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13519665067?profile=RESIZE_584xOn Friday, August 13, 1965, a small, beat-up cargo ship set sail from Calcutta. In addition to the crew, one passenger, A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, disembarked in New York City with 40 rupees, a three-month visa, and a mission to bring Krishna consciousness to the Western world. 

60 years later, thanks to vigorous public engagement, widespread distribution of religious literature, and the highly visible practice of chanting “Hare Krishna” in public spaces, the success of Bhaktivedanta Swami’s miss

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I MET SAM by Bhaktimarga Swami

13519663453?profile=RESIZE_584xThis young man, who looked European to me, was going around on the campus grounds picking up neglected trash.  He had a specific bag in hand for his collection.  I could tell it was a service of a volunteer nature and that softened my heart.  I let him know, “It’s great what you’re doing.”  I moved when I discovered he was behind me.  He identified himself as “Sam!”

 
Sam is from the UK and does dramas at the Manor outside London.  He has a tattoo on his neck which reads “27.”  For those who d
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Part 2

FURTHER DIFFERENCES WITHIN THE VEDIC SANSKRIT ITSELF, AS WELL AS WITHIN THE CLASSICAL SANSKRIT ITSELF

REPEATING INTRO

This is several questions made in the form of an article. I find them intriguing and aspire for answers. I beg kind insightful devotees to offer insights, and, if they find time, to evaluate or critique the answers which i have offered according to my own limited understanding. The very questions are written in bold text. The purpose of this is for my insignificant self

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Hare Krishna Dear Devotees,
Happy Holi !!
 
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Poem for Kadambha Kanana Swami

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OUR KK SWAMI (Dedicated to Kadambha Kanana Swami)
 

Life was good when he was young
He then got wed, then became a monk
A man of the Dutch touch genre
In venturesome pursuit he found Chaitanya
Intelligent, musical, with so much talent
He also displayed a warrior's trait so valiant
Like most of us in the early days of the mission
Active responsibility was the only true vision
He became an admin at the Vrindavan temple
For cleaning up a ring of sin – nothing simple
He received a vengeful bullet i

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The day after Gaura Purnima is celebrated as Jagannath Mishra Festival. Just as Nandababa celebrated Nandotsava in joy the appearance of Lord Sri Krishna, similarly, the wonderful appearance of the Lord increased the happiness of everyone in Srimati Sacidevi’s house. Both Sri Jagannatha Misra’s and Srimati Sacidevi’s hearts heaved joyous waves while looking at the Lord’s beautiful face. 

Sri Visvarupa would pick up his brother in his arms and smile gleefully at the Supreme Lord, the abode of a

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By Giriraj Swami

Today we are celebrating the appearance of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krishna, who descended in the age of Kali in the role of a devotee. He appeared on what we now call Gaura-purnima, in the evening of the full moon day in the month of Phalguna. At the time, there was a lunar eclipse, and as was the tradition, as recommended in scripture, Hindus immersed themselves in the Ganges and chanted the holy names. Eclipses are considered inauspicious,

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Today we continue our celebration of the appearance of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead Krishna who descended in the age of Kali in the role of a devotee. He appeared on what we now call Gaura-purnima, in the evening of the full-moon day in the month of Phalguna. At the time, there was a lunar eclipse, and as was the tradition, as was recommended in scripture, Hindus immersed themselves in the Ganges and chanted the holy names. Eclipses are considered inauspicious, a

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World Famous Nandgaon's Lathmar Holi

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Holi or the festival of colors is celebrated about ten days after the spring festival. A delightful visual, this festival combines the gaiety of a carnival and the devotional flavour of a religious festival with the singing of amorous songs as unbridled expressions of youth. This is the time when both feelings and colours run riot. Braj seems to be the only place where one comes across a variety of forms in which the festival of Holi is celebrated. The following account records in brief some of

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A young devotee named Bhakta Kevin, serving at the Los Angeles New Dvaraka temple, has broken multiple book distribution records enthusiastically distributing stacks of Srila Prabhupada’s books newly translated into the Farsi language. As soon as the new books arrived at the BBT warehouse from the port of Los Angeles, Bhakta Kevin immediately made beautiful, ribbon-tied stacks of them, which were named the “Four Kumara Stacks.” He drove straight to a local area called “Little Persia” and proce

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Navadvip Mandala Parikrama Adhivas 2024!

“Wandering in Navadvipa is the best of all opulence, the best of all religious principles, the best of all kinds of worship, the best of all perfections, the best of all glories, and the best of all oceans of sweetness.”

Sri Navadwipa Dham, crafted by Srimati Radharani as her divine offering to Krishna, and it became the abode of all holy places upon Lord Krishna’s request. Navadwipa Dham, synonymous with Vrindavan, stands as the merciful land, Audharya

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2515075740?profile=originalLike many others, I had a misconception that the 7 subterranean planets mentioned in the scriptures are actually hellish planets meant for punishing the sinners. Hell no! (no pun intended)

The seven subterranean planets, i.e. those are below the earthly plane (not to be confused with the earthly globe) known as Atala, Vitala, Sutala, Talātala, Mahātala, Rasātala and Pātāla (SB 5.24.7) are, in fact, more opulent than the Heavenly planets!!! In those subterranean heavens, known as bila-svarga,

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Becoming Free From The Flaw Of Envy

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“The word ‘envy’ is applied in many places and is used in connection to various things – envy of another’s good fortune, being disturbed at seeing the wealth of others, displeasure and jealousy etc. are some of the various examples. Wherever the word ‘matsarya’ (envy) has been explained in the Vaisnava scriptures, it is fully understood that its influence is the competitor of divine love (prema).

dharmah projjhita-kaitavo ‘tra paramo nirmatsaranam satam

“The path described in the Bhagavatam is

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See All As A Test by Bhaktimarga Swami

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I had mentioned to the group that Ray Charles, the musical genius, sang a song called “Georgia On My Mind.”  "He had the right idea about being absorbed in something someone but our approach is to have Krishna on our mind." I even did a short impersonation of Ray.  It got a laugh. The whole group of listeners in the Bhagavatam class knew who I was talking about.

The verse of the day was from Canto Six. Vrtrasura, who had been made out to be bad guy, was speaking some divine wisdom to the heave
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ISKCON belongs to the Gaudiya Vaisnava sampradaya (denomination or tradition), a monotheistic tradition within Vedic or Hindu culture. Hindu culture is vast, and the term encompasses numerous theologies, philosophies religious traditions and spiritual cultures. Thus, dialogue with Hindu traditions has been difficult for many seeking such dialogue. There are no official representatives of Hinduism, as the term Hinduism does not imply a single spiritual tradition. This statement therefore is repr

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Srimad-Bhagavatam

SB Canto 4

SB 4.8.5, Translation:

My dear Vidura, I have summarily explained the causes of devastation. One who hears this description three times attains piety and washes the sinful contamination from his soul.

One should chant of the character and activities of Dhruva Mahārāja both in the morning and in the evening, with great attention and care, in a society of brāhmaṇas or other twice-born persons.

SB 4.12.48, Translation and Purport:

The great sage Maitreya reco

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13189307486?profile=RESIZE_584xBhakta Dasa, Communications and Interfaith Director for ISKCON Australia and Australasia recently had his reflection entitled, “How a schoolyard bully set me on my spiritual path” published in the opinion section of The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. The Herald is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Australia and considered to be the most widely read.  You can read his full article here. Please note, access to the article may be restricted or limited depending on your country.

Sour

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Over the years I’ve come across various articles, statements and websites which have been critical or even downright offensive towards Srila Prabhupada. As a disciple — or should I say an aspiring disciple since being a true disciple is no easy thing — I find these writings to be intolerable and I’ll tell you why.

At great personal inconvenience, Srila Prabhupada left the peaceful and holy village of Vrindavan at the advanced age of 69 (almost 70) to travel by steamship across the Atlantic Ocea

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Surrender By Kavicandra Swami

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We often get questions about surrender, like “how can we surrender”. Recently I was reading one old BTG, 2001, and found a nice practical statement from Srila Prabhupada. If we search “surrender” on the vedabase we find 7445 hits, so we know it is an important topic. And we all know the conclusion of the Bhagavad Gita:

sarva-dharman parityajya
mam ekam saranam vraja
aham tvam sarva-papebhyo
moksayisyami mä suca

TRANSLATION

Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me. I shall de

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