Spirit Matters aims to introduce aspects of Bhakti Yoga to those interested in learning about mantra meditation, yoga knowledge and how to live a more conscious life. The channel was designed as part of my honors project for my visual communication design degree, which I will complete in a few weeks. Following the Bhakti Lounge motto, my intent with this channel is to make it easy for people come to Krishna consciousness, grow in Krishna consciousness and share Krishna consciousness with others.

I hope to be able to continue making videos for this channel, plus a few more I’m developing, but I need to know if they’re useful for devotees and the general public! If you like and appreciate the channel please share its videos, like them and even comment on them (keeping in mind the intent is for nondevotees to watch the videos). The more attention and promotion you give the videos the more youtube will notice them, which means that a larger variety of people might get the opportunity to notice them too!

If you have any feedback, suggestions, or know of any other outreach video projects, please let me know: lavanyakelidd@gmail.com

Your servant,
Lavanya-keli Devi Dasi

I’m an aspiring filmmaker and am really excited about exploring how film can be used to teach and inspire people about Krishna Consciousness.
I’m also trying to become a yoga teacher and am involved in working bees up at New Gupta Vraja to grow more veges and further beautify the already beautiful property.

These below are some of the videos, to see the channel and more please click here:http://www.spiritmatters.me/

By Yadurani Devi Dasi

A group of devotees from Radhadesh, Belgium, recently attended the World Peace Forum conference in Luxembourg and Germany for two days. The meeting was attended by MPs, diplomats, academics and other professionals. The general mood among the meeting’s participants was very open and friendly. We have been invited to these meetings for the last 3 years.

The main topic was the current refugee crisis in Europe. Representatives of different projects described their work and got responses.

On the first day we chanted for 20 minutes for the delegates and distributed nearly 100 burfis. On the second day devotees started the general program with a bhajan and then we played a 10 minute video presentation by HH Sivarama Swami on the topic of the ISKCON Hungary response to the refugee crisis.

Mr. Rodhe Dominique, the head of the World Peace Forum, was visibly very happy with the video. He asked us to thank Sivarama Swami for personally addressing the conference. Later, various delegates expressed their deep appreciation for Maharaja’s talk. One gentleman said that for him Maharaja’s talk was the highlight of these two days. We offered him the Bhagavad-gita and he was very happy to receive it. Another man, a refugee from Syria who participated in the meetings, was very moved by the video, and thanked Maharaja for “making the Syrian people smile”.

The second day devotees came from Goloka Dhama, Germany, with some prasadam (supremely delicious sandeshes). When we told the organiser, he announced to the delegates that “the Hare Krishnas have brought some sweets from their temple in Germany and everyone is invited to take”. And they did. Very quickly.

The devotees from Goloka Dhama have been invited to provide meals for the World Peace Forum in 2016.

The World Peace Forum is an assembly of very sincere souls who work very hard and even risk their lives for the betterment of human society. On the way home the devotees discussed our impressions. The main one was that we feel very fortunate to come in contact with Srila Prabhupada’s teachings which deal with the root of all problems. We felt happy to meet and share Krishna consciousness with them.

Hare Krsna,

Your servant,

Yadurani dd.

http://worldpeaceforum.org/events/luxembourg-peace-prize-2015/

We were overwhelmed by your outpouring of support, dear friends and family. Thanks to those who recently joined our efforts (a great, big, hearty WELCOME!) and to those who were already part of our Radha Kunda Seva family and who chose to give even more (we LOVE YOU!), we reached our goal of full sponsorship for the 68 widows we were already feeding! And then, your loving generosity kept flowing! And we have now reached 75 widows sponsored! …Which means we can feed seven more! We were feeling so inspired and optimistic, that we raised our goal to 100 widows! Please visit this link for more information… http://radharani.com/daily-meals-for-widows/

We have split the daily meal serving into a morning group and an evening group. It is difficult to accommodate cooking for all of them in one go in our temporary kitchen building. But we found out who preferred a morning meal time and who wanted an evening meal time and split them accordingly. We celebrated Radhastami (Radha’s Appearance Day – September 21st) by treating them all to a feast of rice, dahl, puri, two varieties of sabji – cauliflower and paneer, and boondi raita. And the day after Janmastami (Krishna’s Appearance Day – September 5th), on Nandotsava, we made and distributed a fancy potato/paneer sabji with the rotis (chapatis) along with jalebi sweets.

Meanwhile, we are feeling pressure to begin construction of our kitchen and office on the land that was donated to us. The kitchen will accommodate a feeding program for all the hungry of the Radha Kunda and Govardhan areas (up to 10,000 people per day!). And, it will also fulfill the prasada needs of the children attending the Sandipani Muni School being built adjacent to it. Sandipani Muni School is a project run by Food For Life Vrindavan to provide food, medical care and education to needy children. And we will be providing the food aspect of that. Please visit this page for more information…http://radharani.com/reveal-the-beauty-of-vraja/

Now that the high quality latex acrylic paint has been applied to the walls of Sakhi Kunda, the garden has been planted and the kunda has been filled! Check out the photos in this album to see Sakhi Kunda coming to life.

Jihva Mandir is getting yet another artwork painting! This time it’s in the rear of the temple and is the work of a new artist who recently joined our team. Check out his beautiful handiwork in the album.

Guru dasi is preparing to leave her body soon. She is peaceful and talkative despite living off of a few teaspoons of Pomegranate juice and water per day. And because of your support, the final months of her life were spent in relative comfort. Thank you! Please say a prayer to Srimati Radharani that Guru dasi finds shelter in Radha’s loving embrace.

Please browse our latest photos and join our efforts by visiting www.radharani.com.
Your servants, Mayapurcandra dasa, Campakalata Devi dasi, Padma Gopi Devi dasi, and Urmila Devi Dasi.

Patita Pavana dasa Adhikary

This essay is dedicated to His Grace Shriman Kurma Rupa Prabhu of Vrindavana who has entered into Krishna’s eternal Vraja-lila, and to all devotees of the Hare Krishna Movement whoby the grace of Shrila Prabhupada our savior honor mother cow by offering Her milk and other products into the service of the Supreme Lord Govinda Gopala.

The great forms of the Supreme Lord such as Narasimhadeva, Varaha, Kurma, Matsya, Vamana, Shri Ramachandra and the others, each of Whom we worship, are highly celebrated throughout theshastras. All are honored on a platform equal to Hari Himself. There is no difference, all are Vishnu-tattwa, yet each shows a unique aspect of the SupremeLord Shri Krishna—and from this understanding the Gaudiya concept of achintya bedaabhed tattva. As Shrila Prabhupada points out early in hisBhagavatam commentaries (1st canto): the Supreme Lord appears in all species of life. Indeed, His incarnations—and remember, Shri Krishna is the Source of all avataras, forms of the Lord, plenary portions, etc.—are as numerous as the bubbles on the ocean. The multi-facets of Lord Krishna’s Personal Qualities are unlimited, and each one of His expansions reveals a yet deeper understanding of the Lord’s all-spiritual and transcendental potencies.

As the Bhagavata (1.3.3) teaches us:

“It is believed that all the universal planetary systems are situated on the extensive body of thepurusha, but He has nothing to do with the created material ingredients. His body is eternally in spiritual existence par excellence.”

Despite the difference in the lilas of the Lord, His compassion for all His parts and parcels—which includes you and me—remains constant. Even the terrible form of Ugra-Narasimhadeva was quickly pacified by the prayers of Shri Prahlada when Nri-keshari explained to that veritable Mahajana in the dress of a lad—and son of the demon King Hiranyakashipu—that His father and multi-generations before and aft would all be awarded liberation Therefore what is constant in the Lord’s incarnations is His compassion for His devotees.

For as He promises His devotees in Bhagavad-gita (15.20) …

“This is the most confidential part of the Vedic scriptures, O sinless one, and it is disclosed now by Me. Whoever understands this will become wise, and his endeavors will know perfection.”

Shri Prahlada was a direct disciple of Shri Narada Muni—and with whom the disciple shares with his master the post of mahajana. Therefore he was fearless even before the ghastly visage of Lord Nrisimhadeva who had just ripped to shreds the conqueror of the demigods and disrupter of yagna, the brother of Hiranyaksha. Thus the Lord in His most awesome feature of Ugra-nrasimha displayed supreme kindness towards the demon. Lord Narasimahadeva promised the five-year old Prahlada, “Do not worry. Your father and umpteen generations are liberated due to a great devotee like you having been born in their family. Which—it is explained—includes families that the devotee has lived in during previous lifetimes. As Shri Prahlada had told the Lord (SB 7.9.12):

“Therefore, although I was born in a demoniac family, I may without a doubt offer prayers to the Lord with full endeavor, as far as my intelligence allows. Anyone who has been forced by ignorance to enter the material world may be purified of material life if he offers prayers to the Lord and hears the Lord’s glories.

All species of life—all creatures of the three worlds whether plant or animal, insect or quadruped, human, naga or demi-god—“enjoy” their origins from Him alone.

And when the Supreme Personality of Godhead comes to deliver His renegade parts and parcels through His wonderful lilas, His pure devotees follow in the footsteps of the Lord and spread His glories. That is the position of Shrila Prabhupada, the greatest minstrel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead Shri Krishna that the planet has seen in many centuries. Shrila Prabhupada is the pure representative of all other acharyas in our line including Shrila Saraswati Thakura, Shrila Bhaktivinoda Thakura, Shri Vishwanatha Chakravarti Thakura, Shri Narottama dasa Thakura, Shri Krishnadasa Kaviraja, Shri Lochan dasa Thakura, the six Goswamis of Vrajadham and other followers of Mahaprabhu.

And as Gaudiyas we have the gift of the dust of the Holy Lotus Feet of the Source of all Incarnations, Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. Did not Mahaprabhu reveal His Shada-bhuja Form to Kholavecha Shridhara and manifesting the features of other avataras to His very confidential associates? As Shrila Prabhupada commented, “Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is golden on the outside, but blue on the inside.” Which, as we know, translates into “Mahaprabhu is directly—sakshad—Shri Krishna. And His Highest Gift is showing us the selfless love of Shri Radha for Shri Krishna. This is the most secret of all secrets, one that even many great sages of the Vedic era were not privy to.

So, we have seen and heard much about Lord Ramachandra or Lord Narasimhadeva, Matsya and Kurma.

But who among us know much about the cow incarnation of Lord Vishnu?

To learn about this relatively uncelebrated form of the Lord, the devotee must go to the 7th canto of theBhagavata Purana. After narrating the history of Lord Nrismhadeva and the salvation of Shri Prahlada, Narada Muni tells King Yudhishthira the story of Maya Danava’s defeat at the hands of Lord Shiva, who afterward became celebrated as Tripurari. It was during this pastime that Lord Vishnu appeared as a cow, and Lord Brahma as a calf. Behold the Cow Incarnation of the Supreme Lord:

WHEN VISHNU BECAME A COW AND BRAHMA A CALF

Here are some of the pertinent verses that relate to the Supreme Lord’s incarnation as a cow.

Attacked by Lord Shiva’s golden arrows, all the demoniac inhabitants of those three dwellings lost their lives and fell down. Then the great mystic Maya Dānava dropped the demons into a nectarean well that he had created. (SB 7.10.59)

When the dead bodies of the demons came in touch with the nectar, their bodies became invincible to thunderbolts. Endowed with great strength, they got up like lightning penetrating clouds. (SB 7.10.60)

Seeing Lord Śiva very much aggrieved and disappointed, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, considered how to stop this nuisance created by Maya Dānava. (SB 7.10.61)

The demons could see the calf and cow, but because of the illusion created by the energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the demons could not forbid them. The great mystic Maya Dānava became aware that the calf and cow were drinking the nectar, and he could understand this to be the unseen power of providence. Thus he spoke to the demons, who were grievously lamenting. (SB 7.10.62)

Maya Dānava said: What has been destined by the Supreme Lord for oneself, for others, or for both oneself and others cannot be undone anywhere or by anyone, whether one be a demigod, a demon, a human being or anyone else.( SB 7.10.63)

And so it was that Lord Vishnu, Krishna, became a cow, drank the nectar that was being misused by the demons, and gave the victory to Shiva as Tripurari. All glories to He Who is the success of His devotees, though he gives all credit to His devotees.

PRAYERS TO KRISHNA’S COWS AND TO THE COW INCARNATION

O Shri Hari, Krishna, You are the Remover of all that is evil in the form of materialistic desires that have chained us conditioned souls to the vicious cycle of birth and death. I eternally bow again and again in the dust of the hoof prints of the cows that follow You in Vrindavana.

Again and again let us take the dust of the hooves of the cows of Vrindavana upon our heads as we fall down like a stick before the dust of the herd of Vraja. By the grace of Mother Cow alone we see imprinted here and there in the pasturelands wetted by milk from the joyous herd numbering crores, the footprints of Lord Krishna and His cowherd boy friends running here and there. Veritably Shri Krishna, the Source of all Incarnations, is none other than Vraja Gopala, Govinda, Gopinatha and Gopijanavallabha in His Original Form. He is the Original Source of the eternal pleasure, or anandapotency, in His Most Intimate Abode of the Highest Devotion and Destination. Shri Nandanandana is the fearless Killer of such demonic villifiers and destroyers of devotional service as Putana and Trinivarta; Keshi and Arishta. The son of Yashoda tore Baka to shreds and strangled the vile snake Agha from within his throat. And after killing the generals in Kamsa’s army such as Chanura and Mustika with the help of Baladeva, the Lord with His fists beat Kamsa to a bloody pulp as suitable retribution for the demon’s vile behavior towards Krishna’s devotees including Devaki and Vasudeva.

All demons who enter Vrindavana with foolish designs of infiltrating pure devotional service soon find that they must contend with the Lord of the Cows before Whose very name the great demons tremble and whither away. O Krishna, those who cross you in the form of atheists or disbelievers in Your glories are cast again and again into the wells of darkness called Andha Kupa and suffer for their sinful pretenses of so-called enjoyment. Yet anyone who in this lifetime has served Your cows, finds akamadhenu there in the form of a loving vehicle across the River Styx or Vaitarani.

Thus we pray to the cows first before we pray to the representatives of Lord Krishna, the brahmanas, as together we honor the cow by reciting …

namo brahmanya devaya go brahmana hitaya cha
jagat-hitaya krishnaya govindaya namo namah.

Let us now pray together to Lord Vishnu in His cow incarnation as told by Shri Narada to Yudhishthira inShrimad-Bhagavatam. For it was in the Divine Form of a Cow that You, O Vishnu, saved Shiva from embarrassment in his war with Maya Danava.

O, You Who are Supreme, Lord Shri Krishna, through Your pure devotee You alone have revealed the Highest Good to a world gone awash in the sinful hurricane of Kali-yuga!

Out of Your affection for the leader of the Vaishnavas Lord Shiva, you have armed Chandrashekhara with his weapons of success and his chariot of victory. You alone have empowered Gangadhara’s charioteer in his speedy ride to success. With Your arrows of truth and Your bow of righteousness, the grateful Shambhu has defeated the armies of Tripura, the Three Cities of Maya Danava. And the soft Moon of Kailasha has now emerged as the all-successful Shri Tripurari. Thus we learn that You alone are the Source of Victory to Your pure devotees, and even the greatest of demigods bow before You.

Seeing that the demons were becoming invincible by the rakshasa-magic of Mayasura, and to further the glories of Your pure devotee Mahadeva, You took the Form of a Divine Cow. In this way you assured Shiva the glory of his single-handed triumph over Maya Danava because in fact You alone are the glory of the glorious. Accompanied by Brahma, who took the form of a calf, You as a cow demonstrated pure goodness when you drank up the well of nectar. It was by bathing dead demons in this amrita-kupa that Maya Danava could bring slain asuras, victims of Shiva’s arsenal, back to a life of invincibility. Hence you saved Shiva from bewilderment to in Your form of a cow.

O Hari, through this act you have blessed not only Shambhu, but the entire world of devotees. Though Your form as a Kamadhenu is relatively unsung, it is Who alone Who are worshipped by kamadhenus of Vrindavana and Indravana alike. And in your Cow incarnation, You have revealed to the world the meaning of simple, pure and genuine goodness of the highest transcendence.

Such is the unspoken and silent extent of Your transcendental goodness in Your Divine Form as a Cow that few have awakened to this benediction of Your eternal mercy. And for the seeker looking for Your Lotus Feet, Your Highest Gift upon us will always be that of pure devotional service to Shri Guru and the disciplic succession by the grace of Shrila Prabhupada. Such is the highest nourishment, for whether You become Mother Cow or Mother Vedas, you are the mother and father of all.

The very hope and prayer of enlightenment—which may be defined as trying to understand even a spark of the great Sun of Your splendor—remains distant. But such secrets of Your Glories are found by those who bow before the cows that You herd in Your very Own Land of Vrindavana. In Your each and every Form, You alone are the Dispenser of Divine Selfless Love. Your love is seen whether in Your form of the Man-lion, or as the Divine Cow of Tripura or in Your form of the yuga-dharma of sankirtana—chanting of Your Holy Names.

And as we joyously join together to sing the mahamantra; we recall Your pure devotee Shrila Prabhupada whose thoughts, words and deeds are forever focused upon the lotus feet of his spiritual master ad infinitum. For as a cow serves selflessly, so has the servant of the servant, our Guru Maharaja, taught us by his example.

O Krishna, Your selflessness is profound. Even though You Yourself are the very Paramatma or Self of all selves, Your qualities of nourishing, tolerance, patience, compassion and humility remain unfathomable. But how would we have understood these things if You had not sent us our spiritual master Shrila Prabhupada to enlighten the world?

Oh Krishna, Jagadishvara, as you guided the chariot of Arjuna at Kurukshetra, so You are guiding all Your pure devotees back to Home back to Godhead. And in Your Form as the cow you are nourishing all of your followers.

All glories to You—for as we have often heard it said:

“O Men of purified intellect, drink deeply the milk of the message of Bhagavad-gita. The Upanishadsare likened unto a herd of cows while the milker of the Upanishads is Shri Gopala Krishna Homself. Partha is the calf and the milk is the eternal nectar of the Gita.”

Therefore, O Lord, all glories, all glories to Your pure devotee His Divine Grace AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada who has appeared as an empowered associate of Lord Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s Own sankirtana party. Mahaprabhu is the Form of Shri Krishna Who in the mood of Shri Radha, ahs made a very rare Appearance to inaugurate the Golden Age. Shrila Prabhupada, whose every action was performed in fulfilling the order of his own Guru Maharaja, is Lord Chaitanya’s own representative through the potency of the great Brahma-Madhva-Gaudiya sampradaya.

As He danced across the world, Mahaprabhu’s eyes were ever fixated on Shri Krishna. Shrila Prabhupada, though penniless, marched triumphantly across the word in the footsteps of Mahaprabhu. He traveled alone into uncharted regions, armed with only the sacred words of the Bhagavata and theGita. Yet he has conquered the Earth through this miraculous act. He has torn wide open the secret of secrets to all successes. That very secret was taught to Arjuna by Vasudeva Himself and to Pralada by Lord Narsimha and Tripurari by the Cow incarnation.

This same eternal message is available through the books of Shrila Prabhupada … that secret is now available to everybody. And it begins with the transcendental and all-nourishing sound vibration …

Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare
Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare

www.vedicastrologers.org

ISKCON Mayapur celebrated the World Holy Name Week from 24th September to 4th October. Every day from 27th September to 4th October, there was a Nama Yajna at Srila Prabhupada’s bhajan kutir from 4 PM to 9 PM followed by prasadam. This Nama Yajna started on 27th Septmeber in celebration of Srila Haridas Thakur’s disappearance and it was performed in front of a murti of Srila Haridas Thakur. HH Lokanath Swami’s ecstatic kirtana on 2nd October was one of the most liked kirtana in Nama Yajna.

There were many other events during the Holy Name Week centered around the holy names. On 27th September devotees did a japa walk from temple to yoga pitha accompanied by a murti of Srila Prabhupada. On 28th September, gurukula boys led a big kirtana. On 1st October, there was a Hari Nama sankirtan by young students of SMIS. The older SMIS students also did a Hari Nama sankirtan on 2nd October. Truly, Mayapur was immersed in kirtana rasa during the entire Holy Name Week.

Images Courtesy: HG Jaya Sri devi dasi

By Subhatma Guaranga Das

Thousands of pilgrims, guests and visitors chanted and danced to the sweet Holy Names of Krishna at the Krishna Balaram Mandir for 10 days. The chanting goes on anyway with our 24 hour kirtan department, the ladies group chanting in Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi and the devotees from the Youth Forum engaging everyone in chanting one complete round on beads, in Srila Prabhupada’s Samadhi upstairs, everyday.

The festival expertly organized by the temple management had different groups participate in 3 shifts – 2 and 3 hour slots. On the first day, a beautiful and colorful pandal was set up at the main gate of our goshala and locals and pilgrims all happily chanted with our ISKCON Vrindavan Namahatta devotees. It was a wonderful sight.

The groups consisted of Srila Prabhupada’s lady disciples, students from the Bhaktivedanta Gurukula and International School, the bramachari’s from the goshalla, students from VIHE, mataji’s from the congregation, mataji’s from the International group, Iskcon Vrindavan Namahatta, Iskcon Vrindavan Youth Forum, devotees from our BBT and Srila Prabhupada’s male disciples.

Krishna’s Holy Names could be heard literally in every corner of Vrindavan. And we are hoping and praying that it will reach those fallen, suffering conditioned souls all over the world.

We enjoyed this so much that we can do this every day.
Hare Krishna!

More photos here: https://www.facebook.com/Iskcon-Vrindavan-Namahatta-587926797996015/timeline/

By Kalavati Sundari Devi Dasi on behalf of Sri Sri Rukmini Dwarkadhish Temple, Dwarka, New Delhi.

The national capital of India witnessed a historic Maha-Harinaam Sankirtan on 27th September 2015 at Janakpuri, New Delhi, organized by ISKCON Shri Shri Rukmini Dwarkadhish Temple, Dwarka under the guidance of Shri Shri Radha Parthasarthi Temple, East of Kailash.

The Maha-Harinaam Sankirtan was marked by Their Lordships Shri Shri Rukmini Dwarkadhish gracing the streets of Jankapuri on their palanquin amidst roaring kirtan. The Rockshow on a 40ft trailer stole the hearts of many bringing the young and old closer to the wheels dancing and singing the holy name of the Lord with elation.

The residents of Janakpuri, New Delhi welcomed the lord and performed arati for the Deities while the devotees and onlookers offered flowers and danced in jubilation. Around 20 Stalls were put up by local residents to serve the yatra devotees with sumptuous snacks prasadam.

There were multiple kirtan parties filling the air with the sweet and enlivening kirtan. Around 3000 devotees joined from various temples in Delhi/NCR viz. East of Kailash, Punjabi Bagh, Rohini, Noida, Ghaziabad, including a large number of devotees from local Dwarka Temple community. 

Prominent among the senior devotees who graced the occasion were HG Kratu Prabhu, HG Sridhaam Prabhu, HG Mohan Rupa Prabhu, and many others.

Some Vaishanvas shared their experience as follows:

“I am elated to be part of this Harinaam in Delhi” – Kamalnayan Prabhu from Vrindavan

“I was pulled by enthusiasm of devotees for this Harinaam and rescheduled by plan and attend this Harinaam. Thank you very much” – Rukmini Krishna Prabhu (ISKCON Punjabi Bagh Temple President)

“This Harinaam is as good as Rathyatra” Gopishvar Prabhu (ISKCON Faridabad)

“I think everytime we should make Harinaam as wonderful as this. So, grateful to Dwarka (Delhi) devotees who made it happen” – Shri Krishna Hari Prabhu (Event organizer at ISKCON East of Kailash temple)

“Today’s Harinaam has set a benchmark for all temples around in terms of arrangements and ecstasy shared by all devotees” – Rasaraj prabhu (Youth Preacher at ISKCON, East of Kailash temple)

The Maha-Harinaam  Sankirtan concluded with delicious dinner prasadam at  Janmashtami Park, Janakpuri. 

Many Janakpuri residents came forward to help Srila Prabhupada and His mission.

Maha Harinaam Sankirtan ki Jaye!

By Parasuram das

The French Revolution of 1798 is regarded by western historians as one of the most important events in human history. The revolution sparked off at the magnificent Place D’ La Republic, this is the location where another type of revolution was to happen, the Krishna Prasad “feeding of the 5,000”.

A revolution of consciousness, the Hare Krishna revolution. Referred to as the “spotless” Purana, the Bhagavatam is “directed towards bringing about a revolution in the impious lives of this world’s misdirected civilisation” (SB 1.5.11).

At this revolution almost 7,000 young people got a free plate of delicious subji, pakoras and a puri, and got to hear the Holy Name.
The Revolution of 1798 came about due to the popular resentment of the privileges enjoyed by the clergy and the aristocracy and similarly Lord Caitanya’s movement is open to one and all, even a dog can take part. Lord Caitanya’s movement will always be street based, and centered on the free distribution of Bhakti.

A special thanks to the French devotees who came for the Harinams, including Mandakini prabhu, and the team of English householders with their children.

The Indonesian devotees took up this year’s World Holy Name Week with great zest. Youth from all the temples/communities united to perform a Harinama Yajna never before held.

On the first day, a 12 Hour Kirtan at the Sri Sri Radha Madhava Asrama (Gianyar, Bali) with His Holiness Kavicandra Swami (Co-GBC for Indonesia), His Holiness Ramai Swami (Co-GBC for Indonesia) and His Holiness Bhakti Raghava Swami in attendance. Devotees from the 5 temples and 3 centres took turns to complete the 12 Hours. After that, up until the first of October, 6 Hour Kirtans were held everyday at all of Bali’s temples and centres. On the weekends, it was maha harinam time, with the highlight being the Maha Harinama at Double-Six (Kuta) Beach at sunset on the 27th, with at least 40 devotees in attendance. On the 2nd of October, 1 Hour Japas and 5 Hour Kirtans were held at all the temples.

The last weekend geared for the 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in the USA. Indonesia’s ISKCON 50 committee decided to use the tithi (Vaisnava/Lunar calendar) dates to celebrate this event. His Holiness Ramai Swami, a life size murti of Srila Prabhupada, and a few devotees took boats from the Benoa Peninsula (Badung, Bali) to Mertasari Beach (Denpasar, Bali). At the beach, devotees, geared head to toe in traditional Hindu Balinese wear, carried Srila Prabhupada to the main altar. Prabhupada was greeted with a sacred Balinese dance, performed exclusively for temple rites and of course, a full course Raja Bhoga offering. A grand Guru-puja was held with devotees from other parts of Indonesia present. A revised edition of Satsvarupa Dasa Gosvami’s book “Prabhupada” was released and commitments were made to distribute 50,000 Bhagavad-gitas up until July of 2016 to celebrate the 50th.

The celebration doesn’t stop here, as after the Harinama Yajna has been performed, the ISKCON 50 celebrations starts escalating month by month. Reporting from Indonesia, Ravinjay.

Pictures taken by: Bhakta Dandavat Pranam, Anantavijaya dasa, Aryo Agung, Srinidhi dasa and Sri Sudevi devi dasi.

WHNW Report from Chamorshi (Maharastra)

Leader. : Parameswar Prabhu (Srila Prabhupad disciple )

These days from 24th October to 4th November i was engaged in the service
of writing the reports for the World Holy Name Week event in Vrindavana. It
was kind of service as the reporter . Also required to organize the
mataji's kirtan.
I offer to you the summarized report and some of the pictures.
All glories to You!

The World Holy Name Week in Vrindavana (report).

Today 24th september on the day of ekadasi The World Holy Name Week started
in Vrindavana. The team of very enthusiastic devotees began the kirtan at
the Bhaktivedanta Goshala gates situated nearby parikrama marg for the
benefit of all pilgrims who in such auspicious day of ekadasi were doing
parikrama around Vrindavana Dham. The devotees also were distributing the
lemon juice for those who thirsty. The pilgrims were attracting to the
kirtan that was performing on their way. Sometimes even the cows were
magnetized by hearing the Holy Names devotees were singing. In the evening
the program moved from Goshala to Krsna Balarama Temple area. The chanting
of the Holy Names of the Lord was continued with even greater force by the
members of Namahata department.

Today is the second day of the World Holy Name Week in Vrindavana. The
kirtan is increasing. The disciple of Srila Prabhupada H.G. Vayasaki prabhu
was leading kirtan today right after performance of Namahata department.
The people were coming and taking participation by dancing and clapping. It
was ecstatic. In the kirtan took participation also H.G. Mukunda Datta
prabhu (SP disciple) who is very expert in kirtan and has the voice like
gandharva.

On the 3th day of the World Holy Name Week the students from Bhaktivedanta
gurukula took participation. They also were inspired to show the drama
about the life of the great saint Haridasa Thakura on the eve of his
disappearance day. It was very artistically performed. The time between the
drama gurukula students were chanting the Holy Names of the Lord with great
enthusiasm skillfully playing on different instruments. To see the drama
one of Srila PrabhupadaÕs disciples mataji Paravati came. She was very
happy observing as children playing drama. The people outside also were
coming interested in what was happening on the scene.

The 4th day of celebrating the World Holy Name Week in Vrindavana was
especially rich. In the morning the devotees from Namahata departement were
performing incredible kirtan gathering people to dance. In the afternoon HH
Bhakti Dhira Damodara Swami gave deep lecture on the Holy Name. In the
evening the Krsna Balarama temple president took participation with his
special orchestra. The kirtan was ecstatic. The souls were dancing filled
with happiness. They could not stop. It seems that especial mercy of Srila
Haridasa Thakura were pouring on all conditioned souls today.

Today is the 5th day and kirtan was started in the morning by matajis
kirtan party. It was sweet and it was for Krsna. The devotees were praying
together to Srila Prabhupad before to start. That kirtan as the offering to
the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupad was devotionally performed. In the
evening the air was filled with blissful kirtan that was going by the
devotees from Namahata department and Gosala.

Today is the 6th day of The World Holy Name Week in Vrindavana.

The lively kirtan in the morning was going by the members of Namahata
department. In the evening the very dedicated to the service to Srila
Prabhupad two brahmacari-devotees were leading the kirtan. They are
actually the expert players in the traditional Bengali gaudia vaisnava
kirtan.

Later on HH B.A.Janardana Swami took the opportunity to glorify the Holy
Name of the Lord for the benefit of all around. In the mean time Mataji
Daivi Sakti (SP disciple dedicated all her life around 40 years for the
service to the lotus feet of Srila Prabhupad) came to check how kirtan is
going. She came in the mood of wonder after hearing the sounds of kirtan.

Today devotees also brought some very modern electronic instrument the kind
of drum the digital percussion and it was beautifully sound. This is the
nature of devotee to use everything in KrsnaÕs service.

On the 7th day of The World Holy Name Week in Vrindavana the kirtan
marathon was started by the Srila PrabhupadaÕs Samadhi kirtan party. The
kirtan in SPÕs Samadhi is going every day during many years without stop.
This year the matajis celebrated 8 years from the time they started this
service for the pleasure of Srila Prabhupad.  They are very rare souls who
lost their hearts in Vrindavan; they were trying to catch the hearts of all
around and bring them closer to Krsna. During the kirtan people coming
outside were gathering like one big family and with raised hands were
chanting: Hare Krsna Hare Krsna Krsna Krsna Hare Hare/Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare. Closer to the evening Kusum Sarovara Priya dd from
Mauritius, Amsumati dd from Brasil and others shared the sweet melodies
that were coming from the deep cores of their hearts. The atmosphere of one
same service was there. Everybody around were following the kirtan in
different ways; somebody by singing, others by dancing or by smiling,
clapping. Later on the team from Namahata department took the relay.

Today is the 8th day of the World Holy Name Week in Vrindavana. The Srila
PrabhupadaÕs Samadhi kirtan party was performing kirtan in the first half
of the day. In the evening the disciple of Srila Prabhupada H.G.Mukunda
Datta prabhu came to take participation in the sankirtana festival. He was
singing very melodically and at the same time with deep devotion that no
one could pass by the scene. The people were stopping and beginning to
dance with raised arms. Some of them after dancing were offering their
obeisances. The devotees from Bhaktivedanta Vani asram that is situated
nearby Gosala the young brahmacaris continued the evening kirtan.

The 9th day kirtan was started by the devotees from Namahata department.
They have the mini temple bus on which they are traveling around Vraja
Mandala and preaching in the villages. Today is the last day that they can
take participation in the kirtan here nearby Srila Prabhupada Samadhi,
because tomorrow they are going to the villages. The evening part of the
day the atmosphere was filled with the kirtan by the international matajis
kirtan party. Devotees from the different places of world gathered in the
performing one service the glorifying the names of the Lord (Switzerland,
Brasil, Kerala, Mauritius). Thereafter the devotees from the Bhaktivedanta
Gosala asram continued the kirtan.

Today is the penultimate day of the worldwide event ÒWorld Holy Name WeekÓ.
This day is the day of dance. In the first half of the day the atmosphere
was filled with the kirtan performed by the Srila PrabhupadaÕs Samadhi
kirtan party. The matajis brought the instrument called tanpura that sounds
very beautifully. The people were gathering in one round to dance. It is
the original nature of the soul to dance; and when one is singing the
LordÕs holy names with sincerity desiring to please Krsna then all the
living entities around begin to dance naturally. In the evening HH Bhakti
Dhira Damodara Swami was leading nonstop kirtan. It was as if in one
breath. Everyone was dancing without stop. It was like that everybody came
down from the platform of the mind. There were only two things: the Holy
Name and the dance. It was amazing. Then later on the Vrajavadhus kirtan
band continued till the end. Today is also the last day of the Ajamila
katha that was given by Braja Vilasa prabhu. Three days the seminar was
going on.

The final day of the World Holy Name Week comes to the end. It started with
the kirtan by the International matajis kirtan party. At the beginning the
devotees offered the mangala-carana prayer and after that the sweet kirtan
for the LordÕs pleasure gradually began. Gosala kirtan party was the next.
In the evening the temple president of Krsna Balarama mandir H.G.Pancagauda
prabhu came again with his mini orchestra; then little bit later the
devotee Ramai prabhu who dedicated himself to the harinam-sankirtan in
Vrindavana on the regular base during more then last three years came
directly from his service with his wonderful instrument accordion to take
participation in glorifying the holy names of Lord. The pilgrims were
chanting, were dancing, were happy! Thus gradually the last day of The
World Holy Name Week in Vrindavana came to the end.


Your servant, Anya

Thank you for making us aware of the WHNW .  I am very glad to inform you that we had one more session of Japathon in Sri Sri Gaur Nitai Sundar (Sri Candrika DD and Harinam Cintamani Das) house at Shyamdesh on 03 Oct. 2015 for the pleasure of Guru and Gauranga. With the Krishna's mercy, this time the Japathon programme was for two hours with Harinaam kritan and Vaishnav Bhajan.Each devotee sang one Bhajan and chanted Mahamantra. It was a wonderful day to spend with the vaishnav devotees.

Your Humble Servant

Sri Candrika DD

Harinaam Cintamani Das

Lecture on Glories of Holy Name by HH Lokanath Swami on 09 Aug 2014 at ISKCON Noida

(Lokanath Swami 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.Intrigued, maharaj attended the whole Hare Krsna Festival and heard from Srila Prabhupada.)

To Listen and Download - click here

Lecture on About Lord Balaram by HG Navina Nirada Prabhu on 30 Aug 2015 at ISKCON Slovenia

To Listen and Download - click here

Lecture on Sannyasa Initiation of Amal Bhakta Swami by HH Radhanath Swami on 16 Sep 2015 at Los Angeles

(Radhanath Swami was born in Chicago in 1950. Radhanath Swami's childhood name was Richard Slavin; Radhanath Swami was given the name Radhanath Swami after he entered the renounced order. In his teenage years)

To Listen and Download - click here

Report of WHNW happened in Ahmedabad namahatt 'ISKCON BASE', and also from ISKCON Ahmedabad Temple, Gujarat, INDIA.

We started WHNW from 24th of Sept. 2015 and continued till 4th of October.

 - 24th of Sept, Thursday , Morning :

From temple devotees left for Harinaam nagar-sankirtan in the morning at 7am to 8.30 am

Evening - Temple prgrm - We had Holy name Seminar in the temple and after the seminar kirtan was lead for more than half an hour. Followed by prasadam.

- 25th of Sept, Friday, Morning :

Temple devotees left for  Nagar-sankirtan in the morning at 7am to 8.30 am

Evening - Temple prgrm - It was a seminar for very new people (neophytes) who are we and our connection with the Supreme is possible only through Holy names - mahamantra. followed by meal prasadam

- 26th of Sept, Saturday, Morning:

Temple devotees left for  Harinaam Nagar-sankirtan in the morning at 7am to 9 am

Evening - House Program - We had a grand Seminar on "Importance of Holy Name" specially maha-mantra for about 60 to 70 devotees attended followed by full meal prasadam.

- 27th, Sunday : We had 24 hours kirtan which started at 5pm on Saturday and ended at 6pm on Sunday, after which Sunday feast prgrm started.

- 28th, Monday, Morning : We had only Nagar-sankirtan  from 7 am to 8.30 am.

-29th, Tuesday - I wanted to study in more details on Harinaam and started reading "Harinaam Cintamani" written by Srila Bhaktivinod Thakur - the collection of questions made by Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to Srila haridas Thakur in Puri dhaam, this was full day reading.

30th, Wednesday -  Morning : Nagar-Sankirtan from 7 am to 8.30 am

Evening : We had house program - glories of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu and Srila Haridas Thakur from Harinaam Citamani.

1st, Thursday : Evening : Importance of Japa - Kirtan - and Nagar-Sankirtan.

2nd, Friday : Morning : only nagar-sankirtan.

3rd, Saturday : Evening : The second session on "Importance of Holy Names" followed by meal prasadam.

4th, Sunday : Morning : From Temple we had Maha-Harinaam Sankirtan, nearly more than 125 devotees participated for four hours. Followed by Lunch Prasadam in the temple.

By the mercy of Vaishnavas and Gurudeva we were able to please "Harinaam Prabhu" by distributing it to others.  Sending you the pictures of 25th Sept 2015.  rest days pictures will be sending as i get them.

Please bless us so that we every year do such wonderful activitise and please the Holy Name of Goloka Vrndavan.