By Mayapur Sasi dasaFor the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada this report contains the following North American results of book distribution for the month of January 2017. 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
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- 22 Feb 2017
By Harinarayana DasDay of art and culture of West Papua, Pebruary 6, 2017 was celebrated by cultural parades from all ethnic groups who live in that area. Arts and culture serves as an adequate medium to unite the people. Language in form of arts and culture is universal which everybody can understand. The varied colours of arts and culture makes the world a beautiful place. The cultural parade in Manokwari, capital city of West Papua, attracted many visitors. This also attracted devotees to take the opportunity to spread the glories of Lord Krishna in the ...
- 21 Feb 2017
By Nila Kamal dasOn the 20th of February 2017, HH Subhag Swami Maharaj and a group of fifty enthusiastic devotees travelled to Govinda Ghosh’s residence in Agradwip. Govinda Ghosh was a close associate of Mahaprabhu as were his two brothers: Madhava and Vasudeva. The official Navadvip Mandala parikrama starts on the 28th of February, thus Maharaj decided to get us mentally prepared. The Ekadasi after Gour Purnima is the disappearance day of Sri Govinda Ghosh. On this occasion, thousands and thousands of pilgrims travel to Agradwip and visit the samadhi m...
- 21 Feb 2017
By Premanjana DasOur bass guitarist Naam Bhakti Devi Dasi (Namrata Sobti) had an inclination towards Krishna and by chance she once went to the ISKCON temple in Chandigarh. Gradually, she developed a lot of faith in Srila Prabhupada's teachings and started telling the same to rest of the band members. So, one by one each one of us started going to the temple. The band leader Nirdosh Sobti (now Nav Kishore Nimai Das) was the ‘toughest nut to crack’, so it took a bit of time for him to join others. Other band members knew that if he would build up faith ...
- 21 Feb 2017
By Sadbhuja DasThe year 2016 was a very marvelous year for the TOVP as all the works planned were completed. The superstructure has been fully completed with many major works. In 2017 we look forward to commence the prime internal and external detailing work such as blue tiles and ribs on the domes. We will see the Kailash completed and even the Chakras will be installed! We would like to thank Ambarish Prabhu, the fund raising team, the construction team and all the devotees that are participating in bringing this extraordinary offering to Srila Prabhupada...
- 20 Feb 2017
By Bhaktimarga SwamiI am a member of the Governing Body Commission for the Hare Krishna movement and I wanted to share the Code of Honour which is printed and placed on our seats during meeting times. It’s good and can apply to other organizations. There are ten points.
...- 20 Feb 2017
By Nitai Candra das"That place, time and condition one must resort to which are favorable for mental concentration. He should resort to that place only, seize that hour only, place himself in that condition only, see those comforts only, which are favorable to securing serenity of mind. For by time, place, etc., there is no peculiarity said to be wrought in meditation, but all inquiry about time, place, etc is meant for making the mind serene.’’
...- 20 Feb 2017
By Badrinarayan SwamiHH Badrinarayan Swami has been a member of ISKCON since 1970. He began associating with members of the Hare Krishna movement while still at school and joined the Laguna Beach (California) temple in his eighteenth year. A year later, he took initiation from Srila Prabhupada in Los Angeles. Again at an early age, Badrinarayan Swami became a temple president—first at Ann Arbor, Michigan from 1973 to 1977, and then in San Diego from 1978 to 1995. His commitment to the GBC is lengthy, spanning twenty-four years, and he genuinely appreciate...
- 20 Feb 2017
By Romapada SwamiHH Romapada Swami Maharaja is a disciple of ISKCON Founder Acarya His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He was first introduced to this movement of Krsna consciousness when he was a college student more than 37 years ago. He has accepted renounced order of life- sannyasa, and preaches the message of true devotion by traveling all over the United States of America, Canada, the Caribbean, India, and many other parts of the world. He is also serving the movement for years as a Governing Body Commissioner (GBC) of ISKCON in the N...
- 20 Feb 2017
By Visakha DasiMarriage is like a fortress created by the husband and wife to protect themselves from the powerful enemies of the uncontrolled senses so that both of them may peacefully advance spiritually. “The bodily senses are considered plunderers of the fort of the body. The wife is supposed to be the commander of the fort, and therefore whenever there is an attack on the body by the senses, it is the wife who protects the body from being smashed.” (SB 3.14.20) “There is no difference between a good wife and good intelligence. One who possesses ...
- 18 Feb 2017
By Dravida dasa*Absolutely no offerings will be accepted after April 15, 2017.* Offerings must be in English. Please restrict the length to a maximum of 3,000 words. Please omit all diacritics on words that can be found in the VedaBase. It’s easier for us to put them in. If you quote a verse from outside the VedaBase or compose original Sanskrit, please include diacritics. Do not "recycle" an offering — no offerings from previous years will be accepted. The Vyasa-puja book is meant for glorifying Srila Prabhupada, not venting grievances. The BBT reserves the right to reject an offe...
- 18 Feb 2017
By Janananda GoswamiBorn in the United Kingdom. Janananda Goswami was initiated by Srila Prabhupada in 1972. He held various positions in ISKCON and served Srila Prabhupada in various countries notably the United Kingdom, Africa, Malaysia, Philippines and New Zealand. Janananda Maharaj travelling and preaching all over the world, the main driving force behind the World Holy Name initiative and various other wonderful projects in ISKCON. He is also member of committee for Kirtans Standards. His kirtans, harinam, spontaneous skits, realizations, scholarliness...
- 18 Feb 2017
By Raga Devi DasiI didn’t know it at the time, but Jarreau’s music would soon inspire me to go hear many of his concerts & also meet him in person. Then, a few years later when I met Krsna, bhakti and Srila Prabhupada, the deal was sealed. I decided to stay close but not too close to thought-provoking, mode of goodness music like his. In fact, The Director of Wanderers had me travel 3,000 miles to meet Al in person & give him several of BT Swami’s world-famous, super popular books. Though I’m surely not the doer, through me Jarreau received the ...
- 17 Feb 2017
By Patita Pavana dasVrindavana, 1974-5: It might have been the always-blissful English brahmachary Gunarnava or maybe the philosophical Scottish devotee Smara Hari who approached me with the news. “Hey, Patit,” he called, “A sadhu just asked Shrila Prabhupada for initiation.” “Wow, good luck to that Maharaja,” I chuckled pessimistically. After all, we had both been Prabhupada’s disciples for a number of years, and had been in India long enough to know that most sadhus preferred to keep their distance from us “phoren bhaktas”. Sure, most ...
- 17 Feb 2017
By Nitai Candra dasMen can go to the gross moon but not to the subtle, heavenly dimension described in the Veda. The Srimad Bhagavatam describes the subtle dimensions of the universe, even when describing the Earth (or Bhu-mandala). That dimension will be shown in the TOVP- Temple of Vedic Planetarium in Mayapur. The TOVP will not show anything of the gross realm- visible by the gross eyes and telescopes, although the gross and subtle dimensions are related.
...- 17 Feb 2017
By Kusha devi dasiSpiritual Considerations: To get the benefits of advanced association, attend mangal arotik, parikramas, and classes. Practical considerations: Once the spiritual aspects are protected and nurtured, we need to focus on certain practical considerations by which we can remain healthy. Body – To maintain your health while in India, eat carefully, according to your needs, not taking too much or too little. It may help to bring some snacks or any food that works for you, especially if you are not familiar with the dhama. If you are taking m...
- 16 Feb 2017
By Abhaya Mudra DasiFrom the moment that the living entity is born, he has a desire to enjoy. With cute smiles and cries of discomfort, the cute little baby forces his parents to dote on him. From the moment a conditioned entity is born, he believes that this world is meant for worshiping him. His awakening years start when he grows and is no longer little and adorable. Having left childhood behind, worship becomes more difficult to acquire. The living entity has limited experience and a poor fund of knowledge. Much of this is due to the memory at the end o...
- 16 Feb 2017
By Nimai Pandit dasa Sri Srimad Gaura Govinda Goswami Maharaja dedicated his life to fulfilling Srila Prabhupada’s order to spread Krishna consciousness throughout the world and specifically among the people of Orissa. He translated Srila Prabhupada's transcendental literature and fulfilled Srila Prabhupada's desire for a Krishna-Balaram Temple in Bhubanesvara. He was not only a topmost devotee but he was also a great and learned scholar. In this time of their great grief, we pledge ourselves to the service of his disciples and followers who are determined to car...
- 16 Feb 2017
By Bhakti Chaitanya SwamiSrila Prabhupada: In 1936, just on the 13th, December, I wrote him one letter. Not 13th. I think by the beginning of December, 1936, I wrote one letter to Guru Maharaja. I knew he was little kind upon me, so I wrote that “Guru Maharaja, you have got many disciples. I am also one of them. But they are doing direct service to you. Some of them are brahmacaris, some of them sannyasis, but I am a householder. I cannot…” Of course, I was giving sometimes some monetary help, but I could not give any direct service, so I asked him th...
- 15 Feb 2017
By TOVP staffWe are pleased and excited to announce the wonderful success of the first TOVP fundraising tour of 2017 in Gujarat, India. Pledges were in excess of $1.5 million and we left with the overwhelming feeling that Lord Nityananda is Himself in charge of this historic project and is blessing us. On January 28th, under the shelter of Lord Nityananda’s Padukas and Lord Nrsimha’s Sitari, the TOVP Team consisting of Jananivas prabhu, Ambarisa prabhu, Mother Svaha and Braja Vilas prabhu made their way to Gujarat for a nine day tour of the cities of V...
- 14 Feb 2017
By Bhanu SwamiHH Bhanu Swami Maharaja is one of the senior disciples of His Divine Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada, founder acharya of ISKCON, the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. He holds a BA Degree in Oriental fine arts history from the University of British Colombia. He joined the Hare Krishna movement in India in 1970. Initiated in 1971 by Srila Prabhupada, he took sannyasa vows in 1984. Bhanu Swami was personally instructed in the art of Deity worship by Srila Prabhupada, and within ISKCON he has become an authority on t...
- 14 Feb 2017
By Vaisesika DasIt is mentioned that a doctor will not let the last vestige of the disease stay within the body of the person, so Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Krishna are vigilant to weed out the last vestiges in the devotee and the devotee is cooperating the hard way is to drag one’s legs. The easy way is we call VLCs, the Voluntary Life Changers. We see it coming, we see there is an opportunity so rather than wait until it's done to you so you are forced to surrender.
...- 14 Feb 2017
By Mahatma dasIf a case of illicit sex between a man and an unmarried woman were brought before Prabhupada, he never blamed the woman. He said it is the man's fault because the man is supposed to be strong and intelligent, and that a woman naturally and innocently follows a man. A man’s role is to protect and provide. Protection and exploitation are opposites. So if a woman went along with a man's sexual aggression, Prabhupada wouldn't blame her.
...- 13 Feb 2017
By Narahari dasDrona hung a wooden bird from a tree and asked each prince to shoot at the bird's eye. First the eldest prince, Yudhishthira, was asked to try. When he aimed at the bird, Drona asked him, "what do you see in front of you?" Yudhisthira answered, "I see a tree and a bird hearing this, Drona stopped him. He then asked other students the same question and got the same answer. When it was Arjuna's turn and Drona asked him the same question, Arjuna replied, "I see only the bird's eye. Drona was very pleased with the answer and asked him to shoot. T...
- 13 Feb 2017