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By Padasevan Bhakta Das

In the last week of May this year ISKCON was donated a fully functional building located on a 4800 sq. yard campus, on the outskirts of Gurgaon, a sattelite city of Delhi, and home to several major software companies. The property was earlier owned and operated by an NGO called Atma Kalyan Kendra run by its founder Acarya Sudarshan Ji Maharaj.

It is located on a Sohna road, a National Highway, and has two major universities, several deluxe hotels and residential apartments within few minutes drive.

The campus has a spacious hall on front side, which can accommodate about 500 people.

It is now being used as temple hall for Sri Sri Jagganath, Baldev, Subhadra and Sudarshan, of Iskcon Gurgaon. Daily programs such as Managal Arati, Guru Puja and Gaura Arati take place here, just as in other Iskcon temples throughout the world.

At the back of hall is a five storey guesthouse, with about 20 spacious rooms which are now being used as admin. office, brahmachari ashram, prasadam hall and stores.

The Sunday Love Feast has also started at the new centre and last Sunday it organised its first ever youth festival- Umang here on the evening of 26th July, Acharya Sudarshan ji Maharaj was the chief guest on the occassion. It was attended by 456 youngsters from Gurgaon and Delhi.

The festival started with IYF-Delhi (Iskcon Youth Forum) Director HG Sundar Gopal Das, thanking Maharaj ji for his generous donation to the Krsna Consciousness Movement. This was followed by a talk by Maharaj ji. He shared that he was inspired to donate after he read the Bhagvada Gita- As It Is, of Srila Prabhupad, ISKCON’s founder acharya, and after having visited several ISKCON centres around the world. He gifted the IYF Director, a shawl and a Tulasi plant. In exchange, he was given a photoframe of Sri Sri Radha Krishna by HG Sundar Gopal Das.

This was followed by a talk on the topic- Transformation of Heart, by HG Sundar Gopal Das. He talked of the ardent need to take up spiriuality, to combat the rising mental and psychological disorders which are on rise, in spite of better physical comforts in city of Gurgaon, and elsewhere in India. He invited Gurgaon youngsters to join spiritual programs that would start from next week here.

‘Andha Yuga’ or ‘blind age’, was a spectacular drama performed by the HG Ishwarnam Das, a former theater artist, and presently a monk at Iskcon Delhi. he enacted roles of a school kid frustrated with studies, that he finds neither intersting nor relevant to his life, but has to excel in , and a educated young man who can’t find a job after having studied for 20 years. He very expertly portrayed the social ills in society and urged the youngsters to join Iskcon to bring about a social revolution.

The event ended with mantra rock show by HG Radha Rasbehari Das and HG Nambhav Das from Mauritius.

Padasevan Bhakta Das,
Executive Head.
Media and Promotions Deptt.
Iskcon Youth Forum, Delhi

By Subhag Swami

I am now in Bangladesh, surrounded by lush green trees; I just finished prasad this morning and was relaxing, when suddenly I was informed by Madhavendu das of ISKCON Vrindavan the news. I was shocked to hear that Prabhupada’s beloved is not here anymore.

I used to see him time to time when travelling around. I have deep affection for him because he rendered a tremendous amount of service to Srila Prabhupada. In two of Srila Prabhupada’s most ambitious projects: ISKCON Vrindavan and Juhu, he played a key role as architect and leading manager as well as recently in our temple in Punjabi Bagh, as well as Siliguri and Ahmedabad as I have been told.

One day we were in Mayapur, many years back, desiring to have his association I requested him to have a glass of fruit juice with me. During our conversation we spoke about several things. I conveyed my feelings of appreciation in how he helped in establishing a wonderful temple: Punjabi Bagh. Out of his humility, he replied, “Yes, yes but a very small temple though.” I told him that it doesn’t matter; he helps maintain it and guides the devotees there through the expert medium of HG Samba das, thus doing a great service.
I respected his numerous businesses and he was very expert in being able to earn money for the sake of preaching Krishna Consciousness through all available means.

I wish I could have had more of his association. He performed abundant service to Prabhupada, our society and devotees in general, selfless service. He dedicated his own life to serve the pure devotee Srila Prabhupada and for the cause of Krishna Consciousness. His life is exemplary being dedicated to spread Krishna consciousness. He will stand as an inspiration for devotees all over the world for generations to come and set an example how to dedicate their lives for the propagation of Krishna Consciousness. Just assisting in building our Juhu temple is in itself magnificent preaching. Distinguished VIPs visit regularly. One such person was President Clinton’s sister. She came many years back incognito to India, especially Bombay and stayed for some time in the temple. She was inquisitive as to why so many young American boys and girls join our ISKCON society, so she decided to have a personal experience of temple life.

I heard that HG Tulsyan Prabhu gave him the responsibility to help in the construction of the Asta-sakhis at ISKCON Mayapur. Prabhupada gave him a short time in which to finish the construction of both Juhu and Vrindavan temples, and Prabhupada was seemingly angry when reports were not up to the required standard. We understand however that the chastisement of the spiritual master is actually a blessing and by this we can make advancement.

To conclude, Prabhupada glorified the Krishna Balaram Mandir in Vrindavan as the most beautiful temple in Vrindavan: wonderful deities, a wonderful guest house and a wonderful gurukula. Surabhi Prabhu played a great role in helping establish it, so accordingly the Lord will also give him the proper reward. So we feel a great loss, but at the same time we rejoice that he must be getting the blessings of Prabhupada and going Back Home, Back to Godhead. By the arrangement of Krishna and also of Providence, he returned to Vrindavan to leave his body. Living in Vrindavan and dying in Vrindavan will entail the same result and therefore he will be eternally in the spiritual world.
HG Surabhi Prabhu ki Jay
Srila Prabhupada ki Jay!
(transcribed by Bhakta Nikhil)

By Ravindra Svarupa dasa

What the punctuation in the title indicates:

Quotation marks: Draping the word God in quotation marks indicates that we are first concerned with the signifier, not the signified. (Compare these two sentences: I am interested in God. I am interested in “God.”)

Question mark: The mark of interrogation backstopping “God” points us next to questions concerning the concept or idea of God. What does it mean? Aren’t there many different meanings? Isn’t the meaning often vague or ambiguous?

The mark directs us further to questions concerning the existence of God. Is there any real entity denoted by the word God? Is there any way to conclusively answer this question?

A Lesson in Vedanta

The conception of God and the conception of Absolute Truth are not on the same level. The Srimad Bhagavatam hits on the target of the Absolute Truth. The conception of God indicates the controller, whereas the conception of the Absolute Truth indicates the summum bonum or the ultimate source of all energies. There is no difference of opinion about the personal feature of God as the controller because a controller cannot be impersonal. . . .  Because there are different controllers for different managerial positions, there may be many small gods . . . with various specific powers, but the Absolute Truth is one without a second. This Srimad Bhagavatam designates the Absolute Truth or thesummum bonum as the param satyam.

The author of Srimad Bhagavatam, Srila Vyasadeva, first offers his respectful obeisances unto theparam satyam (Absolute Truth), and because the param satyam is the ultimate source of all energies, the param satyam is the Supreme Person. The gods or the controllers are undoubtedly persons, but theparam satyam from whom the gods derive powers of control is the Supreme Person. The Sanskrit wordisvara (controller) conveys the import of God, but the Supreme Person is called the paramesvara, or the supreme isvara. The Supreme Person, or paramesvara, is the supreme conscious personality, and because He does not derive any power from any other source, He is supremely independent.

—Srila Prabhupada, Introduction to Srimad Bhagavatam

Where does everything come from?
Everything comes either from something or from nothing.

When the answer is nothing, it sometimes turns out to be a very special, hyper-potent kind of nothing. Not just nothing but Nothing. In other words, a unique kind of something (after all).

When the answer is nothing, it sometimes turns out to be a special inscrutable something, beyond all possible modes of understanding or investigation. Nothing is really a “No Trespassing” sign. (Or: “You don’t belong in the physics department; you should go to the religion department.”)

When the answer is nothing, it sometimes turns out that the “everything” that (seemingly) comes from it is really nothing also. Nothing makes no things: No problem!

Vedanta settles for something. A special unique something: param satyam or brahman “the ultimate source of all energies.”janmadyasya yatah (Vedanta-sutra 1.1.2)

In the Upanisads, this ultimate source is described as so complete or full (purnam) that however much is taken away from it, it remains complete.

By contrast, I am not purna. I am a dependent, contingent being. I require regular supplies—each day so much food, water, air, light, heat, and so on. If I trace back the supply chain I will reach (according to the Vedas) the empowered universal supply agents, the devas—lords of the sun, moon, wind, rain, soil, and so on.  As they distribute, their own stores becomes depleted, and they themselves need resupply.  Following back the chain of dependence, we reach finally a singular and unique being who produces endless supplies and who never needs resupply, remaining full. This the self-sustaining sustainer of all others is the param satyam.

(Think of the param satyam as something like a hotel with infinite rooms, all occupied—purna, “No Vacancy.” At noon, the guest occupying Room 1 checks out. As he leaves, the bellboy blows a whistle. All the rooms’ doors open: The guest in Room 2 moves into Room 1, the guest in Room 3 moves to Room 2, and so on, ad infinitum. Thus, even though a guest checked out, the hotel remains full. It will remain full if ten, a hundred, a thousand , a million, or even an infinite number of guests check out.)

This is the “concept of the Absolute Truth,” that from which everything comes. It differs from the concept of isvara or “god.” Isvara means a controller. In that sense, even local controllers—the CEOs of SEPTA, PECO and Comcast, the president of the University of Pennsylvania, the mayor of Philadelphia, the governor of Pennsylvania, and so on—are all minor isvaras, teeny gods with miniscule controlling power. And, according to the Vedas, there are superior gods who administer the universe—not petty bureaucrats but mighty cosmocrats.

Whatever we see here, in the effect, must also be there, in the ultimate cause. The param satyam has produced myriad personal controllers.  Therefore the ultimate personal controller, the paramesvara, is in the Absolute Truth itself. The Upanisads describe the param satyam as simultaneously personal and impersonal.

Prabhupada coined the phrase “Supreme Personality of Godhead” to express more accurately the concept of Krsna. The word “god” by itself is, strictly speaking, inadequate. A “god” is a being that may or may not exist. “Godhead” however, denotes the Absolute Truth, param brahman, the uncreated, self-sustaining origin of everything.  “Personality of Godhead” denotes the personal feature of the unlimited Godhead. The one Personality of Godhead exists simultaneously in many transcendent forms—Krsna, Rama, Nrsimha, Narayana, Vamana and so on.

Some argue that the limitless nature of the Absoute Truth precludes personhood, since personhood or individuality entails limits and boundaries. They forget to consider that it would also be a limitation to exclude personhood. There must be somehow pesonality without limitation. For this reason, Vedic thought understands the one Personality of Godhead to be ananta rupam, expanded in unlimited forms simultaneously.

Among all these forms, Krsna is particularly denoted “the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

One last consideration: Should I find myself wondering whether the Personality of Godhead exists or not, then I should understand that I do not grasp the concept of the Absoute Truth. I am thinking of Godhead as if it were simply one more contingent, dependent being: like me, or my laptop, or my city. My Dell laptop exists, but it might not; Ravindra Svarupa dasa exists, but might very well not; this City of Brotherly Love exists but might not have. My current controllers—Mayor Nutter, Governor Rendell, President Obama, Lord Indra, Lord Brahma—are all there, but might not have been. But the final controller, the Personality of Godhead, the ultimate source of all energies, exists in a different way from all these other beings. He exists so fully or truly that he has not even the possibility of not existing.

If we simply understand the concept of the Absolute Truth, we must recognize that its mode of existence—existing without even the possibility of not existing—is different from ours.

(Perhaps some readers have recognized in the last paragraphs a version of “the ontological argument for the existence of God.” This argument has generated much controversy, yet it seems to me that Prabhupada’s distinction between the concepts of God and of the Absolute Truth clairfies the argument and helps resolve some of the controversy. When one understands the argument as dealing with the concept of Godhead or Absolute Truth, rather than the concept of God, its particular force becomes more evident, at least to me. To me, there are sound and persuasive arguments that there must be an Absoute Truth, and that the Absolute Truth must be a person. I’ve outlined them above. That the person is blue-complexioned, flute-playing, peacock-feather-wearing Krsna—or any expansions—cannot be shown by reason and logic. Only paresanubhava, direct perception of the Lord, will disclose these concrete particulars. On the other hand, if one studies the Supreme Personality of Godhead as encountered by Narada, Vyasa, Uddhava, Caitanya, and so on, one can say: “This is our idea of the supreme person. Can anyone offer a description of any greater?”)

By Bhakti Charu Swami

Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu said, “A first class Vaisnava is he whose very presence makes others chant the Holy Name of Krsna.”
CC. Madhya-lila 16.74

1. There should be no compromise in our Vaisnava appearance. We are representatives of Srila Prabhupada. We should aim to be first class representatives.
2. We need to be aware of the bonafide standard of appearance, maintain it and preach it. In the age of Kali deviations easily become the standard. We should be alert to this.
3. Proper Vaisnava dress helps us maintain proper consciousness regarding our identity and responsibility in service to Srila Prabhupada and the Vaisnavas.
4. Vaisnava appearance is attractive and will facilitate our preaching. The first impression, which is most often formed from visual stimuli, is the most longstanding.
5. Just be seeing a Vaisnava the conditioned soul is purified.

Quotes from Srila Prabhupada
Srila Prabhupada was dressed appropriately for a resident of Vrndavana. He wore kanthi-mala (neck beads) and a simple cotton dhoti, and he carried japa-mala (chanting beads) and an old chadar, or shawl. His complexion was golden, his head shaven, sikha in the back, his forehead decorated with the whitish Vaisnava tilaka. He wore pointed white slippers, not uncommon for sadhus in India. But who in New York had ever seen or dreamed of anyone appearing like this Vaisnava? He was possibly the first Vaisnava sannyasi to arrive in New York with uncompromised appearance. Of course, New Yorkers have an expertise in not giving much attention to any kind of strange new arrival. Lilamrta, Volume 2, p. 7

Episode of a Vaisnava Wearing Tilaka in Muslim Factory
There was once a factory in India where all the workers were Hindus, and mostly Vaisnavas. The Vaisnavas had freedom, therefore, to wear their Vaisnava tilaka to work, and they also displayed other Vaisnava paraphernalia. But after some time, the factory went into new management, and then the proprietor was a Muslim. On taking over the business, the Muslim owner declared that he would not allow the workers to come to work any more wearing Vaisnava tilaka. Most of the workers obeyed, and on the given date announced by the owner, they appeared at the factory without their tilaka. One employee, however, thought that he would take his chances and depend on Krsna. So he went to work wearing very clear, white Vaisnava tilaka. After seeing all the workers assembled, the new Muslim proprietor said, “This one devotee who has worn Vaisnava tilaka is very courageous. He may be permitted to continue wearing the tilaka to work. But all others are forbidden to wear it any more.”
Hindu Muslim
Srila Prabhupada Nectar 3.6

In this way, Prabhupada encouraged the devotees to not unnecessarily abandon the markings of a Vaisnava. Where situations forbid it, Prabhupada said it was not absolutely necessary to wear tilaka, although a devotee should at least put water tilaka on his body with the names of Visnu. But if the paraphernalia is permitted, then a devotee should not unnecessarily do away with the dress or beads of a Vaisnava.

Comment by Satsvarupa Dasa Gosvami: This story has obvious modern day application. In 1966 Srila Prabhupada was pleased when Rupanuga and Satsvarupa persisted in wearing Vaisnava tilaka to their jobs with the NYC Dept of Welfare. Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakura also desired that one day the high-court judges may wear Vaisnava tilaka, and this would be a symbol of the successful influence of Krsna consciousness in the world. Even in job situations where wearing tilaka is not permissible, a devotee should try in different ways to remember Krsna while at work.
Devotee wear anytime TilakaThe story told by Prabhupada about the man who insisted on wearing tilaka to his job may remain an inspiration to all devotees who go to places of employment controlled by the karmis. Somehow or other, we must remain as devotees.

Gaudiya Vaisnava sikha is an inch and a half across-no bigger. Bigger sikha means another sampradaya. …And they have to be knotted. Lilamrta Volume V p. 93

Friday, 31st July, 2015 is the starting of Chaturmasya in India.

The CHATURMASYA VRATA is for FOUR MONTHS. The dates to be followed for these months, with some details regarding the importance of these months are as below.

31st July to 28th August - First month of Chaturmasya. (Fast from Shak, green leafy vegetables, for one month)

29th August to 27th September - Second Month of Chaturmasya. (Fasting from yogurt for one month)

28th September to 26th October - Third month of Chaturmasya. (Fasting from milk for one month)

27th October to 25th November - Fourth month of Chaturmasya - KARTIKA MONTH. (fasting from Urad dahl for one month)

25th November  - Chaturmasya ends KARTIKA MONTH ENDS.

Chaturmasya - Vrat' is observed by all - Karmis, Gyanis, Yogis and Bhaktas for the attainment of their respective ends. It is a kind of penance. But there is a difference in the mode of sadhan, as the ends of Karmis, Gyanis, Yogis and Bhaktas are different. The ultimate goal of Bhaktas is the get love for Supreme Personality of Godhead Sri Krishna (Krishna-prem).

Supreme Lord Sri Chaitanya, and our Acharyas observed Chaturmasya vrat only to teach us that we should also observe this Vrat.

Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu observed Chaturmasya Vrat at Purushottam Dham by spending the whole time with Sri Krishna-katha.

Listening and chanting of the Holy Name, Form, Attributes and Pastimes of Sri Krishna should be mainly performed. Alongwith this we should also observe exoteric rules an enjoined in the scriptures as far as practicable.

Srila Prabhupada states in the Shri Chaitanya Charitamrita Madhya lila 4.169 purport:

"The Chaturmasya period begins in the month of Asadha (June-July) from the day of Ekadasi called Sayana-ekadasi, in the fortnight of the waxing moon. The period ends in the month of Kartika (October-November) on the Ekadasi day known as Utthana-ekadasi, in the fortnight of the waxing moon.

This four-month period is known as Chaturmasya. Some Vaisnavas also observe it from the full-moon day of Asadha until the full-moon day of Kartika. That is also a period of four months. This period, calculated by the lunar months, is called Chaturmasya, but others also observe Caturmasya according to the solar month from Sravana to Kartika."

"Chaturmasya should be observed by all sections of the population. It does not matter whether one is a grhastha or a sannyasi. The observance is obligatory for all asramas. The real purpose behind the vow taken during these four months is to minimize the quantity of sense gratification. This is not very difficult.

In the month of Sravana one should not eat spinach, in the month of Bhadra one should not eat yogurt, and in the month of Asvina one should not drink milk. One should not eat fish or other nonvegetarian food during the month of Kartika. ... On the whole, during the four-month period of Chaturmasya one should practice giving up all food intended for sense enjoyment."

Various vows and austerities during Chaturmasya and Their respective results.

"O King, one who is My devotee and is fixed in vow, whether man or woman, for the purpose of Dharma, should accept these various austerities and observances. I shall now describe to you all of them along with their respective results.

01) No salt -- One's voice becomes sweet.

02) No oil -- One's life is prolonged and gets progeny.

03) No oil massages -- One's body becomes beautiful.

04) No cooking with oil -- One's enemies are vanished.

05) No licorice and oil -- One becomes wealthy.

06) Give up wearing unoffered flowers -- One becomes a Vidyadhara in Devapura.

07) Give up six kinds of tastes (spice, sour, bitter, sweet, salty and harsh)-- One never becomes ugly, smelly, or obtains a bad birth.

08) Practice of yoga -- One goes to Brahmaloka.

09) No betal nuts -- One becomes happy.

10) No cooked food (raw fruits & Vegetables) -- One obtains purity.

11) No honey -- One becomes lustrous.

12) No yogurt or milk -- One attains Goloka.

13) No cooking with earthen pots -- One gets . (?)

14) No hot food -- One gets offspring with a long life.

15) Take rest on the ground or on stone -- One becomes an associate of Vishnu.

16) One who gives up meat & honey is a yogi and muni.

17) No intoxicating liquors -- One becomes powerful and free from disease.

18) Fast for one day -- One is honored in Brahmaloka.

19) No cutting of hair and nails -- One gets the benefit of taking bath daily in Ganges.

20) No speaking of grama katha (nonsense) -- One's order will never be disobeyed.

21) Eat food on the ground without dish or plate -- One obtains a kingdom on Earth.

22) Chant the mantra Namo Narayana -- One obtains the result of giving in charity 100 times.

23) Offer prayers to the Lord -- One gets the result of giving cows in charity.

24) Touch the lotus feet of the Deity -- One becomes a successful person.

25) Clean the temple of the Lord -- If one is king he remains so for a Kalpa.

26) Circumambulating the temple three times offering prayers -- At the time of death one will mount a swan airplane and go to Vaikuntha.

27) Singing or playing musical instruments in the temple of the Lord -- One goes to Gardharvaloka.

28) Take pleasure in studying the sastras -- One goes to Vishnuloka.

29) Sprinkle water in the temple -- One goes to apsaraloka.

30) Take bath in a holy place -- One's body becomes pure.

31) Worship Lord Vishnu with flowers -- One goes to Vaikuntha.

32) Eat panchagavya -- One gets the result of observing candrayana fasting.

33) Eat one meal a day -- One gets the results of performing an Agnihotra.

34) Eat at night only -- One gets the result of going to all the places of pilgrimage.

35) Eat at noon only -- One attains Devaloka.

36) Take food not obtained by begging or any extraneous endeavor -- One gets the results of opening water stands and digging wells.

37) Take bath daily -- One will never see hell.

38) No eating on a plate -- One gets the result of bathing at Pushkara.

39) Eat on a leaf -- One obtains the result of living at Kurukshetra.

40) Eat on a stone -- One obtains the result of bathing at Prayag.

41) Giving up drinking to six hours -- One will not be attacked by diseases.

42) During the Chaturmasya, garlands, caranamrta, candana and water from the conshell of the Lord, mahaprasadam, Deity garlands must be accepted.

In this way one who performs this vrata for the satisfaction of Lord Kesava and Lord Gauranga becomes satisfied himself. O best of the Pandavas, among My devotees, he whoaccepts these vows and austerities during the Chaturmasya goes to my abode at the time of death, of this there is no doubt.

Vishnu Rahasya - Lord Brahma to Narada Muni.

If one accepts all these Vaisnava austerities and observances with devotion, one attains the supreme destination O Narada. One who desires within himself to execute all these Vaisnava austerities and vows, his sins obtained within one hundred births is destroyed. If one is exclusively devoted, peaceful, takes daily bath, is fixed in vow and worships the Lord during these four months, he goes to the abode of the Lord. He who accepts the austerity of sleeping on the ground this time when the Vishnu Deity is sleeping in yoga nidra underwater, he goes to the abode of Laxmi.

Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita. Madhya-lila 4.169. purport

"One should carefully give up attachment for material assets. People in general have spontaneous attachment for house, household paraphernalia, clothes, ornaments, wealth, wife and children's health, their own health, eatables, trees, and animals. Some people are so addicted to smoking, chewing pan, eating fish and meat, and drinking alcohol that their practice of spiritual life is obstructed.

The procedure for giving up grief is explained in the Padma Purama:

sokamarsadibhir bhavair akrantam yasya manasam
katham tasya mukundasya sphurttih sambhavana bhavet(8)

Within the heart of one who is full of anger or pride, or lamentation on the state of his wife or sons, there is no possibility of Krsna and Gauranga being manifest.

One should accept only those things necessary for his devotional life, as stated in the Naradiya Purama:

As one progresses in this way he offers prayers similar to Prahlada Maharaja's in the Srimad Bhagavatam (7.9.39):

naitan manas tava kathasu vikuntha-natha
sampriyate durita-dustam asadhu tivram
kamaturam harsa-soka-bhayaisanartam
tasmin katham tava gatim vimrsami dinah (11)

My dear Lord of the Vaikuntha planets, where there is no anxiety, my mind is extremely sinful and lusty, being sometimes so-called happy and sometimes so-called distressed. My mind is full of lamentation and fear, and it always seeks more and more money.
Thus it has become most polluted and is never satisfied in topics concerning You. I am therefore most fallen and poor. In such a status of life, how shall I be able to discuss Your activities? O Krsna! How will I get attachment for topics concerning You? And how will I meditate on Your pastimes?

The Srimad Bhagavatam (7.9.40) explains how a living entity attracted to sense objects such as form and taste is completely vanquished:

jihvaikato 'cyuta vikarsati mavitrpta
sisno 'nyatas tvag-udaram sravanam kutascit
ghrano 'nyatas capala-drk kva ca karma-saktir
bahvyah sapatnya iva geha-patim lunanti (12)

My dear Lord, O infallible one, my position is like that of a person who has many wives, all trying to attract him in their own way. For example, the tongue is attracted to palatable dishes, the genitals to have sex with an attractive woman, and the sense of touch to contact with soft things. The belly, although filled, still wants to eat more, the ear, not attempting to hear about You, is generally attracted to useless talks. The sense of smell is attracted to yet another side, the restless eyes are attracted to scenes of sense gratification, and the active senses are attracted elsewhere. In this way I am certainly embarrassed.

By taking shelter of the holy name, attachment develops. The symptoms of this attachment are described in the Srimad Bhagavatam (10.29.34):

Prabhupada mentions it to be done (in cc Madhya as an austerity offered to the lord)

Another deep meaning that is that like Ekadasi vrata, it is meant to reduce the bodily conception of life. As per BG 16.1-3, sattva samshuddhi, (for..Jnana yoga vyavasthiti.. sense gratification is opposite of those goals, so to promote it during the heavy rainy season where sadhus can't go out and preach freely in India it was done.

Eating green boiled papaya mixed with mung dhal rice kitchri with whole black pepper and only cumin seeds with ginger root once a day was very sattvic and very healthy.

The papaya ginger root and black peppercorns boiled inside helped digestion which is weak during the rain. No doubt it also protects health too.

It was so sattvic it really mellows out the passion in us. These are side benefits to be realized.

Of course it's tough (but not impossible) to follow it while you travel around the world during Chaturmasya instead of staying at one place. It's also a test on your resolve to stick to your vows. Especially if you remain strict with it even on the festival days like Janmastami, SP Tirobhava, Radhastami, when all the other devotees feast like anything.

Text 398

tatra caturmasya-mahatmye
catur-varam bhramibhis tu
jagat sarvam caracaram
krantam bhavati vipragrya
tat tirtha-gamanadhikam

In the Skanda Purana, Caturmasya-mahatmya, it is said:
"O best of brahmanas, a person who four times circumambulates the Lord attains the result of circumambulating the entire universe filled with moving and unmoving beings. He attains a result better than going on all pilgrimages."

Text 399

tatraivanyatra
pradaksinam tu yah kuryat
harim bhaktya samanvitah
hamsa-yukta-vimanena
visnulokam sa gacchati

In the Caturmasya-mahatmya it is also said:
"A person who with devotion circumambulates Lord Hari flies on a swan to Lord Visnu's world."

Hari bhakti vilasa eighth vilasa

submitted by Jaganmohini devi dasi

Source for the following excerpt: Inaugural address “The Joy of Human Life” by Dr. Kalam delivered at “International Summit: Towards a Culture of harmony and Peace”, New Delhi, Dec. 7-10, 2003. It has appeared in the Publication “Towards a Culture of Harmony and Peace” published jointly by Bhaktivedanta Institute (Kolkata) and Delhi Peace Summit.

He concludes the address as follows:

Creator’s Message

God has created the human being with a brain and thinking faculty. He has commanded His creation that the faculty must be used with reasoning to reach His image. This is the mission of the human life. Science is the best boon God has bestowed upon mankind. Science with reasoning becomes the capital of society. In whatever field we work, be it science, technology, medicine, politics, policing, theology or the judiciary, we have to remain in the service of the common man whose well-being is central to all human knowledge and endeavor.

Every religion has a central component – spirituality that is driven by compassion and love. Rationality and logic are intrinsic to science and spirituality. A spiritual experience is the goal of a deeply religious person whereas a major discovery or an invention is the goal of a scientific mind. If both aspects are unified, amalgamated in our own patterns, we can transcend to that level of thinking in which unity is cohesive aspect. For this environment the two major components, Science and Spirituality, have to interact. A Peace prayer can be the foundation for both.

Peace Prayer

Oh Almighty, create thoughts and actions in the minds of the people of the nation so that they live united.

Oh Almighty, bless the people to take a path of life with righteousness as righteousness gives the strength of character.

Help all religious leaders of the country to give strength to the people to combat the divisive forces.

Guide the people to develop an attitude to appreciate different ideologies and transform enmity among individuals, organizations and nations into friendliness and harmony

Embed the thought ‘Nation is bigger than the Individual’ in the minds of the leaders and people.

Oh God, bless the people to work with perseverance to transform the country into a peaceful and prosperous nation and promote world peace.

Dr. Abdul Kalam receiving the 675 pages proceedings publication ‘Thoughts on the Synthesis of Science and Religion” published by BI-Kolkata from H.H. Bhaktisvarupa Damodara Swami

By Hari Narayana Das

On December 2014, the United Nations accepted the proposal submitted by 177 countries including Indonesia to declare June 21 as the International Yoga Day. This has popularized Yoga as another word for holistic living, health and prosperity.

This year June 21 was celebrated as the first International Yoga day. People from all walks of life came out to participate in the celebration: India, the US, Beijing, Paris, Manila, Seoul, Bangkok, Taipei and of course, Indonesia. Indonesia, as one of the supporter of the Yoga Day, also organized a mass Yoga relaxation program in its four biggest city, Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya, and Denpasar.

Through Indian Embassy in Indonesia, as part of the “Friend of India: festival of India in Indonesia 2015”, promoted Yoga Day event. The committee invited the school of Yoga, practitioners, people interested in yoga, and the Hare Krsna Devotees to participate in the celebration of the International Yoga day.
Mass Yoga in Bali was held in the Puputan Margarana Park (Bajra Sandhi Monument), Niti Mandala Street, Renon, Denpasar. More than three thousand participants since early morning prepared themselves to roll out their yoga mats to take part in the celebration. The committee gave the devotees chance to do kiran before commencing the event. Hare Krishna Maha Mantra sung melodiously in Balinese tune was like a warm up for all the participants. The devotees took this chance to distribute Srila Prabhupada books and prasadam too.

The Vice Governor of Bali, Mr. Sudikerta opened the Yoga celebration. H.H. Subhag Swami Maharaj also personally came to the spot to give support to the devotees in distributing prasadam and Srila Prabhupada book. As Srila Prabhupada wrote in his letter that “Please maintain the program of temple worship, distributing of prasada, sankirtana party, distribution of literatures, study and Krsna work, all in order and make everything as nice as possible.” (SPL to Tirthapada, November 13th, 1970)

The sankirtan team spread to every corner of the park to distribute Srila prabupada books. One lady from Singaraja, the northern part of Bali said that she personally came to Denpasar to join the Yoga and she felt fortunate to have met the devotees who distributed book and and that she immediately purchased ten books once. She said that the book were to be given to her friends because they were very valuable books. More than 100 books and 2000 glasses of mung dal porridge were distributed.
“…along with distribution of our books and prasadam will flourish the propaganda of our mission.” (SPL to Bhagavan dasa, February 16th, 1971)

More photos here: https://goo.gl/DqTciI

For Preachers, Teachers & Translators First Semester: Aug 20 – Nov 10, 2015 

• The course covers 800 most essential sutras (grammatical rules) from Sri Hari-namamrita-vyakarana, Srila Jiva Gosvami’s complete Sanskrit grammar, and includes training in reading and understanding Sanskrit commentaries. 
• By the end of the course students will be able to directly read and understand the Sanskrit commentaries on Srimad-Bhagavatam and several works of prominent Vaisnava acaryas. They will learn to rearrange key Sanskrit verses in prose order and give a comprehensive explanation of their grammatical structure and will become competent to grasp the nuances found in the multiple interpretations of a verse. 
• Prospective candidates need not have any previous knowledge of Sanskrit. 
• The complete course is divided into six semesters. 
• The first semester (Aug 20 – Nov 10, 2015) covers 150 sutras from the first two chapters (Sandhi and Nama prakaranas) of the Harinamamrita Vyakarana. Students will also learn about right and wrong pronunciation, Sanskrit meters and most common usages of nouns and pronouns. 
• There will be two to three hours of classes five days a week. In addition, students are required to do 3 hours of homework daily, including memorization of sutras. 
• Punctuality and full-attendance are compulsory. The course will be conducted by Vraja Ramana Dasa, one of the teachers from the BBT Sanskrit School founded by His Grace Gopiparanadhana Prabhu. Contact: 081 26 277 275 / vihe.courses.admissions@pamho.net

Lecture on Sarvabhaumas Devotion Manifests as Aspiraton for Total Absorption by HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu on Jul 2015 

(His Grace Caitanya Charan Prabhu is a monk and spiritual teacher in the time honored tradition of bhakti yoga. He is a editor of Back to Godhead, which is the official international magazine of the Hare Krishna movement.)

To Listen and Download - click here

Lecture on Feeling Complete with the Holy Name by HH Romapada Swami in 04 Jul 2015 at Chicago

(Romapada Swami‘s first encounter with Krishna consciousness came in Buffalo, in the shape of a lecture at the State University of New York in 1969. The lecturer was His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. The following year, Romapada Swami joined the movement in Boston and was initiated in 1971.)

To Listen and Download - click here

Lecture on There are Demons Everywhere by HH Bir Krishna Goswami on 16 Jun 2015 at New Goloka

(Bir Krishna Goswami spent his childhood in Long Island, New York. As an academically gifted student at North Western University, he began reading Srila Prabhupada’s books. Impressed by Srila Prabhupada's scholarship and saintliness Bir Krishna Swami became a member of the Krishna conscious community in Gainesville, Florida in 1971.)

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Lecture on Learn How to be Good by HH Bhakti Vikas Swami on 02 Jun 2015 at Sri Lanka (Tamil Translation)

(His Holiness Bhakti Vikasa Swami appeared in this world in 1957 in England. He joined the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) in London in 1975 and was initiated in that year with the name Ilapati dasa by ISKCON’s founder-acarya, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. )

To Listen and Download - click here

Respected
Prabhujis/Matajis,
Please
Accept My Humble ObesiancesAll
Glories To Srila PrabhupadaAll
Glories To Sri Guru and Sri Gauranga

On behalf of Western India Divisional Council, we are extremely happy to invite you all for Kumbh mela 2015

at Nasik. Following information may facilitate your arrival at Nasik Kumbh mela festival:-

1. ISKCON organised programs and facilities at Nasik Kumb mela 2015 will start from 25th August 2015, and it will be continued till 20th September 2015. 

2. Main dates for Kumba mela sahisnan are:

1st Sahisnan - 29th Aug 2015 

2nd Sahisnan – 13th Sept 2015 
3rd Sahisnan – 18th Sept 2015

3. Location of Our ISKCON Kumbh mela Pandal:Near Swaminarayan mandir, Mumbai Agra road, Vaishnavi Park, Tapovan, Nasik.Opposite to Athavan Lawns, Vaishnavi Park, Tapovan, Nasik. We can check on Google map search for Athavan lawns, as our pandal is next to that.

 
4. For Accommodation & Tent Bookings details - please contact Advaita Krsna Prabhu (+919810630309) iskconkm@gmail.com

5. For Any other assistance/ inquiry : please contact Bh Jeurkar – ph: 9823011470 (ISKCON Nasik Representative)

6. The Official website for ISKCON Kumbh Mela is - http://www.kumbhmelaiskcon.com/index.html. For
any further details, you may go through the website or contact the ISKCON Nasik representative.
We hope and pray for your wonderful divine experience at Nasik Kumbh mela 2015.
(On behalf of all devotees assisting in organizing Kumbh mela @ Nasik) 
Your Servant
Gauranga Das
WIDC
Chairman