This year’s ISKCON Leadership Sanga coincided with the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada incorporating ISKCON in New York.
Over 1200 devotees travelled to Sridham Mayapur to attend 8 days of seminars, kirtan and transcendental association.
On the first day everyone was welcomed by the GBC Chairman, Praghosa das, and Gopal Bhatta das, chair of the GBC Strategic Planning Team outlined the schedule of activities for the week.
Source: http://www.ramaiswami.com/iskcon-leadership-sanga-3/
We’re slowly coming to an end with our 3-day Kadamba Kanana Swami Worldwide Sankirtan Marathon. Wednesday is still young in the western hemisphere and later during the night results are expected from Canada, Mexico and the US.
Europe and Africa started submitting their offerings as of now. The numbers are just great. Earlier today, Australia again kept their standards high for the third day in the row, thus expressing their love for Kadamba Kanana Swami and desire to please Srila Prabhupada.
Regarding Europe, news is that only a day after returning from India, sankirtan devotees went out in Budapest. Feeling sorry for not being able to contribute to the fullest of their resolute want, these humble and mature Vaisnava devotees of Radhe Syama will dedicate their Monthly Sankirtan Festival which has been scheduled for Saturday, February 27th, to our cause. The offering to Srila Prabhupada will take place the day after, on Sunday in (Grand) Budapest Temple where the most merciful Dayal Nitai Vijay Gauranga preside. This regular monthly event in Budapest usually sees between 50 and 70 full-time and part-timesankirtan devotees and members of congregation engaging in the activity that is most pleasing to Srila Prabhupada. May they have a fine weather and all the help from the above!
Another initiative that has come in response to our Marathon is self-imposed Vanipedia translation marathon. Devotees engaged in this important service of transcribing, translating and tagging Srila Prabhupada’s legacy, have decided to increase significantly their daily targets in order to satisfy His Divine Grace. The cause is, again, one with our KKS Worldwide Sankirtan Marathon.
And regarding our 3-day Marathon, however, the most important news is that the scores shall be offered to Srila Prabhupada tomorrow at ISKCON Durban, South Africa, where Kadamba Kanana Swami is currently located and undergoing severe medical treatment. After presenting the scores to His Divine Grace for his pleasure, devotees will humbly ask Prabhupada to petition Krsna who alone can remove the current health crisis and cancer issue from His dedicated servant, so that he can continue with his service in full capacity.
The ceremony shall begin after the morning class, around 8.40 AM and everybody can join via Mayapur TV, Durban channel. There will be kirtan afterwards. More news and the actual scores shall be published tomorrow during the day at Kadamba Kanana Swami-Blog.
Regarding time zone, Durban is GMT+2. That is 11 hours behind New Zealand, 9 hours behind Sydney and Melbourne, 3.5 hours behind India, 1 hour ahead of continental Europe, 2 hours ahead of the UK, and between 7 and 10 hours ahead of the Americas. Please tune in, if practical.
Matsya Das
QUESTION: When we read something, we intellectually process it, and we understand it – but still we can’t act on it. Why not?
It takes time. First you get the food on a plate. Then you chew it. Then swallow. Then it digests. And eventually you get the nourishment and energy.
Similarly, first you hear knowledge – this is the “food” on the “plate.” Then you intellectually process it – this is the “chewing.” Once it is processed you can practice trying to apply it to life – this is the “digestion.” The more you digest it by trying to apply it in the real world, the more the theoretical knowledge your intellect chewed can become an actual part of the “energy and nutrition” that motivates and informs your actions.
Don’t expect that simply by hearing something your life will change. Don’t expect that simply by understanding something intellectually, it changes your life. These things – hearing and understanding – are important steps on the way to changing your life. Yet they have to be applied by sādhana, which is the practice of trying to apply them in the real world. Then, by that practice of application what you heard and comprehended becomes fully a part of who you are, and you can live it as a tangible reality.
Vraja Kishor das
Dear Families, Hare Krsna.
Please accept our humble obeisances.
All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
We are pleased to announce that TKG Academy is now enrolling new students for the school year 2016-2017.
We encourage you to please register as soon as possible to secure your child’s/children’s place. A child will be considered for official enrollment only after the completed forms have been submitted and the enrollment fees have been paid.
The non-refundable registration fee is $150 per student.
The application form and more information can be found on our website:
http://www.tkgacademy.com/admissions-process/
We look forward to having you as part of our growing family.
Thank you very much.
Your servants at TKG Academy (Dallas, TX)
Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=19232
Sriman Mahaprabhu Dhyana.
From Srila Dhyanacandra Gosvami’s “Sri Gaura-govindarcana-smarana-paddhati”
—
In his manasa-deha, the sadhaka will follow his guru, parama-guru, paratparaguru and paramesthi-guru to the temple of Sriman Mahaprabhu. By their order, he will awaken the Lord and offer Him scented water for washing His lotus face, etc., and do other seva as is appropriate. Then he will meditate upon the Lord as described in the Urddhvamnaya-samhita:
—
Absorbed in prema, the golden Lord Gaura stands holding one hand in the benediction pose and the other in the pose for awarding fearlessness, while He incessantly chants the holy names.
—
(20) Sri Gauracandra Pranama
I offer my humble obeisance again and again to that great soul who is known as Visvambhara (maintainer of the universe), Gaura, Caitanya, Saci-putra, the Husband of Laksmi and the Friend of All.
—
(73) Sri Gauranga’s Asta-kala-seva
The nectarous pastimes of Sri Navadvipa-candra are very wonderful. Eager to serve the Lord, the sadhaka shall always think of these pastimes.
(74) At the end of night (nisanta), he shall meditate on the Lord sleeping in His own home. In the early morning (pratah-kale), the Lord rises from His bed, bathes and takes His meal.
(75) In the forenoon, the Lord becomes deeply absorbed in krisna-lila-smarana and experiences intense feelings of separation. In the middle of the day, Mahaprabhu performs astonishing pastimes on the bank of the Ganga. The sadhaka shall meditate on Lord Gauranga in this way.
(76) In the afternoon, Gaurahari very joyfully roams about Sri Navadvipa-dhama. In the early evening, He returns to His own home, revealing His enchanting beauty.
(77) In the late evening, He meets His dear associates at the home of Srivasa Thakura, where they perform a great sankirtana festival far into the night. The sadhaka shall thus blissfully meditate on Sri Gauracandra.
Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=19220
Bonds of Love “Loving Krishna will help you love your son”
From the time she was 4, Urmila (Dr. Edith Best) was looking for God. If somebody said, “What do you want to do?” she’d say, “I want to be spiritually perfect. I want to find God.” They’d say, “Don’t you want to get married, have kids, have a career?” She’d say, “I just want to find God.”
Urmila Devi Dasi: My first contact with Prabhupada was in ’67 when I was 12 years old. I would regularly listen to him chanting on the Happening album playing in Alan Kallman’s shop on the Lower East Side. I’d ask, “What is this record? Who is this?” My next contact was through the Radha Krishna Temple Album, which I heard on the radio. Prabhupada’s picture was on the album and my initial response to it was skeptical. I thought someone who takes the role of guru might think he’s better than others.
When I was 17, I got Prabhupada’s translation of Bhagavad-gita. After reading it, I decided to move into the temple, but at first I didn’t want to get initiated. Soon after I moved in I got married; my husband was already second initiated, and in his association I started thinking, “How am I going to be able to find God and become spiritually perfect without a spiritual master?” Gradually my relationship with Prabhupada developed and I became his initiated disciple, after he accepted me through the mail.
When I first met Prabhupada in Chicago in the summer of ’74, a little more than a year after I’d moved in. I was expecting a mystical experience. Prabhupada was sitting on the vyasasana giving class and I was fanning him. I was standing very close, to his left, moving the peacock fan, absorbed in every word and gesture. My experience was, indeed, mystical, but not in the way I expected. I felt, “Prabhupada has always been here, because playing a recording of Prabhupada lecturing and listening to him lecture in person is exactly the same.” I was hearing him directly but I felt the same as when I was listening to a recording. It was satisfying and amazing – I realized that I could associate with Prabhupada even in his physical absence with potency equal to his presence. Still, I felt incomplete in the experience.
Later that morning, my father, husband, and I met Srila Prabhupada in his room and I got to know him as a person – he was funny, laughing, casual, jovial, and exchanging affectionately with my father. I understood he cared about me, as an individual, and I felt a loving relationship with him. At that point there was full satisfaction.
My father asked why we give people prasada, and Prabhupada said, “Just like if you eat the food of a sick person, you will get their disease. If you eat Krishna’s food, you will get Krishna’s disease.”
My father thought he was only supposed to come to the temple if he was a devotee, so he asked, “Can I come to the temple just to see my daughter and son-in-law?”
Smiling, Prabhupada said, “They are loving Krishna. Chanting and dancing are symptoms of loving Krishna. You are loving them and they are loving Krishna, so two things equal to the same thing are equal to each other.”
Prabhupada’s mood was light, but I thought, “Prabhupada said I love Krishna, so it’s just a matter of time. Someday I’ll love Krishna.” That meeting changed my life. And it moved my father. He said, “Prabhupada’s a genuine holy man.” He enjoyed Prabhupada’s company and became somewhat of a devotee.
Less than a year later, my baby son Madhava and I were with a group of devotees seeing Srila Prabhupada off at a New York airport. Prabhupada was sitting on a couch in the VIP lounge talking with Satyabhama, Kirtanananda, Jayadvaita, and a few others. I was a couple of feet away, holding Madhava. I felt left out of those devotees’ intimate connection with Prabhupada. I thought, “They really know Prabhupada well,” but it was also a relaxed time for me, getting to be with Prabhupada in a personal way again. During the kirtana, Prabhupada transported everyone to the spiritual world; I forgot that I had a body and that I was in New York. Prabhupada was meditating on chanting and I thought, “Prabhupada is chanting for his guru just as we are chanting for him.” It was incredible. Then at some point in the kirtana my external awareness flooded back: I was again in New York holding a baby.
For a year and a half after Madhava was born, I dove into Srila Prabhupada’s books and lectures. I read 4–6 hours a day, and listened 3–4 hours a day. Doing that deepened my relationship with him as much or more than when I personally saw him. During that period, in the summer of ’75, I went to Philadelphia for Ratha-yatra and to get Gayatri mantra. At class that morning, the devotee reading from the Bhagavatam manuscript said, “[Ajamila] called the name of his son very loudly three times, ‘Narayana, Narayana, Narayana!’ “
Prabhupada responded, “Who said in the manuscript? There is no three times. Not “Narayana” three times. One time, ‘O Narayana,’ that’s all. So did I say ‘three time’? Hmm? No, it is not said here. You should correct it. Once, ‘He, O Narayana,’ that’s all. There is no reason for calling three times. There is no mention here. Once is sufficient. [laughter] Hmm.”
(lecture Srimad-Bhagavatam 6.1.28–29, July 13, 1975, Philadelphia)
It was life-transforming for me to hear him say that calling out Krishna’s name just once in helplessness is enough.
Later that morning my father, husband, and I met with Prabhupada again. When he saw us Prabhupada’s whole face lit up as if we were his favorite people in the world. Like he was meeting a dear old friend he said to my father, “How are you now?” My father responded with similar exuberance and joy. As we were leaving Prabhupada said, “Good father, good daughter.” Prabhupada saw something good and worthwhile in me; he was pleased with me.
When I got Gayatri mantra my husband was carrying Madhava, and Prabhupada’s attention went to the baby. Prabhupada said, “He’s laughing. He’s very intelligent and fortunate.”
Prabhupada had me repeat the mantra, and I thought, “I don’t want to say it perfectly because Prabhupada will think I’m puffed up.” To try to be humble I purposely made a mistake when I repeated the last line. Prabhupada looked disgusted. I thought, “Oops, that wasn’t the right thing to do.” I said, “Prabhupada, I want to preach and please you, but I have this little baby. It’s hard to go out on book distribution.”
He said, “You must take care (of the child) so you may not go out.” The feeling I got from Prabhupada was, “This is really a stupid question.”
The next time I saw Prabhupada was in the summer of ’76 when he came to New York for the Ratha-yatra. Again my father met with him. At one point Prabhupada pointed to me, with my eighteen-month-old son on my lap. He said, “Just like this mother is loving her son without any expectation of return, in that way you should love Krishna.”
My father said, “Will loving her son help her love Krishna?”
Prabhupada said, “No, but loving Krishna will help her love her son.” I understood that if we have Krishna as the center and are attached to Him, then we can love everyone else. If we love people on a mundane level, it doesn’t help us love Krishna – it takes away from that love.
Somehow what Prabhupada said when I was with him was just what I needed to hear. His words changed me in deep and lasting ways.
Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=19226
ISKCON Pakistan: Printing Srila Prabhupada’s Bhagavad Gita As It Is in Sindhi Language!
Srila Prabhupada: I don’t say, “Follow me.” I say “Follow Krishna.” Krishna says, “Surrender unto Me.” I say “Surrender unto Krishna.” Is there any difference? My position is simply repeating because Krishna says, “Anyone who preaches this confidential subject matter, he is dear to Me.” Allahabad, January 18, 1971
Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=19224
By Karuna Dharini Devi Dasi
Recent advances in genetic engineering (GE) seem to twist nature’s arm. Now scientists alter the genetic code within seeds or eggs to make “improved” plants and animals. Wealthy countries use special GE corn and soy to insure an enormous cash crop in the form of fodder for livestock and to make ingredients for processed fast food, such as the corn syrup in soft drinks.
So far scientists have mastered a few crops, but will they revolutionize the food industry with an engineered fish? In December 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its intention to sanction the first transgenic living organism. GE opponents quickly dubbed it “the Frankenfish.”
It was invented by Aqua Bounty at their farm in Prince Edward Island, Canada. With headquarters in Maynard, Massachusetts, Aqua Bounty has been conducting fishy experiments since the early 90s. To produce the Frankenfish, the genetic material of cold water Atlantic Ocean pout (looks like an eel) is inserted into an artificially compressed salmon egg. The pout puts on fat faster than a salmon, hence the combination makes a fattier fish. However, the material from the pout doesn’t exactly combine with the salmon’s DNA. It is rejected, causing inflammation. A growth factor (GF-1) is then added to accelerate reproduction of the inflammation. The fish grows twice as big and three times as fast as it would have without the engineering.
With so many fast-food restaurants looking for a substitute for red meats, linked to obesity and heart disease, fish is in big demand. Because of over fishing, the ocean population of wild fish is predicted to become nearly extinct in this century. Fish farms are the future. Will the FDA approve the mass production of a manipulated living organism for human consumption?
Fears of the Frankenfish
Some internal biologists predict that eating the GE fish will cause allergic reactions and stomach ulcers. The FDA does not do any testing itself; all of the testing is left up to Aqua Bounty, which claims their fish is perfectly safe. Some environmental scientists say the new fish poses a danger to ocean fish. A Frankenfish loose in the sea would enter the food chain and quickly create an imbalance. After some decades native ocean fish would be wiped out.
Those who wish for ethical treatment of animals complain that this fish will never spawn, swim freely, or live a full life span. And the poor creatures tend to develop birth defects from growth hormones, grow hump backs, and develop jaw erosion or multi systemic focal inflammation. As sterile females with poor longevity, they will require gallons of antibiotics to remain alive in their small underwater fish farms. They will need to be harvested at an early age to prevent disease from establishing itself within the stock.
Environmentalists predict disaster, animal rights advocates cry cruelty, and biologists describe possible health risks and lawsuits. Meanwhile the FDA announces they are on the verge of approval. Is there a veritable edible monster waiting for us in the basement of world food consumption?
It would seem we need to ask ourselves a basic question before we can even begin to confront the lurking horror of the Frankenfish: What is legitimate human food?
Good Food
We can determine when food is good filled with inherent nutritious energy by qualities such as texture, moisture, color, aroma, and radiance. A tree-ripened mango has a glow, hue, and perfume that can attract attention from across a room. How many times have we had a meal with family or friends when someone remarked, “Wow, this tastes amazing!” Good flavor has integrity; it enthralls us because it contains vital subtle elements of the earth imparted to plants. Tasty and satisfying, simple fruits or vegetables can sustain the body and deliver vitality all day long. The ancient Vedas call this potency pusti. Though generally translated as “nutrition,” it is Mother Earth’s gracious power, bestowed by the Supreme Lord, to sustain and maintain all living creatures.
Srila Prabhupada comments on the inherent value of plants: “Krishna’s arrangement is complete. The herbs, plants, trees, and creepers, they grow luxuriously and supply the needs of the human being. Every plant and creeper has got some service. We simply do not know how to use them. Experienced men, they collect so many ausadhi [herbs]. We are neglecting these herbs and vegetables, but because we do not know how to use them we are confronted with so many bills from the doctor.” (Lecture, 1974)
Our ability to discern how every vegetable and creeper has some service to offer human beings can be the dawning of spiritual awareness, as well as good health. In his purport to Bhagavad-gita 17.10, Srila Prabhupada writes,
The purpose of food is to increase the duration of life, purify the mind, and aid bodily strength. This is its only purpose. In the past, great authorities selected only those foods that best aid health and increase life’s duration, such as milk products, sugar, rice, wheat, fruits, and vegetables. . . . All these foods are pure by nature. They are quite distinct from untouchable things like meat and liquor. Fatty foods, as mentioned in the eighth verse, have no connection with animal fat obtained by slaughter. Animal fat is available in the form of milk, which is the most wonderful of all foods. Milk, butter, cheese, and similar products give animal fat in a form which rules out any need for the killing of innocent creatures. Slaughter is the way of subhumans. Protein is amply available through split peas, dal, whole wheat, etc.
Food is our most fundamental connection with the Supreme. God imparts the delicious mystery of exquisite taste and also the relief of hunger. He is our very power of digestion. By His grace we are enjoying life. Srila Prabhupada writes,
According to ayur-vedic sastra, we understand that there is a fire in the stomach which digests all food sent there. When the fire is not blazing there is no hunger, and when the fire is in order we become hungry. Sometimes when the fire is not going nicely, treatment is required. In any case, this fire is a representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. . . . Sabdadhibhyo ’ntah pratisthanac ca [Vedanta-sutra 1.2.27]: the Lord is situated within sound and within the body, within air and even within the stomach as the digestive force. There are four kinds of foodstuff some are drunk, some are chewed, some are licked up, and some are sucked and He is the digestive force in all of them. (Bhagavad-gita 15.14, Purport)
Meanwhile the long-term effects of genetically modified (GM) foodstuffs on human health and the environment remain in question. As the fire of digestion, the Supreme Personality of Godhead doesn’t have to efficiently digest foods not chosen by Vedic authorities as fit for human consumption. And chronic indigestion causes disease.
We depend fully on food, yet with all of modern industrial enterprise we cannot devise anything that can take its place. No modern scientific laboratory equipped with chemicals, test tubes, and scientists with Ph.D.’s has ever invented a way to manufacture food in a tube. Certainly they try; to do so would be highly useful. Their efforts in the form of genetically modifying plants and animals have been arduous and even grotesque.
Srila Prabhupada explains: Godless civilization they can no more depend on the natural gifts. They think that by industrial enterprises they will get more money and they’ll be happy. And to remain satisfied with the food grains, vegetables, and natural gifts is a primitive idea. They say, “It is primitive.” When men were not civilized, they would depend on nature, but when they are advanced in civilization, they must discover industrial enterprises. (Lecture, 1974)
Since the dawn of history human beings have obediently cooperated with nature by becoming the cultivators of seeds, plants, and trees. Now they’ve become manipulators, violating the laws of nature, which are under the strict jurisdiction of the Supreme. Man is allowed to produce food in gracious cooperation with nature but is not allowed to exploit her resources to maximize profit or the slaughter of innocent creatures.
Food As a Loving Offering
According to the Bhagavad-gita (3.14), “All living beings subsist on food grains, which are produced from rains. Rains are produced by performance of yajna [sacrifice], and yajna is born of prescribed duties.” Srila Prabhupada comments:
Food grains and vegetables are factually eatables. The human being eats different kinds of food grains, vegetables, fruits, etc., and the animals eat the refuse of the food grains and vegetables, grass, plants, etc. Human beings who are accustomed to eating meat and flesh must also depend on the production of vegetation in order to eat the animals. Therefore, ultimately, we have to depend on the production of the field and not on the production of big factories. . . . The Lord can be satisfied by sacrifices; therefore, one who cannot perform them will find himself in scarcity that is the law of nature.
The Lord does not say that in order to ensure our survival we need to splice together the genes of several fruits and fishes. Rather, He recommends spiritual sacrifice. He is God, so supplying food to us, no matter how many of us there are, is never beyond His abilities. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.”
Srila Prabhupada and the Bhagavad-gita strongly recommend we seek the help of God for getting food. By doing everything we do to please the supplier of the raw ingredients, we transform the way we think of food, and the way we grow, cook, distribute, and eat it.
Whatever food the devotee receives, he or she first offers it to Krishna, who says in the Bhagavad-gita (9.26), “If one offers me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit, or water, I will accept it.” Lord Krishna asks only that our foods be offered to Him with love.
Srila Prabhupada writes: “In this way our karma is neutralized, for from the very beginning we are thinking that the food will be offered to Krishna. We should have no personal desires for the food. Krishna is so merciful, however, that He gives us food to eat. In this way our desire is fulfilled. When one has molded his life in this way dovetailing his desires to Krishna’s then it is to be understood that he has attained perfection in yoga.” (The Perfection of Yoga, Chapter 4).
In the practice of yoga, eating a properly prepared meal is required for mental and physical health. What’s more, it is an essential component for developing our feelings of love of God. Just as cooking a meal for someone you care about is a gesture of affection, cooking meals for the Lord is a special act of transcendental love. The devotee collects and prepares the best natural ingredients with respect for the source of those ingredients and then offers food to Krishna with prescribed prayers. The devotee partakes of the freshly cooked meal with a grateful awareness born of sacrifice. For one who eats only fine food prepared and offered with love, a special appreciation for what is sacred and pure develops. Krishna is the very taste and love in the food. Who can impart divine realization through the sensation of flavor? It must be someone at least as ingenious as the most ingenious scientist. Give credit where credit is due. Let’s first determine what Krishna wants to eat, what He considers proper food, and prepare our meals with Him in mind. Then there will no longer be any question or debate about what is food. We will be fully satisfied and well fed too.
And sometimes the elephant is on top of you
I am fortunate that I have Krsna and the Vaisnavas, that makes it all okay.
I can go down memory lane
and remember when I was at Govardhana Hill, so many times.
I can remember the darsana of so many Deities, in so many temples in Vrindavan;
Radha Ramana, Radha Gokulananda and Vijay Govinda and Mahaprabhu’s Giriraja.
I can remember how I sat in the Yamuna
water up to the neck, chanting on my beads,
that were floating in the water.
I can remember all my time in the Holy Dhama
Now these memories are my wealth.
I started again reading the Bhagavatam,
First Canto, ah the sages of Naimisaranya
are asking their six questions
What is the ultimate good for all people of the world?
What is the essence of all scripture?
Such nice and profound questions
I am uplifted by their sincerity,
by their broad vision
and heartfelt compassion
A book about Krsna and His devotees
What could be nicer than that?
Vaisnavas have been nice to me
So many stalwart servants of Srila Prabhupada
When I look back at the past, I got so much mercy from the Vaisnavas
And at present they are all kind to me, although I am not deserving
I am looking forward to a bright future
I don’t think the Vaisnavas will ever abandon me
They will take me to Krsna
Oh and the body? Yes I have one!
It doesn’t matter though,
It becomes spiritualized in devotional service
How is it now?
Dead!
It always has been
Yes let us talk of Krsna
And use the little time we have
to increase our treasure of blessings
Sometimes you are on top of the elephant
And sometimes the elephant is on top of you
I am fortunate that I have Krsna and the Vaisnavas, that makes it all okay.
Source: https://www.kksblog.com/2016/02/the-elephant-of-material-life-is-my-companion/
14/02/2016 - 22/02/2016 Camp: New Delhi, 8 p.m. This past week has swept us all into a tornado of unexpected urgency, surprise and surrender. Beginning from the holy birthplace of our Adi-guru, Lord Nityananda, in Sri Ekachakra Dhama, Guru Maharaj performed the abhiseka and prana- pratistha of Sri Sri Radha Vrindavana-Mohana and Sri Sri Nityanandacandra Gaurangaraya on the auspicious day of Advaita Saptami. On the morning of the temple opening, Guru Maharaj woke up with a fever. We were all worried about his health. Eventually, by about 9:30 a.m., the fever broke and his body temperature was normal. Despite his bodily fever that morning, Guru Maharaj seemed to seamlessly perform the various rituals and invoke the Lord into His arca- avatara. However, by about 4 or 5 p.m., the fever began slowly recurring. Although there was all hope of Guru Maharaj's fever breaking that night, an ambulance was nevertheless prepared for emergency's sake. By 2:30 a.m., it was clear that the fever was not going to break, despite the medicine, cold towel applications, and all attempts to bring down the body temperature. The ambulance had arrived by about 2:30/3 a.m. and the ambulance team began to put Guru Maharaj on the stretcher and strap him in. While being strapped in at 3 a.m. in the midst of apparent uncertainty, Guru Maharaj still took the time to explain to the temple president about the name of the temple and why the name was given. Guru Maharaj was talking about the new temple and how the name was Ekachakra Candrodaya Mandira. Further, there was another devotee and in this frenzy, Guru Maharaj was asking about the well-being of that devotee. Upon hearing Guru Maharaj's concern for him despite such serious circumstances of Guru Maharaj himself, that devotee broke into tears. We got in along with Guru Maharaj on his stretcher. Then began the earthquake of a journey from Ekachakra to Durgapur, traversing through far from mediocre roads. Guru Maharaj's feet kept falling off the stretcher that we was belted onto; he was sliding down the stretcher due to the bumps. But one thing was clear - he was in conscious, composed and even joking spirits, saying his characteristic "Aayaa ho" marching chant while trudging through the bumpy, rocky roads.
Upon reaching Durgapur, Guru Maharaj was admitted in the emergency room and was doing fine. He was soon shifted into a private room. I went into the private room to see Guru Maharaj and much to my surprise, I saw that he looked blue. We immediately called the nurses and doctors and after some discussion, it was decided to shift Guru Maharaj to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) . We still had some hope that things would get alright within a few hours. However, Guru Maharaj's vitals began fluctuating and finally began deteriorating to such an extent that he had to be intubated with a tube being put down his throat which was connected to a ventilator machine. We feared an imminent deja vu of May 2015, to say the least.
Within a few hours, Guru Maharaj was conscious as ever, wishing to communicate with everyone. Due to the tube being down his vocal chords, Guru Maharaj couldn't orally speak; however, that seemed to be no obstacle in his mission to make himself heard. Instead, Guru Maharaj used an alphabetical chart. Preaching is technically supposed to go on uninhibited, throughout all circumstances. Guru Maharaj took communication to his transcendental level - preaching using the alphabetical chart.
He was getting us all to explain the blue book to the doctors and nurses and have them fill out their details so that he could stay in touch with them. Further, Guru Maharaj told us to distribute clickers with mantra cards and teach the hospital medical staff how to chant. Guru Maharaj ensures that we are engaged in assisting him in the preaching mission of Srila Prabhupada and Lord Caitanya, no doubt there, for sure. He also clarified the Ekachakra temple name; the question was if it should be "Ekachakra Candrodaya Mandira" and/ or "Nityananda Candrodaya Mandira," so Guru Maharaj explained how Srila Prabhupada used the name "Mayapura Candrodaya Mandira" on the gate, but that in his books he used "Caitanya Candrodaya Mandira." Late the next morning, Guru Maharaj was breathing alright and the doctors decided to extubate him on that same day. Upon regaining the use of his vocal chords which are so essential to communication, Guru Maharaj began asking a variety of questions to his own staff and the medical hospital staff. He also continued his preaching activity in the ICU. Guru Maharaj responded to some personal letters. He also sent in a foreword for Lokanath Maharaja's book entitled, "Festivals." Guru Maharaj didn't want to waste a second of his time in anything other than his services. However, as the night went on, Guru Maharaj's lungs began to slowly get worn out and he was not able to maintain safe levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in his blood. The following morning resulted in another intubation and turning on of the ventilator. Guru Maharaj became conscious after some time and again began preaching to all the doctors and nurses. It is quite significant to note that many of these medical professionals were Muslim and Christian but still open and receptive to Guru Maharaj's preaching. That's Guru Maharaj. He has transcendental reactions to seemingly critical situations.
On the bodily front, the medical battle continued. What to do next? It was clear that airlifting Guru Maharaj to another location would be the option, but where was the question. It was decided in consultation with Guru Maharaj to go to Chennai and all arrangements to go were made to; the flight was to fly from its base in Delhi to Durgapur, pick up Guru Maharaj and then land in Chennai the following morning. The next morning, the air- ambulance was just not willing to take off from Delhi. Delhi is in its winter now, but somehow, it was very cloudy and rainy that day. I went to see Guru Maharaj that morning and through the alphabetical chart, he told me, "I take this as Krsna's plan." Guru Maharaj continued saying how Dr. Goenka (Guru Maharaj's doctor from Kolkata) was respected and recognized by Dr. Sarin and how we should go to Kolkata instead of Chennai. Then he said, "If things don't work out, then we can go farther." Guru Maharaj went on to say how it was Ekadasi. It was also a Thursday and Guru Maharaj never likes to leave for any place on Thursday afternoons, following in the footsteps of Srila Prabhupada. Further, Guru Maharaj always considers the Rahu kaal and baar bela which are the astrological inauspicious and sinister times of the day - these times always fall in the afternoon to sunset on Thursdays. Lastly, Guru Maharaj said, "We should leave before noon." I asked in astonishment, "Before noon to Kolkata?" and Guru Maharaj confirmed. Then began another round of discussion between Guru Maharaj and his health team (remember, at this point of time, Guru Maharaj is still communicating using the alphabetical chart). Finally, by the late afternoon, arrangements were made to go to Delhi to the same Institute in which he was admitted last May - the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS).
Guru Maharaj was airlifted that evening from Durgapur to Delhi and admitted into the ICU of ILBS, safely. The next few days were quite calm. Although the ICU is a restricted entry zone, Guru Maharaj wanted devotees to come and be with him as much as possible, as often as possible. During the day time, they would switch off the ventilator and just have the tube with some oxygen connected, known as a T-piece. During the nights, they would turn the ventilator back on just to make sure that Guru Maharaj wouldn't get tired. Guru Maharaj was always on top of everything going on, asking detailed questions about the various medical stats and vitals in his body, ensuring that his prasad was made exactly as the dietician had suggested and keeping an eye on time to make sure it was brought and administered on time. He would also speak with the doctors and nurses about various topics, ranging from chanting to his experiences with Kerala prasad delicacies.
On Nityananda Trayodasi, I brought a tablet to show Guru Maharaj the astoundingly beautiful srngara of the presiding deities in Mayapur. While Guru Maharaj was taking a thorough darshan of Nitai, Panca Tattva, Radha Madhava, Nrsinghadeva, and Srila Prabhupada, one if his doctors came up to the bedside. Immediately, Guru Maharaj motioned at me to show the darshan to the doctors. This led to their questions and my attempts to explain to them about Mahaprabhu. I was explaining how these deities are life-size, how Mahaprabhu is about seven feet tall. Then the doctors took darshan of Radha Madhava and I said that they are very tall, about seven to eight feet. Guru Maharaj then called me to correct me about the heights. He began explaining in detail, how Madhava is 5'10", Radharani is 5'6", Astasakhis are 5'4", Gauranga is 7", Nitai is 6'9", Advaita is 6'6", Gadadhara is 6"3', and Srivasa is 6"0'. Guru Maharaj indicated how the last three heights were more or less accurate. Guru Maharaj is completely absorbed and engrossed in Mayapur and Mahaprabhu's lila, regardless of any external material discomforts. To see one truly practice what he preaches is such a fortunate sight, exceedingly inspirational for millions of devotees. Many devotees from around the world had sent 30 second "Get Well Soon" video messages to Guru Maharaj. Guru Maharaj was very pleased to see and hear those as well.
This morning, Guru Maharaj shared how he had dreamed about Radha Gokulananda, Gaura Nitai, Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra, and Sita, Rama, Laksmana, and Hanuman. Just at that moment, Syama Rasika Prabhu showed a video message to Guru Maharaj from Srutidharma Prabhu (president of Bhaktivedanta Manor), and Guru Maharaj went into ecstasy, laughing, saying how this confirmed his dream. Strange enough, this morning and I happened to be watching the Mangal Aarti of Radha Londonisvara and Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra on Mayapur.tv. I'm sure that these deities are taking care of Guru Maharaj. The Lord truly does reciprocate with His devotees; we were fortunate to have been able to experience and witness it today.
Guru Maharaj was extubated (tube was removed from his throat) and has been breathing on his own for about three hours. I am sure that other servants and secretaries will have tons to share from their own perspectives. These next 48 hours are extremely crucial as the tube has been removed and Guru Maharaj will have to be breathing on his own. We request everyone to sincerely, intensely, and faithfully pray to the Lord for Guru Maharaj during this important hour.
Yours in the service of Srila Gurudeva and Srila Prabhupada,
Syama Madhusudana
All glories to Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu! His mercy, flowing through His devotees, brought India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kolkata for the 100th anniversary of Gaudiya math, founded by His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada.
Congratulations to all the Gaudiya math devotees who have worked hard all these years, and by joining hands with ISKCON’s global preaching mission of spreading the divine message of Lord Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, have enlightened many thousands in Krishna consciousness.
His Divine Grace Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur Prabhupada is the spiritual master of the founder of today’s worldwide Hare Krishna movement, or ISKCON, Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, who is honored with reverence by his disciples and followers as Srila Prabhupada.
(photo credit: http://www.narendramodi.in/pm-inaugurates-centenary-celebrations-of-gaudiya-mission-and-math-414908
This is what provides us strength,” the Prime Minister said. West Bengal Governor K N Tripathi, Tripura Governor Tathagatha Roy and West Bengal Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim were present. Modi later visited the Gaudiya Mission at Baghbazar …Narendra Modi (press release) (blog)India.comNDTV – Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Gaudiya Math in Kolkata – Daily News & Analysis
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today inaugurated the Centenary Celebrations of the Gaudiya Mission and Math in Kolkata. Speaking on the occasion, the Prime Minister said India’s spiritual consciousness is the reason for its long-standing … India’s spiritual consciousness is the reason for its long-standing civilizational ethos: PM – Narendra Modi (press release) (blog)
PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the Bhakti movement,withitsinherentquality to stand up and fight against evil forces, had acted as the foundation for the country’s freedom struggle. “If we see India’s freedom struggle,many great …MerinewsDeshGujaratBihar Prabha ‘Bhakti movement acted as the foundation for freedom struggle’ – The Hitavada
Source: http://mayapurvoice.com/svagatam/pm-modi-offers-arati-sri-chaitanya-mahaprabhu-gaudiya-math/
It is said that the pastime of ‘Lifting Goverdhana Hill’ is the favorite of Sri Krishna because in this lila, all the different devotees from all the different rasas take part simultaneously. Nanda Maharaja and Yasoda Devi were there, as we’ll as the cowherd boys and the beautiful Vraja gopis. Krishna convinced His father and others that the worship of Goverdhana, the cows and the brahmanas was superior to worshiping Indra. He spoke saying it was not useful to worship the demigods because we would all simply get our karma anyway. Indra did not appreciate this and sent a huge thunderstorm to drown all the residents of Vraja, but Krishna tricked him with ease. He lifted the hill to save his devotees and simultaneously satisfied everyone’s desire to stare at his beautiful face. When Krishna displayed his gigantic shape to consume the bhoga offerings, everyone gazed at that form while the gopis were able to stare at Krishna’s original form to their hearts content. The highest worship of Govardhana (Govardhana-sila) is performed with gunja-mala (small red, white, and black beads). The gunja-mala is the representation of Srimati Radharani. When Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu gave Govardhana-sila to Raghunatha Dasa Goswami to worship, He did so with gunja-mala. Dasa Gosvami, our prayojana-acarya, worshiped Govardhana with gunja-mala and thus achieved the highest perfection in love of God. Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila 6.287-307. The devotees of Sri Krishna Balarama Mandir will be celebrating the Lifting of Goverdhana, as well as the worship of the cows and the brahmanas with a class held at the ISKCON Goshala beginning at 8:00 am and an Abishek of Giriraj Sila in the temple at 10:30am on November 12th. You are invited to attend the ceremonies, under the guidance of our dear Srila Prabhupada, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, and pray for the mercy of Sri Nataraji that we may join Him in His eternal pastimes. Various plays and entertainment will be provided for your devotional service to Sri Goverdhana. See you there!
Source: http://www.iskconvrindavan.com/the-thunderstorm-of-love/
Where can I find original or edited Deity photos to print for my home altar?
Go to our new resource page (under the Publications menu): Deity Photos for Home Altars.
The new page includes a selection of edited darshanas uploaded to Flickr. These shots are suitable for home altars and can be downloaded in original-size JPEGs for printing.
Or explore Hare Krishna Melbourne’s Flickr account for the endless variety of all our Daily Darshanas in original size for download.
Source: http://www.harekrishnamelbourne.com.au/new-resource-deity-photos-for-home-altars/
You might have heard of the name Dhruva – a common name for boys in India. Dhruva is a famous child saint in Indian legend who performed severe austerities to please Lord Narayana at the tender age of 5. Such was his devotion that within six months Lord Narayana personally visited him. The prayers that Dhruva offered to the Lord are immortalized in the Srimad Bhagvatam and studied by scholars and devotees till today. The Lord created a new star for Dhruva which is the brightest star in the sky – the pole star.
We studied about this little boy at Kanhas last week. We read his story from the Vaikuntha enterprises book Dhruva – the star devotee
Dhruva – the star devotee
We did the story over 2 days. Here are a few activities we did along with the story.
Yoga poses like Dhruva – lotus pose and tree pose
Palace craft – Dhruva maharaj was a prince and lived in a palace before going to the forest. We made paper palace cutouts and decorated them with gold and silver “bricks”. It was a great cut and paste activity and children got to learn about palace, architecture, construction etc while practicing their fine motor skills. Some children made patterns so it was a lesson in maths & geometry as well!
Palace designing
Forest collage – We made a really fun forest collage. We added trees, leaves and lots of wild animals. This activity included scissor and crayon skills and also added to the children’s animal vocabulary. It was a great lesson in co-operation and team work as the kids made one large collage and everyone contributed to it. The icing on the cake was adding a picture of Dhruva and Lord Vishnu to the collage and centring the whole activity on the Lord!
Working together to make our forest
Forest small world play – The kids loved making the collage so much that we extended the activity into the third dimension. The kids created 3d forests using rocks, yellow stones etc and added little plastic animals and people figurines. The kids recreated the pastime and meditated on Dhruva while honing their creative skills!
Forest in a box
We really enjoyed learning about Dhruva at Kanhas!
By: for ISKCON News on Feb. 3, 2016
The first of 5 Rathayatras to be held in the Pune area for ISKCON's 50th this year
Can you imagine one city holding 500 Harinamas or distributing 500,000 of Srila Prabhupada’s books in one year?
That’s exactly what ISKCON of Pune in Maharashtra, India is doing as they ambitiously set out to 50th-ize the year 2016. And much, much more besides: the plan is to set higher-than-usual goals for all of Pune’s outreach efforts in multiples of five or fifty.
GBCs Radhanath Swami and Gopal Krishna Goswami, as well as supporter Lokanath Swami, are the inspiration behind the plan. Radheshyam Das – temple president at Pune for the past twenty years – is leading the charge.
Meanwhile ISKCON Pune’s two temples, 200 full-time celibate monks, and 1,000 congregational families will jump into action to make it a memorable year in celebration of ISKCON’s 1966 incorporation.
The numbers begin small enough with 1 Youth Festival on March 20th– however, the event is expected to draw more than 10,000 youthfrom colleges across Maharashtra. The program will feature singers from the Grammy-nominated kirtan album “Bhakti Without Borders,” a Bhagavad-gita dance, inspirational talks by gurus Bhaktimarga Swami, Lokanath Swami, and Gopal Krishna Goswami, and a 3D film about Srila Prabhupada entitled “Spiritual Ambassador.”
It will be organized by Pune’s ISKCON Youth Forum, which helps students at colleges around the city become the best they can be through seminars, workshops, and counseling. The event is meant to highlight ISKCON’s “50 years of dedicated service to humanity.”
Increasing the numbers a little, this year will see 5 Ratha Yatra festivals in and around Pune, the second biggest city in Maharashtra after the state capital, Mumbai.
ISKCON 50 logos decorating the Rathayatra cart
One Ratha Yatra has already been held on January 3rd in the Swargate area of Pune. “Almost 100,000 people witnessed the 5 kilometer procession,” says ISKCON Pune Board Member Revatipati Das. “We had a special Golden Jubilee chariot with banners displaying ISKCON’s achievements over the last fifty years, and an LED screen showing video clips of our efforts.”
Further Ratha Yatras will be held in Pune suburbs in March, April, May and October.
The year 2016 will also see 5 Cow Protection Festivals called Go Vijnana Parishad held in Pune and four neighboring cities – Amanora, Satara, Aurangabad, and Jalna. The events will feature talks by dignitaries, gurus and goshala leaders about the importance of cow protection in Krishna consciousness as well as how important it is to society at large.
At the programs, which are expected to receive major newspaper coverage, devotees will also raise funds for cow protection. Dates for the events have not yet been set.
Next, celebrating Lord Krishna’s appearance day, ISKCON Pune will be organizing not one but 50 Janmashtami celebrations, starting one week before the official date on August 25thand ending two weeks after. The events will be held at ISKCON Pune’s eight extension centers and many private homes where Namahatta congregational groups meet.
Taking the numbers up to the truly impressive, devotees will hold 500 Harinama Sankirtan outings throughout the year, spreading the Holy Names of Krishna far and wide. Temple devotees, congregation members, and new devotees from the Bhakta program will all participate, holding multiple Harinamas a week. During World Holy Name Week, which runs from September 11th to 23rd – the day when Prabhupada arrived in the West – they’ll hold even more.
“As well as that, from July 1st to 15th we’ll also have a “Dindi Yatra,” a type of pilgrimage walk from Dehu to Pandarpur, following the journey of the saint Tukarama,” Revatipati says. “Harinamas will be held every day along the way, and about 300 devotees will participate.”
From Rama Navami on April 15th, till Nrsimha Chaturdasi on May 20th, ISKCON Pune’s brahmacharis and extremely active householder congregation will go door to door and sell5,000 new Back to Godhead magazine subscriptions. At least 500 devotees are expected to distribute 10 subscriptions each to make this happen.
Lokanath Swami, a major supporter of ISKCON Pune's efforts, at the first Rathayatra
They also plan to sell natural cow products from local goshalas to 5,000 people, including soap and medicine made from cow dung, urine and milk.
Back at the temple, a 50,000 square-foot guest house is expected to be opened on Janmastami day. The four-storey building will include a Govinda’s restaurant, four halls for meetings, programs and weddings, and 32 guest rooms.
One of the biggest efforts for ISKCON’s 50th is an activity very close to Srila Prabhupada’s heart – devotees at ISKCON Pune are planning to distribute 500,000 of his booksthroughout the year.
“200,000 of those will be distributed during the December marathon – we want to increase from last year’s 150,000,” says Revatipati. “But we’re also raising awareness all through the year. We’ll distribute many Bhagavad-gitas during our successful Bhagavad-gita exam program at schools. Those will be in July and December, and could reach as many as 100,000 children. We also encourage devotees to distribute books on their birthdays and anniversaries.”
ISKCON Pune also expects to distribute no less than 1 million plates of prasadam at its two temples during daily Prasad distribution to visitors, on festival days, and on the occasional Food For Life serve-out in local areas.
“Our temple receives around 2,000 visitors on any normal day, around 5,000 on Saturdays, and 8,000 on Sundays,” Revatipati says.
Finally, ISKCON Pune plans to raise 5 Crores, or fifty million rupees in funds for the temple’s expenses and outreach efforts.
Other celebration plans include holding kirtans at fifty different non-ISKCON temples throughout Pune; holding five different “katha” events, where sannyasis speak about Srila Prabhupada or other Krishna conscious topics; and five days throughout the year during which devotees will gather at the temple to chant 64 rounds of japa.
The ISKCON Pune temples have also put up large banners at their entrances showing ISKCON’s achievements over fifty years; and are in the process of erecting a 12’ x 20’ hoarding and a huge LED screen showing the same.
“The devotees are very enthusiastic,” says Revatipati. “We are hoping that we’ll be able to please Srila Prabhupada by our attempt to make ISKCON more popular and connect more people to our beloved Founder-Acharya and his society.”
Source: http://iskconnews.org/iskcon-pune-plans-ambitious-50th-ized-year,5370/
"Valuing people's talents."
It seems perfectly useless to deny and remove the Freudian envy, as it will go on working within the psychic structure and thus reinforced, it would do even worse.
On a practical level it can be purified and transformed by learning to value the talents of others, inspiring people to offer their talents in Krishna consciousness. This propensity will draw us nearer to the qualities of the eternal inhabitants of Vaikuntha so we'll become extremely beneficial to all the living creatures, ourselves included. In this way people can get closer to the Lord beginning to taste this new spiritual relation but how can it become true if they do not even know who is Krishna? Let us help them to put their talents to His service. For example, if someone cooks well, we can suggest a menu and offer the meal to Krishna: "Please, Lord Krishna, accept this food and bless the person who has prepared it."
Although in a first stage such service is indirect as accomplished without awareness, still the person will get a great benefit that will gradually increase in the process of serving. Once the meaning of service is intimately understood, the attraction to serve will be empowered with the taste and thus the person reaches further important step of awareness, up to a higher level when the service is offered not only as an act of one's own will and pleasure, but also consistently and without egoistic motivations. Yet if the person commits offenses, almost always because of residual envy, there is still a risk to crash down to the lower states of consciousness even from this level thus descending to the darker regions of mind. In such a state these people appear like shooting stars that, having made a light path in the sky, become obscured. Even in this case we should not forget the infinite mercy of divine forgiveness, that comes promptly to our rescue when, once repented, we start over following our path towards perfection.
Source: http://matsyavatara.blogspot.in/2016/02/winning-shadow-part-ii.html
They came in through the open window!
Tribhuvannatha Das: A devotee named Jeremy was with us on our Festival tour of East & Central Africa. Jeremy is more of a congregational member of ISKCON and is just starting to understand the commitment that there is in Krsna Consciousness. He caught malaria and had to come back early. Upon his return I spoke to him on the phone. I mentioned how he should be careful not to fall down from the process of KC. Two weeks later he was back to his ‘old ways’ but still a devotee - not as strict as before though.
He’d been out with his girlfriend, and while admiring some waterfalls in the mountains of Wicklow, Ireland, he slipped and fell 60 ft down the side of the mountain - lucky for him he chanted at the top of his voice Krsna! Krsna! as he went tumbling down the side of the mountain, the bushes slowed his pace, but then over the edge… another 160 ft sheer drop to death!
He screamed “Krsna” and suddenly he stopped… 'smack’ he had landed on the only rock jutting out from the side of the mountain. He was damaged - broken pelvis, leg, etc. but still alive. The rock had an unusual inward curve, just the right size to cushion his body. If it had been a normal rock he would have simply bounced off it, to his death! The rescue team said that they could not believe his fortune. Ten others before him had fallen from the same spot, nine died, one crippled. Then in hospital (where he is making a full recovery) in comes Michael who has just fallen off a crane. His head hit a steel girder on the way down (his luck was he had a hard hat on), the whole top of his head, peeled like an orange. Miraculously his heavy coat had got caught on the way down and saved his life. He came over to see Jerry - by this time in his life he has gone from been one of the most debauched personality to almost a saint, even setting up his own alter at the hospital! He had heard that Jerry was a 'Hare Krsna’ and was intrigued to meet him. After some conversation Jerry complained about the 'nightmares’ he was getting. “Nightmares!” says Michael. “I was attacked by five horrible-looking monsters that came in through the window. They said they had come to get me.” (While in intensive care Michael was 'dead’ three times, in the same night). He described them in detail. He was so frightened at their appearance that he threw a chair at the window, four nurses had to restrain him! They had come to get him, he even mentioned that one appeared to have a rope. “They came back again, and said they were coming to get me very soon. "Was it just a nightmare?” asked Jerry. “No!” said Michael, “these guys were as real as you or me… These guys were very real!”
Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=18872
Every time, the fist question coming to mind when we hear about a “discovery” by modern science is, whether it is really a discovery or recovery. In almost all cases, and it’s ought to be so, the answer is, it is a partial recovery.
Same thing happened when news of gravitational waves came up.
“Long ago, deep in space, two massive black holes—the ultrastrong gravitational fields left behind by gigantic stars that collapsed to infinitesimal points—slowly drew together. The stellar ghosts spiraled ever closer, until, about 1.3 billion years ago, they whirled about each other at half the speed of light and finally merged. The collision sent a shudder through the universe: ripples in the fabric of space and time called gravitational waves. Five months ago, they washed past Earth. And, for the first time, physicists detected the waves, fulfilling a 4-decade quest and opening new eyes on the heavens.
The discovery marks a triumph for the 1000 physicists with the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO), a pair of gigantic instruments in Hanford, Washington, and Livingston, Louisiana. Rumors of the detection had circulated for months. Today, at a press conference in Washington, D.C., the LIGO team made it official. “We did it!” says David Reitze, a physicist and LIGO executive director at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena. “All the rumors swirling around out there got most of it right.” (Source: http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/02/gravitational-waves-einstein-s-ripples-spacetime-spotted-first-time)
Remembering the infallible science explained in the Vedas, Mr Nair, Chairman ISRO (2003-2009) had earlier said that astronomy experts like Aryabhatta knew about gravitational force much before Issac Newton. He revealed that ISRO’s Chandrayan project used Aryabhatta’s equation. Mr Nair had also shared some interesting insight:
“Some sholkas in one of the Vedas say that there is water on the moon but no one believed it. Through our Chandrayaan mission, we could establish that and we were the first ones to find that out,” Mr Nair said, adding that everything in the Vedas could not be understood as they were in chaste Sanskrit.
“Even for Chandrayaan, the equation of Aryabhatta was used. Even the (knowledge of) gravitational field… Newton found it some 1500 years later… the knowledge existing (in our scriptures),” he added. (http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/indian-scriptures-mention-gravity-1500-years-before-isaac-newton-former-isro-chief-g-madhavan-nair-741360)
