The Higher Taste restaurant in Wellington has been operating for many years with various cooks and management.
Last year four devotee chefs came from India to raise the standard of the menu, especially in the matter of “a la carte.”
This has proven very successful and popular with the customers.
Source: http://www.ramaiswami.com/higher-taste-restaurant-2/
Recordings of the Siksastakam Seminar given by HH Kadamba Kanana Swami in Mayapur, at the Kirtan Academy, are available below.
You may listen online by clicking the “play” button or to download, right-click on a title and save-target-as
A happy recipient of the Holy Name! (1 min video)
So enchanting, rhythmic and joyful!
Completely spontaneous. Just like that…
Source: https://goo.gl/RQYj2D
Dear fellow Vaishnavas,
Throughout the years we have all sought natural cures for many of the illnesses we have had. In doing so, at times we have met with great difficulty trying to decipher which of the cures would actually be effective, often spending an undue amount of time in research or experimentation, even failing in the end. With the blessings of HH Prahladananda Swami, ISKCON’s Minister of Health, we are beginning a website called “Cures That Work.” It will consist of personal testimonials from devotees who have been successful in treating their illnesses or others’ effectively with natural remedies. If you or an acquaintance from any walk of life would like to submit an account, we encourage you to do so. Please include as many details as possible. Upon acceptance, your submission will be posted on the site as soon as we are up and running, which we hope will be by the end of January. The testimonials should be in English and include your name and also permission for further contact if you are agreeable to being reached by those who seek more information.
After this beginning phase gets established, we are considering expanding the website to provide additional resources, so we welcome any ideas you might have. Bhagavan das (GdG) is our project manager, and he will be receiving all testimonials and suggestions. He can be reached at bhagavandas.gdg@gmail.com.
We are praying that the devotees will be benefited by this undertaking.
Yours in Srila Prabhupada’s service,
Gunagrahi das Goswami
Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=18220
By Kesava Krsna dasa
Let’s face it; nobody in this material world likes to be bossed around. There is one experimental reality show called ‘Survivor’ in which contestants get stranded in some remote place far removed from modern civilization. Working in tribes, the members have to compete and cooperate at the same time. There is a process of elimination as fellow tribe members vote off those deemed as threats to their ambition to win the ultimate million dollar prize.
Those individuals, who display natural leadership traits and get things done around the camp, are usually the ones to get voted out ‘ people do not being bossed around. The canny ones however, keep low profiles; yet manipulate things to their advantage and improve their chances of winning.
This scene is quite far removed again from how things play out in the devotee community, yet Iskcon needs leaders. But how to choose them based upon what criterion has often been a thorny issue. Are we looking at spiritual advancement? Are we demanding expertise and administrative abilities? Do we consider those high in the popularity stakes? How about those with strong personality types? Or even those who are together and balanced and so on.
If we look back at our disciplic succession we will find unlikely leaders and acaryas who may not fit our modern day portrayal of leadership as required by Iskcon. Our largely vaidhi and sadhana based lifestyle would probably not accommodate them.
If we take Srila Gaura Kishora Dasa Babaji Maharaja for instance, would he fit in comfortably into one of our temples as a leader? He isn’t just a leader, but an acarya recognizable by those possessed of pure spiritual vision. Yet his penchant for seclusion, constant chanting and avadhuta behavior may not endear him very much to those who see with external vision. In fact, hardly anyone would recognize his true worth, and his apparently unproductive contribution to the temple may result in his sadly being asked to leave the temple.
His leadership is borne of sheer purity and renunciation, and he performed spiritual life in his siddha-deha in tune to the asta-kaliya times of the day. He wasn’t a coordinator or anything like that, but his command would be sacrosanct to Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur who coordinated and organized thousands of disciples.
From the above example we can see that being a leader is not all about organizing, coordinating and administrative work. Needless to say, those who are vaisnavas are above all other designations. If a sannyasa or brahmana is a leader of the various orders of life, this role is fulfilled more by exemplary behavior, giving wise counsel, advising, teaching and so on.
When the sannyasa and brahminically minded devotees engage in affairs of management more suited for a ksatriya administrative type, even though vaisnavas can bypass the varna and asrama roles, it does not bode well for any prospect of implementing varnasrama-dharma within Iskcon. We either stick with what we are doing now, or forget about varnasrama talk for a couple more decades.
It usually happens if someone excels in a particular service, they become party leaders or departmental heads. Then we get some individuals who are competent or educated, will also be given a chance to manage. Then the vexing question must arise, does the position being held equal the spiritual advancement of the devotee? We can turn the question around and ask, does one have the spiritual qualifications for a certain managerial or important position?
The questions are raised because in many cases there seems to be a fixation on awarding outward results with responsibility, as opposed to apparent meager results shown by more inward brahminical devotees. Yet both types are leadership material in their own rights. Then we could have a scenario where a less spiritually qualified person is dictating to a more spiritually qualified devotee under his care, which has happened before.
So really there are two types of leaders under discussion, and they are not always being occupied in the right places. The GBC can be likened to a collective king or monarchy, but we do not have an advisory council for this body. Do we need one?
Not too long ago there were times when Srila Prabhupada countered and overruled certain policies endorsed by the then GBC. Was he not playing the sagely advisory role then, even though it was his solemn right to do so? In other words, the sannyasis and brahminical devotees who are presently managing the GBC affairs which could be done by trained sober ksatriya devotees can find their rightful place in an advisory council for the GBC.
This is not to say the GBC loses its power. It still retains the ultimate managerial authority. In politics the general politicians run the country. But they do not decide on every single bit of legislation that passes before them. The important ones are passed on to the upper chamber, or upper house (House of Lords) for the wise experienced men to deliberate and pass judgment. It goes back to parliament, or in Iskcon’s case, the GBC, where it is passed into law or whatever. By the way, this British system has endured for centuries, so something must be right.
Such a system in Iskcon will provide equitable employment for the brahmanas and sannyasis in the upper house of the advisory sagely committee, and the naturally gifted ksatriya devotees to run the GBC. Should this ever happen it will kick start the implementation of varnasrama-dharma at it would have started from the top.
There has been talk of a leadership academy to help train future leaders in Iskcon. While nothing can compensate for real ‘tread of the mill’ training learnt through the local temples with a little outside ‘pundit’ management know-how, nothing can beat following the core principles set by Srila Prabhupada. We want the right devotees to be in the right places.
If any insinuation of exclusivity is attached to the academy it will brew resentment and other unwanted feelings. In the military and corporate world the officers and management have their own canteens, bathrooms and other amenities separate from the gentry. We cannot emulate their ways.
While doing service in management, if it is taxing enough to interfere with basic hearing and chanting, we cannot always plead for Srila Prabhupada’s example of managing Iskcon and doing many other things too. He was after all a self realized soul. For him, managing or living in a grass hut were the same, his equilibrium stayed intact. For a Sadhaka busily engaged in management while trying to be self-realized, can be a slower way if the basics are compromised.
The devotees within Iskcon try to develop humility and glorify other devotees. This very liberal behavior can empower a leader among us who must have his senses under control. The humility of the devotees can cause a leader to abuse his position. It should go without saying that choosing the right devotees for leadership positions is a serious duty.
The ideal blend of being together and organized, and spiritually serious should put one up for candidature. It may be difficult to detect unwanted motivation in a leader until some unpleasant behavior is exposed. But then, if it comes to choosing between someone who wants to be a leader and someone who doesn’t, would it not be better to go for the reluctant leader?
Ys, Kesava Krsna dasa.
Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=18218
Cooperate!
Bhaktimarga swami: If there could ever be a New Year’s resolution that resonates universally, I would say it could be to step-up on cooperation. Cooperation appears to be a high symptom of love.
Our guru, Srila Prabhupada, had remarked that love is demonstrated by the ability to work as a team.
In other words, cooperate.
Some quotes I like on the topic are:
“Even freckles would form a nice tan if they could ever get together.” – Anonymous
“You cannot clap with one hand alone.” – John Taylor Wood
“Cooperation is a higher moral principle than competition.” – Bryant McGill
“Cooperation is willing collaboration by free individuals in a collective effort that creates more value than it spends.” – James Raymond Lucas
“Cooperation is an evolved type of relationship paired with initial egocentric forms.” – Jacques Montangero and Daniel Maurice Naville.
“Two heads are better than one.” – Polish Proverb
“Only when all contribute their firewood can they build up strong fire.” – Chinese Proverb
One thing I would like to add, when the heart and the feet cooperate, then you call that walking.
May the Source be with you!
Source: http://m.dandavats.com/?p=18228
Source: https://soundcloud.com/premasindhu/hg-madhava-hg-radhika-art-of
(Kadamba Kanana Swami, 05 October 2015, Melbourne, Australia, Srimad Bhagavatam 3.14.22)
In the 11th canto of Srimad Bhagavatam, it says that astrology is relevant to that which takes birth because after all, astrology is about making a birth chart. And then it says that the soul never takes birth. This kind of gives us the final conclusion on astrology; it is not relevant to the soul. Therefore through astrology, one cannot actually determine the destiny of the soul but one can determine the destiny of the body, the destiny of the mind and one can determine destiny according to karma.
Madhava Gosh Dasa, born October 25th, 1949, left his body peacefully at his home in New Vrindaban, WV, on January 2nd, 2016, at the age of 66.
Madhava Gosh was a pioneer New Vrindaban inhabitant, having lived in the dhama since 1973. Inspired by the instructions of his spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada, he was a lifelong activist of local agriculture and cow protection and implemented an endowment fund to care for the cows at New Vrindaban.
Serving as one of the farm hands at New Vrindaban since the early days, Madhava Gosh spent decades of his life gardening and working on simple living projects.
When asked a month before he passed away what he felt was his best accomplishment he said, “Planting the trees, because the fruits are not enjoyed by the planter, but by those to come in the future. And these trees will outlive most of us.”
Madhava Gosh had a 10 year plan to plant 1,000 fruit and nut trees in the New Vrindaban dhama area, as part of the program for sustaining the Deities and devotees in the future, to provide perineal “crops” to produce food, year after year after year. Madhava Gosh planted with an assistant well over 350 trees since 2010. 150 trees were planted by householders living in New Vrindaban who take care of the trees. There are plans to resume this project in 2017.
Back in May 2006, Madhava Gosh had a liver transplant, due to his organ failing. His son Marken donated half of his own liver to sustain his father. Madhava Gosh did lots of service with his son’s gift and the “extra’ time.
The past two years Madhava Gosh has been struggling with post-transplant liver degeneration and other side effects. Both his kidneys failed and he had been on dialysis 3 times a week for over a year. With all the physical complications he was dealing with, he became weaker and weaker. He also came to understand that his lungs were already beginning to slowly deteriorate and filling with liquid.
Understanding that he was slowly dying and not wanting to be a burden on those caring for him, Madhava Gosh chose to go off dialysis on December 24th, 2015.
The week before his departure, Madhava Gosh’s daughter, Vraja, looked after his physical care. Many community members as well as some local neighbors visited Madhava Gosh. Devotees came and shared old pastimes and laughed with Madhava Gosh and expressed their hearts. They played instruments and sang and read Krishna book to Madhava Gosh. Srila Prabhupada’s singing was played non-stop for the last week.
Then on January 2nd, it seemed as if Krishna took direct control of all the events that followed, as everything seemed to be perfectly coordinated. The sun shined through the window. Three devotees, including Vraja, sat peacefully chanting by Gosh’s bedside while a recording of Srila Prabhupada and the Hare Krsna Temple album played in the background. That morning the samsara prayers were sung and then the Govindam prayers and some of the Brahma Samhita. Srila Prabhupada’s garland had been placed at Madhava Gosh’s head.
His daughter swabbed fresh Tulasi leaves from Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra’s lotus feet, sprinkled in the Ganges water into Gosh’s mouth. Madhava Gosh, who had not moved for 24 hours, suddenly lurched his right arm forward, and his right hand, which was inside his japa bag, grabbed his japa beads tightly. Gosh had a tear in his eye, took a labored breath. His daughter Vraja said, “It is OK, you can leave” and his next breath was his last.
Madhava Gosh left his body at 11:23 am, January 2, 2016. Srila Prabhupada’s garland was moved to encircle his face and neck. Shortly after his glorious passing, Srila Prabhupada was singing the Nrisimhadeva prayers of protection in the background.
Madhava Gosh is survived by his wife of 41 years, Vidya Dasi; five children, Manjari, Madhu, Vraja, Marken & Tulasi; three grandchildren, Mary, Gracie & Sydney; and many friends.
Those wishing to do something in honor of Madhava Gosh could plant a fruit, nut or flowering tree or contact ECO-Vrindaban at their Facebook page, which specifically funds the projects for the cows and garden care at New Vrindaban.
The community members are grateful that Madhava Gosh generously gave his time and energy to develop, maintain and preserve this New Vrindaban project. Thank you Madhava Gosh Prabhu, your spirit will live on through the fruits of your lifelong service contributions.
Source: http://www.brijabasispirit.com/2016/01/09/madhava-gosh-das-1949-2016-2/
Hare Krishna Prabhu,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Guru Maharaj.
Prabhu, please publish the attached flyer on ISKCON desire tree website about Japa Retreat at ISKCON of Houston with HH Romapada Swami.
Let me know if you need any additional information.
YS,
Namananda Das
I felt nostalgic living in a van with two bramacaris in December, because this was how I spent my youth in the 1970s and 80s.
Back then, on our first day out, Brajananda told me that he is always grateful for the training he received: “If you can stay in the ring, you will be a prize fighter.”
“Good advice,” I replied.
A lot of books have been sold in Asheville, North Carolina, and I seemed to be running into all the folks who already had one or else were not interested. It started to rain. I was having a tough day. I left the ring for a while. When I resumed, it was still tough.
Determined to be a prize fighter, I kept at it until I met a guy who said, “My Bhagavad-gita is getting worn out, so it's time to buy a new one.”
He bought several books, and we exchanged contact info, with plans to meet next time I'm in the area. It's quite likely he'll take a set of Bhagavatams. If I hadn't gone back out, I would have missed that guy. Stay in the ring, and you'll be a prize fighter.
Your servant,
Mitra Sena Dasa
Supporters and well-wishers of ISKCON who attended a 50th Anniversary gala event in Ahmedabad on 19th December sponsored over 12,500 Bhagavad-gitas as part of the December marathon in India.
Devotees at the Ahmedabad temple had organized an event to celebrate Gita Jayanti at Regenta Hotel, which was attended by over 200 business leaders. The event was hosted by Rajesh Karia, owner of Regenta Hotel, who is a member of the local congregation.
While releasing a special souvenir on the occasion, titled 'A legacy of 50 years: a tribute to Srila Prabhupada', Jasomatinandan Das, a senior disciple of Prabhupada, and President of the Ahmedabad temple described why the Gita was the foremost of scriptures and said, “At the age of 69, when most people retire from active life, Srila Prabhupada left the comforts of India and traveled across half the globe to create a spiritual revolution that changed the face of the world.”
“Today, ISKCON is the largest distributor of Vedic books in the world with over 500 million books placed worldwide,” said Romapada Das, International Coordinator for the 50thanniversary, who presented two short videos and spoke about the achievements of ISKCON in the last 50 years. “And the Bhagavad-gita As It Is by Srila Prabhupada is the one book that has transformed the hearts and minds of millions of people around the world by taking them closer to real spiritual life and engaging them in devotional service to Lord Krishna.”
Keshava Murari Das, President of the Rohini temple in New Delhi made an elaborate presentation about the worldwide activities of ISKCON. After his presentation, he urged the audience to support the December marathon and fill in sponsorship forms for distributing the Bhagavad-gita.
“This was the first time we had organised an event of this nature in Ahmedabad to mark Gita Jayanti,” explained Vishnu Nam Das, Vice President of ISKCON Ahmedabad. “It was inspiring to see the enthusiasm and willingness of our supporters in sponsoring Bhagavad-gitas after they heard the presentations of our speakers. Distributing 12500 Gitas in two hours from one single event is a record of sorts for Ahmedabad.”
Source: http://iskconnews.org/12500-gitas-distributed-at-50th-anniversary-gala-event-in-ahmedabad,5320/
ALBERT EINSTEIN being regarded as the greatest scientist of the 21st century once observed, thought and remarked: “Everything is determined by forces over which we have no control. It is determined for the insect as well for a gigantic celestial object like a star. Human beings, vegetables or Cosmic dust – we all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible piper”.
The query that baffles the modern-day scientists is regarding the all-enchanting invisible piper. Since He is ‘Invisible’ and has always shrouded Himself from materialistic vision, so He remains ‘in the distance’ and beyond communication with the scientists. If we are able to hear from Him, we can certainly know for sure about this world, why and how He created it and even what is beyond it.
Stephen hawking, the world-renowned Astrophysicist aspires to know the mind of God to understand the secrets of the Universe which are clearly evident from his statement “…Then we shall be able to take part in the discussion of the question of why it is that we and the Universe exist. If we find the answer to that, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason – for then we would know the mind of God.”
The Crux itself gets resolved ironically as the supremely conscious Supreme Intelligent Being, the Ultimate source of everything, Himself reveals the Truth in the Bhagavad Gita with direct evidence. The Bhagavad Gita is the only scripture available in the entire world, where the Supreme Absolute Truth Himself speaks directly to the mankind. In the current Space era, we need to accept the principles of the reception of pure knowledge with an open mind and an open heart.
When a Christian scientist discovers that water is a combination of two atoms of hydrogen and one atom of Oxygen, we never reject it as ‘Christian’ knowledge, but make the knowledge available to the students irrespective of their nationality. Parochialism of caste, creed, sect or cult should not block our vision in our quest for actual knowledge, the case of Scientific Spirituality for the future world.
Different scriptures present different levels of the same Absolute reality for people at different levels of understanding, often with anecdotes and allegories. If we search for the most profound enunciation of the Absolute Truth, we end up in the Vedic literature. The Supreme Lord Himself gives the mankind complete knowledge- the 
science of absolute reality in the Bhagavad Gita. It is never an exaggeration that many great noble thinkers of all ages, cults and sects have been very much charmed to read it and also expressed their great admiration for the Bhagavad Gita.
Albert Einstein got worldwide eminence for his theories like Photoelectric effect, Brownian motion, Special theory of Relativity etc..but when he read the Bhagavad Gita, he himself considered everything to be of little merit as is evident from his own statement “ When I read the Bhagavad Gita and reflect upon how God created this world, everything else seems to me so superfluous.”
So, dear friends, One of the greatest scientists in the world is speaking in very high admiration of the Bhagavad gita feeling himself very humble and meek. This reminds me of a wonderful verse from shikshashtakam provided mercifully to us by the supreme lord gauranga mahaprabhu ( lord Krishna in a golden form and the yuga avatar of the kali yuga) as follows:
trnad api sunicena taror api sahisnuna
amanina manadena kirtaniyah sada harih
One should chant the holy name of the Lord in a humble state of mind, thinking oneself lower than the straw in the street; one should be more tolerant than a tree, devoid of all sense of false prestige and should be ready to offer all respect to others. In such a state of mind one can chant the holy name of the Lord constantly.
I believe Albert Einstein was inspired by paramatma, the super soul, to be very humble and Einstein might have indirectly understood the importance of humility by trying to visualize the Creation of the lord, by his own experience on one hand and studying the Bhagavad gita on the other hand.
Dear intelligent friends, isn’t this the proper time for us to penetrate into the inner beauty of the heart and try to visualize the purpose behind God creating this world for our welfare, thereby reviving our dormant love towards Krishna (god) which will give us true bliss, for which we are searching every time and everywhere. We need to be very humble to catch our loving “Invisible Piper” to whose tune, we all dance.
Source: http://mayapurvoice.com/svagatam/the-invisible-piper/
By Hari Narayana Das
Banyuwangi is located in East Java and also known as ‘The Gate of Java’ and the ‘Festive City’. There is always some sort of event taking place, whether it be cultural parades, fashion shows or water sports. The oldest and most popular festival in Banyuwangi is known as ‘Kuwung,’ a public parade conducted by the Government. Visitors across Indonesia gather to participate in this festival. The annual parade took place on the 5th of December 2015.
“To implement this transcendental bliss to the people of your country there is immense work to be done ahead and this Ratha-yatra festival is only a bit of sample. If we get opportunity we shall be able to overflood your country with the waves of transcendental bliss, by the grace of Krsna.”– SPL to Aniruddha, 7th July, 1968.
In Banyuwangi there is a small temple presided over by Their Lordships Sri Sri Krsna Balarama. When Subhag Swami Maharaj visited Banyuwangi earlier in 2015, he instructed the devotees to try and organize a Ratha Yatra festival. Unfortunately, there are not many devotees who stay in Banyuwangi and those who do are in a mature stage of their lives, thus to prepare for the Lord’s chariot festival would be hard work. Nevertheless, they endeavored to find a way to somehow or other hold this festival. After a long struggle, ‘a silver lining in the sky’ appeared in the form of the annual ‘Kuwung’ festival. This public parade allows all communities in Banyuwangi to perform and display ‘their acts’, with permission from the Government. Local devotees Vasudeva Krsna das and Sandhya Avatar das sent forth a proposal to the ‘Kuwung’ festival committee for permission to hold a Ratha Yatra festival. Permission was granted for the devotees to participate and they immediately started to make arrangements. It was most definitely the Lord’s mercy upon the residents of Banyuwangi that He would shower His merciful glance upon them all.
“Nothing is impossible for the Supreme Lord, but all His actions are wonderful for us, and thus He is always beyond the range of our conceivable limits” SP SB 1.8.16 Purport
Once devotees in Bali heard the news they also started to make provisions to head over toBanyuwangi. Many reached the day before the festival along with their families. From Bali, Banyuwangi is only a 3 or 4 hours drive. Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra devi made Their way from ISKCON Jember to Banyuwangi around 5pm. Devotees from Java also came to help out in the festival. They passed the whole night joyfully cooking, making garlands and decorating the chariot.
The devotees in Banyuwangi received help from the local ‘Hindu Parisad’. The Hindu Parisad leaders were overjoyed when they heard about this upcoming festival as it was a chance for them to publically display some aspects of Hindu culture. The Hindu Parisad committee also lent a hall for the devotees to use as a token of gratitude.
“So this Ratha-yatra festival is one of the items of our preaching work.” SPL to Tamala Krsna, 19th July, 1970.
The next morning, Jagannath, Baladeva and Subhadra devi were beautifully dressed by the pujaris and adorned with a variety ornaments and fragrant flowers. At 11 am devotees gathered in front of Their Lordships and arati was performed. Around 300 local Hindus participated in the procession and sang along with the devotees. Chief Guest Atmanivedana Swami gave short class about the origin of Ratha Yatra, followed by a recorded class by Subhag Swami Maharaja, translated by Gadadhara das. All devotees were very much enthused and inspired after the classes and ready to give it their all in the parade for Jagannath’s pleasure. Their Lordships’ made Their way to the chariot and arati was performed by Atmanivedana Swami. Ecstatic kirtan was sung until 5pm where the chariots were pulled to the local fields, the starting point of the parade.
The official starting time of the parade was 8pm. The Government performed formal ceremonies and the Lord’s chariot was on its way. Devotees performed a short drama based on the war at Kuruksetra, which was thoroughly enjoyed by Guests of Honor including the Mayor of Banyuwangi. Around 600 devotees pulled Lord Jagannath’s chariot. On behalf of the committee, Atmanivedana Swami presented the Mayor a copy of the Bhagavad Gita and a flower garland offered to the Lord.
“For the present you endeavor to make Ratha-yatra festival grand and successful. You should arrange the procession and procedure so nicely that all the neighborhood people may be attracted to join the procession.” (SPL to Upendra, 1st June, 1968)
From the starting point of the parade until Blambangan field, there were large crowds that chanted and danced enthusiastically with the devotees. The kirtan party led by Premadhana das sang the mahamantra melodiously for 2 hours enchanting all. One ton of oranges, which was kindly sponsored by Dinadarini devi dasi was distributed to all throughput the course of the parade. Although the stock of oranges had run out, many came back requesting more of Jagannath’s prasad. A beautiful rasa dance was performed by devotees led by Mahapavitra devi dasi which added a special flavor to the event. After the parade had finished, the Lord made His way to the Hindu Parisad hall.
“I am so pleased to learn how the crowds gave their attention to your street play. This is transcendental entertainment. And to distribute prasada sumptuously to the crowd is strictly in our Vedic tradition.” SPL to Madhudvisa, 14th April, 1970)
This Ratha Yatra was tribute to Sadhu Jivana Prabhu, a tireless devotee, a good friend, whose paintings adorn Radha Krsnacandra temple in Manipur and every Jagannatha ratha is complete because of his paintings…..above all his hard work made so many of us smile blissfully…He made Srila Sripad happy, Srimat Subhag Swami is always pleased with him, definitely Srila Prabhupada is happy with him and surely Jagannatha is happy with him. He made all of us smile to see Jagannatha Ratha yatra in so many places of Indonesia….Maharaj Kavichandra, Maharaj Bhakti Raghava and Ramai Maharaj. All of us owe so much of our bliss to Sadhu Jivana Prabhu who was left his body a week before this ratha yatra in a hospital in Bali, Indonesia. Srimat Subhag Maharaj uttered a prayer for him, “My dear Lord, please be merciful to Sadhu Jivana prabhu so that he can continue to serve you.” In Maharaja’s words…’he is a wonderful devotee, you can chant extra rounds for him.’
Please pray for Sadhu Jivana prabhu who has been working day and night to complete to complete so many Jagannatha’s chariots on time and who has been the unseen reason behind our happiness in Chanting and Dancing in front of Lord Jagannath Baladeva and Subhadra seated on Their magnificent chariot
We would like to take this opportunity to thank HH Bhakti Raghava Swami for his blessings and encouragement. Our respects to HH Kavicandra Swami and HH Ramai Swami, the GBCs of Indonesia, for their support and guidance to always look for new avenues for sankirtan. Our humble obeisances to HH Subhag Swami for always reminding us of the importance of the Sankirtan movement of Mahaprabhu and inspiring us with the dedication of Sriman Jayananda Prabhu, for bringing us closer to Srila Prabhupada and keeping us united in family of ISKCON. We thank the leaders of Indonesia Hindu Parisad for cooperating with the local Banyuwangi devotees. Finally, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all devotees who worked hard for the festival and ensuring that it was a success.
Jagannath Swami ki Jay
Srila Prabhupada ki Jay
There are many people in this world who can tell you about Srila Tamal Krishna Goswami as a Guru or as a Godbrother. Many who can tell you how he served Srila Prabhupada and developed projects throughout the world. But there is only one person who can tell you about him as their older brother. How he pushed their stroller in the parks of New York City, taught them how to catch a ball, how to ice-skate, and held them tight as they were going down the slide.
We had the great honor and pleasure to have His Grace Kalachandji Prabhu visit with our students, sharing what it was like growing up as the younger brother of Srila Tamal Krishna Goswami, Srila Gurudeva. It was very relatable, accompanied by rare family photos from the 1950s. He shared the valuable lessons he has taught him earlier on, and the personal example he sat for him at every step of the way. How personal and loving he has always been and how much care and attention he has given him – and later on to his family as “Uncle Tamal”.
Despite long periods of physical separation, Kalachandji Prabhu has never felt separated from his brother within his heart. They always cared for each other and remained connected in that way. Still today, almost 14 years after his physical disappearance, Srila Gurudeva’s presence was strongly felt in our small temple room at TKG Academy. “Vaisnavas never die”, he reminded us; they live forever through their divine instructions and through our service to them.
Srila Prabhupada: Chanting the holy name is the chief means of attaining love of Godhead. This chanting or devotional service does not depend on any paraphernalia, nor on one’s having taken birth in a good family. By humility and meekness one attracts the attention of Krishna. That is the verdict of all the Vedas. (Caitanya-caritamrta, Antya-lila, 4.71 purport).
Since 1995, devotee youth headed by ISKCON Youth Ministry’s Manorama Das and his wife Jaya Sri Radhe Dasi have traveled all over the US and Canada every summer – and Mexico every winter. On each trip, they spread Krishna consciousness and get inspired themselves in the process.
This Christmas was a brand new experience, as they embarked on their first Caribbean tour. Eighteen youth aged 17 to 25 from the US and Europe supported the tour themselves, paying nearly $1,500 each to spend two weeks of their vacations from work and school doing non-stop Harinamas and book distribution.
They also cemented themselves as ISKCON pioneers by helping to put on Puerto Rico’s second Rathayatra and the first one ever in the Dominican Republic.
There was, of course, some good old relaxing Carribean vacation time too. The tour, which ran from December 18th to January 4th, began with a ziplining adventure over biosphere reserves in Utuado, Puerto Rico and a kayak ride into caves on the Tanama River.
Canoeing on the Tanama River in Utuado, Puerto Rico
When the company, Batey Zipline Adventures (which is run by two yoga practioners), gave the group an exceptional deal, the devotee youth thanked them the only way they knew how.
“We did a kirtan program in their office, and cooked a prasadam feast for them and all their guides,” says Manorama. “The program was also attended by Draco Rosa, a multiple Grammy-winning musician who wrote many of Ricky Martin’s songs and is famous in Puerto Rico. He is on his third relapse from cancer, which has made him very introspective. He was playing his maracas in the kirtan, took prasadam, and got a book from us.”
Next, the group continued their trip in Puerto Rico by performing Harinama and distributing Prabhupada’s books at a Christmas market in the southern town of Ponse; and visiting the Las Paylas natural rock slide in the El Yunque natural rainforest.
They then spent Christmas Eve doing a six-hour kirtan at New Govardhana Hill, ISKCON Puerto Rico’s temple in the suburbs of capital San Juan.
Ratha Yatra in San Juan
“The devotees there fed us a huge feast, and then we spent all of Christmas Day doing Harinama in old San Juan, the medieval part of the city that was established by descendents of Christopher Columbus in the early 1500s,” says Manorama.
The day after Christmas, the youth did yet another Harinama in San Juan, this time in the evening while there was a major hip-hop concert going on, and the center of town was crowded with thousands of people.
“There aren’t so many devotees in Puerto Rico, so most people had no idea what we were all about,” Manorama says. “They were just staring in wonder, and then, because people are so into dancing in Puerto Rico, a lot of them tried to follow along and dance with us like they were learning a new move. They were really getting into the spirit of it – it was so nice.”
The youth also provided the bulk of the entertainment for the second annual San Juan Rathayatra, for which the local devotees built their own cart and Bhadra Das from Florida supported them in organizing the festival.
Tulasi Sutaria, sister of UK-based kirtan artist Jahnavi Harrison, led the kirtan as the parade wound its way through old San Juan, a perfect location with its busy pedestrian thoroughfare, street vendors, cruise ship ports, tourists and trendy eateries.
At the stage program after the parade, the youth presented a forty-five-minute kirtan, two Bharatanatyam dances, and Under The Influence, a powerful ten-minute skit about the soul finding his way back to Krishna through the struggles of the material world. The piece had local GBC Virabhahu Das commenting, “I was moved to tears. And I’m not usually one to cry!”
“It was all very new to the public in Puerto Rico, but they were very receptive,” Manorama says. “Even the policemen were very curious and super friendly.”
After Puerto Rico, the youth group took a one-hour flight to the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti.
There, they visited the Govinda’s restaurant in Puerto Plata, in the North of the island, spent time at Playa Dorada (Golden Beach), and went on the famous 27-waterfall hike at Damajagua, sliding down natural rock slides and dropping as far as twelve feet into pools below.
At the Damajagua waterfalls in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
In the evening, the youth went on Harinama in the rural town of Puerto Plata, where they inspired the high school kids hanging out there to dance with them, and bravely took on the challenge of distributing books in Spanish.
“The next day, we had our own morning program with the youth on the roof of the devotee’s home where we were staying,” says Manorama. “We looked out over the ocean as we read inspiring verses from the Bhagavad-gita, about how the yajna for this age is Harinama Sankirtana.”
After a short vist to the beach town of Cabarete, the tour moved on to the island’s capital, Santo Domingo, for a stomping New Year’s Eve kirtan at the ISKCON temple there.
“It was so lovely – the devotees there don’t have much, but they love to dance!” says Manorama. “They just got into it, rocking out in the temple for two or three hours strong until midnight. The next day, we sat around in a circle with some of the local youth to get to know each other, and they said, ‘The best thing that ever happened to us is all of you guys visiting. Because we never have any devotee youth association here.’ It was very touching.”
Getting local high school kids to dance in Puerto Plata
On New Year’s Day, the youth learned to think of others by presenting each other with “Secret Santa” gifts, inspired by the six loving exchanges amongst devotees cited in Rupa Goswami’s Nectar of Instruction. In the evening, they again distributed books and performed their most popular Harinama yet, with many people dancing enthusiastically along with them.
On January 2nd, the atmosphere was supercharged as Dominican ex-pats flew in from all over the world for the huge family reunion that was the first ever Rathayatra in the Dominican Republic.
In an effort to reach all of the public, the parade began in a poorer part of Santo Domingo, where street children immediately crowded around the devotees, asking excitedly for flower garlands, gopi dots and tilak.
“We don’t usually venture into underprivileged parts of town with North American Rathayatras,” says Manorama. “So it was a new and moving experience. We heard one of the children saying to their friend who had just received gopi dots, ‘Oh, now you look beautiful!’ And although the parents were more reserved, the kids were all chanting the maha-mantra along with us.”
Chandi Williams distributes books in Puerto Plata
The Dominican Rathayatra turned out to be the biggest challenge of the tour for the youth. After leading the kirtan for much of the three-and-a-half-hour route through the old colonial town, they arrived, worn out, to discover that they were the only performers at the festival site in the Plaza de España square. Reaching deep to find their last reserves of energy, they performed their drama, several Bharatanatyam dances, and the final kirtan onstage, before collapsing, exhausted.
Manorama recalls one girl psyching herself up for the effort: “I remember Malini from Sweden saying, ‘This is the life! This is what we live for! Even though we’re so tired, we’ve got to give it our best, because this is their first ever Rathayatra, and we’ve got to make it really nice for them.’ Then she said, ‘I can do it! I can do it!’ And jumped on stage to dance with everyone.”
The first ever Rathayatra in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
To replenish before the end of their trip, the group spent some time relaxing at Saona Island on its pristine, postcard Caribbean beaches, then flew back home.
While such overseas tours probably won’t be possible again without funding due to their prohibitive costs, the Caribbean tour was a unique trip for the youth. Unlike previous tours they flew to their destination, stayed at devotees’ homes rather than on their tour bus, and rented vans to take them around the country.
But most importantly, they were rewarded by the friendliness and care of the Dominican devotees, and saw the impact they made in return. “There’s only about 30 local devotees on the island, and they don’t get much association from abroad,” Manorama says. “So we really felt how much they appreciated us.”
The performers of the play Under the Influence
Beyond this were the typical benefits of an ISKCON Youth Ministry tour: spiritual inspiration, and making new devotee friends from all over the world -- friendships that last a lifetime and keep the youth connected to Krishna consciousness.
“We’ve really become like a close family,” says Tulasi Sutaria from the UK, one of the main kirtan leaders on the tour. “And that makes our spiritual activities like kirtan or harinama an especially connected experience.”
“I began 2015 on an ISKCON Youth Ministry tour, and ended it on a tour,” says Anandarupa Kundu, 21, from Atlanta. “It’s been nice to make that full circle, and to reflect on how I’ve developed spiritually, and as a person. Talking to the older youth on the tour has helped me find my way in life.”
Performing kirtan onstage at the first Rathayatra in the Dominican Republic
He adds, “As I get older, a lot of my time is taken up by work and school. And so being able to take time out to be on the tour and be around devotees 24/7 is a really strong spiritual recharge for me. It really helps me focus on the bigger picture.”
* * *
To help ISKCON youth spread Krishna consciousness and inspire themselves in the process, please donate here: http://youthbustour.com/donate/
Bhumi puja at ISKCON's Jagannath Puri Project
By Basu Ghosh Das
Pictures of the bhumi puja can be seen on the internet here:
http://tinyurl.com/nm53ko4
Jagannath Puri is one of the four holy “dhamas”, sacred places of
pilgrimage, described in the Puranas and is visited by thousands of Hindus
on a daily basis. The Brahma and Skanda Puranas mention that city of Puri
itself was built in ancient times by Raja Indradyumna. It is most famous
today for the ancient temple of Lord Jagannath, His elder brother Baladev,
and His sister Subhadra. This temple was built by the Rajas of Kalinga and
Utkala (ancient names of present day Odisha), situated in East India on the
bank of the Ganga Sagara (literally “Ocean of Ganges water”).
Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, after accepting the order of sannyas, made his
headquarters at Puri upon the request of his mother, Sachi Mata. After
traveling throughout much of India for six years, he resided continually at
Puri for the last twelve years of his manifest presence. Namacharya Haridas
Thakur also resided at Puri during the presence of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and
left his body before Mahaprabhu's disappearance. One of Mahaprabhu's
prominent pastimes at Puri was to personally place the body of Haridas into
a samadhi on the ocean shore. For these reasons, Puri holds special
importance for his followers, the Gaudiya Vaishanvas.
Srila Bhaktivinoda Thakur was posted as a Government Officer at Puri around
1870. It was here that his son, Vimala Prasad, who was to become Srila
Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati Thakur was born. And his disciple, ISKCON
Founder-Acharya Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada expressed the
desire that a grand center of ISKCON be established at Puri.
The annual Jagannath Rathayatra festival (chariot festival), observed on the
aashaadh shukla dvitiya (second day of the fortnight of the waxing moon in
the Hindu month of aashadh) draws more than a million (ten lakhs) pilgrims
to Puri. Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu attended the annual festival during his
presence five hundred years ago. Srila Prabhupada instituted this festival
around the world. Nowadays this festival has become synonymous with ISKCON,
almost everywhere!
Srila Prabhupada wrote to his godbrother, Bhakti Vaibhav Puri Maharaj on
April 8, 1972:
“You have requested me in your letter to consider for purchasing another
house. But there is one difficulty, because the present administration of
Jagannath Puri sometimes do not allow us to enter the temple. Of course, for
our vaishnavas this discrimination is spiritually illegal: Arche siladhi
gurusu navamati vaisnave janavate: if one is dressed in vaishnava dress,
according to vaishnava law, if he is considered not a vaishnava, then that
is a hellish condition. You know this also. So I think so long Vishwanath
Das, Chief Minister of Orissa, is there, he should pass some law to help us.
Vishwanath Das knows everything, he can pass an act to allow foreign
disciples into Jagannath Puri. Many hundreds of foreign disciples will be
coming to India in the near future, and already we have got nearly 100 men
there, so it is a great opportunity for the administrative officials of Puri
to increase the fame and prosperity of Jagannath Puri all over the world,
and it will be their misfortune if so many qualified devotees of the Lord
are not allowed into the temple, simply because they have taken their birth
in a faraway place. So if you are able to do something, and approach the
right persons like Mr. Vishwanath then we shall be free to have our center
in Puri.”
While the struggle for foreign devotees to enter the temple of Jagannath
continues, it is a fact that despite the continued ban on entrance,
thousands of foreign ISKCON devotees visit Jagannath Puri regularly. To
date ISKCON does not have a proper center to facilitate these devotees
visits to holy Jagannath Puri dham.
However, that is about to change.
After years of struggles of various types, including having to overcome a
number of legal hurdles, ISKCON has inaugurated the beginning of a grand
project at Jagannath Puri by performing the bhumi puja and installation of
Ananta Shesha on the 18 acre ISKCON project land in a grand ceremony that
was attended by thousands of devotees who participate in an annual three day
Puri Parikrama (circumambulation of Jagannath Puri) organized by Bhakti
Purushottam Swami, ISKCON's Governing Body Commissioner for much of Eastern
India, including his native Odhisha (formerly “Orissa”).
Seven to eight thousand devotees, mainly from Bengal and Orissa, but also
from other parts of India and abroad attended this years Puri Parikrama.
Teachers and students of the Bhaktivedanta Academy at Sridham Mayapur
performed the bhumi puja rituals. Headed by the Academy Dean
Pritivardhana Das, the boys performed homas to satisfy Lord Jagannath. Later
on Krishna Chaitanya Das assisted Lokanath Swami in the installation of the
Deity of Ananta Shesha, the expansion of Lord Vishnu who is the supporting
power holding up the universe, in the ground where the foundation of the
Radha Krishna temple will be constructed.
Twelve ISKCON sannyasis attended the bhumi puja, i.e. Jayapataka Swami,
Lokanath Swami, Subhag Swami, Bhakti Purushottam Swami, Bhakti Vishrambha
Madhava Swami, Bhakti Gaur Narayan Swami. Gauranga Prem Swami, Bhakti
Nityananda Swami, Rama Govinda Swami, Prabodhananda Saraswati Swami, Bhakti
Ashray Vaishnav Swami, and Bhakti Priyam Gadadhar Swami.
Several senior disciples of Srila Prabhupada attended the program, i.e.
Turiya Das, Pankajanghri Das, Mayapur Chandra Das, Bhaktarupa Das, Basu
Ghosh Das, Shakitmati Devi Dasi, Kusha Devi Dasi and Shubhangi Devi Dasi.
Senior ISKCON devotees Braja Hari Das, Bhadra Charu Das, Aravindaksha
Govinda Das Madhavananda Das, and Vanamali Das were in attendance.
Bhakti Purushottam Swami spoke and described to the assembled devotees about
the glories of Lord Jagannath's Mahaprasadam. He explained in great detail
why the Lord's prasadam is offered to the Deity of Vimala (Durgadevi) after
being offered to Lord Jagannath.
Devakinandan Das, the Chairman of the Puri Project Committee, which has been
mandated by the ISKCON Governing Body Commission as the zonal authority for
the Puri Project, addressed the crowd in both Hindi and English and
encouraged them to support the project. Bhadra Charu Das translated his
speech into Bengali and Oriya.
Jayapataka Swami and other senior devotees on the stage released the large
verison of the Project brochure - a separate pamphlet was also released -
detailing the various aspects of the proposed project. Jayapataka Maharaj
himself told the crowd that Srila Prabhupada had a desire to construct a
large temple and project at Puri and now that desire of his will be
fulfilled. And guests pledged almost a million rupees (Rupees ten lakhs)
towards the project on the spot.
The Puri project itself is situated on 18 acres of land at Sipasirubuli, on
the Southwestern side of the town. Some of the features of the ISKCON Puri
Project, the estimated cost of which will be approximately Rupees one
hundred crore (fifteen million US dollars) are:
o Grand Radha Krishna Temple
o Chaitanya Mahaprabhu Museum
o Lord Jagannath Lila Museum
o Library
o Amphitheater and auditorium
o Amusement park for children
o Govinda's restaurant
o International Guest house
o Ayurvedic Clinic and Yoga center
o Inmate ashram & prasadam hall
o Convention hall
o Bhakta nivas (residence for devotees) - 500 units
o Vedic school
o Dharmashala (low cost residence for pilgrims)
o Vaishnav market area
Detalied project plans can been seen on the internet at the Project website:
www. puriiskcon.com.
Those who are interested to donate for the project or donate for a residence
in the bhakti nivas, where one, two, and three bedroom/hall/kitchen
facilites are to be constructed may contact Puri Project Director and Temple
President Vanamali Das via e-mail at <puriiskcon@gmail.com>, or
<vanamali.jps@pamho.net>, or contact him over the phone: +91-94370-65008.
Additionally, the ISKCON Puri Project is already operating a guest house to
facilitate ISKCON devotees and life patrons.
The ISKCON Puri Project guest house is situated in a new building located
just off the main Chakratirtha Road, behind the Purushottam Vatika on road
near the Urban Hatt to Railway station road. Nearby the Puri Railway
station, which is only half a kilometer from the guest house.
Eighteen rooms are available, and all rooms have split air conditioners, and
wifi internet. All the rooms have attached bath rooms with hot water.
The project has already begun a Govinda's Restaurant. This fully air
conditioined restaurant, is situated on the main Chakratirtha Road at Banki
Mohan, not far from the Mayfair Hotel, and the Subhash Bose Statue.
Govinda's runs on “alacarte” system. Life Patrons can avail 20% discount at
Govinda's.
(Text PAMHO:28288819) --------------------------------------
Four kirtan albums by ISKCON chanters, most of them second-generation devotees, made the Top 20 Conscious Music Albums of 2015 list on Australia’s Soul Traveller Radio this January.
The list, voted for by listeners worldwide, included new age, electronica, and reggae artists, as well as renowned artists from the broader kirtan community such as Dave Stringer, Krishna Das, MC Yogi, and Deva Premal.
The Hanumen (from left to right) - Gaura Vani, Purusartha Das, John De Kadt, Benjy Wertheimer
Which makes it all the more impressive that ISKCON devotee artists filled the top three spaces, with Madi Das and The Hanumen coming in just behind Jahnavi Harrison in the coveted number one spot. Ananda Monet followed at number sixteen.
During his Soul Traveller Radio Show on January 2nd, host Shayne Locke brought in Madi Das as his co-host and played cuts from all top 20 albums, mentioning that there was a particularly strong showing from the kirtan community.
Jahnavi Harrison - Like A River to the Sea
“This is not a competition, but more of a conscious music celebration,” he reminded listeners.
The first ISKCON devotee offering in the list at number sixteen, Ananda Monet’s “Inevitable Time” is not actually a traditional kirtan record, but a grand film-score style album that tells the story of the devotional epic Mahabharat through musical vignettes. Ananda, a Russian-born gurukuli now based in the UK, grew up singing the Sanskrit lyrics from the Bhagavad-gita and Puranas, and brings a lot of emotion to her powerful vocals.
The cover of Inevitable Time
At number three, Madi’s Bhakti Without Borders made international news recently for garnering a 2016 Grammy nomination, and features duets with 12 Vaishnavi chanters singing traditional bhajans to infectiously catchy melodies. But to Madi, the album’s most important aspect is that 100% of its profits go towards helping underprivileged girls in Lord Krishna’s hometown of Vrindavana, India.
“It was a huge honor to be on the list, though if I could choose, I would have put myself 4th and Ananda Monet’s album – which is incredible – 3rd,” says Madi. “But being surpassed by friends I grew up with, whose talent and experience, and devotion is deeper, was the perfect way to place in the competition.”
Ananda Monet
The number two spot belongs to the Hanumen, a sort of kirtan supergroup that includes not only Madi’s second-generation friend Gaura Vani and Srila Prabhupada disciple Purusartha Das, but also features Benjy Wertheimer of world music group Shantala, and American poet John DeKadt.
Soul Traveller called their second album, Leaps and Bounds, “Inspiring,” “Insightful,” and “Illuminating,” and said that it “blends call-and-response chanting, mystic poetry, and world music into a magical brew of sacred love songs.” The record features tracks such as “Invocation (Chaitanya Mantra),” “Bhaja Govindam,” and “I Am Yours / Hare Krishna.”
Madi Das - Bhakti Without Borders
Meanwhile, at number one was Jahnavi Harrison’s “Like A River to the Sea,” produced by Gaura Vani’s record label Mantralogy. The daughter of UK-based Prabhupada disciple Kripamoya Das, Jahnavi is the youngest chanter of all the ISKCON artists on the list, and Like A River… is her first album.
But her genuine, heartfelt devotion clearly won over Soul Traveller’s editors, who noticed something special and raved, “Pure, prayerful melodies emanate from Krishna devotee Jahnavi Harrison’s lips on every track of Like A River To The Sea. There’s no doubt about it:This woman is singing to God.”
Jahnavi Harrison
Jahnavi, for her part, said she was “very honored” to hear the news. “Thank you so much to all of you who voted!” she said. “May we always work together harmoniously to spread music that uplifts the consciousness of the world.”
Source: http://iskconnews.org/iskcon-kirtan-artists-in-top-20-conscious-albums-of-the-year,5316/
