By Gopal Krishna GoswamiPrabhupada opened many temples around the world but only Mayapur that he addressed as the world headquarters. The spiritual capital of ISKCON or the Vatican of ISKCON. And Prabhupada in many of his letters highlighted the importance of Mayapur. I collected three extracts from Prabhupada's innumerable quotes that I would like to share with all of you.
...-
- 25 Feb 2014
By Jayapataka SwamiPrabhupada at that time mentioned that how each previous acaraya had done something for Mayapur dhama. Then Prabhupada he mentioned that he also was trying to do something for the dhama. And he had predicted that there would be a temple here and he wanted to be sure that he started it. So actually in 1977, he laid another foundation stone for the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. And that time he was weak and so he sent someone else, he took the Ananta Sesa in his hand and gave it to one disciple to put it into the pit. So he actually laid the stone for...
- 25 Feb 2014
By GBC Community Relations OfficeIt is February 23rd, the eighth and final day of the ISKCON Leadership Sanga here in Sridham Mayapur. In the beginning, delegates were excited, hopeful, and enthusiastic for what the coming week would bring. They participated in numerous seminars, workshops, classes, kirtans, lunches, dinners, dramas, a Vedic fashion show and more. Everyoneâs batteries have been recharged and the leaders from around the world are âfired upâ to bring what they learned home to their respective congregations.
...- 24 Feb 2014
By Bhakti Charu SwamiI recall one incidence when some individual was challenging Srila Prabhupada, 'Why are you building these temples?' This was soon after Vrindavana temple was opened, Krishna Balarama temple was opened. It was actually in 1977 in Hrisikesh Kumbha Mela. This person was questioning Srila Prabhupada, asking Srila Prabhupada in a rather challenging way, "Why are you building new temples when there are so many temples, old temples needing renovation?"
...- 24 Feb 2014
By Sivarama SwamiIn the Fifth Canto is the structure of the universe, which is one of the main functions why we call this the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium. The structure of the universe is related to the process of creation, also, but it is certainly related through the empiric approach of modern science that what we see is what reality is. What Sukadeva Goswami sees is what reality is. But his reality and the reality of the scientists are different.. In one morning walk, Srila Prabhupada said that our worship of Radha-Krishna is our own private business, but actually, in ...
- 24 Feb 2014
By Radhanath SwamiThe Temple of Vedic Planetarium will show us the principles of the lower states of consciousness going up and up to the higher levels of material consciousness, to the siddhis, to the impersonal Brahman, to the Vaikunthas, and ultimately, to Goloka Vrindavana.
...- 24 Feb 2014
By Bhakti Vijnana GoswamiBhakti is about knowing the heart of Krishna, knowing what is there in the heart of Krishna. Because this is the only thing which will please Krishna. If we do something which is against the heart or the intention of Krishna it will not be pleasing to Krishna. And bhakti as we know is anukulyena krsnanusilanam. This is the essence of bhakti, anyabhilasita sunyam.
...- 23 Feb 2014
By Radha Bhakti Devi DasiTo give an idea of how devotees attending the ISKCON Leadership Sanga are feeling, we asked a few of them for their thoughts and experiences after the completion of Day 6 here in Mayapur dham. Hereâs what they had to say...
...- 22 Feb 2014
By Damodar Prasad DasIt was a momentous winterâs day when Descartes sat down with the sole intention of demolishing all of his opinions. Descartes began by rejecting all knowledge gained from the senses, as the senses sometimes deceive. He concluded that whereas the empirical sciences can be classed as dubious, the abstract sciences such as arithmetic and geometry cannot. However, so determined was he to call into question all of his knowledge, that he conceived of a cunning and powerful demon, who was exerting all of his power to deceive him, even in matters related to th...
- 21 Feb 2014
By Gadi DasThe pure devotee of Krsna cannot bear to watch the unfortunate souls of this world squander their lives in the useless pursuit of temporal, painful enjoyments. Seeing such âenjoymentsâ as the binding karmic links to an endless chain of births and deathsâŠ.The pure devotee cannot bear to see their suffering.
...- 21 Feb 2014
By Vijaya DasaIt looks like some temples got so much good momentum going during the marathon that they just didn't want to stop. Simhacalama (Germany) is one of these. The team consists of brahmacaries traveling around Germany in a bus to distribute the mercy. In January, with 3,425 book points, they came very close to doubling the January results of the first-place temple in Western Europe for 2013, Bhaktivedanta Manor. And last year they were only about three thousand points behind the Manor. So look out, Bhaktivedanta Manor book distributors! The Germans may be seeking t...
- 21 Feb 2014
By Kadamba Kanana Swami It is with that faith that we have to begin to work. We have to stop the logical calculation. Logically we are very small, limited, logically we can only take care of our own turf, that logic doesnât apply. When we are trying to take on more, Krishna will help us and give us the strength to do it and it is on that strength that this movement will go forward and that consciousness we will have to instill and of course we have to hear that from our leaders.
...- 21 Feb 2014
By Vrndavana Vinodini DasiDay 5 of the ISKCON Leadership Sanga (ILS) has come to a close and there is a spring in everyoneâs step here in Sridham Mayapur. Today was the appearance day of Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati Thakur and so after a wonderful Srimad Bhagavatam class by HH Bhakti Caru Swami, devotees headed to the main pandal since itâs a day where one fasts until noon. There, after a few quick announcements, HH Devamrita Swami took to the stage to deliver a powerfully relevant class on Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur and the topic of innovation.
...- 21 Feb 2014
By Rev. Jim HetzerThank you, Gadadhara Pandit Dasa for being an authentic human being. Gadadhara Pandit Dasa is the first Hindu to be part of the campus ministry at Columbia University through the Union Theological Seminary. Pandit gave a lecture on Feb. 14, 2014 at Yoga on High in Columbus. The goal of the lecture was to relate some of the philosophical questions raised in The Matrix movie to traditional Hindu beliefs as expressed in the Bhagavad Gita, which is considered to be the major Hindu holy text.
...- 20 Feb 2014
By Jayapataka SwamiIn this verse we see that Krishna doesnât have to do anything, He has His energies who are happy to do all His bidding. So they manifest the material world, spiritual world, do all the things needed. So what does He do? So what does Lord Krishna do? It says He likes to personally take care of His devotees. Thatâs what He does.
...- 20 Feb 2014
By Vrindavan Vinodini DasiâLandmark celebrations are a great way to speak to people that donât really know about us,â says Ajay. âWe can tell the world that we havenât just been here for 50 years, but weâve contributed to society in real positive ways over the last half century. Weâve contributed on a social level, a community level â we have made a very positive impact to the world.â
...- 20 Feb 2014
By Vrndavana Vinodini DasiAmong the numerous seminars, incredible prasadam and darshan of Sri Sri Panca Tattva, Radha Madhava and Nrsimhadeva, a sense of family and community is being developed among the leaders. As Day 4 of the ILS came to a close, devotees gathered in the prasadam hall for a movie night where talented devotee directors had the opportunity to showcase their efforts to share Krsna with others through the arts.
...- 20 Feb 2014
By Vrndavana Vinodini dasiDay 3 of the ISKCON Leadership Sanga (ILS) was dedicated as Devotee Care Day. It started off with a beautiful joint Srimad Bhagavatam Class on verse 10.13.14 given by HH Radhanath Swami and HH Jayapataka Swami. Radhanath Swami elaborated on the point that devotee care is an eternal pastime of Krsna and is most pleasing to Him. Jayapataka Swami spoke on many beautiful pastimes of Srila Prabhupada and touched everyoneâs heart when he emphasized how indebted we are to Srila Prabhupada for his care.
...- 19 Feb 2014
By Radhanath Swami At 26 Second Avenue, the very foundational beginning of Hare Krishna movement in the West, hippies were coming, people who werenât following the four regulative principles, didnât have any conception of God, but they were taking interest and Srila Prabhupada saw them as devotees because he saw the potential. Prabhupada was cooking for them, cleaning for them, he was taking care of their health and he was nourishing their souls with his philosophy, with his kirtans, which was like medicine administered with such compassion.
...- 18 Feb 2014
By Mayapur Sasi dasaFor the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this file contains the following North American results for the month of January
...- 18 Feb 2014
By Vrndavana Vinodini dasiDevotees also learned about the hard work and efforts of HG Ravindra Svarupa prabhu who has spent years researching and putting together a small book on the position of Srila Prabhupada called âSrila Prabhupada The Founder Acharya of ISKCON â A GBC Foundational Documentâ. Before leaving the tent to attend the morning seminars, devotees were presented with complimentary copies to take home.
...- 18 Feb 2014
By HG Krsna Ksetra DasI donât know about you, but I am a card carrying member of the fault-finding club. Actually I am an honorary member I am embarrassed to say but I am trying to learn to overcome this habit and one thing I find is that if I am self-critical then there is no more steam left to be critical of others because there is plenty of work for me to do on myself.
...- 18 Feb 2014
By Shyamananda DasaOwing to the widespread misconception that Srila Prabhupada's diksa took place at Sri Rupa Gaudiya Matha at Prayaga as well as other reasons both circumstantial and providential the actual location of Srila Prabhupada's diksa which was a rented house belonging to a Bengali family has now become a three-star hotel by the name of Hotel Ramayana.
...- 17 Feb 2014
By Vrndavana Vinodini dasiDay 1 consisted of three sessions during which at least ten seminars would run in parallel per session. Heads could be seen huddled together as groups of devotees consulted their schedules and decided which ones to attend. These seminars represent the results of months of hard work and time put in by the GBCâs strategic planning committees.
...- 17 Feb 2014