By Mathura Lilesvari Devi DasiDevotees around the world took to various austerities in last month as an offering of love to our beloved Lord on the most auspicious Purusottama month.I must say that the power of social media surfaced in a positive way as more and more devotees share realisations and the many devotional services they performed in this month. It worked as a motivational tool. Meanwhile, some even vowed to stay away from facebook and other social media platforms for a month. At Sri Jagannatha Mandi...
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- 20 Jul 2015
By Mayapur Sasi dasaFor the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of June. North American Totals, Monthly Temples, Monthly Weekend Warriors. Monthly Top 100 Individuals, Monthly Top 5, Cumulative Countries, Cumulative Temples, Cumulative Top 100 Individuals, Cumulative Top 5
...- 19 Jul 2015
By Kesava Krsna DasaFor those who have faith in what Krishna is capable of, possess the greatest fortune. This fortune consisting of flying pigs, a tortoise with an itchy back, and a giant-stepping dwarf are giant leaps of faith, made normal. The fortune of faith helps us understand Krishna’s playful nature, even when He delineates Vedic thought. “Rise above the flowery words of the Vedas” He says. If all of these Avatara pastimes are fun, we can only imagine how fun Krishna must be. With Krishna around...
- 19 Jul 2015
Malati Dasi: Candravali devi dasi, beginning days San Francisco devotee died, ...
- 19 Jul 2015
By business-standard.comThe streets reverberated with chants of "Hare Krishna" as thousands of devotees from across the world pulled the decked-up chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra during the annual "Rath Yatra" (chariot festival) celebrated here on Saturday. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid obeisance to Lord Jagannath at the start of the Rath Yatra at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple on Albert Road. Banerjee flagged off the festival with a tug on...
- 19 Jul 2015
By Bhushaya DasOnce on a hot Mississippi summer day, on a Friday afternoon, August 1st, 1975, the New Talavana farm received one of the most precious gifts of all, a visit by the pure devotee of Lord Krishna, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada! After departing from Sankirtan Puri (New Orleans), Srila Prabhpada's arrival was met with lively kirtan and Guru Puja, in the original farm house / temple. After Srimad Bhagavatam class and a question and answer session with his disciples, Prabhupada went to His simple farm...
- 19 Jul 2015
By Vijaya dasResponding to the enthusiastic (and we mean fervent) requests of sannyasis, temple presidents, and sankirtana parties throughout the Western world, we are ecstatic to announce that the first three beautiful Chinese titles have just arrived in our warehouse. Exquisitely produced, these long-awaited titles are now ready for immediate distribution to the millions of Chinese-speakers who are (a) residents of their own massive urban communities, (b) tourists visiting the world’s major cities, or (c) stud...
- 19 Jul 2015
By ndtv.comWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated ISKCON's 44th Rath Yatra from its temple on Albert Road. The colourful chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra, pulled by thousands of devotees from India and abroad, moved through the major city roads amid the joyous chants of 'Jai Jagannath' and 'Hare Krishna'. The chariots moved through various roads of the city and reach the Brigade Parade Ground (Maidan) where it will remain till July 25. City Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, Trinamool MP a...
- 18 Jul 2015
By thehindu.comLakhs descended on the pilgrim town of Puri io catch a glimpse of the presiding deities of the 12th century shrine of Sri Jagannath. Amid tight security, the century’s first Nabakalebar Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath was held here on Saturday with fanfare, religious fervour, enthusiasm and a spirit of camaraderie. Lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad descended on the pilgrim town of Puri in Odisha to witness commencement of the nine-day journey of the new idols of Lord Jagannath, ...
- 18 Jul 2015
By K. R. “Ravi” RavindranWe in Rotary aspire to great deeds. We admire those who gave great gifts to humanity: Abraham Lincoln, who gave the gift of human dignity to the downtrodden; Mother Teresa, who gave the gift of compassion to the forgotten; Mahatma Gandhi, who gave the gift of peaceful change to the oppressed. Their very lives became gifts to the world. We can be inspired by their example. We can be inspired to ask, how can I, in the life that I live – without neglecting the responsibilities that are...
- 18 Jul 2015
By Rasa Keli SowamberVibrations of the kirtan rippled through the temple room long after the kirtaneers left. On the way home, I found myself humming some verses of the bhajans and even murmuring them in my sleep. We were reminded of the importance of the Holy Names because they still lingered on the tips of our tongues. Till this very night, I hear the bhajans repeatedly playing over in my head. I can’t turn it off even when I’m trying to fall asleep. This is not a bad thing at all – having Krishna ...
- 18 Jul 2015
By Phalini Devi DasiKanai Thakur dasa was beloved by all the devotees, and a siksha guru for many. He was so popular that if someone would mention his name in a crowd, immediately there would be smiles on all the faces of those who heard his name, and even laughter would bubble up from inside their hearts. Kanaiji was so Krsna conscious and so blissful that his enthusiasm for pure Krsna consciousness was infectious. From my own personal experience with Kanai Thakur, there is one quality I admired in him, and th...
- 18 Jul 2015
By Urmila Devi Dasi Beyond the material sky, further than we can see with our eyes and beyond the universe, there is an unlimited span of spiritual sky generally known as the brahmajyoti. Within this effulgence there are innumerable spiritual planets, and they are known as the Vaikuntha planets. Each and every Vaikuntha planet is many, many times bigger than the biggest universe within the material world, and in each of them there are innumerable inhabitants who look exactly like Lord Vishnu. These inhabitants a...
- 17 Jul 2015
By Sunanda DasOn Sunday, July 5th, at the last TOVP presentation of the North American Tour, the CHAD (Chapter a Day) kids group of the Seattle, Washington temple dove into the ecstasy of the fundraising frenzy and pledged $11,000 (Silver Gratitude Coin) for the TOVP. This is a wonderful example of young Vaishnavas learning how to sacrifice and offer the fruits of their work to the service of the Lord, even before they have the fruits to offer. May they be blessed with Lord Nityananda’s mercy.
...- 16 Jul 2015
Kamalakanta das: It is with a heavy heart that I wish to inform the vaishnava community of the passing of Jagat Pati Prabhu....
- 16 Jul 2015
By Ravindra Svarupa DasaThe wise know well that this world is itself a disaster area. We fools of time are loath to hear this. We are “in denial.” As the Bhagavatam says of us, pashyann api na pashyati,” although we have seen, we still don’t see. Our blindness is willful. We make ourselves stupid in order to be happy: Yet ah! why should they know their fate? Since sorrow never comes too late, And happiness too swiftly flies. Thought would destroy their paradise. No more;—where ignorance is bliss, ‘Tis...
- 15 Jul 2015
By Krishna Dharma DasaOne objection to Food for Life frequently encountered from devotees and non-devotees alike, is that the programme is simply an attempt to win public favour. We are not really interested in helping people but are trying to manipulate public opinion by performing a high profile charitable service. For devotees, this objection is also rooted in the doubt that, as a spiritual organisation, ISKCON should not be concerned with mundane welfare work and, of course, we should certainly not be trying t...
- 15 Jul 2015
By Dvaraka Vasini Devi DasiShriman Mohanbhai Kalyanjibhai Kundaria, the Indian minister for Agriculture who is on a special mission to Kenya, visited ISKCON Nairobi on the 12th July 2015. The minister was received by the temple president H.G Umapati prabhu by garlanding him at the entrance of the temple and marking a vaishnava tilaka on the ministers fore head. Some special mantras were also recited by Bhakta Chandan for invoking auspiciousness and welcoming the minister into the temple. The Minister was escorte...
- 15 Jul 2015
By Bhakti Caru SwamiWhat Chaitanya Mahaprabhu gave is the highest. It is not a sentimental claim, but the verdict of the scriptures. Also, when we want to analyze it and verify it, then we get to see that this is the highest spiritual achievement. A part of it we discussed yesterday, that who is the greatest devotee, what is the highest form of devotion? Narada Muni is very systematically experiencing that. Sanatana Goswami is describing Narada Muni’s search for the greatest devotee. We are seeing the gradual e...
- 14 Jul 2015
By Srihari DasWe are happy to invite devotees from around the world to perform the most auspicious Sri Ksetra Parikrama. This year the parikrama day falls on 30th November.On this day, devotees will circumambulate the entire Sri Ksetra dhama, a distance of around 21 Km. This parikrama has been performed since the time Vidyapati visited Sri Ksetra. ISKCON has been organizing this parikrama for the last ten years, on the specific day prescribed for parikrama as per the scriptures. Last year we had nine thousand devo...
- 14 Jul 2015
By Basu Ghosh DasGudur is a town in the Nellore District of Andhra Pradesh, located around 140 kilometers North of one of India’s largest cities, Chennai, on National Highway 5. It is well known for large natural deposits of the mineral “mica” in and around the town. The town is also important due to the Railway station, a very large junction station connecting Chennai to Vijayawada, and from there to North, West, and Eastern India. Nellore district is also famous for the local varieties of rice that have...
- 14 Jul 2015
By Ratna bhusana dasaManu priya continued to produce the Balaram mrdanga's until March 1, 1992. On that day he finished making eight large and four small mrdangas. I was cooking the Sunday feast for the LA temple that day, I still do. After cooking I would usually bring some prasadam over to Manu's apartment and take with a couple devotee friends and my wife Isanah dd. This time Manu was not there, I asked our friend and neighbor Jiva Carana dasa if he knew where Manu was, he said that Manu asked him to go to the ...
- 14 Jul 2015
By Rahul PiplaniAfter four months of fund raising for TOVP in America, HG Jananivasa prabhu returned home to Mayapur with the padukas of Lord Nityananda on 12th July. Hundreds of jubilant devotees flocked at Temple’s main gate for receiving them. It was truly a grand reception with multifarious items like garlands, rangolis, flowers and many ghee lamp plates accompanied by kirtana. First all the assembled devotees visited Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi. At the Samadhi gate, they received a second welcome with f...
- 13 Jul 2015
By Romapada DasSpeaking after a meeting of the Committee on 21st June, Chairman, Pushta Krishna Das said, “The 50th Anniversary is an important milestone to celebrate our achievements. As the leaders of the temple are busy organising regular preaching programmes, the congregation devotees have stepped forward to form a Committee that can plan the celebrations through the year. We will involve local devotees to organise a series of exceptional offerings for Srila Prabhupada so that people in Baroda can be educat...
- 13 Jul 2015