Lecture on Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita by HG Devakinandana Prabhu on 01 Jan 2015 at ISKCON Juhu
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Lecture on Srila Prabhupada Lilamrita by HG Devakinandana Prabhu on 01 Jan 2015 at ISKCON Juhu
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Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 06 Chapter 17 Text 08 by Nava Yogendra Swami at Punjabi Bagh on 20 Jan 2015 at ISKCON Juhu
(Nava Yogendra Swami Naishtik Brahmachari left home at a very young age of 9 years to become Sadhu and lived in jungles. Returned home and again left at the age of 17 years and lived at Shri Vrindavana dham. Became the disciple of His Grace A.C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in the year 1974.)
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Lecture on Should Disciples give Diksa to devotees by HH Sivarama Swami on 11 Jan 2015 at UK
(Sivarama Swami was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1949. His family immigrated to Canada where some years later in 1970 he first came in contact with Srila Prabhupada's teachings, via his transcendental books. He became an initiated disciple of His Divine Grace in 1973 and accepted the renounced order of life in 1979.)
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Lecture on One Spark of Krishna's Opulence by Jayadvaita Swami on 18 Jan 2015 at ISKCON Chowpatty
(Jayadvaita Swami is editor, publisher, and teacher. He is a disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.)
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Mahatma Prabhu just released a new CD. (You can hear samples of it, download songs or order the CD at:
http://mahatmadas.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b7e17f0fb67f8dbab3113e139&id=c27177ed81&e=18e9d139c7).
He also made a music video of one song and is asking devotees to send the link to as many people as possible, share it with their email address books, on their FB page, etc. and send it with the message below.
I am sending you a link to a very special music video that has just been released an offering of hope from the yoga community for a better New Year and for a better world. Please share this beautiful song with as many people as possible to uplift their hearts and thus help uplift the world.
Here is the link.
http://mahatmadas.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=b7e17f0fb67f8dbab3113e139&id=99f645c630&e=18e9d139c7
31st January, Varaha Dvadasi will mark 12 years since the opening of our Vrinda Kunda Temple! To celebrate, we will do special parikramas to the Holy Places of Braja. The program will culminate with our famous Kalash Yatra, an ecstatic Sankirtan procession with the ladies carrying water pots with coconuts on their heads on 8 Feb. Programs will be going on from 31 jan-15 Feb.
We will depart almost every morning from Krishna Balaram Mandir by bus and go on parikrama to different pastime places of Braja. There will be lively narrations of the different pastimes that happened in each place. Then we will return in time for lunch prasadam in the temple. And on all bus parikramas, Sannyasis and Prabhupada Disciples and their families will go free of charge.
Then on Sunday 8th Feb., we will be having the super ecstatic Kalash Yatra and sankirtan procession around Nandagrama. Kalash means water pot. All the ladies will carry water pots with water from the sacred Pavana Sarovara with colorful cloth and coconuts on top. We'll have 108 pots and the Brijbasi ladies will train our foreign lady devotees how to carry them. Even some of our own ladies who go every year will train them! The Brijbasinis even dance with no hands with their pots on their heads! All the ladies who have participated told me it was the highlight of their Vrindavan experience. That day is free for everyone!
After reaching at Vrinda Kunda, there will be Krishna Katha, butter churning festival, artika and then feast for one and all. Then everyone can help feed all the Nandagram Brijbasis. That day all transportation and prasad will be
free for all who come.
So please come relish wonderful Vaisnava association in the Holy Dhama! Especially for those coming for the Anniversary Festivals at Tirupati, Ujjain, Aravade, and Noida on Nityananda Trayodasi and are wondering what to do till Mayapur Festival starts, most of our parikramas will take place after Nityananda Trayodasi.
Parikrama Schedule
31st Jan Feast at Vrinda Kunda
Feb
. 1st Nityananda Trayodasi, Festival in Krishna Balaram Mandir
. 2nd Nagara Sankirtan and feast at Nityananda Vat
. 3rd Narottama's App. Feast at Radha Vraja Mohan Mandir
. 4th Vrindavan Temples
. 5th Javat - Ter Kadamba - Vrinda Kunda (lunch at Vrinda Kunda)
. 7th Govardhana Parikrama
. 8th Vrinda Kunda Festival (feast at Vrinda Kunda) Free
. 9th Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati's Vyasa Puja
. 10th Radha Kunda - Kusum Sarovara
. 11th Raval Gokula
. 13th Barsana
. 14th Man Sarovar, Bhandirvan, Baelvan
For your travel needs as well as assistance for booking accommodation in outside guesthouses you can contact Advaita Acarya Dasa at our Information Center at <wc.vrindavan@gmail.com> His phone no. is +91 9557849475. He can also arrange a taxi to pick you up from the airport or train station. For booking in the Krishna Balaram Guesthouse, you can contact <ganapati.gkg@pamho.net> or +91 565 2540021. For MVT <MVT@pamho.net> or +91 565 3207578.
Also these days you can book your train reservations on line at <http://www.indianrail.gov.in/index.html>
Pics from previous:
https://picasaweb.google.com/107933972114997931524/KalashYatra2011
Pics from last year
https://www.facebook.com/geetgovind.das/media_set?set=a.619665904715543.1073741
825.100000164182865&type=3
In service of Srimati Vrinda Devi,
Deena Bandhu dasa
It was a strange sight: In the middle of a vacant lot strewn with rubble and the metal bars that had once supported the temple structure were the beautiful Radha-Krsna Deities, Sri Sri Radha-Rasabihari, dressed in Their green and silver outfits and garlanded with flowers. They stood on Their carved teakwood altar amid the fragrant scent of burning incense and the warm glow of ghee lamps. Only two or three small pieces of the roof over Them had been removed; otherwise, They and Their Deity room remained intact. And the picture of Lord Nrsimhadeva over the altar doors, though slightly tilted to the side, was still there too, as if He was looking down upon us and assuring us that He had been there to protect the Deities.
The year was 1973, and that field a piece of what had been jungle in Juhu was supposed to be in the process of being transferred to Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON. The seller, Mr. Nair, had taken a sizable deposit and was delaying the transfer under some pretext as he had done twice before with the same land. Meanwhile, Srila Prabhupada had brought Deities of Radha and Krsna onto the property, which he named Hare Krishna Land, and built a temporary shed as a temple to house them. Srila Prabhupada told Nair, “If you want to keep the land, then return our money. Otherwise, keep the money and give us the land.” But the landlord wanted to keep both the money and the land against all principles of law and justice.
One morning, on May 18, 1973, two large trucks from the Bombay Municipal Corporation drove onto Hare Krishna Land and fifty municipal workers carrying crowbars, chisels, and sledgehammers descended on the temple. Following close behind was a truck from the police department, from which numerous constables emerged. I rushed forward to meet the municipal officer in charge and asked him what was happening. He said that the structure was unauthorized and that they had come to demolish it. I replied that the temple was authorized and that I had a letter from the municipal commissioner to prove it. He seemed uninterested, however, and even after I showed him the letter and other documents in my file, he ordered the demolition to begin. So I approached the policemen. “We are here only to see that there is no trouble,” they said nonchalantly.
Some workers put a ladder up against the temple, and one of them started climbing up with a sledgehammer to break the roof. I threw the ladder down. Immediately three policemen grabbed me by the arms and neck and put me into the truck. Other devotees too rushed forward to stop the demolition squad, and one by one each was apprehended. Finally, the last one left was Maithili dasi, the head pujari. Having locked the doors to the Deity chamber, she stood there, ready to knock down anyone who came near. A policeman seized her, and she punched him. Several policemen ganged up on her and hit her with their clubs, grabbed her hair, and dragged her into the truck, where we all sat helplessly, witnessing the brutality and singing prayers to Lord Nrsimhadeva. Neighbors, tenants, passersby no one lifted a finger to help us.
We were taken to the Santa Cruz police station and locked up in a room. They did not allow us any phone calls. Only several long hours later were we released from custody and able to return to the site.
The following day, headlines and pictures appeared on the front page of several newspapers. One caption read, “Illegal temple demolished.” The seller's main agent, the local municipal corporator had arranged for hostile reports about us to appear everywhere. I rushed to the office of the Bombay Municipal Commissioner but was told that he was too busy to see me.
We informed Srila Prabhupada in Calcutta. He suggested we take advantage of the incident to get our life members more involved in our activities. Prabhupada himself sent an open letter to our friends, members, and sympathizers, which we published in our local journal, the Hare Krishna Monthly. After summarizing the history of the Hare Krishna Movement, its philosophy, and its difficulties in Juhu, Srila Prabhupada concluded:
“We have many sympathizers and life members of our society, and I wish that they may come forward to help us in this precarious position and save the situation. Our cause is so noble, scientific, and pure that everyone, irrespective of caste, creed, and religion, should come forward and save us from this position. I hope that my appeal to the people of Bombay will not go in vain.”
Following Prabhupada's direction, we arranged a meeting of all our life members in Bombay. Our good friend Sadajiwatlal, a staunch Hindu and supporter of ISKCON, helped us with the preparations. Only about twelve to fifteen members attended, but Sadajiwatlal gave a powerful keynote speech, and I read Prabhupada's letter.
Thoughtful Hindus were concerned that if one temple were destroyed without any reaction or response leading to restitution and proper retribution, other temples would be vulnerable and could similarly be destroyed in the future. Sadajiwatlal put his whole heart into helping us with the temple campaign and enlisted the entire range of his friends and associates in the effort. Mr. Vinod Gupta, a member of the pro-Hindu Jan Sangh political party, published a leaflet proclaiming ISKCON to be a bona fide Hindu organization. And Sri Sarkar Singh, of the Hindu Mahasabha, threatened to go on a fast if the temple was not reconstructed soon.
We approached leaders of the Shiv Sena in the municipal corporation for help. Vamanrao Mahadik, the chairman of the Standing Committee, the most powerful committee in the Bombay Municipal Corporation, was incensed by the demolition, which he called illegal, and promised to raise the issue in the committee. On May 21, after a unanimous resolution was passed in our favor, he wrote to the municipal commissioner that the temple should be rebuilt at municipal cost and permitted to remain until the court decided the land dispute.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mhatre, the municipal councilor friend of Mrs. Nair who had instigated the demolition of the temple, approached the charity commissioner and raised various questions about our charitable status. Even more alarming, he approached the Foreigners Registration Office to have us kicked out of India. Soon notices came from the office of the charity commissioner as well as from the Foreigners Registration Office.
For fifteen hours every day the devotees, along with Save the Temple committee members, were making phone calls, writing letters, issuing circulars, contacting newspapers, and meeting influential citizens and government officials. But the main task was to work on getting permission to rebuild the temple. So Sadajiwatlal and I went to see the most important councilors in the municipal corporation, one by one, to convince them that the permission should be given. Then, as I also had to deal with other affairs, Sadajiwatlal, with Yadubara dasa and Visakha dasi, continued approaching the councilors, explaining the facts and counteracting the false propaganda Mr. Mhatre was making against us in the municipality. All of the hundred and forty councilors became convinced that we could not possibly be what Mr. Mhatre was saying we were. Our efforts propelled a great wave of sympathy in our favor, as people gradually came to understand who we actually were.
As I was busy with other activities, Harikesa dasa volunteered to publish the next issue of the Hare Krishna Monthly. Harikesa was brilliant, and with Acyutananda Swami's help he brought out a sensational issue entitled “Special Demolition Issue” a photo of the demolished temple wrapped around the front and back covers, and the heading “Religiosity in Shambles.” Articles also appeared in other publications, such as the journal of the Maharashtra Gopalan Samiti, forcefully condemning the municipality's action. And from Calcutta, our friend Tarun Kanti Ghosh, who was minister of commerce, industries, and tourism in the government of West Bengal, sent a letter to the chief minister of Maharashtra:
“The members of the Society had purchased a land near Juhu, Bombay, and constructed a temple. A few days back some miscreants demolished the temple and started a campaign branding them as 'Hippies' and 'C.I.A. agents.' This, as far as I know, is furthest from the truth. In fact, this Hare Krishna Society is purely a religious movement and deserves all sorts of help.”
A few days after the demolition, Srila Prabhupada had expressed his opinion of the whole incident in a letter to Mrs. Nirmala Singhal:
“The demolition of our temple by the municipality has strengthened our position. The municipal standing committee has condemned the hasty action of the municipality and has agreed to reconstruct the shed at their cost. Not only that, the temporary construction will continue to stay until the court decision is there as to who is the proprietor of the land. Under the circumstances we should immediately reconstruct the Deity shed. Barbed wire fencing should be immediately done to cover the naked land and if possible, immediately in front of the Deity shed, a temporary pandal should be constructed with our materials. If this is done, then I can go to Bombay and begin Bhagavata Parayana, to continue until the court decision is there. This is my desire.”
As Srila Prabhupada had predicted, our position was strengthened and a great wave of sympathy rose in our favor. The apparent calamity served as an impetus for us to meet more and more new people and present Krsna consciousness, to organize and mobilize our devotees and allies far beyond what we could have done under ordinary circumstances. Srila Prabhupada often quoted the saying “Failure is the pillar of success.” He said that especially in spiritual life, failure is not a discouragement. We just have to try, and try again. And by his and Krsna's mercy, we were successful. Soon we rebuilt the semi-permanent temple and eventually a beautiful marble temple and cultural complex for Sri Sri Radha-Rasabihari.
At the time of the demolition, we felt that everything was lost, but with Srila Prabhupada's intelligent direction and spiritual potency, we eventually gained everything that we that he wanted: not only permission to retain the small semi-permanent temple but also the permits, funds, resources, manpower, and whatever else we required to build the temple, guesthouse, restaurant, auditorium, and exhibits for the pleasure of Sri Sri Radha-Rasabihari and for the benefit of the people of Bombay, India, and the world.
Hare Krsna.
Now available!
"Prabhupada: Your Ever Well-Wisher" by Satsvarupa Dasa Goswami
English audiobook edition Narrator: Michael Scherer
"Prabhupada: Your Ever Well-Wisher" tells the inspiring story of a remarkable man and his remarkable achievement. A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada - philosopher, scholar, religious leader, author - founded the Hare Krishna movement in 1966, effectively transplanting India's spiritual culture of bhakti yoga from India to America. In his seventies and with almost superhuman drive, Prabhupada took his Hare Krishna movement and its iconic chant around the world and then back to India, establishing centers and ashrams wherever he went and writing over sixty books.
Learn more and listen to a sample at: http://bbtmedia.com/en/audio/en-pra
The book is also available at: www.audible.com/pd/B00OY9FWHO/
Hare Krishna,
BBTmedia.com
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Dear Devotees, Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
We are happy to announce the first event this year in Vrndavana Dhama in honor of the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada's historic journey on the Jaladutta to start this wonderful ISKCON mission, AND in honor of the 40th anniversary of the historic Opening of the Krishna Balarama Mandir. On Vasant Pancami, 24, January 2015 we will inaugaurate a fantastic presentation of the Changing Bodies Diorama upstairs in Srila Prabhupada's Samadhi Museum. We will also post new nameplates and descriptions of Parampara for our 4 parampara Deities upstairs.
Ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. with guest speakers, kirtan and Prasad distribution. Pictures will be sent out later on the Samadhi site of the Vrndavan temple web. Hope this meets you all well and in jolly spirits.
Your servant on behalf of the Samadhi,
Parvati devi dasi
Lecture on What is the real happiness how to achieve it by Bhakti Rasamrita Swami
(His Holiness Bhakti Rasamrita Swami completed his B.E. from M.S University Baroda, MBA from Bombay University & worked for some time in a multinational Bank.)
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Lecture on Harihara Kshetra-About Harihara Dieties by HH Kadamba Kanana Swami on Nov 2014 at Mayapur
(HH Kadamba Kanana Swami coordinated the construction of Srila Prabhupada’s samadhi in Mayapur. He took sannyasa in 1997 and is now an initiating guru.)
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Lecture on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 02 Text 31 Dharma is not a blanket injunction but an individualized customization by HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu on Dec 2014
(HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu is a celibate spiritual teacher (brahmachari) at ISKCON, Pune. He has done his Electronics & Telecommunications Engineering from the Govt College of Engg, Pune. He is a member of ISKCON's topmost intellectual body, the Shastric Advisory Council, which offers scriptural advise to the GBC)
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Lecture on Leading Marriage Life Knowing Well Its Purpose by Jayadvaita Swami on 11 Jan 2015 at ISKCON Chowpatty
(Jayadvaita Swami is editor, publisher, and teacher. He is a disciple of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, Founder-Acharya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness.)
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Lecture on Study the Exhalted by Indradyumna Swami at Auckland on 12 March 1991
(Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 06, Chapter 01, Text 04-06)
(Indradyumna Swami is a disciple of A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), a Sannyasi traveling preacher, and a guru or spiritual teacher in the Chaitanya Vaishnava tradition. Each year Indradyumna Swami circles the globe teaching the message of the Bhagavad Gita and introducing people to kirtan chanting of the Hare Krishna maha mantra.)
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Lecture on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 02 Text 71 Peace comes not by relocation but by Renunciation by HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu on Oct 2014
(HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu is a celibate spiritual teacher (brahmachari) at ISKCON, Pune. He has done his Electronics & Telecommunications Engineering from the Govt College of Engg, Pune. He is a member of ISKCON's topmost intellectual body, the Shastric Advisory Council, which offers scriptural advise to the GBC)
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Lecture on Krishna Bhakti Ke Ananda Ke Liye Amantran by HH Bhakti Vikas Swami on 20 Oct 2014 at Baroda
(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.)
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Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 04 Chapter 25 Text 38 Understand the Value of the Human Form of Life by HH Romapada Swami in 19 Nov 2014 at St.Louis
(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.)
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Lecture On Mera Bharat Mahan by Lokanath Swami on 03 Jan 2015 at Noida
(Born in Aravade, a small village Maharashtra, Indian, he went to Mumbai for studying. In the year 1971, His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada was touring India with his foreign disciples and had organized a pandal program in Mumbai.)
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