Thirty-eight years ago, on 30 August 1976, for the first time  I met Shrila Prabhupada in a personal darshanai it was a turning point of my life, a wonderful inner journey! I was in an ashram in Rishikesh, at the foot of the Himalayas, studying the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali. In Italy I had been a successful designer, the manager of six companies. Upon returning from the trip I was supposed to get married, but at the time, in that place, I was seriously thinking of leaving everything and settle in India. That pseudo worldly success made me feel like prison, as not only it was no longer a source of satisfaction, but it became clear to me that it was the biggest obstacle to achieving happiness that I have been aspiring.

The recurring thought was to start a new life dedicating myself to the search of God and my spiritual essence. When I became aware of the voice of my soul I felt a strong appeal – it was an urgent need to revise my life, to
think over my motivations and purposes. I understood that it was a turning point.

On that trip I was with a friend who has been always sick. Feverish, he remained for most of the time in our ashrama right on the banks of the Ganges. There was no furniture in the room, only two mats on the floor, his huge suitcase, my smaller one, a small window with a grate and a door with a latch. Each time we left the room, through the grates of the window the monkeys came in; they were having a lot of fun, especially with the bottles of medicines that the doctor had given to my friend.

It was in that ashrama that I met a sadhu, the person who has changed my life. Instead of attending the lectures on Patanjali, we walked together on the banks of Mother Ganga.

One day he said: “If you do not discover Bhakti, nothing will satisfy you.” Bhakti, Bhakti i I asked to explain the meaning of this word. “If I explain its meaning to you, you won’t understand me.”

This sadhu spoke English with difficulty, but there was no need in too much words, it was a kind of telepathic communication.

“Bhakti is difficult to explain, only your heart can define it.” And he began to chant this mantra:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare

We would spend hours chanting along with this mantra, then we would immerse in the waters of Mother Ganga: a rushing stream that takes away everything. “You have to meet Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada: he will make you know Krishna. Go to Vrindavan to meet him.”

Hearing that voice deep inside me, without pondering too much, I left for Delhi along with my sick friend. From Delhi we took a train to Mathura and then in Mathura we took a cart for Vrindavan. Having arrived to Vrindavan in
two days, I began to look for Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.

MATSYA AVATAR DAS ADHIKARI

Lecture on Kartik Mahatmya 2013by Vishwarup Prabhu

(Introduced to the movement of ISKCON in 1983 during medical college days. Started chanting 16 rounds in 1984. Acquired MBBS degree in 1985. Received first initiation in 1986 and Brahmin initiation in 1987.)

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Lecture on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 03 Text 01 Sunday Feast - Lust to Love God by HG Dravida Prabhu on 14 Sep 2014 at ISKCON Alachua

(HG Dravid prabhu is a vaishnava scholar, musician and poet. He has edited Back to Godhead magazine and other books published by the Bhaktivedanta Book Trust for over 25 years. From 1983 to 1989 he was part of the team that produced the last six 1,000-page volumes of the magnum opus of His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada: a commentated English translation of India's jewel of Vedic wisdom, the 18,000-verse Shrimad-Bhagavatam (Bhagavata Purana). He also helped produce the revised version of Srila Prabhupada’s nine-volume Chaitanya-charitamrita during 1995-96 and his Krishna book from 1994-95)

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Lecture on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 01 Text 06 Their Great Warriors counter balance our greater strength by HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu

(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.)

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By Basu Ghosh Das

On the auspicious day of Sri Rama Vijaya Dashami, aka "Dassera", October 3, 2104, ISKCON inaugurated a grand new temple for Sri Sri Radha Madhava, on the outskirts of Kanpur city, the largest city in India's largest and most populous state, Uttar Pradesh.

Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Sri Ram Naik, and the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh, Sri Padmanabh Acharya, presided over the inaugural ceremony.

A number of ISKCON leaders of ISKCON, including ISKCON Global Governing Body Chairman Anuttama Das, ISKCON India sannyasis Gopal Krishna Goswami, Bhakti Charu Swami, Radhanath Swami, Bhanu Swami, Navayogendra Swami, Lokanath Swami, Bhakti Vinoda Swami, Radha Raman Swami, Bhakti Rasamrita Swami, Atmanivedana Swami, Vedavyaspriya Swami, Bhakti Ashray Vaishnav Swami, Prabodhananda Saraswati Swami, and Murali Krishna Swami attended.

Senior ISKCON devotees such as Bhurijan Das, Deena Bandhu Das, Pancharatna Das, Bhaktarupa Das, Mahaman Das, and Basu Ghosh Das participated.  ISKCON London, UK leaders, Shrutidharma Das, Prana Bandhu Das, and Gauri Das were present at the function.

ISKCON India leaders Braja Hari Das, Pancharatna Das (Jaipur), Dayaram Das, Sri Jeeva Das (Gauhati), Bhaktivinode Das (Chandigarh), Pancharatna Das (Brahmapur, Odisha), Surdas, Radheshyam Das, Sanat Kumar Das, Sumitra Krishna Das, Vanamali Das, Krishna Kripa Das, Adhokshaja Das, Advaitacharya Das, Surapati Das, Vrajendranandan Das, Sanak Sanatan Das, Murli Mohan Das, Shrestha Das, Nityananda Ram Das, Paramatma Das, Ekalavya Das, and Vishnunam Das were present.

Sunil Madhava Das and Shyam Krishna Das from the USA, and Krishnapriya Das from London were amongst the NRI devotees who attended the opening ceremonies.

Srinathji Das, along with his wife, from Bombay, and Vedavyas Das, from New Delhi, both major supportors of ISKCON India projects, also attended the function.

Devakinandan Das, Zonal Secretary for ISKCON in Uttar Pradesh, and ISKCON Global Minister for Fund Raising, who is the driving force behind the project, presided over all aspects of the temple construction and inauguration.  Due to his efforts, the project at Kanpur, located on 17 acres of land on the Betur Road, has come up in almost record time!

He was assisted by a team of devotees, several of the University grads, as well as Lila Purushottam Das of IIT Kanpur, who is also principle of the ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Swami school at Vrindavan.

The day before the pran prathishta and maha-abhishek (bathing the Deities) ceremony, the netra unmilanam of the Deities was performed.

The installation rituals were conducted by Shitalanga Gauranga Das, Sevatulya Das and their assistants. Elaborate rituals following Gopal Bhatta Goswami's satkriya saar dipika, and other agama shastras, accompanied by the chanting of vedic and upanishadic mantras were ably performed by these devotees.

Devotees in large numbers from ISKCON Bombay Juhu and Chowpatty (Bombay) temples, as well as ISKCON New Delhi assisted the devotees of ISKCON Kanpur in serving the visiting devotees and visiting members of the general public.

ISKCON Chowpatty devotees took charge of cooking during the festival.

There were a number of devotees from all over India who joined the festival who's names are too numerous to mention.

There were lectures and kirtans by the senior leaders, and there were a number of cultural programs performed on the stage in the evening for the benefit of the visiting public, including an elaborate Krishna lila and Meerabai dance program by Smt. Hema Malini and her troupe.

Prem Kirtan Das from Bombay coordinated the sound systems, and Shyam Pandey from Baltimore, USA, coordinated the videography, and live streaming video of the function on ISKCON TV on the internet.

A number of prominent businessmen of Kanpur, who generously supported the project attended the opening ceremonies with their family members.

Besides the temple program, there was a "Natkat mela" area for children, mass prasad distribution to the visitors, prasad sales booth, kirtan and bhajan programs by outside artists, and kirtans and lectures in the temple by various devotees.

Thousands of members of the public at Kanpur attended the opening ceremonies on all three days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. 

 To View Photo Gallery : Click on  

http://www.iskcondesiretree.net/photo/albums/iskcon-kanpur-temple-inauguration-i
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Lecture on Lord Balarama Appearance Day at Russian Festivals by HH Nitai Chaitanya Goswami on 10 Aug 2014 at Kursk

(His Holiness Nitai Chaitanya Goswami Maharaj, is one of the first sannyasis of Russia and one of senior most devotees from the times of USSR. He served as ISKCON temple president in Ukraine and later and to this day as a Regional Secretary of Central Russia region. Dedicated to preaching in the Central Russia that he supervises, he opened first purpose-build temple of the area in 2012.)

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Lecture on Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10 Chapter 51 Text 01 We See Yet We don't by HG Kaunteya Prabhu at ISKCON Chowpatty on 14 Nov 2013

(H.G. Kaunteya Prabhu a disciple of His Holiness Jayapataka Swami has been serving as Co-Minister of the ISKCON Congregational Development Ministry (www.namahatta.org), as a member of the GBC Strategic Planning Team and as Co-Chair of the GBC Organizational Development Committee.)

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Lecture on Bhagavad Gita Chapter 01 Text 03 The Politician seeks martial dedication by Emotional Manipulation by HG Chaitanya Charan Prabhu

(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.)

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Lecture on Stress Management by HH Romapada Swami on 16 Sept 2014 at Brandeis University

(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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Dear Devotees,

Hare Krsna!

Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.

It is our great pleasure to announce ISKCON MAYAPUR's 2nd annual six day Kartik Navadwip Mandal Parikrama during the most auspicious month of Kartik (organized by the Mayapur Chadnra's). The Parikram begins on October 22nd and will end on October 29th, 2014.

There will be two days break, one for Goverdhan puja (24th October) and the other for Srila Prabhupada's disappearance day (27th October), so that devotees can participate in the festivals. 

For this year also, the parikram will not stay overnight; we will leave each day from the ISKCON Mayapur campus at 5 AM and return no later than 5 PM. In order to give more time to chanting and hearing pastimes in the holy places, we have reduced some of the walking, and devotees will be transported faster to the various places via boat and vehicles.

The cost of the parikram is Rs. 1,500 per person. This price includes all transportation, snacks, breakfast, lunch, and drinking water for 6 days (Rs 1500 doesn't actually cover the cost but with the help of some generous devotees we are able to do this service, so any donations in this regard are more than welcome).

Kartik is the most auspicious month to perform spiritual activities, and the weather is extremely pleasant and favorable, so please do not miss this opportunity to associate with the devotees, to hear and chant the glories of Lord Chaitanya, to bathe in the Ganges, and honor prasadam together in the various holy places.

For more information and booking  you can call on this no +918697806727 or you can write to us Via e-mail: Mayapur.chandras@pamho, or visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Mayapur.Chandras

for russan devotees you can call Akarshani Matajee phone number: 8944001377

Thank you

Your servants
Mayapur Chandra's team

Lecture by Amal Bhakta Prabhu on 21 Sep 2014 at Los Angeles

(Amal Bhakta was born in New York City and attended New York University. He moved to Santa Monica, California in 1954 and worked in motion pictures for three years.)

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Lecture on Radhastami by HG Shyamasundara Prabhu at Bangalore on 02 Sep 2014

(His Grace Shyamasundara Prabhu is a disciple of A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada since 1976. His is a Student of Vedic Astrology since 1977.)

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1. Holyname events in Schools and Colleges (Thousands of students were introduced to chanting of Holy Names)
2. Interfaith dialogues on Holy Names
3. 64 rounds a day Japathons
4. Maha-Harinaam Nagar Sankirtans 
5. 24/12 hours non-stop kirtan 
6. Daily Nagar Sankirtans for 10 Days
7. Japa walks
8. Kirtan Melas
9. Seminars on Holy Names
10. Skits and Dramas on Holy Names
11. Japa Booths
12. Holy Name educational courses
13. Quiz/Games on Holy Names

Mr. Modi touched the feet of seer of Siddaganga Math, Shivakumara Swami, and sought his blessings.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited Siddaganga Math here, hailed the religious institution for imparting Sanskrit education and stressed the importance of learning Sanskrit.

Addressing the students of the math on its premises, Mr. Modi said Sanskrit was a treasure trove of science, art and culture, and a rich source of knowledge. He said Sanskrit would help tell the next generation about the contribution of our ancestors towards science and environment and “uphold the glorious tradition of Indian knowledge.”

Expressing concern over global warming, he said that Indian shastras told how to live without causing any damage to the environment. Mr. Modi touched the feet of the seer of the Siddaganga Math, Shivakumara Swami, and sought his blessings.

A cheque for Rs. 25 lakh was handed over to Mr. Modi for the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund for Jammu and Kashmir by the swami.

Source : http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/learn-sanskrit-says-pm/article6442962.ece?homepage=true

Lecture on ime and Tide Wait for No Man by HH Niranjana Swami on 22 Sep 2014 at Boston

(The management and spiritual leadership experience Niranjana Swami gained during his tenure as president of ISKCON Boston from 1979 to 1983, and his service as regional secretary of New England in 1984, readied him for his GBC appointment in 1987.)

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Lecture on Initation Ceremony by Radhanath Swami on 21 Sep 2014 at ISKCON Chicago

(Radhanath Swami has a special interest in the holy places in India and leads thousands of devotees on pilgrimage each year. Radhanath Swami is a trustee of Bhaktivedanta College, Belgium, by providing his spiritual support and encouragement.)

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TOVP Kartika Announcement

Dear Devotees,
Greetings from Sri Dhama Mayapur. The auspicious Kartika month is soon approaching, a favorite month of the Gaudiya Vaishnavas when we are always trying to do extra seva to make advancement and receive the mercy of the Lord. During this month devotional service is enhanced a thousand-fold and brings the devotee immense spiritual benefits.

The TOVP team is providing an opportunity to offer a lamp in your name to Sri Sri Radha Madhava in Mayapur for the entire month of Kartika. All devotees who donate a minimum of one Golden Brick for the TOVP project will have a Kartika lamp offered in their name in Sri Dhama Mayapur. Please take advantage of this extra seva opportunity during Kartika and come forward to help develop Srila Prabhupada’s most ambitious project and the world headquarters of ISKCON. Devotees who have already donated a Golden Brick will also have a lamp offered in their name. 

Watch the TOVP Kartika video presentation here: http://youtu.be/cU_w0M3FhXw

To donate a Golden Brick please go to http://tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/
In Canada contact: tovpcanada@gmail.com

Your humble servants,

The TOVP Team

Visit us at: www.tovp.org
Follow us at: www.facebook.com/mayapur.tovp
Watch us at: www.youtube.com/user/tovpinfo
e-Newsletter at: http://oi.vresp.com/?fid=b07e4abbe5
Donate at: www.tovp.org/donate/seva-opportunities/

Information about Kartika (Damodara) Vrata:

Performing vrata in the month of Kartika (Damodara) is glorified profusely in the Puranas. Since this month is very dear to Lord Krsna by performing austerities, or restraining one’s sense gratification and performing activities to please the senses of the Lord, one becomes very dear to the Lord. As Satya yuga is the best of yugas, as the Vedas are the best of scriptures, as Ganga is the best of rivers, so Kartika is the best of months, the most dear to Lord Krsna. The vrata may begin on the ekadasi of the waxing moon of Asvina, on the Purnima, or (samkranti) when the sun enters the house of Libra.

Five activities are glorified: staying awake, early morning bath, worship of Tulasi, offering lamps and performing austerities.

One should practice brahmacarya, give charity, and perform homa and japa.

One should increase ones devotional service by performing more deity worship, hearing and speaking about the Lord, by extra japa of the Lord's name, worshiping Tulasi, staying awake at night chanting, visiting holy tirthas and offering lamps to the Lord.

One should worship Radha Damodara and recite the Damodarastaka daily.

The Glories of Kartika Vrata from Hari Bhakti Vilasa

The following are selected scriptural quotes from the Kartika Mahatmya by Srila Sanatana Goswami.

• “Especially in the month of Karttika a Vaisnava should regularly bathe in the morning, worship Lord Damodara, give charity, follow vows, and perform other spiritual activities.”
   
• "The pious result obtained by bathing in all holy places and giving all charities is not equal to one ten-millionth part of the result obtained by following the vow of Karttika.”
   
• "Other vows bring the results of a lifetime of pious deeds. The vow of Karttika brings the result of a hundred lifetimes of pious deeds.”
   
• "A person who never performs yajnas or offers sraddha to the ancestors, but who does follow the vow of Karttika, will go to the abode of Lord Visnu.”
   
• "He attains a great result who even very slightly follows the very sacred Karttika vow, which is served by the demigods, sages, and pitas.”
   
• "Charity, yajna, japa, and austerity performed in the month of Karttika bring a result, O best of brahmanas, that will never be destroyed."
   
• "O tiger of sages, a person who during the month of Karttika eagerly hears the topics of Lord Krsna delivers a hundred generations of his family.”
   
• "Please hear the glories of offering a lamp during the month of Karttika, an offering that is very pleasing to Lord Kesava. O king of brahmanas, a person who offers a lamp in this way will not take birth again in this world.”
   
• "By offering a lamp during the month of Karttika one attains a pious result ten million times greater than the result obtained by bathing at Kuruksetra during a solar a eclipse or by bathing in the river Narmada during a lunar eclipse.”
   
• "Even if there are no mantras, no pious deeds, and no purity, everything becomes perfect when a person offers a lamp during the month of Karttika.”
   
• "By offering a lamp during the month of Karttika one burns away a collection of sins as big as Mount Meru or Mount Mandara. Of this there is no doubt.”
   
• "O Narada, no sin exists anywhere in the three worlds that will not be purified by offering a lamp to Lord Kesava during Karttika.”
   
• "A person who offers a lamp to Lord Krsna during Karttika attains the eternal spiritual world where there is no suffering.”
   
• "All holy places, yajnas, daksinas, residence in Puskar, Kuruksetra, and the Himalayas, and all giving in charity a pile of gold like Mount Meru, reside in Karttika, Lord Krsna's favorite month.”
   
• "The service one does to Lord Visnu in the month of Karttika is all eternal. O Narada, I tell you the truth.”
   
• "Karttika is the best of months, the most pious of pious deeds, the most purifying of all that purify."
   
• "No month is like Karttika. No yuga is like Satya-yuga. No scripture is like the Vedas. No holy river is like the Ganga.”
   
• "Karttika is the best of months. Karttika is always dear to the Vaisnavas. O great sage, a Vaisnava who with devotion serves Karttika delivers his ancestors from hell.”
   
• "Of the twelve months, Karttika is the most dear to Lord Krsna. To anyone who even slightly worships Lord Visnu during its time, the month of Karttika gives residence in Lord Visnu's transcendental abode.”
   
• "Even though its lasts for only a brief moment, the human form of life is very rare and valuable. In the same way the brief month of Karttika is also very rare and valuable.”
   
• "Lord Krsna is pleased by the offering of a single lamp during the month of Karttika. Lord Krsna glorifies anyone who lights a lamp for someone else to offer."

Dear Devotees,

We, at ISKCON Kolkata, take immense pleasure and feel divinely blessed to inform all the devotees that we have started SrilaPrabhupada Tours and Travels services in this sacred birth city of SrilaPrabhupada. Our aim is to serve all the visiting vaisnavas in taking a spiritually refreshing tour of the numerous spots in Kolkata that are forever sanctified by the divine touch of His Divine Grace. This presents us all with an opportunity to instil ourselves with sweet memories of Srila  Prabhupada pastimes at those very places where they factually happened and thereby fill our lives with supremely purifying glorification of our dear most master SrilaPrabhupada.

The details of services offered by  SrilaPrabhupada Tours and Travels are outlined below:

Kolkata Dham Darshan: Kolkata, being the city where SrilaPrabhupada appeared and lived for a large part of his life, is replete with innumerable places associated with SrilaPrabhupada’s pastimes. The   list includes

1. Srila  Prabhupad’s birth place: The same jackfruit tree under which SrilaPrabhupada took birth is still there.
2. Motilal Seal Schhol:Prabhupada did his schooling here.
3. Scottish Church College:  SrilaPrabhupada studied in this college.
4. RadhaGovinda Mandir:SrilaPrabhupada used to visit this temple regularly in his childhood,
5. Khidderpore Dock:SrilaPrabhupada departed for America in Jaladuta ship from here,
6. Ultadanga Junction road: SrilaPrabhupada met Srila Bhakti SiddhantaSaraswati Thakur for the first time etc.  (The list is very long!!!).

We are offering the facility to organize guided tours to these holy sites for visiting devotees. Devotees wishing to avail of our services in this regard can contact us via mail at  avdas@iskconkolkata.com. We request devotees to inform us well in advance to help us serve them our best. We suggest that Devotees, while going to Mayapur, can take opportunity to derive transcendental benefits of visiting these holy places.

Besides this, Nearby Kolkata, There are several places associated with of pastimes of Sri ChaitanyaMahaprabhu and  NtyanandaPrabhu; such as Panihati (The famous dahichida festival took place here), Khardaha (House of NityanandaPr ) etc.. If devotees wish, we can assist them to visit these places as well.

Car and Bus Rental services:  We have also started car and bus rental services from Kolkata for various places like Mayapur, Panihati, Ganga sagar and other holy places in and around Kolkata and devotees may take advantage of this facility as well.

We would request all the devotees to kindly spread the word around so that countless souls may come and bathe their consciousness in the spiritually surcharged places which are imbued with the holy dust of Srila Prabhupada’s Lotus Feet .

Looking forward for  opportunities to serve all the devotees  with all our heart and soul for the pleasure of Hari, Guru and Vaishnavas and glorifying Srila  Prabhupada  throughout the world.

Your Servant,

Ananda Vardhan Das (B.Tech, IIT Kharagpur),
Incharge: Srila Prabhupada Tours and Travels,
ISKCON Kolkata.