shyamasundara Dasa"That is a fact-the brahmanas were accepted. They formed the advisory committee of the king. For example, Candragupta, the Hindu king, was in the age of Alexander the Great. Just before Candragupta, Alexander the Great went from Greece into India and conquered a portion. When Candragupta became emperor, he had Canakya as his prime minister. Perhaps you have heard this name Canakya?"
...- 12 Apr 2015
By Devaki Devi DasiIn material life and its culture, where sense gratification is the goal of life, mothers don't have a very respected and valued position at all. Indeed, it is a down-trodden and pitiful one - the mother is the slave at home! She can't go out and enjoy life by having a career, developing her talents, and earning money. To be 'just a mother and housewife' is not given any importance and value as a rule.
...- 12 Apr 2015
By Damodar Nityananda DasaThis book is not about converting from one faith path to another, but understanding the universality of all religious seekers by showing examples of persons going beyond the all designations into the realm of universal love, Love of God. Therefore, far from what it may seem by its title, "Muslim Devotees of Krsna" is aimed at an audience which transcends the confines of gender, race, caste, ethnicity or religion.
...- 9 Apr 2015
By Indradyumna SwamiThe following morning we went on harinama in Trzebiatow. To the amazement of all the devotees, as we drove into town we passed under a bright orange and green banner proudly advertising the Festival of India. As we descended from the bus into the center of town, several office windows opened and we heard one lady call out to her fellow workers, “They’re here!” As we started chanting down the street, children suddenly began appearing from everywhere, running toward us from all directions ...
- 9 Apr 2015
By Mahalakshmi dasiAt the end of 2014, the disciples of Lalita Prasad Thakura (Bhaktivinode Thakura’s son) and members of the Bhakti Binod Gosthi committee visited BRC to see how BRC’s restoration efforts were coming along. The committee was very pleased with our efforts to preserve the literature. Test strips are used to determine the level of acidity present in the paper. Manuscripts are treated to neutralize the acid.
...- 9 Apr 2015
By Sri Bhakti DasThrough melodies, percussion and singing classical and devotional compositions, the audience is transported to the sacred lands of India, in an atmosphere of meditation, joy and spiritual bliss. The concert in this famed theater was a very special meeting as it presented Krishna Sambandha's first album, which was recorded in "Estudios Del Sur", recognized as one of the best studios in Latin America. The debut album of the group was led by prominent Chilean producer Christopher Manhey, who received...
- 8 Apr 2015
By Hari Narayana DasThe devotees of the Govardhan Ashram in Putemata village, Ladongi district in the regency of Kolaka, Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, out of their sincere desire and even they are small in number but their spirit and enthusiasm were bigger than their size that they desired so strongly to follow H.H. Subhag Swami Guru Maharaj Instruction in serving Prabhupada to satisfy The Lord through the second Jaganath Ratha-yatra festival.
...- 8 Apr 2015