By Nrsimha Krsna DasIn 3 programs we had total of 90 guests. Maharaja was first day talking about Sannyasa Yoga and he was reading from Bhagavad Gita 6th chapter. Maharaja was explaining how yoga is done as tapasya and the relationship between eightfold yoga system and bhakti yoga in a very simple way that even first time comers could understand it perfectly. I donât need to mention about kirtans since we all know how Maharajaâs kirtans. We were chanting as if we were above clouds, not touching to the ground. ...
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- 8 Aug 2015
By Parijata DasiSandstone is a material that will meet the required standards of strength and aesthetics for some of the TOVP construction. Decorative sandstone units will enclose the two base floors of the Temple. Each unit in pink sandstone will be comprised of a framework, a jali, and an arch at the top flanked by two columns housing the windows on the Pujari floor. The surface of the arch which you see in the pictures are embellished with carvings in the Art Nouveau style. There will be 32 such units running...
- 8 Aug 2015
By Hari Narayana DasA cultural carnival was held at Bantul city, Jogyakarta, Indonesia, on July 25 this year commemorating its 284 anniversary. Traditional cultural performances starting from dances exhibiting attractive costumes and social life were performed in the carnival. Groups of traditional artists from 17 districts in Bantul participated and presented their performances in front of the crowd at the parade starting from Trirenggo field to Masjid Agung (Great mosque). The committee of the anniversary also ...
- 8 Aug 2015
By Caitanya Vihara dasAnticipation and nervous excitement filled the atmosphere. It was the first day in the dissection room for the three hundred new medical students in my year. Entering the foyer area, we slipped into our white coats and prepared our surgical kits. The doors to the interior theatre swung open, and we were hit by an overwhelming smell of formaldehyde, the chief embalming agent. Inside lay fifty veiled cadavers, evenly spaced around a large white hall. Many of us, having not even attended a fune...
- 7 Aug 2015
By Dharmatma dasMark McGowan is quite famous in the UK as The Artist Taxi Driver. Parasurama prabhu in his inimitable way gives him a great dose of philosophy. Every day him and his crew prepare Prasadam for over 1000 and are present at every major demonstration and event in London. In this video interview there is nice and practical explanation of the philosophy behind his program
...- 7 Aug 2015
By Pradyumna dasaTributes is a collection of offerings from the direct disciplines of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The book is now in its seventh year and is produced by a small group of devotees. This year it was funded by one devotee from Africa, who wishes to remain anonymous. To celebrate ISKCON's 50th anniversary next year, we would like to reach as many disciples of Srila Prabhupada as possible and special edition of Tributes. I would like to encourage all devotees to help reach o...
- 7 Aug 2015
By Parijata DasiFlood has been on everyoneâs mind for awhile now, as we experienced record amount of rain throughout July. But most of us thought itâs too early, previous times it was at the end of September back in 2007 and 2000. It is a grand Mayapur âtraditionâ that every 7-8 years Ganga Devi is coming to visit Sri Sri Radha Madhava and Ashta Sakhis, Sri Panca-Tattva and Sri Prahlad Nrsimhadev. So itâs official, Ganga Devi is in the temple room now getting a divine darshan. She also visited TOVP con...
- 6 Aug 2015
By Gauranga dasThe first Mega kirtan festival at Jagannatha Puri 'Chant for Change' attracted more than 10,000 people on the idyllic and historic sea beach at Jagannatha Puri.Held very near Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhus beachside statue at Swargadwar,the festival had the crowds chanting ,dancing and drowning in the nectar of Harinam Sankirtana.It was held on July 17 th, a day before the first Navakalebar Rath Yatra festival to offer a prayer to Their Lordships to bestow Their mercy to fill everyone's hearts with fe...
- 6 Aug 2015
By Parijata DasiThis past week Vilasini, Head Architect for the TOVP, and Parvata Muni visited the fabrication plant of McCoy Industries. A full size mock-up of a section of the Kalash was to be shown. This mock-up is made from polished stainless steel coated with titanium nitride, and from this we will determine which fabrication methods will be used. This coating is a ceramic gold like substance that is very resistant to weathering. A skeletal structure behind the sheeting holds everything in the correct positio...
- 6 Aug 2015
By Madhava SmullenThis yearâs Janmastami festival at New Vrindaban, West Virginia on September 5th is expected to be packed with inspiring spiritual activities and sweet exchanges between residents and guests alike. âUnder the steady leadership of our community president Jaya Krishna Prabhu, the quality of the festival has been improving every year,â says one of the festivalâs organizers Gaura Nataraj Das.
...- 6 Aug 2015
By Parijata DasiTeak wood is a naturally grown wood from Myanmar (previously Burma). This wood is known for its superb stability, good strength, easy workability, resistance to bugs â and most of all, its outstanding resistance to decay. It basically will last forever. Burmese teak wood is exported all over the world for its quality. Sadbhuja Prabhu personally travelled to Myanmar to negotiate the best price and pick the best quality of wood. This wood will be used for all windows and doors in the Temple.
- 6 Aug 2015
By John J. GriffinDiscover more about the historical connections between Greece and India in this online wonderful book by Edward G Pococke. (434 pages embedded in pdf format posted in here. Freely downloadable also). âThe affinity between the Greek language and the old Parsee and Sanskrit is certain and essential. The use of cognate idioms prove that the nations who used them to have descended from the same stock. That the religion of the Greeks emanated from an Eastern shore no-one will deny. We must therefor...
- 5 Aug 2015
By BBT Global CommunicationsDuring Srila Prabhupadaâs physical presence, all of his books were edited before publication. For some of these books â Sri Isopanisad, Teachings of Lord Caitanya, and the First Canto of Srimad-Bhagavatam â his editors, with his approval, undertook a second, revised edition. Apart from this, during his lifetime his editors made various minor revisions. And Srila Prabhupada himself sometimes directed that some particular word or sentence be revised. Srila Prabhupada, however, many...
- 5 Aug 2015
By Nityananda Chandra DasCelebrating the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupadaâs arrival in America, fulfilling his Guru Maharajaâs instruction and the 50th anniversary next year of the incorporation of the International Society For Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON). Many wonderful presenters have committed to attend, including, Bhakti Caru Swami, Giriraja Swami, Romapada Swami, Mother Rambhoru Devi, Bhaktimarga Swami, Vaisesika Prabhu, Gunagrahi Goswami and Mother Radha Devi. Join us, for not-to-be-missed ...
- 5 Aug 2015
By Bhakta NareshA Historical Jagannath Ratha yatra done for the first time in the history of Nepal. Ratha Yatra was done from Sallaghari to Suryavinayak Since The massive earthquake has collapsed town making Rathayatra route difficult. So this time Ratha Yatra Was observed outside the main area. Then Their Lordships were carried on palanquins along with Srila Prabhupada to the historical temple of Lord Jagannath, Baladev and Shubhadra maiya. But Who can stop the causeless mercy of Lord Jagannath? Here, He came to ...
- 4 Aug 2015
By Care for Cows, Vrindavan StaffYou may be concerned with the future of Care for Cows after the passing of Kurma Rupa Prabhu but please rest assured that his great work will continue on for many years to come as per his wishes. Go-Seva ki jaya! Before leaving this mortal world, Kurma Rupa requested his right-hand man and long time go-sadana manager, Keshi Nisudana, knowing his keen sense of propriety and judgement, along with his selfless dedication and management skills, to continue to lead his team in maintain...
- 4 Aug 2015
By Madhudvisa dasaThis is another precedent: "We can jump, we can dance, we can play the mridanga, and now we can also lead kirtan, because here, this lady is doing it. Prabhupada asked her to do it." Everybody was in total euphoria. Shyama Devi led the most melodious kirtan. It went on and on. Srila Prabhupada was dancing, and she was dancing, and it built up and was the most fantastic experience that all the devotees could have had. Before the dust even settled from the kirtan, a devotee was on a phone saying,...
- 3 Aug 2015
By Gopijana Vallabha dasOver night the Ganga has risen quite a lot. Many areas cannot be reached without a boat now. Water level is increasing every hour, in front of Gada building the water is around 4.5 feet, and in the Mayapur temple hall the water is around the waist line. Bengali news channels are informing that in the districts of Nadia and 24 Parganas the flood level is expected to increase dramatically, as some small up stream barrages broke due to heavy water load and to expect this water to make its wa...
- 3 Aug 2015
By Samba DasIt was cold winter morning of January 1982, Bhavabhuti Prabhu President of ISKCON Guwahati summon me to his room, he asked me to go to the Airport to pick up H.G.Surabhi Prabhu. The construction of Guwahati temple was in progress and Surabhi prabhu was coming to give his input. I was in touch with ISKCON Mayapur since 1974 but I joined as fulltime only in 1980 and was a new 2 year old Brahmachari at that time. I was quiet enthusiastic that I am going to drive âthe Surabhi Prabhuâ viswakarma of I...
- 3 Aug 2015
By DavidWOwenThe 90ft chariot carried the Deities of Lord Jagannatha (Krishna), his sister Subhadra, and Lord Balarama â accompanied by music, singing, and dancing. The event began with an inauguration ceremony attended by city mayor Sir Peter Soulsby and community leaders at the Hare Krishna Centre, in Granby Street. The procession then made its way to Cossington Park, Belgrave, arriving in the afternoon for a free festival offering free vegetarian food, music , drama and family entertainment for up to 10,000...
- 3 Aug 2015
By Gopijana Vallabha dasOn behalf of Mayapur Management I share the first update on the Flood situation in Mayapur. With the heavy rainfall for the past one week and the following release of water from Farakka dam, flood waters have started to enter into Mayapur and surrounding areas. Since yesterday, Ganges water has been overflowing off Bhakti Siddhanta road, entering ISKCON Campus and flooding the area. Devotees at the ground floor level are vacating and moving to higher levels and many were moving out of May...
- 2 Aug 2015
By Urmila Devi DasiCertainly we Gaudiya Vaisnavas, members of ISKCON, should know what is sinful and what is not. In the ultimate sense, "sin" is anything that is not done 1) for Krishna, 2) with a desire to please Him without wanting anything in return, and 3) without any interruption in the service. Such pure bhakti is the nature of the soul, and anything contrary to that, or less than that, is untruth and sinful. But sin is of different kinds and degrees. Just as one cannot say that because a cat is an ani...
- 1 Aug 2015
By Ravindra Svarupa dasaIt began with an answered phone in my office on an otherwise ordinary day in 1973. A woman addressed me in the distinctive vowels and consonants that revealed her to be a native of Philadelphiaâor âFluffya,â as itâs called in the local dialect. She asked if I were the head person of the Hare Krishna temple. She pronounced âHareâ as âhair.â âHa-ray Krishna temple,â I responded. âYes, I am.â âAre you,â she continued, âa priest, minister, or rabbi of your religion...
- 1 Aug 2015
By Bhakta NikhilJamalpur is a district in Dhaka Division, Bangladesh. It has a total population of around 2,300,000. On the bank of the serene Brahma Putra River, surrounded by lush green forests beholding the most fragrant of flowers, it was the perfect location for the Lord of Universe to reside. It is very meaningful that this holy river, being connected with our Brahma Madhava Gaudiya Sampradya will play host for our most worshipable Lord. On 31st July, 2015, hundreds of devotees from all over Bangladesh gat...
- 1 Aug 2015