By Braja Vilas dasYet another year has passed in our lives as we approach Gaura Purnima 2017, and we wish to take this opportunity to once again thank you for your support and encouragement. Your dedication has inspired us spiritually, and has helped us practically to achieve our goals and maintain the construction pace over the years. In many ways this is the real New Year celebration for all ISKCON devotees, as we observe Mahaprabhu’s appearance and make our vows and commitments to continue to help expand His mission throughout the world and deepen our ...
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- 9 Mar 2017
By Purushottam Kumar Yudhisthira, an Indian king, who ruled about 5000 years ago once said that the most astonishing thing in this world is that people see others are dying every moment but they never ever believe that one day they too would die
...- 9 Mar 2017
By Nila Kamal dasBhakti Ananda Hari das Goswami was born on the 6th of March 1953 in a village named Chandamleikai, Asaam (North East India). Born in a traditional Manipur Vaisnava family, he was a devotee of Lord Krishna from his very childhood and always listened to Krishna katha whenever it was spoken. He showed special interest in the Manipur rasa lila performance. He graduated with BA honours from Guwhati University and thereafter worked for a private firm as secretary for 22 years, from 1976 till 1998. Maharaj came in contact with ISKCON in the year 1...
- 8 Mar 2017
By Harinarayana DasWhen all the participants performed their cultural presentations in front of the stage of honour then the devotees entered with the gopi dancers in front. The leader of ISKCON in Indonesia His Grace Vrajendra nandan prabhu presented a mahaprasad flower garland already offered to the Lord and a Bhagavad-gita to the mayor of Solo. They were delighted to receive the book. Then they were amused seeing the Lord on the chariot. The carnival finished at the mayor’s office yard. Many participants took the opportunity to take picture in front of...
- 8 Mar 2017
By Yogesvara DasaA groundbreaking museum of science – the Vedic Planetarium – seeks to reveal what the eye cannot see. Recently, the "Back To Godhead" Magazine published an article with the above title to reveal some of the facets of the planetarium within the main dome of the TOVP. (On behalf of the Temple of the Vedic Planetarium Executive Committee) Illustrations by Alexey Klimenko, Duncan Smith, and Nina Tara.
...- 8 Mar 2017
By Sivarama SwamiIt needs to be clear for all the members of Krishna Consciousness movement, when we are talking about Srila Prabhupada as the founder Acharya, it means that Srila Prabhupada is our Mahajan, and Srila Prabhupada‘s teachings in textual for us and his teachings, his examples, his instructions, all the instructions of the other Mahajan. Otherwise Prabhupada will use the other example, you cannot jump over. Jumping over means, you think, well Srila Prabhupada said this but such and such Acharya, Jiva Goswami, Vishwanath Cakravarti Thakura, sai...
- 7 Mar 2017
By Prahladananda SwamiSrila Prabhupada gives the analogy that just like a parent, especially a mother, if they see shoes in the street, they are not very much impressed. Just like when you go outside here, there are so many shoes on the shoe rack. Most of us won't fall over in ecstasy seeing the shoes. Maybe we could trip over them and fall but not out of ecstasy. But if a mother puts the little tiny shoes of her child on one of those racks, when she sees the little shoes her heart will melt. Why? Because she remembers her little tiny child. Her affection f...
- 7 Mar 2017
By Navadwip Mandal Parikrama devoteesThe day which was already overwhelming with bliss became more ecstatic. We visited the house of Kolaveca Sridhara and we heard about his glorious vaishnava qualities. So inspiring! After a delicious feast and rest a little we started our evening program. We had an hour with Agnideva prabhu with bhajans and the meaning of them. Sandhya Arati started and Agni deva prabhu, for the pleasure of Lord Jagannath and Lord Caitanya lead us in an unforgettable, memorable, wonderful Sandhya Arati, everyone was dancing, jumping, spi...
- 7 Mar 2017
By Naveen SharmaIn pursuance of the great desire of Srila Prabhupada (Founder-Acharya of ISKCON), the new temple will be a center for disseminating the profound message of Bhagavad-Gita and Srimad-Bhagavatam. Delivered in a modern context to people irrespective of color, nationality, background or gender, the spiritual teachings are aimed to free mankind from the sufferings of material existence and help people find everlasting peace and happiness in Krishna Consciousness. The new temple will have a beautiful deity alter with Sri Sri Radha Shyamasundar and...
- 6 Mar 2017
By Brajsunder DasGBC Minutes 2017 - Sannyasa Waiting List. The following are the candidates for sannyasa along with their respective waiting periods. "During the time of Lord Chaitanya, the influence of Shankaracarya in society was very strong. People thought that one could accept sannyasa only in the disciplic succession of Shankaracarya. Lord Chaitanya could have performed His missionary activities as a householder, but He found householder life an obstruction to His mission. Therefore He decided to accept the renounced order, sannyasa.
...- 6 Mar 2017
By the TOVP teamOn February 26th, under the direct inspiration and guidance of His Holiness Bhakti Caru Maharaja, the TOVP Fundraising Team consisting of Jananivas prabhu, Ambarisa prabhu, Mother Svaha and Vraja Vilas prabhu held a fundraiser at the Kolkata temple and raised an incredible $400,000 in pledges to everyone’s amazement. Led by the Lord in the form of His Padukas and Sitari, the TOVP Team inspired the devotees with the vision of this great world-changing project, bringing not only a sense of unity to all the devotees for the local preaching, ...
- 6 Mar 2017
By Navadwip Mandal Parikrama devoteesParikrama is coming to its conclusion. Today we reached Rudradvipa which corresponds to the process of sakhyam, friendship. First we left our camp early morning at 5:30 am to board the very awaited boat ride across the Ganga. Reaching the land we walked about 2 km towards Rukumpur. There we heard about Lord Nityananda's marriage pastime which made the devotees cry in laughter. This Lila was expertly explained by HH Bhakti Nityananda Swami. There is a nice temple of Lord Nityananda along with His son Virachandra. Rudradv...
- 6 Mar 2017
By Krishna-kripa das Kalakantha das: Two major challenges in ISKCON: 1. Lack of reading Srila Prabhupada’s books. 2. Lack of qualified leadership Solving lack of reading challenge: 1. Personal vows. 2. Study groups. 3. Bhakti Sastri courses. Lack of qualified leaders: 1. GBC College, which has been going on for three years The initial GBC was 100% American. Now it is 60% American. Of those in the GBC college now, none are Americans, yet they come from all other parts of the world.
...- 5 Mar 2017
By Navadwip Mandal Parikrama devoteesWe were at house of Saranga Murari as well as that of Vasudeva Datta. HH Gopal Krishna Maharaja spoke to the devotees about the uncommon character of Saranga Murari by telling the pastime of his first initiated disciple. Saranga Thakur when asked by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to accept disciples ,replied: " But my Lord, I don't see anybody who is qualified for initiation". In answer to this Lord Gauranga said: " When you initiate them they will become qualified" . Thus with firm faith Saranga initiated the first person he m...
- 5 Mar 2017
By Bhaktivedanta Research Centre devoteesThe BRC Manuscripts Mission Team found an entire manuscript collection solely related to Gaudiya Vaishnava philosophy. Over 100 such manuscripts were cataloged and digitized. "In all of West Bengal, we have not found anything else like this," said Smt. Bharati Roy, BRC's Archivist and Assistant Librarian. BRC Manuscripts Mission team has recently finished their latest project in Chinsura Kisorpragatisangha Sahar Granthagar, a 100-year-old library in the Hoogli district of West Bengal. It is maintained by Kishor Praya...
- 4 Mar 2017
By Nitai Candra dasaThe perigee (the point situated nearest the earth in the orbit of a celestial body around the earth) of the orbit of Venus (the gross planet out there) coincides with the outer coast of the ocean of ghee (clarified butter). The perigee of Mars is the inner coast of the ocean of milk. The perigee of Mercury is the outer coast of the ocean of milk. The perigee of Venus is the inner coast of the ocean of sweet water. The apogee (the point of the orbit of the moon, or a planet or a satellite that lies the farthest of the earth) of the planet...
- 4 Mar 2017
By Lokanath SwamiPrahlada Maharaja said: O Supreme Lord, because You are so merciful to the fallen souls, I ask You for only one benediction. I know that my father, at the time of his death, had already been purified by Your glance upon him, but because of his ignorance of Your beautiful power and supremacy, he was unnecessarily angry at You, falsely thinking that You were the killer of his brother. Thus he directly blasphemed Your Lordship, the spiritual master of all living beings, and committed heavily sinful activities directed against me, Your devotee....
- 4 Mar 2017
By Navadwip Mandal Parikrama devoteesWe heard from HH Jananivas Prabhu about the process of Ritudvipa named, archanam (worshipping the deity). He gave a most beautiful description about how deity worship descends from Goloka Vrindavan. Specifically from the forest of Vraja. "Golden Champaka trees are bending forward to Radha Krishna like a ghee lamp offering . The breeze is collecting pollen from the flowers and in a whirl pool making all the pollen close together like a fragrant umbrella over the head of the divine couple." Like that Jananivas Prabhu showe...
- 4 Mar 2017
By Hari Narayana DasOur ever grateful obeisances are due to HH Kavichandra Swami and HH Ramai Swami, the GBCs of Indonesia, for their support and guidance to always look for new avenues for sankirtan. Our humble obeisances to HH Subhag Swami for his inspiration and always reminding us of the importance of the Sankirtan movement of Mahaprabu and for inspiring us with the dedication of Sriman Jayananda Prabhu, for bringing us closer to Srila Prabhupada and keeping us united in family of ISKCON.
...- 4 Mar 2017
By Krishna Kshetra SwamiThe number of sannyasis grows from year to year in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, to well over 100; and those who take the vows of this final ashram of renunciation are, since recently, receiving formal training over and above what they receive individually in the course of their devotional lives and through the guidance of their sannyasa mentors. In pursuit of this aim of formal training, on February 18 – 22 we held a Sannyasa Candidate Training Seminar in Sridham Mayapur, with some 30 sannyasa candidates—a...
- 3 Mar 2017
By Krati GargGarlands have been pinned to the wheels of the chariot and curries seasoned to perfection for prasadam (a religious offering), while Krishna’s idol is adorned with jewels for public viewing. The occasion is Rath Yatra, or Chariot Festival, organised by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Held annually to emulate a similar large-scale Rath Yatra at Puri, in India, the festival attracts thousands of Australians to see the Hindu God Krishna — or Jaggannath (Lord of the Universe) — step out of the sanctum of his te...
- 3 Mar 2017
By Tate BlanchardProtests took place Thursday and may have paid for those wanting to protect sacred grounds. The case had just wrapped up before 5 P.M. involving the Rover Pipeline in Federal Court according to an attorney for Rover Pipeline, LLC, William Wilmoth with Steptoe & Johnson PLLC. There were a number of parties in attendance in Federal Court with concerns about where the Pipeline would be located as it makes its way through the Ohio Valley. Wilmoth said, the last group to be addressed in the last minutes was the Hare Krishna group and Rover had...
- 3 Mar 2017
By Bhakti Vijnana GoswamiBondage of karma. Karma bandana. Karma bandana is the problematic reactions in our lives. Unless we drastically change these reactions, by the means of hearing and chanting, unless we change this, we cannot claim that we are free and safe and that our salvation is guaranteed. If our reaction is the same for good or bad, if I'm really late and in a bad mood or really put down by certain circumstances or even the slightest provocations from material nature, then it basically means that there is something wrong in my practice of Krishn...
- 3 Mar 2017
By Navadwip Mandal Parikrama devoteesToday Parikrama had one very special program: Harinam sankirtan through the streets of Navadviapa town. This Nagar sankirtan was led by HG Agnideva Prabhu, who made the sound of mridangas, kartalas, and gongs accompany the vibration of the Maha mantra throughout Navadvipa. The Dham vasis became so joyful that their glory was partially revealed to us pilgrims. The glory that they are not ordiinary sales men or house wives but very dear devotees of Lord Caitanya. After Harinam Agnideva Prabhu led us on what Srila Prabhupa...
- 3 Mar 2017