One of the most amazing resources we have in our Hare Krishna movement is the Grihastha Vision Team (GVT) - an incredible group of senior devotees who dedicate themselves to helping our Hare Krishna communities become stronger by developing strength in families.

Being Family Day weekend, this seems like the most opportune time to "plug" the work of the GVT.  The mission of the GVT is to support, strengthen, educate and enliven the individuals, couples and families who are or will be involved with the grihastha ashram (family life).

The GVT has a goal of wanting to help you spiritualize your marriage and make it an act of seva (service).   An important goal for them is to help each person about to marry,  to receive premarital education. The best way to do that would be through one of their team members or trained mentor couples. Marriage mentoring has been proven to raise the success rate in marriage and result in more connected and happy couples.

Feel free to check out the Grihastha Vision Team's great website by clicking here or by clicking the image below!

Source: http://iskcontoronto.blogspot.in/2016/02/vaisnava-family-resources-perfect-for.html

Jayapataka Swami's Health Update 15/02/16 (14:00 Mayapur time)
Jayapataka Swami is currently hospitalized in Durgapur, West Bengal after becoming unwell and requiring further medical support. At this moment we request devotees to pray intensively for his wellbeing.
Jayapataka Swami arrived in Ekachakra on the 13th of February to install the deities and inaugurate the new temple. This is a fabulous temple and is presided with gorgeous deities. Around 10,000 people attended. On the14th Feb morning he developed a mild fever, which eventually subsided but spiked again overnight, thus the need for hospitalization since this morning.
As you know, Jayapataka Swami’s overall health is generally fragile, so these situations do carry a high risk for him. The team of assistants is ensuring that he receives the best possible medical support available.
We promise to maintain the devotees informed according to how things progress. Meantime let’s unite efforts and request Lord Nrisimhadeva and Srila Prabhupada to kindly protect Jayapataka Swami.
Your servants, Jayapataka Swami’s Health Team

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=19028

The Canberra devotees were asked to participate in the capital’s multi-cultural festival that lasted three days and had hundreds of stalls set up in Civic Square.

On the first day there was a parade and the devotees were able to bring the Rathayatra cart from the Gold Coast and had the temple deities, Jagannatha, Baladeva and Subhadra devi ride majestically through the city streets

Source: http://www.ramaiswami.com/canberra-rathayatra/

My name is Loka-guru Das from Bulgaria, a disciple of HH Prahladananda Swami. I’m writing concerning a health and preaching project we are developing with my elder brother Sudama Das and other devotees in Bulgaria and we would like to share it more among devotees.

In short, our father is a dietitian – health nutritionist, a disciple of a famous Bulgarian natural healer – Lidiya Kovacheva. He is into nutritional therapy and natural healing for more than 30 years and has helped thousands of people with different health problems and diseases. The last 4 years we are fully engaged, manage and develop the health center Vita Rama project.
The bases of our system is the healing nutrition, as well as physical exercises (yoga, walks, training and others), which work on the physical level, but also relaxation and meditation practices for the mind and consciousness (different mind games, interactive games and 2 times per week – kirtan meditation). We have everyday lectures on healthy eating (food choice, combination, right preparations and 1 culinary demonstration), physical exercises and yoga, as well as 1 lecture on bhakti yoga. We are doing our health programs in Bulgaria, on the Black Sea coast – in a remote from city place – sea and mountain – surrounded only by nature. You can check more about the center, the health programs, the team and the place on: www.vitarama.eu
On the website we also have different articles and recipes and in the next 2 weeks we will update the English website with all the latest recipes and articles published by Vita Rama in Bulgarian.

Until now we worked mainly with outside people, who have great results with weight loss, detox, but most of them with different kind of diseases as diabetes, cardiovascular, digestive and many other serious problems, even cancer and multiple sclerosis. We are devotees from 6 years and we complete the holistic approach of the health system by adding bhakti yoga in a outreach/loft preaching way, so we attract who is interested from our patients (and surprisingly many of them are great fans of Hare Krishna mantra and some even follow the process).
Some devotees have visited us before 3-4 years, but more and more do it in the last 2 years and we have very good results with them as well. We observe that many devotees are not living very healthy lifestyle (on physical level) and as a result they suffer many diseases, which is a great obstacle for the our devotional life and service. So we would like to share more what we are doing and our health programs for those who are interested. We are writing many articles and recipes and we can provide interesting and helpful information about nutrition and health.

Your servant,
Loka-guru Das

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=19034

Corporate or Family ISKCON?

It’s always nice to receive e-mails which are from devotees, especially when in work however recently one or two appear to have dark undertones; almost a play for why the reasons that attracted me to ISKCON are unrealistic and a thing of the past.

The opening statement gave me a feeling of impending doom, may be it’s time to leave ISKCON as this new improved corporate; boiling the milk ISKCON which appears to have little to do with my spiritual well-being or advancement. And more to do with how to get as much money out of me and make the whole experience one of sheer misery, a one size fits all, your only a devotee if you do this or that course repulses me and my only response run away.

You see when I first met the devotees their was a family feeling, it was like I had met old friends within a short time my thoughts were how to get to spend more time with them. They tolerated a lot, never asked me for laxmi (Well apart from books, and that was alright, given they were so enthusiastic I read them I became enthusiastic to read)

This family atmosphere this friendship based on loving care for one another, getting to know the individual and developing them at a pace and way that developed trust; eventually one wanted to reciprocate this love and the devotees had you hooked on devotional service. No course, no money just love.

With this simple exchange one became hooked on Japa, reading, sharing and doing some small service; the desire to do more of these increasing the more you had this association, and this is what a lot of individuals speak about, the loving care a feeling of being a part of something, the feeling of family the feeling of love.

What the devotees had shown me was simple and in many ways these loving exchanges meant that you would do almost anything for them, it’s simply something that cannot be learnt in any educational setting, no classroom could teach devotional service in it’s purest form.

Devotional service comes from a basis of love, love comes from being cared and feeling cared for; so the term family appears appropriate as this is the nearest approximation or way of expressing a feeling felt when coming into devotee association.

Personally I miss those early days, this new corporate impersonal ISKCON is choking the life out of me, mentorship was by the devotees leading by example and recommendation was by a senior disciple; now mentorship is tor-mentorship and appears a way to fleece money out of the individual and little of engagement in devotional service, do this course, do that course give us money.

Over the years my inspiration has been a few devotees who by example and loving time spent in association makes ones desire increase, that one wants to do more. Simply put friendship.

I’ve learnt more in discussions with these devotee friends questioning and being questioned, and when one comes across something that appears contradictory one does research studying of Srila Prabhupada’s books and then sharing what has been learnt. Thus real knowledge increases and as it’s personal and not learnt in an educational setting it’s personal one remembers.

The email was explaining how now ISKCON is too big for this, temple presidents cannot get to know those who attend, and the family atmosphere one used to talk about is impractical and not work, one cannot expect recommendation to be as in the early days and spoken about by Srila Prabhupad, we now have a new structure.

The new structure means courses, exams, forms; a committee who decide upon ones suitability not on real

knowledge of the individual but how all these look, even the recommendation of the mentor can be overruled by a committee member who has had little association with the candidate; now this is impersonal by any standard and far from the system recommended by Srila Prabhupad’s who wanted initiation recommendation from a senior devotee who actually knew the aspiring devotee, this loving care some describe as family some like me describe as friend. This real knowledge of the aspiring devotee cannot be learnt in a classroom.

Yes temples have grown.
Yes it’s impractical for one individual to know everyone that attends our larger temple.
Yes learning about devotional life is good
Yes studying Srila Prabhupad’s books are good.

But an artificial mentorship system and an artificial impersonal committee, a corporate ISKCON one were the feeling of friendship and family is frowned on; seriously?

My conclusion is this is best avoided by one who wishes to make any real spiritual advancement, and a plea to all those in management and GBC please get rid of this nonsense and return to what Srila Prabhupada showed us, real love and personalise our approach that inspires one to spontaneously increase our desire to increase in devotional activities.

Or may be it’s that ISKCON doesn’t want individual’s like me who don’t need classrooms and form’s to be inspired, just the association of amazing devotees who make you feel like a part of something special; and inspire you to do more service and because your inspired that naturally inspires others.

But my fear is corporate ISKCON rather than personal ISKCON is the one that is winning the day.

And I’m guessing those who see corporate ISKCON as the way forward will use this article not to learn how others function and how to inspire a different group in devotional life, but will simply go look told you so he’s anti-ISKCON, and simply miss the point altogther.

Friendship first and all other things will come in time.

Source: http://david.deltaflow.com/?p=3330

Avoiding Yamaraja: Ajamila’s story. Ajamila’s story is given in the Bhagavata Purana (6th book, chapter 1) as an example to illustrate that even the most wicked person can attain salvation. Ajamila was a brahmana who was once sent by his father to the jungle to fetch leaves and twigs to make the sacrificial fire. Ajamila met there a beautiful sudra woman. Forgetting everything, the brahmana made her his wife and children were born to them. When that brahmana, who was the very embodiment of all vices, reached the age of eighty-seven, the time came for him to die. Yamadutas (agents of Yama, the god of death) had arrived. The frightened Ajamila shouted loudly the name of his eldest son, “Narayana”. Hearing the repeated call of his name “Narayana”, servants of Visnu appeared there and dismissed the agents of Yama. From that day Ajamila became a devotee of Vishnu and did penance on the bank of the Ganges and after some years attained salvation. Ajamila was saved from hell because he chanted “Narayana” as the Yamadutas approached him. Afterwards Yamaraja forbade his servants from touching devotees who “even if by mistake or because of bewilderment or illusion… sometimes commit sinful acts,” because “they are protected from sinful reactions because they always chant the Hare Krishna mantra.” Yamaraja then told the Yamadutas: “Paramahamsas are exalted persons who have no taste for material enjoyment and who drink the honey of the Lord’s lotus feet. My dear servants, bring to me for punishment only persons who are averse to the taste of that honey, who do not associate with paramahamsas and who are attached to family life and worldly enjoyment, which form the path to hell. "My dear servants, please bring to me only those sinful persons who do not use their tongues to chant the holy name and qualities of Krishna, whose hearts do not remember the lotus feet of Krishna even once, and whose heads do not bow down even once before Lord Krishna. Send me those who do not perform their duties toward Vishnu, which are the only duties in human life. Please bring me all such fools and rascals.”

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=19006

Ananda Devi Dasi: Every year a group of yoga students from America go to the gardens of a flower grower in Vrindavan (India), who produces large amounts of flowers for the garlands and decorations in the many temples there. This year, however, the gardens did not have much to show. Weather and other factors had wiped out the crop and the gardener, already poor by our standards, was even poorer. As they sat with him he was jovial, telling them stories of Krishna and his temple experiences. ‘How can you be so happy after so much loss?” they asked him. “That part of my life is a struggle, and this year will be hard,” he said. “But my relationship with Krishna has nothing to do with that. That’s always joyful.” Here, I thought, is wisdom in action. Rather than making God a part of his life (and struggle) he was choosing to be a part of God’s life. In other words, as we move along in the world, dealing with the ups and downs, we often lean on God, pray for help, find Him in our little universe, and even complain when we don’t think He is doing his part (i.e., fulfilling our desires). There is nothing wrong with this, and it’s better than not acknowledging His existence at all. Krishna is happy to help and be involved, as he was with Arjuna in the Gita’s battlefield. Yet as students of the science of bhakti yoga we learn that the true goal is to get to know Krishna who exists beyond our mundane life. If Krishna is a person, then He has a life, a place, and all kinds of relationships. The gardener gives us a clue. Instead of pulling God into our own little life, why not set that aside for a while, and start looking into God’s life? Talking time everyday to be in a relationship that has nothing to do with the karma of the world, nothing to do with who we are in this body, nothing to do with the present context of our life – that’s what the gardener was doing. Yes, I lost everything this year, he said, but not Krishna. He is always there. And that’s my joy. Let that be our joy too.

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=19012

In a world shrunken by digital connections are we still nourishing the right connections in our lives and in society?

How can we get better connected spiritually ,with ourselves and with each other? Spiritual leader Radhanath Swami addresses these questions in this insightful talk.

Radhanath Swami is a world renowned author, philanthropist and community builder.

He has been a Bhakti Yoga practitioner and spiritual teacher for more than 40 years. He is the inspiration behind a free mid-day meal for 1.2 million school kids across India and he has been instrumental in founding the Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Mumbai.

He has keynoted at Apple, Starbucks, Google and House of Lords. His work has led to meetings with U.S. President Barack Obama and India Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community.

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=19020

We should realise that if we have no faith in ourselves, it is because we think that we are the doers. We believe that we are doing things and the results will depend on our actions. But actually, we should know that everything depends on Krsna and on Krsna’s mercy. So if we say, “Oh, my shortcomings will get in the way and make it difficult for me to advance,” then we are not calculating Krsna’s unlimited potency and power. Basically we are saying, “I am so fallen, Krsna can’t lift me up!”

In this way, we are actually limiting Krsna. Indirectly we are saying that we have no faith in Krsna. Although we claim to have no faith in ourselves, if you look at it a little more deeply, this reveals that we have no faith in Krsna.

It does not matter how weak we are, it does not matter how fallen we are, Krsna can lift us up and Krsna is eager to do so! Srila Prabhupada pointed that out. He said that Krsna is acting with ten arms, and with these ten arms he just showers us with mercy. What can we do with our two arms!? We cannot even receive all the mercy – it is that much! Prabhupada also said that Krsna is more eager for us to go back to Godhead than we are ourselves!

Here are 6 very melodious musical apps in android by His Grace Ananta Nitai Das.

By Sivarama Swami

Devotees often ask what the meaning of steadiness is: some consider that chanting sixteen rounds a day and following the four regulative principles means that one is steady, while others say it is steadiness in one’s service; yet others give different variations of what they consider steadiness to mean. But these things mentioned—regularly chanting and regularity in serving—are physical symptoms that may or may not indicate real steadiness.

Suddha-bhakti-cintamani deals with the subject of steadiness from several different perspectives. What does real steadiness mean? nasta-prayesv abhadresu nityam bhagavata-sevaya: “nasta-prayesu,” when almost all the inauspicious things in the heart, which are of so many variations, when they are more or less eradicated then there is steadiness. And this “more or less,” Srila Prabhupada said “75%,” so when 75% of impurities in the heart are eradicated, then the devotee achieves a certain level of spiritual steadiness that enables him to think about Krishna, to chant Krishna’s names, because his mind and senses are no longer distracted from chanting, serving, and thinking of Krishna. Why? Because the effect of the anarthas still remaining in the heart is minimal when compared to the storehouse of devotional energy that the devotee has acquired.

So when we speak of steadiness we speak of a certain degree of purification of the heart which has its threefold symptoms, according to Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura: steadiness of mind, speech, and physical activities. These are listed in increasing order of grossness; the most subtle form of unsteadiness is in the mind. A devotee can determine how steady their mind is by how easy it is for them to think about Krishna, to chant Hare Krishna and not allow their mind to wander and be distracted. That may happen once in a while, but overall they are able to focus on the holy name. With steadiness of speech, one is able to avoid prajalpa, unnecessary and foolish talks. And steadiness in bodily activities, this means sensual steadiness.

So these are the symptoms of steadiness, but real steadiness is that 75% purification of the heart. It is technically called nisthita bhajana-kriya, when the kriya, the activities, of one’s bhajana are unwavering, then that is steadiness, or, as Srila Prabhupada said, “fixed up” in devotional activities. And by definition of the word itself, bhajana kriya, the activities of bhajana will really indicate how steadily one is situated in Krishna consciousness. For instance, we will often see how someone is so fixed up in their service they don’t even have time to chant sixteen rounds a day, and this is no good. When that devotee is asked to just sit and chant and make up their missing rounds, then we see that they cannot do so, their mind is distracted.

Therefore, even though someone may appear very steady in terms of their activities, it simply means they have some other qualification: it may be that by nature they’re very dutiful persons. That someone is dutiful does not necessarily indicate that they are steady in devotional service. If someone is steady in devotional service, then they will be dutiful, but the converse does not automatically apply. As a good friend used to say, “I judge a man by his japa!”

So this is nistha bhajana kriya: chanting Hare Krishna, hearing Srimad-Bhagavatam associating with Vaisnavas, worshipping the deity. And when devotees have fixed attention to the performance of these activities, a natural, observable taste for these activities of pure devotion exists in the devotee. Even if it may appear that they are not so steady in their duties, still this kind of devotee is superior to those who may appear to be steady in their duties but who are not steady in devotion. Because ultimately, even if one can imitate the external activities, or if one has a particular karma or qualification and therefore has the external symptoms of nistha, still if the concomitant purification of the heart is not there, then one will not advance to the next stage of devotional service, which is rucih.

The spiritual benefit of being steady in devotional activities means that one actually focuses on the acts of sravanam kirtanam, when one is not distracted. Therefore by being offenseless in those activities, one achieves the full benefit. And that is rucih: param drstva nivartate, one attains a higher taste, and when that happens one becomes attached to Krishna Himself. This higher taste is attachment to the acts of devotion, and those acts mature into an attachment to Krishna, His form, His pastimes. That ultimately becomes the doorway to transcendence.

So Vaisnavas really strive to achieve this purity of heart called steadiness, because from that stage devotional service progresses rapidly. There are no significant obstructions to one’s advancement in Krishna consciousness and the devotee can really shoot forward, back home, back to Godhead, without delay.

So let’s be conscientious in our bhajana kriya, even if we are not nisthita, even if we are anisthita, unsteady, then by effort and good association with devotees who are fixed, by avoiding bad habits, by avoiding carelessness in devotional activities, by avoiding offenses, then very quickly the process of chanting and hearing fructifies, and one of the primary benefits of that maturing creeper of devotional service is that it becomes steady. Just like a tree at a certain point is no longer a sapling, it isn’t green and tender, prone to being easily toppled, but it starts to develop a bark, it becomes brown and strong and can stand on its own without any kind of support, so it is with the creeper of devotional service when the stage of steadiness is achieved. And this is, as Srila Prabhupada says, the stage of 75% purification of the heart, purification from these unwanted habits.

Hare Krishna.

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=18995

TVC E, LIFESTYLE – India is one of the most religiously diverse nations in the world, with some deeply religious societies and cultures.

The artistry and culture of the Indians is set to manifest in Nigeria at the first ever Festival of India, a celebration of cultural unity and diversity.

The international society for Krishna consciousness West Africa in partnership with the indian diaspora made the announcement in Lagos.

The Festival of India also called Rath Yaatra festival originated in the holy city of Puri, India and has been celebrated for thousands of years.

Organizers say, bringing the festival to Nigeria is to project the country in positive light.

The festival would include a display of various Indian costumes, dressing and dance groups representing different states in India.

Source: http://tvcontinental.tv/2016/02/12/10096/

RAIN AND STRONG WINDS… said the weather forecast. Still there was a great turnout of devotees and the Harinam was… special again. So many nice things happened. One devotee handed out prasadam to 5-6 police officers, one after the other, all in a row, while we were in Leicester Square. A little later on as we left the Square and moved off towards Piccadilly Circus, one policeman was seen playfully dancing, kicking his legs high into the air. Over the past 4/5 weeks three young students all doing their GCSE’s this year have been coming down from Archway (North London) and enthusiastically joining in with the Harinams. This week they got soaking from the quite heavy rain, but the enthusiasm was not dampened one iota. They all have copies of Bhagavad-Gita and are happily reading them. Also in recent weeks there have been two sisters (Deena & Diane) attending regularly. They are always happy to help hand out “On Chanting” booklets and prasadam. This week I had a little chat with them and was really impressed to hear that they have been taking the day return train from Nottingham each week all the way to London specifically to attend the Samkirtan Parties. They came in contact with Krsna Consciousness through a Hare Krsna Festival programme held in Nottingham not long ago.

“So we are sending our men for street sankirtana. It doesn’t matter whether people are eager to hear it or not, but it is auspicious. It will create an atmosphere which is very, very congenial to the human society. That should be our principle.” Srila Prabhupada 6th April 1973 New York.

Watch it here: https://goo.gl/Cx1euW 800 pieces of prasadam and 1,500 On Chanting Booklets. Ys Bhajahari das Adhikary 

Garuda and Yamaraja.
“Our friends, relatives and so-called wives and children are not only fallible, but also bewildered by the outward glamor of material existence. As such, they cannot save us. Still we think that we are safe within the orbit of family, society or country.” One who properly prepares for the time of death is really intelligent, while one who thinks he can remain at home forever and enjoy the association of his wife and children is a fool. In illusion a man thinks, “My bank balance, my nice house, and my family will protect me.” But these cannot protect anyone. In this regard we came across following thought provoking story.

High in the reaches of Mount Kailash is the abode of Lord Shiva. One evening Lord Vishnu, came to see Lord Shiva. He left behind at the entrance Garuda, who served as His vehicle. Garuda sat alone, marveling at the natural splendor of the place. Suddenly his eyes fell on a beautiful creature, a little bird seated on the arch crowning the entrance to Lord Shiva’s place. Garuda wondered aloud, “How marvelous is this creation! One who has created these lofty mountains has also made this tiny bird – and both seem equally wonderful.” Just then Yamaraj came passing by with the intention of meeting Lord Shiva. As he crossed the arch, his eyes went over to the bird and he raised his brows in a quizzical expression. Then he took his eyes off the bird and disappeared inside. Even a slight glance of Yamaraj is said to be the harbinger of death. So Garuda told himself, “Yamaraj looking intently at the bird can mean only one thing – the bird’s time is up. Perhaps on his way back he will carry away the bird’s soul with him.” Garuda’s heart was filled with pity for the helpless creature. That it was oblivious of its own impending doom further agonized Garuda and he resolved to save the bird from the clutches of death. He swooped it up in his mighty talons, rushed to a forest thousands of miles away and left the bird on a rock beside a brook. Then he returned to Kailash and regained his position at the entrance gate. Soon after, Yamaraj emerged from inside, and nodded to Garuda in recognition. Garuda greeted him and said, “While going in, you saw a bird and for a moment you became pensive, why?” Yamaraj replied, “Well, when my eyes fell on the little bird, I saw that it was to die in a few minutes, swallowed by a python, far away from here in a forest near a brook. I wondered how this tiny creature would traverse the thousand of miles separating it from its destiny in such a short time. But there are no such serpents here, high on Kailash, and I was briefly puzzled. Then I forgot. Surely it must have happened somehow.” Saying this, Yamaraj smiled and went away. This story nicely explains us however we hard we try to escape from death, “Death is inevitable”. Death in the form of time, kala, will seize us just like the serpent seizes its prey. Srila Sukadeva Goswami is advising us that understanding the temporary nature of material existence, we must utilize our time for the self-realisation. When we fail to do this we will remain bewildered in this material existence, life after life. When we use our time for Krishna, death is also blissful as after death we will again go back to Krishna.

Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=18988

Hare Krishna! Please accept our humble obeisances! __^_o

ISKCON of Columbus, Ohio, USA, has purchased fifty acres of prime real estate fifteen minutes’ drive from downtown Columbus.

On the land, which they have offered to Srila Prabhupada for ISKCON’s 50th anniversary, devotees plan to develop a Krishna conscious community that offers the best of both urban and rural worlds.

The local congregation raised $500,000 and bought the new property outright. Located in a fast-developing suburb called Hilliard, it’s flanked by upcoming million-dollar homes and neighboring land owned by banks.

While all amenities are close by, ISKCON Columbus is planning a haven of simple living and high thinking. Within six months to a year, devotees expect to break ground and begin construction on a gorgeous temple with a 500-person capacity temple room, a gift shop, accommodation for celibate students, and a children’s school.

The landscaped grounds will include walking trails, retreat facilities, cow protection facilities, homes for devotees, and farmland.

“We also plan to have a farm-to-table restaurant where we’ll serve visitors fresh vegetables and fruits from our organic garden, and a bakery too,” says Prem Vilas Das, who is on the board of directors along with Prem Sindhu das, Naveen Krishna das and Ram Tirtha das.

“Then we’d like to have a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program where we can teach devotees and local people how to do their own farming,” he adds. “We’ll assign a couple of acres, and people can come and grow their own vegetables, shrubs and flowers.”

Also planned is a vegetarian culinary institute that will teach vegetarian cooking to the general public.

Columbus has always been an exciting place for Krishna conscious outreach. In May 1969, Srila Prabhupada stayed there for a week, inaugurated a temple, initiated devotees and held a program at Ohio State University with Allen Ginsberg, where 2,000 students chanted and danced. The temple, located on the OSU campus along with a Govinda’s restaurant, was a hit.

In 1984, ISKCON Columbus moved to its current location, a rented house also on the OSU campus, with small Deities of Sri Sri Radha-Nathabara, Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra, and Gaura-Nitai. From there, devotees introduced many OSU students to Krishna consciousness.

Later, early Srila Prabhupada disciple and Columbus GBC Malati Devi Dasi established a non-profit for feeding low-income families in the area, called Serving America First. Rasamanjari Dasi ran the project from the temple backyard from 2000 to 2007.

In 2012, the mortgage on the current property was paid off, and $150,000 of renovations were carried out on it.

“Now we have a congregation of 300 devotees, and need something bigger,” says Prem Vilas. “Once we complete construction of our new temple and move into it, we want to convert our current building into a full-time university preaching center like the Krishna House in Gainesville, Florida.”

ISKCON Columbus has many current community and outreach projects that its new temple and preaching center will continue to run.

Two successful Bhakti Vriksha programs form the basis of the community’s congregational development. Prem Sindhu and Lila Manjari’s home program hosts 40 to 50 newcomers – people introduced to Krishna consciousness recently through book distribution or visiting the temple  -- every week. And Naveen Krishna and Vraja Bhakti’s longstanding home program draws 20 to 25 devotees every Saturday.

Besides these, once a month mega Bhakti Vriksha events are held in a rented hall and draw about 150 people from the community.

ISKCON Columbus also holds 40 to 50 “Damodara programs” at newcomers’ homes during the sacred month of Kartik. “That’s about two programs a day, sometimes three in a weekend,” says Prem Vilas.

Then there’s Sunday Feasts, downtown Harinamas, and book distribution in nearby Dayton, Cincinnati, Kent, Bowling Green and Marysville.

Another whole host of other efforts reach out to American Ohio State University students.

A vegetarian cooking workshop on campus attracts about 150 students to cook and eat prasadam every Monday. A program specially geared towards OSU students is held every Thursday at the temple. And on the last Friday of every month, 40 to 50 students participate in a three-hour kirtan and a prasadam pizza party at the temple.

There’s also the Bhakti Yoga Club, held monthly at a Columbus yoga studio. A Western audience of yoga practioners pack the room to learn yoga, do kirtan, discuss the Bhagavad-gita, and take prasadam.  

But with their new property, all this is just the beginning for Columbus devotees.

“We want to expand; to invite thousands of people to our programs and temple festivals,” says Prem Vilas. “And of course, we want to give devotees all the advantages of a rural devotional community, with all the convenience of living in the city. Everything is within twenty-minutes driving distance. That’s the biggest attraction of this place.”

Source: http://iskconnews.org/iskcon-purchases-50-acres-near-downtown-columbus,5389/?utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=twitterfeed

On the seventh day of the bright fortnight of the month of Magh, the great ocean of ecstasy swelled to its limits, being forcibly attracted by the moon of Advaita.

He appeared from the womb of Sri Nabhadevi as the moon appears in the autumn sky. His father, Sri Kuvera, Pandit floated in that ocean of joy.

The foremost of all the Vaisnavas who reside at Navadwip is Sri Advaita Acarya, whose virtuous presence has made all the worlds blessed. He is the most preeminent preceptor in all fields including knowledge, renunciation and devotion.

In explaining Krsna-bhakti he is like unto Lord Shankara himself, and whatever scriptures that exist within the three worlds he explains in the light of Krsna-bhakti.

Source: http://www.ramaiswami.com/advaita-acarya-appearance/