By Anand Caitanya dasââOn behalf of Govardhan Eco Village, Vrajendra Nandan Prabhu, ISKCON India Communications Head went to receive the Water Digest Award. The Awards were graced by several prestigious personalities such as Shri Vipul Goel, Cabinet Minister for Ministry of Industries and Commerce, Ministry of Environment & Ministry of Industrial Training, Government of Haryana; Ms. Dana Kursh, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Israel; Mr Mitrasen Bhikajee, Senior Programme Specialist, Natural Sciences, UNESCO; Honâble Justice Dr. Mukundakam Sharma...
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- 25 Mar 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 February 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
...- 24 Mar 2017
By Anuradha Devi Dasi On Tuesday, March 14, 2017, the Department of Sport, Recreation and Culture of the city of Durban, South Africa, hosted a panel discussion at the prestigious Durban International Convention Centre entitled, "Healing Historic Divisions - towards racial harmony". Over 150 delegates, including city officials, political councillors and religious leaders accepted the Heads invitation to attend this important and ground-breaking event. The esteemed panellists included His Holiness Bhakti Charu Swami, Governing Body Chairperson of ISKCON; Bis...
- 23 Mar 2017
By Madhava SmullenAnanda Vidya and Lalita Gopiâs service is often not easy. In the wintertime temperatures regularly drop below freezing. The couple have to break the ice in the water trough so that the cows can drink. They struggle to clean the barn when the cow dung is frozen to the floor and the shovel. And theyâve had to wear heavy layers of clothes and gloves, still shivering because the freezing wind blows right through cracks in the doors and walls. Recent developments, fortunately, have made winters more manageable. Former ECO-V project manager ...
- 22 Mar 2017
By Deena Bandhu dasOn Saturday evening March 18, ISKCON Vrinda Kunda very ecstatically celebrated the annual Yamuna Boat Festival on the opposite side of Yamuna from Sringar Vat. All the devotees gathered at Srila Prabhupada's Samadhi in the afternoon to take the special festival large Deities of Radha Shyamasundar along with Radha Govinda, the personal Deities of HH Radha Govinda Maharaja, on procession to the boat ghat. Our dear godbrother Punyatama Prabhu arranged flags of a hundred different countries for the devotees to carry to show that Srila Prabhup...
- 21 Mar 2017
By Uma devi dasiWhen Arjun Bhattacharyya started telling us that Agnideva Prabhu, the legendary Agnideva Das, was coming to Detroit, most of us didnât believe him. In the spirit of serving a dear and surrendered disciple of Srila Prabhupada, many of us offered to assist in preparing his residence. But our hearts werenât quite ready to accept that he would actually come; it would be too painful if it didnât work out and with Prabhu so in demand, we had every reason to think it wouldnât. But Krishna can make anything happen and He sure did! Agnideva P...
- 21 Mar 2017
By Daiva dasaIskcon Silicon Valley has a most solid reputation for taking wholeheartedly the order of guru and Gauranga, with 'books are the basis', as their battle cry. There is no doubt that this community of hard-working, humble and empowered Vaishnavas, will manifest amazing results with this latest venture into cow culture, knowing that all the books that have been distributed, all the seeds of bhakti that have been planted will one day result in millions of people wanting to take up the life of bhakti.  Then we will be sufficiently ready on the farm...
- 21 Mar 2017
Pusta Krishna das: This morning, March 17, 2017, our friend and godsister, Gayatri devi dasi, passed on. ...
- 21 Mar 2017
By Indradyumna SwamiI'll never forget the wonderful reception the devotees gave you in Mayapura. They knew you were coming to the holy dhama to leave your body, and they rushed to greet you and express their appreciation for your years of service. Our car slowed to a snail's pace as everyone surged forward in a show of love. How proud I was of you! How grateful I was to Krsna for arranging such an acknowledgment of your service! Now you are gone, and the days of your association are no more. Your humor, which could light up the darkest day, is a distant...
- 20 Mar 2017
By Kripamoya DasOn the day of initiation you will be promising to follow the regulative principles and to chant sixteen rounds every day. You may also be promising to read Srila Prabhupadaâs books and to remain faithful to his society. Your guru will give a talk either on the significance of initiation or on the ten offences to the Holy Name. Three strands of tulasi beads will be placed on your neck. You will be asked to perform acaman â a purifying ritual involving sipping water and saying a mantra. You will then be called forward to make your obeisanc...
- 19 Mar 2017
By Radha Krishna DasThe Awards ceremony which was held at Y B Chavan Auditorium Mumbai on 16th March, 2017 saw a gathering of eminent individuals from various sectors like FMCS, Transport, Finance, Healthcare and Social Work. The event was presided over by the esteemed panel consisting of Mr Deepak Premnarayan â President IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Niraj Bajaj â Chairman, IMC RBNQ Award Trust, Mr Suresh Lulla- Chairman IMC RBNQA as well as members of the Managing Committee of the IMC. The Chief Guest for the evening was Dr R. A. Mashelkar,...
- 18 Mar 2017
By Madhava SmullenOn the tenth anniversary of the first Kulimela, Kulis explore how to create a new and better world for future generations. Thereâs a consensus that focusing on healthy marriages and happy families will make for a stronger ISKCON. Kulis are encouraged to invest in the future by teaming together on projects that positively affect children in their local communities. They also discuss making lots of small specialized groups in their communities to encourage membersâ interests and make them feel like they belong. The conversation is alway...
- 18 Mar 2017
By the Sannyasa MinistryWelcome to volume 5 of the Sannyasa Newsletter. I would like to congratulate those who have been accepted by the GBC to take sannyasa this year. I would also like to remind those who are taking sannyasa, that as Lord Caitanya Mahaprabhu has said, our only true identity is the servant of Lord Krishna's servants. In ISKCON we take sannaysa to have more opportunities for service, not to seek for opportunities to be served. Maya is always there to try to trick us and have us believe that somehow we can enjoy this material world. Only pur...
- 17 Mar 2017
By Bhakti Rasayana Sagara SwamiPrahlad Maharaj, he is the best example of someone who is so happy in devotional service. Prahlada, Pra lada is a joy or pleasure, like we have the personified pleasure potency, Haladini Shakti who is Radharani herself. So Prahlada refers to pleasure, and Prahlad as Prabhupada explains pra is pratista rupena , which intensifies the meaning of the word, so Prahlada means one who is so happy so blissful, that even the ongoing assassination attempt cannot, you know ,make him feel bad, this is really amazing. Such a level of happi...
- 17 Mar 2017
By Nanda Priya Nivedita Devi DasiMarkandeya Rsi das from ISKCON Malaysia accepted the renounced order of life from Jayapataka Swami, on the auspicious occasion of Gaura Purnima,14th of March at Sri Mayapur. His new name is Bhakti Mukunda Swami. Joined on the seats of honor along with Jayapataka Swami were Gauranga Prem Swami, Bhakti Nityananda Swami ,Prabha Vishnu Prabhu and Atul Krishna Das. Over 500 people witnessed the Sanyas ceremony. Prabhu Vishnu prabhu spoke about Bhakti Mukunda Swamiâs numerous achievements and wished him all success.Jayapataka S...
- 17 Mar 2017
By Harinarayana DasOn the day of the Ratha yatra, 4th March 2016, devotees started to decorate the chariot, prepare the coconuts, made garlands and flowers bouquets, and some others cooked for the deities and the devotees. Many local Hindu families came to take part in the festival; the devotees welcomed them by giving them prasadam. Who does not like Jagannatha prasadam? Then the guests from police department and Counsellor of Hindu Society also came. At 7 pm all devotees and guest participated in the Gaura arati. After Gaura arati Lord Jaganath was seate...
- 17 Mar 2017
By Kripamoya DasWhen Srila Rupa Goswami talked about chanting the holy name of Krishna he said that he wished he had hundreds of tongues to sing it, and thousands of ears to hear it. Not for nothing is his book named the Bhakti-Rasa-Amrita-Sindhu or the Nectar Ocean of Devotion. Strangely enough, he also said that the five primary items in the life of bhakti all had to do with taking shelter of a guru and accepting initiation from a guru. Why strange? Because the very name of Krishna, that sound vibration which made him ecstatic, was the same that had been ...
- 17 Mar 2017
By Gandhari Devi DasiWe are seeing that now more Iskcon centers are celebrating Holi with burning of Holika and throwing the colored dye festival. So there are some points to be mentioned about these celebrations. I was requested by a senior mataji to share this information. So if there is anything incorrect please excuse me and add your comments. I will share something about Holi from Vedic point as much as I have learnt. The coloured dyes are supposed to be thrown with love signifying blessing to the person "may auspicious, wealth, prosperity accompa...
- 16 Mar 2017
By Kripamoya DasHere is a brief checklist to help you with your testing of a prospective guru. Education. Has he studied Vedic literature sufficiently to become a teacher? Has he become an expert in any particular literature? Has he passed any examinations? Can he recite verses from memory? Does he demonstrate his learning by references when he gives classes? Is he faithful to Srila Prabhupadaâs translations and commentaries in his presentations? Are you sure that he does not unduly emphasize any particular portion of the phil...
- 16 Mar 2017
By Kesava Krsna dasaJust as the pumpkin transformed into an impressive stagecoach which took Cinderella to the ball, the magic of trnad api âŠ. By which we can obtain Sri Guruâs grace, Sri Nityanandaâs grace who as Sri Balarama will be pleased to transform Iskcon into a dazzling Vaikuntha airplane. Our ploughing will then become an easier affair.
...- 15 Mar 2017
By Mahatma DasThe Soul is Made of Faith. In this article I use the word belief as âa feeling of certainty about what something means.â I discuss how this feeling of certainty affects the way you look at things, and the way you look at things affects your actions. Therefore, in this sense things are less the way they are and more the way we are. Belief is fundamental to consciousness. In Chapter 17 verse 3 of the Gita, Krsna says the atma is made of faith. If someone doesnât believe that the atma is made of faith, it just means they have faith (th...
- 15 Mar 2017
By Kripamoya DasI often get asked questions by people who are looking for a guru: âWhat sort of teacher should I be looking for?â is shortly followed by: âAnd where do I begin looking for someone like that?â After theyâve thought a few moments the next question is: âWhat sort of things do I have to do before I can become someoneâs student?â âWhat happens if I donât quite measure up?â Some time later the questions are more about what will happen after they become initiated: âWhat is he supposed to teach me?â âHow do I know if he...
- 15 Mar 2017
By Bhaktivedanta Book TrustOur Relationship with Srila Prabhupadaâs Books. Srila Prabhupada was concerned that devotees (âcentresâ) producing his books independently was undermining and potentially threatening the viability of the BBT. · âThis must not go onâ illustrates an unambiguous desire on his part to stop any printing of his books separate from the BBT. · He stresses that he created the BBT specifically to be the exclusive medium by which his books, lectures, and so on, are to be published and made available. · The BBT has an economic role in funding ISKCON projects. · ...
- 14 Mar 2017
By Romapada SwamiWe are very limited. We have tiny knowledge and tiny happiness and tiny free will. We donât miss our free will, proof is, here we are the place people reside who misused their free will. Some few rathayatras ago I was introduced to a Chinese lady, married to an Indian man. That was a very interesting combination. An elderly, little older and when introduced to her she said I just have one question. What is that? Why creation? I said fantastic question. And the short answer is two parts. We wanted it, when we make a mistake isnât there a good reason for wanting it? Try t...
- 14 Mar 2017