By Chandan Yatra DasGuruvayur, also called âDwarka of Southern Indiaâ, houses the famous Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple. Guruvayur Sri Krishna, also affectionately called as âSri Guruvayoorappanâ, the presiding deity, was installed by Brihaspati and Vayu. Sri Guruvayoorappan is a four-armed form of Lord Krishna in standing posture with a chakra in the right hand, conchshell in the left, and mace and lotus flower in the other two. Lord Krishna displayed this form of His only twice during His appearance on earth: once to Arjuna just before the battle of Kuruksetra while speaking the Bh...
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- 20 Jul 2017
By Chaitanya Charan dasAn inspiring departure. For many years, Shri Shah had been averse to even visit Vaishnava Seva Pâs house, leave alone stay there. Like most fathers, he had had great dreams for his son. When Vaishnava Seva Prabhu had started practicing bhakti, his father had become upset. His anger was not because they were from a Jain background, but because he feared that his son would neglect his career. In his disappointment, he had spoken heated words to, Vaishnava Seva Prabhuâs spiritual master, HH Radhanatha Maharaj. He had even threatened to not attend Vaishnava Seva Prab...
- 20 Jul 2017
By Karnamrita DasThe fact that we are souls having a human experience, doesnât mean that we can deny the bodyâwe can however, make our body and mind as favorable as possible for spiritual practice. This should be the guiding principle for any introspection, healing, or counseling we undergo. The intern result of such endeavors should be living and acting in the mode or quality of goodness as outlined in the Bhagavad Gita, and being a balanced human beingâso helpful for steady sadhana for the long haul of a life.
...- 19 Jul 2017
By Gargs AllardIf one sees this movie for what it is (and is advertised) â the story of the swami who started the Hare Krishna Movement against all odds â then it is an amazing account of spiritual purity, power and accomplishment. The non-devotee, however much he or she may or may not be turned off by Hare Krishna people, has to acknowledge there was certainly something that attracted its followers of the late sixties and early seventies. This film more than aptly shows what that was, or who it was â Srila Prabhupada.
...- 19 Jul 2017
By the BBCHundreds of festival-goers have joined a procession in which a 40ft (12.1m) chariot was pulled through Leicester city centre. The Hare Krishna Festival of Chariots began in Granby Street with a welcome ceremony and ended at Cossington Park, in Belgrave, on Sunday afternoon. Leicester hosts one of the largest celebrations of its type in Europe, organisers said. The chariot carried deities of the Lord Jagannatha and his sister Subhadra. The vibrant procession was accompanied with music, singing and dancing as it made its way through the city.
...- 18 Jul 2017
By Indradyumna SwamiâI just wanted to thank you for your talk. It literally saved my life.â âSaved your life?â I said, thinking that perhaps she was speaking metaphorically. âYes,â she said. âTwo years ago my only child, my 16 year old son, was killed in a head-on car collision. I was devastated and as a result my relationship with my husband deteriorated quickly. We began quarreling and fighting and eventually separated. Six months ago we divorced. Because I was so distraught I couldnât focus at work, and several months ago I lost my job. My friends were unable to cope w...
- 18 Jul 2017
By Acarya DasaIt is believed that the deity of Guruvayurappan was once worshipped by Vasudeva and Devaki, Lord Krishnaâs parents, and represents the Maha Vishnu form as revealed to them when Krishna appeared. The deity was also later worshipped by Krishna Himself. Carved from âPatala Anjanamâ stone or black bismuth and in a standing pose the deity is a four-armed form of Vishnu carrying the conch Panchajanya, the discus Sudarshana Chakra, the mace Kaumodaki, the lotus and adorned with a divine Tulsi garland. The deity faces east and is four feet tall. Despite the size of the deity de...
- 17 Jul 2017
By Parvati devi dasiThis is an appeal for your help for Prabhupada's Vrndavana Samadhi Project. This year, somehow the donation level has fallen below normal. For the first time in 17 years, I had to break a small Fixed Deposit to put in the working account. More than that, we must re-seal the dome after 25 monsoons, to ensure no leaking or concomitant structural damage. Removing the grouting on all the dome tiles from top to bottom to maintain the waterproofing, then applying the clear silicon coating so the moisture cannot come through the marble, will cost at least Rs. 5 laks or $7500...
- 16 Jul 2017
By Hare Krishna LifestyleSrila Prabhupadaâs disciple, one of the best kirtaniyas in the world â Bada Haridas Prabhu shared with the HARE KRISHNA Lifestyle some of his most intimate life moments. He opened up about chanting mantras, his family life, and his spiritual master.
...- 16 Jul 2017
By Rachel MainwaringRock legend Chrissie Hynde helped reopen a new Cardiff restaurant and even handed out flyers. Not everyone recognised her but she was completely unfazed. The Pretenders star Chrissie Hynde was in Cardiff on Saturday to reopen Atma at its new location in the Capitol Shopping Centre on Queen Street . And though she is a bona fida rock chick, the prominent vegan and animal rights campaigner, didn't think twice about trying to entice Cardiff shoppers into the cafe by handing out flyers.
...- 16 Jul 2017
By ISKCON CoimbatoreThe year 2016 marked the Golden Jubilee (1966-2016) of the incorporation of ISKCON ( International Society for Krishna Consciousness) in New York by its Founder Acharya: His Divine Grace A.C.Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. In continuance with the Golden Jubilee celebration, ISKCON Coimbatore is now presenting a series of inspirational life-changing talks titled âSaaram". The first of its kind was held on 12th July 2017, at Nani Phalkiwala Auditorium, Mani's High School, Coimbatore.The function was inaugurated by HH Bhakti Vinoda Swami (Zonal Secretary) ISKCON, along...
- 15 Jul 2017
By Sam NewhouseBhakti yoga center in Fishtown, Pennsylvania, United States is part of a new "urban-rural farm connection" project. "We're in a very serious situation, as the only species that has destroyed its own habitat, and we need to understand that without a connection to the land â and all that that connection entails in terms of a balanced lifestyle â thereâll be no major solution," Swami said. "The question is, how many urbanites want to invest in a rural connection, if not moving to a rural area, at least developing an active reciprocal relationship?"
...- 14 Jul 2017
By Sunanda DasMost significantly was the presence of Lord Nityanandaâs Padukas and Lord Nrsimhadevaâs Sitari from Mayapur along with His Grace Sriman Jananivas and Vraja Vilas prabhus representing the TOVP. Maharaja dedicated over three hours of prime-time to the TOVP presentation and fundraising showing by his own example the importance of the project. Due to his inspiration over $1 million U.S. was raised in pledges.
...- 13 Jul 2017
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 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
...- 13 Jul 2017
By Amy McCarthyFood and the Hare Krishna movement are intrinsically linked. "The Krishna movement has always been interested in food," says Graham M. Schweig, a professor of religion at Virginia's Christopher Newport University. "It's a natural consequence of the temples opening their doors to the public every Sunday for a feast." In the 1960s, Prabhupada taught his first disciples how to prepare Indian dishes that follow the Krishnas' strict dietary guidelines (including an adherence to a vegetarian diet and us...
- 12 Jul 2017
By Mayapur Internal Communications TeamStarting in the late 80âs with one small chariot, Ratha-yatra was celebrated just inside the Mayapur campus by the gurukula students. As time went on, Ratha-yatra grew, and the campus grounds could no longer hold the festival. We had to start thinking big. In 1997, the Mayapur management organized the first ever Ratha-yatra festival coming from Rajapur to ISKCON Mayapur with three grand chariots. It was only with their leadership and expertise that this festival continues today.
...- 11 Jul 2017
By Greg CookAround noon on Saturday, men wrapped in white robes gathered just off Bostonâs Boylston Street in the middle of a festive crowd of women dressed in bright colored saris and men in dhoti kurtas, with gopi dots and lines of color painted on their faces. The robed men lined up before the tall yellow chariot wagon, garlanded with flowers, that resembled a temple on wheels. One man raised a coconut above his head, then smashed it on the pavement for an auspicious beginning to the annual Festival of Chariots â or Ratha Yatra (a Sanskrit phrase that roughly translates as âchario...
- 11 Jul 2017
By TOVPOperation FullDome is a way to give any visiting guest to Sri Dham Mayapur an opportunity to experience the most unique immersive spiritual experience in a spiritual town. The visitors will relax in comfort and watch high-quality presentations of professionally made FullDome films, using only top grade technology â the same technology that Disney, NASA, and many Fortune 500 companies use. This place will become the pivot point of interactive educational and spiritually riveting audio-visual experience. The proceedings from this project will go towards the TOVP Exhibits. ...
- 11 Jul 2017
By Bhurijana Dasa1. One should hear the pastimes, names, and glories of the Lord from the Srimad Bhagavatam, in which all material forms of region have been are rejected, from a bona fide spiritual master, become fixed in devotional service, and not allow his mind to be deflected to anything else. Patiently and submissively hearing the Srimad Bhagavatam immediately re-establishes a soul in his eternal relationship with Krsna. All other goals are rejected in the Bhagavatam. (1-3) 2. One must hear the Bhagavatam f...
- 10 Jul 2017
By ISKCON Sannyasa MinistrySrila Prabhupada on âWhat is a Sannyasi?â As there are hairs and nails on the body and sometimes we separate these parts from the body similarly when the material energy is separated from the service of the Lord it is inferior energy. Inferior energy is not false but temporary. The same temporary energy when surcharged with Krsna consciousness it transforms into supreme energy by the supreme will. By this will any energy can be transformed into another just like electronic energy in a refrigerator or in a heater, to an ordinary layman, he sees cold and ho...
- 10 Jul 2017
By Romapada SwamiQuestion: Srila Prabhupada's translation indicates that "a-brahma-bhuvanal - up to the Brahmaloka plane" The Bhagavatam seems to say that Satya Loka is not subject to birth, death, old age and disease. The Bhagavad Gita seems to say that it is subject to these four states. Can you shed on light on this seeming contradiction?
...- 9 Jul 2017
By Rachna TyagiSo, what are the prerequisites to join them? âISKCON is a calling. The person coming to ISKCON actually comes to serve Krishna. He wants to dedicate his life to Krishna,â says Das. As a student of structural engineering in IIT-Madras, he came across a book on Prabhupada at a library in IIT-Bombay. He says, âWhen I read that, I felt it was something that nobody had taught me. I was very inspired, especially after I finished reading the Bhagavad Gita. I felt this was what I should dedicate my life to. I then switched over to philosophy, did my masterâs and got my docto...
- 8 Jul 2017
By Vijay Krsna Kumar DasScholars and academicians from various parts of the country and abroad converged at the Kalina campus of Mumbai University to participate in a first of its kind International conference on the topic âRelevance, Role and Resurgence of Vaishnavism studies in 21st century.â Jointly organized by the Bhaktivedanta Vidyapitha Research Center of ISKCON and Shree Halari Oswal College, the conference witnessed participation of more than 200 students, scholars and administrators from the field of academia. Honorable Vice Chancellor of Mumbai University, Dr. San...
- 8 Jul 2017
By Ravindra Svarupa DasSrimad-Bhagavatam Eleventh Canto Chapter 31: The Disappearance of Lord ÅrÄ« Ká¹á¹£á¹a. DÄruka delivered the account of the total destruction of the Vá¹á¹£á¹is, and upon hearing this, O ParÄ«ká¹£it, the people became deeply distraught in their hearts and stunned with sorrow. Feeling the overwhelming pain of separation from Ká¹á¹£á¹a, they struck their own faces while hurrying to the place where their relatives lay dead.
...- 7 Jul 2017