By the ISKCON Seattle Communications Office

ISKCON Seattle is making great strides in preaching the holy name to the greater Seattle, WA community. Anandamela, the festival of India is a unique cultural event that bridges east with the west. Organized by ISKCON seattle for the last five years, this event comes in the wake of the festival of colors – Holi that has captured imagination of folks in Redmond and neighboring cities representative of general America. The festival is designed to gradually introduce the general population filled with kama, krodha, and lobha to Krishna consciousness.

This bridge preaching under the vision and leadership of HG Harivilas Prabhu has been largely successful with the festival attracting several western visitors taking Bhagavad gita and other Srila prabhupada literature. MCyogi, the Hare Krishna rock singer sang melodious Hare Krishna mahamantra and other devotional songs on the Ganga stage which is the main stage. The Yamuna and Saraswati stages hosted a variety of Vedic Indian entertainment. The food also maintains the fusion theme with Indo Chinese Manchurian with American flavors. About 30% of visitors were of non-Indian origin who came to learn the culture, experience the music, and enjoy the delicacies. At end of the day, the visitors and hosts were thoroughly imbued with sense of common destiny when it comes to cultural emphasis that the city of Redmond always took pride in.

Displays such as Varnashrama village transport us to the ancient way of simple living and high thinking. One of the most popularly sought after participant of this year Ananda Mela was Harini – the calf \ heifer. Through her presence, we were able to increase awareness on our cow protection efforts in Redmond farm community. Visitors could have fresh probiotic buttermilk from our own farm.

Ramayana Land and other Displays

In 2015 the key theme was Ramayana, the story of Lord Rama, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. With 20 displays made with great I would appreciate your immediate attention to this matter and care by over 30 volunteers, these displays reinforced the significance of our history. A drama of the Ramayana showcased Bhakta Hanuman and also debunked the Charles Darwin’s evolution theory. Over 20 kids participated in this drama and their level of training was evident as they recited verses in pure Samskritam. Srila prabhupada would have been proud seeing the impact of his movement in Seattle.Click here for Ramayana Land pictures

Enthusiastic devotees distributed literature on music, arts, Bhagavad gita, Krishna book, Chant and be Happy, and other Srila Prabhupada books. Chanting of the mahamantra Hare Krishna reverberated the open lawns filling the air with 5000 year nostalgic Vedic culture. Colorful dresses such as choli, ghagra, lehanga, saris, kurtas, pyjamas, and dhotis showcase the cultural strengths. In the previous years a display of holy river Ganges charted the course of the Ganges from Mount Kailash to the Bay of Bengal showcasing the uniqueness of the Vedic Indian culture and the lifestyle along its course. The Commitment of ISKCON Seattle and its 500+ volunteers towards presenting this timeless culture has been commended by Mayor of Redmond and through the large press coverage in previous years. The cost of the festival is covered through prasadam sales, cultural grants, paraphernalia vendor booth rentals (50+ vendors) and the discounts on facility charges by the City of Redmond.

It would be hard to imagine a Hare Krishna festival with number of visitors or participants exceeding 20,000 in North America. About 410 Srila Prabhupada transcendental books distributed. The number of stage performers was 200 comprising dancers, musicians, and drama etc. With ten prasadam booths serving over 20 varieties everyone enjoyed transcendental Krishna prasadam.

Unique Features this Year

One of the key successes of the festival is the raising of over $130,000 in pledges for TOVP Mayapur project. This makes our temple the first ever temple to raise funds from the general public and increase awareness about the TOVP outside the devotee community at such a larger scale.

Yet other unique feature of the festival was the Kids Jagannath Rath Yatra organized by Bhimsen boys club of ISKCON Seattle, procession of Sri Balaji (Dwaraka Krishna). Visitor kids were engaged in Krishna Chess competition, Gauranga bouncies, and Nala-Bhima cooking competition.

Vedic University

While TOVP pledges , cost recovery and distribution numbers for prasadam plates and Srila Prabhupada books are good indicators of success for our festival, another key measurement we taken into account is the year on year increase in the number of enrolments for the courses offered through Vedic University. The Vedic University volunteers were holding fort for two days sharing the timeless principles from the Bhagavad Gita to all visitors. Various new courses were introduced this time through the eXperience series- Intricacies of Creation, Leadership Sutras from the Bhagavad Gita, Mantra Meditation, 15 min Daily Yoga Package, Time Management , Cow Care, Natural Farming and Discover Yourself. Owing to these new courses and the high trust that the greater Seattle community has on the Vedic University, the number of enrolments increased by 20 percent this year and the number of people wishing to receive emails from the Vedic University by 30%.

ISKCON Seattle has something for every age group: Cow farm and Varnashrama for everyone, Bhimsen boys club, Blossom girls club, BhaktiWomen focused on women’s growth, Balamela for kids, Synergy International school for kids, book distribution events for the courageous devotees, Bhakti Gita and Discover yourself courses from Vedic University, Bhaktivedanta library for the inquisitive, the list goes on.

The Vande Arts Team would like to offer this special drama script depicting Srila Prabhupada’s epic voyage on the Jaladhuta.

Devotees are welcome to use the script for there own celebrations of Srila Prabhupada’s arrival in the USA and throughout ISKCON’s 50 Anniversary Celebrations in 2016.

For the soundtrack and slideshow please contact Damodara Pandit das

yakdas@hotmail.com

Written by

Yasomatinandana das (ACBSP) & Damodara Pandit das

Music by

Indradyumna Swami & Sri Pralad das

Soundtrack by

Ekendra das

Actors

Swamiji:

Narrator:

Captain:

Captain’s Wife:

Sumati Morariji:

Krishna:

Book Distributer:

Das avatars:

This play is heavily musical (the main soundtrack theme is the beautiful “Prayers to the lotus feet of Lord Krishna” as recorded by Indradyumna Swami), with carefully choreographed scenes. A professional soundtrack has been recorded that provides background noise and the musical soundtrack (not the actual lines). Visual slide will be available to use as backdrops and for the final scene which display ISKCON’s major achievements. For more information email Damodara Pandit dasyakdas@hotmail.com

Swamiji at sea

Introduction Narration:

Tonight’s drama is about the transcendental pastimes of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada. Friday the 13th is generally considered inauspicious, but Friday the 13th of August 1965 was a most auspicious day. It represented a turning point in the lives of this world’s misdirected civilization. It was the day A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami left the shores of India to bring the ancient science of Krishna Consciousness to the West.

After a lifetime of preparation, Bhaktivedanta Swami was ready to carry out the order of his spiritual master, to fulfill the prophesy of Caitanya Mahprabhu, ‘prthi vite ache jato nagaradi gram sarvatra pracha hoibe morn am’, the chanting of the holy name of Krishna would soon be heard in every town and village in the world.

This is the story of Srila Prabhupada’s amazing journey to America. It is the story of how he defied all odds to achieve the unachievable. It is the story of ‘Swamiji at Sea’..

Welcome…….

Blessings……..

SCENE 1- On the Street

(Hari Nama party enters. ‘Hare Krsna’……)

Book Distributor: Excuse me Sir, could I interest you in a look at one of our books?

Captain: Are you from India?

B.D: No I am from America.

Captain: So how have you taken up this vedic culture of India.. this dancing and chanting ?

BD: This ancient culture was brought to America by our spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. In fact, this book is all about him.

C: Let me see that volume! Is this? Yes it is. It’s the Swami. Swami Bhaktivedenta. You know my boy he traveled aboard my ship the Jaladhuta. Yes, yes, it was in 1965. August and September. Let me see..

(reads book)

“The Jaladuta is a regular cargo ship of the Scindia Steam Navigation Company”.. that was my company!.. Sri Abhay Caran Bhaktivedanta Swami, whose age was listed as 69, was taken on board bearing a complimentary ticket with food..” It says here..” The cabin was quite comfortable thanks to Srimati Sumati Moraji for all these arrangements.

Captain’s Wife: He approached Srimati Moraji to get a ticket.

C: Yes, I remember it all as it was only yesterday…

SCENE 2 – The Request

(Sumati Morariji sits at a desk and Swami enters with his cane in hand.. SM stands to receive BVS and welcomes him…)

Sumati Morarji (SM): Maharaja, please come in.

Bhaktivedanta Swami (BVS): My dear lady, I wish to go to America to preach the message of Sri Sri Guru and Gauranga. Please grant me free passage on one of your ships.

SM: Swamiji, you are too old, why are you taking such responsibility?

BVS: No, it is alright. It is my Guru Maharaja’s order. I have a sponsor in Pennsylvania, and I have dedicated my life to this purpose, so I am determined to go.

SM: But, you don’t know about America! It is very different from India.

BVS: But Americans are world leaders. If they can take to KC it will be spread all over the world!

SM: Nevertheless, I think you should stay in Vrindavana. I think it wise that you do not go to that sinful place.

BVS: But it is my life’s mission. And I am confident Lord Krsna will protect me. Wherever there is the chanting of Krsna’s holy name, there is Vrindavana. Please, let me go.

SM: Well alright Swamiji. But I’ll give you a round-trip ticket so you may return should there be any difficulty.

BVS: Hare Krishna.

SCENE 3 – Visit to Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaja’s Samadhi / Calcutta Port

Narration: Bhaktivedanta Swami arrived in Calcutta only a few days before the Jaladuta’s departure. Although he had lived much of his life much of his life in the city, he now had nowhere to stay. It was as he had written in his “Vrindavana-bhajan”: “I have my wife, sons, daughters, grandsons, everything, / But I have no money, so they are a fruitless glory.” Although in this city he had been so carefully nurtured as a child, those early days were also gone forever: “Where have my loving father and mother gone to now? / And where are all my elders, who were my own folk? / Who will give me news of them, tell me who? / All that is left of this family life is a list of names.”

(Enter BVS. Walks onstage and slowly approaches the portrait of Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Maharaja at his samadi)

Narr: The day before his departure, Bhaktivedanta Swami traveled to nearby Mayapur to visit the samadhi of his spiritual master, Srila Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati Thakur.

BVS: (after offering obeisances) You have ordered me to preach in the west and now after many years I am going. Please give me your blessings and pray to Krishna to protect me.

Narrration (as BVS exits)

A local Bengali daily newspaper reported,

“Srimat Bhaktivedanta Swami, a resident of Vrndavana, has translated the Srimad Bhagavatam into English with word-for-word meaning and purports. This great work will soon be appreciated by people from far off America… hence he is departing form Calcutta for New York this Friday the 13th day of August 1965.”

(BVS exits and returns carrying a copy of Caitanya Caritamrta and a suitcase…)

Narration (cont.)

BVS took a taxi down to the Calcutta port. He was carrying a Bengali copy of Caitanya Caritamrta, which he intended to read during the crossing.

For thousands of years, krsna-bhakti had been known only in India, not outside, except in twisted, faithless reports by foreigners. And the only swamis to have reached America had been nondevotees, Mayavadi impersonalists. But now Krsna was sending BVS as His emissary.

He was alone. A lone fighter. When he left, there was no one on the shore to bid him goodbye. No friends, no supporter, no disciple, nobody.

(Swami walks aboard the gangway to the ship, MV Jaladuta – suitcase in hand. BVS walks gangway towards audience and pauses in silence staring ahead soberly as narrator finishes exclaiming he is leaving on such a journey all alone….pause in silence…lights fade out )

SCENE 4: Captain and Wife Recall

C : Yes.. I remember this wonderful person walking onto my ship… he cut a striking figure..this swami.. do you remember him Devi?

C Wife : Yes Yes indeed, how can I forget.. He seemed to have super strength.. I said to him. “do you really think America is the best place to go Swamiji..” I was thinking that America hardly seemed ready for his message.. it seemed such a difficult task for someone his age..

C : Yet he seemed so totally calm and serene, as if his work was already done

CW : And do you remember after some difficult travel we celebrated Janmastami with him..? .do you remember? … he spoke so nicely about Lord Krishna. He really understood the importance and significance of observing Janmastami. And he chanted so sweetly…

C : Yes, yes ..and what about the feast?

(Enter BVS distributing Prasadam sweets.)

CW : Yes.. he cooked an entire feast all by himself and personally distributed it to the entire crew.. we enjoyed having the swami with us so much..

C: What did he cook Devi, do you remember

CW : ooh let me see.. there was yellow rice, samosa, puri, subji.. so many sweets.. everything was there

(Exit BVS)

C : It was so nice.. but the sea was taking its toll I think.. it was soon after that it seemed disaster was about to strike

CW : Yes.. and he was getting seasick I think …. I was concerned for him also

C : Look it says here.. in the book.. “He noted in his diary.. rain, seasickness, dizziness, headache, no appetite, vomiting…”

CW : This was the most difficult time for him I think.. we didn’t see him for three days. Does it says what happened?

C : Yes yes.. let me read it..

SCENE 5 : Storm and Crises at Sea – The Dream.

(Swami in the cabin on the bed)

Storm effects

Narration : The symptoms persisted, but it was more than seasickness. The pains in his chest made him think he would die at any moment. In two days he suffered two heart attacks. He tolerated the difficulty, meditating on the purpose of his mission, but he thought that if another were to come, he would certainly not survive.

(Swami sick in bed. Rough sea storm)

The next night Swamiji had a dream. Lord Krishna appeared to him surrounded by His many incarnations. Krsna was rowing a boat and spoke to Swami.

(Lord Krishna appears on stage in a boat surrounded by the das-avatars behind BVS who is in his bed)

Lord Krsna: My Dear Abhay Charan. Go on with your mission, I will protect you, do not fear.

(Playing the taped music, ‘Prayers to the Lotus feet of Lord Krishna’ by Indrudyumna Swami).

(Lord Krishna & the das-avatars stay on stage while music plays quite loudly until end of song. The das avatars come in dancing one at a time a take there stance behind the bed of Swamiji. Krishna comes after with Radha entering as the finale. After song finishes and the Lords exit there is a pause and then BVS sits up and mimes writing in his diary as)

Narration: After some time.. Prabhupada reported in his diary that his strength renewed little by little

“Today the ship is plying very smoothly. I feel today better. But I am feeling separation from Sri Vrindavan and my Lords Sri Govinda, Gopinath, Radha Damodar. My only solace is Sri Chaitanya Charitamrita in which I am tasting the nectarine of Lord Chaitanya’a lila. I have left Bharatabhumi just to execute the order of Sri Bhaktisiddhanta Saraswati, in pursuance of Lord Chaitanya’s order. I have no qualification, but have taken up the risk just to carry out the order of His Divine Grace. I depend fully on Their mercy, so far away from Vrindaban”.

Scene 6: Jaladhuta arrives in America

Captain: It was such a crisis, Devi … do you remember you fortold of the Swami’s future success… he seemed to take your words seriously… he said you were an intelligent and learned lady…

CW: Yes .. I told him that if he should pass beyond this crisis, it would indicate the good will of Lord Krishna.

C: Oh look at this. How very nice. Let me read final poem he wrote just as he was about to disembark…

It is the “MARKINE BHAGAVATA DHARMA”

My dear Lord Krishna, You are so kind upon this useless soul, but I do not know why you have brought me here. Now you can do whatever you like with me.

But I guess you have some business here, otherwise why would you bring to this terrible place?

Most of the population here is covered by the material modes of ignorance and passion. Absorbed in material life, they think themselves very happy and satisfied, and therefore they have no taste for the transcendental message of Vasudeva. I do not know how they will be able to understand it.

But I know your causeless mercy can make everything possible because you are the most expert mystic.

……………

……………

O Lord, I am juist like a puppet in your hands. So if you have brought me here to dance, then make me dance, make me dance, oh Lord, make me dance as you like.

I have no devotion, nor do I have any knowledge, but I have strong faith in the holy name of Krsna. I have been designated as Bhaktivedanta, and now if you like, you can fulfill the real purport of Bhaktivedanta.

Signed- the most unfortunate, insignificant beggar

A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami,

On board the ship Jaladuta, Commonwealth Pier,

Boston, Massachuseetts, U.S.A.

Dated 18th of September, 1965

BD: Thank you captain.

Captain: Oh and please tell us of what happened to the Swamiji after her arrived…

BD: Well since his arrival the Swamiji (who is now known as His Divine Grace A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada made Hare Krishna a household name. He travelled all over the world for 12 years initiating many disciples. Those disciples in term served him nicely and helped with the publishing and distribution of over 60 volume of devotional literature he wrote. Srila Prabhupada opened 108 temples around the globe and also founded farming communities to teach simple living and high thinking examples.

But now as of August 13, 2015 – the 50 year Anniversary since departure of Jaladhuta on Kolkata dock, Srila Prabhupada’s ISKCON can report there are:

CENTRES

• 602 ISKCON temples worldwide

• 65 farms / eco villages

• 54 educational institutes: including primary schools, secondary schools and tertiary Colleges

• 110 vegetarian Hare Krishna restaurants worldwide

DEVOTEES

• 75,000 devotees in ISKCON have received initiation (taken clerical vows)

• 7 million worshippers attend an ISKCON centre annually

• 3600 home study / worship (Bhakti Vriksa & Nama Hatta) groups meet regularly worldwide

BOOKS

• 516 million books have been published by the BBT and distributed worldwide

SANCTIFIED MEAL DISTRIBUTION

• 3 billion plates of sanctified vegetarian meals (prasadam) have been served worldwide

• 1.2 million plates of sanctified vegetarian meals (prasadam) are now served daily to Indian children as part of the “Midday Meal” or “Annamrita” by ISKCON Food Relief Foundation

FESTIVALS, CHANTING & PADAYATRA

• 1000 hari nama chanting parties go chanting on the streets worldwide every week

• 6000 Vaisnava festivals held every year globally in ISKCON Centres celebrating festivals like Sri Krishna Janmastami, Rama Namani and Sri Jaganath Rathayatra

• 150 Padayata teams (walking temples, usually with bullock carts),
  consisting of a total of 10,000 participants have walked 260 000 Kms
  Worldwide visiting 52 000 towns & villages in 107 countries (since it began in 1976)

Captain: Oh so wonderful it sounds like a true spiritual revolution.

BD: Oh yes…and look here comes the sankirtana party would you please like to come join in?

Captain: Yes we would love to.

They all are drawn in and drift off with the ecstatic harinama party

(C & Wife clap as Harinama builds and exit)

Note: the final section is supplemented with wonderful slide projections illustrating the great achievements of Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON. The visuals help tell the awesome contribution of 50 years of ISKCON.

By Vanamali Pandit Dasa

ISKCON Boston invites everyone to attend what promises to be an unforgettable event. Srila Prabhupada’s 50th Anniversary Arrival Festival will take place on Saturday, September 19th through Sunday, September 20th in Boston, Massachusetts. An array of prestigious guests and entertainment will be provided throughout the weekend, free of charge to all who take part in commemorating this most auspicious day.

Several esteemed ISKCON sannyasis will be joining the celebration. They include: HH Jayadvaita Swami, HH Niranjana Swami, HH Radhanath Swami, HH Giriraj Swami, HH Bhaktimarga Swami, HH Romapada Swami, HH Trivikrama Swami, HH Janananda Gowami, HH Candramauli Swami, HH Danavir Goswami and HH Bhakti Prabhupada-Vrata Damodara Swami. Check out this link to see a full list of confirmed festival guests.

Many prominent government officials have also been invited to attend, including Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, as well as the Chief Minister of West Bengal state, Mamata Bannerjee and Sovan Chatterjee, Mayor of Kolkata, West Bengal. The celebration of Srila Prabhupada’s 50th arrival anniversary has received letters of appreciation from both, His Excellency Pranab Mukherjee, President of India and His Excellency Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India.

The first day of festivities in Boston will begin with a three-hour boat ride that departs from Commonwealth Pier, the very place where Srila Prabhupada disembarked in 1965. Commemorating Srila Prabhuapda’s bold journey across the Atlantic aboard the steamship Jaladuta, those attending the boat festival can expect kirtan, engaging talks and a scenic view of Boston Harbor, similar to what Srila Prabhupada saw when he arrived fifty years ago.

After the boat docks at Commonwealth Pier there will be lunch at Boston Common with non-stop kirtan to surcharge the atmosphere with the transcendental vibration of Lord Krishna’s holy names. After lunch a sankirtan procession, carrying Srila Prabhupada on a palanquin, will make its way to historic Faneuil Hall where a special two-hour program will include talks from internationally renowned guests and dignitaries. Saturday’s festivities will conclude with more harinam at Boston Common, followed by dinner prasadam.

Sunday will be an exciting continuation of the festival. After breakfast at Boston Common and a talk about Srila Prabhupada and the origins of Ratha Yatra in America, Boston’s Ratha Yatra festival will take place at Boston Common. Lunch prasadam will be served on site, and afterwards an impressive lineup of entertainment will be provided, including traditional Indian dance, a magic show and a drama performance. The festival will conclude with a final talk followed by an ecstatic kirtan.

ISKCON Boston has spared little expense in its attempt to reflect the appreciation and deep spiritual affection all devotees feel towards Srila Prabhupada. If not for His Divine Grace, countless souls would never have received the chance to be exposed to Krishna consciousness. Because this event requires no fee from participants, ISKCON Boston humbly requests that all who feel the desire to do so, donate toward this event to help offset some of the expenses. Although the devotees of ISKCON Boston have collected most of the laxmi needed to put on this festival, a balance of more than $12,000 remains. For information on how you can donate please go to this link.

If you plan on attending this once in a lifetime event you can register here. The first 800 devotees to register will be able to attend the boat festival at Commonwealth Pier and the first 600 registrants will be eligible to attend the Faneuil Hall program. (Please Note: The program at Faneuil Hall is restricted to attendees aged 12 and older. We encouraged parents of children younger than 12 to make alternate arrangements for childcare during that time.)

By Manohar Krsna Das

As Vrindavan rejoiced in the Hariyali Teej festivals yesterday, MVT (Mayapur Vrindavan Trust), management, staff and residence decided to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s Jaladuta Yatra by distributing delicious kitchari prasadam cooked in desi ghee for over 3000 pilgrims and visitors to Vrindavan.

The kitchari prasadam cooked with devotion by Gopal Das (ACBSP) in the staff kitchen, had everyone who tasted it come back for seconds.
Manager of MVT Prem Kishore Das said “ISKCON world-wide is celebrating the momentous journey of Srila Prabhupada’s to the West, which is truly a legacy in the making. Indeed, a historical feat at the age of 70, overcoming all obstacles to bring us the glorious heritage of our parampara. We are so fortunate and blessed. MVT decided to honor this occasion by distributing prasadam to the visitors on this wonderful festival of Hariyali Teej in Braj. We thank all for their contributions.”

Hare Krishna!

By Giriraj Swami

At her initiation ceremony yesterday, Rose Forkash received the name Rajani-priya dasi. Rajani is a name of Durga, an expansion of Srimati Radharani, who is the divine, universal mother. Rajani was also the name of Srila Prabhupada’s mother. Priya means “dear” or “dear to,” and dasi means “servant” or “servant of.”

During the ceremony, Rtadhvaja Swami, Niranjana Swami, and especially Indradyumna Swami encouraged Rajani-priya via Skype with words of appreciation, affection, and instruction.

Rajani-priya has deep attachment to the holy name, and even now, at almost ninety-five years of age, she continues to induce people from all different backgrounds and walks of life to chant and read Srila Prabhupada’s books.

As Srila Prabhupada wrote to Rose in 1977, “If the parents of our devotees study the philosophy of Krishna consciousness, there is not doubt they will benefit equally as their children.”

Rajani-priya’s daughter, Lila-sakti dasi, who was initiated by Srila Prabhupada forty-five years ago, left her body in late June. Just days before her departure, Lila told her mother, “Whatever happens, don’t stop chanting Hare Krishna.” The accompanying photo shows Rajani-priya holding Lila-sakti’s image shortly after her initiation. “I wish Lila could have been here,” Rajani said. “She would have been so proud and happy.”

By Dr. Sahadeva Dasa

A man is judged by his car. The richer you are, the bigger is your car, in all likelihood. The cars we drive say a lot about us. There are brands costing a fortune. Some people are famous simply because of the cars they own. In a poor country, you have to own a car and in a rich country, you have to own a supercar, to make a difference. Everything in life is somewhere else, and you get there in a car. When it comes to cars, there’s no such thing as cheap and best. It’s cheap and nasty & expensive and best. People are spending more time in their cars, then in their homes these days. They even say, ‘leave sooner, drive slower, live longer.’

In today’s ‘motor car civilization’, one of the most profound thing to ask would be, ‘who owns the world’s biggest and the most exotic car?’ To get an answer to this question, you would have to hitchhike to the Eastern part of India, to a place called Jagannath Puri. There, Lord Jagannath and his family members ride three separate cars. Each car is exquisitely decorated and is 45 feet high. These have 12 to 16 wheels and hundreds of people ride them as they rumble along the Grand Avenue in Puri.

Covered with bright canopies of red, yellow and black stripes, the huge cars are lined in front of the majestic temple close to its eastern entrance, which is also known as the Simhadwara or the Lion’s Gate.

To drive these majestic cars, a million strong crowd jostles and vies with each other. And remember, none of these drivers receive any salary. Whereas in this world, even the biggest billionaire has to appoint a driver and pay him a salary. Here Lord Jagannath never advertises any vacancy for a driver but lo and behold! One million drivers showup at his doorsteps, ready to offer their free services.

And the most amusing thing is : These are use and throw cars. Again, the biggest billionaire can’t afford to do that. These rich men may own hundreds of supercars but they can never discard a car just after a maiden ride. Lord Jagannath does that.

That is why He is known as the Lord of the Universe.

Presentation by Sivarama Swami to the North American GBC on 18 August 2015.

Class at Iskcon Chicago, Sri Kishore Kishori temple streamed live on Aug 20, 2015.

Lecture on Advancing in True Oneness Association by HH Niranjana Swami on of 11 Aug 2015 at Dnipropetrovsk

(Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3, Chapter 32, Text 10 )

(His Holiness Niranjana Swami was born on December 10, 1952, in Lowell, Massachusetts, USA. In 1972, his spiritual search took a turning point when he saw a Bhagavad-Gita As It Is, on the counter of a bookshop in Washington, DC.)

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Lecture on Krishna Bhakti Rasa Poorna Srimad Bhagavatam by HH Bhakti Vikas Swami on 11 July 2015 at Navsari Gujarat

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

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Lecture on  Jhulan Yatra by HH Radhanath Swami on 29 July 2012 at Bhaktivedanta Manor

(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)

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