By Bhaktividya Purna SwamiOne has to be able to respect either that the senior or they’re another living entity or the junior. In other words the mood is service. Someone senior to you, you serve. Someone’s junior to you, it’s your service is to give them shelter and take care of them. That’s your service. In other words, as we brought out yesterday, the problem wasn’t that Vena was saying: “ The king is the Naradaivata and everyone should respects him, He’s a representative of the Supreme Lord all ...
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- 31 Dec 2015
By Prema Sindhu Gauranga dasaFrom November 29 to December 4, around 200 devotees eagerly gathered in Govardhan for the 10th annual VIHE Holy Name Retreat–all the way from South and North America, Europe, Africa, Australia, Russia, Israel, India, and even China. Giriraj Govardhan, “Haridas varya,” the topmost among the devotees of Lord Krishna is the perfect spiritual abode to retreat from the relentless material anxieties and reconnect with our spiritual selves. His Holiness Sacinandana Swami and His Grace ...
- 30 Dec 2015
By Zayani BhattHundreds of devotees from far and wide congregated at Bhativedanta Manor for a recitation of the Bhagavat Gita by the temple’s Managing Director HG Gauri Das and insightful commentary by His Holiness Sivarama Swami on Sunday 20th December. The devotional and ardent recitation of the Holy Scripture and a Gita yagna was to celebrate Gita Jayanti; the day Lord Shri Krishna spoke the Bhagavat Gita 5154 years ago. His holiness Sivarama Swami summarised each chapter in a beautiful, clear and ...
- 30 Dec 2015
By Bhaktin Sanglisha"One thing more, if we are successful in this program then my dream mission of life to spread Krishna Consciousness all over the world will be fulfilled. I wish to speak on the great philosophy of Bhagavata Dharma at least once in a week on television, so if arrangement is made by you for this, then you will be doing the highest service for Krishna." (Srila Prabhupad's letter to Karadhara - Bombay 22 March, 1972) During the month of Damodara, the Food For Life Society Malaysia and Bhaktivedan...
- 30 Dec 2015
By Lila-shuka dasThis project was made with the sole purpose of inspiring all devotees to perform more Harinama Sankirtana. In addition, this project shows the activity of Harinama Sankirtana around the world. When you enter the website ( www.harinammap.com ) you can see the world map and the menu. Map shows the activity of Harinama Sankirtana around the world. Menu gives you some features of how to use the map. You can see 3 filters there... 1) By status 2) By team 3) By devotee By status: Upcoming –...
- 30 Dec 2015
By Bhaktividya Purna SwamiWe can use intelligence to do our own kind of activity, our own thing, make up our own process or we use our intelligence to see and understand what the Supreme Lord has given us, what the Acaryas has given us and then use our intelligence to do it in a very wonderful way. Just like we see. Lord Caitanya wants the preaching’s spread all over the world. And then we see that the Acaryas then take this instruction in a very amazing and special ways and apply it. And many times it’s very...
- 29 Dec 2015
By Madhava SmullenTwo new apartment buildings, consisting of three apartments each, are being erected next to New Vrindaban’s community garden and are expected to be ready to rent by spring 2016. According to ISKCON New Vrindaban president Jaya Krsna Das, they will fulfill an immediate need for more accommodation especially during the peak summer season. But the additional accommodation is also essential in helping along New Vrindaban’s current phase of growth -- many devotees are now returning to the commun...
- 29 Dec 2015
By Bhaktividya Purna SwamiToday, we’ll try to look at a different angle or go a step a little further in trying to understand the culture. If we’re accepting our premise that culture means following the Vedic rules and regulations with a desire to please the Lord and these rules and regulations then come to us in the form of this varnasrama culture –this dharma. Things become a little bit more easy to categorize if you have a framework to work in. Dealing with varnas and asramas. Now then the difficulty c...
- 27 Dec 2015
By ISKCON 50 Global Office“We have just crossed 3000 likes this month, but that is just not enough,” said Romapada Das, International Coordinator for the 50th anniversary. “For a milestone of this magnitude, we should at least have 100,000 likes from the devotee community worldwide. Moreover, if you like the page, you will get regular updates about what is happening worldwide for the 50th. We appeal to all devotees to visit the Facebook page and like it. You should also urge your friends on Facebook to like...
- 27 Dec 2015
By Madhava SmullenA world-class show celebrating ISKCON’s 50th anniversary entitled “Transcendental Journey: Krishna 50 Years On” is set to play at the iconic Sydney Opera House in Australia on Saturday August 20th, 2016. Transcendental Journey will repeat twice, with a matinee performance at 2pm and an evening one at 7:30pm in one of the Sydney Opera House’s state-of-the art theaters, “The Studio.” With sophisticated sound and lighting systems, its comfortable crimson-red tiered seats will sit 350 e...
- 27 Dec 2015
By Dinatarini Devi DasiYamuna and I had spoken about the devotees of the Chowpatty RadhaGopinatha Temple so often over the years that in a sense our young friends felt they knew them already. Yet, nothing can prepare one for the actual experience of being in the company of Radhanath Swami and the sincere and dedicated devotees there. We traveled by train, with the addition of Amala Harinama and Nadia to our group, and were received with such warmth and enthusiasm in Mumbai that it was both heartwarming and overwh...
- 26 Dec 2015
By ISKCON 50 Global OfficeSupporters and well-wishers of ISKCON who attended a 50th Anniversary gala event in Ahmedabad on 19th December sponsored over 12,500 Bhagavad-gitas as part of the December marathon in India. Devotees at the Ahmedabad temple had organised an event to celebrate Gita Jayanti at Regenta Hotel, which was attended by over 200 business leaders. The event was hosted by Rajesh Karia, owner of Regenta Hotel, who is a member of the local congregation. While releasing a special souvenir on the o...
- 25 Dec 2015
By Brijabasi dasThere is a Sanskrit poem describing the glories of the holy name which is quite well-known in ISKCON by the name "Sri Kevalastakam". Each verse of the poem ends with "harer namaiva kevalam" ("Only the holy name of Lord Hari"). It appears in the songbook called "More Songs of the Vaisnava Acaryas". Its authorship has been a mystery and it was described as "An Anonymous Sanskrit Poem". Recently, while reading one of the old "Sajjana-tosani" magazines published by Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakura in the la...
- 25 Dec 2015
By Taraka dasRecently I have travelled to a number of ISKCON centres. The place that stood out for me as welcoming and warm was New Vrindavan. Every devotee that I encountered said, "Haribol. How are you?" or similar or just smiled. This really warmed my heart as I have often been to a new place and devotees did not acknowledge my presence At all. I know I am not alone in this experience, and may even be guilty of ignoring guests myself from time To time. The question to ask ourselves is - what impression do w...
- 24 Dec 2015
By Mayesvara dasaThe Vedic Planetarium in Mayapur, West Bengal, India (presently well under construction as of December 2015), is an attempt to depict the map of the Universe according to the ancient Vedic literature, primarily the Fifth Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam as translated and presented by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Canto 1, chapter 5, verse 11 of Srimad-Bhagavatam predicts that this literature will bring about a revolution in the impious lives of this world's misdirected civilizat...
- 22 Dec 2015
By Hari Narayana DasKota Agung is a small town located in Tanggamus, Lampung. Being the capital, it is also the most important city in Lampung. Situated at the foot of Mount Tanggamus and nearby the Gulf Coast Semaka it stands as a beautiful location for tourists. At present there are no devotees living in Tanggamus. Those who do live in Lampung, live in the ‘Gita Nagari Baru’ farm community established by HH Bhakti Raghava Swami, a five hours drive from Tanggamus! Devotees in Indonesia received an invitati...
- 22 Dec 2015
By Mohan Sunder DasWith a pure desire in their heart to spread Lord Sri Chaitanya’s message to one and all, Aligarh devotees worked day in and day out on the land donated by Dr. Maheshwar Pratap Varshney. Dr. Varshney, an ardent follower of the Bhagwad Gita, donated 4 acres of land to ISKCON because he had firm faith on ISKCON for spreading Lord Sri Hari’s ‘Gita’, Bhagwad Gita. The devotees worked very hard and finally saw the very eventful day of ‘Ground Breaking Ceremony’ on 13th November’2015 ...
- 22 Dec 2015
By Vijaya DasaIn November, the most improved temple throughout the world was Toronto, with a 492% increase and 6,144 book points. In Toronto, in November, it's cold, but still the devotees did the yajna and had a huge increase. All glories to their determination to get Krishna's message out to people despite the cold weather! Of course, other places also get cold, like parts of Europe and Asia where the temperature falls below freezing. It may be cold in these places, but there are devotees with such warm pearts ...
- 22 Dec 2015
By Shyama Krishna dasa and Vraja Vihari dasaThere are many ways to study the Bhagavad-gita. Recently, devotees have considered the Gita from the point of view of what essential values/principles Krishna teaches in this sacred book. They chose six key points: 1. Dharma (right action) 2. Sama Darshana (equal vision) 3. amanitva (humility) 4. iccha (choice/desire) 5. Ahimsa (without cruelty) 6. Priti (affection)
...- 21 Dec 2015
By Vani Devi DasiFour years ago I got a phone call at three in the morning. Minutes later I couldn't control my tears and the only thing I knew to do was to take shelter of Panca Tattva. Standing in front of their Lordships in a daze the tears came again as I felt your absence. My heart hurt, my heart still hurts. Your love for Krsna, Prabhupada, and all of us met no bounds, and a moment with you was like a hundred as time stood still and I couldn't take my eyes from you. Your love was real, your spiritual vision...
- 21 Dec 2015
By Vrajendranandan DasRecently, we had a big networking opportunity as ISKCON was officially invited to attend the birth day celebration event of Shri Pranab Mukherjee, President of India, who turned 81 on Dec 11th, 2015. The august gathering witnessed presence of many matteraties, including the Prime Minister and other dignitaries from far flung areas of the country. .As a gesture of mercy and blessing, we gave Mahaprasad of Shri Shri Radhaparth Sarthi and Pushp Guchcha of Lord Narshimha deva to the president w...
- 21 Dec 2015
By Bhakti Raghava SwamiTo invoke global auspiciousness and increased awareness about the need to protect Mother Cow and to gradually introduce the culture of Cow Care in our daily lives, we would like to invite all ISKCON Temples and ISKCON Centers to perform a special Go-Puja to Mother Surabhi on January 1, 2016, in addition to perform Harinam. In order to carry this mood during the Golden Jubilee year of 2016, I would like to further submit the following 3 proposals to ISKCON Leaders and ISKCON Temples within ...
- 19 Dec 2015
By Iskcon MayapurIf you had served as a resident devotee at an ISKCON temple for five years during any period of time in your life, even if you are not a residential devotee now, still you can avail this facility. ISKCON Mayapur appreciates your dedicated service to Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON by bestowing you the honor of residing at Mayapur for 15 days free stay in a year at Vamsi Bhavan guest house and providing you 7 days free prasadam (see note below). Guided tour service to holy places around Navadvipa is...
- 19 Dec 2015
By Deva Madhava das'You were on Mayapur TV...!' 'What’s that Mata?' I was calling one of our congregation members to coordinate her contribution to our first major infrastructure purchase, a restaurant fridge... which was being gotten rid of cheap by a local Indian store that was closing down. 'Yes, yes, Mayapur TV. I watch the LA Temple Bhagavatam class every morning and today the devotee speaking mentioned your center!' 'Oh, well that’s exciting. Do you happen to know the reason?' I wondered out loud. ...
- 19 Dec 2015