By Indradyumna SwamiA massive earthquake of 7.9 magnitude has just struck central Nepal, affecting Kathmandu. Many buildings are damaged and there are numerous injuries. I just spoke with Patri das, ISKCON's regional secretary in Nepal, who told me our temple in Kathmandu is basically OK. But there are severe cracks in a number of buildings on our property. The Deities have been moved outside from the main temple. No devotees were injured at the temple complex, but he stressed that many houses in the area collapse...
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- 25 Apr 2015
By Chandan Yatra DasThe famous temple of Sri Khira Chora Gopinatha, the Krishna Deity who stole condensed milk (Khira), also known as amrta-keli, for His most-beloved devotee - Sri Madhavendra Puri, lies in a small pastoral village named Remuna in the Balasore (Baleshwar) District of Orissa. Remuna is called Gupt Vrindavana because Sri Gopinatha had many pastimes here in the mood of Vrindavana with His intimate devotees.
...- 24 Apr 2015
By New Vrindaban Communications Team(New Vrindaban, West Virginia)- The countdown has begun! New Vrindaban's Festival of Inspiration is only two weeks away, and it's a big one -- the 15th anniversary! Get ready for exciting and inspiring presentations by ISKCON’s best speakers; top-quality entertainment from dramas to stand-up comedy; rip-roaring kirtans; and mouth-watering prasadam, and much more!
...- 23 Apr 2015
By Hari Narayana DasMedan received causeless mercy from Their Lordships Sri Sri Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra Devi on the auspicious day of Purnima on the second Ratha yatra that was held on April 4th 2015. At that time was lunar eclipse. It was reminding us about the original ratha yatra when Lord Krsna went to take bath in Kuruksetra on solar eclipse along with His elder brother and younger sister and all inhabitants of Dwaraka.
...- 23 Apr 2015
By Sunanda DasOn the evening of Friday, April 17th we did our TOVP presentation along with kirtan and abhisheka of the Padukas during the Gaura arati. Bala Krishna prabhu, the temple president, introduced the TOVP Team and Radha Jivana spoke in Hindi to the large gathering of Indian guests and devotees. $60,000 in pledges was raised and Bala Krishna promised more from his personal fundraising efforts by going to people’s homes. Prasadam was then served.
...- 23 Apr 2015
By Sukhada dasiBhadra Prabhu presented her with the Bhagavad-gita As It Is, telling her: "When you are in stress, please read this book. Mahatma Gandhi used to read this book whenever he was in a difficult situation.” Her reply was: “I am always in stressful situations.” Then Mukhya devi said to her: “You can read any page and you will find solutions.” The mayor replied that she will read it everyday. She hopes to go to India someday soon and immerse herself in the culture. She learned a bit of the his...
- 22 Apr 2015
By Amogh Gauranga DasIf wrinkles must be written upon our brows, let them not be written upon our heart. The spirit should never grow old. ...John Kenneth Galbraith We can distinguish art as different from work and can present five step process that can be adopted for turning work into art. These steps involve adopting a reliable methodology; learning from an expert guide or trainer; practicing with full faith and determination to develop the skills; intelligently identifying the goals and milestones; planning...
- 22 Apr 2015
By Madhava Smullen As part of its ongoing efforts for child safety, ISKCON’s North American Child Protection Office will kick off 2016, the year of the society’s 50th anniversary, by holding its first annual “Safe Temple” awards. The awards will be held at the annual Governing Body Commission and Temple Presidents’ meetings in Houston, Texas during the second weekend of January 2016. Not just one but every ISKCON temple in the USA and Canada that shows they have followed CPO risk-reducing policies in t...
- 22 Apr 2015
By Prafulla SeelamMany of the devotees inquired about the upcoming seminars/conferences about Mother Surabhi. Maharaja mentioned that a few devotees are getting trained for the same under IDVM-India and that soon more details will be made available. Also, Maharaja made a point saying that the practical connection and involvement of the devotees to the campaign will become more clear once the second campaign pamphlet ‘Sustainable Eco Alliance’ is released.
...- 22 Apr 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 March. 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
...- 22 Apr 2015
By Lilasuka dasTo expand ISKCON’s preaching mission Srila Prabhupada created sannyasis. Thus the Ministry for Sannyasa Service has established a website to provide information about potential sannyasis to the ISKCON community and to get feedback in order to help in the candidate's training
...- 22 Apr 2015
By Rima Bakune40 years ago the ISKCON Edinburgh centre closed and everyone involved, including Srila Prabhupada, was extremely disappointed. Since then we have not had a preaching centre in Edinburgh and even in forming a Vaishnava community we faced many difficulties, but recently Krishna consciousness has started to flourish here. Eight months ago we apealed to the wider vaisnava community, here on Dandavats.com, asking for help in rasing funds to open a center in Edinburgh for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupada....
- 22 Apr 2015
By Rasikananda DasThere has also been extensive renovation in the front of the temple placing nice strong tiles over the entire area so that it will remain very clean and there is now virtually no chance of flooding. That has now been completed. Please see the pictures. The water now runs off the area and away from the temple onto the highway and drains away. The Bhubaneswar guest house is also gradually being renovated room by room and is coming to an international standard. So far 6 rooms have been completed an...
- 18 Apr 2015
By Madhava SmullenFrom July 18th to 23rd 1974, Srila Prabhupada visited New Vrindaban for the third time, to further establish his vision for it as a sacred place known worldwide for five primary things: cow protection, simple-living, holy pilgrimage, spiritual education, and above all, loving Krishna. In a letter one year earlier, the ISKCON Founder-Acharya had written to encourage the expanding farm community: “Yes! Go on acquiring the surrounding lands, and in this way we will establish a local self-governin...
- 18 Apr 2015
By Sunanda DasOn Wednesday, March 8th Jananivas and Sunanda prabhus visited the home of Shyamakund and Ananda Rupa prabhus for prasadam and darshan of their Deities, after which they departed from New Jersey with the Lord’s Padukas for the first stop in Canada, Ottawa, the Nation’s capital. On Thursday, April 9th Jananivas, Vraja Vilas and Sunanda prabhus brought the Padukas to the home of Vanamali prabhu and his family where they also had prasadam. In the evening the Temple President, Shankar prabhu, arrange...
- 17 Apr 2015
By Urmila Devi DasiWater is one of the categories of Krishna’s energy, as described in scripture such as Bhagavad-gita and Brahma-samhita. Krishna always exists as a transcendent person apart from His energy, while at the same time He is present in that energy. Therefore, while water is not Krishna, Krishna is water. In what ways can we appreciate Krishna in water? He is the taste or the essence of water, the quality that quenches our thirst and brings satisfaction
...- 17 Apr 2015
By Sunanda DasFrom there we drove back to Towaco, New Jersey for a special blessing by the Padukas of the property where the new temple will be constructed. We then made our way to the Towaco temple for the evening TOVP presentation. Madhupati prabhu introduced the TOVP Team which again included Ambarisa prabhu, and Radha Jivan took over. He and Ambarisa, besides speaking about the TOVP, encouraged the devotees in their new temple project and promised to come back to help fundraise. Jananivas prabhu spoke about Ma...
- 15 Apr 2015
By Nityam Bhagavata Sevaya1) Life Of Kunti devi His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada 2) Akrura’s Meeting With Kunti Devi Sri Krishna-dvaipayana 3) Conversation between Kunti Devi and Lord Krishna Srila Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakur 4) The prayer for calamities Satyanarayan Das We pray at the lotus feet of Lord Chaitanya that this edition brings some pleasure to the devotees.
...- 15 Apr 2015
By Jayapataka SwamiThis was the situation then. The devotees were going to Advaita saying, "What to do?" "My name is Advaita. It means non different. So if there is any meaning to my name, I will bring down the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krishna. He is the only one who can save the infidels. If I cannot bring Him down, I will manifest four arms and I'll chop these people down. I will chop them down! Finished!" He began to fast and worship the Salagram Sila with Ganges water and Tulasi manjaris. He would loudl...
- 15 Apr 2015
By Suresvara dasI'm so glad that Jayapataka Maharaj mentioned that Senapati bhakta verse. He made an allusion, a reference to the prediction that he would send his military field commander to go and capture us and bring us here to chant Jaya Sacinandana Gaura Hari. A lot of us know that verse. Here's the verse. "With a powerful chopper of Nama Sankirtana, I will cut the hard knots of demoniac desires from the hearts of everyone." "Even if the sinners reject religion or flee to foreign countries, I will send mora...
- 15 Apr 2015
By Bhakti devi dasiAs part of our ongoing efforts to establish good relations with the wider Hindu Community, ISKCON’s Melbourne Mahaprabhu Mandir Temple was honoured to welcome Swami Baba Ramdev, the famous yoga teacher from India, on Friday 10th April. It was just a short visit (part of an official welcome to Melbourne) as Swami Ramdev gave his yoga programs elsewhere.
...- 14 Apr 2015
By Harikatha DasSuddenly, a loud strong feminine voice screeched our conversation, “Who is Muslim among you”? All three of us (including Smita Krishna Prabhu) turned towards that voice and found a fat middle aged lady, veiled from head to toe by burqa with only eyes uncovered sitting little far on a bench with a big purse on her shoulder. I tried to ignore her question and started preaching that man again but the lady did not stop and shouted again boldly, “I am asking who is muslim among you?” The man t...
- 13 Apr 2015
By Jaganmohini Devi DasiYou represent women community who normally grab attention of people in general only for wrong reasons while their finest contributions are rarely appreciated and encouraged. Most importantly you represent women in Krishna Consciousness who are seen more from a perspective of theoretical varnashrama dharma and accordingly guided but with no practical concrete direction given to them with regard to excellence in service especially in a noble working atmosphere like yours.
...- 13 Apr 2015
By Abhaya Mudra DasiAstrological portents are described in the Bible (Luke 21.25) “And there shall be signs in the Sun, the Moon and the stars.” All over the world people are waking up to such signs of the times, including followers of Christianity. Many have tried to decipher the Bible’s Book of Revelation and its prophecies of “end times” to come. And naturally many wonder when these final days of will arrive. By examining the Book of Revelation through the looking glass of Vedic knowledge many of its...
- 13 Apr 2015