Chanting with Harinama Ruci and the Harinama Ashram on the ‘L’ Train in Brooklyn (3 min video)
Krishna-kripa Das: Here’s a video from one of the best New York subway harinamas I have ever participated in. It was inspiring to see so many commuters willing to take part. Thanks to the Harinama Ruci world harinama sankirtana party for coming to New York City and inspiring us at the Harinama Ashram and blessing the City.
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/tbmlVV
Results are coming in from the TOVP tour that carried His Grace Jananivas Prabhu & Lord Nityananda’s holy paduka all over North America for four months earlier this year. In His manifest presence, Lord Nityananda walked over the Indian subcontinent, spreading the glories of Lord Caitanya, so in the form of His shoes. Thus he has continued His ‘walk’ to many cities and towns of the Western world, furthering the stated prediction of Caitanya Mahaprabhu that ‘My name will be sung in every town and village.’
Devotees and well-wishers were enlivened to hear of the rising of the Temple of Vedic Planetarium on the Ganges plain. Everyone could feel that this project is destined to attract the people of the world to Sridham Mayapur and the teachings of Lord Caitanya. Hundreds of devotees from dozens of centers in the US and Canada came forward to greet the travelling party. They opened their homes and hearts to our illustrious guests.
They also opened their pockets in order to get in ‘on the ground floor’ of the magnificent temple. Devotees sponsored golden bricks engraved with their names, or names of their family members, reserving a place under our Lordships’ altars. Many sponsored Gratitude Coins to express their thanks to Srila Prabhupada, this has given a real boost to the construction effort. Thanks go to all who have pledged, and those who have begun to fulfill their pledges. We would also like to extend a special thanks to those who have already completed their pledged donation.
To date, nearly 2,000 donors have pledged to give (over seven years’ time) $16 million, of which $1 million has been realized thus far. The TOVP staff would like to heartily thank, on behalf of the disciplic succession, all those who have come forward. Nearly 500 of the donors have pledged to give $11,000 or more, and of those roughly one-quarter have begun to make their contributions. With a monthly construction budget of $500,000, we are not shy in requesting every devotee and follower of Srila Prabhupada to come forward and contribute to this great cause.
Last month, we even received a generous donation from New Zealand to the amount of $250,000 for TOVP construction. The donor till date has remained anonymous, even though we have tried our level best to find out. The donation was anonymously transferred to the TOVP account in Mayapur from New Zealand. We take this opportunity to thank this anonymous devotee. If the devotee could discretely reveal himself to us, we would be very grateful, so that we can appropriately reciprocate and express our gratitude.
We are very inspired to see how devotees around the world are the backbone of the construction of this most ambitious project of Srila Prabhupada. They are constantly giving support to the ongoing progress of the TOVP temple.
Teaching the chanting of Hare Krishna in Mongolia (7 min video)
Indradyumna Swami: Five hundred years ago Lord Nityananda opened a market place of the holy names. Two days ago we took that sublime commodity of chanting Hare Krsna to the market places of Uliastal here in Mongolia. First we were invited to chant inside a large modern supermarket. Afterwards, with a police escort, we chanted outdoors in what the local people called the infamous, “Black Market.” Whatever danger there may have been was immediately neutralized by the loud chanting of the holy names. So powerful and so pure are the holy names of Krsna that soon we had many people in the market chanting and dancing alongside us. The miraculous effect of kirtan never ceases to amaze me. All glories to Sri Krsna Samkirtan!
Watch it here: https://goo.gl/T1ojyw
With Youtube being a significant part of our consumer culture two disciples of Devamrita Swami have just started a channel that presents aspects of their lives in the hope that they can demonstrate the diversity and individuality of bhakti.
Youtube vlogging tends to turn the ordinary into extra-ordinary, which is something seen in reality television. However, because of the frequent uploads and portability of the Youtube videos, Youtubers have commented that it gives a feeling of intimacy and makes the watching experience more engaging because the viewers feel more involved in the process.
It is not as simple as posting a video onto Youtube and it goes viral, though that can be the case sometimes. Developing a following in the Youtube community and becoming part of the Youtube culture is something that requires a good strategy. This is why Those Two Hare Krishnas was developed, to try and create a series of regular videos positively presenting the Hare Krishna lifestyle and philosophy.
While it is in the beginning stages and the channel style, content and techniques will change and develop over time, Lavanya-keli and Isvari-kesavi are excited about the project and hope to have the encouragement and support of devotees to keep them going. The most important thing with vlogging is regular posts, once the girls have developed more of a routine they hope to produce at least one video a week.
If you’d like to support this project please subscribe to their channel, like and comment on the videos (bearing in mind they are for outreach) and share them with friends and family. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0QQqSBqrjLoLZPoZ_Xy9wQ
Follow them on Twitter @thatharekrishna or Instagram @thosetwoharekrishnas
By Kishori Radhe dasi for ISKCON Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa
“The lotus flower blooms most beautifully from the deepest and thickest mud”. The arrival of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada materialized the above praxis when he arrived in South Africa in October 1975 during the height of the apartheid regime. The juxtaposition of apartheid, its racial and ethnic segregationist policies and the restlessness of a suppressed people caused the message and teachings of Srila Prabhupada to resonate widely and be felt deeply. He came to spread the universal message of peace, love, harmony and the tangible means of achieving such a state of existence.
During His tour of South Africa, His Divine Grace spoke at the famous Great Hall at the University of Witwatersrand on the 23 October 1975. In celebration of His 40th Anniversary to South Africa, ISKCON Sandton commemorated this magnificent moment by hosting a celebration at the Great Hall itself on the 3 October 2015.
Guests were welcomed in the foyer by a museum detailing the biography and principal accomplishments of His Divine Grace. They were thereafter treated to a meditative, enlivening mantra meditation; an enactment of a poem – ‘Who is Krishna’ in Zulu by African graduates of WITS University, a classical Indian dance presentation and a video containing original footage of the start of ISKCON and its accomplishments to present.
Srila Prabhupada propagated the universal teachings that were for millennia contained in India and boldly spread these teaching around the world within a short span of 10 years. South Africa was no exception to the spreading of the mission to bring peace, prosperity and truth to this world. ISKCON was privileged to have Mr. Nelson Mandela visit their temple in Chatsworth in 1992 and discuss the teachings of the ancient scripture, Bhagavad-Gita. During this visit Mr. Mandela with dignity but humility bowed before Srila Prabhupada, and asked “How did he do it?” meaning how did Srila Prabhupada spread Krishna consciousness all over the world. A discussion ensued about how Srila Prabhupada gave Krishna consciousness to all nationalities and types of people, without discrimination, and Mr. Mandela was deeply struck by this, and was very appreciative of Srila Prabhupada. He also very much appreciated the teachings of the Bhagavad-Gita which emphasises the equality of all living beings; as children of God we all deserve to share in God’s gifts and to be treated with respect and dignity.
One of the many highlights of the event were the speeches made by the dignitaries present. These included the High Commissioner of India; Consulate-General of India; Pauline Naidoo of the MahaSabha (South African national Hindu and Tamil Federation); the CEO of ZeeTv South Africa and several stalwarts of ISKCON.
His Holiness Bhakti Chaitanya Swami, spoke on the importance of guru’s appearing in authentic bona-fide lineages, and that Srila Prabhupada proved his authenticity and managed a successful passage of truth because he belonged to such a linkage. His Grace Nanda Kumar Das, the President of the ISKCON Sandton spoke on how “Krishna consciousness is a cultural presentation for the re-spiritualisation of human society.” as well as how the correct implementation of practices can solve all socio-economic problems plaguing society. Medhavi Das, an initiating guru with ISKCON, spoke about how Krishna consciousness “transcends material designations and offers real freedom.”
Pauline Naidoo themed her talk on ‘Unity in Diversity’. Aptly, the attendees were from multi-racial backgrounds, different age and socio-economic groups. The sight invoked an unparalleled realization of Ubuntu, non-discrimination and equality, the hallmarks of South African society and the philosophy of ISKCON itself. She appreciated the efforts made by ISKCON in bringing people together and offering solutions to pertinent problems South Africans face. Her appreciation was compounded by the speech delivered by the High Commissioner of India. In addition, being an international society, she pressed that, “Wherever I travel in the world I always see the wonderful work performed by ISKCON.”. The latter point was highlighted and extended by the Consulate General of India who extended his help in assisting ISKCON realizing their goals.
The celebration was brought to a close by the cutting of a magnificent cake that detailed key moments in the life of Srila Prabhupada. All guests upon leaving were treated to a delicious vegetarian meal.
The closing of the event marked a deep sense of appreciation to Srila Prabhupada and ISKCON by all the attendees. The presence, interactions and unification of different demographic groups working together made truth the realization of South Africa as a Rainbow Nation as well as Srila Prabhupada’s last wish for South Africa of seeing Blacks, Whites, Indians and Coloured’s holding hands, singing and dancing to the The Great Chant of Deliverance – Hare Krishna Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama Hare Hare.
ISKCON Sandton Communication
Johannesburg, South Africa
By Mahakarata Das
The 50th anniversary of Srila Prabhupada’s visit to Sri Lanka was celebrated by the devotees and congregation of ISKCON Sri Lanka on the 19th of August 2015. On this day, the program commenced with Nagar Sankirtan and following that Special Dharshan, Special Kirtan & Bhajans were conducted.
To mark the 50th anniversary of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Srila Prabhupada’s visit to Sri Lanka, ISKCON Sri Lanka organized to release the commemorative stamp and commemorative cover on the 04th of October 2015 and for this event there were VIPs present too, like ministers and industrialists.
This function was held at Ramakrishna Mission Hall, Wellawatta, Colombo – 06. There were cultural dances performed by the student of Hare Krishna Music & Dance school and also by the students of the University of Visual and Performing Arts.
The Honourable Deputy Minister of Posts Mr. Dulip Wijesekara also gave a special speech on the achievements of Srila Prabhupada and handed over the commemorative covers with the stamps to the special invitees of the function.
Photos shown below of the release of commemorative stamp and commemorative cover function.
Mahakarata Das
Temple President
This is a continuation of the previous article in which TOVP Managing Director, Sadbhuja das, went to Europe to see and purchase some of the world’s most unique marble, the best of the best.
Pictured in photo 1 and 2 is the Royal Blue marble from Bolivia that will be used on the Altars.
In photos 3, 4 and 5 we can see Sadbhuja standing next to some samples of white marble from Vietnam; a mock up what it will look like right next to blue marble mixed together on the steps.
And finally a pink marble from Turkey is shown in the photo.
Lavanya-keli (with headphones) and her team filming one of the "Spirit Matters" videos.
We live in an age of mass consumption. A time where every second place you look is an advertisement. A time where it’s very hard to get your message heard, regardless of how profound and uplifting it may be. So what can be done? ISKCON has an extremely important message, but is it being heard amongst the masses? Understanding how companies make there presence known is a good start.
Those that are the leading force behind this consumption drive, namely designers and advertisers, adhere to the philosophy that ‘the medium is the message’. In other words, how the message is conveyed is just as important as the message itself.
Animoto, an online video company, explain how customers often feel more comfortable making purchases after watching a video because it helps give a more positive impression of the company, leading to an increase in trust. There surveys indicate that 1 in 4 customers actually lose interest in a company if it doesn’t have video, customers are nearly 50% more likely to read email newsletters that include links to video and 4 times as many consumers would rather watch a video about a product than read about it.
In our consumer driven society individuals are asking more from companies. In a culture of choice, they are determined to forge their personalities through their consumption choices. For example, consumers have begun demanding videos that tell the story behind the company as well as behind the products they are buying. This is no surprise because people have always been drawn to stories on screen. While escapism is a key aspect of storytelling, stories have also been a useful tool to inspire people to look at themselves in a new light, as well as give insights on issues and other cultures around the world. It’s also been found that video and storytelling are very useful in education. Many have come to the conclusion that videos are especially good for introductory learning and introducing complex topics because videos engage both hemispheres of the brain.
The media has taken advantage of the power of videos. Young adults are the dominant consumers of media, with three quarters of people aged 18-29 reporting that they download or stream video. In 2008 Youtube ranked as one of the top four visited sites on the web, with over 100 hours of video shared per minute, and a total number of shared videos surpassing 4 billion in early 2012.
Sharing online content is an integral part of modern life and what people share reflects them as individuals. Not only is it important for the videos to be trustworthy, it’s also important for them to be inspiring and positive. This is because peoples natural ‘enjoyment’ propensity is the main motivation for media consumption.
Understanding this, if short positive videos were used in a social media context to present aspects of bhakti-yoga, an increased awareness of the knowledge could be shared amongst more people in general. This conclusion has lead to the development of Spirit Matters.
Spirit Matters a new YouTube channel developed by ISKCON devotees in New Zealand aims to give people insights into a more conscious way of living. The idea is to make it easy for people to learn about aspects of bhakti-yoga, mantra meditation and Krishna conscious living in a way that encourages people to share the videos amongst there friends and become inspired to enquire further about the knowledge they contain.
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For more information please visit: www.spiritmatters.me
To contact the producer of “Spirit Matters” please email Lavanya-keli at lavanyakelidd@gmail.com
On the dazzlingly bright afternoon of 3rd October 2015, the chariot of Their Lordships Jagannath Baladev and Subhadra rolled down the roads of Old Kanpur, India, with hundreds of devotees dancing, with all grandeur.
The rainbow-like entourage of devotees surrounding the chariot chanted and danced their way from Phool Bagh through the marketplace and then via the busy roads back to Phool Bagh. Lord Jagannath looked captivating like a splendid dark jewel adorned with multi-coloured ambrosial flowers. Rath Yatra or the Chariot Festival is celebrated for over centuries in India and is one of the oldest carnivals in the world. However, for the first time, the entire city of Kanpur witnessed the majestic Chariot Festival after the inauguration of the brand new temple.
Devotees from Vrindavan, Varanasi, Patna and Lucknow participated in the auspicious Rath Yatra this year at Kanpur.
People enthusiastically participated in the chariot pulling fiesta. Simultaneously young students of different colleges of Kanpur earnestly distributed books on the roads and marketplace of Kanpur. Locals from different nook and corner, from the windows and balconies of their houses peeped out merely to catch a glimpse of Their Lordships. It seemed like with the fading sun’s rays the roads of Kanpur were smeared with the brilliant colours of devotees lead by Their Lordships in the effulgent chariot.
In a span of around 5 hours, Kanpur jousted to the euphoria of the holy names and bathed in the mercy of Their Lordships. At the end of the fiesta people relished Lord Jagannath’s sumptuous Prasadam.
The entire family of ISKCON Kanpur headed by Devakinandana Das, Prem Harinam Das, Amrtesa Krsna Das and the devotees worked at sync to conduct the entire carnival in a smooth way.
Sivarama Swami in the video message addressing the World Peace Forum.
The World Peace Forum is a worldwide platform that brings together a large number of professionals of all backgrounds and from all corners of the Earth, who share their expertise as volunteers by means of workshops, publications, projects, conferences, exhibitions and virtual activities by which they carry the message of peace into daily life.
Their recent meeting was held on October 2-3, 2015 in the European Parliament in Luxembourg and Germany. The main topic was the current refugee crisis in Europe. Representatives of different projects described their work and got responses.
Devotees from Radhadesh were also invited -- they attended panels, chanted and distributed prasadam.
On the second day of the conference ISKCON-guru Sivarama Swami gave a video-presentation about ISKCON Hungary’s response to the refugee crisis. He spoke about his personal experience of being a refugee himself, fleeing Hungary during the 1956 revolution, then talked about his recent encounters with Syrian refugees, as well as elaborated on the Bhagavad-gita’s teachings relevant to the situation.
Sivarama Swami’s video was very well received and greatly appreciated by the audience.
The devotees from Goloka Dhama have been invited to provide meals for the World Peace Forum in 2016.
To watch Sivarama Swami's full message click here:
Les (Ethan Hawke) and his son Jude (Asa Butterfield) visit the temple
The independent film 10,000 Saints, which includes scenes shot in the Manhattan Hare Krishna Temple “The Bhakti Center” and features ISKCON devotees, was released on Blu-Ray, DVD and streaming services on October 6th.
Based on the novel by Eleanor Henderson, it is directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini of the Oscar-nominated American Splendor. It stars Ethan Hawke (Boyhood, Training Day), Asa Butterfield and Hailee Steinfeld (co-stars of Ender’s Game), and Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild, Lone Survivor).
Set in the late 1980s, the film follows a teenager from Vermont (Butterfield) who moves to New York City to live with his father (Hawke) in the East Village. There, he meets a pregnant girl (Steinfeld) and the lead singer (Hirsch) of a straight-edge hardcore band.
While the film’s graphic drug use, sexual situations, vulgar language and dark tone don’t make it a favorite choice for all devotees, it does depict an honest coming-of-age story of young people trying to find themselves. And the concept of “Hare Krishna” features quite prominently.
Eliza (Hailee Steinfeld) and Johnny (Emile Hirsch) are married in a wedding ceremony at the Hare Krishna temple
As hardcore punk fans, the main characters connect with “Krishnacore,” a music scene pioneered by ISKCON devotees Ragunath Capo and Paramananda Das with their band Shelter in which fans lived a clean lifestyle abstaining from meat, drugs, alcohol and illicit sex. Many young people became devotees of Krishna through this hardcore straightedge scene.
In 10,000 Saints’ opening scene, the main young characters wake up in a Hare Krishna temple after a bad trip.
Later, Hirsch’s straightedge band leader Johnny and Steinfeld’s Eliza are married in the temple with a traditional Vedic fire ceremony. Ethan Hawke’s Les and Butterfield’s Jude also appear in the scene.
Kirtan singer and second generation ISKCON devotee Gaura Vani, who was featured in the film as “Hare Krishna Priest,” recalls, “I got to live out one of my long-time dreams of chanting mantras about Krishna in a Hollywood film. I chose to sing the prayers of Lord Brahma (also called the Brahma Samhita) where he describes the supreme beauty and attractiveness of Govinda and His spiritual world. At the end of each stanza Emile Hirsch and Hailee Steinfeld toss handfuls of grains into the fire and sing ‘Swaha.’”
Many devotees from the Bhakti Center, including Doyal Gauranga, Chaitanya Kapadia, Vinay Vanodia, Komala Kumari, and Vraja Gopal also appeared in the scene. And a priest is shown offering arati to Sri Sri Gaura Nitai.
“It’s definitely enjoyable to see the Bhakti Center and the beautiful atmosphere of flower garlands, colorful saris and ecstatic Kirtan captured for posterity in this independent film,” says Gaura Vani.
Throughout the rest of 10,000 Saints, “Hare Krishna” is frequently repeated, and noted as a central part of the setting. Meanwhile shots from the temple scene have been often used in major media reviews of the film.
“When I went to the Washington D.C. premiere of the movie,” Gaura Vani says, “Eleanor Henderson, the author of the source novel, told me the scenes at the temple are her favorite scenes in the film.”
10,000 Saints is available on Blu-Ray, DVD, and Amazon Instant Video here: http://www.amazon.com/000-Saints-Blu-ray-Ethan-Hawke/dp/B011QLB12M/ref=tmm_blu_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1444079196&sr=1-1
The Walking Monk on the road
Bhaktimarga Swami has become famous as “The Walking Monk” from his treks on foot four times across his native Canada, as well as across Ireland, Israel, Fiji, Mauritius, Guyana and Trinidad. On each walk, he shares his message of reconnecting to a simple, natural, and God-conscious life with the media and locals along the way.
The Swami’s current walk, however, may mean the most to him on a personal level. Dubbed “Walking for our Teachers,” its theme is to honor all teachers in a broad sense—but in a more specific sense, Bhaktimarga’s own guru.
“Personally, we’re walking to honor ISKCON’s Founder-Acarya Srila Prabhupada, who was at the cutting edge of animal rights, vegetarianism, going back to the land, and of course spiritual enlightment,” he says. “People know the Hare Krishnas, but they don’t know about the person behind it all. So I feel it’s our mandate now to let people know who Prabhupada was.”
Bhaktimarga Swami’s walk began on September 20th at Boston’s Commonwealth Pier, where Srila Prabhupada first reached the U.S. on the steamship Jaladuta in 1965.
About to set off from Boston's Commonwealth Pier
His trek will see him celebrate the 50th anniversary of that event by retracing Prabhupada’s journey from Boston to Butler, Pennsylvania, where he stayed with sponsors the Agarwal family, and then on to New York City, where he registered ISKCON in 1966.
The walk will last 45 days in total and cover 907 miles – about 20 per day.
Along the way Bhaktimarga is meeting with people and holding programs to share his message and his “Tales from the Trails.” Some meetings are organized events, others are more impromptu – every day’s an adventure on the road.
In Hopkinton, Massachussets, he was invited to contribute to a “Dancing for Our Aging Population” class at the Veterans Memorial Gazebo, and led seniors from the Golden Pond Assisted Living Center in Srila Prabhupada’s classic “Swami Step.”
At Namaste 919 yoga studio in Old Forge, PA
In Hartford, Connecticut, he gently reminded attendees at a Hindu community event of the importance of Sanatan Dharma and fulfilling the spiritual side of life, to a grateful reception.
At Brown University in Rhode Island, he led a group of students in a guided mantra meditation session with his trademark engaging style, getting them to harmonize in “Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya” and chant the Hare Krishna maha-mantra while clapping along.
At Nimai’s Bliss Kitchen in Newburgh, New York, Bhaktimarga Swami shared his Tales from the Trailes and also spoke at length with Newburgh Mayor Judith Kennedy, discussing spiritual solutions to the social problems of today.
Bhaktimarga Swami walks with Tre'von, who took time off his job to join the trek
“She participated in our kirtan, and danced and chanted with us like anything,” he says. “It was very heartwarming to spend some time with a political figure like that.”
And at the Namaste 919 yoga studio in Old Forge, Pennsylvania, Bhaktimarga spoke to seventy people about the importance of pilgrimage and the philosophy of Bhakti, and led them in chanting the Lord’s names.
“There was even a nun in full habit regalia who danced in our kirtan circle in ecstasy,” he grins.
Bhaktimarga Swami and Vivasvan Das, who has been accompanying him on his journey, also meet many interesting people while on the road.
Talking with an interested runner
Tre’von, the number one salesperson in a Hartford clothing store, met Bhaktimarga Swami while visiting the temple for the first time, and was so inspired by his project that he took two months off of work to join the walk and get guidance in Krishna consciousness along the way.
One runner who came across the group during a picnic break introduced himself and said he was a retired professor who was now researching UFO experiences. He was intrigued to hear that the Vedic literature gives detailed accounts of other planets and their highly evolved resident beings, and left with some of Prabhupada’s books and a set of japa meditation beads.
Bhaktimarga Swami also meets with devotee congregational groups, and devotees who have not attended temples in many years, reconnecting with them, “planting some seeds and getting some seeds planted in me too.”
Speaking at a Hindu community event
The rest of his walk will include visits to ISKCON temples in Harrisburg, New Vrindaban (West Virginia), and possibly Gita-Nagari, Pennsyvlania. He also wants to hold programs at elementary schools, where he’s had tremendous success in Canada.
The big event, though, is on October 24th, when Bhaktimarga Swami will reach Butler, Pennyslvania, and attend a banquet program with Gopal and Sally Agarwal, who sponsored Srila Prabhupada for a month in 1965. The event will also include Harinama Sankirtan in Butler with devotees from around the country.
And the walk will culminate in New York City, where Bhaktimarga will visit 26 2nd Avenue, home to the first ever ISKCON temple, and hold kirtan under the elm tree at Tompkins Square Park where Prabhupada held the first ever public kirtan in the Western World.
Getting interviewed for a local Massachusetts TV station
Throughout his journey, Bhaktimarga Swami is talking to local newspapers and TV channels, spreading the word about ISKCON’s upcoming 50th anniversary celebrations, and of course about Srila Prabhupada.
“We have to understand that anyone who comes along and makes such major changes in peoples’ lives is not an ordinary person,” he says.
For regular updates from the road, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/thewalkingmonk/timeline
Only the Best Marble for the TOVP! (Album with photos)
Royal Blue marble from Bolivia that will be used on the Altars.
Find them here: http://goo.gl/NXnvyD
Taking rest after Harinama the in University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus (Album with photos)
Find them here: https://goo.gl/kUO1ll
Join Padayatra Odisha 2015
This Kartik, please come and join the annual Sankirtan Padayatra in Odisha. This most ecstatic preaching program, in the sacred land of Mahaprabhu’s and Lord Jagannath’s pastimes, will begin on November 1st in Kantilo (60 km from Bhubaneswar) where the ancient Deity of Sri Nila Madhava resides by the banks of the Mahanadi. The padayatra will last until the 20th of November and will see devotees walking and chanting, with the bullock cart of Sri Sri Gaura Nitai and Srila Prabhupada ,through Nayagarh district stopping in a different village every day for kirtan, book distribution, prasad distribution and preaching programs. The villagers are especially interested to see and hear the experiences of Western devotees blissfully chanting Hare Krishna.
Read the entire article here: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=20258
KK Bindu #360: Can an ant touch the Moon? The answer in this issue of Bindu is yes!
The latest issue of Sri Krishna-kathamrita Bindu e-magazine was just released. Topics include:
* IMPORTANCE OF HIGHER ASSOCIATION – Instructions from the writings of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada.
* NOTES ON THE BHAGAVATA – Srila Thakur Bhaktivinode speaks about the mentality necessary for understanding Srimad Bhagavatam: “most readers are mere repositories of facts and statements made by other people. But this is not study. The student is to read the facts with a view to create, and not with the object of fruitless retention.”
* FIRE OF SEPARATION – A verse composed by Srila Rupa Goswami describing a prayer to Krishna from his cowherd boyfriends of Vraja.
* RESPECT TO ALL – Sri Srimad Gour Govinda Swami Maharaja comments that a sincere devotee will see everyone except himself as a devotee.
* WHEN WILL I GO TO VRINDAVAN? – A fresh translation done for this issue of Bindu from a song by the Gaudiya poet Radhamohan Das.
* THE ANT AND THE MOON – Is it possible for an ant to touch the Moon? A first time translation done for this issue of Bindu from a little known Sanskrit book called, “Subhasita-ratna-bhandagara”.
It can be downloaded here: https://archive.org/details/bindu360
NY Union Square Harinama (Album with photos)
The “most happening place” in the city. Dedicated devotees engaged in following Srila Prabhupada’s simple process of Harinama, Book distribution and Prasadam distribution. So inspiring to be in the company of such focused and serious devotees, especially the youngsters, who amazed us by their sincerity, determination, humility and sweetness. Rama Raya prabhu is managing wondefully in Aindra prabhu’s footsteps. If you’re in the city please do join them, you will be very nicely welcomed and thoroughly enlivened. Photos by Dvijapriya dasi.
Find them here: https://goo.gl/E28WmU
Prakriti Forum of International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) is organising an international summit on environment and economy here on October 9 and 10.
The summit will be inaugurated by Union minister for environment, forests and climate change Prakash Javedkar at the IMA House, Kaloor, said a press release.
It said the summit was meant to deliberate and arrive at solutions on the modern-day challenges in the fields of environment, economy and ethics.
The summit is expected to be the “biggest gathering of its kind in Kerala this year”, the release said. Around 1,400 participants are expected at the summit, which will bring together distinguished scientists, entrepreneurs, industry experts, government representatives and students.
Rajeev Dubey, HR and corporate services president of the Mahindra group; Shaurya Doval, MD, Zeus Capital; Ramchunder Singh, advisor to the President of South Africa and Brian Bloch, advisor to the interior department, the USA are some of the dignitaries who will attend the summit, the press release said.
A public event is being held at the TDM Hall between 5 p. m. and 9 p. m. on October 10 to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the Kochi visit by His Grace Bhaktivedanta Swami, ISKCON founder. Global release of Srimad Bhagavatam in Malayalam and Srila Prabhupada Memorial Lecture will be highlights of the programme.
By B.V.S. Bhaskar for the hindu.com
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu would lay foundation stone for the first Golden Temple in the State by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on Vijayadasami Day (October 22).
Preliminary works like construction of sheds and rearing of cows at the Cow Protection Centre (Gosala) began a few months ago at Lord Krishna’s temple close to Kondaveedu Fort of Guntur district with a budget of Rs. 200 crore in 80 acres of land given by the State Endowments Department.
A rare idol of young Krishna, locally called as Venna Mudda Gopaludu (butter Krishna idol), was found during the excavations at the Kondaveedu fort belonging to the 13th century during 1998 it inspired ISKCON to construct a golden butter Krishna temple at Kondaveedu.
It was sculpted during the period of Sri Krishnadevaraya and this golden temple is going to revive the religious cultural heritage of Kondaveedu.
The top of the temple and sanctum sanctorum would be gold-coated with 24 carrot gold and Rs.100 crores will be spent exclusively on temple complex and rest of the Rs.100 crores on other structures. “We have appealed to the State government to allot 150 acres near Kondaveedu Fort, but there was a single piece of land of 80 acres without any legal complications, where the ISKCON started works,” said Saint Satya Gopinath Das, Project Director of Kondaveedu Golden Temple Project and president of ISKCON, South India.
The surroundings of the temple will host pavilions for different attractions from Mahabharata and Ramayana. The temple complex will also house an international school, a medical centre, a religious theme park, a museum with the history of Kondaveedu, a Vedic school and a cow protection centre.
“This is expected to be a major tourist attraction near the proposed new capital,” said Saint Gopinath Das. He further added that Amritsar, Punjab, is famous for Golden Temple and later Sripuram Golden Temple of goddess Lakshmi was constructed in Vellore. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana did not have golden temples till now though they boast of rich culture and tradition.
He said that the project would be completed in three phases and ISKCON planned to promote spiritual heritage, hence started Iskcon-Kondaveedu Spiritual Heritage Revival Project (IKSHR).
It will create a comprehensive spiritual tourist attraction zone in 80 acres of land, he added.
ISKCON is planning to construct the temple near Kondaveedu Fort in Guntur district
Continuing from 2nd Oct, we organized another big Harinaam on 3rd Oct in Soth City I are of Gugraon which comprised of market, hospital and residential areas.This being working day, turn out was not as good as on two other previous occasions.However,at last we were around 60 devotees and performed kirtan for arounnd two and half hours.
Prior to onset of the mood for WHNW, Gurgaon temple president HG Vidur Priya Das had nominated me to attend the WHNW planning committee meeting in Delhi , East of Kailash temple and I was entrusted to organize and coordinate the Harinaams to celebrate WHNW in Gurgaon.On 24th Sept, i.e., Ekadasi we did kirtan for over two and half hours in Gurgaon temple and some devotees chanted minimum 64 rounds on Vaman Dwadasi and other chanted more than their routine rounds for complete WHNW.I am feeling happy for having gotten an opportunity to render service in the department that Gurumaharaj is heading in ISKCON and seek your blessings to serve better in coming years.
