By Prema Vilasa DasaI came to the United States in September of 2000 to pursue the great American dream. I was twenty-three, had just finished medical school in India, and had secured a residency spot with The Ohio State University Medical Center, one of the top internal medicine residency programs in the country. My apartment was but a few blocks away from the medical center, which I soon discovered was just across the street from an ISKCON temple. During my residency, I started visiting the temple regularly fo...
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- 23 Jul 2015
By Devaki Devi DasiHowever, what will ruin our movement is the tendency of introducing new fashions, especially in regards to chanting the holy name. Once we get on deeper levels of chanting we will feel an ever increasing satisfaction. We will no longer feel the need to introduce new fashions - Radhe Radhe Syam Syam, or Hare Ramo, or whatever it may be. The mundane senses always demand a new kind of stimulation and satisfaction. And if this tendency enters our chanting, then it will remain on an external level. W...
- 23 Jul 2015
By Rohininandana dasaA few amazing things happened during the book distribution, things which only happen when one is out of the mental platform, when the mind is not in between you and the person you meet. For example, there were two boys who bought books, they said they were from Dalarna County, and without any thinking I just exclaimed, "From Avesta?" "Yes", they said, completely astonished. There was a living statue standing in Gamla Stan, with outstretched arms with slighly bent fingers in a graspable positi...
- 23 Jul 2015
By Priya Kishori Devi DasiThe Fillmore Jazz Festival of San Francisco is the biggest free jazz festival on the West Coast attracting a variety of jazz enthusiasts from all over the state of California. Interestingly enough, the theme of the jazz festival this year was, rediscovery. The Weekend Sankirtana Warriors of ISV joyfully went out on book distribution with the single-pointed purpose of helping one and all rediscover their soul. The results were tremendous and the lives of so many hundreds were changed nev...
- 23 Jul 2015
By Dwarka Vasini Devi DasiThe Lake shore city of Kenya –Kisumu, celebrated its annual Rath Yatra on the 18th of July, coinciding with the Puri Rath Yatra, and IDD- UL-FTR. Taking advantage of the auspicious date, the Kisumu devotees organized the festival in less than a week. 127 devotees travelled from the capital city Nairobi covering a total distance of approx.355kms to participate in the event. Kisumu devotees are known for their hospitality and very delicious Prasadam that was served three times a day at ...
- 22 Jul 2015
By Radharaman DasDevotees can book their seat at Netaji Indoor stadium through our website: www.iskconkolkata.com Also humbly request to take the 4 or 5 print out of the attached poster and paste it on the most prominent places in your temple and temple notice board so that devotees can come to Kolkata. At Kolkata we are trying to make arrangements within our humble means so that devotees are comfortable when they come here. We are very hopeful that devotees from all over India will book their train tickets imm...
- 22 Jul 2015
By Chaitanya Charana DasaHere's my short four-point answer: • The Bhagavad-gita is not pessimistic, but realistic; the reality is that the pleasure-pain balance of the world is tilted heavily toward the pain side. • Even if we still consider the Gita philosophy pessimistic, that pessimism is only initial, not final. In its conclusion, the Gita offers a supremely optimistic message. • Even the best worldly optimism pales and fails in front of the longing of our heart, a longing fulfilled only by the vision...
- 22 Jul 2015
By Namahatta CanberraBy the mercy of Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra and His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada we had wonderful Lord Jagannatha Rathayatra in Canberra, Australia on 18 July 2015. The Hare Krishna (ISKCON) Canberra devotees along with local community members celebrated Rathayatra Festival seeking the blessings of Their Lordships. Fortunately 18 July 2015 coincided with this year’s actual date of Lord Jagannatha Rathayatra at Sri Ksetra Jagannatha Puri Dhama...
- 22 Jul 2015
By Ravindra Svarupa dasaAs soon as I am desiring something, immediately my body is formed. Immediately a particular type of body begins to form, and as soon as I am mature to change, my next body I get according to my desire. Therefore we should always desire Krsna. Then from this life, the Krsna-approaching body or the spiritual body will be formed. The more you become sincere servant of Krsna, the more your body becomes Krsnaized, electrified. Therefore advanced Krsna conscious person is considered to have a spi...
- 21 Jul 2015
By Sarvabhauma DasaSometimes when sitting on the beach blanket in New Jersey, Srila Prabhupada would look out at the waves while chanting japa. He was very beautiful and serene, always absorbed in Krishna, yet also carefully scrutinizing the world around him. On some days there were big waves and surfer boys would be out, swimming and surfing in the waves. Srila Prabhupada watched with great interest as they mounted their boards and slid down the faces of the waves. He asked us: “What is this?” Gaurasundara a...
- 21 Jul 2015
By Chaitanya Charana DasaThe name of this all-consuming disaster is the relentless approach of death: A hundred percent of the people reading this article will be wiped out a hundred years from today. Despite this hundred-percent casualty rate, most of us don’t feel that life is like a disaster movie. One reason is that the movie of life unfolds in slow motion, allowing us to forget the direction of its motion if we want to. And we fervently want to. Why? Because the reality of death is inconvenient and unplea...
- 21 Jul 2015
By Mathura Lilesvari Devi DasiEvery year Sri Jagannatha Mandir celebrates its Ratha Yatra on the same day as that of Jagannatha Puri. The Presiding deities Sri Sri Jagannatha Baladeva Subhadra Devi and Sudarshana go on a chariot ride giving mercy to all the residents near the temple and ends the procession in MCA hall which is located in a Chinese predominant area.This year, ratha yatra was attended by more than 1000 devotees and well-wishers who joined forces in making the festival a huge success. Devotees were f...
- 21 Jul 2015
By Faiz Rahman SiddiquiIn contrast with communal flare-ups in several towns in western UP, a 45-year-old Muslim farmer in Kanpur Dehat's Murra village has come out as a perfect example of communal harmony. Observing Ramzan religiously, the man has constructed a temple dedicated to Radha-Krishna which is attracting people in droves. The villagers said that the construction of the temple by Raees Mohammad was an example of Hindu-Muslim brotherhood. Raees has also arranged a priest and personally participates in the...
- 20 Jul 2015
By Bhakta NikhilAt around 4pm the Lord officially mounted his chariot and the festival was on its way. Decorated with an abundance of flowers and its effulgent golden yellow dome shining brightly all devotees were in great ecstasy upon seeing the Lord. Vedic hymns were chanted, conchshells blown, camphor lamps on coconuts were offered and were smashed on the ground, all these just to create an auspicious atmosphere. Maharaj also in great enthusiasm climbed up onto the chariot to overlook the festivities. Two kirta...
- 20 Jul 2015
By Seran NareshAnnual Jagannath Ratha Yatra was Celebrated on 18th July 2015, here in Kathmandu organized by ISKCON NEPAL. There were about 1500+ devotees for the Festival of the Chariot of the Lord Of The Universe who were constantly pulling the Chariot, Singing Kirtan and dancing even though it was very hot and sunny. The Proccession started from Kamaladi, Kathmandu which routed to Ghantaghar - SahidGate - Sundhara - Tripureswor - Thapathali - Kupondole - Pulchok - Jaulakhel - Patan - Lagankhel and ended at Satd...
- 20 Jul 2015
By Mathura Lilesvari Devi DasiDevotees around the world took to various austerities in last month as an offering of love to our beloved Lord on the most auspicious Purusottama month.I must say that the power of social media surfaced in a positive way as more and more devotees share realisations and the many devotional services they performed in this month. It worked as a motivational tool. Meanwhile, some even vowed to stay away from facebook and other social media platforms for a month. At Sri Jagannatha Mandi...
- 20 Jul 2015
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. 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
...- 19 Jul 2015
By Kesava Krsna DasaFor those who have faith in what Krishna is capable of, possess the greatest fortune. This fortune consisting of flying pigs, a tortoise with an itchy back, and a giant-stepping dwarf are giant leaps of faith, made normal. The fortune of faith helps us understand Krishna’s playful nature, even when He delineates Vedic thought. “Rise above the flowery words of the Vedas” He says. If all of these Avatara pastimes are fun, we can only imagine how fun Krishna must be. With Krishna around...
- 19 Jul 2015
Malati Dasi: Candravali devi dasi, beginning days San Francisco devotee died, ...
- 19 Jul 2015
By business-standard.comThe streets reverberated with chants of "Hare Krishna" as thousands of devotees from across the world pulled the decked-up chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra during the annual "Rath Yatra" (chariot festival) celebrated here on Saturday. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid obeisance to Lord Jagannath at the start of the Rath Yatra at the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) temple on Albert Road. Banerjee flagged off the festival with a tug on...
- 19 Jul 2015
By Bhushaya DasOnce on a hot Mississippi summer day, on a Friday afternoon, August 1st, 1975, the New Talavana farm received one of the most precious gifts of all, a visit by the pure devotee of Lord Krishna, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada! After departing from Sankirtan Puri (New Orleans), Srila Prabhpada's arrival was met with lively kirtan and Guru Puja, in the original farm house / temple. After Srimad Bhagavatam class and a question and answer session with his disciples, Prabhupada went to His simple farm...
- 19 Jul 2015
By Vijaya dasResponding to the enthusiastic (and we mean fervent) requests of sannyasis, temple presidents, and sankirtana parties throughout the Western world, we are ecstatic to announce that the first three beautiful Chinese titles have just arrived in our warehouse. Exquisitely produced, these long-awaited titles are now ready for immediate distribution to the millions of Chinese-speakers who are (a) residents of their own massive urban communities, (b) tourists visiting the world’s major cities, or (c) stud...
- 19 Jul 2015
By ndtv.comWest Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated ISKCON's 44th Rath Yatra from its temple on Albert Road. The colourful chariots of Lord Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra, pulled by thousands of devotees from India and abroad, moved through the major city roads amid the joyous chants of 'Jai Jagannath' and 'Hare Krishna'. The chariots moved through various roads of the city and reach the Brigade Parade Ground (Maidan) where it will remain till July 25. City Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, Trinamool MP a...
- 18 Jul 2015
By thehindu.comLakhs descended on the pilgrim town of Puri io catch a glimpse of the presiding deities of the 12th century shrine of Sri Jagannath. Amid tight security, the century’s first Nabakalebar Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath was held here on Saturday with fanfare, religious fervour, enthusiasm and a spirit of camaraderie. Lakhs of devotees from across the country and abroad descended on the pilgrim town of Puri in Odisha to witness commencement of the nine-day journey of the new idols of Lord Jagannath, ...
- 18 Jul 2015